Read Online Stronger Than the Rest by Shirleen Davies - Free Book Online
Authors: Shirleen Davies
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behind.
******
Eloise paced the small area of what had been her husband’s office. It was hers now. “What do you plan to do with him, Jeff?”
“Haven’t decided. Can’t afford to lose anyone else since that’s what those men want, but I can’t let him defy my orders, either,” her foreman responded. He swallowed the last of the whisky in his glass, stood, and set it on the corner of the desk. “He’ll work a few days around the barn and corrals, not out on the rangelands, and won’t be allowed off the property the next two weekends. That should do it. He was invited to Langdon’s for supper on Sunday. That won’t happen, either.”
Eloise turned and looked at him as if deciding whether or not to speak.
“What is it, Mrs. Bierdan?” Jeff asked.
“You know we had visitors today?”
“I heard.”
“They represent a businessman from Denver who’s interested in buying the ranch.” She paused, walked back to the desk, and lowered herself into the large leather chair. “I need to consider it, Jeff.”
“Have they given you a price? Any details?”
“No. This was just a first visit. I told them I wasn’t interested, but the truth is the ranch is running thin. There’s money for a while, but this season needs to be good or I’ll be at the end of my resources. I thought you should know.”
“You don’t have to worry about me leaving, Mrs. Bierdan. I’ll stay through the season and we’ll talk after that.”
“Fair enough, Jeff. I appreciate it.”
He nodded before closing the door.
******
Tess had worked all morning in the barn while keeping watch on a mare that was about to foal. It was the mare’s first time—a mare that Tess had raised from birth. Some mothers did well, others panicked, which could put stress on the foal and prolong the birth. Tess hoped this delivery would be easy.
She brushed her hands on her skirt, took one last look at the horse, and walked toward the house. Drew had been in the office most of the day. Grant had offered him the use of it for as long as he stayed in Cold Creek. Their guest was making good use of it.
Drew looked up as she walked by the open office door. Their eyes met and held for an instant before she broke the contact and continued to the kitchen.
“Tess?” Drew called after her.
She stopped. Their conversations had been short and strained while she’d been in Denver. They’d spoken little since arriving at the ranch. Tess knew he’d seen Patricia Dunnigan just before they left for Cold Creek and assumed they were making plans to marry. It surprised Tess how much the thought hurt. She knew she wasn’t beautiful or rich like Miss Dunnigan, but she and Drew had shared so much in his brief stay before. They’d become close. Friends. She’d dreamed of him since the shooting, but in each dream, he walked, rode his horse, and laughed. She guessed that’s why they were called dreams—images she could see but never hold.
“Yes, Drew? Can I get you something?”
“No, I just wanted to see how you were doing with the mare. It’s close, isn’t it?”
“Any day now by my count.” She began to walk away.
“Tess, I’m sorry we didn’t have much time to talk in Denver. My work and other obligations made it hard. Then Dunnigan asked me to travel here. I wish we’d had more time together, just you and me.”
“It’s all right. We knew you weren’t expecting us. You have important work, and of course there’s your fiancée. But she’s probably more of a pleasure to be around than an obligation.”
“About Patricia…” Drew began but stopped when Eleanor and Alicia walked into the room.
“I hope we’re not disturbing anything,” Eleanor said, “but dinner is about ready, Tess, and I wondered if you could locate your father and Jake.”
“Of course.” She took one quick glance at Drew then left the house.
Drew felt her absence, like a gift that had been ripped from his grasp. He had to find time to speak
******
Eloise paced the small area of what had been her husband’s office. It was hers now. “What do you plan to do with him, Jeff?”
“Haven’t decided. Can’t afford to lose anyone else since that’s what those men want, but I can’t let him defy my orders, either,” her foreman responded. He swallowed the last of the whisky in his glass, stood, and set it on the corner of the desk. “He’ll work a few days around the barn and corrals, not out on the rangelands, and won’t be allowed off the property the next two weekends. That should do it. He was invited to Langdon’s for supper on Sunday. That won’t happen, either.”
Eloise turned and looked at him as if deciding whether or not to speak.
“What is it, Mrs. Bierdan?” Jeff asked.
“You know we had visitors today?”
“I heard.”
“They represent a businessman from Denver who’s interested in buying the ranch.” She paused, walked back to the desk, and lowered herself into the large leather chair. “I need to consider it, Jeff.”
“Have they given you a price? Any details?”
“No. This was just a first visit. I told them I wasn’t interested, but the truth is the ranch is running thin. There’s money for a while, but this season needs to be good or I’ll be at the end of my resources. I thought you should know.”
“You don’t have to worry about me leaving, Mrs. Bierdan. I’ll stay through the season and we’ll talk after that.”
“Fair enough, Jeff. I appreciate it.”
He nodded before closing the door.
******
Tess had worked all morning in the barn while keeping watch on a mare that was about to foal. It was the mare’s first time—a mare that Tess had raised from birth. Some mothers did well, others panicked, which could put stress on the foal and prolong the birth. Tess hoped this delivery would be easy.
She brushed her hands on her skirt, took one last look at the horse, and walked toward the house. Drew had been in the office most of the day. Grant had offered him the use of it for as long as he stayed in Cold Creek. Their guest was making good use of it.
Drew looked up as she walked by the open office door. Their eyes met and held for an instant before she broke the contact and continued to the kitchen.
“Tess?” Drew called after her.
She stopped. Their conversations had been short and strained while she’d been in Denver. They’d spoken little since arriving at the ranch. Tess knew he’d seen Patricia Dunnigan just before they left for Cold Creek and assumed they were making plans to marry. It surprised Tess how much the thought hurt. She knew she wasn’t beautiful or rich like Miss Dunnigan, but she and Drew had shared so much in his brief stay before. They’d become close. Friends. She’d dreamed of him since the shooting, but in each dream, he walked, rode his horse, and laughed. She guessed that’s why they were called dreams—images she could see but never hold.
“Yes, Drew? Can I get you something?”
“No, I just wanted to see how you were doing with the mare. It’s close, isn’t it?”
“Any day now by my count.” She began to walk away.
“Tess, I’m sorry we didn’t have much time to talk in Denver. My work and other obligations made it hard. Then Dunnigan asked me to travel here. I wish we’d had more time together, just you and me.”
“It’s all right. We knew you weren’t expecting us. You have important work, and of course there’s your fiancée. But she’s probably more of a pleasure to be around than an obligation.”
“About Patricia…” Drew began but stopped when Eleanor and Alicia walked into the room.
“I hope we’re not disturbing anything,” Eleanor said, “but dinner is about ready, Tess, and I wondered if you could locate your father and Jake.”
“Of course.” She took one quick glance at Drew then left the house.
Drew felt her absence, like a gift that had been ripped from his grasp. He had to find time to speak
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