Page 28 of Wellspring
“At this time of day, she’ll be at her desk having lunch,” Miss Hart said.“The schoolhouse is next to the church.”
“I believe I can find the church on my own,” Erick said with a smile.“I will be back shortly to help load the wagon,” he told Javier before walking the short distance down the dusty street.Two small buildings sat beside the steepled sanctuary.One was likely the Reverend Smithson’s residence.The other, windows open and a handful of children of varying ages playing outside, he judged to be the schoolhouse.Several of the children stopped to gape at him as he removed his hat and walked inside.
“Miss Dawson?”he asked the dark-haired woman behind the largest desk.“My name is Erick Heller.I am employed at Wellspring Ranch, and Mr.Svensen told me you might be willing to lend me a primer and perhaps some other books for beginning readers.”
“Come in, Mr.Heller.Olav told me you would probably come by,” Miss Dawson said.“It’s nice to meet you.I set aside a few books for you to choose from.”She rose and crossed to a small wooden bookcase where she gathered a pile of books held together with a leather tie.“See if any of these will suit for you.”
“It is most kind of you.”Erick selected several books, one slightly more advanced than the other.“I will return these in a few weeks in exchange for others, if that is acceptable.”
“I wish we had more of a library to offer.Unfortunately we must rely on donations for what little we have.”
Erick thought wistfully of the library he’d left behind, four walls covered floor to ceiling with bookshelves.He determined to make a donation to Miss Dawson’s library fund once he received his first pay from Wellspring.“I am grateful for what you have to share.”
“You’re quite welcome,” she said.“And, in case no one has said it yet, welcome to Eldorado.”
“Thank you.I am most happy to be here.”With a final bow of thanks, Erick carried the books back to the wagon and stowed them carefully under the seat.He was just in time to help Javier load a surprisingly large number of boxes, barrels, and sacks into the back of the buckboard.Perhaps not so surprising, now that he’d seen how much Logan, Svensen, and several of the other hands could eat.His own appetite had grown as he settled into his demanding daily duties.
“Herr Heller, I packed the carrots you asked for on the top of this box so they won’t be crushed,” Miss Hart told him with a smile.
“You must call me Erick, please,” he asked her.
“His first name is Hoss.”Burke dismounted and tossed his horse’s reins over the hitching post.“Ask me why we call him that.”
“Please don’t,” Erick implored.“No one but you calls me that in any case.”
“I know Ned well enough to know I don’t want to know.And please, call me Lizzie.”
“If you wish….Lizzie,” Erick said.“Thank you for the carrots.”He tipped his hat and then turned to Javier.“Is there anything else you need to do while we’re in town?”
“Only check to see if there’s mail for the ranch,” Javier said.“Then we can start back.Ned can catch up with us when he’s done visiting with Lizzie.”
Erick followed Javier to the sheriff’s office that doubled as a post office.After Cade’s and Javier’s comments, he was disposed not to trust the man, but it never hurt to know all the players.Javier greeted the lawman with a short nod and a curt “Lutz.”Erick made no effort to introduce himself.Unless Lutz asked, he’d just keep to himself.
“Well now, you must be the new cowboy I’ve been hearing about,” Lutz said as he rose from his desk.“Hellman, was it?”
It took Erick a moment to remember that Cade had mentioned his name to Carter when they’d crossed JR land to reach Wellspring.So Cade’s comment about Lutz being Reichardt’s man seemed to be accurate, though Erick didn’t know why he would warrant such notice, or why Lutz calling him a cowboy felt somehow mocking.“Heller,” he corrected with a brief nod.He wouldn’t offer his hand unless Lutz did.
“Good to put a face with a name,” Lutz continued, not acknowledging the correction.“It’s always useful to know who belongs around here and who doesn’t.And what brings you to a place like Wellspring?”
“I heard it was the best outfit in the state,” Erick replied calmly.Lutz’s eyes narrowed before an artificial smile spread across his face.
“You must have been talking to Burke,” Lutz said, his tone dismissive.“Everything he touches is the best or biggest or brightest, to hear him tell it.They’re a decent outfit, don’t get me wrong—a few squeaky wheels like Burke or Payne aside—but Texas is an awful big place.”
“Which means plenty of land for everyone,” Javier broke in.“I’ve got the mail.Let’s head out.”He brushed past Lutz with a frown, so Erick just nodded again and followed the cook out the door.
“I don’t trust Lutz as far as I could kick him,” Javier said as they headed back to the wagon.“Somehow any time there’s a ruckus in town, it’s never any of the JR outfit to blame, according to him.You’d do best not to get on the bad side of him.”
“Since I have no plans to engage in any ‘ruckus,’ it should not be an issue.”Erick wasn’t exactly sure what a ruckus involved, but since the only time he’d be in town would be to exchange books for Cade’s tutoring, it seemed a safe promise to make.
Javier chuckled.“If we actually started it, it would be one thing, but since the JR hands inevitably goad one of our resident hot heads into being stupid, it’s not as easy to avoid as you’d think.”
They reached the wagon and Erick climbed onto the seat of the buckboard next to Javier.“Do you want to drive home?”Javier asked.
“Should we wait for Burke first?”
“He knows the way, and I don’t want to put up with his bad mood if Lizzie shoots him down again,” Javier said.“So no.”
“I have not driven this pair before.It will be good for them to get to know me.”Erick took the reins and snapped them to start the team moving.Javier wasn’t the most talkative hand, so Erick spent the trip back to the ranch anticipating Cade’s next reading lesson and wishing he were bold enough to simply claim what he desired.As soon as the thought rose, he rejected it.He had never been that type of man, even when he did not feel what he felt for Cade.And he was not even brave enough to admit to those feelings, on the very real chance that he was reading what he wanted to see into Cade’s natural friendliness.Better to accept what he had, even if he longed for so much more.
