Dorothy Garlock - [Wyoming Frontier] Read Online Free Page A

the veranda.
    “Who is she, Pa?” He had the McCalls’ dark hair and eyes and he was not much taller than Mara.
    “ ’Tis Mara Shannon.”
    “Cousin Mara? Now ain’t that a corker! Ma’ll be plumb—”
    “Hush yer blatherin’,” his father said crossly. “Go tell Cullen.”
    “He rode off a while ago,” he snapped back at his father, and then smiled at Mara. “So you’re Cousin Mara. I’m Trellis.”
    “One of the twins?”
    “Yup.”
    “Is your mother here? There’s an injured man in the wagon, and we’ll need help getting him into the house.”
    “Ma’s not . . . well. She can’t move about.” The boy went down the steps and looked over the side of the wagon. “Hellfire! What happened to
him?
”
    “I don’t know. He’s in terrible pain—”
    “Not now. He’s dead to the world.”
    “Dead? Oh, he can’t be!” Mara went quickly to the end of the wagon.
    “I don’t mean dead, dead. He’s unconscious.”
    “Oh, thank heavens! He was so courageous. I found him on the road, and he helped me as much as he could while I was getting him into the wagon.”
    Aubrey walked down the steps, stared at the unconscious man, and froze. His face turned a bright red and his arms flopped against his sides. He looked like a crowing rooster.
    “The devil take ye! Ye’ll not be bringin’ the likes a him in
my
house. Get rid a him!”
    “But, Pa,” Trellis protested, “ya can’t—”
    “I can,” Aubrey roared. “Get him gone.”
    “Be reasonable, Pa. We’ve got to help him!”
    “Reasonable, ye say! Ye be traitor to yer own pa? Ye got nothin’ to say here. Nothin’ a’tall!”
    “But I do! I’ve got plenty to say.” Mara spoke up firmly, her face flaming with anger. “I think you’re forgetting that this is
my
house. The man is injured and needs help. Trellis, where is your mother?”
    “Ma’s sick. She can’t get up no more. I been doin’ what I can.”
    “I’m sorry about Cousin Brita. But we can’t let this man lie out here and die!”
    “And why not?” Aubrey demanded.
    “Pa, ya know why not,” Trellis said patiently. “I’ll go get someone to help get him into the house.”
    “He’ll not be comin’ in!” Aubrey shouted.
    “He is a human being and he will go into the house where I can look after him.” Mara didn’t know where her courage came from, but she was grateful for it.
    “So that’s the way it be, eh?”
    “Yes! That’s the way it is! I may have been away for a long time, but I’m back now and I have a say here. You’d better understand that right now!”
    “Ye ungrateful snippet—”
    “Aubrey! Trellis! Who’s here?” The woman’s voice came from deep inside the house.
    “I’ll go tell her.” Trellis turned to Mara. “And I’ll get someone to help get, ah, him into the house.”
    Mara was reluctant to leave the injured man alone with Aubrey. He stood glaring, first at her, and then at the man in the wagon. She could see the hatred in his eyes. It was a strange and unexpected situation she found herself in. There was no time to grieve over her unfriendly welcome. She would see this man into
her
house and do what she could for him. If he died, at least her conscience would be clear.
    When Trellis came back out to the veranda, Mara stood at the end of the wagon as if she expected Aubrey to attack the injured man.
    “I told Ma.”
    “Sure ’n ye would,” Aubrey sneered and cast Mara a resentful glance. “Ye’ll be sorry ye brought him here, me girl.” He walked back up the steps to the porch, his face livid with rage.
    “Maybe and maybe not. But I don’t think so. No one in need was ever turned away from this house while my father was alive.”
    Even at the school where fits of temper were common among the homesick girls Mara’s temper was legendary. She held it in check now, even though a red rage burned deep within her.
    “Trellis, go get someone to help get this man in the house.” Mara issued the order and looked Aubrey