Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Jace studied the flickering lights of Golden Valley.
He knew the town as well as he knew the trail to Chet’s ranch.
The livery stable was at one end. Stores along Main Street.
Homes drifting up into the hills. The townspeople had forbidden a saloon.
There was one in the mining camp, its clientele as rugged and hard as the mountains surrounding the place.
Dianne stirred. “Lights. Is it Golden Valley?”
“That’s it.”
“Praise God for giving us safe travel.”
He didn’t say anything, but didn’t he deserve a little credit?
“And thank you for your part in it.”
Had she read his mind? Of course, she hadn’t. Why did he even think that? Worse, why did he allow a tiny bit of pleasure in the idea? Must be because he was tired. The journey had been long and full of danger. But now they were almost to the end of the trail.
He flicked the reins, and they continued. They had to navigate one last steep and dangerous curve and then a narrow road before they reached the safe streets.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He couldn’t miss the quiet determination in her soft words. But he chose to misinterpret her question. “Yes, it’s Golden Valley.”
She nudged him with her elbow. Not enough to hurt but enough to warn him she wasn’t fooled. “If you wished on the star, what would you wish for?”
Wishes? He’d given up on them after what he’d done, but he wouldn’t be telling her that. “That we’d reach town safely.”
Cold stung his shoulder as she lifted her head to look around and then at him. “You said we’re almost there.”
“And we are. But not until I deliver you to”—shoot, she couldn’t go to the ranch tonight—“safekeeping, will I be done.”
“And you’ll be shed of me and Eddie.” Words softly spoken but carrying a wagonload of disappointment.
For several minutes, the sharp corner demanded all his attention. The drop-off was to his side, so she didn’t realize the peril it presented. Not until he navigated the turn was he able to respond.
“I’m not eager to be shed of you.” The truth of those words surprised him.
And sent jabs of resistance through him.
His plan did not allow him to become attached to a woman and her son.
Nope. He was going to live a solitary life in the woods like…
well, like the trapper they’d seen at the last stop.
He might even attach a foxtail to his hat.
The trail dropped steeply and leveled off. Then, they approached the first building in town.
Cold gripped his warm side as she sat up, studying each building they passed.
“It’s small.” Why should he apologize for that?
She’d come of her own free will. However, that wasn’t entirely true.
She had limited options and had expected a home with Chet.
Well, the home was still there for her. If she was too stubborn to accept that, then she’d have to figure out something else.
But not until morning. She needed a place for tonight.
They drew abreast of a simple dwelling with a white cross over the door, and he pulled to a halt.
“Why are we stopping?”
Eddie stirred at her demanding tone but didn’t wake up.
“This is the preacher’s house and his wife’s. You can stay here for the night.”
She stiffened. “And then what?”
“They have a house for people like you—”
“And what is that? People who have been abandoned? Rejected?”
“No need to sound so bitter. But let me finish. They let widows and orphans live there for as long as they need.”
Her shoulders rose and fell. Air rushed from her lungs. “Abandoned. Rejected.” She rumbled her lips. “And dearly disappointed.”
The latter word was meant for him, but he wasn’t going to respond.
“You might be grateful for a warm bed and a roof over your head.” He got to the ground. “I’ll take you to them.” He held out his hand to help her.
She ignored his offer and stared down the street.
He waited. She didn’t have a choice. He wasn’t going to leave her on the street nor take her to the livery barn where he meant to spend the night.
With a grim sigh, she shifted Eddie to him and made her own way down, refusing his offered elbow as they walked toward the door. Stubbornness and disappointment radiated from her. She didn’t need to be so upset about it. It wasn’t like he had a choice.
He rapped on the rough wooden slab before him. Footsteps sounded on the other side, and then the preacher opened the door, yellow lamplight leaving his face shadowed.
“Preacher Stone, this woman and child need a place for the night.”
Mrs. Stone hurried to them. “By all means. Come right in.”
Eyes burning with disapproval, Dianne took Eddie from Jace. “Thank you for your help.” Voice as cold as winter’s ice. She half turned and then brought her gaze to him. “Where are you spending the night?”
“At the livery barn. I need to take care of the horses. And then return the wagon to its owner.”
“Very well.” She turned her back on him and followed Mrs. Stone into the house.
Preacher Stone nodded. “We’ll take care of them.”
With nothing more to do but get on with his life, Jace headed to the barn to rest, feed the horses, and find a bed of straw for himself.
A few minutes later, with a blanket the owner had lent him, he settled down for the night. The straw poked into his skin, stuck in his shirt, and scratched his legs, making it difficult to be comfortable. Sleep was what he needed. Not the echo of Dianne’s words. Abandoned. Rejected. Disappointed.
It wasn’t his fault. From the beginning, he told her he wasn’t returning to the ranch. Nothing would convince him to change his mind.
He curled his arms over his chest, wriggled into a little nest, and ignored the persistent digs of the straw just as he’d ignored Dianne’s pleading.
Morning found him unrested. He rubbed straw from his hair and clothes. Sniffed himself. He’d been wearing this shirt too long. Guess it was time to make a stop at the store and then be on his way. He harnessed the horses.
They stood at the gate, ready to depart, but that was as far as they got as Dianne approached, Eddie trotting at her side.
Every step the woman took stamped a determined thud.
“You can’t change my mind,” he muttered.
She steamed forward.
Either he could jump to the wagon seat and drive away without talking to her. He could untie Sam from the back of the wagon and ride full steam back to his cabin. Or he could wait.
A smile tugged at his lips. It might prove interesting to discover what she had in mind.
Dianne had decided what she was going to do, and she wasn’t going to let anyone get in her way. The preacher and his wife had been very welcoming. The hot soup and bread were satisfying. The bed, comfortable. She’d slept soundly.
The preacher had explained about the house they owned where women in distress were invited to stay.
Yes, Dianne might fit that description, but she didn’t mean to give up her plans.
She’d find a way to make them work. She’d counted on God to make Jace realize the rightness of returning to the ranch, but the man was too stubborn to change his mind.
Well, she wasn’t going to let that stop her.
Jace waited at the wagon. She hadn’t expected he’d still be there. But it made no difference.
“Good morning.” Her words were as brisk as a winter wind.
“I was about to leave. Gotta return the wagon and horses.” He tipped his head to indicate what he meant.
Humph. As if she couldn’t see for herself. “Enjoy your solitary life.”
His eyes narrowed to slits. “I’ve been straight with you from the beginning about not going back. I haven’t changed my mind.”
“Nor have I changed mine.”
He straightened and studied her.
Ha. Let him digest that for a minute. Eddie, firmly in hand, she marched into the barn. “Hello?”
A slightly stooped man with a graying beard that sported bits of hay stepped into the light. “Ma’am?”
“I need to rent a wagon. And if you’d be so kind as to give me directions to Chet’s ranch.” Let him hear her conviction. She needed a home, and one waited at the ranch.
The liveryman looked past her. “Jace here can show ya. I ’spect he’s on his way there now.”
“Pops, I’m not going there.”
Goodness, the man had a way of speaking that made Dianne want to duck. But she didn’t flinch and didn’t turn his way. Stubborn must be his middle name because he hadn’t relented an inch.
“Pops?” Was that the liveryman’s name?
“That’s what theys all calls me.” The man stroked his beard and rocked back and forth.
Then, as if realizing what Jace had said, he glanced past Dianne.
“Not going there? Why not?” His brows arched.
“Hear the men went on a drunk. Seems someone should be there to straighten them out and get them back to work.”
For answer, Jace tied his horse to the back of the wagon. “Not me.” He climbed to the wagon seat and picked up the reins.
Eddie broke free and ran to the wagon. “You gots cows and chickens. And Skip. I wants to see them.” He sat down on the ground and wailed.
Dianne hurried to her son. “We’ll see them soon.” She glanced back at Pops. “Could you have a wagon ready for us?”
Pops’s beard stroking sent a shower of hayseeds to the ground. “Ain’t got anything at the moment.”
“Nothing?” How was that possible? Or was he refusing because she was a woman? She tried to make out the dim interior. The nearest pens didn’t seem large enough to house a wagon. Perhaps they were in the back.
Eddie continued to wail, making conversation difficult and thinking even more so.
“Eddie, stop now. We’ll figure out something.” She confronted Jace. “We need a wagon.”
“Uh-uh. This isn’t mine to lend you. I need to return it.”
“You said it was in storage. I’m guessing it’s not needed urgently.” This was perhaps the answer to her prayer. If he took her to the ranch, he’d be reminded of Chet’s love and drawn back to the place. “You could take us.”
Eddie’s sobs choked off. He scrubbed tears from his eyes. “You come with us?”
Pops moseyed forward. “Maybe you should. Someone needs to be in charge.”
The man’s words added weight to Dianne’s arguments. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Jace shook his head.
Here comes his stubbornness. Yup. She knew what he’d say even before he opened his mouth.
“Mrs. White can be in charge. I already told her so.”
“Seems like a man is needed. No offense, ma’am.”
“None taken.” She agreed. Turning to Jace, she added, “I told you I don’t know how to order men around. Besides, they wouldn’t listen to me.”
Pops brushed hay off his shirt. “Why isn’t you takin’ over the ranch, Jace? It’s what Chet wanted. You’re the closest thing he ever had to a son.”
Jace stared in the direction of escape, but Pops had moved closer and stood in the way.
“You gonna leave the little lady out there to manage on her own? You’re gonna let Chet’s place—his pride and joy—fall into ruin?
” He shook his head and tsked. “You ain’t the man he taught you to be.
Why Chet’s never shirked from anything hard.
Ridin’ away is a mighty poor way of repayin’ all that man done for you. ”
Dianne almost cheered. “I couldn’t have said it better.” Although, she said it in different ways.
How could Jace continue to resist with Eddie’s eager, tear-stained face looking up at him, Pops shaking his head and giving Jace accusing looks, and Dianne demanding more than the use of the wagon?
Jace continued to stare straight ahead, his jaw set like stone.
Pops slapped the wagon and stalked back to the barn, muttering, “Good thing Chet ain’t alive to see how ya turned out.”
Fingers clenched to the lines, only the twitch in Jace’s cheek indicated he heard.
“You take us?” Eddie pleaded.
A shiver trickled up the length of Jace’s body.
Dianne’s breath stalled as she sensed his struggle.
“Fine.” The word exploded from him. “I’ll take you, and then I have to return this wagon.”
Pops helped Dianne to the seat and Eddie into the back.
Although her heart rejoiced, she did not say anything but “Thanks.”
“Don’t think I’ve changed my mind.”
“Of course not.” But it seemed like a step in the right direction. “Can we stop at the depot for my luggage? I assume they would leave it there.”
They traversed the street until they reached a building with a sign above the door informing them it was the stagecoach office. Her trunk and bags were there, and Jace helped the agent load them into the back.
They left town on a narrow road heading northwest. Finally, she would have her home.
Without the man she hoped would be there, but Jace was at her side.
As she took in the scenery, marveling at the verdant valleys and sharp rocky hillsides, she continued to pray Jace would reconsider his stubborn decision once they arrived at the ranch.
Only with a competent man, one she trusted, running the place would her home be secure.
“How much farther do we have to go?”
“You’ll soon be there. However, I have a long way to go yet retracing the journey we made yesterday.”
“Must you be so stubborn?”
“I could ask you the same question.” He appeared distracted by something to his left.
She followed the direction he looked. “Are those bulls from your ranch?”
“They’re Chet’s cows from Chet’s ranch.”
“What’s wrong with them?”
“Who says there’s anything wrong?” He kept his attention on the animals.
“I’d say you’re concerned because you haven’t stopped staring. They look perfectly normal to me, but then what do I know about bulls?” She wasn’t above emphasizing that point.
“They’re cows.”
“But they have horns.”
“The female cows have horns too.” Still so distracted, his comment carried no censure for her ignorance.
“Then why are you concerned?”
“Doesn’t it look like there’s blood on that cow’s head?”
She squinted across the distance. “I don’t see anything.” Would this discovery persuade him to stay?