A Man for Glory Read online

  “I can’t thank you enough, Mrs. Bradley. Glory just had a couple of pellets dug out of her shoulder and the gash on her arm bandaged, and I think she’s dozing. Essie went up to keep an eye on her while Buddy and I fix supper. This will be wonderful, for I’m not much of a hand at cooking.”

  Etta spoke in an undertone. “Earl told me that Mr. Clark thought the world of his wife. He spoke well of her and always told Earl how lucky he was to have her here with his children.”

  “Well, me and Buddy are of the same mind, ma’am. Glory is the sun in our sky, sure enough.”

  “Ain’t that a fine thing to say? She’d be right proud to hear you speak in such a way, Mr. McAllister.”

  Etta Bradley took her leave, reminding Cade to send for her if he was in need of anything. She climbed into the buggy she’d driven and turned her horse around, heading for home.

  “She’s a nice lady, Pa.” Buddy peered into the pan that held the cinnamon rolls, then sniffed the chicken soup. “Smells almost as good as Glory’s soup, don’t it?”

  “Almost,” Cade agreed.

  He set the kettle on the stove and added a good chunk of wood to the fire that burned within. The cinnamon rolls he put into the warming oven up top and then helped Buddy set the table for the three of them. He figured that a cookie sheet would make a good tray and after they ate, he’d take up a small bowl of soup for Glory.

  “I think it would be grand to be a doctor, like Doc Stevens, don’t you, Pa? I was thinking that maybe when I grow up I could help people and fix them up when they get hurt. He knew just what to do, didn’t he?”

  “He sure did, Buddy. He went to school for a lot of years to learn how to do the doctoring he does. It takes a long time to read all those books and learn all the things a doctor has to know.”

  “Do you think I’m smart enough to study like he did? Maybe go to medical school when I’m old enough?”

  “I don’t know why not, Buddy. You’re a bright boy and there’s not a reason in the world why you can’t be anything you want to be. Even a doctor.”

  “I’d like to think about it, anyway. I’ll work real hard in school and learn everything I can, so when I’m old enough to go away to college, I can study hard and maybe one day I’ll be Dr. McAllister.”

  “Legally your name is still Buddy Clark, you know,” Cade reminded him.

  “Can we change it to McAllister? I’d really like to have your name, Pa.”

  “We can sure find out, son. I’ll speak to the judge about it the very next time he makes his rounds and visits the jailhouse in town.”

  “I’ll bet Essie would like to be named McAllister, too. Then we’d all have the same name, me and Essie and Glory and you. We’d be a real family then. Just like the sign says—McAllister Family.”

  Cade felt his heart swell within his chest as the boy spoke. Never had he thought to be overwhelmed by such pride. Nor had he expected such words to come his way.

  He turned to Buddy, wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulders and drew him close to himself. “You’re not too old for a hug, are you, son?” he asked, trying to hide the sound of huskiness he heard in his own voice.

  “I like gettin’ hugged, Pa. Glory does it sometimes, too, and it makes me feel all warm inside.”

  “I know just what you mean, Buddy. I feel the same way when she hugs me.”

  “Glory really likes you, Pa, don’t she? I mean, like a lady likes her husband. She liked my pa real good when he was alive, but it was like he was her father, just like he was our pa. But with you, she looks at you in a funny way sometimes, and then her eyes get all soft when you come in the house, and when you put your hand on her shoulder or touch her hand, she just looks like she’s all shiny inside. Did you ever notice?”

  “Yeah, I’ve noticed, Buddy. That’s how I feel when she smiles at me, too. It’s the way it’s supposed to be when a man and a woman get married.”

  Buddy leaned closer to Cade and spoke quietly, lest he be overheard. “I think Glory loves you, Pa. I mean really, even more than she loves me and Essie. She likes lots of folks, but it’s different with you, ain’t it?”

  Cade felt as if he was getting into deep water, but would not take the risk of hurting the boy’s feelings no matter what. “There’s a special link between a man and his wife, Buddy. You’ll find out one day when you’re older and thinking about getting a wife for yourself. When you find a woman you want in your life and decide to marry her, you’ll know what I’m talking about.”

  “And that’s how come Glory is gonna have a baby, ain’t it, Pa?”

  “You’ve got that right, Buddy. I helped Glory to make a baby, and when it’s born, it’ll be half Glory and half me, and all of it will be a McAllister, and will belong to you and Essie, too.”

  Buddy beamed. “I’m glad we talked, just the two of us, Pa. There was things I wanted to know and I think I understand a little better now.”

  “You can ask me anything you want to, Buddy. Always remember, I’ll answer any questions you have. I’ll not lie to you or make up fancy stories, but always tell you the truth.”

  The boy looked at him, his lips trembling as if he wanted to speak and yet held back the words. He walked to the window, turning his back on Cade and his voice trembled. “I was in my room, Pa. I saw the gold on the floor. It looked to me like it had been in the wall under the window and when that fella out in the yard shot the window out, it tore out part of the wall too. Did you know about the gold? Is that where my father hid it?”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Cade wished fervently that he did not have to speak the words that lay on his conscience, but he’d promised Buddy the truth and the truth was what he must give the boy.

  “When I knocked out the wall to put in your window, I found the gold in leather bags, Buddy. I’ve been sent here to find it, son, for I’m what is known as a Pinkerton man. They hired me to find the gold and I’m afraid I came here under false pretenses. I don’t know if you understand what that means, but I lied to Glory and let her think it was just an accident that I happened to be here. But, even though it was a job for me to do, I found myself falling in love with Glory and wanting to marry her. It was wrong to take her as my wife while I was living a lie, but I was afraid if I didn’t tie her to me by marriage, I’d lose her when she found out who I really was and why I was here.”

  “Does Glory know now that you’re not just a regular man, but a fella sent here to find the gold my father hid? Will she still want to be married to you when she hears why you came here?” Buddy’s brow furrowed as he considered Cade’s deception and the effect it would have on the whole family.

  Cade placed a large hand on the boy’s shoulder and his words were slow, as if he must choose them carefully. “I didn’t know what to do with the gold when I found it, for I feared that the law might think that Glory knew about it, and I didn’t want her blamed for it being there. And I didn’t want folks to look at you and your sister, thinking that you were indeed the children of a bank robber. So I put it under the new window and sealed it up. I knew the time would come when I’d have to carry it to the sheriff and have him send it to the bank where it came from, but I wanted the timing to be right. And then all of this happened and now we have no choice, son. I told Glory who I really am, and now I’ll have to depend on her to forgive me.”

  Buddy swallowed hard and looked up at Cade. “So my father really did steal it, didn’t he?”

  “Yeah, I’m afraid he was in on the bank robbery, son. Apparently the other men trusted him enough to let him take the gold and keep it for all of them. And then when they broke out of jail a few weeks back, they came after it.”

  “He didn’t tell us it was there, not me or Glory either. And he didn’t spend it either, Pa. He must have been hiding it for the men who robbed the bank.”

  “That’s what it looks like, son. And I probably should have given it to the sheriff as soon as I found it, but I decided to wait till things quieted down. And then thin
gs really got in an uproar. Joe Lawson knows the gold is here and I’m sure he’ll take care of it right soon. For now, you and I should put it into a pillowcase or a box or something and stick it under the bed.”

  “I’ll do it after supper,” Buddy offered, and Cade nodded his approval. The boy stood beside him, seeming to be deep in thought, and then he spoke again.

  “I’m glad you told me about it, Pa. You said you wouldn’t tell me stories or lie to me and I feel real good to know that you tried to protect Glory by hiding the gold. I don’t think Sheriff Lawson will be mad at you, do you?”

  “No, he doesn’t seem to be upset with us. I suspect he knows the gold will be brought to town right soon. He’s not afraid we’ll run off with it.”

  Buddy laughed. “He knows us better than that. But I don’t think we should tell Essie about it, do you? She’s too young to understand things like that.”

  “You’re right there, son. We’ll keep it between us for now. Glory knows, but she’s not in any shape to worry about it.”

  “Will we be able to fix up Essie’s room soon, do you think? She’s fussin’ over the shelf you promised her. And we’ll have to fix up my room where the men shot a hole in the wall.”

  “I know,” Cade said, aware that the child was not going to rest until he’d done as he’d promised.

  The soup was steaming, sending forth an aroma that made Cade’s mouth water. It had been a long time since they’d eaten, and he was more than ready for supper. Buddy had the bowls on the table and had poured milk into two glasses when Essie came down the stairs.

  “Glory’s sleeping and I’m hungry,” she announced. She looked at her brother and frowned. “Did you wash your hands, Buddy? Glory said we gotta always wash up before we eat.”

  He threw her a patient look and nodded, sitting down at his usual place at the table. Cade used Glory’s ladle to dish up the soup for the children, deciding he’d wait till later to have his own meal, and concentrate instead on fixing Glory’s instead, hoping he could coax her to eat a bit.

  Glory opened her eyes when he went into the bedroom, her smile looking a bit ragged, but welcome nevertheless. “Did the children eat?” she asked.

  Cade told her about Etta coming by and sat beside her, stirring the broth he’d brought for her. She shook her head, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer, and ignored her small show of defiance.

  “Come on, sweetheart. I told the children I was gonna feed you and that’s what I’m going to do.” He propped her up with two pillows behind her back and she winced as he lifted her to rest against the headboard.

  “You’re not going to be nice about this, are you?” She pouted a bit as he blew on a spoonful of soup, and he shook his head, holding a dish towel against her breast to catch any drops that might spill.

  “Nope. You’re going to eat. I’ll feed you and pamper you, but I won’t go back downstairs and tell those young’uns that their Glory wouldn’t even try Mrs. Bradley’s soup.” The spoon approached her mouth and she opened her lips to sip at the broth.

  “Can I just have the soup part, and leave the chicken and noodles for you?” she asked politely, her eyes begging him to heed her words.

  “All right. If you’ll sip all the broth, I’ll eat the rest,” he agreed, happy to find her cooperative with him.

  His lips found hers several times between spoonfuls and he leaned close to whisper in her ear as he finished what she hadn’t eaten, cleaning the bowl with a flourish.

  “Buddy said it smelled almost as good as your soup, Glory. But you do something different than Mrs. Bradley. Don’t know what it is, but yours has a better flavor. I’ll bring you up one of the cinnamon rolls she brought over. How about a cup of tea to go with it?”

  She grinned at him, leaning back against the pillows. “I kinda like this being an invalid and getting waited on, Mr. McAllister. I could get real used to this.”

  “Not much chance of that. I told Essie you’d be back in the kitchen by the end of the week. I don’t think she’s looking forward to my cooking.”

  “I’ll be feeling better by morning, Cade. You can help me downstairs early on, and I’ll fix something easy for breakfast. Maybe a pot of oatmeal.”

  “I’ll bet I can slice bacon and fry it up. It can’t be all that difficult, can it?”

  “I’ll sit in the rocking chair and give orders and you can wait on me. The doctor will probably be out in a day or so, and tell me I can get back to work.”

  “You’re going to take it easy, sweetheart, just like he told you. You’re going to have my son or daughter and I want you to feel back to normal before you start in washing and ironing and cleaning house.”

  “I will. Maybe Etta will come by and lend a hand for a morning.” She scooted carefully down and Cade moved the pillows from behind her, placing them under her head.

  “Is that better?” he asked and she nodded her thanks. He wiped her mouth with a towel he’d brought along and brushed her hair back, his hand gentle against her cheek. “Do you suppose it will be all right for me to sleep with you tonight, if I promise to be really careful not to jar you or roll over against you? I can’t stand the thought of sleeping in another bed, Glory.”

  She smiled, her eyes looking heavy again, and he pulled the sheet up over her chest. “How about taking another little nap? Essie will want to sit with you, and I’ll have her come up if you’ll promise to try to sleep. The doctor left some pills for you to take for the pain, and I’ll bring them up with a glass of water for you.”

  “I’ll try,” she said, covering a yawn with her right hand. “But not till I have my cinnamon roll and cup of tea.”

  “All right. I’ll be back up in a few minutes.”

  She didn’t argue about the pills when he brought them to her and Cade recognized that Glory was more than ready for relief from her bout of surgery. He held the cup for her and watched as she sipped tea, swallowing her pills without a fuss.

  He knelt by the bedside, his head beside hers on the pillow. Glory turned her face to his. “I wasn’t worried, but I feared for the baby, Cade. The doctor seems to think there’s not a problem though, for he said everything sounded good when he listened with his stethoscope.”

  It was growing dark by the time the dishes were finished. Buddy had gathered up all the gold and packed it into a box. He took it to Cade and Glory’s bedroom and stood in the doorway. “Do you want this in here?” he asked, holding the heavy box before him. Cade waved him into the room and motioned to the corner where he’d set the screen back in place.

  “Put it back there, son. I’ll give it to the sheriff when he comes back out.”

  “I’m going to bed, Pa. We got lots to do tomorrow, keeping up with our work and Glory’s too.”

  “It’ll all be fine, Buddy. Glory’s going to come downstairs in the morning and tell us what to do.”

  “I’ll help, too,” Essie said from the hallway. She carried her nightgown with her and sent a coaxing look in Cade’s direction. “Can I come in here and get undressed and say my prayers for Glory, Pa?”

  “I don’t know why not. I’ve put the screen back up and you can change behind it.”

  Essie scampered across the room and Glory took Cade’s hand. “I’m ready for bed, too, just as soon as the children are settled.”

  “I know you are, honey. I’ll close up the house and be right back.” He left the bedroom and Glory heard the doors close down below. Within minutes he was back, settling on the side of the bed as Essie came out from her corner and knelt beside him. He put his big hand on her head as she said her prayers, wiping his eyes a bit as she asked for a special blessing for Glory and then yawned widely as she rose and leaned against him.

  “Good night, Pa,” she said, leaning to kiss Glory’s cheek. Buddy waited for her to finish with the ritual and then took her to her own bedroom. Cade heard him tell the child they’d be getting up early and then both their bedroom doors closed.

  “I’ll leave our door open, in cas
e either of the children have a hard time sleeping tonight,” he told Glory. “I don’t want Essie to be having nightmares. I can’t believe she hasn’t been fussing over the fella that rode off with her. But she hasn’t said much about it. I think she was more worried about you than herself, Glory.”

  “You may be right. She whispered in my ear earlier that she wasn’t afraid, for she knew that she’d be rescued one way or another. She’s a pretty sturdy little thing, isn’t she?”

  Cade nodded, leaning to blow out the kerosene lamp before he got undressed for bed. His clothing dropped to the floor and he sat on the side of the bed. “Where do you want me, sweet?” he asked.

  “On my right side, please. I want to put my head on your shoulder, Cade, and I can’t lie on my left arm. If you’re in front of me, I can lift my arm across your chest and keep it a little elevated that way. I’m afraid it’s pretty sore.”

  “It’s gonna be sore for a while, with all the digging the doc had to do to get those pellets out.”

  “How long do you suppose it will take before I can cuddle with you?”

  “You’re going to cuddle with me tonight, sweetheart.”

  “No, I don’t mean just …” She laughed a little and he thought he caught a hint of tears in her voice.

  “You mean, when can we make love?” His arm slid beneath her head and he lifted her to lie close.

  “I guess that’s what I meant. I don’t know why I couldn’t just say it the way you did.”

  “You’re a woman, and still right next door to being an innocent, sweetheart. Men don’t seem to care if they sound kinda blunt about such things, I suspect.”