Chapter 30

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with a fiery array of oranges and pinks, Ben looked at his makeshift family. “Now, Goldie,” he began, his tone one of gentle authority, “you’ve got quite the task ahead of you, running this place as the businessman’s housewife.”

Goldie met his gaze, her expression a mix of pride and resolve. “I won’t let you down, Ben,” she said, her voice steady. “I’ve managed worse in my day, and with you by my side, I know we can turn this ranch into something special.”

Ben nodded, his trust in Goldie as unwavering as the mountains that ringed the town. “I know you will,” he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. “You’ve got the smarts and the grit to make this place run like clockwork.”

Goldie turned to Beulah and Lois, her expression earnest. “Are you both ready to take on the job as sheriff’s assistants?” she asked, her voice steady despite the butterflies that danced in her stomach. “It won’t be easy, but I know you can handle it.”

Beulah, her knife work now a blur of motion, paused to look at Goldie. “You bet I am,” she said, her eyes alight with a newfound sense of purpose. “I’ve learned enough from Sunukkuhkau to handle myself in a fight, and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.”

Lois lowered her bow, a quiver of arrows at her side. “I’m ready too,” she said, her voice filled with conviction. “Harkahome’s taught me like more in a few days than I ever knew about fight and archery, and I’m a quick learner.”

With a nod of approval, Ben turned to Beulah and Lois. “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”

They headed out to the backyard, where the thick, untamed grass stretched out before them like a sea of green. The air was warm and fragrant with the scent of earth and life. As they approached the field, the tall grass swayed gently in the breeze, whispering secrets that only the land knew.

“Alright, ladies,” Ben said, his voice filled with excitement, “Let’s see what you’ve learned.”

Beulah stepped forward, her knife glinting in the fading light. She’d picked up the blade with a newfound confidence under Sunukkuhkau’s tutelage. The Wematin warrior had taught her not just the mechanics of combat, but the spirit behind it. Every strike she practiced was a declaration of her intent to protect the town she’d come to love.

Lois, on the other hand, had found a surprising talent with the bow. Under Harkahome’s watchful eye, she’d honed her skills, her arrows slicing through the air with a deadly precision that seemed to belie her gentle nature.

Ben cleared his throat, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Now, I know you’ve both learned a thing or two about fighting,” he began, “but I’ve got a different kind of practice in mind.”

Beulah and Lois exchanged puzzled looks, their brows furrowing in curiosity. “What do you mean, Ben?” Lois asked, her grip tightening slightly on the bow.

Ben chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “I mean, I want to see how well you can handle yourselves in close quarters,” he explained, his tone light. “Wrestling’s a good way to learn to read your opponent, to anticipate their moves, and to keep your cool under pressure.”

Beulah and Lois exchanged a look, a spark of challenge passing between them. They’d come a long way from the broken souls they’d been when Ben had first found them, and they were eager to prove themselves. “Alright, Ben,” Beulah said, her voice light and teasing, “you’re on.”

They both began to strip off their clothes, their movements careful and deliberate. The warm evening air kissed their bare skin as they revealed themselves to the world, their bodies a testament to their strength and resilience. Beulah felt a thrill run through her as she saw the admiration in Ben’s eyes, a feeling she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

Lois followed suit, her cheeks flushing as she realized the depth of the bond she was forming with Ben and Goldie. As she dropped her last piece of clothing, she felt a sense of liberation that washed over her like a wave, cleansing her of the shame that had clung to her like a second skin.

The four of them stepped into the makeshift wrestling ring, the soft grass cushioning their bare feet. Goldie and Ben took their positions at the edge, their eyes never leaving the two women. “Remember, no punching or kicking,” Goldie called out, her voice firm but filled with a hint of amusement. “We want to keep this friendly.”

Beulah and Lois squared off, each taking a moment to size the other up. They circled each other, muscles tensing and relaxing in a silent dance of anticipation. The air grew thick with tension, the only sounds the rustle of the grass and the distant cries of the cattle settling in for the night.