CHAPTER NINE

Carlotta’s lovely dark eyes widened. “Margaret Porter!

Are you saying we should go round up your father’s cattle?”

“Why not? We could do it. Papa is too ill to do the job, but we could get some of our friends and finish the roundup. The men are probably close to being done with it. They’ve been out there all week, and I know they’ve brought in a couple of cuts and put them in the north pasture already.”

“But really—ladies out there in their skirts and sidesaddles, herding steers and—and branding calves? I can’t imagine it.”

Maggie looked around at her friend’s lavish furnishings. Though Carlotta lived in feminine luxury, she could ride as well as she could dance. Maggie laid her hand on her sleeve. “Think about it. If we could just bring in the last few cattle, then the herd would be ready for the drive to Fort Worth. I doubt there are many calves left unbranded. But I can find out how many they’ve brought in and about how many should still be out there. Meanwhile, Papa could be hiring some men to do that cattle drive for him.”

“Or maybe your men would see their folly and come back.” Carlotta’s eyes flickered. “If the word spread that women were doing their jobs as well as they did them …” Her eyes gleamed. “What about your so-handsome foreman, Alex Bright? Is he striking along with the cowboys?”

Maggie couldn’t meet her gaze. “I tried to talk him out of it, but he feels a loyalty to the men—especially after what happened to Leo.”

“Too bad,” Carlotta said. “I trust you used all your powers of persuasion.”

Maggie gulped. “That depends on what you mean. The truth is, I begged him.”

“And he would not listen? For shame! Alex is not the man I thought he was. Did you cry?”

“Perhaps a little.”

“And did he kiss you?”

Maggie pulled back and stared at her. “Well, no.”

“Pity.” Carlotta looked ready to expound on feminine wiles, but a gentle knock came at the door.

“Carlotta? I have something for you.” Her mother’s voice sounded carefree and indulgent.

“Come in, Mamacita,” Carlotta called.

Señora Herrera entered carrying a small basket.

“Here we are,” she said, offering the basket to Maggie. “Blanca and I have been trying a new recipe I got from her mother. Sugared pecans. You girls must try them and tell us what you think.”

“Thank you.” Maggie chose a couple of pecan halves from the basket. She took it that Blanca was another of Señora Herrera’s stream of pampered servants.

“Mama, you have to hear Maggie’s plan,” Carlotta said.

“Oh, what is this?” Señora Herrera sat down and set the basket on the table. She flicked her fan open and waved it gracefully. “Tell me, Maggie.”

“Well, I thought perhaps Carlotta and I could get some of our friends to help me bring Papa’s cattle in—that is, if the men really do walk off the job tonight.”

“What? Your men refuse to work?”

“Yes. They’re threatening a strike.”

The señora frowned. “My husband mentioned this to me, that some of the vaqueros were talking of it, and I thought it was nonsense.”

“I’m afraid not,” Maggie said. “One of our men rode in from the roundup camp this morning to speak to Papa about it, and it seems they are serious. If Papa won’t raise their wages—and he can’t afford to—they will leave tomorrow and not return. And they have not brought in all the cattle. Some are still in the holding pens at the roundup camp.”

“You see, Mama?” Carlotta said gaily. “Someone needs to go let the cattle out of the pens tomorrow and bring them back to Señor Porter’s ranch.”

“And who will drive them to the stockyards?” her mother asked.

“Papa hopes to hire someone else to take them to Fort Worth,” Maggie said.

Señora Herrera shook her head. “And you think girls can do that? Bring them to the ranch?”

“I think we could,” Maggie said. “Of course, it might involve a little more—there are probably some still out on the range, and there may be a few to be branded, but—”

“Branded? Surely you girls cannot handle the branding irons. It is too dangerous.”

“I’ve watched them many times.” Maggie looked toward Carlotta for support. “I believe we could do it. And even if we didn’t do any branding, at least we could make sure all of Papa’s cattle are in and ready for the drive.”

“I think it would be fun,” Carlotta said, leaning over the basket and scanning the contents. “I would help you.” She picked up a pecan half and popped it into her mouth.

Her mother fanned herself, her forehead wrinkled. “But what would my husband say?”

“Now, Mama, you know I’ve been restless lately. Our men are gone on the cattle drive, and it’s very boring to be here at home with no cowboys around to flirt with.” Carlotta laughed, but her mother did not seem to be amused.

“I promise I would make her behave, Señora,” Maggie said.

“Of course I would behave. We could get a dozen women together easily and go finish the Porters’ roundup. It would be good to get out and do something—and something useful!”

“If your brother was old enough to go with you—”

“Oh, Mama, please!” Carlotta waved her hand. “Helio is only seven, and we will not be tending babies while we work. We will be too busy. Isn’t that so, Maggie?”

“Well … ”

“It will be a lark! I will ride over to the Lazy S this afternoon and enlist Lucy Shuman and her sister.”

Carlotta now seemed more enthused with the idea than she was, but Maggie couldn’t think of a better plan.

“I could stop in Brady on my way home and spread the word.”

“Yes,” Carlotta said eagerly. “Tell Nancy Jeffers and Consuela Rigas. They are both good riders, and they can get the news out to their friends. Oh, and Poppy Wilson.”

“The banker’s daughter?” Maggie asked.

“Yes, I saw her last week and she told me she was bored to death. She’d love an excuse to get out of town for a few days, I’m sure.”

After an hour’s visit, Maggie did as suggested and spent some time in the little town of Brady. She stopped at the hotel, the mercantile, and the bank to tell the owners’ wives and daughters of the plan. Last of all, she went into the house where Dr. Vargas practiced medicine.

Rhonda Tracey, Bronc’s wife, sat at a small desk in the patients’ sitting room. The doctor employed her to schedule appointments, assist him when needed, clean the office, and tend minor ailments when the doctor was out on house calls. She greeted Maggie warily when she entered the front room.

“Hello, Miss Porter. Are you here to see the Eagletons?”

“Yes, thank you.” Maggie wondered whether she ought to say anything to Rhonda about the strike. Did Rhonda even know? Perhaps she did and now looked upon Maggie as an adversary.

“I’ll tell Miss Sela.”

While Rhonda disappeared through the doorway to the hall, Maggie smiled at two patients waiting to see the doctor. She didn’t know either of them, another sign that she’d been away far too long. A minute later, Rhonda came back.

“Miss Sela’s feeding her baby, and she says for you to come on back there. Mr. Leo’s decent, and you know the way.”

“I sure do.” Maggie made her way to the back bedroom where Dr. Vargas housed patients who needed prolonged care.

“Señorita Maggie!” Sela didn’t rise from her chair, where she was nursing the baby, but she smiled her welcome. Her lovely face was lined with fatigue, and her hair was pulled back in a careless knot. “Come in. See how well my Leo is doing?”

Leo smiled sheepishly from the bed, where he was propped up with pillows behind him. “Buenos dias, Señorita.” His words were slurred and his eyelids heavy.

“Hello, Leo,” Maggie said. “I’m glad to see you’re making progress.”

He shrugged. “The leg hurts, but what can I say?”

“He had his medication not long ago,” Sela said. “That’s why he is so jolly now. Soon he’ll be sleeping.”

“That’s it,” Leo said. “Either I hurt, or I sleep.”

“Yes,” Sela said. “For a few minutes after he takes the medicine, it doesn’t hurt so bad, and he is still awake. That is the only time we can talk.”

“Hmm. Maybe Dr. Vargas can adjust the dose,” Maggie said. “You ought to have more time awake without so much pain.” She crossed to the window and sat down on the broad sill.

Sela shrugged. “He says that after a few more days, it will not hurt so much, and then Leo will stay awake longer without needing it so soon.”

“I’m sure he knows best.” Maggie smiled at her. “I can’t stay long. I need to get home before supper, but I wanted to tell you what is happening with the men.”

“They are striking?” Leo’s speech slurred, and his eyelids drooped. “Nevada came by this morning, and he told us.”

“Oh. I see.” Maggie looked from him to Sela.

“It is true,” Sela said. “He told us he rode in to see your father, and Mr. Porter wouldn’t listen to him. The men wanted to leave today, but your father cannot have the money to pay them until tomorrow, so they will go then. If they don’t work today, he won’t pay them at all.”

“That ain’t right.” Leo yawned.

“No, but Nevada said he thinks they will work the day. But they’re not going to finish the roundup.”

Maggie sighed. “That’s what Alex told me this morning. I’m very sad to see this happening. But Carlotta and I have decided that we’ll get some of our friends together tomorrow to help us finish the roundup.”

“You will need more than one day.” Leo yawned again.

“Do you think so? I’d hoped it was nearly done. Well, Sela, if any other women come by, could you please tell them that we need anyone who can ride and rope to be at my house at ten o’clock?”

“Wait a minute,” Sela said. “You mean you’re getting women to do this? I thought you meant you and Carlotta would ask your men friends for help.”

Maggie chuckled. “I don’t have that many men friends since I’ve been away two years. And most of the ones I do have will be tending to their own cattle. No, Carlotta and I are riding out to the camp ourselves. I need to help Papa with the payroll first thing in the morning, but that will give the women time to gather at the ranch, and Shep will pack some supplies for us. We’ll talk over our plans and set out as soon as we can. We hope some other girls will help us.”

Sela put the baby up to her shoulder and patted the infant’s back. “I wish I could go and help you.”

“No you don’t,” Leo said. He gazed at Maggie, his eyes not completely focusing. “I am striking with the other men. I may be laid up, but I’m striking. You hear me, Sela?” He glared at his wife.

Sela raised one hand. “I hear you, Leo. I guess you’re right. I can’t go out and help your boss if you are siding against him.”

Maggie sympathized with the couple, and wondered if everyone would hate her because of her father’s actions. And would the people in Brady take sides and line up for or against them?

“I guess I’d better get going,” she said. “Leo, I hope you feel better soon. Sela, how are the boys doing?”

“All right. They are a little bored, I think. I hope they will behave for Mrs. Cutler.”

Maggie went over and patted her shoulder. “I don’t have time to stop in and see them today, but I will the next time I’m in town. Is there anything you need?”

“We’re getting by. Thank you for everything you’ve done, Maggie. I know this is hard for you.”

Maggie smiled as tears pricked her eyes. “Thank you. Difficult as it is, I’m sure you and Leo have the harder part right now. I’m praying for you.”

“And I am praying that your father will make peace with the men.”

“Bless you.” Maggie glanced toward the bed. Leo’s eyes were closed, and he appeared to have drifted into sleep.

She went out to get Duchess and rode home, planning a hundred details to make the roundup happen.

When she arrived at the ranch, Alex’s red gelding was tied to the hitching rail out front. She took Duchess to the corral, unsaddled her, and turned her out. Promising herself she’d return to rub the mare down and feed her soon, she hurried into the house.

The door to her father’s office was open, and Alex’s broad back took up most of the doorway. She strode across the parlor and peered around his arm. Her father stood behind the desk, glaring at Alex, and Alex’s posture was just as rigid.

“I’m sorry it came to this,” Alex said. “I can’t let the men down, Mr. Porter.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed. Maggie wasn’t sure whether he’d noticed her or not.

“I’m sorry, too, Alex,” he said. “But if that’s the way you feel, it’s been nice knowing you.” He opened the top desk drawer and dropped a twenty-dollar bill and a five on the desk. “That should cover what I owe you as of today.”

Alex stood still for a long moment.

“What’s the matter?”

“I hoped it wasn’t too late. That we could still talk. Maybe work something out so that the men can keep working.”

“Forget it,” Papa said. “I’m not raising wages. Any man who leaves the job and doesn’t come in for his pay tomorrow morning won’t ever get a cent out of me.”

Maggie couldn’t see Alex’s face, but she did see the tension in his body. At last he stepped forward and took the money from the desktop.

Part of her wanted to weep. The other part wanted to pound Alex to a pulp. Of course he’d be foolish to leave without the money that was rightfully his—especially if it was the last pay he’d get in the foreseeable future. But couldn’t he throw back his shoulders and tell her father he’d stand with him and see this thing through? Papa would have no one now—no one but her, and maybe Dolores and Shep. He needed a strong young man like Alex—someone who could not only do a hard day’s work, but someone who could lead the hired men, either the ones they had now or new ones they’d hire for the drive.

Alex turned and headed for the door. Maggie jumped aside, but instead of following him, she grabbed his forearm when he passed her and ran to keep up with his long strides.

“Alex, please—”

He glanced down at her and kept walking. “We had our say this morning, Maggie. I thought you understood.”

“But when we hire new men, we’ll need someone to lead them—”

They’d reached the front door, and he threw it open. “It won’t be me. You’ll have to hire a new foreman too.”

She let go of his arm and watched him go down the steps. “Don’t the men realize they’re better off sticking with us?”

“No, they don’t realize that. No more than your father realizes what’s good for him and his ranch.”

“Nevada said some pretty choice words to Papa this morning.”

“I wish he hadn’t done that, but it doesn’t surprise me.” Alex walked to the hitching rail and reached for his horse’s reins.

“I saw Leo today. He says he’s striking with you boys.”

Alex paused then and looked at her. “I’d expect that of him. He’s a good man.”

“Yes, he is. What will happen to him and Sela?”

Alex hesitated. “You’d best discuss that with your pa. But I did mean to ask him for Leo’s pay so we could take it to him.”

“But if Leo says he’s striking, Papa won’t do anything to help him.”

“He’s not doing anything now. So why is that worse?” Alex put his foot in the stirrup.

Maggie stepped forward and clutched one of the porch posts, feeling a little lightheaded. “I’ll see that Leo is paid. But Alex, Sela’s exhausted. What if Papa won’t let them move back into their cabin?”

He swung into the saddle and gazed down at her. “The men will all give part of their last pay to help out Leo and Sela. After that, I can’t guarantee anything. But so far as we’re able, we’ll take care of our own. That’s more than I can say for the Porters right now.”

He turned Red and urged him into a lope. Maggie stood on the steps with tears streaming down her cheeks, watching the puff of dust he raised move farther and farther away.