Angela lowered her head. “So, I guess you think the worst of me for kissing Dale?”
Penelope wanted to say yes. To rail at her for lowering her standards like a loose woman. But the truth was, Penelope wouldn’t have minded if Dale had kissed her. “Not really. And you are going to be married.”
“You don’t mind since you’re the oldest, and I’m younger.”
Penelope had to admit it did char her a bit. “No. But I am afraid I might become the old maid of our family.”
“I’ll pray for you, Penelope.” She searched her eyes. “Do you mind if I give you a bit of advice?”
Penelope shook her head no, while inside she was screaming, yes. “I can use some.”
“Don’t be so good. As I said, you intimidate people. Try and be more, normal.”
Ha, Penelope had always thought she was the normal one. “I’m not sure I know how.”
Angela took her hands. “It’s good to live by the Good Book. But don’t lord it over others.”
Taking her hands from Angela, Penelope whirled away from her. “So, I’m too good?”
“Well, sort of.”
Penelope saw the honesty in Angela’s face. Like it or not, her sister was on to something. After all, she had friends and a soon to be husband. Penelope had neither. “Thank you, Angela. You’ve given me something to think about. I am happy for you and Dale.”
Angela shook her head. “No, you’re not. That was the right thing to say, but I can see it in your eyes and heart that you are not happy we’re going to be married. You wanted Dale for yourself. I can’t blame you. He’s a handsome, hardworking man. Any woman would be happy to get him. I hope in time, you’ll truly be happy for us.”
Penelope could only stare at her sister. How had she become such a wise woman? “I am happy for you. At least, I intend to be happy for you and Dale.”
Angela hugged her. “Be yourself Penelope, but let others be who they are, too.”
If Penelope could figure out how to do that she would. Confusion whirled in her mind. Be good? She knew that from her father’s sermons. She lived it. Well, tried to. She held herself to a high standard and thought others should be held to that same standard.
Angela turned the light down and climbed in her bed.
Penelope stared out the window at the moonlight streaming from the night sky. She gazed at the moon and felt a kinship. She knew how it felt to always be in the light of others and never shining herself.
So, she was too good. That’s what Angela had said. That’s why she had no friends. No interested men. Well, she would have to pray on how to be bad. Others figured it out. She didn’t believe a tiny lie here and there or to forget to do the chores once in a while would cure her of her lonely affliction.
“Lord, show me how to be normal and whatever steps it might take. Amen.”
***
Hayden slept through the night and late into the morning. He hadn’t thought he was that tired, but not wanting to be around his gang of a family was more than likely the real reason. He had nothing to say to them. Pa was always angry and muttering how the bank owed him, the sheriff had been wrong to force them off the land and growling at the town leaders for allowing it to happen.
Pa’s poison had infected Greg the most. Maybe because he was the oldest. Still, that had been years ago. If his pa and brothers had worked, they could have started another ranch. Already, he had more than two hundred saved and in the bank in Duston. That is if his family didn’t rob it.
Hayden sat up, looked around and wondered what his family was up to. Cole came in the cave and sat across from him.
“You going to stay with us?”
Shaking his head, Hayden stood. “No. I was hoping you’d come with me. Thought we could go west. Start a ranch in Arizona or California.”
Cole frowned. “I like Texas. Don’t have any reason to leave.”
“Not yet. But if you break the law, the Rangers will be after you.”
With a wry grin, Cole shook his head. “We don’t do much. A few stray steers here and there. And we give most of it away to those in need. Most of the people like us.”
Hayden felt hopeless talking to his family. If Cole wouldn’t listen, none of them would. “It’s not a good life. Ma had better plans than that for you and the rest of us. Pa’s eaten up with revenge. Get away before you become like him.”
Cole picked up a stick and marked the dirt. “Pa says we’ll hit the bank soon. When we get enough money, we’ll ride north. Maybe Montana. And start over.”
“And every Texas Ranger around will be after you.”
Cole shrugged. “I don’t see that I have a choice. Family is family.”
“Ma wouldn’t want you to go against the law. Her father was a sheriff.”
“And pa said her father died without a cent to his name. No, I’ll stick with Pa and Greg.”
A shadow crossed the room, and Pa walked in. “Bout time you got up. I let you sleep in cause you been gone, but if you stay here, you’ll get up with the rest of us.”
Hayden faced his father. “And do what? Why does it matter what time we get up? You have chores to do?”
“I’ll not have you talking high and mighty to me. You think you’re better than us just because you worked for a man. We used to have our own ranch. That’s real work.”
Angry most at his father, Hayden glared at him. “Then why don’t you start another one?”
“We plan to. Heard Cole telling you how we’ll set up in Montana maybe Wyoming.”
“After you rob the bank?”
“Maybe.” Pa moved away from him and pointed at Cole. “Fix us some breakfast, boy.”
Cole obediently went to get the pans.
“Where’d you get the eggs? Steal them too?”
Cole stopped. “No, we got chickens. Built them a pen, so the hawks and varmints don’t eat them.”
Pa spat on the ground. “You think our grub ain’t good enough for you?”
Hayden stared outside to the wide-open sky. “It isn’t that. I just know Ma wouldn’t have wanted you to live this way. Taking from others. She was always giving. She’d not be happy with you at all.”
“And we do give to those in need. By the way, angel boy, how have you done working your life away for another man.”
Hayden shook his head. “Mr. Duston is a hard man but fair. He knows he bought out our ranch for the taxes. Yeah, I work for him. But he pays me. Treats me good.”
“You’re nothing more than a hireling. Got nothing to your name.”
“Like you do?”
Pa grabbed him by the collar. “Best you remember who you’re speaking to. I expect you to respect me when you’re here.”
“Respect? For a gang of outlaws.”
His pa’s fist came hard and fast. Hayden hadn’t expected his father to hit him. But the blood coming from his lip told him he should have.
“Don’t test me, boy. I’m your father, and you’ll do what I say, or leave. I hardly recognize you as part of the family.”
“I remember when you were a good man, Pa.”
His Pa’s face turned red with anger. “Well, that man is dead. Killed for taxes and the death of your ma. A man can only take so much.” Regret shone in his eyes. “It’s the way it has to be. Sorry if you don’t like it. If you want to leave, it’s all right by me.”
“In a few days. My horse is tired. The roundup and drive were hard on him.”
Pa gave him a weak smile. “Sorry for hitting you.” He took his handkerchief out and dabbed at the blood on his lip. “Stay as long as you like. Just don’t get in my way.”
And it was at that moment that Hayden knew he’d stay. He could feel it in his soul. His pa and brothers needed him. Needed him to help them back on the straight way. The narrow path his mother fought so hard to keep them on. She’d been a God-fearing woman and had been intent on seeing her family meet her in heaven.
He could feel her encouraging him to stay and help his brothers and p
a. It was his duty.
Chapter 4
Hayden helped them round up the cattle they had in the secret meadow. The land wasn’t large enough for a big herd, but it was holding the ten head that his bothers had found. Lost mavericks, his father had said. Most of them were, but two had brands. One belonged to Duston.
“Pa, I’ll help out, but we need to get rid of these two with the brands.” Hayden pointed at the two steers.
His father wiped sweat from his brow. Even in October, it could get warm in Texas. “Well, I was having a hankering for ribs.” He rode to Greg and spoke to him.
Hayden watched as Greg roped the steer with the Duston brand and dragged it near the cave. He whirled to face Pa. “That’s not what I meant. Just take it out of the cave and down a few miles. That’s all we have to do.”
A shot rang out.
Knowing it was too late, Hayden let it drop. He rode to the edge of the meadow and looked for any other entrances to their little valley. Tired in his soul, he looked up and prayed. “God, I know you want me to stay and help my family. But please keep me from becoming a rustler or worse. I don’t know what to do.”
He waited, listened, but heard nothing. He found a little spring and stopped to let his horse drink. Looking at the water, he dug around it and made a pool. If the spring held out, they could have a nice watering hole for the livestock. There were maybe twenty acres in the valley. It could be the start to a ranch.
He toyed with the idea of riding into town to put money on the land. It was odd that this little valley had never been claimed. His pa had found the cave and then the valley after running from the law.
When they’d lost the Burkett ranch, Pa had burned the old house, and the law and the new owners hadn’t been too happy. It wasn’t long, and the carpetbaggers who bought their ranch moved out. Found Texas a little too rough for their liking. Made-up Indian raids by his brothers might have had a little to do with it.
Then Duston bought the land. He now had the biggest ranch in the area. But he wasn’t a greedy man. Fair but tough. He’d fought Indians, outlaws, and other ranchers to carve out his part of the world. And there was no doubt he’d defend it to the death.
That was the way out here. Hard, tough men who didn’t take nothing off anyone. But the land was changing. As the Indian problem disappeared, settlers crept west taking the land to farm and raise crops and settle towns.
Hayden glanced at his father. He was going to have to change. Hayden hoped he could help his family learn a better way of life.
“Hayden, get over here and help Greg with the butchering.”
Shaking his head, Hayden rode to his brother and hoped they wouldn’t get caught rustling.
***
Penelope helped with lunch.
Her mother took the bread out of the oven and glanced at her. “What do you think of Preacher Weatherly? He’s a very good and promising man of God. Your father met him at the gathering in Dallas in May.”
“Mother, I am not in the least bit interested in that man.”
Mother frowned. “Well, you’re not getting any younger, and your sister Angela is getting married in March. Isn’t that exciting?”
Penelope scooped out butter from the urn and tried not to see her mother’s worried look. “Yes, I’m excited for Angela.”
Mother hugged her. “What about you?”
“I’ll take care of my own life. I don’t like Carl. Not for my husband.”
“Well, all right. But there aren’t a lot of men in Duston who are good, husband material.”
Father entered the kitchen. “Now, Priscilla, let Penelope alone. She’ll find someone she likes.”
The silence in the air was deafening.
Penelope’s mind was set. She would discover how to be likeably bad. If that’s what it took to find a man and not end up with Preacher Carl, that’s what she’d do.
After the noon meal, Penelope went to the creek near town. She needed to think. Mother and father were of no help. They’d just as soon sell her off to Carl as have her remain an old maid. One thing Penelope knew, she’d be miserable with that man.
He had no spark in him.
She walked the creek and picked up a stone. The smell of beef cooking lingered over the hillside. She glanced up. There were caves all up and down the area. Her siblings loved to explore them. She’d been to them when she was a child.
Once, they’d brought home ancient Indian pottery and a find of arrowheads. The Indians were long gone. Run out by the Texas Rangers mostly. Every now and then a group of renegades raided the area, but they’d lost their land. She thought it sad that all that was left were relics to number their passing.
She sat on a log and looked across the landscape. Such wild land. Yet, there was something about it that warmed her heart. Whoever said Texas worked its way into your heart was right.
But she couldn’t marry a state. And Carl wasn’t the answer.
Angela had said to work on being normal and not so good. What had she meant? Not like she could go out and rob a bank. Penelope sat on a log and stared at the water trickling over worn rocks. The answer would turn up. She was sure of it. She might not believe in her mother’s things-will-always-work-out idea, but Penelope did believe she would come up with an idea. Her answer would more than likely be in town and not out here in the wilderness.
Determined to not be her goody self, she walked into town. Almost went home to do her chores, but she decided today she wasn’t going to do them. Let her brothers and sisters do them for a change.
She passed the church and her home and walked down to the little town of Duston. She glanced at the general store, the livery, and blacksmith. Feed store. Dress shop. Carol’s diner. She hadn’t brought any money but was hungry for a piece of a pie that she’d not had to make.
Penelope stopped at the top of the hill and watched the people of Duston. Donna, a young woman her age, walked toward the General Store. She walked with a swaying motion that made her skirt move. Several men stopped what they were doing and watched her.
Well, she could do that, too. Penelope swayed the best she could without losing her balance down the road to town and into the diner. She sat by the window and gathered her courage to see if any young men were looking her way. With a frown, she saw Donna walking up the hill and the men watching her.
Carol came to her. “What can I get you?”
“A piece of apple pie.”
“Coming right up.” Carol glanced back at her.
Penelope remembered the last time she’d been in and complained about how the chicken was dry. Carol had taken offense, but she shouldn’t have. She needed to know she was selling over-cooked chicken. Still, by the woman’s sour look today, Carol remembered the criticism more than Penelope’s attempt to help her.
Penelope turned her attention to the window and saw the Burkett boys ride up to the store. She hadn’t seen them for some time. Hard luck story their family was. Mother died. Lost the ranch. And now they scrounged around. No one knew where they lived. But by the looks of them, they either didn’t know how to or bother to wash their clothes.
Still, most of the people in Duston and the surrounding ranches liked them. Loved them in fact. All because they confiscated goods from carpetbaggers. Yes, the Burkett’s took from proper legal thieves and distributed the goods to those in need. The sheriff made a half-hearted attempt to catch them in the act, but somehow always failed to.
She’d never liked Greg. Cole the younger one was all right. There had been another one, Hayden. But she didn’t see him. Just the two.
Before she finished her pie, she saw the two Burketts run out of the store and ride away at a fast gallop.
Donna had entered the diner and sat by the window at another table. “They sure are good looking boys.” Donna wore a dreamy look on her face. “All they need is a good woman to set them straight.”
Penelope looked at her. “The way they were running, more than likely they just stole something from the stor
e. I thought they only took from the newcomers who took advantage of those who suffered from the war.”
Donna waved her hand. “The store owner wouldn’t give them credit when their mother was sick. I heard they’d run up quite a bill. Doesn’t matter. They’re nice looking men and would make a good husband for someone. As I said, they just need a good woman to show them how to behave.” Then Donna looked at her. “On the other hand, someone as good as you would smother them. You’re too good for them.”
Penelope wanted to get angry at the mouthy girl. But she was right. Just like Angela had said. She was too good and drove people away. She glanced out the window in time to see the store owner run out and wave his fist at the Burkett brother’s dust.
Donna stood. “Those boys are headed for trouble. All they know how to do is cause mischief.” She sighed. “They are fun though. I love to listen to them tell stories about their exploits. I wouldn’t mind marrying one of them. I think either one would make a good catch.”
“An outlaw?”
“Oh, they’re really not that bad. They have reason to be angry the way the bank and carpetbaggers stole their ranch. They’re just trying to get even and helping out others along the way.” She stood. “Well, I better get back to the dress shop. Ellie needs a dress let out. You know babies do that to a woman.”
“Yes, I know.” Penelope stopped anymore talk about Ellie. She really had been a friend at one time, and Penelope had enjoyed visiting and holding her little baby.
She watched Donna run across the street and unlock the door to her shop and considered their conversation about the Burketts. Like Angela had said, people admired the gang even though they stole and caused trouble.
Donna usually ignored her when she came into her store. Just because she happened to stop her and Mrs. Doggerell from gossiping about Mrs. Fitzwater one day and proceeded to tell them how wrong they were. That was no cause for Donna to not invite her to the lady’s tea she had in her shop.
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