A Family for the Rancher

by Louise M. Gouge

  “Oh, well, I wasn’t sure I could go—”

  “Nonsense, girlie. Of course we’ll go. It’s our responsibility.” Uncle pulled out two cigars and offered one to Edmund.

  “No, thanks.” Edmund’s nose twitched. “Never could stand the smell of those things.”

  “Humph. I wouldn’t suppose so. The elegant fragrance of a fine imported Cuban cigar requires the refined instincts of a gentleman.” Uncle laughed in what should have been a pleasant way. From him it sounded like pure evil. “Not a cowboy’s.”

  Again, to his credit, Edmund didn’t appear offended. “About our meeting tonight, I’m sorry, sir, but our cattlemen’s association is for members only. We’ll have to find out if the other cowboys mind if you attend sometime.”

  Lula May bit back a laugh and turned away to the cupboard to get plates, cups and silverware. She turned back to see Uncle scowling at Edmund and Edmund smiling blandly at Uncle.

  “You’ll have to stay for supper, Edmund.” The words came out without her thinking them through, but she plowed ahead anyway. “I have a beef roast in the oven, and there’s no sense in you going home and coming back.”

  “I knew I smelled some of your delicious cooking. I’d be pleased to stay. Thank you.”

  Her plans quickly formed for the rest of the evening. She would take the younger children to town and have them stay with Mercy Green above the café. But what to do with Calvin and Samuel? And did she really want to leave Uncle here at the house to snoop while she was gone? Not an easy decision.

  As the children had noted last week when Edmund first stepped into her kitchen, he took up a good portion of the room. Even Uncle seemed a bit unsettled by his presence. While the men chatted about the weather, however, Lula May could see the old wiliness and false charm creeping into Uncle’s words and facial expressions. She recognized the old man’s attempt to figure Edmund out so he could control him.

  Pauline and Daniel continued to work at the sink, their heads close together and urgent whispers going back and forth. Why had they become so bold in their matchmaking? Was it possible they sensed the danger of Uncle’s presence and wanted to lure Edmund over here to protect her? She wouldn’t have any of that. She’d find a solution without any help from anybody, especially not her neighbor. Her only regret was that she hadn’t been able to protect the children from realizing Uncle wasn’t a good man. If she could have found a way to be nicer to him... No, that wasn’t possible. Not when he’d come here for the distinct purpose of seizing everything she owned.

  The men enjoyed their coffee and cake, after which Edmund suggested they take a walk around the property to build up an appetite for supper.

  “No, no. Walking’s not for me, and Lula May has yet to give me a horse of my own.” Uncle cast a scolding look her way. He’d been here less than twenty-four hours. When would she have had time to choose a horse for him? “I’ll just entertain these children—” He waved a hand at Pauline and Daniel as if they were pesky flies. “I’ll see if they’re bright enough to learn to play checkers.”

  “We’d like to go for a walk with you, Mr. McKay.” Pauline dried her hands and presented Lula May with a bowl for freshly washed baby carrots. “May we, Mama?”

  Lula May hesitated. Let them continue their matchmaking or make them spend time with Uncle? Neither option pleased her. When had she lost control of her household? About a week before Uncle arrived, that’s when, the day when Edmund walked into her kitchen and invited himself into her...or rather, Jacob’s life.

  “I’d welcome their company.” Edmund’s open smile encouraged her. He truly did like her children. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. “We can go see if the other boys need any help with their chores.” How like Edmund to offer to help.

  “You may go, but don’t pester Mr. McKay.” She gave the children a narrow-eyed look of warning.

  Their innocent blinks did nothing to reassure her.

  * * *

  While the children skipped happily ahead, Edmund strolled after them. The three older boys had their chores well in hand, so Daniel and Pauline offered to show Edmund their special place down by Kettle Creek. He rarely had leisure time. Probably should have ridden home for supper with his cowhands and then come back to escort Lula May to the meeting. But Abel, his foreman, could tend to the work for one evening, and the lure of her pot roast proved too tempting to decline.

  “Here we are.” Pauline stopped under a weeping willow by the creek, where flat rocks provided seating and a wide pond hinted at good fishing. The blue-green depths of the water reflected the few white clouds floating by in the rich blue sky. “Before Papa got sick, he taught us how to fish and swim down here.”

  “Not me.” Daniel’s thumb lingered near his lips. “I was too little.”

  “Oh.” Pauline’s blue eyes got a little red around the edges. “I forgot.”

  A strange lump formed in Edmund’s throat. He couldn’t even remember his parents, but Josiah claimed they’d been good folks and loving in their ways. These young’uns had known Frank, a kind father who’d tried to show them how to get on in life. What a shame no one could fill that place.

  Oh, no. There went those crazy thoughts again. Edmund decided he needed to change the subject. He studied the area. Yesterday’s storm had swollen Kettle Creek for several hours. Now that the flood had subsided, the mud residue lining the banks had baked hard in today’s blazing summer sun. While Daniel scuffed through it like a puppy in a pile of leaves, Pauline picked her way along the bank in a dainty, girlish way. As before, Edmund saw in her a miniature of her mother. He wouldn’t dare bring these young’uns home wet or covered with dirt.

  “I don’t think we should get into the water, and we didn’t bring our poles, but I know something else to do at a fine glassy pond like this one. What do you think?”

  The eager lights in their eyes was answer enough. He bent down and scratched through some rocks littering the area, searching for the right palm-sized triangular shapes. He found a half dozen.

  “Now, here’s what you do.” He stood straight, took the proper stance and flung one stone over the surface, watching with disappointment as it skipped only four times before disappearing into the depths below. He sure was out of practice. The children didn’t seem to think his performance was a failure, though.

  “Wow.” Daniel’s eyes got round as saucers.

  “Will you teach us how to do that?” Pauline hopped up and down a few times like she was going to a party.

  “Sure thing.”

  Over the next half hour or so, he showed them how to select their rocks, stand at the proper angle to the water, throw faster instead of harder and put a spin on the stone, all the things Old Gad had taught him. After numerous failures and plenty of giggles, Pauline managed to skip one rock three times and Daniel skipped his once. From their triumphant cheers, Edmund could see it was best he hadn’t demonstrated with his usual eight to ten skips. No need to set the bar too high and discourage them.

  Just hearing their carefree laughter stirred something deep inside of Edmund. He could get used to that sound. Maybe he should take all the young’uns fishing or rock-skipping from time to time. With them not having a pa, they needed a man’s influence, even sweet little Pauline. The wary looks she’d given Lula May’s uncle seemed to indicate a dislike, maybe even a distrust of the man, so he sure couldn’t fill that role.

  For his part, Edmund had taken the man’s measure real quick. Something wasn’t quite right about him or the situation when Lula May had obviously been reluctant to introduce them. Once again, he wondered if she was asking for help, first by sending over the book and then by inviting him to stay for supper. Just as he’d suspected last week, the little lady needed somebody to look out for her. Edmund was pleased that the Lord had chosen him. He might have to put up with these matchmaking children, but better
for him to help out than a married man, which could cast aspersions on Lula May’s character. The challenge would be to obey the Lord while dodging the children’s schemes. Edmund might even make a secret game of it. He chuckled at the thought.

  * * *

  Lula May didn’t have a chance to offer Edmund the seat at the head of the table. Uncle plopped himself down in Frank’s chair, just as he had the night before. He didn’t even seem to notice the boys standing at their places waiting for her to sit or Edmund holding her chair for her as he’d done last week. The children noticed, though, and those mischievous glances shot around the table like a ricocheting bullet.

  She served up supper and passed the plates, all the while wondering how to guide a pleasant table conversation, the duty of a good hostess. Should they pass the talking feather and risk Uncle’s ridicule? As soon as Calvin had offered the prayer, however, Jacob piped up and put an end to her concerns.

  “Mr. McKay, we sure did have a good time last week.” He cut a bite of beef and swirled it in the gravy on his plate but didn’t lift it to his lips. “Me and the boys...” He glanced at Lula May and apologized with a grin and a shrug. “The boys and I were wondering if we could have some more ranching lessons. It’s all we could talk about Sunday afternoon. After all, it’s summer, and we don’t have school, so we have extra time to learn more stuff.”

  Straightening as high as his modest stature permitted, he continued before anyone could interrupt. “We think, the boys and I, that we’re gaining a solid ranching education that will help us be a part of the community both now and when we grow up.” He gave Edmund a mischievous smirk. “Even the Gillen brothers.”

  My, how grown-up he already sounded. And speaking up this way was so uncharacteristic of him. Lula May couldn’t answer him due to the emotion rising in her throat. Besides, he’d addressed Edmund, not her.

  Edmund’s green eyes twinkled, and he seemed to be fighting a smile as he glanced at Lula May. “We’ll have to talk to your parents, Jacob. Not sure they’ll be able to spare you from your chores for another week.”

  Uncle, whose graying eyebrows were bent into a frown, opened his mouth as if to speak, but Pauline spoke first.

  “Some of us girls want to learn, too.” Looking small seated next to Edmund, Pauline gazed up at him with an adoring smile. “After all, Mama runs this ranch, so women need to know that stuff, too.”

  “Lula May?” Edmund questioned her with arched eyebrows and a half grin that sent her heart skipping.

  Somehow she managed to find her voice. “I don’t see why not.” Anything to get the children away from Uncle. “What do you think, Edmund?”

  “I don’t see why not, either. We’ll ask the folks this evening at the meeting. If they agree, we can start next Monday.”

  Apparently satisfied, Jacob and Pauline happily dug into their supper.

  All this time, Uncle had been huffing and clearing his throat importantly, as though he wished to speak. Now that silence came over the table, Lula May scrambled to think of another topic to prevent him from dominating the conversation.

  “I made chocolate macaroon cookies for the meeting tonight.” She directed her comment to Edmund. “Do you think the men will like them?”

  “If they’re as good as the oatmeal cookies you made last week, they will.”

  “Harrumph!” Uncle slammed his knife and fork down on the table and leaned toward Edmund with a menacing scowl. “Am I to understand you have been taking your meals here at my niece’s house for some time?”

  Edmund slowly chewed the bite he’d taken, swallowed and took a sip of coffee. Lula May prayed that his answer wouldn’t set Uncle off, not only now but later this evening after she returned home from the meeting.

  “I appreciate your concern, sir. Let me set your mind at ease.” Edmund took another bite and gave it the same slow treatment. “You see, we had a bargain. I would teach Jacob some cattle ranching skills, and she would feed me supper.” He gave Uncle a bland smile. “I’ll take tonight’s supper as a thank-you for helping Calvin with the fencing.” He paused a second or two. “Although now that I see you’re here, I feel bad for taking over when I’m sure you meant to help out with that fencing.”

  Lula May almost snorted her mouthful of coffee. Somehow she managed to swallow it.

  “Why, I—I...” Uncle sputtered and coughed and pretended to choke on his string beans, a ploy she’d seen before.

  “Children,” she said, “time to clean up. I’ve decided we’ll all go to town. Uncle, you don’t mind staying home and resting, do you? I know you’ve had a tiring day.”

  While the three younger children scrambled to obey, Calvin gave Samuel a look. “Ma, we’d like to stay home, if you don’t mind.”

  “That’s right.” Samuel gave her an innocent grin, the one he saved for his rare times of mischief...or secret surprises.

  Maybe her stepsons were more mature than she gave them credit for. Then again, Uncle might try to root out any weaknesses to find hurtful things to say to them. On the other hand, if they stayed home, stayed in the house, Uncle wouldn’t dare snoop around. She studied the boys and saw their eagerness to stay written all over their faces.

  “Fine. You can play checkers with Uncle Floyd.”

  From the scowl on Uncle’s face, Lula May knew she’d made the right decision.

  * * *

  The meeting tent was in an uproar when Edmund drove Lula May’s wagon onto the church property. Even so, when the two of them entered the room and the ranchers noticed Lula May, their language improved right away. Not their anger, though. Clustered around Sheriff Fuller, the men all talked at once, shouting over one another.

  Edmund sidled up to Hank Snowden. “What’s going on?”

  Snowden shook his head in disgust. “Sawyer lost eighteen head of cattle to the rustlers before dawn today. Yesterday, Magnuson lost close to thirty.”

  Edmund grunted. At these meetings, he usually stayed at the edge of the turmoil and listened to each man’s complaint so he could work on a solution. Tonight was no different, although it was hard to sort out fifteen different voices barking at Sheriff Fuller.

  A movement beside him reminded him of his guest. He started to offer her a chair, but as always, she had a mind of her own. Strutting up to the front of the room, she plopped her bag of cookies on the preacher’s lectern.

  “Cookies, anyone?” Only one or two noticed her, so she raised her voice considerably. “I said, chocolate macaroon cookies, anyone?”

  For a moment, all the men went silent, to Edmund’s amusement. Beside him, Snowden chuckled softly.

  “Not now, Lula May.” Magnuson waved in her direction like she was a pesky fly. “We got important business to take care of.”

  “And I see you’re solving all your problems very well.” She gave the man a scolding look. “You all sound like a bunch of children in the school yard all fighting over a ball.”

  Sheriff Fuller took that opportunity to break from the crowd. “I’d like one of those cookies, Mrs. Barlow. I’ve been tracking rustlers all day and haven’t had a chance to eat.”

  “Good. You all sit down, and I’ll pass them out.” She gave a smug smile, and Edmund felt an odd sense of pride in her commanding attitude. Maybe sometimes that bossiness came in handy. “This might be a tent, but it’s also a church. Our church.” She gave Edmund a stare that he interpreted to mean “our church for now.”

  Despite exchanging a bunch of different looks among themselves—some offended, others confused, the ranchers did as they were told. My, this little lady would make a fine schoolteacher. Must come from rearing five young’uns. He could only pray she didn’t bring up the subject of raising money for building the church. At least not tonight when they needed to solve the problem of the cattle rustlers.

  As she started passing out the cookies
, she stared at Edmund and arched one eyebrow. He questioned her with an arched eyebrow of his own. She rolled her eyes and mouthed, “the coffee.”

  “Oh. Right.”

  He hurried back to the wagon and retrieved the jugs of cold coffee she’d brought. They served it in the tin cups someone had donated to the church. Then Lula May returned to the lectern. Edmund could see she wanted to speak, so he gave her an encouraging nod. Her pretty smile was more reward than he’d expected, and his heart took a leap...to his annoyance.

  “Gentlemen, while you’re busy with your refreshments, I’d like to say a few words.” She bit her lip, again questioning Edmund with a look. Again he nodded. “First of all, thank you for inviting me to join you.”

  Several men grumbled that they hadn’t invited her, but others shushed them. “Don’t discourage her. She brings refreshments,” Gabe Dooley said.

  Several others laughed and added their agreement.

  “With this cattle rustling going on, it may not seem that I have much to lose because I only have five head.” She surveyed the group like she was used to talking to a crowd.

  Edmund felt a pinch of envy. He had a real hard time talking in front of other people.

  “But when people set about to do wrong, they don’t care a whit whom they hurt.” Lula May rested a forearm on the lectern, just like the preacher often did. “Some of you have small places like mine, but don’t think being small makes us safe. Besides, who’s to say the rustlers won’t start stealing my horses, too? A thief’s a thief.”

  “That’s true.” Zeke, the cowboy who’d bought one of her horses last week, piped up from the back of the room, giving Lula May an admiring perusal as he had the other day. If Edmund had been standing near the man, he’d have punched him in the shoulder. “You keep an eye out, Miz Barlow. Those are the best cow ponies around.”