by Lilah Rivers
“We stand to lose all as much as the others,” Jonah added from the couch.
Bella’s mind started to race, her heart beating faster in her chest. She could see then what was really happening, and a nauseous knot tightened in her stomach. She turned to her father. “You wouldn’t have me marry for … for financial security?”
Elroy looked at her with a saddened face, humility in his cramping, furrowed brow. “I’d never have you marry anyone, my sweet daughter. I’d have you make whatever decision best suits your heart.”
Dean said, “We’re only trying to … to make it clear how we see things.”
Bella repeated, “We? How long have you all been agreeing on the matter?”
Sybil leaned forward in her easy chair. “No need to be upset dear. We all want what’s best for you, of course, and what’s best for the family.”
Bella tried to ignore the hot shame that began to rise from her belly. She’d never thought of herself as a selfish person, but this was the moment of sacrifice for her. Bella had never truly been called upon to lay down for the greater good, but in her heart she knew what decision she would have to make. If she could to something … anything … to save her family, Bella would not and could not shirk from her duty.
Dean leaned forward from his seat on the couch. “Why are you so insistent against him, Bella? He’s a good enough fellow, we both like him.”
“Perhaps you three would be very happy living in a cave somewhere,” Bella said.
Sybil looked with a sympathetic frown. “Don’t be crass, Bella.”
“Me? This whole discussion is crass! To marry for money!”
“Not money,” Dean said, “security. And you didn’t answer the question.” Dean glanced at his twin brother and both looked up at Bella. They knew; she was certain. Somehow they’d heard something, or just deduced from the tension between them after church. But Bella had to wonder, What did we do or say that might have given them a clue? Did they talk to Josh, a conversation I don’t know about?
There wasn’t much more time to think about it. The longer she stood there, the closer she was being inched toward the altar. And she wasn’t ready to go there, not if it was Turner Moss in the groom’s black jacket.
Chapter 20
Bella took Glory back out for an afternoon ride around the property, and even out further, toward the creek. She needed time to think about the situation with Turner Moss and her family. There didn’t seem much way to get around it.
Whatever she was feeling, whatever her hopes or dreams were, Bella knew that, in the end, it would come down to duty. She had a responsibility to her father and mother and her twin brothers too, even though they were older than she was. Bella could already envision herself marrying Turner and settling into a long, dissatisfying life as his wife.
Maybe it won’t be so bad, Bella told herself. I could grow to love him, I’m sure. He may be a bit pompous, but that will drive him up the ladder to success. Father and Mother deserve that. And I do want my children to be raised in the best manner possible. I’m sure Turner would be a good father, as he does seem to know right from wrong; he’s a hard worker. He’s not the wild type, to go drinking or gambling or to raise an angry hand. How much more can a young woman ask of a husband?
But her heart started thumping to see the familiar figure riding a palomino near the creek. Josh cut a noble figure on that horse, tall and strong, the picture of American ruggedness and fortitude. He surveyed the area, and though he was only a silhouette against the sun, Bella could tell that he spotted her, and that he was looking directly at her.
Bella had been hoping she’d stumble upon him, the area between their two properties, and that he’d be there for the same reason she was there.
Bella nudged Glory down the slope toward the creek, and Josh rode closer to meet her at the foot of the slope. He tipped his hat, a wordless greeting; Bella nodded to accept it and both climbed down off their horses.
“Nice to see you, Miss Archer.”
“Bella, please. Josh?”
“Please.” They shared a little smile. Bella couldn’t deny the fluttering in her belly, a warm rush in her blood. He looked even better than he had at church, and much better than the last time she’d seen him at the creek. She was relieved to see him smiling, especially in her company. Still, her mind felt scrambled, her mouth dry.
“It was nice to see you at church the other day,” Bella managed to say after a hard swallow. “I should apologize for my brothers; they have a wicked sense of humor.”
Josh chuckled just a bit. “Not at all. I like your brothers, what little I know of them. Perhaps we’ll have a chance to become friends … after all this is over.”
“Yes,” Bella said, “all this. I wonder if it’ll be over any time soon.”
“It may be, though the conclusion would come with no shortage of violence.” After a sad silence, Josh went on, “The ranchers and the homesteaders facing off against one another, I suppose that puts us each on the other’s bad side.”
“No, Josh, no, I … the two groups can still get along, live peacefully side by side. I don’t think God would have put us all here together without meaning for us to get along. Perhaps that’s His purpose, that we rise to the mantle of this challenge, render peace from the fires of war.”
Josh nodded. “That would be a plan worthy of Him. But … will we all have the eyes to perceive the new peace He is creating.”
Bella paused, struck by his reference to a scripture which was among her favorites. Surely, there was a likeminded man, and same-hearted as well. But Bella could not afford to stand by the creek reflecting; she had Josh’s company, and they had an opportunity to join forces and bring about God’s divine will.
And each had everything to lose if they failed to do it; Bella knew this, and she felt certain that Josh knew it too. In a war between the two factions, the Archers and the Callahans would be on the front lines.
Their properties were the two that happened to be nearest to on another, and the two patriarchs were leading the negotiations, which would make them the de facto leaders of the armies once they were organized and ready to move into battle; unless other men took over, which would be even worse. Because Bella knew both her own father and Josh’s to be good and decent men; men who sought peace and, if they had to fight, would do it judiciously and humanely. But they could be replaced by more reckless men, bloodthirsty and anxious to wipe out the other to the last man, woman, and child.
And the first men, women, and children to engage in that bloody struggle would be called Archer and Callahan; Josh seemed to know it as well as Bella did.
So Bella felt she had to find some way to resolve the conflict before it became violent. Seeing Josh standing in front of her, it struck Bella that their meeting hadn’t been coincidental, but fated, and that their mutual fate was to end the conflict between the homesteaders and the ranchers before anybody got hurt. In so doing, they would earn their futures, perhaps to be spent together. Bella hoped that was what God intended; if not, she thought, perhaps I can convince Him.
Bella returned her attention to Josh and to their conversation. “You believe we can live in peace, then? You’re not resentful of us homesteaders? Tell me you’re not running your herds over our crops!”
“Not at all,” Josh said. “We graze further north, and travel west to market, so our head don’t come down here at all. Occasionally to drink, but on our side of the creek.”
Bella smiled bashfully, nervous and uncomfortable. “Of course, I … I didn’t mean to make any accusations.”
“I didn’t take it that way at all. You’re right to be concerned. It’s your livelihood after all, your family’s future.”
Bella nodded. “But you do have your own family’s concerns to look out for.”
“There must be land enough for everyone,” Josh said, looking around. “True, it’s not endless, but God is good, and the land is plentiful. I think it has less to do with the ampleness of the res
ources and more to do with the ampleness of man’s baser instincts; for greed, and a love of power and money. It’s that love which is the root of all evil.”
“Quite so,” Bella said, impressed with this young man, his qualities of character and well spoken manner easy to admire.
“Men like our fathers aren’t so driven,” Josh went on, “but other men, this Saul Decker for instance.”
“Saul Decker,” Bella repeated, “that name has come up between my father and brothers.”
“I don’t doubt it. He’s just about the most powerful rancher in all Nebraska, perhaps this whole part of the country. He’s the one giving the other ranchers free reign, whatever he says.”
Bella gave the matter some thought, working through the hierarchy of power in the back of her brain. “I see. And you think this Decker would rather bring his ranchers to blows against us, rather than meet some agreement?”
Josh looked at Bella, his smile reflecting some measure of surprise, as if impressed with her powers of reason and deduction. “I do, yes.”
“But wouldn’t that work against his interests in the long run? I mean to say, the town has need of the homesteaders; we provide vegetables and metal works and all manner of benefits and conveniences to the people of Barnock. If we’re driven out, they’re bound to take umbrage.”
“True, but remember that we are not Decker’s market; he ships his cattle back East, where the wealthy can pay the highest prices. The locals buy their meats from smaller ranchers, locals. They’re the ones who would be fighting this war in any case, while Saul Decker sits on the highest hill and looks down as his profits multiply. It also rids him of another thorny little problem.” Bella tilted her head confused, and Josh explained, “Decker’s herds are swollen, he’s too big, too successful. He and the other big ranchers aren’t just encroaching on homesteaders’ lands, but smaller ranchers’ lands too. We don’t have enough grass to graze our own head. Of course, none of the smaller ranchers are willing to stand up against him on it.”
“He’s a formidable enemy.”
“Quite so,” Josh said. “I … I think he’s intimidated my own father, tell you the truth. I know he’s acting in good faith, my father, but this man Decker. I have a stronger impression that he’s willing to sacrifice my father, our family, and the other small ranchers; that would serve his purposes all the more so, in fact.”
It made terrible sense to Bella. “He’d be able to buy up the homesteaders’ lands, and the holdings of the ranchers who went down in the fight. My father tells me there’s a land official involved too?”
Josh nodded. “Parker Bristol, Saul Decker’s lapdog; he’ll do as he’s told. Which means Decker will have license to swoop in and gain control over the entire county.”
Visions of bloodied pitchforks and crackling rifle fire filled Bella’s imagination. She had to close her eyes and shake her head to clear her mind and refocus on finding a solution, to prevent her terrible visions from ever coming true.
But no ready answer came to her, only more signs of the coming apocalypse.
“My brothers are already spoiling for a fight,” Bella said, rue in her tone. “The other homesteaders could be preparing to lay down that barbed wire even as we speak. It won’t take many dead cattle to set the ranchers against us, whole-hog.”
Josh nodded. “That’s not a good sign. Of course, I can’t be certain —”
“We can’t be certain,” Bella corrected him, inspiring a little smile on his face and her own.
“We can’t be certain,” Joshua repeated. “But Saul Decker certainly seems to have the most to gain by a conflict, and he definitely has a lot to lose with the homesteaders occupying that land. And, well, may I confide in you?”
“Of course, Josh. We’re working together to solve this problem, aren’t we?”
“That’s my hope.”
“And I think I’ve proven myself reliable in the field, even with the enemy.”
Josh rubbed the back of his head. “As my very life can attest!”
They shared a little chuckle, before Bella said, “Confide, then, perhaps it will lead us to the solution we’re looking for.”
Josh seemed to think about it before nodding. “My father and I attended a meeting with this man Decker, which we thought reasonable and proper, as my father was reporting back the disposition of the homesteaders.”
“Fair enough,” Bella conceded.
“Well, present also at this meeting were the land man, Parker Bristol, and Otis Remington, owner of the Golden Loon Saloon. These are men also involved in the negotiations; Remington as an arbiter, and the land official certainly in Decker’s pocket.”
“I see,” Bella said. “It doesn’t seem reasonable that one side should be in conclave with an arbiter without both parties of the conflict being represented.”
“No, Bella, it doesn’t seem reasonable at all. But I want you to know we weren’t aware of the meeting’s construct, we thought it perfectly proper when we set out —”
“I understand, Josh,” Bella said, “though this is information my father really should have.”
“I beg you not to, Bella. My father will be furious with me for betraying his confidence and exposing him to greater reprisals —”
“I won’t, Josh, of course; I gave my word.” Bella thought it through, a tangled mess that only seemed to get more complex the more thought she gave it. “But surely it’s something we should look into in some way. We cannot just sit on our hands and do nothing.”
“No, I agree. But we must proceed with caution. I won’t have you endangering yourself or your family any further.”
Bella smiled. “You’re already feeling protective of me.”
“I am, yes,” he answered without hesitation. “I’ll talk to my father again; see if he can’t find a way to put some pressure back on Decker. He’s a clever man, in his way more clever than Decker, I think. I … I’ll be happy to let you know what comes of it. Perhaps you could do the same with anything you learn?”
Bella was quick to nod. “I think if we’re going to work together to save our families that would be vital!”
“I agree,” he said with a little smile. “Let’s meet here again in, say, three days’ time, at three, in this very spot.”
“Agreed,” Bella said, “the other’s confidence always secured.”
Josh nodded. “Quite so.”
The sun was dipping low, reminding Bella of her responsibilities, and of her increasingly suspicious brothers. “I should get back.”
“Yes,” Josh said, “the better to remain discrete. I … I’ll look forward to our next meeting.”
“Three days’ time,” Bella said as the two climbed up onto their mounts, sharing another nervous smile before turning to ride away in different directions, each back to their own.
Chapter 21
Bella rode home in no great rush. She was certain her brothers would see straight through any attempt she made to hide her smile, inspired by Josh and their recent meeting. Her mother would catch on too, Bella was certain, if she didn’t already know how Bella felt. Her mother had a way of seeing these things in Bella which others often missed.
And this was becoming too much to hide. Josh Callahan was most admirable to her in every way. He’d made a good impression with his handsome face and athletic build, in addition to his kind but strong manner. He was no pompous dandy like some other men she could think of altogether too easily.
But there was even more to him than that. Josh was a man of conscience; that was clear. He was loyal to his family, but he was also a man of ideals; Bella felt certain that he’d be loyal to them above all else. He didn’t seem of a war-like temperament, though Bella had an inkling that he’d be a formidable force on the battlefield of honor, and that he would be humane and merciful in his service to justice if it ever came to that.
