Chapter Twelve

Helped by Mama and Aunt Mary, Sarah Sullivan got into the wagon with Cal and me, and we drove into town to meet the posse. Abel was taking the horse with Ethan’s body on it to the undertaker. The sheriff stopped when he saw Mrs. Sullivan.

“Mrs. Sullivan, I’m sorry that it had to end this way.”

“I understand,” Mrs. Sullivan said solemnly. “I knew he wasn’t going to come back alive. That’s why I begged to go. If he’d seen me, he would still be alive.”

With Cal’s help, she got down from the wagon and walked over to Abel and the horse. Slowly, she lifted the blanket that covered Ethan’s dead body. After a glimpse, she quickly lowered it again. “We’ll make the arrangements now,” she said to Abel.

Abel got off his horse and helped his sister-in-law into the undertaker’s.

“We came when we got the news,” Mama told Papa when he and Uncle Mick rode in. “Sarah wanted to be here when they took Ethan in. How did it happen?”

“He went for his gun, and I jumped on him to stop him from shooting the sheriff.”

Uncle Mick just nodded, and they knew he needed to be left alone. It looked as if Papa was going through a battle in his own mind by this killing. He and Uncle Mick headed for the sheriff’s office.

As Mama and Aunt Mary were waiting for Papa and Uncle Mick, Mrs. Sullivan came out and slowly walked over. With a lifeless expression, she said to Mama, “If you don’t mind, I would like to go back to my home now. I will not be going back to your farm again.”

“Sarah, you have just had a terrible shock. Don’t you feel it’s not the time to—”

“I thank you for your concern, Mrs. Lochlan, but I cannot and will not stay in the home of the man who killed my husband. He promised me he would bring him home to me. I didn’t think it would be as a dead man.”

Mama was shocked at her words, yet she understood why Sarah would feel that way. “I can let you borrow the wagon to get you back comfortably.”

“That will not be necessary, Mrs. Lochlan. I will have Cal get me a carriage so I can drive to the house. I do thank you for your kindness.”

“Mrs. Sullivan, do you really feel you have to leave? You could stay in town…”

She turned and looked at her. “I belong at home, Mrs. Lochlan. If I had gone with the posse, Ethan would still be alive today, but I listened to your husband. Now you have your husband, but mine is gone.”

No one saw much of the Sullivans after that. Cal no longer went to school, and Travis stayed on the farm. Life did go on, and soon Fall River forgot all about Ethan Sullivan.

I continued to teach and still had my adult classes in the afternoon, but never again would Sarah Sullivan come to class or call on me. I felt bad for Cal. He was such a bright boy and so eager to learn.

The winter was hard and brutal. Many of the ranches around us lost stock, but once the snow melted, and the first signs of spring began to show, the warm weather soon followed. Everyone welcomed it.

On one of these lovely afternoons, Papa came home early that afternoon to find Mama in the living room, knitting. There was something in the air—a sense of rebirth, a new beginning.

He always said he never tired of seeing Mama smile and loved her more and more every day. As he walked to her that day, he fell and couldn’t get back up. Papa smiled at Mama to maintain a brave face. “This is a bit silly,” he said in a weak voice. “I felt a snap in my back, and now I can’t move my legs.’’

Mama bolted out of her chair. “Annie will be home soon. She’ll help lift you.”

“Abby, I think you’d better turn on the light. It’s getting dark out there.”

“Hush, Ryan. It’s better if you rest.”

He smiled up at her. “I can’t move my legs. My legs… I’m crippled.”

“Ryan! Ryan, what’s wrong?”

“Abby, you’ll have to follow this dream alone. But don’t worry, darlin’—I’ll be waiting for you on the other side. I’ll never leave you, ever. I love you, my sweet Abby.”

With that, he passed from one world into the next with Ma holding his lifeless body.