[Texas Rangers 05] - Texas Vendetta by Elmer Kelton

dinner for the workin’ crew. Mind helpin’ us carry some vittles into your kitchen? Looks to me like you need a good square meal.”
    “Been livin’ on my own cookin’, such as it is.”
    “What you need here is a woman.” Mrs. Blessing quickly had second thoughts about what she had said. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinkin’.”
    Rusty’s momentary cheer left him. He forced a thin smile, though he did not feel it. “Been a while since I lost Josie. I think I’ve pretty well got over it.”
    He had not. He did not know if he ever would.
    He turned toward Bethel. He remembered that Andy had shown a considerable interest in her once. Rusty had long wondered how a girl so pleasant-looking could have a brother like Farley. If he did not know her mother to be a woman of stern moral standards, he might wonder if the two had the same father.
    He said, “Welcome, Bethel. Been a long time since that day you came here with your daddy, bringin’ me a sorrel horse.”
    “The horse you gave to Andy.” She smiled. “Have you heard anything from Andy lately?”
    “Andy’s not much for writin’ letters.”
    “So I’ve noticed.”
    He suspected the sheriff had not told her Andy was due soon for a short visit. That meant she probably did not know Farley was with him. Perhaps Blessing had a good reason for not telling her. It might be that Farley had said he did not plan to visit his mother and sister. In that case it was just as well they did not know. Farley had caused them pain enough over the years.
    Mrs. Blessing followed Rusty into the kitchen with a sack of flour. She looked back to be sure the girl was not within hearing. “Bethel has turned into a right pretty young lady, don’t you think?”
    Rusty sensed where she was heading. “But too young for me, and I’m sure I’m too old to interest her. She’s more Andy’s age.”
    “But Andy’s not here. You are.”
    “I’m just not ready to be thinkin’ in that direction.”
    “If not Bethel, then how about Alice Monahan? Alice is a sweet girl. She was a godsend to me when I was sick for so long. And she is a sister to Josie, or was.”
    Rusty had been in love with two of the Monahan sisters, Geneva and Josie. He had lost them both. He would not allow himself to consider another. “Looks like the Lord intends for me to be an old bachelor.”
    “It’s not for us to say what the Lord intends, but I can’t believe He wants you to spend your life alone.”
    Rusty was grateful for an interruption by Tom Blessing. “Rusty, let’s get started on that roof.”
    Tearing out old shingles, placing new ones where they had been, Rusty told Blessing, “Thanks. You came in at just the right time.”
    “I know. When my wife takes a notion about somethin’, she’s like a cold-jawed horse. There’s no turnin’ her back. I just let her play it out to the end of the string.” He frowned. “But you know, she’s right. That hail didn’t leave you much reason to stay around here till plantin’ time comes again. If I was you I’d take a ride up to the Monahan farm. Alice might surprise you.”
    “I’m not lookin’ for surprises. Unless you can surprise me with a good job.”
    “I’ve asked around. Haven’t found anything.”
    Rusty felt the bleak mood settling over him again. “It’s liable to be a long fall and winter.”

CHAPTER FOUR
     

    The trip had not made Jayce Landon any less of a puzzle to Andy. In comparison to Bransford, who had been left in Tom Blessing’s custody, Landon still looked as if he might be a preacher, or at least a law-abiding storekeeper. But Andy had a sore place on the back of his head from Landon’s attack. And Landon had laid in wait to shoot a man. Bransford had never done that so far as Andy knew.
    Farley Brackett said, “Don’t waste sympathy on him. He’s got blood on his hands.”
    “How about the state policemen you killed?”
    Farley said, “They was lookin’ at me. They could’ve shot me as easy as I shot