Page 65 of Always to Remember
“If I went into town and beat up a man over twice my age, people would respect me? I can do without that kind of respect.”
“At least they’d stop thinking you were a coward, and me and the twins could start walking with our heads held high.” “The only one stopping you from walking with your head held high is you. What I do with my life shouldn’t affect your pride.”
“You’re my brother. If people think you’re a coward, then they’ll think I inherited the same yellow streak. Why the hell couldn’t you have caught some disease and died like so many others did? It sure would have made my life simpler.”
Clay studied the shadows between his feet. He’d only been a little older than Lucian was now when he made his decision not to enlist along with his friends. He supposed at Lucian’s age, every young man thought the decisions he made affected the world. “Think Taffy’s father would let you call on her if I hadn’t come home?”
“He might.”
He peered at his brother. “Want me to go talk to him?”
“Hell, no, I don’t want you to talk to him.”
“So what are you going to do about Taffy?”
Lucian ran his fingers through his hair. “Hell, I haven’t decided yet. If she can sneak away tomorrow, we’re going on a picnic. I’ll talk to her about it then.”
“You start sneaking around now, you’ll always be sneaking around.”
“Those are fine words of wisdom coming from a coward.”
“I never sneaked around. Everyone knew exactly where I stood.”
Lucian leaned down so his gaze was even with Clay’s. “You would have been sneaking around if you’d known they had plans to hang you the day their sons rode away.”
“I did know,” Clay said quietly. “Kirk told me before he left.”
Twelve
“IF YOU’RE GONNA DO IT, YOU’D BEST GET IT DONE.”
Lucian snapped his head around and glared at Clay.
“That’s easy enough for you to say. You don’t know what this feels like. Hell, I feel like I ‘m gonna walk to my own execution.”
Clay unwrapped the reins from around the brake handle. “Just take a deep breath, look straight ahead, and start walking.”
Lucian turned his attention to the people wandering from the church. “A deep breath?”
“A very deep breath.”
Lucian was halfway across the churchyard before he realized he hadn’t breathed at all. He breathed deeply, but his legs still shook as though he walked on unsteady ground. Nearing the Lang family, he yanked off his hat. “Taffy?”
She spun around, her gray eyes wide. He figured the South had dressed her men in gray because of Taffy’s eyes.
“Taffy, about that picnic we were planning. I know this real nice spot, but it’s too far to walk to so I thought I‘d pick you up in the wagon in about an hour.”
A smile lit her face, and Lucian figured the pain her father was about to deal him was going to be worth every blow. “Mr. Lang, you might as well pound your fist into my face now because I aim to call on your daughter.”
“Oh, Pa wouldn’t hit you. Would you. Pa?”
When Taffy touched her father’s arm, Lucian thought he could actually see the man’s heart melt. “I reckon not.”
Taffy’s smile grew, and she squeezed Lucian’s hand. “I’ll be waitin'.”
Lucian nodded and hoped his smile didn’t look as silly as it felt. Jamming his hat on his head, he walked backward. He bumped against-someone. “Sorry, Robert.”
Quickening his pace, he headed toward the wagon. Clay flicked the reins, and Lucian started running. The twins were laughing and yelling by the time he dove into the back of the wagon.
