by Danni Roan
As he crossed the street he noticed Benji standing on the train depot platform talking, animatedly, to a well-rounded dark haired woman in a deep plumb colored dress. He shook his head wondering what that could be about then turned back toward his goal.
As he reached for the door of the post office a burly black haired man with sparkling eyes pulled it open then ushered his tall blonde wife out onto the board walk with a grin. The woman, finally noticing him as she chatted to her husband, greeted him with a smile and waited for her stocky husband to offer his arm once he was out the door, never once stopping her verbal train of thought.
He smiled again as he watched the couple walk down the street, the quiet man letting his wife ramble on without breaking stride. He missed that companionship, that sense of intimacy that came from just being together even when there was nothing of importance to discuss. He’d been more than blessed in his life with love and now just prayed that somehow the good Lord would grant the same for his daughters.
With a sigh he pulled his thoughts back to the task at hand and stepped into the cool dark interior of the post office. There was both a post office and a telegraph office in Casper and he hoped that either one or the other would have good news for him. He was trying to be patient but as he grew older he found that virtue less and less appealing.
He was delighted when the clerk at the counter smiled and handed him a white envelope addressed to him in neat precise lettering. It was post marked from Illinois and his spirits lifted with both hope and desire. Taking the envelope and tucking it safely into his pocket he posted the mail he and the men had prepared then turned to leave. His palms itched to open the missive he’d received but he resisted the urge.
“First things first.” He reminded himself as he stepped back into the sunny street. There would be time for that later. He only wished he’d had more to report to his brother Jeremiah.
“I’d better go track down my daughters.” He said out loud as he stepped out onto the board walk and headed toward the boarding house.
Katie paced the floor of her room, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. There was no question that she found Will Roberston attractive, that she was just plain attracted too him. She’d done her best to stay clear of him, but again and again she found herself in his vicinity. Every morning she would get her list of things to do choosing each job that would keep her as far from the new foreman as was possible but by the end of the day the jobs had brought them back together.
She made the circuit of her room again trying to figure out what to do. Despite the incident in the mountains it didn’t look like Will would be moving on anytime soon. Their time together had proven to her that he was dedicated to the work on the ranch and she knew he was fascinated with the arrangement on the Broken J that allowed all of those who worked the range to own a share. Of course once her father returned and heard of their whole adventure Will’s time on the ranch might come to an abrupt end.
For some reason the dark thought made Katie’s breath catch in her lungs. Stopping her pacing she walked to the window and pushed the heavy curtains aside looking down on the barn and the smith’s shop beside it. She couldn’t see anything beneath the low roof but she remembered all too well the way Will had looked, shirtless by the forge. The bright glow of the embers had cast a rosy hue on his bare torso, the sheen of sweat making him glow in the dim light of the forge. Katie shivered. If she could have ever had a chance at marriage she would have wished for a man as handsome as the cow puncher. Shaking her head she turned away from the window.
“Enough day dreaming.” She commanded. There was work to be done. Perhaps tomorrow she’d be able to convince Nona that she should stay in and help around the house that would keep her away from the distraction that was Wilson Robertson. She wondered if Nona would think she was ill or that something was wrong. Katie didn’t mind house work, or even cooking, as a matter of fact she made a darn fine cherry pie; she just preferred working outside if she had a choice. She would talk to Nona after dinner she decided, then went to fix her hair and put on a clean dress.
When Will came in for dinner he was surprised to find Katie sitting by herself at the table. She looked fresh in a dress of deep russet gingham covered in tiny pink and white flowers. Her face, lightly kissed by the sun glowed with health and the streaks of gold in her hair glistened in the early evening sunset. For a moment he let her appearance wash over him, drinking in her loveliness, as he stood and openly stared.
“Oh, good we are all here now.” Nona’s voice erupted from behind the screen door. Will looked around wondering who ‘all’ could possibly mean, then Isadoro and the other few hands who were still on the ranch walked out of the kitchen door each carrying a dish.
Soon everyone was seated around the table, grace had been said and eating commenced. Will had never worked anywhere where all of the hands ate with the family, but over the past few weeks he’d come to understand that here on the Broken J every hand was family, each member contributing their special part to the success of the whole.
A strange sadness suddenly overwhelmed him as he looked around him at the men, and woman talking and joking. Isadoro was asking about the accomplishments of the day while Nona insured that each and every person at the table had more than enough to eat. Will couldn’t remember ever feeling so lonely. He’d just put his fork down when Katie looked up from her plate.
“Is everything alright?” She asked quietly, her voice pitched for his ears alone. A wan smile crossed his face.
“I was just thinking what a fine home you have here.” He replied, his voice still somber.
“It is pretty amazing.” She responded with pride. “It’s a little lonely right now though with so many people away.”
“You must be missing your sisters by now.” Will said realizing that Katie too must feel at least a little lonely.
“I have to confess that at first it was lovely. Everything was so quiet, no one just walking into my room whenever they wanted to talk or borrowing my things without permission.”
Will smiled. “It’s nice that you’re close to your sisters.”
“Do you have family?” Katie asked still sensing his melancholy mood and wanting to ease it somehow.
“No, ma’am. My families been gone for a long time now.”
He watched as Katie’s hand began to reach toward his, an instinctive move to comfort him, then it halted its path and retreated back across the table again. His heart skipped a beat at the gesture of kindness, chasing his dark mood away.
Dinner finished with the usual flurry of noise and jokes then the men excused themselves and headed back to the bunk house for the night.
Will’s job the next day was one of those mundane jobs that required a bit of muscle but almost no mental engagement and he found his mind wondering as he mucked stalls. He was thinking of home and family; wondering if the dream could ever become a reality.
The horses had been turned out into the large corral and now each stall required a systematic cleaning. The rhythmic motion of shifting the pitch fork into the straw and refuse then swinging it into the barrow behind him was so familiar that it seemed to suspend him from his own body.
A light tread on the boards upstairs finally brought him back to his senses and he cocked his head to hear a little better. A woman’s soft voice could be heard grumbling something from the loft and he shifted himself to just below the hay shoot to see who was up there. He caught a glimpse of Katie as she stepped quickly through the golden hay in the loft, arms outstretched and making soft shooing sounds under her breath. He could also hear a soft clucking noise above and wondered if somehow one of the chickens had escaped the hen house.
He stepped back a little trying to see. Suddenly, with a loud squawk a white hen flew straight at the young woman. Katie started, then in what seemed like slow motion began pin wheeling her arms as she lost her balance and pitched backward into the open hay shoot. Will leapt forward just as Katie plunged toward the small stack
of hay on the barn floor, grabbing her and slowing her momentum which carried them both into the soft heap of bedding.
Katie still stunned struggled to get up until Will’s laughter engulfed her. Katie stopped trying to rise, her arms and legs tangled with her would be hero, and began to laugh. Waves of mirth filled the barn as the absurdity of the situation rolled over them. Slowly their laughter quieted. Katie turned her head slightly toward the man beside her in the straw. She was still smiling and her eyes danced.
Will gazed down into her soft lovely face, his smile sliding away as their eyes met just inches from each other. His head tilted, and as silence fell his lips descended on hers and lingered for an impossible moment. Breaking the kiss, he gazed into her stunned eyes, then both of them seemed to come to their senses. Will jumped to his feet then reached down a hand to help her up.
“You alright ma’am?” He asked his voice shaky.
“I…” her large, luminous eyes gazed at him. “Oh.” Her small white hand covered her mouth for just a moment. Will’s face burned with the knowledge that he’d stolen a kiss he had no right to.
Then Katie seemed to get a hold of herself. “Oh, yes, yes. I’m fine.” She answered quickly. “Those darn chickens. Someone must have left the coop open this morning. I’d already found the other two and put them back in the fence but this one was just being difficult.”
Will couldn’t help but chuckle at the understatement. “Well as long as you’re alright then.” He said seriously looking her up and down. He noticed how the color on her cheeks darkened even as she lowered her eyes from his.
“I supposed I’d better go and fetch her now.” Katie stated flatly and turning walked away.
Will returned to his task but this time the steady rhythm of his work only forced him to relive, again and again that little kiss.
Will didn’t see Katie for the rest of the day. She’d returned to the loft, aggressively secured the chicken and headed back to the house. He wondered if she had told anyone about the kiss and his heart sank with the notion. Of course if she had he probably would be on his way by now so he hoped for the best.
By supper time he was feeling more confident. Isadoro hadn’t come for him and he’d finished his job, tossing fresh straw into each stall, making it ready for its next occupant. He had just hung his pitch fork on its hook when Deeks came in. “you ready son?” He called cheerfully. “It’s Saturday ya know.”
Will shook his head. Saturday. He’d completely forgotten but he quickly followed Deeks to the bath house. This was another one of those features that had astounded him about the ranch. They built a whole bath house with three large copper tubs right next to the bunk house. There was a large cook stove for heating water, and the room had its own tall handled pump. In reality it was an ingenious way to provide this needed feature for the hands. With the large number of men on the ranch it served two purposes. Not only was it a convenient way to maintain cleanliness, it also insured that the pump wouldn’t freeze up come winter.
Tonight was special though. With only Deeks, Isadore and Will working the ranch they each had a full tub and didn’t have to hurry to ensure that the next man inline had hot water. It would feel good to wash the week’s grit and grime from his weary body and in no time he was lounging in the hot water letting it work the kinks out of the tense muscles in his neck and shoulders.
Will knew he’d never have a place as fine as the one that Joshua James and his men had created but in his heart he determined to have a home of his own someday. Will leaned back, letting his head rest on the high back of the big tub and closed his eyes. The voices of the other two men talking about the labors of the day were a soft buzzing in his ears and in moments Will had drifted off to sleep; bright green eyes and a pretty mouth smiling up at him from his dreams.
Will woke with a snort and a shout as a bucket of water descended over him. With a howl he raised himself from the tepid water and glared at the two older men who had, like juveniles, doused him. Grabbing a towel he wrapped it around himself and disgruntledly stepped onto the plank floor, while the other two held on to each other to keep from falling over with laughter.
Will dressed, feeling grumpy even, while recognizing that the joke on him was a good one. He’d let his guard down and paid for it, but more than that he was irritated that he’d dreamed of Katie. He had to put her out of his head. He had to hang on to this job long enough to get what he wanted.
The other men had already headed to the house by the time he finished dressing, stalked out of the bath house and trudged wearily to the back porch. It was obvious from the start that tonight something was different. The table was spread with a bright table cloth and everything had been set out precisely. With only six people left on the ranch only one table was needed and someone had gone to the trouble of making everything look especially nice.
Will joined the other men at the table as the woman carried the last dishes out. Nona Bianca was smiling radiantly as she piped up and said
“I want you all to know that Katie did all of the cooking tonight.”
Dinner was different than anything that Will could ever remember eating. A heavy bowl full of hard boiled eggs in a rich creamy sauce, liberally seasoned with salt and pepper was the main course and was served with crisp browned potatoes, cut into little cubes. There were loaves of fresh bread and a fresh salad of cucumber and tomato in a sweet vinegar dressing. It was simple fair but hearty and filling as well as tasty.
“That was a wonderful meal, Katie.” Isadoro stated, wiping his mouth with a bright napkin. “It’s been too long since you did any real cooking.” Katie smiled at her grandfather and when the other men added their praise she waved them away embarrassed by all of the fuss.
“That’s not the best part, yet.” Nona said rising from the table. “Now we have pie. Come Katie, you help me.” And together the two woman rose and walked back into the kitchen. Chen Lou, leaned back in his chair at the table and gave a contented burp.
The cherry pie was just about the best Will had ever eaten and he told Katie so. He smiled when shy color rose in her cheeks, but was careful not to be too forward. It wouldn’t do to get run off of the ranch at this point.
For the next two days Will was kept busier than ever doing odd jobs around the ranch. It seemed like the one that most often fell to him was chopping wood and soon he’d stacked what he thought must surely be enough to last three winters. He had just finished carrying a load into the kitchen and was stacking it in the wood box when the sound of horses approaching caught his ear.
Standing he strode through the house and out onto the porch just in time to see the ranch hands peel away from the chuck wagon and another heavy freight wagon. The sound of running feet announced Katie’s arrival as she raced down the stairs and outside to greet the wagons.
“Pa!” She called excitedly, then froze as she saw not her Pa on the wagon seat but Benji and next to him a pretty buxom woman in a lovely purple gown. Katie gaped as Benji pushed his hat back on his head sitting high up on the wagon seat, boot propped on the rails.
“Hello, darling.” His deep voice was full of humor. “I wanted to be the first to introduce you to my lovely wife Cathleen.” He said with a smile.
Katie’s jaw dropped but soon a smile spread across her delicate features. “Hello.” She finally managed, just as her father rode up. He smiled softly at his oldest daughter and swung down from his mount. Katie raced into his arms, all annoyance at him leaving without her wiped away by the relief that he and the rest of the family had returned safely.
Joshua wrapped his arms around his girl and held her tight, thankful that she’d returned safely to him. Raising his head slightly his icy blue gaze drove straight toward Will whose whole being froze for just a moment, until the old man, ever so slightly, nodded his head.
Will began breathing again. It looked like the boss might not throw him out just yet. A strange feeling came over Will then. A quietness mixed with longing.
N
o sooner had Will recognized the feeling of respect and admiration growing inside of him then loud squeals pierced the quiet and the five other James girls came tumbling out of the wagons, racing toward Katie with excited calls, washing her away and into the house on a wave of laughter.
Will watched as Benji climbed down from the wagon a bright smile lighting his rugged face as he walked around to the other side and helped his new wife down. Even from where he stood on the porch Will could see the admiration on Benji’s face as he looked at the woman. She was in no means what could be called a tiny girl. She was mature and her figure was full of well- rounded curves but by the look on the foreman’s face, he was completely smitten.
Joshua James stomped his way up the stairs to the porch, and stretched out a hand to the young man standing there.
“Thank you for bringing my Kate back to us safely son.” The older man said gently. “I’d like to hear all about that very soon.” He added with a significant look. “For now how about you help get the stock settled then come into the house for some coffee and we’ll talk.”
“Yes sir.” Will replied, his heart thumping in his chest with relief, then stepped out into the yard.
Behind him he heard the screen door slam and then the excited ramblings of Bianca Lione’ as she raced from the house spouting joyous words of English and Italian that were so jumbled he didn’t think anyone could make heads nor tails of them. Looking over his shoulder he heard the wind being knocked out of Benji’s new bride as the other woman grasped her in a crushing hug. Will couldn’t help but smile. Did the dark haired woman have any idea what she had signed on for by marrying Benjamin Smith? He wondered as Bianca’s voice followed him toward the barn.
“Algori, Algori! Congratulations!” Bianca’s sing song voice bounced through the air, as she practically dragged the startled woman into the house.
