by Danni Roan
Bending in the middle she lifted herself up to the branch, grasped it with her hands, and pulled herself into a sitting position on the low limb.
"Give me a ride back to the house," she said, her eyes still full of laughter.
Reluctantly, Joshua kneed Buck into a position where the spritely young woman could slip onto his rump.
Sue Lynne leaned out of the tree, placing her hands-on Josh's shoulders, then slipped off the branch to stand on the horse's wide rump. Buck shifted at the unfamiliar weight and Sue Lynn wrapped her arms around Joshua for support even as she scooted forward to sit behind the saddle.
Joshua James shivered at the touch of Sue Lynne's hands on his shoulders; they were small but seemed to burn into his skin. An icy tremor ran down his back and through him, making his body remember things better left forgotten.
"You all settled?" he asked, his voice gruff.
"Um huh," she hummed against his neck.
He clicked to the big horse, aiming him toward home. The feeling of the petite woman pressed into his back was disturbing and he urged Buck to quicken his pace. It would be best if he got Sue Lynn home as quickly as possible.
"Why are you so quiet?" she asked, her cheek resting against his broad back.
"Just trying to get us home safely."
"Home is a nice word." Sue Lynn's words were pensive. "I do not have a home."
Something thudded in Joshua's chest at the words, but he pushed it aside.
"Where will you go when you're ready to leave?" he asked.
"Are you in a hurry to be rid of us?"
"No, it's not that." He swallowed hard and let Buck slow down a bit. "It's just that when we found you last week, your grandfather said you were headed to the nearest town."
"There are many towns," the woman behind him mused. "There is nowhere else like this."
"You like it here."
"Yes. It is beautiful, quiet, and peaceful and there are many lovely things to look at." She tightened her grip around his waist, drawing even closer to him.
Joshua kicked Buck into a canter.
"THEY'RE ARGUIN' AGAIN," Billy said to Nona as he snapped fresh peas into a bowl.
"Who?" Nona asked.
" Chen Lou and his girl. They seem to do that a lot."
Bianca Leone smiled. "Perhaps they have different ideas on something."
"I reckon that must be it," Billy agreed. "Shh, now here they come."
Chen Lou and Sue Lynn came walking across the packed earth from the bathhouse, where they'd been washing their clothes. Their faces were dark from the rather loud discussion that had been going on in the little hut with the pump and large tub.
"Mrs. Leone,'" Chen Lou dipped his head in greeting. "You have very good washing place. Nice to be inside from sun or cold to do the laundry."
“We like it,” Nona replied with a grin. “It does make it easier when the weather's bad.”
"Thank you. Perhaps I help you with your work before we go."
Sue Lynn glared at the old man as he spoke but didn't say a word instead she walked up the stairs, crossed the porch, and headed into the house to find the children.
"That youngin' don't look so happy about movin' on," Billy commented, opening another pod and letting the peas fall into the metal pot with a soft plink, plink, plink sound.
"This is not our place, we go." Chen Lou's eyes were dark and worried.
"Well, where is your place then?" Nona asked.
The old man lifted his head and gazed at her, unsure how to answer. "We will find work again," he said, sighing.
Bianca Leone lifted another pan of peas and handed them to the older man. "Might as well be useful while you're here."
He took the pan with a smile and settled into a chair.
“You must have seen many places in this country now,” Bianca spoke as her mound of peas continued to grow.
“Yes, many places. It is a beautiful country.” The old man paused to look out across the prairie, past the privy and the bathhouse.
“You git tired o’ movin’ yet?” Billy spoke. “I had the wander-lust a long time, but here seems like the place ta be for me now.” He grinned and chuckled. “Ain’t wanted ta settle down much afore this, but them girls kinda wormed their way in ta my heart.” His eyes twinkled as he continued his work.
Chen Lou scowled as he considered the words. It was clear something was troubling him. Billy wondered if that was what Chen Lou and his granddaughter had been arguing about. Maybe she was ready to hit the trail again and he was dragging his feet.
Chapter 24
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Sue Lynn asked Katie as she entered the barn, gazing around her interestedly.
“I’m brushin’ down Buck for Pa. He seemed in a hurry to go somewhere, so left him with me.” She ran the stiff brush over the horse’s already smooth hide, drawing out the sweat line from where the saddle had been earlier.
The buckskin stood quietly while the girl pulled the brush across his dark tan coat.
“I’m afraid I don’t know much about horses,” Sue Lynn said.
“Horses are easy to learn if you want to,” Katie said, pausing to look at the older woman who stood watching her. “Here, I’ll show you.” The blonde girl handed Sue Lynn the brush, then guided her hand to the gelding.
“You just brush, like you would your hair, nice long even strokes that help to get the sweat and dirt off of his coat.” She demonstrated, drawing Sue Lynn’s hand along with hers.
“He seems to like it.”
“Yeah, mostly they do. I like brushing out my horse, Pal.” She turned to look at her gleaming palomino, who stood with her head over a stall door. “It’s relaxing,” she added as if she’d only realized it that moment.
Sue Lynn took the brush and worked on the big animal, briskly pulling the brush along with his coat and lifting bits of dust and dried sweat from it. “Do you think I could learn to ride on my own?” she asked.
“Sure, I could even teach you,” Katie smiled brightly.
“I’d like that.”
Half an hour later they were moving up and down the ranch yard, with Katie holding the lead line of a lean bay horse. “That’s it, just hold the reins in one hand. All our horses are trained for chasin’ cows, so you can ride with just one hand. Now lay the reins against his neck and he’ll turn away from them.”
Sue Lynn lifted the reins in her hand and flopped them against the bay’s neck, causing him to turn sharply and making her yelp as she grabbed the saddle horn.
“You don’t have to do it hard unless you want them to turn around,” Katie said, steadying the horse with her lead and smiling. “Were you scared?”
“A little, but I think I like horses.” She smiled back.
“I like riding, especially when I can go with my Pa,” Katie mused. “Before I had to ride double with him, but now I can go wherever I want.”
“Supper!” Nona’s voice echoed across the yard and Katie brought the horse to a stop. “We’d better finish up and go in,” she said, “Nona doesn’t like it if you’re late for supper.”
“You don’t look much like your grandmother or grandfather,” Sue Lynn commented as she climbed awkwardly off the horse.
“Well they aren’t my grandparents exactly,” Katie began. “They’re the parents of my pa’s second wife, Cammy. My ma came from Ohio with Pa on the wagon train, but he met Cammy later.”
“I see, so the twins are their grandbabies?”
“Yes, but don’t say that to Nona, she’ll give you a tongue lashing. She loves all us girls the same and thinks of us as only hers.”
Sue Lynn smiled. “That is a good thing, isn’t it?”
“I think so.” Together the two walked up to the house and into the kitchen. Half the room was taken up with tables where men and children gathered around.
“You can wash up here at the sink,” Katie said, pulling Sue Lynn along with her. “Hi Pa,” she continued as she crossed the floor. “Sue Lynn and me got Buck
put up. He’ll be all ready to go tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Katie,” Joshua replied, his eyes on the slim woman in the strange clothing. He wondered what she would look like in a regular dress, then mentally chided himself for thinking it.
“You have a very bright and helpful daughter,” Sue Lynn said, turning to dry her hands on a towel. “She taught me how to brush out a horse and is going to teach me to ride.” She leaned against the work table, one leg cocked as her eyes met his.
“Katie’s a good girl,” Joshua agreed, his mouth going dry. “She’s very responsible.”
“Help with the peas,” Nona called to Katie, who turned and lifted a pot from the stove and carried it across to the table. The fresh, steamed peas that had just been shelled were swimming in a rich white cream sauce with baby onions.
“That smells good,” Katie said, placing the dish on the table and taking her usual seat to the right of her father.
Sue Lynn joined them and slipped in next to the girl; as she settled herself on the seat she raised her eyes to Joshua and grinned. Another shiver ran down his spine. Why did this little woman do such strange things to him?
“You girls go get washed up for bed now,” Nona said, standing and starting to collect the dishes from the table. “You can get the twins bathed and ready as well.
One by one Katie, Meg, and Fiona stood. Katie and Meg both took one of the twins by the hand and moved around the table to kiss their father on the cheek. With a wicked glint in her eye, Sue Lynn rose gracefully from her bench-seat, fell in line, and gave Joshua a peck on the cheek before scurrying out the door with the children.
Joshua flushed bright red at the young woman’s behavior. He’d have to talk to her about it, but the thought of being alone with her only made him feel warmer, and he tugged at his collar.
“It’s getting mighty warm to be eatin’ dinner inside,” he said, pushing away from the table. “Maybe we should start having dinner on the back porch.” He ran a hand through his hair and gazed out the window, his eyes straying to the bathhouse. “I’m goin’ for a walk.”
Without another word, he turned and clomped down the hall to the front door and out into a cooling evening.
“GOOD MORNING, MR. JAMES,” Sue Lynn called from the corral where she was carefully guiding the bay horse while Katie watched.
“Mornin’,” he replied, tipping his hat politely.
“Katie says I have a very good seat,” she called again as he approached the barn, “what do you think?”
Joshua’s eyes strayed to the saddle where her rounded bottom met the leather seat, which molded to her slender curves. “I’m sure Katie knows what she’s talking about,” he said, turning abruptly and walking into the shadows of the barn.
It seemed that every time he turned around, the woman was drawing his attention to her and she was a woman, despite her stature.
With brisk, well-practiced motions he tossed his saddle over Buck’s back and led the horse into a new day. Chen Lou and his granddaughter would soon be moving along and Joshua would be able to put the slip of a woman out of his mind. In the meantime, he’d work hard and stay out of her way.
“Boss is sure in a hurry,” Walters called to Stevens as he forked hay out into the corral from a shuttered window on the side of the barn.
“Can’t say as I blame him,” Stevens replied. “Seems that woman is vexing him somehow. Women ain’t nothin’ but trouble,” he added, shaking his head and tossing another forkful of hay down to the stock in the rail corral.
JOSHUA WAS FEELING vexed. He felt like a horse with a burr under his blanket and the itch he was desperately trying to ignore was familiar. He knew what the problem was if he'd only let himself admit it, but instead, he stubbornly forced it aside.
"You gonna slow up or do we all have to race everywhere now?" Benji called, driving his horse to catch up with Buck.
"Huh?" Josh slowed the buckskin to an easy trot.
"Where are you goin' in such an all-fired hurry, anyway?" Benji asked, patting his chestnut cowpony on the neck.
"I don't know," Joshua confessed. "Just getting out on the range."
"Where's Katie today?" Benji asked, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"She's teaching Miss Sue Lynn to ride," Joshua replied in a flat voice.
"If you don't mind my asking old friend, what's got you so riled up today? You're kickin' at the pricks pretty hard if you ask me."
"I didn't ask you," Joshua barked, irritation flashing in his bright blue eyes.
Benjamin Smith laughed. He'd known Joshua too long to fall for his gruff ways. "So, you're just out here floggin' that pony for the fun of it, huh?"
"I'm sorry, Ben," Joshua said, this time letting Buck ease into a walk. "I seem out of sorts for some reason."
"Some reason, ya say, like a trim form and flashing black eyes."
Joshua turned a hard glare at his friend and raised a skeptical brow.
"Joshua James, you're a good man, but I've known you too long to not recognize the signs."
"Signs? What signs, there ain't no signs!" Joshua practically shouted.
Benji chuckled again. “Miss Sue Lynn's a mighty fine lookin' woman,” he mused.
“I reckon,” Josh's reply was guarded. “I reckon you could settle down right nice with a girl like that.” He threw the idea at Benji from the blue.
Benji's darker eyes fell and he stiffened in his saddle, making Joshua squirm with guilt. “You know that ain't how it is,” Benji said stiffly, “Every time I look at a woman, that old ugly feeling rises up in me same as before.” He shook his head, his mouth a hard line across a handsome face. “Marrying' ain't for me, Joshua, and you know it.”
"I'm sorry, Ben." Joshua was truly ashamed of his behavior. He'd seen his friend come to peace with single life as they'd worked together to build the Broken J, but the wounds he'd suffered at Jerusalem's hands had never fully healed.
Benjamin smiled a little. "That girl’s got under your skin, hasn't she?"
"It's not that," Joshua began his face flushing, "it's just..." He didn't want to admit that his body was speaking louder than his brain each time he saw the petite young woman with the flashing eyes.
"Josh, you may have been married twice already and had to endure the pain of losing two fine women, but just because their gone don't mean you're dead." Benji reached out a hand and placed it on his friend’s arm. "You're a strong, healthy man and it's no shame to be attracted to a young woman like Sue Lynn."
Guilt still squirmed in Joshua's belly. "I think the best thing I can do is stay clear of her until they move on," he admitted, turning Buck along a well-worn cattle trail to search for the herd.
Chapter 25
AT SUNSET, THE CREW of the Broken J assembled for supper at a long table set on the back porch. A cool prairie breeze rustled the limbs of the large cottonwoods at the back of the compound, and soft whispers seemed to echo through the quiet air.
Sue Lynn was the last to arrive at the table and she looked stunning in a dress of brilliant green. She’d piled her hair high on her head in a style that was not only becoming but also highlighted the fact that she was indeed a woman and not a girl.
The men all rose politely as she stepped out onto the porch, her dark eyes bright as she looked at the girls, who were also wearing colorful dresses. “We thought it would be fun to dress up a bit tonight,” she said, smiling at each of the girls as she moved gracefully around the table and sat next to Katie.
Joshua was surprised to notice for the first time that Katie was only a few inches shorter than Sue Lynn herself. His mouth went dry as he looked at the lovely creature seated only a few feet away.
“What’s for dinner, Nona?” Sue Lynn asked. “I’m afraid I’m an atrocious cook myself,” she admitted, smiling brightly but showing no signs of embarrassment over the fact.
“A simple soup and bread tonight,” Bianca said, smiling at Sue Lynn. “Your grandfather helped me,” she added, “but he is v
ery stingy with the salt.” She continued giving the old man a sharp look.
Sue Lynn smiled again, her whole face shining. “Ye-ye has his own opinions when it comes to food,” she agreed.
Joshua watched the play between the young woman and his mother-in-law, and tugged at his collar, wishing for that cool breeze to return. He was suddenly feeling too warm again, even though they were now seated outside away from the cookstove.
“I’m sure whatever we have tonight will be delicious,” he said, picking up his spoon and preparing to taste the soup.
A sharp clearing of the throat caught his attention and he looked up at Deeks, whose wide eyes assessed him accusingly. “Ain’t we gonna bless the food ta-night?” he asked sheepishly.
Joshua’s face went dark-red in embarrassment. “Oh, well yes,” he said lamely, “perhaps Issy would say it for us.”
A tiny voice spoke into the awkward silence, “God is great, God is good and we thank him for this food. Amen.” Isabella intoned sweetly, her tiny hands folded before her, making everyone stare.
She blinked startled brown eyes when everyone at the table laughed, and she leaned into Alexis, whispering a question loudly. “Did I do it wrong?”
“You did beautifully,” Nona said, smiling brightly as she patted the mite on the arm. “You are a good girl.” A tear of joy trickled down her face. “Isadoro, you will have to go back to your full name, I think,” she said, stroking the little girl’s mane of dark brown hair.
Supper continued with the usual loud discussions of the day’s events and tales from the girls, but Joshua found no pleasure in the food or the fellowship as his discomfort around Sue Lynn seemed to pulse through him. He didn’t know what he was to do about that girl.
“I’ll help with the dishes,” Sue Lynn said as the men pulled back from the table, their plates and bowls now empty.
“Thank you,” Nona said. “It will make fast work. Girls, you help clear up,” she said, looking at Katie, Meg, and Fiona. “I’ll get the twins ready for bed.”