The Texas Cowboy’s Courtship (Testament Creek Book 1)

by Maya Stirling

  The thought of riding alongside Cal made her pulse race faster.

  "What do you say?" he asked and quirked a brow at her.

  "Sure," she told him. Even as she said that, she felt her heartbeat thundering.

  Soon she was on Lucky, settled in the saddle. Cal led her out into the yard and got up onto his own horse. "We won't go far," he explained.

  Prudence gripped the reins tightly as Cal led her across the yard. Glancing toward the kitchen window, she saw the faces of Grace and Hope. Both women's faces betrayed their delight. Prudence smiled at them and they both looked, wide-eyed, back at her.

  It felt strange to be following behind Cal. Until now, the most she'd done on the horse had been to hold onto the reins while he'd led her and Lucky around the corral. Of course he'd given her plenty of instruction about posture, and what she should do with her legs and feet. It seemed like there'd been a thousand things to learn when it came to riding her pinto.

  As they emerged out onto the trail past the high wooden gate, Prudence felt a sudden sense of freedom. Even with Lucky loping along at a leisurely pace, she felt oddly liberated. Gazing out across the plain, she got her first understanding of what it might be like to ride fast and free beneath the Texas sun.

  Cal turned and smiled. "You okay?"

  Prudence nodded. "Fine," she stated.

  "We won't go far," Cal explained. "How does it feel?"

  Prudence smiled at him. "Wonderful."

  He nodded and grinned. "I thought you'd like this. I'll take Hope and Grace out this afternoon."

  Prudence followed behind Cal. Lucky seemed to take the lead from Cal's horse. Prudence wondered if Cal had worked secretly with Lucky when she hadn't been around.

  "Let's go off the trail," Cal announced suddenly. "Just for a short while."

  Before she had a chance to respond, he turned his horse onto the low, bluebonnet-sprinkled grass of the plain. Lucky followed obediently and without any special prompting by Prudence. Glancing down, Prudence saw the horse's hooves sinking into the low grass. There was something hypnotic about the movement of the horse now that it was no longer on the hard-packed earth of the trail.

  Every once in a while Cal turned, just to check on her. Every time he did so, she tried to smile at him, just to make sure he understood how much she was enjoying this. His close attention reminded her about another thing she'd noticed about Cal these past few weeks. He had a natural concern for the well-being of others. She understood why the ranch hands all seemed to hold Cal in such high regard. He cared for others and wanted to make sure they were safe and secure. She'd seen plenty of evidence of that concern around the ranch.

  Cal Logan was a good man. It was that simple, Prudence told herself. And, there was one other, very important thing she couldn't help noticing.

  With every day that passed, Cal Logan was paying more and more attention to her.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  In the bunkhouse, the evening after the ride out with Prudence, Cal was awakened by the sudden shaking of his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he peered at the face staring wide-eyed at him in the bunkhouse semi-darkness. It was one of the ranch hands, Emerson.

  Cal sat up in his bunk. "What is it?" he asked the ranch hand.

  "Boss. You gotta come, and quick. We've got a problem," Emerson hissed.

  Cal heard some of the other men shifting in their beds. Almost half of the bunkhouse's fourteen beds was occupied tonight. The other men were out on the range.

  Twisting out of bed, Cal guessed what might be the trouble. Sitting by the bedside, he ran a hand through his hair. "Rustlers?" he asked Emerson.

  To Cal's surprise, Emerson shook his head. "Uh huh. Something worse. Intruder around the ranch house."

  Cal jerked forward. "He didn't get into the house, did he?"

  Emerson stood. "We got him before he got any funny ideas."

  Cal pulled on his jeans, boots and shirt. "Where is he?"

  "In the barn. A couple of the men are holding onto him until you come and sort things out," Emerson announced.

  Cal rested a hand on Emerson's shoulder. "You boys did well," Cal told the man. Emerson was a fine ranch hand, Cal reflected. Like all of the men, he was willing to go the extra mile if it meant keeping the Circle T safe from intruders.

  Cal and Emerson made their way outside. The night was cool and the sky peppered with shimmering stars. A full moon cast a silvery glow across the Texas land. On any other night this would have been a beautiful night to be out, Cal reflected. But not when dangerous men had made it their business to put their boots where they weren't welcome.

  As Cal and Emerson made their way toward the barn, Cal reflected on the fact that this wasn't the first time they'd had to deal with intruders. And he had a pretty good idea where the man had come from.

  A sudden thought seized Cal. "No-one in the house knows this is going on, do they?"

  Emerson shook his head. "Not so far as I know. We trailed this critter from down near the border fence. The galoot ran us around for a while. At first, we couldn't work out where he was headed. Then he ended up here. That was when we decided enough was enough, and grabbed him."

  Cal rounded the corner of the barn. The ranch house was still shrouded in darkness. He was glad none of the women had noticed the disturbance. But it still worried him that the man had come onto their private property in the first place. Cal had made a decision to downplay the recent trouble with rustlers. He'd mentioned it a few times in conversations with Prudence, Hope and Grace. But he hadn't wanted to worry them too much. They had enough to deal with learning how to run a ranch.

  Cal and Emerson entered the barn and closed the wooden door behind them. The man was seated on a chair in the middle of the half-empty barn. His hands were tied behind his back and his pistol belt was lying a few feet away on the floor.

  A ranch hand stood on either side of him. Each held a pistol. The intruder wasn't going anywhere, Cal concluded. Not until he'd told them what they needed to know.

  The man was dark-haired and swarthy. A thick beard covered his chin and his eyes burned with fury. He was dressed in a heavy black jacket and pants, no doubt chosen to hide his appearance in the night.

  Cal hesitated. Recognition dawned in his mind. He'd seen this man before. Cal halted in front of the man. "You're one of Largo's men," Cal said abruptly.

  The man's brows furrowed for the briefest of moments. Then his features became unreadable again. He said nothing as he fixed his gaze on the hay-covered floor.

  Cal reached down and took hold of the man's chin. He forced the intruder to look up at him. "Why did Largo send you here?"

  The man shook his head, loosening Cal's hand. "I don't know what you're talking about." His voice was heavily accented. Mexican.

  "What's your name?"

  Again the man was silent.

  Emerson spoke up next. "I've seen him before. You're right, Cal. He's one of Largo's men. I saw him in Testament Creek during the horse auction a few weeks ago."

  Cal nodded. "Yeah. That's right." He peered at the man. "If you're not going to talk, then we'll just have to return you to your master."

  The man's eyes widened. Now there was a different kind of emotion in them. Fear. "Where are you taking me?" he gasped.

  Cal smiled at Emerson and the other two ranch hands. "I think we'll pay a visit to Señor Largo's ranch. He might be interested in seeing you. Especially since I'm sure he'll be disappointed that you let yourself get caught."

  The man's face turned white. His gaze shifted abruptly from Cal to Emerson.

  Cal leaned forward. "Unless you want us to take you into Testament Creek. Maybe the sheriff can get you to talk, instead."

  Caught between those two options, the man shook his head. "Do what you want," he grunted.

  Cal nodded to the men. "Keep an eye on him while we get the horses ready."

  Soon they were mounted up. Cal and Emerson rode on either side of the intruder. The man's hands remained tied behind
his back. The other two ranch hands made up the quartet, one at the front, the other at the rear. Cal wasn't going to lose this chance to confront Largo. He'd been waiting for an opportunity like this ever since the rustling had started soon after Silas had had his accident.

  All five riders made their way past the ranch house and were soon making their way westward on the trail. It was about a fifteen minute ride to the border of the Largo spread, and then another half hour to the huge ranch house.

  Rafael Largo had been a thorn in Silas's side since soon after the Kansas City man had bought the Circle T. Largo had purchased his own spread soon after Silas had moved into his own ranch house. No-one knew where Largo had come from. The only thing which the townsfolk of Testament Creek knew was that Largo was part Mexican, very wealthy and that he didn't attend the local church in town. Largo claimed that he worshipped the Lord in his own was and in the privacy of his own home. But many people just didn't believe that story. There had been whisperings that Largo wasn't a believer and that terrible things took place on his palatial estate.

  Cal thought back to when Largo had come to the Hill Country. At first, Rafael Largo had seemed like the friendly type. Although clearly rich, the man had been courteous to Silas. He'd even offered to provide workers to help Silas. But, following Cal's advice from the start, Silas had resisted every offer of help from the wealthy neighbor.

  And that was when the trouble had started. Rafael Largo seemed to be the kind of man who didn't take kindly to being snubbed. From the time Silas had made it clear no help would be needed from Largo, troubling incidents had started to occur on the Circle T. Cattle had gone missing; the river had been inexplicably contaminated; border fences had been damaged.

  None of the trouble had been laid at Largo's door, but Cal had been convinced from the start that Largo had been behind every one of the incidents. The sheriff had investigated, but had proved nothing. That hadn't surprised Cal. He was sure Sheriff Brady was on the take from Largo. Cal had seen Largo and the sheriff being way too friendly during the last few months.

  So, for Cal, tonight's event was no real surprise. But it was new in one way. Never before had anyone been caught near the ranch house. That was new. And, since there were new residents in the house, ones Cal had pledged to protect, he had no choice but to deal with Largo personally.

  During the ride, the man was completely silent. Cal didn't even try to get him to talk. Finally, they crossed over onto Largo land and found the trail which led to the big house. A short while later the five riders rode through the open gate and into the wide yard in front of the Largo ranch house. All five riders halted at the foot of the six steps leading up to the outside porch of the Largo residence.

  Lamplights came on inside the house and the front door opened. A bull-chested man in his fifties wearing a patterned dressing gown strode out onto the wide balcony. Lamplight cast shadows across Rafael Largo's dark features and broad brows. His penetrating gaze, unforgettable to those who met him for the first time, cut through those it looked upon.

  "What's the meaning of this, Logan?" Largo growled.

  Cal gestured to the rider. "We caught one of your men on our spread, tonight."

  Largo's brows furrowed. He glared at the man and said nothing. Cal thought it was significant that Largo had not immediately denied that the man worked for him.

  They got the man down from the horse and untied his hands. Cal pushed him toward the steps. "I'd have taken him into town and given him to the sheriff," Cal stated. He grinned at Largo. "But I reckon you and the sheriff are as close as two peas in a pod. Your man might have been home after a couple of hours in a cell."

  Largo's eyes widened. "Are you accusing me of something?"

  Cal shook his head slowly. "Just stating the facts as I see them."

  The man staggered up the steps and seemed about to say something but Largo cut him off with a stern wave of his hand and a burning look. The man lowered his head and turned to face Cal and his men. There was hatred in those eyes, Cal told himself. Cold hatred.

  Thinking it would be worth one last try, Cal spoke out: "What was he looking for, Largo?"

  Largo and the man exchanged a look. Both men's lips tightened into thin lines.

  Cal shook his head and sighed. "Just make sure none of your men take it into their heads to make any more midnight visits to the Circle T. The new owners have arrived. They might not take too kindly to any unwanted visitors."

  Largo's eyes widened. "New owners? The women Silas left the ranch to?" Largo sounded genuinely curious.

  Cal wasn't surprised word had gotten around about the newcomers. A month was plenty of time for gossip to get going. And he was sure Largo had been making inquiries. Maybe he already knew too much, Cal reflected. He wasn't going to add to Largo's store of knowledge.

  Now it was Cal's turn to be tight-lipped. He waved a dismissive hand and then got back onto his horse. "Just stay off our land."

  Largo advanced to the edge of the steps. "Or what will you do?" he barked.

  "We won't be so patient next time," Cal stated.

  Then, he and his men reined the horses around and headed back out onto the trail leading back to the Circle T.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  "We had a visitor, last night," Hope said to Prudence over breakfast. "And I don't think he was friendly." Lucia had left the kitchen a few moments before leaving the three women alone in the kitchen.

  Grace's eyes widened and she glanced at Hope. "During the night?" She frowned. "That's highly irregular."

  Prudence smiled. Grace's legal training meant she saw everything in terms of the law. But what Hope had just revealed was genuinely worrying. "Do you mean there were intruders?"

  Hope nodded. "I heard some loud voices, last night. I looked out my window and I saw Cal and some of the ranch hands riding out."

  "What time was that?" Prudence asked.

  "Just after midnight," Hope replied.

  "There was a man with his hands tied behind his back," Hope added. "They all rode out along the trail."

  Grace gasped. "Were they taking him prisoner? Maybe they were taking the man into town so the sheriff could lock him up."

  Prudence scooped some of the scrambled eggs into her mouth and thought for a few moments. She'd seen Cal this morning, and he hadn't mentioned anything about a night-time intruder. Had he been hoping the incident would go unnoticed?

  "We need to know what happened," Prudence suggested. "If we've got trespassers, we need to know who they are and why they were on our land."

  Hope and Grace nodded. Prudence liked the sound of her own words. It felt good to declare that the Circle T belonged to her, Grace and Hope.

  "Cal and the men came back a short while later," Hope added. "Without the man they'd been leading away."

  Prudence decided she'd speak with Cal when he returned from his morning's work. He usually came back to the big house near twelve o'clock.

  Sure enough, from her bedroom window later, Prudence watched Cal ride into the yard at midday. He dismounted and started toward the house. Prudence raced downstairs and reached the hallway just as Cal was walking through the open front door. Prudence paused at the foot of the stairs. Cal was dressed in jeans and plaid shirt. His brown boots were covered in dust. He carried his Stetson in his right hand. His features were flushed a delightful, healthy color. Cal looked like someone who'd been busy that morning.

  Cal's brows lifted and he grinned at Prudence. "Afternoon," he murmured. He seemed delighted to see her.

  Prudence flicked a thumb in the direction of the parlor. "Can we speak for a moment?"

  Cal's eyes clouded slightly. "Sure we can," he said with a hint of hesitation in his voice.

  They sat alongside each other on the parlor sofa. Prudence rested her hands in her lap and regarded Cal carefully. The hesitation she'd seen out in the hall had now become a clear discomfort. Cal shifted awkwardly on the sofa.

  "It is my understanding that a man came onto our ran
ch, last night," Prudence declared. "An intruder. Is that true?"

  Cal sighed and then nodded. "It is."

  Prudence waited a moment, assuming Cal would tell her more, but he remained silent. "Aren't you going to tell me what happened?"

  "There isn't much to tell," Cal said casually. "And I don't think you should concern yourself about it."

  Prudence scoffed. "That's for me, Hope and Grace to decide. We do own this place, after all." She knew her tone of voice was harsh and she saw Cal's brows furrow.

  Cal peered at Prudence. "As I said, Prudence. Maybe you should just forget about it."

  Prudence shook her head firmly and straightened her shoulders. "May I remind you that you are an employee of the Circle T. You're the foreman of this ranch. You have an obligation to report anything of concern to us."

  Prudence saw Cal's jaw tighten. Maybe he wasn't used to being spoken to like this. Well, that was unfortunate, Prudence told herself. Because she wasn't going to start her new life by giving the foreman of the Circle T permission to hide things from her and her friends.

  Cal sighed heavily. When he looked at her, his gaze was dark. Cal nodded. "I was going to tell you all."

  "Really," Prudence snapped. "Why do I find that hard to believe? You could have told us this morning. Or even last night." This was her first disagreement with Cal. Her voice was shaking slightly. Cal's eyes narrowed. She could see that the conversation was bothering him.

  "I had work to get to, this morning. I didn't have time to go over all this," Cal objected evenly. He was quiet for a moment and then continued. "We caught an intruder on the ranch, last night."

  "Where?"

  "Just outside the house," Cal replied.

  Prudence gasped. "Was he trying to break into the house?"

  Cal shrugged. "We don't know. We caught him as he was skulking around the back of the barn."

  "Do you know what he was after?"

  Cal shook his head. "He wouldn't tell us."

  "Has this happened before?

  Cal sighed. "In the last few weeks we've been having problems around the ranch. Some cattle have gone missing. And there have been some other things going on. Damage to fences. Water contamination."