Anthony shot to his feet. “What do you mean ‘we’?”
“I’m going with you, obviously.”
“I don’t think so, Tarah. No telling how Jenkins might react.”
Planting her hands firmly on her hips, Tarah sized him up, ready for a fight. “If you’re going, so am I, Anthony Greene. Those children are as dear to me as my own flesh and blood. If I had a husband, I’d adopt them as my own, so don’t you dare try to stop me.”
“I’ll marry you,” he drawled. He searched her face, trying to gauge her reaction. “Then we can adopt them together.”
Tarah scowled. “Very amusing, but I’m sure Louisa Thomas would have plenty to say about that.”
Anthony was about to set her straight about his lack of romantic feelings toward Louisa, but she gave him no chance to speak.
“And don’t think you’ll marry her and adopt them if their pa agrees to let them go. Laney doesn’t care too much for Louisa. I doubt she would want to live with her.”
“And no one’s making her do anything she doesn’t want to do.” Anthony chuckled to hide the sting as the truth of Tarah’s feelings rammed into his gut once again.
A smile lifted the edges of Tarah’s lips. “She’s so special. Ben, too.” A look of urgency filled her eyes. “Let’s get going, Anthony. I don’t want them to have to spend one night under the same roof as that wretched man.”
Anthony followed as she headed toward the barn, obviously intent on getting Dodger saddled.
“I’m still not crazy about their lack of respect for their pa,” he said. “Even if he is a no-account.”
Tarah sniffed and glanced back over her shoulder. “I think they showed a great amount of respect by going back to him. I wanted them to hide out at the ranch while Pa tried to talk Jenkins into letting them go.”
Anthony grinned and shook his head. “The man who marries you will have his hands full. I’ll pray for him.”
Tarah threw him a cheeky grin. “And you proposed just five minutes ago. Bet you’re glad I didn’t take you seriously.”
But I was serious. I’d marry you tomorrow if you’d have me. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he bit them back just in time. Why humiliate himself any more than necessary? Besides, they had other things to attend to at the moment. If it’s Your will those children leave their pa, please give me the wisdom to know what to say.
Chapter 12
Tarah’s thoughts whirled with what-ifs as she and Anthony rode to the Jenkinses’ in relative silence. What if Anthony had been serious and really wanted to marry her? What if Laney and Ben could be their very own children? Then a bleak thought entered her mind. What if Mr. Jenkins refused to let the children go?
Tarah stiffened as they approached the soddy. The door was already off its hinges, another tattered blanket hanging from the doorframe. Several bottles littered the yard. Tarah stared in disbelief and disgust. And the man had only been back for one day!
They reined in their horses and dismounted as Mr. Jenkins stepped through the doorway, his fingers wrapped firmly around a half-empty bottle.
Laney darted around her pa. A cautious smile lit her face. “Howdy, Tarah, Preacher.”
Roughly grabbing her skinny arm, Jenkins pulled her back toward the door. “Git inside, gal,” he said. Lifting a booted foot, he kicked her backside, then stumbled against the outside wall.
“That does it, Anthony,” Tarah hissed. “If he refuses to let me have Laney and Ben, we’ll wait until he passes out drunk, then steal them away.”
Anthony reached out and lightly pressed Tarah’s shoulder. “Let me do the talking, all right?”
“All right, but if he doesn’t listen, we’re doing it my way. I couldn’t live with myself if I left those children in that horrid man’s clutches.”
Anthony gathered in a deep breath and plastered a smile on his handsome face. “Afternoon, Jenkins. When did you get back in town? We’ve been wondering about you.”
Tarah gaped. Why was Anthony bothering with small talk? Get to the point, she inwardly urged.
Mr. Jenkins snorted. “Been expectin’ company. ‘Course, I figgered it’d be her pa,” he said, waving the bottle in Tarah’s direction. “Yer wastin’ yer time, Preacher. Them’s my young’uns, and I don’ aim to be givin’’em away.”
Tarah couldn’t hold back. She shook off Anthony’s restraining embrace and stepped forward. “Please, Mr. Jenkins. This is no life for Laney and Ben.”
Tipping the bottle, Jenkins took a swig, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. His lips twisted into a cruel sneer. “Yer kind,” he spat. “All the time thinkin’ yer so much better’n me. Always thinkin’ I don’ do right by my young’uns.” His bold, dark gaze raked over her, and Tarah felt the urge to duck behind Anthony.
As if feeling her discomfort, Anthony drew her close to his side.
“You and folks jus’ like ya, all the time comin’ around in yer fancy clothes an’ holier-’n-thou attitudes. Well, Teacher Lady, I don’ need the likes a you a-tellin’ me how to live.”
Tarah’s temper flared, and she stepped away from Anthony once again. She planted her feet to give herself courage and drew herself up as tall as she could. “Frankly, Mr. Jenkins,” she said, meeting his steely gaze head-on, “it’s immaterial to me how you live your life. You can drink yourself into a roaring drunk and stay there if you wish. But I love Laney and Ben a great deal. And if you care anything at all for them, you’ll let me have them.”
“I don’ give nothin’ away for free, girlie.” He cocked his eyebrow. “Iffen you catch my meanin’.”
Tarah gasped, and her mouth dropped. The scoundrel was offering to sell his own children! Disbelief quickly became revulsion at the very thought. Then elation set in. She mentally calculated the money she had saved from her two months of teaching. She still had most of it. Almost fifty dollars.
“And just how much do children go for these days, Mr. Jenkins?”
“Tarah!” Anthony grabbed her arm and pulled her back. He eyed Jenkins. “Are you seriously suggesting we buy your children from you?”
“Iffen ya want ‘em, I expect to be paid fair and square.”
Anthony’s voice rose considerably. “Laney and Ben are not animals to be sold off. They’re living human beings. How can you even suggest such a thing?”
“Take it or leave it, Preacher.” He slurred his words, and Tarah knew they didn’t have much time before he was too far gone to be reasonable.
Fists clenched, Anthony stepped forward. Tarah’s eyes widened. She couldn’t let the preacher get into a brawl with a drunken man. Even if Anthony could take him. She grabbed his arm to halt him.
“Will you excuse us for just a moment, Mr. Jenkins?”
“Take yer time,” he said and tipped the bottle again.
Tarah pulled Anthony back to the horses where they could speak in private.
His brown eyes blazed. “Forget it,” he said. “We are not buying those beautiful children from that skunk. I’ve half a mind to go to the sheriff and have him arrested.”
“He’d just deny it.” Tarah grabbed on to Anthony’s muscled arms. “Now you listen to me, Anthony Greene. As if he wasn’t despicable enough, now we see how horrid he really is.”
Anthony groaned. “Tarah…”
“He probably never thought of selling those children before. But we put the thought into his head by wanting to take them from him. What if he tries to sell them to someone else?” Tarah shuddered at the thought. “Someone who won’t love them?”
A flicker of doubt appeared in Anthony’s eyes, spurring Tarah to fight on. “Don’t you see? We have no choice. I won’t take a chance on losing them forever to who knows what kind of life.”
Nodding, Anthony grabbed one of her hands and pulled her back to the soddy. Mr. Jenkins tossed the now-empty bottle aside and folded his arms across his sunken chest. “Well?”
“What are your terms?” Anthony asked.
Jenkins scratched at th
e gray stubble on his chin. “Let’s see here. A hunnerd a head oughtta do it.”
Tarah gasped, and her heart sank to her toes. “I only have fifty.”
“Well then, girlie, ya got yerself a problem, dontcha? Guess iffen ya really wanted ‘em, ya could come up with the price.”
“The children are priceless, Mr. Jenkins, and I’d give my last cent to take them home with me. But I don’t have two hundred dollars.” Tarah caught Anthony’s gaze. The sickened expression clouding his face dashed her hopes.
“I’m afraid two hundred dollars is out of the question,” Anthony said. “I don’t have much cash money. No more than twenty dollars. Will you take seventy?”
“Well now, don’ see as how I could.” Mr. Jenkins scanned the horizon over Anthony and Tarah’s head. “Say, Preacher. That’s a mighty fine animal ya got there. Might be we could work somethin’ out.”
“You want my horse?”
“I gotta have somethin’ to git me where I’m goin’. That ol’ nag up and died on me a couple weeks ago. ‘Course, I’d a-be needin’ the saddle, too.”
Anthony swallowed hard and glanced at Dodger. He clenched his jaw and turned back to Jenkins. “That horse is easily worth two hundred dollars. We’ll make it an even swap. Tarah gets the children, and I throw in the saddle.”
Tears filled Tarah’s eyes at the thought of the treasure Anthony was willing to give up for the children’s sake. She wanted to protest, to tell him he couldn’t give the scoundrel his beloved Dodger, but her mouth refused to open. And one look into Anthony’s eyes confirmed her feelings. No price was too great.
“Do we have a deal, Jenkins?” Anthony asked, his voice curt, almost gruff.
“Well, I’m needin’ some cash money.”
Tarah dug quickly into her bag and pulled out ten dollars. “This is all I have with me. Ten dollars and the horse.”
His eyes lit with greed, and he reached out eagerly.
Tarah snatched her hand back. “Not until I see those children safely on my horse.”
A scowl darkened his features. “Ben! Laney! Git out here.”
Laney appeared. Then Ben. Tarah gasped at the sight of the boy. A bruise marred his eye, and he limped with greater care than normal, holding his side.
“You want us, Pa?”
“Nah, I don’ wantcha. The teacher here does.” His lips twisted into a cruel smile. “I don’ know why she’d want a couple a worthless young’uns like you two. But yer hers now.”
“You mean yer givin’ us away? Just like that?” Laney’s brow furrowed, her eyes filled with confusion.
“Go on. Git outta here,” Jenkins bellowed. “An’ don’ bother to come back, ‘cause I won’ be here.”
Hurt and anger flashed in Laney’s eyes. She placed an arm around Ben’s shoulder. “Come on, Ben. We don’t stay where we ain’t wanted.”
Ben shrugged off her arm. “I don’t need yer help.”
“Fine,” she shot back. “Fall on yer face, and see if I care!” But Tarah observed that she didn’t leave his side.
Anthony strode to his horse. His hand curled around the leather reins, and he patted the black neck, whispering into Dodger’s ear. Tarah watched as he gathered in a slow breath and handed over the reins.
“Laney, go climb up onto Abby.” She slid her gaze to Ben. “Can you make it up, or should Anthony help you?”
Ben’s soulful eyes stared back at her. “What about you? It’s a good five miles to the ranch.”
Tarah gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “The walk will do me good. I’ve grown soft sitting in that schoolroom all day for the last two months. Come on now. Let’s hurry.” Before he changes his mind. “Can you make it up on your own?”
Ben nodded, seeming to understand.
When the children’s backs were turned, Tarah hurriedly slipped Jenkins the ten dollars and spun around to join Laney and Ben.
Jenkins chuckled to himself, but no further words were spoken.
Squaring his shoulders, Anthony fell into step beside Tarah, and with the children on Abby, they headed for the St. John ranch.
In a bold move, Tarah grabbed Anthony’s hand to comfort him. He laced his fingers with hers and held tightly, as though drawing on her for strength.
“I cain’t believe Pa just up and gave us away,” Laney said hotly.
The relief Tarah had expected from the children was replaced by the reality of indignation and hurt, emotions she had never expected from them.
“He ain’t givin’ us away, Laney,” Ben said with a scowl.
“Do ya think I’m dumb? I got ears. Pa said we was Tarah’s now. If that ain’t givin’ a person away, I don’t rightly know what is.”
“Pa sold us,” he said curtly.
“Yer crazy,” Laney retorted.
“Why do ya think Anthony and Tarah’s walkin’? Pa got ol’ Dodger, and I seen Tarah give ‘im some cash money, too.”
Laney’s mouth dropped open, and she regarded Tarah and Anthony with disbelief. “You mean, you bought me and Ben like we was slaves?”
“No, sweetie,” Tarah said. “We did what we had to do so you don’t have to go back to your pa.”
“Ya said we was like family,” Laney said bitterly. “But we ain’t. We’re just slaves, bought and paid fer.”
Tarah grabbed the reins and halted Abby. She laid her palm on Laney’s jean-clad knee and met her accusing glare.
“You know Cassidy isn’t my blood ma, right? And Emily isn’t my blood sister?”
Laney nodded.
“But I love them as dearly as if they were blood kin. And Hope and Will are no less my brother and sister than Luke and Sam and Jack and Emily,” she said, giving Laney a gentle smile. “It doesn’t matter how you become a family. All that matters is that you love one another.”
To Tarah’s relief, Laney’s face softened reflectively.
“And you really can keep us always?”
“Always.”
Laney inclined her head. “Then I reckon we oughtta be gettin’ home b’fore yer ma starts worryin’.”
Anthony’s wide smile greeted Tarah as she dismounted Abby two days later. He strode toward her from the front porch of his house, curiosity filling his brown eyes.
He gestured toward the other horse she led. “What’s this?”
Tarah sent him a cheeky grin. “This, Anthony, is what is commonly referred to as a horse.”
“You don’t say,” he drawled, patting the mare’s chestnut neck. “She’s a beauty.”
“I’m glad you think so.” Tarah could barely contain her excitement as she presented the gift to Anthony. “She’s yours.”
Accepting the reins with reluctance, Anthony’s brow furrowed. “Mine?”
“My pa sent her over—our way of saying thanks for what you did for Ben and Laney.”
“This isn’t necessary, Tarah. I figure after next harvest I can get another riding horse. In the meantime, there’s always the wagon horses.”
“You don’t like her?” Tarah asked, disappointment reaching to her toes. “Pa said you can pick out another one if you prefer, but I thought you’d like this one the best. I know she can’t replace Dodger….”
The gentle caress of Anthony’s finger upon her lips silenced her. “I didn’t say I don’t like her.”
Trying to calm her racing pulse at Anthony’s touch, Tarah stepped back, causing his hand to drop. “Then why not take her?”
“Would it mean so much to you?” he asked, his gaze searching her face.
She nodded, unable to find her voice.
A gentle smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “Then tell your pa I accept.”
“Wonderful. He’ll be pleased.”
“How are Ben and Laney getting along?” Anthony asked, tethering the new mare to the rail spanning the length of the porch.
Tarah wrapped Abby’s reins around the porch railing as well, then turned to Anthony. “They’re doing wonderfully. Though Luke and Laney fight like a
couple of wild dogs over a piece of meat.” Tarah shook her head. “Honestly, Anthony. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another. And Luke is acting up in school again, too. I was afraid the reprieve was too good to last.”
“And Jo?” He leaned against the rail and folded his arms across his broad chest.
Tarah hated to be a tattletale, but neither could she look Anthony in the face and lie. “Well, they aren’t as bad as they used to be,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. “I suppose I can put up with them for a couple more weeks.”
“I can speak to her ma about her.”
Tarah shook her head. “Don’t, Anthony. Your sister doesn’t need to be upset in her delicate…well, you know.”
A flush reddened Anthony’s neck and cheeks, and he reached out, absently patting his new horse. Silence loomed between them momentarily until Anthony spoke. “Have you decided whether or not to accept the teaching position in Starling?”
Studying his face for any signs that he might want her to stay, Tarah felt her stomach drop as his eyes reflected only interest. No worry, no dread. Just interest.
She shrugged. “I haven’t replied just yet. I have a few more weeks, but I suppose I’ll go. The town council in Harper offered me another certificate for next term. So teaching in Starling will pass the time.”
A heavy sigh escaped Anthony’s lips. “So you won’t be gone for good.”
Tarah frowned, not sure if Anthony’s sigh meant he was glad or disappointed that she’d be back. “No. Pa said the council is close to approving a full school term like in the cities, so once I’m back, I suppose I’ll teach for as long as they’ll have me.”
“How do you think Laney’s going to take the news you’re going to Starling for five months?” Anthony sent her a crooked grin.
“I’ll take Laney and Ben with me of course,” Tarah replied without hesitation.
Anthony’s eyes widened. “You will?”
“I’ve already spoken to Pa and Ma about it. Laney and Ben are my responsibility, and I love them dearly. I want to take care of them.” Tarah shifted her weight and regarded Anthony frankly. “I’ve spoken to Pa and asked him to consider building a small teacherage in town where the three of us could live once we return to Harper.”
Brides of Kansas Page 31
