by Danni Roan
Hank’s big form, leaning forward on the bench, the arms of his white shirt rolled above his elbows exposing bulging forearms, held the black lines in his hands, while Fiona, in deep forest green rested against his shoulder, looked small next to the man’s large frame. The two big Clydesdales, harnesses jingling as the sun glinted off polished silver, lifted white feathered legs and large hooves in steady rhythm.
Behind the freight wagon, the smaller green-painted chuck wagon swayed gently over the rutted trail. The white canvas stretched in a high arch over the tall form of the many-chambered conveyance, making it look larger than it was. A soft rattle and clink came from the wagon as various supplies and cooking utensils jostled together in their specialized compartments. On the bench seat, Billy held the reins to his chunky dark-coated team, his customary dark blue shirt and red suspenders bright in the clear air. Beside him, Mrs. Ogden sat in her plain gray dress and practical bonnet.
While other riders were strung out along the trail and near the wagon’s kicking up little puffs of dust with every hoof beat, Eric’s mule, Scooter, plodding along placidly.
“I guess we’d better get back,” Lexi finally said with a sigh. The scene before her was familiar, yet fresh as she pushed her horse into a canter to join the others stretched out over the prairie floor.
The sound of galloping horses drew Dora Ogden’s attention, and she turned her head to see her son and Alexis James riding toward them. She’d noticed that the two young people hadn’t been spending much time together on the ride toward the Broken J, and that even at meals they seemed quiet and subdued.
“Them youngin’s seem to have somethin’ on their minds,” Billy spoke from her left, and not for the first time she wondered if their interfering had had the opposite effect of what they wished for.
“Don’t worry,” the old man said, smiling at her softly. “What will be will be. I learned a long time ago ya’ can’t always understand what happens, but ya just has to have faith.”
Dora smiled at her wizened old companion. She’d come to respect his back-woods wisdom and cheerful nature over the past few days. “I think you’re right,” she acquiesced. “I’ve been praying for God to bring the right person to my boys since they were born, I guess I’ll just have to trust in His wisdom.” To her surprise, Billy laid a gnarled hand on her arm and squeezed gently.
“Ma’ how are you doing?” Reg said, reining his old mare along the wagon.
“I’m fine, Reg,” she replied with a smile. “I’m finding this country to be far more beautiful than I would have expected. I always thought that the prairie was simply endless expanses of grass, but I see I was wrong.”
She cut a glance toward Billy. “Mr. Billy has been pointing out all sorts of interesting things to me as we roll along. There is a vast variety of plants along the trail, and it is simply amazing how much wildlife we’ve seen.”
Reg smile happily at his mother. “I’m glad you like it. I am hoping you’ll agree to stay with us here in Wyoming. It’s good land and Taylor and I have a secure place. From what I’ve seen, it’s a perfect place to grow wheat. In time we’ll even build our own houses.”
“I might be interested,” Dora said, looking her son up and down. “There is a unique beauty here,” she added, looking directly at Alexis.
Chapter 14
The ranch came into sight slowly as the wagons took the last turn toward the Broken J. Across the prairie, groups of cattle could be seen spread over fields of gold and green. The first thing that Dora Ogden could see was the tall wind mill in a rail coral next to a large barn, whose walls stood black against an evening sky.
A large kitchen garden, nearly stripped of produce now, wrapped a small sod shack on the near side of a two-story house, clad in gray wood, which was surrounded by a porch on four sides, its galvanized roofing glowing softly in the rays of a sinking sun.
“It’s bigger than I expected,” she mused.
Billy’s chuckle made her grin. “That there’s the bathhouse I was tellin’ you ‘bout,” he said, pointing toward a small structure at the back of the house. “An’ yonder is the bunk house.” He indicated a long low building made of logs at the rear of the property.
“There’s a smithy’s shop, an’ chicken coop as well on ta’ other side of the barn. And over there you can see Will and Katie’s place. The one back by the trees on the outside of the ranch fence is Hank and Fiona’s, and if you look yonder in the horse pasture you’ll see Clay and Meg’s place. They’s up to Boston right now on business, but you’ll meet ‘em sometime.”
“It is quite lovely,” the older woman said. Taking in the compound and noting the care with which it had not only been built, but was obviously kept.
As the wagons moved through the high arch of the sign that bore the ranch’s name, the sound of yipping dogs could be heard, and soon people came spilling out of the ranch house and barn.
Lifting their heads, the horses started to trot and without any word from their drivers came to a stop at the front of the ranch house.
“Reckon they know we’re home,” Billy laughed as he set the brake and wrapped the reins around the pole.
“Ma?” Taylor shocked voice was like music to her ears and she turned to see her son standing in the barnyard with a pail of milk in each hand, and a young woman, the spitting image of Alexis, right behind him.
Dora watched as the young woman who could only be Isabella reached out and took the pails from him with a smile. “Help your mother down,” she said, smiling. “I’ll run these into the house,” she added, then moved around the wagon, disappeared into the sprawling ranch house.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Taylor said, helping his mother to climb down out of the wagon.
From around the corner of the house a small older woman came, with what could only be called a pack of dogs at her heels. Dora’s eyes widened at the sight, but she turned her attention back to her son.
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” she said, looking him up and down. He seemed more grown up somehow, but still looked like her baby boy. He was significantly shorter than Reg with overly long sandy brown hair and a quick smile. His hazel eyes, a sultry green rimmed with midnight blue, were bright with delight and she quickly hugged him to her. It was such a relief to see her boys well.
Around them, the hustle of greetings and welcomes homes rang into the steadily approaching night.
Still holding Taylor’s arm, she looked up to see a plump, older woman with a dark hair wound into a tight bun at the nape of her neck kiss Mr. Leoné on the cheek. “That must be Mrs. Leoné,” she said to her son.
“Yes,” ge replied, “and that’s Mrs. Deeks.” He lifted a hand to indicate the woman holding the blacksmith’s gnarled hand, her silver and gold hair hanging in loose strands down her back. Dora Ogden looked at her son questioningly.
“Mrs. Deeks is a little different,” he whispered in his mother’s ear. “She doesn’t wear shoes if she can avoid it, either.”
Dora dropped her eyes to the earth next to the white haired man called Deeks, and sure enough, the woman’s bare toes, dark with dirt, peeked out from under the hem of her brown dress, while the four young dogs lay in the dust of the yard watched her intently.
“She’s alright, though, Ma, she saved our lives not so long ago. Those are Molly’s pups; she’s been training them.”
“Is that her? Alexis told me what happened,” Dora finally asked, finding the whole thing unbelievably confusing, but before she could get her bearings, the young woman in the yellow dress came back outside, making her son’s face light up like a noonday sky.
“This is Bella,” Taylor said with a huge grin. “Bella, I’d like you to meet my mother, Mrs. Dora Ogden.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Isabella said, a bright twinkle in her eye, and that was when Dora spotted the true difference between the twins. Taylor’s Bella was full of spunk, she had an outlook wholly different from Alexis.
“You men get this
gear unloaded,” the woman everyone called Nona called, still hanging on her husband’s arm. “We’ll have dinner ready in half an hour.” Her dark eyes turned to the other women still welcoming their spouses home from the long journey. “You’ll have time to catch up later,” she added with a snap, and began to turn toward the house.
A moment later, she was in her husband’s arms as he spun her to him by the hand he still held, and being kissed soundly while the others roared with laughter. Straightening from the embrace, the matron of the house slapped Isadoro on the arm, but smiled before marching back up the stairs and into the house.
A half an hour later, the whole family sat around the table, enjoying a meal of pan-fried venison steak in gravy and creamy mashed potatoes along with a variety of fresh vegetables.
The noise was unbelievable as everyone talked at once in-between bites of the delectable food. Dora found the whole experience overwhelming and exciting all at once. She was also grateful for Reg and Billy who sat on either side of her, filling her in on who everyone was.
She knew Will from the ride back to the ranch and was delighted to meet his wife Katie. The young woman, with hair the color of wild honey, sat snuggled up to the ranch foreman, their nine-month old daughter, Mary, happily tucked under her father’s arm. The little girl had a soft round face, rosy cheeks and brow curls like her father. Her green eyes sparkled at her parents and she giggled when Will tickled her chin.
Dora cast a look at Taylor sitting next to Bella and wondered what their children would look like.
Alexis, who sat next to her twin, looked far more subdued than the others and for a moment her heart went out to the girl. Silently she lifted a prayer that all would work out the way it should, but also recognized that she had to accept that what she wanted wasn’t ensured.
Mr. James had joined them at the table. The big man, though hampered by his infirmity, had shuffled to the table and settled his big frame in his chair. His bright, artic blue eyes were bright with joy at having his whole family around him. It was strange watching him. There was a presence about the cattleman, a calmness that seemed to fill the air around him, even as he laughed at the stories his family told.
The only other person who did not seem to join in the revelry was the woman everyone called Rachel. Instead, she seemed to watch the family in wonder as she sat next to the old blacksmith quietly eating her meal.
As the meal wrapped up with apple pie and coffee, the women began clearing the table and Dora Ogden stood with them, offering to help.
“Not tonight,” Bianca Leoné said briskly, smiling to take the bite out of the refusal. “You and Fiona have had a long trip. You just relax. There are more than enough of us to get the work done around here.” Gently she took Dora’s arm. “I’ll show you where you’ll be staying while Rachel and the girls get started on the dishes,” she finally finished and began leading the new arrival away.
Dora hesitated a moment, looking around the large airy kitchen. “I am rather tired anyway,” she finally confessed. “Thank you and good night.”
“Taylor, you bring your mother’s things up to the guest room.” Bianca finished before stepping into the hall and leading the way to the stairs at the front of the house. “It’s been ages since anyone actually stayed in the guest room. Benji and Cathleen have used it before, but I know they want to get home tonight.”
“Oh, they don’t live on the ranch?” Dora asked.
“No, Benji has a cabin up in the hills about a half hour’s ride away. They like being on their own up there. When Benji brought Cathleen home a few years ago as a mail-order-bride, he shocked us all, but now I can’t imagine not having her in our lives.”
“It seems that there have been a number of changes here over the past few years,” Dora commented dryly.
For a moment, the other woman studied her carefully. “Yes, I guess there have been.”
Dora Ogden reached a hand out to the woman who had been in charge of the Broken J’s house for nearly two decades, and laid it on Bianca’s arm. “It seems like they are all good changes,” she offered, hoping they could be friends.
A slow smile spread across the other woman’s face. “Call me Nona like the girls, it will be easier,” she said, “and yes, I’d say the changes are all good. Not always easy, but good.” She studied the mother of the young man her precious granddaughter had married. “Your sons have been no small part of that. I was a little worried you’d be upset that your son had married my Isabella so quickly.”
“Why would I? They seem very happy,” she replied with a twinkle.
Nona let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Thank heavens, but I have to warn you they had us worried for a while.”
“You’ll have to tell me all about it soon.”
“I will, but in the meantime let’s get you settled.”
A knock at the door interrupted them, “Ma?” Taylor’s voice came through the frame. “I’ve got your bag. We’ll bring your trunks up tomorrow.”
“Come in, Taylor,” Nona called before turning back to her guest, “The privy’s at the back of the house, there’s fresh water in the basin and a chamber pot under the bed if you need it,” she said with a smile before turning and walking out of the room.
“Are you terribly tired Ma?” Taylor asked, stepping through the door and depositing a carpetbag on the bed.
“No, but I’m still reeling from the sheer number and variety of people here.”
“You get used to it. You haven’t even met everyone yet.”
“I haven’t?”
“No, Yeye, I mean Chen Lou, is Joshua’s other father-in-law, or great father-in-law maybe. Anyway. He’s up in the mountains with Brion right now helping with the sheep.”
“My goodness how many times has Mr. James been married?”
“Three,” Taylor answer casting his eyes upward and counting off on his fingers, “Katie, Meg, and Fiona’s ma was Bridgette, she died shortly after they arrived here. Later he married Bella and Lexi’s mother Cammy but she died of a fever and then he met Chen Lou and his granddaughter Sue Lynn. Mr. James married her and they had one daughter Mae before she passed.”
Dora Ogden dropped onto the bed with a sigh, and rubbed her temples. “My goodness.”
“Don’t worry Ma, you’ll get used to it,” Taylor said, kissing his mother on the forehead. “I reckon Brion and his family will come down from the mountains with Chen Lou later and you can meet them then.”
“Whose Brion?” she asked, bewildered by the plethora of names.
“He’s Joshua’s brother-in-law.”
“From which marriage?”
“His first.”
Taylor smiled as his mother worked through all of the information she’d been confronted with. “Don’t worry, Ma.” he said again. “We’ll help you, just like Billy and Eric helped us.” His easy smile set her heart at ease.
“Everything alright?” the bright voice of Isabella chimed in from the doorway.
“Yes,” Taylor replied, welcoming her with an outstretched arm. “Ma’s just finding it hard to process this crazy family.”
The girl giggled, making her eyes twinkle. “That’s easy to believe,” she said, snuggling under Taylor’s arm and wrapping it around her shoulders.
“We’re right down the hall, Mrs. Ogden, so if you need anything don’t hesitate to knock.”
Dora noted the slight blush that infused the girl’s cheeks and smiled. “I think I’ll sleep for a week first,” she said.
“If you’d like, I could fix you a bath.” Bella offered.
“No, that’s fine. Perhaps tomorrow. You two go on now. I’m just going to freshen up and then get some real sleep.”
Taylor kissed his mother’s cheek and with his arm still around his wife’s slim shoulders, walked out, closing the door quietly behind him.
Chapter 15
“So how was the trip?” Isabella asked her sister as they sat luxuriating in two of the three large cop
per tubs in the bathhouse. It was getting late, but they were taking advantage of the quiet to catch up.
“It was alright. I was so glad when we finally got to Casper and turned those horrid men over.”
“That must have been a relief,” Bella said thoughtfully. “I don’t suppose anything else happened while you were there?” She raised a knowing brow at her twin.
A soft blush infused Lexi’s cheeks making Isabella sit up straight, splashing water onto the plank floor. “What happened? Tell me, tell me!” she squealed.
“Reg kissed me.” Lexi said flatly.
“You don’t sound very thrilled about it.”
“I don’t know how I feel about it,” Alexis confessed. “You see I was curious…” her sister’s giggle cut her off. “Not like that,” Lexi snapped. “Oh, it’s such a mess. Mrs. Ogden made a comment about her husband kissing her and it made me wonder what the whole thing is about.”
“You could have asked me,” Bella said, still grinning as she settled back into the hot water.
“When? You and Taylor were in such a mess, and then the outlaws came along.” Alexis’ voice was sharp, showing her frustration. “Anyway, I asked Reg to kiss me because I wanted to try to understand why people think it’s so important.”
“And what happened?”
Alexis slipped deeper into her tub, before whispering, “I don’t know, but I liked it.”
Isabella flicked water at her sister, “And?”
“And nothing. We said we’d discuss it and figure out what the fuss was about. Reg talked to Billy…” Isabella’s gasp interrupted Lexi’s train of thought. “Not like that, they were just talking and Billy told Reg about his wife.”
“Really?”
“I know, he never talks about his past.” Lexi looked at her sister, noting the surprise she felt. “We never ended up discussing it though, because, well, I got all confused because of how I felt and I don’t think Reg feels the same way, so we sort of dropped the whole thing.”
