Maggie laughed. “The new one, of course. And we’d better hurry. I told Alex we’d meet him and Nevada at six.”
Alex caught his breath as Maggie and Carlotta appeared on the stairway landing. This was the first time he’d seen them up close since the day after the stampede. Maggie’s golden halo of hair was the perfect contrast to Carlotta’s dark mane. Carlotta wore a flamboyant dress of green shiny stuff shot through with silver. Maggie’s gown was much less dazzling, but the soft blue folds set off her coloring and accented her trim figure.
“Well now,” Nevada murmured.
Alex chuckled. “Told you this was worth hanging around for.”
They’d spent their last coins on food and hot baths, and had camped outside of town. It felt good to have shaved, but they hadn’t been able to do much about their worn clothing.
“Well, don’t the gals look fine?” Early said. He’d insisted on going with them, and though his arm was sore and stiff, he’d kept up with them on the trail, wearing a sling and stopping frequently to rest. Alex was glad they hadn’t left him behind.
Maggie smiled broadly and descended on Early first.
“I’m so glad you’re up and about. You look wonderful.”
Early blushed and ducked his head. “Thank you, ma’am. You look right fine yourself.”
She turned to Nevada and held out her hand. “Thank you so much for your help. I’m glad you could come tonight.”
“Thanks for inviting us.” Nevada looked past her to Carlotta. The darkly handsome cowboy appeared to be on his best behavior tonight, and Alex was sure Carlotta’s presence had a taming effect.
“Alex.” Maggie extended her hand.
He shook it, marveling at how soft her skin was after all these weeks on the trail. “That dress suits you,” he said, and when her eyes flared in response, he flushed as badly as Early had.
More of the transformed cowgirls floated down the stairs in their dresses, and soon the entire party had assembled, with Shep ambling in last to join them. Maggie had apparently warned someone connected to the restaurant of the size of their group, and they were shown to two long tables pushed together. A little shuffling ensued, and Alex wound up next to Maggie, with Carlotta between him and Nevada. Early sat farther down the table, between Sarah and Mariah, who appeared to be fawning over him outrageously. To Alex’s surprise, the old cowboy seemed delighted with the attention.
The roast beef dinner spoke to Alex’s soul—he hadn’t eaten this well in months. As the waiter brought around chocolate cake and coffee, he leaned back in his chair and grinned at Maggie.
“This is fine eating.”
“Isn’t it? I thought the ranch owed everyone here a celebration. And I’ll bet Shep’s glad he didn’t have to cook it.”
Alex laughed. “You know …” He hesitated, then reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “I’m proud as I can be of you, Maggie. And you were right—this is a momentous feat. I’m glad you ladies stuck it out.”
She gave him the smile that had haunted his dreams for the last month. “Thank you. I’m not sure we’d have made it without you and your friends, but, well, we are quite a bunch, aren’t we?”
“You sure are.” Alex sipped his coffee and watched Maggie take a big bite of her cake. “Listen, if you can stand it, we’d like to ride home with you. Now, I’ll understand if you don’t want us to, but we can go along with you and maybe make the trip a little easier for you.”
“Well …”
“Or, if you’d rather, I could ride ahead—go to the ranch to help your father until you get back. If he’ll let me on the place, that is.”
“Alex, thank you so much. I don’t know as Papa would want you around, though.”
“Maggie.”
“Yes?” She looked into his eyes.
“I know about your pa.” He glanced down the table to make sure no one else was listening and then leaned toward her. “I sort of accidentally found out, and I’m sorry.”
“You mean—”
“I mean how bad off he is.”
She laid her fork down. “Well.”
“I’m very sorry. But if you wanted me to ride back there ahead of you, I could tend the stock. Shep told me there were some calves in the pasture to be taken care of. And there’s the filly—”
“The palomino filly?” Maggie’s eyes widened in excitement. “I’ve wondered about her. Who does she belong to?”
“Well, your father, I guess. Or maybe to you. He asked me last fall to train her for you to ride when you came home.”
“Really? He didn’t tell me. Guess I should have asked.”
“Well, don’t you go trying to ride her before I give her a few more lessons. She hasn’t been touched for quite a while now.”
Maggie smiled, and he wondered if he’d underestimated her ability. If so, she was too polite to say so. “I guess we’ll have to go slowly, because of the wagons.”
Alex considered that. “Well, you know, Early might drive one of them for you, if you thought you could pay him for his time. That might be easier on his arm than riding. He and Shep could take their time going home, and the rest of us could go a lot faster. We could be back in a week or less.”
“Oh, I’d like that.”
Alex nodded. “I’ll talk to Nevada about it later and let you know.”
Six days later, Maggie and Alex rode into the yard at the home ranch. Dolores ran out the kitchen door and had Maggie in her arms the moment she hit the ground.
“Dear little Maggie! I missed you so much!”
Maggie kissed her, laughing. “Oh, I missed you, too. It’s good to be home.”
Dolores stepped back and looked Alex over from head to toe. “I see you’ve brought a fine cowhand with you.”
“Yes. Alex will be staying in the bunkhouse with Shep.”
Dolores arched her eyebrows. “Well there. Welcome back, Alex.”
Alex grinned. “Thanks. I’ll put the horses up.”
Maggie put her arm around Dolores and walked with her toward the house. “How is Papa doing?”
Dolores let out a deep sigh. “Not good. I almost sent for you three days ago, but I knew you were coming as quick as you could. The doctor was here yesterday. He doesn’t think it will be long now. I’m glad you came today.”
Maggie’s eyes misted, and her throat tightened so badly she wasn’t sure she could speak. Once they were in the kitchen, she squeezed Dolores’s hand. “I’ll go to him now.”
“All right. He wouldn’t take his medicine this morning because he wanted to be awake if you came. So you’d better give him a dose. After he sees you, he’ll need to rest.”
Maggie took off her hat and walked through the parlor. Maybe she ought to clean up first. The thought of her father waiting in pain pushed her to his bedroom door. Whether she was dusty or not, he’d be glad to see her. She knocked gently on his door and opened it.
Her father’s form seemed longer and thinner than usual beneath the quilt. He’d lost more weight, and his face looked bony and sharp. His eyes turned toward her, and his lips twitched in a brief smile.
“Hello, sugar.”
She could barely hear him. She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss him. “I’m so glad to be home, Papa.”
“How did it go?”
“Fine.” She smiled. “You can stop worrying about me for a while. I’m home for good.”
“How many head did you lose?” he wheezed out.
“About fifty, all told.” She held her breath.
“That’s not bad.” He grimaced then said, “Once Jim Bradley and I lost a third of the herd going to Kansas.”
“You’ve told me that story. Now I’m going to go clean up, but I’ll give you your medicine first.”
“You’ll have to hire some men,” he said.
“Yes, I’ve been thinking about that. Don’t worry, Papa. We’ll be fine.”
His eyes flickered for a moment, but he nodded.
“I
love you,” Maggie said.
In the kitchen once more, she found that Dolores had heated plenty of water for her bath. “I told Alex I’d give him a couple of pots of hot water too, if he wants to bathe out in the bunkhouse. No sense putting fuel in two stoves.”
“Thanks,” Maggie said. “Oh, and I think we’ll all eat in the kitchen tonight, if Papa can’t get up.”
“You, me, and Alex?” Dolores asked. “Or will Shep be here too?”
“Shep probably won’t get back until late tomorrow—or maybe even the day after. We rode on ahead.”
“I’m glad you did, but I miss that man. I had to put the filly out in the pasture, so I didn’t have to water and feed her every day.”
“I’m sorry you had to do that. We should have thought of it before we left.” Maggie lifted a large kettle of hot water carefully off the stove. “Did you know that Papa picked that horse out for me?”
“I had a suspicion.”
“Alex told me.”
Dolores’s smile went deep. “Did he, now? Bless that boy. He surely will be a good addition to this place.”
After supper, Dolores shooed Maggie and Alex from the kitchen.
“Are you sure you want to talk to Papa?” Maggie stopped in the parlor and looked up at him. “I’ll hire you back without telling him.”
“Is that what you really want?”
“No, but …”
Alex lifted her chin and gazed into her blue eyes. “I’d like his approval, even though you don’t need it. And he’s still got a lot of wisdom when it comes to ranching. It’d be nice for both of us if we could talk things over in the evening, so long as he’s able.”
She nodded. “Thank you. But if he throws you out again—”
“I won’t go far.”
Maggie smiled.
They walked softly down the hallway, and she looked in at her father’s room. Gazing over her head, Alex thought Mr. Porter was sleeping, but he turned his head toward them.
Maggie quickly stepped forward. “Papa, are you up to seeing someone?”
He frowned. “Who?”
“Alex. He brought me home, and he’d like to speak to you.”
“Alex Bright?”
Maggie nodded. “I plan to hire him back, Papa. Him and some of the other men.”
“They went on strike—” Her father craned his neck to look toward the doorway, where Alex stood. “Why are you here?”
Alex stepped into the room and came around where her father could see him easily. “Sir, I’d like to work for you again. I’ll work hard, and I promise you I’ll do what’s best for Maggie.”
Mr. Porter’s eyelids flickered. “How do I know you won’t go off and leave her when things get tough?”
“I won’t, sir. I give you my word.”
After a long moment, her father nodded.
“Thank you, sir.” A huge weight lifted from Alex’s heart, and he sent a prayer of thanks upward.
Mr. Porter lifted his hand a couple of inches from the coverlet. “Shake on it.”
Alex took his hand firmly, but careful not to squeeze too hard.
Maggie bent and kissed her father’s forehead. “Thank you so much, Papa. You rest now.”
“Blow out the lamp,” her father said.
Alex and Maggie went outside. The sun was setting over the hills to the west.
“I brought the filly up to the corral,” Alex said and turned his steps that way.
“Can I ride her tomorrow?” Maggie asked.
“Maybe. Let me try her out first, all right? I know you’re a good rider, but we don’t know how much she’s forgotten.”
Maggie made a face at him. “I suppose so, but I want to be there when you saddle up.”
They reached the corral and leaned on the fence. The golden filly whickered and trotted over. Maggie stroked her nose.
“You gorgeous thing. I can’t wait to ride you.”
Alex watched her, smiling. Much of the care she’d borne on the trail had lifted, and she looked peaceful now. He was sure she’d be even lovelier once she’d had a few days of rest. He longed to open his heart to her, and yet he wasn’t sure she’d welcome that. Could he stand it if she kept him at arm’s length? His timing might not be the best—he recognized that. Some folks might think he was taking advantage of her situation, seeing as her father lay on his deathbed. But Maggie shouldn’t have to go through what the future held by herself. He took a deep breath. There might not be an ideal moment for quite some time.
“Maggie, if I’m not speaking out of turn, I’d like to say something.”
She looked over at him, still patting the horse. “Go ahead.”
“I’ve come to admire you greatly. You’re a capable grownup woman now, and—I think you’ve turned out well, and you’ll run the ranch well.”
“Thank you, Alex.” Her smile held a measure of sadness, and he turned to lean on the fence next to her, looking at the filly, his shoulder nearly touching Maggie’s.
“I know it’s hard times for you now. You told me most of it, I think, in Fort Worth.”
“I did. And I trust you.”
“Oh, I won’t discuss your affairs with anybody else.”
“Thanks. I still may end up having to sell the ranch.” She shrugged. “I don’t want to, but I have to face facts. The money we got for the cattle will get us by for a while, but, well, if I can’t do the same thing next year and again the next …”
“All you can do is your best.”
She nodded. Alex turned and put his hand up to her cheek. She hadn’t put on her hat, and her hair fluttered in the breeze. He caught a lock for a moment, then let the wind take it.
“Maggie, I want to take care of you, no matter what happens. If you have to give up the ranch, I’ll still be here for you.”
Her eyes flared. “That’s a pretty brave thing to say. You know I’m all but broke.”
He chuckled. “Said to a man who hasn’t got two dimes to rub together in his pocket. I expect some would say I’m after your property, but it’s not like that, Maggie. I love you. I want to be with you.”
She started to speak, but he cupped her chin before she could raise an objection.
“If I have to hire out as a cowpuncher on another ranch, I will, but we’ll make it somehow. Just let me be with you, Maggie.”
She brought her hand up to cover his for a moment, then pulled his hand down, clasping it. She turned toward the fence. The filly had lost interest and trotted to the far side of the corral.
“My dream is to keep the ranch going and rebuild what my father had,” she said softly. “But I’ll need a good foreman for that. Someone who can advise me on all aspects of running the ranch.”
Alex’s heart sank. She didn’t want him as a mate, just as a workman. He released her hand and leaned heavily on the rail. “I’m sorry you feel that way, and I hope I didn’t offend you.”
“Not at all.”
He nodded and swallowed. “Look, I’m not sure I could … I mean, I’d rather be your husband and live in a little cowboy’s cabin than to be foreman of the biggest, finest ranch in Texas.”
“So why can’t you do both? Not that this is the biggest or the finest, but I think we could make a go of it here together.”
Slowly he raised his gaze to meet hers. “You mean … ”
“I mean I love you, too, Alex. I have ever since you came here. I’m sorry I didn’t speak plainly. I didn’t intend to make you think I don’t want to marry you. I only meant I’d need a business partner as well as a husband.”
He pulled her to him and kissed her. Before he could wonder if he’d overstepped the bounds, she raised her arms and hugged him around his neck, warm and comfortable, but at the same time exhilarating.
“Don’t you dare leave again,” she whispered.
He kissed her again, and she clung to him. The filly trotted over and nudged his elbow. Alex swatted her nose and went back to kissing Maggie.
EPILOGUE
&nbs
p; Maggie tucked the log cabin quilt her mother had stitched around her father in his armchair. “There now. If you get tired, Papa, you let me know.”
“Come on, Maggie,” Carlotta whispered urgently. “You need to get dressed. The guests are arriving.”
“All right, I’m coming.” They’d filled the parlor with every chair and bench they could find, so that the wedding guests would have ample seating. Alex had carried Maggie’s father from his bedroom to the overstuffed chair so that he could take part in the ceremony.
A month had passed since the end of the cattle drive, and Maggie felt she’d aged ten years. Her father’s illness had progressed until he was no longer able to get out of bed, and she or Dolores fed him his meals, if they could get him to take anything.
They’d planned a fall wedding, but it had become obvious that Papa probably wouldn’t last that long, and so on July twelfth, their friends from Brady and the nearby ranches, as well as a contingent of Alex’s relatives from Mason County and the Fort Chadbourne area, made their way to the Rocking P.
In her room, Maggie’s bridesmaids laughed and chattered as they helped her don her wedding dress, gloves, and a new hat with a short veil. Maggie had refused to spend money on a new dress when she had several perfectly good ones, so the bride donned the blue gown she’d worn to dinner in Fort Worth at the end of the drive. It was one her cousin Iris had helped her pick out in San Francisco, and both Maggie’s father and Alex were partial to it.
“Now your bouquet,” Carlotta said. “Poppy, bring it here.”
Maggie was a little embarrassed at having such a large wedding party. For a small wedding at home, four bridesmaids seemed excessive. But Alex had asked if the four men who’d ridden the trail with him could stand up with him, and Maggie hadn’t the heart to say no to Nevada, Early, Bronc, and Joe. So there were four groomsmen to find seats for everyone in the crowded parlor, and Maggie had four doting attendants in Carlotta, Poppy, Sarah, and Mariah.
“I think Alex’s cousin must be here,” Mariah reported from her post near the window. “A man and woman just drove up in a buggy, and Alex’s mother is out there hugging them.”
Maggie smiled. “We expect his cousin Buck Morgan and his wife from Mason County. Any children in the buggy?”
Cowgirl Trail Page 25