When Love Calls You Home, Part 6
by Kandy Williams

Walking with a fierce stride, Stone tried to release his frustration. It was barely the start of his first day there, and already he was the hot topic of the gossip mill and of unjust prejudice. He felt angry and wondered if there was really any hope of him starting a life there; he wanted to question God and His wisdom, while doubt was pricking at his heart. But his emotions started to subdue when he noticed the children in the schoolyard. Though he didn’t expect to find Cody and the other boys there, he looked for them anyway, and suddenly saw Cody, taunting another boy.

Although Cody wasn’t much bigger than his victim, he was holding the boy’s glasses at bay, teasing him and refusing to give them back. The boy tried repeatedly to snatch his spectacles, but his efforts were in vain. Then Cody dropped the glasses and acted like he was going to step on them. Already warmed with emotion, Stone intervened.

“Cody!” he shouted, drawing the attention of nearly every student. “What do you think you’re doin’, boy?” Stone demanded as he marched toward Cody.

Like most of the others, Cody was startled. But once he saw Stone approaching, he kicked the glassed over to their owner.

“Nothin’, just horsin’ around.” He tried to seem harmless, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“Didn’t your pa ever teach you no better? What if you would’a broke them glasses, you got money to pay for new ones?”

“Yeah, so?” Cody said with a smart-alec flair. It was typical for Cody to be confrontational, even with adults.

“I think you need to learn some respect, son, especially if you want to work for me.”

Stone had burst the bubble of Cody’s haughty attitude, causing him to hand his head.

“Sorry, sir,” Cody uttered, looking at the ground. Though he wasn’t use to people demanding proper respect from him, Cody quickly yielded to Stone, causing several mouths to drop open among the other kids in the schoolyard.

“All right. Now I think you owe that fella there an apology as well.”

“Aw, come on, he ain’t nobody,” whined Cody.

“Go on, git,” Stone ordered, and he pointed his finger toward Wesley, who was intensely cleaning his glasses. Cody’s apology was quiet, but sincere; Wesley forgave him and immediately joined some other boys in a game of marbles.

“Proud of you,” Stone said with a pat on Cody’s shoulder; Cody replied with a weak grin. It had been a while since the young boy had craved someone else’s approval. “That was the right thing to do. So tell me, how I do I find your pa?”

“I went out to his claim early this mornin’ and told him all about you bein’ here. At first he didn’t believe me, until I told him how funny it was that you use to call him Hound. Then he said for me to tell you that he’d be at the saloon all day today.” With his excitement resparked, Cody pointed in the general direction of the saloon, a place Stone had never planned on stepping foot in.

“Ma almost started cryin’ when I told her about you. She wants you to come to supper tonight,” continued Cody.

“Oh, I ain’t up for socializin’ just yet.”

“She said she didn’t want to hear any fuss about it. I’ll come by your place later and show you the way.”

Though it seemed Stone didn’t have much say in the matter, he was at least comforted in knowing that Cally would be pleased to see him again. And it also meant one less meal he’d have to scrape up for himself.

Just then, the schoolteacher emerged and rang the bell, signaling that it was time for class to begin. Cody faced the opposite direction and was anxious to make his getaway, but Stone took hold of him.

“Now where do you think you’re goin’?”

“I got better things to do,” Cody protested.

“You just get your tail in there and behave yourself.”

Reluctantly, Cody obeyed, and Stone watched until all the children had funneled into the building. Then, much in the same way that Cody had faced Wesley, Stone headed toward the saloon.

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