Kitabı oku: «Big Sky Daddy»

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Bar Crossing, Montana Fall 1889

Did he hear gunshots? Caleb Craig jerked toward the window. “Listen.” He held up his hand, trying to cut short the storekeeper’s detailed description about the young woman who had stepped out of the store as Caleb and his son, Teddy, went in.

“Lilly Bell,” the storekeeper had said. Twin sister to Rose, the two were the least alike, though to be sure, both were sweet and generous and loyal. Their parents were elderly, but that didn’t mean they were feeble. Oh, far from it.

A series of pops convinced Caleb someone had set off firecrackers. They were not as deadly as gunshots, but they were enough to start a dangerous chain reaction.

Before he reached the window, Caleb knew it had already started. Several women screamed. A deeper voice called out. The rattle and creak of wood and harnesses signaled frantic horses.

“You stay here,” he ordered five-year-old Teddy, and then raced through the door.

The young woman, whose virtues the storekeeper expounded on even as Caleb hustled out of the shop, wrestled with a rearing horse hitched to a swaying wagon. Packages and sacks tumbled out the back. A redheaded woman raced toward the struggling gal. That must be the twin sister, Rose. An older man hobbled across the street toward them while other people huddled on the sidewalks, watching but doing nothing.

Caleb saw it all in one glance as he jumped to Lilly’s side and grabbed the harness, his hand right next to hers.

“Steady there,” he ordered, his voice stern yet kind—something animals understood.

Breathing raggedly, the horse allowed Caleb to pull his head down. Still holding tight to the animal, as was she, Caleb turned to the young woman. The name Lilly suited her. Blond hair, unblemished skin, blue eyes flashing like lightning.

She was understandably upset.

“What idiot set off firecrackers?” he demanded.

She snorted. “That Caldwell cowboy.”

Ebner? His boss? Caleb glanced about but saw no sign of the Caldwell foreman. “Is anyone hurt?”

The redhead rushed to their side. “Lilly, are you okay?” She rubbed her hands over the young woman’s arms. “I saw the whole thing.” She jammed her fists to her hips. “I can’t believe anyone would do such a stupid thing. Not even a Caldwell.”

Caleb’s neck tensed. He’d been working at the Caldwell ranch a couple of weeks now. Ebner was tough, allowing no slacking and objecting to Caleb keeping Teddy with him as he worked. Caleb had reminded Ebner several times it had been part of the agreement before Caleb had taken the job.

Mr. Caldwell was away on some errand, leaving Ebner in charge. The foreman ran the place with efficiency. Caleb had certainly seen no sign of such wanton disregard for the safety of man and beast.

“I’m fine,” Lilly said. She sucked in air as if to calm her nerves and faced Caleb. “Thank you for your help. I saw you at the store, didn’t I?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He gave his name.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” The smile she gave him could have changed rain to sunshine.

“Papa.” Teddy’s trembling voice made them all turn toward his son. Both ladies murmured, “Ah,” as they saw Teddy.

Caleb understood how the boy would pull at one’s heart. Big blue eyes, tousled hair that refused to be tamed, a look of innocence, though it was impossible there could be any innocence left after what the boy had been through. Teddy leaned on his crutches, his right leg not touching the floor.

“Son, I asked you to stay inside.”

“I know, Papa. But what if something happened to you?”

Lilly’s attention flickered between Caleb and Teddy. Rose’s lingered on the boy.

“I don’t intend for anything to happen to me.”

Teddy nodded, his expression more worried than relieved.

“You stay there while I help these ladies collect their packages.”

“Yes, Papa.”

“That’s my boy.”

An older man approached them. “Are you girls okay?”

“We’re fine, Pa,” the pair chorused.

So this was Mr. Bell. Caleb introduced himself. In turn, Mr. Bell introduced his daughters.

The horse had settled down. Caleb left Mr. Bell holding him and strode to the back of the wagon to gather up parcels and return them to the box.

Lilly scurried around to pick up things as well. “I hope nothing was damaged.”

Teddy hobbled along the sidewalk to see better what Caleb was doing.

Lilly lifted a sack and paused to watch the boy. There was no mistaking the question in her eyes. She was wondering why the boy wasn’t walking.

If only someone could provide that answer.

“Caleb.” Ebner rode toward the wagon. “Leave them people to gather up their own stuff. You get our wagon on home now. Hear?”

“Yes, boss.”

Lilly glowered at Ebner as he rode away laughing. Then she turned toward Caleb. “You work for them?” She grabbed the package from his hands and shook it as if his mere touch had somehow soiled it.

“Yes, ma’am. ’Fraid I do.” And if he wanted to keep his job, he needed to do as the boss said. “Glad no one was hurt.”

She snorted. “I’m sure your boss won’t agree.”

If only he could explain. But what could he say? His job with the Caldwells was too important to risk losing over a few packages in the dirt. He needed the money to take Teddy to a new doctor down east. Perhaps this special doctor would be able to say why Teddy still wasn’t using his leg though it had healed up. At least on the outside. The several doctors he’d already seen suggested there was nerve damage. Or something. They had all been vague and none had helped in any way.

“Goodbye.” He included the sister and father in his nod and joined Teddy on the sidewalk. “Let’s get going.”

The walk toward the wagon couldn’t be hurried even though Teddy had gotten good at walking with his crutches over the past few months. At the wagon, he scooped Teddy up and set him on the seat. “Now don’t you be driving off without me.”

Teddy laughed. “You know I can’t drive a wagon.” He leaned forward as if to take the reins. “Unless you let me.”

Caleb climbed up and sat beside his son. “Seems to me it’s about time you learned.” He pulled the boy to his lap and let him hold the reins, his big hands firmly on Teddy’s small ones.

Teddy turned his face up to Caleb and gave him a smile as wide as the sky.

Caleb’s heart caught the smile and clung to it, determined not to let the past steal the joy of this precious moment or any others yet to come with his son.

If only he could go back and undo the past. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t bring back his wife, nor could he stop the thugs from breaking in and taking her life. He’d discovered them and shot them, but in the gunfight Teddy had been injured. Caleb’s throat constricted with the same mire of emotions he’d experienced when he found his son, his leg bloody, his little face filled with terror.

Caleb swallowed hard and forced air into his lungs. He’d never know if he had been the one who fired the shot that hit Teddy. He lived for only one thing—to see Teddy’s fears end and the boy walk normally again.

If that required him to work for the Caldwells knowing Ebner could stoop to such dastardly deeds, well, that wasn’t his concern now, was it?

As if suspecting Caleb might be having second thoughts, Ebner rode up beside him.

“You’ve got to understand something. The Caldwells don’t get along with the Bells. We’ve been feuding ever since the Bells had the gall to file claim to a piece of land right plumb in the middle of Caldwell land. Seems some ignorant file clerk made a mistake. But will the Bells do the right thing and go farm somewhere else? Nope. They’ve got to keep on causing trouble. No one who works for the Caldwells can figure on being friends with the Bells. Understand?”

Caleb nodded. “Don’t see I’ve got any cause to have truck with them.”

“See that you don’t.” Ebner rode away, leaving Caleb to muse about his words.

“Papa, that man at the store, Mr. Frank, he said the Bells were nice people.”

“Uh-huh. I expect they are.” The way Rose and Mr. Bell had clustered around Lilly to make sure she wasn’t hurt sure made him think so. It’d been a long time since he’d seen such care and devotion. Or rather since he’d experienced it. Amanda had been an efficient housekeeper and a good mother to Teddy, but she’d been distant and critical when it came to Caleb. He stilled his thoughts. One didn’t speak evil of the dead even in his mind.

They rumbled down the road toward the Caldwell ranch, Teddy so focused on handling the horse that he never lifted his eyes from the animal.

Something in the bushes to the side of the road caught Caleb’s attention. At first he thought someone had discarded a cow hide and wondered if there were rustlers about, but then he made out a nose and ears. A pup. Dead by the look of it.

He didn’t want Teddy to notice, so he leaned over the boy. “Remember, you must always hold the reins as if something could startle your horse. Never get so relaxed he could get away from you.”

Teddy pulled his hands from Caleb’s and straightened, leaning hard into Caleb’s shoulder as he turned to look to the side. “Papa, it’s a dog.”

“Don’t you want to drive the wagon still?”

Teddy patted Caleb’s shoulder. “He’s hurt.”

“Son, we have to get back.” Please, Teddy. Let it go. You don’t want to see any more suffering and death.

“Papa, he needs our help.”

When Caleb continued onward, Teddy pounded his shoulder. “Papa, you can’t leave him. You can’t. He’s hurt. You have to help. Stop. Please stop.” Tears mingled with Teddy’s demands.

Caleb pulled the wagon to a stop and held Teddy by the shoulders. “Son, he’s dead and I don’t want you to see it.”

Teddy flung his father’s hands off his shoulders. “You don’t know that. What if he’s only hurt?” He pursed his lips and gave Caleb a narrow-eyed look. “You ain’t gonna just leave him there to die, are you?”

“He’s already dead.” How could such a small body hold so much stubbornness?

“Then we need to bury him.”

Caleb would have protected his son from ever again seeing blood and death and burial, but the boy seemed to have other thoughts on the matter. “Very well.” He jumped down, lifted Teddy to the ground, handed him his crutches and grabbed a shovel out of the wagon. He followed his son to the dog.

A pair of eyes opened and followed their approach.

“Papa, he’s alive.”

Caleb knelt by the dog. It had been slashed, and whimpered as if in pain. He saw it was a female. “Teddy, she’s barely alive and she’s hurting.” He pushed to his feet. “I want you to come back to the wagon.” He waited for the boy to obey, but Teddy only looked at him in puzzlement.

“Why, Papa?”

“Just do as I say.” Caleb’s feet felt heavy as rocks as he went back to the wagon and reached under the seat. He had to do what he had to do. It will be a kindness. The poor animal shouldn’t be allowed to suffer.

Teddy hobbled after him, saw Caleb reach for the rifle and screamed. “No. You can’t shoot my dog.” He scrambled to the animal so fast Caleb held his breath for fear he’d fall and further injure himself.

“She’s my dog.” Teddy huddled forward. “Ain’t nobody ever gonna hurt her.”

“Son, she isn’t going to live.”

“You’re wrong.”

He tried every argument to convince Teddy of the futility of trying to save the dog, but his son would not relent. Though Caleb saw nothing ahead but sorrow and regret, he couldn’t stay at the side of the road any longer. He wrapped the injured dog in a gunny sack and carried her gingerly to the wagon. “We’ll take her home and stay with her so she doesn’t die alone.” He made the animal as comfortable as possible.

“I’ll stay with her.”

Knowing when to concede defeat, Caleb lifted Teddy in beside the dog and continued on his way. At the ranch he pulled up to the storage shed and unloaded the supplies. Thankfully Ebner wasn’t around to demand he explain why it had taken so long to get back. It also saved Caleb from confronting the man about how he’d treated the Bells.

His task done, he carried the dog over to the covered wagon he shared with Teddy. He could have joined the others in the bunkhouse, but it wasn’t the sort of atmosphere he wanted Teddy exposed to. It would soon get too cold to sleep in the wagon—he counted on having enough money to head east before then.

“You know what Mr. Frank said?” Teddy sat beside the dog, rubbing a spot behind the animal’s ear.

“He said a lot of things.” The man had seemed bent on informing Caleb about the “beautiful Bell girls.” He’d overlooked one tiny detail—the Bells and the Caldwells didn’t get along.

“He said that pretty lady you helped knew how to fix things.”

“Things?” Was she a blacksmith? He couldn’t imagine it, but he’d encountered stranger things in the West.

“Hurt things.” Teddy must have thought he needed to explain her abilities more. “Mr. Frank said she helps people, too, and all kinds of animals.”

Caleb smiled at his son’s enthusiasm. “Hurt people, too, huh?” He wondered if she could help him. He silently laughed in derision. It was those around him who would need her help. People who got close to him tended to get hurt.

“But especially hurt dogs.” Teddy gave Caleb a wide-eyed, pleading look that brought a smile to Caleb’s lips. How long had it been since Teddy had cared enough about something to use that special look of his?

“What are you saying, son?” As if he didn’t know. But he dared not give the boy any encouragement. The dog looked beyond saving.

“We could ask her to help my dog.”

“It might not do any good.” But what harm would it do? Perhaps Lilly could help. Perhaps Caleb could protect his son from more pain.

“Couldn’t we try, please?”

* * *

Lilly put the last of the packages into the wagon and then stared after Caleb and his son. Poor little fellow was limited by having to use crutches. Had he broken his leg? Perhaps he had a severe cut. She hoped, whatever the cause, the injury was temporary. God, please help the little fellow get better.

Caleb was so tender with the lad. He had lifted him to the wagon seat and laughed at him, and then had taken him on his lap as they drove away, little Teddy almost bursting with pride as he gripped the reins.

There was a time she’d hoped she’d have a little boy or girl of her own. But thanks to one Karl Mueller, she’d given up such dreams.

Tightness weaved around her spine. How could she have let herself care so deeply? And in hindsight, so foolishly? She could put it down to age. She had been a mere sixteen years old when she’d been thrilled and somewhat surprised at the attention he’d paid her. After all, he had been handsome and so grown-up at eighteen. So attentive. He’d made her feel important when he tipped his head to listen to her talk. She’d told him her dreams and her fears. He’d assured her he understood. They’d agreed that when Lilly turned eighteen they would marry. And she’d trusted him. Sometimes she wondered if Karl really believed the things he’d promised, or if they’d fallen off his tongue simply because he thought they would please her. One thing Karl liked was to know people were happy with him.

Karl had saved his announcement for her eighteenth birthday, as if it might have been a reason for celebration. He’d revealed he had other plans. He’d been employed by Mr. Fry at the hardware store for a year. Mr. Fry said how much he appreciated Karl’s work and asked him to go to Oregon to take over the operation of another Fry store. Karl’s chest had expanded three sizes as he told Lilly this.

Karl had never once suggested she accompany him. His words made it very clear that it wasn’t part of his plan. “My time and attention must be on this business. I intend to make this the most successful store Mr. Fry has. He’ll be so pleased he’ll make me a partner.” Karl fairly glowed with self-satisfaction. He’d never expressed a word of sorrow over ending their plans so abruptly. Never suggested they keep in contact. Never even—she sucked in air heated by her anger—asked if she’d like to join him once he’d settled into his new job.

She’d finally learned her lesson, one she should have learned at a very young age. She and her sisters had been abandoned by their birth father after their mother’s death, and had been left alone on the prairie to find their own way in life when the twins were three and Cora was five. It had set the tone for Lilly’s relationships. Easy come, easier go.

Ever since Karl had left her, she had guarded her heart. That meant no man of her own. No child of her own. But never mind. She had Ma and Pa and her sisters and the many animals she took care of. That was enough for any woman.

Rose nudged her. “Stop staring at him. Have you forgotten he’s a Caldwell cowboy?”

“I haven’t forgotten. At least he had the decency to help us.” She and Rose climbed to the seat of the wagon and Pa got wearily into the back. He had mentioned several times how the cold hurt his bones and it was only October. When they got home, she’d ask Ma to give him a tonic.

She guided the wagon out of town. “I wonder what’s wrong with his boy.”

Rose turned to face her squarely. “Don’t you go getting all interested in them.”

Lilly snorted. “I don’t intend to.” She glanced back. Pa had stretched out, his head resting on one of the sacks, and fallen asleep. “I haven’t forgotten Karl, you know.”

“He wasn’t the right man for you. He only cared about himself.”

Lilly tried to remember what it was that had attracted her, but after a moment’s thought she realized a couple of things. Although Karl had let her talk about her dreams, he had done far more talking than listening, and more importantly, her insides no longer wrenched at the sound of his name. She’d finally been able to push the sharp pain of his leaving from her mind.

She didn’t intend to ever again give someone the right to hurt her like Karl had. “He certainly didn’t think I was right for him. Good thing I found it out when I did.”

“Karl is completely forgettable.”

“Guess it goes both ways.” Lilly’s thoughts turned back to the events in front of the store. “I don’t think he knew Ebner threw the firecrackers.” Caleb had seemed somewhat surprised.

Rose chuckled. “I don’t think we’re talking about Karl anymore.”

Lilly laughed. “He’s forgettable, remember?” Though she wouldn’t so readily forget how it had felt to watch him walk away with barely a wave.

Rose giggled. “He certainly jumped to obey when Ebner ordered him to stop helping you.”

Lilly knew Rose was back to talking about Caleb.

“I almost expected him to pull his hat off and bow a little,” Rose added.

Lilly chuckled, though she didn’t find it all that amusing. She’d been surprised and not a little disappointed to realize he worked for the Caldwells and was eager to obey Ebner, the man who had been responsible for so much of the damage inflicted on the Bell farm. Though he was smart enough and cautious enough to always make it look like an accident.

“How can a man with any integrity work for that crew?” Lilly asked. “Wouldn’t he have to take part in some of their activities?” Her voice hardened. “Like driving the sheep into the river. I’m not apt to quickly forget that one of the lambs died as a result of it.” Not once but twice, the Caldwell cowboys had shepherded the sheep into the river while the Bells were away.

Rose squeezed her hand. “We both know the Caldwells are a bad bunch.”

There was no need for Lilly to reply. They all knew the truth about the Caldwells. They insisted it was a mistake made by some inexperienced clerk that a quarter section of land right next to the river had been left off the Caldwells’ land title. The Bells should have realized that was the case, Mr. Caldwell insisted, and not taken advantage of the mistake. The Caldwell cowboys had done their best to drive them off before Pa could prove up on the homestead. They’d failed. Even then they hadn’t given up.

She realized she was clenching her teeth—something she did every time the Caldwell name came up. Why couldn’t they leave the Bells alone? They had thousands of acres. The quarter section Pa owned shouldn’t matter.

Over the years, she’d decided the Caldwell quest had nothing to do with reason. Some people weren’t happy unless they had everything.

They approached the farm and Lilly allowed herself to study the place with pride. She and her sisters had a hand in developing the few acres into a Garden of Eden along the river despite the Caldwells’ objections to their presence. She studied the place hard. The sheep were grazing placidly in their pasture. The milk cows looked up at their approach but didn’t move, contentedly chewing their cuds. The hay was safely in the barn, and the oats were harvested and the grain stored for winter use. The garden was almost done as well—only the root vegetables were left to be brought in.

She let out a sigh of relief. “Everything looks the way it should.”

“For now.” Rose sounded dubious. But then they all knew it was only a matter of time before the Caldwells struck again.

“I hope Ma’s all right.” Lilly passed the new barn. “It’s not like her not to go to town with us.”

“She said she was tired.”

Lilly glanced back at Pa, who was still asleep. “So is he.”

“I think they’re missing Cora.” Their older sister had married a few weeks ago and moved with her husband, Wyatt, to a nearby ranch.

“Pa thinks he has to take over Cora’s chores.” Lilly tried to persuade him that she and Rose could manage without his help, but he still offered it constantly. “The cold bothers him. I’m going to ask Ma to give him a tonic. Maybe I’ll suggest she take it, too.” They drew up before the house. Ma watched from the window.

Pa woke and eased from the wagon. Rose and Lilly hopped down and scurried around to get the packages before Pa could do it.

“Did you sell all the produce?” Ma asked as they entered the kitchen. They took garden produce and medicinals to town each Saturday.

“Every bit of it,” Rose assured her.

“Did you see Mrs. Andrews? How is she feeling?”

Lilly answered Ma’s question. “She’s much improved. I gave her some more cough syrup and I looked at little Andy. He’s got a bad case of thrush.”

Pa sat at the end of the table and sorted through the mail—mostly newspapers and a farm magazine.

Ma scurried about to make tea and they all sat down to enjoy it. “What’s new in town? Did you see Mrs. Rawley?” Ma was speaking about her dear friend the pastor’s wife.

“She asked after you,” Lilly said.

Rose plunked her teacup on the table. “Ebner threw firecrackers under the horse.”

“Goodness.” Ma glanced around the table. “Is everyone okay?”

Rose chuckled. “A very handsome cowboy came and helped us.”

Lilly squinted at her sister, knowing Rose meant to tease her. “I could have managed on my own.”

Rose gave a dismissive shrug. “I didn’t see you telling him to leave you alone.” She turned to Ma. “Lilly could hardly tear her eyes off the man.”

Ma studied each of the girls. “Is this a nice man? Should we invite him to join us for Sunday dinner?”

The skin on Lilly’s face grew tight. “Ma, no.”

Between them, the two sisters related the events. “The boy doesn’t use his right leg,” Lilly told her. “He walks with crutches. But Caleb—Mr. Craig—is very patient and tender with him.”

“He’s a Caldwell cowboy.” For Rose that was all that mattered. She, of all the Bells, bore the most resentment toward their neighbors. Probably because Duke Caldwell, the son and heir, had teased Rose throughout school.

Ma held up her hand. “You can’t judge a man solely because he works for the Caldwells. A man should be judged by his actions and his choices.”

Rose grunted. “He chooses to work for the Caldwells. Guess that says a lot about him.”

“Nevertheless,” Pa said, with final authority. “We will be fair and give the man the benefit of the doubt until we have reason to think otherwise.”

Rose pursed her lips.

Lilly knew her twin didn’t think anything good could come from the Caldwell ranch. But finally Rose lowered her challenging gaze from Pa’s patient one. “Yes, Pa.”

Pa turned to Lilly. “We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, won’t we?”

Lilly nodded. “Yes, Pa.” She agreed readily enough. For one thing, she’d like to know why Teddy didn’t walk. Maybe she or Ma could help. She’d also like to know how a man who obviously had tender feelings could work for the Caldwells. Or perhaps his feelings were for Teddy and no one and nothing else.

There was one thing she would be clear about. She would not let her interest in the pair go beyond surface curiosity and concern.

Not that she expected she’d see them again unless they happened to bump into each other in town. So guarding her feelings shouldn’t be a problem.

A few minutes later she went to the barn to start feeding the animals. She smiled as she stepped into the interior. The barn was cozy and warm and solid. The animals were safe in there.

If she could turn her heart into a solid barn she could keep her feelings safe and warm, too. She chuckled at the silly thought.

When she was done with the feeding, she stepped back outside and blinked as a wagon approached with Caleb in the seat. Teddy peered out from behind his father.

She stared. “What are you doing here?” Her words sounded rude, though she didn’t mean them to.

But what was a Caldwell cowboy doing on Bell land?