Page 16 of Wellspring
Erick followed Cade back out of the bunkhouse, both of them blinking against the harsh sunlight.
Cade adjusted the brim on his hat, but it only did so much to protect his eyes.
Erick grabbed Zephyr’s reins while Cade fetched the draft horses someone had helpfully unhitched for him.
“The barn’s this way, although most of the time, we leave the horses in the paddock.
Probably can’t do that with Zephyr, though.
We don’t want him picking fights and Payne deciding he needs to be gelded. ”
“He will need to accept other horses in time, but perhaps not this first day. Especially if there are mares near their time,” Erick said.
“Though if Payne is looking to increase the herd, he will not want to deprive Zephyr of his assets.” He led Zephyr inside the barn as Cade released the draft horses into the paddock.
By the time Cade followed him inside, he already had Zephyr in a stall and was brushing him down, murmuring to him softly.
“I am sorry to have pushed you so hard, but you will have time to rest now.”
“At least until tomorrow,” Cade said with a smile.
“After that, it’ll depend on what Payne has you doing around here.
If you’re working with the mustangs, it’ll be mostly here near the house, but if he has you out on the range with the rest of us, Zephyr will have to get used to long hours, although we don’t usually have to push as hard as we did the past few days. ”
He stepped inside the stall to stroke Zephyr’s nose. “But you’re up to it, aren’t you, fella? You’re a big strong stallion.”
“He will do what he must.” Erick gave Zephyr a final pat and set the brush on a ledge. “You are away from the ranch most days?” Cade could almost imagine he sounded disappointed.
In the close confines of the stall, Cade breathed in the scent of leather and sweat—and horse, though that wasn’t nearly as alluring.
Erick met his eyes, and Cade swallowed before he realized he hadn’t answered his question.
“Yeah, unless there’s work to be done on one of the buildings, most days I’m riding with the cattle.
” Though Payne had been talking about digging a well to tide them over when the creek ran low, and didn’t it just say something if that backbreaking labor sounded appealing if it meant he’d be able to spend more time around Erick?
“I NEED to talk with Miz Roarke and Payne.” Cade nudged Erick in the side once he had Zephyr settled. “They’ll want to hear what you have to say too.”
Erick didn’t know why his account would carry any more weight than Cade’s, but he followed Cade up the porch of the house Payne had greeted them in front of.
To his surprise, Payne answered the door when Cade knocked on it. “Webster?”
“We need to talk to you and Miz Roarke,” Cade said. “We overheard some things in Austin that you both need to know about.”
Payne opened the door wider. Cade removed his hat and cleaned the worst of the caked dirt off his boots before going inside, so Erick made sure to do the same.
The inside of the ranch house was simple but clean, and when they walked into the kitchen, the woman sitting there—Frau Roarke, or rather Mrs. Roarke, he had to become used to the American honorifics—rose to greet them.
She wore a plain cotton gown that didn’t hint at the kind of wealth that could afford to ship a full set of furniture from Europe to Galveston, and her stern expression didn’t change when Cade greeted her.
“This is Erick Heller. I met him in Galveston and he helped me on the trip back.” Again, Cade made his contribution seem larger than it was, but Erick bowed slightly and received a nod in return.
“Now what’s so important that you need to interrupt us?” Payne demanded.
Cade didn’t show any reaction to the pronoun, starting into an explanation of the conversation they’d overheard at the hotel in Austin.
“Reichardt and Ulrich are up to no good. They were talking about trying to pressure Miz Roarke into marrying one of them so they could take over the ranch, but that’s not the worst of it.
They said if she wouldn’t, they’d find other ways to get her land. ”
Mrs. Roarke sighed. “How many times do I have to tell them they’ll take my land over my dead body?”
“That’s the problem, ma’am,” Cade said. “I think they’re starting to believe you, because they said once you married one of them, they’d have control of the land and it wouldn’t matter if something happened to you.”
“You’re not marrying anyone,” Payne spat, surprising Erick with his vehemence.
“Of course I’m not,” Mrs. Roarke replied. “But we still have to deal with them when we go into town or when it’s time for the cattle drive. I can’t just order them shot the second they set foot on Wellspring land.”
Payne seemed inclined to argue that, but she laid a hand over his, silencing him. “If we had a sheriff worth a damn, we might expect some help there, but—”
“But Lutz is so far up Reichardt’s ass he can spit out of his belly button,” Cade finished for her. “So what can we do, ma’am?”
“Not the way I would have worded it,” Mrs. Roarke replied without blinking an eye.
Erick’s estimation of her went up another notch.
“As for what we can do, nothing until they act on it. Talking isn’t illegal, even if they’re making threats.
But forewarned is forearmed.” She turned to Payne.
“No one out on the range alone, ever. And double the night shifts because however they decide to put pressure on us, they’ll do it at night—sabotage, trying to steal our cattle or horses, even outright attacks.
” Then she looked at Erick. “I don’t imagine this was what you had in mind when you signed on here.
If you’ve changed your mind, I understand.
But if you stay, I need to know you’ll fight as hard as the rest of us to protect the ranch. ”
Erick had to admire her determination. “This is my home now. I will defend it as long as I draw breath.” Even if he had not already given his loyalty and respect to Cade, the reception he received at Wellspring earned his allegiance.
There didn’t seem to be much to say after that.
Mrs. Roarke smiled grimly and Payne scowled but nodded his approval.
“Thanks for the warning, Webster. Heller, get settled this evening so you’re ready for work tomorrow.
We start early around here. I’ll see you in the barn at six.
You can show me whether you’re as talented as the last stray Webster brought back with him. ”
Payne must be referring to Chel, though surely he could not be alluding to the position she was engaged in before she left Austin? “I shall do my best.” He bowed his head toward Mrs. Roarke before following Cade out.
“That went over about as well as I expected,” Cade said when they were alone. “At least Payne didn’t start cussing. Course he’s probably in there turning the air blue now, but that’s better than cussing at me.”