Rena's Cowboy

by Agnes Alexander

  “She sure did, brother. She handled everything.” Silas chuckled. “At first, I thought she’d lost her mind questioning the doctor like she did, but I knew you trusted her, so I decided I had to.”

  “Thanks, sweetheart.” Jake kissed the top of her head.

  “No problem. I knew if you died I’d be stuck here with nobody to love me.”

  “We love you, Rena,” Adela said. “I’m just glad you don’t have to live without Jake.”

  “So am—”

  Adela jumped up and ran from the room.

  “What happened?” Silas asked as he started to get up.

  “Let me see, Silas.” Rena got off the bed, bent and kissed Jake quickly. “I’ll be right back.”

  Rena found Adela at the edge of the garden throwing up. “What’s wrong, Adela?”

  Adela shook her head. “I’ll be okay in a minute.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t go back around Jake. I don’t want him catching anything and slow his recovery.”

  “He won’t catch what I’ve got, Rena.” She turned to face her friend. She was smiling.

  “I don’t want to take a chance. Jake’s immune system is weak. Even a minor thing could set him back.”

  “Jake can’t catch what I have, Rena.”

  “You never know. These little…”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Rena was so surprised she was motionless for a few seconds. Then she broke out in a big smile. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “Silas hasn’t said a thing.”

  “I haven’t told him. They’re supposed to leave on the cattle drive tomorrow and that’s why I’m not telling him. He’d not go, or he’d worry all the time he was gone. Cattle drives can be dangerous. Cows are crazy and you never know when they’ll turn around and stampede in the direction of the cowboys. I don’t want him worrying about me.”

  “Darn, Adela. I wish I didn’t know. You know how hard it is for me to keep quiet.”

  “All you can say today is that I ate too much lunch and it upset my stomach.”

  “I’ll keep your secret.” Rena reached out and hugged her sister-in-law. “I’m happy for you.”

  Adela smiled. “Now you need to start working on your family. I want our children to grow up together.”

  “So do I and as soon as Jake is able…well, you know what I mean.”

  “Yes. I know exactly what you mean.”

  The two women smiled at each other, then went back toward the house arm in arm.

  While they waited for the women to return, Silas crossed his arms and looked at Jake. “Everything’s ready to head out in the morning.”

  “I should get off my lazy ass and help you with this drive.”

  “Damn, Jake. You wouldn’t last until noon.” Silas’s eyes twinkled. “Talk about trying to get out of a nasty hard job. You managed it, but this was one hell of a way to do it.”

  Jake ignored his remark. “What are we going to do about Wigham? You know I’m not going to let him get away with taking Rena. I don’t care if she did tell him that elaborate tale. He has to pay for…”

  “The sheriff is supposed to arrest him for attempted murder. I don’t know what the holdup is.”

  “He probably got to the sheriff. Nobody wants to go against the richest rancher in the area.”

  “He’s only the richest man for a little while.” Silas grinned.

  Jake shook his head. “I still can’t believe it.”

  “Our pa didn’t turn his back on us after all. He left us in fine shape.”

  “I wonder why he only told Finn about the lease.”

  Silas shrugged. “I guess he was afraid his wife would take that ranch, too. He probably thought it’d be safer to trust Wadell Jefferson to handle it for us.”

  “I bet Jefferson is in cahoots with Wigham. When I’m strong enough, I’m going to confront him.”

  “We’ll do it as soon as I get back.”

  “We’re going to have to think about hiring more crew when we take over Wigham’s ranch, Silas. I don’t trust the men he has working for him.”

  “I agree. I’ve noticed that Owen likes it here. What do you think about offering him a job?”

  “I like that idea.”

  “Grover Beeson and his boy and Hank Hawkins pulled out this morning. The others are going on the cattle drive. There are some good people in the group.”

  “Who’s going?”

  “Our guys; Owen Toler; Sam Winfree; Whitt Gentry; Leo Fisher and the Reverend.”

  “Burt’s going?”

  “Yep. Said he was a cowboy before he was a preacher and he enjoyed being around the cows.”

  “What about Fisher? Isn’t he a little old?”

  “He pulls his weight; besides he said he used to run a chuck wagon. He’s going to do the cooking.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got it all handled.” Jake looked a little wistful.

  “Next time you’ll get to make these decisions, and I’ll lay around in bed and let Adela wait on me.”

  Jake smiled. “It’s not as much fun as you think. Makes me feel like I’m one of those city slickers who sleep till eight or nine o’clock every morning.”

  “Do you think Pa missed us after he moved to the city?”

  Jake shifted his position a little. “I don’t know, but do you ever think about our little brother?”

  “Not really. He was never a part of our lives.”

  “I know. It’s just strange that we have a brother we don’t know.”

  “Well, he knows where we are if he ever wants to look us up.”

  “You’re right, Silas. Maybe he will someday. Nothing in this world should surprise us anymore.”

  “I know. When your wife showed up, that was surprise enough for a lifetime.” Silas leaned back in his chair. “I don’t think I’ve ever apologized to you for the way I acted the day Swift Eagle brought Rena here.”

  “You have nothing to apologize for. I was almost as sure as you were that she was some soiled dove.”

  “You were attracted to her from the start, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, I was. Never saw anyone like her before.” He laughed. “And chances are I never will again.”

  “God, let’s hope not. Two Renas would be too much for any one family to take.”

  “You do like her, don’t you, Silas?”

  “Yes, I do, but it’s hard for me to get used to a woman having such strong opinions, and most of the time, she’s right. I now know she’s the right woman for you even if you are from two different worlds.” He kind of chuckled. “She sure does love you and she proved that over and over while you were out of it.”

  “I never dreamed I’d love a woman the way I do her, Silas.” He took a deep breath. “I guess Gray Feather knew what he was talking about.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know if I told you this or not, but he said Rena would one day save your life, then she’d save mine.”

  “She’s now done both. Not to mention Adela’s and Finn’s.”

  Jake nodded. “He also said she’d bring us great luck and from the looks of this lease, she’s done that.”

  “Did he say anything else?”

  Jake hesitated then said, “He said she and I would love each other and this love would be so deep and committed that she’d never think about going back to her time. Though he said it would be hard for her to learn our ways, she’d live with me until the end of her life and bring me much happiness and many sons.” He chuckled. “As soon as I get a little more strength, I’m going to start working on those sons.”

  “Then maybe I better work a little harder on making a son or two, myself. I plan to win our bet.” Silas smiled. “By the way, we never did decide what the stakes were for the first one to become a father.”

  “Why don’t we make it something worthwhile?”

  “I agree.” His grin widened. “What say, the first man to bring a baby into this family gets to have
the master bedroom in that fancy house of Wigham’s?”

  “You’re on, brother.” Jake stuck out his hand to Silas.

  Chapter 31

  The men going on the cattle drive came in for breakfast before dawn.

  “Boy, I don’t expect to have meals like this when Fisher is cooking on the trail,” Curly said.

  “I’ll try to keep you from starving,” Joe Fisher responded with a twinkle in his eyes. “But don’t expect biscuits like this.”

  Silas said, “Nobody can make biscuits like my Adela.”

  She blushed.

  “I’m proud of Leona, too,” Owen said. “She’s kept me and Billy fed. Hasn’t she, son?”

  “She sure has.”

  “My Rena does okay in the kitchen, too, except she can’t make biscuits worth a damn.” Jake was in the doorway leaning on Rena’s shoulder.

  “What the hell are you doing up, brother?” Silas stood and went to them. “You’re going to hurt that little wife of yours. Lean on me.”

  The people moved to make room for Rena and Jake at the table. They were telling Jake how good it was to see him up. Curly said, “Since you’re on your feet, I don’t see why you can’t just jump in the saddle and head out with us.”

  “I would, but Silas is the trail boss and he says I’m not fit for the job.”

  In a minute Adela put a plate before Jake and handed him a steaming cup of coffee.

  He looked at Rena. “This looks a lot better than that soup you’ve been pouring down me.”

  “Now, you know I let you have some of the turkey Leona roasted last night.”

  “It was good, too. Thanks, Leona.”

  “I’m glad you liked it, Jake.”

  “Since the turkey didn’t bother you, I figured you could handle bacon this morning.” She took the plate Adela handed her.

  “Jake, I agree with Curly; now that you’re on your feet and eating like a man, are you sure you can’t go with us on the drive?” Finn asked. “I’m a newlywed too, so it’s not fair if you get to stay with your wife and I don’t get to stay with mine.” Finn grinned down at Belle.

  “I’m afraid my little woman would put another bullet in me if I did that. I had to do some fast talking before she’d let me come to the table this morning.”

  “She wants to take care of you, Jake.” Leona patted his shoulder. “She made that clear to all of us.”

  “I hope I wasn’t too bossy,” Rena said.

  “We all knew you were only doing everything you could think of to keep Jake alive.”

  “I’m sure your being here helped a lot, Leona.” Curly smiled at her.

  “Thank you, Curly.”

  “Leona has been wonderful,” Adela said.

  Belle spoke for the first time. “I’d like to help out. I’m going to be lost when Gideon leaves.”

  “We’ll be happy to have your help, Belle. How are you in the garden?” Adela looked at her.

  “I’ve never had a garden.

  “That’s too bad. I was hoping you could help me there. Rena tries, but she has a hard time telling a weed from a vegetable.”

  “What can you do, honey?” Leona asked Belle.

  “I can clean and I can sew.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Adela said. “We have some new material and Rena can’t sew. She needs some dresses.”

  Rena laughed. “I’m beginning to get a complex. Now everyone in the room knows I can’t make biscuits. I’m no good in the garden and I can’t sew.”

  “Miz Rena, you sure know how to take care of a sick man,” Curly said. “When I took a bullet a while back, she helped Jake take care of me.”

  “Thank you, Curly. At least my nursing skills are appreciated.” She cut her gaze to Jake. His eyes were full of laughter.

  He reached over and hugged her. “I bet there’s not a man in Arizona Territory who has a wife who can shoot a gun as well as you can.”

  After a few more minutes of laughing and talking, Silas stood. “Well, men, I think it’s time we head out. Those cows are getting restless.”

  It wasn’t long until they gathered in the yard where Billy had the horses saddled and ready to ride. The wives were trying to keep tears from their eyes.

  As if he had taken lessons from Rena and Jake, instead of the kiss on the cheek he usually gave Adela, Silas took his wife in his arms. He gave her a long and passionate kiss. The people nearby heard him say, “That’s got to hold us until I get back. You take care of yourself and I’ll see you in about three weeks.” He kissed her again, nodded to Jake and Rena, then climbed on his horse. In minutes, the men were riding out of sight toward the waiting herd.

  * * * *

  “I’ve heard enough of your questions, Dusty Allison. I didn’t shoot Jake Haywood and I can prove it.”

  The sheriff leaned back in his chair and looked across the beat-up wooden desk at the wealthy rancher. He’d had his doubts when Silas said Wigham shot his brother. It was hard for Dusty to grasp that a man in Jasper Wigham’s position would shoot somebody and take a chance on hanging, but Silas had been adamant.

  Everybody knew Wigham wanted the Haywood ranch, but there were other ways to take a man’s land. You didn’t have to shoot him in the back. Besides, if Jasper was going to shoot somebody, Dusty figured he’d do it face to face. Silas Haywood must have been mistaken.

  “I hate to ask you to prove it, Jasper.”

  “I don’t care. I have a witness to prove my innocence.”

  “And who might that be?”

  “I’ve got a little business in town. After that we’ll ride out to Haywood’s place and ask his wife. She can prove I was nowhere near when he was shot.”

  “How can she do that?”

  “She was with him, wasn’t she?”

  “Silas said she was.” The sheriff stood. He wasn’t a big man and some people in town said he wasn’t even big enough for the job. Too many things had happened with no consequences for the criminal. The general population had little respect for the man or his abilities, but nobody else wanted the job. The town officials kept appointing Dusty Allison and he kept accepting because most of the time it was an easy job. Other than the marauding group the Haywoods brought down, there hadn’t been anyone except drunks. “I’m surprised the man didn’t die if the wound was as bad as they say.” Jasper had a smirk on his face.

  The sheriff looked bored with the whole thing. “He probably would’ve if his wife hadn’t been there.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I hear she accused the doctor of trying to kill him.”

  “Why would she say that?”

  “Mrs. McGregor said Doc told her that he wanted to bleed Jake, but his wife wouldn’t let him. She told the doctor they didn’t do that in Atlanta and she wasn’t going to let him do it. Made the doctor mad and he told her to take care of Jake herself.” The sheriff shrugged his shoulders. “He said nobody was any more surprised than he was when he went back by the house and found Jake getting better.”

  Jasper didn’t answer. He was fuming inside and didn’t want to give himself away. He stood to leave. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready to go.”

  * * * *

  “What do you mean you’re going to pull me in on this if the Haywoods find out?” Wadell Jefferson took his handkerchief and wiped sweat from his brow. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “The hell you didn’t. You’ve known all along the Haywoods own my ranch. You said there was no way they’d ever know that I didn’t buy it from their father.”

  “I’ve been careful to keep the papers hidden. Nobody will find out from me.” He wiped his head again. “Why are you so worried, anyway? Even though Jake didn’t die this time, there’s nothing they can find.”

  “I think I can trust Rena to keep her word, but if she turns on me, I could go to jail for shooting the man. Then everything will come out.”

  “I thought you were going to make sure she couldn’t tell anyone anything.”

  Jasper squi
rmed a little. “I’m sure one can trust royalty.”

  “I’m not sure. She sure gave Jake control over her money.”

  “Maybe he demanded that she do it.”

  “She didn’t come across to me as a woman who a man could demand anything from.” Wadell put his handkerchief down on the desk. “Remember she called me Wadell.”

  Jasper laughed. “I told you, she has a right to call you anything she wants to.”

  “If a letter comes from her uncle and proves she’s part of the royal family, I’ll not only apologize, I’ll bow to her the next time she comes in the bank.”

  “We’ll know for sure when I hear from him.”

  “How long do you think it’ll take?”

  “Probably a month or so.”

  Wadell looked thoughtful. “I admit with her letting you mail the letter it sounds legitimate. You don’t mail letters to Atlanta without knowing what you’re doing.”

  “You’re right.” Jasper stood. “You just keep things under control at the bank and I’ll take care of the rest.”

  Jasper went out the door and headed to McGregor’s Mercantile, in a much better mood. He decided he’d pick up a gift for Rena, then ride out to Haywood’s ranch with the sheriff. She’d clear his name and he’d slip her the gift. Maybe he could get a message to her to meet him later.

  He was picturing himself being introduced to Queen Victoria as the husband of her beautiful relative, Lady Rena with all the names he couldn’t remember. Jasper was whistling when he walked into the mercantile.

  Chapter 32

  “You sound happy today, Jasper,” Sarah McGregor said as he came through the door whistling. She couldn’t help wondering what he was up to. Though he’d never given her reason not to, Rachel felt she was a good judge of character, and she didn’t trust the man.

  “Life can be good, Mrs. McGregor.”

  “That’s for sure. How can I help you?” Yep, he’s up to something. I can tell by that silly grin on his face now that the whistling’s stopped.

  “I’m looking for a small gift. It needs to be special, but not too ostentatious. Something you’d give a lady, not some ranch woman.”

  “My goodness, there aren’t many women like that around. You been to Phoenix or some other big city?”