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“We’ll try you out,” Logan said. “If Mr. Anderson here thinks you’ve proven your worth, you can stay on. If not, we’ll pay you for your time and send you home.”
O’Rourke grinned, showing yellowed teeth. “When do I start?”
“You can start right now,” Lars said. “Take one of those hammers. If you can pound a straight nail, you’re hired for the day. After that, we’ll see.”
Angus O’Rourke proved to be a hard worker and smart enough to follow instructions. If any fault could be found with him, it was that words flowed out of his mouth like water from a broken pipe, mostly about his ranch, his growing herd of cattle, his pretty wife and daughter, and the strapping son he was grooming to take over the dynasty one day. Logan had heard enough from Webb to know that most of what O’Rourke said was blarney. The ranch was short on water and grass, his cattle were in poor condition, and his family struggled to keep food on their table and clothes on their backs.
O’Rourke had more to say as he and Logan took a break on the porch, drinking cold water and looking out over the pasture, where the white-faced yearling steers grazed on fresh spring grass.
“Now, take those steers of yours,” he said. “I can see from here, they’re all branded with the Triple C. I can tell you right now why that isn’t a good idea.”
“I don’t see the problem. I bought them from Webb. Since I plan to sell them in the fall along with Webb’s herd, I didn’t think it worth the trouble of rebranding them. There are only fifty head—I don’t have fenced pasture for more. Webb said he’d pay me for the number I turned back to him.”
“And you’re trusting him to keep his word? Hell, you don’t know Webb Calder like I do. He’ll cheat you as sure as you’re born—claim you shorted him, or that he didn’t get as much for the steers as he expected. Or that yours were underweight. You can bet on it.”
Logan scowled. The man was clearly a troublemaker, trying to win him as an ally against Webb. There was a lot of that power game going on in this new home of his—choosing sides, taking sides, lining up support for the next conflict whenever it came. But he wasn’t going to be taken in.
“I’ll take your advice for what it’s worth, O’Rourke,” he said. “But I’ve no cause to believe Webb would cheat me, especially for fifty head, when he’s got thousands of animals.”
O’Rourke gave him a sly look. “I can’t force you to believe me. But when it happens, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Let’s get back to work.” Logan turned and walked away. Common sense told him that the man was lying. But the words had soured his day. What if it wasn’t safe to trust anyone? Webb might not cheat him. But he’d tried to manipulate him. Blake Dollarhide resented him for buying the ranch and would move to take it if given a chance. And Lars was firmly allied with Blake’s family. Even Kristin—the image of her smiling up at Webb flashed in his memory. She had saved his life. But he couldn’t trust her—not anymore. In this hostile land he had no real family and no true friends. He could depend on no one but himself.
* * *
Gerda hummed a lively polka as she tidied the surgery, wiping down the exam table, arranging the instruments, and laying out clean towels before the next patient arrived. What a fool she’d been to weep over a boy like Ezra. Let him go to California. She had found herself aman.
Only yesterday, as she was walking home after work, Mason had come by in his auto and offered her a ride. They’d ended up on a quiet lane, exchanging kisses that made her heart gallop and her head spin. Beyond that, nothing had happened. But she could tell he’d wanted more. So had she.
Everything was going as she’d hoped. If Hanna could catch herself a rich, handsome Dollarhide husband, by heaven, so could she.
“Goodness, but you’re cheerful today.” Kristin had walked into the room. “Is there some special reason?”
“Yes!” Gerda knew it would be wise to keep quiet, but she couldn’t help herself. She spun like a dancer, making her skirt flare prettily around her. “I’m in love! Really, truly in love!”
Kristin’s dark brows came together in a frown. “Isn’t this a little sudden?”
“Perhaps. But when you know, you know. And he loves me, too. He hasn’t said so, but I can tell.”
Kristin’s frown deepened, although she looked more worried than angry. “So who is the lucky boy?” she asked.
“He’s not a boy. He’s a man.”
Dismay flashed across Kristin’s face. She shook her head, muttering something under her breath. Too late, Gerda realized she should have kept her secret.
“Gerda, is it Mason you’re seeing?”
Gerda didn’t answer, but Kristin clearly took her silence as a yes.
“Listen to me.” She seized Gerda’s arm, gripping hard. “Mason is my brother. I know him. He has a terrible reputation with women.”
“But he’s not like that with me,” Gerda said. “He loves me. And I love him.”
Kristin took a sharp breath. “Hasn’t anybody told you what he did to your family? Ask your mother, or Hanna, or Britta.”
Gerda squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I already know what he did to Hanna. I remember hearing people talk about it. But that was a long time ago. He didn’t really love her. But he loves me.”
“Mason only loves Mason,” Kristin said. “But if you really care for him, you’ll break this off. When your father finds out—and he will—you know what will happen. This could end with one of them dead, and it would be your fault.”
