by Nan O'Berry
Nervously, she looked forward not wanting him to see her interest. To keep from staring, she arranged her skirts tighter around her so that he would have plenty of room.
“Here we go,” he announced.
Her heart was picking up its beat as he brought the leather reins down on the horse’s rump. A slight jolt followed as the animals leaned against their harnesses and pulled the heavily laden wagon forward. Merging with the mounted riders and buggies, they headed out of Carson City and toward the towering tree covered mountains in the distance.
Minutes turned to hours as they rode further away from town. With each passing mile, Caledonia began to relax. The long grasses bent their heads toward the ground as the breeze passed over them. A soft sweet scent wafted up and she took a deep breath inhaling it for a lasting memory.
“Enjoying the ride?”
His voice startled her. Pressing a hand to her hat, she turned to find him staring at her a soft smile touching his lips turning the edges upwards.
“I am.”
He gave a flick of the reins. “It’s pretty country. Especially in spring. We’ve had a good wet winter so the grasses and flowers have bloomed.”
“It is that,” she agreed.
“I don’t think I mentioned my name. I’m Maxwell Barringer. My friends call me Max.”
“Hello, Max. I’m Caledonia McBride.” She stilled and blinked. “I guess you know that.”
“Yes, ma’am, they told me your name.”
“They?”
He suddenly glanced away. “Mr. Nolan. He and his drovers, when they came over and asked for my help, before going out to the herd.”
His voice seemed nervous and his explanation a bit rushed. She overlooked it as being nervous. “Well, my friends call me, Callie.”
“I like that. Callie,” he repeated her name.
Caledonia felt a burst of pride. She didn’t want the conversation to die. Quickly, she thought of another question. “Have you lived here all your life?”
Max gave a nod. “My parents came as homesteaders. My father worked for the lumber operation in Rattlesnake Ridge till he had the down payment for some land southeast of the lake. We live closer to the trail that leads into town. I do some odd jobs for the lumber mill, like my dad. The mill’s run by Winthrop. He sponsored the ads for the mail-order brides.”
He gave her a nervous glance. “That’s why I was in Carson City, some supplies they don’t have in our smaller General Store. Had to get them brought in you know.”
“I see.” Her lips twitched a bit bemused.
* * *
Heaven help him, he was running off at the mouth like a school kid. Max stole a glance in her direction. “I guess you’ve seen bigger back where you come from.”
Now, it was Caledonia’s turn to smile and nod.“I have, but that was a long time ago.” Her voice grew melancholy. “Back before the war, my hometown was big and prosperous.”
“What city was that?”
“Richmond. Richmond, Virginia,” she replied and gazed off at the horizon. “But the war ended all that. Now, it’s mostly in ruins or in the rebuilding stages.”
“I heard it was rough back there.”
“Yes, it is. There’s no future left for many families. Money is a precious commodity in the south with few businesses, there is no way to make a living. Plantations have been broken up for smaller farms but the rent was so high, few can afford it. Everything takes money. So, it takes time. But in all honesty, it will never be the same.”
Max grew quiet listening to her words. He could almost feel the desperation in her voice. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “Don’t be. It was a very stupid war.” She brightened. “That’s why I was so excited to accept Mr. Nolan’s offer and come out here, to begin my life over in this beautiful part of the country.”
Max grinned back at her, “I think it’s the best part of the country. You’ll love it in the summer time. Winter is pretty too, all the snow. Do you get much of that in Virginia?”
“No, not too much. Our summers can be long and so very humid. I’m looking forward to the change.”
They rode along in the quiet, their bodies swaying with the movement of the wagon.
“What did your family do back there, in Virginia?” Max questioned.
“My father is a farmer. We once had over three hundred acres most of it in corn and tobacco.”
“What happened to the farm?”
“Lost it to taxes. There weren’t any buyers for the crops we could harvest. My father gave up and moved to the city, hoping to find work.”
“Did he?”
She shrugged. “Some. He was hired by a warehouse down in Shockoe Bottom. We lived in a room above the business.”
The conversation lagged for a bit.
“I see,” he murmured. “So you gave it all up to come out here to become someone’s wife.”
“I did.”
They listened to the plodding steps of the team before Max spoke again, “Don’t they have young fellas in Virginia?”
Caledonia’s smile faded somewhat. “A few, but they are either too old, dead, or still way too young for matrimony.”
They both chuckled.
“The war took most of the young men. Those that returned are finding it hard. Taxes have taken the land and there is little money to purchase the old farms. Even if they do buy the land, the work is hard and with the prices, there seems to be no incentive to stay on the farm. Many that are sound have headed west or gone to the goldfields in California in hopes of a better future.”
“I understand about prices and the lure of the big city. Still, that sounds more exciting than ending up here in Rattlesnake Ridge.”
Caledonia took a deep breath and stared at the meadows, the trees, and the endless blue sky. “I guess it could be, but it doesn’t excite me. I want to be in a new place to set down roots and watch the community grow.”
“Well, you can watch things grow out here,” Max mused. “But they are mostly trees and cattle.”
“Trees and cattle are good.” She smiled.
They lapsed into silence and the sun warmed her back. In an effort to catch the breeze, she lifted her hand and removed the ribbon that held her bonnet in place. The breeze shifted over her and she turned her face to greet the sun.
“Might want to put that bonnet back on. Your skin is so fair; you might get a little burnt.”
Caledonia relaxed and took a deep breath. “In a minute, I just want to breathe the freshness of this air.” She turned to face him. “Back home in Richmond when everyone fires up their stoves, a thick gray pall hangs over the town and everything, your clothes, your hair, your food smells of wood.”
Max’s eyes widened as he digested her words. “Hadn’t thought about that.”
Leaning back against the seat, she placed her hands in her lap. “I think I’m very glad I came,” she whispered. “I hope Seth will be pleased with me. Do you think he will?”
Just the way she asked the question brought a wave of jealousy swiftly to Max’s heart. For some reason, he didn’t want Seth to know about her. He didn’t want Seth to fancy himself as a ladies’ man with two women fighting for the chance to marry him. His jaw flinched. “He’d be a fool not to.”
Suddenly, Caledonia’s hand was upon his arm. The warmth of her palm burned straight through the cotton of his shirt scalding his skin. “I’m so glad you think so.”
Max swallowed the lump that formed in his throat and he felt like the biggest turncoat in history. “Yes, I think so.”
With a flip of the reins he coaxed the horses to move faster. The faster they trotted, the quicker he could get home. The quicker he could get home, the sooner Lou and his buddies would come through with their cash and pretty little Caledonia McBride would be out of his life for good. The thought had both joy and pain, but it would have to do.
They horses moved through an overhead arch with the word Barringer burnt into the wood, on either sid
e a diamond with a B in the middle signaled their brand.
“This marks the beginning of our ranch.”
Caledonia shifted in the seat and craned her head back to catch a better glimpse of the sign. “Diamond B,” she murmured.
“Our brand,” Max explained. “Each of our horses and cattle are marked to tell the difference between the herds. Our fence doesn’t go around the two hundred acres we own, but we have markers set up every mile, so folks will know. Cattle.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, they don’t read so well. They’ll wander around a bit and mingle with the other ranches near about, so we brand them in the spring and keep a tally of the herd.”
“Other ranches do the same?”
He gave a nod. “Common practice.” He gave a motion forward with jerk of his head. “The closer you get to the ranch, the more likely you are to see a fence line. We have pastures for each season, winter we bring the herd closer to home.”
“You keep saying we, do you have a lot of help?”
“I have a big family, my brother, Augustus, and my sister, Melinda help out when I’m up on the mountain. We employ five hands that work during the spring, summer, and fall with my brother. He’s in charge of the ranch while I’m working at the mill.”
“So you do two jobs?”
“Sometimes, the lumber operation gives me a steady income and helps keep the ranch running. One day, I’ll quit and work with Augustus. But right now, every penny we can save means upkeep on the house, the land, and the cattle. Besides,” He sighed. “I like being on the mountain.”
“I see, and do the hands that work with your brother stay year round?”
He shook his head. “Come winter, one or two leave for work on other ranches south of here.”
“I find it interesting that your sister helps out.”
“Yeah.” Max gave a slight grin. “Melinda is as a good a rider as anyone else. She can work cattle and is great with horses. You’ll find women have a lot more duties out here than back in Richmond.”
“I do say,” Caledonia exclaimed. “This will be an eye-opening experience.”
“Whoa.”Max pulled back on the reins and pressed the brake causing the wagon to still. “There it is,” He pointed across the meadow to the gentle rise and the two-story log cabin perched on the knoll.
Caledonia’s breath caught. “Oh, Max, it’s beautiful.”
He couldn’t help the smile that streaked across his face. “Yeah, it is.” With a whistle, he released the brake and eased the taut leather and the horses moved smartly toward home. The closer they moved to the log cabin nestled against the tall fir trees, the more his mind twisted on how he planned to tell his mother about their guest. Before he could figure a good explanation, a wild war whoop echoed across the grasses. He turned this head to see a buff colored buckskin racing toward them, the rider leaning close to the horse’s neck, a long blonde pony tail snaking out behind her like the tail of a kite.
“Here comes Melinda now,” he spoke.
“Max!” She cried and pulled her horse to a sliding stop. Her gaze moved from him to the woman sitting beside him on the wagon. “Howdy.” Her glance flickered to her brother. “Didn’t know you were bringing a guest home.”
“Didn’t quite know myself.” Max felt the heat rise in his cheeks. “Melinda, this is Miss Caledonia McBride.”
“Hello, Melinda, please to meet you.” Caledonia smiled broadly.
“Please to meet you too.” Melinda gave a nod. “How’d you meet my brother?”
Caledonia turned and smiled at him. “Your brother was kind enough to invite me to the ranch until my future husband can come and pick me up.”
Max eyes grew wide. He caught his sister’s confused glance and looked at his feet.
“Future husband,” she mumbled.
“Yes, Seth Nolan.”
Melinda’s eyes grew wide as she let out a little gasp. “Seth? Why he—”
“Got to go, Mel, I have to get these supplies to Ma. See you later.” Max snapped the leathers and with a toss of their heads, the horses leaned hard against their yokes and broke into a trot.
He left his sister with her mouth hanging open. He couldn’t risk waiting for her to follow. Max didn’t dare want her to begin poking into his business. Nope, the sooner he got Caledonia to the house, the sooner she could settle in and he could figure a way out of this mess.
Chapter 4
Bethany Barringer heard the wagon roaring into the yard. Dropping the towel over the bowl of rising dough, she proceeded to dust her hands on her apron and marched toward the back door. “Augustus,” she called out. “If you are running those horses through my chickens.” She flung the door open. “You and I are going to have a long...”
Bethany stepped onto the porch and drew up short. To her surprise, Max thundered in pulling the team to a stop with a cloud of dust hot on his heels. She glimpsed a young woman beside him, one hand grasping the metal bar around the seat, the other holding tight to the hat that threatened to take flight. The horses clamored to a halt and gave a toss of their heads in complaint as they came to a stop.
“Maxwell?” She could feel her brow knit together as she moved from the porch to the yard.
Her son gave a sheepish glance in her direction.
Any question that she’d been prepared to ask was quickly bitten back.
“I’ve got your supplies, Mother, along with those Mr. Cameron needs at the timberline.”
She plastered a smile on her face. “Thank you.” Her gaze strayed to the young lady sitting beside him still gathering her wits. “Max?”
He swallowed heavily and adverted his glance.
Her eyes narrowed.
A tinge of pink appeared in his cheeks. “Mother, I’d like for you to meet Caledonia McBride. She’s going to spend a few days with us on the ranch.”
“A few—”
Her oldest boy swung down from the wagon. The set of his lips told her he was none too happy to be in this situation. She waited as he moved around to the young lady’s side and helped her to dismount. His hand upon her elbow, he led Caledonia toward his mother.
“Mrs. Barringer,” she murmured and held out her hand. “I’m so sorry for the imposition. It really is just a few days until my intended comes for me.”
Her brows arched. “Your intended?”
“She’s come a long way, Mother. I’m sure she’d like to rest before dinner.”
“Yes,” Bethany replied in a shocked tone. She gave her son a blistering glance then stepped forward to take Caledonia’s hand. “Around here, folks call me Bethany. Welcome to the Diamond B, Caledonia.”
“Please, call me Callie.” Her smile broadened as she relaxed. “I hope it’s no trouble.”
“None.” Bethany stole her arm around the young girl’s shoulder. “I never know what Max is bringing home. Last year, it was a pair of matched horses.” She glanced over her shoulder and gave her son a stinging glare, before she ushered her guest toward the front door. “You’re much prettier and easier to please than those two brutes were. So, where did you say you were from?”
“Richmond,” Caledonia replied.
“As in, Virginia?”
The girl at her side nodded.
“You’ve had a long journey. Come, I know just the trick, a cup of tea and a nice nap. Max, you bring her things into the house and put them in the room beside your sister.”
* * *
“Yes ma’am.”
Max stood in the ranch yard and waited until the front door closed before he gave a sigh of relief. Turning back to the wagon, he knew he would pay for this momentary lapse in good judgment. He hurried around to the rear and put the tailgate down. The supplies would wait. Right now, he needed to get Caledonia’s things moved into the room before Mel or Augustus decided to meddle into his business. He glanced at the empty barn door.
“Not a ranch hand in sight.”
His mouth twisted and he reached for the trunk dragging it against the wood. The
sound was like the wail of a banshee. It flowed up his backbone causing his skin to pimple. Despite his best attempt to hide it, he couldn’t help but shiver.
“Hey, boss, could you use some help?”
His head jerked up and he spied one of his errant crew.
Red leaned against the open doorway, his dome hat pushed back allowing a shock of red hair to flow across his forehead. His thumbs hooked in the loops of his trouser. His face nearly split in two by the broad toothy grin.
Max’s mood soured. “Never did like being the butt of anyone’s jokes,” he muttered. Another glance to the cowboy and he asked, “You going to stand there all day, or you plan on earning your keep?”
Red looked around as if searching for his comrades. Unhooking his thumbs from the wide belt at his waist, his long arms dangled at his sides as he pushed away from the barn opening. “Nope. Hadn’t planned on it. All you had to say was you needed some help.”
Grumbling beneath his breath, Max waited while the cowboy sauntered over to the rear of the wagon. “Grab the other side, will you, Red.”
The cowboy reached for the opposite end of the trunk and they lifted it from the wagon bed. “You know, Boss, we kind of thought you were going for supplies.” Red grunted as the weight of the trunk and its contents swung free. “Had we known you were bringing home the two legged kind, we might have gone with you to give you our list.”
Max shifted to a quick stop. A turn of his head and he leveled a narrow glare at the cowboy across the wooden trunk.
Red had the decency to try and give an honest expression before looking at the ground. Still, there was no mistaking the laughter in his eyes.
“Let’s get this inside shall we?”
His tense tone faded the mirth in Red’s face.“Yes, sir, boss. Anything you say.”
Grumbling, he led the way across the yard and up the porch to the main house. His luck held for his mother had only pushed the door against the jam. Max paused to shove his hip against thick heart of pine and it fell back, banging against the table against the wall making the china bowl rattle.
