Dorothy Garlock (47 page)

Smith and Maud said very little to each other when they were together, but there was no animosity between them. After the fire Maud’s leg had had to be reset and now she had difficulty getting around. Still, there was a visible change in the woman. She had gained weight and at times was pleasant company. During the past year, she had suffered only one of her convulsions. Inez appeared to be happy in her present situation. She went to Buffalo to visit her family but she and Maud spent holidays with Willa and Smith.

Boomy had moved into the bunkhouse on Eastwood Ranch and was in charge of that end of the ranching operation. The longhorns were gone and white-faced cattle grazed on the land. A huge hole had been dug and the charred remains of the big house pushed into it and covered.

Plenty Mad still grumbled, quarreled with Billy, and threatened to leave, but as soon as the barn on the new place was ready, he moved in. He no longer called Willa “silly damn white squaw.” He called her Smith’s Squaw and declared that on the night of the fire he had told the
spirits
to help boss man make plenty fat papoose. After little Billy was born he took full credit, much to old Billy’s disgust.

Jo Bell and Starr moved on out West when a buyer came along to buy Starr Palace. The greenhorn didn’t realize until it was too late that it was Jo Bell who brought the customers to the saloon.

Sant had built a cabin on the land he and Smith owned and Smith was almost convinced that Sant’s wandering days were over. He had taken it upon himself to teach Vince Lee and Charlie about the wild horse herds. Vince had settled down
to being a good hand. They were now working to start a strain of horses using the offspring of the silver lobo and his lead mare.

Although Charlie insisted on sleeping in the bunkhouse, he was considered by Willa, Smith and Billy to be one of the family. He never mentioned his sister anymore, but sometimes he thought about her—singing, with all those men cheering her on.
If that’s what makes her happy
, he’d tell himself as he fell asleep to dream about the purple mountains and the thundering steers and the people who made him happy.

*  *  *

A great sigh shuddered though Willa. She leaned back against her husband and watched the road where a dust cloud trailed the approaching buggy. She tilted her head and sought his eyes. They were soft with amber lights, his mouth smiling, his face free of care.

“I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”

“I love you, Mrs. Bowman.”

“I know.” Her lips were not quite steady when he kissed them.

Willa rested against him, feeling the pump of his heart against her back. Her own heart surged.

She was wrapped in love.