by Danni Roan
“Benji?” Joshua’s voice called up to them as he reined his big buckskin in by the wagon.
“I lost a rein.” Benji replied his face heating. “Must have gotten distracted.” He winked at Cathleen, who smiled.
To Cathleen’s surprise the other man laughed his arctic eyes twinkling in merriment. “Can’t imagine why?” he snorted then turned his horse back to the trail.
Benji, face flushed, turned back to his bride. “I’ll be more careful.” He offered squeezing her hand. His face darkened further as the rest of the group rode by eyeing them with quick grins.
Snapping the reins, he clicked to the team and started off again.
Chapter 4
The rest of the ride to the Broken J ranch was uneventful. Little by little Cathleen learned who each person was as they took turns riding along the big wagon. She was amazed at the girls who rode like men and found the youngest one, Mae, a delightful distraction from the constant plodding of the wagon. The girl, full of energy and excitement at her first drive to town, would charge up along the wagon, her black hair flying in the wind created by her pinto pony and simply call up to Cathleen on a whim. Her excited voice would point out things of interest or just chatter about how much there had been to see in Casper. Each encounter left Cathleen more interested in her new home.
Benjamin, always attentive, did his best to introduced her to everyone as well. Walters, she learned, was the thin bald wrangler and Stevens or Steve for short was the average sized cow poke who was slow to speak but a top hand.
“We all came out here with Joshua and his first wife Bridgette.” Benjamin explained to her as they bedded down that night in the wagon. She noticed how he was careful to keep a distance between them even in the close confines of the heavily loaded wagon which brought back some of the sadness of the night before. She understood she hadn’t married for love but some affection would have been nice. Pushing the thoughts away she concentrated on what her husband was saying.
“Josh’s first wife got ill carrying Fiona and so he just up and left the wagon train we were on headin’ to Oregon. He took a look at the Big Basin and the far away mountains and just said he was stoppin’. Me, Steve an’ Walt plus a couple more including Billy, just decided to stay as well. We’re all that’s left from that original bunch now.”
“Why would you stay with them, the James’ I mean? Weren’t you going to Oregon?” Cathleen asked, surprised at the loyalty the men had shown.
“Well Josh al’ays seemed to have big ideas.” Benjamin scratched his head thinking about the subject. “He talked about setting up a farm and maybe getting people to stake claims close enough that they could kinda’ look out for each other. That way with the land grants it would be one big place with folks workin’ to help out instead of one small bit with one fella trying to make a go.” He paused thinking a minute. “Josh’s an easy goin’ type but he’s a thinker. It didn’t hurt that he got us out of a few scrapes along the way, so when he decided this was good land to put down roots we figured it was as good as any other.” He smiled ruefully then. “Besides we was pretty fond of them girls of his pretty much tired of the trail.”
Cathleen took some time to think about everything she’d learned about the ranch and all of the people she’d met so far. “It’s all still rather confusing.” She admitted honestly. “I’ll have to see if it gets better when I meet everyone at the ranch.” Inside her stomach turned with worry. What if she didn’t fit in?
It was almost three days later when they turned the big open rig toward an arched gateway that led to a compound spread out inside a fenced yard. The first thing to come into view was the windmill near the big barn, then the house; a large gray two story home with a wraparound porch and tin roof. It was bigger than she had expected.
The closer they got the more excited the girls became pointing things out to the new comer as they approached. That morning each girl had decided to change into their dresses and ride in the wagon on top of the supplies for the last stretch home, and their excited chatter was contagious.
“That’s the sod shack to the left.” Mae announced from the top of a barrel of flour in the back of the wagon.
“You can’t see them from here but there’s a chicken coop and the blacksmith’s shop around the corner of the barn and the bunk house is the long building that backs the fence on the far side of the house.” She continued, pointing in the direction of each building she named. “There’s even a bath house” she whispered with a grin.
“I can’t wait to see Nona’s face when she meets you.” The teen aged girl giggled and her sisters smiled back.
As they pulled into the ranch yard Cathleen’s anxiety levels grew. There were already so many people just on the drive and she knew from what Benjamin had said there were at least five more to meet. She twisted a handkerchief nervously in her hands as a pretty golden haired young woman in her early twenties and a tall lanky cowboy burst onto the front porch.
“Pa!” the girl called before realizing that Benji sat on the seat of the wagon, her eyes traveling up the side of the conveyance to gawk at Cathleen who blushed.
Beside her Benji was grinning devilishly, “Hello, darling.” His deep voice was full of humor. “I wanted to be the first to introduce you to my lovely wife Cathleen.” His eyes twinkled at the look on her face.
Cathleen could see the shock on the young woman’s face and as much as she could appreciate the humor in Benjamin dropping that bombshell she felt conspicuous, and out of place. What would this tight knit group think of one of their own bringing home a complete stranger?
The other girls poured from the wagon, squealing with delight as they rushed to their sister and swept her into the house, chattering and gossiping all at once.
Cathleen watched the girls disappear through the door of the big house as the cowboy stepped down from the steps, tipped his hat and began to collect the horses from the tired riders.
Benjamin climbed down from the big wagon then walking around helped Cathleen down from the seat. Holding her hand, he started toward the house, but before they’d even reached the stairs a plump woman with graying hair rushed out onto the porch arms raised above her head shouting at the top of her voice.
“Algori! Algori!” Her accented voice called as she raced down the stairs, throwing her arms around Cathleen nearly knocking the wind out of her lungs. “Congratulations!” she called again.
Cathleen cut her eyes to her husband of four days a frightened expression on her face as she struggled to stay calm, but Benjamin smiled brightly and pulled the other woman off of her.
“Bianca, don’t strangle her. This is my new wife Cathleen.” Benji chuckled squeezing Cathleen’s hand. “I’m sure you’ll both get well acquainted soon enough but for now I need to get the Shoddy in shape so we can move in tonight”.
“What?” the woman called Bianca screeched. “No, no, no! You will take the spare room upstairs.” She turned and walked toward the house Benji right on her heels.
“Bianca, we are staying in the shod shack. We’ve already decided.”
“No.” the portly woman wheeled by the stairwell just visible inside the house, placing her hands on her hips and preparing for a full on attack.
“I said we’re goin’ to the soddy and we’re goin’!” Benji shouted. “Now you can either help me or not, it’s up to you.”
Cathleen watched horrified by the scene playing out before her. She had only been on the ranch for minutes and already there was turmoil. She could feel bright color rising up her, neck and on to her face mingling with the heat of a summer day.
Peeking over her shoulder from where she still stood on the front porch she saw another man come down the long corridor and lay a weathered hand on the older woman’s shoulder. He was a smaller man than Benjamin but executed a sense of quiet calm. His dark eyes, kind but sharp.
“Leave it, Bia.” He said gently. “Benji’s a grown man and has a right to his own decisions.” Bianca Leone’s, know
n as Nona to the James’ girls, mouth hung open for just a moment, before she closed it with a snap and as quick as her temper had come up it was gone.
“Well Benjamin if you insist, I was just thinking of your new bride is all.” Her look was indignant but there was no meanness in her voice. “She looks such a lady and to have to stay in the soddy…” Her voice trailed off as she saw the woman of whom she spoke standing slump shouldered with embarrassment on the front porch.
Nona’s face softened turning a distinctive shade of pink. Then with one nod of her head she turned and shouted up the stairs for the girls, an all too familiar tone in her voice and with that tenor of voice the girls scrambled down the stairs to await their marching orders.
Benjamin Smith turned to see his new wife sagging with mortification over the confrontation that had just occurred. He knew it would be hard for her to settle in at the Broken J with its boisterous family atmosphere but he didn’t think it would start like this. He shot a glare at Bianca Leone’, Joshua’s mother-in-law, then stepped out onto the porch to wrap an arm around the beautiful woman he called his own.
Talking to her softly he staved off the tears that threatened to fall. “I’m afraid it’s always like this here.”
“I didn’t mean to be so much trouble.” Cathleen whispered.
“You’re no trouble.” The plump woman joined them with a soft smile on her face. “We can be a little out spoken around here, that’s all.” Gently she put an arm around Cathleen. “You come along and have a cup of tea while we get the sod shack cleared out for you.” She smiled again but cut a black look at Benji as if all of this was his fault.
“You go on with Bia.” He said leaning forward and kissing Cathleen on the forehead. “I’ll see that our new home gets settled, then help put up the supplies.”
Cathleen was hustled down a corridor along the stairwell and into a large kitchen that ran nearly the length of the house, then through a doorway and ushered to a small drop leaf table sitting near the wall under a window. Outside she could see another long back porch that was mostly taken up by two large tables.
“You just sit down” the other woman said “and I’ll get us some tea.” She said as she bustled over to a large stove on the other side of the kitchen its green enamel bright, before moving the kettle to the center of the stove.
“You must be completely worn out.” The woman called Bianca said as she pulled down cups and saucers, milk and sugar, and a heavy black tea pot. “Don’t you worry about a thing either.” The woman continued as she moved efficiently around the kitchen eventually laying a plate of cookies on the table before filling the tea pot, “the girls and I will come along and make that place ship shape for you tomorrow. I don’t know why Benji insists on you stayin’ out dere.” She shook her head and tisked.
Cathleen noticed the grimace the woman made at mention of the shod shack. “I’m sure it will be fine. I’m just happy we’re no longer on the trail. I feel like I’ve been on the move forever.” She smiled trying to show that she was pleased to be here and with her living arrangements, she didn’t want to be a bother.
The short rounded woman finally came to rest at the table with a sigh and began pouring tea. “If Benji had let us know you were coming it would have been easier.” She said but smiled brightly and impulsively reached out to take Cathleen’s hand. “Welcome to the Broken J dear.” She added sipping her tea.
Chapter 5
After tea and cookies, where Bianca chattered away at her, Cathleen was escorted to what everyone called the soddy and finally stepped into the little earthen building that would be her new home. She’d never been in a sod building before and couldn’t help but wonder what it could be like. The first thing she noticed was the overwhelming smell of apples. Apparently the apples harvested from the few trees that grew behind the bunk house had been, until just hours ago, stored in the small dry hut. It was blessedly cool no matter what it smelled of, and she smiled.
She’d been surprised when a wizened old Chinese man had come to escort her to the shack with Mae at his side. “This is my ye-ye.” The girl spoke up “my great-grandfather.” She smiled and the old man’s dark eyes twinkled back at her with affection.
“I take you to your new house.” He’d offered, extending a hand toward the back door. “It all ready for you now.” He added with a wink.
Cathleen couldn’t help but grin at the mischievous gleam in his old eyes. Even at his age he seemed to exude energy.
A steady stream of people carrying furniture, bedding and a plethora of other household items suddenly stopped their coming and going, leaving her mercifully alone in the tiny space,to take in her surroundings.The little house was approximately twenty feet by twenty feet and almost square. To her right pushed up against the rolled earthen walls sat a miniscule round pot-bellied stove next to a small shelf with pegs for mugs, and a short bench with a wash bucket on it. Directly in front of the stove was a small square table just big enough for two people with two mismatched chairs. The other side of the building held a large wooden bed now covered in a bright quilt or red and yellow patches. A small window was suspended over the bed on the far wall that faced the ranch yard and along the wall near the door was a bench and a row of pegs for clothing items.
Cathleen smiled. It was small and snug and cozy. She glanced up at the ceiling surprised to see wooden beams supporting the earthen roof. “This will do just fine.” She said to herself looking around more closely, before stamping her foot on the hard packed dirt floor, surprised at its firmness. Over all it was lovely and surprisingly pretty with its plastered walls.
She turned as the door opened again and several of the girls came in carrying more items from the main house. “Oh,” the oldest Katie exclaimed. “We thought you were still with Nona.”
At Cathleen’s confused look the golden haired girl smiled. “We all call Bianca Nona. It means grandmother in Italian.” She smiled again. “We brought a coffee pot, skillet and a bucket to scrub things up. I’m Katie by the way.” She added.
“Thank you girls you’ve all be so lovely.” Cathleen said shyly “but you’ve done enough. This will be my home and I’ll take it from here.” She felt both determined and embarrassed at the same time. Everyone had done more than enough for her it was time she got started on doing for herself.
“Oh we couldn’t let you do that.” Katie began.
“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.” Cathleen countered. “I’ve done next to nothing so far and I need to be active. You leave everything with me and I’ll take it from here.” Her voice left room for no argument. She was surprised that Katie didn’t say anything though as she looked up and down at the fine dress the large woman wore.
“If you’re sure.” The young woman said skeptically.
“I’m sure. I’m not some fine lady who can’t do anything for herself.” She smiled to take the bite out of her words. Then took the broom, bucket and brush and shooed the girls outside. Mae winked at her as she scuttled out the door, obviously please to escape the house work.
Quickly changing into one of her favorite work dresses made of deep red gingham Cathleen spent the next hour dusting, sweeping and scrubbing until the little shack sparkled. It felt good after so long on the road to finally do something useful. She was tired but nervous energy seemed to keep her moving. She felt overwhelmed by all of the changes that had occurred so quickly. She was still feeling the shame and hurt of being rejected by her first intended, as well as the sting of being a charity that Benjamin Smith had picked up and carried home. He was a such a kind man and she determined then and there that she would do her best to take care of him and his home even while a twinge of guilt at letting the man saddle himself with a woman who couldn’t look after herself, even as her conscience squirmed. She would work hard to insure she was never a burden.
Cathleen had just finished properly blacking the stove when the door swung open again and Benjamin stepped in. Smiling he walked to where she stood in the hal
f-light coming from the tiny window and kissed her on the cheek. She had a smudge of blacking by her chin and he wiped it away with his thumb, looking at her fondly.
“I see you’ve been busy.” He said smiling and looking around the one room hut. “This place hasn’t looked this good in a long time.” He took in the work she’d done with a sigh. “The girls were a little worried that they’d left you to it though.”
Cathleen’s smile was warm and full of appreciation for his words. “It’s about time I do something useful.” she said.
“I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time for that soon enough.” The tall man replied “Now come on up for dinner. Bianca and the girls have whipped up something special.” He added and offered her his arm.
Quickly washing her hands in the bucket of not so clean water she dried them on a rag then followed him out the front door, dumping the wash water into a small bush of heather by the door.
The noise coming from the two large tables set up on the big back porch was already prodigious as they approached. Every member of the Broken J was present and they all seemed to be talking at the same time. Several of them called down introductions to her or just hellos as Benjamin seated her to the left of Joshua who sat at the head of the table and next to lean cow puncher she’d seen earlier in the day. She couldn’t help but notice how the young man’s eyes kept straying across the table at Katie.
A sudden hush fell over the table as the cattleman bowed his head and said the grace. Cathleen quickly snapped her eyes closed and listened to the prayer while steeling herself for the many questions she knew would come her way.
“How’d you come to meet this old knuckle head?” a thick shouldered man with a crook in his back asked with a smile. He’d been introduced to her as Deeks the blacksmith. She knew he meant no harm with his questions but she could feel bright color rising along her cheeks.
