Wyoming Wildfire (54 page)

“I think I’ll take my cup in,” said Sibyl. “I don’t want any more.”

“I’ll take it for you,” Jesse offered, jumping up. “I don’t want any either.”

“Tell Rachel she doesn’t need to make more for anybody except Ned and herself,” Sibyl told Jesse as he left.

“Miss Cameron says nobody else wants any more coffee,” he called out to Rachel, but when he reached her side, he lowered his voice into a fierce whisper. “So you finally got yourself a man?” he said, jerking his head in Ned’s direction. “Your standards seem to have fallen a bit. Or are you so old and desperate now you’ll settle for anything, even half a man?” His eyes narrowed with barely contained fury; Rachel continued to make the coffee as though she hadn’t heard him. “Looks like you’ll do anything to keep him, too, much more than you’d do for your own flesh and blood.”

Rachel looked Jesse squarely in the face from expressionless eyes. “You wouldn’t go with me.”

“For six years you acted like Wesley’s shadow, leaving me with that sanctimonious bitch, then you show up without warning, expecting me to be delighted to go off with you.”

It was an old argument, and Rachel no longer had any energy for it.

“I told you I was sorry.”

“Sorry!” The word exploded from him like steam from a pressure cooker. “You shame yourself in front of half the world and all you can find to say to your own son is you’re sorry?”

“You’ve never been willing to hear my side of it.”

“I don’t take the word of any goddamned slut.”

“Are you two talking secrets in there?” Sibyl called out. “Ned’s about ready to come get his coffee himself.”

“It’s almost done,” answered Rachel. “It’ll just be a minute more.”

That’s right,” hissed Jesse, “crawl to the poor cripple. Half a man is better than no man, and a woman as worn out and ugly as you ought to be thankful even for that.”

Rachel did not even glance at Jesse as she carried the fresh cup of coffee to her husband.

About nine o’clock Balaam stood up and yawned. “I gotta be going.
I
can’t spend all day in bed.”

“Neither can anybody else, you old crow-bait,” said Ned. “Come on Rachel, let’s help this antiquated old fidget back to his bed.”

“Help me?” sputtered Balaam. “
I
ain’t got no gimpy leg;
I
ain’t got so many stars in my eyes I can’t see what’s in front of me. I’m old enough to know better’n to carry on like a beardless fool.”

“And you’re going to keep on getting older. Not even Satan wants to gather in the likes of you.”

“Do they ever stop?” Sibyl asked Rachel, weary of the endless bickering.

“Not so you’d notice it.”

“You’d better take Ned off before they really get started.”

“I can’t leave you by yourself.”

“I won’t be alone. Jesse’s here, and I’m going to bed myself before long.”

“It’s time you took yourself off too, Jesse.” Rachel’s eyes never left Sibyl, but she seemed not to see her.

“I’ll go in a little bit, after I talk with Miss Cameron about Cody’s leaving.”

“She shouldn’t be up late. She needs her rest too.”

“Better not keep your
husband
waiting. It’s not all that easy to find a man out here.”

“Jesse! exclaimed Sibyl. “What ever made you say something like that?”

“Pay no attention, miss, I learned years ago not to listen to half what these men say. Don’t keep her up.” The last remark, addressed to Jesse, sounded like a command.

“I guess I shouldn’t have said that,” Jesse apologized after Rachel had gone, “but she’s always acting like everybody’s mother.”

“Well, I wish you would learn to get along better. There’s too much arguing around here.” Sibyl could hardly believe those words had come out of
her
mouth; her eyes flew to Jesse’s face, but he didn’t seem to recognize the irony of her words. “What is this about Cody?” she asked curtly as she sat back down.

“He left the minute the blizzard cleared enough for him to get out. He didn’t tell anybody, just left his cows to fend for themselves and headed for Laramie. Didn’t even wait for his pay.”

“What did Burch do?”

“He was gone after you. I had to take one of the boys from Blue Mesa until I could bring one over from the other side of Wiley’s Gap. Now he’s too busy hunting to see about getting somebody from Casper to take his place.”

“Can’t you do it?”

“I could if I wasn’t having to ride line and keep tabs on everybody. You know what?” he said, looking at her as if just struck by an idea. “You ought to take over running this ranch. Everybody knows you’re practically doing it now anyway. If it wasn’t for you, there might not be any ranch.”

“There are still a lot of things I don’t know,” declared Sibyl. “I can’t do all the things Burch does.”

“You don’t need him. I can help you,” Jesse said suggestively.

“He still owns half this ranch,” Sibyl replied, beginning to feel uncomfortable, “and legally I can’t overrule him.”

“You could if you were married. Your husband could take your part. After this winter, the men will listen to you.”

“Well, I’m not married, so that doesn’t come into it.”

“You could marry me. I’d see nobody gave you any back talk.”

“What?” barked Sibyl, too stunned to be polite.

“Does it seem so surprising? Surely you know I’ve admired you from the first.”

“I—”

“I’ve never seen a woman with so much sense, and I’d be proud to have you for my wife.”

“I can’t” Sibyl said, hardly knowing what to say.

“Why?” demanded Jesse with unloverlike belligerence.

“I like you quite well, but I don’t love you.”

“You don’t have to in the beginning. Liking is a good place to start from.”

This isn’t happening, Sibyl thought. He has never so much as hinted that he liked me.

“I think it’s time for you to go,” said Sibyl, rising quickly to find that her legs were unsteady under her. “I’m flattered by your offer, but I really can’t consider it.”

“Why can’t you? Aren’t I good enough for you?”

Sibyl was struck with almost physical force by the violent emotion that throbbed in his voice.

“I never thought of it like that, but it wouldn’t matter who you were if I love you.”

“Is it Burch?”

She stared blankly at him.

“Are you in love with that proud sonofabitch?”

“I didn’t say I was in love with anyone,” she replied, her temper rising at his crude language and his insistent questioning.

“Then what’s wrong with me?” he asked, coming so close to her she could feel his warm breath. “Are you afraid I’m not man enough for you?”

“Get out of here!” she burst out. “I don’t allow anyone to speak to me like that. Nor do I accept this kind of interrogation from a hired hand.”

“So now I’m a hired hand, am I?” he said, grasping her roughly by the arm. “And hired hands aren’t good enough for fancy Miss Cameron from snotty-nosed Virginia.”

She slapped him so hard he released her in surprise. “Get out!” she spat, shaking with fury. “You’re lucky I don’t fire you on the spot.”

Jesse’s eyes blazed with such intense anger Sibyl was a little afraid of him. “No sniveling female tells me to get out of anywhere,” he said, dropping all pretense at politeness. “I’ve got more right, to this place than you.”

“I don’t want to know how you reached such a preposterous conclusion,” Sibyl said with withering contempt, “but this is my house and you’re no longer welcome in it. Until Burch returns, you will remain in the bunkhouse.”

“You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” he sneered, fingering his cheek and coming closer to her.

“There’s nothing to figure out.” He made an attempt to grab her, but Sibyl anticipated him and darted behind the sofa.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, totally bewildered. “I’ve never done anything to make you think I’d marry you.”

“That’s right, I forgot. The Camerons don’t marry where they lust, only when they find someone good enough, someone that can advance their position.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m tired of it. I want you out of this house right now?

“You’re not going to get rid of me that easily,” he said, coming around one end of the sofa, but not before Sibyl had put the huge dining table between them.

“If you touch me again, I’ll put a bullet through you.”

“You don’t have a pistol,” he said, advancing along one side of the table, “and there’s not a single person to hear you if you scream.”

“I don’t need help with the likes of you,” she scoffed turning the corner quickly and reaching the knives that she kept hanging on the wall next to the cutting block. “This will do just as well.”

“No woman has the guts to stick a knife in a man.”

“Touch me, and you’ll find out.” Sibyl was thoroughly enraged. Jesse had had the opportunity to see enough of her temper to feel disinclined to test her determination. He rocked back on his heels, letting his eyes roam appreciatively over her body.

“You’re quite a woman, worth a dozen Emma Strattons.”

“If you weren’t such a swine, I might appreciate your opinion.”

Jesse’s humor turned instantly. “Nobody calls me a swine.”

“Then apologize for your behavior. I might forget about all of this if you keep out of my sight.” Jesse made a move toward her but stopped in his tracks when he saw that Sibyl had a pistol in her other hand. “It was in the drawer, under the dish towels,” she explained. “Balaam thought I should keep one just in case of an emergency.”

“That cursed old weasel.”

“But how right he was.” Her expression hardened. “I think it would be best if you were to look for a job with another ranch.”

“Are you trying to fire me?” Jesse exploded, fury and disbelief ringing in his voice.

“Let’s say I’m suggesting you quit.”

“You stupid bitch!” he raged. “Burch should have taken the skin off your tail months ago.” He reached out toward Sibyl and the pistol in her hand exploded in his face. The bullet sent his hat spinning across the room before it buried itself in the ceiling. Shock and fear sent Jesse reeling backward halfway across the room.

“Touch me, and I’ll shoot you dead.”

“My God,” exclaimed Jesse, “you almost killed me! Have you ever used a gun before?”

“No, but I know how it works. Call me a bitch again, and I’ll show you.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I was thinking the same of you. Now why don’t you just turn around and get out.”

“No goddamned female—” The cocked pistol, aimed straight at his heart, caused him to swallow the rest of his words.

“Don’t say another word,” Sibyl said, trembling with rage. “I might shoot you just so I won’t have to ever set eyes on you again.” Jesse’s head turned at the sound of the door opening, but Sibyl never took her eyes off him.

“It’s time you left,” Rachel said calmly, entering the room from the front hall without so much as looking at Sibyl or the gun in her hand. Her inflexible gaze met and held Jesse’s eyes. “Miss Cameron needs her sleep, and you can discuss your employment with her when Mr. Randall returns.”

Sibyl watched, fascinated. Jesse’s blazing eyes seemed to dim slightly and then fall before the cold, impenetrable glare of Rachel. He seemed to wilt, his anger and willpower losing their force.

“Tell Miss Cameron good night, and don’t forget to close the door after you.”

Jesse wavered indecisively for a moment as his eyes blazed once more, then abruptly he spat a foul curse at both women and stalked from the room.

“I don’t know what got into him,” Sibyl said, turning to Rachel, “but I’m glad you came back.”

“Probably been out on the range too long,” Rachel said, dropping her eyes before Sibyl’s thankful smile. “Men get funny when they have no company but their thoughts.”

“Well, I don’t want anything like that to happen again,” Sibyl said, letting her arms fall to her side and
the
muscles in her body relax. “I’ve ordered him to stay in the bunkhouse from now on.” She put the knife and pistol back in their places. “Now you get back to Ned.”

“I’ll stay with you tonight.”

“There’s no need, and I don’t want Ned to come looking for you and asking for explanations. The less said the better. You think he’ll come back?” she asked when Rachel didn’t move.

“No.”

“Neither do I, but I’ll lock the doors to be on the safe side.” She could tell Rachel wasn’t reassured. “Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen. He was just upset about something, maybe working too hard. I’m sure he’ll be all over it tomorrow and probably ready to apologize.”

“He hasn’t been himself since Wesley,” she stumbled and added, “Mr. Cameron died,” and then looked as though she wished she hadn’t spoken. Sibyl waited for her to continue, but after saying, “If you’re sure you’re all right,” Rachel left.

Sibyl locked the door behind her, thinking that either the strain of waiting was causing her to imagine things or people were acting rather peculiar. Maybe they had all been kept too close this winter. It would be good when spring came, and they were able to go about in the open, like Burch.