Chapter 7

7

" I don't care what you think, I ain't leaving til I talk to her," a raspy voice yelled from outside the front of the house.

Aundy dropped the book J.B. had given her to read about farming practices and hurried to open the door. Dent blocked the steps to a grizzled man dressed in overalls so dirty it looked like he'd rolled around in a pigpen. When she drew in a breath, Aundy decided he smelled like it, too.

"You her?" the man asked. He raised a narrowed gaze to her and spit a stream of tobacco on the grass next to the front walk.

"I'm Mrs. Erickson," Aundy said, pulling the door shut behind her. There was no way on earth she wanted the dirty, smelly man in her clean house. She took a step forward and Dent backed up a step so he stood directly in front of her.

"Mrs. Erickson," the man mimicked, waving a grime-encrusted hand in the air. "Ain't she all prissy and proper?"

"Marvin, if you think you need to speak to her, fine. Speak. But you'll keep a civil tongue in your head," Dent warned, trying to keep between the man and Aundy.

"I'll be fine, Dent," Aundy whispered, stepping beside him, trying to act much braver than she felt. "I'm sorry, sir. I've not yet had the pleasure of making your acquaintance."

"I'm certain it ain't gonna be a pleasure to either one of us, gal. My name's Marvin Tooley. Live over yonder." The man stabbed his finger in the direction of the farm both Garrett and Erik had mentioned. No wonder they'd warned her to stay away from the crotchety neighbor. "I come to see if you and I could strike a deal."

"What sort of deal?" Aundy asked. It had been three weeks since her hands quit and she and Dent hadn't been able to find anyone willing to work for a woman. Even though Dent would be doing the supervising, word had gotten around town she was running the Erikson place. She'd been reading the book J.B. gave her trying to decide the best course of action. She was strongly considering selling her cattle to try to relieve some of Dent's burden.

"I think it would be a right smart idea for us to get hitched," Marvin said, spitting another stream of tobacco.

Aundy had to fight to keep from wrinkling her nose in disgust. She was certain she'd misheard the man. "My apologies. I don't believe I heard you correctly. Could you please repeat your statement?"

"I said I want us to get hitched." Marvin took a step forward while Aundy backed up behind Dent. Maybe she should have let him run the man off without speaking to him. If Marvin Tooley was the last man on the planet and the only way to keep from falling into a black abyss was to marry him, Aundy would gather her skirts and jump into the dark void without looking back.

"No." Aundy glared at him. "No, Mr. Tooley. I won't marry you. The only reason you ask is that you want my farm. The answer is no."

"Figured you'd see it that way." Marvin scratched his rotund belly. "Then I'll make you an offer. I'll buy your place, fair and square. Everything on it, and I'll even let Dent and the boys keep working here, just to prove my generous nature."

Marvin threw out a figure that made Aundy laugh.

Dent and Marvin both stared at her in surprise.

"I can assure you, Mr. Tooley, I may be a woman, but my father didn't raise me to be a stupid one. The house is worth more than that by itself. If you're trying to insult me, you have more than accomplished the job." No longer afraid of the man, she stepped forward. "I'll say this once and you can tell it to whomever you like, but my farm isn't for sale. Not today, not tomorrow, not next month, not ever. I'm not interested in your deal or proposal and I won't be, so please don't offer again. Furthermore, my hands are not property. They are trusted friends so don't speak of them in such a manner. I'm sure you can find your way off my land. Good day."

Aundy turned and marched back inside the house, shutting the door firmly behind her before going to the kitchen and making herself a bracing cup of tea. She sat at the table sipping it when a knock sounded on the kitchen door. Dent stuck his head inside, grinning broadly.

"Well, Missy. You sure set ol' Marvin on his ear. He lit out of here so mad, I'm fairly certain a layer or two of dirt may have steamed right off him," Dent said, letting out a chuckle as he sat down at the table and took the plate of cookies Aundy held out to him. She got up and poured him a glass of milk before resuming her seat.

"I didn't intend to make an enemy, but I'd die before I married someone like Marvin Tooley. I refuse to let the likes of him get his grimy hands on Erik's farm." Aundy's anger stirred again at the thought of what Marvin Tooley suggested. Insulted, she couldn't fathom how he would think she'd be interested in tying herself to a filthy old man like him.

"Truth to tell, Marvin doesn't have any friends and he likes it that way. I heard he had a nice little family a long time ago, but something happened to them and he wasn't ever the same after it."

"That's terrible." Aundy helped herself to a cookie from the plate near Dent and dipped it in her tea before taking a bite. "I should have been kinder, but he caught me off guard."

"As fair warning, you ought to know he won't be the last. I heard some talk last time I was in town that there's a young widow out here and some fellers think they could take advantage of you."

"I'd like to see them try." Aundy was glad Garrett continued to provide shooting lessons. She was proficient with Erik's revolver and as soon as she got the cast off her arm, she planned to become equally as skilled at handling his rifle. A little gun that would fit in her reticule caught her eye at one of the stores the last time she and Nora went to town. With the information Dent just shared, she didn't think it would be a bad idea to look at purchasing it or something similar.

"Just be careful, Missy. Some of the men around here aren't what they seem." Dent cautioned before finishing his milk and taking another cookie.

Recently, Aundy had been able to use her arm enough to do a few things, like baking. The sweets she made endeared her to the hands who hadn't abandoned her and the farm. Fresh-baked pastries also went a long way in soothing any ruffled feathers about a woman taking over the place. She'd also made an effort to get to know her employees. She liked the men who stayed behind to work for her.

"Dent, what would you think if I decided to sell the cattle? Do you think it's the best decision?" Aundy wanted his opinion about the matter that weighed so heavily on her mind.

Instead of answering immediately, Dent brushed the crumbs from his cookies off the table into his hand and carried them to the sink. He leaned against it for a moment before answering her question. "As much as I hate to say it, there is no way we're going to make it with so few hands and so much work to do. If you sold the cattle, it would definitely ease the burden or you could think about renting out one of the sections of ground. Garrett would rent the one that borders their farm. If you did that, we might be able to make things work. A few more hands would sure make a big difference, but if we didn't have the cattle to look after, we could get along okay."

"That's what I thought." Aundy sighed, resigned to selling Erik's Shorthorns. She knew from his letters how proud he was of his herd, but she needed to save the farm and if selling the cattle would accomplish it, then so be it. "I'll speak with Garrett about finding a buyer. He said he knew someone in Umatilla who might be interested."

"That's a sound plan, Missy. Don't worry about it overmuch. Erik would be proud of how hard you're trying to keep things going." Dent smiled at her as he picked up his hat then walked out the back door.

She certainly hoped what she was planning wouldn't have Erik turning over in his grave. From the information she'd read and from what J.B. told her, she had more in mind than just selling the cattle.

Due to her gender, she'd gotten the farm into an unexpected bind. Creative thinking might be the only way out of the mess she unknowingly created. They were far behind on the farm work because the hands had been taking care of the cows as they calved. Now that the calving was mostly finished, Dent split the work between the cattle and fields.

Garrett had been good to send over extra help, but he had his own place to run. Aundy told him he had to stop sending over his men because he needed them at Nash's Folly. He'd argued with her, but she refused to discuss the matter further.

Since their disagreement, she hadn't talked to Garrett. She missed his friendly smile and deep voice. Steadfastly refusing to examine the reasons why his absence made her sad and lonesome, she needed to clear her head.

Aundy rushed out to the barn and caught one of the hands coming out the door. She asked him to saddle Bell. Although she'd ridden the horse several times, Dent worried she'd fall off and hurt her arm. He'd only allowed her to ride under close supervision.

The voice in her head warned her to be cautious, but Aundy chose to ignore it. She wanted to feel the warm spring breeze on her face and think about what she needed to do. Quickly settling her full skirt over the back of Bell, she rode off toward one of the pastures.

Dent would have a fit if he found out she'd gone off by herself, but she loved riding. She'd never envisioned herself on a horse, let alone riding it astride, but found it both exhilarating and calming. Bell seemed to like being out in the fresh air as well, tossing her head and taking a few dancing steps.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it, Bell?"

The horse appeared to nod her head and Aundy smiled. She loved the farm, the rolling fields that would soon be bursting with wheat, the green pastures, and the open sky. The animals brought her much joy, except for the chickens. She disliked the chickens and had a deep-seated fear of them flogging her, but she tamped it down and dutifully gathered the eggs every day.

The little rooster, Napoleon, had given her a wide berth since she knocked him senseless with her cast. Nonetheless, she didn't trust him. Convinced he plotted his next evil move, she kept an eye on him the entire time she gathered eggs. As soon as she brought her sister to the farm, Aundy decided gathering eggs would become Ilsa's responsibility.

A smile crossed her face at the thought of her lovely, feminine sister carefully plucking an egg from a nest. Aundy couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled inside her from spilling over her lips.

"What's so funny?"

Aundy gasped and spun around in the saddle, yanking Bell to a stop. The horse sidestepped and jerked her head, but obeyed Aundy's command. She looked across the fence at Garrett. A smile lingered on his handsome face as he leaned on the saddle horn with his hat tipped back and his eyes glowing like liquid metal.

"You startled me," Aundy said, her voice a little breathless from being caught off guard and seeing Garrett again.

Erik's closest neighbor had to be one of the most attractive men she'd ever seen, with an easy-going personality and engaging smile. It would be so much easier to deal with one who was short, homely and cranky. One like Marvin Tooley.

"Sorry." Garrett rubbed his hand along Jester's neck. He'd been out riding, checking the fence line, and was surprised to see Aundy on Bell. He knew Dent was teaching her to ride, but didn't realize she'd taken to it so quickly. Then again, the widow from Chicago seemed to be a farmer at heart. He observed that she'd rapidly picked up whatever knowledge anyone shared with her concerning ranching and farming.

When he saw the smile on her sweet lips break into a laugh, the sound penetrated his heart so deeply, he felt the need to rub his hand across his chest to release the ache. "Something must have made you laugh."

"It did." She turned Bell around so she headed the same direction as Garrett. They rode together on either side of the fence. "I'm not particularly fond of the chickens and one little rooster has declared me a sworn enemy. What made me laugh was picturing my sister gathering the eggs."

"She doesn't like chickens?"

Aundy grinned. "She's never seen a chicken. At least before it was ready to be fried or baked." The man who married Ilsa would have to be wealthy enough to hire a cook. While her sister received the same training from their mother that Aundy did, she abhorred cooking, especially anything that had once been alive. The girl much preferred to sew than anything else. With her dislike of noise, dust and smells, life on the farm was going to be an even bigger adjustment for Ilsa than it was for Aundy. "Ilsa is not fond of the outdoors."

"Really? I assumed sisters would be alike. Is she tall like you?" Garrett pictured a younger version of Aundy — a tall girl with freckles on her nose and blonde hair in braids.

Aundy laughed again. "Goodness, no. My sister looks like a girl should. Petite, ladylike, delicate. She's perfect."

"She can't be perfect," Garrett teased. "You just said she isn't like you."

His words made her cheeks throb with heat and flush a becoming shade of pink.

"What people view as perfect back in the big city might not be as perfect out here in the country. A woman not afraid to learn something new, to get her hands dirty, to do what needs done without complaint, I'd call that close to perfect." Garrett cast an approving glance toward his spirited neighbor.

She never complained about anything and made great strides the last few weeks learning about farming. His dad thought she was smart and clever. He tried to block what else his father said from his mind because the comments about "hanging on to a gal like that" echoed his own sentiments on the subject.

There was very little about Aundy he didn't admire. Except maybe the way she could clamp her lips together, lift her chin, and be so stubborn even he backed down. Just like she forced him to do when she told him to quit sending over his hands. He knew Dent and the men were struggling, but he wouldn't go behind her back and send some of his men over after she'd asked him to refrain. It was hard not to get involved, but he was trying to mind his own business.

Determined to see her home, Garrett stopped Jester and opened a gate in the fence, leading the horse through before closing the gate.

"I'll ride home with you," Garrett said, trying to think of some excuse to escort her home. "I've been meaning to ask Dent something, so if you don't mind, I'll do it now before I forget."

Pleased to ride alongside Garrett, Aundy nodded her head as they continued toward the house.

"I'm ready to sell the cattle," Aundy blurted, taking him by surprise.

Unsure he'd heard her correctly, he turned his gaze from the path ahead to look at her. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." Aundy released a soft sigh Garrett would have missed if he hadn't been watching her face so attentively. "Dent and I discussed it earlier this afternoon and we agree it's what needs to happen if we're going to keep the farm. Apparently, working for a woman is something akin to selling your soul to Beelzebub, so we're just going to have to figure out how to run this place with a smaller crew."

Garrett couldn't help the chuckle that escaped at her comment, causing her to glance at him with a raised brow, although she smiled.

"I'd sign on to work for you without thinking twice."

"Thank you, Garrett. I appreciate that." From their vantage point on top of the hill behind the barn, Aundy looked over the farm with pride. She loved this land with a possessive fierceness she'd never imagined she could feel. "However, since you're in charge of Nash's Folly and a very busy man, I'll have to make the best of things. I do have a favor to ask, though."

"Anything," he said, meaning it. He'd do anything for the woman riding beside him. Although he'd known her for only a short while, he felt like she'd been part of his life for a long time, like a cherished friend.

"Would you contact the man you said might be interested in buying the herd? It would make me feel better to keep them together. I know it's silly, but… I…"

"I'll get in touch with him as soon as possible." Garrett reached out a hand and placed it on Aundy's arm. She could feel the heat of his fingers searing her skin even through his glove and her sleeve. "And it isn't silly. I'm certain he'll want them all. If not, I'll see if I can find another buyer."

"I appreciate your help with the matter. Perhaps you or your father could advise me as to a fair asking price." She had no idea what three hundred head of cattle would be worth, along with their newborn calves.

Garrett stated a number that made Aundy shoot him a wide-eyed look, indicating her shock at the amount.

"I think I mentioned cattle are bringing a good price right now in the local market, so it really is a good time to take advantage of it. Don't worry about the negotiations. I'd be happy to make the arrangements."

"Would the buyer object to working with a woman?" She had to jump in and learn at some point. Aundy couldn't always depend on the Nash family, particularly Garrett, to come to her rescue.

"I don't know, but I guess we'll find out, won't we?" Garrett grinned at her.

"I guess we will."

"Thank you, Mrs. Erickson. We'll be out tomorrow to move the cattle," Hiram Anderson said as he shook Aundy's hand and walked out of the bank.

After Garrett contacted Hiram about buying Aundy's cattle, the man agreed to meet with her over lunch to discuss the purchase.

Although he trusted Hiram, Garrett still felt the need to escort her to not only make the introductions, but also ensure the deal was fair.

As he introduced Hiram to his neighbor, he watched the man size her up and could see she earned his approval. When he stuck out a beefy hand to her in greeting, Garrett was pleased Hiram conducted business with Aundy as he would have any man, minus the usual questionable language and a trip to the saloon to seal the deal.

Aundy seemed to like Hiram as well, offering him a genuine smile and speaking to him confidently. When they agreed upon a price and terms, Garrett suggested they run by the attorney's office to have paperwork completed then to the bank where Hiram left payment for the herd he planned to take into his possession the following day.

Garrett watched Hiram shake Aundy's hand a second time as warmth invaded his heart. He was proud of the woman who had come so far from the mud-covered girl standing on his mother's front porch.

"I'll look forward to seeing you at the farm tomorrow, Mr. Anderson. Thank you, again." Aundy turned and caught Garrett staring at her. She put a hand up to her hat but it felt like it was on straight, so she glanced at her shirtwaist and didn't see anything amiss. Nervously smoothing her skirt and tugging on the hem of her jacket, she shifted her gaze down the street and began walking in the direction of the doctor's office.

"Before we leave town, do you mind if we stop by Doc's office?" Aundy asked as Garrett fell into step beside her. He tried to ignore the admiring glances men shot Aundy's direction. If he paid too close attention to them, he might give in to the temptation to punch someone in the nose.

Garrett was the last person who would lose his temper or pick a fight, but something about Aundy made him feel protective and slightly unreasonable. "That's fine. Are you not feeling well?" Visually checking her over from head to toe, he didn't see anything amiss. Pink roses blossomed on each cheek and she looked like a picture of health with her freckled nose, bright eyes, and rosy lips tipped up in a grin.

"I'm fine." The look in her eye, along with an impish smile said she kept secrets. "I just want to ask Doc a question."

"I see," Garrett said, although he didn't. He had no idea what kind of question Aundy would ask the doctor. Worry niggled in the back of his mind. He'd never been a worrier before meeting the intriguing woman, either.

About as easy-going and laid-back as they came, Garrett didn't like the feeling of unease that settled over him as he thought about all the possible reasons why Aundy would need to see the doctor.

"I'll just be a moment." Aundy stepped inside the doctor's office. Garrett followed on her heels, taking a seat in the waiting room while Aundy spoke with a woman seated at a desk, trying to maintain order in the doctor's chaotic office.

The woman smiled and nodded her head at Aundy's inquiry, then motioned for her to take a seat. She sat down beside Garrett and he fought the urge to take her hand in his. Instead, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and jiggled one foot impatiently, one more thing he'd never done until he met Aundy.

"If you'd rather wait outside or have any errands you'd like to run, I can meet you back at the buggy." Aundy tried to hide her amusement at Garrett's restlessness, but couldn't help the grin that tipped the corners of her mouth upward.

"I'm fine right here."

"Of course you are. How silly of me." The hint of sarcasm in her tone made Garrett stop jiggling his foot and sit back in the chair. Aundy asked him questions about his herd of cattle, if he was through with spring planting, and if he thought he would have time to give her another shooting lesson the following week.

"You can practice without me there," Garrett said, encouraging Aundy to use the guns that had been Erik's and were now hers. "You're good enough you don't need anyone watching over you."

"Thank you." A pleased smile blossomed on her face at his words of praise. "I wanted…"

Interrupted by the doctor's assistant, the woman escorted Aundy to an examination room where the doctor greeted her.

"Aundy, what a pleasure to see you." Doc smiled as he motioned for her to sit on the examination table. "You look too healthy to be ailing with anything, so I guess you'd probably like to see about getting that cast off your arm. Has it been six weeks already?"

"Yes, sir." Aundy removed her jacket and held out her arm while the doctor pushed up her sleeve. "Six weeks and five days, to be exact."

"In that case, let's see if we can take this off today," Doc said, examining Aundy's arm. He stepped out of the room, returning with his assistant. In no time at all, Aundy's arm was free of the cast. The skin looked a little pale and shriveled, but other than that, it felt wonderful to have the cast off.

The doctor made her move her arm in a range of motions then gave her a list of exercises to build back the strength.

"I know this is going to be challenging for you, but you really do need to gradually put your arm back into use and not overdo it. If you do, you'll be sorry down the road. If you follow my orders, you'll be back to one hundred percent in no time at all," Doc instructed as Aundy fastened the buttons on her sleeve and slipped on her jacket.

"Thank you so much, Doc. I promise to behave." Aundy grinned at the man, then hurried back to the waiting area and paid for her visit. Garrett got to his feet, still wondering what ailed Aundy.

"Are you okay?" he asked as they walked down the boardwalk in the direction of the buggy.

"Better than okay. Great, actually." Aundy felt so much lighter with the cast gone. She swung her arm as they walked and Garrett suddenly grabbed her other arm, pulling them to a stop beside his buggy.

"I completely forgot about your cast. Did Doc take it off?" Garrett placed his hand on Aundy's arm, unconcerned if it was appropriate or not. Warmth seeped into his palm from the light touch and he grinned. "Why didn't you tell me you were getting the cast off?"

"I wasn't sure Doc would take it off and besides, I thoroughly enjoyed your inability to figure out why I wanted to visit Doc. Honestly, Garrett, what did you think was wrong with me? I'm as fit as a fiddle, with a stubborn streak a mile wide. You won't find a woman in much better health than me." Aundy smiled tauntingly at Garrett as he helped her into the buggy.

"How did you…? Never mind." Garrett felt silly and a little stupid.

He agreed with Aundy, though. He'd be hard-pressed to find a female more robust and vibrant than the one sitting beside him.