by Danni Roan
Chapter 2
Deeks led Ray across the crisp, summer grass of the ranch yard toward the bunk house. How in the world would a woman react to being asked to live next door to a bunch of old cow pokes? He shook his head at the situation, but she’d insisted she wouldn’t step foot in the main house.
Slowly, his hand at the small of her back, the Broken J’s blacksmith escorted his wife up three solid stairs and through the door on the right side of the log structure. “It ain’t much, but we’ll make do,” he said as they stepped into the room.
Ray gazed around her at the interior of the place. A set of wooden cots lined the far wall of the narrow room, while to her left, a small, round, pot-bellied stove sat facing a scarred table surrounded by mismatched chairs. In the left-hand wall, she could see a door connecting to the other half of the building. A large, dirty window next to the door let sunlight in, filling the room with late morning warmth.
Deeks watched as without a word the woman he knew as Ray walked across the room to the nearest bunk and lay down, turning her back to him. His spirits dropped. He’d hoped showing her that she could have a space to call her own might bring some life back into her, but instead she had gone straight back to sleep.
“I’ll just let you get some rest,” he offered dejectedly. “I’m sure Bianca, she’s kinda in charge of the household here, will send anything you need down soon.” He thought he heard a slight huff from the cot. “I’m just gonna go on up and help shift the new supplies, then I’ll be back to check on ya.” Quietly he stepped back out into the brisk spring air.
As Deeks made his way back to the ranch house, Joshua and the others were having a conversation with Bianca Leoné about his new wife.
“You’ve brought what to the ranch!” Bianca Leoné’s horrified voice rose in pitch as she stared at the men around her.
“Deeks brought his wife to the ranch,” Joshua growled. “He’s a grown man and can do as he pleases.” His ice blue gaze was cold on his mother-in-law’s face.
The woman stiffened her spine, ready to argue but her husband laid his hand on her arm.
“Bi,” he said softly, “Deeks has been with this ranch longer than either of us, and he has a right to do what he feels is right. He’s no fool.” His cinnamon gaze implored her to let it go.
“But the girls…” she began.
“The girls are nearly all grown,” Isadoro said, his voice still soft. “One woman is not going to change who they are, regardless of who she is.”
“What can a… a… woman like that bring to the ranch?” the matron of the Broken J said in a strained whisper.
“Maybe it’s not what she can bring to the Broken J,” Joshua finally answered. “Maybe it’s what the Broken J can bring to her. Deeks has every right to bring a wife to the place and I’ll not question him on it.”
The older woman cast her dark eyes to the faces around her. Joshua, Benjamin, and Isadoro stood and silently waited for her to come to grips with the news Deeks had shared only with them.
She nodded once and left the room.
A soft knock on the door of the bunk house made Ray jump. The old fool who had married her wouldn’t knock. Slowly she rolled to her side and stood unsteadily on her feet then opened the door. A row of cowboys, young and old, stood at her door and she scowled.
“Ma’am.” A tall, older fellow with white hair removed his hat. “We’ve come to take the old furniture out and bring you some other things.” His dark blue eyes were friendly.
“Where’s the privy?” She asked, barely acknowledging the men.
“Just around the back there, ma’am,” The white-haired cowman replied, pointing to the far end of the building.
Without a word she stepped past him out the door.
Will, Hank, and Clayton looked at each other bewildered over the woman’s behavior, but with a shrug marched in and removed the old cots to the adjoining room. They then left and came back with the spare bed from the ranch house, a large bureau, and a box of cooking utensils.
On their way back to the house they saw the woman return to the bunk house without a backward glance.
“Maybe she’s just stand-offish,” Will suggested.
“She sure looks the worse for wear,” Hank postulated as he flexed his big shoulders in his jacket. “I reckon she’s a little put off by so many of us being here. I know I couldn’t keep anyone straight in my head for the first two weeks. If Meg hadn’t been so kind and helpful, I’d have never figured it out.”
To his surprise, Clayton whipped his head around in surprise. “You mean Muiread, my Meg?” he seemed completely flummoxed.
“Yep, she just explained who everyone was and how the ranch came to be. Told me how her pa and the other men came here and started to farm. It helped me out tremendously.”
Hank and Will exchanged sly grins as Clayton removed his hat and ran a hand through his thick black hair. They’d heard plenty of yelling between the newlyweds in the past few weeks, and knew that the Florida cowboy had suffered a few rough nights at the hands of his fiery wife.
Will shivered as a cold wind swept down from the mountains. “I hope we’re having something good for dinner tonight,” the lean ranch foreman said. “I’m fed up with beans and biscuits.”
Supper was indeed a big deal that night. The whole family celebrated Will and Katie’s blessed news.
Deeks was congratulated again by the household even though he did come to the table alone. That night the blessing seemed to bring a deeper peace to the ranch as Deeks, joining them for the meal as always, took a plate of food back with him for his new bride, a worried expression in his somber eyes, a quietness hovering around him like a shadow. The girls cast concerned glances at each other, but no one commented on the situation.
Davrum Deeks walked back to the bunkhouse carrying a plate in his scarred hands. He had known that bringing Ray back to the ranch would be hard at first, but he felt down right depressed at the moment. Lifting a heart-felt prayer to the stars, he asked the Lord to give him patience and understanding in how to help this woman to find a new life.
A soft light shone through the single window of his new apartment, and he was glad to see that at least she’d lit a lantern somewhere along the way. A cold wind blew, racing down his back as he opened the door. The sight before him had him almost dropping the plate on the floor.
As Deeks stepped through the door he could see the changes to the place. The table and stove were still present, but a large bed had been pushed against the back wall and a chest of draws had been moved in front of the adjoining door, but what had shocked him down to his toes was the woman he had married stretched out on the bed without a stich on.
The old blacksmith stood their gaping at her slat-like ribs topped by slightly sagging breasts. Her hair was down and looked dark in the dim light, but her eyes glinted coldly from her face.
Carefully Deeks sat the still warm plate on the table and walked toward the bed where he gently pulled the heavy quilt up over the bruised and battered body of his wife.
For a long time, she didn’t say a word just looked at him with her gimlet eyes.
“I ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ from you Ray,” Deeks said softly.
“So I’m not good enough for you. Is that it?” her voice was sharp ice in the cold room.
The old man ran a hand over the back of his neck. “It ain’t that,” he began. “Firstly, you ain’t in no shape to be, ah, well, you know. And secondly…” he ran a hand over his nose in embarrassment. “Secondly I can’t, I mean, ever since my back, things don’t work like they did afore.” He felt his face heating as he confessed to being less than a man, but held his ground under her gaze.
For long moments only silence echoed in the small room, then Ray finally spoke. “Then why did you bring me here and marry me?” she asked, seeming genuinely confused, and also a little suspicious.
Deeks blinked at the woman. Couldn’t she understand that he wouldn’t leave his worst enemy livin
g in the filth of that alley, not to mention to probably freeze to death if not starve. How could he explain to her?
“Well I’m too old for all those other cowboys,” she said, and rolled over, securing the blankets around her thin shoulders.
Deeks was too shocked to even speak. How could she think he’d marry her, then pass her off to other men? Then his heart stuttered as he realized that perhaps that was the only treatment she’d ever known, and pity filled him. He didn’t know how, he didn’t know when, but some day he prayed he could help her understand that not all men were what she had known.
Silently he walked to the table and pulled a long stick from a jar, lit it from the lamp, and kindled the fire in the small cook stove. Then he blew out the light, stripped down to his long johns and climbed into the big bed with a sigh.
Staring into the darkness of the cold room, Davrum Deeks tried to imagine the life the woman lying next to him had lived and drew a complete blank. He had no idea where she’d come from, no idea who she really was, and no real idea how to help her. He'd reacted as he'd done for years when he found a stray dog or an injured animal - he'd just picked her up and tried to help.
“Ray,” he finally spoke. “I married you proper and you’re my wife now, ain’t no other man ever gonna bother you no more.” There was no response from the other side of the bed.
Sleep, creeping like a panther, finally took Deeks away from his troubles, at least until the mattress next to him shifted. He listened as the woman called Ray slipped out of the bed, pulled on her baggy dress and walked to the table where she ate the meal he’d brought earlier. It must have been cold by now but she still ate it. Perhaps as she gained her physical strength back she would learn to feel safe here. Hope opened slowly like the new bud of a rose in Deeks’ chest.
Chapter 3
Early dawn was just peeking through the window in the front wall of his new living quarters when Deeks rose. It always took him a few minutes to get moving as he back protested the morning routine, but soon he was up and dressed.
"Ray? Ray?" He called softly, "They'll have breakfast on up the house soon. Get up so you can have some."
The only response he received was a hand waved at him dismissively before the woman covered her head with his pillow.
The old blacksmith scratched his gray head and thought for a minute. On one hand he could understand her not feeling up to traipsing up to the house, on the other he wished she'd start settling into life at the Broken J.
"I'll bring ya' somethin' back," he finally said. "You're probably pretty tired yet from the trip and all."
Again the only response was silence.
A cold wind batted at Deeks as he stepped out of the snug building into an early spring dawn. Pulling his jacket up around his neck, he trudged off toward the barn to see what chores were left before heading in for breakfast.
As he entered the barn he could just see Hank and Isadoro lifting the milk buckets and turning to the house.
"Mornin'," he called cheerfully.
"Deeks," Hanks deep rumbling voice vibrated through the barn.
"Your wife's not with you?" Isadoro asked, his cinnamon eyes curious.
"Still sleepin'," Deeks replied. "She'll need a bit of time to recuperate I 'spect."
The big man called Hank studied the two older men, certain he was missing something that they knew.
Breakfast was the usual, noisy affair. Men and woman were busy piling their plates high with bacon, eggs and bread, while Joshua and his cattle foreman Will set out jobs and tasks to be done.
Several people asked after Deeks’ new wife, and he replied as he had before that she needed rest. He didn't miss the scowl that crossed Bianca Leoné's face at the mention of Ray, though. It was not going to be easy to get the matron of the Broken J to accept this new woman.
On a positive note, Deeks also noticed that Meg and her new husband seemed to have come to a place where they could at least speak civilly to one another. The young Cracker cowboy from Florida would have a long row to hoe with that woman, but if things went well he'd find his way. "Clayton," Deeks called from along the table, "I hope you got a warmer coat than that one, it's shapin' up ta be a cold one today."
The raven haired cowpuncher nodded, "I'll dig out my warmer one before I head out to the hills to bring in some cows."
Soon breakfast was finished, the crew had eaten their fill, and the James girls began clearing the table.
"I'll just fix a plate for Ray," Deeks said, picking up a clean platter and loading it with scrambled eggs, bacon and bread. "Can I get some butter and jam to take along?" he asked.
Bianca turned squinting eyes on him and he shivered at her disapproving glare.
"I'll get you some, Uncle Deeks," Mae called, moving to the pantry. "I'm sure your new wife will like to have a few things at her house, just like Aunt Cathleen did when she married Uncle Benji." The young girl’s enthusiasm at everything made the old man smile.
"I'm sure that's true," he said, smiling at the petite, youngest member of the family. All of the girls had grown up calling the men of the ranch “uncle,” even if they weren't related by blood, and it warmed his heart every time he heard it. Never having a family of his own, he felt a kinship to Joshua's daughters and was proud of each one of them. Mae was just about the liveliest of the bunch too, always getting herself into some jam or other.
"Maybe I'll ride up and see Aunt Cathleen and Uncle Benji today," Mae mused.
"No you won't," Bianca proclaimed. "It's turning down right cold today, and you'll stay close to the house.
Mae rolled her eyes, then winked at Deeks, making him smile. He had no doubt she'd find her way to her Aunt's home, just over the stream and up the back rise, that day.
Stifling a moan as his back complained when he rose to his feet, Deeks lifted the plate and the small bundle of items Mae had wrapped in a kerchief for him, and headed to the bunkhouse.
A soft trickle of smoke puffed from the stove pipe that stuck through the roof of the bunk house. He'd need to build the fire back up before heading to the forge it was already frigid out and snow was falling steadily, he shivered despite his warm clothing.
Ray was still in bed when he opened the door. "I brought you some breakfast," he called into the steadily cooling room. No response greeted him. Shaking his head he placed the plate on the table along with the butter and jam, then turned to stoking the fire. "I'll be back at lunch time," he said, then walked back out into the cool day.
The heat from the forge fire warmed Davrum as his hammer rang on the horseshoe he was forming. He'd have to re-shoe the remuda before the fall branding, and he'd like to have a good stock ready before then. Over the years he’d found it was always better to do the work at a steady pace, slowly building a store before the rush. He also needed to make more nails for the house they were planning for Fiona and Hank. He smiled, thinking of the young couple who now resided in the old sod shack. When Hank had arrived on the ranch with his small son and huge horses, he wasn't what anyone expected, but he was just what one person needed.
He looked up toward the little earthen hut on the north side of the gray ranch house. A good steady stream of smoke puffed from its chimney into a lowering sky, and he knew the occupants would be warm. He could see the snow falling harder now and thought of the cowhands out checking stock. Spring storms weren't uncommon this time of year, and if they caught you out unaware they could be deadly.
Cutting his eyes toward the bunk house, he thought of what might have happened to the woman he'd brought home from Casper with him; she would surely have died if the snow had come there. He knew he must be crazy to have married a complete stranger, especially one with her background, but he didn't see any other alternative. Deeks let his mind drift back to that day at the doctor’s office.
"Doc, what'll we do with her?" He'd asked the gray-haired, bespectacled physician. "Is there some place what would take her in and get her back on her feet?"
"Davrum, no o
ne's gonna take in a woman like her and you know it, and by the looks of her, I don't think returning to her old life is an option either." He scratched behind his ear as if looking for an answer to the problem there.
Deeks ran a scarred hand over his face, then looked at the back of his large weathered paw. He could plainly see the scars from years of sparks touching his skin. He'd been at the forge since he was six years old and loved working with iron and steel despite the mark it left on you.
"Mebbe she could go out to the ranch with me?" he mused, watching the woman who was now sound asleep on the small cot.
"How are you gonna take a woman all the way out there?" the doctor asked. "She's no kin to you and you can't just walk off with a woman for no good reason. Besides, what if someone comes after her? How are you supposed to justify keeping her there at the Broken J?"
All of the questions were good ones and there seemed to be no answer. A woman wasn't the same as picking up a stray kitten and carrying it home to give it a better life.
"You can marry her." A woman's voice interrupted the dark thoughts churning through his head as the doctor's wife walked in. "If you marry her, she's legally under your protection and no one can say otherwise. It also explains why she's going with you."
"Well Benji brung home a mail-order-bride last fall, so I reckon people might not think too much 'bout it. I'd have to talk to the other men about the idea, though. I won't hide nothin' from them."
"You'll also have to make sure she agrees to the idea," Doc said. “Though I reckon any port in a storm will do at this point."
"Alright." Deeks finally made up his mind. "I'll fetch the preacher, and if Dusty Ray agrees, we'll get hitched."
At the time it had seemed like the only way to get the woman away from Casper. Deeks ran his hand through his grizzled hair. "Well, I got her here so now what'a I do?" He shook his head at his own dilemma. "I reckon I'll just have to ride it out and see what happens," and with that thought, he turned back to the forge and pulled another red hot piece of steel from the glowing coals.
