Chapter Thirteen
“Hope, wake up.”
Hope came to in a panic when someone gently shook her shoulder. Quickly the day’s horror came back to her—fire’s blazing heat, screaming horses, billowing smoke, men’s desperation. The odor of charred cedar lingered in the air and surrounded her, but she realized she was safe in Micah’s cabin.
“I am awake.” She turned into the pillow and inhaled. Soot from her face and hair streaked the fabric, but Micah’s scent remained.
“Sorry I had to disturb your rest. If we don’t leave soon, it’ll be dark before we get to your place.”
Near the front door, three valises waited. She noted that Micah had washed and changed clothes, so he must have gone to the river. “Did I sleep so soundly I did not hear you and your brothers gather your clothing?”
“We tried to be real quiet. Left our boots on the porch.”
Imagine that. Except for the few hours last night in Micah’s arms, she hadn’t slept well in months. She had begun to think her body would never reclaim the carefree rest it craved.
“There’s a bucket of water for you on the table.”
Beside it were some rags and a bar of her lavender soap. The lilac dress she wore yesterday lay across a chair. A white enameled chamber pot sat beside the bed. “You are very thoughtful.”
Micah looked embarrassed. “I’ll wait outside. Let me know when you’re ready to leave.”
After peering out the window to be certain the men were busy, she relieved herself and put the lid back on the pot. At least she hadn’t thrown up her lunch. Slipping off her outer clothing, she scrubbed herself and tidied her hair.
She slid into the lilac dress. After examining the soot-stained yellow one, she determined it was ruined, then balled it up and laid it in the fireplace. She fastened her shoe buttons, remembering how nice it had been to have Micah perform that simple task for her yesterday and this morning. Assured she was as neat as possible, she walked to the door and stepped outside.
Micah saw her immediately and strode her way. “Great, we’ll go on to your place now. That is, if you’re up to it.”
She nodded. “I...where should I empty the water?” She looked around for a privy and whispered, “And the chamber pot?”
“Don’t worry, Bert and Slim will take care of everything.”
The other four men joined them. Each appeared to have washed and Micah’s brothers also had changed clothes. Zach grabbed two of the bags and Joel the other, and they stashed them in the buggy.
Micah guided her to the rig. “We’re ready.” He lifted her up as if she were a child.
Joel and Zach mounted horses and Micah retied his mount to the back of the rig. Bert and Slim stood nearby.
Slim smiled at her then saluted Micah. “Don’t you worry none about us. We’ll be fine here. We’ll do everything just like you said, Cap’n.”
Bert nodded. “Yes, Cap’n, you can count on us. We’re sure proud we met you, Miz Stone.”
“In spite of the fire, I’m pleased to have met you both. Thank you for the wonderful meal.”
Micah guided the buggy out of the yard and back on the trail. Joel and Zach rode beside them. No one spoke and Hope thought the brothers were too tired for conversation. She certainly was.
The sun was low on the horizon when they arrived at her ranch house. Wispy clouds created a lovely sunset. A breeze sent a dust devil whirling across the road. A road runner ran beside the carriage, it’s brown plumage and crest blending into the shadows when it turned toward a mesquite tree. After the turmoil of the afternoon, the lovely evening seemed from a different world than the charred ruins of Micah’s barn.
Her hacienda came in sight. Hope’s heart sank as they drew near. The wide, open gates revealed a drama. Inside the tall walls surrounding her home, her aunt and uncle were loading their belongings into their buggy. Another wagon stood to one side, and a man unloaded a stack of bags and containers.
Micah asked, “Isn’t that Mr. Hoskins who owns the livery stable?”
Joel said, “Looks like him.” He laughed. “Trust our aunts to press him into service when they reached town.”
Hope spotted two women who fit Micah’s descriptions of his aunts standing near Mr. Hoskins. Eduardo wasn’t in sight. Ramona raced frantically between the two newcomers to Hope’s aunt and uncle.
Zach chuckled. “Looks like the aunts didn’t lose any time after I sent their wire. Made the stage from Weatherford all right. What’ll you bet they soon have things going their way?”
“Damn,” Joel said. “Uh, begging your pardon, little sister, but I’d hoped the Montoyas would have moved out by now. Would have saved us what looks to be a nasty confrontation.”
Hope spoke sharply, “You men have forgotten that I am a Montoya.”
Micah sent her a glare. “You were a Montoya. For now you’re a Stone, and we take care of our own.”
She straightened her spine, suddenly reminded of how disheveled she must appear. “I can handle Tio Jorge and Tia Sofia.” When she saw the unrelenting set of Micah’s jaw, she said, “They are my family, the same as your brothers and aunts are yours. You must allow me to talk to them.”
Micah nodded. “You can start, but if there’s trouble, I’ll take over.”
Tia Sofia spotted them first. She tugged at Tio Jorge’s arm and pointed. All activity stopped, except the livery stable man, who seemed to increase speed unloading the aunts’ trunks and cases. Before Micah guided the buggy near the house, the man from the livery stable leaped into his wagon and set the horses off at a trot. He shot through the double gates’ broad opening and veered wide off the road, bouncing across range to avoid them, and kept going. Hope marveled that a wagon wheel or axle did not break.
Joel and Zach dropped back to let Micah and Hope arrive first. Micah pulled the buggy near the courtyard fountain beside Tio Jorge and Tia Sofia. Joel and Zach rode over to their aunts. Poor Ramona, looking frazzled, rushed to stand with Tia Sofia.
Micah helped Hope down and walked with her.
Hope braced herself for the tirade she expected. “Tia Sofia, Tio Jorge, you received my letter.”
Her aunt burst into tears. “How could you do this to us? Marry without our knowledge or consent, without your uncle to give you away?” Her eyes grew wide and she gasped. “Look at your hair, your shoes. Is this the way a lady behaves?”
Tio Jorge rushed at Micah. “Murderer! What have you done to our niece?”
Hope stepped forward and held up her hand. “Wait, it is not as you think. While we were having lunch at Micah’s ranch, someone set fire to his barn.”
“The hands sent word of the fire and that you were seen there.” Tio Jorge glared at Micah. “A real man would have protected his wife and kept her out of harm’s way.”
Micah’s jaw clenched and he stepped forward. Certain there would be harsh words, she stepped between the men and touched her uncle’s arm. “Tio, he did protect me, and asked me to remain safely in his home with the door barred. But a wife helps her husband, so I did what I could. Would Tia Sofia have done less for you?”
Her aunt put her hands on her cheeks. “She is right, Jorge. Did I sit idle while our hay burned those years ago?”
Tio Jorge’s hatred for Micah seared his words like a brand. “If anything happens to my niece—a scratch on her finger—I will see you hanged even if I must do it alone.” He turned to his wife. “Come, Sofia, we will go home.”
Hope chewed on her lip as she watched her aunt and uncle walk away. They seemed genuinely to care for her. In case they were not the killers, she couldn’t let them part this way.
“Tío, tía! Wait!” She rushed to hug her uncle then pressed a kiss to her aunt’s cheek. “Thank you both for your care. Vaya con Dios. I will see you soon.”
Surely they were innocent. Yet, no one had a better motive or opportunity, and Tio Jorge was so full of anger. When Micah and his brothers found the person responsible, if it wasn’t either Tia Sofia or
Tio Jorge, she would apologize to her aunt and uncle and explain her concern for them. In the meantime, if by chance they were innocent, they would be much safer removed from her ranch.
Tio Jorge helped Tia Sofia onto the wagon, climbed aboard, then clicked the reins. Without a backward glance, her uncle drove away. Her aunt turned to offer a small wave and Hope returned the gesture.
Micah’s hand touched Hope’s waist. “Let me introduce you to my aunts.”
She leaned against him for support, fatigue dragging at her. “First, Micah, I simply must sit down. This has been a tiring day for everyone. Shall we all go inside?”
“Dang, I should have thought of that first.” He helped her up the steps and into the house, stopping only long enough to signal to the others to come inside.
The cool interior refreshed her. The house was built of thick adobe bricks plastered over inside and out. Though the outside was painted sandy beige, inside dark woodwork accented creamy white walls. Wide windows and arches offered ample ventilation while the foot-deep walls held out the heat.
Hers was the most beautiful hacienda anywhere, she was positive. Until she determined her poisoning, always she had felt safe and comfortable here. Living in a home built like a fortress, had advantages. Before the poison, her only threat had been her father’s temper.
Hadn’t he reminded her often enough that she should have been born male? “We named you Hope because I had hoped you’d be a boy,” he’d said so many times, always followed by a cruel laugh. In all her life, he’d never said one kind word to her, had never shown any sign he held affection for her. She often wondered if he’d cared about anyone or anything except the ranch and his money.
Now all this was hers. She could do with it as she wished, providing she survived this assassin’s attempts. Looking at the man by her side, she believed her chances had increased five-fold from a few days ago.
Consuela rushed up. “Señorita...” she looked at Micah and dropped a slight curtsy. “Por favor. Señora, we worried for you when we heard of the fire. You wish us to prepare dinner now or help you to your room?”
“Neither yet. We will wait in the salon. Please ask the others to come so I may introduce my husband and his family.” Leaning on Micah’s arm, she crossed the terracotta-colored tiles and entered the large room used to greet guests. Choosing the nearest chair for herself, she indicated the sofas and chairs, “Please, make yourselves comfortable. We must discuss how this will be done.”
Ramona came to stand by Hope’s chair, as if unsure of her place. “You are like my sister. Why did you say nothing to me of this marriage?”
Hope groped for the right words. She spoke softly, hoping to soothe her long-time friend’s hurt feelings. “I did not want anyone to know, not even you. Everything will be all right now.”
“Are you so sure?”
She clasped Ramona’s hand in hers. “You remember my father’s birthday fandango when I danced with Micah?” When Ramona nodded, Hope continued, “I fell in love with him then.”
Ramona whispered, “But you said nothing, even when I confessed my feelings for Eduardo.”
“How could I? I had no idea how he felt. My father had been so rude to him, and I feared Micah would never speak to me again.” She gave Ramona’s hand a pat. “Do not worry yourself. I will explain everything later.”
Though he must be as exhausted as she was, Micah stood at Hope’s other side. “Hope, these are my aunts, Lizzie Mae Fraser and Maggie Jo Gamble, who’ve come from Weatherford to help out for a while.”
Quickly, Hope wondered if Micah had heard her words to Ramona. If he had, surely he’d decide they were part of the plan to be convincing. “Meeting you is a pleasure. Ladies, this is my lifelong friend, Ramona Chavez, who has acted as my companion recently. I could not have done without her help or her friendship.”
Hope forgot her earlier resentment when she looked at the two women’s lovely smiles. “Mrs. Fraser, Mrs. Gamble, you are very kind to come to my aid so quickly. I hope this will not be too much of a burden for you.”
The tall thin one called Maggie said, “No burden at all. It’s a grand adventure for us.”
“We met Miss Chavez outside. She was most kind.” Tall, round Lizzie laughed, and the brown curls peeking beneath her bonnet bounced. “Now, Hope dear, you call us by our names, I’m Lizzie and my sister is Maggie. You too, Miss Chavez. After all, we’re family now. And we’ll enjoy having loved ones to cook for. It’s been too long since we had that satisfaction.” She unfastened her bonnet and removed it.
Maggie did the same. “And we know how to keep these three boys in line.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, as much as anyone can.”
Lizzie’s easy laughter bubbled up to brighten the room. “Isn’t that the truth? You boys are a caution. But it’s wonderful to see you again. Hope, we’re happy Micah found himself a wonderful wife.”
Hope couldn’t help the pleasure spreading through her at Lizzie’s remark. She’d had so few compliments in her life. Lizzie’s flowed around her like a warm blanket in winter.
Maggie said, “We brought food with us since we didn’t know if we’d have what we needed to cook for you this evening and tomorrow.”
Lizzie sobered. “And look how thin you are, dear. We’ll soon see about that, won’t we, boys?”
Consuela, the housekeeper, reappeared followed by three others. The old cook, Anunciata, waddled in wiping her hands on her apron. Maria and Tomasina peeked shyly around her. Hope sent them a reassuring smile. All four women stared at Micah with curiosity.
For years, Hope had tried to talk the cook into retiring. She’d even purchased a small home in town for Anunciata, who had to be close to eighty now. At the same time the woman appeared to disapprove of Hope, Annunciata insisted she could still do her job. She was Ramona’s abuela, her grandmother, which made the job of easing her out more difficult. The aunts’ presence would make that task possible, but breaking the news to Annunciata definitely would not be pleasant.
Hope smiled at her employees. “This is my husband, Señor Micah Stone. He and his family will be staying with us.” She turned to Micah. “Two other women who help out when needed are married to drovers and live in homes near the bunkhouse.”
The staff members present bobbed their heads in deference to the newcomers, but Anunciata frowned as she did so.
Consuela said, “Whatever we can do to assist you will be our pleasure.” She’d removed the white coverall from her gray dress, and looked regal. Her dark hair was in a chignon as always and her dark brown eyes showed her intelligence.
Maria said, “Sí, Señorita.” She gasped, “I mean Señora. We will do whatever we can to make your marriage a blessing.”
Shy Tomasina smiled but hovered behind the others.
Hope said, “Anunciata, please, sit down. We must talk.”
The cook lowered herself to a chair by the door. She moved as if she ached in every part of her body. “Do not worry. I can cook for all these peoples."
Dear Lord, give me the right words.
Hope said, “I know that you can, abuela, but we must make changes. You have worked too many years and deserve a rest. You remember you have a house in town where there is room for your garden and you can visit with others each day. You can rest there whenever you wish.”
Anunciata frowned, “You would push me aside because you have married? You think I would leave when you are ill like your mamacita? She made me promise to look after you. What will happen to you without me?”
Hope gestured to Micah’s aunts. “These ladies are my husband’s aunts. They love to cook and they will handle all the food preparation. Tomasina can help them.”
Ramona smiled at her grandmother. “Abuela, this is a good change, is it not? We have talked about it. I helped Hope choose the furnishings for the little casita in town. You will love living there.”
Heedless of her granddaughter, the cook clutched her chest as if in pain. “Aiiieee, you can’t mean it? To c
ast me aside like an old shoe. What will become of me, and of my Ramona?”
Hope turned to look at her friend then back at her cook. “You know Ramona is like my sister. I thought she would remain here as always, but she can choose to live here or with you.”
Ramona’s widened eyes and a frown displayed her shock and sorrow. “I know not what to do,” she said to Hope. “The house, it is perfect for her. I thought abuela would be happy to go there, especially since she is not needed here.”
Hope said, “Anunciata, you have a lovely little house where you can do as you wish, and I will give you money each month.”
Anunciata sobbed. She reached for her rosary and her actions brushed her skirt hem aside, displaying her swollen lower limbs and red, angry skin.
Ramona gasped, “Abuela, your feet and legs!” She touched Hope’s arm. “I must see to my abuela. She needs me.” She walked swiftly to her grandmother and took her hand. “Come, we will get our things together and leave tonight.”
Heart wrenching, Hope stood and stretched out her hand. “Ramona, Anunciata, please. It grows dark. Wait until morning to leave.” Ramona had lived near since they were small girls. They had been together almost each day of their lives.
Ramona shook her head, tears in her eyes. “You hid from me that you planned to marry this man who murdered your papa. Now you bring in others to surround you. It is clear you do not trust me. Now that you have these strangers, you need me no longer and abuela does.”
Hope rose and hugged her. “No, you are my sister. I understand your grandmother needs you. When she is settled, please return here.”
“I will think about it.” Ramona hung her head. “But now, Alejandro will drive us to town.”
Ramona’s departure was interrupted by Joel and Zach. The men hauled in case after case for the aunts.
Hope sank back to her chair. Every part of her plan meant her survival. One of these people intended to kill her. But how many innocent people would she hurt before this was over?
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