Thirty-three

The canopied buggy finally drew close enough for Jake to be sure it was indeed Gretta MacBain, the most notorious prostitute in Denver. She was riding in the front seat beside her guard and constant companion, a man Gretta called Sam. Jake had never learned Sam’s last name.

Terrel and Cole rode beside the buggy, apparently the outriders who’d first spotted it. Jake thought it a bit comical that Gretta wore a prim gray dress with no frills and a high neckline. Her red hair was pulled back at the sides and pinned under a tiny straw hat. She wore hardly any paint on her face and just one tiny pair of diamond earrings—no other jewelry. Her look was a far cry from the wanton prostitute he’d met back in Denver and who’d sat in the courtroom talking about her profession proudly, as though it was no different from teaching or owning a millinery. She actually looked prettier and younger without the paint.

“Jake!” Gretta called out. “You handsome outlaw, you! I didn’t think I’d run into you clear out here! Figured we’d have to go all way to the homestead to find you!”

Jake walked up and helped her out of the buggy, sweeping Gretta into his arms and whirling her around. “Gretta MacBain! What the hell are you doing on the J&L?”

Gretta hugged him around the neck, and Ben and Stephen just stared, grinning.

“That’s that lady who said nice things about Grampa at that hearing last year in Denver,” Stephen told Ben.

“I know. She’s one of those bad ladies Pa always said we should treat good even though they’re—you know—I think they sleep with men for money.”

“I like her. She was nice to Grampa.”

“Oh, she was nice to Grampa, all right,” Lloyd put in, smiling.

“Jesus, Gretta, you look like a schoolmarm,” Jake told her. “Have you changed professions?”

Gretta threw back her head and laughed. “Well, I can’t go traveling around in the general public with my breasts hanging out and a face full of paint, can I? I have to look respectable when I travel.”

They laughed, and Lloyd walked closer when Jake let go of Gretta. She stepped back to eye both of them.

“My God, is it you, Lloyd? I can’t believe it! After seeing you lying in blood on the floor at that cattlemen’s ball…” She put her hands over her mouth, and her eyes teared. “I know you were starting to get around at that hearing, but I never really thought I’d see you standing so tall and strong again.” She put out her arms. “Give me a hug, you gorgeous hunk of man.”

Lloyd took her up on the offer. “Just a light one. We’ve been working out in the heat, and we’re all sweaty. Hugging us can’t be that enjoyable right now.”

Gretta laughed. “Harkner men? I’ll take a hug from you two any time and any way I can get it. Hell, it’s not like I’ve never been around sweaty men before, and you two smell good even when you need a bath.” She patted Lloyd’s back and kissed his cheek, then turned to Jake. “And you! Last I heard you got yourself all shot up in Boulder. You just keep coming right back for more, don’t you?”

“I learned by the time I was eight years old that you have to be tough, Gretta.” Jake put an arm around her and turned her to face the boys. “Meet my adopted son, Ben—the big one there with blond hair. Can you believe he’s only thirteen?”

“By gosh, he looks eighteen! I saw all these kids at the hearing in Denver last year, but I wasn’t sure which one is which, except for that Little Jake of yours. He stood right up to that prosecutor, didn’t he? I thought he was going to sock the man. He’s all Harkner, that one!”

Jake grinned. “I’m afraid he’s the biggest troublemaker. He belongs to my daughter, Evie, who is the gentlest, kindest, most gracious Christian woman who ever walked. Trouble is, she has Harkner blood, and some of the orneriest came out of her in the form of Little Jake.” He pointed to Stephen. “That handsome kid there who is too tall for his age is Lloyd’s son, Stephen.”

Gretta walked up and gave the boy a once-over. “Of course he is. He has his father’s and grandfather’s dark good looks. And this one—” She tousled Ben’s wild, thick mane of white-blond hair. “He’s going to be a big man someday. He’ll be one of your best workers, I’ll bet.” She looked at Jake. “How’d you come upon an adopted boy?”

“Back in Oklahoma. Caught his father beating the hell out of him. I took the belt out of his hand and used it on the man himself so he’d know how it feels.” He walked up and crooked an arm around Ben’s neck, giving him a hug. “The sonofabitch decided he didn’t even want his son anymore, and even if he did, I wouldn’t have let him leave. I took Ben home with me, and that was that.”

“Well, now, I keep learning things about you that just don’t fit that reputation of yours. You’re a complicated man, Jake Harkner.”

“My wife keeps telling me that.”

Gretta shook her head, studying his still-fine build with great appreciation for what she saw. “Too bad about that wife. Do you know how hard it is on a woman like me to be around men like you and your son and know you’re unavailable?”

Jake grinned. “There are plenty of men about two hours from here who can help you out.”

Cole spoke up from his horse. “There’s two of them sittin’ right here.”

“Careful, boys, there are young ears around.” Gretta sobered. “Besides, I’m not here for that. And I wouldn’t even think of coming to a man’s homestead and behaving that way. Too many little ones and decent women around.” She looked up at Jake. “I’ve got another reason for looking you up, Jake, but it’s best we go to your home first. And it’s probably best your wife and daughter are a part of all this.”

Jake folded his arms, studying the sadness in her eyes. “All what?”

Gretta shook her head. “Not now. Let’s just go to your house, unless you think I’m unfit to go inside. It’s fine if you want to talk someplace else instead.”

“Are you kidding?” Jake walked up and lifted her in his arms, carrying her to Outlaw and plopping her on the saddle. He mounted up behind her, taking up the reins and moving his left arm around her before turning the horse. “Get everything together and bring the wagon and the boys back,” he told Lloyd. “We’ll send a couple of the other men up here to keep going for the next couple of days. I’m taking Gretta to the homestead myself.”

Gretta settled against him. “Well, now, I didn’t plan on this at all! I get to ride in this man’s arms for the next two hours? My God, how much is a woman supposed to take?”

“You be good, Pa,” Lloyd joked.

“Believe me, it’s no fun answering to your mother when I’m not.” Jake turned the horse and kicked Outlaw into a gentle lope.

“Good God almighty,” Lloyd muttered. “Mom will sure as hell have something to say about Pa riding in with Gretta MacBain in his arms.” He grinned and turned to Sam. “What the hell is she doing here, Sam?”

The big, burly, bald-headed man shook his head. When he spoke, his missing front tooth was visible. “Not sure. I guard the woman, kick out the no-goods that abuse any of the women, service Gretta myself when she wants a man who actually cares about her, and we’re good friends—but there’s some things she never tells me. She just said she needed something from Jake Harkner and asked me to bring her out here.” He looked around. “You have a beautiful place here, Lloyd. Really beautiful. I can’t believe how healthy you look, considerin’.”

“Yeah, well, if you were to punch me in the gut right now, I’d go down pretty hard. I’m still not totally healed on the inside. I can tell.”

“Well, you look big and strong enough that I still wouldn’t want to take you on.” Sam grinned. “I’m real glad to see you lookin’ so good. I’ll never forget the look on your father’s face that night. I’ve never seen anything that dark and vicious in a man’s eyes as when he put that gun to Mike Holt’s head.”

“Yeah, well, we have tried to put it all behind us.” Lloyd looked at Cole and Terrence. “You two take Sam on in. I’ll be along pretty quick with the wagon and the boys.”

“Sure, boss.” Cole took off toward the homestead, and Sam followed. Lloyd glanced farther across the broad expanse of green and yellow grass to see Jake headed north toward the homestead. “This should be interesting,” he said, turning to the boys.

“Will Grandma be mad?” Stephen asked.

Lloyd just grinned and shook his head. “Hard to say, boys. Hard to say. I know she appreciates the things Gretta said at that hearing last year, and your grandma knows your grandpa pretty good. Women like that were mother figures to your grandfather, so he’ll always show them respect.” Lloyd picked up a role of wire and a posthole digger. “Grandma understands that. I’m just not sure how she’ll feel about your grandpa riding in alone with Gretta MacBain. She’s beautiful and has quite a reputation.”

The two boys looked at each other and giggled as they started picking up tools.

“Yeah, and we know why,” Ben teased, sharing a laugh again with Stephen.

Lloyd threw the wire and digger onto the wagon. Most ranchers used barbed wire, but he hated the stuff. Too many cattle and wild animals had died slow deaths from it. He walked over to pick up another posthole digger. “You boys remember to treat Gretta with respect when we reach the homestead. She’s one of those bad women with a good heart, as your grandfather would put it.” He stopped and wiped at sweat on his brow, looking across the grassland again. He couldn’t see his father or the horse anymore. What the hell are you doing here, Gretta?