The Rancher's Temporary Engagement

by Stacy Henrie

  After she left... The reminder brought a physical ache to Maggy’s chest, which she hurried to set aside. Right now she needed to concentrate on helping Vienna, not on the pain of leaving those who’d become dear to her. Especially Edward.

  “Do you think Chance will look for you here?” She hated to voice the question, given Vienna’s relative calm at the moment, but she wanted to be prepared.

  A visible shudder ran through the young woman. “I don’t know. He may. But I don’t imagine it’ll be tonight. He’ll likely come home too drunk to notice much of anything.”

  Her words inspired more compassion inside Maggy, along with painful memories of nights when her father or Jeb had come home in a similar state of inebriation. “Let’s get you set up in a room upstairs, then have that tea.”

  She’d likely need to move into the main house herself with Vienna here. That would be the most proper thing to do, wouldn’t it? She’d ask Mrs. Harvey.

  Maggy rose to go into the kitchen, and Vienna hopped up, too. “Can I come with you?”

  “Of course.” She reassured the girl with a smile, guessing Vienna didn’t want to be alone right now. “We’ll ask Mrs. Harvey which room to give you.”

  Vienna trailed her to the kitchen. Any more reticence on her part seemed to evaporate like the steam coming from the kettle, when Mrs. Harvey extoled the joys of having a third woman about the ranch. The housekeeper also agreed with Maggy’s idea about moving out of the guest quarters and into the main house.

  After some tea and quiet conversation, the three of them carted Maggy’s things from the guest house to a room upstairs and across the hall from Vienna’s. They’d just finished hanging Maggy’s dresses in the wardrobe when someone started hollering outside.

  Maggy crossed to the window that faced the front of the house. Her heart jumped into her throat when she recognized the figure stumbling off his horse—it was Howe. Before she could warn Vienna, the man shouted his wife’s name.

  “Vienna! I know you’re here.”

  The girl’s face went gray, her hand rising to her throat. She stumbled backward and dropped onto Maggy’s bed. “He came.”

  “It’s all right, love.” Mrs. Harvey patted Vienna’s hand. While the young woman hadn’t revealed a great deal of her circumstances to the housekeeper over tea, she had shared that Howe mistreated her. “You don’t have to go down.”

  As if in challenge to the housekeeper’s words, Howe shouted again. “Vienna, you come out here—now. Or I’m coming in. I know Kent ain’t here. I saw his horse in town.”

  Apprehension knotted Maggy’s stomach. While McCall and the wranglers were around, they might not hear Howe from the bunkhouse. Or Maggy, if she yelled for help.

  Please help us, Father. We need Thy protection.

  A portion of peace settled within her. Not enough to drive out the fear completely, but she did feel stronger. “I’m going down there.”

  “Maggy, no,” Vienna cried, shaking her head. Fresh tears trickled down her cheeks.

  She squared her shoulders. “I won’t go unarmed. But someone needs to send him on his way.” With that she bent and pulled her gun from her trunk. “Stay here, and lock the door.”

  Vienna looked too stricken to answer, but Mrs. Harvey nodded. “God go with you, love.”

  Slipping into the hall, Maggy forced her shaky legs to descend the stairs. She could do this. After all, she was a detective and had been in far more precarious situations than dealing with an angry, abusive bully. That didn’t mean her heart didn’t continue to beat wildly inside her chest, though, as she reached the front door and opened it.

  Howe was leaning against one of the porch columns, but he whirled around when he heard her step outside. The movement threw him off balance and he had to brace himself against the other column to keep from falling down.

  “You,” he spat out. “Where’s Vienna?”

  Maggy leveled him with her most imperious look, while keeping the gun out of sight for now against the folds of her dress. “You’re trespassing on private property, Mr. Howe. So I’m going to ask you to leave.”

  “Not without my wife. She ran off, the thankless fool.” A few curse words spewed from his mouth, but Maggy refused to be intimidated. “Where is she? Is she staying in that guest house over there?”

  She took a commanding step forward. “No. I’ve been staying in the guest house. And Vienna doesn’t have to go anywhere she doesn’t choose. She’s welcome here. It’s you who needs to leave.”

  “I said not without my wife and I mean it.” He pointed his finger at her, his eyes full of hatred. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been saying to her. Filling her brainless head with all them stupid, nonsensical ideas.”

  Maggy clenched her free hand into a fist. “She isn’t brainless, and those stupid, nonsensical ideas are facts, Mr. Howe.”

  He swatted her words away as if they were pesky insects. “You let me see her or I’m going for the sheriff.”

  “By all means, go for the sheriff and tell him you’re threatening a pair of women who won’t allow you to keep your wife a prisoner.” She raised her eyebrows in challenge at him. “Except who would he say was breaking the law in this situation?”

  His face mottled with anger. “You can’t keep me from my wife!”

  “I’m not,” Maggy replied in an icy tone. “You managed to do that all on your own with every slur and every hit.”

  Howe’s eyes widened for a moment, then ducked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, woman.”

  “Don’t you?” She marched another step forward, her breath coming faster with her own fury. “I know all about men like you, Mr. Howe. With your sweet, charming words that trap a woman like a fly in honey. And then...then you show your true nature.” Her fingernails dug into her palm as an onslaught of recollections crashed over her. “You hurt again and again to assuage the pain roaring inside your own heart. But it never goes away, not for long. And so you inflict that pain on this person you swore before men and God that you would love and cherish.”

  He paled, but the reaction was short-lived. “Enough,” he hollered as he took a teetering step toward her. “You send Vienna out right now.”

  “She won’t come.” Maggy adjusted her grip on the weapon in her hand. “She meant it when she said she wouldn’t live with someone who treats her so poorly.”

  If she’d thought his gaze hate-filled before, it was nothing to the rage in it now. “You listen up and listen good,” he sneered. “You think you’re so high and mighty with your fine clothes and nice ranch. But deep down, you’re nothin’, Maggy. Nothin’ but a weak woman with a mind for stirring up trouble.”

  It wasn’t Howe’s voice that thundered in her ears now. It was Jeb’s. You’re nothin’, Maggy. Nothin’. Her lungs began to squeeze tighter and tighter. The hand holding the gun started to tremble, and bits of light danced in front of her eyes. She couldn’t pass out, not now.

  Please, she prayed, her eyes locked on Howe’s triumphant expression.

  Then from deep within her, a rolling wave of strength rose up. She wasn’t nothing. She, Maggy Worthing, was someone of worth.

  “You’ve said your piece, and now I need you to listen, Mr. Howe.” She brought the gun into sight and barely managed to swallow back her satisfied smile when the man’s eyes went wide again. “It’s time for you to leave. And do not come back.”

  Over the man’s shoulder, Maggy spotted McCall and two of the wranglers moving toward the porch. All three of them held drawn guns in their hands. She wasn’t sure what had alerted them to the trouble, but she felt weak-kneed relief that they were there.

  Howe scowled at her, obviously ready to challenge her authority. But McCall spoke up from behind him. “You heard the lady,” the foreman barked in the coldest voice Maggy had ever heard him use. “Take your horse and get outta here,
Howe.”

  Whirling around, Vienna’s husband glared at the three newcomers, but he was outnumbered and seemed to know it. “I’ll be takin’ both horses.”

  He stumbled a bit as he untied the reins of Vienna’s horse and attempted to climb into the saddle of his own. Eventually he got himself situated. Maggy kept her gun trained on him until he threw one last scathing look her way before trotting off down the drive, leading the other horse. Only then did she lower her arm. Her muscles felt shaky as she sagged against the porch column.

  “You okay, Miss Worthwright?” McCall asked as he approached.

  Maggy nodded. “I will be. Thank you...for your help.”

  “You’re welcome. Though you did a mighty fine job of standing up to him yourself.” The wranglers murmured their agreement.

  She tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace. “Still, I’m glad you came when you did.”

  “I thought I heard someone yelling,” the foreman confessed, pushing up the brim of his hat. “And I had this nagging thought I needed to get up to the main house right quick.”

  This time she managed an actual smile. The Lord had been looking out for her—and Vienna—again. “I’m very grateful you paid attention to that thought. I think my gun might have persuaded him to leave, but it certainly helped to have three more aimed at him.”

  He glanced past her toward the house. “Is Vienna really here then?”

  “She is,” Maggy answered. The familiar way the foreman said the girl’s first name made her wonder if they knew each other. “I’m guessing she’ll be here for some time.”

  His taunt expression relaxed a little. “Probably wise. And if you’d like, we’ll wait out here until Mr. Kent comes back.”

  Hearing Edward’s name, Maggy felt a needling of worry. Would he be angry at her for letting Vienna stay? Or for her part, however indirect, in the girl’s choice to leave her husband? Maggy recalled his humility the day before and felt a glimmer of reassurance. Still, it would be best if Edward heard of the evening’s events from her instead of his foreman.

  “If you’ll stay out here until I can make sure Mrs. Howe is all right, then I’ll wait for Mr. Kent.”

  McCall frowned. “You sure?”

  “Yes, though if one of you wouldn’t mind sticking close to the house tonight, that would be wonderful.” She didn’t think Howe would come back, but it wouldn’t hurt to have another man on guard.

  “Will do, ma’am.”

  After thanking all three of them again, Maggy went inside. She felt suddenly bone tired as she moved toward the stairs. But she also felt profoundly satisfied—just as she did whenever she solved a case. Only, she had to admit, this was better.

  Vienna Howe was safe—she would never have to return to her bully of a husband if she didn’t wish to—and Maggy had been a small part of that. That realization flooded her with new energy and had her taking the stairs two at a time.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It wasn’t full dark but close to it by the time Edward returned from dinner in town. He saw to his horse, then exited the stable.

  He walked toward the house, noting with approval one of the night guards patrolling near the house. As he drew closer to the porch, he noticed Maggy seated in the rocker—fast asleep. The temperature was pleasant tonight, but he wasn’t sure why she’d chosen to wait for him outside instead of in the parlor as usual. He stepped onto the porch. Even in the dying light, he could clearly see her face. Unlike the time he’d caught her dozing while reading, her expression now appeared troubled.

  “Maggy,” he called softly.

  She didn’t rouse.

  “Maggy.” He stopped in front of the rocker. “You can’t stay out here all night,” he said as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

  She jerked awake at once, scrambling onto her feet. “Is it Howe?” Her wide gaze frantically swept the yard. “Did he come back?”

  Only then did Edward notice she was gripping a gun in one hand. His heart banged against his ribs. “Howe was here?”

  She nodded. “He came to get Vienna. And you weren’t here and I thought it would be all right if she stayed.” Her statements tumbled over each other, barely giving Edward time to register them. “I didn’t know that what I’d said yesterday would make her leave him, Edward. Honest. And then he was yelling...”

  He carefully took the gun from her, set it on the porch railing, then cupped her shoulders in his hands. To his surprise, he could feel her trembling. “Start at the beginning, please. Why did Vienna come here?” He tried to tell himself that he didn’t need to fear for Maggy’s safety—she was clearly all right—but the panicked note in her tone had concern bleeding through him.

  “She came because...” Maggy glanced away. “Because she refuses to stay with Chance another minute. He treats her horribly—worse than ever lately, since she’s starting to stand up for herself. You have to believe me, Edward. I was only trying to help remind her that she’s every bit as strong and of worth as anyone else.”

  He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “Of course I believe you. So Vienna came here?”

  “Yes. I told her that she could stay as long as she needed. Which I hope was all right.” She waited for his nod before continuing. “Mrs. Harvey and I got her to calm down with some tea. And then we’d just moved my things and hers into rooms upstairs when Howe came.”

  The name alone had him clenching his jaw. “What did he do? Did he harm you?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “He yelled a lot and demanded Vienna return home with him. But I told him she didn’t have to. That he was the one who needed to go.”

  He sensed there was more to the encounter. “Did he leave peacefully?”

  Maggy lowered her chin. “Not exactly. I drew my gun on him, but it wasn’t until McCall and two of the wranglers showed up, also armed, that he finally took off.”

  Relief coursed through him, though he did wish he could have been here himself. He would’ve liked to help Maggy and to see what he imagined was a very strong performance by her at standing up to the tyrant.

  “You did the right thing. Vienna is welcome here on the ranch for as long as she needs.”

  The words didn’t inspire the happiness he’d expected. Instead, Maggy seemed to grow more morose. Something was still bothering her.

  “Did Howe try to hurt you, Maggy?” He barely managed to get the question past his gritted teeth. If the other rancher had so much as placed a finger on her...

  Thankfully she replied with a soft, “No.”

  “What is it then?” He tried to peer into her eyes, but she refused to meet his. “Did he say something?” He could easily recall Howe’s brashness.

  Her cheeks went white at his question and the shaking of her shoulders increased. “How did he know?” she whispered, her voice strangled.

  “Know what?” Edward countered with more bite than he intended, but the dread inside him was growing louder and more insistent.

  A plaintive sob leaked from her lips before she covered her face with her hands. He’d never seen her so distraught.

  Edward pulled her to him and wrapped his arms securely around her. He stroked her hair as she wept, his own heart near breaking at the sound.

  “What did Howe say?” he asked after a few minutes. He needed to know as much as he sensed Maggy needed to share.

  She shuddered and pressed her cheek tighter to his suit coat. If the moment hadn’t been so raw, Edward would have felt true contentment at holding her close. Now and for the rest of his life.

  That last thought had him tightening his embrace and wishing he had a true claim on her affections. But he didn’t. Reluctantly he released her to arm’s length.

  “Maggy,” he beseeched. “Please tell me what else happened.”

  She lifted her head, her eyes deep pools of pain. “I don’t know how
he knew what things Jeb used to say to wound me or maybe it was coincidence. It wasn’t even Howe’s voice I heard after a while. It was Jeb’s.”

  Her late husband. Edward’s chest constricted as it had yesterday when she’d told him that she had been married before. “What did you hear Jeb say?”

  “The same cutting words.” Maggy wet her lips and stepped away from him. “That I’m worthless, that I’m nothing.” Her voice was devoid of emotion.

  Before he could argue the absurdity of her late husband’s claims, she went on, “I couldn’t breathe and I started to shake. Just like when I’ve had these episodes in the past. I thought I might pass out, right there in front of Howe.”

  Edward suddenly remembered how she’d looked the day he’d met her—upset, disheveled, pale. “Is that what happened that first day when I found you coming up the drive?”

  Maggy nodded as she turned and gripped the railing with both hands. Her knuckles looked as white as the wood. “Your little cabin reminded me too much of the one I lived in with my father...and the one I later shared with Jeb.” Another visible shudder ran through her. “Most of the time I can forget all of that, but tonight when Howe started yelling the same things Jeb used to...”

  An overwhelming desire to smash a fist into Jeb’s face and then Howe’s had Edward breathing hard himself. Then a thought pushed its way through his rising anger.

  “You said yesterday that Howe and your late husband share a similar temperament. And he’s been mistreating Vienna.” He swallowed hard as Maggy’s past life, and what she had endured, became clear. “Jeb mistreated you, didn’t he?”

  He heard her sharp intake of breath. “Yes,” she whispered in a voice wracked with hurt. “He hit me when he was drunk, which happened more frequently when there was a strike or trouble at the mine.”

  Edward shut his eyes, his fury white-hot. How could any man justify raising a hand to a woman? Especially his Maggy?

  His Maggy.

  Opening his eyes, he studied her bent head. When had he come to think of her as his? He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment; he only knew a deep bond had been forged during these weeks together.