Chapter 7

Clyde propped his heavily bandaged foot up on the porch rail as he settled back in the rocking chair. He dropped a sly wink at his wife as she walked over to where the ex-bounty hunter was preparing to chop wood.

The golden haired woman was dressed in a faded blue dress topped with a thread-bare apron.

It didn't take much skill as a tracker, Vin thought looking at the apron, to see not only what the family had eaten for breakfast but also what the children had been getting into as well. What amazed him was while Mrs. Morgan looked bedraggled and frazzled, she also looked content. This was a woman born to raise a family, and raise them well.

Betty Morgan, her youngest propped up on one hip and the two-year-old twin girls grasping her skirts, walked towards the tracker. In front of the house, the two oldest, four-year-old Jeremiah and five-year-old Joshua played cowboy with their imaginations and several sticks of wood.

Vin pushed up the sleeves on his old faded red cotton shirt as he watched the woman of the house and her clinging brood approach.

"Mr. Tanner, it's so good of you help us out. Don't know what we'd do if you hadn't come," Betty said, her words coming out rapidly as was her way and with a wide smile on her freckled face. "Poor Clyde done hurt himself a few days ago. He was working with the ol' mule out in the field when he stepped wrong. Done turned his ankle. It swelled all up, big as a melon. Heard him hollering all the way to the house. Don't have to tell you what a chore it was getting myself and five children up to the field. Then having to brace Clyde up and get 'em all back to the house. Then of course I had to go out and take care of the mule!"

Vin smiled politely at the woman's words, but wished she'd just stop talking so he could get on with the work hoping if he got started he might make it back to Four Corners early.

"Didn't know how we'd have gotten this work done without you. Sally, stop pulling your sister's hair! Jeremiah, don't hit on your brother!" She smiled apologetically at the long-haired young man. "I always told Chris, you were the most helpful. We'll be forever in your debt. Clyde has so much to do. I can only help him so much."

A sharp cry could be heard.

Without turning her head, Betty called out. "Joshua Albert, how many times do I have to tell you not to pinch your brother!" She smiled again. "Clyde was supposed to start chopping the wood two weeks ago, but other things had to be done. Now he's so far behind. It's a blessing, yes a blessing, that you came all the way out here to help out. Next time I'm in town, I'll ask Mr. Sanchez to say a special prayer for you and the rest of the Seven.

Vin dropped a nod. He opened his mouth to thank her, when she interrupted him.

"Let me know when you're done with the wood and I'll show you where the fence has to be fixed in the north field, then after that you can work on the…. There, there, Robert," she cooed to the baby who had fisted the fabric of her bodice in his small hands. "Mama's gonna feed you right away. That's what you get for talking to me, Mr. Tanner, my works not getting done!" she chastised as she began to turn away. "I'll be fixin' lunch. You just c'mon… Jeremiah, do I hafta get the switch?! Just c'mon upta the house in a coupla hours."

I kept her talking? Vin mused with a shake of his head. First time he'd ever been accused of being talkative and he hadn't even uttered a single word!

"You keep on pacing, Ezra, you'll wear a groove in the floor," Buck said leaning back in his chair.

The gambler consulted his pocket watch yet again, cast yet another anxious gaze over towards the telegraph office and let out a deep sigh.

"C'mon, Ez, rest a spell." Buck lazily pushed the chair next to him away from the table with his foot. "Inez, beers for Ezra and me. Jus' put 'em on his tab."

Ezra's eyebrows rose expressing his dissatisfaction at paying for Buck's beverage. "I suppose you have your gift for Mr. Tanner already procured?" Ezra asked clearly disheartened.

"J.D. and I have it all taken care of. Took a bit of looking. Looked at a lot of different kinds 'fore we found the right one. J.D.'s picking it up right now."

TBC