The Glenmore's: Caught (7 page)

“Of course, go ahead” Justine told them. She moved back to where Virginia and Joseph were standing and watched as Ben whisked one of the girls out onto the floor.

Joseph was watching and took her cup from her hands and handed it to Virginia. “I do believe pretty lady that this dance is mine” He took her by the arm and led her onto the floor.

For the first hour of the dance Justine felt like she was caught in a whirlwind. She was passed from Joseph to George then James, Nick, Max and back to Joseph. Just as a slow waltz began Ben cut in on his father.

“I believe it’s my turn pa” Ben took Justine into his arms and Justine melted against him.

“You look absolutely gorgeous darlin’.” Ben whispered into her ear
and Justine turned red.

Ben had been watching Justine dance with his father, his brothers and brother-in-law and was surprised to find
he was actually jealous. He didn’t want anyone’s hands on Justine except his! He held her closer than was proper but he loved the feeling of her body against his.

Justine couldn’t think straight as Ben whirled her around; she could barely feel her legs and was afraid she’d step on his toes.

“Are ya enjoyin’ yerself?” Ben asked.

Justine looked up into his face and he smiled. “I am thank you; your family has made sure of it” Justine laughed and Ben fell in love with the musical sound.

They were halfway through their dance when Betty-Jo Morris walked up and clung onto Ben which brought them to a stop. Justine looked at the girl who had interrupted.

“C’mon handsome, why on earth would a man like you wanna dance with an ugly freak like her when ya could have someone beautiful like me?”

Justine tore herself from Ben’s arms, lifted her skirts, burst into tears and headed for the door at a run.

Ben pushed Betty-Jo away and started after Justine. “You nasty little bitch, just stay away from me” Ben growled and Betty-Jo reeled back as though she’d been slapped.

Virginia and Joseph had been standing talking to Josh and Millie when they saw Betty-Jo approach Ben and then Justine run off in tears.

Joseph reached the door at the same time as Ben. “Leave her be Ben. I’ll go make sure she’s okay”

“But pa” Ben protested.

“BEN!” Joseph shouted, picked up his coat and headed outside. Ben headed back to his mother.

Joseph found Justine at the side of the hall with her head buried into the neck of Josh’s horse and, when he saw her body wracked with sobs, his heart went out to her.

Joseph stepped forward and spoke gently. “Justine, come here darlin’.”

Justine moved away from the horse and threw herself into Joseph’s arms. “It’s so unfair Joe; I just cain’t get away from the nasty comments. Look at me; I’m no threat to someone like her. I ain’t never comin’ to town again” she sobbed.

Joseph placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her head back to look at him. “Justine, I’m sorry that happened darlin’. I cain’t begin to imagine what you’ve had to put up with but it has to stop somewhere; ya have to learn not to be so affected by it. We’ll help ya get through this I promise ya but ya cain’t keep runnin’ away”

“I cain’t do it anymore Joe; it’s just too hard. I know I’ll always be alone anyway so I might as well start now. I appreciate yer family’s friendship but I just cain’t deal with the town”

Joseph held her to him as she cried and sobbed. He knew now was not the right time to try and convince her of anything and he rubbed his hand up and down her back to try and console her while the tears continued to flow.

“That’s it. I’m goin’ to see if she’s okay” Ben started for the door but Virginia grabbed his arm.

“You’re father knows what he’s doin’ Ben” she assured him.

“Ma, it’s my fault and I’m goin’ to her” Ben walked off through the door and Virginia sighed. She was beginning to think her son was losing her heart at long last.

Joseph felt a tap on his shoulder and looked around to see Ben. He gently pulled away from Justine and pressed her into Ben’s arms. She was still crying so hard she didn’t realise who had her.

Ben mouthed ‘thanks’ to his pa and Joseph went back inside to rejoin Virginia.

“How is she Joe” Virginia asked with concern in her voice.

“She’s real hurt Ginny; that Betty-Jo is so damn nasty”

“Yes there was no need for her comments. I think Joe that Ben is beginnin’ to care about Justine”

“I think so too Ginny but I swear if he hurts her he’ll have me to answer to” Joe said forcefully.

“And me” Josh agreed.

********

“Sssshh; c’mon sweetheart” Ben cooed gently as he ran his hand up and down Justine’s back. “I’m so sorry; Betty-Jo can be real nasty sometimes. Please don’t let her upset ya”

Justine looked up in shock at the sound of Ben’s voice. Ben wiped the tears from her face with a cloth from his pocket.

Justine noticed how wet the front of Ben’s shirt was and ran her hand over it. Sparks shot straight to his groin at her touch and he groaned. “I’m sorry Ben; please let me go now”

Ben held her tight as she wriggled against him. “Ben, please let me go” she asked frantically.

Ben relaxed his hold and looked down at her. “Why do ya hate me Justine?”

“I don’t hate ya Ben but I need to stay away from ya. Look at me” she ran her hand over her scars. “You can never be interested in someone like me, you need a pretty gal. Now, please let me go and stay away”

Ben felt like he’d been slapped; he couldn’t believe she would think he would be so shallow as to only want a gal for her looks.

Justine pushed out of his arms and ran up the steps back into the hall. She ran over to Josh who folded her into his arms. “Please Josh would ya take me home” she pleaded.

Josh nodded to Millie who retrieved their coats. Justine thanked the Glenmore family as Josh helped her on with her coat and she promised she would see them at Christmas the following week.

They walked out as Ben was headed back in. “Miss Saunders, are ya okay” he asked.

“Yes, thank you. Goodnight” Justine answered without looking up.

Ben watched them as they descended the steps and headed for the buggy before walking back over to where his family was gathered.

“Did you two have words again son? Ya weren’t out there very long and she was still mighty upset when she came back in” Joseph asked.

“No pa; she just told me to stay away from her. She said she don’t hate me but she don’t want me near her. She said I need a pretty girl and that just ain’t true. I cain’t figure it; I just wanna be her friend” A puzzled Ben explained. “She’s so nice to everyone else and I really like her, why cain’t she like me just a little?”

George and James looked at each other and smiled.

“Well, well; looks like our little brother has met a gal that his charms don’t work on” James chuckled.

“The next couple of weeks are gonna be real interestin’. I do believe our little brother might have actually met a gal he likes for somethin’ other than fun” George chuckled and Jenny tapped him on the shoulder. “Leave him be please George. He just wants to be her friend”

George and James laughed again. “He ain’t interested in just bein’ friends with any gal” George told her.

Ben blushed and looked down at the ground. “There’s somethin’ different about her George. She ain’t like the others and I really like her” Ben admitted.

Everyone stared at Ben in various states of shock. James finally found his voice. “I do believe our little brother is fallin’.”

“I do believe ya right” George agreed.

“I ain’t fallin’.” Ben protested angrily. “I told ya before I ain’t interested in gettin’ serious. I just wanna be her friend”

George and James gave each other a knowing look. “Whatever ya say” George told him. “I’m gonna get Jenny and the girls home ma, it’s gettin’ late”

Virginia handed him a sleeping Lucy and kissed him goodbye. She then kissed Jenny and Linda and watched as they left.

“I’m gonna get Rebecca and Caleb home too, if I can find the squirt. He’s been runnin’ around all night” James went off in search of his son. A few minutes later they were back and Caleb hugged his grandparents’ goodnight. “We’ll see ya in a couple of days Ginny” Rebecca said as they left.

“We’re off too” Laura and Nick, Kate and Max all said their goodbyes and left the dance together.

“I think we might call it a night too Joe. What are ya gonna do Ben?”

“I’m gonna head home too ma” Ben had no interest in staying now Justine had left. He was still thinking about the tingles and sparks that had shot through his body when he’d held her close. She’d made his manhood respond in ways it never had before. The feelings excited and worried Ben.

He walked out with his parents and, after he lifted Virginia into the buggy, he mounted his horse.

As they rode along quietly in the dark night Joseph broke into Ben’s thoughts. “Ya need to examine ya feelin’s about Justine son. If ya ain’t serious and ya really do just wanna be friends then tell her that from the beginnin’. If ya don’t and ya hurt her you’ll answer to me and Josh. Am I clear?” Joseph said seriously.

“I have no intentions of hurtin’ her pa. I don’t know what I’m feelin’ at the moment”

“Well sort it out before she gets hurt. You’re old enough now to know not to play with people’s feelin’s”

“I will pa” Ben promised. They stopped near the barn and Ben dismounted and lifted his mother down from the buggy.
As he placed her on the ground she kissed his cheek.

“We love ya Ben and just want ya happy son” she told him.

“I know ma” he told her as he gave her a hug. “I’ll take care of the horses’ pa, you get ma inside out of this cold” Ben began unhitching the horse from the buggy as Joseph took his wife’s arm and led her inside.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next few days passed slowly. Ben tried hard to stay busy but with winter upon them there wasn’t a lot of work to be done.

It was two days before Christmas and Ben was sitting in the parlour reading when he heard Doug call out “Rider’s comin’ boss”

Ben rose from his overstuffed armchair and looked out of the window. His heart gave a kick when he saw it was Justine with Josh and he headed outside. He hadn’t seen Justine since the dance five days ago but she hadn’t been out of his thoughts.

Joseph joined him on the front porch as the two horses were reined in.

“Josh, Justine, everythin’ okay?” Joseph asked.

“Can we have a word Joe?” Josh asked as he lifted Justine to the ground. Ben was wishing it was his hands around her waist and not Josh’s hands”

“Joe, Ben” Justine greeted in a shaky voice. Ben could see her eyes were very puffy and red and he knew she’d been crying. “Miss Saunders what’s wrong?” Ben asked concerned.

“Let them come in outta the cold first son” Joseph told him and he stepped aside to allow them to pass and enter the house. As Justine walked passed him and looked up he could see the anguish in her eyes.

They removed their coats and hats and hung them on pegs before being led through to the kitchen.

Virginia turned away from what she’d been doing as she heard them enter. “Josh, Justine, what a n…” Virginia stopped when Justine looked up and she saw her face. “What’s wrong darlin’?” Virginia took Justine’s arm and led her to a chair. Alice placed a steaming hot cup of coffee in front of her and then everyone took a seat.

“Josh, what’s this about?” Joseph asked.

“Me and Justine went to check the cattle this mornin’ and give ‘em some feed Joe and found we’ve got more’n fifty missin’. As far as I can tell it’s some of our better stock all in calf. We cain’t afford to lose ‘em like that if we’re gonna make a go at this breedin’ program. We was wonderin’ if you’ve had any trouble?”

“Goddamn rustlers!” Ben exploded and everyone looked at him in shock. “Sorry Miss Saunders; there ain’t nothin’ I hate worse”

“That’s okay Ben but will ya please call me Justine?” she managed to say through the threat of fresh tears.

“We ain’t had any trouble here that I’m aware of Josh but I’ll get the men to check. I thought ya’d moved
all the herd to the house paddock for the winter?” Joseph asked.

“Yeah we did; I cain’t believe they came up so close and we didn’t hear anythin’.” Josh wasn’t so sure it was rustlers, there were a couple of people in town that had expressed interest in Justine’s land after Mason passed and they’d acted mighty ornery when he’d told ‘em it wasn’t for sale.

“I ain’t so sure it’s rustlers Joe. Squeaky Dalton and Bill Stanton wanted to but Justine’s land when they knew Mason had died. They were real put out and nasty when I told ‘em it weren’t for sale. We ain’t had rustlers in these parts for as long as I can remember Joe and my gut tells me these two have somethin’ to do with it”

“Why would they be so interested in it Josh
; those two are miners not ranchers?” Ben asked.

“Dunno Ben; as I said it’s just me gut”

“Do ya need help with things Josh?” Joseph enquired.

“No we’ll be right thanks Joe. I was just wonderin’ if ya’d had any trouble and to warn ya to keep an eye out in case it is rustlers. I just don’t know that it is though”