by Rita Hestand
"Yeah, she's been sick for a while now." Noah explained.
"You don't like Mrs. Williams then?" Jace askes as he slanted him a curious glance.
Noah frowned in reflection. "Don't like her kind, more than anything. You see, her husband, when he married her, he gave her everything she could possibly want. The WW stands for Willa Williams. But most of all, he gave her his love. That wasn't enough either. Since his accident, she rides ramrod on the men she works for. And enjoys doing it. She's a beautiful woman, and she flaunts that too, but she's got a mean and selfish heart. All the big shots from town want her. But the problem with her is, nothing is never enough for her. There is no man that could tame her."
Jen stared at Noah then Jace. "She is beautiful."
Jace raised his head, his eyes going over Jen thoroughly. "Honey, I told you, beauty is as beauty does."
Jen stared at him for a long moment, soaking in his words, and realizing how much he meant it.
"That's right. This place might not be as fancy as hers, but it belonged to my father and his father. It's been Hawkes land for longer than hers. I won't sell it. No sir, I might give it away when I die to someone, but I won't sell it to that damned woman. This is one time she's not getting what she wants. Besides, she's stirrin' up trouble with the Indians."
"What kind of trouble?" Jace frowned with concern in his voice. "I thought most of the Indians had been placed on reservations. You have trouble around here?"
"We got a renegade bunch between her place and mine. They raid off an on. But the worst part is, someone is supplying them with guns. And her bunch riles them ever so often. I think on purpose. If the woman had her way she'd run everyone in the valley off so she could get the land. She was sweet on Hardin when her and her husband first came here, mainly because at that time Hardin was ambitious too. And quite rich to boot. But strangely, Hardin wouldn't have a thing to do with her. He knew her kind. Since she couldn't tame him, she decided to outdo him in ranching. They made him the President of the Cattleman's Association in town and that galls her. Being a woman, she can't run for that office."
"She said you were too old to work the place." Jen repeated.
"Too old…I've been wanting to give that woman a piece of my mind and I may have to do it. Well, I can tell you one thing. It'll be a cold day in hell before she gets it." Noah said empathically. "I guess she came in silks and smelling like a lily."
"She did that's a fact." Jen smiled. "I wondered about that, I would expect a real rancher to come in pants or riding skirt at the least. She was so fancy, I felt very undressed."
Jace gave Jen a quick once over and winked.
"Stupid woman. Like that has any bearing on me to sell this land. Probably a good thing I wasn't home…"
Jen nodded, "Probably was."
Jace frowned. "Just how pushy is she about all of this?"
"She's about to rile me. That's how pushy. And in recent years, I don't rile like I used to. I've told her no twice, she don't get the message." Noah shook his head. "I've tried being polite. Trouble with her, she's is used to getting her way. I look to have some trouble with her men before this is settled."
"Would she send them?"
"She sure would, if she loses all hope. She'd try anything. The word 'no' is not in her vocabulary."
"People like that always think they can push their way into something." Jace told him.
"Look, I didn't want to get you folks in a war, you just got here and things are workin' out good, but I did want to warn you there could be trouble ahead." Noah informed them.
"We've dealt with troubles before." Jace assured him.
"It could be pretty bad. She's got a lot of men, and like I said, she's stirrin' up the Indians too." Noah fretted.
"We'll handle it, together." Jen smiled at him. "You're not alone any more, Noah."
Noah raised his head, his eyes planted on Jen. "I guess you are right about that. You two are almost like family. Say, you look nice today. What did you do to yourself?"
"Well, like I said, she sort of put me to shame." Jen blushed. "Well, I gotta admit I was looking pretty rough. When Kate showed up I ran to find a mirror and saw for myself how bad I looked. No wonder she treated me like a servant."
Jace's head flew up and he frowned, but didn't say anything.
Noah glanced from Jen to Jace. "Now look, I usually take a nap after lunch, to let my food settle. So you youngin's make yourself to home. Them dumplings were good girl." He smiled at Jen. "Soon as I get up, we'll start workin' on them horses we brought."
"Glad you enjoyed the dumplings. We may be eating on them for a few days."
"Fine with me girl. They are better after they set a day or two anyway. Say, where'd you learn to cook so good?" He asked.
Jen chuckled. "I learned to cook from pure survival. My Ma died early on, but we had a black cook for a few years and she taught me stuff. You know black people no how to cook better than anyone on earth. She taught me a lot about it. When Rebecca and my dad died, I had to survive, so I learned. The saloon had a cook and he taught me a few things too. I picked up things from everywhere I went. Had to, I had to eat." She chuckled.
"Well, your worth you weight in gold, girl." Noah chuckled.
He patted his stomach and then got up from the table and went to lie down.
Jace helped carry the dishes to the counter, but when Jen would have washed them, he pulled her by the hand outside.
"Let's take a walk, you can clean up later." He smiled throwing his arm around her and bringing them close.
Jen didn't object, she'd missed him this morning.
"I like the dress…" He smiled at her.
Her head tilted up to look at him, "You do?"
He bent to touch his lips to hers, just a sweet little kiss, but when she responded so vigorously the kiss stopped them in their tracks. Hungry for each other, the kiss went from sweet to passionate, as her arms went around his neck and he crushed her to him.
Jen ran on instinct, and right now her instincts told her to love this man with all her heart. He rubbed her chin and cheeks raw with the tingle of his beard, but Jen was unmindful. Lost in a world where lovers meet she hungered for his kisses.
When they drew apart they were both panting feverishly. He stared into her searching eyes. "I'm trying to be gentle with you, but when you kiss me like that, I kind of lose it…" He nuzzled her neck, nipping her with little kisses all up and down her neck.
"So do I…" She whispered. "I missed you."
He grinned, "That's my girl." He placed his head on her forehead and let out a slight chuckle.
He kissed her ear and blew softly there.
He felt her skin prickle with goosebumps. "Oh Jace…" she cried finding his lips once more and letting the feel of his lips guide her into some void where only they existed.
He held her for a moment, in his arms, their bodies fusing together slowly. "I want you so bad…" He whispered.
"I know…" she said simply. "Maybe I shouldn't say this, but so do I."
"God, don't say that…I'm trying to exercise some control and if you say something like that…it makes it even harder not to touch you."
She backed away from him, panting, her cheeks rosey with his raw and tender kisses. She fell against a tree and breathing hard now and stared at him with sparkling eyes.
"I'm sorry…" she cried.
"Don't be sorry, Jen. Don't ever be sorry. I care about you. And that caring is deepening every day."
"Maybe we should exercise that control you are talking about."
"Yeah, I guess your right. We should."
She nodded.
He tried to slow his breathing as he stared at her. "It's just you put on a dress, and fixed your hair and when I saw you all I could think about was kissing you again, and other things. But, I want you to know…what we have…it isn't all just wanting to make love. I like you…a lot. I trust you more than anyone I know. Trust is important Jen. It's what you build the future on
."
"Yes, I agree. Although, it comes hard for me—the trusting."
"I won't let you down Jen. I promise."
"I should get back now…and do the dishes." She glanced away from him.
"Yeah, we're going to bust some of those broncs today." He said softly, his eyes going over her.
She smiled at the way he was looking at her. "Let's get back then…" she managed to say in a husky voice.
As they walked back he stopped for a moment, "Jen I want you to be careful. The way Noah was talking…things could get rough around here at any time. So when we leave you here alone, be careful. Keep the gun loaded and be watchful. And don't let anyone, put you in your place."
She nodded. "I will, I promise."
He smiled faintly at her and they went inside. He laid down for a bit and she went to do the dishes.
Chapter Eight
They spent all afternoon breaking one particularly onry horse. Jace stayed with him and by sundown the horse began to give in. This horse bucked and twisted and reared and made all manner of noises while he was doing it. But Jace was worn out when he finished breaking him.
"He must be akin to that stallion." Jace laughed.
"I wouldn't doubt it a bit. But you stayed with him, that's good. It's also hard work."
It was a physical job and it could break a man as easy as a horse.
"Now he was onry." Noah chuckled.
"I'll say. Gave me a ride." Jace chuckled. "I'm worn out."
"I don't doubt that a bit. He turned you every which way but loose." Noah chuckled. "We'll work with him more tomorrow. It's been a good day though. I'm sure glad you and Jen came along." Noah glanced at him.
"We're glad too Noah." Jace assured him. "Jen's beginning to relax out here and feel really at home. She likes you a lot, but I guess you know that. Kind of looks at you like a father. Her father didn't give her much attention."
"Well, I couldn't sire a girl that pretty, but I'm glad she feels good about being here." Noah chuckled.
"When we got back together, I could tell she had it rough in more ways than one. I wanted to help. But more than that, I began to feel things, quickly about her. It's more than just wanting to help."
Noah looked at him in a comical way and chuckled, "Yeah, I can see that. And I can tell it is mutual too."
After supper the three of them sat in the front room. Noah only had two chairs, so Jace piled on the floor. Noah brought out an old guitar and handed it to Jace. "Can you play?" Noah asked.
"Used to…" Jace strummed a bit then played a pretty tune.
"That was pretty, where did you learn to play?" Jen asked.
"Down in Mexico." Jace answered. "Everyone likes music in Mexico. You know they know how to live. They work, but they also know how to relax and enjoy life too. I admire that in them."
"Mexico huh? What were you doin' down there?" Noah asked.
"Outlawin'." Jace told him boldly watching his reaction.
Noah stared at him for a moment. "You don't say. How long were you there?"
"Four years."
"How come you came back?"
"Got tired of running from the law. Not much fun or future doing that. But it takes a while to learn it." Jace informed them. "It was exciting, I guess, at first. But it got old fast."
"Ever get caught at it?"
"No, had friends that did though and never saw them again. I got the message pretty quick." Jace chuckled. "I guess you probably think we are a strange couple, what with me an outlaw and her a saloon girl."
"Yep, real desperado's." Noah chuckled. "I'd be worried, except you told me the truth. I like that. I think most young folks have a restlessness in them and have to learn things before they straighten up. At least some."
"Did you?" Jen asked curiously.
"Oh yeah, I had my wild days." He chuckled. "I was with Quantrill during the war."
"Woe that was a wild bunch for sure."
"Yeah, it got too wild for me, I pulled out of that war before it was over and I looked over my shoulder for him ever since." Noah chuckled.
"Ever been married Noah?" Jen asked softly.
"Almost tried it once, it didn't work out. She wanted twenty kids and I wanted to afford them. She was from back east, a real lady. But I was too untamed for her. She went back east and I never saw her again. You know some ladies are just too much of a lady for some men."
"You didn't want children?"
"No, I couldn't support them back then. I was just getting started in the horse business, and I was still pretty green about them. Green about women too."
Jace stared at Jen, "Well Noah, Jen didn't have a choice in her case, working in a saloon at thirteen. In all fairness, she had to survive. I on the other hand did. But when I went down there to Mexico, I was a bitter person. Thought I was a real tough man. I learned. I learned there were a lot tougher than me. I learned breaking the law wasn't for me either. I was scared after every robbery. And a few times it really got hairy, if you know what I mean."
"That's good, that's really good. Sometimes you got get scared to wake up and realize it ain't for you. And I'm sorry Jen had such a struggle, but girl let me tell you something. Struggles is what makes us strong. I see a lot of character in the two of you. A lot of possibilities too. I think three of us will do just fine, as long as you want to stay."
"We like it here Noah. And you sure need the help if you want to keep this place. I'd like to stay."
"Me too!" Jen beamed.
Noah nodded, "That's true, but, I want to warn you we might be in for some hard times with the Indians and that Williams bunch."
"Well, fortunately we've had some hard times so we don't mind so much." Jace smiled at him.
"Good. Now, how about us playin' some poker." Noah went to get some cards.
"Poker, oh, we don't have much money for that, Noah."
"Don't need money, boy. I play for beans."
"Beans?" Jace looked strangely at him.
"Shore, I don't want to lose money either." Noah laughed.
So for over an hour they played poker on the kitchen table. Jen won most of the hands though and the men chuckled. "Let a woman beat us."
"I guess I had an edge over you fellas. I've seen professionals play a lot in the saloon. Learned a few things from them."
Noah chuckled. "I forgot all about that."
The next day, early after breakfast Noah and Jace went out to the corral and began working with the onry horse.
Noah showed Jace some of the ways he gentled the horse. Jace watched with curiosity.
Strange how an old cowpoke like Noah could be so gentle with an animal. It was as though he knew and understood them. Jace noticed he talked and whispered to them in the ear, and the way their ears twitched, Jace was sure they understood every word. He took the time and the patience it required. He'd never seen anyone work with animals the way Noah did. It was a talent.
Talking gently to the horse, and leading him about, then petting him and talking softly. Getting him used to the blanket first on his back, letting him sniff it, letting him see it. Then eventually the saddle. It was a long process and one Jace was fascinated with. He was working with a professional horseman, he knew that.
"Where'd you learn to gentle a horse like that?"
"My Pa did it, and his Pa before him. It's a gift. Been doin' this for years now and people know me around. They know when I sell them a horse, that horse will do just about anything they might want." Noah chuckled.
"They sure do take to you."
"My grandpappy used to tell me that tamin' a horse was like tamin' a woman. You had to gentle them. Talk to them sweet. Butter them up a bit. He was right." Noah nodded and continued working with the horse, by sundown the Grey had a real respect for Noah and was doing tricks.
"I've never seen anyone work with a horse like that. I mean a wild horse. You really know your work, Noah. That's really something to watch." Jen had come to watch them after she got her chores done.
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"You've got what my Pa used to call a gentle hand." She watched Noah work and smiled.
"That old man knows horses, doesn't he?" Jace asked her as he joined her on the fence.
"And then some."
"Animals, most of them at least, aren't that much different than people. Like a child, you have to lead them, and learn them, and they pay you back with love and trust. Just like people." Noah smiled and pet the horse. "I'll learn the two of you to do it, if you want. All you gotta do, is watch." Noah told them.
He put the horses up for the day and started out of the corral. "Wish I could gentle people as easily as horses though. Wouldn't have much trouble then. I expect there are some wild ones that just won't be tamed."
"Now that would be something, wouldn't it?" Jen chuckled.
They were talking and cutting up when Kate Williams rode up on in a fancy rig. "Well, aren't we the busy ones."
She glanced at all three of them, but stared longer at Jace. Her eyes slid over him slowly, assessing him. A slow smile spread on her face.
Noah went to put the saddles up and paid her no mind.
Jace turned to look at her. He was a little in awe of such a good looking woman. Jen stared, the woman was lovely in red silk with a matching hat and she was a picture right out of a catalogue. And that perfume made Jen sneeze.
Jen saw how Jace looked at her and tried to play down her jealousy. But it flared quickly and hot. After all, she didn't own Jace. They weren't married or even promised to each other.
"Hello there, I’m Kate Williams from the WW ranch," she announced rather huskily as her eyes met with Jace.
Jace tipped his hat, "Jace Harrison." He said an almost as an afterthought added, "And Jen Carter."
"Y-yes, I've met miss Carter." Her eyebrow went up when she looked at Jen briefly. "Noah?" She called, her brows meeting as though his ignoring her made her angry.
Noah turned and saw her. He made a face and stopped what he was doing to come over and greet her. "Mrs. Williams."
She waited until he was at the gate before she spoke. "I came over the other day and you weren't here. So I decided to come back another time."
"Yeah, Jen told me." He frowned.
