by Dagny Rand
She turns and heads out the door, a minute later Raul walks in.”
It was some time before the conductor came into the car to tell the passengers they were approaching Jackson. Kaylee was excited her log journey was finally over or was it just beginning. The train was making its turnaround Miller’s bend it would be a matter of minutes and the train would be stopping at the station. The train started to slow down and it wasn’t long before it had come to a complete stop at the platform. The conductors began to help passengers off the cars and Kaylee looks about. Holding his picture, she begins to look at each stranger that passed by her. Kaylee walks off the train with the help of the conductor. She looks around but doesn’t see anyone that resembles the photograph. It was the conductor who had some concern
“Ma’am, are you sure he was gonna meet you here?”
“Yes, his letter stated he would be here. I just don’t know what could have happened.”
It was then that Raul walked on the platform and up to Kaylee. Taking off his hat he addresses
Kaylee.
“Senorita Kaylee Morrison?”
She smiles at him
“Yes, I’m Kaylee Morrison.”
“Senorita permit me to introduce myself. I am Raul Vasquez I work for Senor Cosgrove. The senor could not be here there he had an accident.”
“An accident, oh my how bad is he.”
“Just a broken leg, Senorita. It’s just that the doctor says he must stay off his foot for a few days. Though there was some disappointment in her voice she understood why he couldn’t be there.
“Well, shall we go to the ranch?”
Raul smiles and picks up her bags.
“Si Senorita, follow me the carriage is right down these steps.”
Kaylee picks up the smallest of the bags and follows Raul.
“Are you sure this is all you took for the trip Senorita?”
“Yes, Raul.”
They get to the carriage and after Raul places the bags in the back of the carriage he helps
Kaylee into the front of the carriage, with him aboard they head off to the ranch. Raul looks over to her.
“Senorita, do not be too upset with Senor Gil. IT was an accident. We were taking the herd down from the north ridge before the first snow and for some reason the ground was soft. Senor Gil’s horse lost his balance and they both began to slide. The horse was able to get free and got up but Senor Gil he just kept going down and no one could get to him to stop him. I finally was able to get a rope around him and hold on to him. I could not get to him before he broke his leg.”
“And all he got was a broken leg?”
“Si in two places, but he will be fine in a few weeks.”
“Well who is with him now? You didn’t leave him alone!”
“Oh no, Senorita, Lupe is with him he’s in very good hands.”
“Si.”
Kaylee wondered who this Lupe was and it appeared Raul wasn’t offering any more information.
Chapter Six
Gil was sitting on the front porch when he sees the carriage coming and called for Lupe.
“Lupe, Raul is coming, I need you to help me get up.”
Lupe comes rushing out.
“Senor Gil you sit right back down or you will spend the entire five weeks in your bed.”
He looks up at her.
“Lupe how can I meet the woman I’m supposed to marry sitting down?”
“Senor Gil you will either meet her sitting down or lying down the choice is up to you.”
He looked at her she drove a hard bargain. Slowly she helped him back in the chair just as the carriage pulled up.
“There’s Senor Gil and Lupe now.”
Kaylee noticed that Lupe was an older woman.
“That’s Lupe?”
“Si Senorita that is my wife, Lupe.”
“Oh, Lupe is your wife. I see.”
A sigh of relief comes out of Kaylee’s mouth. He took her off the carriage and walked her to the porch.
“Senorita Kaylee this is my wife Lupe and this, of course, is Senor Cosgrove.”
Lupe smiles at the young girl.
“Welcome to the Circle C ranch Senorita.”
“Thank you.”
Gil looked at her and tries to stand.
“Oh, no need to stand on my account Mr. Cosgrove I know about your accident. Please sit down. Shouldn’t you have that leg elevated? “
He looks at her and smiles.
“I only came out here a while ago I wanted to give you a proper welcome.”
“Well, maybe it’s time you came in now it is a bit chilly out here.”
Raul and Lupe help get him up and with Raul’s help, they get him into the house and in the
Living room and sit on the sofa with his leg elevated. Raul looks at him.
“You and that sofa are going to be good friend’s amigo. “
He looks at Kaylee,
“Senorita I will put your things upstairs.”
Kaylee looked at him
“You mean I’m going to be sleeping here? In this house?”
“Si Senorita. You need not worry as you can see the Senor is in no shape to climb the stairs.”
Gill looked at her
“I promise I will not try to climb or crawl up the stairs.”
He saw a smile come to her face, and what a pretty smile it was. There was no doubt she was beautiful.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you have a beautiful smile?”
“Not really.”
“Well, that is their stupidity because you do, Miss Morrison. Your smile lights up the room. “
“Why thank you.”
“And while we’re on it I think this Mr. Causgrove and Miss Morrison is too formal I’m Gil.”
“And I’ m Kaylee.”
“Kaylee?
“Yes, I was named after my great grandmother Katherine Lee everyone called her Kay.”
Raul had slipped out of the room giving them time to talk to each other As Lupe made her way down the stairs Raul whispered her name and she met him in the kitchen.
“What are you doing in here?”
“I’m giving the Senorita a chance to meet Gil.”
“I like her she’ll be good for him. He’s had his own way too long.”
As Lupe and Raul come back into the living room, the two of them were laughing and smiling.
“Hey, Raul I want you to bring a few horses to the corral tomorrow we’re gonna pick one out for Kaylee.”
“Si Senor Gil.”
Gil looks at Kaylee.
“I’m so glad you are here. By the way, dinner is at seven sharp.”
“Oh do you dress for dinner or is it casual?”
“Whatever you want Princess.”
A cold chill came over her body when Gil called her princess. It has been too many years since she heard her referred as one. It was her father who would call her princess and that was many years ago. He watched her go up the stairs and notice there was a distance between them that had happened only in a blink of an eye.
The clock on the mantel chimed out the hour and as if on cue Kaylee made her way down the stairs. There was no question she was beautiful but seeing her come down the stairs as is she truly was regal Gil knew this was the woman he had searched for all his life. She would be the one to take over running the Circle C ranch and the mother of his children. Yes crazy as it sounded he wanted children. Lupe was right to find the right lady and you will have any children running around this great rancho. He almost forgot his leg was in a cast as he tried to get up to welcome her to the table. Kaylee saw what is was trying to do and ran to him.
“Gil, what are you doing?”
“I wanted to bring you to the dining room.”
“You can do that when your leg heals.”
He looked at her. The tone of her voice almost made it sound that she was planning to stay. It was then that Raul walks out and holds the chair for Kaylee as she sits down.
&nb
sp; “Thank you, Raul.”
“Por Na da Senorita.”
Lupe appears at the kitchen door with the platter of food followed by Raul, who came out to open the wine bottle. Kaylee looks at Lupe.
“Everything is lovely Lupe.”
“Gracious Senorita.”
As Raul pours the wine, Gil decides he’d like to make a toast. He holds his glass toward Kaylee.
“A toast to welcome Miss Morrison to the Circle C ranch may you find what you are looking for and decide to make this your new home and join our family.”
“That was lovely Mr. Cosgrove. I hope I will be able to find what I’m looking for.”
They are about to eat when Raul rushes in the room.
“Senor Gil look outside!”
He pulls back the drapes and even in the darkness one could see the snow falling.”
“Well, I’m glad we got the herd down in time Raul. Almost worth getting my leg broke for.”
Kaylee looked at him.
“Well, I never heard it put the way before.”
“I had hoped Raul would be able to show you the ranch tomorrow but with the looks of things, it will have to wait until another time. I hope you won’t feel disappointed.”
“Not at all Mr. Cosgrove, after all, I can’t expect you to be able to control the weatherly. Besides it will give me time to get to know each other a bit more it that’s alright with you.”
Raul and Lupe close the kitchen door to give the couple some privacy.
It snowed all night and part of the next day while Lupe was teaching Kaylee how to make some of Gil’s favorite dishes like Chili, Gil was in the living room staring out the window at the snow hat was falling lightly now. His mind was miles away when Raul walked in with more logs for the fireplace. He turns to Raul, who was placing the logs near the fireplace.
“How much snow did we get?”
“About three feet. We were lucky this time.”
“What about the stock?”
“All safe.”
Gil looks back out the window.
“I should have been out there with all of you protecting the herd. I…”
As his voice grew louder, Lupe and Kaylee came into the room. Gil turned and saw them and in his moment of weakness, he became angry because he didn’t want her to see him like that. He looked at them and shouted.
“I don’t think I called for you two. If I wanted you, I’d call for you. Get back in the other room,”
Lupe grabbed Kaylee’s arm as she starts to move closer to Gil. She wanted to get her into the kitchen but Kaylee would not be ordered like that. She broke free from Lupe and walks up to Gil. Standing up to him.
“How dare you use that tone of voice to Lupe and me. We thought you were in trouble and you lash out on us like some wounded animal attacking.”
“I believe I told you to leave.”
“I’m not finished you, Mr. Cosgrove. I’m not accustomed to men ordering me and I will not start now. I think I’ve seen enough here to make up my mind. I will be leaving to go back home in a day or two until then I will be staying at the hotel in town.”
With that, she walks up the stairs to her room. Lupe looked at him.
“Stupido, what is wrong with you? This woman came all the way because you asked her and now you send her away. What is wrong with you?”
“Lupe you’re not my mother!”
“No, I’m not but I do know that is she saw you do this to the girl she would never forgive you.”
With that Lupe walks out of the room.”
Raul looks at Gil he had never seen Lupe upset with Gil. He had always been her favorite and when his mother passed Lupe took over raising him. Lupe was right he had no right treating Senorita Kaylee like that. Gil looks over to Raul.
“Well, are you going to start in on me next?”
“No amigo I will not as you say start on you because I realize why you did it. You were ashamed to let anyone see your moment of weakness. I tell you, amigo we all have our moments of weakness, It’s what makes us human, and It’s when we find that shoulder to lean on for strength and understanding. I think that lady upstairs is the best thing that could happen to this rancho and I will pray she forgives you’re outburst and wants to stay.”
With that Raul also leaves the room, leaving Gil to think on his suture with or without Kaylee.
Chapter Seven
It was the early morning hours when Kaylee slowly came down the stairs, she didn’t realize that Gil was still awake sitting by the fire. As Kaylee stepped on the last step, he turned his head.
“You’re a quiet as a Cheyenne Miss Morrison.”
“I thought you were sleeping I didn’t want to awaken you.”
“No, I haven’t been to sleep yet.”
“Oh is there something you need something I can get for you?” “No.”
Then he thought about it.
“On second thought, there is something I need to do. I need to apologize to you. My behavior last evening was totally wrong and I apologize, ma’am. I hope that my outburst doesn’t make your judgment to leave in haste.”
She moves closer to the sofa
“Well, I now see I should have been a bit more tolerant, after all, you could have been in pain.”
He nods his head.
“So if you can accept my apology for my rudeness to you I can accept yours.”
He looks at her
“I accept.”
She smiled, even by the firelight her smile was so beautiful it lit up the room. Maye, what Rau had said about needing someone to lean on for strength? She certainly would fight for what she believed in. The ranch needed her courage and strength.
“Miss Morrison, I know you’ve only been here a few days and the storm really hasn’t let you experience the beauty of this country. With my leg being broken and all, I’d like to ask you give yourself a little more time here before going back.
“Maybe I might Mr. Cosgrove but I feel its best that I move into town.”
“But why? You see I can’t move up the stairs?”
“I still would rather be in town. It would be easier for all of us, if you’ll excuse me I must be going back upstairs.”
“But you just came down. “
“Yes, I did well I’ll see you in the morning.”
As she runs back upstairs, Gil looks at her.
“Good night Miss Morrison.”
“Good night Mr. Cosgrove.”
He watched he disappear up the second floor and once again he was alone. He really wished he could have taken back all he had said a few nights ago. He knew it wasn’t right to lose his temper, maybe this whole idea of a mail order bride was just a fool idea. He had to find a way to make her want to stay just until he was about to move around again.
It was almost sun up when Lupe walked into the living room and found Gil on the floor. He must have fallen on the floor in his sleep.
“Raul, Raul come quickly. “
Raul comes running in.
“Que pasa, Senor Gil what has happened?”
Lupe looked at her husband
“He must have turned in his sleep. Hurry, help me get him up on the sofa.”
As they tried to move him, Gil let out a moan.
“Senor Gil, we have to get you back on the sofa.”
Raul looks at Gil’s let and it looks as though he has broken it again.
“Lupe we’re gonna have to get him upstairs and then I’ll get the doctor.”
The minute his leg is moved he lets out another moan only this time even Kaylee heard it. She came running down the stairs and saw them trying to get Gil upstairs to his bedroom.
“What happened?”
Raul looks at her
“We think he fell off the sofa in his sleep last night and has been on the floor all night.”
Kaylee was at a loss when she left him earlier this morning he was fine and on the sofa. Kaylee then noticed the knees of his pajama pants were dirty like he had been crawling. H
e could have been crawling to get back up on the sofa but she didn’t think so. Suddenly Gil can be heard shouting,
“I am not going anywhere.”
Kaylee walks over to him and looks at hi,
“Mr. Cosgrove, it seems you have re-broken that bone again and this time, your doctor will be forced to confine you to the bed for the entire six weeks. I furthermore suggest you have Raul get you to bed and then get the doctor.”
He looks at her with all the determination of a ten-year-old child.
“Only if she promises to stay until I get out of bed.”
“That’s blackmail!”
“Well, then I’m not going upstairs.”
Lupe looks at Gil
“Senor Gil por favor please get upstairs.”
“Not until she promises.”
Lupe looks at Kaylee
“Senorita please.”
Kaylee looks at her then to the faces of Raul and then Gil, she also knew that leg would have to be taken care of very soon.
“Oh alright, I’ll stay but only until he gets out of bed.”
“Lupe let’s get him upstairs.”
“Miss Morrison I want you up here too.”
“Right behind you Mr. Cosgrove.”
There was a smile on his face as they get him into his room. As Lupe is making him comfortable, he looked for Kaylee and found her behind Lupe.
“Miss Morrison will be happy to sit here until the doctor comes, am I correct Miss Morrison? Kaylee looks at Gil then to Lupe.
“Go ahead Lupe I’ll sit with him.”
She smiles and heads out the door and then Kaylee hears Gil’s voice.
“Miss Morrison, why don’t you sit down on the side of the bed?”
“I think I’ll stand for a while.”
“Well, that’s not being considerate.”
“I promised I would stay that doesn’t mean I have to be near you.”
He shakes his head and smiles.
“Really when you get to know me I’m really a very nice guy. Some people actually find me charming.”
“You don’t say.”
He smiles at her and continues.
“Yes, I am told by some that I am a real gentleman.”
Kaylee moves closer until she’s leaning over him on the bed, Gil looks at her.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m just trying to see what these peoples saw in you that I don’t.”