Free Noah by Kelli Ann Morgan

a place there and is trying to convince his daughter to
join him. We’ll head out on the seventh.”
    Noah knew the time would come when he’d have to
say goodbye to his cousin. The man was key to the successful founding and
civilization of several of the fledgling towns along the transcontinental
route. Rather than encouraging the growth of the Hell on Wheels towns that
plagued the growing railway, he brought respectability to the west by finding
good folks to settle down and build their lives.
    “Then, we’d better get to work.”

CHAPTER NINE

     
    Several days had passed since her accident, and
Kate was itching to get out of the house. Since she couldn’t walk the property,
she figured she’d go for a ride to get some fresh air on this unusually warm
November morning. Her foot still pained her, but the discoloration and swelling
had all but disappeared except for some lingering stiffness. Noah had been
faithful about making her soak it every night in the chilly water before she
retired and so far, it seemed to be working.
    She waited by the window until she saw the men
leave for the hills with a few wagonloads of hay and wood to fix some of the
broken fences, then grabbed the walking stick Noah had so kindly fashioned for
her—most likely from a branch of the big white willow tree in the yard—and she made
her way out to the stables. She’d heard the reports of what the small crew had
been able to accomplish in the last few days, but she wanted to see it for
herself. And to see each of the men who vied for her hand at work.
    The extra help around the ranch had been a
welcomed blessing, though she felt guilty that some would leave without getting
what they’d come for.
    A few of the outbuildings she’d wanted to have
in place before spring had already been completed, as had several wind fences
and snow barriers that would help protect the cattle from harsh winter storms.
And a giant open air barn, with only a roof, but no walls, now towered over a
good section of the pasture just outside of the main corrals.
    Many of the broken fences had been mended and
three new corrals had been erected in preparation of the new herd. She’d only
just received word yesterday that the drive had been halted in Denver due to
the imposing weather through the wintery mountain passes.
    A couple of the ranch hands had been left
behind this morning to repair tools, rebuild saddles, and tend to the milk cows,
for which Kate was grateful as she was able to convince one of them to saddle
her horse and help her mount.
    “Thank you, Cal,” she said with a smile.
    The gruff old hand mumbled something back at
her that she didn’t understand and walked away, shaking his head. She guessed
he didn’t much care for being left behind. Well, she understood that sentiment
completely.
    As she rode toward the east pasture, Kate
looked up at the beautiful mountainside that encompassed a good portion of her
property. The Callahans had been blessed to be some of the first to settle the
Laramie valley. Her father had chosen his land well, with a large spring
running through it and mountainous terrain with an abundance of trees as well
as thick hearty meadows. She loved this land. Its beauty. She even loved the
smell of it—well, most of it. When she was away from the vast numbers of
cattle, the fresh scent of pine trees and the crispness of the air renewed her.
She pulled her mount to a stop where she could glance over and appreciate the
wide expanse of her home.
    Kate imagined that her herd from the last drive
was being auctioned off in Denver. She’d have to find another way to secure the
funds to purchase a few thousand more acres that bordered her land if she was
to expand her operations.
    After a few awe-inspiring minutes, she shook
out the reins and started moving again, riding along the ridgeline. She stopped
a little ways up the trail when she noticed that one of the fences she and Cal
had mended just last week had been knocked down