Dark Journey Home

by Cherie Shaw

  “I hadn’t seen this part of the ranch before. Sure is pretty in here.” Logan spoke softly, not wanting to spoil the effect, and all at the same time, wishing the afternoon would never end. This was an Olivia he hadn’t seen before, and wanted to hold onto the dream for as long as possible.

  “Yes.” Olivia whispered, as she sat down on the grass at the edge of the stream, tucked her skirts around her legs then tossed a small pebble into the bubbling water. “If I had known Uncle’s ranch was like this, I would have gotten a shotgun myself, and gotten that Woody Perkins out of here sooner.” She offered.

  “And you probably could have done it too.” Laughed Logan, as he sat down near her, then he added, “At least if you would have brought Amelia with her umbrella.”

  Olivia watched as a butterfly fluttered over a small white flower, then she turned to watch as a frog leapt from one rock to another. Logan pointed downstream a ways, “See where that pile of brush is? That’s where a beaver has begun to build a dam. It’s only partially built. Wonder why he stopped.”

  “Maybe some bigger animal came, and chased him away.” She offered, then giggled. Logan enjoyed hearing the sound of Olivia’s laughter.

  After awhile Logan spoke, “I guess maybe we should be getting back to the house. I’d like this afternoon to last longer, but I don’t want your uncle to come hunting you, or, even worse, Amelia with her weapon.” He thought a moment, then added, “Or worst of all, if we stay here much longer, a cowboy just may be tempted to kiss a very pretty girl.”

  “Oh?” Olivia looked over at him, and, seeing that certain gleam in his green eyes, she said, “Well, I………I guess we should be getting back. I didn’t realize it was getting that late.” She jumped up, brushed off her skirts, and began running, across the wooden foot-bridge, then through the woods. She looked back over her shoulder, and laughed, as she ran, “The cowboy can’t kiss the girl, because he can’t catch her.” She shouted.

  Lord Beckford and Amelia, who had been walking through the wooded area, ducked into a shaded place under a huge Sycamore tree. “Do you suppose he’ll catch her, Claude?” Amelia asked. “I doubt it, love. Olivia runs pretty fast.” Claude mused.

  “I know. I never could catch that girl, when she was little, and she has longer legs now.” Amelia sighed.

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  Olivia slowed, flushed and panting, as they reached the ranch yard, with Logan only a few paces behind her.

  “Next time I go to town, I’ll get me a pair of Indian moccasins, then watch out, lady.” Logan said, laughing and out of breath. “You may have won this race. I can’t run well in these boots, but I even used to out run some of the Indian boys, in Wyoming, when I wore moccasins.”

  “You actually ran races with Indians?” She asked.

  “Sure, some of them are real peaceful folks. Used to come by pa’s ranch and trade with us too. All kinds of things, but mostly horses though. They’re good horsemen. Most Indians are.” Logan explained. He stopped and turned to Olivia, “Now don’t get the wrong idea, many a tribe resent our intrusion into this western land, an’ they’re the ones to watch out for. We’re hoping the peaceful ones will spread the word that we only want to live in peace. Some of them are right nice folks, an’ many a pioneer took an Indian maiden for his wife, an’ even some lived in the Indian villages, raising families.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know all that.” Olivia looked up at him, slightly flushed. “You must know so much about them.”

  “Well,” Logan continued, “The Calvary, horse soldiers, they try to keep the mean ones under control. I guess a hundred years from now we’ll all live together in peace.” He grinned at Olivia.

  “Maybe sometime you can tell me more about the American Indian. It must be an interesting subject. All I ever heard, from reading books, is all about the ‘savage’ Indians.”

  “No. They’re folks, like us, only of a different culture. You have to understand them, and accept their ways, and then they have to accept ours. That’s the only way to a peaceful co-existence. You see, our Government gave them land called reservations, but some aren’t satisfied with the locations, though others remain, and are peaceful. Those few who pull away from their tribes, and go to war, are called renegades.” Logan paused, and thought a moment, then, “I guess they feel we came and took away their hunting grounds. They’re a proud people, and you can almost sympathize with them, if it weren’t for some of their outrageous crimes against our folks.

  “There are numerous Indian tribes, too many to count, and they all differ somewhat. Now the Sioux, a Midwestern Indian, with a powerful stature, can’t seem to come to peaceful terms with anyone, even other tribes. Oh yes, they war against each other at times. But now, the Winnebago, a peaceful branch of the Sioux, live in eastern Nebraska. They are farmers and easy-going, likable folks.

  “Down Arizona way, they have the peaceful Navajo, then farther south, the very, very proud Apache. Several tribes and locations of them. The White Mountain Apache are in east central Arizona. That’s just west of the New Mexico border. The Triple-B now, well, we’re near the border, but the other side of it, east of New Mexico.

  “Then there’s the other tribes of Apache, some in southeastern Arizona, strong, proud fighting men. Some of whose war chiefs will take their place in American history, but they also have family life, same as any other, and their descendants will take their place in this country, same as ours. We’ll discuss them more another time. That will take a lot of telling, and it seems you are interested in learning more on this subject. Of course I’ve been away for a time, but I don’t believe things have changed that much, in eight years.”

  “Thank you, Logan. It seems I do have a lot to learn.” She smiled up at him, then they walked side by side into the courtyard.

  Trudy Perkins was sitting on a bench with Consuelo. Well, that put a damper on the good mood. Olivia was speechless, thinking the girl had left the property earlier. When no one spoke, Consuelo stood, and said, “I can visit with Señorita Perkins if I like. No one can tell me not to. She rode back with Cougar Olson, when he brought the wagon back. He used it to take the girl’s meager possessions to her father’s ranch, and when Señor Olson is ready to leave, she will go. She said her father was not at his small ranch, and Señor Olson did not want to leave the Señorita there alone.”

  Olivia had regained her composure, and calmly said, “I cannot speak for my Uncle, but I have no problem with whomever you wish to visit, Consuelo. But please confine your guests to the rear patio.” And with that, Olivia stomped into the house, leaving Logan standing there speechless, looking after her.

  Trudy stood up, smiled, then walked over to Logan. Looking up at him, she reached up to softly stroke his cheek. “You want to take me to my pa’s place, handsome?” She asked.

  Logan quickly took ahold of Trudy’s wrist, moving her hand down to her side, and said, “Sorry, Miss Perkins, I have other plans, besides I understand that Olson will take you.” .

  Olivia glanced from a front window, before heading down the hallway to her room, and hadn’t heard what was being said. “Well, Logan, see if you can untangle yourself from that clinging ‘child’.” She muttered to herself, wondering why she let that Trudy person disturb her so. She didn’t care that much about Logan, or did she?

  Consuelo walked over to Trudy, then angrily taking her by the arm, she said, “Stop that, young lady. Stop that at once. I see you have not changed a bit. That is why your papa has so much trouble keeping you in line. No wonder his head is turning white. Even the toughest of cowboys are afraid of you. I should have known you came back here to cause trouble.” She scolded.

  Then continued, “Go see if Cougar Olson is ready to escort you back home. He had to bring the wagon back, but you didn’t have to come back here with him. You would have been safe alone at your papa’s place. Even a rattler would be afraid to bite you. Go!” She said, “From now on, I will visit you, when I wish to be shamed by you again. You will stay away from t
his ranch from this day on. You do nothing but stir up trouble.”

  “Leave me alone, Consuelo.” Trudy said, as she twisted her arm from the housekeeper’s grasp. “It’s harmless flirting. None of your concern. Besides that Logan likes me.”

  “He likes Señorita Olivia. They’ve only been here one day, and anyone can see that.” Consuelo scolded. “I should have turned you over my knee, when you were a child.” She scoffed.

  Logan’s ears were burning, as he quickly walked away, then out of the courtyard. Cougar Olson seems to like the little spitfire, and as the old saying goes, love is blind, he thought, maybe Olson can tame her. More power to the poor fool, but she will use her beauty against him every step of the way.

  Maybe Trudy was only acting up, to cover up her own youth, and inexperience, and possibly to get back at her pa, for his strict hold on her, and maybe in time she will change. Logan doubted that fact also. The girl‘s a born troublemaker, and Olson’s going to have his hands full. He thought. Though just maybe her pa has held her in too much, and it’s working just the opposite of his intent. Well, he couldn’t let it bother him, she’s Cougar’s problem now.

  As Logan walked towards Hank’s kitchen, he wondered what Olivia thought, if she had seen that display in the courtyard. Maybe Hank has a pot of hot coffee on the stove, and a little conversation to go with. He needed the distraction. Logan was pleased to see that Claude Beckford was in the room as he walked in. Claude was seating himself on a bench at the long table while Hank was pouring two mugs of coffee.

  “Hey, Logan. Grab yourself a seat. Good to see you.” Hank said, as he took another clean mug from a shelf.

  “Hank.” Logan nodded, then turned to Claude Beckford, “How did the meeting go, Claude? Did a lot of the hands show?” He asked.

  “Fine, yes, about fifteen all told. There are about five of them out on the range, or up in one of those line shacks. So I will speak with them when they come in. We’re supposed to begin fall roundup in a couple weeks, and some of the boys tell me we’ll be needing about four or five more men at that time. Burns said he’d take care of finding them. He said there are usually a few men in town wanting temporary work.” Claude explained. “Most of the men at the meeting were receptive with the change. A couple said that, after the roundup, they would be riding on.” Claude accepted the coffee that Hank poured.

  “I did have a talk with Chester Burns, the foreman, though.” Claude explained, “He seems like a serious chap, but he was foreman for Sam Beckford, before Holderman came and took over. Burns seems glad to be back at his old job though, and said that he never did take to that Holderman and Phillips. Of course Woody Perkins was believed to be the owner, so he had no opinion of him.”

  “Can’t say as I blame him for his dislike of the other two.” Logan said. “Yes, Burns is a hard man, but I believe an honest one, and good at his job.”

  Claude took two swallows of hot coffee, then asked Logan, “Did Olivia enjoy her tour of the ranch?”

  “Actually, I believe she really likes this place.” Logan laughed, “She’s so impressed that I believe you may have trouble taking her back to England.”

  “Good, that’s good, my boy.” Claude took up the coffee mug, and began enjoying the strong hot brew.

  “Good?” Logan questioned.

  “Exactly what I was hoping that she would like somewhere else, besides Beckford Manor. Oh, I love the Manor alright, but there are other places on this earth, just as nice, or better, and it’s about time that my niece discovered that fact.” Claude shrugged at Logan’s surprised expression, then he continued. “She’s a stubborn lass, that Olivia, but I love her dearly. That’s why I suggested this ‘vacation’. Of course I had to do some talking her into it.” He laughed again, then spoke seriously, “I really would like to retire one of these days, and figured that maybe this western territory wouldn’t be so bad a place in which to live out my days.”

  “It’s a fine country, Claude. I’ve always been partial to cattle ranches, though my pa favors horses. Speaking of my pa, it’s going to be about time for me to head up to Wyoming before long, much as I hate to leave this place. What are your plans, Claude? “Do you still feel like taking the trip there with me?” Logan asked. “Or should I ask, do you dare leave this ranch unprotected?”

  Claude set his mug on the table, and pondered Logan’s question. “Give me one day, Logan, my boy. I’ll speak to Olivia, and then to Ricardo and Maria. Maybe we can work something out. And yes, I do want very much to go with you. I promised my niece a long vacation. Much as I have become attached to this ranch already, I intend to fulfill that promise. I know how anxious you are to see your folks, and I believe that would be a wonderful trip for Olivia too. Yes, let me speak to the others, maybe after supper tonight. I do very much want to see your Wyoming, and your father’s horse ranch.”

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  Back in her room, Olivia answered the soft rap on her door. It was Maria. “Señorita Olivia.” She began, as she walked over to sit on the beige, soft velvet upholstered wing-back chair, in the center of the room. Then Olivia seated herself on the edge of the feather bed, careful not to muss the pink flowered satin coverlet.

  Then Maria continued, “My Ricardo, he has gone to see your Uncle Claude. We have a problem. My husband, he will speak to Señor Claude. I will ask your advice.”

  “Yes, Maria?” Olivia asked.

  “As you know, we are to leave soon for Mexico to visit relatives in Mexico City. That is a long trip, and I’m not sure I am up to it.” She heaved a long sigh, then, “I might as well get it over with. We have, Ricardo and I, fallen in love with this hacienda, and do not wish to leave.” She looked at Olivia questioningly.

  “Yes?” Olivia asked again. “Go on, Maria.”

  “That is it, Señorita.” Maria answered. “We have traveled so much, and wish to settle down. Your uncle, he needs much help here and Ricardo and I, we feel that we could do so much to help with the running of this ranch, but we’re not sure if we will be accepted. As I have said, Ricardo has gone to seek your Uncle’s opinion on this.”

  “Oh, Maria. Did you even need to ask, I am ecstatic!” Olivia jumped up and ran to pull Maria from the chair, and hug her so tightly, to almost take her breath away. “Believe me, my friend, when I say, that I was not looking forward to the day when you and Ricardo would leave.” She sighed. “But what about your family in Mexico? Will they be disappointed?” She then asked.

  “If it will be alright with you and your Uncle, my relations, they can visit us here, if they want to see us at all.” Maria said. Then she grabbed Olivia in another hug. “We have been so worried about what to do, and am so glad you will welcome us. Ricardo was sure Señor Claude would be receptive for the help on this Rancho. He also said that most of the vaqueros here have welcomed all of us most graciously.

  “Maria, you know that Uncle Claude and I have planned a trip to Wyoming with Logan. Well, I’m not sure if that will take place, though, it is still in the planning stage. Logan seems taken by that Trudy girl, and maybe he would like to take her instead.” Olivia finished with a deep sigh.

  “Señorita, I can’t believe you have even said that, much less thought it. Logan is so in love with you that he can’t take his eyes off of you, when you are in the room together. And you must have had a good afternoon, touring the grounds with him. Did you not?”

  “I thought there for awhile, as he did mention his intent to, well…….kiss me. But I outran him.” Olivia finished. “Then that Trudy girl was in the courtyard, and his interest seemed to lay with her. When I glanced out the window from the front entry hall, she had her hand on his cheek, though he did take her hand away. But I didn’t hear what was being said.” She finished lamely.

  “That she-cat! I’m sure Señor Logan was only trying to get away from her.” Maria said.

  “I didn’t watch. So I’m not sure what happened.” Olivia went to sit on the edge of her bed again.

  Maria followed her, and s
at beside her, putting her arm around Olivia’s shoulders. “You can be sure that Señor Logan knows how to handle that Trudy, Olivia, and we can be sure that he made a hasty getaway, and is probably right at this moment in the kitchen talking to Hank, and possibly Señor Claude. Maybe Ricardo has found them by now too.” Maria stated firmly.

  There was a steady rap on Olivia’s door. Maria went quickly to open it. Consuelo stood there looking agitated. “May I speak with Señorita Olivia at once? Please?” She said.

  Olivia stood, and walked over to the door. “Of course, what is it Consuelo?” She asked.

  “Señorita Olivia, can you ever forgive me for my foolishness in the courtyard? I was disrespectful to you, and have no excuse, except that I can’t stop thinking of Trudy as a small eight year old child. But she is now a grown woman, capable of answering for herself. I was never blessed with children of my own, so with Trudy, I was always very protective of her, even when she was so full of mischief.