The day after Nick Barkley left the roundup, they started shutting down the holding spot. Barrett said Nick was taking the other group and most recent hires out to a different site somewhere northeast. The round up was heading for its third and final week. Once they got this spot shut down, they'd head back to the bunk house and McColl's crew would finish up in the other spot. Which was fine with Jensen. He never did like sleeping on the ground, and after a week of it, he was ready for that nice bunk house. If he was lucky, maybe see some more of that pretty little gal, too.
As it turned out, shutting down didn't take all day like Jensen expected. Watson and these Barkley hands had it down pat, and Jensen was given a job with a beginning, middle, and end. He looked up when he finished and found the place had been shut down in just a couple of hours. There was a word for that...what was it...Oh, yeah! Efficient. This outfit was efficient.
That Heath fella, he hollered over to Watson, "I'm gonna check in with Nick and Mac. See ya later!" Jensen watched as he rode off.
A few hours later, Jensen rode into the main compound with the rest of the crew. Just seeing that big house again brought feelings of awe and maybe a little jealousy. Big, beautiful house like that—probably the President of the United States didn't live in a place that nice. Jensen sure would like to get a look inside. Not that he planned on taking anything, but it made sense to know where to find quick cash in case a fast getaway was needed. And, well, he was curious to see how the two Barkleys who ran such an...efficient...operation lived.
Once they got their gear put away, Watson sent him and three others to work on a fence repair job. It beat roundup, but not by much. By the time the afternoon was over, Jensen was well and truly tired of posts and wire and the damn cattle that pushed 'em down.
He followed the other hands back to the bunk house, looking forward to a good meal and sleeping inside again. As they rode into the main compound, he heard a buggy pull up in front of the house. The vaquero who took care of the barns held the horse as a nicely dressed man climbed down.
"Mr. Jarrod! Welcome home!"
"Good evening, Ciego! How're things around here?"
"About the same, Senor."
"Have the boys finished roundup yet?"
"Mr. Nick took the last group out just this morning, so I would guess another week or so. Joshua brought the other team in about lunchtime."
The fine dressed fellow nodded, "Well, it's mostly done then. There's not usually too many cattle get over to that last section...that's why Nick leaves it for last. Everyone's tired by then."
"Si, Senor."
"Is Heath home?"
The big Hispanic shrugged. "I have not seen him, but that does not mean much. He is like the wind, in and out of the barn before I know he's there."
A laugh accompanied his response. "You speak a greater truth than you know." He pulled a couple of bags from the buggy as he turned to go in the house. "Thanks, Ciego."
"No problem, Mr. Jarrod. I get the buggy back to the livery tomorrow."
Jensen walked to the mess. That would be the...oldest brother. The lawyer. Might be a good idea to steer clear of him. How did Jensen manage to end up working a ranch where a lawyer lived? How many ranches even had such a thing?
Then Jensen thought about what he'd witnessed in the exchange. The oldest son—a lawyer, no less—took the time to talk to the stable man. And that same man felt comfortable answering him. And him being a Mexican even. This outfit hired people of different colors and then treated them like they was just as good as white men. And worked with them. The strangeness only got stranger the longer he stayed.
As Jensen was cleaning up at the pump, he heard the approach of another horse. He turned just in time to feast his eyes on that pretty blonde filly. What was her name again? Audrey? Audrina? Something like that. Whatever it was, it didn't do justice to the princess of the realm. Seeing her again left Jensen speechless. And the way she rode that horse...sitting astride like a man. Wearing pants that showed off a womanly figure that beggared the imagination. Ought to be illegal for a gal to dress like that. Make the devil himself find religion.
When another set of hoof beats caught his ear, Jensen was able to pull his eyes away—good thing, too. It was Heath. One of her...brothers? Reckon they called him brother?
"Heath! Welcome home!"
"Hey, Sis!"
"It seems like months since we've seen you. Are you just getting in?"
"Yeah. After we broke the main camp, I headed over to see how Nick was getting on. Ended up spending the rest of the day with 'em."
"Nick didn't make you work, did he?"
"No, but he's ready for this roundup to be done. I figured if I could help that happen, then I ought to throw in."
"He's got you wrapped around his little finger."
"He does? The whole house jumps when you call, and you got the nerve to say he's wiggling a finger?"
Her smile was coy. "Well..."
"Mm-hmm. And you know, after all this time being out on the range, seems like someone would want to give me a big hug 'cause she's so pleased to see me."
"Oh, no, Heath. Don't you dare. I know how you boys are after you've been sleeping on the ground for a few days. You're dirty and grimy and smell bad. Don't you come near me!"
"Aw, come on, Sis. It's just good old California dirt and Barkley sweat. Nothing you don't deal with yourself every day." With that, he grinned and started stalking her.
She backed slowly away, holding her finger up in warning. "Heath. Don't you dare. I mean it. Not a step closer. Heath! Heath!" With that last shriek, she turned and fled, but he was on her in just a few strides. He lifted her off her feet as she protested with laughter and squeals. He threw her over his shoulder where she dangled like a sack of feed. In her position, she started slapping at his backside which caused him to smack the back of her legs.
When her efforts didn't have the outcome she wanted, she started tickling him about his waist. He laughed and twisted mightily, trying to get away without dropping her. "Audra, stop!"
"Put me down!"
"I said stop!"
"Put me down, Heath Barkley!"
"You want down? All right, fine. You're down!" And with that pronouncement, he dropped her into the horse trough, splashing half the water out in the process. And completely soaking that fine filly. Jensen couldn't help but notice that her clothes were all wet and clingy.
"Oh! You! I'm gonna get you for that!" She picked up the bucket beside the trough. Heath had turned to head for the house, but looked back at the last second. Just as the water hit him full in the face.
Total silence fell over the yard as they stood and looked at each other, the stillness very loud. Finally, he said, "Well, I did need a bath."
Her laughter bubbled up, and she opened her arms wide. He came back and lifted her out of the trough. Both dripping wet, they walked arm in arm to the back door of the big house, laughter trailing from their general direction.
Jensen just watched, completely mystified. They even left him alone with their precious princess. People of different races and a back woods colt. These were some odd people.
Jensen spent the rest of the week on the fencing crew. He kept his eyes and ears open, and his mouth shut. He didn't really learn anything more about the ranch or its owners except that after a night in the big house, the mongrel headed back out to work the rest of the roundup with Nick. None of the seasoned hands in the bunkhouse seemed especially surprised. Nor were they fazed when the roundup finished a couple of days early, and all the men came back late Thursday afternoon. When Tucson asked how they got done so fast, they were told that with Nick, Heath, and McColl all working, that they got finished sooner than expected. And while Jensen expected to receive Sunday off, it was nice to hear that the Barkleys gave them that Saturday too, as a bonus for finishing roundup sooner than expected.
When he got up Saturday morning, he had no plans other than heading into town to find out what was happening—see if anyone was looking for Lou Jensen. But after another fine breakfast, he followed most of the hands out to the big corral behind the house. It was filled with a new string of horses, some of the finest animals Jensen had ever seen. All the hands were standing around admiring them. And the fact that the whole Barkley family was out there didn't seem to bother anyone—family or hands either.
Standing together were the princess and the oldest brother—not in a suit today. Beside them was a small, trim, white-haired...lady. No other word came to mind as Jensen set eyes on the woman who called this place home. Though she was in pants and a shirt just like the princess, there was no doubt that she held a position of power. And he sure could see where the princess got her looks.
Heath was actually in the middle of the corral examining the horses up close while Nick sat on the opera rail with a couple of newcomers Jensen had never seen before.
Jensen looked at Sheltey, standing beside him. "What's goin' on?"
Sheltey offered a brief smile, "These two fellows come once or twice a year with whatever horses they think the Barkleys might be interested in. Sometimes they bring top mounts, sometimes a bunch of churn-heads, mostly a mix. It's fun to watch Nick haggle it out with them as he tries to figure how many of each kind they brung."
"That why Heath's in the middle? To size 'em up?"
"Yep. Watch Heath."
Jensen glanced at Nick who just sat the fence. The two fellows who brought the horses sat beside him, waiting to discuss terms. After a few more minutes, Heath looked at Nick. Jensen watched and waited, but nothing else happened. Then Nick climbed off the fence and walked off with the two men. Jensen looked at Heath, but he'd gone back to the horses and was no longer paying any attention to the boss.
Sheltey laughed. "Did ya catch that?"
Jensen didn't know what had happened. "Catch what?"
"Nick and Heath just 'discussed' what Nick would offer for the herd."
"They didn't say nothing."
"Yep. But look at Nick."
Jensen looked back to where Nick was talking to the two men who owned the herd. He was standing with arms folded, shaking his head back and forth, refusing their price. The two horsemen were gesturing and waving their arms, one turned as if to walk away completely, but Nick just stood there like an oak tree with deep roots. Finally, the two wranglers looked at each other and nodded. Ole Nick finally stuck his hand out, and they shook on it. Meanwhile, Heath was still in the corral with the horses.
"Come on, Jarrod! Time for you to earn your keep around here! We need a contract!" The boss's voice rang across the yard, and the oldest son, who didn't appear at all insulted by Nick's comment, tipped his hat to his mother and sister and headed back to the big house after Nick and the horsemen. Jensen let out a deep breath. Must be nice having a lawyer around when they needed someone to write out all the whereins and therefores.
Heath, meanwhile, had slipped a halter on a palomino gelding, and he led it over to the two ladies. Jensen watched close but he couldn't tell that Mrs. Barkley was at all nervous or cold with him. She smiled at Heath as she caressed the horse's nose and neck, and then she reached up to wipe something from Heath's jaw. He laughed, shook his head while covering her hand with his own, and leaned over to kiss her cheek. She grinned back like she was trying to scold a naughty little boy.
This place just made no sense at all.
