Ranch Life is Great Read online

  "It really wasn't what I wanted as much as what Mama wanted," she said rather softly.

  "What do you mean?"

  "She'd been wanting some of her family back east to come out to visit. She thought if she wrote to them right away, telling them I was getting married this fall, it would give them enough time to make their plans, and they would come out. She was afraid I would forget my aunts and uncles and cousins, as long as it's been since I've seen them. But the thing is, I was small enough when I left that I really don't remember them that much, and I don't plan on going back east. I guess seeing them again didn't mean as much to me as it did to her."

  Cade had a hopeful expression on his face when he turned her to look at him. "So are you fine with getting married soon?"

  "How about Saturday?"

  His eyes opened wide. "Do you think you could be ready by Saturday?"

  "There isn't much to get ready. I don't want a big, fancy wedding. I have my Mama's wedding dress, which was the same one worn by her mother. I think Aunt Gertie and I could be ready by then, if you can be."

  "I'm ready now," he said with a grin. "I could go back to the house and put my good suit on and go find the preacher tonight. So to answer your question, yes, I can be ready then."

  "Tonight? Would the preacher do that?"

  His eyes opened wide as he looked down on her. She wasn't kidding. In a very serious manner, he answered, "I don't know. Do you want to go ask him?"

  She looked all around her for a few moments, and looked back at him, straight in his eyes. "Yes, I do. Could we?"

  "I assume you'll have Aunt Gertrude stand up for you. Maybe you should ask if that's all right with her?"

  The big smile on his face let her know he was fine with the idea of being married so soon, and she gave him a big hug, which he quickly took control of and followed up with a passionate kiss, even if he did remember her aunt was not too far away.

  When he finished with his kiss, she bounced up and down excitedly, gave him another quick peck on his cheek, and ran to Aunt Gertrude. "Aunt Gertie, are you busy tonight? Can you stand up for me while we get married?"

  Gertrude was obviously shocked, but also obviously happy. She hugged her niece. "I can't think of a better way to spend the evening." She caught Cade's eyes with a look that showed her approval. He nodded and returned her smile.

  After giving the ladies a couple minutes to celebrate, he went to them, taking them both in his arms. "If we're having a wedding tonight, we best be getting back to the house. We've got things to do."

  Chapter Five

  The next few hours were a blur of excitement. Everyone at the ranch was busy, but happy. Maria and Gertrude helped Elsie with the alterations needed to her mother's wedding dress. Cade and Elsie were married Sunday evening, with Gertrude and Wyatt standing up for them. Cade repeatedly told her what a beautiful bride she was, and the sincerity in his eyes meant a lot to her.

  Maria insisted on staying at the ranch to fix a special supper for them, while the rest went to the church for the ceremony. She and Amos, Cade's bunkhouse cook, worked together, and when the four of them returned to the ranch, they had a special, large meal prepared for them and all the ranch hands. Amos and the ranch hands had tables set up outside, since it was beautiful and warm out, and Maria had the tables decorated with flowers for the new couple.

  Cade and Elsie were surprised, but delighted to see the impromptu party. The hands had already done all the evening chores, so they were all free to enjoy the evening, and everyone did just that.

  That night when Cade carried his new bride to his bedroom, which would now be their bedroom, Elsie was nervous. He knew that, and tried to reassure her. He went slowly, stopping often to slow down and make sure she was fine and wanted to continue. He also explained things as he explored her body and encouraged her to do the same with his. By the time they fell asleep, not only was Elsie much more educated and relaxed, but they were both very happily exhausted, and thoroughly sated. He held her in his arms as they both slept soundly.

  Monday was a busy day. Cade took the ladies to town to open the store, then went to talk to Harold and Loretta Stone. He explained that he and Elsie had gotten married last evening and that she would like to meet them. Her sister offered to watch their children, and they went with Cade to meet Elsie.

  They talked a few minutes, and Elsie liked them immediately. They both expressed their condolences for her loss, which she appreciated.

  "I have a lot of wonderful memories in this building," she told them, "but Cade and my Aunt Gertrude made me see that I need to move on, and it's time for someone else to make their own memories in this wonderful place. I think Mama and Papa would be happy knowing that's happening."

  Loretta gave Elsie a hug, and it was as if they'd been friends for a long time. "Thank you for telling me that, Elsie. Now I know this was a special home for you, and I'm looking forward to making our own memories, like you said. Will you please work with us for a few days at least, while we learn our way around? I'm really looking forward to getting to know you. I think we're going to be wonderful friends."

  "I'd be happy to work with you while you get adjusted," she answered, "as long as Cade doesn't mind me bringing a horse in every day."

  Cade, who was standing next to Harold, back a ways, smiling as they watched their women, nodded. "I'll bring you in and pick you up in the evening for a few days," he assured her.

  "I'm perfectly capable of driving the buggy. You don't have to take the time to do that. You have a ranch to run, and I understand there's a little work involved in that," she said with a mischievous grin.

  "I understand all of that," he said, returning her grin, "but I'm a new husband, and I have no intentions of letting my new wife take a buggy from her new home on my ranch, into town without me until I'm absolutely sure she knows the way. I have to know for sure you get here safely every morning, honey."

  As much as she felt she should argue the point, the love she heard in his voice convinced her not to. Instead, she surprised him when she answered, "Thank you, Cade. I appreciate it. I'm anxious to get to know Loretta better, too." She turned to her new friend. "I think, too, we're going to be good friends."

  Harold and Loretta talked to Elsie and Cade and they agreed on a monthly amount to rent the entire building. Afterward Loretta gave Elsie another big hug, and she and Harold anxiously went back to her sister's to pack. Since all they'd unpacked was the clothing they'd needed, most things were still packed. They were planning to move in yet that day.

  After they left, Cade stepped into the storeroom and pulled his new wife into his arms. "Are you all right, Mrs. Collins?"

  "I think so," she said quietly. "Your arms around me help, though, so please don't be in a hurry to leave."

  With her face leaning against his chest, she heard his low chuckle and felt his arms tighten a bit. She loved this man, and was anxious to start her new adventure as Mrs. Cade Collins, on his ranch.

  The next morning, Cade escorted his wife and her aunt to the store. After a quick kiss, he assured her he'd be back to take her home when the store closed. After leaving the store, he went to do a few errands before returning to the ranch. He stopped in to talk to Sheriff Fitch first. He filled him in on his marriage, and that his wife had leased the building to the Stones.

  He then brought up a concern he had. "Sheriff, Harold and Loretta Stone seem to be a nice couple, and they have two little children. He ran a store, but came here when his store and a good portion of their town burned to the ground. I'm concerned about their reception here, though. If people here believe the vicious rumor going around and won't go in the mercantile because of a misguided fear, the Stones don't have any hope of doing well. Personally, I have to wonder if the Wilsons are behind the rumor, but without any proof, we can't suggest it. We can, however, talk to people and assure them there is absolutely nothing to suggest whoever did this would go back to the mercantile again, or that they would be any safer at Wilson's sto
re than at the Stones' store."

  The sheriff listened to Cade, and took a moment to consider his words. "I see what you're saying, Cade, and I think that's a good idea. I hate to see Wintock's Mercantile close. I'm okay with having a new owner, but I don't want to see it close. This town is big enough that it needs two general stores. I also think if the one closes, Theodore Wilson would quickly take advantage of it with higher prices at his store. Do you have anything specific in mind?"

  "Not especially. I plan to tell everyone I run into about the new couple taking over the store since Elsie and I are married. I'll tell them they seem real nice, with a couple little ones to support. I'm thinking I'm going to ask if they've heard the ridiculous rumor that's going around, and tell them I talked to you about it, and you assured me there is absolutely nothing to suggest that. I might get lucky and someone will tell me where they heard the rumor, and we may be able to trace it back and find out who started it."

  "That sounds like a good plan, Cade. I'll be happy to do something similar. Can I ask, is there anything specific that makes you think it was Theodore who started the rumor?"

  "Not specifically. I've been thinking about this a great deal, though, and it seems rather odd to me that that rumor started so soon after Henry and Velma were killed."

  Sheriff Fitch shook his head. "Almost like it was preplanned," he muttered.

  "I hadn't actually thought of that," Cade said, but also paused to do some thinking. "Most people were only thinking about what a tragedy this was and who could possibly have been behind it. Someone, however, came up with this preposterous idea and got a rumor started while everyone else was in shock or grieving. I keep coming back to the fact that Wilson is the only person I can see who would benefit from such a rumor. Elsie and her store will be hurt, but so will a lot of people in this town if her store closes."

  "That's true," the sheriff agreed. "They may not realize it, but the whole town will end up paying more, I believe, if there's only one store in town."

  Cade looked up at the sheriff, concern written all over his face. "Dan, you said sort of like it was preplanned. I hadn't considered that before, but maybe we should look into it. A few days ago Theodore approached Elsie with an offer to buy her store. He said he can see how few clients she has now, so the store probably isn't worth much, but out of pity for her he was willing to pay a little bit for it."

  The sheriff's eyes grew. "I don't suppose his offer was too generous, either, was it?"

  "No, it wasn't. We didn't talk about it much, but it didn't seem to me like his offer would even have paid for the merchandise they have in stock. He pointed out that with everyone afraid to go into the store, he couldn't see her doing much business. She was very upset."

  "I would have been, too." Sheriff Fitch rubbed his chin a bit. "That sounds to me like a motive for killing her parents. If he kills them, then gets this rumor going around so she loses most of her business, it will enable him to swoop in and buy her out. He can then close one store and run the other one, with higher prices, of course."

  Cade was obviously concerned. "I don't really know Theodore that well. He struck me wrong the first time I met him, and I've never seen anything that made me change that feeling. Do you know him much; do you think he would do such a thing?"

  "I can't really say I know him well, either. He's rather aloof. I'd actually never thought of him as a suspect in this tragedy, but after talking with you, maybe I should. He does have the most to gain by that rumor spreading. I wasn't aware he'd made an offer to buy the store, but putting those things together, maybe I should do a little looking into him and his background."

  "I don't know anything about them," Cade said. "Have they been in town long?"

  "About five years. Theodore and his father, Ralph, moved here shortly after Theodore's mother died. They said they had too many memories. Both seemed pretty upset about losing her. They both ran the store when they moved here. Over the last couple years, his father seems to spend less and less time in the store. Theodore pretty much runs it now himself from what I've seen."

  "Do you know where they came from?"

  "I'm not sure. I generally write down a few facts on new people when they come to town, like where they're from, just in case something happens, I know where I might find some family."

  Cade grinned. "Or in case you need to do some checking on them, you know where to start looking?"

  "That, too," the sheriff admitted. "I'll see if I've got any notes on them. Either way, I think I'll start doing some nosing into them. I'm going to take your suggestion, too, and start talking to local people. If I find out Theodore is behind the rumor, I'll sure start digging deeper. Thanks for the talk, Cade."

  "Thank you. I wanted you to know about the changes, and I was hoping you'd help me spread the word, try and help Harold and Loretta have a fair chance of making it here."

  "I certainly will talk to people. I would appreciate it if you could keep what we just talked about to yourself, Cade."

  "Absolutely. I know everything we've said is just possibilities, so I agree; it stays between us. Will you keep me informed if you find anything, though?"

  "Of course. Is Elsie helping the Stones get started?"

  "She is. I'll be bringing her and her aunt in and picking them up in the evening, so if you have anything to tell me, get my attention and I'll come in and talk." The two men shook hands. Cade finished his errands, talking to everyone he ran into as he did. If Theodore was behind this rumor, he intended to set as many people straight as he could. He wasn't about to let him win this battle—at least not without a fight.

  Gertrude and Loretta stayed in the front of the store to take care of any customers who came in. Elsie and Harold went in the back so she could show him the books and how they'd been kept. She showed him where they got their merchandise and how to order it. Anytime they heard the bell over the door, they both went out to the storefront. Elsie introduced Mr. and Mrs. Stone to everyone who came in.

  At lunchtime, Harold and Loretta insisted they could watch the store while Elsie and Gertrude went next door for lunch. The ladies promised to bring something back for them. As they were finishing their meal, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop, who had been customers at Wintock Mercantile since the day they opened, stopped by to see them. Mrs. Winthrop gave Elsie a hug. "I am so sorry about your parents. I couldn't believe someone could do something like that to such good people."

  "Thank you," Elsie said, returning her hug.

  "I'm sorry we haven't been in to offer our support. We talked with Sheriff Fitch this morning and he cleared up the rumor that's been going around. I can't tell you how sorry we are that we got caught up in it."

  Mr. Winthrop spoke up, looking a bit ashamed. "We are very sorry," he confirmed. "I feel like such a fool for believing that whoever did that awful thing to your parents might very well return. When I think of it now, it sounds so ludicrous, but at the time—well, I don't know. I really don't have an excuse for it, other than fear. I hope, in time, you'll be able to forgive us."

  Both ladies were shocked at his words. They'd heard about the rumor, but it was nice to hear the sheriff was able to squash it, at least for a couple people. Elsie thanked them. "I certainly understand the fear. I still cringe when I think of someone doing such a thing. I'm hoping Sheriff Fitch can figure out who did it. Then maybe people won't be afraid to go back to the store."

  "I hope the same thing," Mr. Winthrop assured her. "But in the meantime, we'll be in later today to do some shopping, and we'll be sure to pass along what the sheriff told us."

  "Thank you. When you stop in, I'll introduce you to Harold and Loretta Stone. They've rented the building and will be running the store."

  "Oh, I'm glad to hear that," Mrs. Winthrop said. She immediately went on to explain. "We'll miss seeing you two ladies when we do our shopping, but we've been concerned about you two doing all that lifting. And aren't you going to be marrying Mr. Collins soon?"

  Elsie couldn't stop the big
smile that appeared on her face. "We were married Sunday," she said. "I hated to give up the store because it's almost like it's a part of me. But you're right; it was going to be difficult to run the store. My Aunt Gertrude has been such a help, but she has to go back east shortly, and Cade wasn't too in favor of me living alone and running the store."

  "I would think not," Mr. Winthrop said in a very matter-of-fact way.

  Mrs. Winthrop hugged Elsie again. "Congratulations, my dear. I'm so happy for you. Mr. Collins is a wonderful man. I was very happy to hear you had accepted his hand in marriage, but was a little surprised to hear you were waiting until the fall for the wedding. Was that for family?" As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. "Oh, dear, I've spoken without thinking again. I'm so sorry."

  "No, it's all right," Elsie assured her. "It was for family. Mother wanted some of her family to come to visit, and thought if she gave them plenty of notice of the wedding, they would be here. Unfortunately, although she missed her family, I was so small when we left that I really don't remember them."

  "So waiting was more for your mother and her family having a chance to visit, than what you and Mr. Collins wanted?" When her husband gave her a disapproving look, she thought back on her words and looked a bit sheepish. "I don't think that came out quite the way I meant it," she said quietly.

  "Once again, it's not a problem," Elsie assured her. "I completely understand what you were asking, and you're right. Cade and I were more than willing to get married sooner, and we neither one wished to have a large wedding."

  "Then you two did exactly as you should have," Mrs. Winthrop said. "I'm glad you were able to find someone to run the store for you, so you can begin the next part of your life, as Mrs. Collins. He's such a fine young man, I'm sure you'll be happy on his ranch."

  "Thank you. I am looking forward to it. Getting used to living on a ranch may take a little time, but I really am excited about it. Once Cade convinced me it would be better for me to give up the store and marry him now and move to the ranch, this worked out really well. Harold and Loretta ran a general store before, but it and half their town burned down in a fire. There was another general store there, so they moved here with her sister, and he's been looking for a job."