No Place for a Lady (14 page)

"I'll take care of her and get those wet things off. You'd better
do the same. There's hot coffee on the stove;' Carmen said. "Go!"
She tossed her head sideways, her big eyes now flooded with tears.
Carmen loved Kate because she accepted her for who she was.
What would she do without her?

Luke stepped into the kitchen, poured himself some coffee,
and wearily sat down, then stretched out his long legs. It was
still raining, and he watched the droplets slide down the wide
kitchen windowpane. He remembered Kate's thrill when he
and Rusty had ordered the glass window from Denver. It had
provided her with a stunning view of the Rocky Mountains
every morning.

Suddenly the full impact of Kate's death hit him, and he let
the tears flow until his moustache was wet. She was the dearest
person he'd ever known, and she'd raised him like her own. And
poor Rusty. He knew that Rusty had been in love with her for a
long time. Things would never be the same for either of them.
A heavy knot formed in his chest, and he could hear his own
heartbeat thudding in his ears.

"Boss," Jube whispered.

Luke hadn't heard Jube come into the room. He looked up over
the rim of his coffee cup. The coffee's steam and heat were the only
warmth he was feeling at the moment. He wiped his nose on the
back of his shirt sleeve and noticed Jube's red-rimmed eyes. He
was so consumed with his own grief that he hadn't thought about
what the punchers must be feeling. After all, they had worked for
a mighty long time at Aspengold.

"We placed Kate in her room. We figured Carmen will be needing some help, laying her out and all, so I sent Curly over to fetch
Mary Franklin" Jube took out a large handkerchief from his hip
pocket to wipe the tears that started to fall again.

"'Preciate it. How's Rusty?"

"He rode off somewhere. Should I go after him?"

"Naw, just leave him be. He'll be back. How bad is the damage around here?" It was hard to consider the damage in light of Kate's
death, but Luke knew it must be done.

"Not too bad, considering everything else. We'll know tomorrow when it gets lighter if we lost any cattle. Well ... I'll just be
going" Jube backed up to the kitchen door.

Luke rose and took one last gulp of his coffee. "I gotta get out
of these clothes before the doc gets here:'

"Reckon you're officially in charge here now, Luke:"

"Maybe. I expect Crystal will go back to Georgia if she recovers. Ranch life is new to her, and she won't know how to run one."
That was the last thing he wanted to think about. A hard knot
formed in the center of his chest.

Flowering dogwood and brilliant fuchsia-colored azaleas
crowded the pathway, leading Crystal farther toward a bright light.
Her father called out to her, and Kate whispered to her. Dressed in
white, her beloved mother stood near the path, her delicate face
smiling wistfully at her. On her head she wore Crystal's new cream
hat with its trailing ribbons. Crystal reached out to her, feeling so
happy and warm, but strong arms pulled her back. Drew guided
her back away from the light and peacefulness surrounding it. She
reluctantly followed, not wanting to leave her mother's beautiful,
sweet face. The path widened, and the fragrant smell of honeysuckle
surrounded her. Drew handed her a small bouquet, and Crystal
drank in its sweet fragrance. Honeysuckle had always been a favorite of hers. Then the brightness began to fade away ...

After a careful examination of Crystal, Doc Gibbons told Luke
that she had a mild concussion and bruising, but fortunately no
broken bones. Luke took Mary's place to let her have a little rest.
She hadn't left Crystal's bedside in the last eight hours. A fire
burned in the drafty fireplace, its logs crackling and popping
in the quiet stillness. The candle sputtered and cast a soft glow
on her pale skin and her thick lashes that lay against her high
cheekbones.

Luke bolted up in his chair when Crystal stirred. He moved
closer as she mumbled something. "Drew.. "

He flinched. Who is that? He lifted one small hand, and her
fingers curled around his as her eyelids fluttered open. "Kate?"
she murmured.

"Crystal," he said quietly. "It's me, Luke. You've hit your head.
Be still"

She struggled to sit up, but then she moaned and lay back
against the pillow.

"Where's Aunt Kate? I want to see her." Crystal's voice was
weak.

The bedroom door opened, and a sleepy-eyed Mary came to
stand next to the bed, with Carmen close on her heels. Carmen
and Mary both had red, swollen eyes from crying. Mary had lost
her best friend in the world, and now this dear girl whom she had
become fond of was lying there without her aunt.

"I heard her talking. Did you tell her?" Mary inquired with a
quaking voice.

"No. I think you'd better do that. I'll be in the kitchen if you
need anything"

Mary nudged him toward the door. "No, you go on to the bunkhouse and get some sleep. Tomorrow we have to talk to the
reverend and notify Kate's friends. I believe you were the only
family besides Crystal that Kate had. I'll need you to be rested,
Luke. Now off with you." She patted him on the arm. "She'll be
all right. You can count on that"

Luke was too tired to fight her, so he left. He fell into his bunk
and was asleep before he could take off his boots.

Three days later, as Crystal looked over the rolling valley, it was
hard to tell that a storm had even occurred and touched lives with
such havoc. Out of respect for Kate, Luke had hired someone from
a neighboring ranch to continue patching the roof. The cowboys
had the day off so they could attend the funeral. Already repairs
were being made on the roof of the house and the barn. The ping
of a hammer sounded, keeping time to the throbbing inside Crystal's head. She gazed out her bedroom window, her aunt's funeral
so very fresh on her mind. Earlier that morning, Bill Alden had
eulogized Kate as a beloved neighbor and friend to all whose lives
she touched. Crystal couldn't bear to look at Rusty. His pain was
written on every line in his rugged face.

The sharp pain in her chest had become a hard knot while a
feeling of emptiness inside took over, and she couldn't eat a morsel
of food. There was no word to describe how she was feeling. One
more loss. How many more could she endure? She felt like an
orphan with no family to speak of. It was just too much to bear.

Returning from the cemetery, Mary took charge, much to Crystal's relief. Kate's friends came by to pay their respects. Most of them Crystal didn't know. Many brought a covered dish of food
or a dessert to be shared, but she had no appetite. She instead
busied herself with making coffee for everyone.

Puffing on his cigar, Jim McBride approached Crystal and
steered her away from the hot, stuffy room in the direction of
the doorway. His huge frame commanded authority just in the
way he stood, with the firm thrust of his chin and his thumbs
hooked into the lapel of his expensive suit. Once he had offered
his condolences, he immediately became the cattle baron and got
right down to business.

"Miss Clark, I have a business proposition in which I would
purchase Aspengold, allowing you to return to Georgia free of
your aunt's debts:" He chewed on his cigar.

"Mr. McBride, I do not think that now is the time to discuss
business" Crystal could not believe his insensitive timing. With
fury in her eyes, she started walking away, but he placed his hand
on her arm.

"Perhaps not, my dear. But you see, I have to look out for my
best interest, and since Kate was a little-how shall I put it?strapped for cash, I was good enough to tide her over till the
steers could be shipped to market. It would be best if you sold
Aspengold lock, stock, and barrel and rid yourself of this problem.
I am willing to pay top dollar since her property adjoins mine.
And let's face it, you know nothing about ranching:" His brown
eyes pierced into Crystal's, and his smug face made her want to
slap him. Then she was shocked that she had even had such a
thought and that he had made her so angry. Now she understood
Rusty's dislike of McBride.

"I don't need you to tell me how to set my aunt's affairs in order. Now, if you will excuse me, this little conference is over"
She hadn't meant to raise her voice, and now she was aware of a
dozen pair of eyes boring into her. Crystal removed McBride's
hand from her arm.

Josh was now making his way to her side. Luke, who stood
some distance away with April hovering near his side, made a
step in her direction, but josh was quicker.

"My apologies. We'll continue this conversation another time,
very soon." McBride's level brown eyes were so like Josh's but
lacked his warmth.

"Is there anything wrong?" Josh asked Crystal as his father
bowed and walked away.

Crystal sobbed and pressed her hankie against her lips. "Nothing that I can't take care of;" she answered with more bravado than
she felt. "I'm a little tired. Perhaps I'll go lie down awhile"

"If you need anything, anything at all, you'll let me know?"

Looking into Josh's sincere face, Crystal knew he meant it. She
knew she must look awful with puffy, swollen eyes. The pounding
in her head was worsening, causing a splitting headache.

"I'll ride over in a few days to check on you, if that's all
right."

Crystal mumbled, "All right, Josh:" After speaking with Mary,
she slid from the parlor and down the hall to her room. But she
could not rest, and now, as she stood looking out toward the barn,
she realized the hammering had stopped.

With a heavy heart, Crystal sat down in the rocker. She leaned
her head back, closed her eyes, and let the tears flow. Once again
her world was changing. Her dear aunt was gone. Her loving father,
her mother, and Drew. Was she destined to have those dearest to her always leave? Part of what hurt so badly was that she had
lived and Kate had died. The vision of her aunt being lifted by
the twister flashed through her mind once again. How would she
ever replace that memory?

After the funeral, even Carmen had to return to her family
because she was needed desperately at home. Her mother had
her hands full with seven children, and her sister was having a
baby. Carmen hadn't wanted to leave right after the funeral, but
she promised to return as soon as possible.

Crystal felt so weary, but now she was all cried out. She was
tired of being strong. For once she wished someone would take
care of her. There was no reason to return to Georgia, and she
didn't know if she could stay in this rugged country. She did
know that her aunt had loved the ranch and had worked hard
to hold on to it.

Since Kate had borrowed from McBride, Crystal realized
she had two choices. Sell and get out, or stall until the beef was
shipped-something she knew little about, if anything.

Crystal pulled her wits about her. McBride would never own
Aspengold! Oh, Lord, pleasegive me direction. I can't do this alone.
Help me to know Your way and walk in it, and give me peace that
can only come through You, she prayed. Crystal knew that God
would make a way for her.