Tom pulled away just far enough to place his lips gently on hers as they lingered in their embrace. As Sara and the boys neared the yard, Charley’s face lit up.
“Papa! Carter, look, it’s papa!” the boy shouted. Together they raced ahead, throwing their arms around their father’s legs.
Janie knowingly stepped back, allowing Tom to stoop down and hold his sons. Sara stopped near the wagon, soaking in the scene before her. She watched as Tom ran a hand over each boy’s cheek, hugging each of them. The energy could be felt in the air.
Sara stepped forward and gave Tom a hug over Charley and Carter, who were still clinging to his legs. Mr. Hodges soon emerged from the bunkhouse, greeting Tom and taking over tending to the wagon. Together, the family made their way into the house, savoring the joys of their reunion.
Tom took his place on the couch, inviting his sons into his lap. While everyone else’s attention was on their returned loved one, Logan’s gaze calmly rested on Sara. At last, he felt that he had mended the pain that he’d seen in her eyes at the prison. Finally the weight had been lifted from them all, and he could look toward what he hoped would be a bright future.
Sara excused herself to the kitchen, kindling a fire in the stove and starting to work on supper. However excited they all were, they would need food at some point. Logan slipped away to the kitchen after Sara, ready to lend a hand.
Sara glanced over at him as he lingered near the stove. His calm demeanor put her at ease, as it somehow always managed to. She could feel her heart flutter a bit as his gaze rested on her, and she struggled to keep her cheeks from growing pink. “You’ve had a long enough day already. Why don’t you go and relax for a while?”
“Thank you, but I’d rather give Tom some time with his family. There’s no doubt that they all need it,” he sighed. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“As if you haven’t helped enough already,” Sara smiled. “My brother has been returned to his family because of your care.”
“No, that was all of us. And need I remind you that this was all as important to my sister as it was to Tom?” Seeing Sara pull out a pan for steaks, Logan quickly stepped in and retrieved the necessary things from the cellar. He returned to the kitchen with an armload.
“Thank you…for everything,” she said, pausing and looking at him. His smile was all the answer she needed. “Now that Tom is free again, do you think Moran will let things be?”
“There is still much to be tended to concerning Levi,” Logan shook his head. “I don’t think he’ll be poking his nose back into business around here, not with me working for the sheriff, but he’s not about to let go of his hold on the town without a fight.”
Sara nodded, knowing what he meant. “But with you as deputy, he won’t get away with the same crimes he committed under Sheriff Graves’ authority. Surely he knows that.”
“Oh, I have no doubt of that. But Levi is a smart man, however crooked he might be. He makes sure that he rarely outright breaks the law. Moran simply backs a person into a corner they can’t get out of. And if he does need further action, he sends his men to do his dirty work for him. Most of the trouble he causes comes from that saloon,” Logan sneered. “But it’s a gambling hall. Anyone who chooses to play his tables puts themselves at risk. There is little I can do about that.”
Sara groaned, knowing he was right. While Logan took over with cooking the steaks, she set about preparing some green beans. Though she wanted justice and to see Levi put behind bars, the knowledge that he would not be harming her family any more was enough to put Sara’s mind at ease. Together, the family sat down to their meal with all the attention returning to Tom.
It had been some time since the house had seen so much chatter over the dinner table. There was much to be shared, and though the details of the ranch were of great importance, simple family time took precedence. Sara beamed, watching Tom linger over his sons’ every word. She’d not yet had the opportunity to see him in his role as a father. It was clear that he was a natural.
Tom glanced up and noticed Sara’s smile, matching it in return. Then he caught sight of Logan sitting next to her. Somehow, he seemed to be in a different place altogether. Despite Logan’s best efforts to keep his gaze on his plate, his eyes continually wandered over to Sara’s face. A revelation began to dawn on Tom, seeing just how well suited the two would be for each other. Charley’s urgent tugging at Tom’s arm quickly pulled him out of his thoughts and he pushed the idea from his mind, knowing that a furtive glance or two was not enough to equal love.
Charley and Carter stayed up long into the night, telling tales of the things that had occurred in their father’s absence, blissfully unaware of the cause for his disappearance. Janie sat nearby, reveling in their innocence and their reunion with Tom.
The event that had been poised to shatter their dreams in Kansas had been avoided, and things were finally beginning to feel right again. The hopeless feeling that had loomed over their home was giving way to their adventurous hopes once more.
Sara, too, remained in the sitting room for several hours. Though she was overjoyed to see her brother reunited with his family, her thoughts lingered elsewhere. Her purpose in Oakmede had now been served. There was no longer any need for her presence, and her mother awaited her return to Baltimore. Still, something about going home no longer held the joy that she knew it should.
When Janie finally pulled the boys off to their bedroom, Sara, Logan, and Tom remained in the sitting room for a few more minutes, finishing off their tea. At last there was a feeling of peace in the house, and a sense of completion had returned.
Having finished his tea, Logan leaned forward and placed his cup on the coffee table. “I suppose I should be turning in,” he said, rubbing away the sleepiness that had settled in his eyes. “Today was only the start of the work that needs to be done around this town, and the real job begins tomorrow.”
Sara rose to her feet as Logan stood to leave. Her eagerness didn’t escape Tom’s notice. “Whatever still lies ahead, I’m sure that today was the first of many victories in Oakmede.”
“I certainly hope so,” Logan nodded, lingering as their eyes met. Remembering that they were not alone, and noticing a rosiness appearing in Sara’s cheeks, he soon forced his attention elsewhere. “Goodnight, Tom. I’m glad to have you home. And goodnight to you as well,” he said, nodding to Sara one last time before heading toward the bunkhouse.
Late that night, Tom and Janie crawled into bed, utterly exhausted and thankful to be together. Janie eagerly snuggled into her husband’s arms. Lying there, holding his wife, Tom stared up at the ceiling of the bedroom that he’d feared he would not see for several years.
His thoughts lingered on Janie and the boys, as well as all of the trouble Logan had gone to just to return him. He glanced over at his wife’s sleepy smile. She deserved to know the truth, but hearing it from him was bound to make things worse.
“I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have you home,” she sighed, finally breaking the silence. “Somehow, it didn’t seem as if it could be real until you climbed into bed tonight.”
“I can only imagine how hard this has all been on you and the boys. I’m so sorry, darling,” he whispered into her ear.
“Sorry for what? Logan told me that you had been framed.” Janie pulled away from his shoulder just far enough to look him in the face.
“Framed, yes. But there is rarely a lie that doesn’t have a grain of truth in it,” Tom admitted. “If I hadn’t spent so much time around Moran and his men, they would never have had the opportunity to do such a thing.”
“Perhaps,” she nodded. “But things had been so difficult for us over the last year. Stress often leads to poor decisions. You made a mistake…we all do at times. Still, if Logan had done what I asked him to and kept his eye on you, you wouldn’t have been in the saloon in the first place. It still angers me that he walked away from his promise. He wasn’t the one caught up in the middle of th
ings. I merely asked him to be a voice of reason to you. It may not have cost him anything, but we were set up to pay for it dearly!”
Tom bit his lip, struggling with the idea of breaking the truth to her. It wasn’t fair for Logan to continue bearing the shame for Tom’s sins. He’d worked ever so hard to free him in the first place. “Don’t you think that’s a bit unfair? Logan has always been a faithful friend and brother. I am responsible for my own decisions,” Tom pushed. “I made a mistake, but I hope you know that I’ll do everything I can to make it right with you.”
“I do know that,” she nodded. “I just want to get back to the hopes that we had for this place. Last year we nearly lost it all, and this year hasn’t proven to be much better. I hate the thought of having to give up and return east.”
“Now, who put that idea into your head?” Tom asked, gazing into his wife’s eyes in the dim candlelight of their bedroom. “I don’t plan on going anywhere. We’ve invested four years in this ranch, and every cent we have to our name. I won’t give up that easily.”
“I’m thankful for that, but we barely have the funds to pay Mr. Hodges and Mr. Peterson. We need their expertise around here. What are we to do if another need arises, or worse yet, another harsh winter?”
“Janie,” Tom soothed, rubbing his hand over her arm. “Hodges and Peterson are as loyal as they come. I’ve no doubt that they will help us get back onto our feet. And as for the herd and this coming winter, I will have a talk with Hodges in the next few days. We’ll decide what needs to be done. If we find that we need some means of protecting the animals in order to ensure a good drive in the spring, then we’ll work something out. Or if we need to supplement the herd to encourage more calving, then we can address that. The important thing to remember is that any problem can be squared away eventually.”
Janie gazed into Tom’s eyes, studying him. “You’re not speaking like the same man I knew a few months ago. Back then, things seemed as if we were defeated already. What has changed?”
“I suppose I have changed,” he shrugged. “Seeing how quickly this was all being torn away from us moved something in me. It brought back my will to fight for this life we have together.”
“I’m afraid there may be more of a fight involved than you realize. Logan fears that we may not have dealt our last with Moran. After nearly losing you for five years, I sometimes wonder if this is worth that fight,” she sighed.
“I understand, but I’m a smarter man than I was a few months ago. I’ve seen what he’s capable of, and I’m not about to let anything like that happen again. You need not be worried about Moran. Leave him and his dealings to Logan and myself. You’ve had enough to worry about as it is.”
Janie smiled and nudged her head underneath Tom’s chin. He sighed and pulled her in closer. A part of him knew she was right. Levi would not give up so easily on something that he’d already put so much work into, particularly now that his efforts had failed him. Nonetheless, Tom wasn’t about to be run out of his home by some land grabbing crook. No, if Levi tried anything else, he would have a fight on his hands.
Tom laid awake for a while, listening to Janie’s gentle breathing as she drifted off to sleep. He knew he had Logan to thank for his return to his wife’s arms. Somehow, amid his relief and excitement, he had failed to find out how much Logan had genuinely gone through for him. Determining to speak with his brother-in-law in the morning, he snuggled in against Janie and finally found some long-overdue rest.
Chapter 14
The following morning, Tom waited until after Hodges and Peterson had ridden out for the day before approaching the bunkhouse. He gave a quick rap on the door before peering inside. Logan rose from the table at the far end of the main room. Seeing his brother-in-law, he motioned for him to come in.
“I hope I’m not bothering you,” Tom said, stepping inside.
Logan raised a brow. “Of course not. Did you need something?”
“Not really,” Tom shook his head. “I know that the ride home from Pine Ridge should have been plenty of time to catch up on things with you, but I was a bit distracted. The thought of seeing Janie and the boys pushed all else from my mind. Am I keeping you from getting ready for work? Janie told me that you have taken a position at the sheriff’s office.”
“There’s no need for me to rush this morning. Sheriff Graves was going to be at the office early. Come sit down,” Logan invited, pouring Tom some coffee. He topped his cup off while he was at it. “There is clearly something on your mind. What is it?”
Tom sat down across the table, thanking Logan for the coffee. “I wanted to apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused you. First, with the debt, then the arrest…I don’t deserve the kindness you’ve shown me.”
Logan shrugged, never having been one who liked receiving praise. “You and Janie have worked too hard to make a life here just to have it all torn away from you, or worse yet, to have it tear you apart from each other. I’m glad I could do something to help. Besides, I know your heart was in the right place, Moran just took advantage.”
“Perhaps, but I should have known better,” Tom sighed. “When I married Janie, I promised her a better life than I’ve given her these past four years. However hard I might have tried, I shouldn’t have faltered the moment we were dealt a blow. I’m grateful for your help, and I want to assure you that I will do right by her.”
“I know that,” Logan replied, sipping on his coffee. “I wouldn’t have fought so hard against Levi if I didn’t think you’d take care of my sister.”
Tom nodded his understanding. “Speaking of Levi, I still don’t know how you managed to back him into a corner. It’s not like him to give up on a matter.”
Logan scoffed. “He brought most of it on himself. I knew you wouldn’t have been foolish enough to pull a knife on anyone. If he expected to get away with a stunt like that, he shouldn’t have been so blatant.”
“True, but he thought you were gone. He knew Sheriff Graves wouldn’t try to stop him,” Tom reminded him.
“That’s true. Still, Levi hadn’t figured on Sara standing in his way. She showed up ready to fight for you.”
Tom nodded. “She surprised even me! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw her arrive at the trial with Janie. I never dreamt she would travel from Baltimore. It was comforting to know that Janie had some extra help around here in my absence.”
“She has certainly provided that,” Logan agreed. He sat back in his chair, pondering this new woman who held his thoughts so much of the time. “She made sure that Janie had every opportunity to rest and keep her strength up. And she wouldn’t stand for Moran harassing her. Janie was in good hands.”
“I had no doubt of that.” Tom drained the rest of the coffee from his cup. “I hate to poke my nose in where it doesn't belong, but I couldn’t help but notice your fixation on her last night. Is there something going on that I should know about?” he asked, flashing Logan a grin.
Logan remained silent for a moment, unsure of how to answer that. “Am I really that obvious?” he finally asked. “I fancied myself as being a bit more subtle.”
“Sara doesn’t seem to be aware of it, if that’s what you mean. To be honest, I will always see her as the little girl I have so many childhood memories with. But she indeed has grown into a wonderful woman, one who will make a fine wife someday. Seeing the two of you together has made that more obvious than ever.”
Logan shifted uneasily. It was rare for him to indulge in such a conversation. He liked keeping his personal matters to himself. But it was natural for Tom to have a vested interest in the subject. “Are you suggesting that you would bless such a scenario?”
“Of course I would!” he chuckled. “After all that we’ve been through, you’ve more than proved yourself to be dependable.”
Logan flashed a slight grin, knowing how true those words were, but there was still a hesitancy. “Perhaps, but I wouldn’t feel right pursuing anything with her without gaining your approval
. I still feel a responsibility toward Janie, and I’m sure that you feel the same toward your sister.”
“I do, indeed. But of all the men she could potentially wind up with, you would most definitely have my blessing.” Tom studied Logan, who was suddenly far off in his thoughts. He noticed in Logan’s eyes the same caution that he’d felt toward pursuing Janie. As different as the two men could be, they shared some common ground. “You seem unsure of yourself,” he finally ventured, bringing Logan back from his wanderings.
Partners in Justice and Love: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 16