They waited a moment. Jackson opened his mouth to say something when a loud cracking was heard. Just ahead where they would have been walking a tree fell, crashing to the ground.
Jackson looked at Ryder, his eyes wide with shock. “How did you know that tree was going to fall?”
“I didn’t. I just knew we had to stop and wait.” Ryder exchanged a glance with Nate.
“But how? Did you hear something? I didn’t.” Jackson looked from brother to brother.
“When you’re listening to God, sometimes He gives a warning. I’ve been praying that we get home safely. Thanking God that He’s going to get us home. I just knew He was telling me to stop and wait. Nothing else. I didn’t know the tree was going to fall. Just that we were supposed to stop.”
Nate nodded slightly, letting Ryder know his explanation was good.
Jackson looked from Ryder to the tree they now had to climb over or go around and back at his friends. “Is it safe to go on now?”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Ryder took his pole from Nate who’d picked it up.
The tree was a large one, the trunk too wide to climb over. It extended clear into the river so they had to move further inland to move past it.
Jackson kept glancing at Ryder, questions in his eyes.
“That’s the boat Jackson Hershell uses. He’d go out with one of the loggers and they’d fish or hunt. The logger died in the mudslide.” Sewell stepped into the water and grabbed the side, pulling the rowboat to shore. It had floated into the inlet many townsfolk used for fishing.
Clay knew it wasn’t there by accident. He helped beach it and picked up the rope trailing from the bow. “This has been cut. See, the end’s straight instead of ragged as if it was worn through.”
“Yep.” Sewell looked across the river. “They must be upstream. It had to float down here. Did they tell anyone where they were going?”
‘No, I think they didn’t want anyone to know they were going onto the river.”
“There’s a large island upriver a ways. We’ll head there first.” Sewell lifted his leg and climbed into the boat. Clay followed.
“That’s where they’ll be. At the near end.”
Sewell looked at him as he pushed off with an oar. “You know that?”
“Yeah. I had a Calling to come here. Now I see the end of an island.”
“Well, I’m not one to question a Calling.” Sewell bent to the oars moving the boat upstream.
Clay picked up a tin can and began bailing the water collecting in the boat from the rain.
“There’s the island,” Clay said after a while.
Sewell turned around on his seat and adjusted the angle he was rowing to aim the boat toward the island’s point. “Can you see them?”
“No, not yet. Let’s land and scout around.”
Clay jumped out to drag the craft onto the shore when they arrived. He didn’t see anyone. Come on, Lord. You Called me here.
Clay moved inland just into the woods from the beach. “Ryder, Nate, Jackson,” he hollered. He bent his head to listen. He yelled again. Sewell turned to go in a different direction
“Pa.”
Clay moved forward. It was Ryder’s voice. Then he heard Nate yell too. He moved faster. Sewell came alongside. They shoved through thickets, hearing the boys doing the same.
Two bodies slammed into his. Clay wrapped his arms around them. “You’re safe. We’re here.”
Jackson was being hugged by Sewell. Once the joy of finding each other was over they stepped back.
“The rope on the boat was cut,” Nate said. He fished the piece he had out of his pocket. “See.”
“We know. We found the boat in the fishing cove by town.” Sewell took the rope, looking at it.
“I knew you’d be coming for us. We headed to this end of the island. We were at the other end,” Ryder said.
“Good thinking.” Clay patted his son’s shoulder.
“Ryder made us stop. Then a tree fell right where we were going. He knew something was going to happen.” Jackson told Sewell.
“God just told me to stop. So we did.”
“Always a wise thing to obey the Lord,” Sewell said.
“Well, let’s get in the boat and back to town. I’m wet and cold and your Mama is most likely frantic with worry.” Clay gave Nate a light shove toward the shore. When Nate grinned at him Clay frowned. “We’ll be having a chat about telling us where you’re going when we get home.”
Millie met them at the door. She didn’t care that they were wet. She hugged each one tightly to her, kissing their heads and thanking the Lord that they were home and healthy.
“I was so worried. Where were you?” She gave Ryder a little shake.
“They had gone to an island upriver.” Clay rolled up his raincoat so it wouldn’t drip on the rug.
“What?” Millie frowned at both boys. Hands on her hips, she said, “There’s hot water for baths on the stove. You get warm and dry, then I’ll fix your supper.”
“Can you fry up our catch? We even cleaned them.” Nate held up the pouch and pulled out the crumpled, leaf wrapped bundle of fish. Clay smacked him lightly on the back of the head.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MILLIE WATCHED CLAY as he changed into his nightshirt. She was thankful the boys were okay and home. Now she had some questions. This was the second time Clay ‘knew’ something was going on without any reason he should. First, it was the bank robbery. Now, he’d known where the boys were before he even left the building. She frowned when Clay dropped his socks on the floor but didn’t say anything.
When he got into bed, Millie rolled on her side to look at him. “Okay, mister. How did you know where they were? We had no clue they’d taken a boat to the island. While you think of an answer to that, figure out how to tell me you knew about the bank going to be robbed.”
Clay lay on his back staring at the ceiling. “I’ve delayed in telling you because it can sound crazy. People in Stones Creek know all about them. I haven’t said anything because some people don’t or won’t understand.”
“Understand what?”
Clay took a deep breath and turned on his side. “Don’t say anything until I’m done. It’s a complicated story.
“People in my family have Callings. They are from the Lord and always help save people, bring outlaws to justice, that sort of thing. It goes back in my family a long way. My Grandma Aggie, as she put it, gathered girls in need to her. She’d come across young girls or teens who were in desperate situations and either take them in or help them in whatever way she could. She just knew when one needed her. She’d know where they were and find them.
“My pa didn’t have the Callings too much or he never mentioned having any, but then, Stones Creek had my great-uncle coming to town whenever there was a real problem. My great-uncle was Nugget Nate Ryder.”
Millie started to say something but Clay placed his fingers on her lip.
“Nugget Nate had the strongest Callings of anyone. He went all over the country following the Lord to where he and his skills were needed. His grandson, Nathan Ryder, is my second cousin. He’s known as The Preacher.
“Nathan came to Stones Creek one summer with Nate and Aunt Penny. He taught me a lot about hunting and shooting and living off the land. He helped me understand the Callings, how to recognize them and figure them out.
“I had a Calling that day of the bank robbery. I wasn’t sure until I headed to the jail what was going to happen, but by the time I got there it was clear in my head. Marshal Sewell grew up in Kentucky on the mountain where Nate and my grandma were born and raised. He knows about the Callings.
“Today, I had one about the boys. I knew where to go to be able to find them. First, to the fishing spot where we found the boat. Then, to the island.” Clay stopped, waiting for her response.
Millie looked at him. “You should have told me before now. I’m your wife. You should have trusted me.”
Clay brushed her cheek with t
he back of his fingers. “I didn’t want you to think I was off in the head.”
“I know all about Nugget Nate and his Callings. I read all the books with his stories in them when I was growing up. They were wonderful stories. I loved them.”
“They were even better when he told them.” Clay chuckled. “I, and every boy he ever met, have the very knife Jim Bowie gave him after he killed some man. I can’t remember the rest of it. Nathan said he gave them out every time they stopped.”
Millie laughed. “I’ll bet you and every other boy thought that was the greatest thing ever.”
“We did,” Clay said, then he sobered. “Ryder’s having Callings. He had one today which saved their lives. He was Called to stop and wait. He made the other boys stop. A huge tree fell just where they would have been if they hadn’t stopped. He had a small one about Terhall a while back. Knew the man wasn’t a good man. We’ve talked about it. Nate knows about them, but I don’t think he’s had any. He’s a little young yet. Comes on about Ryder’s age.”
Millie nodded, thinking. “Ryder, Nate, Ben, you named your sons after Nugget Nate and your father.”
“Yes, my pa, Nate, and Nathan were a great influence on me as I grew up. It was a way I could honor their legacy.”
Clay lay against Millie’s back, his arm around her waist. She was sleeping. He never got in this position until she was asleep. He wasn’t going to pressure her, but waiting to make her his wife in more than name was getting harder.
She’d surprised him with her easy acceptance of the Callings. He’d never thought she’d know anything about Nugget Nate or The Preacher. He should have known. Nugget Nate was a legend. They even had some of the books for sale in the store.
Maybe he should tell her of his attraction. Maybe even of his love. What if she wasn’t attracted to him? What if she didn’t want him? She seemed to enjoy when he gave her small touches. Sometimes she’d lean against him.
Millie seemed to love his children. She’d been in tears greeting Ryder and Nate when they got home. Her actions toward them were definitely that of a mother worried over her offspring. Clay grinned in the dark. She’d even fried the pieces of fish they’d brought home, broken and battered as they were.
Millie turned in his arms until she was facing him. Her eyes were open. “Are you ever going to hold me when we are awake or only when you think I’m asleep?”
Clay looked at the invitation in her eyes. He drew her closer and pressed his lips to hers.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AS A PUNISHMENT for not telling anyone where they were going, or asking permission, Ryder and Nate were working on the bedrooms again. They were nailing lath to the framing and would be plastering as soon as that was done. Until the room was completed they weren’t allowed any free time. This encouraged diligence on the part of the young men.
Clay was inspecting the day’s accomplishment. “You’re making good progress. Just the ceiling left to lath. Another day or so and you’ll be able to start plastering.”
The boys looked up at the vast space and sighed. “Yes, sir.”
Clay chuckled and rubbed each boy on the head. “Come on. Let’s go wash up. It’s just about time for supper.”
As they preceded him out the door Clay stopped. A frisson went up his back. Something was going to happen. He wasn’t sure what but knew the Calling was something dealing with his family.
Neither Terhall nor his henchmen had been seen in town lately. The marshal checked in with Clay several times a week. No one thought he’d left Silverpines for good.
Clay didn’t say anything about his Calling to Millie, but he thought she realized something as he wasn’t entering into the conversations going on around the table. After supper he went down to the mercantile checking that the doors and windows were locked. He checked that all the stoves were cold and the lanterns out.
“Is everything all right?” Millie asked when he came back upstairs.
“Yes. I just went to check on things.” Clay picked up Abe who was pulling on his pant leg. “You want to play a bit, buddy.”
“Horsie,” said Abe.
Clay got down on his knees and let Abe crawl on his back. As he gently bucked the toddler up and down, Clay prayed for God’s protection and for him to know what to do when the Calling revealed itself.
Clay rolled over, turning away from Millie. He’d been holding her as they slept. He stared into the darkness. A vision of flames burst into his mind. Sitting up he patted Millie on the back. “Get up. We need to get the children out of here.”
“What?” Millie’s voice was groggy with sleep.
Clay was pulling his britches on. “It’s a Calling. There’s going to be a fire. We need to get the children.”
Millie jumped out of bed and grabbed a dressing gown, slipping it on over her nightgown. Clay had his boots on and grabbed the gun belt he kept beside the bed at night.
A knock sounded on their door. Ryder opened it, coming in before Clay could answer. “Pa, something’s wrong. I just know it.”
“I know. Get your brothers and wake Fern. We need to get out as soon as we can. Then you head to the marshal’s office. There’s going to be a fire.”
Ryder turned and ran from the room.
“I’ll get Abe. You get the girls. Head to the park. Make sure all the boys and girls but Ryder are with you.” Clay ran into Abe’s room scooping him up from his crib.
Millie was waking Opal and Grace. She picked up Ida. “Come girls. We need to get out now.”
“Where’s Kitty?” Opal cried.
Fern ran into the room. “What’s going on? Is it another earthquake. Ryder said we had to leave.”
“An earthquake?” Grace squealed. She was clutching the doll Lucy had given her for Christmas. Her eyes were wide with fear.
“We need to get out, Fern. Don’t ask questions now. Find Kitty.” Millie was grabbing blankets from the beds.
“Come on, girls,” Clay yelled.
“Here’s Kitty.” Fern pulled the kitten out from under Ida’s bed. “Come on Opal. I have her.”
Clay turned and went into the hall. Nate, Ben, and Reuben were heading for the parlor. “Nate, come take Abe. Head to the park. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Where are you going?” Nate asked.
“To stop this. Go.”
Clay made sure everyone got out through the parlor door then ran down the back stairs. The door to the storeroom was ajar. Either someone was in the store or Ryder had gone not making sure the door was latched when he left. He stuck his head out the door scanning the back street behind the building. Nothing and no sound.
Pulling out his revolver, Clay moved quietly to search the store. If someone had been in there they would have heard all the footsteps from upstairs. That would have scared them off.
No one was there and there was no sign of a fire. He unlocked the front door and went outside. Clouds obscured any moonlight. He looked toward the park but couldn’t see anything in the darkness. He prayed his family was safe. Also, if this was arson he’d catch whoever was trying to burn them out.
Since no alarm had been called from his family, Clay turned away from the park and moved quietly along the wall to the corner. He peeked around then pulled back quickly.
Terhall and another man were kneeling on the boardwalk. It looked like they had pried up the scorched boards from where Grace had set the fire. There were flames coming from the hole. Unless he shot one of them, there was no way he could singlehandedly apprehend both of them.
A light further down the street toward the river flashed. Then again. Clay hoped it was Ryder and whatever lawman was on duty tonight. He hated waiting, knowing that the fire was growing every second.
Stepping back so his movements wouldn’t be noticed, Clay waved his arms. Would they see him in the darkness? The lantern flashed twice. Then it went out. There was an empty lot across from the mercantile that would reveal them if they shined the light.
Clay ran arou
nd the corner, his gun in his hand. “Stop, I’ve got you covered. Dowse that fire.”
Footsteps sounded running toward him. “You heard the man. Do it.” The voice was that of Deputy Gene Autry. He had his gun trained on the men too.
“You’re too late,” Terhall laughed. “The wall’s caught. This place will burn to the ground, your family with it.”
Just then a bell started ringing. In the park was a pole with a large bell on top. It was used to call the townsfolk together to help stop fires. The last time it was used was when the woman’s house burned. It had been blazing too much by the time everyone arrived.
“Lie down on the street. Both of you.” Gene handcuffed them. Once that was done, Clay ran into the store getting blankets. He began beating the flames as people started coming.
Siding boards were pulled off and buckets of water were pumped, brought, and poured on the flames. Lightning flashed as rain began pouring down, aiding the efforts to dowse the flames.
Clay stepped back, panting from his efforts. Suddenly Millie was in his arms.
“Are you all right?” She hugged him as if she’d never let him go.
“Yes, we caught them red handed, Terhall and his man. They were just getting the fire started. Where are the children?”
“I left them in the bandstand. They could stay dry there.”
“I think it’s out,” Sewell said. He’d come to the call of the alarm bell. “We’ll need to check inside though.”
Millie stepped back, but Clay kept his arm around her waist. He didn’t want to let her go. If he hadn’t listened to his Calling he could have lost her as well as all their children.
“Pa,” Ryder said, causing both he and Millie to turn around. “I saw them starting to pry the boards up so I went around the other way and behind the hotel to get to the jail. Then I went and rang the bell when Deputy Autry and you caught them.”
“Good thinking.” Clay patted Ryder’s shoulder.
Wanted: Shopkeeper (Silverpines Book 4) Page 10