TWELVE
Margaret was still trembling when they reached the ranch house. Men and animals thronged the track in front of the house, and she looked frantically around for her pa. Only when she saw his tall, spare form did the tension ease from her shoulders.
She slid from Daniel’s horse, then ran to her father and threw her arms around him. “Oh, Pa, there was a terrible stampede.”
He patted her shoulders awkwardly, then pushed her away. “My goodness, Margaret, you’re a grown woman. I expected more backbone than this. It was just a little stampede. We’ve seen worse.”
Backbone. Margaret stiffened her spine and managed to bring her trembling under control. “I’m sorry, Pa. You know how I hate storms and stampedes.”
“And it’s about time you got over that fear.”
“It’s not entirely groundless,” she reminded him.
His lips tightened at her words. “But I’ll not have you hiding just because your mother was in the wrong place at the wrong time. An O’Brien doesn’t run from anything.”
“Yes, Pa.” Her throat closed with unshed tears. Not one word of joy that she was all right, not one ounce of approval from him. She should be used to it by now, but she still craved a smile of commendation. No wonder he saw nothing wrong with leaving Lewis the ranch. He had no real love for anyone. Had he even loved her mother?
She sensed Daniel’s gaze on her. There was probably pity in his eyes, but she didn’t want to see it. Right now, her inadequacy was all she could bear. “I’ll check and see if Inez and Vincente need help with supper.” Rushing away, she gritted her teeth. She would not cry.
All through supper she felt jittery. She jumped at the least noise, and her pa had to ask her twice if she was going to check the horses before bed. The animals were as unsettled as she was.
She grabbed her cloak and went out to the corral. The soft scent of the hay in the corner wafted to her nose, and the sound of the horses’ nickers soothed her frazzled nerves. She patted her gelding’s nose, then turned to go back to the house.
Daniel was standing in the gate opening. “Are you all right? You hardly spoke at supper, and you’re mighty pale.”
“I’m fine.” In no mood for bantering, she started past him.
He caught her arm. “I believe you should respect your pa, Margaret, but don’t take his words too much to heart. There’s a lot of hurt tied up in him. And guilt.”
“Guilt?”
“He wishes he had been there to save your mother.”
“How do you know that? He’s never said a word about it. You heard him tonight. He didn’t even ask if I was all right. Sometimes I wonder if he has a cowpat in place of a heart.” She choked out the last sentence.
He stared at her for a long moment. “I would feel terrible if something ever happened to you. You are becoming important to me.”
A lump formed in her throat, and she struggled not to cry. All she’d done was cry since this man came into her life. She was sick of it. He was a criminal, and she had to get rid of him somehow. But a void as deep as the canyon behind the ravine formed at the thought of never seeing him again. But what other choice was there? She could never chuck all she believed to go off with a man like him.
“You could turn yourself in,” she said impulsively. “Tell the sheriff all you know. Help him find and capture the rest of the robbers. You’d probably get off if you did that.”
“I can’t.” He let go of her arm.
She clutched his wrist and he didn’t pull away. “Sure you can. Put this life of crime behind you. You said yourself God loved you and would forgive all your sins. And the sheriff is a good man. You could trust him.”
He gave a faint smile. “Can’t you believe in me a little, Margaret?”
She turned from his sober face and ran past him to her room. She rubbed her fists against her eyes. If only there was some way out of this mess for all of them.
An idea bloomed in her head. He didn’t want to betray his comrades, but what if she found them and turned them in to the sheriff? Then they wouldn’t betray him to the sheriff to get back at him for turning on them. She sat on the edge of the bed and thought about it. Though she had no notion of where the gang could be holed up, she could follow Daniel for a few days and see what she could find out.
She could see that he wanted to change. His face reflected regret and a longing to put his past behind him. It was up to her to help him. She refused to examine her motives too closely. The answers she might find there might be more than she could handle right now.
SATURDAY MORNING, WAGONS loaded with material lumbered to the house. Men on horseback and women carrying baskets of food milled around outside. Margaret stepped into the yard with hot biscuits and honey. She saw Nate and intercepted him on his way to the charred spot where the old barn used to be.
“How are Lucy and the baby?” she asked.
He tipped his hat back with one finger. He looked a little haggard. “Doing well. Little Carrie isn’t sleeping much yet, though. We’re all tired.”
“It’s obvious you need some rest. Tell Lucy I’ll be over to see her in a few days.”
“You can tell her yourself. She’s in the center of that bunch of women oohing and ahhing over Carrie.”
Margaret gasped. “She shouldn’t be out yet.”
“You know Lucy. Nothing keeps her lazing around the house.” He looked off toward the men carrying lumber for the new barn.
She put her hands on her hips. “It’s your job to keep her in line, Nate Stanton.”
His grin widened. “Right. You give it a try.” He strode off to join the other men for the barn raising.
“Indeed.” Carrying the basket of biscuits, she joined the circle of women. Little Carrie’s face peeked out from her swaddling blanket. Her eyes moved under the delicate cover of her eyelids. Her little rosebud mouth sucked as if she were dreaming of nursing. Margaret stared hard at her friend. Though Lucy was a little pale, she was smiling and seemed fine. It seemed odd to see her without the round belly.
“Want to hold her?” Lucy didn’t wait for an answer but put the baby in Margaret’s arms.
Margaret ran her lips over the infant’s soft hair and inhaled the sweet scent of a newborn. The child was so light in her arms. She snuggled Carrie close and kissed her small forehead. “She’s adorable, Lucy.” The nursery for her and Stephen still held their small beds. She’d sometimes peeked in and imagined her own children sleeping there. “What are you doing out of bed? You should still be resting, not gallivanting all over the countryside. Come inside to the rocker.”
Lucy smiled and fell into step beside Margaret. “I knew you’d make sure I got some rest today. I couldn’t stay home when everyone was here enjoying themselves.”
Fanny, Lucy’s cousin, came along too. “I tried to tell her the same thing, Margaret.”
The parlor held a gray horsehair sofa and two wing chairs grouped around the woodstove. The rug had seen better days. It was threadbare in front of the sofa and had marks from mud Margaret had been unable to remove. The curtains were clean, though, and a breeze lifted them. It filled the room with the fresh scent of newly mown hay.
Margaret put the basket of biscuits on the small table and shifted the baby to her other arm. “Would you like something to drink, maybe Arbuckle’s?”
Lucy patted the sofa beside her. “What I want is for you to sit down and tell me about that handsome foreman your pa hired. He couldn’t take his eyes off you at the dance.”
“Oh hush, Lucy. You couldn’t be more wrong. I dislike him very much.” Margaret nuzzled Carrie’s soft head again. The baby felt so wonderful in her arms. She never wanted to give her back to Lucy.
Fanny laughed and leaned over to take a biscuit. “Do tell us about him, Margaret. If you aren’t interested, I might be.”
It felt as though someone had stuck a hot brand in Margaret’s midsection. How had she come so quickly to think Daniel was hers? The thought of him with another wo
man brought unbelievable heartache. She needed to root him out of her life. And quickly, before it was too late.
“He’s not the staying kind of man, Fanny.”
“I don’t know why you say that.” Fanny nibbled on her biscuit. “He’s a foreman. They tend to stay around.”
Margaret longed to confide in the other women, but it felt disloyal to Daniel to be talking about him behind his back. But what did she owe to someone who made his living by hurting others? It was ludicrous that she cared one iota about the man.
Lucy was studying Margaret’s expression. “What aren’t you telling us? Has he kissed you?”
Margaret’s cheeks flamed with heat. “What a personal question to ask. I’m quite surprised at you.”
“He has, hasn’t he?” Lucy’s smile was gleeful. “I think the two of you make a lovely couple.”
“We are not a couple. He’s quite insufferable. And he’ll be gone soon. Besides, I have more important things to worry about than a new foreman.” Margaret let Carrie curl her small fingers around her index finger as she told the women about her father’s decision.
“I can’t believe your father would pass you over for a cousin.” Lucy held out her arms when Carrie began to whimper.
Margaret hated to let go of the warm little body, but the infant was hungry. “I understand it all too well. When Stephen died, Pa knew the family dynasty he’d hoped to build was at an end. Even if I were to marry and have children, they wouldn’t carry the O’Brien name. This way there will still be an O’Brien running the ranch. Lewis’s children will be O’Briens.”
“But they won’t be his grandchildren. I think Nate should talk to him. He’ll listen to Nate.”
Everyone listened to Nate. He was known for being smart and fair. “I don’t know. It’s Pa’s ranch. He can do what he wants with it.”
Lucy’s blue eyes darkened. “But what would you do? Ranching is all you know.”
Margaret tried to infuse her voice with enthusiasm. “Lewis says I can always stay here. If he takes a wife, he’ll build me a cottage.”
“Don’t even try to tell me you’d be fine with that. I know you, Margaret. You value your independence above any woman I know. You’d hate deferring to another woman’s views on a ranch that should belong to you. Would Lewis allow you to help the way you’ve always done?”
Margaret rubbed her head. “I don’t know. I’d like to think he sees my value to the ranch.”
But how could he when her own father didn’t?
THIRTEEN
The last nail had been pounded into the barn roof when Daniel wiped his moist forehead. Most of the neighbors had left. His right hand ached from swinging a hammer, and his forearm was knotted. He headed toward the springhouse to wash up.
Paddy emerged from the springhouse with his hair and whiskers wet. “Looks good, doesn’t it? This barn’s bigger than the old one. The rascal did me a favor.”
“You’ve got good neighbors.”
“The best.” Paddy’s genial smile faded. “That young Stanton had the nerve to take me to task for cutting Margaret out of my will. I must have a word with my daughter. She knows better than to chatter with her friends about my business.”
It was none of his business, but Daniel glanced at Paddy and considered his response. He could stay out of it or actually tell the old man he was wrong. The fellow had a temper and it was possible he might fire him. All Daniel’s plans would be ruined if he was booted out on his ear. Even as he decided he was staying out of it, he opened his mouth.
“I have to agree with Nate,” he said. “Margaret has worked hard here on the ranch. She deserves better from you.”
Paddy’s thick brows drew together. “You’re mighty opinionated for someone who just got here. How would you know what my daughter has or has not done around this place?”
“I’ve seen the respect she’s earned. And I’ve been here long enough to see how hard she works. I’m not speaking against Lewis. He seems a fine man. But Margaret is your flesh and blood.”
“She’s a female. And like her mother, she’s led by emotion.”
“That’s hardly fair, Paddy. Margaret is smart. She knows what is best for the ranch, not an outsider like Lewis. What if Lewis decides he doesn’t like ranching and sells it? Where would Margaret go?”
Paddy reared back. “Sell it? Why would he do that?”
“He’s lived in town all his life. What makes you think he’ll take to ranching life? He may hate the unending work. He may marry and his wife will persuade him to sell out and move to town.”
Paddy chewed on the idea with a scowl. “Margaret would never do that.”
“No, she wouldn’t. She loves this place as much as you do. Before you will it out of your family, you should think about it.”
Paddy’s face grew pensive and he looked off toward the river. “If only Stephen hadn’t died.”
“I’m sorry about that.” And Daniel was. He couldn’t imagine losing Charlie. That’s why he was here.
Paddy stared at him. “I should fire you for meddling.”
“I know. But you won’t. You like my work, and you’re not an irrational man.”
The older man grinned. “You’re a bit partial to my daughter, Daniel. You have my permission to court her.”
Daniel shut his mouth. He had nothing to say to that. If he said he wasn’t interested in Margaret, Paddy would see the lie. Much as Daniel would like to agree to the idea of a courtship, romance wasn’t on his agenda. Not now.
“Nothing to say?” Paddy asked with a sly grin.
“I—I don’t know what to say. I should think you’d want to merge your ranch with that of another rancher in the area. Aren’t there better matches out there for Margaret?” Though the thought of her in another man’s arms made his gut churn, he had to ask.
Paddy waved his hand. “It will take a strong man to deal with Margaret. I think you have what it takes. She thinks I’m too old and foolish. That I didn’t notice your new boots and citified ways.”
Daniel had thought the same. “So why did you let me stay?”
“Your eyes showed a strength of character I liked. And I decided it was time for Margaret to begin to learn more about being a woman and less about being a ranch hand.”
“I think she’s both.”
Paddy nodded. “Not many men see past her mannish exterior. She’s worn britches too long, and it’s my fault. I should have put a stop to it long ago. I’m going to send her to Sally, the town dressmaker. Get her tricked out in some new dresses.”
Daniel wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. Didn’t Paddy realize his daughter would fight him like a hooked catfish? “Don’t change her too much.”
Paddy clapped his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “You marry her and I’ll think about changing that will, son. You’ve given me things to think about, and I thank you for that.”
Margaret spoke from behind them. “Think about what?”
Don’t say anything. Daniel willed Paddy to keep quiet. The last thing he needed was for Margaret to think he had his sights set on the ranch.
“I told young Cutler here that if he married you, I might change my mind about leaving the ranch to Lewis.”
Daniel tried to catch her eye, but she was staring at her father with horror. Daniel reached toward her, but she took a step back.
Her green eyes were wide and hurt. “Why not haul me to town and put me on the auction block? Let everyone get a chance at the ranch. The only problem is, they’d have to take me with it.” She whirled and ran for the door.
Daniel started to go after her, but Paddy grabbed his arm. “Let her be. She won’t thank you for interfering right now. Maybe later.”
INEZ’S ROUGH HANDS smoothed Margaret’s hair where she sat on a stool in her serviceable blue nightgown. Inez plaited it swiftly. “Your father, he loves you, Señorita Margaret. You must never doubt that. He is man and does not understand feelings of women. Your mama, she die too early to teach him.”
br /> Inez’s hands in her hair drained some of the tension from her shoulders. Margaret had always missed having a mother, but never more than this moment. What was she to do with her life? If Pa gave Lewis the ranch, she would be displaced, no matter what her cousin said. He had good intentions and would try to make her feel part of the work, but the minute he married, everything would change.
And how dare her father try to bribe Daniel into marrying her? No wonder he’d been pursuing her. She’d thought he was genuinely interested in her. Now she suspected her father had brought him to town for the express purpose of marrying her off. Pa would change his tune when he heard why Daniel was really here. When the sheriff and posse rode up to arrest him. Her chest squeezed and she pushed the mental image away. Yearning after a greedy man like Daniel was fruitless. She had to decide her future by herself.
She glanced around her room. The floorboards were wide and could use repainting. The gray walls hadn’t been redone in a good ten years. Now that she could buy paint already premixed in a can, she would suggest they repaint in here. There was no personality to this space. Male or female could be comfortable here in the double bed with the rag rug on the wood. The stool was wood with no cushioning. There was only a tiny closet with four hooks in the room. She’d had no need of a larger one since her wardrobe was far from lavish. In spite of its shortcomings, this room was hers. How could she bear to leave it?
“All I know is ranch work. I wouldn’t know how to earn a living outside of the ranch.”
Inez tied a ribbon at the end of the braid. “You keep books for the ranch. Orville, perhaps he would have place for you.”
Margaret groaned. “I can’t imagine anything worse than being cooped up in the bank all day long. But I may have no choice.” She’d have to rent one of those rooms above a store. “I shall have to decide what I want to do with my life, then do it.”
The options weren’t exciting: teaching, cooking, cleaning. Dressmaking was out. She was very slow and tended to prick her fingers, leaving blood behind on the fabric, and she’d never mastered the sewing machine Inez was so fond of. There were good friends in the area who might hire her as a stable hand. She was good with horses. But then that created another set of problems— lodging. Most hands stayed in the bunkhouse. She was a woman. That would never be allowed, nor would she want it.