by Annie Boone
Chapter Thirteen
“You silly fool!” Jude exclaimed, bashing his fist against a wall. He looked up and down the side street, to be sure nobody had seen his outburst – or his almost crazed flight from the Fletcher’s home. Every inch of him was bristling with tension. He had come far too close to reaching out to kiss Miss Fletcher, to pull her to him in a loving embrace. Just to feel her heart beating in time with his own, to know just how exquisite it would be if she were truly his was a beautiful thought.
He should never have stayed in the house with her once he found out her father wasn’t home. He should most definitely not have been alone in a dark and cramped attic with her.
Every single time her arm had brushed against his, every time his leg had nudged hers had been sheer torture. Jude had never thought of himself as the kind of man that would ever force himself upon a woman, but Miss Fletcher seemed wholly unaware of the effect she had on him. And now he had probably mortally offended her, for rushing out of her house and then not explaining his hasty exit.
It did not do to dwell on it, though, so Jude made his way back to the mercantile store to collect his purchases. Mr. Wilson handed him his bill. Jude scanned it and smiled. The man had charged him a less than he should have.
“I believe this is incorrect,” Jude said.
“No, it’s right,” the store keeper said, with a smile. “I have known Parson Fletcher since I was a boy and have known young Miss Ellie since before she was born. If they trust you, then I will take the chance that you meant what you said. I don’t want men overcharged for things they need. I can make a small profit by selling to you at this rate. You can make a small profit by charging them the rate they would pay here, in my store.”
“I’m glad you see it that way. I don’t want to make my fortune by overcharging others even if I can do it legally. I want to be known as a fair and good man.” Jude picked up the box of tools and ropes and other practical items he had purchased from the counter. “I am sure I’ll be back very soon for more. If things go well, do you think you could perhaps arrange to have items sent at least as far as Springville, to save my having to come into Fort Worth each time I need something?”
“I am sure I can find someone heading out that way that can bring you what you want. But, you said you lived miles from anywhere, Springville is on the main road?”
“I would not expect any man to deliver to me up on the ridge,” Jude said with a grin. “But, I go into town at least once a week, so it would be easy for me to collect them then. I’m sure Mr. Langdon at the saloon would be happy to keep an eye on anything for me until I can.”
Jude left Fort Worth with his saddle bags full of the items he needed, and a heart full of sadness. It had been a confusing and unusual day—one he wished he might live over again and somehow do better. He had upset himself, and Miss Fletcher, with his headlong rush from her side. It had been too much to expect him to stay in such a situation though she did not know it. She seemed so utterly unaware of her beauty, her charm and the way she made him feel.
Yet, he had begun a business relationship that he hoped in time would be both prosperous and become a friendship. He suspected the friendship part may take some time, but he was willing to invest in that and be patient.
Mr. Wilson was right to have been skeptical. Jude would be if anyone came to him with such a proposal, but it was clear that the storekeeper was also a good man. That he’d known Miss Fletcher and her father for so long and considered them to be friends told Jude everything he needed to know. He could not imagine the Fletchers would ever tolerate those who cheated to get ahead to be amongst their circle of friends.
The other trait Mr. Wilson seemed possess was a keen eye for business. He was wary now, but Jude believed that theirs could be a strong business alliance for the future. That appealed to Jude as he wanted to work with successful men to learn from them and become successful himself.
He thought forward to the coming days and the work he’d need to do to bring his business venture up to standard.
Chapter Fourteen
The ride home did much to temper Jude’s frayed emotions, and as he broached the crest of the ridge, and dismounted he felt almost calm. He stored his purchases, put a pot of stew on the fire, and began to rub Caesar down.
The horse nickered softly as Jude groomed him. “You like that, my old friend? You have earned a good feed tonight and you shall have it. You can eat while I write Miss Fletcher an apology for my rudeness.” Caesar nudged at Jude’s chest with his head. “I know, I’m not worthy of her. Not in the least. It would seem I’m not so great at being around people at all. Maybe I should just write to folks rather than ever come off this ridge. Maybe you’re the only company I’m fit for. What do you think?” Caesar whinnied, and Jude laughed. “You agree. I’m best suited to being alone up here.”
Jude was just about to settle down for the night, when he heard a voice coming out of the darkness. He grabbed a lantern and moved to peer down the steep mountainside. “Anyone out there?” he called, wondering if maybe he had misheard. The wind could howl around the rocky crags, and often sounded as mournful as a widow.
“I’m stuck,” a voice cried out.
“You just wait where you are,” Jude yelled. “I’m coming down. Just you keep listening to my voice.”
“Hurry,” the voice said, sounding weaker. Jude grabbed a rope and wrapped it around himself. He was pretty sure the voice was coming from the ledge, about fifty feet below the ridge. It was a difficult climb, even in the daylight, but on a moonless night it was a foolish venture. But, Jude would never leave a man in need to his fate, not while there was a breath in his body.
He tied the end of the rope firmly to a large sleeper staple he had banged into the rock, for just such a purpose. He’d envisioned wayward cattle, goats or sheep having fallen to the ledge though, not men. He hung the lantern from a hook that reached out over the ledge. It wouldn’t give him much light once he got that far down, but it did help to illuminate the trickiest part of the climb back up. He eased over the ridge and began to feed the rope through his hands as he descended to the ledge.
“I’m on my way,” he called. “How are you doing down there?”
“My leg. It hurts real bad. Think it might be broken,” the voice said, sounding frightened.
Jude could only hope that he would get to the man intact himself. He didn’t like descending over the face of the mountain at the best of times, and his heart pounded in his chest. He tried to focus on his breath, and the feel of the rock beneath his feet. The rasp of the rope against his palms kept him alert, each movement stripping a little skin, making it harder and harder as he got closer to the bottom.
“Sir?” Jude asked. “Are you still with me?”
“Hurts,” was the weakened response. Jude began to move more swiftly, he was getting more and more worried with every foot he drew closer.
It was almost pitch black when Jude finally felt his foot strike the solid rock of the ledge. He took a deep breath, and waited for a moment until his breathing slowed naturally, and his racing heartbeat returned to normal. “I’m down. Speak to me. I’ll need to follow your voice to find you,” Jude said gently.
“I can’t believe that there would be anyone out here,” the man said, his voice barely a whisper. Jude moved towards him, almost tripping over a large boulder. “Ow!”
“I’ve found you,” Jude said, kneeling beside the man, and giving him a reassuring smile. “We’re going to get you off this ledge and get you fixed up.”
“How?” the man asked, closing his eyes, and letting his head fall back.
“Well, I’m not sure how well it will work, but I set up a pulley just in case any livestock got themselves stuck down here. I’ve not raised anything heavier than a barrel of water in it but it’s the only option we’ve got,” Jude said honestly.
The man winced as Jude felt down his legs. The right one was trapped under the rock Jude had almost fallen over in the darkness. It was a dif
ficult decision, one Jude had been forced to face on more than one occasion during the war—did you remove the rock and hope the damage to the limb was minimal, or did you just cut off the leg to prevent the risk of him bleeding out?
“How bad is it?” the man asked, wearily raising his head.
“I don’t know,” Jude admitted. “But, there’s a chance you might lose the leg no matter what I do here. I’m worried that the pressure from the rock is all that’s stopping you from bleeding to death. I can’t see what your injuries are underneath.”
“You’re saying I’m like to die?”
“You might.”
“Then, I’d like to die whole, if you don’t mind.”
“You want me to try to move the stone, without amputating?” Jude clarified.
“I was in the war, saw too many men die of fever from battlefield amputations. Those who survived, well they ain’t got much of a life, anyway. I’ll take my chances,” the man said, his voice now barely a whisper.
Jude wasn’t sure if the man was being brave or foolish. It was a difficult choice, to be sure, and there was no guarantee either way. But, he respected the man’s view and so he set to trying to lever the stone up and off the man’s limb. It wasn’t an easy task, and the poor man grunted and screamed with the pain it caused, but Jude worked as quickly as he could.
With a final heave the boulder rolled to one side, and then off the side of the ledge. Jude collapsed beside the stranger. He felt the leg from top to toe. There didn’t seem to be any dampness, so he hoped that there was no bleeding. But, it was pretty clear that the bones were shattered. Jude didn’t know if it was possible for a man to recover from such a serious injury, but he vowed to do what he could to get the man to safety.
Jude dragged the basket he’d rigged up on the pulley system and almost lifted the man inside. He was nothing but dead weight as he couldn’t help in any way. The pain he was experiencing had finally made him black out. Jude was almost glad for him. It would be excruciating to be cramped up in the basket while Jude climbed to the top and then winched the basket up to the ridge.
Jude knew he had to hurry. The man needed a doctor, and fast. But, the climb was difficult, the sheer rock-face had few footholds, and he had struggled to make the climb alone in the daylight. But, he had a man in need, a fellow veteran of the war at that, and Jude would not let him down. He faced the rock and reached upwards, his fingers searching for the first handhold. As Jude climbed, he vowed to get the blacksmith to forge some more staples, so he could create a ladder to make this easier.
It took some time to reach the ridge, and Jude was exhausted. His limbs ached, and his head was pounding, but he moved towards the winch and began to crank the handle. The basket bumped and bounced against the rock as it began to ease upwards, but Jude was glad it seemed quite capable of taking the weight. It took him ten minutes to raise the basket up from the ledge, and the man inside was still unconscious when Jude hauled him out of it and onto the back of a small cart.
Hitching Caesar up in the shafts, Jude found himself offering up a prayer. “Dear Lord, forgive me, a humble sinner. Help me to get this man to Doctor Hale. Let the good doctor be able to help him, so he may continue his life. I know I haven’t been so fond of talking with you for a while, but don’t let my questions about You stand in his way. Amen.”
Chapter Fifteen
When the Fletchers arrived in Springville a couple of weeks later, all their possessions stacked on the back of their wagon, the entire town was still talking about Jude Rigsby’s daring rescue and the miracle that the stranger had not only survived, but that his bones were healing well.
Ellie couldn’t help but smile to hear how much respect and admiration he was receiving. She was still confused about what had happened that day in the attic, but he had written her the sweetest apology, and had asked if he might visit with her once she arrived in town. Ellie could hardly contain her excitement, knowing that she would soon see Mr. Rigsby once more.
“Ellie, darling, would you mind if I just go and see how the work on the church is coming along?” Daddy asked, handing her the reins and leaping down from the dashboard.
She smiled indulgently at him. “Of course not, why it has been almost four days since you last saw it,” she teased.
“I shall return to help you as quickly as I can. We shall have to find you some help since Cook and Janie chose to stay in Fort Worth.”
“There is no rush. It would appear that half the town has come to help,” Ellie said, taking note of the crowd that was growing around them.
Her father gave her a wink and then disappeared into the crowd. A few of the men and two of the women followed after him, but the remainder waited patiently as if awaiting Ellie’s orders. A handsome young man stepped forward and offered her his hand. She took it and leaned upon him as she climbed down from the wagon. “Nate Ellison,” he said doffing his hat and giving her a little bow. “Welcome to Springville.”
“It is good to be here,” she said. “Daddy has been so looking forward to it. I do remember seeing you in services, Nate. Thank you.”
“My wife, Mae, insists that I invite the two of you to lunch, after services on Sunday,” Nate said. “I told her you’d have more than enough invitations and much to do, but she insisted that I be here to greet you to ensure ours is the first.” He laughed, and Ellie knew instantly that she was going to like this friendly and warm hearted young man.
“Daddy and I would be delighted to join you on Sunday. You will have to give me directions to your home, and I will do my best to make sure he doesn’t run late. He can get so caught up talking to everyone,” Ellie said, as she moved towards the rear of the wagon, wondering what needed to be taken inside first.
“Now, how may we all help you?” Nate said, following her.
“I must confess, I haven’t even seen a plan of the house, much less visited it, so perhaps I should quickly go inside and get my bearings? Then I can come out and say what needs to go where.”
“Sounds like an excellent idea.” Nate nodded and stepped back to wait on directions.
Ellie looked properly at the neat little house, admiring the white clapboard exterior and the straight path that led from the white picket fence right up to the front porch. She opened the gate and made her way to the door, admiring the way the sun hit the porch just right. She and Daddy would enjoy sitting out here and watching the world pass them by.
Inside, the house was small but perfectly formed, with a large kitchen that held a brand new cook stove. It led into a room with a small fireplace, that Ellie thought would make a marvelous dining room, and the final room on the first floor was another room of similar size, but with a much grander fireplace that would make a lovely parlor.
Upstairs she found three good sized bedrooms, and outside there was an outhouse and a small stable with room to store the Fletcher’s gig and would house two horses comfortably.
“I think we will be quite happy here,” she said to the empty house. “It may not be as big as our townhouse in Fort Worth, but it is warm and cozy. I doubt we will have to open our doors to quite so many of those in need here in Springville.”
When she made her way back out to the street, the gathered townsfolk had already removed everything from the back of the wagon, and were waiting for her directions. Quickly she began to make her requests, ordering the rockers to be put on the porch.
“Oh, please put the table and chairs in the second room by the window. I think the view will be quite impressive in the mornings for breakfast.”
“Yes, ma’am. I think you’re right,” answered a man she’d seen in services but didn’t know his name. “I’m Clyde Boles and that’s my wife, Millie, over near the back of your wagon. Looking forward to having you folks around all the time, now.”
“Thank you, Mr. Boles. I’m happy to be here and so is my father.” Ellie turned her head and watched as two other men brought the arm chairs and her father’s books into the parlor. In no time
the little house was full, and Ellie had invitations to enjoy a meal with everyone in town.
She was almost glad to be left alone. It had been a little overwhelming. All the noise and the crush of people surrounding her in the confines of the little house had grated on her nerves even though they were more than helpful at a time she needed it. But, now they were all gone, and it felt peaceful and calm. Ellie was sure that living in this friendly town would suit her and Daddy very well.
Sorting through her father’s books, arranging them alphabetically upon the shelves in the dining room and the parlor, Ellie hummed happily to herself. Her father wouldn’t return until he was sure all the unpacking had been completed, she was sure of that.
He’d somehow managed to find all manner of tasks he had to do out of the house while they’d been packing in Fort Worth, after all. So, she was a little surprised when she heard footsteps on the porch. Surely he hadn’t shown up yet—it was a little early for him to be safely too late to help.
Ellie made her way to the screen door and peeked outside. The tall figure of Jude Rigsby was pacing up and down, clearly unsure whether he should knock or not.
She opened the door and smiled at him. “Good day to you, Mr. Rigsby.” She was confident that taking the choice out of his hands was a wise move.
He looked startled as he looked up. Finally he smiled.
Chapter Sixteen
“How wonderful to see you. Everyone has been telling me all about your daring rescue.” Ellie’s smile grew wider as she remembered hearing about his heroic rescue of a man in trouble.
“It wasn’t as impressive as everyone makes out,” Jude said, awkwardly. “Anyone would have done the same.”
“Now, that I doubt very much. There are few men who would even consider lowering themselves off a mountain to go to the aid of another, much less managing to get him back up the mountainside with you. Then racing into town to get the doctor—now that was an amazing act of caring.”
