Wildest Dreams

chapter 28

July 1881

Luke sat atop a butte on the south section of the Double L, Tex and Tyler on either side of him, and stretched out in a line in both directions sat fifteen cattle ranchers who had come from miles around, at Luke's invitation, to camp out and wait for the impending arrival of Bradley Tillis and his twenty-five hundred sheep. Even Nial Bentley was here.

Luke's announcement at the cattlemen's meeting in February, that he would allow an experiment in sheep and cattle grazing on the Double L, as well as his new son-in-law's presence at that meeting, had been met with anger and curses; but Luke knew that deep inside most of the men involved were his friends. After a lot of explaining from Brad, and a promise from Luke that no sheep would be allowed to stray onto anyone else's land, anger turned to cool receptiveness. Luke suspected most had agreed to go along with him just because Katie had found a husband, and all knew what Katie had been through. They respected Brad because he was Luke Fontaine's son-in-law, and Luke could not help being proud of how Brad had stood up to all of them at the meeting, answering every question honestly and with obvious knowledge of his subject.

Sheep man or not, Luke admired Brad for his guts and determination; and Katie had never seemed happier. She was expecting a baby, something Brad didn't even know yet. The new light in Katie's eyes was worth putting up with the sound of sheep's cries, and maybe he could get used to the smell.

That morning some of the men were sure they had heard the distant sound of bells clanging, the kind some sheep men put around the necks of their stock to keep track of those that wandered off to forage where they liked; then came the baa of sheep's cries. Luke knew that if Brad and the Double L men he had sent along for protection took the correct path back home through Wyoming, they should come through the pass at the south side of the butte where he and the other men had come to watch.

"There they are, boss!" Tex pointed to a few sheep that rounded a distant plateau and headed toward them through a broad, grassy valley. A black-and-white, long-haired shepherd dog scurried about, keeping the herd together, darting, barking, nipping at strays.

"Look at that." Joe Parker spoke up. "All those sheep, and no men. Just that dog keeping them in line."

"Brad says sometimes sheep can be turned out to pasture without any men at all," Tyler told the others. "Just the dog. His dog is called Shep. He says Shep can take a herd out, let them graze, and watch them all day long all by himself, then gather them up and bring them back to the ranch in time for supper."

"I don't believe it," Hank Kline said.

"Hell, see for yourself," Tex told him. "Ain't a man around yet. Just the dog."

Runner just sat quietly smiling at the sight.

"I'll be damned," Billy Sacks spoke up.

"Will ought to be here to see this," Luke said thoughtfully.

"You just remember your promise, Luke," Carl Rose told him. "Those sheep stay on the Double L."

Luke began rolling himself a cigarette. "I don't break promises. But if this works out, you all know you don't have to be afraid of sharing federal land with sheep men." He lit the cigarette. "My wife was probably right about one thing. If this works out, we'll save a lot of bloodshed. I'm doing this partly for Montana, to show the federal government we're willing to be reasonable about these things, show them we're civilized enough not to go out killing innocent people just because they choose to do something different. Statehood means a lot more federal help for ranchers in the future, especially in the hard times; and it can mean more contracts with the government to sell beef to the army. This could be a good thing for the territory, and eventually for the state."

Joe Parker chuckled. "Luke, you son of a bitch, you're giving a campaign speech. You wouldn't be thinking of running for territorial representative, would you?"

Luke kept the cigarette in his mouth. "Hell, no. I'm too busy for all that." He leaned forward to look over at Joe. "What's with all this talk of politics? Lettie suggested the same damn thing."

"Hell, I can't think of a better man to represent us," Joe answered.

"Except, perhaps, the second biggest landholder in Montana," Nial put in, casting a sly glance at Luke.

Luke turned to look at him, his blue eyes cautious. "An Englishman? Representing Montana?"

"Why not? A lot of foreigners have invested in land out here in your great American West, most of them from England. I am now officially an American citizen, you know, and I have a great investment and interest in Montana."

Some of the other men glanced at each other, all aware of the animosity between Luke Fontaine and Nial Bentley. "I don't know," Hank Kline spoke up. "Seems to me like when we send somebody to Washington representing Montana, it ought to be one of our original pioneers, a rugged-looking cattleman who's been out there and risked his life and got his hands dirty. No offense, Bentley, but you don't exactly look the part."

They all laughed then, and Nial smiled, accustomed to their joking about him. "Think what you want, but I do love

Montana, and I am highly educated in politics and finances and how the government works."

Luke took a deep drag on his cigarette, Nial's words stirring his own interest. "You saying I don't have enough education?"

"My pa's education comes from working the land and taking bullets and fighting Indians and grizzlies," Tyler spoke up defensively. "He knows the land like the back of his hand, knows what the ranchers need, knows what we need in the way of law and order. He's got a son buried on this land, a daughter who suffered at the hands of outlaws, another son stole away by Indians. He doesn't have to go to Harvard to know what Montana needs."

A round of whistles and laughter went up from the rest of the men. "Listen to that boy!" Carl Rose spoke up. "There's your campaign manager right there, Luke!"

They all laughed again, and Luke grinned, shaking his head. He exchanged a proud look with Nial, then reached over and yanked Ty's hat down over his eyes, noticing the boy was blushing deeply. He wanted to hug him but wouldn't embarrass him that way.

"To hell with politics," Luke told the rest of them. "I don't have time for that right now. It looks like I'll have my hands full for a while just handling this sheep-cattle thing."

Brad finally came into sight, along with the four Double L men Luke had sent with him for protection.

"Them men are never gonna forgive you for this one," Tex told Luke.

"They'll get over it." Luke took a last, long drag on his cigarette, then crushed it against his canteen to make sure it was out before throwing it down. It had been a dry spring and summer, and there had already been a few grass fires. So far they had been kept under control, but all were aware that if it did not rain soon, the danger of major fires was high.

"I say we go down there and shoot the shit out of those damn sheep," Joe Parker joked.

Another round of laughter was heard as the sheep headed for a wide expanse of grassland where about five hundred head of Luke's cattle were already grazing. He had promised this south section to Brad for grazing, was relieved to know Katie's husband had made it back unscathed. "I'm going down to greet my son-in-law," Luke told them. "The rest of you can sit here and see how those sheep mix with my cattle. I'll know by the next meeting how this is working out." He rode off with Ty, Tex, and Runner, heading down the steep embankment into the valley.

Brad broke away from the others and headed out to greet his father-in-law. "How is Katie?" was his first question.

Luke grinned. "Fat. She's going to have a baby, probably around October."

Grave concern came into Brad's eyes. "She is? Is she okay?"

"So far."

"But she must have known before I left. Why didn't she tell me?"

"She wasn't sure," Luke answered, "and she didn't want you to worry. She's fine, Brad. She's been staying at the house, and Lettie won't let her do a damn thing. One of the other women from town has been taking care of the library. And by the way, your own house is almost finished. I've had some of my men as well as a carpenter from town working on it. You and Katie ought to be able to move in in just a couple of weeks. It's only a couple of miles south of the main house so we'll all be close to each other." He nodded toward where the sheep were beginning to graze. "This is part of the land I'm giving you, but I want my own cattle to be able to graze here, too."

Brad was still wrestling with the news that Katie was going to have a baby. He blinked to get rid of the mist in his eyes. "Yes, sir. No problem. You'll see sheep and cattle can get along just fine." He sniffed and took a deep breath. "You sure Katie's all right?"

Luke chuckled. "I'm sure."

Brad grinned. "I can't wait to see her. Is she happy about the baby?"

Luke just nodded his head, grinning. "What do you think?"

Brad took off his hat and let out a whoop, laughing. "Let's get these sheep closer to home. I want to see her!"

They headed out behind the sheep, the air filled with baas and the clang of sheep bells. The rest of the ranchers who had come to see headed down the bank then, some of them still laughing. Luke managed to swallow his pride. It was enough to know that Katie was happy. If he had to put up with the jokes and the smell of sheep for that, then so be it.



Here lies Paul Lucas Fontaine, Born March 12, 1870—Died January 10, 1876. "Light of My Life, Child of Mine, Forever You Will Be in My Embrace."

Finally the beautiful granite stone had come, shipped all the way from Denver. This was something Lettie had wanted for years, a specially engraved tombstone for little Paul's grave. The pine trees Luke had planted around the Fontaine graveyard were growing fast. One day they would shade Paul's grave, as well as future family burial plots in a lovely, flower-filled field behind the house. Luke had refused to bury his son near the graves of the outlaws he had killed when he and Lettie first came here. Those graves, near the old original shack where they had lived then, were hardly distinguishable now, covered with grass, the crosses erected there long weathered and fallen.

"It's beautiful, Luke," she said softly. They had come out there together after supper, an almost nightly ritual. Luke put his hands on her shoulders. "Let's just hope the next graves here are our own and not any more of our children or any grandchildren," he told her.

Lettie nodded, the old ache returning at memories of holding her little boy, the old guilt of thinking she should have paid more attention to him in those last months. "I know it cost a lot to get the stone here, but I'm so glad now that we did it. A hundred years from now I want people to know who lies here."

Luke sighed, pulling her close, her back to him. He wrapped his arms around her. "Those are beautiful words you had inscribed."

She crossed her arms over his, taking comfort in the feel of his powerful forearms. "Maybe Katie's child will help the old ache. It will be nice having a baby around again, won't it?"

Luke grinned, leaning down to kiss her cheek, wishing for her sake she could have had more children. "I have a feeling our grandchildren are going to be very spoiled."

Lettie laughed then. "I don't care. I plan to enjoy them thoroughly." She turned to look up at him with a smile, and he met her lips in a kiss that spoke of sorrow mixed with sweet love. He gently caressed her breasts, moved his hand to her throat, the kiss lingering until he suddenly picked her up in his arms.

"Luke, what are you doing?"

"You'll see." He carried her farther into the well-manicured bushes and flower gardens at the back of the house, one of her pet projects, to which some of the men had been assigned to help her. It was a warm, quiet evening, and the little creek that ran through the gardens made only little trickling sounds, nearly dried up because of the lack of rain. It was the same creek that was fed from a spring in the rocks that they had found when first settling here. Never had that spring gone down to such a trickle, and it worried Luke, but for the moment he was not going to let something else get in the way of this special moment. He carried Lettie to a grassy area shrouded by thick, flowery shrubs, laid her down in the grass and moved on top of her.

"Luke! Someone might come looking for us," she whispered.

He moved a hand under her dress and pulled at her drawers. "They won't. I told the kids to stay inside, that we wanted to be alone. The work is finished for the day and the men are either at their homes or in the bunkhouses. We can do whatever we want on our own property, can't we?"

"Luke Fontaine, stop behaving like a corralled stallion!"

He pulled off her drawers. "I am your stallion." He unbuttoned his pants. "And why be predictable about these things? It's more fun this way," he told her.

"Luke—" She said nothing more as he entered her like a stroke of white lightning, making her draw in her breath. He moved one hand around her thigh, grasping at her bottom while he rested on the other arm, driving himself deep.

"Just a quick one," he whispered. "Who's going to know?" He nuzzled at her neck, groaned when he met her mouth again.

Lettie arched up to him in sweet abandon. In moments like this he could bring out her most wanton desires without even having to remove their clothes. He massaged her bottom while he worked magic with his intercourse until she felt a sweet climax, after which he drove himself harder and faster to fulfill her every need. Dusk was settling, and somewhere nearby an owl hooted. Lettie could not help feeling a deep satisfaction at the look of desire in her husband's eyes. Taking her this way reminded her of that first time he had done this in the drafty little cabin they had lived in when they arrived here. They were both still dressed then, too. They had just needed to be one, to unite their bodies in a bond of love, like now, a quiet, deliberate, necessary thing.

"I love you, Lettie." His life spilled into her then, and he relaxed next to her. He looked around at the shrubbery. "Well, here's one we haven't tried before," he joked.

"Luke Fontaine, you're a crazy man. If my friends at the women's club knew the things I let you get away with—"

"They would all be jealous," he teased. "Besides, how do you know they and their husbands don't do some of the same things?"

She rolled her eyes. "Because some of them talk as though lying with their husbands for any reason but having children is some kind of chore." She faced him then, an almost wicked grin on her face. "I can't imagine why."

Luke laughed and handed her a handkerchief and her drawers. She quickly used the handkerchief to clean herself, then pulled on her drawers, and just in time.

"Pa! Pa, where are you?" It was Tyler calling.

"Damn!" Luke muttered. He quickly rolled away and buttoned his pants, and Lettie scrambled to hide the handkerchief under a bush and pull down her dress. She brushed herself off, hoping her hair wasn't too badly messed.

"Pa! Hurry up! Fire! Tex says the whole south section is burning!"

"Oh, my God, that's where the sheep are!" Lettie exclaimed. Luke was already running back toward the house. She quickly rose and brushed herself off, running to catch up. They all hurried around to the front of the house to see the billowing smoke in the distance, where Katie, Robbie, and Pearl were standing, staring at the sickening blaze.

"Dear God, the sheep!" Katie exclaimed. "And our new house!"

"It's too late for any of that now!" Luke said, running to saddle a horse. "Ty, get some men together! We've got to start digging a trench, try to save the house and outbuildings! That wind is coming right out of the south!" Men were running every which way, some of them with shovels.

"The sheep will run from it!" Brad yelled. "They should be all right, unless the wind picks it up too fast for them!"

Luke ordered some of the men to go herd what cattle they could farther north. "Robbie, you help Sven Hansen get as many horses as you can out of the barns and up to the top of the butte there beyond the creek behind the house!"

"Mama, it's coming so fast!" Katie exclaimed. She grasped her swollen stomach.

One of Luke's men came riding hard up the drive then. "Luke! There's fire up northeast of here, too! I just came back from taking that horse to Hank Kline that he wanted to buy, and his whole place is gone, house and all!"

"Heaven help us!" Lettie fretted. She put an arm around Katie. "Come back inside, Katie. You have to think about the baby. You only have one month to go. You don't want to do anything to risk losing it now."

"Brad, be careful!" Katie screamed as she watched her husband run off with a shovel. "Oh, Mama, what are we going to do?"

"We're going to pray," Lettie answered. She herded Katie and Pearl back into the house, and Robbie ran off to help Sven with the horses, while Tyler rode out to help herd some of the cattle farther north.

Luke tried to give orders everywhere at once, his chest hurting with the thought that in one night he could lose everything he had worked for and risked his life for over the past eighteen years. He glanced back at Lettie, who stood on the steps to the house watching in terror. Their gaze held for a moment, and he knew she was thinking the same thing he was. Moments ago they had shared a sweet, secret moment, so happy with the turn life had taken for them. It seemed that in this land a man could never relax and take anything for granted.

He turned and rode off to help the other men dig a trench, loving all of them for their devotion to the Double L. Billy Sacks's house was in danger, but here he was, a team of horses hitched to a plow, breaking up the ground as best he could to create a fire barrier. He had already brought his wife and two young sons up to the main house. Luke ordered Tex to help Robbie and Sven get all the horses out of the two large barns that held them, then he grabbed a shovel and rode off.

Dusk moved into darkness, orange flames growing bright against the black sky. Luke prayed no one would be hurt. Men were scattered everywhere, including his own two sons. He dug until he thought he would pass out, sweat pouring from his face, his shirt soaked. His lungs burned and ached from smoke carried on the wind, and the fire crept ever closer, threatening the main house and barns. He knew Katie and Brad's new house had surely already burned, but he couldn't think about that now. He could see Billy's house burning, and now flames were eating at the roof of the main horse barn. There was a wide dirt drive between the outbuildings and the main house. He was counting on that to protect the home that had taken over three years to build for Lettie.

His eyes teared, and he looked away from the barn. God only knew how many cattle and sheep had already been lost. Poor Hank Kline had apparently already lost everything. Thank God all his horses were surely safely out of the barn by now. He just prayed the wind wouldn't carry enough cinders to the main house to catch the roof there.

There wasn't even enough water in the creek to try pumping it onto the house. Somewhere in the distance he could hear a few sheep bleating, heard Shep barking, the faithful dog doing what he could to save some of his master's stock.

He thought how Brad had been right. The sheep had not harmed grazing land. He vowed that if Brad had lost very many of his woollies, he would help finance buying more for him... unless he lost so much himself that he was ruined. At least he had the copper mines... thanks to Lettie. Fire couldn't hurt what was in the ground.

Smoke and overexertion made his mind wander, and when he first heard Lettie screaming his name, he thought he was imagining it. Had the house caught fire? The wind had finally shifted more from the east, and it should be blowing the fire away from the house and buildings, but maybe too late! Somewhere in the distance he thought he heard the rumble of thunder, and he prayed fervently that it meant rain was coming. But then, maybe his mind was just playing games with him.

"Luke! Luke!" Lettie screamed again. "Where are you! Robbie's trapped in the barn! Luke!"

Lettie? She was calling him! Robbie! He threw down his shovel and ran, his heart beating so hard his chest pained him. Because the fire had come so near where he had been digging, his horse had run off. He had to depend on his own legs to get him to the house, and the run seemed to take forever.

Not another son! God surely wouldn't do this to him! And what about Tyler? He was out there somewhere trying to save cattle. Something could happen to him, too. If he lost one more son, he would not want to go on living.

He realized then that Brad was running beside him. They reached the house, and Lettie was frantically trying to get into the biggest of their two horse barns, which was engulfed in flames. One of the Double L men was hanging on to her. "You can't go in there, Mrs. Fontaine!" he was shouting.

"Robbie's in there!" Lettie screamed at Luke. "Tex went in after him!"

"My God! My God!" Katie had sunk to the ground, holding her belly. Luke grabbed hold of Brad. "Stay with Katie! Get her back in the house!" He ran and jumped into a watering trough to get himself wet, then headed for the barn, but just as he reached the flaming entrance, Robbie came staggering out from around a corner, looking dazed. The back of his shirt was smoking. Luke hurriedly grabbed him close and carried him away from the barn, just as it collapsed into a raging inferno.

"Robbie!" Luke carried his son to Lettie, and by the light of the fire they inspected him. The boy had a nasty cut on his forehead, and his back was slightly burned. "Where's Tex!" Luke asked him.

Robbie blinked, his eyes tearing. He pointed to the barn. "I was... trying to get Sundance out. He... wouldn't come, Pa. He wouldn't come. Fire... all around... Tex showed me a way out... went back for Sundance..." The boy passed out in his arms, and Luke turned to stare at the barn, a lump rising in his throat, tears welling in his eyes. He realized then that he had known hardly a thing about Tex, had never even known if that was his real name or what his last name was.

"My God," he muttered. He turned to carry Robbie to the house, but he only made it as far as the steps before going to his knees. A blackness enveloped him, and he clung to Robbie as he went to the ground.

"Luke! Oh, God, Luke!" Lettie leaned over her husband and son, wondering if she would lose them both tonight.