Texas Brides Collection (52 page)

Reuben waited for James to answer and gritted his teeth.

“No, sir.” James kept boring into Reuben with those burning molasses eyes. “But I’d keep my wallet close by if I were you.”

Only Charlotte’s firm squeeze in the crook of Reuben’s elbow kept him from taking a swing at the man.
Lord, I sure need Your hand to hold mine back right about now
.

James pushed past them both, and Reuben released a pent-up breath.

“Son, you did good.” Albert gave him a nod, then went back to his wife.

“Let’s sit down and eat, and you can tell me how wonderful everything tastes.” Charlotte moved closer to his side, not releasing her grip on his arm.

“Thanks.” Reuben found a quiet place at a bench in the corner. He settled onto the seat. The rest of the crowd seemed to be enjoying their meals. Would his past continually trail him like this? No wonder he had delayed coming home for so long. He removed his coat and laid it on the bench behind him.

He watched Charlotte unfold a pair of napkins. She handed one to him.

“Here. Wouldn’t want you to muss that nice shirt of yours.”

Charlotte had their meal spread between them quick enough. He asked the blessing and wasted no time tearing into the largest piece of chicken in front of him.

“I’m glad you won.” She gave him a small smile that lit the corner of the room.

“I am, too,” he said around a bite of chicken. “This is one more step toward atonement.”

Her face flushed again. “What do you mean?”

“You see, after I made my peace with the Lord, I promised Him I would make up for as many wrong things as I could. To show Him I was sorry. Reverend Mann said it was needful that I do.”

“Needful?”

Reuben nodded. “To make sure I was forgiven.”

“I believe in making restitution when you can, but, Reuben, you can’t atone for your sins.” She touched his hand, an act that made his throat grow a knot. He hoped no one had seen the gesture.

“You don’t understand.” Reuben moved his hand away from hers. “I’ve done so many wrong things that the scales are heavy against me. God’s scales.”

“What about grace?”

“What are you talking about?”

Charlotte leaned closer, close enough that he could see the sprinkle of freckles remaining on her cheeks. “God’s grace and the forgiveness He gives us tip the scales in our favor. Well, better than that. He knocks the weights off the scales, and we don’t owe any more.”

Reuben set down the chicken bone and grabbed a biscuit. He tried to think about her words. The scales knocked clean. Not owing anymore. The thought of weights being lifted from him sounded like a breath of fresh air, the kind a man inhaled when sitting on top of a mountain.

“You don’t know what I’ve done, Charlotte.” The flaky biscuit did little to soothe the churning Reuben felt inside his stomach. “It’s easy for you. You haven’t drifted off the straight ’n’ narrow more than a few paces in your life.”

“But I’ve still been wrong. I battle with—with pride, a sharp tongue, a bitter attitude. Quite often, in fact.” Charlotte was trying to look him in the eye, but at the moment he found a second biscuit more interesting and wouldn’t glance her way.

“Charlotte, I was an outlaw. I lived without thought of right or wrong. I don’t think asking for forgiveness is all I have to do.”

“Are you saying that what Jesus did for us wasn’t enough?”

“Of course not.” He didn’t care if she saw the biscuit lolling around in his mouth. Tonight was not going as he’d planned. Not at all. He had wanted to see if there might be an inkling of love for him inside Charlotte, but instead he’d gotten tossed onto the grill over an open fire.

“Reuben, there’ll always be people like James wanting to fling your past in your face. But as you told him, that’s not you anymore.”

He wanted to believe her, to kiss the lips on her earnest face. Right now, though, he felt as if the hangman’s noose had settled around his neck.

“Miss Charlotte, I thank you kindly for the superb meal and your company.” Reuben stood and nodded to her while reaching for his hat. He found his coat, which had slipped to the floor, and put it on.

“Where are you going?” Her eyes pleaded with him to stay.

“I reckon I need some air.” With that he turned on his heel and walked away. If he could but step away from his past so easily.

Reuben paused at the door when he reached inside his outer pocket and felt a piece of paper. He slid it out and found a five-dollar note.

This was not his money. The cash he’d withdrawn from the bank for supper, he’d tucked inside his chest pocket. He did not recall anyone giving him cash, either.

Someone was out to smear him, and he had a pretty good idea who’d like to try. He stood outside in the chilly air and felt a long, slow burn inside.

“Reuben Wilson?” He turned at the sound of a voice at his elbow.

“I’m Ed Smythe…from the telegraph office?”

Reuben’s heart leapt inside him. “Have you received word?”

Ed withdrew a folded paper from his pocket. “I was hoping you’d be in town Friday, but since you weren’t, I thought I’d bring this tonight.”

“Well, thank you.” Reuben received the paper and watched Ed stride toward a waiting team.

He read the paper.

“Colt Wilson. Inmate at Texas State Penitentiary, Huntsville.” The chief warden had replied to Reuben’s inquiry.

Oh, Ma. I’m making good on my promise
. Reuben needed to speak with Sam as soon as possible about leaving for Texas.

When Charlotte emerged from the chapel with her ma and pa, Reuben found Checkers and watched, hoping to speak to Sam without having to face Charlotte.

The last thing he saw before riding home was Charlotte talking to James, standing next to his buggy that gleamed in the lantern light.

“No, James.” Charlotte shrugged off his attention and shivered. Her breath made puffs in the evening air.
Where did Pa go? He said he’d be right along with the wagon
.

“I’m trying to warn you.” James took a step closer. “Reuben Wilson has not changed, and I’m going to prove it. One way or another.”

“Whatever Reuben is, he is my friend, and I’ve known him practically my whole life.” Charlotte glared at him as best she could. “Leave him alone.” She saw Pa driving up with the team and moved away from James.

“You’re not thinking clearly. Childhood fancies have—”

“I’ve never thought more clearly than now.” The chilly air stung her hot cheeks. “In fact, it’s clear to me that I don’t want you to come calling—or offer me rides anywhere—ever again.”

Charlotte turned on her heel and joined her parents. This was what Reuben had meant. She felt like a young child bilked out of her small coins by a huckster’s false promise. Relief soon followed, and she smiled at Pa.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

“Yes, it is. Or I hope it will be.”

He helped Momma and then her onto the wagon, and they headed for home.

Reuben did not come to the house after the family returned from the box social. Charlotte didn’t suppose he would, but for a while she held the remote hope that he might. She had so many things she wanted to say to him.

The poor man, all he’d wanted was a good supper, and she’d kept at him like a pecking hen.

A knock sounded at the door as if in response to her thoughts. Reuben stood there holding his hat. “Charlotte, I must speak with your pa.” The urgency in his voice made her stomach turn.

“Of course.” She opened the door wider for him. “What’s wrong?

“Nothing, but I need to leave for a spell.”

“Leave?” A dozen questions soared through her mind. She turned to the kitchen. “Pa, it’s Reuben.”

“Well, send him in here. Your ma has the kettle on.”

Charlotte followed Reuben into the warm kitchen. He stood there, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. She tried to sit without drawing attention to herself.

“Sir, I’ve received word of my brother Colt. He’s in Huntsville.”

Pa nodded. “You must go to him.”

“I’m real sorry. I don’t like leaving you like this. But I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Leaving? Charlotte’s heart sank. He said he’d return but…

“We’ll send you with a parcel of food for your trip.” Pa huffed through his mustache. “Charlotte, gather some things for Reuben.”

Charlotte stood, glad for something to do. That way she could listen while the men planned. She began gathering provisions.

“I’ll leave on the next stage out. Can’t say as I know how long I’ll be.”

“You take what time you need, and we’ll be home waiting for you, son.” Pa gripped Reuben’s shoulder.

“Thank you, sir.” Reuben’s voice was a bare whisper.

Home. Pa had called this place Reuben’s home. Charlotte’s vision blurred with tears. This time she wouldn’t let him leave without a word. This time things would be different. They had to.

Reuben slid the piece of paper money from his pocket and showed Sam once Charlotte had left the room. “Sir, this isn’t mine.”

“Well, whose is it then?”

“I don’t know. I found it in my pocket tonight.”

“Do you think you miscounted?”

“No, sir, I don’t. The bank clerk counted the money twice in front of me.” Reuben sighed. “I counted my money twice when I paid for my box supper tonight.”

“That doesn’t explain the extra bill.”

“It doesn’t. I think someone put it in my pocket, intending to frame me for stealing it. I know it’s only a five-dollar note, but I’m not going back to jail again.”

“Now, son, don’t think that.” Sam scratched his chin. “I tell you what. Let me hold onto this until you get back. We’ll get it straightened out. Go see your brother. Right now you going to Huntsville is safer than staying here.”

R
euben felt as if he moved in someone else’s dream as Sam drove him to meet the stage. He had a sack of food, enough for two men, on this trip. He was not sure what would happen, nor was he worried about that at the moment.

Charlotte had not said good-bye to him that morning. He had hoped for a glimpse of her, but in the predawn hours, Mrs. Jeffers told him Charlotte was ill. A fine time for her to get sick.

“Well, son. Here you are.” Sam drew the team to a halt. “You be sure and telegraph when you get there, just so we know. We’ll be praying for you and for Colt, as well.”

“I appreciate that, sir.” He shook hands with Sam and climbed from the wagon. Approaching hoofbeats made him look back where they’d traveled from.

Charlotte rode up on Belle. Her hair streamed back in the wind, her cheeks flushed.

“You ought to be home in bed,” Sam chided.

“No one woke me.” She swung off Belle’s back. Her face looked pale. “But I had to see you before you left.”

Sam reached for Belle’s reins. “Go on—you two talk. I’m not going anywhere.” Reuben couldn’t believe he was leaving Charlotte again. But he would be back.

He escorted her a few paces away from the wagon. “Your ma told me you were sick.”

“I don’t care.” Charlotte’s cheeks blazed. “I couldn’t let you leave without telling you…”

“I’ll be home again as soon as I can. I want to see what I can do for my brother and hope to start making up for the past.”