Liberty House Read online

  Cole shook his head. “No, she’s not.” He told them what happened, not caring what it did to Ellen. They had to find Tommy and soon. "Where would they take her?"

  Ellen spoke, "Tommy’s too mad at Frank to go with him." Her voice cracked. "I think this is where Owen might have taken her."

  Gloria had tears in her eyes. "I am so sorry, Ellen."

  Ellen nodded, she stood up. "Tommy is my daughter and comes first."

  She looked at Andrew. "Get me a map of the land next to Silkwood?"

  Andrew got it and put it out on the desk, moving stuff out of the way. Ellen looked it over and then pointed to a spot, "Owen took me here a few years back. He knew how much I missed hills and mountains. It is a pretty little place with a cabin on the hill and there is a cave very close to it. It passed right by the gulf. It’s like the only hill we have. I think he would take her there first."

  The boys got on their coats, hats, and gloves. They had Andrew's horses ready for it. Andrew shook his head when he saw Cole get his coat on. "You ain't going with that head."

  Cole frowned. "I’m fine."

  "You can't." Izzy agreed.

  Cole got close to Andrew 's face. "No one’s going to tell me I can't go after the woman I love. Would you stay back if that was Katrina out there? Now I am going with yaw or without. I don't really care which."

  Andrew grunted. "Just don't hold us back."

  Cole kissed Izzy on the head and hugged her tightly, then whispered, "Tell Maverick I'll bring his sister home." He walked out and mounted. "Let's see who gets there first."

  Tommy jumped awake; someone was messing with the ropes at her feet. She kicked whoever it was. She opened her eyes to find the fire was almost out, and it had gotten very cold. She was shaking, her clothes were soaked through, making her chilled.

  She couldn't see much, but Owen was against the cave wall and Frank was taking the rope off with one arm. The other was still bleeding severely. She tried to kick him again. Fear growing at her. She hated him with a passion to know he had hurt the children. God, help me.

  Frank threw the rope away from her. His arm looked like it was getting worse but must not be giving him much pain.

  Suddenly, she could smell the alcohol on his breath. Why had she never noticed they both drank? Had they hidden it that long? She had never seen it around Silkwood or the sheriff's office. Or they had just hidden it well. She kicked him as he got closer, he hit her foot away, "Owen!" She yelled. She didn't know what she expected.

  Owen just looked at her, then shrugged like he didn't care.

  Frank got closer. He put his hand on her shoulder and laughed. "What do you think he will do? You ain't kin."

  Tommy took her hands and hit his face. He fell back, his nose bleeding. She glared at him. "Answer me one thing, did you hurt the children?"

  Frank had a smug look on his face. "Yeah, I did. I was gettin' the little boys ready but never did to them."

  Tommy's eyes went wide. She was going to throw up. She saw Owen stand up and walk closer. His gun in his hand. "What did you say?"

  Frank turned around but didn't move from Tommy. "What do you care? I didn't do it to kin."

  Owen yelled, "Those kids are my kin. I didn't believe them when they told Ellen. You just admitted it."

  Frank shrugged. “What’s it matter? We gon’ kill her anyhow."

  Owen pulled his gun. "I don't let anyone hurt my kin."

  Frank put his hands up and stood up. He slowly moved away from the weapon. "We can talk about this, man. I didn't think you’d care about it."

  Owen yelled, "You thought wrong."

  Frank moved slowly. "We can talk if you put away the gun. The more time we spend fightin’, the more time we have at getting caught."

  "No one knows where we are, and only Ellen’s been here. Remember, they ain't lookin’ for us anyhow. I could probably go back, saying I tried to save yours and Tommy’s life. That I nearly died too. I could stay till Ellen dies, then be gone."

  "I don't want to go back!" Frank yelled.

  "Oh, I wouldn't bring you back, you would die too," Owen screamed and walked closer. "I don't let my kin be hurt."

  Frank yelled and went for his own gun. Not before Owen's gun went off and he fell to the ground. Owen looked over at her and said, "Andrew can save Maverick 's rope." He walked back to where he had been sitting as he had never moved.

  Tommy shook with fear, thinking, ‘God, protect the brothers.’ She knew they would search all night, would search all the next day for the rest of their lives till they found her body. She didn't mind dying. But she wanted to live her life for Jesus now. Like Ellen had told her, a second chance at real life with Jesus. I am sorry, Jesus. I waited so long to come to You, I guess my canvas will be painted in Heaven. I will be there with Cole. Maverick didn't believe. She prayed God would give her comfort over knowing she would never see Maverick in Heaven.

  God did fill her with a peace she had never had before. She even smiled and lifted her arms. Her fingers were numb and swollen. She could hardly move them. She put her hands on her head and felt the pencil she had put there; it was a miracle it hadn't fallen out in this storm. It was as sharp as she liked it to be. She told Sam a dull pencil was like a gun without lead.

  What she was going to do with it? She didn't know, but she took it out and put her knees up to hide it from Owen, who was watching her in the small cave. She dropped it in her lap. Her fingers could hardly move. She knew she could never use it with her hands. God would show her. She even smiled.

  "What are you smiling about?" Owen asked.

  "I’m going to spend Eternity with my Savior," she paused, "I believe because of Ellen and you. And now you are going to take my life for money. You helped save me, now you are helping me meet my maker, I am ready now. Are you ready, Owen?"

  "Shut up!" he yelled.

  Tommy didn't move when the thunder got louder. "I don't know how you can deceive and lie for so long and still be a Christian. Are you truly saved? Or are you just filled with demons? You betrayed your family! Your wife."

  "Shut up!" he screamed.

  If she got him to yell louder, maybe someone would hear it over this storm. Who was she kidding? They had no idea where to look. She saw lightning out and then met by thunder "I never really listened to you before, why would I now? You’re just going to kill me anyhow," she paused, "You have enough morals to kill Frank over him hurting your real children. But you just killed a man you raised from a boy?"

  Owen stood up and walked over to her, picked her up and none too gently said, "I said shut up."

  Tommy got the pencil in her hands, she put her head down like she had been beaten and he had won. She might have been ready to die, but she had children to raise. She loved them too much to give up on her life now. They needed all their siblings alive. "I am sorry, Owen." Maverick had taught her well, how to act. She put the pencil between her teeth and put her head up and with all her weight put the pencil in his neck. He fell over, screaming, and tried to pull it out.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Tommy ran out into the storm, as far as her legs would take her. She slipped and fell, headfirst down the hill. She put her hands over her head as she rounded and rounded, landing into a tree. Her thigh hit first shooting pain off. It was better than her ribs being hit with the tree. She had to get up and keep moving. Thunder in the sky and then lightning hit, she could see around her for a second. It was wooded, but she could see which the safest way was to go through the thick woods. Her dress was soaked, she did not plan to walk in this dress. It was not made for warmth. She started walking hoping she could find something in the daylight to cut her ropes. Her fingers were hurting her. She wouldn't be surprised if she broke one or a few.

  She walked for a while, letting the lightning light her way. She stepped into a hole and landed on her ankle. She moved to where she wasn't sitting on it and decided when another lightning struck that this place was pretty good to hide till morning.


  She leaned back and prayed but not for the storm to end, the storm was protecting her. God was protecting her with His anger over Maverick and Cole's death. She suddenly wanted to cry. She didn't want to live without Cole. God would help her get through and she had the children to think about. She prayed she didn't kill their father. She had never killed before. She heard something, a branch break, someone was close by. She prayed she would stay hidden and he would go away. She closed her eyes. She knew she couldn't get away if he found her now, her ankle hurt too bad. So, she just closed her eyes and prayed.

  "Tommy,” she heard someone say and then felt a man beside her. She couldn't give up, her children needed her. She hit the man and screamed and screamed. She had a voice and she had some strength left.

  A man put a hand softly over her mouth and whispered in her ear, "It's me, Cole. Tommy! Tommy, it is me."

  Tommy relaxed and threw herself into his arms. His arms came around her. He pulled out his knife, cut her ropes, and gently took her hands, putting them in his coat where they would get warm. She cried out when they hit how warm and dry, he was, she started shaking again. "Oh, Cole. Oh, Cole, you are alive. I thought you were dead. Cole, I thought you were gone along with Maverick." She started to sob for a brother she would never see again.

  Cole held her, took her chin in his hand and said loudly, "Maverick is alive. I’m pretty sure Izzy saved his life."

  "Are you sure?" she whispered.

  "Yeah, Maverick’s very much alive,” he drawled, “It’ll be a long road ahead of him, but he will be just fine."

  Tommy sobbed against him again for all she had endured. For all they would have to overcome. Cole didn't seem to mind. He just rocked her and whispered, "Tommy, oh, my sweet Rose, it's all right. We are going to be all right."

  Tommy finally stopped because she already had a headache and was thirsty and just didn't think she could shed one more tear. The thunder went on around them as she just sat there feeling Cole's heartbeat. For the first time, the thunder protected her from her enemy. It was nothing to fear.

  Her left hand felt better and no broken fingers from what she could tell. She moved it out of his coat and touched his face and felt that hair over his forehead. It still gave her chills, even in the storm. Good thing she was shaking from the cold. Cole might not notice it was because of him. She told him, “When we get to the house, I have a painting to show you.” Then she felt his bandage. She sat up and looked in his face though she couldn't see anything. "You’re hurt?"

  Cole took her hand in his and kissed it. "I’m just dandy, Julia-Rose."

  Tommy didn't even notice what he called her, she just let more tears fall. So much for having none left. She laid against his chest, glad for his warmth. He put her hand back in his coat and sighed as he held her. Like he was content to just do this like she wasn't soaking wet and making him cold. Like he hadn't gotten sleep all night and had a new head injury and didn't have to ride all the way home as well. None of that mattered. What mattered was she was back in his arms.

  Tommy looked into his eyes as the sun rose around them. She put her hands on his face. "I’ve decided to let my Artist paint my Canvas."

  Cole smiled and let a tear fall. "I'm so glad, Julia Starry."

  She nodded and smiled. "I’m ready to go home and be Julia.

  Julia sat on the sofa holding Johnathan. He was talking with her about the loss and betrayer of Owen. Her leg was up on the coffee table. She had sprained her ankle badly, but it would heal. Three fingers on her right hand were broken. Her ribs and thigh had been badly bruised, along with her arms and head. She had taken a bath when she got in, it had felt wonderful, though it hurt. She had been feeling the hurt all over, body and heart. She had been trying to hide how much hurt from the family. But as much as they watched her, it was going to be a long time when they let her out of sight.

  Not as much as Cole, who sat next to her. She had hardly gone out of his sight. Not that she minded. They had time to talk, plan, and cry. He was good with her tears, unlike most of her brothers.

  Maverick was still healing. She was so glad to see him and to see he was going to be all right. She wanted to talk to him about what if he died, he would not go to Heaven and the pain she felt over that.

  They hadn't told the two little boys what their father and uncle had done. They weren't ready to hear, but they had told the older boys and the girls. They had taken it with more shock, but with everything, it was so much to deal with. Julia knew in time they would have to deal with it.

  Julia was glad she did not kill him. The best shot of her brothers had done that. Julia could see the pain in Andrew’s eyes. "Johnathan, your pa, right before he died, he defended you and the children. He loved you very much," Julia told him.

  Johnathan nodded. "I miss him."

  "I know. I do too," Julia told him. She honestly did. He wouldn't be here to walk her down the aisle like he had Katrina. He’d always be in their hearts, much like Missy and Ben. But it would be different. He had betrayed them. The pain cut so deep, it hurt to breathe at times. They would all have to work out forgiving him and letting go. Julia knew from experience, it would not be easy.

  Johnathan nodded again. He didn't have tears in his eyes this time.

  David ran up and got on Cole’s lap. Cole picked him up and held him. The boys were about the same size and age, but looked nothing alike, "I love you, Cole," David told him.

  Julia's heart melted.

  Johnathan rolled his eyes.

  Cole rubbed his hand over the boy’s head, looking very thoughtful, "I have come to love you too, David. You know what David, your mamma, and siblings love you very much."

  David shrugged. "I reckon. I love you more." He hugged Cole like he was his best friend.

  Cole let him as Johnathan talked to Julia some more. "You think Momma will still love us when she is in Heaven." This time tears came to his eyes.

  Julia held back tears. "She will be looking from Heaven on how much she loves you all. Your mamma loves so much. She can carry your love all the way to Heaven to be with the angels."

  Johnathan nodded his little head. "I asked Jesus to be in my heart a few months ago, so I will see her one day, won't I?"

  Julia knew this and nodded. "You sure will." She could see he was getting tired and talking about grief when ones were tired was a bad idea. Julia was exhausted herself. She had been having nightmares in full force.

  The whole Starry clan had moved into Julia's place.

  Cole had put them all in their own room, the two girls slept upstairs with a sheet between them and neither girl was to cross it. David slept with Julia on the floor in her room. Johnathan had been sleeping in the guest bedroom. Andrew and Katrina moved to the Starry place for now. Gloria and Ellen slept in the other guest room. While Travis and Hunter had been sleeping with Cole out in the barn, they slept in the hayloft one side for each boy and no crossing. Cole had a way of being firm with them and they listened well to it.

  David glared at Johnathan, "Your ma will still be dead just like my real one."

  Johnathan hit him in the face and then burst into tears on Julia.

  Cole took David out of the room.

  By the time Cole came back in without David, Johnathan was sleeping while Julia was softly silently crying, wiping her tears.

  Cole sat back down next to Julia. She rested her head against his shoulder. He wanted to talk to Julia about David, but when he looked down, her tears had dried and she was sleeping. He took Johnathan from her since he knew she was still healing and let them put sleep on him. Too relaxed and content to move from this spot.

  Susan walked in and smiled knowingly. "If the barn was on fire, you wouldn't care, would you?"

  Cole smiled. "I’d go and help, but come right back here."

  Susan softly chuckled and then told him, "I’m here to say that Ellen wants to call a family meeting tomorrow night with us and the four older children."

  Cole looked at her grimly like he di
dn’t want to know what she had in mind. "I’ll be there.”

  Susan nodded, knowing that was true. He had become like family. She walked out in a daze, they all seemed to be like that lately.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Ellen looked around the room, to the loves of her life, she had been so blessed. She saw Jesse holding Izzy's hand. She saw Sawyer sitting next to Annie, whispering something to her. Matt and Susan next to each other with Travis sitting next to him. Gloria and Jerry had never looked closer as a couple. Katrina and Andrew with Charity between them. Cole and Julia with Melody between them. Cole looked at Julia like she was the only woman in the world. Maverick sat next to Hunter talking in low tones. He was the only one now without another person with him, but that was all right. Ellen knew God had someone out there for him as well.

  Ellen had been deeply blessed. They might have their own issues, but they were a family and would always have each other when she did go to Heaven. They would be alright, and she knew that to be true. She loved to hear them all talking to each other about different things that some weren't important but that was normal.

  Maverick looked at her and smiled softly.

  She nodded and smiled back.

  Maverick cleared his throat. "Y'all, we need to listen to what Ellen has to say."

  All of them looked at her with their faces solemn.

  Ellen smiled. "Y'all don't have to look like that. This is going to be good." She continued when they all relaxed or as much as they could lately. "This is a dream I have had for a while. Only Sawyer knows about it."

  They all looked at Sawyer, and he shrugged.

  Ellen kept her voice light. "It was my idea to keep it a secret from y'all for now, but I knew God was moving in this family and I could see we were going to change." She sighed. "Not this much. God has a plan and I know He will look after each one of you after I am gone." She smiled. "My dream is that we will leave this land, this part of the country and go to where we will be loved and accepted for who we are."