by Danni Roan
A brisk knock on the front door made them all look up.
“I’ll get it,” Sara offered, heading around the corner.
“Wonder who that could be?” Quil asked.
“Oh Mr. Dixon!” Sara’s surprised voice carried back to them. “Won’t you come in?”
Cameron Royal watched as Sara walked back into the kitchen, Rafe Dixon following on her heels.
“Mr. Dixon,” Maud’s voice was cool but polite.
“Mrs. Adams,” the young man spoke, twisting his hat in his hand. “I’ve come to speak to you about Herman.”
“Herman? What on earth do you want to know about Herman?”
“Won’t you have a seat Mr. Dixon?” Sara asked, remembering her manners if no one else did. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“Thank you,” Rafe said, his bright eyes following the young woman as she hustled to the stove.
“Well?” Maud Adams barked.
“I’d like to, well, ah…”
“You need his services,” Cameron offered, coming to the young man’s rescue.
“Yes,” Rafe replied taking the cup of coffee from Sara with a smile.
“I thought your pa had his own bull?” Cam asked, puzzled.
Rafe set his jaw and turned to look at the other cowboy. “He bought a well-bred Herford from back East,” he stated flatly. “And at a premium price, I might add.”
“Then why are you needing Herman?” Quil asked, that little crease showing between her brows again.
“Because that gall-durn bull’s a dud!” Rafe spat, placing his cup down with such force coffee splashed on the table.
Five sets of eyes blinked at him in the sudden silence.
Rafe felt his face heating and heard his father’s angry words in his ears once more. It had taken every mode of persuasion he’d been able to muster to get his father to agree to let him come to the Adams for assistance.
“We’re in a bit of a pinch,” he finally spoke again. “Pa had all the other bulls removed to clear the way for this new fella and now, well, you raise cows, you understand,” he finished, his face flushing again.
“Mr. Dixon, why don’t you and I go for a little walk and we’ll hash out the details,” Cameron offered, glancing at Mrs. Adams, who nodded. “We won’t be long if you’ll keep something warm for us.”
“Of course,” Sara and Quil replied together.
The women settled themselves at the table and Mrs. Adams offered a prayer. Sara and Quil lifted their own separately so only the angels could tell.
Chapter 7
“Mr. Royal.” Quil’s voice was soft as they topped a hill near her home. This morning they’d been out riding, inspecting the range. She’d offered to go with him and being out on the ranch felt like an all new homecoming.
“Yes.”
“How do you like it here?”
“I like it just fine,” Cam said, turning to study her where she sat comfortably atop Snap.
“Do you think you’d like it to be your home?”
Cameron Royal pushed his hat back on his head and leaned his crossed arms on his saddle horn. Aquila Adams was working up to something, and having spent so much time with her over the past few weeks, he knew he needed to give her time to get it out.
“I’m plenty comfortable, if that’s what you mean.”
Quil let out a slow breath, mustering the courage to speak her mind. “What do you want, Mr. Royal? What is your goal in being here?” she asked, her eyes studying his face.
Lifting a hand, Cam ran it over his beard, it really did need a trim. “I guess what anyone wants,” he started, looking off into the distance of the green expanse before him. “A place to call my own. Maybe a few friends.”
“What about a family?” Quil plucked at Snap’s golden mane nervously.
“I never had one,” Cam answered honestly. “I’m not sure what it would be like.” He half smiled at her. “My ma and pa passed when I was young. I was raised by an old uncle who rode chuck wagon for an outfit. I’ve been working ranches all over since he passed.”
“My family is everything to me,” Quil spoke. “This ranch, it’s not simply a place, but a home, part of my heart. I couldn’t bear to lose it.” She paused, looking around her, “I can’t even imagine what it would do to mother if we ever had to leave.”
Cam turned his head to study the pretty young woman.
“I want to do something that will help, something to make things more secure, more permanent,” Quil continued. “Something that will keep Mama from worrying so.”
“You certainly seem to do your part.”
“Mr. Royal, how would you feel about not a ten percent share, but a full quarter share of the ranch?”
Cam set up straight and turned to her. Her green eyes locked his, and he felt something tight rise in his throat.
“That’d be too much to ask of your ma, I’m only one man. I can’t do everything and besides, even with a share I’m only hired help.”
“That’s what I’m trying to get at.”
“Miss Aquila, I’m afraid I’m not following you.”
Quil licked her lips then hurried on. “What if you were to marry me?” she stated in a rush, “You’d hold my share of the ranch and well, I’d know you wouldn’t run off with the sales money because there would be so much more to be had later.”
Cam sat up so suddenly in the saddle that the white horse he sat on turned completely around before he pulled him up short.
“What?” he choked.
“It could be a business deal, so to speak,” Quil went on. “You’d have legal access to the ranch like any other member of the family. You wouldn’t need to marry me for real, but I’d know you were serious and you’d get more of the profits.”
Sugar danced under Cameron as his agitation was transferred to the sensitive animal. With a great effort, Cam made himself relax, and the horse settled.
“It’s a matter of trust, isn’t it?” he finally managed to ask, stroking his pony’s mane. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to sooth Sugar or himself.
“Yes. At least until the ranch was truly up and running, then we’d get an annulment and you’d have your profits.”
Sugar danced another step or two and Cam pulled the reins in tight, then relaxed his fist on the reins.
“Miss Aquila, I understand that you only want what’s best for your family and the ranch, and I can see how you think a contract like this would be good for everyone, but what about you? It’s not fair to you to give yourself away for the sake of your family.”
Quil’s eyes were pleading, the depths of the green fired with flecks of gold. “I have to find a way to be sure,” she said simply, her voice shaking. “I have to know you aren’t like the others.”
Gently she laid a hand across his where it still rested on the saddle horn. “Please,” her eyes were lipid pools of daylight, “think about it.”
A warm shiver ran up Cam’s arm from where her skin met his, and he went to thinking things far beyond that of a contract that would quite possibly make him a wealthy man.
“Promise?” Her words were a whisper that entered his soul.
Cameron Royal found himself nodding as he gazed at the pretty young woman beside him. His head felt all funny.
“If it will make you believe I’m an honorable man, I’ll do it.” The words came from far away, from some distant place of longing that he didn’t even know resided in the depths of his heart.
Quil’s smile dazzled and he felt his breath catch in his chest. What had he just agreed to? She squeezed his hand. “We’ll work out the details over the next few days,” she said, the small crease in her brow returning.
***
“Rafe, Rafe!” Sara called as she wove through the trees. “I know you’re out here, I saw the ribbon on the tree.”
A soft chuckle met her ears as Rafe stepped around the edge of a berry bush, grabbing her around the waist and squeezing her close.
“How bad is it?”
she asked, snuggling close and breathing in the scent of him.
“If Dobbs hadn’t pitched in with me, I’m not sure there wouldn’t be a single calf on that range come fall,” Rafe admitted nuzzling her hair. “I’d have rather faced a rattler than Pa when I suggested your Herman.”
“He was that bad?” she asked, pushing away and looking up at him with concern.
“Worse.”
“Are you sure your bull won’t, well you know.” Her cheeks brightened making him smile.
“We put him in with a bunch of heifers and well, all he was interested in was the grass.”
Sara studied his face to see if he was serious, but saw no humor there.
“Heavens, that is bad.”
“It’d be comical if not for the repercussions. We had one of the men trailing that bull every minute but he never even noticed them cows.”
“I’ve found something else,” Sara said, changing the subject of the ineffectual bull. “Here.” She pulled a small diary from her apron pocket. “It’s Mama’s diary from years ago.”
“Sara, you shouldn’t have taken this.”
“I’m not waiting until dooms day to marry you, Rafe Dixon,” Sara chided, her eyes flashing. “I’ll do whatever I have to get our parents to make up.”
Rafe leaned over with a smile and gave his girl a peck on the lips. “You do beat all.”
Sara smiled, lifting a small pail, and began picking berries from the blackberry bushes. They were ripe and plump.
“Look here,” Rafe said, thumbing through the book. “My pa signed her book. ‘To the prettiest friend I have.’ What do you think of that?” He looked up at Sara.
“Well we know Ma, Pa and your Pa were friends. Maybe it’s something of a joke between them.”
“Hm?” Rafe returned to the book. “Here your ma says that Harlan Dixon has gotten funny lately. He never comes to visit and he’s seldom speaks to her anymore.”
“I know, but there’s nothing to indicate why.”
Rafe snapped the book closed again. “She’s writin’ about your Pa there. I don’t feel right reading that.”
“I know, but I read it,” Sara admitted, handing Rafe another pail.
“She just writes about how she thinks Pa will ask her to marry him and then about their engagement. After that, there isn’t much until later when Quil was born and then nothing but notes on the dates of birth of each of us. I think we kept her too busy to write in a diary anymore.”
Rafe smiled. “I’m pretty sure that once you came along she didn’t have much time for anything else.”
“You make me sound like a real handful,” Sara giggled.
Bucket still in hand, Rafe grabbed Sara by the arm and twirled her into his embrace. “A nice armful is what I was really thinking.” He grinned, leaning in to kiss her.
Blinking and breathless a few moments later, Sara stepped away from him, forcing herself back to the bushes and berries. “We’ll just have to keep digging,” she said, her voice firm. “And maybe you’d better not kiss me anymore today,” she added, not meeting his eyes.
Something like warm honey rolled down his spine at the growl in her voice and Rafe knew it was time to go. “I love you,” he said, placing the half full pail at her feet, before leaping into the saddle and racing away.
Chapter 8
“Mama, there are riders coming.” Priscilla had been washing the dishes and watching out the window. “They’ve got horses!” Her voice squeaked with excitement. “Sara, come quick.”
“Now what?” Maud Adams sounded tired. No matter how hard Cameron Royal was working, she still felt unease at having to once more trust someone else with her livelihood and well-being.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, she sighed and turned toward the front door.
“Spice!” Sara’s voice echoed through the already open door, which she had flung open and raced through.
“Mornin’ Miss Sara”, a scratchy voice called.
“William, what on earth are you doing here?” Sara said, running to the horse that the white-haired man held on a lead. “Is it really Spice?”
“Yes, it’s Spice,” William Fleck stated. “As for what I’m doin’ here, I’m looking for work if you got any.”
“Work?” Maud asked, stepping to the edge of the porch. “Who said we had work, and what about your job at the Circle D with Mr. Dixon?” She sounded impatient and tried to soften her voice.
“Look Mama, he still has my old horse,” Sara said, smiling as she stroked the chestnut horse’s wide, white blaze. “Now they’re all home again.”
“Mr. Rafe said you might be lookin’ for hands when he had to let us go,” he said, indicating the two other men who rode up behind him.
“Ma’am,” the riders said with a grin.
“Billings, Rock, it’s good to see you again,” Maud spoke, still not quite understanding what was going on.
The front door opened again and Quil walked out Cameron Royal on her heels.
“You fella’s say you’re looking for work?” Cam asked.
“We are,” the man called William said, squinting at him. “I was told Mrs. Adams had a new foreman and since Rafe had to let a few hands go on account of that worthless bull…” he shrugged, even as the other men chuckled.
Aquila stepped to the edge of the porch. “It’s nice to see all of you,” she began. “Why don’t you step down and we’ll have a cup of coffee and discuss it.” She tugged at her mother’s arm, pulling her into the house. “Why don’t you and Prissy get the coffee on and I’ll be right with you?” she said with a smile. This could be the answer to her prayers.
As the cowboys followed Maud toward the kitchen, Quil grasped Cameron’s arm and pulled him back to the office where they’d been working earlier.
“What do you think?” she asked as soon as she’d pushed the door closed behind her. “Can we hire them on?”
“You just finished with the numbers,” Cameron said thoughtfully, “with what Rafe Dixon paid to have Herman visit this month, I’d say we could afford a few hands if the pay’s not too steep.”
Quil paced to the window. Before the interruption, they had been hashing out the details of their faux courtship and how they would announce it to her mother.
Despite her past experience with the men who had so recently put the ranch at risk, she found herself relying more and more on Mr. Royal.
“They’re top hands,” Quil said, pinching her lip between her teeth, thinking. “They used to work for my father. We practically grew up with these men.”
“We do have round-up coming in August, there will be branding and culling to do. I can handle a lot on my own, but there’s no way I can do the branding by myself. It’s at least a three-man job.”
Quil turned, looking up into the soft brown eyes of her companion. “Mama will do it if I tell her to.”
“We’ll need to make it clear to these men what things are like,” Cam offered, reaching out and squeezing her arm. “It will be alright.” he assured, trying to assuage her worries. “Have a little faith.” His soft smile gave her hope.
“Mama,” Quil said immediately on entering the kitchen. “I’ve checked the books and we can afford at least two hands.”
“We’re a packaged deal,” Williams spoke up. Billings and Rock grinned. “I’m sure we can make it work.”
“I’m sure you gentlemen know things around here are a bit tight, I’m doing all I can to make some changes in that,” Cameron said, his eyes drifting to Quil. “I think if you’re willing to work at a slightly reduced wage, we can accommodate all of you.” He lifted his hand toward Quil and she moved around the table to take it in hers.
Gasps of surprise echoed around the table. “I had hoped to do this more privately, but I think it’s time that everyone knows, Quil and I have become rather attached to each other in the past few weeks and with Mrs. Adams, approval wish to be wed.”
Maud blinked at the man who sat comfortably at her kitchen table, holding
her daughter’s hand.
“Quil, is this true?” she asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
“Yes Mama, you know Mr. Royal and I have been working closely to put the ranch in order, even with our meager funds and well, it just sort of happened.” She offered her mother what she hoped was a bright smile, but somehow it felt sickly to her.
“Congratulations!” Williams spoke as Rock and Billings grinned widely, lifting their coffee in toast. “I think we’ll head to the bunk house now, Mrs. Adams,” William said, still grinning. “Mr. Royal, I think you’ll offer us a fair shake when you come along.”
He and the other men, still holding their mugs, each took a cookie from the plate on the table and headed for the door.
Quil licked her lips nervously as her mother stared at her. “Mama?” she questioned, guilt squirming in her belly. It didn’t matter, though, she knew, deep in her heart, that she was doing the right thing.
“Quil, I had no idea,” Maud spoke, still sounding slightly confused.
“It just sort of happened,” Cam replied. He still held Aquila’s hand in his. It was warm and soft, making his heart pick up its pace.
“I don’t know what to say,” Maud finally said.
“Ma’am I’m determined to marry your daughter.” Cam kissed the hand he held. “She’s smart, sensible, and beautiful and I care for her in a way I never expected.” Even as the words tumbled off his tongue he felt the truth of them settle into his heart. She truly was a special young woman.
A slight gasp escaped Quil’s lips at Cam’s words. She didn’t know if she should be grateful or suspicious.
“Is this true?” Maud’s eyes fell on Quil.
“I didn’t mean it to happen this way,” Quil answered honestly, “but it seems to be an answer to our prayers.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Maud admitted, sitting heavily.
“Please Mama, just give us your blessing,” Quil’s voice broke, her nerves quickly giving way.
Cam squeezed her hand and pushed himself to his feet. He could feel the slight tremble rolling through Aquila. Softly he pulled her to his side, wrapping her tightly in his arm.
