CHAPTER 3
FOR A MOMENT or two no one spoke a word. The only sound to reach Micah’s ears was the pounding of his own heart. Pa removed his hat, and a veil dropped over his eyes as he narrowed them to peer at Micah. The tension in the room lay thicker than a slab of beef, and no one appeared ready to slice through it.
Micah locked gazes with his pa. “I’m sorry, Pa. I should have written.”
Pa’s hands gripped the brim of his hat until his knuckles turned white. “Yes, you should have. Five years and not a word. Then here you are on our doorstep.”
Levi jerked his head. “He’s right. You could have been dead for all we knew. Why did you come home now?” He waved his hat. “Never mind. I don’t want to hear your sorry excuses. I need to take care of the horses.” Levi slapped his hat back on his head and strode through the door.
Ma and Maggie had come from the kitchen in time to witness the scene. Ma’s hand clasped her throat, and her eyes glistened in the lamplight.
Micah had hurt them all, and no matter how much he wanted to or how hard he tried, he couldn’t take back those years. He lifted his chin. “I’m sorry, Pa. I’ll leave now if you don’t want me here.”
“No, no. It’s such a shock. None of us expected you to come back like this.” He furrowed his brow. “You and I have some serious talking to do. I want to know where you were and what happened, and why you’ve come back.”
Hope planted a seed in Micah’s heart. One baby step, but it could be the beginning of reconciliation. “Yes, Pa. I understand.” If only Levi had stayed around for that talk. He couldn’t do anything about his brother, but maybe Pa would understand. “I’d like that. I have much to tell you.”
Pa’s hand gripped Micah’s shoulder. “We can talk after supper. No need to let Ma’s hard work get cold.” He turned to Rose. “Go get your brother and tell him to come for supper now or go without.”
“Yes, sir.” She scurried away to do his bidding.
Pa hadn’t smiled yet, but the expression on his face had lost some of the chill exhibited earlier. Trust would be hard to rebuild, but Micah intended to do everything he could to do just that.
Rose returned to take her place at the table. “Levi said he’d eat and sleep with the hands in the bunkhouse tonight.”
Pa’s jaw hardened. “Very well. Let’s eat our supper before it grows cold.”
They all sat down, and Maggie reached for his hand. “I’m happy you’re here, Micah.” After witnessing that scene with Levi, she must have decided to drop her own misgivings and smooth things over, for Ma and Pa’s sake.
He squeezed her fingers and bowed his head for Pa to say grace. It’d been a long time since he’d heard words bless food, and even longer since he’d asked God for anything at all.
At the end Pa said, “Thank You for bringing our son safely home. For whatever reason, he’s here, and we give thanks for that, no matter how long it may be. Amen.”
That last sentence gripped Micah’s heart, and the seed of hope planted only moments earlier began to grow. He’d be here as long as it took to come to an understanding with his family or until they ran him off.
Hannah sat at the kitchen table while Sallie put finishing touches on the evening meal. Supper tonight would be light to keep the heat from overwhelming the preparations. Daniel sat tied to his chair with a large dishtowel knotted through the slats. He banged on the wood surface of the table with his tin spoon and added to the dents and scratches already there.
“Looks like your family spends a lot of time around this table.” Hannah traced one of the scars with her fingernail.
“Oh, we do. Manfred is one who believes in things being used. If it’s too fragile for the children to handle, then it’s not for our family. The exception being the lamps, but the children have strict orders about those.” Sallie removed a pan of cornbread from the oven and set it on a folded cloth on the table. “Do you mind cutting this for me and putting it on that plate?”
Hannah picked up the knife beside the pan. “Of course, but I should be helping you more.”
“Don’t worry about that. You’re a guest tonight, and we’ll be eating in the dining room. Besides, I did most of the cooking earlier in the cooler hours of the morning. I hope you don’t mind cold ham and cold pickled beets. The only hot dishes are the cornbread and the black-eyed peas I boiled earlier today.” Sallie sliced ham onto a platter and grinned at Hannah.
“Sounds perfect for a summer evening.” She turned the cornbread out of the cast iron skillet and cut the golden crusted bread into squares. “It’s nice that Manfred entertains the children while you fix supper.”
“Oh, he loves it, and they do too. Sometimes there’s an emergency, and he has to leave before supper or in the middle of it, so he cherishes the time he does have with them.” She ladled peas into a pottery bowl. “I’m so glad to hear that Grandma Woodruff is feeling better. Mama’s last letter said she was not up to her usual busyness around the house.”
“She’s fine now, but she sorely misses you and the little ones. I hope we can all make it home for Tom’s wedding in the fall.”
Laughter erupted from Sallie as she set the bowl on the table. “I’m amazed that Laurie Bevins was finally able to snag our wayward brother. From all his talk the past few years, I figured we’d have an unmarried brother on our hands for the duration.”
“She’s a beautiful woman, and she absolutely adores Tom.” Hannah stood with the plate of cornbread. “Shall I put this on the dining table?”
“Yes, go ahead. I’ll bring in the rest. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot. Lettie and Burt are coming by after supper. I thought you might like to see them and their two children.”
“That’s wonderful. I haven’t seen them in years since they didn’t come to Mississippi the last time you visited.” Hannah had loved the servant girl, and Lettie had been through some really dangerous and rough times with the family during the war. She had married her sweetheart, Burt, when the war had ended just like Sallie had married Manfred.
Hannah headed for the dining room, making the effort to keep her shoe from clumping against the floor. Would she ever have the opportunity to marry someone, just as Sallie and Lettie had, and experience the love of a man and a family of her own?
When the children spotted Hannah and Sallie with food, they cheered and squealed and ran to the table. Clara and Tommy climbed onto their chairs and settled on one side. Molly shook her head and shrugged her shoulders before easing down beside her sister. Hannah bit back her giggle.
Molly’s disapproval of her siblings’ antics reminded Hannah of dinners with Tom and Will when they were growing up. They had created a stir at every meal, and Sallie had frowned at them exactly as Molly had done.
Mealtime in the Whiteman household brought back memories of dinners around the table back home in Mississippi. Laughter, teasing, and love filled their voices and eyes. Hannah sat back and enjoyed the meal and the fellowship with her family.
After they finished dessert, Molly headed upstairs with Clara to entertain her, and Manfred took charge of Daniel and Tommy. Such a wonderful family. Hannah picked up two plates and sighed. Staying here with Sallie and Manfred would give her the chance to be around little ones and enjoy watching them grow and change.
As soon as the dishes had been washed, dried, and put away, Hannah followed Sallie to the parlor. The brass knocker on the front door clunked twice.
“That’ll be Lettie and Burt. They’ll be so happy to see you.” Sallie rushed to the front door to greet her guests.
When Hannah greeted the couple in the parlor, she grinned at the young woman who hadn’t aged any more than Sallie had. They both were more mature, but they could have been back in Grandma Woodruff’s parlor twelve years ago when they waited for Manfred to come home from the war. “I’m so glad you and Burt decided to come to Texas with Manfred and Sallie.”
“Now you know I wouldn’t let Miss Sallie come all this way without me. We were together
too long to separate.” She poked at her husband’s arm. “I’m just thankful Burt here was agreeable to the trip.”
“Humph, I wasn’t about to let you get away from me.” Then he grinned at Hannah. “Glad to see you made it safely here, Missy. Doc needs a good nurse to help take care of the people here in Stoney Creek.”
Burt shook her hand with the firm grip befitting a blacksmith. Even the long sleeves of his homespun shirt couldn’t conceal the bulging muscles of his forearms and his broad shoulders. Hannah tilted her head back to look into his dark eyes. At well over six feet tall, he towered over her.
Lettie wrapped her arms around Hannah in a hug that transported her back to Mississippi, and Hannah blinked back tears. “It’s wonderful to see both of you. I’ll be less homesick with you here.” She stepped back and turned to the boy and girl standing beside their father. “And you must be Yancy and Dorie. It’s good to meet you. I’ve known your pa and ma a long time.”
Their dark faces beamed with delight. Sallie nodded toward the stairs. “Molly is upstairs with Tommy and Clara. You two go on up and join them. We’ll have some cookies in a little while.”
The two young ones scampered up the stairway, their voices audible as they greeted their friends. Sallie untied her apron and laid it across the back of a chair. “Y’all come on into the parlor so we can sit and visit a spell. Hannah has told me a little about home, but I wanted to wait until you two were here to hear more about what’s going on in St. Francisville and Woodville.”
Once they were all settled, Hannah began with her report from home. “Mama is busy with plans for Tom’s wedding. Of course she doesn’t have near the work she had with yours, Sallie, but she’s helping Laura and Mrs. Bevins with the flowers and table decorations for the dinner after the ceremony.”
“Of course Mama would have to be involved. She didn’t have much opportunity with Will’s last year, so she’s making up for lost time. I’m hoping we’ll be able to go back for Tom’s since I had to miss Will’s because of Daniel, not that I minded, you understand, but this wedding should be fun, and I don’t want to miss it.”
Talk continued for another half hour or so until Sallie rose from her chair. “I think it’s time for some coffee and sugar cookies.”
Lettie jumped up. “I’ll come help you. Hannah, you stay here and enjoy yourself a little while longer. Knowing the doc here, you won’t have much time to sit in the days ahead.” She took a few steps then stopped and turned back with a crease across her brow. “I heard tell that Micah Gordon has come home. Sure would like to know what he’s been doing all these years he’s been away.”
Burt shook his head. “Nary a word to his family in all that time. Strange if you ask me.” He glanced at Hannah. “Now that’s one young man you might ought to steer clear of, Missy. Most likely he’s up to no good and will cause his ma and pa grief.”
Hannah pressed her lips together. Micah had been so helpful earlier today. How unlike Burt to make such a statement, especially in light of all that he’d endured with criticism and prejudice in past years. She certainly didn’t intend to make any judgments against Micah until she knew him better. That is, if she ever had the chance to even get to know him. His facial expression when he saw her deformed foot and cumbersome boot didn’t bode well for any type of friendship, no matter how good or bad the young man may be in the eyes of others.
After dinner Pa led the way to his office and closed the door behind them. Micah’s stomach churned, but this was something that had to be done, and the sooner the better. He swallowed several times to get rid of the bitter taste on his tongue as he waited for Pa to be seated behind the desk and indicate he was ready to listen.
Pa opened a drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen. Puzzled for the moment, Micah stared as his father began writing. After a minute or so he stopped and peered up at Micah.
“Have a seat and tell me what the past five years has been all about.” He leaned back from the desk and folded his hands with his elbows on the chair arms. “Spare me the details and specifics. I don’t need to know it all, just the basics and why you’re back now.”
Micah sat down. He breathed deeply to calm his nerves and exhaled long enough to clear his head. “After the big fight among the three of us, I just couldn’t take any more, even though you stood up for me against Levi. In my heart I knew he was right about my not pulling my weight. Ranching isn’t in my blood like it is yours and Levi’s.”
Pa said nothing, but his eyes bored into Micah’s soul. He’d hurt his father and left without a word of explanation or apology. That his father even listened now was a miracle.
“Where did you go?”
“I had planned on going up to Dallas and see what I could find there. I had some money saved, and that took me about halfway. I did odd jobs to earn a little money, but I . . . I lost it all in a card game. Never could get ahead and never made it to Dallas.”
“I see. You didn’t think enough of us to write and let us know where you were and that you needed money?”
The steel in Pa’s voice cut Micah to the bone, but he deserved it. His chin dropped to his chest. “I was too ashamed to let you know what had happened.”
Pa’s eyes narrowed and his mouth worked in that way it did when he fought anger. “So you let Ma, me, and the rest worry about you, wondering where in thunder you could have gone and why we heard nothing.”
“I’m sorry. I came back because I saw what I did was wrong. My life was headed nowhere, and when I finally realized it, the only thing I wanted to do was come home.”
“So what now? Are you ready to settle down here and take on the responsibility of helping Levi and me with the ranch?”
“Pa, my heart is with business and numbers, not riding herds and branding cattle. I know that’s all a part of running a ranch, but it isn’t what I want to do with my life.”
“But it’s your legacy. I’ve worked hard so you’d have something after I’m gone.”
“But what about Levi? Doesn’t he deserve an interest in the Circle G? He’s the one who’s been doing all the work.”
“You’re the eldest, and as such the ranch will pass to you. I’ve taken care of Levi. He’ll get a large acreage and stock to start his own spread. He’ll marry and have a good start for a life of his own.” Pa’s jaw set in a firm line, one that meant no argument.
Micah ignored the warning sign. He had to make Pa understand. “That’s well and good, but I believe Levi would be happier running the Circle G and continuing what you’ve built.” Why were they even talking about who would inherit the ranch? Pa still had a lot of years left.
“Tarnation, boy, what was the sense of your even coming back if you dislike ranching so much? If you want to stay around here, you have to pull your weight.” Pa’s hand went to his chest and rubbed over his heart.
Micah’s fists clenched at his sides, but he noted the gesture and the fact his father’s face had paled. “Is something wrong, Pa?”
“No.” He waved a hand in the air. “I ate supper too fast is all.” He glared at Micah. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Warning bells clanged in Micah’s head, but what could he do? Pa always denied when he was sick. So he answered Pa’s question. “I have what it takes to ride herds, but I don’t want to do it full-time.”
“Just what do you plan to do or think you can do if you don’t want to ride herd?”
In light of what he’d just witnessed, Micah put his own desires on hold. “I will ride herd until I can show you what else I’m capable of.” Pa deserved at least that, in light of what Micah had done to him.
“And how long will that be? Will you up and decide to run off again and leave your ma and the rest of us worrying about you?” Again his hand massaged the left side of his chest.
Micah had no choice now. “No, I wouldn’t do that again, I promise. All I’m asking is for a chance to prove what I can do, and what I’m best at.”
After a moment of silence
Pa stood. “All right, if you’ll give me a month, we’ll talk again after that.”
At least Pa was giving him a chance. Now he had to convince Levi they could work together. Besides, he wanted to keep an eye on Pa. He didn’t like the pallor of his face or the fact he had massaged his chest several times. “Agreed.”
Pa came from around the desk and extended his hand. “Then that’s settled for now. In spite of everything that’s happened, we’re all glad you’re home.”
Micah grasped Pa’s hand. He doubted Levi joined in with being glad, but at least Pa had listened. He’d stay a month or more just to prove himself and be sure Pa was all right.
CHAPTER 4
WEDNESDAY MORNING LEVI joined the other ranch hands around the table for breakfast. The talk centered around everything from rounding up strays to mending a few fences, but no one mentioned Levi’s presence at their gathering rather than his family’s. Most of them didn’t know Micah, and even if they had, they didn’t dare talk about him in front of Levi.
Grubbs, the cook, finished frying the potatoes and drained off the grease. The look he sent Levi’s way relayed displeasure. He’d been around the ranch longer than Levi could remember and had scolded him on more than one occasion. Grubbs would most likely give Levi an earful later, but he’d say nothing in front of the other men.
Randy, one of the younger hands and close to Levi’s own age, punched Levi’s arm. “When are you coming into town with us to have some fun? Could have had yourself quite a time last night at the saloon.”
What was this boy thinking? He had no business in a saloon at his age. He didn’t begrudge the older men their time off or how they spent it, but he hated to see one as young as Randy start down that path.
“Most likely I won’t be going with you at all. The saloon’s not the place for me.” He wanted to add nor you either, but he’d best keep his mouth shut for the time being.
One of the others guffawed and slapped the table, making the tin plates jump. “Don’t you know the boss and his son here is teetotalers? Besides, Levi is sweet on Miss Bradshaw, the schoolmarm.”
Love Finds Faith Page 3