by Lori Wick
Georgetown
“We’re going to stay with Uncle Mitch,” Robert told Travis. The younger man couldn’t hold his laughter.
“What did I say?” Robert demanded.
“Oh, nothing.” Travis was still smiling. “You’ve only reminded me four times that we’re staying with Uncle Mitch whose apartment is above the store.”
Robert had to laugh at himself. “Come on, Travis, we’ve got to drop our gear at the store so you can come with me and meet Eddie.” He would have walked on, but Travis spoke.
“I think I should stay at Uncle Mitch’s and you should go on your own to the Fontaines.”
Robert turned to look at him in complete confusion, but Travis only stared back.
“That’s a good idea,” Robert finally said softly, wondering why he hadn’t thought of it himself. The men went to the store and met both Mitch and Morgan Fontaine, but Robert was so preoccupied that Mitch took pity on him and swiftly sent him on his way. Partway to Eddie’s he remembered Travis and wondered how he would find his way to the Fontaines later. Then he remembered Travis saying that he would come with Morgan. All of the arrangements cluttered Robert’s thoughts until the front door opened and he looked down at the woman he loved. For the moment, he dismissed his best man from his mind.
Travis had never experienced anything like the Fontaine family. They were warm and loving, and they made him feel like a special guest. The church family in Boulder was also warm, but he hadn’t really become close to anyone except Robert. The Fontaines naturally included him in their meal, laughter, and close fellowship. It was a wonderful evening with Robert, Eddie, and her whole family, but Travis was a man accustomed to his solitude, so in some ways it was nice to have it come to an end.
It was dark when the men made their way back across town to Uncle Mitch’s. They had to move through the shadowy store to the stairway where there was a door. Uncle Mitch’s apartment was beyond that door. The main part of the living area was down a hallway where the apartment split into several smaller rooms, all on one side. One room was a kitchen and dining area, and one was Mitch’s sitting room. The rest were bedrooms. Some of the rooms connected, and others stood alone. The original builder and owner had probably intended to rent the rooms out, but Mitch kept them for himself.
Now the two guests moved as silently as possible in order not to disturb their host. Once in their room, which sported two small beds, they found he had left a lantern burning.
“Well, what did you think?” Robert whispered as both men sat on their own beds to undress.
“I think you’re marrying the kindest woman God put on the earth.”
Robert smiled, his chest filling with a huge sigh of contentment. “She’s wonderful. That big house,” Robert said, referring to his newly built home in Boulder, “has been just plain lonely without her.”
“It won’t be long now.”
“No.”
The men were silent as they continued to ready for bed. Robert ducked under the covers first and said, “It’s too bad Jackie’s not a little bit older.” Jackie was the sister two years younger than Eddie.
“It wouldn’t matter, Robert; she would still seem too young. Even Eddie seems young.”
Robert raised up on one elbow and stared across the room.
“I don’t know what you mean, Travis. You’re younger than I am by three years.”
“It’s not a measurement in years, Robert. Eddie is very mature, and she’s going to make you a wonderful wife.”
Travis fell silent, and Robert gave him a moment.
“I haven’t shared a lot with you, Robert, but my life before Christ was pretty worldly. I look into the eyes of those sweet sisters, and I know they haven’t seen anything of what this sinful world has to offer.”
This Robert could understand. A man wanted a wife who would understand him, and even have an understanding of what he was thinking before he said it. Eddie had done that on countless occasions in her letters; she could read between the lines and guess Robert’s thoughts even before he voiced them. Travis was not saying he wanted a worldly wife, just one who would understand where he’d been.
“I’m glad you told me, Travis.”
“Yeah, me too. Good night, Robert.”
“Good night, Travis.”
Travis blew out the lantern and listened as Robert got comfortable. Travis, on the other hand, lay flat on his back and stared into the darkness, his mind going back earlier in the evening to his swift exchange with Addy Fontaine.
Should I be worried that you’re going to elope with one of my daughters, Mr. Buchanan?
As lovely as they are, Mrs. Fontaine, I’m not in the market for a wife.
Travis asked himself if it had been a sin not to tell Robert about Rebecca. Robert was very sensitive about not invading his privacy, and Travis thought that might be one of the reasons he was so comfortable with him, but it seemed that tonight would have been a perfect time. On the other hand, this was a time of great joy for Robert, and Travis didn’t want to do anything to dampen it.
Travis lay quiet and thought long and hard about what he’d said to Robert. Had he been misleading? After all, he had married a woman who was as sweet and naive as the Fontaine girls.
Travis took time then and there to pray about his situation. He could not logically find a reason to tell Robert. He still thought of Rebecca—he thought of her off and on all day long, every day of every year—but for some reason he saw no need to talk about her to anyone but the Lord. Travis fell asleep asking God to help him know what to do if the question of his marital status were ever asked of him directly.
23
Travis couldn’t help but think of his own wedding day as he watched Eddie come down the aisle to stand at Robert’s side. The bride’s face was flushed with happiness, her eyes on the man she loved. Rebecca’s face had been so pale, her eyes so solemn, as they had become man and wife. Where was she? It was the question he always asked, but since trusting God, he asked it without anger. He would have been made of stone not to wonder, but the rage was gone. He felt his mind beginning to linger on Rebecca and, with a mental shake of his head, pushed her from his mind. This was a special day for Robert and Eddie, and he did not want to miss a thing.
The wedding, and indeed that whole day, was unlike anything he had ever known. He’d never been with such a large group of people who were able to have fun and laugh without using alcohol. The women had fixed a veritable feast for the reception, and close friends and family stayed with the bride and groom as they opened gifts. Something caught at Travis’ heart as he readied the team and saw the happy couple on their way to the hotel. His own wedding night came to mind, and suddenly he wanted to be alone. Uncle Mitch had not stayed for the gift opening, and once Robert and Eddie left Travis was relieved to be able to make his excuses and head back to the apartment above the store.
Uncle Mitch had turned in, so all was quiet. Travis was only too glad to seek his own rest, but when he was finally settled in bed, he lay wide awake, his mind going back over the day. Jackie was in love with Clayton Taggart. Travis wondered if either one of them realized it. Sammy had stared at him the whole day, and he had worked at being kind to her without giving her a reason to hope. He knew she was little more than a child, but he had no desire to play with her heart.
Finally realizing that he was not going to sleep, Travis relit the lamp. He read in his Bible for a time—his favorite, the book of Job—and then blew out the lantern and sat by the window. It was a dark night, the moon only a sliver, but Travis stared at it. Suddenly he wanted to be home. He wanted to be in his own house and his own bed. He wanted Lavena’s scolding and cooking. It had been great to come and an honor to be a part of the wedding. He was even enjoying the prospect of going to church in the morning, but boarding the stage and returning to Boulder with Robert and Eddie on Monday couldn’t come fast enough for him.
Boulder
“We want you to spend Christmas with us.”
Travis shook his head. “You and Eddie will want to be alone, Robert.”
“No, we won’t. The Henleys have already agreed to join us and so have Raymond, Lena, and Carl.” Lena worked for Robert and Eddie. “We’re also planning to ask the Danz family.”
Travis was so surprised that for a moment he couldn’t speak. Certain he was going to be alone on Christmas Day, he had already been preparing his heart.
“What did I say, Travis, that has caused that look?”
“I don’t know. I just assumed that you and Eddie wanted to be alone.”
Robert only shook his head and stared at his friend.
“I’d love to come,” Travis finally said. “Will Eddie’s family try to be here?”
“No, but we just received a letter from Addy. They’re all doing well but staying in Georgetown for Christmas.” Robert’s eyes went to the ceiling as he tried to recall the contents of the letter. “They miss Uncle Mitch—this will be the first Christmas without him—but everyone, even Morgan, is adjusting to his death. The girls are doing well at school. The Taggarts have moved to Denver. I think you knew that, but Clayton is writing regularly to Jackie, so she’s delirious. Sammy still asks about you, and Addy thinks Morgan still works too much. There was more, of course, but right now I can’t recall it.”
Travis nodded. The Fontaines were not the perfect family, but Travis was still fascinated with them. Maybe it was because he’d never had siblings of his own or a happy home, but so many people in one family tumbling around that huge house just seemed like fun to him.
“Have I lost you?”
Travis grinned. “Just for a moment. What time on Christmas Day, and what can I bring?”
“I know we’re eating at 1:00, but I’m not exactly sure what Eddie has planned for us to eat. Would you happen to know where we could get some nice beef roasts?” The question was asked so innocently that Travis roared. Robert felt free to laugh at his own joke, but then Travis accused him of only wanting his company that day for the meat. Robert admitted sadly that it was all too true, and it was all the more humorous since Travis saw it for the lie it really was.
Pine Grove
“Merry Christmas,” Rebecca said softly as the boys came down the stairs. They were still half asleep, but the sight of the tree, gifts spilling out from underneath, was enough to wake them in a hurry.
“Look!” Garrett shouted and began to run, but Rebecca caught him.
“Not so fast. We’re going to do this quietly.”
She soon found that it wasn’t that simple. Wyatt shot around both her and his brother, went right to the tree and began to open a gift.
“Wyatt,” Rebecca scolded him. “Put that down!”
But now both boys were digging under the tree as if mining for gold.
“Mine!” Garrett proclaimed.
“Boys,” their mother tried again.
“No, mine!” Wyatt argued.
“Give it!”
A fight broke out, and if Rebecca hadn’t been on hand, they’d have knocked the tree over. She ended up grabbing each son by the arm and literally dragging both of them, kicking and screaming, into the kitchen. They were completely out of control, howling in rage, by the time she tried to put them in their chairs. Only by blocking the door with her body and shouting to be heard did she manage to get through. When they stopped and looked at her, she went on more quietly, saying the words again.
“You’re not going to get any toys if you don’t stop.”
It amazed her that it worked. The threat of spankings never did because she didn’t follow through, but this was not something she’d tried before.
“Now, we’re going in by the tree, but you will not touch the gifts or tree, do you understand?”
They nodded very solemnly—anything to get back in the living room.
“Sit on the davenport,” she instructed as she stepped aside and they shot in the door. They made a beeline for the tree, but stopped when she said their names sternly. They didn’t sit on the sofa, but stood looking at the tree. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but Rebecca thought she had their attention at last. She knelt down in front of them and spoke gently.
“Christmas is not just a time for getting; it’s a time for giving. Won’t it be special when you can shop for Mama?”
“When are presents?” Garrett whined at her.
“I want mine,” Wyatt whined as well.
“You’ll get them, but first I—”
“Now?” Wyatt pleaded.
“Yes, now!” Garrett was more demanding. A moment later they’d scooted around her to attack the gifts. Rebecca moved to the sofa, defeated. The boys had eyes only for the gifts. A sadness stole over her, but as she watched their antics, even their fights, she laughed a little, reminding herself that they were only three. In the minutes that followed, she convinced herself that she couldn’t expect too much.
It was a little harder when she tried to tell herself that she was happy living alone with her boys and working 12 hours a day, but she managed. After all, she’d been able to buy them the toys of their dreams. Indeed, right now they were playing and laughing to their hearts’ content.
Eighteen seventy-six was a week away. Rebecca couldn’t help but ask herself what it would bring. For the first time in months, she let herself think of Travis. Had he settled very nicely without her? Did he ever think of her? It played in her mind that she could at least write to him and see how he was doing, but she dismissed the thought almost immediately.
A moment later, Rebecca stood, her chin going in the air as it did every time she felt determined. Eighteen seventy-five had seemed to fly by in an instant. Eighteen seventy-six would be the same way. So would 1877 and 1878, she told her heart. She hadn’t needed Travis Buchanan this year, and she wouldn’t need him in the future. Her mind thoroughly made up, and amid the sound of her sons’ noisy play, Rebecca went to the kitchen to fix the boys some breakfast.
24
“Do you realize how much you’ve grown, Travis? Do you see the changes God has made in your life?”
Travis nodded, but he was feeling discouraged. It must have shown on his face because Robert tracked him down right after church. The men stood by the Langley coach. There was snow on the ground, but the sun was shining.
“God may have made changes, Robert, but nothing I’ve ever said to Lavena or my men has ever had an effect on them. I’ve taken your advice and tried to live my beliefs before them, but they’re a worldly group. Lucky and I are close, and he’s a fine foreman, but all he sees is the here-and-now. I was just like him, Robert. I never thought of eternity. But just like you with me, I want more for my men than they even want for themselves.”
Robert nodded; he remembered feeling that same way. He was about to comment, when Travis cut in.
“What kind of a friend am I, Robert?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’ve got your sister-in-law so heavy on your mind, and I’m dumping on you when we’re barely out the door of the church.”
Travis was referring to Jackie Fontaine’s accident the year before, which had caused her to go completely blind. The Fontaine family was not having an easy time of it in Georgetown, and Robert and Eddie were making plans for Jackie to come live with them. Travis knew it was taking a great deal of thought and time, and felt terrible for being an added burden.
“It’s all right, Travis. You don’t mean any less to me than Jackie.”
“How are the plans going?”
“Well. Eddie has put all of her small breakables away and anything that doesn’t need to be on the floor, like plant stands and such. There are no loose rugs waiting to trip Jackie, and her bedroom is set up in such a way that she’ll be able to move around very easily. I’m sure she won’t be happy about any of it, but we’ll make it work.”
“You’ll be taking on a lot.”
“Yes, but Addy is not going to hold up if we don’t step in. Morgan has tried to help, as have
the three younger girls, but they need a break. Now,” Robert spoke encouragingly, “back to you, Travis.”
Travis shook his head. “I’m just being tempted to doubt God. I want to see immediate results, and when I don’t, I think God has stepped out of heaven and deserted me.”
“How many years has it been, Travis?”
“Since I came to Christ?”
“Yes.”
“It’ll be three years next month, May 23.”
Robert smiled, a smile of pure pleasure. “Again, Travis, I have to remind you of the changes. You are a completely different man. You’ve forgotten how cold you were toward any and all discussions about the Lord. It’s the same way for Lavena and your men. You can’t look at their hard hearts and write them off. I don’t know Lucky and the others as I know you, but I remember an angry, unsaved Travis Buchanan. There were times when I thought I was going to get myself punched in the mouth, but I had something you wanted. Given time, Travis—God’s time, not yours—your workers at the ranch are going to feel the same way.”
“I need to keep trusting and believing.”
“Yes. It’s like you said, when the results are not immediate it’s easy to doubt, but you must fight this.”
The sermon that morning had been on prayer, and Travis could see where he’d fallen down on the job. Lately it had been easier to worry than pray, and he was anxious all the time. The ranch was doing well—come summer they would be headed out on roundup for a few weeks—but Travis had forgotten to be thankful for all he had.
“Am I interrupting?” Eddie’s soft voice cut into their conversation, and the men immediately turned to her.
“Not at all.” Travis spoke so Robert would know he was doing all right.
“How are you, Travis?”