Ellie's Legacy by Ginger Simpson Page B

together in a straight line. “Roselle,
how many times have I told you it’s too dangerous for
you to go gallivanting off by yourself? It’s one thing to ride to a friend’s
house but…”
    “I know, I know, Pa. I realize it wasn’t the smartest thing
to do. I promise I’ll stick closer to home.” Thoughts of her encounter with Jeb
Bryant sent chills through her and confirmed her vow. She was lucky things had
worked out…but…the plan?
    Ty’s gaze bore into her.
    Ellie hunched to quell an uncomfortable shiver.
    Her assurance appeased her father. He looked over the rim of
his coffee cup. “Have ya got a date for that dance yet?”
    Her cheeks warmed. “Really, Pa! I
don’t care to discuss my personal life during supper.” She purposely screwed
her face into a scowl and nodded towards the other end of the table where the
men sat.
    “We’re all family here, aren’t we boys?” Ben said, raising
his voice to garner everyone’s attention.
    The dozen ranch hands took time from stuffing their faces to
look up and nod in agreement. Appearing to respect her wishes, Ben didn’t
pursue the subject, but Ty’s smirk didn’t go unnoticed.
    He passed the chicken platter across to Ellie. Still
perturbed at him, she fixed a fake smile on her face, while snagging the only
remaining breast. After heaping a hearty spoonful of string beans on her plate,
she grabbed a biscuit from the bread basket before it passed out of reach and
settled down to enjoy her meal.
    When her father’s voice turned serious, she held her fork in
midair.
    “We’ve got to be more alert about trespassers, boys. Someone
poisoned the ponds on the Carston’s ranch, and they lost several head of
cattle. It does seem a mite strange it occurred right after Dude Bryant and his
boys visited and offered to buy Hank’s land. I heard tell it happened to Alf
Miller, too. Those Bryants are determined to buy up this mountain, come hell or
high water. I tell you, it’s news of that blasted
railroad and all this coal mining that’s the cause. I much prefer the good ol’
days when you could trust your neighbors.”
    Ben focused on two men at the end of the table. “Joe, you
and Harley make sure to ride the perimeter and keep a good eye out. The last
thing we need is to lose any of our cattle, especially at the hands of those
ornery, no good Bryants.” Ben paused and took a bite out of his chicken leg.

 
    Ellie seized the opportunity. “Pa, what are you going to do
if the Bryants come back and try to buy Fountainhead?”
    “Fountainhead is not for sale, and they know that. If they
come around here, they’ll just be borrowin’ trouble. As long as the mortgage is
current, they haven’t a prayer. Poor ol’ Alf is really sweatin’ bullets. He got
behind on his payments and the bank is threatenin’ to foreclose. You can bet
Dude Bryant will be the first in line to make a bid, but he’s gonna be madder
than a wet hornet when he finds out I’ve already talked to the banker about
pickin’ up the deed until Alf can get back on his feet.”
    Jeb’s words resounded in Ellie’s head. She needed more
assurance. “But what if they find a way to cripple us? Kill off our cattle,
poison our water holes. They seem to make good on their threats. We can’t keep
an eye on every inch of land.”
    Her father leaned back from the table, picking at his teeth.
“If we double up on our watches and stay alert, those polecats are gonna know
we aren’t just sitting ducks waiting for them to strike. They can make all the
threats they want, but they ain’t gonna catch us sleeping on duty. I’m not like
the small ranchers they’ve run roughshod over. There ain’t nothin’ gonna scare
me off.”
    Ty quickly swallowed a mouthful of food. “Ben’s right. Linc,
you ride out to the south forty tomorrow and check on the herd that’s grazin’
there, and Russ, you ride to the north. If those Bryants wanna dance, they’re
gonna have to do it to our tune.” He took a