The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [90]
The next morning, John walked to the barn to hitch up the wagon. His brothers gathered up the tools they’d need to mend fence, and Ember was packing them a noon meal. Steven rode up about the same time as the previous day.
“Mornin',” Steven said. “I’m like an old flea-bitten dog. I’m back to see if you’d sent that wire to Wyoming and if your brothers had made a decision about takin’ me on as a ranch hand.”
John shook his head, never liking to be the one to give bad news. “I’m sorry. I can’t afford to pay you until Aaron, Mark, and Davis are back in school. Evan plans to leave for university training shortly after. Then I’ll need to hire help.”
Steven slowly shook his head. “What about the option of helping out for a bunk and food for a little while? I’m powerful tired of an empty belly. I like the stars as a roof over my head but not in the rain and snow. I didn’t ride out to those other ranchers you told me about. Didn’t want any of them thinking I was up to no good.”
Compassion touched John. Never be it said that he let a man go hungry. But he hadn’t ridden into town to send the wire. A lot of work had beset them of late. John inhaled deeply. “I’ll go in and talk it over with Mama and Evan.”
“I’ll wait.”
John hesitated while his thoughts raced. Might be nice to have Steven here when he had to do deputy work, especially when Evan left. All Steven claimed he wanted was food and a place to sleep. Since he’d offered information for John to wire the ranch in Wyoming and his parents’ home in Missouri, he surely wasn’t a rustler. And none of them could spare the time today to ride into Rocky Falls to send the wires.
John refused to give in to pressure and then realize he’d made a dangerous mistake. Being head of the household seemed to get harder instead of easier. He walked to the barn and searched for his brother. “Evan, can I see you in the house for a minute?”
Evan obliged. He waved at Steven and pushed a shovel onto the wagon before following John to the house.
“What does Steven want now?” Evan said.
Alarm raced through John. “I take it you think there’s a problem with him.”
Evan shrugged. “Too mannerly for me. Like he’s hiding something.”
“He wants to work for food and a bunk.”
“Sounds like he’s hungry and tired of sleeping outside.”
“I can tell him no,” John said. “Remind him we need to hear from the ranch in Wyoming or his folks in order to verify what he told us.”
Evan stopped on the porch and stared at the man still mounted on his horse. “Seems to me a man wouldn’t offer that information if he was up to no good.”
“My thoughts too. I want to ask Mama’s opinion.”
Inside the house, he flashed Ember a smile, and she returned it—along with a strange look he had no idea how to decipher. Women … so hard to figure out. He wanted to ask her about Steven last night, but she’d gone to bed early.
The moment Evan closed the door behind them, he turned to Mama and Evan. “Steven’s back. He wants to know if he can work for food and a bunk until I can bring him on.”
“I’ll wait outside while you discuss this,” Bert said.
“No need,” Mama said.
“Uh, I think so.” Without another word, Bert stepped onto the porch.
She must be sick. Or possibly Ember didn’t feel like she should be present during family discussions. Later he’d discuss the matter with her.
Mama peered up at Evan. “What do you think, son?”
Evan hesitated and John gave him time to form his words. “Do you think it’s wise with the cattle rustlin’ going on?”
John studied his brother’s face before he responded. “You told me outside that you thought he was too mannerly. Do you have doubts about the man’s character?”
“It’s probably me,” Evan said. “Puts me in mind of a bully.”
Mama looked at the door, and John wished he could read her thoughts. “I watched him with the same concern as Evan, and I know you were sizing him up too. Did Ember recognize him?”
“She hasn’t said a word.” John turned to Evan. “Has she talked to you about him?”
“Nothing. And she’d give that kind of information to you, brother.”
“I failed