Anna Zogg - The Marshal's Mission

“I’m ready.” Positioned inside the circle of rope, Lenora kept it taut.

“Toby, you’re doing great.”

Her son took a firmer grip on the halter.

“Lenora, lean your weight on those lines a little more. Perfect.” Digging his boots into the soil, he rasped as Porky strained against him. “More pressure.”

With the rope around her waist, she was nearly leaning backward. Cole seemed to be pushing as hard as he could to shift the calf. Porky strained while Toby stood spread-eagled at her head.

“That’s it, Lenora.” Cole grappled with the slick line. “Harder.”

Rope cutting into her, she groaned. One moment she was leaning back with nearly her full weight, the next toppling head over heels as Porky gave a huge bellow. With a gush of birthing fluid, a small form slid from its mother.

Lenora staggered to her feet as Cole untied the calf’s hooves.

“A heifer.” He met Lenora’s gaze, mouth tight. The little baby lay unmoving, a small heap of slick, black hair.

Before she could entreat him to do something, he was already on one knee, clearing the mouth and blowing into her nostrils. He thumped the calf’s rib cage and rolled her to her chest several times. After endless moments, the baby coughed and shook her head.

Cole grinned at Lenora. “Looks like she’s gonna make it.”

Throat tight, she merely nodded.

“What about Porky?” Toby piped up.

The new mama appeared exhausted, head hanging low, nose nearly touching the ground.

Without answering, Cole dragged the newborn under Porky’s nose. She seemed not to care. Struggling to hold up her wobbly head, the calf gave a sharp bawl. As though awakened in an instant, Porky snuffed at the twitching form. In minutes, she was making low sounds in her throat as she cleaned her baby with a long tongue.

Clutching her hands to her chest, Lenora released several pent-up breaths as she watched the miracle of a new mother with her calf. Embarrassed when she caught Cole staring at her, she brushed a tear off her cheek.

Dusk had begun to settle on the landscape, but enough daylight remained for her to see Cole’s mud-streaked chest. She knew she, too, must look a fright, but she didn’t care. When their gazes met, she smiled.

“You did good. Real good.” The warmth of his approval beamed from his nod and crooked grin.

“Thank you.” She could barely get the words out.

When the calf fought to stand on unsteady legs, Porky staggered upward. As she licked the stiff black hair, she knocked the calf over several times. Lenora made a sympathetic sound when the newborn toppled yet again.

“Glad we got her out in time.” Cole pointed to the darkening horizon. “Daylight’ll be gone sooner than we think.”

Purple streaked the sky. The deep color reminded her of...

“My pie,” she blurted. Had she left it in the oven? She couldn’t recall. By now it would be burned to a crisp.

“Go on to the house.” Cole indicated the direction with his head. “Toby and I’ll make sure these two get settled in the barn.”

Lenora bolted. When she reached the porch, she tossed aside her filthy apron before going inside.

All her cooking was as she had left it. She blew out a breath of relief. Now she recalled taking the pie out and the pans off the stove. After washing her hands, she stoked the fire. A glance in her bedroom’s mirror confirmed she looked a sight. Dirt smeared her face while her hair streamed across her shoulders.

Before Cole and Toby arrived, she changed out of her dress and washed herself with cold water. She didn’t bother trying to fix her hair beyond raking fingers through the tangles and tying it with a loose ribbon.

Was her partially baked pie still edible? Back in the kitchen, she assessed the gooey crust, soaked with the juices of the wild berries. Perhaps if she heated the oven hotter than usual and rebaked it, the pie could be rescued.

Two sets of footsteps on the porch alerted her the men had arrived. Toby entered first, grinning while Cole remained by the door.

“Porky and calf are safe in the barn. I’ll keep an eye on them tonight.” Cole stood just inside, fingers gripping the handle. His shirt and vest were back on, but she could see a streak of filth across his neck that disappeared under one button. “Thought I’d let you know before I bed down for the night.”

“You’re staying for supper, aren’t you?” She bit her lip at how eager she sounded.

He hesitated a moment. “Don’t want to be any trouble.”

“You aren’t. Just cold beans and bread.”

Still, he appeared to vacillate.

Toby glanced between them. “I’ll go wash up, Ma.”

After her son went to the outside basin, Lenora spoke. “Cole, I—”

“You don’t need to—”

They both stopped.

He tilted his head. “Ladies first.”

After taking a deep breath, she again started. “I wanted to thank you.”

“I believe you already did that in the pasture.”

“Yes, but...” She paused, aware of the heat that singed her cheeks. “But I needed to repeat it. You didn’t owe us...me any favors. Not after the way I—”

“Say no more.” He held up a hand.

“Please, allow me to apologize.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Truly.”

Though she still didn’t know how the coop had been damaged, she hoped it wasn’t because of him. She didn’t want it to be.

Lord, please don’t let me be wrong about Cole.

She took a quick breath. “And my earlier offer still stands. Feel free to stay as long as you like.”

Head tilted, he seemed to contemplate her words. “I’d be pleased to accept, Lenora. As long as you don’t mind my doing some chores in exchange.” He turned, but stopped and again faced her. “I’ll be back after I wash up.”

He disappeared into the dusk. Heavy boots tromped across the porch and down the steps. She pressed cool hands against her cheeks. When Toby burst into the room once more, she swiveled so he wouldn’t see her face.

He began setting the table. For three.

“Come up with a name for the calf yet?” She strove to keep her tone light.

“I was thinking Coal. On account of her having no white markings at all.”

Pondering how to voice her concern, Lenora chewed her lip. “Shouldn’t you check with Cole first? He might not like having a calf named after him.”

“Already did.” Toby smiled up in her eyes. “He laughed, Ma. Told me it was a grand name.”

Lenora smoothed her son’s hair. “Then I guess it’s settled. Coal is perfect.”

Long after their guest continued on his way to his destination, they would have something by which to remember him.

Then the thought of Cole’s leaving struck her. It would be hard to see him go. And not just because he was useful around the ranch.

Then she shook herself. In a few short months she planned to leave Wyoming Territory. What about Cole? He seemed to be traveling west. Perhaps she needed to consider going that direction too.

Chapter Six

As he relaxed in his chair after the meal, Cole watched Lenora and Toby. With supper bedded down, he felt no hurry to follow suit.

“Okay, young man.” She smiled at her son. “You are done with arithmetic for the night.”

“Hurray.” Toby stood up to gather his slate.

“But not with your spelling.”

With a groan, he slumped.

Trying to squelch his amusement, Cole slouched in a chair, one foot extended in front of him. Lenora gave her son a list of words. Jamming the heel of his hand against his forehead, Toby sighed. He bent over his work, mouth puckered in frustration.

Just like me when I was his age.

“That is misspelled.” She pointed to his slate. “What is the rule about I and E?”