The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [97]
He sensed relief and then questioned his love for her. What would he have said or done if she’d responded affirmatively? He wanted to believe he’d have done right by her, but the thought of a child as a result of Simon’s cruelty rattled him. Right now he could only praise God she had survived. “Seems like all I can say is I’m sorry. No wonder you ran off.”
She said nothing for several seconds, but her body still nestled against his, where she belonged. Where he could always take care of her and protect her. But she’d proven her courage with Simon, and he’d never forget her selfless act. “My brothers are all so different, but then again so are yours.” She touched the top of his hand. “My mother died when I was born, just like I told you. My oldest brother Gideon was twelve years old at the time. If not for him, I would have died. He took care of me like a parent. Taught me things like how to play the fiddle.” She sighed, a sad lonesome sound that spoke more than words could convey. “But, John, he didn’t know God, and Gideon’s reasoning for family loyalty was wrong. He died of pneumonia about five years ago. That’s when Simon started breaking the law even worse than before.” She breathed in deeply. “He was always wild, but after then he added killing—and other things.”
“Were Gideon and Simon close?”
“They were opposites. Gideon liked music and taking long walks. Simon wanted to hunt and looked for reasons to fight.” She tilted her head. “Sorta like Jacob and Esau from the Bible.”
“That’s what I was thinking. I just wondered since you said they didn’t share common interests.”
“I do know he blamed me for family misfortunes. I tried to look at things the way he did. His ma died giving birth to me, and his brother died when I was supposed to be taking care of him.”
You’re cursed, little sister. John remembered Simon’s words spoken earlier this evening.
“Just before Gideon took sick, Pa got thrown from his horse and couldn’t walk anymore. Simon took over our dirt patch of a farm in Idaho. Like you, he had a sense of wanting to take care of everyone. But unlike you with your love for your family and respect for others, Simon took to breaking the law. I helped our other brothers hunt and fish for food while Simon rode out and returned with money, horses, cattle—whatever he’d stolen. Soon he got my other two brothers to join up with him. Things got worse after that. At times when I look at all the evil he led them to do, I wonder if a devil got into him. He always said the hard times were because everything I touched spoiled or died.”
“You know better, right? We’ve been blessed since the day you arrived.”
“Depends on how you look at it. Simon shot you. He told me so. Leon and Mr. Hawkins are dead, and ranchers are missing livestock. Who knows what happened to Mr. Oberlander’s missing ranch hands?”
“Simon and your brothers choose what they do. So did Leon and those ranch hands. You have no reason to blame yourself.”
Again silence fell between them.
“I don’t think Clint and Lester will attempt any crimes without Simon,” she finally said.
“So you think they’ll leave the area?”
“There’s no reason for them to stay.” She turned to face him. “They’re a bad lot, but I never wanted to see any of them hanged.”
“Family loyalty has always come easy to me. It pains me to hear what yours have done.”
“I’ve never broken the law like my brothers.”
He smiled in the darkness. “Thank you. Sure would hate to take another trip into Rocky Falls tonight to put your scrawny hide in jail.”
“So now I can expect more teasing?”
“Will the sun rise in the morning?”
A chilling wind blew around them, and she snuggled closer. “I don’t care if you do tease me. Coming from you, I like it. Goodness, I think I said too much.”
He kissed the top of her head, and the gesture felt natural. “I’m about to say too much. And most likely too soon, but I don’t care either. The future is like being lost in a cornfield, except I don’t want to take the journey without you. I’m not sure if God wants