Читать книгу: «The Texan's Twin Blessings»

Chapter One

Granite, Texas Late Spring 1887

Hot, aggravated and about at the end of his rope, William Barns stood on his grandmother’s porch juggling his year-and-a-half-old nieces, Rose and Ruby. The little girls squalled louder.

“Eat!” Rose twisted sideways, her little voice pleading.

They were hungry, so was he, and as soon as his grandmother opened the door from the other side, she’d help feed them. Of that he had no doubt. He shifted the twins higher on his chest. Today they’d had milk and bread in their diets and little else.

The heat was getting to them and making the girls cranky; him, too, if he was honest about it. Colorado springtime and Texas springtime were very different in the way of weather, and the effects on him and the girls were going from poor to bad fast.

Why was his grandmother taking so long? If he remembered correctly, the house was not that big. He’d been a kid the last time he’d stood on this porch, and even then it had seemed small. William clinched his jaw in an effort not to get impatient with the girls and his grandmother. Surely she’d heard him knocking.

The trip from Denver, Colorado, had been exhausting. Rose and Ruby demanded his undivided attention. He’d had no idea how much was required of his late sister, until she’d been killed and he’d taken over the twins’ care. What a load she had carried and carried well.

His heart ached at the loss of his sister, Mary. If only he’d gone to the bank that day, instead of her. The throbbing in his ankle reminded him why he’d stayed with the napping twins while his sister had gone to town and faced down two bank robbers. If only he hadn’t slipped on the frozen snow and broken his ankle after the last ice storm they’d had, he would have been the one at the bank.

Rose, apparently tired of the juggling, chose that moment to throw up sour milk all over his shirtsleeve. Ruby, spying her sister’s distress, let out a wail that pierced his eardrums.

As the curdled milk scent reached his nostrils, he briefly wondered how his delicate, prim sister had managed to take care of his darling nieces with the ease that she had. They burped putrid liquids, and the diapers, well, he’d almost taken to wearing a clothespin on his nose while changing them.

Exhausted, Rose laid her head upon his shoulder and shuddered her unhappiness. Mirroring her sister’s actions, Ruby did the same. Regardless of their disgusting smells and loud crying, William loved his nieces with all his heart.

“I’m sorry, baby girls. I know you’re hot and tired, and sick of me pouring liquid into you.” He kept his voice soothing and calm. “Just hang on a few more seconds. Grandma’s on the way, and she’ll have something good for us to eat.”

His chest ached with the sorrow weighing down upon him. He felt as if the responsibilities of the girls might be more than he could take. Why did everything have to change?

Memories flooded his tired mind. On the fateful morning he’d lost his sister, his brother-in-law and town sheriff, Josiah, had been out of town but was to return later in the day. William later learned that Josiah had been lured away by fake information that the robbers were in the town next to theirs. He’d hurried off to help the sheriff there, and while he’d been gone the criminals had robbed their bank.

Three rough-looking men had arrived in town shortly after the bank opened. They’d entered the bank, threatening those inside if the teller didn’t turn over the money. When they’d escaped in a blaze of gunfire, they left Mary lifeless and the bank teller wounded.

Witnesses had whispered that it had all happened so suddenly. The bank robbers had taken Mary’s money and left her for dead. She had stumbled out of the bank, clutching the morning’s mail to her wounded chest. It was when she fell in a heap of petticoats that everyone realized she’d been hit by the gunfire. His sister had died on the dirty street, leaving behind an angry, grieving husband and two beautiful, motherless little girls. And him.

A piercing cry sounded within his left ear, pulling William from the painful memory. “Ruby, please don’t scream.” He looked to the dark window on his left. Where was his grandmother? Why hadn’t she answered? He turned and pounded on the door with his elbow.

Aggravation at the delay crept up his spine and into his already pounding head. The longer he stood there, the worse he felt. William refused to give in to the irritation at having to wait for his grandmother; one angry man in the family was enough.

The memories he’d been shoving away flooded in once more. Josiah had allowed his rage and grief over the murder of his wife to run so deep he’d practically forgotten his daughters. William had been left with no choice but to take over the care of the girls. Once his sister had been put to rest, Josiah had gone after the murderers with the promise to come back for the girls, but William wasn’t holding his breath.

Even though Josiah was a good lawman, William worried about his brother-in-law’s state of mind. Josiah blamed himself for his wife’s death. He’d even made the statement he wasn’t sure he was a fit father and that if he couldn’t protect Mary, what made him think he could protect his girls? William had tried to talk to him, offer comfort, but in the end, Josiah had left a bitter and angry man.

After three months of waiting, William couldn’t stand living in the same town that his sister had died in. He’d left word with Josiah’s neighbor that he was moving to Granite, Texas, and that Rose and Ruby would be waiting there for Josiah when he’d finished his business with the bank robbers. He worried Josiah might never come for his daughters—the man had been so resentful—and Josiah had probably taken risks that could end his life, leaving the girls orphans.

Rose trembled, and one look at her white face reminded William that he needed to focus on her and her sister instead of rehashing what had happened or worrying about what might have happened to their father. Until he heard from Josiah, he was responsible for the little girls, and right now they needed real food and a place to rest. He reached for the door handle and found it locked. William sighed. She wasn’t home.

“Excuse me.”

He turned to the soft voice that had managed to be heard over the little girls’ cries. A young woman stood behind him in the yard. Her red hair blazed under the sun, and light freckles crossed her nose as if she’d too often forgotten to wear her bonnet. Green eyes filled with sadness looked up at him. The freckles across her nose and cheeks gave her the appearance of being very young, but the depth of emotion in her eyes made him think she might be older than she looked. Realizing he was staring, William responded. “Yes?”

“My name is Emily Jane Rodgers. I’m Mrs. Barns’s neighbor.” She pointed to the house across the street, then turned to face him once more. “Mrs. Barns no longer lives here.” Her sweet voice seemed to drip with warmth and deep sorrow.

William shifted the girls, who had quieted down at the sound of the female voice. “Nice to meet you, Miss Rodgers. I’m William Barns. Where has my grandmother moved?”

Renewed sorrow seemed to fill her pretty green eyes. “I have a key to the house. Let’s go inside, so that I can explain.” She brushed past him, and scents of cinnamon and sugar filled his nostrils.

The girls stared at the redheaded woman. Ruby stretched out a chubby hand to grasp a strand of her hair as she worked the key into the lock. Thankfully, the little girl couldn’t reach Miss Rodgers, but her failed attempt had her leaning farther, straining against his arm till he thought he might drop her. He tightened his hold on Ruby, turning aside from the temptation.

Finally the woman opened the door and stepped within the cooler interior. William followed as questions regarding his grandmother bombarded his tired mind. They stood in the sitting room, where all the furniture was covered with fabric of various colors. His hopes sank in his chest as he realized that if his grandmother had moved, she would have taken her things with her. He used his boot to shut the door.

Miss Rodgers dropped the key into the pocket of her apron that hung about her small waist and then moved to the window. She pulled back the heavy curtain to allow sunshine into the room before she turned to face him. Dust particles swirled in the air around them. “I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you this, but Mabel passed away last month from a cold that had moved into her chest.” Sorrow filled her voice.

He gasped. A new sharp pain pricked his heart. A stinging dryness scalded the backs of his eyes. William looked about for a place to set the squirming twins, who wanted to get down and explore this new place. William realized he didn’t dare put them in the layer of dust that covered the floor. He shifted their weight and held them close to his aching chest.

He’d lost his sister and now his grandmother. Who was next? One of the twins? His brother-in-law? He’d also lost his fiancée, Charlotte, thankfully not by death, but she’d been clear that having children or taking care of someone else’s was not a part of her future with him. They’d parted ways since he wanted children and intended to protect and keep his nieces until their father’s return.

The questions returned once more. How much more could he take? And how was he going to care for the girls by himself until his brother-in-law returned? This was not how he had pictured his life. Doubt rose in multiples. Why was the Lord testing him? Had he offended Him in some way? He loved the fellowship with his Lord and tried to honor and please Him above all others. But his load seemed to get heavier every day. As if the Lord had heard his thoughts, William’s troubled spirit quieted, and he forced his lips to part in a curved, stiff smile at the woman staring solemnly back at him.

* * *

Emily Jane watched the emotions cross the handsome face of the man in front of her. William Barns wore a dark brown cowboy hat. Wavy black hair peeked out from under the brim and curled about his collar. It was his sapphire-blue eyes that held her attention; they told a story of their own. From the depth of sorrow staring back at her, Emily Jane read that this wasn’t the first time death had recently broken his heart.

Without giving her actions much thought, she reached for one of the babies, who had resumed kicking and crying. “Here, let me take one of them.” Poor little mites needed their mother. Emily Jane felt sure that Mr. Barns mourned her death as well as his grandmother’s; why else would he show up alone with the two little girls?

He placed the little child into her outstretched arms. “Shhhh, it will be all right.” Emily Jane rocked from side to side as she held the small one against her shoulder.

The child settled down and sniffled but no longer cried as if she were being tortured. Emily Jane looked to Mr. Barns and saw that he copied her actions. She offered him what she hoped was an encouraging smile. “Do you have fresh diapers for these sweet girls?” Emily Jane asked, as she continued to rock and pat the small back in her arms.

“Out in the wagon.” He spun on his booted heels and limped away. “I’ll be right back,” Mr. Barns called over his shoulder.

“Go!” The little girl in her arms tugged in the direction that Mr. Barns had left. She cried in earnest when he and her sister continued out the door.

Emily Jane pulled the darling close and patted her back some more. “He’ll be right back.” Emily Jane looked about the room during his absence. In the short time Mabel Barns had been gone, the house had become quite dirty.

Would William Barns stay here now that he knew his grandmother had died? Or would he take his daughters and go to other family members for help with the children? She assumed the need for help with the girls had been what prompted him to visit his grandmother.

She refocused on the room as she jiggled the sobbing little girl in her arms. Dust covered every inch of the furniture, fireplace mantel and floors. If he stayed, it would take him a few hours to clean up the mess. Mabel had died a little over a month ago. Dusting was a daily job if you lived in Texas, especially Granite, a task Mabel had seemed to enjoy.

Emily Jane’s throat closed. Fresh waves of sadness rolled over her as she mourned the loss of her friend. The child in her arms began to twitch and quiet down as if she sensed Emily Jane’s sorrow.

“Let’s get this wet diaper off of you, little one.” Emily Jane walked to the sofa and pulled the dust-covered protective sheet off of it. To keep the sofa from getting wet, she took off her apron and laid it on the cushion. Then Emily Jane sat down and began to unpin the soiled cloth diaper.

She guessed that the child was about a year old, maybe a little older. Twins were often smaller than other children. Her black wavy hair matched the color of her father’s, and brilliant blue eyes shone from her face. A frayed yellow ribbon had been tied in her hair. “You sure are a pretty little girl,” Emily Jane said in a soft voice, happy the child was no longer screaming and crying. The tot looked like her handsome father.

Emily Jane shook her head to erase the memory of melancholy within his eyes. She didn’t want to focus on William Barns’s good looks, either. No, she wasn’t interested in handsome men. She had a new life ahead of her. One of independence with no controlling husband or demanding children to steal her joy of baking.

The little girl looked up at Emily Jane and sucked her thumb while Emily Jane pulled the wet cloth from under her. As soon as she was free of the sodden diaper, she pulled her thumb from between her lips and said, “Shew wee.”

Boot steps clacked against the wood floor. Then Mr. Barns handed her a leather pouch that resembled a saddlebag. “Shew wee is right.” His warm voice brought a grin to the child’s face. Emily experienced an unusual feeling in the pit of her stomach. What would it feel like to have someone’s happiness within your power? She’d probably never know since she had chosen another direction for her life. One where she decided which path to take instead of a man doing it for her.

Emily Jane took the bag and found the clean diapers. As soon as she got the cloth pinned into place, she handed the first little girl over to Mr. Barns and took the second child.

“Thank you, miss, but you really don’t have to do that.” He moved as if to change places with her.

“I don’t mind,” Emily Jane answered as she proceeded to change the second child. The big man hobbled about the room. He touched the fireplace mantel and sighed. She wondered what had happened to his ankle but didn’t think it was her place to ask. As soon as the second child was diapered, Emily Jane stood.

“Did Grandmother sell this house to you?” he asked. His voice broke, and he turned his face away.

Emily Jane shook her head. “No, a few days before her passing, she gave me a key and told me that if any of her kin should show up to let them in. I suppose she was worried you’d arrive after bank hours and wouldn’t be able to get the extra key from the bank and so therefore wouldn’t be able to get into the house.”

Confusion furrowed the skin of his brow. “Does the bank own the house?”

“I’m not sure. All I know is what she told me. That Doc had done all he could for her and to give you the house key. Oh, and she also instructed me to tell you that you need to go to Mr. Fergus at the bank and tell him you are her kin. He has further information as to what is to become of this place.” Emily Jane knew her words were rushed, but she hadn’t expected a handsome man with two small children to be the “kin” that Mrs. Barns had predicted would come.

Mr. Barns frowned and voiced his thoughts. “How did Grandmother figure I was coming? There was no way she could have known. I didn’t even know myself until a short time ago.”

Emily Jane shrugged. “I’m not sure if she knew which of her grandchildren would arrive. She sent a letter off, but I don’t know to whom. I assumed, since you are here, it was you.”

He shook his head. “Maybe her letter was one of the letters that Mary dropped on the day she died. The wind blew several letters away, but in all the ruckus no one heeded them.”

The soft words were spoken as if he were talking to himself. Emily Jane was pretty sure he wasn’t speaking to her. His blue eyes were focused in the past as if he’d forgotten she and the little girls were in the room. But now she knew the little girls’ mother’s name and that she’d recently died.

Not willing to be ignored, both of the children began to whine and fret once more.

He seemed to snap out of the memories and return to them. His voice sounded tired and hopeless as he said, “They are hungry. I was hoping Grandmother would be able to feed them and help me get them ready for bed.”

Emily Jane looked about the house. It wasn’t fit for children, at least not without a good cleaning. She sighed as her motherly instincts took over. Being the oldest of twelve, Emily Jane was used to helping her mother by taking matters into her own hands, while her father took care of business. “Let’s go over to my house, and I’ll find them something to eat.” She didn’t wait for his answer, simply scooped the child off the couch and headed to the door.

She heard him follow and decided to have a quiet talk with herself regarding the Barns family. It was her Christian duty to help him get settled into their house. After that, William Barns and his girls were on their own. She didn’t have time for children, and no matter how much he might need a wife, she did not need a husband. Emily Jane glanced back at him. William Barns was a handsome man; he’d find a woman to marry soon and it wouldn’t be her.

The last thing Emily Jane wanted was to get married, especially to a man who already had two children. She didn’t want children. After helping her parents with eleven brothers and sisters, Emily Jane had had enough of kids to last her a lifetime. Plus, she also didn’t want a controlling man in her life. She’d had twenty-three years of her father controlling her and her mother. No, sir, Emily Jane Rodgers wasn’t going to allow a man to control her again. She had bigger plans for her life. Someday she’d open her own bakery and be able to support herself. She’d own her home and be able to buy new things instead of having to wear hand-me-downs, supplied by the local church ladies.

Emily Jane opened the door to the house that she shared with Anna Mae Leland. Anna Mae was the local schoolteacher. They’d met when they’d both answered Levi Westland’s mail-order-bride advertisement. Well, Anna Mae had willingly answered it; she, on the other hand, had been forced to answer it by her father. He’d decided twelve children were too many to feed, and Emily Jane was the oldest and the one he could get rid of the easiest. It hurt that her father and mother had so easily sent her away, to a man she’d never met in a place she’d never been. How could a parent do that to a child, especially their firstborn? Emily Jane didn’t plan to have children, but if she did, they would be loved unconditionally; that much she knew for sure.

The screen door shut behind him as Mr. Barns followed her inside the house. Emily Jane led him to the kitchen. She set the child she held on the braided rug beside the table, walked over to the cabinet and scooped up two empty pans and two large metal spoons. “Please, have a seat, Mr. Barns, and I’ll have dinner ready in just a few moments.” Emily Jane handed the little girl on the floor a spoon and placed one of the pans down in front of her. That would keep the child busy for a few minutes. She motioned for Mr. Barns to set his bundle of joy down beside her sister.

He did so with a sigh and a smile that said thank you.

Emily Jane nodded and then handed the second little girl the other spoon and pan. She’d have to stop thinking of them as little girls and ask what their names were. While he pulled out a kitchen chair, she turned to the stove.

Again, she had something to be thankful for. Emily Jane had already fried up chicken, made mashed potatoes and warmed up a jar of green beans just before she’d seen him and the girls arrive. She expected Anna Mae to arrive home from school any minute now.

And then what? He couldn’t stay in the dusty house tonight, and he couldn’t stay here.

She glanced at him over her shoulder. His deep blue gaze met hers. Emily Jane could get lost in the depths of his needs. She could...but she would not. She simply couldn’t allow that to happen.

The girls banged happily on the pans. The noise filled the room and prevented the need for polite conversation. Emily Jane didn’t want to enjoy the sound of children playing, but deep down she did. She also didn’t want to be aware of the man sitting at her kitchen table. But she was. They reminded her of home and all that she’d lost when she’d answered Levi Westland’s mail-order-bride ad all those months ago.

Would she be able to ignore the man and children in her kitchen? Had things just changed in her life? If so, how was she going to distance herself from the handsome man and his beautiful girls?