The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [6]
“I’m a deputy when needed.”
Simon hated lawmen. The thought of what her brother could do, if given the chance, made her ill.
“Are you ready to tell me why you ran away from home?”
“No sir.”
“How long since you’ve eaten?”
She’d picked some wild berries along a patch of woods, but couldn’t remember the day. The last of the fish was eaten a few days before. “I think yesterday.”
“Mama will have a good spread laid out for noon.” He took a look upward. “Yeah, she’ll be ringing the dinner bell soon. Right now, it being summer and all, there aren’t any extra ranch hands. When school starts up again, that will change. Not sure if you’ll bunk down with one of my four brothers or in the bunkhouse. We’ll figure out the sleeping arrangements later.”
Bert nearly blurted out the truth—part of it anyway. The man who’d paid her debt had an air of decency. He might have mercy on her if he knew she was a girl. But she dare not give away her identity. He could decide to deliver her to the sheriff for a hanging, or he could take her back to face Leon at the Wide O. Instead he’d paid good money for a boy—who wasn’t a boy—and all he asked was for her to work it off. Three meals sounded real good, even if she only stayed long enough to get her strength back and make her way to Texas.
Her whole head and face ached. Maybe she shouldn’t have hit Leon when the beating began. In the past, fighting back had been her way to defend herself and survive. Simon and the others seemed to respect her spunk. Leon thought differently.
She didn’t dispute owing John at least four months of work; then she’d have to move on quickly.
“Thank you.” Her words seemed sparse considering her past and the uncertainty of the future.
“You’re welcome. Are you feelin’ poorly?”
“A bit.” Weariness had taken hold of her and refused to let go. His muscled body left her feeling almost secure. But that would change once he realized she couldn’t do a day’s work like a half-grown boy. He’d be even madder. She could feel it in her bones.
“From the looks of you, I’d say you’ve been on the run for a long time.”
“Yes sir.”
“Did you run from trouble, or is trouble chasing you?”
Both. “I’d have to think on that.”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I tell my brothers. No matter what you’ve done, God’s ready to forgive and offer you a second chance. Sometimes it takes a third or a fourth or more. You’re young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. Work hard and make something of yourself. God will walk the journey with you if you let Him.”
Who’s God? The way her brothers used the name, she thought it was a curse word.
On the horizon she saw the outline of a house and barn. Oh my, it was almost as grand as the Oberlander ranch — only homier. The two-story cabin had a wide front porch with rocking chairs and a bench. Horses and cattle grazed in the distance. Pretty and peaceful, like a dream.
The distinct ring of a dinner bell met her ears. Dread at what she was about to face wrapped its dark paws around her and squeezed hard. At least with her brothers she knew what to expect. Even Leon hadn’t surprised her with a taste of the same fury she’d endured many times before.
But this … Bert’s mouth went dry.
“This is my home.” John’s voice took a reverent tone. “Soon you’ll meet the rest of us. And our dog, Rowdy. While you’re here, treat this land and my family as though it were your own.”
Peculiar man. Who ever heard of offering a stranger — a horse thief — such hospitality?
Land sakes, John. What have you brought home this time?”
Bert figured she looked bad, but this little woman made her feel like she’d been rootin’ with pigs.
John leaned on the saddle horn. “A ragged boy, Mama.”
Bert hoped they never learned the truth. The less they knew the better.
The small freckle-faced woman stepped down from the porch and shielded her eyes from the noon sun as she made her way to the side of John’s horse. She was pretty, with light curly hair that had a nice mix of red and gold. Not at all what Bert expected of a woman with five boys