Beth laughed, but Katie didn't smile back at her. "It's not that easy," Beth explained. "Then I wouldn't have anyone to help me around the ranch," she replied.
A sound came from the direction of the ranch house. Katie glanced back at the house. Her face lit up with a bright smile. "Mr Baxter could help you."
Beth twisted around and saw Landon and Max standing on the porch. Landon had his hand on Max's shoulder and was leaning down closer to the little boy. Landon pointed toward the corral and said something to Max, who nodded instantly.
"Mr Baxter won't be staying very long," Beth said. "Once he feels better, he'll be going home. He has a ranch of his own to run."
Katie's brows furrowed. Clearly, she hadn't liked Beth's answer. But it was true. Once Doc Clanton had checked Landon and found him well, the handsome rancher would be on his way home. Perhaps she'd never see him again. For some reason that thought made Beth's heart sink.
"Let's go and see what Max and Landon are doing," she suggested.
Katie's smile returned. She darted forward, but Beth gently held on to Katie's arm and halted her footsteps. Katie peered quizzically at Beth as she squatted down and looked Katie in the eye. "Just you remember this, Katie. I love you. And I always will."
Katie smiled. "And I love you, mama," she said.
Beth felt her throat tighten and she fought back a tear. She opened her arms. "Give me a hug."
Katie tumbled into Beth's arms. Then, standing upright, Beth took Katie's hand. "Let's go see Landon and Max."
And as she walked toward the ranch house, it occurred to her she might have given Katie the impression that there might be a chance that Landon Baxter could stay at the Circle D ranch a while longer. Playing with that idea in her mind, Beth realized that if Landon did stay longer, then that wouldn't be the worst thing to have happened on the Circle D.
CHAPTER EIGHT
"What are you and Max talking about?" Landon heard Beth say from behind him. He turned away from the corral fence and saw Beth and Katie coming toward him and Max. Landon was pleased to see that Katie had calmed down. In fact, she was smiling right at him. That did surprise him, because he still wasn't sure if Katie trusted him. Landon felt that part of what had happened in the kitchen might have had something to do with his presence. He'd hated to see her upset.
"I was just telling Max about how you break a horse," Landon explained. "Max asked me if there were any horses on the ranch that need breaking. I said I don't know."
Beth halted in front of Landon. "We're going to be buying some new horses soon," Beth said. She smiled down at Max. "Maybe one of them will need breaking." She held onto Katie's hand. Landon wondered what had prompted Beth to do that. From his vantage point on the ranch house porch it had seemed like mother and daughter had been having a heart to heart talk. Whatever Beth had said to Katie, it seemed to have worked.
Landon lifted a brow at Beth. "You telling me you can tame a horse?"
Beth squinted at Landon. "Of course I can't," she said. She tilted her head and lifted a brow. "But I bet you can." There was a challenge in her voice. As if she was testing him.
Landon saw Max gaze up at him. There was excitement on the little boy's face. "Can you?" Max asked breathlessly.
Landon shrugged. "I have been known to do that once in a while, over the years," he admitted trying not to sound too smug about it. He grinned at Beth who was looking at him as if she was about to say something. "Now how do I know what you're going to say next?" he said mischievously.
Beth's brows furrowed. She glanced at his bandaged head. "Just promise me you won't go trying anything like that with your head still hurting. Doc Clanton still hasn't told you everything's fine."
Landon rubbed his head gently. "It doesn't hurt. Not much, anyway." He peered at Beth and saw the relief on her face. "But, I can help you in another way. If you like."
"Depends what you mean," she said with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"If you're going to be buying horses, I can give you some tips on what to look for," Landon offered. "You don't want to end up with some ornery beast that won't be tamed."
Beth's features tightened. "I think I've already seen a few of those on this ranch," she said. "And not just horses, either."
Landon laughed and then grinned at Beth. "Ranch hands can need careful handling," he said brightly.
Beth nodded. "Managing a ranch isn't just about cattle and horses." Landon could sense that she'd had plenty of trouble dealing with the workers on the ranch. It couldn't have been easy. Even the most experienced of ranch hands would have expected their boss to be a man. It was unusual in these parts for a woman to own and run a ranch. But, Beth seemed to be doing a fine job of proving herself.
"But, enough about me," Beth snapped in a good-natured by impatient tone of voice. "We've all got a busy day ahead of us, " she said resting her arm across Katie's shoulders.
Katie looked up at Beth. "Can't we spend some time playing?" she asked.
Beth shook her head. "We got some learning to do, today. You know you'll be going to the school in Inspiration soon. At least until the winter comes." Landon peered quizzically at Beth. "They've been doing some schoolwork at home for the last couple of months. I want them to spend at least part of the day in the town school. I've arranged it with the teacher."
"Isn't it too far to go into town?" he asked.
Beth shook her head. "With the carriage, we can get there for mid-morning. The teacher is happy for Katie and Max to attend for part of the day. She understands it's a long way for them to travel. But I think it's important they do it."
Landon glanced at Max and Katie. Both children were listening to Beth with a kind of respectful attention. He could see they were both used to following Beth's counsel. Landon looked at Beth again. Her gaze was steady. Landon was sure that, if she wanted something for the children, Beth would do whatever it took to make it happen. Landon saw determination in Beth's eyes. Sometimes, when she wanted to be feisty and stand up for herself, he found he liked being around her. This was one of those times. He saw Max and Katie exchange looks and then smile at each other. Landon wasn't the only one who'd noticed the delight on the faces of the children. He saw Beth glance down at them. She shifted on her heels a moment.
"I've got work to do," Beth announced abruptly.
"You want me to help you?" Landon asked before he'd had a chance to decide whether it would be wise to offer.
Beth gazed at him for a moment. She looked momentarily tempted. He could see her weighing up his offer. Then she seemed to snap out of her reverie and shook her head. "You need more rest."
"More?" he exclaimed. "I slept like a baby all night." Max and Katie both giggled.
"The Doc will be here. Probably this morning," Beth replied. "Assuming that baby he was going to deliver decided to come into the world during the night."
Admitting defeat, Landon nodded. "Okay, ma'am. You're the boss on the Circle D."
Her eyes narrowed, as if she wasn't sure if he was teasing her or not. "I guess I am," she replied carefully.
Landon laid a hand firmly on Max's shoulder. "I assume you have no objection to me and Max having a talk about what it takes to run a ranch." Landon grinned down at Max. "You know. Man to man, like. I can give him the benefit of my experience."
Max's eyes brightened and he looked at Beth. "Can I, mama?"
Beth thought for a moment and then nodded. "Fine." She fixed Landon with one of her looks. The kind that told him she meant business. He was starting to get to know this beautiful woman's ways, he told himself. And he was beginning to like them."Just don't make it too long. Agreed?"
Landon touched his forehead in a mock salute. "Sure will."
Beth smiled and shook her head. Did she realize just how much she was affecting him? If she did, she was doing a good job of hiding it. Beth touched Max on the shoulder. "After you and Landon have had your man-to-man talk, Max, you can come to the study. Katie and I will be in there a while." Beth
peered softly at Landon. "Just don't make it too long."
"Look upon it as part of Max's education, Beth," Landon explained. "After all, a boy can't just get all his learning from books."
Beth shrugged. "I guess you're right."
Landon felt like he'd won a minor victory. And he was already looking forward to telling Max all about ranching. One thing was clear to Landon. Even if Doyle had tried to win Max's confidence, he hadn't done anything to teach the boy about life on a ranch. Judging by Max's hesitant reaction to Doyle at the kitchen table, Landon guessed things weren't too friendly between the boy and the ramrod. Maybe Doyle's interest in the children wasn't as serious as it could have been, Landon told himself.
"See you later," Beth said and took Katie's hand again. Beth gave Landon a stern look. "And remember. Get some rest."
Landon watched Beth and Katie heading toward the ranch house. Once they were inside, he peered down at Max. The boy's features were filled with excitement. "Now. Where can we start?" Landon said to Max.
CHAPTER NINE
Doc Clanton arrived later that morning. Beth had just finished a lesson with Max and Katie in the study when Sally came in to announce the arrival of Inspiration's doctor. Beth shooed the children out into the yard and made her way to the doctor's carriage which had pulled to a halt in front of the ranch house. Beth watched the children race across the yard, clearly feeling liberated from their hard work in the study. Landon had been true to his word.
Less than an hour after Beth had started her lesson with Katie, Max had entered the study. Judging by Max's expression he'd enjoyed being with Landon. Whatever wisdom Landon had shared with Max, it had obviously pleased the boy. Following closely behind Max, Landon had briefly waited at the study door. Beth had thanked Landon. Then he'd excused himself and told Beth that, if she needed him for anything, he'd be up in his room. She'd seen a hint of discomfort in Landon's eyes. She'd thought about asking him if he was feeling well, but he'd left quickly, preventing her from doing so. Throughout the rest of the lesson with Max and Katie, worry had tugged at Beth. She'd wondered if Landon was okay up in his room. Or whether the dizziness which had plagued him since the fall had returned. Beth had asked Sally to look in on Landon from time to time. Just to make sure.
Now, though, the doctor had arrived. Beth looked forward to finding out more about Landon's condition. Doc Clanton was a portly man of fifty years. He had white hair and a neatly-trimmed white beard. He wore a well-fitted gray suit, matching Stetson and brown half boots. He'd been out to the ranch before. A month ago, there had been a worrying week when Max and Katie had both come down with a fever. Beth had been distraught with worry for every one of the days and long nights she'd attended to the children. But, Doc Clanton had helped her with detailed advice on how to handle her first medical crisis on the ranch.
Stepping down from the carriage, Doc Clanton carried a small leather bag. His bright, kindly gaze settled on Beth as she walked toward him. "Beth. Good morning," he said.
"Thank you for coming, doc," she said.
The doc ambled up to her and then glanced at the front of the ranch house. "I hear you've got one of those Baxter men cooped up here," he stated.
Beth felt her face flush with heat. She wondered if news had gotten around of Landon's temporary confinement at the Circle D. "It's Landon Baxter. Do you know him?"
The doc grinned and nodded. "I sure do. I've been out to the Baxter ranch plenty of times. In fact, I stopped by there on the way here."
"You did?" Beth asked, wondering why he would have done that.
"I told the family what I knew. And where Landon was. They were getting worried because he hadn't returned when he said he would."
Beth nodded. It made sense that the doc had allayed the Baxter family's fears for Landon. "Thank you for doing that."
The doc shook his head and smiled. "All part of the service." He glanced at the ranch house. "Now. Where can I find the patient? And, you can tell me what happened."
As Beth led the doc inside she described how Landon had sustained his injury to the head. She didn't give all the details about the trouble Wes Harding had caused. As he walked up the stairs and down the hall, listening to Beth, the doc nodded his head slowly. By the time they reached the room of Landon's door, Doc Clanton knew as much as he needed to know. Beth knocked gently on the door. For a long moment, there was no reply from inside.
"Landon? Doc Clanton is here to see you," Beth called out.
Beth heard noises from inside the room. "Come on in," Landon called out.
Beth opened the door and led Doc Clanton inside. Landon was sitting on the edge of his bed. He was dressed in shirt and pants and socks. From the hollow on the neatly tucked-in bed it was obvious he'd been lying on top of the blanket. He rubbed sleep from his eyes and smiled at her and the doc. "Good to see you again, doc," Landon said. He sounded like he was forcing himself to be cheery, Beth told herself.
Doc Clanton strode purposefully across to Landon. "You Baxter boys sure like to get yourself into trouble, don't you," he said.
Beth wondered what kind of trouble the doc would be talking about. She watched as the doc laid his bag down on the side table. Starting to move to the door, Beth said. "I'll wait outside."
Landon looked at Beth and shook his head. "Wait, Beth. Don't go." Beth narrowed her eyes and peered at Landon. He was gazing earnestly at her. "You were at the creek when it happened. You were the one who helped me. Maybe you should stay in case the doc has any questions."
Beth glanced at Doc Clanton. The doc nodded. Beth clasped her hands across her middle. "I'll stay. If that's what you want, Landon."
Landon's gaze warmed. "It is, Beth," he said. She felt her heart quicken as she heard his words. Beth glanced at the doc, eager to see if he'd seen the change in her. Thankfully, he was looking at Landon.
For the next few minutes Doc Clanton asked Landon and Beth questions. He was especially interested in knowing about the dizziness Landon said he'd suffered. And the nausea. As Beth and Landon spoke, Doc Clanton nodded sagely, listening with furrowed brows. Finally, he removed the bandage and examined the wound on Landon's head. He pronounced that the wound didn't look too bad. That it would probably heal quickly, as long as it was attended to regularly and kept clean. He also checked the movement of Landon's neck and head, examining him for signs of damage. As she listened to the doctor, Beth felt an inexplicable growing anxiety. From Doc Clanton's measured tone of voice she could tell he was keeping something back. And, sure enough, once he'd closed his bag and turned to face them both, she saw the concern in his eyes.
Doc Clanton peered down at Landon. "You've been lucky, Landon," the doc announced. "Hitting your head on that rock like that, you could have hurt yourself real bad." The doc glanced at Beth. "You were lucky Beth was there to help."
"I didn't do anything," Beth said quickly. "Not really. I just did my best to stop the bleeding and stop him from getting back on his horse."
The doc sighed. "And that was the most important thing you did, Beth," he told her firmly.
"Why?"
Doc Clanton folded his arms. "I reckon if you'd gone riding off with that head injury, you might not have made it back to the Baxter ranch."
Beth saw Landon's brows furrow in deep ridges. "You think it was that bad?"
The doc nodded emphatically. "The first twenty-four hours after a head trauma are crucial," he explained. "The best thing you did was lay down on the back of that buckboard and then rest when you got to the Circle D." The doc grinned at Beth. "Seems like Beth's advice was the best. Maybe you should have been a doctor, Beth," he added.
"You're saying the worst is over, doc," Landon suggested.
To Beth's surprise, Doc Clanton shook his head firmly. "I'm not saying any such thing, Landon. The fact is, you've been having dizzy spells. And that ain't good. Thankfully they're beginning to wear off. That's encouraging." The doc sighed. "But, you ain't out of the woods yet."
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