Chapter 6
The next few days turned out to be not too bad, as far as Julie was concerned. She found that she enjoyed being pampered, not having to do anything, but get well, was so new to her, but, at first she reluctantly did as she was told, but eventually came to realise how lucky she was at being found by Adam and brought to his home.
She had begun to feel so at home, here with Mrs S. and all the Cartwrights. How was she ever going to repay her debt to them. And she knew she would have to leave soon as she was beginning to have the wrong thoughts about Adam. He was such a comfort to her. Reading to her, listening to his melodious tones, gave her such a sense of calm and safeness. But it would not do. She had to leave.
Then on the fourth day after breakfast, Mrs S. came in to help her to dress in readiness for her daily exercise.
"Can we try a little longer walk today, Mrs Shaughnessy?"
"I don't see why not. You've come along so well. All that liver must have done its work."
"It sure has. I didn't know how important it was."
"You must always add liver to your diet. You don't need to have it every day, except when your feel tired, liver helps the cells in your body to change food into energy. Out bodies need this energy to be able to do everything from moving, to thinking, to growing."
"I will remember that, Mrs Shaughnessy, Your advice is generously given and accepted. Many thanks."
Julie was now fully dressed and ready to take the air. They both walked outside.
"Can we see the men at work today, Mrs Shaughnessy? Julie asked.
"Of course. Ben and the boys organised their workday at breakfast, Ben to the books while the boys will be around the corral. They're breaking horses today," Mrs S. told her.
"Oh, that sounds like something to watch." So they made their way across to the coral.
"Hello there," Hoss said, as they approached. "Should you be out this far?"
"Of course. It's not that much farther than I walked before. I'm a lot stronger now, Julie informed him.
"Good to know you're doing so well."
Just then an all to familiar loud voice sounded. "What are you doing all the way out here," Adam shouted. Then looking at Mrs S. he said, "Did you have trouble with Julie this morning, Mrs S? I know she can be stubborn."
"Just like someone else I know," Mrs S. replied, and looking at the fury displayed on Julie's face, she thought she'd speak up before Julie did. "As a matter of fact, Adam, Julie has improved so much, I decided a longer walk was acceptable and I thought watching what you men did for a living would give Julie some insight of ranch life."
Julie wanted to kiss Mrs S. right there and then, but she beamed at her instead. She had definitely found a friend and ally.
"Duly chastised," Adam said. "I apologise, Julie."
"Accepted," Julie acknowledged. "Nice to see you brought down to size for a change," and giggled. "Pax?" She said, holding out her hand.
"Pax." replied Adam, and shook the hand offered.
"So, Adam, tell me what's happening here."
"Well, as you can see, Joe is waging war with our last victim. Once Joe had brought the stallion to a tired place, we let him rest, the horse I mean, not Joe, although Joe will get a rest as I'll take over for, hopefully, the last stage."
"Does it hurt the horse at all?"
"Well, not physically, but I guess he loses its pride more than anything. But he'll be well looked after in his future life."
It seems a tough job alright. Do you ever fall off, break bones?"
"It is a tough job, but it comes with all the work of running a ranch. And of course there have been injuries along the way. Hoss here, broke his collar bone once…."
"Oh, Hoss, that must have been very painful," Julie commiserated."
"Not too bad, Miss Julie. It did give me a break from a lot of chores though. Joe and Adam made sure I owed them," Hoss told her, good-heartedly.
"Don't you listen to Hoss, he's exaggerating," Adam said.
"Hi there, Julie," Joe's voice joined the group. How come you're out this far?" He asked.
"You too?" Julie moaned.
"Me too, what? What'd I say," Joe said, who practically pouted.
"Sorry, Joe," Julie replied. "It's just that everyone has asked me the same question."
"Oh, sorry," Joe said.
"No need, Joe. It just shows how concerned you all are about my health. I thank you all."
All this time Mrs Shaughnessy observed Julie and the three brothers. There was definitely a bond being created and she wondered who was she setting her designs on. She felt, although stubborn, deep down Julie was a decent young woman with a good heart. She didn't know her story of course, but knew the Cartwrights would help her if she was in trouble.
Adam decided the stallion had rested long enough, so had made his way across the coral to the opening pen.
"He hasn't given that horse much of a rest," Julie pointed out.
"Actually, it's just about the right amount of rest," Hoss told her.
"Really," she said in surprise.
"Yep."
"Go on Hoss, tell her why," Joe said.
"Well," Hoss started, "You see, Joe started with that horse yesterday and did a lot of the hard riding. Then today he went at him again today, getting the horse used to having someone on his back. The horse by now is tiring and when Adam takes over the horse gives in because he's tired."
"So Adam gets the easy job. How typical," Julie sarcastically said.
"Not so, Miss Julie. Joe, Adam and me take turns on who goes first and who goes last, so we each have to learn to take the rough with the smooth," Hoss told her.
"Oh," Julie said. "I've done it again, opened my mouth before listening to the facts."
Both Hoss and Joe laughed. "Well, Julie, you weren't to know," Joe added. "But Adam will try to get out of some things, if he can, but it doesn't always works." Joe gave Julie a big grin, which caused all of them to laugh again, including Mrs S. who was enjoying listening to the group.
"Oh, look," Julie cried, "Adam's on the horse now. Oh, oh! The horse is still bucking."
"But not quite as much as when I was on him," Joe pointed out.
"If we're lucky we'll have the last horse broken and trained by the end of the morning," Hoss added.
"And then what?" Julie asked.
"We'll sell them to the army as they always want new mounts and to anyone else who is looking for horses," Joe told her.
Julie was fascinated watching Adam as he bucked around the corral and then all of a sudden she could see the horse slowing down. How right Joe and Hoss were. It was Adam's easy day alright. I guess next time he'll get first go next time, and she smiled to herself.
Her mind was running away with her. How wonderful it must be to live here, on this beautiful land, she thought. The Cartwrights had worked hard to make this ranch work. How large an area it seemed. They must be very wealthy. Stop this way of thinking, she chastised herself. I'm not staying. I should be well recovered by next week. I'll write Adam a thank you letter and then leave when they least expect it. How sorry I'll be to leave this wonderful family, but leave I must. Don't want to bring any trouble their way, because of me.
"Hi there," Adam called. He got no reply. He could see that Julie was miles away. So he walked up to her and said, "Julie, are you okay?" Julie was startled from her thoughts and almost lost her footing and stumbled, but Adam caught her just in time, his arm securely around her waste.
"Sorry, Julie, to startle you like that, but I did call. You seemed far away in thought."
"No, I'm sorry, Adam. I wasn't paying attention." And she tentatively reached for his arm to pull away from him. As she did this she, foolishly, looked up into his eyes and found he was gazing into her eyes. They shared a moment before she straightened up and said, "So the horse is finally broken then and ready to sell?"
"Well, almost. But the worst is over. We just have to reassure him he is safe."
"And how do you do that?" She asked.
"We get close to him, talk to him, groom him, give him some treats and ride him of course. It all helps."
"Still some work to do then?"
"Sure, but it's all for our benefit in the long run." Adam thought for a moment then said, "How would you like to help, seeing as how you're feeling a lot stronger?" He asked.
"You don't mean for me to ride him, do you?" She said, alarmed.
"No, no, no, no. Just to give him his first treat. We have a box of apples we keep in the small barn there. Horses love apples."
"Well, okay. That is something I should be able to do."
"Oh, have you done that before?" He asked.
"Oh no. I just thought it surely can't be that hard. You'll show me though, right." She lied.
They slowly walked over to where the horse was stabled in the barn. They found the horse a little nervous. Adam told Julie he could see from the horse's eye roll that he was still nervous. "A trait some females tend to use." He said, and winked at Julie. She almost gave Adam an eye roll, but thought better of it, realising he was not a fan of it and didn't want to provoke him.
Adam reached into the box of apples and brought two out, reached into his jeans pocket and produced his jack-knife and promptly cut the apples into halves and handed a piece to Julie.
"Just keep your hand flat and hold it out to him, the horse will do the rest."
Julie held her hand out nervously and the horse stepped forward to the pen rail, stopped and looked at Julie's outstretched hand. But eager for the apple he dropped his head and took the apple. Adam quickly gave her a second piece which she once again the horse was eager to take it.
"You're doing so well, Julie," Adam said, praising her efforts.
"Thanks," she acknowledged. "Tell me, Adam, where do you get the horses to begin with."
"Well, some are found on the range, wild horses that is. But we also breed horses too," he told her.
"Wow!" How she wished to tell Adam how much she loved horses and had learned to ride at a very young age. But she must keep up the charade.
"I think it's time to get you back to the house for a rest," Adam suggested, and offered his arm to walk her back.
"I'm feeling fine, I don't need a rest. Truly," she moaned.
"It's not been a week yet, so let's not tire you out.
"You really are a bossy pants."
"That's right, especially when I'm looking after the welfare of pretty young ladies."
"Oh, a flatterer too. Something you learned from you Pa?"
"You'll find whatever I say, I mean. I don't flatter or lie."
"Sorry, Adam." I dread to think what Adam would say or do if he found out about the lies I've been telling, she thought.
"Okay, apology accepted." He then offered his arm again and this time Julie put her arm through his and they ventured off towards the house.