by Indiana Wake
She had the extra bed in her room removed and brought into the spare room. Ellie would not need it now that she was married and it would be a far better bed for Aunt Sandra than the one presently in the guest room.
As she worked, she wondered where Lawton was. He seemed to be spending more and more time out on the range and less and less at home. Was it her fault? Did he find it uncomfortable here after she had turned him down as a prospective husband? For now it didn’t matter there was work to be done. The guest room, it seemed, hadn’t gotten many visitors over the years and there was much that needed taking care of. Susan made sure that there were fresh towels; the curtains were clean and pulled back, the bed had lots of pillows and that not a speck of dirt was anywhere to be found. She even brought in flowers to put in a vase by the bed. It gave the room a fresh feeling.
In between her work, she would nip back and check on Cupcake. Each time the dog saw her, its tail would wag a greeting and she could tell she was getting stronger. “Soon my little Cupcake,” she said. “Soon you will be well again.” With a gentle rub between the eyes, she left the dog and went back to her work.
The room wasn’t the only thing that Susan saw to either. She made sure that every nook and cranny in the whole house was shiny and clean. Flowers decorated as many rooms as possible and she drew back all the blinds so that lots of light flooded the house with sunshine. Once she had finished, not a thing was out of place.
Lawton had been away the entire day and did not even come back in time for dinner. Susan was rather worried for his safety and after dinner when Ellie was talking to Foster Treherne she cornered Jarrett.
“Why is Lawton not home?” she asked.
“Oh, you needn’t worry, sister,” Jarrett replied. “He’s just gone out on business and will be home soon enough.”
“But what is the danger, Jarrett,” Susan begged to know. “I understand you don’t want Ellie to know, you want to protect her, but I will not be kept in the dark any longer.
Jarrett shook his head and turned to leave.
Susan grabbed him by the arm and spun him back around. “I wish to know immediately,” she said, “what is this danger that has Lawton so worried?”
Jarrett looked undecided, battling within himself whether to tell her or not. Susan waited quietly, silently praying that he would answer. Yet the seconds ticked slowly passed. Just as he was about to tell her, Ellie came in.
“Susan, I think Cupcake needs you,” she said. “She’s whining and scratching the floor again. You best go see to her.”
Jarrett sagged in relief, but Susan gave him a look before leaving that said this wasn’t over and she would be back for answers. She went upstairs to her room and gently lifted cupcake. There were a few advantages to being a big strong woman. She could easily carry the dog outside and then hold her while she attended to business. Then she carried her back to their room and lifted her into her lap.
Holding the dog and stroking her soft fur she began to pray that Lawton would return home soon and safely. She did not know why she worried so much about him, but she knew this danger was bad and that had her concerned.
Just as she finished praying, there was a light knock on the door. Assuming it must be Ellie, for who else would call at this hour, she asked her to come in. The door opened but instead of Ellie, Lawton walked into the room. Surprised that he would visit at such a late hour, she quickly sat up.
He could not look her in the eye as he slowly made his way to the bed and sat down on a chair next to it. “Jarrett said you were worried that I hadn’t come home yet,” he said looking down at Cupcake with those big blue eyes. “So I thought it best to come up and let you know I was fine and home safely.”
Susan sat there completely blank. It was like her mind had gone mute. She couldn’t believe that Jarrett would tell him she was worried. But more than that, she found it hard to believe that this big, tough, independent man had come to ease her concern. That he had called on her to let her know that he was back safely. He seemed a far different man than when she had first met him. Gone was the bossy and spoiled brat that had the staff running at his every demand. This man before her seemed kind and gentle, but he also seemed worried.
Lawton shifted in place as if uneasy with the silence. “Also, I wanted to check up on Cupcake here,” he said. “To see how she was doing.”
“What is out there that has you so riled up all the time,” Susan let the words slip out of her mouth before she had time to think or censure them.
“It is nothing, there is nothing you need to worry about,” he said and then turned to leave.
Chapter 4
“That is not good enough,” she said. “There is danger and I have a right to know what it is.”
Lawton turned back and stared at her in amazement. She had always been forthright with him, but he thought she would not ask this. But he was wrong Susan needed to know. She wasn’t going to back down and if he didn’t want to answer, he was going to have to leave the room.
“Every time you leave you take that rifle with you,” she said. “You’re always weary and jumpy. You don’t let us travel alone. What is out there, Lawton that has you on edge all the time?”
After looking at her for a few more seconds, he put a hand through thick brown hair that was kissed by the sun.
She could see on his handsome face that he wanted to leave. There were worry lines above his high cheekbones and his full lips were drawn tight into a thin denial.
“Tell me, I need to know or I will have to take Ellie and leave here,” she said hoping and praying that it would not come to that. How could she break her sister’s heart so?
“Are you really worried?” he asked. “I am handling it and it would be better for you not to know.”
“I need to know. I cannot handle another day of worrying if everyone makes it back safely. Knowing is better than my imagination.”
“Very well then,” he said and the tension seemed to leave him. “A band of outlaws has been tormenting all the farmlands and ranches around these parts. So far they have only taken cattle but a few weeks’ back two ranch hands were shot at and one was wounded.”
Susan listened to his words and felt her heart pound in her chest. When they came West, they did not expect gun battles and outlaws. Had she done the right thing?
“I don’t know exactly where they are or what they are after,” Lawton continued. “So I must be prepared at all times in case I come across them. That is the reason for me being on edge and the rifle I carry with me. So far, they have not made an attempt at the house but until I know what it is they are after… Until they are caught, I cannot help but be alert at all times. But I assure you and Ellie I will make sure that you, that all of you are safe.”
He promised to keep all of them safe with such a passion that Susan’s respect for the man before her grew tenfold. She had done right and Ellie’s happiness proved it. Since she had got to know him, she had seen such a protective, tender side to him. One had never imagined. Perhaps, she had been too hasty in judging him but whatever the past was, the fact was that a man like him would never desire a woman as unseemly as her. He had said to his own brother how he could not imagine facing his friends with such a fat old thing by his side. But looking at him now, she regretted that she had not taken up the offered marriage. He was good and honest and a godly man. He would protect them and provide for her and he was most attractive.
She shook her head. Thoughts like these were foolish and ill placed. They had no future and to think otherwise would only cause her more pain later on. “Thank you for telling me,” she said putting thoughts of him as her husband out of her mind. “I know you only wish to protect us, but I will sleep better knowing the truth. I hope you are taking every precaution when it comes to your own life as well. It is all well and good to keep the rest of us safe, but you must be safe also.”
He looked up at her surprised. The woman he had scorned over and over again was worried about his life. He
could not understand this woman, who was so kind and gentle but firm and stubborn at the same time. With a smile, he replied, “If I were lax about it before, I will not be anymore. You shouldn’t worry, though. We will all be fine.”
“With you protecting us, how could it be otherwise,” she said with a grin.
“Good to know I inspire so much confidence. I shall leave you to sleep now. Good night Miss Susan.” He nodded her goodnight and left the room.
“Good night,” Susan replied to a closing door. Quickly she said another prayer, one of thanks to the Lord for providing such a man as good as Lawton to take care of them.
Chapter 5
The next morning after breakfast Susan sat with Ellie.
“It was marvelous,” Ellie said. “And Jarrett is such a gentleman. Oh, the things we did the things we saw and he took me for a meal.”
“Slow down,” Susan said. “We have all the time in the world and I want to hear every detail.” She felt heat hit her cheeks. “Well, maybe not every detail but I want to know what a wonderful time you had.”
“And I will tell you. It was so exciting and so romantic.”
They stopped at the sound of horses pulling up outside. It could only be Aunt Sandra and the carriage that had been scheduled to arrive sometime that morning.
“We will talk again later,” Susan said and they got up and rushed down to the entrance to greet their new Aunt.
Mr. Treherne and his two sons already stood as a most handsome welcoming committee. Upon seeing Ellie, Jarrett’s whole face lit up and he looked at her with a mischievous smile.
Lawton also turned toward them and bowed slightly to Susan. Susan found her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him, but she curtsied in response. They all stood together as one family to greet the new arrival and for a second Susan wished it could be true.
A ranch hand stepped down and Susan noticed there was another up top with a rifle. He nodded at Lawton and climbed down the other side. The first hand opened the door and from out of the carriage, descended a heavy old lady who could only be Aunt Sandra.
She was a big woman, but she had friendly features and gentle eyes. Seeing them all waiting for her she offered a gracious, if tired smile.
Coming up the steps, she hugged each of her nephews in turn and said, “My, how I’ve missed you both. What handsome young men you’ve grown up to be and Jarrett is married too.”
“Aunt Sandra, you saw us but three years ago; we couldn’t have grown up that much,” Jarrett said his voice full of laughter. He then placed a hand on Ellie’s back and brought her forward to be introduced. “Aunty, this is my lovely bride, Ellie and this is her sister, Susan.” He gestured towards Susan.
Both sisters curtsied and welcome the lady.
After the introductions had been made and the pleasantries were out of the way, Aunt Sandra retired to her room to rest for a bit. Ellie and Susan went off to see to the dinner and other chores that needed doing.
That evening, as they all sat together for dinner, Aunt Sandra asked the two girls about their family.
“My father died of a heart attack. After he had died, we lived with our Aunt Melissa. When she could no longer afford to keep us on, we decided to move to the West. It is a lovely place, from the little I’ve seen,” Susan answered.
“Oh yes, it is. You must travel sometime and see the beauty of this land. What of your mother, though?” Aunt Sandra asked gently.
“She too died,” Susan answered shortly.
Ellie looked up at her sister with a surprised expression that Lawton noticed immediately. Knowing better than to question her sister in front of all these people, Ellie remained quiet.
“Well, we are your family now; both of yours. So, if you ever need anything, dears don’t be shy to ask me,” Aunt Sandra said, kindly.
“Thank you very much for your generous offer, we appreciate it immensely. Do tell about your house and the land there. Is it very different from here,” Susan asked putting an end to the topic of family and such. But she knew she would have to answer to Ellie for her small lie.
Chapter 6
The next day, after breakfast and chores, Susan walked out towards the alcove a little farther in the gardens. It was a favorite haunt of hers and she liked to come out there often. The sound of nature busy at work was soothing to her and she always felt at peace as if she were in a little bubble where time and life did not exist. She was sitting, enjoying the fresh summer air when she heard someone approach her. She turned to look and was surprised to see Lawton coming towards her.
“Do you mind if I join you for a bit?” he asked. “I needed to get out of that house. Aunt Sandra can be a bit stifling at times. She means well but after living without a mother for so long it can be a bit too much to handle.”
She wondered why he would want to sit with her when there were so many other places he could rather be, but she nodded her assent. Smiling at her, he sat. Sitting back she tried to relax, but her mind kept wondering about Lawton’s mother. It was the first time any of the men of the Treherne family had willing brought her up in the conversation.
Unable to contain her curiosity for much longer, she turned toward Lawton. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to your mother?” She blushed as she asked, for lately it seemed that she couldn’t help but ask questions from him. She tried to keep him at a distance and to not get caught up in his life, but here she was, hungry for a glance into his past and a chance perhaps to figure out what made him the man he was.
He looked uncomfortable and squirmed where he sat. Feeling stupid for asking, she was about to ask him to not answer.
“I was fourteen when my family went on a trip around the country,” he said his eyes downcast and his voice as cold as steel. “We loved to explore and visit new places. We had decided to visit Denver and see the city. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and were on our way back home when we were robbed.” Raising his eyes, he stared across the plains at the distant mountains. “Father had to stay back in the city for an extra day to take care of some business. We had stopped at an inn to get some rest. That night, I woke up to screaming and the smell of smoke. I quickly woke my brother who was only ten at the time and I needed to make sure he was alright. I sent him with a maid downstairs to the stables and went to fetch our mother. When I went to her room, I heard her screaming. I opened the door to find three men holding her down. They were…” He couldn’t seem to go on.
Susan leaned across and put a hand on his arm. He turned toward her with misty eyes and said, “I tried to save her, but the men were too big for me to fight. They knocked me down and while I struggled to get up, they cut her throat right in front of me. They grabbed anything they could get their hands on and took off. I sat beside my mother’s corpse for the longest time, sobbing. The Inn was on fire and I couldn’t breathe any longer so I picked her up and ran out. I had a brother who needed me. I had failed to take care of my mother, I would not fail him.”
After his story, there was silence. It seemed as though the entire world had turned mute. He stared out across the dusty plains, looking at nothing and a tear fell from his eyes. After a few moments, he turned back to her. “I have never told anyone but my father about that night,” he said. “Not even Jarrett. I do not know why I told you, but I trust that you won’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t, you have my word,” Susan said, sincerely. She felt for the boy who had gone through so much. No wonder he was always so cynical and unable to see the good in anyone or anything.
Chapter 7
They sat quietly for some time. Lawton was staring off into the distance with Susan’s hand lightly on his arm. It felt good to offer comfort and she wanted to hug him, but knew it would be too much. So instead she stayed quiet and let him come to terms with his memories.
At last he sighed and looked towards her. “Now that you know about my mother, may I ask about yours?” he asked.
“I believe you already know about my mother,” Susa
n said, trying to avoid answering.
“The look Ellie gave you, told me that there was much more to the story than you were letting on.”
“Very well, I am rather ashamed of the truth but I know I can trust you too. My mother was the love of my father’s life but apparently she did not feel the same way. She ran away with some other man and did not even inform anyone of her intentions or that she had fallen in love. She left Ellie and me without a word and never came back. The entire town searched for her for the longest time until my father received a letter from her, telling him she hadn’t been happy with him and that she loved another and had run off with him. It broke my father’s heart. He was always gentle and kind and I can’t believe my mother could ever be unhappy with him. She is the reason my father is dead and I hate her!” As Susan recollected those days, she got angrier and by the end of her speech she was livid with anger.
This time, Lawton was the one who put a hand on her. He looked at her with sympathetic eyes and said, “You shouldn’t hate her. It wasn’t her fault that she fell in love with someone else. Sometimes love has the strangest ways of finding you and you don’t even realize it. Your father must have been an admirable man, but he wasn’t the man for her. When that man came along, she couldn’t help but fall in love with him no matter how wrong it appeared to be.”
“Are you saying that what my mother did was right?” Susan said, standing up in anger. “My father died because of that woman and you are suggesting that it was alright!”
Standing up as well, he grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her towards him. “That is not what I am saying. Of course, the way she went about it was completely wrong and she ended up hurting a lot of people. What she did to you and Ellie is unforgivable but… What I’m trying to explain is that sometimes you cannot help but fall in love with someone even though your head is telling you it’s the wrong person or time or other such stuff. You fall in love and when you do there is no reason or rhyme. Sometimes you do what love demands and that is your undoing.”