Texas Angel, 2-in-1 (17 page)
“Haden.” Benjamin rose and held out his hand in a formal but polite greeting.
Haden took the hand, then jerked his brother into an exuberant bear hug. “Dad burn, if you aren’t all a sight!”
“Haden, please!” Benjamin said, scolding his brother’s profanity.
“Oh . . . I’m sorry. Been out in the wilderness so long, I’ve forgotten how to act with civilized folk. But boy, have I the stories to tell.”
“Tell, tell, Uncle Haden!” urged both children.
“Later, children, I’m sure Uncle Haden must be starved,” Rebekah said, also offering the man a smile, which Benjamin drank in, even if it were not meant for him.
“I could eat a horse, but not before I get a hug from my favorite sister-in-law." He took Rebekah in his arms and swung her up off her feet.
Rebekah tittered. The small glow in her eye seemed not to belong to the woman who only moments before had declared she wished to die.
Haden finished off the stew and told stories for over an hour. Everyone, even Benjamin, listened avidly. Haden Sinclair had been exploring places few white men had ever seen.
“I went as far west as a place called Palo Duro Canyon. Most of the Indians there ain’t never seen a white man.”
“You really seen Indians?” Micah asked. His own encounter with Indians at the camp meeting must have faded from his memory.
“Comanche. And they aren’t like the Indians around here. They are mean—” A sharp look from Benjamin forced Haden to rephrase his words. “They are wild and tough. They were too curious about us to fight us, but I pity the whites when the Comanche do decide to fight.”
“If I recall my geography,” Benjamin said, “the Palo Duro is so far west it is doubtful any white settlers will venture there.”
“Don’t bet on it, Ben.” Haden was the only person who got away with the use of that nickname. “Soon as Texas is independent of Mexico, I don’t doubt Americans will start pouring in. And they will press west. That’s just the nature of men with adventure in their blood.”
“Do you think independence is imminent?”
“When I passed through San Felipe and Brazoria, it was all the talk. Won’t be long.”
“But Austin supports conciliation and appeasement toward Mexico.” Benjamin had also heard much talk on the subject as he traveled his circuit.
“Prison is likely to change his tune. But if it doesn’t, there are men in the colony who will take up arms anyway. Bill Travis is a strong leader and proponent of independence. Ever hear of Sam Houston?”
“Yes, I’ve heard the name. Never met him.”
“There’s the man to watch. An Indian fighter and seasoned military man. Bureaucrats like Austin have had their day. Now it’s time for them to stand aside for men like Houston and Travis. Texas is destined to be free, and it isn’t going to happen on paper. Santa Anna will fight to hang on to Texas.”
“For once I agree with you, Haden. Texas must be liberated from Papist tyranny.”
Haden laughed. “Knew you’d find a way to put a religious bent to it, Ben!”
“Uncle Haden,” put in Micah, obviously growing bored with talk of politics, “you said when you first came that you had some presents.”
“That I did, boy. Why don’t you run out and fetch my saddlebags?”
“Wait, Micah,” Benjamin said. “Perhaps the presents can wait until morning. It is well past your bedtime.”
“But Papa—”
“Don’t talk back, Micah.”
“Come on, Ben!” Haden countered. “Ease up a little. Presents can’t wait. Especially when I have just ridden miles upon miles to bring them.”
Benjamin shrugged and nodded his consent. What else could he do? He already felt like a stranger in his own house. He didn’t like adding villain to that as well.
The presents were distributed. A real Comanche tomahawk for Micah. “I had to trade my canteen for that—in the middle of a desert!” A beaded Indian necklace for Isabel. “A Comanche princess gave this to me to thank me ’cause I helped her carry water. Comanche men don’t ever help their women.” For Rebekah, he had a pouch of thread and a new thimble. “The store clerk in San Felipe said he heard you say you were low on thread.” Then he turned to Benjamin. “This is for you, bro. It’s a medicine pouch I got from the tribe shaman. Thought you two had a lot in common.” His grin revealed he was making sport of Benjamin.
Benjamin grimaced at the pagan item. He felt like tossing it directly into the fire. But he knew his brother would ridicule him for that as well, and he simply did not have the heart for it at the moment. So he shoved it carelessly aside and took his cup of coffee in hand.
After receiving joyful hugs from the children, Haden shooed them off to their beds in the corner of the cabin. The adults continued to talk in low tones.
“I didn’t know about the new baby,” Haden said, “or I would have brought her a present.”
“She wouldn’t be able to appreciate it now anyway,” Rebekah replied. She went to the cradle and lifted Leah, who had begun to stir.
“I’ll bring something next time I visit.”
“Then bring something for two.” Rebekah’s eyes skittered toward Benjamin, then turned quickly away. She concentrated on Leah.
“Two?” Haden grinned. “You have another on the way?”
Rebekah nodded.
“Well, well, well . . .” He slanted a sly glance at Benjamin. “You don’t like to waste time, do you, brother?”
Benjamin jerked to his feet. “I better bed the horses down for the night. I’ll see to yours also, Haden.”
Benjamin was outside only a few minutes when Haden joined him.
“Here, let me give you a hand,” he said.
Benjamin was in the roughly fashioned enclosure for the horses not far from the cabin. It had three walls and a flat roof with a split rail gate across the open wall. He had led both his and Haden’s horses inside and was removing the bridle from Haden’s chestnut mount.
“I hope to build a proper stable soon.” Benjamin laid aside the bridle and took a brush and began running it along the flank of the horse.
“I can stick around for a while. Be glad to help.”
“I wouldn’t want to keep you from your adventures, Haden.”
“Talk about adventures!” Either Haden had not heard the ire in Benjamin’s tone, or he was ignoring it. “Was I surprised to learn you had come to Texas! Didn’t ever think you’d do it, Ben. Guess you’ve got a streak of adventurer in you, too, eh?”
“I came in response to the call of God.”
“Sure, if that’s how you have to put it.”
“What does that mean?” Benjamin’s ire was now too apparent for anyone to ignore.
With a responding sneer, Haden replied, “It makes it easier for you to justify dragging Rebekah all this way against her will.”
“What do you know?” Benjamin snapped. He’d nearly had enough of wonderful Uncle Haden.
“It’s plain to see she is unhappy. And then to be pregnant again so soon. What were you thinking, Ben? Do you realize what it will be like for a woman like Rebekah to give birth out here in the wilderness?”
“And you, who never made a proper commitment in your life, are such an expert on women!” The chestnut twitched restively under Benjamin’s too vigorous brushing.
“Give me that brush!” Haden grabbed the brush, then cooing gently in the animal’s ear, brushed with gentler strokes.
“And a horse expert to boot!” Benjamin mumbled.
“Ben . . .” Sighing, Haden stopped his work and turned toward his brother, gazing not with anger but rather with expansive benevolence. “Come down off that high horse of yours, will you? You and I used to be friends, remember? We used to raise Cain together.”
Benjamin remembered well the days of his youth, and if he chanced to think of them fondly, he reminded himself that they had been days of godless frivolity. For a time he had rebelled with Haden against their father’s iron hand, but at least he had finally repaired his wayward instincts. If he longed for the close relationship he’d once had with his brother, he quickly reminded himself of the scriptural adjuration not to be unequally yoked to an unbeliever.
“I remember, Haden. I remember because it makes me appreciate all the more the deliverance of God—”
“Forget God!”
“I’ll not stand for blasphemy, not from you, not from—” He stopped, reddening as he recalled the painful exchange with his wife.
“From who, Ben? Not Rebekah!” Now the benevolence turned to unabashed pity. “Oh, Ben, what’s happened to you?”
“Don’t you dare use such a tone with me!” Benjamin ordered. “I am not the one to be pitied. What
happened
to me is wonderful, glorious. I’ve been saved, sanctified, and delivered. It is you who should be pitied—and Rebekah if she continues upon her road of rebellion. You are lost, Haden. And what is worse, you don’t even care.”
“I’d rather be lost, Ben, than steeped in the sanctimonious mire you are in.”
Benjamin opened his mouth in angry retort, then suddenly realized he himself was close to falling into sin with an anger he knew was only partly righteous. He choked back the words he’d been about to utter and slowly turned and left the horse enclosure. Before he got far, he turned back.
“You are welcome to bide the night here, Haden, then I think it would be best if you left.”
“I’ll not bide even the night where I am not truly welcome.” Haden picked up the bridle and slipped it back on the chestnut. “Tell the children and Rebekah . . . tell them whatever pleases you.”
Benjamin felt the sudden weight of his guilt. Haden was a sinner and a heathen, but though Benjamin didn’t like to admit it, his brother was a decent man. And once he had been Benjamin’s best friend. That friendship had been Benjamin’s most difficult sacrifice for his faith.
“Haden . . .” The words came hard, but Benjamin knew they had to be said. “I misspoke. I am sorry.”
“Guess we both got a little hot under the collar.” Haden dropped his hand from the bridle.
“I’d be pleased if you stayed on a bit.”
T
HE PEACE BETWEEN THE TWO
brothers held for three days. Benjamin was certain it was only because he made a concerted effort to be tolerant. But it all finally collapsed when Haden interfered in a matter regarding Benjamin’s parenting.
Micah was totally taken with his uncle. He dogged his every step, clung to his every word. It was the kind of unabashed admiration any father would have had a right to envy, but Benjamin told himself his subsequent actions had nothing to do with that.
They were hauling logs to finish the stable for the horses. By their good fortune, the previous occupant apparently had intended to complete the same task or perhaps to make an addition to the cabin. As a result, there was a good supply of logs cut, stripped, and ready for the job. They just needed to be brought up to the building site. It was hard work, especially for the now thirteen-year-old boy, but he proved a great help. Haden praised him frequently. Benjamin took his brother to task a couple of times for spoiling the boy. Micah was doing what was expected of him, and it would make him lazy if he thought he deserved praise each time he did a job. Haden disagreed.
But that was not the problem that finally split the brothers, though it was no doubt a catalyst.
On the third day of their labors, they had worked all day building the fourth wall to the stable, taking time out only for dinner and a few water breaks. Around three in the afternoon, all the logs were in place, thanks in large part to Haden’s experience in building log structures and his valuable suggestions for the tricky process of attaching the new logs to the ones already there. The cracks needed to be grouted, the door opening cut out, and the door built. Benjamin was eager to continue. It was October, and he could feel winter pressing upon them. He thought they could get the door built before dark. It was a simple square structure and would not need to be as sound as a cabin door.
Wiping an arm over his sweaty brow, Haden offered another suggestion. “Let’s quit for the day and take a swim in the creek. I’m about all in anyway.”
“Yeah!” Micah agreed heartily.
“Time is slipping away,” Benjamin countered. “It looks like another rain will come soon. I would like to see the horses properly sheltered.”
“We’ll get an early start in the morning,” Haden said.
“There’s at least three or four more hours of daylight.”
“Benjamin, you are a slave driver.” Haden spoke only partly in jest. “We been working our tails off for two days, and by golly, I’m gonna have myself a swim.”
“I’ve asked you before not to curse, Haden.” Benjamin spoke through clenched teeth.
“ ‘By golly’ isn’t cursing. Quit being such a stickler!”
“That’s a destructive philosophy. If I allow a small evil to take root, it will only breed more until I can no longer discern between right and wrong.”
“You mean evils like this?” Haden then let forth with a stream of such ripe curses it made Benjamin redden with shock.
“I have been as patient with you as any would expect a man to be.” Benjamin stared hard at Haden, all the more so to cover his embarrassment.
“I don’t give a hang about you, Ben. I’m going for a swim.”
“Me too!” piped in Micah, whom Benjamin had nearly forgotten about.
“You will stay and finish working,” Benjamin shot at his son. The minute the words were out, Benjamin knew a line had been drawn, a challenge declared.
“Don’t punish the boy because of me,” Haden said.
“I am not. There is still work to be done, and Micah has learned to finish what he starts.”
“But, Papa, please let me go swimming with Uncle Haden.” Micah’s tone was respectful, imploring.
“You will do as I say.” Benjamin’s tone was as unbending as iron.
“Come on, Micah, let’s go.” Haden’s tone was a dare and a temptation. Benjamin thought Satan must have sounded like that in the Garden of Eden.
Poor Micah looked between the two men—the one he adored and the one he feared. Benjamin knew which man he was, and he knew that a single word of permission from him might have changed everything. But teaching discipline was more important than being liked or adored. Micah would thank him for it one day when he was a man.