The Faith and the Rangers Read online

  “I think you got ‘em all, Charlie,” Jim laughed.

  “That’s ‘cause I’m a Texas Ranger just like you, Dad,” Charlie answered.

  Jim’s eyes narrowed when he spotted a smudge of dust on the horizon.

  “Rider comin’,” he said. “Are we expecting company, Julia?”

  “That could be Cody Havlicek. He said he’d try and come by today to measure for those shelves,” Julia answered. “If so, you’ll get to meet him.”

  The dust cloud grew larger, and soon materialized into two riders.

  “That’s Stan Havlicek,” Jim said. “I reckon the hombre with him must be Cody.”

  “It is,” Julia confirmed.

  Shortly, the riders reached the Blawcyzk yard and dismounted.

  “Howdy, Jim, Julia. Hello, Charlie. I didn’t realize you’d be home, Jim,” Stan greeted. “This is my nephew, Cody. Cody, Ranger Jim Blawcyzk.”

  “Ranger.”

  “Call me Jim, Cody. And welcome to Bandera.”

  They shook hands. Jim looked over Bandera’s newest arrival. While the resemblance between the two men wasn’t striking, they were similar enough in appearance to obviously be related. Like Jim, Cody was tall and lean, a bit over six feet tall, with the same blonde hair, and blue eyes slightly lighter than Jim’s. Jim would put Cody’s age as two or three years younger than himself.

  “I figured I’d better ride over here with Cody. It wouldn’t look right for him to be here alone with Julia while you were on the trail, Jim,” Stan explained.

  “Stan, I told you there was no need for that,” Julia said.

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Stan replied. “But you know how some folks like to spread gossip. You wouldn’t want to give some of those old bats from town an excuse to start waggin’ their tongues and spreadin’ scandalous rumors.”

  “Uncle Stan’s right, Julia,” Cody agreed.

  “Pish-tosh,” Julia retorted. “I’m not worried about those meddling old biddies.”

  “But why stir ‘em up?” Stan pointed out. “I hate to rush, but we’ve got plenty to do, and Anna’s got chores lined up for me for the rest of the week. Let’s get the measurements taken, then Cody and I will be on our way.”

  “Can’t I at least get you some lemonade, or a glass of cold water?” Julia asked.

  “I could go for some lemonade,” Cody admitted.

  “That’s fine. Come inside and I’ll pour some while you and Stan take those measurements,” Julia answered.

  It took only a short while for Stan and Cody to get the figures they needed. After a brief respite to drink their lemonades, they headed back to their horses and remounted.

  “Those shelves’ll be ready for you in a few days,” Cody promised.

  “There’s no need to rush,” Julia assured him.

  “Except for Uncle Stan. He won’t rest until the job’s done,” Cody answered. “Thank you again for the lemonade, Julia.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Stan added. “Will we see you at the church dance on Saturday?”

  “I’d almost forgotten about that!” Julia exclaimed. “Of course we’ll be there. It’s not very often Jim is home to attend a social event with me. It will be fun.”

  “Good. We’ll see you then. Cody, let’s go. Jim, Charlie, good-bye.”

  “It was a pleasure getting to meet you, Jim,” Cody added.

  “Same here,” Jim answered. “We’ll have to get together again, when you have more time.”

  “That’s a deal,” Cody agreed. “See you Saturday.”

  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  Jim spent the rest of the day working around the yard and corral, Charlie helping as best a three year old could.

  “Jim, before we have supper, would you mind giving Charlie a bath?” Julia requested. “I’ve already heated plenty of water.”

  “Not at all,” Jim agreed. “But you know what usually happens.”

  “You two reprobates had better not splash water all over my kitchen,” Julia warned.

  “You hear that, Charlie?” Jim grinned.

  “Aw, Mom. You’re no fun,” Charlie moaned.

  “Just take your bath,” Julia ordered….”Jim, once

  Charlie’s finished, you’d better take one…too. You’re filthy.”

  “I’m not that dirty,” Jim chuckled.

  “Don’t even try and tell me that,” Julia retorted. “I’ll get your clean clothes while you get the tub.”

  Jim had worked up a sweat during his day-long toils. Both he and Charlie were grimy and dirt-streaked.

  Jim got the big zinc washtub from behind the house and dragged it into the kitchen. While he filled it from the kettles Julia had heated, she got washcloths, towels, and soap from the cabinet.

  Charlie pulled off his clothes.

  “Into the tub, Charlie,” Jim instructed. He knelt alongside the tub to lift Charlie into the water.

  “I don’t wanna take a bath,” Charlie protested.

  “You’ll take a bath, or I’ll shoot you right in your belly,” Jim answered. He poked Charlie in the bellybutton. Charlie giggled.

  “I’m not takin’ a bath,” he insisted, still giggling. “I’m gonna shoot you, Dad!”

  He pointed his finger at Jim and shouted, “Bang!”

  “Ow! Ya got me, Charlie!” Jim yelped. “Right in my guts!” He clutched his middle and fell backwards.

  “No bath for me!” Charlie gloated.

  “Jim, quit fooling around. Get your son into that tub,” Julia ordered.

  “I can’t,” Jim answered. “He plugged me. I’m dead.”

  “You’ll really be dead if you don’t get him into that water!” Julia warned, with a smile.

  “All right.” Jim rolled to his knees and grabbed Charlie before he could run off.

  “Have I got to throw you into the tub, boy?” he growled.

  “I guess not, Dad.”

  Charlie climbed into the tub, then immediately splashed Jim in the face.

  “Got’cha, Dad!”

  “Charlie!” Julia cried.

  “Sorry, Mom.” Charlie looked chagrined.

  “You’re not gonna try that again, are you, Charlie?” Jim chuckled.

  “No, Dad.”

  “Good. Because if you did, I’d have to do this.”

  Jim skimmed his hands across the water’s surface, scooped up a handful, and dumped it over Charlie’s head. Charlie instantly returned the favor. Within a minute he and his father were embroiled in a full-blown water fight. They laughed uncontrollably as they doused each other.

  “Charlie! Jim! Stop it, right now!” Julia ordered.

  “We’re sorry, honey,” Jim answered, still chortling. He was soaked from head to foot. “We just can’t help ourselves.”

  “I know. You’re incorrigible,” Julia sighed. Despite herself, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her husband and son roughhousing together. “You’re just as much a little boy as Charlie. That’s part of what I love about you. Well, since you’re already drenched, you might as well get in with Charlie. Perhaps that will keep a bit of water in the tub and save my kitchen floor.”

  “Yeah, Dad. C’mon,” Charlie urged.

  “All right.” Jim stripped out of his wet clothes and climbed into the tub. Despite Julia’s hopes, he and

  Charlie were soon again dashing water at each other and splattering it all over the floor. Somehow, in the midst of their horseplay, they did manage to scrub themselves off.

  Once they had finished their baths, Jim toweled himself and Charlie off. He pulled on his jeans, then got his razor and soap from the sideboard. He lathered up, and stood in front of the wall mirror to scrap two weeks’ worth of blonde stubble from his jaw.

  “Can I shave too, Dad?” Charlie pleaded.

  “Sure
. Why not?” Jim laughed. “Soon as I’m done.”

  He quickly finished shaving and wiped the remaining lather from his face. He then took the remaining soap from his shaving mug and spread that over Charlie’s cheeks and neck. He removed the blade from his razor, gave Charlie the handle, and let him run that over his face, removing the lather.

  “See Dad, I’m shavin’ just like you,” Charlie exclaimed.

  “You sure are,” Jim laughed. “Julia, you’ve got two of the handsomest men in Texas.”

  “And a couple of the worst behaved,” Julia shot back. “If you two are finished fooling around, it’s time to set the table.”

  “You heard your Mom, Charlie,” Jim said. “Suppertime.”

  He and Charlie finished dressing, then Jim emptied the tub and dragged it outside. By the time he’d finished mopping the floor, Julia had supper on the table. They sat down, said Grace, and started their meal, content in the moment. With Jim’s job as a Texas Ranger, times such as these were far too few.

  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  Later that night, Jim and Julia were lying in bed. Julia rested her head on Jim’s chest while he stroked her long, brunette hair.

  “Jim,” Julia asked. “What did you think of Cody?”

  “He seems like a decent hombre,” Jim answered. “Doesn’t appear to be the carpenter type, though.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I dunno for certain. He just struck me as a man who wouldn’t want to be tied down.”

  “Not everyone’s as fiddle-footed as you, Jim Blawcyzk,” Julia chided.

  “I know that. And I’m probably wrong about Cody. Why do you ask?”

  “I’m thinking about introducing him to Sarah Wysocki. They’d make a charming couple, don’t you think?”

  “You’re not gonna play matchmaker again, are you? Trap another unwary man into marriage?” Jim laughed.

  “Why not?” Julia was indignant. “There’s nothing wrong with bringing two people together. Since you’re accusing me of matchmaking, don’t tell me the thought of asking Cody to join the Rangers hadn’t crossed your mind.”

  “The idea never occurred to me. But now that you mention it…”

  “Don’t you try and deny it, Jim,” Julia retorted. “Besides, just look at you. You married me, didn’t you?”

  “That’s because I’d been beaten up and shot when we met,” Jim answered, chuckling. “I didn’t know what I was doin’.”

  “Jim, you…”

  Before Julia could utter another word of protest, Jim crushed his lips to hers. He held her for a long, lingering kiss.

  “Jim, I’ll.,” Julia began, when he finally released

  her.

  Jim pressed his lips to hers again. “You’ll do what, Julia?” he asked. “This!”

  Julia ran her fingertips along his sides. Jim trembled, then broke into uncontrollable laughter when Julia continued to tickle his ribs. She had discovered this weak spot of the big, rugged Ranger when they first met. Jim was extremely ticklish along his ribs.

  “Please, don’t,” Jim pleaded. “Anything but that.”

  “Not until you say you’re sorry, cowboy.”

  She continued to work on his ribs. In a few minutes, Jim was completely helpless.

  “Well?” she asked.

  “All right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” Jim gasped.

  “You’d better be,” Julia answered. “Or you’ll be sleeping in the barn tonight.”

  Jim started to frame a retort, thought better of it, and snapped his mouth shut. Instead, he rolled onto his side and took Julia in his arms.

  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  Early the next Tuesday afternoon, Jim was taking a break from his chores. He and Julia were seated on the front porch, while Charlie was busy looking for grasshoppers. Jim spotted an approaching team and wagon.

  “Here comes Cody. Reckon he’s bringin’ your shelves,” he said.

  “I can hardly wait to see how they look,” Julia answered.

  A few minutes later, Cody pulled the team to a halt and jumped from the buckboard.

  “Howdy, Cody,” Jim said.

  “Hello. Julia, I’ve got those shelves. They turned out beautifully,” Cody said. His gruff New England accent contrasted greatly with Jim’s soft Texas drawl. “I’ll bring them right in and put them in place.”

  “Thank you for getting them done so quickly,” Julia answered.

  “I’ll give you a hand,” Jim said.

  “Me too, Dad.” Charlie had come from the garden when he saw Cody arrive.

  “All right.”

  Cody reached into the wagon bed and handed Charlie a package.

  “You take these, Charlie. They’re the screws for holding up the shelves.”

  Cody and Jim slid the shelves from the wagon and carried them inside, where they were placed on the floor. Cody picked up the top one.

  “It’ll make things go faster if you can hold these level for me, Jim,” Cody requested.

  “Sure. You did a much better job with these than I ever could.”

  The shelves were made of oak, sanded smooth and varnished to a high gloss finish.

  “Truthfully, Uncle Stan did most of the work. I’m still not all that handy,” Cody explained.

  “Don’t be so modest, Cody,” Julia said. “These are lovely.”

  Cody and Jim made short work of hanging the shelves.

  “How’s that?” Cody asked Julia, once the last shelf was in place.

  “They’re perfect,” Julia answered. “I’ll make good use of them. Now, you boys go out on the porch and relax. I’ve got some lemonade and oatmeal cookies. I’ll bring those out in a jiffy.”

  “Thanks. That sure sounds good, Julia,” Cody replied.

  “I can guarantee those cookies are the best you’ll ever eat,” Jim promised. They headed for the porch. Soon, Julia joined them. She carried a tray which held a plate of cookies, glasses, and a pitcher of lemonade.

  “Help yourselves,” she ordered. “You first, Cody.”

  “Don’t mind if I do.”

  Cody poured himself a glass of lemonade and took several cookies. He waited until the others also had theirs before taking his first bite.

  “Julia, Jim’s right. These are the best cookies I’ve ever had, at least since my mother passed away.”

  “You know, Cody, Sarah Wysocki’s a fine cook,” Julia hinted. “I noticed you had three helpings of her apple crumble at the Saint Stanislaus social. You and she certainly made a handsome couple when you danced. She had her eyes on you all night. Quite a few of the girls did. You’d be a fine catch.”

  Cody blushed.

  “I’m not so certain about that, Julia.”

  “Well, I am. You’re good-looking, kind, and considerate. Once you finish learning your trade, you’ll be a good provider. With all the folks moving into Texas, there’ll always be work for a skilled carpenter. A woman could do far worse than marrying you.”

  “Perhaps,” Cody replied, noncommittally.

  “Cody, I haven’t had a chance to show you around the rest of the place,” Jim deftly changed the subject. “Lemme give you the grand tour.”

  “Sure,” Cody agreed. “I’m free for the rest of the day.”

  “Bueno.” Jim rose from his chair. “Julia, we won’t be long.”

  “We sure won’t,” Cody agreed. “I want some more of those cookies, if I’m not being impolite.”

  “Not at all,” Julia replied. “A woman likes a man with a good appetite.”

  Jim, Cody, and Charlie headed for the barn.

  “You’d better watch out for Julia. She’ll have you hog-tied before you know it,” Cody,” Jim laughed, once they were out of Julia’s earshot.

  “I don’t notice you complainin’,” Cody rejoined.

 
“That’s right. Marryin’ Julia’s the smartest thing I ever did. well, that and joining the Rangers.”

  They stopped at the corral gate. Sam, Jim’s palomino and white splotched war horse, and Ted, Charlie’s two year old buckskin paint gelding, ambled up to the gate. While Sam nuzzled Jim’s cheek, Charlie climbed the fence and scrambled onto Ted’s back. Cody eyed the boy dubiously when he sent the young horse trotting around the corral.

  “Isn’t Charlie a bit young to be riding a horse?” he asked.

  “No,” Jim answered. “I had him in a saddle by the time he was six months old. Rode him all around while he sat in my lap. Julia was horrified, of course. But

  most kids in Texas start ridin’ as soon as they can walk, sometimes sooner.

  Sam nuzzled Jim again, more insistently.

  “Of course I’ve got your peppermint,” Jim told the horse. “One for Ted, also. Don’t you try’n steal his.”

  He dug into his hip pocket and came up with a candy, which he gave to the horse. Sam took his treat, then pinned his ears and lunged at Cody.

  “This is Sam. You’d better steer clear of him,” Jim warned. “He’s pretty much a one man animal.”

  “I can see that, and I sure understand,” Cody answered. “I’ve got one with much the same attitude. His name’s Yankee. He’s also a paint. Chestnut gelding. I rescued him from a bad situation. I’m the only one who can handle him.”

  “Same way I got Sam,” Jim answered. “Only the hombre I took him off tried to kill me. Luckily, I shot faster. Had to kill both that man and his brother.”

  “You didn’t get arrested for murder?”

  “No. It was self-defense. A Texas Ranger witnessed the entire thing. He not only didn’t arrest me, he recruited me into the Rangers. I’ve been one ever since.”

  “You don’t have any regrets about that?”

  “Not a one,” Jim answered. “Sure, I get lonesome when I’m away from Julia and Charlie, but I wouldn’t

  trade my life for any other. In another year or so, I hope to have enough saved up to buy a little spread nearer to Austin. I’ll turn that into a horse ranch. Julia’s already said she’ll run the place while I’m out Rangerin’. She’s every bit as capable of doin’ that as any man.”

  Jim eyed Cody thoughtfully.