“Won’t you sit down, sir?” Sarah asked. “We always have a pot of coffee ready for visitors.”
“Thank you,” Mr. Lawrence said. “I’m feeling a bit dry. Breakfast on the train was nothing to write home about. And the coffee was atrocious.”
After introductions were made they sat at the table, and Mr. Lawrence asked pointed questions about Stephen, his relationship to Sarah and her parents, and then he honed in on Lester’s threat to the boy, given his harsh treatment and lack of concern for Stephen’s well-being.
In the midst of their conversation Stephen came in the door and sidled close to Sarah, casting her a dubious look. But when the lawyer asked him several questions about Lester and Sierra, the boy answered quickly and with obvious affection for his mother. His feelings toward Lester were another matter altogether, and his voice faltered when he spoke the condemning words that told of bruises and harsh treatment delivered to Sierra and the boy himself.
“Do you know that you have family living on a ranch clear on the other side of the state?” the lawyer asked. “Your grandfather is dead, but there are still a few family members there.”
“I don’t care about them,” Stephen said vehemently. “This is my family, right here with Aunt Sarah and my pa and Grandma and Grandpa. I’m not going anywhere else.”
“Well, that settles that, I’d say,” Mr. Lawrence said, leaning back in his chair and giving Stephen an approving look. “I’d say you’re pretty contented with your place here, aren’t you, son?”
“Yes, sir,” Stephen answered. “We’re gonna have a new baby next year and—”
“I don’t think Mr. Lawrence is interested in that,” Sarah said, cutting in sharply.
“Oh, but I am,” the lawyer said quietly. “I’m interested in everything that has to do with Stephen’s future.” He looked at Brace, inquiry alive on his features. “Are you legally the boy’s parents?”
“Not yet,” Brace admitted. “We’re going to ask the circuit judge to do something about that a few days from now when he next comes to town.”
“Do you have any paperwork set up to state your intentions? Or a lawyer here in town to represent you?”
“No, we haven’t,” Brace told him. “We’re hoping the judge will decide in our favor. He’s very familiar with Stephen and his problems in the past.”
“I think you could use some legal advice,” Mr. Lawrence said firmly. “I propose to remain here in town until the judge shows up, and in the meantime, I’ll be spending time with Stephen’s grandparents and you and Mrs. Caulfield. We need to get this thing settled as soon as we can.”
“You’ll represent us in court?” Sarah asked in surprise.
“I’m prepared to do that very thing,” Mr. Lawrence said. “I think the boy really fell into a bed of roses here. Seems to me you folks have offered him a wonderful home, and he’s obviously happy with both of you.”
“Brace is my new pa, you know,” Stephen said in an undertone to the lawyer. “And Aunt Sarah has always taken care of me, especially after my mama died. My real father wasn’t very nice, you know.”
“I know,” Mr. Lawrence said. “And I’d like to work out things so you’ll have a secure place in life, Stephen.” He looked up at Brace and smiled. “Let’s talk about your claim to the boy and see what we can come up with. I’ll need to see the grandparents, too, to get their opinion on the matter. They actually have first rights, you know, as blood relatives—as the mother’s parents.”
“There won’t be a problem there,” Sarah said quietly. “They’ll always be a big part of Stephen’s life, but they are in agreement that he should be with us.”
“Well, let’s get rolling on this, then,” Mr. Lawrence said. “Do you think we can get that bridle back on my horse, son?” he asked Stephen.
“Yes, sir, we can,” the boy assured him, grinning widely, obviously aware that his future was settled as far as Mr. Lawrence was concerned.
The judge was impressed with the appeal handed him as he sat behind the impromptu bench a few days later. “You’ve got everything covered, I’d say,” he told Edward Lawrence, and then looked to where Brace stood with Stephen.
“Do you know what this means, Stephen?” he asked, pointing at the paperwork he held in one hand.
“Yes, sir, I do,” Stephen answered politely. “It means that if you say so, I’ll really belong to Aunt Sarah and my new pa. For the rest of my life.”
“Well, you can’t be a belonging, as such, for you’re a human being with rights of your own, but you can claim them as your mother and father,” the judge told him. “And if you are agreeable to that, I see no reason to deny the petition drawn up by your lawyer, Sheriff Caulfield.”
Sarah released her breath, her anxiety turning to appreciation as she heard the judge’s ruling. Joshua and Colleen sat behind her, and she felt her father’s warm hand on her shoulder as the judge stood and looked her way.
“Will you step up here?” he asked her, and then waited as she made her way to where Brace and Stephen stood and took her place beside her nephew. He looked up at her and his grin held a wealth of happiness.
“I’m gonna really be yours, Aunt Sarah. Just like you were always my mother.”
“But we won’t forget your first mother,” Sarah told him. “Sierra was my sister, my twin, as close to me as another person could ever be. It seems only right that I take her place in your life. She was a wonderful mother and a good woman, Stephen. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said dutifully, almost unable to stand still, his excitement apparent. “Now do I get my new name?” he asked eagerly.
Mr. Lawrence spoke then. “I’ve petitioned the court to legally change the boy’s name to Caulfield, Your Honor. Is there any objection to that?” He waited, standing behind Stephen, one hand on the boy’s shoulder, and it seemed a long minute before the judge nodded with finality.
“I proclaim here and now that the boy known as Stephen Clark be henceforth given the name of his adoptive parents, and from this day on he will be known as Stephen Caulfield. Does that meet with the approval of all the parties?”
Colleen and Joshua stood and made their way forward, Colleen reaching for her daughter and the boy beside her. Joshua shook Brace’s hand and then took the hand of the lawyer who had befriended them all.
Stephen was almost smothered in hugs from his grandmother and Sarah, but seemed not to mind, for his smile was visible for all to see.
“I think we can close the books on this,” the judge said. “And now I’ll need to speak with Edward Lawrence for a few minutes.”
Brace marshaled his family outside the building and together they awaited the lawyer’s presence. When he reappeared, it was to greet them effusively.
“Things are pretty much settled,” he told them. “I’m satisfied as to the boy’s identity, and the judge and I have come up with a plan for the inheritance, if it meets with your approval, Sheriff and Mrs. Caulfield.”
Sarah had tears in her eyes, but her smile was brilliant. “I’m sure you’ll be fair to Stephen,” she said.
“I will,” the lawyer assured her. “There’s no family left and our plan is to find a man capable of running the ranch for the next fifteen years or so, at which time Stephen should be old enough to fend for himself. We can keep the ranch hands on for now. I’d expect Sheriff Caulfield and Joshua Murphy to keep a close check on the financial picture and perhaps make their way across the state once a year to look things over. As for my part, I’ll be in close contact with the estate, and the man you choose as manager of the ranch will be answerable to me to some degree.”
“I think you’ve done well for our boy,” Joshua said. “I couldn’t have asked for more. Our sole concern was that Stephen be given to Sarah and Brace to raise as their own child, and that the boy’s inheritance be kept intact for him.”
“Well, we’ve settled all that,” Mr. Lawrence told them. “And now I’m going to gather my belongings and find ou
t when the next train heads west. I plan to be on it.”
“Tomorrow morning is my guess,” Brace told him.
“That sounds fine to me,” the lawyer said. “I’ll get a haircut and shave and then a good night’s sleep tonight before I leave town.”
“I’ll take care of returning your horse to the livery stable,” Brace offered. “And I’ll be there in the morning to be certain you catch the train.”
“How is the riding coming along?” Lin asked Sarah. She’d come to spend the afternoon, and together they sat beneath a tree near the meadow. Stephen was leading his horse toward the barn, a rope tied to his halter, and Sarah was silently hoping Brace would arrive from work before Stephen took it into his head to show off his newfound prowess with saddle and bridle.
“Brace is pleased with his progress, but he won’t let Stephen loose on his own yet. He makes a point of riding with him. The mare is becoming a pet, I fear. Stephen and Bear spend long hours with her, and the dog and horse have taken a real liking to each other. Bear seems torn between sleeping next to Stephen’s bed and settling down in the shed with Sugarfoot.”
“My bet’s on Stephen,” Lin said. “Dogs are faithful creatures, and Bear seems very attached to your son. On the other hand, it’s not unusual for a pair of animals, such as a dog and horse, to form close bonds.”
“Well, I’ve told Stephen he can get out his saddle and be ready to ride when Brace gets home.” She looked up to where the sun was shining brightly in the western sky. “I’d say they have time to ride before supper.”
“How are you feeling?” Lin asked Sarah. “Stephen thought he was so smart, stealing a march on you and Brace when he told us about the baby.”
“We told him he could spread the news, and he didn’t lose any time doing just that,” Sarah said with a loving glance in the boy’s direction.
“He’s really excited about it, isn’t he?” Lin asked. “We had somewhat the same situation when our boy was born. Amanda is Nicholas’s niece, you know, and I’m the woman who was her nanny before Nicholas and I were married. We feared she might feel left out when we had a child, but she considers him her private property. There’s never been a problem.”
“I didn’t know that,” Sarah said. “Brace has always spoken of your children as if they were both naturally born to you and Nick.”
“Well, it feels that way,” Lin said, watching as her toddler son made his way to the pasture fence. Hot on his heels, Amanda reached for him, clutching his hand and bending to speak to him.
“She’s very good with him,” Sarah said. “And I can see where having a boy might be just the ticket for me. Not to mention that it would give Jonathan someone to play with down the road a ways.”
“It’s a girl,” Lin said bluntly. “I can tell from the way you’re carrying it. Besides, I’m planning on a girl myself, and I’d like her to have a playmate. It feels like we’ve become family, Sarah. I hope our children can spend time together on a regular basis.”
Sarah’s mind worked rapidly and she turned to Lin sharply. “Did you just tell me that you’re going to have another baby?”
“Something like that,” Lin said, laughing aloud.
“When is it due?” Sarah asked.
“Almost the same time as yours,” Lin told her. “Early in March.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” Sarah asked. “I’m so thrilled for you and excited that we’ll be sharing babies together.”
“Well, you get to tell Brace, although I’m quite sure that he suspects already. He’s given me that measuring look of his several times lately.”
Sarah looked at the other woman, gauging her waistline, comparing it to her own. “I’d say we’re of a size, all right,” she said. “I’m having trouble getting my dresses together at the waist, and Brace just bought me some new things to wear.”
“I heard about that, from Mr. Metcalfe at the general store,” Lin said. “He was pretty smug about the whole thing, said he figured you were going to add to the family, if Brace’s purchases were anything to go by. Did you know that your husband ordered a bolt of white outing flannel and several yards each of blue and pink from the Sears catalog?”
“No,” Sarah said with surprise. “We talked about it, but I thought he was waiting till Mama and I decided how much we needed.”
“He’s apparently not taking any chances on the wrong colors,” Lin said lightly. “He’s covering everything with his blue and pink fabric.” She smiled widely and then asked a favor. “Do you think your mother would lend a hand one day making a quilt out at our place? I want a new one for Amanda so we can turn hers over to the new baby. We could make one for you, too,” she said, her gaze dreamy as she watched her children. “Katie is good at piecing quilts, and every new baby needs one, you know.”
“Mama would love it,” Sarah said. “And I’m anxious to begin cutting and sewing all the stuff I’ll need.”
Lin reached for her and hugged her tightly. “We’ll have such fun,” she said brightly.
“Fun doing what?” From behind them, Brace’s voice cut short Lin’s words.
Sarah turned quickly and smiled at her husband. “We’re talking baby stuff,” she said.
“And what’s Lin’s interest in this?” he asked, his smile broadening.
“As if you didn’t know,” Nicholas said, walking up to join the group.
“I had some suspicions,” Brace admitted, “but I wasn’t certain.”
“Metcalfe at the store told half the town that you’d bought your wife a new wardrobe a couple of weeks ago,” Nicholas said, grinning at Sarah. “He said you seemed to be gaining weight.”
“The dirty rat,” Sarah grumbled.
“Oh, well. Misery loves company,” Lin told her. “We’ll face this together.”
“Want to see my new dresses?” Sarah asked, and at Lin’s nod, she rose and lent a hand, helping Lin to her feet. “You two,” she said, including Nicholas in her instructions, “need to go out and get Stephen up on that horse before he loses patience. I’m not at all sure the cinch is tight, and I don’t want him to try mounting without you checking it out, Brace.”
The two men watched their wives walk to the house and Brace gave Nicholas a commiserating look. “Do you think we’ll survive?”
“I don’t know about you, but I intend to enjoy every minute of it,” Nick told him. “Women take on a special glow when they’re carrying a child, and Lin has already taken to snuggling with me with no urging whatsoever.”
Brace felt his face flush. “I wondered if Sarah was the only woman affected that way by pregnancy. And don’t you dare let her know I said that, Nick. I don’t want to lose my happy home.”
Nicholas laughed and headed for the pasture where Stephen waited impatiently with his horse. “Not much chance of that, I’d say,” he told Brace. “You’ve got a family that depends on you and a woman who loves you, and I’m possessed of the same situation. What more can any man ask?”
Chapter Eighteen
Benning, Texas
March 1902
“Lin’s had a girl,” Brace said without any pretense at ceremony. Coming home midmorning should have told her something was up, Sarah thought, but this news was well worth the trip Brace had made in the midst of his busy day. His cells were occupied by cowhands, whose celebration on Saturday night had terminated in a grand fight of epic proportions, according to Jamie. A third man having been put in a sickbed for the foreseeable future, the two roustabouts were awaiting the outcome.
But Brace had taken to dropping by the house at odd moments over the past couple of weeks, and so Sarah had not been surprised to see him at the back door as she readied the churn for her weekly chore.
“A girl?” she asked excitedly. “When? How big is she? Is Lin all right?”
“Yes, a girl, sweetheart. I don’t know exactly how big she is, but Lin is fine, so I’m assuming that all went well.”
“How did you find out?” she asked.
“Nicholas asked the doctor to stop by when he came back to town, so he walked into my office as big as life and made his announcement. You’d think it was all his doing, he was so pleased.”
“I am, too,” Sarah said. “She was sure she was going to have a girl this time, and she’s predicted one for us, too.”
“Well, if you don’t have it pretty soon, I’d say you’re going to burst,” Brace told her. “I didn’t know a woman’s body could stretch so much.”
Sarah grimaced. “Well, obviously it can. And for your information, Mama was here a bit ago and she’s coming back. She has a notion that I’ll be having this baby a little early.”
“Early? How does she figure that? I’d say you’ve been pregnant forever already,” Brace said with a grin of admiration as he beheld his wife. Well-rounded, possessed of a constantly aching back and swollen feet, she was still the most beautiful sight he’d ever had the honor to behold. He told her so in short order and she smiled and blushed at his words.
“I mean it, Sarah. You’re a rare being. A woman with love to spend on all those around her, a wife any man would be proud of.” He held her close, a small hand or foot nudging him as the baby protested the pressure of Brace’s big body against Sarah’s enormous bulk.
“Mama thinks I’m ready,” Sarah told him as she cuddled close to his warmth. It was a beautiful spring day, and the thought of her child sharing a birthday with Lin’s new baby made her smile happily.
Brace looked to be making plans, she decided, his face a brown study, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her. And then his words confirmed her thoughts.
“I’m going to let Jamie know that you’re a little under the weather and then I’ll stop by the school and leave word with his teacher for Stephen to come right home when the bell rings. And I might even let the doctor know he might be on call today. If I let him know now, it’ll give him a chance to rest up before you need him.”
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