Heart of Stone

by Ari McKay

  “That they do.” Luke nodded. “That’s what Priss, Sarah, and I counted on, as a matter of fact.”

  Stone looked at Luke over the rim of his cup. It appeared Luke had found an almost perfect situation for himself, and he seemed comfortable with himself in a way Stone envied. Luke didn’t seem to live in fear of having his secrets discovered, which was almost beyond Stone’s comprehension. He’d lived with the feeling of having to look over his shoulder for so long, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to completely relax and trust anyone ever again.

  “It’s lucky you got a job here, then,” he said finally, gazing down at his cup. “I wish I’d known about her. I wish I’d gotten to meet her.”

  “You’d have liked her.” Luke’s voice was soft. “She’d have liked you, too, I think.”

  “Really?” Stone lifted a brow, but he couldn’t deny that the thought of his aunt actually liking him was rather nice. “Not many people like me.”

  Luke seemed surprised by that. “I don’t see why not. Sure, you’re on the quiet side, but you ain’t the unfriendly kind. Priss weren’t overly talkative herself. Sarah was the one who always had a word and a smile for everyone, whether she knew them or not.”

  Stone shrugged. “I ain’t exactly comfortable with most folks. I’m better with animals.”

  “Nothin’ wrong with that.” Luke smiled reassuringly. “It don’t mean you ain’t likable.” He paused, fixing Stone with an oddly intense look. “I like you.”

  Stone felt himself blushing, which he hated. He couldn’t help it, though, not when the look in Luke’s eyes was so unsettling, making him feel as though Luke could see all his secrets. “I bet you like everyone,” he said dryly. “You’re just sociable.”

  Luke laughed and shook his head. “Nah, I don’t like everyone, but I’ve been called a sociable man before. No harm in bein’ friendly, after all. Especially to folks who don’t like me. Nothin’ makes them madder.”

  That made Stone chuckle, surprising even him. “I can imagine.” He finished off his coffee, then rose with a sigh. “I suppose we should get goin’. I’ll clean up if you’ll hitch up the buggy.”

  “Sure thing, boss.” Luke drained his cup, and then he pushed back his chair and stood up. “I’ll see you out front.”

  Stone nodded and set about clearing the table and washing up. When he finished, he dried his hands, picked up his hat, and headed out the front door, finding that Luke was already there, the buggy hitched to a matched pair of lovely Palominos, their golden hides gleaming in the sunlight. He walked down the steps and stopped for a moment to pat the horses, then pulled himself up into the seat beside Luke. “Ready?”

  “I’m ready if you are, boss,” Luke replied, nodding at him and giving him a smile that somehow seemed more than just friendly.

  Stone looked away, feeling confused again. He was going to either have to get used to Luke and his ways or learn how to run the ranch on his own; neither option set well with him, and he growled silently to himself, crossing his arms over his chest as Luke steered the horses toward the road leading to town.

  Luke either didn’t notice Stone’s crankiness or he wasn’t letting it bother him, because he leaned back and hummed “Buffalo Gals” quietly as they rode along. It wasn’t until they were almost to town that he spoke again, glancing over at Stone with a mischievous look.

  “I reckon you’re goin’ to have to be a little sociable today. But don’t worry. I’ll introduce you around, and you can say howdy and leave the rest of the talkin’ to me, if you like.”

  “That’s fine,” Stone replied, and then sighed. “I suppose I’m goin’ to have to make the effort.”

  “It’s natural curiosity.” Luke gave him a sympathetic look. “It’ll wear off in time. It’s just excitin’ right now. We don’t get many new folks out here.”

  “Really?” Stone was surprised. “But it’s beautiful! I’d think people would be comin’ along all the time.” He had to admit, if only to himself, he was growing more attached to the ranch every day. “Well, I’ll try my best. Sometimes I just don’t know what to say.”

  “Then stick to the basics,” Luke suggested. “Say howdy, ask ’em how they are, and say ‘that’s good to hear’ or ‘I’m sorry to hear it,’ dependin’ on what they say back. Most folks will start jawin’ at you on their own after that, and all you got to do is listen and nod like it’s the most fascinatin’ thing in the world. When you get tired of listenin’, you say, ‘Well, it was nice seein’ you,’ and that’s all there is to it.”

  Stone’s mouth dropped open, and he shut it with a snap. “It can’t be that easy, can it?” he asked, shaking his head. He’d spent years fumbling around, looking for words, or, more often, looking to escape. Then Luke came up with a solution like it was the easiest thing in the world. “I’ll be damned.”

  Luke grinned. “It ain’t about the talkin’, it’s about the listenin’, and you’re good at that. Most folks are happy to talk your ear off, and if you run up on another quiet one, well, you can both be quiet after you get through the ‘how are yous’, and I reckon you’ll both be relieved the socializin’ is over.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” Stone muttered. Then he was distracted as the first of the buildings came into sight, indicating they’d reached Serenity.

  The town was decent sized, though not as big as a city like Reno or Abilene. Luke had told him there were nearly five hundred people, not counting the hands on the ranches who came into town looking for entertainment. There were two general stores, three banks, several small shops, a schoolhouse, and at least four saloons. Stone frowned at the sight of those, but turned his attention to the big white building coming up on their right, its tall steeple setting it apart from the shorter buildings nearby. Buggies and wagons were pulling up around it, and Stone swallowed hard at the sight of all the people.

  “Just smile and say howdy,” Luke murmured, clapping him briefly on the shoulder before guiding the horses to a free space at a hitching post. “They’re goin’ to gawk, but you just let ’em. It won’t hurt nothin’. They want to see the new owner of Copper Lake Ranch, that’s all.”

  “It was easier bein’ a cowboy,” Stone replied grimly. He could feel the weight of eyes on him, and he tilted his chin up. If they were going to look, there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. But he’d not hang his head; when the nasty, cutting comments about his parentage came, he’d ignore them as he always had.

  He got out of the buggy, straightened his coat, and resisted the urge to fiddle with his tie while he waited for Luke to tie up the horses. Then he moved to Luke’s side, doing his best not to frown as they approached the steps of the church and the large knot of people milling around inside.

  “Stick close,” Luke murmured, and then he began navigating the crowd, tipping his hat and smiling as he greeted the townspeople he knew.

  Somehow, he managed to introduce Stone and keep them both moving toward the door at a steady pace, deftly avoiding any clutching hands or nosy questions that would have dragged them into conversation. It seemed like no time at all before Luke was steering him toward a pew near the front, and Stone had just enough time to notice the little brass plaque on the side that read “In loving memory of Daniel Rivers” before they sat down.

  “That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Luke gave Stone a beatific smile, offering no clues as to how he’d worked that particular bit of magic.

  Stone forced himself to relax against the wooden pew, easing the tension knotted in his shoulders, and looked at Luke gratefully. “I suppose not. You’re goin’ to have to teach me that trick, though. Seems like it would come in handy.”

  Luke’s smile turned mischievous. “If I teach you all my tricks, you might not have any reason to keep me around, and I’m of a mind to stay.”

  There was the teasing again, and Stone shook his head, giving a long-suffering sigh. He didn’t respond as tartly as he might have, however, given he was sure there were judgmental eyes watching hi
s every move.

  “Minds can change,” he replied, focusing his attention on the pulpit as the rest of the congregation filed in and took their seats.

  “So they can,” Luke agreed amiably. “But mine tends to stay made up when I know what I want.” He glanced sidelong at Stone with an enigmatic smile. “Just so you know.”

  A part of Stone wanted to ask what Luke meant by that, but this certainly wasn’t the time. Especially since the choir was rising to their feet, and he stood along with everyone else as a piano began to play the opening hymn.

  As church services went, Stone decided Reverend Cole’s was about middle of the road. He wasn’t a fire-and-brimstone type of man, but he wasn’t a complete mouse, either. Instead he exhorted his congregation to hard work, soberness, and charity, and managed to wrap up his preaching about five minutes after Stone was beginning to wonder how much longer he’d be able to keep his eyes open.

  Then it was time to try to get out of the church, so he pasted a smile on his lips, murmured politely in response to the comments directed at him, and made for the door as quickly as humanly possible, hoping Luke could work his magic if Stone got bogged down. Fortunately, it seemed most people were as anxious to escape as he was, probably looking forward to getting home to Sunday dinner and a little relaxation before the week started up again.

  He made it to the door, shook hands with the preacher, clapped his hat on his head, and started down the steps, counting himself lucky for having escaped cleanly. Unfortunately, that was when his luck ran out.

  “Mr. Harrison!” Stone turned at the sound of his name and fought the urge to beat a hasty retreat as he saw a large, determined matron step out from around the bush she must have been hiding behind. She was smiling widely at him, and Stone was oddly reminded of a big dog that looked friendly until just before it bit you.

  “Ma’am,” Stone said, glancing around for Luke without being too obvious about it, but he didn’t seem to be around just when Stone needed him the most.

  “Lovely to meet you,” the matron said, holding out a plump hand for Stone to take. “I’m Mrs. James Wilson. My husband is the doctor here in town. Your dear aunt was such a good friend of mine. We were almost like sisters.”

  Stone took her hand, shaking it briefly. “Pleased to meet you.” He didn’t know what else to say, seeing as he hadn’t known his aunt at all.

  “I know it must be hard, you being new in town and all,” Mrs. Wilson continued, apparently unperturbed by Stone’s terse greeting. “I’d be remiss in not inviting you to Sunday dinner with my family. Dear Priscilla would probably haunt me! And you wouldn’t have to worry about being with a couple of stuffy old people, either. My daughter Agnes still lives at home, and I know she’d be delighted if you’d join us.”

  Stone’s eyes widened in horror at the thought of having to take a meal with complete strangers and try to make small talk as they’d no doubt expect him to do. Mrs. Wilson seemed the type to try to worm his whole life story out of him, and he could only imagine how well tales of his drunk father would go over.

  Fortunately, Luke appeared at his side and spoke up before he had to. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Wilson.” Luke gave the formidable matron an apologetic smile. “I’m sure Mr. Harrison would love to have dinner with you and your family, but I already made him promise to go over the books with me right after church. I’ve been awful hard on him, I know, deprivin’ him of such good food and good company, but I’m tryin’ to do right by the ranch.” He captured her hand and kissed the back of it, flashing a winning smile at her. “You understand, I’m sure.”

  “Well, I can hardly drag a man away from business when he’s just getting settled in.” Stone watched in amazement as Mrs. Wilson, who had to be in her late fifties, simpered at Luke and actually batted her eyelashes at him like she was some coy miss in her teens. “And we all know how well you took care of dear Priscilla and watched over the ranch. Perhaps another time, then?” She looked at Stone. “Next Sunday?”

  Eyes wide, Stone looked at Luke. If the man could rescue him from this one, he’d owe him in a big way.

  Luke gave her dimpled hand a squeeze, and his smile turned beguiling. “I’m awful sorry, ma’am, but I’m goin’ to be keepin’ Mr. Harrison right busy for a while to come. He’s never run a ranch before, and I want to teach him right. It’s what Mrs. Harrison would have wanted,” he added with a hint of piety. “How about if Mr. Harrison lets you know when I’ve finally freed him from his shackles?”

  “Oh.” Mrs. Wilson looked disappointed, but Luke’s charm seemed to take the wind out of her sails. “Of course. I understand. Please do let me know, Mr. Harrison. We’d love to have you any time.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Stone replied. He darted a glance at Luke to make sure that was a good enough response.

  “Afternoon, ma’am.” Luke tipped his hat and gave her one last smile before he subtly steered Stone away. “Give Miss Agnes my regards.”

  “I will,” she replied. Stone waited until they’d gotten around to the side of the church, then let out a huge sigh of relief.

  “I thought I was doomed,” he whispered, glancing around to make sure no more dowagers were going to spring out of the bushes. “Thanks.”

  Luke chuckled quietly, his eyes alight with amusement. “Any time, boss. I shoulda warned you, but I didn’t think about it. Miss Agnes has the face of a horse and the figure of a pine post, and Mrs. Wilson’s been tryin’ to marry her off to anything in long pants for years, but no one’ll take her. Pity, because she’s a real nice girl and smart as a whip. I’d snap her up in a minute if I was the marryin’ kind.”

  Stone couldn’t help shivering in horror at the thought. Not that he cared what the poor girl looked like, but if Mrs. Wilson was angling to catch him for her daughter within an hour of him coming to town for the first time, how many other women were going to be following behind?

  He realized he was considered an attractive man, and more than one woman had made her interest in him obvious over the years. Mostly he avoided the issue entirely by ignoring it, and fortunately no woman had considered a transient cowboy who obviously didn’t have much money to be worth pursuing too hard. But now he was the owner of a large, prosperous ranch, and if he was going to make a go of things, it was important to keep the good will of the townsfolk. Not to mention, he didn’t want to give any of them cause to go looking so close at him they figured out things he’d rather they didn’t know.

  “Well, I do appreciate it.” He gave Luke a lopsided smile. “I guess we should get back to the ranch before we’re ambushed again. I’d thought to offer to buy you dinner here in town to show how much I appreciate your help, but maybe that wouldn’t be such a good idea.”

  “Probably not,” Luke agreed. “Word gets around pretty quick, and Mrs. Wilson wouldn’t be too happy with either of us. You’d probably get roped into dinner next Sunday.”

  Stone nodded and headed toward the buggy. “I heat up a mean can of beans,” he said, his expression deadpan. “Will that do instead?”

  “I’m happy to take whatever you want to give me,” Luke replied, keeping pace with him easily.

  Stone felt his face growing hot, and shot Luke an aggrieved look. The man was doing it again, saying things Stone didn’t know how to take. But unlike Mrs. Wilson, at least Stone was sure Luke didn’t mean him any harm. He didn’t know why he was coming to trust the man easier than he could remember trusting anyone in a long time, especially given how Luke confused him, but his gut was telling him Luke Reynolds was a good man, and Stone had learned to trust his instincts on such things a very long time ago.

  He gave Luke a smile that an angel couldn’t have done better. “I’ll remember that when it’s time to discuss your salary.”

  Luke laughed outright at that and raised one eyebrow at him, looking like the devil to Stone’s angel. “Does that mean I can take it in trade?”

  “Sure.” Stone decided he wasn’t going to look at that comment too closely. �
��You can have all the cattle you can carry.”

  “That’s mighty generous of you, boss,” Luke replied, still grinning. “Maybe we can negotiate after a month or two. I wouldn’t mind workin’ my way up from cattle.”

  “Well, I hope to be considered a reasonable boss, so I’m willin’ to listen.” They reached the buggy, and Stone untied the reins from the post and tossed them to Luke. “Come on, let’s get home. I’ve had enough of town to last me quite a while.”

  Luke caught the reins neatly and took his place in the driver’s seat, and as soon as Stone was settled beside him, he set the team in motion. “Home it is, boss, and maybe we can find something a little more tasty than a can of beans in the larder.”

  “Maybe we can,” Stone replied, and then settled back with a quiet sigh of contentment. Although he’d never admit it, he’d rather have cold beans in Luke’s company than be served the finest, fanciest food in the world by someone like Mrs. Wilson. Luke might confuse him from time to time, but at least he wasn’t expecting Stone to be someone he couldn’t be. Simple acceptance was a gift that cost nothing, but to Stone, it was more rare and precious than gold.

  6

  STEPHEN’S Mercantile on Serenity’s Main Street wasn’t large, but it had everything a rancher needed. It had never occurred to Stone just how many cans of beans and sacks of flour it took to keep hungry ranch hands fed, although he didn’t begrudge them any of it. Every hand on the Copper Lake worked hard, and Stone knew good, hot meals every day helped keep them going.

  The ranch had a standing order for the main supplies, which were brought in by train to Reno and shipped by wagon to Serenity and other small towns between the big spreads. There was some local farming, and Mary helped keep up a garden at Copper Lake that Sarah had planted years before, which gave them things like tomatoes and greens, but this late in October, everything had been harvested, so any extras had to be purchased. As Stone picked up the items on Mary’s list, along with a few things for himself, he brought them back to the counter, where Mr. Stephens, the owner of the store, totted up the bill.