The Heart of a Soiled Dove (12 page)

A stream of milk zinged against the warm metal bucket. Even at the early hour, sunshine was already streaking through the barn loft window. Aurora heard the front door open to her home and knew that Luke would be coming to claim his horse. After escorting her last night, he insisted on staying on until morning, the faithful friend that he was. He appeared, hat in hands. “I’m obliged for the breakfast. Sure beats the cook Donovan has.”

Continuing with the milking pumping, she said, “You best get back to him, Luke. He won’t like that you stayed here last night.”

Defensiveness rose in his response. “I slept in the bunkhouse.”

“I don’t think that matters to ‘his highness.’ He’ll think the worst of me no matter what. He judges by appearance, not reality.”

Luke’s smile was sincere and regretful. “You sure you’re going to be all right? I don’t like how the sheriff looked at you last night.”

The milking stopped just briefly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She did not look at him when she spoke.

“If he’s bothering you….”

“He’s not.” She did look at him now, hard. End of it.

He fiddled with his hat in hand. “Guess I’ll be on my way then.”

“Thank you for seeing me home. I hope Donovan doesn’t give you much trouble.”

Luke turned towards her, sunlight accentuated his light hair. “He is the least of my concerns. You on the other hand, I’ve got a feeling about.”

“Take care not to have any worries for me. I can watch out for myself.”

Soon after Luke’s hesitant departure, Aurora tapped onto the Brennans’ door. “I brought some cream for you.”

“Aurora, come in.”

Produce from Carrie Anne’s garden lined every inch of her tiny kitchen, bringing an array of deep, ripe colors to the atmosphere. The hostess had dirt-smudged cheeks and she blushed. “Excuse the mess. I just began harvesting, sorting and prepping for canning. It takes so much work.”

Aurora made herself comfortable after clearing some potatoes from a chair. “I can help, you know. I don’t have much going on now that….”

“Now that what?” Carrie Anne asked.

“Oh, I’m only sulking, I suppose. Ever since Donovan has been coming to take over for Roman, I’ve not been out on the range. I miss my rides – and Roman’s teaching.” She looked around. “Where is he?”

Carrie Anne sighed. “He decided he was well enough to work again.”

“And is he?”

“I hope so.” She glanced at the crutch leaning against the front door. “It’s been very difficult trying to keep him happy while he’s been holed up here. I guess I wasn’t enough.”

Aurora wanted to laugh. If Carrie Anne thought she was getting a parlor boy for a husband, she was dead wrong. She appeared sympathetic. “I know he enjoys you, but no man worth his salt
wouldn’t
pine away on this beautiful ranch inside a cabin – no matter how much he loves his bride.” The encouragement brought a smile to Carrie Anne’s doleful face. With the realization that Roman was out on the ranch, and his brother was not, Aurora was free to join him.

Ponderings of Corbin Bradbury, Josie and Emmy vacated her thoughts once the dull stench of cattle came to her nostrils. Aurora was where she wanted to be. Where she belonged. Roman waved. His pleasure, she could feel, was the same as hers and must be more so now that he still had two legs. Her smile faded when she saw Donovan approach Roman. She’d thought he would not be here. He was no longer needed. The two discussed something briefly and Donovan turned in her direction. Deciding instantly that they put their disagreements aside, Aurora rode up to Donovan. Impatience crossed his face, as she knew it would. After her trip to town yesterday, she’d been humbled. “Mr. Ramsey?”

“Whoa….” He gentled his horse and, instead of glaring at her, he gazed out to the land, a response she thought strange. Was he going to miss this place?

She swallowed anxiety. “I’m glad you’re still here.”

He looked at her then, emotionless, silent.

“We could not have functioned without you. I realize that. Your expertise in ranching is obvious and I… just wanted to share how grateful I am.”

He searched her face a moment and she thought he might come up with an awful retort. Instead he nodded in a decent manner.

“I have this lunch here, plenty for all of us – would you join Roman and I?”

Roman answered for him. “Donovan’s never turned down a hearty meal.” Donovan shifted uncomfortably and Aurora almost had pity for him. Unless he wanted to cause grief to Roman, he was trapped. Aurora’s true desire was to have harmony all about her, and their little squabble about this land was old. These two were family; she wanted Donovan to feel as though he had a place to visit. Anytime. “Please, Mr. Ramsey, join us.”

However careful he’d been at keeping distance from the woman, everyone else’s hearts seemed to be taken away by her. So for the sake of Roman, Donovan agreed.

“Follow me then. I have just the spot for a picnic,” she said.

Roman had a thick, roast beef sandwich to his lips when Martin rode up. “We need ya, Boss.” Without asking if it was urgent, or could wait, Roman folded his bread in his fist and took off with the ranch hand. Sudden stillness crept onto the blanket seating Donovan and Aurora.

“I should see to them,” he said.

“They didn’t ask for you.” Her voice was quiet, unsure.

He couldn’t argue – they hadn’t.

“Mr. Ramsey, I want you to know that I never dreamed of taking your land away from you. How could I know you wanted it that very day? I traveled a long way for this land.”

“The point is, you did know and you showed me up with cash.”

“So I hurt your pride?”

He didn’t need this. “And you didn’t wish to prove your independence?”

He watched her tender white throat as she spoke.

“You do have me there. I suppose I did want to show that I could handle myself. For that I apologize.”

Her eyes were innocent as she peered at him. She was beautiful and incredibly kind. He looked away from her. Did she even know her affect?

“Are we to become friends, Mr. Ramsey?”

“Suppose it wouldn’t hurt, if that’s what you want.”

“It’s what I’ve always wanted, but you were always so cruel.”

He swallowed the lukewarm tea she’d brought, eyes pinning her. He was a man who had a right to be judgmental, wary of people. And she was a flirt. He could do without that. “Just cautious is all.”

“Please don’t be cautious of me.”

“Don’t give me reason to be.”

Why was he giving into her this moment? Cursing himself for weakening, Donovan concentrated on his food. He could not eat fast enough. Womanly scents wafted underneath his breath, and he had no control over unwanted feelings stirring. And here Aurora was doing nothing but looking out across the fields, beyond which stretched his own. She held a power of some sort, but not the dangerous, lethal kind. Her heart was open and she was giving. Maybe she would be worth releasing control over his emotions. Maybe Aurora was genuine.

Finally he was done and wanted to thank her. His voice constricted when she looked at him. She smiled kindheartedly, friendly in all appearance. He stood and dusted off his chaps. “Well then. Obliged for the meal.”

“Don’t stay away, Donovan Ramsey.”

She was an odd thing. Fine-looking beyond words. She must know how wonderful she appeared to the common man. Not trusting himself or his body, his thoughts reeling out of control, Donovan tipped his hat and, without a word, mounted his horse with ease.

Aurora’s attitude was lighter these days. The burden of the cross relationship with Donovan no longer weighed on her. She’d gone to town to order some supplies and directly in front of the mercantile stood nearly the entire town, the sheriff and Josie. He had her face down in the hot dirt, boot heel on her backside. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

Aurora screamed. She was so angry she felt her veins pulse at her temple. “Let her alone!”

Corbin looked at Aurora, not surprised she was there at all. She blanched, staggered. She clutched for something to hold herself upright and found it up against the wall of the mercantile. He
knew
she was in town. This was staged on purpose, on her account, and Josie was paying the price. She was going to be sick. Aurora gathered herself and bent to Josie, hitting at his boot until he removed it from her back. All he did was laugh. She raised Josie up and glared. Townspeople dispersed, as usual. She shrieked, “Cowards!”

Aurora could barely breathe in her outrage and dusted Josie off. If given to violence, she would have no trouble ripping Corbin into pieces.

“Josie, go on back to Poe,” he ordered.

When she obeyed, Aurora pleaded, “Don’t go. Come home with me.”

Josie kept walking.

Corbin had such an arrogant air of confidence on his dark face.

“You are a pig.”

His lip twitched. “It’s never going to stop you know.” He tilted his head eerily. “In fact, since our timely discussion the other day, it’s only gotten worse for that poor thing.”

With tightened fists Aurora rushed him and beat on him. His mocking laugh increased her adrenaline. She was getting nowhere but exhausted. Soon, Corbin had her at arm’s length, and her swinging was only affecting air.

“You done?”

Perspiration needled down her body. She sagged. How could the morning, just moments ago, have held such promise and hope? Only to be dashed cruelly with the likes of him. He won. She would pretend to give herself to him – it’s the least she could do for Josie.

“How can I know you will keep your word and leave her alone?” she whispered the words of defeat.

Corbin looked offended. “I always keep my word.”

Her gaze was hard. “I’ll have Josie leave Thatcher Poe’s and come with me right now.”

“That’ll take some doing with Poe,” he said.

She caught her breath and sighed, buying time. “On those terms, I will… be with you. Once.”

“No. That was the original term, for me to leave her alone. You’ve since added her freedom. That’ll cost you more.”

Aurora’s body shook with disbelief. She’d never been up against anything like this at Madam Hazel’s. “What are your terms then,
Sheriff
Bradbury?” His name caused sour bile to rise.

“Mistress.”

“Never.”

“Those are the terms.”

She despised how anxious he looked. This dangerous game was for Josie. A precious human being. “For three months,” she gulped.

Heat filled passion entered his face. Corbin reached for her slender hand. “It’ll be done tomorrow.”

Aurora hurried away, choking down sobs, fury, regret. She’d need to find a way out of this transaction, but until then, she owed it to Josie to have a respite. She also knew that she was desperate to seek Him. She’d ventured out on her own and there would be consequence. She begged for Him to intervene, despite her immaturity.

It was several hours later when Aurora woke in fright. The banging sound in her head became real and she realized someone was banging on her door. She inched her way to the corner of her room and grabbed her rifle. “Who’s there?” she called out her second story window.

A female voice, and the last one she ever thought to hear answered, “It’s me… Josie.”

“Thank you, Lord,” she whispered and hustled down the stairs and ripped open the door. Josie stood barefoot, feet scratched and filthy. No horse, no shoes. She’d made haste. She pulled her in quickly but gently. It was then Aurora noticed Josie’s blood on the palm of her own hand. “What happened to you?”

Josie turned her back facing Aurora. There were fresh wounds of a whipping.

“Oh, Josie.”

Josie walked unsteady to the kitchen and rested herself against the table. “I need water.”

Aurora fixed her up with a glass and filled a clay bowl with tepid water and began to sponge Josie’s back.

“You’ll need a doctor.” Aurora thought Josie might protest but she nodded her agreement instead. She was bad off. Aurora took her to Emmy’s old room and stripped her from the once fancy, now ragged and bloodied dress, and had her lie face down.

“I’ll send Philippe, and then I’ll be right back with you Josie.” Aurora hesitated leaving, for even a moment. “I’ll return straight away.”

Josie closed her lids and tears eased from them. “I ain’t never going back, Aurora. Never.”

“My home is yours, Josie. You’re safe here.”

Josie running away immediately brought an end to the faux deal she’d had with Corbin. She shuddered and prayed, knowing she’d gone too far on making things happen on her own. She didn’t want to go it alone anymore and asked God to give her both direction and common sense.