Dressing Up Stella

by Kim Smart

  “I have to agree with your mother. You are a fantastic presenter. That whole audience will pay attention. First, you’re just so beautiful, and second, your passion for the ranch shines through. Even if your words weren’t eloquent, which they are, your passion alone could carry you through. Terrific job, honey.” Dan was nervous for his daughter but believed strongly that she would give a stellar performance, just like when she was barrel racing or running track. She was a performer. “Jesse, what do you think?”

  “First off, I’ve heard this speech for hours at a time in the truck, so the message is familiar. I would say Stella did a great job crafting it. Second, she’s always running off reciting some poem or another so I know she has the stage presence to deliver.” Jesse winked at his sister and grinned.

  “All right, you guys, that’s enough! Anyone want something from the drink and snack baskets before we get ready? The banquet starts at 6:00 with announcements, some association business, then dinner and finally, the awards.”

  “I think we should have a little toast before we break up this little party.” Yvette turned to Dan and asked him to open a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator. She dug her phone out to take some photos.

  “A little bubbly would be good about now.” Stella felt jumpy as she thought about walking around in high heels and a dress with make-up and curls in her hair. “Mom, will you guys come back up here so we can all go together? I might need help with my dress.”

  “Sure. I think that’s a great idea. You need chaperones to shield you from the paparazzi. Okay now, everyone squeeze in so I can get a big selfie to send back home. Raise your glasses, but not in front of your face. On the count of three everyone say ‘bubbles’ and hold your smile. Ready? One. Two. Three. Bubbles!”

  Yvette snapped their photo a few times. They clanked their glasses, downed the champagne and dispersed to their respective rooms to get ready. Stella checked the time. It was four thirty-seven. She had time for a bath before getting dressed.

  For fifteen minutes she soaked in the tub, listening to her favorite country-western music and thinking about her high desert cows. She missed them.

  18

  The Davies family walked with the mass of people into the dining hall that seated over five hundred guests. Yvette slipped her hand into the crook of Stella’s arm. “Isn’t this lovely? Everything looks so elegant.”

  “Yes, it’s gorgeous.” Stella held her breath. Breathe, Stella, breathe.

  Stella saw Brandon out of the corner of her eye. He was watching the crowd file in through the ballroom doors. When he saw Stella, he gasped quietly, then stepped forward and offered her his hand. “Stella! You look stunning!”

  “Hello, Brandon. It’s great to see you.” Stella instinctively brushed her free hand down her hip to make sure her dress wasn’t riding up.

  “Won’t you and your chaperones please come this way? I would like to introduce you to the firm partners.”

  She turned to her family. “Let’s go over here with Brandon.”

  Brandon made introductions, and the group exchanged handshakes. It surprised Stella that he remembered her family’s names and where they were from. He even knew which brother was which.

  “Can we chat for just a minute?” Brandon pulled Stella aside, his arm around her shoulders.

  “Why don’t you guys go to our table. Jesse knows where it is. I’ll be there in a minute or two.” Stella turned to Brandon, who was steered her to a corner, away from the busy entrance.

  “Brandon, I... I owe you...” Stella put her hand on Brandon’s forearm, wanting to clear the air before the night began.

  “Stella, please. Don’t worry about any of that now. We can talk about it later. I just wanted a moment alone with you, to soak in your radiance. I’ll tell you all about stuff later but I must tell you this now. I’ve been a fool to not pursue you. I can’t get you out of my mind, even though I haven’t been in touch. Anyway, how are you feeling about tonight? Are you feeling good? You sure look fantastic. The audience may not even notice what you’re saying because you’re so beautiful.”

  “Brandon! I hope that’s not true.” Stella looked down and stuck out her lower lip in a feigned pout. “I’ve worked hard on my speech. My family gave me high marks when I was rehearsing this afternoon.”

  She smiled up at him and got lost in his blue eyes.

  “I’m sure it will be brilliant. I won’t keep you any longer. You have your family here to spend time with. But we’re still on for tonight, right? I’m inviting your family to a reception in the firm’s suite. After that I really need to talk with you. Does that still work for you?”

  “Yes. I look forward to it.”

  “Wonderful. Now...” Brandon leaned in and kissed Stella’s cheek. “Good luck and I’ll see you on stage.”

  “Thanks, Brandon.” She squeezed his hand, smiled, and turned as gracefully as she could in high heels.

  “So, that’s Brandon.” Yvette didn’t let Stella sit before she started talking. “He is such a gentleman and, oh my, he’s handsome.”

  Jesse hadn’t taken his eyes off his sister. He knew she was as anxious about seeing Brandon tonight as she was about her presentation, if not more so. Concern showed on his face as he studied his sister. “You okay?”

  Stella smiled at Jesse. “Perfect, thank you.”

  She was. Her anxiety diminished almost entirely. She told jokes and pointed out fashion faux pas to her mom in quiet side talk. “I don’t mean to be ugly, but I mean, some things just ask to be made fun of.”

  “Stella, be nice and hope that your seams don’t split while you’re on stage!”

  Stella tapped her mother’s arm. “Mom, now you’ve jinxed me! Okay, I’ll be good.”

  Several attendees at neighboring tables introduced themselves. The law firm partners and association board members who Stella met previously brought their spouses to the Davies table for introductions. Stella was distracted. She felt only an occasional twinge of a nervous belly.

  The evening program was entertaining, and dinner was superb. As desserts were being distributed, the association president, David Coombs, took the stage and introduced Brandon.

  “With me here on stage is Mr. Brandon Cage. Brandon comes to us from the Phoenix branch of McGraw and Lipson, a firm known to most of us as a leader in pursuing the rights of agriculture operators. Brandon submitted the dossier for the winning nominee of tonight’s Excellence in Agriculture Award. Brandon, I believe you’ve put together a presentation for us and have a representative of the winner to introduce.” The audience welcomed Brandon with applause.

  “Thank you, David. That’s right, I have a presentation for you and I believe you will find, as our firm and the association did, this is a very deserving recipient. Before the presentation, I invite Stella Davies to the stage.”

  Stella navigated her way to the stage while Brandon continued to speak. ‘Stella manages one of the ranches for the award winners. I’ve seen this woman in action and I can tell you, you want to stay out of her way when she’s working cattle. She is more cowboy than many cowboys I’ve met. Please welcome Stella Davies.”

  The audience clapped as she paused at the bottom of the stage stairs while the production crew fitted her with a wireless microphone before joining Brandon on stage.

  “Thank you, Brandon and thank you to all you lovely people in the audience for the warm welcome.”

  She looked to the Davies table to make sure Yvette was recording the presentation for the Drakes. Reassured that she was, Stella smiled at her mom and nodded.

  “Stella, thank you for joining me up here. I know you have some things to share with the audience later, but I invited you up here during this part of the presentation so you can elaborate on my comments or correct me if I run afoul. Sound good?”

  Stella nodded, feeling at ease on the stage. “Sounds great Brandon. You’ve done your homework so I don’t think there will be any corrections.”

  She looked from B
randon to the audience. “He put the owners and I through a grueling interview, without telling us what it was for. You can imagine the shock when we learned we won this award.”

  She looked back at Brandon. “I still haven’t forgiven you for that, you know.”

  Brandon laughed with the audience. “Well folks, it looks like I have some amends to make. Let’s see if I adequately put into words and pictures the story of Winding Slough Ranch, which is not only a single ranch but a collection of multiple ranches owned by Martin and Clara Drake of northern Arizona.”

  Brandon designed the media presentation with perfection. Martin and Clara were humble and sincere in their videotaped introduction and acceptance. Brandon incorporated aerial and ground photos of all the ranches, the hands working and driving cattle, the thriving crops and the varied landscape.

  “Now these next photos will be a surprise to you, Stella. I don’t think you’ve seen them before.” Brandon displayed a series of aerial photos taken the first day of Stella and Jesse’s efforts to relocate the cattle away from the fire. The images were intense as they first showed the immense fire in the neighboring forest, and then transitioned to images of Jesse and Stella herding the cattle from canyons and behind boulders to the well-worn trail they followed to safer grazing lands. Jesse and Stella’s expression of determination could only be seen in their eyes. The rest of their faces were hidden behind wet bandanas to filter the smoky air.

  At the end of that segment, there were evening photos of Jesse and Stella around the campfire. The audience clapped to see western life alive and well.

  “You’re right, Brandon, I had not seen those pictures. In fact, I didn’t even know you had a drone out there. We’ll have a talk about this later too. Meanwhile, I would like to introduce my brother Jesse Davies who was with me on that ride.” Stella pointed to Jesse. “Jesse stand up and wave to all these nice people.”

  Jesse obliged and smiled. The audience responded with applause.

  “How did I do, Stella, did I get the details correct?” Brandon turned to his stage mate.

  “I would give you an A-plus Brandon.” She turned to the audience. “Let’s give Brandon a great big hand for pulling all this information together and making such a fabulous media presentation.” The audience delivered enthusiastic applause.

  “I’m going to turn the stage over to you now, Stella. I know you have some more personal things to share and more details about the innovative way you are approaching the high desert herding experience. I suspect Martin asked you to share a few things on his behalf as well.” Brandon winked at Stella. “Once again, here is Stella Davies of the Winding Slough Ranch operations.”

  “Thank you all again for that kind reception.” Stella reached for a stack of paper from the podium. “You’re right Brandon, Martin is a thinking man, and he loves to stay in touch with me.”

  She held up the stack of paper. They were index cards, taped together accordion fashion to make a long chain of cards when unfurled. “Here are just some of the messages he sent me to share with you all.”

  Stella held the top card above her head and let the stack of taped cards unfold to make a long chain that reached the floor. The audience laughed.

  Over the next twenty minutes, Stella shared more history of the ranch, her journey from a green cowboy to a foreman on the most challenging and interesting ranch in the operation. Her impassioned pleas to ranchers and operators to evaluate their practices and find ways to improve animal health and conserve resources moved the audience. Some scratched notes on cocktail napkins, some took pictures of the images displayed on screen, and others sat listening intently and nodded. Her efforts were rewarded with a standing ovation.

  19

  Brandon escorted Stella off the stage at the conclusion of her presentation. A reception line spontaneously developed around them as they fielded questions. Stella handed out Winding Slough business cards to those who asked, and there were many. Newly formed fans overtook the Davies family table. They fielded all the questions they could about Stella and the ranch, and answered questions about their own operation. Many recognized the Davies name from the rodeo circuit and Chance’s professional bull riding fame.

  Later, Stella and her family joined Brandon at the post-event gathering in the law firm’s extra-large suite. Stella had become a star that night. The firm partners loved her and praised her for her impassioned presentation. They invited her to join their firm as a per diem speaker. She promised to consider the invitation.

  Dan and Yvette left for their hotel room about an hour into the party. “It’s been a long day for us. We’ll see you for breakfast, Stella. Brandon, it was a real pleasure to meet you.”

  Dan hugged his daughter, and shook Brandon’s hand before escorting Yvette out of the room. About thirty minutes later, Jesse and Steve invited Stella and Brandon to join them in the lounge for a nightcap. They politely declined. Stella agreed to see them in the morning. “Bring a doggie bag, Steve, the breakfast is impressive.”

  “Well, Stella, you are truly the belle of the ball.” Brandon leaned in and kissed her cheek. He whispered in her ear. “You blew their socks off! Mine too.”

  Stella stepped back. “Thank you. Now, let’s talk about those photos, shall we?”

  Brandon’s brow furrowed as he looked at her stern face, which quickly melted into a smile. “That was pretty gutsy of you to fly a drone with the forest service planes up there checking conditions.”

  “I had to do it, Stella. There was no better time to capture you in action. You were so fired up and on a mission. I have to say though, I don’t think you were very nice to me that day.” Brandon looked at her, the corners of his mouth drooped, creases formed in his forehead and he looked away. He looked back and smiled as Stella started her explanation.

  “You are right. I’m sorry. I wasn’t very nice. There’s no excuse. But I learned a lot about myself around that time.”

  “Anything you care to share? Wait. Let’s find someplace less...noisy and crowded, shall we?”

  “Sure. Why don’t you come to my suite? I can show you all the wonderful gifts I got. I can make some coffee, or there’s plenty of alcohol and soda up there if you prefer.”

  They continued their conversation in chairs facing the night skyline view from Stella’s suite. “Okay, where were we? Oh yes, you were going to tell me about some self-discovery.”

  Stella looked around and grabbed her phone. She pulled up the picture of Brandon and the beautiful woman that had set her off so badly those many weeks before. “I was setting up house, getting established in my home and fighting the urge to text you every ten minutes. I was trying to convince myself that someday, it would be nice to have you in my life. The truth is, I wanted you in my life then. Anyway, I didn’t hear anything from you when you were in Texas.”

  Stella paused and took a sip of coffee. She wanted to be fully present for this conversation.

  “Something came over me. I was almost obsessing, I think. I started looking online to see if I could learn anything about the case you were working on. Low and behold, this picture popped up.” She showed the picture to Brandon.

  “That was a big day. That ruling changed the entire complexion of the case. In fact, because of that ruling we were able to mediate the case this week. That’s why I couldn’t come until later today. I had to pack all the documents and bring them with me. I’m going from here back to Arizona for the foreseeable future. Anyway, I guess I don’t understand what you’re saying about that picture.”

  “Well, I saw that beautiful woman with her arm in yours and I got jealous.”

  A loud laugh burst out from Brandon, nearly spraying coffee onto the window. “Jealous? Oh, Stella! There’s nothing to be jealous of. That beautiful woman is Mrs. Julia Sands. She works for our firm in the Texas office. She’s very friendly like that, but she’s very married and I would never think of her as a woman to pursue. Sorry you had that experience.”

  He reached out and ge
ntly stroked Stella’s face.

  “It was then that I realized how much I care for you Brandon and how much my heart wants to be with you. So when I saw you at Rabbit Creek Ranch, I was all wound up. I was worried about the cattle, it was Jesse’s first time out in the high desert with me and he wasn’t familiar with the ranch, and then there you come in a shiny new... whatever you were driving… with a shit-eating grin on your face. I lost it.”

  Brandon stood up and scooted his chair closer to Stella. He took her hand in his. She felt a flare of excitement as their fingers interlaced. “I accept your apology. I understand. I thought about you working around men all the time, even though I know you’re too professional to even think about seeing one of them. We all have weak moments. When we won that motion, I started talking with the partners about the likelihood that we would settle that case and I wouldn’t need to spend many more months in Texas. I talked to them about the possibility of changing the structure of my work. I need somewhere where I can be closer to you. Spending time with you is all I think about Stella, a lot of the time. I just know that you and I are a great pair. I mean, look at us up there on stage tonight. It was like dancing with you, and we didn’t miss a beat. Stella, I’m crazy about you and I want to be with you.”

  He studied Stella’s face for a reaction.

  She looked at him and the tears pooling in her eyes ran down her cheeks. “Can you really make that happen? Can we be close enough to actually spend time together and see if what we are feeling is what we think it is?”

  “You mean is it the real deal? Is it love? The kind that our parents have? The kind that Martin and Clara have?”

  “Yes, that’s what I need to know. I feel it in here.” Stella put her hand on her chest. “But I want to know in here.” She pointed to her head.