The Cowboy’s Frontier Courtship

by Maya Stirling

  "What are you celebrating?" she asked.

  "Raising the barn, of course," Calum exclaimed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It doesn't happen every day of the year. Our old one is getting too small. We need a new one."

  "Okay." Kirsty handed the pie-filled plates to Connor and Sean. Both boys tucked in hungrily. Kirsty smiled when she saw the delight on the boys' faces.

  "Bridget says we don't need any excuse to celebrate," Calum said.

  "She's right," Kirsty admitted. Sitting down, she looked at Connor and Sean. "Are you boys going to help with the barn raising?"

  Connor nodded. "Pa says me and Sean can lend a hand."

  "And they're looking forward to it," Calum said. "Ain't that right."

  Having filled their mouths with more pie, all Sean and Connor could do was nod wordlessly.

  "We might even have some folks coming from town to help us," Calum revealed.

  "Really?" Kirsty replied, trying not to sound too interested. She wondered if that meant Logan and the children would be coming, too. "Maybe I can bring some food," she suggested.

  "Make sure you bring some pie," Calum told her and scooped more into his mouth. "So, will you be coming?" Calum asked, lifting a brow.

  Kirsty smiled at Calum and nodded. "I'll be there."

  Calum grinned. "Bridget will be pleased."

  "Tell her I can't wait," Kirsty added.

  Calum and the children finished eating their pie. Then it was time to head back out and resume work. As Kirsty cleaned things up in the kitchen area, she thought about the prospect of seeing Logan and the children on Saturday. Of course, he might not come, she told herself. She'd seen the way he'd looked at her before he'd left on Sunday. There had been disappointment in his eyes. And Calum had made no mention of Logan specifically. Kirsty asked herself if she was letting her imagination get the better of her. Best to push thoughts of Logan Kincaid out of her mind, she concluded.

  And then, with the cabin back in good order, she headed out to the fields to resume work.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  "Logan. Can I speak with you in private for a moment?" Robert Gannon murmured to Logan as both men emerged from the boardinghouse dining room having just eaten breakfast. It was Friday morning and Logan would soon be taking Jack and Alice to school. He didn't have much time, but Gannon's expression was serious.

  Logan paused in the hall at the foot of the stairs and looked at Gannon. "Sure."

  He smiled at fellow guests Lucille and Caroline Brown as they made their way past Logan and into the parlor. Robert's wife, Rebecca lifted a brow at her husband as she passed him by and went into the parlor to join Lucille and Caroline. Robert remained tight-lipped until his wife was in the parlor.

  Logan felt curiosity tug at him. Gannon wore a look of deep concern. "What's this about?" Logan asked.

  Gannon's eyes shifted toward the open parlor door. "Outside," he murmured and then headed for the front door. Both men made their way out to the porch. Gannon leaned his shoulder against the porch support. Logan took his place alongside Gannon, waiting to hear what the man had to say. It was a cool morning. Bird sounds hung on the air of the tree-lined street.

  Gannon leaned his head close to Logan and spoke quietly. "I thought you'd be interested to know something I found out. It's about that man, Haas. You know, the one you met in the land office the other day."

  Logan squinted at Gannon. "What about him?"

  Gannon frowned. "First. You have to understand that normally I wouldn't talk about this."

  "I know you have your professional duties, Robert. I understand that."

  Gannon sighed. "I appreciate that, Logan. But, I figured you need to know this. It's only right and proper that I tell you what I've found out."

  Logan's curiosity flamed into life. He turned to face Gannon. "Is it about Haas?"

  Gannon nodded. "And it concerns someone close to you."

  Logan peered at Gannon. "Who?

  "Miss Kirsty MacAnliss," Gannon murmured.

  Logan drew in a sharp breath. Gannon knew how close Logan and the children had become to Kirsty MacAnliss. All this week, at the boardinghouse dining table, the children hadn't stopped talking about Kirsty's homestead. That had led to some searching questions from Lucille and Caroline Brown regarding just how often Logan was planning on paying calls to the MacAnliss place.

  During other conversations with Robert Gannon, Logan had hinted to the land office man that his friendship with Kirsty was more than just a casual acquaintance. Logan figured Gannon was under no illusions about how much he liked the beautiful homestead owner.

  "What about Kirsty?" Logan asked breathlessly. "Is she in some kind of trouble?"

  Gannon looked thoughtful for a long moment. "Not immediately."

  Logan grasped Gannon's arm. "Tell me what you know, Robert."

  The other man looked steadily at Logan. "Haas came to the land office yesterday afternoon. He was in my boss's office for a long time. Voices were raised. And it wasn't just Haas doing the shouting." Gannon grinned. "My boss was holding his own, too." Gannon peered at Logan. "There's something about that man, Haas. Something I don't like."

  "What has he got to do with Kirsty?" Logan insisted abruptly.

  "Nothing to do with her personally," Gannon explained. "But plenty to do with the land she owns."

  "What are you talking about?" Logan demanded.

  Gannon tilted his head in the direction of the garden path and made his way down the porch steps. Logan followed Gannon who stepped onto the grass. It seemed like he didn't want anyone in the house overhearing what he was about to say.

  Gannon looked straight at Logan. "Haas is an absentee claim owner." Gannon paused, waiting for Logan's reaction. Logan didn't have a clue what Gannon was talking about.

  Logan could only frown. "What's that?"

  "There are men out West who make a living trading claims. They buy them at a discount from eager sellers who bought the land claims when they weren't worth much."

  "What's that got to do with Kirsty? Her pa and ma owned that land for years," Logan said.

  Gannon shook his head. "Seems like they didn't own it the way they thought they did."

  "Why?"

  Gannon sighed heavily. "Haas is claiming that the land belongs to him."

  "What!" Logan exclaimed. "That's impossible."

  Gannon frowned and then nodded. "It should be. But it ain't."

  "How can Haas claim he owns Kirsty's land?"

  Gannon's eyes narrowed. "It seems the land her homestead is on was originally purchased by a claim jumper who squatted on it years ago. Back then there was no way of enforcing claims legally. So, the government let folks claim land if they could show evidence they were intending to improve it."

  "So how did Haas get his hands on the claim?"

  Gannon peered at Logan. "He bought the claim."

  "How?"

  "That's the way Haas makes his living," Gannon explained. "He buys claims and then waits for them to become valuable. Sometimes for years. Then he moves in, makes his claim legal, and then sells it out from under the poor homesteader who thinks they've owned it all along."

  Logan grunted. "You're telling me Kirsty doesn't even own that land?" He could hardly believe what Gannon was saying.

  "She does." Gannon tilted his head. "And she doesn't," he added quickly.

  "What do you mean? Either its hers or it belongs to someone else." Logan dragged in an impatient breath. "Which is it?"

  "It depends," Gannon said.

  "On what?"

  "The only way Haas can enforce the claim is if the owner fails to meet certain conditions," Gannon said.

  "Like what?"

  Gannon suddenly looked uncomfortable. Logan wondered what the man was about to say. Whatever Gannon was thinking, it was making him sweat.

  "There's a technicality in the contract. In order to prove the claim, it has to be worked for a certain number of years."

  L
ogan nodded impatiently. "I know that. Five years. They have to work it for five years. And then it belongs to them. That applies to all the homesteaders."

  Gannon shook his head. "There's a catch. If the owner is a woman, alone, she can only hold onto the claim if she is a widow." Gannon paused for what seemed to Logan like an interminably long time. "Or if she is part of a family residing on the claim."

  Gannon's words hammered into Logan. He took a step back, feeling as if something hard had just slammed into him. He was silent for a few, long moments. Gannon was staring at Logan.

  Logan ran a hand through his hair. "Are you saying that Haas is going to exploit the fact that Kirsty is unmarried so he can take her homestead away?"

  Gannon swallowed. "I'm saying exactly that, Logan." The man's voice cracked with emotion. Logan figured Gannon knew how unfair this was. No, Logan snapped inside himself. It was more than unfair. It was unjust.

  "He can't be allowed to do that, Robert," Logan exclaimed.

  "He has the legal title, Logan," Gannon said. "He bought it years ago. It's old. But it is legal. If he wants to, he can enforce it."

  "And then what?" Logan snapped.

  "He'll probably sell it on to someone else. For a fat profit," Gannon added with obvious distaste.

  "Can't Kirsty offer to buy it from him?"

  Gannon lifted a brow. "You know Kirsty better than I do. Do you really think she'd do that? Even if she has the money, which I doubt she has."

  Logan knew Gannon was right. Haas would be looking for big money. More than Kirsty had at her disposal. Logan knew homesteaders were never rich. They certainly didn't have enough cash at hand to satisfy the likes of Haas.

  A thought crowded into Logan's mind. The only solution. "Then I'll buy it from Haas."

  Gannon's eyes widened. "You?"

  Logan nodded. "I have the money."

  "And then what? If you do end up owning the MacAnliss place, what are you going to do? What will Kirsty say? What will she do when she finds out you own the land she thinks belongs to her?"

  Logan groaned and then sighed loudly. Gannon was right. If he did that, there was so much that could go wrong. She might resent him. She may never forgive him. He could end up losing Kirsty forever. Logan thought of what that would mean to Jack and Alice. He'd already seen how disappointed they'd been staying away from the MacAnliss place during the last few days.

  His mind was like a battlefield. Chaotic thoughts warred with one another, making it impossible for Logan to figure out what he should do.

  "When is Haas planning on making his move?" Logans asked.

  Gannon rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "My boss told Haas to come back to the office on Monday. That's when it is all going to be finalized."

  "Monday?" Logan snapped. "That only gives us the weekend to come up with a way to stop Haas."

  "My boss did all he could to delay this. Haas wanted it all sown up by today. But it isn't going to happen."

  Logan rubbed a hand across his brow. "What can I do? I'm not going to stand by and let Haas rob Kirsty of everything she owns. Not because of some stupid bureaucrats in Washington."

  "Why don't you talk to Haas, yourself," Gannon suggested. "See if you can talk sense into him. Maybe he'll change his mind."

  Logan nodded. Gannon was right. Maybe Haas would respond to such an approach. But, the moment he said that to himself, Logan knew he was fooling himself.

  There was evil in the world. Men could be corrupted. Logan had seen plenty of that during his years drifting and working ranches. Haas was the kind of man who would take delight from enforcing his legal rights. Even if it caused misery to someone like Kirsty.

  Turning away from Gannon, Logan lifted up his heart and said a silent prayer.

  Lord. Help me find a way to save Kirsty. Give me the grace of understanding what to do. I love Kirsty with all my heart, Lord. And my children need a mother. They need a family. And Kirsty is the only woman who can offer that. I know that's why You brought her back into our lives, Lord. Help me, Lord.

  Gannon was watching Logan carefully, as if awaiting Logan's final decision.

  The answer came to Logan. As the idea drifted clearly into his mind, Logan felt his heart lift. A cautious delight spread its warmth throughout his being. Of course, he said to himself. It was the only way. The solution was staring him in the face.

  He laid a hand on Gannon's arm. "You said Haas can only enforce this contract if Kirsty is unmarried or isn't part of a family."

  Gannon nodded. "Yes. That's true."

  Logan lifted his head and grinned triumphantly. "Then I know what I need to do." Logan saw Gannon frown as he continued: "It looks like I'm the only person who can stop Haas from stealing what doesn't belong to him."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Kirsty left the homestead in the middle of Saturday morning. She'd spent the early hours working. Having secured the cabin, she hitched the horse to the buckboard and headed southward down the trail. It was just under an hours ride to the Shaughnessy place.

  As she drove the buckboard, holding tight onto the reins, she thought about what would be waiting for her at the Shaughnessy homestead. Many of the neighboring homesteaders would be there. She was looking forward to seeing them all again.

  However, one other person would be there. And she still wasn't sure how Logan Kincaid would greet her. She'd been frosty with him last weekend. Pushing him away had been a hard thing to do, but she'd felt it had been necessary. Especially since she was starting her life all over again. At least, that was what she'd been telling herself all week.

  Kirsty couldn't deny that her feelings for Logan had been growing steadily since he'd returned. The memory of the way he'd kissed her still made her heart quicken. And, if she was being honest with herself, during the last few days there had been plenty of times when she'd longed for his presence next to her. Especially during the evenings when she'd been alone in the cabin. That had been when the reality of her situation had struck home.

  She'd missed the sound of the children running around. Their laughter had been a great tonic these last weeks. And attending to their various needs had been a surprising source of delight to Kirsty. The cabin had felt empty this week. There was no way she could sugarcoat that fact.

  Lifting her head, Kirsty gazed out toward the forests on either side of the broad valley through which the trail cut. Her heart ached with the beauty of this place, she realized. She was still on her own land. At least she had that, she told herself. It was hers, but there was something missing. She knew what it was.

  Logan. The children. And them all together as a family. That was what was missing. It was a vision of happiness and contentment. After everything that had happened in the past weeks, she doubted it would ever come true.

  Narrowing her eyes, she saw a rider advancing toward her from the south. Growing up on the homestead had taught Kirsty to be cautious when it came to strangers. Her rifle was stowed beneath the buckboard seat.

  As the rider came closer, she saw that it was a man. Kirsty guessed he was aged in his forties. He was neatly dressed in a dark suit and waistcoat and wore a Derby hat. He looked more like someone used to city living, she reflected. As he drew closer, she saw his features. They were angular, with a thin nose, dark brows and high cheekbones. The man slowed his horse, clearly intending to stop and talk with Kirsty. She started to slow the buckboard. Drawing her shoulders back, she lifted her chin and peered at the man. Shifting her legs back a few inches, she felt the rifle press through her gown and against her legs.

  The man halted his horse. Kirsty drew the buckboard to a halt. The man lifted his hat and grinned. "Good morning ma'am." He glanced up at the blue sky. "Fine day, don't you think?"

  Kirsty forced herself to smile. "It sure is." She furrowed her brows. "I don't believe we've met, sir."

  "I'm just passing through," he said. Running his gaze around the valley, he sighed. "This sure is fine country. The kind of place a man would be pro
ud to own."

  Kirsty bristled slightly at that last remark. She noticed that the man hadn't offered his name. Drawing herself up, she stated: "This is my land, sir."

  "Your land?" the man exclaimed.

  Kirsty nodded. "I know this trail is used for access, by homesteaders around here and folks passing through on their way to town." Kirsty fixed her gaze upon the man. She felt her body tense. There was something about this man that bothered her. His casual manner contained a hint of menace.

  Peering into the man's dark eyes, Kirsty said boldly: "I'd be obliged if you'd move along."

  The man's features tightened. His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the pommel of his saddle. "You'd be obliged if I'd get off your land?" he said slowly. "Is that so."

  The tone of his voice had changed. Gone was the jovial, cheerful tone. Now the menace in his voice was unmistakable. Kirsty didn't like it one bit. She pressed her legs against the rifle. The prospect of reaching down to lift the rifle filled her with dread. But she'd do it if she had to.

  She saw the pistol at the man's waist and knew he'd be quicker than her.

  The man tugged on his reins and shifted his mount a few feet closer to Kirsty's buckboard. Now he was looming over her, she could see the darkness in his gaze. There was cruelty there, she told herself. Kirsty's breath hitched in her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm. She was determined not to show fear to the man. He looked like the kind who would take pleasure from someone else's pain.

  "I guess you don't know who I am, Miss MacAnliss, do you?" he murmured.

  "How do you know my name?" Kirsty demanded.

  The man grinned. "I know a whole lot more than you'd think about this place." He lifted a brow. "And about you."

  Kirsty rested her left hand against the seat. From there, the rifle was only inches away. Maybe she could get a hold of it fast enough. Before this man had a chance to pull his pistol from the holster.