Page 8 of On a Midnight Clear

“Glad you stopped by , Hiram. I was planning to ride over to ask a favor , ” Vincent told his closest neighbor a week later. Hiram Bennett was a dozen years older than Vincent , but the two had formed a fast friendship.

“Figured I’d best bring the water tank I promised. What can I do for you, Vincent?”

“I need to go into town with the family on Saturday, and I wanted to stay over for church. Wondered if one of your boys could come stay here at the farm and tend the animals?”

“Don’t see why not.”

“I’ll pay, of course.” They’d traded favors on more than one occasion, and Vincent knew the man wouldn’t allow his son to accept money, but he felt it important to offer it.

“No. I know you’d do the same for me. I’ll send Zeb over at first light on Saturday. Will that work, or do you need him to come over on Friday?”

“Saturday will work just fine. Are you sure you can’t stay for a cup of coffee?”

“Margaret told me to get right back. She wants me to finish cleaning out an area in the barn so that she can store some things.”

“Well, let me get that tank and you can be on your way.”

They went to the back of the wagon and made short work of unloading. Vincent was more than pleased for the addition.

“This is going to come in real handy. I’ve been sectioning off another pen for the sheep, and this will supply their water.”

“Glad you could use it.” Hiram glanced toward the house. “So, how are things going with the new wife?”

Vincent was used to Hiram speaking his mind and wasn’t surprised by the question.

“It’s been an adjustment, especially for the children.

But I knew Angel from when she was a little girl.

I was best friends with her brothers. She’s a hard worker, to be sure, and she knows sheep.

She goes out with me every day for a time so that they’ll get used to her and know her.

She’ll be a big asset come lambing season. ”

“Sounds like you got a real bargain there. I know I couldn’t run our chicken farm without Margaret. A good wife can make all the difference.”

The wind blew a cold blast across the open yard, and Vincent did up the buttons to his coat. “You’re right about that, Hiram.”

The older man climbed up onto the wagon seat. “How’d your children take to her?”

“It’s been slow. Benjamin is still so angry at losing his mother that he wants nothing to do with Angel. Ava has shown a lot more interest. Little girls need a ma.”

Hiram pulled his hat down as the wind picked up even more. “I’d best be heading back. May be due a snow.”

“You sure you don’t want to come in and warm up first?”

“Nah, I’ve got a heap of work to tend to. I’ll make sure Zeb is here early on Saturday.”

“Thanks, Hiram.”

True to his word, Zeb arrived on Saturday as the sun crested the horizon.

Vincent had just remade the bed he’d been using and still had the old sheets in his hands.

Vincent set them aside by the barn door and gave Zeb instructions for what he wanted done and then showed him to the room off the lambing shed.

“You shouldn’t have to worry about anything in the house,” he told Zeb. “The room off the lambing shed has a stove, and Angel made sure there was plenty of food that you could rewarm.”

“Sounds good.” The young man always seemed eager to get right down to work.

“You know, I’m still of a mind that if you wanted to learn sheep farming, I’d take you on. Couldn’t pay money at first, but we could work it out in animals.”

“I like sheep well enough,” Zeb said, following Vincent to the house. “Fact is, I like ’em better than chickens, so I just might take you up on that. Pa needs me right now, but we have talked about how things might be come spring.”

“I understand. Still, I’m grateful that you can come to help out. Come to the house and meet my new wife. Have you eaten?”

“I had a little before coming your way.”

“Well, join us for breakfast. We can discuss anything else we need to address.”

Zeb, being eighteen and still seeming to be growing, was happy to have a second meal. He sat down at the table and immediately began joking with Benjamin. To Vincent’s surprise, it seemed to lighten his son’s mood.

“Zeb, this is my wife.”

Zeb rose again and gave her a nod. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Duran.”

Angel smiled. “Nice to mee you, Zeb. Your mother and older brother stopped by a week or so ago to bring us a couple of stewing chickens and fresh bread. She told me that she had another son. You’re the youngest, right?”

“Yup. Zach is two years older.”

“Well, I’m sure glad you could come over to watch things while we go to town.” She put a plate of flapjacks and sausage down in front of him. “I hope I didn’t give you too much.”

He eyed the plate with a grin. “No, ma’am.”

After everyone finished breakfast, they said good-bye to Zeb and headed to town. Thankfully the skies were crystal blue, without a single cloud to be found. Even the wind was fairly calm. It was shaping up to be a nice day.

Cheyenne seemed to have grown even since her arrival a month ago.

Angel couldn’t help but notice several new hotels were being built, along with a range of other stores, banks, and doctor’s offices.

Vincent had told her that the town was barely eight years old and showed no signs of slowing down in its development.

They went to the feed store first. Vincent had already told her that he could leave his list and have things loaded for picking up later in the day while they went about other business.

Angel had given him a list of things to pick up for her winter projects.

Vincent had agreed quickly to whatever she needed.

She appreciated that he was so generous.

She’d brought very little of her own money and was totally reliant upon her husband’s kindness to get what she wanted and needed.

Granny had always said Vincent was the most thoughtful of men, and Angel had known it to be so.

Watching him now, she felt those thoughts and feelings she’d had for him as a girl come flooding back.

He was the kind of man that a gal wanted for a husband.

“We should secure a hotel room,” Vincent said, climbing down from the wagon. “Seems like there are an awful lot of people in town. As soon as I square things away here, we can walk over to the Rollins House and get a room.” He reached up and took hold of her at the waist and lifted her down.

Just then, someone called out Vincent’s name. Angel saw that it was an elderly gentleman who was grinning from ear to ear.

“I thought maybe you’d moved clean out of the territory, Vincent.”

“No, I’m still here. How are you, Bert?” Vincent shook his hand and offered a smile. “Good to see you.”

“And you too. We need to sit down and have a long talk. It’s been far too long.”

“I’ve come to town with the family this time. I’d like you to meet Angellyn Duran, my new wife. Angel, this is Culbert Finnegan, but most folks call him Bert.”

The older man looked to Angel and grinned. “‘And the L ord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.’ Welcome to Cheyenne, Angel.” Then he chuckled. “Isn’t the first time an angel has appeared to a shepherd.”

Angel smiled. “I even brought good tidings of great joy.”

Vincent chuckled, and Bert slapped his leg. “And she has a sense of humor. Good for you, Vincent. A woman who is not only pretty but can make you smile is worth her weight in gold.”

“I agree.”

Angel felt her cheeks grow warm despite the chilled air.

She looked away as Benjamin came to stand beside his dad.

Ava squeezed in by Angel. The two were getting closer every day.

Ava craved a mother’s affection and was willing to let Angel fill that need.

Benjamin, however, was much harder to win over and even now seemed to distance himself from Angel’s presence.

“You children have grown a great deal.” Bert fished some coins out of his pocket. “Use this for candy only.” He handed them each a dime. He straightened and smiled at Angel and Vincent. “Will you be staying over for church?”

“We are,” Vincent answered before Angel could. “We were planning to go secure a hotel room.”

“Nonsense. You’ll stay with us. My sister Myra will be thrilled to have the company.

We have an extra room, although it is small.

You and the missus can sleep there, and we’ll make pallets for the children.

And though we’re short on space, we have plenty of delicious food.

Myra loves to cook, and lately she’s been baking a great deal.

Church plans to have a bake sale, and she’s put a lot of effort into making sure they have plenty of things to offer. ”

Vincent looked at Angel. “Would that be all right with you?”

“I think it sounds wonderful.” And she did.

The idea of staying in someone’s home rather than a hotel was more than a little appealing.

She had heard horror stories of hotel occupants crashing through doors to rooms other than their own.

Of noisy parties and fights that threatened everyone nearby.

Staying with an old man and his sister was definitely preferable.

“I guess that will suit us, then, Bert. Thanks for the offer. Can we bring some extra food or anything else?”

“No, sir. You come on over when you’re ready. I’ll get on home and let Myra know to set extra places for lunch.”

Vincent gave a nod and, to Angel’s surprise, put his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll be there.”

Bert took off down the street, and Angel glanced over at Vincent. She met his gaze, then made the mistake of looking down at their closeness. He stepped back almost with a start.

“Let’s get our shopping done before the stores close. They won’t be open long since it’s Saturday.”