by Kari Trumbo
“Will this work?” Gus asked, with a smile. “I have a pair and I can only use one at a time.”
“Are you sure? I’ll never be able to pay you back if something happens to it.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Then don’t let anything happen to it. Keep yourself, my daughter, and my ranch safe.”
“Meghan, in a day or two, you should show me the full perimeter. I’d like to know the scope of the land,” Jax asked, bringing her back into the conversation. She would rather sit and listen to Jax. Opening her mouth to give her opinion, Charlotte interrupted.
“Why do you keep calling her that? No one calls her Meghan. She’s just plain Meg. My mother was Meghan and she’ll never be half the lady my mother was.” Charlotte’s face was red and Meg wanted to defend Jax, but again her father beat her to it.
“Charlotte, sit down and shut your mouth. What do you care what he calls Meg?” Gus growled. Charlotte shrank back into her seat, but Meg knew that defiant look on her face. Her father would pay for his gruffness, most likely through his wallet.
They continued to talk about various other things until Charlotte looked so bored she got up, right in the middle of the conversation, and left. Meg was always amazed at how she could call out rude behavior in everyone else, but her own seemed to escape her notice.
“I have a headache. I’m going to lie down.” She marched regally from the room, as if she expected people to fawn over her.
Rose called from the kitchen loud enough for the group to hear and enough to annoy Charlotte if she truly had a headache, “I’ll go bring her some tea so you can finish your conversation.”
“Thank you, Rose.” Meg smiled at Rose’s comment, but continued to look at Jax.
“I’m pretty tired. I was just starting a nap when Gus came in. I think I’ll use this break to head back to my room and leave you to your family, boss-lady.” The personal comment made her father’s presence disappear.
“Are you sure you have to go?” Meg got up to help him, wishing all the while that he could stay, as selfish as it was, so she could listen to him speak further about her ranch. She could almost picture him as the head of the entire operation. He did look pale all of a sudden, though. Wanting him to avoid falling, she offered her shoulder to help him. His recovery time would be long enough without making it worse.
“I’m worn out.” He attempted to stand and made it half way up before he fell back into his seat. He sucked in his breath at the pain in his ribcage.
“Let me help you, Jax.” Gus gave his daughter a look that told her to get out of the way. Meg obliged out of respect and wondered what her father thought of Jax and the whole situation.
~~~
Gus came out of Jax’s room and he sat at the kitchen table with Meg and Lizzy. No one seemed willing to talk about anything. It made no sense to continue talking about the ranch without Jax. Both Meg and Gus knew Lizzy would share every word with her mother and they were loath to disclose anything.
“I think I’m going to move out here next week,” Lizzy said, to no one in particular.
Meg dropped her fork, Gus spilled his coffee, and Rose snorted. It was such an unladylike noise it made her and everyone else laugh.
“I beg your pardon. What did you just say?” Gus splotched his spilled coffee with a towel.
“Since it’s almost certain I’ll be the one to get the ranch. I want to learn how it works. I’ve just as much right to be here as Meg. Especially now that the dirt farmer’s under his first love.” She giggled and the room seemed to shrink in around Meg.
Her eyes flashed in anger. Lizzy had a point about the ranch, but oh, how she hated the idea of having her here. She bit her tongue to keep from saying something hurtful back. So much for peace and quiet and mourning the way she needed to. Now, one of the most judgmental and conniving women from town would be living right under the same roof. This week just kept getting better.
“Wonderful, I’m so glad you’ve finally taken an interest.” Gus smiled, looking excited for the first time that day. Ignoring the sisterly jab. “You were scheduled to leave for England with your mother next week, are you sure you want miss that?”
“Europe will still be there after I own the ranch. I’ll need a few days to say goodbye to my friends. They’ll miss me while I’m out here. I should be ready in a week, or less.” She smiled.
Meg attempted a shot across the bow, “Don’t you have a suitor in town who’ll be sad if you come all the way out here? This could be the year you find someone in Europe, you’ll just never know if you don’t go.”
Lizzy put on her most snide look and replied, “I have quite a few suitors and every one of them would drive all the way out here to see me. I’m worth the drive. And as to Europe, you wouldn’t know. You’ve never gotten to go.” She sniffed and notched her nose into the air.
“I guess that settles it. I’ll bring Lizzy out in a week. Be sure to have her room ready, Meg.” He looked like the cat that got the mouse. Wonderful for him, more work for her.
~~~
Rose asked to bring Jax his lunch but Meg insisted she go home to Pete. She would manage just fine. Jax walked short distances on his own already. He merely had to stay close to his bed. He had mended quicker than Meg expected.
She put together his meal and placed it on a tray for him. He could feed himself now, but she stayed to talk to him because she assumed it must be lonely sitting there most of the day. Maybe she was needing company herself. His voice soothed her and she needed to sit and listen to him. She placed the tray over his lap, unable to hold back the smile that crept across her lips. She went over to the wall and leaned against it, wrapping her arms around herself because she wasn’t quite sure what to do with her hands.
“What did you think of my family?” She looked at her boots and rubbed the floor with the tip of one. Nervous about his thoughts on Lizzy and her mother.
“I think your father’s a great man and he must’ve been a good model to grow up with.” He inspected the food in front of him.
“Yes, he is that. But what did you think of the rest of my family?” She glanced at him, back at the floor, then across the room.
“That question’s as loaded as the gun in your room, and you know it, boss-lady.” He chuckled lifting half of his mouth.
“Lizzy is moving out here next week.” She threw the comment out into the room.
“What?” His head flew up.
“That’s what I said. I guess she wants to learn about running a ranch, which means she’ll be pestering you constantly. At least until I send you on your trip to Texas.”
“We’ll come back to the trip south in a minute. What do you mean she’ll pester me?”
Meg turned red to her roots. She couldn’t answer this question without saying a few things you didn’t tell a man, or, to be more accurate, she didn’t want to admit she’d noticed about this particular man.
Meg sucked in her breath, preparing for the worst. “She won’t ask me to help her learn because the point of this charade isn’t to learn the ranch, although she loves the income it makes. The point is to find a husband. I suspect she’s deemed you worthy of being her husband.”
Jax laughed so hard he wheezed and groaned. Meg grimaced. “Husband? She doesn’t even know me!”
“That isn’t the point. She knows I’m not allowed to have a relationship with any man during the next one year plus one day according to some rules of mourning that are taught to all good little girls. It isn’t about caring for or even knowing the man she catches. It’s about catching the only man I have a legitimate reason to see on a daily basis. One who she might reasonably see as potential for me—.” She held her breath, no stopping this now. “—and stealing him away.” Meg blushed so red she looked ill.
“So, I have potential, huh?” He winked at her.
“Oh, you know what I mean.” She shifted her position and wrapped her arms around her waist tighter than before.
“Well, there is the matter
of you traipsing around in your bed clothes.” Jax must have realized, perhaps a bit belatedly, the dangerous water he’d entered into. He coughed and looked at his feet. “Thank you for the warning about your sister. I’ll keep in mind that I’m not a catch, but only a means to get what she wants.” He grinned at her. “But, I also promise to remember that I have potential.” Before she could interrupt him, he continued, “So, tell me a bit about this drive to Texas.” His brows raised, effectively changing the subject on her.
Meg looked at him and pursed her lips. She’d wanted to retort but he’d changed the subject, cutting her off. Instead, she glowered at him. “I need you to drive the cattle about 400 miles due south to the Texas stockyards. We’ll get the best price for the cattle there.”
“I disagree. When was the last time you even heard of someone doing a drive?”
Her hackles rose, “My father used to drive the cattle every year.”
“Exactly, used to. When was the last time you remember him doing it?”
Now that was a good question. It hadn’t occurred to her when he’d done it last. She wanted all those cattle gone so quickly, a drive had been her sole concern. “I guess, about fifteen years ago…”
“Exactly. Cattlemen don’t do drives anymore, and I don’t remember them ever driving them south. You take them to the nearest large railway, in our case Wichita, Abilene, or Dodge City. They have stock yards right there to sell your cattle for a decent price and they ship them out from there.”
“Ship them where?” She wouldn’t have the railway stealing her profit. To start over, she needed the best price. Her plan wouldn’t make money for the first few years.
“All over, but a lot go west, to California and no, boss-lady, I’m not driving the herd all the way to California across the mountains. Don’t ask me. I’ll pack my things now.”
“I need the best price for those cattle that I can get.”
“You will get a fraction of the price in Texas that you would get from any of the railroads close by. They raise cattle there. They have plenty of cattle. You want to send them where they need them, not where they have enough.” He sat quiet, she could tell he was mulling something in his head so she waited. “It isn’t done, understand this. There’s no open space anymore. Think about all the fencing around Whitte ranch, that kind of fencing is all over now. Driving cattle is near impossible. The further north you get, the less fence. I still don’t know that you’d get the best price for them, especially with having to pay the hands to do it, but you have a better shot if you drove them north.”
“North? Where in the north?” She wanted to argue, but he seemed to know what he was talking about. It still irritated her she’d been wrong.
If you could drive them north to Pierre, South Dakota, they are a growing cattle area. They may be willing to pay for a herd already grown. I’ve been hearing talk of them paying people from the East to drive cattle to them. An established herd may be just what someone is looking for. We will also need a few extra hands. Six just isn’t enough. I think we’ll need ten. Eight riders, someone to drive the chuck wagon, and a rustler for the horses. He’ll be young, shouldn’t cost much. I have someone in mind for that.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“Decision made? Just like that? Don’t you want to think about this? It would be so much easier to just drive them to the railway.”
“I don’t pay you for easy, cowboy.”
~~~
Meg hitched two horses to the buckboard. She checked her small purse to make sure the list for the mercantile was inside. Jax had given her a list of necessities and she’d added a few things to the list after. Mark would bring the wagon with the supplies when he came out to work. She’d ride Jax’s horse back.
Listening to the noise of insects and birds, she climbed into the seat. Remembering as she looked out on the land, her father and the crews he would take to Texas when the herd got too big. At least, she thought they’d gone to Texas. Now, she wasn’t so sure after what Jax had said. As a child, her father didn’t tell her just where he was going. Maybe she made that part up as she got older, associating cattle with Texas. No matter where he’d actually gone, she loathed the thought of being alone. He’d been gone so long.
Rose came outside with a cup of coffee and waved as she walked over, breaking into Meg’s memories. She wore her normal smile and colorful dress. It didn’t matter what Rose wore though, she always looked beautiful. She was confident and happy with herself and her life. No one would ever guess Rose was approaching forty years old. She just didn’t seem to age.
Though she knew it might be envy, Meg wished she looked half as pretty as Rose. Rose was tiny and petite, barley reaching her husband’s chest. She had to stand on the tips of her toes to see something cooking on the back of the stove. Her hair was the blackest ebony and straight. She always wore it in a thick braid down her back. Her eyes were like dark almonds and she wore colorful clothing more like that of the tribe she came from, but mixed with traditional fabrics.
Meg couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t considered herself thin and plain. Yes, she’d had quite a few suitors in her time, but all they desired was the ranch. Even Chase, to some extent, had been looking for the future not at her. She’d chosen him because he was at least kind to her. Her feelings had grown into love as she’d put his needs before her own at all times.
“Good morning Meg.”
“Hello Rose, you look quite happy this morning.” Meg shaded her eyes as the sun came out from a cloud.
“It was a good evening. Are you driving into town?”
“Yes, only to the mercantile and to see if I have any mail. Do you need anything?”
“Yes.” She smiled with excitement. “To come with you.” She turned and trotted back toward the house.
“Oh Rose, I don’t think that’ll work. I have to leave the wagon there and bring Jax’s horse back,” she yelled to Rose’s receding figure.
Rose looked over her shoulder from the porch. “Then we’ll bring a horse for me, too. I need to get a few things for the house that we should be able to bring back on horse. Give me a minute to put my cup in the house.” Rose jogged back to the kitchen. She came out with a bonnet on, looking even lovelier than before.
Meg and Rose enjoyed the ride into town, they had always talked while they worked together, but it was nice to just sit for a few minutes. Meg told Rose all about the planned drive to South Dakota and Rose seemed to become more pensive.
“Does Pete have to go on the drive too?” She kept a sharp eye forward.
“I’d like him to go. The others will still be new and although I think I can trust Jax, I know nothing about his men. What if they would decide to take my cattle? I need a few men I can trust on that drive. You understand, right?”
“I understand many things. That doesn’t mean I have to like any of them.” Her voice pinched, an uncustomary stiffness in it.
“Please don’t be mad Rose. I certainly can’t go with.”
“Lord no.” Rose looked away, but remained aloof the rest of the trip to town.
Meg and Rose walked into the mercantile and looked at few things, waiting for the man at the counter to be done helping an older woman with her list. He was an older gentleman and incredibly patient with her. She complained about some service she’d received the last time she was in. He seemed to be taking care of the problem and the woman was about to leave when a younger man came out from the back. He ignored the front of the store and approached Meg and Rose. With a worldly smile, he looked them up and down.
“Can I help you lovely ladies with anything?” he said, getting too close and acting more familiar with them than was comfortable.
“Oh, we’re just going to give our lists to Mr. Scott, thank you.” Meg attempted to control the situation.
“I am Mr. Scott, the younger and more agile. Why don’t you give me your lists?” He took them from their hands without asking.
Both Meg and
Rose looked at each other, taken aback by the rudeness of this man. They walked over to the elder Mr. Scott to see what could be done. Before they made it all the way over to him, the young man came back over and shoved his hand out to Meg.
“I just read your list and realized who you were, Mrs. Connor, pleased to meet you. I’ll be working out at your ranch starting in a few days. I’ll be the one bringing your wagon back with me when I come,” he said, as if he had the most important job of everyone.
Meg looked at his hand, unaccustomed to such forward behavior. His face dropped into a scowl when she didn’t take his hand for a few seconds. He pulled it back slowly and his smile went cold.
“Ah, I see how this will be—.”
He didn’t get a chance to finish. Meg looked him in the eye and questioned to herself Jax’s ability to pick trustworthy men.
“Nice to meet you.” She squinted, her words clipped. “Bring both lists with you when you come out to the ranch and charge the bill to Augustus Whitte.” Meg and Rose turned and abruptly left.
“I’m now more certain than ever that Pete must go with. If Jax hired five men like that, I’ll be lucky if half my herd makes it to South Dakota.” Her brow creased in worry.
Rose nodded, but her movements were stiff and she looked away.
They unhitched the horse from the back of the wagon they’d brought to town and went to the post office. She had no mail waiting for her and decided to buy a newspaper. A little reading chased away the shadows in the evenings.
They collected Jax’s horse, a fine-looking mount. Meg thanked her father’s liveryman and was pleased at the chance to ride such a magnificent horse. Meg and Rose rode home in relative silence, and parted as soon as they got back.
Meg went right in to confront Jax about his choice of cowhands and to question whether he took this job as seriously as she needed him to.
Knocking briefly, she walked into his room without listening for a reply. He was sitting up on the edge of the bed without his shirt on and he’d unwrapped his torso. Expecting him to still be lying in bed, left her faced head on with the reality of this virile, handsome, half-naked man. It was disconcerting at best. She was speechless and searched for her composure as it seemed to fly out of the room.
