“Steal…?”
Annie interrupted, cooing to Sarah, “It’s okay, yes, it is. Mr. Silas has a clean shirt that will do just as well.”
“My shirt? Why aren’t you using a towel from the kitchen?”
“Don’t be ungracious, sir. Princess Sarah is a damsel in distress and in need of your help.” Annie grinned at Silas, causing a lump to rise in Finn’s throat. He missed the companionship marriage brought.
“Silly woman,” Silas said. “Go. My shirt is Princess Sarah’s shirt.”
The entire exchange lifted the tension.
“All right,” Finn said, trying to keep his voice calm as he addressed Rosemary. “Now what sort of offer did you make to Silas?”
She lifted her chin stubbornly. “I offered to do what you chose not to—pay a fair price for anything he wants to leave behind that will help me live on my own here. I intend to file on this land first thing in the morning.”
“Well, I’m sure Silas has too much integrity to take advantage of your foolishness. He’d never encourage you to take on such a task alone.” He rolled his eyes as he turned to Silas to confirm. “And what is a woman going to do alone on a homestead?”
Silas shrugged. “Women homestead all the time.”
“What else would you have me do, Finn? Take in sewing like Marta Fischer?” Rosemary’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I’m not that good a seamstress. I’m sure you remember that I spent my time on the ranch with my pa. I have no means to make a living but to own my own land.”
Finn gave a short laugh. “You could learn to cook the best food I’ve ever eaten, but you didn’t have time to learn to sew.”
“Thank you for the compliment. I didn’t say I couldn’t sew, just not well enough to make a living at it.” She turned to Silas. “Mr. Freeman, my offer is on the table. I could file on a different plot of land, but I want to be near my niece. And if my land is connected to her pa’s land, she would have the run of the fields between the two homes.”
A hint of respect touched Finn’s heart. But he felt sorry for her. She truly believed she would get this place. “Rosemary, I’m sorry, but you can’t just take this place over. How will you make it succeed?”
“Really, Finn.” Rosemary turned to him. “How can you even ask that? I know business. I ran my pa’s ranch for the last two years and practically ran it since I was fifteen. If he hadn’t believed that a woman can’t be successful without a man, I would be running his ranch right now instead of being removed from my sister’s home by her husband who was supposed to love her.”
Ignoring the obvious challenge, Finn turned to his friend. “Silas, why are you leaving? You have a prosperous place here.”
Rosemary spoke up before Silas could. “Some husbands care enough to keep their wives near their family.”
Silas shrugged with a rueful half smile. “She’s right. Annie needs to be near her family,” he said. “Her grandmother left us a house and land, and she’s aching to go home.” He shrugged, and then he turned to Rosemary. “Miss Jackson, you have a deal. Thank you for having the integrity to buy me out rather than waiting for me to be gone.”
“What?” Shoving to his feet, Finn planted his fists on the table and stared down at Silas. “Why would you do this?”
“Two reasons. One: I need start-up money to plant this year. Otherwise I’ll be forced to live on handouts from Annie’s family, and I can’t do that.” He glanced at Rosemary and then back to Finn. “You won’t like my second reason. You sure you want to hear it?”
“Yes, I do want to hear it. Help me to understand how you could be my friend for three years and then go against my wishes like this.”
Silas leveled his gaze at Finn and took a deep breath before continuing. “You aren’t doing right by this woman. You and I both know you should marry her and let her help you raise Sarah. It’s what Rachel would want. And it’s not just for Rosemary. She’s one smart woman and you need her; you’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Rosemary jumped to her feet and commanded the attention despite her slight stature. “Now you two listen here. First of all, Finn, you don’t speak for me. I make my own decisions and my own business arrangements. The only choice you have about where I live is whether or not that’s with you. And you’ve already chosen. So you have nothing to say about this arrangement between Silas and me.”
Turning immediately to Silas, she gave Finn no chance to respond. “As for you… I’m grateful you’ve accepted my offer. You may have to hold off traveling for a day so that I may find a bank and draw the funds. And just so we’re clear, this is a business arrangement. This is not a consolation prize because you don’t believe I’ve been treated fairly by my sister’s husband. Finn is under no obligation to tie me into a marriage of convenience. And the more I’ve considered it, the less I like the idea anyway. Also, I’d like for you to come with me to the land office just to be sure the land is clear for me to file on. We all know about rumors of corruption. I don’t want to take any chances that someone is just waiting to swoop in and snatch up this land.”
Finn knew he’d been outvoted, and with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he realized he’d lost the land he’d hoped to file on himself. It was his own fault, he figured. He should have offered a price the way Rosemary had, but truth be told, he’d used all the cash he’d had left for supplies. He never would have been able to offer Silas the sort of price he deserved. But that didn’t mean he didn’t feel his friend’s betrayal. Rosemary had no business setting up housekeeping on the property next to his. This was nothing more than a ploy to try to take Sarah away from him.
“Well, I reckon there’s nothing more for me to say.” He glanced about, looking for his daughter, and blinked to find Annie leaning against the wall, cuddling the baby. He’d been so caught up in the current argument, he hadn’t noticed her return.
She smiled at him. “Looking for someone?”
“Yes. Thank you for changing her.” He reached out as Annie walked across the room. He gently took Sarah and laid her in the basket before turning to Rosemary. “This doesn’t change anything. She’s mine, and I’ll decide how she’ll be raised.”
Rosemary nodded. “Of course. I’ll be by to collect my things in a day or two. May I keep Rachel’s horse until then? I’ll have to find a wagon and team to purchase.”
Finn could almost hear Rachel’s voice from the past year. “Poor Charity. I can’t ride her in this condition. It isn’t fair to her that she must be imprisoned in that barn day in and day out.”
Knowing what his wife would have him do, Finn relented on this one thing. “The horse and sidesaddle are yours.”
She narrowed her gaze. “I don’t understand. What do you want in return?”
“I want nothing from you.” He shook his head. “Look, Rachel would want you to have her. So she’s yours. No catch.”
Her full lips parted, and she took in a breath. “Why, thank you, Finn. I–I’m at a loss for words.”
“As I said, it’s what Rachel would have wanted.” He walked toward the door then turned before he reached for it. “Don’t bother coming to the house for your things. I’ll bring them over first thing in the morning.” The sooner he got Rosemary Jackson out of his life, the sooner he could get on with raising Rachel’s daughter.
Chapter Ten
.........................
The morning dawned brisk and clear with puffy white clouds set against a backdrop of glorious blue sky. Rosemary sat alongside Silas on the wagon seat as the wagon dipped and swayed against the ruts caused by the latest snow and muddy travel—according to Silas.
Only after Finn stormed out had she realized she had no place to sleep for the night, nor had she thought to grab her reticule before riding away from Finn’s. Of course Annie had assured her that she was more than welcome to sleep in their home and had made up a pallet close to the fireplace in the s
itting room for her.
Silas had gone after Finn and returned an hour later with Rosemary’s valise filled with the things she’d carried with her on the train, along with her reticule.
Irritation burned her stomach as she realized that Finn had stuffed Rachel’s inheritance draft into the bag. If he was truly determined not to accept his share of Pa’s ranch, then, Rosemary decided, she would put the money away for Sarah’s future. The calendar would turn another century before Sarah grew to womanhood. With the dawning of the twentieth century, who knew the leaps the country might take toward how women were viewed? From where Rosemary sat, Sarah’s opportunities seemed endless.
She and Silas rolled into Paddington as the land office was opening. Rosemary had slept little during the night, worrying that someone else might get there first and file on the plot of land. She had trouble holding still until Silas could brake the wagon, jump down, come around to her side, and offer her a hand down.
“Now, there are going to be men inside. They don’t have any real business in there. I’d say they’re sort of unofficial deputies to make sure no one comes in with a gun and shoots anyone else.”
Alarm seized her. “Does that happen?”
“It has.” He nodded and took firm hold of her elbow as they approached the door. “But around here, land isn’t as scarce nor as wanted. Like I told you last night, it’s rocky and we don’t get much rain and snow.”
“I find that difficult to believe after the blizzard we just experienced.”
He nodded, and his mouth tipped. “Trust me. Those are rare occurrences.”
Silas opened the door and stepped aside for Rosemary to walk inside first. The sun shining through the front window illuminated the thick layer of dust on everything—the benches, the desk, the shelves, the cabinet….
Four men stood inside the small building, and the odor of unwashed bodies threatened to overwhelm Rosemary’s stomach.
The land officer looked up and glanced from Silas to her. He scowled. “Let me guess. You’re here to file on Mr. Freeman’s land?”
“Yes.” Rosemary forced herself to look him in the eyes. “He has just relinquished that portion of land, and I would like to file a claim, please.”
The land officer speared Silas with his gaze. “You sure this is what you want to do?”
Silas glanced about. Rosemary watched him. A sense of foreboding slid over her as he shifted from one foot to the other. Was it her imagination, or did Silas seem nervous? He cleared his throat then nodded at the land officer. “I’m sure.”
The graying man shook his head and reached into his desk with a sigh. He licked his thumb and yanked out a form. “Fill out this application.”
Trying not to show how intimidated she was, Rosemary took the form and looked around for a spot to sit. She hated to sit anywhere in this pigsty. Especially in her barely worn gown. The place needed a good cleaning.
“Allow me, miss.”
Looking up, Rosemary found herself staring into a pair of green eyes. The star on the man’s chest identified him as the sheriff. His smile lit the room even more than the intrusive rising sun. He shed his coat and laid it gallantly on the bench.
“Why, thank you, sir.” She sat down on the coat and watched as he walked to one of the bookshelves behind the desk and pulled down a large ledger book. “You can use this to keep the application steady as you write.”
Taking the book, she set it on her lap and smiled. “Thank you, Sheriff.”
“You’re most welcome.”
He crammed his hat on his head and moved toward the door. He glanced back at the land officer. “Try to be more polite to the ladies.”
Clearly undaunted, the man grunted and kept to his business.
The sheriff opened the door, and Rosemary stood. “Wait, Sheriff.” The book and paper fell from her lap.
The sheriff returned. He knelt down and retrieved the things that had fallen.
Rosemary sputtered her thanks as she took the items and clutched them to her. As he looked down at her, smiling, her stomach fluttered. “What about your coat?”
“You keep it for now. No sense in getting that pretty dress dirty.” He tipped his hat. “I’ll come back for it.”
She watched him as he walked to the door. He lifted a hand in farewell and disappeared into the gleam of light invading the threshold.
Silas leaned down, whispering in her ear, “Don’t let that smile of his fool you. Finn’s worth ten of that man.”
Rosemary’s cheeks blazed. Had she been that obvious? She swallowed hard and met his gaze straight on. “Finn isn’t an option, and I assure you that I have no interest in anything except filing my claim.”
Thirty minutes later, Rosemary walked out of the land office with her shoulders straight and her head high. The sky looked bluer, the air felt fresher, and she couldn’t stop smiling.
“You look like you’re on top of the world.” Silas smiled as he held out his arm.
She grinned and slipped her gloved hand into the crook of his elbow. “I am on top of the world.” Laughter bubbled from her. Finally, she had her own plot of land. In her mind’s eye, she saw green fields covered with grazing cattle…although she wouldn’t be able to raise many head of cattle on 160 acres.
“Silas, is the land on the other side of you taken?”
“Don’t you mean on the other side of you?”
Excitement shot through her stomach again. “Yes, on the other side of my land.”
His eyes clouded and a frowned creased his brow. “It’s taken. And you’ll meet him soon enough, so you should hear what I’m going to say and be careful.”
“Freeman!”
Silas visibly tensed as a man stomped out of the barbershop next to the land office. “This is the man I was going to tell you about,” he said in a low tone that raised Rosemary’s curiosity. “He’s bad news.”
Rosemary stared at the man. She had never seen anyone’s face so red with anger before. He still had a towel around his neck, and only half his face was shaved.
“Good morning, Mr. Clayton,” Silas said, covering Rosemary’s hand with his. “I’d like to introduce you to…”
Ignoring Silas’s words, the angry man didn’t even glance her way. “I hear you’re hightailing it out of here.”
“My wife’s grandmother passed on and we’re moving back to Missouri so she can be with her family. If that’s what you call ‘hightailing it,’ then I reckon we are.”
The unpleasant man gave a short laugh. He eyed Rosemary. “This isn’t your missus.”
“Mr. Clayton, let me introduce Miss Jackson. She’s just filed on the land I forfeited.”
Rosemary angled a glance at Silas. Was it her imagination, or did he seem a bit too gleeful revealing that fact to the man?
“What do you mean?” The man’s face went a darker shade of red.
Rosemary felt compelled to speak up before he went into fits. “It’s all fair and square, sir. Just ask the land office. I have my receipt.”
“I’m conducting this conversation with Mr. Freeman, miss.” His rudeness set Rosemary’s teeth on edge. Only then did she notice that the four men who had been standing inside the land office were now perched along their path. Clearly, they worked for Mr. Clayton. So much for them being “sort of deputies,” as Silas had claimed.
“Indeed? Well, sir, I was having a perfectly nice conversation of my own with Mr. Freeman before you interrupted in your most inappropriate state of dress.” She tucked her hand inside Silas’s elbow. “Come, Mr. Freeman. We have business at the bank.”
“You don’t want to cross me, little miss.”
But Rosemary understood bullies like him. From time to time, her pa had come up against landowners who believed themselves to be above everyone else and entitled to unearned respect. As much as she wanted to respect her elders, Rosemary couldn’t abide a man of this temperament. “Perhaps it’s you who does not want to cross me.” She smiled to show him that she wasn’t a bi
t afraid of him, although her legs shook beneath her skirt. “Look straight ahead,” she murmured to Silas. “Do not give him the satisfaction of thinking we care whether or not his thugs are following us.”
“We meet again, miss.” The sheriff seemed to appear from nowhere, but Rosemary realized he had been leaning in the doorway of his office. “Would you permit me to escort you and your friend?”
“Thank you, Sheriff.” Rosemary nearly collapsed to the ground with relief. She started to glance over her shoulder, but the sheriff squeezed her elbow. “Don’t look back. They’re still watching you.”
“I’m sorry for all that back there, Miss Jackson.” Silas released a shaky breath.
“Oh, don’t be. It’s not your fault.”
“You’re much too generous,” he said.
The sheriff spoke up. “I agree.” Rosemary’s elbow was still wrapped in his hand, and she was beginning to get flustered. She fell silent.
When they reached the bank, Rosemary turned to the sheriff. “Thank you, Sheriff… I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
He smiled. “Dennis Mayfield at your service, miss.” He turned his gaze toward Silas, and his eyes lost the tender humor of only a few minutes ago. “You should be more careful when you’re escorting ladies.”
Rosemary felt compelled to defend her friend even against this handsome man who had come to her rescue twice. “But Mr. Clayton accosted us. Silas wasn’t at fault.”
Sheriff Mayfield nodded. “I apologize if my eyes deceived me. It appeared to me that Mr. Clayton had a bone to pick with your friend.” His tone had gone from warm and welcoming to suspicious and maybe even a little angry.
“But that’s silly.” Rosemary rolled her eyes. “Listen, I was raised on a large cattle ranch. Wealthy men like Mr. Clayton only want one thing: more land. He’s just in a temper because I was able to file a claim for the property before he could. And trust me, Silas doesn’t need to protect me, and neither did you. I’ve been dealing with his kind my whole life.”
“You’re a little bit of a wildfire, aren’t you?” The sheriff’s eyes lit with something that Rosemary would have labeled interest if she’d had enough vanity to speak of. Rather, she designated the spark in his eye as surprise that a woman would stand up to a man this way.
Love Finds You in Wildrose, North Dakota Page 10