There Is Life After Death

By Jessica Gober

In the final installment of the Rockford Life Trilogy, the war has finally ended. Bent Rockford returns home only to find everything has changed: his sister has married his good friend, the two have a child, and the woman he loves has married another man.

With Bent’s safe return, Dan Rockford’s family can finally be completely happy – until a series of tragedies strike the family, claiming a life in the process.

Jake and Salina Rockford have found happiness and are eager to start their new life. Their daughters feel the same, but Matthew Hardway struggles to leave the war behind.

And the return of a man long thought dead stuns them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Gober
• Release date: Aug 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301056781

Jessica Gober

Jessica Gober calls the beautiful Pacific Northwest home. She received her Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences, along with minors in Chemistry, English, and Russian, from Washington State University. Following graduation, she decided to pursue her lifelong passion for writing and published the three novels she had already written. After writing her fourth, which is currently undergoing editing, she returned to school and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Arizona State University.

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There Is Life After Death

Jessica Gober

The Rockford Life Trilogy

Book 3

Copyright 2013 Jessica Gober

Smashwords Edition

Cover design by Stephannie Beman

Cover photography by Talir and Genetic96

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please visit Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Family Tree

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

About the Author

Novels by Jessica Gober

Family Tree

Chapter 1

Benton Rockford walked in easy silence beside his sister on the family ranch. At twenty, Clara Rockford Creighton was one year his junior. Between the two, Clara’s eighteen-month-old son, Michael, toddled along, clutching his mother’s fingers. Bent, still reeling from discovering he had a nephew, studied the boy. Bent had finally returned to the ranch in Oregon just the previous day – April 2nd, 1866. He had left in August 1861 to fight in the War Between the States and upon his return, had found his sister not only married to his good friend, Wes Creighton, but also a mother.

He glanced at his sister in time to meet her warm hazel eyes. She smiled at him. It’s good to have you home, Bent.

He grinned. It’s good to be home. The two lapsed into silence again, and Bent let his gaze fall back to his nephew. Michael had his father’s blue eyes and blonde hair. Bent shook his head and turned his attention to survey the ranch. His father and uncle had started the ranch twenty-three years ago. Over the years, the acreage had accumulated as the herd grew. Bent allowed his blue eyes to wander to the buildings. The barn, corral, and bunkhouse stood in the center. His parents’ house – the same house in which he had grown up – stood off to the left; it was a large single story log building with a loft. On the other side, there was his uncle’s slightly smaller place. And finally, across the ranch center from his parents’ home, there was the even smaller, newer home that belonged to Wes and Clara.

Bent turned his gaze back to his sister. Clara, I want you to know that even if Father doesn’t split this place between us, you and Wes are entitled to half – if not more –

Bent –

No, hear me out. It’s only fair. After all, Wes stayed and worked his way up to help Father when Uncle Jake and I were gone. Without Wes, this place would not be doin’ as well as it is. He helped Father run things. It would be one thing if Wes had his own place, but he’s been workin’ here since he came to Oregon in ‘58 –

Bent –

‘Sides, it’s not like I have any issue with daughters inheritin’ – nor does Father for that matter –

Bent, stop. Wes and I don’t need your charity, but it’s good you feel that way as Father has already assured Wes that the place will be split between us.

That sounds like Father, but you mean his share, not this place.

No, I mean the ranch in its entirety.

But Uncle Jake owns a share.

Clara shook her head. He sold his share to Father in order to finance his move back East. Father’ll probably offer him a piece now, but who knows what’ll happen… Uncle Jake’s pretty stubborn.

As is Father.

Clara nodded, and the two fell back into silence. Bent waited several moments before looking at his sister again. How did you know that? Father never mentioned anything to me after Uncle Jake left – and that was when he was beginnin’ to show me how to run this place. Granted, I left not that long afterward, but even Uncle Jake said nothing when we were on the ship back.

Father mentioned it to Wes when he told him about the inheritance.

Bent shook his head. Seems like Wes and Father got fairly close while I was gone.

Bent –

No, Clara, I didn’t mean it like that. You know I like Wes. I just missed so much. His gaze moved to his nephew again.

Bent, we wanted to wait. We wanted you to be at the wedding, but we had no idea when you would return.

"I understand, Clara. Really, I do. I made the choice to go – and I would still make the same choice. My only regret is that I missed so much… but it was my choice."

Clara nodded and began chewing her lower lip. Bent watched her out of the corner of his eye. That had always been her telltale sign of nerves or remorse. Clara, really, you don’t have to feel guilty. I understand.

She looked up at him. I know.

Then why are you bitin’ your lip?

She sighed. Bent, there’s something I need to tell you… It’s about Lydia.

Bent started. Lydia?

Clara nodded softly.

Bent swallowed. He and Lydia had been childhood sweethearts. He had not thought about her in a long time. They had been very young when he had left for the war: he barely seventeen, and she only sixteen. It had not been too serious then, but he knew that it could have become serious had he stayed.

She’s married.

Bent closed his eyes. A sharp pain arose in his chest; it hurt more than he had thought it would. I never expected her to wait for me.

Clara bit her lip. The thing is, Bent, she did wait for you.

What d’ya mean?

She was waiting for you. We saw her from time to time in town, and she always asked after you. Even in ‘63 when her father got sick, she didn’t show interest in anyone else. Even when the doctor was certain he was on his death bed… As you know, she would’ve been alone when he died since her mother passed away years before, so he was pushing her to marry. But she refused… until June of ‘64…

Bent closed his eyes. He had a feeling where this was headed. In June 1864, he had been shot. His relatives in the North, thinking he had been killed, sent word to his parents in Oregon to that effect. Bent had spent nearly a week lying delirious in no man’s land before his cousin from the South had found him. Bent had been taken to his relatives in the South where his uncle, Jake Rockford, had removed the slug. It was another few days before he became alert again. At that point, he realized that his family in the North had probably sent word to his parents that he had been killed. One of his cousins had gone north to get the word out. But his parents and sister had thought that he was dead for nearly three weeks.

That wound had kept him out of the rest of the war. He had spent several months convalescing in the South. Then he had stayed with his aunt and cousins in the North until the war ended. Now he was home, nearly a year after the war ended, but he still had the limp.

When we… thought you had… been killed, we told her; she had a right to know. She was devastated, but with her father on his deathbed pushing her to marry and Henry Wolfe pressuring her to marry him, she went ahead and married Wolfe –

Wolfe? As in the son of the man who gave Father the headaches on the trail?

Clara nodded. They had both heard the stories of their parents’ experience on the Oregon Trail. Their father had been the guide and later the trail boss as well. The elder Wolfe had been one of the men that constantly complained and caused trouble.

And, Bent… He met her hazel eyes. She doesn’t know you’re alive.

His brow furrowed. What?

As far as we know, she doesn’t know… The day we learned that you were actually alive was the day she had married. Well, with the Wolfes living a ways to the south of us, we don’t see them much – or at all – so unless she heard it from someone else, she doesn’t know.

Bent swallowed. Clara lapsed into silence as they continued walking; he needed some time to process the news.

*****

Dan Rockford watched the herd and cowboys. His son had finally come home – and his brother, Jake, had returned as well. It would have been nice to have some time to catch up, but someone had to see that the ranch was running. Plus, Dan did not mind a break from the rather crowded house.

He spotted his son-in-law riding toward him. With a tap of his heels, he urged his roan forward to meet Wes. He had not told Wes to work today, but the young man reminded Dan a lot of himself, so he was not surprised to see Wes out here.

Dan reined up as he reached the young man. Wes Creighton turned his roan so that he was beside his wife’s father. Wes, how are things?

Well, the herd’s looking good… Everything’s in good shape.

Dan sighed. That’s a relief. With all the people here… Until they figure out what they’re goin’ to do, it’ll be nice not to have to worry about the ranch.

Wes grinned. It is different, isn’t it?

That’s an understatement. We go from just you and Clara and me and Lorena to all of this over night… It’s a far cry different.

Hopefully, things’ll settle down quickly.

Hopefully.

*****

Lorena Rockford glanced at her daughter. With her golden-brown hair pulled back in a braid, Clara had Michael on her hip and was stirring the pot on the stove. Lorena turned her attention back to the apple pie she was assembling. Clara had been kind enough to help out with supper as the entire family was eating together tonight. Everyone had spent that day settling in, so she and Clara had offered to cook for the rest, but it was a big task. Lorena did not even want to count the number of people who would be there as the number would near twenty.

She finished the pie and turned to look at her daughter. Clara caught her mother’s gaze and smiled. It’s strange cooking so much, isn’t it?

Lorena smiled, and it reached all the way into her blue-green eyes. That it is. Thank you for helping me –

Of course. I’m surprised no one else offered…

Well, they are settling in.

I understand, but…

Lorena nodded. I know, it’s not like them… Clara turned to the potatoes lying on the cutting board. Bouncing her son on her hip, she used the knife to brush the chopped potatoes into a bowl. Wes didn’t offer to watch Michael?

He’s working as I imagine Father is too.

Lorena smiled. You know your father well… And I reckon, I shouldn’t be surprised Wes is out there; he’s a lot like your father.

Clara dipped her head. They take their work very seriously, although I have the slightest suspicion that Wes was also hoping to avoid some of the mayhem here.

I have no doubt that your father is doing the same. He’s glad Bent’s back… and Jake and the others, but the house is a little crowded.

Clara smiled. It must be crowded there since Bent’s staying here.

Lorena glanced around her daughter’s home. It was smaller than her own, so Wes and Clara had not been expected to house anyone as they had no spare rooms. However, Bent had noticed the crowd at his parent’s home and offered to stay in the bunkhouse. Upon hearing that, Clara had insisted he stay with her. Is Bent staying in Michael’s room? There were only two bedrooms in Clara’s house, and Michael’s was not real big.

I told him he could, but he said there was fine, she said with a nod toward the main room of the house.

Lorena used the back of her wrist to brush several stray strands of her golden-brown hair out of her face. Did you tell him…

Clara nodded softly. He took the news fairly well, but he didn’t come back with me. Said he wanted to go for a ride around the place…

*****

With a natural ease, Dan Rockford slid off his horse. He led the roan into the barn and quickly went to work on the saddle. It was only late afternoon; it felt wrong to be calling it a day so early. After all, Wes was still out there. But he had promised his wife that he would not work the whole day, and Lorena’s wrath was not something he wanted to incur. At least he could rest easy knowing that the ranch he had spent the last twenty-two-and-a-half years building was in more than capable hands with his son-in-law.

Dan carried the saddle to the back wall and hung it on the hooks. He turned back to the roan as someone entered the barn. Dan reached the horse and nodded to his younger brother. Jake.

Jake Rockford returned the greeting. At forty-four, he was two years younger than his brother, although it was difficult to tell who was older. Both men had dark blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes. They were both dark from spending so much time working out-of-doors. While they were both tall and well-built, Dan was a bit taller with broader shoulders than his brother. And both appeared older than they actually were. Dan had been aged by spending seven years in the West as a mountain man before leading a wagon party out to Oregon and by spending the next twenty-two-and-a-half years ranching. Jake had been aged by ranching for fifteen years, fighting in the war, and losing his wife on the Oregon Trail over twenty years ago.

Dan started out of the barn, leading the roan toward the corral. Jake fell into step beside him. I was leaving your place when I saw you head into the barn –

Is Lorena angry with me? Dan asked with a grin as he opened the corral gate and let the roan in. Swinging the gate closed, he turned to face his brother.

Jake grinned. No idea. She’s over at Clara’s cooking supper – I think they wanted to avoid the commotion at your place.

Dan grunted. I know. It’s only been a day, and I’m already lookin’ forward to the peace and quiet… Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad y’all are home – even Lorena’s family who never actually lived here, but –

You’ve always liked avoiding large social gatherings.

Dan nodded. Well, I reckon I’ll head to Clara’s then.

I can’t believe she’s married.

You were gone for seven years… and I’m not the only one with a married daughter.

I suppose you have a point; Carolyn’s married too. But she and Luke haven’t been married near as long as Clara and Wes have – and I don’t have any grandchildren yet.

Dan grunted. That’s not entirely true, though.

Carolyn doesn’t have any children.

No, but Salina’s daughter does.

Jake slowly nodded. Salina was his wife – his second wife. They had been married for only a little over a year. She had two surviving children: Mary Anne Beauford and Matthew Hardway. He knew their marriage was strange for her children and his own daughter as the children were cousins. His first wife, Anna Hardway Rockford, had been the sister of Jefferson Hardway, Salina’s deceased husband. He and Salina had known each other well for years; in fact, he and Jefferson had been fairly close. While Anna had died over two decades ago, Jefferson had been killed in the war only three years ago.

Look, Jake, I wanted to give y’all time to settle in before talkin’ business, but you know you’re welcome to a share of the ranch –

Dan, I’m not going to take your charity –

You can buy in… I’ll sell you back your share – or more.

I can’t afford my old share, let alone half of this place. I couldn’t swing any part of this place. Between the war and the passage out here…

Then you can take a share now and pay me later –

I’m not taking your charity.

Dan clenched his jaw. We’ve had this discussion before.

Jake nodded slowly. They had had a very similar conversation when they first went into business together – and their conversation when Jake had sold Dan his share had had a very similar underlying theme.

I’m not going to accept your charity, Dan. I never have and I never will. Besides, it’s not fair to Clara and Bent. They deserve this place, especially Clara and Wes.

And what about Carolyn? She grew up here, too.

Jake swallowed. She’ll understand.

Then what are you goin’ to do? What are Carolyn and Luke goin’ to do?

We won’t live off of you.

For cryin’ out loud, Jake, I’m your brother; Carolyn’s a lot more than just my niece. I want to help you out.

Jake bit his lip. He owed a lot to his brother. Dan and Lorena had helped him raise his children after his wife died. Lorena was the only mother-figure Carolyn had had growing up, and Dan had been a second father to her. Dan, I know you don’t mind helping me out, but I can’t take your charity. I’ll pull my share of the weight.

Dan nodded. If you won’t buy in, then stay on at least. I want you here. I’ll pay you a foreman’s salary. We don’t have a foreman right now. You and Salina ought to be able to get by on that. And I’ll do the same for Luke if he’s interested. He’s a cowboy and he worked here before. ‘Sides, it ain’t like there are a lot of ranches around here.

Thanks.

And I’ll build Luke and Carolyn a place like Wes and Clara’s.

Dan –

A weddin’ gift. They’ve been married for almost a year; it’s past due.

Jake smiled slightly and nodded.

But I can’t do the same for Salina’s kids. I can’t justify havin’ that many foremen. They are welcome to hire on, but the hand salary, while substantial, is not enough for a family.

James Beauford wouldn’t take your offer anyway. He doesn’t take charity. He intends to support Mary Anne and their son all on his own. ‘Sides, he actually had hidden his family’s wealth, so he’s got some money to get by on. Not that it’ll take him long to figure out what he’s going to do.

Dan nodded. And Salina’s son? Dan did not know Salina’s children or even Salina. Prior to the trail, Jake and Anna had lived in Virginia near Jefferson and Salina, but Dan had been out West during that time. Jefferson and Salina had not taken the Oregon Trail with the rest of the family, which was when Dan had re-entered his brother’s life. After the trail, when Dan had settled down, it had been in Oregon, not Virginia. Jake had been his brother’s partner at the ranch until 1859 when he had returned by sea to Virginia, so his children could get to know their mother’s family. But then the war hit, claiming the lives of Jefferson, Jake’s son, and three of Salina’s boys, among other relatives. When Jake married Salina at the end of the war, they had decided to come west to start over. James and Mary Anne had decided to build their life together out West as well. Carolyn, too, wanted to return – as did Luke. Matthew Hardway who had been hit hard by the horrors of the war had decided to come west with his mother and sister, the only family he had left. Yesterday their ship had arrived, and Dan had met his brother’s new family.

Matthew really struggled with the war. I don’t know what he’ll do, but I doubt he’ll want to work for someone else. He was the heir to the Hardway plantation, but it was destroyed in the war.

Dan shook his head. What all of you went through… I can’t begin to imagine.

It’s not like you were untouched by it, though.

Dan nodded as memories of Bent’s death came back. Lorena had been devastated, especially since their younger son had been killed in a riding accident in 1859. He cleared his throat. Well, I better head in before Lorena has a fit. You said she was at Clara’s?

Jake nodded. You know what Lorie’s family’s going to do?

Dan chuckled. No. Seein’ as how Lorena and I met them yesterday, with the exception of her sister, you would have a better idea than me.

Jake grinned. Sorry, can’t help you.

Dan rolled his eyes. You never can.

*****

At the sound of the door opening, Clara, bouncing her son on her hip, turned from the stove. Hi, Carolyn, she called to her cousin.

Carolyn stepped into the house and closed the door. Clara, Aunt Lorie, I came to help. At twenty-three, Carolyn Rockford Houston was three years older than Clara, but the two girls were close as they had grown up together on the ranch surrounded by their brothers, their fathers, and ranch hands with Lorena as the only nearby woman. Carolyn’s thick, long blonde hair hung in a braid down her back. She was taller than both Clara and Lorena, neither of whom was all that short. Her blue eyes danced from Clara to Lorena.

Well, we’ll take any help we can get, Lorena said as Carolyn settled into a spot in the kitchen. I imagine your husband is off on the ranch somewhere.

Carolyn blushed. She had only been married for ten months and had not spoken about her marriage yet with her aunt or cousin. He doesn’t particularly enjoy being kept inside.

Clara smiled Neither does Wes. Their husbands had even more than that in common. They had both come to the ranch in 1858 from Texas after the man they had been working for had sold his cattle to Jake Rockford. Jake had gone to Texas to buy more cattle and hire a few more cowboys. However, he had never thought that two of them would end up marrying his daughter and niece. Wes had worked his way up to the number two position by the time he married Clara in ‘62. Luke, on the other hand, had gone with Bent to fight in the war in ‘61. Bent had originally asked Wes to go with him, but Wes had declined. Surprisingly, Wes’ reason for staying was Luke’s reason for going; Wes had stayed because he was in love with Clara, and Luke had gone because he was in love with Carolyn who had returned east two years prior. At that point, neither girl knew of the cowboys’ feelings. Clara, though, knew she was in love with Wes, and a year later, they married. Carolyn, on the other hand, had not realized she shared Luke’s feelings until the war was nearly over – and as such, they had only been married ten months.

Lorena grinned. Neither does either one of your fathers.

The door swung open once again. As if on cue, Dan Rockford strode into the room. He bent and kissed his wife’s cheek.

You’re late, Lorena said.

Dan kissed his daughter’s cheek and took Michael from her. Holding his grandson firmly in one arm, he moved out of the way of the women. Carolyn.

Uncle Dan, his niece said with a smile.

Dan met his wife’s lovely blue-green eyes. Sorry, Lorena. I would’ve been here on time, but I ran into Jake.

Lorena shook her head. I’m certain you would have been on time otherwise.

Dan grinned sheepishly.

His wife rolled her eyes. At thirty-nine, she was seven years his junior. I knew it.

*****

Jake Rockford entered his home. Even if he had only been back one day, it still felt like home as he had raised his children there. As he closed the door, the door to his room swung open.

Jake?

He smiled at his wife as he crossed the main room. Her silky black hair was pinned up, and her bright green eyes returned her husband’s smile. Jake kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her. Did you get everything unpacked?

She smiled and nodded. It’s not as though there was much to put away. She had abandoned most of her belongings when she fled the plantation to live in Richmond during the last year of the war. The house subsequently burned down, destroying anything that the Northern army or looters had not taken.

Jake nodded.

Salina pulled back to look him in the eye. Did you talk to your brother?

He nodded again. We –

The door to the other room opened, and Salina’s daughter, Mary Anne Hardway Beauford, stepped out, holding her six-month-old son, Jefferson. Her thick copper hair was pulled back, and she wore a simple emerald dress that accentuated her vibrant green eyes. Her son had thick dark hair and the piercing blue eyes of his father. Mary Anne sighed and jostled the baby; he was already quite the handful.

Mary Anne, did you get settled? her mother asked, taking her grandson from her daughter.

For the most part.

Jake stopped listening to the women’s conversation. Mary Anne and her husband and son were staying in the second bedroom in his home. The third room, though, had been too small for Carolyn and Luke, so his daughter was staying in Dan and Lorie’s loft. Carolyn who was close to her aunt and uncle did not mind staying with them even though she had grown up in this house. Salina’s children who did not know Dan and Lorie and were of no relation to them had to stay with him and Salina. Thus, Salina’s son, Matthew, was in the smaller room.

…James?

"He