Eliza noticed he still held her hand, and it made her smile. “You said he’s friendly. Are you sure he’ll like me? I’m a stranger.”
“I think he will. He’s a good judge of character and only growls at something threatening like a mountain lion when we’re out on the range,” Blake said.
When Blake opened the barn doors, a big yellow dog came bounding over barking and yipping. It stopped in front of Eliza and sat looking up at her with large brown eyes.
Eliza ruffled the fur on Barney’s head, and Blake laughed. “He likes you. I knew he would.”
“He’s sweet,” Eliza answered and sat on a nearby hay bale. Barney followed her and sat at her feet. “I never had a pet, this is wonderful.”
“When the neighbor’s dog has puppies again, we can get a puppy, and you can raise it. Everyone should have a pet at least once in their lives,” Blake promised as he watched Eliza and Barney get to know each other.
“A puppy that would be wonderful, but I couldn’t ask you to get me one. When I leave, it will break my heart,” Eliza said.
Blake nodded, “I suppose you’re right. Do you ride?”
“Ride? You mean horses?” Eliza’s eyes flew open wide. “No, I have never been close enough to a horse to even think of riding. They are huge, and I’m not sure I want to think about it now.”
Blake laughed again. “I heard the same words from Amalie when she first came here. Deke taught her to ride, and when she thought she was putting him in danger, she took her horse and rode off to the next town alone. I think you can learn, too.”
“She wrote me about that, but I think Amalie is braver than I am,” Eliza confessed. “I doubt I could ever get on a horse.”
“I have an older mare that is gentle. You can get to know her first and make friends—offer her some apple or carrot and maybe a bit of sugar. In no time, she’ll love you, and we can try having you sit on her in the corral.”
Eliza bit her lip. “I’ll try, but I won’t promise that I’ll ever sit on her much less go for a ride.”
“That’s fair,” Blake said. “I suppose we should go back to the house and make sure my aunt hasn’t offended Sarah again.”
“Maybe Sarah is still hiding at her house.”
Blake shrugged. “That might be. In that case, we can be there when she comes back and offer her support. I’m afraid she’ll leave if my aunt calls her a servant again.”
Blake held out his hand and helped Eliza from the hay bale, and they walked back to the house hand in hand with a happy Barney walking at Eliza’s side.
Constance and Aunt Hortense were sitting on the back porch when Eliza and Blake approached the house.
“Oh, you have a dog,” Constance said. “Is it friendly?”
Before Blake could answer, Barney stepped in front of Eliza and stopped. He growled at Constance and halted any attempt that Eliza made to walk around him.
“What is wrong with that mongrel?” Aunt Hortense asked. “You certainly don’t let him in the house, do you? He’s growling. Perhaps you should shoot him before he injures someone.”
Blake reined in his temper and did his best to control his anger when he answered his aunt. “Barney is a good watchdog. He warns us of coyotes or mountain lions and any strangers that approach the house. He doesn’t know you.”
“Then I should make friends with him,” Constance said and stepped off the porch.
Barney growled louder and pushed back against Eliza’s legs.
Constance pouted. “It seems your dog prefers your wife. I’m going inside to read and where it is peaceful.”
Aunt Hortense scowled at Blake, and Constance walked into the house, muttering to herself.
“I’m sorry, Blake,” Eliza said. “I didn’t do anything to make Barney act that way.”
“No, you didn’t, and don’t apologize. For some reason, he saw Constance as a threat and protected you. I think he’ll be your friend for the rest of his life.”
“Well,” Aunt Hortense spluttered. “It appears you don’t know how to treat guests. I want you to keep that dog tied up and away from Constance.”
Blake shook his head. “Barney protects us, and he’ll remain free to roam where he wants. Tell Constance to avoid him. He may bark and growl, but he won’t bite her.”
“You are a disappointment, Blake. I never thought you would choose a mongrel dog over a lovely creature like Constance. Still, then again, you did marry a common girl, didn’t you,” Aunt Hortense spat and spun on her heels before following Constance into the house.
“I’m sorry,” Blake said.
“Don’t be,” Eliza answered. “I’m used to women like your aunt, and if Sarah is a servant and I’m common, then we’re better off than all the fancy ladies.”
Blake nearly hugged Eliza. She wasn’t common. She was amazing, and he would see to it that his aunt treated her with the respect she deserved.
Supper that evening was a tense affair. Sarah and Eliza had set the dining room table with the good dishes. Sarah served platters of steaks, fried potatoes, green beans, and fresh biscuits with butter before telling Blake that she and Jack would have their supper in the kitchen. Blake nodded his understanding.
Supper was mostly a silent affair with Constance staring at her plate and occasionally muttering to herself. Eliza ate her meal, doing her best not to look at Aunt Hortense and ignoring Constance.
Finally, Blake suggested that he could give Aunt Hortense and Constance a tour of the ranch the following day.
His aunt laid her fork on her plate before she answered. “I don’t think either Constance or I would enjoy that. There seems to be a great deal of dust here. Perhaps you could arrange something more enjoyable. A party perhaps. You do know the important people in town, don’t you?”
Blake did
