A Love to Last Forever (28 page)
Justin nodded. “Miss Beth is making me a pie. She said it might be a good time for me to come talk to you.”
Nick sat down. “What do you want to talk to me about?”
Looking smaller than ever, Justin took several steps closer.
“Tell me about my mama and you.”
The boy looked so small, so vulnerable. Nick immediately felt awash in emotions. The past few weeks had been so hard. He’d longed to reach beyond Justin’s protective walls and help him to feel loved and wanted.
“Well, that’ll take a little time. You want to go for a walk so we won’t be disturbed?” Justin nodded and turned toward the door. Nick took up his hat. “Let’s just go up to the cemetery.”
“Will the bears bother us there?”
Nick could see that the boy was concerned about the danger. Taking up his revolver, Nick smiled. “They can try, but I don’t think we have to worry.”
They walked out across the road and made their way toward the graveyard. The day had warmed considerably, and Nick felt beads of sweat line the rim under his hat. He found himself praying for wisdom.
“Is this where Beth’s pa is buried?” Justin asked.
The question took Nick by surprise. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
“She told me she didn’t appreciate him like she should have until after he’d died. She told me . . . well . . . she didn’t want me to let that happen with you.”
“I don’t want it to happen, either,” Nick said, making his way over to the shade of several pines. “Why don’t we sit here.”
Justin nodded and flopped onto the ground. Nick did likewise and took off his hat to let the warm breeze blow through his hair. He looked at his son’s hopeful expression and began to tell him about his mother.
“The thing was, we were young—too young to really know how much grief we were causing each other and the people we loved. I was wrong, Justin. I dishonored your mother. I loved her more than anything else in my life, but I lost sight of that love and took advantage of the temptation to do things that we knew were wrong.”
“But she was wrong, too,” Justin said, as if to defend Nick.
Nick thought about that for a moment. “Yes. We were both guilty of going against what God wanted for us, but as the man, I should have protected her. I should have waited until we were married to be intimate like that. Do you understand?”
“I think so,” Justin said. “When you’re a man, you should take care of other people.”
“Yes. I should have stayed to take care of you, but I was afraid. I hope you’ll forgive me for not being there, Justin.” Nick felt tears sting his eyes. “I hope you’ll give me another chance.”
“Do you really want to be my pa?” Justin asked. His eyes never left Nick’s face.
Nick smiled, feeling hope for the days to come. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
Justin grinned. “And can Beth be my ma?”
Nick started at the question. “Well . . . I don’t know. Beth needs to make a decision like that.”
“I told her I’d like her to be my ma,” Justin admitted.
“And what did she say?”
“She said I needed to work things out with you first.” Justin got to his feet and looked at his father with great expectation. “So now that we have, you can go ask her to get married so that we can be a real family.”
Nick laughed and stood. “You think it’s that easy, eh?”
Justin shrugged. “I think it will be real easy. You just walk up to her and ask her. She likes you—she’s told me over and over how great you are.”
Shaking his head, Nick put his arm out to touch his son for the first time. Justin was so like Annie, but also like Nick. He was the best parts of both of them, and Nick intended to spend the rest of his life seeing that Justin knew just how precious he was—how honored Nick was to be his father.
Hank awoke anxious to share what he hoped to be the perfect solution to Ellie and Simon’s problems. He maneuvered out of bed, hoping to keep from waking his wife. Lately, Gwen had been so worried about Ellie and Simon that she’d not been able to sleep. Hank knew she needed the extra rest.
Making his way in the early dawn, Hank was relieved to find the Lassiter brothers both awake and ready to start their day. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion,” Hank offered when Nick opened the door. “I have something to discuss.”
“Come on in, Hank. We were just getting ready to eat breakfast. Why don’t you join us.”
“No. You go ahead and eat while I explain.”
Simon looked over his shoulder from the stove. “It wouldn’t be any problem. We have some ham steaks and potatoes.”
Hank shook his head. “No, but I will take a cup of coffee.”
“Sure thing.” Nick went immediately to pour him a cup. “Now, what’s this all about?”
Simon brought two plates to the table and handed one to Nick. “Yeah, what do you need?”
“I’m hoping I have something that will work out this situation with you and Ellie.”
Simon frowned and took a seat. He let his plate clatter a bit as it hit the table. “I don’t know what you could come up with that the rest of us haven’t already tried.”
“Well, hear me out.” Hank took a drink and put the mug on the table. “I honestly don’t know why I didn’t think of this earlier.”
Nick joined them. “Maybe we should offer grace, and then you can explain.”
Hank nodded. Nick gave a quick prayer, then both he and Simon looked to Hank for answers.
“Well, you and I know that Rafe never does anything unless it profits him. I think I’ve found a way to do just that and hopefully get him to release Ellie from her contract.”
“How?” Simon asked. He hadn’t even touched his food.
“Land.” Hank smiled. “Rafe wants land. He was very angry that Vanhouten sold me his land without considering Rafe’s desires. Rafe wants that piece that stretches out behind his property. I own that now.”
“And you’re thinking that if you offered to sell it to Rafe, he would give up his hold on Ellie?” Nick asked.
Simon frowned and he shook his head. “I doubt he’d do anything that appeared helpful to me. Especially if it involves having to buy something.”
“I’m not going to offer to sell it,” Hank said. “I’m going to let him have it, free and clear.”
“What?” the brothers questioned in unison.
Hank laughed. “It came to me in a dream. I’d been praying about it.” He sobered a bit. “I was wrong to suggest you just steal Ellie outright. I’m about as new to this Bible and faith stuff as you are. To me, it made sense to defeat evil by taking Ellie out of Rafe’s grasp, but now I can see that it’s better to do it in such a way that he allows her to go. That way, you can stay here if you like and continue with your business.”
“Hank, I could never hope to repay you. I don’t have that much money,” Simon said, looking worse than when Hank had started.
“You wouldn’t need to repay me, Simon. It would be our wedding gift to you and Ellie. Gwen thinks it a fine idea.”
“It’s too much.”
“Oh, stop it,” Nick declared, pounding his fist on the table. “We’ve been praying for an answer, and now Hank comes with one, but you don’t want to take it because of your pride?”
Simon looked rather sheepish. “I guess I hadn’t thought about it that way. I didn’t mean it to sound prideful. I . . . well . . . I don’t like having to be in anyone’s debt. Pa always said—”
“To honor your commitments and help those in need. Ellie is in need—probably in the worst possible way. You love her, and this is how you can help her.”
“And you won’t be in my debt.” Hank downed the last of his coffee and got to his feet. “Surely your pa taught you that you don’t owe for a gift.”
“How do we go about this?” Simon asked, still looking doubtful.
“
We
don’t. I’ll negotiate the entire thing with Rafe this morning. He won’t like being disturbed before noon, but I plan to use that to my advantage.”
“Are you sure we shouldn’t be there?” Nick asked. “At least Simon?”
“No. I think seeing Simon will only irritate the situation, and Rafe might decide to stand on pride just to spite us.” He grinned. “Men can be like that, you know.”
Nick laughed. “I think we’ve all been guilty of that.” He punched Simon’s arm. “What do you say? Are you going to take this gift from God and Hank?”
Simon nodded. “I won’t let worries about my dignity stand in the way. I guess sometimes a man has to sacrifice that in order to better the lives of other folks. Ellie is worth it.”
“Then we’re agreed. I’ll have Cubby wake his father and send him to the store to discuss the situation with me. I’ll let you know as soon as I have Rafe’s decision one way or the other, but knowing Rafe as I do, I feel confident he’ll do anything to possess that land.”
Hank strolled across the way toward Gallatin House. He could see Cubby chopping wood on the north side of the saloon—as if God had it all planned out. Hank chuckled to himself. He supposed God
did
have it all arranged—there was no “almost” to it.
“Don’t you wish it would just cut itself?” Hank asked with a smile.
Cubby nodded. “I was just trying to think of a machine or something I could build to cut the wood for me.”
“Well, if anyone could come up with something like that, I’m sure it would be you.” Hank glanced back at the saloon. “I don’t suppose your pa is up yet, is he?”
Cubby snorted. “Nah, Pa doesn’t get up this early. Even on slow nights like last night, he’s up almost till dawn.”
“Well, I need for you to wake him,” Hank said. He could see Cubby’s face contort in discomfort. “It’s important. I want you to tell him that I’m willing to discuss a deal to get him the land he wants so he can build his hotel. Tell him to meet me in half an hour at the store if he’s interested.”
Putting the ax aside, Cubby nodded. “I guess he might be willing to get up for that. He’s been powerful mad since you bought out all of that property.”
“I know.” Hank headed toward Gallatin House. “Tell him to be on time. If he’s late, I very well may change my mind.”
Half an hour later, to the minute, Rafe stumbled into Bishop’s Emporium with a scowl on his face. He looked like a half-drowned rat with his wet hair plastered to his head. He squinted against the light and seemed to grunt thanks when Hank closed the shop door.
“This better not be a joke, Bishop,” he muttered.
“It’s not, Reynolds. Come into my office, and we’ll talk.”
Hank led the way and waited for Rafe to join him before pointing to a mug of coffee. “I brought this over from Gallatin House. Thought maybe you could use it.”
“I don’t intend to be awake any longer than it takes to find out what this is all about. Cubby said you were talking about the land I want.”
“And he’s right.” Hank took a seat behind his desk and motioned for Rafe to sit in a wooden chair opposite him. “I have a proposition for you.”
“All right, I’m listening.” Rafe sat down and eyed Hank with contempt. “But it better be good.”
“Oh, I think you’ll be pleased. I propose that we each have something the other wants. I have the land that stretches out behind your place to the river and beyond.”
“Yeah, and what do I have that you want?”
Hank smiled. “Ellie.”
Rafe laughed out loud. “That little Gallatin gal giving you a bad time of it, Bishop?”
“Don’t be crude, Rafe. I want her contract so that she’ll be free to marry Simon. I want her released from your employment, and I’m willing to give you the land in return.”
“You mean sell it to me, don’t you?”
Hank shook his head and toyed with a pencil. “No. I mean give it to you, free and clear.”
Rafe slapped his knee. “You’d give good land for that waste of womankind?”
“If she’s such a waste, then it shouldn’t be difficult for you to make up your mind about this.”
“Why would you do this? That girl don’t mean nothin’ to you.”
“She means a great deal. My wife and her sisters have taken a liking to her and worry about her well-being. Not only that, but they are complete advocates for true love.” Hank shifted and looked Rafe in the eyes. “I can’t see a smart man like you letting pride stand in the way of a good business deal, but I suppose I could be wrong.”
“So if I tear up Ellie’s contract and let her go, you’ll deed that land over to me? How soon?”
“Let Cubby come over and help with the store, and I’ll go today and have the lawyer draw up the papers. With any luck, you can have them in a couple of days.”
Rafe leaned back and rubbed his chin. “Seems you want this signed and done awfully quick. You need to give me time to think it over.”
Hank shook his head. “No. This is a limited offer. You either decide here and now that you will agree to my terms, or I’ll let Simon Lassiter have the land.”
“What!” Rafe jumped up. “You no-good two-timer. I knew there was more to this than you were letting on.”
Hank got to his feet and shrugged. “Rafe, I came to you and posed my proposition. Either you want the land or you don’t. I’m not going to play games. Give me your decision.”
