Long Trail Home Page 18

  The man glanced where Riley pointed, and nodded.

  Riley couldn’t help wondering if this was one of the last times he’d visit his family cemetery. A heaviness weighed down his steps, and the walk seemed far longer than the last time he’d come. He opened the gate of the thigh-high fence and stepped inside the small graveyard. A blackbird squawked at him and hopped along the fence top, then flew off. Grass and weeds battled the few wildflowers that covered the graves. If not for the slight humps in the ground and the five crosses, not a soul would know that a family rested there. A whole family, save one.

  His throat tightened as he removed his hat out of respect for his family. Would his parents still be alive if he hadn’t ridden off the day Timothy died? If he hadn’t gone to war?

  His lips trembled, and he tried to stop them, but could not. He placed his hand over his mouth and chin to still them, and then his eyes started watering. Staring up at the sky, he blinked, determined to regain control. He couldn’t have the land agent see him blubbering like a baby. Sniffing, he stooped down, gathered up the dried bundle of wildflowers he’d left last time he visited, and flung them over the fence. Then he tossed aside a small limb that had fallen from the oak overhead and plucked several weeds. Would the new owners tend the graves? Or would the fence and crosses rot until one day there was nothing but a hill here, like when they first arrived?

  Riley blew out a deep breath. He couldn’t have it both ways. He could stay, tend the graves himself, and try to rebuild his life here, with all the memories of the tragic events that had occurred like an albatross around his neck. Or he could leave and get a fresh start.

  Standing, he made his decision. This place would always hold a special place in his heart, but it was not his future. Some of his army buddies had been from Dallas, a relatively new town, and he had a hankering to go there and see if its land was as rich as they’d said. He allowed his gaze to rove the property again. Other than his family, his only real regret was losing all his father’s horses. He’d hoped to continue the line of Morgan horses, but maybe once he was settled, he could buy some stock animals from his uncle. “Please keep watch over this land and my family, Lord. Send someone here who will tend this place and not let my family be forgotten.”

  He stared at each grave—those of his parents, his younger brother, and the babies he’d never known. Then he slapped his hat on and headed down the hill. At least he would never forget them, that was certain.

  An hour later, he drove back to the school with the wagon loaded with food he’d rescued from his ma’s root cellar. Crates filled with jars of canned peaches, apples, green beans, and so much more, clinked in the bed of the wagon behind him. There was no sense letting it all go to waste or leaving it for the next family when the children at the school needed the food. His mother would appreciate knowing the food she worked so hard on was going to such a good cause.

  He started to turn into the schoolyard, but noticed a woman and child walking up the road. The lady’s blue dress swayed like a bell, and she held the hand of a small blond child—a boy if the pants were an indication. He glanced at the woman again.

  Annie.

  What was she doing walking from town without someone escorting her? Foolish woman. Didn’t her experience with those raiders prove how dangerous it was for a female to be walking without an escort? Especially one who couldn’t see.

  Shaking his head and the reins, he clucked to the horse and guided it into the yard, and parked under a tree. With his jaw clamped down so tight his teeth might crack, he set the brake and jumped down, his long legs swallowing up the ground between him and the fearless woman. He’d be surprised if steam wasn’t spewing from his ears by the time he reached her. “Where in the world have you been?”

  She merely blinked and smiled, as if his accosting her on the road was an everyday occurrence. “I took a walk into town.”

  Riley’s eyes widened. “Are you daft? Are you just begging for something bad to happen?” He stomped to the edge of the road, hands on hips, and stared out at the wilderness. “What if you got off the road and wandered out there?” He swatted his hand in the air. “Don’t you know there’s all kinds of critters in there?”

  Annie walked and stopped beside him, the child cowering against her far side. “What?”

  “How can you stay on the road when you can’t even see it? You’re a brave, spunky woman, Annie Sheffield, but you’re not invincible.” There. He’d finally said what was bothering him.

  “I never said I was invincible. And if I get off the road, the grasses and flowers brush against my dress.”

  Her sensible response cooled some of his irritation. So she knew how to not get lost. But she was still defenseless. “Annie, why didn’t you ask me to take you to town? I’d have been glad to.”

  She poked the pert nose in the air. “You weren’t here, as I recall.”

  “You could have waited.”

  “I didn’t know where you were or how long you’d be gone, and I had to get back before anyone noticed me gone.” She sucked in a breath and covered her mouth with her fingertips.

  Riley pushed his hat up off his forehead, suspecting there was more to the story than she was telling. “Why?”

  She looked down at the boy, patted his cheek, then turned back. “All your gruffness is scaring Josh.”

  He peered down at the filthy child who had buried his face in Annie’s skirt, as if she were his mother. Who was he, and where had he come from? Leave it to Annie to bring home a stray child as if he were a pet. Regret for frightening the waif forced him to take a deep breath before speaking again. “Annie, you can’t be wandering the streets alone, not when you can’t …” He waved his hand in the air as if she could see it. “You know.”

  She scowled. “Didn’t you hear me? Your barking like a guard dog is frightening Josh.” She turned around and bent toward the boy. “It’s all right, Josh. This is Mr. Morgan. He might sound cross, but you don’t have to be afraid of him. He works at our school.”

  The boy peeked around Annie and stared at him. Light streams cut a path through the grime on his face, as if he’d been crying. Cautious blue eyes studied him. Riley smiled and squatted down on his boot heels, hoping to make amends for scaring the boy. “That’s right. I do odd jobs at the school and tend the animals. Do you like horses?”

  Josh nodded and then ducked his head, as if expressing his opinion was not something he was used to doing.

  Riley stood, and leaned toward Annie, lowering his voice. “Where did you find him?”

  “In town.”

  “I gathered that since that’s where you’re returning from. Care to be more specific?” He started walking, just to keep up with Annie.

  She hiked her chin and kept the boy on her far side. “What does it matter? He’s an orphan in need. I could hardly walk off and just leave him, could I?”

  “Are you aware he can see?”

  She stumbled, but righted herself before he could reach out. “That doesn’t matter.”

  “What about the rules?”

  Annie frowned. “Rules aren’t important when a life is at stake. And besides, why should rules matter now that the school is closing?”

  One way or the other, he had to make her realize that she wasn’t invincible, but she did make a good point. He peered down at the stubborn set of her chin. For someone who made such foolish choices at times, he had to admit she had thought this subject through. He lightly took hold of her arm, and she stiffened. “Here, let me guide you before you march clear past the school.”

  Though her scowl remained, she allowed him to help her. She may have thought she’d dodged his questioning about why she had no escort, but she was wrong. The first time they were alone, she would get a lecture.

  Annie couldn’t wait to get inside the school and escape Riley’s questions. Why did she have to run into him, of all people? If he’d just been another few minutes returning in the wagon, she’d have been safely inside, and he’d neve
r have seen her.

  What would Riley say if he knew she’d been behind a saloon all by herself? Or that she found Josh in a privy?

  In spite of it all, she bit back a grin as she imagined those beautiful eyes of his widening in shock.

  He stomped up the steps and held the door open for her. The delicious odor of stew wafted her way.

  “I’ve got to get the wagon unloaded, but don’t think this is the last of our conversation. You can’t put yourself in danger like that, Annie. I just about had apoplexy seeing you all alone on that road.”

  She lifted her chin, secretly happy that he was concerned, but too stubborn to acquiesce. “I wasn’t alone. Josh was with me.”

  He snorted a laugh and leaned into her face. “A fat lot of help that little guy would be if someone tried to toss you over their saddle and ride off.”

  He was right, whether she could see or not. Neither she nor Laura should be walking into town alone, but it was impossible for them to both go every time there was a need. “I have to get Josh cleaned up and talk to Laura.”

  He nodded. “All right. We’ll talk later.”

  “About what?” She lifted her face and tried to sound coy.

  He tweaked her nose. “You know what.” He backed out the door, spun around, and trotted down the steps. The longer he stayed and ate Mrs. Alton’s food, the healthier he looked. His sunken cheeks had filled in, and the dull flicker in his eyes when he first returned to Waco had brightened to that of a prairie fire. She sighed.

  “Annie’s back.” Tess cocked her head from the table where she and the younger girls were counting buttons. “And somebody’s with her—a small child, I’m guessing.”

  Laura strode in from the kitchen, drying her hands with a towel. She glanced at Josh, her eyebrows lifted, and then her questioning gaze shot to Annie’s. Crossing the room, she bent down in front of the boy. “I’m Miss Laura, and this is my school. What’s your name?” She spoke gently.

  He ducked back behind Annie, and Laura straightened. “Tess, come here please.”

  The girl did as told. She stopped next to Miss Laura and tilted her head up. “Yes, ma’am?”

  Laura brushed her hand across the girl’s shoulder. “Miss Annie has brought us a new guest. Would you please take him in the kitchen to Mrs. Alton? He needs a good scrubbing, then I’m sure he would enjoy some of our cook’s delicious apple bread and a glass of milk, if there’s any left.”

  At the mention of food, Josh crept out of hiding.

  Annie patted his head. “It’s all right, Josh. You’re safe here.”

  He looked up at her, as if measuring her words. What kind of life had he lived to be so fearful?

  “You go with Tess, and I’ll be right here. I promise. I just need to talk to Miss Laura for a few minutes, and then I’ll come and sit with you. All right?”

  He nodded. Annie placed his little hand in Tess’s, and the girl led him toward the kitchen. At the door, he glanced back over his shoulder at Annie with eyes that melted her heart, and she smiled to reassure him.

  “Let’s talk on the porch,” Miss Laura said.

  “I can’t.” Annie shook her head. “What if he looks for me and doesn’t find me? I don’t want him any more frightened than he already is.”

  “Then come over here.”

  Annie followed Laura to the far corner of the parlor. “Where did you find that boy, and why did you bring him here?”

  She bit her lip, wondering just how much to tell Laura. She wouldn’t be happy to learn what she’d done.

  “I see the wheels of that quick mind of yours turning. You might as well tell me the truth and be done with it.”

  She blew out a breath. “All right. When you and the children were resting, I went into town to talk to Reverend James.”

  Laura’s eyes widened. “Alone?”

  Annie hesitated, then nodded.

  Laura leaned back against the wall, and shook her head. “I might have known you weren’t out working in the garden. Who does the boy belong to?”

  “I can hardly bear to say the word out loud.”

  “Just say it. How bad can it be?”

  “All right then.” She leaned close to Laura and whispered. “He’s the child of a—a—lady of the night.”

  “And what’s he doing here?”

  “His mother died last week, and he’s been living in a saloon. The man who runs it didn’t want him—said all Josh did was cry and that he was too little to do any substantial work—so he gave him to me.”

  Laura pinched the bridge of her nose. “You are aware he is sighted, aren’t you?”

  Annie rolled her eyes at the ridiculous question. “Of course I am. I’m not blind, you know.” She peered over her shoulder to make sure none of the children had overheard her sarcastic remark, but the three girls were busy practicing their arithmetic by counting and sorting buttons.

  Laura giggled and shook her head. “Only you would say something like that.”

  “Well, what was I supposed to do? The man I talked to behind the saloon didn’t want him, and you can see how neglected he is. I just couldn’t leave him there to be mistreated. He’s so little and sad, Laura.”

  “All right. I understand. I don’t guess it matters since we’re closing anyway. I’ll fix him some bathwater and get him cleaned up. I don’t suppose he has any clothes, does he?”

  Annie shrugged. “I don’t think so. That man didn’t give me any. He just said that Josh was three, and his mother’s name was Lotus.”

  “He can stay here for now, but I don’t know what we’ll do with him when the school closes.”

  Annie smiled. “Thank you. I knew you’d understand. I just couldn’t leave him behind. Kind of like how you couldn’t say no when I first arrived.”

  Laura nodded then wandered over to the table and sat down with the girls, while Annie hurried to the kitchen. Josh glanced up from eating the apple bread and watched her. His solemn expression made her heart ache. What had he endured living in such an awful place? Had his mother treated him well? Had she loved him?

  She must have for him to miss her so badly.

  A knock sounded, the back door flew open, and Riley entered, carrying a crate on one shoulder. Josh leapt from his chair and dove under the table, cowering against Annie’s legs. Mrs. Alton shook her head. What had the poor boy endured?

  “It’s all right, Josh. It’s just Mr. Morgan.” Annie ducked her head and patted the youngster’s shoulder. “Remember?”

  Josh peeked out at Riley, then climbed back up on his chair and resumed cramming the apple bread in his mouth by handfuls. Riley watched them for a moment, and Annie found it hard to avoid making eye contact with him.

  “Where do you want this, Mrs. Alton? It’s some food from my ma’s cellar. There’s lots more in the wagon, too.”

  The older woman clapped her hands to her cheeks, her wide smile reflected in her eyes. “Why, bless your heart, Riley Morgan. What a kind, thoughtful thing to do.”

  Riley smiled and set the crate on the end of the table. “It’s what Ma would have wanted.”

  Annie wondered if sharing the food his mother had prepared was hard for him. He didn’t have much to remember his folks by, and now there would be even less, because of his generosity. Riley Morgan was a kind man.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Annie tucked Josh into a spare bed in the boys’ room. Clean and with his long, blond hair cut to look like a boy, he was a cute little thing. His big blue eyes stared up at her. All day he’d followed her around, preferring to stay by her side rather than interact with the other children. His lower lip wobbled, tugging at her heart. Annie cupped his cheek. Poor little thing. “Don’t you worry, sweetie, Rusty and Henry will be right here, and I’m right down the hall. If you need to go to the privy, just wake Henry, or come and get me. I’ll leave the upstairs parlor lantern lit so you can see. All right?”

  Josh glanced at Henry, as if the older boy frightened him.

  “I’ll b
e glad to help you get to the privy if you need to go.” Henry flopped over onto his side and laid his head on his arm. He yawned, soliciting a yawn from Josh.

  “Me, too,” Rusty added.

  “See, Henry’s a nice boy and so is Rusty. Everyone here is kind, so please don’t be afraid.” She smiled. “We’ll take care of you.”

  His eyelids drooped, but he popped them open again. Annie brushed her hand over his hair and hummed a hymn. Soon, both of the younger boys were asleep. She stood and tiptoed toward the door. “Goodnight, Henry. Sleep tight.”

  “He sure don’t talk much, does he? Wonder why?”

  “He’s missing his mama, and he’s in a strange place with a bunch of people he doesn’t know. I don’t think we should expect too much out of him just yet.”

  “I know how he feels.” Henry pushed up onto his elbows, his face turned toward her. “You think it would help if I told him about when my mom died?”

  “That might help, but keep it simple. Josh is even younger than Camilla.”

  Henry nodded and fell back on his bed. The floor creaked in several places as Annie walked down the hall to her room. In the upstairs parlor, instead of blowing out the lamp as she normally did, she turned it down. The blind children and she and Laura didn’t need the light to find their way around, but Josh might.

  In their bedroom, Laura sat reading a book. Annie walked to the window and peered out. She was glad that it had taken a while for Josh to settle down and go to sleep, because she so disliked going to bed when the sun hadn’t set. Twilight was settling in, and the night creatures were winding up. The fingernail moon barely illuminated the silhouette of the barn. Was Riley already sleeping? She’d managed to avoid him most of the day by staying in the house and helping Josh learn his way around, but she knew that he would pester her with questions the first chance he got.

  “I’m sorry that you didn’t get to go to the revival tonight. I know the reverend’s sermon really touched you, but with Josh coming—well, it would have confused him to go back to town so soon.”