“Well, I only just shared it with her. I’m sure she means to tell you. But the point is, she’ll be perfectly safe. Jason poses no threat to her well-being.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Wes leaned toward Oliver but kept his gaze on Adler. “Look, I’ll help you find a couple of men if that’s important. I know Oliver can pick them without me, however. The important thing right now is Phillip. He’s in a bad way, and I intend to see him through this.” He turned to Lizzy’s uncle. “If anyone understands, it should be you, Oliver. You know it isn’t easy.”
“I do,” Oliver admitted. “Alcohol truly is a demon that takes hold of you and refuses to let go.” He looked at Adler. “I think we’ll have to find a way to manage without them, Henry.”
The Englishman’s forehead furrowed as he considered all that had been said. Wes knew it was a lot to spring on them, but he couldn’t help it. He knew this was life and death for his brother.
“Very well,” Henry said. His expression revealed he was already trying to think of solutions to the situation.
Wes got to his feet. “Now I need to break the news to Lizzy.”
“You didn’t discuss this with her first?” Oliver asked.
“No. I suppose I should have, but it was important to catch you both first thing so we can get someone hired on. Phillip and I will leave as soon as we can pack and get a train north.”
He left the office and made his way through the train to the car where Lizzy kept her office. She wasn’t there, but he hadn’t expected her to be. She was no doubt already at the fairgrounds where they were slated to perform. The wagons had been moving equipment since their arrival, and Wes knew Lizzy wouldn’t want to leave things unattended.
He spotted Ella and gave a whistle. “Have you seen Lizzy?”
“She’s getting ready to head over to the fairgrounds.”
“I figured she’d already be there.”
Ella adjusted her straw cowgirl hat. “She would have been, but someone misplaced some of the belts for the trick-riding saddles. She was frantic until she found them.”
“I can imagine. Where is she now?”
“Tack car.”
“Thanks.” Wes wasted no time making his way to the train car in question. He found Lizzy giving instructions like a general to her soldiers.
“Make sure this doesn’t happen again. Everything has a place, and everything needs to be in its place when it’s not being used. If you put it back the same place every time without fail, you will always have it at the ready. Understand?”
Wes suppressed a smile as the young men gave a murmured affirmation. “You men have a lot of equipment to finish getting over to the fairgrounds,” he said. “If Lizzy’s done with you, I need you to get on it.”
The men looked over their shoulders in unison at the sound of Wesley’s voice. They looked back to Lizzy.
“I’m finished. Go on.” She waited until the men had exited the car to address her husband. “I figured you’d be busy with the horses. What brings you here?” She stretched up to kiss his cheek, and Wes bent to accommodate her.
“I need to talk to you about something. It’s important.”
She frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“You know what I told you about Phillip?” She nodded, and he continued. “I have to get him away from here. He’s never going to stop drinking as long as he’s with the show. It’s just too hard—too available.”
“I understand, but we made a commitment to Uncle Oliver and Henry.”
“I’ve already spoken with them. They understand the situation, and I assured them Carson would be able to step up and take charge of the wranglers. They can hire a couple of extra men here in Dallas.”
Lizzy’s face bore a look he knew very well. She wasn’t happy with him. “You didn’t think to speak to me first?”
“I needed to catch them when I could. I knew I could talk to you most anytime. After all, we do sleep in the same bed.” He grinned, but it only made her more upset.
“Wesley DeShazer, I can’t believe you’d go and decide something so important without my thoughts on the matter. Doesn’t my opinion count in this?”
He stiffened. “No. Not exactly. I do want your support, but I’ll leave without it if need be. My brother needs me more than you do right now.”
She looked stunned. “How would you even know what I need? You never bothered to ask.”
Wes tried to take hold of her, but she backed away. “Lizzy, would you just listen to reason.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. It wasn’t like her to turn emotional on him. He wondered if he’d made a mistake. Maybe the best thing he could do would be to start over.
“Look, I’m sorry. I’m doing this poorly. Please just sit with me for a minute. I know the timing is bad and my decision is probably not completely thought through, but this is important to me.” He took her hand, and this time she didn’t pull away.
“Hey, boss, are we going to use that newer team of blacks tonight?” one of the wranglers asked from the doorway.
Wes glanced over Lizzy’s shoulder. “Talk to Carson. I’m busy.”
The wrangler’s eyes widened, but he said nothing. Instead he gave a nod and left as quickly as he’d come.
“Let’s go to our car and discuss this,” Wes said to his wife.
He anticipated Lizzy giving him a fight, but instead she wiped her eyes and let him lead her through the various train cars until they reached the one that contained their bedroom. The car was set up with four bedrooms and a large sitting area in the middle. Wes led Lizzy to one of the chairs and then took the seat beside her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t discuss this with you first. That was wrong of me, but my mind has been on Phillip. He’s a broken man, and he needs me.”
“I understand,” she whispered. “It’s just that I need you too.”
“Then come home with us.”
She looked appalled at the suggestion. “And leave Uncle Oliver? Mother would never forgive me.”
“You know that isn’t true.”
“Well, if he started drinking again, I wouldn’t forgive myself. Amanda Moore has her claws in him, and she’s always encouraging him to drink. I can’t leave him here to fend for himself.”
“And I can’t send Phillip off to fend for himself.”
“You wouldn’t be,” Lizzy protested. “You could send him back to Mother. She would take care of him.”
“First of all, I’m not sure Phillip would make it back on his own. Second, he’s not your mother’s responsibility. He’s my brother, and I gave him my word.”
Lizzy started to get up, but Wes held her hand.
“You gave me your word too,” Lizzy countered. “We’re married. We are no longer two, but one, and you should have talked to me about this before making a decision.”
Wes gritted his teeth. She was right, but he wasn’t going to let that change his decision. “I told you I was sorry, and I am. I should have discussed it with you first, but now that it’s done, I’m asking you to understand. I’m not making you come with me. Stay, if that’s what you think is right, or come back with us if you feel inclined. I’m not trying to impose my will on you.”
She seemed to calm a bit. “I agree that Phillip should go back to the ranch, but I don’t understand why you have to go as well. Mother helped Uncle Oliver with his drinking problem, and she cares a great deal about Phillip. I know she would be happy to help see him through this.”
“I know that too, but as I said, I gave Phillip my word. When we talked, he made it clear that he isn’t strong enough to do this without me. Surely you aren’t so selfish that you would begrudge him this.”
“So now you think I’m selfish?”
Wes rolled his gaze heavenward. “I didn’t say that. I said that surely you weren’t.”
“The implication is there,” Lizzy said, crossing her arms. “I can’t believe you would accuse me of being selfish. I care about your brother. He’s my brother
now too. The issue of drinking and the trouble it causes is something near to my heart because of Oliver. But it’s exactly because of Oliver that I don’t feel I can quit the show and go back to the ranch.”
“Then stay. I’m not asking you to go.” His frustration mounted as he did his best to choose his words carefully. It seemed that no matter what he said, however, it irritated his wife.
“You’re impossible.” Lizzy burst into tears.
Wes didn’t know any way to make this right. “Look, Lizzy, I prayed about this, and I have to do what I feel is right. This has nothing to do with a lack of love for you. It has to do with my love for my brother. Try to understand.”
“I’m not . . . without understanding,” she said, sniffing.
“I know that. That’s why I came to discuss this with you. I knew that once you heard what I had to say, you would understand.” He hoped that would soothe her hurt feelings, but either way, he needed to get on with his plans. “I suppose you’ll stay with the show, then, until they leave for Europe.”
She looked away and fixed her gaze on some spot behind him. “I suppose so. Uncle Oliver needs me, and apparently you don’t.”
“That’s not fair.”
She surprised him by jumping to her feet. “Life doesn’t seem overly fair to me right now. You’ve made your choice, Wes. Now I’m making mine. I’m staying here to honor my commitment and see to Uncle Oliver like I promised my mother. I wouldn’t even be here except for that promise, because I was willing to quit the show—for you.”
He got to his feet as well. “Be fair, Lizzy. You planned to quit the show anyway. It’s already June. You’ll be home by August.”
“Unless Uncle Oliver decides he’s going to Europe.”
Wes decided to ignore her comment. “I need to get our tickets and settle things with Carson. I’ll come see you before I leave.”
Lizzy shook her head. “Don’t bother.”
With that, she went into their bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
Wes stared after her. He knew she was struggling with his decision. Knew too that she hadn’t slept well last night after he’d told her about Phillip. Maybe he just needed to give her some time to think it over.
He glanced at his pocket watch. He’d get tickets to Montana and then come back to get his clothes and say good-bye. Maybe by then she’d have calmed down.
When Lizzy emerged a few minutes later, Wes was gone. She knew she’d acted unreasonably, but a part of her was truly hurt that he hadn’t consulted with her before making his decision. Weren’t married couples supposed to talk things through and make decisions together? Still, she felt terrible and wanted only to find him and make things right. She didn’t want him leaving with Phillip without smoothing things over.
She exited the train and glanced up and down the length of the bright red Brookstone cars. She saw Mary and Ella and gave them a wave but didn’t attempt to join them. She needed to find Wes and apologize.
“I was hoping to find you,” Henry Adler said, coming up behind her.
Lizzy turned. “I’m looking for Wes.”
“I imagine he’s with Phillip. I know they were collecting his things. I’m sorry to be losing them. They are by far my best workers. It won’t be the same without them.”
She nodded, feeling herself close to tears again. “I wish they weren’t going.”
“Does that mean you’re staying?”
“Of course. I can’t possibly leave Uncle Oliver. I don’t trust Amanda Moore. She’s after him for his money and no doubt to get some control of the show.”
“How would she do that?” Henry asked, seeming genuinely puzzled.
“I’m sure she thinks that once she marries Uncle Oliver, she’ll have a say in the show, since he owns half of it.”
Henry frowned and shook his head. “Oliver doesn’t own the show anymore. He sold his shares to me in England last year when he thought he was going to die.”
“What?” Lizzy took a step back at the shocking news. “Why wouldn’t he tell me? Mother owns the other half of the show. He should have sold it to her.”
The older man’s frown deepened. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Lizzy, but your mother has no ownership of the show whatsoever. Your uncle was the sole owner at the time he sold it to me.”
“That can’t be.” She shook her head. “My father and uncle owned it jointly. When Father died, it would surely have gone to her.”
“I don’t know what happened, Lizzy. I know that your uncle asked me to make him an offer for everything, with the provision that you and he would always have a job should you want one. I agreed to that, and my lawyer drew up papers. I assure you, Brookstone’s Wild West Extravaganza now belongs to me.”
ten
Phillip found Ella just as she was getting ready to leave for the fairgrounds. She was dressed in clothes that suggested she’d get right to work once there, but as always, she was beautiful. He loved the delicacy of her face—full cherry lips, pale pink cheeks, dainty nose, and arched brows. The fact was, there was nothing about her that he didn’t love.
“I see you’re ready to start practice,” he said as he approached.
“Yes.” Ella smiled. “And you? Are you heading over now?”
“No. I’m not going to the fairgrounds. In fact, I’m leaving the show. That’s why I wanted to come find you.”
Her brows knit together. “You’re leaving?”
He nodded and pushed up his hat. “I have to, Ella. I’m not the man I need to be. I’ve been drinking way too much, as you know. I can’t seem to stop for long, and yet I know I must.”
“It’s good that you want to. That’s better than before. Did you take my advice and talk to Wesley?”
“I did.” He looked down at the dirt. “I told him everything, just like you suggested.” He fell momentarily silent.
“And what happened? Is he making you leave?” Her tone was almost accusatory.
Phillip’s head snapped up. “No! Wes wouldn’t do that. He’s a good man, and he was . . . well, he was completely understanding. He already knew the truth.”
Ella’s mouth dropped open.
Phillip nodded at her surprise. “It’s true. He said he got in touch with the sheriff and learned the entire truth about what had happened to our father and me that day. I had no idea he’d done that.”
“All this time, he knew.” She barely whispered the words.
“Yes. I suppose that should be proof to me, if nothing else, that he truly does forgive me. But not only that, he’s willing to help me stop drinking.”
“So you’re both leaving?” She glanced down past the train cars. “Does Lizzy know?”
Phillip nodded. “Yeah. Wes said she didn’t take the news real well. She’s supportive of me but wasn’t happy about him going. I was hoping I’d get a chance to talk to her before we head out.” He hesitated. “There’s something else, Ella. Something I need to ask you.”
“What is it?” She looked perplexed.
He smiled. “I’m hoping maybe . . . that is, I was wondering. . . .” He couldn’t seem to find the right words. What if he shared his heart with her and she rejected him? “Ella, I care a great deal about you, and I know you care about me. I believe that you love me, but right now I’m not worthy of anyone’s love.” She started to speak, but Phillip put his finger to her lips. “Please, just hear me out.”
She nodded, and he pulled back his hand. “Thank you. See, I want to become a man worthier of you. I want to let God help me change my life, but I know it’s not going to be easy. I’m hoping you’ll pray for me.”
“Of course I will. You must know that I’ve been praying for you all along.”
“I do. I probably wouldn’t be alive if not for your prayers and intercession. But besides praying for me, I’m hoping you will wait . . . for me.”
Ella said nothing for a moment. “Are you proposing to me?”
Phillip shook his head. “Not exactly. I’m ask
ing you to give me a chance to prove myself. I’m asking you not to let any other fella sweep you off your feet and steal you away while I’m gone.”
A smile broke across her face. “I can definitely promise that.”
“You will? You’ll wait for me?”
She nodded, her eyes seeming to glow.
“I don’t know how long it will take, but if it starts taking too long, I’ll release you from your promise. I won’t take unfair advantage.”
“I know you won’t.” She looked at him as if he was someone she admired. Her gaze warmed Phillip’s heart and made him feel a sense of well-being for the first time in a long time.
“Thank you, Ella.” He reached out and took her gloved hand. Raising it to his lips, he kissed it.
“You ready to head out, Phillip?” Wes asked as he and Lizzy approached.
Phillip could see Lizzy had been crying. He hated that he was hurting her. She’d always been so kind to him. “I’m ready.” He looked back at Ella. “I’ll come back as soon as I’m able.”
She nodded. “I’ll be here.”
Wes kissed Lizzy, and the two exchanged some murmured last words. Phillip wished he had the right to kiss Ella, but he knew that day would come. Just considering a future with her would help him keep his determination to stop drinking—forever.
He smiled at Ella and touched her cheek. “I know you will be.”
Later that afternoon, Ella couldn’t stop reflecting on her conversation that morning with Phillip. She was both excited and fearful about his plans and the fact that he’d asked her to wait for him. It was funny. They had never talked about their feelings for each other with regard to the future. They both knew there was something between them that went deeper than friendship, and yet they hadn’t found a way to discuss that intimacy.
“Miss Ella?” one of the young wranglers called out.
Ella looked up from where she’d been adjusting buckles on the saddle. “Yes?”
The young man looked sheepish. “There’s a fella here says he’s your brother.”
She gazed behind him toward the open door of the stables. “Robert!” She thanked the wrangler and immediately went to where her brother waited. She hugged him. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
What Comes My Way Page 9
