Chapter 28
My grandfather and his men got to our cabin just as I finished walking the corral and checking to be sure all the rails were in place, seated tight in the notches. Fen had just started his trick of kicking the rails and making a break for freedom a couple of weeks back. We needed to do something to stop him. I wouldn't be able to rest until I knew he was safe from his own stubbornness to get out and be free.
All the rails were tight, but I knew that wouldn't matter if Fen decided to take his freedom run. He'd gotten the knack of busting through that one particular section of fence and taking off to see the world whenever it pleased him.
Now, he just stood watching me, like he hadn't done a thing wrong. And maybe, in his mind, he hadn't. Everybody had a different way of seein' things. Fen just wanted to explore the world, but Jacobi and I knew we had to keep him safe from it. Would Fen ever understand that we could be trusted to do that?
Trust. There it was again. The question of trust between Jacobi and me was still raw inside my head, and I knew I had hurt him too, with my doubts. I cursed myself. I never intended for that to happen, but Jacobi was right about one thing: I was going to have to get over the fear of having my life as I knew and loved it ripped away from me. He'd said my grandfather would have to come through him to get to me – and I believed him. Yet, somehow, I still held this unreasoning fear in my soul that my grandfather was more than a man – that he was some kind of evil presence, here to ruin everything I held dear.
I started back toward the cabin with great reluctance just as my grandfather's wagon pulled up into the yard. One of the men drove for him, and the two others rode their horses behind at a short distance. Another horse was tied to the back of the wagon. I assumed it must belong to the man who drove for my grandfather. I'd rather do anything than go to the cabin, but I saw Laura open the back door, one of the triplets on her hip. She motioned for me to come. I picked up my pace a little and waved back, so she'd know I'd seen her
Just then, Deelie Ray pulled the door wider behind Laura, carrying Merry Lee. She was almost as big as Deelie, I thought.
"Hurry, Will! We have company!" She yelled it out like she was announcing the Queen of England or something. I was irritated about everything right now, but mostly with myself.
"I know!" I hollered back. "I'm coming!"
The smile left Deelie Ray's face, and I saw a quick flash of disapproval in Laura's eyes. She said something to Deelie Ray, and she turned to take Merry Lee back inside. Laura waited for me on the steps.
I made as if to play with Gabe, but he turned his dark baby eyes on me as if he disapproved too. I started to open the door for Laura, but she laid a hand firmly on mine.
"Jake told me about our visitors, Will. I know this is hard."
I nodded, feeling the reassurance of her touch, and in her words. She went on, shifting Gabe on her hip as he made a grab for my hat.
"I want you to try to be kinder to Delia, Will." She always called Deelie Ray by her real name – "Delia Renee" – or "Delia" – never Deelie Ray, as she was known by everyone else. There was steel in her request.
I looked up from where I stood at the bottom step. This was important enough to her that she took the time to talk about it rather than join Jacobi as he let the men in the front door.
I nodded, not protesting, I knew she wasn't talking about just now, the way I'd answered, but about the entire time Deelie Ray had been here living with us, since last December.
"You're better than the way you've been treating her. She looks up to you."
That made me shake my head. "She doesn't. She's always trying to tell me what's what. Like she knows everything."
From inside, the sound of the men's voices raised in greeting came, and Laura turned away.
"We'll talk about this later, Will."
She opened the door and I hurried up the steps to help her, following close behind her as we made our way to the open front room where everyone had gathered.
As Jacobi introduced Laura, she stepped forward and shook hands with everyone, making our excuses gracefully by saying she'd gone after Gabriel – he'd made it out to the back porch, and Jacobi was going to have to fix the latch.
"We certainly don't want to impose on your hospitality, Mrs. Kane. You have your hands full," my grandfather said with a smile. "I remember when my children were youngsters. Nelson, the eldest, was a solemn, studious boy. Robert, the youngest, was...the adventurer." He stopped, as if remembering something about my father.
Just his name on the old bastard's tongue made my stomach clench in knots. But I had learned from Jacobi to keep my thoughts from spilling across my face. I kept my expression bland.
"And," my grandfather continued after a moment, "Helena, our daughter, was the peacemaker in our family – quite different from either of her hardheaded brothers. Being between the two of them could not have been easy."
Laura smiled. "I'm sure it made her a strong person. I was the only girl in a family of boys."
My grandfather smiled at Deelie Ray. "At least you won't be in that boat, young lady – not with this little beauty only a few years behind." He inclined his head toward Jacobi who was now holding my little sister, Merry Lee.
It was warm in our cabin. Even though it was late September, the air was thick and dense, and I knew from experience we'd be in for a gully washer of a storm before nightfall.
I'd bet a nickel Jacobi wouldn't allow my grandfather and the men to sleep out in the open by the creek as they'd planned. We'd have a full house tonight. At the very least, the old man would get to pitch his bedroll on the floor where we stood, and the others might sleep in the barn.
Two of the men took their leave and went back outside to see to their livestock. Jacobi gave me a nod.
"Let's go show them where to put the horses, son. We'll have rain before long."
My grandfather cocked his head to one side. "The air here is thick enough to cut with a knife. I believe you're right, Mr. Kane."
"Just call me Jake, Mr. Green."
"Then, I'll be Robert to you."
Jacobi nodded, excusing us, and we walked outside to make our way toward the barn. We helped the men who worked for my grandfather unharness the horses and get them fed and put up.
I left them and went outside to check on Fen. I was worried already about the next time he kicked a rail and ran off. None of our other horses had ever done anything of the kind like Fen did.
We'd built a lean-to farther down in the pasture so the horses could get out of bad weather, and have some shade on hot summer days. But with the clouding sky, I knew this wasn't going to be a storm we'd leave our animals out in. Not only would our barn be bursting at the seams, so too would our living space.
That was one thing I treasured about my room. It was built up in the loft space over the back part of the house, and I could look down into the front room. The best thing was, I had it all to myself, so I could go up there and lay on my bed and just think, if I wanted to. And I had a lot of thinking to do, it seemed like. I'd be able to hear everything too, should my grandfather have anything important to say to Jacobi.
Fen came over to me like he wanted to make up for running off earlier. I reached up and patted him. "It's okay, boy. Sometimes, I feel like runnin' away for a few hours, too."
He whickered softly as I reached up to pet him. He never meant any harm. He just wanted to see the world. I guess that was what my grandfather had felt like when he'd been a cabin boy, a sailor, a captain...and then, a ship builder. He'd passed that restlessness on to my father, but not his love of the sea. I didn't think I had either of those things in me, at all – the love of the sea, or the wanderlust. I was perfectly content right here.
I began to walk back to the barn and Fen followed me. He was just about the best horse I'd ever seen. He had his sire's fire and independence, and his mother's love for people. He wanted to please, but he also had to know his limits.
"I won't ever leave you," I said quie
tly, stopping midway to the barn. When Fen and I looked into each other's eyes, we had us an understanding. "No one can make me, Fen."
And just sayin' it made me feel better, but there was still a part of me that didn't seem certain.
Chapter 29
We'd gotten the horses all stabled when the storm hit us. My grandfather's men had decided to ride it out in the barn rather than come into the house with three toddlers. I guess they weren't used to havin' babies around.
Merry Lee, Little Jake, and Gabe were all pretty good at walking, now. I was sure glad my room was upstairs. Laura and Jacobi were strict about not letting them climb on the ladder that went up to my room. Laura, especially was afraid they would fall, but I believe Jacobi thought she was worried for nothing. Still, we all told them "no" when they tried to manage the first rung.
When the beginning gusts of wind whipped up, the temperature began to drop some, and the breeze cooled the house off enough to where we could tolerate going back inside. We'd all been sitting on the front porch. My grandfather, Jacobi, and Laura sat in some of the kitchen chairs we'd moved out there, and Deelie Ray and I chased the triplets all over the front and side of the house, where the huge old oaks and elms grew along the creek. The shade they gave us was welcome during those hot summers, and sometimes we even slept outside to try to get cool.
But Laura's look was worried as my grandfather began to cough, and she suggested we go back inside.
I ran after Little Jake, who always tried to head for the creek, and scooped him up. He laughed and reached up to put his hand on my cheek.
This was the little brother I had prayed for so hard. And God had sure answered this time around. He usually pretty much ignored me, I thought; but, for whatever reason He'd seen fit, He'd given me two brothers and a sister. And He'd thrown Deelie Ray in for good measure, I figured.
Looking into Little Jake's brown eyes, I knew we had us a bond already that wouldn't ever be broke. It was the same with Gabe and Merry Lee, and it made me proud to be a big brother. They already admired me, Laura said, so Deelie Ray and me always had to be good examples. And even though Deelie Ray spent more time with them, since she helped Laura out while me and Jacobi tended to the men's work, I secretly believed Little Jake and Gabe both looked up to me more than her. At least, I hoped that was how it was. I felt better when Jacobi had agreed with me about it.
I held Little Jake tightly as he tried to squirm out of my arms and get down. We made it back to the shelter of our porch just as the first raindrops began to fall.
Just as we came through the door, my eyes met my grandfather's for a moment, and I realized he'd been watching me. By his look, I knew there was no more need for pretence. He knew who I was. His expression said so, as clearly as if he had shouted it aloud.
Breathless, I waited for him to speak. He held a cup of water, to help quell the coughing, I imagined. Even hot as it was, Laura bustled around in the kitchen, setting on a pot of coffee.
"This will help your cough, Mr. Green," she said. Turning, she caught the long look that passed between me and the old man. The air in the room crackled with tension so thick you could almost hear it. The silence roared around us. Even the babies were quiet, as was Deelie Ray – for once.
My grandfather slanted a cool look toward Laura, nodded his head, and let a veiled expression come into his keen eyes. "Thank you, Laura. I appreciate your thoughtfulness."
Just then, Gabe cried, "Da-Da!" from where he stood looking out the back door. I could see Jacobi sprinting through the rain. He'd gone straight down to the barn when we'd come inside earlier to be sure the horses were all secure and that our guests didn't need anything.
Jacobi scooped Gabe up as he came through the door, turning to latch it behind him. "Isn't it nap time for you?"
Gabe looked at him solemnly. "No."
Laura and Jacobi laughed. That was Gabe's answer to everything, no matter what the question might be.
"Yes, it is," Laura said, looping her arm around Jacobi, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Come on, Delia, let's get these three little rascals down for a rest."
Deelie Ray stood up quickly from over by the hearth where she'd sat on the floor, occupying Little Jake and Merry Lee. They trailed after her eagerly as she headed for the nursery, all important-like. I sometimes envied Deelie Ray, getting to do nothing but play with the babies all day long. But much as I loved them, I was glad to be Jacobi's right-hand man, and we had plenty to keep us busy all day long around our ranch.
I had seen the quick look that Laura had given Jacobi – a warning glance he understood immediately. Now, he turned slowly to face my grandfather. There was no pretence between them, either. Oddly enough, I felt a great weight lift from my shoulders too. We would get this settled now, once and for all.
Chapter 30
"Mr. Kane." My grandfather reached to grasp the back of the settee he stood beside, his fingers turning white with the pressure.
Jacobi watched him, then gave a slight nod of acknowledgement, as if he were silently letting him know that everything was out in the open now. But instead of saying that, he said, "Why don't you be seated, sir? Will..." He glanced at the other end of the settee, meaning for me to do the same.
Rebellion was on my tongue, but I held it back, and walked over to the settee to take a seat. I didn't even want to sit beside him!
Jacobi moved across the room and eased down into the chair he always occupied. Finally, my grandfather sat down beside me, gingerly.
"Speak your piece, Mr. Green." Jacobi said it with all the seriousness of a man challenging another to a duel. His eyes were somber, and...deadly. I'd seen this look; just before he'd killed Laughing Wind. This was going to be a fight to the death of a different kind.
"You have something of mine, and I want it."
My grandfather's voice was rough, as though he were angry, but trying to control himself. He held himself stiff and aloof, almost like he thought he was better than Jacobi. He should've known better than to do that. Jacobi was the kind of man who didn't believe in looking down on others, but he didn't hold that he had to look up, either.
Jacobi seemed to relax into this chair, but I knew he could move with the speed of a big cat. His eyes were hooded and after a moment, he shook his head.
"I have nothing that belongs to you."
"You have my grandson, Kane," he rasped. "William Robert Green." He said my name slowly to emphasize he knew just exactly who I was, despite what he'd been led to believe.
I didn't expect Jacobi to show the old man how riled he was by any kind of a fight. But when I saw the way his eyes went to slate, and his jaw tensed, I knew my grandfather had met his match. Jacobi would fight for me – in his own way.
"Will's not a possession, Mr. Green. He's a young man."
The old coot turned to look at me – more of a glare than anything. I sat forward in silent challenge. Though I said nothing, I knew my grandfather could read my mutinous thoughts easily enough.
"What about it, boy?" He narrowed his keen blue eyes, as if to see inside my soul. "Are you my grandson?"
I didn't have to glance at Jacobi for guidance. He was right; I was on the edge of manhood. This was just one more step.
"God help me, I wish it wasn't so." My voice was steady and clear, and my words surprised him so that he moved back, as if I'd struck him.
His eyes were as blue as I figured the ocean must be, and it reminded me all over again about why Papa and Mama had been so driven to come west. And why they were dead, now. Because of him.
"You will come back with me. To Boston."
My heart took off runnin' like Fen did when he busted through the fence. I sat forward even more, looking him straight in the eyes. "No, I ain't. I ain't goin', an' you can't force me." My breath had all but stopped, and my ears buzzed like there was a thousand angry hornets tryin' to get at me.
The old man sat there, tryin' to figure out his next move. He had not counted on this, I could tell, and i
t made me all the madder, to think he'd believed I'd just pack up and go.
But I noticed a flash of admiration come into his expression alongside the anger. He let himself slowly relax back against the settee.
"Will, why are you so angry at me?"
Well, it was just the chance I'd been waiting for to rip into him. It would've been beyond rude to've said anything first, but in light of how Jacobi had told him I was a man, I figured we'd have us a man-to-man talk. I'd do my best to keep it civil. But where would I begin? What would I start with?
"If it hadn't been for you, Mama and Papa and Lisbeth would still be alive."
He quirked a silvered eyebrow and cocked his head. "I...don't follow you."
"Papa told me all about you. He told me how you tried to make him into a ship builder, but he didn't want to do that. That's why he left. He told me he didn't have any money except what he'd put back from his own work. He and Mama came west to start their lives as far away from Boston as they could get."
He sighed heavily. "I suppose it would do no good to argue the point that your father picked an unsatisfactory place to settle. Too far from other neighbors who might have come to his aid when the savages attacked."
Truth was, he did have a point. I'd heard Papa and Mama talk about that very thing when they'd believed me and Lisbeth were sleeping. Mama had worried about it a lot, but Papa would get angry, saying she shouldn't doubt his judgment. But it set me on fire to know my grandfather had felt the same way Mama had, and that they had been right, after all.
"How would you know?"
"Will—" There was a warning tone in Jacobi's voice, and I knew I was dangerously close to the total disrespect that Jacobi would not abide.
But my grandfather didn't look at him. His gaze stayed riveted on me. "I know because I've been there," he said very quietly. "I visited...the graves...before I traveled on down here, to Texas."
I hadn't expected that. Not in a million years. For a minute, I was torn between wanting desperately to know about where my folks had been buried. Are Mama's flowers still blooming? I wanted to ask, and the question rose to my lips, but now was not the time for such. I looked down, hating that I had looked away first, but there was such a wash of sadness in me I had to somehow control.
Ride The Wild Range Page 15