5

Jeremiah Logan set his coffee mug down on the table and turned to Mama. “So, you said in your wire that Laird Crosby wasn’t very gentlemanly with you?”

Sarah smoothed out her skirt. She was never so glad as when Louise and Melvin excused themselves to start unpacking their things—even if it was into her room. And when Mama didn’t argue with Grace and Guy when they left for the lighthouse, Sarah felt as if she’d won another victory. She wanted to get to know Mr. Chessher.

Mama tugged at the collar of her blouse. Her voice revealed the anguish she felt. “Oh, Jeremiah, he had the manners of a boar hog. He implied that our cattle might not even belong to us since Clayton didn’t have a will. He said that Clayton’s brother, Jasper, could have as much claim to the cattle as we do. And not only did he refuse to buy from us, he tried to make a trade with me.” Color rose in her face. “He implied that if I didn’t marry him and take care of his…his needs, that I might lose the cattle, the ranch, everything. Can you believe the gall of that man?”

“That man is a…” He didn’t finish his sentence. “Don’t worry about Jasper taking your cattle. He’s so wealthy he has no need of it, and besides, he’s not entitled to it anyway.”

Sarah stole glances at Mr. Chessher.

He pulled at his collar, and his cheeks were turning red.

Is he upset like Uncle Jeremiah, or am I making him uncomfortable?

Mr. Chessher extended a hand toward Mama. “Mrs. McKinney, if I might ask, why not simply find another buyer for the cattle? Surely there are others who would be interested in the stock if it’s as good as Mr. Logan claims it is.”

“We’ve tried,” Sarah said. “There are only a couple hundred people on the entire peninsula, and most of them are farmers. Everyone we’ve inquired with locally has the sale of their own cattle to worry about and can’t be bothered with helping us sell ours.”

Mama wrung her hands together. “She’s right, Mr. Chessher. We’ve spoken to every rancher on the peninsula, and no one is willing to help us.”

Uncle Jeremiah rose from the sofa and rested his elbow on the fireplace mantel. Rubbing his finger along the edge of a candleholder made from a deer antler, he stared at them. “I’m still trying to figure out a way to get back at that dog, Laird Crosby. But let’s put our heads together and figure this out.”

“For the love of Pete, this is 1900.” Mr. Chessher gestured about the room. “There must be countless options for selling off this herd. How about the rail? Why not load the cattle on a train and ship them up north, or even out west? I understand buyers are paying top dollar for Texas beef.”

Sarah stared at Mr. Chessher in complete admiration. She put her hand to her collar and sighed. His eloquent New England speech enamored her. She was embarrassed for him to hear her south Texas drawl.

Uncle Jeremiah walked over to the sofa. He stared at Mama as if a firework had gone off. “June…I’m surprised you didn’t think of that. Your second husband’s brother, Mr. Winnie, headed up The Galveston and Interstate Rail. He’s been in on it from the beginning. Surely he’ll help you move the cattle out.”

“That’s a good idea and all, but it doesn’t solve the problem of who’ll drive the cattle to the High Island terminal.”

Sarah traded looks between Mama and Uncle Jeremiah. “I don’t understand what the big problem is. We don’t have to drive the cattle all the way to High Island. We can load them up right here at the Bolivar Station.”

“No, honey, we can’t.” Mama pursed her lips. “You know our little station isn’t used to load cattle. We would have to drive the entire herd up to the High Island stock pens. That’s our only choice.”

Mr. Chessher spoke up. “Perhaps Mr. Logan could post an advertisement for some cattle drivers who could move the herd to High Island.”

Uncle Jeremiah and Mama exchanged looks between one another, nodding in agreement.

Mama leaned against the arm of the chair where Sarah sat and put her arm around her shoulders. “I’m getting too old for all this.”

“You’re getting too old for what, Mama?”

“For all this. The land, the cattle.” Her face held a pained expression, her voice mournfully soft as she gestured toward the cattle outside grazing in the field. “This old ranch house. It’s more than we can take care of.”

Uncle Jeremiah gave his sister a disparaging look. “Now, June, you’re acting a bit overdramatic. You and the girls have been through a lot over the years. But you’re not old, and we don’t need to worry about everything all at once.”

Mama stood straight and tall. “I beg your pardon, Jeremiah Logan, but I’m not being dramatic. I’m nearly forty-one years old, and…and that’s too old to be running a cattle ranch. Besides, I’m not interested in raising cattle anymore. That was Clayton’s business, not mine. When this herd is sold off, I’m selling the breed stock and be done with it. I don’t want anything to get in the way of me caring for my grandbaby when it gets here. Except for maybe a small boarding house. I’ve been thinking about turning this ranch into one.”

So now the truth comes out!

“How could you? The cattle and this ranch are the only things we have left of Daddy, and you want to sell them off without a second thought. What about his legacy, Mama?” Sarah pointed to the hand-crafted wrought iron MK brand embellishing the stone fireplace as tears ran down her cheeks. “Don’t you even care about keeping the family’s brand alive? Because I do.”

Mr. Chessher took a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to Sarah. “Here you are, ma’am.”

Sarah dabbed at her eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Chessher.”

Uncle Jeremiah held his palms out. “All right ladies, let’s all calm down and talk things out. First, we need to hire a cattleman to drive the herd to…”

“I’ll do it.” Every head in the room turned toward Sarah. She looked Mama straight in the eye. “I’ll drive the herd to High Island, and I want to continue raising the McKinney brand too. Even if you don’t, Mama!”

Uncle Jeremiah watched in amazement.

Mr. Chessher revealed a look of contempt.

Women probably weren’t allowed to speak their minds where he came from. She sent a half-smile his way. Welcome to Texas!

“I’m so sorry, Sarah Jane. I wasn’t thinking about anyone but myself. I never thought about you wanting to continue working your daddy’s ranch. It’s hard work—man’s work, but I know how much you loved him…we all did, and if you want to keep raising McKinney cattle then you should go right ahead. Can you forgive me, baby?” Mama held her arms open.

Sarah went into her embrace. “I forgive you, Mama.”

Uncle Jeremiah clapped his large hands. “Well, then, that settles it. Sarah Jane will drive the cattle to High Island. With an escort, I might add, and then continue raising the McKinney brand.”

“Yes, sir. I promise I’ll have a proper escort. And Mama, I don’t know how to say this in a nice way, but I’m not staying here to help you run a boarding house. Maybe you and Louise and Melvin can do that. I need my own place with people who know what they’re doing.”

“I don’t know what you expect me to do about it, young lady. I’m not kicking my daughter and her husband out while she’s pregnant with my grandbaby. And Grace and Guy don’t plan on staying here but a few months after they get married.”

“Of course they don’t plan on it, but you know how things like that usually go. A couple months can turn into who knows how long.”

“All right, now let’s think about this a moment.” Uncle Jeremiah looked at Sarah. “You want to raise your daddy’s cattle, but not as long as you have to put up with your sisters and their husbands.”

Sarah bowed her head and traced a pattern on the carpet with her foot, embarrassed. “Well, they’re not really that bad—they just don’t know anything about raising cattle.”

“And you don’t want anyone leaving the roost, especially not Louise and that grandbaby.” Uncle Jeremiah looked at Mama for confirmation.

“No, not really. Of course I want to be close to my grandbaby… I want to be close to all my children. That’s why I wanted to start a boarding house. But I suppose not everyone is favorable to that idea.” Mama’s words were curt.

“I think I have an idea.” Uncle Jeremiah extended his hand to Sarah. “Why don’t we make plans to ship your father’s breed stock to my ranch up in Houston? After you drive the cattle to High Island, of course. It won’t be too much of a burden on my people, and you’ll have time to plan what you’ll do next.”

Mr. Chessher put his hands together. “Wonderful. It sounds as if you’ve come up with a plan that will please everyone.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll start making the arrangements tomorrow.” Sarah was grateful.

Uncle Jeremiah retrieved his coffee mug. “You have any more of that coffee, June?”

Mama headed toward the kitchen with her brother close behind.

Sarah was left alone with Uncle Jeremiah’s handsome young associate. “Would you like some coffee, Mr. Chessher?”

He seemed caught off guard. “Um…certainly. Miss McKinney, I realize I don’t know much of anything about cattle, but I would like to offer you my assistance if there’s anything I can do to help you.”

Sarah touched the lace on her bodice. “Well, thank you kindly, Mr. Chessher. I just might take you up on your offer.” His smile made her knees weak, and it felt as if someone had poured warm caramel down her back. She walked to the kitchen before they gave way completely. Mr. Chessher probably had no knowledge of how to raise cattle, but she would gladly take on the challenge of teaching him everything she knew.