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“Why don’t you read a while?” Swallowing a smile, he handed her the diary, rested his head against the back of the chair, and watched her bow-shaped lips move as she read aloud. How would those feel?
“November twenty-fifth. Henrietta flew the coop again.”
Maeve smiled as she turned the page and glanced from the diary. “Finally—longer entries.
“November thirtieth. Today, the storekeeper dropped by with an offer on the ranch. Told him no.
“December second. Ramon surprised me on my Saint’s Day with a pendant made from the cinnabar. When I told him it was too expensive, he called it an early Christmas present.”
“December fourth. Mr. Barnes stopped by with another offer.”
****
“We’re not selling.” Ramon exchanged a glance with Marianna. “This is our home.”
“Don’t force my hand.” Teeth gritted, Mr. Barnes slammed out the door.
“What’s he talking about?” Concerned by the man’s tone, Marianna turned to Ramon.
“Remember the day you found the stone?”
“You mean, the day Henrietta found it.” She fingered the pendant at her neck.
“I’d seen necklaces at the general store, so I asked Mr. Barnes if the vendor could wire wrap the crystal.”
“So that’s how you arranged it.” She grinned at his ingenuity, then puckered her brow. “But what’s this have to do with him wanting our land?”
“When he saw the cinnabar, he opened his ledger and reminded me how he’s carried us on his books.”
“We’ll pay our bills at harvest, just like all the other ranchers.” Marianna stiffened at the man’s gall. “Did you tell him we have good crops of corn and cotton planted?”
“Yes, and I told him the goats have started dropping their lambs. Cabrito sales will cover the bills until July, when the corn comes in.”
“And…?”
“He said July is five months off and asked how I had ‘money for trinkets’ when we’re three months behind in bills, and the taxes are due. Then he slammed the ledger, saying he tries not to foreclose…but if we squander money instead of paying our bills, he’ll be forced to reconsider.”
She swallowed hard. He wouldn’t evict us, would he?
“If it weren’t for the boll weevils, we wouldn’t be in debt.” Ramon’s shoulders slumped.
“The cabrito and corn will get us through. We’ll be fine!” Marianna flashed a smile, but a chill seeped into her bones. Won’t we?
****
“December twelfth. Henrietta flew the coop again. This time, a chicken hawk got her—found her feathers at the arroyo.”
Maeve clicked her teeth. “Poor Henrietta.
“Also found footprints and churned-up caliche. Someone’s been digging on our property.
“December twenty-fifth. Tried the recipe for Simple Sponge Cake. Beat six eggs long and well with a teaspoon salt. Then slowly add one cup sugar, and in the same manner one cup flour. Flavor to suit the taste.”
Shaking her head, Maeve glanced from the journal. “No oven temperature or baking time. I’d be lost.
“January fourth, nineteen hundred, Castolon, Texas. Mr. Barnes stopped by with a final offer. Said he’d be back in the morning for our answer.”
“What a persistent son of a gun.” Snickering at the man’s relentlessness, Luke topped off her glass.
