by Danni Roan
“Isn’t that something,” Aida said again drawing Prim’s attention to the four large beams that were being dropped into place among the stone and rubble foundation, by four large groups of men. “Did you ever see such a thing?”
Prim watched as four teams of men used pulleys and block and tackle to lift the huge beams into place then began hoisting the cross beams into place to bind them together.
“Is it safe?” Prim asked as the last pillar slipped home and another group lead a team of heavy horses forward drawing on the rope that raised the cross beam higher and higher into the air.
“Safe as it can be,” Aida said. “Most of these men have done this before and before long they’ll be doing it again.”
Prim watched Mr. Bowlings guiding a beam along with some of his wranglers by pulling it with on a guideline.
Prim held her breath as fear clenched her stomach and she suddenly realized that Mr. Bowlings was important to her. His kindness on the day she had arrived in Needful had left an impression on her heart that she hadn’t been aware of until this moment.
Please Lord, she whispered in her heart, Keep Mr. Bowlings and the others safe today.
Anderson looked down catching a glimpse of Miss Perkins whose creamy complexion looked waxy and pale. For one second his distraction caused him to slacken his grip on the rope and the heavy beam above pivoted, one corner dropping toward him as the other men left out a collective cry.
Anderson latched back onto the rope leaning his weight into it and righting the beam before it could slip further.
“Pay attention Anderson,” Jacks barked. “I like my head still sitting on my shoulders.”
Anderson felt his face flush as he concentrated on the task at hand, but he still troubled over the look on the young woman’s face. Was Miss Perkins ill? Had something happened to upset her?
On the other side of the tables he saw Dan Gaines approach the young woman and he couldn’t hide the scowl that flitted across his face. Had the puncher changed his mind? Was he now ready to pursue Miss Perkins?
“Anderson if you ain’t gonna pay attention why don’t you go help Orville?” Jacks finally barked as the beam was hoisted into place and some of the younger men shimmied up the corner beam to pound the wooden stakes in place. “I don’t fancy anyone getting busted up for your inattention.”
“Sorry Jacks,” Anderson said ducking his head. None of the other men on the ranch would have dared speak to the boss that way, but Jacks had been Anderson’s mentor and guide for long enough that he didn’t even bother to argue. “I’ll head over that way now,” he agreed hurrying away from the main work and heading straight for Prim.
Chapter 17
“Miss Perkins,” Dan Gaines stepped up to the young woman who was busy at one of the big tables. Already the food spread out the make shift surface looked delectable.
“Good morning Mr. Gaines,” Prim said politely turning her back on the drama that was unfolding at the site.
“I hope you’ve settled in well to life in Needful,” Dan continued. “You’re happy with Olive and Orville?”
“I’m very happy with the Hamptons,” Prim agreed and the town seems a friendly sort of place, if perhaps a bit wild.”
Dan grinned understanding what she meant. “We’re working on that,” he agreed. “I did have one question for you though,” he spoke softly leaning forward a bit so only she could hear. “Why is it that you told Anderson you’d come here to marry me?”
Prim felt her cheeks flush at the man’s question but she met his eyes boldly. “I’m afraid there was some confusion about my situation,” she said. “Mrs. Hampton had run an ad in one of the matrimonial posts, and I guess something got mixed up. I had a letter that seemed to come from a Mr. Gaines in Needful Texas.”
Dan scowled at the young woman a moment his stormy eyes troubled by her words. “Now why would that happen?” he mused not seeing Anderson approaching.
“I’m not sure,” Prim hedged. She didn’t think Mrs. Hampton had meant any harm bringing her to Needful as a bride, and since Prim was happy with her current situation she couldn’t fault the woman. Mrs. Hampton had opinions on how the town needed to grow and only time would determine if they were right or wrong. Though Prim didn’t agree with her tactics, she understood that Olive loved Dan like a son and wanted him to be happy.
“Miss Perkins,” Anderson’s warm rich voice rolled over Prim like a welcome summer breeze and she turned smiling up at him.
“Mr. Bowlings, I’m very pleased to see how well the building is coming,” Prim said, nodding toward the large beams and cross pieces.
“Just luck that you got your order first,” Dan growled at the other man. “It gives me time to plan something bigger for my barn raising.”
“We’re a far pace from being done with either place so don’t get the cart ahead of the horse,” Anderson remarked.
“Anderson, you throw a wide loop here in Needful, and you’re spread is growing, but I was here first and don’t you forget it,” Gaines snapped.
“I haven’t forgotten who staked their claim first,” Anderson responded. “I’m not planning on pushing you out, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a place as good as or even better than yours. I have big plans for the Double B.”
“We’ll see about that,” Dan snapped.
“Gentleman,” Prim said stepping between the two ranchers. “There’s plenty of land to go around please don’t fight.”
Anderson looked at the young woman then back at Gaines giving him a curt nod.
“All right,” Dan agreed shaking his head. “It’s just that as mayor and the first one to start a ranch here, I feel responsible for this town,” he began. “I want to build something that will last. Something I can be proud of in my old age. With Anderson’s wild bunch racing up and down the streets, it’s hard for me to believe he wants the same thing.”
“I want the same thing,” Anderson said bristling. “I want a place my father will be proud of if he ever comes to visit Needful. Something that will last and provide for a family in the future.”
Prim looked up at the handsome rancher, her heart turning over in her chest. He wanted the same things she did, but she knew there was no room for her in his wonderful world. She was a moonshiner’s daughter and not the right kind of person for a man like Anderson Bowlings.
“I guess we’d better get back to it then,” Dan Gaines said looking between Anderson and Prim and picking up something between them. Perhaps things were going somewhere that he didn’t expect, but he would do what he could to make it come together. As Miss Perkins’ explanation of her situation filtered into his brain, he was starting to put together a picture of Olive Hampton meddling in things that she shouldn’t meddle in. He knew his own mind and had no intentions of being wrangled to the altar anytime soon. But perhaps Miss Perkins might find her own heart’s desire right here in Needful just the same.
Prim watched the two men head back to the building sight each picking up the next piece of lumber, or building item needed as they joined the others swarming the heavy framework.
***
As the day wore on, the brisk morning turned sunny, warming the open prairie as men and women alike worked together to make this house raising come together.
As the last beam was pinned into place, Orville Hampton called out beckoning the men to join him at the long tables. “We’ve seen a good deal finished already this morning,” the old man said. “The framing is up, and it’s time to start siding, but first we eat.”
The other men cheered, grinning as their eyes drifting to the tables where the women of the community had set out a feast.
“Orville, will you give thanks?” Spencer Gaines asked slipping around behind Daliah and draping an arm over her shoulders.
Orville nodded, bowing his head as one by one the men took off their hats. “Dear Lord, thank you for this time to come together as a community,” Orville began. “We are grateful for our friends and neighbors who h
ave joined us this day to build Anderson his big fancy house. I pray you’ll bless these vittles to our use and bless these wonderful women folk for cookin’ it. Amen.”
A resounding “Amen,” echoed across the clearing as a flurry of activity began. Women served while men piled their plates high with a little of each item. The sound of cheerful banter, enthusiastic eating, and resolute appreciation of the food were heard across the site as everyone got down to the serious work of eating.
“Olive, this here is one of the best spreads I think I ever did see,” Orville said smiling at his wife who dropped a spoonful of scalloped potatoes on his plate. “I even think Anderson’s cook did a fine job on this here beef,” he added looking at the steaming mound of crisp meat on his plate.
“It is a mighty nice meal,” Olive said, “and just look at the work that’s been done so far today. Do you think they’ll have the roof on before sundown?”
“Probably have the boards on but not the shingles,” Orville said. “It’s been a while since I did any work like this, but now I’m limbered up it feels right good.”
Olive smiled at her husband proud of his ability and ambition at his age. “You just be careful,” she chided gently, “I don’t need you getting’ busted up before winter. Who’ll chop all that wood?”
Orville chuckled leaning in and pecking her on the cheek. “I could say the same for you,” he laughed.
“Mrs. Hampton, are you gonna cut the cake?” Chad Gaines called racing up to her, brown gravy and some sticky sauce smeared across his face.
“Not just yet,” Olive said looking the boy in the eye, “and you keep your fingers out of my frosting too.” She finished giving the boy a hard look.
“Dog-gone-it!” Chad expostulated. “I’ll tell Billy.”
Together the Hampton’s chuckled at the boy as he ran off to find his friend. Soon enough everyone would be ready for dessert, but for now they would wait until everyone had finished their meal.
“Olive, I’ll get the coffee,” Prim said heading to the fire and adjusting the big enamel pot that hung, suspended on an iron tripod above a small fire.
“She’s a good one,” Orville said leaning in so only Olive would hear, as he watched Prim work.
“Yes, she is,” the older woman whispered back. “I also think she’s sweet on Anderson Bowlings.”
“Anderson?” Orville huffed in surprise. “I thought you brought her here for Dan.”
“Sometimes things don’t go to plan,” Olive said with a shrug. “I guess we’ll just have to see what comes next.”
Orville ran a hand over his jaw feeling the start of a beard. “Well whatever happens, at least it ain’t boring,” he laughed, finishing his meal and shuffling off to talk to men.
With lunch over the men returned to the work and soon the prairie echoed with the sound of ringing hammers, and biting saws.
“Isn’t it amazing?” Daliah asked walking up next to Prim who had been serving more coffee. “I thought the Hampton House went up fast but it was nothing compared to this. You can see the house taking shape right before your eyes.”
“It is a fine house isn’t it?” Prim asked. Looking at the high dormers, and long portico. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen the like.”
“I think it will be one of the finest homes in Needful before long,” Daliah agreed. “Mr. Bowlings has good taste.”
A cry of pain made both women jump and Daliah lifted her skirts hurrying across the open yard to where a man sat sucking on a thumb he’d hit with his hammer.
Prim watched as Daliah bandaged the man’s throbbing thumb and shook her head. The other woman was of great value to the town. She wondered if anyone in the town would ever value her the way they did Daliah and her eyes sought out Anderson with a heavy heart.
Mr. Bowlings was obviously a successful and driven man: someone with taste and a level of refinement that was above her station in life. She was a moonshiner’s daughter and a man like Anderson Bowlings, an Englishman, who obviously came from wealth would never give her the time of day. Still she knew that she was losing her heart to the rancher and only hoped that once her mother and sister joined her she would be over her silly crush.
Anderson looked down from the ladder he was standing on catching a glimpse of Miss Perkins, who seemed melancholy if not downright sad. He wondered what had happened that had upset her and his heart went out to the vulnerable young woman.
It didn’t matter what Miss Perkins said now, he was sure that Dan Gaines had jilted her for some reason and it goaded him that someone could be so cold and uncaring toward the lovely young woman.
If she had been his mail-order bride, he wouldn’t have left her alone on the prairie, or to fend for herself as a common server at the Hampton House. Although Miss Perkins seemed more than capable on her own, Anderson would have lavished her with gifts, and wooed her properly. He would have met her at the stage stop as well instead of sending old Orville to fetch her.
The more he thought of it the more annoyed Anderson became with Gaines and soon he was seething at the unfeeling lout. It would serve Dan Gaines right if Anderson pursued Miss Perkins himself, stealing her away from the fickle man. Despite the other ranchers denial, Anderson was sure he had done Primrose Perkins wrong.
“Anderson, what are you doing?” Dan called up the ladder as he balanced a rough board in his hands. “I can’t keep standing here holding this next piece for you. If you don’t want to nail anymore, switch places and I’ll get it done myself.”
“You think you can do it better?” Anderson called down with a snarl, “come on up and do it yourself.”
“I will,” Dan barked back shaking his head at the surly Englishman. “You sure get out of sorts fast,” he commented as Anderson dropped from the ladder and he grabbed the first rung.
“At least I don’t go around ordering a bride then not standing by my word,” Anderson snapped.
“I told you already I didn’t order a bride,” Dan spat. “Miss Perkins explained that it was some mix up with the agency or such.”
“That’s your story,” Anderson grumbled. “It seems to me that young woman is covering for your worthless excuses.”
“Why don’t you shut up,” Dan snapped again. “I didn’t order a bride and that’s that.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“I believe I am,” Anderson’s last words were cold, dropping to the earth like a gauntlet.
“You want to put your money where your mouth is?” Dan said raising his fists. “If you truly believe I’d treat anyone, especially a young woman, like that then you’d better be prepared to back up your words.”
Anderson clenched his fists squaring off against his opponent like a boxer.
“You two back off,” a craggy voice called just as both men swung at the other.
No one was able to determine which man threw the first punch but they were both hitting hard and heavy in seconds as others rushed to back their bosses.
Anderson’s men shouted encouragement for him while Dan’s men stepped up behind him yelling advice and insults at the same time.
In a matter of minutes both sides came together in a melee of swinging arms, and grappling bodies.
“Stop this, stop this right now!” Olive’s voice was drowned by the noise of the brawl and the women gathered children to them behind the line of long tables.
Bodies tumbled across the sawdust strewn ground while others tumbled through the gaps in sheeting that wrapped the newly constructed house.
In the midst of it all Dan Gaines and Anderson Bowlings stood toe to toe fists flying in rapid succession impacting with a blunt thud or low grunt.
“What happened,” Daliah called as she watched the men tangled in a row of flying slugs and unmanaged wrestling matches.
“I don’t know,” Prim replied trying to keep an eye on Mr. Bowlings as he and Mr. Gaines staggered growing weary even as blue bruising began to show around a
n eye.
The blast of a shotgun shattering the air made everyone jump as the field of fighting came to a stop and every eye turning toward the lean form of Spencer Gaines holding a smoking shotgun in his hands.
“Break it up!” Spencer called shaking his head. “Bowlings get your men to the bunkhouse. Dan you call your men to the house.”
Dan looked up at his brother sheepishly and nodded gesturing toward his men as his tongue dodged out to touch the trickle of blood from the corner of his lip.
“Move out!” Anderson called hanging his head as his eyes met the bright blue gaze of Miss Perkins. He had started out to defend her honor, only to have shamed himself.
