Free A Moment in Time by Tracie Peterson Page A

lost in his own thoughts. He would be twenty-eight come April. It was time to settle down and establish his own ranch. His father had said it more than once. He needed to get serious about marrying and starting his own life. Pa had even commented that maybe Robert would like to buy his aunt Marty’s ranch. It wasn’t real big, but it did abut the land Will had already given him. Robert had even been checking in on Marty’s place in her absence.
    It would be a good idea, he supposed. After all, Marty’s land already had a house and outbuildings. Robert’s land had nothing. He would have to start from scratch—build his own home, barns, pens. On the other hand, if he made a deal with his father for Marty’s place, he would immediately be in debt. Both situations had their drawbacks.
    “You seem mighty deep in thought, son.” Robert looked up to find his father watching him. “You got something on your mind?”
    Robert gave a chuckle and pushed back his empty plate, as if he’d been contemplating nothing more important than a game of cards. “Nothing worthy of our discussing. Guessnow that my belly’s full I wouldn’t mind a nap.” The older men laughed.
    “You’re startin’ to sound like us,” Tyler declared, “and you’re way too young for that.”
    “I reckon so,” Pa threw in. “Besides you don’t even have a wife and children to wear you out like we do.”
    Robert shifted uncomfortably. “Maybe that’s ’cause I’m smarter than you guys.” He grinned and tucked his thumbs in his belted waistband.
    “Or just a coward,” Brandon Reid said in a good-natured manner. He returned Robert’s grin and then looked to Tyler. “That little gal of yours has scared him to death.”
    “Jessica can do that to a man, for sure,” Tyler replied. “The good Lord knows she keeps me awake nights worryin’ about her.”
    Robert feared the conversation was going to turn to him and Jessica. He was squirming in his seat when a very tall, broad-shouldered man approached their table with hat in hand. “Mr. Barnett?”
    “William or Robert?” Pa questioned.
    “William,” the man answered.
    “That’s me,” Robert’s father said, getting to his feet.
    “I’m Austin Todd, field cattle inspector.”
    William Barnett extended his hand. “Glad to meet you. These are some of my associates—Tyler Atherton and Brandon Reid. And this is my son, Robert.”
    Austin tipped his head. “Pleasure.”
    “Mr. Todd.” Tyler stood. Brandon did likewise and Robert followed suit.
    “Is there a problem?”
    “Not at all,” Austin replied with a smile. “Mr. Nystrom over at the sale barn told me I could find you here. He describedyou right down to your boots. I was hoping I could talk to you for a minute. He said you might have some land for sale.”

    Alice handed Marty two letters. “He’s written,” she said, pointing to the top letter.
    Marty glanced down. “I’m almost afraid to see what he has to say.”
    Uncertain if Marty wanted to be alone, Alice said nothing for a moment. Finally she started for the door to their room, but Marty called her back.
    “Don’t go. This will no doubt affect you as well as me.” She drew a deep breath and opened the letter. A five-dollar bill with President James Garfield’s profile fell to the floor.
    Alice bent to retrieve it and handed the money to Marty. “Jacob sent you money. Must mean he’s found work.”
    Marty took the bill and scanned the letter. “He’s working for his friends the Vandermarks, but they can’t keep him. There isn’t enough work to go around because lumber sales are in a slump. He plans to leave there at the end of the month and go to my sister and brother-in-law’s ranch.” She looked up from the letter. “He hopes they can hire him, and he wants us to join him there.”
    Alice smiled. “We’ve talked about doing just that. But you don’t have to include me. Mr. Brentwood would probably let me stay here if I would work full time for