by Danni Roan
Cathleen
Companion Book One to The Cattleman’s Daughters
Dedication:
To friendship that builds you up when you are down, makes family of strangers and lends strength in weakness.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Epilogue
Prologue
Cathleen Malone clutched the letter in her hand and gazed out across the dusty street of Casper Wyoming, trying to hold back the tears. Why had she listened to her father? Why had she given in to hope?
Silently she chewed her lower lip and desperately tried to think. What would she do now? How would she survive? She had nothing to go back to, nothing to look forward to. She was destitute and alone in a strange place. Her hands trembled crumpling and crackling the paper in her grasp.
Blinking back tears she looked down at the letter and marriage contract she held, the words had been so promising; such a lovely dream.
Casper Wyoming May 16th, 1888
Dear Cathleen,
My name is Jared Romera and after reading your letter I believe that you are the perfect bride for me.
I’m a sheep farmer here in Wyoming and although I am not wealthy my place is doing well. I have a very nice, if small, house and a good barn with a few head of stock other than the sheep.
I am looking for a wife to cook and clean for me as well as share the long, lonely winter days and nights. I am tired of being alone with no one to talk to.
Looks don’t mean much to me as long as you are hardworking and pleasant. I only know I don’t want to spend another winter on my own with nothing but sheep to keep me company.
I hope that you will agree to be my wife,
Jared R.
He had said he didn’t care about looks, that he was looking for a companion but apparently he’d cared more than he realized, or perhaps no one could ever find her attractive. She should have known better but she’d promised her father she would try. She’d promised him as his dying wish, that she would find a new home with someone to love.
A lone tear, escaped and spilled from the corner of her eye as the pain of rejection squeezed her heart.
Chapter 1
Benjamin Smith tucked his share of the cattle sale proceeds into his pocket and headed up the street toward the post office. It had been months since they’d been to town and the mail would be piling up. He had just turned the corner and stepped out into the street when looking up he spotted the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen standing alone on the train station platform.
His breath froze in his throat as he studied her. She was what his old friend Bridgette would have called buxom or full figured but with curves in all the right places; a real armful. She had dark hair that was tucked up under a deep purple hat that matched a dress the color of ripe plumbs. Milky white skin was traced by soft lace trim that lifted the rounded neck line over her ample bosom in a modest but becoming fashion. Her heart shaped face was offset by a straight nose, even brows and eyes so dark they seemed to pull him in the way a load stone pulls iron.
He watched chagrined as she worried her lower lip, turning her lush red lips a hue deeper than blood; the scarlet shades of a summer rose. His heart stuttered in his chest as a single tear slid down her soft pale cheek. His hand curled into fists as her obvious chagrin shot straight through his chest.
“Hey! Ya old fool! What ya doin’ standing in the middle of the street!” A teamster yelled and cursed as his string of mules narrowly missed the older cow puncher.
Benjamin jumped, sucked in a lung full of fresh air, for the first time in what seemed like minutes then setting his square jaw in determination strode to the platform, taking the stairs two at a time.
“Excuse me miss.” He started gently, stepping as close to the lovely vision as propriety would allow. “I’m Benjamin Smith and I’d like to know if I could be of some assistance to you.” He gazed at her his deep blue eyes steady on her face as he drank in her pretty features.
He smiled as a light blush crept across the apples of her cheeks, and a breeze teased the soft strands of hair around her face. Benjamin clenched his fists tighter forcing his hands at his side so they wouldn’t be tempted to brush the tendrils away from where they fluttered around her soft lips.
For a moment Cathleen just blinked back at the large gray haired gentleman who had come to her aid. He was a tall man, over six feet tall with wide, beefy shoulders that tapered to narrow hips. He reminded her of a big bear standing on its back legs seeming to stoop ever so slightly in the middle, almost as if he were leaning forward in anticipation. His dark blue eyes were kind and he wasn’t bad looking for a man in his fifties.
“Oh.” She replied trying to decide what to do or say.
“You seem to be in some distress.” The old cow puncher offered again. “Can I help in anyway?” His hand twitched toward her possessively, but he stopped it.
Cathleen’s sardonic wit got the best of her and she snorted, then turned bright pink as she covered her mouth with a white gloved hand.
The man smiled at her, eyes twinkling. She couldn’t help but smile back.
“I’m afraid unless you have a spare husband in your back pocket there isn’t much you can do for me.” her words were sharp and bitter. The tall man raised his brows.
Cathleen shook her head. “In for a penny in for a pound as my father used to say.” She looked down at the letter in her hand. “I came here as a mail-order-bride, arriving only to find that my appearance was not satisfactory to my prospective groom, a Mr. Jasper Romera.” Her eyes flashed for just a minute, with anger and hurt.
Her lips quirked in a bitter smirk as his exact words echoed through her mind. “You never said you was fat. I can’t be seen with a woman like you. You lied!” His words had been cruel, angry and life shattering. He hadn’t even given her a second glance as he stalked away leaving her alone in a strange place.
Shaking her head Cathleen watched in wonder as the older man’s face transformed before her, emotions flickering from surprise to shock to anger in a matter of moments. She drew back as lightening flashed in his cobalt eyes.
“Are you tellin’ me that a man brought you all the way out here and now won’t marry you?” he seemed genuinely astounded.
Cathleen nodded then truly began to worry as the man before her began to grin. He certainly was changeable in his moods.
“Then perhaps I can be of some assistance after all.” He said, his eyes brightening as he stood to his full impressive height.
Cathleen blinked at the aging cowhand, why would he help her? He didn’t even know her, or what her true circumstances were.
“I’ll marry you.” He said with a smirk.
For a moment the dark haired woman simply stared at him. Benji could tell she was going to argue and began to prepare his own words. She was everything he could ever want; he couldn’t let her get away.
“You don’t even know me?” She began.
“I’ll get to know you.” He countered.
“You’d never even laid eyes on me before now, why would you want to marry me?”
“You’d never seen your intended until just a little while ago, that didn’t stop you.”
For a moment anger flickered across his face. “Man like that should be horse whipped for pure stupidity.” He added as if to himself, before flicking a glanced across the street to where a white haired man, of about his age, st
ood in front of the post office looking at them.
Cathleen couldn’t help it, she smiled. “But…” she began again.
“But what?” He asked not unkindly. “Do you have any better prospects? Or perhaps a family to return to back home?” He studied her face as it betrayed the truth in every line before her luminous eyes fell.
“No.” She whispered.
“Then why not me? I know I’m no dashing young man, but I have a good home and friends who are like family to me.” His eyes flicked back across the street but the other man was gone. “I can provide for you and keep you safe. What more could anyone ask for?” He finished logically.
Yes, what more Cathleen thought, perhaps a chance at love.
“But what could I bring to you?” her words were so soft a gentle breeze would have snatched them away.
Benjamin Smith looked her up and down, feeling somehow younger than his fifty-six years. He swallowed hard to keep the words in his head at bay. Instead he looked her in the eye and said “Companionship.” He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling at her sudden blush.
“These your things?” He asked suddenly changing the subject. Cathleen blinked at him as he indicated the two tattered carpet bags by her feet.
“Yes.” She answered wondering what he would do next.
“Got anything else?” His gaze was direct, his bright eyes serious.
“No.” What could he be thinking? She blinked as he bent down and lifted both heavy cases easily then stuck out his elbow to her.
“Good, now how’s about we go get a nice cup of coffee and a piece of pie and we’ll see if we can come to some agreement.” He looked at her intently over his left shoulder obviously expecting her to obey.
Silently lifting a prayer heaven ward, she slipped her gloved hand into the crook of his arm and walked down the stairs.
The little restaurant he took her to was a small one room affair with a kitchen out back. Small square tables set for four were strategically situated around the room just far enough away to allow a private conversation as well as space for the serving girls to move about freely.
Benjamin escorted his female companion to a table, pulled out a chair for her and then sat himself. He smiled at her hoping she’d agree once she had a little time to get to know him. He’d be heading back to the Broken J the next day and didn’t have much time, he whispered a little prayer that she’d be with him when he left Casper.
“This place is just about brand new.” He offered, “Casper hasn’t been a town proper for long but with the railroad arriving last year it’s buildin’ up fast.” He smiled trying to put her at ease. “Used to just be a place to cross the South Platte river and a fort, but now look at it.”
A serving girl arrived and he ordered coffee along with a slice of cherry pie for himself then looked at the woman across the table, who only ordered coffee which surprised him. He would have thought she’d be hungry after a long trip on the train. Then again he didn’t know how far she’d come.
“I thought we could have a little talk and get to know each other a bit then you can decide if I’m an acceptable alternative to, well whatever alternative you might have.” He looked at her expectantly.
Cathleen squirmed in her seat. She was tired, dirty, hungry, and as much as she hated to admit it heart sick. What could she do? She felt completely useless.
“Just tell me a little about yourself.” The man called Benjamin suggested a gentle smile on his rugged face.
Her eyes grew wide as she realized she’d never even told this man her name.
“I’m Cathleen Malone.” She said keeping her voice steady with an effort. “I come from Ohio where my father was a dairy farmer.” She brushed at her lovely dress but said no more.
“I’m Benjamin Smith like I said earlier but most folks call me Benji.” The server returned delivering their coffee and a single piece of pie. “I’m the current foreman of the Broken J ranch about a four-day ride from Casper.” A strange look passed over his face when he mentioned his job making Cathleen wonder if he didn’t like what he did.
“If you don’t mind my asking why did you choose to be a mail-order-bride?” his eyes were still soft as he studied her face taking the bite from his words, but they still felt so much like an accusation to her.
“Before my father died he wanted me to find someone who would look after me.” Her voice was soft, embarrassed by all of the implications becoming a mail-order-bride suggested.
“I didn’t really have anywhere else to go.” She let her words end there.
Benji reached out a hand and placed it over hers. “I’m sorry for your loss.” She was surprised to hear the sincerity in his voice. His hand was warm and comforting.
“So you don’t have anywhere else to go?” he asked still looking at her as if he really cared.
“No, I’m afraid I don’t.”
The smile that brightened his face was contagious and she couldn’t help but smile back at him shyly. He was a good person, somehow she was sure of that fact, even if she didn’t know why she believed it.
“Well then there’s no reason you can’t marry me.” His eyes were hopeful. “I’ve got a home and friends and everything you might need. It ain’t fancy but it’s home.”
She knew he was just being kind and felt she should decline. He hadn’t ordered a bride.
“I’m sure you don’t really want to marry me.” She replied, surprised when his eyes widened.
“Why not? You seem like a good God fearing woman, you’re pretty, and I assume you can cook.”
A splash of bright color crossed her cheeks. “Now I know you’re just being kind.”
“Why would I do that.” Benji answered. “I’m a single man and you’re a single woman so why not just get hitched?” He looked at her again. “We can go over to the preacher and get married: Easy as that.” Benjamin watched hopefully as the dark haired woman studied her coffee cup. There were streaks of gray in her hair, especially near her face and he found it becoming. She wasn’t a blossoming youth but a mature woman. Perhaps not as old as he was but old enough to be interesting company for an old bachelor.
“If you think you can stand to have me. I don’t really have any other options.” She finally said not raising her eyes.
Benji smiled despite the sadness he felt at her resigned tone. She was such a beautiful woman, perhaps no longer young, if he guessed right she was probably in her early forties, but he wished she would believe him when he said he wanted her.
Chapter 2
The next day Benjamin helped Cathleen up into the high seat of the big freight wagon then scrabbled around to the other side to take the reins of the four horse team.
“Ready?” he asked looking at her with his dark eyes. She nodded, smoothing the skirt of her fancy purple dress.
Cathleen looked out across the wild frontier town taking in the buildings with wonder. She’d never seen anything like it low buildings ran the length of the dusty street, the largest one the mercantile they’d just left.
The man beside her shook the reins and the wagon lurched as they started out of town. There were several buildings and more going up even as they drove through the town. Many of the buildings were just tents and people milled about the town either getting off the train or moving cattle toward the stock yards.
The horses clopped along the dusty street headed toward the crossing of the Platte river. As they came out onto open prairie she could see the line of wagons and carts waiting to cross. It was the first crossing on the river and the town, originally just a camp for the bridge was growing. The rail station bringing more travelers or settlers by the day.
Cathleen was surprised when her new husband turned away from the bridge and headed toward a small group of people further out along the road. A large green wagon was the first item she could clearly make out, but as they approached she noticed several men sitting on horses milling around.
Benjamin clicked to the horses and they ste
pped into a trot making the seat bounce. She lay a hand over her décolletage modestly, but smiled despite herself.
“Benji!” several people called as they approached. She gasped when a young woman dressed like a cowhand trotted up along the wagon, a curious look on her pretty face and a long coppery braid dangling down her back.
“Mornin’ Meg.” Benjamin called, but kept driving. As he reached the gathering a tall white haired man sitting on a big buckskin horse turned toward them. Cathleen blinked recognizing him as the man from the post officer the day before. He pulled his horse up short, his eyes widened at the sight of her on the wagon seat.
“Joshua.” Benjamin’s voice boomed out, humor oozing through his words. “I’d like you to meet Cathleen, my wife.” He smiled broadly; a wicked twinkle in his eyes.
The only sound in the whole camp was the jingle of harness and the stamp and snort of horses.
Cathleen blushed as all eyes turned toward her. The man on the buckskin horse was the first to recover from the shock pushing his horse toward the wagon and lifting his hat from his head.
“Pleased to meet you Mrs. Smith.” He said a hearty grin spreading across his face making his startling ice blue eyes sparkle. “I’m Joshua James of the Broken J ranch and this is my family, welcome aboard.”
Cathleen took a deep breath. There were so many people. Three more girls rode up to the wagon gaping at her, two, with deep chestnut hair and dark brown eyes, were obviously twins. While another girl who was slightly taller had a sweet face and unruly dark curls, streaked with blonde, that even this early in the morning were straining to be free of their braid.
“I’m Fiona” the curly haired girl called up to her with a smile. “This is Lexi.” She pointed to one of the twins whose dark brown eyes and dark hair gleamed in the early rays of the sun. “and Issy.” She indicated the other twin. “We’re Josh’s daughters.” Her voice was kind and helped to put Cathleen at easy. The other girls nodded toward her politely.
