Dearly Beloved
Chapter 15
Jamie arrived at the ranch after delivering some horses, tired and hungry. He was imagining a slice of Mrs. Greig's apple pie when he approached the house, only to find Beth walking towards him. He smiled and automatically removed his hat.
"We weren't expecting you until tonight," he said by way of greeting.
Beth grinned. "Charlie needed some sisterly reassurance."
"Oh yes, he's coming tonight."
"You promised to be nice," Beth reminded him, mockingly stern. "She's nervous enough already."
"Dan Lawson is the one who should be nervous." Jamie had all his best big-brotherly lines prepared and was more than ready to use them. "Doc here too? We should talk strategy before young Dan arrives."
A small frown appeared on Beth's face. "No, I was hoping you had seen him in town."
"I didn't bother passing through, why?"
"He went to help an injured farmer early this morning and was supposed to be back by now. He missed a call to the McClusky's that Dr. Browne had to make instead. A fact he's not too happy about, which he reminded me of repeatedly when I asked him to bring me here on his way."
Jamie shrugged. "Maybe he it just took longer than he expected."
"Maybe," Beth mused, but she didn't sound convinced. "It's just… the man who came to the house, I haven't seen him before. He said he and his brother were farming the Michaels place."
"Really?" Jamie scratched his head. "Old Jim Michaels has a place north of here, but I heard he hasn't farmed in years. He's just a crazy old coot."
"Do you know where it is?"
"Sure."
"Good."
"I take it that means you want me to go riding after my little brother?" Jamie sighed.
He spoke lightly but Beth wasn't able to muster a smile. She wrapped her arms around herself as if a chill had passed through her. "Would you mind? Just in case he's been delayed or there's a problem with the wagon. It might have had a loose wheel…"
Jamie held his hands up. "All right, all right, I'll go."
This time Beth smiled warmly. "Thank you. I know I'm probably being silly…"
He noticed she was paler than usual. Jamie didn't know much about pregnant women but he knew when someone was feeling poorly, and this was the second time in less than a week he'd seen her like this. "Beth, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. It's just… I'd feel better if Adam were here."
Tiredness forgotten, Jamie nodded solemnly. "I'll go find him for you."
"Thank you."
Concern still creasing his brow, Jamie returned to the stables for a fresh horse.
He made the Michaels place in good time, riding faster than he usually would, but he wanted to get Adam back to the ranch quickly if Beth wasn't well. He saw the wagon outside the dilapidated cabin, but there didn't appear to be anyone about. Hoping Jim Michaels wasn't going to suddenly appear with a shotgun to run him off, he dismounted and made his way inside. The sparsely furnished cabin was empty, and Jamie was about to check around the back when something caught his eye.
A boot was sticking out from behind the table. With a puzzled frown he stepped inside and moved around the table, where he saw his brother lying on the dirt floor. In the middle of Adam's chest was a deep red stain, his eyes open and staring up at nothing.
Jamie's breath left his body when he saw the lifeless stare. He knew in that moment that his brother was dead.
Beth was standing in the yard when he returned to the ranch, this time in the wagon. It was dusk, and the warm lamplight in the house burned in pale comparison to the red sun that dipped behind the hills. She wrapped a shawl around her shoulders against the cool wind that had picked up, watching as he drew nearer. Jamie averted his eyes for as long as possible, but when he did finally look up he saw an eerie calmness on her face as she waited for him to draw the wagon to a stop. It was if she already knew.
At first he was unable to move, unable to face her, but eventually Jamie got down wearily from the buckboard. All his energy was spent, his movements slow and deliberate. With difficulty he looked up at Beth who she was staring beyond him to the wagon bed. She took a few steps towards it, but stopped as she came alongside him. Her mouth tightened as she struggled to form the words.
"Did you find him?" she whispered.
Jamie nodded dumbly, not able to respond. Beth finally turned her gaze on him, her eyes filling with tears.
"Thank you for bringing him home."
She drew her shawl around her even tighter and then walked slowly towards the back of the wagon. Adam was lying with Jamie's jacket covering his chest. Silently, Beth held onto his boots which reached the end of the wagon bed.
Jamie didn't know what to do. The sound of the screen door startled him and he looked up to see his father walking towards him, a curious expression on his face. Jamie left the hitching post to meet him in the middle of the yard, where he managed to say the brief but devastating words.
"What?" Kid just looked at him, unable to comprehend what he'd said.
Jamie looked helplessly at the wagon and Beth, Kid following his gaze. He started towards it but stopped as soon as he heard Lou's light steps on the porch.
"You're late!" Lou called out, coming towards them. "Dan's already here. Did you track Adam down?"
"Ma…" Jamie began, but he could not tell her. He turned away.
Lou frowned, noticing where Beth was standing and the strange, imploring way Kid was looking at her.
"What is it?" she asked suspiciously, walking quickly towards them. "Where's Adam?"
She started to walk past Kid who reached out to stop her. Held firmly in his grasp, she repeated her question, this time more urgently.
"Where is Adam?" Frightened by the look on Kid's face, she wrenched herself from him. "Why won't you tell me?"
Kid swallowed with difficulty. "He's in the wagon," he said gruffly.
Lou shook her head imperceptibly and backed away from him. She turned to see Beth, tears streaming down her face, as she stared into the back of the wagon. Unable to focus on anything else, Lou approached it and saw her son. Before she could react Beth turned and buried herself in her arms, weeping.
