Cowboy Father

by Linda Ford

  So the three of them did dishes. When they were done, they went outside. Jake trotted over to his mother and wanted to be held.

  Georgie reached out for Ethan to pick him up. They sat side by side, holding two little boys. Adele hummed as she gently rocked Jake.

  Georgie relaxed against Ethan’s chest.

  “I think they are ready for bed,” Adele said.

  “Why not let them sleep together again?”

  “Jake stay wif me.” Georgie reached for Jake’s hand.

  Adele chuckled. “I know I’ll upset them both if I say no, but I feel like I’m neglecting my duties as a mother. Perhaps I’ll let them settle, then take Jake upstairs with me.”

  Ethan didn’t offer a comment as they made their way to the addition where they prepared the boys for bed and put them down side by side.

  Adele held their hands and said their bedtime prayers, then sang a lullaby.

  Ethan told himself he was relieved that no one asked him to sing. He went to the door to look out.

  “Adele,” he whispered. “Come and see this.”

  She joined him at the door, their shoulders and elbows pressed together. He shifted so he had more contact.

  She followed the direction he pointed. Susie had gone to where Donny played with his barn.

  “I could help you build fences,” she said.

  “Building fences is a man’s work.”

  Ethan stole a glance at Adele and saw the bemused look on her face. He slowly returned his attention to the children.

  “My mama helped my papa. Papa said she was a great help.”

  Donny considered her words. “You miss your mama and papa?”

  “Lots and lots.” Susie’s voice threatened tears.

  “I guess you can help.” He shifted a little to allow Susie to sit beside him.

  “That’s sweet.” Adele had caught Ethan’s hand. He couldn’t say if she did it out of emotion without thought or if she welcomed the excuse. It was the latter for him.

  She glanced back. “The little guys are asleep.”

  “Then let’s enjoy the evening.”

  They sat on the chairs outside.

  “What a peaceful evening.” She leaned back, smiling contentedly.

  He allowed himself to believe part of her pleasure came from sharing the evening with him.

  A little later, they sent Donny to the house, and Susie joined the little boys in bed. She insisted that Ethan sing for her. He did so, and Susie smiled and closed her eyes.

  Adele shifted her attention from the children to Ethan. “The three of them have certainly grown close.”

  He knew what she meant but didn’t say. She thought the children belonged together.

  He saw more. The five of them together.

  Just as soon as he could provide them a home, he’d tell her that’s what he wanted.

  He held out hope he could find the missing money.

  12

  Adele couldn’t decide if she should take Jake and go upstairs, or remain on the chair, enjoying the evening. Though truth be told, there was really no decision to be made. She had no reason to rush inside. Especially when Ethan seemed in the mood to talk.

  “I would think it a great privilege to grow up in a preacher’s home. The music, the Bible reading—”

  “The piano lessons, the memory work, the company.” She made her voice sound like she regretted those things.

  “Was it bad?”

  She chuckled at the surprise in his voice. “Of course not. It was good. Ma and Pa have endless patience. I remember when Flora and Eve came. Flora was so scared. She kept trying to run away. Ma said she was trying to find her family, but all that was left of them was her and Eve. I would often hold her hand and try to calm her down.”

  “It turned you into a compassionate person. One ready to help others in need.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate you saying that.”

  “It’s hard to believe you have a brother.”

  “It’s hard to believe he’s disappeared. After Victoria learned who she was—”

  “Wait a minute. What did you say?”

  She told Ethan the story of how Victoria had lost her memory in a train accident, and the evidence led the authorities to believe her family had died in the crash. The Kinsleys had taken her in, and she became a part of the family. “Turns out she had rich parents back east. They’d hired a detective to find her. He probably never would have if Reese hadn’t recognized her. Anyway, long story short, she returned east with her family, but wasn’t happy there. With their blessing, she chose to live here and marry Reese. She asked her rich parents to pay the detective they’d hired to look for Josh.”

  “I hope he finds him.”

  “Me too. I have so many memories of Josh. I remember walking to the park one day. Ma and Pa had their hands full with Tilly, Eve, and Flora—the sisters had just joined our family, so I must have been eight and Josh nine. We had to cross a little footbridge over a narrow stream to get to the park. I was so frightened of that bridge. It seemed too narrow to keep me from falling into the water. Always before I had been able to hold Ma or Pa’s hand, but like I said, they were busy with the other girls. My mouth was so dry I couldn’t swallow.

  “I whispered to Josh that I was scared. He took my hand and told me I never had to be scared if he was with me. I reminded him of that many times. And I reminded myself when things got bad with Floyd. I thought if I needed to, I could depend on Josh. And then he disappeared. Just a few weeks before Jake was born.”

  “Being part of the preacher’s family hasn’t spared any of you your share of pain.”

  “I don’t think we expected it should. Pa has always said trials come to test our faith. He often reads the verses that point out that God tested His people to know what was in their hearts.” She faced Ethan, knowing her emotions blazed in her eyes. “I strive to always honor God in my heart.”

  He held her gaze, offering her something that reminded her of Josh’s promise. Someone she could trust to stand by her.

  She blinked and turned away. “Were you raised in a God-fearing family?”

  “I was. Ma had us memorize many verses. Pa read the Bible every morning.” He looked into the distance. “I often recall the verses. Seems they come at just the right time.”

  She waited, hoping he would explain, maybe share one of those times.

  Instead, he relaxed and sat back. “One of the things I want to do when I get my own home is imitate my pa, and yours, and read the Bible at breakfast.”

  “Pa says there is no better way to start the day.”

  “I like that.”

  “I do too.”

  They smiled at each other, and something sweet and eternal filled the space between them.

  It was several seconds before either of them looked away. She was the first to break the connection.

  Pink bathed the sky. She’d love to walk far enough from the yard to see the mountains wearing their golden crown of sunset, but she’d spent far too much time with Ethan already. “I’ll get Jake and take him upstairs.”

  Ethan followed her inside. She scooped up her sleeping son and headed for the house. Ethan followed her and reached around her. His hand lingered on the doorknob, but he didn’t turn it. He smiled down at her. “I enjoyed our visit.”

  “Me too.”

  “Have a good night.”

  “You as well.”

  He brushed his knuckles across her cheek, opened the door for her, and then strode back to the addition.

  She glanced over her shoulder in time to see him step through the door, then she went inside.

  Pa sat at the table reading. “You visited with Ethan a long time.”

  She shifted Jake, who nuzzled into her neck and remained asleep. “It’s strange to see him as a good man when I’ve been thinking he was one of Floyd’s partners.”

  “How is his faith?”

  “He talks like it is strong. Made stronger by some of the things he�
��s had to deal with. He says when he has his own home, he wants to read the Bible at breakfast like you do.”

  “Good to hear. Take the youngster to bed.”

  Adele smiled. Pa’s approval of Ethan would have doubled at hearing he meant to imitate one of his habits. She carried Jake upstairs and tucked him into his crib. He snuffled a bit, cried a protest, then turned his bottom up and was asleep again.

  Adele sat near the window overlooking the back yard. And also the addition. She opened her Bible to read. Her gaze went again and again to the patch of light from the room where Ethan would be preparing for bed. Was he reading his Bible even as she did? Thinking it might be so filled her with a sense of communication that did not need words, nor even the sight of him. It was spiritual and one of the most comforting feelings she’d ever had.

  She read her portion. Prayed for her family and her son. She was about to pray for the two orphaned children, asking that they be allowed to settle in with Jake, when she couldn’t do it. To get what she wanted was to deprive Ethan of what he wanted. How could she do that to him? And yet, how could he have what he wanted? He had no home. She bowed her head and prayed that God would help him find the missing money so he could buy the home he needed. In the back of her mind, she allowed herself to picture being in that home with the three children clustered around her.

  * * *

  She rose the next morning and hurriedly dressed Jake, who had demanded to see “Georgie” since the moment he’d first opened his eyes. Ma was in the kitchen, making coffee for Pa, who sat at the end of the table.

  Stella emerged with her two children.

  Adele glanced out the window. Were the others still sleeping? But as if in answer to her question, the door burst open, and Susie trotted out, holding Georgie’s hand.

  “He’s coming.” Adele soothed Jake, who whined at the door. She pulled him back as the children rushed in.

  Jake and Georgie grinned at each other.

  Adele’s glance went to Ethan. Her heart picked up speed at his warm smile. Was he remembering yesterday? Sharing stories of their lives? Being comforted? Kissed? She had not allowed herself to think of the kiss before now, and the memory filled her senses. Heat rose in her cheeks. It was all she could do not to press her fingers to her tingling lips.

  Aware that her cheeks would be blazing with color, she hurried to the stove.

  Ma looked at Adele’s face and smiled.

  “It’s not what you think,” Adele whispered.

  “You don’t know what I think.” Ma’s voice was gentle.

  Adele knew better than to press the matter, even though she was quite certain Ma had silently commented on Adele’s heated cheeks. It was all she could do not to press a cold, damp cloth to her face. Instead, she focused on frying the potatoes left over from Sunday’s dinner and warming up slices of ham also from Sunday.

  They gathered around the table for breakfast. When Pa took his Bible to read after the meal, Adele kept her attention on him even though she wanted to look at Ethan and let him know that she found his desire to imitate this practice as appealing as anything she could imagine.

  Pa turned to Ethan. “There is no finer practice than the daily reading of the Holy Scriptures.”

  “I agree.”

  Ethan’s strong voice drew Adele’s attention to him across the table. His blue eyes were warm with promise.

  She choked back a cough. A promise? Of what? She was getting too fanciful altogether.

  She concentrated on Pa’s voice as he read, the familiar words of a Psalm calming her. Then the children were dismissed. Pa left to visit those in the community. Ethan followed the children outside.

  Earlier, Pa had put water to heat in the addition, and as soon as the kitchen was clean, Adele went out to start the laundry.

  Between the bedding Rocky and Cal had used, the needs of five children and five adults, there was a huge pile to tend to. She sorted out the whites and began scrubbing. Soon she had the sheets blowing on the line. She returned to the workroom to find Stella bent over the scrub board.

  “Stella, I can do it. You should rest.”

  Stella lifted her head, using her shoulder to brush hair off her face. “If I hear the word rest, one more time, I think I’ll sit down and cry. I have rested since spring, and I am thoroughly tired of it.”

  “You’ve been sick.”

  “Sick and tired of resting. Tell you what, I’ll stop when I get tired.” She worked on a towel with enough vigor to erase any stain.

  “So long as you don’t overdo it.” Adele rinsed the towels as Stella washed them. “I have to say it goes much faster with two of us working on it.” She took another load to the line to hang.

  They finished the washing in good time.

  “I’m tired,” Stella said, grimacing.

  “Go rest. I’ll clean up.”

  Ethan heard her. “I’ll take out the water.”

  She didn’t protest as he carried bucketsful out to the garden and watered the plants.

  A few minutes later the tubs were wiped out and hanging on the wall. And it was only midmorning. She tried to think what to do. She couldn’t weed as the garden was wet. There were leftovers to use up for the day’s meals so there was no need to rush indoors and cook.

  “I’ll weed the flowers at the front.” But when she went around to do so, Ma was on her hands and knees and almost finished. It was an odd feeling to be momentarily caught up with the work. She returned to the backyard and laughed at the sight before her.

  Ethan was on his hands and knees with Jake and Georgie balanced on him, and Susie was leading him along like a faithful horse.

  “Neigh, neigh,” he said.

  The sound of a real horse drew her attention to the back street. “It’s Pa, and the sheriff is with him.”

  Ethan eased the two boys off his back and told the children to go to the house. Hearing the tone of his voice, they scurried away. Susie lingered at the door.

  “Something wrong?”

  “I don’t think so,” Ethan said. “Wait inside, please.”

  She closed the door behind her and seconds later peered out the window.

  Adele and Ethan stood shoulder to shoulder as Pa and the sheriff approached them.

  Both dismounted. “The sheriff has news,” Pa said.

  Adele guessed by the tone of his voice that it wasn’t the news they hoped for, and a shiver raced up her spine.

  The men tied their horses to the rail, and the sheriff took off his hat and faced Adele and Ethan.

  “I had hoped to bring you better news. I trailed the man for a day and a half. Lost his tracks sometime yesterday morning. I scoured the ground inch by inch, but I failed to pick up any trace of him.”

  The blood rushed from Adele’s face. Her knees wobbled so badly she grabbed Ethan’s arm for support. “You mean…” She swallowed loudly and couldn’t finish.

  “I’m afraid he is still free though likely holed up somewhere to let his wounds heal.”

  She swallowed hard again and then again as she tried to make her brain work. “He still thinks I know where the money is.” She looked past the sheriff, past the corrals, down the road, into the trees. “When will I be free of him?”

  Ethan placed his hand over hers where it lay on his arm. “We’ll all be on the watch for him.”

  Pa came to her other side. “You aren’t alone in this.”

  The sheriff twisted his hat round and round. “I’m sorry. I will keep looking, but in the meantime, I suggest you be watchful. Perhaps stay close to home.”

  The sheriff shifted his attention to Ethan. “Have you found a place for you and the children? I suppose you haven’t had time. I’ll leave you to work that out. However, I did draw up papers giving you guardianship of them. I suggest if you want to make it truly legal, you consult a lawyer. And God bless you.” He held the papers toward Ethan.

  Silence as deep as a bottomless pit answered him.

  Adele jerked her hand away from Et
han’s arm as if touching him burned her.

  Ethan looked at her, waited a second, then turned to the sheriff. “I’ve not done anything about a home yet.” He took the papers. “Thank you.”

  “Very good. Again, I’m sorry I don’t have better news about the crook.” He donned his hat, swung into the saddle, and rode away.

  Pa cleared his throat. “I think you two have things to discuss. I’ll be in the house.”

  Adele waited until the door banged shut after him. “You got permission to keep the children? When were you planning to tell me?”

  “It’s not how it looks.” Ethan reached for her, but she backed away.

  “Really? It looks to me like you went to the sheriff and presented your case. Perhaps convinced him that no one else was prepared to take the children. Am I right?”

  “Adele, I love those kids. They love me. Susie made me promise not to leave them. But I planned to tell you. When I did, I planned to ask you to be part of the arrangement.”

  “Let me guess. You would get me to tend them while you worked. Oh, wait. That wouldn’t work, because you plan to live on a ranch. Isn’t that what you said?” Bitterness dripped from each word.

  “Adele, you’re welcome to come wherever I go.”

  “Isn’t that noble of you.”

  “This isn’t how I wanted to do this, but let’s get married. That way we can give the three children a home together.”

  “I already had a marriage based on falsehoods. I don’t intend to enter into a second one.” She steamed toward the house, ignoring his pleading call.

  “The three children belong together.”

  She went inside, walked past Pa.

  “Is everything all right?” Pa asked.

  She hurried up the stairs and threw herself across the bed. What was wrong with her that she let herself believe the falsehoods of men?

  She’d trusted him.

  He’d made her believe she should.

  She’d thought his talk of family and faith and future plans meant something. Something more than someone to take care of children.

  She didn’t know how long she lay there before Ma came and sat on the bed beside her. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?” She rubbed Adele’s back just as she’d done so many times in the past.