Blessing (Widows Of Wildcat Ridge Book 2) Read online

  The air carried a faint wisp of smoke that let him pick out a smokehouse he gauged was large enough to hold a year’s meat. The bunkhouse of square cut logs appeared sturdy enough to withstand even the coldest winters. What really captured his attention was the house.

  Obviously the boxy, two-story house had been added onto over the years. Benches, ladder-back chairs, and a couple of rockers decorated a wide, covered porch. Though plain, the size of the home was impressive for any ranch, but especially out here.

  He couldn’t tear his gaze from the house. “Looks like the place was settled quite a while back. Is there a lumber mill nearby?”

  She actually smiled, apparently proud of her home. “Papa set up a mill on the site to cut the timber. He wanted logs for the house but Mama had her heart set on what you see. They were among the first whites in the area. Nothing fancy but we like it here.”

  “Looks nice. Your folks ever have trouble with the Indians?”

  She stiffened and the smile disappeared. “Papa and I have always got along with them. Fed them when times were bad. He was blood brothers with one of the major Ute chiefs. You okay with that?”

  He couldn’t understand her defensive remark. “Sure, why wouldn’t I be? Just making conversation.”

  “Lot of people hereabouts don’t like Indians. I figure it’s a person-by-person case as to whether they’re good or not, just like it is with whites.”

  “I agree that’s true. Like they say, don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his moccasins.”

  In front of the house, she reined in at a hitching post where there was a water trough for the horses. “Come in and I’ll get your name and mailing address for your next of kin. Always do that first thing because you never know when an accident will occur out here.” She shoved her gloves in her pocket and pointed at a door mat. “Be sure and wipe your feet or Marnie’ll have your hide.”

  He beat the dust off his clothes before he took off his gloves and carefully wiped his feet. She waited until he followed her into the house. They entered a large foyer and she hung her hat and jacket on the hall coat tree. Then, she strode quietly down a polished wood floor and into another room. He wondered how she could make so little noise while wearing boots.

  She sat at a large oak desk and gestured to the chair facing her. Piles of papers littered the desk. Other stacks were on most flat surfaces of the room. Apparently she caught him appraising the state of the office.

  “Some sorry sidewinder came in Sunday while we were at church. Made a right holy mess of the office and my father’s bedroom.”

  “No wonder you’re suspicious of strangers. They get much?”

  “Pfft. Dub and I can’t even figure out what’s missing until we get this mess straightened.” After opening a drawer, she took out a piece of lined cardstock. “You want to fill this out or you want me to?”

  “Suit yourself.” He figured some of the cowboys couldn’t read and write well enough, but he didn’t fall into that category.

  “In that case, I’ll do it so I can read it. Spell your name the way you want it and then follow by your birth date.”

  “First name is spelled T-H-A-D-D-E-U-S and last name is K-I-N-G. Friends call me Thad. I was born April 18, 1858 in Colorado.”

  She wrote in a flowery hand much fancier than he could have done. “Next of kin?”

  “Sister in Denver, Mrs. Clarice Norton.” He gave her the address.

  She blotted the card and filed it in a wooden box atop the desk. “All right, that’s done. Come through to the kitchen. I imagine Marnie’s about to ring the bell for those who want the noon meal at the house.”

  He followed her down another hall and into a large kitchen. A long table stretched to accommodate eighteen chairs. As they came into the room, he heard the loud peal of a bell.

  A middle-aged woman turned from the range with a plate of beef. “And who is this?”

  “New hand. Wait until everyone’s here and I’ll introduce him.” Buster took a seat at the table.

  The other woman snapped, “Blessing Odell, you’ll make a proper introduction now or you’ll get no dinner this day.”

  Buster slumped a bit then appeared to recover. “Marnie, this is Thad King. Thad, Marnie Keith is our housekeeper, cook, and queen of the castle.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Keith.” For a few seconds, he’d wondered if the housekeeper had called Buster by the name of Blessing or if she was giving a command to say the blessing. He was surprised to realize the young woman didn’t much like her name and wanted to be called Buster. He was even more surprised an employee ordered around her employer.

  Another woman came in from ringing the bell on the porch. She skirted around the sides of the room and wouldn’t meet his gaze. Buster didn’t introduce the shy woman who was thin and wiry and looked to be around thirty.

  Instead, Buster nodded to the cook. “Guess Tony and Sam told you they’re checking fence all day on the back range. Reckon Mac and Dub will be in, though.”

  Sure enough, booted steps sounded on the porch before two men came in. The redhead looked to be in his twenties but the other man was fiftyish.

  When they’d all been seated and the older man said grace, Buster gestured to Thad. “Hired a new man. Name’s Thad King. This is Dub Reilly who’s ranch foreman, Mac MacPhearson, and Lucy Garton.”

  Dub caught his eye. “Saw your horse out front. Fine animal and looks in top shape.”

  Thad nodded. “Raised him from a foal. Official name’s Gold Mine, but I call him Goldie.”

  The foreman’s face held question. “Saw Colin Ross’ brand on his flank.”

  “Colin was my boss and friend for eight years and a fine man. He died recently and his heirs are stripping the place before they sell it.”

  Dub shook his head sorrowfully and forked up a bite of meat. “Ross is dead? That’s a durn shame. I only met him a few times, but he seemed like a good man.”

  “He was one of the best. Took me on when I was a know-it-all eighteen-year-old and trained me until I had enough sense to be his foreman. Shame his kin don’t have more respect for him.”

  Dub tsked his disapproval. “No figuring some folks.”

  “They hardly ever visited him when he was alive. But, when they learned he’d died they couldn’t wait to show up and start carrying off his belongings. Frankly, I couldn’t stomach standing by and watching so I lit out.” He hadn’t been able to keep the bitterness from his voice.

  “Well, we can sure use help here. Buster’s father passed away just over a month ago. On top of that tragedy, I had to let one man go last week for laziness.” The foreman speared him with a look. “Hope that won’t be a problem with you.”

  He understood the warning. “You can count on at least a day’s work for a day’s pay from me. I enjoy ranching and can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”

  That was true. Of course, he’d rather ranch his own spread, but that would come in time. In the meantime, he intended to find out who’d killed Colin Ross.

  Chapter Five

  After lunch he put his gear in the bunkhouse. The space was the nicest he’d seen for ranch hands. In addition to good mattresses on the eight bunks, there was a sitting area near the fireplace. At one side stood a table and six chairs. A deck of cards was on the table. On a shelf nearby, he saw a checker board, chess pieces, a cribbage set, and four books.

  Then, Thad spent the afternoon riding in the wagon with Dub and checking fence on the range. He figured the foreman was sizing him up to see if he really knew what he was doing. Durned if he wouldn’t prove himself knowledgeable to this man.

  The two dogs followed along with them. Dub called them Sport and Diablo.

  “That black and white one was the devil to train but he’s got heart now. Sport follows Diablo.”

  “Saw some mighty fine horses in a paddock on the way to the ranch house. Are those the ones you’ll be auctioning off?”

  Dub reined in at a leaning section
of fence and climbed down. “Some of them. Had to divide them between two paddocks. Rest are out of sight the way you probably rode. Dadburn Army backed out of an agreement when William—that was Buster’s papa—died. Quartermaster we’d dealt with for over five years retired and the new one wasn’t half the man of the one he succeeded.”

  Thad hopped down to help Dub. He would wager the Quartermaster’s decision sent Buster into a fit of temper. In this instance he couldn’t blame her.

  Dub paused in straightening a tilted fence post. “Can you believe the man wouldn’t buy from the Rafter O because now the ranch is owned by a woman? Said he wouldn’t be caught accepting inferior stock that resulted from being raised by a female. As if the horses had changed in a few weeks.”

  Thad tugged on the next fence post to straighten it and tamped down the dirt around it with his foot. “Hard to fathom, isn’t it? I couldn’t help wondering why you were auctioning so many horses but that explains a lot. Doesn’t he know there are plenty of women-owned ranches?”

  Dub got a shovel from the wagon. “Well, they won’t be selling horses to this man. He’d talked to William six months ago and agreed on the number.” He spat his words with venom.

  “Hope they all sell for more than the Army would pay. That’d be nice irony for his stupidity.”

  The foreman grimaced. “Aw, won’t help the ranch. Buster made some kind of crazy deal with the women in town. Bully named Mortimer Crane is trying to run off everyone. He owns the Gold King mine that shut down here plus others in several towns. He also owns a lot of the Wildcat Ridge houses and businesses. Buster’s giving the women half of the cash from the horse sale. She wants to be sure none of the widows have to vacate their homes.”

  Thad tightened the strands of wire. “Whew, I was expecting a dead town after what I’d read about the explosions but sounds like there’s a lot going on around here.”

  “You don’t know the half of it. The widows have to marry or lose their business leases. Some advertised for husbands in the newspaper. Others are hoping this horse sale brings in men they can snare in parson’s noose.”

  He grinned at the foreman. “Doesn’t sound like you’ll be one of them.”

  “Durn right I won’t.” Dub spat the words then acted embarrassed. “I’ve got all I can say grace over being foreman and looking after Buster. I promised her father I’d look after her like she was my own.”

  After a pause he said, “I’d like to see Buster settled with a good man. Time she married and started a family but all she can think about is ranching or helping her friends.”

  Thad thought it best to change the subject. “Someone was hiring men to build a road, but that didn’t appeal to me. Guess I’ve been ranching so long nothing else suits me.”

  “Yeah, I feel the same way. The explosions opened up some hot springs on the mountain and the women want to buy the land and set up the springs as a vacation and healing spot before Mortimer Crane gets wind of it.” Dub froze then sent a glance Thad’s way. “You wouldn’t be working with Crane, would you?”

  Thad stared at the foreman. “Not me. Never met the man. Hot springs would help the town survive without the mine, I suppose.”

  “Hope so ’cause I’d sure hate the town to dry up completely. Convenient not having far to ride for supplies. You keep those springs and their location to yourself. If he learns about them, Crane will connive until he finds a way to block the use of them.”

  “Sounds like a man to avoid so I’m glad I haven’t met him.”

  “Where’d you work before Ross’ spread?”

  Thad chuckled in spite of trying to remain inscrutable. “For Tom, my brother who’s ten years older than me. Our dad died when I was eleven and Tom took over to help my mom. You can imagine a smart aleck youngster didn’t like taking orders from his brother. When I was eighteen, I lit out on my own and found a job with Colin Ross.”

  Dub stopped work long enough to grin at him. “Sounds like Ross drilled some sense into you.”

  “He tried—showed me I wasn’t as smart as I thought but he did so gently. Fine man for a role model, I can tell you that.”

  Thad didn’t want to paint his father in a bad light. “Pa was a good man and I don’t want you to think otherwise. The reason I wasn’t close to him was because, well, Pa was a distant sort. Colin was like a father and had the patience of a saint.”

  He offered the foreman a grin. “Not to say he didn’t have a temper, mind, but he never lost it unless justified.”

  “We all have our upsets. I’m pretty easy-going. Gave that Jordan kid several chances but he wouldn’t straighten up. One day I caught him napping under the wagon when he was supposed to be mending fences. That time I blew up and took him by surprise. I thought I was going to have to use my fists to convince him. Rode with him to the house and paid him. Told him to get his gear and clear out.”

  “Whatever his size you look like you could defend yourself against about anyone.”

  Obviously, the comment pleased the foreman. “Don’t know about that but I’d try. Of course I carry a rifle and revolver out here but I don’t want to use either one on a human.”

  “No man in his right mind does.”

  But, if he caught the men who’d killed Colin Ross, he doubted he’d remain in his right mind. They deserved to be hanged that was sure. First, he’d like to pound them the way they had his friend.

  After returning home from the town meeting the following day, Buster tackled the stacks of papers on her desk piece by piece. She’d prefer working outside on the range but she didn’t mind office work and this had to be done. Years ago she’d taken over the ledgers but Papa had still handled the ranch’s other business until his death.

  Business like dealing with the Army, durn that Quartermaster’s hide. Guess the man didn’t care he’d put them in a bind with so much stock to feed. She hoped he came up short of horses and got in trouble because of his failure. That’d teach him to snub her and her fine herd.

  Of course, she kept the best of the horses for the ranch. They bred and trained horses for their use and to sell to individual buyers at far higher prices than those purchased by the Army. The extra ones on hand kept her short-handed.

  Marnie came to the doorway. “Still looks like a tornado went through here. Are you making any progress?”

  She glanced up and pushed her overalls strap onto her shoulder. “Can’t you tell I’m sorting this into stacks? Papa talked to me about most of this but I’m learning a lot too.”

  Her head whirled with all the new information. No wonder her father hated office work. While she didn’t mind the sorting, she hated dealing with such a mess. Plus, knowing someone had been here and poured over these same papers gave her goose bumps.

  She said, “I don’t know what a burglar hoped to gain. So far, I haven’t been able to discover anything missing.”

  Marnie scanned the room. “There are plenty of valuable items not touched. Must have been adolescents making mischief. You know, could have been that Jordan causing mischief for spite because Dub fired him.”

  “Whoever it was I aim to get my revenge when he or they are caught.”

  “Now, Blessing, you have to face facts. This kind of thing is hard to solve. To my knowledge there weren’t any clues. Unless you find something missing and then someone shows up with it, I don’t see how we’ll ever know who was here.”

  She glanced up. “We know who it wasn’t. I made a list of people I remember being at church. I can eliminate them.”

  “Have you reported the crime to Etta Fawks? Not that she’s much good as the law but she does have contact with other marshals.”

  “I told her at the town meeting this morning.”

  Buster paused and looked at the woman who’d taken care of her since her mother had died seventeen years ago. “I don’t know why I don’t like that woman, Marnie, but I just don’t. I know I’m not supposed to speak ill of the dead but I didn’t much care for her husband, either, may he res
t in peace.”

  “I share your feelings there, dear, but she did catch those men who tried to burn down the school.”

  “There’s a new man in town named Brax Gamble. I think Priscilla’s sweet on him. I gave the money to hire him as deputy for a month. Someone shot at Etta and him yesterday when they were checking the vacant houses.”

  “Shot at them? First the school and now this? I sure hate there’s tomfoolery going on now that so few people are left in Wildcat Ridge. I hope nothing bad happens while things are so mixed up.”

  “We’re making progress. In fact, there’re quite a few changes already. I hate some of them but others will help the town recover if it can. Nothing will bring back those who died like Papa did.”

  Marnie reached toward a stack of papers then drew back. “Anything I can do to help?”

  “You can sit down and I’ll tell you more of what’s going on in town.”

  Marnie chose the chair that faced the desk.

  Buster almost giggled at the first thing she knew to report. “They sent off the advertisements for husbands for the women who want to try that solution.”

  Marnie shook her head slowly. “Sad it has to come to that just because of that awful Mortimer Crane. I wish someone would punch that man in the face.”

  The housekeeper immediately clutched her cheeks. “Oh, Dear Lord, forgive me. I shouldn’t have said such a thing.”

  Inside, Buster was laughing but she didn’t dare let it show. “Handbills went up and advertisements appeared in several newspapers about the horses. We expect most prospective buyers to show up a few days before the auction. We plan to move the horses to town three days before the sale. I suppose some men looking to help with the sale will be drifting in soon. Dub wants to hire a few temporarily plus one more man to replace Jordan.”

  She didn’t miss the conniving expression Marnie sent her way. “That’s a fine looking man who drifted in yesterday. Good manners and Dub said he’s smart and works fast. I saw him watching you with appreciation. You could do a lot worse.”