Isabella: Book Four: The Cattleman's Daughters

by Danni Roan

  Those around him nodded, as he smoothed the paper and began to read.

  Dear Joshua, February 12, 1889

  I hope this missive finds you and yours well. You have been in my prayers as you have set out on this endeavor and I trust that your work is being blessed.

  I was pleased to receive your last letter and wish all happiness to your girls as they start out on a new journey in this thing we call life.

  After much searching, I believe I have been able to acquire the items you requested. In my travels I came upon a pair of humble but suitable items that should meet the needs you’ve set out. They were lovingly crafted in a secluded farming village in western Pennsylvania, but are sturdy, if somewhat unpolished.

  Shipping arrangements have finally been settled, but it will be some time before they are available. I’m hoping that by next spring they might arrive, though it could be earlier. I do hope that patience is still a virtue at the Broken J and that you can prayerfully and humbly anticipate the arrival of such fine materials.

  Give my love to the girls and all those at the ranch. It is my desire to sometime come for a visit, but in the meantime know that you are in my thoughts and prayers always.

  Your Loving Brother,

  Jedidiah

  "They've been everything we've expected so far," Bianca Leoné spoke up from the far end of the table, "and though I think they jumped into it too soon, I'm pleased to see Issy so happy." She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, while her husband patted her hand.

  "They sure know farmin'," Billy piped up. "An' I got a puppy too." He grinned wide, causing his false teeth to pop a bit. "I'm goin' down there now to see about them dogs for Taylor." The grizzled old chuck wagon cook rose and stomped down the steps toward the bunk house.

  The dark eyes of Josh's sister-in-law, Wynona, flashed brightly in her dark-skinned face. The Kiawah woman, who had married Brion Blakely, Josh's first wife's brother, was well known for stating her opinion. "I think they are good boys." She stated clearly. "Also it is good that Mae goes to study. Sean will go with her." Everyone knew that there would be no point arguing. Although her son had the sun-bronzed skin and pitch black hair of his mother, his eyes were a wild hazel like the darkness of a pine forest, and he would fit in with society if he didn't bring up his heritage.

  One by one, those assembled began to leave. Deeks, who seemed happy that his sour-faced wife had at least attended the wedding ceremony for a girl he considered his own niece, moved off toward the same building. Then Isadoro took Bianca's hand and bid Josh, Benji, and Cathleen goodnight.

  For several silent moments, Benji sat at the table looking at his old friend, before he spoke.

  "Are you sure about sending Mae away?" he finally asked.

  "Jerusalem already agreed to have her," Josh replied.

  Cathleen turned her dark eyes on the two men, sure she was missing something. Benji's lovely, well rounded wife knew when two men needed some private time, and smiled.

  "I'll see you upstairs," she said cheerfully, standing and planting a kiss on Benji's age-weathered cheek.

  He grasped her hand before she left, his eyes thanking her for understanding.

  Taking a deep breath, he began again. "But does it have to be Jemma?" he asked. "I didn't even know you were on speaking terms with your sister again."

  "Benji, I'm not getting any younger and I've been trying to mend fences where my sister Jerusalem is concerned. I'm not sure she's the perfect solution, but she's the best opportunity we have. Mae cannot keep going on this way." He ran a large hand over his face as if to emphasize the worry he felt.

  Benji studied his knuckles for a while. "I suppose that's true, I just hope that Jemma's notions and ideas don't rub off on our little Mae. Jerusalem James has always found money and influence to be more important than anything else." He was surprised to find that his words didn't sound bitter.

  "Mae has a sweet heart and a giving nature," Joshua offered. "Perhaps she'll be good for her aunt Jemma." His words were confident, but his eyes were unsure. "Having her cousin to keep an eye on her won't hurt, either," he added.

  Benji reached a hand out to his old friend, and clasped his partner’s gnarled fingers. "I know you only want what's best for Mae, and this has to be at least as hard on you as it is on her. She is a little too lively for her own good, I'm afraid." He smiled, not wanting his words to cut. "I just hope she's up to dealing with your sister."

  His dark blue eyes we compassionate as they looked at his longtime partner.

  "Goodnight, Josh."

  Chapter 8

  By mid-July the activity at the Broken J had tripled. Fiona and Hank were busy moving into their new home, which delighted Eric, who would have his own room and was busy planning a dog house for his pup. The boy laughed when they re-hung his swing from the large cottonwoods near the stream where at one time he'd almost lost his life, having only been saved by his intelligent, if ugly mule, Scooter.

  The seven-year-old buckaroo soon had a hard packed trail beaten between his house and the barn, where Scooter was to stay, or perhaps Scooter had a trail beaten between the two, as he'd let himself out of the barn on a whim and trot down to find his boy.

  Will and the cowhands were busy preparing for the fall round-up which would take the two-year old stock to Casper, and Isadoro was planning and laying out the house that would be Clayton and Meg's new home. He and Clay could often be seen with their heads together, sitting at the small kitchen table with paper and pencil, working out the details.

  The women were also busier than ever as they began harvesting early crops from the garden and prepared for Mae's departure in August. Cathleen spent hours at the main house sewing new clothing for her sixteen-year-old niece. Mae had been one of the first ones to make her feel welcome at the Broken J, and she would dearly miss the girl’s exuberant visits to Cathleen and Benji’s small house at the top of the rise on the other side of the stream.

  "Are you headed out to the fields again?" Isabella asked in the early hours of the morning while she lay cuddled close to her new husband.

  Taylor stretched, then wrapping an arm around her, pulled her closer. "Um huh," he grunted drowsily. "Maybe you can bring me my lunch again."

  Isabella smiled and kissed his shoulder. He felt so warm and right in her arms. "I might be able to arrange that." She ran her hand along his torso, thrilled by the hard planes and ridges of his sleek body.

  Taylor groaned as her touch sent sparks through his body, then rolled over to kiss her. They'd be late for breakfast again.

  Issy and Taylor were surprised to find Joshua still sitting at the table on the back porch when they arrived sometime later, carrying their now cold plates of bacon and pancakes.

  Joshua grinned at his daughter. She seemed to be so happy, and he was pleased that she and Taylor were able to work so well together.

  "Will you be headed out to the fields today?" He asked his new son-in-law.

  Instead of answering, Taylor scratched his head and looked pensive for a few minutes. "Yes," he finally replied, "but I've been thinking' of something else I'd like to talk to you about, sir." He lifted his hazel eyes to the ice blue stare of his former boss and now father-in-law.

  "Go on, son."

  "Well, when we first got here I saw the work that Hank's been doing, you know, building that furniture. He does nice work, by the way."

  "Yes, he does. Where is this going, Taylor?" Joshua shot a look at his daughter who simply shrugged.

  "It's just that Hank explained how you get your lumber, and with all the building here around the ranch I was thinking there must be a better way." He looked between his wife and her father. "I worked a saw mill back in Pennsylvania, and it seems to me that it may be a profitable endeavor to start one up here near the Broken J." He finished and sat silently waiting for a reply.

  Joshua James studied the face of the young man sitting across the table from him. It was true that the time and labor to timber, then cut and divide i
t into lumber, was intense and they had a hard time keeping up with demand. Hank's furniture was not just beautiful; it would probably sell quite well. He was sure Isadoro would be pleased with more readily available lumber for building and repairs.

  "On the way out here," Taylor began again, "Reg and I saw places where people had abandoned furnishings on the trail as it was too much of a burden for the animals and was slowing them down. With Wyoming a state now, more and more people are coming west and they'll need lumber and furniture as well. I just think it would be something that could work out well."

  "Taylor you have my blessing to look into this, if that's what you're looking for. Just make sure that you can handle the wheat production as well." He paused, studying the young man and thinking he was a good addition to the family. "The lumber act of 1873 will be a boon to us. Between me and the fellas who came west with me, we own nearly two-thousand acres in the flat land. Brion and I also filed for some of the land on the foothills, and that's where we get our timber from now. We're entitled to one hundred sixty acres each, so that will allow for a little more expansion as well. As long as it doesn’t impact the wheat production negatively, you have my blessing.

  Taylor gave Joshua his most ingratiating grin. "That won't be a problem sir, especially with the fancy harvester that Clay brought back from Chicago."

  "Then I'll look forward to seeing a saw mill in the future," Joshua said with a grin, extending his hand and shaking Taylor's. "I'll leave the details to you, and if you need them, Hank and Isadoro. We can send a list of items needed with Clay and Meg when they head for Boston."

  Kissing Taylor soundly as he set out to the fields, Isabella glowed with pride. "What a wonderful idea," she gushed at him.

  "Ah, Bella," he chided, "It's just sense, that's all." He kissed her again, then swung up on Tracker to go find his brother.

  On her way back to the house from the barn, Issy looked up to see Ray Deeks digging in the black earth of the big house garden, pulling onions, and placing them in a basket. Her bare feet were toe deep in the soil and as she turned to put another large item in the basket, Issy was sure she could see a soft smile on the older woman’s face.

  "Crazy old woman," she said silently, then gasped at her unkind thoughts. Ray might not be sociable and kept to herself, but she'd never done anything to anyone on the ranch, and she did seem to look after Uncle Deeks. Hanging her head in shame, she scurried into the house to get her list of chores from Nona.

  ******

  "Nona! Nona!" The anguished voice of Eric echoed into the house through the front door, sending a chill through the too warm house.

  "Eric? What's wrong?” Bianca Leoné, with Issy and Lexi just steps behind her, dashed through the screen door and into the hot afternoon sun.

  "Grandpa!" The boy wailed, as he indicated the prostrate form of Joshua James on a make-shift travois behind the roan mule.

  "Dio ci aiuti!" The older woman cried as she hurried to her son-in-law's side.

  "Pa sent me to get some more nails from the forge, and as I rode up I saw grandpa on the trail." The boy sniffed, "He was just lying there. I fixed up the drag like Sean showed me. Is he dead?" His bright blue eyes reflected his fear.

  "No, but let’s get him into the house." Nona replied.

  Issy and Lexi, white as fresh linen, helped their grandmother half lift, half drag their father into the house and onto his bed.

  "Lexi get cold water. Issy stay here." Nona's words were firm and the girls jumped to attention even as their limbs grew numb.

  The heavy clomp of Nona's boots on the front porch sounded hollow through the silent house.

  Bianca Leoné walked out onto the porch, stepped down into the dirt, rested the butt of the rifle guard at an angle on her plump hip, and pulled the trigger, cocked, pulled, cocked, and pulled again. The thunderous echo of the three shots rang through the air, then faded away as she turned to look at the boy standing forlornly against his mule.

  "The men come now," she said confidently, her dark eye glinting. "Go fetch Buck," she said, pointing toward the buckskin gelding grazing along the back fence, "then come back."

  The sound of three rifle shots in quick succession vibrated like a brass gong over the Broken J, turning all eyes homeward.

  Eric ran his sleeve under his nose as he led the stocky buckskin gelding toward the barn, then froze as the jangle of harness, the clatter of a wagon and drumming hoof beats of his father’s massive team galloped into the yard.

  Hank Ballard hauled back on the traces, causing his big horses to slide to a stop and before the wagon had even stopped rolling, he’d leaped from the wagon, gazing around him for the problem. His eyes landed on his son and some of the tension in his chest eased.

  “Where’s your Ma?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s grandpa,” the boy sniffed and pointed toward the house.

  Isadoro Leoné looked between the large man and the small boy. “Get the horses settled and I’ll find out what’s going on,” he said, his voice full of authority.

  The house was silent as Isadoro entered, listening closely he heard the quiet murmur of voices coming from Joshua’s room at the bottom of the stairs. Turning in that direction, he slipped into the dim room where three of his granddaughters and his wife could be seen bending over the still form of the tall cattleman.

  “Bia?” He questioned.

  “It’s his head,” the woman said, “I think he’s had a stroke.” Her dark eyes were full of fear and shimmered with tears, but she determinedly wrung out a damp cloth and draped it over Joshua’s closed eyes.

  Moments later, the sound of Hank and Eric entering the house could be heard, quickly followed by the thunder of racing horses entering the ranch yard as the rest of the crew arrived at a run.

  Seeing Hank standing in the door frame, Fiona, who'd come in from the kitchen, turned from her father and collapsed into her husband’s arms, tears streaming down her face.

  “Take her to the kitchen and get her some tea,” Isadoro suggested. “I’ll speak to the others.”

  Katie arrived in a rush, carrying a frightened Mary in her arms. The tall, blonde woman insisted on seeing her father immediately, then understanding there was nothing she could do, quickly fell into her husband's embrace.

  The rest of the afternoon was a blur. Every member of the Broken J, including Benji and Cathleen, soon sat at the big tables sipping coffee and waiting for someone to tell them about Joshua’s condition. It was agreed that Walt would ride out to fetch Brion and his family from the Wind River Range in case things took a turn for the worse.

  As evening approached, Nona and Cathleen, who'd both had experience caring for an ill family member, entered the kitchen looking tired.

  “He’s resting now, but we won’t know how bad it is until he wakes up," Nona said. "In the meantime, he would not want any of us to be sitting around letting things fall apart. Katie, give Mary to Mae and Chen Lou and you can start supper. Lexi, Issy you will help.” She looked at the girls, who rose from their seats and moved to the kitchen.

  “You men need to see to the chores, they don’t wait on any of us.” Her eyes came to rest on Reg, who watched Lexi with compassion in his eyes.

  “Well, get movin’,” Nona added, chivying them from the kitchen with the flip of her hand.

  Once everyone was out of the way, she walked quietly into the living room and buckled onto the settee in tears. Silent steps glided across the wooden floor and her husband of over thirty year sat and wrapped his strong arms around her, his soft voice lifting the Lord’s Prayer heavenward in his native tongue.

  Supper was a quiet meal as everyone struggled to eat through their worry. Benji said the prayer, asking for healing and grace, and tried to assure his family that all would be well.

  Issy played with her food, pushing the sausage and potatoes around into random shapes and piles. Taylor held her other hand in his own, trying to share his strength and comfort as the other men were doing with
their spouses.

  Mae sat scrunched up next to Chen Lou, unshed tears glistening in her eyes, causing the still red scar just below her right eye to appear vivid, like an inverted rose petal frozen in time.

  The women were just starting the washing up when Cathleen came out of Joshua’s room.

  “He’s awake,” she said, relief strong in her voice. “I think he wants to see Ben and Isadoro.”

  Chapter 9

  Over the next few days, a new routine was established at the Broken J. Benji and Cathleen would arrive early every morning, right after milking their two cows, to work around the ranch, both helping to care for Joshua and ease some of the burden from the rest of the family. Joshua seemed to rely heavily on Benji and Isadoro to see that things were accomplished, each man having been a part of the Broken J long enough to know what needed done.

  It had been several days before Joshua could speak, and even then his words were badly slurred. His left side was mostly paralyzed but his right hand was still strong and he faced the situation as he had faced all others in his life, with grim determination and faith. Benji and Isadoro would pass on his thoughts to the others each day. Mae was chagrinned to discover that despite her father’s condition, she was still expected to go to Boston in just a few days’ time.

  "But I need to stay and look after Pa." She argued, looking to her grandparents with pleading eyes.

  "Things are already in place, Mae." Isadoro explained kindly, "You need to start out and get the education you deserve." He smiled, even while feeling sad that the lively young girl would be leaving them.

  Brion and his family arrived within a few days of Josh falling ill, bringing with them Sean, their seventeen-year-old son whom they expected to study in the big city, and their daughter Annabelle. Sean's mother, Winny, cried as she’d cut her son’s long black hair short like the other men at the ranch, but pride still sparkled from her eyes as she watched the lithe young man transform from a boy of the mountains into a gentleman under the care of Nona and the others.