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THE NEXT MORNING TITUS insisted on leaving the bed he’d been sleeping in. He knew it belonged to Sarah h Jane, and he was determined not to put the family out any more than necessary.
“How’s the arm today?” Mr. Bentley asked as Titus joined him for breakfast.
“Not too bad Mr. Bentley,” Titus said. “A little sore,” he added giving his arm a little turn.
“Call me Bill,” The older man insisted. “I thought you might want to check on your stock this morning. The boys have been doing a good job of looking after them.” He smiled at the twins.
“We really have,” the first boy said.
“ I’ve done most of the work though,” the other chimed in.
“Did not.” The first boy insisted.
“Did too.” The second returned with a shove and in an instant they were both rolling on the floor arguing loudly.
“Calvin! Melvin! That’ll be enough.” Mrs. Bentley’s voice rang out as she stepped into the room. “If you have enough energy to be fighting, you have enough to go clean the chicken coop for the brothers and be about it quick.”
The boys, who had frozen in place at their mother’s tone rose, grumbling and trudged to the door to retrieve their coats.
“See what you done.” Calvin asked.
“Me, you started it.” Melvin insisted.
Titus laughed. It was still hard for him to tell the boys apart with their blonde hair and brown eyes, but he suspected in time he’d have it sorted out.
“Those boys,” Mrs. Bentley said. “Bill you’d better add to their list of chores again.”
“I will Molly. I will.” Bill said with a grin.
After breakfast Bill and Titus headed out to the barn where the mule and his horse were stabled.
“They look fine,” Titus said. “You’re boys seem to be good with stock.”
“They should be,” Bill chuckled, “I’m constantly sending them to the barn to do work just to keep them out of trouble.”
Titus smiled; he knew how young boys could get to each other.
For a moment Titus froze staring into nothingness, his eyes trying to focus on some forgotten memory.
“You alright son?” Bill asked. “You look like you saw a ghost.”
Titus shook his head clearing the smoke of what could only be his past from his brain.
“I’m all right,” he said, not sounding all right.
Walking to the old mule he laid his hand on the animal’s shoulder and listened to the familiar grunted greeting.
“You had that mule a while I guess.” Bill said.
Titus chuckled darkly, “As long as I can remember.” Turning he looked up at the other man. “I’m afraid I don’t exactly know who I am,” he said, nodding as the older man stared at him. “You see I can only remember about the last year and a half of my life.”
“No kidding?” Bill said obviously curious.
“Old Jed, a prospector out in Nevada found me shot along a trail when his donkey ran off on him. I guess Bitty, the donkey, caught the scent of this mule and joined him over me. I’d been shot, glanced off my head taking my whole life with it.”
Bill shook his head, “But now you’re a deputy.”
“Sheriff Davis asked me to step in after I caught up with the men who beat old Jed nearly to death. He said if I was that dogged about justice for my friend then I guess he figured I was alright in his book.”
Bill shook his head.
“I suspect he had another good look through the wanted posters before he made the offer though.” Titus said with a wry chuckle.
Bill slapped Titus on the shoulder. “Well you seem to be living up to the Sheriff’s expectations, so that’s good enough for me.”
“Ah, Mr. Bentley, I’m so glad I found you,” a priest in dark robes and a heavy Indian blanket wrap stepped into the barn. “I was wondering if you might speak with your boys. As much as I appreciate their efforts to clean the chicken coop for the order, I’m afraid that the shouting and enthusiastic shoveling may well put the hens off laying for a month.”
Bill Bentley placed a fist over his mouth and coughed to cover the laugh that bubbled up inside. “I’ll see to it right away brother Dominic,” he said. “By the way this is Titus; he’s just arrived.”
The priest pulled his hand from inside his wide sleeve and offered it to Titus. “You are welcome young man. All are welcome at Parson’s Prairie.” He cut his eyes toward Bill again then back to Titus. “We’ll see you in services tonight.” He finished then turned and stepped out of the barn.
“We’d best get over there to the coop before the boys burn it down,” Bill said. “There’s no telling what notions those two will get in their heads.”
Titus followed Bill as they made their way around a small adobe brick building and past a dried up garden. As they passed the last wall of the enclosed space, the sound of manic clucking, raucous shouting and heavy banging made both men break into a trot.
***
“GOOD HEAVENS!” MRS. Bentley cried when Bill entered her pristine kitchen a twin grasped firmly by the ear in each hand.
“You said clean the chicken coop,” Melvin protested as his father released him.
“We only did what you said,” Calvin chimed in.
“I didn’t say clean it by covering yourselves in feathers and dung,” their mother snipped.
“I’m turning them over to you Molly while Titus and I go finish the job, and hopefully mollify the hens at the same time.”
“Heaven have mercy,” Molly said. “How bad is it?”
“When we got there the hens were in the rafters in a cloud of feathers while the boys where pushing each other around on fully loaded shovels, while standing up.”
Molly’s dark eyes turned on the boys and they huddled together.
“Sorry Ma,” they said in unison. “We thought it was a good plan.”
Molly Bentley’s shook her head. “Go fetch water and get a fire going. You’ll fill the tub, bathe then fill it again for the whole family.”
“Yes Ma’am,” the boys said, turning and shuffling back out the door.
Bill leaned over and kissed Molly on the cheek before following his son’s outside.
From the corner of his eye Titus caught a glimpse of Sarah Jane doubled over next to the fire place laughing silently as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Offering her a wink, he stepped out the door, trotting to catch up with his host.
