by Faye Sonja
“What do we need to do tomorrow?”
“I’d thought a look around the property, and you can try horse riding if you want?”
“Do women ride horses?”
“Women do everything out here, and usually better than the men. We all work hard for what we have and take care of each other.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“See if you think that tomorrow.”
A horse whinnied outside; it sounded far away but Jack stared at the door, listening intently. A second whinny carried off in the distance and Jack jumped up and grabbed his gun down from over the fireplace.
“Jack? What is it?”
“Better not be rustlers or they’ll be getting’ a tail full of lead.”
Amelia felt the dread hit her stomach. “Don’t go out there.”
“I have to go check the cattle. The field is the closest to the barn. If they undo the gate they’ll all get out.”
“What should I do?”
“Stay put here. Lock the door behind me.” He looked hard at her then and gave her a rough kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back, Amelia. I promise.”
Amelia just nodded and felt a little ill as Jack went out the door and she put the wooden stay across it. If anything happened to Jack, it just didn’t bear thinking about.
She didn’t like the eeriness of being in here alone. She thought she’d occupy herself by tidying up and putting some more wood on the fire. Amelia didn’t have a lot of ranching skills under her belt but she was willing to tackle any situation the Lord sent her way, knowing it would never be more than she could handle.
At home she’d always occupied herself with her paintings. Art was everything to her. She’d left it all behind because nothing would really fit in the cases once her essentials were in. Besides, she didn’t want any distractions from the job at hand. She was here to learn all she could to stand by her husband and make the ranch a success.
Amelia yawned. It had been a long two weeks on the train but the past twenty-four hours had been the hardest. Pretty much every hope she’d had about her new start, her new family, and her wedding day had been shot down in flames. Her in-laws hated her, the wedding was rushed through, and now the cattle were under threat.
She opened the fire door and thick smoke poured out. Her eyes stung and she coughed hard. Amelia quickly tossed in the piece of wood she had in her other hand and somehow managed to touch the door of the firebox, and the harsh sting of a burn now laid across her index finger. She waved her hand around in the hope the burning would stop, but it didn’t.
“Oh, I’m so useless. One bit of wood and I can’t do that.” She sat back down at the table. This was the right choice. It was.
* * *
5
Wedding Night
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“I’m marrying you, tomorrow,
not your parents.”
.
A knock came to the door and Amelia jumped. “It’s me, Jack.”
She took the bar away and he walked in.
“How’re the cattle?”
“All in. I’m still not certain it wasn’t rustlers. I chained the fence up good and tight. At least they won’t get them out of there in a hurry.”
“That’s good.”
“Are you alright?”
“Oh. I burned my finger on the stove. Silly. It’s nothing.”
“Show me.” He came in and closed the door.
Amelia showed him her finger.
He took her closer to the lamp. “That will hurt. I’ll get the salve and then we’ll put a soft, clean piece of cloth around it. In the morning it will be almost better.”
“I’m sorry. You have enough to worry about.”
“Nothing so important as my wife.”
“Unless the rustlers come back…” Amelia used an edge of humor in her voice.
Jack smiled up at her. “Well, there is that.”
She gave a quiet laugh. “My wedding day, and meeting your parents could not have gone more opposite to what I’d imagined.”
“I’m sorry for my family. Thank the Lord for James, and now Adeline. They are my only saving grace in the family stakes.”
“Well, if your father isn’t selling you off to the highest bidder then you’re still one better than me.” She’d meant it as a joke, but the words caught in her throat. It suddenly hit her how much their lives would change now and what an awful choice her father had made, then chosen to leave them to fend for themselves. The tears rolled down her cheeks.
Jack finished dressing her finger and then put his arms around her. “We’ll make a new start. None of that matters. We have each other.”
Amelia wiped the tears from her eyes. “Yes, we do.” It would be really lovely to feel his warmth beside her tonight, to feel protected and cherished.
“Okay. Now, you go to bed. I’m taking a mug of hot tea out with me.”
“Out with you?”
“Yes. I’m going to sit watch over the cattle.”
“Oh.”
“I must, Amelia. Tomorrow, I’ll work out a way to keep them safe for the next month. But tonight I won’t sleep a wink anyway. Just lock the door and bring me a fresh tea in the morning.”
“I will.”
He grabbed a large overcoat from the hook on the wall and poured his tea, stirring sugar into it. His shotgun in hand, he gave her a wink as he closed the door. Amelia put the bar across, and shook her head in disbelief. She guessed she’d be keeping herself company. Into the bedroom she went. She turned down the lamp and took off her soft shoes.
With all her clothes still on she pulled the cover up over her. At least she’d be warm. Amelia laid there staring into the flickering lamp light. She turned a few times, and couldn’t get comfortable. This time last night she was imagining what the first night in her new home would be like.
She told herself no matter what it was like, it would be wonderful because she had a husband that loved her, and she loved him. Except now she was in bed not sleeping and he was outside keeping the cattle company. This had to end.
Back up from the bed she got and she went through all her clothes to find and the thickest of her tops and skirt. She’d had a woolen bonnet made so she put that on as well. Her leather boots were good and sturdy. The biggest wool blanket on the bed would be perfect for out there.
In the kitchen she made more tea, one skill she did have, and set the pot and the sugar and her mug in the basket and surrounded them with the bakery goodies. If Jack had to watch the cattle then she’d decided to watch them with him. At least they could help each other stay awake till dawn.
She unlocked the door, opened it and picked up all her gear in her arms. She had to put it all down on the rocking chair on the small porch to shut the door. Then she looked for Jack’s lantern to guide her to where he was. She could see the huge barn looming in the darkness and she walked behind it.
Jack was propped up by a fence post. He sat on the ground, sipping his tea. He looked up when he heard her footsteps. She didn’t carry a light so she called out, but not too loud. “It’s me, Jack.”
“What on earth are you doing?”
“I can’t sleep, and I want to remember our wedding night together. Even if it is taking care of fifty cattle under the stars.”
Jack jumped up and came to help her carry her load. “What have you here?”
“Everything. Food. Hot tea. Sugar. A blanket to sit on and one to wrap up in.”
“In that case, we need a fire. I’ll go gather some wood as soon as I get you organized.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I’m only thirty feet away under those trees there.” He pointed into the shadows.
Once her eyes adjusted she could see the outline of the trees. “Okay.”
It wasn’t long after that Jack had a wonderful fire going and he’d found a big log for them to lean ag
ainst, which he rested against the fence posts. He’d piled up some smaller logs and the newlyweds sat together sipping tea in the moonlight.
“It’s so lovely out here.” Amelia watched the flames lick the wood and the coal burned bright.
“Definitely a part of ranching I do love. The outdoors are inspiring.”
“Is that what your book is about?”
Jack looked to the ground. “No one ever asks me about my book.”
“I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”
“No. I want to. Actually, my story is about a boy growing up. He loses everything and everyone he loves and now he’s trying to make his way in the world.”
“That sounds amazing. Not what I expected.”
“I hope I get time to get back to it one day.”
“You have to make time. If you don’t make time, it will never happen.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Perhaps.”
Jack threw another log on the fire and the sparks flew upwards and disappeared. “The cattle are settled. They know they’re safe. I appreciate you being out here too.”
Amelia listened to the soft noises and movement coming from inside the fenced area. They sounded content. “I’ve never, ever spent a night outside under the stars before. It wonderful.”
“On a night like tonight it is. There’s something special about the crackle of a fire out in the open.”
“Do you think it was cattle stealers earlier?”
“Hard to say, but now is the perfect time to get cattle in good health. Usually they go for bigger herds so the ones missing aren’t so easily noticed.”
Amelia gave a quick shudder. She grabbed the other wool blanket and threw it around her shoulders and offered the other half to Jack to get under with her. He accepted and they held a corner each as they sat close together. “It’s hard to believe we are married. It doesn’t feel quite real.”
“I know what you mean.”
Noises came from the hills. The sound of walking, or something. Amelia gasped. What could it be? Jack grabbed his gun and held it close. The noises went on for a little longer and then stopped.
“Oh, that had my heart in my mouth.”
“I think it was just critters of some kind.”
“Friendly ones, I hope.” Amelia wasn’t sure she could take so much animal life in one night. The cattle were plenty.
“Unlikely, but they aren’t usually looking for trouble.”
“The fire is so warm.” Her face had heated up from the glowing coals and the flickering flames. Amelia yawned. “Pardon me.”
“Put your head on my shoulder and go to sleep.” He placed his arm around her and she rested her cheek on him. He was warm too. She felt like she’d gotten to know a different side of her husband tonight but she’d still barely scratched the surface. He was complex. All the looks of a weathered, stern cowboy, but he had heart and passion.
He yearned in the way Amelia did. She understood that sort of pull. Hers was her art. She hoped the hard ranch work would help fill the void of having nothing to work with. No paints, no pastels, no paper. Nothing.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe long and slow. This was not the wedding night she’d expected. In some ways it was even better. Despite all the dream-shattering realities of the past two days, Amelia couldn’t have been closer to Jack than she’d been tonight. When the time came to be together as man and wife, she felt the Lord had provided them a good opportunity to know each other better.
Hooves thundered in the distant hills and Jack bristled. He took his arm from around her and gripped his gun with both hands. The hooves got closer and louder and Jack jumped up. “Go inside.”
“No. I’m not leaving you alone out here.”
“Amelia. I’ll be safer with you inside. The only thing these rustlers are likely to want more than cattle is a beautiful young woman.”
“It may not be them.”
“Maybe not. But if it is…” Jack turned to her, hostility flashing in his eyes. “Get inside, Amelia.”
“No, Jack.” Amelia was determined not to be alone inside. They could find her there as easily as see her here.
The hooves were thunderously close now, and before long the dark outline posse came into view.
“One last chance. Amelia, go inside and hide yourself away.”
“I shall not! I never hid from Lex Baxter, and I shan’t hide from any man who wants to bend me to his will. I have faith the Lord will protect me.”
“You better look mean then, because it’s too late now,” Jack said more quietly as Amelia stood up beside him.
The head of the posse stared at them and the cattle in the yard. He spat on the ground and gave a yellow-toothed grin. “Here y’all are.”
“This is private property. Get off my land.” Jack aimed the gun at the leader and ten other guns aimed at him. Amelia held her breath but she tried to project confidence. She knew men such as these would thrive on the smell of fear.
“I’m not here for a fight. We could gun you down with no questions. But let’s not get off to a bad start.”
“I don’t have enough cattle for you to worry about.”
“We’ve ridden your property checking. Not much fencing, no hired guns and fifty nice cattle. I’d call this easy pickins. Especially as you ain’t showing us no hospitality pointing a gun like that.”
Jack lowered his gun and the rest lowered too. Amelia clenched her hands into fists and prayed hard to God that these scary men would leave them well enough alone. She didn’t want to die this way. She certainly didn’t want to see her new husband shot beside her over some cattle.
“Leave my cattle. Leave here. I won’t speak a word of it.”
The group laughed.
“You won’t, eh? That’s mighty kind of ya. But I’m the one in charge here.” He jumped down from his huge, black horse and came closer. “I am feelin’ in a right Christian mood. So I’ll give you a choice.”
Jack tensed even more beside her. Amelia stood still as the leader got closer and looked her over. “Get away from me, you beastly man.”
“She’s a fiery one. I like them the best.” The dirty, smelly man laughed as he addressed his group and they all laughed too.
Jack pushed his way in between him and Amelia. “This has nothing to do with my wife. Leave her out of it.”
* * *
6
Rustler Trouble
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“I’m marrying you, tomorrow,
not your parents.”
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Jack didn’t like where this conversation was heading. Not at all. This man, Blake as he was known as, defied the law all the time. There was nothing anyone could do. Except shoot him, but not with his men.
“I’m a fair man. So we’ll do a trade. I’ll leave your wife alone and you give me your cattle.”
“No. I’m not giving them to you. You can steal ‘em but I’m not giving you permission to have them. You touch my wife and you will die. I don’t care if I get a hundred bullets after, but you will die.”
He heard Amelia gasp from behind him. He stood his ground, eyeing Blake off.
Blake gave a deep rattle of a laugh and lit up part of a cigarette he’d gotten from his pocket. He puffed the smoke into Jack’s face. Jack never moved, even with the foul stench of stale tobacco smoke deep in his nostrils.
“Best open the gates for me then. I have some cattle to rustle.”
Jack wanted to do so much but he wouldn’t put Amelia’s life in danger. The sun was beginning to peek over the hilltops. They’d almost made it. But what choice did he have? With no cattle to sell, he had no means to survive out here. No way to pay his father back. The anger simmered inside him.
He’d get his cattle back somehow, and he’d get them to the market. In the meantime, he had no clue about what he’d do to get foo
d on the table. Great husband he’d turned out to be. Amelia would be turning tail and asking for out on this marriage. First his parents and their hatred. Then his drunken brother and a wedding night out in the cold, and now his livelihood was being taken from right under his nose.
“Amelia. Go inside and lock the door.”
She never argued this time. She just scurried out from behind him and ran up past the barn towards the house.
“A promise is a promise. You take these cattle, you leave us alone.”
“Unless you get any crazy ideas of stealin’ them back. If you do, we’ll be back for her, and we’ll make you watch before we kill you both.”
“As God puts breath in me, you will be stopped.”
“Where’s your fancy God now? Ask him to strike me down if he’s real. Never did a durn thing for me in my life. Didn’t stop my Pa from beatin’ on me no matter how much I prayed. Get those gates undone before I forget I’m bein’ so accomodatin’.”
Jack moved to the gates and started to unwind the thick bindings he’d wrapped around the posts to secure the gate. A crack rang out through the morning air and birds took off from the trees in great bunches. Jack hit the ground right away. And when he looked up, Blake was bleeding on the ground from the chest, and his eyes looked stone-cold dead.
Jack saw his brother, Jacob, walking forward towards the group who now had their guns raised but no idea where to point them.
“You can either leave now, or my men will ping you all off one at a time,” Jacob called out. “Nobody’s takin’ these cattle anywhere. Pick up Blake and take him with you. Get on with it, now.”
They all looked around at each other, and Jack stood up and grabbed his gun again.
“I’ve got ten crack-shots with itchy trigger fingers in the trees. So make it fast,” Jacob shouted.
Two of the men jumped down and picked up Blake, slumping his body across his horse.
“Don’t come back here because this ranch is now armed and dangerous. Whoever crosses a boundary uninvited will be shot on sight.”