NINE

"Why have you come?" Daniel asked.

"Well, you aren't much for beatin' about the bush are ya?" Timothy said with a light laugh but seeing the seriousness of Daniel's expression added quickly, "I came to see my Rebecca."

"Your Rebecca?"

"Aye."

"You running from debts?" Daniel asked, leaning against the stall behind him.

"What do you mean?" Timothy had sat down in the lone chair at the table.

"Precisely what I asked. Have you come here to avoid payment of debts?" Daniel's voice was gruff.

"I don't see why that would be your business."

Daniel turned away, shaking his head. He met Matt's eye and drawing a deep breath turned and faced his father-in-law again.

"It is my business. Everything about her is my business. She is my Rebecca and has been for more years than she was ever yours." He stepped closer.

"I can see you are angry. Is that why you sent your savage after me? Why now? I've come and gone twice. You've said n'ary a word agin me. You stood up for me. You did."

"I couldn't explain it if I tried. I wasn't sticking up for you. It was for her. It is always for her. She needed to . . ." He sighed and turned away. "I'm not talking to you about this. It isn't your business. It stopped being your business a long, long time ago. Tell me why you've come; the truth."

"I've come to see my daughter."

Daniel nodded his head and repeated Timothy Bryan's words. "Come to see your daughter. So you can make a pile of promises to her, and to our children and then leave again - without a word. No. Go home, Timothy."

"No?" Timothy's eyes grew wide. "I don't believe you can tell me what to do. What's more it is clear that she knows nothing of this." He threw his arm around the Bradley barn. "He dragged me here and tucked me away. Where is she? I can see her and if I remember things right she's got a mind of her own."

"That she does." Daniel agreed. "She had to. There was no one to speak up for her was there?"

"Oh, I see. You've decided to make your mind up about the past. You weren't there. And her Ma . . ."

"Her Ma died of a broken heart. She died penniless. She died because she had to work night and day to pay your debts; to make good on your promises."

"That's what Becky said? She were just a young lass. Her mother understood me. She knew I was a wanderer when we wed. Besides, who are you to point a finger. You are gone more than home, are ye not?"

"You left her crying; always waiting for you. You left her behind to pay your debts."

"No. I never asked her to pay for anything." Timothy said angrily waving a finger at Daniel. "That were others. It weren't my fault!"

"What are you talking about? Did you come back? Did you step in and take responsibility? She was watching for you! The whole time she was at the block listening to folks bid for her - for your debts - her eyes were searching for you to come and rescue her!"

"I did come home! But by then it was too late. There was nothing I could do!"

"Nothing you could do! You could have been there in the first place! What was so important you had to run off! Or was it just to run from your creditors! I won't have it! No, you won't set foot on my land. You need money? I can pay you." Daniel was leaning down and punched a finger in Timothy's chest. "You stay away from my Rebecca, you hear. You stay away. She's suffered enough."

Timothy Bryan rose and faced Daniel squarely. "I'm sorry you feel that way, but Rebecca is my daughter and I can do as I please."

"I don't know if you noted it when you came here, but it is my name on the gates of that fort, and who comes and goes is something I can control. So, I suggest you turn yourself back around. There's nothing here for you, not anymore. And I will do whatever needs doing to make sure that she is protected, do you understand?"

"I understand you, Daniel, but," The old man hesitated and Daniel paused unsure; uncomfortable with his role. "I've come to the end of things." He said softly. "I've come here to breathe my last."

Daniel absorbed these words and Matt and Mingo looked up at him sharply.

"Ah, you've come to die beside your loving daughter. Now, now you need her. You didn't before. Didn't bother to come home to her or her mother; wasn't there to see Siobhan buried - Your own flesh and blood laid to rest without you - without you." Timothy had risen to stand before him with his hands outstretched in supplication, but the tall man pushed against his father-in-law, not hard, but angrily, and Timothy stepped back shocked. Mingo came and held Daniel's arm.

"Daniel." He said softly. "You don't want to do this. It isn't him you are angry with just now."

"It ain't? It sure feels that way to me. He's just using her. He didn't need her all her life long and now, when he comes to the end, now, he wants her comfort. He wants her forgiveness. He wants the family he left behind around him. It ain't right and you know it!"

"You think I'm gonna stick up for him?" Mingo asked with wide eyes, his hand still holding Daniel's arm. "You know where my loyalty lies. But she, she wouldn't want you to do this. Send him away. Leave him be, but don't harm him."

Daniel turned and gazed at Timothy who stood with one arm in front of his chest protectively, still cowering.

"I am sorry that you will spend your last days alone, but . . ." Daniel sighed. "You made that choice long ago when you chose the road over them. She's had enough of death. She's buried too many already, and I won't have you return to her just to shatter her poor heart. I took a vow to protect and her, and to love her for always. And I will do it. You failed her years ago, and I won't let you back in. Not now. Not ever. Go away or these men won't be able to prevent me from what I'll choose to do. You understand? You aren't family. You never really were."

He didn't wait for a response, but turned and stormed out of the barn into the darkness of the night without a pause in his stride until he reached the warm, glow of home.