The Trail West Ch. 08

Damn, I know that voice he thought. No couldn't be. He stepped into the parlor with his pistol held down by his leg.

"I don't think you're gonna need that hog leg Josh," his father said, smiling at his son.

"Pa! Ma! And Samuel. I never expected ......"

Before he could continue his mother, Molly, came to him and wrapped her arms around him. His father, William, and Samuel joined them for a family hug. Danni had tears in her eyes as she saw her husband reunited with his family. For several minutes no one spoke; they just held each other. Josh motioned Danni to join them and they included her in the hug.

Red came charging into the room with his Henry, ready for any trouble. He slid to a stop, surprised at the people and Josh hugging. Sarah came to him; she had tears in her eyes too.

"It's his family honey. His Pa, Ma, and younger brother," she told him as she pushed down the rifle and put her arms around him.

Finally Josh was able to step away from his family and sit with Danni. "How'd you guys get here? I mean what about the farm? How long can you stay?"

William smiled at his son; just like the boy to worry about us and the farm he thought. "We got the spring plantin done and your uncles, Jake and Simon, are takin care of things until we get back. Figured we stay for a month or so, if that's okay with Danni." Then he turned to Red and Sarah, "And if it's okay with the McCall's."

"You're welcome as long as you want to stay," Danni said, happy that she'd finally got to meet the people that meant so much to her husband. It was nice to be able to put faces to the people she'd been writing to.

"It's a big house with lots of room," Sarah responded.

"It'll give me a chance to tell you what your boy has really been up, not just what he wrote in his letters," Red added as he grinned at Josh. He walked over and shook hands with William and said, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you Mr. Kelly."

Taking Red's hand he said, "Name's William to friends and family and I consider you part of the family Red. A close part after all those letters between Molly and you."

Molly came to Red and hugged him. "It's nice to finally meet my other son."

Red blushed and returned the hug. Are those tears in his eyes, Josh asked himself. Can't blame him, my eyes are sorta blurry too.

Josh turned to his brother to hide from the emotions. "I can't get over how much you've grown Sam."

Samuel at 6 feet was almost as tall as Josh. He hasn't filled out yet and will probably grow another inch or two in the next year or so, Josh thought. He's the spittin image of Pa; hard to believe he's 16 already. Guess I'll have to stop thinkin of him as a boy; he's almost a man now.

His "little" brother carried and handled himself more like a man than a 16 year old boy. After the first excitement of seeing Josh, he settled down. When someone asked him a question or talked directly to him, his response was thought out and calculated; he didn't ramble or talk more than was necessary with his answers.

Samuel, almost at first meeting, had developed a crush on Danni. It was obvious to Molly and Danni that he already thought the world of his new sister and of Sarah too. When he met Red he was fascinated by the young Texan and the pistol he wore low on his hip.

"Did Texas John Slaughter really teach you to shoot, Mr. McCall?" Samuel asked. "That's what Josh wrote anyway."

Red had to chuckle at Samuel's boyish enthusiasm. "Yeah, he's my cousin and he thought I ought to be able to protect myself." Red whispered a question to William and getting a nod continued, "Tell you what Sam, before you go I'll teach you a few things; just like I did with Josh."

The boy nodded his head and Red added, "Just one thing. Your Pa says I'm part of the family so that makes you my little brother," he had to stop and laugh, shaking his head. Sam was almost 4 inches taller than him. "You don't call you brothers by their last names; my names Red. Okay?"

Sam nodded again and said, "Really? That'd be great. When can we start? Pa, I'll need a pistol to practice with and........" He realized he was acting like a young boy and stopped himself. "Thank you Red. I really appreciate your help," he finished in a more sedate manner.

"One more thing, I'll show you how to be more accurate with a pistol, be a little quicker makin your shots, and pickin your targets. But I'm not teachin you to be a gun hand or gun fighter. Agreed?"

"I understand Red and I'll remember what you said," Sam replied. William nodded silently at Red, happy that the young man had put some restriction on the lessons.

It was about an hour later that the Maguires, Daniel, Maggie, and Jacob rode up to the house. Jerry rode with them. Maggie rode Colorado, the horse Josh gave her for Christmas and Jacob rode Puma; another horse that Josh provided.

Josh and Danni introduced the Maguires to the Kellys. Everyone was excited and pleased to meet the people that had become a part of their extended family. Jerry hung back a little, not wanting to intruded on what was basically a family meeting. Josh took his arm and pulled him over to his parents.

"Pa, Ma, this is Jerry Barnes. He's our partner," Josh said pointing to Red. "Has been ever since we left Santa Fe."

"Jerry, this is my pa, William and my ma, Molly," he completed the introductions.

Molly stepped to Jerry, put her arms around him, and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for watching out for Josh; Red and Danni too. Josh wrote about how you covered them outside the store that day and how you protected Danni on the trail."

Jerry blushed and put his head on Molly's shoulder. When he stood back he had tears in his eyes as did Molly. William came over and offered his hand.

"This country must be pretty fertile; I just got here and I already got two new sons. You're part of the family too, Jerry," William said while shaking hands.

That night at supper Josh was glad that Tom Larson thought he was something special. Larson had bought a big dining room table that could seat twelve people. We just about fill it up Josh thought, looking at the eleven people sitting there. The evening was a happy time with everyone talking at once and having a good time.

After a lot of talking it was decided that Daniel, Maggie, Jacob, and Jerry would stay for a few days at the Lazy L. Daniel and Maggie were given one of the four bedrooms in the big house; William and Molly took the other one. The arrangements filled the house so Jerry, Samuel, and Jacob bedded down in the converted bunkhouse.

That night in their bedroom Josh asked Danni, "Did you know about them comin?"

Danni smiled and giggled. "Yes, your folks and I have been planning this ever since we got married." Josh shook his head and chuckled pulling Danni to him.

The next morning Josh asked Charley and two of the hands to go over to the Maggie M and take care of the place for a while. "Don't know how long it will be Charley so I'll send Mr. Swede with you to do the cookin."

"You sure he's gonna want to go Josh?" Charley asked. "You know how he is about his kitchen."

"Yeah, but Danni sweet talked him into goin. Mr. Swede said there were too many women around anyway," Josh answered with a laugh.

Red asked the other hand James to take the surrey back to town but Jerry, Sam, and Jacob offered to do it. Sam was happy to go because he got to spend some time with people closer to his age and he got to ride Jerry's horse Morgan.

William, with Josh and Red guiding, took a tour of the Chico Basin Cattle Company over the next few days. On their rides Josh went into more detail about his trip from home to Fort Smith and to meeting up with Red east of Oklahoma City. When he got to that part, Red helped with the story of their adventures with the wagon train.

The young men told William about the raids on the train and meeting and bringing an end to John Fogerty and his band of cutthroats.

"Don't like to speak unkindly of the dead but that's one that the country can do without. No loss there," William said. It was quiet for a minute and he continued, "Josh wrote about a few of your run ins Red. Heck, Danni ever wrote about them. I've got to ask, are you a gun fighter?"

Red looked William in the eyes and started to respond, but before he could Josh spoke up. "Pa, I don't know what you heard but if it was anything bad about Red it was wrong."

"I was askin Red son," William replied.

"Yes sir, I know. But Red is my partner, no more than that, he's my friend. I guess you could say we're as close as brothers and I don't intend for anyone to talk bad about him. Not even you Pa," Josh replied.

"I didn't mean to bad mouth you Red. I was just askin a question."

"To answer your question Mr. Kelly....," Red began but at the look on Williams face he said, "I mean William. No, I'm not a gun fighter. But I won't stand by when someone threatens my family, my friends, or me. I don't look for trouble but I can damn sure handle it if it comes to me." The last statement was said with a defiant look in Red's eyes.

William looked at Red for a minute or so and thought, this young Texan can be a hard man when need be. But I think you couldn't have a better one at your side if trouble comes.

These rides and talks took place over several days. Daniel returned to the Maggie M after two days but Maggie stayed on. He would come back to the Lazy L for two or three days and then go check on his part of the spread. The four women spent the days much like their men. Talking about how Josh and Red got to where they are and plans for the future. Sarah said she hoped the child she was carrying was the first of many. Danni said that she and Josh wanted a passel of kids too.

During this time the younger men Jerry, Jacob, and Sam formed a close bond. Josh and Red were the guides for William and Jerry took over that task with Jacob and Sam. The "boys" would ride out early of a morning and often make it back to the ranch house just in time for supper. Red kept his promise to Sam and taught him how to handle a pistol. The youngster became skillful but always remembered that the gun was for protection and not for showing off.

The night that the extended clan dreaded came; the last night before the Kellys would start home. Josh, Jerry, and Jacob would ride into Colorado City with William, Molly, and Sam. Sarah was getting on in her pregnancy and she and Red stayed at the ranch. Now that the war was over and it was relatively safe to travel by rail, the Kelly's would board a train to begin the long journey back to Missouri; the trip home would take more than a week.

That night at supper the conversation was a little more serious. "You know the war's over don't you Josh?" Molly asked. "It was over in early April, before we started out here.

"Yes em. We heard about it in Fountain at the telegraph office. Heard that someone shot and killed President Lincoln too. Gonna make puttin the country back together a lot harder."

"Now that it's over, do you think you'll ever come home?" Molly asked hopefully.

Josh looked at his mother and then at Danni, Red and Sarah. "Ma, I am home," he answered with a lot of emotion. I miss y'all but I've got a life here now."

Molly nodded as tears welled up in her eyes. "I know and it's a good beginning. But I had to ask and hope."

At daybreak, William and Josh took one last ride together. They rode to the rise that overlooked the valley where Black Squirrel Creek ran. It was the same place that Josh had proposed to Danni.

"Nice place," William said. Josh nodded and explained the importance of that little hill to him and Danni.

"You've come a far piece Josh. Can't think of you as my little boy anymore, you've grown into a man. I'm proud of you son."

Josh nodded but didn't answer; he and his father had always managed to embarrass themselves with their love for each other.

"I guess you've rode your last trail. You've come to the end here in Chico Basin," William said.

"No sir, I've got one more trail to follow."

"Where to?" William asked puzzled.

"I've got to follow the trail to being a father. Danni told me this morning that she, I mean we, are gonna have a baby," Josh replied. He looked at his father, sharing the moment with him.

William couldn't talk for a few seconds. He cleared his throat and said, "It's a good trail to follow Josh. I hope you'll be as lucky as I've been son." He paused and then said, "You know what your Grandpa always said when there was a new baby born?"

"Yes sir, I do. He always said "Life goes on."

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW TRAIL