Heather's Choice

by Shirleen Davies

  The MacLarens had never built a large bunkhouse, only a cabin suitable for four men. All beds were taken. He knew Colin would invite him to stay with them. It was the largest of the homes, with the most bedrooms, and had been the place all the MacLarens lived until the other houses were built. At least four bedrooms were vacant, which made it the best choice. He loved Kyla like a mother, and he knew she treated him as another son. He just wished it were farther away from where Heather lived.

  Whatever decision was made about the Evanston and Estrada properties, he’d figure a way to make it work for him. And he’d begin planning his own future. The day would come when he’d have to make a choice—continue living at Circle M with no prospect of ever owning a piece of land, or venture out, create a life of his own away from the family he’d come to regard as his own.

  For now, he’d accept his good fortune. He’d work hard, learn all he could, and save as much of his wage as possible. When the day finally came to make the difficult decision, he’d be ready. At least that was what he’d keep telling himself.

  Chapter Eight

  Circle M

  Colin, Bram, Fletcher, Camden, and several others stood on the lowest rung of the fence, watching Quinn readying to mount the horse for the third time. Laughing among themselves, they placed bets on how long he’d stay on this time.

  “Any of you lads who bet against me will be regretting it,” Quinn yelled after he quickly checked the cinch, then slid his left boot into the stirrup and mounted. He’d barely made it up when the horse started bucking. His right hand gripped the reins, concentration focused on the animal. Unlike the previous two rides, Quinn stayed centered in the saddle this time, his weight low.

  Sean joined the others at the fence, leaning over the top. “Finish it up, lad!”

  Colin clasped him on the back, not taking his gaze off Quinn. “How’s the mare?”

  Sean gave him a weary grin. “She’ll be foaling tonight, I’m certain of it.”

  Colin chuckled. “That’s what you’ve been saying since yesterday.”

  “Aye.” He looked at the others along the fence, all cheering and whooping their support for Quinn. His face sobered when he looked at Colin. “She’s a small mare with what I’m thinking is a big foal. We’re going to be needing all the help we can get.” Sean looked up at the sky, as if offering a silent prayer. He shook his head. “I’ve not done this before. I’m afraid we’ll lose the mare and the foal.”

  The hoots and yells from the others drew their attention long enough to see Quinn still atop the now exhausted horse. A few more feeble attempts at bucking and the animal stopped, snorting, pawing at the ground, but under Quinn’s control.

  “The lad has a magic touch when it comes to gentling horses.”

  “Aye, Sean, he does.” Colin waved at Quinn, then turned back to his cousin. “We all know you’ll do all you can for the mare and foal. No one will be blaming you if you can’t save them.”

  Sean shook his head. “I’ll not be losing them.” He started to turn away when Colin grabbed his arm.

  “I’ll be staying with you in the barn for as long as it takes.”

  “Nae, Colin. Fletch and Bram will be helping me. The lads and I will be taking turns in the barn.”

  “Make certain each of you comes in to eat. If you don’t, my ma and yours will come looking for you.”

  A movement behind Sean caught Colin’s attention. “It’s about time you lads showed up.”

  The rest of those around the corral turned to see Blaine and Caleb rein their horses to a stop, then slide to the ground. Camden dashed ahead of the others, studied Blaine’s face, then turned to Colin.

  “Aye. It is our brother. I almost didn’t recognize him.” Slapping him on the back, Camden turned to Caleb. “Ma will be pleased you came today. She and the lasses have outdone themselves.”

  Caleb grinned. “It could be beans and it would be better than what we’ve been cooking for ourselves.” He looked beyond them to the corral, seeing Quinn leading a horse toward the fence. “What have you boys been up to?”

  “Quinn’s been showing us his skills at busting a horse. I think the lad has already convinced Ewan and Pa we don’t need to a hire a specialist.” Sean looked at Colin. “I’ll be getting back to the barn.”

  Caleb watched Sean leave, cocking a brow at Colin. “A specialist?”

  “Aye. A horse buster who rides from ranch to ranch breaking horses. Ewan believes it would be better to pay five dollars per head than to risk one of the lads getting hurt. Quinn isn’t keen on bringing in someone from outside to tame our horses. I’m guessing we’ll be discussing it at supper tonight.”

  “What do you think?” Caleb asked, watching Quinn groom the horse he’d broken.

  Placing his hands on his hips, Colin shook his head. “Quinn, Fletch, and Bram are the three who bust them now, and each time I pray they don’t get hurt. Maybe a specialist would be best, especially with the number of mustangs and wild horses we’ve added to the herd. We’ve enough for the contracts with Lime Point Military Reservation and Fort Anderson, plus a large remuda for ourselves. The lads don’t have time for their regular chores and busting all the horses.”

  Caleb glanced at Quinn. “How long did it take him to break that one?”

  Colin looked up at the sun, gauging the time. “Maybe half an hour. A specialist gentles six to ten horses a day. I’ve no doubt any of those lads could keep the same pace. It’s their safety I’m worried about. We can’t afford for any of them to be laid up.”

  The sounds of approaching riders had them turning to the trail from town, Colin taking several steps toward them. “It’s Brodie and Maggie.” He squinted into the distance. “August and Bay Donahue are with them, along with the bonny Miss Harris.”

  Caleb pursed his lips, settling his hands on his hips. He tried to ignore the churning in his gut as the wagon with Miranda approached. She was pretty, as Colin said, and smart.

  “Ah, the lasses have seen them.” Colin nodded over his shoulder to where several of the MacLaren women stood on the front porch, waving at the wagon and riders.

  Caleb’s gaze landed on Heather. The first thing he noticed was the dress, a sight he’d almost never seen. Then he noticed her hair, the way she’d clipped it at the back with long tendrils falling over her shoulders. Last, he realized her attention wasn’t on the wagon or riders. All her attention was focused on him, an almost wistful expression on her face. He wanted to go to her, ask what she was thinking. Before he could move, Colin’s hand clamped down on his shoulder.

  “You’ve a decision to make, lad.”

  Drawing in a breath, Caleb shook his head. “You’re wrong. Heather made her choice and it wasn’t me.”

  Cocking his head, Colin looked at him. “From what I’ve seen, the lass has made no choice. There’ve been no lads asking to court her.”

  Glaring at him, Caleb turned back toward the wagon. “You misunderstand. In her own way, she made a choice. No matter what her future held, it wouldn’t include me. I’ve accepted it. Now it’s time for me to think of a future beyond your prickly cousin.”

  “Does it include Miss Harris?”

  Shaking his head, Caleb shot him a grim smile. “There’s no room for a woman in my future. At least not right now. We’ve lots of work to do on the ranch, and that’s where all my energy will go.”

  He said no more before walking up to where August, sitting between Maggie and Miranda, stopped the wagon. “Mr. Fielder, it’s good to see you again.” Touching the brim of his hat, he nodded at Miranda and Maggie. “Ladies. May I help you down?”

  “I’ll help Maggie, Caleb.” Brodie walked to the other side of the wagon.

  “Miss Harris?”

  She moved to the edge of the seat, resting her arms on his shoulders. “Thank you, Mr. Stewart.”

  Setting her down, he didn’t allow his hands to linger on her waist before stepping back. “How was the trip out?”

  “Wonderful. It’s a bea
utiful drive from town to Circle M. I’m surprised to see you here today. Heather said you don’t come back often.”

  Caleb’s gaze narrowed. “Heather?”

  “Well…yes. I came to Sunday supper one other time and sat next to her. She’s such a lovely woman, although I don’t understand her desire to work alongside the men.”

  “It’s what she loves.” He took her elbow, guiding her toward the house. Looking up, he noticed Heather, talking to Kyla, glancing at him and Miranda. He didn’t know what he expected. A flash of jealousy perhaps, but her features remained unchanged. “Do you know the women?” he asked as they approached the steps.

  “Oh, yes.” She smiled up at the ladies who stood on the porch.

  “Then I’ll leave you here.” Caleb dropped his hold on her elbow, tipped his hat, then glanced once again at Heather before heading back to the corral.

  “Caleb!”

  Turning around, he smiled at Opal and Pearl, two of the three orphaned sisters the MacLarens adopted. Opening his arms, he laughed as they ran up to him.

  “You’ve been gone so long. We thought you might not be coming back.” At fourteen, Pearl was the youngest, thin as a reed, and preferred wearing pants to a dress, much the same as Heather.

  “Aunt Kyla said he’d be back, Pearl.” Opal had been much like her younger sister until she turned sixteen. She now tended to wear a dress and preferred helping Colin and Sarah with their son, Grant, rather than working around the ranch. Slipping her arm through his, she looked up at him. “When are you coming back, Caleb? We all miss you.”

  “I miss everyone, too. There’s a lot of work to do and I go where I’m sent. Right now, that’s the old Evanston place. Where’s Coral?” Caleb asked. Usually the oldest wasn’t too far away from her sisters.

  Opal placed a hand over her mouth, giggling. “She’s watching for Deke.”

  Caleb’s brow lifted, his attention on Opal. “Deke Arrington who works at the saddlery?”

  “Uh-huh. She’s sweet on him.” Giggling again, she pointed to the house where Quinn and Emma lived with his mother and siblings. “See. There she is.”

  Looking over his shoulder, he spotted Coral sitting on the porch railing, staring at the trail from town. Rubbing the back of his neck, he smiled.

  “Is Deke invited for supper?”

  Opal nodded, sliding her arm from Caleb’s. “Aunt Audrey invited him. I think he’s sweet on Coral, too.”

  Caleb shook his head. “Well, I’ll be.” He had a hard time thinking of Coral as twenty. She was no longer a girl, capable of deciding who she cared about.

  Looking back at Kyla’s house, his gaze halted on Miranda and Heather standing next to each other, talking as if they’d been friends for years. Crossing his arms, he reconsidered his decision. Maybe coming for supper wasn’t such a good idea.

  The sound of a bell and Kyla’s shouts about supper being ready stopped him from doing what he wanted—grabbing Jupiter and riding back to the Evanston ranch.

  Opal and Pearl each took one of his hands, tugging him toward the house. “Come on, Caleb. You can sit with us.”

  “I’d like that.” He hoped that would be true. Knowing the aunts, they’d already have seats figured out for everyone, and with the way his luck was running, he’d be right between Miranda and Heather.

  Caleb shouldn’t have even thought it. On one side sat Heather, doing her best to ignore him, which wasn’t hard since Bay sat next to her. On the other side was Miranda, doing all she could to get and keep his attention.

  He’d learned she’d grown up an only child in a house with rigid rules and high expectations. Miranda had been courted by one young man who didn’t impress her in the slightest. Coming west had been her way of getting out from under her parents’ suffocating home and away from the inappropriate suitor. After that, Caleb’s attention had begun to wane, his ears picking up bits and pieces of conversations between the men around the table.

  “I think the lad has a good idea,” he heard Brodie say. “Why spend money and time repairing houses and barns we don’t need?”

  “And what do you think, Colin?” Ewan asked.

  “The idea has merit. We merge the herds and bring everyone here.”

  “It would mean enlarging the bunkhouse.” Ewan looked down the table at his brother, Ian, who’d been listening.

  Blaine nodded. “Aye, but it’s an easy job.”

  “And you, Quinn. What do you think?”

  “The same as the others, Uncle Ewan. Caleb’s idea is sound.”

  Ewan looked around the table, knowing several of those who’d want a say couldn’t hear the conversation. Seeing his wife, Lorna, and Ian’s wife, Gail, emerge from the kitchen, each carrying pies, he grinned. “Then I’ll be bringing it up over whiskeys…after we’ve finished dessert.”

  A poke in his side had Caleb looking over at Heather, quirking a brow. “Did you want something?”

  “Don’t be daft, Caleb. Of course I do or I wouldn’t be jabbing you.”

  Sitting back in his chair, he crossed his arms. “Well, you have my attention.”

  “What idea is Uncle Ewan talking about?”

  He explained his idea, seeing her nod. Picking up his cup, he took a sip of coffee, waiting for her thoughts.

  “Aye, it is a good idea.” Lifting her chin, Heather locked her eyes on his. “Except the part about you returning. It’s too bad you couldn’t stay at the Evanston ranch.”

  Choking on the last swallow, he set the cup down. “Yes, it is. If it helps, I promise to stay as far away from you as possible.”

  Her eyes sparked for an instant before she nodded. “See that you do, lad. I’ll not be wasting my time working around you.”

  If the front door hadn’t burst open, he would’ve told her he had no desire to work around her, either. One of the newer ranch hands yanked his hat off his head, walking to the table. He looked at Ewan.

  “Sorry to interrupt your meal, sir, but we’ve got a problem.”

  They’d all been surprised when the ranch hand explained about the fire at the original Estrada hacienda, the missing cattle, and the wrangler who hadn’t been seen since breakfast.

  Ewan didn’t hesitate to give the order for everyone to saddle their horses and be ready to ride in ten minutes. He sent the ranch hand back instead of waiting for the rest of them.

  Heather immediately stood, her chair falling over in her haste.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Caleb crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at her. “You aren’t riding with us, Heather.”

  “Of course I’ll be coming with you.” Heather picked up her skirt, racing to the front door. “I’ll change and meet you in the barn.”

  “Nae, lass, you won’t.” Ewan grabbed her arm. “You’ll be staying here with the women and children.”

  “But—”

  “I’ll have no sass from you on this. We’ve no time to wait.” He looked at his wife. “Lorna, will you and the others be all right while we’re gone?”

  She shot him a stern glare. “Of course. Would you be thinking we’re weak females, unable to manage with you lads away?”

  Dropping his hold on Heather’s arm, he held up his hands. “Nae, love.” Walking to her, he placed a kiss on her cheek. “Keep everyone here. Thane will be watching the barns while we’re gone.”

  At fourteen, Quinn’s younger brother had expected to ride along. It wouldn’t be long before he’d be old enough, putting himself in danger the same as his older brothers and cousins.

  Lorna nodded. “Thane’s a good lad. He’d warn of anything suspicious.” She followed him outside, stopping next to the others who were staying behind.

  Mounting his horse, Ewan motioned to the other men. “Let’s go.”

  Caleb reined Jupiter in a circle, coming to a stop in front of the porch, his hard gaze on Heather. “Do not follow us.” When she didn’t respond, he leaned toward her, his voice low and firm. “Do you hear me?”

  Swallowing
the bile in her throat, she nodded, her body shaking in anger. Caleb had no right telling her what to do. And to reprimand her in front of her family made her blood boil.

  Resting fisted hands on her hips, she stared back. “I’ll be doing what Uncle Ewan asked,” she ground out, feeling her face heat.

  He stared at her a moment longer, nodded once, then reined around, hurrying to catch up with the others.

  “It’s wonderful that Caleb is so protective of you. It must be like having another brother.” Miranda smiled sweetly, yet the tone of her voice told Heather her thoughts might be moving in another direction.

  “I’ve enough older cousins and brothers. I don’t need Caleb Stewart trying to be another.”

  Clasping her hands in front of her, Miranda watched the men disappear down the trail. “Well then, perhaps he’s interested in something more.”

  Heather snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. “Believe me, the lad isn’t looking for anything more from me. He doesn’t like me, and I’m not feeling friendly toward him.” She shook her head, her lips forming a thin line.

  “Well, if you’re certain…” Miranda’s voice trailed off, but not before Heather heard the interest in her tone.

  She thought about saying something more, maybe a type of warning, when her mother walked up.

  “The lads will be fine, Heather. Now, I’ll be needing your help in the kitchen.” Audrey nodded toward the door, then left, expecting them to follow her back into the house.

  “Don’t be feeling you have to help us.” Heather took a few steps toward the front door, stopping at Miranda’s voice.

  “I can’t leave until Mr. Fielder gets back, so I might as well help you inside. Besides, it will give me time to learn more about your fascinating family.”

  Heather bit her tongue, forcing herself to calm down and not respond. She reminded herself she wasn’t angry at Miranda or any of her family. It would do no good to take her frustration out on them. Instead, she’d save her rage and irritation for another time when it could be directed at the right person.