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She shrugged, she didn't know enough about men to judge Lance though. Not that she blamed him for corresponding with a lady. And obviously, if she had maids, she wasn't some poor waif, like herself. So, she needed to get her head out of the clouds, she wasn't in the same category as Priscilla. Most wealthy men wanted a woman with a pedigree, and she certainly didn't fit that bill.
She just finished shelling the peas when a bit before noon, a man came to the door, more a boy than a man. He handed her a piece of paper, he seemed out of breath and flushed. "Telegram for Mr. Rogers."
"Thanks."
The boy waited for a tip, and when she realized why he hadn't left, she went into the kitchen and came back with two biscuits and bacon for him. "I'm sorry, my husband is working out in the pasture, and I don't have any change. Will this do?"
He looked at the biscuits and smiled, "Sure, I'm starved."
She smiled, "Good day," she told him
He tipped his hat and smiled, "Thanks.
"
Trudy imagined it was from Priscilla and it was important that he got it. So, she gathered her second big batch of biscuits and some bacon, and after asking Chico where the men were working and offering him some food again, she went to find her husband. She had found a big coffee can that looked as though it were made for a lot of people, she filled it with coffee and tied it on her horse that Chico picked out for her and she was off to find the men.
The horse he picked was a beautiful red mare and Trudy could feel the horse's excitement. She rode for some time admiring all that nature allowed. Wildflowers bloomed in the distance, a willow waved from the banks of a creek, the sun was shining, and it was nice weather for such a ride.
It felt good riding around the countryside, with the wind in her hair. It was a bit of an adventure for her, as she didn't know her way around this big a property. She enjoyed the sites though. It was a lush looking range, with good grasses and plenty of trees throughout too.
It took her a while, but she did find where the boys were working, as she saw the dust in the distance and Lance glanced up and smiled when he saw her coming.
"You had a telegram and I thought it might be important. And I brought everyone some food. You were right, there weren't enough lemons to make lemonade, I'll have to get some when I can."
He glanced at her, bent his head and kissed her tenderly and smiled, "Thanks darlin'."
He took the telegram and went to a tree to lean on it while he read it. He slumped down to the ground and Trudy suspicioned he was upset somehow. She couldn't tell by his facial expression if it was good or bad news.
He motioned her over after she gave the men the food.
He glanced up at her, "She says her mother is still sick and she doesn't know when she can get away"
"That's all she said?"
"Yep, no sorry, no nothing."
"Are you sure her mother is dead?"
"That's what she wrote in her letter. I guess she forgot about telling me."
"Maybe it's a step-mother or something." Trudy defended.
"Would you believe it? I find it hard to believe that she forgot, I mean a grown woman telling you her mother was dead?"
"I don't know. I'm sorry." Trudy said sitting down beside him now. "I'm sure you were hoping for a little more consideration than that."
"Yeah," he frowned. "I've about given up on her."
He stared at her now.
"Well, I guess I should get back."
"Ever seen a branding?" he asked out of the blue.
"No, as a matter of fact, I haven't." She smiled at him.
"Stick around," he smiled.
