Texas Twilight

by Caroline Fyffe

  She pointed to the door.

  Harland walked out of the school room and disappeared behind the school. Charity looked around the room, then went over to Mark, righted his chair and helped him into it. Then she picked up the frightened Jedediah and hugged him to her. Jane, overcome with emotion, wrapped her tiny arms around them both.

  ***

  John went out on the boardwalk and leaned his palms against the railing, looking up and down the mid-morning street. Two weeks had passed since the murder, and Boone had gone off, to where John didn’t know. From the west a cloud of dust preceded a herd of cattle being driven past on its way to the stock yard. The Texas Longhorns nonchalantly trotted by, their docile temperaments in opposition to their huge horns. Every now and then one would snag a post, causing a traffic jam of sorts.

  Dustin came round the corner and stopped for a moment and watched the cattle, too. His cousin nodded to John when he saw him outside the office, but said nothing before venturing inside Lily’s shop. They were falling in love. It was plain to anyone who had eyes. And the question was—why wouldn’t they? Furthermore, he thought irritably, why should he even care? Wasn’t he engaged to be married to someone else?

  John went back into the office and picked up his black bag. It was time for him to go check on Harriett. When he entered the shop, Lily was exactly where he thought she’d be, hard at work stitching Madeline’s gown, the exact spot she’d been in for the past two weeks. Her chair, near the window, allowed plenty of light as she stitched the huge piece of fabric rumpled by her feet and draped across two padded saw horses. Dustin leaned against the cutting table, talking with her.

  “Mornin’,” John said, pretending the sight of the two of them together didn’t mean anything at all. “I’ve come to check on your aunt.”

  Lily’s face brightened. “You will be happy to hear that Tante is up this morning and taking some tea in her chair. Some color has come back into her cheeks and she almost seems like her old self.”

  John stalled, taking in the sight of her. Her hair was swept up on her head and she looked lovely, if a bit tired. “You didn’t work on that dress all night, did you?” He came closer as she turned away from his scrutiny.

  “You did. Lily, you’re going to make yourself sick if you keep up this pace.”

  “He’s right,” Dustin added. “You’ll be finished in time for the Fourth of July celebration. You needn’t work so hard.” He gave John a look that said he’d not be left out.

  “John, is that you I hear down there?” Harriett’s voice came from the upper level. “Come up here, young man. I have something I’d like to discuss.”

  Dustin smiled.

  Lily laughed and shrugged. “See what I mean? She’s almost back to normal.”

  “John?”

  “I’m on my way, Harriett. I’ll be right there.”

  Dustin waved his hand at his cousin. “Go on, already.”

  There was nothing left to do but go upstairs. As John put his foot on the first step, he heard Dustin’s deep voice, “Have you thought about the Fourth of July celebration coming up, Lily? There’re a host of…”

  What did he expect? He was engaged to Emmeline. He had no rights or expectations over Lily. Dustin had a lot to offer a wife, and Lily had grown fond of his parents and sisters as they made frequent visits to her shop. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, standing in the way of Dustin and her getting married. At the top of the stairs he saw Harriet watching for him expectantly from a chair in the small, upstairs parlor.

  “Good day, John,” Harriett said, her shrewd eyes searching his face. With gnarled fingers she set the teacup she was holding on the table and closed the book in her lap. She looked over the top of her spectacles at him and smiled. “I’ve been waiting for you to come by and see me.” Her tone was teasing and he knew she meant well, but today he didn’t feel much like talking. He set his bag on the footstool and gazed at her. “Is something bothering you, John?”

  He gave himself a mental shake. “I’m sorry. Just thinking about my day. How’re you feeling? I’m glad to see you up and about.”

  Laugher from downstairs twisted his gut such that he had to look away from her face.

  Harriett leaned forward. “What do you expect her to do, John?” she asked quietly.

  Surprised, he just stared at her.

  “She’s young and in the prime of her life. One adapts when one knows one has no choice.”

  Anger surged to the surface of his feelings. He couldn’t hurt Emmeline like that. Only the most callous of cads would even think of it. She’d done nothing to bring this on and yet… And yet…

  He had about as many answers this morning about the whole relationship as he’d had yesterday—none. He took his stethoscope out and listened to Harriett’s breathing, then examined her eyes and reflexes. “You’re much stronger today. I’m glad. How are your thoughts? Your concentration?”

  “If you mean do I still think about the drug, yes, I do. Not an hour goes by that I don’t desire it. But, with prayer and perseverance, I think the craving isn’t as strong as it once was.”

  “That’s good. I’d say your next step would be to come down into the shop where you can help Lily with small things and socialize a little. Would you like me to help you down now? It would give you a chance to get to know Dustin a little better.” The edge in his voice was impossible to hide.

  “Jealously doesn’t become you, Doctor. Actually, you have nothing to be jealous of, if you’d only open your eyes.”

  John packed up his things and stood. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you going downstairs with me or not? I’m sure Lily would also enjoy your company.”

  With surprising ease she stood and waited for him to offer her his arm. “Well, if you insist. I don’t want to disappoint you.” He led her to the stairway and preceded her down, making sure she had a firm hold on his arm. At the bottom she looked around. “Oh, my. The shop is beautiful, Lily.”

  Lily hurried over and met her aunt with a hug. “This is a happy day for me.” She took her by the arm and helped her into the main room, but not before letting John know of her pleasure by the look in her eyes. Lily slowly led her around the room, stopping to explain each carefully planned spot.

  They ended by the window and the yards of fabric for Madeline’s gown. Harriett bent forward and fingered the material. “And this is Madeline’s dress for the celebration on the fourth. Lily, it’s beautiful so far.” She lifted it up and turned it over in her hands, inspecting the work carefully. “You’ve done a marvelous job on the bodice. Exquisite.” She looked into Lily’s face. “You’ve learned well. Your stitching is incredible, exceedingly straight,” she said, now examining an arm seam closely as if she loathed putting the garment down. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Lily’s face clouded up with emotion, so John quickly said, “I’m off now to the ranch to see Emmeline and the family.” With black bag in hand, he walked slowly to the door.

  “Isn’t today Madeline’s fitting?” Harriett asked in all innocence. “Perhaps you could give Lily a ride out. She’s been cooped up for days working her heart out and I think the fresh air would bring the roses back into her cheeks.”

  Dustin straightened quickly. “I heard Madeline and Becky talking about coming into town today a little after noon for that exact purpose. You don’t need to make the trip out, Lily.” He’d inched closer to Lily and her aunt, and the look he shot to John said don’t you dare.

  It was only fair. John nodded and left, feeling unease spreading through his body and out into each limb. He’d put it away for now and enjoy his first time out of town in days. He’d let Bo run to his heart’s content, and perhaps it would ease his heart a little, too.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  John gave Bo his head and the gelding surged up the incline, sucking in big gulps of air. He laid the reins against the gelding’s neck and the horse swerved off the trail and bounded up a steeply slanted slope, through
brambles and shale, coming out almost on the hilltop. Even though the weather was still cool, warmth from the animal’s hide sent the scent of saddle leather and blanket wool up to John’s senses, bringing with it a deep longing for home.

  The detour he’d taken on the way out to the ranch veered off the main road. His destination was the top of the mountain, where he’d get a feel for the lay of the land. The weight of his Colt 45 rested comfortably on his thigh, and his Winchester was in its scabbard. In the next few feet the land leveled out and John reined to a halt, stopping in front of a great drop to the valley floor. Off in the distance was Rio Wells. Beyond that was another mountain range, much larger than the one he was on.

  A handful of clouds gathered in the west over the far range. Perhaps later today they’d get some much needed rain. John rested his arms on the saddle horn and felt his horse cock his hip, relaxing too.

  Emmeline. His intended. He loved her, he told himself. He held onto that thought for a moment, as if suspended in time, and then slumped in the saddle. No, he corrected himself. He didn’t. He needed to face that fact, as awful as it was, and as much as it was going to hurt. John removed his hat and ran his arm across his moist forehead, then placed his hands on the saddle horn, his Stetson still dangling in his fingertips.

  Time seemed to stop. He welcomed the cool breeze that moved across his face, ruffling his hair. She was a good woman, one deserving a husband who adored her. Someone to love and cherish her. One to give her children and take the best of care of her…and a multitude of other things as well. He just wasn’t that man.

  John sucked in a deep breath, taking consolation in the feel of the wind as it picked up, tousling Bo’s mane and bringing the thunderheads, rolling closer. Angry with himself, he put his hat back on, knowing he wasn’t the one who needed soothing. It would be Emmeline. Today. After they talked honestly and openly.

  Without warning, his thoughts wandered to Lily, and what she was doing right now. She and Dustin. This had nothing to do with Lily. It didn’t. Even if he’d never met her on that stage, he fully believed that his feelings for Emmeline weren’t deep enough for them to marry. Even without Lily, he would have realized that they’d made a mistake. Emmeline deserved more than that. There was no getting around what he needed to do.

  Charity rushed from the ranch house as John tied his horse to the hitching post. Without giving him a chance to say anything, she embraced him in a fierce hug. “I was going to come into town to see you today.”

  He laughed, enjoying her enthusiasm. “You were? Well, I beat you to it.”

  “Did you come to see Emmeline?”

  “Yes. And you too, of course.”

  “Of course.” Her tone said she didn’t believe it for a second.

  “I did,” he said more forcefully. “Hey, I’m sorry about the teaching position. The parents thought you were doing a fine job.”

  Charity shrugged. “I wasn’t surprised when they let me go. With Norman Shellston and Fred Billingsworth on the school board, it was no wonder. What’s Harland up to these days?”

  “Don’t know. I haven’t seen him since the incident.”

  “Any news from Brandon? It’s been two weeks since he left.”

  They were halfway to the house already so he stopped, knowing this meant as much to her as his problems meant to him. She’d been putting on a good show, but he knew she was hurting, wondering what Brandon was thinking. John needed to remind himself that she’d come all the way out here to Rio Wells for him alone, to check on him when she felt he needed her. That was a real act of charity and he intended to remember it. His little sister may act tough, but her heart was as soft as butter on a warm day.

  “I haven’t heard anything yet.”

  A little of the light went out of her eyes.

  They again started for the house. “But, two weeks isn’t that long when you’re investigating…” John nearly cursed when she snatched his arm and stopped him.

  “What do you mean investigating?”

  “What? Nothing.”

  “John Jake McCutcheon you spit it out right now.”

  “Nothing. All I meant was that he said he’ll be back. He didn’t give me an exact date but if he said he’d be back, he will.”

  “You know where he went though, don’t you? I can see it in your face. If you don’t tell me right now I’ll think you don’t have a conscience at all.”

  John took her by her shoulders to settle her down. Brandon had made him swear he wouldn’t tell her anything more than that he’d ridden out. John was just trying to stay out of it, but knew now that he had to say something.

  “Brandon asked me not to say anything, Char. I’m in the middle of you two and I don’t like that one bit. But there are some other circumstances, too, that kept me from telling you the whole story, and they still won’t let me.”

  She searched his face, trying to read between the lines to figure out what he wasn’t telling her.

  “He’ll be back, Charity. That I can say with confidence. And I think it won’t be that much longer before he is. But, honestly, that’s all I can tell you.” He could have added that concerning the two of them, Brandon hadn’t told him what he was thinking.

  Her eyes turned dark. The gusto she’d displayed when he first rode up was gone. “Come on,” he said lifting her chin with his finger. “It’s going to be all right. And when it is you’re going to wonder why you were so upset.”

  “If Brandon is doing something for you then it must have something to do with the law. What else could it be,” she went on stubbornly, not ready yet to give up.

  When the door opened, this time it was Emmeline waiting for him. “Char, I need you to keep this to yourself, okay?”

  “Okay. But you better tell me if you’re in any danger. I knew I had a strange feeling about you.”

  Both hurried to the house where Emmeline waited. Her dark eyes assessed him questioningly. He took her hands in his and she went up on tiptoe so he could kiss her. “I didn’t know you were coming out today,” she said, a bit breathless.

  “Sorry it’s taken me a few days.”

  “That’s okay. I’ve been very busy. There’s hardly time to think.”

  “That’s true,” Charity agreed. “Yesterday Chaim and Uncle Winston took us for a tour of the ranch that lasted all day.”

  John stepped through the door and removed his hat, hanging it on a peg. “You rode?” he asked with surprise, looking at his fiancée.

  “No,” Emmeline laughed, moving farther into the room. “Chaim drove me in the buggy and Charity and your uncle rode beside.”

  “Well, good. I did notice the pretty pink in your cheeks.”

  Emmeline clapped her hands together, resembling a little girl. “It’s lovelier than I’d have ever thought West Texas could be. I really love it here. We took along a big basket of food and had a picnic.”

  John had been hoping that maybe the topography, with its heat and cacti, not to mention rattlesnakes and scorpions, would not be to her liking, and might make this transition a little easier if she wanted to go back to Boston herself.

  “John!” Chaim said as he came into the room. He wore a blue and white cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up over his powerful forearms; his pants were tucked into his tall, hand-tooled boots. He stood next to Charity and shook John’s hand. His boyish smile split his face as he squeezed John’s hand in a grip like a bear’s. “You just get here?”

  “I did. Emmeline and Charity are just telling me about the outing you all had yesterday. Sounds like I missed a heck of a day.”

  Oddly, color came up in Chaim’s face. “We did have a good time,” he answered. “It would have been better, though, if you had come along, too. You’ve yet to see it all.”

  “That’s true. I hope to remedy that soon. Where is everyone? Seems deserted around here.”

  John followed Chaim and Emmeline into the parlor and seated himself on the sofa, getting comfortable. Charity stood in the doorway, lo
oking a little downcast.

  “Not really,” Emmeline said, taking the seat next to him. Her gaze followed Chaim across the room until he sat in a leather chair by the window. “Becky and Madeline are upstairs doing something and I think your uncle is out working with Dustin.”

  “Nope,” John said, relaxing next to Emmeline. “Saw Dustin in town this morning in Lily’s shop.”

  Becky came in the room all smiles and took a seat on the green velvet settee. “Yes, that’s right. I think he’s going to ask Lily to go to the Fourth of July celebration with him. He was asking me all sorts of silly questions about women. Can you imagine? Dustin?” Everyone laughed except John. When he looked over, Charity was watching him closely.

  “I’m not surprised,” Chaim said. “I saw that coming.”

  So he wasn’t imagining it. Dustin had feelings for Lily. Could he blame him? He was astounded that there weren’t more men beating a path to her door.

  “I’ve been hearing all sorts of wonderful stories about the celebration coming up,” Emmeline said softly. “There’s a bronco riding contest, pie eating contest, and shooting contest. I’d like to know what the women are supposed to do. Just watch?”

  “I’m not watching. I’ll compete in the shooting,” Charity said boldly, her chin tipping up. “I might try the horses, too.”

  “I can understand the shooting,” John said, “As a matter of fact, if they’re taking wagers I’ll put my money on you. Just stay off the horses. I don’t want to be patching up any broken bones—or your head, either.”

  “We get to make a box dinner, Emmeline, and the men have to bid on them and then eat it with you,” Becky added, her face lighting up. “It’s so much fun. I’m going to fry chicken and bake a cherry pie.”