Send him away. Tell him you don’t want to marry him.But what could Zach offer to compare to what the Dakota farmer had? Nothing but worry and uncertainty. It just wasn’t fair. She deserved the life she’d always wanted.
“Sounds fine. I assume you’re pleased.”
She didn’t answer. Her face revealed nothing, and it was too dim inside the barn for him to read anything in her eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I expect everything will work out. After all, isn’t that what Pastor Stone meant when he said God is faithful no matter where we go or what befalls us?”
If she meant the words to reassure him, they fell far short of the mark. But then, what need did she have to reassure him?
“He’s joining us at the meal… unless you object.”
“Why would I object?” Other than the fact that he didn’t want the man ever showing his face around here again. A purely selfish thought.
“It will be ready soon.” She hurried back to the house as if she couldn’t wait to return to the Dakota farmer.
Amelia had prepared a hearty dinner—one that displayed her excellent cooking.
Mr. Wells—Jacob, as he instructed them to call him—joined them around the table, but Zach didn’t feel very hospitable. The others seemed quieter than usual as well.
Poppy pressed to Pa’s side, casting suspicious glances at the stranger across the table.
Gil must have seen the wagon drive up and joined them out of curiosity.
Conversation was strained as they ate.
Gil jumped up, restless as a caged animal. He grabbed the coffeepot and filled Jacob’s cup, and then Zach’s. He muttered, “Seems a man should know a good thing when he has it.”
Zach ignored him. Just as he ignored Kat’s scowling glances. Pa, happy enough to have Poppy at his side, didn’t seem upset about a stranger in their midst.
The rest of the day stretched before Zach. He had no desire to watch Jacob courting Amelia. “I have something I need to check on.” The cowhands would wonder if he returned after leaving so early this morning. But he could ride west and admire the view.
Kat followed him to the barn. “You gonna let her go with that fella?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Why?” No mistaking her anger.
“It’s what she wants.”
Kat blocked his escape from the barn. “How do you know? Did you ask her? Are you going to go back to Pa wandering away? What about me? I need her.” She sucked in air. “Youtalked about being lost in a great big sea without rudder, without pilot, and without hope. Seems to me God sent Amelia to help us get safely to shore.”
Kat’s words stung. If only he could believe that was the way it should be. “Kat, we can’t stand in the way of her finding happiness.”
His sister snorted. “’Pears to me she’s happy. You’re just too selfish to ask her to stay.”
Selfish? If she only knew. “You’re too young to understand.” He swung into his saddle.
She grabbed his leg. “You don’t see what’s right in front of your nose. Sometimes you act like a silly kid.” She stomped away.
He rode away in the other direction, returning to the herd despite his previous plans.
The grassland’s condition had steadily deteriorated due to a lack of rain. He needed to move the cattle farther up the mountains if he could find adequate water supply. Down here, the fight over grass and water continued. So far, the Taggerty cowboys had been able to get the herd to the river despite Sobel’s attempts to keep them away.
Zach joined his foreman, and they rode the area, looking for better grass. If not for the drought, he would move his cows out of contact with Sobel’s cowboys, putting an end to the man’s harassment.
“How’s that pretty little gal settling in?” Morgan asked. He’d seen Amelia twice when he came to the ranch to speak to Zach.
“She’s leaving soon.”
“Leaving? Don’t tell me you’re letting a good woman like that get away?”
