The Promise

By Denise

I thought summer vacation would never get here and was looking forward to spending my summer with Steven. We met at a school dance last fall and we had been dating throughout the winter. It was the last weekend of school when he informed me that he was joining the Navy. He wanted to see the world. I was crushed, now all of my plans for the summer were now gone. I still wanted to be there at the train station, to say goodbye and wish him luck. He gave me hug, then a kiss before he boarded the train. I waved as the train left the station and slowly disappeared from view.

While I was in town I needed to stop by Ben's General store to pick up some fabrics I had ordered, so my sisters and I could make some new summer dresses. I parked my horse drawn wagon in front of the general store. I climbed down off the wagon and tied my horse to the post. My thoughts were still on Steven as I climbed up the steps, walking along the boardwalk towards the store when I heard a voice say…"Good afternoon." I stopped and looked around to see who spoke to me. I suddenly become aware of this dark haired man standing against the wall of the barbershop. He smiled and tipped his hat. I spun around and ran into a woman coming out of the store.

"Excuse me Ma'am." I said as I looked back at the stranger, liking what I saw. My thoughts of Steven seemed to have disappeared as I entered the store.

I returned a few minutes later with my arms full of fabrics with Mr. Parker, the storeowner, pushing a wheelbarrow of dry goods behind me. As I started to pass by the stranger again he stepped out in front of me and offered to help.

"Let me help you," he said and then took the bulks of fabrics from my arms and carried them to my wagon. When Mr. Parker approached the wagon the handsome stranger said to him, "I will take it from here."

"All right, Sir." Mr. Parker said as he turned to me and said, "Have a good day, ma'am!"

"Thanks. Mr. Parker," I said as he left. I watched as the stranger loaded my wagon, noticing his strong arms, back and shoulders.

When he was finished he turned to me and asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No." I looked into his handsome face and beautiful dark brown eyes "Who are you? I haven't seen you around here before."

He removed his hat. "My name is Antonio Cardenas. I just arrived a few days ago."

"Where are you from?" I noticed that his hair was long and was pulled back away from his face. I blushed as I looked away from his eyes.

"I was born in Spain, but grew up in Florida."

"Oh really?" I looked down at his lean trim body. He had on a black shirt with a tanned colored leather jacket, black pants and boots. "What brings you to Meredith, Colorado?"

"I am exploring this great country." He smiled, as he looked me over. "I like what I see so far."

"My name is Cassandra, but everyone calls me Cassie."

"It's good to meet you Miss Cassandra." He reached out his hand to me.

"Same here." I placed my hand into his as he kissed the back of my hand and then gazed up at me. "Well…I…have to…" Those eyes seemed to be controlling me, my pulse raced as he released my hand.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Oh no." You are the best looking man I have ever seen. "I just need to get back home." I sighed deeply as I climbed up onto the wagon.

"Miss Cassandra."

"Yes, Mr. Cardenas." I acknowledged him as I got settled in the wagon seat.

"Can I call on you sometime?"

I looked down into his bronzed colored face. His eyes were an auburn color. "Yes, I suppose you could."

"Where do you live?"

"The Anderson ranch…it is about 10 miles west of here."

"Maybe I will ride out there one day." He untied the reins and handed them to me. "Have a good day, Miss Cassandra!"

"Thanks…you too." I backed the wagon away from the post and started the journey back home, thinking about the stranger, hoping I would see him again.

***

I stopped under some cottonwood trees to get out of the hot summer sun for a few minutes, when two horses came towards me. It was the Grayson Brothers, Brett and Morgan. They stopped in front of the wagon. "My, my what do we have here?"

"Brett, please leave me alone."

"Cassie I can't do that. He climbed up onto the wagon seat and sat next to me. "I would like to know why you keep avoiding me?"

"Brett I am not interested in you."

"You did at one time." He touched my hair and then my face.

The image of the stranger came into my mind. I pushed Brett's hand away. "Brett stop touching me!"

"Cassie, what is wrong?"

"Nothing. Just leave me alone!"

"What changed your mind, about me?"

"When I met Steven."

"It really hurt to see you with him. I thought we would get married some day."

Brett then tried to kiss me, "Brett no!" I cried as I slapped him across the face.

"You little bitch, I will show you who's the boss." He grabbed my arm forcing me into the back of the wagon. Brett got on top of me, forcing his mouth on mine. I kicked and screamed, trying to get him off of me, but he was too strong. "Morgan get up here and hold her arms while I do this." He yelled. Morgan held me down as Brett ripped my dress. "Come on, I know you like it." Brett covered my mouth with his, demanding another kiss.

Then I heard the sound of a gun being cocked. "Get off her!" A voice said as Morgan released my arms and stood up. The sun was in my eyes and all I could see was a dark image.

"Who the hell are you?" Brett yelled as he reached for his gun.

"I said…get off her!"

Brett looked up at the stranger. "What will you do if I don't?"

"Well then, I will have to shoot you."

Brett got off of me and jumped down off the wagon as I watched him point his gun at the stranger. "I don't like people telling me what to do," He snarled.

I sat up and then saw who the stranger was. "No Brett!" I begged. "Please don't!"

"Okay! Okay!" Brett shouted as he looked down at me. "Cassie, I will get you next time." He went back to his horse as Morgan followed.

The stranger reached down to help me up. "Miss Cassandra, are you okay?"

"Yes I am fine. What are you doing out here?"

"Well, I was just out for a ride."

"I thought maybe you were following me." I got down off the wagon.

"No, but aren't you glad I came along when I did?" he smiled.

"Yes, thank you." I brushed the dirt off my skirt.

"Here, allow me." He brushed the leaves and dirt from my back and picked leaves from my hair. "Do you know those boys?"

I looked up into his eyes and then at his full, succulent lips. I had a strange feeling come over me that I wanted to kiss him, but I moved away from him. "Yes, Brett and Morgan, we grew up together. Well, I should be getting home. Thanks, Mr. Cardenas, for rescuing me."

"My pleasure." He tipped his hat. "I will follow you home, I want to make sure you get there safely."

He helped me climb up onto the wagon seat as he then mounted his horse and then followed me home. As we got closer to the ranch two horses galloped towards us. "Cassandra!" They yelled.

"Who are they?" He asked as he rode beside me.

"Oh, it's okay, they are my brothers…Brendan and Keith."

I stopped the wagon as they approached. "I am sorry I am late."

"We were worried about you," Brendan said.

"We were just coming out to find you," Keith added.

"I'm fine, thanks to my friend here." I smiled at Antonio. "This is Antonio Cardenas."

"Your sister had a few problems and I was happy to help her…now I should be getting back into town."

"No, please stay," Brendan said. "It will be dark soon and you shouldn't to be out riding alone."

So we went back to the house. My family was sitting around the dining room table eating dinner when we came in the door. My mom got up from her chair and gave me a hug. "Where have you been?" She looked down at my clothes. "Why are your clothes torn?" She looked at me then at Antonio.

"Mom, I'm okay. Brett and Morgan attacked me and then my friend here came to my rescue." I smiled at Antonio as he took off his hat.

"I don't understand those boys. They were so sweet as children." She sat down again.

"Antonio, this is my family. You know my older brother Brendan and my younger brother Keith." I pointed at each one as I went around the room. "Over there are my twin sisters Leslie and Diana."

"Glad to meet all of you," Antonio said

"Would you like some supper?" Mom asked.

"Yes, thank you," Antonio replied.

"Where are you from?" Brendan asked.

"I was born in Spain, my family now live in Florida," Antonio answered as he sat down at the table.

My father came into the dining room and I introduced him to Antonio. He didn't say a word as he looked at me and then at Antonio then went into the living room and sat down in his chair. I then asked..."Mom, is there someplace he could spend the night?"

"Yes," Mom responded. "He can stay in our guest cabin." She got up to go find the key. She came back and handed it to me.

"Thanks, mom."

"You are welcome, dear."

"Thank you, ma'am," Antonio said as he stood up from the table. He then put his hat back on and then he turned to my father. "Thank you, sir."

The cabin was a short distance away from the main house. I opened the door; there was a kerosene lantern hanging on the wall by the door as we went in. I found a match to light it. I then pointed out the water pump and a wood stove so he could use to heat up water if needed. "Well, goodnight, I will see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Miss Cassandra."

***

When I woke the next morning I could hear laughter coming from downstairs. As I made my way to the kitchen I saw him sitting with my brothers around the table. "What is going on here?" I asked, as I looked around the room.

Then mom came into the room. "Have you told her the good news?"

"No," Brendan and Keith said at the same time.

"What news?" I asked.

"We just hired Antonio to work here at the ranch," Brendan said.

"You did?" I felt this fear go through me as I thought about the dream I had last night about him.

"Yes, you know we have been short-handed since Jake and Henry left, so we offered the job to Antonio," Brendan explained.

"Oh," I smiled, for some reason I liked the idea.

"Well, we better be going, we have some fences to fix," Brendan said as they stood up and walked towards the door. Antonio looked back then smiled as he put on his hat and followed my brothers out the door.

***

Mom and I usually spent most of the day baking bread and preparing food for the evening's supper. Feeding the family and a dozen ranch hands took the entire day to prepare. My sisters, Leslie and Diana had the job of keeping the house clean and other chores.

Several hours later, I was sitting out on the porch when my brothers and Antonio came riding in. I watched them dismount and take the horses into the barn. All three appeared a few minutes later coming towards the house. He looked worn-out as he moved passed the house towards his cabin.

I went back into the house to finish preparing supper. It was 6 p.m. when everyone started coming in for supper. We created a buffet line, so it would be easier to feed everyone. The men formed a line to fill their plates. My sisters and I got the job of serving. I saw Antonio coming towards me; he had cleaned up for supper unlike some of the others who would come in still grubby and dirty from the day. He looked incredibly beautiful in a navy blue shirt, which seemed to enhance his dark hair and skin. My heart pounded as we stared into each other's eyes. My mom startled me when she yelled at me for holding up the line. I blushed as I scooped up some fried potatoes and put them on his plate. I looked up into his eyes again they twinkled when he smiled. I could see that he was amused by my embarrassment. He then continued down the line, looking back again before leaving the serving line.

When everyone was served it was time for the family to eat. So, I filled my plate and sat across from Antonio. "How was your day?" I asked.

He looked at me but didn't say a word until he finished his dinner. "Well thanks for dinner. I think I will call it a night," he said as winked at me and got up from the table. He said goodnight to everyone and then disappeared out the door.

My sisters and I still had work to do, washing dishes and cleaning up. It was late before I could go out on the porch and relax before going to bed. I looked over at the cabin and saw him sitting outside on the steps. So I decided to walk over there.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" he said as I approached the cabin.

"Yes, it is." I stood there not knowing if I should bother him. "Do you want some company?"

"Yes, I would."

"I wasn't sure since you didn't talk to me during dinner."

"Yes, I know, and I am sorry."

I sat down on the steps. "Have you done ranch work before?"

"No."

"Did you like it?"

"Yes I did." He laid his head back against the building. "Even though I'm exhausted…it was a great day!"

"That's good." The light from the lamp above our heads made his face a soft golden color. I sighed. "Well…maybe I should go so you can get some rest." I stood up and started down the steps when he stopped me.

"Cassandra," he said as he grabbed my arm.

I turned around to face him. "What?"

"I want you to stay. Please."

I looked into his dark shadowy eyes. How could I refuse such a man? Begging me to stay. "Tell me about yourself," I asked as I sat down on the steps again with my back resting against the railing.

"What would you like to know?" He sat back down next to me.

"Everything. I want know who you are and where you have been." That feeling came over me again, wanting to kiss him, wanting to be in his arms.

"Well, my family came here from Spain and they settled in Florida. That is where I went to school and learned English. Then when I was 18 I decided to leave and explore this country. I have been working my way west. I rode the train most of the time. I would get off in several cities and towns, spent time in each one. I wanted to find out about the people who live here. I would find work so I could have the money to continue traveling."

"I have lived here in Meredith all my life. I have never been away from this ranch. I would love to see other places."

"I would like to know why this town doesn't have motorized vehicles like they do in the cities?"

"The people who live here don't want our town to change. The only way people can get here is by train, so most people stay away. How did you find this town?"

"I was going to San Francisco when the train stopped for fuel in Glenwood Springs and I saw a sign for Redstone, Meredith and Aspen. So I decided I wanted to go another direction and wound up here. When the train arrived in Meredith I looked around and decided to stay here for a few days. I met you and now here I am talking to you." We stared at each other for a few moments. "Your brother gave me a work schedule and I have Friday off. Would you like to spend the day with me?"

"Yes. I would love to," I sighed as I stood up again. "Well, I should go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night, Miss Cassandra."

I went back to the house. As I was getting ready for bed I peeked out the window, and he was still sitting outside on the steps; he waved at me; I blushed and turned away from the window. I wish I understood these strange feelings inside me when I was around him. Steven or Brett never stirred up these kinds of feelings in me before.