The Circle Eight: Tobias (27 page)

James arrived with Will on an unfamiliar horse. His middle brother looked exhausted. Will jumped from the horse with boundless energy and led it into the barn, chattering away at the paint.
 

“You all right?” Tobias couldn’t read James’s expression in the dim twilight.
 

“Tired and my head hurts, but I’m fine. Matt sent us home.” He dismounted with a groan. “You and Rebecca work things out?”
 

Tobias took hold of the horse’s reins. “We did. You’re gonna have a sister soon.”
 

The first genuine smile graced James’s face. “Glad to hear it. She’s the best of the lot in the Grahams. Lucky man.”
 

Tobias shook his brother’s proffered hand. “Thanks. I’m hopin’ to have it this weekend if we can find a preacher.”
 

One brow rose. “You think she wants to get married that quick? What about a dress and such?”
 

“That sister-in-law of hers is a dab hand with a needle. They can put something together if she wants a dress.” Tobias led the horse into the barn, smiling at the echoing voice of Will as he chattered on in one of the stalls.
 

“I need to talk to MacRae and tell him I quit. I can find work in town to be close and help with Will.” James used the scoop from the feed bin to fill the bucket in the stall for his horse.
 

Tobias had to swallow the lump in his throat. It would take some time to get used to his brother wanting to be around. “You can work here. Waldeck ain’t worth a damn and if we put our heads together, we can make this livery bigger and better. I want to repair the two buggies in back and make rental money. And I have an idea to train horses to pull wagons.”
 

James pushed his hat back. “I think I’d like to be part of that. Besides, somebody has to keep an eye on you. Rebecca will have her hands full.”
 

Tobias laughed with all the happiness inside him. “The good thing is, she knows what she’s getting. A second-rate fool with first-rate brothers.”
 

Will appeared in the stall opening, rubbing his eyes. “I’m hungry and tired. I took a nap on that strange bed and it smelled funny. Not like my bed.”
 

“Why don’t you fetch some crackers from the pantry?” Tobias gestured to the house they lived in. “We can eat supper in a bit after I figure out what we can rustle up.”
 

Will was off in a flash, whistling as he ran through the livery. He brought joy to them, an innocent brand of love that reminded them all what life was all about.
 

“What about him? And Donovan?” James’s tone had dropped. “I ain’t just letting that go.”
 

“And you shouldn’t.” Caleb Graham appeared from the shadows with another man. He was tall and thin with a long black mustache and two large pistols strapped to his hips. “The Rangers are already on his tail.”
 

Tobias and James glanced at each other. “What happened?” Tobias had a sharp moment of satisfaction to know Donovan and his band of miscreants would meet up with justice at the hands of the Texas Rangers.
 

“Lucky for us, I ran into Murphy.” The other man tipped his hat but remained silent as Caleb spoke. “Turns out he was looking into missing cattle for half a dozen outfits around Donovan’s. Total of more than five thousand head missing. The operation was bigger than I thought. The three men tied up the evidence for the Rangers with a bow. Murphy is on his way to Donovan’s to arrest him. He won’t run because he doesn’t know we’re onto him.” Caleb’s grin was not a pleasant one. He must have been a fierce lawman to face down.
 

Tobias held out his hand to both Caleb and Murphy. “Thank you. I don’t know what else to say but thank you. If James and me need to be witnesses, we will.”
 

“And I damn sure want to be there when you hang them.” James was cold as a frozen lake in January, his fury had turned to ice while Tobias had learned to let it all go.
 

One day his younger brother might find a reason to let all the darkness in their past go. God knew how hard it was for Tobias. He might always have the urge to grab a bottle of whiskey, but it would not taste sweeter than a kiss from his wife.
 

“We’ll send word.” Caleb and Murphy left as quietly as they arrived.
 

“Do you know how to cook?” James looked at Tobias dubiously.
 

“I learned. It’s edible but it won’t make your mouth do a jig.” Tobias slapped his brother on the shoulder. “Last one to the house does the dishes.”
 

He took off at a run, James on his heels. Their combined laughter rang through the barn and out into the night. The Gibsons had finally found peace.
 

As soon as she woke, Rebecca leapt from her bed and pushed her hair from her eyes. The room was too dark for the time of the day. She slid the curtain aside, then looked outside with a frown. Clouds dotted the sky, most of which were flat looking and blue. They weren’t quite rain clouds, but they were not the sunshine she hoped for. No matter. It would be a perfect day.
 

She was getting married.
 

Her stomach fluttered with the knowledge her life was about to change completely. Although Tobias had hoped for a wedding in only a few days, Eva insisted on two weeks and asked for the ceremony and subsequent celebration to be held at the Circle Eight.
 

Eva, along with her sisters Olivia, Cat and Elizabeth came into the room followed by Hannah, Winnie and Aurora. Everyone wore their night rail, awake and eager to get the day started. Each of them hugged Rebecca until she held up her hands.
 

“I don’t want to cry or my eyes will swell.” She wiped away the telltale tears of happiness. “I can’t believe you’re all here.”
 

Olivia raised on brow. “Where else would we be? We missed a few weddings along the way, but we would never miss yours.”
 

Her eldest sister lived with her husband Brody on a cotton farm a few days ride from the ranch. Elizabeth lived with her husband Vaughn in Houston. Winnie, the beautiful blonde who had married Nick, carried the wedding dress. It was a satin dress made of blue fabric deep enough to match Rebecca’s eyes.
 

Hannah had created it and it was the most beautiful thing Rebecca had ever seen. She looked at her sisters and sisters-in-law with emotion clogging her throat.
 

“You are all the most important women in my life. Thank you for being here for me and especially to Cat, who agreed to wear a dress.”
 

Everyone laughed except the youngest sister, who wrinkled her nose in distaste.
 

“No doubt James will make fun of me.”
 

All heads turned toward the blonde. “You don’t say?” This from Aurora. “I think he’s handsome.”
 

“He might be Rebecca’s brother-in-law, but he’s nothing but a pain in the ass to me.”
 

The women laughed, amused by the twenty-year-old’s assertion the man didn’t bother her. Each of them knew if a man bothered you, your journey had just begun.
 

“Why don’t you all get dressed and feed the children?” Rebecca could already hear the squeaks and shouts from the young’uns scattered around the house. “I’m sure they’re finding ways to be mischievous.”
 

“Especially with the twins leading them all about like redheaded queens.” Hannah shook her head. The eldest of her children were liked pied pipers to their cousins.
 

“I’ll stay and help you.” Cat offered. “I’m the only one without a job today.”
 

The rest of her sisters, sisters-in-law and Eva all grinned, kissed Rebecca’s cheek and filed out of the room. She looked at Cat and shook her head.
 

“I’m sure Hannah would appreciate your help.”
 

“Margaret and Meredith are nearly twelve years old. They can help with the younger ones. I am terrible with children.” Cat ran her hand along the soft fabric of the dress. Her voice dropped to a husky whisper and she looked up at Rebecca. “Mama would have been so proud of you.”
 

Rebecca pulled Cat into a hug and thought of all the memories she had with her sister. “She would be proud of you too. Now let’s get dressed for my wedding.”
 

Tobias stood beneath the large tree in the yard behind the Graham’s house and sweated. There was no sun and it wasn’t hot, but he sweated nonetheless. The four Graham brothers and two brothers-in-law, including Vaughn and the steely-eyed Brody, stood by, watching him.
 

He glanced at Vaughn. “Is this what you went through?”
 

“Yep. Just sharing the experience.” Vaughn was a handsome man, almost too much so, but he’d paid his debt to the Gibsons. He was good friends with Nick’s wife, Winnie, and had married Elizabeth. The man apparently took delight in making sure Tobias felt as uncomfortable as he had on his wedding day.
 

Ben Graham lit up a cigarette, earning a frown from Matt. “I’m a man grown, Matt.” He took a long drag and blew it out toward his oldest brother’s face.
 

“Funny. I don’t think Bec would appreciate blood on the ground on her wedding day.” Matt groused.
 

“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Caleb snickered.
 

The preacher was a friend of Elizabeth and Vaughn’s from Houston. For a nominal fee, and all the food he could eat, he’d traveled to the Circle Eight to perform the ceremony. The round, bald and amiable fellow chatted with Will while James leaned against the trunk of the tree, his expression watchful.
 

Children ran around, some in now-dirty dresses, others in trousers. Whoops of delight rang through they air as the played some game of chasing the little ones until they squealed. At last count, the Graham siblings had sixteen children ranging in age from twelve to two. All of them had different colored hair, different parents, but many of them sported shades of the Graham eyes.
 

Tobias breathed in deep and watched the young ones as they ran past. Two redheads, the oldest from what he could tell, ordered all the others about.
 

“Those have to be yours.” He glanced at Matt.
 

“Well, yes, they are.” Matt shook his head. “I blame my brothers. They let those girls get away with everything.” Both Caleb and Nick shoved him and he stumbled, laughing.
 

It was a day of joy and Tobias couldn’t have imagined it would have come to pass. He looked up at the sky and smiled.
 

“I hope you’re watching, Pops.” He saluted his grandfather’s spirit and turned toward the house to see the women file out.
 

Each of the Grahams was blessed with a woman who loved them, short, tall, round, blonde, redheaded, dark-haired. All of them were women who had taken on the task of being a Graham or marrying one. That meant they were equally strong as their partners and siblings.
 

At last Rebecca stepped outside and his heart stuttered. She was exquisite in a sky-blue dress that hugged her generous curves. Bluebonnets were tucked into her elaborate hairstyle and a smile as wide as Texas lit her beautiful face.
 

Her gaze found his and there was nothing else but her. Rebecca. She floated toward him and he held out his hand. Tobias was ready for the rest of his life to begin. Ready to build a home with the woman who was nestled in his heart. A mother for their future children. A partner for all things, good or bad.
 

He squeezed her hand and tucked it beneath his elbow. “You sure look lovely, Becca.”
 

She tipped her head. “You look rather handsome yourself, Toby.” Sassy woman.
 

Will whispered loudly into James’s ear as the ceremony commenced. The excited chatter from the children echoed behind them while the love that surrounded the wedding seeped into his skin. The sun finally peeked from behind the clouds, showering them with warmth.
 

The preacher said his words, Tobias and Rebecca promised themselves to each other, and he placed the small gold band on her finger. It had belonged to his grandmother, whom he never knew, but it fit his new wife perfectly. The sunlight glinted off the ring as he pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed her soft skin.
 

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The preacher winked at Tobias. “You may kiss the bride.”
 

Tobias leaned in and took his wife in his arms, kissing her with all the love, joy and gratitude he had. She kissed him back with the same fervor. The sound of cheering filled his ears but he only saw her.
 

“I love you, Becca.”
 

“I love you too.”
 

Amidst the back slaps, handshakes and kisses, he never let go of her, the woman who had taught him how to love, how to live, and how to be loved. Tobias Gibson had finally found where he belonged.
 

About the Author
 

Beth Williamson, who also writes as Emma Lang, is an award-winning, bestselling author of both historical and contemporary romances. Her books range from sensual to scorching hot. She is a Career Achievement Award Nominee in Erotic Romance by Romantic Times Magazine, in both 2009 and 2010.
 

Beth has always been a dreamer, never able to escape her imagination. It led her to the craft of writing romance novels. She’s passionate about purple, books, and her family. She has a weakness for shoes and purses, as well as bookstores. Her path in life has taken several right turns, but she’s been with the man of her dreams for more than 20 years.
 

Beth works full-time and writes romance novels evening, weekends, early mornings and whenever there is a break in the madness. She is compassionate, funny, a bit reserved at times, tenacious and a little quirky. Her cowboys and western romances speak of a bygone era, bringing her readers to an age where men were honest, hard and packing heat. For a change of pace, she also dives into some smokin’ hot contemporaries, bringing you heat, romance and snappy dialogue.