He offered a wistful smile. “You remind my wife and me of our daughter, Ellen. Had she lived, she would be your age. We can’t help feeling protective of you and your children.”
“Thank you and thank you for calling them ‘my children’. Some believe because they’re not mine by birth that there’s no bond or relationship. Nothing is further from the truth.”
“I’ve seen you with them at church and I know that to be true.” Appearing weary, Mr. Edmondson stood. “I had best get on my way. I have to make another call before I return to town.”
“Thank you for coming. I’ll see you and Mrs. Edmondson on Sunday.”
When the banker had gone and she prepared supper, Charlotte mulled over what she’d learned. Her panic had her stomach roiling and she thought she’d throw up at any moment. A foregone conclusion was that Elwood Winfield was the one coercing the investors to apply pressure in his favor. No one else had approached her to buy the property.
Though she’d lost her appetite, she forced herself to be attentive during supper and pretend a cheerfulness she certainly didn’t feel. There was no point in worrying the children. Either they would succeed or they wouldn’t.
Chapter Four
Charlotte wore the bib overalls she’d purchased after her husband was injured. She could comfortably ride astride while wearing them for ranch work. Because they had shoulder straps she didn’t have to worry about them falling down. When she’d tried using a pair of her husband’s pants she’d had to tie them uncomfortably tight with a rope to keep them in place and roll up the legs.
Ike hadn’t approved of her dressing in men’s overalls but hadn’t wanted her to sew a split skirt either. In his opinion, women should ride sidesaddle or not at all. Once he’d accused her of not being feminine enough. She’d made it plain to him that his criticism was hurtful and not appreciated.
When he’d been shot he was angry that he was unable to take care of the ranch. At the last, when he realized he wasn’t going to recover, he had given her and Davie instructions on the important tasks. That had been a heartbreaking time for the family.
She saddled her horse, Tawny, and Susie’s slightly smaller mount, Dimples. Davie saddled his horse, Scout, and Jimmy’s pony. They had to move cattle from one pasture to another today. Two men could have managed but she figured it would take all four of them. Besides, she wasn’t comfortable leaving the youngest children at home while she and Davie worked cows all day.
Jimmy climbed onto his pony, Mercury. “I told Papa I was big enough to help. I’m glad I’m a ranch hand now.”
Davie laughed. “You’re going because Mama can’t leave you and Susie home by yourselves.”
Susie put her hands on her hips. “I’ll bet I could stay home because I can fire a pistol.” When she looked at Charlotte, Susie’s eyes pleaded with her mother.
“Children, we’re staying together. Succeeding will require the four of us working as a team. That means no fussing or wandering off, everyone understand that?”
Three voices chorused, “Yes, Mama.”
The excited dogs; Buster and Billy, raced and yipped, ready to do their part.
Charlotte and the children rode to the pasture where the cattle were foraging. Grass where the cattle loitered now was in danger of being overgrazed. Further along the banks of the Brazos River, tall grass swayed in the breeze.
“Hi-yah!” She waved her hat and got the cattle moving.
Following their plan, Davie worked one flank and Susie and Jimmy worked the other. Charlotte had the dirtiest job of herding any stragglers toward the main herd with the dogs helping her. What she would do if a cow refused to obey, she didn’t know.
Her experience was at the homestead. Her outside activities had been washing clothes and hanging them to dry, tending the garden, and gathering produce. That had seemed like plenty but she liked to think she did those tasks well.
But this? She had no idea if she could manage to hold on to the ranch until Davie was grown. She’d heard some of the cowboys who worked on other ranches were only a few years older than Davie. While her eldest stepson was mature for his age, a few years for a boy could make a lot of difference in stamina and judgment.
The sun beat down and dust covered them. She used her arm to wipe the sweat from her forehead and saw brown streaks on her sleeve where perspiration and dust had melded.
Once the cattle had been moved to the new grazing area, she and her children rode home. By this time most of the day had passed. When she dismounted, she was so tired and dirty she wished someone would draw her a bath and—after luxuriating in hot water—she could go to bed. The only person who prepared baths was her. Even if she had enough energy left to fill a tub, which she didn’t, three hungry children depended on her.
Davie pulled down the bandana he’d tied over his nose and lower face. “Mama, I’ll take care of your horse.”
“Thank you, son. That will make supper earlier.”
He grinned. “I was hoping it would. I’m sure hungry.”
Jimmy rubbed his stomach. “Me, too. I’m a growing boy so I need lots to eat.”
She ruffled her fingers through Jimmy’s hair. “You’re always hungry, that’s for certain. Help your brother with the horses while Susie helps me in the kitchen.”
Once a simple meal was ready and they’d gathered around the table, she led the blessing. At times like this, she missed her husband. His had been
