The Rancher’s Frontier Family

by Maya Stirling

  Landon strode across to the man. Beth followed alongside him. "What's going on, Harding?" Landon demanded in a loud voice. Some of the ranch hands paused what they were doing to peer over at Harding.

  "Quite a little show you've got going here," Harding said wearily. Landon had expected a sharp comeback from the man. But, instead, Harding's voice seemed tired. Listless. Landon could see worry hidden behind Harding's careful gaze.

  "I guess you know what this is all about," Landon stated, thrusting his hands against his sides and glaring at Harding.

  "The other day, you accused me of trespassing," Beth snapped. "Seems like it's my turn to say the same to you."

  Harding's horse shook its head nervously. Holding onto the reins, Harding jerked them, forcing the horse into stillness. "You got tick fever here?" Harding asked in a tired voice.

  Without reacting, Landon replied sharply: "We sure have," Landon replied. "How do you know that?"

  Harding gestured toward the pits. "I know a thing or two about that," he said. "I've had to do it before. On my spread." Harding glanced at Landon. "I expect you have, too, Baxter."

  Landon nodded. "I sure have, Harding. It ain't easy. But I guess you know that."

  Harding nodded slowly. "I see you got the oil to clean the ticks off the cattle." Landon thought there was a strange tone in Harding's voice. One he hadn't heard on their previous encounters.

  Beth met Harding's steady gaze. "We got it from the mercantile in Inspiration."

  Harding's eyes narrowed. "I know you did."

  Beth lifted her brows. "You do?"

  Harding peered at Landon. "You got the last of the oil. There's none left in the whole of the town."

  "How do you know that?" Landon asked.

  "Because I sent two of my ranch hands into town today," Harding explained. He sighed heavily. "They came back empty-handed."

  "Why would you need oil?" Beth asked.

  Landon knew the answer to that. Even before Harding replied. "You've got tick fever in your herd, haven't you," he declared emphatically. Seeing Harding's shoulders stoop, Landon knew the truth. "And you need the oil to clean your cattle of the ticks."

  Harding swallowed and then peered at Landon. "Seems like my spread and the Circle D have got one thing in common. And it ain't something I like." There was a hint of Harding's familiar indignation in his voice. But his usual anger was tempered with something else. Harding seemed resigned about something. As if the appearance of the fever in his cattle meant something more than just a problem to be dealt with.

  Beth gasped loudly. "Did you know about this when we found my cattle on your spread?"

  Harding shook his head. "No. I only saw it late yesterday."

  "Maybe your cattle infected mine," Beth suggested.

  Harding shrugged. "Maybe." His voice was flat and disinterested. Didn't the man have any sense of regret about the trouble he'd caused Beth?

  Landon felt indignation well up inside him. "Did you come here to tell us that? Or did you come to see if all of Beth's cattle were sick and dying." As far as Landon was concerned, that last part seemed like the most likely reason.

  Harding didn't rise to Landon's challenge. Shaking his head, he said: "I didn't come to gloat, if that's what you're thinking." Harding dragged in a deep breath and looked directly at Beth. "I came here to ask a favor."

  Beth's mouth opened. She turned and gazed, wide-eyed at Landon. "What kind of a favor?" Landon demanded. He shared Beth's sense of shock at Harding's surprising request.

  "I'm not going to be able to save my cattle," Harding admitted. "Not unless I get some of that oil you got there."

  "What!" Landon exclaimed. He advanced toward Harding. The other man held his ground, watching Landon with a blank gaze. "What gives you the right to come here asking anyone for help? After what you've put Beth through, you're lucky we don't run you off this spread by the scruff of your neck."

  To Landon's amazement, Harding didn't respond. Instead, Harding turned his attention to Beth. "Miss Russell. I need your help. It's that simple."

  Landon looked disbelievingly toward Beth. She was staring at Harding as if she couldn't comprehend what he was saying. "Do you want me to get him off the Circle D?" Landon asked Beth.

  Beth's eyes narrowed. She didn't respond immediately to Landon's offer. Instead, she seemed to be examining Harding with the most careful scrutiny. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, as if she'd reached an important conclusion, she shook her head. "There'll be no need for that, Landon," she said.

  Landon gasped. "Beth."

  Beth shook her head steadily. "How much do you need, Mr Harding?" she asked.

  For a moment, Landon couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Beth. You're not going to give him the oil, are you? Think of the trouble he's caused you."

  Beth gazed at Landon. "That's all in the past, Landon."

  Landon groaned. "He wanted to take your ranch from you and the children," he insisted.

  Harding shook his head. "That ain't true. I never meant to cause those children any harm," he declared. "My interest in the Circle D was strictly business."

  "No it wasn't," Landon objected. "You wanted to ruin Beth and satisfy your need to own more land. More cattle. And you were willing to make her life a nightmare, if it meant you could get what you wanted."

  Harding flinched visibly as Landon hurled his words at the man. Sometimes the truth hurt, Landon reflected. And, right now, Harding looked like someone wounded. Landon saw Beth examining Harding thoughtfully. Wondering what she was thinking Landon went to Beth. "If you give him that oil, he'll continue to make your life hard, Beth. You know that, don't you."

  To Landon's surprise, she shook her head. "I don't think so." She walked toward Harding and halted in front of him. "I think Mr Harding has had a change of heart." Lifting her chin, she looked into Harding's eyes. "Isn't that right?"

  Landon saw Harding's face flush red as Beth locked her gaze upon him. Harding's jaw tightened. Then he nodded. "I've been thinking a lot about what has happened since you took over the running of this place. And I confess I haven't always acted decently."

  Landon scoffed. "That's got to be the understatement of the year," he stated.

  Beth turned and furrowed her brows as she peered at Landon. "I have something I want to say to Mr Harding." Landon saw how serious Beth was. He nodded as she turned to face Harding again. "I've also been thinking, Mr Harding. Trying to understand why you did what you did. And I think I've come to a conclusion about why you wanted the Circle D.

  Harding's lips tightened and Landon saw the man swallow nervously. Were Beth's words so hard for him to take?

  "Sometimes we don't always do the right thing. Sometimes, greed pushes us to do foolish things. And there are times when fear can make us act in a way we come to regret."

  Harding listened to Beth with a rapt attention. He lowered his head and peered at Beth from beneath ridged brows. "I'm not frightened of anything, Miss Russell."

  Beth met Harding's gaze. "You seem to be frightened of losing your herd to the tick fever. Of losing your own spread."

  Harding sighed loudly. Turning toward his horse, he exclaimed, "I didn't come here for this." He readied himself to mount up.

  "Then why did you really come here, Mr Harding?" Beth asked in an even voice. Landon got the distinct impression Beth was trying to wear Harding down. And it looked like she was succeeding.

  Harding paused and stared at what was going on with the pits of water and the last remaining cattle being herded away from the river. Harding nodded and peered at Beth. His features became suddenly pale, as if he'd reached a decision. As if he'd reached a point of no return.

  Harding took a step toward Beth and faced her head-on. "I came to ask for help, Miss Russell. I'm asking for any unused containers of that oil you've got left. So I can use it on my ranch to clear my herd of the tick fever." Harding's shoulders slumped. HE sighed heavily. "And to admit to you that I have been wrong. I haven't been go
od to you. I hope you can find a way to forgive me." Saying those words seemed to have lifted a burden from those shoulders, Landon told himself.

  Landon reminded himself that the Circle D wasn't his. It belonged to Beth. If she wanted to give Harding what he needed to save his herd, then that was up to her.

  Beth nodded slowly. Thoughtfully. She seemed calmer now, Landon realized. As if she'd gotten what she'd wanted from Harding. And what was that? An admission from the other man that he needed the help of others. That he couldn't just run roughshod over people any more. That Beth was his neighbor and not his enemy.

  Beth smiled at Harding. "I'll give you that oil, Mr Harding," she said calmly.

  Harding's brows shot up in a line. "You will?"

  Beth turned to Landon. "Can you arrange for Wes to get what he needs, Landon?"

  Landon hesitated a moment, gazing at Beth. He could see the quiet determination in her eyes. He understood what she was doing. What she was trying to achieve. She was acting with charity toward the one man who'd caused her more pain and anguish than anyone else in the territory. She was acting with forgiveness toward Harding. It was that simple. In that moment, Landon knew she was doing the right thing. Doing what the Lord would want her to do.

  "Okay, Beth," Landon said softly. Glancing at Harding, Landon added: "Come on. We'll get some of the ranch hands to put what you need on a buckboard and take it over to your place."

  Landon saw Beth smile at him. Harding's expression was that of a man who'd learned a lesson he'd never forget. He lowered his head respectfully to Beth. "Thank you, ma'am. I'll never forget your kindness. And I hope you and I can find a way to work together in the coming years." Harding's brows furrowed. "I regret all that I did to you. But, from now on, you and me are going to be the best of neighbors. I can give you that promise."

  "I'm sure we will be, Mr Harding."

  Then Harding touched the front brim of his hat and started to follow Landon over toward the oil containers.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  The following morning was Sunday. Church day, Beth told herself as she sat alongside Landon on the carriage as it made its way into Inspiration. They'd be arriving soon, Beth told herself. Glancing at Landon, she felt nerves stir inside her. She realized she desperately wanted it to be perfect. This was an important day. And not just for herself. In the double seat behind her and Landon, Max and Katie continued to sit quietly, as they had done throughout the journey. It had been a long but delightful ride into town. Three hours sitting alongside Landon hadn't been too difficult to endure, she joked with herself. They'd set out early after taking a decent-sized breakfast at the ranch house. Landon had driven the carriage through the Montana countryside, following the main trail which wound a twisting course through the numerous ranch spreads which dotted the territory to the east of town. It was a beautiful, sunny day. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. The air was cool and fresh.

  Somehow, riding with Landon, the trip into town felt different than before, when Beth had taken the same journey on her own. Once, about half-way through the journey, a startling thought had seized Beth's mind. To anyone who came across them on the trail, it would seem that she, Landon and the children were, in fact, a family riding into town. A family. That single thought had made Beth's heart quicken and heat rise to her cheeks. But, it was true. All four of them looked like a happy family going to church on a bright and beautiful Sunday morning. In spite of the startling nature of the thought, Beth allowed herself to secretly savor the thought for a long while.

  The carriage crested a high ridge. Down below, Beth saw the town, nestling in a wide valley. To her eyes, it looked delightful and almost like someone had arranged toy buildings along a wide central drag. Off to the left was the train station. The railway cut a curving line southward into the distance. On both sides of the commercial buildings on the Main Street she saw homes spreading out, following the course of streets which tailed off into untouched countryside.

  Glancing across at Landon, Beth smiled with a simple, plain joy. He was dressed in freshly washed shirt and pants and his jacket. He wore his Stetson at a jaunt angle. He'd been in a good mood all morning. Yesterday, the ranch hands had completed the work of washing the cattle clean of ticks. Hopefully, they'd caught it early, Beth told herself. A small number of cattle would be kept quarantined for the next few days. The rest of the herd would be watched by the ranch hands with extra-special care. Beth had complete confidence in the men. Landon had issued clear instructions to the men during a big meeting which had taken place in the yard of the ranch house. Beth had been encouraged by the way the ranch hands had taken Landon's instruction. Not one man had uttered a word of defiance to Landon. It seemed like the handsome rancher sitting next to her had a naturally commanding authority over men when it came to supervising work on the ranch. When she, Landon and the children had left the ranch, Beth had felt confident about leaving the ranch in the hands of the workers who knew exactly what was expected of them.

  "We're nearly there," Max declared from behind Beth.

  Beth turned and smiled at Max. "We sure are. Are you both looking forward to going to church?"

  Katie nodded and smiled. "Yup."

  Max smiled in agreement. "Are we going to see our teacher there?" he asked.

  "I think Miss Chalmers will be there. Maybe you and her can talk about your first visit to the schoolhouse, this week."

  Both children exchanged excited looks. Beth was pleased they were looking forward to going to school. Turning to Landon, she saw he was gazing straight ahead on the trail, but his head leaned to one side showing he was listening to the conversation. One corner of his mouth was creased with the beginnings of a smile. It looked like Landon was pleased to be back in Inspiration.

  Realizing that Landon's whole family would most likely be at the church, this morning, Beth felt butterflies fluttering in her middle. Confirming those suspicions, she asked: "Your family will all be there this morning, won't they?"

  Landon faced her and smiled. "They sure will." He seemed pleased about the fact she'd get introductions to the entire Baxter clan. She wondered what they'd think of her. And of the children.

  "They're going to adore you," Landon said, almost like he was reading her mind. Turning to Max and Katie, he called out:" And you two as well. You ready to meet my family?"

  "Yes!" Katie and Max cried in perfect unison.

  Landon grinned at Beth. "I think it's going to be a beautiful day." Hs voice was filled with so much joy and delight that she couldn't help but smile at him.

  Soon, the carriage was rolling slowly up Main Street. Sunday morning in Inspiration was busy, Beth told herself as she watched the small crowd of elegantly-dressed people make their way up the boardwalk. Beth could hear the distant tolling of a bell, calling worshippers with its reassuring, rhythmic tones. Landon turned the carriage into the street which Beth knew led to the church. The crowd on the street was even larger than the one back at Main Street. Up ahead, she saw the church. It stood on a raised level of ground. Landon had told her all about the recent improvements which had been made. The wooden panel boards on the exterior of the church had been given a fresh coat of white paint. The whole structure positively shone in the bright morning light. At least twenty carriages were parked at the foot of the dozen or so steps which led up to the church's front door. Already people were making their way into the church. As Landon drew the carriage to a halt, Beth could see Pastor Joseph standing at the open door of the church, welcoming members of the congregation.

  The children leaped down from the back seat of the carriage. Beth admired Max's dark suit and Katie's white gown and matching bonnet. Pride swelled inside her. Both children looked delightful. Landon stepped down quickly and raced around the carriage to Beth's side. Extending a hand to her, he smiled. "If you please, ma'am," he said and grinned.