Page 30 - Homestead By Ann Newhouse

minutes later after I got my heart rate back to normal, and, after Josh had patted my back, Sofie kissed my cheek, welcoming me to the Homestead. John Tirrell was for sure a hard man, but he was soft when it came to pleasing his daughter. Also, as he was once a surgeon, he would understand that I had to have more time to heal.
Dinner went very well. The meal was cooked and served by Mrs. O’ Neilson. Although I found the food pleasant, the conversation was a little one sided. John Tirrell gave me the story of his life to date. I wondered why? Was it because he wanted me to know, or was he afraid I’d hear something not in his favour from other folk? I could see Sofie throw me the odd glance, and Josh kept his head down and just said, Yes Sir . . . every time his father asked for an opinion.
The story John told was very interesting. It was now nearly twenty years since that terrible night of the fire. John’s father had been ill for quite a while and was not showing any signs of recovery. He had suffered for a long time with heart problems. John had the ranch to run and, a year after taking over from his Father, was finding it overwhelming. He was having a bad time with his wife who was against moving to Texas. She was more trouble than the ranch hands, John stated. I could see Josh and Sofie were hurt at his remark.
Apparently, his father Gus Tirrell had a reputation for being a bit of a womaniser. During that time, it seemed he overstepped the mark when he got involved with a neighbour’s wife. He got a little too friendly with a married woman. Gus denied it, but she showed up pregnant at the Ranch with her husband, who was a wealthy local businessman. They had a big row and Gus agreed to give him a large sum of money to keep quiet about the affair. The husband was not satisfied, and, after a short time, he was back for more, but Gus refused. John believed that the enraged husband was the person who set the Ranch on fire. But because he was an important man and employed a lot of people in the town, no one would go against him. Plus, Gus was known for causing trouble and some folk believed he deserved what he got. John couldn’t forgive them, because he believed his wife and mother paid with their lives. That is why he left and started the Homestead here, with people who respected him. After hearing his story, I understood how hard and bitter it could make someone, especially when you were, seemingly, not to blame.