A Ranger Named Rowdy
Page 10
“You want to try’n move your pard to someplace more comfortable, Ranger?” Martin asked Tate.
“No, Marshal, Tim’s fine right where he’s at,” Tate answered. “He won’t leave his horse until he’s certain Rowdy’s gonna be all right anyway. Sure sets some store by that bronc.”
“How about you two?” Marv, the saloon owner, asked. “Got a couple of bunks in the storeroom you’re welcome to.”
“You just made yourselves a couple of friends for life, Marv,” Tate said. “Much obliged. C’mon, Curly. Let’s get us some shuteye.”
7
Melinda had put Christmas dinner on the table, but she and Billy merely picked at the food. Neither one of them really felt like eating, or doing much of anything else for that matter. Even the presents sat unopened under the tree. After going to Christmas Mass, Melinda and Billy came straight home, not wishing to stay for the after service socializing. Billy went into his room and stayed there, moping, until his mother called him for dinner. This year they had both thought for certain was the year Tim would finally be with them for the holidays. Instead, he was somewhere out in west Texas, on a snowbound train. That was the only news they had received from Captain Strong. Tim and Tate had completed their assignment and were on their way home when a blizzard struck. Several trains were stranded on the Texas and Pacific’s main line, including Tim’s and his partners’. After that, heavy wet snow and hurricane force winds had destroyed miles of telegraph lines, so all communication was cut off. The Texas and Pacific said it was impossible to know when the trains would start running again.
“Billy, you really need to eat something,” Melinda urged.
“I’m not hungry, Mom.”
“Then how about opening your presents. Perhaps that will help cheer you up.”
“I don’t wanna open them without Dad here to watch. And I want to give him his present.”
“I know, Billy.” Melinda’s eyes grew moist. “I wish your father was here, too. But we can’t do anything about the weather. Look how it even snowed some all the way down here. From what I understand, even a lot of the telephone wires in Austin were blown down. Captain Strong promised as soon as he heard from your father he’d get word to us.”
“I just wanted Dad here for Christmas,” Billy said. He took a piece of turkey and slipped it to Tippy, who was in his usual spot at mealtimes, under the table waiting for scraps. Tippy took the morsel, gulped it down, then ran to the door and commenced a furious barking, his tail wagging wildly.
“Someone’s comin’,” Billy exclaimed. He slid from his chair and ran to the window.
“Dad! It’s Dad! Mom, Dad’s home! Got someone with him too. One’s Tate. Dunno who the other one is.” Billy flung open the front door and raced outside, just as Tim and his companions rode into the yard. Billy ran up to Tim, who picked up the boy by one arm and swung him up behind him. Tippy, still barking a welcome, ran in circles around the horses. Melinda stood on the porch, tears of joy streaking her cheeks. Tim rode up to the house, lowered Billy to the ground, then took the steps two at a time and wrapped Melinda in his arms for a long, lingering kiss.
“Tim. It really is you,” she said, when they broke their embrace.
“Who else?” Tim answered. “Told you I’d be home for Christmas. Only thing is I didn’t have the chance to buy presents for you and Billy. And I’ve brought along some company. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” Melinda answered. “None of that matters. All that does is you’re home. And of course your guests are welcome.”
“Reckon I should introduce Curly,” Tim said. “Curly, this is my wife, Melinda, and son Billy. Melinda, Billy, this here’s Sebastian Wolfe, but everyone calls him Curly.”
“Ma’am. Billy.” Wolfe touched two fingers to the brim of his hat in greeting. No handcuffs shackled his wrists.
“Tim, I just put dinner on the table a short while ago,” Melinda said. “Why don’t you take care of your horses while I warm it up. By the time you do that and wash up yourselves, everything will be ready.”
“All right,” Tim said. He, Tate, and Wolfe headed for the barn. The horses were rubbed down and fed, then the three men went inside, where Melinda had set out basins of hot water next to the stove, along with soap, washcloths and towels. Once they were done washing, they joined Melinda and Billy at the table.
“Billy, why don’t you say Grace for us?” Melinda requested.
“Sure, Mom.”
Billy made the Sign of the Cross, bowed his head, and prayed.
“Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
“Amen.” The others said.
“Now let’s eat!” Billy reached for a warm roll.
“That sure sounds good to me,” Tim said. “Everybody dig in.”
Plates were heaped with turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash and black-eyed peas, accompanied by fresh-baked rolls and plenty of butter. Dessert would be apple and pecan pies.
“Mr. Wolfe,” Melinda began.
“Curly.”
“Curly. Are you also a lawman?” she asked.
“Um, not exactly, ma’am.”
“Melinda.”
“Melinda. No, not exactly.”
“Then might I ask what you do for a living?”
“I’m about to start working for the state of Texas,” Wolfe said.
“That’s probably closer to the truth than you know, Curly,” Tim said.
“What are you talkin’ about, Ranger?”
“I told you if you helped me’n Tate get that vaccine through I’d ask the Governor to give you a pardon,” Tim said. “I’m gonna go one better’n that. If we can persuade him to issue that pardon, and of course for him to do that you’ll have to agree to repay the folks you swindled, I’m gonna do my best to sign you on as a Ranger.”
“You mean that?”
“Sure do. Melinda, Billy, ol’ Curly Wolfe here’s done a few things he regrets, don’t you, Curly?”
“I sure do, Ranger.”
“We’ll tell you the whole story later, but I caught up with Curly back in Sierra Blanca. Tate and I were bringin’ him back to turn him over to the sheriff in Trinity County. But he helped us get a smallpox vaccine through to Toyah after our train got stuck, and that saved a lot of lives. Curly, quite a few Rangers started out on the wrong side of the law. And with your smooth talkin’ ability, youd be perfect to do undercover work as needed. So if you want to take up that offer, I’ll do my best to make it happen.”
“You’re da… uh, certainly right I do,” Curly said.
“I’ll put in a good word for you too,” Tate added.
“It looks like this may be the merriest Christmas of all,” Melinda said.
After the meal was concluded, Billy once again led the closing Grace.
“We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
Tim glanced at Tate, who had his hands folded and his head bowed. Tate murmured a soft “Amen”.
“Tate, I thought you didn’t believe in all this God stuff,” Tim said, gently.
“I’m beginnin’ to see the light again, Tim,” Tate answered. “Yes, praise the Lord, I’m beginnin’ to see the light.”
*****
Thank you for purchasing this story by James J. Griffin;
we hope you enjoyed it.
You might also enjoy other stories in A Texas Ranger Tim Bannon Story Series
Volume 1 A Ranger Named Rowdy
Volume2 Old Enemies
Volume 3 Kidnapped
Volume 4 Jack Bosco
Volume 5 The Norther
Volume 6 Banker’s Gamble
Volume7 Always a Ranger
Volume 8 Deadly Duo
Volume 9 Defenders of the Mission
Volume 10 Life Father, Like So
n
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