Page 8 of Earning Tia’s Trust

EIGHT

Tia slipped out of the bed quietly to let Robert sleep longer. She’d noticed over the last few days that he didn’t expect her to pitch in and do jobs traditionally done by men. He’d had the chores she had previously, reassigned to a man.

Even when she stepped forward to help, he would give her a look with a raised eyebrow that clearly said, without a spoken word, that she was to stop.

Tia went to the chifferobe, pulled out a new yellow dress, and dressed quietly. Then she went to the children’s room and discovered them dressed and sitting on the bed, holding hands, as they did every morning.

“Good morning,” Tia said with a smile. “You are already dressed, and you’ve done a good job of it.” While praising them, she unbuttoned Billy’s shirt, rebuttoned it correctly, and turned down the collar of Jenny’s smock. “Are you hungry?”

Both children nodded, and she lifted them off the bed and took their hands.

Mrs. Putney was in the kitchen and smiled when the children were seated at the table. “I’ve made sausage gravy and biscuits for breakfast. Are you hungry?”

“One of my favorites,” Tia exclaimed with a smile.

“Mine too!” Robert said, entering the kitchen.

Breakfast was quiet, although the adults tried to engage the children in conversation. Billy only answered with a yes or no. When everyone had finished eating, the three-year-old asked the question the adults didn’t want to answer.

“Where are Momma and Papa?”

There was instant silence, and Robert answered gently, “Momma and Papa have gone to heaven.”

“I want to see my Momma,” Jenny cried.

“Sweetie, the answer is the same as yesterday,” Tia said softly. “Momma and Papa can’t come back.”

Tia lifted the crying child into her arms and carried her outside into the sunshine. Billy followed as they were inseparable.

“Poor little ones,” Mrs. Putney exclaimed. “If you need to go into town, I can watch over them while you’re gone.”

“We do, and thank you,” Robert agreed. “I need to talk to Judge Bentley, and we need to speak to Rainer Bishop at the bank. We also need to bring Sammy home.”

“You’ve done right by Tia so far,” Mrs. Putney said. “She’s already acting more like a lady, not a ranch hand.”

“She’s the ranch owner until Sammy comes of age. But she won’t be alone. And she won’t be expected to do a man’s job,” Robert said.

“That’s good to hear,” Mrs. Putney agreed. “It should have been that way a long time ago.”

Robert tried to explain to Billy and Jenny that he and Tia had to go to town, but all that did was scare the children who’d been abandoned only a few days earlier. Billy was trying to be strong, but his eyes filled with tears, and his little sister was crying.

Mrs. Putney helped to settle the children by telling them that if they would stay with her, they could help her bake cookies. She got them to agree after Tia promised to return and that she would bring her little brother back to the ranch to play with them.

When Robert retrieved the buggy, it had already been cleaned, oiled, and polished. Hank gave Robert and Tia a quick breakdown of what was happening at the ranch that day.

The two-hour drive to Stone Falls was easy enough as the sky was clear. There were no signs of the dangerous weather they’d experienced after leaving Brownsborough.

The first stop was at Judge Bentley’s house. Robert shook his friend’s hand and introduced Tia as his wife. The young woman was almost unrecognizable, looking very much like a lady and not the ranch hand he’d seen at a distance during the murder trials.

The Judge’s advice on the Broday children was to start with the preacher to see if he knew any childless parishioners who wanted children.

Tia waited until they’d left the judge’s house before she vetoed that suggestion. She strongly disliked the Nikens and proved it by saying she wouldn’t entrust a dog to them.

The next stop was the bank, and Rainer Bishop, the bank manager, introduced himself to Tia. She’d known him by sight, but she’d never had any interactions with the bank before. Hayward took care of the ranch finances, and Raymond took over.

The banker brought out several ledgers and explained to Tia and Robert what he’d done to hide the Kingston accounts. Rainer’s father, Malcomb, had moved to Stone Falls and opened the bank when he was a boy of sixteen. He’d sent his son to college and then turned the business over to Rainer under his tutorship when he’d returned home. Malcomb Bishop had died seven years after Rainer had returned home.

“What I did with the Kingston’s accounts was slightly shady, although my intentions were honest,” Rainer explained. “I knew Raymond when I was a boy. He was a malicious bully, and he never changed. If anything, he got worse as he got older. When I got word that he’d come back to town and claimed Hayward’s property, I knew he was cheating you and Sammy out of your inheritances.

“Raymond came here, swearing and demanding to see Hayward’s accounts books, and I showed them to him,” Rainer said with a sly expression. He slid a ledger across the top of his desk. “I left just enough in this account to prove that the ranch barely made the payroll. Raymond had emptied the account before you got here, Robert.”

Rainer pulled out three more ledgers from his desk drawer. He handed one to Tia and the other to Robert, leaving the third on the desktop unopened. “These are the real books for the Kingston Ranch for the last eleven years. Those accounts have enough money to see the ranch through a dozen bad years. Say what you want to about Hayward; he knew horses, although Hank stepped into his shoes as Hayward’s health deteriorated.”

Robert switched notebooks with Tia, and they looked at each other in surprise. “What’s in the third notebook,” he asked.

Rainer handed it to Tia. “This account belonged to your mother, Harriet Davenport. It was to remain a secret until you came of age. My father explained this account to me years before he passed away. He disapproved of Harriet Davenport and thought she was a woman with peculiar ideas, but he did as she asked.

“I don’t know if you are aware of this, but she and Hayward never married. She carried his last name locally, but they were not legally married and were only related by common law. Therefore, Hayward could not claim her inheritance after her death. Your mother was an extremely wealthy woman, and when she lost both of her parents in an outbreak of cholera, her wealth increased substantially. She was actually wealthier than Hayward.

“I was going to tell you about these accounts last week, but you and Robert disappeared the morning after you married. Hayward might have tried to claim your mother’s account after she died, but I’ve found no evidence of it. But, like myself, my father wasn’t above tinkering with accounts if there was a good reason for it. I remember a little of the town gossip before I went to college. The gossip was that your mother was about to leave Hayward when she got sick and died. My father believed that Hayward might not have known that the account existed. The account information was passed to me when I took control of the bank. When Raymond returned to town, I didn’t think it was the appropriate time to relay that information to you.

“The Harriet Davenport account has been sitting in the bank, accruing interest for the last two decades. You are a wealthy woman, Mrs. Grayson.”

Tia left the bank but got no further than the bench outside the bank’s door. Her legs felt wobbly, and she sat down with a thump and waved several bank statements in front of her face.

Robert sat down beside her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m rich,” she whispered, her voice ranging from disbelief to near hysteria. “I’m not just rich; I’m ridiculously rich.

“I thought Raymond had drained the accounts, but he barely touched them. Mr. Bishop set up an account so Hank could pay the ranch hands. He was involved in a conspiracy with Hank and our wranglers. They pretended they weren’t being paid and complained so Raymond wouldn’t know! It’s laughable because sometimes Raymond did pay them, and Hank told them to take the money and keep their mouths shut!

“And then there’s my mother’s account. It’s a lot to take in!”

“I married a wealthy woman,” Robert said with a chuckle. “I knew Rainer was protecting your inheritance, but he wouldn’t give me the details. He’s the reason I came to Stone Falls.”

“I feel wobbly,” Tia exclaimed.

“Let’s go down to the restaurant,” Robert suggested. “I’ll let you ride piggyback.”

Tia rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t that go unnoticed by the women in town?”

“Come on,” Robert teased. “A cup of coffee might settle your nerves.”

Coffee and a slice of apple pie helped, but Tia’s mind was still racing. “I need to thank and reimburse so many people who helped us when Sammy and I were hiding from Raymond and his worthless gang!”

“Word travels fast in a small town. I’ve already spoken to quite a few, who thanked me for my part in sending Raymond and Thatcher to prison where they belonged. I don’t think they want reimbursement. I think they were praying that you and Sammy were safe.”

Tia took a deep breath. “I do feel safe. It was a long time coming, but at the same time, I feel a lot of anger and resentment because of Hayward’s actions. He was the one trying to marry me off, and it didn’t matter if his chosen suitors were good or bad men. It was more important that I marry.”

“Personally, I think he did know about your mother’s inheritances. And, there might have been something more sinister in his thinking,” Robert suggested. “If you married, your husband would have had access to your inheritance. If your husband was under your father’s control, he would have had access to it, too.”

“If my husband, which is you, has access to my inheritance, why didn’t Hayward have access to my mother’s money?”

“Pride, maybe? Your mother was a smart woman. She tied her inheritance to you right after you were born,” Robert said. “I can investigate the matter if you want me to.”

“Don’t waste your time,” Tia said. “They’re gone now.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “We should start back, but I’d like to go to the mercantile first. I do owe the Grovers for the supplies they gave me when we were on the run. I also bought some books for Sammy in Brownsborough, but I don’t want to give him gifts and not have any for the little ones.”

“I’ve already paid the Grovers,” Robert admitted. “And everyone else in town who would admit to helping you while you were hiding.”

“Then I owe...”

“Don’t go there,” Robert said firmly. “You don’t owe me anything!”

Tia bought a pretty rag doll for Jenny and several smocks to wear over new dresses. She purchased new clothes, a hobby horse, and a child-size cowboy hat for Billy. Sammy would get another set of marbles and the gifts she’d already purchased. She also bought a book of fairy tales to read to the children when they were put to bed at night.

Robert handed over a list from Mrs. Putney to be filled and told James Grover to add it to his account. Then, he carried their purchases to the buggy.

“You didn’t have to pay for everything,” Tia said when he lifted her into the buggy.

Robert laughed. “You’re just excited about your newfound riches. That’s when it’s more important to be careful and not become a spendthrift. You should also keep your mouth closed. People get strange when money is involved.”

“It’s still hard to believe there won’t be any more worries about going broke or losing the ranch,” she said.

“We’ll keep an eye on the budgets,” Robert promised.

The next stop was the schoolhouse, but no one was answering her knocks. Tia was concerned until she saw a paper stuck under the door. After reading the note, she smiled. “Francine and Sammy have gone to the ranch!”

Returning to the ranch was a grand reunion. Tia hugged her little brother. “Have you been good? I missed you so much!”

“Yes, I’ve been good, and Miss Mason says I’m so smart I might skip a grade!” Sammy said proudly. “If I can stay out of the corner!”

“Good for you!” Tia said, laughing. “Sammy, this is my husband, Robert Grayson.”

Sammy squinted his eyes. “Are you going to treat my sister nice? That means no yelling at her!”

“I can’t promise because grown-ups do disagree and yell sometimes. But, so far, I think I have been treating your sister nice.” Robert turned to Tia and asked, “What’s your verdict?”

Tia laughed and rubbed her brother’s head. “He’s been treating me very nice! He saved my life when we had to outrun a tornado!”

“Really?” Sammy exclaimed, his eyes growing large.

“Really,” Robert agreed, and he turned to Tia. “I’ll take the buggy to the barn and speak to Hank if he’s around.” He tipped his hat politely to the school teacher, Francine Mason.

“Where are the little ones?” Tia asked.

“They’re out in the back playing,” Francine said. “I think they were afraid that you wouldn’t come back. Sammy, why don’t you go keep an eye on them.”

“Are they going to stay with us?” Sammy asked.

“I don’t know yet. Billy and Jenny are orphans because their parents died in an accident. They are very young and scared,” Tia explained.

Sammy nodded, looking sad. “Like we were when Pa died! I’ll go play with them.”

“He’s such a sweetheart sometimes,” Francine said with a smile. “And, at other times, he’s a little devil, and I could strangle him! Or at least make him stand in the corner.”

“He’s all boy,” Tia laughed. “And if you keep making him stand in the corner, you will have to hang a plaque with his name on it!”

Francine laughed and hugged her friend. “How is married life?”

“A lot better than I expected,” Tia admitted honestly. “Robert isn’t what I expected. Did you know his family owns the Double D Ranch? Before he moved here, he worked in the inner circle of politics in Texas. Attorney General James Hogg is his Godfather!”

“And you have fallen for his charm,” Francine said. “Are you happy?”

“Yes, for the first time in a very long time,” Tia admitted. “How about you? The last we spoke, you were sneaking out with Joseph Mikles.”

“That didn’t go down at all,” Francine admitted. “Martha Higgins somehow discovered our plans, and as the head of the school board, she threatened my job. She told me that my contract specifically states that I am not allowed to date or be seen in the company of a man.”

“Bitch!” Tia exclaimed.

“Shhh,” Francine hissed.

“Well, she is,” Tia exclaimed, although she too quickly looked around to see if Robert was around.

“I have four months before school starts again, and I think I’m going to resign,” Francine said. “Momma’s getting older, and I don’t want to live the rest of my life alone. I also don’t want my life to be dictated by the school board.”

“I don’t blame you,” Tia said. “Has anyone caught your eye?”

“Not yet,” Francine said.

“That’s a lie!” Tia whispered, knowing her friend well. “Who is it?”

Francine shook her head and bit her lip. “Just because you snagged a good husband doesn’t mean it’s that easy!”

“Don’t repeat this, but my marrying Robert and then discovering that he was an honorable man was more accident than by my choice,” Tia said. “He has shown me that good men do exist. I can’t help comparing him to Hayward, but Robert has treated me better in the last ten days than Hayward did in twenty years. I’m learning to trust him. I didn’t think I would ever trust a man again, but he has been trustworthy.”

Francine hugged her friend. “That’s what I want. No excuses or apologies, just honesty.”

“You’ll find it,” Tia said, and then both women turned when they heard a crash and swearing. Running to open the door, they found Robert up to his knees, as planks on the porch floor had collapsed.

“Goodness!” Tia and Francine exclaimed as they helped him out of the hole.

“Are you okay?” Tia asked. “Is anything broken?”

“Nothing is broken,” Robert said, testing his limbs. “Scraped a bit, but not broken. It looks like repairs are needed.”

Sammy appeared in the doorway. “Hi, Mr. Grayson. How come you broke the porch? Can we open our presents now?”

Beating the cobwebs from his trousers, Robert looked down on the boy. “It’s just Robert, Sammy. I’m your brother-in-law now.”

“Great, can we open the presents?”

Robert laughed. “Right away! Where are Billy and Jenny?”

“In the kitchen,” Sammy said. “We’ve been waiting forever!”

“All of ten minutes,” Tia teased.

“Then let’s not wait any longer,” Robert agreed.

“Great!” Sammy exclaimed, running toward the kitchen.

“Ladies,” Robert said, offering an arm to both Tia and Francine.

The boxed presents were stacked on the kitchen table, and Mrs. Putney smiled as they entered.

Tia knelt down and hugged Billy and Jenny, and so did Robert.

“Can we open them?” Sammy exclaimed, jumping up and down.

“Sit in front of your presents,” Mrs. Putney instructed the boy. “Billy and Jenny are already sitting in front of theirs.”

“Go!” Robert exclaimed, and Sammy began to rip into his boxes. The first box he opened was a sack of cat’s eye marbles. “Wow!” he exclaimed, opening the sack and pouring them into a bowl Mrs. Putney handed him quickly.

“I don’t want you playing with them in the house,” the housekeeper warned. “I don’t want a broken leg from stepping on them!”

“Your turn,” Robert said, but Billy shook his head. “Sissy first.”

Jenny smiled, and Tia helped the three-year-old uncover a baby doll. She hugged it tightly to her chest. Billy was next, and he opened a long present that turned out to be a broom handle hobby horse. Then it was Sammy’s turn again, and he opened a box with three books to read, and in turn, the children’s gifts were also books to read.

“These are fairy tales,” Francine told Billy and Jenny. “When you go to bed at night, we will read them to you.”

“I’m too old to have someone read to me,” Sammy said.

“I’m not,” Tia said. “I like listening to someone read aloud.”

Sammy shrugged and admitted, “I kinda like that, too.”

“We’ll do that tonight,” Robert said. “But, I have to fix the porch before someone falls in head first.”

The women and children were shooed out of Mrs. Putney’s kitchen as she declared that she needed to start preparations for supper. Tia and Francine retreated to the parlor and spoke of what had happened in Stone Falls while Tia was gone. They watched over the two little ones playing with their new toys.

Sammy wandered outside to help Robert, and he was a help since he knew where the tools were stored. With the boy’s help, the porch floor was temporarily fixed, but Robert walked across the length of the porch, finding more weak places in the flooring. When he was finished, he decided to do a walk-through of the house. In the few hours he’d spent in the house, he’d already noticed that rugs and furniture were old and worn. The stairs creaked when mounting them, and the kitchen hadn’t been updated for several decades. The stove Mrs. Putney was cooking on definitely needed to be upgraded.

The house would need repairs if they continued living on the Kingston ranch. Tia might consider the house acceptable, but he didn’t.

Francine stayed for supper, and at one point, Tia invited her friend upstairs, where they emptied her chifferobe of what Tia had called the ‘ugly’ dresses and hung up her new dresses proudly. The ugly dresses were too small for Francine, but she and her mother could take them apart and reuse the fabrics. The patterns and dark colors didn’t look good against Tia’s pale blonde features but were a good balance against Francine’s dark hair and skin tone.

Later that evening, Francine said her goodbyes and drove her borrowed buggy toward Stone Falls.

Tia wrapped her arm around Robert’s waist and said, “Thank you!”

“What for?” he asked.

“For being kind to Francine,” Tia said, tilting her head against his height. “A lot of people look down on her because she’s part Mexican. Her mother worked here when I was a child; we were sisters and still are.”

“There’s a lot of stupid people in this world,” Robert said.

“Mrs. Higgins, the head of the school board, is one of them,” Tia agreed.

“The next time you see Francine, ask her to bring her teaching contract to me. I’ll see if I can find a few loopholes in it.”

Tia beamed a smile that made Robert’s heart skip a beat.