Read Online The Glenmore's: Caught by Susan Horsnell - Free Book Online
Authors: Susan Horsnell
Ads: Link
cain’t afford to lose ‘em like that if we’re gonna make a go at this breedin’ program. We was wonderin’ if you’ve had any trouble?”
“Goddamn rustlers!” Ben exploded and everyone looked at him in shock. “Sorry Miss Saunders; there ain’t nothin’ I hate worse”
“That’s okay Ben but will ya please call me Justine?” she managed to say through the threat of fresh tears.
“We ain’t had any trouble here that I’m aware of Josh but I’ll get the men to check. I thought ya’d moved all the herd to the house paddock for the winter?” Joseph asked.
“Yeah we did; I cain’t believe they came up so close and we didn’t hear anythin’.” Josh wasn’t so sure it was rustlers, there were a couple of people in town that had expressed interest in Justine’s land after Mason passed and they’d acted mighty ornery when he’d told ‘em it wasn’t for sale.
“I ain’t so sure it’s rustlers Joe. Squeaky Dalton and Bill Stanton wanted to but Justine’s land when they knew Mason had died. They were real put out and nasty when I told ‘em it weren’t for sale. We ain’t had rustlers in these parts for as long as I can remember Joe and my gut tells me these two have somethin’ to do with it”
“Why would they be so interested in it Josh ; those two are miners not ranchers?” Ben asked.
“Dunno Ben; as I said it’s just me gut”
“Do ya need help with things Josh?” Joseph enquired.
“No we’ll be right thanks Joe. I was just wonderin’ if ya’d had any trouble and to warn ya to keep an eye out in case it is rustlers. I just don’t know that it is though”
“Thanks Josh, we appreciate ya comin’ to see us. We’ll let ya know if we find anythin’ out” Joe assured them.
“I know ya will Joe. I just hope we don’t lose any more”
“I have plenty of money to replace them Joe but that ain’t the point. We’d have to start from scratch again and they were good stock; we was expectin’ mighty find calves from ‘em too. It would take an awful lot more to break us but I’m still real worried” Justine had been left a lot of money and property through her parents’ estate and her family’s lawyer had also negotiated a large payment from the hotel in Boston. It had been argued that if the hotel had installed steps on the outside of the building as was now the law, Justine and her parents would have escaped without injury.
There was also a sizeable bank account that Mason had left to her as well as the ranch which had no mortgage. Justine was quite a wealthy young girl.
“I understand your concerns darlin’. We’ll do what we can to help and stop ya from losin’ any more. Do ya have enough men to keep night watch Josh? We can help ya with that if ya need it; winter makes things real quiet as ya know so I can spare ya one or two men without any trouble” Joseph offered.
“Thanks Joe, I think we’ll be right but if I find we need ‘em I’ll certainly ask. Josh stood up to leave.
“Please Josh, Justine, stay for lunch” Ben asked and Virginia, Nellie’s and Alice’s eyebrows lifted. “Sorry Alice, do we have enough? I shoulda asked ya first”
“Yes, we have plenty” Alice answered. “You’re more than welcome she told Justine and Josh.
“Thank you kindly Alice but Millie will be expectin’ me. Justine, ain’t no reason why you cain’t stay. I know Millie won’t mind” Josh told her.
“Oh I d…” Justine didn’t get the chance to finish before Virginia cut in. “Yes, please stay dear. It would be lovely if ya could join us” Virginia had noticed the hopeful look on her son’s face and hoped she would stay.
“Very well, yes thank you; I would like to stay” Justine conceded.
“Okay, I’ll head on back and I’ll see ya later on Justine” Josh said as he left.
********
Justine was glad she’d stayed for lunch. The Glenmore’s were a wonderful family and she already thought of them as good friends.
“How long were ya in
“Goddamn rustlers!” Ben exploded and everyone looked at him in shock. “Sorry Miss Saunders; there ain’t nothin’ I hate worse”
“That’s okay Ben but will ya please call me Justine?” she managed to say through the threat of fresh tears.
“We ain’t had any trouble here that I’m aware of Josh but I’ll get the men to check. I thought ya’d moved all the herd to the house paddock for the winter?” Joseph asked.
“Yeah we did; I cain’t believe they came up so close and we didn’t hear anythin’.” Josh wasn’t so sure it was rustlers, there were a couple of people in town that had expressed interest in Justine’s land after Mason passed and they’d acted mighty ornery when he’d told ‘em it wasn’t for sale.
“I ain’t so sure it’s rustlers Joe. Squeaky Dalton and Bill Stanton wanted to but Justine’s land when they knew Mason had died. They were real put out and nasty when I told ‘em it weren’t for sale. We ain’t had rustlers in these parts for as long as I can remember Joe and my gut tells me these two have somethin’ to do with it”
“Why would they be so interested in it Josh ; those two are miners not ranchers?” Ben asked.
“Dunno Ben; as I said it’s just me gut”
“Do ya need help with things Josh?” Joseph enquired.
“No we’ll be right thanks Joe. I was just wonderin’ if ya’d had any trouble and to warn ya to keep an eye out in case it is rustlers. I just don’t know that it is though”
“Thanks Josh, we appreciate ya comin’ to see us. We’ll let ya know if we find anythin’ out” Joe assured them.
“I know ya will Joe. I just hope we don’t lose any more”
“I have plenty of money to replace them Joe but that ain’t the point. We’d have to start from scratch again and they were good stock; we was expectin’ mighty find calves from ‘em too. It would take an awful lot more to break us but I’m still real worried” Justine had been left a lot of money and property through her parents’ estate and her family’s lawyer had also negotiated a large payment from the hotel in Boston. It had been argued that if the hotel had installed steps on the outside of the building as was now the law, Justine and her parents would have escaped without injury.
There was also a sizeable bank account that Mason had left to her as well as the ranch which had no mortgage. Justine was quite a wealthy young girl.
“I understand your concerns darlin’. We’ll do what we can to help and stop ya from losin’ any more. Do ya have enough men to keep night watch Josh? We can help ya with that if ya need it; winter makes things real quiet as ya know so I can spare ya one or two men without any trouble” Joseph offered.
“Thanks Joe, I think we’ll be right but if I find we need ‘em I’ll certainly ask. Josh stood up to leave.
“Please Josh, Justine, stay for lunch” Ben asked and Virginia, Nellie’s and Alice’s eyebrows lifted. “Sorry Alice, do we have enough? I shoulda asked ya first”
“Yes, we have plenty” Alice answered. “You’re more than welcome she told Justine and Josh.
“Thank you kindly Alice but Millie will be expectin’ me. Justine, ain’t no reason why you cain’t stay. I know Millie won’t mind” Josh told her.
“Oh I d…” Justine didn’t get the chance to finish before Virginia cut in. “Yes, please stay dear. It would be lovely if ya could join us” Virginia had noticed the hopeful look on her son’s face and hoped she would stay.
“Very well, yes thank you; I would like to stay” Justine conceded.
“Okay, I’ll head on back and I’ll see ya later on Justine” Josh said as he left.
********
Justine was glad she’d stayed for lunch. The Glenmore’s were a wonderful family and she already thought of them as good friends.
“How long were ya in
Similar Books
