by Cyndi Raye
Would she miss Rusty?
She already did.
Only two days gone and she felt this tugging at her heart to go back home.
No.
She wanted this time to herself.
“Giddy-up.”
The wagon left Wichita Falls with Miss Addie waving from the front porch. Jenna happened to exit her small café as their wagon passed by, a bundle in her arms. She raised her voice to get Matt’s attention, who stopped the moment she called.
“Well, I’ll be!” Nora realized there was a bit of romance going on between her ranch hand and the owner of the café. He stayed behind to speak with Miss Jenna.
Matt caught up ten minutes out.
“I’m sorry, Miss Nora. Look what we got for our trip. There’s fresh bread and churned butter, two pastries, and even some fried chicken. That Jenna sure is a good cook.”
“It is kind of her to supply us with such wonderful food.”
He shrugged. “I think she likes me.”
Nora laughed out loud. “I think you like her, too.”
“Maybe.”
Nora watched as he pulled a large chunk of bread and began to eat, chewing noisily. “Where we headed?” he asked, his mouth so full she barely understood his words.
“To Coopers Ridge.”
“Might be some ruffians there. I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“It will be fine. Don’t you worry, the pastor of the church will keep us safe. We are good friends.”
Matt frowned. “That’s all well and good but Coopers Ridge is no place for a lady.”
Nora studied Matt. “Why is that? I’ve been going to church in Coopers Ridge for the last year and a half and no one has stopped me in all this time. What are you not telling me, young man?”
Matt looked uncomfortable.
“Matt, spill the beans!”
“Yes, ma’am. Rusty said and I’ll repeat his exact words. Do not allow Miss Nora in Coopers Ridge, that dog-gone paster has the fancy for her.”
Nora clasped her hands tighter on the reins. “Oh, he said that, did he?”
Matt nodded before stuffing the rest of the bread in his mouth. Probably so he wasn’t able to answer any more questions. Nora watched as his cheeks pinked. He realized too late he told her that Rusty was a wee bit jealous of the pastor.
All these things going on behind her back and she had no idea!
It was time Nora White took a hold of her life. She was going to Coopers Ridge, come hell or high water and Rusty didn’t have to like it one iota! She was her own woman. Always had been. No man would tell her what she could and could not do, or where she should or shouldn’t go. No sir, not Nora! Not any more! Not ever!
Chapter 2
The path to Coopers Ridge was filled with mud, slinging it hard against the wagon wheels. It looked as if it had rained for more days than none, causing the road to be muddier than usual. Nora was careful as she drove the horses and not let it rattle her.
The small town was not that far from the White Ranch and she had always rode this way every single Sunday for the past year and a half. When Nora took off the other day, she rode towards Wichita Falls first and now was backtracking to Coopers Ridge. It didn’t make sense but she didn’t want to make any sense.
“We may have wanted to come this way first before it rained yesterday,” Matt mentioned for the fourth time today.
She twisted her body towards his voice. He was behind her and by the looks of his puffy cheeks, he was making sure there would be no bread left when they stopped.
It didn’t matter, Matt was good to her. He had faithfully rode alongside of her without complaining up until now. Even if Rusty had been the one to give the order to do so.
That Rusty was going to get a piece of her mind when she got home! He had always been so caring, telling her if she needed to take a trip he would make sure the ranch was taken care of so she need not worry. This whole time he had given Matt orders on where she was to go and who she was allowed to see!
If that didn’t rattle her then she didn’t know what would. He had a few thinks coming his way!
In spite of being mad at Rusty, a decisive smile crossed her cheeks. When they got to Coopers Ridge she was going to have a few of her own surprises. That would show Rusty he wasn’t going to run her life!
The church steeple came into view. Coopers Ridge was one long street. The town butted up against one side of the ridge while an open prairie was seen for miles on end on the other side. Nora was glad to be there, she was tired of riding.
Plus, it would be nice to see Pastor Murphy. He had always been kind to her, even if he was a bit rough around the edges. Every Sunday she looked forward to hearing his sermon. He wasn’t bad to look upon either. Tall and dark with a gun belt slung low on slim hips. For a middle-aged man he was quite handsome. The ladies all flocked to church from all over the neighboring ranches in order to try to convince him to be their suitor. It had been fun watching these ladies but now she wondered if perhaps she had been wanting the same thing.
He looked more like an outlaw until he stood in the pulpit, talking about the Lord as if he knew him personally. Some of his sermons gave her goosebumps. It was the reason she had everyone wear their Sunday best each week and ride across the ridge to attend church. Now that she thought about things, she did recall Rusty grumble each week they headed out this way.
But he was faithful. Each week no matter how much he complained, Rusty sat beside her on the wooden bench even if she had to nudge him now and again when he snored.
“Mrs. White, what a pleasure!”
The pastor was walking down the street towards his saloon, a bible in his hand when he noticed her arrival.
She waved, slowing her rig at the sight of him. “Hello, Pastor Murphy.”
“What brings you to Coopers Ridge on a week day?”
“I’m visiting before heading to the big city.”
“Oh, is there something I need to pray about for you, Mrs. White?”
“Well, we can discuss that later. For right now, I’d like to settle somewhere. Is there a hotel or boarding house available?”
Pastor Murphy glanced at Matt, nodding to the young man. He was still chewing on something, Nora didn’t know what it was this time.
“Well, there’s a few empty rooms above the saloon but I think you’d be better off if you inquire with Mrs. Jorden at the boarding house. I’m sure she can accommodate you both.”
“Oh, Matt won’t need a room. I’m sending him back to the ranch.”
Matt stopped chewing. She finally got his undivided attention.“What?”
She turned and nodded. “I appreciate your faithfulness, Matt. I do need you to go back to the ranch and let everyone know I’m fine and where we are off to on the next leg of our journey. I don’t want my boys to worry about me. They have enough with their new lives and the ranch.”
“But, Rusty said not to let you out of my eyesight.”
“Who pays your salary, Matt?” She hated to use that line but it was the truth.
“You do, Miss Nora.”
“Well, then. Please go back and let everyone know I’m fine and in good hands.” She turned and smiled at the pastor, who looked somewhat confused.
Matt nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll see you here tomorrow.”
Matt turned to go, looking quite upset.
“Matt?”
He turned.
“It’s all fine. I promise. Pastor Murphy will let no harm come to me, isn’t that right, Pastor?”
He nodded. “Of course, you are in good hands.” He looked up and Nora wasn’t sure if the pastor was rolling his eyes or meant she was in God’s hands.
<><>
“What do you mean you left her in Coopers Ridge! That place is a haven for outlaws and desperadoes!”
Luke intervened. “I wouldn’t say it’s that bad, Rusty. Pastor Murphy has cleaned up Coopers Ridge. He only allows folks who have been reformed to l
ive there. Otherwise, they are sent away.”
“Humph! He was an outlaw himself once!”
Adam shook his head. “Rusty, the pastor named the town after himself. His first name is Cooper. He changed that old place and built a nice town.”
Rusty shook his head. He didn’t understand what Nora saw in the pastor even if he did clean up the town, making it a place where goods were traded and people were able to start over again. It just galled him something fierce that Nora was always wanting to go listen to his sermons. He caught her looking at the pastor with googly eyes plenty of times. That’s when he’d snore so loud she took her eyes off the pastor and paid attention to him.
“Every single week for the last year and a half I trudged along, riding on that buggy with her to Coopers Ridge to listen to that dang blasted man and now he’s going to try to steal her away!”
“Rusty!” Luke was trying not to laugh. Rusty saw how he turned his face away, a grin on his face. Well, it wasn’t funny.
“What?” Adam was doing the same thing.
Samuel piped up. “Rusty, you need to calm down.”
He turned to Nora’s boys. With hands on his hips, he barked at them all. They were standing in the barn, watching him have a conniption fit at the thought of Nora wanting another man. “What do you three care? You have your new lives and pretty wives to keep you company. My world is gone! She left, drove right out of the yard and in to the arms of a dog-gone do-gooder!”
Matt’s eye widened. “Hey, Rusty, I didn’t come here to get you all stirred up. I have to go back tomorrow. She’s not planning on staying there long. We’re headed to Dallas to see some shows. She plans on having a grand adventure, I heard her tell Miss Addie.”
Rusty turned and stared down Matt. “Dallas! Over my dead body. Boy, you are back to work right here on the ranch! I’ll be the one to escort Nora to Dallas!”
Matt grinned. “Well, okay. But, I’ll have you know she told me your not my boss, she is. So I hate to inform you that you can’t be bossing me around.”
“Well, she ain’t here and I can kick your behind right into that bunk house, kid! Now don’t be giving me lip. I’m the one who will escort her, understand?”
Matt took off without looking back, heading towards the bunkhouse. He stopped to grab a wrapped bundle from his saddlebag before scooting to his bunk.
Luke and Adam laughed at the way Matt behaved. “For not being his boss, Matt sure did follow Rusty’s orders, didn’t he?” Adam mumbled.
Samuel made a face. “So, what is Ma doing? Do you think it was safe to leave her in Coopers Ridge?”
Rusty declared war. “I swear if she is in any danger I’ll horsewhip young Matt.”
“Settle down, Rusty. You’ve sure been cranky since Ma left,” Samuel told him.
Rusty knew he was on the grumpy side lately. He took a deep breath, determined to slow down his heart rate. He swore it felt like someone was inside punching him. “I’m sorry boys. All of you, forgive me. It’s just, well, with Nora gone, things aren’t the same.”
Luke flung an arm around his shoulder. “Then go bring Ma home, Rusty.”
“She wants an adventure.” Those simple words she spoke to him the day she left had gotten to him somewhere deep in his gut. She wanted excitement, an adventure. Had he been a disappointment to her? Why, he was pretty happy with their mode of entertainment here on the ranch. What more did she need?
Adam flung an arm over his shoulder. Next, Samuel closed in. “We love you, but you can be pretty lame-brained! So, Rusty, give her an adventure! She wants to go to Dallas, take her and show her the adventure of a lifetime!”
Maybe these boys were right. Rusty grinned. Why not! “What about the ranch, who is going to be in charge?”
“Rusty! Would you go on now! Get your best suit out and pack your bag. It’s time you follow some dreams, too! You are the only person we trust with our Ma, no offence to Matt. We have the ranch under control. We can run it in our sleep.”
“You better not even try. Promise you’ll be out there taking care of things instead of lazing the day away in bed.”
“Go on, Rusty. Trust us, we’ve been doing this a long time. You bring Ma home, we don’t want to see her with anyone else except you.”
Samuel’s word made him feel like he was ten feet tall, not the five foot eleven he stood wearing boots. He gathered a few clean shirts and a pair of britches, careful to fold his Sunday go to meeting suit on the top of the carpet bag. After giving instructions to the rest of the crew, Rusty settled down to get a good nights sleep.
Yep, he was going to give Nora one heck of a surprise. He just hoped he could get to her before that dang pastor used those fancy words on her and cast her under his heavenly spell.
<><>
“Thank you, kindly.”
“My pleasure, Miss White. Shall we?” He held out his arm.
Pastor Murphy had collected her from the front porch of the boarding house. He had offered to take her on a delightful tour of the town.
They had walked down the main street, which was the only street in town. They had strolled past store fronts and homes with whitewashed fronts. It wasn’t much of an established town but it was a start.
Along the left side of town, the houses almost butted up against a wide ridge. “Why were those houses built so close to the ridge?” she asked him, trying to find something casual to talk about. He wasn’t a man of many words. Nora wasn’t used to forcing a conversation.
Pastor Murphy looked up where she was staring. “I guess to protect the town if need be. Once you are up there on the ridge you can see anyone coming and going for miles and miles. It seemed like a good place to build.”
“I see. So the rumors are true? You are the one who built this town?”
He raised an eyebrow and nodded. “I’m afraid the rumors are true, Miss White. When I saw this land and decided to place my hat here, I didn’t want all this for myself. There were a few shabby buildings here, a haven for outlaws to hide out. I was one of them and when I purchased this place, it turned my life around. It was easy to picture a town where those who had once done wrong could right themselves and live in harmony. I dreamed of a sanctuary for those who truly wanted to start over. To live in peace. No one judges here.”
She looked around. Several men walked past, nodding to the pastor and tipping a hat to her. “I find your sermons each week are filled with that very thing.”
“It keeps the residents on their toes. It doesn’t hurt to remind them of the rules, especially those fighting their own souls. I own almost everything here, Miss White. The saloon, the church, all the homes and businesses escept for the few I sold. The buildings are leased for one year until the town can be assured the resident will earn an honest living here. Everyone understands and must accept my rules coming in.”
“I had no idea. It’s a very interesting concept. I understand what it is like to own acres and acres of land. The White Ranch takes over a large area, it’s a big responsibility.”
“So is Coopers Ridge. It’s why I built into the ridge as you can see. This town has to be protected and if there’s any trouble, the men can get up on top there and see what is coming at us.”
They were standing at the end of Main Street. “It is a smart idea. Tell me, how did Coopers Ridge come about?”
He gazed up at the ridge, the sun beating down on the dusty ground. Nora glanced at his profile, the soft lines under his eyes showing the world a lifetime of living. “When I first saw this land with those two shabby buildings slapped on it, I stood on that ridge for two days, praying, promising God if he would redeem my soul and change my way of thinking, I’d make good on my promise to show mercy on those who need to change their lives. All I had to my name was my horse, a bag full of cash and a sleeping blanket. The next day, I inquired about this piece of property and was able to buy it that very day. From there, it all came together rather easily, registering the plotting out the land and registering the lots so I
knew the direction came from up there.” He pointed to the clouds.
“God is good to you.” She turned to him, placing her other hand on his sleeve. “He saw a great man inside of you with a giving heart and knew you were the right person to fulfil your promises.”
Nora almost gasped at the intensity in the pastor’s eyes. He turned to look at her, taking a hand and running it across her cheek. His touch was warm but it didn’t make her heart race. She did like how soft and loving his touch was and closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath.
His mouth brushed over hers. Her eyes opened wide in surprise at the sudden kiss. Immediately, he took a step back. “I’m sorry, I had to know if there was something there.”
She grinned, not slightest bit offended. She hadn’t felt a thing when he kissed her. Her only worry was that he had. “And?”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid we are resigned to be good friends.”
Nora laughed, tugging at his arm. “Come on, friend, let’s go get something to eat at the boarding house. I’ll buy you lunch.”
“I’ll do you one even better! How about I cook you a steak. The saloon is closed until later. I have the best steaks money can buy and there is one with your name on it.”
Nora never went inside a saloon before but she had to admit being curious. “Well, as long as it is closed.”
“It’s a decent place, Miss White. I would not take you there if it weren’t. I run an honest place and it’s about the only food establishment besides the boarding house for right now.”
“Tell me more about your town, Pastor Murphy.”
“Only if you call me Cooper.”
She smiled. “That’s a fine idea, Cooper. Since we have established our friendship, I insist on being called Nora.”
“Very well, Nora it is.” He held a hand out, guiding her onto the porch of the saloon. “Please join me in a delightful dinner of steak and some fresh bread.”
Nora sat in the kitchen area of the saloon, laughing as Cooper made his way around, heating up the stove and grilling two steaks. He even sliced two large pieces of bread and slathered butter over top. She helped him carry the finished plates to one of the tables in the saloon.