“I didn’t really have my father’s blessing to come here. But when he realized that I was determined to go, he ordered me out of the house and told me never to come back. I stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Navis while I prepared to leave for Jericho Junction.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
“I was afraid—afraid you would tell me to go back to my father and that I’d be stuck on that miserable farm forever.”
“I didn’t realize you disliked farming so much.”
“Oh, it’s not farming. It’s my father. He forced me to do twice the work everyone else did, and there was never talk of my future.” Bethany felt glad that Luke didn’t pull his hand away. “Meanwhile, my friends were moving on with their lives.”
“I reckon it didn’t help that my baby sister fell in love with the man you always figured on marrying.”
Bethany smiled. “No, that didn’t help one bit. However, I’m glad it all played out the way it did. I love you, Luke.”
“I love you too, Beth.”
Her heart pounded out a beat of happiness. “You do?”
“’Course I do. I asked you to marry me, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but…only to save my reputation and the McCabe ministry.”
“Beth!” He sounded genuinely shocked. “Is that what you thought?”
“Maybe just a little,” she admitted.
Luke reached a hand behind her head and pulled her close until his lips touched hers. “Beth, I think I loved you from the day we met. And if you didn’t know that deep down, it’s probably my fault for not making my love clear to you.”
The admission touched that deep down place in her heart, which had been yearning to hear it.
“As for your father, I’m sorry you’ve carried that burden around with you for so long. But I want you to understand that you can come to me with anything.”
“I do…now. And I will.”
“Well, if you want me to, I’ll help you try to make the situation with your father right. I’ll post another letter to him.”
“Thank you.” Bethany was only too glad for the way Luke took the news.
“And look what I found.” Luke dipped his fingers into the inside pocket of his jacket, retrieved something that glimmered in the moonlight, and then placed it into the palm of Bethany’s hand.
It felt cool in her palm. “What is it?”
“Your watch pin. You lost it on the ridge.”
Bethany breathed her relief. “I forgot about it. I must have dropped it.” She suddenly felt foolish. “I didn’t want the outlaws to have it. It’s the only thing I have left of my mother’s.”
“I know. That’s why I’m glad I found it for you.”
“Luke…” Bethany didn’t know how to describe all the love and gratitude she felt for this man.
“Honey, you ought to rest now. You’ve had more than enough excitement for one day.”
“All right, but…” Bethany propped herself up on her elbows. “I want to tell you one more thing. Those evil men who accosted me, Mal and Digger, they talked about having a boss named Crawford.”
“Is that a fact?” Luke’s tone took on a dangerous edge.
Bethany swallowed. “Yes.”
“I’ll be sure to give Montaño that bit of news.”
Bethany knew Angie wouldn’t be the only person who would sleep better with Crawford behind bars.
Luke gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Go to sleep for a while, Beth. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
Feeling safe with her beloved nearby, she lay back and allowed her eyelids to flutter closed.
Hours later, Bethany awoke. Instead of darkness, shafts of sunlight streamed in through the crevices of the barn’s roof and walls. She sensed a presence and looked to see Lorna and Jeb peering at her with curious smiles. Bethany wanted to shake her head in dismay and would have, if it didn’t hurt so much. Little Lorna’s face needed a good scrubbing, and Jeb’s drawers drooped in a telltale way.
Lorna tiptoed in Bethany’s direction and cast a shy glance at Luke. He hadn’t moved since last night and snored softly only several feet away. But then Jeb tripped over the toe of Luke’s boot, and he awoke with a start.
“Well, g’mornin’ to you too, little fella.” Luke lifted Jeb back onto his feet and swung his gaze to Bethany. His gaze fell over her, and she fumbled to pull the quilt up above her shoulders.
“Blood stained my dress. Lacey rinsed it out for me.”
“I—I beg your pardon, Beth.” He pushed to his feet, keeping his gaze averted. “But, um…forgive me.” He turned back to her, his eyes trained on her face this time. “Beth, I hate to tell you, but you’ve got some kind of shiner.”
She touched her eye. “Oh, my…”
“Makes me sick to think a man would strike a woman like that.”
“He’s dead now, Luke. Don’t let his actions trouble you.”
Luke wagged his head. “Well, I hate to think of what our Savior had to say to him.”
Bethany could only imagine.
Luke eyed the little ones gaping up at him. “What do you kids say about rustling up some breakfast?”
Lorna skipped toward him and paused only to slip her hand into Luke’s. “I fed the chickens.”
“Good for you.”
Bethany watched Luke’s retreating figure. Lorna chattered happily beside him, and Jeb waddled behind.
Once they’d gone, Bethany worked herself into a sitting position. Next she tried to stand. Her legs wobbled, and the room teetered unnaturally to one side. She quickly lowered herself back on to the hay.
A short while later Lacey strolled into the barn, carrying Bethany’s dress. She helped her into it.
“The stain didn’t lift, Miss Stafford.”
“That’s all right.”
“It sure is pretty, though.”
“Well, thank you. It’s a bit tight…” Bethany glanced at Lacey, whose threadbare skirt and ragged blouse looked far worse than a stained blue dress. With Christmas rapidly approaching, Bethany thought if she could somehow round up clothes for the children, they’d make wonderful gifts.
The jangling of harnesses signaled the arrival of a wagon and team of horses just outside of the barn. Lacey ran out to greet the visitors and returned with Annetta on her heels.
“Bethany, we’ve been so worried about you.” Annetta set down her black medical bag and removed her bonnet. “I’m encouraged to see you sitting upright.”
“It’s an improvement over yesterday evening, but I’m still terribly dizzy.”
“What happened?”
As Annetta examined and cleaned the gash on her cheek, Bethany explained. Lacey sat silently nearby, listening.
“Luke warned me not to go off by myself. I should have listened.” Bethany hoped that if anything, Lacey would learn from her lapse in good judgment.
“You’ve got a fine goose egg here,” Annetta said.
“How’d an egg get on Miss Stafford’s head?” Lacey appeared mildly alarmed.
“It’s an expression.” Annetta smiled. “Here, come and feel this fine lump on the side of Miss Stafford’s head.”
Lacey’s fingers ran over the sore spot near Bethany’s temple. With a wince, Bethany pulled back.
“Sure feels more like a hen’s egg than a goose’s egg.”
Bethany smiled, and Annetta laughed softly.
“Jake and I rode over here in the wagon. I brought Michael with me. One of the other children has him now.”
Bethany thought she correctly read Annetta’s thoughts. It certainly didn’t speak any better of Ralph Jonas’s fathering skills.
“Where’s Angie?”
“God willing, she’s safely on her way to San Francisco.”
“Honestly?” In her excitement Bethany sat up too quickly. The world swam before her eyes until she lay back down.
Annetta patted her shoulder. “Just rest.”
“Who is Angie?” Lacey queried.
“A
friend of ours.” Annetta sent the girl a polite grin. Looking at Bethany, she added, “I no longer believe in coincidences.” Annetta’s smile reached her eyes, and they warmed to an arresting greenish-brown. “I’m convinced of God’s grace.”
Bethany marveled at the change in her.
“So…” Annetta stood and brushed the straw off her skirt. “Are you ready to go home?”
Before Bethany could reply, a gunshot split the quiet morning.
TWENTY-SIX
ALERTED BY THE GUNSHOT, LUKE ROSE FROM THE BREAKFAST table and strode to the door. Even squinting into the bright sunshine, Luke recognized Dirk Crawford in the distance. He rode fast toward the ranch with two other men in tow.
“Hey, Jake? Looks like we got trouble.”
“I see ’em.” He strode quickly from the Jonas’s mud-walled home and to their wagon, where he pulled the rifle out from behind the driver’s seat.
Meanwhile Luke shooed the kids out back and ordered Jesse to take himself and his siblings out behind the chicken coop. “Stay as low to the ground as you can until I come for you,” he called after him. “I’ll explain later.”
“Yessir.” The lanky boy gathered up the baby and collected more of his siblings as he went.
Satisfied the children would be safe enough, Luke turned his attention to the men riding up the lane, which led to the barn.
Jake hurried to the door, cocked the rifle, and leaned it against the inside of the doorway.
Just then, Luke saw Lacey venturing out from the barn. “Get back, Lacey!” he shouted.
She paused in mid-stride as if she’d heard but didn’t understand.
“Run, girl!” Jake hollered.
She wheeled around, but only too late. One of Crawford’s men swooped down on her like a hawk. He scooped up Lacey and set her in front of him. She kicked and screamed until the mangy brute pulled out his gun and held it to her head in warning.
Jonas came running from around back. “What in tarnation is goin’ on?” He carried a rifle in his right hand. “Put down my girl and state your business.”
Crawford dismounted and glared in Luke’s direction. “Preacher, I understand you have something that don’t belong to you.” He spit out a wad of tobacco. “Oh, and, by the way, Chicago Joe sends her regards.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Crawford,” Luke said.
“Quit playin’ dumb and git your hands out to where I can see ’em.”
“Now, just hold on.” Jonas swaggered forward and lifted his rifle. “Who do you think you are, coming here and—”
Gunfire exploded. Jake ducked out of the doorway while Luke overturned the rough-hewn dining table so they could have some cover.
As the smoke cleared, Luke glimpsed Jonas’s lifeless body sprawled out in the dirt.
“He killed Jonas.” Dread and remorse poured over Luke. Jonas’s children were now orphaned.
“I figured Crawford wouldn’t miss at that close proximity.” With his back against the table, Jake readied his revolver. “May God rest Jonas’s soul.”
“Preacher, do you hear me?”
“I hear you,” Luke called back. Rage now coursed through his veins.
“If I don’t get Angie back, this here girl’s gonna take her place, if you know what I mean.”
Jake glanced at Luke. “I’m going to need some backup.”
Luke shook his head. “You know I vowed I’d never kill another human being.”
“In a perfect world, you wouldn’t need to, Luke. But the Territory is hardly that perfect place.”
“I reckon you’re right at that.” All Luke had to do was glimpse Jonas’s body then watch Lacey struggle in that outlaw’s grasp. Meanwhile there were five other children’s lives in jeopardy, and Bethany and Annetta in the barn. Heaven help those women if Crawford and his thugs discovered them.
But Luke wasn’t about to let that happen.
He hunkered near the doorway and saw the man who’d snatched Lacey toss her off his saddle. He watched him motion to Jonas’s body.
“He’s sending Lacey for her pa’s gun.”
“If I shoot him now, either Crawford or his other cohort will most likely kill her.”
“Then hold your fire.”
A host of emotions gripped Luke, but righteous anger won out. “If she starts swinging that weapon around, they’ll kill her for sure.” Luke held his breath as Lacey slowly got to her feet. He knew what he had to do. Crawford and his men weren’t reasonable fellows. This situation couldn’t be won through a gentlemen’s conversation.
God, forgive me for making such a vow that maybe I wasn’t supposed to keep in the first place.
Luke grabbed his brother’s rifle. His gaze met Jake’s. “Get ready to do some fancy shooting.” He watched as Lacey moved slowly toward her father’s body.
“All right, I will.” Jake positioned his revolver and himself just an eyeball above the tabletop. “Divert his attention from the girl.”
“Crawford,” Luke bellowed, “you are one ugly coward to use a child for one of your pawns.”
Crawford fired a shot into the house. Both Luke and Jake ducked behind the table.
Then, just as Luke predicted, Lacey reached her father’s gun, whirled around, and miraculously shot her captor clean out of his saddle.
Jake squeezed the trigger of his revolver and killed the other outlaw. Next he fired at Crawford, but missed.
Crawford fired his weapon at them, and the charge whizzed over Luke’s head. Then, with the precision he learned and used numerous times during the war, Luke aimed and fired. The lead ball met its mark. Crawford clutched his chest, stumbled a few paces, and dropped facedown into the dirt.
Jake stood and clapped Luke’s shoulder. “Nice job. It needed doing.”
“I know, and I don’t regret it either.”
“Good man.”
Lacey knelt by her father’s body and sobbed. Both Luke and Jake kicked the outlaws’ weapons out of their reach, just in case. Luke helped Lacey to her feet and held her against his side.
“Things might look grim now,” he told her, “but they’ll work out.”
She wrapped her skinny arms around his midsection, and together they followed Jake into the barn. Never did Luke see two more frightened women. Annetta held Bethany, and tears streaked their faces.
Lacey ran to Bethany.
Annetta ran to Jake and threw her arms around his waist. She buried her head in his shoulder. “Are they dead, Jake?”
He enveloped her in a protective embrace. “Yes, they are. You don’t have to worry about them anymore. You’re safe now.”
Luke felt like an eavesdropper and stepped away to check on Beth. She and Lacey seemed calmer, but he saw in Beth’s eyes a sort of pleading, and somehow he knew her thoughts were on the other Jonas kids.
“I’m going around back to fetch the rest of the young’uns.” He knelt beside Beth. “Will you be all right for a time?”
“Yes. It’s important to me to know all the children are unharmed.”
“I’ll go check right now.”
“Luke?”
He paused, and Beth clutched the collar of his shirt and pulled him close.
“I’m so glad you’re all right. When I heard all the gunfire, I–I…”
“It was terrible, Miss Stafford.” Lacey began to cry again.
Luke kissed the side of Beth’s head. “Take care of her. I’m just fine. You and I can talk later. Meanwhile, I’ll fetch the other kids.”
Luke set off through the barn and headed for the chicken coop. When he reached the children, Michael was wailing, and four dirty faces peered back at him.
“You’re safe now. But I have some hard news.” Dropping down on his haunches he did his best to explain what just happened and that their pa had been killed.
“What’s gonna happen to us?” Jesse asked. “We can’t stay here.”
“You’ll come home with me.” Luke couldn’t imagine why he offered such a
fool thing. What would he do with six kids?
He mulled on it for a several seconds and determined that for the time being, he’d love them. Love is what everyone wanted in this world anyway.
Reaching for Jeb, he sat the boy on his knee while hugging little Lorna to his heart. Yep, that’s what he’d do. He’d just love them.
EPILOGUE
Journal entry: Wednesday, December 25, 1867
It’s Christmas Day, and it’s hard to believe I’ve neglected my diary for two months. So much has happened. I’m suddenly a schoolteacher plus a wife and mother of six children.
Luke and I have been married one month and two days. I couldn’t be happier. We are adopting the Jonas children as our own. Even so, we will never let them forget their birth parents and remind them of only the good memories.
Our cabin is comfortable but very cramped. We have three rooms. The boys bunk in one, the girls sleep in the other, and Luke and I make our bed near the hearth in the center room. My only complaint is that I don’t often get my husband’s attention all to myself.
Jake and Annetta became engaged on Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, the very next day, he allowed Annetta to operate and repair the bone in his leg. I’m happy to report that he is recovering nicely, and he can now walk without the use of his cane. He and Annetta hope to be married in the summer when Jake is finished building our new home, which, I’m glad to report, will be close to theirs. How nice to have them living close by. Annetta has become my good friend. For the time being, Jake is residing in the boardinghouse. He hopes to build a hospital next year. Meanwhile, Annetta has employed Trudy’s help and says the young lady will make a fine nurse—or even a doctor someday.
We haven’t yet heard from Angie, but we all pray that she safely reached San Francisco. I did, however, receive a telegram from my father giving his permission for our marriage. Perhaps someday I will see him and my brothers and sisters again. I can see why God familiarized me with caring for a large family. I have another one now. I also understand the premonition the Lord sent me. He determined I would be the Jonas children’s mother. And so I am. I love each child with all my heart.
I hear Michael waking, and soon all the children will be up and eager to open their Christmas gifts. I sewed each child an article of clothing. The boys will have new shirts and the girls a new dress. Jake and Luke made them toys. The children will be so excited to see them. Then we’ll attend church this morning, and later Jake and Annetta will come over for Christmas dinner.
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