“Not anytime soon, but I’m thinking I may need something cooler for summer. Does it get hot here?”
“We have a few hot days, but it’s pleasant most of the time. Our biggest concern is flooding. Three years ago, we had a big one. If you look carefully, you can still see the watermarks on the buildings.”
Ramee frowned. Floods were scary. She’d been in one herself when she and mama lived in the brothel. No one had wanted to rescue them.
Pushing those unpleasant thoughts aside, she was about to tell Lil her idea for a new dress design when a ruckus sounded from outside. Horses’ hooves pounded. Men shouted.
“What in the world.” Lil ran to the store front window.
A man burst through the door. “Shoot-out with the Renfro gang.” Out of breath, the man took a moment to drag in a great lungful. “Deputy marshal and another was killed. Two others hurt. They’re taking them to doc’s.”
“Rafe!” Lil’s scream knocked Ramee back. Being sheriff, Rafe would be in the thick of it. Josh might be too. Ramee gathered her skirt and raced after Lil.
The street and sidewalks were full of people. Ramee was surprised there were this many people in the town. She and Lil plunged into the crowd.
“Rafe!” Lil pressed a fist to her heaving bosom as they fought their way to the doctor’s office.
Ramee scanned the crowd, trying to spot the big sheriff. She understood Lil’s terror. Was Rafe one of those hurt?
Josh! Where was Josh? He’d promised Granny he wouldn’t go out with the posse, but he hadn’t showed up for breakfast. What if he’d changed his mind? What if he was hurt—or killed?
“Lil.” Rafe’s raspy voice announced he was still alive. He took the heaving Lil into his arms, but now that she knew he was all right, she seemed embarrassed by his embrace.
She pushed back and slapped him on the chest. “What happened? Somebody said the marshal was killed and two others were shot.”
“What about Josh?” Ramee shouted to be heard over the commotion.
They both stared at her as if she was the town idiot. “Was he in the posse?” Her frantic tone revealed her feelings.
Rafe’s grimace cut deep lines in his cheeks. “No, he went out to the ranch before daybreak. Making arrangements to take you out there, I guess.”
“He did say he would take me out to see the ranch tomorrow.” Ramee nodded, a little chagrined to have shown how much she cared, especially since she hadn’t shown Josh she cared yet. “I guess I forgot.”
Lil winked. “Nothing like a little danger to bring out a woman’s true feelings. Ramee, you’re beginning to act like a woman in love instead of a mail-order bride.”
Well, maybe she was. She wished he was right here where she could see him, touch him. Lil was kidding, of course, but Ramee’s pounding heart told her these feeling were serious. She loved Josh just as much as Lil loved Rafe.
It wasn’t a physical attraction, and it didn’t matter that she’d known him for such a short time. Somehow, he’d slipped into the place of her ideal man in her heart. The one she’d dreamed of all her life. How that had happened, she wasn’t sure, but when he got around to proposing, if he did, she’d jump at the chance—outlaw or not.
Rafe draped one arm around Lil and the other around Ramee and plowed through the crowd. He led them to an empty spot on the sidewalk. “Yep, one of the coyotes shot the marshal through the head. We killed one of the gang, shot another one who’ll likely die—gut shot. Since Serenity was closest to a doctor, we brought him back here. Sam Tuttle got shot in the leg, but he’ll recover.”
“Merciful heavens, that means two of them got away?”
“Yep, Jim Renfro and Tom, and the reward just went up on them—killing a marshal and all.”
Ramee cringed. Granny would be devastated. Josh too. He loved his cousin and was doing all he could legally do to save him. That seemed impossible now. She gathered her skirt. “Excuse me, I must find Mrs. Hollingsworth. I just ran off without telling her.”
“See you at supper,” Lil called after Ramee as she dashed down the wooden sidewalk to the dry goods store. Hopefully, Josh would have returned from the ranch by suppertime.
Mrs. Hollingsworth had paid for her purchases and was waiting at the counter with the little man of a clerk.
Ramee met her worried countenance with a smile. “The excitement is over. We can safely go back to our rooms.”
Mrs. Hollingsworth huffed. “My dear, I don’t believe it will ever be safe here. If you don’t intend to marry Mr. Volker, I must recommend you and I return to Sacramento.”
“What about that advice you gave me to follow my heart?”
“It’s all well and good to follow your heart, provided it doesn’t lead you into danger. And though I didn’t mention it earlier, you should not have gone off with Mr. Volker this morning. Your reputation could be damaged.”
Ramee laughed. “There aren’t enough people in this town to start a scandal, but you can accompany me to visit Josh’s ranch tomorrow to insure my reputation isn’t sullied.”
“Will we be traveling in that wagon?” Mrs. Hollingsworth groaned.
Chapter 18
Josh packed the ladies into the buckboard the next morning after breakfast. He’d left his empty trunk in back for Mrs. Hollingsworth. Despite the trouble Tom was in, he tried to push it from his mind. Today he wanted to impress Ramee, as much as he could, considering he’d have to tell her about his reduced circumstances.
Maybe the shootout sent Tom and Jim Renfro far from the area. Yes, they should be brought to justice, just not here. While they were here, Granny was still in danger. She was isolated and all alone, a fact that wouldn’t go unnoticed by Tom. Josh could only hope Tom’s love for Granny would keep him away.
The wagon wheels groaned as they moved onto higher ground. The ranch wasn’t in the mountains, but it was hilly.
He pulled his thoughts away from his troubles to glance at Ramee. She was gazing at the countryside, a little smile playing at the corners of her mouth, not deep enough to show her dimples, but a pleased look just the same. He followed the direction of her stare. Cattle dotted a far pasture. A copse of trees bordered a cheek plainly seen as it ran down the hillside.
Pride surged through him as he saw the place through Ramee’s eyes. He’d already moved his belongings, little as that was, to the ranch house. Mr. Benson would leave the furniture and furnishings just as they were. The ranch held everything Josh needed, but he knew it wouldn’t be complete without a woman. If Ramee refused him, he’d have to wait to get more answers to his ad. That thought left him cold, but he shook it off. Everything would work out.
He held his breath as the ranch house came into view. Ramee shaded her eyes with her hand as she examined the property. He hoped she liked what she saw.
“The house is just perfect,” she declared as Josh pulled back on the reins, stopping in the circular drive.
“Just a log cabin,” he said, but the approval in her clear, blue eyes melted his apprehension.
The house was far from perfect, but it was nice, the first story made of solid logs with a porch that ran the length of the front. Double windows looked out both sides of the front door. Would she find the insides as charming? Mr. Benson had been a widower for many years, and the place lacked the fine details women liked.
It would just about kill him if he lost this house. While he was here, he’d look at the books to make sure he had enough to cover ranch demands after he’d paid his debt to his former mining partners.
Mr. Benson met them at the porch steps. He was a skinny man with sparse gray hair and neatly trimmed beard. Josh had gained a lot of respect for the old rancher in the short time he’d known him.
The ranch boasted three employees. A cook of Spanish descent who’d be leaving at the same time as Mr. Benson, and two cowboys who’d stay—or who thought they could stay. If Josh could pay them.
“Come on in, folks.” Mr. Benson turned to go back up the steps and waved
over his shoulder.
Josh helped Ramee and Mrs. Hollingsworth to the ground. He stayed with the team until one of the cowboys—Zak, if he recalled correctly—ran up to take care of the horses.
By the time Josh got inside, Mr. Benson was pointing out the details of the spacious parlor and hand-wrought staircase. They all turned as Josh closed the door behind him.
Mr. Benson slapped his thighs. “Well, let’s set a spell.”
They all trooped to a seating group anchored by a braided rug. A deer’s head hung over the stone fireplace, and a gun rack graced the opposite side.
Josh sat beside Ramee on a worn leather sofa, and she leaned into him. “I can see why you’re so proud of this place.”
Proud? Was that what he was? Pride did go before a fall. Was that in the Bible or just an old saying? He didn’t know enough about the Bible to know, but he did know pride wasn’t a good thing.
“Well, young lady, do you think you could make do with this place?” Mr. Benson asked.
A faint blush tinged Ramee’s cheeks, and she exchanged a look with Josh. “Indeed I could. This is so much more comfortable than the over-decorated drawing rooms back east, don’t you think, Mrs. Hollingsworth?”
“I would say so. Your home is quite charming, Mr. Benson,” Mrs. Hollingsworth said. “Any young bride would find it most suitable. All it needs is a woman’s touch.”
Mr. Benson laughed. “My Hannah wasn’t much for do-dads. It’s pretty much like she left it. Oh, she kept everything neat as could be. Rosa don’t have time what with cooking for me and the hands, and I don’t have…the touch, as you say.”
The old man turned pensive as he glanced around the room with faded brown eyes. “I’m going to miss it, but it’s time to move on. I’m going to move in with my daughter and her family up in Oregon. They live on the coast. Son-in-law’s a fisherman. I have a granddaughter who’s about your age, Miss Abbott.”
“And she’s still at home?”
“She’s engaged to be married in the fall. But I have four other littler grandchildren, and I’m going to spoil them with everything I’ve got.” He laughed.
“And they’ll love every moment of it.” Ramee rose and ambled toward the piano. “Did your wife play, Mr. Benson?”
“She did. That’s one of the things I miss most—hearing her play.”
“Ramee can play.” It was the first words Josh had uttered, and everyone glared at him.
“That so,” Mr. Benson said, shifting his gaze from Josh to Ramee. “Could you play for us, maybe some hymns? Hannah used to play for the church.”
At first Josh feared Ramee would refuse. She stood gazing at the instrument for a long moment. Then she pulled the bench out far enough so she could seat herself and ran her fingers over the keys. The strains of the Old Rugged Cross soon floated through the air.
Josh let his head fall back and closed his eyes, letting the memories carry him back to his childhood when life was good. Please God, it would be good again.
She went on to play Fairest Lord Jesus, Jesus Loves Me, and Amazing Grace. Simple, easy tunes, but she played them well.
Ramee belonged here. He prayed she’d agree. When she got up from the piano, he stood. “That was beautiful, Ramee.” When everyone added their assent, he tore his gaze from her with difficulty. “Think I’ll go study the ranch’s accounts now, if that’s all right with you, Mr. Benson. Maybe you can tell the ladies about how you got started while I’m gone. I’m sure they’ll find it interesting.”
With a nod, Josh made his way to the back of the house where he knew the small study was. He shut the door against the muffled voices. Mr. Benson had laid the book of accounts out on the desktop as he’d promised. Josh bent over them and prayed.
He worked through the books until he felt his eyes crossing. Then he heard stomping on the stairs and doors opening and closing. Mr. Benson was likely showing the ladies the house. Josh pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger to relieve the pressure building in his head. Then he dipped the pen in the inkwell and went through the figures. There was no hope for it. He’d have to mortgage the ranch.
Josh stood and stretched his taut shoulder muscles. It was well past noon, and there was one other thing he had to do before the day was spent.
When he entered the parlor, Mr. Benson, Mrs. Hollingsworth, and Rosa were regaling Ramee with stories of the good old days. “Josh, we’ve been waiting for you,” Mr. Benson said. “Lunch is on the table—nothing but ham sandwiches, but it’ll hold us.”
This gave Josh the opportunity he’d been waiting for. “Rosa, would you pack a picnic basket for Ramee and me. I’d like to show her the creek before we have to go.” His glance fell on Ramee. “If she doesn’t mind, of course.”
Her lips hitched into a lovely smile. “I’d like that.”
“You won’t be gone long?” Mrs. Hollingsworth asked with a stern look, telling him she wouldn’t put up with dilly-dallying.
“No, we’ll be back within the hour.”
Rosa returned from the kitchen within two minutes and handed him a towel covered basket. He thanked her and held the door open for Ramee.
Chapter 19
Ramee matched her steps to Josh. His wide strides could cover two of hers, but he shortened the length out of consideration for her. “How far is the creek?”
He pointed to the tree line. “Not far. Didn’t Mr. Benson tell you how he built close enough to the creek for water, but far enough away in case of floods?”
Her chuckle slipped out easily. “Honestly, he told me so much I can’t remember.”
She heard the creek before she saw it. Water gushing. It came into view just past the first trees. He didn’t tell her there was a waterfall. The hillside itself was mostly clear of trees and rocks.
“Over here is a good spot.” Josh indicated three boulders near the water’s edge, the perfect height for sitting.
Ramee drank in the clean pine and cedar aromas as Josh spread their lunch on the boulder between them. Before them the stream gurgled, the waterfall perhaps fifty yards away. At the top of the precipice, the stream flowed through the shadows, disappearing in the woods beyond.
“This is so beautiful. I’m glad you brought me here.” She wished more than that—that he’d let her know how he really felt about her, but maybe it was too soon. They’d only known each other a little over a week. Was it so short a time since she’d arrived in Sacramento? Somehow it seemed a lifetime ago. It was as if she’d known Josh all her life.
“There’s a park where Carianne, Prudie, and I would go on nice days to study. This is much quieter. I could probably study hard enough here to actually pass my finals at the Annex.” If she’d stayed to get her degree, but what good would it have really done her? It should give her clout with the business community, but she wasn’t so sure.
She leaned forward, hugging her knees. “One thing I learned as I came west, there are beautiful places all over the country, though they’re different. Many places I’d like to have stopped off and visited. Have you traveled much, Josh?”
“Not for scenery, but there was a lot of it up north of here. If you’ll believe it, there are redwoods as big around as a house and so tall you can’t see the tops.”
Ramee laughed. Surely he exaggerated, but Josh rarely exaggerated, and she had the feeling he measured everything he said. They’d almost eaten their sandwiches, taking sips of water from the same canteen, and still Josh let her do most of the talking. She wished he’d talk more. His voice was deep and husky with a softness that compelled you to listen, making you think if he ever raised it, you’d better skedaddle.
She sensed he waited for something. What, she couldn’t fathom, but he had plenty of reason to brood. His cousin was wanted for murder. His grandmother might be in danger.
He packed up, and she feared this might be the end of their outing. “I want to go closer to the waterfall.” Without waiting for his approval, she got up and skipped along the rushing stre
am.
The waterfall wasn’t very high. Josh could easily reach the top if he stood out in the middle of the stream—if he could stand on top of the water. Ramee suspected the pool at the base was rather deep as it collected the runoff into swirling eddies. The water was crystal clear, and Ramee caught sight of fish darting around the rocks. What fun to fish here.
She’d been fishing only once in her life. Carianne had been invited to a country estate, and she and Ramee had fished in the river that flowed through it. That was before the Harvard Annex. The river water was muddy, too opaque to see the fish, but Ramee had enjoyed the experience. She wondered if Josh had fished this stream.
Moss grew on the rocks, and as she inched closer, she lost her footing and stumbled down to the water’s edge.
She wasn’t hurt since she mostly slid on her bottom, but Josh came running, worry drawing his brows together. She laughed to let him know she was all right. “Silly me.”
Her silk dress was surely ruined. She unhooked the intricately embossed, detachable bustle she’d spent hours to perfect into rolls of ruffled fabric so it would lie just right. It was caked with mud. She wadded it into a ball and tossed it up onto the grass, surprised she didn’t care if it was ruined.
Josh sent a knowing glance from the discarded garment to her. “Give me your hand.”
She put her hand in his outstretched one, and the current passing between them shocked her. Did he feel it too? Their gazes locked as he gently pulled her up the incline. She found her footing, but he didn’t release her hand.
“What did you think about me when you first saw me, Ramee?”
Taut nerves forced a giggle from her. “You mean before I learned you had been an outlaw?”
His chuckle sounded as soft as the spring breeze. “Yeah, before then.”
She ducked her head and picked a blade of grass from his sleeve. “I thought you were the best looking man I’d ever seen.”
His fingers nudged her chin, but she refused to lift her gaze. A funny quiver had settled in her middle and set her pulse racing. “Do you remember what did you thought when you first saw me?”
The Annex Mail-Order Brides: Preque (Intrigue Under Western Skies Book 0) Page 19