The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [19]
He rode on up to the grand house without meeting anyone. Oberlander must have seen him coming, because he stood on the front porch and watched John make his way toward him.
“Mornin', John. I’ve thought about you since I saw you in church. Haven’t had a good belly laugh like that in a long time.” He puffed on a pipe.
“You and my brothers.” Let Oberlander laugh all day as long as they agreed on a deal for the six hundred forty acres.
“What brings you here? You’re not the type of man to pay a social call.”
The man knew John well. “I’d like to talk business, sir.”
Oberlander invited John inside to a room off the kitchen that he used as an office. The smells of fine whiskey and stale tobacco permeated the room, and the expensive furnishings made him nervous. He took a quick glance down at his boots to make sure they were clean. If his mama had a house as fine as this, his brothers would have to work real hard not to wrestle and destroy it.
While the two men settled back in plush, leather chairs, a wrinkled Mexican man brought them fresh coffee.
“What can I do for you?” the big man said. “Is your new ranch hand more than you bargained for?”
“She’s helping my mother, so I don’t have to keep her in tow.”
Oberlander chuckled. “When did she tell you about being a female?”
Humor him. “A few days after she arrived. When my brothers told her it was time for a bath.”
Oberlander enjoyed John’s blunder and leaned forward, rubbing his palms. “I know you’re a grown man and a smart one. Always admired how you jumped in with both feet to take over your mama’s ranch, and done a better job than a lot of men. But watch out. A young woman doesn’t travel alone without a past. You don’t want to get tangled up in a feud. She might have slit some man’s throat. And, John, don’t let that pretty little lady wrap you around her finger. There might be a jealous husband looking for her.”
“Yes sir.” Uneasiness crept over John with a chill that raced up his spine. He’d considered the same thing about Bert several times himself. A matter he’d put off too long in discussing with his mother and Evan.
“Ever figure out why she was riding my horse?”
“Not yet. But I’m determined to find out the whole story.”
Oberlander’s low laugh reminded John of a bear. The man had a reputation for being rough, but in actuality Victor Oberlander was more of a shrewd businessman with a strong code of ethics — his own. The problem came when someone stepped over the line of his rules. Then he got rough—been known to bring on a fight now and then.
“When you find out the reason, I want to know. Over the years I’ve learned that falling for a woman has more disadvantages than advantages. Some are good women, the kind who encourage you in gentle ways to be a better man. Others spell trouble. If you need a woman, head into the saloon and get yourself fixed up there.”
Not exactly a statement for a churchgoing man to make. Neither was his habit of drinking whiskey.
Oberlander leaned back in his chair. “You’d think I was your father. But I’m just looking out for you.”
“I appreciate it, sir. You’ve given me advice over the years I should have paid for.”
“Oh, you have. In sweat and an aching back.” He opened a brass box on a table beside him. The moment he lifted the lid, the aroma of fine tobacco filled the room. “You smoke?”
“No sir. Never took it up. Guess when I’m ready, I’ll try a pipe.”
Oberlander pulled out a cigar and stroked it like it was a bar of gold. After striking a match, he stuck it in his mouth. “What brings you here today? Breeding my mare?”
“We can talk about that if you like. I’ll get right to the point. What I’m wondering is if the parcel of land between our ranches is for sale. I’m ready to pay you a fair price.”
“Keep it up, and your ranch will be competing with mine.