CHAPTER SEVEN
Penny opened her eyes to the sound of gentle rain against the windows. So much for weeding the cemetery today. She gazed around her room.
How could it look the same after all these years? Of course, she understood the lamps had been converted to electricity. She appreciated that part of this life—no smelly fumes or cleaning the chimneys every day.
Enjoying the quiet, she lay looking at the wallpaper. How had the color and texture stayed so pretty for 120 years? Studying it, she realized something was wrong. Sure enough, the tiny rows of flowers were slightly different. The paper had been replaced. Panicked, she wondered about her treasure hole. She raced to the fireplace and slid her hand along the mantel. The fireplace surround had been repainted, but a slight indention reassured her.
Yesterday she’d learned that her daddy’s safe had been discovered when the Knight family enlarged the master bedroom. Another surprise. She’d thought no one would ever find that safe but her and her daddy. Wouldn’t it be nice to see the room? She’d wait to look until no one else was upstairs.
No mention was made of the secret hiding place here in her room. Her daddy had been a smart man. Thanks to Earl’s will, no one even tampered with her treasures.
She started to put on her riding skirt then stopped. She hunted through her things for the old pair of denims Charlie had given her when he outgrew them as a teen. If women wore pants now, she could wear these.
She laughed to herself, imagining the girls from her finishing school if they saw her. The cats. No, she liked cats, but she sure hadn’t liked those girls. Except for Annie, the only one who’d tried to help Penny adjust.
Penny sighed. That was another time, another life away. If what she’d read was true, and she figured it was, she had a rough road ahead to catch up to this time. Dang, she had a lot of learning to do and no idea how to start.
She slid on her pants and chose a light green calico shirt. Today she plaited her hair into one long braid that fell down her back. Her favorite boots were dry but stiff when she worked them onto her feet. She might have to get them wet again before they fit. She headed for the door then stopped.
Why had her muddy boots been left beside the bed? Her clothes hither and yon around the room? The ties cut on her best riding skirt? Tired as she had been, she never would have done any of those things. Nor would Sally have left things in such a mess.
A horrible thought occurred to her. Good heavens, that man had seen her, had undressed her. She knew it as well as she knew her name was Penelope Jane Terry. Where was her gun?
She charged down the stairs and into the kitchen. He sat at the kitchen table feeding his face.
Bart was there, too, and he widened his eyes in alarm when he saw her. “Jake, watch out. A storm cloud just rolled through the door.”
She stood with her fists on her hips and what she hoped was fire in her eyes.
“What’s got you in an uproar?” Jake forked up a bite of eggs.
“Where’re my guns?”
He glanced up briefly between bites. “We locked them in the gun cabinet. You can’t just leave guns lying around anywhere.”
“Don’t think you can steal them.”
“Get off your high horse, will you? Bart cleaned them for you so all that rain wouldn’t harm them. Then I locked them in the gun cabinet in the office.”
Penny held out her hand. “Gimme the key.”
“What?” He stared at her, but didn’t move.
She glared and tapped her booted foot.
He frowned. “You want them now? Why?
“I’m getting my guns, and the first one I shoot will be you, Jake Knight.”
“Like hell. What’s got you in such a hurry to kill someone?”
She felt like a fool standing with her hand out when he ignored it. She wanted to strike him, but she stuffed both her hands in her pockets. “You undressed me, didn’t you?”
He rolled his eyes at his brother. “Had you rather we left on the floor where you passed out?”
Bart laid down his fork. “We didn’t want you to catch your death of cold.”
“We? We? So you were in on it too, huh? You two coyotes better not have tried anything just ’cause I couldn’t defend myself.”
Jake’s hands fisted on the table. “What the hell do you take us for?”
She sensed the heat of a blush sting her cheeks. “The kind of men who’d . . . who’d look at a woman in the altogether when she was unprotected.”
Jake shook his head. “We were protecting you. What the devil do you think we should have done?”
Bart nodded. “Yeah, honest. You were dripping wet and so cold your teeth were chattering and your lips were blue. We couldn’t leave you like that.”
“Maybe. Why didn’t you get Sally to help instead of you two?”
“She was asleep. We weren’t. And I resent your highhanded attitude. You burst into my house, dripping rainwater all over the floor, and accused me of stealing from you. We were sitting here minding our own business until you barged in.”
She took a step forward and pointed at the floor. “This house—this ranch—is my business.”
Jake rose and stared down at her. “Was. Got it? Past tense. Whatever claim you think you had on this place disappeared in 1896 when Earl Knight bought it from the courts.”
Matching his tone, she stared back. “Only because people thought I died. But I didn’t die, as you can plainly see, so this place is still mine.” She stamped her foot. “I won’t let you steal it from me!”
“Having a tantrum won’t help. Facts are facts.” Jake sat back down.
“You think this was a tantrum? Listen here, Jake Knight, you haven’t seen a hissy fit if you think I’ll stand by and lose the ranch that means everything to me. I don’t know how whatever cruel trick of fate happened, but I’ll be dead and buried for sure before I give up the ranch my granddaddy started.”
Sally came in from the porch. She hurried to Penny and patted her shoulder. “Here, here, what’s all this about? I heard y’all yelling from outside.”
Penny almost sobbed as she turned toward Sally. “Those two saw me nekked.” Darned if she wasn’t turning into a regular weeper.
Sally hugged her, patting her back comfortingly. “Boys?”
Bart looked at Sally. “We were just trying to help. We didn’t do anything except change her clothes as quick as we could. Then we skedaddled out of that room fast and went to bed ourselves.”
Penny sniffed and faced the men. “I’ll bet you laughed.”
Bart held up his right hand. “I swear we didn’t. Jake would have decked me if I had. He takes being the man of the house seriously.”
Jake glared at his brother but continued eating.
She could have sworn she saw Bart’s lips twitch. Someone wasn’t telling all of the truth.
Sally placed an arm around her shoulders and guided her to a chair. “Come on, now. You need a good breakfast. We have a lot to do today.”
“We do?” Suddenly all the fire went out of her. She slumped into a chair. “I was going to weed the cemetery, but it’s raining too much.”
“When it rains nowadays, ranchers and farmers do their errands in town.”
Penny perked up. “In Terry Springs? I’ve wondered what it looks like now.”
“Probably about like it did a hundred years ago.” Bart shoveled a bite of sausage into his mouth.
“What will I wear? I mean, what’s proper now.” She looked down at her hand-me-down pants.
“What you have on is fine, Dear. We’ll get you some other things in town.”
Jake started to say something, but Sally sent him a look that shut his mouth.
Sally looked from one brother to the other then to Penny. “Now listen here, all three of you. It’s not my place to interfere, but we’re setting up some ground rules. Penny needs a story until we can figure this all out. We can’t introduce her as who she is.”
Jake opened his mouth and Sally sent him another look before she continued. “Here’s what I’ve come up with. I’ll tell everyone she’s the daughter of my cousin Nan Hardeman who lives in Idaho. Nan visited this area when we were teens and everyone remarked on her red hair.”
Penny brushed a stray lock of hair back into her braid. “Does she have a red-haired daughter my age?”
“Oh, no, she was never blessed with children. And she’s never been back to visit since we’ve been grown. So, when anyone asks, you say you’re Penny Hardeman and I’m your second cousin. Okay?”
Penny frowned. “But I never lie.”
Jake burst out, “Never lie? Listen—“
Sally held up her hand. “You boys better get this story straight, you hear? Penny Hardeman. My cousin Nan’s daughter from Idaho. Got it?”
Jake’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t speak. If looks were deadly, though, Penny figured she’d be roasting on a spit.
Sally speared her with the same look.
Ignoring Jake’s rudeness, Penny chewed on her lip before she answered. “Well, if . . . if you think I should, I’ll say I’m Penny Hardeman. Don’t want people thinking I’m crazy.”
“Come on, Jake,” Bart tugged at his brother’s arm. “Time we checked on those items I mentioned.”
“While you’re in town, you see if anyone recognizes her.” Jake tossed down his napkin and left the room.
Penny helped her plate and started on her eggs and bacon. She wouldn’t let Jake spoil her outing with Sally. She smiled. Bart might be the sheriff, but he was like a mischievous little brother—even if he was probably a couple of years older than she was. She almost laughed. Not if she added 120 years to her age, he wasn’t.
***
Heaven help her. Riding in what Sally called a Jeep had frightened Penny half to death at first. Sally told her how to tell a car from a pickup truck and both from an SUV. Soon Penny loved the speed—better than flying along on Star at her fastest.
Exhilarating, she wished she could put her head outside the Jeep and feel the wind against her face. Wouldn’t it be great to stand in the back of a pickup truck and experience the air rushing past?
A bug’s disgusting splat on the window made her realize why that might not be such a good idea. Euww.
The ride ended too soon to please her. Sally slowed the Jeep to a stop. A red light hung from the center of a wire high across the street. The light changed to green and Sally eased the Jeep forward. Penny noticed other cars and trucks stopped to let the Jeep pass.
It occurred to her the light forced people to take turns. Interesting. Better than wagon drivers yelling at one another.
The town drew Penny’s attention. Terry Springs didn’t look anything like she remembered. Sure, she recognized some of the buildings, but most had different businesses in them. The bank was where she remembered, but had all new glass across the front with wide doors. Sally stopped in front and turned off the Jeep’s motor.
“We’ll go in here and withdraw cash for our shopping. If he’s not busy, I’ll introduce you to Caleb, cousin to Bart and Jake. Caleb runs the bank for the family.”
“They still own the bank then?”
“Sure do. One of the most prosperous family-owned banks in the state.”
“I wonder if my money’s still there?”
Sally frowned. “Don’t ask today, Penny. Remember you’re my cousin’s daughter.”
Penny sighed. “I sure hate lying, even if you are trying to protect me. But I’ll remember. Do you think Jake could find out about my money? I’ll need to pay for my clothes.”
“Jake’s paying today.”
Penny stopped. She was about to protest she’d go naked in a snowstorm before she let a man buy her clothes. Especially the man who accused her of lying every time they talked.
Sally tugged at her arm, urging her forward. “Don’t get upset. I promise we’ll find out about your money later, all right?”
Penny wanted to say no, but she simply walked beside Sally as they entered the building. “Butter my biscuit, has this place ever changed.”
Walls on either side of the former bank had been knocked out to make the place larger. Penny couldn’t stop gawking at her surroundings and at the clothes women wore. Danged if their legs didn’t show all the way up to their knees or above.
“Shhh,” Sally cautioned as she nudged Penny toward a chair. “You just sit here while I make the withdrawal.”
Looking her fill, Penny studied the paintings on the walls, the statue by the door, the way everything was arranged. And the people. Most of the men didn’t look that different, but she couldn’t get over the way women dressed. Did Sally expect her to parade around half-clothed?
The women’s faces were beautiful, though. They must wear powder and rouge, but not like the girls at Mollie’s had worn. No, these women didn’t look like strumpets. And their eyes. How did each of them have such long, thick, dark lashes?
Soon Sally was back, closing her purse. “Let’s see if Caleb is available.” She led Penny to a woman seated behind a desk.
“Good morning, Ms Rogers. I’ll tell Mr. Knight you’re here.”
The woman pressed something on her desk and spoke, “Ms Sally Rogers is here.” She nodded. “Go right in.”
Sally smiled and breezed into an office, Penny following behind her.
A handsome man who looked a lot like his cousins only more formal stood as they came in. “What can I do for you, Sally? Say, who’s this with you?”
Penny wasn’t so out of touch that she failed to note the interest in his eyes as he appraised her. He walked around the desk to shake her hand, his gaze fastened on her face—that’s after he checked her from head to toe and back.
“Penny, Caleb Knight is President of the bank and cousin to Jake and Bart. Caleb, this is Penny Hardeman, daughter of my cousin Nan in Idaho.”
He held Penny’s hand but he looked into her eyes. His eyes weren’t as dark a blue as Jake’s but they twinkled like Bart’s. “It’s a real pleasure to meet you. I hope you plan to be in Terry Springs a long time.”
Penny withdrew her hand. “I . . . I’m not sure how long I’ll be here.” And that was the truth. What if she suddenly woke up back in her time? Would she be fighting rustlers again?
“She’s staying with me at the ranch. She might be visiting quite a while.”
“Then I’ll have to pay a visit soon.” He smiled at Penny.
Sally nodded. “You do that, Caleb. I just wanted to introduce you two. Right now, we have some serious shopping to do, so we’ll leave you to your business.”
After they left, Penny couldn’t contain her curiosity. “So everything is held by the Knight family—the ranch and the bank?”
“In a way. All three Knights are on the bank’s Board of Directors and they own the bank. They still have to conform to government regulations. From what I understand, that requires a lot of auditing and such.
“Caleb runs the bank and gets a nice salary for it. They split the profit or else reinvest it in bank improvements or their other holdings. The ranch, though, is all Jake’s. It will go to his first child and so on down the line.”
“What if he doesn’t have children?”
Sally shook her head. “Then it gets complicated. It’s not my place to interfere, but I’ve told that man time and time again he needs to get married and start his family. Like most men, he just doesn’t listen.”
She didn’t like thinking of him married to any woman. He needed children, though. “So what if he never does? Get married and start a family, I mean.”
“I guess the ranch would go to Bart, and if he didn’t have children, then to Caleb. If none of them have heirs, I don’t know what happens.” Sally waved the thought aside. “I’m sure old Earl thought of that, though. He sewed up his will so tight no one can change a thing even after all these years.”
She stopped in front of a window display. “We’ll start here. Just go along with what I suggest, all right?”
Penny sighed. “I guess so, but I’m paying Jake back when I find out about my money.”
Hours later when they were back at the ranch, Sally helped carry packages up to Penny’s room then plopped onto the rocker Penny had carried down from the attic.
Sally kicked off a shoe and massaged her foot. “My feet are killing me. I’d rather clean house than shop.”
Penny agreed. Shopping was hard work. “Lunch was nice, though. That chicken salad didn’t taste like any chicken I ever ate before.”
“Lunch was nice. I love to cook, but it’s still a treat to let someone else do the work once in a while.” Sally put her shoe back on and stood.
Penny had lost count of the things she’d bought, to say nothing of those she tried on that Sally didn’t think were right for her. “I don’t know why you think I need all this stuff. I’ll never be able to pay Jake back for all this.”
Sally unpacked and folded purchases, hanging a few in the armoire. “Don’t worry. This is what you need to fit in, so this is what you get. If you’re telling the truth—which I think you are—then it was partly your money that bought these.”
Penny stopped sorting clothes and looked at Sally. “Danged if you’re not right. His family’s been living off my ranch and my cattle all these years.”
“Don’t forget they’ve added on more land and made lots of improvements.” Sally put away a stack of Penny’s denim pants.
“I know, I know. Wouldn’t have happened, though, without my ranch to start with.”
Sally reached for a stack of underwear and slid them into a bureau drawer. “Hmm, wouldn’t have happened without Earl Knight’s money from his bank to buy this.”
Penny sat on the bed. “Poor Earl. I feel bad I turned him down all those times. He’d about worn me down. Next time he asked, I’d planned to say yes. I wanted a family before I’m too old.”
“Well, you’ve got a lot of years yet before you have to worry about being too old to marry.”
“I have?” Penny thought Sally was trying to soften the blow of her being a spinster.
“I know some women marry young, but a lot don’t marry until their late twenties or into their thirties or later.”
“Did you marry?”
Sally looked away. “No, the right man hasn’t asked me. There’s still hope for both of us, I suppose. Maybe not much for me since I’m forty-seven years old and what with men being too stubborn to realize what’s good for them. Certainly there’s plenty of time for you, though.”
That was good news for a change. “So, soon as I reclaim my ranch and find out what’s happened to my money, I can start receiving beaus to court me?”
Sally gave a pitying look. “Courting doesn’t work like that now days. You’ll have to take things slow and ease into modern life, Penny. And, Honey, you simply have to face the fact that you will never get this ranch back from Jake Knight.”
Penny leaped off the bed. “Don’t you see, I was born on this ranch? I helped my daddy run this place. I helped him build this very house. I can’t help thinking this is my ranch no matter who thinks he has a claim to it.”
Bart appeared in the doorway. “We’ve had a boatload of trouble today.” Weariness showed in his face and posture as he leaned on the doorjamb.
Sally rushed toward him. “What’s happened now?”
“Some sorry son of a bi—gun poisoned the hay or something. Golden Boy and Sunrise are sick.” He looked at Penny. “That’s Jake’s prize breeding stud and mare.”
Penny grabbed his arm. “You’d better take me to them. I can treat sick horses.”
He straightened but didn’t move. “Suppose you know more than the veterinarian treating them?”
She sensed the heat of a blush staining her face. “No, of course not, but I remember when someone poisoned our horses when I was fifteen. Daddy and I doctored the sick ones and they all pulled through.”
He straightened and shrugged. “Hell, why not? Come on. The vet’s sure not having much luck.”
Sally patted her hand. “You go on, Penny. I’ll put away the rest of your things and fix sandwiches for our supper.”
Bart plodded down the stairs ahead of Penny. “Don’t expect Jake to welcome your interference.”
“He’s not welcomed anything about me so far. Why should now be different?”