Chapter Five

Tillie went out the next morning to collect eggs for Annamae. She liked the young woman her brother had married. Annamae was quiet, but she loved Sawyer, and that was enough for Tillie.

She put her hand underneath the hen and retrieved the warm eggs, careful not to startle her. Tillie secured the eggs in the basket provided to her, then extended her hand back into the box to stroke the feathers of the hen. The slight gesture brought her a sense of calm. As she looked around the ranch, it made her feel like there was hope in the world, despite her troubles.

“Thank you for breakfast,” she cooed to the hen with a last pat. Moving to the next nesting box, she gently shooed the chicken aside, but the hen was having none of it. It puffed up its feathers, letting out an indignant squawk as Tillie tried to reach for the eggs nestled beneath her. The hen pecked at Tillie’s hand, a sharp pain shooting through her skin as she recoiled in surprise.

“Ouch,” she cried, pulling her hand back. “That’s not nice.”

“She might be broody.”

Tillie turned quickly and saw Rex standing on the other side of the fence with an amused smile on his face.

“How can you tell?”

“These are new hens. We’ve only had them a few days. If she’s not letting you gather the eggs, maybe she wants to sit on them.”

“Well, Annamae wanted them for breakfast. Don’t you have to have a rooster to get a broody hen?” Tillie looked around the coop. “I don’t see a rooster.”

“We don’t have one. Midge stole it.”

Tillie’s eyes widened in disbelief, and she threw her head back, letting out a hearty laugh. “You know who stole your rooster? That’s both impressive and absurd!”

Rex moved around to the front of the coop and opened the door, letting the chickens out to roam in the barnyard. “Git.” He waved his hat to the birds. “Midge is my soon-to-be sister-in-law. She’s marrying Baxter.”

“He’s the brother that brought us here, right?”

“Yep.”

“He had all those children at the store.”

“Yep.”

“Did his wife die?”

“Oh, no,” Rex chuckled. “Those are Midge’s siblings.”

“Oh goodness. All of them?”

“Yep.” Rex moved closer to her, leaning one arm casually against the chicken house. “You sure are interested in my family,” he remarked, his tone light and teasing. Tillie couldn’t help but notice the way his golden-brown eyes sparkled with amusement.

She felt a strange flutter in her chest, but quickly brushed it aside, reminding herself of the trouble that always seemed to follow her and George like a looming storm cloud. She quickly averted her gaze, feeling a flush creep up her cheeks.

“I just like to know who I’m dealing with,” she retorted, ducking under his arm.

Rex chuckled softly, enjoying the banter. “Well, you’re dealing with me now, Miss Youngerman.”

“Should I be worried, Mr. Hartman?” Tillie remarked, stepping just out of his reach. She couldn’t help but admire his rugged appearance, the way his hat cast a shadow over his sharp features in the morning sun.

His gaze shifted from playful to intense as his index finger reached out and twirled one of her curls. His expression grew serious, and she could feel the weight of his touch on her hair.

Tillie’s heart quickened at the unexpected touch, a mix of nervousness and something warmer fluttering within her chest. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as they held each other’s gaze. She felt a rush of emotions she couldn’t quite comprehend.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, his finger lingering on her curl.

She looked at his mouth and wondered if his lips were as soft as they looked. Would they be soft if he kissed her, or would he be bold enough to try? His thumb grazed her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine.

“That is a sad state of affairs, or you don’t have many women around here if you think I’m beautiful.”

“No one has ever told you that you’re beautiful?”

A sharp laugh burst forth from her lips and she shook her head. She could feel her hair tightening around his finger. “Never. I’ve always been plain Matilda.”

“There is nothing plain about you. You are a rare beautiful,” Rex replied, his voice barely above a whisper, his gaze unwavering. “You remind me of the wild horses on the plains. A little skittish, but always magnificent.” Tillie’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the sincerity in his eyes.

“Rex. I—”

He cleared his throat, and she felt him release her delicate ringlet of hair. There was a hint of embarrassment in his expression for his sudden display of affection. “I want to say I’m sorry, Tillie,” he said, his voice softer than before. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. But I’m not sorry. You deserve to know how beautiful you are. However, I’m sorry no one has ever told you just how lovely you are.”

“I’m going to walk to the creek later to gather acorns for Annie. Do you want to go with me? We can stop by and see Baxter, and I’d like to introduce you to Midge.”

A smile spread across her face, with the corners of her lips extending and her cheeks flushing a rosy hue. “Midge the rooster thief?”

Rex chuckled. “Just don’t call her that. Bax is extremely protective of her. All of us are protective of our family.”

“I see why Sawyer likes it here.”

“He’s a good man. So, will you walk with me?”

“I’d like that.”

Tapping her on the nose, Rex turned on his heel. “You better get those eggs to Annamae before she wonders where you are.”

Tillie nodded at Rex, and he headed back towards the barn. She stood there for a moment watching the hens chase after a juicy bug in the yard, and thought about her growing feelings for Rex. As she walked back to the house, the weight of their conversation lingered in her mind. Tillie couldn’t shake off the way his gaze made her feel, like she was being seen for the first time in her life. It was an odd and comforting feeling that she struggled to fully comprehend.

“There you are, Tillie. I was looking for you.” George stepped off the edge of the porch, his dark eyes glinting with sinister determination. “I saw you getting friendly with Rex Hartman in the chicken coop.”

“He was just helping me with a broody hen. That’s all.”

“Listen to me, Tillie,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “It looked to me like he likes you. You need to marry him, even if it means forcing him into it.”

Tillie shook her head vehemently, her heart pounding. “I can’t do that, George. I won’t trap Rex like that.”

“Think about what’s at stake here,” George insisted, ignoring her protests. “With you married to that Hartman, I could have some influence over this ranch. You know how much I hate that Sawyer has such a stronghold here. I could take a share of the profits and that would be enough for a fresh start for us. You owe me this.”

Tillie stared at him, horrified by the depths of his greed.

She had always known he cared more about money than love, but she never thought he would stoop so low as to blackmail her into an unwanted marriage. Her stomach twisted in disgust and fear as she realized the true depths of his depravity.

“George, please,” she whispered, her voice trembling with fear and anger. “This is wrong. I cannot disgrace myself like this.”

“Then you will ruin our chances for a better life,” he spat, his face contorted with rage. “Do you want to live in poverty forever?”

As Tillie looked into George’s eyes, she saw nothing but cold, ruthless ambition. It frightened her, but it also strengthened her resolve. She would not let him control her like this.

“George, God will provide for us,” she whispered, displaying unwavering faith in the face of fear. “We don’t need to deceive or manipulate others for our own gain.”

“Your foolish faith never put food on the table!” George snapped, his patience wearing thin. “Now, you will do as I say, or you’ll regret it. We are going to town this afternoon.”

“I can’t go with you.”

“You can and you will. Remember what you owe me.”

His words hung heavy in the air as he spun on his heel and stormed off, leaving Tillie standing alone under the morning sun. There was nothing she could do but watch him go, feeling a sense of dread settle in her stomach.