Chapter Five
Over the next couple of months Miranda and Rowan exchanged letters on a regular basis. The more she knew about the man, the more she liked him.
His last letter held undertones of anxiety, as his ranching friend and boss had moved to Colorado Springs for health reasons. Rowan had asked her to marry him and promised to send her a telegram with the two dates most suitable for him. All she had to do was choose the one she wanted and let him know so he could make the arrangements for the wedding in Mountview.
Things were becoming even more intolerable here and she would be glad to leave. Jacob had married Helen who reigned like an evil medieval queen at the house, doing nothing except issuing orders and complaining. Jacob might like being bossed around, but not her.
In the end, Miranda could stand it no longer, and moved to the barn loft, which she had made comfortable enough for herself. She did her cooking over an open fire or ate at the diner in town now Helen no longer worked there. They could not go on like this. Once winter came, the bitterly cold winds blowing directly into the barn from the mountain ranges would end up freezing her. If she got desperate, she could always move to the old cabin they used for casual cowhands during busy times as a last resort.
Each day she had started calling in at the telegraph office only there was nothing from Rowan. She couldn’t understand why he hadn’t sent word like he promised. Had he decided he didn’t want to marry her? Found someone else? Surely, he would have had the decency to let her know.
This one particular day as she passed by the bank, Jacob came out. “Oh good,” he said. “I wanted to see you.”
“She let you off the leash, did she?”
“I’ve told Clem to organize for you to have my share of the ranch. He’ll fix everything.”
Clem Justice not only owned the bank but was also an attorney at law. She had clashed with him a few times. She knew he disliked her, and the feeling was mutual.
“You did?”
“Yeah? Helen and I are all packed and ready to leave town.”
“What! You can’t. How can I run the ranch on my own?”
“That’s your problem, not mine.” She could scarcely believe this hard-faced man was her brother.
“We’re catching the midday train.”
“But Jacob, the ranch is your heritage.”
“Not anymore. If you follow Clem’s conditions, the ranch will be all yours. Helen doesn’t like living here. And you know why. Don’t you?”
“No, I don’t. She’s the one who has treated me badly.”
“I’m not prepared to argue with you anymore, Miranda. Clem said he will see you tomorrow morning to discuss things.”
“What about the loan you took out when you married Helen?”
“What about it? You’ll have to pay the bank back.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You take over the loan and Clem will arrange for you get my share of the ranch.”
“What are you going to do with the money you borrowed?”
“We need it to set us up somewhere else.”
“Jacob, please.”
“You sort out all the finer details with Clem. I’ve washed my hands of the place and you.” He turned on his heel and strode off, leaving her feeling as if she had just survived a whipping. She started to run after him, then stopped. What was the use? She could pay back the money he borrowed, even if it meant getting a job in town to do so. At least she could move back to the ranch house now.
She would thoroughly clean it before moving in. Helen was lazy and had let the place get in a mess.
She was tempted to go in and see Clem at the bank now, then decided not to. If he said tomorrow morning, it’s what he meant. He was so rigid and pedantic, particularly when it involved women, who he thought were only put on the earth to do housework and give their husbands children.
They were lucky really. The ranch was only four miles out of town and set well back from the road to ensure privacy. They were surrounded by rugged mountains, and the twenty thousand cleared acres was enough for a good living. The valleys were lush. This was where the special grass was according to Otto the cheesemaker. If she had enough help to run a herd of dairy cows again, it could be quite a profitable venture. As it was now, she would have to hire a few ranch hands to help at busy times.
There again, if she married Rowan, he would expect her to move to his ranch. Maybe it was a good thing he had failed to follow up with the telegram like he promised? She could stay here now Helen was gone and run the ranch the way she saw fit.
Thankfully, she had never got around to writing to Rowan to find out why he had not sent the telegram as promised. If he did make contact, she would deal with the issue as it arose. Still, it was a despicable thing to do. Imagine if she had been some poor, desperate woman who had nowhere to live and had been banking on him doing the right thing by her.
She mounted her mare, Audrey, and rode out of town. She was a docile, chestnut horse, who had only ever foaled once. It had been a difficult birth and Miranda surmised she must have suffered too much internal damage to get pregnant again.
On arrival at Kingston Ranch, she squinted at the sun, probably around mid-morning by her reckoning, plenty of time to get the house cleaned up. She rode over to the barn, dismounted and unsaddled her mare. “Well, Audrey, I won’t be sorry to move back to the house.” She glanced up at the loft area. There was potential, if someone had the carpentry skills, to build a proper room out here. She released the mare to join the other horses. Jacob would probably leave the buckboard at the livery and she could pick it up tomorrow.
Their house was old, the upright boards weathered to silver by the elements as were the wooden roof shingles. It was in good condition, which is why Helen’s suggestion to pull it down was stupid. The porch wrapped around the house on four sides. In the front were two wicker chairs and a few pot plants. There were tall shrubs in the front yard and a lavender hedge. Around the back was the kitchen entrance which she used most of the time.
Pa had built a small room on the back which they used as their washing room. To save space, the hip bath hung on a wall hook when not in use. It was a comfortable house and so familiar she could find her away around on the darkest of nights.
The moment she stepped inside and saw the state of the kitchen, anger surged through her. Dishes had been left on the table and the stove had not been wiped down since she last did it. The fire was out and by the amount of built up ash, Helen had not cleaned it out for days.
Her first job would be to clear out the ash and get a fire going to boil the pots of water she knew she’d need. The sitting room furniture was covered in a film of dust, newspapers were strewn around. To think Jacob had grouched and complained when she had left a few household chores undone when they had been busy outside.
In the main bedroom, the bed was unmade. It was nothing short of disgraceful. She slammed the door and left it for another time. Hurrying to her bedroom, she feared what she might find there, given Helen’s vindictive nature. Fortunately, except for dust, it was as she had left it.
The kitchen was her main priority, then the sitting room. She muttered a curse under her breath. Such laziness was uncalled for, particularly when Helen did no chores outside.
She was sorry to see her brother leave with bad blood between them. As for her sister-in-law, if she never clapped eyes on the woman again, she would be happy.
***
Next morning, after she had completed all her chores, Miranda rode into town. She had been tempted to wear a dress, then decided not to bother. Clem had always turned his nose up at her tomboy tendencies, and she had no great desire to impress him. She would just be glad to get everything over and done with so she could concentrate on running the ranch.
She stepped through the door and waved at one of the bank tellers she had gone to school with. Heading over to Clem’s office, she knocked and waited.
“Who is it?”
“Miranda Kingsto
n.”
“Come in.”
She walked in. He was sitting with his hands folded on the desk, his face set in uncompromising lines. When she was younger, she had been frightened of him because he always looked so stern, now it didn’t bother her as she could stand up for herself and did so when necessary.
“Good morning, Clem.”
“Good morning, Miranda.”
“Jacob said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes. He wanted you to have his share of the ranch.”
“I know, he told me.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible now, Miranda.”
“What!” The word shot out of her mouth with the speed of a bullet.
“He took out a loan, using his share of the ranch as collateral.”
“I know, but I can repay his loan back.”
“You would need to take out a loan of your own to pay out what he still owes.” His voice was cold, his expression frigid.
“All right, I’ll do that if it’s the only way.”
“It is bank policy not to loan single women money.”
“You mean your policy, Clem.”
“Exactly, and I own the bank, remember? So, I make the rules. And I consider lending money to an unmarried woman is too big a financial risk.”
The breath caught in her throat and her stomach muscles contracted. “What do you mean?”
“It means.” He enunciated the words clearly, as if she were slow witted and unable to comprehend what he was saying. “You don’t have a husband.”
“What’s that got to do with it?”
“Everything, you don’t have a man’s support. Were you married it would be different, you would have a man’s help to pay the money back. As it is, on your own I consider you too big a risk.”
“You can’t do this. It isn’t fair. You know I can pay off a loan.”
“The only sensible thing is for you to sell the ranch.”
“Sell it? Never.”
“Now don’t be foolish. After the loan money has been paid back, you will still walk away with a nice sum of money.”
“I don’t want to sell the ranch.” She wrung her hands. “What do I have to do to keep it? Please, Clem you know the place means a lot to me.”
“I told you. Get yourself a husband to help you pay the loan that you’ll need to take out to cover what Jacob borrowed. I’ll fix up all the legal paperwork to transfer Jacob’s share of the ranch to you, which is what he wanted. Once the debt is paid, of course.”
“A husband! Where would I get a husband from?”
“That is your problem, Miranda.” His smile was more like a sneer. “You have a month to resolve the issue, or the bank will reluctantly have to sell the ranch to recoup their money.”
“Reluctantly,” she yelled. “You would enjoy it. You’ve always hated me.”
“I don’t think there is anything more for us to discuss. Close the door on your way out.”
“You can’t do this to me. It isn’t fair.” She felt like stamping her foot. “Where can I get a husband from at such short notice? At least give me more time.”
She was so shocked she could barely get the words out. This was her worst nightmare. Had Jacob known something like this would happen? He probably planned the whole thing with Clem to punish her for disliking his choice of a wife. How could Helen have turned him against her in such a short time?
“Two months, please.”
“A month, Miranda. It is all the time I’m prepared to give you.”
“All right. Let me get this clear. If I walk through the door within a month with a husband in tow, you will loan me the money to pay back what Jacob borrowed? Then I get to keep the ranch, provided I keep the loan repayments up?”
“Correct.”
“Very well, I will be back before the month is up dragging a husband behind me.” She stormed out of the office. The man was an arrogant pig.
Out in the street, she took several deep breaths, trying to get herself under control. Where could she get a husband from in such a short time? Rowan Carstairs, of course. He was a dirty skunk for letting her down like he did. If she explained her position, to expunge his guilt for leading her along with the promise of marriage and not following through with it, he just might. That’s if he hadn’t married someone else in the meantime.
A marriage of convenience would be perfect. Rowan wouldn’t need to stay away from his ranch once Clem did the paperwork and loaned her the money. After twelve months or so they could quietly have the marriage annulled and they could both get on with their lives.
It wasn’t as if she couldn’t pay a loan off on her own if she had to. It was just that Clem was so bigoted against unmarried women borrowing money from his bank. Once everything was signed over to her, she figured there was nothing he could do about it unless she fell behind on her repayments.
Marriage to Rowan was the only plan she could come up with.
Chapter Six
“What did you say?” Rowan was sure his ears were paying tricks on him.
Edward stood with a calculating expression on his face. “I said, I want you to move out of the cabin and over to the bunkhouse.”
“Why?” Rowan shot the word out.
“Because I need it.”
“This is my cabin. I built it.”
“On my land.”
Rowan tried to keep his temper in check. Who did this upstart think he was?
“Your father gave me the land around it and let me build on it.”
“Where’s the paperwork?”
“It was a gentleman’s agreement. Your father and I shook hands on it.”
“That counts for nothing in a court of law. You’ve got no proof.”
“Your father told you about the arrangement.”
“Did he?”
“Of course, he did. I’ll write to him.” Even as he said the words Rowan knew it would be useless, George was ill with his memory failing. If only he had listened to Bob and insisted on getting something in writing straight after he got back from Aunt Gertie’s funeral.
“What do you want the cabin for, anyway?” He knew he would dislike the answer even as he asked the question.
“For Dorothea’s sister and brother-in-law. Ian is going to help me run the place.”
“He knows all about ranching, does he?”
“No, but you can show him.”
“Me! I have to give up my cabin and move to the bunkhouse for your brother-in-law? Show him how to be a rancher, then you make him foreman? What do you take me for? An idiot?”
He had been trusting and stupid enough to impart his knowledge to Edward, who now thought he knew nearly everything about ranching. Once he taught the brother-in-law how to run the place, Edward would take great delight in getting rid of him. He had always resented the closeness George and he had shared. This friendship was going to cost him dearly.
“If I refuse to leave my home?”
“I’ll get the sheriff and have you forcibly removed from my property.”
“This is wrong, Edward and you know it. I stayed with your father when times were tough. I could have moved on, yet I didn’t.”
“Things are different now. I own the ranch and I will run it as I see fit.”
More likely ruin it, Rowan thought. “I’ll take you to court.”
“You won’t have a hope. I’ve already spoken to my attorney.”
“Yeah? Who?”
“Ian, my brother-in-law, is an attorney and he says…”
“I don’t care what he says.” Rowan knew he didn’t have a leg to stand on but would never give up without a fight. After all the years he had worked here. The blood sweat and tears he had expended with George in the early days, was worth nothing to this little upstart.
“Ian will be coming here in two weeks. Have your things packed and moved to the bunkhouse or we’ll be burning anything left behind.” He swung around and swaggered off.
Rowan was glad he wasn’t wearing his g
uns, otherwise he might have been tempted to use them. George, how could you do this to me? Like me, you were too trusting, believing your treacherous son was a man of honor.
He made himself a cup of coffee. He had never been a drinking man after living for years with a vicious drunk, but had there been a bottle of whiskey handy, he would have downed the lot. He should have realized after he got back from the funeral things were changing. How could he not have noticed? No way would he be staying on here if he couldn’t keep his cabin. He didn’t mind sleeping in the bunkhouse with the boys, it was the principle of the thing, which galled him.
Thank goodness he had insisted on putting his brand on the cattle he ran here. It had been a point of vanity at the time to encircle the initials RC and make it his own brand, now it could be a financial savior.
He had less than two weeks to find somewhere to live. Well, he could find somewhere to live in town for a while, as long as he didn’t let pride stand in the way. It was humiliating to be cast aside like a worn-out boot. There were a couple of small ranchers who would be glad to earn extra cash by letting his cattle graze on their pastures for a while. He had some savings although not enough to buy a decent spread around here.
Colorado was a good place to live and he had no desire to move to another state. He had to either work on a ranch for someone else or buy a place of his own. Ranching was the only skill he had.
***
The next morning Rowan saddled up and rode to town, still feeling so mad he could bite himself. To think Edward had the audacity to go over to the bunkhouse and tell the men he would be shifting back there, once Dorothea’s relatives arrived. Hank, who had worked at the ranch nearly as long as he had, came over and told him about it. A couple of years ago he had confided in Hank about George giving him the land for his cabin. Hank had not been there when he and George had shaken hands on the deal, so as a witness he would be virtually worthless.
He was still fuming when he marched into the sheriff’s office.
“Howdy, Rowan. What can I do for you? You look like you lost a dollar and only found a dime.
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