Authors: Ginger Simpson
“Uh huh.”
“I…Ellie, I need to…”
Ellie glanced at him. Perspiration dotted his forehead. He
fidgeted with his collar, looking like he was about say something, but didn’t. Why
this sudden inability to speak? Her heart skipped a beat. Was something wrong
with Pa?
“Spit it out, Ty. For heaven sakes, what’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “Oh, nothin’s wrong. I just wanted to ask
you…ah…”
“Ask me what?” She leaned in and, for exaggerated emphasis,
cocked her head to listen. His curious behavior made her anxious, but she
remembered him starting to question her earlier. For heaven sakes, a simple
discussion shouldn’t be this hard.
“Ah…are you hungry? Cook’s got a fine meal prepared in the
house.” Ty quickly spun on his heel and left.
Ellie rubbed the scowl puckering her brow and shook her
head. Surely food wasn’t what made him so nervous.
Always the smooth-talker, he suddenly had lockjaw. What was
really on his mind? He wasn’t one to be rushed; she knew that. If he had
something to ask, he’d do it when he was good and ready. But he’d stirred her
nosy side into
a frenzy
. If she was a man, she’d shake
it out of him.
Ellie stashed her gun in the hayloft, curried Chessie and
gave her some oats before leaving the barn. She stopped at the pump to wash her
hands, and on the porch stomped her boots to clean them.
Three
times.
She chuckled at her copycat antics as she hung her hat on the
outside wall, opened the door and entered. Her stomach rumbled.
All eyes focused on her. She grinned nervously and ran her
hands through her tousled locks. The delicious aroma of fried chicken filled
the room. Ellie inhaled deeply.
“Oh, it smells wonderful in here. I’m starved.”
She pulled out the chair next to her father, sat and
anxiously eyed the platters of food while she waited for them to reach her end
of the table.
“Well, where ya been, daughter?” Ben asked. “I’d feel much
better if you let a body know where you’re off to.”
“Oh Pa, there’s no need to fret.” The words weighed heavy on
her tongue, but she was resolute in keeping her secret. She brushed an errant
tress over her shoulder. “I can handle myself. I was out enjoying the beautiful
weather while I still can. I took a ride up in the hills.” With an inward sigh,
she spooned mashed potatoes onto her plate. Life had become one lie after
another, but not because she enjoyed it.
Ben’s eyebrows joined together in a straight line. “Roselle,
how many times have I told you
it’s
too dangerous for
you to go gallivanting off by yourself? It’s one thing to ride to a friend’s
house but…”
“I know, I know, Pa. I realize it wasn’t the smartest thing
to do. I promise I’ll stick closer to home.” Thoughts of her encounter with Jeb
Bryant sent chills through her and confirmed her vow. She was lucky things had
worked out…but…the plan?
Ty’s gaze bore into her.
Ellie hunched to quell an uncomfortable shiver.
Her assurance appeased her father. He looked over the rim of
his coffee cup. “Have ya got a date for that dance yet?”
Her cheeks warmed.
“Really, Pa!
I
don’t care to discuss my personal life during supper.” She purposely screwed
her face into a scowl and nodded towards the other end of the table where the
men sat.
“We’re all family here, aren’t we boys?” Ben said, raising
his voice to garner everyone’s attention.
The dozen ranch hands took time from stuffing their faces to
look up and nod in agreement. Appearing to respect her wishes, Ben didn’t
pursue the subject, but Ty’s smirk didn’t go unnoticed.
He passed the chicken platter across to Ellie. Still
perturbed at him, she fixed a fake smile on her face, while snagging the only
remaining breast. After heaping a hearty spoonful of string beans on her plate,
she grabbed a biscuit from the bread basket before it passed out of reach and
settled down to enjoy her meal.
When her father’s voice turned serious, she held her fork in
midair.
“We’ve got to be more alert about trespassers, boys. Someone
poisoned the ponds on the Carston’s ranch, and they lost several head of
cattle. It does seem a mite strange it occurred right after Dude Bryant and his
boys visited and offered to buy Hank’s land. I heard tell it happened to Alf
Miller, too. Those Bryants are determined to buy up this mountain, come hell or
high water. I tell you,
it’s
news of that blasted
railroad and all this coal mining that’s the cause. I much prefer the good ol’
days when you could trust your neighbors.”
Ben focused on two men at the end of the table. “Joe, you
and Harley make sure to ride the perimeter and keep a good eye out. The last
thing we need is to lose any of our cattle, especially at the hands of those
ornery, no good Bryants.” Ben paused and took a bite out of his chicken leg.
Ellie seized the opportunity. “Pa, what are you going to do
if the Bryants come back and try to buy Fountainhead?”
“Fountainhead is not for sale, and they know that. If they
come around here, they’ll just be borrowin’ trouble. As long as the mortgage is
current, they haven’t a prayer. Poor ol’ Alf is really sweatin’ bullets. He got
behind on his payments and the bank is threatenin’ to foreclose. You can bet
Dude Bryant will be the first in line to make a bid, but he’s gonna be madder
than a wet hornet when he finds out I’ve already talked to the banker about
pickin’ up the deed until Alf can get back on his feet.”
Jeb’s words resounded in Ellie’s head. She needed more
assurance. “But what if they find a way to cripple us? Kill off our cattle,
poison our water holes. They seem to make good on their threats. We can’t keep
an eye on every inch of land.”
Her father leaned back from the table, picking at his teeth.
“If we double up on our watches and stay alert, those polecats are gonna know
we aren’t just sitting ducks waiting for them to strike. They can make all the
threats they want, but they ain’t gonna catch us sleeping on duty. I’m not like
the small ranchers they’ve run roughshod over. There ain’t nothin’ gonna scare
me off.”
Ty quickly swallowed a mouthful of food. “Ben’s right. Linc,
you ride out to the south forty tomorrow and check on the herd that’s grazin’
there, and Russ, you ride to the north. If those Bryants wanna dance, they’re
gonna have to do it to our tune.” He took a big bite from his buttered biscuit.
It annoyed Ellie how Ty always put in his two cents worth.
“Speakin’ of dance….” Pa’s gaze rested on Ty.
Ty’s face turned beet red as he choked on his bread.
Wheezing and sputtering, he took a swig of buttermilk and coughed loudly. He
gave Ellie a quick glance then stared down into his plate. “I’ll get around to
it, Ben.” His voice was barely audible.
Ellie looked to her father then to Ty, wishing one of them
made sense. Neither of them offered an explanation about their strange
behavior. “What are you two talking about?”
“I think Ty has something to ask you. Don’t you Ty?” There
was a sly smile on her father’s face.
The tension in Ty’ jaw was apparent. He took a quick breath,
and then looked directly across at her, his eyes serious, his lips twitching.
Finally, he took a big deep breath and exhaled loudly.
“Miz Ellie, I would be very honored if you would allow me to
escort you to the Fall Festival.” He appeared to be holding his breath.
Ellie’s eyes widened. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips,
and again she pivoted her head, looking at her father before her gaze darted
back to Ty. This must have been what Ty tried to ask in the barn. What was
going on? Sure she wanted to go with him—dreamed of going with him, but pain
twisted like a knife in her heart knowing it wasn’t his idea. She swallowed a
growing lump and kept her emotions in check. When she finally spoke, it was
through pursed lips.
“To say I’m surprised is an understatement, and I’m
flattered to be asked, but it seems as though Pa is twisting your arm.” She
turned her full attention to her father. “I’m not a charity case. I don’t need
you to threaten or bribe someone to take me to a dance. For your information
someone has already asked me.” She quickly crossed her fingers under the table
and hoped lightening didn’t strike her for telling such a whopper.
“Hmm, and who might that be?” Ben questioned.
Her mind raced. Now she had to counter one lie with another,
and quickly. “Uh, not that it matters,” she stalled, “but my escort will
be…Percy.” Percy, oh my God, is that the only name I could dredge up?
Ty’s mouth dropped, but then he asked, “Percy, as in Percy
McCord, that scrawny, red-headed fella at the mercantile?”
When she nodded, Ty burst into laughter.
Several of the hands clearly tried to stifle their
amusement, but their underlying snickering couldn’t be masked.
Ellie wished she was invisible, but maintained composure.
“I’ll thank you not to demean Percy. He’s very kind.
A true
gentleman.”
She glared at Ty. “You could take lessons from him.”
Ellie’s chair squealed in protest when she pushed away from
the table, leaving her food barely touched. She stood and glared at the men.
“I’m happy you find my social life so amusing, and that my father feels like he
has to buy me a dance partner. You can all…” she paused, her whole body tensing
until it visibly shook,
“
you…you can all go to Hades
for all I care.”
She spun and stormed out the back door.
Chapter Six
Ellie sat on a hay bale in the darkened barn, not caring
that the lantern was just a few feet away. She didn’t want anyone to know where
she was. Damn
them
all for making her feel so foolish.
Unbidden tears dampened her cheek, and she brushed them away. She hated crying.
It was so…so girlish.
The sound of the kitchen door slamming sliced through the
silence. Ellie tiptoed to the wall closest to the house and listened to the
ranch hands engage in normal chitchat on their way to the bunkhouse. Her mood
lightened. At least she wasn’t the topic of conversation.
She returned to sit and, resting her elbows on her knees,
pondered her stupid announcement about Percy McCord being her escort. She never
should have lied about having one, let alone name him. What’d she been
thinking?
About Ty, of course.
Damn him. These days,
he was on her mind most of the time, and the thought of his pity at her not
being able to find a male companion mortified her. In frustration, her
fingernails dug into the palms of her fisted hands.
Despite Ty’s often annoying behavior, Ellie had, on
occasion, pictured what things would be like if the situation was different—if
he, just a local cowpoke, came to call. She heaved a sigh.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t a possible suitor. He was the man
out to steal her legacy. Why else would he appease her Pa by inviting her to
the dance? She cursed herself for caring what he thought. He obviously didn’t
give two shakes about her feelings.
Ellie
squinted
her eyes against a
light invading her cloak of darkness.
“Ellie, are you in here?” Ty’s voice called out.
Despite wanting to be alone, there was no use trying to
hide. She knew he’d find her eventually. He was like a blue-tick hound.
“Over here.” Her voice came out flat and emotionless.
He hung his lantern on a hook near the door and ambled
closer. “I came to apologize—again. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
She sat straight and squared her shoulders, hoping her eyes
showed no trace of redness. “You didn’t hurt my feelings; you made me mad, as
usual.”
“Well, what can I say except that I sure didn’t mean to.
Your pa put me between a skunk and a stone wall by bringing up that blasted
dance.”
Her feigned attempt at indifference failed when her heart
sank. “So…you had no plans of asking me in the first place—it was all Pa’s
doing?” She knew it was so, but it hurt to hear it.
Ty nodded. “He was trying to look out for you. If I tagged
along, then he wouldn’t worry. Despite Ben’s tough exterior, he frets about you
when you’re away from Fountainhead. With things the way they are with the
Bryants, he doesn’t want to take any chances.” Ty paused, pushing aside that
same lock of hair that always drooped down his forehead when he was hatless.
“Don’t be mad at him. He loves you, Ellie.”
She took a deep breath to quell the tears she felt welling
again and cursed the landslide of emotions that ran her moods lately. One
minute she wanted to shoot Ty and the next she wanted to kiss him. Right now
she was somewhere in between.
Sometimes, his nearness released a million butterflies in
her stomach, but now, instead of a fluttering feeling, she felt empty and sad.
She struggled to find a voice. “Well, do me a favor. Next time Pa tries to talk
you into doing something you don’t want to, tell him. I felt like a fool in
front of all the hands.”
He plopped down next to her, grimacing as he plucked a sharp
shaft of hay from his thigh. “I should’ve
spoke
my
mind, but to tell you the truth, his idea didn’t sound all that bad. I thought
about asking you before he ever mentioned it, but it seems lately, where you’re
concerned, I don’t know if I’m comin’ or goin’. I figured you wouldn’t be
interested.”
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She lowered her
head to avert his gaze, not wanting him to know how that pleased her. She
stared into her lap.
“I know I haven’t been the easiest person to be around
lately, but sometimes you can be quite annoying, too. You’re bossy, nosy and
always in my father’s favor.”