The slow restin' sun in the west were causing shadows to lengthen as Luke finally caught site of the ranch. The long rides n quiet that Luke had missed so dearly in the city, now allowed to much time ta think.
He missed the travelin' with Charles Taylor n the long talks that were shared amongst men that were better educated than he. Experienced men, older men. He'd heard more in once how changes were happenin' too fast. The country growin' to quick.
He missed the Diamond... Not the gals so much. He had Linda Jean for his needs; when she were herself. She ran the ranch. The men listened close n with a smile or took the chance of explainin' them selfs to Lucas, or worse, Smoke Garcia. She n Lucas shared a bond twixt 'em that went further than most husbands n wives. He was sure she knew what he were thinkin' before he did. Sum times he felt the same 'bout her.
N Tiffany, (who were fast becomin' the same gal he knew fore leavin' their home) would sit n listen er chat with 'im and share her day whilst keepin' him advised 'bout Choo-Choo's doin's. Both sisters filled needs. The three were mostly playful amungst themselves, kinda like so many years ago. Problems were settled quick n their home were filled with fun, teasin' n laughter.
Lucas Blake had everythin' he'd ever dreamed of.
Yet, his mind kept wanderin'. He sumtimes wished he had the simple, direct way of J.D.. Hard lines made life easier. But Charles Taylor had open'd up so much more of his mind. Ask... Reason... You could only figure a problem so much, then set ta fixin' it. After that... Work on what were next. One after another, sumtimes two; just keep movin' forward betterin' yourself for you n yours.
He'd begun likiin' the talks he had with Miss Debra n Tiffany n sumtimes Linda Jean durin' the cool evenin's on the porch. Debra Ann had a way of gettin' to whatever in were the easiest way n then sayin' what needed to be said. Her words had gotten fewer since J.D.s passin'... More thoughtful maybe.
Tiffany settled more in the here n now and begun fillin' whatever silences that mite linger with laughter or tellin' of some new occurrence. Linda Jean... She were content. She cared little, if anything, outside the ranch or her family. She'd often excuse herself when talk turnt to the rapid changes in Winding Creek.
Folks commin'... Most stayin'. Miss Debra liked what she seen n offered gentle advice on occasion. Lucas had had talks with Judge Pickett, Bill Nelson, John Stewart, 'Irish' Mike McCarthy n sum of the other locals that their words seemed to matter... 'Bout a small courthouse where the L & L livery were. He'd donate the land. The small house across the street would become the Judges after a little extra were added to it. Pickett could retire from the travelin' circuit n take up permanent livin' in the fast growin' town. Mail n such could be collected on one side of the courthouse n a new land office located on the other. Stability... Law n order... The new Livery would be set north. It were all damn near perfect...
Luke now spent considerable time with the Judge when he were about. Pickett had takin quite a shine to the widow Billings. He'd spend a day er two at the Seasons ranch 'fore he finally 'arrived' in Winding Creek. Gretchen were gettin' a pretty big head 'bout her n the Judge, but heard the Judges words 'bout sayin' to much... At least fer now.
Even with all the goin's on in his fast growin' town, it paled in comparison to the advancements bein' made in the northeast. So much was happenin' in the big cities. Most things he learnt were from the newspapers, some more n three- months-old, that Oscar religiously collected fer 'im. Oscar would sort n press them tight together before sendin' them to Luke. It were either Smoke or the most senior teamster that Oscar'd trust with the one thing that Lucas Blake had asked of 'im since that day so many years ago: When he offered to muck out the stables for a meal...
Even some not so pleasant things were fast comin' too. The north were pushin' industry; the south, plantations n agriculture ruled. So, Luke would try to apply the lesson Charles Taylor often counseled in one way or another; both in the room among men who paid him very well for his advice and in those quieter times, when they'd share deeper thoughts over a cigar n a crystal glass of Lernids...
"You adapt or you die."...
Luke brushed away the growin' cloud of skeeters n set Patch on the last mile er so home. The horse picked up the easy canter he preferred toward the growin' yellow light of two tallow candles burnin'. He saw Linda set in his favored chair, her head moving from side to side followin' the conversation as Tiff n her mother discussed whatever gals spoke about at the end of a day when he wern't about. Miss Debra lingered on the wood bench swing Jim had made fer 'er, her bare feet tucked under her. Choo-Choo fell twice strugglin' to try n walk the eight-foot distance twixt Tiffany n her mother.
"Hello in the house."
Tiffany scooped up Choo-Choo 'fore he tumbled down the steps of the porch in his eagerness to see Lucas. Linda struggled to get out of the chair to greet her well-traveled man n when Luke asked her to stay sat, she actually did. Miss Debra slipped her feet inta rawhide slippers as she rose to greet Lucas. It were Tiffany, her arm around John as he were perched on her hip, that took Lukes reins and offered her cheek 'fore givin' him a hug. Luke looked ta Linda. She smiled that smile n winked. Miss Debra quietly made note.
"How's my wife?"
"Been better Husband."
He looked at Debra Ann and knew the face that said Linda had another bad day.
"Luis sends his best to all n a note fer you Miss Debra."
He thought he saw J.D.s widow cheeks color jist a bit with that news. It were a poorly kept secret amongst family there were more then what met the eye twixt Luis Tee n 'is mother-in-law. Linda Jean had wondered out loud more in once how long after the year of mournin' over J.D. 'fore the grandmother n longtime friend of the family' might tie the knot.
It were Linda that finally asked of Smoke Garcia's where-abouts.
"Luis Tee has sum trouble with a cougar that's decided to call the south canyon home... Lost a second colt night 'fore last. Luis askt that Smoke stay."
Lucas weren't proud of the lie he offered his family. N more disturbin' was how easy it slipped from 'is lips.
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Smoke had finished pullin' the shoes off his gelding, Rojo, n trimmin' the horses hoofs more then four hours ago, far off any trail that mite be traveled. He needed to make sure if anyone might track 'em they'd find little, if anythin'. An unshod horse with cowhide coverin' the hoofs would tell a far different tale from the truth. He'd waited til well after dark to travel the last mile er so. It'd been jerked venison for dinner n no coffee; fire mite be seen. Smoke practiced his lines once more.
"Is bad e'nuff you steal from Mr. Luke. To try n kill 'im."...
The sour faced man wondered why it were so important fer the man to hear those words as he was being sent ta hell, but Luke had askt n Smoke gived him his word.
Lucas Blake had been good to Smoke. He had his own room at the end of the bunk house closest ta the house. He'd been told more n once to pick a spot on whatever land he favored to settle: The Blakes would see he got it. He wasn't sure what he wanted. The freight line were takin' up a lot of time, yet the Spainard didn't favor pushing a plow er ranching either fer that matter. Miss Linda would sumtimes fuss at him to set roots since he was family now.
Family...
Sometimes Smoke would think of his family. Four brothers and three sisters. It were sumthin' that he tried not to think about fer a very long time. Maybe it were time to now.
He'd changed outta his special made boots n slipped into high legged moccasins. The moonless night made the last mile walkin' quick, not havin' to try n hide hisself. The only light were from the stars. It were a bit chilly, the harsh summer slow comin' to an end. He'd hobbled Rojo in a sometimes creek bed that kept him hid n near outta sight.
When the small cabins black outline showed itself, Smoke lowered into a slow movin' crouch. He smelt the years old outhouse n moved a bit further east; Close enough to do what had to be done yet lettin' the occasional breeze carry off some of the putrid stink. He settled in to wait...
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