by Vivi Holt
He also used the time to try to get to know her, asking questions in an attempt to jog her memory. But nothing seemed to work. By the time they reached the sheriff’s office, he knew little more of substance about Rose than he had when they first met. He’d learned she always licked her lips when she roasted meat over the fire, how she hummed an off-key melody while riding, and whispered to Auger when he was grooming the stallion. But nothing really useful.
“Let’s go inside.” He helped her down from Auger’s back, catching her and helping her find her feet when she stumbled.
“Ugh – my legs feel like they’re permanently fixed in the shape of a horse,” she muttered.
He chuckled. “That happens. I have to say, I think I’ve walked the soles clean out of my boots.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry you had to walk all the way, Ost. It was very kind of you to let me ride.”
“Well, I was hardly going to make you walk. In fact, I think we should see the doc right after we finish up here, just to make sure everything’s all right with you and …”
“The baby,” she finished for him.
His cheeks flamed. “Yes, the baby.”
“You can say it. I’m not so very fragile that I can’t talk about it.”
“I’m not accustomed to … well, talking to women much at all,” he stammered. She smiled shyly at him, and he gestured for her to go ahead, following her inside.
Sheriff Ed Stanton glared above a stack of paperwork piled high on his desk. He stood and put his hands on his hips. “Well, if it ain’t Hank Oster. Been wonderin’ where you got to, boy. Don’t you know bein’ my deputy means you’re here when you say you’ll be here? The good folk of this town are countin’ on us to keep ‘em safe, but you just mosey on in whenever you feel like it? Where you been? I checked over at the brewery and they said they hain’t seen hide nor hair of you in days either.”
Ost took off his hat, held it between his hands and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, boss. I went after the cattle rustlers …”
“Dang it!” The sheriff slammed a hand on the desk, scattering papers everywhere. “I told you to stay away from ‘em! We cain’t do nothin’ until we know more, and I gotta put together a posse. You follow ‘em on your own and you’re bound to get shot!”
Ost’s face burned. “I know, I shouldn’t have and I’m sorry. But …” He faced Rose and she hesitated before smiling. “I brought Rose here back with me.” He explained the situation to the sheriff.
Stanton listened with narrowed eyes, then scratched his head. “You don’t remember a thing, huh?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“What about where you were raised? Do you recall that?”
“No. I can’t remember my family, or where I was raised, or my own name.”
Sheriff Stanton frowned.
“Any missing persons reported?” asked Ost.
The sheriff shook his head. “No young women – just a boy over Billings way.”
Ost’s heart fell. He’d been counting on a report. He moved closer to the sheriff and whispered, “So what now, boss?”
Sheriff Stanton’s mustache twitched. “I guess we’d better find her a place to stay and send out some telegrams.” He addressed Rose. “We’ll find yer family in no time, Miss Rose. I’ll wire the other sheriffs’ offices in the area and the U.S. Marshals as well. If yer kin are out there lookin’ for ya, we’ll track ‘em down somehow.”
Her eyes widened and she backed away. “No, there’s really no need. I think I’ll just manage on my own awhile …”
Ost hurried to her side and took her hand. “What is it, Rose? Why does finding your family make you afraid?”
“I don’t know. I just have this feeling that someone’s coming after me. I can’t say who or why, but I just know it somehow. Please don’t tell anyone I’m here.” Her hand in his trembled.
Ost frowned. If she wouldn’t let them search for her family, what could he do with her?
Sheriff Stanton took him aside. “What do ya think?”
Ost shrugged.
“Ya spent how many days with her?”
“Three.”
“Is she tellin’ the truth? Crazy? What?”
“I don’t know, boss. I don’t think she’s nuts. She seems perfectly normal … until you ask her a question about herself or mention her folks.”
“Hmmm … well, we still hafta find her a place to stay. Get the doc to take a look at her too – maybe he can tell us more.”
“I was headed there next.”
“Good.”
“Where can she stay?”
“What about yer place?”
Ost’s eyes widened. “My place? I’ve got a single room above the Stock and Barrel. There’s no space for … a lady. Besides, what would folks say?”
Sheriff Stanton arched an eyebrow. “True enough. I don’t see a ring on her finger, though that don’t mean she ain’t married. Still, folks’ll talk regardless of where she’s stayin’ – a woman expectin’ and no husband in sight. Well, she’s yer problem. Ya brought her here, ya deal with her.”
“What? But …”
“Sorry, son, I got bigger problems to deal with. Consider it yer punishment for runnin’ off like a dang fool when I said not to.”
Ost knew he had to accept that. “I guess I could take her out to Paradise Ranch. She’d be safe out there, away from prying eyes, and I’m sure Genny wouldn’t mind.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“All right, I’ll do it. Which means, I’ll need a couple more days off …”
The sheriff glowered and rolled his eyes. “Fine. But don’t ya ask for time off again for the rest of yer life.”
Ost suppressed a chuckle. “Yes, boss.”
Stan Cooper walked along the edge of the cornfield, stopped and took an ear of corn in his hands. It looked as though the crop was ready for harvesting, and the oats were close as well. He’d tell Tom they could harvest the corn tomorrow and the oats next week. The livestock would have plenty of fodder to get them through the winter, and the ranchers would have their fill as well.
He smiled. Paradise Ranch was fast becoming almost entirely self-sufficient. They’d put away bales of hay the previous week and still had a field of wheat ripening, plus the kitchen garden behind the ranch house. As soon as the weather turned cool, they’d slaughter a few yearling longhorns and a couple of hogs and preserve the meat. This would be the first winter they wouldn’t need to purchase most of their supplies from town – just sugar, beans, spices and a few other things.
Coop rolled up his shirt sleeves and wiped one across his brow. It was a hot day, but he generally enjoyed those. It reminded him of Texas, though he wasn’t sure he’d survive a Texas summer now after so many seasons in Montana Territory. He’d grown accustomed to the cold weather and the rain.
The scar on his left forearm caught his eye and he stared at it, then ran a finger down it. He’d gotten it when they were driving the cattle north along the Bozeman Trail – a Crow warrior had shot him with an arrow. He winced, remembering the pain as he felt the bumpy scar. He was grateful it hadn’t been worse – a few inches over, and …
His chestnut mare Sally waited patiently beneath the shade of a large evergreen. He hurried over to her and grasped the reins. He’d trained her to stay put and come when he whistled, and he was happy with her progress. She was part Morgan and her coat glistened with good health in the summer sunlight. “Let’s go, Sally girl.” He swung his leg over her back and she set off at a canter toward where the ranch house was hidden by a rise.
When they rounded the rise, they could see it on top of the flat hill ahead. Smoke curled from the chimney and drifted on the breeze, higher and higher until it dispersed into nothing. He joined a wagon on its way up the long drive. Dan Graham, driving the wagon, tipped his hat. “Coop, how ya doin’?”
He grinned. “Dan, good to see you. Claudine, Gracie – it’s a fine day for a wagon ride.”
Claudine smiled. Gracie shyly waved and said, “Hello. Coop – it sure is.”
“How are the crops?” asked Dan.
“They’re lookin’ good. We can start harvestin’ the corn tomorrow, the oats next week. I think we’ll have plenty to get through the cold months.”
Dan nodded. “Good. I got a team of laborers comin’ tomorrow from Bozeman for the next few weeks, so that works out.” Their horses slowed as they went up the hill side by side. “Ya headin’ up to supper?”
“Yep. Wouldn’t miss it.”
“I just love it when everyone on the ranch has supper together at the ranch house,” Claudine chimed in. “It’s one of my favorite times.”
Coop nodded. “Ain’t that the truth. I’m lookin’ forward to Genny’s roast beef and gravy.” He licked his lips.
Gracie giggled. “I can’t wait for the cornbread pudding.”
He grinned. “That’s one of my favorites too.” He liked the little girl. She was so sweet with her shy grin, wide brown eyes, tight black curls and soft voice. The entire ranch had fallen in love with her and Claudine in the short time since Dan brought them home from his trip to Wyoming Territory.
Dan still hadn’t told them everything about the reason for his trip to Wyoming, but had promised he would when the time was right. Coop was curious, but held back from questioning his boss. It wasn’t his place. Though he did wonder why he’d disappeared off to another territory without so much as a word of farewell, then showed back up months later with a new wife and her eight-year-old daughter. He shook his head. Perhaps they’d never know the full story, though some of the ranch crew had theories …
“So what’ve ya been up to today?” Coop asked Dan.
“I had to check on the northern herd, and Gracie wanted to come along.” Dan grinned over his shoulder at Gracie. “So we decided to take a wagon and go together.”
“Sounds like a fine idea,” replied Coop.
“I love watching the calves play,” said Gracie with a giggle. “They’re so sweet.”
“Just wait ‘til their horns grow in – they ain’t so sweet then.”
“Patches is still sweet,” Gracie replied. “Though I do try to stay out of the way of her horns. They’re so long.” Patches the cow grazed around the ranch house during the day and was stabled with the horses at night. Genny had hand-reared her as a calf and now used her to provide milk for the household. She was almost a pet, and even let the children pat her, which gave them no end of delight.
“That she is, though the calves you saw today won’t be like Patches when they grow. They’ll be as wild as their mamas.”
Gracie pouted and fell silent. Coop knew it was hard for the children to hear that the calves wouldn’t always welcome their attentions, but they’d find out soon enough. One day a calf would let you pet it and scratch its scruffy forehead, then the next it would kick up its heels wildly and gallop away when you approached. It’s just how things worked on a cattle ranch. He’d learned that on his uncle’s spread back in Texas as a youngster. “Never mind. Maybe yer Pa’ll let you get a kitten or a pony someday,” he said with a chuckle.
Dan raised an eyebrow. “Maybe.”
They pulled up in front of the ranch house and Coop hitched Sally to a post beside the water trough. After she was done drinking, he fitted a feedbag over her head and loosened the cinch of her girth. “Sorry, girl – running late for supper. I’ll hafta brush ya down when we’re done.” He hurried to the bunkhouse, a long squat structure that occupied the same flat crest of the hill as the ranch house.
He pushed through the door and found it empty save for Adam Hill, the newest member of the ranch’s permanent crew. “Adam, how ya doin’?”
Adam lay on his bed, his hands linked behind his head, and stared at the wooden ceiling. “Fine. And you?”
Coop nodded. “Fine. Why ain’t ya over at the ranch house? I’m runnin’ late for supper – just washin’ up now – but I’m headin’ over there soon as I’m done.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Coop stopped and set his hands on his hips to study the young cowpuncher. “What’s wrong?”
Adam rolled onto his side and met Coop’s eye. “It’s Hannah.”
Coop rolled his eyes, walked over to the washbowl and began cleaning up for supper. “The housekeeper, huh?” It seemed Adam was in love with a new pretty face every time he found one. Which wasn’t often, as eligible women were thin on the ground, but every trip to town or visit from the neighbors left him mooning around the bunkhouse for weeks.
“She’s so pretty and sweet, and I just know if she could get to know me she’d love me. She’s the one, Coop.”
He sighed. “Don’t ya think maybe she’s a bit old for ya?”
Adam dropped from his bed to the floor and his eyes flashed. “Old? No, I don’t think so. I’m eighteen next month.”
“She’s twenty-six.”
Adam rubbed his chin where a thin tinge of stubble had grown. “That’s not much of a difference, really.”
“Well, why don’t ya ask her out, boy?” Coop chuckled.
Adam frowned. “I will. You just wait and see.”
Coop reached for a towel, dried his hands and face, then smiled. “Ya’ll find the one, don’t worry ‘bout that. Yer a romantic through and through – anyone can see that. And when yer a little older, ya’ll fall in love and get married.”
“But that’s just it – I have fallen in love.”
Coop shook his head. “Well, I hope it works out for ya.” Truth be told, Coop had noticed Hannah himself. She was pretty and fun and always had a kind word for each of the cowboys. He didn’t think it likely she’d have eyes for him, but Adam’s words made him consider as he changed into a clean set of clothes. “Let’s go, boy. Time for supper.”
They walked together to the ranch house. Dan had just finished unhitching the wagon and settling the horses. Claudine and Gracie stood by the front garden, admiring Genny’s roses. Gracie pressed her face into the center of one. “Oh, it smells lovely.” They all approached the front door together and Dan knocked. They heard a voice call from within and entered.
“Come in, come in,” said Tom, hurrying to meet them. “Supper’s almost ready.”
Coop admired how Tom and Genny had turned the Paradise Ranch crew into a family, including a monthly supper for the entire staff. They’d made the ranch into a home for him and the other cowpunchers, and always welcomed any of them into their home with warm and open arms.
Vaquero was already there with his wife Lotte and adopted daughter Aurora. Aurora was playing on the floor with Tom’s little girl Francine. Jane and Dusty sat on the settee side by side. And next to them, Ost leaned against the mantle with a woman Coop had never seen before. She had blonde hair piled on top of her head in soft curls, blue eyes, and wore a gown that he was sure he’d seen on Genny before.
Suddenly Claudine hurried toward her. “Angela?”
The woman backed away, eyes wide.
Claudine stopped. “Angela, what’s wrong? What are you doing here?”
Dan followed his wife and stood beside her, frowning. “Angela, where are your folks?”
The woman shook her head, her eyes filling with tears, and backed against the wall. She looked afraid, as though she wanted to run.
Ost took her hand, whispered something to her, softly patted the back of her hand and walked over to Dan and Claudine. “Why are you calling her Angela – do you know her?” he whispered with a worried glance over his shoulder at the woman. She was now studying carvings on the mantle.
Genny pulled Dan, Claudine and Ost into the hall, and Coop followed them. “Ost brought this young lady here today,” Genny explained. “He found her out in the wilderness with a bump on her head. She doesn’t know who she is or where she’s from. She’s completely confused.”
“That’s right,” added Ost. “She wants us to call her Rose. Do you two know her?”
Claudine nodded and glanced at her husband.
“We met up with her and her folks down in Wyoming Territory – they were on their way to Utah. They were in a covered wagon, and planned on homesteading when they got there. We parted ways when we reached the Mormon Trail. Something must have happened to stop them. And Angela certainly wasn’t expecting when we saw her.”
“Was she married?” asked Ost, his forehead creased.
“No,” said Dan, his eyes fixed on Angela. “She was a young woman traveling west with her folks. That’s about all we know.”
“So her name’s Angela?”
“Yes,” replied Claudine. “Angela Wilcox.”
“Angela Wilcox … I’m glad to discover her identity. What a coincidence that you met her before.”
“What happened to her?” asked Dan.
“Not sure. She says someone’s after her, but won’t let us look for her family. Now we know her name, that changes things. Doc Underhill thinks when she hit her head it gave her what he called ‘temporary amnesia,’ so she can’t remember stuff, but he said it’ll wear off sometime. He didn’t know when.”
“I wonder who she married?” asked Claudine, her eyes narrowed. “I mean, we saw her only a little while ago. What was it, six months?” she asked Dan.
“More like eight, I think.”
“And she didn’t have a beau then. So what happened between then and now?”
“Heaven only knows,” replied Ost.
Coop just shook his head. Well, there was a mystery.
Angela studied the group in the hall, watching her furtively. They’d called her Angela, so she assumed that was her name. Perhaps they knew her. Of course, she couldn’t recall ever having seen them.
When the man and woman had walked in, she’d caught the recognition in their eyes. She wished she could feel that. She still didn’t know anything about herself. Except that perhaps her name was Angela. The word itself didn’t spark any particular reaction in her. Shouldn’t it make her heart beat faster, or spark a memory, if that was truly her name?
