Free Rosa's Land: Western Justice - book 1 by Gilbert Morris Page B

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    Faye asked, “What have you decided, Mother? I hope you’ll give me your blessing.”
    “I’ve decided to go along with you on this matter, son, if you’ll promise me one thing.”
    Showing surprise that her surrender came so easily, he said, “What is it, Mother?”
    “I ask that you take any job the judge gives you and stay with it, no matter how low it is, even if it’s washing dishes.”
    Faye was obviously caught off guard. He finally smiled and said, “Why, Mother, I’ll be glad to promise that.”
    “Good, son. Now, we’ll just wait a few days, and then we’ll tell your father about it.”

     
    The next day Eileen set the rest of her plan into motion. She sat down in her bedroom at the desk with paper and pen and began to write:
    To Judge Isaac Parker:

Dear Sir
,
    I’m sure you get many letters asking you to do things for people. I suppose that’s the penalty of being a public figure. I am no different, Judge Parker, and I am writing this letter with a prayer in my heart that you will at least listen
.
    I have three sons. Two of them are real satisfied to be in their father’s business. My other son has gone another direction. My two older sons are outdoorsmen. They are tough, as their father is. They hunt and shoot and ride, but my youngest son, Lafayette, is not that kind of man. He has been a student all of his life. He is twenty years old now, and that’s all he’s ever known, that and his painting. I’m convinced he will be a great artist one day
.
    That’s why I’m writing this letter. I hear that your men are in danger in their work. My son has no training, and as far as I know, no ability with a gun. I know he cannot ride a horse well. I’m afraid he will come out and waste his life and be killed, perhaps, and that would be the tragedy of my life
.
    Please consider this in almost the nature of a prayer, Judge. I hear that you are a father, and I know you treasure your sons. I know you wouldn’t want to send one of them into a situation that would be almost impossible and dangerous. Please consider what I ask you to do, which is simply this: When my son comes to ask you to make him part of your force, agree to take him but give him the most humiliating, dirtiest job you can possibly think of. Keep him at it, and I’m sure in a short time he’ll become discouraged and change his mind
.
    My prayer is that God will be with you as you read this letter and that you will give it your prayerful consideration
.
    Respectfully yours
,
Mrs. Eileen Riordan
     
     
     
    She blotted the ink, put it in an envelope, addressed it, and then left the house. She went at once to the post office and mailed the letter herself. Turning, she went back home again and felt that she had solved her problem.

     
    Judge Isaac Parker had brought a letter home with him. He sat down with his wife and said, “Dear, let me read you this letter.” He read Eileen Riordan’s letter and then handed it to his wife and let her think it over. “What do you think we should do about this young man?”
    “Why, it’s clear enough.” She smiled. “We have to do what she asked. This young man isn’t fit to send out into the wilds of the Oklahoma Territory with the drunken Indians and outlaws. You know how many of your marshals you’ve already lost. It would be murderous to send this young man.”
    “Yes, I would never have sent him anyway, but she wants us to keep him until he gets full of this dirty side of life.”
    “Well, we will pray about it, Isaac, but I feel this mother’s plea, and we must help her all we can.”

     
    Eileen opened the envelope, her heart pounding. She quickly read the brief letter from Judge Parker.
    My dear Mrs. Riordan
,
    My wife and I have read your letter together. We both sympathize with you, and as concerned parents of a son, we know your heart aches. Never fear. I will do exactly as you ask, Mrs. Riordan. I will give your son such a hard time that he will not last long if he’s