Read Online Ryder (Prairie Grooms, Book Two) by Kit Morgan - Free Book Online
Authors: Kit Morgan
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him. He just ain't educated on the way a lady likes to live, but you'll learn him, won't ya?"
Constance felt the hot sting of tears start behind her eyes. "I'll try. But it needs so much work before it’s finished, and ... " Before she knew it she was crying, and dare she say, caterwauling? "Oh Grandma! It's so cold in there, and there's no fire place, and the wind blew right in, and he left me out in the rain because Cutty was there and ..."
"Whoa ! Slow down. Cutty? You mean that old drifter? What was he doing there?"
Constance sniffed back her tears as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "He helps Ryder, said he was going to help him finish the cabin."
"Oh, you're right, he does. He must need money, that's the only reason he comes down out of them hills to work."
"But Ryder doesn't have any money."
Grandma put a hand on her shoulder and looked her in the eye. The action got her full attention. "Let me give you a piece of advice, child, and I only want to have to say this once, so listen up, ya hear?"
She nodded, eyes wide at the serious look on Grandma's face.
"Men don't like having their private business aired by their wives, ya understand? So don't tell me he ain't got no money. Can ya honestly say he doesn't?"
Constance looked away as she thought about it. "I ... I cannot say. He makes it sound that way, and he has so little."
"Oh child, he has more than you know. More than a lot of men in these parts."
"But I haven't seen it."
Grandma smiled. "I ain't talkin' about things , I'm talking about character. Ryder's a good man, he's honest and a hard worker, and he'd give the shirt off his back to help another. That poor Cutty gets hungry and comes down out of them hills to work for Ryder. Not many folks will hire someone that looks like a wild man and stinks to high heaven. But Ryder doesn't mind helping out a stranger or sharing a meal with someone, no matter if’n all he has is a biscuit. Those are the things that matter."
Constance swallowed and sniffed, ashamed at her earlier outburst. Her new husband was a good man, and doing the best for her with what he had. And if he was doing that with so little, what could he do with a lot? "I think I have much to learn about being married."
Grandma smiled. "Child, I've been married over sixty years , and I'm still learning! Now c'mon, let's get you something for that cough."
Six
Grandma whipped up a tonic of lemon, (an extravagance to say the least) honey, and something she refused to tell Constance what it was or where it came from, explaining that it was better she didn't know. Grimacing at the odd green mixture, but wishing to remain healthy, she downed the mix in one swallow. All she could taste was the lemon and honey, and a hint of something else, but had no idea what. Trusting Grandma's expertise in such things, she didn't question her further.
After being treated by Grandma, they crossed the street to the mercantile. Constance looked for Ryder as they made their way up the mercantile steps, but saw no sign of him. He must still be speaking with the blacksmith. She returned her attention to the task at hand as the bell above the door rang announcing their arrival.
"Hello there! Aren't you a ..." Fanny Fig stopped and looked Constance up and down. "...er, pretty picture?" Her last words came out a squeak.
Constance hadn't thought to fix her hair while at Grandmas, and once again unconsciously reached up and touched her messy locks. "It was a windy ride into town."
Grandma glanced at her and smirked, then looked at Fanny. "What brings you to town again today. Weren't you here earlier?"
"I was, but I've been so muddled with this rustler problem that I plumb fo rgot the flour! You know how these things upset me."
"Why don't you let the Sheriff and your husband worry about the rustlers? " Grandma chastised. "Besides, rustlers come and go, and you don't own a cattle ranch. It's the Cookes
Constance felt the hot sting of tears start behind her eyes. "I'll try. But it needs so much work before it’s finished, and ... " Before she knew it she was crying, and dare she say, caterwauling? "Oh Grandma! It's so cold in there, and there's no fire place, and the wind blew right in, and he left me out in the rain because Cutty was there and ..."
"Whoa ! Slow down. Cutty? You mean that old drifter? What was he doing there?"
Constance sniffed back her tears as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "He helps Ryder, said he was going to help him finish the cabin."
"Oh, you're right, he does. He must need money, that's the only reason he comes down out of them hills to work."
"But Ryder doesn't have any money."
Grandma put a hand on her shoulder and looked her in the eye. The action got her full attention. "Let me give you a piece of advice, child, and I only want to have to say this once, so listen up, ya hear?"
She nodded, eyes wide at the serious look on Grandma's face.
"Men don't like having their private business aired by their wives, ya understand? So don't tell me he ain't got no money. Can ya honestly say he doesn't?"
Constance looked away as she thought about it. "I ... I cannot say. He makes it sound that way, and he has so little."
"Oh child, he has more than you know. More than a lot of men in these parts."
"But I haven't seen it."
Grandma smiled. "I ain't talkin' about things , I'm talking about character. Ryder's a good man, he's honest and a hard worker, and he'd give the shirt off his back to help another. That poor Cutty gets hungry and comes down out of them hills to work for Ryder. Not many folks will hire someone that looks like a wild man and stinks to high heaven. But Ryder doesn't mind helping out a stranger or sharing a meal with someone, no matter if’n all he has is a biscuit. Those are the things that matter."
Constance swallowed and sniffed, ashamed at her earlier outburst. Her new husband was a good man, and doing the best for her with what he had. And if he was doing that with so little, what could he do with a lot? "I think I have much to learn about being married."
Grandma smiled. "Child, I've been married over sixty years , and I'm still learning! Now c'mon, let's get you something for that cough."
Six
Grandma whipped up a tonic of lemon, (an extravagance to say the least) honey, and something she refused to tell Constance what it was or where it came from, explaining that it was better she didn't know. Grimacing at the odd green mixture, but wishing to remain healthy, she downed the mix in one swallow. All she could taste was the lemon and honey, and a hint of something else, but had no idea what. Trusting Grandma's expertise in such things, she didn't question her further.
After being treated by Grandma, they crossed the street to the mercantile. Constance looked for Ryder as they made their way up the mercantile steps, but saw no sign of him. He must still be speaking with the blacksmith. She returned her attention to the task at hand as the bell above the door rang announcing their arrival.
"Hello there! Aren't you a ..." Fanny Fig stopped and looked Constance up and down. "...er, pretty picture?" Her last words came out a squeak.
Constance hadn't thought to fix her hair while at Grandmas, and once again unconsciously reached up and touched her messy locks. "It was a windy ride into town."
Grandma glanced at her and smirked, then looked at Fanny. "What brings you to town again today. Weren't you here earlier?"
"I was, but I've been so muddled with this rustler problem that I plumb fo rgot the flour! You know how these things upset me."
"Why don't you let the Sheriff and your husband worry about the rustlers? " Grandma chastised. "Besides, rustlers come and go, and you don't own a cattle ranch. It's the Cookes
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