“You probably slosh water all over the floor and only get your clothes half clean.” She rolled her eyes. “If you’ll fetch me your clothes, I’ll do them.”
“Yes, ma’am.” With a chuckle, he saluted and hurried off for the stable. Her very presence added an extra layer of sunshine to his day.
By the time he returned with the basket half full, she’d already headed to the back yard. Charlie lugged a bucket of water toward her washstand, an old cart with one end propped up on a low stone wall and one side of the railing removed. Two wooden tubs sat on its bed. A rusty iron kettle swung over a fire pit. Cora knelt beside it, arranging kindling atop logs.
Ben set the basket by the cart and quickstepped to the kettle before the boy had a chance to accidentally douse the wood. “Let me help.”
“It’s heavy.” Charlie heaved the bucket handle upward, elbows close to his chest.
Cora scooted out of the way as Ben poured the water into the kettle. “Charlie tells me you two are thinking about riding the land today.”
Ben handed the bucket to the boy. “I figure the cattle situation has to be the top priority. I’ll finish stripping the log this morning and then let it set a couple days.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I need a good understanding of the layout of the land before I bring cattle here.” Good understanding? What he needed was to find an old-timer with a thorough knowledge of ranching and soak in every word the man had to say.
“I suppose so.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Charlie will be a big help. He can show you the land boundaries.”
“That’s the plan.” Ben’s Adam’s apple dipped as Cora trailed her fingers from her cheekbone to her collarbone.
“I think Cora should come too.” Charlie swung the bucket like a pendulum. “I might not know all the boundaries.” Suddenly, the boy who knew everything, didn’t? A smile snickered at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll bring my rifle in case I see a deer.”
“You ought to bring your rifle in case you see a raiding party, but don’t go shooting unless Ben tells you so.” Cora dusted her hands against each other. “I’ll have supper waiting.”
Ben flexed his fingers. His gaze fell into her murky blue irises. “We could all go and bring food, have a pic—” He bit his tongue.
A frown clouded Cora’s expression.
Stupid of him to get anywhere near the wordpicnic. Best to stay away from anything that smacked of more than business, or he’d be banished to the stable loft for his meals again. “You’re the expert on the boundaries, Cora.”
“Charlie can show you well enough for now. I’ve got laundry to do.”
“We could wait for tomorrow?” My goodness. What had gotten into him? He was worse than some schoolboy.
“Tomorrow, I’ll have the gardening.” She headed toward an overturned washtub by the stone wall. “Besides, knowing the exact boundary markers isn’t essential until we find the cattle.”
He beat her to the tub and snatched it from her grasp.
She huffed. “I can carry that.”
“Just being a gentleman.” He dodged her reach and clunked the thick oak tub with its iron bands onto the cart.
She jabbed a hand to her hip, but there was a flicker of light in her gaze. “You have your own work to do. If I can’t handle the laundry on my own, I have no reason to be out here on this ranch.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll have the whole afternoon to yourself, and then tomorrow, I plan to ride into town.”
She blinked at him. “You just went to town yesterday.”
“But that was before you commissioned me to locate Goodnight and Loving.”
“I’m sorry. I should have spoken up earlier.” She blew out a breath. “But I can point you in the right direction. You don’t have to go into Weatherford. Goodnight’s ranch is in Palo Pinto County, west of here. And from what I hear, Mr. Loving owns a large stead in Keetchi Creek Valley, same county.”
Ben tipped his hat back and swiped his arm over his forehead. “If they’re rounding up cattle, they could be anywhere riding the range.” He hooked his thumbs around his suspenders. “From what I can tell, most everyone west of here travels to Weatherford for supplies, so I’m betting someone there should have an idea about their current whereabouts. Besides, going into town will give me another opportunity to look for a horse for myself. I can’t keep using yours.”
A furrow dipped between her eyebrows. “I didn’t know you were planning to buy a horse.”
There it was again. That concern that maybe he’d take up roots and not skedaddle as soon as his task was complete. “I can’t head off to search for cattle a week or two at a time on your horse. I want you to have Sandy here in case you need her.”
“I suppose you’re right. It’s just that I’d hate to see you go to the expense of purchasing a horse and then not be able to take the animal with you when you catch the stagecoach home.”
That day could take its time coming as far as he was concerned. “I’ll sell her when the time comes.” He picked up the bucket and headed for the well.
