Cherry Springs

Chapter 5

"Well, I keep to myself mostly, and she's rather secretive. She's been a widow for years, moved here with her husband, but he died shortly after of a bad fever. That's all I know."

"I'm at a loss about what to do next. He might have had an accident or been attacked by a bear, but I feel like he arrived and then vanished. Their letters suggested he was going to invest in the ranch and maybe become more than partners. Belle says he left when things didn't pan out, but where would he go? I'm not sure if I should involve the sheriff yet. I have no evidence or leads. Thanks for listening," Anna replied, somewhat shyly.

"Of course, and I'm sorry about your brother. Maybe I can help somehow."

As they approached the next hill, it was clear where the cows were – grazing on the wrong side of the broken fence.

"See over there?" Duke pointed. "That's the property line. Thanks for helping with the cattle and the fence... my boss and I appreciate your cooperation. Belle and her team can be difficult."

His lean, tanned face turned toward her, and his green eyes glinted through the shade of his hat.

He's attractive, but I can't afford distractions. I need to find Walter and learn ranching, not get caught up in a one-sided attraction with a man who's likely indifferent. His conversation was friendly but strictly business.

They stopped at the first gap. Duke dismounted, unpacked the bags, and began organizing the tools.

"So, Duke Henson, how long have you been ranching cattle?"

"I grew up around cows, so about eight years, since my late teens. I'm in my mid-twenties now."

"Do you have family in town?" Anna asked, worried she might be prying.

"No, I'm not local. I keep to myself."

"And yet here you are, in a town alone. What's the story?"

Duke worked silently for a while before responding.

"Well, miss, let's just say married life turned out to be more trouble than I anticipated."

"You were married?"
"I was."
"What happened? You're still so young."
"Nothing I ever did was enough for her. She loved luxury, and I just couldn't keep up," Duke said, shrugging with a hint of regret.
"Where is she now?"
"She ran off years ago with a wealthier man, a better provider than a rancher. After that, I moved out here, keeping a low profile. Here, take this." He handed her a staple and a hammer.

Anna felt a pang of sympathy for him. He seemed like a decent man.

"Hey Duke, can I ask you a favor for tomorrow?"
"What's that?"
"I was hoping to have some time to look around the farmstead, maybe convince the maid to let me into the main house."
"Tell her you'll help her clean," Duke chuckled.
"That's not a bad idea. Actually, I'm here to find my brother, who disappeared after meeting Belle. I'm hoping to find some evidence in there, like her correspondence, maybe something more. I could get to know Lucy and Belle's daughters; they might know something."

"One thing, though. If I help you with this, and trust me, I'd like to, I need a promise from you."
"Sure...what is it?" Anna waited, anticipating a catch.
"If you truly want to learn, to avoid the marriage path your family wants for you, you need to respect the work and do it properly. I don't want to waste time on someone who isn't committed."

"I came here to find my brother, but I also want to do this job well. Before he disappeared, I hoped to work with him on his ranch, to escape from my parents and delay marriage. I never saw myself as a house lady like my mother," Anna explained.
"That's good to hear. Let me show you how to handle the cattle. As long as you're here, it'd be great to have a competent ranch hand. It'll prevent future issues between the ranches. You'll need help; ranching isn't straightforward. You could get hurt, damage fences, spook the cattle, or wear yourself out. I just want things to go smoothly. Also, you'll need a well-trained dog – I can help with Buster," Duke offered with a friendly smile.
"That would be fantastic! I already owe Buster a lot!"
"He helped you land this job?"
"He did," Anna laughed, sharing her stories, from her first chaotic day to the chicken fiasco the night before.
"My, you've certainly stirred things up already," Duke remarked.

He taught her how to replace the broken barbed wire, securing it with a special twist and tacking it firmly.
"See, that's the difference between a proper ranch hand and an amateur. If you twist the wire ends, double-tack them, and trim them neatly, the repair will last. I hate shoddy work. Now, let's admire our handiwork."

He retrieved a canteen of water and two apples from the rucksack.
"It's hard work fixing fences. Have a drink, if you don't mind sharing."

They shared the canteen and apples, quietly appreciating the repaired fence. Duke wiped sweat from his forehead; it was already hot in the midday sun of April.
Anna sought the cool shade of a tree, reluctant to return to Belle's and her worries about Walter.

"You're good at fence repair, but I bet I can climb a tree faster than you," she challenged, eager to demonstrate her abilities.

Without waiting for a response, she climbed a lower branch, thankful her work clothes made it easy and disregarding any need to appear ladylike. She scaled the tree with agility, widening her lead over Duke.

"Hey, that's not fair! You had a head start!" Duke protested, following her up the tree. But Anna was swift, reaching a comfortable branch with a breathtaking view of the mountains. The leaves framed the scene and offered shade.

"Here's your apple," Duke said, climbing up beside her, close but not touching. They ate in silence, enjoying the moment.

Anna leaned forward to see the distant ranch paddocks, and Duke steadied her by the waist, though she didn't really need it. She felt an urge to lean into him but checked herself, thinking it too forward.

"If I beat you down, you have to train Buster," she said playfully, descending to the next limb. Duke watched her closely, and she turned away, quickly making her way down. He landed just after she did, laughing at her triumphant expression. He seemed unusually slow – had he let her win?

"Maybe I need to teach you tree climbing. See you tomorrow for dog training," she said, winking at him as she mounted her horse.