Harte Ranch - Spanish Mustang

[anskee]

Spanish Mustangs exist in many colors, due to the wide range of colors in their Spanish ancestors. They are commonly found in bay, chestnut, black and gray. Other colors seen less commonly include the Appaloosa and paint patterns and solid colors such as grulla, buckskin, palomino, cremello, isabella, roan and perlino

Tom Harte had inherited his ranch after his mother died two years ago. She was a wise woman, understanding the complexities of land and the value of horses. She also knew that her angry son, who, after his father's untimely death after being thrown by a horse, would one day come to his senses and return to his rightful place, The Harte Ranch.

For the past two years his closest family member was Luis Garcia, whom he found out was actually his half brother, the child of an illicit affair his father had had with a Mexican woman, ran off with the Jewish storekeeper's daughter, Abby Birnbaum. An odd couple indeed. Luis's children would be a mixture of Jewish, white and Mexican, Jewish by religion. It was the only way the two lovers could be together. They now lived in Kansas City, Missouri, the hustling, bustling cowtown situated on the Missouri River. Her widowed father had married his employee, Mrs. Lydia Taylor ans they, along with his elderly mother, closed up O'Riley's Market and went back home to New York.. The last he had heard the elderly woman had finally succumbed to old age but Bernie Birnbaum was happy with his wife. Bernie opened a market in the Jewish section of town and was doing well.

He had fallen in love with the beautiful gypsy woman, Belle Williams, but she had gently rebuffed him leaving his heart aching. Then he had met Esperanza, the high class courtesan that worked at the Blackbird Saloon. He knew her before she worked there, knew what she was and didn't care. Anza, as he sometimes called her, had bared her ruptured soul to him and the two injured beings had sought comfort in each others arms. If Duke ever knew that the he was hiding money for her for the day she would break away he would probably have them both killed.

And now Tom only had his ranch. Well, not just his ranch. He had many people who were like family to him. There was Maria Gomez, his housekeeper and cook, who came with the ranch and looked after him as though he were her own son. Also with him was Jose Garcia, Luis's uncle, who helped him work the land and tend the horses. Luis had been his harrier but now Jose did it. And several other people who lived on the ranch and helped him maintain it.

A horse ranch was more than just a horse ranch. There was a huge garden, some cattle and chickens as well as a few pigs that helped keep food on the table. Plus, Tom was a pretty fair hunter, supplementing their diet with deer, wild turkeys, and fish from the various creeks and ponds on the property.

But he made his money breeding and selling horses. His mother had sold horses to the Confederate Army during the War of Northern Aggression as it was called in the South. The North called it Civil War. Now, however, they were more involved in something called the Comanche Campaign, where the United States Army was chasing the Comanche, Arapaho, Kiowa and Cheyenne off their native lands and in return the Comanches launched an all out war against Texas and Texans. So he guessed he was a war profiteer as he sold his horses to the Army. Didn't matter to him, as long as he made a profit.

Situated 30 miles from Del Fuego Tom loved and cared for his 125 acre ranch a though it was his baby, his only family member. Because much of his land was flat and even it was ideal for rearing horses. Little did he know that others had ideas for his land as well.

[Weldon Campbell]

The Campbell Ranch

Weldon Campbell sat behind the great walnut table of his study. His study, like much of the rest of the house, was a veritable hark to the styles favoured in the cities of Boston, with dark woods, satin finishes and dark drapes on the windows. Campbell was a man use to luxury in recent years and when he came to stay in Del Fuego he wanted the homestead to project some of that luxury and lifestyle from Boston.

His man Hollander knocked and entered the darkened study, the drapes had been drawn to blot the high noon sun. Campbell was engrossed in his paperwork, sheaves of paper lay across the highly polished surface and lamps burned throughout the room as he worked and pored over the details of his empire, legitimate and otherwise.

Campbell’s face was furrowed with the continuing woes that were besetting him in Boston. His rivals had outsmarted and outmanoeuvred Weldon's schemes. The fact that they had backed the right horse in the city elections and correctly gauged which man to bribe and have in their back pockets is what had counted and Weldon’s miscalculation had cost him his influence and incurred the attention of the authorities.

Hollander stood before the desk awaiting Campbell to acknowledge his presence. He stood for a long moment before gently clearing his throat. When Weldon lifted his brows to look up at Hollander, the Nordic man offered a cold and charmless smile by way of greeting to his boss.

Weldon groused, “What is it Hollander?”

“I have the information you were seeking. It arrived with the postal service today.” He set down a package of papers, already opened and read by Hollander. “It appears, that this Mr Duke had certain ‘business dealings’ in Chicago before he relocated to Del Fuego. He appears somewhat to be a shrewd operator and his business dealings here have every appearance of being legitimate.”

Campbell only looked at the package and deigned not to even read it, trusting Hollander, perhaps the only man he would trust so implicitly. He lifted his chin and leaned back in his chair dropping the quill he was scratching his orders out with. He picked up his lit cigar, the smoke trails masked the air before Campbell and with the lights and glowing fireplace the fug of smoke in the room cast a hellish spectre onto Campbell’s face.

“Meaning to say, they appear that way but aren’t necessarily so. Figured as much.” He took a thoughtful puff on the cigar, turned it in his hand as he exhaled and ran his tongue over his front teeth, savouring the taste of the Cuban cigars. “Get word to McConnell. Try to figure if he has ever had dealings with Duke. If so, mayhap we can do business of a sorts together.”

“Are you sure that is wise?” Hollander asked carefully in a pedantic voice.

Campbell answered with a scowling face. “I’m telling ye ain’t I?” Then he was once again calm and comported. “But let’s get the lay of the land first. Find out if he has anyone close to him or anything we can leverage against him - should the need arise.”

“Of course sir. I took the liberty of asking among the men - casually mind - so as not to raise suspicion.” He gave his boss a grim smile. Campbell nodded at the man’s thoroughness and exacting nature. “It would seem that Duke often has dalliances with his show girls.”

“The benefits of running a cat house and not a cattle ranch, Hollander. I doubt he holds any sincere feelings towards any of them.”

“I doubt so too sir but one of the men said he was playing cards with a certain lady whom Duke seemed ... partial to. They could not attest to that fact for sure though and the girl too seems to be ... somewhat of a mystery. A stranger in town. Most likely an outlaw.”

Campbell’s brows knitted in surprising concern. “Not the Daniels girl surely?”

“No.” Hollander chose to ignore the apparent concern about her possible involvement. He was not use to his Boss showing concern ever for a person. “No, not her. The men were ... humiliated in a game of cards by her. They think she was called a Miss Waters but they were ahem inebriated at the time and cannot be certain.” Hollander sensed that Weldon would not be pleased with so little information and added carefully, “I can investigate further though.”

“Do. Speaking of the Daniels girl ...”

Hollander jutted his chin, pleased that Campbell was seeing the potential danger of the woman but alas his information to date on the whereabouts of the young woman were sketchy at best. “The men have seen no sign of her in town but they are sure that she is still about. But it would appear ... that she has somewhere else to stays and lie low.”

Weldon’s eyes narrowed as he considered the quandary of Rio Daniels. “Keep a careful eye on her. She could be trouble.”

“Could be?!” Hollander almost snorted derisively before comprehending he was speaking before Campbell himself. He composed himself and resumed his servile tone once again. “Of course Sir. She will be watched. As will Mr Arkken.”

“Arkken! Bah! He’s a wastrel. A drunkard. He’s all noise and bluster.”

“But still. Cast enough mud and soon ... some of it will stick.”

Campbell chewed his cheek angrily contemplating the return of Jonah Arkken. He felt troubled that his return had been on the same day that he came face to face with a living ghost of the past. He wondered whether there could be a connection to Rio Daniels’ reappearance and that of Jonah Arkken’s. He stubbed out his cigar losing the pleasure of the small luxury.

“Keep an eye on him too. If he continues to make trouble we’ll have to arrange for him to have an accident. But if we try anything too soon after what he spouted off in the Blackbird it really will cause suspicions to be raised.”

“So ...” Hollander had a habit of pausing in the middle of his sentences, more so when talking to his Boss before continuing to clarify a point, “... we are just to allow him to go about ... claiming these things about you?”

“Yes. The word of a penniless and drunken man doesn’t go far. He’ll soon run out of money and then he’ll be cast out.”

“But if he runs out of money ... he runs out of drink ... and if he runs out of drink, he will sober. ... And when he is sober he will know to get a job. And so he will have money again and he will stay ... to keep saying these things.”

“Hollander ...” Weldon gritted his teeth and clenched his fist but he soon saw what Hollander was about. “Fine. Let’s play it another way. Keep him drunk.”

“Drunk sir?”

“Use some of the men. Get them to buy him drinks, play a few games of cards with him and lose to him. I’ll cover their losses - but only the losses to Arkken!” he rushed to add. If he gave them an inch they’d take the ranch. “Tell them not to be so bloody fool enough to play Holliday.”

“So keep Arkken drunk.”

“Like I said, a drunken man’s word doesn’t carry much weight. And a drunken man is prone to...”

Hollander finished the sentence for Campbell, “having accidents.” The tall Nordic man smiled gravely and it was frightening to see such a smile on his severe face. “Very good sir. I will see to it straight away.” Hollander turned and moved away before stopping at the door.

Weldon sighed and asked, “What else?”

“A small matter sir. It would appear that a puma or cougar is attacking animals in the area.”

Weldon Campbell picked up his cigar again and cheerfully smiled. He struck a match to light the cigar again. He dismissed Hollander and leaned back to consider the scheme he had undertaken. It was only the beginnings of a small scale sabotage endeavour but Campbell was interested to see the responses of this Tom Harte and the owners of the Redwood ranch to the apparent attacks. From there he would decide his next move.

Standing with cigar in mouth, he chewed greedily on it, as he gathered his papers aside and rolled out onto the table his map of the Del Fuego area. Weldon leaned forwards on the knuckles of his fists over the map and grinned down on upon it, surveying all the prospects before him. If he could for the time being no longer operate in Boston, then he would focus his schemes and ambitions once again in Del Fuego.

Just as he had once before; then, he had swindled Arkken’s homestead from him as the drunkard claimed, had taken by violent force the Adam’s farm, burning the family out in what appeared to be a tragic accident. And when it came to the Daniels family Campbell had orchestrated their slaughter. Nothing would stand in his way if he decided to act once again.

He grinned with a predatory smile as he looked upon the map and zoned in on the rich flat lands situated about thirty miles out from Del Fuego. He tapped the position on the map with his knuckles declaring his intention to himself. The map read with the scrawled name of the ranch, the name of the ranch that he would move towards seizing for himself. He would bide his time if necessary. And if necessary he would take lethal action to ensure he achieved his desire.

The horse ranch he eyed bred Spanish Mustangs, a hardy and sturdy horse, good for profit and business to Weldon’s mind. He should also have recognised that its owner like the horses was of a lineage of legendary staying power and endurance. The name of the ranch on the map read: The Harte Ranch.

[anskee]

As Tom rode up to his ranch he was greeted by a frowning Jose Garcia, his caretaker and father to his half brother, Luis. Jose was unhappy as he looked up at Tom astride his big bay horse, Aztec.

"Senor," Jose spoke. "Thee man you hired to feex thee horses shoes queet. He saids he's gots to goes to San Franceesco to digs up somes gold."

Dismounting Tom looked at Jose. "Well, looks like that's just one more thing that we have to do ourselves, old friend," he sighed. It was one of those weeks where everything seemed to be going sour.

First, he started loosing calves to a mountain lion, then yearlings started to be found dead, and now his farrier quit. What next? His supper burning? The well running dry?

"We'll just have to do the best that we know how to do," he walked towards the barn with Jose, Aztec in tow.

All of Tom's employees were actually people who had worked first for his father and then his mother and now him. They were more like family than people who worked for him. In return for their services to him he made sure they were taken care of and had their own places to live, albeit on his land.

As he allowed one of the workers to put up his horse he wondered if he could find someone who had experience shoeing horses.

[Jonah Arkken]

Jonah Arkken stood before the house and looked upon the porch and recalled past times sitting out here with Hugh and Ceila Harte with his own wife, Annabel. Then they had both been younger couples, he and Annabel only recently married just as Hugh and Ceila were.

His happy thoughts moved to the news he had learned in town of his old friends. He heard first about Hugh Harte’s sudden death after falling from a horse. It seemed mightily unfair and too swift a death for a man so upstanding and of such importance in Arkken’s life. Hugh Harte had been his best friend and in later years more than just a friend had been a good and kindly neighbour. As younger men, it was Hugh who had convinced Arkken to start up his own farm. Yes, he would have security working as a farrier but Hugh convinced Jonah that owning a farm would mean passing on a legacy to his children.

Of course, Harte has also ribbed Jonah that it was the fact he did have a ranch that convinced Ceila Dubois to marry him. This she did despite the fact that it were Jonah who had at one time politely courted Ceila Dubois. This might have been a sore point between both men but for the fact that it was obvious, especially to Jonah, that Ceila and Hugh were made for each other. And it pleased Jonah mightily to see his best friend happy.

Anyway, Jonah later convinced himself that Annabel had been his best fit, even if life had not turned out that way. Truth be told, Ceila and Hugh were perfect for one another and Arkken would not have the right man for a woman of Ceila Dubois’ - Harte’s - fortitude and sheer will. He remembered her forceful and commanding personality - and her laugh. Oh how they would all laugh sitting on the porch!

He smiled at the memory of those laughs and then the smile fell away as he felt the pang of their loss. The way Jonah had heard it in town, in the wake of Hugh’s death Ceila Harte had been a testament of strength and good grace. She had taken the reins of the ranch in steady hands and masterfully guided it to continued prosperity.

This thought too caused Arkken’s face to drop as he stewed on the loss of his own farm. Yes, it were through fault of his own he had to admit but also because of the plots of that criminal Weldon Campbell. So much for passing on a legacy to my family, Hugh, seems that in that I failed them and you.

Arkken frowned and then gathered himself before stepping towards the ranch house. He batted off some of the dust from his clothes. He was caked in the dry dust from the long walk to the ranch. He had hitched a ride on a cart part the way but had to walk the remainder. His tired nag of a horse had died in the stables. The long journey back to Del Fuego had done him in. Wheezing the last leg of the journey to the ranch, Arkken couldn’t help but fret that perhaps he had done himself in too.

Not just by undertaking this journey to the Harte but by even returning to Del Fuego to face Campbell again. But he opted to put the thoughts of Campbell out of his head. He had come all the way out here to pay his respects to the boy grown into a man, Tom Harte. Strange to believe the young whip of a child who had run about his knees on the porch was now a man and harder yet to believe him running his parent’s ranch. But then that was the way of things. Or so it was supposed to be. Jonah should have passed his ranch on to his son ... he shook his head angrily and sombrely and then turned his attention to his visit.

He knocked on the porch screen door. Jonah hoped he didn’t look a total reprobate upon the threshold. There was a chance that Tom Harte would not recognise or even remember the long ago neighbour from many miles over. As best Jonah could figure the lad was seven years old or ten, Jonah was never rightly good with ages of children, when Jonah had left Del Fuego under a stormy cloud.

He stepped back to await an answer at the door. Jonah’s face twitched but the tremble in his hands did not trouble him this day. Not if he kept his thoughts a remove from Weldon Campbell. He licked his lips and removed his hat while he waited, absently brushing his matted steel grey hair into a semblance of order before the door opened to his announcement.

"Pardon me, sir. I wanted to come and ... pay my respects."

[Evangeline Redwood]

Only when things seemed to be on the brink of total destruction, they began to look up. At least, that's what Evangeline had always found. She had been understaffed at the ranch when Aaron Andrews had shown up looking for a job. He was a fine specimen of a man, tall with dark hair and icy blue eyes that sent a shudder to very foundations. He was going to be very good for business and very bad for her, a type of bad that she definitely didn't mind.

That night after Aaron had left, her butler had awoken her to tell her there was some uproar in the barn. She had dressed, grabbed a shot gun, and run to the barn. She had arrived just in time to see a few of her hands trying to get a Puma off of one of the mares. A carefully aimed shot gun on her behalf had taken care of the lion, and a few stitches later, the victim mare was just fine.

She had the Puma, which turned out to be a big male and not the Momma Mr. Harte had seen, skinned and his pelt made into a beautiful rug as a gift of thanks to Mr. Harte for the warning.

She had mounted up late that morning to ride across her property to the Harte Ranch just up the road. The rug was strapped across the back of the big bay beast of a stud she called Tracker. A few hours later she was walking up to the front door of the main house.

She slid down off of her horse and looped his reins around the hitching post. Deft hands moved to untie the ties that held the rug onto her saddle. She looped it over her arm before making her way to the front door. Only when she reached the front door did she realize someone else was standing at the door.

She nodded her head politely to the older man at the door, waiting in silence for him to finish speaking. She would be addressed soon enough.

---------------------

clothes: here

[anskee]

It was a rarity for Tom to be inside his house, but it was the noonday meal and he was inside enjoying some of his cook, Maria's, pollo y arroz when there came a knock at the door.

Living so far from the town and even further away from the law anyone with half a sense never answered the door unarmed. From above the fireplace Tom reached for his father's Henry rifle that was cradled there and opened the front door.

Surprisingly there were two people there looking at him, an older man and the young beauty he had visited last week at her ranch. In her arms she carried a tanned hide.

Behind him sitting around the table was, of course, his cook Maria, his caretaker, Jose Garcia, and a couple of hands that worked for him. They were all looking in his direction ready to come to his aid if he needed them.

"Pardon me, sir. I wanted to come and ... pay my respects."

The older man spoke politely and he looked vaguely familiar but it took Tom a moment to place the face,

"Mr. Arkken?" Tom questioned himself as he remembered the old gentleman from his childhood. "Is that you? Please, come in," he held the door open for him. "And you also, Ms. Redwood. This is a real treat to have two visitors in one afternoon. Maria!" he called over to the heavy -set Mexican woman. "Set two more places at the table." Immediately she jumped up and did as he asked, the men moving the chairs around to accommodate the guests.

"Come in! Come in! What a delight! An old friend and a new one. You both must have dinner with us. Maria has fixed her delicious chicken and rice. You are both welcome to share with us."

Replacing his rifle above the field stone fireplace he smiled at them both and waited.

[Weldon Campbell]

EDIT: Sorry this post should have been posted by Jonah Arkken


Arkken nodded awkwardly at the young finely dressed and turned out young woman stood alongside him on the porch. He was caught between a frown and an embarrassed smile. He probably appeared a right dolt for having not even noticed the young woman’s approach. ‘I’m getting old.’

But his heart warmed at the reception from the man who opened the door. As to be expected, Tom Harte carried a rifle ready for trouble, a wise precaution indeed. But then he recognised Jonah and he felt his spirits rise at the recognition however silly it might have seemed.

Arkken nodded at the young woman, she sure was a beauty and no doubt she knew it about herself. He gestured for her to go before him trying to remember his manners. “Miss Redwood, Jonah Arkken” he deferred by way of introduction as he heard Tom shout into the house at a Maria to set dinner for two more.

Jonah was about to protest, embarrassed to be calling at dinner, his walk the last part of the way to the ranch making him forget the time of day. But something about the man’s friendly gesture and sincerity stalled Jonah’s protest and then he caught scent of the aromatic smells from the kitchen beyond. It sure smelled divine and he hoped the sound of his gurgling hungry stomach was not heard by the others. Living was hard and Jonah was hard pressed at the moment to support himself. His hunger for revenge was not enough to feed him as he was slowly realising since his return to town and the anti-climax of facing against Weldon Campbell.

Arkken took in the surrounds of the ranch house. Much was the same as when he had shared meals with Ceila and Hugh and yet there were subtle differences as the man before him had made his own mark on the place. “Thank you for offer Mr Harte.”

He stood in the centre of the living room unsure about himself and retreating to his habitual nervous trait of feeding the rim of his hat through his fingers like a wheel. It was a way to keep his hands busy and it was a habit of self-regulation that Arkken had fallen to since his drinking and since the war. He smiled nervously, the smile twitching between a grin and a scowl. He felt at unease despite Tom’s entreaties. Jonah partly blamed the presence of the Redwood girl, her beauty and her sure confidence about herself seemed to knock off kilter his own confidence.

Jonah patted the fireplace to which Tom had just replaced the rifle over. He felt the strong stones of the hearth and felt the sense of security he felt as a young man when Hugh convinced him of his own path. “Good to see the old place again. Many a night me and Annabel sat here with your ma and pa.” Arkken began with a fond remembering smile on his face. The smile faltered as he expressed to Tom, “They were good folk. Sorry to hear of their passing. I shoulda ... I shoulda been here.”

“I’m sure they’re mighty proud of how you’re keeping the ranch though Mr Harte.” Arkken grimaced calling the younger man Mr Harte. He hadn’t even called Hugh that! He gave a short uncomfortable laugh. He looked then in marvel at Tom Harte a man assured of himself and running his own ranch. “Heh, young Tom a grown man now. The years ... they go by so quick.”

Turning to the woman, Jonah tried his best to be a friendly and easy going as Tom was. The man was the model of good manners and grace. The young woman too was as fine in her manners as she was in her looks. Jonah felt like the grizzled grump that he was before them and shifted uncomfortably trying to find conversation with the girl. “Redwood? I don’t rightly remember a Redwood family in the area ‘fore I left. You must be new. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

[anskee]

“They were good folk. Sorry to hear of their passing. I shoulda ... I shoulda been here. I’m sure they’re mighty proud of how you’re keeping the ranch though Mr Harte. Heh, young Tom a grown man now. The years ... they go by so quick.”

Tom was very touched by his words about his parents. 'Well, thank you, Mr. Arkken. I truly appreciate that. And please, call me Tom. Now, I insist that you eat with us. There's always plenty and you are always welcome. Let me introduce you to everyone - Maria Garcia is my cook and housekeeper. This is hr husband, Jose Garcia, he's my caretaker. Watches over things to make sure they're running smoothly. And there's a few of my hands, Joe Moody, Rob Holcomb, K.C. Clarkson and over there with the big ears is Ed Miller. Everyone, this is an old friend, Jonah Arkken." They all greeted him politely and moved around the table to give Jonah room to sit..

"Senor, I have fresh booter meelk to dreenk," Maria asked him with a smile. "Would you care for some?"

Tom helped Jonah with his jacket and hat hanging them on a hook by the front door. "If you don't you'll regret it, Mr. Arkken. Maria makes the best buttermilk around. She makes the best biscuits with it too," he smiled at the older, heavy-set lady dressed in a colorful dress and an apron that covered her front.

'Meester Harte likes everyting I make," she mock scolded him waving him off with her hand.

"And as you can tell I haven't skipped many of her meals, either," he teased her. "Have a seat," he motioned for him to sit next to him.

The Grace said with everyone's heads lowered Maria dipped some of the chicken and rice out on her plate and passed the bowl onto the next person along with a bowl of green beans and a plate of corn-on-the-cob. She made sure everyone had a glass of the fresh buttermilk, especially Arkken and then they began to eat the meal.

"So, tell me, Mr. Arkken, what brings you around these parts," Tom asked him in-between bites of food.

[Evangeline Redwood]

Evangeline wanted to politely decline the offer for dinner simply because, at heart, she had not let go of the old ways and did not like for men to see her eat. At the same time, her stomach rumbled delightedly. And it would be rude for her to say no. So she moved inside behind the other man, hand reaching up to grab the top of her hat and take it off of her head. As she did, a thick mas of dark chocolate curls fell down her back, nearly to her waist, and she shook her head to loosen her hair up slightly.

She turned to look at the man that had been caled Mr. Arkken, putting on a dazzling smile. So much shorter than he was, she was forced to tilt her head up to look into his face. "Yes, we're new to the area. My Papa was a general in the war, and when it was over, he got into horse breedin'. So we moved here from Georgia to start that up." She replied, Southern accent thick on her words as she spoke to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you too." She held a hand out to him, wrapped in soft, brown leather gloves. "I'm Evangeline Redwood."

She then turned her face back to Mr. Hart, battling with herself on whether or not she wanted to stay for lunch. She finally decided against it, still far too uncomfortable with people beyond her family seeing her eat. "Mr. Harte, I won't be stayin', I'll give y'all time to catch up. I was just comin' to tell you we caught one of the pumas in my barn a few nights ago, attackin' one of my mares. I took care of 'im, but his pelt was just so pretty I didn' want it to go to waste. We have so many pelts in our house already so I thought maybe you could appreciate it."

She held out her arm so the rug was far more visible than it had been before, for him to take it if he liked. She nibbled on her bottom lip gently, smiling despite the face that the tip of her bottom lip was still being worried between two rows of straight white teeth.

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ooc: sorry my response took so long
clothes: here

[Jonah Arkken]

"Yes, we're new to the area. My Papa was a general in the war, and when it was over, he got into horse breedin'. So we moved here from Georgia to start that up."

Arkken looked amazed at the young woman as he recalled a short period when he had served under the general in the war. “General Redwood? My ... he’s a good and honourable man ma’am. I served under him for a short time. Just one of the rank and file but we all respected him as a good and fair general. Be sure to pass that along. Boys. It’s a real pleasure and honour to meet you.”

"It's a pleasure to meet you too." She held a hand out to him, wrapped in soft, brown leather gloves. "I'm Evangeline Redwood." Jonah took her delicate and petite hand in his rough hand and found himself smiling upon the captivating beauty of Evangeline.

Jonah Arkken allowed himself to be steered towards the table. He greeted everyone in turn and was struck by the open and warm relations Tom Harte fostered with the folk in his employ. They were all good honest friendly folk and it brought an honest and warm smile to Jonah’s face. His spirit was lifted by the act of welcoming.

He moved to the table as Ms Redwood conversed with Tom Harte about a puma and it seemed she was being polite in trying to turn down an invitation to eat with them. Jonah momentarily forgot about them as the broad woman before him told him. "Senor, I have fresh booter meelk to dreenk," Maria asked him with a smile. "Would you care for some?"

As Tom took his coat and hat he assured Jonah that it was indeed good tasting and he finished by urging Jonah to take a seat. Jonah smiled and declared, “I’d love some thank you.” Then he laughed at Maria’s rejoinder to Tom.

Taking a seat as bid by Tom, Arkken smiled nervously and unsure of himself as he looked about the table at them all. These folk were so open and friendly to do his heart good. For so long Jonah’s heart had been filled with anger and hatred and self-loathing that he had forgotten the simple joy of good food and good folk. He almost forgot himself as Grace was then said. He hastily blessed himself and mumbled the words long absent from his tongue. It had been a long time since he had prayed. He had felt the power of prayer answered little, none more than staring at the bottom of a glass at least and so he had lost his faith. But the heartfelt gratitude and good blessings asked of by those around the table of the Harte ranch made him feel a loss of his once simple faith.

He kept his head down and eyes closed during the prayer hoping not to draw too much attention to himself. Swept up in the warm embrace of the household Jonah wondered what Ms Redwood might have thought or made of the whole thing.

Then they got to eating and the food was simply delicious. True, given his hunger pangs and the fact his meals these last few weeks had been meagre scraps and paltry offerings, Arkken might have eaten anything. But he doubted that a lord would have tasted as hearty or as tasty a feast.

He wiped his mouth and finished his bite. “This sure is good. Mighty fine. Thank you again so much.” The obvious pleasure Arkken derived from eating the meal seemed to tickle Maria quite and she beamed at the praise and at his helping himself to more.

"So, tell me, Mr. Arkken, what brings you around these parts?” It was a rather loaded question. Back in town Arkken’s revelation to Campbell about his purpose was mocked and laughed at. He was shown up as a drunkard and a feeble petty man sore about the past. Jonah had come here to express his heartfelt sympathies to Tom Harte upon hearing the news of the Hartes’ passing. He wondered whether it was in poor taste to bring up the matter of Weldon Campbell at the dinner table and whether it would lead to these good and welcoming people deriding him.

He answered cagily to begin, setting down his cutlery as he readied an answer. “Truth is ... Del Fuego has always been my home. Most my growing life at least. I never should have left it. Figured it was about time I made it back to it ‘fore my time in the sky came up.” He gave a half-hearted chuckle to the conclusion of a watery reason.”

The welcome of these people moved him though to be more honest and to be open in return. “You see, I pretty much ruined everything I had going for me. First the ranch, losing it, then I gave up my friends in Del Fuego and tried to start over elsewhere. I let my pride get in the way. People like your pa would have taken me and the family in. I might not have had my ranch but I’d have had my friends and kept my family. But I was angry and prideful ... and sore. Sore enough to hurt my family and me more. My family and my Annabel, I drove them away. I don’t rightly blame them for giving up on me. I gave up on me. Sought solace in the bottom of a bottle. Thought fighting a war might give me a purpose or at least end my worthless life.”

Arkken was aware suddenly of how much he was talking and the fact he had brought the jubilant atmosphere to a halt with his woe begotten tale. He tried to muster a smile to point to some semblance of hope in his sorry story. “You don’t need to be hearing about my past mistakes. Sorry for interrupting your dinner in this way. But rest assured, I’m trying to make good. I’m an ole dog that’s fer sure but I want to change all that. Just one day I resolved to fix matters. To return to Del Fuego and try to make good on what went wrong.”

The confidence of his previous statement withered away as he thought about the reality of making that happen. “Or so was the plan. I had thought to call on your ma and pa before learning of their passing. I had thought I could come back and see justice done. To get back what was rightfully mine and taken on me.” Arkken ached at the unravelling of the plan he had concocted in his head. It had all gone so wrong.

---

ooc - left whether Evangeline stayed for food or not vague (or so I hope) to suit whichever way it works out. After all, Tom seems to be a very persuasive man!

[anskee]

"Mr. Harte, I won't be stayin', I'll give y'all time to catch up. I was just comin' to tell you we caught one of the pumas in my barn a few nights ago, attackin' one of my mares. I took care of 'im, but his pelt was just so pretty I didn' want it to go to waste. We have so many pelts in our house already so I thought maybe you could appreciate it."

He held out his arms as she laid the pelt in them. "Miss Redwood, I am honored," he looked at it in amazement. "It is absolutely beautiful. Thank you so very much," he beamed a bright smile at her. "I am sorry you cannot stay for a meal. You are most welcome to come anytime you take an inkling," he smiled at her and saw her to the door.

So, tell me, Mr. Arkken, what brings you around these parts?”

Truth is ... Del Fuego has always been my home. Most my growing life at least. I never should have left it. Figured it was about time I made it back to it ‘fore my time in the sky came up. “You see, I pretty much ruined everything I had going for me. First the ranch, losing it, then I gave up my friends in Del Fuego and tried to start over elsewhere. I let my pride get in the way. People like your pa would have taken me and the family in. I might not have had my ranch but I’d have had my friends and kept my family. But I was angry and prideful ... and sore. Sore enough to hurt my family and me more. My family and my Annabel, I drove them away. I don’t rightly blame them for giving up on me. I gave up on me. Sought solace in the bottom of a bottle. Thought fighting a war might give me a purpose or at least end my worthless life.”

"I remember you from when I was a boy," Tom spoke. "Hard times come to us all, Mr.. Arkken, and that in itself is a shame. But there is such a thing as redemption, regardless of what we've done in our past. I found it out after my mother died. I thought I had messed up my life when, in a state of hardheadedness and rebellion, I walked away from my widowed mother. I wouldn't forgive her for her indiscretion when she had my half brother, Luis, and because of it I never really got to know what a remarkable man he was until he was gone out of my life. After my mother died she left me this entire ranch and these wonderful people that work for me. Everyone is worthy of a second chance."

“You don’t need to be hearing about my past mistakes. Sorry for interrupting your dinner in this way. But rest assured, I’m trying to make good. I’m an ole dog that’s fer sure but I want to change all that. Just one day I resolved to fix matters. To return to Del Fuego and try to make good on what went wrong.”

The confidence of his previous statement withered away as he thought about the reality of making that happen. “Or so was the plan. I had thought to call on your ma and pa before learning of their passing. I had thought I could come back and see justice done. To get back what was rightfully mine and taken on me.”

Tom listened to Jonah for several minutes as he ate. He really didn't know much about what happened to him or how he had lost his ranch and lands but he knew it was a considerable amount. Fact was Jonah had the second largest ranch in the area while Tom's family had been the third largest. The largest belonged to the Rush family that was now owned by the Redwoods

But now with the Arkken ranch gone that made the Harte ranch the second largest. The thought that crossed Tom's mind was that whoever had stolen Jonah's ranch could possibly have their eyes set on his and the Redwood ranch.

"Mr. Arkken, I am need of a farrier or a blacksmith. Would you be interested in the job? I would pay you a fair days wages and you could live with the men in the ranch hands or, if you'd prefer, in one of the smaller houses on the ranch," he looked at the older man. "Tell you what, you spend the night here with us and get some rest, think about it and let me know tomorrow. How does that sound?"

[Jonah Arkken]

Arkken felt a sudden sense of ... gratitude ... relief ... happiness ... acceptance - a whole tumult of emotions as Tom offered him the job as a farrier on his ranch. Jonah wondered whether Tom knew just how desperate his situation was or whether the man was solely taking pity on him because of his connection to Tom’s parents. But it seemed that Tom Harte was a genuine man and that he would not take a risk with his ranch or horses simply out of sympathy.

So Jonah allowed himself to feel the gratitude of someone being kindly to him and offering both a job and a place to stay. It truly warmed his heart and did his weary bones some good. The act of kindness and the glut of feelings had made Arkken pause before responding. The fact was, the offer was such a shock and some of that shock probably registered on his face.

“That’s mighty generous and very kind of you Tom but I’m an old man and I don’t know if I’d be the best man for the job. I could do it rightly enough but ... but my best days are behind me.” Jonah gave a sad smile for that fact and wrung his old, tired, wrinkled hands as he contemplated this realisation. He sighed for the fact and he felt bad about letting Tom down too.

Jonah's thoughts also turned elsewhere - to those of Weldon Campbell. He worried about Weldon Campbell and about how he could bring about that man’s ruination. Jonah worried too and whether taking a job on the Harte ranch would place any danger on the ranch or derail Jonah’s plan to exact revenge. But he looked up at the smiling kindly face of Tom Harte and appreciated the offer and had heart to forget about Campbell and actually see to living his own life again.

Maybe Tom sensed his indecision or maybe the man was simply as kind as he appeared to be but he would not rush a decision on Jonah. "Tell you what, you spend the night here with us and get some rest, think about it and let me know tomorrow. How does that sound?"

'It sounds too good to be true!' thought Jonah. Jonah found himself nodding his head at the sound suggestion. “That sounds good and again, mighty generous of you Mr Harte - I mean Tom. I reckon you're right. There's a lot to think about but I don't want you to think me ungrateful for your kindness in stopping to think about it.”

And Arkken had a lot to think about. He considered his own words and sentiments expressed over dinner about trying to start anew and fix his own life. Perhaps that could involve making new friends, a new start, a new job, a new purpose - rather than an old vendetta and dragging up old histories and scars.

[anskee]

'It sounds too good to be true!' thought Jonah. Jonah found himself nodding his head at the sound suggestion. “That sounds good and again, mighty generous of you Mr Harte - I mean Tom. I reckon you're right. There's a lot to think about but I don't want you to think me ungrateful for your kindness in stopping to think about it.”

"You're more than welcome, Mr Arkken," he smiled at him.

And for the next 30 to 45 minutes the conversation around the table was about cattle and horses and the mountain lion pelt brought over by Miss Redwood.

Then Tom told them he had gotten a letter from his half-brother, Luis Garcia. It seemed him and his wife, Abby were expecting their first baby, which pleased Tom to no end.

Someone asked Tom if he had a girl and he hemmed and hawed but admitted he did like a woman who lived in town but refused to go into detail preferring to keep the details of her identity to himself but still took some good natured ribbing for it.

When the meal ended Maria shooed the men outside, except for her husband, Jose, so the men went around the back of the house where they found places for them to sit and smoke and talk. The men gave Tom and Jonah room to themselves.

Tom sat in what was called an Adirondack chair and puffed on a rolled cigarette and patted his full stomach. 'Have a seat," he pointed to a matching seat next to him. "You stay around here too long, Mr. Arkken, Maria will put some meat on your bones. She's a mighty fine cook.. Been like a mother to me." He looked off towards the receding sunset and sighed deeply, withdrawing into silence.

It seemed every so often, when he least expected it, this heaviness came over him and he wasn't quite sure of what to call it; sadness, guilt, sorrow, it all seemed to be wrapped up in one neat little package and drape itself over him like a wet, wool blanket in the summer time. It was overpowering and unpleasant and the harder he tried to slip out from under it the heavier it became. The only way he knew to fight it was to let it evaporate itself away until the last trace was gone.

[Jonah Arkken]

He looked about the house, filled with happy employees, treated better than most people treated their friends or even family. It would be a good place to work and a good place to heal and get his life back together. But Arkken knew the demons that haunted him and feared being able to keep them at bay. Having a job would give him a purpose and would keep him from the drink and from hungering for revenge. Taking the job with Tom Harte would give him a new start and a new hope.

But he continued to mull the matter over as the pleasant conversation around the table happened. Maria couldn’t have been more attentive - nor her food more delicious. Jonah heartily enjoyed the company and the meal. He saw how the others pressed Tom on whether he had a girl and heck even Jonah found himself interested in the matter and hoping the man did for his deserved happiness and a woman by his side, that much Jonah could see clearly by the fondness his workers held for him. Such a man deserved every happiness in the world.

He did wonder at the vague responses from Tom but Jonah figured men weren’t much for showing their feelings and discussing matters of the heart. Certainly not around a dinner table. That Jonah could understand. It was after Tom had endured some good natured ribbing from the gathering about his love life that Jonah had related a story about a young Tom declaring on the porch his love for Jonah’s youngest girl Trudi - of course at the age of six no one expected it quite to last! This of course caused for Tom to receive renewed ribbing and the meal finished with great mirth and full stomachs.

Tom and Jonah then stepped outside while Maria scolded them away. Jonah took a moment, looking over the ranch and the lowering sun and smiled contently remembering past days and revelling in the simple beauty of the flat horizon stretching out to a lowering sun and hills in the far distance. Only when Tom said to have a seat did Jonah realise that they had been left alone by the others.

"You stay around here too long, Mr. Arkken, Maria will put some meat on your bones. She's a mighty fine cook. Been like a mother to me."

This caused Jonah to chortle happily. “I think I could get used to that.” And in truth Jonah realised he could get used to that. In fact, he’d be very happy with that. He leaned back in his chair like Tom Harte and looked out to the stretching lands before him. The gold and red hues that filled the sky with the glory of a Texas sunset filled Jonah Arkken with a profound sense of contentment.

He looked over to Tom Harte who had fallen silent for a time. There was something comforting about sitting beside a rancher named Harte Jonah mused. Even if Tom weren’t Hugh Harte he were as decent and good a man as him. Looking upon the reflective gaze Tom wore Jonah reckoned the man was thinking of Hugh and his mother in this moment too.

Diverting his gaze out beyond the ranch to the fields and horses beyond Jonah let his thoughts ramble too. As they rambled he began to imagine staying here on the farm and doing an honest day’s work again, instead of scraping a living together surviving from one moment to the next.

Jonah decided his course of action - he only hoped he could stick to it and that he'd have no cause to let Tom Harte down. Reluctantly he broke the silence. "Actually, I more than reckon working on the ranch as your farrier a good idea Mr. Harte.”

Shucking his shoulders, Arkken had to admit though his concerns to Tom. “The only thing is Tom, I am getting older and the heart might be willing but the old bones are another matter altogether. They don’t exactly see eye to eye with me own thoughts about what they should be able to do. I’d sooner that you didn’t end up taking on a worker who is actually gonna cause you more trouble than it might be worth your while.”

“I do have one possible solution to that though. I might be getting older but perhaps I could apprentice up one of the younger lads, show him how to farrier. That way I wouldn't be doing you a complete disservice in taking up the offer?"

A stupid smile fell upon Jonah Arkken’s face as he spoke. He suddenly felt very happy, very content and very much as though he really were taking control of his life and starting over. “So if you’re willing and sure ... and ye think that’s a workable idea, then ...” Jonah held out his hand to strike a bargain, “then I’d be more than happy to accept your offer. More than happy.”

[anskee]

“I do have one possible solution to that though. I might be getting older but perhaps I could apprentice up one of the younger lads, show him how to farrier. That way I wouldn't be doing you a complete disservice in taking up the offer? So if you’re willing and sure ... and ye think that’s a workable idea, then ... then I’d be more than happy to accept your offer. More than happy.”

Tom liked that idea and nodded, giving Jonah a grin. "Sounds good, and I know just who you could apprentice. One of my hands has a fifteen year old son who would love for you to apprentice him. His name is Max Christmas and his son's name Jason. He's a good kid and has been bugging me teach him for nearly a year. So, yeah. I'll introduce tomorrow morning."