Chapter Five
On the way out of town, Shiloh showed Adam the bank draft. He whistled. “You need to get that in the bank.”
“I know. I have to come back to town to send some telegrams. I’ll deposit it tomorrow.”
When Adam and Shiloh arrived at the Flying W, the men were only half done butchering the steers, and it was approaching eleven.
“It looks like it’s going to be a long night,” said Shiloh.
Hank walked over, wearing a blood-covered apron. “Miss Shiloh, did you find Sam?”
“As a matter of fact, we did, but of course, he wouldn’t admit anything. Anyway, he’s been warned verbally about trespassing in front of Sheriff Coffee, so if you see him anywhere on the ranch, shoot first, then ask him why he’s here.”
“Ma’am?”
“I’m serious, Hank. If he’s capable of this, he could do anything. Make sure you tell all the men.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He turned to go back, then stopped. “Adam, Little Joe came by lookin’ for you. I told him what happened. He said he’d tell your pa not to wait up.”
“Good, I don’t have to worry about Pa worrying. I’m going to stay and help. Then I can take what needs to go to the Ponderosa with me.”
“Adam, I don’t want to keep you from your own work. We can handle this,” said Shiloh.
Adam took her elbow and led her to the front door of the house. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asked, smiling.
“No, but I’m sure you have your own chores at the Ponderosa, and I don’t think Joe and Hoss will appreciate me monopolizing your time.”
“It’s eleven at night. I don’t have any chores until tomorrow. Besides, someone has to take what can’t go in your smokehouse to the Ponderosa and get it in our smokehouse. It might as well be me,” he said as he pulled her into him.
She played with the buttons on his shirt. “At some point you’re going to have to let me do this all by myself.”
“If that beef isn’t in the smokehouse tonight, it’ll spoil. There’s no need to waste it.”
She sighed and gently pushed away from him. “I’ll go make some coffee. It looks like there’s another couple of hours of beef on the back of that wagon.” With one hand he reached up to touch her cheek, and with the other he reached down and turned the door knob. She disappeared inside, and he went to work with Hank and her men.
When she came back out with coffee, Adam had his sleeves rolled up elbow deep in beef, donning an apron that had quickly become covered in blood. “Coffee?” she asked as she poured a cup.
“Yeah, but I’m going to need a little help.”
She giggled as she raised the cup to his lips. “It’s hot. Don’t burn your tongue.”
Adam took a small sip and another. “It’s perfect,” he said, smiling, then continued cutting.
Shiloh walked around filling the coffee cups of her men, who all nodded in thanks. When she got back to Adam, she yawned. “Here, take another sip. I have another pot on the stove that should be about ready.”
When he finished his coffee, he caught her eyes. “You should go on to bed. There’s nothing you can do here…except pour coffee.”
“He’s right, Miss Shiloh,” said Hank. “This is the last of it. All we have to do is load it on the wagon and get it to the Ponderosa.”
“Who’s in charge here anyway?” she complained.
Adam raised an eyebrow. “Tonight, Hank is.”
Shiloh flared her nostrils and stepped back, bristling that Adam and Hank were trying to send her to bed. Adam held her eyes with his while he untied his apron and laid it over the makeshift table where he had been working. He nodded for her to follow him and walked to the water pump to wash his arms and hands. “Shiloh, there are times when you are going to have to step back and let your men work.” She crossed her arms. When his arms and hands were clean, he firmly cupped her chin in his hand. “Sweetheart, you have a foreman. Let him do his job.”
She tucked her chin and looked at him with round eyes. Sweetheart?
“Adam, Johnny and I’ll ride over to the Ponderosa with you to unload,” said Hank, walking up behind them. “Why don’t you drive your buggy back?”
Still looking at Shiloh, Adam answered, “Good idea, Hank. I’ll do that. Now, I want you to go in the house and lock the door behind you. I’ll see you in a couple of days.” He turned to look for Hank, who had walked back to the wagon, then turned back to kiss her, looking into her eyes one more time before he left. “Go on,” he said, then watched her walk to the front door. She turned and smiled before she disappeared into the house.
Oh, I love this story! I cried my eyes out for Max. I love Annie and Hoss. The wedding was beautiful. Cat Fight!!! Perfect. My second read and I think I like it better this time. You also hit on a struggle that has been going on forever. Women’s rights. Things have changed in 150 years but things still aren’t equal.
You know, Max’s death was by far, the hardest part of these stories to write – perhaps because I’ve had to say goodbye to some of my own horses, and could not imagine having to live through what Shiloh did with Max. I glad you like this one. And you will see more about women’s rights in the future. After all, those women in Boston think they have some kind of hold on Isabella. Thanks again, Neano!
What can I say? You went through all the highlights. I’m just so glad you liked all those things that got written. I had never intended for this story to be so long, but as I write, things just keep coming up. I have to wonder if they’ll ever grow have kids…grow old…finally just be comfortable with the people they are.
Thank you so much, Marie.
I bet it’s that fired Hand, Sam King. That sneaky b@st@rd. He shot those animals! I hope he gets caught. He’s just a cruel person.
I’m so glad to know Shiloh is going to sing in Virginia City. Her ideas were perfect! Tom will want to generate buzz and excitement prior to the opening of the new season and having a pre-season kick-off will do just that! I love it!
OMG! First the cattle, now the horses! I know it’s that heartless animal, Sam King! Max! How could he do this to those poor defenseless animals! Adam and Hank did what was right by Max, he would have suffered greatly otherwise. My heart stopped when I realized the orange glow was the barn where the horses were. I hope they catch that b@st@rd! Nothing will do Shiloh more than to see his sorry butt hang for the misery he has caused her. 🙁
Adam is such a great guy. I wished Shiloh knew Adam is only wanting to help because he loves and cares about her, not because he doesn’t feel she can take care of the ranch herself, quite the contrary. She’s as bull headed as Adam. No wonder they are attracted to each other. LOL
I wonder what is on Shiloh’s mind? Could it be she’s falling in love with Adam? Hmmmmmm 🙂
Keeping herself busy with the music preparations will help keep her mind off everything that’s happened. I just hope she’s safe in town.
Thank goodness Adam got Tommy to confess. Now, to catch the other animal, Sam King. Oh, when Adam and he come face to face….and the plot thickens. 😀
Sam got what he deserved, but at the expense of Shiloh having to find out personally what it took to take a man’s life. 🙁
I cried when she lost the mare and her colt. :'( I just cried. How much more loss did Shiloh have to endure? Very well written. I cried.
The catfight…OMG! So funny! I could see it all in my head. I laughed so hard and that woman deserved it! She deserved to be ran out on a rail the way she was.
The wedding was beautiful! I loved the note Adam placed on the try for Shiloh, again, I cried like a baby. So beautiful.
I was so excited for Annie finally getting into medical school! How sweet she and Hoss became a couple. I would love to see her come back and she marry Hoss. How wonderful it would be to see Shiloh’s best friend become her sister-in-law.
How funny was Joe’s kiss to Shiloh. I loved Adam’s response. So Adam, so Joe. Loved it!
The ending was just perfect. It didn’t matter how they got from there to here, they were here. What a great way to end the story. I’m so excited to see what the next story involves.
Loved this story! Loving the series!
Gosh, you’re bringing back memories. Seems I started writing this story so long ago. I have a very rough outline, but most of things that happen, only happen at the moment they get written. Sometimes I surprise myself with what I read back. The barn fire and the horses were one of those things, and I could draw on my own love of my own horses, and how I would feel if faced with a barn fire while my horses were inside. They generally have the run of the place in good weather, but in winter, they are in the barn at night. As far as Shiloh goes, Will Stewart was a mistake. She had thought she would never get married, so thinking about Adam romantically has to be frightening for her, especially with his strong sense of taking care of those he loves. He’s a take charge kind of guy. She’s a take charge kind of girl. So either they’ll bash heads or they’ll find a way to work together or it will be long path to get to where they co-exist peacefully.
I added my final comments to the story above your reply. I really enjoyed the story immensely! I look forward to reading the other parts but I’ll save those as a treat for later when I’m done cleaning the house and doing laundry. I stayed up very late the past few nights trying to finish the first and second stories, but had to call it a night each time and finish the next day. I see my breaks and lunch is going to be busy reading because once I start a new story, I can’t put it down! LOL