Ellie's Legacy (9 page)

“Your pa told me that years ago he secured quite a hefty
loan from the bank to buy the cows. He’s paying it back as he can, but Dude
Bryant is smart enough to know that the animals are the collateral Ben used. If
your pa fails to repay the money, the bank will take the cattle, but if there
aren’t any, they get the ranch.”

“Well, that just steams me.” Ellie spoke through clenched
teeth.

“Me, too.
The cattle mean a lot.”

“That’s not what I mean,” she snapped. “I’m referring to the
fact that Pa tells you all his personal business while I know nothing. See what
I mean about you always being in his favor? I swear he treats you more like his
offspring than me.” She glared ahead with lips drawn into a tight line. It hurt
that Pa kept her in the dark about so many things. What else didn’t she know?

Ty heaved a loud sigh and adjusted himself in the saddle,
and then the silence between them returned. The only sound was the horses’
hooves clopping on the hardened trail.

Her mind spun. Pa was indebted to the bank? How much did he
owe? Were they destitute? Ellie fretted over his liability, but it didn’t
matter; she didn’t have the money to repay the loan if it came due. Maybe she
could get a job, but doing what, and where? Or, she could make a plea to Joshua
Bryant for his family to leave Pa in peace. He was nothing like the other two.
She nodded. That’s what she’d do, just as soon as she could figure out how to
isolate him from his evil twin.

“I know it might not be the time, but when exactly is this
shindig we’re going to attend?” Ty’s words pulled her from her thoughts.

She supposed she couldn’t fault Ty because Pa chose not to
keep her informed—for other things, but not this. She gave him a weak smile.
“A week from Friday.
That’s why I wanted to come along. I
need a new dress.”

Her mind full of upsetting thoughts, Ellie rubbed her
throbbing temple, telling herself to stop dwelling on the unpleasantness. She
tried to study the colorful landscape, picturing which hue of red, yellow,
burnt orange or green might look best on her. Stealing a glance at Ty, she
wondered if she could find a sky blue to match his eyes.

But, a horrid thought crossed her mind. What if this whole
mess erupted into a range war? There might not even be a dance. Did praying
that the social didn’t get cancelled make her selfish?
What
if…

“A new dress, huh?”
Ty’s voice
broke her concentration. He cocked his head and gave her a confused look. “I
thought you bought material to make one. At least that’s what your pa said.”

“Ah…well…ah…I did, but I’ve waited too long. I don’t have
time enough to finish it before the dance.”

Her explanation appeared to satisfy him, but the statement
following his question raised her dander all over again. Did Pa have to tell
him everything? She flexed her shoulders to ease the tension built from the
long ride, her annoyance at being kept in the dark, and the sickening reality
of the importance of all the dead cattle. How could she get excited about the
dance again, when everything overshadowed it?

Finally, the chapel spire of the Union church appeared.
Ellie breathed deeply. Sparta waited over the next rise, and her backside was
ready for a break from the saddle. She stroked her chin in thought. Maybe she’d
pay the banker a visit while she was in town.

The two riders split from each other just past the church.
Ty reined his horse to the hitching post in front of the Sheriff’s office,
dismounted and went inside.

Ellie waited until he closed the door behind him and then
headed for the bank. There, she dismounted, twirled Chessie’s reins over a
splintering pine rail, dusted herself off and stepped up onto the wooden walk
way. This would be her first time seeing the inside of Sparta’s only financial
institution.

She opened the door, holding her hat in her hands, and
nervously walked inside. Less than ten paces from the doorway stood a mahogany
wall in which a window had been cut. Bars adorned the opening, except for a
small space for the counter.

A spectacled young man in a starched white shirt stood
inside the safety of the cubicle. His top button was so tightly fastened
against his protruding Adam’s apple, Ellie wondered how he breathed. She
focused on the ornate gold chain hanging from the pocket of his tweed vest.

“May I help you?” he asked, stiffly.

“Ah,” She lifted her eyes and flashed a smile, allowing time
for the anxious feeling to pass. “Yes, I’m here to check on the balance of my
father’s loan.”

He cocked his head slightly. “And your father would be?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She gave a nervous chuckle. “Ben Fountain.”

The young man jotted down the name, adjusted his eyewear and
peered through them at her. “Excuse me a minute, please.”

He left his area, closing the door behind him and rapping
his knuckles on another. Ellie heard a deep voice on the other side say, “Come
in.”

While the bank clerk conversed in muffled tones with someone
behind closed doors, Ellie chewed her bottom lip. Was she overstepping her
bounds? What if Pa didn’t approve of her snooping into his private affairs? She
wanted to outshine Ty, and making a serious blunder wasn’t the way. What if the
clerk returned with the other person and asked her a lot of questions. Would
she have answers?
Probably not.

The room suddenly turned overly warm. Ellie wiped her
brow,
and reconsidering her actions, turned, dashed outside,
mounted and rode down the street to the mercantile.

She gave a sigh of relief at seeing Ty’s horse still outside
the jail. She must have been sun-touched to think she could inquire about Pa’s
personal business. He’d be madder than a wet hen if he found out. She glanced
around the main street, looking for familiar faces. Did anyone see her? What if
the bank manager mentioned her unsuccessful visit? Sweat beaded her forehead.
She could always fib and say it wasn’t her.

After tethering Chessie, Ellie breathlessly entered the
store, closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She wondered what that
prissy bank clerk thought when he came back and found her gone. An image of him
peering disdainfully over his spectacles brought a devious smile to her lips
despite her impulsive act. She was a fool.

Responding to the familiar “jingle” of the front door, Percy
looked up from behind the counter. “Well, Miz Roselle. This is indeed a
pleasure. Was the recipient of your gift pleased with your choice?”

Ellie cocked her head inquisitively. “What?”

“The pistol.”

“Oh…oh yes.
Very pleased.”
She
moved away from the door, crossing the fingers on one hand hidden behind her.
It wasn’t actually a lie. She really did like it.

“What can I do for you today?” Percy said, flashing his
horsy smile at her.

“I’d like to look at some dresses, if you don’t mind.” She
studied his unattractive freckled face and coarse red hair. How could his name
be the only one she thought of as a possible escort? No wonder everyone
laughed. Her disgust was tinged with pity. Poor Percy, he’d probably never been
to a dance before.

“Not at all, Miz Ellie.”
His voice
drew her from her thoughts. “If I can be of assistance just call out.” Percy
went back to stocking the shelves behind him while Ellie marched to the rack of
ready-mades and began sorting through them, carefully looking for the perfect
frock. Unfortunately she was limited to the stock on hand.

The bell on the front door sounded, but she paid it no mind,
and instead, one-by-one, slid each wooden hanger past, inspecting every
garment. She was so engrossed, when a hand touched her shoulder. Her own flew
to her throat. She gasped and spun around.

Jeb Bryant!

Her heart raced from being startled, but almost stopped
altogether on seeing him so close. “Oh, it’s you.” She rolled her eyes at him,
hoping to sound detached.

He doffed his hat. “Well, Miz Ellie, what brings you to town
on this fine day?” He stood way too close for comfort, and she didn’t
appreciate his sarcastic tone.

Joshua stood right behind him and flashed a friendly smile,
but as usual, he wilted in his brother’s shadow.

Ellie opened her mouth to speak to him, but Jeb
side-stepped, blocking Ellie’s vision of his twin.

“I said, what brings you to town?”

Feeling safe in a public place, Ellie glared up at him and
gestured toward the dress rack. “Are you blind as well as rude?”

His cocky grin faded to a thin line. “You know, one of these
days your smart mouth is gonna get you into trouble.” He spoke through clenched
teeth.

“I’d say you’re the one in trouble.” Ellie took a step
forward with hands on her hips. “The Sheriff knows about your little escapade,
your cowardly strike during the night.” She wanted to kick herself for bringing
it up. Her thoughts had exploded into words before she could stop them.

Jeb shrugged. “I don’t know what yer talkin’ about.”

Ellie locked eyes with him. “I’ll bet.”

There was no backing down now. She’d already spilled the
beans.

           
Joshua’s
face paled, and his lips began to twitch. He grabbed his brother’s arm, pulling
him away from Ellie. “Let’s get what we came for and go home, Jace”

Jeb jerked loose, his eyes beaded. “You get it. I’m not
through talkin’ to the little lady yet.”

“Well I’m through talking to you.” Ellie turned back to the
dresses.

“Is everything all right over there?” Percy called from
behind the counter.

“Mind your own business, you little weasel,” Jeb barked.

The jingle of the front door sounded. Ellie turned to see
who came in, but Jeb stood in her way, pulling himself up to his full height
and scowling down at her. She tried to look around him, but he grabbed her
forearms and held her in place. “Not so fast, Red. I think you owe me an
apology, but I’ll settle for a little kiss.” He lowered his face toward hers.

Ellie’s stomach churned. Wincing at his fetid breath, she
turned her head to the side and arched as far back as she could.

“Let go of—”

Suddenly, Jeb whipped around.

“What the?”

Ty’s fist connected with Jeb’s jaw. He cried out as he
crumpled to the floor, tipping over a barrel of pomegranates and sending them
rolling across the warped planks.

Ellie stared down at his limp form then looked up to see Ty
rubbing his knuckles. He took a step forward, and standing with one foot on
either side of Jeb’s body, glared down. “Don’t let me catch you bothering Miss
Ellie again…and just in case you plan on stepping a foot back on Fountainhead,
we aim to shoot first and ask questions later.” The look in his eyes matched his
threatening tone.

He stepped over Jeb and rested his hand on Ellie’s arm. “Are
you ready to go?”

Calm returned to his voice as though nothing had happened.

Ellie glanced down at Jeb again. He hadn’t said a word and
still lay sprawled on the floor. He opened and closed his mouth, wincing as he
rubbed his reddened jaw. If looks could kill, she and Ty would be dead on the
spot.

Joshua dropped his goods on the counter, crossed the room,
and helped his brother to his feet. The two of them slunk for the door, but Jeb
paused to turn back and glower at Ty. “You ain’t seen the last of me, Bishop.”

As the bell jingled, Ellie stared up at Ty, her breath
heaving in her lungs. “I don’t believe they got what they came for.”

The tension was forgotten as they exchanged a smile. Behind
Ty, Percy crawled along the floor, muttering curse words while busily scooping
up armfuls of stray fruit and putting them back in their container.

The pomegranates clutched against his chest were as fiery as
his hair and dotted his white shirt with little red freckles resembling the
ones on his face.

Poor Percy, even he got caught up in the fray. Ellie bent to
pick up a piece of fruit he’d missed and handed it to him with an apologetic
look. She turned back to Ty, her feelings muddled by what had happened. Now she
didn’t even feel safe in the mercantile, but she couldn’t admit that to Ty.

“What did the Sheriff have to say?” she asked.

“We can talk on the way home. Let’s get going.”

“Give me just a minute,” she said holding up a finger. “I’ve
found the perfect dress for the dance, but could you please wait outside. I
want to be wearing it when you see it for the first time”

He slowly shook his head.
“Females…always
trying to make mystery out of everything.
I’ll be out front.”

“But wait.” She grabbed his arm, stood on tiptoes and
planted a big kiss on his lips.

“Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

Chapter Eight

Ty stood on the sidewalk outside the mercantile and stared
down at the well-worn planks. He pondered how many people had traversed them.

Sparta wasn’t a big town, but ranchers and settlers from far
and wide came here to shop.

The gaping wood revealed litter on the ground below that
marked a growing civilization. He shook his head and wondered why people had to
be so nasty. The land and its beauty demanded respect. Couldn’t people see
that?

He clucked his tongue. A body could pick up pieces of paper
and chunks of wood, but there was only one way to deal with trash like Jeb
Bryant who felt he had the right to accost a woman in a public place. Ty
grimaced, rubbing his skinned knuckles. It was worth the pain to see the
surprised look on Jeb’s face after Ty’s fist connected with it.