A Love to Last Forever (23 page)

Beth felt as if she’d had the wind knocked out of her. Ever since learning that Justin was Nick’s son, she’d not been able to draw a real breath. Seeing that Gwen and Lacy had the meal under control, Beth excused herself and went for a walk. She hoped she could avoid having to deal with anyone else, but instead found herself face-to-face with Justin.

“Looks like you’re in a hurry,” she said.

The boy stopped in his tracks and regarded her for a moment. “I wish I could fly.”

“Me too. I think it would definitely help when I just want to get away and not have anyone bother me. I’d fly up into a tall tree and just sit there and think things through.”

Justin considered this and nodded. “I’d fly up even higher. Way up into the mountains. Maybe into a cave.”

“There are bears in the caves around here. Sometimes mountain lions, too.” Beth pointed to the span of trees that lined the river. “You want to walk with me?”

He shrugged. “I guess so.”

“My name is Beth Gallatin,” she told him and they began to amble along. “I live here with my sisters, Gwen and Lacy. We run the stage stop.”

“Do you really have bears here?”

“Yes, I’m sorry to say. There was one particularly mean one that attacked our dog. They’ve been trying to hunt him down, but most of the menfolk believe he’s gone up into the high country to fatten up on berries and such.”

“Did he hurt your dog?” The boy sounded gravely concerned.

“He did, but it wasn’t too bad. Major is back up and running after rabbits.”

“I’m glad. I had a dog back in Kansas. He was really old, though. He died last year. My grandma died, too.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. My father died last year,” Beth said.

“Where’s your mama?”

Beth looked at the child and smiled. “Heaven. She died when I was a little girl.”

“Mine’s in heaven, too. She died when I was born.”

“I’m so sorry. She missed out on knowing a wonderful young man.”

Justin said nothing until they reached the river. Beth thought perhaps he was done talking, but instead, he turned to her and stunned her with his question.

“Do you know my pa?”

What should she say? She could hardly tell the boy that she fancied herself to be falling in love with Nick Lassiter. Nor could she tell Justin that she was as confused and upset with his arrival as he seemed to be.

“I do know your father,” she said, picking her words very carefully.

The boy frowned. “I don’t. I thought he was a bad man, but I just heard my grandfather say he lied about that.”

Beth’s heart broke for the boy. He sounded so lost and confused. “That must really hurt. I’ve had people lie to me before, and it didn’t feel at all good.” She thought of Nick and how, in all her wildest dreams, she’d never considered that he might have a child. And while it wasn’t exactly a lie, he hadn’t told her, just the same. Had he thought she wouldn’t understand? Had he ever planned to tell her?

Justin pursed his lips as if to keep his mouth closed. After a moment, he seemed to relax. “It doesn’t feel good.”

Beth walked a little ways and took a seat near the edge of the river. “If you want to sit and talk about it, I’m a real good listener.”

“My teacher says sometimes it’s good to talk about things.” Justin walked to where Beth sat and joined her.

“It’s pretty warm out here. Maybe you’d like to take off your coat so you’ll be more comfortable. It’s quite all right with me.”

He threw her a look of gratitude and quickly ripped the coat off and tossed it aside. He was undoing the top button of his collar when Major joined them. Justin startled, but when Beth took the dog to her side and allowed him to settle his head in her lap, the boy relaxed.

“This is Major. He’s the one I was telling you about—he was very brave to face the bear and keep my sister from being attacked.”

Justin reached out his hand. “Can I pet him?”

“Of course.” Beth smiled. “Major would love to have a new friend. Wouldn’t you, boy?” As if to answer, Major turned and licked Justin’s hand in welcome. “See there? He’s already decided to make you his friend.”

Justin smiled for the first time since Beth had met him. For several long moments, they just sat there, petting Major and watching the river run. Spring thaw gave added depth to the river, and Beth found comfort in the rippling water splashing over the rocks.

“Do you think my father is a bad man?”

Beth had almost expected the question, but still it caused her a bit of discomfort. She only knew who Nick was now—she had no idea of who he’d been.

“Well?” Justin pressed. “Is he bad?”

“Not at all. I’m quite fond of your father. I think he’s a very good man.”

The boy appeared to think on this for a time. “He left after I was born. My grandparents always told me he was a no-account. That he wasn’t good enough to be my father.”

“Maybe they were just sad because your mama had died.

Maybe they didn’t want to lose you, too.”

Major shifted from Beth to Justin. He snuggled up against the boy and maneuvered his head under the boy’s arm. Even this didn’t break Justin’s concentration on the conversation. “I suppose they were really sad. But they shouldn’t have lied to me.”

“No,” Beth agreed. “They should have told you the truth.”

Major perked his ears and lifted his head at the sound of rustling in the brush behind them. Beth tensed and got to her feet as quickly as she could.

“Get behind me, Justin. It might be the bear.”

The boy hurried to do as he was told. He clung to Beth’s skirt and peered around her to see what was happening. Beth held him behind her and prayed that God might protect them both. When Nick appeared around one of the cottonwoods, Beth breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry if I’m intruding.” He looked apologetically at Beth, and she got the distinct feeling his expression was on behalf of more than just his interruption.

“We were worried that bear had come back,” Beth said, letting go her hold on Justin.

“You must be hungry,” Nick told his son. “Your grandfather is at the Gallatin House, having lunch. Would you like to join him?”

Justin looked at Beth and she smiled. “There’s still cake.”

“I’ll go then.” He looked at Nick for a moment longer, then ran off toward the house.

Beth noticed he’d forgotten his jacket and walked to where it had been discarded. She picked up the garment and handed it to Nick. “You’ll want to take this with you.”

“Beth . . . I . . . don’t know what to say.”

She met his gaze. “Just don’t lie to me. I can withstand a lot, but I can’t abide lies.”

“I wouldn’t lie. I haven’t lied to you. I told you there were things in my past that I wasn’t proud of. I wanted to tell you all about it, but I was waiting for the right time.”

Beth couldn’t discount the confusion, and even a bit of hurt, over the secret Nick had kept from her, but in all honesty, she couldn’t be mad at him.

“Look, I just need for you to know that having Justin here doesn’t change how I feel about you, and I hope it doesn’t change your feelings for me.” He took hold of her hands. “Beth, I can’t lose you now.”

“This isn’t about us anymore,” Beth said softly. “You have a son who very much needs to get to know you. I think you have to give him time.”

Nick pulled away and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I know you’re right. I just . . . I . . .”

Beth put her finger to his lips. “I like your son very much, and right now he needs you more than anyone.” She felt tears come to her eyes and fought against her emotions. Life certainly wasn’t anything like the romantic stories she’d read. There, the problems seemed so easily solved. But Beth knew her courtship would simply have to wait, despite the cry of her heart.

Nick finally nodded and blew out a long breath. He turned and walked away, his shoulders bent as if carrying the weight of the world. As Beth watched, tears trickled down her cheeks.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“We love the new cabin,” Millie told Beth and her sisters. “It’s wonderful to have space for everyone.”

Spreading a basted quilt out between the four girls, Millie smiled. “Thank you so much for helping me provide for the house.”

“It’s the least we can do,” Gwen said, gently smoothing the quilt top. “I love this pattern.”

Millie smiled. “My mama made part of it and sent me instructions on the rest. She calls it Journey to the Mountains.”

“I like the star in the center,” Gwen commented. “And the colors. The deep greens work well with the brown calicos.”

“Mama always had a good eye for such things,” Millie replied. “This quilt is for Forrest’s bed. I’m going to make him curtains to match in the darkest of the greens.”

“I suppose you heard about the robbery the other day,”

Lacy threw out to change the subject.

“The highwaymen?” Millie asked. “I heard from Forrest. He said three people were held up on the trail to Virginia City.”

“One man was hurt,” Lacy said. She took up a needle and threaded it. “One of the thieves hit him in the head. He was trying to keep the man from stealing his watch.”

Gwen shook her head. “Hank said we will have to be extra cautious. He doesn’t want us traveling alone on the road.”

“If we had a decent legal system around here,” Lacy said, “these kinds of things wouldn’t happen.”

“That’s hardly fair to say,” Gwen replied. “Bozeman has plenty of crime, and they have the sheriff right there in town.”

“And larger cities have all sorts of violence and crimes,” Beth offered.

“I suppose,” Lacy said, but she didn’t sound at all convinced.

“So how have you been feeling?” Gwen asked.

Millie laughed. “Fat. I feel very fat. Here it is only June, and I feel as big as a barn.” She patted her growing abdomen. “Evan teases me about having twins.”

“What does the doctor say?” Beth asked. She worked on making tiny stitches on the inside edges of the pattern.

“The last time I visited him in Bozeman, he said I looked normal to him. He reminded me that in three months I’ll have a baby, and for that to happen, the baby has to grow.” She put her hand to her stomach again. “He kicks all the time.”

“So you’ve decided it’s a boy, have you?” teased Beth.

“Evan says it is. He rants about it all the time, telling me all the things he’s gonna do with his son. Personally, I don’t care. I’m so excited about being a mother, it doesn’t matter in the least to me.”

“Ah, here are all the valley’s loveliest ladies gathered in one place,” Hank said as he bounded into the room. “I see you are all hard at work.” He kissed Gwen on the top of the head.

“Hard at work and deep in conversation,” Gwen replied with a smile.

“And what has captured your attention today, besides quilting?”

“We were talking about the highwaymen, for one thing,” Lacy said, struggling to keep her thread from knotting.

“Funny you should mention that. I’ve been talking about it, as well. That’s why I’m here. I’m going to ride over to Bozeman to speak with the sheriff. I’m hoping to convince him to allow Dave to work from here. I think with all the problems going on, we need a full-time officer in the area.”

Lacy frowned. “I doubt it would matter much.”

“Now, Lacy, that’s hardly fair. You are too hard on Dave.”

She shrugged. “I just don’t see that having him around is going to help much. He’ll just spend all of his time chiding me about how I dress or what I work at. I’m sure he thinks I ought to just sit around and quilt all the time.”

Hank laughed. “Somehow, I doubt that. Anyway, I need someone to handle the store while I’m away. Would you like to do that, Lacy?”

She quickly discarded her needle and thread. “I’d love to.”

Gwen laughed. “She’s never cared for sewing. You’ve given her a reprieve from a fate worse than death.”

Lacy got to her feet. “I can’t help it if I’m no good at this kind of thing.”

“And you’ll never get any better if you don’t practice,” Gwen countered.

“Well, for now, I’m going to practice running the store.”

Lacy turned to Hank. “Let’s go.”

Hank leaned down and kissed Gwen again. “I probably won’t be back until late. Don’t worry about me.”

“You really shouldn’t be on the road at night, what with the robberies. Maybe you should just plan to stay the night in Bozeman.”

“If Dave can’t come back with me, I’ll do just that.”