Tracie Peterson - [Heirs of Montana 04] (31 page)

“I’m glad you stopped by, Cole,” Ralph Brewster greeted a couple of weeks later.

Ralph was the neighbor who owned the farm just north of the Selby farm. He had indicated at church that he might be open to a proposition from Cole regarding the place.

“Glad you had time to talk.”

“Ruth has made us some cake and coffee. Want some?”

“I’d love some. It’s mighty cold out there.” Cole smiled at the stocky Kansan. The man was in his midthirties, and something about him told Cole he could be a good friend. He didn’t seem at all to care about the gossip that went around the church concerning Dianne and the children. His own two boys had played happily with Cole’s boys, but only at school. They were never allowed to come over to the farm, because Cole’s mother didn’t like there to be too much noise. Cole hadn’t learned about this until after the children had gone back to Montana. It was one more thing that seemed to support Dianne’s comments about how she and the children were being treated.

“We don’t stand on ceremony in this house,” Ralph told Cole. “We’ll just sit in the kitchen. It’s warmer there. Ruth has some sewing to do, so she’ll be busy in the other room.”

“That sounds fine,” Cole replied. “I’ve always liked sitting in the kitchen.” He took the chair offered him by Ralph and waited while the man brought the coffee and mugs to the table. Ruth’s promised cake was already cut and sitting on two plates, ready to be devoured. Cole had to admit it looked delicious. He and his mother had not eaten nearly as well since Dianne had gone back to Montana. He missed her cooking.

“I was intrigued by your comments Sunday,” Ralph said, pouring them each a cup of the steaming liquid.

“Well, truth be told, with this crazy winter we’ve been having, I figured I had time to get this situation planned out.”

“Did you hear about the areas to the west? Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas have already been buried in one snow after another. Now it’s spread to Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. Doesn’t look to be letting up anytime soon. My brother tells me a wire came from Cheyenne saying the storms are heading into their eighth day without sign of stopping. They’re afraid the telegraph lines will go down any moment.”

“I didn’t know it was that bad there. It’s been bad enough around these parts. That would explain …” He didn’t finish the thought. He didn’t want Ralph to know that Dianne hadn’t written. “Well, anyway,” Cole picked up, “I’m glad I don’t have a lot of cattle to worry over.”

“I’d say.” Ralph took his seat and picked up his cup. “There’s already reports of hundreds of deaths, both human and animal. The temperatures will probably drop and then we’ll really be in for a time. Won’t be a chance for ranchers to get feed out to those beasts.”

“No, probably not.”

“Makes me glad I’m a farmer.” Ralph blew out a deep breath. “I surely don’t envy those that have livestock.”

“It’s never easy,” Cole admitted. “We used to move our cattle to winter pastures—places of open range fairly close to our ranch—to avoid heavy mountain snows and such. Now much of the land is being bought up and people are starting to fence it off. I doubt seriously too many Montanans are going to take to barbed wire.”

“Sure is necessary down here. Of course, this is a state where farming and ranching go hand in hand.”

Cole nodded. “There are places like that in Montana as well. Still, it’s too wild for most to make a decent living. Like I said, I’m glad I don’t have cattle herds this winter. The losses will no doubt be outrageous if everything you’ve said proves true.”

Ralph pushed a plate of the cake toward Cole. “Try this. It’s been passed down in Ruth’s family for ages. She calls it her chocolate cheer.” He laughed. “I have to admit it always cheers me when she makes it.”

“It looks great.” He forked in a mouthful and gave his approval. “It is great.”

Ralph leaned forward as if to share a secret. “I like to put mine in a bowl and pour milk over it most of the time.”

Cole laughed. “Well, feel free to do just that. Don’t think you have to be fancy on my account.”

“Nah, it’s good enough like this … for now.” Ralph took several large bites, nearly devouring his piece before continuing to talk. “So tell me about your proposition.”

Cole swallowed and drank down some coffee before he opened the conversation. “You know I inherited my dad’s place.” Ralph nodded and Cole continued. “You also know I have the ranch in Montana to be responsible for. I need to get back as early in the spring as I can.”

“The way it’s snowing you may have to wait until July,” Ralph joked.

The thought pierced Cole’s heart. He’d been worried about getting home ever since the really bad blizzard just after Christmas. Now with Ralph’s news about the ongoing storms in Montana and Wyoming, Cole seriously wondered if he would be able to get home before May or June.

“Here are my thoughts,” Cole finally continued. “I know Ma wants to stay on the farm, but I can’t remain here indefinitely. I’m thinking a hired man could come and stay at the farm and help with odd jobs, milking and tending the few animals, as well as helping with the farming. That’s where you would come in. I’d like you to consider farming my father’s place. I’d give you half the profit and hire the man to help when you needed it—like in planting and harvesting. The other half of the profit would have to go to my mother.”

“That’s mighty generous,” Ralph said. “I have to admit, I’ve been itching to expand, but I don’t have the income for such a jump. This would allow me to make a little extra money; maybe I could save it for more land.”

“I think the soil is rich. We had a decent profit from last year, and that was during a drought. I can’t begin to think of what it’ll be like when these snows melt and replenish the water tables.”

Ralph finished his coffee and poured himself another cup. “Would you consider one more thing?” he asked, putting the cup aside momentarily.

“Sure, Ralph. What is it?”

“Would you agree in writing to give me first chance at the place if you decide to sell?”

Cole laughed. “You read my mind. I only plan to keep the farm as long as my mother insists on living there. Frankly, I’d be glad to sell it to you now if we could make some agreement to that effect.”

“I think we probably could, but again, I don’t have the capital it would require to make an outright purchase. And I already owe the bank for improvements on my place. I don’t think I could get any more money.”

“I’m not in need of money,” Cole said, realizing the only thing he truly needed couldn’t be bought: his wife’s trust and love. “I think we could work out payments. Yearly, after the crops were brought in.”

“Well, this is like Christmas all over again,” Ralph said, slapping the table. “Wait’ll Ruth hears. Oh, and don’t fret yourself with finding a hired man. Ruth’s brother has been itchin’ to get out here from Indiana. I think he’d be mighty glad to come and work for your ma.”

God always seemed to have a way of working things out. Cole felt a peace settle on his shoulders like a warm woolen coat. He could finally see hope in his situation. “I think that sounds fine. Go ahead and arrange for him to come. I’ll even pay for his train ticket.”

“Now that’s too generous. The boy’s been thinking of coming out here anyway. He’s twenty-two and has been saving for five years while trying to figure out what he wanted to do. Let him pay his own way. It’ll make him appreciate it more. Pay him a decent wage and it’ll be fine by me.”

“Will he need to live on my mother’s place or do you have room for him here?” Cole asked, knowing that his mother was going to resent the arrangement no matter what.

“We’ve got plenty of room, and I doubt you could get Ruth to let him live anywhere else. He’ll be fine here. He can ride over at dawn each day and work at what needs to be tended, and then come home for dinner and help me. By evening he can go back and take care of anything else that needs to be done. Oh, and if your ma needs him to drive her into town or run errands for her, I’ll arrange for him to be free for that as well.”

“Ralph, this sounds like the perfect solution. But don’t mention this to anyone yet. Except for your brother-in-law, of course. I need to break this to the family gentle-like. They know I plan to leave, but they also think they’ve somehow convinced me to stay.”

Ralph nodded. “Your ma is a determined woman. I’ve seen her accomplish many things.”

“That’s a very kind way of putting it,” Cole said, lifting his mug. “Here’s to a profitable and long-lasting partnership.”

Ralph raised his mug. “I’ll drink to that.”

Several days later, Cole thought the perfect opportunity had arisen to tell his mother about Ralph. She was in a very good mood and had even baked that morning. The cake she made was similar to the one Ruth Brewster had served, which was what gave Cole the thought to bring up the topic of the farm.

“You know, I had a nice long talk with Ralph Brewster the other day,” Cole said, leaning against the back door, watching his mother frost the cake.

“Oh? How’s he doing? How are Ruth and the children?”

“Good. They’re all good. I told him how I’d need to be returning to Montana in the spring.”

Mary Selby slammed down the crock of frosting she’d been holding. “Why would you tell him that? You know you don’t want to go back. You know you aren’t wanted in Montana.”

“I don’t know any such thing,” Cole said. “And I wish you would stop saying that I don’t want to go back. Do you suppose if you say it often enough it will change my mind?”

His mother narrowed her eyes. “You listen to me, Cole Selby. You listen to what’s good for you. That woman you married will do nothing but manipulate you and steal your life from you. You’re appreciated here and you have all that you could possibly want.”

“I want my family, Ma. I wanted them when it was Luke’s birthday. I wanted them at Christmas, when no one else seemed to care that they were gone. I wanted to bring in the new year with them—not with my sisters’ spoiled and selfish girls—but with my boys and Lia. With Dianne.”

“How dare you say your sisters’ girls are spoiled and selfish. They are your nieces and they adore you.”

“They hardly speak two words to me,” Cole replied angrily. He strode across the room and stood directly in front of his mother. “You need to get this through your head now, Ma. You need to understand that I am going home come spring.”

“This is your home now. You own it,” she said bitterly. “You are the selfish one if you consider leaving. I need someone here to run the farm. I won’t leave.”

“I know you won’t, and that’s why I’ve asked Ralph to farm the land. His brother-in-law is going to come from Indiana to live with them, and he’s going to come over here and be your handyman. He’ll even drive you into town when you need him to.”

Mary shook her head vigorously. “I won’t have a stranger living here!”

Cole smiled. “He won’t be living here. He’ll live with Ralph and Ruth and come over every morning, then go home for dinner and work with Ralph. Then he’ll come back in the evenings. Like I said, if you need to go to town or have him drive you to church, Ralph said he’ll make provision for that.”

Mary’s face turned beet red. Her expression contorted angrily. “How dare you make arrangements for me behind my back!”

“This is my place now, Ma, as you’ve pointed out over and over. I have the right to make whatever provision I want. If you’re uncomfortable with it, then you’ll have to go live with Cordelia or Laurel, because I intend to make a deal with Ralph that will allow him to buy the place so long as he allows you to live here as long as you like.”

“This is all about her,” Mary spewed. “That horrible little wife of yours. She’s poisoned you against me. Well, I won’t have it. You’ll rethink this and stay with me. I’m your mother and you owe me this.”

“How do you figure that?”

His mother seemed momentarily at a loss for words. Then she seemed to calm before his very eyes. Finally she picked up the frosting bowl and went back to her work but added, “I figure that no one else will have you. Not now—especially not now. Your conniving wife won’t think twice about turning you out. She certainly didn’t think twice about leaving you.”

Her words stung deep. Hadn’t these thoughts been a part of Cole’s very nightmare? Dianne hadn’t written. She hadn’t sent so much as a single word to let him know she was safe. His mother said that was because she was trying to hurt him … make him so afraid he’d hurry home to her so that she could drive him back out, refuse him a home. Now his mother’s words just seemed manipulative, almost deceitful. Exactly as Dianne had told him.