Where There's a Will

by Brenda Sinclair

  “I suppose he would do,” she whispered to herself, sinking up to her neck in the luxuriously warm water. But her fanciful thoughts were simply wishful thinking. Her new boss could never learn that he’d hired a girl wanted by the law as his new Thoroughbred wrangler.

  No matter how talented with horses she proved, she doubted her new boss would understand.

  Chapter 3

  After observing his newest hires working with the Thoroughbreds and Morgan horses on the Double M for the past couple days, Adam couldn’t be more impressed with the horse wranglers.

  “Well done, hiring those two Hughes brothers,” Adam muttered his self-praise aloud, brushing Midnight Star and smiling at her colt’s less wobbly steps.

  Willie Hughes surpassed all his expectations in a horse wrangler, in particular how he’d handled the birthing of this prized mare’s foal, taking matters into his own hands minutes after arriving on the ranch, appearing prepared to handle a possible breech birthing, and knowing how to calm the terrified animal. Hell, he couldn’t have done that well himself. And Willie had overseen a couple more successful births since.

  For some reason, Willie was nothing close to resembling what Adam expected an experienced horseman would be like. Adam couldn’t find fault with the fellow’s handing of the Double M’s animals. He possessed an ease and light-handed technique Adam had never witnessed before. And being a light sleeper wasn’t the worse fault a man could possess. He’d take that inconsequential shortcoming over a drunkard or a mean-spirited horseman any day.

  Maybe the point of contention lay within Adam himself. Had he formulated a picture in his mind of what a handler looked like and how he acted based on preconceived notions? Had he arrived at his own opinion after listening to discussions among horsemen at Thoroughbred auctions and the like? Adam had worked with cattle horses on this ranch his entire life. But no one knew better than he did that he lacked considerable knowledge surrounding breeding cream-of-the-crop Thoroughbreds. His oldest brother, Jackson, only assigned him this job after Adam’s other older brother, Daniel, up and left the ranch to pursue his own dreams in life. Ranching not being one of them. Not even close. Daniel had just recently headed for Chicago with his new bride, accepting a job as a Pinkerton agent trainee of all things.

  Adam wasn’t certain why Jackson picked him to manage the horse-breeding operation. His twin brother, Simon, might have been equally qualified. Of course, Simon loved working with cattle, whereas Adam could take them or leave them. Maybe Jackson had been wise choosing Adam over his twin. Adam certainly appreciated the challenge. And so far, no one could fault him for his choice of hired help. Especially after the successful birthing of several foals. Adam had considered himself brilliant buying pregnant Thoroughbred mares. Saving stud fees, for one thing. Then he read up on birthing Thoroughbred foals and possible complications, and he’d scared the daylights out of himself. Thank goodness there were people like Willie Hughes for hire.

  Of course, Leonard handled the Morgan horses like a pro also. The gentle, all-purpose Morgan horseflesh would work on the Double M or be sold to customers looking for reliable equine stock. Adam intended to earn a name for the Double M in the field of horse-breeding, and with people like the Hughes brothers working for him, he predicted a wonderful future for his equine division on the ranch.

  “You’ll brush all her hair off if you don’t let up a little,” Jackson complained, peeking through the open half of the mare’s stall door.

  Adam glanced at his oldest brother. “You brush your critters your way, I’ll brush mine as I see fit.” He tossed the brush into the bucket and smiled. He’d been lost in thought and had probably brushed Midnight Star to the point even she was silently questioning what he was doing. “Didn’t hear Midnight Star complaining.”

  “You looked so busy thinking, she probably didn’t want to disturb you by speaking up.” Jackson smiled at the colt and then stepped back from the door. “He’s one pretty boy, isn’t he?”

  “Midnight Star has taken a shine to him. She’s one proud mama. Can’t say I blame her.” Adam slipped out of the stall and closed the door.

  “Heard your new wrangler helped bring him into the world. Willie’s his name.”

  “Dang fine horseman. Couldn’t be more satisfied with his work,” Adam reported.

  Jackson shook his head. “Chewed the fat with him for a few minutes yesterday. Can’t put my finger on it. Just seems there’s a little something off about the man.”

  Adam almost voiced his own concerns but changed his mind. “You think so? Hadn’t noticed,” he hedged. He wouldn’t admit he’d observed a few oddities about the fellow, but nothing he’d seen would compromise the man’s work with the horses.

  “Like I said, I couldn’t put it into words. Just keep an eye on him.” Jackson slapped his brother on the back. “Good job with these new colts and the one filly. Wonderful additions to the ranch.”

  “Thanks, Jackson. I appreciate that. Still hoping for a few more fillies though.” Adam caught himself grinning from ear to ear like a proud papa as he gazed at the new colt. Considering the grief Jackson had given Daniel when he’d been in charge of the horse-breeding operation, Adam figured there wasn’t much higher praise than what he’d just received from the ranch manager.

  He considered Jackson’s words again concerning the new hire. Willie Hughes claimed he and his brother had grown up on a ranch. Their parents must have been employed there. If they’d been owners, the brothers would have inherited the place. Unless the family hit upon hard times and the bank repossessed the property and sold it out from under them. Leonard mentioned he was twenty-six and his brother recently turned twenty. Adam really couldn’t find anything wrong about Willie, but he suspected the fellow might be lying a mite about his age. Adam hadn’t spotted a hint of whiskers on the kid’s face.

  Of course, if something came to his attention in the future, Jackson wouldn’t hesitate to offer the I-told-you-so speech. Adam figured he was worrying for nothing. So the kid was a little different from most of the hired men on the ranch: a little soft-hearted, a gentler soul than the more hardened fellows. Most of those men no doubt had seen more of life than Willie and endured greater hardships with a few heartaches mixed in for good measure. That included Leonard who seemed protective of his kin.

  With a bit more life experience under the kid’s belt, Willie would toughen up. Just a matter of time. Adam figured he had nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Except settling on a name for this new colt. Maybe he’d let Willie name him. A reward for a good job and his first birthing on the ranch.

  * * *

  Adam frowned while Willie Hughes gaped at him as if he’d sprouted a second head. He didn’t consider the suggestion that outlandish, but his hired hand obviously had.

  “You want me to name your new colt?” Willie fumbled with the water bucket he held in one hand, almost sloshing the contents onto the barn floor.

  Adam shrugged and followed Willie toward the mare’s stall. “Figured you earned the right, considering that little fellow was the first Double M foal you brought into the world without a bit of trouble.”

  Willie shook his head and set the bucket down in front of Midnight Star, the pail surprisingly still full of water. “Well, can I think on it for a few days? Maybe learn his lineage so I can do a better job of it?”

  “You bet. He’s a beauty and requires a suitable name.” Adam smiled at his wrangler who knew the importance of a colt’s lineage and predecessor history. Good indicator of the level and thoroughness of his training. “I can fill you in on his sire and dame from records up at the house. Just make certain it’s a fitting name for the little fellow.”

  “Count on it.” Willie grinned, apparently happy with the request now that the initial shock had worn off. The kid patted Midnight Star’s neck. “He’s identical in color to his mama but has different markings on his head.”

  “Please don’t call him something foolish.” Adam stood hands on hips. “I�
��d prefer a strong name that will catch the attention of those in the Thoroughbred world.”

  “I know what you mean.” Willie nodded. “I’ll work on it and let you know my choice in a day or two.”

  “Come up to the house tonight after supper and I’ll get you the names of his equine kin.”

  Willie laughed. “All right. A fellow’s family tree is everything.”

  Adam frowned as his horse wrangler’s face suddenly paled after uttering that last statement. He hadn’t a notion what that meant unless Willie’s own family tree possessed an embarrassing branch or two. Adam reckoned it wasn’t any of his business and he wouldn’t press the matter.

  “See you tonight,” Adam called, heading off to the other horse barn to check on his Morgan stock. He couldn’t wait to hear what the kid settled on for a name. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to veto it and disappoint the young man three ways from Sunday. And for some inexplicable reason, the thought of hurting his new hire’s feelings didn’t sit right with him.

  Chapter 4

  May

  Willow straightened, stretched, and rubbed her lower back. Adam had assigned Willie the task of helping the ranch housekeeper, Mrs. Sheridan, plant the vegetable garden. And what a garden it would be! Willow had never seen such an expansive piece of land all tilled and ready for planting. The garden would feed every mouth on the ranch though, so the size no doubt matched the purpose.

  Normally, Willow enjoyed working with the soil and growing vegetables and flowers. Today, however, wasn’t the best of times for all this bending and traipsing from one end of the piece of land to the other.

  Willow bent to the work of hoeing another trench to plant more carrot seeds. She caught herself smiling, as she recalled how much fun she’d had naming the new colt. The names Pegasus, Midnight Star, and Storm had appeared in his lineage, and she’d settled on Winged Wanderer for the new colt’s name. Adam had loved her suggestion and she believed he’d even registered the purebred horse and his name. Hopefully, the colt lived up to his new moniker and he ran like the wind when he grew up. For some reason, she’d never been prouder of herself, even though Midnight Star had done most of the work bringing her colt into the world. And Davie had recovered; he’d even assisted her with a couple more births.

  Kneeling on the ground, Mrs. Sheridan leaned back on her haunches and met Willie’s eyes. “How are you doing?”

  Willow nodded, assuming her male persona. “I’m all right, ma’am.” Truth be known, she was anything but all right, but the kindly woman couldn’t learn why.

  “I very much doubt that,” the housekeeper muttered, chuckling.

  Willow paused and turned, meeting the woman’s eyes. What had she meant by that? “Am I doing this trenching the wrong way?” She’d helped her mother with gardening for years, and she couldn’t imagine what Mrs. Sheridan possibly found lacking in her work.

  “You’re doing an admirable job of the planting.” Mrs. Sheridan peeked up at her assistant. “All things considered.”

  Willow refused to wither under the woman’s close scrutiny and continued making her trench.

  “I know your secret.” Mrs. Sheridan stood and walked toward Willow. “I recognize woman-time cramping when I see it.”

  Willow almost dropped the hoe. She couldn’t meet the woman’s eyes for fear the intuitive older lady would know she’d guessed the reason for her malaise. She continued with the trench and muttered, “I have no idea what you mean, ma’am. Wouldn’t have any idea about nothing like that.”

  Mrs. Sheridan chuckled. “Oh, I imagine once every month you know exactly what I mean.” She reached out, stilling the hoe.

  Willow looked up into the kindest pair of brown eyes she’d encountered in ages. “Please don’t tell anyone,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears while she silently cursed herself. Due to the excruciating pain, she’d let her guard down and admitted the woman had guessed right. The cramping had worsened as the day progressed and she’d come close to doubling over a couple of times. “My brother and I desperately need these jobs,” she pleaded.

  “Don’t worry about your jobs. Adam raves about the wonderful work you’re doing with his Thoroughbreds, and he claims your brother has been a godsend for the Morgan stock.” Mrs. Sheridan patted her arm. “Come with me up to the house. I’ll give you something for those cramps.”

  Willow shook her head. “I can’t stop working or Adam will come inquiring what the holdup is. He can never discover I’m not Willie Hughes, horse wrangler.”

  Mrs. Sheridan stood hands on hips. “So, when do you plan on him finding out?”

  Willow met her eyes. “Three Sundays from never.”

  The housekeeper burst into laughter. “Might work. Unless you’re wearing a halter and whinny at him, Adam would probably not notice you.”

  Willow blew out her breath. Could it be the woman intended to keep her secret? “You’re not going to tell Adam?”

  Mrs. Sheridan shook her head. “I’m not saying a word.”

  Willow felt the smile creep across her face as she heaved a sigh of relief. The housekeeper appeared on her side and thank goodness for that. She and Leonard required these jobs, but more importantly, Willow loved working with the beautiful Double M Thoroughbreds. Having to leave here would break her heart. Maybe everything would be all right after all.

  Mrs. Sheridan headed in the direction of the house and then turned back. “Like I said… I’m not saying a word. You’re going to tell Adam yourself.”

  Willow threw down the hoe and stared off into space.

  Mrs. Sheridan returned to Willow’s side and turned her around to meet her eye to eye. “I can see those thoughts on your face. What’s going to happen when Adam learns the truth?”

  Willow blinked at the tears blurring her vision. How did the woman manage to intercept her thoughts the moment they appeared in her head? And the woman had partially guessed what she’d been thinking. She attempted to shake her arms loose from the woman’s hold. “It’s not that simple,” she whispered. If anyone learned the entire truth…

  The housekeeper held onto her arms. “Listen to me… Willie.”

  “Willow. Willow Harrison,” she whispered, letting her true surname slip out. Had that been a mistake?

  “Fess up to who you are,” Mrs. Sheridan insisted. “Adam will understand the reason for your little white lie. And in my opinion, there’s no reason why a woman can’t work in the barns if that’s what she takes a fancy to.”

  Willow collapsed onto the ground, holding her head in her hands. She brushed at the tears rolling down her cheeks. She’d kept up the ruse for so long, and now that she’d been discovered, she couldn’t face another day as Willie Hughes. She’d come to hate the name. But being a girl and working with the horses on the Double M wasn’t the entire problem. She hated what she’d been forced to do to retain her freedom. And her brother’s freedom. But Adam wouldn’t understand. Not if he learned the whole truth. And that could never happen. Why had fate dealt her and her brother such a losing hand? And all because…

  “Come with me. We need to talk. These vegetable seeds will be waiting for us when we’re finished.” Mrs. Sheridan’s hands gripped Willow under her arms and gently lifted her to her feet. “And there’s no need to suffer through those cramps.”

  Willow tripped alongside Mrs. Sheridan all the way to the main house, completely adrift and feeling as alone as a lost puppy. What would become of her and Leonard now? Adam would turn them over to the local law in a heartbeat if he learned their secret. Willow shivered considering the consequences they faced should that happen. So far, all she’d divulged was a name. Nothing more. Perhaps she should turn and run. Find her brother and grab her gear from the cabin. Escape while freedom still remained a possibility. No one had guessed the importance of knowing her identity, of putting two and two together. Yet.

  “I can see you’re troubled, Willow. Living as a boy is no life for a wonderful girl like you.”

  Willow met the h
ousekeeper’s eyes. “I’m hardly wonderful. I wear boy’s clothes. My hair is two inches long. I constantly smell like a horse.” Willow fought to hold back more tears. “And I’m a fraud.”

  “You’re beautiful. You’re excellent with horses. You have a poise and grace about you that you’re not even aware of.” Mrs. Sheridan chuckled. “With the benefit of a new wardrobe and a bit of time to allow your hair to grow, you’d be a stunning young lady.”

  “Wishful thinking.”

  “Only if you don’t allow yourself to make it come true.”

  Willow shook her head. “It’s been so long since I wore anything but trousers and boots… I wouldn’t know a corset from a corncob.”

  Mrs. Sheridan smiled. “Then perhaps it’s time you reacquainted yourself with one.”

  “One what?”

  Willow whipped around and discovered Sourdough Sammy walking in their direction. A moment later, he stood at Mrs. Sheridan’s side. Willow heard rumors they were courting, but she’d never encountered the two of them together before now.

  “Nothing important,” Willow blurted.

  “We have a bit of a situation to iron out.” Mrs. Sheridan patted Sammy hand. “Nothing to worry yourself about.”

  “Brought you some warm biscuits from the oven for your noon meal.” Sammy handed the housekeeper a large basket covered with a red-checked tea towel. The aroma caused Willow’s stomach to growl and she wrapped her arms around her middle, hoping no one heard.

  “This young feller sounds like he’s ready to eat.” Sammy chuckled and headed back toward the cookshack beside the bunkhouse. He turned and called, “I’ll talk to you later, Nellie.”