Linda Ford (7 page)

She slipped from the room and hurried to kneel beside her bed. Why did God allow these delays? She wanted so much to be with Buck. Yesterday she’d felt he was very close to changing his mind about leaving. Her soul calmed as she prayed. Hearing her father enter the house, she returned to the sitting room. “Mother is sleeping. She’s been restless all day.”

“Good. I need to talk to you alone. Sit down.”

She perched on the edge of the chair, wondering
what called for such a serious look on her father’s face.
Please don’t let him forbid me to go to Rosie’s.

He folded his hands in his lap and looked so stern, her nerves twitched. “It’s time you heard the truth about your friends.”

“You mean Rosie?”

“Yes. And her brother.”

She refrained from saying she knew all she needed to know.

“I took the liberty of doing a little investigation about your friends.”

“Rosie and Buck,” she insisted. “They have names.”

“I am deeply disturbed by what I’ve discovered.”

She guessed what he was about to say but kept her peace, knowing he must speak the words before she could offer any defense.

“You were too young to know the details and even if you weren’t, we would have shielded you from such grizzly information, but I think you must now know it all. About ten years ago there was a cold-blooded murder in a mill town in Colorado. I’ll spare you the worst part, but let me simply say a man considered himself unjustly dealt with and took matters into his own hands. Revenge, plain and simple. He butchered the man who owned the mill.” Father hesitated as if he knew more. “It was beastly. Needless to say, the man was hanged for murder.”

She nodded. She’d heard it all from Buck, so it wasn’t the shock it might have been.

“That man was named Michael Donahue. To this day, if you mention his name people get angry and
upset. He killed a man with high connections and people aren’t about to forget it.”

Kathleen’s father studied her closely. “Did you know your friends are Donahues?”

“Yes, I knew. Buck told me about it.”

“You can understand why his offspring are not welcome in any community.”

“But why? They had nothing to do with what happened.”

“The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Her father shook his head as if he regretted his belief.

“Father, I respectfully disagree.”

His face grew thunderous. Long ago she had learned to obey without arguing in order to avoid his disapproval, but never before had there been anything she felt so keenly she must defend.

“If you would but meet them, you would see they are both good and noble people who are living honorable lives. When has a child ever been held responsible for a parent’s actions? Buck and Rosie were only twelve and thirteen at the time.”

Her father rose to his feet, his posture so stiff she knew she had both offended and shocked him with her defense of the pair. “For your protection I don’t intend to tell others, so long as that man leaves town.”

He heart grew leaden at her father’s stubbornness. “They’re good people.”

“You surely can’t still believe that.” He sat back down and leaned forward. “Kathleen, I must do what I think is best for you, as I always have. Just as I did with those other friends of yours.”

“What do you mean?” She shivered, sensing she wouldn’t like what he was about to say.

“You must have guessed what happened to the Rempels and why friends from your school don’t contact you.”

“No, Father. Tell me why.” Cold dread iced her veins at what he suggested.

“I persuaded Mr. Rempel to move on to a better job. Took care of them very well. I allowed only letters from friends I considered appropriate.”

“Father, how could you? You’ve confined me to a lonely life. And I blamed myself. I thought there was something wrong with me that made all my friends disappear.” Her voice cracked and she clamped her mouth shut lest she say things she’d regret.

Her father looked confused for a moment, then his expression cleared. “I only did what I thought was best, and I always will.”

“Kathleen.” Her mother’s voice came from her bedroom and Kathleen excused herself, grateful to have a reason to discontinue the conversation. But she might have swallowed thorns at the way her insides bled.

K
athleen tried to still her restless concern throughout the night, but she wanted nothing more than to rush to Buck’s side and assure him she did not agree with her father.

But first she must spend the morning with her mother who insisted she was well enough to be up. She didn’t want Kathleen to read to her. She didn’t have any project she cared about doing. “I’m bored. If I felt stronger I would visit one of my friends.” She sounded petulant.

“Would you like to help with a project I’m working on? It’s a quilt.”

Mother brightened. “I might like that.”

Kathleen got the basket she’d brought from Rosie’s and took out the unfinished top. “I’m helping Rosie make this for one of her children. They don’t have enough warm bedding, so they’ll truly appreciate it.”

Her mother examined the needlework. Each square had been carefully stitched to the next with firm, even
stitches that would last a good long time. “This is fine work. Did you do this?”

Kathleen looked at the section her mother examined. “Rosie did that.” She moved the quilt. “I did this part.”

Mother bent over the handwork. “Both of you do fine sewing.”

Kathleen studied her mother. “Are you surprised I stitch a fine seam? Or that Rosie does?”

She fingered the material. “Both, I think. You were taught to do things like needlework and cross-stitch. This is so…”

“Practical?”

Mother’s smile was full of self-mockery. “That makes me sound shallow.”

“I don’t mean to insinuate such. But there is something satisfying about knowing I’m working on a project to keep a little boy warm at night.”

Mother took up a needle and thread and began to sew a square into the pattern. “Tell me about the little boy.”

“It’s Rosie’s son, Junior. He’s four years old and so grown up in some ways. Mattie, his little brother, is two, and Junior watches out for him.”

“There are two children?”

“Three.” She told about Lilly next. “And Rosie’s brother has a child.” She wondered how much to tell, but her heart overflowed. “Mother, I want to tell you about Rosie’s brother. His name is Buck and he’s adopted a little boy he found alone on the prairie.” She repeated Joey’s story.

“He’s a half-breed child?”

“Yes, Mother.” She prayed for wisdom to discuss this. After all, if Buck remained in the area and their relationship developed as she hoped, her mother would have to confront this issue. “That’s his heritage, but who he is, what matters to people who know him, is that Joey is a very observant little boy who cares about how others feel. He’s very loyal.” She repeated some of the things Joey had said to defend Buck. “Buck is a loving, kind father.”

Mother studied Kathleen. “This Buck—what do you know about him?”

Her fingers grew still as she met Mother’s eyes. “I know all I need to know. I admire him greatly for doing what he knows is right, even though he understands some will frown at his choice to adopt Joey. He’s a good man, Mother. I wish you would meet him. I think you’d like him.”

The way her mother’s gaze darted away told Kathleen she wasn’t ready to accept Buck into her home. “Mother, I am growing very fond of him.”

“Your father told me about him. His father is a murderer.”

“But that isn’t who he is. Don’t you see? He needs people to see past what his father did to who he is.”

“Kathleen, do you really think the community would ever accept him, knowing about his father? And seeing the boy he’s adopted? People don’t forgive and forget easily.”

“I think I am growing to love Buck. I haven’t told him so but I will. I don’t want to be controlled by what
people might say and miss God-given possibilities.” There. She’d said it and it felt good and right. “I do not want to disappoint you and Father, but your caution about Rosie and Buck is misplaced and I intend to continue visiting them. If Buck returns my affections as I think he does, I will not reject him because of his father—and certainly not because of his son.”

They stared at each other a long moment. Kathleen sensed no disapproval or censure in her mother’s gaze. Dare she hope her mother understood the depth of Kathleen’s feelings and would honor them?

She reached for one of Kathleen’s hands. “I believe your motives are pure and honorable. But I fear this whole thing is out of your hands.”

Kathleen jerked back. “What do you mean?”

“Your father visited this Buck—” she broke off as if the word stung her tongue “—yesterday and told him he wasn’t welcome in our town.”

Kathleen bolted to her feet. “Yesterday!” And she’d stayed home to care for her mother. “I must go. I must stop him from leaving.”

“My dear, I expect you are too late.”

“I must try.” She raced for the door. If Mother forbade her—oh, she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. She didn’t want to be forced to disobey her mother.

But Mother watched her depart without uttering a word.

Buck stuffed the last of his belongings into the saddlebag. “I hope you will go to the Thanksgiving
service. You and the kids deserve a chance to be accepted.”

Rosie sat at the table watching his every move, her face a study in misery. “I don’t have a lot to be thankful for. If only things could be different for both of us.”

Three little boys clustered about Buck. Joey wore an expression of resignation. “We not staying ever, are we?”

The words scraped at Buck’s head. He would love to give Joey a permanent home. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be, okay, little buddy?”

Joey nodded. “I go quietly.”

Buck chuckled. “You make it sound like a walk to the gallows.”

“What’s that?”

“Never mind.” He shouldn’t have used that word and couldn’t meet Rosie’s gaze for fear she would be upset. “Joey, time to say goodbye.”

Joey hugged his cousins and kissed Rosie.

Buck’s heart sat heavy in his chest, weighed like ten gallons of cold water as Buck also hugged the children and kissed Rosie. “We’ll walk to the livery barn and get our horses.” He paused at the door. “Tell Kathleen goodbye for me if you get a chance.”

Rosie nodded. “I will.”

They both knew she might never get an opportunity. Kathleen may never again visit.

Joey strode at Buck’s side, every step filled with determination. His loyalty to Buck meant he would always tuck in his chin and move when Buck moved.

“Buck, it’s my fault, isn’t it?”

“What is?”

“That we got to leave again. It’s ’cause I’m Indian. I hear people say bad things about me. Call me dirty.”

Buck stumbled. When had he heard such awful things? Of course, there were those who didn’t consider Joey worth common courtesy. If only he could prevent such nasty talk. But he couldn’t. And every time they moved on, Buck reinforced Joey’s belief. “Buddy, it isn’t because of you. It’s because of me. Or I suppose, because of my father.”

“But your father dead.”

“Yes, he is.” Someday he would have to tell Joey the whole truth, but not yet.

“Why a dead man tell you what to do?”

He stopped stock-still halfway across the street. Why did his father still control his life? Or Kathleen’s father, for that matter? Would people ever stop telling him to move on? Seemed like too much to hope for. “Come on, Joey. We’ve got things to tend to.”

Kathleen paused before Rosie’s door and struggled to catch her breath.
Please, let me be in time to stop him.
She knocked.

Rosie answered the door, Lilly perched on her hip. She studied Kathleen from head to toe and back, then stepped aside to allow her entrance. “I didn’t expect you again.”

Kathleen glanced about the room. Mattie and Junior played on the floor. Her heart hammered a protest against her ribs. “Where is he?”

“He’s gone.” Rosie tried to sound hard but her voice trembled, gave away her sorrow.

“Gone? I’m too late?” She pressed a fist to her mouth to stifle a moan. “But he promised he would tell me before he left.”

“I think all promises are off.” Rose’s voice tightened. “What did you expect? Your father told him to leave town. Told him you wouldn’t come again. Then you didn’t show up. How did you think he’d take it?”

“I wanted to come yesterday, but Mother was ill. She needed me.”

“I expect she did.”

Kathleen lifted her face to study Rosie. A dreadful thought formed. “You think she pretended to be sick to keep me from coming?”

Rosie shrugged. “What do you think?”

“I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible. Today I informed her I intended to keep visiting here.” Ignoring the heat stealing up her cheeks, she continued. “I told her I care about Buck. That’s when she told me Father had been here. I didn’t know until then.”

Rosie didn’t change her expression. She wasn’t convinced.

“You must believe me.”

“Buck’s life is hard enough without some rich girl toying with him.”

Kathleen jerked back. “You think—? No. It’s not like that at all.”

“Really?”

“Rosie, how can you say that? I thought we were friends.” She scrubbed at the tickle in her nose.
Things were not turning out at all the way she hoped. She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. God help her.

“I don’t want to see Buck hurt anymore. He has very deep feelings.”

Kathleen grabbed Rosie’s hands. “I know. He is a good, honorable man. Tell me where he’s gone. I love him and must find him and tell him so. If he won’t stay, I’ll go with him. I don’t care where we go. Please tell me where I can find him.”

Rosie studied her a long moment, measuring her words, no doubt, against her father’s. After a bit, she sighed. “He and Joey were going to the livery barn to get their horses. You might catch them if you hurry.” She sounded doubtful, but Kathleen didn’t pay any heed.

“I’ll find him. I will. If he’s gone I’ll hire someone to ride after him.” She dashed out the door and raced across town to the livery barn. Upon arrival, she glanced about the yard, didn’t know if to be relieved or disappointed when she saw no one in the pen outside the barn. She stepped inside, giving her eyes a moment to adjust to the dim interior.

The livery man watched her. She gasped in air so she could speak. “I’m looking for a man and a boy. Have you seen them?”

“Would it be a particular man and boy or will any do?”

She laughed a little at the unexpected humor. “A tall, good-looking man and a dark-haired little boy.”

He removed his hat and scratched his haystack hair. “Half-breed maybe?”

“The boy is.” She waited in an agony of uncertainty as the man considered her answer.

“Uh-huh.”

“You’ve seen them?”

He nodded past her. “Could that be them?”

She turned, saw Buck standing in the shadows grinning at her and sprang toward him. “Buck, you haven’t left.”

“So I’m a tall, good-looking man? I like that.”

She ground to a stop, embarrassment racing up her neck and pooling in her cheeks. “Rosie said you were leaving,” she whispered.

He bent to Joey. “Son, go play with the cat you found in the back.”

Joey looked from one to the other as if seeking reassurance. “You not going to change your mind?”

“She said I was good-looking.”

Joey grinned and dashed off.

Buck resumed his casual stance, one booted foot resting on the toe. Sure didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. “Why are you here?”

There wasn’t time to play silly games. He had to know what she felt. “To stop you from leaving.”

“Why?”

“I think you know the answer.”

He pushed his Stetson back, and the light from the door made his eyes look intense. “You didn’t come yesterday.”

“Mother was ill and I couldn’t leave her.”

He acknowledged her explanation with a slight tilt of his head. “Your father paid me a visit.”

“I know. Please don’t think he speaks for me.”

He waited, studying her.

She wanted…expected…more—a welcome. A hug at the least. Then she realized what he needed. “Buck, you are a good and noble man. I cannot imagine how difficult life has been for you.” Her words were coming out in a jumble. She hoped he could arrange them into a meaningful order. “All these years you have been driven away by people’s opinion, but if you stay here I promise you I will stand at your side no matter what people say.”

“What about your father?”

She hoped her mother had softened toward the Dona hues. Maybe Father would, too. If not, she would do her best to bridge the gap between them. “I will not let him decide who I befriend. What better place to start over than right here where there are already people who accept you?”

“Friends, is it?”

She grinned. “I never said that was all.” She took a step closer. “Buck, I think I love you.”

“Kathleen, I know I love you.” He pulled her into his arms and held her close, his cheek pressed to her head. He eased back, caught her chin in his fingers and lifted her face toward him. Slowly, his eyes adoring her as he lowered his head, he claimed her lips in a kiss so full of love and promise that a sob stalled in her chest.

The kiss ended and she sighed. “You’re going to stay then?”

“I am indeed. I’ve got a job here at the livery barn for the winter. After that, well, we’ll see.”

“You’d already decided to stay before I begged you to.”

He chuckled. “I decided Joey deserves a chance to know family and home and to be accepted. I figured it was time I gave myself the same chance.”

A rustle to the side drew their attention to a little boy watching with a guarded expression. “You taking Buck?”

Kathleen held out a hand toward the boy. “I’m taking you both.”

Grinning so hard his eyes flashed, he threw his arms around both of them. “I take you, too.”

Buck scooped him into his arms and kissed Joey on one cheek while Kathleen kissed him on the other.

She reached for Buck’s hand. “People can be so unfair.”

“But others can be so kind. Like you.”

After Joey returned to playing with the cat, Kathleen leaned over and kissed Buck. They might face those who would judge Buck or Joey unfairly, but they would stand together and enjoy the good people in life.

A few hours later she prepared to return home. “I volunteered to decorate the church for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Will you help me?”