Jamie

by Caroline Clemmons

  She laid her hand on his chest and smiled softly at him. “I already do love them, Jamie, which is my point. I want what’s best for Cat and Jake, not just what’s easiest. When you were their age, would your father have let you act the way your children do?”

  He frowned at her. “What kind of question is that?”

  She opened the door and stepped into the hall. “Just think about what I’ve said today, will you? Think about how your parents would have reacted when you were four, five, or six. I’m going to brush and braid Cat’s hair so she can look nice at breakfast even if she screams her head off bloody murder.”

  Later at the kitchen table, he held Olivia’s chair. He had to admit his children looked cleaner and neater than he and Mama had been able to accomplish. He figured his wife had more time than Mama did before the brides arrived and a heck of a lot more time than he ever did. No wonder the children looked spiffier.

  Ethan still avoided speaking to him unless necessary. Jamie blamed that spoiled Beth. She acted as if she was used to having her every wish granted. He sure wondered what caused her to become a mail-order bride. Something sudden, that was for sure, because she’d had almost no luggage and no change of clothes when she arrived. Soon as whatever she was running from was solved, he figured she’d be off to parts unknown.

  After the meal, he pushed back his chair. “We’ll be around the place today. The boys are bringing in a few of the wild horses.”

  Jake stared at him with hope in his eyes. “Can I watch you work with the horses?”

  He almost said yes, but caught himself. Danged if Olivia wasn’t training him as much as the children. “You’ll have to ask Olivia. She has plans for you and Cat today.”

  Jake blinked in surprise but soon recovered and turned to his stepmother. “Can I, ‘Livia?”

  “After we do your schoolwork, we’ll go out and watch. If you study well, you’ll be finished before you know it and out watching your father and uncles in the corral.”

  Jake’s smile changed to a grimace. He didn’t like sitting still to study. “Aw, all right. What do I hafta study?”

  Jamie walked away hearing Olivia’s laughter. She had a nice laugh. Not loud, but sort of silvery and pleasant. Lately, there hadn’t been much laughter in his life. Mama tried, but Caleb and Ethan stuck together to the point of excluding him.

  Gideon was only at the ranch a couple of days a week and sometimes for Sunday dinner. The ranch hands were friendly and often joked with him, but they treated him like the boss, which he was. Maybe he had been lonely and hadn’t realized the fact.

  The one time he’d felt alive was when he’d met Lucy and the first weeks of their marriage. As much trouble as she caused, she’d dragged him out of his shell and brought him to life. She’d given him two precious children before she self-destructed. He’d vowed never again to open himself up to that kind of emotional upheaval.

  Jamie had noticed Caleb had been eating breakfast in the bunkhouse. Jamie wondered why Lily didn’t cook for him. Although his brother pretended to be carefree and happy, Jamie saw beneath the façade. He wouldn’t pry or intrude, but he knew Caleb and Lily were not a happy couple and Caleb was miserable.

  When Caleb strolled to join them, Jamie told Ethan, “I have my eye on that pretty chestnut for Olivia if the horse turns out to be manageable. She needs a sturdy horse she could count on.”

  Behind him, Ethan’s voice held censure, “Not like Bolt. You oughta be ashamed of putting her on that horse when she couldn’t ride.”

  He rubbed at his jaw. “I’m embarrassed about that. Guess I was still mad about having to marry her. Turns out she’s not a bad wife. Sure beats the heck out of sleeping alone.”

  Ethan said, “I’m riding with the hands while you work with these horses.”

  Jamie said, “You might bring a few more back this evening.”

  Ethan glared at him. “Olivia seems good with Jake and Cat. Never would have believed Cat would wear a dress without putting up a fuss.”

  Another sore subject. Wouldn’t he have any peace today? “Olivia let Cat choose one of Lucy’s old dresses and remade it. Apparently Cat wears it because she heard Lucy was beautiful and thinks the dress makes her like her mama.”

  “Hell, I hope not.”

  He stopped short and glared at his brother. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Did I say that out loud? Well, damn.” Ethan looked at the sky then at the hills, everywhere but at Jamie. “Cat is a sweet little girl and Lucy was a grown up woman who liked shopping and parties. That’s all.”

  Calming his temper, Jamie shrugged. “I know you didn’t like Lucy so you don’t have to pretend. She was a handful and not cut out for ranch life. I reckon she should have married a rich man who lived in town.”

  His brother’s voice sounded carefully controlled and matter of fact, “We heard her trying to get you to build a house in Angel Springs, Jamie. When she was mad, her voice carried.”

  “That it did.” He didn’t want to discuss Lucy. Not now, not ever. After he watched Ethan mount and ride away, he climbed through the corral fence and threw a loop over a brown and white horse.

  Jamie started working with the new horse, one of three that had been brought in by the hands who caught the wild horses they used on the ranch. These were good, strong work horses. He enjoyed gentling them, but this one wasn’t responding well.

  Caleb climbed through the fence and joined him. “She’s a feisty one.”

  “Yeah, watch your step. Don’t know why she’s spooked.” He moved around the animal, attempting to soothe her, calm her down by talking softly. He threw a rope to Caleb. “Lasso her. I just want to get her into a stall so she can settle down."

  The horse pawed the ground and looked from side to side, shaking her large head. Jamie tossed the rope around her neck at the same time Caleb threw his. They both pulled, anchoring the animal to the spot. Panicked, the mare reared up, yanking on the ropes. Jamie held his rope taut, attempting to control and calm her but she was panicked. Caleb appeared to dig in his heels, but the animal’s strength dragged him toward Jamie, causing him to stumble.

  His brother rolled to the side to avoid the horse as her hooves came down, but not far enough away to prevent her front leg from crashing onto Caleb’s chest.

  Chapter Eight

  “Caleb!” Jamie looped the rope he held around a fencepost and ran to his brother.

  Sam Zimmerman ran into the corral and cinched the dangling rope against another post.

  “He’s unconscious,” Jamie called. Ripping open his brother’s shirt, he inspected the injury. The blow had opened a long gash. Already the ribs were turning purple. Carefully, Jamie ran his fingers over the bruised area.

  Even unconscious, Caleb moaned.

  Jamie touched Caleb’s jaw. “Can you hear me? Caleb, open your eyes.”

  When he received no response, Jamie tried lifting his brother. “Sam!” he called. “Will you help me get Caleb home? He’s gonna be laid up for a while and I know he’d prefer being in his own bed.”

  The two men hoisted Caleb up by each putting a shoulder under his arm and pulling his arm around their neck.

  Sam was a strong man, fortunately. “You gonna put him in the wagon?”

  “He’ll be better off there than if we drag him home.”

  They’d loaded his brother into the wagon and covered him with a tarp. Jamie slid a bag of oats under his brother’s head while Sam hitched the horse. Jamie hopped in back with Caleb while Sam drove the eighth of a mile to Caleb’s house.

  When Caleb was safely in bed, Jamie didn’t bother searching the house for Lily. He figured he knew where she was hiding. He ran to the old foreman’s house and banged on the door. After scraping sounds, she peeked through a few inches’ opening.

  Jamie grabbed her hands and tugged her outside.

  Protesting, she asked, “What’s the matter?”

  “One of our horses went wild and kicked Caleb in the chest. He’s u
nconscious at your house, and you need to stay with him while I fetch Mama.” She needed to stay with his brother period, but that wasn’t for him to stay.

  Sam and Spunky waited in the main room. Jamie followed her to the bedroom where Caleb lay.

  Lily let out a squeal and covered her mouth with her hands.

  And no wonder, Caleb looked dead lying there with his shirt soaked in blood and his face pale as a sheet.

  He snapped at her, “Get some wet cloths to clean him up. I’m going to fetch Mama. Get his shirt off, but be careful. We don’t know how badly he’s hurt.”

  “I don’t know how to care for this kind of injury. What should I do?”

  “Just get a cool compress on the ribs and his forehead. I’ll get Mama. She’s handled this sort of thing before and will stitch him together.” Jamie left Lily pumping a pan of water as he and Sam hurried back to the homestead.

  At the house, Sam waited on the wagon. “Might as well turn the wagon and be ready to drive your mother over there.”

  Jamie raced into the house.

  His mother met him at the door and grabbed his arms. “What’s wrong? I heard the wagon drive up to the door.”

  “Now don’t get all upset. He’s not too bad, but Caleb’s ribs got stomped by a horse. He’s got a gash that needs sewing. Sam and I took him home but Lily doesn’t have any idea how to care for him. Sam’s waiting to take you over there.”

  “I’ll pack up the supplies I’ll need.” She turned toward the kitchen. “Milly? Olivia? I need to go to Caleb’s for a while.”

  Milly appeared, drying her hands on her apron. “Olivia’s upstairs with the children.”

  Jamie headed for the staircase. “I’ll tell her. Mama, you want her to pack you a change of clothes in case you have to stay over?”

  “Yes, but I hope he’s not that bad.”

  Jamie found Olivia in Jake’s room having lessons. “Olivia, there’s been an accident. Caleb’s hurt and Mama needs you to pack her a few clothes in case she’s needed overnight.”

  Olivia lost no time going to Mama’s room. The children followed so Jamie did too.

  She gathered clothing efficiently. “What happened? How badly is Caleb hurt? And where is a valise?”

  He retrieved a carpetbag from the top of a high armoire as he explained what had happened. “I feel partly responsible. I asked him to throw a loop over the horse’s neck. I should have told him she was too spooked and to get out of the corral.”

  As if she were in a timed race, she added items to the bag. “Nonsense. He wouldn’t have been in the corral unless he intended to help. And you can’t hold this against a horse for acting within its nature.”

  He scrubbed a hand across his face. “Easy for you to say. You didn’t see Caleb under those hooves. He could have been killed. For a minute, I didn’t know whether or not he had been.”

  She met his gaze with sympathy shining from her blue eyes. “I’m sure it was terrible. I’m grateful the children weren’t there yet.”

  His stomach hit his boots. “Thank the good Lord for that.”

  Olivia closed the bag and handed it to him. He hurried down the stairs and caught his mother putting on her coat.

  “Oh, good, but I hope I don’t need to stay overnight.”

  Outside, Sam sat ready to leave. When he’d helped her onto the wagon seat, Sam flicked the ribbons and they were on their way. Jamie wished he’d gone with them, but he had work to do and would only be in the way.

  All day Jamie worried about his brother as he worked with the horses. When Ethan and the hands rode in, he explained what had happened.

  Jamie clamped his hand on his youngest brother’s shoulder. He knew Ethan was angry with him, but they were brothers and another brother was injured. “I’m going to see how Caleb is. Want to come with me?”

  “Of course. Does Beth know?”

  “Yes, and she’s in the house helping Olivia. Mama’s at Caleb’s.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?”

  They strode toward Caleb’s house.

  When they knocked, Lily opened the door. She appeared pale and troubled, as any woman would whose husband had suffered an injury like Caleb’s.

  “Come in. Mrs. Fraser is with him now.”

  Jamie asked, “How is he?”

  She was polite but not friendly. “He’s in a lot of pain but should recover in a few days. Your mother sewed up the cut and we don’t need the doctor. I’m making him some special tea from the packet your mother brought.”

  Jamie followed Ethan to the bedroom. Caleb lay back on pillows, his tanned face almost pale and radiating pain.

  When Mama saw them, she stood. “I’ll let you boys visit.”

  Jamie repeated what he’d told Olivia. “Never should have asked your help. I knew she was spooked.”

  Caleb dismissed his confession with a flick of his hand. “No one’s fault. How many times have we gone through that routine with success? I just lost my grip on the rope.”

  “I’m glad the children weren’t at the corral. Olivia had planned to bring them out there after Jake’s lessons.”

  Ethan said, “Damn right. Jake would have been over the fence to see what happened and likely stomped too.”

  Caleb agreed, “And Cat would have followed Jake. That would have meant big trouble.”

  His brothers reminded Jamie of a conversation with Olivia. “You sound like my wife. Do you think Jake and Cat are brats?”

  Caleb’s eyes sparked. “Hell, yes! Papa would never have let us get away with half the stuff those little hellions do. You need to crack down on them.”

  Ethan hooked his thumbs in his pants “They’re out of control. You’d better get those two in hand before they’re older or you’ll be in real trouble and so will they.”

  Shock ricocheted through Jamie. His precious babies were perceived as brats by his brothers? “Damn, that’s what Olivia says. They’re good children. I figured children that age needed time to be children and later I’d crack down on them.”

  Caleb leveled a glance at him. “They can be real sweet and I love them. But, most times everyone but you thinks they’re spoiled rotten. Glad I don’t live in the same house with them. Bad enough at Sunday dinner with them running around and shouting as if they were outdoors.”

  Ethan leaned against the wall. “While I don’t live in the house, we come there for meals and Beth is there part of the day. Being around Jake and Cat is usually unpleasant. And don’t forget Cat’s disobedience likely would have gotten her killed if it weren’t for Beth.”

  “Damn, damn, damn. Guess I should have paid more attention to Mama. She’s been warning me but I didn’t believe her.” He scrubbed a hand across his face. “I consider my children a precious gift. I had no idea they annoyed everyone else.”

  Caleb tried to rise but fell back with a groan. “They’re a treasure, Jamie, but they need discipline and training. Glad Olivia is taking them—and you—in hand.”

  Lily appeared in the doorway carrying a tray. “It’s time for his tea and then he needs rest. You should leave and come back another time.”

  As they came through to the kitchen, Mama was waiting. “I’ll walk back with you boys. Maybe one of you would carry my valise.”

  On the way back to the homestead, Jamie was deep in thought.

  Ethan’s voice snapped him back to the present, “I figure children should be a blessing and parents the stewards until the children are old enough to fend for themselves.”

  Mama steadied herself by linking her arm with his. “Slow down, boys.”

  Jamie and Ethan slowed their stride to match their mother’s.

  “Be careful, Mama. We should have brought a lantern.”

  She held tightly to his arm. “Your father and I taught you how to behave, read, do sums, hunt, cook, and everything we believed you’d need no matter where you lived.”

  As long as he could remember, Jamie had been groomed to take over the ranch. “You knew I’d stay here.
”

  “We hoped you’d stay here on the ranch, of course, but we wanted you self-sufficient no matter where you were. You’re not preparing Jake and Catriona.”

  “You two and Caleb have pounded that into my head. You don’t have to hammer the idea home anymore.”

  “That’s nice, son. Olivia has a knack for working with children as well as managing a household. I believe she was a good choice.”

  His anger flared. “Choice? You mean your choice. I didn’t have one.”

  Ethan said, “Jamie, don’t change the subject. We were discussing Jake and Cat. Are you going to start paying attention to their behavior?”

  “I’ll think about it.” But he’d already decided.

  If everyone in the family thought his two children were brats, then he had to do something different. Mama had told him they needed discipline. He’d figured now that her sons were older she’d forgotten how little children acted. He’d had no idea others thought them spoiled. Worse than that, because Caleb had called them hellions.

  Mama stumbled and tugged on his arm. “Ow! My ankle.” She stopped and stood on one foot for a moment. “I’ve stepped in a hole or something.”

  Jamie stopped. “I can wait here with you while Ethan brings the wagon?”

  “No, we’re almost home. Just go slow so I can keep up. I’m afraid it’s sprained and that’s just not convenient. How will I keep up with chores?”

  Ethan said, “You’ll order the rest of us around, same as always. Only now, you have more people to boss.”

  When they reached the house, light shone from the kitchen windows.

  Inside, Olivia came toward them. “How is he?”

  Mama explained about his ribs and that she’d sewn up the wound. “By day after tomorrow, he’ll probably be up and around.”

  “Wonderful. Dinner is ready and waiting for your return. I’ll help Milly set out the food while you three wash up.”

  Jamie helped Mama limp to a chair and remove her coat. “Mama’s hurt her ankle.”

  Olivia paused and stared.

  He knelt beside his mother’s feet. “Let’s get this shoe off and see how badly you’re injured.”

  Ethan and Olivia watched him unfasten Mama’s half boot. His mother gasped when he removed the shoe. Gently, he probed her ankle, which was already swelling.