Dorothy Garlock by Leaving Whiskey Bend Read Free Book Online Page B

dog.
    “The thought had crossed my mind,” Eli admitted.
    “If it’ll ease your head a bit, I won’t stop you.”
    Ever since he’d spoken with his mother, Eli had mulled over every word, every curse, and every look that they had exchanged. He’d spent the rest of the day alone, uncertain what he should do next. Try as he might, his thoughts kept returning to Hank and the one question for which he had absolutely no answer.
    “Why, Hank?” he asked, finally giving the question voice. “Why didn’t you tell me about my father?”
    “Because even though your mother is a hard-nosed, thickheaded, iron horse of a woman, she’s still my sister and the only family I’ve got left.” Running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair, Hank leaned against the large barn door opposite his nephew. “When your father died, I tried to get her to write you, to tell you what had happened, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She made me promise that I’d hold my tongue and, like the good brother I’ve always tried to be to her, I gave her my word.”
    “Then why’d you send me that telegram?” Eli asked. “Why get me all the way back here to Bison City, to the ranch, when she’s made it clear she doesn’t want me?”
    “Well, then . . . maybe my word ain’t as good as I thought it was,” Hank said.
    Eli looked at the ragged, dust-worn crags of his uncle’s face and could see that he was telling the truth; Hank Gallows had been unable to resist the force of his sister’s anger. He’d simply looked after both her and his nephew; and that was certainly something that Eli could respect.
    “You gonna forgive me?” Hank asked.
    “How could I not?”
    “Good.” The older man nodded. “Now, what happened with your mother?”
    “Nothing good,” Eli said with a shrug. “I just couldn’t believe some of the things she said. She blamed me for what happened to Pa and for Caleb and Abe. It made me mad as hell!”
    “Your mother’s had it rough. I ain’t gonna make no excuses for her, but she’s been through enough to put most folks into the grave. Her bite can be as sharp as a snake’s, but that don’t mean her heart’s bad. I suppose that ain’t gonna make it no easier to bear, huh?”
    For a while, both men were silent, content to stare out into what little of the day remained. A sliver of sun clung tenaciously to the horizon; the moon had already risen in the east, accompanied by the hundreds of stars already visible in the sky.
    “I’m thinking about leaving,” Eli finally said. He’d been rolling the thought around in his head from the moment his mother had walked away and, try as he might, he hadn’t thought of a reason to stay.
    “I was afraid you might be.”
    “It’s just like you said, Hank. Things change whether we want them to or not. Hell, I’ve changed, too. I’ve got a life waiting for me back in Galveston and I can’t think why I shouldn’t get back to it.”
    Hank crossed the short distance between them and placed his worn hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “Give it time,” he said solemnly. “Spend some time helpin’ me out with the work around here, maybe do a little ridin’, and then make up your mind. Leavin’ now ain’t gonna do nothin’ ’cept make the break wider and deeper.”
    “It’s just that—”
    “Stay for this here old cowboy,” Hank said, silencing him. “Just give it a couple of days’ time before you make up your mind. You still feel the same way then, I’ll help you pack up and go.”
    Looking into Hank’s eyes, Eli knew that he couldn’t refuse him. With a deep sigh, he nodded. “All right. I’ll stay for a while and help out with the cattle. Maybe with time, Ma will be able to stand the sight of me.”
    “I hate to tell you, Eli, my boy,” Hank said with a chuckle, “but that face of yours ain’t one that gets easier on the eyes!”
    “Watch yourself, old man,” Eli said as he punched his uncle’s shoulder.
    As they made their way back to the