"But he . . . he was killed in a duel."
Pappy's answer was subdued. "He was. It was a duel with me."
"In Texas?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Right here in Louisiana."
I needed to hear the whole story, but before that, I had to know if my memory of the beating was just that – a memory. "I remember bein' here with you."
"You were. More than once."
"When I was small."
"Just about three the first time."
"And you were hurt." He didn't answer me and I added, "Beaten by three men. I saw it happen."
"You remember that?"
It was my turn for a subdued answer. "I didn't. It was the opium."
"Ah. I see."
"They tried to kill you."
He laughed just a little. "Not really. If they'd tried to kill me, they wouldn't get their money."
"It wasn't you that owed 'em, was it?"
"Bartley, it's a long story, and I don't wanna tell it in pieces. Can you wait until mornin'? I'm awful tired right now."
I paid close attention to the man sitting at my bedside. He'd been there for an untold number of days and done everything he could to help me fight my way back from the poison that Matt pumped into my system. He looked old and worn out, and my heart broke for what he'd had to endure the past few weeks. The least I could do was wait another day.
"Mornin' is fine, Pappy. I'm not goin' anywhere."
XXXXXXXX
Pappy looked better in the morning, not as tired as he had the night before, and I felt better. More alert, at least. He went downstairs to the dining room and a few minutes later another of their cute little waitresses brought back food and coffee. I managed to eat a bit more than I had yesterday and Pappy seemed pleased. Once we were finished, he cleared his throat and gave me a solemn look. "I promised you the rest of the story, boy, and I'm gonna do my best. Remember, this all happened a long time ago. I ain't sure how much is still stuck in my memory."
Isabelle Grayson Maverick had an aunt, Letitia Hudson, who lived in Arkansas. The summer that Bret was five years old and you were three, Aunt Letitia begged your momma to come visit her and bring the boys. Bret was happy to go, but you'd been promised the summer with your Pappy and by God, you weren't goin' anywhere without me. Belle and me decided to do somethin' we dreamed up – Bret and your momma went to visit Letitia in Arkansas and you and me went to New Orleans to see my old friend James Langford. I hadn't seen James since before either one of my boys was born, and it sounded like a good idea.
I didn't know how much James had changed until I got there. He was still a lawyer, and a pretty good one at that, but there was somethin' else he was pretty good at, too – losin' at cards.. He was so deep in debt that the Langford family was on the verge of forfeitin' everything they had – includin' their home. James begged me to guarantee the debt, just to give his wife Arabeth enough time to borrow the money from her family. How could I say no to the man that had been my best friend for so long?
But that's just what I shoulda said. Oh, Arabeth got the money alright, and gave it to James to repay what he owed. Only problem was he decided to play faro with it instead – and lost it all. I didn't know that until two days later when four men came to the Langford house. James wasn't home, but I was there. You were there, too, and three of 'em dragged me outside and proceeded to try and beat the money outta me. You came runnin' out screamin' like any three-year-old would and the fourth fella grabbed you. When they was done Arabeth sent for the doctor and he did his best to patch me up.
It was some weeks before I could travel. When you and me left New Orleans for the trip back to Texas, Arabeth and Matthew went with us. Your momma was still in Arkansas, so at least I didn't have to explain arrivin' with another man's wife and child in tow. I thought the troubles were over. Instead, they'd just begun.
A few days later Ben and me rode into Little Bend to play poker. Arabeth was still at the ranch; Matthew was sleepin' in Bret's bed, in your room. The two of you were havin' a great time. Everything seemed fine when I got home, and I was so tired I forgot to check in on you. I slept a long time; longer than I expected to with two active little boys in the house. When I woke it was still and quiet; too quiet. Soon as I saw what time it was I knew somethin' was wrong, and I went runnin' for your room. It was empty and the beds were a mess, like the two of you'd been pulled out of 'em without warnin'. Arabeth's room was empty, too, and all of her belongin's had disappeared.
I didn't know what happened, only that the Langford's were gone, and with them, my boy. I threw on clothes and saddled my horse, then rode to Ben's as fast as I could get there. He came back to the ranch with me, and between the two of us we found the wagon tracks that led away from the house. Ben was thinkin' better than me, and had the idea that James had stolen his family. Only he took you with him when they left.
I was sure Ben was right . . . about Arabeth and Matthew. But why had he taken my boy with him? And what was I gonna hafta do to get you back?
"Pappy . . . I don't remember that. Not any of it."
"You didn't remember the beatin', either, until . . . " he reminded me, softly.
I nodded my head. "That's true, I didn't."
Ben rode to town to see if they'd boarded the stage to Houston, while I threw some things in a bag. By the time I was packed, Ben was back with the news. "Yep, they took the coach first thing this mornin'. A man and woman, and two little boys, looked to be about the same age."
"One of 'em was Bart."
"New stage clerk. He don't know Bart, said both boys was actin' kinda funny, like they was scared or somethin'."
"Why'd he do it, Ben? Why'd he take my boy?"
"I got no answer for you, Beau. You gonna ride after 'em or catch the stage tomorrow?"
"Not gonna wait. I'll ride to Austin and get the stage to Houston there. Keep an eye on the place, would ya?"
"I will. Good luck."
"Thanks."
Soon as I got to Austin I caught the stage for Houston, and from there back to New Orleans. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, all I could do was worry about you and if you were alright. And what I was gonna do to Langford when I got my hands on him.
But first I had to find him. In the brief time that we'd been gone from Louisiana, James had sold the house, paid his debt, and found another place to live. It took me several days to locate the family – they were using a different name. But that wasn't all.
Once I found the new place, I watched the house and waited until James left before tryin' to approach. There was no sign of anyone; not Arabeth, Matthew or you. Well, that's not entirely true. There was a real big man with a star on his chest and a shotgun sittin' out on the porch, and I rode up to the house cautiously. "Can I help ya?" he asked while standing up.
"Lookin' for the Mansfield's," I told him, using the name they were goin' by.
"And who would you be?"
"My name's Jefferson. Friend of the family from way back. Nobody home?"
"That's right. Wife's visitin' relatives elsewhere."
"And the boys?"
"Don't rightly know. You wanna see Mansfield, come back tonight."
"Isn't it unusual to have a deputy marshal sittin' on the front porch?"
"Family's been threatened. That's all I know. You got any more questions, come back tonight."
"Threatened?" I interrupted.
"That's what the man said. I didn't know if it was the men he'd owed money too, or somebody else."
"Was he still gambling? Maybe he owed someone else." I paused, but was met with silence. "Who else could it be?"
I got a funny look from Pappy, but I understood it once he'd given his answer. "Me."