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  Maggie hugged her friend and greeted Señora Herrera. “I’ve been dying to see you both.”

  “How is your father?” Señora Herrera said. “I heard he has been ill.”

  Maggie eyed her uncertainly. “I’m not sure. He does seem a bit thinner and … well, he hasn’t discussed it with me, but I assume that if he was sick, he’s getting better.”

  “Ah, that is good.” Señora Herrera left to order some refreshments for the girls, and Carlotta drew Maggie to a cushioned settee.

  “Come, you must tell me everything about your stay in San Francisco.”

  “All right, but first tell me what’s going on in Brady and at the ranches.”

  Carlotta pulled a sour face. “Do we have to talk about the ranches? My father says your father is having trouble with his men, and that they are not happy with their wages.”

  Maggie was surprised the news had traveled so quickly. Had the Rocking P cowboys spread the word to the hired hands at other ranches?

  “Tell me, have you heard anything else about our ranch? I’m wondering how things have been while I was away. I get the feeling there’s a lot my father hasn’t told me.”

  “Well.” Carlotta looked around to check if anyone was near. “My parents say Señor Porter has fallen into melancholy since your mama died. It is very sad.”

  “Yes,” Maggie said, thinking of her father’s anger and hopelessness. “I’m trying to cheer him up, but he insists I can’t make things better. And he won’t listen to the men, even though I can’t see that they’re asking anything unreasonable.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Carlotta smiled. “Forgive me—I know it is not funny. But it seems as though they think they are factory workers or something. If they leave, then production will stop.”

  “I know,” Maggie said. “But life doesn’t stop on a ranch just because someone’s not doing his job.”

  “Oh, these men. They say we’re dramatic, but they think they can force people to do what they want with a little threatening. I say ignore them. That’s what my father would do. He’d say, ‘Stop that idiocy and go back to work.’”

  Maggie forced a smile. Her father had tried that and it hadn’t worked. “Well, if worse comes to worst, I may be out there rounding up the cattle.”

  Carlotta laughed. “You could do it. The men, they think we are helpless, as well as emotional. They don’t know that we could do most of their work as well as they can.”

  Maggie could see no reason to bemoan the situation at the Rocking P any further to Carlotta. “So, tell me about our friends. The last time I was home, you said that Peter Riddle had come a-courting. Are you still seeing him?”

  “Ah, no, that was a short-lived infatuation, I fear.” Carlotta laughed. “As soon as I discovered what a poor horseman Peter is, I lost interest.”

  Maggie chuckled. “Oh, you are too exacting!”

  “No, I don’t think so.” Carlotta shook her head, sending her waves of glossy black hair bouncing. “He cannot even ride as well as Lupe.”

  Maggie’s laugh became a hoot, since Lupe was Carlotta’s four-year-old sister, the youngest of the family’s five children. Carlotta joined her, and their laughter echoed off the adobe walls of the courtyard. Maggie hadn’t let out such a laugh since long before her mother died. After a minute, she searched her pockets for a handkerchief to catch the tears that had slipped from her eyes.

  “Show me what you are sewing,” she said. “Is there a party coming up?”

  “Not for weeks, but Mamacita and I want to have plenty of time and not be rushed. I plan to embroider the bodice in gold thread that Papa brought from Dallas.”

  She held up the partly finished garment, and Maggie exclaimed over it. For a few minutes, she almost felt she’d gone back in time to the days before she accompanied her mother to the sanatorium. But her life would never again be as simple or as carefree as it had then.

  Carlotta’s mother pressed her to stay to eat dinner with them, and Maggie declined.

  “I would love to, but I must get back and help Dolores with the boys.” She had told them about Leo’s accident. Both the Herrera women knew Sela Eagleton.

  “I will stop in at Dr. Vargas’s when we go to town,” Carlotta said. “I do hope Leo will be all right.”

  “I haven’t given Sela what I made for the baby,” Señora Herrera said. “We must be sure to go into Brady soon and see her.”

  Maggie pushed Duchess on the way home. She hadn’t intended to be gone so long. She’d be late for the noon meal, and she could only imagine Dolores trying to keep the boys quiet in the kitchen while she served Papa at the dining table. Maybe Shep would lend his help. She rode cross-country, over the range, so that she would get home as quickly as possible.

  When she burst into the kitchen, Dolores was drying the dishes. Tears streamed down her face.

  “What is it?” Maggie asked. “What happened?”

  “The little boys.”

  Maggie looked around the empty room. “Where are they?”

  “Shep took them into town.”

  “What for?”

  Dolores’s face crumpled. “Your papa. He said they cannot stay here. He said I can’t watch them and do my work properly.”

  Maggie put her arms around her and pulled Dolores to her. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have gone off and left you with them.”

  “It is not your fault.”

  “Let me talk to him.”

  Dolores shook her head. “He will not change his mind.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Maggie stormed from the kitchen and across the parlor to her father’s office. Blood pounded in her temples. She threw the door open without knocking.

  “Papa! What’s this I hear? You sent the little Eagleton boys away?”

  He pushed back his chair and gazed at her. “Don’t overset yourself, Maggie. They need to be with their parents.”

  “You know Sela can’t take care of them right now. This is unconscionable!”

  “She can find someone in town to watch them.”

  “What if she can’t?”

  He shrugged. “It’s not my problem. I pay Dolores to keep house and cook for us, and that’s plenty. I won’t let other people take advantage of her good nature.”

  “I was helping her with the boys.”

  “Not this noontime, you weren’t.”

  Maggie stamped her foot. “I went to Carlotta’s for a couple of hours. Papa, how could you do this?”

  “Very easily when my ranch is at stake.”

  “Oh, like keeping those poor little boys for a few days is a threat to the ranch.” She whirled and hurried back to the kitchen.

  “I saved you a plate,” Dolores said. “Give it here, quick. I’m going into Brady.” Dolores blinked her red-rimmed eyes. “You are bringing the boys back?”

  Maggie hesitated. “No, I don’t think so. But maybe I can find someone in town who will help Sela for a few weeks. If I can find a place for her and the children to board …”

  “That may be all you can do,” Dolores said.

  “Well, I’ve got some spending money left from my trip.” New resolve gave Maggie hope, and she lifted her chin. “I should be able to pay for a couple of rooms for them for a few weeks if I can find a place. Anyway, I’m going to try.”

  The men worked grimly all day. Each time they rode into camp to deliver a bunch of cattle, they asked Stewie if there was any word. Finally, as they gathered at suppertime, Joe Moore stood by the fire, waiting to address them all.

  “Leo’s leg is broken in three places. The doctor says he may never be able to ride again. I’da been back sooner, but I rode into Brady to get it straight from the doc. Leo looks awful. They’ve got him doped up because of the pain.”

  “Oh, man, what’s Sela going to do?” Early asked.

  Joe winced. “I don’t know. The boss said she’d have to take the kids into town with her to stay while she tends to Leo.”

  “Stands to reason she can’t leave
them at the ranch,” Bronc said.

  Nevada glared at him. “Why not? In the old days, the family would have helped her out—maybe found somebody to watch those kids for Sela.”

  “Well,” Joe said, “I was headed back here when I met Shep totin’ those kids in the wagon. He said Porter told him to take them to Leo and Sela and not bring them back.”

  Alex had to bite back the angry words he wanted to say. Several of the other men were not so restrained. The mildest comment was Harry’s “That ain’t right.”

  “My Rhonda would take care of ’em if she wasn’t working,” Bronc said. His wife assisted Dr. Vargas at his office to make extra money for the family, and they had a small house midway between the ranch and Brady.

  “Well, Mr. Porter said he can’t have them on the ranch without their parents there to supervise them,” Joe said. “Don’t get mad at me—I’m just telling you what I heard from Shep.”

  “Has Sela got a place to stay in town?” Alex asked.

  “She said she’d been right there at Doc Vargas’s since it happened, but she looks plumb wore out.”

  Alex could understand the men’s anger. It wasn’t right, and they all knew it. Sela couldn’t sit at her husband’s bedside and tend to three rambunctious young children and a new baby.

  Tommy looked at Alex and Nevada. “Can’t we do anything about this?”

  “Yeah, we can.” Nevada bristled with fury. “This has gone too far. A man gets hurt bad like that, his boss should take care of him, not toss him away like a piece of garbage.”

  Alex clenched his teeth. His hands curled into fists, and he couldn’t hold back any longer.

  “All right, boys. Maybe it’s time we talk about a strike.”

  The sun had set by the time Alex rode toward the ranch. He’d left the other men at the camp with instructions to keep a night watch on the cattle as usual until he returned. He hoped they wouldn’t let their anger boil over.

  He galloped the first few miles just to work out some of his fury. Then he reined in the horse and finished the trip at a slower pace. By the time he reached the ranch house, he was calmer.

  Lord, You’d better help me, so I don’t blow up and say things I shouldn’t say.

  Alex wasn’t sure the prayer even made sense, but he knew he couldn’t go back to the roundup camp without either a promise from Porter or the courage to lead the men in walking off the job.

  His brisk knock was answered almost at once. Maggie stood just inside the big parlor, wearing a blue dress that matched her eyes and showed off her figure.

  “Uh …”Alex cleared his throat. “Is your father in?”

  “Yes, he’s in his study. Come on in, Alex.”

  He snatched his hat off and followed her inside. She sounded glad to see him, and she was smiling. But he’d thought she and Sela were friends, back before Maggie went away. How could she be so happy if she cared about Sela and Leo?

  “How’s the roundup going?” she asked.

  “Not good.” He didn’t meet her gaze.

  Maggie hesitated. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “You know about Leo?”

  “Yes, and I’m sorry he and Sela are going through this. I went in to see Sela this afternoon.”

  “Is she all right?” Alex asked.

  Maggie shrugged. “She has a lot to deal with, as you know. But she’s a strong lady.” She went over to the study door and knocked, then opened it. “Papa, Alex is here to see you.”

  “Send him in,” came the muffled reply.

  Alex walked in and closed the door. He turned to face Mr. Porter and squared his shoulders.

  “Alex. What’s the news?”

  “We’re striking.”

  “What?” Porter’s face went deep red. He pushed himself up from his desk. “How dare you come in here and tell me that?”

  Alex swallowed hard. “I don’t like it either, but we don’t know what else to do, sir. The men have some demands. If you’re willing to meet them, they’ll go on with the roundup just like normal.”

  “You insolent—Have you forgotten everything I’ve done for you?”

  With difficulty, Alex managed to hold his gaze. “No, sir, I haven’t. I’ve always admired you and appreciated every chance you gave me. But this thing with Leo, well, that was my limit.”

  “Your limit.”

  “Yes, sir.” When Mr. Porter said nothing, Alex went on. “The men want more pay if they can’t have their own herds, and we all want to see Leo get some compensation—not just Leo, but anyone who’s injured while he’s working for the Rocking P in the future.”

  By that time, Porter’s face was purple. “And you agree with the men on these … demands?”

  “Yes, sir, I think they’re reasonable.”

  “And if I say no?”

  “Then we all walk off the job together.”

  “In the middle of the roundup?”

  “Yes, sir, if need be.”

  Porter stared at him stonily while he inhaled and exhaled. “All right, Alex. You go ahead and do that.” Alex’s stomach dropped. “Sir?”

  “You heard me.” Porter’s voice rose. “Go tell the boys. You can all leave. I’ll hire someone else. Now get out of here!”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The door to her father’s study opened and Alex stormed out, his face taut. Maggie didn’t think he even saw her. He marched out the front door and closed it firmly behind him, rattling the windows.

  She ran and opened it, then flew across the porch and down the steps. “Alex, wait!”

  He turned toward her, his brown eyes hard with anger. “What is it?”

  “You’ve ruined everything!”

  “Oh?” He laughed and turned toward his horse.

  Maggie stepped closer. “I wasn’t here when the men brought Leo in, but as soon as I found out what happened, I tried to get Papa to help him and Sela. But Papa was all out of sorts. Not with Leo. He was angry because the men were making trouble, but after—”

  “We’re making trouble? That’s insane.”

  “His words, not mine. Forgive me. I was going to talk to him tonight. I think I could have gotten him to sympathize—but not now.”

  Alex shook his head, and Maggie reached to touch his arm.

  “Yesterday I thought we could get things back to normal here, but then today we had a setback.” She hadn’t wanted to tell him about her father’s latest breach of conduct, but Alex and the other men would find out anyway when they visited Leo.

  “What happened?”

  She looked up into his brown eyes. Maybe he would listen, and together they could figure out what to do. “I’d been helping Dolores care for Leo and Sela’s children, but I—I went away for a couple of hours. I shouldn’t have done that, but I did. And when I came back, Papa had sent Shep to take the boys to Sela in town.” She couldn’t keep her face from crumpling as tears flooded her eyes. “I really thought I could make him understand, and that after a while he would see your side of it. But I shouldn’t have gone away this morning.”

  “So how does that make it all my fault?”

  She sighed. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I still hoped that if I just had another day or two to work on Papa, I might be able to get him to relent. But now you’ve defied him outright. He’ll never forgive you.”

  Alex glared at her. “I’m not the one who needs forgiveness, Maggie. There’s a lot you don’t know.”

  “Please—” Her voice shook, and she hated that. He wanted to play the injured party? She would not cry in front of him.

  “I thought you were Sela’s friend,” he said. “What are Leo and Sela going to do now?”

  That hurt a lot. She’d never known Alex to be so stubborn. “I don’t know. I’ve done what I could to help them.”

  “I’m sure your father thinks he has, too.” Alex jumped into the saddle and rode away.

  Maggie stood watching him until his horse disappeared into the darkness. He never rode in from roundup this
late. He should be getting ready to sleep, with the other cowboys. It would be nearly midnight when he got back to the camp. But would it matter, if they truly intended to strike? They might be up all night laying plans.

  The breeze stirred, and she felt tears wet on her cheeks. She wiped them away and went back inside. She was exhausted from her long day, but she couldn’t leave things as they were.

  The study door was still shut. She pulled in a deep breath and marched over to it. Without knocking, she turned the knob and went in.

  “Papa, I want to know what’s going on, and I want to know now.”

  He was sitting behind the desk, slumped in his chair, but he straightened when she spoke. His face was gray, and he grimaced as he moved.

  “Don’t meddle in things you don’t understand, Margaret.”

  Maggie cringed at that. He’d never called her Margaret unless he was displeased with her behavior. It had been years since that had happened. She stepped closer to the desk.

  “I want to understand, Papa. Help me to understand, because the way you’re acting baffles me. I’ve never seen you like this before.”

  “Times have changed.”

  “Times aren’t the only things. You’ve changed. What is it? What happened while I was away to make you like this?”

  He met her stare for several seconds and then faltered. “Oh, Maggie, I didn’t intend for it to be this way.”

  She rounded the desk and knelt by his chair, taking his hands in her. “Papa, tell me. What is it?”

  He let out a deep sigh, full of remorse. “Your mother’s treatment … sweetheart, it took a lot of money.”

  “More than we had put away?”

  He nodded. “All of that and the money I’d earmarked for new stock, and more besides. I still owe a lot.”

  “But … you paid for my upkeep, too, while I was with her. I never heard that the bills were late.”

  “I made sure they weren’t. Didn’t want you to worry. But the sanatorium … that bill got so big I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t do it.” Tears glistened in his eyes, and he turned his face away from her.

  “Oh, Papa. Why didn’t you tell me, when I came home for the funeral? I didn’t need to go to San Francisco. I could just as well have stayed here with you. I’d have been happy.”