Another week passed. Most of Scar’s strength had returned, which allowed him to mosey around the homestead trying to get caught up on changes. Liz had gone back to Flat Peaks, and the rest of the Double D folks were going about their daily routines.
Scar woke extra early one morning to the smell of coffee brewing. He dressed and headed for the kitchen. Morning Sun was pouring his coffee when he entered. Morning Sun was the young Indian mother who had become part of the Douglas clan after Thomas found her and her children in the food cave. “You’re up early, Morning Sun. Do you always start your day this early?”
“Yes. I cook every morning. It’s my work.”
“You speak very good English, Morning Sun. Who taught you?”
“Mrs. Douglas. She is a very good white woman. She treats me well. She teaches me the white man’s ways. How to talk and act. She teaches me numbers. Mr. Douglas is good man, too. He does not beat me.”
Scar sat drinking coffee while he watched Morning Sun roll out biscuit dough and slice bacon.
Unexpectedly, she turned. “I taught Mrs. Douglas my peoples’ ways too. She learns fast. Says I’m good teacher. She can speak my words.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Scar responded. “Would you teach me your ways and language, Morning Sun?”
She looked at him for a full minute before replying. “You are the Scarred Warrior. I am not fit to teach you,” she said with a lowered head.
“What makes you say that, Morning Sun? In my eyes, you’re as fit as me.” Her coal black eyes were staring into Scar’s when he asked, “What happened to you, Morning Sun? Why were you and your children alone in the cave when Thomas found you?”
Her stare continued for a full minute before she turned to cut more bacon. Then she picked up the coffee pot and was filling Scar’s cup when she said, “Soldiers killed my husband. I went to the battleground and found the body to bury.” Morning Sun returned the coffee pot to the fire and turned back to Scar. “My people traveled to the winter place. I did not catch up. We had no buffalo robe. We found the cave.”
Scar was about to ask another question when Thomas and Jake opened the kitchen door. “What’s for breakfast, Morning Sun?” Jake asked. “I’m starved.”
While Jake and Thomas sat down, Morning Sun put platters of eggs, potatoes, bacon, and biscuits on the table. Coffee was being poured when Mr. and Mrs. Douglas entered the room and took their seats. Douglas was saying the blessing when Little Eagle and Little Turtle slipped through the door.
After breakfast, everyone left to start their day’s work, except Scar and Morning Sun. He was still nursing a cup of coffee. Morning Sun filled a dishpan that was sitting on the counter with hot water and started gathering dishes. She had placed her first washed plate on a towel lying by the dishpan when Scar rose, picked up a dish towel, and reached for the plate to dry. But Morning Sun quickly grabbed the towel and said with a commanding tone, “This my job. Not a man’s work. It is not work for Scarred Warrior.” Her eyes were frozen on Scar.
“I don’t have anything to do, Morning Sun, and I’d feel honored to be able to help you with your work.”
She looked puzzled. “Do you always do the cooking and wash the dishes by yourself?” he asked.
Morning Sun shook her head and said, “Little Turtle and Little Eagle help me.”
“Why didn’t they help you today?”
She grinned. “They fear the Scarred Warrior. They do not want in the same room.”
Scar reached for the dish towel and with some reluctance, Morning Sun released it. Both were silent.
After the dishes were done and the kitchen put back in order, Scar poured another cup of coffee and went to the porch where he sat down in a rocker. He was sipping coffee and thinking about what the future held for the Indian woman and her children when the door opened and she stepped out.
“I will teach the Scarred Warrior my way and tongue.” She turned and went back to the kitchen.
When Scar had finished his coffee, he walked around the house and grounds, observing the many improvements. Several beds of fall flowers had been planted around the house and were now in bloom. He noticed most of the garden had been harvested, but late summer and fall items were still to be dug. The house was much larger than Scar had anticipated and was very picturesque against the massive rock cliff in the background. The ground floor consisted of a living room, library, an office, and kitchen with all the conveniences. A wide staircase led to the four bedrooms upstairs. A covered stone oven had been constructed outside the kitchen. But the most impressive feature was the sixteen-foot covered porch that ran the length of the house. It was an ideal place to sit in a rocking chair during the evening, drinking coffee and watching the long shadows turn to night.
Scar was in the mood to look at the ranch’s outlying area, so he ambled toward the corral and whistled for Maude. After saddling her, he mounted and went to the corral rails to view the stock. Frankie was starting to fill out. Star had a newborn colt beside her and Star Light, who was now fully grown, was heavy with a foal.
Scar went to the barn and found a loft full of hay. The punching bag was still hanging in the equipment room, which enticed him to take a few swings. But he could feel pain and constriction in his shoulder and chest, so he stopped and left the barn.
As Scar rode past the barn on his way to the storage cave, he saw several cords of wood neatly stacked by the bunkhouse. The area around the cave was the same. The picnic table and benches he had built for Liz were still in place. Memories brought back her kiss. He dismounted and walked inside the cave. Its shelves were full of garden items, and four beef halves hung against the back wall.
He kneeled at the pool and took several swallows of cold water before mounting and riding to the horseshoe-shaped holding pasture. He was surprised to find several mares in its confines along with Black, who was standing against the back rock ledge observing the intruder.
As Scar rode back to the house, he thought how wonderful the homestead of the Double D ranch had become. It offered a wonderful life. A life he wanted but could never achieve. He didn’t have the money.
As people were sitting down for supper that night, Jake spoke up, “I was on the south range this afternoon, checking on water holes, when I ran into a couple of wranglers from the James outfit. They were in town yesterday and talked with the sheriff. He said the Abernathy brothers had robbed a bank in a town north of here and had gotten away. There’s been a five-hundred-dollar reward posted for them. He said they’ll spend at least twenty years in territorial prison if they’re caught.”
“It’ll serve them right,” interjected Thomas. “Thugs like them need to be kept away from decent folks.” Scar made no comment.
After supper, they all sat on the porch, holding cups, enjoying the cool evening breeze. It was a lovely evening but one of very little conversation. Scar’s mind seemed to be in other places. Folks knew something was bothering him, but no one pushed the issue. Cups were refilled.
“I’ll be leaving in the morning,” he said rather flatly.
After a minute or two, Mr. Douglas asked, “Where are you headed, Bart?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe back to Chicago to see if I can get my old job back.”
“You’ll sure be missed around here,” interjected Jake.
Talk of the upcoming roundup was discussed, and a bit of small talk was exchanged before Mrs. Douglas went inside and called for Scar.
“Sit down, Bart. I want to talk with you.” They sat at the kitchen table holding their coffee cups. “I know why you’re leaving,” she said. “And, it’s not because you want to find work elsewhere, but because you’re trying to help Liz marry up and find a better life. Isn’t that right?”
His answer was slow in coming. “I suppose you’re right. I only want what’s best for her, Mrs. Douglas.”
“You’re looking at this whole thing wrong, Bart. She loves you and wants to be at your side for the rest of her life.”
Just then, Douglas entered the room to join them, but he encouraged his wife to continue her concerns.
“Please believe me, Bart. Liz has no interest in finding a husband that can shower her with material gifts and a lifestyle of luxury. She wants to walk beside her man reaching for common goals and dreams. She wants to face and solve difficulties as a partner and share in the pleasures life brings. She’s willing to do back-breaking work if that’s what it takes. She wants to build something, Bart, and she wants to do it with you. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
He only nodded.
“You broke her heart, Bart. She has cried herself to sleep every night since you rejected her. She is devastated.”
“I love her with all my heart, Mrs. Douglas, but I have nothing to offer her. I have a thousand dollars saved, but what would we live on after that’s gone? I don’t even have a job.”
Mr. Douglas leaned forward and said, “How about the job the governor offered? It’s a start.”
“It’s kind of a hit-and-miss job. The deputy’s job could be eliminated if the political scene changes. Besides, it’s dangerous. I could be shot or killed at any time. I don’t want Liz to go through something like that.”
Several minutes of silence passed before Douglas spoke. “I once had a very intelligent young man tell me if you evaluated all the options to a problem, and then chose the best one, almost anything was possible.”
“That’s what my pa always told me. And Captain Willard told me the same thing.”
“Do you believe them?” asked Mr. Douglas.
Scar was jiggling his coffee cup when he answered. “Yes, sir, I do.”
The room became silent except for the clicks of his cup.
He sat with a lowered head, deep in thought. Occasionally, Alice and Herb’s eyes met with an expression of what should we do?
All of a sudden, Scar jumped up and said, “I’m going to Flat Peaks!”
“Can’t you wait until morning? It’s after ten o’clock, and you won’t get there until after midnight,” said a surprised Mrs. Douglas.
“No, ma’am, I can’t wait. I’ve got to see Liz!” Scar had already reached the kitchen door when he called back with a smile. “I couldn’t sleep anyway till I talk to her.”