Beneath a Dakota Cross Read Free Page B

do that?” Her eyes began to tear up.
    She reached up, hugged his shoulders, and kissed his cheek. Then she wiped her eyes with a rolled-up, white linen napkin. “I miss her, too, Henry.”
    His voice was almost a whisper. “I know.”
    She continued setting the table. “When I was in the East, I read an article in a New York newspaper about a medical procedure that, when perfected, might cure cancers forever. They said it was five years away from being usable.”
    â€œThat makes it eight years too late.”
    â€œAnd you’re right about Sarah Ruth. She would never want you to start a war over that ranch. All that girl ever wanted in her life was to live a quiet and godly life, taking care of her children and her man. Oh my, how she loved you, Henry Fortune.”
    â€œI still love her.”
    â€œI know . . . I know. Did I ever tell you how she made me stay up with her all night on the day you two met?”
    â€œAll night?” Brazos replied. “As I remember, I brought her home from that church supper by nine o’clock.”
    â€œOh, you brought her home. But she claimed to have such an ache in her heart for you, that she was afraid it would stop beating in the night and she would very probably die. I had to sleep with her and check to see that her heart was still beating.”
    â€œYou’re stringing me along, Barbara Ferrar.”
    One glare from his sister-in-law made the hair on the back of his neck curl. He knew she was extremely serious.
    He changed the subject. “You’re settin’ up for eight of us. Not includin’ the kids, I count you and Milt, Granny Young, Reverend Smithwick, Miss Adaline Crosley, and me. That’s only six. You having other company tonight?”
    â€œDidn’t I tell you the March sisters are stopping by?” she hummed.
    Brazos tugged at his black tie. “Eh, no . . . you seemed to have forgotten to tell me about the March sisters.”
    â€œWell, they saw me at the grocery store in town, and when they found out you were going to be here for supper, they practically invited themselves. You know how the March sisters were such good friends with Sarah Ruth.”
    â€œThey haven’t been ‘March’ sisters in over thirty years.”
    â€œIsn’t that strange how we still remember some people by their maiden names? They were our next-door neighbors for fifteen years. When was the last time you saw them?”
    â€œI reckon at Sarah Ruth’s funeral. I don’t remember much about that day,” he admitted.
    â€œYou didn’t attend Leonard Driver’s funeral?”
    â€œThat was when I was up in the Territory, tryin’ to find Samuel, remember?”
    â€œIt was a very nice service. Not like Sarah Ruth’s, of course. But nice, nonetheless. I was nine months along with Flora Doe when Mr. Speaker was laid to rest. You and Sarah Ruth went, as I remember.”
    â€œWe surely did.”
    â€œWhat with their children all grown and living in the East, the March sisters mainly just have each other. It’s too bad, both of them losing their husbands at such a young age.”
    â€œYoung? Both of them are only a few years behind me,” Brazos reminded her.
    â€œThat’s what I mean,” she purred. “Way too young to spend the rest of your life unmarried.”
    â€œWhy do I get this feelin’ I should have left for Fort Worth with Big River Frank?”
    â€œHush! I’ll expect you to be cordial and gregarious for the March sisters. Do you understand?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    Louise March Driver was one year and one day older than her sister. From the day their mother died, Louise had assumed the role of supervisor and counselor to Thelma. Louise had worn her long, straight black hair wrapped tightly on top her head since her school days. Her small brown eyes always sparkled, and her narrow-lipped smile revealed straight white