They had discussed dogs two years ago, but in the end Dallas had never acted on it. Dallas made sure each shepherd had a good sheep dog, but there were none at the ranch house. Until the recent rustlers struck, there had been no problems with interlopers. Dang, one more change in his life.
“Yep, that sounds as if it would help. Then, if any more mysterious things happen, I’ll know it’s someone from the house. But where can I find alarm dogs so well trained they won’t bother the horses?”
“My cousin knows a man who raises them. These are not sheep dogs, but very gentle unless threatened by a stranger. I will get them today.”
“What’d you learn from Reno and Pete yesterday? You think we can call them back to help here?”
“They saw fresh prints of shod horses and signs someone watches your cattle, but they can’t catch these men.”
Damn. Rustlers, mischief, and trouble in his house—all at the same time. The onslaught of problems chipped away at his composure and faith in his own ability. Drowning victims probably experienced this sensation just before they went under. Why hadn’t he seen this coming?
Dallas tugged at his ear lobe. “I’m in big trouble here. You have any suggestions?”
“We can both think on this today. Something will come to us.”
Dallas figured one of them deserved peace at home. “Xavier? Tell Rosa if she has any more complaints, she tells me pronto.”
The foreman nodded. “Sí, I will tell her. Gracias.”
After Xavier left, Dallas sat at his desk and fought his anger. He reminded himself his new family members were like a bunch of wild mustangs. They had lived on the move with no schedules, no boundaries, almost no restrictions or duties. Taming these people proved harder than any horse he ever met.
His life had gone to hell in a big way, though, and he reckoned the time had come to take it back. He only hoped he knew how. With a sense of dread, he pushed to his feet and climbed the stairs to his bedroom.
He touched his wife’s shoulder and shook her gently. “Cenora? Cenora, wake up.”
She looked up at him with sleepy-lidded eyes and smiled. He almost forgot why he’d come. Perhaps they should have this discussion elsewhere, or he’d lose his focus and crawl into bed with her. He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from touching her. If he did, he’d be lost.
“We need to talk. Why don’t you get dressed and come downstairs? I’ll be in the kitchen.”
****
Cenora hadn’t seen that mutinous look on her husband’s face since their wedding day. What had happened? She heard him rap on her brothers’ doors and then his tread sounded on the stairs.
She hurriedly dressed and plaited her hair. As soon as she fastened her shoes, she flew down the stairs and to the kitchen. Dallas had coffee going on the stove. Both her brothers and her father sat at the table. No one looked happy.
She faced her husband. “What’s wrong?”
Dallas came over and held her chair. “Maybe you’d better sit also.”
Dear Lord, her time was up. She braced herself and swore she wouldn’t cry or beg. “Are you sending us away then?”
Dallas appeared surprised then angry as he faced them. “Sending you away? Of course, not. Cenora, I told you I wouldn’t send you off. I’m a man of my word, but there have to be some changes in the way we do things around here.”
She exhaled in relief. Although she knew she didn’t deserve a fine man like Dallas, she wanted to stay as long as he let her.
“Changes?” Mac jutted his jaw out in his bothersome way. “Meaning what?”
“Everyone needs a job, responsibilities, and I should have known that. I wanted to let you settle in, but I see that’s not working.” He looked at Cenora, then at each of her menfolk.
“On a ranch, each able-bodied person works. Everyone except Ma has to get up at five-thirty and have breakfast at the same time, and that’s six o’clock. Cenora, you’ll have to rise when I do and prepare the meal and have the dishes cleaned up before Rosa gets here.”
Grateful as she was for the reprieve, his high-handed manner annoyed her. She would have told him, but he sent her a look that took her voice.
He handed out pieces of paper. “I’ve made a list of duties for each of you. You’ll pick up after yourselves, or you’ll not have clean clothes. It’s all listed here.”
No one looked at him. Saints preserve us, they’d have to tell. She prayed they made it through this without losing their home. Hadn’t she come to love this place? At times, she thought she might be coming to love her husband.
Finn looked up and flushed. “Don’t you know we don’t read? Except Da, and he needs a good bit o’ time to work out the words.”
Dallas slumped into a chair. He shook his head as if dumbfounded. “No, it never occurred to me.”
Da looked fit to do battle. “Don’t be shaming me children, Dallas McClintock. In Ireland only the English trespassers can attend school. ‘Tis illegal for the Irish to read and write or speak our language.”
“Da learned because his ma worked in a big estate, and he sat in on lessons for a year with the owner’s son.” Finn looked at Da, then explained, “When the owner learned about it, he whipped Da something awful and said he couldn’t come back. His ma near lost her job over it.”
Da nodded. “He sent me to work in the stables, but I’d learned a bit by then, and I snatched at any paper or box label to practice me reading so I’d not forget. I do all the reading for the family and did the same for the traveling folk.”
Dallas looked near defeated, and it tugged at her heart. She reached out to him. He grabbed at her hand like a lifeline.
“If you want to, we can have lessons in the evenings. It might be a comfort to Ma to learn to read, and then, while she’s resting, it would pass the time for her.”
He rose and paced back and forth, and then he stopped in front of Mac. “That’s not important now. The most important thing is that someone is deliberately causing problems, and it has to stop.”
Da looked at Mac, Finn looked at his hands.
Cenora glared at her younger brother, who blushed a deep, guilty red. “What have you done, boyo?”
“Nothing. And I’ll not be ordered around like a hired hand.” He leaped up, and his chair fell to the floor.
She stood and shook her finger at him. “Now look what you’ve done, you’ve turned over the chair as you stood and brought bad luck to the house.”
Finn righted the chair and tugged at Mac, who sat but crossed his arms across his chest and scowled. Dallas stared at her, and she remembered that day in the wagon when he called her good Irish beliefs only foolish superstitions. Before she could defend herself or Mac could say more, Finn spoke.
“Dallas, I like helping with the garden and with the horses. ‘Tis apologizing I am for not rising earlier. I’ve no experience in your way o’ doing things, and I knew not whether I helped or got in the way o’ the others. It was my thought to stay out o’ the way.”
Relief washed across her husband’s face, and she could have kissed Finn for his words. “As a matter of fact, just this morning Two Bits said you caught on fast.”
That brightened Finn, and he sat up straighter, but Mac still glared.
Da wiggled in his chair. “Aye, I also like working in the garden. Puts me in mind o’ our little place in Ireland, but your soil is richer here and without so many rocks.”
“That’s only because Marston hauled off piles of rocks then brought up loam from the river bottom and mixed in manure. I’ve continued the practice. Otherwise, it would be mostly limestone rocks.”
Dallas paused and looked first at Da then at Finn. “You understand that if we don’t make a garden, we go hungry?”
When Da and Finn nodded, Dallas continued. “From what you’ve said, the weather here is different than in Ireland, so I reckon farming is as well. Da, would you be willing to take my advice if I put you in charge of the garden?”
The idea pleased Da
, and he perked up with a smile. “Aye, I’ll do you a good job o’ it.” He rubbed his hands. “For all this time it’s been me dream to find me a wee cottage on a piece o’ land where I could grow things again. Sure and this is near the same. Won’t it be grand to try me hand at raising the best in the county?”
Dallas faced Mac. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you abide by my rules. Up in time for breakfast and either work for me or find a job somewhere else.”
“You’re not me lord and master, and I don’t need you telling me what to do. I’ll find me own job, and you can go to hell.” Mac made to rise again.
Finn restrained him with a hand to his shoulder. “Don’t be insulting our new brother. He has a big place to run and five more mouths to feed. You think he had to invite any o’ us to live in this fine house with our sister and himself?” Finn glared at his brother. “And he’s had nothing but bother for it.”
Mac looked at his fists on the table and took a deep breath. “I’ll find me own job.”
“See that you do, lad.” Da’s quiet words surprised them. “You’ve taken on too many bad habits from some o’ your former mates. ‘Tis worrying to your ma and me and has been for some time now.”
Shock showed on Mac’s face, and his rage rose. “You’d take his side against your own son?” He rose and stalked out of the house without another word.
Dallas picked up a bowl and moved toward the egg basket, but Cenora stepped in front of him. “I’ll be fixing our breakfast now.”
“I ate in the bunkhouse much earlier, but I’ll see you at noon for dinner.” He hesitated, as if he wanted to say more.
She faced him and spoke low. “You should have told me what you expected, not left it to be calling me down in front o’ me family.”
He seemed to sag with a big breath, but he brushed a stray lock of her hair from her face with a gentle touch. “Yep, reckon you’re right. This marriage thing is new to us both. Don’t give up on me, angel, and we’ll figure it out in time.” His eyes held confusion and hurt, but he kissed her on the cheek and left.
That helped soothe her, but his earlier words had stung. Hadn’t he embarrassed her in front of Da and her brothers, embarrassed them all? She pressed a hand to her cheek where he’d kissed her. No, they’d shamed themselves, but she still had no idea what he expected of her.
She hurried through the meal, and the men went on their way. By the time Rosa arrived, Cenora had tidied the kitchen and sat with Ma.
When she went into the kitchen to fix Ma’s tea, Rosa wouldn’t meet her gaze, and there was awkwardness between them. Finally, Cenora could stand it no longer.
“Rosa, if you have complaints about me or me family, I’ll thank you to make them to me face and not go behind me back.”
“¿Por que, why? I work for Señor Dallas.”
Cenora put her hands on her hips and faced the housekeeper. “Mayhap it was true before he married. Now you also work for Mrs. Dallas McClintock, and that’s me.”
Rosa didn’t answer but huffed and banged a pot onto the range.
Let her fume, then. Sure and the change from having the house to herself all day to sharing it with five new people took a bit of getting used to. But shouldn’t Rosa have said something to Cenora if she were unhappy? Cenora took the tea and went to Ma’s room.
Mac didn’t show up for lunch, and Dallas reported that this morning while he’d ridden on the hill, he’d seen the traveling folk leave. Da confirmed he’d gone down to say goodbye and hadn’t seen Mac among them. Both the O’Neill wagons still stood behind the large barn.
All afternoon Cenora worried about her rascal brother. Why couldn’t he throw himself into work the way he dived into mischief? What would she tell Ma if he didn’t show up this evening for supper?
But they were seated for the evening meal when Mac strolled in with his chest puffed out.
Da narrowed his eyes at him. “Where’ve you been, lad?
“Hired meself out to paint the house and barns o’ some folks near town.”
Dallas frowned. “Oh? Who?”
Mac looked triumphant. “Wilson is the name. He’s looking to sell his place and wants it spruced up so it’ll bring more. Could be I might use Finn as me helper.”
“See you do a good job.” Da dug into his food.
Mac laughed. “Aye, I’ll do him all right.”
****
Kathryn came the next morning, bringing sunshine with her. Austin accompanied her, but bypassed the house for the corral where Dallas worked. She carried her medical bag and greeted Cenora with a hug.
“How are you getting on now that you’ve had some time to settle in?”
Cenora tried to speak, but her lips trembled too much. Finally, she choked out. “Fine, ‘tis fine.”
Kathryn frowned and took her hand. “Cenora? What’s wrong? My dear, what’s upset you so?”
In spite of trying hard to put up a brave face, Cenora broke into tears.
“Come now, tell me what’s wrong. Has my nephew been unkind?”
Cenora shook her head but couldn’t stop the tears. After a few minutes, she hiccuped out the past day’s trouble. “With Ma ailing, I’ve tried to be cheerful all the time, pleasing to Dallas and soothing me family’s way. Me brother Mac has been up to mischief, Rosa’s complaining about me family, and I don’t know what to do about any o’ it.”
“Oh, dear, you’ve had a lot of changes thrust on you. Now, tell me how I can help you.”
“For ten years we’ve lived with the Travelers. Before that, we lived in a tiny cottage on a bit o’ land no larger than the pasture by the corral.” She sniffed and fought back another siege of tears. “I’ve no idea what a wife in a big house like this is supposed to do. Dallas’s hardly here except to eat and sleep. Ma’s care doesn’t take that long, but she gets lonely so I visit with her.”
She pulled a handkerchief from her cuff and dabbed at her face. Didn’t it feel good to talk to someone about her worries? “Once in a while Dallas takes me riding on me horse, Queenie, and that’s nice, but I hardly see him any other time o’ the day. At least Da and Finn have a job now, taking care o’ the garden.”
“I see. Let’s make a plan for you, shall we?”
Cenora nodded. “Praise be, you understand me and don’t look at me like you think I’m the idjit I am.”
Kathryn patted her hand. “Now, dear, don’t sell yourself short. You’ll be fine once you get the routine down. Most days are the same on a ranch, except the times when there’s a trip to town or church. Once in a while someone hereabouts has a party.” Kathryn opened her bag and pulled out a sheaf of paper.
Cenora broke into renewed sobbing and covered her face with her hands. Would this humiliation never end? “Can’t.”
Kathryn leaned forward as if she hadn’t heard. “What?”
“C—Can’t...can’t read.” The confession hurt, but at the same time it relieved the fear of discovery.
“I know that, dear. We’ll make do with my terrible drawings.”
Cenora gasped. “You knew? All this time?”
“It hasn’t been that long since you came, but yes, I suspected. You see, when I gave you your mother’s instructions, you held the paper upside down when you pretended to read it.”
She patted Cenora's hand again. “Lots of my patients can’t read. I told you that, don’t you remember? It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Cenora nodded and wiped at her eyes. “’Tis relieved I am you’re not making fun o’ me. Dallas’s going to show me how in the evenings. He said he’d teach all o’ us if we want him to.”
“He’ll be a good tutor and reading will enrich your life in many ways.” Kathryn drew a chicken on the paper. “This will be for morning.”
Kathryn laughed at herself. “See, I’m no artist, but this is supposed to be a rooster crowing? We’ll divide the house up so you clean a part each day. By the end of the week it will all have had a polish.” She drew a basket of eggs.
&nbs
p; Cenora groaned. “Akh, I should gather the eggs?”
“Yes, and fed the chickens. That’s generally the woman’s work as well as milking unless there are children or young men. Maybe your brothers would milk the cows each morning and evening.” She made a picture for each duty and a page for each day.
“We don’t know how. For a time, Mrs. Murphy had a cow, and we watched her milking. Poor mooreen took sick, though, so Mrs. Murphy sold her to a settled man who’d know how to doctor and care for her.”
“One of the ranch hands—probably Fred—will show you how to milk and feed the chickens and where to look for the eggs. Now, you see the moon here? That’s for Monday, when you do laundry.” She made a different sign at the top of each page for every day of the week.
By the time Kathryn went in to see Ma, Cenora had an idea of what a rancher expected of his wife. She clutched her precious sheets of drawings to her and went into Ma’s bedroom to learn about her progress.
Chapter 11
Creaking wagon wheels and a jingling harness caught Dallas’s attention. He pulled the kitchen curtain aside then called to Cenora to bring her father and brothers.
The yard lay in dawn’s shadows but sunrise approached. A small man drove his two-wheeled cart up to the ranch house. Two giant dogs waited until he told them to jump down.
Xavier came around the corner. “Hola, Pedro.”
The little man tied his mule to the rail and came up the porch steps before he removed his hat. “Señor Dallas, Xavier say you need watch dogs. I bring two good ones.”
Dallas shook Pedro’s hand. “They look fierce.”
“Not to you and your familia. They are kind and loving, but they will protect against any strangers unless you tell them to stay. If you command them to do so, they will attack.”
“Exactly what we need. They already have names?”
“The tan one is Valiente, and the dark one is Soldado. They answer also to Val and Sol. I will show you how to command them.” Each dog wagged his tail when Pedro spoke its name.
9 Ways to Fall in Love Page 17
