My apologies for my negligence. I look forward to seeing you later this morning.
Yours very truly,
Harold Watson, Manager
Milestone First National Bank
“For the love of… I’m needed in town this morning.” Violet sighed. “I suppose there’s nothing to be done about it, but to go.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll finish up the dishes and then I’ll work on cleaning that tack in the barn. I’ll brush the horses, and then check on the calves again. You wanted them out of the barn today, right?”
“Yes, the poor little beggars and their mothers are strong enough to join the rest of the herd.” Violet couldn’t believe an animal in such dismal condition could actually birth a live calf, but several cows had managed. “I’ll have to worry about the branding later.”
“All right.”
“We’ll turn the calves out when I return home.”
“I’ll not expect you back for dinner, but if you’re not here by five I’ll start supper.” Faith called as Violet walked toward the stairs.
Violet changed into one of her town dresses, tied a bonnet on her head, and found her reticule. She could stop by the general store to pick up the mail and purchase a few things so the trip wasn’t a total waste of her time. Perhaps she’d treat herself to lunch at the hotel since Faith wasn’t expecting her to rush back to the ranch.
Violet returned to the kitchen and met Faith’s eyes. “Do you require anything from town?” She slipped her arms into her coat sleeves while waiting for a reply.
“Nothing that I can think of.” Up to her elbows in suds, Faith shook her head. “I have Atlas saddled and waiting for you. The old fellow is in need of some exercise, and even riding sidesaddle, you’ll travel quicker than with the buggy.”
“Thank you. I’ll buy you a sweet or two for completing your chores while I’m gone,” Violet suggested. “And I’ll buy a few for myself as well. Everything has been going along so smoothly, I can hardly believe it.”
“While you’re in town, you should send your brother a telegraph if you have the money. Let him know how well you’re doing, managing by yourself. Well, not totally by yourself.”
“Excellent suggestion.” Violet smiled. “I’ll let him know I’ve hired help with the ranch work.”
Faith giggled. “You will tell him I’m a girl, right?”
“Perhaps I will.” Violet winked at her helper. “Perhaps I won’t.”
“Goodness, don’t pull one over on him like you attempted with Simon.” Faith held a plate mid-air, a concerned expression on her face. “You wouldn’t want him worried about a man being on the ranch to the point of leaving school and coming back here to check on you.”
Violet’s shoulders slumped. “I suppose you’re right. The sooner Roland finishes school the better. I’ll mention I’ve taken in a girl needing a home and she’s helping with the ranch work.”
Faith nodded. “Truth is always best.”
“You’re a good influence on me.” Violet pulled on her gloves. “I won’t be much later than two o’clock, I’d guess.”
“Don’t worry. Between Moe and me, everything will be fine.” Faith returned to her dish washing.
“Good. And I’ll be back to help turn out those calves this afternoon.” Violet hurried out to the barn, and fifteen minutes later, she was headed for Milestone.
* * *
Violet gaped at Harold Watson seated across from her behind the substantial desk littered with ledger sheets in his office. “What do you mean?”
“That isn’t my handwriting. And all of your loan documents were signed days ago.” Harold peeked over his spectacles at her.
“You don’t require my signature today?”
“Not unless you’re withdrawing a few dollars to purchase something.” The banker shook his head. “I’ve no idea who wrote this, but I can assure you it wasn’t me.”
Violet glanced away, feeling decidedly foolish. “Johnnie Branson delivered the note to my house early this morning.”
“Well, this prank doesn’t seem like something a young’un would dream up. And that handwriting is too neat for a child Johnnie’s age.” Harold shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you, Miss Campbell. Seems someone intended to play a trick on you. And probably paid the child a few coins to carry out the deception.”
“Yes, it appears so. But who? And why?” Violet’s hands fisted in her lap. She couldn’t imagine anyone wasting the majority of her day like this. Ranch folks knew that the work was never done, and even a few hours spent pursuing a wild goose chase was an unforgiveable waste of a rancher’s time. But who among the townsfolk would perpetrate such folly?
“I suppose there’s nothing to be gained by reporting this to Sheriff Manning.” Violet stood and stuck out her hand. “I’m so sorry to have bothered you.”
Harold shook her hand. “Nonsense. Thank you for responding to the note. I would have been quite pleased to see you here promptly at ten if I had actually required your signature on any bank papers.”
Violet smiled at him. “Thank you for the compliment, but I’m a very responsible person. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have loaned me the funds to rebuilt my herd and finalize payment on the Triple C.”
“Yes, of course, and because…” Harold stopped mid-sentence.
Violet would swear the man’s face had reddened for a moment.
“And because… and because I respected your father so much,” Harold finally managed to complete his thought.
“The feeling was mutual. Father considered you an admirable man and an excellent bank manager,” Violet said, repaying the compliment.
Harold opened his mouth to respond, but closed it again.
Violet nodded and the manager walked her to the front door.
“Good day, Miss Campbell.” Harold waved goodbye as she hurried down the steps. He disappeared inside again.
For a moment, she considered dropping into Amanda’s Clothing Emporium next door. She hadn’t seen Amanda or her staff in ages, and perhaps one of the ladies would be available to have dinner with her at the hotel. She checked the timepiece pinned to her dress. Ten twenty.
Instead of wasting a couple hours’ time, she decided it best to send a quick telegraph to Roland, purchase the sweets and collect any mail at the store, and then head home as soon as possible to check on her new ranch hand. Not that she didn’t trust Faith to handle things.
Besides, during the hour’s ride back to the Triple C, she’d attempt to figure out who would have played such a stupid trick on her.
Chapter 11
When Violet rode into the yard at the Triple C, she couldn’t believe her eyes. “What on earth?” she muttered to herself, almost toppling off Atlas in her confusion.
Faith raced toward her, a look of horror on her face. “It weren’t none of my doing, Violet. Honest, I hadn’t the foggiest notion what these fellows were planning.”
With Faith’s assistance, Violet dismounted and stared at the melee before her.
“What is going on? Who are those men?” Violet demanded, arms pumping as she headed for the corral.
Faith scrambled to keep up to her. “They told me they were from the Double M Ranch, and Simon McLennon told them to brand any animals over here that needed it.”
Violet almost tripped on her skirts, stopping in her tracks. She met Faith’s eyes. “Are you serious?”
Faith nodded. “That’s what they told me. There are six men here. I couldn’t very well argue with them. And only this morning we were talking about the branding. I reckoned maybe you stopped at the Double M on your way to town and the McLennons agreed to help you out.”
“I did no such thing.” Violet gazed between the rails. A pair of Triple C branding irons were lying in a blazing fire in the middle of the corral, ready for use. A fellow holding a knife in one hand stood beside a bucket and Violet knew exactly what it contained. By her reckoning, the Double M ranch hands had all but completed the branding and the other b
usiness she hadn’t been at all looking forward to. And she’d required the work be done in the worst way. Calves and their mothers wandered about a connecting corral and throughout the yard, all of them bawling, with the former sporting fresh new Triple C brands.
“Well, then them fellers is mind readers.” Faith stood hands on hips. “I’ve heard of such a thing.”
Violet waved off the silly notion. “Mind readers my foot. A skunk is more like it. I know exactly who sent me that bogus note about signing papers at the bank. Simon McLennon stepped way out of line this time.”
“You mean he wanted you off your own ranch so he could…” Faith’s hand covered her mouth as a very unladylike snort escaped her.
“This is not funny,” Violet warned her new hand.
“I’m sorry.” Faith attempted a sober expression but failed miserably. “Your handsome gentleman is quite inventive, isn’t he?”
“He’s not my gentleman. I stand by the skunk opinion.” She peeked into the corral again where the fire burned down as several cowboys were finishing up the day’s work. Branding her calves. What could she do now? Not one darn thing. She threw up her hands. “Leave them to finish. But I’ll have a word or two for Simon McLennon next time he dares to show his face on this ranch.”
“I’ll help these fellers turn the calves and mothers out to pasture when they’re done.” Faith climbed up to the top rail. Arms waving, she explained her intentions to the McLennon hands which generated collective head-nodding and more arm-waving of their own.
“Seems it’s all under control,” Violet muttered, heading toward the house to change her clothes.
Simon had pulled that trick on her, knowing if he’d shown up with his ranch hands in tow, she might have stubbornly refused his help. Not might, most likely. Well, maybe. At first anyway. Then surely reason would have taken over and she would have graciously accepted his help. Likely. All right, she knew how stubborn she could be. But the fact he’d successfully pulled one over on her to circumvent possible stubbornness still irked her no end.
Five minutes later, she returned to the kitchen dressed in her work trousers and still fuming at what Simon had pulled. He suspected she wouldn’t allow his assistance and found a way around her. But he’d drawn an innocent child into his scheme to carry it out. What kind of example was that?
“There isn’t a more infuriating man on the face of the earth,” she muttered to herself. Why did the man get under her skin at the drop of a hat?
“You talking about me?”
Violet whipped around to discover Simon standing at the threshold of the back door. “You!” She wagged her index finger at him.
“Good afternoon, sweetheart.” Simon’s inappropriate greeting was accompanied by a broad grin. “The ranch hands are done the branding. You’ve got some nice little heifers and steers there.”
Violet stood, stunned. Was that his way of saying they had completed the branding and the castrating so she wouldn’t have to endure the chore, especially the latter part. Which she had to admit she hadn’t been looking forward to. “I noticed.”
“Have a pleasant day in Milestone?”
“Wild goose chasing, you mean?”
“Violet, you would have sent my men on their way had they shown up uninvited.”
“You don’t know that for certain.” Violet held her head high. “I would have thanked them for their generosity and instructed Faith to prepare coffee and sandwiches for their noon meal.”
Simon burst into laughter. “Maybe. But I couldn’t take the chance.”
Suddenly, the will to argue vanished and Violet slumped onto a kitchen chair. “Thank you, Simon. I’d been worrying how I would manage the branding with only Faith’s help. Your generosity is much appreciated, honestly it is.” She met his eyes. “You’re right. Sometimes I’m much too obstinate and independent for my own good.”
“You’re very welcome. And I apologize for my somewhat underhanded means of accomplishing what we both know needed doing.” Simon removed his Stetson and set it on the table. He extended his hand, helped her to her feet, and looked deep into her eyes. “Don’t ever allow pride to stand in the way of necessity. I’m confident you’ll make a go of it here on your father’s ranch. But two young ladies will have their work cut out for them every single day. Ranching is a hard way to make a living, even for a man. The odds of succeeding are against you, but you’ll come out ahead. I know you will. And I’m close at hand if you need me. Day or night.”
Violet blinked back the tears threatening to embarrass her. Simon was the kindest, most generous man she knew. And she could no longer doubt she loved him. A lot. “Thank you. I promise I’ll ask for help when I truly need it. And I’d half made up my mind this morning to ask AJ for help with the branding.”
“AJ doesn’t run the Double M now, Jackson does. If you won’t ask for my help, go to Jackson. He’ll assist you in a heartbeat.” Simon winked at her. “If he doesn’t, he’ll have me to answer to.”
“Poor Jackson,” she teased.
“Am I forgiven?” Simon smiled at her.
“I suppose so. You orchestrated a very generous thing today. Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome, pretty lady.” Simon cupped her chin in his hand and stared into her eyes.
Violet forgot to breathe, knowing he planned to kiss her. And she wanted him to. Desperately. Slowly, he lowered his head and his lips brushed hers and then he claimed her mouth in a sweet kiss that sent her heartbeat racing. His hand possessed the small of her back, drawing her closer to him, and the skin tingled where he touched her through her shirt. She never wanted this moment to end. But soon enough, he took a step back.
“I… I’d best be rounding up my ranch hands and… and heading back to the Double M.” He plucked his Stetson off the table, stuck it on his head, and smiled at her.
“Thank you for the help. We’ll have you over to supper one night soon to show our appreciation. Faith bakes the most wonderful cakes and other desserts.” Violet patted her hair, at a loss as to what she should do with her hands otherwise. She feared she might grab a couple handfuls of Simon’s shirt, pull him against her, and demand another kiss.
“I’d appreciate that.” Simon nodded and touched the brim of his hat. “I’ll see myself out. Keep a close watch on your stock. Coyotes have been spotted in the area.”
“We... we will.” Violet walked him to the back door and watched him cross the yard to the corral. He did fit those denims nicely, and she’d welcome being wrapped in another tight embrace by those strong arms anytime he was of a mind to do it.
What was she thinking?
She stuck her old hat on her head and hurried outside. She should be helping move the last of her cattle to pasture. With a ranch to run, she’d hadn’t a spare moment for fanciful daydreaming about a handsome cowboy. But knowing Simon would come to her rescue in a heartbeat should she face a task beyond her capability, somehow comforted her beyond expectation. As infuriating as that man was, she knew she loved him dearly.
And as long as he didn’t pull another trick on her, she always would.
Chapter 12
May
Violet removed her brother’s letter from her pocket to read it for the tenth time. She hadn’t heard a word from him, despite mailing her letter after receiving the loan and sending the telegraph shortly after she’d hired Faith. She’d worried that he hadn’t received either. Or that he was furious with her for not selling the ranch as he’d wanted her to. But the encouraging and hopeful words in his reply instilled renewed hope in her.
May 2, 1887
Miss Violet Campbell
Milestone, Montana Territory
Dear Sis,
I received your letter and the telegraph awhile back, but I’ve been so busy completing my studies that I’ve barely taken the time to breathe. Lectures, dissections, lab work and tests continue to keep me on my toes, but I’m finally seeing the light at the end of all this. I’ll be returning home soon to
set up my own practice. Doctor Roland Campbell. Did you ever imagine this day would actually come? I’ll have to pinch myself the day I treat my first patient to ensure I’m not dreaming the entire thing.
I’ve written to Simon a couple of times and he’s been wonderful about helping with making arrangements on my behalf. The man is more like a brother than a friend. Simon searched out a building for my office and signed a lease on my behalf on an empty storefront right on Main Street near Turner’s livery. It’ll be handy to the stockyards if animals require doctoring before shipment. Harold Watson arranged a substantial loan for me. Besides having the funds for the initial building rental, I’ve ordered equipment and supplies, and with Simon’s help, I should have everything in place and ready to open my practice days after returning to Milestone.
I was surprised to hear you’d gotten your loan (which I never would have believed possible) and then hiring that young girl to help with the ranch work was a good idea. I know keeping Pa’s ranch is your only goal in life, but I hope someday you also find someone to share your life with. You’re probably working too hard. You need a husband and a whole passel of children to keep you busy while your husband tends to your ranch. Keep an open mind. The man for you might be right under your nose.
This is getting long. I’ll be home before it’s finished if I don’t sign off.
To make up for leaving you in dire straits, I’ll help with roundup this fall. See you soon.
Your loving brother,
Roland
Violet couldn’t believe Roland wished her luck and he intended to help with fall roundup. Not that there would be as many head of cattle to gather and sort for sale this year. But every bit of help would be appreciated. Thankfully, they hadn’t lost a single animal so far, despite ranchers reporting coyote sightings and even one bear had been spotted west of them closer to the forested areas. Next year would be better. She’d have the funds to buy more cattle and grow her herd. Although she knew after last winter’s losses and the ravage the land had suffered from over-grazing in years past, her ranch would only sustain two or three hundred head.
Inherit A Dream (Sons Of A Gun Book 4) Page 7