by Rita Hestand
He closed his eyes again, and marveled at the comfort of the bed. Maybe he was just too bone-tired to know any difference.
Chapter Three
"The boys and I thought we heard a ruckus in the yard last night." Someone was saying from the kitchen the next morning.
Rusty halted his steps, listening to her reply. He knew it wasn't polite to listen to other's private conversations but he needed some kind of edge with this lady. Especially if he was gonna marry her and get her a loan.
"Yeah, the Travers fella came in last night."
There seemed to be a slight pause in the cowboy's reaction. "Where'd he go, his trucks still out front."
"He's in the spare bedroom," came the husky voiced woman that oddly sent a tremor through Rusty with shocked surprise.
"Think that's such a good idea, you being here alone."
Rusty felt his own temper barely simmering. Where'd this hayseed cowboy get off making lewd suggestions like that? But then again, maybe he had a right. He listened a little longer than was polite.
The woman seemed totally oblivious to the suggestiveness of the cowboy's statement. "It doesn't matter. He'll be gone before long."
So she aimed to get rid of him, as much as that idea appealed to Rusty, it also rankled. It should've been his idea, not hers. He hadn't received much of a warm welcome and already she was planning on booting him out. Rusty felt his own rebellious nature stirring.
"You still gonna marry him?"
Another long pause, Rusty noted. "I'm not sure yet. We haven't gotten into any details. It's gonna take a little time to work this out, I'm sure."
"You don't have to do this you know. You got options." The cowboy was saying.
For some reason Rusty didn't like that idea either. It was obvious the cowboy doing all the talking was much older than she and somehow it seemed indecent.
"Thanks Burt, but you don't have that kind of money, nor credit." She turned him down flat. Although turning him down for the obvious reasons seemed more natural to Rusty. Maybe she liked older men, a father image.
"I've been saving. I've got enough for a small spread..."
Rusty burst into the room then and she sloshed half her coffee on her hand. It burned and the older cowboy took her to the sink immediately to wash it off and help her. The intimate way he was holding her hand and the expression on his face told Rusty he was either already in her life, or trying to insinuate himself very quickly. For some reason it rubbed Rusty raw. He was too old.
"Good morning." Rusty tried to sound chipper.
The frown was in place on Hannah's face as she turned to look at him. "Good morning, this is my foreman, Burt Stockton."
"Burt ..." Rusty nodded, his gaze flitting over the cowboy with quick appraisal.
Was she trying to explain who the man was, or who he was to her? Rusty almost smiled.
It seemed pretty plain that whatever he thought of her, she didn't reciprocate, but still the old man persisted.
"Mind if I help myself to the coffee, ma'am?" Rusty asked trying to stay out of their way.
"No, go ahead," she said pushing away from the older cowboy and moving toward the table with her mug again.
"I better git."
"Later, Burt," she called after him.
"Nice fella." Rusty's smirk hadn't escaped her. "Yes, he is," she affirmed with another frown in place again, as though she wore it just for him. "He's worked here all my life. My dad hired him twenty years ago, and he's been here ever since. Anything you need to know about the ranch, you can ask Burt."
He hated to see the frown back in place, because he suddenly realized he liked her crooked kind of smile.
"Maybe it's none of my business, or maybe I shouldn't ask but ..."
"There's nothing between Burt and me, if that's what you're thinking."
Rusty nodded. "If you say so."
She seemed to brace herself for conflict. "Look, let's get something straight here. What's about to happen, isn't personal either."
"You mean us getting married."
"That's right. Don't think for one minute I don't know why you want to marry me. I'm fully aware that Texas is a community property state and that your 'investment' would be protected. So don't pretend this is charity. By my agreeing to this so-called marriage, we become partners. It's the only thing oddly enough that makes any sense to me, out of all of this."
"What? Us getting married?"
"No, being partners, sharing the load, so to speak."
"Glad you cleared that up. I guess we understand each other pretty well, then." Rusty smiled again. He liked her spunk and her direct approach to any subject. It made him think he might trust her.
"Good. And as such I expect you to work just as hard if not harder than the rest. After all, you'll have an interest to look out for, won't you?" she got up and went toward the old gas stove. It was a bare kitchen floor and cold obviously from the way she ran around in her socks. She was in the middle of cooking from the looks of it. The eggs were light and fluffy and Rusty's mouth was already watering. Obviously the woman could cook.
Rusty swallowed her words with silent agreement. She was right, what could he say?
"Hungry?" She asked when his eyes never left the frying pan.
"Do ducks quack?" He smiled.
That got a real smile out of her and he was stunned at the difference a smile made on Hannah's face. Like lighting a candle, the glow was magnificent. It made her eyes bigger, her mouth fuller, more sensual. He cleared his throat and cast his glance back on the eggs.
She served him a large helping of eggs and added a couple of strips of bacon and a couple of biscuits. He reached for a couple more.
She almost smiled again, as she set the jelly on the table. It was home-made strawberry and he couldn't wait to try it. But her open stare made him chuckle.
He glanced at her apologetically. "Sorry, I've been digging post holes this week and can't stay out of the kitchen."
"That's hard work, especially in the winter. The ground is so hard, it doesn't co-operate with muscle at all." she acknowledged. "A man needs good food when he's working hard."
Her glance drifted to his shoulders and back, then back to his face.
He dug into the eggs. "Yes ma'am."
She leaned back in her chair, her arm stretched over the back of it. She was dressed a little better this morning. She wore overalls, but the shirt was a pretty yellow and her hair was shining as though she'd just stepped out of the shower. She must have used some fancy soap too, because she smelled like a fresh flower garden.
Of course he wasn't looking at her like a woman, really. Or even thinking along those lines. He couldn't allow himself to get carried away with a situation that would only be temporary. Besides, Hannah wasn't his type. There would be no ties when he left. If he gauged her right, she felt the same. At least she was a sensible woman.
He gobbled his food quickly.
"You're a good cook," he said when he noticed her staring
"Have to be, to feed this crew." "How many you got?"
"Ten. They all worked for my father." She added as though that made any difference to him.
"Maybe you ought to let a couple go, to save a little." He suggested. "Don't need as many hands in the winter..."
Something she didn't like, he quickly realized when she bit her lower lip and frowned again.
"I think it's time we got a few things straight around here." Her voice was laced with a bitter edge now, as though the welcome wagon was no longer extended.
Obviously she was about to set him straight on just who ran this place...her!
Rusty knew what was coming. He found talking to her like a man. She even reacted like one. She was definitely a rancher.
"Are you fixing to put me in my place?" He lowered his voice and leaned towards her.
"That's right. And the first thing is, my hands stay. All of them. They've lived here for years. In the winter, they all pitch in do what needs to be done, take little pay and wor
k as though they owned the place. They've been here all my life, most of them, and I won't get rid of them. Not one. That's already been decided, by me! Understood?"
"Understood. But I have a few suggestions that in the long run would save you a little. If you care about these hands, and they've been faithful workers for so many years, you should consider giving them a small piece of the land. As I hear it, you've got enough. That black woman with the shotgun, I take it, she cooks for the bunch, you really don't need her...Not the way you cook."
"I beg your pardon." Now she was mad. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes sparkling with a life of their own. I certainly do need her. She's..." She stopped for a minute obviously wondering how he knew what Josey did around here.
"No ma'am. You cook well enough to serve the men here. You could give them some land, and retire her except on special occasions."
"I will not retire her. She's not a cow to be pastured. She's human. She'd think she wasn't needed. No, I won't do that. Josey is family. Besides, I don't have time to cook for the men; I'm a rancher, in case you hadn't noticed, a working rancher. That means I get out there with the best of them and put in a full day's work."
Rusty shook his head. "I figured as much." Rusty would take this subject up later. Maybe it was too soon to offer advice. From the look on her face, she didn't want his opinions. Not yet, anyway. "Now," He adjusted his hat and eyed her, "exactly where is my place?"
"This whole scheme was your brother's and my brother's idea." She waited for him to nod. "Not mine. Nor yours, I'm thinking. The only reason I'm vaguely considering it is because I don't want to lose my home. It means too much to me. This is my home; it's been my home all my life. No matter where I go, this is still home. For more reasons than I want to go into. I won't lose it. If you have the collateral I don't see why we don't just go get the loan and you can be on your way. However, this marriage scheme seems to be the way you are insuring the loan is paid and you get something for your trouble. I respect and understand that as a business woman, especially since it will make you part owner of the Double Bow Ranch."
Rusty wiped his mouth and sat back in the chair for a minute to really give her a look. "I've got the collateral, that's true enough. And that collateral you keep referring to...is my future….my only future. A man doesn't just give away his future without some insurance." He hesitated letting that soak in for a minute. "But there's a problem. I don't know you, lady. I don't know if I can trust you to do the right thing or not. And I'm not turning my entire future over to a stranger to do with as they please. If I'm gonna invest in this loan, I'll be a part of it."
He let that bit of news hit her between the eyes, as he continued. "I'm putting up State Champion Breeding stock, that's my lifetime investment. I'm losing everything because you need this loan. The way I see it, marriage is the only thing that will compensate me for any of it. Sure, it will make me a part owner, and rightfully so. But I can guarantee you it would be better than a bank owning it. I work for what I get, and this ranch would be no different."
"I appreciate your honesty. But you have to see my point too." She frowned. "I don't take marriage lightly."
Rusty studied her intently. "Look, once we are married this ranch is half mine. Then the odds even out some. We'll both have something to fight for. I'm a Travers, and even though that might not mean much to you. We Travers fight for what's ours. And we'll fight for it together." Rusty took in a long breath, realizing he had just consented to his brother's crazy scheme. "So you see you'll be gaining something else in this bargain, a partner who will fight as hard and as long as needed to see it succeed."
She seemed to study his words for a moment, her expression growing more thoughtful, less angry. "I've read about your breeding stock, quite impressive." She hesitated again and gazed into his eyes, the sincerity holding his attention. "And...granted, you would be risking something of great value. Even I realize that. If the positions were reversed I might feel the same as you. It's just that getting married seems so extreme."
She seemed to wait for his nod again. It was slow in coming.
"Just so you know that I've made some efforts on my own. I've applied for a loan. They turned me down the first time, but I've asked for reconsideration. Let's go into town and see what they say before we jump the gun, okay?" She suggested, putting her hat on her head and glancing at him to see if he was through eating. "Could be the matter will be settled for us."
Rusty grabbed one more bite of biscuit and nodded. But he had many dealings with banks and he knew she was in for a big disappointment. Banks didn't deal with sentiments. They dealt with cold hard cash. Still, he admired her grit. He'd see her through this. Then be on his way. "I'm right behind you."
He offered to drive her into town in his truck, but she refused, insisting on her rattle trap of a Ford pickup. It had no heat, no radio, and it was obviously a work truck. It had certainly been banged around.
She didn't apologize for the chug holes either, nor the lack of springs on the truck. He bounced all the way to town, feeling more like the jeans in the dryer than a man about to save a little gal from the big bad banker.
"You make a mean breakfast lady, where'd you learn to cook?" Rusty wanted to take the edge off her testiness.
"My daddy taught me a lot, and Josey taught me some. I enjoy cooking when I have the time. If we do manage to secure the loan, I will consider what you said about Josey's retirement. Could be, she is waiting for something like that. She deserves a retirement if anyone does. She's been working here so long though, I'd have to use some tact on how I introduced it to her. And giving her a small piece of land would really make that retirement worthwhile. I wonder why I never thought of it?"
He eyed her closely wondering why she actually considered anything he had said so far. She didn't seem the type to give in to anyone else's opinion so easily. Rusty glanced at her sideways, trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Nothing seemed to fit with Hannah, though. She was a surprise in every direction. Admitting he was right must have taken some courage. The lady had grit.
As they pulled into town, she headed straight for the bank, and never once looked back to see if he was following her.
He was right behind her all the way, swinging the bank door closed behind them.
Unlike Jennifer she didn't wait for him to open the door for her, or act as though she thought about it. She did for herself. In some ways he liked that, in other ways it brought out the rebel in him, making him want to put her in her place. If she had a place, that is!
But Hannah was no regular female. He'd known that right from the beginning. She hadn't even changed clothes to come to town. She was a rancher through and through and all business.
A big burly man, with thick silver hair, and ruddy complexion came out of the inner office and glanced at her. His glance alone spoke volumes. For an instant his faced flashed red, frustration lining his weathered brow. He was a closed book, Rusty decided quickly. The man started to turn away after he saw her, but she flagged him down. "Mr. Simmons, I've come about the loan."
Mr. Simmons seemed to stop short, his stature swelling with obvious frustration, he glanced at her again, paused, sighed and then looked at Rusty, obviously trying to place him and coming up blank.
"Step this way, won't you?"
Rusty could see the answer on the man's face before she ever opened her mouth. He wasn't even considering the loan, like arguing with a wall. And for a brief moment, Rusty wanted to argue her case for her.
Just because she was a woman didn't mean she didn't deserve some respect. Where he came from, women got it whether they deserved it or not.
"I'm sorry; Miss O'Leary, but I can't do it. I've put it before the board, and they all agree. Our hands are tied. If you had collateral, more credit, something." He closed the door behind them.
Rusty saw her back straighten, her nose lift, and her anger rise. He saw her brow lifting with what could only be called solid determination as she faced
the man that refused to argue her case.
Damn he liked her grit.
"Mr. Simmons," she said, getting right up in his face, forcing the man to not only look straight at her, but listen as well. "You know very well I helped put my brother through dental school. Doesn't that speak for something?" Her voice didn't quiver or shake. She was nearly as bull headed as himself and darned if Rusty didn't like every inch of that. He knew it took all her courage not to shout or cry. Her expression was hot, and still very determined, as though she might actually win the battle with this stubborn man. "I mean there was a time when a person's reputation spoke for itself."
"It speaks highly of you, yes. And as an individual yes. And I'll admit I admire you, admire your tenacity, but that doesn't pay for loans."
Mr. Simmons seemed to sense her retaliation before she spoke. He held up a hand. "Your father didn't put his money in this bank. In any bank. He squandered it. I'm afraid. I feel for you, truly, but there is nothing I can do. We have policies we have to go by, rules."
"Granted dad made some bad decisions. But...he loved the place. His wife...my mother's buried there. He'd never risk losing it..."
"It appears he did risk it!" The man paused to give her a moment's consideration. Then he added, sincerely. "I'm sorry. I've done all I can do." He was shaking his head and doing his best to dismiss her, Rusty concluded with a building anger himself.
"Can't you see I'm trying?" She didn't hesitate to inform him. "Doesn't that say something for my character? Use to a man's word was enough."
"Yes, that's very true. It was." The man paused again to give her a slight smile. "But I'm afraid that banks these days don't do business on character alone."
Rusty took this information in with grim silence. The woman made money somewhere besides the ranch, and he wondered exactly what she had done for a living. It made him see how much he didn't know about her. However, there was quality in Hannah that had to be admired. She was stubborn, hard to deal with, and yet, she was willing to do almost anything for that ranch she called home. He respected that. Admired it, understood it. And he began to trust.
