Candy Heart
Stories similar to this that you might like too.
The townhouse looked much the same as when Morgan had last visited, except for a new porch. The door was closed but not locked; there was no way of telling if she was inside or not. The house next to it was now owned by another man. He lived in the house while his wife and children stayed in the big Victorian house across the street where Mrs. Johnson still resided.
It was just past noon when he found himself sitting on the steps leading from the porch to the front yard. No one was visible through the windows of the two-story house. It was a beautiful day with bright sunshine and low humidity. There were trees along both sides of the sidewalk, making him feel safe as he waited for her to appear.
He didn’t have long to wait; less than twenty minutes before she stepped from the carriage in a dress that showed off the curves of her body. She wasn’t wearing any gloves today, nor did she have an umbrella against the rain that threatened her.
Her eyes were hidden behind large gold-framed sunglasses, giving her an air of mystery. Her hair was tied back away from her face, and there were no rings on her fingers or dangling earrings.
She looked like a woman who belonged to this century rather than the nineteenth. But despite all this, there was something about her that made him want to reach out and touch her, and maybe more. He wanted to know why she wore sunglasses all the time, what kind of music she liked if she enjoyed riding horses and if she could dance.
There was still some distance between them so he couldn’t hear anything that came from inside the carriage. But he knew they’d be talking. He heard the sound of the driver’s voice when he opened the door to speak with his employer. The man said, “No ma’am.”
That was odd. Was the woman a deaf-mute? If so, why did she ride around with someone who couldn’t communicate with her? Maybe she didn’t need to talk because she spoke with her actions. He smiled at the thought.
Morgan watched as she climbed down from the carriage with a gracefulness that reminded him of her dancing days. His heart pounded hard and fast until she reached the bottom step. Then his pulse returned to normal as he stared at her.
He tried to remember how many years it had been since he’d first seen her dance in that pink silk gown that brought out all the softness of her feminine form.
“I think you might have forgotten your umbrella,” he said.
She glanced up briefly before returning her gaze to her shoes. “You’re right. I’ll get it.” As she walked toward the carriage, the wind caught her short skirt and made the hem sway, causing it to ride up higher than it should have. That made him smile again. What a wonderful view!
When she bent over to retrieve the umbrella from the seat of the carriage, Morgan noticed something different about her. Her left arm looked longer than the other and there appeared to be a slight limp on her right leg.
He wondered why she would hide such physical weaknesses. Was it a recent injury? Did it have something to do with her dancing career? Had she ever danced in public again after her accident?
As she turned away from the carriage, her eyes met his for only a second. She quickly lowered her head and started walking back to the porch steps. “Would you mind opening the door?” she asked before climbing the stairs.
Once he unlocked the door, she took off her sunglasses and placed them in a small box on the hall table. When he held open the carriage door for her, she said, “Thank you, Mr. Taylor.” She stepped onto the sidewalk and stood looking up at the sky as if searching for answers or perhaps waiting for her eyes to adjust to the brightness of the sun.
“How are things going on your ranch?” Morgan said as he closed the door behind her.
She stopped and turned to face him. “What makes you ask that?”
“I’ve come here every week for the past six months. And each time, we talked about the ranch and its operation.” He hesitated then added, “But now I’m curious if you ever plan to return.”
She smiled for the first time that day. “I’m sorry; I don’t mean to make light of our conversations.” She shook her head. “Things aren’t going well. My brother seems unable to work efficiently without me directing him.
It’s not that I can’t manage by myself—I know exactly what needs to be done. But there are so many details that my mind doesn’t always remember. He’s very stubborn, and it seems like he wants to do nothing but argue with me. He says he has a right to disagree and that it won’t take much of his time.”
She paused as if waiting for him to comment, but he had nothing to say. He just listened quietly as she continued.
“The last two weeks haven’t been much better. He hasn’t worked at all and has spent most of his time drinking.” She sighed. “He even argued with his wife, which isn’t like him. They’re good people, but they both have problems controlling their tempers. So I’m hoping I can stay here longer. The only problem is, it may cost money to keep this place running for so long.”
“Why don’t you sell your cattle?”
Her expression became stern as if she wanted to tell him that she could no longer afford to maintain such an expensive enterprise. She looked down at her hands. “We sold most of our stock last year before the drought hit. We needed the cash flow.”
“But you must have some extra funds set aside. You certainly don’t look like someone who lives on welfare.”
“It’s not welfare. It’s called deferred maintenance. We used most of our money to pay off the bank. The only thing left is a bit of seed corn and a little money put away for emergencies. There’s also a life insurance policy that will pay out once we die.
My husband had a heart attack several years ago while he was working. Since his death, I’ve kept everything going until I find someone who can manage the ranch well.”
“So you really want to sell?”
“If I were younger, maybe it wouldn’t be such a difficult decision. But as you can see…” She pointed to her leg then shrugged and let out a short sigh.
Morgan thought about the conversation he’d had with J.B. Cooper before leaving Texas City. He knew that the ranch manager couldn’t handle a big spread like this alone. And now he had seen how easily this woman ran the place herself. If only he could convince her to stay.
“I’ll talk to Mr. Cooper about hiring another ranch hand,” he said.
She gave him a quick smile. “That would be very kind of you.”
“You can trust me to find the best person for the job.”
A few hours later, Morgan drove into town to visit Cooper’s office. He hadn’t been inside since he’d arrived in Houston, but he remembered the sign outside. It read: “J.B. Cooper-Ranch Manager, Lonesome Dove, Texas.”
The building stood on the main street of a tiny downtown filled with saloons, grocery stores, restaurants, and other small businesses. The sidewalks were crowded with men and women of varying ages enjoying a drink or dinner or shopping for clothes.
Since Morgan wasn’t in uniform, he parked his car on the street near the saloon next door and walked across the busy avenue to Cooper’s establishment. A man came out and approached him with a friendly grin. “Good afternoon, Deputy.”
“Mr. Cooper? I need to speak to you about the ranch manager position.”
“Deputy!” The owner grinned from ear to ear and pulled him over to the side of the store. “What did you decide?”
“Actually, I decided to hire Miss Cade.”
Cooper raised his eyebrows. “Did she pass?”
“She did.”
“Well, I guess that means it’s settled.”
Morgan didn’t feel so sure. What was he doing, bringing up a subject like this with the boss? He glanced around, wondering if anyone was close enough to hear their conversation. Cooper leaned toward him and spoke in a low voice, “I’m surprised, too. After all, I told you I wanted to interview more candidates.”
“But it’s not about the number of interviews. It’s about finding the right person for the job—a woman who will get along with my deputy.”
“Your deputy. Is that what you call yourself now?”
“That’s right.”
“And how old are you, Deputy?”
“Thirty-five.”
“Oh.” He stared at him blankly. Then his eyes seemed to sparkle as he smiled broadly. “That’s pretty old for a deputy, isn’t it?”
Morgan felt a blush rising to his cheeks. He took a deep breath and tried to change the topic. “Miss Cade seems to think you already hired her.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I told her. That way, we can start work on Monday without any trouble.”
“How many applicants did you interview?”
“Five,” Cooper replied with a wink.
“Who were they?”
“They were all fine people, but there wasn’t much difference between them. The truth is, Miss Cade, is the only one I’d trust with this place.” He turned to watch a couple of cowboys who’d come out of a saloon.
“I know she has a lot of experience in managing ranches, but I’m sure your deputy will keep us informed of what’s going on here on a daily basis. That should make things easier.” He paused and studied Morgan’s expression for a moment before he continued, “You’ve been here three weeks, haven’t you?
So why don’t you take care of some of these loose ends so we can focus on running this ranch together?”
Morgan felt like a schoolboy getting scolded by the teacher. “Of course. You’re right. We need to get started on the business of running the ranch.” He held out his hand. “Thank you for considering me for the job.”
After shaking hands, Morgan left the store and went back to his car. It was time for him to go home and prepare himself for tomorrow’s visit with Miss Cade.
***
“This is where I live.”
Morgan looked down at her from his horse and shook his head. “Where do you work?”
“Here, actually.” She pointed to the second house on the right. “The house with the green roof belongs to my sister and brother-in-law.”
He nodded. “Then that must be where you stay when you’re visiting your family.” He dismounted and tied his horse to the hitch rail. “Why did you choose this place for your headquarters?”
Her brown eyes studied him curiously, “You don’t approve?”
“No. In fact, I thought it might be hard for you to sleep in a stranger’s bed, especially someone you didn’t even know.”
She frowned. “Don’t you have an empty bedroom waiting for you? Didn’t the sheriff give you a key?”
“Yes, I could have used the sheriff’s quarters, but I chose not to.”
“Why not?”
“In case you don’t mind telling me.”
“My mother would have found out anyway. My family doesn’t understand what it means to ride herd on cattle or spend long days on the trail, so there’s no use in worrying about such things.”
“Sounds like a lonely life.” He watched her face for any sign of sadness but she appeared just as she had before, strong, stubborn, and determined. But then again, he was probably reading too much into it.
He couldn’t imagine living alone without friends and family around him. If anything, the only thing he liked about the law was riding herd with his fellow deputies. And since he hadn’t been promoted yet, he would have to settle for riding solo until something better came along.
As soon as the words left his lips, Morgan wondered if he shouldn’t say something else that he wished he’d kept to himself. Was she thinking of moving back to town? He certainly hoped not. He knew he’d miss her, but she’d never have accepted his proposal if he’d asked her to leave her family behind.
His father was dead and his brothers had their own lives to lead. He would be all alone on this ranch unless he decided to marry Miss Cade, which made him wonder if his family really expected much from him. They wouldn’t want a woman like her marrying a man like him. Maybe they’d be pleased that he was finally taking responsibility for himself after his father died.
When Morgan returned to the front door, Miss Cade was inside the house, standing near a large mirror, brushing her hair. When she saw him, she dropped the brush to the floor and rushed across the room. She threw her arms around him and whispered in his ear, “Thank you. Thank you!” Then she stepped away and said, “Would you like some coffee? I’ve got plenty.”
Morgan nodded, feeling awkward. After he took his coffee from the pot on the stove, Miss Cade sat beside him and sipped hers. “I suppose you’ve noticed I’m not wearing any makeup,” she said with a sigh. “It takes a while to put it on.”
“But how does it feel when you take it off?”
“It hurts my skin. Sometimes, I wear it for two or three days at a time before washing it off. Otherwise, the oil on my face clogs up my pores.”
He glanced at her reflection in the mirror and then reached for the comb. As he brushed the tangles from her silky brown hair, he felt her stiffen slightly. “What are you doing?”
“Taking care of your hair.”
“I can do that myself.”
“It’s easier if I do it for you. The last time you tried to take care of it yourself, I ended up chasing you all over the room.”
Miss Cade laughed and pushed his hand away. “So this is what you’re like in bed—a gentle lover.”
Morgan grinned. “Maybe that’s why you were crying afterward.”
“Crying?” Her tone sounded incredulous. “No! I cried because I was so happy. That’s the truth.”
His grin widened. “Then we’ll both be crying next time. How long will you be here?”
“For a few weeks, maybe longer if I find something to write about.”
“You mean other than a new husband?”
She laughed lightly. “Not yet anyway. Why do you ask?”
“Well, you’re not planning on running off with me, are you?”
She shrugged. “Why would you think that?”
“I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“Oh, please.” She leaned closer. “How many women do you know who would have ridden a thousand miles to save an outlaw from hanging?”
“None. You’re special.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she muttered and drank some more of her coffee.
He watched her face grow pale beneath her freckles, and his heart sank. He hadn’t realized how serious Miss Cade’s situation was until now. She might have already fallen in love with him and he certainly hoped she did.
But he doubted he’d ever make it through a day if he told her how he really felt about her. He needed to keep his distance from her and focus on the job ahead of him, so he would need to stay single until after he solved the case. If nothing else, it gave him something to look forward to—the end of their marriage, so he could live free once again.
***
The following morning, Morgan rode out of the small village and headed northwest toward the mountains. Miss Cade wasn’t expecting him home so early, so he spent the afternoon writing the story down by hand as he walked.
He planned to type it later, but he wanted to read it aloud first, to give the words a chance to flow freely in his mind. There were times he hated having to use such primitive methods to record information, but he had no choice.
Even a modern typewriter would draw too much attention to these parts. He’d have to return to town and buy one as soon as possible. He couldn’t wait any longer to meet the outlaw, so he decided to spend the night in the nearest small town.
At dusk, Morgan found a grassy field to lie under the stars and read his story. He liked listening to the sounds of nature: the soft rustling of grass, the hoot of an owl, the song of a nightingale. For a moment, he was back in Ireland with the hills all around, where he had grown up in poverty and lived a life of drudgery.
The thought brought back memories of his childhood friend, Patrick, whom he remembered with sadness. They had been inseparable until the day they discovered their families’ secrets.
Morgan knew he should go on and finish his story, but instead he closed his eyes and listened to the night birds, remembering the good times he’d shared with his best friend.
He’d always loved Patrick, but never realized how much he meant to him until he learned his family had lied about who they were and who his father was. The day he left home to start a new life, he went to the graveyard and stood silently before a grave marker marked with only his name.
It was as if Patrick had died and left him all alone; the same feeling that plagued him still today. He wondered how Patrick would respond if he could see him now. Probably nothing like the way he imagined the Irishman would react. No one else seemed to understand his feelings about Patrick or realize what he was going through. His parents pretended nothing happened between them.
As if reading his thoughts, a soft breeze brushed across his cheek and blew the grass against his body. He opened his eyes and saw a figure standing near him. “Patrick?”
Miss Cade looked at him and smiled. “You miss him, don’t you?”
“Yes.” He swallowed hard. “Do you?”
She nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Very much.”
He moved closer. “Can we talk for a minute? I promise it won’t take long.”
“Sure.”
He led her toward the woods and they sat down on a flat rock, then he explained how the story had come to be written and who had helped him along the way. She listened quietly and he continued until she asked if she could read it someday. He hesitated but agreed and she took the manuscript from him so she could examine it better.
After she finished looking over the pages, he handed her another notebook that held more stories about outlaws in America. “They might help you write your next book.”
“Thanks. I’ll try and finish this one first.”
Morgan glanced at her watch. “I’d better get back to town before it gets dark.”
“Don’t forget to pick me up tomorrow, or it will cost you two weeks’ pay!”
She laughed. “What’s a few bucks among friends?”
He grinned at the compliment. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”
“Then we’re even.”
Morgan watched as she turned away, thinking how easy it was to be happy around her. Her presence alone brought light into his life and lifted his spirits. He wished it wasn’t so. He had a difficult time believing there were others as kindhearted, gentle, and caring as she was. How could he possibly hope for such a thing when his past dictated the future?
A shadow darkened Miss Cade’s face. “Is everything all right?” He leaned close enough to hear her whisper.
“It’s getting late, and I’m not sure which direction we traveled.”
“Just head south and we’ll eventually come out on the main road. It’s hard to lose your way here. The whole area is surrounded by mountains with only one pass-through. That’s why people chose to settle here.”
“That makes sense,” he said. Then he rose and put the horses in front of the wagon while she climbed in the back seat. Before turning around to drive off, he reached out and touched her shoulder, and she returned the gesture.
“Goodnight, Miss Cade.”
***
The days passed quickly after Miss Cade arrived in town. She worked on her current novel while keeping track of everything that went on around her. It amazed her how much work was required to run a ranch. When the sun was shining, she spent most of her time with Mary Jane and Alice in the kitchen.
They made her feel welcome. After she’d gotten used to living in a real house again, she began to enjoy the chores and helping out wherever she was needed. The other ladies at the ranch treated her with kindness and affection, but Morgan did the same without saying a word.
She didn’t know what caused his odd behavior, but she decided to let it slide for now and concentrate on finishing her book.
Mary Jane took her shopping to buy clothes that matched the era in which she would live as well as the proper clothing for church services. As promised, Miss Cade paid for the items and told Mary Jane to make sure she wore them to the next meeting of the women’s society. “If you attend meetings regularly, you can ask to join us.”
“But what if they won’t have me?”
Miss Cade laughed. “Who cares? You’ll be sitting beside the prettiest lady in the room—me! Just think of it, darling—one day you’ll be part of the group.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “I never dreamed I’d ever be invited to join them.”
“Oh, but you are,” Miss Cade assured her. “I’ll see to it myself. And you’re going to love them; they’re like family.”
When Morgan took the wagon out of town, he thought of Miss Cade as he drove down the mountain. His mind dwelled on their conversations and what the future held for her. Would it be possible to find someone like her in a place where he belonged?
If so, was it fair to bring another woman into this world when Mary Jane deserved a husband who loved her and protected her? But what if he never found anyone else? Did that mean Mary Jane would forever be a spinster in her old age?
His mind wandered as he drove. He stopped at a stream and walked along the bank, trying to clear his head, but nothing seemed to work. What happened to the girl he’d met in the train station? Why had she changed so drastically since then?
He hadn’t seen anything but good qualities in her, yet she had been quick to take offense and accuse him of things he knew weren’t true. It made no sense. The only way he could think of to get to the bottom of it was to talk to her again and apologize.
He parked the wagon under a tree and looked across the valley. It was beautiful and peaceful, but he felt an emptiness inside. Was it because he was afraid to tell Mary Jane about Miss Cade and what was happening between them?
Or was it just because he was lonely, and Miss Cade had filled that void for the first time in years? He couldn’t decide. Neither option sounded appealing to him. In the end, he left the wagon and headed back toward the barns.
As soon as he got back in the wagon, Mary Jane asked where Miss Cade was. “I don’t know. Probably visiting her aunt in town.”
“What will happen to Miss Cade now that she knows I’m your fiancée?” she whispered before falling asleep. “Will we still be together?”
“Of course,” he answered, but he wasn’t so sure anymore. He tried to push the thought from his mind and continued driving toward the corral.
On the third day of Miss Cade’s visit, Morgan took the wagon out of town for the day. When Mary Jane woke up, she saw Miss Cade sitting on top of the wagon and realized it must have been a long night.
Her hair hung over her shoulders in messy curls, and there were dark circles beneath her eyes. She wore loose-fitting pants and a blouse that covered her arms and legs. Miss Cade sat with a smile, watching the scenery go by, and Mary Jane smiled back.
After a few minutes, Morgan rode into the corral and saddled the horses. They all had their favorite pastime: riding or swimming at the nearby creek, playing with the other animals, or working in one of the barns. After feeding each of the horses and giving them fresh hay and oats, he tied them to their hitching post and went inside to prepare dinner for Miss Cade.
Mary Jane helped wash dishes while Miss Cade prepared the meal in the kitchen. Once they finished washing and drying everything, Miss Cade took the skillet out of its cabinet and put it in the oven to warm it while Miss Cade poured the hot water through a strainer onto the coffee grounds.
“Where did you learn to cook like this?” Mary Jane wondered aloud. “I’ve never seen anybody make such good beans. Or fried cornbread, either.”
Miss Cade laughed. “That’s because I was raised on a farm. My father worked as a hired man. He spent most days on horseback, so we ate well, although I didn’t like the food when I was younger.”
Morgan came into the kitchen carrying two bowls. “I thought maybe you might want some company tonight, Miss Cade.” He placed the bowl on the table next to Mary Jane. “I know you haven’t gotten much sleep lately, so I thought maybe we could take a walk.”
“Sounds lovely.”
When she stood and took a sip of coffee, she caught sight of her hands, which were stained and rough from working in the barns. The skin was red and peeling in some places. “Do you remember how soft my hands once were?”
Miss Cade nodded as she set the pot on the stove to heat more. “It’s too bad you can’t get your hands cleaned,” she told her gently. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow, and that’s going to hurt you more than it hurts me. You need to rest today.”
Morgan followed Miss Cade outside and handed her a cup of coffee before taking another mug for himself. He noticed Miss Cade looking up and down at the trees and grasses lining the fence posts. A faint smile curved her lips, but Morgan couldn’t place it, so he waited patiently for her to speak.
“How old are the trees around here?” she asked.
“They’re oak trees, ma’am. Most of the oldest ones are about four feet in diameter, but they’ve grown wider since we planted them.” He pointed to a tall tree beside a barn. “See how wide that one is?”
She turned back to Morgan with a puzzled expression. “The oak tree isn’t supposed to grow that big. It’s supposed to stay small.”
“Well, these are different. They’re not native to Arizona.”
“Why are you telling me all this? Do you think I care if the oak grows wider or shorter? What does that matter to me?” She glanced toward the house again and frowned. “Are you trying to comfort me with this conversation or something else?”
Morgan chuckled. “No, ma’am. Not at all.”
He held the coffee pot out for her. “Would you like a refill?”
“If you’d like to join us for lunch, that would be wonderful. We can eat outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature,” Miss Cade told him. “Or if you’d rather, you can eat alone in the house.”
“We can go to the picnic tables by the creek. Would you like that, Miss Cade?”
She shook her head. “No, it would be too painful to sit for any length of time.”
“As you wish.”
After eating, Morgan walked Miss Cade to her room and gave her a quick tour. While she watched the sun go down through an open window, Morgan went in search of Mary Jane and found her in the barn.
The horses were already asleep in their stalls and the cowboys were preparing themselves for bed. The stable hands were busy putting things away and closing windows and doors. He saw Mary Jane sitting on a wooden bench under a large sycamore tree near the front porch.
The setting sun cast a warm glow across the yard, and Mary Jane looked peaceful watching the last rays of light touch the horizon.
Morgan walked over to her slowly. When she didn’t move, he sat on the bench and patted it for her to come closer. He reached for her hand and pulled her down until she was seated beside him. “What’s wrong?”
Mary Jane turned to him and tears filled her eyes. “I miss my mama.”
“I’m sorry you had to lose your mother so young. I know how difficult that can be.” He rested his arm around her shoulders and squeezed lightly. “But it sounds like she left you with good memories. And you’re doing what you love, so I bet she’s proud of you.”
“Yes, she’s still with me. Every day when I see a bird fly overhead or hear the call of the cardinal, I feel close to her.”
“Did you know my mother passed away last year?”
Mary Jane nodded. “A few months after we left the farm and headed west. I always felt guilty that I wasn’t there to say goodbye to her.”
Morgan stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. “It’s hard to let somebody you love go. But sometimes death is easier than living without them.”
For the first time in a long while, Mary Jane smiled. “You know, I think you’re right.”
She lifted his hand and placed it on her shoulder. Then she leaned into his side and rested against his chest, and together they watched the sky change from yellow to orange to purple.
The End