Chapter Fifteen
Spring’s temper was still simmering when she ushered her visitors inside her cabin. She’d stopped there first to change clothes before driving into town. They glanced around the cabin’s small interior and silently took seats. Hiram stared at the stuffed head above the fireplace and asked. “What is that?”
“A mountain goat,” she said. “There are herds of them here. This one had been caught in a rockslide and was buried from the shoulders down when I came across it. I dug it out hoping it could get back on its feet but the back legs were broken. The bleating was terrible.”
“Poor thing,” Fannie whispered.
“It was in a lot of pain, and wasn’t going to survive, so I showed it the mercy it deserved and took the carcass back to town—”
“You killed it?” Hiram asked, interrupting.
“Yes. Otherwise, it would’ve taken days for it to starve to death, and no animal or person should endure that.”
He studied her for a long moment before saying, “I suppose you’re right.”
Spring knew she was right, and because he was Garrett’s father she didn’t allow her irritation to rise and take hold. She was already mad enough at Vernon. “We respect life here in the mountains, Mr. McCray. Anyone coming across an injured animal beyond help will do just as I did. You don’t do them a favor by allowing them to die in pain or from starvation.”
He nodded tersely. “I understand. It’s just women back East wouldn’t consider doing such a thing.”
Spring said, “You aren’t back East, sir.”
Fannie smiled. “Touché!”
Her husband grumbled a bit but had nothing further to say, which suited Spring just fine. She glanced Garrett’s way and saw his chilly eyes focused on his father.
Melody was at the window looking out. “I can’t get over the beauty of these mountains.”
“I know. I enjoy waking up to them each morning. If you’ll excuse me for a few minutes, I need to change clothes before I take you to town. This leather is pretty warm.”
Fannie said, “Take your time.”
“Thanks.”
Spring noticed Vernon watching her. There was a veiled anger in his eyes but she ignored it and him as she left the room.
After her departure, Hiram said, “Garrett, I see your books and journal on the table there. Are you living here?”
Garrett expected the blunt question. The unexpected part was that his father had waited until after Spring’s exit. “She and Odell moved me here so I could sleep and heal in a bed. After the surgery I was sleeping on a cot in Dr. Lee’s office that was as uncomfortable as a floor.”
“The woman at the boardinghouse said you’d rented a room. Why weren’t you taken back there?”
“Because Dr. Lee was called away on an emergency, and the boardinghouse proprietress, Dovie, has enough to do without having to deal with a bedridden man. Spring volunteered to take me in.” He knew this wouldn’t be the only thing his father would want to know, and at some point Garrett would have to remind him that he was fully grown and no longer subject to his authority.
His mother said, “Miss Lee seems very unconventional.”
“Is that a compliment?” Garrett asked.
“Truthfully? I’d have to know her better to be certain, but I believe it is.”
He could always count on his mother to be fair-minded. “She’s quite a force, Mama. I’ve never met anyone like her.”
The next question came from Melody. “Do many of the women here dress the way she does? In trousers? I saw a few at Mr. Prescott’s place.”
“A few, yes. Spring’s a rancher. She can’t do the work that needs to be done in a gown.”
Vernon asked, “So she really isn’t married?”
“No.”