calm
steal over her as she and Martha renewed their friendship. “I didn’t think you
would be open today. Where’s that new husband of yours?”
“Oh, Lars is helping the
other men get the tables ready for the big picnic.” Martha blushed and smiled,
showing a charming dimple. “I’m not really open today. I was just getting ready
to go to meeting when I saw your wagon coming, and I just knew Jo would want
that horehound.”
“I know you, Martha, you didn’t open
the store just for that! What’s up?”
Martha paused for a moment,
taking in her friend’s sun bronzed complexion and calloused hands. “Kate,
you’ve been doing all that ranch work yourself, haven’t you?”
Casting her eyes down and hiding
her hands within the folds of her skirt, Kate replied softy, “We had two hands
working there when....when it happened. They stayed on for a bit, but
eventually they drifted off, said there were ‘other opportunities,’” she
shrugged, “but I know they just couldn’t take working for a woman.”
“Humph! Typical. So? Have you
tried to hire help?”
“Oh, I tried at first, but it was
always the same thing. They’d stay on a week or two, until taking orders from
me got to be too much for them, then off they’d go.”
“You sure that’s what it was?”
Martha asked, brows raised.
“What do you mean?”
“I overheard a conversation a few
weeks ago that I did not like!”
“What about?” Kate prompted when
Martha paused, seeming to ponder whether to continue.
Eyeing her friend
speculatively, she took deep breath before continuing, “A couple of punchers
were in the store, one says how he’d been working for ‘that woman what lost her
husband’ - that got my attention, mind you - and he let on how old Mr. Johnson offered him half again as much pay if he’d
quit her ranch and tell all the other boys to do the same.”
Kate gasped, “But he can’t....”
“Now, Kate, I know how you feel!
Hear me out.”
“Martha, I can’t believe that
Matt ....” the bell above the door jangled brassily startling the women into
silence.
Martha glanced at the man who had
entered the store, shook her head slightly and drew Kate further back. Looking
over her shoulder, Kate saw a tall, lean man with thick brown hair, and a hard,
worn look about him. She gave her friend a questioning look.
“Kate, you need help out there.”
Martha continued, ignoring the quizzical look.
“I know, but I’m not even sure I
can afford it right now.”
“You can still offer room and
board, can’t you?”
“Well, yes, there’s the bunkhouse
still, and Nana does cook enough to feed a veritable army!” Kate laughed in
spite of herself. Something about Martha’s barely contained exuberance piqued
Kate’s curiosity. “Why?”
“Well, a drifter came in a
few days ago. He seems a nice enough fellow, and he really needs a job. I gave
him a few odds and ends to do around here to keep him in town. Once I decided
he was all right, well, I explained about you, and the situation out at your
place.”
“Martha Louise Jansen! You had no
right...”
“Oh, Hush! You sound just like a
spoiled child!” Martha’s eye flashed, but she continued to smile. “Here I go
trying to help, and this is the thanks I get?”
Kate maintained her defenses, but
she listened as Martha continued.
“Like I said, he seems all right,
and he knows all about Matt Johnson, so unlike some of the local hands, he’ll
be more likely to stay around. What do you say? At least meet him, talk to
him?”
Kate sighed, weighing out the
options. Her gaze drifted to the man waiting by the counter. Once again she
felt the cold fear snaking its icy tendrils into the pit of her stomach. “We’re
going to be late for church meeting. I really don’t - oh, all right, I’ll talk to him at least. After
church? You need to go take care of your customer.”
“Good!” Martha’s eyes gleamed.
“I’ll see you at the meeting.”
Kate hugged
steal over her as she and Martha renewed their friendship. “I didn’t think you
would be open today. Where’s that new husband of yours?”
“Oh, Lars is helping the
other men get the tables ready for the big picnic.” Martha blushed and smiled,
showing a charming dimple. “I’m not really open today. I was just getting ready
to go to meeting when I saw your wagon coming, and I just knew Jo would want
that horehound.”
“I know you, Martha, you didn’t open
the store just for that! What’s up?”
Martha paused for a moment,
taking in her friend’s sun bronzed complexion and calloused hands. “Kate,
you’ve been doing all that ranch work yourself, haven’t you?”
Casting her eyes down and hiding
her hands within the folds of her skirt, Kate replied softy, “We had two hands
working there when....when it happened. They stayed on for a bit, but
eventually they drifted off, said there were ‘other opportunities,’” she
shrugged, “but I know they just couldn’t take working for a woman.”
“Humph! Typical. So? Have you
tried to hire help?”
“Oh, I tried at first, but it was
always the same thing. They’d stay on a week or two, until taking orders from
me got to be too much for them, then off they’d go.”
“You sure that’s what it was?”
Martha asked, brows raised.
“What do you mean?”
“I overheard a conversation a few
weeks ago that I did not like!”
“What about?” Kate prompted when
Martha paused, seeming to ponder whether to continue.
Eyeing her friend
speculatively, she took deep breath before continuing, “A couple of punchers
were in the store, one says how he’d been working for ‘that woman what lost her
husband’ - that got my attention, mind you - and he let on how old Mr. Johnson offered him half again as much pay if he’d
quit her ranch and tell all the other boys to do the same.”
Kate gasped, “But he can’t....”
“Now, Kate, I know how you feel!
Hear me out.”
“Martha, I can’t believe that
Matt ....” the bell above the door jangled brassily startling the women into
silence.
Martha glanced at the man who had
entered the store, shook her head slightly and drew Kate further back. Looking
over her shoulder, Kate saw a tall, lean man with thick brown hair, and a hard,
worn look about him. She gave her friend a questioning look.
“Kate, you need help out there.”
Martha continued, ignoring the quizzical look.
“I know, but I’m not even sure I
can afford it right now.”
“You can still offer room and
board, can’t you?”
“Well, yes, there’s the bunkhouse
still, and Nana does cook enough to feed a veritable army!” Kate laughed in
spite of herself. Something about Martha’s barely contained exuberance piqued
Kate’s curiosity. “Why?”
“Well, a drifter came in a
few days ago. He seems a nice enough fellow, and he really needs a job. I gave
him a few odds and ends to do around here to keep him in town. Once I decided
he was all right, well, I explained about you, and the situation out at your
place.”
“Martha Louise Jansen! You had no
right...”
“Oh, Hush! You sound just like a
spoiled child!” Martha’s eye flashed, but she continued to smile. “Here I go
trying to help, and this is the thanks I get?”
Kate maintained her defenses, but
she listened as Martha continued.
“Like I said, he seems all right,
and he knows all about Matt Johnson, so unlike some of the local hands, he’ll
be more likely to stay around. What do you say? At least meet him, talk to
him?”
Kate sighed, weighing out the
options. Her gaze drifted to the man waiting by the counter. Once again she
felt the cold fear snaking its icy tendrils into the pit of her stomach. “We’re
going to be late for church meeting. I really don’t - oh, all right, I’ll talk to him at least. After
church? You need to go take care of your customer.”
“Good!” Martha’s eyes gleamed.
“I’ll see you at the meeting.”
Kate hugged
Similar Books
