A Love to Last Forever (35 page)

Simon nodded. “That’s how I remember them, too.” He smiled, but it was a weak attempt.

Hank put the tray across Simon’s lap, then turned to hand Nick a separate plate. “I’ve asked anyone who’s come into the store if they’ve heard or seen anything that might help. Since the men who attacked you took your knife and rifle, I thought maybe someone had tried to sell them or was even seen using them. But so far nothing.”

“What about them saying that you had to pay for your sins?” Nick asked. “That seemed odd to me. Did we have someone with a dispute over business matters?”

Simon considered this a minute. “No. I’ve tried to think about that. Other than having troubles . . . with Rafe and Wyman . . . can’t think of anyone who’d hold me a grudge.”

“And Rafe and Wyman were both at the saloon,” Dave said. “I know because I saw them there myself. Of course, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t have gotten someone to do the job. Maybe even tried to make it look like highwaymen to lead us in the wrong direction.”

“That could be,” Nick said, nodding. “It sounds like the kind of underhanded thing Rafe would do.” He stared at his brother as he tried to handle eating and balancing the tray. Nick felt grieved to see Simon in such pain. With every bite of food his brother took, there was evidence of misery in his expression. This only served to further Nick’s anger. Someone needed to pay for this.

“What about having Ellie talk to the other girls?” Hank suggested. “Maybe we could encourage Regina to come visit. I know they were friends. Maybe she would have heard something said about the attack.”

“It’s worth a try,” Dave said.

“So long . . . as she doesn’t have . . . to go there,” Simon said. “I don’t want her . . . in any danger. Regina’s a good gal.” He paused and drew another ragged breath. “She’s a genuine friend to Ellie. . . . None of the others care about her.”

Hank and Dave nodded. “We wouldn’t let her get anywhere near that place, so you don’t have to worry about that,” Dave told him.

Nick picked at the fried trout on his plate. “Hank told me he gave Rafe the deed to the land and tore up Ellie’s contract. I guess that leaves you two free to do as you please. I hope you know I’ll be keeping an eye out for both of you, at least until you’re on your feet again.”

Simon met his brother’s gaze and nodded slightly. “I know. I can count . . . on all of you to be there for us. Ellie and I . . . well . . . we wouldn’t be alive right now . . . if not for that.”

It seemed strange to Beth that she should call the Las-siter place home. “But I am a Lassiter now,” she reminded herself.

She moved around the small kitchen, smiling at the neat order Millie had made of the place. Millie had come over earlier in the evening to tell Beth where things were and to encourage Beth to rearrange things to suit her own needs.

“It’s your home now,”
Millie had said. The truth of it had given Beth such a peace of mind.

“My home,” she said, looking around the room.

The small kitchen still held a decidedly masculine appearance, as did the rest of the house. Beth would change that soon enough. She had plans to put her own touches on things. Millie had made some nice curtains for the upstairs bedrooms, but downstairs the window coverings were simple dark wool. They had been chosen more for keeping the cold out during winter than for any other purpose.

Beth fingered the brown material and considered what she might prefer. Maybe she could create something light and airy for the summer months and revert to the heavier curtains when the cold returned.

“I’m glad you’re home,” Justin said, making his way down the log steps.

Beth smiled. “I’m glad, too. I’m sorry you had such a bad time while we were away.”

He shrugged and moved around to the small dining table to sit down. He leaned his face against his left hand. “I thought Uncle Simon was dead.”

She joined him, hearing the fear that remained in his voice. “That must have been horribly frightening.”

Justin looked at her and nodded. “I didn’t know how in the world I was going to tell Pa, and I guess I was worried, too, that maybe Uncle Simon would turn into a ghost.”

Beth did her best not to smile at the suggestion. Justin’s little-boy fears were valid, even if they were rather skewed. “You know, your uncle loves Jesus. If he had died, he would have just gone on to paradise. Just like Jesus told the thief on the cross. Do you remember that?”

Justin shook his head. Beth folded her hands together. “Well, when they put Jesus on the cross, there were two thieves who were also being killed. There was one on each side. One was a miserable man who hated everyone. He mocked Jesus and wasn’t at all nice. But the other man . . . well . . . he seemed to realize that Jesus was the Son of God. And he seemed to understand that Jesus could save him, even though the world was putting them both to death.”

“How did he know?” Justin asked.

“I think God’s Spirit whispered it to his heart,” Beth answered. “I think when that man looked into Jesus’ eyes, he knew that he was in the presence of God himself.”

“What happened then?”

“The thief asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered into His kingdom. Jesus told the man, ‘Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’ Jesus promised the man that he could go where Jesus was going—that he didn’t have to be afraid anymore.”

“I wish . . . I wish I wasn’t afraid.” Justin looked at the table. “Those men scared me real bad.”

Beth reached out and covered his hand with her own.

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore. Your father and I will take care of you, and God will watch over all of us.”

“But sometimes at night, I have really bad dreams.” Justin looked up at her wide-eyed, as if seeing those ghosts from his nightmares. “I don’t mean to.”

“Of course you don’t mean to. But I want you to listen to me. You don’t have to be afraid anymore, and you certainly do not have to bear this alone. Your father and I love you very much, and our room is just a few steps away from yours. If you have a bad dream, you can come to us.”

“And you’ll let me stay with you?” he asked hopefully.

“Yes, or we’ll come and stay with you until you feel better,” Beth said in a soothing manner. “My mama used to do that for me, and now I want to do that for you.”

Justin got up and went to Beth. Wrapping his arms around her, he sighed. “I’m so glad you’re home, Mama.”

“Me too.” Beth kissed the top of the boy’s head and held him close. “There is no place I’d rather be.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“I wish you wouldn’t go,” Beth told Simon and Ellie.

With August had come the couple’s very small wedding and the decision to leave for Tacoma, Washington.

“It’s best for both of us,” Simon said after a quick glance at Ellie. “If we stayed here, I’d be too tempted to kill Wyman.”

Beth’s sharp intake of breath must have caught Simon’s attention, because he smiled and quickly added, “Besides, the money’s too good to pass up. The Northern Pacific needs ironworkers for the shop there. I figure it’ll be a good place for a new start.”

“I suppose so,” Beth said, “but I’ll miss you both.”

“I’ll miss you, too, Beth,” Ellie said, smiling rather shyly. “You’ve been a real friend to me. I won’t forget that.”

“Besides, now we’re sisters,” Beth added.

“I’ve never had a sister before.” Ellie looked at Simon and then back to Ellie. “In fact, it seems forever since I had any family.”

“Well, you have them now, and being a sister is something I know very well.”

“That’s the last of it,” Nick said. He climbed on top of the wagon that he and Forrest had been helping to load. He handed a rope to his uncle, then secured the canvas while Forrest tied it down tight. “You shouldn’t have too bad of a time going over the passes,” Nick added. “There really isn’t a whole lot here.”

“I figure we can buy what we need soon enough,” Simon answered.

Nick jumped down and came to where Beth stood. He looked at his brother and Ellie and nodded. “I suppose you know what you’re doing. I’m not suggesting you don’t, but . . . well . . .” He left the thought unspoken.

Simon grabbed Nick’s shoulder. “I know. But this is the right thing to do. I prayed about it and so did Ellie. It’s best we start our new life elsewhere. Dave’s never been able to learn anything about my attack, and I worry that somehow I’ll bring on more trouble if I stay here in the area. Not to mention that Ellie would have to see Rafe and the others all the time. That just isn’t fair.”

Nick embraced his brother in a big bear hug. “I know. Just don’t forget where I’m at.”

“You will come visit us, won’t you?” Ellie asked Beth. The hope in her expression was too much to deny.

“We’ll certainly do what we can.” She gave Ellie a hug. “Now, you write me lots of letters, and I promise to answer them.”

Ellie nodded and when she pulled away, there were tears in her eyes. “I’ll never forget you or your family. When Lacy told me she might do some traveling, I told her she’d always have a place to stay with us.”

Since when did Lacy plan to travel? Beth bit back her concerns and just smiled. Nick put his arm around her while Simon helped Ellie up into the wagon.

“Thanks again, little brother,” Simon said once he was seated. He took the reins in hand and released the brake.

The brothers exchanged a look, and Beth imagined all of the unspoken things they might be telling each other. She knew how she’d feel if this were one of her sisters leaving for parts unknown.

Finally, Simon slapped the reins gently across the backside of the matched black Percherons. Ellie turned and waved until they had moved so far down the road that the gentle curve took them from sight.

“It’s going to be different without them here,” Nick said. “I suppose it was for the best, though. A man has to do what’s right for his family.”

Beth felt a twinge of concern, but it passed quickly. She smiled. “Before you know it, we’ll be hearing from them, and it won’t seem so bad. Besides, with Justin in the house, you can hardly get bored.”

Nick laughed. “I wasn’t worried about getting bored. I have you, after all.” He gave her a wicked grin and a wink. “I was more concerned about keeping up with all the work.”

Although he’d acted rather secretive about the entire affair, Hank called a community meeting for the night of Wednesday, August twenty-fifth. He had told Beth and Gwen that he would have preferred having it on a Saturday, but Rafe had protested that Saturdays were his busiest day, so Hank had taken pity on him.

Once everyone was convened in Gallatin House, Hank came to the front of the room and called the meeting to order. Beth couldn’t imagine what was important enough to hold such a gathering. Gwen was completely clueless as to what her husband had planned. Lacy had even tried to get information out of Dave, but it was to no avail. Beth settled in and put her arm around Justin as Hank began.

“I know you’re all wondering what could possibly have been important enough to call you away from your regular duties. I’m afraid the news isn’t all that good, but it requires our consideration.”

“What news is that?” Rafe asked. He crossed his arms, clearly annoyed by being summoned into the piety of Galla-tin House. Gwen had told him quite plainly that he couldn’t chew tobacco or smoke while at the meeting, and Lacy made him clean off his muddy boots before entering the house. Beth could see he was more than a little anxious to be on his way.