Chapter 8

Dave didn’t make it working the full year for Randy as he had promised. Dean had a stroke the following spring and Mable asked that he come home and take over running the ranch for her. “Ma, I was going to marry Teresa when the year was up. We are in love. How’s that going to affect Pa if I bring a lowly Mexican girl home? I mean, will it be so bad it will kill him?”

“What were you going to do when the year was up about her then?”

“Have it out with Pa and if he still spoke against her, I would have told him to go to hell.”

“Will Teresa treat Dean with respect after what he has said about her?”

“I will guarantee she will. She has been brought up with Sheila and Randy Palmer. Her mother, Nina is a well respected nurse when needed. Everyone shows respect for everyone else over at their ranch. Pa’s crew here is pretty rough and I won’t have any one on the place that won’t show Teresa respect. That goes for Pa as well as the crew.”

“You’d threaten to fire the crew if that happens?”

“I wouldn’t just threaten, I’d fire any one of them. For Pa, if he objects, I’ll build him a little shack out back and he can live by himself. He has to understand he isn’t in charge any longer. It’ll be tough on you at first, but I’ll bet he won’t want to live by himself for very long.”

“Dave, Dean can understand you if you talk to him. He might even get his speech back and be able to walk again someday. Talk to him first, please. I’ve been with him a long time. It hasn’t been easy, but he is my husband, and remember he is your father.”

“Sure Ma, don’t worry. I’ve learned a thing or two over at the other end of the valley. We’ve just never got along, but I won’t kick him when he can’t defend himself, although I’ve wanted to in the past. When’s the best time to talk to him?”

“Tomorrow morning when he is the brightest.”

“Alright. I’m going in to see Teresa tonight and ask if she will come out first thing in the morning. You might talk to her about us getting married. I guess it had better be in town. I’ve made a lot of friends with the farmers and they’ll want to be there. Sheila and Randy will help. Patty Palmer will be Teresa’s maiden of honor. It’ll probably take a month to get the wedding organized. You know Ma, our getting married is going to bring the whole valley together. It could have happened back when the town was named for Pa, but better late than never.”

“How do you figure that, Dave?”

“Ma, I’ll be the in charge here and Teresa is as much a Palmer as Patty is; you’ll see. I won’t be throwing my weight around, but we’ll all get along better.”

“I hope so. Maybe you can teach your father a thing or two.”

“Maybe.”

I, headed for town. It took an hour and a half at a steady jog. Randy was waiting for me at the auction house office to find out how bad Dean was. “Randy, I’m afraid I’m done working for you. I didn’t want to be. I’ve never been treated so well until I came asking for a job of you.”

“How is Dean?”

“Randy, he can’t talk and he can’t get out of bed. But the doctor said there was a lot of hope he will get better if Ma keeps him calm enough. She said for me to come be the manager with the understanding that I’m taking over permanently. I’m a little worried about bringing Teresa home with me. I’m having her come to the ranch tomorrow morning and we will be talking to Pa about me and also about Teresa. I figure she can charm Pa somehow. She charmed me and she and Ma have been getting together here in town when the chance presented its self.”

“Dave, I’ve been terribly glad you’ve had almost a year working for me. You’ll have wonderful wife soon and we’ll give you any help if you need it. Don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Randy, I won’t. The town was named after Pa, but we all know this is your town. I want our end of the valley to blossom like it has on your end. That’s what I will be working toward.”

“That’s high praise for me to live up to, Dave. I know you’ll do your best.” Randy stuck out his hand and I shook it.

I headed over to the school house to talk to Teresa. “Hi, Honey, I guess you know my Ma sent word that my Pa had a stroke a couple of days ago. I just saw Randy and told him I had to go home because Ma needs me to take over running the ranch for her. The doctor was there this morning and said he thought Pa could get better if he had good care, so Ma is going to turn the ranch over to me and she’s going to care for him. She’s got directions to follow.”

“I know. The doctor has already seen Mama about helping Mable nurse him. Now that Montana isn’t here working for Randy, he drives Mama around. She’s back to nursing when someone is sick.”

“Great. I asked Ma to get with you and talk about us getting married. I’d like to be married by this time next month.”

“That’s only a month before we were planning it anyway.”

“You do still want to marry me don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Dave, do you think your Pa will give you any trouble. He doesn’t think much of my people.”

“That’s because he doesn’t know you that well. I should have insisted that Ma invite you for Sunday dinner more often. He can’t object now, he can’t even talk. I told Ma you would show him respect even when I don’t think he deserves any.”

“I’ll be nice to him. It must be awful to be the way he is after the way he was normally.”

“Teresa, we haven’t talked about whether you are still going to teach school after we are married. I’d like to have you not, but I know how much you enjoy it.”

“Dave, I’m going to be a full time wife to you. I’ve already discussed it with the school superintendant. He has a replacement lined up. I can leave anytime. The school has got so big with all the kids in school with those out in the valley. There are some kids that haven’t had much schooling from your Pa’s end”

“That’s good. Hey, I can ride out in the buggy to the Bricknell ranch with you today and get my things. Can you get tomorrow off? I’m talking with the our crew and Pa in the morning. I wanted you there if possible.”

“I’ll let you know when you pick me up this afternoon. I think it possible.”

“Okay, see you then. I wish I could kiss you.”

“Stop it, Dave. You get me so flustered I won’t be able to teach this afternoon.” I laughed and reached out and let my hand slide down from her shoulder to her hand and squeezed it. “Go!”

I picked Teresa up when school let out and we headed for the ranch. “Dave, I can go with you to see Mable tomorrow. I have to come back and work Friday and then I’m all done teaching. They do want me to teach some next year. It won’t be here. As long as you are taking over the Ferris ranch, do you think I could have a school house at the ranch? There’s going to be eight children from the ranchers that live up in the hills beyond your place and the youngest have never been to school. None of them will be over fifteen years old. Most are under ten. The county will build the schoolhouse and I’ll be right close to you.”

“If it will keep you near me we’ll plan on it. It will be my ranch to say and to do with me as manager.”

“Your father won’t let you when he gets well.”

“It’s up to you to charm him. He can’t curse you because he can’t talk. Look how you charmed me.”

“Well, I’m not going to charm him like I charmed you.”

“You had better not.” Teresa giggled.

I gathered up my warsack and the few personal things I had at the ranch. Teresa was going back to town and stay in her room overnight and then ride out to the Ferris ranch in the morning using the buggy. I would go on with the horse tonight and stay with Ma and Pa and be ready to address the crew in the morning. Randy’s crew hated to see me leave and the young kids of Randy’s and the married hands hated to have me leave too. I had made friends of them all.

There was a long discussion with Randy and Sheila about the two of us getting married. “I’ll be in church Sunday and talk with Mable. Teresa, do you want a small intimate ceremony? What about you, Dave?”

“As long as Teresa is there I, don’t care. Actually if she wants a small wedding, I’ll go with that.”

Teresa pulled into the Ferris ranch about 9:30. She was riding astride wearing a divided skirt. She had left the Palmer ranch at six and didn’t stop in town. The crew of nine, were standing around the yard smoking cigarettes, waiting for they didn’t know what. They did know it concerned Dean, their boss.

I came out when I heard the horse come into the yard. Teresa, swung the horse around so she could dismount. I was there to give her a hug. “How’s your father this morning, Dave?”

“Holding his own so Ma says.” He turned to the crew. “Men, I’m going to be talking to Pa. Ma wants me to take over managing the ranch. If I do, I will be your boss for good. You’ll be working for me and not Pa. I’ll be back out with orders for the day. I’ll tell you how Pa takes this and some other changes that are being made.”

I guided Teresa up onto the porch and through the door. Mable spoke, “In the bedroom, Teresa, I don’t think you’ve been beyond the dining room the few times you were here. Dave, your Pa is awake.”

The bedroom was large and Mable had placed chairs for the three of them. Teresa came in and went right to Dean’s side where he was laying on the bed. “Mr. Ferris, I’m so sorry you are sick.”

Dean’s eye bored into hers and then they looked for Mable. He struggled do say something to his wife. “Dean, Dave will explain. Now you stay calm like the doctor told you to.”

“Pa, you know Ma can’t handle the ranch and take care of you too so Ma brought me home to be manager. Teresa is going to be here with me because she and me are going to get married within the month. Ranching is a full time job, you know that, and I can’t go running off courting, so she’s going to be in the small room upstairs. When we are married she will move into my room”

“Dean, you’re going to see Teresa’s mother, Nina, here during the day. She is going to help me care for you. The doctor said you could get better if you do as he says. Nina has been nursing off and on for years. You must know that Teresa is a school teacher and it was something she loved doing, but she loves Dave more, so she will be here with him.

“Nina is also going to be cooking some different dishes we have never had. According to her they are good for cleaning out your veins and get you back on your feet sooner. We all are going to do our damndest to see that you do.

“Not much will change with the ranch. If the crew will work with Dave, he’ll keep them on. He knows they are a rough bunch so he is going to have to go some to fill your shoes. Just so you know, I’ve given my share of the ranch ownership to Dave so he is equal in all things with you.” She looked at Dave, “You want to say anything, Dave?”

“I didn’t know about owning half the ranch, Ma?”

“That’s so you won’t be running off again, and too, I’m thinking of your father. He has been getting stressed out with the ranch and all. I knew something like this was going to happen and it did. I guess I’m glad you brought Teresa home with you. Every man needs a woman. Your Pa did, and although difficult at times, we’re still together.” She leaned down and kissed Dean. “Dave, he’s getting tired, so you better go out and speak to the men now.”

Teresa spoke to Dean. “Mr. Ferris, it’s too formal calling you that. Mable, what do the men call him?”

“They all call him Dean.”

“Okay, until Dave and I get married, that’s what I’m going to call you. That’s because I’ll be helping Dave and Mable. Dean, I hope, that’s okay with you. Someday you may want me to call you Pa like Dave does. I don’t remember my own father too much. Mom and kids were thrown off the Bricknell ranch after my own Pa died.” She turned toward the door.

I led the way out to the porch. Teresa had on brightly dyed light wool jacket with the color brown predominant to match her divided skirt. Her shawl, which had been wound around her neck when she arrived, now was hanging loose over the front of her.

I came down off the porch and stood facing the crew who had come closer. The roughest one had a surly look on his face came the closest. He was new to me and we had never met, “Who’s the Mex chick? I don’t know as I want to work where Mexicans are shacking up.” He was staring right into Dave’s face.”

“I don’t know you, but I know one thing, you don’t work here anymore, you’re fired. Pack up and get out.”

“Dean hired me and he’s the one to fire me. I was hired on as his straw boss. You can’t fire me. You’ll have to throw me off the place.”

Dave said, quietly, “You’re packing and I’m packing. Back off. I said you were fired, and that’s the end of it.”

Sam Ogden, the oldest hand that worked for Dean, shouted, “Hey, Buck, Dave will kill you if you draw your gun. At least give the rest of us time to get out of the line of fire. You may not know it, but Dave took on four bank robbers a few months ago. He killed three and wounded the other one. Reports said Miss Gonezalas helped.”

Sullen now, and more than a little worried, Buck turned this over in his mind. He said. “I guess my mouth got me into some trouble. I do need this job.”

“You know what you have to do then.”

Buck Johnson was puzzled about what Dave meant. Teresa was standing near the edge of the porch, looking at Buck. Buck removed his Stetson and walked close and looked up at her. “Ma’am, I’m sorry. There was no excuse for what I said. If my mother was here and heard what I said about you, she would have me out to the woodshed. Would you speak up to the boss for me, please? I really am a good hand.”

Teresa studied Buck and decided, “Lesson learned. My soon-to-be husband doesn’t shout like his father and you’ll find if he says something he means it the first time he says it. There is no second chance. You’ll find him different than his father and I think you’ll find this will be a good place to work after Dave has been boss for awhile. You’ll find he is a good hand himself. Ask the older men. When Dean was trailing cows to Kansas, Dave was there. I was young at the time, and the drover who was in charge was Randy Palmer. He always said Dave was one of the best.”

Buck didn’t know what to do. Hat still off, he faced Dave. “Boss, I know cattle and I know I’ve lost the straw boss slot, but I’m asking to stay.”

Dave looked at Buck, nodded and then turned to the rest of the crew. “Alright you men, let’s go down to the corral and you can fill me in how the ranch is and what needs doing. I assume you haven’t started branding yet, but Pa should have it all planned out. I need to know these things. Buck, if you’re the straw boss, you must know where we are. You can fill me in.” Buck started to thank Dave but he was waved off.

Dave’s first question was asked, “Are the biscuits that the cookie makes just as hard as ever? If they are, I’ll have Ma or Teresa down here to teach him how to make something we don’t have to swallow whole ‘cause we can’t chew them.” Everyone laughed.

I began asking about the ranch. Except for the last year I had lived all my years on it. I figured Buck was worth keeping. He knew where most of the cows ranged on different parts of the ranch. Buck described their condition and how the feed was. This was a big ranch and for all of Dean being difficult to get along with, it was reasonably well run. I knew if this was a happy outfit, it would be a great place to live.

Nina Gonezalas arrived after a bit with Montana driving her in a gig. Teresa was glad to see her mother and Mable served a sweet bread that Teresa had helped bake. Montana went into the bunkhouse where I was still questioning the help about the ranch. Teresa came out onto the porch and sat down while Nina and Mable cleaned and bathed Dean. This was going to be a daily chore until Dean got strong enough to get out of bed.

Montana stayed with the Ferris crew when they went to the cook shack for coffee and a piece of bread and hank of beef which comprised the noon meal if there were hands on the home place. The evening meal was the big meal of the day.

I went up and sat on the porch with Teresa. She said, “Mama and Mable said me taking care of your father at this point wasn’t necessary. I’d take care of you if you were like your Pa is.”

“I know you would. You’ve already taken care of me when I was injured.”

“How are you getting along with your father’s crew?”

“Good. I think I got control and you helped when we had the set-to with Buck. I’m glad he is still here. I think he was trying to act like Pa would have. When I quick-like acted the way I did it was all over. You finished it with his image still intact.”

“We do make a pair. Are you going to ride beside me when I go into town this afternoon?”

“I don’t think I will. Maybe Montana will ride your horse and you can ride in the gig with your Mama. I’m coming into town Saturday with the buckboard from here to load your things and we’ll get you moved in by night. You know I’m going to be sleeping across the hall from you, but I’ll be good.”

“I know and I’ll try to be good too. Remember, I’m considered an old maid by most people and I have to catch me a man somehow. I think we had better discontinue this discussion.”

“Four weeks from tomorrow it will be moot anyway. Teresa my love, are you going to be happy here? I worry a little about Pa upsetting you and you wanting to leave.”

“Dave Honey, I’ll have him wondering how he ever got along without me being here by the time you and I are married. You’ll see if I don’t. I love your Ma already. Of course I’ve always heard by Randy how great you and Mable were ever since he rescued the cattle herd the time your Pa got hurt. That was what— ten years ago?”

“Yeah, I think so. What a lot of changes there have been in the ten years. You grew up into a beautiful lady and look at me, the same old puncher only ten years older.”

“It hasn’t been a waste for you. You’re intelligent and now running the biggest ranch in the valley. You’ve got respect of everyone in town and the other end of the valley for saving the bank from being robbed. Johnny Bricknell thinks you are quite a guy. Starting about when we are getting married, Randy told me he was making Johnny foreman of the ranch under him. Don’t tell anyone, but Patty Palmer is awful sweet on him. She is just waiting for him to talk to Sheila and Randy for her hand.