by Danni Roan
“That’s quite a family you have then,” Hank said. “I must admit it’s all pretty mixed up in my head yet.”
“Oh, just wait until everyone’s back in for supper tonight,” Meg said with a mischievous smile. “There are six more men out there on the range you’ll still have to meet. Don’t worry about it too much though. Will said it took him a good while to figure it all out but it came together in time.” She finished her tea and stood.
Hank pushed himself to his feet politely, nearly toppling the chair he sat on but grabbed it in the nick of time, as Meg prepared to leave.
“I’ll just take the mugs up to the house and wash them there so you don’t have to,” she said, picking up the now empty mugs. “Just let Nona know at supper time if you need anything.”
“Thank you again You’ve been very kind. And tell your sister I said thank you to her as well,” he added, holding the door as she slipped out. Strangely he thought he heard her chuckling as she left.
Fiona looked out the window as she finished the last few dishes, wondering what was taking Meg so long. She dried the last dish and placed it with the others on the shelf. Nona hustled about the kitchen pulling together things to start the evening meal.
“Do you need me to help, Nona?” Fi finally asked, watching the snow softly falling outside.
“Oh, thank you,” Nona replied, smiling at her granddaughter. “I think we’ll make a chicken pot pie. Your pa sure does like that. The one with the thick biscuit crust. You go fetch me some carrots and potatoes from the cellar.” She smiled and patted Fiona’s soft cheek. “Such a sweet girl.”
Fiona turned and walked to the door beneath the stairs just as her sister entered the kitchen. She hesitated, hand on the latch, waiting for Meg to come down the hall. “Have a nice visit?” she asked her sister.
“Hm?” Meg said looking at her obviously still distracted by her own thoughts. “Oh. Yes, yes. I had a nice visit. He seems to be a nice man.” And with that she walked on down the hall to the stairwell.
As Fiona walked down the steps to the basement, she could hear her sister’s light tread ascending the ones above. She shook herself from her reverie and focused on the task at hand. There was plenty to do without thinking of the tall stranger who had come to live and work at the ranch.
Firmly she put the man out of her mind and collected the root vegetables she’d been sent for. She hoped that little Eric liked potpie- maybe she could make another pie that he would like for dessert.
Filling her apron with the produce she’d been sent for, she also added some of the apples they had harvested from their own trees and turned to trudge back up the stairs.
Returning to the kitchen Fiona handed over the vegetable then, explaining her plan to her grandmother, began peeling apples and preparing pie crusts. The dark haired girl worked with Nona in the kitchen all through the afternoon, laughing at the banter between her grandmother and the cantankerous old Chinese man.
To her way of thinking, anything Nona asked would be met with a grumble from Chen Lou. Often the old man would counter her wishes just to get her started on how he never listened. It had long since become a game that everyone but Nona seemed to know was being played.
The two big dishes of pot pie had just been placed in the big cook oven when the twins arrived. Together they skirted their grandmother, moving one to either side of her and then at the same moment kissing her plump cheeks.
“Oh, my sweet girls.” Nona beamed. “You can help with the other dishes and fetch us some pickles,” she said and shooed them away. Fiona, knowing that Issy and Lexi would help now, finished preparing the pies then silently hung up her apron and slipped off to her room.
Chapter 3
Joshua James knew as soon as he galloped through the ranch gates that something was different. A heavy, tight feeling pooled in his chest and he scanned the area for anything amiss.
Turning his stocky buckskin toward the barn his eyes fell on the oversized red wagon parked next to it, its bright yellow wheels resting on a skiff of powdery snow. Riding closer he inspected the wagon, wondering why it was there. Behind him his daughter Katie’s voice questioned.
“Pa? What is it? Did we get a delivery today? I didn’t know anything about it.”
Turning his mount back toward his oldest child and her husband, Joshua forced a smile.
“Must have slipped my mind,” he bluffed. He could tell Katie wasn’t fooled by the significant look she shot at Will.
Will, a wise young man, simply shrugged and aimed his mount toward the barn before dismounting. Together the trio led their tired mounts into the relative warmth of the big structure.
All three stopped dead in the center aisle as they noticed the two huge horses contentedly munching hay in the largest of the standing stalls.
Absently Josh held out the reins of his buckskin and stepped toward the massive bay horses. Will snatched up the offered leads of his father-in-law’s horse as Katie gaped. The two big horses turned their heads as far as their tethers would allow to examine the stranger as he approached. Joshua reached out a weathered hand as he came abreast of the first animal and stroked its thick coat.
“They seem gentle enough,” he cast over his shoulder “I guess we’d best get up to the house and see what’s going on.” He turned on his heel and headed toward the house without a backward glance.
Will smiled at Katie as they watched the older man leave and without a word he began the task of untacking all three horses and putting them into their stalls.
Joshua James, the patriarch of the Broken J, didn’t like being out of the loop. Yanking open the front door, he stomped toward the heart of his home his big feet making heavy slapping sounds on the hard plank floor of the hall.
“Oh, thank heavens,” Bianca Lione’ cried as he entered the bustling room. “We thought you’d never get back.”
Joshua blinked at the woman, surprised at her reaction to his return. It wasn’t anything new for him to come home from riding the range.
Just then he spotted Isadoro sitting at the big table, but before he could move to speak to him, two identical girls swooped in on either side of him, kissing his cold cheeks with gleeful giggles. Joshua smiled, letting some of the worry and agitation soak out of him.
“I’ll get you some coffee, Pa,” Issy said, as she bounced away.
“Suppers almost ready,” Lexi chimed in more quietly. Joshua shook his head. thanked his daughters and finally took a step toward the table.
“Iss?” he questioned, pulling out his chair at the head of the table. His father-in-law smiled up at him.
“That delivery from Jonas arrived not long after breakfast this morning,” the silver haired man said, a twinkle in his eye. Then he chuckled as Josh’s eyes widened with surprise.
Just then the twins brought both men a cup of coffee and a plate with a few measly cookies on it. “That’s all we get?” Joshua grouched.
“You don’t want to ruin your supper do you?” Lexi chided, the laughter in her voice making the two men grin.
As the twins began to set the table, the sound of heavy boots on the back porch caught the attention of the men and as one they swung their heads toward the back door as a solid knock, knock, knock sounded on the thick wood.
At the same moment as Lexi pulled open the door, Will ushered Katie into the warm room from the opposite door way. Hank stepped under the door frame then straightened to his full height, Eric perched on one arm.
Seconds ticked by in silence as everyone stared at everyone else. Joshua shot a knowing glare at Isadoro’s face, noting the wicked twinkle in his eyes, and pushed his chair back. His father-in-law rose with him.
“Hank,” Isadoro called, breaking the silence. “I’d like you to meet your new employer, Joshua James. Josh, this here is Hank Ballard, our new builder.”
Joshua James, a tall man in his own right, stepped up to the young man and extended his hand, all the while noting that the boy was at least a good two if not
three inches taller than he was and much broader as well.
“Welcome to the Broken J,” Joshua said. “I don’t think we were expecting you so soon, but we’re glad you made it.” He shook hands with the big man, trying to communicate his welcome.
“I think you’ve met everyone here except for Katie and Will.” The boss man gestured with his hand toward the couple still standing half in and half out of the hallway.
Finally recovering from the shock, Katie stepped forward, extending her hand in greeting.
“Welcome to the Broken J,” she said politely then moved aside as Will shook hands with the stranger. No one heard the soft titter from the hall way as Fiona stood in the shadows smiling at the whole exchange.
“Go sit,” Nona finally called briskly from the kitchen. “We eat.” One by one everyone turned to the table.
“Here.” Lexi stepped up to Hank, extending her hands toward Eric. “I’ll take him so you can take off your coat.”
“Thank you ma’am,” Hank replied, handing Eric down to the dark haired girl.
Hank had just settled his bulk on the long bench at the big table, placing Eric next to him when the back door opened again and several more hands walked in. From the other side of the room he watched Fiona enter, the small black haired teen, Mae, behind her.
The noise and bustle of the kitchen suddenly seemed to triple with the arrival of all the others and as Nona and Issy placed two large steaming plates of potpie on the table, he felt Eric snuggle up closer to him, confused by all of the noise.
He placed a beefy hand on the boy’s slight shoulder; he could more than understand the sentiment. Then the little being next to him sat up straighter, eyes cutting across the kitchen as he saw Fiona.
“Fona!” the little boy called excitedly. The young woman smiled and walked around to where the boy sat.
“Did you have a good sleep?” she asked, bending to his level and tapping him on the nose.
“Uh huh will you sit with me?” he asked, looking at her with limpid blue eyes. She smiled again.
“Of course. If that’s what you want.” A frail little hand patted the bench next to him as he scooted closer to his father.
Wrapping her skirts around her, Fiona deftly stepped over the wooden plank and took a seat.
As Meg, the last to join them, slid into a seat across from Hank, a soft hush fell over the table and in imitation of Joshua James, everyone bowed their head for the blessing.
The meal was one of the noisiest Hank had ever been a part of. Mr. James asked him questions throughout the meal but at least six other conversations were going on at the same time. The men gave reports on the stock. One man, Walters, he thought it was, said something about an old mare, but he couldn’t keep track.
He was thankful that Fiona was sitting next to Eric, keeping him busy, and chatting with him, putting him at ease. He was amazed at how quickly the boy had taken to the young woman and offered her a smile as a thank you.
As the meal wound down, the woman rose from the table, collected the dishes and serving ware and carried them to the kitchen. When Fiona collected the plates on her side of the table and rose, Eric looked up at her confused.
“Are you leavin’?” he asked innocently. The young woman smiled down at him, her hazel green eyes bright with understanding.
“No, I’m just clearing the table, but I do have a surprise when I get back if you can be a good boy and wait.” The tyke nodded his head enthusiastically.
Minutes later Fiona returned with a crisp pie in her hands. The light golden crust sparkled softly in the lamp light where sugar crystals sprinkled over the top.
“I hope you like apple.” Fiona said, looking at the little boy and seeing his face brighten.
“It’s my favorite,” Eric squealed with glee.
Pie and coffee was served all-round with everyone agreeing that it was a wonderful meal. As the men began to leave, Hank turned to Mr. James. “If you don’t mind sir I’d like to go and check my stock before I turn in.”
“That’d be just fine” the older man replied. “Meg, why don’t you go with Mr. Ballard in case there’s something he needs and can’t find.”
“Huh?” Meg asked in a very unladylike way. “Who, me?” she asked looking at her father. “Oh, alright,” she finally rose from the table.
“I’ll keep Eric for you,” Fiona volunteered. looking up as the giant of a man lifted himself from his seat.
“That alright with you?” he asked his son.
“Sure,” the pale haired sprite scooted closer to Fiona, who smiled down at him.
With the scrape of chairs and the clatter of boots on planking, all of the men left the kitchen. Isadoro, Joshua and Will retired to the parlor, while the others headed back to the bunk house.
Hank donned his heavy coat and turned to follow Meg in her heavy woolen shawl down the corridor and out into the crisp night air.
A deep velvet blue had fallen over the ranch as night settled in. Bright stars sparkled in a clear sky as occasional clouds skidded across a luminous half-moon.
Hank sucked in a deep cleansing breath as he stomped down the porch stairs. No stench of human waste or refuse met his nostrils in the still night. The soft underlying sounds of a prairie evening was all that could be heard-the yip of a coyote, the sound of a night bird. Not the creak and clatter of busy people charging through crowded streets. Or the deep hacking coughs of people crammed too close in tight, squalid living quarters.
Frosted earth crunched under his feet as he followed the glow of the lantern in Meg’s hand to the barn.
“Howdy boys.” Hank’s rumbling voice called into the barn as Meg reached to hang the lantern on a hook. The soft throaty nicker of the horses greeted him back.
With a smile of pride, he strode to the stalls and rubbed the nose of first one horse, then the other. He lifted each hoof, checking for stones and flexing hard-used tendons for stiffness. Both horses seemed fine “Well, they seem to be fine.” His words echoed his thoughts.
“They sure are big,” Meg said absently, looking at the large horses.
“Yes ma’am. They need to be to do the work they’ve done their whole life. Hauling heavy loads requires a solid frame and plenty of muscle.”
“Is that what you did back in Chicago?” Meg asked, her tone friendly.
“Yes ma’am.”
“But I thought you were a builder.”
“I am, or I was. I made furniture at the beginning but then to make ends meet had to start working for a cobbler and later delivering spirits in my wagon.”
“Would you like some oats for them?” the girl asked. Hank smiled at how her mind jumped around.
“That’d be mighty nice ma’am. They haven’t had a good feed in a long time, I’m afraid.”
Meg nodded, then waved for him to follow her. On the other side at the front of the barn was a sturdy room. Meg unlatched the door and pushed it open. As she did, a large black and white cat dashed around her and out into the night. Meg simply smiled. Hank followed her into the small room, the sweet smell of dried corn and oats wafted around him.
"We don’t keep much just now,” Meg offered, “but Pa said this year he’d like to put up a granary so I guess that means he plans on producing more feed down the road.”
She reached into one of the bins and picked up a handful of oats in one hand while handing him a bucket with the other, then she turned and walked back out.
Hank scooped two portions of mixed corn and oats into the tin pail, closed the door firmly behind him then walked to his team and measured out an equal share to each.
Further back in the deeper darkness of the barn, he saw Meg feeding her handful of oats to a dark horse in a box stall.
He checked Jack and Scott one more time then went to join her. In the stall he could make out the dark form of plump mare, and just behind her a leggy foal peeked his blazed face at them around his mother's tail. Hank smiled.
“This is the mare Walt was talking abou
t,” Meg offered, letting the old horse whisk the last of the oats from her palm. “She belongs to my uncle Brion. He’s my mother’s brother. He lives up in the mountains with his family but brought her down for the winter. The foal is for Will. He was a wedding present.”
Hank smiled as the fuzzy creature reached out his nose and plucked at his mother’s tail. The old mare simply swished the black strands from his mouth and continued looking for more food.
“He’s a fine animal,” Hank said. “I think Eric would sure like to see him.”
“What happened to his ma?” Meg asked, her lack of tact surprising him just a little.
“She died right after Eric was born,” He answered quietly. Even after four years he felt the loss.
“I’m sorry,” Meg said, her voice sincere. “That’s one of the reasons I want to go see the big city.”
For a moment Hank blinked, trying to track what the young woman had said.
“I mean…” she continued, “none of us know how long we’ll be on this earth, we should try to do the things that make us happy.”
Finally grasping what she meant, Hank nodded. “Well ma’am, you might get your wish yet. I suppose living here your whole life it seems like the world is one great big adventure. In some ways maybe it is, but it can also be hard and cruel. I reckon if you really want to travel someday, it’ll be easy enough. The rail goes just about everywhere now a-days. It crisscrosses this country of ours in every direction and more and more people are traveling and moving out here. Who knows what will happen next? Maybe someday you’ll get to see the big city. I have to confess though; I think I like it here a lot better.”
Meg smiled up at him. Her deep aquamarine eyes held a faraway look and he knew she was dreaming of all of the things the big city had to offer. He didn’t have the heart to tell her what he thought of Chicago.