LAND OF STARS: The Texas Wyllie Brothers (Wilderness Dawning Series Book 2) Page 17

  “I am Cuffee. Taynay is my son,” she said.

  Stunned, Steve stared. “I’m sorry I didn’t know that. You could have stayed at our camp with them.”

  “No, my bones are old and achy. I need shelter. I will see them soon. I sent God’s angel to care for them.” With that she gave him a crooked, knowing smile and turned away.

  Then Steve passed out the blankets, giving two to Cuffee. Rebecca handed out the soap. Afterward, Tunstall directed the slaves to the correct buildings. Carrying their bedding and soap, the weary slaves moved slowly toward their temporary homes.

  “Sleep well, children,” Rebecca told the boys and girls. Then she turned to him. Backlit against the cook fire, she spoke in a soft voice. “I feel so sad for them. Especially the youngsters. We have a teacher that comes here three times a week to teach the older children of our workers. I teach the younger ones. They’re learning to read and to do simple mathematics. As soon as they’re all well and rested, I’ll be sure these children are included. And that they are bathed. The clothing you brought with you will help some of the men and women. We’ll find the rest of them some clothing here. And I’ll buy some for the children.”

  “That’s kind of you,” he said.

  “Teaching them was my father’s idea,” she said.

  “He seems like such a kind, gentle man.”

  She smiled. “He is. I love him dearly. So do all our workers. I’m anxious to get to know your father. He appears to be a valiant and courageous type of man.”

  “He is a heroic type, always pushing out against the West. Fought many a renegade Indian and bandits. He has strong ideals—family, faith, honor, country, and independence. He’s tough as nails and twice as sharp. He was one of the first settlers in Kentucky, Louisiana, and now Texas. We moved to the south side of the Red River at Pecan Point in 1818. Men there respected him. He’s a born leader of men. And so is my oldest brother Samuel. In fact, all my brothers are well-respected men.”

  At the mention of his brothers, her faint smile held a touch of sadness. Now that he thought about it, he often sensed some measure of despondency within her. Something deep that she kept carefully hidden.

  “We need leadership here in Texas,” she said. “Something has to be done about all the corruption and greed and the misrule of Texas. It wasn’t like this when my father and mother first came here. While Spain still controlled the area, political relations with America were still good. It was a perfect place for a planter like my father to start a business—inexpensive land, good weather, and a growing population of sugar customers here in Texas and in nearby in Louisiana.”

  “As the population grows, I believe American acquisition of Texas and vast areas to the West is inevitable,” he said. “Perhaps that’s when leadership will change.”

  She glanced down at the ground. “I hope we Texians can survive that long.”

  Steve smiled at the term, realizing he too was now a Texian. Texians referred to Anglo settlers of Mexican Texas, whereas Mexican settlers were referred to as Tejanos.

  With a fingertip, he gently lifted her chin. “We will survive. There’s nothing tougher than Texians.” Steve realized he’d long considered himself a Texian too. He guessed he had since they first moved to Pecan Point. The remote settlement, though technically a part of the Louisiana Purchase, had always seemed to be a part of the vastness of Texas.

  She gave him a small smile. “I should be getting back inside to help mother retire for the night.”

  Steve nodded and turned toward his wagon. Rebecca followed alongside him. He couldn’t help but notice the gentle sway of her hips and the rise and fall of her breasts. He couldn’t resist reaching out and touching her. He placed a guiding hand to the small of her back. His hand felt good there, like it belonged, especially when she glanced up and smiled at his gentle touch.

  When they reached the wagon, he glanced up at the heavens. The clear sky and lack of moon made the night sky overflow with stars. Some sparkled and winked like diamonds. Others glowed like pearls. “In this ever-changing world, that’s the one thing we can count on.”

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “When clouds move away, the stars will always still be shining.”

  Rebecca glanced up. “Sometimes I think life is like that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Clouds are like life’s troubles. Some are but little cares that blow away on a soft breeze. Others are darker and oppressive, taking away our sunshine and making our lives sticky. And a few bring a storm into our lives that rains tears.” She glanced down and paused. Then she glanced up again at him as she spoke, “But when the clouds finally clear away, life can still be beautiful.”

  Steve got the feeling she was speaking from recent experience. “Did something cause you to rain tears recently?” he asked gently.

  Her glowing youthful face fell. Then a tremor gripped her bottom lip. Though small, he could tell it came from heartache. She swallowed and seemed to brace herself.

  “I have…I had two older, twin brothers. Growing up it was like I had twin guardian angels. They always looked out for me and I adored them. We had such fun growing up together. After they attended Centenary College in Jackson, Louisiana for two years, they went to work for my father. They made frequent trips to Louisiana to sell our sugar and molasses. I always teased them and said they had the sweetest jobs in Texas. They worked very hard, traveling to different markets and cities. Sometimes they would travel together and sometimes they would travel separately. Their work paid off and made my father even more prosperous. Unfortunately, when they weren’t traveling, they spent a good deal of time writing letters and attending political meetings.”

  “Why is that unfortunate?” he asked.

  “Because they wrote to both the U.S. Congress and to the governor of Louisiana complaining about the corruption here. Coachmen operating between here and Louisiana carry letters, packages, and money, and often transact business or deliver messages for their customers. We think one of my brothers’ letters was given to Alcalde Procela and then to José Cosio, who commands the Mexican military garrison here.”

  “So, the Alcalde may have bribed one or all of the coachmen to allow him to read letters before they left Nacogdoches.”

  “Exactly.”

  “What happened?”

  She shuffled a few feet away from him and stared into the darkness of the night before she resumed in a haunting voice. “The Alcalde publicly accused my brothers of being spies for the United States and had them arrested and thrown in the Correction House at the fort. He alleged that they were both secretly recruiting for a revolution. That they were secret agents sent by the U.S. government to prepare the way for a takeover of Texas.”

  He had to ask. “Were they?”

  “They were unhappy with the Alcalde, especially his treatment of American settlers, but they weren’t plotting rebellion. At least not that I know of. I think they would have included me if they were. Father did everything he could to defend them. He immediately hired the town’s solicitor to plead their case.”

  “What happened when he did?” he asked and moved beside her.

  Grief gripped her face and shone from her eyes. “Mr. Navarro never got a chance to provide proof of the reasons for their repeated trips to Louisiana. My brothers were both shot the same day they were arrested.”

  Horrified, Steve gasped. “Shot? No!”

  “In front of a firing squad.”

  He couldn’t even imagine the terror that must have gripped the two young men as the soldiers leveled their rifle sights on them. The horror of it took his breath away.

  Tears sparkled in her eyes and her voice faded away as she said, “On that dark and wretched day, their lives were stolen from us.”

  “Dear God. What happened then?”

  “My wonderful big brothers were brought home in the back of a wagon, their bodies still dripping blood onto the boards of the wagon bed. At the sight of them, horror
ripped through me. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t speak. Words deserted me. My heart froze and my stomach turned to rock. I couldn’t rid my heart of that numbing chill for days afterward. Then, anger burned it away.” She turned toward him. Her amber eyes now blazed fire. “I’m still angry.”

  “And your parents?”

  “At first, Mother could only whimper and wail and her legs collapsed beneath her. I had to get two workers to carry her inside. Father…well…shock and guilt gripped him like some hungry beast. And now and then, that beast comes back to feed on him. That’s when he grows depressed. He becomes an old man with lead in his feet and a hanging head. At other times, I know he is suppressing his anger. And I wonder where my father, my dear companion of happier times, is.”

  The anguish that Rebecca and her parents must have experienced at the sight of the two bodies was unfathomable. His heart broke for her.

  “Losing two sons nearly killed my mother. That’s what affected her heart, I think. It made her die a little inside. And my father…he’s fought melancholy ever since. When he becomes depressed, I take over the sugar business for him until he’s better. Sometimes it’s only a day or two and sometimes it’s a week or more. I’ve tried my best to stay strong and cheerful for both of them.”

  Clearly, this young woman mustered remarkable strength in the face of her family’s horrible misfortune. He reached out and took her hands. “How long ago was this?”

  “About six months. Long enough for us to stop crying every day although all three of our hearts are still broken. And I can’t seem to shake my anger. If anything, it grows worse the more time passes.”

  “I can’t stand the thought of you and your parents continuing to endure such sorrow.”

  “My father tries to make it appear that he is coping with our loss, but I know better. Inside he is still suffering. And now he is feeling guilt too. He thinks that as their father he should have stopped them from writing those letters. But how could he have known that the authorities were reading the letters of the town’s citizens? We all learned too late that freedom of speech is an American ideal, not a Mexican.”

  “And your mother? Clearly, it is still affecting her.”

  “Yes. I don’t think that’s something a mother will ever get over.”

  “What about you? How are you managing now?”

  “Inside my anger still rages, especially at night. But I’m starting to feel like I want to live again. To be happy once again.”

  “I want you to be happy again. Those stars up there are still shining, Rebecca. What’s keeping you from seeing their beauty?”

  “The fact that we can do nothing to get justice for my brothers. The Alcalde is the law here,” she said, her voice bitter. “Although he is a living mockery of law and justice. And if we complain to the governor in San Antonio, we risk more retribution against us. They might even kill my father.”

  “That’s a travesty. There has to be a way to get justice for your brothers without risking your lives. I want to help.” Somehow, he would find a way.

  “You already have. Meeting you has been a welcome distraction for me. And Dr. Grant has helped my mother so much. And caring for these unfortunate slaves will give my father something to take his mind off our loss.”

  Steve stared at her a moment before he spoke. “You’re right something has to be done about this town. About Procela. I’ll find a way to help you.”

  She shook her head and a single tear slipped down the flawless skin of her cheek. “Your offer is both noble and brave. But the Alcalde is too powerful…too…cruel.” She stared up at the sky again, but he had a feeling she couldn’t see the beauty of the stars. The tears of her heart still blurred them.

  “Rebecca, good always overcomes evil. But sometimes it takes a while. Let me help you see the stars again.”

  “Until my family sees justice for my brothers…” Her voice broke miserably. “…those stars are just teardrops waiting to fall.”

  She began sobbing and he wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest, letting her broken heart beat against his. She’d remained a pillar of strength for her mother and father. Now, he knew, she needed to lean on someone herself.

  It would be him.

  It should be him always and forever.

  Chapter 19

  When Steve walked Rebecca back inside her home, she dried her lashes with a handkerchief and regained control of her emotions. Steve suspected she was exercising restraint for the sake of her father and mother.

  When her father inquired as to why she was crying, she told him, “I told Steve about my brothers.”

  That admission triggered a sudden anger in the man that didn’t surprise Steve. Her father had more than enough reason to be angry.

  “Father, please don’t get worked up again,” Rebecca said. “Mother will hear you and get upset. Her heart can’t take any more strain.”

  Mr. Tyler kept his voice down, but bristling anger replaced Tyler’s normally calm demeanor. “The United States government is not above making use of settlers to cause trouble in the hope of acquiring Texas by purchase or revolution. But my sons were innocent! I believe Procela had them shot after reading their letters. And several others have also died because of the man. The Alcalde is a powerful, pompous predator. But if I do anything about it, I fear he would retaliate against my wife and daughter, and I can’t risk that.”

  “He likely would,” Steve agreed. “I still can’t believe that happened.” He clenched his fists as anger welled up inside of him as well.

  Inflamed, Tyler had more to say. “Believe it! The Mexican government is just as aloof and unjust as England was to the colonists before the American Revolution. Maybe even more so. Their laws are arbitrary, justice is a sham, they want to control our religious beliefs, and the Mexican military provides no security from attacks by renegade Indians.”

  Steve nodded. “In fact, I believe Americans were invited into Texas to fight hostiles so they wouldn’t have to. They expect settlers to create their own militias to defend against hostiles. My father and eldest brother Samuel have led several militias in wilderness forays against Indian horse thieves and Mexican bandits. I earned my spurs on some of those trips. Some of our friends weren’t so lucky.”

  “Americans won’t stand for this kind of injustice for long,” Tyler said with a firm shake of his head.

  He was right. Steve suspected that further rebellions were in Texas’ future unless Americans were treated fairly by Mexico. “Even though our country is young, Americans share a proud history. We’ve rebelled twice against tyranny and won both wars.”

  Rebecca strolled over to the home’s gleaming, carved, wooden mantle and stared down into the blackness of the empty, unlit fireplace. Her white-knuckled grip on the mantle told him she was desperately trying to keep her own anger under control.

  Steve couldn’t blame her. The injustice this family endured at the hands of the Mexican authorities was unspeakable. It made him wonder how many other families suffered similarly.

  Her father must have also sensed his daughter’s disquiet because he took a deep breath and walked over to her. “I’m sorry, Rebecca,” he said with a gentle pat on her back. “I didn’t mean to get distressed again. But your grief caused my anger to rise again. I’ll try to do better. Especially since this should be a happy occasion.”

  “Happy? Why?” she asked, appearing incredulous as she turned around and regarded her father.

  All the tension and angst left her father’s face. “Because my daughter has her first suitor! And I utterly approve!” he said excitedly.

  Wide-eyed, at first Rebecca appeared startled. She glanced between her father and Steve, a pretty rosy blush scooting up her tear-streaked cheeks. Then her face broke into a tremulous smile.

  She was so beautiful but especially so when she smiled. His heart took another leap.

  “That’s right,” Mr. Tyler said. “Earlier today, Steve asked my permission to court you. Before I
had talked with him for ten minutes, I knew what kind of man he was—honest, brave, and hardworking. Exactly the kind of man I would want to court my precious daughter. Gladly, I gave him my approval.”

  Steve grinned self-consciously. “Thank you, Sir.”

  Her earnest, hazel eyes sought his. “You want to court me?”

  Steve gazed at her, his heart pounding. “I was going to mention it earlier when we were looking up at the stars, but the conversation took another turn,” he explained. “If you’ll do me the honor, it would make me very happy to be able to court you.”

  She studied his face unhurriedly.

  He watched in waiting silence, barely breathing.

  “It would make me happy too,” she finally said, her voice, throaty and full of emotion.

  Relief filled him. But then another worry suddenly assailed him. “I don’t have a lot of experience with courtship,” he admitted.

  “Neither do I,” she said. “But I think it will likely come to us. I know the idea greatly appeals to me and makes my heart happy.”

  “We’ve needed a little happiness around here,” her father said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go check on the slaves to see if they are getting settled in okay. Steve, I assume I can count on you to behave honorably?”

  “Yes, Sir,” he said. “I wouldn’t be my father’s son if I didn’t.”

  “I look forward to meeting your father soon,” Mr. Tyler said and left toward the back door. Then he suddenly stopped and turned around. “Rebecca, let’s plan a dinner for the Wyllies. And invite the three women and baby to come and stay with us until they can get settled here in Nacogdoches.”

  The following morning, as Rebecca woke up, her first thoughts were of Steve and their new courtship. After her father left them alone last night, they had sat in the front room and talked. Their time together, although several hours, had passed far too quickly. She found Steve so compelling, strong, and attractive. Never had a suitor suited her as much. She could have talked to him all night long if her father hadn’t finally gently run Steve off.