Kara sat down in front of the mirror and Maria quickly finished her hair and helped her dress. The dark blue sateen, the color of her eyes, was set just off her shoulders, with puffed sleeves narrowing over her elbows to her wrists. The bodice with its sweetheart neckline and nipped waist highlighted her trim figure. The skirt swirled easily around her ankles and matching blue shoes. Taking one last spin in front of the mirror, she picked up a shawl and both women left the room deep in discussion about what party preparations needed to be finished.
Chapter 5
The ranch was a hive of activity as the men rode in.
“Looks like quite a party they’re having for you,” Alec noted. Hawke saw Alec’s attention drawn to several ladies entering the house.”
“Yep. Case wanted you to meet some of the neighbors and townsfolk,” Joe said as he stopped his horse outside the empty corral. “Me and the boys will settle the cattle in here, and your bags will be sent up to the house.” Joe looked over his shoulder. “Here comes Case.”
Joe turned his horse and began shouting orders to the hands. Hawke and Alec dismounted and turned to meet Case Jonston.
Hawke watched the older man approach, noting the vitality of his movements. Intensely blue eyes stood out in his tanned leathered face, and his smile showed strong white teeth.
• • •
“Gentlemen … Welcome!” Case extended his hand. “Welcome to the Ladder J. I’m glad to see you’ve arrived with no problems.” He looked past the men into the corral filled with black cattle moving restlessly, noting the well-filled-out bodies and shiny ebony coats.
“That’s a fine-looking bunch of animals you brought. I look forward to crossing them with my longhorns. They seem to have handled the long trip just fine.”
He gestured towards the house. “Let’s go into the house so you can clean up, and then you and I, Lord Stoneham, can conduct some business in my study before the barbecue begins.”
“Thank you, sir,” replied Hawke, smiling at him. “We feel welcome already. May I introduce my friend Alec MacCairn, Lord Peyton?”
“A pleasure, sir,” Alec shook Case’s hand. “Hawke has been regaling me with tales of cattle breeding and western ranching. I feel almost a native already. Not only has he told me many tales of the American West, but your employees have been telling us about your fascinating and multitalented daughter. I do look forward to meeting her.”
“Excuse him, sometimes he lets his mouth run without consulting his brain first. He meant no insult.”
“Fascinating, hmmm?” Case shook his head. Turning to Lord Peyton, he smiled, “Alec, I’ve heard my daughter described in many ways, but fascinating, now that’s a new one. Gentlemen … let me show you to your rooms.”
They walked through a large portal in the adobe wall wide enough to accommodate a wagon. Case explained a Spanish patron, or cattleman, built the house several decades before. The high wall surrounding the placitas was similar to the curtain wall on a castle. Within were the main house, a small building housing the laundry, storerooms for supplies, and two small guesthouses.
“This way,” said Case, “in case of Indian attack, the vital supplies could be protected along with the occupants. Very effective against siege of any sort.”
He went on to explain that when the New Mexico territory became part of the United States, many of the Spanish land grants were confiscated and sold to American citizens. He had bought the Ladder J from the widow of the previous American owner.
The front of the main house had a covered porch; shallow steps led up to the shaded porch and entry doors. The posts were topped with carved corbels. These supported the exposed vigas, long beams supporting the second story and the flat roof. The upper levels stepped up from the main level. Large multipaned windows were topped with brightly painted wood lintels. The heavily carved front doors opened through thick adobe walls.
“The building material seems very strong,” Hawke noted.
“Basically, it’s just mud and straw formed into bricks,” explained Case. “But for this climate you can’t do any better. The adobe soaks up the heat of the day without letting it into the house, and at night stays amazingly comfortable.”
They entered a large central room with high ceilings. A fireplace took up a portion of the back wall; its thick wood mantle ran between the two French doors on either side of the fireplace.
“Your house reminds me of the homes I saw in India,” said Hawke, looking around the large room, “designed for maximum air movement. Fascinating.”
Case pointed out the curving staircase along the far wall, the doorway leading to the kitchen and the bathing areas. He said baths could be sent to their rooms if they preferred. Through the French doors, he showed them an enclosed patio. Against the back wall of the patio was an ornate stepped adobe wall with a small garden gate. A covered seating area with a rounded kiva-style fireplace completed the area. Case pointed to his study and said he would meet them after they had a chance to rest and clean up.
“Candelario!”
A small boy hurried in from the kitchen.
“Please help these gentlemen with their bags and show them to their rooms.”
The young boy smiled at the two strangers, reached down, and struggled to lift one of the bags.
“Here laddie,” laughed Alec, “you show us our rooms. I think we can manage our own bags.”
The bedrooms were large, with corner fireplaces and tall French doors opening to balconies overlooking the center patio. Two older boys had brought up a tub and water for his bath by the time Hawke unpacked. Easing into the hot water, he leaned back and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of travel weary muscles relaxing in the heat of the water. His thoughts wandered to everything he had seen so far. Smiling, he congratulated himself on his good luck in making this business arrangement. It was going to be an interesting, and a lucrative, endeavor. Anxious to share his ideas with his new partner, he finished his bath and dressed.
• • •
Kara sat on the bed and watched Alicia twirl in front of the mirror in her new gown. The pink muslin-and-lace gown with satin ribbons billowed around her ankles.
Alicia and Kara had not seen each other since her return from school, but had written regularly. The Roberts had been frequent visitors to the Ladder J and the Jonstons had spent much time at the Roberts’ spread over the years. The girls’ mothers had been close friends and after Emma had died, Sarah, Alicia’s mother, had been a great source of comfort to Kara and her father. She and Alicia had grown inseparable over the years. The petite blue-eyed blonde always made her laugh and Alicia’s witty letters had helped her through the time away at school.
“What is your problem? You’d think having not just one, but two, men coming to stay with you would thrill you. Instead you look like a skunk has snuck under your skirts. I’d love to have new people stay with us.” Alicia’s blue eyes twinkled mischievously. “Especially men.” Sitting next to Kara on the bed, Alicia grabbed her friend’s hands in excitement. “You know there’s no one interesting in White Oaks, and Papa won’t be taking us to Albuquerque until fall. Imagine,” she said breathlessly, “they’re real English lords. How can you look so miserable?”
She couldn’t help but smile at Alicia’s enthusiasm. “I’m quiet Alicia,” she laughed, “because you haven’t let me get a word in edgewise.” Smoothing her skirt, she sighed. Her worries rushed back. “I don’t know why I’m so upset. Guess I just think this man has no business coming all the way out here and upsetting everything in my life. I just never thought Papa would sell part of the ranch.”
Feelings of hurt and resentment washed over her. She felt like her dreams had been attacked. Her gut reaction was to strike back, show her father she was capable, and prove this so-called partner unnecessary. A part of her refused to believe there wasn’t a way to end the partner
ship. They didn’t need him.
“Alicia, what am I going to do?”
Alicia hugged her tightly. “You’ll put on your best face, be nice to this new partner of your father’s, and who knows,” she smiled gently at her friend, “maybe you’ll like him. After all, he’s young, right? Maybe he’s your knight in shining armor.”
Kara grimaced at hearing that phrase again. She remembered how they had talked of their perfect man.
“Alicia, you are the one who wanted someone to take you away from the ranching life, wanted to live in a big city and attend parties and the theater and shop to your heart’s content.” Never mind she’d never been to any town larger than Albuquerque. “I always planned on staying here, on the ranch.”
Kara had always envisioned her true love like someone from her stories, a big man like her father, who would love the land, especially the Ladder J, the way she loved it. She wanted someone who could dominate this hard land, but still recognize the gifts the land had to offer. She had always thought this man would be a westerner like her. After all only those who had been born to this land could understand it and love it … . right?
“Those were silly dreams and you know it.” Kara stood and looked out the window. Turning back to her friend, she decided to change the subject. “By the way, where is your brother? I didn’t see him arrive with you and your parents.” She had always envied Alicia her older brother Austin. Sometimes she missed not having any family other than her father.
Twirling in front of the mirror, checking her skirts, Alicia waved her hand in dismissal. “Oh, he’s working the range today. He’ll be over tomorrow to say hello and accompany us home.”
“Alicia.” Kara grasped her friend’s hand, pulling her from her contemplations. “I’ve had enough brooding for today. Why don’t you come help me say hello to the other guests? I saw the Valdez family, the Hewitt’s from town, and the Padens have arrived.”
The two young women left the guesthouse and headed for the main house, animatedly discussing who else would be attending the party.
• • •
“I also heard Bob say — ” Kara stopped, realizing Alicia wasn’t beside her anymore. She turned to see Alicia stopped dead in her tracks with a stunned look on her face. Following her gaze, she saw what had dumbfounded her friend.
A very large man stood on the front steps. From his clothes, and knowing her father and his new partner were meeting, she assumed this must be Lord Stoneham’s friend.
“Oh Lord, Kara,” Alicia took her arm in a tight grasp. “Is he your father’s partner?”
“I don’t think so.” She extracted her arm from Alicia’s death grip and smoothed the crushed fabric of her sleeve. “Bob said Lord Stoneham would be in the study discussing business with Papa.” Anger flared again at the thought of being excluded from any discussion of the ranch. “I would assume that is Lord Peyton, his friend.”
“He’s gorgeous.”
Kara watched as her friend’s eyes roamed over the tall, broad figure in front of her. Impeccably dressed in a black coat, black pants, white shirt and cravat, with a plaid pinned to his shoulder, he looked back at them, nodding politely.
“I wonder if your Lord Stoneham is handsome like his friend.” Alicia smiled wickedly, goading Kara’s temper.
“He is not my Lord Stoneham, you ninny,” she snapped back, rising to the bait. Looking back towards the man, she admitted to herself he was a fine figure of a man, and worry gnawed even more at the coming meeting with Stoneham. She didn’t know how she would react if he were not the “overweight mincing clown” she had laughed about with Maria.
“Kara, introduce me. I’ve got to meet him. Look at him. I’ll never meet a man like that out here again.” Alicia pleaded with her friend. Her eyes danced with excitement. “I’ll bet he’s been just everywhere and seen everything. I just have to meet him now. Please!”
“I haven’t been introduced to him myself, if you’ll remember.” Kara slowed her pace and looked sternly at her friend. “We may be out here in the Wild West, but your mother would have kittens if we were to just sashay up there and introduce ourselves. I can just hear her now. ‘What were you two thinking? My lord, now they think we are nothing but the ignorant, backwards colonials they like to call us.’” The girls dissolved into giggles.
“I see Consuelo waving us over to the kitchen.” Kara steered the other girl away from the tall temptation.
“All right,” Alicia pouted. “But he’s mine, OK?”
“You are welcome to him,” Kara smiled tightly. “And see if you can get his friend out of here also.”
Chapter 6
Case was very satisfied with his decision to make this young man his partner. Now if I can get Kara to accept this decision, I will be content. He knew she had always fancied the ranch would be hers, but he knew it would be too much for her. He didn’t want to see her grow old before her time, bent and broken by the harshness of this land. He didn’t want to see what she loved become her jailer and eventually beat the life from her.
This way, the extra income and the addition of a partner would give her choices. If she married, she and her husband could either sell out their share, or continue the partnership, but the burden wouldn’t be solely on her shoulders. Of course, he pondered, watching his partner stride towards the patio, if Hawke and Kara hit it off, well then, maybe he wouldn’t have to worry about anything at all. He smiled. It wouldn’t hurt to try and make her more amenable to his new partner, would it? Chuckling at the thought of how angry his Little Bit would be if she knew the direction of his thoughts, he walked out the door. The sound of music and the smell of roasting meats greeted him as he headed for the patio.
Case approached Alec and Hawke, put his hands on their shoulders and turned them towards the people gathered on the patio. “Gentlemen, it’s time to introduce you around.” He walked to the center of the patio and stepped on a low rise surrounding the fountain. “Everyone,” his voice boomed across the expanse of the patio, “can I have your attention, please.”
The guitarists stopped playing and everyone quieted, turning towards their host and the two men flanking him.
“I have invited you here to meet my new partner from Britain. Ladies and gentlemen,” he indicated the man on his left, “this is Hawke Pryce, Lord Stoneham. Accompanying him is Alec MacCairn, Lord Peyton. I hope these gentlemen will consider the Ladder J as much their home as mine — well damn, on second thought, I guess now the Ladder J is as much Lord Stoneham’s home as mine.”
Laughing, he turned towards Hawke once again. “In all seriousness, I am very impressed with the ideas this young man has brought with him. I’m equally impressed with the stock he brought to cross with my cattle and I hope he will grow to love the west the way we do.”
“I could not have asked for a warmer welcome, and I shall endeavor to fulfill not only your expectations, but my own.” Hawke smiled at the people surrounding him. “I hope to be able to count the New Mexico Territory a second home.” He stepped down and joined Case for introductions to the guests.
“Weel laddie,” Hawke turned at the sound of the brogue. “If I’d known ye were a true Scots, then by God, I’d a worn me plaid also!” An old bandy-legged man approached them, a broad grin on his face and a gnarled hand extended in greeting. “I’m Bill McLiesh. I own the Bar Cross Ranch, bordering Case on the east. I come from Loch Rannoch,” he proclaimed proudly. “Left as a lad.” A winsome look crossed his time-worn features. “’Tis music to me ears to hear the soft speech of home.”
“Och, Mr. McLiesh, ’tis my pleasure,” Hawke laughed, grasping the wizened hand as Case looked on. “’Tis a pleasure to be meetin’ one of the fine sons of Scotland livin’ in the Americas.”
Case saw Kara and Alicia carrying more platters of food from the kitchen. They had not heard his speech, nor seen the guests-of-honor. Kar
a had her back to the guests, one hand on her hip; a fingertip tapped her lower lip in concentration.
“Gentlemen, I have been remiss in my duty. I most certainly must introduce you to these two young ladies over here.” He put an arm around Hawke and Alec and steered them towards the table. He knew this first meeting between Kara and Stoneham could well determine how they got on in the coming days.
• • •
“I spied these two lovely ladies while you were meeting with Case. The blonde has already captured my interest,” Alec mentioned softly to Hawke as Case stepped forward. “I don’t know who these two are, but their acquaintance could prove diverting. I wonder where the fascinating Miss Jonston is,” he chuckled softly. “I haven’t noticed any dust-covered women in chaps wandering the patio.”
Hawke glared at him. He too had been wondering about the mysterious Kara. He caught himself scanning the room for a large, strong woman.
He couldn’t keep from noticing the two women busy helping the guests with their plates.
The petite, pretty blonde reminded him of the debutantes in London. He couldn’t see the face of the other woman, but admired the slender line of her back, trim waist, gently flared hips, and her thick dark hair. He couldn’t tell if it was a deep brown, or black, but a stray thought of how it would look unpinned and spread out around her flitted through his mind.
Case walked up to the two women, putting his hands on their shoulders, catching their attention. Hawke heard the blonde’s soft gasp as she got her first look at Alec. The other woman had turned towards Case, bringing her profile into his view.
A beauty. He smiled. He hoped she didn’t live too far away. It might be worth it to get to know this woman better.
“Gentlemen.” Case looked at his guests. “I have the pleasure of introducing you to Miss Alicia Roberts.” He indicated the blonde on his right. Both men bowed slightly and Alicia executed a small curtsy and smiled shyly at Alec.
Diane R. Jewkes Page 4