Much Ado About Mavericks Page 28

  Patience turned on her heel and announced, “Well, that’s that. I’ll be in my tent.”

  As if anyone cared. Jake spat on the ground and went after Ben.

  Chapter 20

  “Move ‘em out!” Jake ordered. The cowhand took their positions and pointed the lead cow home. The last few days had been the hardest of her life, and the sooner Ben was gone, the sooner she could start putting herself back together again.

  The preacher had never shown up, and Ben, not unhappy about that, had sent Patience, Suzanne, and Mabel back to the Bar EL with Reginald. A roundup was no place for a woman, so Jake was glad they were gone, especially Patience.

  But Jake nearly melted at the way Ben gazed at her in the three days since. She wouldn’t give in to temptation, though. An honorable man would marry the mother of his child, and he was an honorable man. She wouldn’t give him any reason not to do what he knew he should.

  He rode along side her. “Arm hurting?”

  “Nope.” But my innards buzz anytime you’re near.

  “Then why are you frowning?”

  She ignored the heat he caused deep inside her. “When are you headed back to Boston?”

  “I’m not.”

  “You are.” He would. He should. Patience was waiting with his babe in her belly, and her father was waiting with his promotion. But, oh, how Jake wished things could be different.

  “I’ll straighten this out, then you and I will be married.”

  Jake didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Her throat tightened and her eyes watered. But she damned well wouldn’t let him see that. She had to be strong.

  “You’re riding drag.” She spurred her horse and galloped to the front swing position.

  Just before nightfall, the first cows crossed into Bar EL land. Half an hour later, they’d been driven to the east pasture. Jake turned to the men. “You all done a fine job. I’ll have your pay ready at the bunkhouse in a few minutes.”

  The men let out a holler. Jake knew that within an hour, every single one of them would be at the Silver Sage Saloon. Hell, in years past, she’d been with them.

  She rode over to the strays. “The three of you go on home to the Circle J and wash off a few layers of grime. I’ll be there in an hour.”

  “Aw, Jake,” Henry whined, “we’ll miss the party.”

  “Ain’t no party tonight fitting for young’uns. Not till you’re twelve.” She pointed down the lane. “Now, git!”

  “Yes, sir,” they said in unison. Jake chuckled at their hang-dog expressions. They were good kids—every one of them.

  She rode up to the house and dismounted, dread in her gut and sadness in her heart. Ben would be in there. And Patience. Just the thought of seeing them together tore her innards apart. But the men earned their pay and the money was in the house.

  She flopped the reins over the hitching post, took a deep breath, and climbed the stairs. The door seemed like an invitation to torture, but she rapped three times and waited for someone to open the door.

  No one answered, but she knew they were in there because she heard voices. Angry voices. Ben’s and Patience’s voices. “I’m staying,” she heard him shout.

  “But Daddy wants you now!” Patience shrieked. Jake felt sick at the very sound of her voice. Such a spoiled, selfish brat. She didn’t deserve a fine man like Ben.

  “Tell your father to take that senior partnership and stick it up his ass. I’m staying here.”

  Jake rapped on the door again, louder. They could argue all the wanted, but the men were waiting for their pay and she damned well would get it for them. She waited, but the two of them still argued, so she opened the door and went in.

  “I come for the boys’ pay.” She strode into the office and opened the safe. Grabbing the case of envelopes, each holding thirty dollars cash, she slammed the safe shut and gave the dial a spin. When she turned to leave, Patience stood in the doorway. Her eyes were reddened from crying.

  “You have ruined my life,” she snarled.

  Jake shrugged and walked past her. Ben caught her by the arm and said, “I need to talk to you.”

  The touch of him scorched her right down to her boots and her breath caught. But he belonged to Patience.

  Looking him in the eye proved to be a big mistake. Her throat tightened and she had all she could do not to fling her arms around him in a big bear hug. He was hers and she was his. That was the fact, no matter what happened. They both knew it.

  But Patience had her claws in him, and he wouldn’t be an honorable man if he left her with child and alone. They both knew that, too.

  “I got work to do.” She shook him off and left him standing in the doorway looking as brokenhearted as she was.

  “Jake.”

  She didn’t want to look back, but couldn’t help herself.

  He stood there, eyeing her like she was a peach pie with cream on top. “We will be married.”

  Staring back, she finally came to her senses, then bounded down the stairs and headed to the bunkhouse.

  * * * * *

  “That’s not much for two day’s riding,” Yawning, Mabel said to Ben. “Here, you better take this cheese, too.”

  “Thanks.” He shoved the hunk of cheese into the flour sack along with the dozen pieces of jerked meat. “I’ll stop in Oreana for dinner, and I should be in Silver City in time for supper.” He tried not to be short with his mother, but his temper was frazzled. Unfortunately, he had more serious matters to worry about than meals.

  Like what to do with Patience. She had lied, but no one would even listen to the truth. He tied a knot in the bag, musing that if he had been stupid enough to have lain with her, he’d have taken his medicine without protest. As it was, he’d been trapped in her deceit and he damned well wasn’t going to stay that way. Once he took care of business in Silver, he’d clear himself—somehow or another—and marry Jake.

  “I said, when will you be home?”

  Ben gazed at his mother. “Day after tomorrow.”

  “Are you . . . bringing a preacher?”

  “Yes, there’ll be a wedding.” His and Jake’s. “We’ll have it Friday afternoon. Make arrangements for the preacher to stay somewhere Thursday and Friday nights. More than likely, he’ll go home Saturday.”

  “Have you told Patience of these arrangements?”

  “No, and I’d appreciate if you didn’t, either. She seems to like surprises.” Besides, he hoped for a miracle.

  He rode hard to Oreana and stabled his horse at Jonas Howard’s livery. Not wanting to waste time eating, he refilled his canteen, then rented a strong dapple gelding and headed on up the road. By mid-afternoon, he dismounted in front of Judge Glover’s chambers.

  “Benjamin,” the judge said as he welcomed Ben into his office. “Can you stay a while, or are you in a hurry?”

  Ben smiled and shook hands with the white-bearded man. “I got to town a little early, so I have all day tomorrow to conduct business.”

  “Well then, why don’t we have our first meeting next door?”

  “Suits me.” He followed the judge into the Silver Slipper. “I’m a little thirsty.” When they stepped up to the bar, Ben called to the bartender, “Two whiskeys.” He threw a fifty-cent piece on the counter.

  “Let’s sit down,” Glover said, heading for a table. “My bones are aching in this cool weather.”

  Ben pulled up a chair just as the bartender brought their drinks. The judge took a sip. “I have all your paperwork ready. The adoption papers on the boys came in a couple of weeks ago.”

  “How about the will?”

  “Ha! That piece of crap? You were right in your assessment. As far as I can tell, all that paper is good for is kindling.” He held up his glass and said, “Cheers.”

  Ben touched his glass to the judge’s and smiled. “Cheers.”

  After they each emptied their glasses, Judge Glover said, “Benjamin, there’s a need for a Justice of the Peace in northern Owyhee County. The position’s fund
ed and open. You can have it if you want it.”

  “I want it.”

  “You haven’t even asked about the pay.”

  “You’ll pay what you can. Where’s the office?”

  The judge chuckled and waved to the bartender to bring another drink. “As I recall, it’s right off your parlor.”

  The next day, Ben took care of the rest of his business and headed back to Oreana. Jonas had his bay ready, so he settled up and rode home. By dusk, he was at the Circle J.

  Light shined through the bunkhouse window. He dismounted and tied the bay to the corral fence. Taking a deep breath, he walked to the bunkhouse and knocked.

  Jake opened the door, her beautiful red hair loose, hanging over her breasts. Ben’s mouth went dry and he forgot what he had ready to say. She gazed at him, her eyes full of hurt, but smoldering with passion.

  “Why are you here?”

  He pulled her out of the house and kissed her full on the lips, then nuzzled her neck. “I love you, Jake.”

  She trembled, but held him tight. “I know,” she whispered.

  “I’m not going back to Boston. I took a job as Justice of the Peace here. I’ll be working on the Bar EL the rest of the time.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “And on the Circle J, if you’ll have me.”

  “What about Patience and your baby?”

  “Patience couldn’t possibly be having my baby, Jake. But you could be.”

  “So you didn’t—”

  He shook his head. “Never. Never even wanted to. But you, Jake, I want you to have my babies.”

  She snorted. “I got enough strays already.”

  He slipped his hand between them, brushing her breast—by accident, of course—and took the papers from his coat’s inside pocket. “You’re Teddy’s mother now. Homer’s, too. You’re a family, and I want to be part of it.”

  Pushing him away, she said, “Talk to me after you’ve settled things with Patience.” She ran into the house and slammed the door.

  * * * * *

  Patience moped on the fainting couch. Ben hadn’t spoken a single word to her since his return. On top of that, she had told his mother that she was hungry, but Mabel hadn’t fixed lunch yet. At least she’d finally brewed the tea. Patience could see her preparing the tray.

  When someone rapped on the door, Mabel opened it rather than bringing the tea. Patience grew even more out of sorts.

  “Well, hello, Judge Glover!” Mabel cried.

  Patience hurried to them, hoping this would be the man to marry her to Ben.

  The man walked in and gave her his hat, coat, and cane. Her! She wasn’t a coat rack! Not having the slightest notion what to do with them, she dumped them on the kitchen table, then followed Ben’s mother and Judge Glover into the parlor.

  “I have some tea brewed if you’d like a cup,” Mabel offered.

  “Why, certainly,” he answered. “I’d appreciate that.”

  Patience sat in the chair nearest to the judge while Mabel fetched the tray. “Are you friends with Benjamin?”

  “Oh, yes. I knew him when he was just a lad.”

  She folded her hands in her lap. “I’m his fiancée.”

  “Congratulations. Ben’s grown into a fine man.”

  “Yes, my father is going to give him senior partnership in his law firm in Boston. I can hardly wait to get back.”

  The judge raised his eyebrows, then smiled. “I’ll bet his work is very interesting.”

  “Yes, he just took on the affairs of the Boston Beaneaters Base Ball Club, but he also has some very prestigious clients. Alexander Graham Bell is a frequent houseguest.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  As he should be. “Do you enjoy your work?”

  “Very much. We get some fascinating cases. Just last year, we had a woman sue an up-and-coming merchant for breaking off their engagement.”

  Patience rolled her eyes. Her father would never even consider taking such a petty case. “And what happened?”

  “Said she was, ahem, with child and he was responsible. He insisted that he’d never been with her, but married her anyway and the case was dropped.”

  “Oh.” He thought that was interesting? She suppressed a yawn.

  “Then, a few months ago, the woman was found dead—laudanum overdose.”

  “My stars!”

  “Turns out, the husband had abandoned her shortly after the wedding. We never did find him. The baby’s father took his child, but wouldn’t take the woman.” He shook his head. “Sad case. If that had gone all the way to court, she never would have married the wrong man.”

  She threw him a sidelong glance. “My father’s firm deals only with successful businessmen and civic leaders. He doesn’t bother with common people’s petty quarrels.”

  “I’m sure he doesn’t.”

  Patience couldn’t tolerate one more minute with this man or his sordid little stories. She’d get her tea later. “If you’ll excuse me?”

  He smiled as he stood and said, “Certainly.”

  Maybe she shouldn’t have taken advantage of that cowhand’s lie. After all, she hadn’t put him up to saying those things. She hadn’t even thought of it, although she didn’t correct his misunderstanding. Of course, if she had . . . but she would never actually lie. And she hadn’t.

  As she climbed the stairs, she wondered why it was so important that she marry Ben. The yearning just didn’t seem so strong anymore.

  * * * * *

  Jake wanted Ben, and by God, she’d have him once Patience told the truth. Readying a nice size loop, Jake waited behind the lilac bushes beside the privy. The longer she waited, the madder she got. The madder she got, the more determination she felt. Patience would come—everyone had to use the privy sooner or later.

  Mabel used it, then a man she’d only seen a few times, Judge Glover. She wondered why he’d come to the Bar EL. Finally, Patience stepped off the porch. Jake ducked low and watched the brat walk toward her.

  As Patience reached for the door, Jake threw a loop around the snooty woman’s chest and arms. Jake pulled the loop tight and yanked Patience to the ground and hogtied her.

  Patience screamed and yelled, “Help me! Help me!”

  Jake couldn’t help but laugh. Miss Boston Brat, hogtied like a calf to be dehorned and branded. She should’ve thought of this before.

  “Take this rope off me this instant!” Patience gulped a deep breath and commenced to screaming again.

  “Noisy, ain’t you? Calves don’t beller this much when we castrate ‘em.”

  “Let me go, you man-pretender!”

  “Nope, not till you tell the truth—if you know how.” Jake whistled for Blue, and when he trotted up, she dallied the rope around the pommel. Blue stretched the rope taut, dragging Patience a ways in the grass, then stopped. “Now, you just wait right there. I’m gonna fetch a few folks.”

  Patience cried and shrieked like a cat with its tail caught in the barn door. Jake smiled with satisfaction as she examined her fine handiwork, then took her time strolling to the house.

  Suzanne answered the door. “Jake! Come in and have some cookies. I just baked them.”

  “No, we got business. Where’s Ben and Reginald?”

  “Ben’s in the office and Reginald’s at the bunkhouse.”

  “You get your mama and Ben, and I’ll meet you at the privy.”

  Suzanne stepped back, eyes wide. “The privy? Whatever on earth for?”

  “Business.” She left Suzanne standing in the doorway and headed for the bunkhouse.

  “Dinner ain’t ready yet,” Whip jested.

  “I come for Reginald. Where is he?”

  “In back, teaching them boys how to play chess.” He chuckled. “He ain’t making much progress from what I can tell.”

  Jake thanked him and fetched Reginald. As they left the bunkhouse, they could hear Patience’s screeching and bellering.

  “What’s going on?” Reginald asked.

  “We’
re gonna have a little chat with your sister. All of us.”

  He pressed his lips together and frowned. “Don’t be too hard on her.”

  “I ain’t being hard on her. I only want the truth.”

  They met Ben, Mabel, Suzanne, and Judge Glover at the porch. Jake gazed at Ben’s somber face, hoping she could make that crooked grin of his come back. “Patience has a little story to tell.”

  She led them all to Patience, who still hollered and squawked.

  “Patience, are you having Ben’s baby?”

  “Oh, you horrid creature. Untie this rope. Now!”

  “Let’s see, there’s Mabel, and Suzanne. We got your brother, Reginald. Judge Glover, too. Hell, we even got the man who you accused of dishonoring you. Now you just go right ahead and tell us the truth.”

  “Reginald, untie me at once!”

  Jake gave him the eye, and he stayed put.

  “He ain’t rescuing you, and neither is anyone else. Now tell us, who’s the father of your baby?”

  “Benjamin, of course.”

  Jake turned to the others and said loudly, “All right folks, you can go back in the house, now.” She put her fingers to her lips to silence them, then waited.

  Patience pounded her head on the grass. “Jake, let me up!” She started sobbing. “I hate you!”

  “As a matter of fact, I don’t feel none too kindly toward you, either.”

  “Please untie me. It hurts.”

  “Ben ain’t the father of your baby. Hell, he ain’t never even poked you. Said so himself.”

  “I want to talk to Reginald.”

  “Then talk. He’s standing right here.”

  “Alone.”

  “Ain’t nothing you got to tell him that the rest of us don’t need to hear.”

  “But you don’t understand!” Patience wailed. “If I don’t marry Benjamin, I’ll lose my inheritance.”

  Ben’s mouth fell open and Reginald rubbed his temple. Jake lowered her voice and said, “There ain’t no baby, is there?”

  “No.”

  Jake untied the knot and helped Patience stand. Patience, pale as a ghost, ran to Reginald and cried on his shoulder.

  A rider trotted in. Wilson swung off the horse and made a beeline for them. “They told me you had my French whore and I want her back. The dress, too.”