Page 38 of Beyond the Desert Sands

Aaron knew Daniel liked it that way. It had made it so much easier to keep the peace in the early years. As time went by, the town grew, and certain jobs had to be appointed.Most everyone did double duty. The town’s law official, Zed Jones, was also the postmaster and town recordkeeper. Lucas Adams was the bank manager, who was also looking into becoming a leader of the new Boy Scouts of America organization, and he sold jewelry on the side, since his family had a big shop in Dallas. Some of the local artists even arranged with him to sell their wares in his family’s store.

Aaron had watched this town grow for the last seven and a half years. He knew almost everyone and understood what Daniel hoped to accomplish. He really was the perfect person to take over. But it was hard giving up on his own plans in order to take over the dreams of another.

As he passed the blacksmith’s, he gave Will Jefferson a wave. The big man had been born into slavery back in Alabama but came west with his grandparents after the war gave them their freedom. He’d worked as a cowboy and a wrangler before settling in Silver Veil as a smithy.

Will dusted off his hands and made his way out to the road. “How you doin’, Mr. Aaron?”

“Doing good. And you? Did that grandbaby finally arrive?”

Will gave him a broad smile. “He did. Big and healthy, and Mama is doin’ just fine.”

Aaron nodded. “Congratulations. I’m glad things worked out so well. A boy will carry on the family name.”

“Yes, sir. Say, would ya like me to carry you up to the Garcia place?”

Aaron smiled at the Southern phrasing. “No. I need time to think. The walk will do me good.”

He smiled. “I understand. Good luck with the thinkin’.”

“Thanks, Will.”

Continuing up the mountain road to the Garcia house, Aaron wondered what Daniel would say when he showed up.He hadn’t bothered to send a telegram to let Daniel know, and it was possible he wouldn’t want Aaron there. But Aaron doubted it.

He pulled his coat a little closer as the breeze stirred. Based on the clouds moving in, they might be in for snow. He quickened his pace just in case.

He was surprised by how enthusiastically the Santa Fe was pushing him toward acceptance of Garcia’s job offer. Aaron knew if he accepted it, that would be the end of his career with the Santa Fe. He had always hoped to be put in charge of a railroad district someday. He hadn’t assumed it would be the local Rio Grande Division—the Horny Toad Division, as the local workmen called it—but he would have enjoyed that. He had come to love the arid land around him.

But working for Daniel Garcia would change all of that. There would be no going back to rebuild his career with the railroad, despite what his boss suggested. Daniel intended for someone to take over his little town permanently. He needed an honest man to keep the people honest. He needed someone to oversee the mine and silver processing mill he’d created. He needed someone to tend to the needs of the people of Silver Veil, as well as to his wife and daughter. And if Aaron were to be perfectly honest with himself, Daniel wanted him to marry Isabella. The older man had teasingly said, on more than one occasion, that he thought Aaron needed a wife and that he had an unmarried daughter. Jim had suggested Aaron could help Daniel without marrying either his widow or his daughter, but Aaron had a sneaking suspicion that just wasn’t true.

Forgetting the weather, he paused in his climb and looked back down on the little town. It had grown considerably over the years. Families who had benefitted from Daniel’s plans had encouraged their extended family to join them. Convictswho hoped to be rid of their past had heard about Daniel Garcia’s willingness to give a man a second chance. They were perhaps the most stalwart of people who fought to keep the town free of riffraff. They knew better than anyone how, without much effort, a town could change for the worse. When less-than-desirable men came into town, Garcia had found one of two things worked in dealing with them. He either gave them money and a train ticket to leave, or he took them under his wing. He had managed to break through to some of the most hardened hearts.

Oh, to have that kind of influence on a man. Or a woman. Isabella came to mind, and Aaron shook his head. He was not going to marry Isabella Garcia. He didn’t love her. He didn’t even like her.

Much.

Resuming his walk, Aaron realized this was it. This was his call to make a decision. Daniel Garcia needed him, and the Santa Fe wanted him to help. Aaron wanted to help too. Daniel had come to be a second father to him. Aaron had worked with him since first coming to New Mexico years ago. He had learned all manner of things from Daniel, but most of all, his faith had grown stronger because of him. And Mrs. Garcia had mothered him and cared for him. Once when he’d been ill, she had insisted he remain at the house and recover. They were as much family to him as were his own people.

But then there was Isabella.

Daniel Garcia was hunting for a husband for his daughter and had settled on Aaron. It wasn’t that she wasn’t appealing. She was beautiful, but that wasn’t enough for Aaron. She was troubled and difficult. She lacked respect, and she refused to see her need for God. Aaron could hardly allow himself to be unequally yoked, even if he did find her attractive.Not only that, but she had no interest in him whatsoever. She fancied herself in love with Diego Morales. Her father had acknowledged this by giving Diego a job to prove himself. What if Diego did exactly as Garcia required? What if in one year Diego completed his task and Garcia believed him worthy of marriage to Isabella? Where would that leave Aaron if he began a real attempt to pursue her?

The house came into view, and Aaron spotted the gardener and his son out working to clear away some brush that was no longer desired. He supposed if Diego proved to be a good man—good enough for Isabella—Aaron would be trimmed away just as easily.

“But it’s doubtful Daniel Garcia will live that long,” he reminded himself aloud.

And that created the real problem. Time. They had so little time to make these life-altering decisions. Time was what they most needed, but it was also what they most lacked.

“Aaron, I saw you coming up the road from my bedroom window. Whatever are you doing here?” Daniel Garcia asked, meeting him at the door. He leaned against the jamb and began to cough. Aaron waited for the older man to catch his breath and calm his lungs.

This spell, however, was worse than usual. Daniel gasped for air and grew weaker by the second. The handkerchief he used was spotted in blood, although he had done his best to hide it. Aaron could see the sickness was taking its toll, and reached out to help steady the older man.

“Let’s at least get you to a chair.”

Aaron helped Daniel back into the house and found a straight-backed wooden chair just inside the foyer. He assisted Garcia onto the seat, and when the housekeeper appeared, he suggested a glass of water. She nodded and hurried away. It wasn’t but a few moments before she was backwith the water. Daniel took sips between the worst of the coughing. Little by little, the irritation appeared to ease.

“Gracias, Maya.” He looked up at Aaron and smiled. “Thank you. As you can see ...” He paused to clear his throat. “As you can see, I’m ever closer to the end.”

Aaron glanced at Maya and then back to Daniel. “How are you feeling otherwise?”

---