Safe in His Arms

THIRTEEN





The last nail had been pounded into the barn roof when Daniel wiped his moist forehead. Most of the neighbors had left. His right hand ached from swinging a hammer, and his forearm was knotted. He headed toward the springhouse to wash up.

Paddy emerged from the springhouse with his hair and whiskers wet. “Looks good, doesn’t it? This barn’s bigger than the old one. The rascal did me a favor.”

“You’ve got good neighbors.”

“The best.” Paddy’s genial smile faded. “That young Stanton had the nerve to take me to task for cutting Margaret out of my will. I must have a word with my daughter. She knows better than to chatter with her friends about my business.”

It was none of his business, but Daniel glanced at Paddy and considered his response. He could stay out of it or actually tell the old man he was wrong. The fellow had a temper and it was possible he might fire him. All Daniel’s plans would be ruined if he was booted out on his ear. Even as he decided he was staying out of it, he opened his mouth.

“I have to agree with Nate,” he said. “Margaret has worked hard here on the ranch. She deserves better from you.”

Paddy’s thick brows drew together. “You’re mighty opinionated for someone who just got here. How would you know what my daughter has or has not done around this place?”

“I’ve seen the respect she’s earned. And I’ve been here long enough to see how hard she works. I’m not speaking against Lewis. He seems a fine man. But Margaret is your flesh and blood.”

“She’s a female. And like her mother, she’s led by emotion.”

“That’s hardly fair, Paddy. Margaret is smart. She knows what is best for the ranch, not an outsider like Lewis. What if Lewis decides he doesn’t like ranching and sells it? Where would Margaret go?”

Paddy reared back. “Sell it? Why would he do that?”

“He’s lived in town all his life. What makes you think he’ll take to ranching life? He may hate the unending work. He may marry and his wife will persuade him to sell out and move to town.”

Paddy chewed on the idea with a scowl. “Margaret would never do that.”

“No, she wouldn’t. She loves this place as much as you do. Before you will it out of your family, you should think about it.”

Paddy’s face grew pensive and he looked off toward the river. “If only Stephen hadn’t died.”

“I’m sorry about that.” And Daniel was. He couldn’t imagine losing Charlie. That’s why he was here.

Paddy stared at him. “I should fire you for meddling.”

“I know. But you won’t. You like my work, and you’re not an irrational man.”

The older man grinned. “You’re a bit partial to my daughter, Daniel. You have my permission to court her.”

Daniel shut his mouth. He had nothing to say to that. If he said he wasn’t interested in Margaret, Paddy would see the lie. Much as Daniel would like to agree to the idea of a courtship, romance wasn’t on his agenda. Not now.

“Nothing to say?” Paddy asked with a sly grin.

“I—I don’t know what to say. I should think you’d want to merge your ranch with that of another rancher in the area. Aren’t there better matches out there for Margaret?” Though the thought of her in another man’s arms made his gut churn, he had to ask.

Paddy waved his hand. “It will take a strong man to deal with Margaret. I think you have what it takes. She thinks I’m too old and foolish. That I didn’t notice your new boots and citified ways.”

Daniel had thought the same. “So why did you let me stay?”

“Your eyes showed a strength of character I liked. And I decided it was time for Margaret to begin to learn more about being a woman and less about being a ranch hand.”

“I think she’s both.”

Paddy nodded. “Not many men see past her mannish exterior. She’s worn britches too long, and it’s my fault. I should have put a stop to it long ago. I’m going to send her to Sally, the town dressmaker. Get her tricked out in some new dresses.”

Daniel wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. Didn’t Paddy realize his daughter would fight him like a hooked catfish? “Don’t change her too much.”

Paddy clapped his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “You marry her and I’ll think about changing that will, son. You’ve given me things to think about, and I thank you for that.”

Margaret spoke from behind them. “Think about what?”

Don’t say anything. Daniel willed Paddy to keep quiet. The last thing he needed was for Margaret to think he had his sights set on the ranch.

“I told young Cutler here that if he married you, I might change my mind about leaving the ranch to Lewis.”

Daniel tried to catch her eye, but she was staring at her father with horror. Daniel reached toward her, but she took a step back.

Her green eyes were wide and hurt. “Why not haul me to town and put me on the auction block? Let everyone get a chance at the ranch. The only problem is, they’d have to take me with it.” She whirled and ran for the door.

Daniel started to go after her, but Paddy grabbed his arm. “Let her be. She won’t thank you for interfering right now. Maybe later.”




INEZ’S ROUGH HANDS smoothed Margaret’s hair where she sat on a stool in her serviceable blue nightgown. Inez plaited it swiftly. “Your father, he loves you, Señorita Margaret. You must never doubt that. He is man and does not understand feelings of women. Your mama, she die too early to teach him.”

Inez’s hands in her hair drained some of the tension from her shoulders. Margaret had always missed having a mother, but never more than this moment. What was she to do with her life? If Pa gave Lewis the ranch, she would be displaced, no matter what her cousin said. He had good intentions and would try to make her feel part of the work, but the minute he married, everything would change.

And how dare her father try to bribe Daniel into marrying her? No wonder he’d been pursuing her. She’d thought he was genuinely interested in her. Now she suspected her father had brought him to town for the express purpose of marrying her off. Pa would change his tune when he heard why Daniel was really here. When the sheriff and posse rode up to arrest him. Her chest squeezed and she pushed the mental image away. Yearning after a greedy man like Daniel was fruitless. She had to decide her future by herself.

She glanced around her room. The floorboards were wide and could use repainting. The gray walls hadn’t been redone in a good ten years. Now that she could buy paint already premixed in a can, she would suggest they repaint in here. There was no personality to this space. Male or female could be comfortable here in the double bed with the rag rug on the wood. The stool was wood with no cushioning. There was only a tiny closet with four hooks in the room. She’d had no need of a larger one since her wardrobe was far from lavish. In spite of its shortcomings, this room was hers. How could she bear to leave it?

“All I know is ranch work. I wouldn’t know how to earn a living outside of the ranch.”

Inez tied a ribbon at the end of the braid. “You keep books for the ranch. Orville, perhaps he would have place for you.”

Margaret groaned. “I can’t imagine anything worse than being cooped up in the bank all day long. But I may have no choice.” She’d have to rent one of those rooms above a store. “I shall have to decide what I want to do with my life, then do it.”

The options weren’t exciting: teaching, cooking, cleaning. Dressmaking was out. She was very slow and tended to prick her fingers, leaving blood behind on the fabric, and she’d never mastered the sewing machine Inez was so fond of. There were good friends in the area who might hire her as a stable hand. She was good with horses. But then that created another set of problems— lodging. Most hands stayed in the bunkhouse. She was a woman. That would never be allowed, nor would she want it.

Marrying was her best option. She would be able to manage her own household and do things her way. She ran through the list of men she knew who had ranches. Most of them were married, and if they had sons, the sons were too young. But other ranchers came through the area. Maybe she could figure out a way to meet more travelers.

“You will think of something.” Inez patted her shoulder. “I can see.”

“I was trying to think how I might meet more ranchers who happen to be coming this way. Maybe I can get a job in town. When I was in Larson last week, I saw the café was looking for a waitress. Emma Croft likes me. She might hire me.”

“But what of your duties? Your papa depends on you.”

Margaret rose from the stool and went to the bed. She folded the quilt back to the bottom of the bed and pulled back the sheets. “Pa would have to get along without me. He has Lewis now. And Daniel. There is plenty of help.”

Inez followed her to the bed and dimmed the kerosene lamp on the bedside table. “Mr. Daniel, he has his eye on you.”

Margaret fluffed her pillow. “Daniel is only interested in gaining control of the ranch. He is only courting me because Pa might give me the ranch if he marries me.”

“You know this to be true?”

“I heard Pa tell him that tonight with my own ears.” Talking about it was like probing for a splinter in a sore finger. “I don’t want to talk about Daniel. I shall not be marrying him.”

“I think you like him.”

“He’s not what you think, Inez.”

“I do not understand.”

Margaret rubbed her forehead. “He is duplicitous. His reasons for being here have nothing to do with ranching.”

Her maid shrugged. “All people have reasons for what they do. Very confusing. But Mr. Daniel, he is good man.”

“There are parts that are not so good.” She flipped her braid behind her and sat on the edge of the bed. The springs squeaked under her and the mattress sagged in the middle. There were so many things that could use sprucing up at the ranch, but it wouldn’t be her problem.

Inez studied her face, then smiled. “You are tired, señorita. Sleep. You will feel better in morning.”

Margaret snuggled into the sheets, smelling of fresh air and lye soap. Inez extinguished the lamp and pulled the door shut behind her. The work Margaret had done today didn’t explain her fatigue—it was purely heartache. She would figure out what to do in the morning.