The Glenmore's: Caught (2 page)

“We got about a thousand head and most of ‘em will calve in the spring; your Granddaddy leased a bull from the Glenmore’s to try and improve the bloodlines. He was hopin’ for a heap of bulls from the calves that he could sell on”

Josh pulled the wagon to a stop in front of a two storey house that had a porch running from one end to the other across the front. The house was built
of rough sawn logs and Justine noticed a swing on the porch under a window. The gardens were well cared for and she imagined there would be quite a pretty display come spring.

Josh lifted her down from the wagon and as the men unloaded her trunks; she walked inside. She followed a passage leading from the front door and noted a well-furnished parlour on her right, a study on her left and at the end of the passage was a huge kitchen. A fire was roaring in the fireplace and the room was warm; a small, stout
, middle aged woman with greying hair stood peeling vegetables at the sink.

When the woman heard Justine enter, she turned, wiped her hands on her apron and walked over to her with a smile on her face.

“You must be Miss Justine; I’m Millie, your Granddaddy’s cook and housekeeper”

“I’m pleased to meet ya Millie; please call me Justine”

“Very well dear; how was ya trip?”

“Long and dusty and I’m sure I have bruises in places I didn’t even know I had from the jostling” Justine laughed.

Millie laughed with her. “Sounds about right, Take ya coat and bonnet off, have a seat and I’ll get ya a coffee and some fresh baked cookies”

“Thank you Millie; that will be lovely”

Millie turned to the pot on the stove and began to pour coffee as Justine looked around and removed her coat, gloves, bonnet and scarf. Justine hoped Millie would stay on and become a motherly friend she could confide in.

As she sat down at the large oak table she voiced her concern. “Millie, are ya gonna stay on?”

Millie turned to face Justine and as she did her eyes widened with surprise and sympathy; Justine’s hand reached for her scar.

“Oh Justine; I’m so sorry darlin’. Ya just took me by surprise. Of course I’d love to stay on if you’ll have me”

Before Justine could answer Millie; Josh walked into the kitchen. She watched as his bottom lip dropped when he looked at her.

“Josh, Millie; please take a seat” Justine indicated the chairs at the table.
Millie brought coffee and cookies to the table and both her and Josh sat.

Justine smiled to set them at ease. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here for Grandpapa’s burial but unfortunately I just couldn’t get here any quicker.

“We understand darlin’.” Millie assured her and placed her hand over Justine’s.

“As ya probably know; Grandpapa has been paying for me to go boarding school in Boston for the past two years. I was studyin’ to be a teacher but when the Lawyer contacted me I decided I was ready for a
fresh start and I was hopin’ you’d teach me to be a rancher Josh. Grandpapa spoke very highly of ya and had a lot of trust in ya opinion”

“I’d be mighty glad to help ya Miss. Me and the men loved ya Granddaddy and he treated us real good.
We was more like family so anythin’ we can do for ya just ask”

“Thank you Josh; I’m sure I’ll be doin’ a lot of askin’ for a while” she giggled.

“You’ll be okay Miss; we’ll take care of ya” Josh assured her.

“Now” Justine sighed. “I have been teased, taunted and tormented beyond belief these past two years by girls with more vanity than sense. I’m used to wide eyed looks, gasps
, nasty comments and open mouths when people see me so please don’t be embarrassed or feel ya need to protect me. I was hit by a piece of burning ceiling when I was trying to escape from the hotel fire that killed my parents. This ….” She ran her hand down her scarred face and the side of her neck. “…is the result. Josh can ya please let the other men know what to expect when they meet me; I don’t want them feelin’ uncomfortable”

“I will Miss and if ya don’t mind me sayin’ it’s a darn shame. I’m real sorry about ya ma and pa”

“Thank you Josh; I know I’ll never marry or have children so I’m hopin’ that bein’ out here may give me the peace I couldn’t get in Boston”

“Miss; ya face don’t make no difference to us and if’n ya anythin’ like ya Granddaddy
, and I think ya are, yer a real nice person and we’re gonna love havin’ ya here” Josh told her.

Tears sprang to Justine’s eyes as she looked at her middle aged foreman. “I appreciate it Josh”

“Well, c’mon now. I gotta get this gal settled and I’m sure there’s chores that need doin’ before supper” Millie rose from the table and Justine and Josh also stood.

CHAPTER
TWO

Millie led Justine to the main bedroom which was down a hallway off the kitchen.

“There are three bedrooms upstairs that we don’t use much and three down here” Millie told her as she led the way. “The room at the end is mine, that one on the left is a guest room, that door on the right is the washroom with hot and cold runnin’ water and a bath tub. This here’s the main bedroom that ya granddaddy used’ Millie opened the door to a room on the left opposite the washroom and they stepped inside.  “He said he was too old to be goin’ up and down the stairs but if ya prefer one upstairs I can get one ready for ya. The stairs are off the kitchen at the other end of the house and there’s a library down there too”

Justine took in the room and was pleasantly surprised. There was a large, four poster o
ak bed in the centre of the room with the most beautiful lemon quilt she had ever seen. On the matching oak tables at the sides of the bed were lovely brass lanterns. There was a large oak chest of drawers, an oak armoire, that had more than enough room for all her clothes and an overstuffed chair sat in the corner. On the polished wooden floor was a huge bright yellow rug and at the windows were bright yellow curtains. Her trunks had been placed near the drawers ready to be unpacked. Justine thought the room was perfect.

“Millie, it’s just perfect; thank you. I have a feelin’ it’s not how my Grandpapa would have had it though”

Millie chuckled. “Good heaven’s no! It was all dull and brown so I thought I would brighten it up for ya. I’m real glad ya like it”

“I do, very much. I don’t want to move upstairs; this is just right”

“Alright darlin’ I’ll leave ya to unpack and maybe ya’d like a bath before supper”

“I would surely love a bath Millie. I think I’ll have one now and unpack later”

“I’ve left some nice rose smellin’ soap in there for ya, some clean towels and some clean cloths. Why don’t ya have a nice long soak?”

“I think I will and Millie, thank you so much. I think and I hope we’re gonna become very good friends”

“I know we will darlin’.” Millie stepped forward and kissed Justine’s cheek as she hugged her. “Now go get ya bath while I get ya some supper”

********

Josh walked over to the bunkhouse and found the men sitting around talking while they waited for Nobby to finish getting their supper ready. Nobby had been at the ranch for twenty years and had always been their cook. Loni, Levi and Rod were the ranch hands and all had been there for more than ten years; Josh had been the ranch foreman for eighteen years.

“Gather round men” Josh ordered and they all stopped what they were doing and waited to hear what he wanted to say.

“As you’re all aware; we got ourselves a new boss. She’s real young; just twenty years old and she’s asked for our help and advice ‘cause she hasn’t ranched before”

The men all groaned.

“Why couldn’t she just stay in the city?” Loni muttered.

“She’s had it real tough Loni and she’s lookin’ to us to try and help with some of her pain
although she ain’t said it. Her ma and pa were killed in a hotel fire two years ago and she got her face burned real bad when she was tryin’ to escape. She’s been gettin’ teased and tormented in a school her Granddaddy put her in so she needed to get away. She says she’s hopin’ to find peace and get left alone out here”

“When we picked her up Josh she looked like a real beauty” Loni was puzzled.

“Her scarf was coverin’ it all Loni” Josh told him.

“Yeah, now ya mention it I guess that did cover her some”

“She seems like a real nice gal so please try not to react or stare when ya see her. For Mason’s sake let’s make this little gal happy”

“Sure Boss”
came the unified answer.

“We’ll make damn sure no-one says nothin’ ‘bout her face too boss. I’ll knock ‘em down if I hear anyone causin’ her any grief” Rod stated and the other men agreed.

“That’s just what she doesn’t want men. She’s used to the looks and the gasps and she said she don’t need protectin’. We’ll keep a watch over her but don’t do anythin’ foolish that’ll embarrass her” The men nodded. “Okay, I’m headin’ in for supper”

********

Justine opened her trunks and removed clean drawers, her chemise, corset, petticoats and a pink gingham dress. With these all in hand she made her way to the washroom and closed the door. She placed her clothes on a chair in the corner and turned on the taps over the large porcelain bathtub. She watched the bath fill as she removed her clothes and then she unpinned her hair.

When the water had almost reached the top
of the bath; she turned off the taps, picked up a bar of rose soap and lowered herself into the steaming, warm water. She could feel the aches in her muscles instantly melting away and laid her head back and relaxed. She was beginning to doze off when she heard a noise from outside that startled her back into wakefulness.

She sat back up and began washing the dust from her hair as well as her body. The rose scented steam wafted up into her nose and for the first time in days she felt like a lady. When she was finished she reluctantly got out of the bath and began to rub herself dry.

She dressed quickly and went back to her room to brush her hair dry. She used the mirror on top of the oak drawers to watch as she brushed. Justine thought about her new life and found her excitement mixed with nerves; she would admit to herself she was scared but she was determined to do a good job and succeed.

She put down her brush, pinned up the sides of her hair and went to the kitchen for supper.

“Millie, is there anythin’ I can do to help?’ she asked as she walked into the kitchen. Her senses were accosted by smells and, as she walked over to stir a pot containing beef stew, her mouth began to water.

“Ya can set the table if ya don’t mind darlin’. You’ll find everythin’ ya need in that cupboard over there” Millie pointed to a large cupboard behind the table and Justine headed towards it.

“There are three of us for supper darlin’; Josh always eats with us. It gives him a chance to tell us the days’ news; what’s happenin’ on the ranch and any gossip he’s heard. Didn’t think it was my place to change things. He’ll be here in a few minutes”

Justine was beginning to notice how Millie’s eyes lit up every time Josh’s name was mentioned
and she wondered if any sparkin’ was goin’ on. She made a mental note to watch them over supper.

“I don’t wanna change anythin’ Millie. My Grandpapa’s men know what they’re doin’. I just wanna help and be a part of things. How long has Josh been here?”

“Must be about eighteen years now I reckon; he’s been foreman the whole time too”

“How long have you been here Millie?”

“Comin’ up on twenty years; there ain’t one of us been here less than ten years”

“Hmmm; he must have been a good man to work for to have such loyalty. Sounds like I have awful big boots to fill!”

They were both still chuckling when Josh walked in the door.

“Evenin’ ladies” he greeted and to Justine’s surprise he walked over and kissed Millie’s cheek.

Justine smiled when Millie looked over at her and she saw Millie relax.

“C’mon now, ya know there’s no sparkin’ when I’m gettin’ supper. You’ll be gettin’ me sacked” Millie scolded.

“Not likely with the way you cook!” Justine laughed and the others joined in.

Justine helped Millie serve up the beef stew and fresh baked cornbread; Millie informed them that peach cobbler was to follow.

“It all smells so good Millie; thank you so much” Justine thanked her as they all took a seat.

“Might I say you look mighty perdy this evenin’ Miss” Josh had noticed Justine had cleaned up, changed and her hair had been washed. He loved how it tumbled over her shoulders.

“Josh, leave the gal alone and eat ya supper!” Millie admonished.

********

Justine savoured every mouthful of the delicious supper; it was the first decent meal she’d had in days.

“How was the day Josh?” Justine asked between mouthfuls.

“It was good Miss. The days are gettin’ a bit colder now so there’s less feed on the ground. We’re stocked up with feed in the shed real good though so it won’t be a problem. We’re gonna go and check the fences in the south corner tomorrow and start bringin’ the herd up into a paddock closer to the house”

“Anythin’ I can do to help?” Justine enquired.