Love Finds Faith

by Martha Rogers

  CHAPTER 16

  MICAH RODE TO town with a heavy heart. Not only was Pa in poor health, but he also ran a chance of losing all he’d worked for, and Micah blamed himself for it all. If only he could take back the last five years of selfishness and be the support his father had needed. Ma may be praying, but it’d take a bigger miracle than Micah had ever seen to resolve the issues at hand. God hadn’t been very helpful to this point, so why would He bother with the Gordon family now?

  The past could not be returned or relived, but he could help with the future. First, he’d find Levi and make him listen. The two of them could be great partners to take the load off Pa’s back if Levi could be convinced. Then he and Levi could help Pa with whatever needed to be done at the ranch, whether it meant roping and branding calves or scouting for stray cattle.

  If they could make do until time for the drive to sell the cattle, they could make enough to take care of expenses for this year. He and Levi together could figure out what to do for the next one.

  As much as he liked Camilla, he could not in good conscience continue to court her with the ranch in such a state, and with Levi gone, neither could he pursue the idea of working for Camilla’s father. He couldn’t see Camilla helping to run a ranch anyway. She had good business sense, but the lifestyle to which she was accustomed didn’t run to life in the country. She belonged in town where she could mix and mingle with other town folk.

  A face with a dimpled cheek, golden hair, and blue eyes that danced with merriment filled his thoughts. Hannah Dyer had talent and spirit, but with her defect, she’d have a hard time with all the responsibilities that came with ranch life. She’d been very agile and smooth on the dance floor, but did she have the stamina needed to take care of a home and family on a ranch?

  Why was he even thinking about her in the first place? He had other problems to solve before taking on any more. He didn’t need a wife now anyway. Ma took care of things with Margaret’s and Rose’s help. Of course Margaret would probably leave soon to marry James, but Ma would still be there to take care of him and Levi.

  As he neared town, his resolve to do whatever he could to help his father strengthened, and his confidence in his ability to save the ranch grew. The faint sounds of shouts and gunfire drew his attention, and he spurred his horse to action. Something had happened in town.

  Several minutes later he rounded the corner to Main Street and found a crowd near the bank. As he rode up, the sheriff saw him and rode to his side. “The bank was robbed. I’m getting up a posse to go after them, but you’d better go in and see to your pa. He and Miss Swenson were injured in the holdup. Doc Whiteman is with them now.”

  Fear gripped Micah’s heart as the sheriff waved at a group of men who then took off out of town after the robbers. With his heart pounding, Micah jumped down from his horse and pushed his way through the crowd. Nothing could happen to Pa now. He had too much to live for.

  The scene that greeted Micah sent his head spinning. Pa lay on the floor, his face ashen and his eyes closed. Blood stained the shoulder of his coat, and the doc worked to stop the bleeding. Micah fell to his knees beside his father.

  “Pa, Pa, I’m here. The doc will take care of you.”

  Doctor Whiteman handed Micah a clean cloth. “Here, hold this over the wound. His bleeding is about stopped, so you can handle it. I’m more concerned about his heart than anything else. His pulse is very weak. We’ll get him down to my office in a minute, but I need to check on Miss Swenson right now.”

  Micah could only nod and hold the cloth over the wound. Then he lifted his gaze to see Camilla as Doc knelt to help her. Blood covered her dress at the shoulder, and she lay perfectly still on the floor. The doctor began working on her then hollered for men to help him get the two victims to the infirmary.

  When four men stepped forward, Micah noticed that one of them was Burt. He picked up Camilla as though she were a child and carried her from the bank. Micah’s gaze followed him for a moment then turned back to his father. His concern lay more with the man lying on the floor.

  “We’ll take him now, Micah.”

  Micah looked up into the eyes of Mr. Hempstead, who stood with three other men holding a cot from the jail.

  “We’ll put him on this and then carry him down to the doc’s place.”

  Micah stood and swallowed hard before nodding and stepping back. Doc touched his arm. “Walk with them and make sure the bleeding doesn’t start up again. I’ll hurry on to the infirmary and get things ready for him.”

  The men lifted Pa onto the cot with gentle hands, then each one picked up a handle and headed for the door. Micah followed the doctor’s orders and kept his hand and cloth pressed to his father’s shoulder just above the heart. A bullet wound to the shoulder shouldn’t be all that serious, but Pa had yet to regain consciousness, and that was more disturbing than the gunshot.

  Concern for Pa overrode all thoughts of the ranch and money problems. If Pa didn’t survive, they’d have more problems than ever. This wasn’t what Ma prayed for. Ma. He’d completely forgotten about her.

  He gazed about the crowd now lining the streets and spotted Ellie Bradshaw. He shouted her name, and she ran out to him.

  “Ride out to the ranch and tell Ma about Pa. And then out to Hudson’s to get Levi. He needs to know too.” Maybe this would get his brother back into town and by Pa’s side where he belonged.

  “My horse is already saddled. I’m going now, and I’ll say a prayer for your father.” She gathered up her skirts and ran back toward the store where her horse stood tethered to the hitching post.

  Micah shook his head. Prayers were not going the way they should, so what good would Ellie’s do? A moment later she streaked out of town like the posse was after her and not the robbers. She’d get the word to Levi and Ma.

  The four men stepped up to the porch at Doc’s place, and Mrs. Whiteman swung open the door. “Bring him in and put him in the room over there to the right. Miss Swenson is on the left.” The men did as she instructed, and Micah followed. Once they placed him on the examining table, the men left Micah alone with his father.

  Mrs. Whiteman placed a hand on Molly’s shoulder. “Sweetie, go get Clara and Tommy and take them to Lettie’s to play. We’re going to be busy here, so I need them away from the house for now. If Lettie has work to do, you watch the children. Now, scoot.”

  The young girl didn’t say a word but rushed out to do her mother’s bidding. Then the doctor’s wife grabbed an apron from a hook near the door and slipped her arms into it. The doc joined her in the examining room.

  He washed his hands in the basin next to the wall and spoke to his wife. “I left Hannah tending Miss Swenson. If you’ll go help her, I’ll take care of Joel.”

  She didn’t say a word but hurried across the way to help Hannah. Camilla must need extra help if the doctor was sending his wife to assist Hannah, or Pa was in more serious condition than Micah wanted him to be.

  The doctor placed the ends of a stethoscope in his ears and the bell-shaped thing on Pa’s chest. The furrowed brow of the doctor squeezed Micah’s heart and intensified his fears. He held his father’s hand, now limp and cold.

  The doctor shook his head. “I’m sorry, Micah. Your pa’s heart just couldn’t stand the attack. He lost a lot of blood to the bullet wound, but it wouldn’t have killed him. It was too much for his heart.”

  Pa couldn’t be gone. Doc had to be mistaken. “No, listen again. He can’t be dead.” A knot formed in Micah’s throat, and his chest constricted with a pain he couldn’t define.

  The doctor placed his arm across Micah’s shoulders. “It’s over, Micah. There’s nothing I could do. Has someone gone for your mother?”

  Micah nodded, but he couldn’t speak around the lump that blocked his throat. He blinked back a tear. He wouldn’t cry. Men didn’t cry in public. He clenched his teeth and continued to hold Pa’s lifeless hand.

  The doctor stepped back. “I’ll leave you alone for the mom
ent. When your mother gets here, she’s going to need your strength to help her through this.” He left the room.

  “Pa, it’s too soon. You weren’t supposed to die. Now what are we going to do? We can’t do this without you.” He swallowed hard and lifted his eyes to the ceiling. “This is a fine way to answer a prayer. You don’t care one whit what happens to the Gordon family. Leave us alone. You’ve caused enough pain.”

  How foolish he’d been to think a few prayers would solve anything.

  Hannah heaped Camilla’s soiled clothes on the floor. They’d be disposed of later. Sallie had fetched a gown from her home and had redressed Camilla, being careful with the right arm and shoulder where the bullet had lodged. The medicine Manfred had given earlier had eased the pain, but Camilla still groaned.

  Manfred came back, and by the look on his face he had bad news to report. Sallie gasped and hugged him. “It’s Mr. Gordon, isn’t it? He didn’t make it.”

  “No, he didn’t. Too much strain for his heart. I left Micah with him. He indicated someone had gone for his mother. If her daughters aren’t with her, she’ll need another woman to lend support.”

  Sallie hugged him tight. “Of course, and I’ll be there for her and whoever comes with her.”

  Hannah’s heart ached at the news. To lose someone that close to you would be the most awful thing, especially when it came so sudden. She must help Micah through this. She jerked her thoughts to a halt. What right did she have to do that or to expect her help would even be welcomed? Micah had been nice and polite to her, but they certainly hadn’t formed any friendship.

  She glanced at the girl Manfred now examined. Camilla was the one who should be giving support to Micah. She could have been killed herself.

  Camilla’s eye lids fluttered then opened. “What happened? Why are you here, Doctor Whiteman?” Camilla frowned and gazed back and forth between Manfred and Hannah.

  Hannah grasped Camilla’s hand. “There was a bank holdup, and you were shot in the shoulder. You’re at the infirmary now. I’m sure your father will be here as soon as he can leave the bank.”

  Camilla’s eyes closed again. “I remember now. Father and I had just finished talking with Mr. Gordon when two gunmen burst through the back door. Another man came in the front and locked that door. They forced Papa to open the vault. They were stuffing money into sacks when Mr. Gordon lunged for one. That was when he was shot, and then when I went to him, they shot me. It was awful.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her hand squeezed Hannah’s.

  “You’re going to be all right, Camilla. Doc removed the bullet and we bandaged you up then gave you something for the pain.” Hannah smoothed the hair from Camilla’s forehead.

  “What about Mr. Gordon? Is he all right?”

  Hannah glanced up at Manfred, who nodded his assent to tell Camilla. “I’m sorry, but he didn’t make it. He died only a few minutes ago.”

  A sob escaped Camilla’s throat. “Oh, no. What will Micah do now? Without Mr. Gordon, they’ll lose the ranch.” She snapped her mouth closed, yanked her hand from Hannah’s, and turned to face the wall.

  Lose the ranch? What did she mean by that? The Circle G was supposed to be one of the best spreads in this part of Texas, or at least that’s what Manfred and Sallie had said. If what Camilla said was true, Micah was going to need more help than even she could give him. She shook her head and looked to Manfred. “Why would she tell us something like that?”

  “I think it’s the drug.”

  Camilla intervened. “It’s none of your business, so please forget I said anything at all. Papa would be so angry if he knew I revealed private information about one of our customers. I must speak with Micah as soon as possible.”

  Manfred placed a hand on her arm. “He’s grieving his father now, but I’ll let him know. He’ll come to you as soon as he feels up to it. Of course he was concerned about you too.”

  A noise in the foyer interrupted their discussion. Hannah turned her head to see Sallie greet two women. “Mrs. Gordon has arrived,” Manfred said. “I must go back there. You’ll be fine, but I’m going to keep you here overnight to make sure.” With that he turned on his heel and rushed from the room.

  Hannah straightened the sheets on Camilla’s bed. “I’m sure you’ll be fine in the morning, and he’ll let you go home.”

  “Good. I don’t want to stay here any longer than I must. Papa will need me to help figure out how much those bank robbers took from us.”

  A loud wailing from across the way sent a chill up Hannah’s spine. Who cared how much money the robbers stole? They had stolen something much more important . . . Mr. Gordon’s life.

  She closed her eyes and prayed. Dear Lord, comfort Mrs. Gordon and the whole family as they deal with this. I don’t know why Mr. Gordon had to die, but I do know that You share in their grief. Give them the strength they need for the weeks ahead, and reunite this family so they can work together to save the ranch.

  If Levi would come home and work beside Micah, then one thing good could come from this tragedy.

  CHAPTER 17

  MICAH WRAPPED HIS arms around his mother. “Ma, I’m so sorry. I was too late to do anything to save him.”

  Ma clung to him, her fingernails digging into his flesh, but he ignored the pain. It was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. The doctor’s wife had her arms around Rose and Margaret as both girls cried. Tears dampened his shirt and muffled Ma’s words. “What am I going to do without Joel? It’s too soon for him to be gone. We still need him.”

  “I know we do. He’s the lifeblood of the ranch.” He swallowed his own sorrow and frowned. Where was Levi? He should be here. Ma needed all her children around her in this time of crisis. If he didn’t show up soon, Micah would go out and drag him back to town.

  The doctor came in and approached Micah. “We will need to move Mr. Gordon to the mortician’s place. He will embalm the body and then bring it out to the ranch if you desire.”

  Ma shook her head. “No, I don’t want to remember Joel that way at home. We’ll speak to the preacher and have the services at the church. That’s the place Joel loved to be on Sundays. Will he . . . will he be able to stay at Mr. Morton’s until we can arrange services?”

  “I’m sure that can be arranged. I’ll speak with him when he arrives shortly. Meanwhile, you can sit here with him until Mr. Morton comes.”

  “Thank you, Doctor Whiteman.” Ma pushed back from Micah. “You take the girls to the other room. I want to sit alone with Joel for a few minutes.”

  “Sure, Ma, whatever you want.” He turned to his sisters. “Let’s go outside.”

  Mrs. Whiteman shook her head. “No, we’ll go into the house and have some tea. You and your sisters can talk around the table.”

  “Thank you. But if you have coffee, I’d prefer that.” His sisters may enjoy sipping tea, but he needed a good strong cup of black coffee to settle his insides. He followed the doctor’s wife and his sisters through the door and toward the home behind the offices. Hannah came from the other room.

  Camilla. He’d forgotten about her. “Miss Dyer, how is Miss Swenson? Were her injuries serious?”

  “No, she’ll be fine. Doc removed the bullet and bandaged her wound. He wants her to stay overnight here to make sure no infection sets in.” She nodded toward the door across the way. “You may go in and see her, but she may be asleep since the doctor gave her something for her pain.”

  If he wanted to speak with Camilla, now was the time.

  After the next half hour or so, things would be much too busy to see her, and he needed to know what had happened at the bank before the holdup. “Thank you. I’ll peek in, see if she’s awake, and visit a few minutes.”

  He strode across to the other examining room and opened the door a crack to see if Camilla slept. She lay on the bed with her eyes closed, but she didn’t appear to be sleeping. He knocked on the door frame. When she opened her eyes and turned her gaze toward his, he asked, “May I come i
n a few minutes?”

  “Yes, do come in. I’m getting rather lonesome with nobody around.” She blinked her eyes and held out her hand. “I’m so sorry about your father.”

  He walked to her side and stood there with his hat in one hand and her hand in his other one. “I wanted to check on your condition. Miss Dyer says you’ll be fine.”

  “Yes, I was very lucky.” She squeezed his hand with hers. “It all happened so fast. First the men came in and wanted all of us to kneel down with our hands on our heads. When the gunman came toward your father, he resisted and the gunman shot him. Then when I bent down to help him, the gun went off again and hit me. The two just grabbed the money and ran out the back before anyone else could do anything.”

  Pa, trying to be the hero as usual, but this time it’d gotten him killed. “Pa should have just followed orders like everyone else, but that’s not the way he was.”

  “I know, but I think he was trying to protect the money.”

  “Protect the money? He should have known he couldn’t do that.”

  “I don’t mean the bank’s money. I mean his own money. Papa had just finished granting a new loan and given him the money. Your pa was holding it in his hands when the robbers came in. The one who shot your father grabbed it and added it to the rest.”

  So the loan had been secured. That was good news, but now it was gone. What would happen now? What little may be left in the ranch account would be needed to cover the expenses of the funeral services. God had left them in a mess again. If He’d been at all loving, a good man like Pa would have been spared and one of the robbers killed. “So what happens now?”

  “I honestly don’t know, but you can talk with my father as soon as he can get things straight at the bank and see what’s left.” She pulled her hands away from his and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “All right. I hope you can rest now.” He stepped back. “I’m going to join my sisters while we wait for Ma. She wanted to sit alone with Pa for a few minutes.”