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“The house is beginning to take shape quite nicely, isn’t it?” Elaine remarked as they walked from the entryway into what would be the study. All the interior walls were up, dividing the house into rooms, and the finish work was under way. “Maybe your wife will be happy once you move into this house.”
“What do you mean?” Benteen asked her sharply.
“It doesn’t matter.” She made a pretense of shrugging aside the thoughtless remark and let her fingers tighten on his arm. “That isn’t what I came to talk to you about anyway. When do you anticipate the cattle will be delivered to the government post in Canada?”
“Jessie should get there next week.” Benteen stopped and angled his body to face her. “Where did you get the idea Lorna wasn’t happy?”
“Call it women’s intuition, I suppose. We seem to be able to sense when another member of our sex is unhappy.” She finally let her gaze meet Benteen’s. “Your wife must have been very young when you married.”
“Seventeen, almost eighteen. I wouldn’t consider that too young.”
“Naturally she was a virgin.” When he averted his head, Elaine admonished, “You shouldn’t have asked if you didn’t want me to speak personally.”
“I don’t see that it has any bearing,” Benteen stated curtly.
“No, men never do.” She laughed softly. “You had some experience with women, so you knew what you wanted in a wife. Lorna didn’t have that advantage. If she discovers she’s made a mistake, she has no more choice than I had.”
“There’s been no mistake.”
“I didn’t mean to suggest there had been in your case,” Elaine pointed out. “I was only speaking in generalities. Which reminds me. I’d like you to have dinner with me one evening next week. There are two gentlemen that I think you should meet.”
“Who are they? Canadians?” He was quick to accept the change in subject.
“No. They are local politicians.”
“I’m not interested in becoming involved in politics.”
“There are degrees of involvement,” she said. “Your father went to the extreme. I’m talking about playing with politics, manipulating people and events to your own interest. You should become familiar with some of the leaders in the territorial government.”
“That government might as well not exist.” He voiced a sentiment shared by the vast majority of citizens in the territory. “It is a system that the East dreamed up. And they have no idea what it’s like out here. Everyone out here ignores it.”
“It’s feeble,” Elaine agreed. “But when Montana achieves statehood, there’s no reason why you and I can’t have a hand in choosing the first governor. The game of politics is a challenging one that can be highly profitable for the ranch. Look at the beef contract. It never hurts to have influential people in government who owe you favors, Benteen.”
“Perhaps.” But he wasn’t in full agreement on that point.
“The secret is to use them—not be used by them.”
“You’re good at using people, aren’t you?” he observed with a narrowed look.
“I’m going to pretend that’s a compliment.” She smiled and took his arm again to let her gaze survey the room. “I believe this study is going to be my favorite room in your house.”
The cabin was filled with the yeasty aroma of baking bread. Lorna sat with her back to the window, using the sunlight so she could see to hand-stitch a shirt for Arthur from the remnants of one of Benteen’s.
Her concentration was broken by the knock on the door. She quickly set aside the shirt to answer it, brushing at the flour dust on her muslin apron. But when she opened the door, it was Bull Giles, not Lady Crawford, who stood outside. She relaxed a little, not really disappointed.
“Are the boys here?” he asked.
It had become a habit for him to play with them during Lady Crawford’s visits with her husband. Lorna’s mouth curved at the irony of the situation. Lady Crawford spent more time with her husband than Lorna sometimes did. And Bull Giles spent more time with the children than Benteen.
“They’re taking a nap,” she explained, keeping her voice low. “Benteen didn’t mention that you would be coming today.”
“I brought them each a couple sticks of peppermint.” He took them from his pocket and handed them to her. “You can give it to them after supper tonight.”
“The boys will love it. Thank you, Bu …” She caught herself using his name and quickly corrected it. “… Mr. Giles.”
“I’d like it if you’d call me Bull,” he said quietly.
“That surely isn’t your given name.”
