returned with a basket of biscuits. "Go on and eat."
Joe gave the woman a warm smile. "Mary Ellen, this here is Rafe Preston and Jerrick Black. Claim to be brothers."
The cook's bright eyes took them both in. "I'm glad you're here to help. Joe certainly could use it. Brothers?"
Jerrick smiled at her. "We're not brothers by blood."
"Sometimes a good friend is better than family," Joe said and looked toward a doorway. "Charlie not joining us?"
Mary Ellen shook her head. "No, she's not feeling well."
The flavorful stew and buttery biscuits were the best meal he'd had in a long time. Rafe looked to the woman who settled in across from him. "The meal is delicious. Best I've had in a long time. Thank you."
Mary Ellen beamed at the compliment and waved his words away, with a wide grin. "Hush now and eat."
"Are there any other ranch hands here?" Rafe asked Joe to make conversation and because he was genuinely curious.
"Jest you two looks like," Joe mumbled with a frown. "Damn Winfrow probably hired everyone worth a lick from around here. Jessup Winfrow owns the ranch up the road about an hour ride from here. He always seems to get a jump on things. I try to get into town and do what I can, but when I got there a few days ago, everyone was hired up. I put up a notice at the post office hoping to get at least a few workers."
"What about Misses Kennedy's husband or family? Seems like someone would come and help her," Jerrick asked and Rafe was grateful, as he was interested in the answer.
Joe became closed off and grunted. "Her parents live back east. Charlie is a widow." He didn't say anything else. Rafe figured the man was protective of the young widow and he could not fault him for it. After all, he and Jerrick were strangers.
"We will do what we can to help. I have a lot to learn about cattle ranching, so this would be a good time as any for me to get as much learning as I can," Rafe said moving the conversation away from the touchy subject of Joe's boss.
The old man visibly relaxed. "You'll more than get your experience this season. Moving the herd and calving approaches. A rancher is coming next month to collect a couple hundred head of cattle. Tomorrow we start moving the herd to the west pasture." The foreman continued to talk, telling them of the many chores needing to be completed around the ranch. Rafe paid close attention, committing as much as possible to memory.
Movement caught his eye, the younger woman, Charlotte, moved across the doorway in the adjacent room. He noticed she'd changed into a different dress, this one a simple frock. Her hair was down and she looked to be pacing.
"Can the three of us do all that?" Jerrick asked. "Seems like a job for twice our number."
"Yeah it is...we'll separate the herd. Do about fifty head at a time," Joe replied in between bites.
They finished dinner and Rafe felt the weariness from days of travel begin to take hold. He yawned and stretched. Getting up from the table, he picked up his bowl and took it to the washbasin.
Mary Ellen instantly appeared at his elbow. "Put that down, what are you doing?"
"I was going to wash it." Rafe wasn't sure what he'd done to earn her frown.
The woman pushed him back, but her expression softened. "No need for you to do any of that. You'll more than earn your pay and keep with all the work Joe will have you doing. I'll clean up. You boys go on and get settled for the night. I heard you traveled all day. So you're probably dead on your feet."
He was. "Thank you, the food was delicious," Rafe repeated and stepped back noticing Jerrick already headed out the door.
"See you at breakfast," Joe said sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. He looked to be staying for a while, so perhaps the old man lived in the larger house as well.
Just as he walked to the front door, he turned to see Charlotte standing in front of the hearth. Her head bent, she looked to be deep in