Riding From Richmond (The Pioneer Brides 0f Rattlesnake Ridge Book 4)

by Nan O'Berry

  She turned to her right and with a nod, explained, “I met Melinda when we were coming in.” She smiled at the girl beside her. “I was much impressed with your riding skills.”

  Melinda perked up. “Do you ride?”

  Callie shook her head. “I’m afraid back home, our horses were mainly used for farm work. I do remember having a pony as a child.”

  “What was his name?”

  “Her. We called her Snowflake. I enjoyed riding her around the farm. She was a dear little thing.”

  “Was,” Melinda echoed. “What happened to her?”

  “Oh, I grew too big and Poppa said we didn’t need another mouth to feed with things tight. So, I sold her to a friend down the road for his younger daughter. She’s living the life of luxury.”

  To her surprise, she found Melinda’s eyes glistening.

  “It must be a very hard thing to do, to sell a part of your heart.”

  Callie placed her hands in her lap. “It was. But I shall never forget her.”

  “I’m glad. I don’t think I could part at all with Maggie.”

  “Your horse?”

  Melinda nodded. “Augustus gave me Maggie for my birthday.”

  “Guilty as charged,” the other Barringer brother spoke up.

  “And across from you,” Max drew her attention to his brother. “You have my dear brother, Augustus.”

  “Please to meet you.” She smiled at him.

  “Ma’am.”

  Callie picked up a bit of her meat. Augustus cleared his throat and she looked up.

  “What my brother failed to tell you, is that I’m the better looking one.”

  “Oh, Augustus,” Max groaned as his fork clattered to the plate.

  Callie’s eyes widened and she lowered her fork. She could see that Max’s brother enjoyed needling him. “Let me see,” she stared at Augustus then Max.

  Max’s features where strong. His thick blond hair held its own natural curl. He kept it brushed back from his face. She looked over at Bethany. He had his mother’s eyes, but not her hair coloring. No, his was similar to Melinda, and must have come from their father.

  Augustus was his mother’s child. His hair was darker brown and lacked the curl. He too, kept it cut over his ears and parted on the side. The light from the lanterns overhead sent streaks of fire through the layers. But, his looks did not make her insides feel like jelly. He didn’t command the room like Max. He was in a league of his own.

  “Oh, I don’t know.” She continued to contemplate the two. “I think this territory has room for both.”

  Max laughed a deep natural sound that warmed her heart.

  “She is too smart for you, Augustus.”

  “Spoken like King Solomon,” he agreed. “Well done, Miss McBride.”

  “Please, call me Callie.”

  They began to eat.

  “So, what brought you to Rattlesnake Ridge?” Augustus inquired.

  “Roll,” Max interrupted and thrust a bowl of yeast rolls in front of her.

  Callie blinked. “Thank you.” She reached for one.

  “Ow!” Augustus cried out.

  She looked over to see him leaning toward his mother apparently rubbing his shin.

  “I think that’s enough talk,” Bethany replied ignoring her son’s plight. “I won’t have my supper getting cold.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Augustus groaned.

  Callie broke her roll and noted everyone seemed focused on their meals.

  * * *

  With supper complete, Callie pushed her chair back. “Oh my, that was a wonderful meal. You’ve cooked Mrs. Barringer, let me do the dishes.”

  “Certainly, not.” Bethany stood.

  “Augustus and Melinda can clean the table and help wash. Max, why don’t you take Caledonia out on the porch for a bit of air?”

  “Are you sure?”

  Bethany nodded. “Go, enjoy yourself.”

  Max stood and moved to her chair holding it so she could stand. “Callie,” he whispered.

  She turned to find his arm held in a position for her to hold. Her gaze traveled up his arm to his eyes. The depths of brown with gold flecks drew her in deep. For a brief moment, nothing seemed to surround them. She felt safe. Stepping close, she threaded her arm beneath his and smiled back.

  His gaze never left her face as he escorted her out the front door.

  The cool air seemed to revive her spirits.

  Max let go of her arm and she moved to the edge of the porch.

  “The air seems so clean, so fresh here.” Her eyes remained on the sky. “The heavens seem so full.”

  Max moved beside her and together they stared at the dark velvet over taking the heavens.

  “I feel as if I could reach up and grab a handful of stars.”

  She heard him chuckle.

  “Never quite heard it explained that way, but sure, I’ll grab some and put them on your ears, or better yet, set them in your eyes…” His words dwindled.

  She stared back at him.

  “But you don’t need them, do you,” he whispered. His eyes searched hers.

  Callie felt a strange warmth spiral around her body. The night grew quiet and all she could hear was the sound of his breathing.“That was beautiful,” she whispered.

  Her voice startled him and he seemed to draw back.

  She pulled both hands together and glanced away. “It must be this country.”

  “Ma’am?”

  She looked back and smiled. “It seems to turn every man into a poet.”

  His brows arched. “My words, or the sky?”

  She glanced away. “The sky, of course.”

  Max shifted his gaze to the heavens and wished he had learned to think before speaking. “Yes, it is.”

  A bit uncomfortable, she stepped away and moved to the middle of the yard. With slow repetitive speed, she turned in a circle. “Absolutely, worth the trip.”

  “You think so?”

  Callie turned back to look at the house. She watched Max step from the porch and walk toward her. “Yes. I do. I knew it was the right thing to do, to come here to Rattlesnake Ridge. Here, you feel free.”

  “Free is it?” He drew his arms across his chest and waited for her to finish.

  “Yes. I knew once I came here, I’d never want to leave and I’m right. There’s so much to do, a home to make, a life to live, a future to bring to life.” She waited for him to reply. When no comment came, Callie gave him a shy glance.

  Max seemed to study the ground.

  “I guess you think I’m silly.”

  He shook his head. “No, you are not silly at all. I think anyone would want to stay and follow their dreams.”

  Callie breathed a sigh of relief. “I look forward to this new adventure. I just can’t believe I’m going to marry the man of my dreams, Seth Nolan, and make him proud.”

  At her words, the light in Max’s eyes seemed to fade.

  Pain replaced the mirth and an unease over took her. “Max, Is there something I don’t know? Something you need to tell me?” She stepped closer and touched his arm. At the warmth of her fingers, the skin beneath his shirt flinched. Dread filled her heart. “Max, Seth is coming, isn’t he?” She searched his face.“Max?”

  The man before her looked down then glanced back to her.

  “He’s coming. It will just take a few days, is all.”

  She felt her world tilt in the right direction. Callie took one more deep breath. “I think I’m going in. It’s been a long day and suddenly, I am so tired.” She took a few steps toward the house, then paused.

  Turning back, she walked to Max and grasping his shoulders, she rose on her tip toes and brushed her lips across his cheek. “Thank you, Max. Thank you for everything.”

  Chapter 6

  All the wind went out of his sails. Eyes wide, he watched her walk back to the house and disappeared inside. The right side of his cheek burned as if she’d branded him. Swallowing the thick lump, he reached out
and touched his face only to find that she had somehow left no mark.

  “Crazy. Just plumb loco,” he murmured to no one.

  Turning, he moved to the barn. Walking down the center aisle, Max needed to spend some time away from the main house. He needed Callie to turn in before he returned. One by one, he checked the water for each horse. At the last stall, he turned and gazed at the lights shining through the windows.

  “I can’t go in the house right now.”

  “Can’t or won’t?” The voice in his head questioned.

  Ignoring the prick of his subconscious, he picked up a brush and went inside the stall.

  The door clicked shut and the horse looked up, questioning his actions.

  “Just a good brushing.” He turned the brush over in his hand.

  The animal snorted and gave a shake of its head, but submitted to the attention without fanfare.

  Stroke by stoke, Max brought the brush across the animals fur followed by smoothing it down further with his hand. The horse’s deep chestnut coat easily took on a red shine that complimented its flaxen mane.

  “Yeah, that’s a good girl. You’ll be the prettiest filly in the coral come tomorrow.”

  The horse leaned into the strokes which made Max grin. The repetition of the action allowed the tension in his shoulders to ease.

  “You’re going to wear the hide off that horse.”

  Max looked up to see his brother leaning against the post at the horses stall. “Augustus, I didn’t hear you come up.”

  “Nope, you were a bit busy spilling your guts to that animal.”

  Max turned his attention back to the horse and once again, brought the brush down across her coat.

  “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

  Max paused and pressed his lips together.

  “I don’t believe for one moment that you did this willingly for Lou, Teddy, and Dill.”

  A rough breath rushed through Max nostrils. “No. I was tricked.”

  His answer brought a deep chuckle from his brother. “I’m not surprised. Sometimes, I think those three could sell snake oil to a traveling salesman.”

  They shared a laugh which eased the tension.

  When they paused, Augustus asked. “What’s really got under your skin, Max?”

  “She’s got no business out here,” he explained. “She’s not strong enough.”

  “Just that?”

  Max gave the horse a pat and she moved away allowing him to walk out of the stall. He didn’t speak until he’d put the brush back into the bucket. “That and….”

  “And?” Augustus lifted a brow.

  “And, she’s been lied to and now I’ve got to figure out a way to get her back home,” Max grumbled. “She’s just a might of a woman. She shouldn’t have to come all the way out here and be disappointed. It’s not fair.”

  “Since when is life ever fair?” Augustus replied. “If it was fair, Pa would still be with us.”

  Max hung his head. “Yeah, yeah, I know.” He drew a breath. “She doesn’t seem strong enough to survive in a place like Rattlesnake Ridge.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Augustus countered. “She was strong enough to survive the trip out here.”

  “But she had dreams to cling to. What’s she gonna do when I tell her they were for nothing?” He paused and stared at the horse.

  “Speaking of that, how did she get here?”

  “False pretenses,” Max grudgingly admitted. “If I could get a hold of Lou, Teddy, and Dill, I’d give ‘em a good thrashing.” As he explained, his brother’s eyes widened. “Now they’ve gone and got me mixed up in this – this thing.” Max glanced away before he confessed, “I’m in deep, Augustus. So deep, I don’t know how to climb out.”

  Silence slid between the two brothers.

  “I don’t know what to tell you?”

  Max shrugged. “Not much to tell. If I were a man, I’d march right in that house and tell her the whole sorted truth.”

  Augustus glanced over his shoulder at the open barn door. “I don’t think that’s a good idea tonight. She’s tired. You need some time to think of how to handle this and not get anyone killed, especially yourself.”

  Neither spoke as the horse moved away signaling to the men it wanted to go to sleep.

  “I guess we’ve kept this horse up too long.” Max sighed.

  “I’ll leave you to finish up and close the door. Oh, Max?”

  “Yeah?” he turned to face his brother.

  “Don’t worry, if anyone can figure a way out of this, it will be you.”

  Max snorted. “Tell that to the sheriff when she has me arrested.”

  Augustus broke into a wide grin. “Naw, I’m gonna put it on your tombstone.” He swiped the air with his hand. “Here lies, Maxwell Barringer, killed by love.”

  Max shoved his brother away from him. “Go on to the house with you. Melinda’s probably waiting with a chess game.”

  His brother winced. “She probably is. You sure you don’t want to play against her?”

  “No one female is enough to deal with.”

  His brother’s smile faded. “You will be all right, won’t you, Max?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine,” he lied. “Go on.”

  With no other alternative, Augustus left the barn.

  Max made one last visual check before he walked out into the night. The shadows along the open ground had deepened to ebony. Hidden by the darkness, the crickets serenaded their mates and answering chorus filled the night air.

  “No use hiding out here,” Max grumbled.

  Hands shoved deep in his pockets and shoulders hunched nearly to his earlobes, he made his way back to the house. He paused at the door. His thumb pressed the metal latch.

  “Be brave,” he told himself and shoved the door wide.

  Warm air flowed past him seeking to disappear into the night. Across the room, he spied his mother with her basket of darning. She glanced up from the tedious work.

  He refused to meet her gaze.

  “Close the door, Max.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Door closed, Max spied his brother Augustus locked in a game of chess with Melinda. He gazed over his sister’s head. His face bore that ‘I told you so look’.

  “Everything all right out at the barn?” His mother questioned. “You were gone so long, I was beginning to worry.”

  “Yes, ma’am, everything is fine. I just checked water.” Max ignored the curious look from his sister. Walking to a shelf along the far wall, he grabbed a book and ambled over to the chair next to the fireplace. Blowing out a deep breath, he sat down and absentmindedly flipped the cover open. Words in black type filled the page, but none of them made sense. To be honest, he didn’t really care. He was holding a book and to the world, he was occupied. To the world, he was busy. Max, however, was using the time to try and sort out the jumble of feelings that ate at his soul.

  The wood crackled in the hearth as the flames licked at the logs.

  “Caledonia went to bed,” Melinda informed him. “She said she was tired.”

  Max glanced up and watched her move a pawn. “Expect she was,” he answered and flipped a page.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he watched his sister narrow her eyes. Nope, he wasn’t rising to the bait. If Melinda wanted to tease him, she was going to have to find something better than that.

  “Come on, Mel. Your turn,” Augustus grumbled as he drew her back to the board.

  With a huff, his sister turned in her chair and looked back down at her last move.

  Max gave his attention to the letters on the page. Instead of reading, his mind tried to make sense of everything that went on today.

  Dang it, she was in love with Seth and he’d gone and married another. It was sure some kind of mess to fall into his lap. He’d seen a woman angry – once. One of the sodbusters had gotten a snoot full at Dobson’s saloon. His wife had marched right in and took a swipe at his head with a big ole cast iron
frying pan. Max gave a shiver. Callie couldn’t pick up one of those let alone swing it. Still, the notion of her anger made him want to slink under the steps like dog getting a tongue lashing.

  There would be a bucket or two of tears shed once she found out that Seth had already married. Perhaps, he could step into the fray and remind her that men just can’t control their feelings. Seth didn’t mean to get married; it was thing that just sort of happened. No, he couldn’t do that. First of all, Seth would not be pleased. He’d be nothing more than a low life playing on her heartache. Second, it wasn’t the truth. He needed a better story.

  He raised his hand and leaned an elbow on the arm of his chair, before nestling his chin against his palm. She was brought out here with lies, no matter how good they were intended, and that alone, would break her heart even if Dill, Teddy, and Lou put hat to hand and confessed. The truth made him squirm in the chair causing it to squeak.

  His mother sighed and put down her work once again. “Max, you act as if something’s bothering you?” He looked over the binding of the book. “No, I’m fine.”

  He was as long as he didn’t have to tell the truth. That would hurt too much. The mental image of those blue eyes mired in tears seemed to open a wound he couldn’t heal. He stared at the paper. A story, he needed a good story that would satisfy her inquisitive nature and keep her from being inconsolable.

  “One that might save my hide as well as theirs,” he mumbled under his breath.

  “Did you say something, Max?”

  Augustus voice made him jerk his head up and shift his glance from side to side. Had he spoke aloud? The questioning glance on Melinda’s face and the all too knowing one on his mother’s confirmed his suspicions. “Sorry, thinking about a problem Cameron told me about.”

  “Hopefully, the equipment you had to get from Carson City will ease that problem,” his mother replied as she pulled her thread through the seam.

  “Yep, I’m sure Carson City had a lot to do with it.” Augustus lips twitched as he moved a white chess piece.

  Max refused to answer.

  But his mother’s blistering glare silenced his brother for two more moves on the chess board.