A Bargain Struck (Choc Lit)

by Liz Harris

  And what’s more, she would feel about Robert in the same way as he felt about Alice. He should respect that.

  Last night had been a momentary impulse, brought about by an unexpected situation. It had been no more than that, and it should be forgotten.

  Fortunately, by the time that they’d finished their dinner and he’d said good night to Bridget and joined Ellen in bed, he’d managed to get himself under control and he’d been able to keep his desire in check. But it had been difficult, and he wouldn’t let either of them get into that position again.

  He put the saddle on to the horse, and tightened the girth.

  No, he thought, threading the harness reins through the bridle guides, he would never again do anything that could look as if he were trying to take advantage of her situation. She’d already suffered at the hands of her brother, and he must show her that he respected the limits of their marital relationship. He must never again come near to doing anything that could be seen as violating her.

  ‘Hurry up, Bridget,’ Ellen called towards her bedroom. ‘Your pa won’t want to be kept waiting.’

  ‘I’m coming,’ Bridget shouted back. ‘I can’t decide which dress to wear.’ She came into the living room in her unbleached muslin petticoat, holding up two dresses. ‘Which one shall I wear?’

  ‘The green’s nice,’ Ellen said. ‘It was my husband’s favourite colour, and the dress I’m wearing next week is green. That’s what I’m taking to the bee tonight. I’m going to trim it with lace so that it looks nice for the wedding. Robert always said it suited me best of all my dresses. With your colouring, green must look real lovely on you.’

  ‘OK, I’ll wear that. Tell Pa I won’t be long.’ She disappeared back into her room.

  Ellen opened the front door and went out into the fresh morning air. As she did so, the ground trembled beneath her and she heard the sound of a horse being ridden up the track at speed. She stepped back into the house and closed the door.

  Stones clattered loudly as the horse drew to a halt on the other side of the gate. She heard Aaron call out to the visitor. His voice was friendly and relaxed so it must be someone he knew, she thought. There was a squeak as the gate was opened. She hurried across the room to her bonnet, slipped it on and tied the ribbons beneath her chin.

  The sound of the horse’s hooves came closer, and stopped. She thought the horse had stopped in front of the door, but she couldn’t tell if the rider had got down. She certainly didn’t hear anyone jump down. She heard Aaron call out something to the visitor, then she heard footsteps as he ran along the front of the house, shouting for Connor. There was an urgency in his voice. She bit her lip and pressed against the door, trying hard to hear what was going on.

  ‘William!’ she heard Connor exclaim a moment later, surprise in his voice. ‘I thought to see you and Peggy in town this morning, but not here,’ he said, his voice coming closer. She heard the crunch of feet on gravel just outside the house. ‘We were shortly gonna head into town. But come on into the house and have a bite to eat while you tell us what brought you here. There’s water in the trough for the horse.’

  She heard the sound of William getting down, and she opened the door and stood in the doorway, ready to welcome him in.

  ‘I won’t come in, Conn,’ William said, his back to her. ‘I thought you might be settin’ off for Liberty pretty soon, and that’s why I came as fast as I could. We’ve got a problem.’

  As she stepped out of the doorway, she caught sight of the rifle hanging down from William’s saddle, and the heavy band of ammunition around his waist. She looked swiftly at Connor in alarm.

  ‘There’s a gang of hunters in the area and they’re slaughterin’ animals for their hides,’ William told Connor and Aaron. ‘It’s mainly the elk and the deer. A territorial official warned Massie to watch out for them. Said they could be doin’ some rustling, too. Massie vouches for the man. Says his word is beyond question. And we know there’ve already been newspaper reports of slaughtered beasts in other areas. The hunters seem to have started in Liberty now.’

  ‘Can’t say I’m surprised,’ Aaron cut in. ‘The game’s in real good condition this year and as thick as anything on the foothills. It’s easy enough to find the animals for those so minded, and there must be some mighty good hides for the takin’.’

  ‘And that’s just what the vandals are doin’. It’s a right shame to see game wiped out for the few paltry dollars their hides’ll bring, but that’s what’s happening.’

  ‘I’ve said it before, it’s time they started enforcing the law that protects the game from the hunters,’ Connor said angrily. ‘They’ve let the law become a dead letter on the statute books. If they don’t do something before long, there’ll soon be nothing left in the Territory but the jackass and the gopher.’

  ‘I agree, Conn. As you can imagine, we’re gonna do our best to stop the hunters. Massie’s gone to the ranches north of Liberty this mornin’, and men will already be on their way north of the mountains. I’ve bin to the Careys, and Elijah Carey will have already ridden off to the west with his hired men. I’m gonna head for the foothills, and I thought you might wanna come with me.’

  Ellen drew her breath in sharply.

  ‘I sure do,’ Conn said.

  A wave of fear ran through her.

  Connor turned to Aaron. ‘Not you, though, Aaron. I want you here at the ranch, keepin’ an eye on the animals. I don’t know when I’ll return.’ He looked back at William. ‘What do you think, William? D’you reckon we’ll be back tonight?’

  ‘Depends, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Good day, William,’ Ellen said, moving closer to him, her voice shaking. ‘I heard what you said. Would you like coffee before you go? I can bring it out to you here. It won’t take long.’

  A movement in the trees beyond William caught her eye, and she saw that Niall was hovering near the fence, unnoticed by any of them.

  William turned to her, took off his hat and smiled. His eyes were strained, she saw, and despite his smile, his face was creased with worry. ‘Thank you for your offer, my dear, but I won’t have any coffee. When the horse has drunk its fill and Conn’s ready, we’ll be off.’

  ‘If you’re sure.’

  ‘I am,’ he said, putting his wide-brimmed hat back on. ‘You know, I reckon this is the first time I seen you outside of Liberty. We never did get that berryin’ done that we were always saying we would. But there ain’t been no time, we bin so busy gettin’ ready for winter.’ He paused a moment, glanced towards Conn, and then looked back at her. ‘You’re not to fret now. Conn and I know what we’re doing. Isn’t that right, Conn?’

  ‘It sure is,’ he said, and he moved closer to Ellen. ‘If you heard what William said, you’ll know I must go with him. We’ve not had any killing of animals in these parts for quite a while, and we’ve gotta keep it that way. But I’m wondering how you and Bridget are gonna get into Liberty. And you’ve baskets to take, too.’

  ‘No need to wonder what to do, brother.’ Niall’s voice came from behind them. They turned towards him. ‘I reckon I can help,’ he said, strolling up to them.

  ‘When did you get back?’ Connor exclaimed. ‘You were out last night when I locked up.’

  ‘I got into a poker game and it ended real late. I reckon I got back at some point between sundown and sunup. ’Fraid I can’t tell you closer than that. But I had me some sleep in the barn. I heard what William said and I was about to saddle up and go with you all, but it struck me that you might prefer it if I took Ellen into town. I know how much you want her to get to know the womenfolk there. Then I could collect her from Oonagh’s this evening, like I was planning to do.’

  ‘And what about Bridget?’ Connor said sharply. ‘She can hardly spend the day in the saloon with you, doing whatever it is you do.’

  ‘You’ll find Peggy in town when you get there, Niall,’ William said. ‘She’s a mighty long list of things to buy and she’s taken the buggy. She can take B
ridget back with her, and keep her overnight.’

  ‘Isn’t Peggy going to the sewing bee?’ Ellen asked in dismay.

  William smiled. ‘Peggy ain’t never once bin to a sewing bee since we got wed, and that’s a mighty long time ago. Don’t you worry, she’ll be real pleased to have Bridget’s company while I’m away.’

  ‘What are you saying about me?’ Bridget called, running out of the house.

  ‘Is that all right with you, Ellen?’ Connor asked.

  ‘Yes. Thank you.’

  Conn put his arm around Bridget. ‘You and Ellen are going into town with Niall. You’re going back with Peggy for the night and Niall will collect Ellen from the bee.’

  Bridget beamed up at William. ‘Can we go fishing?’

  ‘Not this time, darlin’. I’ll be with your pa.’

  ‘It does sound a good arrangement,’ Ellen said. ‘But thinking some more, I’m beginning to wonder if it wouldn’t be better for you to take as many men with you as possible. Maybe Niall should go with you. I can stay at home today with Bridget. Yes, I think that would be better. There’ll be other sewing bees.’

  Connor grinned at her. ‘I think not. You’re going into town as planned. No reason not to. What’s more, we’ll most likely bed out in the woods for the night, and I’d feel a mite easier knowing that Niall was back here keeping an eye on things with Aaron. We’ve paid off the hired hands, and my mind wouldn’t be at ease, knowing that Aaron was alone out here when there might be rustlers around.’

  ‘And I want to go to Peggy’s,’ Bridget said. ‘I haven’t been to stay with her since you got here. Peggy will want me to stay, won’t she, William?’

  ‘That’s the truth.’

  Bridget beamed up at him. She turned to Ellen, a challenge in her eyes.

  ‘All right, then,’ Ellen said with a slight shrug. ‘If Niall doesn’t mind.’

  He doffed his hat to her. ‘It’ll be my pleasure, sister,’ he said in a lazy drawl. ‘Something tells me that Conn has already harnessed the horses. I’ll go get the wagon.’

  ‘I’ll quickly get my things together, and you must, too, Bridget,’ Connor said, starting to go through the doorway. ‘I won’t be a minute, William,’ he called over his shoulder.

  ‘And I’ll just see if I can help. Excuse me, won’t you?’ Ellen hurried into the house after Connor, saw his broad back disappearing into the bedroom, and ran across to him. ‘Conn,’ she called to him, halting in the open doorway.

  He stopped in the middle of pulling his bedroll from the wooden chest, straightened up and turned to her.

  She took a step into the room, her heart pounding in fear. ‘You will be careful, won’t you?’

  He smiled reassuringly at her. ‘I will, Ellen. I promise.’

  ‘I’ll get you some food to take with you.’ She turned and went towards the kitchen, trying to swallow the fear that threatened to choke her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The weak rays of the late afternoon sun fell on the branches that arched the narrow dirt track that wound between the slender aspen trees. One behind the other, William and Connor rode beneath the leaves which formed a red-gold canopy in the filtered sunlight, their sweat-damp shirts sticking to their backs, their throats parched.

  ‘Carcasses ahead!’ William suddenly shouted, and he spurred his horse forward into a clearing surrounded by tall, dark pine trees. He swiftly dismounted and stood staring around him at an array of bloodied carcasses that had been left to rot on a thick carpet of pine needles.

  Connor rode over to him and jumped down from the saddle.

  ‘Obviously an elk,’ he said in angry despair as he looked down at the remains of a slaughtered animal in front of him. He knelt down and touched the carcass. ‘I reckon what warmth there is has come from the sun.’ He stood up again. ‘The flesh is cold beneath the surface. It’ll have been dead awhile.’ He glanced around the clearing. ‘I reckon there be about ten or eleven dead’uns here. All this killing to make a few lousy bucks. The sooner they’re stopped, the better.’

  ‘Kill enough animals, and even at only a few bucks a pelt, you’ve got money in your pocket. That’s what they’re obviously lookin’ to do.’ William kicked the pine needles away from the area in front of him, looked down at the dusty ground and shook his head. ‘It ain’t gonna be easy to find them. The chances of following them are slim – the ground’s too hard for tracks. An Injun might find somethin’, but by the time we’d got one up here, the hunters would be long gone, if they’re not already.’

  ‘They will be,’ Connor undid his horse’s reins, let the reins fall to the ground, and walked slowly around the clearing, pushing the pine needles aside with his feet as he went. William did the same on the opposite side of the clearing.

  ‘Nope, not a thing to be seen here,’ Connor said, coming to a standstill next to William. ‘But I guess we knew deep down that we were never gonna catch them today. This is more about letting them know we’re ready to act. They’ll have somewhere in the area where they can put up at night. They’d never risk travelling too far in the area where they were working lest they be caught. I’ll wager that someone from hereabouts is helping them, and the sight of the Liberty men packing their rifles and a load of ammunition as they saddle up will send a mighty powerful message to that person.’

  ‘Then let’s hope he passes it on real soon.’ William took off his hat and wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

  ‘Oh, I reckon he will. And there’s always a chance he’ll give himself away. We oughta watch out who’s suddenly got more money than normal. Massie’s well placed to know who’s spending too much in the store. And folk in the saloon should listen to what’s said around them. Drink loosens tongues and someone might just start bragging about what he could tell us, if he were so minded. And we’ll ask the girls at the back of the roadhouse if anyone’s visiting more than usual. If we’re watchful, we might just get him, and through him, the animal killers.’

  ‘I sure hope you’re right.’ William looked up at the sky. ‘The light’s going. We’re not gonna see anything else tonight so there’s not much point in goin’ on further. We could bed down here for the night and look some more tomorrow, or we could go home now. If we left now, we’d be clear of the woods before the light’s completely gone and we’d find the rest of the way by the light of the moon.’

  ‘I guess we oughta go back. We’ve no reason to think the hunters will still be around here. And anyway, before we go further into the hills, it makes sense to find out if the others have had more luck than we’ve had. If they have, we’ll have a better idea of where to look tomorrow. I reckon we should head home now and meet up at the town hall first thing in the morning.’

  William nodded. ‘We’ll do that.’

  ‘That’s it, ladies,’ Ooonagh said, smiling at the women sitting in a semicircle in front of her. ‘Every button is on, every thread-end has been knotted and clipped, every bias facing has been basted and every buttonhole made firm. We shall all look beautiful at the wedding next week.’

  There was a wave of laughter. Ellen was aware of several sly glances in her direction as the women gathered up their newspaper pattern-pieces and their thimbles, folded their dresses and put everything away into their baskets.

  Ignoring the looks, she tidied her things and picked up her basket, stood up and went across to the line of women waiting to thank Oonagh for her hospitality. Joining the back of the queue, she stood quietly, watching the women further ahead of her say goodbye and then drift off towards their homes in groups of two or three.

  ‘Thank you for helping me with my dress,’ she said when she reached Oonagh. ‘It was very kind of you.’

  ‘No, it wasn’t,’ Oonagh said with a laugh. ‘I was giving myself pleasure. You know how much I like to sew, and fitting your lace collar on to your bodice is the sort of challenge I like. It had to hang correctly over the top or it would have spoilt the look of the dress. And it’s good that you tried on the dress or you
wouldn’t have known that it needed letting out a little. That was an easy thing to do, too. You’ll look lovely at the wedding, Ellen. Conn will be so proud of you.’

  ‘The dress will look lovely,’ Ellen said with an embarrassed laugh, ‘but there’s a limit to what a dress can do.’

  ‘You are too hard on yourself,’ Oonagh said with a dismissive wave of her hand. ‘It’s about what’s inside you as much as what’s outside.’ She glanced around the room. ‘I’m in luck tonight. You’re the last to go. Everyone’s left real quickly, and no one’s chosen to stay over till morning. Some of the women who live further away sometimes do, but not this time, and I sure am thankful for that. But I don’t mean you,’ she added with a hasty laugh. ‘I would have liked you to stay. In fact, I’m surprised you didn’t take up my offer.’

  ‘I know, and it was kind of you to suggest it. But Niall said he’d collect me. I don’t know when Conn will get home, or even if he’ll get home tonight, but whatever time it is, I want to be there to get him something to eat. He’ll be tired.’

  ‘As I thought, you are the perfect wife,’ Oonagh said with a smile. ‘Well, at least sit down and wait for Niall.’

  ‘You’ll be wanting to get to bed. I can wait for him outside.’

  ‘Absolutely not. I insist on you waiting in here.’ She gestured to one of the chairs, and Ellen sat down. Oonagh sat next to her. ‘We hardly ever have time to talk to each other, so we must take advantage of the few minutes before Niall arrives. I’m curious to know how you’re getting on with Conn.’

  Ellen shifted uneasily in her seat. ‘Well, I think,’ she said finally.

  ‘Only “well”?’ Oonagh raised an eyebrow. ‘We’re friends, aren’t we? Surely you can do better than that,’ she said lightly. Ellen edged slightly back. Oonagh leaned forward, her face suddenly serious, and took Ellen’s hand. ‘Forgive me, Ellen. If you wish to leave it at “well”, I shall understand. A true friend doesn’t push someone into saying more than she’s comfortable saying. I can see that you’re reluctant to talk to me about Conn. You don’t see me as the sort of good friend in whom you can confide, and I respect that. It takes more than helping with a lace collar to make a true friend.’