To Honor and Cherish (6 page)

“I need the best price for those cattle that I can get.”

“You will get a fraction of the price in Texas that you would get from any of the railroads close by. They raise cattle there. They have plenty of cattle. You want to send them where they need them, not where they have enough.” He sat quiet, she could tell he was mulling something in his head so she waited. “It isn’t done, understand this. There’s no open space anymore. Think about all the fencing around Whitte ranch, that kind of fencing is all over now. Driving cattle is near impossible. The further north you get, the less fence. I still don’t know that you’d get the best price for them, especially with having to pay the hands to do it, but you have a better shot if you drove them north.”

“North? Where in the north?” She wanted to argue, but he seemed to know what he was talking about. It still irritated her she’d been wrong.

If you could drive them north to Pierre, South Dakota, they are a growing cattle area. They may be willing to pay for a herd already grown. I’ve been hearing talk of them paying people from the East to drive cattle to them. An established herd may be just what someone is looking for. We will also need a few extra hands. Six just isn’t enough. I think we’ll need ten. Eight riders, someone to drive the chuck wagon, and a rustler for the horses. He’ll be young, shouldn’t cost much. I have someone in mind for that.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

“Decision made? Just like that? Don’t you want to think about this? It would be so much easier to just drive them to the railway.”

“I don’t pay you for easy, cowboy.”

~~~

Meg hitched two horses to the buckboard. She checked her small purse to make sure the list for the mercantile was inside. Jax had given her a list of necessities and she’d added a few things to the list after. Mark would bring the wagon with the supplies when he came out to work. She’d ride Jax’s horse back.

Listening to the noise of insects and birds, she climbed into the seat. Remembering as she looked out on the land, her father and the crews he would take to Texas when the herd got too big. At least, she thought they’d gone to Texas. Now, she wasn’t so sure after what Jax had said. As a child, her father didn’t tell her just where he was going. Maybe she made that part up as she got older, associating cattle with Texas. No matter where he’d actually gone, she loathed the thought of being alone. He’d been gone so long.

Rose came outside with a cup of coffee and waved as she walked over, breaking into Meg’s memories. She wore her normal smile and colorful dress. It didn’t matter what Rose wore though, she always looked beautiful. She was confident and happy with herself and her life. No one would ever guess Rose was approaching forty years old. She just didn’t seem to age.

Though she knew it might be envy, Meg wished she looked half as pretty as Rose. Rose was tiny and petite, barley reaching her husband’s chest. She had to stand on the tips of her toes to see something cooking on the back of the stove. Her hair was the blackest ebony and straight. She always wore it in a thick braid down her back. Her eyes were like dark almonds and she wore colorful clothing more like that of the tribe she came from, but mixed with traditional fabrics.

Meg couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t considered herself thin and plain. Yes, she’d had quite a few suitors in her time, but all they desired was the ranch. Even Chase, to some extent, had been looking for the future not at her. She’d chosen him because he was at least kind to her. Her feelings had grown into love as she’d put his needs before her own at all times.

“Good morning Meg.”

“Hello Rose, you look quite happy this morning.” Meg shaded her eyes as the sun came out from a cloud.

“It was a good evening. Are you driving into town?”

“Yes, only to the mercantile and to see if I have any mail. Do you need anything?”

“Yes.” She smiled with excitement. “To come with you.” She turned and trotted back toward the house.

“Oh Rose, I don’t think that’ll work. I have to leave the wagon there and bring Jax’s horse back,” she yelled to Rose’s receding figure.

Rose looked over her shoulder from the porch. “Then we’ll bring a horse for me, too. I need to get a few things for the house that we should be able to bring back on horse. Give me a minute to put my cup in the house.” Rose jogged back to the kitchen. She came out with a bonnet on, looking even lovelier than before.

Meg and Rose enjoyed the ride into town, they had always talked while they worked together, but it was nice to just sit for a few minutes. Meg told Rose all about the planned drive to South Dakota and Rose seemed to become more pensive.

“Does Pete have to go on the drive too?” She kept a sharp eye forward.

“I’d like him to go. The others will still be new and although I think I can trust Jax, I know nothing about his men. What if they would decide to take my cattle? I need a few men I can trust on that drive. You understand, right?”

“I understand many things. That doesn’t mean I have to like any of them.” Her voice pinched, an uncustomary stiffness in it.

“Please don’t be mad Rose. I certainly can’t go with.”

“Lord no.” Rose looked away, but remained aloof the rest of the trip to town.

Meg and Rose walked into the mercantile and looked at few things, waiting for the man at the counter to be done helping an older woman with her list. He was an older gentleman and incredibly patient with her. She complained about some service she’d received the last time she was in. He seemed to be taking care of the problem and the woman was about to leave when a younger man came out from the back. He ignored the front of the store and approached Meg and Rose. With a worldly smile, he looked them up and down.

“Can I help you lovely ladies with anything?” he said, getting too close and acting more familiar with them than was comfortable.

“Oh, we’re just going to give our lists to Mr. Scott, thank you.” Meg attempted to control the situation.

“I am Mr. Scott, the younger and more agile. Why don’t you give me your lists?” He took them from their hands without asking.

Both Meg and Rose looked at each other, taken aback by the rudeness of this man. They walked over to the elder Mr. Scott to see what could be done. Before they made it all the way over to him, the young man came back over and shoved his hand out to Meg.

“I just read your list and realized who you were, Mrs. Connor, pleased to meet you. I’ll be working out at your ranch starting in a few days. I’ll be the one bringing your wagon back with me when I come,” he said, as if he had the most important job of everyone.

Meg looked at his hand, unaccustomed to such forward behavior. His face dropped into a scowl when she didn’t take his hand for a few seconds. He pulled it back slowly and his smile went cold.

“Ah, I see how this will be—.”

He didn’t get a chance to finish. Meg looked him in the eye and questioned to herself Jax’s ability to pick trustworthy men.

“Nice to meet you.” She squinted, her words clipped. “Bring both lists with you when you come out to the ranch and charge the bill to Augustus Whitte.” Meg and Rose turned and abruptly left.

“I’m now more certain than ever that Pete must go with. If Jax hired five men like that, I’ll be lucky if half my herd makes it to South Dakota.” Her brow creased in worry.

Rose nodded, but her movements were stiff and she looked away.

They unhitched the horse from the back of the wagon they’d brought to town and went to the post office. She had no mail waiting for her and decided to buy a newspaper. A little reading chased away the shadows in the evenings.

They collected Jax’s horse, a fine-looking mount. Meg thanked her father’s liveryman and was pleased at the chance to ride such a magnificent horse. Meg and Rose rode home in relative silence, and parted as soon as they got back.

Meg went right in to confront Jax about his choice of cowhands and to question whether he took this job as seriously as she needed him to.

Knocking briefly, she walked into his room without listening for a reply. He was sitting up on the edge of the bed without his shirt on and he’d unwrapped his torso. Expecting him to still be lying in bed, left her faced head on with the reality of this virile, handsome, half-naked man. It was disconcerting at best. She was speechless and searched for her composure as it seemed to fly out of the room.

He looked up as she entered, “Is there something you need, boss-lady?” He smiled at her discomfort in his playful way.

“I, uh, I dropped off the lists.”

“Good, did you have any trouble?”

Trouble?
She, thought to herself.
The only trouble I’m having is looking where I’m supposed to.
Chase had never been like that. He’d worked hard, yes, but he’d always relied on the horses to do the pulling and pushing for him.

“Yes…no…I mean…”

“Yes,” he said, laughing. “No, maybe?”

She chewed her bottom lip then replied, “I met Mr. Scott…the younger and more agile.” She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at him.

“Oh.” The realization of what she was saying plain on his face. “What happened?”

Meg told him the whole story, forcing her eyes to stay directly on his. She wished the whole time he would put his shirt back on. She thought he might be leaving it off on purpose, to make her uncomfortable.

“Meghan, I want to assure you I’ll keep an eye on Mark. If he can’t live up to expectations, he’ll be gone. Right away.”

“That’s all well and good Jax, but what if he decides to defy you in the middle of Nebraska? Do you leave him there? Send him back alone? Or, do I continue to pay someone I can’t trust because you’re mid-drive?” Her hands were shaking in anger. She was sure he was trying to make her uncomfortable. There seemed to be no other reason for him to stand there in that state of undress.

“I’d send him home. It isn’t my job to nanny him. If he can’t follow a couple rules and do his share, he won’t get paid and he’ll be sent home.”

“And you’ll be left one man short.” She pointed out.

“No, I already accounted for the fact that he won’t do his share. He was never going to make what the others will. And one man, who’ll be my right-hand man along with Pete, will make a little more. Same amount of money spent and same amount of work done, but I wanted to give Mark one last chance to do something worthwhile with his life.”

“Next time you decide to give someone a chance, do it with your own resources.” Meg turned on her heel and made it to the door before she heard Jax clear his throat.

“Yes.” She fumed at the interruption to her angry exit.

“I…can’t get my shirt back on. Getting it off was easy, all I had to do was lower my arms. I’ve sat here for an hour trying to put it back on and I can’t lift my arms high enough to do it.” He was humble and her anger melted. “I hate to ask you, but can you help me?” His eyes were so soft, how could she have been so wrong about this man?
Well, he’s given you enough reason to be suspicious.

Meg trudged over to him. Admitting she was wrong was difficult. She took his shirt and pulled it up his arms, careful not to touch his skin. He then looked up at her and she realized he was asking her with his eyes to button the top few buttons. He was so tired from trying he couldn’t lift them high enough.
Take care of my sheep,
Meg thought, and realized she’d made assumptions about him that weren’t true. He’d been respectful the whole time he was here. She hitched her breath and buttoned the top three buttons. When she reached the fourth, she felt his hands touch hers as he took over the task, able to lift his arms high enough to do the bottom few. His hands were rough, strong, and warm. She pulled her hands back like they’d been burned where he touched her. She rushed from the room, and heard him chuckle at her as she sped down the hall.

Chapter
Nine

The day of the big move out to the new bunk house, Meg sat at her table drinking coffee. Jax took careful steps to the door carrying his bedroll. He paused at the door.

“I’m moving out. The men should be here in the next hour or so.” He didn’t wait for a reply. Meg felt the huge house close in on her. The quiet dismayed Meg because it left her to think about Chase all over again. It suffocated her until she had to get out. She washed her cup and put on her bonnet to get some air. Jax popped his head back in the door.

“The men are here earlier than I expected. Can I trouble you to stay inside today while I show them around and get them settled? Establish rules and boundaries.”

“I don’t want to confuse them. I won’t be managing them, you will. If you think this is best, then I will agree.” Meg’s shoulders slumped and she removed her bonnet, hanging it back on the peg.

“Rose?” she called to the walls.

“Yes, Meg?” She heard from one of the bedrooms.

“We need to clean and air out Lizzy’s room. Today’s as good a day as any.”

She went to her sister’s old room carrying a rag and cleaning bucket. Knowing it had to be ready, she still had no idea where to begin. Meg dusted everything in Lizzy’s room while Rose scrubbed the floor but they decided against taking any of the furniture out. She took all the linens off the bed and uncovered the other furniture for washing.

Lizzy would be angry either way. If she cleaned it out and threw out something that was important to Lizzy, she would never hear the end of it. The other option was to not throw out anything and make her mad for not making it appropriate for a grown woman. It would give Lizzy something to do for a few days when she first came. Maybe even keep her busy until they left on the drive. It was so important Lizzy not know too much about the drive. She’d tell their mother and that would put brakes on the whole thing. There’d been cattle on Whitte Ranch for over thirty years, learning that era was ending wouldn’t be well-received.

The task was all too short and Meg sighed, looking around for something else to do. She sent Rose home, then she grabbed her newspaper from a few days prior and went out the side door to sit on the porch and read in the shade. This was still her home, she didn’t need to ask anyone if it was okay to read outside.

The paper was full of advertisements to “return vigor and vitality with one easy cure, tailored suits for only ten dollars, take the sting out of any burn with these common household plants!”, then an advertisement caught her eye and made her giggle into her hands. “Wanted: Wife. Neer Canida border. No childrn. Preecher watein ‘reply to newspaper’.” Meg thought it was unfortunate the man at the newspaper office hadn’t tried to help the poor man sound a bit more refined. Then again, maybe there was a reason for it. She finished reading the paper when she heard someone calling her name come around the house.

“There you are,” called Jax. He looked frantic. “I was beginning to worry something had happened to you.”

“What in the world could happen to me out here?” She stood and met him at the base of the stairs. “I was just cooling down in the shade. Are you ready to introduce me to the hands?”

“If you are.” He smiled, the frown on his face fading.

“I spoke to the men about the drive. We all agree, we need to leave as soon as possible to make it back before cold weather sets in. Especially that far north.”

“You’ve lost a bit of warm weather. Will you be able to make it back before first snow?”

“We should, if everything goes well. At the very least, we’ll get the cattle there and we can go quicker on the way back.”

Meg nodded. “Will you need Pete, or can he stay here?”

“I need every man. This’s no small herd you have. If you can hire a few other men to replace him, we could consider it, but he’s really good. What’ll my men be doing once there’re no cattle to look after?” Jax looked at her with skepticism.

“There’ll be work for you. It was, in fact, why I asked about Pete. If he were able to stay, I could get our new livestock here before you get back.” She tried not to sound too excited, unable to look at him for the mild deception.

“We could leave some of the cattle here. There’s no need to start all over again.”

Meg eyed him for a moment, angry that he would think her so mindless. “I’m not planning to ever have cattle again. When you get back, we’ll discuss my plans. But if you’re so business-wise, you should be able to figure it out by looking at the new barn.” She got her own jab in.

They meandered to the bunkhouse. All of the new hands sat outside on cut logs upended like stools. None of them appeared to care when Jax and Meg approached. Her hackles were up when she saw Mark among them. She had hoped Jax would pick someone else, but she’d never given the order expressly. She wanted to be angry, but she’d given him the authority over hiring his men. It wouldn’t be right to fight with him over it, especially not in front of the men. If Mark ever stepped out of line, Jax would be the first to hear about it. She crossed her arms over herself protecting herself from him at least in her own mind.

“Evening.” Jax tried to get their attention.

“Evenin’.” They all replied languidly. Some tipped their hats with one finger, others only smiled.

“This is Meghan Connor, owner of Whitte Ranch.”

“Ah.” Mark threw a piece of grass into the wind. “We owe the convent rules to you.” He sat on the ground and leaned back on his elbows, regarding her. His posture showing his disrespect. “Are we to have sing along hour, too? Perhaps a hymn to close the day?” He snickered.

“Keep it up, Mark, and I’ll make you take a vow of silence,” Jax growled.

The other men chuckled but had the grace to seem embarrassed by Mark’s words. Mac stood first, the others followed his lead. They came over and introduced themselves to Meg. Each spoke to her respectfully and treated her as a lady. They answered to Jax so why make this difficult? Mark didn’t get off the ground. Jax came over and kicked the sole of his boot.

“Get up and act respectable.”

“Naw, wouldn’t want to start a trend. Think I’ll just stay right here. She’s already had the pleasure of meeting me.”

Meg heard the interaction between Jax and Mark and knew that Mark had an ax to grind with her. She needed to heed Jax’s advice to remain armed and alert. It couldn’t hurt with that loose cannon around. She just couldn’t understand why Jax felt the need to have him here at all.

~~~

Meg helped the men get ready as much as she was able. While still avoiding Mark, she managed to make herself useful. She packed the wagon that would follow the drive with all of the food, goods, and medical supplies the men would need, and feed for the horses. Moving the horses they would need for the drive into the new stable allowed the men to focus on bringing the cattle up to the smaller pasture closest to the house. They would be able to drive them right out and straight north. She wanted them ready to leave in the next day or two.

Each hand would need two to three horses. When cattle wandered, they would have to chase after them. That would wear out the horse. You couldn’t stop mid-drive to rest, so more than one horse was needed for each rider. They could also then change them out for fatigue every few hours or for special jobs. Meg made sure all the horses’ shoes were in good condition and that they were healthy enough for the trip. The men had been out from sunup to sunset rounding the cattle to the pasture closest to the house. Meg was agitated and missing her conversations with Jax in the evenings.

The day before the drive Meg walked out into a cloudless day. It no longer looked like her sister would come out before they left. All the better for her. Meg hadn’t had time to prepare for Lizzy except dusting anyway. A lone rider came cantering up the road. Meg saw by the way he rode it was her father.
He couldn’t have planned a more ill-timed visit
, she thought. He rode right up to her, smiling. She’d been leaving her bonnet in the house, wearing the black bonnet had made her almost faint one particularly hot day so she covered her eyes with her hand.

“Afternoon, girl. What are the hands doing with all those cows?”

Meg searched her brain for a plausible response. “Some will be rebranded. Others are going to South Dakota, thinning the herd.” It wasn’t quite a lie, some of those cows would be sold and rebranded, and others would be bought for other reasons.

He nodded. “I see the barn is finished, too. We’ll need it for calving next spring. I don’t remember seeing that on the bill?”

“I’m sure we’ll need it.” She turned away from him, the deception choking her.

“Well, I came out to see if the men were working hard, but mostly to let you know Lizzy decided at the last minute to go to Europe with your mother, instead of moving out here.”

Meg smiled, and thought,
now I know why he’s so happy
. “When do they leave?” she asked, knowing by his look they’d already left without him telling her.

“They left yesterday.” He kicked a stray rock. “Any work for an old man to do? I’ve got the whole day.”

“You’ll have to ask Jax.” She waved in Jax’s direction. “I’ve turned over all the day-to-day work to him. If he has trouble or needs anything, then he asks me. He has proven to be trustworthy and leads the men quite well.”

“Then I’ll find him and ask. It’ll feel good to put in a good hard day.” He left her to find Jax.

Lucky for Meg, Jax understood the quantity of cattle going on the drive had to remain between them, a secret from her father. So, she trusted he wouldn’t share that with him.

Meg wasn’t sure how long her father stayed on the ranch to work, but when she came out in the evening to groom a few horses she didn’t see him. She brought two horses in from the range. After making sure they had proper bedding and some oats, she brushed them down. She then brought in the last of the five horses they kept stalled at night, talking to them in her gentle way. She put down her brush and continued to tell the horse what she would do next, lifting each of its hooves and looking at its shoes. Checking for stones or grit in the tender center of the horse’s hoof.

Brushing the horse’s mane, she heard the barn door open and slam closed. She continued humming, calming the mare who stomped and twitched, nickering a warning. She petted the horse’s muzzle and continued grooming it.

The horse yanked its head away from her and whinnied. Hands clamped onto her waist, yanking her from the stall. The hands held her captive. She fought against arms too strong to break free. The horse stomped and yanked on her bonds.

Yelling and kicking, Meg thrashed against the man holding her. He reeked of alcohol. She dug her nails into his the flesh of his arm, he cursed and spun her quick enough to crack her neck. He slammed his mouth against hers, the stench so strong she wretched. He threw her away from him and scowled down at her. She covered her face to protect it from the impending blow.