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"Alright. It would be nice for you to know some people around here. Usually we have a lot of company, but it's branding time and no one can spare the time to visit."
"Your busy season, then?" she smiled.
"I'd take you with me on the drive, but it's a long hard ride. You're safer here."
"I'll manage. How long will you be gone?"
"Anywhere from three to six months."
She gasped. "Oh, then it's a long trip to the railhead?" she asked.
"Yeah."
She swallowed hard. Just the thought of him being gone that long sent her heart to drumming. She realized she'd miss him. She couldn't tell him he'd come to mean something to her in such a short time. He'd think her daft. It was hard to keep things in perspective. How could she care for a man she'd only known for days? How could he have become so important to her? In her lifetime she'd never met anyone she'd grown this close to in such a short time.
"Well, I'll help take care of things here."
"There will be a new railroad next year and we won't have to go far to get them taken care of. But this year we do."
He shot her a glance and nodded. He started toward her then changed his mind when he heard the boys outside. He talked to them for a while, then left.
She felt tears in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. Six months. A lot could happen in six months. What if Priscilla came during that time? What could she tell her? What did she want to tell her?
This was the life of a rancher. If she stayed here long, she'd have to get used to it. If things somehow worked out between them, could she put up with not seeing her husband six months out of the year? Still, if the railroad did come, things would change for the better.
If she really belonged here, she'd insist on going with him. Six months!
She swallowed her tears and fixed the pancakes and bacon. When the boys came in, they were excited about the pancakes. But her's were special.
"Wow, this is tasty, what do you do to them?" George wanted to know.
She smiled, "Sour the milk with vinegar, they call them flapjacks where I come from."
"Tasty!" Rusty chuckled. "Got a little kick to them."
The boys dug in and she could make enough to fill them. She laughed when they finally left. So that was a hit.
She cleaned the kitchen and changed into riding clothes in case Lance came back to take her to meet her neighbors. She was looking forward to meeting them, she hadn't been introduced to many of his friends yet. But maybe she was taking too much for granted. Maybe she shouldn't meet them. The more involved in his life she became, the harder it would be for her to leave him when Priscilla came.
She wasn't the real bride and sooner or later people would realize that. Could she remain here and watch him kiss Priscilla every day? The very thought brought tears to her eyes again.
I don't understand this God. I've never been so quick to care for anyone. Why this man? Pa send me the answer if you know.
And what if Priscilla did come? What should she tell her? She needed to talk to him about it.
Just after noon, Lance came riding back. He took his horse to the barn and came into the house.
She had red beans cooking and turned to look at him.
"You ready to go?"
"Yes, of course," she nodded. She set the beans to the side of the burner so they wouldn't burn but stay warm.
Chico had the wagon ready for them when he came out of the barn. He drove it up to the back door.
Lance thanked him and took the wagon and they rode in silence for a while. "I guess I need to talk to you."
"What's up?"
