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With each passing July day, the drought deepened. The merciless sky beat down on sun-bleached grass so dry that it crumbled to dust underfoot. Webb Calder had thinned out his herd and driven the culls to the railhead in Miles City. Logan’s small herd had gone with them. Better a disappointing profit than watching animals die of thirst. At least he hadn’t tried to bring in horses this summer.
This afternoon Webb had stopped by for a visit on his way home from town. He’d brought a gift from home—a bottle of imported Scotch whiskey. The two men sat on the porch, in the shade of the overhanging roof, taking leisurely sips from porcelain mugs. The two large shepherd mix dogs that Logan had bought from a farmer sprawled in the shade of Lars’s wagon.
From the far side of the barn came the sound of hammering. By now the exterior of the barn was finished, and the stable was almost framed. The three-man crew worked with wet cloths tied around their heads to ward off the heat. Logan had spent much of the day drawing up plans for sheds, corrals, and a round pen for horse training.
“When are you going to do something about the house?” Webb leaned back in the chair and stretched out his long legs, crossing them at the ankle. “You’ve been here four months and, except for hauling away the junk and scaring off the mice, the place hasn’t changed. Hell, you’ve barely got furniture. And if you don’t get the indoor bathroom finished by first snow, I guarantee you’ll be sorry. It’s not like you can’t afford it. You could tear the place down and build yourself a damned palace with that oil money.”
“And what would I do, rattling around by myself in a palace?” Logan chuckled. “I guess I got used to roughing it in the military. It’ll get done. But first things first. I need the ranch ready for horses in the spring. That means a lot of work has to be done.”
“What you need is a wife,” Webb said. “You’ve seen the Homestead. That house only got done because my mother was sick and tired of living in a shack. If it hadn’t been for her, Dad would never have built it. Get yourself a good woman—like, say, that lady schoolteacher. She might not be much for looks, unless you like your women tall and skinny. But she’s got a good, sensible head on her shoulders. She’d have this place looking shipshape in no time.”
Logan bit back a curse. Webb didn’t have a clue what was going on between him and Kristin. Maybe it was time somebody told him. But once the words were out, he wouldn’t be able to take them back. It would mean the end of his budding friendship with Webb. Worse, Kristin would be furious with him for taking matters into his own hands.
“Speaking of women, did my advice work?” he dared to ask.
“You mean to back off and give Kristin some time?” Webb shrugged. “I don’t know yet. She’s been so busy with her medical practice, she barely seems to notice me. I showed up late at the July Fourth celebration hoping to get a dance with her, and she’d left to treat some fool with a broken nose. I waited, but she never came back. I can tell you I wasn’t happy. What business does a woman have doing a man’s job? She belongs at home, keeping house and looking beautiful. I wouldn’t mind a few more babies, either. That would keep her busy enough.”
“Then maybe you need to find a different woman. I don’t think Kristin would give up her career for any man. She’s worked too hard and sacrificed too much.”
“That’s what I keep trying to tell myself,” Webb said. “But, damn it, I’m in love with her. There’ve been plenty of women I could’ve married if I’d chosen to. But she’s the one—and when I want something as much as I want her, I don’t give up. I keep after it until it’s mine. It was like that with my Lilli. She was married to an old farmer. But that didn’t stop me. Nothing did.” Webb emptied his mug and set it on the porch. “So do you have any more advice for this lovelorn old man?”
Suddenly Logan had had enough. Webb might be the most powerful rancher in Montana, but that didn’t entitle him to bend a woman to his will. It didn’t give him the right to stand between two people who loved each other and insist on having things his way. Whatever calamity might follow, this maddening charade had to end—now.
“Maybe Kristin doesn’t love you,” he said. “Did you ever think of that?”
Webb looked startled. “I know how to win a woman’s heart. That’s not the problem.”
“But what if Kristin’s in love with someone else?”
“That doesn’t make sense. If she’s in love with another man, why would she be willing to spend time with me?”
“Because you’ve been kind to her,” Logan said, “and she doesn’t want to hurt you or to make you angry. She’s hoping you’ll lose patience and end things in a way that will save your pride. She cares about you. But she doesn’t love you.”
“Damn it, I don’t believe you. How do you know that?”
“Because it’s me she loves.”
As the truth sank home, Webb’s face went florid. Quivering, he rose to his feet. Logan rose with him, fully expecting what was about to happen.
He offered no resistance as Webb’s powerful fist slammed into his jaw with a force that knocked him off his feet. Logan reeled backward, head spinning, as Webb stalked down the steps and mounted his horse. Without a backward look, he galloped away, a haze of dust trailing behind him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AFTER THE LAST PATIENT HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY, KRISTIN MOTIONEDGerda to the couch and took a seat at the opposite end. “We need to talk about your plans for the baby,” she said. “I want to be here for you any way I can, but it would help to know what you need.”
Gerda stared down at her hands. “What’s there to talk about? I’m going to have a baby. And when I tell Mason, he’ll have to marry me.”
Kristin sighed. The poor girl had some hard truths to face. “Gerda, you know that Mason’s my half-brother.”
Gerda managed a wan smile. “That would make you my baby’s half-aunt wouldn’t it?”
“Listen to me. A couple of days ago, I went to see Mason. I told him about your baby.”
She gasped. “Oh, no! I wanted to tell him myself. Now you’ve spoiled it. Was he surprised? Was he happy?”
“Just listen. Mason swore that the baby wasn’t his. He claimed that except for a few kisses, he’d never touched you.”
