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Clayton put his brush away and followed him. “I’d like to meet everyone.” If he was going to protect Maggie from Gus, Clayton planned on finding out just how loyal Gus’s men were to him.
Chapter Four (#u6ecfeaa6-52a6-5793-ba54-41ff99cbd19a)
A week later, Maggie’s mind was on the ranch. Things had fallen into a routine she could handle as she recuperated from childbirth. Clayton had checked on her and the children every day. He took his meals with the men but seemed ever watchful of the house. Whether his scrutiny was intentional or not, it afforded Maggie with a peace of mind she hadn’t felt in a long time.
She was having a hard time keeping Dinah out of the barn. Her little sister seemed to adore Clayton. It was all Maggie could do to keep the little girl out of his and the Pony Express riders’ hair. But if she scolded Dinah, Clayton rushed to her defense and assured Maggie that Dinah was no trouble and was not in the way; that he liked having her underfoot.
Her thoughts returned to the running of the ranch. Gus had been right when he’d said since she had two children to take care of she wouldn’t have time for overseeing the ranch. How was she going to make sure Gus was doing a good job? She wanted to go out and ride the fence lines, but with an infant, that wasn’t going to happen. And her body would never handle riding a horse; at least not the way she felt now. Was this normal? Perhaps she’d ask one of the ladies in town when next she went for supplies. It would be so nice to have another woman’s opinion on the changes that had taken place in her body. She sure couldn’t ask any of the men.
Maggie felt her frustration grow. Everyday chores were difficult with two children underfoot. Each night she fell into bed exhausted. The doctor had said she should be able to do routine work within a week. He’d also advised her to let Clayton help as much as he wanted.
Could she do that? Maggie stroked the baby’s tiny hand. She fretted that she didn’t really know Clayton Young. Other than the fact that he’d saved the baby, gone to town to retrieve the doctor and that Dinah liked him, Maggie knew nothing else about the Pony Express man.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Before he’d left, Bill Evers, the previous Pony Express manager, had come up to the house and asked if he could visit with Maggie for a few moments. She’d agreed and offered him coffee and cookies. While the man had eaten almost a full plate of gingersnaps, he’d told her that his replacement was a nice young man who would be a great help around the place.
Her gaze moved to the window at the front of the house that looked out toward the barn and bunkhouse. So far, Bill had been right. She’d seen Clayton repair a corner of the barn roof, build a small fence around the chicken coop, as well as gather eggs during the last week.
Maggie frowned. On the other hand, Gus Fillmore neglected most of the chores. He had tried to stake his claim to the ranch the day of Jack’s funeral, but when he’d discovered that Jack had a will and had left the ranch to his unborn child, Gus had stormed off so angry he could spit, but later returned and offered to stay on and help.
She would have loved to have sent Gus packing as soon as her husband had been buried, but since most of the men had quit and she’d been so sick with her pregnancy, Maggie had allowed her late husband’s cousin to stay on. Now with hindsight she wished she hadn’t.
Bill, the former Pony Express manager, had warned her to keep a close eye on Gus and the ranch books. Maggie had intended to ask Gus about the ranch ledger, but he’d found reasons to be gone before dawn and back long after she and Dinah had gone to bed. After a while, Maggie had given up on him bringing the ledger to her and planned on going in search of it after the baby was born.
The day she’d gone into labor, Maggie had been surprised to discover not one of the hired men anywhere near the house when she needed someone to go get the doctor.
Tears pricked the backs of her eyes at how close she’d come to losing her son. She kissed his soft downy hair, which looked as if it were going to be honey colored, much like her own. The light wisps tickled her lips.
Maggie hugged him closer. Her love for James far surpassed the realization that if the baby had died, she and Dinah would have possibly been forced by Gus to give up the ranch, as well.
She watched from the window as a Pony Express rider came thundering into the yard. Clayton met him with a fresh horse and a smile. They exchanged a few quick words, and within moments the rider’s horse raced back onto the trail. Clayton glanced toward the house and then began to return to the barn.
Impulsively, Maggie hurried to the front door and called out to Clayton. When he looked in her direction, she yelled, “When you are done with the horse, would you come to the house? Please.”
He nodded, then continued to the barn. In the kitchen, Maggie filled a plate with sugar cookies. She made sure the coffee in the pot was still hot.
She gazed down into James’s sleeping face. His small features looked more like hers than her late husband’s. Even though they were closed, Maggie knew his eyes were the only thing that resembled his father. They were dark blue, unlike her hazel eyes that often held more green than any other color. She hurried up the stairs and laid him in his dresser drawer. Dinah lay on the bed fast asleep. Maggie usually enjoyed a nap with the children but knew she needed to get out of the habit of sleeping the afternoon away.
Making sure both children were covered, she walked back down the stairs. She hadn’t spoken more than ten words with Clayton in the last five days but knew that now was the time. After a week of living and eating with the ranchers, he should know how the ranch was being run and could tell her if all was well. At least she hoped he was as observant as his predecessor had been.
Half an hour later, Clayton knocked on the front door. Maggie hurried to let him in. “Thank you for coming to the house.” She led the way to the kitchen.
“What can I do for you?” he asked, eyeing the plate of cookies and the two cups that rested on the table.
She smiled as she picked up the coffeepot. All men were the same when it came to cookies and coffee. “Well, for starters you can have a seat and help me eat these cookies.” She poured hot coffee into the two cups.
Clayton’s rich laughter washed over her like warm water on a cold day. She felt goose bumps swell on her arms.
“I’ll be happy to put away a few of those cookies for you.” He moved to the table and waited for her to indicate which chair to take. She waved him to the one on the end, and then Maggie joined him.
When he was seated, Maggie said, “Help yourself.” She pushed the plate closer to him.
Clayton picked up a golden-colored cookie and bit into it. He grinned. “These are very good.”
“Thank you. They are my grandmother’s recipe.” She took a sip of the warm coffee.
His eyes narrowed. “Why are you trying to sweeten me up?”
She laughed. “Am I that transparent?”
Clayton chewed, then swallowed. “Let’s just say I know a bribe when I taste one. Ma used to ply us boys with cookies when she wanted information.”
Maggie nodded. “I think I would like your ma.”
“I’m sure you would. Everybody loves Ma.” He washed the first cookie down with a big gulp of the coffee. “So, what do you want to know?” His blue gaze met hers.
She sighed and put down her cup. “As you know, I can’t very well get out with the children to check and see for myself what Gus is doing to James’s ranch. Bill used to come and give me updates on how things were going so I was hoping you would do the same.” Maggie waited to see if things were as bad as she felt in her heart that they were. She hadn’t seen the books in over three months. She prayed the ranch finances were in order.
Clayton set his cup down and reached for another cookie. “Well, according to Hal, Gus isn’t around much so hasn’t given any orders other than for the men to do what they normally do. I’ve noticed that the calves haven’t been rounded up or branded and there are a lot of repairs on the place that are being neglected.”
Maggie leaned forward in her chair. “How many calves do you think we have this year?”
It seemed to Maggie that Clayton was doing a mental head count. “I’ve seen about three hundred, more or less.”
“That sounds about right. Gus said we lost over half the herd this winter and that’s about half of the calves Jack said we’d have this year.”
Clayton’s eyes narrowed. “How did you lose half the herd?”
“Gus said that last big snow we had trapped some of them in the gully and they froze to death. He and the men couldn’t get to them because of the weather.” She sighed. “We took a big loss on them.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, how is the ranch making money?” Clayton pushed the plate away as if he’d lost his appetite.
“Jack always took the cattle to market in the late spring, but with us losing half the herd, I’m not sure what Gus has planned.” She hated admitting that she didn’t know what would happen next.
Clayton’s frown deepened. “Maggie, there aren’t enough cattle on this ranch for a cattle drive to anyplace.”
She shook her head. “We are a small ranch. Every spring Jack teamed up with our neighbor, Mr. Morris, and they’d take our cattle and his to market.”
“Doesn’t it seem odd to you that half the herd froze to death in the gully? Isn’t the gully supposed to help protect them? And where were the men when the cattle were freezing?”
Clayton’s blue eyes had hardened to deep sapphires.
Maggie realized just how little she knew about her own ranch. She sighed. “I don’t know.”
“I’m not trying to be rude, Maggie, but why haven’t you asked Gus these questions?”
She swallowed. “I didn’t know what to ask at the time, and lately, he isn’t talking to me.”
Clayton nodded. “Yeah, I noticed he hasn’t been to the house. I just assumed that you two meet once a month instead of weekly.”
Maggie shook her head. “No, he’s still sore because I won’t sell the ranch to him.”
They sat in silence for several minutes. Then Clayton said, “You could fire him. Since the Pony Express riders come through about every two or three days, I would be happy to help you with the running of the ranch. At least until you can find someone who would do an honest job for you.”
Maggie hated to admit it, but Clayton really was a good man. Not a man whom she’d ever fall in love with or want to marry. Jack had been a good man but he hadn’t loved her. Her marriage to him had been out of his desire for an heir and her need to put a roof over Dinah’s head. Then just as she’d started to fall in love with her husband, he’d up and died. Maggie didn’t want to feel the disappointment of lost love again. But he seemed to really want to help her. “Thank you, but I don’t feel like I can do that at this time. Gus wouldn’t leave quietly, and since he’s Jack’s relative he might go as far as to try to take the ranch away from me legally. To be honest, I’m not sure if I have a legal right to the land.”
“Did Jack have a will or a piece of paper saying the ranch belonged to the child?” Clayton reached for another cookie.
Maggie nodded. “Yes. Right after the funeral Jack’s lawyer called both Gus and me to his office. He had Jack’s will. Jack had left the ranch to our unborn child and given Gus a hundred dollars. Of course, Gus wanted it all, but the lawyer said that as long as the baby lives, he legally owns the land.” She watched as he finished the cookie.
“Well, doesn’t that answer your question? Sounds like you do have a legal right.”
She shook her head. “No, James has the legal right. Not me.”
Clayton drank the rest of his coffee and stood up. “You know, maybe we should make a trip to town and check with Jack’s lawyer. I think that as long as you are James’s mother, you have as much right to this land as he does.”
She stood also. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask.” Maggie followed him to the door.
Just before leaving, Clayton turned to face her. “Maggie, I’ll do what I can to help you with Gus.” His blue eyes softened into clear blue pools.
Maggie’s heart skipped a beat. Her palms grew moist. She wiped them on her apron. Confusion clouded her mind. What was it about Clayton Young that had her brain turning to mush?
* * *
Clayton walked to the barn. He didn’t understand why he cared so much about this family. But the thought of Gus Fillmore taking advantage of Maggie and the children infuriated him.
Over the last week, he’d tried to keep to the barn and do the job of Pony Express manager but had found himself watching the house and wondering what Maggie and Dinah were doing.
He missed his family and decided maybe that was why he felt protective of Maggie and the kids. Clayton went to his room and picked up one of the medical books Doc Anderson had given him. Flipping through the pages, he couldn’t focus on the book. His mind continued to drift to Gus, Maggie and the turmoil with the ranch.
He tossed the book onto the cot and pulled his coat and hat back on. Not expecting another rider for a couple of days, Clayton decided he needed to get some fresh air.
Bones snorted his greeting.
Clayton chuckled and said, “You miss our rides, too, don’t you, ole boy?” He saddled the horse and led him outside.
Within a few minutes, Clayton was riding the fences of the ranch. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for but felt the need to have a good look around.
The ranch was flat in most places, and after riding about a mile he circled around and came upon the river. It gurgled along, and new green grass and shrubs lined its banks. He continued and was pleasantly surprised to come upon a wooded cove with the river running past and a pool of clear water that had washed out a peaceful inlet.
Clayton dismounted and allowed Bones to drink his fill while he looked about. He inhaled the fresh air and closed his eyes to enjoy the sweet sound of running water behind him. His shoulders relaxed and his thoughts moved to visions of having a picnic with Maggie and the kids in this spot.
His eyes snapped open. What was he thinking? This wasn’t his family. He had no business thinking about family picnics. Still, he liked Maggie and the kids. What would it hurt to have a picnic with them? Who said a man and a woman couldn’t share a meal together and enjoy this wonderful fresh air? As friends, of course. Just friends.
Bones snorted a warning. Clayton turned and saw Gus riding in his direction. Clayton remounted Bones and waited for the ranch foreman to arrive.
“I see you’ve found my favorite spot on the ranch,” Gus said as a greeting. “What are you doing so far away from the barn?”
Clayton leaned on the saddle horn. “Getting fresh air.” He looked about at the new leaves and grass. “This is a nice spot.”
Gus stared at him. He tilted his hat back. “Don’t you have the Pony Express to take care of?”
What was Gus getting at? Clayton tightened his grip on Bones’s reins and answered. “Obviously, you don’t know how the Pony Express works.” He looked about to let the thinly veiled insult sink in.
The other man shifted in the saddle. “Just like you don’t understand the workings of a ranch.”
“It’s interesting that you should say that. I’ve been around a ranch or two, Gus, and I know enough to know that you are short on the amount of cattle that should be roaming these pastures and that your excuse to Mrs. Fillmore is weak.” He sat up straighter in the saddle. “I also know it’s branding season and you haven’t started.” Clayton had the satisfaction of seeing the shock on Gus’s face turn to anger. “Is there a reason you don’t want me out here riding the range?”
Gus shifted in the saddle again and ignored the question. “You are free to roam around as much as you like, Young. Just don’t get in the way of my men and our jobs. As you have kindly pointed out, we have work to do.” He turned his horse to leave and then turned to look over his shoulder. “I suggest you focus on your job and let us do the same.” He spurred his horse and left at a gallop.
Clayton had hit a nerve with the foreman. Gus hadn’t answered his question and had clenched his jaw. His shoulders had squared and he’d tightened his grip on the horse’s reins as if it took all that he had not to ball up his fists and swing a punch. Clayton’s ride had been relaxing until he’d met up with Gus. Man and horse picked up where they’d left off and continued their exploration of the ranch. The Fillmore Ranch was a decent-size spread, but Clayton hated that the oversize pastures were sparse in cattle. Baby James’s inheritance was being underused, meaning less money would be coming into the family.
When Clayton arrived back at the ranch house, he noticed a horse tied to the hitching rail in front of the porch. Dinah played on the porch with a rag doll and some blocks. She looked up and saw him and came running.
“Hi, Clayton!”
He slid off Bones’s back. “Hello, half-pint. I see you have a visitor.”
Dinah looked over her shoulder at the house. “Yep, a man from the bank.”
“I see.” Clayton led Bones into the barn.
Dinah followed, swinging her rag doll by its arm. “Sissy asked me to go outside to play while she talked to him.”
Clayton took off the horse’s saddle. “Well, I’m glad she did. Now you can tell me your doll’s name.”
“Oh, this is Charlotte. Sissy was going to name baby James Charlotte, if he was a girl.” She hugged the doll close.
“That’s a pretty name.” He rubbed Bones’s black-and-white coat. Clayton wondered why Maggie hadn’t had a boy’s name picked out for the baby since she’d already had a girl’s name chosen.
Dinah nodded. “Yeah, it’s Mama’s name.”
He looked at the little girl over Bones’s back. Sadness filled her pixie-like face. Poor little mite.
“Dinah! Clayton!” Maggie called from the house.
“Sissy is calling us,” Dinah said.
They left the barn together. Clayton watched as a well-dressed man rode away toward town. Maggie stood on the porch holding the baby.
Dinah ran ahead. “I was in the barn with Clayton.”
“I saw that.” Maggie rocked the baby. When Clayton got close enough, she asked, “Can you hitch a horse up to the wagon for me? I need to go into town.”
The tremble in her voice tore at him. “Sure. Would you like for me to go with you?”
“Can I go?” Dinah asked.
“Of course you are going, Dinah.” Maggie frowned at the little girl. She then turned her attention to Clayton. Uncertainty filtered through her voice. “I don’t want to take you from your work.”
