Page 14 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas
Eliza walked back into the ranch house, her mind swirling with thoughts. She replayed the scene in the corral, seeing it now through new eyes.
Where before she’d judged the process of breaking horses as cruel and domineering, she now saw the nuance—how skill and instinct could align human will with an animal’s nature, not simply overpower it. There was an art to understanding the horse’s mind and gaining its trust.
Billy had shown remarkable ability at calming the mare, communicating with subtle cues and steady patience. He and Travis seemed to sense when to push forward and when to easeup, adapting to the horse’s responses. The results spoke for themselves.
Stepping into the living room, Rachel walked out of the kitchen. “Did you enjoy watching them break horses?”
“I found it quite fascinating. Your ranch hands are very impressive. They have a remarkable way with the horses.”
Rachel smiled. “Yes, Billy has always had a gift when it comes to working with animals.”
Eliza nodded.
“Give folks a chance, and you’ll find most are not what they seem at first,” Rachel said gently. She turned to go back to the kitchen, then looked back with a twinkle in her eye. “Even the wildest ones can surprise you, if you’re patient.”
She then disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Eliza to ponder the deeper meaning of her words.
Eliza entered the dining room later in the evening, the aroma of roast beef and freshly baked bread filling the air. Several people were already seated at the long wooden table, chatting among themselves.
“Good evening,” Eliza greeted, taking the chair Dax pulled out for her. “Supper smells divine, Rachel.”
The front door opened. A petite woman, her brown hair swept up in a chignon, entered, followed by her young son who stayed close by her side. The man who followed wore a silver deputy’s badge on his vest and rested his hand lightly on the woman’s back.
“Eliza, I’d like you to meet Dorinda and Dutch McFarlin, and their son, Joel,” Rachel said. “Dorinda is Spencer’s sister.” She motioned toward Eliza. “This is Doctor Eliza Gladstone.”
Dorinda’s voice was soft and melodic. “It’s a pleasure, Dr. Gladstone.”
Joel peeked out from behind his mother. “Are you really a doctor?” he asked in a hushed voice.
Eliza chuckled. “Yes, I am, young man.”
Spencer strode to his sister, brushing a kiss across her cheek and shaking Dutch’s hand before ruffling Joel’s hair.
Dutch tipped his hat cordially as they took their seats. “A pleasure, ma’am.”
Eliza studied Dorinda as they began passing the food around. What had inspired this delicate woman to start a new life in Splendor? She wondered if it had anything to do with her brother, Spencer.
Her curiosity got the better of her. As Dorinda passed her the bowl of carrots, Eliza said, “So, Dorinda, I understand you are from Utah originally. What made you decide to settle in Splendor?”
Dorinda glanced at Dutch. “Well, my circumstances in Salt Lake changed, forcing Joel and me to leave. Spencer had written many letters telling me of the beauty of the Montana frontier and the opportunities in Splendor. I decided to join him and start fresh.”
“It must have been difficult, leaving your whole life behind,” Eliza said gently.
Dorinda nodded. “It was, but the church provided little support. All the elders backed my former husband. I felt so alone. Here, we were given a chance to build a new life.”
“Which you’ve done,” Rachel said.
Eliza’s eyes shone with interest. She had so many questions, but she needed to be careful. “Forgive my ignorance, but you were part of the Mormon church in Utah?”
“Yes,” Dorinda said. “We followed the teachings of Joseph Smith.” She hesitated. “Though I confess, my faith wavered when my husband took a second wife. His decision was the reason we left.”
Eliza offered a grave nod. She knew little about the Mormon church, or the pressure men felt to take more than one wife. She was glad to have broached the subject. There was much she still hoped to learn about Dorinda and her transition to a new life.
“Well, now, enough of all this heavy talk,” Rachel said. “Dutch, why don’t you tell us a story from your days as a Pinkerton detective.” She looked at Eliza. “He had some real adventures chasing down outlaws.”
Eliza’s eyes lit up with interest. She’d read about the Pinkerton Detective Agency in the newspapers in New York, but had never met an actual agent.
“I know little about the agency,” Eliza said. “Is it true Pinkerton agents often went undercover to infiltrate criminal gangs?”
