Blessing (Widows Of Wildcat Ridge Book 2)

by Caroline Clemmons

  Mortimer Crane was on hand to stop the roadwork. “I own the land that trail is on and I am not giving my consent to build a road. I insist you cease work immediately.”

  A man Buster had never seen stepped forward. He was dressed in a suit and wore an air of authority. “Mr. Crane, I’m Owen Vaile, Mayor Fugit’s lawyer. You will be pleased to know the road will not cross your land. Work begins today.”

  When their exchange was complete and Crane had stalked off, Buster pulled Hester aside and explained about the wildcat and where it was buried. “I’d hate for the workmen to unearth the poor thing.”

  She handed a piece of paper to Hester. “I’ve drawn out where the cat’s grave is located.”

  Hester accepted the map. “I’ll let the foreman know. I’m sorry you and your employee had to deal with it. Lucky he was along.” She shook her head. “I know you’re a good shot, but no one should have to face a wildcat alone.”

  “I’ll go on back home and let you take care of business here. I’ll see you in church.”

  “Wait, tell me about this new employee. Nedra said he was handsome.”

  Buster laughed. “There are no secrets in Wildcat Ridge, are there? He’s not hard on the eyes now that you mention it. Maybe he’ll come to church with us Sunday and you can see for yourself.”

  She rode home thinking about the upcoming changes. She wondered which of the women Thad would end up with. Licking her lips, she recalled the kisses they’d exchanged yesterday. Her body heated even thinking about their time by the spring and tingles shot through her.

  Probably Dub had already warned Thad away from trying to spend private time with her. He’d certainly lectured her to avoid being alone with Thad at the same time Marnie encouraged her. She wished Dub and Marnie—though she knew they did so because they loved her—would back off and let her make her own decisions.

  That afternoon Silas came again. This time he was dressed in his fanciest duds. Didn’t they make a pair, her receiving him while wearing her overalls. She had to bite her tongue not to laugh.

  “Come in, Silas. Looks like you’re dressed to sit in the parlor. Shall we?”

  Lucy nodded at her, her signal that she’d bring refreshments.

  Buster sat in her favorite armchair. “Have a seat. I believe Lucy’s getting us a bite to eat.”

  He chose the settee near her. “My dear, you could easily manage a large home with numerous servants to do your bidding while you relaxed in luxurious gowns.”

  “I have those gowns but never wear them. I prefer dressing for ranch work because I manage a working ranch.”

  “Such a shame a beautiful woman such as yourself is wasted on cattle and horses.”

  She wanted to roll her eyes at his ridiculous flattery that proved he had no idea of her personality. “Don’t forget the pigs and chickens and mules and milk cows.”

  Lucy brought in a tray containing sliced pound cake and glasses of cold milk.

  He appeared taken aback by the glass of milk she handed him. He probably expected whiskey.

  She sipped her own milk then set it on the side table. “What brings you here today?”

  “I wondered if you’d reconsidered my offer to buy this place?”

  Resting her hands on the chair’s cushioned arms, she met the rancher’s gaze. “Silas, you are wasting your time and mine if that’s why you’ve come. I will never sell this ranch, not to you or anyone else. Please don’t ask me again or I’ll likely get mad and say things I’ll regret.”

  “I can’t imagine you angry, but I’m sure you’re as lovely then as now. I anticipated your refusal to sell and have another interesting offer to put before you.” He dropped to one knee in front of her. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  She heard Dub in the hall but faced the onerous Silas and motioned with her hands. “Get up. Get. Up. Do you hear? No, I will not marry you. You were a friend of my father’s but you don’t even know me. That much is obvious from what you’ve said.”

  He scooted back onto the settee. “How can you say that?”

  She ticked off points on her fingers. “I do not want to wear frilly dresses. If I want servants, I’ll hire them. I prefer to think of the people who work here as friends who are like family. I don’t want a house in town—not in any town.”

  Dub strolled into the parlor. “Hansen, I thought that was your horse out front.”

  Silas appeared affronted. “I’ve just proposed to this little lady. Blessing refused my suit but I won’t give up until I win her hand.”

  Dub actually laughed. “Then you’d better stop calling her ‘little lady’ and call her Buster.”

  Buster shook her head at the man who had been her father’s friend. “Silas, I think you’d better go. I have a lot to get done today. Dub and I have to go over the breeding charts.”

  Silas appeared shocked. “Such terms should never pass a lady’s lips. Very well, but I’ll try again when you’ve had time to think about the advantage of uniting our ranches and our lives.”

  Dub walked with the other man. “I’ll see you out, Hansen.”

  When he returned, he was laughing. “Well, little lady, let’s go the office and get to work.”

  “Can you believe that man? The only advantage to uniting our ranches would be for him. I know many women consider him handsome, but I’d never consider marrying him in a million years.”

  Dub nodded. “Glad to hear that. William saw the good in people, but sometimes I think he missed a bit of the bad in doing so.”

  “Why, Dub, I never heard you criticize Silas before. Can’t say he’s one of my favorite people. I swear if he asks to buy this place again I’ll take a shotgun full of rock salt to his backside.”

  He paused and frowned. “You didn’t tell me he’d offered to buy the ranch.”

  “Oh? I thought I did. This was the second time. Lame-brained idea if you ask me but not as stupid as him proposing to me.”

  When they were in the office, Dub said. “I’ve got some bad news, Buster. Better sit down.”

  She plopped onto the chair. “Worse than a visit from Silas does sound serious? What has happened?”

  “We’re missing cattle. Sam and Mac finished this month’s count and seems like we’ve lost at least fifty head.”

  The number shocked her. She licked her lips, trying to process the information Dub had delivered. Her mind reeled, sorting through places stock might wander. “Any fences cut?”

  Dub shook his head. “Must have used at least one gate. We found one they used. Tried tracking them without success and haven’t located them yet. Don’t worry, we’ll find the missing herd.”

  Buster wanted to believe him but doubt consumed her. “If they’re still around. Could have been driven to Wyoming.”

  “Hated to tell you because I know you’ll worry over the news, Buster, but you had to know.”

  “Yes, I need to stay up to date on everything that happens on this ranch. Thank you for informing me. Which gate did they use?”

  “The northeast one that’s kind of tucked away. You know how rocky the land is with stone outcropping. You can understand why we lost the cattle’s trail.”

  She visualized the gate and the land around it as if she were there. “How could fifty head disappear without leaving a trail? You think they were all rustled at once?”

  “Nah, reckon someone spirited away one or two at a time.”

  Uncertainty gnawed at her. “Do you think this is because the ranch is owned by a woman? Silas said things like this would happen now.”

  “What a load of… no, you being a woman has nothing to do with it. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn William’s death caused someone to believe the ranch would be vulnerable.”

  Buster thought, leave it to Dub to defend her position. “Could Jordan have been involved?”

  “Wouldn’t be surprised to find out he helped. He sure never did what he was told so learning he was crooked wouldn’t shock me.”

>   “You took care of him.” But, she wondered if Jordan had been one of the rustlers. Was he the person who ransacked her office?

  Chapter Ten

  Sunday was her chance to see all of her friends at one time. Although she didn’t have long to visit with them, at least she exchanged a few words and learned what was going on in town. Today everyone questioned her about the wildcat but all the time they spoke to her, the women gaped at Thad.

  Buster had to admit he was the best looking man she’d ever seen. People from her ranch sat in their customary pews. Somehow, Thad sat next to her. Though she was certain it was coincidence, she admitted having him beside her was nice. When the congregation sang hymns, his strong baritone was pleasing to the ears.

  Since the break-in, she and Dub had decided two men would remain in the bunkhouse each Sunday. If an intruder returned, the person would discover he had a committee on hand to discourage him. Today Tony and Sam had drawn the duty. They’d promised to stay awake but hidden.

  Once they returned home, Sam met them. “Good thing you left us here. We didn’t catch the prowler, but we scared him off.”

  Buster scowled and pointed at the ground. “You mean the sorry polecat came back here?”

  Sam removed his hat. “Tony and I tried to capture the sidewinder, but he got away. Just one man.”

  Dub asked, “Did you recognize him?”

  Sam rubbed at his chin. “We should have waited longer to let ourselves be known. He spotted us before we were close enough to capture him or figure out who he was.”

  Buster clapped each man on the shoulder. “Thanks, both of you. At least you fellows saved us from having to clean up that mess or worse again. And, now he knows there’ll always be someone guarding the house.”

  After dinner she changed from her mauve split skirt and jacket to her overalls and a blue calico shirt. Physically comfortable again, Buster sat down in the parlor to read Rose In Bloom. She had enjoyed Eight Cousins and looked forward to this chance to read the sequel.

  Mentally, knowing the intruder had returned upset her more than she could admit to her ranch hands. Concentrating on the book’s text was impossible. Silas had planted doubts in her perceived ability.

  She knew she could run the ranch. Someone didn’t agree and targeted her home and cattle. Who was working against her?

  After a couple of hours, Thad and Dub strode into the room. Both men wore angry frowns.

  She closed her book on which she’d yet been able to concentrate. “What’s wrong now?”

  Dub glared at Thad. “You tell her if you’re man enough.”

  Thad sent the foreman an angry glance before he looked at Buster. “I told you my former employer died. What I didn’t tell you is that his death was the result of a beating he received when four of his prize horses were stolen. I found those horses in your barn.”

  She jumped up and stood to face him. “We don’t have any stolen horses and anyone who says we do is either insane or a liar. Which are you?”

  He took a step toward her and gestured in the direction of the barn. “There are four horses in your barn that are wearing Colin Ross’ brand. He and I bred and raised those horses. I’d have recognized them even if they weren’t branded. Besides that, they have special shoes and that’s how I tracked them here.”

  “You came here because you think we stole horses?” She stabbed a finger in his chest to punctuate her words. “You are one nervy galoot. The Rafter O Ranch has a fine reputation. You’re crazy if you think we’d deal in anything stolen.”

  He leaned over her. “Show me the bill of sale and I’ll apologize.”

  “Follow me.” Turning, she stomped to the office.

  There, she opened the ledger where they recorded every horse they bought or sold. Running her fingers down the ledger on the last entries, she found the four horses purchased at one time. She turned the ledger so Thad could see. “Those are the last purchases. Four horses.”

  He glanced at the page. “That doesn’t prove anything. Look, the other lines list the seller but not these. Who sold them and where’s the bill of sale?”

  “I’ll find it.” She went to the file where her father stuck bills of sale. She’d organized these papers after the burglary and they were in chronological order.

  She looked and then searched again. “I don’t understand. Dub, do you know where Papa bought those four?”

  “He didn’t say and was kind of mysterious about the purchase.” Dub’s facial expression showed he was troubled. “I know he paid someone, but not sure who. Maybe the bill of sale is mixed up in some the other papers. There was such a mess we might not have gotten all the papers where they go.”

  “That’s true but I thought I’d gone through everything. I even brought all the papers down from Papa’s room and I’ve sorted them.”

  Thad stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest. “Well, if you don’t have a bill of sale, how can you claim they’re not stolen?”

  She peered into his face, ready to punch him in the mouth. “My papa did not steal horses and would never have bought stolen horses! You can get that idea out of your head right now. I’ll find the bill of sale. Give me a few days and I’ll find that piece of paper and make you eat it.”

  “You show it to me and I’ll be happy to.”

  Dub rubbed his jaw as if he hadn’t heard the latest exchange. “Could be stuck to something else. If so, no telling where it is.”

  “Wherever it is, I’ll find the dadblamed thing.”

  She fought for reassurance. In all the papers she’d handled since her father’s passing, she didn’t recall one about those four horses. Yet, it had to be here. Papa would never have knowingly acquired stolen horses.

  She pointed at Thad. “Sit down and help me go through these files page by page. Tell me if you find that bill of sale.”

  He moved the chair closer to the desk and started on the stack she’d handed him. “Of course I’ll tell you. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Because you don’t want to have to eat your words, that’s why.”

  Dub brought another chair in from the kitchen. “I’ll pitch in for a couple of hours. We need that proof so we can breed those horses like we planned.”

  Buster rubbed her forehead where an ache pounded. “If they were stolen and the original owner’s dead, who owns them?”

  Thad glanced up. “The Ross heirs. Colin Ross, Jr. is executor of the estate.”

  Buster nodded and made a decision. “First thing tomorrow, ride into town and send them a wire. Let them know you found four of the stolen horses. Don’t you dare say my papa stole them or I swear I’ll shoot your ornery hide.”

  They searched for two hours before Dub said, “I have to find out if Tony and Mac found a trace of the missing cattle. Tony’s good at tracking. Reckon I should get Levi Akridge over?”

  Thad perked up. “I’m pretty good at tracking. Followed the horses here, didn’t I? You are talking about the missing cattle, aren’t you?”

  “Durn right I am. We’ve looked for them but haven’t found hide nor hair. You’d think fifty head of cattle would be hard to keep invisible.”

  Buster sent Thad a searing stare. “You reckon you can find them, you start looking tomorrow when you get back from town.” She glanced at Dub. “That suit you?”

  “I’d sure like to trace them and learn who’s responsible.” Dub gestured to Thad. “If you can find those beeves, so much the better.”

  Thad thumbed through papers. “You think this Jordan you fired before I came could be responsible?”

  Dub made a sound almost like a snort. “He’s not smart and he’s lazy. Never come up with a plan like this on his own. Guess he might be helping someone else.”

  “From what you’ve said, sounds like William Odell was well-liked and respected. Do you know of anyone who had a grudge against him?”

  Buster couldn’t help herself. “Everyone liked Papa.”

  Dub sent a fond glance her way. “When a man’
s successful, he naturally has people who are envious. People who forget hard work, self-discipline, and planning went into that success. There are those around who resented William’s success.”

  Buster stared at her foreman. “Who was jealous enough to try rustling and breaking into the house?”

  “I’m not accusing anyone. I’m just saying that there are people out there who always want something for nothing. If a man’s wealthy, they figure they can help themselves to what he has without harm.”

  Buster felt pressure building and her headache increased. She rubbed her forehead.

  Thad spoke softly to her, “Not worth getting upset, Buster. We need to find the bill of sale and then I’ll see if I can track the cattle.”

  He focused his gaze on Dub. “They must have taken one or two at a time or there’d be a trail. You can’t move fifty beeves without leaving plenty of sign.”

  Dub set aside the papers he’d just reviewed. “Dadgum right but there is no sign. I reckon there was some moonlight reiving going on.”

  Thad laughed. “Figure you’re right about that. Maybe when there was a full moon, a reiver’s moon. But, the cattle have to be fed if they’re held somewhere and haven’t been sold yet.”

  Dub stood up. “I’ll leave you two searching. He clamped his hat on his head and left.

  Chapter Eleven

  Now that he’d cooled down, Thad regretted accusing Buster’s father of deliberately having stolen horses. There wasn’t a man living or dead who could measure up to her memory of William Odell. But, from what he’d learned of the man, he was a straight-shooter who wouldn’t truck with stolen stock. He might as well make peace with his employer.

  “Buster, I looked up to Colin Ross the way you did your father. I’m sorry I accused your papa of stealing. Just the same, someone beat Colin and stole the horses. I sure need to find out whose name is on the bill of sale.”

  She took a deep breath and her shoulders relaxed slightly. “I can see where you might have jumped to the wrong conclusion. You didn’t know Papa, but you made a mistake accusing him of anything dishonest.”