The Rancher Inherits a Family

by Cheryl St. John

  He nodded. “All right. I was wondering if you’d be willing to help my mother select furniture.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Are they smart, Tate and Harper?”

  “Yes, they’re very smart. Harper makes friends easily. He’s the one always talking or playing with another child at recess. Tate, though, is more focused and serious. Probably similar to you as a child, do you suppose?”

  “We all helped alongside my father. He expected a lot, and I can remember not wanting to disappoint him. Adam got away with more, of course. He’s the youngest. I looked forward to spring roundup with the hands, sleeping under the wagon and eating off tin plates. It was an adventure. The men told stories, showed us how to snare and skin rabbits. My father played his old violin and sang. Russ came along, but he had his head in a book at every opportunity.”

  She liked hearing these stories of his family, and was hungry for more. “What was your father like?”

  “He had a good head for business. He could be stern, but he was fair and kind. He had a sense of humor. He and my mother laughed a lot. He taught us faith by example.”

  “I would have liked him.”

  “Everyone liked him.”

  A question echoed in her mind, one she probably shouldn’t ask but couldn’t stop. “Do you think your mother would ever find someone and marry again?”

  “She says he was the love of her life. No one could ever measure up.”

  Marigold smiled at the notion. “You know, I believe this is the best place the boys could have ended up,” she told him. “Their mother knew you, knew your family, believed you would be influential in their lives. I have no doubt she was right.”

  “You have more confidence in me than I have in myself,” he answered. “I’ve been thinking, though...” He shifted his weight on the chair. “Thinking I won’t want to do this alone.”

  Marigold glanced into the darkness. “Meaning you will need someone besides your mother to help.”

  “She has already done so much, but she has raised her own family. It’s not fair to her.”

  “She doesn’t seem to mind, but you should probably ask her.”

  Silence expanded between them for a few minutes and Marigold couldn’t help but think of the lovely women who had arrived on the bride train.

  “Seems now there might be some interested candidates,” she said at last. “And from what I hear, more arriving all the time.”

  He looked at her, but in the darkness she couldn’t read his expression. “Yes. I suppose so.”

  Try as she might, though, she couldn’t think of one of them suitable for Seth Halloway.

  Chapter Seven

  On Saturday Evelyn had attended an afternoon tea with a few friends earlier in the day, so she was happy to stay home and put the boys to bed while Seth and Marigold went to the Gardners’. Since they were going to the same event, Dewey readied a wagon and Seth drove it into town.

  “The little park is lovely,” Marigold remarked as they passed the schoolhouse on Lincoln Boulevard. “We’ve begun reading in the shade.”

  “Do you suppose more trees would be a good addition?” he asked. “I found a stream where those hackberry trees are growing from seeds along the banks. I was planning to bring a few to the ranch, and I could dig more to plant here.”

  “Why don’t we ask Daniel this evening?”

  The Gardner home was an impressive structure set at an angle on the corner of Third and Lincoln. Marigold saw it every day from the schoolhouse, so she was fascinated to finally see the inside. As they pulled up, a young man greeted them.

  “I’ll be taking care of the horses this evening,” he told Seth.

  Once inside, Leah greeted them. She was beautiful—her shiny pale gold hair was gathered in loose curls at the back of her head, and she wore an exquisite dress that matched the blue of her eyes. A glance into the room proved the other ladies who had arrived were dressed in their evening finery as well. Marigold’s white crinoline with blue and silver embroidery felt out of place. While she’d been looking in the mirror in her room, she’d thought the open-shoulder neckline had been too much, but now she was thankful for the added drama of the gown. Unconsciously, she touched her bare collarbone and noted Leah’s stunning teardrop gemstone necklace.

  “Marigold!” Sadie Shriver approached with a smile. “I haven’t had an opportunity to speak with you since we arrived. Everything was so chaotic that week. I heard you were trapped and required a dramatic rescue.”

  “It was frightening. Mr. Halloway was among the men who found me.” She turned, but Seth had already been drawn into a conversation. “You remember the little boys aboard the train? I was with them at the time of the accident.” She explained how their mother had sent a letter asking Seth to take her children.

  “Are you staying with a family of one of your students?”

  “I’m staying with the Halloways right now. Until Seth is well enough to handle chores and help with the boys. He was injured.”

  “Oh, I pray he is doing well. I did see you with them at church. I’m staying at Aunt Mae’s with the other soon-to-be brides. Aunt Mae truly is like family to all of us. Between her cooking and Deborah’s baking, we’re all watching our waistlines so we don’t grow out of our clothing. Today Deborah baked some little meringues with blueberries and candied bacon to bring this evening. Wait until you taste one.”

  Marigold experienced a moment of panic. “I didn’t bring anything.”

  Sadie rested her hand on her arm. “No one else did, either. Deborah is making an effort to show her skills to the community.”

  They were joined by a young man and then another, until they didn’t have further opportunity to talk.

  “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Brewster.”

  She studied the gentleman dressed in dark trousers, a white shirt and vest. He had thick umber-colored hair, combed back in tight waves, and friendly blue eyes.

  “I’m Buck Hanley. I know who you are. I heard some of the fellas describe your hair. It’s as pretty as they said.”

  Her cheeks warmed and she stopped herself from reaching up to make sure her hair was in order. Someone had talked about her hair? “I, uh—thank you.”

  “Didn’t mean to embarrass you. I’m not very good at this. I work with a bunch of men all day.”

  “I’m not good at this, either. I work with children all day.”

  They smiled at each other, breaking the ice. His skin was sun-darkened with white creases radiating from the corners of his eyes, and he had a wide friendly smile. She liked his smile and felt more at ease already.

  “What do you do, Mr. Hanley?”

  “I’ve been in Cowboy Creek for a few years now, doin’ this and that. This last year I partnered with a friend and started a construction company. Hanley and Ewing Construction Company. Our office is on First Street, close to the land office and town clerk, near the lumberyard.”

  Daniel and a couple joined them, and the host made the introductions. “Will, Tomasina, this is Marigold Brewster. Marigold, these are the Canfields.”

  She shook Will’s hand and his wife, a pretty woman with curly bright red hair and a friendly smile, stepped forward to give her a hug in greeting. When she stepped back beside her husband, he rested a hand protectively around her waist. Tomasina glanced up at him, and the look the two exchanged caused a flutter in Marigold’s chest. Was that what love looked like? The question created an ache deep inside, a longing for something she’d never thought to dream for.

  “I’ve heard only good things about you from Libby Thompson and the parents.” Will drew her back to their conversation.

  “That’s nice to hear,” Marigold replied. “As soon as you answered my letter and told me about this town, I knew I wanted to come. It’s everything you said it was.”

  “We’re proud of C
owboy Creek.” Will nodded in his friend’s direction. “Daniel and I were friends from our childhood days. Our friend Noah, who we met during the war, settled here first and wrote us about the opportunity to buy land along the new railroad. Our investment has paid off for sure.” He nodded toward the man beside them. “I see you’ve met Buck, our former sheriff.”

  She gave Buck another long look, and he met her eyes. “He didn’t tell me he’d been a sheriff.”

  “Sad to see him move on, but he’s got a good business going now.”

  “Welcome to Cowboy Creek, Marigold,” Tomasina told her. “You just let one of us know if you need anything...ever.”

  “I will, thank you.” After they’d moved on, she turned to Buck. “The sheriff?”

  He shrugged. “I said I’d done other things.”

  “Anything else you’re holding back?”

  He thought a minute. “My partner, Owen, is the undertaker, and I’ve helped him out a time or two.”

  “Is there anything you don’t do?”

  “I’m not a doctor, so don’t come to me with a boil.”

  She cringed, but laughed. “I don’t plan to ever have to go to anyone with that malady.”

  Freddie Simms joined them, followed by a couple of other men, who introduced themselves. Buck disappeared for a few minutes, and she watched him thread his way through the gathering. He returned with a glass of lemonade for her, and she rewarded him with a smile. She liked Buck Hanley.

  * * *

  Seth could feel his thoughts wandering. In front of him, Molly Delaney was talking nonstop about the meringues one of the other women had spent the afternoon making. She wore a green dress again, this one with gold ribbon sewn around the neckline and on the sleeves. She was pretty, in a flamboyant sort of way. She knew she was pretty, and she knew men admired her. She didn’t seem the type to thrive in a cow town, even one with as many amenities as this one.

  Seth’s attention was drawn across the enormous drawing room the Gardners used for entertaining to Marigold and her flock of would-be suitors. She was polite and talked to each person, but when she had a moment to breathe, her attention went to Buck Hanley. She smiled at him. And why not? He was a nice-enough-looking fellow. Seth knew him to be a hard-working entrepreneur, having gone after investors and then developed his own company. No reason he wouldn’t soon have a house to rival the Gardners’. Maybe very soon if he found someone to marry.

  He spotted his brother talking to Will and excused himself from Molly’s company to join them.

  Will reached to shake his hand. “You’ve heard the news that I’ve decided to throw my hat in the ring and run for congress?”

  “You’ll have my vote,” Seth assured him. “Will you move if you’re elected?”

  “We can live half the year here,” Will assured him and grinned. “But that leaves the mayoral position open. I’ve been talking to your brother about him becoming Cowboy Creek’s next mayor.”

  Russ glanced at Seth as though uncertain of his reaction.

  “Russ is honest and trustworthy,” Seth said. “He’s a worthy advocate for those things he feels strongly about. If it’s something he wants to do, I’m sure he’d be an excellent candidate.”

  “Quite an endorsement from your brother,” Will said to Russ.

  “On the other hand,” Seth said, deadpan, “if that should happen, I’d have to hear my mother boast nonstop. For that reason, I don’t know if I could vote for him.”

  The two other men laughed.

  “Excuse me,” Will said. “My wife has that look that says she needs rescuing.”

  “You were only half joking,” Russ said to Seth once they were alone.

  Seth shrugged. “Some things never change.”

  “I may not have agreed with you about our father, but I admire what you did to pay back those loans.” Russ believed their father had signed those papers and had hidden the loan from them. He and Seth had engaged in many heated arguments, because Seth was convinced someone had killed Gilbert and then forged his signature on the documents. Neither had proof. But Adam was the one who’d been angry enough to leave and not look back. Seth didn’t feel bad for doing what he’d believed was right, whether or not their father had signed the papers. Having to pay that money was an injustice, but he couldn’t prove different.

  Russ’s gaze moved beyond Seth’s shoulder.

  “I had no idea there was another Halloway as handsome as the first one I met.”

  Molly’s honeyed voice identified her before Seth even turned. He exchanged a look with his brother. “Miss Delaney, this is my brother, Russ. Russ, Miss Delaney.”

  “You may call me Molly,” she said and extended her hand for Russ to take.

  He grasped her fingers briefly and released. “It’s a pleasure.”

  “Are you a rancher as well?” she asked.

  “No, I’m an attorney.”

  Her eyes opened wide and her big smile grew even bigger. “Ooh, a lawyer. Now that’s impressive.”

  Seth imagined Russ’s expression would rival that of a man facing a hungry lion. “If you’ll excuse us, I promised Leah we’d help her with something.”

  He jerked his head to the left and Russ quickly followed him through the gathering of people and into the Gardners’ kitchen. They stood in the well-appointed room, the sounds from the crowd muted on the other side of the door.

  “Thanks for not leaving me there.” Russ lifted the napkin covering a tray and helped himself to what must have been one of Deborah’s meringues. “Interesting,” he said as he tasted the confection.

  The door opened and Leah carried in an empty tray. She stopped and tilted her head. “Are you two hiding in here?”

  Russ answered, “No.”

  “Yes,” Seth replied.

  She grinned. “Shall I guess?”

  “Your prize is one of these sweet things,” Russ told her, pointing to the meringues. “Is that bits of bacon?”

  “Candied,” she replied. “Miss Delaney is exceptionally friendly, am I right?”

  “Exceptionally,” Seth agreed. “Perhaps she can be distracted. Buck would be a good catch.”

  Her amused expression indicated she saw everything. “Buck would make anyone a fine husband.”

  Russ chuckled.

  “You two are not funny.”

  Russ clapped Seth on the back. “He’s making a good impression, but you have the upper hand, brother. She’s staying at your ranch.”

  “She didn’t come to Cowboy Creek for a husband,” Seth said.

  “Maybe not, but the teaching job may lead to more.”

  “I’m not the one who sent for a wife. I have enough on my plate.”

  Leah’s surprise was evident. “Russ, you sent for a bride?”

  “Your husband and Will thought it would be good if I was settled down and married before I run for office. I’ve been communicating with a young lady from back East. She’ll be arriving soon.”

  “Well, I’m happy for you.”

  “I’m happy for you, too,” Seth said honestly.

  “You might mention that to Miss Delaney,” Leah suggested. “She’d likely take her friendliness elsewhere.” She uncovered the tray of meringues and handed it to Russ. “You might as well look as though you’re helping.”

  Seth followed them out of the kitchen. He’d told Marigold he’d been thinking he didn’t want to raise the boys alone, and he didn’t, but marrying Molly Delaney wasn’t an option.

  * * *

  The moon was high and bright on the way home. “The Gardners are a nice couple,” Marigold said. “Did you know Leah brings a couple of lunches to the schoolhouse every day so there is food for the children who don’t have anything to bring?”

  “I didn’t know that. Are there children who don’t bring a lunch?”

&nbs
p; “Occasionally. I ate one once because I forgot my pail in the wagon. Often the lunches are still there and the children share them at recess.”

  “We forget how fortunate we are,” he said.

  “Life is good in Cowboy Creek,” she agreed.

  “I heard talk that there have been things missing around town. One of the women thinks someone is taking eggs from her coop. Another said she had clothing missing from her line last week.”

  “Has theft been a problem in the past?” Marigold asked.

  “I don’t think so.”

  Her thoughts went immediately to the primer that was missing from her school. She remembered it happened right after the Higgins boy had come to class. He’d been to class twice but she wasn’t entirely convinced he could read, because he hadn’t written on his slate or completed any assignments. He was certainly a puzzle. For a moment she wondered whether he was alone and had made up the story about his mom making him come to school.

  She kept her thoughts to herself, choosing instead to enjoy the balmy spring evening.

  Seth took off his hat and set it behind the seat. “Buck appeared attentive tonight,” he said.

  “He’s nice. He invited me to supper at The Cattleman.”

  Was it her imagination or did Seth seem to bristle at her revelation? “Did you accept?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  That response seemed to halt any further conversation. Seth didn’t speak for the remainder of the ride home. Marigold didn’t find his silence surprising. Seth was often quiet, but tonight was an uncomfortable quiet.

  “I’ll help put up the horses,” she offered when they got to the White Rock..

  “No. Not in your pretty dress. I’ll manage. Likely Dewey will hear and join me.”

  He extended his good arm and wrapped it around her waist to help her to the ground.

  “Thank you for the ride,” she said.

  She’d learned enough about him to understand he felt responsible for her. It was his nature to take responsibility. When she’d shown him the letter from the boys’ mother, he hadn’t even questioned assuming care of Tessa Radner’s children. And after his mother had arranged for her to stay with them, he’d taken it on himself to teach her how to protect herself.