Love Finds Faith

by Martha Rogers

  CHAPTER 9

  FOR A WEEK now Micah had helped Pa with the cattle, mended the west fence, helped break in two new horses, and cleaned stalls, but still Levi would not talk to him. The discussion last week had turned into an argument and had done more harm than good. Since then Micah had approached his brother three times on the range, and each time Levi rode off in the opposite direction. He’d even tried to talk to him out in the bunkhouse, but Levi would have no part of it.

  Meanwhile Pa did nothing to intervene, just stood back and gave orders and watched him work. He suspected both Pa and Levi were waiting for him to prove himself, and he couldn’t blame them for that. But the hostility from his brother and the worry in Ma’s eyes bothered him. At times he wanted to up and leave again, but his promise to stay and the image of his father rubbing his chest would not allow that.

  Tonight Micah would have dinner with Camilla, as they had arranged after their lunch on Sunday. But tomorrow he’d confront his brother and lasso him like a wayward calf if he tried to walk away again. They’d both inherited Pa’s stubborn will, but that could be good in the long run if Levi would listen and cooperate.

  Dinner at the hotel with Camilla would be a good diversion from the problems with Levi and Pa’s silence. Not only was she pretty to look at, but Camilla also had a good mind for business and carried on an intelligent conversation, unlike many of the women he’d known.

  As he tied his string tie under the collar of his shirt, the image of Hannah Dyer crossed his mind. Where had that come from? He hadn’t seen her since church last Sunday, and he certainly had no interest in her. Her attractiveness couldn’t hide the fact that she had a limp, and her shoe made a loud noise when she walked across a wooden floor. If only she didn’t have that deformity, he might be more inclined to befriend her, and perhaps more. Ma would say his thinking was rather shallow and that there was more to a person than outward appearance. But he’d seen the difference a pretty woman could make in a man’s social life and business prospects.

  He shoved her image from his mind and grabbed up his hat. He flicked off a piece of lint and brushed the dust from today’s ride from the crown. Someday he’d have an entire wardrobe of hats from which to pick and choose and could leave behind the one he wore for ranching.

  At the foot of the stairs he met Margaret. She sniffed the air, and a wide grin split her face. “I do believe I detect the scent of bay rum. Must be a very special evening you have planned. You’re even wearing your best white shirt.”

  Her teasing reminded him of old times, and he chucked her shoulder. “It’s the only white shirt I have, but I’m taking Camilla to dine at the hotel. Is James coming to call?”

  Red tinted her cheeks, and she ducked her chin. “Yes, he is. Rose has promised to stay upstairs while I entertain him in the parlor.”

  “I see, but I can assure you, Pa won’t be far away.”

  “You’re right, but he’s going to be in his office and will keep the door open just a bit. We’ll have some privacy to talk.”

  Micah tilted his head and studied her a moment. Her eyes held a sparkle he’d noticed every time James was around or his name mentioned. Her tone of voice changed even now as she spoke of her suitor. “Tell me, little sister, are you in love with James?”

  “That’s a question for Pa, not my big brother, but I am in love with him.” She wrapped her arms around her chest in a hug. “He makes me feel so special when we’re together, and I think of him all the time when we’re apart.”

  Laughter burst from Micah. “I do believe that’s love.” A lot he knew, but it sounded right. He reached over and hugged her to his chest. “He’d better be good to you, or he’ll have both me and Pa to answer to.” He stepped back and gazed into her eyes. “You are a very special young woman, Margaret Sue Gordon, and don’t you ever let anyone tell you or treat you otherwise.”

  Her eyes moistened, and she smiled. “Oh, Micah, I’m so glad you’ve come home. I really missed my big brother.”

  Again he laughed. “You used to be a nuisance, and I loved teasing you and getting you into trouble, but now you’ve become a beautiful young woman, and I want to make sure no one hurts you or causes you pain.”

  Margaret hugged him again. “Thank you, and I love you.”

  “Good, but now it’s time for me to get out of here. I have the buggy all ready to go, so I’ll be leaving for town.” Dishes rattled in the kitchen, and he turned his head that direction. “Bye, Ma. Don’t wait up for me.”

  “I won’t.” Her response came from the open door. “Give Camilla my regards.”

  With a nod of his head Micah headed out the door and to the corral where he had hitched the buggy an hour earlier. He made sure the two lanterns he’d attached were secure as he’d need them on the return trip home later that evening.

  On the way into town Margaret’s words about James gave him pause to think. He’d have to treat Camilla that way and make her feel special so that she’d be more interested in him. If he could charm her into falling in love with him, he’d have a better chance of landing a position at the bank if he needed it.

  Micah drew to a stop in front of her home and dropped the weight from the carriage to tether the horses. Before stepping down, he gazed at the two-story home before him. It rose from the grass like a stately queen with a trimmed yard and rose bushes on either side of the steps leading up to the porch.

  Such a large home for only two people may appear unreasonable to some, but it had once housed a family of five. He’d learned only this week of the death of Mrs. Swenson and her two sons in an influenza epidemic three years ago. Pa had quarantined his family at the ranch and didn’t allow any of them or the ranch hands to come into town until the epidemic had subsided.

  He approached the fine oak door inlaid with leaded glass then raised the brass knocker to announce his presence. The housekeeper opened the door and welcomed him. “Miss Camilla is in the parlor with her father.”

  Mr. Swenson rose from his chair to greet Micah. “Good to see you, my boy.”

  Micah shook the man’s hand. He stood at least four inches shorter than Micah, and his balding head shone in the light of the nearby lamps. They made small talk for a time, then Micah said, “I’ve come for Miss Swenson, Mr. Swenson.”

  “Yes, yes, of course.” He reached for Camilla’s hand and helped her from her position on the sofa. “You take care of my girl.”

  “I will, Mr. Swenson.” He offered his arm to Camilla. “Shall we depart?” How grateful he was now that Ma had insisted that her children learn proper manners. He hadn’t used them for a while, but they would serve him well in courting Camilla.

  On the short ride to the hotel Camilla said very little but to comment on the weather and the need for rain. Micah agreed as he helped her from the carriage and walked her into the hotel. After they were seated and their order given, Camilla pulled off her gloves one finger at a time and gazed at him with an unreadable smile.

  She tilted her head to one side. “Tell me, how are things at the ranch?”

  Micah gazed at her trying to determine her purpose for bringing up the ranch. She must know that Pa was in financial trouble, but why spoil the evening before it even began? “They’re running right along. Levi still isn’t speaking to me, but I plan to take care of that tomorrow.”

  “I see. Have you lost any cattle to the drought?”

  “No, but we will if it doesn’t rain soon.” He furrowed his brow. “Why bother your pretty little head with such dull business?”

  “Oh, it’s not such a dull business. I’m always concerned about our customers at the bank and how they are faring.”

  Of course she would be, and with all the money Pa owed, she’d take special interest in the Circle G. “And is that all I am to you? A customer of your father’s bank?”

  Pink tinted her cheeks. “No, of course not.” She reached across to grasp his hand. “You’re much more than that, and I pray I am more than the banker’s daughter to you.�
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  He covered her hand with his. “You are. You’re a beautiful woman, and I’m pleased to be in your company. I hope it’s the beginning of a much longer relationship.”

  Her eyes opened wide, and her free hand rested on her dress just below her neck. “How sweet of you to say so.”

  Micah smiled and reached for his glass of water. His throat had become as parched as the land at the ranch. The smooth liquid slid down his throat as easily as the smooth words he’d just spoken. Margaret had always said he could charm the horns off a cow with his sweet talk. Maybe after tonight he’d have a prize worth much more than a pair of horns.

  Levi waited until Micah and the carriage disappeared around the bend before leaving the bunkhouse. Grubbs’s supper had been good, but nothing like Ma’s. Maybe he could wangle a piece of her pie in a while. He sank into a chair on the bunkhouse porch and tilted it back against the wall.

  He’d spent a lot of time and energy avoiding Micah on the range this week. Micah had tried several times to get him to talk, but Levi wanted no part of it and so far had managed to skirt the attempts by taking off with several of the other cowboys.

  The anger that flooded his heart at Micah’s return had slowed to a stream, but forgiveness hadn’t made an appearance yet. Micah had never shown an interest in the ranch and got out of the hard work as often as he could to go into town. As the oldest, Micah had pretty much done what he wanted even when it displeased Pa.

  No matter what Levi did, Pa never gave him the praise and attention that he’d lavished on Micah. Pa never spoke about the argument the night before his brother left five years ago. He’d finally complained to Pa about Micah not pulling his weight. Even with Pa taking up for him, Micah had stormed out of the house, and that was the last they’d seen of him. He could have been dead for all the family knew. To come back like he did and act like those five years never happened riled Levi. Then having Ma and Pa accept him back as though nothing had ever happened hurt Levi to the core.

  A tall figure marched across the yard from the house. Levi let his chair down with a thud. Pa! He was the last person Levi wanted to see, but Pa had already spotted him.

  “Levi, stay right there. I want to have a talk with you.”

  The strength behind those words stopped Levi in his tracks. He’d never defied Pa in the past, and this wasn’t the time to start. He waited until his father reached the steps. “What do you want to talk about?” As if he didn’t know.

  Eyes as sharp as flint bored into Levi. “You know exactly what it is, and I plan for you to listen to every word. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir, but not here on the porch.” He didn’t want the other hands hearing what his pa had to say. Levi stepped off the porch and headed toward the corral. Once there he stopped and turned around. “All right, what do you have to say?”

  The muscles in Pa’s neck stood out taut as the wire in their fences. His eyes grew even darker than usual, and his hands clenched at his sides. “This has gone on long enough. Your brother is home, and it’s time you acted like you’re glad he is.”

  How could he get Pa to understand without making him even angrier than he already was? Levi moistened his lips and inhaled a deep breath before letting it out. “I’ve worked harder the past five years than I ever have in my life to make up for Micah’s absence. I am better with the cattle and horses than Micah ever was or could be.”

  “So, I won’t argue with that. What else is there?”

  Courage rose in Levi’s chest. Would his father really listen to him now? “In all that time you’ve never shown any appreciation for my work. You always talked about Micah returning and inheriting the ranch someday. That hurt, Pa.”

  “You know I love you and I’m proud of what you’ve done, but Micah is the firstborn, the oldest, and it’s his right to inherit the ranch. You’ll have your share to start your own spread.”

  That wasn’t what Levi hoped to hear. It all came down to more rejection by his father. Pa didn’t understand at all. He started to brush past his father, but Pa grabbed his arm.

  “I’m not done yet. I expect the two of you to act civil toward one another. You’re going to be working together no matter what either of you may want. There are some things you don’t know, and I’m working through them now. Until that’s done, you’ll do as you’re told. I won’t have this animosity between the two of you.”

  “And if I don’t?” The words hung in the air, and Levi wanted to reach out and grab them back. Why had he made his thoughts verbal?

  Pa narrowed his eyes. “If the two of you can’t get along and work together, then one of you doesn’t need to be around here.” He turned on his heel and strode toward the house without a backward glance.

  Pa’s ultimatum rolled like thunder in Levi’s head. He had no choice now. He’d have to leave the ranch, Ma, and the work he loved. Never would he give in and let Micah be in charge of the ranch. Not after the way he’d left with no mind to his family.

  Levi spun around and ran back inside the bunkhouse. In a few minutes he had his saddlebags packed and a bedroll ready. The other men simply stared at him, not one of them saying a word.

  Grubbs stood with hands on his hips, shaking his head. “You’re making a big mistake, boy.”

  Levi grabbed his gear and headed out. “I’m sorry, Grubbs. I don’t have a choice.” He didn’t expect the old man to understand. He’d been with Pa since their days of just starting out, and his loyalty would always be with Pa, and rightly so.

  “Everybody’s got a choice, son, and you’re making the wrong one.” Grubbs followed Levi to the stable where he saddled his horse.

  With his knowledge of ranching and all the spreads in Texas, he shouldn’t have trouble finding a new place to start over. It pained him to leave Ma, but for his own sanity and to prevent another major blowout with Micah, he had to do this. “Grubbs, don’t you say a word to Ma or Pa until tomorrow. If you do, I’ll go so far away no one will find me.”

  At the old man’s nod, Levi slapped the mare’s hindquarters and raced down the road. He’d made his choice, and now it was up to him to do something with it.

  CHAPTER 10

  MICAH SQUINTED HIS eyes against the morning sun beaming through his window. He opened one eye wide enough to peer at the watch on the stand beside the bed. The time appearing there made him sit up and shake his head. How had he slept so long? Then he remembered how late it had been when he’d returned home last night.

  He raked his hands through his hair and grinned. He may have missed breakfast this morning, but dinner and an evening with Camilla had been worth it. By the time he’d left her, they had made plans to meet after church tomorrow for dinner at her home and for more time together the next week at the Independence Day Festival.

  A few minutes later Micah had dressed and headed downstairs to see if Ma had any leftover biscuits in the pantry. An eerie silence greeted him when he reached the parlor. On Saturday Ma would be in the kitchen deciding what she needed in town for the next week, and the girls would be chattering away about what they would purchase at the store.

  In the kitchen he found the coffee pot still hot on the stove. He poured a cup and frowned. Where was everyone? The quiet set his nerves on edge. Something had to be wrong.

  Noise from outside flooded him with relief. It was late so everyone was outside ready to leave for town. He needed to stop Levi and talk with him this morning before he left. Micah set his cup on the counter and rushed outside to stop his brother before he could get away.

  The scene that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. Instead of the wagon with Ma and the girls, they all stood around the bunkhouse. Ma still wore her apron but her hands twisted it into a mess of wrinkles. Rose and Margaret held each other, and Rose cried onto Margaret’s shoulder. Where was Pa?

  He strode to his mother’s side. “What happened? Where’s Pa? Was he hurt?”

  Ma dropped her apron and reached out to take his hands. “Oh, Micah, Levi’s gone. Grubbs sa
id he packed up his bag last evening and left after he and your pa argued.” Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

  Micah’s jaw tightened. Levi had run away because of him. His return had brought more grief to his family. Remorse for his behavior took a backseat as anger against Levi rose. Didn’t he see that he had done the same thing Micah had done? If only that stubborn boy had stopped long enough to listen, none of this would have happened, and everyone would be going into town today for their regular Saturday errands.

  “Pa left to go into town to look for him. He’s hoping Levi only went that far last night and stayed at the hotel.” Ma clung to Micah, her fingers twisting themselves into his.

  “Did Pa say what they argued about?” Fear twisted Micah’s gut into a mass of tangles.

  “No. I didn’t even know Levi had gone or that they’d argued until Grubbs told me right after Pa left.”

  They must have argued about him and the ranch. Pa must have put down an ultimatum, telling him to get along with Micah or else. That would have been insult enough to rile Levi, but where would he go? Micah had headed for the first saloon and card game he could find out of town, but Levi never gambled or stepped foot in a saloon. At twenty-two he may be a man, but he wasn’t hardened like Micah had been. No telling what could happen to him.

  Fear wrapped itself tighter about his heart, but he had to stay calm for Ma. He hugged her tight with his cheek against her head. “It’ll be all right. Pa will find him and bring him home.” He didn’t believe his own words, but he had to speak them for Ma’s sake. He glanced over her shoulder to find Margaret staring at him with narrowed eyes and a frown.

  He should never have come home. His return had brought grief to the ones he loved. If he hadn’t given Pa his word that he’d stay a month, Micah would have left once he realized Levi would have nothing to do with him. But a Gordon’s word was worth something in this town, and he wouldn’t shame Pa by breaking it now. He’d done enough damage without that.