Dark Journey Home (39 page)

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Slowing the team to a walk, that began a slow descent,
Logan pointed ahead to the verdant valley, “There it is, Olivia.  There lies
the Triple-B.  Is it every bit what you would have expected?”  He asked. 

“Oh, even more so!  It is utterly breathtaking.”  She
breathed, fascinated.  “It’s more like a small town, than a ranch.  And a very
colorful one at that.  Are we on the property now?” 

“We’ve been on ranch property for about the last three
miles.  It extends even farther on west of here.”  He explained.  Then, “By the
way, what happened to the rose?  Did it wilt?”  He questioned, as his green
eyes twinkled.

“Oh, well……..it did dry out, but………um…..I couldn’t
very well toss it into the trash, so I, um…..just pressed it into the pages of
one of my poetry books.  It was so lovely and still smelled so fragrant, like a
sachet.  I don’t like throwing out useful things.”  She explained. 

“So you kept it?”  Logan mused.  “I hope you pressed it
in the book with the poem, Hiawatha.  One of my favorites, my mother’s too.” 

“I did, and I…..I’m glad I have pleased your mother
too.”  Olivia folded her hands in her lap, and sat up straighter, prim and
proper. 

Logan
glanced down at
her, noting her now stiff posture, and chuckled softly. 

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A while later, as the wagon neared the ranch yard;
Olivia held her breath taking in the busy scene.  This was definitely a working
ranch, and something was going on in the corral.  She could see a few cowhands
straddling the fence, watching some kind of display inside the corral. 

Logan
laughed, “Looks
like some of the boys are at it again, trying to break a wild mustang.  It’s
hard work, but enjoyable when they tame down them wild creatures.  I hadn’t
done that kind of thing for years, and my body ached for days after Ricardo and
I had our turn at it.  Sure was good to be in the saddle of a wild bronc again
though.  I wouldn’t trade the experience for all the tea in China.”  He added, “I kind of look forward to doing it again soon.  Just a glutton for
punishment, I guess, but I have really missed this life, and, at times,
wondered if I would ever see the west again.  Nothin’ like it anywhere in the
world.  Sometimes at night, during those eight years, I would actually think I
smelled the sage and wild flowers of the desert, then in the morning it would
be the same.  Nothing but hard labor aboard that Devil’s ship.”

“What are your plans, Logan?  I mean after you return
home, then what?”  She asked. 

“Well, soon as I see my folks, I’ll know more what I
can do.  I may need to help my pa with his horses for awhile, depends on his
health, he’s not been getting any younger.  Though, I always dreamed of raising
cattle myself.  That’s why I worked so hard on ranches, then panned for gold in
Alaska, hit it good there, and got my stake. 

“Sure glad I had sense enough to deposit what I made
in a Seattle bank.  I wanted my folks to use some of that money, while I was
away, but they never did, only added to the account.  Just like them to do that.” 
He shrugged, then looking wistful, said, “I’m their only offspring, but regardless,
my folks have always been independent, taught me to be the same.  Those eight
years away, took a toll on my independence, though thankfully, I never lost
hope.  Then I took my chance when it came.  Glad the other three men got safely
away too.”

Olivia liked hearing the sound of Logan’s voice as he
talked, then she said, “That evil Captain Devlin was arrested and taken back to
England to stand trial, my brother told us all about that.”    

“Yes,” Logan answered, “With Devlin under arrest now, I
guess the rest of the prisoners were released.  Some were in pretty bad shape. 
I only hope they all got at least half as good a care as I did.”  He smiled at
her, set the brake on the wagon, jumped to the ground, then reached up to
assist Olivia.  Heavens, why did her heart skip a beat every time he helped her
from the wagon?  She needed to take more control of her reactions to his
touch.  A person would think she was in love.  Olivia pondered this, as Logan lifted her easily to the ground.  She stepped quickly away from him, walking back
towards the buggy to greet the others.        

The sleek black horse had pulled the buggy to a stop a
ways behind the wagon, just as Olivia was being swung to the ground by Logan. 

The housekeeper of the main ranch house, Consuelo
Alvarez, was in the process of opening the gate to the courtyard, with a wide
grin on her face.  Trudy Perkins, carrying a small carpetbag, along with the tall,
slim young cowhand, Cougar Olson, who was toting several pieces of Trudy’s luggage,
stood behind the housekeeper.  They hesitantly followed Consuelo, as she
stepped through the gate.

“Consuelo beamed, as she walked forward, “Your rooms
have been readied.  She said, “I hope everything meets with your
satisfaction.”  

Maria spoke, as she looked around, “Just where is my
Ricardo?  He’s not out here to greet his wife?”

Consuelo laughed and waved a hand towards the
bunkhouse, from which place Ricardo was exiting and he called to Maria, “I had
almost given up on the fact that I had a wife, but now that I see you, my love,
I believe I will keep you after all.” 

Maria strolled up to him, then after looking him up
and down carefully, she said softly, “I suppose I shall have to keep you also,
my Caballero, as I searched the town of Coyote Springs, but could not find a
replacement for you.”  She reached up and removed the sombrero from his head, smoothed
down his thick head of black hair, then kissed him. 

Claude introduced Consuelo to the ladies, as Logan began unloading the wagon, setting each piece of luggage inside the gate to the
courtyard. 

Cougar Olson stepped forward, “Claude,” he began, “I
guess I should call you ‘Boss’ now though…..” 

“No, no, son, you call me by my name.  You call
Chester Burns ‘Boss’ now since he’s the foreman of the Triple-B.  I understand
he was foreman for Sam Beckford, before Holderman took over.”  Claude stated. 

“Yes, Claude, I heard he was, but that was before my
time.  Some of the older hands call him ‘Smiley’ though, cause he never
smiles.  Anyway, what I wanted to talk to you about……Oh, sorry, this here is
Miss Trudy Perkins, Woody Perkins’ daughter.  Trudy, this is Claude Beckford.” 

“I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Perkins.”  Claude
extended his hand. 

“Well, I’m not pleased to meet the man who put us out
of our home.”  She ignored the outstretched hand, then snapped at Cougar Olson,
“I thought you were going to haul my bags to my Pa’s.  Are you, or aren’t
you?”  She stomped her foot impatiently. 

“Oh, uh, yes, Trudy.  Sorry about that, Claude.  Would
it be alright if I use the wagon to haul Miss Perkins’ things down to her Pa’s
spread?”  Cougar asked.

“Of course, Olson.”  Claude answered.  “Make sure you
hitch a fresh team to the wagon though, oh and when you see Mr. Perkins, tell
him to give you a list of what he needs to get his ranch going again.  Being
neighbors, I’d like to help the chap some in starting over.” 

“That’s good of you.”  Olson said, “I’ll be sure and
tell him that.” 

“Oh,” Trudy snapped, “don’t do us any favors, old
man.” 

“No favor, only being neighborly.”  Claude smiled.

Trudy moved over to where Logan was taking the last
satchel out of the wagon.  “Some of us move out and others move in.”  She
quipped to Logan. 

Logan
nodded to her,
“Ma’am.”  He said politely, then walked into the courtyard. 

But Trudy called after him, “Okay, handsome.  If you
want to meet later, I’ll be down the road a ways.  I’ve been displaced.  Just
don’t let my Pa see you, when you come down.”  Noticing Ricardo standing with
his arm around Maria, Trudy looked at him, and winked, then walked over to
Cougar Olson.  “Come on, cowboy, let’s get that team hitched up and light out. 
I don’t take to these folks.”

Claude shook his head, and turned to the house. 
Reaching Logan, he said, “That young lass has a lot of anger in her.” 

“I believe she has some growing up to do.”  Logan answered. 

“Perhaps, my boy, perhaps.” 

Maria hissed at Ricardo, “Who, my husband, is the
child barracuda, with the flirty eyes?” 

Ricardo laughed, “That, my lovely, is a spawn of the
devil.  A lovely child, but the daughter of Señor Woody Perkins.  Pity the poor
cowhand who would dare fall for that one.  If her papa didn’t kill the poor
hombre, she probably would.  Besides, I warned her about you.  I told the Señorita
that I had a jealous wife.” 

“Huh……obviously the Señorita Perkins, does not heed
warnings well.”  Maria scoffed. 

Inside the vast colorful courtyard, Olivia and Amelia
had been fascinated with the décor, though they had paused to watch the display
Trudy Perkins had put on.  “Well, I can understand why the child is bitter.” 
Amelia volunteered. 

“Of course.”  Olivia agreed.  “But it seems the
‘child’ is inclined to take some of the male population of the ranch with her,
as she leaves.” 

“Do not believe all you see, Señorita Olivia.”  Consuelo
had walked over to them, then added, “Trudy covers up many hurts by being
rebellious, and, at times, flirty with the hombres.  I have seen her grow from
an eight year old lonely child, to an eighteen year old lonely young woman. 
She means no harm.” 

“No, I suppose not.”  Maria said, “Nor does a rattler
mean harm.” 

“I will show you to your rooms if you wish to freshen
up before lunch.”  Consuelo volunteered stiffly.  Obviously she favored the Señorita
Perkins.

The housekeeper motioned them from the courtyard, and
into the cool interior of the rambling old stucco building.  Olivia glanced
back at the colorful array of potted geranium plants and tiled walkways, before
entering the house.  Orange trees had been planted at various locations
throughout the courtyard.  The place was lovely, and impressive, to say the
least.  They followed the housekeeper to a separate wing of the house, then
down a long hallway, their heels clicking on the tiled floors, as they walked. 
Olivia, at once, decided she would take a tour of the hacienda after lunch.  It
was magnificent, though not nearly as large as Beckford Manor, back in England, but different, and unique, and Olivia fell in love with the beautiful ranch house
on sight.    

Maria chose a large room at the far end of the
corridor, for herself and Ricardo, and as rooms were plentiful, Amelia and
Olivia each chose rooms of their own, each bedroom having French doors, which
opened onto private, walled in, patios. 

As Consuelo turned to leave, she said, “Señor Beckford
and Logan Wakefield will have a suite of rooms in the south wing.  That is where
Sam Beckford had his rooms and he would want your Uncle there.  That wing has
not been used in ten years.  I will have your luggage brought to your rooms,
and then lunch will be ready in one hour.”

“Thank you, Consuelo.”  Olivia said graciously.  Consuelo
did not answer.  Olivia walked into her room, closed the door, then looked
around.  She noted the room was decorated in matching pink flowered wallpaper,
bed linens and quilt.  Pink curtains with white lace edging, graced the tall
windows.  This had definitely been a girl’s room, and Olivia wondered if the
room had been Trudy Perkins’ room.  Maybe that was why the sudden change in the
housekeeper’s disposition. 

She guessed Consuelo had become attached to the little
‘vampire’ over a ten year period.  However, the property had never belonged to
the Perkins in the first place, and after all, from what she had heard, Consuelo
had been given a home here by Sam Beckford, with  good wages so should have no complaints. 
If Consuelo had a problem, she could very well follow the Perkins to their own
property, if she so chose.  “Though she is a good hard worker.  Could she be
replaced here?”  Olivia mused. 

Olivia began taking pins from her hair, then letting
the golden locks fall down her back in soft curls.  Seeing a white porcelain
pitcher full of cool water, with a matching wash basin on a stand next to a
tall bureau, she also noted soft white towels and scented soap, as well. 
Though, just as she had begun to soap her hands, there was a soft rap on her
door.  Thinking it was Amelia or Maria, she said, “Come in.”