The Lone Rancher by Carol Finch Page A

McKnight?”
    She stopped short, causing Ches to bump into her. She backed up a step and tried not to wrinkle her nose when she got a whiff of the cowboy, who was overdue for a bath. She made a mental note to purchase a bathtub for the bunkhouse.
    â€œDon’t concern yourself with me, Ches. I can take care of myself when it comes to dealing with Cahill.”
    He inclined his shaggy head, then touched his hand to the rim of his grimy hat. “Yes, ma’am. Just wanted you to know that me and some of the other boys are here to back you up if Cahill tries to pressure you.”
    Adrianna watched the bowlegged cowboy stroll off to tend his chores. It sounded as if Ches Purvis and theother hired hands envied Cahill’s wealth and influence in the area. She wondered how many of her employees shared his opinion that Cahill deserved all the bad luck that came his way. Then she wondered if Cahill’s hired hands resented her for hiring away Rocky Rhodes and not them.
    Well, in some ways she supposed she was like Cahill. She didn’t give a whit about public opinion. She was following her father’s policy of surrounding herself with exceptional employees. That, according to Reuben McKnight, was the secret to financial success.
    An hour later, Adrianna entered the house, anxious to devour one of Elda’s delicious meals, then sink into a relaxing bath. She ambled into the kitchen, surprised to see Bea and Butler slicing bread, cheese and some sort of meat she couldn’t identify.
    â€œWhere’s Elda? She isn’t feeling ill, is she?” Adrianna asked in concern.
    â€œNo, she’s fine,” Bea replied as she grabbed the whistling teapot off the stove. “She took a new job.”
    â€œWhat?” Adrianna crowed in astonishment. “After all her years of loyalty to us? Why would she do that?”
    Butler pivoted to face her. “Cahill showed up at the back door and lavished Elda with so many sticky-sweet compliments I developed an instant toothache just listening to them.”
    â€œShe joined the enemy’s camp?” Adrianna howled in dismay.
    Bea calmly took the supper tray and whizzed into the dining room that now boasted a china cabinet, table and chairs that had once graced the lavish mansion in Boston. “Now, now, dear, don’t fret. There is methodto Elda’s defection. Although Cahill promised to pay her exceptionally well to cook and clean for him, she intends to remain there only temporarily to see what goes on at 4C. She plans to report her findings to you.”
    Adrianna scoffed. “Since when does Elda engage in clandestine espionage?”
    Butler snickered as he toted cups of steaming tea into the dining room. “You’re aware the household staff at the Boston estates provide a network of information. How do you think rumors about who was cheating on whom and who was going bankrupt on an ill-advised investment began circulating? For a fee, you can find out the dirt on the highest echelon of aristocrats and politicians. Elda is using that tactic.”
    â€œBut still…” Adrianna mumbled. “Elda is family and family is supposed to stick together.”
    Bea arched a brow. “You hired away Cahill’s foreman to whip this ranch into shape, but mostly you did it to annoy your neighbor, didn’t you?”
    â€œWell, yes,” she admitted begrudgingly.
    â€œThen there you go,” said Butler as he plunked into his chair. “Now sit down and eat. Bea and I will be better prepared for tomorrow’s meals.”
    â€œNo need,” Adrianna replied. “Tomorrow we will purchase supplies in Ca-Cross and arrange Rosa’s wedding celebration. There are several restaurants in town. We’ll try their fare.”
    â€œI’m ready for a day away from painting, dusting and cleaning,” Bea said enthusiastically.
    The threesome ate in companionable silence but Adrianna inwardly fumed over