Morgan was relieved that the braves confirmed Judge had nothing to do with Frank’s death.
“Granny said Frank was scared to death of riding in the pines,” Jack said.
“Whiskey makes some men brave, or careless,” Clay said.
“I guess justice was served to Frank in the end,” Morgan said.
“Do you think that means that Frank’s gang did steal that money from Culpepper and Taggart?” Jack asked.
“But why would they turn themselves in if they did steal that money? They could have taken off to Mexico and never returned,” Morgan said.
“Joseph, you said four men stole the money from the two men who had the money, right?” Clay asked.
Joseph nodded.
The men exchanged a glance. “There was only Deke, Dutch, and they said Reb had been killed by Culpepper and Taggart. I know Corbin Jeffers met up with Deke and Dutch, but he wasn’t in on the robbery at the bank. There was no wanted poster on him,” Jack said.
“Do you think Reb was killed?” Morgan asked.
“Marshal Holt said he rode to the cabin to see the grave for himself. He thought Deke and Dutch were telling the truth,” Jack said.
“Then who was the fourth man?” Morgan asked.
“The only person who could describe him is dead,” Jack said.
Morgan looked at him and nodded. “Indian Pete.” “You know Harper Ellis told me his sister was marrying Dutch Sullivan,” Clay said.
“Do you think Harper would be involved in the bank robbery?” Jack asked.
“I don’t think Harper ever did anything illegal,” Clay said. “I sure can’t see him robbing a bank.” Clay didn’t want to betray a confidence, but he saw no harm in telling them about Harper’s health. “He’s very ill.”
“Is that the friend you mentioned during your last sermon?” Morgan asked.
“Yes. Harper has always helped to support his sister since her husband ran out on her and those children,” Jack said. “A portion of that bank money could go a long way to help feed and clothe them.”
“A man will do what he has to for the people he loves,” Morgan said.
“I’d hate to think he was involved,” Clay said.
The men grew quiet. They all liked Harper, and didn’t want to accuse him without some proof.
Jack finally broke the silence. “It’s not like we have evidence of anything. I see no reason to suspect Harper of anything.”
“If he’s done something illegal, then I guess it will come to light,” Clay said.
They all agreed.
Christmas morning
The adults pretended to be asleep when they heard the children running down the hallway. They couldn’t contain their excitement as they opened the bedroom doors, shrieking, “It’s snowing, it’s snowing!” Sweetie added to the melee with his deafening deep howl.
Joining the children in the hallway, the adults followed them down the stairs. Everyone ran to the windows to see several inches of glistening snow covering the ground, and the pines sparkling like a magical white forest.
“It’s so beautiful,” Emma said.
“Just perfect for Christmas morning. I’ll get the coffee going,” Granny said.
“I’ll handle the coffee, Granny,” Morgan told her.
The children ran to the parlor, and seeing the presents under the tree, they started squealing again. After the presents were opened, Morgan and the men walked to the stables to feed the horses. Chores done, they all returned to the house where the women had a large breakfast waiting for them.
“Can we play in the snow?” Jane asked.
“We’ll all go out after breakfast and build a snowman,” Addie said.
“Can you help, Pa?” David asked Jack.
“We’ll help for a while, but we need to get out to the range to help the men with the chores,” Jack replied.
When breakfast ended, the children ran upstairs to get their coats and gloves. The men spent an hour with the children building snowmen before they left to work.
When the men returned from the range, Morgan noticed Judge was not in the paddock, nor was he in his stable. Morgan knew their Christmas dinner would be ready, so he decided not to search for him. The horse had come back on his own before, and Morgan hoped he would do so today.
* * *
“Aunt Emma, can you sing outside after dinner?” David asked during dinner.
“Of course,” Emma replied.
“Why do you want her to sing outside?” Clay asked.
“Everything sounds different with snow on the ground,” David said.
After dinner, everyone grabbed their coats and headed outside again. Morgan looked toward the paddock, but Judge had not returned. As Emma sang, everyone noticed the wind seemed to increase. Her song ended, but the sounds coming through the pines sounded like people singing.
“Emma, do you hear that? Those are sounds I always heard in the pines,” Rose said to Emma.
“I hear it now, Rose,” Emma said. “Addie and I always heard laughter before.”
“It does sound like angels singing.” For the first time, Granny understood what Rose was talking about when she was a child.
Just then, Judge came running through the trees and jumped the paddock fence.
Morgan watched as the horse gracefully leaped over the fence. “I would build a taller fence, but I don’t think that would keep him in,” he said on his way to the paddock.
“Look, Uncle Morgan,” David said.
Morgan turned to see David pointing to the pines. Slowly walking from the trees was a very thin, white horse, followed by a small black and white colt. They looked skittish as they stood at the boundary, longingly looking at Judge in the paddock, yet ready to bolt through the trees if necessary. As soon as Morgan opened the gate to the paddock, Judge ambled over to him and nudged his shoulder in his usual greeting. “Is that your baby, Judge?” Morgan could tell by looking that the mare hadn’t eaten properly for a while. That told Morgan the colt probably wasn’t receiving the nourishment he required. “Let’s see if they’ll come in the paddock on their own.” Morgan stroked Judge’s neck as they watched the mare and colt. He didn’t want to make any sudden moves that might frighten them away.
Clay stared at the white horse who was standing a good forty feet from him. His first thought was something about the animal seemed familiar. Taking a few steps in the direction of the horse, the horse turned to look at Clay. It couldn’t be. Surprisingly the horse took a few tentative steps toward him.
“Moonrise?” Clay said, more to himself than aloud.
“What is it, Clay?” Emma asked.
Clay didn’t respond; he started running toward the horse, and at the same moment the horse took a few hesitant steps toward him. Reaching the weakened animal, Clay wrapped his arms around her neck. “Moonrise! I never thought I would see you again.”
The colt timidly followed his mother, and Clay reached out to stroke his neck.
“Does Uncle Clay know that horse?” David asked.
“I think he does,” Morgan replied.
Emma and Sweetie joined Clay beside the horses, and Clay said, “Honey, this is my horse, Moonrise.”
“The one Culpepper and Taggart stole from you?” Emma remembered Clay telling her about the horse the night they captured the two killers. She had a difficult time believing it was possible the horse was Clay’s.
“I told you in my dream Violet said she would send a sign. I think this is her sign that she wanted me to be happy,” Clay said.
“Clay, how is it possible this horse came this far?” As much as she wanted to believe this was Clay’s horse for his sake, she had doubts.
Clay pointed to Moonrise’s hindquarter at the visible half-moon brand. “I don’t know how she did it, but that is my brand. Jonas had it made when I named the ranch.”
Emma had to admit that his brand was unique. Still, it was difficult to believe after four years of being apart, the horse would recognize Cla
y. But once she saw how the horse was responding to him, her doubts began to diminish.
“Would you look at that,” Granny said. “Sweetie is as big as that colt.”
Everyone laughed as they watched Sweetie and the colt playfully nosing each other. Sweetie had found his own playmate.
The entire family had gathered around Clay and Moonrise. He explained how he’d looked for Moonrise for four years in every town he’d traveled through. He tried to hold on to his belief that he would see her again, but after so much time had passed, he started to lose faith.
“I think this is a Christmas miracle, Uncle Clay,” David said. “Did you notice the colt has a half moon on his forehead?”
Everyone looked at the colt, and noticed his head was all black hair, with the exception of an interrupted blaze in the shape of a half moon.
“David, I think you are right. It is a miracle,” Clay said.
“Moonrise is starving. Let’s get her in the paddock with Judge,” Morgan said.
David ran to the kitchen to gather some apples and carrots to feed the horses as their Christmas treat. Clay walked Moonrise and her colt to the paddock to join Judge. Everyone gathered around the paddock and watched as the horses ate their fill.
“They are so beautiful together,” Emma said, admiring Morgan’s black horse beside Clay’s white horse.
“Once Moonrise is cleaned up and gains some weight, she’ll be even more beautiful,” Clay said.
“How do you think she found you here, Uncle Clay? It’s a long way from Kansas,” David said.
“David, I don’t know. The Bible tells us love is the most important thing. I’d say this proves that you’ll never be separated from those you love, no matter how much time passes.”
“I think they heard your singing, Aunt Emma,” David said.
“I bet they thought angels were singing,” Jane said.
“This is the best Christmas. I guess you’re right, Uncle Clay,” David said.
“Right about what, David?” Clay asked.
“You always thought you would find your horse, and you did,” David said.
“I’m not sure I found her. I think God led her to me,” Clay said.
“I’m glad Judge has a family, just like us,” David said. “I think we should name the colt, Christmas.”
“That sounds perfect,” Clay replied.
Morgan choked up at the thought of his beautiful animal having a partner. Judge had suffered so much, and it warmed Morgan’s heart to see him in the paddock with his family. It wasn’t lost on Morgan how all of their lives had been richly blessed in a few short months. He reached for Rose’s hand and held her to him. “We have all been blessed.”
Clay pulled Emma into his arms. “You’re right Morgan. We’ve all been richly blessed. I never thought I would believe in miracles again, but I was wrong.”
“We should always believe in miracles. How else will we recognize one if we don’t believe?” Granny asked.
Christmas in Whispering Pines Page 27