The Heart of a Soiled Dove

by Sarah Jae Foster

  “Are you well?” he asked, far from sincere.

  When she did not answer, Donovan stood and paced the width of the rug, his work-worn boots thudding against it. He rested his arm on a bookshelf and looked her way. “I bailed you out.”

  Creases filled her forehead in consternation and dawning revelation hit. “I didn’t do anything to be bailed out for.”

  “Is that so?”

  “I tell you it is! That sheriff tossed me into jail for spite.”

  He laughed at the nerve she had.

  Her spine stiffened haughtily. “I don’t care what you think, Mr. Ramsey. I did nothing and certainly didn’t deserve to be drugged and thrown into jail.”

  “Oh, you were drugged now, too?”

  She sat up even taller. “I don’t expect you to believe me. But Corbin Bradbury did pour laudanum down my throat for what it’s worth.”

  That had his attention and so she carried on. “He is trying to get me back for Josie.”

  Tiredly he asked, “What about Josie?”

  “She’s here… upstairs I presume.”

  This would be a problem for Thatcher Poe, but nothing to do with the sheriff. Donovan resigned, for sheer curiosity. “Alright, why is she here?”

  “She ran away from him after he nearly killed her with his whip.”

  “How should that concern you?”

  She looked at him like he was daft. “Doesn’t that inhumane treatment concern anybody? You, too, condone such behavior?”

  “She chose to live there. Josie knew what she was getting into. It never occurred to her to leave before.” Before you came and interfered with everyone’s lives.

  She approached him. He looked down at her bemused, while she stated, “Why don’t you just say it, Donovan? You’re no different than anyone else. Prostitutes are the lowliest of the low. You would forgive a murdering thief before someone like Josie.” She cradled herself in her arms. “She is a person and she deserves to live a life other than what she’s used to.”

  He shifted, unhappy that she might be sealing in a point.

  Her large eyes beseeched his. “Josie, and anyone else who wants to better themselves, will be welcome here. Is there no one else who will help them?”

  Donovan had never before seen her so passionate. “From what you’ve just stated outright,” she continued, “there is no one else. It appears us women are to be in this fight alone.”

  “Fight?”

  “This new battle that the sheriff has called up. I will not allow that man to get away with treating me the way he has. And I certainly will not give up Josie, unless….”

  “Unless it’s what she wants. Do you honestly think you can stand against the men in this territory? You are more stupid than I thought.”

  “I just care is all.” Aurora stepped away from his disappointing self and looked out the window. He followed her gaze to see what she saw. Carrie Anne hunched over tending to the garden. He recalled her fate, before Aurora had gotten her hands on her.

  “Look at her,” she said to him. “Someone has to make a stand for those who are forced into their positions, with no way out.”

  He wanted to get fast out of her house. He did not take well to conviction. As Aurora’s features and physical body softened, a tiny seed of admiration was planted in him, but it would remain tamped down. He had one more question burning on his tongue. “Why should you care so much about Josie? She’s a whore.”

  “Until you see her otherwise, Donovan, you will never understand.” She smiled at him, be it as weak as it was, and said, “I don’t expect someone powerful and just and unscathed like you to understand.” She turned away sadly and took herself up the stairs.

  The conversation went far away from his intent. If he’d stayed much longer, he would have melted under her compassionate eyes. He would have succumbed to her spell and been like any other fool – like Roman, like Luke, who tossed all aside to be near her. It was a good thing she left him when she did, or else he’d be obligated to her sentiments. Donovan stepped onto the porch. Mosquitoes swarmed about the warm air and he swatted at them.

  It wasn’t until Donovan rode home to the Double R that he realized he never told Aurora about his right to a piece of her property.

  “I came as soon I could break free from the Double R,” Luke said as he paid Aurora a visit. “How have you been?”

  She gathered coffee supplies and glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve been well.”

  Aurora joined Luke at the table. “You are busy this time of year. I’m surprised Donovan could spare you.”

  “We’re busting our backs for sure.” He looked hard at her. “I suppose you know from Roman that we are gonna join up our cattle for the drive this year?”

  “Of course. Roman asked for my permission.” It was her ranch and property. Why did people think she didn’t know anything about her own business? Aurora was the financier and Roman the laborer. But his next inquiry surprised her nearly out of her chair.

  “What piece of land did you end up handing over to Donovan?”

  “Why would I do something that absurd?”

  “The trade, Aurora. He didn’t mention it?”

  She leaned forward as menacingly as her womanly frame could portray. “What are you talking about? I wouldn’t trade a piece of my land for anything.”

  Luke got up and paced the kitchen, taking himself away from her glare. He hooked his thumbs through the belt at his narrow waist and looked like a nervous school boy in trouble. “It was me…. I asked him to bail you out of jail and he said he would for a piece of your land.”

  “And you said yes?” Unbelievable! She almost laughed, then saw his regretful countenance.

  “I’ll pay him back the money.”

  “Blast it! I would have bailed you out myself if only I’d had enough.” His face reddened with what she assumed was shame. “I couldn’t just leave you there.”

  She placed her hand on his arm, not to comfort him, but to get to the bottom of this. “I’m not giving up anything and I’ll tell him myself – leave you out of it.”

  “I gave him my word, Aurora. It’s a done deal.”

  “We’ll see about that. Excuse me.” She left him there and disappeared up the stairs. She soon returned donning a pair of riding gloves.

  “Aurora, don’t do this.”

  “I’m sure deep down Donovan is a reasonable man.”

  She called out the door to Philippe with orders to ready her horse, then turned to Luke. “Are you coming with me?”

  He shook his head no but answered dully, “Yes.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  The cool water dripping from his chin was refreshing. Donovan shook his hair dry and combed his fingers through it. Dust floated to the surface of the water in the porcelain bowl and he tossed it in a splatter off the side of the back porch. He rubbed his stubby cheek with his thumb, deciding if he would shave or not, when fatigue overruled his desire for further hygiene. He would do it tomorrow. He heard a rider and figured it to be Luke until he heard a female’s voice. Rounding the corner of his log home, he stopped short. What on earth was she doing here? Aurora traded him a smile for his scowl and she dismounted without a proper welcome to. Donovan questioned his cowhand’s judgment, obviously pushing the realms of their relationship. “Luke?”

  “She wanted to see you, Boss. I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry?” Aurora said to Luke in wonderment. “Whatever for?”

  She looked Donovan up and down with purpose. “I’m here to pay my debt to you. I apologize. It never occurred to me how I came to my house after my… ordeal, or I would have done it sooner.”

  “Of course you didn’t. You were loaded with laudanum.”

  Luke stepped in for her defense. “That was uncalled for Donovan.”

  Donovan’s icy gaze shifted slowly towards Luke. “You should see to your horse.”

  His cowhand clenched his fists furiously, looked at Aurora helplessly, and then left her a
lone with him. For a moment Donovan wondered if Luke was actually going to challenge him.

  “Well that was uncalled for.” Aurora removed her gloves, displaying work worn hands. He refused to have compassion. She should not be working like a ranch hand in the first place. She was too delicate for that, too womanly....

  “I did nothing to myself. I told you it was the sheriff – he poisoned me. That medicine was to be for Josie.”

  Donovan finished buttoning up the shirt he barely had time to put on after his scrub down. “Did anyone witness this pouring down your throat and his dragging you to jail?”

  “That’s no longer the point. It does not matter what happened now and even less what you think of me.” He caught her looking around his ranch. She appeared impressed.

  Then he watched once again while she dug into her saddlebag and unrolled several bills, holding them out to him.

  Would this woman never learn to carry that kind of money around? What was she, a bank?

  “What’s this for?” he asked.

  “Mr. Ramsey, you know what it’s for. I came to thank you for getting me out of that horrid cell.”

  He laughed. “I don’t need your money.”

  “I don’t care if you need it. I pay back my debts. Take it, please. There is extra for your trouble.”

  He closed her hand holding the money with his own. “I made a deal with Luke in exchange for your freedom. He was in a position to speak for you. But for now, I’m the one who should apologize. I should have said something before.”

  Touching her and the closeness of her scent brought Donovan to a place that had been entombed a long while – his physical senses. Suddenly he dropped her hand from his and stepped back.

  “Luke had no right to make such claims. I would not have agreed to such a deal. I have more than enough money to pay for that and many more.”

  “You planning more of those outings?”

  “Ohhhh!”

  Feeling back to his normal, contemptuous self he said, “Let me know if you are planning to break the deal, Aurora Young.”

  A word given in the West was as good as blood. She seemed to recognize that as well. He watched her face drain and almost felt something akin to regret as defeat crossed her features.

  “I’ll not break Luke’s word,” Aurora said. “He was speaking for my… good.” Her eyes searched his and he became uncomfortable. “I assume the portion you want is connected to yours?”

  “Twenty-five acres.”

  He watched her bristle, spine straight and chin in the air. “I guess I must agree.” Appropriately, she held out her hand for a shake.

  He looked at it, distrusting his instincts to not feel anything, what with her beautiful eyes searching his. Aurora replied with humility, “I assure you Donovan, you won’t catch anything.”

  Contrite, his brows shot up. She’d misunderstood. His coarse hand grabbed onto hers with a firm shake and she broke away first, clearly hurt. He cursed himself as she climbed onto her mare. The sun had fallen now and he was wise enough to call Luke back to take her home. It wouldn’t do for something to happen to Aurora Young for his lack of hospitality.

  Chapter Twenty

  It was time. Aurora’s men were leaving for the cattle drive, and she fully intended to see them off. She was eager to ride some of the distance with them.

  They welcomed her into the fold and bustle of preparation. Martin and Levi were filing the horses’ shoes and Philippe was adjusting bridle bits and saddles. Aurora stepped from her porch and saw Carrie Anne. The red-speckled cheeks of Roman’s wife and raw nose told everyone that she’d been crying, most likely all night. Aurora was disappointed. Why couldn’t Carrie Anne compose herself and be the wife of a foreman? She went to her. “He’ll be gone only a while. You must pull yourself together.”

  Carrie Anne sniffled loudly. “I can’t be without him, I just can’t!”

  “Of course you can,” Aurora whispered firmly. “You mustn’t embarrass him. Roman needs to feel supported. His men rely on him and you should be proud.”

  Carrie Anne looked horror-stricken. “I never meant to…. You don’t understand.”

  Aurora realized she shouldn’t be speaking so roughly, even though at times the girl needed to be guided. “It’s really none of my concern. I apologize to have spoken out of line.”

  She was stunned when Carrie Anne snapped, “you should be.” She hiked her skirts and walked away in a huff, and for the first time, strain entered their relationship.

  Aurora sighed and looked around for what needed to be done and took to shoveling grain into burlap sacks. After tying off the first filled one, she was about to lift it aboard the flatbed but was stopped by Roman. He placed his hand gently over hers and threw the sack over his shoulder as though it were light as a feather. “Take care of her for me.”

  Aurora nodded. “I was planning on it. We’ll be fine.”

  As much as she wanted a large sale to come from this first drive, she did not relish the fact of being alone. It was up to her to protect Josie and Carrie Anne, but who was going to look out for her?

  Wild whooping broke their conversation and they turned to the ruckus. Luke, Christopher and Jed made their way into the farmyard, and Roman squeezed her arm tenderly. His silent good bye. He took a deep breath and jogged towards his home where Aurora hoped he’d bid his emotional wife a decent farewell.

  Luke dismounted and met up with her. “Everything all right?” he asked.

  She looked beyond him to where Donovan was, sitting high on his horse. “Just nervous I suppose.”

  “You don’t doubt Roman do you?”

  She answered quickly, “No. Of course not.”

  “Good.” He smacked his hands together and looked around with finality. “Well, we came to help him out. Best get started.”

  It wasn’t what he wanted to do but Donovan could not help himself. As the morning wore on, he watched Aurora’s tenacious attitude and her determination to work alongside her men. When she got a laceration on her arm from a nail sticking out from the wagon, she merely walked to the well, doused water on it, then took her bandana and tied it around. No fuss, no making sure the men saw her wound and catered to her womanly wiles. As far as she knew, no one saw this and she went right back to work. He was no longer able to throw away notions of attraction. Despite himself, Aurora seemed to be a plague on him, too.

  As she was loading a crate of food items onto the wagon flatbed, she’d caught him watching her. He did not turn away and held her gaze, deciphering what to do about the emotions roiling around his insides. There was something not right about her. He didn’t know what it was and nothing she ever did had yet to confirm his gut feeling. He’d only been wrong about a woman once, and that had been once too many. His own mother had deceived him, the female closest to him and Roman. He’d do well to heed this offset feeling where Aurora was concerned and was just biding his time to figure it out. Meanwhile, she exemplified a strong woman of compassion and independence and it had him in a state, uncomfortably so.

  Hours of preparing for the drive were finally behind them and all were settled into saddles, anxious to be on the trail. Josie made an appearance in her frail state and waved them off. Aurora sat on her horse next to Roman, still wishing she knew enough to go with them, to see this through, but she did not have the experience and wouldn’t dare hold them back. Besides, a month and a half with a moody Donovan Ramsey did not set well with her. Although the thought of sitting around a campfire with him and sleeping underneath the stars with him nearby sent pleasant shivers beneath her corset. Why did she have to form an emotional attachment toward the one man around who did nothing but disdain her and covet her land?

  PART THREE

  “Aurora! Come quickly!” Carrie Anne called in warning.

  Aurora stepped onto the porch, prepared to meet whatever, with a rifle.

  She looked at the dreadful scene before her – Corbin was dragging Emmy towards the house.

 
; “For heavens’ sake, woman! Pull yourself together. Walk.” He managed to get her to the porch swing before Aurora pierced him with a glare. “What have you done to her?”

  Emmy’s state was so similar to her inducement of laudanum; it brought feelings of rage. Corbin had the audacity to laugh and kick some dirt around with the toe of his boot. He looked at her then. “She done this on her very own.”

  Aurora did not wish for Carrie Anne to be polluted by the sheriff’s presence. “Humph. Carrie Anne, fetch some water please.” She stood close to Corbin – who inhaled deeply and smiled provocatively – and demanded, “What did you give her?”

  “I would own up to this if I’d a done it.”

  “Like you owned up to what you did to me?”

  “You’re different, plus I thought I could use you.” He looked around her property. “’Sides, you’re always surrounded by Donovan’s men and that don’t help my plans for you much.” He shoved Emmy at her. “She, on the other hand, is worthless to us now and you seem to like worthless.”

  She looked at Emmy, whose posture was sagging and her eyes would not look at Aurora’s. Her spirit was lifeless and appeared to be filled with shame.

  Aurora bent to meet her eyes and took Emmy’s hands into hers. “You are not worthless, you are precious.”

  Unfortunately, the sheriff felt to throw in his opinion. “What you have here is an opium smoking addict.”

  Ignoring him, Aurora implored, “Look at me. No matter what he says, you are important and we will get through this.”

  “There is nothing to get through, and you owe me something, Aurora,” Corbin insisted.

  Without flinching she stood up to him. “I’m sick of your baseless threats.”