The Rancher's Temporary Engagement

by Stacy Henrie

  She nodded, though she didn’t offer any further explanation until she reached his side. “Someone took it,” she said between labored breaths. “When I went to ride back, the horse was gone.”

  “Stolen, you mean.” Edward ran a hand over his chin, wishing he had a good fence post to topple at the moment. “Do you know who?”

  “No. My guess is Howe, but I don’t know for sure.”

  When he noticed her flushed cheeks and dusty dress hem, his frustration gave way to chagrin. “Did you walk all the way from Sheridan?”

  Thankfully she shook her head. He hated to think she’d walked the entire seven miles back to the ranch.

  “I should have stayed in town,” he said, feeling guilty.

  To his surprise, Maggy smiled. “If you had, then Mrs. Druitt wouldn’t have given me a ride after Vienna and I finished talking.”

  “You and Vienna were talking?” His jaw tightened as annoyance crowded out his guilt. Hadn’t she agreed to keep her distance from Howe’s wife?

  Color flooded her cheeks. “Yes, but it wasn’t like that, Edward. I made sure I talked with everyone during the meeting. It was only afterward that she asked me something...”

  “Do you honestly think her husband will care that you were only conversing after the meeting?”

  He pulled off his hat and slapped it against his leg. How could he protect Maggy if she needlessly put herself in harm’s way? She’d told him one thing, only to turn around and do exactly what she wished to do regardless of the consequences. Just like Beatrice did. The comparison filled him with dread—and fresh anger.

  “You may have put yourself or me or the ranch in danger by doing what you said you wouldn’t do, Maggy. And I don’t know which I can’t abide more. Your negligence or your dishonesty.”

  Her eyes flashed with blue fire. “Since you’ve already made up your mind about the situation, then there’s nothing more to say. If you’ll excuse me.” She marched past him toward the bridge, her chin thrust out.

  Edward glared hard at the road as he crossed his arms. Maggy’s blatant disregard for what he’d said to her earlier cut deeply. More so than it ought, given she was just a detective he had hired, nothing more. An irksome thought told him that he was the one being dishonest now.

  Maggy was so much more than a detective to him. She’d become his good friend and confidante. The person he looked forward to seeing each morning and spending time with each evening. She was the reason he laughed and smiled more—a change both Mrs. Harvey and McCall had commented on.

  She’d become the woman who’d successfully breached the walls around his scarred heart.

  This last realization had him jerking his gaze from the dirt to the distant hills. How had that happened? He gave a rueful shake of his head, already knowing the answer. Maggy had been pushing her way past his defenses since her first afternoon here. And though he was still upset she hadn’t taken his warning about Howe more seriously, he shouldn’t have compared her to Beatrice or accused her of dishonesty. He should’ve listened to her reasons for doing what she’d done before reacting.

  “Edward.”

  He whirled around to find her standing nearby, her eyes deep blue with what appeared to be regret. “Maggy, I’m—”

  “Please.” She held up her hand. “Let me go first.” When he obliged by keeping silent, she continued. “You were right. I did say I wouldn’t talk as much with Vienna. And I’m very sorry for not abiding by that. Your trust means...” Her voice hitched with emotion, making him wish to take her into his arms as he had earlier that day. But he wasn’t sure she’d welcome his touch just yet, so he busied himself with putting his hat back on. “Your trust means a great deal to me. I don’t want you to mistrust me. And I certainly don’t want anything to happen to the ranch...and especially not to you.”

  He couldn’t resist the urge to comfort her any longer. Reaching out, he swept aside a strand of her hair. “I must apologize, too. I’ll admit I was surprised to hear you spoke with Vienna, but I’d like to hear your reasons for doing so. Because the truth is, Maggy, I do still trust you.”

  The tangible relief on her lovely face mirrored the same emotion stirring in his heart. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

  “Yes?” he asked calmly, though his gut tightened. Had she been hiding something from him—as Beatrice once had?

  Help me listen to her, Lord.

  Maggy squared her shoulders as Edward steeled himself for what she was about to reveal. “Vienna asked for my advice because...” Her gaze lowered, then rose to meet his directly. “Because Howe’s temperament is a lot like my late husband’s.”

  “Y-your late husband’s?” He couldn’t hide the shock that leaked into his voice. His thought from earlier about her loving another man filled his head and stabbed through his chest. “But you were never engaged before?”

  She nodded. “That’s true. Jeb asked me to be his wife only two days before our wedding. We were married for a few years. Then he was killed and I became a detective.”

  Those were the facts, but they gave no indication of her feelings. Did she love this Jeb still? Edward wanted to ask, and yet, he sensed her reluctance to discuss the topic further.

  “I did keep a little more distance through the meeting,” she said, her tone almost pleading. “When Vienna wanted to talk to me afterward, I couldn’t refuse, Edward. She’s struggling and I just couldn’t...walk away...” Her chin dropped. Edward could see it was trembling.

  He placed his hands lightly on her shoulders and waited for her to lift her head. “Of course you couldn’t. That would be a hard decision. And I believe you made the right one.”

  “You really think so?” She sounded far less self-assured than she normally did, making him wonder again who or what had caused her to doubt herself in the past.

  Giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze, he released her. “I mean it. You care about Vienna and aren’t allowing Howe’s threats to change that.”

  “I just hope he doesn’t get it in his head to hurt something more than a buggy.” She turned and began walking toward the ranch again.

  He fell into step beside her. “How far did Mrs. Druitt drive you?”

  “All but the last two miles.” Her expression became suddenly elated. “That’s what else I wanted to tell you. She and her husband are definitely behind some of the acts against the Running W.”

  Edward stopped her progress with a hand to her elbow, his heart kicking up at the news. “How do you know? What did you find out?”

  “It’s more what slipped out,” she replied with a laugh. Her blue eyes were dancing with delight. “Do you mind if I tell you while we walk back, though? I need at least one glass of water and to change into a dress that isn’t covered in dust and sweat.”

  He couldn’t help laughing as he released her arm. Only Maggy would be frank enough to mention sweat in mixed company. “All right. We’ll walk while you talk.”

  They started forward once more. “I tried to get Mrs. Druitt to admit to wanting to buy your land five years ago, but she dodged every attempt. Then just when I was sure the time with her had been a waste, she started talking about upcoming events in town. About how, if I were still here, I would enjoy them.”

  “If you were still here?” Edward repeated with a stunned shake of his head. “Did she actually let that slip out?”

  Maggy grinned. “She did. I could hardly believe it myself. Only then...”

  She paused, ratcheting up his curiosity even more. Which was likely her intent. It took a great deal of effort on his part not to comment or slow his pace.

  “Don’t you want to know what happened next?” she finally asked, her eyebrows raised.

  Edward shrugged. “If you want to share it. Otherwise, I’m content to simply walk.”

  “You’re impossible.” She nudged his shoulder, but she
was laughing.

  “I’m not the one drawing out the suspense.”

  “True.” She gave him a saucy grin before continuing. “After she said that, I asked her what she meant. Mrs. Druitt babbled on about how engagements don’t work out sometimes and how she’d miss me if I left, but she was definitely flustered and nervous. I told her I didn’t think everyone shared her opinion about me being welcome here.”

  He thought he could see where she was going with that bit of information. “That was clever.”

  “Thank you.” She swung her hat in a carefree manner at her side as if she hadn’t already walked quite a ways. “Then I brought up the buggy accident.”

  He frowned in confusion, unclear why she’d shared that information. “Do you think that was wise?”

  “I wanted to see her reaction,” Maggy explained. “And it was exactly as I suspected it would be. She went white, Edward. Completely white.”

  “Which means?” he asked, trying to draw his own conclusion but coming up empty.

  Maggy looked more animated than he’d ever seen her. “It means that Mrs. Druitt wasn’t involved in what happened to the buggy. The person who did that had to be acting independently of her and her husband.”

  “You still think they’re the ones behind the notes and the other damage?”

  She put her hat to her head and lifted it as if tipping it to him. “Yes. My theory is they were hoping to scare you away so they could finally buy the ranch and give it to Lavina and Felix.”

  “What about Howe, though?” Her reasoning made sense, except for how Vienna’s husband was involved. “Where do the buggy and that last threatening note come in?”

  “My suspicion is that while Howe gave you that note on their orders, the buggy was his own doing. I think his vendetta turned from the ranch to me. Which is why Mrs. Druitt was not only shocked to hear about the incident but seemed appalled too. I don’t think the Druitts intended to physically harm anyone to get what they want.”

  Edward nodded slowly as he considered her theory. It was sound and plausible. “Why would Howe or anyone else help them, though? What’s in it for the others?”

  “That I don’t know—yet.”

  Which didn’t bother him. They had far more information now than they’d ever had.

  A part of him wanted to pull her close and kiss her in triumph. His case was nearly solved. And yet, another part of him wanted to go back, to the moment he’d brushed her hair from her cheek as they’d stood in the road. That way her departure would be less soon in coming.

  “What do we do now? Confront the Druitts?”

  Maggy shook her head. “No. The theory is solid, but we can’t actually prove it. We have to time this right. Otherwise they’ll just deny it. We need to coax a confession out of them.”

  “And how do we do that?”

  She pursed her lips in thought, drawing his attention to them. “I’d like to wait until the ball on Saturday. Let them think we don’t suspect them of anything. My guess is that there won’t be any more threats, at least not until after the event. They’ll hope this incident with the buggy has died down by then.”

  “So we wait?” He wasn’t keen on the idea, especially since Howe was still out there. “What about Vienna’s husband?”

  Maggy frowned, revealing a crack in her enthusiasm and sureness. “If he took my horse today, he’ll likely lay low for the next week, too. Horse rustling is a serious crime.”

  “Which the Druitts may also be guilty of,” he pointed out.

  “Agreed, but since we don’t know if they were the actual ones who took those horses and changed the brand, it’s your word against theirs. At least until we can get a full confession or other proof from them.”

  He conceded to her reasoning with a sigh. “You’re right. We’ll wait until the ball and seek a full confession then.”

  “I’m confident we’ll get one, Edward.”

  Her reassuring smile did more than ease his concern. It went straight through his chest and set his heart galloping like a runaway horse. And yet it wasn’t just with pleasure; it was with a measure of sadness, too. Because come Saturday, he had no idea how much longer Maggy and her brilliant smiles would remain in his life.

  * * *

  A rapping at the front door drew Maggy’s head up from the book she’d been reading. She threw a puzzled glance at Mrs. Harvey who was engrossed in one of her beloved dime novels. Judging by the worn edges of the pages, it was one she’d read several times before.

  “Who would be coming around now?” the housekeeper asked, echoing Maggy’s thoughts.

  They hadn’t had visitors to the ranch for several weeks, and Edward wasn’t home tonight, either. After yesterday’s occurrence with the buggy, which he and Maggy had slowly conveyed to Big Horn for repair that morning, Edward had decided to dine at the inn and see if there was any talk among the other ranchers about the near accident.

  Setting aside her book, Maggy stood. “I’ll see who it is.”

  The person on the porch knocked again before she could reach the door, the sound more insistent this time. She didn’t imagine Howe or anyone else would be brazen enough to come knocking, but caution had her opening the door only an inch to see who stood there.

  Vienna’s tearstained face, disheveled hair, and dusty dress met Maggy’s gaze. She threw open the door at once. “Vienna. Are you all right? What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, Maggy.” She threw a wary glance over her shoulder. A saddled horse, its reins wrapped around the porch rail, stood there patiently. “I left him,” she burst out as she turned back to face Maggy. “And...this was the only place I could think of where I knew I’d be welcome.”

  Maggy quickly recovered from her shock—both at Vienna’s sudden appearance and her words. “Of course you’re welcome here. Come in, come in.”

  “What about the horse?”

  She opened the door farther. “I’ll see to it in a bit.”

  With a distracted nod, Vienna entered the house. She clutched a valise in one hand, which reinforced her earlier announcement. “Thank you. I... I don’t want to impose.”

  “It’s no imposition,” Mrs. Harvey said, exiting the parlor. “If you’re a friend of Maggy’s, you’re welcome in Mr. Kent’s home. And that’s a fact.”

  Vienna blushed, but it didn’t hide the red mark on one of her cheeks. Maggy felt certain she knew who was responsible for it. “Is Mr. Kent home?”

  “No.” Maggy linked her arm with Vienna’s. “He’ll be home later. But Mrs. Harvey is right. You can stay here as long as you like.”

  Instead of the comfort she’d hoped to inspire, Maggy watched as Vienna’s expression crumpled. She covered her mouth with her free hand as a sob leaked from her lips.

  “Mrs. Harvey, would you mind getting us some tea?” Maggy exchanged a meaningful glance with the housekeeper. Vienna needed to talk and she was likely reluctant to do so in front of a stranger.

  The older woman gave an understanding nod. “Of course. Make yourselves comfortable in the parlor and I’ll have nice cups of tea for the both of you in no time.”

  Maggy mouthed a “thank you,” then led the young woman into the parlor. When she released her comforting grip on Vienna, the girl sank onto the sofa. Her entire body trembled, but Maggy wasn’t sure if it was from fear or intense relief. Remembering those first days after losing Jeb, Maggy realized it was possibly both.

  “What happened?” she asked gently as she took a seat on the other end of the sofa.

  Vienna rubbed at her eyes with her hand. A bitter laugh escaped her mouth. “I finally stood up for myself. Chance was angry and shouting, but I told him that he needed to stop talking to me in such a way.”

  Maggy waited for her to go on, though she’d already guessed the rest of the story.

  “He didn’t like that one bit,” Vienna said with
a shake of her head. “And he told me so before giving me this.” She gingerly touched her cheek. “Then something just snapped inside me. I told him that I was through, that I wouldn’t stay another moment in a house with someone who treated me as less than his precious horses.”

  Her expression now radiated strength. “He raged for a while longer, then he left. Probably for the saloon. But he didn’t hit me again, Maggy. And I think I know why.”

  “He was scared,” Maggy concluded.

  Vienna shot her a grim smile. “Yes. I don’t think he really expects me to be gone when he comes back, either. But I knew I had to leave right then or I’d lose my nerve. So I packed a bag, then saddled a horse and rode here.”

  “I’m so proud of you, Vienna.” Emotion filled her throat at the girl’s courage.

  “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Maggy glanced down. “I don’t see why not.”

  “Because...” Vienna didn’t speak until Maggy looked up again. “It was you who helped me remember that I’m somebody. That I’m not worthless. I wouldn’t have been brave enough to actually leave him if you hadn’t helped me believe in myself again.”

  Had she done the right thing? Maggy wondered. She’d chosen to talk with Vienna again and now the girl was here, on the ranch. This would enrage Howe, and she had no way of knowing how much. It could be dangerous—for her, for Edward and for everyone at the Running W.

  And yet, how could she regret what’d she’d said and done? She’d helped Vienna, yes, but she’d helped herself, too. Each time she’d reminded the young woman that she was of worth, Maggy had been reminded of that truth for herself.

  “I know I can’t stay here indefinitely,” Vienna said, squaring her shoulders. “But a few days would be wonderful, if you don’t think Mr. Kent will mind.”

  Maggy wasn’t sure what Edward would say at first, but she felt confident at how he’d respond once he’d heard the whole story about Vienna. “You can stay as long as you like.”

  Even after Maggy left, there would surely be work here for Vienna to do. Maybe the girl could help Mrs. Harvey with cooking for the wranglers.