Sarah's Surrender (13 page)

“Business, that's all he told me.”

“But what kind of business could he have? I know he was very disappointed in getting land so far from mine.”

Jack shot her a teasing grin. “I guess if you wanted to know so bad you should have asked him.”

She made a face at him, resisting the childish urge to stick out her tongue. She hadn't seen much of Luke since they'd returned from El Reno. In fact, she'd wondered if he was avoiding her. He'd made several trips to Guthrie before coming to Anadarko. She knew him enough to know he was up to something, but she had no idea what it was.

Cody ran ahead of them, carrying the blanket Sarah had pulled from the railcar, which held many of the items for her house. More would arrive later, like the pretty parlor furniture and dining table Jo had ordered after they'd scoured catalogs for hours. She couldn't wait until the house was done and everything was in place. After several nights of sleeping on a cot in a tent during their drive from El Reno to Anadarko, with the prospect of many more until the house was done, she longed for a real bed.

They settled down next to the slow-moving river and dined on pork sandwiches, hardboiled eggs, apples, and peach pie. “I was surprised to see so many wooden structures already in town.”

Jack nodded and handed Cody a hardboiled egg. “There are still a bunch of tents, but people are anxious and want to get their homes and places of business built before winter sets in.”

Using her napkin, Sarah dabbed at a trickle of sweat running down her cheek. “It's hard to imagine cold weather is just a few months away when it's so hot now.”

“True. We don't normally get much snow here, but I have seen a few inches as early as October.”

“I remember that snowfall. I'm glad, though, that the weather warmed up after the snow melted. I don't enjoy long, cold winters.” Sarah bit into her sandwich, determined to eat at least half of it. In spite of her excitement, she'd need her strength to do all that had to be done by nightfall. She would pray tonight that winter didn't come early this year. She and all the other homesteaders would need to plant gardens as soon as possible, and that required a few months of good weather in order to reap some fall vegetables. Without them, winter's eating might be slim pickings.

She was grateful now for all those hours of planting and weeding the garden, side by side with Lara, and relearning about cultivating seeds, something her mother had taught her before she had become sick. She hoped she'd be able to grow all the fruits and vegetables that Lara had. She yawned as she watched Jack rub Cody's back. When the boy went to sleep, they could leave him resting on the shaded blanket while they searched the land and decided where to place her house.

She quietly packed up their leftovers from their meal then walked along the banks of the river, looking for a place where the banks were less steep. Jack unhitched the horses from the wagon, watered them, and then hobbled them in a grassy patch. Then he untied the saddle horses, including the beautiful dappled gray mare named Dottie that Gabe and Lara had given her as a combination birthday and going-away gift. Sarah turned back toward the wagon, eager to see the rest of her land.

An hour later, they'd circled the property. They crossed the river at a shallow spot to inspect the small bit of land she owned on the far side of the Washita. As they reached the final bit of land, Sarah blinked at the field of tall plants waving in the light breeze. “Is that corn?”

“Looks like it.” Jack dismounted and walked toward the plants. He reached up and broke off an ear with brown silks and waved it. “It is, and it looks ripe for the picking.”

Sarah dismounted and walked over to him. “But how did it get here? Who planted it?”

He shrugged. “I suppose it could have been squatters or possibly Indians. I heard there's been some confusion with the Indians not understanding the boundaries of their land allotments. Or it's possible that the people who planted this field were squatters the army chased off right before the land was opened.”

“Since this is my land now, wouldn't I have the right to harvest the corn?”

“I don't see why not. If you'd been fortunate to find a house on your land, you wouldn't hesitate to live in it, would you?”

Sarah gazed at the field of corn, hardly able to believe her good fortune. She'd only just arrived, and God was blessing her already. “You're right. I would use it—but only after I had cleaned it thoroughly.”

Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “As much of a blessing as this is, it will also cause more work. The corn needs to be harvested soon.”

Sarah walked over to a stalk and wrangled off an ear. “Let's get enough for supper and some for tomorrow. Once the builders have arrived and have started on the house, then I can think about the corn.”

Jack nodded. “Good idea, but let's pick it quickly. I want to get back and check on Cody.”

With Jack focused on picking corn, Sarah pulled off one of her petticoats to use to carry her bounty back. She gazed up at the sky, smiling. “Thank You, Lord, for this unexpected treat. Please bless this land and my endeavors here.”

Jack's ears reddened when Sarah handed him the petticoat with her single ear in it.

She shrugged, feeling her own cheeks warm. “It was all I could think of in a pinch.”

He smiled, scratching his ear. “Smart thinkin'.”

As they crossed the river again and headed back to their horses, Sarah scanned her land. Pride surged through her. The only sounds to be heard were their footsteps crushing through the thick grass, the insects buzzing around them, and the grass swishing in the light breeze. She was eager to see what the future held for her in this peaceful place.

“Pa! Pa!” Cody's scream rent the quiet.

Sarah's heart jolted.

Jack stiffened, dropped the corn, and ran for his horse. He leaped onto its back, turned, and shot her a frantic glance.

She motioned at him. “Go!”

Luke shook Mr. Swinney's hand. “Thank you for purchasing my homestead, sir. I hope you'll be happy and successful on that section of land.”

The man smiled a wide, gap-toothed grin, his hazel eyes shining. “Thank you for selling it. I can't imagine why you'd want to, but it's a dream come true for me and my family. I'd thought I had missed any chance at getting a homestead.”

Luke pursed his lips and nodded, hoping he'd made the right decision. He'd prayed and had wrestled with his thoughts ever since winning his claim. As much as he wanted land, he longed to be near Sarah more. And if that meant selling his homestead, so be it. Now if only the second part of his plan would work out.

He signed his deed, relinquishing ownership, and handed it to Mr. Swinney. “Make sure you get that registered with the land office in El Reno so it's official.”

The man nodded. “Gonna get my family settled on the land today; then I'll leave for El Reno tomorrow.”

“I wish you good fortune.”

The man tipped his hat. “You too, young man. I hope things work out like you're wantin'.”

So do I.
Luke blew out a loud breath. He'd been a landowner for a few weeks, although he'd never even set foot on his property. He headed for the town square where the courthouse would be built one day. He'd read in the newspaper that the money earned from the sale of town lots at the public auction on August 6 would be used to construct the courthouse and other town features.

All around him, hundreds of tents had been erected, and a number of wooden buildings were in various stages of completion. All manner of storeowners were already doing business. He passed an elderly couple selling clothing. Another man hawked guns and ammunition, and a tall, thin man with a handlebar mustache offered shaves and haircuts. It boggled his mind how this land had been virgin prairie only a few weeks ago, and now it was a bustling town of thousands of people. The chatter of voices had replaced nature's peaceful quiet.

He turned down a street and saw the town square up ahead. While eating lunch at a tent café, he'd overheard talk that people wanting to sell their town lots had tacked notices to the trees in the town square. A number of people from other states had entered the lottery in hopes of winning land they could turn around and sell, thus lining their pockets. Fine by him.

He'd made two hundred fifty dollars selling his homestead. Surely a much smaller town lot would cost less than that. If he could get one on the north end of town, he'd be less than half a mile from the edge of Sarah's property. A smile tugged at his lips. He'd always planned to become a rancher like Gabe. He even had his own herd of more than fifty head that ran on Gabe's land, but now the idea of owning a livery had taken root. The more he thought about it, the better he liked it. He could still work with horses, and he'd be helping others by selling and renting quality stock and buggies. He'd just have to get used to living in a town again. It was something he hadn't done since he was a boy. He'd miss Gabe's family and the quiet of the prairie, but he'd be near Sarah.

As he drew close to the town square, he spied the half dozen trees shading the grassy area that was empty of any tents. Several pieces of paper tacked to the trunks fluttered on the warm breeze. The first notice he checked was for a business lot on the southern end of town. Next was a residential lot and then one for a business and residential lots in the center of town. The price for the last one—three hundred fifty dollars—lifted his eyebrows clear to his hairline. He blew out a whistle.

He might have to live in his livery until he started making some money, but he'd lived in worse places. Rubbing the back of his neck, he headed to the next tree. It probably was a good idea to live on the premises anyway since he'd have valuable horses, tack, and equipment at the livery. At least until he and Sarah married.

“Howdy.” A well-dressed man smoothed down a wrinkled page at the second tree and scanned the info.

“Afternoon.” Luke slowed to a stop several feet from the man, waiting for him to move on.

“You looking for land?”

He nodded. “You too?”

“Yes. I'm looking for a good place to open a hardware store.” The man's brown eyes darkened and he shook his head. “I fully meant to arrive in time for the auction of the town lots, but my nine-year-old daughter took ill, and I didn't want to leave her to travel out of town.”

“I hope she's doing better.”

The man smiled. “She is, thank the good Lord. My name is Reggie Best.”

“Luke McNeil.” He shook the man's hand. “I'm thinking of starting a livery—if I can find the right place for it on the north end of town.” He studied both notices then moved to a third tree—the last with papers attached.

Mr. Best headed to the first tree Luke had checked and tugged on one of the papers. “Well now, I do believe I'm in luck.”

“That's good.” Luke checked the last tree and sighed. Nothing. He walked back to Mr. Best to see which ad had caught his eye. It was the expensive one with both a business and residential lot.

The man smiled and started to walk off. “I'll be looking for men to work for me. Got a house and place of business that need to be built. Would you happen to be looking for work?”

Luke shrugged, not ready to give up on his own dream. “I've done some building, but I've mostly herded cows and horses.”

“How long did you stay at your last place of employment?”

“Over twelve years. I only left there to register for the lottery.”

Mr. Best frowned, looping his thumbs through the lapels of his brown frock coat. “That must be somewhat close to half of your life.”

“That's not far from the truth. I was lucky to get a job with a good, responsible man that had a vision to build a ranch. I helped him do it.”

Mr. Best nodded. “I could use a good man like you, if you're looking for employment.”

Luke glanced at the trees where the notices hung. If he bided his time, he might be able to find a lot for sale near Sarah. It wouldn't hurt to add to his funds, because if he was successful, he'd have to build a livery, buy several wagons and buggies, as well as tack. At least he had the stock he'd need. He brushed the back of his hand along his jaw. Maybe this job was God's providence.

J
ack kicked his horse into a gallop, his gaze scanning the field where he'd left his son. Two large wagons had stopped near Sarah's buckboard, and several men stood next to them. He gritted his teeth, willing his horse to run faster—and praying he wouldn't stumble in a hole.

He was glad he'd taken the time to load his gun this morning and yanked it free of the holster. He pointed it toward the men as he drew near, reined his horse to a sudden stop, and then dismounted. His gaze landed on each man, then shot to his son, who sat on the blanket. A heavyset woman sat on the edge of the blanket, her arm around a medium-sized dog. Cody spied him, jumped to his feet, and ran to him. Jack snagged his son in midair as the boy leaped up.