The bunkhouse. I never even considered that. I can’t stay in a bunkhouse full of men. Oh, Lord, what am I going to do? Rachel’s stomach churned, and she looked down at her trembling hands.
Josh reined his horse to a stop in front of a long wooden building. Several rocking chairs and discolored spittoons decorated the simple porch. The windows were raised, and blue gingham curtains could be seen flapping in the light breeze. Probably Grandma Stafford’s handiwork, Rachel thought.
Josh hopped down and tied his horse to the hitch in front of the bunkhouse. “Hang on a second, and I’ll get your boots.”
Rachel chewed on her bottom lip, contemplating what to do. She couldn’t stay in that bunkhouse with a bunch of men. Maybe she should tell Josh she was a woman and just get it over with. She shook her head, knowing the truth. I’m chicken. I’m scared of his reaction.
“Here, give me your foot.” Josh slipped on one boot. “You sure got little feet,” he said as he walked around to the other side. After sliding the other boot on, he looked up at Rachel. “Need help getting down, city boy?” He grinned from ear to ear as if it was the best joke he’d heard all day.
He has no idea that I really am the joke of the day. Rachel shook her head and gave him a tight-lipped smile. “I think I can manage. Maybe you could get Grandpa some fresh water.”
“Good idea. Wouldn’t mind some myself,” he drawled. Rachel liked the smooth, easy timbre of his voice. Josh had mentioned that his family came west from Virginia when he was young. He still maintained a hint of a southern accent. It was a good thing her papa wasn’t here, because that would have been enough for him to dislike the man. Rachel breathed a sigh of relief that Grandpa wasn’t so prejudiced.
Now, what to do? She looked around and saw several men gathered at the corral watching another cowboy working with a spirited horse. They hee-hawed and nudged each other in the side when the rider got bucked off and landed on his back in the dirt.
“Lee, come here. I need you to hold the mule steady while I pick Ian up.”
“Sure.” Rachel grabbed hold of the saddle horn and half slid, half fell to the ground. Dusting her hands on her filthy pants, she walked toward Josh on shaky legs and grabbed hold of Emma’s halter. “How you doing, Grandpa? You feeling okay?”
“I’m okay. Just a bit tired from all the jostling around. I’ll be right as rain soon as I get me a good night’s sleep and somethin’ to eat.”
“Come on, sir. Let’s get you in bed, and then I’ll get Grandma or Lou to take a look at your leg. They’re both mighty good at fixin’ things.”
Rachel stood there holding the mule and watched Josh carry Grandpa into the bunkhouse. She contemplated whether she could stay in the bunkhouse with him until the men came in then make a quick exit. Maybe she could find a place in the barn to sleep tonight—but that would mean deserting Grandpa.
Just then, a tall, skinny man with a beard came around the corner of the barn and walked directly toward her. He gave a brief nod of his thin head and walked past her and into the bunkhouse. So much for that idea.
Josh came back out, walking with purpose. He had retrieved his hat from Grandpa, and it was back on, covering up his sunburned forehead. “I’m gonna run up to the house and get Grandma or Lou. Can you get your grandpa that drink and water the animals? The pump’s over there.” He waved a hand toward the barn and took off, not waiting for a response.
Rachel was grateful for the reprieve. It took her awhile working at Josh’s tight knots before she was able to get the mule untied. She gathered the horse’s reins and led the two animals to the trough near the barn. While they drank, she wrestled with the pack until she managed to pull out her beat-up tin cup. One day, she’d have some pretty dishes and glasses and maybe even a fine house like Josh’s.
Rachel studied her hands. Never before had they looked so awful. Every fingernail had dirt under it, and each was chipped from the hard, physical labor of the past weeks. Her mother’s hands had been beautiful, soft, and gentle. Rachel had loved to sit next to her mother and watch her sew. Rose Donovan was famous in Dodge City for her expert embroidery. Before she died, she had taught Rachel her signature stitch—a spiderweb rose. She longed to get back to her sewing. It was one of the few times she still felt close to her mother.
She heard scuffling and looked up to see Josh and a young woman about her own age coming toward her. “Lee, this is my sister, Louisa Chamberlain. She’ll take good care of your grandpa. I’ll take the animals to the barn and feed them and give them a rubdown.” He flashed his trademark grin then took the reins and her tin cup from her hands. “I think we can supply you with a decent cup. You won’t need this old thing anymore.”
Rachel scowled as he walked away. That “old thing” was her only cup.
“Call me Lou.”
Rachel turned toward the young woman.
“Josh told me all about finding you two. Must have been pretty scary being stranded like you were. Come on, let’s have a look at your grandpa. You think his leg is broke?”
Rachel liked Lou. She seemed to have the same easygoing gift of gab as Josh. The resemblance between the two amazed her. They both had the same big smile and dark hair. Lou’s eyes were a lighter shade of blue than Josh’s stunning sapphire eyes. Lou stood a few inches taller than Rachel, probably making her about five foot six.
“Hello, in the bunkhouse. Everyone decent?” Lou called.
“Yep.” A single deep acknowledgment rang forth.
Lou marched in as if she owned the place. Come to think of it, she did. Rachel followed, stopping at the doorway. If Lou could go in, why couldn’t she? After a moment, she stepped across the threshold and allowed her eyes to adjust to the dim interior.
“Hi, Slim,” Lou said.
“Hey, Miss Lou. I’ll just head back out ’til you’ve finished up in here.”
“No need for that. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“Ain’t no problem, ma’am. I’ll come back later.” Slim rose from his bunk and slipped quietly out the door.
Lou knelt beside Grandpa’s bunk and began unwrapping his leg. Gently, she probed it and tried to bend it at the knee. Rachel bit the inside of her lip when Grandpa winced and cried out. Lou shook her head.
“There, there, I’m done for now. You just lay back and rest, Sir.” Lou patted Grandpa’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Ma’am,” Grandpa’s hoarse voice whispered.
Lou nodded her head toward the door. Rachel followed her outside, apprehension swirling in her belly.
“It looks like it might be broken, but it’s so swollen that I’m not sure. We need to have Grandma take a look at it. I’ll go see if she can come down before dinner and check your grandpa. She was up to her elbows in biscuit dough when I left.” Lou smiled. “I think he’ll be fine, Lee. I’ll be back in a little bit. Can I bring you anything?”
Rachel wanted so badly to confess her secret to this friendly young woman, but she was unsure. She shook her head. Lou smiled and walked toward the house.
Suddenly, Rachel knew she couldn’t let her leave without knowing the truth. “Lou, wait.”
Lou stopped in her tracks and spun around. Her dark braid swirled, smacking her in the chest. She rubbed at the spot and stared back, dark eyebrows raised.
“I need to talk to you for a minute before you go. If that’s okay?”
Lou smiled. “Of course.”
Rachel walked over to her and saw Josh exiting the barn. It’s now or never. She leaned toward Lou, taking her gently by the arm, and quickly whispered the situation in her ear. As Rachel stepped back, she heard the quick intake of Lou’s breath. Her eyes were wide with astonishment, but she recovered quickly and nodded. Her mouth tilted in a one-sided, tight-lipped grin as she watched Josh coming toward them. Lou leaned toward Rachel and whispered, “Don’t tell Josh yet. This will be so much fun.”
Josh slowed as he closed the gap between himself, and Lou and Lee. He narrowed his eyes as he watched his sister. Lee whispered something in her ear, and Lou looked shocked half to death. What could the boy have told her? Surely Lee wasn’t already sharing Josh’s dream with everybody.
Lou crossed her arms and glared at him. Uh-oh. This didn’t look good.
“Joshua Stafford, you should be ashamed of yourself. Why in the world would you bring a man injured as badly as Mr. Donovan to the bunkhouse? You just march in there and get him and take him up to the house.”
Josh stood there with his mouth open. What had gotten into her? Lou sure had gotten bossy in the few weeks she’d been married. She didn’t say anything earlier about bringing Ian to the house.
He glanced at Lee. The boy’s cheeks actually looked pink with embarrassment. Josh felt a small measure of relief that Lee looked almost as surprised as Josh felt. Lou grabbed Lee’s arm as if they were best friends and pulled him toward the house.
Dumbfounded, Josh watched them go. Lee looked back over his shoulder, and Josh read his lips. Sorry. He was beginning to think he was sorry he ever ran into Lee Donovan. It seemed as if he’d been in trouble ever since.