My foot was on the first of the steps when I heard the scream and my heart nearly stopped. He was murdering someone else now!
Picking up my skirts I ran in the direction of the noise. It came again not once but several times and I knew from the cry that it was someone in pain.
Only as I opened the last barrier door which led into a large comfortable dining area did I realize that the screamer had been a cat whose tail was being pulled by young Sara.
My heart pounding, I quickly crossed the room and carefully released the animal from her grasp. The cat gave one long hiss and then sulked away to lick his wounds in the corner. Satisfied that the animal was not mortally injured, I turned my attention to my new daughter. It seemed that her father’s regard for life and the feelings of others had been passed on to his youngster and I knew that at least for as long as I was there, I would do my best to teach her consideration.
“Why were you pulling the cat’s tail?”
The blue eyes looked up at me, but she didn’t respond.
“Why were you pulling the cat’s tail?” I asked again.
Sara just smiled at me, stood and turned back to the table. Promptly she sat down and began to play with her porridge.
Puzzled, I stood there a moment as the door dividing the dining area from the kitchen swung open and a skinny old man in a blue work shirt emerged carrying a tray.
“Oh, yer awake are ye? Well, that’s fine by me.” He peered hard at me through his spectacles and then proceeded to put the tray down on the table, taking items off it and setting them down next to Sara.
I could only stare at him, at his narrow face with the big nose and the way his rumpled gray hair stood out from the sides of his head like a rooster’s crown.
“You goin’ eat or what?” His skeletal hands went to his hips in a belligerent tone.
“It might help if you told me who you were and what you were putting out for me.”
He narrowed his eyes a moment and then blinked. “Henry’s the name. Work for Mr. Logan I do. All kinds of things.”
“Including cooking?”
“Sometime yes. Sometimes no.”
I glanced at the lumpy porridge he had put in front of me and I knew why Sara didn’t want to eat it.
“Could I please just have some toast?” I took a seat next to Sara wanting to concentrate my energies on her for the moment.
“My cereal ain’t good ‘nuf for you. Were good ‘nuf for Miss Ginny.”
I glanced up at him. “Just toast, please.”
He turned in a huff and started back toward the kitchen.
“Sara. Good morning.”
My stepdaughter didn’t turn to me as I expected, and I found myself touching her hand.
Then acknowledging me, she smiled. “Good... morning.” Her voice had a tinny quality to it and her words were halting as if English were not her native tongue.
I looked back at Henry who was still standing at the door watching me and her. “I would like some toast, please.”
He shrugged and disappeared.
It was several long moments later that he returned.
Sara had not said anything more to me but continued to play with her porridge as I watched her.
“You know she’s not right.” He placed the burnt bread in front of me.
“Oh.” I stared at my new daughter in a different light. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s deef.” He tapped her shoulder. “Ya gotta speak directly to her. She reads lips. Think she’s a bit slow, too... ”
I nodded, realizing now why she hadn’t answered me. Touching her hand, I smiled at her again. “Sara, I’m your new mother.”
“Mo... ther.” She smiled at me.
How strange that word sounded in her special voice. How strange it sounded to my ears as applied to me. I had thought my life would be quite a bit different before I heard that word. It seemed that nothing was turning out as I had planned.
“Are you going to eat that?” I tried to speak as slowly as I could.
The smile remained glued to her face, but she shook her head, her curls flying loose. Whoever had combed her hair that morning had not done a good job. Tomorrow, I decided, I would take over. But for now I found a ribbon in my pocket and tied her hair back.
“Are you hungry?”
She nodded.
I pushed my own burnt offerings away and stood. “Then I’ll fix you some eggs.” With that I disappeared into the kitchen.
~
Henry was not pleased at my taking over his domain but when he realized that I was determined he sulked away just like the cat had done and said that he wasn’t at fault if Mr. Logan came home and screamed because the porridge wasn’t the way he liked it.
If Logan James wanted Henry’s porridge, I decided, he was welcome to it. But Sara and I were going to have something edible to start our day.
The cat apparently decided that I was all right and came to purr, rubbing against my legs. Picking up the animal, I saw that he was as skinny as Henry and probably because he ate as poorly. Pouring some fresh milk from the pitcher on the table, I set it in front of him.
Henry had a fit, but I ignored him as I watched the cat lick the bowl and then lick my fingers in gratitude. Leaning down, I stroked the cat’s fur and heard her contented purr. He grumbled about the cat and told me that Sara often pulled the cat’s tail only because its screams were one of the few sounds which she was able to hear. I promised him that there would be no more screeches because I would teach Sara to get a response in other ways.
I was grateful now that much of my early work experience while still helping Mama feed and clothe us had been scrubbing the floors in the retarded hospital down the street. True, the children there had been far worse off than Sara, but I had picked up techniques while listening to the teachers there which I knew would help my new daughter. I had always wanted one day to return there as a professional and put to use some theories I had developed. Now I would get my chance to test them out.
As I finished preparing our breakfast, I found myself getting more and more excited about the prospect of seeing Sara come out of the shell that she obviously lived in.
Only as I reentered the dining area did I pause to remind myself that I was going to be here a short time and could only do so much.
~
It was shortly after nine and I had just finished my second cup of coffee when I heard the screen door slam and my husband’s heavy boots as he strode into the kitchen. Wincing, I heard Henry’s whine as he complained about the mess I had made but I decided that I would face up to him.
I stood, prepared to do battle, as he opened the door dividing us.
“Sure hope you cooked some for me, too. I hate Henry’s cooking as much as you do but never knew how to tell him so. Now at least Sara and I will have some decent meals for a change.”
To my amazement, he came over and kissed me in front of Sara!
The young girl clapped her hands and laughed as he picked her up and kissed her, too.
For a very brief moment, I had a warm glow as if I really were part of a family. But then I remembered Elliot.
~
It was while he was eating breakfast that Logan apologized for not staying in bed with me this morning. He had needed, he said, to check the fences around the pasture since they’d be doing the fall roundup shortly to get the cattle ready for winter, brand those that had dropped in the spring, and prepare to move south those that wouldn’t last the winter here but would be ready to sell now.
“Do I go with you?” I hoped that I’d have time to stay here and investigate his books while looking for the missing claim book from the bank.
“Nope.” He drank his coffee. “Be gone too long. Several weeks at least. Too rough for you.” He grabbed a piece of toast and looked at it. “Don’t know when the last time was I ate one that wasn’t burnt.” He grinned and then leaned over to kiss me again. “You stay here with Sara. Do what you can with her.”
/> It was strange. I wondered why he was willing to trust me with the total run of the house. The only answer was that he knew his secret was so well-hidden that I wouldn’t find it here.
“Well, gotta get back to those fences.” Logan said. “Can’t rope in a good cow less you got some place to put them.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “You’ll be all right alone with Sara for a few hours. Gotta take Henry with me.”
My heart pounded as I realized this was my first chance to explore the house. I nodded.
“Good.”
To my surprise, he leaned over. His lips met mine as they had last night, gently prying open my mouth and encouraging a response from me.
Reluctant at first, I told myself that I had to gain his trust if I wanted to discover his secrets and help Clay Washburne put him behind bars. And so I allowed my body to respond to him as it wanted, putting my arms about him and kissing him with the fullness of last night.
“Hmm.” He drew away slowly. “You just keep that passion, pretty lady. I’ll be back for it a little later.”
I sucked in my breath and wondered how I was going to avoid later.
~
I waited until after he’d left before asking Sara to show me around the house.
In her simple fashion, she did. And despite her speech impediment, I was able to understand most of what she said.
We ended up in her room which, unlike the room I had been put in, was bright and lively, filled with colors that would attract a child’s attention.
A picture on her mantel piece stopped me short and picking up the daguerreotype I realized that this was her mother, the late Ginny James. As I stared at her, I wondered what was so familiar about it and then as I held the faded tintype up to my mirror image I saw that her hair was darker, or so it appeared, but her features were strangely like mine.
A shiver ran through me as I put the picture down. Was that why he claimed to have fallen in love with me?
I knew then that I wanted to know more about Ginny James and about her death.
Leaving Sarah to play alone with some dolls, I continued to explore on my own.
The door at the end of the third-floor hall was locked but having seen keys in one of the lower rooms I hurried back down and felt lucky that they opened the door.
The first thing which caught my eye was the whitened skull of a longhorn steer sitting above the mantel and thought how horrid it would be to face an animal with horns that long.
Quickly I realized that this was the office from which all Logan’s business was conducted. I stood for a moment surveying the leather-bound books and parchment bills in neat piles on the massive oak roll top desk. A floor-to-ceiling case that took up two walls was filled with books on ranching, cattle raising and government matters. It seemed my new husband had some legal training as well, or he just wanted to know it so that he could keep aside of the law.
Stepping to the window, I pulled open the drapes for more light and saw the beauty of the land surrounding us. The view here was majestic: the valley, the tall waving grasses, the silvery blue stream, the evergreens, pines and cottonwoods, and the mountains beyond. For a moment I stood there, gazing at the scene and then looked on the wall above the desk to find a map of the James ranch lands.
The area they owned seemed far vaster than I had imagined, and I wondered how it was that they had come to all this. How many people had they cheated and how many homesteaders had they thrown out?
I picked up one of the books and realized that the payroll books were lined up neatly under the window. Was my job here going to be easier than I thought? Elated, I began to read it. But then to my disappointment, I saw that it was only the recent one. I would have to hunt a bit for those from last year and the year before.
Once more I looked around the room as I tried to think where the books might be, and also where the claim book from the bank might have gone. Even with a fire in the grate and the room lit by lanterns, the room remained austere businesslike and I wondered at the type of man I’d bound myself to.
He was neater than I expected. Most of the drawers in the desk were locked and I knew I’d need to find the keys to get in. Frustrated, I glanced about hoping for something else to help me.
My gaze again fell on the map and I walked towards it, wondering if it had any clues for me. It didn’t take long for me to locate the house here and not far down the road the house which belonged to Morgan. I continued to study the map, feeling that I was missing something important.
And then I saw it. Brentwood’s Pass at the tip of the North Pasture. From what Logan had said at breakfast much of the roundup would be in that area and I knew that I would find my answers there.
Chapter 17
“Well, keeping yourself occupied. I see.”
I spun around to discover my new brother-in-law standing in the doorway and smiling at me.
“Morgan!” My heart pounded at being discovered. “I… does Logan know you’re here?”
“He will. Sent one of the men to fetch him. Got business to discuss with big brother.” His hooded eyes appraised me in such a way that I felt like a naughty child in the headmaster’s office. I wet my lips slightly. Had he seen me looking at the books before? I wondered what he was going to do with the information.
“Sit a spell with me.” He placed his hands on his hips, emphasizing the low-slung gun belt.
Flushing, I shook my head. “Can’t. I have to get back to Sara.”
I started to pass him.
His hand reached out to grab me. As he pulled me towards him, he said, “I’d be careful poking around in here, Elisa.” His voice was low but full of meaning. “My brother’s not known for his even temper.” He paused again. “What were you doing in here?”
I met his gaze directly. Had he seen me reading the books or not?
“Oh, I... I was just exploring. I didn’t know this room was used for anything. I — ”
He smiled at me. “That’s strange. This room’s usually kept locked.”
I shrugged. “It wasn’t.” My stomach tightened as I felt the door key heavy in my apron pocket. “If Logan doesn’t want anyone in here, naturally, I’ll respect my husband’s wishes.”
“Naturally,” my bother-in-law responded. “Course if you find anything of interest while you just happen to be exploring,” he continued, ignoring my protest, “I’d expect you to tell me. Clay and me, that is.” He paused. His fingers played lightly on my wrist which he still held. “We work together.”
“Oh.” I wondered even more at his strained relationship with Logan. It seemed odd. What kind of man would want to expose his brother’s crimes?
“You understand what I mean?”
I nodded. “Will you let me go now?”
His hand clasped me tightly as if he was afraid of my escaping.
“Morgan, please. You’re hurting me.”
He dropped my hand immediately. “Sorry, just got carried away.”
I rubbed my sore wrist and once more started toward the door.
“Elisa.” He called me back. I turned.
“I want to apologize for the other night. ‘Tain’t like me to proposition a woman that’s not mine.”
I only nodded in acceptance of his apology, but he wanted more.
“You’re a mighty fine piece of woman and I’m just sorry I didn’t ask you afore Logan did. I mean seein’ how you were so anxious to up and get married. I’d have taken you in an instant.” He reached out to touch me once more.
I froze. “I wasn’t... ” I started to say and then realized that I had best be careful. No matter what he said, he was still Logan’s brother. But he was on my side, wasn’t he? “I didn’t have much choice. Your brother made it clear that he intended to have me and then went around bad-mouthing me to all the townsfolk so that I couldn’t work anyplace and couldn’t stay anywhere but that infernal hotel.”
Morgan’s mouth dropped open slightly. “He did that?” Shaking his head, Morgan added. “Never thou
ght Logan capable of doin’ somethin’ like that. But then I guess he wanted you awful bad.” His fingers moved up my arm slightly giving me the shivers. “Yep, guess he wanted you out here awful bad. Why’s that?”
I shook my head. My heart pounded uneasily. Even though Morgan had just apologized and had indicated that he’d help me. I really didn’t want to stay alone with him in this room. With relief, I heard Sara’s cry and knew that my young stepdaughter needed me.
He nodded. “But we’ll talk later, Elisa. After all,” he grinned, “we’re family now.”
My throat constricted slightly. “Yes, of course.”
~
As I hurried to Sara’s room, I felt torn between conflicting loyalties. Did Logan know that Morgan was working with Clay? It wasn’t that I was defending my husband, but the fact that he was my husband. And then again, I told myself that Logan was a murderer and deserved every punishment he got.
Yet I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
Scooping Sara out of her bed, I played with her, worked with her as I tried to teach her a few words and colors. Then I made her a simple lunch. But my mind was upstairs where Morgan still waited for my husband. I wondered if I should have left him alone in that office. Would he find anything that I hadn’t? Would he let me know if he found anything that would clear my brother?
The burning of the sausage brought me back to the present moment. It would take me time to get used to this more rugged way of cooking on the open hearth. None of the places I had lived in Chicago had had kitchens quite this large. But then from what I’d seen of Logan’s payroll, he practically had an army to feed.
As I made myself familiar with the kitchen, I assumed that Henry would continue cooking for the crew and that I would just take over the duties as they pertained to Sara, myself, and Logan.
And Logan... It was the heat of the fire, I told myself, that made me flush so. Yet for some odd reason, I could still feel his lips on mine and his body pressing towards me, manipulating me and commanding me with his very presence and making my body do things that I had never thought possible.
Logan's Land Page 13