Hearts Stolen (Texas Romance Series Book 2)

by Caryl McAdoo

  “Yes, Sarge.”

  The wind swirled and blew colder by the minute, but only a few drops of icy rain blew in. Charley let her hold him for the longest, then scooted out and glared. “Bay-lor own me? You?”

  Sassy recoiled from his words. No one owned her or her son, and no one ever would. “Why do you ask?”

  “Him trade horse and gun. We him’s.”

  Was that why her boy’s eyes were so red and puffy?

  “Him say Bold Eagle no want.”

  “He did make the trade.”

  Charley’s bottom lip pouted. He leaned in close and spoke in Comanche. “If the people come, who wins?”

  “Baylor and the rangers,” she answered without hesitation then hoped that her words would never be tested.

  He looked away for a while then lay back against her. She wrapped the blanket around him. Hopefully, he wouldn’t try to run away again, but she wouldn’t rest well until home.

  Charley snuggled in tight. He loved her, but missed his father, uncles, and friends. How could he earn a great name with the whites? Who could he count coup on? His brothers?

  Could he ever make war on them? No! And all other tribes were old women and boys. That was what his father called them. He thought of Bay-lor. The people speak the ranger’s name in hushed tones. What great deed had he done to earn such a name?

  “Mama? Is Bay-lor father now?”

  “No, son. He’s our friend. I played with his little sister when I was a girl not much older than you; I’ve known him many years. Your father is a white man like Baylor, but his name is Charles Nathaniel Nightengale.”

  “What you call me?”

  “Yes. I named you after your father, Charles Nathaniel Nightengale, Junior.” She rubbed his arm. “He’s a good man. Baylor will take us home to him.”

  “Where home?”

  “Dimple is where I grew up. North from here. Hopefully we will find your grandmother – my mama – there, too. And you have five uncles – my brothers – and many cousins. Your father and I lived in Boxelder, not too far away.”

  He yawned. “I run far, Bay-lor found me.”

  “Yes, my love.” She started rocking. “He found us both.”

  Chapter

  Six

  That promised last morning before reaching the capital broke brisk and bright as autumn morns were apt to do in the Texas hill country. Sassy loved it. She’d love it even more two hundred miles north and another one-fifty or so east, but understood things had to be done according to a certain set of rules.

  At least she lived again amongst white folks, her people, and for that, she’d willingly defer to whatever the government men required. But she wanted to be home, see her mother and be able to introduce Charley to his real daddy.

  She could hardly wait. And even though Charles might think otherwise at first, it would only take one look. He could not deny his son; if ever two peas were in a pod….

  Movement pulled her eyes forward. Another wagon angled into the main road and cut in front of the agents. Wallace rode ahead, visited with the folks, and then reported to Levi, who chose still to walk next to the government wagon.

  “Pilgrims, Sarge. Hunting the promise land. Said they heard about the land grants. Any of your certificates for sale?”

  Levi waved him off. “I’m buying, not selling. What about that headright of yours?”

  “I don’t know. Tell me again exactly how good looking is Rebecca?”

  Sassy turned away. Those two poked fun at each other over nothing and everything, but bless God, she couldn’t imagine where she’d be now if it wasn’t for Levi and his rangers.

  Who else would have given up his horse and gun? It was no coincidence the Lord sent Levi Baylor to ride into that particular camp on that wonderful morning.

  Even though she’d heard Wallace and Smitty both offer to share their mounts, Levi insisted on walking. Not that he talked all that much, but it seemed like he wanted to stay right there next to the wagon everyday, all day, and always on her side.

  But why? She studied him for a moment as he bantered with his friend. They’d been making ten, maybe twelve miles a day for a week now. He had to be worn out, but didn’t show any sign of fatigue.

  She looked over at the fifteen-year-old who sat in a ball hugging her knees. “How you feeling this morning?”

  “Sick to my stomach, but at least this here trip’s about over.” Laura gave a weak smile. “I’m ready to get on back home.”

  Ne’er-be-satisfied made an incredulous, disgusting humph sound. “You actually believe everything’s going to be blue skies and rainbows then? Girl, you’re fixin’ to go through the mill.” She shook her head. “What do you think your parents are going to say when you pop out a little half-breed? And who’ll ever want to marry you then?”

  She threw a hand up toward Sassy. “Who are you glaring at? Correct me if I’m wrong. Go ahead and tell her if it ain’t the truth.”

  “Have you no soul? Not even an ounce of compassion? Why do you feel the need to be so negative all the time? And so cruel?”

  Laura lay her head over on the shoulder of the quiet, sad lady and wept. The woman rubbed her hair like one might rub a puppy. Without waking Charley who napped in her lap, Sassy eased over beside her and patted her, too.

  “Don’t you worry, honey. God delivered you from the Comanche, so you have to know that He has a plan for your life. And there’s nothing too hard for Him to fix.”

  The mean woman rolled her eyes and shook her head.

  As the sun climbed higher, the day warmed. Laura helped Sassy roll the wagon’s canvas up and tie the sides. Before long, more wagons and men on horseback clogged the road to Austin.

  Calls of recognition and greetings passed between travelers. Many eyes fell on the wagon filled with white women dressed in Indian garb and lingered, staring, but Sassy let her blanket fall off her shoulders like a shawl and sat up all the straighter.

  A buggy with a distinguished-looking gentleman dressed in a fancy suit and top hat passed. He didn’t even look their way or speak to the rangers or agents. Levi eased closer.

  “Congressman, maybe even a senator. Other than Houston and a precious few others, the whole bunch are worthless.”

  Sassy leaned out. The buggy horse worked a good lather. “He better ease up on that gelding, or he’ll be walking soon.”

  Levi laughed. “No, he’d insist on putting us out and appropriate this government-owned wagon and set of mules in a heartbeat.”

  “You’re joshing.”

  “No, ma’am, not at all. To hear them tell it, what they do is of the utmost importance. And if we mere commoners arrived a day or two late? No real consequence.”

  That almost flabbergasted her. Why, she’d never known a white man who didn’t defer to women and children. “Humph, and I considered him a gentleman for his fancy clothes and hat.”

  She followed the buggy as it weaved in and out of the traffic at a good clip. “Poor horse.” She faced Levi again. “I’ll miss my Bliss once I get home. Oh well, there’ll be no getting her back. So what’s going to happen now that we’re here?”

  “We’re to deliver you ladies to the capitol. The agents have an office there. I have to find the major, but I’ll check on you later.”

  “That will be wonderful. I can’t tell you how much it has meant to have you help me through all this.”

  He smiled and tipped his hat. “My pleasure.”

  The wagon rounded a corner. The number of enormous buildings that lined the double, no triple-wide road astonished her.

  “Ain’t it something?” Levi scanned the road, too. “Still growing like crazy and changing almost daily. Seems every freeman this side of the Mississippi wants a piece of Texas, and they’ve all come here to Austin.”

  Rightly amazed, she shook her head. “Bold Eagle took us to a big powwow once, but no way would it compare to this. Why, there are at least a hundred folks out and about and at least fifty buildings.”

/>   She pointed to the hills around the booming town. “And just look at all those houses.” She could barely take it all in. “My, my.” She pointed west. “What’s that big building?”

  “The capitol, but they’re already planning another one, seems that one isn’t grand enough for them.”

  After a few hundred yards down the extra wide road, the rangers stopped at a single-story plank lumber building. Levi grabbed his saddle then tipped his hat. “I’ll find you later.”

  She nodded, still trying to absorb the mass of humanity. As he stepped onto the building’s porch, she hollered after him. “Thanks again.”

  He turned and waved. “Take care.”

  Two braves walking the street caught her eye. Her heart skipped a beat. She looked back down to where Levi had parted ways wishing he still walked beside her.

  Almost immediately, she realized they posed no threat. Must be Creeks or Caddo, the ones Comanche called little girls and old women.

  Charley, who sat in her lap and had been relatively quiet, must have seen them, too. He called out in Comanche. The men glanced his direction but didn’t respond. Her son spat. “Old women.”

  She leaned in and whispered. “Best behave. Bay-lor isn’t here to save you.”

  Holding out his wad of papers, Levi shook his head. “Nothing but this worthless script?”

  The major shrugged. “They’re working on it. We’d all like to be paid in coin, but the big guns don’t part easily with what little they have.”

  “What about my horse? And pistol?”

  The man laughed. “I’ll submit a voucher for you, but don’t look for anything soon.”

  Levi glanced out the window then back. “I need my money box then.”

  “Sure.” The major rolled his chair over to the large safe that sat in the corner of his office. He blocked Levi’s view as he tumbled the numbers around. The man pulled out the metal box and set it on his desk. “Forgot to tell you. I put you and Rusk in for promotions.”

  Sounded about right; promotions instead of regular pay. Levi snorted. “For what?”

  “You for captain, and him sergeant.”

  “You tell him that?”

  “Yeah, right before he said you two were taking leave.”

  He picked up his strong box. “That’s right.”

  “Where you going?”

  “Home to Clarksville. Wallace wants to meet my sister.”

  The major laughed. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

  Opened his box, transferred the coins to his vest pocket, then he folded the papers and stowed them away in his duster’s inside pocket. “I promised him in a moment of weakness.”

  The major opened the desk’s side-drawer and pulled out a handful of flyers. “Keep an eye out; the bounty on any of these would make the trip worth while.”

  “Don’t you ever stop working?”

  The man poked them in Levi’s chest. “No. And neither should you, Captain Baylor.”

  He thumbed through them glancing at each one then stuck them in his duster’s outside pocket. “We’ll see about that. Any word on statehood?”

  “No. And stay out of politics. Rangers need to sway whichever way the wind blows.” He slammed the desk drawer as if irritated with the way it blew. “Any idea how long you expect to be gone?”

  “No, sir.” Resisting the urge to salute, Levi marched out of the major’s office. Like he could stay out of politics; it was his life, too, they were deciding. Though loyal to Houston, he would readily admit Lamar and his crowd made a compelling argument for remaining a republic.

  He stood on the porch a minute and studied both sides of the street, first left, then right, but never spotted Wallace’s gelding. He headed to the livery both he and his friend preferred.

  Even if he had to spend his own money, he was buying himself a horse. His friend had beat him there. His gelding stood napping—stalled, hayed, and obviously groomed, but the man himself? Nowhere to be found.

  Two hours later, Levi strolled up Congress Avenue, seven twenty-dollar gold coins lighter, but a stout wagon pulled by two mules with harness and hobbles—and one fine gray stallion—richer.

  The horse reminded him of the big one Bold Eagle rode.

  He found Wallace at the third saloon he checked, but didn’t much want a drink. “You going to be ready to leave in the morning?”

  “What’s your hurry, Captain? We just got here.”

  “Don’t start that. Nothing’s been approved yet.”

  Wallace took a sip of his whiskey. “It’s long overdue, Captain.” He stressed the word. “Those idiots should have promoted you after the Plum Creek battle in ’40.”

  Levi didn’t have an argument for that; his first encounter with Buffalo Hump had turned into quite a fight. No matter now though, he didn’t want to hang around Austin any longer than required.

  He leaned in close to his friend. “We best get ourselves out of town before something happens.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like anything. You know how they do us. Trouble starts, and the whole Republic is riding on the rangers’ backs.”

  “You figure Miss Sassy and young Master Charley are going to be ready in the morning?”

  He laughed. “If I asked her to, I have no doubt she’d be ready to leave tonight if that’s what I wanted.”

  After the bigger part of the afternoon passed, she understood why the agent asked for their patience. No one there seemed to know what they were doing.

  Though arriving hours ago, none of the ladies had been offered anything to eat, and dusk approached before the government men had all four women and her and Charley processed.

  The four-year-old had not been on his best behavior, and wore Sassy’s nerves raw by the time a wiry little man led them out single file and down the hill.

  He didn’t stop at any of the fancy boarding houses close to the capitol building, but led them to one of the clapboard and chink hotels on the main road. The place looked nice enough.

  He opened the front door. “Ladies, if you will be so kind, there’s a lovely bed waiting for you to sleep in tonight.”

  Mis’ess Complainer piped up. “Is there a bath?”

  “There’s a wash bowl and pitcher of water in each room. And first thing in the morning a small stipend at Caddenhead’s Haberdashery has been arranged. Please give the clerk your name, and he’ll take charge from there.”

  The man bowed and removed his hat. “As a representative of the Republic of Texas, it has been my pleasure to have served each one of you.” He headed for the door.

  Sassy stopped him before he could open it. “What about our meals? None of us has eaten since breakfast, and we don’t have any money.”

  “The hotel has a dining room. The night and three meals have been allotted.”

  Ne’er-be-satisfied couldn’t hold her tongue, but this time Sassy better understood where she was coming from. “What about after that?”

  He shrugged. “Other arrangements will have to be made.”

  She took a step toward him, but the door opened, and Levi strolled in smiling. He looked around the room until his eyes fell on Sassy. “There you are.”

  The government man tipped his hat. “Sergeant Baylor, good to see you again, sir.”

  Levi tapped his hat’s bill, but didn’t take his eyes off her. Seeing his face again brought such relief that she wanted to hug him.

  Charley pulled his hand out of hers and faced Levi. “Bay-lor. Where you been?”

  Levi kneeled then bent a bit more until eye-to-eye with the boy. “All over; been busy.” He pulled a stack of papers from his duster’s pocket. “Look at all the bad men; the major wants us to be on the lookout for them when we go north.”

  Charley took the flyers and studied them.

  Levi stood. “You eat yet?”

  “No, nothing since breakfast.”

  “Come on then, I know a great place down by the river.”

  She pointed at the front desk. “I
’m supposed to check in, and my meals have already been arranged here.”

  Levi looked past her to the clerk. “Sassy Nightengale, she and her son will be back later. Don’t give away her room.”

  “Yes, sir, Sergeant Baylor.”

  Charley ran between his mother and Bay-lor. He worked hard at matching his stride with the man’s. He liked it that the other men deferred to his ranger, and the major, who must be like the big chief, counted him able to hunt all the bad men.

  Grabbing the man’s pant leg, he tugged. “When we go north?”

  He looked down. “Maybe tomorrow.”

  His mother stopped and faced Bay-lor. “That would be wonderful, but how is that possible? We spent all afternoon waiting, and then all we got was one night in a hotel and three meals. Oh, and I can get a dress tomorrow. The agent told us where to go.”

  He laughed. “They don’t own either one of us. We can come and go as we please now.”

  “True enough, but we’re both afoot. You could probably walk home, but I don’t think Charley and I would make it.”

  “Me walk.” He folded his arms over his chest.

  They both looked at him then smiled at each other. “I’m sure you could, little man, but we don’t have to. I procured a wagon, a set of mules, and a real nice gray this afternoon.”

  His mother’s eyes widened. “Wow, you must have a lot of pull with someone.”

  The man walked away. “Come on, I’m hungry.”

  Charley was too. Humph. The people taught admitting hunger showed weakness, but Bay-lor not weak. Not only did he kill those two yaps, he’d gotten the best of Bold Eagle in a trade, right in his own camp.

  No. Nothing weak about his friend.

  When they reached the eating place, more men knew Bay-lor, and some patted him on the back then tipped their hats at Charley’s mother. He liked that, almost as much as the food the lady brought him to eat.

  It did make him mad that his mother wouldn’t let him eat with his fingers, but Bay-lor used a fork, so he would, too. Kind of hard to get it in fast enough, but directly his supper satisfied his belly.