She looked up at him, and all the fear she'd been tamping down came to the surface. He was at her side in an instant with his arms around her. "It's okay, honey. You're trembling. It's over now and you're okay. I'm very proud of you."
She had nestled in against his chest and he hardly heard her soft voice. "Are you, really?"
"Of course I am," he assured her, rubbing her back. "We may have to talk about you doing dangerous things that scare me like this, but of course I'm proud of what you did."
She lost her battle, and the tears she'd been fighting escaped. He held her and tried to encourage her. "It's okay now, my dear wife. You're okay. Go ahead and let the tears out. I'll hold you and keep you safe." She cried, while he rubbed her back and whispered encouraging thoughts to her. As the tears slowed, he felt her trembling ease, as well.
He watched as she got the tears back under control, and lifted her head to look at him. "I'm sorry, Austin, but thank you for holding me."
"There is nothing to be sorry about, and you're more than welcome. You tell me when you're ready to go home."
"Could I ride with you again, please? I'm not sure I feel up to riding alone quite yet."
"I'd like that better, as well. Again, I feel a need to hold you close to me so I know you're safe." He tied her horse to his saddle and lifted her up onto his. He was quickly sitting behind her with his arm holding her snug. His chest seemed to tighten when she leaned back against him.
They didn't talk much on the way home, but they were both comfortable with the silence. They were satisfied simply being close to each other. When they got home he stopped at the house. "We both missed lunch, and it is almost time for supper. Why don't you fix us something simple to eat while I tend to the horses? Then after we eat, we can talk."
She nodded her agreement as he helped her down and walked the horses to the barn. He went back to the house half an hour later and they ate a simple meal. After they ate, he helped her clean the kitchen and led her into the living room.
They sat down on the couch and he pulled her in close, so she was leaning against him. "Okay," he started. "I think we need to talk a little bit. I was very proud of you today, but also very worried, and very surprised."
"I know, and I am sorry. I know you must have a lot of questions."
"I do."
"Let me explain a little bit about my background that I didn't mention in my letters. I wasn't trying to hide anything from you, but some of this is rather hard to explain in a letter. I didn't want to overwhelm you, either. My father used to tell me men want a feminine woman for a wife, not a tomboy, and I was afraid if I told you what I have routinely done, you would send me back home."
"I have become very fond of you and I have no intention of sending you back home, Mrs. Barrington."
"I hope you still feel that way after we talk. Let me start. You said once I'm settled in, you want to see if I can ride adequately to be able to find you if I need you and you're out on the ranch. Let me assure you I can. I told you I grew up in the Boston area. I'm sorry if you misunderstood. I didn't mean I grew up in the city of Boston, because I didn't. I grew up on our family's horse farm, which was located right outside the Boston city limits. We bred and raised horses, good quality horses. Our farm was known for producing some of the best horses in the east."
Austin's eyes were large. "So when you picked the gelding that you took to town, you knew it was one of my best horses?"
"Absolutely," she admitted. "He is a very fine animal. It's a shame he's a gelding. He would have made very good breeding stock."
"I agree," he surprised her by saying. "I thought he was such a good horse that I took three of my mares and had them bred to his sire. Two of those mares produced males which I am currently breeding many of my mares to." He paused a few moments. "I'm impressed with that information. Why did you choose not to tell me sooner?"
"Because I was afraid my father was right, and you would rather have a lady who wears dresses all the time and can cook and sew and take care of a house."
He looked confused. "But since you've been here, you have done those things. You have been wearing dresses, and you are a wonderful cook, and you told me you could make your split skirts to save us money."
"I can. I don't like doing many of those things as much as being out with the horses, but I can do them. My mother made sure I can, and I'm glad she did. But the truth is I would rather be out at the barn with the horses, or teaching children."
"Where does teaching fit into this? If you would prefer to be working with horses, why were you working with children?"
"I love working with horses, but my mother made me realize I am a lady. She wanted me to go to a finishing school to learn to be a proper lady. I did not want that at all, preferring instead to stay home and work with the horses. My father suggested we compromise, so I went to school to be a teacher. I did that for a full year, after finishing the last few months of the year prior to that, when their teacher had a baby and didn't want to return to teaching."
"And you enjoyed that?"
"I did. I enjoyed teaching, and was still able to ride horses and work with them some on the weekends and over the summer. It was very enjoyable."
"But yet you came out here to become a mail order bride to avoid having to marry men your father and brothers picked out for you?"
"That is true. I don't know how it is here, but I am twenty-two, and that is considered past the prime marrying age. They were all trying to get me to marry, which I was not opposed to, but I could not bear the thought of spending the rest of my life with either of the men they had picked out. From your letters, you sounded like a good man, someone I could see me spending my life with. You also had a ranch, so I would be around animals. It sounded perfect."
"I still don't understand why you didn't tell me all this sooner. I thought you were a city girl and I have been worried that the animals would scare you."
"And I have been worried that if you knew I wasn't a city girl who preferred to cook and sew and care for a house, you would be disappointed, maybe not want to stay married."
He turned to take her face in his hands. "We have both misunderstood, and I apologize for that. I should have insisted we sit down and have this talk much sooner. It's unfortunate we didn't, because it would have been a relief to both of us. One of the reasons I have not married before this is it was important to me that if I have a wife, the ranch is important to her, as well. The ladies I've met have been interested in the ranch only because of how much it would be worth, or because it is how I make a living. I wanted someone who cared about the animals. I hoped you might be that person. I didn't want to ask yet because I was afraid it would be pushing you. If someone is scared of the large animals, I would never want to push them into looking at them."
She smiled at him rather sheepishly. "I have quietly gone out to the barn a couple times when I knew you were out in a field, because I wanted to see the animals, particularly the horses."
He laughed, and leaned down to give her a kiss. "I am glad we are having this talk, wife. I said I thought we would make a good match. Now I feel even more sure of that."
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I do, as well."
Chapter Six
Austin gave Georgia a quick hug. "But we need to talk about what will make you happy."
She looked up at him, concern written on her face. "What do you mean? I am happy here."
"But if you would rather be at the barn, we need to talk. I have no problem with you being out there, but I do not want you out there in men's britches, and I don't want you working with my men. We will need to decide—"
"I am happy cooking and working inside," she told him sincerely, "though if we don't need to worry so much about the money, I admit I was happy that you asked Mrs. Johnson to make a couple split skirts for me. I really don't care much for sewing. I can do it and it would save money, but it's not something I really like to do."
He chuckled as he gave her a hug. "
Then we will save in other ways, and help Mrs. Johnson raise her boys. Are you sure you won't be upset not working at the barn?"
"I enjoy caring for the chickens." She grinned as she added, "Especially now that the gate will stay closed when I close it. I would also love to be able to ride the horses, maybe even help now and then with something special, but I am not asking to work alongside your men."
He nodded, obviously considering what she'd said. "Okay. But if you find you aren't happy, come talk to me. We will find a solution. I want you to be happy living here on the ranch."
"Thank you. That means a lot to me."
"You mean a lot to me," he said. "Now, there is one other thing I would like to talk to you about."
"What is that?"
"Your gun. You said your father taught you how to use it?"
"He did."
"Did he teach you how to care for it?"
"He did. I know you have to be concerned about that, so why don't we go outside sometime. I can show you how I load it, unload it, clean it, and then I can shoot some. You can see for yourself what I do and how I do it, and if there is something you are not comfortable with we can talk about it."
"Thank you. I know you want to ride on the ranch, and I would not feel comfortable letting you go out alone until I know you can handle a gun. I will still worry and would prefer you not go certain places alone, but I will allow you to roam the majority of the ranch if I know you can handle a gun sufficiently."
"Then I will be happy to show you what I can do."
"Will you also tell me how you tracked that man today, and where you learned to do that?"
"That's another part of my past I should probably tell you about." She instantly had his full attention. "My father and brothers have always raised and trained horses, but they've had a couple of other jobs here and there, as well. For instance, my brother, Jackson, is currently the sheriff there. Some of the jobs they've had included tracking and they're all very good at it. There were times when a wild animal or human animal would harm one or more of our horses. When that happened my father or brothers, or sometimes all of us would track them. They showed me how."
He studied her several moments. "When a human animal would harm one of your horses. Are you saying if you thought someone stole a horse or two, they would go after that person, and you went with them?"
She felt her face blush. "Sometimes. Or if a wild animal was stalking them."
"But we're talking about horses, so I'm guessing it was mostly people. You would go after them yourselves?"
"Remember, my brother is the sheriff."
"Ah, yes. I guess that would make a difference. But they would take you with them?"
"If my father and both my brothers went, yes, they took me along. They were afraid if they told me I had to stay home that I'd get upset and follow them, and they didn't think that was safe. If they took me with them, they at least knew where I was."
He laughed. "So you're telling me that you grew up a spoiled little girl who got what she wanted." He said it as a statement, not a question, and was smiling as she tried to find a way to deny it.
"I didn't always get everything I wanted."
"It sounds to me as though you pretty much got what you wanted. If they assumed you'd follow them even if they said no, you can't go, that sounds to me like they gave in, and you ended up getting what you were after."
Again, he had to chuckle as she was looking for a good explanation. Finally, she simply said, "I was younger then."
He was grinning as he asked, "When was the last time something like that happened; three months ago?" Before she could answer, he swooped in and captured her lips in a kiss which made her forget what they were even talking about.
***
The next evening as Austin was going to the house for supper, he saw Grant riding up the lane. He waited to greet his friend. "Hello, Grant. Are you here for business or pleasure?"
"I'm here on business. Have you got a few minutes?"
"Of course. Come on inside. I was just on my way in for supper."
"I didn't mean to interrupt your meal, Austin. I'm sorry."
"Nonsense. I'm sure Georgia has enough for you to join us. Come on in."
Georgia was waiting at the door, and invited the sheriff in. "I have plenty, Sheriff. Come on in and have supper with us."
He looked hesitant, but Austin persisted. "She's quite the cook, Grant. You can tell us what brings you here while we eat."
"If you're sure you have enough," Grant finally conceded.
"Plenty. I'll get an extra plate while you get washed up and sit down."
Once they were eating, Grant explained why he was there. "Austin, have you had someone approach you about buying your ranch?"
Austin looked over at Grant, surprised. "Yes, two or three months ago. I turned him down. Why?"
"The man you caught opening the gates yesterday decided to talk today. His name is Cleo Mathis. He was being paid by Ernest Miles. Is that the man who wanted to buy the ranch?"
"I believe it is," Austin said. "I have his last letter in my office, but I believe that was his name. So he paid this guy to open our gates? Why?"
"Ernest Miles wants to buy your ranch and three of your neighbors' ranches. I'm not sure why, but he made an offer to all of you. Only one was willing to sell. He wants to buy all of them or none, though. After a couple attempts, he hired Cleo. He's been opening gates, then waits for the cattle or horses to leave the pasture. He then chases them off, scattering them. He leaves the chicken coop unprotected from fox or other animals. The hope is that once you and the other ranchers lose enough cattle, horses and chickens, you'll be hurting financially and will sell to him."
"So he's been opening gates at our neighboring ranches, too?"
"Yes. He said he's chased horses and cattle away. He admitted shooting a cow on one ranch, and leaving it in the pasture so wild animals will smell it and come into the pasture."
"And once they're in there and taste beef, they'll want more," Austin said, thinking out loud.
"That's awful," Georgia said.
"So did you arrest him, too?" Austin asked.
"Can't find him. Cleo checked in with him every night to let him know what all he did that day. When he didn't show up last night, Ernest apparently assumed he got caught, and he left. I sent telegrams to surrounding sheriffs, but I haven't heard anything from any of them. I thought you might want to know what he said, though."
"Thank you for telling me," Austin said. "I had no idea he wanted the ranch that badly. I have no idea why he did, but thank you for telling me that, Grant. At least we shouldn't have any problems with open gates any more. I'm certainly glad of that." He looked over at Georgia and added, "For several reasons."
***
They settled into a bit of a routine over the next several days. Georgia enjoyed caring for the chickens and gathering the eggs. She was getting used to cooking on the wood stove. She had the house all cleaned, and even made some curtains.
Austin had taken her out and she showed him her knowledge and skill level with her gun. He was very impressed, so after seeing her riding ability, he was okay with her riding out to explore the ranch. He didn't want her going far at first, though, until she got to know the area better, and he insisted she take her gun with her anytime she went out.
They went riding together one evening, so he could show her part of the ranch, where she could ride. He'd come to realize she was becoming bored at home, and was hoping if she did some exploring in the area she would fall in love with it as he had.
He'd also been giving some thought to the life she'd had before she moved to the ranch. He had an idea, but he wasn't sure what she would think of it. He approached her with it that evening after supper, when they were sitting on the couch. "Georgia, now that it's been a few weeks, are you happy here?"
She turned toward him, curious. "Yes, I am. I'm very glad I answered your ad." He had his arm around her and she was leaning against him.
She cuddled in a little closer to him.
"I've been thinking about something a lot lately that I think would be really good for the ranch, but it involves you. I'm not sure it's fair for me to ask you this, but—"
"If it's something I can do that would help the ranch, go ahead and ask. I can't think of anything you could ask me to do around a ranch that would upset me."
"I've lost a couple good hands in the past because the ranch is too far from town and the nearest school. When a hand gets married we let them move into one of the little cabins. If we don't have one available for them, we build another one. These hands had children, and as long as they lived here they couldn't go to school. So they chose to quit, even though they enjoyed working here, and took a job at another ranch that had a school within walking distance."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I can't blame them, though. In fact, I have respect for them, thinking of their children."
"I couldn't agree more. We have several families again, and once again, the children don't have a school to go to. I don't want to lose good workers, but I hate to see their children not be able to go to school. I haven't worked all the details out in my mind yet, but would you be willing to teach the children on the ranch? I can find a lady who can help in the house. I certainly wouldn't expect you to teach and still take care of the house, but if I can find someone to do some cooking, cleaning, laundry, that sort of thing, would you be willing to teach?"
She turned to face him, her eyes huge. "Are you serious? You would let me teach?" She flung her arms around his neck. "Oh, Austin, I would love to do that. Thank you!"
He smiled. That was exactly the reaction he'd hoped for. "There are details to work out yet, but if we work together we'll get everything figured out."
"Like what details?"
"Like where to hold the school, for one thing."
"Oh, yes, I guess we do need that."
"Yes, we do," he said with a smile. "We also need some desks and books."
She paled a bit and lost her smile. "It could take a little money to get all those things. Is that possible? Maybe we shouldn't have had Mrs. Johnson make the split skirts."
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