by E. Walsh
"Are you looking for work now?" she asked.
"Is there work to be had?”
“Have you ever managed a farm?”
He had not, but said, “Yes, ma’am, I have.”
"Then there is work to be had."
Mirabelle looked like she was mulling things over in her mind. She nodded, almost to herself, and then focused on him.
"Here's my situation, Mr. Jennings. My husband John was killed when his cattle trampled him when he was moving the herd. A neighbor of ours wants this farm and he's prepared to take it whatever the cost. This place is mine as John's wife, but I can't run it alone. Not in the long run."
Jason could see where she was going with this. She needed help to keep the farm and not lose it to some varmint simply because she was vulnerable.
"And you want me to manage it for you?”
"Yes.”
“Don’t you have farm hands? You mentioned a bunk house.”
“I have hands, but I don’t have someone who knows how to keep those hands busy and productive. I need someone who can keep them in line and working hard, to keep the place going."
Jason pondered for a moment. He asked, "What's the pay like?"
"I can pay you fifty dollars a month,” she said, hoping it would be enough. “Plus room, board, meals."
Jason wanted to jump at the chance, but he didn’t want to seem too eager. As the woman watched and waited for an answer, he ate the last biscuit and drained the coffee cup.
“Well? What do you think?”
“Are your biscuits always this good?”
Mirabelle broke into a smile. “Yes, always.”
“Well then, when do you want me to start?" She smiled at him. His cheeks grew warm. It was like being smiled at by an angel.
She gathered up his plate and cup and said, “How about right now?”
* * *
Chapter Six
Mirabelle heard Wanda calling her name. She looked out the kitchen window to see Wanda waving from the back of her horse as she trotted into the yard. Mirabelle kissed the top of Judith's head. The little girl was doing her best to stir a bowl of thick cake batter.
"Keep mixing there, honey. And let your brother stir as well."
Judith nodded, her tongue sticking out as she stirred the cake mix in the bowl, frowning in her concentration as Micah looked on.
Wiping her hands on her apron, Mirabelle stepped out onto the porch just as Wanda dismounted. She gave the older woman a welcoming smile.
"Morning, Wanda."
"Good monring." Wanda hugged her daughter-in-law, kissing her on the cheek. She stepped back and raised her eyebrows at Mirabelle. "What's with the smile? You're looking surprisingly chipper."
Mirabelle knew she should be in mourning since it had only been two weeks since she had buried John. But she couldn't help it; knowing that her situation with the farm was in a better position than before brought the smile to her face and a skip in her step.
While she missed John she was grateful that she wouldn't be losing her home.
"You could say that." Mirabelle linked arms with her mother-in-law and they walked towards the paddock. "Remember what we talked about?"
"You mean finding someone to run the farm?"
"Well, I found him. Or rather, he found me." They reached the paddock and Mirabelle pointed at Jason, who was helping Jeremiah check the shoes on one of the horses. "His name's Jason Jennings. He’s an experienced farm manager."
While she knew it was not respectful to her husband, who was barely cold in his grave, Mirabelle couldn't stop the flutter in her chest whenever she looked at Jason. John had been handsome but in his own way. He was nothing like Jason.
She just wished her feelings weren't so confused.
Wanda made an appreciative noise.
"He's handsome. If I was twenty years younger I'd make sure he made a detour in my direction."
"Wanda!"
"What? I'm allowed to look." Wanda nodded at the man as he led the horse out of the paddock. "How did you find him?"
"He came by to fill his water container." Mirabelle didn't mention he had trespassed to do so. "We got talking and he mentioned that he was looking for a job. I told him straight up what I was looking for and he agreed."
And it had been a good choice, even if on a whim. Jason was a hard worker and knew exactly what was needed.
He had clicked with Jeremiah and they worked together as if they had been working with each other for years. Even the other cowboys were starting to warm to the stranger.
The biggest admirers of Jason were Micah and Judith, who had taken to him immediately and hung around him whenever possible.
It was all Mirabelle could do to make sure they went to school or did their chores.
But, she surmised, at least they were focusing on something and not on mourning their father.
She wanted them to be happy and remember a good man, not cry themselves to sleep every night.
"Are you sure about this?" Wanda looked uncertain. "Handsome as he is, we don't know anything about him. He could be a killer, for all we know."
Mirabelle sighed. She had thought about that, but only fleetingly.
"I don’t think he’s a killer,” Mirabelle said with a smile. “Even if he is, I’ll do anything I can to stop Bertrum from taking all of this away from me. You know that."
"I do know that, but are you that desperate that you're willing to take on a complete stranger?"
"What choice do I have?" Mirabelle waved a hand at their surroundings. "This land belongs to the Lee family. I don't want to lose it."
Wanda's mouth twisted. She still didn't look certain about Mirabelle's decision. She looked at Jason's retreating back and sighed.
"I'm not happy with this, but I'll go along with it. I'll trust your judgment." She pointed a finger at Mirabelle. "But if he turns out to be a killer…”
“I know, you can say you told me so.”
Mirabelle’s thoughts turned to what she knew about Jason Jennings, which wasn’t much. All she knew was that he was a good worker, but he carried himself like a man with something to hide. It was evident in his eyes and the way he carefully chose his words. He was carrying a lot of baggage and she wanted to know why.
* * *
Chapter Seven
Her thoughts were disrupted by the sound of galloping hooves. She saw Wanda looked over her shoulder. The old woman’s expression darkened.
"Here comes trouble."
Mirabelle didn't need to look around to know who she was talking about.
Bertrum galloped into the yard and pulled up, dismounting easily before sauntering towards Mirabelle, tilting his Stetson back on his head.
When they had been younger Mirabelle had found him endearing and enticing. But now she just found it irritating. She pushed off the fence and advanced on him.
"Bertrum, I told you to get lost. I'm not selling."
Bertrum cut his eyes at her and shook his head.
"You're such a stubborn woman, Mirabelle." He sounded like he was talking to a small child who couldn't grasp the situation. "You shouldn't be holding out like this. Be smart."
"I am. And I have help now." Mirabelle planted her hands on her hips, aware that Wanda was moving to join them. "I'm not selling, so just be on your way."
Bertrum raised his eyebrows, clearly not ready to take no for an answer.
"You have help?" He sneered. "You mean from that old bag?"
Wanda growled as she joined Mirabelle, glaring at Bertrum.
"Don't start disrespecting me because you're not getting your way, young man."
"All right, where's the help, then?" Bertrum looked around with a smirk on his face. "Who's running the farm?"
"Our business is none of yours,” Mirabelle said, taking a step toward him. “Now turn this horse around and ride out of here before I..."
"I’ll go when I’m good and damned ready,” Bertrum said. He threw his leg over the saddle and dropped down t
o face her. He froze when he heard the unmistakable sound of a pistol cocking.
They both turned to find Jason standing there, his Stetson up enough to show the dark look on his face. He narrowed his eyes and glared at Bertrum. The pistol was in his hand was pointed at the center of Bertrum’s chest.
"The lady said it was time for you to move on,” Jason said quietly.
"Who the hell are you?" Bertrum demanded.
"The new foreman."
Bertrum turned to give Mirabelle a dumbfounded look. "You hired a complete stranger? In these parts? Are you insane?"
"He’s not a stranger any longer," Mirabelle said, folding her arms, feeling more confident now that Jason was there. "He runs the place, but I own it. And I will continue to own it. We're not going anywhere, so you can go bother someone else."
Bertrum stared at her and Wanda, who glared back at him defiantly. Then he looked at Jason, who didn't blink. Bertrum growled at Mirabelle.
"This isn't over,” he said in a low voice. He shook a finger at Jason. "And it isn't over for you, either."
They watched as Jason mounted his horse and sped away. Mirabelle looked at Jason and he gave her a nod. The both knew Bertrum was right. This wasn’t over. In fact, it was just beginning.
* * *
Chapter Eight
"Mind if I join you?"
Mirabelle looked up to find Jason standing on the edge of the porch, his Stetson in his hand.
The setting sun glinted off his pale brown hair, making his hair look like bronze.
This was probably the first time she had seen him without his hat jammed on his hand.
She smiled and nodded.
"Sure. Take a step."
Jason sat on the steps next to Mirabelle without sitting too close. He knew she sat there many nights just looking up at the stars when she couldn't sleep. He did the same thing from the porch steps of the bunk house.
On a clear night the dark sky was ablaze in star light. And tonight was one of those nights. After putting the children to bed Mirabelle had come outside to sit in her usual spot, watching the stars move across the sky.
Jason stretched his legs out in front of him, his Stetson in his lap.
“So, how you settling in?” she asked.
"So far so good. It’ll take the men a bit to get used to my ways, but they’re good men. They’ll fall in line."
Mirabelle smiled. "You're gaining their trust. That is good. What about Jeremiah?"
“He was your husband’s right hand for a long time,” Jason said. “But he’s been very kind and very helpful. Your husband’s passing was tough on Jeremiah, but I think we’ll get along fine."
"It's been hard on everyone." Mirabelle swallowed back the lump in her throat as her husband was mentioned and looked away. "John was a good man. Everyone loved him."
Jason was silent for a moment. They sat together watching the sky and the landscape, which was still apart from one horse cantering about in a nearby paddock, snorting and tossing its head as it ran off its excess energy.
Mirabelle found that she liked sitting there with Jason like this. John was an impatient man and wouldn't sit still for more than a few moments.
Jason seemed happy to sit there and say nothing.
It was comfortable. Maybe too comfortable.
"How are the children coping without their father?"
Mirabelle jumped at the sudden question, aware that Jason was watching her closely. She twisted her hands in her lap.
"Micah keeps throwing screaming fits and trying to hit me. Judy just spends it crying. I have to find things for them to do so they've got their minds occupied." She bit her lip and forced back the tears. "It tears my heart out."
"I was Micah's age when my father was killed." Jason said quietly. "He tried to stop a bank robbery and got shot trying to be a hero. I can talk to him, if you like, see if I can help with his anger."
Mirabelle was touched. Not only had the children taken to Jason, but Jason had taken to Micah and Judith.
He always had time for them and was very patient when they asked him lots of questions.
Mirabelle was amazed at his patience.
And she was also scared of her growing feelings towards him. It had only been two days and she had buried her husband two weeks ago, but she was already looking at Jason while John dimmed to a distant memory. Mirabelle felt awful.
"I'll think about it."
They sat for a while longer, Mirabelle's confused thoughts gathering together. If she was going to keep Bertrum off her property she was going to need Jason's help. But she also needed to really know the man she was blindingly trusting and that meant knowing everything.
Including what was troubling him. If it was going to hurt them she needed to know now.
"Do you have something to tell me?"
"I'm sorry?"
Mirabelle looked up and saw Jason staring at her, a frown etched into his forehead. She gulped and squared her shoulders.
"You're hiding something. I've figured that out since I met you. You're in pain and you're trying to hide it. I don't want you to explode suddenly one day and people get hurt." Mirabelle didn't look away, her hands fisted in her lap. "I need to know if there's anything that can hurt us."
For a moment she thought Jason wouldn't answer her. But he shook his head slowly.
"No." He said it gruffly. "Nothing."
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" Mirabelle sat back and folded her arms. "I've lost my husband already. It can't be any worse than that."
"Don't be so sure of that."
Jason sat front, propping his elbows on his knees, hands clasped together. He sighed.
"Did I tell you that one of my previous employers died? Much like your husband?”
“You did not,” Mirabelle said uneasily. “What happened?”
“He died because of me. We were herding horses into a corral for branding. I was distracted by his pretty daughter who was standing outside the corral, flirting with me. Even at my age I was acting the fool, wanting to impress her. The horses bolted and her father was in the way."
He stopped and closed his eyes.
"He was trampled to death. If I'd been paying attention he would still be alive."
Mirabelle listened to his story. He had suffered as much as she had, having witnessed his boss and friend being killed by his livestock.
She hadn't witnessed John's death but she could remember the pain. And she also saw something in Jason's expression.
"You blame yourself for his death."
"Yes." Jason rubbed his hands over his face. "His son blames me. His daughter blames me. More than anyone, I blame myself. The guilt just eats me up inside." He glanced ruefully at her. "I was surprised when you offered this to me. I want to do well here."
Mirabelle wanted to touch him. She wanted to put her arms around him and hold him while he sat there, calming him until the tension she could clearly see in his body eased.
But she didn't trust herself to touch him like that. So she simply touched his arm.
Even then the contact of her hand on his sleeve made her hand tingle.
"Ranch work is always dangerous,” she said softly. "You know that. That girl should have left you alone. You should have concentrated more. Your boss was standing in the wrong place. There are so many factors. It was an accident but I can see why you blame yourself." She offered him a smile. "So why don't you use this job to redeem yourself?"
Jason stared at her for a moment. Mirabelle could feel the tension between them. Something was happening and she wasn't sure if she would be able to stop it. Jason's eyes drifted down to her mouth and then back up again. Mirabelle resisted the urge to lick her lips.
"You're a forgiving woman, Mrs. Lee."
"When we’re alone, call me Mirabelle." She reached over and gently squeezed his arm. "Now, you'd better go to bed. It's a long day tomorrow."
"I will." Jason stood, slipping his hand into hers, his thumb rubbing across he
r knuckles. "Thank you."
"You’re quite welcome."
Mirabelle smiled up at him. Jason smiled back and Mirabelle knew she was about to tumble. He squeezed her hand and pulled away.
"Goodnight, Mirabelle."
Mirabelle watched him disappear around the side of the house. Only then did she let out the breath she’d been holding.
If she wasn't careful, something was going to happen between them and Mirabelle wasn't sure if she would be able to cope with what might come next.
* * *
Chapter Nine
Jason lay in his bunk, staring up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. His body was exhausted, but his mind was in turmoil.
It had been a month since he had started working for Mirabelle Lee. And he loved the work.
He enjoyed what he did, from looking after the horses to herding the cattle. He even enjoyed mucking out the stables.
The men, now they had warmed to him, were good people and he enjoyed working with them.
Jason knew he had fallen on his feet here.
But what he was struggling with was his feelings for his pretty boss. Mirabelle was a beautiful woman, both inside and out, smiling in spite of her recent mourning and the evident tiredness she displayed on a daily basis.
She was a smart woman and knew what she wanted for the place. Jason took on her ideas and passed them on to Jeremiah, who accepted them with approval. She had a good head when it came to business.
She also had two lovely children. Micah and Judith often came to see him, talking endlessly about what they did at school and what they got up to with their friends.
He helped them with their riding lessons and he had even taken Micah out to watch the other cowboys herd the cattle.
Jason didn't have any children but he found himself taking to becoming a surrogate parent quite easily.
What was the problem for him was Mirabelle. Every night since he had confessed to her what had happened at his last place of work they had sat out on the porch watching the stars and talking. They knew things about the other that they wouldn't have told anyone else.
