Absently, Seth rubbed at the nagging ache in his chest. Would she consider his opinion a compliment coming from him, or would she somehow take it as critical? After the other night in her room, Seth knew she’d see it as critical. He knew she had her back up. Great! So did the Boss. No woman left him the way she had all those years ago and got his attentions again. He didn’t work that way. She was wrong and she knew it. There was no sense getting all riled up over the watch. If she’d just given him a minute, instead of going off like a hell-cat, he’d have explained it to her.
“I figure she’ll be able to keep things running smooth. That’s worth a lot to me. Is there a problem with that? Seth? Hey, where’d you go?”
“What?” Seth faced Ty again and blinked. “What did you say?”
“I asked if there is a problem with Celia tending the horses?”
“No, none at all.” Seth pursed his lips. His eyes squinted into slits as he gazed off into the far side of the corral. She was just bullheaded. When had that happened? He wondered. Pushing off the fence, he turned without another word and ambled back the way he’d come.
“Wonder what’s got into him?” Ty scratched his head.
“I couldn’t say,” Celia offered airily as she came back up behind him. “I want to thank you for the opportunity, Ty. I’ll be out early tomorrow to get started.”
***
Maggie was in the kitchen putting up some crabapple preserves when she heard the front door close. “Is that you, Celia?”
“Yes, Maggie.” Celia appeared in the doorway to the large open kitchen with its hanging pots and great potbellied stove. She laughed lightly as she came through the doorway. “Do you ever stop?”
“I plan on doing just that and, as a matter of fact, right now. Here, have a seat and let’s have a cup of tea. How’s the mare doing?”
“She’s mending beautifully.” Celia settled on the ladder-back chair and smiled broadly. “You won’t believe what Ty has asked me to do!” Celia’s excitement showed in her face. “He’s offered me a job. I’ll be looking after the health of the horses and dealing with those who have an ailment.”
Maggie’s eyes lifted. “Well now, that’s a fine thing, a fine thing indeed.” Patting Celia’s hand in a motherly fashion, Maggie admonished, “You’ve managed to become quite indispensable around here, my dear. I appreciate your help with the canning and preserves. Now Ty has you working with the horses. I’m so pleased.” Maggie reached up into a cupboard above the battered, old kitchen table and got down two teacups and saucers. “Here, let me pour you some tea. There’s something I wanted to talk with you about.” The older woman eyed Celia. “You know the spring round-up dance is coming up soon.”
“Oh?” Celia’s face remained unreadable.
“Yes and I was planning on riding into town with Seth on the next supply run to gather some material for a new dress to wear. I’d like to take you with me and see about a dress for you as well.”
Celia’s head came up. “But I’m not going.”
“Why not, child? It’ll be great fun. Everybody in the county comes and there’s food, barbeque, games, and of course dancing. The whole ranch turns out for it, even the children.”
“Children? Oh, you mean the children of the ranch hands. Yes, I can see how they would enjoy the games and the food.”
“Well, yes, they do. But I was referring to the orphan Indian children.” Maggie sipped her tea.
“Orphan Indian children?” Celia repeated like a magpie. She set down her cup. “What are you talking about? There are orphan children living on the ranch?”
Maggie nodded.
“Where?” Celia asked.
“Well, the two Mexican girls I have working in the kitchen take care of three of them. There’s a little girl of no more than three and two older boys who are around ten, I’d say. They all live in a small house down by the creek. Then let’s see, two are old enough to live in the bunkhouse with the hands. One helps Shorty with the gardening in return for room and board. Oh, and one sleeps in the barn and helps Henry muck out the stalls.”
“Sleeps in the barn!” Celia’s eyes grew wide. “You mean to say he has no house to stay in?”
“Well not a house, but he has a cot in the loft and…”
“In the loft!” Celia’s voice rose as she did. “Of all the…” Celia caught herself before she could voice her thoughts. Heading for the door, she gave Maggie one disgruntled glance over her shoulder before opening the back door and flying out of it in the direction of the barn.
The weathered wood of the old barn stood out in stark relief against the new green of the grass spearing up in defiance of the lingering coolness of the nights. Celia made her way toward the double hung doors which were flung wide to admit the warm breeze accompanying the noonday sun.
The glare from the sun cast shadows and slowed her progress while her eyes adjusted. A horse several stalls down called out and another answered. The smell of hay and dust filled the air. Stepping inside the dimly lit interior, Celia called out. “Seth, Ty, is anybody here?”
The only answer came from the bull. Celia gave the creature with the massive, jet-black chest a wide berth. Ty had mentioned his penance for seeing to the heifers before eating. Celia felt certain all the females were satisfactorily cared for; otherwise, Bruno wouldn’t be patiently waiting for his noon meal. Emitting another bellow, Bruno munched on hay and waited for his grain. She passed his stall. “Easy, fella, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Sidestepping a cow patty, Celia continued forward. “Seth, Ty, is anybody around?”
“Celia?”
“Yes, Seth, I need to speak to you.” She heard him coming in from the back doors to the barn. Unaware he was as close as he was, Celia stopped short. “Oh, you scared me.” Touching her throat with her fingertips, Celia tamped down the urge to push him backward as Seth stepped forward. “You keep doing that.”
“Doing what?” Irritation rode across Seth’s features.
“Never mind...” Celia let out a huff of exasperation. “I’m glad I found you.”
“What seems to be the problem?” Seth stepped into the sunlight filtering through one of the loose boards above in the loft. With his long jean clad legs planted in a serious stance, he eyed her coolly. “Look I have things to do.” His gloved hand gripped the lasso he held and struck his thigh with impatience.
Celia sucked in air. She cut him a hard look. Promising herself she would make her point, Celia raised her chin a fraction and squared her shoulders. “Do you have a young Indian boy living and working in this barn?”
Seth blinked. “You mean Joseph?” With a growl of frustration, Seth swept his hat from his head and wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his shirtsleeve. “I’m up to my eyeballs in work out back, and you want to know about Joseph. What is this, some kind of joke?” Knocking the dust from his hair, Seth repositioned his Stetson and glared at her.
She fisted her hands much like she’d seen him do and shifted her hip in what she thought of as an authoritative stance. “I can appreciate your schedule, Mr. Loflin, but I fear you may have overstepped your authority by housing a young orphan boy in such deplorable conditions as this barn.” Waving her arms widely for emphasis, Celia glared straight at him.
Seth simply stared at her, his cool blue eyes as icy as a north wind in January.
Under such close scrutiny, Celia determined she needed to firm her position and crossed her arms, while her booted toe tapped a rapid tattoo in the mix of dirt and hay on the barn floor.
With a smile Seth never intended to reach his eyes, he took in a deep breath. “Overstepped my authority? Is that what you think I’m doing now?” His mouth slid into a hard, thin line and he took another step toward her. “This is my ranch and I’m in charge here. Things go according to what I decide. If I need someone to bunk in the barn and watch out for predators, then that’s my prerogative.”
“Your prerogative indeed!” Celia huffed out another bre
ath and peered around the barn. “Where is he? Where is this boy? I want to see him for myself.” Celia’s fists landed on her hips and this time she took a step forward.
“For Christ sake!” Seth smothered a cruder oath and wished fervently he could hit something. Striding to the ladder positioned against the loft, Seth looked up and called, “Joseph? Joseph…”
“Sir?” The voice of a child answered in English.
“Get down here. There’s somebody here to see you.”
The small feet appeared first. His ankles resembled a girl. Shimming down the ladder to stand beside Seth, the boy called Joseph peered up at Celia with large almond shaped eyes. He barely came to Seth’s elbow. Barefoot and wearing a pair of pants much too large for his small brown frame, the boy resembled the ragamuffins Celia remembered seeing scurrying about the alleyways of Charleston. His dark eyes hid beneath long hair which badly needed a trim. Dirt smudged the straight nose while cautious black eyes stared hauntingly at Celia now. There was a pain in their depths Celia recognized right off.
“Boss?” Joseph turned with a quizzical eye for Seth.
“Joseph, tell this lady what your job is here.” Seth jutted a finger in Celia’s direction.
He’s referred to Seth as ‘Boss’. With a one-word question, Celia understood this was no mere child, but a lost soul inside the remains of what had once been a child. Joseph’s mouth set in a line. No expression flitted across his features. Those eyes were deep and dark like the soul of an owl who knew more than was wise. He wore no shoes and no coat, though, the weather hadn’t warmed to the point one could go all the time without them, Celia mused. He was thin and liberally covered in dirt. Celia realized she was surprised to hear him speak in English. Her heart immediately went out to him.
Looking directly at Celia, Joseph spoke clearly. “I watch for critters and kill them or call for help when there’s trouble from something like cougars.”
She latched on to the boy’s words. “Cougars? You’re to watch out for Cougars?” With a quick mental assessment of the young boy’s responsibilities, Celia found herself wondering aloud about the boy’s ruff condition. “My word. When was the last time you had a bath, Joseph?”
The boy took a protective step back and shook his head decisively. The mere mention of such a thing brought out a muteness tone in his voice. “Joseph don’t need no bath.”
With a defiant thrust to his chin, which Celia found endearing, Joseph sliced the air between them with his slender hand. She recognized the Comanche hand signal representing rejection. Valiantly trying to keep her lips from twitching, Celia forced her mouth into a flat line. Turning to Seth, who’d been watching the exchange between the two combatants, Celia asked flatly, “You’re not going to stand there and tell me that you condone this, are you?”
Stoically, Seth regarded her before answering in the same flat tone. “I do. Joseph is just fine. He takes care of things in his own time.” Seth’s own features gave away nothing. “Your concern is unwarranted. Besides, I don’t see this is any of your business. Now if you wouldn’t mind, I have things to do.”
“Just a minute...” Celia had to step quickly to follow him when he turned and headed back the way he’d come. His great strides ate up the ground in short order. “How dare you turn and dismiss me with that kind of answer. The boy needs proper care and attention, not a job requiring him to live in a barn and fight cougars. How can you sanction this kind of situation and of all places on your land?”
He kept walking.
“Seth Loflin, do you hear me?” She was only two steps behind him, so when he pulled up short and wheeled on her, Celia wasn’t prepared.
His face was right above hers. “Don’t turn this on me. I’m not the enemy. Do you hear me?” He ground out the next words with far more passion than he’d shown only moments earlier. His hand snaked out and his fingers dug into her elbow. His eyes bore into her face. “Who do you think brought the boy here? Why do you think I brought him? The job gives him a sense of purpose, which he needed when I found him. Christ, if you want somebody to lash out at, why don’t you try the sons-of-bitches who left him and his brothers huddled in the rubble of their village watching as their mother burned to death in their teepee.” Seth’s gloved finger shot out and punctuated the air.
Celia jumped despite herself.
“Those are the bastards who need your attention, not me…”
Celia couldn’t speak though the fury she’d fostered still raged. Tears welled in her eyes, but she swore she’d die before she let them fall. She felt his grip on her arm and the audible silence all around them as Seth’s breathing leveled.
Having said his peace, Seth swore under his breath. Without a backward glance, Seth released her and stalked off.
Embarrassment crept up her neck. Glancing around, she was glad when she found no one in sight. She’d been quick to assume he’d brought the boy to the ranch to make use of his misfortune. Had she wanted to think the worst of Seth? The unease in the pit of her stomach curdled, making her want to go after him to try to apologize. He hadn’t deserved the innuendo she’d pinned on him. Celia stood watching him go. Couldn’t they at least stop with the accusations? She retraced her steps to within the back door of the barn.
Joseph stood where they’d left him carefully watched the ground. His shoulders were hunched and he’d jammed his small hands in the pockets of those baggy pants. The flickering glance he sent Celia from under his lanky hair spoke volumes.
Again, her heart went out to him. She knew about lose, knew how the memories could creep up on you at the oddest moments to snatch your breath and leave you with nothing but a longing you couldn’t fill. Whatever the circumstances which had brought him to the ranch, Joseph was there and he didn’t need her criticizing his living conditions. Stepping toward the young boy, Celia spoke softly, “I’m sorry, Joseph. I think I need to start over. My name is Celia. You may have heard I lost my family recently as well. I know how hard it can be. I don’t mean you any harm. I’d like to be your friend.”
Joseph glanced up at her and blinked his large almond shaped eyes.
“What do you say?”
His body relaxed fractionally.
Celia reached out and offered her hand.
The boy took a slow couple of steps backward, watching her the whole time. His small dirt encrusted fingers sunk deeper into the pockets of those baggy pants.
“I am sorry. Can we try again?”
Glancing at her, Joseph considered. Slowly, the young Indian reached out and then faltered. His hands folded over his chest and he turned fractionally, eyeing the doorway like a feral animal considering flight.
Celia recognized the move. “It’s okay. It’s all right. I won’t hurt you, Joseph. I’d like to be your friend.” Celia spoke the words in Comanche hoping he would understand.
His face brightened fractionally. She noted his dark eyes peered at her with renewed interest.
“I’d like very much to be your friend, that is, if you’d let me.” Celia watched as the boy considered her words.
The uncertainty was plainly visible in his tender face. His young life had been fraught with turmoil and upheaval. He was only ten.
Celia motioned to a bench near the back entrance to the barn. Motioning to him, she slowly moved toward the old wooden perch. “Come over here. Sit with me a few minutes.” Celia patted the boards beside her. “You know I’ve been given a job in the barn as well.” Celia watched out of the corner of her eye as the boy’s eyes darted side to side before landing on her face.
He remained where he was.
“Ty has asked me to tend the horses. I will need someone to help me take care of those who are ill or injured and keep an eye on them for any signs of disease.”
The spark of interest in Joseph’s eyes warmed Celia.
“I’ll need a great deal of help. Do you happen to know of anyone who might be able to help me?” She waited a beat.
Joseph’s black eyes fixed on h
ers as the boy’s mouth formed a serious line across his young face.
“Of course the ones who are injured will need to be kept comfortable in their stalls. There will always be the threat of coyotes or cats. I would need someone who could watch out for their well-being and keep them safe.” Celia looked toward the pastures before cutting her gaze back to Joseph.
A spark ignited in the boy’s eyes. “I can do that.” His small feet shuffled in the dust. Joseph took a tentative step toward her. “The horses don’t fear when I’m with them.” His face glowed with the light of pride.
Celia smiled her warmest smile for him. “You’re so brave to offer to do that for me, Joseph. I would be honored to have a brave, young man perform such an important job for me.”
Joseph stepped closer. Crossing his legs before settling on the hay near the bench, he gave her a hesitant glance.
Celia realized it was as close as he was going to allow anyone to get to him and she understood. “You’ve settled the concern I had for the welfare of the horses. Thank you, Joseph. Thank you very much.”
Joseph gave her a big smile.
“Come on. Let’s go see if Maggie has any cookies.”
***
Trouble would show up whether she was there are not. That’s what he’d told her. Well, she seemed hell-bent on bringing trouble with her.
Cutter thumped his tail in the dust as he eyed Seth intently.
Damned if he knew where her willful bend had come from. She’d been an agreeable sort when he’d known her before. Celia had been happy and trusting, never argumentative or combatant. Where was the girl she’d been?
Seth shook his head before working the nail loose from the post. He dropped the hammer in the dirt and tugged hard on the wire he was using to re-strand the fence.
Her laughter and flirtatious bend had been addictive. Whether they were sitting with her people around the campfire or alone in some secluded lovers haven, Seth remembered a pliant, willing girl in his arms. Black silken hair falling about her shoulders as she dropped her hide dress for him. Soft whispers in her native tongue as he trailed hot, wet kisses along her smooth skin. A flaming fire of passion threatened to consume them both with its intensity back then. Where was that girl?
Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1) Page 15
