Christmas in a Cowboy's Arms by Leigh Greenwood

Author:Leigh Greenwood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2017-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

Six

“Mother, I didn’t expect to take so long in coming for you. Now that I’m here, I’ll take you somewhere warm. Put your arm around my neck.” Hank lifted her into his arms, concerned that the skin barely stretched across her bones. The old woman probably didn’t weigh ninety pounds.

Sidalee finished gathering up the last of Miss Mamie’s things and stuffed them into a bag.

“Don’t forget my bag of rocks, dear,” the old woman said.

“I got them,” Sidalee assured her and followed Hank out to the wagon, where he gently lowered his pretend mother onto the warm bed Sidalee had made. Then Hank helped her up beside Miss Mamie and watched her tuck blankets around the woman who needed a son so badly, she had to invent him.

At least that was Hank’s theory. He’d send some telegrams out as soon as he learned the town she came from.

He climbed up into the wagon box, and with Beau perched beside him, he set off for the ranch town. The sun had faded behind heavy clouds, and the icy wind had picked up. He prayed they wouldn’t have any trouble. This wasn’t a night to be out in the elements. Every so often, he glanced back and always found Sidalee leaning close, talking to Miss Mamie and patting a thin, blue-veined hand.

Sidalee had no one either. She’d spoken of deep loneliness that cut through her at times. The gnawing was bad for a man, but for a sensitive, refined woman? It could destroy her and make her shrink into herself.

There were worse things than taking refuge at the Lone Star Ranch. Lots of worse things.

For no reason at all, Hank smiled.

The return trip didn’t take long. Before he knew it, he was pulling up to Sidalee’s door. He carried Miss Mamie inside and lowered her into a rocking chair in front of the fireplace.

“Thank you, son.” She glanced up at him. “I can’t seem to remember you getting so tall. You’re a handsome boy. You take after your father.”

“How long has it been since you’ve seen me, Mother?”

“What kind of fool question is that? You know it was only a few months ago.”

“Of course. How were things in town when you left there?” Hank met Sidalee’s questioning glance with a quick shake of his head. He’d explain later.

“Well, you know Benton Falls never changes. Except our place. It burned, you know. Your bedroom went up in flames. Nothing survived.”

Hank gently wiped away Miss Mamie’s tears. Here was someone who desperately needed something to believe in. He could be that for her. “That’s all right, Mother. I can replace them. You rest and get your strength back.” He took Sidalee into the kitchen and told her why he needed the name of the town.

“That’s a great idea, Hank. Maybe you can figure out what’s going on. My heart breaks for her. It did when I first saw her freezing to death in that line shack, and it’s only gotten worse.”

“I’ll not turn my back on her, and that I can promise you.

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