“Maybe get the kitchen done, so I can cook in there and not worry about the foodstuffs if it rains?”
“That sounds fine.” Crockett lifted his saddle off the horse’s back and laid it over the top fence rail. They unloaded the shingles, and Bowie unharnessed the team and turned them out. The hot, dry weather of August had dried out most of the grass, and he had brought some feed in the wagon, to keep their horses contented while they worked.
Ben, Crockett, and Houston climbed the ladder they’d made the day before, to the bare rafters. They nailed a few boards in place on the rough sheathing to help them stay steady while they put on the shingles. Bowie carried the first bundle up, and they tore into the work. The next time Crockett paid any attention, Jane was standing down below the ladder with a bucket and dipper in her hands.
“Got a batch of switchel here, if you boys want a drink, and there’s leftover cake from last night.”
“Perfect,” Houston said, heading for the ladder.
Crockett climbed down after him and Ben and accepted a tin cup of the molasses, vinegar, and ginger drink. Nothing seemed to quench thirst like switchel.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Bowie said, taking his portion from Jane last.
“You’re welcome. There’s more in the bucket, and the cake’s over there.” She pointed to where she had set out the leftovers on the rough outside table. Looking up at the roof, she said, “You’re making good time.”
“Many hands,” Crockett said with a smile. “We hope you’ll be settled in tonight.”
“Well, I brought down all the cooking things people gave us this last week. I’m going to start arranging the kitchen.”
“We’ll hook that stove up for you before we go,” Houston said. “Brought some new stovepipe along.”
“I didn’t think about that. Thank you.” Jane picked up a bulging burlap sack and walked into the new house.
Crockett sat down beside Ben on a bench in the shade of the barn eaves. “You’ll be needing some furniture, now that you’ve got a house.”
“We can get by,” Ben said.
“Let us know if you’re lacking something. I’d think you’d at least need bedsteads and a table and some chairs. Maybe a cupboard or two.”
“We’ll manage.”
Crockett smiled. “Ben, don’t be so stubborn. I know you’re pretty much the man of the house here, but you can’t do everything yourself.”
Ben exhaled heavily. “I just want to be able to earn enough so Jane doesn’t have to work so hard.”
“Is that all?” Crockett smiled. “It’s a pretty tall order.”
Ben shrugged.
Crockett eyed him closely. At twenty, Ben was old enough to shoulder the responsibility. The trouble was, he’d carried it since he was about ten years old. He and Jane both had taken on adult roles too early.
“You told me you wanted to be a doctor,” Crockett said.
“Not much chance of that.” Ben looked over his shoulder. Bowie and Houston had settled down for a rest on the tailgate of the wagon, sipping their switchel and talking in low tones.
“Why isn’t it possible?” Crockett asked.
Ben shook his head. “I used to think maybe, someday. But now I know it can’t happen. There’ll never be enough money in this family for that.”
“You shouldn’t give up on your dream, Ben. You’re smart enough to go to college and medical school.”
“That’s not enough.” He looked at Crockett bleakly, and Crockett could almost read his thoughts. Your brother Travis is a doctor … but your family’s different. You’ve got money. You don’t have a father who’s a lazy drunk, or a sister who needs support and protection.
He leaned back against the barn wall. “What would you say to working at the 7 Heart?”
Ben looked into his eyes. “Your pa would hire me?”
“We always need men in the fall for roundup. We might not be able to keep you on over the winter, but I can pretty much guarantee you a spot on our spring roundup and drive.”
“That sounds good,” Ben said. “I was going to ask Mr. Leonard, but your place is a lot closer.”
“That’s what I was thinking. You could keep an eye on your pa and Jane easier, and you could come home at least once a week on your half-day off.” Crockett chuckled. “You might even be able to come home nights, at least some of the time.”
“That’d ease Jane’s mind.”
“You think about it. Our pay is good. And if you really want to go to medical school, you’ll find a way someday.”
“Sure doesn’t seem like it, even if I have steady work.” Ben gave a mirthless chuckle. “If that money Jane found was honest money, maybe we could make a go of it. The neighbors have been real nice, but—”
“Don’t count on that money,” Jane said bitterly. Crockett hadn’t realized how close she was. She held out a plate with a slab of cake on it to each of them.
“Thanks.” Crockett took one, and Ben accepted the other.
“What about the money?” Ben said. “Can’t you keep it if they don’t find out where it came from?”
She shook her head, “If it’s not from the Treasury robbery, it’s from some other dishonest scheme.”