A Cowboy Of Convenience

Chapter Four

“Don’t think that I can’t tell you’re moving slower on my account,” Maggy said, her belly leading the way down the drive of the Running W.

Vienna laughed but maintained her unrushed pace to accommodate Maggy’s. She well remembered how her friend had kindly done the same for Vienna when she’d been pregnant with Hattie.

“I’m going to miss living here.” She linked her arm with Maggy’s.

A flash of sadness appeared in her friend’s blue eyes. “We still have plenty of time before you leave. West only sent off that letter to his friends in North Dakota this morning.”

“Do you think I’m crazy?” Vienna asked her.

The battle of anticipation and anxiety inside her hadn’t stopped since she and West had formulated their plans yesterday. Which emotion was winning largely depended on the hour and the direction of her thoughts. This evening, with her regular duties completed, her nervousness had taken the lead.

“To start a dude ranch or travel to North Dakota?”

Vienna shot her a pleading look. “Both?”

“Then no to both,” Maggy answered with a laugh. “I don’t know that I would’ve pictured you running a dude ranch before now, but with the two of you as a team, I can see how it plays to yours and West’s strengths and interests.” She had said as much last night after Vienna and West had presented their idea to the Kents.

Vienna gave an absent nod. “What about agreeing to a possible marriage of convenience?” A confused sigh dropped from Vienna’s lips. “Am I being foolish about that, Maggy? We both know how unhappy my first marriage was.”

“True.” Maggy’s gaze moved to the ranch’s iron archway as they walked beneath it. “But that doesn’t guarantee a repeat in another marriage. That’s conditional on the person you marry.”

Her friend was right. After all, Maggy had found great happiness in her marriage to Edward. “Besides, it wouldn’t be as if it were a real marriage,” Vienna said in an attempt to reassure herself. “Not like you and Edward have, anyway.”

“Still, you’ll have a friendship to base your relationship on, even if it is in name only.” An impish expression crossed her face and had Vienna bracing herself before Maggy added quietly, “And you never know, a marriage of convenience could turn into something more. After all, West McCall is kind, hardworking, handsome... Mrs. Harvey and I have been trying to find him someone to marry for more than a year now.”

Vienna’s cheeks flamed with heat. She couldn’t disagree with Maggy’s assessment of her potential groom without lying. But what if someone overheard them? She glanced around and felt immense relief that no one—especially West—was walking nearby.

“It wouldn’t be like that. This arrangement isn’t a setup for eventual romance.” She’d felt the fickleness of romantic love, for West in the past and then for Chance. Neither had yielded what she’d secretly hoped it would.

Maggy’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “More unlikely things have happened.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind taking care of Hattie for me,” Vienna asked next, deliberately changing the subject, “while West and I are in North Dakota?”

Maggy shook her head. “Not at all. It’ll give you a chance to focus solely on learning what you can about dude ranching.”

“I appreciate that.” She gave her friend’s arm a gentle squeeze. “I don’t know what Hattie and I would’ve done these past three years without you and Edward and everyone else here.”

Returning Vienna’s squeeze, Maggy said in a slightly strained tone, “I don’t know what we would have done without you. And I’m not just talking about your excellent help in the kitchen, either.”

Her honest appreciation of their friendship made Vienna smile. From the moment she’d met Maggy, she had been in awe of the other young woman’s strength and no-nonsense attitude. But Vienna wasn’t the only one who’d grown since coming to the Running W. Maggy was still as courageous and matter-of-fact as ever, but her marriage to Edward had softened some of her blunter edges. She more readily shared how she felt with those she cared about. And Vienna felt blessed to be counted in that number.

“I’d still like to come visit often, me and Hattie. If that’s all right with you.”

Maggy stopped walking and threw her a narrowed look. “If you don’t, I will be staking out your ranch.” As Vienna laughed, Maggy steered her around and tugged her toward the house. “We’d better head back now. Otherwise Edward will have to collect me in the wagon, and you know how much I would hate that.”

“Oh, I most certainly do,” Vienna said with another laugh.

Things might be rapidly changing around her, but she could draw comfort from the knowledge that she had God and dear friends to see her and her daughter through anything.

* * *

The new mare nuzzled West’s shirt as he led it out of the corral. “Nope, no carrots on me. You’ll get your treat in a minute, though.”

“You were right,” Edward said, walking along beside them. He’d been watching West and the horse for the last while. “She doesn’t appear to be much trouble to break.”

West smiled at the horse. “She may be a bit stubborn still, but she’s learning quickly.”

“I believe it also helps that she has a talented trainer.”

The compliment pleased him, and yet, it also brought a flicker of regret. This would likely be his last horse to train for some time. Because if things went well in North Dakota, West could very well be leaving the Running W for good.

“You sure you don’t mind my taking the time off for this trip?”

Edward shook his head, not a trace of hesitation in the gesture. “No.”

“Can I ask why?”

His employer led the way into the main barn. “You have a great opportunity before you, McCall, a chance to make your own way. I don’t fault you for a moment for wanting to take it.”

“It may not happen,” he pointed out. “Vienna may decide after this trip to do something else with her ranch.”

Opening the mare’s stall door, Edward stood back. “Perhaps. But even if you don’t end up setting out on your own this year,” he added with keen perceptiveness, “it will happen eventually.”

He was right, and they both knew it. But more than that, West was grateful that Edward respected his dream.

In some ways, their situations were alike. Edward Kent had also come from a wealthy family—though no one in the area, Edward included, knew West shared that similarity. The third son of an earl, Edward had left England for the United States eight years ago, eager to make a name for himself and establish a successful horse ranch—and the man had done both. However, unlike West’s family, Edward’s family hadn’t disowned him for following his dream to create a different life than the one he’d known growing up.

“Thank you.” West didn’t feel the need to elaborate—Edward would understand that his gratitude extended well beyond the time off to go to North Dakota. The man had given him a job as foreman almost eight years ago, even though West hadn’t worked in that sort of leadership position before. And he would be forever thankful for the experience and the friends he’d made during that time.

West led the mare into the stall, then backed away so one of the wranglers could brush the horse down. “She’ll be a great horse.”

“She will,” Edward concurred. “Though we may need her trainer to return now and then to help break in some of the others. If he’s willing, that is.”

He grinned—as much at his boss’s words as at Edward’s confidence that running a dude ranch was most definitely in West’s near future. “Of course, Boss.”

“I’d pay you for the help.” When West started to shake his head, Edward interjected, “I mean it, McCall. You have a gift. Besides, this way I can be of some assistance with helping your dude ranch get up and running, while also getting top-notch help with training some of my horses.” He held out his hand to West. “What do you say?”

“I’d say thanks again,” he replied, clasping the other man’s hand in a firm, friendly handshake.

Ten days later

The train whistle pierced the morning air, a signal to all the remaining passengers that it was time to board. Vienna clasped Hattie to her once more, then stood to hug Maggy. She’d never been away from her daughter for an entire day, let alone six. The prospect had her rapidly blinking back tears. This trip was for their future, she reminded herself. Both hers and Hattie’s.

“She’ll be fine,” Maggy reassured Vienna, taking Hattie’s hand into her own. “We’ll make cookies with Mrs. Harvey and go exploring. It’ll be great fun, won’t it, Hattie?”

The little girl eyed Maggy with slight hesitation. “Can I sneak some of the dough like Mommy lets me?”

She’d been unusually quiet on the wagon ride to the station. That fact, along with Hattie’s pinched expression, nearly had Vienna calling off the trip, in spite of all the arrangements West had made.

“Absolutely.” Maggy grinned at Hattie. “And I might sneak some dough, too.”

West came to stand beside Vienna. “We need to board the train.”

“All right.” She gave Hattie one more kiss. “I love you, sweetheart. I’ll be home by the end of the week.”

“With a special surprise for you,” West added as he bent down and tousled Hattie’s blond hair.

Her little mouth lifted into a full smile for the first time all morning. “A surprise for me, Mr. West?”

“A surprise just for you, Hattie girl.” He straightened. “And that means your mother and I need to hurry and get on that train.”

The little girl nodded with palpable enthusiasm. “Okay, Mr. West. Bye, Mommy.” She waved to Vienna without an inkling of reluctance this time.

Giving her a wave back, Vienna hurried after West and up the steps of the train. “Thank you,” she said as they moved down the aisle toward two empty benches.

“For what?” he asked, motioning for her to take the one that faced the depot. He sat on the opposite bench—close enough to continue their conversation but still maintaining enough distance between them to keep things proper as they traveled.

Vienna slid toward the window. “I appreciate you helping cheer Hattie up just now.”

“It can’t be easy leaving her.”

She waved vigorously at her daughter and the Kents, who waved back, until they were lost from her view as the locomotive rolled forward. “I know she’ll be fine.”

“But...” West prompted gently.

The gnawing in Vienna’s stomach that had started before breakfast stretched wider. “But I’ve never been away from her for more than a few hours. Now it will be six full days until we return.”

“Tickets, please,” the porter announced before West could reply.

Vienna withdrew her ticket and handed it to the young man.

“Traveling all the way to North Dakota?” He flicked a glance at West. “You and your husband?”

She gave a nod as he passed her back the ticket. “He’s not my husband, though.”

“No?” He studied her with new interest as he leaned casually against the seat back in front of Vienna.

What would he think if he knew Vienna was likely several years older than him and a mother and widow to boot?

“Let me know if you need anything, miss. I’d be more than willing to look out for you on your journey.”

West loudly cleared his throat, jerking the porter’s attention back in his direction. “Here’s my ticket, young man.” His gaze held more steel than friendliness as he presented the stub of paper. “And if the lady needs assistance, I’m here to help her.”

“But she’s not your wife,” the porter stated with a frown.

Vienna might have chuckled at the confusion on his face if she hadn’t felt so vulnerable—at saying goodbye to Hattie and at being the subject of the porter’s interest. The idea of leaving the safety and familiarity of the Running W to embark on such a new and uncertain venture felt suddenly overwhelming. Surely she wasn’t brave enough to do this. She would likely say or do the wrong thing. Doubt had her twisting her gloved hands together where they rested in her lap.

“Nope, she’s not my wife,” West answered in a level tone.

“Your sister, then?”

West shook his head.

“Sweetheart?” The porter threw a puzzled look in Vienna’s direction.

The sight of the young man’s bewilderment somehow broke the choke hold of her fear. She was here, wasn’t she? Surely that was a step of bravery. Offering the man a polite smile this time, she spoke again. “He’s a good friend and may possibly be my future husband and business partner.”

“Ah, I see,” the porter said, still eyeing them in a way that told them he didn’t. Vienna suppressed a laugh. Then with a shrug of his shoulders, he tipped his hat to her. “Pleasant travel, folks.”

As the young man disappeared through the door to the next car, West swiveled on his seat and looked her way, his head cocked in thought.

“What?” she asked, touching her hair where it was pinned up beneath her hat. Was there something amiss about her appearance?

One corner of his mouth lifted in a languid smile. The kind that used to set her pulse tripping seven years ago.

Used to? her head argued. Then why is your heart jumping about right now?

“You’ve changed,” he said at last.

Vienna ducked her chin and brushed a piece of lint off her skirt. “I have? How?”

“Saying what you did just now to the porter—all confident with no reticence.”

Her cheeks grew warm. “Thank you, I think.”

“It’s a compliment, Vienna.” He chuckled. “Your confidence is coming back.”

Lifting her head, she glanced at him. “Back? I don’t know that I was ever really confident before.” Certainly not while she’d been married to Chance. Even before that, while living on her aunt and uncle’s ranch, she hadn’t felt much self-assurance.

“It was there.” His expression held a trace of seriousness. “I saw it in you.”

Something like regret emanated from him, though Vienna couldn’t identify its source. “I was still shy, even before meeting Chance. Don’t you remember the first time we met?”

Instead of prompting the smile she expected, West turned toward the window. “I remember everything about that day.”

“Then you’ll remember that you tried to talk to me three different times at that picnic before I finally said a word.” She sniffed with amusement at the memory of her own timidity. How she’d ended up with someone like Chance—gregarious and impatient and the complete opposite of West McCall—she might never know. Then again, Chance’s outgoing personality had meant that when she was by his side, she could stay quiet and view life from a distance. It hadn’t been so bad at first until she’d realized that was exactly where her husband had wanted her to remain, indefinitely—in his shadow, with no voice or authority of her own.

Now the smile she’d been expecting appeared on West’s mouth. “As I recall it wasn’t a word you gave me. It was a laugh.”

He did remember it well. She’d been as uncertain as she’d been flattered by West’s attention, and when he’d made some joke about himself, she couldn’t help laughing. After that, there was no longer any reticence at being around him. She’d felt seen for the first time since her parents’ deaths—a feeling that expanded over time from camaraderie to friendship to...to love. For her, anyway. West hadn’t come to the same conclusion about their relationship.

“So it will take all day to travel to the dude ranch?” she asked, changing the subject. It was better not to focus on the timeworn memories between them. Otherwise she’d dredge up old heartache, and she’d had enough of that to last a lifetime.

West studied her a moment, while Vienna stared innocently back at him. He might have once been able to read her thoughts, but just like her romantic feelings for him, that was long ago. “It’ll probably be past suppertime before we reach the ranch.”

“And they know we’re coming?”

He grinned, breaking the tension between them. “They know. And what’s more, they said they can’t wait to show us around.”

* * *

Excitement propelled West to be the first one off the train in North Dakota, though he did turn back to help Vienna down the narrow steps and onto the depot platform. It was more than anticipation that their long day of travel was at an end. He hadn’t been back here in eight years, and in many ways, it felt like coming home.

The Custer Trail Ranch had been a home of sorts to West, and Howard, Alden and Willis Eaton as well as their hired hand and horse doctor Alexander “Alec” Russell were like family. West had exchanged letters with Alec and Howard in the years since leaving North Dakota. But they couldn’t compare to an actual visit back to the ranch that had been so instrumental in shaping his life.

“They’ll have sent someone with a wagon,” West reassured Vienna.

She looked tired, her forehead lined with weariness. “All right.”

“West!” he heard a familiar voice call out.

He turned to see Alec striding toward them. Grinning, West met his best friend halfway across the depot, where they clasped hands in a hearty handshake before clapping each other on the back. “You came to collect us yourself?” He’d half expected someone with fewer responsibilities around the ranch to drive into town to fetch them.

“Howard insisted,” Alec said with a matching grin. “So I didn’t have to wrangle up an excuse, though I was prepared to do so when I found out you were coming. How are you?”

West nodded. “I’m well.” Especially now that he was back here again, his dream of owning a dude ranch closer than it had ever been.

“Where’s this prospective business partner of yours?” Alec glanced past West.

He led his friend over to where Vienna stood, the handle of her valise clutched between her hands. “Vienna, I’d like you to meet my good friend and the Eatons’ right-hand man, Alec Russell. Alec, this is Vienna Howe.”

“How do you do?” Vienna said politely.

Alec lifted his cowboy hat, revealing his dark blond hair underneath. “Ma’am.” He threw West a puzzled look. “What about your business partner...”

“Vienna is my prospective business partner.” He’d left off telling them he was bringing a woman to the ranch, not wanting anyone to read more into his and Vienna’s relationship than was actually there. “She and I are thinking of starting up a dude ranch together.” He hurried to add, “Vienna was recently widowed and is looking for a way to revive her ranch back in Wyoming.”

His friend’s blue-gray eyes still widened with obvious shock. “Well, there you go. A potential business partner and a pretty one at that. Not to mention rather brave if she’s willing to work with you.” Alec chuckled at his own joke.

Vienna blushed, but unlike with the train porter that morning, she didn’t look uncomfortable at the flirtation. A tiny smile appeared on her pink lips as she ducked her chin. West felt a jolt of irritation shoot through him, though he wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t as if she was interested in his friend...was she?

“Where’s the wagon?” West asked, eager to end the unsettling moment.

Alec pointed a thumb over his shoulder toward the opposite end of the train station. “Parked it out front. May I help you with your bag, ma’am?”

“Yes, thank you.” Vienna relinquished her valise to Alec’s care, then trailed them across the depot to the waiting wagon.

West quickly stowed his bag in the back so he could be the one to help Vienna this time. Offering her a hand, he assisted her onto the middle seat of the buckboard. When Alec took up the reins, West joined him on the front seat. As they drove away from the station and out of town, he couldn’t help staring at all the farms that had cropped up in his absence.

“It looks so different from the last time I was here.”

Alec nodded. “There’s a lot more homesteaders now.”

“When was the ranch built?” Vienna asked as she leaned forward.

Turning slightly toward her, Alec answered, “Howard started here in 1879. And he’s built up a fine reputation for the place. Even Vice President Teddy Roosevelt counts the Eatons as his friends.”

“Really?” Her tone suggested a touch of awe. “Does the ranch’s clientele usually consist of famous people?”

Alec pushed up his hat. “Typically, the ranch’s guests are from wealthy families back east. Like mine, for instance, or even Wes—”

“I’ve got a story to tell you about Roosevelt, Vienna,” he interjected, cutting Alec off. He managed to maintain his usual unaffected air and easy smile, but that didn’t stop the sweat from collecting beneath his collar and hat.

No one in Wyoming, including Vienna, knew where—or more accurately, what sort of life—he’d come from before leaving Pittsburgh for good. His family was every bit as prestigious and wealthy as Alec’s, but unlike his best friend, West had been cut off from his family and his inheritance after he’d decided to become a cowboy against his father’s wishes.

Some of the old envy he’d once felt for Alec returned. It was partly the reason West had sought to find a job elsewhere, rather than staying on indefinitely with the Eatons. He had found it increasingly difficult to keep working alongside his best friend, witnessing constant reminders that Alec’s family had not only accepted their son and his choice of employment but had encouraged him, too. They had even paid for Alec to attend college to become a veterinarian doctor, and now West’s friend saw to the health of all the livestock on the Custer Trail Ranch.

Back home in Pittsburgh, West had seen how people reacted when they learned he was the only son of one of the richest men in the city. And he’d hated it. He wanted to be known for his own character and successes—not forever wondering if someone wanted to get to know him or hire him based solely on where he’d come from or how they could wield him for their own purposes.

That was why, when he’d left North Dakota for Wyoming, he’d chosen to keep his wealthy background to himself. He was no longer the heir to Lawrence McCall’s great fortune, nor did West want or need it, so he wanted to be known simply for who he was—West McCall, a poor but hardworking cowboy and horse trainer.

“What’s the story?”

Vienna’s question broke through West’s troubled thoughts about the past. “Right, the story.” Alec threw him a curious look. Ignoring it, West turned to half face Vienna. “The story goes that one time while Roosevelt was staying in a hotel, he shared a room with several cowboys. In the middle of the night, he was woken up by some men holding a lantern and a gun aimed directly at him.”

“How scary,” Vienna murmured.

“He probably was scared until he heard the men say that he wasn’t the one they were looking for.” West smiled, warming to his story. “Then they turned to his bedfellow and told the cowboy to come quietly. Which the man did.”