Elizabeth headed straight to the kitchen, where all the activity was going on. The wonderful aroma made her feel like she hadn’t eaten in weeks. “Morning.” She called out, the staff and White Dove turned amused.
“Well good evening Esa.” White Dove answered. Elizabeth felt a bit embarrassed.
“Urr yes sorry. The journey and everything must have caught up with me, how can I help.”
White Dove smiled. “We have it all in hand, but if you wish, you could lay the table with Ellen.”
Elizabeth went into the lounge and there was Ellen. Joe’s daughter laying the table.
“Hi Ellen, let me help you.” Elizabeth worked quietly alongside her, only asking after her family and chatting about school. White Dove came into the lounge and called to her.
“Esa, would you take a tray to Red Wolf?” Elizabeth wanted to say yes, but found that she could not. White Dove saw her struggle.
“Oh I just remembered, I need to take something up, so I can do it myself.” Elizabeth sighed with relief that only White Dove could see. And mouthed the words ‘Thank you.’
Elizabeth turned and walked towards Ben as he came in the door along with others who’d arrived for dinner.
“Well.” He said. “About time you got up.” He told her smiling as he crossed to kiss his niece. “How you feeling love?”
“I’m just fine Ben, thank you.” She gave him a hug.
“I’ve sent a report to the Sheriff with some of the lads and the brother. He sent a note back to say he’ll be out in a day or two. The Doctor will be out tomorrow too.” Elizabeth nodded placing her head on his shoulders as she walked with him back into the dining room.
“What will happen to the younger brother Ben?” Elizabeth asked him. “Billy? He’s ok. Good lad I think just been led wrong. I’ve offered him a job if that’s ok with you. He didn’t mean you any harm and I feel we could do something to help the boy. He needs an education and we can give him one. He has nothing and no one now.”
Elizabeth nodded. “That’s all right by me.”
“Good, where’s White Dove?” Elizabeth explained that she was taking a tray to Red Wolf.
Ben nodded “Well let’s eat.” And dinner was served.
The conversation as expected was around the events of the previous evening. Elizabeth couldn’t hide from that. Everyone knew and people liked to talk. She did her best not to be drawn on the subject. Particularly the part where she had actually shot someone.
Elizabeth struggled with knowing she’d taken a life. She couldn’t get her head around that or the fact that Red Wolf had been injured.
Sensing her unease, those around the table left her alone. Although she hadn’t eaten all day and had been starving when she’d woken, suddenly she didn’t feel particularly hungry and picked at her food. So many thoughts and images of the past 3 days came to mind and not for the first time, did Elizabeth think, that maybe she could have done something differently. That maybe she should have stayed East.
Those thoughts continued after dinner and into the night. Elizabeth drifted in and out of the conversation. She didn’t notice when several family friends said good night. It was only as Ben was turning down the lights that Elizabeth realised how late it was.
“Sorry Ben, I’ve not been much company tonight.”
“That’s ok, it’s been a tough home coming girl. By the way, those two new hands you sent over from Brownsville, look like they’ll work out just fine.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Oh, good I wasn’t sure they’d come.”
“Well they did and look ok”. Elizabeth nodded.
“Goodnight honey don’t stay up too long.” Ben bent to kiss her.
“I won’t.” White Dove then bent down to kiss her goodnight as well. As she did she whispered squeezing her hand.
“He would like to see you.” Elizabeth looked at her and acknowledged it. No more words needed. They left her.
Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to go up just yet. All that extra sleep she guessed. Instead she found herself walking outside. The breeze was cool and welcoming. She strolled the veranda running her hands over the bannister, then crossed the yard to the corral.
Her pony came to her. “Hay Patches.” She whispered and rubbed his nose. He whinnied at her.
“He likes you.” Elizabeth turned to see the new hand, sitting against some straw.
She’d hadn’t seen him as she’d walked passed. “I should hope so, or my next ride could be a tough one.” Elizabeth said as she turned back to the Pony.
“How’s your brother doing?” he asked.
“Luckily he’ll live.” She replied stroking and whispering to Patches.
“Billy, the boy’s brother, he’s a good kid. I’ve been working with him all day. I don’t think you have anything to fear from him.” He offered.
Elizabeth turned and for the first time actually looked at him. For him, it was an unsettling experience. She took no prisoners and took his measure in no time.
“I’m sorry, I forget your name,” she said apologetically.
“I’m Carl, my friend is Buddy.”
Elizabeth gave him a half smile. “Oh yes Buddy I remember now.” And added, “thank you for your thoughts on Billy, my Uncle has already discussed it with me, but it’s reassuring to hear it from one of the hands too.”
Carl thought it unusual for an owner to care much about what a hand thought or not. It was nice to be thanked. “Not a problem mam.” He told her watching her.
Elizabeth patted Patches once more. “Well, goodnight Carl I hope you like it here.” She told him and headed for the house.
Carl watched her leave. Every time he saw her, she surprised him. Elizabeth entered the house to find Ben waiting for her.
“Everything alright?” He asked.
“Yes sorry, I did not mean to keep you up.” She told him.
“You didn’t.” He said. “I thought I should came and talk about what you are going to do around here, considering everything, I think you should take an active role sooner rather than later, what do you say?”
Elizabeth smiled. “I’d like that, could you put something together for me for tomorrow and perhaps we could take it from there.” She told him enthusiastically.
Ben nodded. “Sounds like a plan. Sleep well, you’ve got an early start.”
“I will and thanks Ben.” Ben turned and walked up stairs, Elizabeth watched him go and considered he was right. Elizabeth picked up the last few glasses left about and went into the kitchen.
Putting the glasses on the side, she ran the tap and got a fresh glass and filled it with water. Suddenly hungry, Elizabeth went to the cold store and decided to make a sandwich.
She then remembered that White Dove had said to check in with Red Wolf. And she made two. She threw away the water and filled two glasses with milk. She smiled. If felt a bit like old times.
Not once did she consider that Red Wolf would be asleep and not be awake for her. She climbed the stairs and balanced the tray on the hall stand. Opened the door and peeped in. He was sitting up in bed reading a book. Another surprise. Looking like a small boy with a new toy.
Elizabeth smiled. “Hello, want some company?” She asked. Red Wolf dropped the book and looked at her.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
“Sorry, I got distracted and went out to Patches,” she replied.
“Yes I saw you.” Elizabeth hid her surprise. What was he doing out of bed?
“Hungry?” She asked him and popped her head back out the door and came back in with the tray and a huge grin on her face. Red Wolf laughed softly.
He couldn’t remember the last ‘pic nic’ he’d had and in bed too! Elizabeth put the tray on her writing desk. And put the napkin around his chin and the glass of milk on the night stand, along with hers. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she looked at him and suddenly laughed.
“You look more like a small child than a brave fearless warrior.”
“O Reall
y?” He joined in. Grabbing her waist and lifting her bodily from her sitting position across the bed to a prone one on the other side of him in one easy movement and held her fast. The effort clearly cost him dear and he winced more than once. “What about now?” He said breathing heavy.
Elizabeth had squalled with laughter and gave mock horror look. It did feel like old times. Innocent and playful. She failed to notice the instinctive change in him, the way he looked at her, his weight upon her. She gazed up at him and realised he was pinning her down and had gone very quiet. The child had gone. The warrior was back.
Red Wolf let go of her hands, shifted his weight and looked away from her.
“You should get up.” He told her gruffly.
Elizabeth lifted her right hand and drew his face back to her.
“Do I scare you warrior.” She asked mimicking him from earlier. Red Wolf stared at her.
“Yes and I scare myself. Get up.” Red Wolf rolled back and pushed himself up on his pillows. He hurt. Not just physically.
Elizabeth got off the bed and walked around to the tray. Picking up one of the sandwiches she passed it to him. They ate in silence till almost finished. Elizabeth looked up.
“White Dove spoke to me yesterday and said some strange things. She also mentioned that I was not treating you like my brother.”
Red Wolf nodded between bites. “She spoke to me too. Reminded me that I should treat you like my sister.”
Elizabeth looked back at her sandwich and put it down. Getting up and passed Red Wolf his milk. He took it.
“I’m sorry.” She said walking to the window. “This is all my fault. I don’t know how this happened. Maybe I should have stayed back East. It’s funny, the last couple of years all I could think about was coming home, being here, seeing everyone, seeing you and now, it feels like things seemed an awful lot easier back there.” She told him. Elizabeth turned from the window and looked at him.
Red Wolf stared back at her, the food forgotten. She couldn’t move. She felt like a dove caught in a trap.
He hissed sitting forward. “How would that have made things easier. If you had not come home. I would have coming looking for you. You’re in my blood Esa, you always have been since the first day I saw you. I was only half alive the years you were gone. Going through the motions, waiting, forever waiting. Ignoring my obligations to the tribe. Waiting at the crossroads thinking today she’ll come. And when at last you did, I thought I would burst from the joy of it.”
Elizabeth thought a man had never spoken more movingly to her. No poetry could match those words. How was she to respond? Anything she could say would seem feeble by comparison. Did she have a declaration to make? There were words she wanted to tell him but feared what that would mean. Her courage left her.
“It’s getting late, you should sleep. I have a date with Ben first thing in the morning. I am to take on some of the responsibility of this place.” She told him.
“Good you need to.” His gazed never left her. Elizabeth swallowed and walked to the door, opening it.
“Sleep well.” She told him as she walked through it, before she said something she couldn’t take back.
Red Wolf watched her leave. Before she closed the door behind her he called out to her. It wasn’t easy to let her go.
“Esa, we play a dangerous game. There are things I want from you. Things that would change our lives. I need to know. What do you want to do?” They both knew he wasn’t talking about the ranch.
“I.... don’t know, I just need some time.” Her words a sad reminder that still, nothing was settled.
***
Elizabeth had to be up in 5 hours and headed for the guest room. Red Wolf would be in her room for the next week. She was resigned to letting him have it.
And surprised just how much she missed it already, although she’d only been back a few days. The down side she realised, would be that Red Wolf would be gone once she got it back. She liked the idea of him in the house. She closed her eyes and brushed that thought away. She couldn’t think about that. It was too difficult to deal with and sooner or later, she would have to answer him.
Elizabeth opened her door and got ready for bed. Sleep came easy and before she knew it White Dove was waking her.
“Esa, time to get up.” Elizabeth got out of bed washed, dressed and went down stairs and got ready for the day.
Ben was sitting at the table having breakfast, giving instructions to the lead hands who had joined him. Most half stood as she came in. Elizabeth greeted them, telling them to sit and sat down herself.
She watched and listened. It set the pattern for the next week. Elizabeth rose early. As her body clock clicked in. She got herself up, washed, dressed and downstairs for breakfast in time to listen to Ben give instructions.
She followed where he sent her and, in the evenings, they discussed the stock and the land and made plans for the coming day.
It was a reminder of how hard ranch life was. It was rare to have visitors and Elizabeth was glad of it when they had some. She remained away from Red Wolf. Stopping nightly at his door, or rather her door. To wish him good night and leaving quickly. She knew she was avoiding him and putting off the inevitable, but she could not help it. She wasn’t ready.
On the fifth day of Red Wolfs convalescence, the Dr came back to check him.
“Well young man that wound is mending well enough. You can start getting up tomorrow”.
“Thanks Doc that’s great.”
“Not too much mind ok or you’ll put the stitches and have to start again.” He told him. To Red Wolf this was great news, he could not stay in this room much longer surrounded by everything that was Elizabeth. It had been driving him crazy.
Next morning, to Elizabeth’s surprise Red Wolf came in from the yard and joined them.
“Feeling better?” She asked. Red Wolf looked at her and nodded and sat down. ‘So’, she thought, back to not talking. Maybe that was better.
“Elizabeth, I think it would be a good idea if you work on the West section. There’s some fencing to be done there can you check it out and some herding. You’ll be out for a couple of days. The horses in that section need to come in”. She nodded at Ben.
“Red Wolf I want you to take it easy, take the South bring the horses through the West section pick up any stragglers you find. Meet Elizabeth’s and bring them all in, no heroics and don’t overdo it.”
Red Wolf nodded got up and left.
She watched him go. “Elizabeth you ok with that?” Ben asked her
“Sounds fine.” She told him. Getting up she dropped a peck on his cheek and walked out the door, while grabbing her hat and gloves.
The horses were packed and her men were waiting for her. ‘God I love this’ she thought as she acknowledged Black Dog who passed her her reins. She mounted and noticed that one of the hands with her was Carl, she nodded to him and they rode out.
It would take most of the day to reach the fencing. Elizabeth split the men in two parties, half went to round up the herd including Carl, the other half stayed with her to fix the fence. She arranged to meet them at the bluff to camp for the night then push for home the next working.
Working with the men had been easier than she’d expected. At first, she’d worried that the men wouldn’t listen to her. The Indians were her men and the hands had come to respect her. She guessed that at the end of the day, she was the boss. They reached the boundary and started riding along it. The day moved quickly. They mended and patched with what they had on them. Added new wire to bring broken pieces together. They found three sections in all. As darkness started to creep in, they mounted for the bluff. The herd was nearly in when Black Dog came looking for her.
“Esa, we are done here. Tomorrow we go get horses.”
“Ok how many men do we need?” Elizabeth asked him.
“Three maybe four.”
“Pick three. I’ll be coming with you.” Black Dog looked at her nodded and left.
&nbs
p; They made camp. The coffee was hot and the rations cold. It didn’t matter. The sky was clear and the world was alive around her.
Rousted early at day break. Elizabeth did her toilette and joined the others for coffee. Broke camp and Black Dog appeared with his three men. To her surprise one was Carl. Elizabeth gave instructions to the other hands on moving the herd down.
They rode up into the high country. After a while, Carl moved up and rode beside her. They rode in silence then curiosity got the better of her and she had ask.
“Tell me Carl, how did Black Dog happen to pick you and not another brave?”
“I kinda volunteered mam.” He told her.
She looked at him surprised. “Volunteered Carl?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, I saw what was happening and guessed we’d have to move to get the horses first thing and it was obvious he would be sorting it out. So I went up to him and said I should come along.”
“I see,” said Elizabeth. “And why would you do that Carl?”
“Well the best view is right here mam.”
Elizabeth turned to stare at him. “Are you being fresh Mr. Steiner?”
Carl smiled. “Sure hope so mam.” Turning he headed back behind Black Dog. Elizabeth tried to hide the smile on her face. She did it poorly. She liked him.
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