Sanderson's Hill

by Nancy Howard

  “Yes and from what she told me many, many times. Though I will tell you, that I felt as though she wasn't telling me everything that he did to her. I think she was keeping some of the worst details to herself, which is okay.”

  “She must not have felt comfortable telling you everything. Not at this point anyway.”

  “That's true, she's only known us for just a couple of days, and she doesn't impress me as the type to dump all of her problems on anyone.”

  “Maybe after she's been here for a time and wants to stay. Maybe she'll have enough trust to talk, at least talk to me about what happened,” Catherine says.

  John shakes his head in agreement. “To answer your question about what we discussed last night. She has every intention to quit being a bounty hunter. I told her my thoughts on what I think about her doing it, and how dangerous it is for her.

  “And what did she say?”

  “She agreed with me. She told me the only reason she's agreed to help Gavin capture Hogg and his bunch, is because she loves him, and doesn't want him to get killed by Hogg. I also told her she could stay as long as she desires, that you and I want her here with us. I also let her know that being here and working at this ranch is an opportunity for her, to change her life. She told me wants to stay. She wants to be just a regular girl, and put down some roots. ”

  Catherine is happy to hear that Logan wants to be here.

  “So what did you want to tell me about Logan and Gavin?”

  “I wanted to tell you what I saw her and Gavin do, after she got back to the ranch this afternoon. Gavin walked with her up here to the house, apparently to get his horse and gear. And I watched them for awhile, as they stopped out here by the front door, I could hear everything they said John.”

  “You were eavesdropping my dear. Shame on you,” he teases her.

  “Yes I was, and it was,” she stopped talking and smiles.

  “Was what?”

  “It was so beautiful. You're right. They are in love with each other John. They held each other and kissed, several times.”

  “That doesn't surprise me at all. She told me she loves him, and is sure he loves her too. They're young Cath, he's a good looking guy, and as for Logan, well we both know how beautiful she is, we saw it last night. They must find each other irresistible. Maybe they've finally decided to settle down with one another.”

  “As I watched them John I had tears in my eyes.”

  John sets and looks at Catherine and listens, knowing what she is about to say.

  “I thought to myself, that could very well have been our Jenn out there on the porch with a young bo today. Falling in Love, like Logan is with Gavin. It was like she was all of a sudden alive again, when I saw the two of them kiss each other. They are so beautiful together. I am so happy for them, and especially Logan. Especially after what you just told me about her upbringing. I'm so happy that she's here John.”

  She pauses.

  “Am I getting to close to her way to fast John. After all we both know what she's does and has done, but none of that seems to matter to either of us. I wonder are we trying to replace Jenn with her?”

  “No. At least I'm not. I don't think you are either, and that doesn't matter anyway. She seems to be looking for stability, and maybe we are looking for a daughter figure, to fill that void in our lives. Maybe it's something that all three of us want. I'm not sure just yet. But one thing I do know, is that you've brightened up so much, just since she arrived yesterday.”

  Catherine looks at him and says nothing, amazed at his perception of her. She sets there and knows he's right. Already she's attaching herself to Logan, and she knows she shouldn't be doing that. But just having Logan around makes Catherine feel good. There's another female here now, and while she knows that Logan has been hired by John to catch cattle thieves. She has her here on the ranch, and she hopes down inside that Logan will stay. Because already Catherine very much wants to keep her here, if she can.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Three Weeks Later

  John is up bright and early, as he usually is. But this morning he's not at the breakfast table drinking coffee, he's already in his office working diligently. He looks up to see Logan coming down the stairs, and motions for her to come into the office.

  “Well, good morning Missy," he says to her cheerfully.

  “Morning," She says softly. Still trying to shake off the grogginess of sleep.

  “Logan get yourself a cup of coffee and come back in here. Maybe you can help me with this.”

  She did so and returned to the office, and John tells her to pull up a chair. He wants see if she could spot his mistakes, and help him get his numbers to come out right. He handed her the paper he's been working on and a pencil, and Logan looked at it. Then she laid it on his desk, and after about twenty seconds she quickly corrected his mistake.

  “There now it's right,” she says looking at him and smiling.

  “Just like that.”

  “Yep”

  “What did I do wrong?”

  “Your multiplication wasn't right, so I fixed it. Nine times six is fifty four, not fifty-two, that's what's wrong. Anything was else?”

  “No. Logan you're really good with arithmetic.”

  “Yeah. I took Trigonometry in school too.”

  “Triga-what?” He says, grinning at her. “Thank you Logan.”

  “Anytime,” she says, smiling and leaving the office, taking her cup of coffee with her and going out the door.

  After Logan left, John watched her, and as soon as she was outside, she is joined by Gavin as usual. Her ability to work with numbers impresses John very much, and its got him to thinking that maybe he has found that someone to help him in the office. Maybe even learn to run the ranch. He knows Logan has only been here a little more than three weeks, but she has already become a big part of the ranch, as well as his and Catherine's lives. Just then Catherine entered the room, she has just come down the stairs, and she and John greet each other with a hug and gentle kiss, as they always do.

  “What are you watching,” she asks him?

  “Those two,” he says, pointing out the window at Logan and Gavin.

  “You're doing it too,” she says with a smile, as they look out the window, just in time to see Gavin kiss Logan on her cheek and put his arm around her. Causing John and Catherine to look at each other and smile.

  “I just had Logan come in this morning to see if she could help me with my arithmetic. And it took her about a twenty seconds to catch my mistake, and correct it. Do you remember our conversation from the other night, I said I wanted to find someone to learn to do all of this, and maybe take over running this ranch. Well Catherine maybe, just maybe, I found that someone. Said she took Trigonometry in school. Hell I don't even know what that is. The girl is smart as as a whip, and has finished school. I want to ask Logan if she would like to come in here and learn to run this ranch. So what do you think about that?”

  Catherine smiles, “I think that would be a wonderful idea John.”

  Catherine is thrilled to hear John say he wants to offer Logan the position of learning to run Sanderson's Hill. It is something that down inside of her, she knows that if Logan wants the job, then it will solidify her staying here with them.

  “Good I'll wait until dinner to say something, that way I know she can absorb it all. I also want Jay and Gavin to hear about my decision. I'd normally do it in private, but I think it's important, for the two of them to know about the changes I have in mind.”

  LOGAN AND GAVIN MAKE the hours ride out to the mesa, as they have done for the last three weeks. Once there they spend most of their time, talking to each other, and of course making love. They have spent hours on end now, really getting know each other. Talking about what is important to each of them, and what they really want out of life. Logan is very explicit at describing her desires for her future. She knows she has Gavin's attention now, and discovers that they both want to settle down, with ea
ch other.

  Today after their usual ride around the property, they dismount and set down on the hill side looking out over the New Mexico countryside. The sky is a deep azure blue, with puffy clouds building over the Sangre De Christo Mountains, in the distance.

  Logan leans back on her arms, and straightens her legs crossing them. Gavin sets down beside her Indian style, as he usually does.

  “I've wondered something, about us,” she says.

  “What's that?”

  “Why now? I mean we rode together, for what three years, and now here we are finally discovering each other. It's like we are seeing each other for the first time. You know?”

  He looks at her shaking his head in agreement.

  “It's just the right time I guess,” he says.

  “And I'm glad it is Gavin.”

  “Yeah me too.”

  “What we do is dangerous, for both of us, John is right about that you know.”

  “I know,” he says, again agreeing with her. He pauses then says, “those two, John and Catherine they love you already. You know that don't you?”

  “Yeah I do.”

  “I see the way they treat you, like a..”

  “A daughter,” she says, finishing his sentence for him. “I don't mind Gavin. I don't mind it at all. Maybe it's the right time for them and me, just like it is for me and you. Maybe it's time for them to get their daughter back. Though I'm no replacement for Jennifer and I've told John that.

  “What does he say to that?”

  “He knows, and he doesn't want me to be a replacement for her either. He told me that he and Catherine just want me to be me.”

  Gavin listens.

  “But I'll be their daughter for them for as long as they want me to be Gavin. They are sweet, lovely, generous people, and they deserve to be happy. And if I can make them happy by filling a void left in their lives, by Jennifer's passing, then I'll do it.”

  As Gavin sets listening to Logan, he realizes he is listening to someone who has made her living as a bounty hunter just like he has done. He has never known her like he is seeing and hearing her now. She is thoughtful, pensive, and thinking about the future. A future that a he knows will include him. He listens to a Logan who wants to bring joy in to someones life, something he has never heard her talk about before. Now she believes, that the journey to a better life may lie right in front of her, on this ranch. As he listens, he hears her sound hopeful and he has known her for a longtime. He is hearing her say that she wants to make someone happy, and make something of her life. Something he used to hear her talk about all the time, but she never believed it could happen for her, until now.

  “You know Gavin I had to quit. I didn't want to get killed doing it, you know. It was scaring me. Then I decided to chase after Hogg by myself, which would have been suicide for me.

  “I got that way too, when I was chasin' Hogg by myself. I just wanted to find you Logan. I wanted nothing else but that.”

  “Yeah Gavin, I'm glad you found me, it's time we thought about settling down. You know.”

  “Together.”

  “Yes, together Gavin”

  All during this week that they have spent all these hours together. He has heard her, and listened to her, vow about how serious she is about changing the direction of her life. Gavin loves Logan so much, he could think about nothing else but her, as traversed the wilds of eastern New Mexico Territory, tracking Bailey Hogg and his gang. Now he has found her, and they have spent everyday out here on this open range. Which is just where they both want to be. Together.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Logan and Gavin get back at about five that afternoon. She leaves Warrior and Gavin down by the corral, heads back to the ranch house. Once there she goes goes into the office where John is, and tells him that their had been no sign of any cattle rustlers again today.

  “I wonder where they are?”

  John said, “I think that word may have gotten out, that I've hired you and Gavin, and that in itself is probably working as deterrent. Whoever is paying those men to steal my cows, knows that you and Gavin are out there on a daily basis.”

  “Henry?”

  “It could be Logan.”

  “You need me for anything, cause I'm really tired. It's been a long day and I want to rest before dinner,” Logan says to him?

  “No not right at the moment Missy, but I do have an important announcement that I'm going to make at dinner tonight, that you won't want to miss.”

  Logan wonders what is on his mind, but doesn't question him further.

  She smiles at him, shakes her head, and gets up out of the chair, and goes off, and up to her room. John watches her walk up the stairs, and at one time he it only reminded him of Jennifer, but now he sees only Logan.

  GAVIN AND JAY ARE FINISHED eating, both start to get up to leave, and John tells them to set back down. He has something important that he want all three of them to hear. The two men look at him wondering, Logan knows about the announcement, but she too is in the dark as to what John is going to say.

  “I want the three of you to know that things are about to change here, and in a big way. Catherine and I have discussed this, and I'm not gonna beat around the bush here. I want to get straight to the point. Logan your duties here at the ranch are going to change as of right now, that is if you want to do this.”

  As he says this, he has Logan's attention. She's looking at him and all ears.

  “This morning. for the second time since you've been here, you have come into the office and helped me solve a problem I was struggling with. You did so this morning. I know you have twelve years of schooling, and it is apparent that you are very good at arithmetic. I hate doing office work, and I hate arithmetic even more, I always have. But I've had to do it and the office work, because I along with Catherine own this ranch. There was no one else around to help, and I had no one to teach me. So I did the best I could and learned ranching by the seat of my pants.”

  “Now it's no secret that we're getting on in years, and that office work is wearing on me. I want to get outside and work the ranch, while I'm still able too. I also, for sometime have been wanting to find somebody to learn what it is I do. I've told Catherine that and we discussed it.”

  “Now As all of you probably suspect, I had planned on teaching Jenn to run Sanderson's Hill, but she's not here anymore. And even when she was alive, she didn't show much interest in ranchin' anyway. To tell you the truth, I'd just about given up hope of finding someone to turn this place over too. That is until you showed up Logan. So this evening as of right now, I'm extending the offer to you to learn how to run Sanderson's Hill. I'll teach you everything you need to know, and can learn. That is, like I said if it's something you want to do.”

  Logan sets there for a second and is quiet, trying to absorb all this. She just heard him say, he wants her to learn the ranching business and run Sanderson's Hill. She is flattered to hear this to say the least. That the Sandersons's think so much of her already, that they want her to learn how to run Sanderson's Hill.

  “So I heard you right. You want me to learn the ranching business, and run Sanderson's Hill.”

  “Yes. If you want too. I'll teach you.”

  Logan sets there for another few seconds and looks at Gavin, who is grinning from ear to ear upon hearing John announce this. Shaking his head yes.

  Logan smiles and then says without hesitation, “sure, sure why not? Yes I would love too.”

  “I want you to know this is not going to be easy Missy. I want you to learn how to run this place, just like I do. You sure you're up to doin' that?”

  “I wouldn't have said yes if I didn't think I was.”

  “Somehow I knew that's what you'd say. Good then its settled. You start first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “Tomorrow morning Jay you make arrangements for someone else to help Gavin.”

  “Yes sir,” Jay replies. Trying not to show his vent up feelings of anger, upon hearing thi
s news. For him this is the last straw. He will now for sure take the job of foreman at Henry's ranch. He doesn't like Logan at all, he never has. He sees all to well how the Sanderson's are so taken by her, treating her like a daughter, it makes him sick to see them do it. To Jay, Logan is nothing. She's bounty hunter. A drifter. Who is little more than a criminal herself. He wasn't in favor of the hiring of her and Gavin in the first place. But he had nothing to say about the decision to hire them, John made it, and he has had to live with it.

  He has kept quiet, because he knows that he's been offered Henry's job. As for Gavin, Jay tolerates him, but says nothing about his dislike for Logan to him, because he knows she is Gavin's girlfriend. But now he hears that he may be working for Logan, something he knows he will not do under any circumstances. He is hearing that she is going to be his boss. No. For Jay that is it, his mind is now made up. Henry told him to wait three weeks, and those weeks are up.

  Catherine in the meantime is setting next to Logan and puts her hand on Logan's, giving it a squeeze of approval, and smiling at her at the same time. Gavin kisses her on the cheek and congratulates her.

  THE NEXT MORNING CANTER mounts up and heads over to the Baker Ranch to seal the deal and take the job as ranch foreman. On his way over he is still full of anger at John's announcement at dinner the evening before. It has left a very bad taste in his mouth.

  He tells Henry about John's decision, and he responds just as Jay has, with disbelief. Disbelief that he would let a young female bounty hunter, run his huge ranch. But Henry tells Jay he is not surprised to hear all of this, that he wonders about the decisions made at Sanderson's Hill everyday. He says all this to stroke Jay's bashed ego.

  With the deal done at the Running 'B,' he returns to Sanderson's Hill later that morning to tell John of his decision, and to get his gear, and pay, before leaving. He first dismounts in front of the ranch house, and goes in. As he enters the office he sees John and Logan setting behind the desk working.