Isabella: Book Four: The Cattleman's Daughters Read online

  Isabella

  Book Four: The Cattleman’s Daughters

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Wyoming, June 1890

  Isabella James gave the rope swing another push, sending her twin sister Alexis whooshing softly through the hot June air. She knew it was childish using their nephew’s swing, but after working in the kitchen garden all morning they were taking a break.

  “I suppose we should go in and see if Nona needs help preparing dinner,” Lexi said as she rocked on the wooden plank seat, her face turned toward the afternoon sun.

  “Let’s stay a little longer, Lexi,” Isabella replied. “It’s been a long summer and sometimes it’s nice to just take a break. Besides, Fiona’s cooking tonight.”

  “Issy,” the other girl drawled, “that doesn’t mean we can’t help.”

  Without warning, Lexi leaned forward on the swing, tucking her legs under it and allowing the fabric of her deep blue work dress to slow its motion. “Do you see that?” she asked, pointing off toward the track that led to their home, the Broken J ranch.

  “It looks like riders,” Issy replied, stepping away from the trunk of the big cottonwood tree and gazing off into the distance. “Did Pa say anything about new hands?”

  Her twin sister turned, giving her a significant look. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  Joshua James looked out his bedroom window at the ranch he, his men, and his family had built. “Things sure are changing fast aren’t they?” a woman’s voice interrupted his thoughts as he examined the large barn on the other side of the wide dusty yard.

  “I’ve brought you that willow bark tea, Josh,” the plump, older woman said, lifting a cup of the bitter brew. He grimaced, but accepted it, knowing it would help with the headache. He took a sip with a scowl.

  “Nothing ever stays the same.” His words hung between them for a minute.

  “I remember when we first arrived here,” the woman spoke. “There was nothing but a collection of sod shacks, a mismatched bunch of animals, three little girls and men.” Her smile was wistful. “Cammy certainly took a shine to the place though.” Her dark eyes twinkled as she tucked a stray strand of black hair mixed with gray back into a tight bun at the back of her neck.

  “Bianca,” Joshua began, “sometimes that seems like a lifetime ago.”

  “It was a lifetime ago, the lifetime of my daughter and your wife.” She smiled despite the sad memories. “She was so happy Josh; she’d be proud of everything that’s been accomplished.”

  The tall, white haired cattleman turned his head toward his mother-in-law and stretched out an arm. The short plump woman moved into his embrace. “It couldn’t have happened without you and Isadoro. Not only did you bring me a woman to love, that man of yours understood how to build a place that would last. Just look at the barn.”

  His eyes ran the length of the large structure; its double doors open wide to catch the midday warmth. To the barn’s left, the forge of the blacksmith’s shop rang with the sound of steel on steel, while chickens pecked about near the wooden coop. On the right of the barn, a tall windmill stood at the far end of a corral, turning lazily in the warm breeze.

  “It’s changing fast now,” Bianca Leoné chimed. “Will and Katie have their own place; Hank and Fiona’s is nearly finished, and when the hay is in, Iss will start on Clayton and Meg’s cabin. I married a good man, but a great builder,” she added with pride, thinking about her husband, Isadoro.

  “Where is that husband of yours working today anyway?” Josh asked.

  “He’s with Hank, working on the new house.”

  “That’s right.” Josh sipped the horrible tea hoping his headache would soon subside. The sound of riders slowly approaching drew his attention.

  Chapter 1

  Reginald Ogden let his bay mare amble under the high, arched sign that rose over the trail leading to the Broken J ranch, and entered the ranch yard proper. His eyes took in every aspect of the compound. A windmill pumped water into a large trough to his right, near a large heavily planked barn. A small sod shack, nearly surrounded by an impressive kitchen garden, was on his left, and just past that a two-story house with a wraparound porch centered the fenced area. Beyond that, he could see what might be a bunk house, a smoke house and another smaller building, perhaps for storage.

  Even from this distance he could hear the sound of steel ringing off an anvil and the clatter of wood and hammers was coming from the structure taking shape on the other side of the ranch yard by a clump of dark green trees.

  “It sure looks like a nice set up,” the man beside him chimed as he urged his own mount along. “I hope we’re needed as much as Pastor said we were when we left home. I for one don’t relish the idea of trying to get back home.”

  Reginald chuckled. It had been a hard ride from Pennsylvania. He had to agree with his brother’s sentiment.

  Isabella turned a knowing glance toward her sister as they watched the two young men slowly cross the ranch yard. One was tall and sat a lean bay horse easily, while the other, a good deal shorter, rode a pretty sorrel, but what most captured their attention was the dog perched on the saddle bows in front of the smaller rider. She was a mutt of medium height, her soft pink tongue lolling as her softly rounded belly swayed to the movement of the horse.

  Issy smiled turning her eyes back to Lexi. “So how are we going to handle this?” she asked slyly.

  Lexi shook her head. “We know why there here; it was only a matter of time,” she said with a mischievous twinkle. “I say we get to know them together to find out if we like them and then we’ll see where it leads.”

  Issy nodded. “So far things have worked out for our sisters. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.” Her optimism was encouraging.

  “Who would have thought our own father could be so devious,” Lexi added with a grin as she slid off the swing.

  “You see that, Reg?” Taylor’s voice was full of awe as he gazed along the ranch yard to where two girls, as alike as two peas in a pod, stood by an old rope swing. One young woman was just sliding off of the swing while the other stood partially in the shade of the big cottonwood as the sunlight through the trees dappled her dark brown hair, casting a halo on the black bark of the tree behind her. Her coffee colored eyes twinkled and a soft smile played at her ruddy lips. As their eyes met across the distance, Taylor felt his ears growing warm. “Dang she’s pretty,” his voice croaked.

  The sound of thundering hooves caused both men to turn in their saddles and start as a pretty calico pony came charging through the gate of the ranch. A petite girl of about fifteen stood in the saddle, her small boots firmly planted on either side of the rolled seat, black hair flying in the wind and a bright smile on her face.

  The dog barked. As if in slow motion, the tan and white pony shied violently to the right.

  Issy and Lexi gaped in horror as their baby sister Mae came charging along the hard packed trail, her pitch black tresses whipped into the air by the sheer speed of her pony. The sound of the dog’s single bark cracked like a rifle shot and silent screams gushed from their throats. The twins watched helplessly as their little sister jerked to the left and hung suspended for a split second in midair before tumbling with a rolling, grating crash to the ground.

  Reginald Ogden threw
himself from the saddle and raced to where the slight teen had crashed to the earth in a heap, her split riding skirt rucked up exposing slim, white calves as she shook and gasped for air. Behind him he could hear the sound of his brother placing his mongrel on the ground and hurrying to his side and the soft desperate patter of slippered feet racing toward him. Putting the distracting sounds out of his mind, he gently un-crumpled the prostrate girl. The wind had been completely knocked out of her, and she gaped like a fish, eyes wide. With quiet determination, Reg eased her onto her back, ignoring the scrapes and bruises, then gently pressed on her stomach. She gulped then sucked in a breath, panting to fill her lungs.

  “You just lay still missy,” Reg spoke softly.

  “Move, move,” a woman’s voice screeched as a plump aging form pushed the men away and knelt by the girl. “Mae Lynn James, what on God’s green earth where you thinking?” The voice quivered with anxiety even as the woman ran her hands over the girl. “Is anything broken? Can you stand? Where are you hurt?”

  “I’m alright, Nona,” the girl squeezed out as her breathing returned to normal. Bright tears sparkled in her eyes as dirt and tiny bits of rock clung to her bleeding face.

  “Baby?” a man’s voice wheezed.

  “I’m alright, Pa, at least mostly,” she said, pulling herself to a sitting position and looking at her bloody hands.

  “I’ll take her inside, Josh, and get her cleaned up,” the woman called Nona offered, helping the raven-haired girl to her feet as the twins rushed up.

  Glancing from her father to the two young men still kneeling on the ground, Isabella tried to offer them a reassuring smile before wrapping an arm around Mae and heading to the house.

  “I’m terribly sorry, sir,” Taylor said, swallowing hard to get the words out. He watched, worried as the white haired man squeezed his eyes shut and grasped his temples.

  “It’s not your fault, son,” the man said, eyes still closed. “I take it you’re the young men Jedidiah sent along for jobs.”

  “Yes, sir, Reginald Ogden and this here is my brother Taylor.”

  Joshua James forced his eyes open, his heart still pounding in his chest, and extended a shaking hand.

  “I’m Joshua James. Jed sent you out here to work for me. I’m sorry to have it start out this way.”

  “Mr. James, I take full responsibility for what happened,” Taylor spoke up, making the older man turn his focus on him. “If Molly hadn’t barked, this wouldn’t have happened.” He indicated the cur dog that had waddled up beside him and now lay in the dust of the yard panting.

  “Young man, Mae is always getting into some sort of trouble. I’m just glad it wasn’t as serious as it could have been.” He closed his eyes again, pain twisting his even features, but it wasn’t just the pain in his head. His heart ached at the thought of losing the one thing left of his last love.

  Opening his eyes again, he tried to smile. “You boys come on into the house and we’ll get acquainted.” He turned, stumbled, righted himself and headed for the stairs.

  Reg turned to his younger brother with a shrug, then together they fell into step with their new employer. Joshua James was a tall man, probably six foot two or three, but age was starting to bend his straight spine. His hair was nearly snow white and his eyes were an arctic blue, the color of a stream frozen in time. Reg hoped that this rough start wouldn't bias the man against them. He didn’t seem to be holding the recent incident against them, and Reg found himself hoping that was true. They desperately needed this job, and to call their trip across the United States lean was putting it mildly.

  In single-file they walked down a long corridor bordered on one side by a stairwell and on the other a wall that separated what appeared to be a parlor from the rest of the house. At the end of the corridor, they entered a large, cheery kitchen that took up nearly the entire length of the back of the house. The twin girls they had seen earlier were just putting a pot of coffee on the large, green enameled cook stove, but the older woman and younger girl were nowhere to be seen.

  Reg yanked his hat from his head, his ears burning as everyone in the room noted his shockingly red hair. There was no other word to describe it. It was red. Not a bright flame orange and gold or dark auburn color but bright red, the color of a big red and white Herford cow’s hide. He swallowed, pushing his awkwardness aside. One thing had never changed his entire life, and that was that anyone who saw him always did a double-take, surprised by his tasseled locks.

  “Sit down here at the table,” the cattleman offered. “I’m sure the girls will bring us a little something to snack on once the coffee is ready,” he added, looking toward the twins.

  Both of the new arrivals turned to look at the young women who smiled back at them.

  Chapter 2

  Once they had been seated at a small table by the window, the young men had a moment to look around. The house was large, and the well equipped kitchen roomy. Looking out the window onto a long back porch, they could see two large tables surrounded with benches. It made sense that in the summer when the kitchen would be overly warm from cooking, the family would take their meals out on the porch.

  From his vantage point at the far end of a much smaller kitchen table, Reginald Ogden could see the bunk house and another building. He squinted, seeing an older woman stooping over in a small patch of garden next to the bunk house, and wondered why there would be two gardens.

  “I was rather expecting you earlier this spring,” Joshua began. “I hope you didn’t have too much trouble gettin’ out here.” He looked at the young men questioningly, noting how the lighter haired one hung his head.

  Taylor ran a hand through his sandy hair, then looked to Reg, his hazel eyes glinting.

  “I’m afraid we didn’t have much to travel on,” Reg began, his ears growing hot again. “Jed gave us a bit of a grub stake to get started, but we didn’t feel that it was right to take more so we saddled up and started out.” He paused, looking around the kitchen, watching the easy way the pretty twins moved getting mugs, milk, and sugar ready.

  “It’s a mighty long ride from Pennsylvania,” he finally said, then smiled. "Ironically, we come from Wilkes-Barre in what's known as the Wyoming Valley." He chuckled softly. “In one way we’re right back where we started from.”

  A moment later, the young women walked toward the table carrying coffee cups and a small plate of cookies. The boys stood as they approached, and both women smiled. Reg noted their soft skin, and dark features. They were neither too plump nor too thin, but he couldn’t tell one from the other to save his life.

  Joshua James smiled up at his two girls. “Issy, Lexi have you been properly introduced?”

  “No, Pa,” the girls called in unison, as they placed the repast on the table.

  “Boys why don’t you introduce yourself.”

  “I’m Taylor Ogden,” Taylor blurted with a quick grin. Reg noted how his eyes kept straying to one of the girls.

  “I’m Reginald, but everyone calls me Reg, or Reggie.” He nodded his head toward the young ladies.

  “Pleased to meet you. I’m Lexi, and this is my sister Issy.” Her smile was bright and full of mischief. “I hope you’ll be happy here.” With that she flicked a look at her sister and together they turned away from the table, pretending not to notice the young men following them with their eyes.

  “Well, sit down,” Joshua offered, “and we’ll talk. Tell me a little about yourself. I told Jed I wanted to expand my wheat production, so I’m hoping you two are farmers.”

  “Yes, sir,” Reg spoke up as he settled himself in his chair again and picked up his mug of coffee. “We had a small farm in the western region of Pennsylvania. It wasn’t much, but it mostly kept food on the table.” He turned his eyes to his younger brother.

  “I’ve been working a saw mill there most recently to bring in a bit more cash money as well,” Taylor added.

  “Why’d you decide to come out here then?” the white haired cattleman ask
ed.

  “Things are building up more in the east. That area is almost all coal mines or mills now, and it was getting too hard to hang on to the farm with just the two of us and Mother to work it. Ma had been a school teacher for many years, but had to retire as she got older and it just didn’t make sense to try to keep running the farm. When Pastor Jed came around and told us you were looking for young men to come and work out here, we thought it would be best to sell the farm and see if we could earn enough to set Mother up in a better place.”

  “Where is your mother now, then?” Joshua asked.

  “She’s staying with family.”

  “Well, that sounds like a fine idea,” the older man added. “I suppose for right now, though, you’d like to get settled.” Putting actions to his words, he pushed himself up from the table. “You come on with me and I’ll point out the bunk house to you, then you can see to your horses.”

  Both young men stood and nodded as they followed their new boss out onto the back porch and into the warm, still air of summer.

  “That long building at the end of the fenced yard is the bunk house. You go in the door on the left. My blacksmith Deeks and his wife live on the right-hand side. Get yourself set up, then tend your horses and we’ll see you at supper.”

  Joshua had no sooner finished speaking than a tall, blonde woman walked out from around the other small structure, a baby on her hip, and waved up to them.

  “That’s my daughter Katie and her little girl, Mary,” His bright smile lit up his whole face as the pair approached.

  “Pa?” the young woman called as she ascended the stairs.

  “These are the Ogden boys, Katie. I’d like you to meet Reg and Taylor. They’ve come out to work with the wheat farming.” He smiled at his daughter and reached for the little girl on her hip. The child had startlingly green eyes and a mass of dark brown curls; she smiled at her grandfather, showing delicate dimples in her rosy cheeks.