Read Online Wayward Wind by Dorothy Garlock - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dorothy Garlock
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granny said the
best men are the ones who’ve been tested by the fires of hell. Sometime I’ll tell you about my granny and my Grandpa Light.”
“I been to hell, ma’am. I spent five years there. I’m not wanted by the law, now. That’s not the reason I don’t say my name.
It’s that I’m kind a shamed, but I’ll tell you. It’s Fort. Fort Griffin. My ma was a whore there, ’n not knowin’ which of
the men was my pa, gave me the fort’s name. I think she thought it was a joke on the men.” He watched her closely, as if trying
to see whether she made light of what he was saying.
Not a flicker of emotion crossed Lorna’s face, although she never felt more like crying. “There’s no need for you to be ashamed
of your name,” she said softly but firmly. “Your pa may have been the bravest, most honorable man at the fort. Besides, you
don’t have to live in the shadow of what your ma, your pa or anyone else has done. You’re living now, and the kind of man
you make yourself to be is up to you. A name has nothing to do with it.” When she finished speaking he nodded and looked away
from her intense gaze. “Griffin? Do you mind me asking why you wear an empty holster?”
“No, ma’am. I was roped ’n pulled outta the saddle by some fellers pushin’ nesters off open range. They took my gun ’n my
knife ’n hung me so I’d die slow. Parnell cut me down. I’m ridin’ with him to help find a mare stole from him, then I’m agoin’
back to a spot I picked for myself. And I ain’t bein’ pushed off it like I was trash.” Anger and determination laid a sharp
edge to his voice.
“Mr. Parnell’s mare wasn’t stolen. I found the mare running free and brought her here. Mr. Parnell doesn’t believe me. More
than likely he’ll take the mare and ride out at dawn.”
Griffin looked up quickly. “I believe you if you say that’s how it was. I owe that gent plenty, ma’am, but I ain’t aleavin’
you here with this sick girl. That old man you was atellin’ me ’bout might not come back.”
Lorna’s hand found his shoulder again. “Thank you, Griffin. I’d be obliged if you’d stay.”
“Is she married to the one who done this to ’er?”
“I’m sure she’s not. Her folks were on their way to California when Brice bought her from them. She said he got a preacher
to marry them. Some preacher!” she said crossly. “Bonnie said Brice got him out of a saloon. She’d fought, cried and tried
to run away until then.”
“Brice? Is that his name? I’ll kill him if’n I come onto him,” Griffin said in a tone that clearly stated he meant what he
said. He picked up Bonnie’s thin, blue-veined hand and looked at the broken nails, the cuts and scratches. “Poor thing. She’s
had to do ever’thin’ with this one little hand. If she can do that, I oughtta be able to bear up with a name like Fort Griffin.”
“Oh, Griffin! You’re a good man,” Lorna breathed, caught by the emotion in his voice and the sadness reflected in his eyes.
Her voice was tight, almost choked. “I’ll go down to the creek and wash,” she said suddenly. “Then I’ll sit with Bonnie while
you sleep.”
Lorna left the cabin. She was a solitary person and needed time to be alone. She walked out into the light of a half moon
that rode high in the clear sky. She could see the outline of the man sitting beside the creek with his face turned toward
the cabin and deliberately went toward him so he would see her, then moved behind him and on down the rocky bank of the creek.
She could feel his eyes on her, but she wasn’t afraid. He’d not follow her. The image of his face came to her clearly out
of the darkness. She knew him long ago, in another place and time. The thought flashed through her mind and for the space
of a dozen heartbeats her steps were unsteady. Granny said she’d felt that way about Grandpa—she said Maggie knew when she
first set eyes on
best men are the ones who’ve been tested by the fires of hell. Sometime I’ll tell you about my granny and my Grandpa Light.”
“I been to hell, ma’am. I spent five years there. I’m not wanted by the law, now. That’s not the reason I don’t say my name.
It’s that I’m kind a shamed, but I’ll tell you. It’s Fort. Fort Griffin. My ma was a whore there, ’n not knowin’ which of
the men was my pa, gave me the fort’s name. I think she thought it was a joke on the men.” He watched her closely, as if trying
to see whether she made light of what he was saying.
Not a flicker of emotion crossed Lorna’s face, although she never felt more like crying. “There’s no need for you to be ashamed
of your name,” she said softly but firmly. “Your pa may have been the bravest, most honorable man at the fort. Besides, you
don’t have to live in the shadow of what your ma, your pa or anyone else has done. You’re living now, and the kind of man
you make yourself to be is up to you. A name has nothing to do with it.” When she finished speaking he nodded and looked away
from her intense gaze. “Griffin? Do you mind me asking why you wear an empty holster?”
“No, ma’am. I was roped ’n pulled outta the saddle by some fellers pushin’ nesters off open range. They took my gun ’n my
knife ’n hung me so I’d die slow. Parnell cut me down. I’m ridin’ with him to help find a mare stole from him, then I’m agoin’
back to a spot I picked for myself. And I ain’t bein’ pushed off it like I was trash.” Anger and determination laid a sharp
edge to his voice.
“Mr. Parnell’s mare wasn’t stolen. I found the mare running free and brought her here. Mr. Parnell doesn’t believe me. More
than likely he’ll take the mare and ride out at dawn.”
Griffin looked up quickly. “I believe you if you say that’s how it was. I owe that gent plenty, ma’am, but I ain’t aleavin’
you here with this sick girl. That old man you was atellin’ me ’bout might not come back.”
Lorna’s hand found his shoulder again. “Thank you, Griffin. I’d be obliged if you’d stay.”
“Is she married to the one who done this to ’er?”
“I’m sure she’s not. Her folks were on their way to California when Brice bought her from them. She said he got a preacher
to marry them. Some preacher!” she said crossly. “Bonnie said Brice got him out of a saloon. She’d fought, cried and tried
to run away until then.”
“Brice? Is that his name? I’ll kill him if’n I come onto him,” Griffin said in a tone that clearly stated he meant what he
said. He picked up Bonnie’s thin, blue-veined hand and looked at the broken nails, the cuts and scratches. “Poor thing. She’s
had to do ever’thin’ with this one little hand. If she can do that, I oughtta be able to bear up with a name like Fort Griffin.”
“Oh, Griffin! You’re a good man,” Lorna breathed, caught by the emotion in his voice and the sadness reflected in his eyes.
Her voice was tight, almost choked. “I’ll go down to the creek and wash,” she said suddenly. “Then I’ll sit with Bonnie while
you sleep.”
Lorna left the cabin. She was a solitary person and needed time to be alone. She walked out into the light of a half moon
that rode high in the clear sky. She could see the outline of the man sitting beside the creek with his face turned toward
the cabin and deliberately went toward him so he would see her, then moved behind him and on down the rocky bank of the creek.
She could feel his eyes on her, but she wasn’t afraid. He’d not follow her. The image of his face came to her clearly out
of the darkness. She knew him long ago, in another place and time. The thought flashed through her mind and for the space
of a dozen heartbeats her steps were unsteady. Granny said she’d felt that way about Grandpa—she said Maggie knew when she
first set eyes on
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