by Cyndi Raye
Two hours later, Max and Hannah stood waving goodbye to their new friends. Max wrapped his arm around her waist. Hannah sighed, leaned in to him. “I was worried about pulling this off alone. Now, I don’t have to.”
“The men are going to help the day of the auction. Marshall said one of his ranch hands is willing to act as auctioneer. He can roll his words and get the crowd going. I just hope we have a crowd.”
“No worries. Grace is making a list of all the well-to-do ranch owners in the territory. She is getting their invitations ready the moment she gets back. Lily said that her and Ben know a lot of important people who stayed at their hotel. She’s going to wire them about the sale. We are so lucky to have these people as friends.”
Max turned, gathering her in his arms. “I’d say I’m lucky to have found you.” He dipped his head to kiss her. She stood on her tip-toes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“It looks like things are turning around for us, Mr. Ward.”
“It sure does, Mrs. Ward.”
Hannah kissed him back with all the muster of a wife who was starting to fall in love with her husband.
Chapter 7
The day of the sale, Max looked over his land. Everything was set up to run smoothly for the next few hours. The women worked hard, setting up tables of baked goods and food to feed the expected crowd. Even Doc Smith showed up to offer support.
Miss Addie, local proprietor of the town’s only boarding house, gathered her skirts in her hand and walked up to him. She nodded and smiled, her head tipped slightly. “Mr. Ward, I’m at your service. What can I do?”
“Miss Addie, thank you for coming. Why don’t you go see if the ladies need any help?”
“Of course. I’m afraid there are rumors some of the townsfolk plan to boycott the auction. You may even get a crowd of nay-sayers when the bidding starts. Be on the lookout.” She swirled her skirts and went to look for the ladies. Good to know someone had their back.
Max strolled over to where Marshall and Ben were helping to set up the auction block. “Got word from Miss Addie there may be trouble later.”
Ben looked up. “We’ll be ready if they start trouble this time.”
“Much obliged, Ben.”
A whistle from the train pulling in to the depot at Wichita Falls echoed faintly across the prairie. There would be several men on that train with lots of cash money. Daniel and Dawson took a buggy to the train depot earlier to escort them back to the auction site. It had all been arranged, thanks to Grace and her skills of event planning.
Max feared the angry townsfolk who were stubborn as the day is long would try to stop the proceedings. That’s why he had his ranch hands surround the auction area in case anything went awry. The men had two flags, one red, one yellow. If the yellow flag went up, it meant those who were arriving were considered safe. If the red flag went up, every available man was to get to that area. Hopefully, this way they could avoid another brawl.
Except right before the bidding began, a crowd of men, mostly from the saloon, guns in holsters on their hips and walking across the prairie as if they alone would stop the event, tried to get through the lower area. As soon as the red flag went up, every cowboy on the Ward Ranch lined up to make a barrier to keep them from entering.
“Folks, looks like there’s some trouble brewing down at the southern end,” the auctioneer’s bold, loud voice rang out. He tried to continue with the bidding to no avail. Everyone watched the commotion.
“Yeah, it looks like the South Round Ranch hands are mad as all get out!”
Max growled. It was time the owner of the South Round stopped using these men as his lackeys. He marched up to the line and pushed his way through.
Marshall warned him. “Max, be careful. No sense in getting your butt kicked twice now.”
“Don’t worry, I know you got my back,” he shot back. He faced the crowd. “I assume you all work for the South Round Ranch. Is that right?”
Nods followed. “What’s it to ya!” one of the men yelled through the crowd.
“Aren’t you sick and tired of being bullied by the owner? Making you come after me and try to intimidate someone who could pay you twice the wages that no-gooder does.” Max had found out through one of his ranch hands what they got paid. It was pathetic and why he had several of the South Round hands on his payroll.
“Whaddya mean, twice the wages?”
“Yeah, I wanta know, too.” The crowd of men inched their way closer.
Max stood his ground. “I’m in need of more hands. I’d pay you twice the amount you make now. A bed, food and a decent wage.” Max figured from experience once these men got paid better they’d be more pleasant to work around. They needed someone to respect them, guide them and offer them a good life.
“Yeah? When can I start?”
“Right now.”
One of the younger ones hollered out. “How do we know you ain’t just telling us this so we don’t bring trouble to your auction.”
Max turned to him. “Because I am not a lying, cheating, stealing man. I’m honest and expect you to be, too. Ask any of my men here. I expect an honest days work from each and every one of you.” He reached in his pocket, prepared for this. “I’ll give each man an advance on his pay to come work for me right now, to help with the auction.”
Every single man stepped forward. Max grinned as he handed each one a small satchel and shook their hand to welcome them to the Ward Ranch. Max knew he was taking a chance they may run back to their old boss, but he didn’t really have another option. Most men understood money. He turned to see Hannah watching, along with every other person close by. When the last man took his satchel, he saw her take a deep breath and clap her hands. Well done, she mouthed.
“Let’s get this show on the road!” a strong voice boomed over top the crowd. The auctioneer began his rattling and the auction was back in full force. Max sauntered over to where Hannah stood, her hands out to catch his. She placed a kiss on his cheek.
“You can do better than that,” he told her, swinging her around and leaning her back. He commenced to kiss the daylights out of her right there while the others were paying attention to the auction.
When he let her up, she gasped for air. “Oh, my!” Her hand went to her chest. “Maximilian Ward! That was, why, that was fabulous,” and she laughed out loud.
Her laughter died out when a voice, out of the blue, said something to her to make her eyes widen in disbelief.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Hannah girl.”
Hannah fainted in Max’s arms.
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Hannah stirred awake on the porch swing. She felt it rock back and forth but when she looked down, her feet were curled under her. Max was right beside her, giving her strength with his arm across her shoulder, holding her. “What happened?”
“You fainted dead away, darling.”
The reality of seeing her step-father started to come back to her. “Oh, Max. He found me.”
Max pulled her closer. “Who found you? Hannah, I know things have been traumatic for you lately and with a head injury, perhaps you should go to the house. This may be too much for you.”
She sat up, looking desperately around for her step-father’s face. When she tried to stand, Max held her back. “No, Hannah, stop. This isn’t good for you. Sit here for awhile until your head clears.”
“I’m fine, Max. I just saw my step-father. He’s here. How in the world did he get here?” Hannah looked in the general area where they stood earlier but he was nowhere in sight. Where did he go? Was she going crazy? She shook her head. “I am certain it was him. I’ll never forget that voice.”
“There is a lot of people here today. Many of them are strangers to the area. They’ve come in from other towns by carriage and train.” Max got up from the swing. “Listen, Hannah, I want you to be able to enjoy yourself today. I’ve got to go check on everything but I want you to promise me you will stay right here on the swing until I ret
urn. Then, we will go together.”
“You’re probably right. Things have been hectic with getting ready for the sale and all.”
“Good. I’ll be back in a short while. You stay put. Promise me?”
She nodded. Max leaned over and raised her chin with a finger, kissing her lightly. His mouth lingered for a moment. “You are really starting to mean a lot to me, darling.”
Hannah sighed. She lifted her hand and placed it over his. “I feel the same way.”
“Then it’s settled. Stay here and wait for me. Your one true love.”
Hannah blinked. “What did you say?” she whispered, a catch in her throat.
He shrugged. “It’s true, Hannah, I am sure we were meant for each other. I am in love with you.”
Hannah blushed. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
He placed a kiss right on her mouth. “Shh, don’t say anything.”
Her heart was filled with so much adoration for her husband. “Don’t you want to know how I feel?”
He turned towards the crowd, then looked back and grinned, so wide, she blushed again. “I already know, darling. See you in a bit.”
Hannah’s heart was in her throat. She stared after him, surprised and fascinated by her husband. He was handsome and one of a kind. This business arrangement was sure turning out to be quite the turn around from a few days ago.
After boredom set in, Hannah ached to go back to the women’s table, where they were selling baked goods. Unable to sit still, she stood in an effort to relieve her boredom. Part of her wanted to get back to work, yet, she remembered her promise to Max. He had asked her to stay right where she was.
Would she be a dutiful wife and stay put or wander up to the baked goods table to help the ladies who worked diligently to make this a success? Feeling as if she were letting the ladies down, she peeked around the corner to see where Max had run off to. She saw him at the auction block watching the proceedings. Lifting her arm up, she tried to get his attention. After a few moments, he looked her way.
She waved. He nodded and started towards her. She took a few steps down to meet him halfway when someone took hold of her arm and twisted. Turning to see who had grabbed a hold of her, she screamed when the face of her step-father came in to view.
“Hush, now, Hannah girl. I ain’t here to harm you.”
“Let my arm go.”
He did.
Hannah turned to see where Max was. She didn’t want to face her step-father alone.
“Who ya lookin’ for? That husband of yours? No worries, my partner is keeping him busy.”
Hannah jerked her head towards the auctioneer to see Max talking with one of the men who came in on the train. He was dapper with a fine three piece suit, a tall hat and cane with an ivory handle. “That man looks too fancy to be with the likes of you.”
“Now that ain’t no way to talk to your step-daddy. He ain’t no fancier than I am. Had to find me a new line of work since you done run off and left me high and dry.”
“You’re a grown man. No reason you can’t work for a living,” Hannah told him. She crossed her arms and tilted her chin in the air. When she looked at him thoroughly, she noticed he was worn out from years of drinking. His pale skin was gray, like he didn’t have much oxygen left in his lungs. Skinny as a bean pole, his clothes were so baggy she wondered how he kept his pants up.
The thought made her giggle.
“Now what you laughing at?”
“You, Richard. I won’t embarrass you as to why but I will tell you this. You had better get out of here and out of my life. Why are you here?”
“No need to get rambunctious.”
“Why. Are. You. Here?”
“I am in need of some cash.”
“I don’t have any cash. My husband does and I’ll bet you already know that.”
“You don’t have any cash?”
“No. You took it all, remember? When you busted in to my bedroom and stole every single thing I earned.”
“You owed me! I took care of you!” His voice rose. Max looked over just as she turned her head. She was desperate to get his attention.
He moved so quick, she didn’t have time to blink. Before Richard could get another word out, Max was right there, his arm around her. “Is this your step-father?”
“Yes. He is trying to extort money, I’m sure.”
“I didn’t ask you for a penny.”
Hannah huffed. “You were about to. He said he was in need of cash.”
“You best be on your way.” Max didn’t argue the point.
“Well, that may be a problem.”
“Why is that?”
“I, uh, spent all I had to get here thinking my step-daughter would be kind enough to take me in.”
“No way! Why would you even think I would take you in after all you’ve done!”
“Now just wait here, young lady. I took care of you after your mama died, rest her soul. It was me. No one else. Has it ever occured to you I may have put you out after she was gone? But, I didn’t, no sir. I took care of you.”
“I took care of myself. I worked twelve hours a day in the factory, remember? Gave you every penny I had except for the little bit I hid in order to leave you for good.” Max placed a hand on her cheek and turned her face to his. His look of empathy for what she had to do gave her the strength to throw her step-father off their land. Turning back to her step-father, she told him, “It’s time for you to leave, Richard. Go with your rich friend and get off Ward land.” Hannah knew Max approved from the way he squeezed her shoulder.
“That ain’t my friend. He’s a business associate.”
“He is a curator at the Library of Congress who is scouting for fine art,” Max mentioned. “The Library bought over fifty thousand dollars worth of my father’s paintings.”
Alarm bells went off in Hannah’s brain. How would Richard know someone of that caliber? “Has he shown you his credentials?”
Max shrugged. “A man’s word is his honor, Hannah.”
She turned and began to high-step it towards the man in the fancy suit. “Not for a thief, it isn’t.”
“Wait, Hannah!”
When she came face to face with the man, she recognized him instantly. “You!” It was indeed a cohort of Richards.
The man’s eyes got round as saucers. She pointed a finger at him. “This man is a fraud! He has no money.”
The man looked affronted but Hannah knew better. She spent too many nights listening to the two before they went off to gamble her pay check away.
Max stood beside her. “Is this true, Mr. Remington?”
Hannah placed a hand on her hip. “Remington! That man’s name is Smithton. Martin Smithton, the worst con artist in the vicinity of New York City. What happened, Mr. Smithton, did they run you out of town?” Hannah was impressed with her ability to stand up to these men. They had intimidated her for way too long. She looked over at Max, who was staring the man down. It felt wonderful to have someone by her side who believed in her.
“My wife says you are a fraud. I assume your payment is also.”
He pulled a letter of intent from his pocket. Hannah leaned over. “It’s also fake. There is no Mulberry Bank in existence any longer. It closed down a year before I ever left New York City. I know, I removed my money right before it did.”
“How do you know? You never put your money in a bank. It was all hidden in the wall of your bedroom!” Richard stood beside his cohort now, facing Max, Hannah and several others who wondered over to listen.
Max stiffened beside her when she said, “Becky’s father worked there. I knew it was shutting down thanks to my friend. I withdrew my money and hid it in the wall, until you found it and stole every single penny!”
Max reached out to grab the older man’s shirt front, but stopped when she cried out. “It’s not worth the trouble, Max.”
He stopped himself. Instead, he took the check and ripped it into tiny pieces. Max stepped
forward, opened the fancy pocket and stuffed the worthless pieces of paper inside. “Get off my property. I’m going to count to ten. If you are not gone, I’ll shoot you both.”
“Here, you may need this.” Marshall Montgomery stood beside him, his outstretched hand holding a pistol. When the two con-men saw he did indeed have a real gun, they took off like bats out of their cave, not looking back.
Hannah held a hand over her mouth but her giggles couldn’t be helped.
Max flung an arm over her shoulder. “They look quite comical running like that.”
Hannah nodded. “If this weren’t so serious, I’d tend to agree. Where will they go?”
“I could care less. Let the wolves eat their carcass for all I care. After what that man did to you, I don’t care what he does.” Max wrapped his other arm around her, heedless to the many stares their way.
“I think they are too close. They are dirty little buggers, Max. I know him. He’ll come back. Maybe hide a day or two first. I just want him far away from here.”
Max looked in to her eyes. Hannah had never asked him for anything before but she needed this. She wanted no part of her step-fathers shenanigans, ever again. Her step-father reminded her of all the damage he had done over the years. “He worked my mother to the bone, caused her to have an early death. I was headed that way myself.”
“Hannah.” Max kissed her mouth. The crowd around them got silent. She didn’t hear the auctioneer in the background or the people mingling around. Max was kissing her as if there was no one else in the vicinity. As if she meant the world to him. As if he loved her.
When he pulled back, she smiled up at him. “I love you, Max.”
He grinned. “I know.”
She swatted his arm as he turned to one of the men close by. “Gather those two idiots up and get them on a train today to the east. Make sure they have a one way ticket there. Don’t come back until you can tell me they are gone.”
“Max, that’s too kind of you. But, it isn’t right. They got away with trying to steal from you. What is the punishment here?”
