Stolen Kisses (Leap of Love Book 2) (2 page)

Coming into town, Brent wondered how much longer he would call this place home. As much as he loved Charleston, there came a time when change was necessary.

Taking a deep breath, he walked into the office.

"Hello, Mr. Wayne." Brent entered and tipped his hat.

"Morning, Brent. What can I do for you?" The wide eyed man smiled, whiskers brushing the sides of his mouth.

"I needed to check for a telegram."

"Sure thing. I was not here yesterday, so let me see what came across."

The portly Mr. Wayne could barely get up from his chair, but he managed to push his chair back and squeeze past the desk over to the machine.

He thumbed through all of the papers in the bin. "Oh yes. Here we are."

Mr. Wayne passed Brent the telegram.

"Thank you, Mr. Wayne."

"Good day, son."

Brent was barely breathing as he left. Unfolding this paper would make or break his life right now. He did not want to field any disappointment, and he resolved to be thankful no matter what the decision was.

He stopped over at his horse and before jumping up into the wagon, Brent took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

There was nothing left to do now but read it. He almost wished that he had someone there with him to read it aloud.

He said a silent prayer to himself and flipped open the paper.

Sheriff Samuel Dyer requests the pleasure of your company for a congratulatory dinner in Texas to discuss your new position as Texas Ranger. If so agreed, please respond to this telegraph and proper instructions to begin work will be in effect.

By the time Brent figured out that he was holding his breath the entire time, he felt a throbbing in his head.

He did it. He was going to be living in Texas, a whole other world.

Now he would just have to go home and inform his family.

The heat was stifling. Brent had no idea that the sun could be so blistering. The landscape was not as lush as South Carolina and there was no water to speak of where they were to settle.

Adam's small face was glued to the window the entire trip. Brent was amazed how his son could stare for hours out of the window pane as the train barreled down the rails. The further away from South Carolina they traveled, the more it became apparent that this was not simply a sabbatical. 

All his son did was ask questions.

Where are we going?

What is T-ake-sas?

Will Mama and Papa come and live with us?

What is a Ranger?

Do you get to shoot a gun?

Brent was not sure how to answer all of the questions Adam posed. He was surprised to see how inquisitive his son was. There were times when the boy would not talk at all. Brent knew that the one real thing he wanted to know was who his mother was. The subject of Caroline was a hard one to breach.

It was almost impossible to look Adam in the eyes and talk with him about the love Brent had for Caroline. Maybe one day when he was older. For now, Brent just dealt with the days that his son went silent and relished the days when he chose to speak.

Brent had traveled as lightly as he could. They only took a few bags of belongings and Adam made sure to bring his favorite toy.

Leaving had been harder than Brent anticipated. Fortunately Adam had been asleep when the boarded the train early that morning, because he had cried all the night before knowing the he had to leave his grandparents and all that he knew.

After a few days of travel, they had finally reached Texas and from the itinerary, there would be another few hours of travel to their final destination.

Whatever they could do to pass the time, they did. Reading the newspaper, taking a nap, and finally getting up to stretch just as they were preparing to pull into the station.

Steam surrounded the platform as they exited the train. People were bustling to and fro, smiling as they caught up with loved ones. Brent held Adam's hand tightly as they navigated the crowd. He was told to make his way to the main street and that there would be a carriage awaiting them.

Approaching the road, Brent was amazed to see the train depot sat obscure. There was nothing but the dusty road, a full length ahead of them. It was as if they were headed to No Man's Land. Carriages were there to pick up passengers and take them to their specified destination.

Brent took a deep breath.

"Daddy, it's so hot," Adam whined.

"I know, Son." Brent squeezed his son's hand, in an attempt to make him feel secure enough that he would stop whining.

With his free hand, Brent wiped the sweat from his brow. Now he understood why the men out west wore those large brimmed hats. Avoiding the sun was on the top of his priority list right now.

There was no one waiting for them when they stepped outside. After waiting for a moment, Brent decided it would be better to begin walking. A few people were walking in the same direction, so he thought that if they did as well, they would end up going into town. Anything would be better than standing there in the sweltering heat.

Adam dragging his feet was not helpful and the mix of emotions about being a new arrival to town already had Brent's mind swimming. Two coaches passed them and neither had anyone aboard who looked like a sheriff.

"Daddy, I'm thirsty."

"I know, Son. We will stop soon."

A carriage approached them, and a burly man with a long moustache and leathery skin spoke to them.

"Well now, you must be Brent Abbott."

"Yes, Sir."

"Come on aboard. Whoa," he said, calling the horses to halt.

Brent tightened his grip on Adam as they stood to the side.

The carriage came to a complete stop and the man dismounted. As he stepped over to where Brent stood, his hoisted his pants up a bit by the waistline and tipped his large brimmed hat.

"Sheriff Samuel Dyer. How do you do?"

Brent met his handshake.

"Good to meet you, Sheriff. Brent Abbott and this here is my son, Adam Abbott."

Adam squinted in the sun as he looked up at the man.

"Hi."

"Well, hello there, little one. Why don't you two hop aboard? Take a load off."

Dyer held his hand out to take their bags. Brent handed him the bags, which Dyer tossed into the back of the wagon, then he turned to scoop up Adam.

"How would you like to sit in the back of the wagon where you can get a bird's eye view of everything there, Son?"

"Yes, Sir."

Dyer sat Adam in the back of the wagon, patting him on the head with a smile.

"Well now, let's get on in to town. I'm glad I caught you both before you walked too far."

Brent hopped up on to the carriage, sitting on the bench beside Dyer. Dyer whipped the reigns, signaling to the horses it was time to go.

The horses began their trot through the dusty road. 

*

As they approached town, the feeling of anxiety swelled with Brent. The main road led to a bustling town. Brent was silent as he took it all in.

"I'm going to get you both set up in your own accommodations tonight. But right now, it would be an honor if you and your young un’ come on over and clean up and get something to eat, Abbott."

"That sounds mighty fine. Thank you."

The town was not unlike Brent's own hometown. With a hotel, a saloon, an insurance agency, the mayor's office, and the sheriff's office, Brent was starting to feel right at home.

"I live on the western outskirts of town. You'll see that things are pretty progressive here. We have a school house and an infirmary. The church is on the east end of town. To the north is one of the biggest ranches for miles. We'll talk about that in a little bit.

"The general store is run by Mr. Dugan. He can get you anything you need. Otherwise, there is the bazaar in the center of town where most people come to sell their wares. You can get the rest of your produce and meats and textiles, and anything else you want from there."

"Sounds good, Sheriff. I definitely have to get Adam over to the school and get him enrolled."

"That would be good. He'll be able to meet some friends and get acclimated to his new life," Dyer replied.

The scenery began to change and it became more residential. Smoke rose from chimneys. The homes were placed close together. A far cry from the large plantation homes on lush green acres that Brent was used to seeing.

"Daddy, this does not look like home," Adam remarked from the back of the wagon.

"I know, Son. But home is wherever we are and you are I are making a new home here."

Brent heard his son sigh from the back of the wagon. He knew that an adjustment period was in order, and he was willing to be patient with his son and with himself.

They arrived at a cozy looking home. A log cabin with a front porch, complete with a rocking chair, and an expanse of land behind it.

"Home sweet home, here." Dyer tightened the reigns and the horses came to a stop.

"Your accommodations are straightaway down that road, yonder."

Brent looked in the direction in which Dyer pointed. He saw a cluster of houses down the road and suddenly, being there in Texas felt permanent.

Brent hopped off of the wagon bench and walked around to the back to retrieve his son.

Adam jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. He returned the embrace, trying his best to let his son know that they were in this journey together.

Dyer opened the door to his home, and a sweet faced woman walked up to them.

Her hands clasped together, she smiled. "Oh my goodness, what do we have here?"

Brent could tell by the look on her face and the way she turned her gaze to Adam that she wanted to take the child into her arms.

He obliged and handed her the child.

"Well now. Let's go see if I have anything sweet in the kitchen for you, child."

Adam's ears perked up at the thought of obtaining any sweets.

The sheriff motioned for Brent to come over to where he was standing.

"Our town needs a few good Rangers. I’m pleased that you have seen fit to make Owen's Bluff your new home."

Nodding, Brent replied. "Sometimes it is necessary to make changes. I'm hoping that Owen's Bluff provides a wonderful home for me and my son."

"Why don't you and Adam go ahead and clean up. I'll show you to the wash room. Sarah will have a meal ready for us shortly."

"Thank you."

Sarah and Adam appeared from the kitchen. The look of contentment on his son's face made Brent happy.

"Miss Sarah has cakes. She says I can eat another one after our lunch."

Sarah winked. "He's such a good boy. One can never have too many cakes."

"I beg to differ, Miss Sarah," Brent laughed. "We will wash up and be right down for lunch."

Sarah nodded.

Brent took Adam up to the wash room to prepare for lunch.

*

The spread of food was amazing.

"I was not expecting all of this for lunch. I hope that you did not do all of this just for us, Miss Sarah."

Sarah heaped more of the buttery biscuits on Adam's plate. The boy smiled and took a bite of the food.

"Of course I did." Sarah's grin was wide and comforting. "We love to have guests. And with you and Adam moving to town, Sam and I thought that it would be a proper welcome to have a meal. Just get a chance to sit down and get to know one another."

Samuel wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Definitely. Sarah and I really want you and Adam to feel welcomed. You are both a long way from home. And us Rangers are like family."

Brent leaned back in his chair after a substantial meal.

"I have to say thank you for everything to both of you. Miss Sarah, this meal was all that we needed after such a long ride. Adam, say thank you to Miss Sarah."

The young boy bowed his head, and then came up with a smile, showing all of his teeth. "Thank you, Miss Sarah."

All of the adults laughed.

"I think someone is working extra hard for one of those cakes you promised, Miss Sarah," Samuel commented.

"Why, Mr. Samuel, I think you just might be right."

Sarah looked over to Brent for permission to give Adam a dessert. Brent simply nodded.

Adam jumped from the chair before anyone could get up.

Samuel and Brent sat quietly until Sarah and Adam left the room.

"Come with me." Samuel stood up and motioned to Brent to follow him. They walked to the front porch where the sweltering heat met them like a slap to the face. It had not been that much cooler inside the house, but the shade had helped to keep them cool.

Samuel took his hat off and used it to fan himself while he paced the porch.

"There are a few things I think I should tell you about living here in Owen's Bluff."

Brent did not know what to expect with an opening remark of that nature.

"Alright. Tell me all that I need to know, Sheriff."

"This town was settled by Tom Owen. His family owned all of the land for miles around. We all live here pretty comfortably in this town. There is a mix of Mexicans and living here too. We all treat the land fairly and get along as best we can. The only thing that serves as a threat is outsiders wanting to come in and make themselves comfortable on our land. We don't take too kindly to that.

"Owen's Bluff is growing by leaps and bounds. We could use more Rangers here to help keep the peace. It makes the citizens feel more comfortable. That's where you come in."

Brent nodded, just listening as the sheriff continued.

"The biggest ongoing issue that causes tension here is one, Lawrence Jones. He owns that expansive ranch north of town. His family is one of the originators of the town."

Sheriff pulled two cigars out of his shirt pocket. He handed one to Brent, then swiped a match on the side of the porch rail.

Taking a puff of his cigar, he continued speaking.

"That Jones clan was always a peculiar bunch. They live for themselves. Not much for truly helping anyone else. Lawrence's great granddaddy purchased the land they own now, acre by acre. Some of it was clean, and some of it by the spilling of the blood of others. That has put that entire family at odds with everyone in town. So they all tend to stay to themselves or move away."