Charlotte's Challenge Read online

  “I figured I’d need the tent if I got caught in bad weather. It wasn’t as easy to set up as the salesman told me. The downpour and wind caused it to collapse on me.”

  “Where did you camp with that thing?”

  Bret gestured east. “There was a real nice creek and trees and I set up under them. The soil was nice so I didn’t have any trouble driving in the stakes.”

  Moose rubbed his jaw. “You musta been too close to the water. Even I know you need to drive the tent stakes deep into firm ground.”

  Bret sensed himself blushing. “Now I know that but it seemed such a pretty place at the time. Believe it would have been all right if the wind and rain hadn’t come. I enjoyed it until the storm hit.”

  “That was some gale all right. When I saw them clouds comin’ I holed up in a barn on someone’s farm. Guess they was gone or there would have been dogs to bark at me.”

  Moose stood and came to the ring of stones where Bret was trying to start a fire. “Let me show you how to cook on an open fire. You bring the supper makings and I’ll cook.”

  Bret brought out a ham, potatoes, coffee, an onion, cans of beans, and a can of peaches.

  Moose looked as if he was going to cry. “I ain’t had real coffee or much else in several days. My breakfast was blackberries. Gatherin’ them I almost shook hands with a copperhead. Snakes like blackberries as much as I do.”

  Something else to remember. “I’ll fill the coffeepot with water. Will you wait until I’m watching to do anything else?”

  When he returned with water from the spring, Moose was squatting on his heels. “What you aim to do with all this stuff?” He pointed at the utensils Bret had laid on top of oiled-cloth.

  “I brought what I thought I’d need to cook and included enough for guests or in case I lost some. There’s a paring knife, a meat knife—”

  “Whoa.” Moose pulled a knife from his boot. “You have something like this?”

  “Sure, but it’s in case I meet trouble.”

  The other man shook his head slowly. “This is your cooking utensil.” He picked up a fork and spoon. “These are all the eating utensils you need.”

  Brett observed and Moose was good about explaining each step. By the time their food had cooked and they’d eaten, Bret thought he could repeat the process. He stacked his cup on his plate and wished he’d brought a dishpan.

  Moose grinned at him. “Now if we was where there wasn’t water, why you could take sand and clean everything. Since there’s that little spring, we can each take our plate and such and wash ’em off in the water.” He grabbed his dirty dishes and walked toward the spring.

  Bret followed. “You saying a body can clean dishes with sand?”

  “You bet you can. You don’t have water to waste, that’s what you do. If you’re heading to California you’ll have to cross the dessert.”

  “I’ve read a lot about it. My favorites are stories about the Missouri Kid.”

  Moose grimaced. “That figures. Listen, most of what you read is made up and not the way things happened. You can’t depend on what’s in those stories.”

  “But… but the cover says ‘the true adventures of the Missouri Kid’. Why would they lie?”

  “To sell them. Worked, didn’t it?”

  “At least some of the stories have to be true.”

  Moose’s mouth was a thin line for several seconds. “Well, let me put it this way. Now for instance, take that snake I like to have had contact with this morning. That really happened but what if I said the snake was striking when I grabbed that copperhead behind his head and snapped his neck? What if I said there was more than one? See, that’s the kind of thing that happens in those ‘true’ stories.”

  Bret sensed Moose was telling the truth. “That’s disappointing.”

  “I’m sorry to upset you.” He patted his abdomen. “Thanks to your sharing I’m full as a tick on a fat dog. Reckon I’ll turn in.” He unfurled a blanket that had been tied behind his saddle. He rolled up in it with his head resting on the saddle.

  “Me, too. Didn’t get any sleep last night.” He spread his bedroll near the fire. After he’d fed a few sticks to the flames he climbed inside his bedroll.

  Now he looked up at the stars and the moon. The scents of wood smoke and green grass drifted on the light breeze. Fireflies danced and crickets sang. His stomach was full and his bedroll soft and dry. He smiled because this was exactly what he’d had in mind for his adventure.

  Chapter Three

  The day after her husband’s funeral, Charlotte smiled at her children and went through the motions of her usual chores. Inside, though, she was overwhelmed and terrified. How could she make this place pay?

  After lunch, she sat at the small desk her husband had used. She thoroughly reviewed their finances and what she found appalled her.

  Davie appeared at her side. “You look awful upset. Things are pretty bad, aren’t they?”

  She wrapped her arm around him. “Don’t worry, son. We’ll do our best to make the ranch as successful as Papa planned.”

  “Before he died, he said he was sorry he’d bought that land last year.” He stepped away.

  She recognized the worried look on his face that was so much like his father’s. “Oh, I didn’t know that. At the time, he said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I teased him that ranchers always want to own any land that touches theirs.”

  He smiled. “I remember.” Davie’s voice sounded wistful then his expression changed. “I sure miss him.”

  “I know, we all do.” She thought Davie missed her husband more than anyone else did.

  “With half the cattle stolen and no ranch hands, how are we gonna make the bank payment?”

  She stood and placed a hand on each of his shoulders. “Davie, you’re a good son and mature for your age. But you’re still a boy and should let me do the worrying if there’s any to be done.”

  He shook his head. “No, Papa said I’m the man of the family now and have to take care of you.”

  “Thinking of protecting me was nice of him but he put too much of a burden on you. He told me he knew I’d take care of you and Susie and Jimmy. We’re lucky to have one another, aren’t we?”

  “Yeah, but I still miss Papa.” His expression became harsh for a youngster. “I hope they catch and hang the polecat that shot him.”

  “Oh, son, so do I. But let’s put that behind us or we’ll become bitter. We mustn’t let things we can’t control upset us. Focus on all we can do to help ourselves. Most of all, quit worrying.”

  Tears glistened in his eyes but none fell. “Mama, will you tell me if you know we’re gonna lose the ranch? I love this place and don’t want to ever leave here.”

  Her heart ripped into shreds for her son. “I don’t want you to have to leave. If I see there’s no way to save the ranch, I’ll tell you.”

  “You promise?”

  She made an X motion over her heart with her index finger. “Cross my heart.”

  Davie smiled weakly and went toward the room he shared with Jimmy.

  ***

  Charlotte was deep in thought when she heard what sounded like the clopping of a horse and jingle of harness and crunch of buggy wheels in the yard. The two dogs, Buster and Billy, barked their alarm. She pulled off her apron and smoothed her hair. At the door, she saw Mr. Edmondson, the banker.

  She was thankful she’d gone over the finances earlier so she was familiar with whatever he had come to discuss. “Won’t you come in, Mr. Edmondson?”

  In the parlor, she gestured to a chair. “Please make yourself comfortable. Would you care for coffee?”

  He sat and cleared his throat. “Nothing for me, thank you. I may as well get right to the reason I came. You know your husband borrowed money with this ranch as collateral.”

  She sat in the chair angled toward his. “Purchasing the Mills place was a once in a lifetime opportunity. He felt he couldn’t pass up the chance to expand this ranch.”

/>   “I quite understand and approved his loan. Since you’ve lost a great number of your cattle, someone has approached me. The person feels you’ll fail to make the payment. He wants to buy your loan, which would free the bank. We’d prefer having the money to a property.”

  Her heart pounded so hard she feared it would leap from her chest. “Then that person could call in our loan at will, is that right?”

  “Exactly, which is why I’ve refused. This person—”

  “Who is it? Is it Elwood Winfield?” She gripped the arms of the chair so hard her knuckles turned white.

  Mr. Edmondson’s slight smile disclosed his embarrassment. “I’m not at liberty to reveal his name. The bank’s investors have urged me to sell. I’ve been reluctant to do so for the reason you mentioned. However, I feel honor bound to warn you.”

  “Then it is Mr. Winfield. Otherwise you would have answered no before you said you weren’t at liberty to tell his name.”

  He ran his finger around the inside of his collar. “Ahem, not necessarily. If you see you’re not going to be able to raise the cash to make your payment, please consult me.”

  “What could you do?”

  He steepled his fingers on his chest. “I’m not sure I’d be able to do anything but I’d try. I might be able to restructure the loan.”

  “But… I thought you owned the bank.”

  He inclined his head in a slight nod to the left. “I do, but I have investors and they demand profit for their shares. I’m afraid everyone is accountable to someone.”

  “So a person—who I think is Mr. Winfield—is pressuring you. At the same time, Mr. Winfield has offered a low price to buy our place. Ours is a very good ranch, but I don’t understand his obsession with it.”

  “As you say, it’s a good property and abuts his. He’s a good businessman and has done a lot for the community. He has a lot of admirers.”

  “His last offer was not much more than half what the ranch is worth. I found it worrisome and almost insulting.”

  “Due to your age and your being a woman fairly new to the West, he probably believes you’re doomed to fail. I have more confidence in your ability but—as I said—I’m being pressured to sell your note or call it in.” He appeared so forlorn that Charlotte’s sympathy was raised.

  “I’m sorry to be the cause of unrest in your business. Thank you for giving me a chance, Mr. Edmondson.”

  He offered a wistful smile. “You remind my wife and me of our daughter, Ellen. Had she lived, she would be your age. We can’t help feeling protective of you and your children.”

  “Thank you and thank you for calling them ‘my children’. Some believe because they’re not mine by birth that there’s no bond or relationship. Nothing is further from the truth.”

  “I’ve seen you with them at church and I know that to be true.” Appearing weary, Mr. Edmondson stood. “I had best get on my way. I have to make another call before I return to town.”

  “Thank you for coming. I’ll see you and Mrs. Edmondson on Sunday.”

  When the banker had gone and she prepared supper, Charlotte mulled over what she’d learned. Her panic had her stomach roiling and she thought she’d throw up at any moment. A foregone conclusion was that Elwood Winfield was the one coercing the investors to apply pressure in his favor. No one else had approached her to buy the property.

  Though she’d lost her appetite, she forced herself to be attentive during supper and pretend a cheerfulness she certainly didn’t feel. There was no point in worrying the children. Either they would succeed or they wouldn’t.

  Chapter Four

  Charlotte wore the bib overalls she’d purchased after her husband was injured. She could comfortably ride astride while wearing them for ranch work. Because they had shoulder straps she didn’t have to worry about them falling down. When she’d tried using a pair of her husband’s pants she’d had to tie them uncomfortably tight with a rope to keep them in place and roll up the legs.

  Ike hadn’t approved of her dressing in men’s overalls but hadn’t wanted her to sew a split skirt either. In his opinion, women should ride sidesaddle or not at all. Once he’d accused her of not being feminine enough. She’d made it plain to him that his criticism was hurtful and not appreciated.

  When he’d been shot he was angry that he was unable to take care of the ranch. At the last, when he realized he wasn’t going to recover, he had given her and Davie instructions on the important tasks. That had been a heartbreaking time for the family.

  She saddled her horse, Tawny, and Susie’s slightly smaller mount, Dimples. Davie saddled his horse, Scout, and Jimmy’s pony. They had to move cattle from one pasture to another today. Two men could have managed but she figured it would take all four of them. Besides, she wasn’t comfortable leaving the youngest children at home while she and Davie worked cows all day.

  Jimmy climbed onto his pony, Mercury. “I told Papa I was big enough to help. I’m glad I’m a ranch hand now.”

  Davie laughed. “You’re going because Mama can’t leave you and Susie home by yourselves.”

  Susie put her hands on her hips. “I’ll bet I could stay home because I can fire a pistol.” When she looked at Charlotte, Susie’s eyes pleaded with her mother.

  “Children, we’re staying together. Succeeding will require the four of us working as a team. That means no fussing or wandering off, everyone understand that?”

  Three voices chorused, “Yes, Mama.”

  The excited dogs; Buster and Billy, raced and yipped, ready to do their part.

  Charlotte and the children rode to the pasture where the cattle were foraging. Grass where the cattle loitered now was in danger of being overgrazed. Further along the banks of the Brazos River, tall grass swayed in the breeze.

  “Hi-yah!” She waved her hat and got the cattle moving.

  Following their plan, Davie worked one flank and Susie and Jimmy worked the other. Charlotte had the dirtiest job of herding any stragglers toward the main herd with the dogs helping her. What she would do if a cow refused to obey, she didn’t know.

  Her experience was at the homestead. Her outside activities had been washing clothes and hanging them to dry, tending the garden, and gathering produce. That had seemed like plenty but she liked to think she did those tasks well.

  But this? She had no idea if she could manage to hold on to the ranch until Davie was grown. She’d heard some of the cowboys who worked on other ranches were only a few years older than Davie. While her eldest stepson was mature for his age, a few years for a boy could make a lot of difference in stamina and judgment.

  The sun beat down and dust covered them. She used her arm to wipe the sweat from her forehead and saw brown streaks on her sleeve where perspiration and dust had melded.

  Once the cattle had been moved to the new grazing area, she and her children rode home. By this time most of the day had passed. When she dismounted, she was so tired and dirty she wished someone would draw her a bath and—after luxuriating in hot water—she could go to bed. The only person who prepared baths was her. Even if she had enough energy left to fill a tub, which she didn’t, three hungry children depended on her.

  Davie pulled down the bandana he’d tied over his nose and lower face. “Mama, I’ll take care of your horse.”

  “Thank you, son. That will make supper earlier.”

  He grinned. “I was hoping it would. I’m sure hungry.”

  Jimmy rubbed his stomach. “Me, too. I’m a growing boy so I need lots to eat.”

  She ruffled her fingers through Jimmy’s hair. “You’re always hungry, that’s for certain. Help your brother with the horses while Susie helps me in the kitchen.”

  Once a simple meal was ready and they’d gathered around the table, she led the blessing. At times like this, she missed her husband. His had been a strong presence in the household.

  Susie drank part of her milk and set down her glass. “Mama, you don’t pray for Papa now. Don’t you miss him?”
/>   Startled to have her loyalty questioned, she looked at her daughter. “Of course I do, but he’s gone to heaven and no longer needs our prayers. I expect he’s watching over us and praying for us.”

  Susie started to say something but closed her mouth and stared at her plate.

  Charlotte looked at her daughter. “What is it, Susie. Is something bothering you?”

  “Well… did you love Papa?”

  Heavens, she’d walked into that one. “That’s a complicated question, dear. Of course I loved him. If you mean was I in love with him, then I have to be honest and say no. Your father and I were fond of one another and respected each other. He sent for me because he needed a wife after your mother died. I became a mail-order bride because I needed a home.”

  Susie met her gaze. “Were the two of you happy?”

  “I was happy with him and he said he was happy with me. In time we might have fallen in love.”

  She shouldn’t have said that. While she’d respected her husband he was not the sort of man she’d dreamed of meeting. She had no idea what he’d expected or wanted in a wife. As far as she could discern, the ranch consumed his thoughts.

  Jimmy didn’t let a mouthful of food stop him. “I’m glad you came, Mama. I’m glad you’re not sending us to the orphanage, either.”

  She was so tired she didn’t even tell him not to talk with his mouth full. After they’d eaten, she cleaned up the kitchen while the children got ready for bed. Once she’d tucked the young ones into bed, she turned in. She sure hoped every day wasn’t going to be like this one.

  ***

  The next morning Charlotte was certain she could have slept another twenty-four hours. She was out of bed only a little past the normal time and today donned a dress. She was preparing coffee when Davie came into the kitchen.

  “Do I have time to milk before breakfast?”

  “Yes, I won’t start the eggs frying until you come in. Susie’s still sound asleep. Is Jimmy?” Cautious not to violate Davie’s privacy in case he was dressing, she hadn’t looked into the boys’ room.