Beneath The Texas Sky

by Jodi Thomas

  “No!” Dusty yelled and grabbed Josh, twisting him around just before he reached the steps. “Josh, she’s not in there.”

  The roof crumbled, sending sparks and smoke flying everywhere. Josh jerked free of Dusty. “Where is she?” he shouted, his normally rational mind shattering into the edge of insanity. He was always in control, always a leader, but not now, not with his wife missing.

  Dusty shouted above the arriving ranch hands. “Maybe whoever started the fire took her. Maybe she ran away.” He yelled at his men. “Spread out and look for Mrs. Weston. If she’s here, she couldn’t have gone far on foot.”

  Josh nodded as he pulled himself together. He took a deep breath and drew on his years of wisdom. “Dusty’s right, boys,” he said to his sons. “I know your mother, and she would have found a way out if there was one.” His mind was in full control now as he reasoned while he talked. “She couldn’t have come out the front with the door blocked, so I’ll check the back. Fire two shots in the air when you find her.” There was no “if’ in his order, for Josh knew he would keep looking until he found her.

  * * *

  Bethanie could hear someone calling her name from far away. She rolled her aching head back and forth in the wet grass. She opened her eyes but the world was just as black as with them closed. “Josh,” she whispered. “Josh.”

  From nowhere Josh’s arms were around her, holding her tightly to him. “Bethanie.” He knelt on the muddy bank and pulled her close. “Are you all right?”

  Bethanie held on to the man she had loved for so many years. There were no arms that would ever feel as welcoming as his. The familiar smell of him encircled her and drew her as it had all those years ago in the darkness of the cave. She could feel his strong hands moving along her body in a caring, searching action.

  “I’m only bruised, Josh. I’m fine.” Her words relaxed his body beside her as he pulled her even closer to him and buried his face in her tousled hair.

  Josh cradled her head to his chest as he raised his gun and fired two shots into the air. Bethanie didn’t have to ask why. She’d heard the code used many times with Josh and his sons when they were looking for something or someone.

  Josh returned his Colt to its holster and held her so tightly she could hardly breathe.

  After a long silence, he whispered into her hair. “Bethanie, I was so afraid I’d lost you.” He covered her face with kisses. “Once I would have given anything to spend a year of my life at your side. Now, after all these years, I know not a year, not ten, not a lifetime will be enough. The day I die I’ll curse the world for not having more time with you.”

  “I know, Josh. I feel the same way.” Bethanie would never tire of this man and his love.

  “What happened back at the cabin? I was so worried you might be inside.”

  “Josh, Cain’s body is still inside. He died of a gunshot wound before the cabin was set on fire.” Bethanie forced out the final words. “He’s my father.”

  “I know, darling. He begged me once never to tell you.”

  A sudden anger flavored her words. “But I was his daughter!”

  Josh’s answer came slowly, as though he’d dreaded this time for years. “I gave my word. He never asked me for another thing more than to keep his secret. I had to honor his wish. You’ll never know how often I wanted to tell you, but it was enough for him just to be near you. He loved you and Mariah so deeply he couldn’t risk bringing up the past.”

  Bethanie brushed Josh’s cheek in the darkness. She’d known him too many years to question his code of honor now. If he’d given his word to Cain, he had to keep it.

  She closed her eyes, speaking her thoughts aloud. “When I think of all the years I hated him for leaving my mother and he was right beside me, always protecting, always caring.”

  “You and the children were a great pride to him. He wouldn’t have wanted life any other way. We never talked of it, even when alone, but I could see the wealth you brought him in his eyes every time he looked at you or Mariah.”

  “Now he’s dead.” Bethanie fought back a sob. “Smith and Mayson killed him. They think they burned me in the fire.”

  “But why?”

  “I know that Smith killed Elliot Mayson. He meant to kill Dusty, but shot the wrong man. Cain and I heard him confess to the murder.”

  “We’ll get you back to the ranch and send for the district marshal and any Rangers in the area. They’ll straighten this mess out. By tomorrow we’ll have this cleared up, and I’ll see both Smith and Wes Mayson behind bars.”

  Josh pulled Bethanie to her feet and under his protective arm just as Mark and Luke came sliding down the incline. They almost knocked their parents over trying to keep from falling face first into the muddy gully.

  Josh might grumble at them to be more careful, but Bethanie could only hug them both over and over as they moved back to the fire. They were her sons, her touch of immortality. Cain and Mary would live on forever as long as they had children and grandchildren.

  Josh seemed to understand her need to wrap into her quiet world. He sent the boys back to the ranch and moved away to make sure the fire was under control. Bethanie went to where Mariah knelt beside Cain’s body.

  Mariah held her hand out to her mother. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

  “I know,” Bethanie answered as she lay a hand on top of Mariah’s head. “Before he died, Cain told me he was my father.” She looked away from the dark mass on the ground. “All these years and I never knew.”

  Mariah touched the blanket covering Cain’s body. “He was my grandfather.” Her voice broke at her final word.

  “He had his reasons for never telling us,” Bethanie whispered more to herself than Mariah.

  “I could have loved him no more if I’d known.” Mariah kissed her fingers, then spread them over the wool. “Good night, Grandfather. May you rest this night in peace.”

  Mariah stood and hugged her mother. “We all loved him so much. I’ve grown up feeling him near. I still feel him near.”

  Bethanie allowed tears to roll down her cheeks unchecked. “I do, too, darling. I do, too.”

  Mariah kissed her mother’s damp cheek. “I’ll go back with the boys and get everything ready. As soon as they get the casket made, I’ll put it in the main room until dawn.”

  Bethanie nodded and warmed with pride at the way her daughter lifted responsibility from her own shoulders. She watched her children ride away. As they passed into the shadows, Bethanie found herself talking mentally to Cain. We did a good job on those kids, she thought. I couldn’t have done it without you.

  Bethanie had no idea how long she sat beside the blanketed body, but gradually she became aware of Josh standing behind her. The night had grown colder, and the fire was only a few crackling embers. When she turned, Josh whispered, “We must go. The men will be here soon with a wagon.”

  Bethanie nodded and stood. “I was just thinking of how lucky I’ve been. All my life I’ve felt sorry for myself for not having two parents. It turns out I’ve had one with me almost all the time.

  “I’ll miss him so much,” Bethanie added. “But, like Mariah, I think it will be a long time before I quit looking around and expecting to see him behind me.”

  “He’ll still be there in spirit.”

  “Maybe he will,” Bethanie said with a smile.

  Josh offered his arm to her, and they walked slowly toward the horses. They rode in silence back to the house. The ranch came into view just as the wind whipped predawn chill into the night air. All the windows were dark, but a lamp had been left burning by the barn door for their return.

  Josh lifted his tired wife down from her saddle. Bethanie laughed as he groaned playfully in an effort to lighten her mood. “Better put me down, old man, you might hurt yourself.”

  “Old man, is it?” Josh chuckled. “When I get this mud off us both, I’ll show you how old I am.”

  “You’re not as young as you once were, and from the look I
saw in Dusty and Mariah’s eyes, it won’t be a year before you’re a grandfather.”

  Josh whispered, “And you’ll be the most desirable grandmother in the West.”

  Bethanie laughed. “Aren’t you surprised about Mariah finally finding a man to equal her spunk?”

  “No.” Josh nibbled at Bethanie’s neck. “I’m only surprised you finally slipped. You said grandfather instead of great-uncle.”

  “But you said it didn’t matter?”

  “It doesn’t really. I’ve always known she was mine.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  They buried Cain in the Weston family lot just after dawn. The wind blew crisply out of the north as the family gathered around the grave. The sun was coming up warm, and within a few hours would rob the earth of its moisture. The mourners were all dressed in riding clothes, and all the men wore gunbelts strapped across their waists. Cain might never have worn a gun, but his murderers were still at large. Riders were stationed along the ridge to ensure the family’s grief was uninterrupted.

  A cross marker lay on the ground beside the open grave. The carving read simply, “Cain, beloved father and grandfather.”

  Josh stood at the foot of the grave with Bethanie at his side. Mariah cried softly, holding onto Dusty’s arm as Josh read the final words from the Bible.

  Bethanie stared dry-eyed at the coffin even after the others moved away.

  Josh put his arm around her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

  “I was just thinking that this is the way Cain would have wanted it. He could never have lived with himself if he’d had to bury Mariah or me. The only other choice was this. I’ll miss him, but they’re together now.” Bethanie said.

  “Who?” Josh asked.

  “My parents.”

  Josh squeezed her fingers lightly in his hand. “Forever,” he whispered.

  Bethanie folded into her husband’s arms. “It was their belief not to mourn the passing of this life, but I’ll miss him so much. I wish I’d had the time to say how much he meant to me. It would have been nice if the children had known he was their grandfather.”

  Josh added, “They could have loved him no more if they’d known.”

  Bethanie’s voice broke. “I wish I’d told him that I forgave him.”

  “He knew.” Josh brushed her beautiful hair away from her cheek. “Cain must have told me a hundred times over the years how lucky he was to be seeing his grandchildren grow up. He was always crazy about Mariah, but he once said that young John was the most like him. Cain said John had religion in his blood.” Josh smiled and kissed Bethanie’s cheek lightly. “I guess Cain knew what he was talking about. Just before I left Colorado, we got a letter from John saying he wanted to go to the seminary this fall.”

  “But he’s my baby, Josh. He’s barely fourteen.”

  “He’s old enough to know his own mind. Now don’t worry, we’ll go up and see him before he starts and make sure he’s doing what he wants. All our children should be allowed to do what they want with their lives.”

  Bethanie nodded. “You’re referring to Mariah. You think I’m wrong in not wanting her to go to medical school. I just can’t bear the thought of her being laughed at and made fun of. She’d be one of the first women to ever go to medical school. Even when she’s finished school, there will be many people who won’t go to a female doctor.”

  “I haven’t noticed people not coming to you when there’s an illness. It’ll be the same with Mariah.”

  “Maybe. I just remember what it was like to be different.”

  “I know, Bethanie, but you were a child and Mariah’s a woman. Besides, it’s her life.”

  “But now she’s met Dusty?”

  “I wouldn’t bank on one week with Dusty offsetting a lifetime of stubbornness.”

  Bethanie smiled. “She must take after her father.”

  “Guess she must.” Josh pulled her closer, and they walked back down toward the house.

  Bethanie and Josh could hear the arguing even before they reached the porch. Mark and Luke were standing outside the house to avoid the storm within, as Mariah and Dusty’s voices filtered through the cool morning air.

  “What in the devil?” Josh would have entered the house, but Bethanie pulled gently on his arm. He looked to his young sons and waited for an answer.

  “Sis and that cowboy are really going at it. Luke and me thought disappearing might be the best idea.” Mark laughed, pushing Luke off the porch railing in fun.

  “Yeah, Dusty doesn’t know what he’s in for if he’s going to fight with Mariah.” Luke climbed back on the railing and tried to knock Mark off. The two were mostly legs, feet, and appetite with too full a measure of energy blended in.

  Luke suppressed a laugh when his mother raised an eyebrow in reproach, but couldn’t keep from adding, “She’ll have him for breakfast. He’ll be a goner before the first bell.”

  Josh turned to Bethanie. “Shouldn’t we put a stop to it?”

  Bethanie shook her head as Mark piped in. “Dad, it’d take half the men on this ranch to calm Mariah down when she’s as mad as I saw her.”

  Luke added, “Yeah, Dad, better to sacrifice one man than run the risk of us all getting hurt.”

  The brothers started laughing uncontrollably.

  Josh shoved them off the porch. “Let’s saddle some horses and all ride over to Mike and Allison’s place. I need to talk to Mike about straightening out this mess with Elliot Mayson’s murder.”

  “After what you told the marshal last night, I wouldn’t think there would be any more trouble. Isn’t it just a matter of finding Mayson?” Bethanie asked.

  “That may not be easy. He knows this part of the country as well as any man. I told Dusty to stay out of sight today just in case he comes here.”

  Bethanie pulled on her hat. “I don’t want to think about Mayson anymore. I just want to see Allison. Even though Wilbur was worthless, he was still her father and she buried him this morning, just as I buried mine. Let Mariah and Dusty work things out while we’re gone. We should be back by dark.”

  Josh offered Bethanie his arm. “And give the loving couple a little quiet time?”

  Mark and Luke disappeared into the barn, laughing as if their father had told a joke.

  Bethanie, Josh, and their sons saddled up and were riding out of the barn when a shot rang out from inside the house.

  Josh jumped from his horse and was halfway up the stairs when Ruth stepped out with a broom. “What’s wrong?” he demanded as the old woman blocked his path as she swept the steps.

  “Nothing.” Ruth smiled calmly. “You might say the partners in this ranch are making a few adjustments.”

  “Is Mariah all right?”

  “Mariah’s the one who pulled the trigger. Neither one of those two are ever going to be happy until they’re married or they kill each other.”

  Josh tried to pass Ruth. “I’m not standing by and allowing Mariah to get hurt.”

  “Josh.” Bethanie’s soft voice drew his full attention. “Mariah’s a woman. Be it medical school or Dusty, she can take care of herself.”

  Luke whispered to Mark, “You ask me, someone should be protecting Dusty.”

  Mark laughed. “Think how mad she’s gonna be when she splatters his brains all over her clothes.”

  “That’s enough, boys.” Bethanie couldn’t keep from smiling. She’d seen Mariah take on all four of her brothers when angry and come out ahead. “If Mariah had meant to kill Dusty, she’d have needed only one shot.”

  Luke wouldn’t stop. “Maybe the bullet went right through his head. He couldn’t have many brains if he’s thinking to tame Mariah.”

  Mark added, “Or maybe she only shot him in the leg when he was trying to get away without proposing. Our sister ain’t any too young, you know.”

  Josh relaxed and climbed back on his horse. “Your mother’s right, boys. That is enough. And she’s right about me staying out of it. Come on, let’s ride.”
/>   Mariah lifted the gun and pointed it at Dusty once more. “Are you going to listen to me now.”

  “You damn near blew my head off already. Give me that gun.”

  “If I’d wanted to hit you, you’d be bleeding right now. Put your hands in front of you.”

  Dusty’s face was red with anger, but he tried to reason with the hellcat holding a gun only six feet from him. “All I assumed was that, now the trouble is over, you’d stay here with me.”

  “You assume too much,” Mariah answered.

  “You’re as fickle as a cow with a belly full of loco weed. You were willing to go anywhere with me last night, and today you say you’re not staying.”

  Mariah raised the gun slightly as Dusty started to advance. “You don’t listen to me, Dusty Barfield. You’ve never listened to me. You know nothing about women, and you don’t seem to be willing to learn. But you’re going to hear me out now.” She moved a foot nearer. “I’m going to explain the way I feel, and you’re going to listen if I have to add another hole above your ears to get the point over.”

  “I’ve had it with you.” He would have left, but the gun slowed his movements. His golden eyes flickered with anger and a touch of uncertainty about how far she might go. “Trying to get along with you is harder than dancing in the eye of a dustdevil. I thought I was a sane man until you walked into my life a few days ago.”

  “Ruth!” Mariah yelled and was rewarded with the old woman appearing before the echo of her name died down.

  “Yes.” Ruth’s answer was as calm as if nothing were amiss.

  “Tie Dusty’s hands.”

  Ruth lifted a cotton dish towel from the table and tied Dusty’s hands as emotionlessly as if she were serving tea. Mariah expected him to protest the action, but his look puzzled her. The curve of his lip told her he thought she was playing a game, and the fire in his eyes seemed to warn her not to push him too far.