"He is nice, isn't he," Hope said quietly.
"He's very handsome," Grace added.
Prudence shrugged. "I thought he was a little presumptuous."
Grace and Hope stared at Prudence, clearly surprised at her sudden assessment of the rancher.
Prudence's mouth turned down. "But I suppose he has a kind of rugged charm," she admitted.
Prudence watched Cal rise up onto his horse, grasp the reins tight in his gloved hands and ride across the yard. As he passed the house, he gave one final glance up at the three women watching him with obvious fascination. Looking down at him she was even more keenly aware of the width of his shoulders, and the muscled power of his body. His was a physique shaped by hard work. His skin was sun-kissed after years of being beneath Southern skies. As Cal rode away on the trail, Prudence felt her pulse quicken slightly. She'd only just arrived and she was already being entranced by a rancher.
She dragged in a deep breath. No good would come from encouraging the attentions of the handsome rancher. Now that she and her two companions were co-owners of the ranch, it would be best to maintain a degree of civility with all of the employees.
All three women watched as Cal rode over the crest of a nearby ridge. Then all was silent. The only sound was the whispering of the cool breeze in the nearby oak trees.
Finally Grace broke the silence. "Can I just say how happy I am to be here with the two of you?"
Prudence turned to Grace. "And I am, too."
"Me, too," Hope said. "I can't imagine what this would have been like without you both being here. I would never have come here."
"Maybe Silas knew that when he wrote his will," Prudence suggested. "Perhaps he knew we would take up this challenge if we were all in it together."
Grace nodded. "It is the kind of thing he would have done. He always seemed to thinking of other people. He would often talk about other people's needs when he was arranging his finances. He thought money made folks lose sight of what was important in life."
"And when I was nursing him back to health, he always said people didn't value what they had when they were truly fit and healthy," Hope offered.
"One thing is for sure," Prudence said. "We have to be really grateful to Silas for giving us this opportunity. I was looking at being a schoolteacher for the rest of my life." Prudence saw Grace and Hope look inquiringly at her. "Don't misunderstand me. I love teaching. Especially children. But, I always felt I could make better use of my teaching skills. Maybe here in Texas I can get a chance to do that."
Hope nodded. "Perhaps Testament Creek needs some extra nursing advice."
Grace frowned. "I think running a ranch is going to keep us all busy for a while. Unless Lyle is looking for a legal clerk, I don't there'll be much call for my skills out here."
All three women laughed. "There's a lot we have to learn," Prudence suggested. She tugged on the sleeves of her gown, rolling them up a little. "Maybe its time we got to know this place." She lifted a brow. "After all, we do own it now."
"Lucia asked us to come down to the kitchen after we unpacked," Grace told them. "I guess we better go downstairs."
Prudence inhaled the aroma of home cooking drifting on the wind. It smelled delicious. Lucia must have been busy. Prudence heard her stomach rumble. It had been a while since they'd eaten.
When Grace and Hope heard Prudence's stomach, they both smiled. Hope hooked one arm inside Prudence's left, while Grace did the same with her right arm. Joined together now, all three women smiled at each other.
"Let's go," Prudence declared. And then they made their way back into their new home.
CHAPTER FIVE
Cal was digging some holes for fence posts when he got a message from a ranch hand who'd been back to the big house. It seemed he was wanted back at the ranch house. Finishing up his work, Cal reflected that the request for him to go to the house sounded almost like an order.
Curious to know why he'd been called there, he rode back to the house. When he arrived he found Prudence, Hope and Grace sitting on the long bench of the porch. Dismounting, Cal felt like he was being watched by the three women. He'd seen the way they'd looked down at him from the balcony earlier when he'd ridden past the house. He was still an object of curiosity to them, he told himself as he made his way toward the porch. He figured he'd just have to be patient. Once they'd had a taste of ranch work, they'd stop regarding him as some kind of cowboy novelty.
"What can I do for you, ladies?" he asked.
He saw Prudence's brows furrow. Maybe he'd have to stop referring to them as "ladies". Seemed like they were touchy about that.
"We were wondering if you could give us a tour of the ranch," Grace said.
"A tour?" Cal asked lifting a brow.
Hope stood. "We were talking over lunch and we decided we'd like to see the spread." She smiled at the use of that last word, as if it was a whole new way of talking. Cal knew there'd be plenty for them all to get used to over the coming weeks and months.
Cal tipped his hat back a little. "I can't show you the entire spread." He saw their expressions change to disappointment. "For one thing, I don't believe any of you know how to ride a horse."
"I do," Hope declared, with pride in her voice. "We did some riding when I was growing up on my parents farm."
"And I learned some riding," Grace added quickly. She stood and glanced at Hope. "Although I only did some Sunday riding in the park." She smiled at Cal. "Not the kind of horse riding you're used to. More polite, I guess."
Cal looked at Prudence. "And you, Prudence?"
Prudence drew in a deep breath and took her place next to her two companions. "I've never been on a horse."
"Really," Cal said in an even voice. "Never?"
Prudence squinted at him as if he'd just insulted her. "I'm willing to learn. And I'm going to have to, if we're taking over this place." There was a sudden firmness in her voice.
Cal wondered if he should remind her that he was the foreman of the ranch. However, seeing the sudden fire in Prudence's eyes made him reconsider that notion almost immediately.
"I'll have to get someone to give you lessons," Cal said.
Prudence strode up to Cal and looked up at him. "Maybe you can teach me."
Cal was sure his mouth had dropped open. "Me?" He saw Hope and Grace exchange surprised looks.
Prudence nodded. "If you have the time, of course. I know you're busy running the ranch. But I'd appreciate it if you could give me some lessons."
Cal sighed. Thinking about the other ranch hands, he realized there wasn't anyone else he'd trust to teach Prudence how to ride. In any case, he was starting to become intrigued by the beautiful newcomer. Spending some time over the next few weeks, showing her how to ride, wouldn't be the worst thing he could imagine.
"Okay," he agreed. "But, we'll have to take it slow. I might have to go into Testament Creek and buy some new horses for each of you," he said looking at Hope and Grace. "Some of our stock can be a bit feisty."
"We don't need tame horses," Prudence said abruptly.
Cal almost laughed when she said that. "Since you're all new here, I'd feel more comfortable if I picked out the horses for you. That way I'll know none of you will be riding some bronco that'll throw you." He grinned. "Texas ground can be hard," he joked.
He was met with the steady, unsmiling looks from the three women.
Only Prudence nodded slowly, and looked like she understood Cal's caution. He was thinking of their safety and nothing else.
"In the meantime, you can all use one of the buckboards," Cal said. "That'll be safer and easier. Until you're all ready to ride on your own. There're some trails around the spread, and the buckboard will do just fine, for now." He grinned. "No sense in hurrying things. After all, you told me you're all here for the long haul."
All three women nodded in unison. He saw the steady determination in their eyes. They'd made their minds up, and they weren't going anywhere soon.
They
all looked at him expectantly. "I'll go get the buckboard. Then I can show you around the spread."
He got the two horses tied to the buckboard and soon they were driving down the main trail. For the next two hours, Cal navigated some of the lesser trails around the spread, showing the new owners what they'd inherited. He took them across the plains, through the valleys and forests, and alongside the river which cut through the land of the Circle T. He saw appreciation and surprise in equal measure on the faces of the women as they took in the full extent of what they'd taken on.
Cal explained to them how important was the river, since it was the main water supply for the spread and ensured good grazing and water for the herd. As they'd set out from the ranch house, Cal had made the decision to keep the best to the last. He'd show them the herd at the end of the tour.
He wanted Hope, Grace and Prudence to see the thousands of acres first. To take in the sheer scale of what Silas had bought. This wasn't about just admiring the beauty of this Texas Hill Country land. This was about helping the three newcomers to understand what they were responsible for. Cal knew he'd always be an employee. But Hope, Grace and Prudence were owners. They'd always see things differently from him.
Judging by their silence throughout most of the tour, Cal figured he'd made his point. The women seemed stunned by what they were seeing. It was one thing to see a description of a ranch on a piece of paper. It was a whole other thing to experience it face to face.
Finally, they reached the herd. At first, they didn't see it. They heard the low moaning as Cal sped the buckboard toward a ridge. He saw the women glance at each other as they listened to the distant sound of the herd.
Then the buckboard reached the crest of the ridge. Cal drew the buckboard to a sliding halt. He heard the women gasp as they looked down into the valley with the river snaking through it.
Cal gazed at the approximately one thousand head of cattle and felt a familiar sense of pride well up inside him. The cattle were huddled by the side of the river. Some of them were drinking and some were grazing. The herd was a huge unmoving mass. Even from up here, on the ridge, Cal could almost feel the contained power of the herd. It looked awe-inspiring, and he knew how dangerous it could be. How it would only take a moment for that deceptive tranquility to change into lethal unstoppable force. But for now, his ranch hands were doing a fine job. "There you are," he announced. "Ain't that the finest thing you've ever seen."
The women sat in stunned silence for a long moment. The only sound was the steady lowing moan from the herd and the occasional yell from the six riders moving slowly around them.
"I've never seen anything like it," Prudence admitted. Cal heard awe in her voice.
"There're so many of them," Grace said breathlessly.
"How can so few men control so many cattle?" Hope asked.
Cal grinned. "They can do it because every one of them is a good man. Expert at what they do. I made sure I picked only the finest ranch hands. Silas paid them top rate, but that wasn't the only thing on my mind when I hired them. I wanted the best men. And I got them. Some of these men worked with me on other ranches before."
Cal saw Prudence glance at him with curiosity in her eyes. It was the first time he'd spoken about his past life.
"They've been here from the start?" Prudence asked.
Cal nodded. "Every one of them. We couldn't run this place without them."
The women gazed down into the valley and were quiet again for a few moments. He knew they were beginning to realize what they'd taken on. Seeing the herd had driven home the truth.
"You want to take a closer look?" he asked. "Maybe I can tell you a few things about how to look after a herd.
They all nodded. He could see they were wide-eyed with sudden uncertainty. Were they wondering just how much detail he was going to give them? He decided he'd go easy on them. After all, it was their first day on the ranch. They had plenty of time to learn.
"Then let's go," Cal said, his voice full of enthusiasm. He flicked the reins and drove the buckboard down the hill and toward the herd.
CHAPTER SIX
For Prudence, the first month on the ranch passed quickly. There had been so much to discover about her new life, she'd barely had time to take it all in. Hope and Grace had confided in Prudence that they'd also found it all quite overwhelming. Thankfully, when it came to the running of the Circle T household, Lucia had been a great source of help and guidance. The Mexican woman had a kindly and patient nature. Her husband, Pedro, was similarly helpful. The three women had struck up an instant friendship with their resident family.
There had been a hundred and one details to learn about the ordinary life of the ranch. All the basics of life had to be learned all over again. How to fetch water; how to use all the facilities of the ranch house kitchen; how to attend to matters of personal hygiene. It seemed that every aspect of their lives would have to learned anew.
There were few of the domestic comforts of the city. And, in a way, as the weeks passed, Prudence found herself enjoying the simplicity of ranch life more and more.
When she, Hope and Grace had traveled south to Texas, Prudence had been filled with doubts. She'd worried she wouldn't like Texas. That she'd find the place harsh and inhospitable. But the the truth had turned out to bet the opposite. Texas, at least this part of it, the Hill Country, was wonderful. Prudence was beginning to savor the glorious beauty of the landscape. Being summer, every morning she awoke to bright sunshine. And she loved it. It filled her heart with a simple delight.
Of course, the heat of the Texas sun had taken some getting used to. Prudence still wondered if she ever would accustom herself to the fiery temperatures of the afternoon. It would be just one more thing she'd have to get used to, she told herself.
And then there had been Cal Logan.
The ranch foreman had made a powerful impact on Prudence. And even that was an understatement. She'd spent a lot of time with Cal during the first few weeks. He usually came to the ranch house at the end of the day to share dinner with herself, Hope and Grace. It was during those meals that Cal had shared with them the details of his day's work. Prudence had learned about the daily routine of ranch life; she'd learned about the kinds of problems which had to be dealt with; she'd listened, fascinated as Cal had described a whole new kind of life. A life about which Prudence quickly realized she knew almost nothing.
Cal had kept his word about teaching Prudence and the others how to ride a horse. The day after he'd shown them the herd he'd gone into Testament Creek and returned with three horses tethered to his own. Cal had spent time at the livery, examining the three horses and had chosen the ones he believed would be right for his three new employers.
Prudence's horse was a beautiful pinto. The moment she'd seen the horse in the corral, Prudence had fallen in love with the animal. It was just about the most beautiful horse she'd ever seen, she'd told herself as she'd stroke the horse's head and met the pinto's cautious gaze. She gave the horse a name. Lucky.
Cal had chosen a dappled horse for Grace and a beautiful brown one for Hope. Since that day, Cal had spent at least an hour each day with the three women, teaching them the rudiments of horse riding.
At first, Cal had struggled to contain his impatience. It quickly became apparent that, even though Hope and Grace knew something about riding, they both still had plenty to learn if Cal was going to be satisfied he could let them roam free across the ranch. Cal had been firm about that. He'd gotten them all to promise him they wouldn't go riding solo until he was satisfied it would be safe for them.
All of this had meant Prudence and Cal had been spending a whole lot of time together. On their first meeting, Prudence reckoned she'd misjudged the handsome rancher. On that first encounter, she'd sensed a wariness in him. And, more than once, his doubts about whether she, Grace and Hope would be able to run the Circle T had irritated her.
But now, after these few weeks, she sensed something different about the tall, wide
-shouldered, impossibly handsome and highly capable Texas cowboy. Now that he'd seen how serious she and her friends were taking their responsibilities, Cal had warmed to them all. It seemed like every day his respect for them had grown. Bit by bit, Cal was starting to get used to the fact that she, Grace and Hope were going to be on the Circle T for good.
One morning, around eleven o'clock, Cal returned from his work out on the spread. It was Prudence's turn for a lesson on her pinto. She stood by the corral and watched him ride into the yard. When he dismounted and strode casually over toward the corral, he grinned at Prudence. He looked delighted to see her. But then, for the last few days, he'd been looking at her just like that. And, every time, it had had the same effect on Prudence. She'd felt her cheeks flush warm and her heart beat faster.
"Morning," Cal said brightly.
Up close, she saw his jeans were covered in dust. Noticing the way she was looking at him, Cal glanced down and slapped his hand against the leg of his jeans sending a cloud of dust into the air around him.
"I've been busy," he explained and smiled.
"I can see that," Prudence said.
Cal glanced at the house. "Aren't Grace and Hope coming?"
Prudence shook her head. "They're helping Lucia prepare lunch."
Prudence knew Grace and Hope might be watching her and Cal from through the kitchen window.
"I'm feeling hungry already," Cal said.
Prudence opened the corral gate. "Maybe we should get started."
He hesitated. "I was thinking we could take a ride together," he stated.
Prudence felt her mouth drop open. She was sure she looked surprised. "Really?"
Cal nodded and then glanced up at the blue sky. "It's a beautiful day." He looked at the pinto standing ready and saddled. "And I think you and Lucky there might like to go out. Not too far, you understand. Just a confidence builder, if you like."
The Texas Cowboy’s Courtship (Testament Creek Book 1) Page 3
