Sixteen

It was the best Christmas the family could remember. Last Christmas they all thought Jake was dead and would never come home. Now here he was, alive and well, and Sadie Mae was awake and talking. She still had trouble pronouncing certain words, and she’d forgotten some of her reading, but Evie was reteaching her, and she was learning fast, a sign that the damage was minimal. The child was back to gathering the eggs, and never once did she have a problem with the infamous Outlaw.

This Christmas day, every man at the bunkhouse was invited to stop by Jake and Randy’s home to pick up a plate of turkey and apple pie. Sadie Mae herself handed each one a full loaf of her grandmother’s fresh-baked bread, her fetching, dimpled smile warming the hearts of the worst of them. Tommy Tyler was invited to the main house to celebrate Christmas for the first time in his life. Cole Decker was there too, with Gretta.

Over his years as an outlaw and then a lawman and infamous gunman, Jake Harkner had indeed picked up some very unusual friends—characters the average God-fearing person would have nothing to do with. The rough bunch who worked the J&L would all stand in front of a bullet for anyone in the family, even though some of them, including Cole, had committed crimes back East and were probably wanted there.

Presents were exchanged, and Evie carried on about the beautiful hairbrush Sadie Mae had given her. Katie unwrapped colorful hair ribbons from Tricia, and others opened gifts of mirrors, lovely dress material, thread, kitchen utensils, shaving kits and mugs, socks, scarves, boots, handmade shirts, doll babies, knitted baby blankets, fancy hair combs, skin creams, and necklaces. There was a new rifle each for Stephen, young Jake, and Ben.

A big family meant a lot of gifts and a lot of bedlam and a lot of laughter. Tommy noticed how they all gravitated around the family patriarch, the dark and dangerous Jake Harkner, who today showed no sign of the ruthless man he could be if necessary. His grandsons Stephen and young Jake stayed close to him, and Tommy had observed in his time here at the J&L that it was young Jake who most resembled his grandfather in looks and in spirit and in a determination to make sure everyone knew they’d better never mess with one member of the family. Someday the boy was going to be someone no man dared cross.

Through most of the festivities, Jake sat quietly watching. Randy sat beside him, occasionally reaching over and taking hold of his hand as she laughed and carried on about all the gifts the others were receiving. She knew her husband’s thoughts, how he was wishing he could have had Christmases like this as a child. She felt at her throat for the ruby necklace Jake had put on her minutes ago, his Christmas gift, her birthstone.

Lloyd presented Katie with a diamond ring to go with her plain, gold wedding band. In return Katie announced to the family that she was carrying what would be child number five for the couple. That brought cheers and considerable teasing, since over the last four years it seemed Katie was constantly pregnant.

“Tricia told me why Katie puts up with you, son,” Jake spoke up after lighting a cigarette.

“Oh? Why’s that?” Lloyd asked. “Or have I just stuck my foot in my mouth?”

“You just stuck your foot in your mouth.”

Lloyd closed his eyes and shook his head. “Let’s have it.”

“It’s not so bad,” Jake answered with a big grin. “She just said that whatever Katie wants, she gets. You do whatever Katie asks.”

Katie blushed deeply, and Cole and Brian both whistled amid laughter from everyone else.

“Oh, and you’re very handsome,” Jake added.

That brought more pink to Katie’s face.

“Daddy, don’t forget what our friend Peter Brown’s wife called him,” Evie declared. “A Greek god.”

Shrieks of laughter.

“You’re leaving out the fact that she called Pa magnificent,” Lloyd threw in, trying to turn the attention from himself.

Jake took hold of Randy’s hand then. “Well, come spring, this magnificent man is taking his beautiful wife on a trip,” he told the family.

Randy looked at him in surprise. “A trip?”

Jake studied her lovingly. “You’ve never been back East since you and I left Kansas for one hell of a life together,” he told her. He turned to the others then. “It’s time your mother knew some true leisure and pampering. I’m taking her on a train trip East. That’s her other Christmas present from me. We’ll visit Jeff Trubridge in Chicago and probably lawyer Peter Brown.” He paused for just a moment. “And his wife,” he added.

Lloyd understood why his father had added Treena Brown to the remark. There was a long story behind the tenable friendship between Jake and Peter, whom they’d come to know back in Guthrie. Attorney Brown had saved Jake from prison and hanging more than once, but he’d also been in love with Randy for years, and Jake damn well knew it. Peter had never dared to act on his feelings, but it was because of Randy that he’d so often offered his services to help Jake out of deep trouble. The two men held a deep respect for each other, but there would always be that unspoken rift between them. Jake liked to subtly remind others that Peter had a wife of his own now.

“We might as well visit Peter’s castle of a home north of Chicago,” Jake added. “Because of what’s going on with ranching and the cattle business, I’d like to visit the Union Stockyards and see what the future holds. We have to stay on top of things if we want to hang on to this ranch. And we might even head south from Chicago and go back to Kansas, where we first met.” He looked at Randy. “Maybe we can find that supply store where all this started…and where you shot me because you were so afraid of the wanted outlaw who barged in, waving a gun.”

Randy’s eyes teared. “Oh, Jake, I don’t know what to say.”

“You deserve a trip and some pampering. You’ve worked so hard your whole life and have known too much tragedy. And after coming out here, you’ve hardly ever been off this ranch. It’s time we both saw a bit of the civilization going on back East and had some time together—just the two of us.”

Randy broke into tears. “That’s the best gift I could have asked for.” She rose from the chair beside him and leaned down to kiss him.

“Daddy, it will be so good for both of you to get away,” Evie told them.

Jake squeezed Randy’s hand as she straightened. “Don’t be crying,” he told her. “It will be fun for both of us. Maybe your good friend Peter Brown can set us up with some fancy doctor who can do something with this leg of mine.”

Randy put a hand to her chest. “That would be wonderful!”

Tommy Tyler watched and listened and was touched by the closeness he’d seen in the Harkner family since arriving on the J&L, and especially since he was wounded. Jake’s son-in-law had given him excellent care, even during the time the man’s own daughter could be dying. He’d never experienced a more enjoyable day or a better example of love and family closeness than this Christmas. Evie had even given him a Christmas present—a hand-knitted wool scarf with a matching cap. He’d enjoyed a delicious meal and watched family members hold hands while Evie led them all in Christmas carols.

Randy wiped at tears and took a few deep breaths to gain her composure, then walked to the grand stone fireplace and took a letter from where she’d left it on the mantel. She unfolded it, explaining to Tommy it was from a dear friend, a reporter in Chicago who’d written the book about Jake, Jake Harkner, the Legend and the Myth.

The myth is that Jake Harkner is mean and ruthless, Tommy thought. And he can be, but no one would ever guess that deep inside, there is a goodness that would surprise people. He figured he would never get over the contrast between the legend and the man who sat in this room today taking part in a family Christmas. And watching him interact with his wife…any man could tell he practically worshipped the woman, but Randy Harkner worshipped her husband in return.

“Jeff is one of those we will be visiting on our trip East,” Randy told Tommy. She smiled at Jake. “Jake, he’ll be so surprised and happy! And we can finally meet Jeff’s wife and family.” She studied the letter a moment. “This letter is just to tell us everything is fine with him and his family and he hopes the same for us. He’s sent us a copy of an article he wrote in the Chicago Journal,” she told the family. “He cut it out and included it with the letter.” She unfolded the article and began reading it.

“I am writing this column to praise a man who has proven that the power of love can pull a man from the pits of hell into love’s light…” Randy read.

Tommy watched the family as they all nodded. Evie shed quiet tears. Katie reached over and grasped her husband’s hand, and Lloyd in turn hugged Tricia close. The girl sat on his lap with her head resting against his chest and seemed to be almost asleep.

Tommy glanced at the pistols that hung on a hook over the front door, feeling sick now at realizing he’d pulled a gun on Jake Harkner. How sad that most people had no idea the kind of man he really was.

“I have grown to love all of them,” Randy read as she neared the end of the beautifully written article about how far Jake Harkner had come since he and Jeff first met. Tommy found himself wishing he could meet the reporter, Jeff Trubridge. The man had actually ridden with Jake and Lloyd when they were U.S. Marshals back in Oklahoma. Tommy wished now he could have experienced riding beside Jake Harkner in going after the worst of the worst in No Man’s Land.

“Many blessings and happy holidays to a family that well deserves it,” Randy finished reading.

“Daddy, that was a beautiful article,” Evie spoke up. “I’m glad Jeff sent us a copy.”

Tommy found it touching that Jake’s grown daughter still called him Daddy. The word just didn’t seem to fit Jake Harkner’s reputation.

“Tommy, we have one more gift for you,” Randy said then. “We are so grateful for how you risked your life to keep that cougar’s vicious claws from digging into our beautiful Sadie Mae.”

Tommy frowned. “But she got hurt anyway.”

“You still saved her from death,” Evie reminded him, “or if she’d lived, what would have very likely been awful pain and horrible disfigurement. The claws that gave you those awful wounds could have dug into Sadie Mae’s face.”

Tommy shook his head. “Ma’am, the only present I want is being able to sit right here and be part of a family Christmas and eat the best bread and pie I’ve ever tasted. I don’t need anything else.”

“Well, you’re getting something anyway,” Lloyd told him. “That new colt out in the barn is yours. He’s going to be a really fine horse. And you have a job here on the J&L for life, if you want it. I was against Pa bringing you back with us in the first place, but one thing Jake Harkner is good at is judging a man, and he saw something about you he figured was worth taking a chance on. As usual, he was right.”

Tommy felt like crying. He took a deep breath and swallowed as he ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. “I don’t know what to say. That’s a beautiful colt. I’ve never even known a real Christmas, let alone getting such wonderful present.”

“Well, there is one stipulation,” Lloyd added, smiling.

“What’s that?”

“You have to let Tricia name the horse. She asked if she could, and I said yes. So you’re stuck with the name.”

Tommy frowned, glancing at Tricia. “Let’s have it, Tricia,” he said.

Tricia grinned and climbed down from her father’s lap. “Me and Sadie Mae named the baby horse together,” she told Tommy. “But first Sadie Mae has to give you her Christmas present.”

Sadie Mae came running from the kitchen with a small box in her hand. Both girls approached Tommy, giggling.

“I kept it a secret all day!” Sadie Mae told Tommy before glancing over at her grandpa Jake. “Didn’t I, Grampa?”

Jake grinned as Randy stood behind him now, rubbing his shoulders lovingly. “You sure did, Sadie Mae. That’s the longest I’ve seen you keep a secret inside.”

“Sadie Mae loves secrets,” Evie told Tommy. “Sometimes she’s almost naughty about it.”

Sadie Mae and Tricia both giggled. Sadie Mae handed Tommy the box then. “Merry Christmas,” she told Tommy.

Tommy already suspected what was inside the box when he heard a little peep. He opened it carefully to find a fuzzy little yellow baby chick. He had no idea what he’d do with such a present, but he was touched, knowing what baby chicks meant to Sadie Mae. He didn’t want to hurt her childish joy, and he felt sick inside at how cruelly he’d teased her in the alley back in Brighton.

“Sadie Mae, this is the best present I ever got,” he told her, reaching into the box and petting the baby chick with one finger. “I mean, that horse, he’s a wonderful gift, but this here little chick is something I’ll have to take care of real gentle-like.” He looked at Sadie Mae. “I’m sorry I was mean to you that day back in Brighton.”

“It’s okay,” the child told him. “That’s why I gave you the chick-a-dee, so you have to love it and learn not to be mean.”

Tommy grinned. “Thank you, Sadie Mae. I’ll keep it at the bunkhouse and make sure the men help me keep it warm and fed. Those rough no-goods will tease me to death, but I don’t care. I’ll manage.”

Sadie Mae clapped her hands and smiled, turning to Tricia. “Tell him the horse’s name, Tricia,” she said excitedly.

Tommy waited for the dreaded news. There was no way a little girl was going to give the colt a suitable masculine name that would reflect the pride and power the horse would one day display.

“Chick-a-dee!” Tricia answered, both girls giggling uncontrollably then.

The rest of the family laughed.

“That’s a great name, Tricia,” Big Jake told the girl.

“Yeah,” Lloyd added. “I can’t wait till you tell the men that colt’s name, Tommy. It will be really fitting when he grows into a magnificent stallion.”

They all laughed more, and Tricia and Sadie Mae jumped up and down, clapping their hands.

Tommy just shook his head. “Chick-a-dee it is,” he told the girls.

Ben got up to add wood to the fire, and outside a gentle snow began falling. The thick, wet flakes began coating the dark pine trees throughout the homestead and into the foothills of the Rockies with a lovely white blanket, bringing a velvety look to the glorious scenery. It also brought a deep quiet to the grand mountains, which jutted up from the snow in purple and gray magnificence. The only sound that came from the Harkner homestead was laughter, where inside there sat a ruthless wanted man with two little girls on his lap hugging him around the neck and kissing his cheeks.