Chapter Sixteen

Aislinn felt as if she’d been holding her breath since the moment Luke had ridden into the courtyard, or homestead, as the others referred to the area where all the buildings were located, including the lovely two-storey house, painted white and hosting a huge front porch that looked out over the mountains, which were exactly as Luke had described them.

Huge, with white snow-capped tops. Majestic was what he’d said, and they truly were. Everything about this place was grand. The entire ranch was wonderful. Beautiful. It was all just as Luke had described it, so much so that she felt as if she’d already seen it. That everything was familiar. She hadn’t been fearful of any part of the trip, because she’d known what to expect.

Even the beauty.

And the ranch. Besides the house, there was a huge red barn, the bunkhouse where the cowboys, Ted, Tad, Andy, Jake, and Buster, lived, the log cabin where Doli lived with her husband, Wayne, the chicken coop, the corn crib, the machine shed, and three other buildings that she didn’t know the names of, or what they were used for, but she’d learn.

She would learn everything there was to know about living here.

That’s why she felt as if she was holding her breath, because, though he appeared happy that they were there, Luke was troubled by their presence.

She wasn’t convinced that he didn’t want them here, he just didn’t feel as if it was the right place for them. What he didn’t understand was that wherever he was, was where they belonged. They were a family. Her family.

She also had to tell him the entire truth about what she’d done before leaving England.

The sound of the door opening made her heart flip, but she remained still, looking out of the bedroom window at the sky that looked like black velvet, and stars that shone as brightly as the diamond in the ring on her finger when light hit it just right.

The hands that slipped around her waist from behind her were familiar, and the firm touch of them was one of the many things she’d missed that last couple of weeks.

Luke pulled her back against him and nuzzled the side of her neck.

‘The stars look almost close enough to touch,’ she said, rubbing his forearms folded around her waist.

‘It’s you I want to touch,’ he whispered.

She twisted around, ran her hands over the skin of his shoulders. ‘Should I check if you washed behind your ears? It took longer to heat your bath water than for you to wash with it.’

His chuckle was low and husky, and his hands roamed down her back. ‘This evening was already the longest I’ve ever had to endured.’ He kissed her ear, then the side of her neck.

‘It was nice to meet everyone,’ she said, tilting her head to give him more access. ‘They were all so friendly and welcoming, and I believe everyone enjoyed the meal Doo prepared. Including you.’

He lifted his head, looked at her. ‘I admit his cooking beats the heck out of Buster’s cooking, but why are we standing here, discussing food, when we could be in the bed, right over there!’ He picked her up on the last word and carried her across the room.

With her arms looped around his neck, she said, ‘I remembered something recently.’

He paused next to the bed and lifted a brow. ‘What’s that?’

‘When Mrs Hall was teaching me everything that I needed to know to become a governess, she told me to stay away from the charming ones.’ She trailed a finger from his chin to his chest. ‘Meaning men. She said they would charm me right out of my clothes and into their bed, and then I’d lose my job.’

He fell backwards onto the bed with her in his arms. The bed creaked and the mattress bounced. So did they. She ended up lying atop him, and her entire body tingled in anticipation of what was to come.

‘Well,’ he said, inching her night rail upwards. ‘I guess she was right.’

‘Are you saying you’re charming?’ she teased. ‘Or that I lost my job?’

‘Both,’ he said, his lips almost touching hers. ‘And I really like your new job. That of being my wife.’

She did, too.

It took far less than a minute for her night rail to be discarded, and his pants. Then their reunion fully began, with him kissing her into a state where nothing existed except for the two of them.

The following morning, Aislinn determined there was no time like the present to get things in order. Doli, who was, beyond a doubt, the most beautiful woman Aislinn had ever seen, with her bronze complexion, dark brown eyes, and long, straight black hair, had shared a variety of information yesterday. Yet, there was much more that Aislinn would need to know, so shortly after the men rode off to take care of the cattle, she knocked on the door of the log cabin, armed with a pen and paper.

Within an hour, she had a full list of domestic matters that needed immediate attention and another list of accounting matters that she would need to discuss with Luke. She did not know the financial situation of the ranch and hoped the addition of Doo, Millie, and Benjamin wouldn’t be a burden.

They wanted to come here as much as her. Upon returning to the house with her list, and Doli in case others had questions, she sat everyone down to designate duties.

During her conversation with Doli, Aislinn had become aware of all the duties the woman had been completing, and asked her if she would like assistance. Not because she wasn’t doing a good job, but because there were now enough people to share those duties.

As sweet as she was pretty, Doli had expressed with sincerity that she would enjoy having others to share the work with, especially with a baby arriving in a few months. She also expressed how happy she was to have more women in residence.

Doo was in full agreeance about cooking for all, stating that it was only a couple more than he was used to cooking for, and agreed to create a weekly menu. Benjamin said the cowboys took such good care of the horses and tack themselves, he’d have plenty of time to help in other areas after completing his stable duties.

Millie said the house was half the size of the London house and would take only a fraction of her time to clean.

The house was smaller than their London home, but larger than what she’d expected. That was the only thing Luke had never fully described. The house. There were four bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs. Millie and Benjamin had each taken a room upstairs, and Fern and Ivy shared the one near Millie’s room. Doo had taken the downstairs bedroom that was off the kitchen. Her and Luke’s room was down the hall, past the dining room and water closet. There was also a large front parlour that had a massive rock fireplace and a smaller room that Luke used as his office. Below the house, accessible by a door in the kitchen, and down a set of stairs, was a large root cellar.

The one thing Aislinn was worried about was that not having a designated governess might be unseemly, but she was certain that between she and Millie, someone would always be on hand to see to the girls’ needs, including schooling.

With everyone in agreeance, she started with the most prudent issue. Doli had said that the men rarely ate a noon meal. They would simply take biscuits, or bread and bacon, or jerky with them when they left in the morning to eat later in the day.

With Doo and Benjamin working on a meal that Benjamin would deliver to the men to eat at noon, and Millie busy with household chores, Aislinn and Doli entered the bunkhouse.

‘Luke said the men could clean up after themselves,’ Doli said, ‘but as you can see, they aren’t very good at it.’

Kicking at a chunk of mud on the floor, Aislinn said, ‘I can see that. I suggest that they clean up after themselves daily, but we’ll give it a good cleaning once a week.’ Walking past beds that were built up against the wall, two high, she added, ‘And wash the bedding.’

‘I agree,’ Doli said, pointing out with one hand that the room also had cobwebs in the corners. ‘I’ve wanted to suggest that, but Luke said that I already did enough.’

Aislinn’s heart warmed. ‘The only person he overworks is himself.’

‘I will get a broom, mop and bucket,’ Doli said.

‘Thank you. I will find a nanny for Fern and Ivy.’

‘Who?’ Doli asked.

‘Half-Pint,’ Aislinn replied.

The girls were outside the bunkhouse, playing with Banjo. The shaggy, grey and white dog had taken to the girls as quickly as they had to him.

Having watched both Luke and John bridle Half-Pint numerous times, Aislinn completed the task in no time. She led the pony into the centre of the courtyard and lifted both girls onto Half-Pint’s back. ‘You can ride all around the yard, but not past any buildings, promise?’

‘We promise!’ Ivy shouted. ‘I’ve missed riding so much!’

Aislinn returned to help Doli and easily kept an eye on the girls while cleaning. By the time Benjamin left with the meal for the men, the bunkhouse was clean, including the dishes, pots, and pans that had been in need of a good scrubbing, and the bedding and curtains were hanging on the clotheslines stretched between the bunkhouse and a building that housed the buggies and wagons.

The C Bar H ranch, she discovered, stood for Carlisle’s Haven. The closeness of the name Luke had chosen for the ranch to the name of their family estate, Havenbrook, wasn’t lost on her.

After lunch, while the girls were napping, the beds were made in the bunkhouse, and Aislinn neatly printed a sign and tacked it up on the back of the door. It explained that washday was Wednesday and any clothing needing to be washed, should be left on the cowboy’s respected beds. She also wrote the weekly menu on a sheet of paper and left it on the table.

Fully satisfied with the work they’d accomplished, she closed the door of the bunkhouse. As she walked towards the house, she thought how lovely it would be to have a few rose bushes planted along the front of the porch and added it to a growing mental list of other ideas she’d had. Like a child-sized table for the girls. She’d brought along books, games, and toys, including their beloved tea set, but there was no table for them to use.

There had been so many of them eating last night that Tad and Ted had found some barrels, laid some boards between them, and carried chairs from the bunkhouse and kitchen for everyone to sit on. It would be nice to have a table like that out in the yard, so they could eat outside whenever they wanted. She was more like Luke than she’d known, because there was something about that big sky overhead that she just couldn’t get enough of.

She was in the parlour, where Fern and Ivy were using the short table in front of the sofa for their tea party, which included Banjo alongside their dolls, when Benjamin announced that the men were arriving.

‘Thank you, Benjamin. Will you please inform them that their supper will be delivered to the bunkhouse as soon as it’s ready?’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Benjamin replied. ‘Doo said it’ll be about half an hour. The men will need that much time to take care of their horses.’

‘Perfect, thank you.’ She stood and told the girls. ‘Time to put away your tea set. Uncle Luke is home.’

Excited to see him, they quickly obeyed and carried the box containing the set, as well as their dolls, up to their room. Followed closely by Banjo.

Aislinn waited for them in the front entranceway, by the foot of the stairs, and upon their return, they walked out onto the front porch to wait for Luke to emerge from the barn.

He emerged from the bunkhouse instead. The girls raced down the steps to greet him, and she followed more slowly, though was just as happy to see him.

After each of his nieces received a hug, kiss on the cheek, and a tickle, he approached her. With a frown. ‘Madam,’ he said, ‘could we speak for a moment?’

‘Of course.’ Her stomach hiccupped. He’d never called her madam, nor had he ever spoken to her so formally.

He gestured to the house, and once inside, escorted her into his office, where he closed the door. Removing his hat with one hand, he ran his fingers through his hair with the other. Then, using the hat as if it was a pointing stick, he gestured it towards the window. ‘Those men are cowboys, not schoolboys. That is a bunkhouse, not a prep school.’

His expression said she should completely understand. She did, and also fully understood that when he got pushed, he pushed back with all he had. That’s why he and Percy had been like two rams butting heads. It was also why he was so successful. Well, in a very short time, she’d been taught to do the same. By him. ‘Your point is?’ she asked.

‘My point is...’ He let out a tiny growl and slapped his hat on his leg, spewing dust into the air. ‘My point is, are you trying to spoil them?’

She planted both hands on her hips. ‘I do not consider a clean floor and bedding spoiling.’

‘You hung up a note on the door telling them to put their laundry on their beds!’

‘To make it easier for Doli to know what belongs to whom. Right now, they throw it all in a pile. After washing, she puts it on the table and, at times, they don’t get the right socks.’ Having learned how important socks were to cowboys, she asked, ‘Would you want to wear someone else’s socks?’ He momentarily closed his eyes, and she continued, ‘No one has complained to her, but it makes her feel bad. This will be easier for everyone.’

He rubbed his forehead. ‘You had food delivered to us, and—and put a menu on their table.’

‘You can’t expect men to work all day on empty stomachs. Doo said he didn’t mind cooking for everyone. It’s only a few more people than in London, and not close to as many as Havenbrook. If they don’t like what is on the menu, Buster can cook something else for them.’

Luke was trying his damnedest to be mad at her. He’d already spent the day listening to the men sing of her beauty and courage, which he hadn’t minded, because he agreed. Praise for her had increased after she’d sent the hot meal out to them. Add in a sparkling clean bunkhouse, freshly laundered sheets, and an evening meal ready to eat, the men wouldn’t ever want her to leave. Hell, they might try to stop him from taking her back to London.

She was looking at him, arms now crossed over her bosom. Her mighty fine bosom, which he couldn’t wait to touch, to taste, again tonight. Hell, but he was losing his steam and tried desperately to find it again. ‘Buster’s not going to make something different for them,’ he growled.

‘Would you like me to have them approve the menu before I confirm it with Doo?’

‘Hell no.’ He slapped his hat on his head. ‘They’ll eat whatever is put in front of them.’

‘Then, my lord,’ she said, ‘I do not see the problem.’

Her my lord was payback for him calling her madam, and that almost made him grin. But she’d even washed the windows and curtains in the bunkhouse. Which had been needed. The entire place had needed to be cleaned, but he hadn’t wanted to impose on Doli. And the cowboys, well they’d been too busy with round-up, branding, and then planting, so the cattle would have grain next winter, to bother with cleaning. Damn it to hell. He couldn’t find a single issue with what she’d done.

She stepped closer, touched a button on his shirt. ‘I simply saw things that needed to be done.’

‘I know.’ He did realise that.

‘I was only thinking of the best interests for you, for your ranch. If you never doubt me, I’ll never doubt you.’

He was reminded of when he had thought she’d lied to him, and the lesson he’d learned. How he could have lost her for ever, if not for her determination. ‘I don’t doubt you,’ he said, earnestly, because she was capable of far more than anyone could imagine. ‘I don’t doubt anything about you.’

She stretched on her toes so her lips were near his. ‘Nor do I doubt you. I never have.’ Her kiss was not only sweet and tender it was full of promises of more to come.

Before that thought overrode all others, he said, ‘I’m selling this place, Aislinn. It’s not fair for the men to think everything will be like it is today, when in a couple of weeks, it’ll all be sold, and we’ll be on our way back to England.’

She let out a long sigh. ‘You can’t sell this place. It’s where you belong.’

‘Yes, I can. We belong in England.’ He wasn’t going to argue. ‘I’ll go get washed up for supper.’

The next few days brought about more changes. Nothing major, just little things that had the entire place running like a well-oiled machine.

The cowboys appreciated all of her efforts, and they let her know that through their actions. After hearing that she’d like some flowers near the front porch, Tad had ridden ten miles to the Rocking B Ranch and came back with sprigs of roses, lilacs, and clumps of several other flowers. Aislinn had immediately planted them in various places around the yard.

Buster, Ted, Andy, and Raf had spent a couple of evenings building the girls a child-sized table and chairs set, which Fern and Ivy loved, and Jake and Wayne had built two large picnic tables, along with benches, which were just outside the back door of the house and used every evening.

There were other changes, too, things she’d done for him. Organising his office and books. Whatever he needed, when he needed it, was always close at hand, including her.

Life was as perfect as possible, and he knew why. She was attempting to make him believe there was no need to return to England. There was. He could think of a thousand reasons. Summertime in Montana was wonderful, beautiful, and that’s all she was seeing. Winters were cold, harsh, brutal, on man and beast.

There was also the isolation that would set in. More people lived here than before, but the lack of social activities hit everyone at one time or another. Dinner parties and dances didn’t happen daily as they did in London. Here, months went by between events.

He had admitted to himself that he loved Aislinn. He did. He couldn’t even remember why he hadn’t wanted to fall in love with her. But when you love someone, you want the best life possible for them, and that’s what he wanted for her. A life where her worries were little more than what gown to wear to what party.

When he’d left home all those years ago, Rowland had told him to live every adventure to its fullest, because a day would come when the right woman came along. Whether that happened when he was young or old, his life would change. The love that they would hold for each other would consume him. Everything he did from then on, would be for her benefit. She would be his haven in life.

He’d paid little heed to those words then, had thought it had been Rowland’s way of explaining why he was satisfied with his lot in life.

Luke knew differently now, and as usual, Rowland had been right.

Fern and Ivy, though happy right now to ride Half-Pint around the yard and play with Banjo, needed more. In London, there were museums to visit, exhibitions, and when the time came, the most prestigious schools that would prepare them for adulthood. He was responsible for them receiving all of that, and none of it would happen here.

Every morning, when the sun came up, he wondered if it would be the day that the Army spokesperson arrived, so he could learn the fate of the herd and then move on to the sale of the property. Aislinn may have a plan, one she was executing without flaw, but he had one, too. The same one he’d formed before leaving England, and it hadn’t changed one iota. Rowland’s daughters would be raised in England.

He’d read, and re-read, the letter from the Army that Raf had written to him about. There weren’t a lot of details in it, just stating the Army was interested in buying a significant number of standing beefs to feed the soldiers, and that a spokesperson would visit the ranch before the end of the month.

The end of the month had been two days ago, and he was questioning if they’d chosen another ranch to purchase from. There were plenty of other ranches between here and the closest fort. That was also why he’d thought they might like the whole herd. His cowboys could drive it to them, and they wouldn’t have to purchase any more beef for a significant amount of time, could even use some in their negotiations with the reservations.

Of course, he would have to let his regular buyers know as soon as the deal was done. Since purchasing the ranch, he’d sold a goodly amount of cattle to the stockyard in Bozeman every fall, to be shipped out across the territory to the meat processing facilities in the larger cities. There were also the local butchers, who purchased a few head monthly to keep the town fed.

Those sales, large and small, had kept the ranch profitable. There had been a time when he’d imagined his herd growing, the number of cattle shipped out larger, until his ranch was the largest producer of prime beef in the territory.

‘Boss!’

Luke turned to Jake, who was up on top of the ridge. The two of them were looking for a maverick that Jake had got a glimpse of earlier this morning.

‘Rider coming!’ Jake yelled.

Luke waved his hat to gesture that he’d heard and then pointed it towards a cluster of thick sagebrush, where he was sure the maverick was hiding.

As he rode up the ridge, Jake rode down it.

‘Looks like Benjamin,’ Jake said, as their paths crossed.

Luke nudged Buck to reach the top faster, instantly concerned that something had happened at the homestead. The dangers were endless; that’s what caused the fear that lived inside him daily.

‘Mrs Carlisle sent me to collect you,’ Benjamin shouted, upon seeing him. ‘You have visitors. Army men!’

Relief struck Luke, but he’d be lying if he didn’t admit there was also some remorse. He would miss working every day until he was bone tired. But not too tired to enjoy his wife, and missing her had been far worse than missing anything else would ever be.

He met up with Benjamin and listened as the young man explained that Aislinn had sent him out to get him. Two Army men had arrived.