by Sara Lindley
Becca showed her tear-stained face in the light looking up to him.
“Please be careful River! Please!”
River nodded.
“I will. Becca. You keep the children down there with you until I whistle.”
River started to make a search for Nola and the animals. He found no dead animals and…no Nola. There was no Nola! He looked under the beds and in the yard scanning the fields and trees for the burgundy dress she had on. He looked through the trees and around the barn which was still standing and solid. He looked through the barn and no Nola. He was getting the feeling that brother wind had taken her for himself. She wasn’t here.
He ran back to the cellar and gave the go ahead to come up with a warning to be careful of dangerous wood splinters and other things that could still kill. He brought Becca dry wood from the cellar to start a fire in the stove.
He and Mac started the clean up the part of the house that still had a roof. River left and was gone for about an hour. Becca was getting nervous as she stood scanning the horizon for him.
Becca knew he was searching for Nola.
She finally spotted him and watched him in his wagon carrying a tarp covering something.
He asked what was cooking for dinner and Becca stared at him like he was crazy.
“RIVER? Where is she? Where is my sister? We have to find her!”
Becca was screaming at him.
“Don’t you care? We have to find her! She’s out there somewhere!”
She broke into tears again as she called Mac and Mazie to her and hugged them close.
Becca glared at River until she saw the tears in his eyes and she was ashamed that she had screamed at him. She ran to him hugging him to her. River ran broad hands over her back saying soft little things to settle her.
“We do not know where she is Becca. I have searched our area. If she is…alive, she will return to us. If she is…gone from us, she will be brought to us.”
Becca nodded but she couldn’t stop from sobbing deeply. Oh why wasn’t Harrison here? Why did he have to go on the cattle drive now? The house is ruined and the children need him!
River brushed her face of tears and looked into her eyes..
“You and Mazie stay in my room in the loft. The Barn and stables are untouched and solid. Mac and I will live in my parent’s tipi after I set it up.”
Becca nodded and started gathering things that had blown on the ground
River got busy and with Mac’s help they had the tipi set up in the yard quickly. River built the sleeping benches and set mats on top for sleeping. Blankets were brought in and soon River had a huge bed made and a snug little fire pit going.
Rebuilding the house would start tomorrow. Tonight they would grieve.
As Mac and River lay of the benches that made the huge bed, they heard the flap of the tipi and saw Mazie and Becca enter quietly and Mazie snuggled into Mac and he moved over to make room for her. River looked at Becca full of grief and he pulled back the blanket for her. She fell into the arms of Still River and he held her close as she wept. Becca poured out her sorrow at the loss of Nola and her fear of losing Harrison. What else could happen now?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Morning came and River found that the sleeping benches that made a huge bed for two had four bodies on them. Snuggled up to River on one side was Becca and the other had Mazie with Mac snuggled into him. River smiled, happy they could sleep. They would need the rest.
He pulled himself up and scooted down the bed to get out before waking everyone. He just finished dressing when the sound of a wagon was coming.
Turning back the flap of the tipi he walked out and spotted the Hendersons in a wagon coming into the yard. It was Frank Henderson and his oldest son Seth in the wagon. Seth. Nola’s love. He had the look on his face of a haunted soul.
Several of the horses that he released were tied to the wagon and as they approached their grim faces showing a hidden pain. River approached them as they nodded seeing Seth’s sickly pallor and sadness. Mr. Henderson wiped his face and nodded.
“River? We found Becca in the trees. She was dead, River. It ain’t a pretty sight. The tornado was hard on her.”
River placed a quick hand to his heart and felt a tear slide down his face and watched Seth’s face turn ashen. “It is not her is it? It is her twin sister Nola, River! Nola.”
The man choked a sob and walked around to lift the tarp to show River.
The pain on his face was raw. River saw the look of a man in pain and suddenly knew how much he loved Nola. He looked down and saw the ring on her finger. That’s what she went back for. She wanted the ring Seth gave her and let Father Sky have her wedding blanket.
River’s head fell back and he sang a death song for the woman that might have loved him but loved this quiet man instead. Becca came storming out of the tipi.
“Mr. Henderson! What? She saw the wagon and the body sized lump laying in the back.
“NO! NO! Nola? NOLA!”
She rushed to the wagon and River grabbed her.
“No do not look! She that you loved is gone. She is dead, Becca! Please do not look! Remember her alive!”
Becca started to scream in pain and felt like she was falling into the mud.
River held her before she fell. She screamed and beat on River’s chest and finally gave up. Her cries were head for miles in the quiet of the aftermath.
“Let me bury her in peace, Becca.”
Becca cried as she tried to gather her wits. Nola! Gone! My twin is dead! Nola!
River turned to the Henderson men holding Becca.
“Frank? Seth? Your family is safe?”
Frank Henderson nodded his head. “Yeah. We are all spoken for and fine. A little worse for wear but fine. Thanks for asking.”
River nodded.
“That is good. Have you eaten breakfast?”
Each man looked surprised but said no.
“Come then and eat with us. We still have a stove that works. Becca will you make coffee, please? Something to eat?”
Becca dazed automatically nodded. River let her go and followed the men as they walked towards Mac who had just walked out of the tipi. It was then they heard the screaming wail. River turned and saw Becca at the wagon with the tarp lifted.
“God damn it! Becca!” She turned and beat on him screaming after seeing the twisted broken body of her sister.
“Why? WHY? Why didn’t you find her? Why didn’t you find her?”
She collapsed on him. Mr. Henderson took over.
“Mac you comfort your Mama and Mazie. Seth you help River bury…Nola. I’ll make the coffee.”
Seth and River buried Nola by the steam under the Willows she loved. They buried her deep and with rocks over the grave so no animal will harm her. Seth fashioned a cross for her grave nailed the ring he gave Nola to the cross.
River stood there seeing the woman that loved Seth Henderson buried and with the earth again. He would grieve for her. He placed a hand on Seth’s shoulder.
“I know she loved you and wanted to marry you.”
Seth rose and turned in anger but saw sadness in River’s eyes and he hung his head and nodded. The anger was gone and grief replaced it.
“I know you sent for her to be your wife but I fell in love with her. I asked her to marry me and she said ‘yes’. We planned to wed next month.”
Seth started to sob hiding his grief-stricken face in his hands.
River placed a hand on Seth’s shoulder. He saw all his dreams of marriage and children going down stream like water through his hands. He knew just how Seth felt.
“I am sorry Seth. I know. She told me she could not love me because she loved you. She planned to have a long life with you.”
Seth buried his face in his hands and wept. River stood with his hand on Seth’s shoulder with tears running down his face for Seth, for Nola and for the woman he loved…his Becca.
It was another two weeks before they had the ranc
h cleaned up and found all the animals. They were all alive…even the cow, Mrs. Astor. The only one to loose their life was Nola.
Becca visited her grave every day and set flowers or something as a mark of respect. Becca sent a telegraph to Auntie and Uncle about the tragedy. She knew they would take it badly.
It had now been over two months since Harrison had left and Becca was restless to have him return. She needed to know he was alright.
It wasn’t long into the next week she heard the horses coming into the yard. Tuck looked like hell and she looked around at five others still looking for Harrison. The men had bandages over cuts and slings on some of their arms. Bruises were all over their faces and they had the smell of death on them.
Tuck dismounted and walked to the porch. River walked from the barn to see what was going on.
He came over to him and Tuck spoke softly to him. Becca saw raw pain on River’s face and his eyes turn to her. Becca felt her world ending. Somehow she knew.
Oh NO! Not Harrison? Where is he? He’s supposed to come home! He promised!
Tuck walked up beside Becca and River watched her as she heard that Harrison would not be coming home. He had died in a stampede along with eight of the other men as the huge storm traveled southeast. Hail and lightning spooked the cattle and another tornado ripped the Kansas plains and set off the cattle into a wild stampede. Harrison lost his life as well as eight other men.
Becca fainted and River ran to help Tuck hold her from falling. River scooped her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom she and Harrison used.
River watched over Becca for the next week. She had periods of shouting and then sobbing and then just staring. He was actually afraid for her sanity.
He had seen many women go through the loss of their man. The sad thing was she had no body to bury and grieve over.
Even River had trouble with this, for his very best friend and brother was dead. He had hoped it was a good death but he doubted it. Brother wind, when he was angry could be merciless.
The only thing that kept Becca and River going was Mac and Mazie. They needed them both badly. The children couldn’t understand that their father was dead and never returning. They refused to believe it! With every horse that was heard and every step to the front door, they would run yelling for their father. But it was never him…he would not be returning.
The whole house was grief stricken and Becca came to River often, falling into his arms needing his strength and comfort. River understood she had lost not only her beloved sister, but her husband she loved but it was still hard for him. River missed his friend too. Harrison and River had been friends for years. His friend had just gotten married and was smiling again!
River felt it should have been him to die and not Nola or Harrison. No one would grieve for him. He was alone in this world and this poor woman, his beautiful Becca, had suffered two devastating deaths so close together. Mac and Mazie walked the house like the ghosts and needed a good amount of attention.
He wanted to scream…to curse. But he must be the rock for this family, the steadfast one. This family he had sworn to keep safe needed him. River closed his eyes remembering Harrison’s last words to him. ‘Now brother, you take my place until I return.’ But he would never return.
Mazie clung to River and would only go to sleep in his arms then be put to bed.
River and the family continued to stay in his tipi as he rebuilt the roof of the house. River gave Tuck his room in the barn. There were more than enough rooms for the rest of the hands who survived in the bunk house.
Days moved by as if they were in a thick fog. The land dried, chores were done, fences mended and cattle fed and branded. Tuck finally sat down with River and told the whole story.
Apparently this was an ill fated trip from the beginning.
Tuck told River of rattlesnakes, streams too deep to cross and repairing the broken axle on the chuck wagon causing loss of time and energy. Tuck shook his head when he talked of the storm and the twister. In Kansas there was nowhere to hide and tornados love open plains to run amuck. River talked for several hours with Tuck.
Finally Tuck brought out the oiled pouch of money and River locked it in the safe. He would deal with that later. At least the cattle were sold and Tuck was loyal to bring the purse back.
Mac and Mazie started their schooling with Becca but little progress was made. All of them were too buried in grief to concentrate on lessons. The almost daily visits from neighbors and Preacher Paul started to dwindle as rebuilding took over.
Things came to a head when the lawyer showed up from Lamar on a Monday afternoon. He had received written confirmation from the sheriff in the nearest town to the place of Harrison’s death. He also had confirmation of the other eight. The lawyer sat drinking coffee in the living room as Becca and River sat with him.
“Are you two ready? I need to read you the last will and testament of Harrison McGann.”
River looked at his hands as Becca nodded.
“Best be getting’ on with it then.”
Of course Becca inherited everything with a plea from her dead husband to still love and care for his children. Becca hugged them to her. Of course she would…that went without saying.
Harrison stated he had dreams of wanting Mac to take over when he was grown if he wished.
If not, there was money set aside for him to do with as he willed. He also left a sizable dowry for Mazie. Becca guessed that Harrison had come from a rich family but never said so.
It was the added codicil at the end of the reading that set off sparks and shocked River. The lawyer shifted in his chair unhappy having to read it out loud. The lawyer rubbed his neck.
Becca pursed her lips and demanded he read it.
“After all, Harrison loved River like a brother. They were the best of friends and had known each other for years before I ever showed up.”
The lawyer nodded agreeing and began to read. Harrison had made the request that River marry Becca if anything happened to him. He listed his reasons and pleaded with Becca to at least think about it. Somehow Harrison knew River loved her.
Harrison trusted River with his life, his ranch, his children and now his wife. He knew it was asking a lot of River but he stated that he knew what he had started would be cared for and would thrive in River’s hands. Becca would be protected and his children would have a father they could love and respect. The lawyer looked disgusted at River.
“I tried to get him to reconsider but he was damned adamant! I don’t know why he would trust you to care for his wife and children but he was in his right mind so I couldn’t eliminate it from the will. He trusted you and loved you Still River! God knows why!”
Becca was speechless she was so shocked and she could tell so was River. He blinked at the lawyer like he wasn’t quite sane. Becca sniffed looking distressed.
“When…when did my husband make this change in his will, sir?” The lawyer sighed.
“It was just two weeks before he left on the cattle drive. He came to my office to get his papers for the cattle witnessed and he sat down and made the changes then and signed them.”
The lawyer shrugged and sipped his coffee.
“Harrison even laughed about it saying Still River would probably kill him if he found out but he felt River would be a better husband and father than he was. But he certainly loved you as a brother Still River. He told a few stories about how you had saved his hide more than once. Yes, he certainly respected you and looked up to you. Respected you enough to ask his widow to marry you and take his children as your own.”
Mac stormed into the study and yelled.
“No! I don’t want another Pa! Why did it have to be him? Huh? Why? I can run the ranch now! I don’t need Uncle River! Why couldn’t it have been him instead of my Pa in the ground? Why?”
Becca stood shocked at Mac’s outburst.
“Mac! That’s awful! Take that back!”
Mac choked a sob turning and ran fro
m the room. Becca looked at River and wiped her face. “I’m sorry River. He didn’t mean it. It’s the grief talking.”
River shook his head.
“Yes. Yes he did, Becca. He meant it…because I wonder that too.”
Becca could see River’s hands begin to shake and he rose to get to the kitchen and away from prying eyes. He poured more coffee in his mug and sipped it by the stove. What he really wanted to do was scream out a cry and slam the mug against the wall.
How could my friend ask this of me? I was crazy enough to think I could marry Nola and look what happened. Did Harrison really think that Becca would want me? Marry me? She could never love me! She loved you Harrison! I would forever be the intruder in their lives. The children even seem to hide from me now.
River looked up and saw Becca at the kitchen doorway. She could see his eyes burning with sadness as he turned and walked out of the house not looking back.
The next week River took the money from the cattle sale and paid the hands. The money that was to go to the other drovers was kept separate in case they found out about some family they had. River checked the books and balanced the ledgers and gave Becca the accounts balance and what he would recommend to spend and when.
Since the cook was killed in the storm, Becca now had to cook for four other men who had agreed to stay and take orders from River. They lost one due to River being an Indian.
Tuck became the new foreman and River depended on him for his advice for the cattle. Tuck liked River so he had no trouble working with him and welcomed the extra cattle and horses from River’s lands with his brand.
River took the place by the hand and made slight changes to make it more profitable. But he left the vegetable gardens in Becca’s charge. She was the genius behind their vegetable profit and it gave her something to set her mind on besides her loss.
