Page 23 of On the Mountain

“So’s the horse for that matter.” Joe grinned, turning to tighten his horse’s girth. “But if ya like, we can have the boy give it a shot. Maybe he’ll get that youngin’ broke by mind control. Or hell, maybe he even got some spells and magic charms up his sleeve.”

Wade ignored his wrangler’s sense of dry humor and said, “I don’t think it can hurt.”

The man grumbled but turned away at the same moment Prescott finally made his appearance. At last the group headed out with Wade leading the way. Prescott and Joe were next as point riders, Neil and the rest of the wranglers rode flank and swing, while the boy rode drag behind them all. The sun was high in the sky and not a trace of cloud could be seen. A chilly breeze swept down the valley escorting the men on their way. October had slipped away and November had arrived. Soon the snow would follow and the great earth surrounding his ranch would be covered in a blanket of white.

Behind him the men rode quietly except Prescott, who talked the ear off any wrangler willing to listen. Wade turned in his saddle and saw the boy the victim of his brother’s latest ramblings. He grinned and turned his attention back to the trail.

“Some of the men have asked that they be allowed to visit the saloon in our layover in Lantern,” Joe said.

Wade nodded, knowing that even though his roundups were rather relaxed, the men couldn’t let loose like they truly would have wanted. “Just remind them they still represent the Circle H. I don’t want no brawls or looting.”

“I’ll let ‘em know, boss.” Joe pulled the reins on his horse and rode back to some of the ranch hands.

Wade offered the warning out of routine rather than need. Though the men enjoyed their ale and their woman, the majority of their time was spent carousing with the other patrons at the saloon. The odd man even had a sweetheart on the side and would take the opportunity to sneak a visit.

He thought of Marion. In fact, he had been thinking about her a lot in the last couple of days. To be exact, since the incident in the filly paddock with the boy. He wasn’t counted in the numbers eager for a stopover in town, but this trip was an exception.

He could hardly wait to see Marion.

Chapter 8

Anna rode silently next to Prescott. The man was by far the friendliest in the group, but admittedly, was boring her to tears. She thought she had heard all there was to hear on the subject of the apparently flawless English society. Her inability to respond only urged the man on, but also provided Anna with an escaped outlet. She was certain he wouldn’t even notice if she enjoyed the view around her rather than his company.

“All British nations share certain distinguished traditions and customs that are often cited as being elements of a shared English culture. Example, a love of polo. I had the good fortune of learning the finer elements to the game while studying abroad in England. But, unfortunately, there are not many opportunities to play the sport here in Canada.”

Anna spotted the horns of a mule deer in the distance and smiled to herself.

“I really ought to teach you, Peter,” Prescott said. “I think you would be a natural. Wade never took an interest. Actually, he really never cared for any of the English customs I tried to instill from our family’s heritage. Ranching and this land were the only love he had.”

She turned to look at him, her interest finally caught.

“Our father was the same way. You probably would have never guessed as much, but he was actually born an English gentleman.”

Her brows rose, admittedly surprised. Prescott, yes she would have guessed his roots originated in England. However, Wade, he was as far from what she perceived as an Englishman as she could imagine.

“According to our mother when she met him, he was a spoiled and bored aristocrat’s son. Being the daughter of a dignitary made her an acceptable partner. They married and took residents at Cuthbert Hall. Kathleen and I lived there when mother sent us to England to receive a proper English education. I’ve been lucky to be able to return at least once a year ever since. It’s a home like none other around here with majestic towers and the most beautiful stained glass windows.”

Anna listened closely, wondering idly who Kathleen was.

“So, anyway, when news spread across Britain about vast land in Canada virtually untouched and unclaimed, father made his way across the Atlantic. It was love at first sight. He would never return home again to England. To the chagrin of our mother who very much would have loved to return to her beloved homeland.” His horse tripped over some uneven terrain, causing Prescott to pause in his story.

Anna waited for him to continue.

“Obviously, money was not an obstacle for my parents, but even with all his means for funds, father was only able to obtain a fraction of what he had envisioned before leaving England. At the time, the Hudson’s Bay Company was still in charge and controlled how much land settlers were able to purchase. He wasn’t able to buy up as much land as he would have liked. Five years later, however, he succeeded in securing all of the property which now constitutes all of the land under the Circle H. The house was for my mother. She wanted the grandest and most sophisticated home from all around. Most of the additional buildings Wade had built after he took ownership.”

Unconsciously, her eyes shifted toward the front of the men. Wade rode alone, tall and proud in his horse and looking very much a king of his own domain.

“Wade was born during those first years. I followed eight years later and Kathleen two years after that.” He paused to give his horse a rub on the neck. “There was another child between Wade and myself, but died of smallpox. The same illness that took my wife.”

Anna was surprised. She had no idea Prescott had been married. A warmth of compassion overcame her.

“We had met in England.” He smiled, recalling the memory. “The perfect English rose. I knew mother would approve.”

Anna smiled as well.

“If she couldn’t return home she wanted her children immersed as much as possible into the English culture.”

Anna thought of what Prescott had already told her and couldn’t remember him mentioning Wade being sent to England for what their mother believed was a proper upbringing.

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