Linda Ford (10 page)

Linette’s heart lay wounded and heavy. She’d momentarily imagined the house as hers. Why had she so foolishly revealed her thoughts to him?

She glanced to her right as she reached the bottom of the stairs and fought the truth crashing in upon her. She could see he wasn’t thinking pioneer wife, but rather, lady of the manor. She sucked in cold air and stiffened her resolve. She could be that, too. She’d been raised to be such. Taught to show interest in only ladylike activities, pretending no interest in the real things of life. But the idea sent shivers up and down her arms. She wanted more. She wanted to participate in life, enjoy shouldering a challenge. She wanted to be part of building a new world where women could be more than objects in a fine home.

Most of all, however, she wanted to avoid marrying Lyle Williamson and being subjected to some of the obscene things he had whispered in her ear on their last encounter.

She had only one recourse. Pray.

How foolish of her to see Eddie as her future husband before she’d even met him and given him a chance to say yea or nay. Though, in fairness to herself, she’d thought his letter meant he said yes. She wouldn’t give up her dream. Not yet. With God all things were possible.

They stepped out into a warm and promising wind that caressed her face. She turned and smiled at Eddie. “I enjoyed seeing your house. It’s beautiful.”

The remnants of his anger fled, replaced by a look of pride. “Be sure you tell Margaret that.”

She exhaled loudly. “Of course.” She’d also be sure to mention the deep snow and moaning wind. Perhaps, too, the long distance to the nearest town, or what passed as a town out on the frontier. Oh, and not to forget the fact that there were only three females on the place and two of those would be leaving if Eddie insisted on sending her back to England.

Not that she had any intention of going. As she’d said the first day, there was many a slip between the cup and the lip.

Chapter Six

E
ddie took Linette back to the cabin, mumbled something about returning for lunch then strode toward the wintering pens as if he had a fire to douse. Her eagerness and approval of the big house had warmed his heart, teased him into letting his guard down. For just a few minutes, he’d enjoyed her enthusiasm, seeing the place through fresh eyes, and he felt as if he’d accomplished his goal of building a house to meet his father’s expectations. And then she’d said how she pictured the house—as a refuge for the ill and hurting.

He’d never heard such nonsense. He wasn’t opposed to helping others. Needy people were more than welcome on the ranch, but a home was a shelter for the family.

Margaret would never have such foolish ideas. She was a refined lady. She would never sell her fashionable gowns for pioneer dresses. Or wear an over-big man’s coat. She was...

He tried to bring her face to remembrance, but all he pictured was pale brown hair, direct brown eyes and a very determined expression. Linette’s face! Not the one he wanted to keep in mind.

He loped onward and reached the pens where the red, white-faced cattle chowed down on the hay Roper and Slim had tossed out for them. The steam of their warm breath disappeared in the wind. Snow melted in the corrals, creating soft, mushy footing. Some of the cows jerked away at his approach, instantly alert. The younger heifers crowded around him, curious as only the young can be.

“Boss?” Slim called out.

“Just checking them over.”

“Good breeding stock. You done right by bringing these in.”

“Yup.” His father had balked at the idea, but Eddie knew crossbreeding them with the hardier Texas stock would give him the best of both breeds.

He mucked about the yards, passing time as much as checking on things. As the sun reached its zenith, he reluctantly returned to the cabin for lunch, determined to think of nothing but his responsibilities.

He gritted his teeth. Only until spring. He could endure anything if he made up his mind to, and he had. He sat down. Linette dished up stew and kept up a steady commentary on the weather and the mountains.

Cassie grunted her displeasure. “I hate the wind. It tears at my thoughts until I feel like screaming.”

Linette chuckled. “Maybe you should go outside and let it sweep your thoughts clean.”

Cassie mumbled something about staying indoors until spring.

“Don’t you want to see the mountains?” Linette asked in a tone that suggested of course she would. When Cassie didn’t answer, Linette continued, undeterred by the lack of response. “I told Cassie about your big house,” she told Eddie.

“Too bad it wasn’t finished so we wouldn’t have to crowd into this place,” Cassie muttered.

Grady watched Eddie. Every time Eddie met his gaze, the boy jerked away. But not before Eddie caught a glimpse of stark fear. Eddie longed to ease the boy’s apprehension. “Clean up your plate.” He addressed Grady. “And I’ll take you to see the horses.”

The boy ducked his head and scraped his plate clean.

Eddie pushed from the table, thanked the women for the meal that was finally satisfying and reached for his coat. “Get your coat, Grady.”

The boy hung back at Linette’s side. “’Net go.”

Linette shot Eddie a look of apology then touched Grady’s face and turned him toward her. “You can go by yourself, Grady. Mr. Gardiner won’t hurt you.”

But he only pressed himself closer to Linette.

“Looks like you’ll have to come along, too.” Eddie couldn’t keep the reluctant note out of his voice. Bad enough the woman filled his cabin. After her visit, he feared he’d feel her presence every time he went to the big house. Now it seemed he’d be forced to have her invade the barn, too. How was he to get her face out of his mind if he couldn’t get away from her?

“You’re welcome to come, too, Cassie.” Perhaps Cassie’s presence would make the whole outing less nerve-racking.

Cassie shuddered. “No, thanks.” She smiled tightly at Linette. “I’ll do the dishes. So you go along.”

Linette sprang into action, putting warm clothes on Grady then pulling on her own coat.

Eddie’s nerves grew tauter each second as he thought of her walking at his side. Only because he feared for his safety, he silently insisted. Not because he wondered how she would see the ranch. Would she recognize its beauty? See the work he’d done? “I’m hoping you haven’t any plan to do me bodily harm while we’re out there.” He gave a mirthless chuckle in the hopes of making her think he only teased.

She slowly faced him. “I admit I’ve made some mistakes. I hoped you’d put it down to inexperience.”

He’d been trying to guard his own thoughts but had stumbled into bad behavior. “I apologize.”

“As I said, I am a fast learner. You won’t see me make the same mistake twice.” She pulled on a knitted mitten and indicated she was ready.

He opened the door. “It won’t change what happens when winter is over.”

“Sooner or later you will change your mind.” She met his gaze briefly. Long enough for him to see the hot determination in her eyes.

Her continued refusal to accept his answer made his teeth ache. But rather than continue this pointless discussion, he stepped outdoors. With relief he realized she’d successfully enabled him to consider her company with nothing more than reluctant acceptance.

Linette lifted her face to the sun and sighed. She turned full circle, pausing to look long and hard at the mountains. “Beautiful.”

“The great Rockies are something to see all right.” He constantly sought the view of the mountains when he was outside. The sight of them filled him with both calmness and hope. Something he needed now as never before. Having a woman show up and demand to become his wife had an unsettling effect on his normally steady thoughts.

“Reminds me of a verse,” Linette said. “‘I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’”

“Did your nurse teach you that?”

A thoughtful look came to her face. “You heard?”

He banged the heel of his hand to his forehead. “I didn’t mean to let you know.”

Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard as she seemed to recall what else had been said. “I hope you aren’t offended by Cassie’s complaining.”

“I figure it’s just a bad habit and nothing to do with me other than I’m handy for the moment.”

She laughed. The sun caught in her eyes.

He jerked away. She was the most disconcerting female he’d ever had the misfortune of encountering. It was not yet November. Spring seemed an eternity away.

If Linette didn’t give him permanent stomach problems with her cooking or maim him with her “helpfulness,” she would certainly do her utmost to upset his carefully planned life with her quiet determination that he would sooner or later want to marry her.

She’d already upset his equilibrium. How would he survive? He would. Because he was a Gardiner.

* * *

Linette caught the hint of confusion in Eddie’s eyes before he turned away, and she smiled. Maybe he was beginning to see her for what she was and what she could offer him as a wife.

She shaded her eyes and studied the surroundings. They stood in the center of the roadway with buildings on either side. “It’s like a little town.” A neat row of red buildings stood next to the cabin. To their left were a long, low building, a big red barn and a collection of corrals. The trail angled to the right where a bridge traversed the stream. Beyond that were more buildings and corrals. She could see cattle munching on feed in the pens around those more distant structures.

“Purposely designed that way for efficiency,” Eddie said with a degree of pride. “Storehouses on the right. The bunkhouse to your left, close to the cookhouse.” He led her past those buildings. Two men jerked open the bunkhouse door and crowded through the opening.

“Hello, boss,” one called.

“Boys.”

She thought Eddie intended to pass them, but he slowly ground to a halt. “You can expect to be an object of curiosity around here.”

She chuckled. “It’s mutual.”

He shook his head. “Don’t encourage them.”

“Why not? Are they dangerous?”

He faced her squarely. “I wouldn’t have a dangerous man on the place. But they pretend to be hard when inside they have the same hopes and dreams and desires as everyone else. It would be a mistake to take their feelings lightly.”

His warning was clear as the air around them. “I don’t flirt, if that’s what you mean.”

He studied her with unyielding eyes.

If he looked hard enough he would find truth and sincerity. He’d see her for what she was, what she could offer.
Please see me.

“You admit you’re desperate to marry. Don’t toy with these men.”

Before she could sputter a protest, he called, “Boys, come and meet my guests.”

She wasn’t desperate. At least not to marry anyone. Her father wouldn’t hesitate to ignore a legal marriage if it didn’t meet his purposes. Which meant marrying someone who would bring advantage to the Edwards name. Someone who met her own high standards. She quickly enumerated them—kind, noble, trustworthy, a man who would see her as a valued addition not only to his home but his life.

The two men jogged over, abused Stetsons clutched to their chests.

Eddie made formal introductions.

Blue Lyons had pale red hair and a matching mustache. His gray eyes were somber. He nodded and backed away, obviously embarrassed in the presence of a young woman.

Linette, wanting to make him feel comfortable, said it was an honor to meet the cowboys.

Blue’s face grew even ruddier.

Grady shrank against her side, as uncomfortable as Blue.

Ward Walker was shorter than Eddie but solid built. He had black hair and shockingly blue eyes that smiled along with his wide mouth. He held out a hand to Grady, but when he saw how the boy retreated, he grinned. “Don’t mean to scare you, young fella.” He straightened to face Linette. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am. And what do you think of the country?”

“I’ve only just arrived, so I haven’t had a chance to see much of it, but I’m looking forward to doing so.”

“I’d venture to say you saw a lot of it from the stagecoach.”

“For the comfort of others, the curtains remained drawn while traveling. But I saw enough. The land seems wild and free.”

“And you liked that?”

“I like the idea of beginning over.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She didn’t blame him for sounding a little confused. She hadn’t answered his question. Before she could say she liked the wildness of the land, Eddie spoke.

“Boys, I want you to take supplies up to those bringing the cattle down.”

“Yes, boss.” They jogged away.

Grady yanked at Linette’s hand. “Horses?” he whispered.

“We’ll find some in the barn.” Eddie led them toward the solid-looking structure.

They stepped inside. It took seconds for Linette’s eyes to adjust to the dim interior. But the smells hit her immediately. Warm horseflesh, fresh hay, dust and new wood.

A horse neighed as if greeting them. “Grady, do you want to say hello to Banjo?”

Linette giggled. “You named a horse Banjo?”

“What’s wrong with that?” Eddie’s voice carried an injured tone.

“Absolutely nothing, I’m sure.” She couldn’t contain a snicker. “But how did you choose such a name?”

Eddie kept his expression serious, but his eyes twinkled. “When I first got him he was all strung out like a—”

“Banjo.” She whooped at the idea.

The horse nickered.

Eddie leaned closer and whispered, “He knows we’re talking about him.”

Almost as if they were coconspirators, Linette thought, the idea dancing across the surface of her brain with unexpected joy.

“You better say hello.”

Glad to be diverted from her foolishness, she moved toward the big black horse, with Grady clutching her skirts. “Hello, Banjo.”

Grady relaxed slightly, interested in the horse.

Here was a chance to help Grady learn to trust Eddie. It would make life easier for everyone if he stopped shivering and withdrawing every time he saw the man. Or any man. “Grady, have a look at Mr. Gardiner’s horse.” She urged him forward.

He took one step, still hanging on to her coat.

The horse looked over the top of his pen and nickered.

“I touch him?” Grady whispered.

“You certainly can,” Eddie answered. “Let me lift you up so you can pet his head.” He grabbed the boy around the waist, but Grady screamed and kicked.

Eddie set him down abruptly and stepped back. Banjo snorted and spun away. Throughout the barn, horses whinnied and stomped.

Linette squatted and held Grady. “Hush. You’re scaring all the horses.”

Grady clung to her, burrowing his face against her neck. He stopped screaming but sobbed and shivered.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, not sure if she apologized more to Grady or Eddie. She held Grady until he calmed then straightened, allowing him to cling to her. Her heart poured out grief and concern at his heart-wrenching sobs.

“I think we better return to the cabin,” she murmured.

* * *

They walked in silence toward the house. Grady’s behavior troubled Eddie. Why should the boy be so frightened of him? Being rejected by his father didn’t seem enough reason for such a reaction. Would Linette know if something else had happened to upset the boy?

They stepped into the cabin. Cassie looked at Grady. “What happened? Why is he crying?”

Grady straightened his face. “I not crying.”

Eddie glanced at the cookhouse. “I don’t know if this is a good time, but if I don’t introduce you to Cookie, she’ll nail my hide to the wall.”

Linette’s gaze darted toward the cookhouse and she shuddered. “She sounds like a curmudgeon.”

Knowing Linette would be pleasantly surprised, Eddie only said, “You’ll have to judge for yourself. Does everyone want to go over?”

“I’d love to have tea.” Cassie grabbed her coat.

The four of them crossed the yard to the cookhouse.

Linette hung back as they approached the door, clinging to Grady as if the boy could protect her.