No Place for a Lady (Heart of the West Book #1): A Novel

by Brendan, Maggie

  “I heard about Curly. So sad . . . he was so special.” A tear slid down Carmen’s face, and she looked down at her hands in her lap with a deep sigh.

  “Carmen, did you have feelings for Curly?” Crystal wondered how in the world she had missed that. She chided herself for being too busy trying to run a ranch to notice their budding romance.

  “Sí, señorita. I think he may have felt the same toward me. He was very kind to me, and I thought he was such a good man. We were going to go to the church bazaar together.”

  Crystal leaned toward Carmen, covered her hand with her own, and looked into Carmen’s luminous brown eyes. “I’m sorry, Carmen. When I first came to Aspengold, I thought it was Luke you had your heart set on. I guess that’s what I get for assuming without asking. I truly am sorry. Curly will be so missed by all the other hands. I considered him my friend.”

  Carmen’s eyes flooded with tears. Biting her lower lip, she took a deep breath. “Thank you. I liked Luke, but there never was any romance between us. Curly stole my heart. I have had some time to think about it. My mother told me that God must have someone else in mind for me someday.” Her lip quivered.

  “Your mother is a wise woman, Carmen. God does care about your future, and one thing I know for sure, Curly believed in God too.” Crystal patted Carmen’s hand. “You will be all right, I know.”

  “You are so kind, Miss Crystal. You seem changed . . . more settled. Tell me, what is different?”

  “I do? Well . . . I’ve decided to stay here in Colorado. I have a purpose now. Saving the ranch. I feel comfortable here.”

  “Yes, I understand what you mean. When my family left Mexico to live here, I immediately loved this beautiful country and its mountains. It’s as though God has touched the very landscape with his hand.”

  “That’s so true. Now then, tell me about the bazaar. Did they set a date? I’ve promised to bake a pie for the auction to help raise money for an organ.” Crystal was already thinking about what kind of pie she would make.

  “It is this Saturday. It always brings all the ranchers together. And with your pie, you will bring the highest bidder.” Carmen chuckled.

  “Don’t sell yourself short. Your pies are delicious too. We have lots to do, but first I must pay a visit to the Rocking M.”

  “Can you still afford to have me stay on? I know Kate was having a hard time making ends meet. I will understand if you need to let me go.” Carmen looked crestfallen.

  “Of course you will stay. Besides, I need the help around here. I can’t do this alone. Trying to take care of everything was very hard for me when you were gone. I quickly found out that it takes a lot of energy to run this place. I don’t know what I would do without Rusty . . . or Luke, for that matter.” The way she said

  Luke’s name spoke volumes. Crystal rose and placed her cup and saucer in the sink.

  “Miss Crystal . . . are you falling for Luke?”

  “Please, we are friends. Call me Crystal.” She tried to avoid answering but felt her face flush. “It doesn’t matter what I think or feel. He is engaged to April.”

  “You are not answering the question,” Carmen pressed.

  Crystal turned around to lean against the sink. “I’ll admit I am attracted to him, but I would never come between him and April. That just wouldn’t be right, so don’t go getting any ideas.”

  She knew Carmen wasn’t fooled, but Carmen simply commented, “As you wish, Crystal.”

  True to her word, a few days later, Crystal harnessed the buckboard to ride over to the Rocking M ranch with the money she owed McBride safely tucked into her handbag. She also planned to make a stop to see Reverend Alden. It was colder today, and she pulled her coat tighter. Crystal’s breath hung in the cold morning air that indicated winter was on its way. She had never seen snow and was excited at the prospect.

  Crystal rapped on the massive door with an ornate door knocker until a stout maid dressed in a crisp uniform answered. “I’m here to see Mr. McBride.” The maid nodded and suggested Crystal follow her into the parlor.

  Sitting on either side of the fireplace were April and Alice. Alice rose as soon as she saw Crystal enter the room.

  “My dear Crystal. What brings you out so soon this morning? Here, warm your hands.” Alice pushed her to the fireplace.

  Crystal removed her gloves and hat, and the maid took them. “I came to see your husband, Alice. I’ve sold my herd and want to pay off what Aunt Kate owed him.”

  April snorted. “It’s about time.”

  “April. That is not necessary.” Alice looked embarrassed by her daughter’s outburst. “Tilly, please ask Mr. McBride to come to the parlor. I believe he is in his study.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The maid turned with haste and left the room.

  “How are the wedding plans coming along?” Crystal asked.

  “They are coming along just fine.” Alice nodded to her daughter. “We have compiled the wedding list.”

  “April, don’t forget that I will be having your shower at my place, although Sara Johnson is in charge. I’ve never given one before.” Crystal plastered on the sweetest smile she could muster. Her heart thudded under her shirtwaist.

  “I am not about to forget something like that, Crystal. It must be hard for you to give a shower instead of having your own. Kate let it slip that you were engaged to a certain gentleman back in Georgia for a time.” Her words were hard and calculated.

  “April, really. It’s not nice to gossip,” Alice reprimanded her daughter.

  Crystal got the distinct feeling that April wanted to humiliate her. Well, I won’t sink to her level. How in the world could a nice woman like Alice have such a despicable daughter?

  Crystal measured her words carefully. “Oh, you mean Drew? It was mutual, and we decided to break it off when I left Georgia. He offered me a life of ease, to be sure, but I was seeking more adventure than the wife of a politician had to offer. Now that I have experienced the West and the trail drive, I can’t imagine anywhere else I’d rather be, except running Aspengold.”

  “Good for you, Crystal.” Alice smiled, then glared at April.

  “Humph!” April fidgeted in her chair.

  “Please have a seat, Crystal.” Alice gestured toward the settee. “I don’t know where my manners are.”

  Crystal moved toward the settee as the door flung open and Jim McBride’s large body filled the room. “To what do we owe this morning pleasure?” he boomed.

  “I am here to settle the debts my aunt had with you.” Crystal continued to stand.

  “Miss Clark, come with me so we can talk privately.” McBride started toward the door, then turned to Alice and April. “Excuse us.”

  “Mr. McBride,” Crystal interrupted, “there’s nothing to discuss. I have the promissory note and the money with me. That will pay you everything that Aunt Kate owed you.”

  “Now, my dear, don’t be too hasty. You may be in need this winter if you pay the entire note.” He seemed to be stalling for time. “However, I would still like to extend an offer to you to buy Aspengold. Then you could return to your homeland and pick up right where you left off before your unfortunate problems, and still have money to spare.” McBride slowly poured himself a cup of coffee without looking at Crystal.

  McBride thinks he has it all figured out, she thought. The smug look on his face made Crystal angry. “I’m not leaving, Mr. McBride, and I will not sell the ranch. I intend to stay. At any rate, it’s no concern of yours now.” Crystal reached into her bag for the note and the money. “Please count it. You will find the entire amount is there.”

  Quickly McBride counted the money. “My, my . . . I guess you made out fine on the price per head.” He seemed surprised, and he studied Crystal’s face. But if he was waiting for information, she was not inclined to talk about it, especially to him.

  Crystal took the promissory note, unfolded it, and handed it to him. “Now if you will just sign the note that I have paid you, I’ll be on
my way.”

  McBride gave the note a quick glance, scrawled his name with “paid in full” across the note, and handed it back to Crystal. “I admire how you handled yourself in a financial situation. If I can ever be of assistance again, or you find yourself longing to go back to Georgia, just let me know. I’ll be more than happy to work with you.”

  “I appreciate the help you gave my aunt, and I pray that I won’t need assistance in the future,” she said as she retrieved the note from his hand and stuffed it into her bag.

  “Good day to you, Mrs. McBride—and April.” Crystal turned to leave.

  “Why don’t you stay and have lunch, dear?” Alice asked.

  “I appreciate the invitation, but I must go. I have been gone a few weeks and have much to attend to. April, when you’re ready, we’ll set a date for the shower.”

  April rose from her chair. “I’ll show you out.”

  As Crystal walked to the foyer, she couldn’t help but compare herself to the beautiful April. She moved as lithely as a doe in the woods with a light step. Crystal was aware of how much shorter she was. She followed April to the door, conscious of her own deeply tanned face and callused hands. She felt dowdy today, and a quick stab pierced her heart. Luke and April would make a very handsome couple at their wedding ceremony.

  As they reached the foyer, April tossed her long silky hair and reached for the door. “Crystal, I wanted to ask you why you really went on that trail drive.”

  “I went because I wanted to see if I could make a difference and hold this ranch together. The best way I could do that is not to ask more of the cowboys than I was willing to give.” Crystal could tell by April’s face that she was doubtful.

  “Is that so? I thought maybe you were looking for a husband, you being the only female surrounded by all those men.” April’s thin lips pursed together in a smirk.

  Crystal continued walking out into the fresh morning air with April following close behind. “Believe it or not, April, marriage is not on my mind. I have a ranch to run, and I want to learn it firsthand. What better way than to go on the trail drive? Now I have a better respect for all the hard work and long hours the cowboys put in every day.”

  “Have it your way. I thought that was what a foreman was for. Luke won’t be your foreman much longer once we are married.” “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, we’ll live here. There’s room for all of us until we build our own place.”

  “Well, in that case . . . I guess I need to find a replacement for him . . . that is, if he has agreed to this.” Crystal’s brain was whirling. She knew what April was trying to do, and she was not going to be pushed into an argument.

  “Don’t tell me you thought Luke and I would live in the bunkhouse at Aspengold.” April laughed. “That’s too funny.”

  Crystal’s face flamed red. “I hadn’t thought about where you would be living.” She climbed onto the buckboard.

  April chuckled again. “Luke and I will build a home on the Blue River. My father owns the land, and we will start on it as soon as we are married.”

  Crystal picked up the reins and tried her best to smile down at April. “If you and Luke have selected a wedding date, we need to go ahead with your shower, don’t you think?”

  “I’ll bring my list to church on Sunday.” April turned and went back inside.

  Crystal made a clicking sound to the horses and flicked the reins across their rumps. She wished now that she had never volunteered her place for the shower. What was she thinking? April set her teeth on edge every time they talked. Maybe that was because the topic always revolved around Luke. She exhaled deeply. Might as well get used to it. Soon April and Luke would be married.

  Bill Alden lived next door to the community church in a small house provided by the generosity of Jim McBride. Though nothing fancy, it was adequate. Crystal slowed the horses to a walk before entering the churchyard. She noticed another horse and buggy standing outside the gate. Then she spied Beth, basket in hand, standing by the well and looking up at the skinny pastor. The thought struck her that they made a fetching picture, with the sunlight glinting off Beth’s deep auburn hair, her bonnet trailing down her back, and the preacher smiling down at her. Crystal watched as he lifted a blue napkin from the basket and took a deep breath. “Ahh . . .” When he lifted his head, he saw Crystal approaching.

  “Well, hello there, Crystal.” His face flushed as she observed their interchange. Beth spun around.

  “Reverend . . . Beth.” Crystal nodded to them. “I hope I’m not interrupting . . .”

  “No, no . . .” Beth’s face blotched red. “I just brought over some fresh homemade bread to the reverend. I was just leaving.”

  “Don’t do that on my account. I just wanted to give you this.” She climbed down from the wagon and handed him an envelope. Crystal was chuckling inwardly. So . . . there’s been some real sparking going on during my time on the trail drive.

  “What’s this?” Bill reached out a bony hand to take the envelope.

  Crystal cleared her throat, and her eyes rolled upward. He nodded as if he got the message. He tucked the envelope into his hip pocket. “How about I make us some coffee to go with this delicious-smelling bread?”

  “Not for me, thanks.” Crystal held up her gloved hand. “I want to get back to the ranch . . . lots to do.” She picked up her skirts to climb back into the buckboard.

  “Will we be seeing you at the bazaar this coming weekend?” Beth asked.

  “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Crystal waved over her shoulder and left the two of them alone.

  Feeling deeply satisfied that she had paid off the debt and made her tithe, she was lost in thought on the dusty road back to the ranch. In the distance, she saw a horse and rider appear on the road. She knew at once that it was Luke by the way he carried his shoulders and held his reins. She was excited that he had made it back from Denver.

  “Whoa.” Luke pulled his horse up and called out to her. He tipped his hat back, leaned forward, and rested his arms on the saddle horn. “You’re up and about early.”

  Crystal slowed to a stop. “Good morning. I was just taking care of business. And yourself? Paying a morning call to April?”

  “I was. Did you just come from there?”

  “In a roundabout way. The ranch is clear of debt, at least for now. When did you get back?” Crystal swallowed hard. So he was going to be with April. No doubt to make plans on building their home on the Blue River.

  “Late last night.” Luke straightened in his saddle to leave. “See you back at the ranch, Crystal.” He tipped his hat at her and dug his heels into the horse’s flanks.

  Crystal loved the way he said her name. His voice was deep and husky. I hope April will be good to him. She is such a little snippet! Immediately she chided herself for having such thoughts. They didn’t reflect a very Christian attitude. She’d just try harder where April was concerned.

  The day of the bazaar was a spectacular and pristine one. There was not a cloud in the sky, and an Indian summer breeze dropped in just in time for the merriment, food, and fellowship for the little white church. The steeple was visible on the hilltop in resplendent autumn color offered by surrounding aspen trees. Carmen and Crystal, their buggy laden with their pies and jams, were one of the last ones to arrive in the churchyard.

  Things were in full swing with booths set up for displays of quilts, homemade jams, and leather ware. Rusty was playing his fiddle while couples danced on the lawn adjacent to the booths. Children played in groups, and older boys were trying to outdo one another with kick balls.

  The women placed their pies on a side table along with pies of different varieties that were to be auctioned off to raise funds for an organ. Sara Johnson wrote their names on the bottoms of the pie plates.

  “That’s some mighty fine-looking pies you made,” Sara said.

  “Thank you, Sara.” Carmen pointed to the big basket of preserves she carried and said, “I’ll take these o
ver to Mary Franklin and get them tagged. I can’t wait to look through the pottery that I spied.”

  Crystal was glad to hear the cheerfulness in Carmen’s voice. She knew Curly’s death had hit her hard.

  Kurt made his way over to her side to offer his assistance, and to Crystal’s surprise, Carmen took his arm.

  Flo arranged their pies along with other desserts on the plank tables that were draped with pretty checkered tablecloths from her café. “I’m so glad to see you’re back, Crystal. That was a pretty brave thing you did, going on that trail drive.”

  “It was an eye-opener. I feel a little rough around the edges now, considering my tanned skin and broken nails.” Crystal laughed good-naturedly.

  “I think you look gorgeous, Crystal. Don’t you agree, Sara?”

  Sara paused in her task long enough to give Crystal a quick glance. “Indeed I do. Now you fit in just like the rest of us women of the West. Tough and determined.”

  Crystal felt a warm glow. “I’ll take that as a compliment, Sara.”

  “It was meant as one.” Sara smiled as she looked at Crystal. Crystal knew that they accepted her as one of them now.

  “You be sure to sample some of my fried chicken, and let me know if it tastes as good as the Southern way.” Flo led Crystal to the main food table holding every variety of good eats.

  “Looks delicious, Flo.”

  “Now, you get some of this in you, and it’ll put a little meat back on you after the trail drive.” Flo snapped her fingers, “Oh, excuse me, Crystal. I left some roastin’ears on the pit I’ve got to see to.”

  Flo lumbered off, and Crystal wandered around to look at all of the booths. The quilts showed exquisite needlework, but she paused at the booth of leather wares.

  The smithy, Lars, greeted her. “See anything you might be interested in?”

  Crystal fingered a beautiful tooled-leather belt. “What’s your asking price for this belt?”

  “That one would be $5.00.” He picked it up and handed it to her. “Nice one too.”

  “Would you take $4.50?” Crystal thought this would be a good Christmas present for someone in the future.