Love Inspired Historical October 2015 Box Set

by Lacy Williams

  “I know we’ll need to feed the men who come help with the barn.” The older lady leaned toward her younger daughter. “But somehow we have to make time to finish those yellow dresses we started last summer for you and Emma, so you can wear them for the wedding.”

  “Oh, Ma, that sounds grand.”

  More chatter went on among the women at one end of the table while Mr. Sharp grinned indulgently at his womenfolk. Cal kept his eyes on Julia, and Jared knew he was making plans. Now that the wood for the small house was going to rebuild the Sharps’ barn, they’d have to make room back at the Mattson ranch for the newlywed couple.

  Jared needed to make some plans, too. He and Cal shared a room, so when Julia moved over to their ranch after the wedding, Jared would have to sleep in the bunkhouse until that new house was built in the spring. Or the summer. Whenever they could get around to it once their ranch work increased.

  The time had come for a change Jared had been working on for a good while. One day Pop wouldn’t be around, and he’d announced last spring that he’d willed his property evenly to his sons. Jared could make it easier for them all by setting out on his own so the land could be divided into four parts instead of five. As the fourth of five sons, he’d always known this day would come. While he loved his brothers, they’d never let him or Cal make important decisions. Easygoing Cal didn’t seem to mind, but Jared could only tolerate it for so long.

  He would talk Pop into giving him his inheritance in cash so he could leave these parts and find his own spread in Colorado. He’d heard of prime cattle land up there. He’d miss his family, but a man had to make his own way. He wanted, no, needed his own place. Not only would it solve the problem of Pop dividing the family’s property, it would also take him away from the temptation sitting right next to him in the form of pretty Miss Emma Sharp.

  Against his will, he glanced at her. The womenfolk were chattering away about the wedding dinner. That would be some feat to accomplish just a day or so after all the other festivities. For his part he aimed to make sure they could enjoy the final night of Las Posadas right here on Sharps’ ranch in a brand-new barn. The community needed to join together to celebrate their common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ instead of fighting over their differences.

  “So you gotta stay for Christmas with us so you’ll be right here for the wedding.” Mrs. Sharp aimed her comment at Cal, but a glance and a smile included Jared in the invitation.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Cal grinned, already the indulgent son-in-law. “We’ll accept. Won’t we, Jared?”

  “Well…”

  “Of course you will.” Mr. Sharp batted the back of his hand against Jared’s shoulder. “No sense in going home and then riding back ten miles for the wedding. It’ll be nice to have a houseful, and you’ll be available to help Cal.”

  More chatter erupted, this time about Christmas doings, decorating a tree, baking and such, things the Mattson men hadn’t bothered with since Maybelle left. Other than the community parties and the like, Christmas was a woman’s thing, but Jared did know that staying here meant he’d have to give a present to each member of the Sharp family. That would be a challenge.

  After settling into bed that night and after Cal finally stopped talking about how wonderful his bride-to-be was, Jared gave some thought to those presents. He could give Cal and Julia that gold piece he’d won in an eighth-grade spelling bee back in Charleston. He’d make a quick trip home to fetch it. But what about Mr. and Mrs. Sharp? What about Emma? He’d better hurry up and figure it all out.

  Most nights at home, he usually whittled until sleep took over, and he’d brought along his whittling gear just in case he had time to enjoy his hobby. If he stayed up a little while each evening, he could make a bolo tie with a wooden slide for Mr. Sharp. He’d included some green apple wood from a tree they’d cut down because it’d never produced fruit. From that he’d make Mrs. Sharp a set of spoons and maybe a fork. Old Fuzzy, Pop’s cook and housekeeper, went through wooden utensils pretty fast, so Mrs. Sharp probably did, too.

  For Emma he could carve a comb for that thick, bushy hair that kept falling out of her little pins. Hair that he kept wanting to brush aside so it wouldn’t hide her pretty face.

  Oh, it was time to move to Colorado, all right. And Christmas couldn’t come soon enough for him so he could start making his escape.

  Chapter Two

  Emma listened through the walls to hear whether Jared or Cal snored. Not that she cared, but if they did, it would make it hard to have them sleeping in the next room for over a week. She couldn’t abide snoring and had always been glad Ma and Pa’s bedroom was across the house. Once Pa fell asleep, he sounded like a hog grunting while it dug for grubs.

  Now all she could hear was soft scraping and scratching sounds. Ma never let the cats inside the house, so it wasn’t them. The guard dogs were in the sheepfold doing their job. What were Jared and Cal up to? It wasn’t as though they couldn’t be trusted. She was just curious.

  Oh, bother. She would not let that little sound trouble her. She had more important things to think about, such as what presents she should give the brothers. With Ma’s invitation for them to stay for Christmas, which delighted Julia but annoyed Emma, manners demanded that they receive gifts. She’d already made presents for her family and now must find time in the next eight days to make two more. Nobody could ever accuse the Sharp family of skimping on hospitality.

  At supper Cal had said that since there were no women to bake or decorate at their house, the Mattson men didn’t make much of Christmas. That was why they so eagerly accepted the invite. But not celebrating Christmas? How sad for little Robby. Every child should get at least one present. Maybe she could buy some penny candy for the boy and give it to him on Christmas Eve. Or even make some of Ma’s special taffy. But what to give the two brothers on Christmas morning when her family exchanged gifts?

  She recalled earlier watching Jared tug on his leather gloves. While they were a bit stretched, they still had a lot of wear left in them. But they could use a new lining. She could knit a pair with no trouble. She might not care much for the man, but he had come to help, so she’d do the decent thing. And of course Cal would need a pair, too.

  Once she had that settled, a yawn took hold of her, and she nestled deeper beneath her quilt. Best get some rest. With or without Jared Mattson in the house, tomorrow would hold more challenges than she’d ever faced in her twenty years. She dozed off and dreamed of cats scratching at the kitchen door.

  She awoke before daylight and dressed quickly. Julia wasn’t in her bed, so she was probably already helping in the kitchen. Emma’s body ached from yesterday’s labors, not to mention the night before when they’d all fought the fire. But work on a ranch didn’t stop just because a body ached. She hurried to the kitchen to do her share of the chores.

  As always, Ma and Pa had been up for some time and were already busy. Ma turned griddle cakes in a fry pan on the stove while Julia removed a pan of biscuits from the oven. Pa was straining fresh milk through cheesecloth into clean jars. Even at this early hour, even with his wrenched hip, he’d completed one of Emma’s chores, milking their two cows. She wished he wouldn’t do that, but he always said he didn’t like her going out in the dark and the cows wouldn’t be happy if they had to wait until daylight to be milked. She’d make sure to beat him to the chore this evening.

  “How many for breakfast?” She opened the cupboard door to get out plates. Would they have to hold breakfast until Jared and Cal got up?

  “Seven.” Pa finished straining the milk and set the bucket outside the door for the cats. “Paco insists on working today.”

  Emma nodded thoughtfully as she counted out seven of Ma’s everyday plates. Their middle-aged hired hand had nearly worn himself to death while they’d fought the fire, so Pa had ordered him to rest yesterday. Paco had complained but had taken Pa’s advice. It was just like the hardworking man to insist on returning to work as soon as possible.
r />   Emma set the plates around the table. “I suppose the Mattson boys are sleeping in.”

  Pa gave her a long look. “No, daughter. They’re out in the fields checking on the stock, making sure there’s enough hay saved from the fire for our sheep and cattle, at least for a day or two.”

  At his chiding tone, heat rose up her neck. She knew better than to suggest that any of the Mattson men were lazy. Their hardworking lifestyle was well-known in these parts. Jared and Cal were no different from their brothers. Which was the only good quality she’d allow that Jared had.

  As if her thoughts had called him inside, Jared bumbled through the door, his arms loaded with half-burned wood reclaimed yesterday from the barn. He stopped in the doorway and held one foot at an odd angle. “You let these cats inside, Mrs. Sharp?”

  “Oh, no.” Ma grabbed a broom and bustled over to the door to keep several tabbies from squeezing past Jared’s large boot. “Shoo. Shoo.”

  Jared chuckled as he made it inside without any felines and dumped the boards into the wood box beside the stove. “I reckon they’re looking for a new home now that the barn’s gone. Another reason to get the new one built soon.” He stared at Emma as if seeking her agreement.

  She quickly closed her gaping mouth. Like Pa, most men would have kicked the cats out of the way, but Jared hadn’t. He’d even cast a sympathetic glance at the mewing little critters. “Uh-huh. Gotta get it built real soon.” She broke away from his indiscernible gaze and bent to her task of placing cutlery beside each plate. Maybe there was more to this man than she thought. He might have jilted her, but any man who got up early to see to a neighbor’s livestock, who didn’t kick cats, couldn’t be all bad.

  No! She refused to think kindly of Jared Mattson. Everybody, even outlaws, probably had some good qualities. But like an outlaw, Jared’s faults outweighed his assets.

  Paco and Cal came in the back door, and they all sat down at the large round kitchen table. Ma had outdone herself, serving up eggs, ham, sausage, bacon, griddle cakes, fried potatoes, biscuits and strawberry jam. Jared’s manners were all right for a man who lived without a lady’s influence in the home, but he filled his plate to heaping at least twice. She’d never seen a body eat so much. He’d only worked maybe an hour this morning, hardly enough labor to create such an appetite. He’d eat them out of house and home before Christmas.

  *

  Jared rarely got to eat such fine food. Beef stew last night and ham, eggs and griddle cakes this morning, and plenty for seconds served up at both meals. Mmm. Cal was in for some good cooking once he married. Maybe Julia would favor the rest of his family with her mama’s recipes from time to time. Pop’s cook, Old Fuzzy, had learned to cook on cattle drives, so his specialty was beans and fatback. Maybe Julia could teach him a thing or two. Confident that Julia would accept Cal’s proposal, Pop had already said they weren’t going to turn the little lady into a family servant. That’s why he’d wanted to build a separate dwelling as soon as possible where the newlyweds could have some privacy. But under the circumstances, giving the lumber to Mr. Sharp was the right thing to do.

  As he ate, Jared considered Emma’s agreement to his comment about needing to build the barn fast. Was she as concerned about the cats as he was? If he wasn’t mistaken, at least one female kitty was expecting in a few days, so she’d need a warm place to give birth as winter wore on. As much as Pop hated cats, he always said they were a necessary evil for a rancher. Otherwise field mice would eat up all the hay and grain and destroy anything made of leather.

  Jared liked cats. The day Mama left for good he’d taken refuge in the barn, where his brothers couldn’t see him cry his eyes out. One little female kitty had taken up residence on his lap and had reached up to touch the tears on his cheeks, as if she knew he was grieving and wanted him to know she understood. From that moment they’d formed a bond that lasted until she went the way of all ranch animals. Then Jared had grieved all over again.

  He bit into a biscuit smothered with newly churned butter and strawberry jam. My, my, this was mouthwatering. He glanced at Emma, who was busy with her own biscuit. Could she cook as well as her mama? He had no doubt she could. Maybe having a wife wouldn’t be so bad.

  The memory of Mama’s departure filled his mind, and he stifled a bitter grunt. Having a wife would be fine…until she left. Come next spring when the work on the ranch got busier, maybe Julia would get tired of being around all the Mattson men and hightail it back to her mama and pop. Then where would Cal be?

  “You about done?” Cal punched his shoulder and grinned. “Or are you gonna eat another half dozen eggs?”

  Jared shook off his foolish ruminations. Cal was plum loco in love, so there was no sense in reminding him about Mama or Rob’s wife leaving their families. His brother would have to learn the hard way. Best get on with the day. Jared had a barn to build.

  By the time Jared, Cal, Emma and Paco had swept away the final debris from the barn site, Rob and Will had arrived with the first load of lumber. They all pitched in to unload.

  After the boards were piled to the side, Rob took charge in his usual bossy-oldest-brother way. “You need to dig out those burned corner posts before you try to put in new ones, then shore up the soil. Run a length of twine from corner to corner to make sure your walls are straight. Be sure to build the wall frames that’ll face each other the same size.” He carried on for another few minutes, spouting things Jared had known since they’d all built their own house and barn six years ago. All the more reason for Jared to get his own place.

  He traded a look with Cal, and they both rolled their eyes. Then he glanced at Emma to see how she was taking it. He guessed her easygoing smile was hiding a small volcano. At least that would be the case if Jared were giving the orders. When Rob finished, she gave him a neighborly nod.

  “Much obliged, Rob.” She followed him and Will to the wagon. “You make sure we’re doing it right when you come back.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Rob touched the brim of his hat. “We’ll be back later today with another load. I’ll check on your work then.” He started to climb up into the wagon.

  “May I ask a favor?” Emma cast a glance over her shoulder and wrinkled her nose at Jared, a clear indication she didn’t want him to hear whatever she planned to say. As he took a couple of steps back, she beckoned to Rob. He bent down so she could whisper something to him.

  He quickly straightened, and a gentle, uncharacteristic grin split his face. “That would be mighty fine, Miss Emma. Mighty fine. I’d be much obliged.”

  A tiny streak of jealousy shot through Jared’s midsection. Was she trying to start something with his oldest brother? A married man? Well, separated, but still married. Naw. Couldn’t be. Her manner wasn’t the least bit flirty, and the friendly look on Rob’s face was more fatherly than mushy. Besides, why should Jared care? He had no claim on Miss Emma Sharp. Why, he didn’t care in the least who she talked to. To prove it, to himself mostly, he stomped over to the pile of boards and started to work.

  *

  Emma had no idea why Jared was throwing boards around that way. Good thing they were solid pine and not likely to break. She heaved out a sigh of satisfaction that one matter had been taken care of. Rob had given her permission to give his son some candy for Christmas. Maybe that would spur him to do more of the same for little Robby to celebrate the day. Like his pa, Rob was a good man, if a little gruff. Emma hadn’t known Maybelle very well, but she couldn’t imagine why the woman had taken their baby girl and left Rob and Robby two years ago. Seeing him smile at her offer to give little Robby some candy warmed her heart. Too bad some of his finer qualities hadn’t rubbed off on Jared. Of course, Rob had been pretty bossy about the barn building, but no more than Pa when he was giving orders to his cowhands.

  “We should divide the boards into two stacks so we both have some to work with.” Jared heaved another one onto the pile on his left.

  “Do tell.” Emma nodded to Paco. “We can
help.” As they counted out the boards, she glanced at Jared. “Why don’t you and Cal dig out those old corner posts?”

  “I don’t know about that.” Jared’s grin seemed forced, but it was still cute enough that Emma had to stifle a tiny jolt in her heart. “Are you sure we can trust you not to shortchange our team?”

  “I reckon you’ll just have to.” She brushed the hair from her forehead with the back of her hand. “You sure we can trust you to frame out your sides equal to ours?”

  He gave her another grin, this one a little more relaxed. “I guess you’ll just have to.”

  Emma turned away so he couldn’t see her smile. What a rascal he was. She may not be able to trust him with her heart, but he did know how to build a barn. This competition might turn out to be fun.

  With both teams organized enough to begin framing out their sides, the rest of the morning went by pretty fast. By the time Ma rang the dinner bell, Emma felt they were well on their way to a new barn. At least as long as harsher weather held off.

  Gazing north toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, she felt a shiver go down her spine despite a morning of hard, sweaty work. The dark gray clouds hovering over those distant peaks hinted that a snowfall was in the near future. Emma prayed it wouldn’t be a blizzard.

  After dinner, while they waited for Rob and Will to bring a second load of lumber, she saddled her mare to ride out to check on the sheep and feed the guard dogs. Lucien, the Basque shepherd Pa had hired when they first came out here six years ago, had worked for many years for the Mexican sheep rancher who used to own this land. Lucien’s experience was much needed since Pa only knew about cattle ranching. But just a week ago, Lucien’s last sheepdog had died, and the shepherd had succumbed to the call of his homeland, saying he must return to Basque country on the border between Spain and France.

  Until Pa could find another equally competent replacement, the family could only go by instinct on how to tend the animals, a vital part of their livelihood. Thanks to brothers Frank and George Bond, who’d established a wool business down in Espanola, the income provided many necessities and even some extras for the family. ’Course, all of last spring’s wool profits and last fall’s cattle sales would now have to go into rebuilding the barn. Some gains, some losses. Such was the way of ranching.