Tracie Peterson - [Heirs of Montana 04] (42 page)

As April came, the devastation of winter passed as the men set bonfires to destroy the dead animals. Dianne felt her health return, and there was great joy in being back on the ranch with her family and loved ones. There was even greater happiness in the new way she and Cole spent time together talking, sharing their dreams.

As a gentle rain fell over the valley and heavy gray clouds moved across the mountains, Dianne and Cole sat on the porch holding hands and enjoying the fading day. They’d talked about the ranch and all the possibilities set before them.

“I think it would be wise,” Cole said, squeezing her hand, “to talk this all over with Jamie and Koko and George. Even Susannah, although she hardly seems all that interested in ranching.”

“No, I think Susannah has grown weary of ranch life. I thought about talking to Koko and suggesting Susannah could live with Charity in town. She’s quite lovely, and no doubt there will be many suitors vying for her hand—despite her Indian heritage.”

“She may not care about the ranch,” Cole replied, “but the others do and they need to be consulted.”

“I agree, but there was no sense in talking to them until we knew for sure what we wanted to do.”

“Well, if the news I learned in town is correct, Chester Lawrence is going to have to sell out or find someone who will lend him more money. We need to bide our time and see what that will bring. After all, if he sells in an auction, he can’t very well choose who will buy his land. And if he allows the bank to foreclose, then he definitely will have no say.”

“I wish we could speak to his children. I know there’s nothing to be said between us and the older boys, but Joshua, Mara, and even Elsa should probably be consulted about their father’s situation.”

“That’s a good idea. Maybe I can ride over to Virginia City later this week and encourage Joshua to come out or at least talk to him there. Maybe we could also get a letter to Zane and Mara.”

“And Elsa,” Dianne added.

A lone rider appeared at the top of the hill and headed down the road into the valley. His heavy slicker didn’t allow for recognition. As he approached, however, Dianne recognized the horse.

“Believe it or not, I think it’s Joshua,” she said, getting to her feet.

They waited until he had dismounted and tied off his horse before greeting him. “What brings you clear out here?” Dianne asked, laughing. “We were just talking about you.”

“And I need to talk to you.” Joshua pushed back his hat as he stepped under the porch roof. “Didn’t start raining until about two miles south of here. I’m certainly glad for that blessing. It would have been miserable trying to get here in pouring rain.” He pulled off his slicker and gave it a shake.

“We watched the rain move across the valley,” Cole said. “We quit work early because of it, but I can’t say I’ve minded. Dianne and I’ve been discussing our future plans, and like she said, your name came up.”

Joshua draped the coat across the porch rail and turned to Cole in surprise. “Why would I come up in conversation regarding your future?”

“Well, it’s not the best of topics,” Dianne said hesitantly. “It’s certainly not ideal anyway.”

“What Dianne is trying to say is that the winter pretty much ruined your father. We’ve heard that he’s in a bind with the Bozeman bank over all the extra money he borrowed, and we feel pretty certain he’ll sell off some or all of the ranch.”

Joshua shook his head. “I didn’t know. I can’t say I’ve even attempted to know his business. In truth, I didn’t come here with him in mind at all. I received a telegram from Zane saying that I should come here and that I should wait for him. He wanted me to let you know that he and my sisters are coming and should arrive within the week. I arranged for one of the elders to take over the services until I can get back, so I’m hoping you can put me up here.”

“Of course we can,” Cole said.

“They’re all coming here?” Dianne questioned. “How wonderful. It’ll be good to see them, but I can’t imagine why they’re coming now.”

Cole shrugged. “Maybe they just want to see how we fared through the winter.”

“Maybe Elsa couldn’t bear to be apart from Jamie anymore,” Dianne teased.

“The telegram said something about news that Cole had been waiting for. I don’t know what that’s about but figured you did.”

“News that I’ve been waiting for?” Cole said. “I don’t know what that would be. Zane and I haven’t had a talk since before I went to Kansas.”

“I guess we’ll learn soon enough,” Dianne said. “Then maybe we can talk our plans over with Joshua, Mara, and Elsa.”

Joshua looked at her curiously. “You definitely have my attention. Both you and Zane.”

Zane’s arrival was much anticipated, and by the time the trio rode into the ranch yard, the entire family turned out to greet them. The women waited near the house while the men moved forward to offer assistance.

“This is quite the welcome,” Zane declared as Cole took hold of his horse. George and Jamie helped Mara and Elsa from their horses. Dianne didn’t miss the way Jamie’s hands lingered on Elsa’s waist nor the look the two young people exchanged.

Dianne looked to Koko and grinned. “It would seem that their time apart has done nothing to quench their interest.”

“I think we’ll have a wedding soon,” Koko answered with a slight lift of her chin. “Elsa’s a good woman. She accepts and loves Jamie for who he is.” The couple sauntered off together to tend to the horses.

Mara came to Dianne and embraced her. “It’s so good to see you again. We took the train and then rode the rest of the way on horseback. It was quite an adventure for us.”

“I’ve had my fill of trains for a while,” Dianne told her. “But I’m so glad you could come to visit. It’s wonderful to have you here.”

“We’re soon to have a few more visitors,” Zane declared, coming to where his sister stood.

Cole and Dianne exchanged a look, then turned back to Zane. “Who are you expecting?”

“The U.S. marshal and his deputies,” Zane replied.

CHAPTER 27

C
HESTER
L
AWRENCE LOOKED AT THE LEDGER AND KNEW
there was no possible way to meet his payments come June. With nothing more than a little over sixteen hundred starving steers and cows, he couldn’t possibly hope to even sell the herd to settle his affairs. With great reluctance he had paid the winter wages and sent the cowhands on their way, leaving Chester alone to figure out what was to become of the herd.

He’d never been this far down on his luck, and it confused and frustrated him to no end. How was he supposed to run the ranch this way? Where was he supposed to get the additional capital he’d need?

“If those boys of mine would have just turned out to be reliable, I’d be having a better time of it now,” he said, slapping the ledger together. He pushed back all the papers on his desk with more force than he’d intended. The ledger sailed across the room and hit the bookcase beside the door.

Chester got up and began to pace. “I can sell off some land.” But who would buy it? Everyone in the neighboring areas had suffered as much loss as he had. They wouldn’t have money for land. The Selby name came to mind and he grimaced. “I’d rather lose it all than sell them my property!”

He stormed out of the house, cursing. He’d burn it to the ground and see himself dead before he let a Selby have any part of the Walking Horseshoe Ranch.

Morgan Chadwick yawned as he doused his campfire. He loved being alone in the mountains—he much preferred it to staying in town, even when he wasn’t leading a hunting expedition. He poured out the remains of his coffeepot on the embers, then picked up a shovel. A noise in the pass just behind him caught his attention. He perked an ear to catch the sound, not turning lest he startle whoever or whatever was approaching.

He moved ever so slightly to the left, keeping a tight grip on his shovel. The bushes rattled behind him, and without waiting for further warning, Morgan leaped across the remaining distance, grabbed the rifle, and rolled to the ground. He heard the distinct sound of laughter before bouncing back up to his feet. His shoulder hurt something fierce from landing on the dirt. He wasn’t a young man anymore.

“Come on out and show yourself!” he called.

A boy who couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen appeared in short order. He wore a ragged coat and britches that were two sizes too big.

“What are you doing out there?” Morgan asked in a gruff tone as he lowered the rifle. “Don’t you know that’s a good way to get yourself killed?”

The boy sobered. “I wasn’t lookin’ to hurt you, mister. I was just huntin’—trying to find some food for my ma and me. My ma’s real sick and she needs something to eat.”

Morgan eyed him again. He saw no weapon on the boy.

“What were you figuring to use to kill an animal if you found one?”

The boy produced a slingshot and a rock. “I’m pretty good with this. I managed to keep us fed until the bad snow came.”

Morgan could well imagine the boy and his mother had gone hungry if a slingshot was all they had to use for bringing down game. “Where do you live?”

“About a mile over that way,” the boy said, pointing back to the north.

“So you aren’t too far from Virginia City, eh?”

The boy nodded. “My ma said it’s a town of drunks and reprobates—my pa bein’ the worst of them all before he died last summer.” The boy spoke so matter-of-factly that Morgan figured it must be the truth.

“I have family over that way myself. They aren’t drunks or reprobates. They’re good Christian folk.”

“Ma says Christians are people who talk pretty with their mouths but ain’t much good for anything else. She said she’s never seen a Christian who acted like what they were supposed to.”

“I see. Well, I’d beg to differ with her. I know a lot of good Christian folks, and they are loving and kind people.”

The boy shrugged, making his small frame seem even more skeletal as the clothes draped awkwardly. “I couldn’t say. My ma won’t take me to church. She said that’s where all the hypocrites are, and she don’t want me growing up to be like that.”

Morgan smiled. “Tell you what. I’m a Christian, and I’m going to help you and prove to you that not all Christians talk pretty and do nothing else.” He started picking up his few supplies. “Can you gather up my bedroll?”

“I reckon so,” the boy said, putting away his slingshot and rock.

“Good. You do that, and I’ll get my horse saddled. Then we’ll go hunting.”

The boy went to work and only then did it dawn on Morgan that he didn’t know the boy’s name. “My name is Morgan Chadwick. What’s yours?”

“David. David Nelson.”

Morgan grinned. “That’s fitting what with your slingshot and all.”

“What’s that got to do with my name?”

“I’ll tell you about it,” he promised. “As soon as we’re on the trail.”

“It’s hard to believe all the trouble my father has caused,” Mara said sadly. “I knew he and Mother were always conniving, but when Father married Portia, things just went from bad to worse. I never met anyone more demanding or more hateful. She hated everyone, it seemed.” She started the platter of eggs around Koko’s big table.