“Looks like we are going to make it safely to the stockyard after all,” Mr. Daniels said, as he sat beside Callie, on the ground. I had my doubts about this trip, especially after that thunderstorm. As long as no one shoots your helpers dead, the moment we arrive, we should do okay.”
“They had better not shoot my friends,” Callie frowned. “The rest of the ranchers are all going to have to learn to get along with my Indian drovers. After all, we are the ones who pushed the Indians off of their land, in the first place. If it had been the other way around, I am sure we would have acted just like the Indians did towards someone invading our land or way of life.
“Hopefully, it can all be put behind us, as we go forward,” Mr. Daniels suggested.
“All I know is, I have never been so happy to see a group of Indians riding towards me, as I was today, when Chayton and his friends showed up,” Callie admitted.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Well, what do we have here?” Callie heard the familiar voice of Cooper, not far away.
She turned in her saddle and looked towards the direction the voice came from. She had been sitting on her horse, on the sidelines, as Chayton and his friends, along with the help of Connor, were directing her cattle into the holding pens. Now her eyes met Cooper’s as he brought his horse up alongside her.
“I can’t believe you brought your filthy Indian friends to help you drive your cattle to market. In fact, not only has no one ever done that before, but there has never been a woman going on a cattle drive before either. I got to hand it to you, Callie. You are just full of surprises. You may even go down in history as the first woman to drive her cattle to market, not to mention bringing Indians along.”
“I see you managed to find another position at some other ranch. I hope you and the boys are happy at your new place,” Callie smiled sweetly.
“You are rather reckless, trusting those heathens with your cattle. Only, what about you? I thought you were carrying a little one, and you risk its life coming on such a rough journey?”
“There is no little life to risk. I fear you jumped to conclusions, Cooper, when I talked to you about your behavior while telling me exactly what I needed to know. Your ethics are deplorable, Cooper. You should be more trustworthy in the future, with whoever you have dealings with. I’m glad I discovered your baser character when I did. I was actually starting to trust you!”
“Then it is no one’s fault but my own. However, I did enjoy myself, while it lasted,” Cooper smiled as his eyes raked over her, and Callie looked away.
“I see no purpose in this conversation, so I would appreciate it if you took yourself somewhere else. I need to go collect the money for my cattle and pay my drovers. I have hired them all to work on my ranch since they are a little more trustworthy and less prejudice than you and other ranch hands happen to be.”
“The ranchers will be chasing you out, or burning down your place, if you do that,” Cooper warned.
“There is no law against hiring Indians to work for you. If anyone tries to interfere with my ranch, I will have them arrested, if they don’t end up with an arrow in their back first! I have a right to protect my property. My workers are loyal, so just keep that in mind. You are lucky I haven’t had you shot, for what you did. If I were you, I would tread lightly. I haven’t told Chayton about how you used me. If he ever discovered it, I believe he would have your scalp, and worry about the law later!”
“You are going to regret this,” Cooper threatened.
“I doubt it. You might as well go lick your wounds, and count yourself lucky. I suggest you stay far away from me, and my ranch, in the future.”
Cooper spat upon the ground, and then turned his horse in the other direction, looking over his shoulder at her, and giving her a disapproving scowl.
The cattle had been herded into the holding pen, and Connor, along with Chayton came up beside her.
“Now what?” Connor asked.
“Well, first of all, I am going to get paid for our cattle, and then all of us, are going to spend the night at a hotel, where we can have a hot bath, and relax. In the morning, the braves need to buy some new clothe, and I think I will buy myself a pair of denims to wear on the way back to the ranch, and maybe get some chaps for all of us. I’ll even let you children do some shopping for anything you take a fancy to.”
“Really?” Connor asked wide eyed.
“You bet,” Callie smiled. “I was thinking that maybe you should have your own gun. What do you think about that?”
“I would like that,” Connor grinned.
“And maybe the girls would like a doll. I don’t think they have ever had a doll before since Chet always treated them like boys. Why don’t you and the braves take the chuck wagon over to where the hotel is, up past the train station, and I will meet you all there when I am through?”
“I’ll go with you,” Chayton offered. “Just to make sure they treat you right,” he winked.
Callie watched Connor go to talk to Mr. Daniels and the braves, who were over next to the chuck wagon, then she turned her horse in the direction of the office, glancing at the ticket in her hand, that told how many head of cattle she had brought. When she got down from her horse, Chayton walked beside her, but he was careful not to touch her because he knew how white people felt about an Indian touching a white woman, and he didn’t want to create a problem for himself, or Callie.
The thought made him realize how hard it was going to be, even if Callie could hire him and his friends to work on her ranch. Having Indians working on her ranch wasn’t quite as bad as having one as her husband, and that was the very hope he held in his heart. He wondered if she would take him more seriously than simply as a lover, to satisfy the attraction they had for each other? Had she come to his village with him, he would have asked her to become his wife. Now he was afraid it wouldn’t be accepted if he suggested such a thing. How was he ever going to make her his completely, if they couldn’t give themselves to each other as husband and wife?
Chayton followed beside Callie, as she approached the office, and went in to stand in line with the other cattle owners, waiting for their money.
“What’s that Injun doing in here?” a gruff looking man with a beard asked, glaring at Chayton.
“He’s with me,” Callie said stiffly. “He happens to be my foreman.”
“Who in the hell are you?” the man asked. “I didn’t think women went on cattle drives.”
“I happen to be the owner of the Double C Ranch, and this Injun, as you call him, works for me.”
“The Double C? That’s Chet Callahan’s ranch. What are you doing with it?” the man demanded.
“I am Chet Callahan’s widow. There was no one to drive the cattle except for me and Chet’s kids, along with my Indian friends. The ranch belongs to me now.”
“Well I’ll be!” the man said, coming a little closer. “When the newspapers get wind of this, they’ll make a story out of it; I can guarantee!”
“I didn’t think the newspapers were interested in writing about cattle drives,” Callie said.
“Except when a woman heads one and has Indians as her drovers. It will probably hit the front page!”
“Surely no one will be interested in reading such a story,” Callie mumbled, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that she had Indians working for her, in case it started trouble.
“That’s yet to be seen,” the man told her. “You’re turn,” he said, nodding to the window where a cashier was handing out money to the cattlemen.
Callie stepped up to the window.
“I heard what you said a bit ago,” the man behind the window admitted. “I never heard of a woman driving cattle cross-country before. Rupert was right. This is going to be a first. You say you have other Indians working for you? I hope people don’t have to start worrying about their scalps,” he mumbled as he gave Chayton a long appraising look.
“Depends on how they treat my boss here,” Chayton stated
, as he glared at the man.
“Well, she’s a woman. Of course, we will treat her with respect. In fact, any woman brave enough to go on a drive with a herd of cattle deserves more than just respect. I can’t say the same for a bunch of Injuns, though.”
“You will treat them with respect as well,” Callie cut in. “For now, I would appreciate it, if you paid me for my cattle. I am feeling tired from my long journey, and wish to go to the hotel, so I can rest.”
“Yes ma’am,” the man said, taking her ticket, and then counting out the money, he owed her, and putting it in an envelope.
Callie realized, she was feeling tired. She hadn’t noticed how much the long drive had affected her because she was trying to remain strong. Only now that it was all over, it seemed like all her strength had been sapped right out of her. She was looking forward to resting for the next day or so, before heading back to the ranch.
Callie and Chayton headed toward the hotel. It felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from Callie’s shoulders, and she couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch and plan for the future. Only the future seemed muddled in her mind at the time. She had Chayton with her, but what would happen when they returned to the ranch? Would she allow him to move into the house with her, or have him stay in the bunkhouse, so future rumors would not be spread about her and Chayton? Just what part was he going to end up playing in her life?
Callie could feel the perspiration starting to bead on her forehead, as she walked beside Chayton on the way to the hotel. Even though it was a hot day, as usual, she had never felt as warm and worn out, as she did, at the moment. She looked up at Chayton, beside her, and gave him a reassuring smile, as she tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
“Are you all right?” she heard Chayton ask.
His voice sounded far away and muffled.
“Yes,” she murmured, as they met the others in front of the hotel.
Chayton pushed the heavy door open, and the group followed her and Chayton inside. Connor carried Joey, while Ina carried Shanny. Callie stepped up to the desk.
“I would like several rooms,” she told the clerk. “One for me and my children and the others for my friends.”
“We don’t serve no Injuns here,” the man told her.
“These so-called Injuns, happen to be my workers, so I insist you give them rooms,” she said stiffly.
“I don’t care who they work for. They are Injuns, and I don’t let their kind stay at my hotel,” the man said gruffly.
“I suppose that is up to you,” Callie stated, calmly. “However, I must inform you; I happen to be the first woman who ever led a cattle drive, and these Indians helped me do it. When the story is written up in the newspapers either your hotel is going to become famous for throwing me and my workers out, or become famous for having us stay here. Which is it going to be?”
Callie eyed the man behind the desk, as he looked over the group standing there.
“You telling the truth?” he asked.
“Ask anyone in town, only you are wasting time, and I am tired. If you don’t give us a room soon, my workers, my children, and I will proceed to lay our cot-rolls out on the walk in front of your establishment, and a quite different account will be written in the newspaper. Someone at the stockyards told me my story was sure to make front-page news.”
The man continued to stare at Callie, as she spoke, his eyes wide and unbelieving.
“Guess I will just have to trust you, but if your Indian friends cause any trouble here, I will kick all of you out, whether you are the first woman to head a cattle drive or not!”
“Thank you,” Callie murmured demurely. “Be prepared to become famous. I assure you, my friends are very well mannered and more civilized than you give them credit for.”
The owner handed her a key, and then gave the other men a key as well. Callie turned and headed toward the stairs, but she almost lost her balance and stumbled.
“You look too tired to climb those stairs,” Chayton exclaimed, and in spite of the scene it would make for him to dare touch Callie, he picked her up in his arms, and carried her up to her room, as the rest followed. The size of the group made a loud commotion, as their combined booted feet trod against the steps behind Chayton.
Tommy took the key from Callie’s hand and opened up the door for Chayton, and the children rushed into the room, as the rest went to find their own rooms.
“Are you alright, mama?” Beth asked anxiously.
“I am fine,” Callie assured her. “I am just very tired.”
Chayton laid her on one of the beds that were arranged in the room. There were only two other beds in the room, so the children would have to share, Callie was thinking.
“Connor, you need to go help Mr. Daniels carry the crib up here to put the babies in,” she said, and Connor put Joey down, and went back out of the door.
“You don’t look just tired,” Chayton mumbled, as he placed his hand on her forehead. “You feel too warm. I am going to send Ina to see if she can find the town’s doctor, so he can look at you. There is nothing I have at hand that I could give you, to make you feel better; therefore, I will leave it up to a white doctor to decide.”
“I don’t need a doctor. I just need some rest,” Callie insisted.
“When I first took you from your ranch, you had a little girl who died. You did not think she was sick either. I don’t want to take a chance.”
“That was different. I think Roletta had ingested something bad from her feeding bottle.”
“You could have ingested something bad too, for all you know,” Chayton suggested.
As Chayton talked, he removed Callie’s boots, and then pulled the covers up over her.
“I feel too hot for covers,” she complained.
“I will get a cloth for your head,” he told her, going to the bowl and pitcher sitting on the dresser, and dampening the cloth available for washing the occupant’s face.
Chayton placed the cloth on Callie’s forehead.
“Why don’t you girls go to the tub room and take a bath?” Chayton suggested. “Take the little ones with you, and bathe them too.”
Tommy and Beth pulled their nightgowns from the satchel they had brought up from the wagon, and took the hands of Joey and Shanny, leading them out of the door and down the hall to the tub room.
Chayton looked down on Callie’s face. She looked pale, and her eyes were closed. It made a catch form in his throat, thinking of how pale Clenoa had looked in death. He hoped nothing was seriously wrong with Callie.
There was a knock at the door, and when Chayton opened the door, he saw Connor and Mr. Daniels carrying the crib, so he held the door open to let them through.
“Ina said she was going to find the doctor,” Connor said, looking worried. “Why do you need a doctor?”
“I just want him to check on Callie, to make sure she is healthy, is all. She is very tired, and looks pale.”
Connor rushed to Callie’s side and grabbed her hand. “I won’t let you die,” he whispered.
Callie slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, she thought she was in the cabin, about to have a baby, with Connor promising her he wasn’t going to let her die.
“I am not going to die, Connor. I’m just tired, is all.”
The next moment the door flew open, and it was Ina, pulling the doctor into the room. Behind him was another man.
“Who are you?” Chayton asked the man who followed Ina and the doctor into the room.
“I am a reporter. Someone told me this woman was the first woman to ever drive cattle all the way from Texas to the stockyards here. You must be one of the Indians who helped her.”
“She is not feeling well right now. You will have to come back later.”
“Maybe I could talk to someone else,” the man suggested.
“I’ll talk to you,” Mr. Daniels volunteered. “I know as much about this as she does.”
“Good. Maybe we could go to your room and
talk,” the reporter suggested, and the two departed.
Doctor Graves was busy taking Callie’s pulse, and looking into her eyes, listening to her heartbeat, and feeling her forehead.
“I think it is over exhaustion from the long journey she just took,” he told Chayton and Connor. “Only because her resistance is so low, it may turn into pneumonia, which could cause her death if it turns bad. I suggest she has complete rest, drink lots of fluids, and not have any worries presented to her. It might be better if she has a separate room to herself, with one person caring for her.”
“Connor, go down and get a key for a new room,” Chayton instructed Connor.
“I’ll come back and check on her tomorrow, to see if there is any improvement after she has rested for a day.” Doctor Graves informed Chayton.
As the doctor was leaving, Connor came in with a key, and Chayton picked Callie up into his arms. The girls and babies were just returning from their bath.
“Put the little ones to bed,” Chayton instructed them. “Connor, you go prepare the room; I am going to give her a bath.”
Chayton took Callie to the tub room, turning on the taps to fill the tub, and then began removing her tattered habit.
“A bath,” Callie murmured, as Chayton lowered her into the tub. “I have been longing for a bath for so long now,” she whispered, as she laid her head back against the back of the tub and closed her eyes.
“It will refresh you,” Chayton promised, as he began running the cloth over her body, remembering the first time he had bathed Callie.
Eventually, Chayton emptied the tub and dried Callie off, wrapping her in one of the large towels, and carrying her to the room, where Connor was waiting for them.
“How is she?” Connor asked when Chayton brought Callie in.
Beyond the Heart Page 25