“Yessir, he is,” Brace answered. “I take him every morning and pick him up when school is over in the afternoon.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Judge Bennett said sagely. “I’d say keeping him out of danger was the first priority here.”
“That’s the way his aunt and I feel,” Brace told him. “And keeping Sarah safe is right up there with looking after Stephen.”
“Do you think she’s in any danger?” The judge’s eyes narrowed as he walked more slowly. “Has the father threatened her?”
“I’d say so,” Brace told him. “He was blatant about it when you were here last. Made a threat when he left the courtroom.”
“Well, we’ll have to put in place some strict rules this time, perhaps,” the judge said. “I’ve about decided—” His words came to an abrupt halt as he shot a look of chagrin at Brace. “I almost let the cat out of the bag, didn’t I?”
“I’m sure you’ll do what’s best for Stephen,” Brace said, pleased that Judge Bennett apparently was leaning toward leaving Stephen in Sarah’s custody. Even if that meant continuing the visitations with Lester at the jailhouse.
“I’ll need you to go pick up the boy from school a little early today. We should get things rolling right after noon, I’d say.” Passing the hotel, Judge Bennett waved a hand at the double doors of that establishment. “Is Lester still living here?”
At Brace’s nod, Judge Bennett turned abruptly about, but Brace halted him with a hand on his sleeve.
“He’s not here right now,” Brace said. “I gave him permission to leave town for several days. He left with his brothers. His father is ill, according to the two brothers, and I didn’t feel there were sufficient grounds to force the man to stay here waiting for you. We’ll probably have to put off the hearing,” he added. “Didn’t you get my wire?”
The judge pursed his lips. “It slipped my mind—but, yes, I did get it. I think we can make a judgment without the father here,” he told Brace. “I’ll come back to reinforce it, if necessary, next month. In the meantime, I don’t see any reason to withhold my decision.”
The two men entered the hotel, where the desk clerk recognized both of his early-morning callers and smiled expectantly. “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” he asked.
“Mr. Simms,” Brace said quickly. “If you’d be so kind as to arrange for a room to be made ready for the judge for a night or two, I’d be most appreciative. I’m assuming that the three men we spoke of last week have left town for a while. Am I right?”
“Yessir, Sheriff,” Bart Simms said. “They said they’d be back in a week or so, and asked me to hold their rooms for them.”
“Well, it’s not a likely circumstance,” the judge said, “but if any of them should return today, particularly Lester Clark, please notify him that we’ll be having a hearing over at the town hall shortly after noon today. I’d appreciate it.”
“Sure will, sir,” Mr. Simms told him. “I’ll go up and leave a message.”
“Thank you,” the judge replied readily and did an about-face, heading for the outside door. “That should take care of that,” he said, resuming his walk down the sidewalk.
“I’ll go home and get Sarah, and bring her back after we eat dinner. Would you like to come along? My wife’s a wonderful cook.” Brace knew a moment of pride as he spoke the words. He’d done more bragging over the past couple of weeks than he had in his whole life. “In addition,” Brace said, “my in-laws are here from Big Rapids. I’d like to include them in the hearing, since they have a vested interest in Stephen’s future.”
“I’ll turn down the invite,” the judge said slowly. “I can’t take a chance on lending my support in your direction. Everything must be on the up-and-up, no favoritism shown to either party. But I’d like to visit in your home after this mess is all cleared up.”
And it was a mess. Brace agreed entirely, not surprised when the judge turned down his offer of dinner. It was to be expected.
Sarah had a kettle of soup ready for him at noon, and he blessed the judge for denying himself the opportunity to share this meal with them. Finding his woman at the stove, apron tied around her middle and curly tresses of hair falling about her forehead and cheeks, Brace was thankful to be alone with her.
“Where are your parents?” he asked, speaking in a low voice lest he be overheard.
“Out back,” she said. “I said I’d call them in when you got home. My father wanted to check out the shed and the building you’ve done.”
Brace held her close for a few minutes, telling her of the circuit judge’s arrival on the early train, explaining why the man had chosen to eat his dinner at the hotel restaurant, and finally looking at his pocket watch as he realized that the hearing was to be held in short order.
“I’ll be ready,” Sarah said. “I’ll call in my folks now, and I don’t take long to eat. You just need to wash up while I ladle up some soup for everyone.” She went to the back door, and a high-pitched whistle called her parents to the house.
“Where’d you learn to do that?” Brace asked, turning from the sink in surprise.
“The boy next door taught me. Sierra was so jealous. She never could figure out how to hold her fingers in her mouth and get any sound.”
From the shed, two figures hastened toward the house, and Sarah’s father called out, seeing Sarah behind the screen door. “You haven’t forgotten how, have you?” His smile was wide, his approval of his daughter evident.
“I’ve never heard her whistle like that before,” Brace told him as the older man kicked the dust from his shoes on the porch. “My wife apparently has many talents I’ve yet to discover.” He turned then to speak to Joshua directly. “The judge has come to a conclusion and is going to announce his findings at a hearing in about an hour. I’m assuming that you and Colleen will go with us. We’ll pick up Stephen at school and bring him along, too.”
“Definitely,” Joshua said firmly. “That boy’s future is uppermost in our minds. Right next to being certain of Sarah’s happiness. And on that note, I think my wife and I agree wholeheartedly. Am I right, Colleen?”
With a quick look in Sarah’s direction, her mother nodded, her eyes filling as if her emotions were close to the surface.
“I’ve never done anything so smart in my whole life as marrying Brace,” Sarah said. “I practically asked him if he’d have me.” Her grin was mischievous as she cast him a quick look.
“Not true,” he said, denying her claim. “I’d been after her to set a date, and then she turned the tables on me, right in the middle of the general store, and announced it to the whole town. She’s lucky I didn’t snatch her up right then and there and go visit the preacher.”
“Sounds like Sarah, all right,” her father said, laughing as Brace told his story.
“I didn’t want her to be alone in the world,” Brace said. “I knew she had folks, but here in Texas she was without family, except for Stephen, and having him in tow made her vulnerable to Lester Clark. I knew I’d die before I let anything happen to her. So,” he said with a grand gesture that turned into a bow, “and so I married her. A dandy bit of business on my part. Got me a wife, the best cook in town and the prettiest woman in Texas, all in one fell swoop.”
Joshua reached up to shake his son-in-law’s hand. “Welcome to the family, son. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
They sat at the table, full bowls before them, with bread on a tray and jam Sarah had found in the pantry. “Where did this come from?” she asked Brace, spooning a generous portion onto her slice of bread.
“Got it from the general store,” he said. “One of the farm ladies makes it for sale every summer. You’d be surprised how many of those women help support their families with cooking and baking. Several of them do needlework, too, and sell the products through Mr. Metcalfe at the store.”
“I’ll have to go have a look-see,” Colleen said, obviously relishing the flavor of the jam. “Tastes like strawberry and somethi
ng else with it.”
“Rhubarb,” Brace told her. “It’s the most popular jam they sell.”
“Never had rhubarb in jam before,” Colleen said. “I’ve only used it for pie.” She looked sharply at Brace. “I don’t suppose you have any growing on your property, do you?”
“Out past the place where the new pasture is going to be fenced,” Brace said, waving a hand in that direction. “There’s a big patch of it.”
“Well, make sure it isn’t included in the pasture,” Sarah said. “I’ll cut some to use, and I don’t want horses getting to it first.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Brace said nicely to his wife, and then grinned at Colleen. “See how well she has me trained?” he murmured.
“I’d say there’s a lot of spunk left in you, young man,” Sarah’s mother said knowingly. “I doubt you’re completely taken in by any woman, even one as…” She allowed her gaze to run over her daughter and then spoke slowly. “Even one as special as my Sarah.”
“She takes after her father, you know,” Joshua reminded his wife. “She and Sierra used to run us about ragged when they were small. What a pair.” He ate slowly, as if the food were a feast—for indeed it was, Brace decided.
And then Joshua spoke again. “We’ve missed Sarah so much. When she left, it was like we had nothing left. Stephen gone, and Sarah hot on his trail, caused us no end of worry.”
“We were so pleased to hear that she’d married you,” Colleen said.
“I’m sorry I didn’t write you,” Sarah said.
“Well, I took care of that when I sent them the news,” Brace told her. “I knew that a woman as extraordinary as you are must be missed terribly by those who love her.”
Sarah blushed and rose quickly, her empty bowl in one hand. “That’s about enough of that,” she said. “I’ll be getting a big head if you keep this sort of thing up. Now, let me clear up the table and then we’ll go find the judge and see what’s going to happen.”
Brace cleaned his bowl with appreciation. “I’d kinda planned on going back for seconds,” he said. “Maybe I’ll have another bowl after the hearing. I’m thinking we need to be on our way.” He turned to Sarah and his voice was low. “Are you worried?” he asked, and then tossed in words that might set her mind at ease. “I don’t think we have anything to be concerned about. The judge sounded to me like he’s about ready to give Stephen to us on a permanent basis,” he told her. “He almost let it slip this morning while we were walking from the train.”
Sarah’s eyes lit with hope as she placed her bowl and spoon in the dishpan, then turned back to the table to finish clearing. “Oh, I hope so, Brace,” she said eagerly.
Brace grinned. “Well, don’t let the cat out of the bag, sweetheart. It’s not something we can even talk about yet. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
The hearing was delayed by Lester’s arrival just as the judge was leaving the hotel. “Thought you’d pull something on me, didn’t you?” he said caustically to the judge. “A good thing I came back when I did. Something told me I’d better.”
The judge refused to be riled by the man, but filled him in quickly on the hearing and then turned away. “I’d suggest you join us, Mr. Clark. I don’t want to hear any more from you.”
Lester gaped as he followed the judge and Brace into the street. Then his eyes narrowed, and he approached Joshua Murphy. “I might have known she’d go crying to her mama and daddy,” he said harshly. “I suppose you think bein’ here is gonna help her get her hands on my boy, don’t you?”
Across the street, Sarah stood at the doorway to the jailhouse, Stephen by her side. “I thought he wasn’t gonna be here,” Stephen said, reaching for Sarah’s hand.
Joshua looked her way and then at Brace. “I’d say you don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting the boy, Clark. You’re a rascal, and it doesn’t take much intelligence to figure that out. I think you’d better tag along and listen to what the judge has to say. I doubt he’ll shilly-shally around much.”
His words proved to be valid, for the judge took little time in speaking his mind on the matter of Stephen’s custody. “I find it in the best interests of the child that he be in the custody of his aunt Sarah and Sheriff Caulfield. This ruling will be in place until Stephen is eighteen years of age, or until a higher court rules otherwise. Just one other thing. Stephen must see his father once more in accordance with my earlier decision.” The gavel he held hit the table before him with a satisfying thump, and those assembled before him wore various looks of approval and anger. “I will not make a recommendation for future visiting rights. I don’t want the boy to have contact with his father.”
“This won’t hold up,” Lester said, his words spit from between his clenched teeth. “I’ll see to it that I get the boy, one way or another.”
“I’d walk carefully, if I were you,” Judge Bennett said harshly. “That could be construed as a threat, and I don’t take threats lightly, sir.”
“Well, there are other courtrooms and other judges,” Lester told him, “and a father shouldn’t have to go to all this trouble to have custody of his own son.”
“If the father is not fit to raise a boy, then the court must step in and make a ruling in the child’s behalf.” Judge Bennett’s words were brisk and to the point. Lester glared his hatred at Sarah, Brace and Stephen, and the older couple, then turned on the judge.
“I know men in high places. My family is well-known in west Texas, and we’re a prosperous lot.”
“Money doesn’t always buy what you want, sir,” the judge said. “There are things more important than a pocket full of change. Justice is one of them. Another is human kindness between father and son. Or any parent and child, for that matter.”
“That’s a bunch of fancy talk,” Lester said, a sneer twisting his mouth, his eyes casting darts at those who had determined to beat him at his game. “I just now came from my pa’s place clear on the other side of Texas, after seeing him on his deathbed. That’s how important family ties are to me. I believe in a father’s rights and having a real family, with a father and child together.”
“We have a real family,” Sarah said sharply. “Stephen has a mother and father who love him deeply and will take good care of him.”
“Spoil him rotten, you mean,” Lester said with a dark look that promised vengeance should he find an opportunity.
“Can we go now?” Stephen asked quietly, leaning close to Brace to make his wishes known.
“Right away, son,” Brace told him. “School is not on your schedule for the rest of the day. That’s why Sarah had you bring your books along with you. You can work at the kitchen table with your grandmother and Aunt Sarah this afternoon.”
“Thank you, sir,” the boy whispered. “I sure am glad that judge didn’t let him take me with him.”
“I didn’t think he would,” Brace said, standing and adjusting his gun belt. “Let’s get on home with the whole clutch of you,” he said, one long arm clasping Sarah to his side, his look including her parents. “I’ve got things to do this afternoon, so you’ll be on your own for a while.”
“We have things to do, too,” Sarah told him. “We’re going to start by finding a good name for Stephen’s dog.”
His eyes glowed as the boy heard her words. “I didn’t even think about that,” he said. “We’ll sure enough have to really think hard, Aunt Sarah. We’ve got a horse to choose a name for, too. We might want to call it something different.”
“So we have,” she said, “and we need to begin talking about your responsibilities, Stephen, about what’s involved in cleaning stalls and training your dog to go outdoors when he needs to…”
She glanced up at Brace and her father for support and together they laughed aloud. Joshua leaned down to speak directly to Stephen. “Your aunt is telling you that dogs have to be taught where it’s polite to wet when they need to. Usually out in the back somewhere is a good place to send him when the time comes.”
“I can do that,” Stephen said. “We can have a rope for him and I’ll take him out there every little bit till he catches on.”
“I think we’re on the right track here.” A smile of approval touched Brace’s lips as he agreed with the boy.
They left the town hall together, the grandparents flanking Stephen, who carried his books, while Sarah was tucked close to Brace’s left side, leaving his gun free and readily available. And Brace, himself, almost wished for a chance to make use of it.
Chapter Eleven
“I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted from my back,” Sarah said, sighing contentedly as she pulled the sheet over herself. The house was quiet, Stephen long since having gone to sleep, Sarah’s parents nicely ensconced in their own room just down the hall from where Sarah and Brace slept. Stephen had had a few questions about the judge’s decision, and Brace brought them up, unwilling to mar Sarah’s good humor but aware that the subject must be opened.
“Stephen wanted to know if there was any way Lester could still get hold of him,” Brace said. “We need to be vigilant, Sarah.”
“Is it time for me to practice shooting a rifle or shotgun?” she asked, her voice revealing her distaste of the prospect. She rolled over in bed to face him.
“I don’t think so,” Brace told her, settling beside her on the feather tick. “As long as you keep the doors locked and don’t go wandering off with Stephen, you’ll be fine. Lester’s too smart to pull anything really stupid. And having your folks here will be a deterrent, too.”
“Don’t count on that,” Sarah said. “Look what he did back home, stealing from my father’s business.”
“And that’s another thing,” Brace told her. “I’ve asked Nicholas to look into the man’s reputation back where you came from. Being a banker gives him access to any number of things I couldn’t do on my own. Even as a lawman, I’m limited by my resources. Nicholas will make inquiries. Where money is concerned, he’s tops at the game. And anyone who has left a trail can be traced rather easily. I suspect Lester didn’t take pains to cover up his actions. He no doubt thought that his in-laws would overlook his shenanigans.”
Texas Lawman Page 15
