Not the Marrying Kind by Christina Cole

things, had added a few conditions to the
bargain between them. Kat frowned at her reflection, wondering if
she’d done the right thing by accepting her father’s offer.
    Work on the ranch by day, act like a lady at
night.
    Give it her best shot, fulfill the
government contract, and if and when the cattle reached the
reservation, Pa would forget about selling the ranch and moving to
town. Life would go on as it always had at the Rocking P Ranch.
    If she failed to make good on the contract?
Consequences would be unthinkable. Marry Virgil Kendrick.
    A light tap-tap-tapping at the door caught
her attention. She turned away from the mirror and from her puzzled
thoughts.
    “Emily? What are you doing?” she asked when
she answered the knock. Her little sister stood with her hand
outstretched.
    “I heard Pa and Mama talking, but it’ll cost
you a nickel if you want me to tell you.”
    Kat shook her head. “Two pennies, that’s
all.”
    “Nope.” Emily folded her hands over her
chest and stuck out her lower lip. “A nickel or I won’t say a
word.”
    “I don’t have a nickel, silly.”
    “Yes, you do.” She edged her way into Kat’s
room, plopped onto the bed, and smiled. “I’m very observant. Mama
says that’s a good way to learn. Pay attention. Keep your eyes and
ears open. You never know what you’ll find out.”
    “And what did you find out tonight? What did
Pa say after I came upstairs?” For once, Kat appreciated her little
sister’s penchant for eavesdropping.
    “A nickel, Kat. You’ve got one hidden away
in your bureau drawer.”
    “Do not!”
    “When Mrs. Lambert asked you to run errands
for her, she paid you two bits. And you didn’t even pay your
tithing. I’m going to tell Pa, you know. He says it’s a sin to
withhold tithing. It’s like stealing from God.”
    “But it’s perfectly fine to go peeking
through keyholes and listening to private conversations?” Kat’s
brows arched. “It’s all right to go snooping and sneaking
around?”
    Emily smiled and stretched out her hand
again. “Do you want to hear what Pa had to say?”
    “Oh, all right.” Kat pulled open the top
drawer, rummaged under the folded shirts, and dug out a five-cent
piece. She turned it over in her hands, staring at the engraved
shield on its face, then reluctantly held it out for Emily to grab.
“Now, this had better be good.”
    “Well, Mama asked Pa all about that little
meeting he’d had in the office, wanted to know just what he thought
he was up to.”
    “Go on,” Kat urged, scooting closer. “What
did Pa say?”
    “Let me tell it my way.” Emily wore a frilly
nightdress with hand-embroidered flowers. She carefully ran her
hand over the smooth, cotton fabric, and let out a slow breath.
“Don’t rush me, Kat.”
    “It’s my nickel, don’t forget. Now, spill
it.”
    “Oh, all right. Mama asked Pa if he’d talked
to you. About marrying Reverend Kendrick.” She looked up. “Told you
Mama said he’d make a good husband. Anyway, Pa told her he’d talked
to you Thursday while she was gone. He told her how you ruined that
pie, too.”
    “I don’t care about the pie. Get on with the
story, will you?”
    “Well,” she said, letting out a dramatic
sigh, “Pa told her you’d thrown a hissy fit, got your dander up,
and went storming out of the room.”
    “It wasn’t all that dramatic, really.”
    “And then Pa told her about the agreement he
made with you this afternoon. After he hired that man with the bad
leg.”
    She nodded. So far her nosy little sister
hadn’t revealed anything Kat didn’t already know. Certainly nothing
worth a nickel. “You’d better have something more to say, otherwise
I’m taking my money back.”
    “Oh, I’ve got more. Lots more.” She turned
the nickel over in her hands. “Pa said he was going to give you a
chance to run the ranch, but only because he knows you’ll
fail.”
    “No, I won’t.”
    “Yes, you will. Pa says he’ll make sure of
it.” Emily