The Glenmore's: Caught (8 page)

“Thanks Josh, we appreciate ya comin’ to see us. We’ll let ya know if we find anythin’ out” Joe assured them.

“I know ya will Joe. I just hope we don’t lose any more”

“I have plenty of money to replace them Joe but that ain’t the point. We’d have to start from scratch again and they were good stock; we was expectin’ mighty find calves from ‘em too. It would take an awful lot more to break us but I’m still real worried” Justine had been left a lot of money and property through her parents’ estate and her family’s lawyer had also negotiated a large payment from the hotel in Boston. It had been argued that if the hotel had installed steps on the outside of the building as was now the law, Justine and her parents would have escaped without injury.

There was also a sizeable bank account that Mason had left to her as well as the ranch which had no mortgage. Justine was quite a wealthy young girl.

“I understand your concerns darlin’. We’ll do what we can to help and stop ya from losin’ any more. Do ya have enough men to keep night watch Josh? We can help ya with that if ya need it; winter makes things real quiet as ya know so I can spare ya one or two men without any trouble” Joseph offered.

“Thanks Joe, I think we’ll be right but if I find we need ‘em I’ll certainly ask. Josh stood up to leave.

“Please Josh, Justine, stay for lunch” Ben asked and Virginia, Nellie’s and Alice’s eyebrows lifted. “Sorry Alice, do we have enough? I shoulda asked ya first”

“Yes, we have plenty” Alice answered. “You’re more than welcome she told Justine and Josh.

“Thank you kindly Alice but Millie will be expectin’ me. Justine, ain’t no reason why you cain’t stay. I know Millie won’t mind” Josh told her.

“Oh
I d…” Justine didn’t get the chance to finish before Virginia cut in. “Yes, please stay dear. It would be lovely if ya could join us” Virginia had noticed the hopeful look on her son’s face and hoped she would stay.

“Very well, yes thank you; I would like to stay” Justine conceded.

“Okay, I’ll head on back and I’ll see ya later on Justine” Josh said as he left.

********

Justine was glad she’d stayed for lunch. The Glenmore’s were a wonderful family and she already thought of them as good friends.

“How long were ya in Boston for Justine” Ben asked as he ate.

“Just over two years. Grandpapa stayed with me while I got well and he took care of mama and papa’s burials and their estate. I wanted to come back here to be with him but he said I couldn’t come until I had a profession, he thought I’d have no future otherwise. I don’t think he really thought I’d come and run the ranch after he passed. He put me in school and I’d almost finished training as a school teacher when he passed and left me the ranch. I already love the ranch like I knew I would. I think it would have broken my heart to teach children knowing I could never marry and have some of my own” Justine blushed. “I’m sorry, I have a habit of bein’ a bit too forthright”

“Not at all but why won’t ya marry and have children?” Ben asked innocently.

“Look at me Ben. What man would want a, umm, what did ya friend call me? Oh yes, what man would want an ugly freak? It still hurts when people say things like that to me but she’s right and I have accepted that I’ll always be on my own”

“I think there is someone for ya Justine. That gal the other night was just downright mean and what she said isn’t true. There are a lot of good people who will see past ya face to the person ya are inside” Joseph told her.

“Thanks Joe but I’m quite determined that I be better off on my own”

Ben looked closely at Justine. He was finally beginning to understand some of how she thought.
“Maybe it’s not just me after all”
he thought to himself. Ben, like his father, really liked Justine and although she was determined to be alone he was just as determined to be her friend. He knew she was a kind, caring person and he wouldn’t believe that some man wouldn’t fall in love with her. Ben felt an unexpected pang of jealousy at the thought of another man holding Justine and sharing her bed. He wanted to be the one to give her children and make her happy.
“Whoa! Where did that come from; ya just want her as friend remember?”
he told himself but deep down he knew he wanted more.

“Where did ya grow up Justine?” Alice asked.

“Tulsa Oklahoma. We were only visitin’ Boston for a holiday when the fire started in the hotel”

“What did ya pa do?” Ben had the next question.

“He was a Lawyer, the best” Justine told him thoughtfully.

“Was Mason ya ma’s pa?” Ben asked.

“Hey, give the gal a chance. I’m sorry darlin’ we shouldn’t be firin’ questions off at ya like this” Joe told her.

Justine laughed. “I don’t mind Joe. It helps for ya to understand me. Yes Ben, he was my ma’s pa”

“I didn’t think he’d married. He never mentioned any family at all” Virginia said thoughtfully.

“He married my grandmama when they were both young and she died givin’ birth to my ma
ma. He told me there was never anyone as good as her after she died so he stayed single. Grandpapa bought his ranch and left mama to be raised by friends in Tulsa. He never brought mama out here but he used to visit her in Tulsa twice a year. He loved my mama and she loved him very much. I don’t know why he wouldn’t bring us here and when we asked he said he had his reasons. I begged him to let me come here when mama and papa died but he wouldn’t hear of it. He came to Boston to visit twice a year and he gave me everything except himself. I’d cry and plead with him to bring me back here. I hated that school, the taunts, the teasing and the cruelty but grandpapa would tell me to hold my head high and be strong. When he’d leave to come back I used to tell him I hated him but it wasn’t true”

Ben felt so sad for Justine and what she’d been through but he admired her courage to fight on.

Justine sighed and looked around at the faces watching her before she spoke quietly. “I don’t think I’m runnin’ away comin’ here. Boston is such a big place with so many people and I just wanted somewhere I could be happy without so many stares and so much cruelty. Guess people are the same everywhere” she sighed again.

“There will always be someone who’ll say somethin’ nasty Justine but give Gold Springs a chance. Most of us are good people” Ben assured her.

“I’m tryin’ real hard Ben and I’ve only been here a short time. I have to give people a chance to get used to my ugliness I guess”

“Ya not ugly Justine” Ben all but shouted startling everyone. “You’ve had some misfortune but
there’s people with scars just as bad, why look at Jen….” Ben trailed off when he saw the look on Virginia’s face. “Sorry ma. Jenny will tell ya her story if and when she’s ready Justine. It ain’t my place” Ben apologised.

Justine was curious now and resolved to take Jenny up on her invitation for tea and a chat real soon.

“I understand Ben” Justine stood to excuse herself. “I must be goin’ it’s gettin’ late and I should be helpin’ Josh with the afternoon chores. Thank you all so much for everythin’. I’ll see ya the day after tomorrow”

“I’ll walk ya out” Ben placed his hand in the small of her back and Justine felt her legs turn to jelly. It took all of her strength to place one foot in front of the other as he walked her to her horse.

As Justine was about to mount up Ben swung her around to face him. “You’re not ugly Justine; you really are quite beautiful” Before she could protest he kissed the top of her head and boosted her onto her horse. “I just hope we can be friends” Ben said as he walked away.

Justine coaxed Minx into a canter and Ben watched as they disappeared down the driveway. “I will be ya friend
Justine, whether ya want it or not” Ben muttered as he headed for the barn.

Justine rode home with tears in her eyes. “I cain’t be ya friend Ben. I cain’t be any man’s friend unless he’s married” she told herself and the tears began flowing. Justine knew if the man was married there was no risk of her being hurt but even if Ben married she knew she’d never be his friend, she cared too much for him to settle for that. No, she had to keep clear of Mr Ben Glenmore, she told herself.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The following day was Christmas Eve and Justine was busy decorating the gifts she’d bought ready for the next day. She had an embroidered wash cloth and a bar of rose soap for the ladies, a tin whistle and toy soldiers for Caleb and rag dolls for Linda and Lucy. For the men she had leather tobacco pouches for those who smoked and for those who didn’t smoke she’d bought pocket knives. She’d been kept very busy selecting so many gifts and she hoped she chosen well. She’d put an extra ten dollars each into her ranch hands wages as well as their gifts and fifty dollars extra for Millie and Josh on top of their gifts. She was excited about Christmas as it was the first one in two years that she’d be surrounded by friends and be able to celebrate.

Justine was having the ranch hands in for breakfast so she could give them their wages and gifts and then she would be spending lunch at the Glenmore’s ranch. Josh had found them a tree and Millie and Justine had decorated it with popcorn and ribbons before asking Josh to place an angel on top. They’d then hung mistletoe throughout the house and Josh took great delight in catching one of the girls under it. Justine hadn’t laughed so much for a long time.

Justine was finished and she began taking the gifts out and placing them under the tree with some that
were already there.

“I cain’t wait for tomorrow Millie.
The past two Christmases I’ve spent alone at school so it will be so good to spend this one with all of you”

Millie laughed. “You’ve certainly brightened the season for us this year. I’d forgotten what it was like to have an excited young person around at this time of year”

“It’ll be even better tomorrow Millie with Caleb and the twins”

“It certainly will be. What are ya gonna do now darlin’?” Millie was busy baking, she wanted to take some items to the Glenmore’s and she wanted some treats for the ranch hands tomorrow.

“I’m gonna ride over to George and Jenny’s. She invited me to have tea with her and somethin’ Ben started to say has made me curious so I would like to talk to her”

“Okay darlin’ but
it’s mighty cold outside so make sure ya warm”

“I will Millie, don’t worry. I’ll be back in time for lunch” Justine kissed Millie’s cheek, pulled on her woollen coat, bonnet and gloves before stepping outside. The sun was shining and the sky was clear but the chill in the air left no doubt it was winter.

She headed for the barn to saddle up Minx and be on her way.

********

“Ben, can ya come in here please son?” Virginia called out from the kitchen.

Ben was in his room wrapping some gifts and before he ambled out he made sure his door was closed against prying eyes.

“Yes ma, what do ya need?” he asked. He was used to his mother, Alice and Nellie asking him to retrieve things from high shelves or put things back up. Being so tall made it easy for him.

“Can ya get that roasting pan down from on top of the cupboard please son?” Virginia asked. Ben reached up and placed it down on the bench.

“What would ya do without me ma?’ he asked cheekily as he placed a kiss on her cheek.

“I’d manage somehow. Stop bein’ cheeky and be off with ya.
What have ya got planned for today?” Virginia knew there wasn’t much that needed to be done around the ranch.

“I’m gonna finish with my gifts and then mosey on over to the barn and see what pa and George are up to. Do ya need me to do anythin’ for ya?”

“No darlin’ that was all”

Ben wandered back to his room and continued wrapping his gifts. He looked at the gift he’d bought for Justine and hoped
she’d like it. He’d wanted to get her something special because he didn’t think she’d had much in her life for the past two years. He’d bought her a lovely silver, heart shaped locket and he’s had a ‘J’ engraved on the front. He really hoped she’d like it but most of all he hoped she’d accept it!

Ben finished up and took his gifts out to the parlour to place under the tree. He kept Justine’s in his room; one way or another he was determined to get her alone and give it to her. He pulled on his thick coat and gloves, slammed on his hat and headed out to the barn to see what needed doing.

Ben hated winter; there wasn’t much to be done and he liked to be busy. Ranching was not only in Ben’s blood but it was in his heart and he known for years that it was all he’d ever do. He couldn’t understand why James had left the ranch to take up as a lawman but he admired his conviction and could see how happy he was.

“Pa” he called out as he entered the barn.

“Tack room Ben” came his father’s answer and ben made his way into the room where George and his father sat cleaning saddles.

“What needs doin’ pa?” he asked.

“There ain’t nothin’ son. George and me are just about finished here and then we got nothin’ until we feed this afternoon”

“Okay, I’m goin’ to the bunkhouse then; see if I can get a game of cards”

“Okay son” Joseph and George continued cleaning while Ben went in search of a card game.

********