Chapter 4

Supper over, I handed Sheila into the wagon. My horse tied behind. She clutched my arm as we sat on the wagon seat. “Randy. I went into the bank to deposit the money from selling my produce. I found out you made it easy for me and I also found out you named me as your beneficiary if anything bad happened to you. Why did you do that?”

“Sheila, do you feel anything for me?” I didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I mean we met and were together for one week. We even slept in the same bed. I found you some help after you went charging out the door and got shot. You didn’t wait for me to protect you, which made me feel terrible. So I made a move to protect you in the future if need be. Remember you have a ten-year-old sweet little girl that needs the same protection. That’s why I made you my beneficiary.”

“I forgot to ask if you healed up okay.”

“I did. Would you like to feel the scar?”

“Yes.” I pulled the team to the side of the trail and reached for Sheila. “Randy, I would have died if you hadn’t come back to me. Patty feels the same way. You’ll see when we walk into the house. She’ll be all over you. I do think she has learned some facts of life sooner than I wish she had. She and twelve-year-old Teresa are constant companions and I heard them discussing what their mother and Montana were up to.”

“That’s bad.”

“No, that’s good and that’s just in case she catches us sometime doing the same thing. Randy, I owe you so much. You took all the worry from my mind. You chose the Gonezalas family to help me and they are the best people. I don’t even think about them being any different from me. They are my good friends.

“They are making out very well too. They wouldn’t take any money so I could bank most of what I sold my produce for. You were traveling too fast when you went by earlier, you couldn’t have seen what they put together to live in. They say when spring arrives they will tear it down and put it up somewhere further from my house.

“Maybe they will want to live in your house. I would like to have you living in mine.”

“What about Kate? She seems to fit in well at the ranch house.”

“Kate is an unusual person and I owe her a lot.”

Sheila pulled away from me. “What do you owe her?”

“My life.” I went on to tell her what Kate had done for us all. “That robber would have shot me as soon as we had been cleaned out. I plugged him one other time before. This was before I met you the time I was here last and shortly after I left Kansas. He was hired twice by the three ranch owners that lived near my ranch back home and who bought me out. There would pay extra if I had been killed. That’s another story I’ll have to tell you sometime. How about me running my fingers over your scar?”

“Randy, it’s almost November and cold. I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll have the house empty tomorrow afternoon and you could visit me.”

“Now that’s what I call a date.” I stopped long enough to say hi to Patty, She came into my arms for a hug. There were tears of happiness and I hugged her tighter. Teresa was living with Sheila and Patty in the house and she wanted a hug too. She then scooted out the door to tell Nina and the rest of the family. They all crowded in to shake my hand. Well the boys did, the girls hugged me, and Nina passed her lips over mine. This was the finest welcome a man could have.

I didn’t stay long. Brad Bricknell heard me pull in and came out of the bunkhouse to take my horse to the barn. Kate met me at the door asking, “Where am I to sleep?”

“I don’t know where I’m sleeping. How many bedrooms are there?”

“Three.”

“Well, pick one. Where’s Slim?”

“Out in the bunkhouse.”

“I’ll go get him. Can you fix me up with a room? All I need is a blanket.”

“You are all set. Sheila and I fixed you up. You even have your own blankets. When the horse that was packing them was unloaded, they were brought in. Randy, I like Sheila. I’m glad you are a couple. It’s no good living alone. Slim says some day we will have a little home of our own.”

“You will. I can’t say when, but it is on the list.”

“I’m not worried because you seem to get things done.”

“I do, but I couldn’t if it wasn’t for the men like Slim who work for me.”

I slept hard and I guess everyone else did too. I was the one to get the fire going and had the coffee on before Kate came rushing out to begin breakfast. I headed for the bunkhouse. There was a cook shack that was attached to the back of the bunkhouse. The men were already drinking coffee and Bradley was frying thin sliced beef in a pan. He was making himself useful.

“Bradley, don’t we have any side meat? There should be some around at this time of year.”

“No, we don’t have any. I’ll talk to the butcher about some. We have to deliver a steer by tomorrow.”

“Ask him if anyone has bred sows for sale. We have a huge pile of horse shit behind the barn. We’ll throw a good fence around it and turn a couple sows in there. It has enough heat in it to keep them warm through the winter.

“Montana, you know where the cattle are most likely bunched. I want as close a tally as I can get. Tony, scout around to see where we can keep the mares this winter. Someplace out of the wind. If it holds off with rain or snow for the next couple of weeks, we might put up some hay stacks. It looked like grass still had some good in it. The cattle will have to fend for themselves. There’s enough scattering of trees here and there to stop the wind from being too vicious.”

“Boss, the winters ain’t too bad here in this end of the valley. We most usually let the stock roam free.”

“That’s good, but Tony will decide. He knows what I want. Johnny, do you know how to tie off the nuts on calves?” He nodded. “Well you and Raoul work together on the calves. Don’t try it on the yearlings, we’ll see about cutting them. You better take your soogans and food enough in case you don’t get around the area laid out for you by nightfall.

“This is mostly a discovery of the range for me and what works here and what’s on it. Give me an idea if there is any woodland and if there is enough timber to cut to keep the place up. I don’t know how soon I will be able to see it for myself so I’ll be relying on you men.”

Bradley came up to me, “God, you’ll know more about the place by tomorrow night than I do and I’ve been here six years.”

“What did you do before you came here?”

“Not much of anything but keep store. My father came out to Missouri from New England at the end of the war and opened a store. He didn’t do well at all. People hold grudges and the war was never over for them. My brother left the store and came out here and bought out this place, but these people ain’t no different. I came with him, but was never included even when the ranchers got together.

“I finally gave up trying. When Simpson told me he had sold the mortgage I was actually relieved. I got to drinking and even my nephew looks down on me. I knew it was in me to have to beg for a place to stay the winter and that’s when I spoke up. You know I feel I’m a part of something again even though I don’t own any of this ranch anymore.”

“You are a part of something. We’ll make this a good ranch someday and you can look back and say you helped.”

“That’s good enough for me as long as I get enough to eat and a bunk to sleep in.”

The rest of the morning I worked in the cubbyhole office setting up books so I could come in, open to a page, and know exactly where I was. Finished with that, I went through the buildings. There were several out-buildings and the barn was of good size. The house was sturdy. Because it was a man’s camp it was no place I wanted to bring a wife to yet. Kate would see it was made livable, though.

I gobbled down a quick lunch while there was some water heating on the stove. I warned Kate to stay out of the kitchen while I took a bath. I’d have to see about getting some kind of tub. I liked to get wet all over at the same time. There was water around the kettle I had bathed from, but that couldn’t be helped. Dressed, I shouted to Kate. “I’m going calling on Sheila. I don’t know when I’ll be back. Don’t bother with supper for me.”

“Have fun.”

I didn’t see anyone around when I stepped down from Big Ugly. Nervous now, I rapped on the door. “Who is it?”

“Randy.”

“Come in.”

I opened the door. Sheila was sitting on the edge of the bed in a robe. “I just finished a bath. You came before I could get dressed.”

“I planned it that way.”

Sheila giggled. “That doesn’t surprise me. Don’t stand there, come kiss me.” I took off my jacket and walked slowly to her. She stood up and came into my arms. Her lips were the sweetest I had ever kissed. “Randy, you are serious about us aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m here to ask you to marry me. I’ll leave the when for you to say. I’ll also tell you, and it is the truth, I’ve never been as serious about a woman as I am about you.”

“Randy, I don’t know what to say. I’m a widow and I was married for several years to a really decent man and I loved him. Not once though, did I ever feel the hunger for him or any other man than I do for you.”

I backed away and started taking off my clothes. “Randy, we have three hours before I told Nina she could return.”

“That should be time enough for today, that is.” The robe opened and dropped to the floor. I stared at where the bullet had clipped her. It was still red and some puckered.

Sheila put her hand over it. “Randy, pay attention to me, and not my defects.” I almost fell over kicking my pants off. So began a time of exploration. Tender at times and demanding at others. “Enough, Randy, I’ve screamed so much, I swear my tonsils are sore.”

“Uh, huh.” She slapped me and we snuggled together. I got serious, “Sweetheart, how are we going to work this? I’d like to have you move in with me immediately if you think it possible. It might be a little inconvenient with Kate there, but Slim is looking around the ranch to see if there isn’t a camp they can move into. I want it livable or I won’t let them move out of the house.”

“How many bedrooms do you have? I thought there were three when I went through the house with her.”

“There is, but would you move in before Kate moves out?”

“Certainly. You said I could set the wedding date. I’ll talk to Nina and she can get me ready this week. I think if you would line up a preacher, it might be as soon as next Saturday.”

“You’d get married without posting banns?”

“Yes. In my mind, banns are for first time weddings or for young folk. I’m neither so we’ll skip them.”

“What about Patty, will this upset her.”

“No, not really. She is going to miss Teresa terribly. They have become as close as sisters. They sleep in the loft together.”

“I suppose she could stay here, but I want to get to know her.”

“How about Teresa moving in with Patty at the ranch? Would you mind?”

“Of course not. You work it out with Nina. I suppose we should be getting dressed.”

“I hate to, I could stay like this forever.”

“Happy?”

“Extremely. Randy would you like a cup of coffee? I have the beans all pounded.”

“I’d love some. Sheila, would you like a ring to show you how serious I am?”

“You don’t have to get me one.”

“It just so happens I have one. I purchased it before I left my old home town.” I didn’t have it in a box, but it was wrapped in some tissue paper. I pulled it from my pocket and unfolded the paper. “Hold out your finger, please.”

Tears of happiness were streaming down Sheila’s cheeks. Her hand was shaking so much I had to hold it with my own. “Sheila May Pierson, would you honor me by becoming my wife?”

“Yes, I will Randal Palmer. Oh, it is so beautiful.” Her arms came around me and I was squeezed in a hug.

“Sheila, please put something on.”

“I have something on. Wow, I didn’t have an engagement ring before. This is so pretty.”

“It’s a little large.”

“I’ll wind some thread around it so it won’t come off. I’ll do it while you are having your coffee.” I poked the fire up and put the coffee on. Sheila was most seductive putting clothes on. Finally she was covered completely and she went around straightening the bed.

It was a good thing, for the farm wagon pulled in from town with the Gonezalas family and Patty. Patty came rushing in after seeing the extra horse. “Randy, you came over. I didn’t want to go to town in case you did, but Mom said I should.”

“Patty, I had business to discuss with your mother.”

“Oh, you’re as bad as Mom. She is so serious all the time. I wish she was happy.”

“Patty, I’m happy and I’m going to be happier. I hope you will be happy too. Randy has asked me to be his wife. We are going to try for a wedding this Saturday.” Sheila brought her hand from out behind her and flashed her ring.

“Mom, it’s beautiful. I have to tell Teresa.” She went running out, coming back soon with Teresa, Nina, Rosa and Josephina crowding in behind her. There was nothing ostentatious about the ring, just a simple gold band with a quarter-caret diamond stone.

“Randy, what do I call you, Randy or Dad?”

“Either, sweetheart, but I’m always going to introduce you as my daughter. You must remember though, that you own father loved you very much too.”

“I’ll decide later. Oh, I’m so thrilled!”

I openly kissed Sheila in front of Patty and Teresa, before opening the door to leave. Sheila’s face was red and Patty’s was as well. “Honey, I’ll see you tomorrow after I get back from town. I have to find a preacher to marry us and a place for the wedding. You make a list of who you want there to see us take our vows.”

“Randy, I’ll leave that up to you. The only people I want to invite are Nina and her family. Everyone else is connected to you and your new ranch.”

“Okay.”

“Patty will be my maid of honor.”

“Oh, Mom, this is so exciting!” I laughed, because this was a big to do for one so young. Of course, I felt it was a big to do for me as well.

I finally got away and headed back to the ranch. Not much of the crew had made it back to the home place. Raoul and Johnny were in saying they were heading in a different direction in the morning. I had always let my crew decide which were best for them and the ranch. I wanted them happy and if they could cover ground and be comfortable as well at the same time, I was for that.

I told Kate, Bradley, Johnny and Raoul that I was getting married Saturday if I could get a preacher. Raoul immediately asked if the Gonezalas family were all going to be there. I answered yes. I took it he was looking for a wife too. I never should have told my crew that Nina had three beautiful daughters.

I hadn’t asked Sheila if she wanted to talk to the preacher before we were married, that is if found one. I stopped by her house. She wanted to speak to the Parson. “Actually, I want to be with you every minute I can be. It will only take a few minutes to get ready. Would you saddle my horse?”

As we arrived in town, the sheriff was crossing in front of us. He reached up to shake my hand. “I heard you were back. You two look happy, what’s going on?”

Sheila spoke up. “We’re in town to find the preacher. We want to get married this Saturday.”

“That’s fine. Parson Winters is a little odd and his congregation is small. People always seem busy on Sunday. Maybe it’s because he holds church in an empty saloon and is that why not many attend. There is no church building as such, but he says any place can be God’s house. Personally I like him.”

“Where does he draw his people from?”

“A few from town, a few from the Mexican community, and a few from the ranchers west of town. He hasn’t been here that long. He wants his church to become a gathering place for those that don’t hang out in the saloons. Having a wedding might help a little too if you would invite his congregation to be present.”

Sheila asked, “Would there be a chance for the ladies to put on a reception? I could furnish some of the food and Randy, would donate some meat.” She looked at me and I was laughing. “Won’t you, Randy?”

“I will. It will give us a chance to become part of the community by meeting some of it.”

We found the preacher in the back of the building that was previously a saloon. He was a small rotund little man. Surprisingly he had a deep voice. “Yes, I can perform the ceremony this Saturday. It will be my pleasure.”

We discussed what to do about food. Parson Winters said it would be better if there was a box social and dance immediately following the wedding service, rather than Sheila and I furnishing it. Some other Saturday at another gathering, I could contribute a calf or steer. This Saturday should be free for us to socialize and become acquainted with people.

We talked with him for an hour telling him a little of our past, separately and together. He wasn’t aware there was a ranch in the eastern part of the valley and had only heard of a widow woman who owned a farm.

I asked the question if he minded having Mexicans in his church. He rattled his answer off in Spanish. “All people are welcomed.” He was happy when I said my cook sang and so did Rosa Gonezalas. José could accompany on a guitar. I also said there would be about fourteen people that would be joining Sheila and me in our nuptial celebration.

We walked inside to what had been the bar room. Most of the bar had been removed. The pulpit was a very short section of the bar that remained. It was the center section and he used it as his pulpit. There was a raised platform behind the pulpit the parson stood on so he could be seen by the congregation. Planks were laid on saw horses for seats. The planks hadn’t been smoothed and were rough cut which must become very uncomfortable if the sermon was lengthy.

“We push the seats out of the way if we have a church social and dance. That is our main fundraiser. All money that is bid for lunches comes to the church to pay me and what I need to conduct the service. We schedule these once a month and no one has to be one of our flock to attend. One of the ladies has an upright piano and we move it from her house. It is a chore but she likes to dance and pressed it on us to use.”

This sounded like a good idea. I came up with another suggestion. “Why don’t you have the wedding on this Saturday and my new wife and I will meet our neighbors?”

“I’ll get the word out. Will you be asking for the money paid for the lunches?”

“No, of course not. If you don’t say anything, I will also donate to the church an amount of what is the sum you take in for the lunches.”

“You’re generous, Mr. Palmer. Mr. Simpson is the one who auctions the lunches. Have you met him?”

“Yes, I have an account at the bank and he has been very helpful.”

We left there and I went into the general store and looked at wedding bands. There wasn’t much of a choice. I found one that would fit Sheila, but I would have to go without. “My first husband didn’t wear one, and I still felt I was married. It would be nice if you wore one, though.

“Would you mind if I put on my father’s. He wore his proudly and I could keep up the tradition.”

“Does it fit?” I nodded yes, and Sheila smiled.

“Sheila, I should get back to the ranch. The men will all be in tonight from looking over my range. I want to find out what I have.”

“I’m a distraction and holding you up, aren’t I?”

“Somewhat, but you come first. I’m cramming a lot of work into a short period of time, but it all needs doing. It will settle down and we can relax this winter after all the fall work is done. Hell, some days we won’t even have to get out of bed.”

“Randy, stop talking like that. I’ll have you making love to me behind those bushes I see head of us.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

I didn’t follow up because we were meeting two riders coming toward us. They paused long enough to ask how far ahead the town was located. Sheila giggled as they moved on. “We dodged the bullet didn’t we? I would have been so embarrassed if we had been found doing what I suggested.”

“There’s still time.”

“No, the moment has passed and I have regained my sanity. Randy, I don’t know what has come over me. I never acted like this with Joe. Am I being too bold?”

“No, sweetheart, some of it is because it’s been so long since you’ve made love. It’s been months for you. Think about me. It has been longer than that for me.”

“Did you ever have someone steady?”

“Of course, I have. But I just never had my priorities straight before. Now I am in a position where I’ve found someone I want to be with all the time rather than look to piling up money in the bank. Actually these last few months I have piled up considerable assets and it is time to take on something that is more important.”

“Am I that important to you?”

“You are. I believe we are like minded in so many ways. Family and friends are important. I have always had friends, but never much family. My father and mother died almost five years ago and I have been on my own. I have always been open to opportunities and I’ve acted on them when they presented themselves. The best one recently is you.”

“So you consider me an opportunity?”

“Only in the fact that we both need a partner and I think we have both found a good one. We still don’t know each other very well, but I have a feeling about you. Some of it is faith in making one’s own decision and by all indication you are doing the same.”

“Randy, that’s exactly how I feel about you.”

We were quiet for a few minutes, not talking, just riding along. “You know, sweetheart, we are going about starting a life together backward. I’m confident that it is going to work though.”

“I know what you are saying. We are getting married and then getting to know each other.”

“Exactly.”

All hands were in from the range that evening. After everyone ate chow, I went into the bunk house and asked them to tell what they had found. I wanted to know how much stock there was and what there was for feed. All the hands declared I had made quite a buy. Bricknell, was there and I looked at him when this was said. “I’m glad you bought. I’m so relieved I don’t have to deal with all that goes with running the ranch any longer.” If he was happy then I was.

Tony and Slim summed up what the ranch was and what it held for promise in the future. “Randy, it looks like the range has never had enough cattle on it to be efficient. Also what stock is here hasn’t been managed well at all. There are several large draws where there are steers at least seven years old holed up in the brakes. Everything we’ve seen is in great shape though. There are a lot of bulls, and some of these are full grown, but small. Those should be the first to go.

“We’ll need at least three more hands to work the place as it is right now. Later we’ll need more. You still haven’t told us why you brought all them mares with us when we came up from Surcingle?”

“I knew from what the banker told me that the range was under stocked. This part of the country will become more populated with people. I’m thinking of buying some jacks and raising mules. That’s why I hung onto the mares. We’ll put the word out for some. We’ll get them here by spring. A few years from now we’ll have some mules to sell. I’m in this for the long haul.”

“Christ, Randy, you’ll be raising sheep next.”

“Don’t laugh, we might have a few of those too if we can find a place to keep a small flock away from the cattle.”

“Where did you get all these crazy ideas from?”

“From Sheila Pierson. I know she is just a farmer in your eyes, but she comes from Ohio country. Back there the farms are diversified, raising all sorts of different crops on the same farm. The ranchers out here just raise one thing. What if the cattle market goes bust? What are the ranchers going to do? And by the way, you are all invited to Shelia’s wedding. She’s getting married on Saturday.”

“Who is she getting hitched to?”

“Me.” I stood there grinning. “Seriously. I’d like everyone to come to see me married. It’s happening in an empty saloon that is being used as a church. I’ll have Kate make up lunches for everyone to take. They’ll be auctioned off. There will be some townspeople there and some people from the ranches from the other end of the valley. It’ll be a great way to get acquainted with people in the area.”

“Hey Boss, you’re in trouble now.” This was Tony laughing at the state of marriage.

Johnny Bricknell injected, “Don’t you laugh at Mrs. Pierson. She’s a fine woman and any man should be honored to have her choose him for a husband.” His face turned red but with a shocked look on his face, not believing he had spoken.

It was quiet for minute and then we all laughed. I slapped Johnny on the back. Tony did too, explaining, “I was only joking. Of course she is a fine woman and Sheila and Randy are going to have a happy marriage.”

“Randy, I was with Finch when he started shooting at the house. She never blamed me at all because I was riding with him that day. Not only that, she came out of the house shooting when Patty got hurt. She was protecting her kid. Not all parents would do that. I thought she was wonderful and I still do.”

“Johnny, we all do. Tony was just having a little fun with me.” I saw Sheila the next day and I told her about Johnny.

“Must be his parents let him down sometime.”

“I guessed that was the situation the same as you.”

“Randy, am I going to move in with you? I will have Nina help me pack some things for me.”

“Pack some things for Teresa and Patty at the same time. Slim and Kate are going to have the third bedroom until I can arrange otherwise.” I smiled. “But don’t have the girls come until Sunday for dinner.”

“What about Kate?”

“She’s staying in the bunkhouse. It was her idea. She said she was on the trail with us all on the way up here. Don’t worry about her. There is an alcove behind a blanket for privacy. Be assured she will be well respected.”

“You have great crew, Randy.” I knew that. Montana, and both Brad and Johnny Bricknell had fitted right in and all got along with the hands who came with me.

Nina and her three girls came with Sheila Friday afternoon. They were making food for the lunches tomorrow. It was beef, of course, but it was being cooked with some spices that were a staple of Mexican seasoning. I escaped to the bunkhouse. It wasn’t long before we heard singing and laughter from the house.

Saturday morning the crew and I got slicked up. Kate made sure that I looked nice. She even trimmed my hair. Johnny polished my boots. When we went out on the trail to town we fell in behind Sheila and Patty. Sheila had arranged for a gig to ride in. Nina was driving it.

“Montana, you and Johnny ride ahead of them for an escort. Kate tells me I’m not supposed to see Sheila this morning until the parson gets me lined up. That’s when she is to appear at my side.”

We came down the main street of the town. Nina wheeled the gig around behind the former saloon and Kate informed me that Sheila would come in the back door. I was to go in through the batwings. We pulled up to the hitch rails. There were a few horses tied already up and down the street. When I entered the saloon-cum-church, I paused because most of the seats were filled with townspeople.

I noted Banker Simpson and a woman sitting next to him who must be his wife. Steve Broduer, the deputy, was on the same bench with a woman beside him. The only others I recognized were the owner of the general store and the owner of the livery stable where I had bought Big Ugly.

The parson was standing in front of the pulpit and I lined up on his left. Kate had followed me and she stood across from me waiting for Sheila. Patty and Nina came from the back and stood beside Kate. Slim left my crew where they had arranged themselves along one side of the front wall to the left of the batwings. Slim grinned self consciously as I watched him align himself with me.

Montana came in with Sheila on his arm. José began playing strains from the hymn, “Nearer God to Thee” on his guitar. As Sheila and Montana made their way around the room from the back and came up to me with her hand out for me to take.

We faced Parson Winters and he began the ceremony. He was about half-way through it when the batwings were pushed open with a bang and ten cowhands came noisily barging in. The front man was pushing a mousy little woman ahead of him. He pointed at a small space on the end of the bench and said, “Sit.”

Montana said out of the side of his mouth, “That’s Dean Ferris and his wife Mable. He is the biggest rancher in the valley and he wants the town named for him. I think he is a bully and carries a big crew of tough men to back him up.”

“What’s his brand?”

“The backward “Slash DF Slash.” The slashes come together at the top and some call it the tent brand.”

“Slim, ease out the back door and run their horses off. The deputy will calm them down in here. I’m going to get married come hell or high water.”