Chapter Twenty-Seven

 

A year after the Johnsons ripped apart my family, I knelt in front of the grave marker. My brothers and uncle hadn't seen me sneak out. I wanted no one listening to what I had to say.

“It's my seventeenth birthday,” I said. “I didn't remind Adam, Bart, Charles, Mark, Paul, and Uncle Andy about it, Ma. I know you and Pa wanted me to go to dances and such, but they need me.” My fingers shook as I touched their names, carved into the tough wood by Adam and Bart. “Sheriff Cove stopped by yesterday to tell us about the Johnsons. Seems the Army tried them 'cause they interfered with a federal contract, whatever that is. Those lazy, good-for-nothings are going to prison for the rest of their lives, so you can quit worrying about them coming after us again.” Like always, when reminded of their deaths, tears threatened to spill down my cheeks, but I choked them back. “We do all right most days. Paul even quit messing around instead of doing his chores. He probably works harder than Adam now.” I sighed and stood. “Uncle Andy stayed with doctoring, but he makes folks come here unless it's an emergency. I guess you already know all this, but I felt like I had to tell you.”

With a heavy heart, I walked away. Laughing voices floated around me, encouraging me to have some fun. I looked around but didn't see anyone.

Ride a horse today, Abby. Don't give up enjoying life because we aren't with you.

That was Ma's voice! I almost screamed but gulped back my fear and walked toward the corral. There was one stubborn, high-spirited mustang in it. Adam planned to release him as soon as he returned from his latest delivery.

“Nothing tried, nothing gained.” I held out a hand and waited.

The proud, magnificent animal glared at me with his dark eyes flashing. I remained silent as I stood there watching him. He tossed his head, whinnied, and cantered in a circle.

“Just one ride?” I asked.

He stopped mid-stride with his rear to me. His head turned until his gaze met mine.

“I don't weigh near as much as my brothers.”

After ducking his head, the mustang came over to the fence. I scrambled onto his back and threaded my fingers through his mane while pressing my knees into his sides. He began to run around the corral. All the love for riding I had bottled up burst out. I laughed and threw back my head, enjoying the breeze washing over me.

“What are you doing?” Uncle Andy shouted. “That horse will throw you, Abby.”

Laughing harder, I shook my head. Only one horse had ever thrown me, and it wasn't because he wanted to. The mustang ran in a few more circles, and then he stopped by the gate. I slid off his back, opened the latch, and pushed the gate open.

“Thank you.” I stepped back so I didn't block his path to freedom. “You're free.”

He reared once and then ran for the desert. Bart, Charles, Mark, Peter, and Uncle Andy watched openmouthed when the animal stopped and dropped his head in what looked like a bow.

I walked into the house and started supper. Two hours later, I labored to keep the stew from sticking to the pot.

“About ready?” Uncle Andy leaned through the door.

“Nearly.”

I opened the oven door and reached for an iron skillet. Before my bare fingers touched it, he grabbed a towel and rescued the cornbread.

“Gotta be careful,” he said. “Don't want to end up with blisters again, do you?”

“No, sir,” I whispered.

Despite having kept my vow not to cry for a year, tears spilled down my cheeks. It wasn't that I acted like a girl anymore. I didn't even dress like one because we had to save every penny to keep the ranch going.

“It'll get better.” He patted my back before carrying the meal to the table.

The urge to remind him what day it was withered on my tongue before I voiced the words. No one else had wanted a birthday celebration over the last year. I felt guilty at how much I wanted them to acknowledge mine.

My brothers entered after washing up. Except Adam, he still hadn't returned from the latest delivery. I walked to the kitchen door and stared into the desert.

Where is he? Adam should have come home last night.

“Sit down, Abby,” Bart said. “The meal will get cold if you don't.”

“Go ahead without me,” I said.

None of them remembered today was October twenty-fourth, exactly a year and a day ago, the Johnsons had burned the house. That it coincided with my birthday made me feel like I would never get over the losses. My stupid brothers just sat at the table and ate, as if nothing horrible had occurred. What kind of idiots were they? I lost myself in memories of how much better things had been last year. A shout from the corral caught me by surprise.

“Riders in!”

My heart caught in my throat. The voice sounded familiar, but I hadn't heard it in a long time. Supper forgotten, I scampered to a man who once made me happy.

“Pony Bob!” I threw my arms around his neck.

Footsteps pounded across the ground. The rest of my family joined us, shouting hello, and demanding to know why he had come all this way to see us. He lifted me into a hug and turned in a circle. Adam's face flashed in and out of view while the whole world spun.

“At least you made her smile. We haven't seen that since you rode off,” he said.

“I bet.” Pony Bob lowered me to the ground. “Adam asked me to come back with him and tell you the news. Almost didn't until he told me what happened last year. Sure am sorry about your parents and brother. Your pa was as fine a man as I've ever met.” He cleared his throat. “You kids don't have to worry about providing horses for The Pony anymore.”

I looked up at him in surprise. What was he talking about? Had the company decided to end our contract? What would we do now?

“What up?” Mark asked.

“The Pony's done,” Pony Bob said. “The government strung up the telegraph lines between St. Joe and San Francisco. Folks would rather send a telegram than pay for a letter. Now, I heard tell this little gal cooks nearly as well as she trains horses. Care to let me escort you inside, Abby?”

I giggled. Relief flooded my brothers and uncle's faces.

“About time,” Paul muttered. “Wasn't right, her moping all the time.”

We returned to the house and dug into our meal. It didn't matter if it was cold. The charred bits of meat and vegetables from the bottom of the pot tasted as sweet as anything Ma had ever made. After we finished, Adam produced a dried apple pie.

“Mrs. Carson sent this. She also told us to stop at the station if we're ever in the area,” he said. “The Pony let her and her husband keep it as a stopping place for travelers.” Adam grinned. “I bet you think we forgot all about your birthday. Well, we didn't. I asked the others to pretend they had, so I could have Mrs. Carson make something special for you.”

“Oh!” A blush heated my cheeks. “Thank you.”

While we consumed the unexpected treat, he leaned back in his chair and poked his piece with a fork.

“I sold the ranch.”

Forks clattered against plates.

“What?” I demanded.

“Why?” Uncle Andy asked.

“The buyer paid three thousand for everything,” Adam said. “He and his family are coming next week.” He held my hands. “Abby, it's not right for you to live all the way out here with just men around you. You need other girls to grow up right.”

Pony Bob cleared his throat. “May I make a suggestion?”

“Go ahead,” Uncle Andy said.

“They need another doc up in Carson City. Big strike in one of those mines. Lots of jobs not related to the mining, and Abby could have a few more females around her.”

“I don't need girls,” I said.

No one paid me any mind. I stared out the window while they discussed their plans. Adam wanted to find a job in a store, or maybe buy one. That sounded dumb. Who wanted to be stuck inside all day when we had the most wonderful ranch in the world?

“I'd like to draw again,” Mark said. “Haven't done much of that since the fire.” He hung his head. “Carson City would offer plenty of opportunities for pictures. Maybe I'd even sell them to Easterners.”

My gaze fastened on the corral. No horses hung their heads over the railings. Maybe it was a good thing we no longer had to worry about the next delivery. Silence from behind drew my attention back to my family.

“Anything wrong, Abby?” Uncle Andy asked.

“Just wondering,” I said.

I worked to quiet my fears about leaving.

I wonder if Carson City is too big. Sure hope not. I don't want anyone worrying I'll get lost.