“I will.” Jed pushed his hat down and started out the door. “I’ll be looking for you out at the ranch in a few weeks.”
“I’ll get there as soon as I can convince Pa.”
Jed couldn’t help smiling as he stepped outside and headed toward the jail. He didn’t expect Andy to come to the ranch. He felt sure Walter Brown was going to keep both his sons behind the counter of his mercantile for as long as he could.
“You look happy, Jed.” A voice said as he stepped onto the plank sidewalk.
“Hello, Charles. Andy Brown said something funny.”
“He often says amusing things.” Charles Fielding changed the subject. “How do you think things will work out with the new ranch?”
“I think it’ll be fine as soon as I hire more help.”
“I’m sure you’ll need it. And the Garcias? Are they doing all right?”
“Curt spent the night there to be sure they were safe. I haven’t seen them today.”
“I’m glad Curt stayed. I noticed the boy seemed to take to him when we were there.”
“I noticed the same thing. I’m sure Curt will be patient with him. His son would have been about Miguel’s age if he’d lived.”
“I didn’t know Curt was married.”
“Was married are the right words. His wife and son died of some kind of illness eight or nine years ago.”
“I’m sorry.” Charles moved toward the bank. “Guess I better get things closed down for the day.”
“And I have to make a stop at the saloon to see if I can hire some hands before I meet Amelia for supper.”
The men nodded at each other and headed in opposite directions.
* * * *
Rafe rode his horse toward the back of his ranch. He felt if he got out on the range he’d be able to think through some of the questions going through his mind. He also wanted to get away from the house before Elizabeth started asking questions. She was sure to wonder what the sheriff wanted and he had no intention of telling her. It seemed to him she was sticking her nose into things at the ranch more than ever lately. Why did she have to try to be a part of a man’s world? He saw to it she had everything she wanted. Since her father was dead, why couldn’t she accept the fact that her place was in the house and in his bed? His place was running the ranch any way he saw fit and he needed to do it without her input.
When he married her, he didn’t expect her to become so difficult. He’d been a good husband. He’d denied her nothing, and he’d made sure she had no reason to suspect he’d not been faithful. Not once in their twenty years together had he visited any of the women in Settlers Ridge or the house of pleasure at the saloon. The few times he’d been with other women were when he was in Cheyenne or some other city. He was careful so Elizabeth would never be embarrassed by his actions. His only request of her was to give him a son, and she’d failed to do it. He couldn’t understand why the doctors said she shouldn’t have any more children, but he’d had little to say about it. Her father told the doctor to make sure she’d never bear another child.
There was no recourse. He was stuck with Amelia. Not only did she have to be born a girl, she’d always tried to take part in ranching matters even more than her mother did. While her grandfather Downey was still living, much to Rafe’s displeasure, he encouraged the girl to take part in everything on the ranch. Though Rafe had put out a lot of money for her to attend a fancy school in Boston, it hadn’t made Amelia any more interested in womanly things. Rafe still had to deal with her stubborn ways, but he had no intention of giving up. As soon as he got her back home he intended to see her settled for the rest of her life. She could fight him all she wanted, but he knew he’d win in the end no matter what she or her mother said.
Now Lance Gentry had the ridiculous notion that Vince Callahan had killed Roberto Garcia. Rafe wondered how the sheriff came to such a stupid conclusion. Vince was a hardworking hand. He did everything the way Rafe wanted it done. Since Vince now had the authority to do some things on his own, he’d shown he could make good decisions. There was no way the man was a cold-blooded killer. Rafe was so sure of Vince’s innocence he’d even lied to Lance. He knew Vince had met up with Garcia on the day in question because he’d admitted it. But that meant nothing. He was sure Lance Gentry was going to feel like a fool when he realized how preposterous it was to try to charge Vince with a crime somebody else committed.
Rounding a group of Aspen trees, Rafe’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt when he noticed two of his hands trying to pull a cow out of the muddy stream. He rode to them and dismounted. “What happened here, Wayne?”
“This dumb old cow has gone and got herself stuck in the mud,” Wayne Rivers said as he looked up at his boss from the mud he was standing in almost to his knees.
“Yeah,” the other hand, Smithy, said. “We been trying to pull her out for over half an hour. I don’t think we’re going to be able to do it.”
Rafe walked to the stream, being careful not to get in the mud. “She’s an ugly old heifer. She sure doesn’t look like a cow from my good stock.”
“She’s probably a milk cow from a neighboring ranch, boss. I don’t see a brand,” Wayne said.
Knowing if the cow had wandered over from the Garcia place, he’d never keep such a critter when he bought the ranch. Might as well get rid of her now. Without hesitation, Rafe ordered, “Well quit wasting time. Either leave her here to die or shoot her. Then get back to work.”
“Sir, I don’t want to shoot the poor helpless thing,” Wayne said.
Rafe raised an eyebrow. “Got a reason why, Rivers?”
“I don’t like shooting anything helpless unless it’s in pain.”
Before Rafe could say anything, Smithy said, “I’ll do it. I’m tired of messing with her.” He left the creek and grabbed the rifle.
“Why don’t we…” Wayne’s protest went unheeded as Smithy raised the rifle to his shoulder and shot the cow between the eyes.
* * * *
The next morning as she washed the breakfast dishes, Amelia heard the sound of horses. She glanced out the window and saw Jed coming out of the barn. Three men dismounted and shook hands with her husband. As she watched them remove small bundles from behind their saddles and throw them over their shoulders, she thought one of them looked familiar. Removing the saddles, they put them on the fence and turned their horses into the corral.
She watched Mort amble toward them and shake their hands. He motioned for them to follow him to the bunkhouse. Jed came toward the house. She wondered if the men had eaten and if she’d be expected to cook breakfast for them. Mentally, she thought there was plenty of bacon and she could make gravy and biscuits. There were no eggs, and she decided she should tell Jed they needed to buy some chickens.
Jed opened the back door. “The new hands have arrived.”
“Have they eaten?”
“They said they had.”
There was the sound of more horses in the front yard. Jed crossed the kitchen and headed to the front door. “I’ll see who it is.”
Amelia followed him to the porch and was surprised to see Juanita Garcia and Miguel in the small wagon she and Miguel always drove. Curt was beside her on his horse.
Curt dismounted and said, “When I told Juanita you went to town to hire hands yesterday, she insisted on coming here to help.”
“I know Amelia is not used to cooking for so many men,” Juanita said to Curt, then turned to Miguel. “Start bringing in the supplies.”
“Juanita, I appreciate the offer, but I don’t mind cooking. It’s my place to help Jed and Curt until we can hire someone to help.”
“I want to return the favor for all you people have done for Miguel and me and you can stop looking for someone to help you.” She took the hand Curt offered and stepped from the wagon. “I need to get away from the cabin. I don’t feel at home there, since Roberto is gone.”
“Come inside. We’ll discuss your helping me later.” Amelia took the woman�
�s arm.
* * * *
Jed came down the steps and walked over to Curt. “What’s going on?”
Curt shrugged. “I’m not sure, but from my bed on the couch I heard Juanita and Miguel talking into the night last night. They were in the only bedroom in the cabin and I couldn’t tell what they said, but thought they were only talking about what had happened. I guess I was wrong, because this morning she informed me she and Miguel had made plans. She said she was going to move here and become our housekeeper.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Neither do I and I told her so.”
“What did she say?”
“Said there wouldn’t be much money left when she paid off what was owed at Brown’s Mercantile and the feed store. She told me she was going to have to work somewhere and there was nowhere better for her to work than here.”
“I don’t mind her staying here a few days, but I’m not sure about her working here. Amelia might balk at having a friend as an employee.”
“If Juanita is set on it, I think it could be the answer for Amelia. When the new men you went to hire get here, it’s going to double her work.”
“They’ve already arrived. Mort took them to the bunkhouse to choose their beds and put their things away.”
“Good. I’ll go meet them.” Curt shifted his bad leg. “What happened with Vince Callahan?”
“I saw Lance yesterday. He said Callahan left on a cattle drive the morning after the beating. He was going to try to catch up with it today, but I told him I didn’t think it would hurt to wait until Donahue’s men came back. There’s no way Vince Callahan won’t return. He still has aspirations of marrying Amelia and getting his hands on the Double D.”
Miguel came out of the house and ran down the steps. “I got everything inside. Should I put the wagon in the barn, Mr. Curt?”
“Fine, Miguel. Come along and I’ll take care of my horse at the same time, then we’ll go meet the new men who are going to be working here.”
Jed and Curt headed across the side yard with Miguel trailing behind them.
* * * *
“Juanita, are you sure you want to do this?”
“I’m positive, Amelia. Curt told me you were going to hire someone to help you. I have nowhere to go and I need a job. Nothing could work out better for both of us.”
“You don’t have to move out of your house. I’m sure Jed and Curt…”
Juanita interrupted. “I understand. But, let’s face it. You have a wonderful big house with much room. My house is a simple two-room cabin. We had a small bedroom and Miguel had a bed in the loft over the kitchen. Besides, you now have a large ranch to run. I feel guilty because Curt said he would sleep at the cabin to protect Miguel and me. It’s best if I come here and become your housekeeper and cook.”
Amelia gave up and decided Juanita was right. “If you’re sure, then let me show you the rooms behind the kitchen. There’s a large one with a connecting smaller one, which I assume was meant to be used for storage or for a bath area. It might work well for Miguel. Of course, if you don’t like those rooms, we have four bedrooms in the other part of the house.”
They stepped through the door and Juanita let out a little gasp. “Oh, Amelia, it’s perfect. I never dreamed there would be so much room. It’s bigger than our whole cabin.”
Before Amelia could answer a voice called, “Mama, where are you?”
Juanita went to the door. “Here, Miguel. Come see the rooms where we’ll be staying. They’re wonderful and you get a room to yourself.”
Miguel came in and looked around. When he spied the adjoining room, his eyes got big. “Do you mean I can have that room?”
“Yes, Miguel. Miz Amelia says these will be our rooms if we want them. What do you think?”
“I want this room. I can put my bed in the corner and have room for other things.”
“Then it’s settled. You and I will move in here.” She turned to Amelia. “Do you think one of the men could go to the cabin and bring our beds and maybe a few other things?”
“Of course. I’ll go talk to Jed about it.”
“Good. Do you mind if I bring my chickens and my milk cows?”
“I think that’d be wonderful. I was going to ask Jed if I could get some chickens so we’d have eggs. Milk cows will be wonderful, too. I’m sure Jed will pay you for them.”
“No he won’t. He actually owns them now anyway.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“Well, I’m sure.” Juanita smiled. “Now, go see if you can find someone to help us move and I’ll start cooking. I’m sure the men will be hungry for a mid-day meal.”
Amelia nodded and started to the back porch. Jed was coming in the door at the same time. “There you are, Amelia. Would you come out here and meet our new hands?”
“First, let me ask you something. Juanita wants to move into the rooms behind the kitchen. Will you send someone to her cabin to bring the beds and her animals?”
“Animals?”
“Yes. She has chickens and milk cows.”
He nodded. “I think we can handle it, but I think she should go along so she can tell us what to bring.”
“I agree.” She followed Jed out the door.
Three men were standing around the steps. Amelia looked from one to the other then her face lit up. “Ward Kyler. I thought I recognized you. What in the world are you doing here?”
He grinned. “I got fired from the Double D and needed a job. Your husband needed a ranch hand and it worked out for both of us. It’s a pleasure to see you, Miss Amelia…uh…Miz Amelia.”
“I’m glad he hired you, Ward. I know what a hard worker you are.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
She looked at the other two men.
“I’m Elton Bowler, Ma’am,” a man in his mid-thirties said as he tipped his hat to her.
“And I’m Darrel Reid,” said a short man with a neat beard and graying hair pulled back in a braid behind his neck. He looked as if he might have some Indian blood. He was holding his floppy hat in his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Miz Wainwright.”
“I’d like to welcome all of you to the Circle 2.”
They mumbled their thanks and Jed spoke up. “Men, you’re not the only ones moving in today. Curt and I have acquired the adjoining ranch and we need to move some of the things from there to here. I need a couple of you to go with Mrs. Garcia to the cabin to see what she wants moved.”
“Shall we go now, boss?” Ward asked.
“Yes. I think that will be good. You can take her wagon and also the one we have in the barn.”
“I’ll tell Juanita you want to go now.” Amelia looked up at him. “She’ll be ready by the time you get the wagons hitched up.”
Chapter 15
When there was a rap on his study door, Rafe Donahue looked up from the books he was working on. “Yes,” he grunted.
Delores opened it and said, “There’s a woman here who says she wants to see Vince Callahan.”
“A woman?” Rafe frowned. “What else did she say?”
“Nothing, sir.”
“Then, I guess I’ll see her. Show her in, Delores.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rafe closed his ledger and slipped it into the drawer. He turned as the lean, well-dressed lady came into the study and held out her hand. “Esther Venable, Mr. Donahue.”
Rafe couldn’t help noticing her southern drawl as he shook her hand. “I understand you want to talk to my foreman.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rafe wrinkled his brow. “How did you know Vince Callahan worked for me?”
“I knew he was in this area and I asked at the mercantile. They told me he worked here.”
“I see.” Rafe eyed the young woman. “Why do you want to see him?”
“It’s a personal matter, Mr. Donahue.”
“Well, Miss Venable, you’re going to have to wait to see him. Vince Callahan is on
a cattle drive and won’t be back for a week or so.”
Esther stood. “Then I won’t take any more of your time, Mr. Donahue.”
“Is there some message I can give Vince?”
“No.”
“You don’t want me to tell him you came by.”
“It doesn’t matter. He’ll say he doesn’t know me.”
Rafe frowned. “Then why would you want to see him?”
“I said he’d say he didn’t know me, Mr. Donahue, but he does. He knows me very well.”
* * * *
“Who is the woman in the study with Rafe, Delores?”
“I don’t know, Miz Elizabeth. She came to the door and said she wanted to talk to Vince Callahan. Since I knew he was gone, I sent her to see Mr. Donahue.”
Elizabeth frowned. “What did she want to talk to Vince about?”
“I don’t know. That was all she’d say to me.”
Rafe came into the dining room. “I’m sorry I held up dinner, my dear. I had some business to attend to.”
“Who was that woman, Rafe?”
“I haven’t the foggiest idea. She said her name was Esther Venable.”
“What did she want with Vince?”
“Elizabeth, when in the world did you become interested in strangers who come around here asking about my ranch hands?” Rafe gave a nervous chuckle. “I’m getting hungry. Let’s eat.”
She glared at him. “I’m interested in what goes on here, Rafe. After all, my daddy taught me to take a part in some of the ranch business. I think it’s time I started paying attention to what’s going on.”
“This had nothing to do with the ranch.” Rafe’s voice was a little irritated. “Miss Venable said it was something personal she had to discuss with Vince.”
“I wish you would have found out more. She could know things about Vince Callahan we don’t. I’ve never trusted him.”
Rafe moved behind her to pull out her chair so she didn’t see the fury on his face. Finally he said, “Vince Callahan’s a wonderful man, Elizabeth, and I trust him completely. I don’t see why you can’t believe me when I tell you this.”
“I didn’t say he wasn’t nice. I only said I wasn’t sure we should trust him as much as you do. You act sometimes like he’s your son instead of a middle-aged ranch hand.”
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