Small Red Heart Tattoo
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I felt very proud after getting the red heart tattoo, I thought it looked awesome on my arm. The woman had told me to get a small one, but I wanted a big one instead of a small one. So she gave me the little one and I was satisfied with that.
Now I would be able to show everyone at school how cool it looked. It even looked great under my short sleeve blouse. After school when we all went out for lunch I showed off my new tattoo. Everyone laughed because they said I couldn’t do any work around there until it healed completely.
That meant no ranch work or helping out in town. I didn’t mind though; it made me feel like an outlaw, so I enjoyed being treated as such by everyone. I did miss working at the ranch though—it was fun watching the horses run through their paces every day.
And it was fun learning about horses from the other women who worked there. But I still got paid the same amount so I wasn’t too upset not to have to work anymore.
The only thing that bothered me was that I didn’t know where this man’s ranch was located, but I decided to keep looking into his background before I asked anyone else if they knew anything more than I already knew.
My guess is he came from somewhere close to here since the ranch house was built right next door to ours. If he hadn’t lived next door then I wouldn’t have been able to overhear him talking to another woman over the fence. I also heard her say “his name” several times when he called the horse out to him.
Then I overheard them arguing about something important. They were yelling back and forth across our shared backyard fence so loud I could hear everything they were saying. Finally, the woman left the property and went inside the house.
I listened carefully for what happened next, but all I could hear was the sound of footsteps coming toward the front gate and then the gates opened. I waited until he went inside the house before I started asking questions about him.
First, I knocked on the front gate to ask the woman if she knew much about this man. She answered my knock by telling me that the man’s name was Thomas Corbin. He owned three ranches near here, one was close to us, and the others were farther south and east.
I was relieved to learn that he didn’t own this particular ranch yet, which made me think maybe I could find some information on him in town. As soon as I walked away from the gate, the man himself appeared at the end of the driveway and stood waiting for me to come up to him.
When he saw me, he waved me over. We talked for a while about nothing in particular. His accent sounded vaguely British, but I could tell he didn’t want anyone to know he was English. So I just let him talk.
I learned a lot about him: his wife died many years ago and he never remarried; he grew up in England, but moved to America to make money and became rich doing so; he had two children from a previous marriage and now he lived alone in this house with the help of two servants who took care of things in town for him.
All this was fascinating, especially when he told me about the ranch he owned nearby. It seemed like the most popular place to ride horses in Colorado, which surprised me considering its remote location. But it made sense that people liked going there to ride.
It was beautiful land surrounded by mountains, and there were wild animals roaming everywhere, making it a unique experience for tourists. The ranch owner must have spent millions of dollars building fences and planting trees to protect the land from wildlife.
At first, I thought he was bragging, but he really did spend millions of dollars buying up the land surrounding the ranch, so he could protect it. I found myself admiring the man behind his expensive clothes and fancy hat.
After a while, I finally remembered why I had come over there in the first place. I pulled out the list of questions I’d prepared earlier. “Mr. Corbin, you mentioned your ranch was close to ours. Is it possible that we might see each other at church?” I asked.
He nodded his head yes. “Yes, we go to the same church.”
That explained it. Most ranchers attended the church closest to their homes. But I didn’t want to appear too eager to meet him. “I’m sure you attend church regularly,” I said. “But I don’t often get a chance to go to church on Sundays, so I wondered if you might offer me a ride sometimes. You can pick me up at our house.”
“Why, thank you! Yes, that sounds wonderful!”
It was nice to have someone invite me to church. I thanked him again for thinking of me. Just then, I noticed the sun beginning to set behind the mountain range, so I excused myself and walked back to my house. On my way home, I stopped at the barn to feed the horses.
Afterward, I watched the sunset from my bedroom window, enjoying the warmth of the evening breeze and the smell of the sagebrush growing along the edge of the property. For once, I felt happy and contented.
That night I dreamed about the ranch owner, but instead of being nervous or anxious about meeting him, I was excited. Maybe he would be a good friend to me, I thought. I woke up early the following morning feeling refreshed.
***
The following Sunday, I wore a new dress to church, hoping it would impress the ranch owner. It was white cotton, with lace around the collar and hem. It was simple and plain compared to the dresses I usually wore, but I liked wearing it because I could easily change into riding gear afterward.
My mother bought me the dress at a store in Denver. She paid $20 for it. Since it was a special occasion, Mother gave me permission to buy an extra outfit to wear every day during spring break, as long as I didn’t spend more than $25 per item.
I planned to take advantage of her generosity and shop in Denver all week, even though I had no plans to leave the ranch. If only I hadn’t forgotten my wallet, I could have shopped all day long, but I couldn’t afford to pay for anything without a credit card. In fact, I still owed my father money from Christmas.
So I settled for borrowing a pair of gloves and shoes from my sister since they matched the color of my dress. By noon, I rode over to the ranch house and met Mr. Corbin outside the front door. He held out his arm for me to walk beside him, so I took hold of it.
Then he led us both inside the large church where hundreds of people waited patiently for services to begin. Once we reached the pews, I noticed a few women looking at me. One woman whispered something to another and laughed.
I looked down at the floor, trying not to let it bother me. There wasn’t much room between the pew and the wall, so I sat next to Mr. Corbin. I kept glancing over at him, wondering what he thought of me. His hair was gray and cut short above his ears, and his face was clean-shaven, except for one small beard on his chin.
He appeared younger than his age, perhaps because he was well-built. As we waited for the service to start, he turned toward me and smiled.
As soon as the organ began playing, the minister entered through the side doors carrying a Bible. I recognized him from the previous week’s sermon, although he didn’t seem any different today. The preacher was tall, thin, balding, and always dressed in black.
He seemed to be lecturing himself rather than preaching to the congregation. Although his words were clear enough, he spoke slowly and mumbled a lot. At least the sermons were interesting, which made them easier to follow.
I found myself listening intently. Even my mother seemed to enjoy the service this time. We sang hymns together: “Rock of Ages” and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.” I enjoyed singing those two songs because they reminded me of my childhood.
When the preacher finished, Mr. Corbin stood and shook hands with everyone else before walking me out of the sanctuary. A young man who worked at the ranch handed him a box lunch to eat while he waited for me outside.
He didn’t say a word until we reached the horse corral. When I asked if he wanted to join us for dinner after church, he politely declined, saying he had already eaten breakfast. We said goodbye, and I returned to my house alone.
I spent most of the afternoon writing letters to friends and family members in Colorado, including my mother, my brother, and my grandmother. After finishing a letter to Grandma, I went downstairs to watch television and read.
Before turning off the TV, I checked the clock and saw that it was nearly five o’clock. I decided to go to the barn to check on the horses. But when I opened the stable door, I saw the ranch owner waiting there. Instead of entering the building, he motioned me to come out to meet him. I walked over to the corral gate, and he joined me.
“You know how much I admire your work ethic,” he said. “If you’re interested in working here permanently, I’d like to offer you a job.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. What did he mean? Did he want me to stay full-time or just during spring break? Either way, I needed to talk to my parents about it. “Why don’t we discuss it later?” I suggested.
Mr. Corbin nodded. “Very good,” he answered. Then he left me standing by the gate, watching him ride away. I stared after him for a moment, then walked back inside to get ready for dinner.
After supper, I walked upstairs to write more letters, and I started thinking about the job again. It would certainly make things easier financially, but I wondered if it really suited me. Maybe it wouldn’t matter either way, since I never intended to return home.
If I accepted his offer now, I might have to do it whether I liked it or not. So I wrote to my mother, asking her opinion. She told me to think carefully about accepting an offer to work for someone other than my employer since she considered my father’s company to be my own.
Still, if I had the opportunity to help Mr. Corbin run the ranch, why not accept it? That night, I slept better than I had in days, knowing I was going to see my parents sooner than expected.
***
My parents and I arrived in Denver the following morning, just before noon. My father drove us straight to the ranch so I could introduce myself to the owners. They were both tall, dark-haired men, each wearing cowboy hats.
They introduced themselves as John and Will Corbin, brothers, and thanked me for coming to visit them. I also met their wives, who came into the kitchen to greet me. They seemed friendly and warm, especially Mrs. Corbin. As soon as she heard my name, she immediately embraced me, calling me her daughter.
Everyone at the ranch treated me kindly. For the next few weeks, I stayed busy helping with chores, cleaning tack rooms, riding horses, and learning how to handle cattle.
The work was strenuous and tiring, but I enjoyed being around the animals, and I felt useful. The weather turned cold, and snow fell several times during our stay. But I still rode the horses every day except Sunday, which gave me plenty of exercises.
The only downside was that my legs got very sore. By the end of March, I was eager for the warmer weather to arrive so I could ride without getting frostbite.
One afternoon, I rode one of the ranch horses, Dusty, to the edge of the property where the fence ran parallel to the railroad line. On the far side of the tracks lay the city of Longmont. At first, I thought nothing of seeing the train moving slowly toward us.
But then I realized what it must look like from this distance: a giant snake slithering down the tracks. Suddenly, I wasn’t sure I should be out here alone. But when I looked behind me, there was no one in sight. No one at all. I turned Dusty around and hurried to catch up with the others.
It happened twice more, each time farther away from the ranch. And although the last time made me uneasy, I still didn’t mention it to anyone. In fact, I hardly talked to anyone besides the Corbins. There was something about Mr. Corbin that bothered me.
It was almost as though he knew I was watching him. Or maybe he just knew I was there. One evening, when he entered the dining room for dinner, I watched him closely. He sat across the table from me, talking to his wife while eating his meal.
He didn’t seem to notice me, even though we’d been sitting close together. After supper, I helped Mrs. Corbin clean the kitchen until it was late. Then I went to my bedroom and waited for everyone else to retire for the night. When they finally did go to bed, I quietly slipped out of my room and headed downstairs.
Just as I reached the bottom step, I heard voices coming from the parlor. A lamp illuminated the doorway, making it easy to see inside. “Do you believe in ghosts?” asked a woman.
“No,” answered a man. “But I’ve seen strange lights over the mountain, right above the house.”
She laughed. “Maybe those are fireflies. We had some on the farm once.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,” he replied. “They’re too bright to be fireflies.”
Mrs. Corbin laughed again, then added, “You can’t tell me that you haven’t ever seen anything unusual, Mary.”
“Well…” She hesitated. “I don’t know… I saw a light, just outside the house one night. Like a ball of flame.”
“What kind of light?”
“A ball of flame,” repeated the other woman, shaking her head. “Not quite like a candle, but not like lightning either. I’ll never forget it. Just standing there by the window, burning through the darkness.”
Mr. Corbin spoke up then, saying, “There are many legends about the area. Ghosts and goblins. But we don’t need any more rumors than we already have. You should get back to your bed, dear. Don’t worry—you won’t see anything tonight. I promise.”
Mary sighed and said, “All right. Goodnight, Tom.”
After they left the room, I crept closer to listen. I couldn’t hear much because of the wind blowing outside. I stopped near the door and listened harder, trying to make out the conversation. Finally, I heard someone say, “…and it moved!”
Then came another voice, laughing. “Of course, it moved! How else would you expect a ghost to move? Do you think it jumped off the top of the hillside into town? Come now, Mary. You know better than that. Those things live in caves, deep within the mountains. They’re creatures of the earth; they aren’t alive.”
Suddenly, I remembered my encounter with the creature in the forest. Was it possible that these people were telling the truth? Maybe I’d imagined it or seen an animal. It might not be a goblin after all. Yet somehow, I doubted that.
As I stood there listening, the wind picked up. The sound of its howling filled the air, and the hair on the nape of my neck rose. If I stayed here long enough, I would surely see whatever it was. That was why I decided to leave. But before I did, I pulled the revolver out of my pocket and took aim. My finger tightened on the trigger. Ready to shoot if necessary.
The next morning, I woke early. I checked on the horses and then walked them to the corral. I saddled Blue Boy and rode him to the barn to feed the livestock. The day passed without incident. By noon, the weather cleared, and I returned to the house for lunch.
The sun shone brightly, and I could feel myself beginning to relax. That is until I overheard the Corbins’ conversation during their midday break.
“Have you found anything yet?” asked the first woman.
“Nothing worth mentioning,” said the second. “If I do find something, I’ll let you know.”
“Don’t keep us waiting. Let us know soon so we can get started.”
When they left the room, I hurried down the hallway toward the parlor. I pushed open the door and froze. Standing beside a desk, writing letters at the table, were Tom Corbin and his wife. Both of them looked up as I approached.
His eyes met mine, and I quickly turned around, heading upstairs. Once in my room, I locked the door and sat on the edge of the bed. Why hadn’t I realized sooner that this couple wasn’t as honest as they claimed to be? I tried to reason it away: maybe the woman had been mistaken. Or she might have made it all up.
But even though I didn’t want to believe it, I knew it was true. After all, I’d encountered the creature in the woods. And now, I’d learned that Mrs. Corbin believed in ghosts. There must be others who also shared her beliefs. No wonder the ranch seemed haunted. It probably was.
I got up and began packing. Then, while Mr. Corbin was gone, I went downstairs, slipped out the front door, and headed west. I needed to get away from there before I ran into another creature. One that I would have no chance against.
***
I traveled east across the country for several weeks, staying well clear of the Corbins. Every time I thought I’d spotted the ranch, I circled around. I kept searching until I finally reached a small town in Kansas where I bought a horse and some supplies. For the rest of my trip, I continued eastward, keeping my eye out for a new place to settle.
For the next two years, I worked hard. In the evenings, I read books about law enforcement, hoping someday to become a police officer. I wanted to learn everything I could about law enforcement. And when I felt ready, I planned to apply for work. I wanted to help those who needed assistance most.
During my travels, I visited numerous towns. Some offered little danger but were boring places. Others were full of outlaws and ruffians. Most of the men were cowboys who lived by a code of honor and respect for each other.
Many were rough, but most were goodhearted. A few were dishonest, but that was usually because they were desperate. When I saw someone like that, I often helped him. Sometimes that meant giving money to a man who couldn’t pay for goods he’d purchased.
Other times it meant helping a fellow rancher put out fires caused by lightning strikes. At times, I helped free prisoners from jail cells. The last thing I expected to do was to become a bounty hunter, but sometimes, that’s exactly what happened.
One night, while riding along the dusty trail leading to Denver, Colorado, I noticed three men walking toward me. Their clothes hung loose and disheveled, and their faces looked worn. Each of them wore a gun belt over his chest, and one of them held a pistol tucked under his arm.
They carried themselves with such arrogance that I wondered if they weren’t dangerous. But after watching them for a moment, I decided they were just drunk. So, I continued riding on down the road, not stopping or slowing until I came to the city limits.
As soon as I entered the main street, I stopped and waited. All three men turned and looked at me. My hand tightened on the reins as I watched them walk closer. If only I could warn them off.
Instead, they walked right past me, continuing westward. Before I left the area, I followed them and found them standing outside a saloon. One of them yelled something rude to the bartender, and I smiled to myself. I liked that. It showed they weren’t afraid to speak their mind.
After leaving Denver, I traveled back home and took stock of the ranch. While I’d been gone, both Corbins had died, and Mr. Corbin’s daughter, Maggie, inherited the land. She still owned the house and the surrounding property.
Apparently, neither Tom nor his wife had mentioned to Maggie that they had lost ownership of the ranch. I was sure that was why Maggie had chosen to live in town instead of the ranchhouse.
The following day, I returned to the ranch. I rode up the dirt path, passing through an iron gate and then making my way up the hillside toward the house. As I neared the porch, I heard voices coming from inside. I glanced up and saw Maggie sitting on the steps, talking to Tom Corbin.
“You can’t stay here forever,” said Tom. “Your father wouldn’t want you to.”
Maggie sighed. “My father is dead. You know that. Why else would I move to the ranch?”
Tom shrugged. “Maybe it has nothing to do with your father’s death. Maybe it has to do with this woman you keep seeing. Who knows? That’s between you and God.”
I stared at the two of them for several seconds before realizing Maggie wasn’t alone. Two children sat beside her. One girl and one boy. Both seemed old enough to be in school. The boy, I guessed was five; the girl appeared older than seven. Both of them stared at me curiously.
As soon as I realized she had children with her, I knew Maggie didn’t belong there. She hadn’t married Tom Corbin. Instead, she’d wed his brother. And now, she was living in sin with the same man. Worse yet, she was raising his children.
How did she think she could ever bring any godly values into their lives? I wondered how long it would take her to realize that the Corbins were no longer welcome on the ranch.
But I also remembered that the Corbins had made many enemies over the years. Not only did they steal cattle and horses from neighboring ranchers, they were known for robbing stagecoaches and stealing from banks.
No doubt, the people who knew them best believed the Corbins were bad news. Even so, I was surprised to learn that Maggie had defied her mother-in-law by refusing to leave the ranch. What made matters worse, Tom’s sister, Emily, refused to let Maggie visit her husband, James. Apparently, Emily felt that since Maggie was living with Tom, she should have moved to his family home.
That evening, when I went to dinner, I asked Tom about the children. He told me he hadn’t seen them much lately. After hearing that, I suspected that Maggie was trying to find work somewhere in town. When I pressed him further, he admitted that she might have applied at the bank where I worked. I couldn’t imagine what kind of job Maggie thought she could get working at a bank.
During lunch, I overheard someone mention the bank again, but this time the person was speaking excitedly. It sounded like Mrs. Hodge, the owner of the boardinghouse across the street from the bank. I listened closely and heard her say, “She’ll never last more than six months at the bank, I’m sure of that. All those men will turn on her eventually. They’re bound to.”
Mrs. Hodge must have noticed me listening because she quickly added, “And you don’t want to get involved with the likes of the Corbins. Just remember, you’re better off without them.”
By the time I finished eating, I knew I needed to talk to Maggie. But just as I reached for the reins, I spotted Mr. Corbin riding down the road. He pulled alongside me, leaned forward and whispered, “If you see that woman again, tell her we miss her around here. We need her help. We need all the hands we can get.”
His words surprised me, and I hesitated for a moment. Then I shook my head and climbed onto my horse. If Mr. Corbin wanted Maggie back, maybe he should come up with some good reasons why she belonged there. I decided to give Maggie until the end of the month to decide whether or not she wanted to remain on the ranch.
The End