by Cyndi Raye
The front door pushed open as the red-haired older man shuffled through to the table. “May as well tell us all about it,” he told her, taking a seat.
Callie looked around. This family was tight-knit. She hoped they would understand her wish to set her uncle free.
“Wait! I’m coming back down!” Samuel stood at the top of the stairs, teetering back and forth. Two chairs slid back as the men stood, ready to help him. He waved them away. “I’m sobering up, no worry at all.”
It took Samuel five minutes to get to the table while everyone watched. Finally, Luke went over and grabbed his arm. “If you are so determined to be here, then sit down. He pulled out a chair, making sure Samuel was seated.
Callie was aware of every single pair of eyes on her, even Samuels. His were filled with merriment even if he was drunker than a skunk.
She pulled her shoulders up and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry to intrude on your kindness but I was invited here by way of becoming a mail order bride. So, saying that, I hope you understand that I accepted the position for a specific reason.”
“We understand, now let’s get to the meat of the problem,” Nora told her. She obviously didn’t like to dally.
Callie hid her hands on her lap underneath the table. They shook slightly as she tried to explain the last six months of her life. “My father, Jeremiah Johnson, and Uncle Jess worked the mines in California, making them wealthy men. There was a third brother who didn’t go along. He wasn’t left out, he was lazy. When my father and uncle came back to Texas they bought some land and started a ranch.”
Samuel’s eyes were on her and she looked into them. Intoxicated or not, it seemed as if he encouraged her with his intent gaze. “My mother died in childbirth having me and last year my father passed away.”
“I’m so sorry, dear,” Nora told her.
“We are sorry,” Luke added. His wife, Abigail, had come in and taken a seat next to her husband. She reached out to pat Callie’s hand as well.
“Thank you. My uncle and I were perfectly fine working the ranch but the third brother, the lazy one, demanded to be a partner without doing any of the work. He had stayed away all those years and then suddenly wanted in. When Uncle Jessie refused to make him a partner, Uncle Jacob tried to kidnap me to force a ransom. All he cared about was the money, not the ranch.”
“Kidnap his own niece! What kind of man is he?” Luke growled.
Nora gasped.
Samuel watched her closely. “How did he kidnap you?”
“I’m afraid he didn’t. He never knew who I was so I hid whenever he came to the Double J. One time he came asking the ranch hands where to find me. It goes to show he didn’t even know what I looked like because that time I stood almost in front of him and he never recognized I was his niece. Then he tried to bribe a few of our men, offering to pay cash to kidnap me. They were loyal and sent him on his way.”
“Oh, dear! I’m glad you weren’t kidnapped,” Nora told her.
Luke and Rusty nodded while Samuel, his elbows on the table while he cupped his face in his hands, smiled. “I doubt anyone could capture you.” His eyes stared into hers. Callie swallowed. This side of Samuel was quite different. His fun-loving style was replaced by a man who stared at her so intently she wasn’t quite sure what to make of things.
Nora coughed softly. “Go on, dear, tell us the rest.”
Callie nodded. “Hence the blue jeans.”
Rusty scratched his head. “The what?”
“My apparel. I am wearing a pair of what Californians call blue jeans. These are men’s britches and are made for the coal mines because they are so durable. My uncle sent away for some to fit me and I worked the ranch in disguise as a boy in case my bad uncle tried to kidnap me again. It was the best secret ever until things got more serious.”
“It doesn’t look like he succeeded.”
“No, but he kept coming around. So, Uncle Jessie was afraid I’d be found out, so he faked my death, put up a gravestone on the family cemetery. My uncle feared for my safety even if I was dressed like a boy. So he sent me to a friend of his in Dallas for awhile.”
“I’m so sorry, Callie. I may call you Callie now that you are my newest daughter-in-law?”
Callie smiled at Nora. “Of course. I was only there about three weeks when one of the ranch hands came with bad news. Uncle Jacob had somehow forced his way onto the ranch, took Uncle Jessie to the North Texas Lunatic Asylum and had him committed. I’m sure he gave him something to make him go along willingly because there is no way Uncle Jessie would go without a fight.”
Callie was almost in tears thinking about her uncle in that horrible place.
“Is this why you want to break him out?”
“I know that sounds awful but the moment I heard, I travelled to the asylum and demanded to speak to the doctors there. They listened to my story and allowed me to visit with my uncle but because I was not a married woman they would not let me take him out.”
Samuel was listening intently. “What does your uncle have to say about the whole thing?”
Callie shook her head. “I’ll have you know my uncle can be quite a pistol and he wasn’t going to be polite to anyone. He screamed obscenities the whole time I was there. As of right now, they have him in one of those awful rooms where he doesn’t see the light of day. He can’t come out unless he is wearing what they call a straight jacket, where they bind his hands inside of this awful contraption. It’s terrible.”
“Is there a reason he is in a lunatic asylum, Callie?” Nora’s words were gentle but Callie knew what she meant.
Callie let the tears run down her face. “Uncle Jessie is somewhat crazier than a hog running wild. He is quite eccentric and does what he wants when he wants and doesn’t take any sass from no one, so I’m not sure if you want to call that crazy but I love him to pieces. He is bold and wild and says what is on his mind. The doctors at the asylum say he’s out of hand. They insist he has a mental disorder and needs restrained. I say it is nonsense.”
“Kind of like you? Bold and wild and say what’s on your mind? I don’t call that crazy, I call it appealing.” She knew Samuel was teasing but thinking of her uncle had the tears flowing.
“I guess if the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree then I’m crazy as well.”
Nora stood. “I have my doubts about anyone here being crazy. I think we need to devise a plan to have your uncle removed from the asylum. Everyone is tired, now let’s go out and enjoy the rest of the evening with our guests. Tomorrow we’ll be fresh and can discuss this in its entirety. Agreed?”
Heads nodded up and down. “I’ll fill in Adam and Melody in the morning, that’s if we see them at all tomorrow.” Luke pushed his chair back, taking Abigail’s hand as they left the kitchen.
Nora walked outside with Rusty at her elbow. Callie sat there, Samuel across from her, his intense gaze starting to wear her down. “Samuel, will you please stop looking at me like that!”
He smiled, lifting a brow. “Like this?” He did it again.
Callie stood, stretching her legs. “Yes, like that. It’s been such a long day.”
“I agree. Let’s go have some of the delicious food outside and I’ll introduce you to the others.”
Callie was concerned he was still drunk. “Are you okay to move around? You were quite wobbly before.”
“It’s starting to wear off but I’m afraid I’ll need to lean on you just a bit.” Samuel stood up, pretending to wobble when he reached out to Callie. She giggled and took his arm, helping to steer him out of the house.
After they mingled with some of the visitors, Samuel filled two plates and they sat down on a bench to eat.
“This is nice, it makes me miss the Double J even more.”
“Double J, is the name of your ranch?”
“Yes, named for my father and uncle, Jeremiah and Jessie, respectively.”
“Then you will like it here, Callie. I’m glad we met and you’re here.”
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Samuel’s words meant the world to her. Here she was with complete strangers trying to convince her new husband to help her break someone out of a horrible place. “I’m sorry to be asking you or your family to help commit a crime. The doctor there won’t listen to me, I tried to get him out of my own accord but was helpless. A single lady has limitations they said.”
“You are still a relative?”
“If I am a married woman, he would be under the care of my husband, so that’s why I decided to go ahead and do the mail order bride agreement. I’m sorry to have deceived you and yet I’m not. I’m desperate for help. My uncle means the world to me and doesn’t belong in a lunatic asylum. I was hoping to go explain to them one more time with a husband in tow. If that doesn’t work, well, then, we have to break him out.”
Samuel placed his arm around her shoulder. “I would do the same thing if it were my family. Since he is now my family, then yes, I’ll consider helping your uncle get released from the North Texas Lunatic Asylum!”
Callie rested her head on his shoulder. It felt nice not to be alone. Even if it were a fake marriage with a different agenda. He didn’t want to stay married and she needed this marriage to hopefully get her uncle out.
Besides, there was the bit she didn’t mention about the buried gold.
Chapter 3
Samuel arrived downstairs later than usual. His head pounded so bad, he was sure it would split in half. Then he remembered how he had drank all the wine given to them from the Chinaman. Everything else last evening was a bit fuzzy, although he did remember speaking with Callie right before he went to bed.
“Little brother looks a bit under the weather this morning,” Luke announced in a louder than usual tone. Samuel slapped both hands over his ears.
“Stop talking!”
Luke laughed again, even louder.
Samuel made his way to stand behind his chair, bowing his head to say a last minute prayer before sitting at his place at the table. The others had already started, ignoring his presence except for a nod here and there. As soon as the ranch hands finished up, they excused themselves, wanting to get the day started. Breakfast was a fast meal and these men worked hard at their jobs. Rusty burped, excused himself and followed the others outside a bit slower but determined to start the day early.
That left Nora, Luke, Abigail and his new wife, Callie at the table. Ma must’ve placed her in one of his brothers old rooms. “Callie, good morning,” he addressed her.
She seemed quiet this morning, perhaps a bit tired. Until she smiled, then it lit up her whole face as she gave him one of the brightest smiles he’d ever seen. He returned the greeting.
Nora watched the exchange before finishing her breakfast. “I see you are not spry this morning, Samuel. We need you awake to discuss the plans for the retrieval of Mr. Johnson.” She placed a hot, steaming cup of coffee at his place setting. “Drink up.”
“Thanks, Ma. I’d like to apologize for coming home the way I did.”
Nora patted his shoulder, taking her place at the head of the table.
“It’s water under the bridge. Let’s hear from your bride.” Nora turned to his wife. “Callie, I’d like to officially welcome you to the White Ranch. I placed you in a separate room from your husband, under the circumstances of last night, I felt separate would be better in his condition.”
Callie nodded. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Samuel watched her speak to his Ma. His bride sure was pretty first thing in the morning. He wished his head didn’t ache so bad. It was hard to have a conversation with this banging going on inside his skull.
Nora turned to him. “Samuel, as you know, there is an issue with your wife’s family. We are going to devise a plan to have Mr. Johnson placed in the Samuel White family’s protection, which will then become your responsibility since you are the husband.”
“Thanks, Ma.”
Ma turned to Callie. “I’ve sent one of our ranch hands with a note to fetch the Sheriff of Mill’s Ridge.”
Samuel noticed how Callie’s whole demeanor changed at the mention of a sheriff. “Why?” Her voice was weak and sounded fearful.
“It sounds like your uncle, the lazy one who took over the Double J is breaking the law. Since there is no real jurisdiction out here, most towns make their own laws. The Sheriff of Mill Ridge knows some Texas Rangers who may be able to help your circumstances.”
Samuel had to agree. When Mill Ridge was an outlaw town awhile back, the sheriff rode in and wiped out all the bad men. Now the town was thriving with families and ranches in the surrounding areas. Word had it there was an ex-ranger or two living in those parts. “It won’t hurt to have a lawman’s opinion,” Samuel told Callie. He reached out and placed his hand over hers. “Don’t worry, Ma knows what she is doing.”
Callie smiled, except it didn’t reach her eyes. “I figured if our marriage ruse didn’t work, I’d break him out and when we got back to our ranch, Jacob would have no choice but to leave. The ranch hands will help, I’m certain. I’m not sure a Texas Ranger will go along with a break-out.”
Samuel shook his head. “Let’s see what the law has to say first. We’ll keep the breaking him out part out of the conversation.”
Nora smiled, changing the subject as if they hadn’t been speaking about anything except the weather. Samuel noticed the worry lines crossing his wife’s brow. He wanted to help her but his Ma was right. First, they had to speak with experts to see what could be done.
As they were finishing up, Samuel heard his newly married brother Adam speaking to someone outside. He grinned at Luke, who slid his chair back faster than a lightening strike.
Samuel raced out the door, diving from the porch to tackle his newly married brother. Luke slammed into them both, causing the three to be knocked to the ground where they began to roll across the yard like a bunch of unsettled school boys.
“Come inside, Melody! Those three will be out there rolling around for some time.”
Samuel heard his Ma calling for Adam’s wife. He peeked out from the ground to see Callie with one hand on her hip watching them with a surprised look on her face. Nora leaned over to speak to her and she lifted her face up in the air and laughed out loud. The melody of her sweet laughter rang in his ears. He was so busy looking at her, his brother swooped in and flipped him on his back with a thud.
“Looks like Sammy boy is moonstruck too!”
The three sat in a circle on the ground. With chest’s heaving, the men grinned at each other.
Samuel turned to see the ladies make their way back inside.
“See what I mean,” Luke pointed out.
Adam agreed. “I do see that now. Interesting. Samuel, I thought you wanted to be a free man, no strings attached?”
Samuel thought so, too. But there was something special about Callie. He shrugged. “I still do.”
Luke slapped his leg. “I’ll bet within two weeks you’ll be smitten with her, if you ain’t already.”
Adam held out his hand. “Let’s bet on that, brother. I’ll give it a week.”
Adam and Luke stood, shaking hands once they were off the ground. “Let’s bet our chores for one day again, like we always do.”
“Agreed.”
“Samuel, you owe me, make sure I win,” Luke told him, pointing to the pistol with a white pearl handle Samuel wore. Luke had given it to him a long time ago. It had been their fathers. Luke had known Samuel wanted it and when he gave it to Samuel, Luke mentioned there was a favor attached.
Adam made his demands. “That’s not fair. Samuel, you make sure I win, else, I’ll tell Ma how you switch jobs with Roger to get out of Sunday church services.”
“Great! Just great!” He loved his brothers but at times they were a pain in his head. Like now, the top of his head pounded. At least the three of them would never reveal the secret that kept them so close all these years. There was only one other person that knew about it. Adam’s wife, Melody. She had overheard them and p
romised to keep it quiet. Since she had been Adam’s best friend since they were little, Samuel was pretty sure the secret was safe. If she hadn’t said anything after all these years, they would be able to trust her.
That was one of the reasons all three brothers had vowed never to marry, because they were afraid the more people that came into their lives, the secret they had kept hidden all these years would come out. It would devastate Nora if she found out. Now, here they are, all three married.
How did this happen? Would the secret continue to stay safe? It had to. For Nora’s sake.
The two brothers left Samuel sitting on the ground holding his head in his hands.
<><>
The room was filled to capacity. Luke and Abigail, Adam and Melody, Nora, Rusty, Samuel and Callie sat at the kitchen table with their guests. Sheriff Jackson Montana from as far as Wichita Falls had been called in, along with Salem Nightingale, the sheriff of Mill Ridge. They brought two men along that Samuel suspected were Texas Rangers.
He was right. Their large presence took up most of the room. Nora had offered them a seat along the wall. Both sheriffs sat while the two rangers refused. “Thank you, Ma’am. My name is Noah Holloway. I’d rather stand as I can think clearer if I pace, I’m sorry to say.”
Nora smiled and nodded.
“Same here. Name’s Grant Jennings.” Samuel noticed he had a slight limp when he came inside and still refused to take the weight off. The rangers were some tough men.
Salem Nightingale began. “When I got your message, Mrs. White, I knew this was serious business at hand. It’s why I contacted Sheriff Montana and these two gentleman, who have worked with the Texas Rangers and continue to do so in certain circumstances.”
Samuel kept his eye on Callie. Her face was pale and she was blinking way too much. He gave her hand a squeeze. She turned to him for a moment before the one ranger began to speak.
“Sheriff Montana has hard evidence from some of the ranch hands of the Double J who have complained about their boss. Seems the owner, or the man who claims to be the owner, Jacob Johnson, has been using the Double J as a place to hide other rancher’s cattle until he sends them to auction in Kansas.”