LAND OF STARS: The Texas Wyllie Brothers (Wilderness Dawning Series Book 2)

by Dorothy Wiley

  “Mr. Tyler, this is my father, Stephen Wyllie, and Adam, who is Louisa’s brother. You have already met my brother Thomas and Dr. Grant.”

  “A pleasure, Sirs!” Tyler said. He leaned the saddlebags against his legs and reached out to shake Father’s hand and then Adam’s. “Welcome to our home. I apologize for the unusual reception committee.” With a chuckle, he grabbed the saddlebags and turned toward the house.

  The five of them followed behind him.

  “All our plucky ladies are well, even my dear Amelia,” Tyler told them over his shoulder. Then he stopped in his tracks and addressed Baldy. “Dr. Grant, I must say, you are a miracle worker. My wife hasn’t looked this well in months. I can’t thank you enough.”

  Baldy smiled. “Her health is thanks enough. But I thank you for that superb whiskey Rebecca brought. Actually, you have our brilliant Adam here to thank for concocting her medicine. He’s young, but he’s been blessed with a gift for creating medicines.”

  “Remember, I came up with the ingredients, but you helped me create the formula. And I’m only able to do what I do because you’ve been teaching me since I was eight-years-old,” Adam said affectionately placing an arm across Baldy’s shoulder.

  “But you thought up the idea for this particular medicine on your own. And it is so effective we might even consider manufacturing it for other doctors to use for their patients,” Baldy said.

  “Thank you, Adam,” Mr. Tyler said with a pat to Adam’s back. “And if you do decide to manufacture it and you need a financial backer, I’m your man.”

  Adam grinned so broadly Steve thought the young man’s lips might split. “My thanks, Sir.”

  “We’d better get inside. They’re anxious for our dinner party to begin,” Tyler said. “Rebecca and Cook have been working on this dinner all day. She wanted it to be perfect for you.”

  “We’re still having a dinner?” Steve asked. “After a robbery attempt and three men dying?”

  “Yes, indeed so. This is the frontier and few things stand in the way of a good dinner celebration. Besides, you couldn’t stop the women from their dinner party with a real cavalry,” he said. “When my daughter sets her mind to something it not only gets done, it gets done well.”

  Steve didn’t doubt that. When he stepped inside, he couldn’t believe that they had just hauled three bodies out of this home. Everything was perfect. Candles glowed. The aroma of something delicious cooking wafted through the air. A dinner table set with china and crystal awaited them on the far side of the room. But he lost his breath again when he caught sight of Rebecca waiting for him, resplendent in a formal gown that hugged her figure. Her long hair, arranged in a twisted do atop her head, shined like it was made of black stars. And her smile made his toes curl. He lost his breath again.

  He strode over to her as the others greeted each other. He took one of her hands in his, and she leaned lightly into him. “You are positively stunning tonight,” he said. “But are you all right after that horrible ordeal?”

  “Yes. I was a bit shaken earlier, especially when Melly was almost shot. But Mother set a fire under us, and with Colette’s help, we got everything cleaned up in a matter of minutes,” she explained.

  Steve gasped. “Melly was almost shot?”

  “Sir, you said you would explain what happened,” they heard his father say to Mr. Tyler.

  “Of course, but let me pour all of us a drink first,” Tyler said, uncorking a fresh bottle of whiskey. “I’m certain the ladies could use one.”

  “Indeed,” Melly said, stepping closer to Baldy and affectionately looping her arm in his.

  Tyler smiled as he poured. “I’m afraid Rebecca found my decanter useful as a weapon, so I’ll have to pour directly from the bottle. Ladies, we also have a nice wine, if you prefer.”

  “Whiskey for me,” Melly said.

  “A very small pour for me,” Louisa said. “I wouldn’t want to get my baby tipsy.”

  “A generous pour for me,” Abigail said with her usual giggle. “After what happened, I might even need two.”

  Steve gave Rebecca a sideways glance. “You used the decanter for a weapon?”

  She only shrugged and gave him a slight, wry smile.

  With a grin, Steve said, “Those robbers should have learned their lesson the first time they tried to threaten you.”

  “I had help this time,” Rebecca said with a nod toward the other women.

  After everyone held a drink, Mr. Tyler held his glass up. “Mrs. Tyler and I, and Rebecca, welcome you to our home. Providence has seen to it that our paths have all crossed for more than one reason. First, so that Dr. Grant and young Adam could help my dear wife. Second, so that the unfortunate slaves from Mr. Watson’s plantation could find some respite here. Third, so that Melly, Louisa, and Abigail could all be here to help defend us against those evil men. I hate to think what the outcome might have been if these brave women hadn’t been here. We are standing here well and whole because of their courage. And fourth, and most pleasingly, so that Steve and Rebecca could learn if the bud of love can blossom between them. Here’s to Providence.”

  “Amen,” said Baldy.

  “Hear, hear,” said several others.

  “Now,” Mr. Tyler said. “Here’s what happened.” Tyler told them of the earlier events with copious and enthusiastic assistance from Mrs. Tyler, Rebecca, Melly, Louisa, and Abigail.

  “Thank God you weren’t shot,” Baldy told Melly. “A few more inches…” He shook his head and then took hold of Melly’s hand and kissed it.

  It amazed Steve that the women succeeded in subduing three dangerous men. If they hadn’t, the outcome could have been a disaster resulting in both deaths and assaults on the women.

  “Do you always carry weapons on your person?” Rebecca asked the two young women. “I must say I was surprised but grateful that you did.”

  Louisa and Abigail smiled and nodded.

  “They do,” his father answered. “We all do. We lived in such a dangerous place that I insisted they all carry weapons at all times. It’s become a habit for all of us.”

  “I normally carry a dagger in my boot,” Melly said, “but tonight I am wearing my dress slippers, so I had to make do with the poker.”

  “I’m more comfortable with my short-barreled stocking gun gartered against my leg than a dagger or knife,” Abigail said and patted her leg gleefully.

  The bold statement seemed completely out of character for the jolly young woman. But Steve had to admit that his good-humored sister-in-law was a capable shooter. He was beyond grateful that she’d killed the thief who dared to point his pistol at Rebecca. If not for Abigail, Rebecca might have been killed. The thought made his stomach clench.

  With a glance Rebecca’s way, Abigail explained, “My father bought the pistol for me before we came to Pecan Point, and Thomas and his brothers helped me to become an expert shot. I think I might even be able to outshoot my husband now.”

  “I think so too,” Thomas said.

  Abigail giggled jovially and hugged her husband’s arm. Nothing seemed to put off her perpetual merriment.

  “And Samuel taught me how to use a knife,” Louisa said. “It’s come in handy a number of times. Once I faced a rabid coyote when I was out gathering berries. It likely saved my life.”

  “And I taught them never to touch a rabid animal or anything even near it. The only way to destroy that hazard is to burn it,” Baldy said.

  “I’m just glad that those thieves can’t harm anyone else,” Rebecca said. “One of them said they’d robbed from New Orleans to San Antonio.”

  “Another one said they’d done much worse things. I told those men they had better mend their ways and pray for forgiveness or the wrath of God would descend on them,” Melly said.

  Louisa nodded. “Who knew it would come so swiftly and God would use us women to punish those men? It all happened so fast.”

  “Perhaps God used women because they’d hurt other women,” Baldy
said.

  “I’m saddened that we had to take three lives, but we had no choice,” Rebecca said. “Their leader could easily have killed Father or Mother as soon as they had our money and jewelry. Then those men might have….”

  “Let’s forget about this unfortunate incident,” Mrs. Tyler interrupted, “and concentrate on the future. I just checked and Cook has recovered well from her faint. She says she has prepared a memorable dinner for us and is anxious to serve it. Shall we?” She indicated the dining table with a gracious sweep of her arm.

  They all took seats and Steve made sure to seat himself next to Rebecca. The scent of her made his pulse quicken. His body seemed to catch fire every time he was near her. Reaching under the table, he gently placed a hand on the top of her gown’s skirt. Even through multiple layers of fabric and petticoats, her warmth shot through him.

  Her brows flew up, but then a slow smile spread across her face.

  It was a daring move and he shouldn’t have done it. But, dang it, he wasn’t sorry he did. Being close to her felt so natural. So compelling.

  “Doctor, would you say the prayer?” Mr. Tyler asked.

  Baldy nodded and bowed his head. “Thank you, Lord, for this food, for your grace when we sin, your faithfulness when we are unfaithful, your mercy when we are disobedient, and your protection when we need it, especially for protecting Melly from serious harm.” The doctor’s voice choked with emotion as he continued, “And most of all, for your love when we don’t deserve it. I praise you for the lives of every person here and for Samuel. Bless them richly indeed and help us to find the path you want us to take here in Texas. Amen.”

  Mrs. Tyler rang a little bell beside her, apparently a signal to the cook who brought steaming dishes to the table.

  The savory scents coming from the bowls and platters made Steve’s mouth water, though not nearly as much as the beautiful woman sitting beside him.

  “Mr. Wyllie, what’s this I hear about your sons having difficulty locating land?” Mr. Tyler asked in his deep-timbered voice.

  Chapter 22

  “Alcalde Procela is an unconscionable cur,” Tyler told them as he passed the plate stacked with slices of roasted beef. “I hate to say it, but Samuel and Steve may never get their grants.”

  “Don’t worry, my husband won’t let that wicked man steal from us. Samuel will get his land grant or he will get his money back,” Louisa assured Mr. Tyler. “One way or another.”

  “I’m sorry your husband was unable to join us,” Mrs. Tyler said. “When do you expect Samuel back?”

  “Tomorrow, I hope. Possibly the next day,” Louisa told her. “Our cattle have been heading this way since we all left Pecan Point, so hopefully our herd is close.”

  “Rebecca tells me you’ve been working for Samuel’s cattle business,” Mrs. Tyler told Steve.

  “Yes, for many years. Thomas and I both have,” he said with a glance at Thomas, who sat next to him on his other side.

  “But I’m the better cowhand,” Thomas said with a playful elbow jab to Steve’s ribs. “I can rope and brand better than Steve.”

  “But I can ride and train horses better than you,” Steve said. “And without a good horse, a cowhand might as well be on foot.”

  Since they were young, Steve and his brothers had competed with each other. Father insisted that it always be done in good fun, but it also sharpened their skills. And those abilities to ride fast, rope accurately, shoot straight, fling a knife, and wield an axe, made all four of them better able to survive in a rough world.

  “Boys, rein in your rivalry and stop competing at the dinner table,” Father said. “But they’re both right,” he added with a grin.

  Steve glanced toward his father. “Actually, it was Father who started the cattle business in Kentucky and made a considerable profit selling beef to forts in Kentucky. He passed that operation and our land on to our two sisters and their husbands so they and their sons would have a secure future. When we moved to Pecan Point, we brought a good bull and a few cows with us. Samuel took over the primary management of the day to day cattle operations. And I took responsibility for raising and training horses.”

  “And did you do well at Pecan Point?” Mrs. Tyler asked.

  “Samuel successfully built the operation from a small herd into a rather lucrative large one,” Louisa said while other savory dishes were passed around the table.

  Steve realized how proud he was of both his father’s and brother’s accomplishments. It was time to accomplish something with his own life too. He hadn’t yet told Father or Samuel that he intended to stay in Nacogdoches. He’d played a significant role in Wyllie Cattle Company since Samuel first started it, six or seven years ago. How would Father and Samuel react to him wanting to start his own horse operation? Hopefully, Mr. Tyler wouldn’t mention his plans to Father until he had a chance to.

  “How have Watson’s slaves settled in?” Baldy asked.

  “Very well, indeed,” Mr. Tyler said. “They’re so grateful to have a roof over their heads and a chance to rest up.”

  “They haven’t started working yet?” Father asked.

  “No,” Tyler told him. “I’m giving them a chance to recuperate and grieve. Many of them lost family and friends to the flood. Just like the horses of those robbers, their minds and bodies need to heal before they will be of much use.”

  “You’re a wise man,” Baldy told him.

  “So are you, Dr. Grant,” Mrs. Tyler said. “I want to personally thank you and Adam for your care during my illness. Do you plan to open a medical office here in Nacogdoches?”

  Baldy cleared his throat and Father coughed. How would Baldy answer?

  “Please call me Baldy, all of you. Everyone who knows me well knows that I prefer the nickname to any kind of title—doctor or pastor. Since I’m both, it just gets confusing for folks. And as you can see, the name suits,” he said swiping a hand across his shiny head.

  Steve knew the real reason. The nickname, given to him by the other and much younger students while Baldy was attending seminary, represented to Baldy his new reformed life. One devoted to serving God and man.

  “Very well,” Mrs. Tyler said.

  “I do hope you will open an office here, Baldy. Adam could run your apothecary and Melly could serve as the community’s midwife,” Rebecca suggested.

  “After what Procela did to Samuel and Steve, I’m not sure I want to stay in Nacogdoches,” Baldy said. “We may have to consider moving back to Louisiana.”

  “What!” Melly said, her eyes widened in surprise.

  Baldy held up a hand. “Wait. I said I was considering it.”

  “Well it’s news to me,” Melly said with some understandable indignation. “I have no desire to go back to that place. I never knew whether there were more alligators or mosquitos there. I only knew I abhorred both.”

  “Melly, we will talk about this later,” Baldy said.

  “We certainly will,” Melly retorted and took a rather large sip of her wine.

  Steve could tell that Baldy was going to have to reveal their scheme to Melly. Tonight. She didn’t look like a woman who would be put off on a topic as important to her as to where they would be living.

  The rest of the dinner passed more pleasantly with discussions about national politics, the future of Texas, and the production of sugar, followed by the enjoyable consumption of an unusual pound cake drizzled with sweet cream and sprinkled with nutmeg.

  Little Stephen finally woke crying for a feeding and Louisa bid them all goodnight and excused herself to go upstairs. Thomas and Abigail decided to sit on the front porch after dinner. The rest of them returned to the front room for a brandy.

  Rebecca sat down on the settee and Steve quickly claimed the seat next to her. While he sipped the rich brandy, he gulped in the sweetness of having her so near.

  “Mr. Tyler,” Father began, “might you know of anyone who would have land for sale with a clear and definite title to the property? We’r
e looking for a large tract. At least three-thousand acres. Ideally, twice that or more.”

  “Well…” Tyler began. He glanced over at Rebecca and Steve and seemed to be considering something.

  Rebecca smiled at her father. “What were you going to say, Father?”

  “I know of something. Let me check into it for you,” Tyler told Father.

  Steve had a distinct feeling that there was something Tyler wasn’t saying.

  “When do you see Procela again?” Tyler asked.

  Steve and Thomas let their father answer.

  “Possibly tomorrow. More likely the day after,” Father said. “After Samuel returns.”

  “I’m going with you,” Baldy said.

  “Me too,” Melly added. “Come get me when you go there.”

  “Good luck to all of you,” Tyler said. “Steve, see me when you’ve finished with the Alcalde and let me know how you fared.”

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Mrs. Tyler said and stood. “I find that I am growing too weary to stay awake.”

  The men all stood.

  “Of course,” Steve said. “We have kept you up too long already and we should be returning to our camp anyway.”

  “Yes, I need to check on my patients,” Baldy said. “Stephen, will you tighten the cinch on my horse while I speak to Melly outside for a minute?”

  “Of course,” Father said and then turned to the Tylers. “Thank you for a lovely dinner. I enjoyed it immensely.”

  Baldy also thanked the Tylers then stepped outside with Melly.

  “I hope it’s the first of many dinners,” Mr. Tyler said as they left. “Goodnight.”

  As she shut the front door, Rebecca said, “I’ll just be a minute, Father. I want to say goodnight to Steve.”

  “Take your time. I’ll help your mother get settled in for the night. Goodnight, Steve.”

  When her parents closed their bedroom door, Steve reached an arm around Rebecca’s waist and drew her to him. Light from a nearby candle sparkled in her beautiful eyes. Emboldened by the rare moment of privacy, he lowered his head to hers. His lips a mere fraction away from hers, he whispered, “I’ve wanted to do this all night.”