Page 17 of Earning Tia’s Trust

SEVENTEEN

Dr. Phillip claimed the chicken pox scare was over at the ranch and declared that the pox hadn’t been widespread. Several children had been infected. Luckily, none of the ranch workers or the carpenters had caught it. Dr. Phillip was unable to find the source of the malady. The doctor was busy for several weeks before it ran its course, mainly through children. He’d cautioned the parents of his patients about other childhood illnesses such as smallpox, measles, and mumps and warned them not to ignore the symptoms.

Tia was excited to hug, hold, and be with their children again. Since she’d been diagnosed, she was only allowed to see them at a distance. The children had stood in the hallway and shouted to her from their bedroom. The first day she was allowed out, she spent most of the day playing and showering them with affection.

The following morning, she was up early and dressed in one of her split skirts, blouse, and boots.

“Going out today?” Robert asked at the breakfast table.

“I want to talk to Hank and find out what’s going on, and then I want to ride over to the new house,” Tia exclaimed.

“I’ve already talked to Hank this morning, and there are no problems. Dr. Phillip cleared Jerry to work, but he is to be careful. He won’t be breaking horses until next spring. I’ll ride with you to the house site,” Robert agreed. “Then I have to go to town. A town meeting is scheduled for this afternoon, and the stagecoach should arrive today. I’m hoping William will be on it.”

Tia smiled. “You really hate being the mayor!”

“I have more than enough on my plate,” Robert agreed. “I’m going to toss some of my duties back on my so-called friend! I can’t be in two places at the same time. I’m trying to talk James or Clarie Grover into taking the position of mayor. Either or both together. The mercantile is the town center.”

“Before Stone Falls had a mayor, Clarie and James made most of the town’s decisions. I’ll ride with you,” Tia said. “I haven’t seen Francine in a couple of weeks, and I need some girl time with her. Now that I’m not contagious, I want to extend our Saturday dinners to her and Rainer again.”

“You’re being nosey,” Robert teased.

“I’ll admit it,” Tia agreed with a smile.

“Well?” Robert questioned when they rode up to the new house.

Jim Hawthorn waved at Robert to come inside.

“It’s really big!” Tia exclaimed. “It didn’t look that big on the drawings.”

“I like having space,” Robert said. He dismounted and helped his wife do the same.

“You can look around on the first floor,” Jim told Tia. “Don’t touch anything!”

Tia nodded and walked around stacks of lumber, doors, and windows. The ceiling height was twice her height and more. There was a staircase, but the treads were only loose boards. Walking to the back of the first floor, she could see where the kitchen would be located and the space that would be living quarters for Mrs. Putney.

“It’s hard to imagine at this stage,” Robert said, joining her.

“What will this room be used for?”

Robert looked around at the space. “I’ll have to look at the design again. It could be the washroom or the butler’s pantry. I’m not sure.”

“Are we going to have a Butler?” Tia exclaimed.

Robert laughed and shook his head. “No, Mrs. Putney is enough to deal with.”

“Was your house in Austin as big as this one?” Tia asked.

“It’s bigger,” Robert admitted. “I know it was ridiculous for a single man, but I was building a career, and I purchased it from a man who was going bankrupt. I paid half of what it was worth, and the property has doubled its worth since I left.

“It took me years to realize why I liked being a lawyer. I like helping people with my skills. But I didn’t want to be involved in the shenanigans of certain politicians, who don’t have any morals, but they do have enough money to hide their bad behavior.”

“The little girl you told me about...”

“If her parents live up to their promises, she’ll have a good life, and so will the child,” Robert said. “I did my best, and the idiot I protected won’t be in public service again, at least not in Texas.”

“And, then, you came to Stone Falls,” Tia said.

Robert smiled. “It took me a while to make a life change, and I don’t regret it. I’m glad I did.” He pulled out his watch and checked the time. “We need to get to town. I have a meeting to attend and errands to run.”

“What’s on the agenda?”

“Setting a date for the Higgins auction and trying to get someone to step forward to be the town mayor,” Robert said.

Riding into town, Robert went to the small room called the mayor’s office. Tia went to the bank. The bank was empty of patrons, and Francine looked up when the bell over the door rang. She smiled and rose from her desk to greet her friend.

Francine stopped a few feet from Tia. “You are over the pox, aren’t you?”

“According to Dr. Phillip, I am,” Tia said, and then she was pulled into a hug. “Just be glad school wasn’t in session.”

“We survived the whooping cough a couple years back,” Francine said. “How are you feeling?”

“Great!” Tia exclaimed. “How is the new job working out?”

“She’s the best clerk I’ve ever hired,” Rainer said, coming out of his office. He looked at the clock on the wall. “Why don’t you ladies go to Nell’s for lunch.” He nodded at Francine. “You need a break, and bring a sandwich back for me.”

“Oh, but...”

“I can handle the crush of customers,” Rainer said with a grin, looking around at the empty bank.

“Thank you!” Francine exclaimed.

Tia and Francine hooked arms and skipped down the wooden sidewalk, talking and laughing as they’d done as children. Nell’s wasn’t full of customers yet, and they took a table in a corner.

“So, how is the new job and the new boss?” Tia asked.

“Working for Rainer is a blessing,” Francine exclaimed. “He trusts my skills, and even if I make a minor mistake, he simply explains what I did wrong so I won’t make the same mistake again. My working hours are from eight to four, except on Fridays when the bank is open until six. And most importantly, I don’t have Martha Higgins or anyone on the school board questioning my abilities! I know it’s not nice, but I hope she gets her comeuppance somewhere!”

“I think they have, or at least Henry has,” Tia agreed. “Robert received a letter from a friend of his, who is now working for the Austin and Northwestern Railroad. His friend wanted information on Thomas Higgins.

“Thomas stupidly gave Robert’s name as a reference for a job. He probably has no idea how well-connected Robert was in his previous job. Robert wrote back to his friend and told him the truth about Thomas. Robert said it would be doubtful that Thomas would get the job.”

“That serves him right,” Francine agreed and bit her lower lip. “Does it worry you that Robert might get tired of living in a small town and want to move back to Austin or return to his family ranch?”

Tia shook her head. “Robert is too invested here now. He bought the Harris ranch, although that’s not public information. He made an agreement with Mr. Harris that they can stay there, and he goes over to make sure they are doing well every week. That doubles the size of the ranch. We want to change the ranch’s name but haven’t decided yet.

“Also, he wouldn’t be building us an enormous new house if he wasn’t planning to stay. Did you know that Robert’s family owns the Double D ranch?”

“I’ve read about the Double D in old newspapers,” Francine said. “It’s the second largest ranch in Texas.” Then, she leaned over and changed the subject. “Rainer and I are seeing each other. We’ve sat together in church for two weeks now.”

“That’s a declaration,” Tia exclaimed. “What does your mother think of him?”

“I’m holding my breath, but she’s not making a fuss. She even invited Rainer to Sunday dinner,” Francine said. “I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Maybe she’s finally realized she can’t run your life,” Tia said.

“That may be true,” Francine agreed. “She hasn’t made any snide remarks lately. Oh, and there’s something else I need to tell you. But don’t get mad.”

“Why would I be mad?” Tia asked.

“I edited the stories you gave me to read,” Francine said.

“I gave them to you to read, and you always edit them,” Tia said.

“Tia, your stories are outstanding. They are too good to keep hidden away. I mailed them to a friend I went to college with. She works for a publishing company, and they are having a contest to find new authors.”

“You think my stories are good enough to be submitted in a contest?” Tia whispered.

“Yes, I do,” Francine said. “I should have asked first, but you were sick, and I didn’t want to wait. The mail is so slow that it takes weeks to get an answer. I asked her to read your stories and submit one to the contest if she thought it was good enough. Please, don’t be angry.”

“I’m not,” Tia said. “I trust your judgment but don’t tell anyone else what you did. If your friend thinks badly of my writing, I don’t want anyone else to know.”

“I won’t,” Francine said. “And neither will my friend. Your writing is as good as the books you brought back from Brownsborough.”

Tia looked around the eatery and realized they’d talked through the lunch hour. “We need to help Nell clean up. We’ve been hogging this table!”

“Nonsense,” Nell exclaimed, coming out of the kitchen. “It’s nice to see women having a good chat without a husband hushing them. The Griffins had a loud argument a few days ago, and they tried to storm out! But, I stopped them and told them I’d call the sheriff if they didn’t pay the dollar they owed me and two bits for trying to sneak out without paying the bill!”

“Did they pay it?” Francine asked.

“You betcha!” Nell asserted. “Those cheats didn’t have Sheriff Briggs backing them. I like having Silas back as the sheriff.”

“Goodness,” Francine exclaimed, looking at the clock on the wall. “I have to get back to work!”

Nell handed a wrapped plate to Francine. “That’s the stagecoach bell. They’re ahead of schedule for once!”

“I’ll see you later,” Francine exclaimed to Tia. “If I don’t see you sooner, I’ll see you Saturday!” She gave Tia a hug and rushed out the door.

“We didn’t mean to hog the table,” Tia said.

“It wasn’t a busy day,” Nell said. “Can I ask you a private question?”

“Sure,” Tia replied.

“How is Jerry’s broken leg?”

Tia smiled. “He’s walking around with a limp and doing chores that allow him to sit or not move around too much. He’s under orders from Dr. Phillip and my husband on what he can’t do if he wants to keep his job.”

Nell smiled. “That’s good. Jerry has a streak of pure mule in him. I’ve been worried.”

“Should I tell him you were asking?”

Nell pondered the question, then shook her head. “No! Tell him Frank Rutledge has been coming around and brought me flowers.”

Tia shook her head. “I’m not going to relay that message just so you can make Jerry jealous. He hasn’t been cleared to ride a horse! If you want to see him, ride out to the ranch. I’m sure he’d appreciate your company.”

Leaving the eatery, Tia walked toward the building used as a ticket office for the stagecoach, the post office, and the lobby entrance to the rooms upstairs used for hotel rooms.

The stagecoach driver was tossing suitcases and trunks to his secondary driver. They were being stacked on the sidewalk. One of the passengers was stacking suitcases beside a bench occupied by an older woman.

Tia went inside the post office. Caleb Rilla, the postmaster, was emptying mail sacks.

“I’ll be finished in a minute or two,” Caleb called out.

“I can wait,” Tia said, and then shouting outside caught her interest. Looking through the window, she saw Robert hugging the passengers, an older woman, and a tall man. She went to the door, and Robert pulled her into the threesome.

“Mother, this is my wife,” Robert announced. “Tia, this is my oldest brother, Barton, and my mother, Eleanore Grayson.”

Tia smiled as she was pulled into a hug by her mother-in-law and then hugged by Barton. Everyone was talking at the same time.

“Why didn’t you tell me when you were coming?” Robert demanded.

“We sent a letter,” Barton said. “We probably beat its delivery.”

“You’re certainly off the main roads,” Eleanore exclaimed. “How much further to your ranch?”

“Tia and I rode in a couple of hours ago,” Robert said. “I’ll have to rent a buggy to take you home.”

“How much further?” Eleanore asked again.

“Ten miles,” Tia answered. “I can ride ahead and tell our housekeeper to prepare rooms for you.”

“Nonsense,” Eleanore exclaimed. “A buggy will feel like a luxury after being in that stagecoach for the last hundred miles! Besides, I want to hear how you managed to snare my youngest boy into marriage?”

“I’m not a boy anymore,” Robert chided his mother. “I became the luckiest man in town when Tia agreed to marry me!”

Barton took the driver’s seat in the buggy Robert rented from the livery. He sat beside Robert, which meant Tia had to sit next to Mrs. Grayson in the carriage. As soon as the buggy moved, Eleanore Grayson started asking questions. After twenty minutes of skirting the truths of why Robert hadn’t notified his family of their courtship until after they were married, Tia began her own interrogation. She asked about Robert’s four brothers, three sisters, and Eleanore’s thirty-two grandchildren.

Once started, Eleanore Grayson was a bottomless fountain of information.

At one point, Robert turned around and gave Tia a wink.

Arriving at the ranch, Tia noticed that Barton was frowning at the patchwork fixes on the house and the outbuildings. She had grown accustomed to seeing the ranch’s downtrodden appearance over the years and had only recently seen it through Robert’s eyes. Only one of the barns had been recently patched and painted.

The luggage was carried inside, and Mrs. Putney exclaimed that she needed time to prepare the spare bedrooms for company.

Billy and Jenny ran to Tia and Robert as they did every time they entered the house. Hugs and kisses were usual, and the children were wide-eyed when introduced to a new uncle and grandmother. When Mrs. Putney called for them, they ran to her.

“They’re adorable,” Eleanore exclaimed. “Have you found any relatives?”

“No, and it’s been several months,” Tia said. “When Judge Bentley returns, he promised to sign adoption papers.”

“We can’t imagine not being their parents,” Robert said, picking up two suitcases and heading upstairs. Barton picked up a trunk and followed him.

As the men disappeared upstairs, Tia took Eleanore into the parlor because it was the best-looking room in the house.

“Please have a seat. I have a little brother running around somewhere,” Tia said, motioning toward the settee. She opened a door and yelled “Sammy!” but there wasn’t a response. “He’s probably gone fishing. He’ll be eleven in a couple of weeks. It’s his favorite thing to do.”

“I raised five boys and three girls,” Eleanore said with a smile. “A couple of my girls were better at fishing than my boys.

“I like fishing myself when I need a little me time,” Tia agreed.

“In Robert’s letters, he wrote about how you found the children. God was looking out for those little tikes that day.”

“He was looking out for all of us, surviving the tornado.”

Eleanore placed a hand on her heart and looked shocked. “What tornado?”

Tia laughed. “Apparently, Robert didn’t tell you everything. I’ll leave that up to him to explain.”

“This place looks like you’ve got a big job ahead of you,” Barton said as he walked beside his youngest brother.

“Tia’s father let the ranch go for many years before he succumbed to cancer,” Robert admitted. “Tia and our manager, Hank, did their best. We’re starting a new life here and have our hands full. I bought a ranch that connects to the G&K. That’s not the permanent name of this ranch, but we haven’t decided on a new name yet. Tia’s spread will continue raising horses, and the new property will raise beef on the hoof.”

“What about your law practice?” Barton asked.

“The residents of Stone Falls don’t have a lot of need for a lawyer, but I’m here if they do.”

“Why here?” Barton demanded. “Why not come home?”

“I’m not needed at home,” Robert said. “I was needed here. Do you remember William Bentley and Rainer Bishop?”

“Those city boys you dragged home one summer?” Barton said.

“True,” Robert said. “William is a District Judge now, and Rainer owns the bank in town. They needed my help, and I’d already quit my job, so I came.”

“Have you dug in your heels permanently?” Barton asked.

“Is there any need for me to return to the Double D?” Robert asked sharply.

“Don’t get bent,” Barton said. “Ma’s been on a rant since you sent that letter saying you were quitting your job and moving on to something else. Except you didn’t say what you were doing or where you were going! She was a proud mother of her youngest. She was always boasting about you working for Jim Hogg.”

“Will it help that I’m the temporary mayor of Stone Falls?” Robert asked with a grin.

“You never learned to say no, did you little brother?”

“It’s temporary,” Robert admitted with a grin. “The last mayor was dishonest, and he was run out of town. The election is in October, and I hope I’ll be replaced long before that. Charles said he would visit, but I haven’t heard from him since. Why didn’t you give me a heads-up?”

“At first, I planned on coming alone,” Barton admitted. “But, Ma set her mind to come with me. You know as well as I do there’s no stopping her.”

“Should I be concerned about anything going on on the Double D?”

“No,” Barton said with a frown. “If there was, you’d have heard about it by now.”

“Then why the visit?” Robert asked.

“Can’t I visit my little brother without a reason?”

“No,” Robert said. “I haven’t lived on the Double D for fifteen years, and you’ve never come visiting before. Why now?”

Barton picked up a rock and threw it across the meadow. “Nancy’s folks decided to come visit five months ago, and they haven’t made any plans to return home. Calvin Windworth is driving me crazy. He runs a chicken farm in Maryland! What he knows about cattle wouldn’t fill a coffee cup, but that doesn’t stop him from sticking his nose in my business. I keep asking Nancy when they are leaving, but she says she can’t ask her parents to go home, and I’m not to ask them either. It was me or them, and I’ve had enough.”

“You left Nancy?” Robert demanded.

“Not exactly. But when we got your letter saying you married and were staying in Stone Falls, I wanted to make sure everything was going right for you. It was either leave or throw the Windworths out on their asses!” Barton grumbled. “My boys are grown or almost grown. They can run the ranch while I’m gone.”