Dorothy Garlock - [Wyoming Frontier] by Midnight Blue Page B

the way he had talked to her that morning and vowed to do as little as possible for him. Trellis had brought his breakfast from the cookshack. She had carried a tray to Brita at noon, returned to set a bowl of beef and dumplings down on the stool beside Pack with a loud thump, and walked away. Since that time she had ignored him.
    Sam carried Mara’s trunk and carpetbags up the stairs and put the straw mattress on the back porch to air. The bed and mattress from Mara’s old room was brought up and reassembled. After that Sam examined the door.
    “This slip lock won’t hold, ma’am. Ya need a stout bar to wedge under the knob. I’ll cut one ’n leave it on the back porch tonight.”
    “Do you think I’ll be needing it?”
    “Ya can’t tell, ma’am. A man gets to drinkin’ at times ’n don’t use no judgment.”
    “Thank you for helping me. Are you going to be here for a while, Mr. Sparks?”
    “I’m not sure. I don’t usually stay in one place long enough to get a growth a beard.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin and grinned at her.
    “Why are you here?” Mara asked.
    “To rest my horse ’n eat grub I didn’t cook over a campfire.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I pay for bed ’n board.”
    “Do the other men pay to stay here too? Is that why they thought it so funny when I asked why they were loafing?”
    “I only speak for myself, ma’am.”
    “I appreciate your honesty. I would have been disappointed if you had said you worked here.”
    After Sam went down the stairs. Mara stood in the center of the room, her arms folded across her chest, her mind crowded with questions. Sam was right when he said that although she might own the land, it wasn’t in her possession. How in the world was she going to get control? And what would she do with it if she got it? She knew nothing about making a living off the land.
    A feeling of utter despair came over her. Whom could she turn to for advice? Certainly not Cousin Aubrey or his son, Cullen. Her father had liked Pack Gallagher, but he had already told her to go back to Denver. He had troubles of his own and would not be around long enough to help her with hers even if he were willing. She suddenly thought of Ace January, the marshal. She filed it in the back of her mind to ask Trellis if he would take her to town to talk to him.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Sam sat down on the low stool beside Pack’s bed. “How’re ya doin’, Pack?”
    “I’ll make it. I’m obliged to you for getting me in the house and sewing me up.”
    “Ya got yoreself worked over real good. I’d a swore ya was out cold when Miss McCall brought ya in.”
    “I was. Trell told me what you did. I’m surprised to see you out here, Sam.”
    “Why?”
    “You know
why.
I never thought you’d have the need to hide out.”
    “It just goes to show that ya don’t know everythin’, Pack.”
    “Do you know the Rivers place over west of here?”
    “I’ve not been there, but I heard a fellow by the name of Charlie Rivers has a place over along Lodgepole Creek.”
    “I’d be obliged if you’d ride over and tell him I need clothes and boots. Ma says he’ll be bringing his sister over sometime during the next week or so, but I can’t lay abed until then.”
    “I’ve been warned to stay clear of the Rivers place.”
    “Charlie’s all right if you ride in and tell him your business. It’s the ones that sneak around trying to get a look at Miss Emily that gets him riled up.”
    “How long’s he been out there?”
    “Three or four years. He’s doing all right. He’s got a little herd, does some trapping, and he gets along with the Sioux that come through there.”
    “Where’s he from?”
    “Ask him. I figure he’ll tell you if he wants you to know.”
    Sam shrugged. “Guess he would. I’ll ride over in the mornin’.”
    “I was riding a big, spotted gray, Sam. Have you seen anything of him?”
    “I know the horse. There’s not another like him in the territory. No,