She could smell the sheep before they came into view. She made out a wagon, a dog, and a couple of people around a campfire. They straightened and stood, waiting for her to draw closer. She recognized Josh because of his smaller stature and solid body, but the other man was tall and lanky. Josh’s face lit up with a big smile as she drew closer, and he released the lamb he held in his arms, then mopped his perspiring brow with a somewhat dirty handkerchief. A dog Juliana guessed to be Shebe barked a friendly greeting, then moved to stand next to her owner with her tail wagging.
“Mornin’ glory! What a pleasant surprise.” Josh was quick on his feet and reached to help her, placing his hands around her waist to put her down into a crowd of mewing lambs. Though he was a little taller than she was, she felt like she could look almost directly into his eyes. He smelled of wet sheep and sweat. When she wrinkled her nose in distaste, he laughed.
“Sorry about the smell. We’ve been dipping and branding our lambs the last three days.” He motioned in the direction of the troughs at the edge of the clearing. “Had you come a few days ago, you could’ve watched us shear their wool. That’s a big undertaking, and we had to hire some help, or we’d have been here for a month of Sundays.” He chuckled as he weaved through the lambs, tenderly touching a head here and patting a rump there.
Josh reached into a bucket of red paint, lifting a wooden brand. “Sheepherders use a more civilized way of branding instead of the red-hot branding iron that cattlemen use. I had this one made especially for me. But maybe that’s more information than you came to hear.”
Feeling out of her element, she stammered, “I hope I didn’t come at a bad time.” Juliana felt heat on her face, and it wasn’t from the camp’s fire. She couldn’t help but notice how firm and hard Josh’s chest muscles were as they strained against his chamois shirt. He probably was in great physical shape from working outdoors most of his life. Juliana tore her gaze from his amber eyes, which stared openly at her.
“No, no, this is a perfect time for us to stop, ain’t that right, Andy? I didn’t mean to rattle on.” Josh turned toward the scrawny young man who gave Juliana a warm smile. “This is Andy, my right arm and cook.”
Andy wiped his hand on his pants leg, then thrust it out to her. “Howdy. Shore is nice to have a visitor out here. We get lonesome out here, don’t we, Josh?” He pumped her gloved hand up and down.
Juliana could tell he was curious about her, but when Josh didn’t offer any information about her, she only laughed at his enthusiasm, and he finally let go of her hand, smiling all the while. He probably wasn’t much older than she. His clothes were so worn that they were fraying at the pockets and the legs, where they met his worn boot heels.
“Well, speak for yourself, Andy, but you’re right, we don’t see too many people out this way. Most of them don’t like sheep because of the noise and the smell.” Josh indicated the sheepdog sniffing at her feet. “This here is Shebe—man’s best friend.”
Juliana pulled her gloves off and stretched out her hand to the dog so Shebe could lick her fingers. “I think I’ve just made a new friend.” She scratched the spotted dog under the chin.
Juliana marveled at the soft furry little faces of the lambs and couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the babies. “So adorable . . . and so soft. I think this is the closest I’ve ever been to sheep before. You have a lot of babies.” A little baby lamb’s damp nose nuzzled her fingertips, and the rest crowded near. Most of the sheep had been shorn fairly short but still had a small layer of fuzz. She noticed the red-painted brand in the shape of a “J”—for Josh’s initial, she assumed—in the lamb’s rump.
“It’s real easy to get attached to them,” Josh said. “They’re not the smartest creatures in the world, but they’ll do whatever you want them to. Sometimes when the ewe is lambing, she’ll walk away from her baby, and we have to coach her to get the lamb to her teat. They’re good at gettin’ into trouble too. Like getting stuck in a bog or thicket. I’ve even seen a mama stand stark still, not making a sound, while a wolf carries off her lamb. Guess that’s why the good Lord was called the Good Shepherd and we’re called His sheep, because He lovingly leads us.”
Juliana bristled at the remark. “Well, He sure led my father down the wrong path. Poor ewes are probably just afraid.”
Andy’s head snapped in his boss’s direction. Josh squinted in the morning light, his bushy eyebrows furrowing beneath his hair, which was damp with perspiration. He turned to Andy. “Why don’t you make us a fresh batch of coffee while I find the little lady something to sit on?”
Andy moved toward the campfire, grabbed the coffeepot, and poured out the dregs left from breakfast. “There’s a little wooden stool in the back of the wagon, Josh. I’ll go rinse this out and put the coffee on.”
Soon the smell of rich coffee filled the sheep-laden area. Andy poured the strong liquid into thick mugs. “How do you like yours, Juliana?”
“If you have a bit of sugar, that would be nice, but I don’t expect you have any cream?”
“Actually, you’re in luck.” Andy nodded his head toward a milk cow tethered not far away. “For all Josh’s toughness, he has to have his coffee with both cream and sugar,” Andy said, offering her a sugar cube and some cream.
Josh merely grunted. “’Bout the only way a man can stomach Andy’s coffee is to doctor it up a bit.” Josh grinned at Andy, and Juliana realized he was just teasing. Juliana smiled at Andy. “Thank you. I’m sure it will be better than what Albert brews at the newspaper.”
“Speaking of that, how’s the job coming along?” Josh asked, blowing on the steaming brew. He leaned against the wagon, propped his arm up, and casually cocked his head to look at her.
Juliana placed her cup on the ground and reached into her coat pocket for the envelope of cash. “The job is going very well, thank you. I brought the money you loaned me to pay for my mother’s funeral. It was good of you to do that when you didn’t even know me.” A small catch threatened to crack in her voice, but she quickly cleared her throat, extending the envelope toward him.
Josh’s fingers touched hers lightly, and she was stunned by the tingle that inched its way down her spine. She quickly drew back, but he pushed the envelope back into her palm.
“It wasn’t a loan. I did it because I knew it was the right thing to do at the time. Don’t worry about it. Save it. You’ll be needing it.”
Josh’s look was so stern that she somehow knew not to argue with him, so she shoved the envelope back into her coat pocket. “Well, if you insist. Thank you again, and if there’s ever anything I can help you out with, please let me know.” Maybe now she could buy Choco from Marion and have a way to get around. She would check on that first thing when she returned.
“There is one thing I could use your advice on. If you have the time, we could ride up to the ranch. I’ve been building it in stages as I get the finances, and I’m ready to start on the inside of the kitchen. Perhaps you could help me with the layout. I don’t spend much time cooking.”
Juliana laughed. “I’m not much of a cook myself, so I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, but sure, I’d like to see your place. I don’t work on Saturdays, so I’m free all day today.” As soon as she said it, she thought it made her sound desperate for something to do.
Josh’s amber eyes danced when he looked at her, and she felt a nervous stirring in her belly. Suddenly she remembered the sketch of the sheepherder and the dog at the hotel, and with a start she realized the two were the same. The first time she had seen those amber eyes, her heart had lurched. Don’t forget you’re going to be independent, make your own way. You don’t need a man for that.
“Well then, we’ll both have to do something about that, won’t we?” Josh downed the last of the coffee.
“I can finish up here, if you two want to go on. Just have a bit left to clean up,” Andy offered. “Juliana, would you like to see inside our newfangled sheepherder’s wagon before you leave? It’s the latest
thing straight from Casper, Wyoming.”
“Sure, Andy. I’ve heard of a chuck wagon but not a wagon for sheepherders.”
Andy couldn’t hide his enthusiasm as he pulled her up into the wagon. “It’s called a Candlish wagon, named after a blacksmith who got tired of hearing complaints of sheepherders’ sleepless nights.”
Juliana was amazed. The canvas covering was made tall enough for a man to stand up. It featured a Dutch door in front, a window in front of the bed, and a small cast-iron stove, which was vented through an opening in the canvas. A bed attached across the wagon’s back housed a pull-out table, drawers, and cupboards, making them accessible from the outside. She saw a stack of old magazines and a few books.
“It’s so compact and convenient,” Juliana said, taking it all in.
“All the comforts of home, including a kerosene heater that keeps it snug,” Andy said. “Mostly, I’m the one who stays here, but from time to time Josh will stay a few days, like when we’re branding, because there’s room for a pallet. It stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter.”
She marveled at the structure. “It’s quite cozy in here, almost like home.” Maybe even better than the rented old cabin she and her mother had lived in. “It must have been quite expensive.”
“I reckon so, but Josh has a fine stock of Merino rams that can fetch up to $1,000 a head, so he’s doing all right.”
“Is it okay with you, Juliana, if we go now?” Josh watched them from the ground and held out his hand to help her down.
“Sure, if you can set me on the right trail back to Lewistown from your place.”
“No problem. Actually, there’s a shortcut from the ranch.”
“Juliana, it was good to meet you,” Andy said. “Please come back when I have some apple dumplings to go with that coffee.”
“That sounds good to me. Thanks for the coffee, Andy.” She grabbed the reins and pulled herself up into the saddle. Josh unhitched his horse from the back of the wagon and led the way out of the camp, with Shebe following closely behind.
Josh was more than happy that Juliana was actually at his side at this moment. He had to admit it had been quite a surprise to see her riding up to the camp. He hadn’t really thought she would come. The sunlight through the trees had bounced off her shiny dark hair falling in curls around her shoulders.
She was so unassuming, but he sensed her tough exterior. He knew she’d been hurt deeply, first by her dad, and then by losing her mother. Healing always took time. He should know. He thought about Crystal, the woman he used to love but had lost to another, and remembered his battle of words with his father, which caused a huge rift. He felt that leaving his father’s ranch was the best decision he could have made at the time. But he knew it had hurt his mother.
“Sun’s warming things up,” he said once they were out of the camp’s clearing.
“Yes, it is. I’m sure I’ll have to remove this coat before too long.” Their horses were only a handbreadth apart so they could talk comfortably. “How long have you been ranching?”
“Most of my life, but not always with sheep. I do have a few head of cattle, though. Just enough to have some fresh meat. Have you ever tasted lamb before?”
“Afraid not. It really doesn’t sound appealing to me.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t like it either. I raise sheep for the wool. Right now I’m looking into mining with a feller by the name of Hoover.”
“Really?” Her eyebrows shot up.
“Yep. By chance I found some stones on my property, and then I had them appraised. I found out they’re called Yogo sapphires. The only place in the world you can find them is here in Montana. I’ll show them to you when we get to the ranch. Hoover already has a mine started and a few partners, and he needs the water from my property to work it. So I’m considering it.”
“ ‘Make all the money you can’ is my motto. You can never have enough of it.” Her chin was set in firm determination, but the slump of her slender shoulders belied her confidence. “Sounds like it might be a good investment, but do you have to become a miner?”
“What’s wrong with being a miner? Mining could be exactly what I need to set me up for life. I know money isn’t everything.” He thought about his dad. “I know of a few people who hoard it and never really live a happy life. A person needs to have money to travel, do some fun leisurely things sometimes, instead of just working their fingers to the bone. Mining will secure my future much faster than a sheep ranch.”
“That’s easy to say if you succeed. A lot of men die trying. Besides, mining is a dirty business and a dangerous job.” Her tone sounded bitter.
Josh laughed heartily. “And raising sheep isn’t?” He knew she was really thinking about her own father and probably carried a bad image of miners in her head.
Juliana bristled. “So what do you intend to do with the sheep?”
“Oh, I’ll keep them too. I’ll just hire more help. Not a problem with all the money I’ll make from the sapphires. Wouldn’t you like to have plenty of money?”
Juliana harrumphed. “Sure, I think about money, but I don’t want it at any cost, and mining is a high price to pay. I’ve seen firsthand how it destroys families. I intend to earn money and save it to find my own place to live. I can’t always live with the Stocktons. I’m not their responsibility.”
“I’m sure they don’t look at you as a burden but as someone they want to help and protect.” I could protect her and take good care of her, if she’d let me, he thought. “The house is coming up just above the crest. I wanted it to overlook the valley so when I’m old and gray, I can sit on the front porch and watch the sunset. That time will be here sooner rather than later.” He chuckled and looked into her cornflower-blue eyes for a reaction.
“You’re not that old! At least you don’t look old to me.” She scrutinized his face from under her thick lashes until a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, showing her white teeth.
“Well, let’s just say I’m old enough to know better than to flirt with a pretty young lady like you.”
She flushed pink and looked away quickly. “Maybe I’m older than you think. I’ll be eighteen in May. Maybe I could introduce you to Marion Stockton. She’s probably about your age.”
“You don’t say?” He didn’t know whether to be offended or not. She must think he was too old for her if she wanted to set him up with Marion. “I would have thought you were at least twenty-five,” he teased. “I’m thirty. And I remember Marion from the hotel. Her father owns it. I’ll have to keep her in mind.” Josh trotted up toward the ridge with Juliana following suit.
His house had a magnificent view of the valley below and the mountain range to the west. Unadorned glass windows lined the front of the sprawling two-story clapboard structure with a large front porch, all in the final stages of construction. Several rockers were scattered about. He knew his unfinished home lacked a woman’s touch and hoped Juliana could help him out with that. Perhaps she wouldn’t be too disappointed.
Juliana’s first thoughts upon entering Josh’s home were that things were a little cluttered. A pile of boots and fishing gear sat in the foyer. The coat rack had one too many things hanging on it, and it threatened to topple when he took her coat to add it to the rest. It was obvious by the dust on the furniture in the parlor that the place was in need of cleaning, and his cluttered desk, tucked into a corner with stacks of newspapers, catalogs, and mail, was in need of attention. She tried not to act surprised. He was a bachelor, after all. What could she expect?
“Sorry, but I haven’t been here the last couple of weeks to keep things tidy. I try to work toward that end on Sunday afternoons. I still have some boxes I’ve never unpacked,” he said sheepishly. “Not all the rooms are completed. Come this way, and I’ll show you what I’ve started with the kitchen.”
Juliana followed him to the spacious room that would become the kitchen, which held a stove and a fireplace on one side. A table made of two-by-fou
rs and two benches appeared hastily constructed. “You haven’t always lived here?”
“No, I’ve lived in the house less than a year. I moved from Colorado nearly three years ago.”
“I see. This is a nice-size kitchen. You’ll have plenty of room for a large table.” She walked to the large glass window, clapped her hands, and said, “Oh, this is a wonderful backyard with those big trees. I love it. This would be a perfect place for the sink when you get one, right under the window.” She surmised that he was using the big tub on the floor to wash the dishes in.
Shebe ran past her straight out the back door when she glimpsed a rabbit, and Juliana and Josh laughed.
“I’m glad you like the place. Come on, let’s have a seat at the table, and you can give me some more ideas about what I need to do with this place.” Josh pulled out a chair for her, then came back with a pencil and paper. He drew the outline of the kitchen and indentations for the windows and doors on the paper and pushed it to her. “Show me what you would put in here and where.”
“But I can’t draw. At least not anything that’s recognizable.” She tapped the pencil on the table.
“Doesn’t matter. Write it out for me.”
Juliana placed a small rectangle where a new table should be and a circle to represent the sink under the window. Next to the fireplace, she drew a rocking chair and an overstuffed chair facing each other. Along one wall near the stove, she drew doors halfway down the wall to represent the cupboards. On another wall, she sketched several shelves to hold some plates or utensils. She handed him the paper. “This is the best I can do, but you get the idea, don’t you?”
“Not bad. I thought you said you couldn’t draw.”
“You’re joking.” She chortled.
“No, I’m not, really. What color should I paint the walls?”
“You could paint it a bright sunny yellow and trim out the woodwork in white for a nice contrast,” she said, looking around the room.
“Mmm. Sounds rather feminine to me. Remember, there are no ladies living under my roof. I was thinking about a more masculine color.”
The Jewel of His Heart Page 8
