Before the Larkspur Blooms (20 page)

Chase stopped at the window and stared at the livery across the street. Albert was right. Five unidentifiable horsemen sat their mounts outside Win’s and he had no idea who any of them were. Some could be citizens of New Meringue, here for the announcement this evening. Choosing Logan Meadows for the important proclamation had to be an indicator the railroad was coming here. The Union Pacific was only fifty miles away.

“They got our best bull, Albert,” Chase said as he turned. Anger built inside until he had to squelch the urge to shout. “Last year we went without to be able to afford him. Gave it plenty of thought before spending that kind of money on one animal. And it’s not only me. Other ranchers around here can’t afford to lose any more cattle either.”

Dwight strode through the door and stopped. “Chase, you in town for the meeting?”

“Partly.”

Albert leaned forward. “Rustlers hit his ranch for the second time last night. As well as the Cotton Ranch.”

Dwight’s brows dropped in concern. Going to the potbellied stove on the far wall, he poured himself a cup of coffee. “How bad?”

Chase glowered. “Bad enough. One steer is too many.”

“I agree.” Dwight sat in a chair and propped his boots on a gunnysack he’d filled with rocks to serve as a footstool. “Have any idea how many? Two, six, more?”

Damn the brazen deputy, sitting here questioning him. He should have the answers. “Looked like two riders from the tracks we found.”

“What direction did they go?”

“You’re just full of questions, aren’t you? Why don’t you ride out there and check for yourself. That’s your job, isn’t it?”

“Chase,” Albert interrupted. “Don’t take your frustrations out on us. I just spent three days combing the territory without finding a clue. It’s never easy to catch rustlers. And these men are smart. The minute you get close, they clear out.”

Chase checked his temper. “We followed their tracks to the high country but lost them in the sandy loam. Rain all but cleared them out. Have two men still out looking, but that’s all I can spare. Can’t leave the herd unprotected.”

“I guess not, with all the land you own.”

Chase turned on Dwight. “What the hell are you talking about? No one handed me that ranch—I
worked
for it!”

“Ain’t what I heard. I thought the banker got it for you.”

Albert stood. “Dwight. That mouth of yours is going to get you killed someday.”

Chase put his hand on the doorknob, but turned and leveled a piercing look at the deputy. “I don’t care what you think, Dwight.” His voice was low, dangerous. “Your opinion is about as important as a beetle peeing in a rat hole. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why Albert keeps you on.”

Dwight jumped up, spilling his coffee down the front of his shirt. “Shoot!” His face scrunched in pain as he haphazardly wiped at the brown blotch marring his pressed white shirt. Coffee dripped to the floor. “Look what you made me do!”

Chase opened the door and walked out.

At the festival grounds, Hannah slipped into the second row of seats, taking the chair Jessie had saved for her. Paper lanterns hung from the trees and swayed in the breeze. She nodded to Chase, sitting on the other side of his wife. Excitement reverberated through everyone, as the all-important announcement would come any moment.

Jessie leaned over. “How was your lunch crowd today?”

Hannah hadn’t had to say anything to her friend for Jessie to figure out what had been on her mind. “Pretty busy. We even ran out of one of our specials.” It was impossible to keep back the smile of relief she felt coming on. “Now, if it could just keep going in that direction.”

Jessie patted her leg. “It will. Now with the railroad coming through.”

Hannah pulled her shawl more snugly around her shoulders. Mr. Peabody stood behind the stage talking with her uncle Frank and Sheriff Preston. She surreptitiously glanced about, looking for Thom. Nell Page was a few rows back, sitting with her brother, Seth. Maude was there, as was Win. Brenna Lane was all the way in the back, sitting alone. Penny must be home watching her siblings. And there were a host of faces Hannah had never seen before. The El Dorado Hotel must be as busy as she’d been today at the Silky Hen.

She nudged Jessie. “Where are the children?”

“With Mrs. Hollyhock. Markus?”

“Home with mom,” Hannah replied, spotting Dwight at the forefront of the gathering. He caught her eye and smiled.

Jessie turned to her as if to say something and stopped.

“What?”

Jessie looked torn. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Come on, spit it out.”

Her friend’s brows drew down even as she tried to smile. “I’m sorry for snapping when you asked about Sarah going to school and then rushing out. I guess I was just tired. Had a lot on my mind.”

She’d noticed Jessie’s preoccupation the past few weeks and wondered if she was telling her everything. Keeping Sarah home another year would break the child’s heart. “You don’t have to apologize to me. You know that, Jessie. But if there is anything I can do for you, concerning anything at all, just let me know.”

A real smile returned to Jessie’s face. “Thank you. I’ll remember that. By the way, how are things with your mother? I wanted to ask you about that on Tuesday, but I completely forgot.”

“About the same, I guess. I am grateful for her help with Markus. I don’t know what I’d do if she didn’t look after him for me. I just wish she wouldn’t try to run my life so much. You know, pushing Dwight at me all the time.”
And criticizing Thom.
“I’m sure we’ll work it out.” What if her mother were more independent? Had a social life other than gossiping? Everyone needed a purpose in life. Right now, her mother’s entire world revolved around her daughter and grandson. It had taken every bit of Hannah’s willpower not to lose her temper about purchasing the fabric for the Christmas dress. Thank goodness Roberta had finally listened to reason, telling Maude to sell it to someone else if possible.

Jessie pointed. “Look. Mr. Peabody is taking the stage.”

“Good evening, one and all!” Mr. Peabody’s face lit up the stage. He did not look nervous as he had the last time he’d been there. “There is much excitement in the air tonight. And rightly so.” He swept his arm wide. “As you know, the Union Pacific is
only fifty short miles away. On my last visit, I stated the railroad would be making their decision in a few more months. Well, I’ll bet you can guess by this meeting here tonight that that schedule has changed. The decision is final. Work on the rails begins tomorrow, and Logan Meadows is the winner. It won’t be long before you have a train through your town once a week!”

Cheers went up and some boos and hisses. A few people tossed their hats into the air or clapped their hands. Hannah blushed when Chase threw his arm around Jessie and kissed her square on the mouth.
What a relief!
Hannah glanced over her shoulder, looking for Thom. She needed to share this wonderful news with him. Mr. Peabody held up his hands for quiet. “That does not mean the Union Pacific has waived the conditions it has asked of you. Those still hold. The railroad is ahead of schedule. Waiting a few months until you complete the enlargement of your school and add more services is not an option. The plan is to construct a depot just west of these festival grounds, approximately a quarter mile away. Union Pacific engineers will start on that this coming week. Congratulations, Logan Meadows!”

Frank, smiling from ear to ear, signaled the waiting quartet, and lively music soon filled the air.

Compelled to glance to her left, Hannah spotted Thom as he ambled in from the dark and leaned against a secluded tree, well away from curious eyes. He looked beat. Smudges of grime spotted his trousers and shirt. He took the kerchief from around his neck and discreetly swabbed his face.

He worked so hard. If he wasn’t at the livery cleaning stalls, helping Win shoe horses, or out in the fields cutting hay, he was on top of some roof hammering on shingles in the broiling sun.

Jessie nudged her side. “There’s Thom. You know he’s coming to the picnic tomorrow, too, out at the ranch?”

“Yes.” Was she only setting herself up for more heartache? Since talking with him at the cemetery, she’d not seen hide nor
hair of him anywhere around town. Not even up on the roof of the mercantile. She’d been in the store a few times but hadn’t had the nerve to ask Maude if he’d completed the job. Was he avoiding her on purpose? “I remember. I just wish I knew what he was thinking.”

Jessie put her arm around her shoulder. “He’s just settling in, Hannah,” she whispered into her ear. “Give him some time to—”

Hannah looked back around at Thom when Jessie’s eyes went wide. Brenna Lane was at his side, offering him a glass of punch she had gotten at the refreshment tables. Hannah watched in grim fascination as Thom tipped his hat, took the drink, and drank it until it was gone.

“This means nothing,” Jessie whispered quickly. “Brenna’s just being kind.”

Now that Mr. Peabody had made his announcement, everyone was getting up, talking, and milling around. Chase stood and waited for Jessie. It was amazing how Brenna’s simple little gesture of offering Thom a glass of punch sliced to the quick. She chanced another peek as they talked, two outcasts finding solace with each other.

She hadn’t known she’d made a noise until Jessie took her by her shoulders and gave her a good shake. “Stop this right now. Get a hold of yourself. Paste a pretty smile on your face and push out your chest.” She glowered into Hannah’s eyes. “Chin up.”

“Jessie?” Chase was waiting, hat in hand. “I need to get back to the ranch.”

“Give me one second, Chase. Hannah and I are just going over details for—the picnic.”

His eyes took on a look of amused wonder. “You gals go right ahead with that important business. I’ll be over at the food tables.”

“Men!” Jessie watched Chase walk away. “They are so easily satisfied.” She took Hannah by her hand and hauled her to her feet.

W
ith Jessie and the children settled in at the house, Chase saddled up, checked in briefly at the bunkhouse, then made his way out to the north pasture. The temperature, downright chilly after slipping several degrees since the town meeting, forced him to shrug into his leather coat before riding out. He loped Cody for a good two miles before reining up, then they climbed to a lookout point on top of the bluff. From this vantage point, he could see much of the prairie that made up the Broken Horn. He bristled, remembering Dwight’s comment.

The five hundred head below were calm. Chase could barely make out Jake as he rode slowly between the herd, but he caught a strain or two of some song he was singing softly to the peaceful cattle.

Chase relaxed in his saddle, taking in the sight. The night sky was clear. Because the crescent moon was no more than a sliver of a nail clipping, a blanket of twinkling stars stood out vividly in the inky black sky, reminding him of the first night he’d arrived at Jessie’s small cabin. A sky like this one always made him remember.

A smile played around his lips as he recalled how young she’d looked when she’d first opened the door, invited him in. He’d been hungry as all get-out and distracted. Wondering how he’d fill his belly. He’d been trail weary and saddle sore. He aimed to deliver his message and be on his way.

He chuckled.
Hadn’t quite worked out that way. At all.

He’d been expecting a much more mature woman, someone closer to Nathan’s age. Almost fell on his face when the beautiful slip of a girl admitted she was Nathan’s wife.

His insides warmed; his body reacted. He was one lucky cowboy to have won Jessie’s love. His life had changed. He would do anything for her. Ride to the moon and back if she asked. As if Sarah wasn’t enough, she’d given him Shane, too. The boy was a combination of the two of them, with Jessie’s inquisitive expressions and playful temperament and his looks and sometimes volatile nature. These were the best years of his life.

Cody cocked his hind hoof, getting comfortable, and Chase shook his head in disbelief of it all. Three years ago he’d been a loner, drifting wherever the wind blew. Thought it his destiny. How wrong he’d been. Glancing up at the heavens he heaved a hearty sigh, thanking God for showing him the error of his ways. Logan Meadows had welcomed them warmly. It was a good, wholesome town with honest, hardworking people. The perfect place to raise a family. That’s why this rustling problem was so unsettling. Chase didn’t want to see it go the way of so many bigger, rougher places. He didn’t want Gabe or Jake, or anyone else, to get hurt or killed. So much was at stake.