A Truth Revealed (The Heart of Cheyenne #3)

Chapter 12

12

“How are the boys doing?” Granite asked, looking around the small shack of a home.

Gus Synder poured a cup of coffee, then handed the mug to his boss. “Doin’ good enough. You keep them in money, and they’re happy as pigs in mud.”

Granite took a sip of the bitter brew and nodded. “You know, I pay you enough. You could live better than this.”

“Yeah, but that would raise suspicions. After all, I’m just your warehouse overseer. Living better would cause folks to wonder how I got the money to live that way. Besides, I’ve lived like this all my life. It suits me well enough.” He poured another mug of coffee, then sat down at the table where Granite was sitting.

“So everybody’s keeping their mouth shut?”

“Yeah, they know better than to talk. It’d be the last thing they ever did. Harvey keeps them in line.”

Granite knew Harvey Breckenridge was one of Gus’s cousins, and the family was loyal to each other. In fact, Granite had never seen the likes. Gus employed two of his cousins, and the men would die for him. Granite had no idea what had instilled that kind of loyalty but knew that, besides being related, the men had gone through the war together.

The war had done strange things to men. He’d seen it on both sides, and it fascinated him. The very idea of a man giving his life for another was so very foreign. Granite himself had never been loyal to anyone but Laura’s mother. She was the reason he pursued wealth and power. Her memory was the driving force behind everything he did. Well, that and his own self-satisfaction and greed.

“Harvey say anything about the last job?”

“He outlined it for me. They waited in that hilly area just to the south. Hid in some of the rocks. It was simple enough to jump out at the last minute and take the stage down. Driver and his man didn’t know they were under attack until it was too late. Problem came with that new man, Abe Johnson. We had to let him go.”

“He started the killing?”

“Yeah. Thought he was back at Gettysburg. Totally lost his sense of where he was and what was going on. He was the one who scalped those men. The other fellas were collecting the valuables like you wanted, but Abe acted like an animal.”

Granite lifted the coffee Gus had poured for him when he first arrived. “But he won’t be a problem anymore?”

Gus shook his head. “No. He’s been dealt with.”

“What about the money? Anyone getting greedy?”

“Those boys have been with us too long for that kind of nonsense. Like I said, they know if they dared to cause trouble they’d be quickly dealt with—like with Abe. They’ve also seen it happen before when we had fellas less inclined toward loyalty. Now that most of them have been with us for a time, they know how things go.”

“Good. Our system is working well. They know what’s ex pected and do what they’re told, or they die. It’s that simple. And no one but you needs to know I’m holding the reins. Keeping my identity a secret is to everyone’s benefit.”

“Yes, sir.” Gus drank the rest of his coffee and got up to get another cup. “What did you have in mind for us to do next?”

“We’re laying low for a time. The army is still out there trying to locate the Indians who robbed the stage and killed the passengers.” Granite finished off his coffee, then continued. “And that money box was full. It’ll hold the boys for quite a while and help me build my new house.”

“What about that fella you’ve got in your house?” Gus asked, holding up the pot toward Granite. “More?”

Granite shook his head. Gus made the worst coffee in the territory, and he had no desire to suffer through another mug. “Don’t you worry about the man in my house. It’s done wonders to keep Laura busy. She’s been the dutiful nurse, and the preacher is lost in his mourning. I guess I am a little sorry for him. It wasn’t in my plan that there would be women on the stage. Seems we seldom get women traveling this time of year, and the fact that they happened to be his mother and sister is a tragedy, to be sure.”

“If Abe hadn’t lost his mind when the older woman pulled a derringer out of her bag, they might still be alive.”

“A derringer, eh?” Granite had to admire Mrs. Porter’s gumption. “Well, it’s done, and the haul was excellent. The law believes it was the work of Indians, just as they will on the next job we pull.”

“And when will that be?” Gus asked, reclaiming his seat.

“Those soldiers and lawmen are gonna be searching until spring. By then, the Indians will be getting itchy to get off the reservations, and the army will have their hands full. The lawmen will be busy with new settlers coming in, and I’ve already gotten word that there will be at least ten different new herds of cattle coming our way. A group down in Texas is planning to unite and push up here to resettle. Not to mention sheep. There’s a herd of a couple hundred that are being relocated here from Colorado Territory. The owner came and finalized his purchase of land last week. Ought to be interesting. I never did see a time a sheep man and cattle rancher could get along. With all that going on, you’ll get your chance for a new adventure.

“In the meanwhile, talk to that other cousin of yours and lay in more of the Indian wares. That always serves us well.”

“Harvey will handle it. As long as you supply him with rifles and ammo to trade, the Sioux will give him whatever he asks for.”

“You’ve got quite the interesting family, Gus.”

The man shrugged. “We know how to deal with the law and those who get too out of hand.”

Granite got to his feet. “Thanks for all you do. There’s gonna be some extra cash coming your way. Oh, and thanks for taking care of that kitten.”

“I didn’t.” The man looked at Granite with a blank expression. “Never did find the thing.”

“Hmm, well, it’s gone. I suppose that’s good enough. Since Laura’s said nothing about it, maybe she found it another home. I made it clear I didn’t like animals in the house. Could be she cared enough to do something about it. Wouldn’t that be something? An unselfish act from an Evans.”

“Your daughter seems to be a good sort.”

Granite gave a slight smile. “She does, doesn’t she? She never gets into my business and seems content to just sew with her lady friends, nurse Mr. Porter, and go to church. She’s the kind of good sort that would make a quality wife, and I intend to find her a husband as soon as possible. If I can connect her to one of the more powerful and wealthy men of our town, we might be able to create a force that people will have to deal with. And eventually that force might put me behind the governor’s desk.”

“As I hear it, you may be put there by the president. Rumor has it you’re in the top running with one other fella.”

Granite nodded. “But I’ve never relied on rumors, nor trusted them. It’s hard to tell who’s putting out the information. Washington is a long way off, and a lot can get misinterpreted along the way. I hope they’re right, but I’ll rely solely on myself to make it happen.”

Will heard the front door open and wondered if Laura had returned. He found himself almost hoping she had so that they could visit. Lately, her company had become more and more appealing, although he continually forced away thoughts of how perfectly suited they were. Will had often thought of the kind of woman he’d one day marry, and Laura met his requirements and then some. She cared deeply about the people around her and took responsibility for things whether they were hers to deal with or not. Just taking care of him was an example of that. Making sure the kitten had a home was another. She was also respectful of her father even when he said things that were harsh and uncalled for. The man always apologized after his outbursts, especially if he caught sight of Laura’s pained expression, but there was something of a mystery about him that Will didn’t quite understand.

Just then, the very man looked into Will’s temporary room. “Am I disturbing you?”

“No, sir. This is your house, after all.” Will did his best to sound welcoming.

“How’s the recovery coming along?”

“Good, I believe. The doctor seems to think it too soon for me to master stairs, and Mrs. Cooper is still unable to offer me a ground floor room. Otherwise, I would be thanking you for your very kind help and letting you have your room back.”

Granite Evans surprised him by laughing heartily. “You haven’t been any trouble at all, and this is just an extra room. If all houseguests were as quiet and easily dealt with as you’ve been, I’d have them all the time.”

“Still, I know you’re a very busy man and having a stranger around all the time can’t be easy.”

“Honestly, son, if you were a problem, you wouldn’t be here.” Granite stepped in closer. “But seriously, how are you feeling? You seem rather ... dark of mood.”

Will didn’t know how the man knew what he was feeling. He’d been around so seldom that unless someone else had told him, Will wasn’t sure how he’d deduced this.

“I guess I am.” Will hated admitting his feelings to anyone, much less a stranger, but he did owe this man his life in some ways.

“The loss of my mother and sister is quite overwhelming to me, and it’s made even worse knowing that I was the reason they were in a position of danger.” Will looked away, trying to steady his emotions.

“And being laid up hasn’t helped my mood at all,” he added, glancing back at the older man with a shrug. “Although the care has been exceptional.”

“Yes, indeed. Laura is a remarkable young woman,” Evans replied. “I can say that with pride, even though I’ve had little to do with it.”

“You sent her away right after the death of her mother, as I understand it.”

Mr. Evans frowned. “It was for the best of us both. I was a very wounded man after losing my beloved wife. Perhaps that’s why I recognize the darkness in you.”

His conclusion made perfect sense and caused Will to relax a bit. “Yes, that’s how I feel in losing my mother and sister. A part of me wants to fight with everyone I encounter. Another part wants only to pour out my heart and yet another to hide from the world.”

Evans nodded. “Exactly. I didn’t have it in me to comfort Laura. She was just a child and had been very close to her mother. I knew she needed someone to care for her, to listen to her.” He looked away, and Will thought his expression bore a great deal of regret. “I knew it couldn’t be me. I failed her miserably. I missed out on so much of her life, but what was I to do? I couldn’t expose her to my rage.”

“On the other hand, you might have found solace in her presence.”

“I might have. But she was so young and needy, and I just couldn’t take the chance that my anger would rise against her one day.”

“I can understand your concern. It would seem the people who played a part in raising her did a good job. She’s devoted to God, intelligent, beautiful, and as kind and gentle as any woman I’ve ever met.”

“She is.” Granite glanced out the window for a long moment, then turned back to Will. “But enough about Laura. What about you? What plans have you now that things have changed?”

Will shook his head. “What do you mean exactly?”

“Now that Indians have killed your mother and sister. What have you decided?”

“I gave it a lot of consideration. I’m not going.” The answer surprised Will. Had he really come to that conclusion? Could he just turn away from a lifetime of planning to follow in his father’s footsteps?

“I should clarify. I know that there are good Indians as well as bad, just as there are good and bad amongst every race of people. But right now...” He fell silent. Why was it so hard to sort through his feelings?

“What were you doing while awaiting your assignment to go?” Evans asked.

Will glanced up. “I was making furniture over at Bradley’s.”

“Are you any good at it?”

“Mr. Bradley was pleased and told me I was a blessing. People often sought me out for special projects, so I guess I’m good enough.” Will shifted in the chair. His side ached. He hoped Curtis would come soon to help him to bed.

“Well, if you ever want a job with me, I know I could find something for you. I’ve asked around, and you have a sterling reputation. Preachers usually do, but given your age and lack of wife, I suppose I did wonder. But everyone I talk to tells me that you are uncompromised and reputable. You have even earned high praise from Judge Kuykendall.”

Will remembered the man and his request for a blanket box for his wife. He had wanted it carved with intricate scrolling to match another piece of furniture. Will had gone to his house and studied the piece to get it just right. It had taken an impressive number of hours to complete, but when he was done, it looked as though the pieces had always been together.

“The judge is kind to offer praise. I merely created a piece of furniture to his design.”

“Well, even so, the fact that you were able to please him speaks volumes to me.” Evans turned toward the door. “I am always happy to find a place in my company for men of quality. It seems to me that you’d be wasted out on a reservation.”

“It’s hard to just give up on the idea, even with what happened. I come from a long line of preachers who worked with various tribes of Indians. It’s something I figured I was called to do ... to follow in their footsteps.” But the idea of working for Granite did linger in his thoughts. If Will was to truly believe all things happened for a reason, then maybe Granite Evans was a part of his future. Maybe he’d been so fixed on what he believed was his destiny that he missed seeing that God actually had another plan for him.

“Maybe you have another calling now,” Granite said as if reading Will’s mind. “Ever think of that? I don’t walk with the Almighty in the same manner that you and Laura do. I’ll give it to you that there is a God, but I am not at all convinced that He cares about us.”

His words caused feelings of defense to rise in Will. “But how could He give such attention to the details of His creation and then play no part in our daily lives? It seems to me that He must care, even love us dearly.”

“But he allowed your mother and sister to be cruelly killed. He stood by as death stole away the mother of a young child and a beloved wife—my wife. How does that support a case for His love?”

Yesterday, Will would have considered himself the wrong person to ask. He would have been far more inclined to think as Evans did. But there was something about hearing the words aloud from someone else.

“The world holds a great many flaws. Sickness, death, evil. We endure as best we can. We see throughout the Bible examples of those things and God’s dealings with His children.”

“He allowed His own son to die a hideous death on a cross,” Evans interjected. “How is that love?”

“It was love for us. It made a bridge for us to the Divine. Jesus came to deliver us from the evil of this world. By accepting Him as Savior and repenting of our sins, we can come into the presence of the Father. We are forgiven and accepted as children.”

“But to what purpose, Mr. Porter? God doesn’t keep us from experiencing the evils of this world. We still know sickness, death. We aren’t set free from those things.”

“No, but we are set free from eternal damnation, from a hopeless end that will separate us eternally from God.”

“It sounds like your loss has not shaken your faith, as I presumed. I suppose that’s a good thing given your desire to preach. However, I cannot make my peace with a Creator who stands idle while His creation suffers.”

“Nor could I, but I don’t believe God is idle. I believe He grieves over us as a father would his child. If Laura were hurt, you would grieve. If she were threatened by some evil that she willingly allowed in her life, would you not fight for her and intercede in whatever way possible?”

“Of course I would. I would eliminate whatever that evil was, proving my point. If I were God and knew of what evils were to come, I would never stand by and allow it to touch Laura. If I, an earthly father, flawed as I am would do that, how much more should we be able to expect it from God?”

“But we have no idea of the ways He guards us and keeps evil from our door. We live in a very flawed world. A world full of sin and death that came at mankind’s choice. God does not impose His will upon us, Mr. Evans. But I am convinced that He loves us, beckons us, and delights in us when we turn away from sin and return to Him.”

Will could feel his anger toward God ease a bit. Maybe he just needed to hear the words aloud—to hear what his own father had told him many times when Will was a boy.

“Evil men will always do evil things, and yes, there will be times when we suffer the effects, even as God’s beloved children. However, I still believe in His love and goodness.”

Granite Evans shrugged. His face was void of expression. “To each his own, Mr. Porter. I’ll bid you goodnight. Please know that you are welcome here as long as you need a place to stay.” He started to go, then turned back. “And that is my grace. Not God’s.”