by Danni Roan
“It’s only French toast, mother,” the youngest Adams chided, “and there’s plenty of bacon to go with it.”
“Milk or coffee?” Priscila asked, walking to the stove as she yawned. “Someday I’m going to get married and be allowed to sleep in,” she added with a grumble.
“Coffee, please,” Cam replied, smiling. He’d grown rather fond of each of the Adams girls. The Rocking A was starting to feel more and more like a home every day. At least his heart thought so each time he looked at Quil.
“What are you working on today?” Maud asked.
“The fellas and I will be getting organized for the round-up. We’ll have to start separating out Mr. Brody’s stock from ours at the same time, so the two groups’ll work together.
“Good, good,” Maud said, a smile gracing her face. It was nice to see the worry lines easing from around her eyes.
“Where’s Herman now?” Sara asked, carrying a large stack of crisp, fried bread to the table.
“We’ll bring him in from Mr. Applesberry’s this week and turn him back in with the cows.”
“Is Quil going on the drive with you?” Prissy asked, a huge platter of bacon clutched in both hands as she turned to peer at him.
“We haven’t talked about it,” Cam admitted, placing some of the French toast on his plate. “If she wants to, that’s up to her.”
“If she wants to what?” Quil entered the kitchen, fastening the last button on her dress.
“Do you want to go on the drive to the stockyards with Cameron?” Prissy spoke up.
“Oh,” Quil stifled a yawn, “I don’t know. We’ll have to see. What’s for breakfast, I’m starved.” She pulled out a chair and plunked down on it in a very unladylike fashion.
Cam loaded up her plate with toast and bacon.
“I’ll take this down to the bunk house.” Priscilla smiled, indicating the platter of bacon. “Sara, you bring the bread.”
“French toast,” Sara growled, transferring the final piece from the skillet to a tray and following her sister.
“How are you feeling?” Maud asked, looking at Quil.
“I’m fine Mama, a little tired is all.” She noted her mother’s slight smile and only managed to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
The subtle looks and quick grins from her whole family were driving her crazy.
“I think I will go on the drive,” she said, reaching for the sorghum and pouring it onto her eggy toast. “A change of scenery will do me good.”
Chapter 13
The next two weeks were a whirlwind of activity at the Rocking A. Quil, as often as not, accompanied Cam on the range, recording the number of claves and cows, the marketable steers, and the culls that would have to be sold for what they could get.
They had some younger stock they would sell, making slightly less profit due to poundage, but nonetheless helping to get the ranch back in the black.
The open air and bright sunlight seemed to do Quil a world of good, brightening her cheeks and dappling her nose with faint freckles.
Cam looked up from where he’d wrestled a stubborn calf to the ground, while Rock pressed a red-hot iron to its hip. He grinned at Quil where she sat atop Snap, making notes in her little book.
The calf let out a plaintive bawl, twisted and jumped to its feet, kicking out with a back hoof at the last-minute and connecting with Cam’s shin, making him grab his boot and hop around on one foot.
The soft titter of Aquila’s laugh almost made it worth the pain as she smiled down at him.
“Why don’t you go for a ride with the missus?” Rock’s gruff voice drawled. “Me an’ Bill can finish up here.”
“I don’t mind if I do,” Cameron agreed with a grin, as he turned and hobbled to where Sugar stood at the end of a now loose rope.
“I brought you and the men lunch,” Quil said as Cam rode up to her. He could see two heavy paniers on the back of her saddle.
“We’ll drop these off with the others and then go on a picnic,” Cam said, his soft baritone vibrating in her ear. “The boys seem to think we should spend more time together or something,” he added with a grin.
“Why?” Quil, blinked, that all too familiar crease forming in her brow, “do they think something’s wrong?”
“No, only being generous I think,” Cameron smiled again, trying to reassure her.
Soon they were riding toward the mountains, the wide blue expanse of the Rockies towering over them.
“There’s a nice little brook over that ridge,” Quil said. “Pa used to take us there sometimes when we were small.”
Fifteen minutes later they had spread a small feast of sandwiches, roasted potatoes, and cookies in the grass and were enjoying a meal in the warm summer sun.
“It’s mighty pretty here,” Cam commented, biting into his sandwich. He certainly ate well on the Rocking A.
“My sisters and I always loved coming here and wading in the cool water on a hot day. It feels so nice on your feet.”
Cam leaned back on his elbow, watching her. Her eyes sparkled like the water in the brook, and a softness seemed to ease the worry lines in her face.
“You should do that,” he commented, taking another bite of his sandwich.
“I’d have to take my shoes and stockings off,” Quil stated with a blush.
“You do that every night when I’m around,” Cam replied. “I promise I won’t look.” He could see she was tempted. “Cross my heart,” he jibed.
With a giggle, Quil began unlacing her scuffed boots. “Close your eyes now,” she chirped.
Cam closed his eyes but the soft rustling sounds of her petticoat and the silken sigh of her stockings were worse than anything he might have seen. He cracked an eyelid to see her scurrying to the stream, her skirts hiked over her bare knees.
Cam’s heart thudded against this ribcage picking up a fearsome beat, making it almost impossible for him to swallow.
Rummaging around in the bags for a cup and something to drink, he found what looked like lemonade and took a big swig. Quickly he retrieved some cookies and a second mug, filling it with lemonade as well, and headed to the brook.
“I thought you might be thirsty,” he offered, walking up next to Quil, the excuse sounding lame even to him.
“Thank you.” Quil’s sun browned face pinked.
“How’s the water?”
“Find out for yourself.”
Stripping off boots and socks, Cam put his feet in the bubbling brook and hissed. “It’s freezing.”
“That’s why it’s so nice,” Quil laughed.
“I like it when you laugh.” The words were out of his mouth before he had a thought to recall them.
“Mama always says I’m too serious. I’m not really, well I don’t think so. It’s just that there is so much to think about.”
“Like what?” he splashed his freezing feet in the water, getting his denims wet.
“Life, I guess.” Quil’s eyes took on a faraway look. “There’s so much to learn in this beautiful world. So many books that only hint at what the world is like.”
“Do you want to travel?” She always seemed such a home body.
“No, but I want to understand.”
She turned to him, her deep green eyes aglow with curiosity and knowing.
Cameron Royal completely lost himself in the depths of those eyes. He leaned closer, his hazel gaze mesmerized. Then his lips found hers. She tasted of ginger, like the cookies, and lemonade, and everything good.
A tiny voice in his head told him to stop, but instead he pulled her closer, his lips exploring hers and she sighed deep in her chest, making a shiver run through him that had nothing to do with the icy brook.
Time seemed to stand still, and only the babble of the brook and the warmth of the woman in his arms existed. Slowly he pulled away, his muddled brain trying to connect with the rest of the world.
Quil sat before him, her eyes closed, her lips damp and slightly parted. A moment later her eye
s fluttered open. “I think we’d better head back now.” Her words were a breathy whisper.
Pulling his nearly frozen feet from the stream, Cameron stood, offering his hand to the young woman he’d just kissed. She swayed slightly as she rose, and he supported her with one arm going around her waist.
He shouldn’t have done it, he shouldn’t have given in to the desire to kiss her, but he didn’t regret it for a minute and with the slightest provocation, he would do it again.
***
Quil was flustered, there was no other word for it. Why on earth Cameron had kissed her like that was beyond her. She clunked the large iron skillet onto the stove, the harsh vibration running up her arm.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t liked the kiss. As a matter of fact, she liked it too well, but it wasn’t part of their agreement.
She scowled, setting a heavy crockery bowl down on the work surface with a thump and prying the tight lid off the tin of flour.
If she didn’t get herself under control soon, the biscuits would be so tough you’d need a chisel to split them.
Pulling herself together with great effort, she continued her dinner preparations. She’d fairly run away from the man when they got back to the herd. What if he told the other men? She froze, the buttermilk dripping out of its pitcher onto the counter top.
“Land sakes!” Maud Adams’ voice snapped her out of her distraction. “What on earth has gotten into you, Aquila?” her mother chided as she grabbed a rag and started dabbing at the mess.
Quil blinked at her mother, her mind running in circles. It all wouldn’t be so terrible if only Cameron could possibly learn to care for her as she was starting to care for him.
“I’m sorry, mother,” she said, bright tears threatening in her eyes. “I’ll clean it up.”
“No,” her mother’s voice was surprisingly gentle, “you go have a rest, I’ll finish up supper.”
For a full thirty seconds Quil blinked at her.
“Go lay down.” Her mother spoke as if to a small, overly tired child.
Obediently, she took off her apron and headed to her room. How had she gone and fallen in love with Cameron Royal? It was a complete catastrophe.
Cameron’s cheerful whistle preceded him into the tidy home he shared with the four Adams women.
“Mrs. Adams,” he greeted, tossing his hat on the hat rack as he passed. “Where’s Quil?” He gazed around the kitchen as if looking for her.
“She’s having a rest.” Maud replied.
“Is she ill?” Cam’s voice was tense.
“You tell me?” Maud Adams pierced her son-in-law with a hard glare as if he should know.
Turning, Cameron headed to the room he shared with the girl he called wife.
“Quil? Are you alright?” he asked, sliding on to the bed beside her and brushing her hair from her brow.
“Hm?” she asked, not lifting her head.
Resting his roughened hand on her forehead, he felt no trace of fever. “You’re Ma said you weren’t feeling well.”
“I think I’m overly tired,” Aquila said, turning away from him.
“Did something happen?” Cam persisted. “Is something wrong I need to know about?”
No nothing, Quil thought silently, nothing except that I’m a stupid, silly woman who’s fallen in love with the man she married as a farce.
“Talk to me darlin’.”His voice was a soothing balm.
“I must be overexcited is all,” Quil offered lamely. “I mean with the round-up and the drive and everything.”
“What can I do to help?” His hand came to rest on her back and began making slow circles up and down her spine, causing her to shiver. “Are you cold?”
Quil was anything but cold as his hands seemed to ignite new flames with each pass across her back. She felt like she was drowning in rich, warm molasses. “No,” she squeaked.
Something hot and visceral was rising in Cameron’s chest, an anger, a despair that threatened to undo him. Something was wrong and Quil wouldn’t tell him. Something needed to be fixed, but he didn’t know how because he didn’t know what it was.
How did you fix something that you didn’t understand? Frustration made him sigh.
“You don’t have to stay,” Quil said sniffing. “I’ll rest a bit, then come out for supper.”
“Are you sure?” His hand stopped its restless movement on her back.
“Yes.” The word came out sounding wrong because she wanted so badly to say no.
Reluctantly Cam stood, fighting the urge to drag her to him and kiss her worries away. Instead he pulled a quilt over her. “I hope you feel better,” he said, then turned and walked out the door.
If there had been a fire in the room, Quil would have sworn a cold breeze had snuffed it out in one blow when Cam left the room.
She buried her face in her pillow and cried.
***
“Are you all ready for the drive?” Sara asked, snuggling into Rafe’s warm chest. She’d been waiting to see him all week and with the day of the drive quickly approaching, had feared she wouldn’t see him before he left.
“Yes, I even talked Pa into letting us trail along with your crew and the Brody’s for safety.”
“How did you manage that?” Sara asked incredulously.
“It wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you that.” He cuddled her close. “I sure am going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too, but it’s not as if you’re being banished forever,” she smiled against him.
Rafe reluctantly pushed her away. “I have something for you, well, to see anyway,” he said, rummaging in his back pocket.
“What is it?” Sara asked excitedly.
“It’s a wedding invitation,” Rafe said, handing the yellowed piece of velum to Sara. “See, it’s been torn apart so whatever happened between my father and your folks happened before that.”
Sara puckered her brow in concentration as she stared at the form covered in beautiful script and bearing the names of her parents. “But what does it mean.”
Rafe shrugged. “I don’t know; I’m starting to think we’ll never know.”
“Rafe, don’t say that,” Sara chided, her soft green eyes pleading as she spun to look up at him, “we can’t give up. We will figure it out and then we can be married.”
The young man before her smiled wolfishly. “It can’t happen soon enough darlin’.” His dark eyes were full of love, hope and desire. “I’m tired of not being with you all the time. Not coming home to you, or holding you at night.”
Sara blushed, but she felt the same way. Surely there was a way to overcome the obstacle of their parents.
“How are things on the ranch?” Rafe asked, changing the subject before he did something they’d both regret.
“Better, I think. Quil seems happier and not quite so worried all the time. Cameron must really care for her; he’s working so hard. Oh, and Cameron sold two veal to the Grist Mill which seemed to make everyone really happy. Quil said we have enough to pay the hands and get supplies for the drive.”
Rafe nodded, “I’ve heard of people doing that for extra money. One of the old farmers on the far side of town raised one every year to pay his taxes, but I think he’s gone now.”
“I’m just glad we can do a bit of shopping again. Prissy was moaning that we were nearly out of sugar.”
Rafe laughed, kissing her quickly on the lips.
“Come on and ride with me a bit,” he suggested, his eyes falling on her pony grazing near Chester. “You finally have Spice back, and you should enjoy it.”
Sara smiled brightly. “Alright, I’ll race you to the meadow behind your place.” In an instant, she was mounted and charging through the trees.
Rafe laughed, throwing himself into the saddle and slapping heels to Chester giving chase.
Chapter 14
Being out on the trail was freeing, and suddenly Aquila understood why her youngest sister was always gallivanting about outdoors.
The herd moved at a slow, steady pace, kicking up dust and making a terrible racket, but being out on Snap in the warm air felt good.
It was a much bigger herd than was expected as their near neighbors, the Brodys, had joined forces with them. Between the crew of the Rocking A and Mr. Brody and his boys, they had no trouble keeping tabs on the beef as they moved it toward market.
Biders Clump had a small train depot being so close to the overland pass, but nothing that could accommodate shipping cattle East, so each year the herds were moved to another station some sixty miles away.
There had been an unfortunate incident in town when she and her family had gone to purchase supplies for the chuck wagon. Quil shook herself trying to leave the scene behind, but everything else had come together well.
“You thinking about what happened in town?” a rugged male voice called at her ear.
Quil turned to see Rafe Dixon ride up alongside her, his eyes downcast. His crew as a last-minute addition had been a surprise.
“I’m afraid so.”
“I’m downright tired of apologizing for my pa’s behavior.” Rafe said, his soft dark eyes full of frustration.
“It’s not your fault,” Quil offered kindly.
“If only we knew what his beef with your ma was in the first place.” He shook his head, but looked at her hopefully.
“As far as I know, they’ve been at odds for as long as most folks can remember.”
“I think my men know, or a few at least, but they don’t say anything.” Anger flashed across his strong features, surprising Quil.
“I’m glad you still managed to convince your father to join the drive, it’s better to stick together this way.”
Rafe smiled, agreeing, tipped his hat and spurred his horse back into the fray.
For a moment Quil let her mind drift back to the morning, before the big herd was pushed onto the trail.
***
“Mama are you sure we need all of this?” Quil asked as they collected supplies in the general store. Sacks of flour, rashers of bacon, and a hill of beans were piled on the counter.
