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“It was mixed into the dried hay.” Alice swallowed hard, glad she’d learned now that some fields, like alfalfa, were fed fresh and some, like hay, were dried for use over the cold months. “So, if they put any of it up in their barn, they might not know where it came from. The risk could spoil all of what they’d put up.”
“Luckily, it’s spring, not fall.” Kent pursed his lips. “If it were, there would be more trouble. Right now, farmers were only buying to supplement their young or sick. The grass came in sparse, but it was there. So, most animals were probably safe.”
“It’s still a waste of money.” She bit her lip, recalling the rare bustling around Belle Fourche on their last visit. Money had been tight for so many families and having to throw something away would only stress them more.
“I agree. But you will have some extra to help a few if they need help right now, and you’ll be able to help again two months from now. By then, all the animals will have healed from this. Once an animal quits eating the locoweed, they often improve quickly.” Kent slowed his horse to keep pace directly alongside her, allowing Blake to ride ahead.
He’d told her he loved her, but he’d said nothing else. Granted, he’d been too busy curling her toes with a kiss she would never forget, but what did that mean for their future? Were they together? Was she to be his wife someday? Her head and heart wanted to know that the kiss meant something. Without that, her future still looked rather lonely.
Once they reached town, Kent helped her dismount and led her up the steps to the feed and seed. Marshall stood behind the counter, helping three other men. Blake didn’t wait his turn and strode on up to the counter like he owned the place.
“Marshall, need a moment of your time, or two.”
Marshall glanced from Blake to the three men. “Is something wrong, deputy?” He closed the ledger in front of him.
“Partly. It has to do with hay you’ve had for sale.”
One man spoke up. “You mean the hay he can’t get? I’ve waited for three weeks to get my hands on some. I’m doing fine right now, but what if the rain comes?”
Alice said a quick prayer that most of the people who’d bought the hay had meant it for that purpose, not to give right away.
“Count it a blessing.” Blake frowned. “A minute?”
Marshall led all three of them back to the same area where Ma had pulled the wagon last time. He closed the door and crossed his arms as he glanced around. “What’s this all about?”
Blake rested his hands lightly on his belt. “You heard about the sickness going around in some animals, breathing sickness?”
Marshall scratched behind his neck. “I’ve been trying to help all I can. With letters sent to every place I know that has ever sold hay, and they are out. I was only able to buy from one outfit further south than I usually like to go. Having them sent by rail is expensive and I don’t like charging so much. But between the cost of the rail and the fact that I can’t get much, I had to charge a lot, and I was still out within an hour of them arriving.” He held his hand out to the area where the bales had been when she’d been there with Ma.
“I’m sorry, Marshall. I know you were trying to do good,” Kent started, his voice gruff but level. “But that hay had a weed mixed in that’s making animals sick. A few even died.”
Marshall’s mouth dropped open, and he blinked. “Died? I swear to you, I didn’t cut corners. I spent so much money sending requests to different places. I even put an ad in some papers where I’d heard the flooding wasn’t as bad. There are so many ranches up here and the flooding lasted so long. The sellers signed contracts to work with only certain men, and I didn’t sign anything fast enough.” He glanced up at the clear blue sky. “I’m sure glad it hadn’t rained.”
Alice flinched, thinking about all the water she’d need to port tonight for her field. Pa had told her alfalfa was drought resistant, but when they were that small, they needed some water. She’d be happy she had the ability, but a sprinkle would be a blessing.
“Can we get a list of all the men who bought hay from you?”
He nodded. “I sure can. How far back do you need?”
The men looked at each other, and silence built between them like a wall. Alice cleared her throat, hoping her voice wouldn’t crack, and she sounded knowledgeable. “How about as far back as you’ve been buying hay from this source? Since that’s all we are sure about is that the current hay has locoweed. I would hate to miss telling someone because we didn’t go back far enough on your list.”
“That seems like a sound idea.” Marshall turned and headed back into the store. “I’m very sorry, sirs, it appears I will not have any more hay for quite some time. But I do have seed for you to plant a late crop of your own and I can get you the name of an honorable team of men to cut and bale it. They’ve been looking for work for a long time.”
As soon as Marshall finished selling seed and giving them the information to contact the farmers for cutting, he excused himself to write a telegram to the men who’d sold him the hay in the first place and left them with his ledger to write down the names of the men they’d have to visit. He’d told them the date of the first purchase and while they watched his store, they wrote down everything they needed.
A half hour later, Blake headed off in one direction and Kent and Alice headed in the other, each with a list of names. Oddly, all of them were right next to the river or where the river had flooded into. While the water hadn’t spread the poison as Alice had thought, it had caused the poison in some respects.
“We should stop by Dr. Spight’s office and let him know.” Kent halted at the edge of town. “He’s been working with me and I feel like I should.”
Alice agreed and followed him. Part of her felt unnecessary now, since Kent’s confidence had returned, but she didn’t deny that he was even more attractive when he wasn’t hiding. But he didn’t need her to speak for him or soften over his words now. He didn’t really need her at all.
“Are you sure you want me to go with you? I don’t know anything more than you do about this, and you could go faster without me.”
He reached out and took her hand, riding side-by-side. “I want you next to me. I won’t ask you to stay if you have other things to do, but I’d like you to be here and help me.”
She gave him a nod. For once, he had more words than she did.
* * *
