Chapter Six

  She watched him from the upper windows of the house in the weak dawn light as he made his way alone to the water tank. Towel draped over his shoulder and hat brim drawn low on his forehead.

  Lady Jane had woken early with many things on her mind and had risen to get some coffee going when she heard the tread on the pathway leading around the Main House. She glimpsed his outline passing the window and guessed he was heading over to the tank to bathe. It was unusual as all the men usually made a day of it and went together to the water hole in the hollow over the hill to splash about like kids at a swim party. But here was Robert Lee walking alone in the pre-dawn light with mist on the ground and the first birds making their call.

  Lady Jane went upstairs to make sure the children were still asleep and then crossed to the window. She did not know why, it was not her habit to spy on the men at such times and as long as they soaped off their sweat and dirt once a week she was happy.

  For some reason she was drawn though and despite her misgivings she stood and watched Robert Lee as he set his towel on the edge of the round, wood-panel water tank and stripped.

  He had a lean body, not muscle-bound like her husband had been or Big Bass but still strongly built although slender and in the dim light the white of his skin gleamed where the sun had not tanned him. Without any hesitation at the cold air and chill water he stepped straight into the great tank and dropped his head under the water. She knew there was a glimmer of perversion in her subversive peeking and she felt a thrill of guilt pass through her at the forbidden activity.

  A sensual woman with the daily weight of her troubles heavy on her, she had cast aside many of the repressions of normal society long ago. On the ranch they were far away from town and the critical eye of its inhabitants with their overbearing moral codes and social restrictions. Now and then she had found there was a more basic need in her and she took what small pleasures her duties allowed to assuage that desire with passing lovers. Big Bass was a case in point, without a man to control the workhands she had needed a strong hand in the bunkhouse. He came to her bed when the light shone in her window and filled the role when needed. Quite callously and with assiduous forethought she had calculated to tie him to her at those moments. There was no love in the match merely a temporary act of mutual gratification and she had advised him that it would be so. They would never marry nor could he move in, she had told him that and the fact he was not to expect more than the brief moments they spent together under the bed sheets. Once it was done it was to be forgotten – that was the deal.

  Now as she watched the figure of Robert Lee as he stepped out of the tank and stood with the water dripping from him she felt something different stir within her. Something other than the more basic carnal urge, it was there of course, and she did wonder how it would be to fall into those arms and forget her problems for a while. The sun crested the mountains and for a moment Robert Lee was outlined in its golden light, his form shining with the water as it cascaded from him in running droplets of sparkling silver.

  She had found a steadiness in Robert Lee that she liked, he was quick-witted and had proven not just to be a cut above the normal ranch hand in intelligence but also bold enough to take on the challenge of another man in the saloon. Lady Jane warmed to the memory and then, quite suddenly, she swallowed and raised her hands to her lips as an unexpected moment of fire ran through her.

  He looked up.

  It was almost as if Robert Lee had known she was there, some sense had tricked him into raising his gaze. Their eyes met, he below standing naked at the pool’s edge and she from behind the deceptive hiding place of a pane of glass. He had smiled slightly and dropped his head to continue drying himself and she had fallen away from the window with her heart pounding. She pressed her hand to her chest and wondered what devil had inspired her to secretly watch him and then cause this palpitation to explode in her body.

  Embarrassment coursed through her, what would he think of her now and how would he react?

  Quickly, she rushed below and began to busy herself preparing breakfast.

  Robert Lee pushed open the door and came in whilst she was working at the stove.

  ‘Hope I ain’t too early?’ he said. ‘Smelled that coffee and thought I’d have a cup.’

  She turned to face him, her eyes slipping away in a moment of shame.

  ‘I’m sorry….’ she stuttered, her cheeks glowing. ‘I didn’t…. just now….’

  ‘I know, ma’am,’ he said. ‘I should have gone to the swim place over the hill. Apologies if I upset you.’

  She swallowed and took a deep breath, ‘That’s all right. No, that’s fine.’ She was talking too fast and she knew it. ‘Just worried that the children might be about.’

  ‘Well, it won’t happen again,’ he promised.

  She tinkered with a tin mug for his coffee and dropped it to the floor, the handle slipping from her grasp.

  ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me this morning,’ she said recovering herself with some difficulty. ‘Seem to be all fingers and thumbs.’

  ‘Here,’ he said, coming over. ‘Allow me.’

  But she was already bending to pick up the errant mug and their hands met as they closed on the handle.

  ‘I’ll do it,’ he said with an air of firmness and she looked at him and their eyes met.

  There was kindness in them, she saw. Lady Jane’s heart was beating fast in her chest and it defied her and in the moment of confusion she did not know what was happening to her.

  ‘It’s okay, ma’am,’ he said, easily levering himself upright. ‘I’ve got it.’

  She looked up at him from where she still crouched and he smiled and offered her his hand to raise her up.

  ‘Miss Lady Jane,’ he said softly. ‘Got to say you look danged pretty this morning.’

  That broke the moment and she recovered her flustered self and lifted the coffee pot from the stove.

  ‘Why, thank you kindly, sir, but I hardly think its true, I just barely left my bed.’

  ‘Best time,’ he said. ‘A woman looks her prettiest right then. Round faced with sleep and rested in the eye. Softens the day before its begun.’

  Lady Jane cocked an eyebrow as she poured him a cup of coffee, ‘I reckon you’re a mite forward this morning, Robert Lee.’

  ‘No offence intended, ma’am. But seeing as you’ve seen all I have to offer, I thought I’d take a moment of leave.’

  Lady Jane ducked her head, ‘Now, as I explained….’

  ‘Hush,’ he whispered. ‘There’s no need. I’m just joshing you, Miz Jane.’

  She looked at him over the rim of the mug and saw the amusement in his eyes as he drank his coffee and she nodded her head in understanding.

  ‘I have to get on with breakfast,’ she said.

  ‘Sure thing, I’ll go down and get dressed for work. We going to bury poor Napper today?’

  ‘First thing after breakfast.’

  The burial site was along the hilltop in a nearby grove with scrub oak and a clearing of level yet stony ground. It took them a little while to dig the grave because of the stones and by the time they had finished mourners had started arriving. It soon became apparent that the doctor had spread the word and townsfolk and neighbors began coming in by wagon or horseback. Even the town sheriff, Tank Durham was there, his tall figure rising above the others.

  Robert Lee watched as Lady Jane led her children, with one hand holding the little girl’s and in the other a thick Bible. She was dutifully dressed in black and wore no hat and to Robert Lee looked fine with her dark curling hair swept by the morning breeze. He stood with the other ranch hands, hat in hand as Lady Jane began to speak.

  ‘Seeing as we ain’t got no preacher just now, I’ll have to handle the service. Thanks for coming, folks, it shows due reverence for this man’s passing.’

  She was interrupted as McGregor and three of his riders turned up; their noisy entrance a disturbance to the solemn mood. They all stood at the rear of the gathering and Robert Lee eyed the Scotsman with a narrow look of contempt. McGregor was blandly indifferent and with a swift glance that brought his men to silence Lady Jane continued.

  ‘We’re laying to rest one Napper James, nobody knows his proper name but he was an able worker here on the Lazy Z and deserves recognition for that. A calm man and not one to raise any trouble and I’m sure his companions found no cause for complaint in his company.’

  There was a collective nod of agreement from the Lazy Z cowhands.

  ‘He lost his life in fulfillment of his duties here with a lightning-wrecked tree falling on him. So you could say he was cut down in his prime. There ain’t no more I have to say on it so I’ll just read a passage from the Good Book and we’ll send him on his way.’

  She opened the Bible at a bookmarked page and began to read, her voice steady and as clear as when she read the evening tales after supper.

  When she was done and the box lowered, Big Bass and Cob began to fill in the grave. Lady Jane ushered Susan Allen forward with a little push and the child stepped forward and dropped a handful of wild flowers she had picked onto the rough wood coffin before shyly stepping back. The mourners milled about biding farewell to Lady Jane as they took their leave and Robert Lee pulled Adam and the little girl to him as McGregor stepped up.

  ‘Good day to you, Mrs. Street,’ he said, always loud even though he attempted a hushed reverential voice. ‘I’d like a wee word with you.’

  ‘Mister McGregor,’ said Lady Jane meeting his glance with her own stern stare.

  McGregor shrugged and looked over to the steadily filling grave, ‘A fair service, ma’am. Ye done well and I hope I get as good when it’s my time.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she nodded.

  McGregor awkwardly ran stubby fingers through his red beard and struggled to find the words, ‘It must be hard for you now, woman. One man down and work to do, no husband to take hold of things and the childers to raise. I would be offering to take this place off your hands. A good price mind you, I’ll give you that. There’s the opportunity in it for ease and contentment for you and your family.’

  Lady Jane took a deep breath, ‘Kind of you, Mister McGregor but I’ve a mind to stay.’

  ‘Well, I hope you’ll think on the matter and come to the conclusion you’ll be better off with money in your purse and no more worries on your mind.’

  ‘Thank you but no,’ she said with firm finality.

  ‘Have it your way then.’

  McGregor grumpily tugged his hat back on his head and turned abruptly away. With a jerk of the head he ordered his men to mount up and they rode off. Sheriff Durham watched them go and then came over to Lady Jane.

  ‘Howdy, Lady Jane, a sad day.’

  ‘It is indeed, Sheriff.’

  ‘I need a word about the deceased, you don’t know where he hails from do you?’

  Lady Jane turned to Robert Lee, who still held the little ones close, ‘Robert Lee did you find out anything about Napper in town?’

  ‘Only that he did some time down in Texas on the Iron Ten spread, the fellow I spoke to said maybe he had a sister. Seems Napper sent her money so I was about to check in at the telegraph office when I was waylaid in the saloon by him,’ Robert Lee nodded his head in the direction of the departing McGregor.

  ‘And then by me,’ Durham added with an easy smile.

  ‘For sure,’ agreed Robert Lee, remembering the knot on his head.

  ‘Thing is,’ Durham went on. ‘We should let the sister know and send on Nappers' possibles. He have any wages coming?’

  ‘Some,’ agreed Lady Jane. ‘We’ll do what’s normal and let his companions in the bunkhouse divvy up anything serviceable they want and I’ll bring the money into you. I myself could use another saddle so I’ll pay fair price and add it to the outstanding wages. Seems the easiest way to handle it.’

  ‘Agreed, I’ll see if I can find out her whereabouts and send on a money order,’ said the sheriff. ‘Perhaps you will join me in a meal when you come into town, Lady Jane?’

  ‘That’s very civil of you sheriff, I shall be glad to.’

  ‘Happy to oblige and look forward to seeing you there.’

  It seemed to Robert Lee that the sheriff was setting his cap for the widow, witnessed by the pleased smile on his handsome face as he left.

  ‘Come here,’ said Lady Jane to her children and Robert Lee released them to run into her arms. She glanced a look of thanks at Robert Lee and turned to usher the children back to the house.

  Raoul was standing next to Robert Lee, ‘Maybe I’ll have that Henry rifle of his, it might be old but its still reliable.’

  ‘I want his chaps,’ added Little Bass. ‘Mine are plumb wore out.’

  Big Bass and Cob had finished covering the grave and came over. ‘We’re done,’ said Big Bass.

  Robert Lee looked over at the heap of dirt and stones, ‘Ain’t much of a marker, is it?’

  ‘Well, it’s certainly one sleep old Napper won’t be getting up from,’ added Cob somberly.

  Back in the bunkhouse they debated over the deceased few possessions and his pistol, rifle, lariat, watch and chain and usable clothing were divided amongst them. In the bottom of his box they found a few letters, one of which held his sister’s address, and an array of ‘soiled dove’ postcard photographs that Big Bass condemned to the stove right off.

  Robert Lee helped himself to a clasp pocketknife that was left amongst the few items in the box. It was a small thing and the wooden handle had seen some wear but Robert Lee had a purpose in mind.

  ‘I’ll get these letters up to Miz Jane,’ promised Big Bass. ‘And tell her what we all had, she can take what we owe from the payroll. That okay with you fellows?’

  ‘Fair enough,’ they agreed.

  ‘Okay, well that’s enough jawing for one day. Let’s get to work.’

  With that he divided up the day’s tasks and they set out for the stables to get their ponies.

  ‘Hold up, Robert Lee,’ Big Bass called. ‘You and me’ll team up today. I want to ride over that west pasture to take a look at the wire going up over there, we don’t want McGregor cutting into our land.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ said Robert Lee.

  They rode out within a three-quarter hour and headed west. The land was softly rolling in that direction and covered with thick grass and the occasional stand of trees. It was a pleasant enough ride and both men took their time.

  ‘Going to miss old Napper,’ Big Bass said eventually.

  Robert Lee nodded, ‘He seemed a fair enough fella,’ he agreed.

  ‘Look here, Robert Lee, I want to talk to you about something.’

  ‘Sure, go ahead.’

  ‘It’s about Miz Jane,’ mumbled Big Bass, who was a little reticent about approaching the subject he had in mind. ‘I think maybe you been setting eyes on her.’

  Robert Lee shook his head, ‘I don’t think so, she’s the boss-lady that’s all I reckon on it.’

  ‘Well, you got to understand how things are around here.’

  ‘I reckon you’re about to tell me.’

  Big Bass pulled up his pony, ‘We got an understanding, her and me,’ he started. ‘You’re right, it ain’t normal. Most places you keep your place and stay in the bunkhouse and leave the folks in the big house to their own business and that’s fine but her and me, we got a special arrangement and I don’t want you poking your nose in there.’

  ‘An arrangement?’ said Robert Lee, playing the dummy.

  ‘Sure, it’s like this, I go visit with her sometimes up in the Main House.’

  ‘You mean, like for tea or something?’ Robert Lee asked innocently, he knew what Big Bass was on about but thought to string him along a little.

  ‘No,’ snapped Big Bass, irritated by his own inability to express it and Robert Lee’s unwillingness to understand. ‘It ain’t that. It’s more of a personal type of visit.’

  Robert Lee rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, ‘Well, sure, I get it. You got to discuss what needs doing on the ranch and when we need to do it.’

  ‘No,’ growled Big Bass. ‘That ain’t it either.’

  ‘So what? She teaching you to read and write and do your numbers. Maybe a little poetry on the side, is that it?’

  Big Bass sighed, ‘It’s more of a nighttime kind of thing.’

  ‘I guess you stay with the kids and read bedtime stories whilst she’s busy with something else.’

  Big Bass was beginning to catch the drift, ‘You riding on me here, Robert Lee?’ he asked suspiciously. ‘You know what I mean well enough.’

  Robert Lee looked across at him and answered coolly, ‘You really think you should be telling me this?’

  ‘Yeah, I do. I want to put you straight so you don’t get caught out in something that ain’t your affair.’

  ‘You want to bone the boss that’s your business but don’t expect me to take a back seat because you say so.’

  ‘So, I’m right. You been playing fast and loose with her behind my back.’

  Robert Lee pulled a face, ‘You got that wrong, partner. Can’t say I don’t want to, but I ain’t done nothing to rope that particular steer yet awhile.’

  ‘Well, you just stay away, you hear me?’ warned Big Bass.

  ‘Can’t promise that.’

  Big Bass growled bombastically, ‘I’ll whip your ass, you don’t keep your distance, that’s a promise.’

  ‘You can try.’

  ‘I will,’ barked Big Bass. ‘I’ll do it right now. You want that?’

  Without answer, Robert Lee dismounted. He took off his gun belt and draped it over the saddle pommel, then rolled up his sleeves and took off his hat.

  Big Bass watched with surprise on his face, ‘You mean it?’ he asked in disbelief. ‘I’ll bust you up good.’

  ‘Let’s get this settled,’ said Robert Lee, meeting his gaze steadily.

  ‘Hot damn!’ spat Big Bass, throwing himself from the saddle and tearing off his hat and throwing it aside.

  Robert Lee whipped his pony a smack on the haunches to send it away and as Big Bass was busy unbuckling his gun belt Robert Lee stepped in behind him and delivered a solid stinging kidney punch. Big Bass was caught unawares and he grunted and was turning when Robert Lee hit him again, a hard punch to the jaw. Big Bass rocked away and let out a roar of anger before lunging forward.

 

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