Page 31 of Wellspring
Chapter Eighteen
ERICK ACCEPTEDthe plate ofmigasfrom Javier and carried it to the table where Mrs.Roarke sat, trying to rein in his irritation.Since the night Cade had kissed him, they hadn’t had the chance to exchange a word.Cade had returned to the bunkhouse with Chel from wherever he’d disappeared to and climbed into his bunk without meeting Erick’s eyes once, and Erick’s heart had sunk.Was he regretting the impulsive act?Was he upset that Erick hadn’t kissed him back?Did he think Erick wasn’t interested?He had spent so long fretting before falling into an exhausted sleep that when he finally woke up, Cade’s bunk was already empty.Erick hoped to catch up with him at breakfast, but Payne had pulled Cade, Logan, and Michele aside and sent them off to gather a part of the herd from the far pasture.He’d watched them ride off, bedrolls strapped to their saddles.That was two days ago and they hadn’t returned yet.
“You seem out of sorts this morning, Heller,” Mrs.Roarke said as he poked at his food.“Is something bothering you?”
“The mustangs are all accepting a saddle now and will soon be ready to ride.Perhaps it is time for me to learn to work with cattle as well as horses.”There was no guarantee that Payne would agree, or that he would send Erick out with Cade, but it was at least a chance to spend more time together than their reading lessons, assuming Cade would even want to continue them.
“That’s good news,” Mrs.Roarke said.“I’ll see how many Zeke wants to keep on hand and put the word out in town if we have some left for sale.And tell him it’s time to round up a new batch.You should ride out with him, or whoever he sends, to bring them in.Since you’ll be working with them.”
He tried to look enthusiastic at the prospect.He loved working with the horses, but unless Payne sent Cade with him to round up more, it wouldn’t give him a chance to spend more time together.After the weeks of travel to Wellspring, having Cade all to himself, even these few days without seeing him ached like a missing limb.
“In the meantime,” she continued without seeming to notice his lack of enthusiasm, “I was hoping you would take a look at the ranch ledgers with me.I don’t usually have problems making them balance, but I can’t seem to find my mistake this month.You did say you’d managed an estate in Prussia.”
“Of course,” he said with a bow of his head.Another task that would keep him away from Cade, but he couldn’t begrudge the chance to contribute the only other skill he had to offer.“I can review them after our meal, if you like.”
“Yes, please.The sooner we can get the books to balance, the sooner you can get out on the range.I know you’re eager to learn, but while I wouldn’t trade any of our hands for all the gold in the world, most of them don’t have the skills necessary to help me,” Mrs.Roarke replied.
“I am honored by your trust in me.”Erick had just stood to return his empty plate to Javier when a cloud of dust down the road caught his eye.For a moment he hoped it might be Cade and the others returning, but they’d be riding for the barn, not up to the front of the ranch house.By the time they drew to a halt and dismounted, he identified the man he and Cade had overheard in Austin—Reichardt, Cade had named him.He didn’t recognize his companion, but by the frown on Mrs.Roarke’s face, she wasn’t pleased to see either of them.
“Mr.Reichardt, Mr.Sanders,” she said noncommittally.“What brings you to Wellspring?”
“To see you of course, madam,” Reichardt replied as he dismounted, with a smile that set Erick’s teeth on edge.They might very well be there to see her, but that wasn’t their only mission.Erick wished he’d thought to pick up his gun before he left the bunkhouse that morning, but he still wasn’t used to wearing it for no reason.
Movement to the left caught his eye and he glanced toward it to see MacRae lounging indolently against the bunkhouse, one hand resting on the hilt of his pistol.Erick still hadn’t found the time to witness MacRae’s shooting, but he trusted Cade’s assessment.That was one gun against two possible assailants, but it was better odds than before.
“You’ve seen me, now if you’ll excuse me, some of us have to work for a living,” Mrs.Roarke said, her voice cold.
“Mrs.Roarke….Grace, a beautiful woman like you shouldn’t have to work herself to the bone running a place like this,” Reichardt barreled on as if she hadn’t spoken.“If you’d just consider my offer… with our combined spreads, you could live like a queen.”
“I am quite content with what I have, thank you.”It was clearly a dismissal, but Reichardt paid no attention.
“But you could have so much more.”Reichardt’s gaze slid over her simple cotton dress like a snake slithering up to its next meal.“French gowns, a maid to attend to you.You’d never have to lower yourself to consort with the hired hands.”
“Miz Roarke said she wasn’t interested,” MacRae drawled.“You’d best be on your way.”
Reichardt frowned, and his companion took a step closer, his hand falling to his own sidearm.It was time to defuse the situation, or at least get Mrs.Roarke out of danger before it escalated.
“If you please, we can review the accounts now,” Erick said in his most authoritative voice.It bought him enough time to take Mrs.Roarke’s arm and lead her into the house.Surely Reichardt wasn’t bold enough to force his way inside.
“This isn’t over,” Reichardt shouted.
Spotting a rifle leaning against the wall.Erick stepped back onto the porch and cocked it.MacRae had drawn his pistol, and the two of them were enough to discourage the JR owner from whatever his next action might have been.
“You’ll regret this,” Reichardt spat as he remounted his horse, the other man following his lead.
“Not as much as having anything to do with you.”Mrs.Roarke moved beside Erick on the porch, her own pistol raised.“Now get off Wellspring property before I have my men escort you off.”
Erick stayed where he was, rifle at the ready, until he could no longer see even the dust trail left by the two men’s horses.
“Hellfire and damnation,” Mrs.Roarke said when she finally lowered her pistol.“I didnotneed that this morning.Or any morning for that matter.Zeke will be livid when he hears about this.”She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.“MacRae, stand watch and alert us if there’s any sign of them returning.”
“Ma’am,” he said with a tip of his hat.
Erick followed her into the house and waited as she opened the door to a well-appointed office.Indeed, it was nearly a match for his office at his estate in Prussia.
“I regret I was not better prepared,” Erick said.“I thought it best not to be armed when working with the horses, but I will carry a pistol with me henceforth.”
“Keep it within reach,” Mrs.Roarke said.“You’re right not to wear it if you’re in a situation where you might get thrown, but near enough that you can grab it if needed.I hate that it’s come to that, but I don’t trust Reichardt as far as I can spit.”
