Chapter Twenty-Three
“Joseph, would you go to the farm with us?” Rose asked when she found him in the stable. She hated to ask him to leave the ranch, but he was the only man around. She wanted to talk to Stevie, and Granny wanted to pick up more vegetables.
“Yes. I’ll get the buckboard ready.”
On the way to the farm, Rose decided to talk to Joseph about Judge. She’d already discussed it with Granny the night before. Granny told her she didn’t doubt Murph’s account of what Frankie did to the beautiful horse. Granny recounted the day Joseph brought Frankie home from Morgan’s ranch. He hadn’t said anything other than Frankie wasn’t going to work on the ranch anymore.
“Joseph, do you know what Frankie did to Judge?” Rose asked.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Granny asked.
“It wasn’t for me to say,” Joseph answered.
“Is that why you brought Frank home that day, Joseph?” Granny asked, remembering Frank had been nineteen when Morgan gave him a job on his ranch.
“Yes.”
Murph had told Rose that Frank had taken a whip to the horse, nearly killing him. Morgan nearly killed Frank. Once the men pulled Morgan off of Frank, Joseph got Frank in the buckboard and took him back to the farm. Murph thought it was best to put the horse down, but Morgan wouldn’t hear of it. Morgan had helped foal Judge, and he was determined to nurse him back to health.
“Why would Frankie do such a thing?” Rose asked, not really expecting an answer.
“Bad spirit.”
Rose and Granny stared at Joseph. His comment seemed to sum up Frankie’s life. What else could be said? When Murph told Rose the truth about Judge, she didn’t want to believe Frankie could do such a thing. But too much evidence was mounting against him. She wanted to speak with Stevie to find out how much he knew about Frankie. She hoped she could convince him not to follow in his brother’s footsteps.
“This explains so many things. Little wonder Morgan carried so much vengeance in his heart,” Granny said.
They reached the farm, and Stevie met them on the front porch. He seemed surprised to see them. “I didn’t know you were coming back today.”
“I need to talk to you, Stevie,” Rose said.
“Joseph and I will load the vegetables while you two talk,” Granny said.
Rose and Stevie walked inside to the kitchen and sat at the table. “Stevie, do you know where Frankie is hiding out?”
Stevie made an attempt to feign surprise at her question. “No, why are you asking me that?”
Rose had always been able to tell when Stevie was lying, and she thought he was lying now. “Someone rustled cattle at the ranch.”
“When?”
“I’m not sure, but it had to be recent. Are you sure you don’t know where Frankie or members of his gang are hiding?”
“I told you I don’t know where he is. How should I know?” He jumped up and walked to the stove and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Is Morgan trying to find the rustlers?”
Suddenly, Rose became suspicious. She wasn’t sure how much she should reveal out of fear for Morgan. “He’s talking about it.”
“Why does everybody think it has to be Frankie when cattle are rustled? I expect he’s probably in Mexico having a fine old time.”
Stevie was talking to her, but he wasn’t looking her in the eye. “You told me you thought Frankie would come back here for you. Why do you think he is in Mexico now?” she asked.
“I was hoping he would come back, but he won’t.”
“Stevie, he should pay for his crimes. Maybe if he turned himself in, he might not hang.”
Stevie grunted in disgust. “I don’t think he’s done half of what everyone says. If he turned himself in, Morgan would make sure he hangs. You know the sheriff is Morgan’s best friend.”
“Stevie, did you know what Frankie did to Morgan’s horse years ago?”
He turned to walk back to the table, but he didn’t sit down. “What are you talking about?”
After relating everything Murph had told her, Stevie said, “Did Morgan tell you that pack of lies? I can’t believe you would listen to anything he has to say. Frankie wouldn’t do that.”
“Frankie, Morgan didn’t tell me. I’m afraid it is true.”
Stevie narrowed his eyes at her. “No wonder Frankie hates you. You’ve let Morgan turn you against him.”
The undisguised hatred in his eyes forced Rose to lean back in her chair. Unlike the last time, she thought she was prepared for anything he said to her. But she wasn’t prepared for the look of sheer hate on his face. “Stevie, you know more than you’re saying. You know Frankie is guilty of rustling, and a lot worse. He tried to kill Joseph Longbow. Joseph Longbow would never tell a lie. Don’t you see Frankie could kill someone? If you know where he is you should tell me. I don’t know what’s happened to him, but he’s dangerous. You can’t trust him, Stevie.”
“I hope he kills Morgan,” Stevie growled.
“How can you say such a thing to me? Don’t you understand Frankie has lied about Morgan?”
Stevie hated her all the more for her defense of the man he hated. “Maybe Frankie will kill both of you.”
Tears filled Rose’s eyes at his words. “I was hoping to talk some sense into you, but I think it’s too late. You’ve become as wicked as Frankie.” She turned to leave, but before she walked out the door, she said, “Stevie, evil deeds cannot escape His judgment. I’ll pray for your soul.”
As soon as Rose reached the buckboard, Granny saw the tears running down her cheeks. She walked to Rose and put her arms around her. “Don’t cry, honey.”
Stevie walked outside and yelled, “Rose, don’t come back here.”
Granny turned to face Stevie. “Stevie, I will remind you this is my farm. Rose will come and go as she pleases. We were going to invite you to the wedding on Saturday, but I think it’s best if you stay away.”
“I don’t want to come to their wedding. I bet it won’t even take place.” Stevie knew he shouldn’t have said that, but he was angry. He wanted them to worry about what could happen.
Before Rose climbed in the buckboard, she wiped the tears from her face. She wouldn’t allow Stevie to ruin her special day. She turned to confront him. “The wedding will take place. I am proud and honored to become the wife of a man with sterling character, who works hard for a living, and doesn’t steal from others. And you can tell Frankie what I said. If you are helping Frankie steal, you are no better than he is.”
Granny was heartbroken her youngest grandson would not listen to reason. “Stevie, I’m sorry to say your brother betrays everyone. What makes you think he won’t betray you? How do you know that you can trust him? A man who breaks all of God’s commandments will not come to a good end. And if you’ve helped Frank rustle, just remember the Good Book says ‘Treasures of wickedness gain nothing.’”
Stevie grunted. “I’m tired of hearing what the Good Book says.” He stalked inside the house, slamming the door behind him.
Rose cried all the way back to the ranch. She cried for the brothers she’d lost forever. She cried over not trusting Morgan from the moment the stagecoach stopped on that road in Kansas. She cried for Granny. This wonderful woman had given so much of her life to caring for her grandchildren, and she was heartbroken over Frankie and Stevie. “Granny, I am so sorry about my brothers. You’ve sacrificed so much for us.”
“Rose, it’s not your fault. They made their own choices. Now they will have to live with the consequences. If not on this earth, then they will surely pay when they meet their Maker.”
* * *
Stevie thought about Granny’s question as he saddled his horse. Reuben had asked him the same question the last time he saw him before Frankie arrived for their meeting. Reuben tried to tell him Frankie was going to double-cross him. Stevie refused to believe Frankie would ever betray him. Everyone was wrong about his brother. Right now, what he needed to do was get on his horse and ride to the Conner place. He had to tell Frankie the wedding was going to take place tomorrow.
The cabin was empty when Stevie arrived, so he walked inside to wait for them to return. He thought it was possible Frankie was in Denver watching Reuben. Stevie waited over two hours before he decided to go home. On his way, he thought about taking the money he had stolen from the stagecoach and leaving Whispering Pines for good. He could take Reuben up on his offer and travel with him. Even if Frankie did go through with the bank robbery, he would probably stay around Whispering Pines to cause Morgan more trouble. Frankie seemed to live for seeking retribution against Morgan.
If Frank didn’t come by the farm tonight, Stevie figured he’d ride back out to the cabin tomorrow. The money was due to arrive at the bank, and it would be nice to know one way or the other what day they were going to stage the robbery.
* * *
Morgan made it back to the ranch at dinnertime on Friday. Rose saw him ride in, and by the time he’d cared for his horse, she was waiting for him on the front porch. Seeing her standing there waiting for him lifted his mood. He was tired, dirty, and hungry, but seeing her made him forget all about the way he was feeling, and he picked up his pace. He liked knowing this was what it was going to be like in the future each time he came home. What man could ask for more than a beautiful woman waiting for him with a smile?
Morgan picked her up and held her to him. He’d missed her more than he imagined he would. “I’m happy to be home.”
She looked up at him and said, “I missed you.”
He kissed her, then said, “And I’ve missed your kisses.” After tomorrow he would be free to take her to his bedroom and show her how much he’d missed her in the most intimate way. He was a lucky man.
“You’re just in time for dinner.”
“Good, I’m starving. I found out I can’t cook as good as you.” He placed his arm around her waist as they walked into the house.
While he was away, Rose had thought of the many things she wanted to say to him. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was that Frankie had hurt Judge so many years ago. She was sorry she’d ever doubted his word when he’d tried to tell her about the crimes Frankie had committed. She wanted to tell him she would make him a good wife, and he’d never have a reason to regret marrying her. Since he was tired and hungry, and dinner was waiting, she decided to wait until later for that conversation.
Morgan noticed how she suddenly grew quiet. She was probably curious if he’d found the rustlers. “I didn’t catch up with them. They were headed to New Mexico Territory, but I had to turn back or I would have missed our wedding.”
“I don’t think it was Frankie,” she said.
Just a moment earlier he was thrilled to see her smiling face. But now he found himself getting irritated that she was still intent on defending Frank. He tried not to take it personally, since Frank was her blood, but it was becoming more difficult to be tolerant of her unwillingness to accept the truth. “Rose, I know you don’t want to believe your brother is responsible . . .” He stopped midsentence when she turned to face him and placed her hand on his chest.
“No, I mean I don’t think Frankie is on his way to New Mexico Territory. I went to see Stevie.” She saw the disapproving look on his face, and quickly added, “Joseph took us to the farm. I asked Stevie if he knew where Frankie was hiding and he said he didn’t. But I know he was lying, I could see it on his face. Stevie was never a good liar. I think Frankie is still near Whispering Pines.”
“That doesn’t mean it wasn’t Frank I was following,” Morgan told her.
“No, it doesn’t. But Stevie said something else that made me think Frankie is nearby.”
“What did he say?”
“Granny told him he should stay away from our wedding, and he said he didn’t want to come if it did take place. Something about the way he said it made me think Frankie would do something to try and stop us from marrying.”
Morgan thought he saw fear in her eyes. “Honey, don’t you worry about that. Frank is not going to stop our wedding.”
“I’m afraid he will do something to you,” she admitted.
Morgan was surprised she finally seemed to believe everything he’d told her about Frank. “Don’t worry about me, I can handle Frank.” He leaned over and kissed her again. “What made you accept the truth about Frank?”
“So many things. I remember being very young, and Frankie was always telling me not to go near you. He told me no one trusted you. He told me so many things, and that’s why I was frightened of you. He filled my head with lies. I’m sure he’s done the same thing to Stevie. Granny and I have talked about some of the terrible things he has done. Deep down, I know he’s guilty.” She was crying now and Morgan was holding her close. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. It was so hard for me to believe the worst of my own brother.”
“I know, honey. Don’t cry.” As much as he wanted her to face the truth about her brother, he hated to see the pain it caused.
He held her as she cried. She said something else, but he couldn’t understand what she was saying for her sobs. “What? Honey, it’s okay. Stop crying so I can hear you.”
“I’m so sorry about Judge.”
Morgan stiffened. He hadn’t wanted anyone to mention the horse to her and cause her more heartache. “Who told you?”
“It doesn’t matter. You should have been the one who told me.” She wasn’t angry he hadn’t told her. She knew he did it to keep from hurting her.
“Would you have believed me?”
She saw his point, and it upset her even more that she’d ever doubted him. “I’ll never doubt your word again.”
“Honey, what happened to Judge was a long time ago. We can’t do anything about it now, and it wasn’t your fault.” He handed her the bandana from his pocket. “Dry your eyes, and tell me if you finished making your wedding dress.”
She wiped her tears away. “It’s finished.”
“Will you show it to me?”
She shook her head. “It’s bad luck. You can see it tomorrow.”
He kissed the top of her head. “It’s probably a good thing, I’m not sure I could control myself.”
“What do you mean?”
He leaned down and kissed her ear before his lips moved to her neck. “You know what I mean,” he whispered.
She shivered. “Oh.” He’d made her completely forget about Frankie.
He pulled his lips away from her ear. “Now before you can’t control yourself, could I talk you into feeding a starving man?”
Rose blushed at his words. “I was just making some coffee when you rode in. There’s fresh water on the back porch if you want to clean up first.”
Remembering how she’d reacted the last time he’d stripped out of his shirt, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Do you want to watch me take off my shirt?”
“Morgan LeMasters, you are incorrigible.” The truth was, she did want to see him without his shirt.