Slay Bells

by Hildie McQueen

  Yep, the day seriously sucked balls.

  By the time she’d been able to breathe normally and once again attempt to drink the rest of the coffee, the hunk was nowhere to be seen.

  “Let’s get you settled. You look dead on your feet,” her hostess said while guiding Gabriela toward the front door.

  Much to Gabriela’s delight, she was to stay in one of the small cabins. “Oh my goodness, it’s so cute!” Gabriela exclaimed at the small wooden house. The front entrance was shaded by a small snow-covered porch, on it a whitewashed rocker.

  They walked in and she put the suitcases beside the front door.

  “Over here is the kitchen. It’s small, but adequate,” Natalie said as she motioned to the right. “I stocked it with coffee, there is creamer in the fridge. There is also bread and butter, plus a couple jars of jam. We make them here at the ranch.”

  Natalie walked down a short hallway. On one side was a small bathroom, across from it a bedroom. “It’s small, but spacious. I sometimes wish I lived here. So much less to do.”

  Gabriela couldn’t help but smile. The small cabin was straight out of a fairytale. Every detail decorated in pale greens and blues. The furniture was distressed, shabby chic style, which suited the whitewashed walls perfectly.

  “It’s lovely,” Gabriela assured Natalie. “I may not want to leave.”

  Natalie smiled widely. “You can stay as long as you wish.” She let out a breath. “There isn’t much going on early tomorrow, and there is breakfast food here. Please come over at noon for lunch.”

  “Is there a grocery store nearby?” Gabriela asked, already planning to spend her mornings at the small dining table while drinking tea and taking in the beautiful view.

  “The nearest one is in town. I’ll give you directions tomorrow,” Natalie offered. “I best let you get some rest. We can discuss details of the Winter Festival once you are refreshed.”

  She accompanied Natalie to the door. “Do all of you live here?” It was a good way to find out where the hunky detective lived. Not that he would be interested in a walking disaster.

  “No, not permanently. Henry does on occasion at the bunkhouse, when there’s work. Jeremy will be here on and off for the next few weeks to help out with the festival. I suppose we’ll keep Henry here too to help after today.” Natalie chuckled. “But he’ll have to keep his clothes on.”

  “That would be nice.” Gabriela laughed. She liked the woman. Although she was pretty sure they didn’t see many non-whites other than perhaps Native Americans in the area. It was nice they’d not batted a lash when she’d showed up. As a dark skinned Mexican, Gabriela had wondered how people would react to her there in Montana.

  San Diego was a melting pot where many nationalities co-existed. It was nothing new to be at events or shopping and not only see people from different ethnicities on a regular basis, but also hear different languages.

  Natalie studied Gabriela for a moment. “Do you have any dietary restrictions? I can whip up a gluten free version of almost anything. You’d be surprised at the special requests we get from guests during the summer.”

  “Nope.” Gabriela shook her head. “I’m not a picky eater. Oh, before I forget, if I go for a walk early in the morning. Is it safe to do so? Will your dogs chase me?”

  “Goodness no. They are used to all kinds of commotion. If you want one of them to accompany you, just whistle and tell them to come.”

  Once the woman left, Gabriela was finally free to let out a long breath. She sunk into a comfortable sofa and took in the peaceful environment. Everything was perfect. There were even fresh flowers in a clear glass vase on the kitchen table. On a side table tucked into a corner, was a small tabletop Christmas tree. The three-foot tree was decorated all in white. She smiled.

  Despite being away from home for the holidays, the cabin somehow made her feel content.

  Chapter Four

  “Go to sleep Henry. Don’t you even think about walking outside naked. My dogs will definitely attack you thinking you’re a skinny meal.”

  Henry’s eyes narrowed. “You’re lying.”

  “Try it and see.”

  A fully dressed Henry had leaned back in a recliner, remote control in one hand and coffee cup in the other as he watched some old black and white movie. Not even five minutes later, still holding the items, the man’s head lolled to the side and a loud snore came out.

  “Idiot,” Jeremy mumbled, walking out. He knew why Henry acted the way he did. After what the man had gone through in Iraq, it was understandable that he wasn’t quite right in the head.

  Jeremy glanced over to the guest cabin where Gabriela Diaz was now settled. Lights shined out from the windows onto the snow.

  A smile curved his lips. That was one accident-prone woman. Cute as all get out, but he wouldn’t be surprised to wake to the guest cabin having caught fire.

  His mother had informed him just a couple weeks earlier that a writer for an online magazine from San Diego was coming to do an article on their yearly festival. It had not occurred to him that it would be an attractive woman. He’d expected either a bespectacled guy in loafers or a middle-aged woman who’d hang out with his mother in the kitchen.

  As he headed to the family home, the cool air helped him perk up. A full day of work and tons of paperwork afterward meant he was dog-tired. There was much to do and he’d yet to unpack his stuff. Although he stayed there ever so often, he never left much more than a change of clothes and toiletries.

  A lone owl’s call sounded, and Jeremy stopped to look around.

  The moon shined down across the expanse of the land and over the stables. All of the horses were in for the night. His parents kept a ranch-hand on during the winter to look after the horses they bred or boarded. Whatever the ranch-hand didn’t get done, his father did.

  It was home and would be the last place he’d live. Jeremy was the kind of man who liked knowing what to expect out of life. One day he’d marry a local lady and after a few years have a house built on this land. Here he would raise his children, close to their grandparents.

  His sister, Molly, lived nearby, her house just a couple miles down the road. She and her husband Eric had two children and a third one on the way.

  Despite the chill, he did not want to hurry inside. Instead Jeremy stood in front of the open barn and considered all the decorations and work that would go in to getting it ready for the winter celebration his family hosted every year.

  The Hawkins Winter Festival was a short four day event that was attended by a couple thousand people who would come and take part in the festivities. Vendors sold their wares, musicians entertained, and the horses would pull lavishly decorated sleighs past trees decorated with thousands of lights.

  Every year was totally different and somehow the same at once. New faces, old faces, marriage proposals on the sleighs, maybe a wedding or two and there were the kisses that happened when the fireworks display shined overhead.

  Toward the end of the festival, the yearly pronouncement by his father that he’d not do it again would be repeated. No one paid him much heed since by June, he’d start making plans for the next theme.

  “Jeremy, make sure to let the dogs back in,” his mother called out from the porch as his parent’s Labrador along with his bounded down the steps.

  He checked his watch. It was only nine at night. “Okay,” he replied.

  Once on the porch, he pulled the collar of his jacket up and watched as the dogs chased each other, circling but not at all seeming inclined to do more.

  Jeremy blew out a breath and once again looked toward the guest cabin. This was certainly going to be an interesting festival time. One thing he planned to do was to avoid the writer. He wasn’t about to jack his jaws and tell Christmas stories for her to put into an article. If anything, he’d ask his mother to tell her he preferred nothing more than perhaps a mention.

  Between the set-up, activities, the people and the aftermath, she’d have more tha
n enough to write about.

  Finally, the dogs came up the steps, both with tongues hanging out and what looked to be wide grins. Labradors were goofy and always made him smile. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

  The dogs waited just inside for him to wipe their paws and then raced to find his father.

  Some things never changed. Animals loved Rick Hawkins.

  His father looked up from the recliner as he walked in. “Come here son, I want to talk to you about something.”

  If it was the yearly, “it’s time to move home because you’re giving your mother grey hairs talk”, he was ready.

  “Let me grab some coffee.” He grabbed his dad’s proffered cup to refill. A few moments later, he lowered to the couch, ignoring whatever played on the television. “What’s up Dad?”

  Jeremy’s mother sat on the other end of the couch reading.

  Finally, his father met Jeremy’s gaze. “This is going to be the last year that we will host the festival. We’re meeting with the Clarks to discuss them taking it over on their land next year. They’d been interested since I mentioned we may retire.”

  This did catch him by surprise. “Are you serious this time?”

  “Yep,” his father said, emphasizing it with a firm nod. “Your mother and I want to spend the winters away from here, maybe go to the Caribbean or Florida. You know, be snowbirds. Can’t do that while having this festival every year.”

  His mother finally looked over. “We’ve already talked to Molly and now we’re going to ask you the same thing. The only way we’ll keep it here is if you two want to take it over. Otherwise, the festival will be moved to the Clark’s ranch starting next year. We want to announce it on opening night, so everyone knows it’s our last year.”

  Jeremy blew out a breath. “What did Molly say?”

  “That she wanted to know what you thought first. She did say it was a lot of work and with the kids and a new one on the way, she’d have a hard time doing much until the kids are older.”

  That was understandable. Although, he’d always known he’d end up living on the ranch, retiring from police work and helping his father, Jeremy hadn’t considered the festival. It was a local tradition and an event many of the local people counted on yearly.

  His father sipped his coffee and then met Jeremy’s gaze. “Take your time thinking about it. And don’t feel obligated to anyone but yourself. Your mother and I do it because it’s something we both love.”

  Jeremy looked to his mother who’d put her book down and smiled at him. “I can’t believe you’d already met Gabriela at the airport. Isn’t that funny? She’s a doll. Make sure you plan time to show her around tomorrow afternoon. I have a hair appointment, and your father is meeting with the lights crew.”

  The overly bright smile splitting his mother’s face made Jeremy narrow his eyes. “Mom, don’t go playing matchmaker. Yes, the woman is pretty, but she’s also from California. Montana is like a foreign country to her. Besides, she seems kind of accident prone.”

  “I’m just asking for a favor. I’ll be around the rest of the time to take her off your hands.” She batted her lashes in pretend innocence. “Unless you decide to give her a tour of the town later.”

  “Mom.”

  “I’m just suggesting it. It would be nice for her to spend time with someone closer to her age.”

  Jeremy rubbed his eyes. “I’ll probably have my hands full ensuring Henry keeps his clothes on.”

  “Henry will be fine. I’m going to put him to work,” his father interjected.

  His eyes threatened to close the moment he leaned back in the comfortable chair, some days he felt closer to his parents’ age than thirty-five.

  Just then the dogs barked and raced to the door.

  “I’ll get it,” Jeremy said standing and stretching.

  He opened the door to find Gabriela wrapped in a robe and shivering. “There’s no hot water.”

  With no makeup on and untamed curls surrounding her face, she looked ten years younger than the last time he’d seen her.

  “Oh no, I’m sorry dear,” his mother called out. “Bring your things here and shower in our bathroom. I bet Rick forgot to get the water heater going.” His mother came to the door and stood beside him. “Jeremy be a dear and take her to get her toiletries. Then bring her back.”

  “I-I ….” Gabriela met his gaze. “Okay…that would be great.”

  An hour later, dressed in sweatpants and a long sleeve t-shirt with no bra, Gabriela came down the stairs. He’d not meant to notice, but her breasts jutted forward when she put the thick robe back on. On her feet were furry boots she called Uggs, and on her head she wore a knit cap that miraculously held her curls down.

  “All right I’m ready. Thanks for taking me back and forth.”

  When she smiled at him, Jeremy swallowed. “Not a problem.”

  They rode in silence back to her cabin and she hesitated before getting out of the truck’s cab. “Do you appreciate how beautiful the snow looks at night? Or, is it so common you stop looking?”

  In the moonlight, the snow appeared to be blue and with the outlines of the trees the scene seemed more like a painting than true life. “Some nights, I’ll sit outside and take in how pretty it all is.”

  “That’s good.” Gabriela smiled widely. “Because I won’t forget how beautiful this night is.” Abruptly she opened the door and slid out. Missing his cue to open her door, he climbed out of the truck.

  When he rounded the truck, she was at the front door opening it. “Have a good night, I’ll see you at lunch maybe,” Gabriela said. “Thanks again.”

  He waited for her to go inside and then went back to his truck. It was close to eleven and now he wasn’t sleepy at all. Jeremy chuckled. The things a pretty girl did to a man.

  The next morning started with a bang. Literally.

  Thud. Thud. Ripe Curse. Thud.

  Jeremy was instantly awake. “What the hell?” He rushed to stand beside the window and peeked out between the blinds. Henry stood just outside his window attempting to split wood or maybe just doing a Michael Jackson impersonation. Each time he lowered the ax and the wood split, he jumped back. “Son of a bitch.”

  Jeremy opened the window. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Earning my keep, that’s what,” Henry shot back. “A bit rusty at this though.”

  “Parents have truckloads delivered for the festival. We don’t need any wood.” Jeremy shivered from the cold air. “Do something else.”

  Henry didn’t seem convinced. “Like what?”

  “Check on the horses.” Jeremy yawned so wide, his jaw cracked. “Or the cows.”

  “Ha. You don’t have cows. Good one.” Henry gave him a toothy smile. “I’ll make some coffee. Is the front door open?”

  He looked to the digital display on the nightstand. “I don’t know, it’s only six-thirty. I’ll let you in. But you best be quiet.”

  “There’s a coffee maker in the bunk house,” Jeremy said, sitting at the dining room table a few minutes later. Henry didn’t do random things without reason. He’d probably had a rough night and needed to find a way to distract himself. Sometimes he wished the man would find someone else to be his reality check. And yet Jeremy understood. Having done a couple of tours over at the hellhole himself, it wasn’t something you just got over.

  “Did your Dad tell you I’m going to work here for a while? Helping with the festival.”

  Jeremy nodded. “He needs the help.”

  Henry lowered to a chair with coffee and a plate of toast. “He said I can stay in the spare bedroom in here, but I’ll stick to the bunkhouse.”

  “How about you wait until at least seven before popping up?” His father shuffled into the kitchen, scratching his head. “Who in the hell chops wood at six in the morning?”

  “I apologize,” Henry said with a sigh. “I was trying to wake Jeremy up gently.”

  “That was gentle?” Jeremy huffed. “How about next time
you tap on the window?”

  “Good idea,” Henry said.

  Jeremy’s phone chimed. Cassandra again. Who in the hell did booty calls at seven in the morning? He pressed the silent button and got up. “Gonna take a shower.”

  Chapter Five

  Upon waking, it took a moment for Gabriela to figure out exactly where she was. The cabin was dim, as she’d drawn the curtains closed the night before. Not because there were any lights outside, but more because she got a bit nervous. What if a bear or a wolf came to the window? Maybe some strange creeper would peek in the cabin window and stare at her while she slept.

  She’d gotten up a couple times to double check the front door and to ensure all the windows were locked. The silence had been deafening. Even now, the only sounds were the steady hum of the refrigerator and a birdcall every so often.

  How could people live like this?

  The need for caffeine forced her out of the warm cocoon she’d made. The bed was way too comfortable for her liking. Thankfully the cabin was toasty warm and through her socks, the wood floor didn’t seem cold at all.

  After coffee and a light breakfast, she planned to go for a walk and get her bearings around the ranch. Perhaps if she got a better feel for where things were, she’d not be so nervous that night. Her boss had sent her there, telling her to remain for as long as she needed. She hoped to write the article quickly and hopefully be done in just a couple weeks. If things went smoothly, she could be home in time to celebrate the New Year with friends and family.

  An hour later, she emerged ready to face the day. Thankfully, her Uggs kept her feet warm. Her jacket however didn’t do much more than provide a bit of break from the icy wind. Gabriela made a mental note to go buy something sturdier than the coat she’d bought online because it was “cute”.

  She’d made it to the open barn-looking building, took out her camera and took several pictures of the structure.

  Just then Henry popped out of a side door. “Good morning Gabriela,” he greeted, waving her over. “Wanna see the inside?”