Becky had just finished her bacon and eggs when a grinning Ryan strode in and came straight up to her. “Good morning, Mrs. Mulligan.” His eyes gleamed. Laughter lurked in his voice. He sat opposite her, picked up her hand and said. “I wish we were still in bed. Tonight we’ll make love under a canopy of stars.”
Excited heat surged through her at the thought of what they could do out there. He gave a deep chuckle, as if he read her thoughts and liked them.
She poured him out a coffee and he helped himself to a flap-jack.
“Have you had breakfast?”
“Yeah, before I fronted the bank. They’re going to telegraph the bank in Dyson’s Creek, they have a branch there, so I’ll be able to pay for the ranch without having to come back here.”
“What if it’s not suitable?”
“I’m confident it will be. If not, there’s always Montana. If the owners are eager to sell we should get it for a good price. With the gold and my savings, we might be able to pay for it outright. It already has stock on it.” His wide smile lit up his face. “We’re going to have a fine life together.”
“I’d live quite happily in a shack with you Ryan.”
“I wouldn’t allow you to.” He squeezed her hand. “I want to make it up to you for the hard time you’ve had since your mother died.”
He took a long swallow of his coffee. “I’ve bought you a horse, it’s hitched up outside with mine. All we have to do is call in on Alf and Maude and collect our supplies. I want to travel as light as we can. Once everything is sorted with the ranch, I’ll take you into Dyson’s Creek so you can buy yourself a few feminine fripperies.”
She leaned across and kissed him. His lips were warm, tasting slightly of coffee. He returned her kiss then pulled away. “If we keep this up,” he said huskily. “I’ll have to take you back upstairs.”
“I wouldn’t mind.”
He growled deep in his throat. “Unfortunately, we have to be off, but tonight we’ll make up for it. I promise.”
Becky waited near the front door while Ryan paid their bill, then arm in arm, they stepped out into the street.
“This is yours.” Ryan sauntered up to a placid looking bay mare. “What do you think?”
“She looks good.” It wasn’t a pretty horse, a bit too nondescript, but she certainly wasn’t crow bait.
“She’ll be a perfect mount for a long trip,” Ryan said. “I checked her out and she’s very sound. If you want something prettier when we get to the ranch, I’ll buy another one for you. She’ll be a handy work horse.”
He ran his hand across the mare’s coal black mane. “I debated about getting a pack horse, but decided it would slow us down.” Ryan was eager to be on his way. He obviously wanted this ranch badly, and had high hopes for it.
She didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm, but what if it wasn’t suitable? Maybe it had already been sold?
They mounted and rode the short distance to the mercantile. Hardly had they dismounted and tied their horses to the hitching rail when Alf trotted toward them, with Maude a couple of paces behind him.
“Good morning.” Alf grinned. “Everything go well last night?”
“Yeah, it did,” Ryan said.
Becky felt hot all over when Alf gave a knowing wink.
“Oh, leave them alone,” Maude chided as she kissed Becky’s cheek.
“Sorry,” Alf said. “I couldn’t resist. Ryan always said he’d never get hitched. I’ve got everything ready for you.”
“Thanks. How much do we owe you?”
“Nothing.” Alf clapped Ryan on the back.
“Oh, no,” Becky said. “It’s kind of you, but…”
“Look on it as our wedding gift to you,” Maude said. “Ryan has done us many a good turn.”
“Yeah,” Alf agreed. “If you find yourself a bit short when it comes to the ranch, don’t borrow from the bank, those varmints will rob you blind. I’ll be happy to loan you any shortfall. We’ve got a few dollars put aside.”
“Thanks, I appreciate the offer, but I should have enough funds.” Ryan filled their saddlebags. The men shook hands. Maude kissed both Becky and Ryan.
Becky was sorry to leave this friendly couple. “What nice people they are,” she said as they mounted their horses.
“Yeah, I’ve known Alf for about ten years. I was his deputy for a while.”
“He was a sheriff?”
‘Yeah, but he gave it up after their son was born. He was a twin, but the other one was stillborn. Maude nearly died having them, and the surviving baby was sickly for a couple of years. When the chance came to buy the mercantile, Alf jumped at it. We’ve kept in touch on and off over the years. Don’t worry, we’ll visit them from time to time.”
“I’m glad you have such lovely friends. Amy, my only real friend at school, except for Jase, left Blackwood when she married Steve. They were heading off to Oregon when their wagon train was attacked by Indians. There were no survivors. I would have been with them, but Wes wouldn’t let me go.”
“We’ll have a good life together, my love, I promise.”
They took it fairly easy for the first few hours. The terrain was quite rocky and steep in places as they passed through the Broken Hills, a ragged, tree covered range full of valleys and plateaus.
After stopping for lunch, they stretched out on the ground and enjoyed the fried chicken and biscuits Maude had provided. A creek bubbled close by. Such isolation and aloneness, they could no more ignore their need than they could tame the weather that brought snow to the highest peaks in winter.
With a soft carpet of leaves, and sheltered by towering trees their desire ran rampant. They came together with a searing explosion of passion that left them spent when it was over.
After a time, Ryan kissed her on the forehead and said with regret edging his voice. “Time we got going.”
Becky didn’t want to leave their soft little love nest, but knew they had to.
“There’s always tonight,” he promised as he took her hands and hauled her to her feet.
***
For two days they rode at a steady pace, and as the mountains gave way to flat grassland, they finally arrived at the ranch. Tired and dusty, they passed under a sign saying ‘Horse Shoe Bend.’
While Ryan scrutinized the several neatly fenced paddocks and well cared for stock, Becky’s eyes were riveted on the cabin. An elderly couple greeted them as they rode into the front yard and dismounted.
“Howdy, I’m Ryan Mulligan and this is my wife, Becky.”
“Howdy, I’m Ted Elliot and my wife, Ethel.”
“We’ve come to look at the ranch. I heard from the preacher in Broken Hills that you wanted to sell.”
“I’ve been expecting ya. The preacher saw my cousin and told him about ya being interested. My cousin telegraphed me.”
“Come inside. Bet you could do with a coffee,” Ethel said.
“Yes, I could thank you,” Becky said. “I’m bone weary.”
Mrs. Elliot seemed a kind, if sickly looking woman, her husband a little standoffish. They entered the coolness of the cabin. It was the first thing Becky noticed after travelling for so long in the hot sun. The place was clean, the parlor quite large and furnished with dark furniture.
Ethel who appeared friendlier than her somewhat taciturn husband invited them to sit down while she went off to get the coffee.
“After our coffee, I’ll show ya the place,” Ted said. “Then ya can wander around by ya self. I want a quick sale.”
“If I like the place and we can negotiate a fair price, I can give you cash.”
“Good, I want to get out of here as quick as I can. Ethel.” He glanced around to make sure his wife wasn’t present. “Isn’t well. She wants to go and live near our son in Boston. He’s a lawyer, married to a nice gal, and she’s got a brother there also. Wants to be near the grand kids for as long as she’s got.”
“I’m sorry.” Becky didn’t know what else to say.
&nbs
p; Ted shrugged. “Ya can’t change the hand fate deals ya.” Becky certainly couldn’t argue with that.
Ethel returned with coffee and cake. The only time she showed any enthusiasm was when she spoke about her son and two granddaughters. Her melancholy eyes lit up, her sickly skin gained a little color.
After the men left, Ethel showed Becky around. The kitchen contained a table and chairs. A reasonably new stove was set into a large fireplace. There was a good sized pantry.
Upstairs, the loft area had been turned into sleeping quarters, a large main bedroom and a smaller one. Becky was impressed with everything.
“What do you think of it?” Ethel asked, when they returned to the parlor.
“I could be happy here. I hope Ryan likes what he sees, and we can afford to buy it.”
“We’re eight miles out of town. Oh, there’s a well out the back and a creek running through the property. I never really liked being a rancher’s wife. I come from Boston, and I want to spend the last of my days there with my family. Ted has problems with his heart, so the place is too much for him. Not that the stubborn old coot will admit it.”
“What are the townsfolk like?” Becky asked.
“Mostly family people, hard-working folk. It’s quiet and we don’t have any trouble.” She shrugged her thin shoulders. They lapsed into silence. When it got too much for Becky she said. “Do you have any pictures of your granddaughters?”
“Yes, I do.” Ethel suddenly showed some enthusiasm. “I’ll show you.” She shuffled over to the dresser and opened a drawer and pulled out several pictures. “This is Amy.” She pointed to a girl of about ten. “The younger one is Beatrice.” There was a picture of her son with a plump, happy looking woman by his side.
“What a lovely family,” Becky said.
“My son is a lawyer you know, so is my brother. They work together now. They drew up all the papers for us. If your husband wants the place, we can finalize everything with the bank manager as witness, then we can go within a few days. I’m leaving everything behind except for a few personal items.”
A grinning Ryan returned with a relieved looking Ted.
“I’m buying the place,” Ryan said. Becky felt a twinge of hurt because he hadn’t consulted her. “That’s what you want isn’t it?”
“Yes, of course it is.” She couldn’t dampen his enthusiasm.
“We best be off now,” Ryan said. “Ted will meet us at the bank tomorrow morning to do all the paper work.”
“Ya be getting a good ranch,” Ted said. “I’ll be sad to leave it.”
“I won’t be,” Ethel retorted. “It’s impossible for us to stay here. You know that.”
The couple saw them out, standing on the porch waving as they rode off.
“What did you think of the cabin,” Ryan asked.
“Nice. It’s quite large. They turned the loft into a main bedroom, and there’s a smaller child’s bedroom.”
“Only one? We’ll need more than that,” he predicted with a confident grin. “I plan on us having a few kids.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“And darlin’, we’ll have a lot of fun making them.”
They reached the sign at the entrance to the ranch and reigned in. Edging Brandy closer, Ryan reached across and kissed Becky on the mouth. Eagerly she returned his caress.
They sat in silence, soaking up the peace and serenity, with just the lowing of cattle and tweeting of birds to break the stillness. This was the start of a new life for both of them. Ryan had succeeded in his lifelong dream to own a ranch, and was beholden to no man. For her, to be cherished by such a loving husband, erased the years of pain and humiliation.
“Come on,” he said, let’s head into town and find ourselves a hotel room for the night. I’m anxious for you.”
“Tomorrow, and for thousands of tomorrows to come, we’ll live happily ever after,” she predicted with new found confidence.
They rode out under the archway of their new home and on to the road leading into town.
Epilogue :
Two years later.
Mid-afternoon on a fine spring day. Becky had just brought in the washing. Twelve month old Anna was taking a nap, which gave her a free hour or so in which to do what she wished. Often as not, she curled up on the sofa and read a book, or did the painstaking embroidery she enjoyed.
Her time, Ryan always said. He was a good husband and father, not to mention lover. Her toes curled just thinking about the passion they shared every night.
Glancing out the parlor window she noticed a rider heading her way. Who could it be? They weren’t expecting visitors. Ryan was inspecting another ranch, which was shortly coming up for sale.
Becky stepped out on to the porch and shaded her eyes against the sun. As the rider came closer, he looked vaguely familiar. When he dismounted from his sweat stained horse in the front yard, she recognized Jase Mulligan. What was he doing here? Had something happened to his father?
“Jase.” She took a tentative step toward him. He hadn’t changed much except he wore an air of maturity not present before. Dusty and travel-worn, he was still a handsome man. Not a patch on Ryan, though.
Her heartbeat remained steady. She had always wondered how she would feel if they ever met again. Now she knew – nothing out of the ordinary.
“Well, Becky.” He swept off his hat and leapt up the steps. “Just look at you. Being married to Ryan obviously suits you.” He leaned down and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek.
“Come inside,” she invited. They had parted in bitterness, but she didn’t hold a grudge. He was Ryan’s brother, and had once been her friend. That was the problem, two years ago she had wanted him to be more than a friend.
“Ryan said you had a nice place, and you have.” He glanced around the parlor.
“You’ve been talking to Ryan?”
“No. He wrote telling me about the baby. He was so proud and excited. Where is she?”
“Asleep, but she’ll be awake soon.”
“I can’t wait to meet her.”
He followed her out into the kitchen and leaned with one hip against the table, arms folded across his chest. “Pa’s dead.”
“How sad for you.” She couldn’t express any sorrow over Vaughan’s passing, it would be sheer hypocrisy.
“Wes is gone, too.”
“Oh!”
“Yeah, you know what those two were like, always hatching and plotting. There latest idea was making whiskey.”
She poured out the coffee, and placed several biscuits on a plate.
“They were plum loco, set up a still in Wes’ barn, of all places. It blew up and took them with it.”
God forgive her but she wasn’t sorry they were gone. “What about Lucinda, she would have been distraught.”
“I don’t know about that. She’s married to a wealthy Boston business man. Didn’t even come back for Wes’ funeral. Sold up everything Wes owned within a few weeks.”
“She was always shallow and selfish. Sorry, Jase, I know you cared for her.”
“I thought I loved her, but after you left she dumped me and returned to Boston. On reflection, I think I had a lucky escape.” He gave a rueful laugh. “I chose the wrong sister, didn’t I?”
“All water under the bridge now. I love Ryan and he’s made me the happiest gal in the whole territory.”
“Yeah, well that’s what he says about you, too.”
A wail came from the bedroom. “Ah, your niece is awake. Go into the parlor and I’ll bring her down to you.”
Becky darted upstairs and scooped the baby out of her bed. “Ooh.” She cuddled her close, savoring the baby scent. Once in her mother’s arms Anna gave a dribbling smile. “Come and see your uncle Jase.”
Jase made to stand up when she entered the parlor.
“Stay seated. What do you think?” She set Anna on the floor, and without a moment of hesitation, the baby toddled toward Jase, her arms outstretched. He could still draw the women
in.
“Who is this auburn haired cherub?” He picked her up and sat her on his knee. Anna didn’t have much hair but what she did have was reddish blonde. She had pale green eyes, and Becky’s heart swelled with motherly pride.
Jase soon had the baby smiling and gurgling at him.
“You’ll stay here with us for a few days, won’t you?”
“Thanks, but after I’ve spoken with Ryan I’ll…”
“After you’ve spoken with me, you’ll do what?” Ryan strode into the room. Anna squealed with delight on seeing her father, and he scooped her out of his brother’s arms.
“How’s my beautiful gal going?” He grinned. “My two beautiful gals.” He stepped over to Becky and rested an arm across her shoulder. “I’m a lucky man, Jase. I’ve got the two best looking gals for miles around.”
Jase grinned. “Yeah, you have.”
“Look after your daughter.” Becky smiled as she stepped away. “You’ve got her totally ruined. I’ll get you a coffee.”
Ryan gave her a light tap on the backside as she passed by.
As she returned with Ryan’s coffee, he said. “That’s bad about Pa. I expected his heart to give out and that would be it.”
Becky lifted Anna out of Ryan’s arms so he could drink his coffee in peace.
“Why don’t you sell the ranch and buy a spread here,” Ryan suggested.
“I’ve already sold it.”
Ryan took a gulp of coffee and almost choked on it.
“The people who bought Wes’ spread made me a good offer so I took it. Half the money is yours.”
“Thanks, but you don’t have to do that.”
“Of course, I do.” Jase dragged his fingers through his hair. “Pa never should have signed it over to me. It wasn’t fair, you did more work on the place than I ever did.”
“Too late for recriminations. Don’t go back to Blackwood. There’s nothing there for you now. Stay here with Becky and me.”
“I’ve been debating about starting up a business,” Jase said. “You know how I always liked carpentry when we were kids. Made to order furniture, one of a kind stuff. What do you think?”
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