Chapter 34
Clean-shaven and hair still damp from his visit to the barbershop, Ben quickstepped past the thin green building near the corner of Main Street in Weatherford.
He had no intention of giving temptation a moment to take root.
If he hurried, he could make it home in plenty of time to share the good news with Cora before supper.
Goodnight had taken forty of the cattle on the trail with him and, in light of the recent catastrophe, agreed to charge a smaller fee than the first time.
The experienced rancher and cattleman said that he had even lost a few cattle near that very spot on the Pecos his first time through.
At the corner, he turned right toward the livery stable, the opposite direction of LeBeau’s office.
No use looking for trouble. Fielding the barber’s questions about the fight had been enough.
Obviously, the whole town had nothing better to do for entertainment than spread gossip about the battle for Miss Cora Scott’s hand.
Ben slowed his stride. There was no battle for Cora’s hand. Cora was his girl. But was that a question to leave open in everyone’s mind for another year or even until winter? He needed to find a way to keep his word to his father and yet be free to court Cora with the full intention of proposing.
“Mr. McKenzie.” A voice rang out behind him.
Ben stiffened. His hand fell to his holster flap as he turned. On the frontier, one never knew how far another man might go for revenge.
But it was only Mr. Miller waving a piece of paper at him and hurrying along on the other side of the street. Tension ebbed from Ben’s shoulders. He waited for a mule-driven wagon to pass and then crossed the street in front of a buggy.
Miller caught up to him. “I heard you were in town.” He removed his slouch hat and dabbed his damp forehead with his handkerchief.
“Passing through on my way to the ranch.” Ben tugged on the lapels of his too-warm frock coat. “If I’d known you wanted to see me, I would have stopped by the store. You did receive the payment I left with your clerk before I rode out of town last week, didn’t you?”
“The payment was fine.” Miller smiled. “And I would have understood if you’d taken another month to send it. No hurry.” He held up the paper. “But I wanted to get this to you. The telegram clerk left it with me yesterday. Figured you’d likely stop by the store when you got back to Weatherford.”
Ben frowned at the envelope. Anything that had to be sent in that much of a hurry probably wasn’t good news. “Thank you kindly.” He took the telegram and shook the man’s hand. “I’m just sorry you had to run out of your store to catch me.”
“No trouble.” Miller hooked his thumbs around his suspenders beneath his open coat. “I heard you were at the barber’s, and I fancied it was about time I got myself a shave, only before I got there, I saw you headed up the street here.”
Ben blinked. Did this town keep a running tab on where he was at any given moment when he was in Weatherford? His throat tightened, but he managed an uptick in his lips. “Thank you for all of your help. I won’t keep you from your shave.”
Miller tipped his hat. “I’d better hurry off so I can get back before Mrs. Miller has to abandon the storefront to cook supper. I hope your telegram brings good news.”
“Good day, Miller.” Ben pivoted.
“McKenzie?” Miller called behind him.
Ben turned.
“Good luck with the girl. I’m voting for you.” Miller grinned.
Ben half snorted. How did one reply to such a remark? “I’m working on it.” He stuck his tongue in his cheek and hurried off before the man could ask the particulars.
But it was the telegram that worried him.
He tapped the paper to his leg as he strode along.
He wasn’t about to open it in front of prying eyes.
Who knew how many people in this town were aware he’d received a telegram?
The booming size of Philadelphia definitely had its advantages when it came to privacy.
Standing against a wall in the back of the livery stable, Ben opened the envelope. Best to read it while he was in town in case he needed to send a reply.
Your father is seriously ill with pneumonia. We do not know if he will survive. Come home immediately. Love, Mother
Air leaked from his lungs as he sank back against the planed wood. His father had always enjoyed good health, except for a couple of bouts with fever. Ben scrubbed his hand over his jaw. He would have to catch the next stage east. Get to Galveston, book a berth on a steamer…
He removed his hat, closed his eyes, and bowed his head.
Lord, please watch over my father, strengthen him, and heal him.
Please let me make it there in time. If it be Your will.
Be with my mother and Evelyn. And Lord, watch over Cora and Charlie.
Help her to understand. Open the doors, make a way for us to marry.
Please, she’s the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.
With wobbly hopes, he found his horse and headed home to the ranch.
As soon as Ben rode through the palisade gate, Charlie ran out to greet him, with Jack yelping at his heels.
Ben halted his gelding halfway across the yard and climbed out of the saddle.
“You’re back.” Charlie beamed and threw his arm around Ben’s waist. The arm in the sling bumped against Ben’s gun belt. “You’re gone too much.”
“I’ve missed you, partner.” Ben squeezed the boy close. How would Charlie handle the announcement that Ben had to head east and be gone for who knows how long?
One ear bent, Jack pawed at Ben’s leg.
Charlie scooped the dog up and held him out to Ben. “Jack wants to say hello too.”
“Howdy, Jack.” Ben scuffed his hand across the pup’s head, then brought him up to his shoulder and gave him a good pet.
“Did you save us a bull?” Charlie scanned the road beyond the gate. “Cora said you might bring some longhorns back. I’m ready to help. I’ve got to practice for the next trail ride, you know.” He puffed out his chest.
“The bull’s at the stockyard, along with five heifers. Tomorrow morning, you and I will ride into town to fetch them.” One of the last duties he’d have time to perform before he caught the next east-bound stage, two days from now.
“I get to wrangle cattle.” Charlie jumped up and down. “I can’t wait. I’ve got a rope. I’ll go tell Cora.”
Ben laid a hand on Charlie’s shoulder and scanned the porch and yard.
“Where is your sister?” He’d expected her to come running, or maybe at least quickstep off the porch with a big smile aimed his way.
The scene had played in his imagination for the last two days.
The hug, a kiss, with the promise of more tender ones to follow after Charlie’s bedtime.
And the way her eyes would light up in welcome before she even reached him—
“She’s not been feeling the best.” Charlie wiggled. “But I bet she’ll be all better now that you’re home. I’ll go tell her.”
“Wait,” Ben called after him. If Cora was anywhere near the house, she’d heard the commotion.
She knew he was home. Maybe she was feeling poorly, or maybe she wanted a private welcome.
“You can help me out by taking care of Cooper.” Ben patted the gelding’s neck.
“He needs a good brushing and a rubdown. He worked hard on the trail helping me get the rest of the cattle to Mr. Goodnight. I’ll check on your sister. ”
Charlie blew out a breath. “All right.” He perked up. “I’ll give my horse a good brushing too. Get her ready for the trail tomorrow.”
“Sounds good, partner.” Ben patted the boy’s back, then retrieved his saddlebags before heading toward the house.
How was he supposed to leave these two? He’d have to see if Mr. Franklin would be willing to hire on full-time for a couple of months.
A couple of months? Only the Lord knew how long he’d be gone.
And if his father died? Ben shuddered and stuck one hand in his pocket while the other steadied the bags over his shoulder.
His father and he had talked so little since his return from war.
Sure, they’d spoken every night at the dinner table or in passing.
But Ben couldn’t recall the last time they’d really talked.
He’d have to work at least a little while at the paper to earn money to pay Mr. Franklin. But he couldn’t allow himself to get trapped there. He had Cora and Charlie to look after, and they needed a husband and a father, not a bank note or a bag of coins.
Heart heavy, he stepped onto the back stoop. With the late-July heat, the entrance door to the hallway stood wide open. A fly buzzed past as Ben entered.
Hands stuffed in her apron pockets, Cora met him at the threshold of the kitchen, lips tight and hair coiled in a braid at the back of her head. Not a speck of welcome in her demeanor. Maybe she’d been worried about him.
His heart thumped. “Good news. Goodnight took all of our cattle, except for the four and the bull.” He slid his saddlebags to the floor.
“He’s going to charge us less commission too.
” He drew her into his arms. That would bring a smile to her face.
He needed to hold her close, visit with her, enjoy a good meal, before he broke the news about his father.
Her arms came around him slowly, halfheartedly, but when he sought to draw back a step to look into her eyes, she buried her face in his shoulder and held on as if a flood might sweep her away.
“I’ve missed you too.” He brushed his lips against her hair.
That was the problem, wasn’t it? That she’d missed him?
And she had no idea he had to leave again, and for much longer.
He tightened his hold on her, and they swayed there in the hallway for several minutes.
Lord, give me the strength and wisdom to know what to do.
“I love you, Cora,” he whispered. “You are the girl of my heart.”
A jolt seemed to ripple through her. She pulled away, eyes moist.
His knees jellified. “What’s wrong?”