The Texas Rancher

by Jane Corrie

  86 . THE TEXAN RANCHER " tion tor her in getting her co-operation, hadn't he?

  Josie gave a sigh of pure exasperation�was she slow! Her chin jutted out in defiance. Well, she had got there at last! She didn't know what tactics were going to be used on her, or her grandfather, come to that, but it she kept her head, and her distance, she ought to be able to stay at least one step ahead of whatever machinations Kade Boston had in mind to obtain his goal!

  CHAPTER SIX

  THE following Monday morning, Nat called for Josie in good time to get her to Blue Mount by ten o'clock, driving a pale blue Ford, that in Josie's eyes certainly could not be called in the least dilapidated, but she knew most Americans rareb kept any model for much over a year.

  While she listened to the happy banter between her grandfather and Nat, she tried to quell her fluttering nerves at the thought of what lay ahead, for she had gone through several stages of rehearsal as to what manner she would adopt on her next meeting with Kade Boston. It wouldn't do, she told herself, to let him know she was fully aware of the reason why she had been offered the job. As for the niece�if she were half as spoilt as Kade Boston had intimated, then perhaps there might be a wav of turning things to her advantage. For instance, if the child gave her any trouble, or insolence, then all she need do was walk out on the job�even Kade Boston couldn't blame her for that, and she

  , would have tried, wouldn't she? The more Josie dwelt on this distinct possibility, the more cheerful she became. Her grandfather would heartily endorse such an action, for he was a great stickler for convention, and had often read the young Josie a lecture on the lines pf manners making man, and costing nothing, and the rebel lious Josie would be made to apologise to whoever

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  it was that she had offended. Josie hadn't thought at that time that the training would have stood her in good stead in the years that followed, but it had, and could now prove to be the solution to the dilemma she was now in.

  On the way to Blue Mount, Nat's cheerful chatter eased the apprehension that in spite of her previous musings still hovered around her, and the fact that he had elected that she should drive the car to get used to the controls also took her mind off her troubles, giving her something else to concentrate on. After the first mile Josie was completely in control. The Ford differed from its English counterparts, for it was automatic, and a delighted Josie soon found time to take in the scenery as well as keeping the car on a straight

  track.

  They were just entering the boundaries of the

  ranch when it suddenly struck her that Billy

  should have been with them, and she asked Nat

  why he wasn't.

  'Picked up some tummy bug,' answered Nat.

  'Guess he'll be okay in a day or so, but we didn't

  want to risk any of the other kids picking it up.

  Doc says there's a lot of whatever it is around. It's

  not serious, just one of these things kids get occa

  sionally. He's mighty put out at missing the first

  day, I can tell you,' he grinned, then as he looked

  ahead he said, 'The next turning on the left, Josie,

  then straight on. You'll see the ranch-house long

  before we come to it. We follow the drive-in and

  bear to the right of the house�the garages are at

  the back of the house.'

  When they eventually arrived at the main en

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  trance to Blue Mount, Josie could well appreciate why Nat had felt a car would come in useful�not only useful, but absolutely essential, she thought

  �with a wry grimace. It was all of six miles from Carella, if not more, and however Kade Boston had expected her to get there without transport, she co-ildn't think. A nasty suspicion then struck her that perhaps it had been he who had suggested the use of a car for her to Nat. It must be common knowledge that her grandfather did not own a car. Even in the days of the market garden, he had never bothered to purchase one. All products that had to be transported any distance were collected by a trucking firm, or taken in Dan Muntrose's sn ill van to the nearby town. osie blinked quickly in an effort to dispel these un./elcome thoughts. It was just the sort of thing Nat and Lucy would do, and why she had to credit Kade Boston with every single happening was beyond her, although, a tiny voice whispered unrepentantly inside her, it would also be just the thing he would think of too. He would not be likely to overlook such a detail, not when it concerned the making or breaking of his project!

  As Nat had said, the ranch-house was in full view even at this distance, and Josie's curious eyes took in the house and the surrounding grounds. No wonder he thought Carella was on its last legs, she thought, for she doubted whether a greater comparison could be found than that between her grandfather's house, and the architectural dwelling in front of her. The root tiles of the house she was staring at had a blue grey tint that shimmered in the light of the morning, yet had a cool look about

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  them. There had been no additions made here, she mused, to the original structure, not that she had ever been to the ranch before, for the previous owner had been a bachelor, she recalled, and a very unsociable one at that, but she had heard gossip about the run-down state of the property when she was a child, and how the more daring children would make the ramshackle outbuildings their play centres, always keeping a wary eye out

  for the short-tempered owner of the property.

  It appeared that not only the previous dwelling place had been demolished, but the grounds too had undergone drastic change, she thought as she guided the car past the immaculately kept lawned areas and flower gardens that surrounded the house, and followed the bend to the right as indicated by Nat. into a courtyard at the back of the house, and drew up by the side of a four-car garage, and what most probably was the stabling area, for

  there were several outbuildings lying slightly further back from the garage. After congratulating her on a smooth run, Nat led the way past the garage to a finely wrought ornamental gate set in a side wall attached to the

  garage, and down a short bush-scented avenue

  towards a low-slung white-painted building, and

  Josie, following his bright checked shirt, was a

  little amazed that he should know his way so

  well�either that, or he had been given precise

  instructions as to where to take her. Either way, it

  didn't help to squash the butterfly feeling in her

  stomach as her apprehension grew as they neared

  the door of the building they were approaching,

  and she hardly heard Nat's enthusiastic meander

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  ings on the way Kade had improved the property.

  There was, however, one little consolation for

  Josie, and that was that if this was the schoolroom

  then it was far enough way from the ranch-house

  to ensure a certain amount of privacy. It also

  meant that she would not be liable to run into

  Kade Boston each day, and for this she was ex

  tremely grateful.

  The door was open, and though she knew they were expected, the sight of that open door made her feel like a fly about to walk into a web, and

  hardly helped calm her nerves. Meeting the cool grey eyes of Kade Boston the minute they stepped inside the door of the building, and realising her earlier hopes had been slightly misplaced, added to her misery, and her

  lovely blue eyes echoed her feelings more than she

  knew.

  'Good morning. Miss West,' Kade drawled, yet his eyes showed his pleasure at her appearance, as it, she thought perplexedly, that he hadn't been too sure she would come. 'Thanks a lot, Nat,' he nodded to Josie's companion. 'Borrow the station waggon, I'll get someone to collect it later.'


  Nat murmured his thanks, and giving the reluctant Josie a little push further into the room, said teasingly, 'Over to you, teacher 1' and made his departure.

  A small child detached herself from a desk further down the room and came to stand next to Kade, her hand creeping up to grasp his large brown one, while her wide brown eyes openly studied Josie.

  'This is Maryanne,' Kade introduced, and

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  looked down at the child beside him. 'Maryanne, this is Miss West, the lady I told you about, and mind you do what you're told. I shall be extremely displeased if I hear that you've not behaved yourself,' he admonished lightly as he gave the child's thick brown curls a light ruffle.

  The child did not answer, but continued to study Josie, then looked up at her uncle. 'Are you going to stay and see if everything's all right?' she asked in a thin reedy autocratic voice that Josie immediately took exception to, as well as the suggested implication that Josie might not be suitable for the job

  Kade frowned, and glanced at Josie, giving her a sympathetic grin then released his hand from Maryanne. 'Certainly not!' he said in a no-nonsense voice. 'I've more to do than watch over your scholarly progress. Did you bring the folder I asked you to bring with you?' he asked the now mutinous child.

  Maryanne gave a little shrug of her dainty shoulders and turned towards the desk she had been sitting at; me that was in direct line with the teacher's desk, Josie noticed, as her depressed gaze followed the slight figure as she went to collect the folder her uncle had spoken of. No ordinary jeans for this child, Josie thought, but a pair of beautifully tailored denims cut in pinafore style and matching blue and white blouse.

  Josie's gaze left "he child and rested on the man standing beside her. and as she caught a glint of amusement in his eyes, her lips folded in a straight line. He would think it was funny! It looked as if

  _the child was going to be every bit as tiresome as

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  she had thought she would be. She turned her attention elsewhere and looked about the room. Whatever the place had been used for before, it certainly made an ideal makeshift school. There was even an old blackboard, Josie noted, and with the five desks in position, it really did look as if she had begun her career at last�or would, if there were any other- pupils to teach. She knew about

  Billy, but what of the others?

  Accurately interpreting her thoughts, Kade said as he glanced at his watch, 'They'll be here in precisely ten minutes,' and taking the folder from Maryanne, he added, 'I wanted a word with you before you start. Shall we go outside?' and without waiting for Josie's answer he walked ahead of her and out of the building.

  A reluctant Josie followed his broad back, and wondered if he was going to tell her what salary he would be paying her, and what amount he would deduct each month to pay off the debt. She was almost certain that this was his intention, for when he saw that Maryanne had followed her out of the building and now stood a little way behind Josie, he said quietly but authoritatively, 'Wait inside, will ''ou, Maryanne?'

  A petulant expression showed that Maryanne did not like this one little bit, but she knew her uncle well enough to obey the instruction without complaint, and with a toss of the head she ran back into the schoolroom, slamming the door behind her.

  With her eyes on the shut door, Josie asked curiously, 'How old is Maryanne?' Kade gave her a wicked grin before he replied,

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  'Ten, I'm afraid. I guess she acts more adult than she really is. She hasn't had much to do with children of her own age. I'm hoping to make her parents see sense over this. Do her the world of good to learn to give and take a little. As I told you previously, she's used to travelling around with her parents and getting a sight more attention than is good for her.' His eyes met Josie's. 'Don't tell me she's a spoilt little madam�I know that. I'm just hoping you'll accept the challenge. It's not going to be easy, I know, but somehow I've an idea that she's met her match in you.'

  His brows raised as he said this, as if inviting

  Josie's comments, but she remained silent, digesting only the fact that he had just calmly demolished her one and only hope for her early departure from the scene. In other words, she thought despondently, he would accuse her of cowardice if she threw the job up! Very clever of him. He must want Carella badly, she thought scathingly, even to the extent of pushing his niece

  into the tray! Giving a little sigh at her continued silence, he went on to other matters, and it was not salary, or what he would deduct, but concerned the other children. 'I want you to keep an eye out for what they need,' he said, his voice reverting back to the authoritative tone. 'And I mean clothing as well as school equipment. No need to speak to the children; just mention it to me when you see me, and I'll do the rest. I think you'll find you've all you need in the stationery line. I've had a word with Miss Plumstead on the textbooks required, so you should find you've everything you want�if not,

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  make a list out of your requirements and I'll see you have them.'

  He hesitated as his eyes tell on three children walking up the narrow path towards the school. 'You'll find all of them are in need of schooling, and that goes for Maryanne too. As you'll see by this folder, she's a little behind the average level for her age. As for the others,' his eyes rested on the children as they neared them, 'their fathers can't read or write, they've never bothered, and the kids were quite willing to follow in their footsteps� now, that is�but give them a year or two and they'll wish otherwise. Oh, they've had a smattering of education, when they felt like turning up

  at school, that was, but the absent periods were getting more and more frequent.' He smiled at Josie, and she wished he wouldn't do that; his

  smiles had a way of breaking down her defences.

  'It got to be a vicious circle; when they did attend, they'd find they were so far behind that it meant they were placed with the much younger children. As you know, there's only the one school �at the present time, anyway, and like Billy, they need closer supervision.' He gave her a rueful look. 'You've got your work cut out, I'm afraid, there's no budding Einsteins in this group. But I'd be very grateful if you'd have a go at bringing them in line with the average level for their ages so th,at

  they can attend the new school when it opens.'

  Put that way, how could Josie turn it down? She couldn't, she had been made to feel very special, and although she tried not to dwell on this point too much, something glowed inside her and lit up a trny light at the back of her eyes.

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  The children had been talking amongst themselves and had not noticed that they were observed, or that the boss of Blue Mount stood awaiting their arrival. When they became aware of their audience, they pulled up sharply and stood silent with awkward embarrassment in front of Josie and Kade.

  'Well on time, I see,' remarked Kade as he gave them an approving nod, then he directed Josie's attention to the taller boy. 'This is Pedro, Miss West; he's the oldest by a year�and this,' he nodded at the boy standing next to Pedro, 'is Juan�you're ten, aren't you, Juan?'

  The boy nodded, but said nothing, his black eyes warily darting from Kade to Josie, as he shuffled back a little in order to let the small boy standing a little way behind him take over the limelight and be introduced. 'And you're Miguel,' Kade commented dryly, duly noting the way the smaller boy had been made to take his share of the

  unwelcome attention. 'I think you'll find them attentive pupils. Miss West,' he commented, in the tone of voice that suggested they had better be attentive�or else I

  A few minutes later Kade took his leave of them, remarking again to Josie that it there was anything she required she was to let him know, and a partially relieved Josie ushered the boys into the schoolroom to join Maryanne, who sat in isolated

  splendour at her desk.

  It was obvious tha
t the boys were acquainted

  with the fact that they would be sharing lessons

  with the boss's niece, for they barely glanced in her

  direction after their first quick look, and moved

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  with reluctant steps towards the desks.

  'You may sit there,' indicated a gracious Maryanne to Pedro, pointing to the desk next to hers in a manner of conferring an honour on him, which was not at all appreciated by the scowling Pedro.

  'I think we'll let Pedro choose his own desk,' intervened Josie smoothly. 'He'll probably want to sit next to Juan, anyway,' she added for good measure, not failing to note the quick flash of temper this calm but authoritative statement produced from Maryanne, and sighed inwardly. It was going to be uphill all the way, she thought, and

  this was only the beginning

  Pedro chose the desk farthest away from the one Maryanne had indicated, and to make matters worse, from -Maryanne's point of view anyway, there was a mad scramble from the remaining two boys to secure the other desk in a similar position on the other side of her. Juan, being the biggest of the two, won the tussle, and Miguel had no choice but to accept what was left�either way, it meant sitting next to the girl, and darting the triumphant- Juan an accusing look, Miguel settled himself next to Pedro, disclaiming any previous friendship with Juan.

  'Right, then,' said Josie with more assurance than she felt as she walked to her desk and put the folder that contained Maryanne's prowess in the educational line down on the desk tor future perusal. 'I think we'll spend the first morning finding out what standards you've reached in various subjects. Would you look in your desks and see if you have any exercise books there?' she asked. 'I shall want you to write down the answers to some

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  questions I shall be giving you.'

  'I put exercise books in all the desks,' piped up Maryanne importantly. 'And pens,' she added as an afterthought, looking from the boys to Josie as if she expected to be congratulated for such fore

  sight. ~~v

  �Thank you, Maryanne,' answered Josie drily, sure that Kade had been the instigator of this act, although she did not say so. Maryanne's aplomb needed a little balm right then after the extremely ungentlemanly actions of her classmates.