Looping her arm in Beaumont’s, Isolda said happily, “That went well.”
“You’re givin’ my men orders now?”
“Our men,” Isolda said. “We might not have done it proper, as my sister is doing, but what’s mine is yours and yours is mine. Isn’t that right?”
“I did say that, yes.”
“Then why the hound-dog look? Things are going exactly as we want them to go.”
“There are days when I’m in awe of you,” Beaumont said.
“There are days when I’m in awe of myself,” Isolda replied. “I’m able to be who I truly am for the first time in my life, and do you know what?”
“Tell me.”
“I love it, Beau.” Isolda gazed up and down Main Street. “This town is going to be ours, and no one had better try to stand in our way.”
• • •
Whiskey Flats held the election on a sunny Tuesday. By Isolda’s calculations, barely twenty percent of the population bothered to vote. Of that twenty, more than half were customers of Beaumont’s three saloons eager to enjoy the free drink they’d been promised.
Beaumont won in a landslide. His first order of business was to pin a marshal’s badge on Scar Wratner. Wratner, in turn, pinned deputy badges on Dyson, Stimms, Grat, and Tuck.
The celebration at the Three Aces continued well past midnight. Beaumont had gotten hold of some champagne, and they sat at his table drinking and making merry.
Isolda drank as if it were water. She was on her third bottle when she happened to glance over at the crowded bar and noticed a pair of cowboys at the near end. “Who are those two?” she asked, pointing.
Beaumont had his hat pushed back on his head and his chair tilted. “They’re cowboys from the Diamond B.”
“I know that much,” Isolda said. “I don’t think I was ever told their names.”
“The young one is Billy and his pard is called Yeager. They’ve been in here plenty of times.”
Isolda turned to Dyson. “Bring them over, would you? Be nice about it.”
“What are you up to?” Beaumont said.
“This doesn’t concern you.” Isolda fluffed her hair and folded her hands in front of her. Bestowing her friendliest smile, she greeted them. “Billy! Mr. Yeager! What a delight to see you again.”
The cowpokes had removed their hats. Billy shuffled his feet and said, “It’s nice to see you again, too, Miss Jessup.”
“Join us, why don’t you?” Isolda said, motioning at empty chairs.
They were too polite to refuse. Both roosted as if they were sitting on bits of glass.
“This is some blowout you’re havin’, ma’am,” Yeager remarked.
“Isn’t it, though?” Isolda said. She slid a bottle toward them. “Have some, if you’d like.”
“We’re obliged,” Billy said. “It’s right kind of you.”
“Think nothing of it,” Isolda said, and then got to why she’d invited them over. “Tell me. How is my sister doing these days?”
Billy was the talkative one. He beamed and said, “Oh, she’s doin’ fine. Word is she’s buzzin’ around like a bee, gettin’ ready for the weddin’. You’re comin’, aren’t you? We heard you were invited.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Isolda said.
Billy drank and grinned. “Neal and her are a good pair. We’ll have two big sugars instead of one.”
“The hands don’t mind having a woman for their boss?”
“Not at all,” Billy said. “We’d do anything for her. She’s the greatest gal, ever.”
“You don’t say.”
“She’ll be queen of the ranch, and that’s no lie.” Billy chuckled.
“That should suit my dear sister just fine,” Isolda said. “She’s always seen herself as one.”
“If you’d stuck around, you could have been her helper, like she was with your pa,” Billy said.
Isolda resisted an urge to pick up the bottle and hit him over the head with it. “I help myself these days.”
“Well, good for you, ma’am.”
“Yes,” Isolda said, “isn’t it?” She went on. “Has she mentioned me at all to either of you?”
“We don’t get to talk to her much, ma’am,” Billy said.
“Not hardly ever,” Yeager said. “Even when we’re with her, Neal does most of the talkin’.”
“What does Mr. Bonner say about me, pray tell?”
Billy shrugged. “Oh, I recollect him sayin’ once that it’s a shame you didn’t stick around, although things sure worked out fine for Edana.”
“Didn’t they, though?” Isolda said.
Billy surprised her with the observation that “The important thing is that you’re both happy, you and your sis. She likes what she’s doin’ and you must like what you’re doin’ or you wouldn’t be doin’ it.”
“Why, William, you’re a philosopher.”
“If I am, it’s news to me.”
“I like what I’m doing so much I intend to do a lot more of it,” Isolda informed him. “In fact, in a very short while, you shouldn’t be surprised to hear that I’ve become a queen in my own right, as it were.”
“Two queens?” Billy said, and laughed. “Ain’t that somethin’?”
“As someone I’m very fond of likes to say,” Isolda said, “it should prove interesting.”
32
The time rushed by.
Edana had her dress made by a woman who had opened a millinery in Whiskey Flats. She would have liked to fashion the dress herself, but she had no time for sewing and stitching with all the other things she had to do.
Early on, Edana sent word to her sister, through Stumpy, that she would be grateful if Isolda would come out to the ranch and assist with the preparations. Stump returned to inform her that Isolda “respectfully declined,” as Stumpy quoted Isolda, because she was too busy.
It hurt Edana’s feelings. She’d always thought she could rely on Isolda. But with her typical industriousness, she barreled on. She asked the woman who ran Ma’s, Mrs. Ferguson, if she would cater the wedding. Mrs. Ferguson asked how many guests Edana expected and Edana estimated over a hundred. At that, Mrs. Ferguson balked, saying she couldn’t possibly provide food for so many. Neal, who was listening, mentioned that they could slaughter a few beeves for the occasion. Problem solved.
Every hand on the ranch was invited. Edana also had invitations delivered to a score of businessmen and others in town, including the new mayor and the new marshal.
“I don’t know as I like the notion of Scar Wratner comin’,” Neal remarked when she mentioned it.
“What harm can it do?” Edana rejoined. “He’s the law now. He’ll be on his best behavior. And it might result in some goodwill between him and us.”
“If you say so,” Neal said skeptically.
For weeks Edana hardly got any rest. There were never enough hours in the day. With only three more to go until the grand event, she sat in the kitchen sipping tea to relax, when in jangled her betrothed.
Neal kissed her on the cheek and claimed a chair. “How was your day, Mrs. Bonner?”
“Hectic,” Edana said. “And you shouldn’t call me that until after the wedding.”
“I’m gettin’ in practice,” Neal teased.
“How was your day?”
“We found another steer.”
Edana felt a flash of anger. “The cow killer?” That was what she’d taken to calling whoever was responsible for shooting their cattle. “How many does that make?”
“Seven that we know of,” Neal answered. “There’s probably more we haven’t found.”
“Who can be doing this?”
“I sent Jericho out. He took Billy and Yeager and they followed the tracks of a shod horse for about half a mile, then lost the tra
il on some shale.”
“They always lose it.”
“It’s not their fault,” Neal said. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Whoever is shootin’ our critters knows this country a heap better than we do.”
“You still don’t think it’s an Indian?”
“It could be a warrior who stole a white man’s horse,” Neal said, “but my gut tells me it ain’t.”
“Our punchers haven’t seen any strangers on our range?”
“Not a one. But if he keeps at it, sooner or later his luck will run out.”
“I hope sooner. I’m starting to take this personally.”
“I have from the start.” Neal gave his head a slight toss. “Enough of him. How are you holdin’ up? You look a little frazzled.”
“I can’t wait for it to be over. To be husband and wife. To start our new life together in earnest.”
“Maybe you should sleep in tomorrow. Catch up on your rest.”
“I have too much to do.” Edana sipped her tea and relished the minty flavor. “Mrs. Ferguson is bringing out some of the things she’ll need and setting up in the kitchen. And the dressmaker is bringing my dress for a final inspection.”
“Are you sorry you said you will?” Neal joked.
“Never in a million years.” Setting her cup down, Edana stood and went around the table. “Push your chair back.”
Puzzled, Neal did.
Edana sat in his lap and draped her arm over his broad shoulders. “This is more comfortable.”
Neal coughed.
Laughing, Edana kissed his cheek and his chin. “Look at you. I hope you won’t be this embarrassed on our wedding night.”
“Oh, Edana,” Neal said.
She rested her cheek on his shoulder and closed her eyes. “I’m so tired I could fall asleep right here.”
“You’ve had too much to do for one person,” Neal remarked. “It’s a shame your sister wouldn’t help.”
“I’m worried about her.”
Neal shifted and put his arm around her waist. “Is it that gambler she’s taken up with? They say he goes around like God Almighty these days. He can shoot, too.”
“The shooting’s not important,” Edana said. “Or even his profession. It’s that she’s living with him out of wedlock. Our mother raised us to be ladies, not . . .” She couldn’t bring herself to finish.
“Not live below the tracks?” Neal said.
“Where?”
“In some train towns they keep the saloons and such south of the tracks, so they won’t disturb the good folks who live north of them.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Edana said. “I admit I’m disappointed. But she’s a grown woman and can do as she pleases.”
“Did you ask her to be your maid of honor like you were goin’ to?”
“I did, and she accepted,” Edana said. “She’ll do that much for me, at least.”
“There. You see? She does care.”
“I hope so,” Edana said sincerely. “I would hate for the two of us to ever be at odds.”
• • •
The big day came.
The wedding was slated for one in the afternoon. That way, guests from town could leave early in the morning and be at the ranch in plenty of time. It also allowed for travel time back to town before dark.
Edana didn’t sleep well the night before. She blamed it on ordinary jitters. It certainly wasn’t because she was having second thoughts. She entertained no doubts whatsoever that marrying Neal was the right thing to do.
Isolda had arrived earlier that evening, with Beaumont Adams. She’d accepted Edana’s offer to stay over, which pleased Edana greatly. It bothered her, though, that when they embraced in greeting, her sister was aloof, almost cold.
“It’s so wonderful to see you again.” Edana sought to rekindle their sisterly affection.
“I wouldn’t miss your wedding for the world,” Isolda said.
Edana had been somewhat relieved to hear that Marshal Wratner wasn’t attending. When she asked why, Beaumont responded, “Someone has to watch over our town for us while we’re gone.”
Now, unable to sleep, Edana lay on her back staring at the ceiling and recalled the gambler’s comment. The rumors were true. Her sister and her sister’s lover saw themselves as the town’s lords and masters. Beaumont was already mayor. What next?
Did it even matter? Edana asked herself. The answer was no. She wished her sister the best in whatever she did, but it was no concern of hers. She had the ranch, and Neal, and their new life together.
Edana was so deep in thought she almost missed hearing the rooster crow. Sitting up, she shrugged into her robe and moved to the window. Stars sparkled overhead, but to the east the sky was brightening.
It wouldn’t be long before others were up.
Hurrying out, Edana headed downstairs. She’d like a cup of coffee to start her day. It wouldn’t take long to fix, and she could take it back to her room before anyone was about.
The parlor was dark, but the kitchen was bathed in a rosy glow. She was halfway along the hall when she smelled a familiar aroma. Someone had had the same idea and beat her to it.
Edana figured it might be Mrs. Ferguson, but she was mistaken. “You,” she blurted without thinking.
Over at the cupboard, bundled in a robe of her own, Isolda was taking down a cup and saucer. “Good morning to you, too,” she said.
“Sorry,” Edana said. “I didn’t get much sleep.”
“Me, either,” Isolda said.
“Anxious about the wedding?”
“Why would I be? You’re the one getting married.” Isolda stepped to the stove, touched the top of the coffeepot, and carried it to the counter. “I couldn’t sleep because this house reminds me too much of Father. It was the last place I saw him, the last place I spoke to him.”
Edana found that touching, and said so.
“There you go again. Reading more into things than there is.”
“You don’t miss him?” Edana said. “I do. There isn’t an hour that goes by that I don’t think of him.”
Isolda turned and sipped her coffee. “I try not to.”
Shocked at her callousness, Edana said, “You don’t mean that.”
“I most certainly do. If he were still alive, I’d probably still be living here, stuck doing work I didn’t enjoy, and miserable as hell.”
“No need to swear,” Edana said.
“But I like to now and then,” Isolda said. “With him gone, I can indulge my every heart’s desire.”
Edana regarded her with dismay. “Where did all this come from? You’re not the sister I grew up with.”
“Oh, but I am,” Isolda said cheerfully. “I’m more me than I’ve ever been and loving every minute of it.” She smiled and ambled out.
Edana thought about that all morning. She tried not to. She tried to dwell on Neal and their nuptials, but her sister’s statement deeply disturbed her. Isolda had gone from a bookkeeper who spent her days with her nose buried in ledgers, to . . . what exactly?
She almost came right out and asked when Isolda showed up to help her dress.
She decided not to. Today, of all days, there should be no spats between them. They would get along as sisters should.
It took an hour and a half for Edana to get ready.
The years sloughed away, their loss was put aside, and for ninety minutes the two of them were girls again, joking and laughing as they had done when they were little. They reminisced about the time Isolda got her hair caught in the fireplace grate, and the time Edana fell down the cellar stairs and fractured her leg, and the water fights they used to have in the summers when they’d take two glasses and fill a bucket and throw water at each other until they were soaked clean through.
Then c
ame the moment when Edana stood in front of the full-length mirror while Isolda adjusted her veil.
“Thank you for your help,” Edana said.
Isolda stepped back. She stared at Edana’s reflection, her features hardening, and said with more than a trace of bitterness, “Look at you.”
“Is something out of place?”
“You look perfect,” Isolda said. Suddenly turning away, she said, “I’ll see you downstairs.”
“Wait,” Edana said, but the door closed behind Isolda, and she was alone.
Bewildered, she tried to make sense of her sister’s behavior. The only conclusion she could come to was that Isolda resented her getting married. But that was ridiculous.
The momentous event arrived, the guests assembled on the front lawn. The ceremony was to take place on the front porch where the overhang would shield the parson and the bridge and groom from the worst of the midday sun.
Edana had no aisle to walk down, and didn’t want one. Without her father to give her away, what did it matter? Isolda ushered her outside, and there was Neal, dressed in a new store-bought suit. To her eyes he looked positively handsome.
Jericho was best man. He wore his usual clothes, his usual black hat. On his hip was his pearl-handled Colt.
Edana thought that was uncalled for, but she didn’t make an issue of it. She stood at Neal’s side, proud and straight and nearly overcome with joy, and when the time came for her “I do,” she said it willingly and gladly and without reservation.
“You may kiss the bride,” the parson intoned.
Neal surprised her. Where previous to this he had always been timid about showing affection, now he scooped her into his arms and planted a kiss that literally took her breath away.
Jericho distracted her by chuckling. She’d never heard him chuckle before.
Then people were whooping and clapping and some of the cowboys fired their six-shooters into the air.
Neal let out a yip of his own and scooped her into his arms. There would be no honeymoon. Not then, anyway. They’d decided to hold off until later in the year, when things slowed down.
Jericho opened the door so they could go in and she could cut the cake.
Badlanders Page 24
