Prudence heard moans of disbelief coming from the ranch hands. Once at the table, Largo was given a place next to Cal. Prudence saw Cal's brows furrow into deep ridges as he slid along the bench to make some space for the visitor.
For the next hour, the conversation was cheerful and polite. Largo behaved like the perfect gentleman. Every comment seemed to be designed to gain the approval of those around him. Prudence could tell Largo was a man accustomed to social situation where he was required to make a favorable impression. She could imagine him in a polite society salon, winning over the influential and the wealthy.
The only problem with the performance was that Prudence didn't believe it for one moment. She knew when she was witnessing an act, and she was looking at one right now, she told herself.
Cal looked unconvinced. Grace appeared resentful. And every one of the ranch hands seemed to be doing their best to ignore Largo. The man's arrival had changed how everyone felt.
Hope seemed quite tolerant of Largo. Maybe she realized that if Largo had been sent away with his tail between his legs the entire day might have been spoiled. Maybe she'd been right. It was time to start practicing forgiveness. Even with Largo.
Back in the house later, with all the other guests still outside, Prudence and Grace presented Hope with their own gifts. After what had happened outside, it seemed appropriate that they do that away from prying eyes. Prudence had bought Hope the dress she'd seen in town. Grace had bought Hope a beautiful new pair of riding boots.
Glancing out the parlor window, Prudence could see that some of the ranch hands were dancing to the music of a fiddle player. Cal was standing over by the corral talking with a ranch hand. Largo and his two men were seated at the long table, completely ignored by the ranch hands.
"Are you sure you didn't mind Largo barging in like this?" Prudence asked Hope.
"I was happy to allow him to stay," Hope replied as she admired her new gifts.
Grace scoffed. "I still think it was rude of him to invite himself like that."
"Maybe we'll have to start getting along with our neighbors," Hope suggested. "And not just Largo. There are other ranches in these parts. We can't be at war with everyone."
"Who says we're at war with anyone?" Grace asked.
Hope laughed quietly. "I don't about you, but I'm planning on staying here for good."
Prudence and Grace exchanged astonished looks. "We're all going to stay here for good, aren't we?" Prudence exclaimed.
"Of course we are," Grace added. She looked at Hope. "Whatever gave you the idea that our stay here was only going to be temporary?"
Hope frowned. "It's just that we've had so much trouble since we got here. I thought both of you might think about going back to Kansas City."
"And sell this place?" Grace snapped. She shook her head. "I'm not planning on letting someone like Largo chase me off. Silas gave us all equal shares in this place. And I, for one, am not going to give it up."
Hope smiled at Prudence. "And you, Prudence? Do you feel the same?"
"Of course I do," Prudence stated. She smiled at Grace and then at Hope. "You two mean the world to me. I wouldn't abandon either of you."
All three women shared a group hug. Prudence felt the momentary doubts fade away. It had been good to tell one another that they were both determined to make their new life at the Circle T.
Prudence went to the window and glanced out to the yard. The fiddle music had stopped and ranch hands were talking amongst themselves. She was about to suggest she, Grace and Hope rejoin their guests, when she saw Largo striding across the yard. He was headed for the house.
Largo's movement hadn't gone unnoticed. Over at the corral, Cal was staring at Largo. Cal frowned and then he quickly started to make his way to the house, too.
Prudence felt something heavy in her middle. She hadn't liked the look on Cal's face. The last thing she wanted was trouble between the foreman and the visitor. She started to make her way toward the front door. Opening it, she stepped out, expecting to see Largo on the porch. But there was no sign of him.
She saw Cal heading toward the far corner of the house. Prudence tried to catch Cal's attention, but he ignored her and strode toward the corner of the house. She wondered where Largo had gone. Cal must have seen Largo and was following him. She wanted to call out to Cal, but hesitated.
There was only one place Largo could be going. Moving back inside, Prudence went to the parlor and headed for the back doors. Gazing out, she couldn't see Cal nor Largo.
"What is it?" she heard Hope ask from behind her.
Turning, Prudence smiled. "Nothing. Why don't we go outside and join in the dancing?" she suggested.
Then she, Grace and Hope started to make their way out to the yard.
CHAPTER TWENTY
"What are you up to, Largo?" Cal demanded as he caught up with the man.
Largo halted at the rear corner of the house and turned to face Cal. "Are you following me?" he asked sharply.
"You haven't answered my question," Cal said. "Where are you going?"
Largo gestured casually with a hand. "I heard one of your ranch hands talking about your beautiful garden."
Cal lifted a brow. "You asking me to believe you've suddenly taken an interest in gardens?"
"I like beautiful things," Largo sneered. "And beautiful women, too."
Cal felt indignation sweep through him. He took a step closer to Largo. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"The three new owners of the Circle T are each exquisitely lovely in their own unique way," Largo said. "Don't you agree?"
"Watch your tongue when you're speaking about those ladies," Cal said.
"They are fine ladies, indeed," Largo said softly. "Of that there is no doubt."
Cal curled his fists into a tight ball. "I don't know what you're up to, Largo. Or even why you decided to force your way into this private celebration. But I'm sure there's a reason for it. And I aim to find out."
"Is that some kind of a threat, Mr Logan?" Largo asked sharply.
"You can take it any way you like," Cal said. "I have plenty of jobs to do around here. And one of them is keeping no-goods like you off our property."
Largo gave Cal a dark look. "I don't recall any of the real owners of this ranch ordering me off their property. In fact, Hope seemed quite happy to see me." Largo laughed quietly. "I have to say I find that most pleasing."
"Largo!" Cal snapped. "Be real careful. If you come anywhere near Hope, Grace or Prudence, you'll answer to me."
Largo advanced to toward Cal. "About Miss Prudence. You and she seemed to be getting along very well. I couldn't help noticing the way you and she look at one another."
Now the man was going too far, Cal told himself. He took a step toward Largo, intent on seizing the man's collar. He hesitated when he heard a voice from behind him.
"Cal?"
It was Prudence. Cal stepped away from Largo and turned to face Prudence. She strode toward them. Her brows rose with curiosity.
"I thought I heard you both talking," she said.
Halting, she glanced inquiringly from Cal to Largo.
"I was just saying to Mr Logan that I'd heard good things about your garden," Largo said. He gazed out across the garden at the rear of the house. "They were speaking the truth. It is delightful." He smiled at Prudence. "May I take a closer look?"
Prudence nodded. "Of course. Be my guest."
Cal saw Prudence frown at Cal as she followed Largo along the narrow pathway. Cal walked slowly behind Prudence. He wasn't going to leave her with Largo. Not after the way the man had spoken about her.
Cal thought about what Largo had said. His growing attraction to Prudence was becoming obvious to everyone. The truth was, every time he was near Prudence now, it was getting harder to disguise his affection for her.
Prudence and Largo halted at the gravel path and stood next the remains of an old tree which had been preserved near the doors to the parlor. When Silas had set out
the garden he had insisted that this dried-up live oak trunk be left in place. Cal had wanted to cut it down, just as all the other trees had been hacked down to make was for the building of the house. But Silas had taken a liking to the old tree. Maybe he had wanted to preserve something old. Something that represented the past.
The tree trunk was about twelve feet tall. All the branches had been cut off. All that remained of the tree was the trunk. Around its base was hard-packed earth.
Largo halted at the tree trunk and ran his gaze up and down its length. "I see Silas kept this tree." He turned to Cal. "Any particular reason?"
Cal shook his head abruptly. "Silas just liked it."
"It lends a certain grandeur to the garden," Largo said running his gaze along the gravel path and out across the tall grass toward the distant curve of the trees. Following Largo's gaze, Cal couldn't help recalling the kiss he and Prudence had shared over by those trees. He saw Prudence glance at him. Was she thinking about the kiss, too?
Prudence accompanied Largo along the gravel path. Every once in a while, he made some casual observation about some aspect of the garden. Cal kept close behind. He didn't trust Largo one bit. He couldn't shake off the idea that the man had come to the back of the house for a reason that had nothing to do with admiring the way Silas had laid out his garden.
Finally, Prudence and Largo made their way into the parlor by the back doors. Cal closed the door behind him and turned to hear Prudence saying quietly to Largo: "Are you sure you need to go now?"
"I am indebted to you for allowing me to enjoy your hospitality," Largo said. "But I do not wish to overstay my welcome. I will wish Miss Hope a good evening before I leave." Largo turned and peered at Cal. "It was a pleasure to talk with you Mr Logan. No doubt we shall talk again. Soon."
Cal was sure there was a hint of threat in Largo's voice. As she started to lead Largo out of the parlor, Prudence gave Cal a sharp look. He was sure she'd want to have words with him after Largo left. Cal decided to wait in the parlor.
Sure enough, a short while later, Prudence came into the parlor. "What was that all about?" she asked Cal.
"He was up to something, and I needed to know what," Cal explained.
"So you followed him."
Cal nodded. "I didn't like him wandering around the house without someone keeping an eye on him."
"And you took it upon yourself to do that?" she asked.
Cal moved closer to Prudence. "If you tell me you don't want my help, then I'll take a step back. After all, I'm just a foreman."
"That's not what I meant," Prudence said. "You know I appreciate you helping with other things around the ranch. Hope and Grace do, too. They told me so."
"That's because I've been showing them how to shoot," Cal said and lifted a brow.
"Its not just that," Prudence said. "We all agree we've got plenty to learn. And men like Largo don't make it any easier to run this place." Prudence's brows furrowed.
When she pouted her lips, Cal felt a familiar ache in his heart. Realizing this was the first time he'd really been alone with Prudence since the kiss, he decided to risk making a bold move.
Cal stepped forward and gently took Prudence's hands. She gasped and then gazed up into his eyes. Cal felt his chest tighten as she looked at him. Emotion shimmered in her eyes. He was pleased she didn't try to pull her hands away from him.
Cal desperately wanted to kiss Prudence, but he knew he couldn't. Not with all the guests out there in the yard. But it sure felt good to hold her hands. They were warm and her skin felt soft.
"Cal," Prudence said softly.
"Don't say anything," he told her. "I just want you to know that I can't stop thinking about you."
Prudence breathed out sharply and then lowered her head. He lifted his hand to her chin and rested his fingertips there. Raising her head, she gazed into his eyes. His heart skipped a beat when she smiled at him. "And I've been thinking about you, too." She glanced over his shoulder, toward the garden. "Especially about what happened out there by the trees.""
"Me too," Cal admitted. "Maybe we can talk sometime?" he suggested.
To his delight, she nodded. Suddenly, Cal heard the front door opening and footsteps in the hallway. He released Prudence's hands and took a quick step back. Running his hand through his hair he saw Hope enter the parlor. "There you are," Hope said to Prudence.
Hope glanced from Prudence to Cal and blushed. Maybe she realized she'd walked in on something.
Before she said anything, Prudence took Hope by the hand and then looked at Cal. "We've still got some dancing to do," Prudence said. She lifted a brow at Cal. "Isn't that right?"
Cal nodded. "It sure is."
And then he followed both women out to the yard to where the fiddle music was echoing in the evening air.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The sounds of voices awoke Prudence from her sleep. Sitting up in bed, she peered out the window. She could see the flickering of light in the darkness out there. Prudence heard shouts. The calls of men's voices. Something was happening and she needed to know what.
Sliding out of bed she quickly drew on her nightgown and slippers and went to the window. Peering down into the yard she saw two riders. They were talking to each other urgently. One of them was Cal. The other rider, who she recognized as Matt, one of the senior ranch hands, held a flaming torch. Worry twisted in Prudence's middle.
Prudence made her way quickly downstairs and out onto the porch. Over by the bunkhouse, there was a feverish, torchlit bustle of activity. Men were rushing out of the bunkhouse, hurriedly fixing their clothing as they gathered their horses, readying to mount. They were calling out instructions to one another. Prudence saw rifles being wielded.
Still mounted on his horse, Cal rode across to the porch. He peered at Prudence. She could see the worry in his eyes.
"What's going on?" Prudence asked.
"Night raiders again," Cal explained. "Over by the south-western boundary. Rustlers are trying to take our cattle. We've got the men cornered." Cal must have seen Prudence's eyes widen with alarm, because he added quickly. "There's been some shooting."
Prudence lifted a hand to her mouth. "No-one has been injured, have they?"
Cal sighed heavily. "I don't know. We'll see when we get back there. I came here to get some extra men."
Prudence glanced across at the bunkhouse. "Are all the men going?"
Cal nodded. "We need every man we can get. Hopefully, this won't last long."
Suddenly she was fearful, thinking Cal was going to put himself in harm's way. She reached up and rested a hand on the neck of his horse. "You will take care, won't you."
Cal grinned,. "Don't you worry about me." He glanced at the house. "Promise me you'll stay in there, while I'm gone." Prudence met his gaze. Thoughts of how she could help him drifted into her mind. As if he could read her mind, Cal frowned and then leaned down. "You have to promise me you won't do anything foolish. Don't get the idea that you're going to ride down to the boundary and help us deal with those rustlers."
There was an urgency in his voice. She could see that he had meant every word he'd just said. "I promise I'll stay here," she told him.
The tension in Cal's shoulders softened. "I won't be long."
Loud shouts came from the direction of the bunkhouse. Cal rode off. She watched him, trying not to think about what could happen to him. He was used to dealing with trouble, she told herself. He'd be alright. Even as she told herself that, she felt a terrible worry flicker into life.
Back upstairs, she met Grace and Hope in the corridor. Prudence explained the situation to them.
"Come to my room," Hope instructed them. Grace and Prudence followed Hope to her room which faced onto the back of the house. Here, the sounds were fainter. Prudence sat on the edge of Hope's bed. Eventually the sounds faded. The ranch hands, and Cal must have left the house and headed out for the boundary to deal with the rustlers.
She was sorry this was happeni
ng. Today had been almost perfect. The ideal birthday celebration. Apart from Largo's arrival, everything had gone without a hitch.
But now there was this.
"Who do you think the rustlers are?" Grace asked.
Hope shook her head. "Who knows?"
"Cal told me Silas was constantly fighting off thieves who wanted to steal the cattle," Prudence said.
"Do you think they'll catch them?" Hope asked.
"I hope so," Grace said. "We need to find out who's behind this. Although I think we can make an educated guess who it is."
"You don't mean Largo," Prudence said. "He seemed so pleasant today. In the garden, he was charming and gracious."
Grace scoffed. "He knows how to make an impression. Today was all an act. He was after something."
"He and Cal almost came to blows," Prudence said.
Grace and Hope gazed at Prudence seeking more. She told them about what she'd found when she'd followed Cal and Largo to the side of the house.
"Is it always going to be like this?" Grace asked. "Disagreements. Quarrels with neighbors. Suspicions."
"Maybe we just have to accept it as part of our life here on the ranch," Prudence suggested. She saw Hope's expression change. Sadness filled the eyes of her friend. "Hope. Don't be sad. You had a wonderful birthday, didn't you?"
Hope forced herself to smile. "Of course I did," she said. "Thanks to you and Grace, it was perfect. I couldn't have been happier."
All three women shared a hug. That had become a regular occurrence recently. They were all in this together. Prudence knew they'd need each others support if they were going to see this through.
Prudence stood and went to the window of Hope's room. Gazing down into the garden, she gasped.
"What?" Hope asked quickly.
"I saw a movement down there," Prudence said and stepped back from the window.
"Are you sure?" Grace asked.
Prudence nodded. "And it can't be any of our men. They've all gone to deal with the rustlers. Cal told me to stay inside the house."
"And let an intruder sneak around outside?" Hope asked sharply.
The Texas Cowboy’s Courtship (Testament Creek Book 1) Page 11
