“I know it’s unfair. Thank goodness you branded your own cattle. I would get them off the ranch quick smart.”
“Why?”
“Rowan!” The sheriff slapped his open hand against his forehead. “What’s to stop Edward from running them off the ranch, putting a bullet in them even.”
Rowan rocked back on his heels. He hadn’t thought of that. Thank goodness Edward was stupid enough to think he would move to the bunkhouse, and stay on at the ranch until he had bled all the knowledge he could out of him.
He would not be sorry to see the back of Dorothea, if there was ever a woman who was trouble it was her. Had she complained to Edward about him? Not because he had behaved inappropriately toward her; because he had been smart enough to reject her blatant advances. The pair of them were a good match for each other, both treacherous and unprincipled. A woman like her could get a man in serious trouble if he didn’t watch out.
“What are you planning, Rowan?”
“Nothing, Sheriff.”
“You just be careful. I’d hate to have to toss you in jail for breaking the law.”
“Don’t you start on me. I’ve got enough trouble as it is without you nagging at me.”
The sheriff grinned. “Thank goodness you haven’t got a wife to worry about.”
A wife! Miranda Kingston! He had quite forgotten about her. He had been so busy with ranch work and George moving out to think of anything else. No wonder she had slipped his mind. Marriage was out of the question now he had nothing to offer a wife. A pity because he was starting to like her. A gal like her would not worry too much about him suddenly stopping his correspondence. He tried to allay his guilt.
He had read between the lines that she had been reluctant to get married to anyone. If the situation with her family had sorted itself out, she would probably have called the whole thing off anyway. Thank goodness she hadn’t been some poor woman with no home or money who desperately needed a husband. After all this mess was cleared up, he would write to her and apologize for his rudeness, and hopefully she would have moved on with her life and found happiness.
He had no idea what he would be doing, and he had too much pride to ask a young woman to become his wife without being able to provide a decent home for her. His dreams of marriage and a family were shattered into a million pieces, because he had been a trusting, gullible fool. He didn’t entirely blame George who had obviously trusted his son to do the right thing and uphold the unwritten agreement they had made.
“What about the two old timers on the ranch? What’s going to happen to them once you go, Rowan? I know you looked upon them as friends and not merely employees.”
“I’m leaving as soon as I sort out a few things. I’d be obliged if you kept this conversation just between us. I’m not sure about most of the men, probably won’t affect them much, but Hank and Tom said they wouldn’t be happy staying there if I went. The point is, I can’t offer them work as I don’t even have a job lined up for myself. I told them stay put, say nothing and if I can get work for all three of us I will. Unfortunately, it was the best I could do for them.”
“I’ll discretely make a few enquiries about work for you. I don’t think it would be local. I do have sheriff friends in other towns in Colorado who might know of ranchers looking for good men.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it. All three of us would.”
Chapter Seven
Miranda stomped out of the telegraph office. Nothing from Rowan Carstairs. She wondered why the smoke wasn’t pouring out of her ears. Between his broken promises, and Clem’s refusal to loan her any money because she was a woman without a husband, this had to be the worst time of her life. Well, they would not get away with it, either of them.
She minced across the road to treat herself to a piece of apple pie and a cup of coffee at the diner, because no-one deserved a treat more than her right now. Glancing at a couple of cowboys who lounged outside the saloon, she knew they were not husband material. Likely as not they would murder her and steal the ranch. Surely there had to be a decent man around here prepared to marry her. There again, she didn’t want Clem to know she was thinking of a temporary marriage until she got the loan from him. A local man might raise his suspicions, particularly if he knew the would-be husband.
At the diner she chose a table at the back, away from anyone else. To partake in senseless chit-chat with so much on her mind would be unbearable. A smiling young waitress sashayed up to her. Helen’s replacement most likely.
“Good morning, are you ready to order?”
“Yes, thanks. I’d like a coffee with cream, no sugar, and a large slice of apple pie.”
“It won’t be long.”
She was in a dire situation now. How could she lose the ranch her father had given more than thirty years of his life for? All the blood, sweat and tears he had poured into the place. Ma had just about worked herself to death at his side. It wasn’t right. Jacob might be prepared
