The Texas Sheriff's Family Blessing (Testament Creek Book 2)

by Maya Stirling

  Finally, it was time to patrol some of the residential streets. Tyler and Jack made their way past the doctor's house. He saw that Grace's buckboard was still parked at the gate of the doctor's home. But Tyler didn't even think about stopping at the doctor's place. Tyler and Grace had agreed they'd keep Jack and Katie separate for the morning, so they could both enjoy what had been planned for them. The children had hardly spent a moment apart during the last few days.

  Crossing to the other side of town, Tyler and Jack came to a long street which ended in a grove of trees. At the far end of the street was a large house. Tyler knew that Mr and Mrs MacKendrick lived there. They had been one of the original settlers in Testament Creek. Julius MacKendrick had once owned the mercantile before selling up after his health had taken a turn for the worse. Both were in their sixties and trying hard to live a peaceful life. They were regular churchgoers and Tyler had always had a soft spot for the kind-hearted couple.

  As they came to the end of the street, Tyler paused and looked down at Jack. "I reckon we've covered the whole town. I told you Monday mornings can be quiet in Testament Creek."

  Jack nodded and Tyler thought the boy looked slightly disappointed that he hadn't been involved in anything more exciting than checking that everyone in town was happy.

  Before Jack could say anything, Tyler heard a cry of distress coming from the direction of the MacKendrick residence.

  "That sounds like Mrs MacKendrick," Tyler commented to Jack. "Let's go and see what's going on."

  Tyler opened the picket fence and strode up the garden path toward the porch of the white-painted house. The cry of distress echoed in the morning air. It was coming from the back of the house. Tyler made his way around the side of the house and came to the back garden. There he saw two figures standing in the middle of the grassy lawn. It was Mr and Mrs MacKendrick. They were both staring down at the ground and were talking animatedly with each other.

  Mr MacKendrick pointed to a hole in the ground and said: "I tell you he went down there."

  Mrs MacKendrick gasped. "Where did that hole come from? It wasn't there yesterday."

  "I don't know," Mr MacKendrick objected softly. "Maybe a gopher."

  Tyler strode across the lawn with Jack following on his heels. "Howdy, folks," Tyler announced. "What seems to be the problem?"

  Mr and Mrs MacKendrick both turned and peered at Tyler and Jack. For a moment Mrs MacKendrick looked puzzled, as if seeing the town sheriff with a young boy by his side was the last thing she'd expected.

  As Tyler halted in front of the couple he heard a muffled barking sound. He knew the couple had a little dog, who they called "Precious". Tyler glanced at the hole. The sound of barking had definitely come from that direction.

  Mrs MacKendrick pointed to the hole in the ground. "Our dog won't come out of that hole there. He's been in there a while and he refuses to come out. We've offered him treats and everything, but he seems determined to stay there."

  Tyler frowned. This was exactly the kind of domestic crisis he was used to dealing with. Sometimes he wondered what folks idea of a sheriff's job was. "Your dog, ma'am?"

  "Uh huh," Mr MacKendrick. "I've tried putting my head in there, but the hole is too small. I think Precious believes that is his new kennel."

  Tyler grinned and tried not to laugh. Seemed like the dog had a mind of his own. Precious was a tiny little mongrel, but he was probably the only source of joy in the MacKendrick household. Tyler knew that the couple had never had children of their own.

  Tyler squatted down and peered into the darkness of the hole. He couldn't see the dog but he could tell the hole went a long way down. Tyler leaned closer and saw that he could just about get his head and one shoulder into the space. But it was too big for any grownup to get into. Another bark came from inside and Mrs MacKendrick groaned with obvious distress. This called for some creative thinking, Tyler told himself.

  Tyler turned to Jack. He smiled at the boy. "Deputy."

  Jack's brows lifted. "Yeah?"

  Tyler wagged a finger at Jack. "Come here."

  Jack came to Tyler's side. Tyler pointed into the darkness of the hole. "You reckon you can wiggle your way in there and get that dog to come out?"

  Jack's brows furrowed. The boy's eyes scanned the entrance to the hole and then nodded. "I think I can."

  "The boy will get stuck!" Mrs MacKendrick exclaimed.

  Tyler shook his head. "I have every faith in my deputy, ma'am," he said. Tyler lifted a brow at the woman and grinned.

  Mrs MacKendrick seemed taken aback by Tyler's reference to Jack as his deputy. She glanced at her husband who just shrugged. Clearly he was as puzzled as his wife.

  Tyler pointed at the hole. "In you go, Jack."

  Jack sank down onto his belly and wriggled his way into the hole. For a moment, Tyler considered telling Jack to stop, but the boy seemed determined to get as much of his upper body into the hole. Moments later, the entire top half of Jack's body was in side the hole. All that Tyler could see were the boy's waist and legs.

  Fearing the boy might get stuck, Tyler moved closer on his knees, getting ready to tug Jack out of the hole. But Tyler stopped when he heard a loud bark coming from inside the hole. Jack said something which Tyler couldn't make out.

  Then Jack's hips wriggled forcefully and he cried out. "Pull us out, sheriff," came Jack's muffled cry.

  Mr and Mrs MacKendrick clutched at one another as Tyler seized Jack by the hips and pulled firmly. An instant later Jack emerged, covered in dirt, but clutching the tiny figure of the dog.

  Mrs MacKendrick cried out with delight and scooped the dog out of Jack's arms. "Precious," she exclaimed. The dog, covered in loose earth, but clearly pleased to have been rescued, barked loudly and started licking Mrs MacKendrick's face.

  Tyler smiled at Jack who was wiping dirt from his face. "Good job," Tyler stated and lifted himself to his feet. Jack grinned as he stood next to Tyler.

  "I can't thank you enough," Mr MacKendrick said. He came to Jack and laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Well done."

  Tyler saw Jack's chest swell with pride. Tyler kicked some loose earth toward the opening of the hole. "If you give me a shovel, we can fill this hole in for you. Just to make sure Precious doesn't get any ideas about going down there again."

  "I'll get one," Mr MacKendrick said and rushed off toward the house.

  "You got yourself a fine young man there, sheriff," Mrs MacKendrick declared.

  Tyler laid a hand on Jack's shoulder. "I know that ma'am," he said. "I'm real proud of him."

  And when Jack looked up at Tyler, he could see just how much the morning's work had meant to the young boy.

  It was turning out to be a good day.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  "I'll be back real soon," Grace said to Hope mid-morning. "I'm going to talk with the attorney, Lyle Warner," she added in a quiet voice.

  Hope and Grace were standing out in the corridor of the doctor's house. Inside the room Katie was talking cheerfully with Miss Hardesty. Grace grinned when she heard Mary Hardesty laugh quietly at something Katie had said to her.

  Hope nodded. There was no need to explain the reason for the visit to the attorney's office. Hope was well aware of Grace's worries. "Take all the time you want," Hope said to Grace. "I've got all the help I need."

  Grace glanced toward the open door of Miss Hardesty's room. "Katie seems to be enjoying being a junior nurse this morning."

  Hope laughed quietly. "She's a real fast learner. Most of all, though, Mary's spirits have been lifted. Just having Katie around has made a huge difference."

  Grace wished Hope goodbye and headed out of the house. She knew where the attorney's office was. During the trouble with Rafael Largo, Grace had had plenty of reasons to pay the attorney, Lyle Warner a visit. She made her way there and found he was available to talk. Settling herself down in his office for the next hour, Grace described the situation to him. She shared her concerns about the adoption, and what
she'd heard from Hope. Throughout the meeting Lyle made copious notes and reassured Grace that he would look into the legalities of allowing a local couple or family in Testament Creek to adopt the children. He also agreed to contact the organization who'd made the arrangements in the first place.

  Grace left the office and headed back to the doctor's house. She had absolute trust in Lyle. After all, it was he who had completed all the legal formalities when she, Hope and Prudence had inherited the ranch back in the summer. She had complete confidence in the attorney.

  As she crossed Main Street, Grace glanced at the jailhouse. She played with the notion of paying a surprise visit to Tyler and Jack. But, as she walked past the closed door, she recalled the agreement she and Tyler had made together earlier that morning. The whole idea of bringing the children into town was to show them what life was like in Testament Creek. To take them away from the enclosed world of the Circle T ranch. After the visit to Miss Hardesty, Grace planned a brief shopping trip for her and Katie. The little girl needed some new outfits and other necessary items. Traveling to Wyoming on the train, Katie had only had the barest of essentials.

  Grace also had a secret plan to involve Tyler in that shopping trip. Jack needed things, too. And Tyler might just be persuaded to help out in making the choices for Jack. Knowing how reluctant Tyler was to do any kind of shopping, Grace knew she'd have to use all her weapons of persuasion if she was to get him to spend at least a small part of the afternoon with her and the children.

  Passing by the jailhouse, Grace soon found herself back at the doctor's home. He'd left earlier to pay an urgent call to a patient on the other side of town. When she entered the house she found Doc Clanton in the parlor.

  He looked up when she entered. "Grace. Won't you join me?" he asked gesturing to the long sofa in the middle of the room. There was a teapot and two cups and saucers on a small table in front of the sofa. Grace figured the doctor had planned for this discussion with her.

  Grace smiled. "Of course." She sat down next to the doctor. He looked tired, she told herself. Maybe the last few days had taken their toll on the doctor.

  Doc Clanton lifted the teapot. "Would you like some tea?"

  Grace accepted and the doctor poured the tea into the white china cup. Handing Grace the cup and saucer, Doc Clanton cleared his throat. "I wanted to speak with you about something," he admitted. The doc glanced toward the open parlor doors. "It's about the children."

  "Really?" Grace asked and took a sip of warm tea.

  Doc Clanton nodded. "Hope told me you went to see the attorney."

  "I did. And he was very helpful," Grace replied.

  "What does he think about the situation?" the doctor asked.

  Grace explained that the attorney had agreed to look into the legalities of a change to the adoption plans. And that he would contact the organization which had placed the children with the family in Wyoming. As he listened, Doc Clanton nodded slowly.

  Finally, once Grace had finished speaking he leaned closer. "I can't help noticing that you and Tyler have become particularly close to the children. In fact, you both seem to have taken on the roles of parents to the children."

  Grace's mouth dropped open slightly and she gazed for a long moment at the doctor. "You think so?" she said finally.

  Doc Clanton smiled. "I do. And I think it is a wonderful thing you're both doing."

  Grace frowned and set her cup and saucer down on the small table. "And what exactly is that?" she asked hesitantly.

  Doc Clanton tilted his head and grinned at Grace. "You can't fool me, Grace. I know how you feel about Tyler. And I know how he feels about you. He's told me so. Plenty of times."

  "He has!" Grace exclaimed.

  The doctor sipped some tea and then put his cup down on the table. "I know you two are very much in love."

  Grace felt her face flush with heat and it had nothing to do with the warmth of the air in the parlor. "I wouldn't go so far as to say that, doctor."

  Doc Clanton laughed and shook his head. "I may be getting old, but I'm not blind. And I've seen plenty of young couples in my time. I know love when I see it."

  Urgently in need of some kind of a distraction, Grace lifted her cup again and drank a gulp of tea. Taking too much at once, she coughed and then laid the cup down. The doctor's eyes widened with concern as Grace tried to compose herself.

  Finally, she got her breath back. "Tyler and I are the best of friends. I know everyone thinks we've been stepping out together, but it really is just a very amicable friendship."

  Doc Clanton shook his head. "Tush and nonsense, Grace. You can't fool me," he said and laughed.

  "In any case. What has that got to do with the children and their adoption?" Grace asked.

  Doc Clanton lifted a brow. "You really don't know?"

  Grace shook her head. "No. I don't."

  The doctor leaned back in the chair. "Although I'm not a gambling man, I'll be willing to bet that the attorney won't be able to find anyone in Testament Creek who will be suitable to adopt the children. Especially after the children have been living up at the ranch with you and Hope."

  Grace furrowed her brows. "I'm sure there will be families who would welcome the chance to adopt Jack and Katie."

  The doctor shook his head. "I know every family in this town. And I don't think there would a more perfect couple to adopt the children than you and Tyler."

  Grace felt the air slip out of her lungs. She leaned back against the side of the sofa. "What are you saying, doctor?" She knew exactly what he was getting at, but she needed a moment to compose herself. What the doctor was suggesting sounded suspiciously like a recommendation that Grace and Tyler get married. Even just thinking about that made the room spin a little.

  "You know exactly what I'm saying, Grace. Think about it. If the children are going to have any chance of staying in Testament Creek, it is the only solution that makes sense." Doc Clanton leaned closer and spoke in a quiet but decisive voice. "Speaking plainly. You and Tyler should get married and adopt the children."

  Grace's heartbeat quickened. There was a roaring sound in her ears as her pulse began to race. Grace felt suddenly giddy. She saw a momentary concern in the doctor's eyes. She dragged in a deep breath and forced herself to smile. "Really, doctor. I just don't think that is going to be possible."

  "If you don't believe me, ask Tyler," the doctor.

  "A lady does not propose marriage to a man," Grace declared.

  Doc Clanton sighed heavily. "I know that. I meant ask Tyler if he agrees that it is a sensible solution for the children."

  "You're suggesting a marriage of convenience," Grace retorted.

  The doctor shook his head. "You only have a marriage of convenience when there is no love involved between the couple." The doctor lifted a skeptical brow. "And I think there is plenty of love between you and Tyler Smith. If you don't agree, tell me I'm wrong."

  Grace squinted at the doctor. "You want me to say I don't love Tyler?" Grace knew the doctor had a fierce reputation around town for getting straight to the point with any diagnosis. Maybe that was why he felt able to speak with Grace so directly about a subject like this.

  Doc Clanton kept his gaze steady on Grace. He was waiting for her to say that she and Tyler didn't love each other. But if she did that, she'd be telling a lie. The truth was simple and the doctor had found her out.

  Grace did love Tyler. But was that enough for her to agree with the doctor's suggestion? Could she and Tyler marry in order to adopt the children?

  "For all we know, once Miss Hardesty recovers, she might be able to continue on her way and the adoption might go ahead as planned," Grace said tentatively.

  Even as she uttered the words she knew they weren't true. She knew something had to be done to give the children the best possible future. Until this moment, she hadn't realized just how much the children had come to mean to her. She wondered if Tyler felt the same.

  The sound of Hope calling for the doct
or made him stand. He gazed down at Grace. "Think about what I said, Grace. It's possible it may be the only way you can all be happy. And that includes Jack and Katie. And Miss Hardesty."

  Then the doctor left Grace alone in the parlor. He'd given her so much to think about. And, of course, Grace knew, deep down, that everything he'd said was true. Depending on the results of the legal inquiries, the time was fast approaching when a decision would have to be made.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  "Haven't you bought enough?" Tyler asked Grace as they emerged from the mercantile with four new bags of purchases.

  Grace smiled at him as she loaded two of the bags onto the rear of the buckboard. "We need to get back to the ranch," she said. "I arranged to speak with Cal about buying some new horses."

  Tyler placed the two bags he was carrying on the buckboard. He glanced at the disappointed expressions on the faces of Jack And Katie.

  "Have you forgotten?" Tyler asked Grace.

  "What?"

  "We promised we'd take the children for cakes at the cafe before you all go back to the ranch," Tyler reminded Grace.

  Grace glanced at the children. Her face flushed pink. Tyler assumed she'd been so caught up with buying stuff in the mercantile that the promised trip to the cafe had slipped her mind. "Silly me," she said to Jack and Katie. "Let's go over to the cafe. I bet you're both starving after all that work you both did this morning."

  Jack had hardly waited a minute when Grace and Katie had arrived at the jailhouse before telling them all about his escapade with the hole and the dog. He seemed proud of the way he'd carried out his duties as temporary deputy.

  For her part, Katie had told Tyler all about her morning spent helping Miss Hardesty. It seemed like Katie might have a future career in nursing, Grace had commented as Katie had told Tyler all about her visit to the doctor's house.

  They all got up onto the seat and Tyler drove the buckboard up Main Street and parked it outside the town's only cafe. Once inside they claimed the window table. Grace ordered the cakes for everyone. In spite of her cheerful demeanor, Grace seemed preoccupied. Tyler knew her well enough to be able to sense when Grace was worried about something. He knew she'd planned a visit to Lyle Warner, the attorney this morning. He wondered is Lyle had given Grace some kind of bad news.