The Cowboy's City Girl

by Linda Ford

  He hunkered down and studied the place. Why would they leave this obvious sign of a camp when they’d been so careful to hide their tracks until now? He stood up and carefully studied his surroundings. Nothing to indicate the intruders. Were they deliberately taunting him? But who? And why?

  Leading Scout, he climbed from the hollow and circled the area, carefully looking for clues. For about ten yards, he followed a trail but then it disappeared on rocks. He swung to Scout’s back and rode in the direction the trail had taken. Not a sign. It was like they had vanished.

  It was like they’d been trained like Levi and his brothers on how to hide their tracks.

  The sun dipped toward the west. He pulled to a halt and considered his options. Pa wouldn’t expect him back. But what if this was a trick to get Levi away from the buildings?

  Most of the cowboys were away from the ranch, though Pa had ordered a man to keep watch at night. But if Pa rode away to take care of something, the women would be alone and unguarded.

  What if Beatrice wandered down to the river, or up the hill to look for flowers?

  Who would make sure she was safe?

  He galloped toward home.

  Pa stood at the barn door as he approached.

  Levi ignored the knowing smile on his face. “Saw a sign of where they camped but no sign of the men.”

  Pa grunted. “The men haven’t seen anyone hanging about. Could be they were just passing through and bored with themselves. If there’s nothing in another week, I’ll relax the guard.”

  Levi wanted to ask him to keep a guard posted until Beatrice returned to Granite Creek, but his throat tightened so much he feared his voice would give away his worry. Now that Maisie was getting up, it wouldn’t be long until Beatrice left.

  Then he could forget her and return to his normal life.

  He closed his eyes for a moment as he led Scout into the barn. His life would never be normal again. He grabbed the saddle and flopped it to the stand with more force than it required.

  Big Sam had followed him inside. “No need to beat up your saddle because you’re in a knot.”

  “I’m not in a knot.” If only he could make himself believe it.

  “Levi, you’ve been running from your feelings ever since Helen died. I know her drowning was tragic and we all feel bad, but, son, life does go on. It’s okay to let yourself care about someone else. I loved your ma but I sure am happy to be able to love Maisie.” Pa grinned widely. “You can love again, too, son.” He slapped Levi on the back and stood back, as if pleased with himself for setting Levi straight on matters of the heart.

  Levi was sorely tempted to clear up Pa’s misconception. But telling him that he had been rejected because of his mixed blood would only hurt his pa, so he grabbed a curry brush and tended his horse without answering.

  After a bit, Pa realized he didn’t intend to say anything more on the subject, so with a grunt he pushed away from lounging against the fence and moseyed out of the barn.

  The supper bell rang and Levi groaned. If he had a lick of sense he would have stayed away until after the meal.

  Instead he followed Pa inside, kissed Maisie on the cheek, happy to see she sat with her leg on the stool. Maybe she’d found being up did more harm than she thought it would.

  Dolly stood by with an expectant look on her face. His conscience stung. In avoiding Beatrice, he had also avoided the little girl. That wasn’t fair. She had already dealt with enough loss and uncertainty. He swung her into his arms and rubbed his whiskery chin against her cheek, earning him a joyful giggle.

  He couldn’t help himself. He looked at Beatrice, wanting to share his joy in this child.

  She watched him but ducked away when his gaze reached her.

  “How’s your leg?” Big Sam asked Maisie.

  Maisie waved away his concern. “I’m fine and I’m not doing anything foolish. You can ask Beatrice.”

  Levi’s gaze went to her.

  She looked at Big Sam. “She’s being very cautious.”

  “Good. Now let’s eat.”

  Levi carried Dolly to her chair, lingering there until Beatrice had no choice but to move to his side. He pulled out her chair and held it as she seated herself. Her shoulders pressed to his hands as he guided the chair into place.

  She did not pull away.

  Mentally kicking himself for noticing and caring, he hurried to his place.

  He would leave as soon as the meal ended and stay away until everyone was in bed, but first he had to get through supper.

  As usual, they went around the table to tell of their day. When it was her turn, Dolly looked straight at him as she spoke in her usual whisper.

  “My mama and papa are in the cemetery at the church. Beatrice says I can go see their graves. Maybe you could take me.”

  His gaze jerked toward Beatrice. Had she had this conversation with Dolly? He should have been there to hold them both. He returned his attention to Dolly. He would not give a promise he couldn’t be sure of keeping. “I will take you if I can but no promises. Okay?”

  She sighed, her disappointment evident in the way her shoulders sank. “Okay,” she said with resignation.

  He had to make up for it as best he could. “Would you like to go for a walk with me after supper?”

  She nodded and smiled as if he was forgiven. “Beatrice, too?”

  “Of course.” It was the last thing he wanted. And the first.

  “I’ll do up the dishes first,” Beatrice said after a half beat of silence.

  He ended up helping. Only so he could get this outing over with, he insisted. But he could not deny the truth. He was eager to spend time with Beatrice and Dolly.

  Try as he might, he could not fight the feeling. So why not enjoy it, even knowing it was temporary.

  So he teased Dolly as they dried dishes. He told jokes that had them all laughing. He nudged Beatrice as he shared a laugh with her.

  After tonight he would go back to fighting his attraction to her.

  They finished dishes and left the house. Dolly walked between them, holding hands with both of them. She swung their hands and giggled.

  He glanced at Beatrice. “Let’s give her a swing.” He lifted his hand to indicate what he meant and they swung her off the ground, earning them happy laughter.

  It felt so good and right that he laughed, too.

  Beatrice joined in, her eyes shining with what he could only think was joy.

  Careful, he warned himself. Don’t be thinking it means more than it can.

  They wandered past the barn and the pigpens.

  He and Beatrice glanced at each other and smiled at a shared memory.

  Reaching the end of the buildings, he stopped and had a good look around. Was that smoke he saw in the distance or only a bit of cloud?

  He searched for the cowboy who was to be on guard and saw him looking in the same direction.

  If it was smoke and it came from a campfire of scoundrels that had been plaguing them, they would not find it easy to slip in and out and do mischief.

  Just the same, he meant to be careful. “Let’s go back.”

  Tomorrow he would investigate.

  He took Beatrice and Dolly back to the house and retraced his steps to watch the smoke. It had all but disappeared. Big Sam joined him. “I’ll ride out there tomorrow and see who it is. You stay here and make sure everything is okay.”

  “Yes, Pa.” He welcomed the decision. He’d feel better if he was here to make sure Beatrice and Dolly and Ma were safe.

  Never mind that everything he did threatened the safe-keeping of his heart.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Beatrice poured herself into work the next day. She told herself it was to keep Maisie from doing too much, but mostly
it was an attempt to block her wayward thoughts.

  Levi had been away most of yesterday. She didn’t blame him for wanting to avoid her. After all, she’d practically fallen into his arms, practically begged him to love her.

  She should know better than to think he could. She wasn’t sure anyone could love her.

  About the time she thought she might be able to live with the fact that she wished in vain for the kind of love she saw between Maisie and Big Sam, the kind she’d seen between Tanner and Susanne, and Johnny and Willow, Levi had been charming and amusing. Certainly his attention had been for Dolly. But Beatrice had felt included.

  How was she to keep her thoughts straight—focused on her future and the life she meant to create for herself—when he was so nice to her?

  However, he’d been distant this morning and left in a great hurry.

  She could have ignored him successfully except Maisie had sent her outside on one errand and then another. Dig potatoes. Ask Soupy for more milk. Take the slop to the pigs.

  Every time she went outside, she saw Levi.

  And even though she ducked away, pretending she didn’t see, she felt him in every pore.

  While she still tried to sort her thoughts, the men trooped in for dinner.

  “By the way,” Sam said, “I ran in to a family heading for Idaho and invited them to join us for supper.”

  Maisie sat up, then grimaced at the pain her movements brought. “I’ll have to get up. I can’t entertain sitting like this.”

  “Now Maisie, they won’t care. You sit right there and make them feel welcome as you always do and they won’t even notice that you can’t get up.” From the tone of Big Sam’s voice, Beatrice knew he meant his words as a warning for Maisie to take it easy.

  “It might help to know how many to expect,” Maisie said with some degree of frustration.

  “I think I counted four children plus their parents. Will that be a problem?” He glanced from Beatrice to Maisie.

  Six more. Beatrice barely managed a few meals for five people. Now almost a dozen. It was impossible. She ducked her head so no one would see the shock in her eyes. How easily they all seemed to forget she was not used to this kind of work.

  But Maisie said yes. “We’ll manage just fine. Where did you find these people?”

  Big Sam helped himself to the potatoes before he answered. “I saw smoke from their campfire last night and went to investigate.”

  That brought Beatrice’s attention to Levi, but it was not her right to voice her question.

  Thankfully, Maisie did. “Are these the people who have been hanging about causing trouble?”

  “Hardly think so,” Big Sam said. “For one thing, it’s a little hard to hide a wagon.”

  Relief flooded through Beatrice. Still her gaze stayed with Levi as she saw the worry in his eyes. Not knowing who was responsible, and not being able to stop them, understandably left him concerned.

  Was Levi in danger from these people?

  She jerked her gaze away to hide the fear that made her want to clutch at her middle.

  Thankfully she was too busy the rest of the afternoon to dwell on the matter. She made a huge batch of biscuits and fried meat covered with gravy and put it all in the oven to stew. She dug potatoes and carrots and prepared them.

  “You’ll need to make a dessert,” Maisie said.

  Beatrice jerked to a halt. “Are you sure you want me to? I might ruin it.”

  Maisie laughed. “You haven’t ruined anything.”

  “Have you forgotten the blackened meat, the half-cooked potatoes, the bread that I had to throw out—” She tossed her hands upward. “So many things I’ve ruined.”

  “And so many things that turned out just fine. You have learned very quickly. Now let me tell you how to make apple pandowdy. I’d do it myself except my leg is a little sore although I hate to admit it.”

  “You rest and I’ll do my best.” Though she wondered if Maisie was simply forcing Beatrice to try something new. But even if that was true, she was here to help and she would. So she measured and poured and mixed, letting Dolly help with each step. She put the dessert in the oven.

  It had baked to perfection—in Maisie’s estimation—and Beatrice put the heavy pan on the cupboard. If it tasted as good as it looked she would proudly serve it.

  At the sound of wheels rumbling, she glanced out the window. A wagon pulled in by the barn and was soon surrounded by a crowd. Big Sam had said six people, but it looked like a lot more. Maybe because they were all big people. She’d assumed children meant little people.

  She checked her reflection in the mirror over the washstand. She had flour on her nose and splattered across her front. “Goodness, I’m a mess.” Good thing she wore a big apron to cover her dress. She removed her soiled apron just as Levi hurried in.

  Big Sam entered on his son’s heels, leading the visitors. “This is my wife, Maisie. I’m afraid she can’t get to her feet. She’s injured her leg. My son, Levi. Little Dolly and Miss Beatrice Doyle, who is helping out.”

  Big Sam then indicated the visitors. “This is Stu Bagley, his wife, Trudy, their sons, Morgan, Konrad and Ray.” The boys were all a good size though the youngest might not yet be fourteen. “And their daughter, Emma.”

  The young lady stepped from behind her brothers. Her dark brown hair hung in ripples down to her waist. Her dark blue eyes brought to mind the river on a moonlit evening. She was tiny and well-shaped.

  Beatrice greeted the newcomers.

  Levi couldn’t stop staring at Emma. Not that she blamed him. The young lady was exceptionally beautiful, though with eyes as old as her mother’s.

  There was a general shuffle as everyone found a place to sit. Beatrice managed to get her place next to Maisie with Dolly between them and stared across at Levi. His gaze never left Emma, who sat beside Beatrice.

  Beatrice didn’t care that he had never given her that sort of attention. Maybe if she’d left her hair loose and wore a dress with a neckline that revealed a lot of skin—

  No reason for her to be snippy. He could drool over anyone he wanted to. It wasn’t like it mattered to her. Her plans here were short-lived. Never mind that she shuddered inwardly at the idea.

  “I’ll say grace,” Big Sam said as Mr. Bagley reached for the potatoes. Big Sam held out his hands, as did Maisie. Hands joined around the table.

  She quickly bowed her head as Big Sam prayed.

  The next few minutes she kept busy passing food. Then it was quiet, save for the sound of much chewing, which was very audible seeing as the Bagleys chewed with their mouths open.

  One of the boys, she thought it was Morgan, glanced around the table. “You and him getting married?” he asked, indicating Beatrice and Levi.

  Heat flared in her cheeks. “No. I’m just visiting.”

  Morgan persisted. “He ain’t courtin’ you?”

  She shook her head. What an impertinent young man. A glance at Levi revealed he still had his eyes glued to Emma.

  He swallowed loudly. “I’m not courting anyone. I don’t plan on getting married.”

  The young lady tittered. “I can hardly believe that.”

  Beatrice barely kept from rolling her eyes. She didn’t look at Emma but figured the girl would be batting her eyelashes at Levi. She knew she was correct when his skin darkened with a blush.

  “Pa,” Emma said, her mouth full of half-chewed meat. Somehow she managed to make herself understood anyway. “Maybe we should take a break here for a few days. You know, explore the possibilities.”

  Levi almost choked.

  Beatrice finished her food and glanced around. Most plates were empty. “I’ll prepare dessert.”

  She was about to gather up the dishes when two of the boys and Mr. Bagley took another serving
of potatoes. They cleaned out the bowl and took the last half-dozen biscuits. Ray or Konrad—she couldn’t remember which was which—ran his finger across the empty meat platter and licked up the last fragments.

  It might be impolite but Beatrice stared. These people were sadly lacking in manners. She turned back to the cupboard to dish out the pudding. She filled a pitcher with thick cream. Would it go around the table? Maybe she should start it—where? There were Bagleys everywhere.

  A short time later, the food gone and coffee served, Maisie signaled for attention. “We have a custom here. We go around the table and tell about our day. Big Sam always starts.”

  Big Sam nodded. “I went and had another look at the coulee where the cows had been trapped. I think we could create a dam that would catch the spring runoff and give us a water supply for the summer. It will be hard work but I think it will be worth it.”

  Rather than embarrass anyone by going by age, Maisie simply proceeded around the table. Mr. Bagley said how fortunate they were to encounter Big Sam and be invited for a visit. Mrs. Bagley said she surely did appreciate some good victuals. Beside her, Morgan said he wanted to ride one of the ranch horses. Big Sam didn’t comment.

  One of the Bagley boys said he had seen some owls in a nearby tree.

  Levi told about watching the burrowing owls with Beatrice. “She said she could hear the earth breathe.”

  The Bagleys laughed and Beatrice’s face grew hot. Why had he said that? Did he want to see her mocked?

  Levi held up a hand to silence the merriment. “If you sit on the ground and listen closely, you really can hear it.”

  Six Bagleys shook their heads but Morgan put words to their thoughts. “That’s a peculiar thing to say.” Beatrice smiled on the inside. Nice to know he didn’t share the Bagleys’ opinion.

  Maisie was next and told of something Dolly said.

  Dolly refused to speak before so many strangers.