Braxton's Run: Cattle, Whiskey and Women

Chapter Thirty

"He can't remember all the times that he's thought, does my daddy love me, probably not. But that didn't stop him from wishing that he did. Didn't keep him from wanting or worshipping him... He grew to hate him for what he had done. What kind of father could do that to his son? He said 'damn you daddy' the day that he died. The man didn't blink but the little boy cried 'I love you this much and I'm waiting on you to make up your mind. Do you love me too? However long it takes, I'm never giving up. No matter what, I love you this much." Jimmy Wayne 'I love you this much'

"We'll stop in town, freshen up and get a bite to eat before we head out to the ranch. I want to have a full stomach and a clean neck when I rub my fathers nose in how wrong he was about me." Braxton said to Laura as the two of them rode onto the dusty streets of Greensburg Texas.

"I wonder if Bradley is back from wherever he went?" Laura asked and Braxton shrugged. He looked around at the empty streets. Odd that town was so empty in the middle of a Wednesday morning. "I should probably check in with my father. He's more than likely worried sick about me." Laura added.

"Hmmm." Braxton grunted distractedly as he looked at all the wagons and horses hitched up at the old church on the outskirts of town.

"Are you paying attention to me?" Laura asked, seemingly oblivious to what had captured his attention.

"No." he answered truthfully. He saw Nicholas walking out of the jail and he jumped off his horse and crossed the street to him quickly.

"What's going on?" Braxton demanded.

"You're back." Nicholas said with surprise.

"Yeah, I'm back, Laura's with me and we have a baby." Braxton replied, getting all the small talk out of the way at once. "Now what's going on at the church?" Nicholas pulled off his hat and rubbed his neck.

"A funeral." he replied, his dark eyes darting to Laura who was walking across the street toward them with a baby in her arms. He wondered where the baby had come from but knew that now wasn't the time to ask.

"Funeral?" Braxton asked warily as dread washed over him and he recognized his families buckboard parked out front of the dust-faded white church. "Who's funeral?"

"Your pa's, Braxton." Nicholas replied. Braxton immediately turned and ran for the church, ignoring Laura's pleas for him to wait for her. Braxton's mind was racing as he burst through the double doors of the church and silence fell over the pews as everyone turned to stare at him.

Braxton saw none of them. He didn't hear their murmurs or their whispers. Every bit of his concentration was focused on the pine box in the front of the church. It sat alone on the alter beneath a large oak cross and Edmund McAvery lay inside.

Braxton's heart broke in a million pieces, though he was careful to keep his face blank of emotion. The man in him refused to break in front of the arrogant man, even while he was dead. Pain, hatred, anger and hurt all welled up together inside his gut and burned so hotly that he was sure a hole would appear and it would all come pouring out. He pulled off his hat and his boots took on a life of their own as they carried him up the narrow aisle to the casket.

Braxton stared down at his fathers face. Gone were the hate filled, angry lines that had always covered it when he had looked at Braxton. His father looked peaceful. Braxton didn't let a single tear escape from his eye as he stared down at the man who had made his life impossible for thirty years. The man who had wished him dead and disowned him a million times. The man who Braxton had loved despite all of that. The man that Braxton had never stopped hoping would one day shake his hand and say, 'I love you son.' or even 'I'm proud of you'.