This Side of Forever (Book Five of the Brides of the West Series)

by Hestand, Rita

  "Caught a bullet," Clay answered quietly. He wasn't about to tell Billy it was George who shot him. Of course, Billy probably already knew that. Billy was just hot-headed enough to go gunning for George. Clay didn't want Billy getting hurt. He'd lost two brothers in the War Between the States and he aimed to keep this one, or die trying.

  "Is that all you're going to tell me about it?"

  "Yeah…let it go Billy. I have. It's done, it's over."

  Billy shrugged. Then turned around and headed for the house again.

  The house was a mess, things lay scattered about as though someone had ransacked the place, but that could have been anyone, Clay assumed. A drifter looking for something to eat a place to lay his head.

  "This the first time you've been home?"

  "Yeah…the first time." Clay folded his lips together and eyed the place. He shook his head. "It sure ain't much now, is it? Funny when you grow up in a place, and then go back, it doesn't look the same."

  Billy whirled around and stared at him.

  "I haven't been back either, Clay. This land and this house…it's ours. It's paid for. I already checked at the bank. I thought when I got your letter you might want to settle down and try your hand at ranching. You see, Pa was right good about depositing the money in the bank you sent home and I…" Billy went on. "I went to work so I could pay the taxes on the land. It's ours, Clay, if we want it. All we got to do is either put some cattle on it or try to raise something."

  Clay stared at his brother for a moment, noting how his blonde hair had darkened some and he'd lost some of his baby-face. He was still his little brother and the soft spot he'd carried for him remained the same. Billy never had much of a home; he was only fifteen when Clay left. His Ma died early on and his Pa died a drunk. It wasn't fair, but it was the truth.

  "Well, I guess we got some talking to do." Clay muttered. "What have you been doing the last five years?"

  "Been working on Ben Sander's ranch out in Arizona. Ever since, you left, in fact. I figured you'd get tired of roaming soon and come back here. You had told me before you left you'd write to me at the Sheriff's office. So I checked off and on. I couldn't believe it when I finally got a letter. It's been nearly five years Clay."

  "Roaming? Is that what I've been doing all these years? That and trying to get my leg to work right. It's a lot better than when it first happened."

  "George spread it around town you were dead. But I never believed it. I called him on it once, but the Sheriff took my gun away, said I was too young to die. So—what really happened?" Billy asked.

  "Billy," Clay sighed heavily. "I came home to settle things and get on with living. I don't want to go over the past again. It's done, it's over with. The war wasn't what any of us thought it would be. Let it lie. We lost two brothers already. Pa wrote me a letter when it happened. We lost our father through rotgut whiskey. Ma died a year after you were born. Now that to me is enough dying for one lifetime. I want to live, Billy. I want to settle down somewhere and make myself a home. I don't want to fight anymore. I don't want to meddle in things. I just want to live."

  "Well, yeah, but don't you think we gotta do something about all of this? Have you seen Amy?"

  "Yeah, I saw her, briefly. She told me she was engaged to George. So…I guess that's over too, Billy."

  "I'm sorry Clay; I know how much she meant to you." Billy hung his head.

  Clay looked at him, with a tired expression. "You are what matters to me, Billy. And if you want to do something here, with this place, then that's what we'll do."

  "But won't it be a little hard with Amy so close?" Billy asked.

  "I'll get through it. You don't get through life by running from it. I'm not running. I have learned that it makes you stronger to face your fears and worries."

  Billy plopped down in one of the old kitchen chairs, and it broke with him.

  He looked up at Clay and then burst out laughing.

  "I guess we're home then, huh?" Billy laughed as Clay helped him up.

  "Guess we are!" Clay grabbed him once more and hugged him.

  Chapter Two

  "I got a girl, Clay," Billy announced as he took off his hat and ran his hands through his thick head of brown-gold hair. He sat down at the kitchen table and stared at his brother, waiting for his reaction.

  Clay's mouth twitched. "You…?"

  "Yeah," Billy chuckled. "I knew that would shock you. Yeah, me. She's a nice girl. She's Mr. Sander's daughter. We plan to get married as soon as we get this place up and running." Billy announced.

  "When you bringing her out here?" Clay asked as he sat in a chair and leaned back to relax.

  "A few weeks. I wanted to talk to you first. Would it be alright, if we married and lived here with you?" Billy asked.

  "With me? Billy, this place belongs to both of us. And if you want to get married that would be great. But as far as living here, this is your home. It sounds kind of nice. We'd be like a real family again. You know how I feel about family, the bigger the better. First, we need to get this place up and going. Were you thinking of putting cattle on the land, or farming?"

  Billy looked at him in surprise. "I thought you'd know best about that. I've learned a lot from Mr. Sanders about ranching and stuff, but I figure you know a lot more than me. I wasn't planning on ramrodding it. I was hoping you would stay and do that yourself."

  Clay nodded. "Alright, we'll run cattle on it, then...together. I don't think much of farming, at least not here. There's too much drought. Cattle we could handle, if we can buy some stock at reasonable prices that is. As long as all the water rights aren't bought up and taken we should be able to make it pretty comfortably."

  Billy smiled. "Ranchers, I like that."

  "Do you know anything about raising cattle?" Clay glanced at him in amusement.

  "I've learned a lot working for Mr. Sanders. I'm sure he'd be glad to help us out, here and there, too. He knows my intentions for his daughter."

  Clay nodded. "Sounds like you've done things right Billy. Well, we need to check the fences, make a better corral and get the house in order for your missus."

  "Sounds good to me." Billy smiled.

  "Good, let's get started, huh?" Clay said, settling down in his chair and looking outside.

  "Ranchers! How about that." Clay smiled at his brother.

  Later they were about to ride out when George Talbot showed up. He was in a carriage but he saw them and waved.

  "Clay…forgive me, I thought you were dead." The well-dressed man said, not bothering to move out of their way. His smile held a crooked edge, and his eyes didn't quite meet Clay's but Clay stayed calm. It was his first challenge and he was passing it.

  Hardly." Clay barely acknowledged the man. He glanced at him once, noting the tailored suit and the strange hat on his head. He felt the immediate tension growing inside him and knew he had to learn to control that pressure. He was going to live here now, and somehow he'd have to learn to accept that Amy had chosen George. It would be a hard acceptance. A challenge.

  "I heard you talked to Amy…" George eyed him with precision.

  "I did." Clay nearly gritted his teeth to answer.

  "You got anything you want to say about it?" George asked, eyeing him with interest.

  "No, I think she said it all. You'll have no trouble from me. My brother and I plan to run cattle here. Any objections?"

  "N-no, of course, not. You need anything, just let me know. I own most of the water rights around here but for a small fee, you can water whenever you like."

  "Much obliged. I'm sure since you own most of the town now I'll be dealing with your businesses in town at some point. But just so we're clear. You stay out of my business, and I'll do the same for you."

  George studied him a moment and nodded. "Sure, Clay sounds good to me. You're really going to try to get this place going again?"

  Clay stared at him then. The icy green stare George shot him sent a cold breeze up Clay's back. Clay's jaw tight
ened, he strained to keep from fisting his hands.

  Masking his emotions with a cold dignity, he barely tolerated George's overgrown ego. Still, he wouldn't start any trouble. Amy obviously had feelings for the man, so he'd leave him alone, out of respect for her.

  "Good day to you." Clay said, pasting on a mask of tolerance as he rode out.

  Billy followed, eyeing George with more animosity than his brother.

  "What was that all about?" Billy asked catching up to Clay.

  "Just setting the boundaries, little brother. He might run the town, he might marry Amy, but he won't run us. He's got to know that now. I don't want any trouble. Especially since you are bringing your bride out here. I don't see as how you should want any trouble either. We have to learn to get along. No matter how hard it might be. But we can stand on our own two feet on our land, it's one thing he doesn't own."

  Billy thought about it for a minute and nodded. "I hope he saw the warning in your face, 'cause I did. Are we gonna do business with him?"

  "Not if I can help it." Clay muttered, his frown saying more than he did.

  "I never thought you'd give Amy up that easily." Billy sounded off, confused by his brother's reaction to all the news.

  Clay stopped his horse and twisted in the saddle to look at his brother. "I didn't give her up, Billy. I came back and wanted to see how she stands. She chose her man. That says everything. I won't be interfering in that. Whatever business I have with George, is between me and George. If he's the man she wants, it won't be me that stands in her way."

  "She didn't know you were alive!" Billy defended her.

  Clay's stony expression faded, replaced by tolerance. "I know that. That's part of the problem. I’m partly to blame for it all. It's water under the bridge. It's over and done with. I can't change what has happened. And I can't change what is. And neither can you Billy."

  Billy looked doubtful. And under his breath he whispered, "I don't think it's over…by a long shot!"

  Clay didn't want to think about Amy. Every plan he ever made had her in mind, but now, things were different. He had to accept that by his silence for so long, she had every right to go on with her life. Yet the one thing he never figured on was her falling for George. Deep down it cut to the bone, but he'd never let her see it. And that would be his greatest challenge.

  It didn't figure. Yet, he was determined to go on without her. The saddest part was, without Amy, there would be no other woman for him. He knew that as fact.

  He turned his mind off of Amy. He had no right or reason to worry about her. Still, somewhere, deep within him he did worry.

  He directed his attention to the matter at hand. The fence needed a lot of repairs.

  "We'll get some wire over in Beaverton. Fella name Kelly came up with a new kind of fencing." Clay announced an hour later as they continued to check the fence. "This old fence needs to come down. We might use the posts, but we'll just have to see about that as we go."

  "We're gonna need a lot of it." Billy acknowledged.

  "Yes, we are."

  "Exactly where are we getting the money? You planning on robbing a bank or something?" Billy laughed.

  "Let's get back to the house and eat, I'll tell you about it."

  "Are you getting hungry, Clay?" Billy asked as the noonday sun began to beat down upon them.

  "Yeah, can you cook?"

  "Some, can you?"

  "Yeah, I learned out of sheer need. Come on." Clay whipped his horse about.

  "So we're gonna do all our shopping in Beaverton from now on?" Billy asked him.

  "As much as we can, yes," Clay answered. "We can establish enough credit there and not be bothered by the politics in Cross Corners. The more I think of it, the more I like the idea. I know the banker there, and a few others. Just hope they remember me."

  "It's probably a good idea. George didn't look very glad to see you, did he?"

  "No, I don't imagine he is. Still, I want you to understand, out of respect for Amy, I won't give him a moment's trouble." He looked straight into Billy eyes and smirked, "Unless he crosses the line."

  "Is that how you want it?"

  "That's how I want it."

  They rode in silence back to the ranch. They went inside the house, stowing their guns and hats on the peg they built by the door.

  "Did you come back to get even with him?" Billy finally asked as he put his hat on the kitchen table.

  "Nope. I let that go a while back, Billy. The real reason I came back...was to see you. I wanted to see you, and see what you had been doing all this time by yourself. Aside from Amy, I worried about you most." Clay answered. He went outside for a minute then came back in. He had a slab of bacon and a loaf of bread in his saddlebags. He emptied them and looked for a frying pan.

  The old iron skillet was still hanging on the wall after all these years.

  Clay put it on the stove and lit the stove. He'd spent the better part of yesterday chopping wood for the fire and stove, so he had bundles of it all over the place.

  Billy watched him. "And Amy?" Billy finally finished the sentence for him.

  "I wasn't sure what I expected, but I wanted to find out. I saw her. I want you to understand that. I don't want to talk about it. Understood. I need time to settle it all in my mind. You bringing her up every few minutes won't help me. Are we clear on that."

  "Yeah," Billy answered watching his brother's expressions closely. "But you're still in love with her. I can tell…" Billy blurted, then shrank back when Clay whipped around at him.

  "How I feel isn't important. She's made her choice." Clay explained. "I'll respect that choice."

  Billy frowned but nodded. "I can't believe you're just going to let him have…."

  Clay shot him a look and Billy scoffed it off.

  "Maybe we should sell the place, and buy something, somewhere's else. It'd be easier for you," Billy said.

  "No…" He glanced at his brother and something changed in his expression. "I'll admit, I still have feelings for her. I'll admit that to you. And only you. But…if we stay here, I'll learn how to put things in their right place. You just got to give me a little time, Billy. It's still kind of raw right now. She chose George. She must have had her reasons. I'll learn to respect those reasons. From here on out, I don't want to talk about it. You've got to understand that. I want some peace."

  "Alright, Clay. But maybe there's a reason we don't know about…"

  "Maybe, but let it lie. I don't want to think about that, anymore. I just want to learn to live again, Billy. Now another thing we need to get straight. My leg gives me a limp, but I'm the same man I always was. I'm strong, and I'm healthy and we will work this place together to get it running. You can bring your bride here and we'll be a family again too. That's how I want things. Unless you and she want to run off and live on your own. But I can tell you, it's hard to start out alone."

  Billy shook his head. "Not really. I like the idea of having a family myself. Been a while, hasn't it?"

  "It sure has." Clay finally smiled.

  Chapter Three

  Clay looked around the pristine little house where Doc Hollingsworth lived. It was a well-kept cottage, probably because of his dear wife, who died years ago. Doc kept it up. When he wasn't doctoring, he was doing something to his house or yard.

  He knocked on the door and doc answered right away.

  "Good to see you Doc." Clay smiled.

  Doc shook his hand and smiled. "I sure didn't expect to see you again. Everyone said you were dead."

  "I guess not."

  "So what brings you to see me?"

  "I missed you doc." Clay smiled.

  The doc looked at him funny. "Out with it son, what is up?"

  "It's my leg; I wanted you to have a look at it."

  The doc looked at him and nodded. "Sure, what happened?"

  "Got shot up a few years back…Doc."

  The doctor directed him to a table to lie on so he could get a better look at his leg.<
br />
  "For lack of a better way of putting it, drop your pants and let me have a look at it."

  Later he waited patiently for Doc's opinion. "So what do you think?" Clay asked him when he had finished his examine and Clay pulled his pants up.

  The doc was an older man about sixty, his hair was nearly completely white, and he had sunken blue eyes that twinkled when he laughed.

  He'd been a good friend of the family and Clay trusted him.

  "You did a good job. It's healed well. It might give your trouble now and then, but you should be able to live a normal life, other than a slight limp." The doc studied him for a long moment. "We all thought you were dead. Tell me…did George do this?"

  "Yeah, but that's over and done with. We were both at fault. I've learned that. I've spent some time getting this leg in working order, but I just wanted you to check it out for me. Billy and I are going to ranch our place. I wanted to make sure I could hold up my end of it." Clay answered.

  "I'm glad for you and Billy. He's a good kid. I'm glad you had the good sense enough to come see me about that leg. I can tell by looking that you haven't had an easy time of it. So exactly how bad was it?"

  "Bad enough they wanted to take a saw to it. But you know me; I was too stubborn for that."

  "So what happened, I mean, afterwards."

  "After it happened, I nearly gave up, at first. I went back to my post and they said gangrene had almost set in and that scared me, I thought they were going to chop it off. They never hesitated with the other men. I finally rallied that southern rebel in me and I determined they wouldn't cut it off. Then as it mended and I got up on it, I realized if I wanted to walk, I'd have to work at it. So I did. It took a while to get this good. But at least it's just a limp."

  "You walk amazingly well, considering the damage. That knee was nearly shattered."

  "That's part of the reason I didn't come home. I wanted to be a whole man before I faced my family…"

  "And friends…" Doc finished for him.

  "Yeah, and friends." Clay knew the Doc was talking about Amy. It seemed no one in town could forget they were almost married.