by Emily Woods
“Nah, I just sometimes forget that you're an educated city boy under all that dirt.” He gave a little laugh as he elbowed him. “It comes out when you pray.”
Thomas gave him a halfhearted punch. “Yeah, well, this city boy can still whoop you, so watch out.” When the other hands filed into the room, Thomas stood and bid him good night.
Within fifteen minutes, all the other hands were snoring, but Carl couldn't keep his eyes closed. They kept popping open and he stared at the upper bunk. God didn't let things happen without a reason. What could this one be? A hundred ideas rolled around in his head, each one more ridiculous than the last, before he finally fell into a restless sleep.
Less than five miles away, Wesley Crawford and his sister were deep in conversation about the single state of each other’s lives.
Georgina frowned and stared into the fire. “There are no prospects for me here,” she complained for the hundredth time. “I'm sure Daddy didn't send me out here to marry a ranch hand. He'd rather I come home, lay down, and wait for death than live in some falling down shack with a man who can barely string together two or three sentences.”
Her haughty words made her brother laugh. “Yes, well, I warned him about that,” he drawled, his Southern accent still pronounced. He felt it set him apart from the other ranchers in the area and he had no intention of losing it. “But you know Daddy. He thinks wealthy men are just sitting and pining for some young thing to come and put them out of their misery.”
She turned up her nose and made a contemptuous noise. “Obviously, he's read too many books, or perhaps it was all those letters you sent back, bragging about your wealth and position. Yes, you made money, I can clearly see that, but what had it gotten you? A house that never stays clean despite having several servants. Oh, and yes, you have land, acres and acres, but you live so far from town that it seems pointless. Where is your wife? Why haven't you built a home near Great Falls? That's a much nicer place to live and then you’d be able to entice a proper woman to marry you.”
Wes shook his head and sighed. “You'll never understand, sister of mine. There is no place that I'd rather live in the whole wide world. It’s beautiful here, clean and fresh. However, if you like, I'll help you move to town and maybe you can find your rich husband there.”
Scornfully, Georgina crossed her arms and scowled. “You think that town has any men worth my time? Hah! Shows what you think of me.” She turned on her heel to go. “I should just get on the next train back to Savannah,” she said with a sniff.
Wes wearily rubbed his hand over his eyes. “I can take you in the morning,” he mumbled.
“Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? I'm very sorry to inform you, Wesley Crawford, but you won't get rid of me that easily. Just get on with the business of finding me a husband. The sooner you do that, the sooner I'll be out of your house and get on with living my life!”
As she stomped up the stairs, Wes sighed yet again. If only it were that easy.
By the end of the next day, Carl decided that he needed more advice than what Thomas could offer. He sought out the foreman and explained the situation. John, in turn, told him to take up the matter with Luke.
“He's a real smart man,” John declared. “And we'll all pray for you too. Come on. I'll go with you.”
It was a relief to let the story out again. All day long, the burden had been building up inside and eating away at him. On one hand, he felt ungrateful for even considering turning the inheritance down, but on the other, he couldn't see a way out of his situation until Luke proposed one.
“Why not buy some land out here and invite your whole family to come? There's nothing in the papers that say you can't do that, is there?”
Carl handed over the legal looking documents that his mother had sent along with the letter. They were the reason that the envelope had been so thick. As much as he tried, he couldn't make out the legal jargon.
“I wasn't all that great in school,” he confessed. “I mean, I can read, but not well enough to understand all that.”
The truth was that he struggled to read even the simplest things. His mother knew that and generally kept her wording simple. He felt ashamed of his inability to read well, and had done a good job hiding it up until now, but no one said anything to make him feel bad.
“I was no scholar either,” John admitted. “I didn't see much point in working hard in school, seeing as I knew I wouldn’t end up as a lawyer or anything like that.”
Kate had quite a lot of education and peered over Luke's shoulder. The two of them read silently, Luke looking at her from time to time to make sure she'd finished reading before turning the page. She always gave a small nod, which made Carl believe she was even faster at reading than Luke was.
By the time they were done, nearly a quarter of an hour had passed.
“I don't see anything that would prevent you from bringing your family here,” Kate finally declared. “If they're willing, I think that's the best idea.”
Carl swallowed hard. “What about if I go there and provide for them? I could pay for their schooling and whatnot. I mean, that would be allowed, wouldn't it?”
Luke's eyebrows drew down a little. “I don't know. The lawyers might try to make something out of that. But if you're here, who's going to keep track?”
Carl opened and closed his fists several times, his natural reaction to stress. His face was a mask of pain and confusion. It all seemed so unnecessary. Why had his uncle done this? How could this be God’s will?
“I guess I need to write them a letter,” he finally decided. “Will you help me say what I want?”
Luke nodded and guided him over to the desk in the corner where he did all his paperwork for the ranch. “And you know what? I have it on good authority that the ranch next to ours is up for sale. The Johnsons have decided that ranching is not for them. They miss the big city and are looking to sell. Jerome asked me if I wanted to buy it, but I don’t have enough money, but you will.”
Everything was going too fast. Carl's head was spinning with all the possibilities.
“I don’t know. It seems like too much for me to manage. What about if we bought it together? That way it could still be part of Triple Range and I’d be a kind of partner?”
Luke turned to Kate’s aunt, with whom he was an equal partner of Triple Range. “What do you think, Marge? Would you want that?”
“I don’t mind,” the older woman said as she continued to rock and knit at the same time. She always kept busy, and didn’t even miss a beat as she answered. “If it’s what you all want, I have no objections.”
Carl felt grateful. If this was going to be the path he’d follow, he didn’t want to do it alone. Owning and operating a ranch single-handedly was a big job. Not only was he still pretty young, but by ranching standards, he was still considered green. “But first I want to send off this letter and find out what my parents think. All their family is in the city. I don't know if they'll be willing to move.”
An hour later, Luke had the letter written and ready to be posted. “You can make a run over to town tomorrow, if you like,” he offered kindly.
“Are you sure?” He'd just gone the day before. He didn't mind the long trip, but that would make two days in one week that he'd be missing work.
“Nah, I don't mind. I'd be glad for you to help us get that land in any case. If we don't buy it up, Wesley Crawford might get his hands on it and then start trying to push us out.”
“I don't know if that's what I should do,” he said, nerves closing his throat. “I might run it into the ground.”
John and Luke both laughed. “Aw, we wouldn't let you do that. Anyway, one thing at a time. Let's get this letter off and see what your parents say in reply.”
“Won't the Johnsons’ ranch be sold by then?” he wondered.
“Nah, they're going to see it through to the end of season and head out just before winter. I think you have time. In any case, I'll just jot a quick note to him and you can bring it ov
er on the way to town. Talk to the man and ask to look around. It's a well-run ranch, not much different from Triple Range.”
And so it was decided. The next day, Carl stopped off at the neighboring ranch and, after handing over the note, was treated to a tour.
“You have a fine ranch, Mister Johnson,” he told the older man. “Are you sure you want to sell it?”
He nodded a little. “My wife isn't happy out here, and you have to know that a happy wife equals a happy life. She's been patient with me, but it's too much of a change. Ain't too many that start a new life at our age. We gave it five years, but it's time to go home. Anyway, I won't sell it to nobody until you hear back from your folks. You have my word.”
Feeling somewhat better, Carl headed to town to post the letter, praying over it the whole time.
What a joy it would be to see his whole family under his roof. He missed them all so much, especially his mother and Jacob. His father was a good man, but a silent one. They were too much alike.
Secretly, he didn't think they would come. Even though his father wasn't a hard man, he was proud. Carl didn't think he'd like to come out and live off his son's newfound wealth.
“Lord, I don't know if I’m supposed to be a rancher,” he prayed on the way back. “Please give me a sign if this is what You want me to do with my life.”
Just as he finished praying, he rounded the cliff and saw the whole of Triple Range Ranch before him along with the land that the Johnson owned. It was beautiful, and in that moment, it felt like he was going home.
Chapter 3
Over the next few weeks, Carl anxiously awaited an answer from his parents, but in his heart, he knew that it could still be a long time. Mail generally took about two to three weeks to arrive and then another three weeks to receive a reply. The earliest he expected a reply was mid-October. Over this time, a hope had started to grow in his heart that God really was planning for his family to come over and live with him. He tried to keep the thought far from his mind until he could know for certain what was going to happen, but it kept creeping in.
“Our new teacher is really nice,” Maddie declared one Sunday evening when they were all gathered for supper. “She makes reading and math really fun.”
“Another new teacher?” John exclaimed with a frown. “Seems like we can't keep them here for very long.”
Even though John's daughter was less than a year old, Carl knew that the man was already thinking about her future, especially in regards to schooling. He'd even talked about the type of man he wanted her to marry, but Elise had told him that they should live in the present and just enjoy having a baby.
“What's she like?” Kate wanted to know. That simple question set Maddie off on a five-minute dialogue about the woman. According to the girl, Miss Walker was practically an angel. Not only was she apparently beautiful, but she knew how to dress hair and had the nicest clothes.
“You can tell they're not new, but they look really pretty and kind of fancy. Can we invite her over for dinner?”
“Certainly,” Kate replied graciously. “Any time she's free.”
The single men on the ranch perked up at this news, and even more so when the women started talking about another single woman in the area.
“Mister Crawford's sister was in town yesterday,” Kate said. “Now that's a stylish woman. She must have brought her entire wardrobe here from down South.”
“How long is she staying?” Luke wanted to know. “I thought it was just supposed to be a short visit.”
Kate shrugged. “Well, according to her, Wesley can't get along without her now, although I don't see why. From the way she talks, she mostly sits around and reads while their servants do all the cooking and cleaning.”
“Don't blame her for not knowing,” Valerie spoke up in defense of the woman. “As one debutante to another, I had a lot in common with her not that long ago. Remember how it was when I first came?”
They laughed a little, each person thinking about the failed suppers and the frustration she'd experienced on wash day.
“But it didn't take you too long to catch on,” Thomas complimented. “In fact, I almost miss those burned carrots!”
Now there was a lot of laughter, and when is subsided, Kate turned to Carl.
“Sorry to say there was still no letter from your mother. I can't imagine how hard it is to wait.”
He nodded and accepted her sympathy. “I just want to know if we should buy the ranch or not. If they're not coming, well, I don't think it's a good idea.”
“Why not?” John asked. “Either way, it seems like a good investment, and you want to get your hands on it soon. I heard some rumors flying around town today. I know Jerome said he'd sell to you, but if he gets a better offer...”
Carl felt his heart clench at the thought of someone else buying the adjacent homestead that was simply named, “Johnson Ranch.” He'd ridden by at least once or twice a day since that day he'd posted the letter to his mother. Each time, he felt surer that God was going to work something out.
“But how will it work if I don’t have my family? There’s no one to cook or work with the cattle or anything!”
Now it was Luke's turn to talk. “It's easy enough to round up some ranch hands,” he stated. “As for cooking, well, you'd be surprised how many men can produce an edible meal. Even John here can cook a roast in a pinch.”
All eyes turned toward John, who scowled at them in return. “But I ain't going to, so don't ask.”
More laughter sounded, and Carl felt his heart swell with the joy of the camaraderie. “I don't know if I can leave you all,” he confessed. “I'd be lonely out there without you.”
A look passed between Thomas and Luke.
“Well, I've been meaning to tell you...” Luke started.
“Can I tell him?” Thomas asked, interrupting his boss. Luke grinned and motioned for Thomas to go ahead.
“Luke and me have been talking, and if we’re thinking that you'll need a separate foreman. Well, I've been working with John now for over a year, and I think I can do it...if you want me.”
Thunderstruck, Carl merely shook his head in disbelief. “You mean it? You'd leave Triple Range?”
“Our house is closer to yours,” Valerie commented. Clearly she'd been consulted on the matter as well. “And it wouldn’t really be leaving. It’ll still be Triple Range, after all.”
Everything was happening so fast, and even though he felt nervous about the whole venture, he was beginning to feel that it was right, whether or not his family came.
“Okay,” he said, his heart racing. “Let's to talk to Mister Johnson tomorrow. I'm ready, come what may.”
“The money’s in place?” Luke asked. “I think if he can get it now, he’ll hand over the ranch pretty quick.”
Carl nodded. Shortly after his mother's letter had arrived, he'd received another thick envelope from a lawyer with more details about the will and asking for his bank information as well as further instructions about the rest of the estate. He'd sent them back a letter asking that everything be sold and that, after their fees were paid, the rest of the money be sent to his account as well. The liquid assets should be in the bank by now, with the rest to come after the sale of the property.
If all went well, over half of his current funds would be in Jerome Johnson's hand before too long, and he, Carl Bowman, would be the newest, and youngest, owner, or rather partner, of a ranch in their area.
He was both terrified and excited, but continued to pray for guidance. Now he felt God telling him that it was time.
“Alright then,” Luke replied. “We'll go out tomorrow.”
Carl swallowed the remaining worry he felt. God was on His throne, and the Bible said that all works out for the good of those who loved Him, and that included himself and his family.
When they pulled up to the Johnson ranch, Carl was surprised to see that there was already a wagon in the yard. The ornate design made it easy to tell who the owner w
as.
“I can't believe it,” Luke muttered. “How did he hear about it?”
Just then, the front door opened and out stepped Wesley Crawford with a beautiful young woman on his arm. Her fair hair hung down her back in ringlets and she twirled a lacy pink parasol that matched her voluminous dress. Such a woman was a rare sight in this part of the country and both men were taken aback.
“Is that his sister?” Carl asked, staring at the young woman in surprise.
“Uh, could be,” Luke muttered back. “Right proper madam, people say. I can well believe it to look at her.”
True enough, the lady in question descended from the porch in a regal manner, nodding at the owner of the Johnson farm as though dismissing a servant or the like.
“We'll talk later, Johnson,” they overheard Wesley say in a formal tone. “My lawyer will contact you with the details.”
“Now, look here, Mister Crawford,” Jerome replied, clearly agitated. “I didn't say nothing about selling you my ranch. Fact is, I would probably sell it to just about anyone else. I ain't never liked you, coming in here with your superior ways and treating the rest of us like those poor slaves you all had running around all hours of the day.”
Carl and Luke hung back, not wanting to get involved.
His comments didn’t seem to offend Wesley. “I'm sure my offer will change your mind,” he declared mildly. “Money always does.” He turned to face Luke and Carl. “Good day, gentlemen. What brings you out this way?”
Carl saw Luke give the man a smile.
“My affairs are none of your business, Mister Crawford,” he declared calmly. “Just as yours are none of mine.”
Wesley merely laughed and turned to Carl, who was still staring at the woman on his arm. “Good day, young man. I can see you are taken with my sister, so may I present to you, Miss Georgina Crawford. However, don't get any ideas. She's far too good for the company of a ranch hand.”
“He won't be a ranch hand for much longer,” Luke retorted, but instantly looked sorry for saying anything.