Diane R. Jewkes (2 page)

“And … ” said Case, glaring at her outfit of denim pants and one of his shirts. “Please wear a pretty dress for the party. We wouldn’t want everyone to think you were my son … would we?” Turning back, Kara crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

“Next thing I know, you’ll want me to put on a split skirt.” She remembered the first time she had put on the mannish clothing, and he had ordered her back to her room to change into a more ladylike split skirt. The split riding skirt had not been practical. Kara had protested, but tried to work in the heavy garment to please him.

He gave in and let her dress in the pants after the heavy skirts had caught in the brush, and she was almost pulled from her horse. He had tried to discourage her from working, told her it wasn’t necessary, but she always said it made her feel useful.

• • •

After stopping to speak to Consuelo, Kara left the house, promptly putting all thoughts of Lord Stoneham and his impending arrival from her mind. Walking down the porch steps, she greeted Bob, one of the ranch hands. He had come west after the War Between the States, seeking the freedom a black man could not find in the south.

“Mawnin’ Miz Kara.” Bob tipped his hat. “There sure is a lot of work for us this day. We’re going to be jumpin’ like fleas on a hot griddle!”

“You’re surely right. If anyone needs me, I’m off to help bring the cows and calves in from the north pasture so we can brand and catalog them.”

White teeth split his dark face in a broad grin. “I recon’ you’ll get on just fine. Consuelo will have your hide though, if’n you forget to take your midday meal.” He handed her saddlebags bursting with food and a canteen of water. “She thinks you need to be putting some meat on them bones. So don’t be coming back lessen you eat every bite in those bags.”

She took the bags. Consuelo was not only the family cook and housekeeper, but Bob’s wife. The small round Mexican woman kept everyone on the ranch toeing the line, especially Bob.

“I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble. I’ll eat every bit.” She laughed at the exaggerated wink he gave her. Looking up, she saw a strange cowboy watching her as he walked across the yard towards the barn. The young man stared so hard, he didn’t notice the fence post until he smacked right into it.

The cowhand blushed furiously at the sound of the other cowhands’ laughter, shook his shoulders, pulled his hat low over his brow and hurried into the barn.

“Your mannish getup did it again, Miz Kara. Poor Jeb. Guess no one warned him ’bout your clothes.”

It had become a long-standing joke among the older hands not to tell the new hires about her unusual work clothes, so they all got a good laugh at the expense of the unsuspecting cowhand.

“I swear,” she huffed, looking around at the cowhands who were still chuckling. “You’d think men would stop acting so stupid. It’s not as if I’m running around in a hurdy-gurdy girl’s outfit. I’m covered from head to toe. Men can be so silly sometimes.”

“Miz Kara! Where’d you be knowin’ what hurdy-gurdy girls wear?” Bob’s eyes were wide with surprise.

“Oh, Bob,” she replied. “The world is changing. I’ve seen photographs in the newspapers in Virginia. Why, I’ve even been to rallies for women’s rights.” She saw the shock on his face. “Women should be allowed to vote and decide how to live their own lives, and even be allowed to go into a place where those women work.” Seeing his eyes narrow, she added quickly, “Not that I’ve ever been in one of those places … . I’m off to get Gally.”

Looking back at Bob’s frowning face, she headed for the barn. “And don’t worry; I won’t forget to eat everything in my saddlebags.”

Entering the barn, she headed for the end stall. She had always loved stories of King Arthur and his knights as a young girl, and named her horse Galahad after her favorite character.

“Excuse me, miss.”

She looked around, startled by the voice. “Who’s there?” she asked, staring into the gloom of the barn, unable to see.

The young man who had run into the fence post stepped forward. Holding a battered cowboy hat in his hand, he didn’t look to be much older than her. Rail thin with light brown hair and dark brown eyes. He stared at her intently, like a snake staring down a rabbit. It made her nerves jangle.

“Hello, I’m Kara Jonston.” Unwilling to let herself feel intimidated, she took a step forward and held out her hand to the young man. “I understand you’ve just started. I hope you enjoy working here.”

The young man looked down at her outstretched hand and back up at her face without any expression. She noticed a tic at the corner of one eye, and the way he wiped his palm on his dusty pants.

“My name’s Jeb Black, miss.” His unblinking stare raked her body. “No one told me about you.” He stepped forward suddenly, causing her to take an involuntary step back, bumping into the stall door. His intense stare and slightly leering voice made her tense up.

“All they said was old man Jonston’s daughter worked hard as any hand. I sure thought you’d probably look like one, too.” His eyes raked over her body again, causing a shiver of revulsion to run down her spine.

Seeing him start to reach a hand towards her face, she instinctively jerked her head back.

“Yer sure beautiful, with your fine skin and — ”

“Mr. Black!” Kara said sharply, her voice stopping his hand in midair. She continued, hoping her voice wouldn’t betray her fear. “What do you think you are doing? Not only do I not know who you are, but I am, as you said, old man Jonston’s daughter.” Her anger began overcoming her fear; her voice icy, backing down the rude young man in front of her.

“If you wish to keep your job on this ranch, I suggest you remember that fact, and never approach me in such an untoward manner again.” She desperately pushed down the rapidly rising fear.

Jeb dropped his hand to his side, face pale, a mixture of embarrassment and anger. “No ma’am,” he drawled slowly, leveling his unnerving gaze on her again. “I guess I overstepped myself. Of course those clothes could give a man the wrong idea.”

Kara sucked in her breath.

“Black … . Where are you?” Joe, the ranch foreman, walked into the barn. Kara saw his eyes go from her face to Black’s clenched fists. “What the hell are you doin’ in here, Black?” he yelled at the younger man. “You’re supposed to be out bringing in the horses. You were hired to break horses, not dilly-dally in the barn. Don’t let me catch you wasting time or bothering Miss Kara again, or you’ll be off this property so fast … do I make myself clear!” He leaned towards Jeb, anger clenching every muscle of his face.

“I was just introducin’ myself to the lady,” Jeb said slowly, challenging the older man with an insolent stare. “Didn’t know it was a problem boss.” A slow, cold grin spread across his face. “Guess I’ll jest get on to work now.” Looking at Kara, eyes cold, Jeb tipped his hat. “Miss,” He turned and sauntered out of the barn.

A long breath escaped her. Only then had she realized she’d been holding it in. “Thank you, Joe.” She grabbed his arm, grateful for the momentary support, afraid her knees might give out. “I’ve never met anyone who has made me feel so uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure what he might do.”

“You stay clear of him, Miss Kara.” He put an arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick hug. “It appears that boy’s got some manners to learn. I’ll be sure the other men keep an eye on him and keep him clear of you. If he causes any trouble, he can just pack up. Bronc busters are a dime a dozen. I don’t allow troublemakers of any kind on this spread.” Turning to leave, he looked back. “You go on up to the north pasture with Henry and Lacy. They’ll keep you busy today. Don’t you worry about Jeb Black anymore.”

She entered the stall, still shaken by the encounter. The dark red gelding pushed his nose into her chest in greeting. She hugged his neck, breathing in the warm, musky smell — a combination of horse, hay, and dust. “Oh Gally, I don’t understand? I certainly didn’t do anything to provoke him.” The big horse snuffled softly in her hair. Sighing raggedly, she took a deep breath and worked to calm her racing heart. Pushing back from the horse, she turned and picked up a brush from the ledge outside the stall and brushed him down. The steady strokes of the brush across her horse’s coat relaxed her.

Sighing once again, she finished saddling her horse, led him from the barn into the bright, warm light of a spring morning, mounted, and went to work.

The young woman looked up through her lashes at the two men sitting across from her on the train.
God, but he’s magnificent
, she thought, admiring the man seated directly across from her. The smooth fit of his tailored black jacket across broad shoulders, and the snug fit of his vest emphasized the lack of spare flesh on this man. Looking at his long, thickly muscled thighs in snug breeches tucked into tall, riding boots caused a flutter in her stomach and heat to race along her skin.
I wonder where he’s going
. She licked her lips, contemplating a long ride and a casual flirtation.

A soft, deep chuckle caused her to jerk up her head. Face flaming with embarrassment; she realized the man had caught her looking him up and down and behaving like some common strumpet. Muttering an apology, she stood and hurried from her seat, exiting to the next car.

• • •

“Well, Hawke,” laughed the man next to him. “It looks like ye’ve done it again. Set another wee lassie’s heart to pittering. I’d think you would tire of the long looks and breathy sighs that have accompanied us on this interminably long journey.”

“You’ve had more looks and propositions than me, my friend,” Hawke smiled. “In fact, I seem to remember twin sisters on the boat over here … . ”

“Enough … enough,” laughed Alec MacCairn. “You win. I guess we’ve both had our share of attention from the ladies. But you, my friend, didn’t seem too interested in partaking of any offers. Not your usual style.”

No, the ladies loved them both, and they both enjoyed pleasing the ladies. Hawke knew his reserve seemed to attract and intrigue women, not scare them off, just as much as Alec’s roguish charm drew them like bees to honey.

“Well, I figured you were spreading your attentions around enough for both of us, Alec.”

The two had been boyhood friends, growing up on adjoining estates in Scotland. They had gone through university together and spent their military service in India in the same regiment. Now his friend had agreed to accompany him to the American West for no other reason than the chance at a possible adventure.

“You know,” said Alec seriously, the smile gone from his lips. “I still don’t understand what buying a partnership in a farm in this godforsaken wilderness has to do with your reason for coming out here.”

“I believe they call them ranches out here. And it has nothing to do with my other business. Buying into the Jonston ranch … the Ladder J is purely a business decision. Coming out here to track down that worthless jackal is purely personal.”

Hawke’s anger flared at the memory. Controlling the urge to put his fist through something, he felt the muscle in his jaw jump. When he had returned from service in India, he had learned Geoffrey Tompkins, a neighbor, had somehow hurt his younger sister, Bethany, causing her to go into a deep depression. When he went to confront Geoffrey, he found that Geoffrey’s father — the coward — had sent his son away to avoid scandal. Geoffrey’s brother, in an attempt to protect him from Hawke’s wrath, had concocted some absurd story about Bethany and Tompkins being in love, saying when his brother had asked her to run away with him, she had gone crazy. It was too outlandish to believe.

It had broken his heart to see his once-vibrant sister lock herself in her room and refuse to leave the house. She never smiled anymore. She seemed caught in the grip of a black demon slowly draining her life away.

“Just a coincidence,” he said, pushing the painful memories back. “The detectives tracking Tompkins found out he headed toward the same area this ranch is in. I wouldn’t care if he’s hundreds of miles from the ranch … he’s in this part of the world, and I’m going to find him.”

He’d spent almost a year and a small fortune finding Tompkins’ whereabouts. It had been during this time the investment opportunity in the New Mexico Territory had appeared.

“So, this ranch will be just a place for you to stay while you search … am I right?” Alec had also been shocked by what had happened to Bethany. “This venture of yours will give you someplace to search from, and a way to expend energy while you wait. It begins to make sense to me.”

Taking a deep breath, Hawke forced himself back in control. He had always been the calm one, the logical one. He wasn’t about to change now.

“In a way, but I am serious about my interest in the American agricultural systems. I see an opportunity to not only make changes in England and America.” His shoulders relaxed, and a small smile played around his mouth. “But also a fine opportunity to make money, too.”

“As though you need any more,” laughed Alec.

Making money had always been a special talent of Hawke’s. He could smell a good investment. Alec had begged him repeatedly to teach him his techniques. He had tried to teach him. Lord knows, he had tried. Being raised the eldest sons among the upper classes had taught them both a lot about living with money and the obligations wealth brought to a person, but they had seen greed destroy many men. Hawke handled his wealth with the same equanimity and control he handled everything in his life.

Hawke turned his head, looking out the window through the puffs of black smoke coming from the engine. He watched the landscape change once again. The flat, dry desert floor they had been traveling through changed to scrubby bushes, scattered trees, bound in the distance by blue and purple mountains clawing at the endless sky.

He had been amazed at the vast openness of the country they had covered. It felt like they had been traveling endlessly since they left New York. He was awed at the openness of the prairie since leaving the Mississippi. He had never seen so much land with so little on it. A sea of grass.

The towns had appeared like small scars in the endless green prairie, and telegraph lines stretched into the horizon like guidelines showing the way through the vastness. He wondered how he would ever track a man through this huge never-ending expanse.