Alone in Austin

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

  She stopped in front of room seven.

  Harlen took the key from her, opened the door, and held it for her. After she entered, he followed and put the bag on the table by the door. Harlen hesitated. “Good night, Jacklin.” Gently, he closed the door.

  She waited and heard his footsteps as he walked down the hall. Jacklin had silently hoped that he might kiss her.

  ***

  Nick had seen Harlen take Jacklin to the hotel last night. He hadn’t liked that idea or the look of it. But then it was only a few minutes later that Harlen had left the hotel and took the buggy to the livery.

  Harlen had stayed at another hotel. A cheaper one that the drovers used. So, at least, Jacklin’s reputation hadn’t been damaged. Still, the incident bothered him. Jacklin had said she was going back to the ranch last night.

  It was early morning, and if he knew Jacklin, she’d be up before the sun. Nick made sure he was up and ready just as early and hoped to see her at the café. He made his way to the hotel café, hoping to see her.

  He entered and found a table by the window. The place was busier than usual because of those who had stayed in the hotels last night. Then he saw her coming out of the hotel. Alone.

  She came inside and saw him.

  “Jacklin, care to join me?”

  “I was to meet Harlen.”

  Nick looked around. “There’s room. I think all the other tables are taken.”

  Jacklin smiled. “I remember coming here with Father. He loved this place.”

  “Best breakfast in Texas.” Nick offered her some of his bacon.

  “I am hungry.” She took a bite. “That was such a nice time last night. I have to say that I intend to go to every one of the socials from now on.”

  “You looked happy. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Nick smiled at her. “I know I enjoyed our dance together.”

  She pouted. “Where were you for the last dance? I waited.”

  “I thought you were busy with Harlen.”

  “Maybe I was. Maybe I wanted you to intrude.” She stared at him. Her gaze sharp but questioning.

  “Jacklin, we’ve known each other practically all our lives.” He took her hand. “I’d like to—”

  “There you are. I was looking for you.” Harlen grinned at her. “I told you I’d be by to pick you up for breakfast.”

  Jacklin kept her gaze on Nick. “I did save you the last dance.” Then she looked up at Harlen. “You know that I rise early. I was hungry, so I decided to come here. Nick said there was room at his table for us. The others are taken.”

  Harlen shot a glare at Nick. “Well, if you don’t mind, I am hungry.”

  Sorry that Harlen had come, Nick nodded. Then looked at Jacklin. “I’m sorry I missed the last dance. I won’t make the same mistake again. That is if you are serious.”

  “I am.” Jacklin sat back as her order came. “If you don’t mind, Harlen, I’m going to eat my breakfast while it’s hot.”

  “No, not at all.” But the look on Harlen’s face said he did.

  Nick sat back and smiled at her. “I’d like to come out and see Marianne when she’s here.”

  Jacklin grinned. “Won’t that be fun. I’d like you too. She’s supposed to arrive tomorrow. I’ll arrange a dinner. We can go over the books early, and then you can stay and visit. Stay over at the ranch for the evening. It will be like old times.”

  She looked so pretty when she smiled. Nick nodded. “I’ll clear my slate for the day. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Good. It’s a date then.” Jacklin cut into her steak. “Nothing like steak and eggs for breakfast. A Texas way to start the day.”

  Nick laughed. “You said it.”

  Harlen shoveled a forkful of scrambled eggs in his mouth and glared at Nick.

  That he’d irritated Harlen gave Nick some satisfaction, even more so that Jacklin seemed to enjoy his company.

  Jacklin looked outside. “I better get going. I’ve got those cattle to check.” All boss, she darted a look to Harlen. “They did all get dipped?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Nick hid his grin behind his napkin as he wiped his lips. “I’ve got work to do. I’ll be out to the ranch tomorrow.”

  Jacklin stood. “I can drive myself back, Harlen. That way you can check the train cars and the pens to make sure they’re ready. Save you a ride back to town.”

  Harlen nodded, turned, and walked out of the café with a clenched fist. Jacklin never noticed though, she was looking at Nick with a smile on her face and her eyes bright.

  She grinned. “I can’t wait for Monday. I better get back to the ranch.”

  Nick nodded and went with her to get the buggy. He debated going with her. Tell her about his horse being stolen. But he didn’t want to ruin the good time they’d had. That news could wait. He wanted to talk to Jacklin, not the boss of Paint Rock Ranch.

  At the livery, David hitched her horse to the rig for her.

  While waiting, Nick took her hand. “I could use a little fresh air. Mind if I ride to the ranch with you?”

  She gave him one of her serious looks. “Because you think I can’t get back by myself?”

  “No, I enjoy your company. It’s a gorgeous morning. What better way than to enjoy the beginning of a day other than with a beautiful woman?”

  Jacklin turned to stare at him. “Nick, why are you talking to me as if you’d read some poetry book?”

  “Maybe, because I have feelings for you. I’ve always had feelings for you. And frankly, my dear, we’re running out of time.”

  She stared at him, but miraculously, she remained quiet.

  Nick pointed to David. “There, your buggy’s ready. David, I need to rent a horse for the day.”

  David nodded and walked into the barn.

  Jacklin pulled on Nick’s arm. “What happened to your new horse? The one that looks just like my stallion.”

  “He had a stone bruise. I’ll let him rest a few days.”

  She nodded but looked as if she would reserve judgment for a later time. “Thanks for riding back with me. I agree, a lovely morning is best shared. That’s something I’m trying to work on.”

  He took the reins from the horse David led to him and tied it to the back of the buggy. Then he helped her climb in.

  Going around to the other side, Nick climbed in and took the reins from her. “Why don’t you sit back, relax, and enjoy the sights.”

  “I think I will.” Jacklin looked at him with a pleasant smile. After riding out of town, she turned to him. “I’ve been thinking about my life, too. I’ve accomplished a lot. Made Paint Rock a ranch to be proud of. Of course, my father did most of that in his lifetime. But I like to think I’ve made a difference.”

  Nick nodded. “You’ve got the best horses around.”

  She smiled. “Thank you. I went out on a limb buying King, but he’s been well worth it.”

  She was quiet for a time, and then she touched his arm. “I realized that time is passing me by. I used to dream of having a husband and children. That’s one of my great failures.”

  Nick turned to her. “I feel the same.”

  “Men are different. You can always marry a younger woman. My time to be a mother is ebbing away.”

  Nick stopped the horse and turned to her. “Jacklin, you are the one person I always thought about when I thought of marriage.”

  “We were kids, Nick. I remember you and me and Marianne dressing up, but you always married Marianne.”

  Nick laughed. “That’s because you were a Texas Ranger chasing after Indians. What you don’t remember is when I married Marianne, I was always looking at you.”

  Jacklin stared at him. “Really?”

  “Yes. You never noticed.”

  “You wore glasses. I thought you were afraid.”

  “I wore glasses to read. I’m not afraid of anything. I never was. Only one thing made me sad, and that was the idea that I’d lose you.” Nick covered her hand with his.

&
nbsp; “But—”

  Nick kissed her. Just a quick one on the lips, but it kept her from talking. He grinned and started the horse up again. “I’ve wanted to do that for years.”

  “Well,” She spluttered, but there was a smile in her eyes. Then they drove past the paddock that held the stallion and his mares.

  Nick stopped. “They are a beautiful bunch. How many colts do you have now?”

  She looked at him and then at her herd. “Twelve. Half of them are at the barn getting ready for training. Some, I’m keeping back to trade for good mares.”

  “I might want to buy one someday.”

  “By the looks of the black you just bought, I’d have to say you already did. I’d sure like to know where that horse came from.” Jacklin frowned. “Have you found out yet?”

  “No. David gave me the invoice, but there are no names on it. The ranch is south and west of yours at least a two-day ride.”

  “You are going to check, aren’t you?”

  “That I am. You know I would do nothing to harm you or your ranch.”

  She nodded. “I do trust you, Nick. I know we’ve had our differences, but I have always trusted you.”

  “Thanks. Shall we go on toward the ranch house?”

  She was looking intently at the pasture and herd. “Nick, I need to see that horse.”

  “Which one?”

  “King Rock. I don’t think it’s him.”

  Nick dismounted and helped her from the buggy. “We can ride double.”

  Together, they rode into the paddock and up to the big black. Immediately, Nick noticed the white sock with a dot in the middle of it. It had to be his horse. They dismounted.

  Jacklin pulled out a piece of sugar from her pocket. “Here you go, King. Unless you’re an imposter.”

  The horse shied away from her.

  Jacklin’s shoulders slumped. “That’s not King.” She turned and leveled a glare at him. “I’d say that was the horse I saw you riding the other day.” She pointed at his left rear foot. “The white sock with a black dot. King didn’t have that. Everything else was identical.”

  She turned back to the horse. “You might be his son, but you are not King Rock.”

  Chapter 10

  By the time Jacklin got to the ranch house, she was seething. At who, she didn’t know. Right now, Nick was the closest one. After she proclaimed that the stallion in her paddock was actually his, Nick admitted his horse had been stolen.

  Why hadn’t he told her?

  Her other problem was Harlen. Why had he really wanted her to spend the night in town? King Rock had been in the paddock when they left for town. She knew because he’d come up to her for his sugar cube.

  Nick tried to talk to her, but she didn’t want anything to do with him. She walked to the porch and grabbed a lead rope. “You might as well go and take your horse out of my paddock. Who knows how many mares he’s gotten to? I guess his foot wasn’t all that sore.” She whirled away from him and went into the house, slamming the door behind her.

  Inside the cool darkness of her study, she touched her lips where he’d kissed her. Is that how it would always be? Begin to trust someone, and then something happens to blow it up in her face?

  There was a knock on her door.

  She turned to see Harlen. “What?”

  “The cattle are ready to be put in the pens, and we’ll load them in the railcars when the train arrives.” He looked like he wanted to come to her, but he probably recognized the look on her face as not a good time to talk to her.

  “Good.” She didn’t care. She went to her desk and sat behind it in her big chair. Her father’s chair. Her throne, where she was all business. She could see that Harlen saw it, and he stayed outside the room.

  “I’ll go and get the boys to start moving the cattle.”

  “Harlen, thanks.” She needed to keep one friend. She couldn’t afford to alienate her foreman.

  He nodded and left her.

  So, that is how it would be. Alone. Like always. She looked at the clock. How had her day blown up so early? With regret, she wondered about Nick. He’d said he had no idea how that horse got in the paddock, nor did he have any idea where King Rock would be.

  He promised to tell the sheriff when he got back to town. There was no need for her to ride back into town. She’d told no one. Yet, Harlen had looked uneasy. Then again, Jacklin was known to get angry, and when she did, everyone stayed away from her.

  So, she wasn’t easy to get along with. She knew that. What had the advice column said, put on a dress, and cook? Well, she felt like doing neither at the moment. She could do that when Marianne arrived.

  And tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. For now, Jacklin had to find out what happened to her horse. She went to her room and put on her usual clothes and then walked outside to the barn.

  “Bucky, I need you to watch King’s colts. Put guards around the paddock and the barn.”

  Her head wrangler came out of a stall and looked at her with concern. “Is something wrong?”

  “King Rock is missing, and there’s an imposter in the paddock now. Nick is taking him back to town and telling the sheriff. Don’t mention it to anyone but keep a sharp eye out.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Bucky was another one she could trust. He was as old as her father would have been and took great pride in keeping the horses groomed and healthy. When it came time, he’d break the youngsters in his way. Gentle. Whispering to them, he’d tell her. Whatever he did, it worked. The horses were still full of spirit but obedient to a fault.

  “While you’re at it, see if you can find a cream-colored mare in the paddock. I saw her yesterday, and she’s not one of ours. I doubt if you’ll find her, but just be on the lookout.”

  Bucky nodded. “I’m sorry, Jacklin. I know how you prided yourself on that horse. We’ll find him, don’t you worry.”

  She nodded and went outside. Somehow, the old excitement for the ranch was fading. She’d hoped after the dance that she’d have a clearer picture of Harlen and herself. But she was more confused than ever.

  What feelings she had for Harlen were now missing along with King Rock. As for Nick, he’d taken her by surprise. The breakfast together, the dance, and then the kiss. But now she finds out he wasn’t truthful enough to tell her his horse was missing.

  Maybe it wasn’t worth it to get married. To let a man into her world and have to trust him. She was better off by herself. Yet, now she’d roped Marianne into coming to help her find a husband.

  Embarrassment of embarrassments. Jacklin liked to be in control. She didn’t relinquish it willingly to anyone. If she could stop Marianne from coming, she would, but it was too late. She’d have to go through with some semblance of the visit.

  Jacklin walked back onto the porch and sat in the rocker her father always sat in. After rocking a bit, she stood. She wasn’t ready to retire to look out over her holdings. No, she had more to do.

  She’d had dreams of building an empire with her horses on the back of King Rock’s breeding. Now he was gone. Stolen right out from under her. She slapped a hand on the pistol at her side. If she knew who, they’d get a piece of her mind and lead.

  Anger washed over her. A familiar feeling that she slipped into easily enough. She always had. One time when they were but children, she’d given Nick a bloody nose because he’d broken her wooden carving of a horse.

  Funny, as she thought about it, she’d named that wooden horse King. And now she was mad enough to bloody Nick’s nose again. Until she thought of his kiss. His words. How he wanted there to be more between them. Could it ever be?

  Jacklin wasn’t sure if she could ever let her guard down enough to allow a man to be her husband. She was afraid she’d always want to rule over him. With Paint Rock Ranch in between them, she wasn’t sure if Nick or Harlen could ever be her husband.

  ***

  Nick rode back to the paddock and went up to his horse. Even though he was in the wilds of a
pasture, the young stallion stood still and let him put the halter and lead rope on. He looked at the mares in the field but didn’t see any cream-colored one.

  As he led his horse out of the paddock, he felt sad that he’d been used in some way to help steal Jacklin’s prized stallion. One thing was sure, he’d do what he could to find the horse for her.

  And one thing he knew, whoever sold this young stallion to David, had intended all along to switch him out with King Rock. Looking back at the well-mannered horse, Jacklin wondered what he should name the animal.

  “Prince suits you. It’s no secret you’re a son of King.”

  The horse tossed his head as if in agreement.

  “Fine, that’s your name. Stoney Prince. You’re a fine animal. I may give you as a present to the woman I intend to marry. That is if she’ll have me now. Somehow, I think she blames me for her missing horse.”

  Finally, Nick rode back in town. He stopped at David’s Livery and told him what had happened.

  David shook his head. “I think you’re right. When I looked at the tally, I had one extra horse. You bought him so fast, I didn’t have time to reconcile the bill of sale. I don’t think they intended to sell your horse on that string. Someone was supposed to take him and exchange him with Jacklin’s King Rock. I guess they did anyway.”

  “I’d like it if you’d keep Prince here where you can watch him. Any luck coming up with the owner of that string?”

  “No, I paid in cash, so there was no name to attach to a check. I gave the men the money the same day. I didn’t realize I had an extra horse until after you’d already bought and paid for him.”

  “Watch him for me. I’ll be riding him tomorrow.”

  “Will do. Don’t you worry. No one is stealing him this time.”

  “Thanks, David.” Nick walked out of the livery and looked around to see if there might be any strangers he didn’t know. But he saw the usual people.

  Cowboys sitting outside the saloon, waiting for the action tonight. Men and women walking in and out of the general store. A few at the blacksmith waiting on their horses to get shod. On a hunch, Nick went to Otis Anderson’s blacksmith. It was possible one of the men responsible needed work on a horse.