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Bodey cocked his head and stared down at the animal. “If not the weed, then was Alice right in thinking it might be someone doing this? Could someone be putting that weed in fields around the area and stirring up trouble? Maybe someone was targeting you and the Oleson family, and my sheep just got too close to the fence?”
He didn’t want to lay blame on anyone just yet. “I really don’t feel like this is directed at anyone. At least not yet.” He angled his head back to make certain no one standing in the barn could hear him. “It is possible we have another Joseph, but I dislike the idea of thinking that way just yet.”
Bodey’s jaw hardened. “I’ve been careful about who I hire and what I tell anyone. If there’s any stirring going on, it’s not from here. I want nothing to do with that feud anymore. My children don’t need it. They lived too long with it. You all have the power and the opportunity to break it if you’d only just try.” His gruff voice trailed off, and he looked away.
His accusation hit the mark as if Bodey had thrown a real punch. He could’ve made certain the feud had died if he’d done what he’d promised. A marriage would’ve turned things around. A happy marriage would’ve defied all hatred. He’d wanted that until he’d discovered he wasn’t strong enough to be the vessel for it. He wasn’t meant to make the change.
“I’ll need to keep an eye on your flock if you’ll allow it.” That would be the last he would say to Bodey about his daughter. She may have wanted forgiveness between the families, but they’d both said things that showed their hearts weren’t ready. His excuse was made, and now he’d have to live with it.
“You are welcome on my property. You may do all the looking you wish. However, you are not welcome to point fingers at my men, my sons, or my daughters. If you think, for one moment, that any of them would willingly harm my flock, then you need to pack up your bags and leave. If that’s what you find, then your findings aren’t welcome or truthful.”
He stood up straight, ready to defend himself. He was a scientist. The science may still be new, but he’d learned everything they’d set in front of him and he was ready to practice what they’d taught. He would look at every option, every angle, and he’d determine exactly what had happened to the sheep and what was plaguing the cattle.
“I don’t like your tone. I’ll find what I find. If that’s a fungus or a man, I’ll let you know.” He headed back toward the barn to check on a few of the other weak but alive animals to determine their symptoms.
Bodey passed him then turned, crossing his arms. “When you figure it out, let me know. Send me the bill when you’re finished.”
Kent packed up the few tools he’d brought with him and watched the animals for a while. For the most part, they acted normally. They’d been fed earlier, so he couldn’t watch them eat and the trough was empty of all but little bits of green and gold hay. The Johlmans were obviously giving them a mixture of what they had and what they had purchased to make what they’d stored up last.
How were the animals losing weight and muscle, yet eating all that was put in front of them? The puzzle made no sense. He mounted his horse just outside the barn and slowly rode past the house.
Was Alice inside? Had she dealt with her frustration toward him and retreated to the safety of her home, or was she still out in the pasture, wishing he’d never been born? He allowed a smile at the wayward thought.
If he talked to her now, her thoughts toward him might change, or they could end up in another argument. If he was going to be coming to Johlman ranch every day until he figured out this mess, he didn’t want to start anything.
He took out a slip of paper and a pencil nub, making a note of the time and where he’d been. He’d send a bill, but not until the work was done. Without a solid idea, he couldn’t charge a fee for his time. One thing was certain: he wasn’t finding any joy in his work. Not there in Belle Fourche. Once they didn’t need him, he had to go away again, back where he didn’t have to feel anything.
Chapter11
The sight of Kent once again leaving the property when she’d yet to see him arrive burned in Alice’s gut. He’d avoided her for three straight days. Intentional or not, she’d realized he wasn’t about to make good on what he’d said. She’d have to figure out for herself what was going on with the sheep, then she’d deal with Kent’s misconceptions about her and her family.
She stomped to her room and tugged her riding habit from the armoire in the corner of her room. Though she usually worked in her calico, riding into town required proper riding attire and—though she hated to admit it—proper decorum. Meaning she’d need to ask her sister to join her once she reached town.
Mother would never agree to go down to the river to do what needed to be done. She would insist Alice leave this business up to Kent. Well, she’d heard from Gideon the night before that another sheep was as weak as a kitten and they expected to lose it any time. Since she couldn’t get help from Ma, she’d have to enlist her sister or risk being alone.
She tugged her dressing table drawer open and riffled through the contents, her fingers landing on old tins of lotions Ma had purchased to soften and brighten her skin, back when they’d had disposable money. Before all the flooding. Her fingertips found the bottle she’d been hunting for, a small glass one with a cork stopper.
With a careful touch, she cleaned it thoroughly in the washbasin and set it to dry while she finished coiling her hair and sticking extra pins in the length. There would be no time to fuss with it today. Once the bottle was dry, she slipped it into a leather satchel and slung it over her shoulder.
As she slunk down to the kitchen, avoiding Ma, Mrs. Eliza caught her with a knowing glance. “Miss Alice? What are you up to? Mischief it looks like.” Her gaze scanned Alice’s best riding habit and expensive hat. “And who will be joining you on your little adventure? I’m certain if Mary wasn’t fixing to burst again, she’d be the one y’er askin’.” Mrs. Eliza thrust her hands to her hips.
Mary was almost due to have her third child already. For as much as she loved theleanaí, she’d lost the excitement for a new one at about the sixth month of pregnancy when her five-year-old and two-year-old both took sick and she was the only one to watch them. All had pulled through fine, but Mary was exhausted.
“I wouldn’t do that to her.” Alice held her chin high. Mary was closer in age to Hannah and had gotten on with her better anyway. “I’ll ask Hannah to join me once I get to town.”
Mrs. Eliza’s eyes sparkled, but her lip remained firm. “See that you keep y’rself out o’ trouble. Mr. Johlman is worried enough about his sheep.”
She didn’t make Mrs. Eliza finish, but instead held up her hand for understanding. “I know. There are some ideas that I have. I’ll be seeing Dr. Spight while I’m in town. Don’t you worry about me one bit.”
Before she could dash away, Mrs. Eliza wrapped her in a fierce hug. “That’s not how it works, m’ dear. Those we help raise will always be on our thoughts, whether or not we try to let go.” She held tight to Alice for a moment too long, then held her arms even after she’d loosened her embrace. “If you’re trying to find out what’s wrong with the sheep, why aren’t you working with Dr. Kent? Isn’t he working to find the same end?”
Alice bit her lip and considered her options. While neither her father nor her brothers would understand her feelings, Mrs. Eliza might. “The other day, I told him what I thought might be the issue. Mind you, it was merely a guess. I suggested he look to human error, not just a fungus.”
Mrs. Eliza’s eyes narrowed and Alice took a deep breath, rethinking what she’d been about to say. “He thought I was accusing his father of treachery once again.”
Alice tugged the elder housekeeper to the table and pulled out a chair for her. Mrs. Eliza was so taken aback by the action, she made no attempt to stop her. Alice gently pushed her into the seat and sat across from her. “It will be easier to just speak to you than trying to hide by the door, watching for my father. But we must keep our voices down. I don’t want him knowing what I’m about until all this mess is finished.”
Mrs. Eliza raised an eyebrow at the door. “Alice Johlman, I don’t like you sneaking around. And if Mr. Douglas is involved in all this, you should stick close to home instead of nosing where you don’t belong.”
