Authors: Leigh Greenwood
And the men who didn’t.
“You boys sure know how to shoot. Told Pa that, too. He said you was from back East. He said nobody back East except mountain folks knowed how to use a gun. I told him about that brother of yours, how he picked off Klute and Buddy without nobody even seeing him, but Pa wouldn’t listen to that neither.”
“What are you going to do?” George asked.
“Take him home and bury him next to Ma. She’d like that. Me, I wouldn’t care if the coyotes got him.”
George watched as the man picked up his pa and draped him over the saddle of a horse someone led out of the brush. The old man was dead. George had lost his battle with himself.
“I meant to shoot him in the elbow,” George said, more to himself than to Rose and Salty. “I just wanted to make sure he couldn’t shoot Rose after I hit him.”
“You did,” Salty said. “But he could use both hands. He was drawing a bead on you while you were helping Rose up. I had to put a bullet into him. Only I’m not as good as you, so I aimed for something bigger than his elbow.”
George felt a tremendous flush of relief. He had won. If he could do that when Rose’s life was in danger, he could always do it.
“I’ll go see if they’re really gone,” Salty said. He climbed out of the creek and disappeared into the brush.
“Do you think they’ll come back?” Rose asked.
“Not anymore,” George said, feeling almost like his old self. “That man is different from his father. Where have you hidden Zac? I didn’t see him when I went to get my pistol.”
“I don’t know,” Rose answered. “I was looking for him when McClendon caught me.”
“Do you mean he went off without telling you?”
“I’m afraid I fell asleep.”
“When I find him, I’m going to take every inch of skin off his hide,” George swore.
“He didn’t mean—”
“I know, but he nearly caused you to get killed. I can’t excuse that.”
But George didn’t have to look for Zac. At that moment a tiny form propelled itself out of the brush and straight over the creek bank into George’s arms.
Before George could say any of the things boiling in his brain, Zac shouted, “Look, George. I brought the army.”
George looked up to see an army officer on horseback, covered in general’s braid and dozens of ribbons, emerge from a side path through the brush. A patrol of eighteen men followed.
“I’m Phil Sheridan,” the man announced. “Can you tell me where I can find George Randolph? I’ve got a pardon for him.”
George stared at the smoldering remains of their home. The logs were too thick to burn, but the roof was gone. Virtually everything inside had been destroyed. Every inch of floorboard had been ripped up. Chests and cabinets smashed. Every pot and cupboard emptied. Tins and boxes ripped open and cast on the floor. There were so many holes in the yard it looked like a prairie dog town.
They had even dug into the graves of Mrs. Randolph and young Alex.
“You can’t live here,” Sheridan said.
“No,” George agreed. “We’ll move to Austin.”
Rose’s gaze flew to George’s face.
“I’ll have my men clear away the debris,” Sheridan offered.
“It’ll give them something to do while they’re waiting for Cor-tina’s men to strike again. You don’t have to worry about those McClendons, either. That’s something else we’ll clean up.”
“You can’t give up,” Rose pleaded to George. “Not after you’ve worked so hard.”
“I’m not. We have a parade to attend, or have you forgotten?”
Rose had never imagined a smile could be so cheerless. But it made her proud of him. Very proud.
“Besides, you can’t stay here while we build another house, a real house this time. It’ll take too long. It has to be big enough to hold at least a half dozen Yankee brats.”
Rose felt her heart lurch violently in her chest. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I’m positively looking forward to the responsibility. I welcome the challenge of guiding their teetering footsteps along life’s treacherous path. I long to sit, Solomon-like, in judgment of their disputes. I’ll be a repository of wisdom, a fount of knowledge, a treasure chest of counsel.”
“You sure it’s a bunch of kids you’re after?” Salty asked. “Sounds to me like you’re running for governor.”
Rose and George laughed.
“You do know I can’t stay in Austin after the parade,” Rose told George. “And there’s no use arguing. No woman in her right mind would stay away while her husband was building her house.”
“But there’s no place for you to live.”
“I’ll live where you live and sleep where you sleep. In the open or in the cave. It doesn’t matter, but I’m not staying in Austin.”
“Maybe I’d better give this idea of having children a little more thought,” George said with an attempt to appear serious. “I don’t know if I can stand a houseful of girls as stubborn as you.”
Rose’s face softened with emotion. “You’re not doing it for me, are you?” she asked.
“Of course I am. They’ll be my gift to you for all that you have been, are, and ever will mean to me. But they’ll also be my gift to me. They’ll be my belief in the future, in myself, my triumph over the past. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
“For an ex-army man, he’s sure given to a lot of high-flown sentiment,” Sheridan remarked to Salty.
“Sounds like it,” Salty answered, grinning. “I guess it’s a good thing he didn’t reenlist.”
“Reenlist?” General Sheridan directed a penetrating look at George.
“Yeah. For a while he thought about going west to fight Indians.”
“You think he would? Any man who can hold off forty men practically by himself could make colonel in no time. And if Grant took an interest in him, there’s no telling how high he could go.”
“I don’t think he’s interested,” Salty said, watching George and Rose as they walked arm-in-arm toward the oak sheltering the two graves. “I think he’s got a whole different tribe of little Indians in mind now. And Rose is the only general he’s going to put up with looking over his shoulder.”
The period of Reconstruction after the Civil War was a truly reprehensible postlude to our bloodiest and most tragic war. The greatest misfortune, however, was not that it happened, but that it went on so long. In Texas, outside rule lasted for nine long years.
On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger landed in Texas and declared the state under military rule. Most of the soldiers were stationed in coastal cities where they created problems with the local citizens. After a black army garrison terrorized Victoria, the white officers refused to let any professed Union man or black be jailed by local citizens. Black troops burned the town of Brenham to the ground, but no soldier was ever brought to trial or admonished. Other soldiers raided Brownsville with similar impunity.
In 1866, the United States Congress devised the
ironclad
oath, which barred people who “had ever voluntarily borne arms against the United States or yielded a voluntary support to any ‘pretended’ government hostile or inimical thereto” from holding office at state or local levels. In 1867, General Charles Griffin extended it to include all persons who had ever held a state or federal office
before
the Rebellion. This interpretation included mayors, school trustees, clerks, public weighers, even the cemetery sexton.
It wasn’t until after 1869, during the administration of Governor Davis, that the tax burden became ruinous. Six million dollars of taxes were levied against an estimated eight hundred thousand dollars needed to run the government. Most were land taxes which ruined the planters and farmers but left the
businessmen relatively untouched. Twenty-one percent of Texans’ income went for taxes.
Texas rule did not return to the hands of Texans until Davis was forcibly ousted from office in January 1874.
I’ve taken two liberties with history. First, I’ve moved the problems with skyrocketing taxes forward about five years. Second, the army did not attempt to stop Cortina’s raids or eliminate Indian and rustler raids. It wasn’t until 1875 when Captain L. H. McNelly organized his company of rangers that any effective measures were taken against Cortina.
With the exception of General Sheridan, all characters and incidents in this book are products of my imagination.
There is a real Randolph family of Virginia which numbers among its members President Thomas Jefferson, Supreme Court Justice John Marshall, and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Any similarity to members of this family, living or dead, is purely accidental.
“Leigh Greenwood continues to be a shining star of the genre!”
—
The Literary Times
“Leigh Greenwood remains one of the forces to be reckoned with in the Americana romance subgenre.”
—
Affaire de Coeur
“Leigh Greenwood NEVER disappoints. The characters are finely drawn…always, always, a guaranteed good read!”
—
Heartland Critiques
“The Seven Brides series has captured the hearts of romance fans everywhere. Leigh Greenwood is exceptional!”
—
The Literary Times
“[Leigh Greenwood] writes Americana at its best. The Randolphs are not just characters, they’re your friends and family. Hold these books close to your heart. You care about these people. You absolutely love them.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“…one of the best series to come along in years. Seven Brides is a brilliant body of fiction.”
—
Affaire de Coeur
Rose
“
Rose
has a uniqueness that truly sets it apart. Leigh Greenwood is a dynamo of a storyteller.”
—
Los Angeles Daily News
“I couldn’t put
Rose
down until I had finished it. Don’t miss the beginning of a memorable series about the rugged, romantic Randolphs.”
—
Rendezvous
“Leigh Greenwood has created a powerful family saga that showcases an exciting dynasty in the making. Readers will eagerly look forward to the stories of the remaining Randolph brothers.”
—
Affaire de Coeur
“The characters never falter. Each brother deserves a story of his own. These characters you lock within you and cher ish.”
—
Heartland Critiques
“Kick up your heels and get set to enjoy a big, boisterous romance.
Rose
is fun, exuberant, and entertaining with a special charm all its own.”
—
RT Book Reviews
Fern
“Gentle persuasion and passionate loving stirred with the tender, loving pen of Leigh Greenwood present the reader with an unforgettable, high-caliber read!”
—
Heartland Critiques
Iris
“Leigh Greenwood continues the standard of excellence that began with
Rose
and continued in
Fern
.
Iris
is a strong, multidimensional novel…The character depth and portrayal is nothing short of remarkable.”
—
Affair de Coeur
Laurel
“Wow! What can I say but magnificent, superb, wonderful, and captivating. The characters are so true to life, I feel they are personal friends of mine!”
—
Rendezvous
Daisy
“Fans of the Seven Brides series, as well as new readers, will find
Daisy
a not-to-be-missed keeper!”
—
RT Book Reviews
Violet
“Leigh Greenwood writes Americana at its best! Hold these books close to your heart.”
—
RT Book Reviews
Lily
“If ever there was a happy-ending book, this is it.
Lily
has romance, intrigue, and especially humor with some very lovable characters. Its plot is simply wonderful. This book will capture readers’ hearts, making them believe love is possible for everyone.”
—Rawhide & Lace
The Reluctant Bride
The Independent Bride
Colorado Bride
Rebel Enchantress
Scarlet Sunset, Silver Nights
The Captain’s Caress
Arizona Embrace
Seductive Wager
Sweet Temptation
Wicked Wyoming Nights
Wyoming Wildfire
The Seven Brides series:
Rose
Fern
Iris
Laurel
Daisy
Violet
Lily
The Night Riders series:
When Love Comes
Someone Like You
Texas Homecoming
Texas Bride
Born to Love
The Cowboys series:
Jake
Ward
Buck
Drew
Sean
Chet
A Texan’s Honor
Matt
Pete
Texas Tender
Luke
The Mavericks
Texas Loving
A LEISURE BOOK
®
August 2010
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 1993 by Leigh Greenwood
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0917-7
The name “Leisure Books” and the stylized “L” with design are trademarks of Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
Visit us online at
www.dorchesterpub.com
.