McShannon's Kin, Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Once he understood that his father was staying at the doctor’s and was going to get better – so we told him, hoping it wasn’t a lie – Hunter settled in well enough. It didn’t surprise me that he liked tagging after the boys. He seemed an independent little soul, already used to hiding his feelings, but in quiet moments I saw the worry on his face. Whatever kind of father Galen Ramsey was, his son appeared to love him.

Hunter had been with us two days when Ben Reeves stopped by with a message from Doctor Franklin. Mr. Ramsey was improving and wanted to see his son. My grandfather was expected back in town that morning as well, so a family expedition set out. Matt asked for, and got, permission to drive the team, much to Ethan’s disgust.

As curious as I was to see how the years had treated Granfer, I was just as curious to see Galen Ramsey again. I’d asked Uncle about him, but hadn’t learned much.

“What I’ve already told you is just about all I know. Galen and his wife came here from Kansas six years ago, when she was expecting Hunter. He bought their place from a man who was good and ready to give up on it. They made it through the first couple of years and were just starting to get their feet under them when Naomi died giving birth to their daughter. The baby died a couple of days later.”

“Oh, how sad. No wonder he’s bitter.”

“Yeah. Over the next year Gale started drinking more and more. He’s rude and stand-offish enough that most people don’t bother with him. He could have friends if he wanted them, but he just doesn’t seem to give a damn about anyone except the boy.”
“Hunter seems to care about him, too.”

“Yeah, he does. Gale has plenty of patience with him, but damn little with anyone else, and when he’s in a temper it’s best to leave him alone. He got into a fight at Neil’s place once…Neil Garrett’s Dr. Franklin’s father and he runs the saloon. He’s seen a few fights, and he still talks about that one.”

“What was it about?”

“Nothing in particular, the way I heard it. Someone got pushy with Gale and he pushed back, hard. He doesn’t have any back-up in him, that’s for sure.”

Remembering the man’s cold eyes, I wondered what kind of a fool had challenged him. Mr. Ramsey may have become bitter at the loss of his wife, but I had the feeling that there had never been much give in him.

Our first stop in town was the boarding house that Granfer and his wife kept. a big, rambling butter-yellow house trimmed in white. We found them sitting on the porch. Granfer jumped up and hugged the breath out of me when I got to the top of the steps.

“Now, then, lass, you’ve grown up.”

His blond hair had silvered and his face had creased like a well-worn saddle, but his dark blue eyes still twinkled irrepressibly. He was no taller than me and hadn’t much meat on his bones, but his thin frame looked as wiry and spry as I remembered it. Uncle towered over him. No one would take them for father and son, unless they noticed a subtle something about the mouth, a hint of deviltry that marked them as kin. I returned the hug heartily.

“Aye, Granfer, I have. Have you?”

“Never.” He grinned and turned to his wife. “Harriet, my granddaughter Sidonie.”

She stepped forward with a dignity that was saved from stiffness by her smile. I knew from Granfer’s letters that Harriet was a shrewd businesswoman with a keen interest in politics, to the extent that she had been mayor of Wallace Flats for a time. She certainly had the presence for it. Her dark hair was liberally threaded with gray, but she hadn’t lost her trim figure and her dark green eyes were still sharp-looking under straight black brows. I wouldn’t have liked to try to put anything over on her.

“I’m pleased to meet you again, Sidonie. I remember you as a little thing in pigtails. Colin’s been looking forward to seeing you again for weeks.”

I smiled and took the hand she offered me. “And I’ve been looking forward to seeing him. I’ve missed him all these years. I owe you a grudge, Harriet, for taking him away from us.”

“Maybe.” Uncle came up the steps behind me, wearing one of his teasing grins. “Then again, maybe Harriet did you all a favor.”

Granfer scowled up at him, then shook his head. “I never was able to teach him any respect. And you, lass - still your father’s little turnip, I’ll warrant.”

Trust him to remember. “Nay, Granfer. I told Dad when I was twelve that if he didn’t stop calling me that I wouldn’t heed a word he said, and I stuck to it.”

Everyone else had joined us on the porch. Hunter stood on pins and needles beside Aunt Beth, waiting to see his father. Uncle turned to Matt.

“Take Hunter down the street to Dr. Franklin’s, would you, and ask Tyler when he wants us to collect him.”

My curiosity got the better of me. Before Matt could move I reached for Hunter’s hand. “I’ll take him. We’ll have plenty of time to catch up afterwards.”

Granfer nodded. “Of course you will, you’re all staying for dinner. Go on.”

Uncle pointed the doctor’s house out to me. When we got there, a tallish, willowy woman of close to Aunt’s age opened the door.

“Well, hello, Hunter.”

“Hi, Mrs. Franklin. How’s Pa?”

I liked the gentle smile in her light brown eyes, and I liked the way she knelt down and put her hands on Hunter’s shoulders. “Tyler says he’s going to be all right, but he’s still not feeling very well. You’re going to have to take it easy on him for a while. You can see him for a few minutes, but he needs his rest.” She glanced up at me. “We haven’t met.”

“I’m the McShannons’ niece, Sidonie. Your husband probably told you we’re minding Hunter while his father’s ill.”

A grin played across Mrs. Franklin’s rather solemn face as she stood. “Then we have met. You might remember my daughter, Danielle. We have two sons as well. They’re off with some friends for the day. Please call me Amy.”

I had a vague recollection of a dinner Aunt and Uncle had, and of playing with a little dark-haired girl. The memory brought back an image of a younger Amy with the same quiet smile, and a rusty-haired man… the new Wallace Flats doctor. “Yes, I remember Danielle. Where is she now?”

“She was married this spring, to a rancher up near Fort Collins.”

Hunter tugged at my sleeve. “Can’t I see Pa now?”

Amy took his hand. “All right. Come with me.”

As I followed them up the stairs I watched Hunter staring around him. The doctor’s house wouldn’t have been called elegant at home, but it had a more refined style than I would have expected to see in Wallace Flats. Plastered walls and crown moldings, a glimpse of polished wood and rows of books from the doctor’s study, lace curtains at the windows – it made me realize how much a working ranch house Uncle Trey’s home was. I doubted if Hunter had ever seen anything like this place.

Amy turned left at the top of the stairs and knocked at a door. “Mr. Ramsey, are you awake? Hunter’s here to see you.”

“Send him in.” When Hunter opened the door the hard face I remembered turned toward us from the bed. He smiled as the boy dashed in, and I’d have said it wasn’t something he did often. His features didn’t quite seem used to it. He still looked drawn, but seeing him cleaned up I decided there was something attractive about him, especially his eyes, now that there was no coldness in them. They were sea-green, an interesting combination with his dark blond hair. He was letting his beard grow, and I thought it became him. It softened his mouth and jaw slightly, though with those heavy brows he would always look like someone you’d not want to meet in an alley.

I turned around, thinking I should leave them alone, but Mr. Ramsey called me back. There was a moment of awkward silence as he looked at me over Hunter’s head.

“Thank you for taking care of him, Miss McShannon.”

No apoloy for trying to brain me. Even his thanks sounded a bit grudging. I couldn’t help sounding stiff in return. “My name is Rainnie, and you’re welcome. Hunter has been a perfect guest.”

After a hug from his father, Hunter settled himself in the chair by the bed. “Sidonie talks Yorkshire. Go on, Sidonie, show him.”

I was about to refuse when my gaze met Mr. Ramsey’s again. He gave me a look of male appraisal, with a challenge in it that had me straightening my shoulders.

“I’ll tell thee summat, Hunter, thy tongue is hung in the middle. Now I’m going downstairs. Come down when you’re ready. Mr. Ramsey, I hope you’re feeling better soon.”

Back downstairs, I found Mrs. Franklin in the kitchen. She beckoned me in and sat me down at the table while she made tea.

“Are Beth and Trey in town with you today?”

“Aye. My grandfather returned from Denver on the morning train, so the whole family came in. They’re all over at the boarding house.”

The mention of Granfer brought a smile to her face. “Do you know, Sidonie, I think Colin’s secret to youth is that he doesn’t stay still long enough to get old.”

I smiled too. “That’s true, I think. That, and the fact that he hasn’t forgotten how to laugh.” I paused to choose my words. “That’s something I’m not sure Mr. Ramsey has ever learned.”

I spoke carefully, but Amy gave me a significant glance nonetheless. If she’d kept it up a moment longer, I would have blushed. Surely she didn’t think…

“Perhaps. I know he and Naomi were happy, but he was never one to laugh much even then, at least not that I saw. They came to church and the town dances and people liked them, but Naomi was the social one. Galen tended to talk mostly to her.”

“He must have been devastated when she died.”

Regret softened Amy’s voice. “He was. Naomi hemorrhaged and Tyler couldn’t get it stopped. Then the baby died, too. Galen never blamed Tyler, he just fell into a rage with the world. People tried to befriend him, but he wouldn’t have it. It was as if he didn’t know how to let anyone in.”

“Mrs. Franklin…Amy, I think you might be right.”

We were expecting Hunter downstairs at any moment, so as Amy poured tea for us both we turned the conversation to safer subjects, though my curiosity rebelled. After a few minutes Hunter appeared and we said our goodbyes.

When we got to the boarding house, Harriet was ready to put dinner on the table. She and Granfer normally ate with the boarders, but today they’d set the table in the kitchen for the family. Granfer got a scolding look from Harriet as he heaped his plate with chicken stew and dumplings.

“Colin, I don’t know how you can eat like that and not suffer for it. And you never gain an ounce. It isn’t fair.”

“Fatness and thinness are matters of predestination, my dear.” He grinned as he loaded his fork. “And fate has hardly been cruel to you in that regard, I’d say.”

Aunt Beth rolled her eyes. “Like father, like son. Sidonie, did you see Gale?”

“Yes, I did. He’s getting better, but Mrs. Franklin said he’s going to have to stay off his leg. Where will he go when he leaves the doctor’s? He won’t be able to manage on his own.”

Uncle Trey sat back with a thoughtful look. “I’ll ask him to stay with us, but I don’t think it’ll do any good.”

I put down my fork as an idea formed in my mind. “I think I might have something to say about that.”