Aundy (Pendleton Petticoats #1)(12)
Author: Shanna Hatfield

Stopping at the front walk, Aundy turned to Garrett. “Thank you for teaching me to shoot. I hope I never need to do it, but I appreciate you helping me learn.”

“You’re welcome, Aundy. Most welcome,” Garrett said, admiring the way the sun played in her golden hair. His mother must have been the one to pin it up in the poufy style because he knew Aundy couldn’t manage it with her arm in the cast. Although she looked polished and nice, he much preferred seeing it rippling like golden waves down her back.

Thinking of his hands in all that hair made his temperature climb and he cleared his throat, trying to chase his thoughts in a less amorous direction.

“Are you staying for supper?” Garrett asked, motioning Aundy to precede him down the walk.

“I’ve been enough of a burden to all of you today. If someone wouldn’t mind taking me home, I need to see to some things there,” Aundy said, waiting as Garrett opened the kitchen door for her.

“If you’re certain,” Garrett said, hoping she’d stay. He enjoyed hearing the cadence of her voice and the conversations around the dinner table were much livelier with her there.

“I’m certain,” Aundy said, stepping into Nora’s kitchen where the woman bustled around with dinner preparations.

“Certain of what?” Nora asked, sliding a pan of rolls in the oven.

“That I need to go home. Dent will be wondering if things went well in town today,” Aundy said, removing Nora’s apron, putting on her jacket, and picking up her hat. Setting it on her head, she attempted to jab a hatpin in one handed and struggled to get it into place.

Garrett wondered what she’d do if he helped her. He quickly shoved his hands into his pockets before he found out.

“Dent? What did he need in town?” Garrett asked, trying not to grin when Aundy’s tongue came out of the corner of her mouth as she fussed with her hat.

“Aundy lost four hands this morning. Up and quit when they found out she’s keeping the farm and staying. I neglected to mention it earlier,” Nora said, realizing she forgot about having Garrett send over some extra help. She told him who had quit and he shook his head.

“That leaves you really short-handed,” Garrett said, looking at Aundy. “I’ll send over a couple hands in the morning to help. Did you put an advertisement in the paper? Let people around town know?”

“Yes, we did,” Aundy said, giving up on her hat and pulling on her gloves. “That was one of the reasons we went to town. I hope someone responds to the advertisement.”

“I’m sure you’ll have plenty of people answer the ad, honey,” Nora said, giving Aundy a pat on the back as she walked her to the door. “You’re more than welcome to stay for dinner, but if you’re of a mind to go home, Garrett can take you.”

“Thank you, Nora. I appreciate all your help today,” Aundy said, giving the woman a hug before walking down the porch steps. Garrett quickly hitched the horse to the buggy and in no time they were on the road to her house.

“Do you think Dent can interview and hire the men?” Aundy asked as Garrett held the reins easily in one hand.

He turned his silvery gaze to her and studied her for a moment before answering. “He’s more than capable. Why?”

“I don’t think it would be in anyone’s best interest for me to conduct the interviews. With my lack of agricultural knowledge and the obvious problem of having a woman in charge, I thought it might be best to have Dent do the hiring.”

“Maybe, but whoever you hire will have to come to terms with the fact they are working for a woman at some point. Why don’t you and Dent interview them together?”

Aundy nodded her head, giving it some thought. She’d talk to Dent and see what he wanted to do. All of it depended on someone being interested in working for them. If they couldn’t get anyone willing to work for her, she didn’t know what they’d do. Running cattle and farming was extremely hard work and required many hands to make it successful.

“If you have trouble finding some help, you could always sell the cattle. That would lessen the load and the men you have could handle the farming part of the operation,” Garrett said, trying to think of ways to make things easier on Aundy. He knew a few of the men at Aundy’s place would rather work the cattle than the land, but the ones who stayed on were good hands who’d do what needed done. “You could also think about renting out some of the ground to someone else. Or you could run more cattle and put the wheat ground into pasture or plant seed to cut for hay. If you run more cattle, you’d have to have a way to feed them.”

“What would you do, if you were in this situation?” Aundy asked, looking at Garrett with her beautiful blue eyes moist and intent.

Turning his gaze to the road, he had to swallow twice before he answered her with his thoughts lingering on her inviting lips. “I think I’d see what kind of response comes from the advertisement. If that doesn’t go well, I’d probably sell the cattle. The price is good this year and then you wouldn’t have to worry about their feed and care.”

Glancing at Aundy, he took in the determined look on her face. He also couldn’t help but notice the freckles dotting her nose, or the pink hue the warm afternoon brought to her cheeks. Although he knew society’s standards wouldn’t consider her beautiful, he thought she was absolutely lovely. In addition to her outward appearance, he greatly admired her intelligence, fortitude, and gentle spirit.

“I’ll take that into consideration,” she said, turning her head and smiling at Garrett so warmly, he felt himself leaning toward her, wanting to kiss those rosy lips of hers in the very worst way. Her eyes widened and he caught himself before he did something he shouldn’t.

“If you decide you do want to sell the cattle, I’d be happy to help you find a buyer that will give you a good price. There’s a man in Umatilla who raises Shorthorns. He might be interested in expanding his herd.”

“Thank you. If I decide to sell the cattle, I’ll be sure to let you know,” Aundy said, relieved to see they were nearly to the house. She didn’t know how much more time she could spend in Garrett’s presence without losing all her common sense. For some reason, she got the distinct idea he almost kissed her a moment ago, but that was impossible. Someone as handsome, generous and fun as Garrett Nash wouldn’t want anything to do with her. He needed a beautiful, charming wife content to sit in the house and be domestic.

Aundy had never been fond of the domestic arts, as her mother called them. She was a good cook, could maintain order in a home, and perform all the duties flawlessly, but now that she had a farm of her own, she knew without a doubt she’d much rather be outside than in the house. Her spirit felt free out in the warm sunshine and clean air.

Maybe too free, she thought as she glanced at Garrett out of the corner of her eye. Reminding herself she was a new widow with no plans to be committed to another man, she straightened her spine and lifted her head. She would not allow her imagination or her longings to get the best of her.

“Here we are,” Garrett said, stopping the buggy at the end of her walk. Before she could get out, he was at her side, placing his hands to her waist and swinging her to the ground. His hand engulfed hers and she felt a charge of something powerful work its way from her fingers up her arm at his touch. Pulling her hand free while she still had the ability to do so, she hurried up the step and opened the door. Garrett followed behind, carrying her purchases from town. Setting them on the kitchen table, he tipped his hat to her and walked out the door without another word.

Aundy sank down on a kitchen chair, wondering what she was going to do about her farm, her lack of employees, and her feelings for handsome Garrett Nash.

Chapter Seven

“I don’t care what you think, I ain’t leaving til I talk to her,” a raspy voiced yelled from outside the front of the house.

Aundy dropped the book J.B. had given her to read about farming practices and hurried to open the door. Dent stood blocking the steps to a grizzled man, dressed in overalls so dirty it looked like he’d rolled around in a pigpen. Taking a breath, Aundy decided he smelled like it, too.

“You her?” he asked, raising his narrowed gaze to Aundy and spitting a stream of tobacco on the grass next to the front walk where he stood.

“I’m Mrs. Erickson,” Aundy said, pulling the door shut behind her. There was no way on earth she wanted the dirty, smelly man in her clean house. She took a step forward and Dent backed up a step so he was standing directly in front of her.

“Mrs. Erickson,” the man mimicked, waving a grime-encrusted hand in the air. “Ain’t she all prissy and proper?”

“Marvin, if you think you need to speak to her, fine. Speak. But you’ll keep a civil tongue in your head,” Dent warned, trying to keep between the man and Aundy.

“I’ll be fine, Dent,” Aundy whispered, stepping beside him, trying to act much braver than she was feeling. “I’m sorry, sir. I’ve not yet had the pleasure of making your acquaintance.”

“I’m certain it ain’t gonna be a pleasure to either one of us, gal. My name’s Marvin Tooley. Live over yonder,” the man said as he stabbed his finger in the direction of the farm both Garrett and Erik had mentioned. No wonder they’d warned her to stay away from the crotchety man. “I come to see if you and I could strike a deal.”

“What sort of deal?” Aundy asked. It had been three weeks since her hands quit and she and Dent hadn’t been able to find anyone willing to work for a woman. Even though Dent would be doing the supervising, word had gotten around town she was running the Erikson place. She’d been reading the book J.B. gave her trying to decide the best course of action. She was strongly considering selling her cattle to try to relieve some of Dent’s burden.

“I think it would be a right smart idea for us to get hitched,” Marvin said, spitting another stream of tobacco.

Aundy had to fight to keep from wrinkling her nose in disgust. She was certain she’d misheard the man. “My apologies. I don’t believe I heard you correctly. Could you please repeat your statement?”

“I said I want us to get hitched,” Marvin said, taking a step forward while Aundy backed up behind Dent. Maybe she should have let him run the man off without speaking to him. If Marvin Tooley was the last man on the planet and the only way to keep from falling into a black abyss was to marry him, Aundy would gather her skirts and jump into the dark void without looking back.

“No,” Aundy said, shaking her head. “No, Mr. Tooley. I won’t marry you. The only reason you ask is that you want my farm. The answer is no.”

“Figured you’d see it that way,” Marvin said, scratching his rotund belly. “Then I’ll make you an offer. I’ll buy your place, fair and square. Everything on it, and I’ll even let Dent and the boys keep working here, just to prove my generous nature.”

Marvin threw out a figure that made Aundy laugh.

Dent and Marvin both turned to look at her in surprise.

“I can assure you, Mr. Tooley, I may be a woman, but my father didn’t raise me to be a stupid one. The house is worth more than that by itself. If you’re trying to insult me, you have more than accomplished the job,” Aundy said, taking a step forward, no longer afraid of the man. “I’ll say this once and you can tell it to whomever you like, but my farm isn’t for sale. Not today, not tomorrow, not next month, not ever. I’m not interested in your deal or proposal and I won’t be, so please don’t offer again. Furthermore, my hands are not property. They are trusted friends so don’t speak of them in such a manner. I’m sure you can find your way off my land. Good day.”

Aundy turned and marched back in the house, shutting the door firmly behind her before going to the kitchen and making herself a bracing cup of tea. She was sitting there sipping it when a knock sounded on the kitchen door before Dent stuck his head inside, grinning broadly.

“Well, Missy. You sure set ol’ Marvin on his ear. He lit out of here so mad, I’m fairly certain a layer or two of dirt may have steamed right off him,” Dent said, letting out a chuckle as he sat down at the table and took the plate of cookies Aundy held out to him. She got up and poured him a glass of milk before resuming her seat.

“I didn’t intend to make an enemy, but I’d die before I married someone like Marvin Tooley and there is no way I’m letting him get his hands on Erik’s farm,” Aundy said, feeling her anger stir again at the thought of what Marvin Tooley suggested. It was terribly insulting that he would think she’d be interested in tying herself to a filthy old man like him.

“Truth to tell, Marvin doesn’t have any friends and he likes it that way. Heard he had a nice little family a long time ago, but something happened to them and he wasn’t ever the same after it.”

“That’s terrible,” Aundy said, helping herself to a cookie from the plate near Dent and dipping it in her tea before taking a bite. “I should have been kinder, but he caught me off guard.”

“As fair warning, you ought to know he won’t be the last. I heard some talk last time I was in town that there’s a young widow out here and some fellers think they could take advantage of you.”

“I’d like to see them try,” Aundy said, glad Garrett had continued her shooting lessons. She was proficient with Erik’s revolver and as soon as she got the cast off her arm, she planned to become equally as skilled at handling his rifle. A little gun that would fit in her reticule caught her eye at one of the stores the last time she and Nora went to town. With the information Dent just shared, she didn’t think it would be a bad idea to look at purchasing it or something similar.