by Cyndi Raye
It wasn’t a bad place. Tables and chairs adorned the room, along with a long wooden bar at the front. Glass cabinets lined the back, filled with bottles and glasses. She wondered how he could be a pastor of a church and a bartender at the same time.
“I bet I can read your mind.” Cooper sliced off a piece of steak, placing it in his mouth.
“So you are not only a pastor and own a saloon but a betting man to boot?”
He inclined his head. “I know it seems strange and I think I won this bet. Am I right that you are wondering how I can be both a bartender and a preacher?”
She nodded, taking a small bite of her steak, chewing carefully before answering. “Yes, I believe you won this round. This steak is delicious by the way.”
Cooper nodded his thanks. “I sold several buildings here, leased out others and even gave a home or two to some who were destitute and needed a place to hang their hat. So far this town runs smoothly. I keep the saloon under my ownership because I want to provide a decent place for entertainment. I’m afraid if I sell it to the wrong person, debauchery will win out. Does that make sense?”
“It does make sense. God led you here. He allowed the doors to open up and give you the means and the way to start this town. Look at the beautiful church that towers from the entrance of Coopers Ridge. Perhaps instead of a saloon, you turn it into something else.”
Cooper raised his glass of water. “I believe you may have given me some good ideas. Thank you, Nora White. You are a Godsend.”
“Hardly. I run a ranch. It’s never the same, day to day there’s always something different happening. Changes are always good, Cooper. Maybe the idea of a saloon in every town is over rated. It’s your town, you can do what you want.”
“I have alot to think and pray about.”
The saloon door swung open. A plump woman, dressed in a long sleeved shirt and long skirt peeked her head in. “Oh, goodness, Pastor it is you!” She slid inside.
Cooper introduced them. “This is Millie, the famous cook of Cooper’s Saloon.”
“Hello, Millie. A pleasure.”
Millie headed towards the kitchen. “Nice to meet you! I best get started. No telling what kind of riff-raff comes through those doors tonight.”
Cooper leaned in, laughing softly. “She is one of the worst complainers I’ve ever met. But she will do anything for anyone. Millie doesn’t want anyone to know how big of a heart she has.”
Nora raised a brow and scooted her chair back. She wiped her mouth and placed the cloth napkin on the table. “Let me help take these dishes to the kitchen. Should we wash them or will we be in her way?”
“I’ll take them back later. The kitchen is her domain. I don’t want her to scare you off. It’s nice having you around.”
“Thank you, Cooper. I’ve enjoyed your company.”
He walked Nora outside where the sun almost blinded her. Holding her hands over her eyes she noticed one of her mares from the ranch in front of the boarding house across the street. “Is Matt back already? I was enjoying myself so much, I hadn’t realized it was so late. We are heading to Dallas today, so I must be off. Thank you, Cooper. It was a lovely walk and lunch.”
Cooper bowed, took her hand and brought it to his lips. He placed a kiss on the back of her hand in a friendly manner.
She giggled like an old school marm getting her first kiss.
“Hey, what the tar-nation are you doing to her! Get away from her or I’ll -”
“Rusty?”
Nora swung towards the voice. Rusty stood on the porch of the boarding house shaking his fist at the two of them. She waved.
“Do I need to defend your honor, Nora?” Cooper stared across the street.
She turned. Placing a hand on his cheek, she smiled. “Thank you again but for some reason Rusty has shown up and he’s not too happy. I better go find out what’s going on, make sure my sons are fine and the ranch is running smoothly. Matt was supposed to be here instead.”
“Let me walk you across the street.”
“I am fine, Cooper.”
“I insist.”
She took Coopers arm as he led her across the street. Rusty came down the steps and stood on the street, madder than she’d ever seen him.
“Rusty? Is everything alright?”
“What are the two of you doing?”
She ignored his question. He almost acted as if he were jealous. “Rusty, it’s nice to see you, too.”
“Nora.” Rusty acknowledged her right before he glared at the pastor. That was unusual for him to be rude, especially to a man of the cloth.
Nora decided it was time to move things along. “Thank you, Cooper. I’ll see you in church when I’m back from my adventure.”
“Cooper? You are on a first name basis with the preacher?”
Cooper crossed back over the street, his laughter making Nora smile. She believed Rusty was showing signs of jealousy. It was clear now. He thought because he worked at the ranch, well, because he was part of the ranch all these years, he can tell her what to do and who to see. He was behaving like an old mother hen.
Or was it because he had given her money many years ago when the ranch was in trouble? She had tried to pay him back several times over but he called it his investment. Rusty never threw that in her face either. He was a good man. He had been her saving grace. If Rusty hadn’t saved her that day, the ranch would belong to someone else.
Her own sons didn’t know she bore that secret. Rusty was as much a partner as Nora and the boys. She had the papers made up one time when she was in Wichita Falls. Rusty owned a third of the White Ranch and didn’t even know it. Someday she would tell him, but by the looks of things, it would not be now. He was salty at the moment.
Yet, even though she was indebted to him, she was having none of this negativity eluding from him right now. As far as he knew, she was his boss and was able boot him out of a job anytime she aspired to do so. Although they never treated each other like boss and ranch hand, she feared today she may have to put her foot down if he didn’t calm down.
“Rusty, if you plan to stand there all day and yell at me you will look awful strange standing in the street all by yourself. I’m done here.”
She made her way past him and entered the boarding house. Before she closed the door, she turned. He was staring at her, hands on his hips. Poor Rusty, he looked bewildered, as if he didn’t know what to do next. “Go on down to the stable and have our wagon hitched. We’ll be leaving within the hour.”
Nora closed the door. She steadied herself, pushed back a stray hair behind her ear and sucked in a deep breath. That man was infuriating at times. How dare he question her friendship with the good pastor?
Then a slight smile crossed her face. It was nice having someone care like he did. Because he was here instead of Matt. That meant he cared.
She was going on an adventure.
Who better to have along than the man she had been secretly in love with for all these years.
For now, that would stay her secret.
Chapter 3
Rusty led his horse across the ridge, careful to keep Nora and the wagon in his view. He was burning with anger inside knowing the pastor had spent time with her, in a saloon of all things. What had they been doing in there?
He hadn’t said much when he brought her wagon from the livery, instead he helped her with her bags and then on to the bench. From there she took over, holding the reins and leading the wagon away from Cooper’s Ridge.
Once they were over the drop, Rusty relaxed. He had second thoughts about taking her to Dallas. What if he wasn’t able to entertain her? Heck, he knew how to play a fiddle and stomp to some good banjo music, but put him in the city and he was lost. Why wasn’t she happy with the simple life they led?
He was so involved with thinking about Nora, when fat raindrops plopped onto the brim of his hat he began to look around for a place to stop in case the rain brought some bad weather to go with it. A grove of tree
s would get them out of the rain but only temporary. Then he saw the line shack setting back in a grove of trees. Luckily the leaves had already fallen or they’d have missed it completely.
Nora noticed too. “Over there,” she shouted, pointing to the old shack. It didn’t look as if anyone had used it in some time but it would keep them dry. There was a lean to for the horses to keep them out of the gusty winds that were stirring in the distance. This may be a quick, windy thunderstorm or last for hours, it was hard to tell.
The wagon rumbled over some wooden planks of a makeshift bridge that led to the small structure. Luckily, there was enough space for their wagon to cross over. A tiny creek below the bridge flowed with spring water, enabling a ranch hand access if he was stuck at the line shack for long periods of time. Rusty got to work while Nora loosened her own mare and led her to the lean-to. She grabbed a wooden box and canvas bag from the back of the wagon then tried to cover herself from the pelting rain. By the time they both got to the shack, the rain was coming down in torrents.
The tiny space had a layer of dust inside. Nora put her things down, then stepped towards the stove, checking to see if there was kindling to start a fire. Rusty helped, finding some small twigs, along with chunks of wood and stuffed them in the belly, stirring the ashes before lighting the stove. They needed a fire to dry their clothes and damp bodies.
“There must be an oil lamp here somewhere.” The sky outside had darkened from the storm, causing the inside to be cast in shadows even if it were broad daylight.
Rusty closed the door to the stove and wiped the soot on his pants. “Let’s hope this storm blows over soon.” He found a lamp on the small rickety table and lit it, causing a glow of light in the darkened room.
“I have provisions in case we’re stuck here for awhile,” Nora told him, pointing to the box she brought in from the wagon.
“Doesn’t look like they use this old shack much. It hasn’t been cleaned up in ages.”
“I’m about to change that.” Nora picked up a broom that sat in the corner. She began to brush away some of the cobwebs. “I’ll feel more comfortable if these are gone.” She busied herself while Rusty stood out of her way. She was a woman of tall stature, her brown hair pulled back in a stern bun. She always wore comfortable dresses but her beauty shown through. At least Rusty thought so.
He hadn’t realized how much he loved her until she left. Even though it hadn’t been for that long, Nora had never been away from the ranch for more than a day. He was going to have to tell her how he felt.
Rusty didn’t know how to go about these things. He was more comfortable with animals than people. He’d been a ranch hand all his life. Horses and cattle and wide open spaces had been his life.
And Nora.
“What are you staring at?” Nora stopped pushing the broom.
Rusty was caught! He hadn’t realized he’d been staring for so long. “Uh, nothing. Didn’t get much sleep last night, so, I, ah, yeah, wasn’t staring at nothing.”
Nora tilted her head, giving him a stern look at first before she turned away to finish her chore.
He let out a sigh of relief. How was he going to tell her that being in such close proximity made his heart race and his blood pump so fast it made him feel like a starving six year old!
Yet, from the looks of things, she wasn’t the least bit interested. She kept on pushing that broom as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
Rusty sighed. He had to get over this romantic notion stuff. It was making his life miserable. He wanted to have a good relationship with Nora, the one they always had. She was easy to look at but he wanted to hear her laughter, see her smile at the things she loved. He was afraid her going out in the world would make her crave someone else. A tall cowboy that she’d fall in love with. He had to stop her!
He realized she wasn’t happy with him right now. Nora always avoided speaking to someone while she contemplated her feelings. He had seen it over and over again over the years. But he had to know why she was upset with him. What had he done to get under her skin? Rusty was going to find out why but now wasn’t the time. He’d wait a bit.
After several hours pacing and then checking for the rain to subside with no luck, Nora got up from the wobbly wooden chair to peek out the small hole that was haphazardly cut out as a window. A block of wood was made into a shutter that closed up the hole from the inside with a small hook. Nora unhooked it to peek out. Rainwater pelted through the hole as she slammed the shutter closed. “It doesn’t look like we are going anywhere too soon. This thunderstorm is relentless.”
Rusty nodded. “We were due for one. Luckily, I have some cards along in my pocket so we don’t go stir crazy inside these tiny walls.”
“I wasn’t expecting to be stuck in a line shack with you, Rusty.”
Her soft words melted his heart. Did she mean she was unhappy she was stuck here with him? Or was the slight smile on her face an indication she didn’t mind being here with him? He wasn’t sure what to make of it so he figured he’d just ask. It was time for a confrontation anyway. “Nora, now you come over here and sit down, it’s time we have ourselves a talk.”
Nora raised a brow but did as she was told. She placed both hands in her lap, raising her other brow.
Was there a smirk on her face?
Rusty paced back and forth in front of the door. Then he leaned up against the wall, trying to look casual and cool like the other cowboys did when talking to a girl. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve been short with me, Nora White, and I want to know why.”
Nora blushed. “What makes you think I’m upset with you?”
“For one, the way you’ve been behaving since I showed up in Coopers Ridge. I ain’t never seen you act so angry to see me before!”
“Is this why you are anxious? Oh, Rusty, I was happy to see you, except it shocked me that you would want to replace Matt with yourself, considering how much the ranch means to you and how you hate to be away from there.”
He shrugged, relaxing his arms. “It ain’t the same without you. I figured may as well join you in this adventure of yours.”
Nora laughed. “Rusty, you are one sneaky man. I already know that you ordered Matt not to let me out of his sight. When he told me you gave him orders concerning myself, I wanted to horsewhip you I was so mad!” She tried to sound stern but her voice was more angelic than he had ever heard before. It sent shivers down his spine.
“See, I knew you were angry with me! I can read you like a book Nora!”
She stood, placing her hands on her hips and nodded, her voice no longer sweet as sugar. “Yes, I was darn mad at you. I am my own person, Rusty, I run a big ranch, for Pete’s sake. Don’t you think I am able to take a trip without you over-lording me?”
“Over what? That’s a mighty big word, Nora!”
She shook her head. “Maybe it’s time you get off that ranch and get a taste of the outside world. I’m not sure where Matt got to, but you are coming to Dallas with me to get a bit of culture in your old bones.” She nodded, seemingly determined to have the final word.
“Of course I am coming along! Why do you think I’m here! I took over Matt’s job, which it looks like he didn’t do too well. You were cavorting with the pastor in Coopers Ridge in a saloon of all places, and Matt was nowhere around to protect you in case something happened, I, uh, um, darn it, Nora! All he was worried about was the large bundle of food someone gave him. I’ll bet he’s still feeding from that parcel.”
“I’m going to ignore the part about me and the pastor because it is nonsense. He is a kind man who offered to make me dinner. That’s all and I’m not sure you have any right to know this information or that I need to explain my actions to you. Speaking of food, I’m going to start making our supper since we don’t know how long we’ll be here. It looks like we may have to stay the night and head to Dallas at first light.”
Rusty was frustrated. She took over the conversation he wanted to have with h
er and he still wasn’t any closer to knowing if he had a chance with her. How did this happen? Then he grinned. Just as it always did with Nora. She ran things on her ranch and obviously with him, too!
She got under his skin from the very first day he met her so many years ago. Her husband Robert had hired him when Rusty was in his prime. Rusty had been quite the ranch hand, taking all the risks on the new ranch the White’s had started.
He hadn’t been too crazy about Mr. White from the beginning. Robert was shady, always sneaking off to the Young ranch to help the widow, leaving Nora to fend for herself. It had bothered him over the years, but he was a ranch hand and had no say. Her husband swore to her he’d only cheated once, but Rusty knew better and yet he had to keep his trap shut.
Robert was the boss until he got himself killed by those cattle rustlers. In a way it had been a blessing to Nora. She never had to find out how her husband lied and cheated.
Except then the secret came out and that’s why they were sitting in a line shack on the outskirts of some other rancher’s property waiting for the storm to cease.
Rusty had always suspected the widow got pregnant right after her husband died. He had always thought they were not from her own husband. None of the numbers added up but everyone was grieving so no one had paid much attention. Except for him. When it came to Nora, he had always been careful to make sure no harm came to her. That meant Robert had been cheating with the Widow Young even before she became a widow. What an ugly web of deceit.
Those boys of her had been so young when their Pa died. They all stepped up to the plate, listening when Rusty taught them how to do things they hadn’t learned yet. Between Nora, himself and the boys, the White Ranch had grown into a decent sized operation where no one had to ever do without.
Now what were they going to do if Nora goes and finds some big city dandy? There’s no way he’d allow that to happen!
If he wanted her then he supposed he’d have to become her suitor and get all fancy and take her to Dallas for a new adventure.
