“Surely you jest. I can jump horses on a sidesaddle. This is easy.” She hoped she wouldn’t have to eat her words.
They set out with Whitey and Judd each driving hay wagons made into sleds. Sean and Elmo went with Whitey while Kevin, Logan, and Charity followed Judd. The horses had trouble wading through the deep snow.
Charity was thankful she’d borrowed Jenny’s underwear and boots and that she’d worn her skirts. The extra layers helped. She carefully followed the trail left by Logan’s horse.
At a ravine, they met with a terrifying sight. Wolves circled a cow that appeared frozen to the ground.
Mr. Murdoch said, “I’ll take the one on the right. Logan, you take the one in the middle. Judd, you get the third one.”
Mr. Murdoch pulled a rifle from his saddle scabbard and shot at the same time the other two men did. All three wolves dropped and the two others ran. Mr. Murdoch got one before it got out of sight and Logan got the other.
They rode toward the cow. The animal wasn’t frozen to the snow, just too cold and weak to move far. Elmo forked hay for the cow and it began grazing.
They rode on and saw several cows bunched together. Logan hopped onto the wagon and helped Judd dispense hay. They continued this for hours. Charity was plenty cold, but not as much as on the ride from town to the ranch.
At one place, they found two dead cows where wolves had successfully attacked. At another, a cow had died and her calf was almost frozen. Mr. Murdoch lifted the poor baby onto the hay sled to go into the barn.
Wind whipped across the open pastures and drove into Charity. She wondered how the cattle could endure days in this, winter coats or not. The sun overhead did nothing to add warmth.
When she looked up, though, she saw unbelievable blue. She’d never seen such a beautiful sky. In the distance, mountains rose majestically. Closer, she saw forested slopes.
“Like what you see?” Logan asked.
“This is breathtaking, more beautiful than anywhere I’ve ever seen. You could charge admission.” She stopped. “Hear that?”
“What?”
She said, “A cow bawling.”
Judd stood on the wagon seat. “I see a heifer to the right, Logan, up near the fence.”
She followed Logan and Mr. Murdoch and the bawling grew louder.
Mr. Murdoch climbed from his horse. “She’s caught on something.” He walked closer and started cursing.
Charity ignored the curses. If she rode with the men, she couldn’t expect to be treated differently. She drew closer and saw that a coil of barbed wire had been left on the pasture and the cow had become entangled.
“Who left this here?” yelled Mr. Murdoch. “I’ll have his hide.”
Judd appeared frightened. He looked at Logan, who nodded.
Logan said, “It was me, Pa. I’m sure sorry. You know how it is at the end of the day when you’re dead tired. You think you’ll come back in the morning but then you forget.”
Mr. Murdoch shouted, “No, I don’t know how that is. I’ll dock your share of the cattle sale for this heifer, that is, if we even have enough cattle left for a sale.”
Logan dismounted and walked around the animal. “No way we can lift her into the wagon and we don’t have anything to use as a ramp to get her up there. Can she walk?”
Mr. Murdoch bound his handkerchief around the heifer’s leg and motioned for Logan to hand over his handkerchief for the other leg. “Looks like it, but she’s got to have treatment. If it weren’t so darned cold, she’d already have a bad infection instead of a slight one.”
Charity sat on her horse. “Shall I take her back to the barn?”
Mr. Murdoch looked up from examining the cow’s leg. “You think you could find the way?”
She gestured behind them. “I’d only have to follow our tracks.”
Logan said, “You know how to shoot a gun?”
“Yes, but I don’t have one with me.”
He strode to his horse and pulled a revolver and bullets from his saddlebags. “Show me.”
“You are the orneriest man.” She gazed around for a likely target. “Nothing to shoot. I guess I’ll have to nick the top of that fourth fencepost.” She took aim and sent chips flying from the fencepost.
Logan mounted and rode to check. “You did it.”
She sent him an exasperated glare. “You don’t have to sound so surprised.”
He rode back beside her. “I wasn’t belittling you. Hard to use someone else’s gun for the first time.”
Mollified, she nodded. “Okay.”
“Keep this revolver on you, not on the horse. If you were thrown off you’d need to have the gun with you. Put the bullets in your coat pocket. Those weren’t the only wolves in Montana.”
Touched by his concern, she wondered if perhaps he still cared about her at least a little. “May I borrow a rope to lead her?”
Logan tossed his to his father, who made a loop around the cow’s neck. While his father was doing that, Logan set the coil of barbed wire on the wagon end opposite from the calf.
Mr. Murdoch watched the heifer limp. “She’s likely going to be slow and balky because those front legs are bound to hurt when she puts weight on them.”
“I’ll set a leisurely pace. Should she eat some hay first?”
“Wouldn’t hurt if she will.” Judd tossed a little hay in front of the heifer.
The heifer stopped complaining long enough to eat.
“Would the calf be able to follow along with us?”
Logan shook his head. “I don’t think she has the stamina. She’s laying down nice and calm, so let’s leave her there.”
When the injured heifer ceased eating, Mr. Murdoch gave the rope to Charity. “You sure you can do this? I hate to send you off all alone.”
She wasn’t sure, but she was determined to do her best. “I won’t be alone. I’ll have Star and this cow and Logan’s gun.”
Mr. Murdoch smiled at her. “You’ve got grit, Charity Kelso. If you can do this, I’ll appreciate your help. I’d send Logan with you, but there’s no telling what else we’ll run on to that needs his help.”
“I’ll be fine. See you later. You may get through before this cow and I get back to the barn.” She tugged on the rope and the injured animal staggered a bit at first then followed reluctantly.
Charity clicked her tongue against her teeth to encourage the cow they’d called a heifer. The animal moved incredibly slowly, but Charity didn’t want to injure her more by hurrying her.
Riding at this pace gave her time to appreciate the beauty around her. In spite of the below-freezing cold, the day was glorious. The wind was at her back as if helping her along.
She lost track of time, but didn’t worry. She had an easily-seen trail to follow through the snow. Going by the place where they’d found the wolves created a knot in her stomach.
Star didn’t like the scene either and Charity patted his neck. “Steady, boy. We’re headed for the barn. When we get there, I’ll give you some oats as a reward.”
The heifer was growing weaker and slower. What could Charity do if the poor animal gave up? She gave her as much time as needed but Charity wanted to get her to the barn where they’d all be warmer and the cow could be treated.
They struggled for another half hour. Star’s ears pricked and the animal shook his head and gave a warning noise. A row of five wolves approached.
Her heart pounded so fast and hard, Charity feared it would explode. She licked her dry lips then patted the horse’s neck. “I see them, Star. Good boy. Don’t worry.”
If only she could remain calm. She quickly pulled the revolver from her pocket and took aim at the closest wolf. She fired and the wolf dropped. Instead of running away, the other four dispersed to surround her and her ailing charge. Charity’s breath came in and out in painful gasps.
Dear Lord, don’t let me fall off this horse. Give me strength and accuracy.
She assessed the closest and shot that wolf. A brave
r one rushed at her and set his haunches to spring at the heifer. Her hand shook as she fired and she only wounded the wolf. She shot again.
The other two didn’t run as she expected. No doubt they were hungry. All she could think about was saving herself, her horse, and the cow. She couldn’t let the wolves win.
She couldn’t keep each of them in sight. The only thing she could do was dispense with them quickly so none had a chance to attack. Taking aim, she fired then swiveled and fired at another, but missed. Five shots and she’d forgotten to ask Logan how many this gun carried.
Star shrieked and she had to hold the reins tightly to keep him from bolting. When he was calmer, she saw the last wolf was too close and lunging into the air toward them. She shot him and he fell to the snow.
The wolf was wounded but still alive and her gun was empty. Her hands shook as she fed bullets into place and shot him in the head. She disliked the animals that would stalk her and the cattle, but she didn’t want them to suffer. She checked to insure each of the others was indeed dead.
Now the injured heifer was determined to go no farther. No matter how Charity tugged, the cow dug in her back hooves and resisted. What could she do? She couldn’t leave the stubborn animal here.
Come on, Charity, think this through.
She dismounted, careful to retain hold of Star’s reins. Leading the horse behind the cow, she slapped the cow on the rump. Sure enough, that moved the heifer along.
Walking beside the stubborn creature and leading her horse, she drove the cow toward the barn. And she’d thought she wouldn’t be walking today. Good thing she at least had boots, even if they were a little large.
When she finally saw smoke from the chimneys, she rejoiced. If she weren’t so exhausted, she would have danced for joy. Star wanted to run ahead but she kept hold of his reins.
“We have to get this girl to the barn, Star. You could help me, you know.”
As if he understood, he nudged the heifer’s rump with his nose.
Charity erupted in laughter at his action. The cow appeared to understand the end of her travail was in sight and she quit balking. Charity mounted Star and they continued to the homestead.
Sean, Whitey, and Elmo were already back and watched her bring in the heifer. The look on their faces made her laugh again.
“Surprised to see me?”
Sean walked toward her and took the rope. “You and your friend here. Where are the others?”
“Don’t know. They may be still delivering hay. How did you finish so soon?”
Sean shook his head. “Had to come back and load up more. Found a bunch of cattle though.”
She rode into the barn alongside his walking. “We saw wolves. Did you?”
“No, saw where they’d killed a cow, but didn’t sight the pack.”
She dismounted and removed the saddle.
Sean took it from her. “I can take care of Star for you.”
“He deserves a good brushing and a nice scoop of oats. I’ll do the brushing but I don’t know where the oats are kept.” She gazed around to see if she could figure out where the feed was stored. “You have a nice barn.”
Sean’s reply was stopped by the thunder of hooves racing into the yard.
Logan raced into the barn and skidded to a stop in front of Charity and dropped off his horse. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Are you and the others through?”
“No, but they’re headed back to reload. I was worried about you and came ahead. When I saw the wolf carcasses I about had heart failure.”
“You’re kind to be concerned, but my carcass wasn’t among the wolves’, so you should have known I’d be okay.”
Sean frowned. “What wolf carcasses? You said you four saw wolves but you didn’t mention you killed them.”
Still breathing raggedly, Sean said, “Charity killed a wolf pack. Looked like one of them got real close.”
Sean gaped at her. “Charity? Why aren’t you bragging?”
Elmo and Whitey gathered beside Sean.
Charity nodded and shivered recalling the threat. “They circled us to attack. I got all of them, but the last one was lunging through the air toward the cow when I shot it. Had to fire a second time to finish off the animal. I don’t like killing creatures, but I would like being eaten less.”
Logan stood shaking his head. “Then you walked a long ways driving the heifer.”
“You’re good at reading tracks, aren’t you? Your cow dug in her back hooves and wasn’t going to move. I had to slap her rump to get her moving. I promise I didn’t hit hard enough to damage her, but I had to keep slapping her until she sensed the homestead. Then Star nudged her and she decided to see what awaited.”
Logan took off his hat long enough to scratch his head before he replaced it. “Pa’s right, Sunshine. You’ve got grit.”
“I take it that’s a compliment even though I don’t know exactly what that means.”
Whitey came up to her. “Miss Kelso, I’d take it as a favor if you’d let me finish caring for your horse now so you can go on up to the house.”
She hesitated, wanting no special favors. “Well… when you put it that way, how can I refuse? Thank you, Whitey.” She handed Logan his revolver and the remaining bullets. “Careful, I reloaded.”
Truthfully, she was so tired she could hardly walk straight, but at least the men didn’t know that. Head high, she trod to the house and up the porch.
Logan bent over and took deep breaths. That woman would be the death of him. When he’d seen the dead wolves, terrible thoughts raced through his head.
He pictured her injured, or frightened out of her wits, or crying. Riding hard, he’d gotten to the barn as soon as he could to comfort her. Yet, when he rode in, she was as calm as if she’d been strolling in a summer garden and he was the upset one.
Sean pounded his shoulder. “She’s all right. Like you said, that woman has grit. Make a great rancher’s wife, wouldn’t she?”
Logan was too shaken to answer. He unfolded and grabbed his saddle’s pommel. When he’d calmed, he unsaddled and cared for his horse, pretending to ignore the knowing looks exchanged by others in the barn. By the time Pa and Judd rode into the yard, he’d brushed his horse’s coat and fed him a measure of oats.
Pa asked, “Miss Kelso okay?”
“Fine. She’s gone on into the house.”
“We saw the dead wolves. Damn good thing you gave her your revolver. Was she a nervous wreck?
That set Logan’s chest seizing up again, thinking what if he hadn’t thought to give her his revolver?
Sean came up to them. “She came in here like she did this every day. Didn’t even mention the wolves except to say you all had seen some. Logan was the one who rode in and told us he’d seen the carcasses.”
Pa pointed at Logan. “Didn’t I tell you the woman has grit? She’s gonna make a great rancher’s wife to the man smart enough to capture her.”
Logan stomped toward the barn door. “Going to the house. I’m cold and hungry.”
***
Charity didn’t know when she’d been this tired. In the kitchen, she removed outer layers before collapsing onto a chair.
Aunt Edwina worked with the braided rug. “Did you have an eventful morning, Charity?”
“Mostly I enjoyed myself. I could have done without the wolves, but the rest was cold but nice.”
Her aunt’s jaw dropped. “Wolves? Charity, please explain immediately.”
Amelia and Jenny gathered around her and Charity went through her story again. “Jenny, I sure appreciated the clothes you loaned me. I wouldn’t have done well without them.”
Amelia shook her head. “I couldn’t have gunned down wolves as you did.”
“Of course you could have. You’d hardly submit to being torn apart by them, would you?”
“No-o-o, but I can’t shoot a gun. But, then I don’t suppose I’d have been in your position in the first place.”
“I�
��ve no love of guns, but I was glad Logan loaned me his. I’d have been sunk otherwise.”
Aunt Edwina set aside her braiding. “Dear, clearly you have what it takes to make a Montana rancher’s wife.”
Pain seared Charity’s insides and she wanted to curl into a ball and cry. She took a deep breath and fought to compose her features. “I’m sure there are ranchers in Oregon. Perhaps Reggie can introduce me to a few.”
The conversation ended when the door opened and the men tromped inside for dinner.
Chapter Ten
The break in the weather continued. Each day Charity helped deliver hay to cattle spread across Murdoch Ranch for half the day. The air was dry and, though cold, she was becoming accustomed to the weather. Not to say she wouldn’t appreciate a nice spring day.
The other part of the day was spent helping with household chores. Aunt Edwina finished the rug for the living room. Charity wasn’t sure the room was much warmer, but she admitted the addition provided a nice touch.
Aunt Edwina caught her alone early one afternoon. “Any progress with Logan?”
Charity shook her head. “He avoids me. Even when we’re out together on the range, he doesn’t speak to me. Most of the time, he acts as if I’m not even there.”
Aunt Edwina hugged her. “Don’t despair, my dear. He’s sure to see the error of his ways and propose again.”
Charity didn’t think so. She wanted to talk about anything else. “Have you decided what you’ll wear for your wedding and what you’ll take with you to visit Reggie?”
“The blue taffeta for the ceremony. Should I wear my diamond and sapphire jewelry or is that too much?”
“Maybe too much for a daytime wedding in tiny Sweetwater Springs.”
“You’re right. The mauve traveling suit is what I’ll wear on the train at first and the gray one to change about. I’ll wear my duster over them, of course, to protect the fabric. Kevin intends to get us a compartment if there are any on the train.”
“I wonder how much longer before the train’s in operation.”
“If this weather holds, the repairs should be done soon. I admit I’m eager to marry Kevin and go on our honeymoon. We’ll wire Reggie from the train station before we depart. Won’t he be surprised?”
Montana Sky: Murdoch's Bride (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 3) Page 8
