by Cyndi Raye
Between the woman and the boy, Marshall had a feeling his hands were full. He’d have to keep them both in his line of vision.
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Marshall saw the ranch house in the distance. The morning dew on the tips of the grass sparkled like little crystals. He guided his stallion to the barn, then slipped the boy off the saddle to carry him to the house. Billy was out like a rock after stargazing for hours last night. He had refused to fall asleep, taking Marshall’s words seriously that they had to keep watch all night. He didn’t expect the boy to stay awake, but he did anyway, earning respect from Marshall.
The closer he got to the house, Marshall noticed Catherine asleep on the rocking chair on the porch. Had she been there all night waiting? A small feeling arose from deep inside but he squelched it back down. Wouldn’t do any good to stir up anything. She was here for one reason. He slipped past her in to the house and took the steps two at a time to deposit the boy on the feather mattress in the small upstairs bedroom.
When Marshall went back out on the porch, he stood for a moment watching his new wife sleep. She sure was a mystery. His heart tugged for a moment realizing she still wore an apron around her waist. There were traces of corn meal on her cheek as she slept away. Her head lolled to one side then her eyelashes blinked a few times before those blue eyes were staring at him.
She shot out of the chair like an Indian on the warpath. “I’m so sorry, I fell asleep.”
Marshall smiled. Were you out here all night?” he asked, even though he knew it to be true.
“I was worried. Where’s the boy?” She looked around, frantic, as if it was her own son she searched for.
He thought that odd. She didn’t seem to like the boy all that much when they rode in on the wagon yesterday. “Upstairs. Asleep. He was up all night guarding a newly born calf.”
She smiled, wringing her hands. “That explains things. I’ll start breakfast.” She went to walk past him when he stopped her with a hand to her wrist.
“If you would like to get some rest, I’ll show you where you will be sleeping.” She stiffened, like she were afraid he would make a pass at her. He had no plans, now, or in the future, to bed the woman. She was his wife in name only, they had established the terms through the letters. But why did he feel so charged and want to bend his head to kiss her right this moment?
“I, I’m fine. I slept throughout the night. The men will be up for breakfast before long. I better get started.”
Since when did she take such an interest in his men? He didn’t ask, but nodded instead. He pushed his hands deep in his pockets as he leaned against the porch railing as she walked by. Marshall went in to the house to show her where her bedroom would be. Their bedroom.
Marshall hadn’t thought things through enough. The boy had the upstairs room. The day he sent a ticket for the boy, he had put a bed there. He didn’t think ahead to where his bride would sleep. Now he wondered if he would be able to keep his hands off of her sharing the same room. She was so lovely. Incredibly so. He opened the solid oak door. “The boy has the upstairs room, this will be yours.”
He stood behind her in the center of the room, noticing the moment she spotted a pair of his britches hanging from the hook on the inside of the door. Another shirt was flung carelessly on a rocker by the fireplace. Even though it wasn’t often they saw cold weather, there were chilly nights at times. Many times when Marshall would come in off the ranch, he’d sit in front of the fire and fall asleep staring at those flames. Too exhausted to crawl in bed, there were plenty of times he’d get back up and continue his day. But that was what helped build his ranch, little sleep and lots of work.
It was starting to pay off.
“It looks as if this room is taken.” His new bride stared at his clothes, her brow raised.
He nodded. “I can sleep in the bunkhouse.” He wasn’t too fond of sleeping with a bunch of other men but if that was what she wanted, he would do so to keep everyone happy. Besides, he didn’t know if he could keep his hands to himself if he were sharing a bed with her. The reality of everything hit him hard.
She shook her head. “No, I refuse to move you out of your own bed. We can share. It may be difficult but we are man and wife. How would it look to the others if you slept there?”
“Good point. Although it’s none of anyone’s business what I do. I can take the upstairs room with the boy.”
“Nonsense. How will that look to him? He’s confused enough. I’ll take the room with the boy.”
“The bed isn’t big enough for two. It would be easier for me to take a bedroll and fall asleep on the floor beside his bed.”
His new bride placed a hand on either side of her hips. He liked the way she pulled her shoulders back and flung her chin in the air. “Nonsense, I say. We will sleep here as man and wife, in name only and the boy gets the room upstairs. I know you are an honorable man and will keep your word that this marriage is in name only. That way there won’t be any harm and when I’m gone,” she said before going silent. Her eyes widened and she shook her head.
“Gone? You going somewhere?”
Her face paled. “No.” She turned quickly to head out the door. “I have breakfast to start.” The swish of her hips distracted him for a moment before her words hit him full force.
Now he knew more than ever that something was going on. It had to do with her and the boy.
He sighed, knowing he had to get to the bottom of things before leaving on the cattle drive. Marshall didn’t want to come back to an empty house. Not even after one day.
He kind of liked a woman here.
Chapter 6
Ruby let out the breath she was holding. Being in the same small space with a man like Marshall was intoxicating. Stirring the coals to life, she placed a cast iron pan over the fire. Time to forget about his distracting ways and make the men their meal.
Staring in to the fire, she realized what she almost said. Ruby had to be careful. If he found out she was a fraud, he’d throw her out on her ear. He was such a nice man, honest to the core. “I doubt I have to worry about my honor,” she mumbled to herself, wondering why that seemed to disappoint her. It was because of the kiss at the alter, the one which stirred her soul to the very core. She had never, ever been kissed like that before, not by a long shot. Ruby touched her lips with her fingertips, as if she could still feel his mouth on her own.
“Everything alright?” his voice asked from behind her. He stood too close, only a breath’s inch away. She didn’t dare turn around, else she’d be in his arms. She nodded. This had to stop. Ruby was so glad when footsteps pounded on the outside porch and the kitchen door opened. A whoosh of cool morning air tumbled across the room.
“Mornin’ bossman, Misses bossman,” Max mumbled.
She noticed the moment Marshall stepped away. It was as if the cold air surrounded her, leaving her empty. Ruby gritted her teeth. She wasn’t supposed to feel this way. Not about this man. Get yourself together, girl. Get a hold of yourself and concentrate on the paperwork you need!
Turning to the men, she plastered a smile on her face. “Good morning, Max. Breakfast will be ready shortly. Please, have a seat.” Ruby kept her back to the men as she prepared pancakes, along with warm maple syrup and a tub of churned butter. Slowly, as if they were dragged out of bed, the other men filed in one by one, yawning and dragging their boots across the kitchen floor.
The pleasant sounds of their moans as they ate her fluffy pancakes pleased Ruby. She had cooked plenty of times at home, but these men were so appreciate. It made her feel all warm inside. As if she found a place where she was wanted and needed. She quickly turned back to the task at hand. Wanting to please even more, Ruby began to kneed the bread for tonight’s supper. She planned to have plenty of meat and some warm, thick bread for the evening meal. Taking a deep breath, she had to stop this nonsense. Although they were all happy for the food she made, it wouldn’t do any good for them to get used to having a woman around, since she
wasn’t sticking around here very long.
“Uncle Marshall?” Billy rubbed his eyes as his shoes pitter-pattered over the wooden floor.
“Morning.”
Ruby turned to the boy. “Morning, Billy.”
He flashed her a quick look and grinned, his sleepy eyes looking so innocent. But she knew he wasn’t. She glanced at his clothes, looking him up and down to see where he hid the papers.
Another grin flashed her way.
Ruby turned away. The little thief was about to have his world turned upside down. She had to get him alone. Some how, some way. Today she was going to get the paperwork and be on her way. It wouldn’t do her any good to get too used to this place.
The boy sat at the table with the others, scarfing up the pancakes as though he hadn’t eaten in ages. She turned to watch him throw another pancake on his plate and drown the thick cake in maple syrup. A secret smile crossed her face. She was trying not to like the kid.
Marshall finished his meal and slid back his plate. He leaned back on his chair. “Billy, you ready to go in to town today? It looks like you are in need of a pair of cowboy boots.”
Billy stopped chewing. He glanced at his feet. Ruby didn’t miss a thing. “Right now?” he asked, desperation in his tone.
“As soon as the wagon is ready to go. I need some supplies for the cattle drive next week. Thought you may want to trade those shoes in for a real pair of boots. You’ll need them to help Ruby with the chores while I’m gone.”
The boy didn’t look too good. His face paled and he mumbled something before shoving the rest of the pancake in his mouth. “I’ll be right back,” he tried to say before leaving the table to run back up the stairs.
“Now what in tarnation got in to that boy?” Marshall asked, a line of confusion on his brow.
Ruby didn’t say a word. She knew exactly what was wrong. The little liar and thief had her land certificates in his shoes. Now she understood why he was always patting his leg and feet. A slow smile cracked her cheeks. She knew exactly what to do. As soon as they got to town, she would offer to take the boy for his boots. Once he got those shoes off, she would take back her property and make plans to be on her way to a new life.
Frantic, she began to clean up breakfast as the men left one by one. “Don’t leave without me,” Ruby told Marshall, who was still at the table reading a local gazette.
“You want to go in to town with us?” His brow raised, she could feel his stare on her back.
She nodded. “Yes, I’d like to pick up a few things myself, if you don’t mind?”
“Yes, of course. Anything you want, Ruby. Put it on my account.”
It was that easy? She grinned, finishing up the dishes and placing two pieces of cloth she found over top of the pans of yeast to let it rise. Tonight would be another delicious meal for the men, with meat this time and fresh bread. A smile curved her lips as she placed the apron she wore back on the hook by the door. How wonderful it felt to be needed. Then Billy came back in to the room and she remembered why she was here in the first place.
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It wasn’t far to town but the road was bumpy. Marshall held the reins in his strong hands. Ruby’s eyes were fixed on those strong hands, determining she would miss them. And him. How could she begin to like someone so much in a days time? Perhaps if he would be a mean man like her uncle, she wouldn’t have any trouble at all. The fact was he was truly a nice person.
Billy fidgeted in the back of the wagon. “Uncle Marshall, how long will you be on the cattle drive? Can I go along? I know how to help if a cow has a baby?”
A smile flickered across Marshall’s face. He clicked his tongue and nudged the horses to go a bit faster. “Not this time, son. I really need you at the ranch. Who will take care of Mrs. Montgomery while I’m gone?”
“I can take care of my own,” she began then stopped when he looked at her with a raised brow. Sorry, she mouthed, realizing he was trying to let the boy down easy, trying to make him feel needed. “Actually, I need someone to show me how to milk the cows and to gather eggs. I don’t know how to, Billy.”
Billy smirked. “That’s silly. Anyone knows how to get eggs from the hens.”
“Not me,” she told him. “I’m from the city, remember? Never had to deal with those horrible chickens. They squawk and carry on, I doubt anyone will have eggs if you let it up to me.”
“Uncle Marshall showed me how to gather the eggs first thing yesterday. I guess I can try to teach you.” The seriousness of his voice made her look at Marshall, who was grinning.
She tried to stifle a laugh. Of course she knew how to gather eggs, but it made him feel needed instead.
“You’ll stay and help out at the ranch, and by the time the next cattle drive comes along, you can help me, okay. I’ll even take you along to Fort Worth one of these times to buy some heads of cattle I plan to purchase once I buy more land. Would you like that, son?”
Billy bounced in his seat. “Yes, I would like to buy cattle. I’m really going to be a real cowboy, aren’t I?”
Marshall grinned. “You sure are.”
Ruby rode in silence. Their banter was sweet. How was she going to leave all of this behind? Once she had her land certificates back, where was she going to go? Should she stay in town with her aunt until she could decide where to go? Which reminder her, she needed to talk to Aunt Adeline.
Today.
The wagon stopped in front of the mercantile. “You two go on inside and pick out what you need. Billy, get yourself a good pair of boots. You’re gonna need them come Monday.”
“You leaving Monday?” Ruby asked.
Marshall looked at her. “Early in the morning on Monday. We’ll take the cattle to Dallas, where they can load the cattle trains. It won’t be a long drive, about two weeks.”
Ruby chewed her bottom lip as she waited for Marshall to help her from the wagon. She remembered his puzzled look the last time and decided she’d try to behave. He took her hand as she stepped down from the bench. Looking in to his eyes, a spark flew between them. She closed her eyes, trying to shut it out of her mind.
He let go of her hand and turned away. As he walked away, he told her, “I’ll see you in a bit.”
Grabbing Billy by the hand, they went in to the mercantile. An older gentleman was behind the counter, wire-framed glasses and graying hair. “Ma’am,” he said, nodding to her and the boy. “You must be the Mrs. Montgomery we are all hearing about. Welcome to Wichita Falls.”
“Thank you, kindly, sir.”
“Names Jim Wheeler. You can call me Jimmy. Everyone does.”
“Nice to meet you, Jimmy.”
“Is this the boy?” Jimmy nodded to Billy, who was leaning over a shelf staring at a wooden toy train.
She smiled and nodded. “Sure is. He needs a pair of boots.”
Jimmy came around the counter to help Billy get fitted. The boy was reluctant to walk away from the wooden toy but did so when the older man held up a pair of pointy-toed boots. “I’ll help him,” Ruby called out, elated to finally get her land certificates back.
“Take off your shoes, boy. The lady will help you as I see I have another customer approaching.”
Ruby was glad someone else came in to the store, distracting the owner. She didn’t need an audience when she unveiled her property. A satisfied grin crossed her face.
The boy sat on the wobbly chair beside a pot-bellied stove in the middle of the store, his shoes off, feet dangling, not quite reaching the floor. Ruby snatched the shoes from his lap. She looked inside one shoe and then the other. Placing her hands inside, she wiggled her fingers around but there was nothing there.
When she looked at Billy and saw the satisfied smirk on his face, she wanted to scream. “Where are they?” she seethed, her voice low enough for him to hear but not loud enough for the mercantile owner or his customer.
“I hid them.”
“What! You little conniver. Where? Right now, you tell me or I’m going
to Marshall about this whole mess. Then you won’t be able to stay at the ranch any longer.”
He crossed his arms. “Neither will you. Then where will you go without them?”
“Billy, why are you doing this?” She knelt down, her face close to his. “I just want to get what belongs to me and leave.”
He shrugged. “I know. I want to stay. I like it here.”
“You can stay. It is your home now. I want to make my own way. Those land certificates are like gold to me. Please, Billy. Give them back.”
“If I do, you will leave.”
“Yes.”
“I like you.”
Ruby sighed. “Billy, I like you, too.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Ruby tapped her toe against the wooden planks on the floor. She thrust a boot towards the boy. “Here, try this on.” Where on earth would he hide them? Apparently, they were somewhere in his room. It was the only place he was before coming in to town.
She leaned forward, pretending to help him with his boots. “You’ve got one last chance, Billy. I guess it won’t hurt for me to stick around while Marshall is on the cattle drive. That means you have two weeks to deliver the goods. Or else. Understand?”
“Two weeks?”
She nodded.
“Okay. I’ll give them to you in two weeks.”
“Swear to God.”
His eyes went back and forth as if God were indeed watching him. Then he raised his little hand to his heart. “I give you my word.”
“You sure? Cause if I don’t get them back, you won’t have a home either. We’ll both be booted off the ranch.”
His eyes widened. “I promised you I would. In two weeks. I don’t want to go back to the city.”
There was no sense in trying to reassure him. She raised her brows with a stern look. “Make sure you hand them to me by the time Marshall gets back.”
“Gets back? What’s that you say?” Marshall strode up to them, smiling.
