by Etta Foster
Lord knows we don't need another horse problem so soon after Caesar’s “accident”. Gavin's favorite horse was still unable to carry a rider, which meant it was necessary for him to ride one of their spare horses in the meantime. At least we haven't had any real issues during the roundup.
They’d been at it since early in the morning, and Gavin was ready to be finished for the day. A bath wouldn’t be the worst thing right now. That, and a hot plate of grub. I wonder if Jessica cooked another meal.
His mind flashed to Jessica holding a heaped plate of food, dressed in a modest but flattering white dress. He was finding he was having more daydreams like that with each passing day.
I wonder what she’s doing right now. Probably helping Viola around the house again. If I would stop being so cowardly and give her a chance, would it be so bad? Is it fair to keep her here if I’m just going to act like she doesn’t exist half the time? A pretty woman like her deserves better.
“Hey, isn’t that your lady waiting for us up there?” Harland pulled closer to Gavin, the two lagging behind the rest of the ranch hands. They’d finally managed to get the herd into one of the large holding pens they’d built to house them.
Gavin turned his gaze to follow Harland’s pointing finger, blinking as he realized his friend was correct. Jessica was indeed standing next to the nearby fence, waving as they rode closer. Gavin raised his hand in a halfhearted wave, a smile tugging at the left corner of his mouth. “So it is.”
“How did it go?” She was leaning against the top railing of the fence, her chin resting on her folded arms.
“Better than expected. How was your day here around the house?” Gavin dismounted his horse and led it by the reins so they could walk together.
“Alright, I suppose. I guess we have some guests here, so I’ve been trying my best to be personable. If I can be frank, there’s something about them I don’t really like. Especially the man, he’s got eyes just like Lucas,” Jessica shivered suddenly, distress etched plainly on her face.
“Guests? I didn’t know we were expecting guests. Mother didn’t mention anything last night during dinner. That must mean it’s someone she was worried I wouldn’t be happy to see. Not a lot of people that could be,” Gavin muttered, stroking his chin.
“Well, you’ll see them soon enough. I was coming to get you for dinner. Everyone is waiting in the dining room. There was another man wearing glasses and a suit here earlier, but he left a couple of hours ago.” She ran her fingers through her hair, toying with it absently.
A man in a suit? Could that have been Mr. Bernum? He wouldn’t have come around unless Pop sent for him. What could be the reason? Did he change his will again?
Gavin gave his hands and face a quick wash to make himself presentable before heading toward the dining room.
He could hear voices that sounded vaguely familiar, as well as the occasional laugh. When he rounded the corner he froze in place, jaw setting in a firm line as he caught sight of Claudia. Even worse, sitting next to her was his older brother, Jude.
“Well hi there, little brother. We were just wondering when you were going to make your way in. How's the herd looking?” There was a look of smug challenge in Jude's eyes. Their sibling rivalry had always been a constant source of discord between them. Jude had spent his entire life trying to upstage Gavin. It was even the reason Gavin suspected that Jude had stolen Claudia away from him.
“Looking strong and healthy. However, with me looking after them, that should come as no surprise,” Gavin replied equally smugly. “How's the prospecting life treating you?”
A visible vein throbbed in Jude's temple as Gavin watched him keep a forced smile on his face.
That gave him some satisfaction, even if it made him a petty person. When you did wrong by someone, the universe tended to give you your comeuppance. “Not so well, I'm afraid. I was actually thinking about a change of pace.”
“What sort of change of pace?” Gavin's eyes narrowed at his older brother. There was something about the inflection of his words that caused the hairs on the back of Gavin's neck to stand up.
“Well, I was thinking about coming back to the ranch life. After all, it must be hard running the place with only a few ranch hands. Besides, it would be best for the family to stick together in these sad times. We have no guarantee how long Pop will be with us.”
You'd like me to believe that’s your intention, you snake. I know you’re probably only here because of the inheritance.
“I'd be glad for the help,” Gavin said finally, choking back the sarcasm in his voice. “It would give me some more time to spend with my new wife.”
“That was part of the reason we called you here, Jude. Should your father succumb to his illness and pass on, we are trying to figure out which of you boys will get the place when all is said and done. Normally, we would have just split the land evenly between the two of you.
However, considering the events that occurred five years ago, your father has decided to set some stipulations. If we were to just give it to you, Jude, that wouldn't be fair to your brother. His hard work is the reason why we still have a ranch for the two of you to argue over,” Viola’s gaze moved back and forth between her two sons, sensing the obvious tension in the room.
“That’s why we’re going to do a test run of sorts. Jude is going to remain on the ranch for six months. He will share in the workload of the chores and in the responsibility of keeping the ranch running. If he chooses to leave before the six months is through, he'll forfeit his portion of the land,” Isaac gazed at his sons over his interlocked fingers, his chin resting on the bridge they formed.
“Perfect. We need to see some sign that he’s really going to dedicate himself to the ranch,” Gavin said smugly.
“It's funny you should talk, Gavin. I also have the stipulation that if you try something underhanded like calling your wedding off right after my passing, you will forfeit your portion of the inheritance,” Isaac rumbled from the head of the table, causing Gavin's smile to fade. “If that happens, Jude will take over full ownership.”
The rest of the meal passed excruciatingly slowly. Gavin did his best to keep his gaze down on his plate while his parents barraged Claudia and Jude with questions.
He was fuming inside from what he'd heard that night. Jude steals my former sweetheart and runs off for five years, but Pop still thinks he deserves something? How is this fair? Jude is the type of man who would sell the ranch before Pop's body was even cold, if given the chance.
Excusing himself from the table, Gavin went to sit on the front verandah. The night air was relatively chilly, but he didn't particularly mind. It was a welcome change after the hot and muggy day that had caused his shirt to stick to his back from the sheer amount of sweat.
I have to put up with him for the next six months?
“Rough night?” Jessica spoke softly from the doorway, causing Gavin to turn his head slightly.
“You could say that,” he replied, gesturing toward the seat next to him. “Care to join me?”
“I would love to,” Jessica sat eagerly next to him, her hands resting together in her lap. “I can tell that you aren't the happiest about your brother being here. Care to tell me why?”
“Did you see that woman with him? Her name is Claudia, and we used to be engaged,” he admitted, ignoring the look of surprise that crossed Jessica's face as he continued. “We seemed to be a very good couple, and for a while I was certain she was the one for me. Just when we were supposed to get married, I found out that she'd been fooling around with my brother. Before I could confront the two of them, they ran off. This is the first time I've seen either of them in five years.”
“That's got to be hard on you,” Jessica murmured, her hand reaching out to gently rest on top of his. “I’m your bride-to-be now, though. You no longer have to worry about things not working out between the two of you. We have a chance to make a whole new life with one another, and I promise you right now you do
n't have to wonder if I'll be faithful. From now into eternity, I'm yours.”
Warmth flowed through Gavin's body in response to her words. A part of him wanted to desperately believe that was true, but his reservations were still there.
It was easy to use honeyed words to claim something, but another thing entirely to back it up with one's actions. Still, it was nice that she was so considerate of him. “Thank you, Jessica. Every day I find myself grateful that you responded to my ad. Thank you for putting my mind at ease.”
“Isn't that what your betrothed is for?” Jessica leaned over, surprising him by planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. He hadn't been prepared for it, and his face must have communicated as much. She giggled softly before rising to her feet, her hand briefly tracing his jaw. “Try not to let your brother get to you. Between you and me, I don’t think he has much going for him.”
“Thanks, Jessica. I'll try to follow your advice,” he replied, rising and pulling her gently toward him until they were face to face. They stood like that for a moment until Jessica finally disentangled herself from his arms.
“I should go help Viola with the dishes,” she said hurriedly, blushing as she rushed back into the house. Alone on the front porch once more, Gavin found he was now in much better spirits.
She truly is a fine woman. I'll have to do something nice for her. Maybe I'll try and set aside a day that we can go on an outing somewhere. Maybe take her on a picnic.
Giving one last glance at the full moon, Gavin turned to head back inside. The temperature seemed to have dropped significantly in the few minutes he had been out there.
I think it's time for me to get ready for bed. It’s going to be another long day of chores tomorrow, and I need to be well rested if I'm going to put up with Jude and Claudia for the foreseeable future. I just hope Pop knows what he’s doing.
Chapter 11
Coralee woke the next day with the feel of warm sunlight streaming down on her face. Despite her best effort to master shutting the curtains tight, she had found that the fabric managed to ride just high enough that a perfect circle of sunlight would enter her bedroom a little after sunrise. Her body was so used to waking early to work on the daily chores that she found herself still waking at her customary hour.
The night had been a long and unpleasant one, her dreams troubling her for the third night in a row. As she sat on the edge of her bed with her face in her hands, she tried in vain to remove the mental images that plagued her mind.
In her dream, she had been dressed in a beautiful wedding gown that was a size too big for her, but she hadn't cared. The day had been filled with music and laughter, the guests who'd arrived all offering their congratulations to Gavin and Coralee for their marriage. Viola had sat there crying in the front row next to Isaac, whose ear-to-ear grin didn't betray the illness that was ravaging his body.
“Coralee Burket, do you agree to become Gavin's lovely wedded wife? To have and to hold in sickness and in health? For richer or for poorer till death do you part?” The person performing the ceremony looked just like Jessica, causing tears to stream down Coralee's face despite her having been fast asleep.
The doors suddenly banged open to reveal Lucas, the drunken pretend playboy hollering about objections and how she belonged to him. He'd pointed an accusatory finger at Coralee, those cruel brown eyes hard as ice as he spoke. “She lied to you all this time, Mr. Woodworth. How can you be certain that she won't do so again at her earliest convenience?”
“You shut your goddamned mouth,” Gavin replied angrily, stepping down from the dais and rolling up his sleeves. “You don't get to come in here and try to ruin our special day over nonsense. Now see yourself out, or I'll have you sent out.”
Lucas then took a moment to gaze around the church, where many of the ranch hands whom she'd met over the last few days sat amongst a multitude of people who looked familiar but were mostly strangers to her. Many of them rose from their chairs, a few of the men in the audience now rolling up their own sleeves in an imitation of Gavin.
“Darling, please don't do something that we will regret later,” she begged, trying to wrap her arm around his to pull him back. “He isn't worth it. Just let him go and let's get back to our happiest moment.”
That had been the last thing said before the dream had ended. Coralee found herself awake shortly after, beads of sweat collected on her forehead that she had to gently wipe away before opening her eyes. She was no stranger to waking up in a cold sweat from nightmares, but this time she didn't really have anyone she could confide in. Jessica used to be the one with whom she had shared her secrets.
Figuring she wasn't going to be getting much sleep now that she was awake, she pushed her blankets off so she could rise to her feet.
She stretched her arms high over her head as she momentarily rose up on tiptoe, letting out a soft groan of relief. Her back wasn't used to sleeping in such a soft bed. Her bed at the Caldwell home had a lumpy, hard hand-me-down mattress that offered little, except to keep one's body off the floor.
After giving her mouth a rinse and taking care of her morning business, Coralee slowly made her way down to the kitchen. Now that Jude and his wife were around, she could feel the forced politeness and sarcasm that oozed from them with every word.
They had even taken it upon themselves to mock her having come to the ranch in the first place, causing her to have flashbacks to the many times she had been discouraged to express her hopes and expectations.
She wanted to tell Gavin about her nightmares, but she could tell there was enough stress in the air without her adding to it. It didn't take a detective to realize that Gavin and Jude were on terrible terms, but exactly why they were on such bad terms she couldn't say. I'll have to try and help Viola keep the peace between the two of them.
Coralee found Viola standing in the kitchen, humming softly to herself as she went about preparing breakfast. A basket of eggs, fresh from the hen house, sat on the counter beside her. She was using the eggs to make omelets, tossing peppers and small bits of meat into the pan with the eggs.
“Good morning, Jessica. I hope you slept well.”
“Actually, I had a bit of a nightmare and it woke me up early. I'm honestly too spooked to try and go back to sleep, so here I am. Is there anything that you'd like me to help with? I know your hands are going to be full trying to keep the peace now that Jude is here, so I want to help make things go as smoothly as I can,” Coralee said earnestly, accepting the cup of coffee that Viola held out to her.
The usually bitter taste of the coffee was overridden by something sweet. Viola must have noticed the face that Coralee made because the older woman began to laugh gently. “I put a couple of spoonfuls of honey into the coffee to help with the taste. I don't know how you prefer your coffee, but you don't strike me as someone who drinks it black.”
“You hit the nail on the head with that one,” Coralee giggled gently, taking another sip. “I never could understand people who can just drink it without sweetener.”
“Sometimes you just need the bitterness of what you are drinking to mirror the bitterness in your soul,” came the playful reply of Harland, who had managed to enter the room without either of the two women noticing him. The two women let out quiet screams that they quickly stifled, Viola playfully throwing a breakfast roll in the ranch hand's direction.
“Harland! Don't just sneak up on people like that! You scared us half to death!” Viola sounded indignant, but her tone of voice didn't match the smile that was on her face.
Harland chuckled softly as he caught the roll, taking a large bite from it and chewing on it thoughtfully. “I didn't sneak up on you. I walked right through the kitchen door like any other normal person would. I was just about to get started on the morning chores, but I wanted to tell Gavin that I could take care of them until he’s done with his breakfast. “
Coralee was quietly setting out plates while listening to the two of them talk. She'd prepared six settings to acco
mmodate their new guests, hoping she would get a chance to talk to Gavin in private before he left for the day's chores. She was surprised when she saw Gavin making his way immediately toward the door without so much as a glance toward the kitchen.
“Gavin, aren’t you hungry? We’re just putting the finishing touches on breakfast omelets for everyone. I made sure to put little pieces of chicken in yours just the way you like it,” Viola said cheerfully, walking toward the doorway where Gavin now stood and holding out her hands to him.
“Sorry, Mama, but I'm going to get an early start on today's chores. I hate to waste food, though, so I’ll eat later,” he added, his eyes moving in the direction of the cabin that Jude and Claudia now occupied. “I'd rather be alone right now.”
Viola sputtered and tried to protest, but Gavin simply placed his hat on his head and walked out the porch door, which slammed shut shortly after. Coralee stood there with Harland and Viola, surprise etched equally on all their faces. Oh God, he must be really upset about his brother being here.
