Page 17 of Wellspring
“Then let us hope your opinion of my chances is correct, because though I have no wish for conflict, it would be my pleasure to prove them wrong.”He didn’t know the others Cade had named yet, though he was sure once he did, he would share Cade’s esteem.But he would not allow anyone to think of Cade as trash.
AS THEYrode the next morning they passed scattered clusters of cattle, and once a cowboy rode by, raising a hand in greeting but not stopping to speak with them.The sun was directly overhead before Erick caught sight of buildings in the distance.Cade gave a whoop and cracked the reins over the draft horses’ backs, coaxing them to their top speed.Erick let Zephyr continue to canter, uncertain of his reception despite Cade’s assurance.
A small crowd had gathered outside the ranch house by the time Cade—and shortly after, Erick—reached it.“Bringing home strays again?”a big man dressed entirely in black drawled when Erick reined Zephyr to a halt.He didn’t need Cade to tell him this must be the ranch foreman; his tall, confident stature and the air of authority with which he spoke made that clear.
“You know me, boss.I can’t resist,” Cade replied as he threw a wink over his shoulder at Erick.“Erick Heller, meet Zeke Payne, foreman of Wellspring Ranch.Payne, Heller’s got a way with horses.I was thinking he could work with the mustangs until we can teach him the finer points of driving cattle.”
Payne ran an appraising eye over Erick and Zephyr.“If he can manage that stallion, I might be convinced to give him a chance.”
“Not only managed but tamed him.He was a screaming brute until Heller took him in hand.”Cade’s exaggeration made Erick uneasy, but he’d just have to prove to Payne that he was as capable as Cade implied.
He dismounted and offered Payne his hand.“I will work hard for you if you will have me.”
Payne frowned but took his hand in a rough clasp.“We need a new bronc buster, and Webster’s as good a judge of character as anyone I know.We got two rules around here.Do your best and tell someone if you fuck up.Well, and don’t mess with the women.Fastest way to get your ass fired is unwanted attention to any of them.Other than that, we’re easy to get along with.Stow your gear in the bunkhouse and welcome to Wellspring,” Payne said.
The women had nothing to fear from him, but Erick wasn’t about to admit that to Payne.He glanced toward Cade, who had climbed out of the wagon and was surrounded by people clapping him on the back and welcoming him home.He’s already done more for me than most men would, Erick told himself.He has his own duties now.I can’t expect him to always guide me by the hand.He gathered his few things from the back of the wagon, took Zephyr by the reins, and led him toward the long building Payne had indicated as the bunkhouse.
CADE GREETEDeveryone who’d gathered to welcome him home, but he kept one eye on Erick—he’d become Erick in Cade’s head when he’d backed Cade up during the confrontation with Carter—the whole time.He wasn’t at all surprised Payne offered Erick a job, but he wanted to be the one to show Erick around and help him get settled, so when Erick started toward the bunkhouse, Cade pulled free from his friends, grabbed his own bedroll, and fell in step beside Erick.
“Told you he’d hire you.Let’s get you and Zephyr settled.Javier is making chicken enchiladas, and we don’t want to miss that!”
“I must not keep you from your work,” Erick protested, but Cade thought he caught a glimmer of pleasure, or maybe just relief, in the other man’s expression.
“I could use your help unloading the wagon in a bit.But for now, let’s get you settled in.”The interior of the bunkhouse was dim and cool after the bright sunlight outside.Cade glanced around, looking for an unclaimed bunk.Unfortunately the beds on either side of his were both taken.It would have to be Carter’s old bunk, then.He led the way toward the back of the long row of cots, one bed atop another to double the number of hands it could house.“You can stow your things in here.”He indicated the chest at the foot of the bed.“It don’t lock, but no one will mess with your gear.”
Erick set his saddlebags on top of the chest and tucked his bedroll under the bunk.It wasn’t much, but Cade hoped Erick would see the thin mattress as a step up from sleeping on the ground.
“Thank you.For everything,” Erick said.
“It was nothing special,” Cade demurred, embarrassed at having attention drawn to his actions.“Just helping out a friend in need.You’d have done the same if our positions were reversed.”
“I will hope for the opportunity to repay you,” Erick insisted.“I cannot afford to take my only friend for granted.”
Cade hoped his face wasn’t flushing.He didn’t need repayment for basic human decency—not that he’d complain about a kiss like the girls at the Lucky Penny insisted on giving him every time he dropped by—but he would miss having Erick all to himself.“That won’t last long.I’ll introduce you around to everyone at dinner.”
“If you will show me where I may stable Zephyr, I will help you unload the wagon,” Erick offered.“Then you or Herr Payne can instruct me on what else needs done.”
“Just Payne,” Cade reminded him, though he thought he’d miss Erick’s quaint formality.“C’mon, I’ll show you where you can get Zephyr settled.”
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 NEEDto 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.”
