“You know they’re made up and not real?”
Davie frowned. “Nuh unh. Right on the front it says ‘true adventures’. They couldn’t say that unless it was true, could they?”
“They would say whatever it took to sell them. You can’t believe advertisements. Look at all the ads that promise miraculous things. If they were all true no one would ever be sick or bald or be too thin or too fat. Enjoy the stories as long as you remember they’re just that.”
Davie grinned. “I’m glad you don’t care if I read them. They’re exciting.”
Charlotte thought reading was good for him even if the material was less than ideal. He was sharpening his imagination and reading ability. All the same, she planned to look through one of the books when they got home to see exactly what they contained.
Chapter Twelve
Bret took his sandwich and rifle to the porch and sat in a chair. The day was perfect with bright blue sky and only enough breeze to cool him. He’d finished his lunch and was about to doze in the chair when shadowy movement caught his attention.
He froze but watched the shape slip out of the barn and around the corner between the barn and pig sty. Some lowdown skunk was prowling around. Acting like he was stretching, Bret latched on to his rifle. Swiftly he leveled it, cocked it, and fired.
He’d known he wouldn’t hit anything but he figured he’d given some polecat a scare. Within seconds he heard the sound of a horse galloping but couldn’t spot the animal or rider. Might give someone second thoughts before he came prowling again.
Too late Bret realized what an easy target he was if the unwanted visitor had fired back. What a sorry situation when a man couldn’t enjoy sitting on his own front porch. Whoa, this wasn’t his anything. What was he thinking?
Disgusted, he went into the house and to the bedroom. He leaned his rifle where it had been between the bed and the lamp table. He admitted he wouldn’t mind living here permanently with Charlotte as his wife. He was stupid to even have the idea pop into his head. Suddenly weary, he lay down and closed his eyes.
When he woke, he took out his pocket watch. Ten past four o’clock. The family would be back soon. He thought it was time to clean his revolvers and rifle and be prepared for whatever came this way.
He’d finished and had the rifle propped against the wall when Charlotte came to the bedroom and stretched out her hand. Cupped in her palm was an empty cartridge. “This was on the porch.”
“There was a prowler.” He explained what had happened.
“Oh, Bret, this has to stop.” She sank to the chair and held her face in her hands. She didn’t appear to be weeping but clearly she was upset.
He didn’t know what to do. “I’m sorry if I’ve caused you distress after you’ve been so kind to me. Perhaps you think I shouldn’t have fired at whoever was here. I assure you I had your best interests at heart and didn’t endanger any of your animals.”
She looked up and her eyes shone with unshed tears. “No, I meant prowlers. Thank you for defending the ranch.” She explained about the man spying on her and the children.
Her story made his blood boil. He might have amnesia but he knew injustice when he heard it. “That’s too much, Charlotte. Although I’m sure he was entertained, it’s sinister that he was there watching you while someone else was here. That means there’s organized spying going on. I wish we could alert the sheriff.”
“I will, but I don’t know what he can do. He doesn’t have the manpower to keep watch on the ranch on the off chance that will be the day someone spies or prowls. The sheriff will be by one day soon. Since the rustlers struck, he stops by about once a week or so.”
“Davie told me the sheriff is going to send a ranch hand this way if a trustworthy one shows up looking for work.”
“Supposedly but I guess no one has come to him.” She stood but looked so forlorn he wanted to pull her onto his lap.
What had come over him? Those thoughts were totally inappropriate.
He said, “Don’t give up hope.”
“This time of year I reckon everyone has a job who wants one. But you’re right and I’m still hoping at least one man will turn up who will work here. We have a good bunkhouse and plenty of food.”
“Great food. I can vouch for that.”
She stood and rubbed her palms on her overalls. “Speaking of food, I’d better get supper on the table.”
“You have to be exhausted. Don’t you ever give yourself a break and just have… I don’t know, bread and jam or something easy?”
She offered a weak smile. “I never have but thank you for your kind thoughts. Instead I make stew.” She left and he heard her footsteps recede.
***
The next day Bret stood at the kitchen window. A bank of dark clouds spread on the southwest horizon. He figured they were in for a big storm.
Davie came in carrying pails of milk. “Two riders coming. One looks like the sheriff.”
Jimmy and Susie had already carried in a basket of eggs.
Charlotte exchanged glances with him. “I hope the second rider is a man looking for a job as a ranch hand.” She walked to the door.
Bret followed her onto the porch. “I have one of my revolvers in my waistband in case there’s trouble.”
She glanced toward him before training her eyes on the riders. “I have one in my pocket. After recent events, I plan to always keep
