The Glenmore's: Caught (3 page)

“Not really Miss but if ya’d like to come out and look at ya property I’d be mighty pleased to have ya come along. When we’re finished bringin’ the herd up ya can help out with the chores around the yard and the barn”

“I’d like that. What time are ya goin’ out?”

“After breakfast; Millie has it on the table at 6 during winter. You’ll need a warm coat and gloves and I’m sure there’ll be a hat around somewhere. We have a real nice pony called Minx who’d be perfect for ya but we don’t have a side saddle. I might be able to borrow one for ya if ya need it”

“No Josh; I’ll ride astride. I bought some denims and shirts before I left Boston. I
know it ain’t real ladylike but I figured I wouldn’t be much help to ya in a dress”

“I agree Miss, it’ll be much better for ya workin’ around the ranch but I’d avoid town when ya wear ‘em. Don’t think the people of Gold Springs are ready for women in britches just yet”

They were still laughing about how some of the old timers would react as they cleared the table and washed the dishes.

“It’s been a long day so I think I’ll retire if ya don’t mind. Thank you for everythin’ and I’ll see ya both in the mornin’.”

Millie and Josh wished her goodnight and Justine returned to her room and closed the door. She sat down on the feather soft bed and, as she undid the buttons on her dress to change into her nightgown, she reflected on her new home.

As she crawled into
bed she smiled to herself; she knew she was going to be happy here.

********

Dawn broke the next morning to a cold but clear winter’s day. Justine had slept soundly for the first time in years and she put it down to exhaustion after her trip. She bounced out of bed feeling refreshed and pulled on her new denims, a blue cotton shirt and new, soft leather boots. Before she left the room to head in for breakfast; she pulled her warm jacket out of her trunk that she’d yet to unpack.

The smells from breakfast cooking wafted down the hallway so Justine had only to follow her nose.
“Good morning” she chirped when she saw Millie and Joshua.

“Good mornin’ darlin’. How’d ya sleep?” Millie asked as she dished up Josh’s breakfast and then placed it on the table in front of him.

“Very, very well; it was the best sleep I’ve had in a long time and I’m feelin’ full of energy. Must be this good Texas fresh air!” Justine poked her head over Millie’s shoulder to see what was cooking and Millie playfully chased her away.

“Go sit yerself down and I’ll bring it over when it’s ready. Hangin’ over me shoulder won’t get ya belly filled any sooner”

Justine placed a kiss on Millie’s cheek and joined Josh at the table. Within minutes Millie placed a plate full of bacon, beans, hash browns and eggs as well as a cup of steaming hot coffee in front of Justine. She also dished up her own and sat down next to Josh.

“Millie you’re the best cook. I’m gonna have to work especially hard so I don’t end up real fat livin’ here” Justine laughed.

“Ya could do with some meat on them bones Miss; ya sure are a tiny little thing” Josh commented.

They all laughed and talked easily as they finished their first breakfast together. Josh stood and took his dishes to the sink. “I’ll go
saddle Minx for ya Miss and I’ll be waitin’ at the barn”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes Josh” Justine took her dishes to the sink and proceeded to tie her hair up into a ponytail with a ribbon she’d pulled from her pocket. “I’ll just help Millie with the dishes”

“You’ll do no such thing honey” Millie insisted. “You’ll be keepin’ Josh and the men waitin’, I can do these” Justine reached over and kissed Millie’s cheek before following Josh outside.

Millie turned and watched her go.
“Dear Lord make that little gal happy; she sure don’t deserve any more heartbreak”
she thought to herself.

CHAPTER
THREE

Justine found Josh waiting at the barn with the rest of the crew. He introduced her to each of them and she shook their hands. To their credit; not one of them flinched or stared at her burns but they didn’t lower their eyes either. Justine saw it as a mark of respect and she knew she was going to like these men.

Minx was a lovely paint pony and as Justine moved closer she nuzzled at her face near her burn. Justine stroked the pony’s muzzle and offered her the sugar cubes she’d brought from the kitchen. Minx gobbled them down and pushed at Justine’s hand looking for more.

Josh laughed at the pony’s antics. “I think ya got yerself a friend there Miss but she’s gonna be lookin’ for sugar every time she sees ya now”

“She probably will” Justine laughed.

“Okay men, mount up” Josh ordered. “Ya know ya jobs. Loni, you’re with me and Justine”

Loni lifted Justine up into her saddle and then mounted his own horse ready. Everyone turned their mounts and, as the others galloped away, Josh kept the three of them to a trot while Justine got the feel of the horse. She settled remarkably quickly and felt like she’d been born to ride. As the far boundary came into sight Josh cursed and both Loni and Justine gave him a puzzled look.

“That damn bull of the Glenmore’s has broken down the fence again and is in with our cows” Josh pointed to where the huge black animal was hovering around the cows snorting and pawing the ground.

“Looks like Fergus again Josh” Loni could see the animal more clearly as they got closer.

“How many times has this happened?”
Justine questioned the men.

“Must be the fourth time in the past two weeks I reckon. Gettin’ mighty sick of fixin’ that damn fence” Josh said angrily.

“Take me to the Glenmore’s, I’m gonna have a word with ‘em about this” she demanded.

“We have to go ask ‘em to fetch Fergus anyway. Loni get started on fixin’ the fence. C’mon Miss or we’re gonna lose a whole heap of the day”

Josh galloped away and Justine followed quickly behind. When they reached the front yard of the Glenmore Ranch Justine looked up at the house in awe. The magnificent two storey white-washed home with thick white pillars and a huge front porch had to be at least a hundred years old. She dismounted with Josh, tethered Minx to the porch rail and walked up the steps.

Virginia Glenmore opened the door and, try as hard as she might, she couldn’t stop her eyes from being drawn to the horrific scars on the young girls face.

“Josh, what a pleasure” she said. “Ben’s the only one home and he was just about to go back out” She held her hand out to Justine. “I’m Ginny Glenmore dear, please come in”

“I’m Justine Saunders ma’am. I just arrived on the stage yesterday to take over my Grandpapa’s ranch” Justine followed Virginia down to the kitchen after removing her hat and jacket and placing them on the pegs by the front door.

“Of course, Mason’s granddaughter; well I’m very pleased to meet ya dear. Would ya like a coffee?”

“Yes please ma’am; that would be very nice thank you”

“Alice, Nellie; this is Mason’s granddaughter, Justine” Both ladies smiled and nodded at Justine and she was amazed to see neither one focused on her face.

“Maybe I am going to be happier here”
she thought hopefully.

********

Ben was finished with his chores around the yard and had come in for a coffee before heading out to help his father and brother. He heard strange voices coming from the kitchen and went to investigate.

As he walked in he was drawn to the shapeliest backside in a pair of denims he’d ever seen and he leaned against the door frame so he could continue to look. The girls’ thick chestnut hair, which was tied at her nape with a ribbon, hung down to her waist and Ben was surprised
that he felt the urge to run his hands through it.

Virginia noticed her son staring and shouted. “Benjamin Glenmore, stop being so rude!”

Ben watched as Justine spun around and was instantly captured by the sadness in her stunning blue eyes. He then noticed her scars and his heart went out to her
“this girl has known tragedy”
he thought to himself.

“Ben, this is Justine Saunders, Mason’s granddaughter” Virginia gave her son a warning look but Ben was intrigued and not paying attention to his mother. He wanted to get to know this little girl and he had no idea why. He was usually attracted or intrigued by only the most beautiful girls and although he thought Justine had once been a very beautiful girl; the scars that marked her face now were both ugly and unsightly.

Justine looked up into the most handsome face she had ever seen and when Ben smiled at her she thought she would swoon. His dark blonde, wavy hair went off at all angles and his dimples were so deep she could hardly draw her eyes away. He had a massive muscular chest, a slim waist and slim hips but the thing Justine noticed the most was his height. Standing 6feet 7inches tall, Ben was the tallest of the Glenmore men and he seemed to completely fill the room. Justine ran her hand along her scars and sighed; she knew someone like Ben could never come to like her but she blushed when she noticed Ben running his eyes over her body instead of staring at her scars like most people did.

Ben held his hand. “Miss Saunders” he crooned. “I’m real pleased to meet ya”

His deep baritone voice was like honey and as Justine took his hand and the sparks flew between them; she jerked it back from his grasp.

Justine was shaken; she had never experienced such feelings before
and it made her both sad and angry to think she could never have a chance with such a handsome man. “M…M…Mr Glenmore; glad to make your acquaintance” she stammered in a voice that Ben thought was the most musical he had ever heard.

Virginia, Alice
, Nellie and Josh watched the exchange with interest.

“Ben, sorry to interrupt ya mornin’ but Fergus has
broke down the fence again and is in the back paddock” Josh explained.

Ben just shrugged and was nonchalant about the whole thing
; he was too busy looking intently at Justine. “Sorry Josh”

Justine noted Ben’s attitude and found her voice and her temper. “I’d like to know what ya gonna do about it Mr Glenmore” She stood looking up at Ben with a stormy look on her face and her hands on her very curvy hips. It took all Ben’s willpower not to chuckle at the sight
of this tiny little woman trying to intimidate him. “My men tell me this is the fourth time in the past two weeks your bull’s knocked down my damn fence and got in with my cows. As I’m sure ya know we’re tryin’ to improve bloodlines and we don’t need some mongrel stray wanderin’ into our paddock. I ask ya again what are ya gonna do apart from come and get ya damn bull and fix my fences?”

Josh looked at Ben and saw the thunder clouds gathering. “Ummm, sorry Ben but Fergus is becomin’ a bit of a nuisance”

Ben was still staring at Justine unable to believe his ears. Nobody spoke to a Glenmore that way and she’d called one of his prize bulls a mongrel! He couldn’t believe he’d been thinkin’ about gettin’ to know her better.

“Well Miss, I’ll come right away and get my
damn mongrel bull
and I’ll get some men down to fix ya
damn fence
as soon as I can” Ben growled back. “And I’ll have ya know Fergus has some of the best bloodlines in the country. Anyone would be more than pleased to have calves from him; he ain’t no mongrel!”

Virginia had never heard Ben talk to a girl that way and was shocked; he was normally so friendly and easy going. “Ben, apologise this minute!”

“That’s alright Ginny, he thinks ‘cause he’s got such a handsome face he can get away with anythin’ but it ain’t gonna work with me” Justine replied angrily and Ben looked at her in amazement. “I suppose ya used to ladies fallin’ at ya feet when they get a look at ya face and ya take advantage of it to get your own way”

“Hey, that ain’t fair” Ben complained.

Justine ignored him and turned to Virginia. “Sorry Ginny but we’ll be leavin’ now” She glared at Ben. “We have quite a bit more work to do now. It was very nice to meet you, Alice and Nellie and I hope to see ya again real soon”

“Josh” Justine turned on her heel and headed out.

Ben stood in the kitchen befuddled. “What the devil was that about?” Ben asked his mother.

“I’m not sure what caused her to react that way but she sure has ya figured out and to think I was worried about her becomin’ one of ya victims. I gotta feelin’ that little gal’s been treated mighty bad in the past couple of years and she’s put up a wall a mile high to protect herself. Go careful Ben, she ain’t like the others” Virginia warned.

“What do ya mean go careful? It was me bein’ attacked. I was just bein’ friendly”

“I’d say she’s not used to people bein’ friendly”

“Women! I’m gonna go and get Fergus” Ben grumbled as he left.

********

Justine was fuming at herself as she rode back with Josh to where Loni was fixing the fence. She didn’t know why she’d gotten so angry with Ben when he was only tryin’ to be friendly but in the last two years she’d learnt men were only friendly towards her now for one reason. She’d determined that she would only give her body to a man as his wife and she knew that would never happen.

Ben’s touch had sent sparks to her toes and it had confused her and thrown her off balance.
She couldn’t figure out why he hadn’t been drawn to her scars like other men; he had looked into her eyes before assessing her body. It seemed like the scars didn’t matter to him but Justine knew better. She’d never experienced feelings like that and she knew it would be dangerous to get too close to him; she had a feeling he was used to getting what he wanted from women and she wasn’t going to get hurt. She resolved to apologise for her lack of manners but she also decided to keep her distance.