A Family Found (4 page)

Outside, Toby ran ahead on the trail while Marcus stuck his hands in his pockets and followed slowly, his eyes scanning the ground. Tate brought up the rear, wondering what his boys were thinking, especially Marcus, who had been old enough for his mother's departure to disappoint and damage him. Ever since, he'd kept more to himself, within himself, and seemed less trusting. Tate felt helpless to improve the situation, especially when he sensed the boy harbored some resentment of him, as well.

“Look, Papa!” Toby skipped toward him, holding a gigantic pinecone. “See? Is this the biggest so far?”

Tate examined the treasure. “Could be. Let's take it home to add to our collection.”

“You carry it,” Toby said, thrusting the cone into Tate's hands before racing off again in pursuit of a new adventure.

“Pinaecae,”
Marcus mumbled as he continued up the trail.

Watching his sons' backs, Tate paused to shake his head. The tutor couldn't come soon enough. Marcus needed direction for his inquiring, thoughtful mind, and Toby needed academic discipline. It was all Tate could do to get him to settle down long enough to encourage his reading and map skills. No matter how hard Tate tried to steer their studies, there simply weren't enough hours in the day.

From the top of the ridge, Toby stood silhouetted by the setting sun. “It's time, Papa. Hurry or you'll miss it!”

A sunset wasn't all he was missing, Tate thought to himself as he trudged along. He was proud of his sons and thankful for his financial success, but the life he'd envisioned for himself as a young man had included a loving intact family. He wasn't sure now if such a life would ever be his.

* * *

Each evening in the week following Grizzly's overnight visit, Sophie had fallen into bed exhausted. With the tools she had brought, supplemented by the few she found in the barn, she had repaired furniture, installed locks, straightened the barn door and reinforced the corral fencing. Her next project was preparing the ground for her garden. There was no end of work to be done, but that wasn't what was bothering her. To her surprise, she had not counted on how the lack of company would affect her. After Charlie's death, she had longed for solitude and peace, but after living on the ranch amid the two bustling Montgomery families, she missed the listening ears and pleasant conversations. Now she found that she was talking to herself or Ranger and wondered if she sounded daft. Friday night she consulted a map of the valley, determined to make her first exploration of the territory and in the process locate the store Grizzly had mentioned as a source of milk and other limited supplies. Satisfied with her plan, she went to bed early, determined to set out shortly after daybreak.

She rose with the sun, but after answering the early knock on the door, became aware her plans had undergone a change. “Mornin', miss,” a short, plump man with a fringed jacket and Western hat greeted her when she opened the door. “I'm Jackson Tyler, and me and the missus, along with our son and his wife, are here to help.” He turned toward the yard, where Sophie saw the others waiting in a wagon. “Soon the Harper clan'll be along, too. I imagine you have walls to chink, a roof to mend and a garden to dig. My wife, Martha, thinks maybe she could help with some fixin' up inside to make the place homier.”

Sophie reached out to shake the man's hand. “I'm Sophie Montgomery, and I don't want to inconvenience you, but I'd be much obliged for your assistance.” She marveled once again at the neighborliness good people exhibited, both in the Kansas Flint Hills and now here. “I imagine Mr. Lockwood must've told you about me.”

Looking puzzled, Tyler stroked his bearded chin. “No, ma'am. Don't know nothing about Lockwood. It was Grizzly. He stopped by our place after meeting you and allowed as how you might need a hand. Said you were a determined little woman, but he thought things might go smoother if some of us pitched in.”

“Please invite the womenfolk in. Maybe you men could start on the chinking. The wind whistles right through this place. I'll put on a big pot of salt pork and beans for a midday meal.”

Mr. Tyler ushered in his wife and a young woman. “This here's my sweetheart Martha and Dolly, my purty daughter-in-law. My son John and I'll be outside if you need anything.”

Dolly was tall and slight, but Martha was as plump as her husband. With her dark hair coiled in a bun and her brown eyes snapping, the older woman looked the picture of health. “Sophie, our friend Grizzly couldn't stop talking about you. He doesn't know whether to think you're brave or foolish comin' here on your own.” She grinned at her daughter-in-law, then turned again to Sophie. “But Dolly and I know. We think you're mighty brave and are gonna prove any naysayer wrong. One thing about the frontier—it may be rough and tough, but it won't put a good woman down.”

Dolly's flushed face glowed. “What you're doing is something special.” She glanced around the room. “Now, then, set us to some chores.”

Martha put an arm around Sophie's waist. “Before we start, we brought you somethin' we think you need. Grizzly said you didn't have one. C'mon. It's out in the wagon.”

Sophie threw a shawl around her shoulders and followed the women. Dolly went to the wagon bed, leaned over and freed a wriggling mass of black-and-white fur. “Woman on her own needs company,” she said. The dog leaped from the wagon and ran in excited circles before coming to stand beside Sophie, as if the animal had known the identity of its mistress all along.

“She's not much of a watchdog yet, but her shepherding instincts will protect you some,” Martha said. “We reckon she's about a year old.”

Sophie was dumbstruck, not only with her lack of foresight in procuring a watchdog, but at the generosity and kindness of this family. She knelt on the ground beside the dog, scratching her behind the ears. “You are a beauty,” she whispered. “I'm sure we will be great friends.”

In answer, the dog's tail beat a tattoo on the firm ground.

“Beauty.” Dolly looked speculative. “That has a nice ring to it.”

Sophie laughed. “It's perfect. No ugly beasts for me, only this Beauty.”

The dog nuzzled her hand as if in agreement.

“I brought along some scraps for you to feed her,” Martha said.

Did these people think of everything? “Come in and give me suggestions for the cabin, and then I'll set the beans on the stove.” Sophie was glad that she'd set beans to soak last night. After circling the interior of the cabin several times, Beauty plopped down in front of the fire and dozed. To Sophie, she looked as if she had always belonged there. The dog would serve as a welcome companion.

The women worked all morning altering, mending and washing curtains and bedding. Dolly had brought along some bright blue paint. She suggested painting the frames on the windows and the door to liven up the place. After the men had thoroughly chinked one wall, Martha and Sophie were able to hang a Montgomery family photograph, a sampler Caleb's wife, Lily, had stitched for her and a small, colorful quilt made by her sister-in-law Rose. “Thank you,” Sophie breathed. “Having these things from home around me is a blessing.”

“We hope you will soon regard Estes Park as your home,” Dolly said quietly, looking at Sophie with affection.

Just before lunch, Beauty leaped up, ran to the door and began barking. Dolly grinned. “See? She's useful already.”

“It's the Harpers,” Martha said, turning to Sophie. “Harriet and Joe are a wonderful young couple, and I know you'll enjoy Joe's sister Belle. They operate the community store.”

Before Sophie knew it, all the chinks and the roof had been attended to, and everyone pitched in to prepare the soil for her garden. Later after the two families had disappeared into the twilight, Sophie reflected that rarely had she encountered such genuine helpfulness or met such enjoyable people. Particularly Belle. The moment she'd clapped eyes on the young woman, Sophie felt as if they'd always been friends. Belle was tall, with a ruddy, raw-boned face, a magnificent crop of black curls and dark eyes that sparked delight. Her first words to Sophie had been, “You're my kind of gal, Sophie. All guts and nerve.”

“Thank you for that vote of confidence,” Sophie had said with a smile.

“You just wait. We're going to have so much fun.” She turned to face the mountains. “See that one there?” She pointed to Longs Peak.

“Yes, you and I are going to climb it,” Sophie said before Belle could complete her speech.

“Girl, you took the words right out of my mouth.” She gave Sophie an assessing look. “You're little, but full of grit. We'll show those men what determined women can achieve. I've been waiting for a hiking partner. I'm glad God sent you to me.”

Sophie laughed. “I told Mr. Lockwood when I first clapped eyes on that peak that I would climb it. I don't think he thought I was serious. But I am. I'll enjoy doing it with you.”

Before the group finished their chores, Martha invited Sophie to ride over the next morning to their home for services. “We don't have a real church or permanent pastor, but we all gather at our place when there's a circuit rider. Tomorrow a reverend is coming from Lyons to preach.”

Figuring that would be a good start to familiarizing herself with the territory, Sophie got directions and agreed to come. She didn't know quite how she felt about church. Ever since Charlie's death, she'd had a tenuous relationship with God, but perhaps He had sent these kind people to her. Regardless of where they came from or why, they were a gift. As was Beauty, who lay beside her providing warmth and companionship.

* * *

It was a cool spring Sunday as she rode to church, and Sophie reveled in the scenery. Back in Kansas, she had continued attending services with her family in the hope that one day she would understand God's purpose in taking Charlie from her. She continued to go through the motions of worship and daily Bible reading, but with no real expectation of receiving answers. So far, none had come, nor were they likely to come here. Yet her deeply ingrained faith made it impossible to turn her back on God.

It had been a joy to awaken this morning in a home with a solid roof and walls and with personalized touches all around her. Her eyes had been immediately drawn to Lily's sampler, embroidered with flowers encircling the message from Proverbs.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him,

and He shall direct thy paths.

Sophie appreciated the advice, yet it was difficult to follow, given the loss of Charlie and her own rebellious, questioning streak.

As much as she missed her brothers, she missed Lily and Rose more. Her sisters-in-law related to the pain of her loss in ways neither Caleb nor Seth could. Sophie suspected Lily had intended the sampler message as a daily reminder to her.

Riding beside the water that flowed along the valley floor, she noticed an impressive home set halfway up a hill across the river and enclosed by at least a mile of rail fence. Small spruce trees lined the road leading to the house. The few other dwellings she passed on her way to the Tylers' were less impressive and often seemed to be the result of add-ons to an original cabin. A few appeared to serve as primitive lodging for summer visitors. The Tyler and Harper homes were situated along the river and, with their outbuildings, composed the nearest thing to a settlement in the area. A crude wooden sign at the Harpers' read General Store and Post Office. About a quarter of a mile beyond was a large two-story home with a porch on three sides. From the horses and wagons gathered in the yard, she assumed she'd arrived at the site of the service.

Inside, she was effusively greeted by Martha, who ushered her to a bench. “Reverend Justus is about ready to begin.”

Sophie settled back, studying the congregation. In addition to the Tylers and Harpers, there seemed to be three or four other families. Small children sat on the floor or on their parents' laps, and the room was warm with crowded bodies. Several eyed her curiously, but the minister began speaking before she could introduce herself. Rather more didactic and long-winded than she would've liked, the rangy preacher had a weathered face and deep voice. He declaimed for nearly an hour on Moses and the Ten Commandments. Sandwiched between two amply built women, Sophie was pinned in her spot. Finally the crowd stood and sang lustily, no doubt as relieved as she with being delivered from the sermon. A meal followed where she was introduced to other area residents.

Belle took her aside and, despite the cool temperature, the two settled on the front porch with their plates. “Isn't this better than being jammed into that stuffy place?”

“We can always go in if we get cold.” Sophie took a bite of the cabbage and ham someone had provided. “This is a nice reward,” she said, licking her fingers.

“You mean for listening to Reverend Justus drone on?” Belle studied her, as if assessing whether her remark had shocked Sophie.

Sophie giggled. “He was rather full of himself, wasn't he?”

Belle grinned in response. “Whoever heard of A-ron? I nearly laughed aloud every time he came to the name Aaron.”

“It's a relief to know that with you, I can occasionally be irreverent—in the nicest sense, of course.”

“I was certain I'd like you the minute I set eyes on you.” Belle pointed at Sophie with her fork. “Here's my question. I know we still have the chance of a late snow or two, but how soon will you be ready to go hiking?”

Sophie shivered, not from the cold, but from delight. “Whenever you say.”

“If we begin with easy treks, the weather shouldn't be a problem. We can't start too soon to get ourselves ready for the big one.”

“Longs Peak,” Sophie said, awed by the mere idea of standing on the summit.