His Dry Creek Inheritance

by Janet Tronstad

  Mark paused and thought a moment. This wasn’t playing out like he had thought it would. “Mind if we step outside for a moment?”

  “Oh, no,” Bailey said, starting to stand. “We want it to stay civil.”

  “It will,” Mark assured her and she slowly sat back down. “We’re only going to talk.” Then he spoke directly to Joe. “Okay?”

  The other man nodded his head.

  They both grabbed coats and went out the door. The wind was blowing just as strong as before and flecks of icy snow hit them on the face. They each hunched over and moved close together. Wisps of white air formed with each breath they took.

  “You ever talk to a doctor about the flashbacks?” Mark asked.

  “What’s the point?” Joe said, sounding discouraged. “I knew when I left the service I had a problem. The doctors told me. But I didn’t want anyone to know. I keep thinking it would go away if I just keep...” His voice trailed off.

  “Just keep what?” Mark probed.

  “Just keep getting through the day,” Joe said as he looked up. “It’s got to get better, don’t you think? Mary hired me to do some of the work around this place, but I haven’t gotten to it. The noise bothers me. The wind bothers me. I can’t rest. I’m no good here, but I don’t have any other place to go.”

  “I could come help you with the work,” Mark offered. “Get you caught up some.”

  Joe shook his head. “You don’t know what it does to a man to be useless like this.”

  The other man looked up and Mark saw the grief and distress in his eyes.

  “Maybe I do know,” Mark said softly. “I think the first step is to deal with your PTSD. There’s got to be a doctor around here who can help you. Even the baby doctor has some tips.”

  “The baby doctor?” Joe grinned. “You asked the baby doctor about PTSD? That I got to hear.”

  “It wasn’t me that asked,” Mark admitted. “It was Bailey, but he checked me out anyway even after I told him that the medics had already done so. And, it’s a place to start. He’s sure to know other doctors around. And there are some organizations. I can find out the contacts for you. If you’re willing?”

  Joe nodded. “I’ve got to do something. Folks might think it’s strange if I go see a baby doctor though. I wouldn’t want anyone to think it was because of Mary. She’s not sleeping with any man—says she’s still a married woman.”

  Mark thought about that. He had figured her husband had filed for divorce after he’d left, but he didn’t know.

  “Maybe you can go with Bailey and me some time,” Mark said.

  “I could do that,” Joe said.

  “It’ll have to be soon,” Mark said. “Bailey doesn’t have much time left.”

  “Sure doesn’t look like it,” Joe agreed.

  “And you were flirting with her?” Mark said indignantly, remembering his grievance.

  Joe shrugged. “I thought it would make her feel good. Flattered, you know.”

  “Well, it didn’t.” Mark slapped the man on the back. He wasn’t going to stand outside and argue about that. “Let’s go back inside. It’s cold out here.”

  Joe nodded again. “You’re not going to tell everyone are you? About the PTSD?”

  “Not unless I have to,” Mark said. “But I know for a fact the old men around here—the ones in the church—will be supportive. They’ll be eager to help. One might even have useful information on doctors or programs. In fact, I’m sure he’ll help. He has a nephew with it. You’ll want to tell Mary first though. She deserves to know.”

  “She deserves more than that,” Joe muttered. “She’s put up with a lot... I’ve been keeping my eye out for a husband for her. He’d have to be someone special though and I haven’t met anyone around here good enough.”

  “I know how that goes,” Mark said as he opened the door.

  Both men ducked in as quickly as they could.

  The warmth felt good, but Mark was as cheered by the gentle sound of Bailey talking as he was the heat. He was glad to know what Joe’s problem was. At least, he would know how to help him.

  * * *

  Bailey sat at the table while the boys counted raisins. Apparently, to be fair, they each needed to have the exact same number of raisins. It seemed too intense to be a game, but even Rosie was caught up in the counting.

  Then Rosie reached out a hand and plucked a raisin from the stack next to Billy.

  “Hey,” the boy protested.

  Rosie just smiled and put the raisin in her mouth. “All of the raisins were mine before the cookies were even made.”

  “Rosie!” For the first time it dawned on Bailey that her little girl might not be as innocent in all of this bickering between her and Billy Baker as she made others think. “You will need to give Billy one of your raisins now and say you are sorry.”

  “Sorry!” Rosie protested. “He stole the bows out of my hair and no one made him say sorry.”

  For the first time today, Bailey noticed that Rosie had not one, but two bows in her hair, one on each side of her head. And they were the black velvet ones with the diamond sparkles in the middle. The bows that were her very best.

  A deep chuckle sounded from the doorway and Bailey looked up to see Mark and Joe standing there, grinning.

  While she was staring at the men, she heard a gasp beside her and turned to see that Billy had snatched one of the bows out of Rosie’s red hair and was holding it high like a trophy. Before Bailey could even speak, Billy was racing out of the kitchen with the bow and Rosie was right behind him vowing she’d catch him and make sure he was sorry.

  Mark looked at Bailey, his eyes warm and twinkling, and asked, “Should I go rescue Billy?”

  “You might have to,” Bailey said. She could already hear screams of laughter coming from some room in the back as Mark and Joe took off down the hall.

  “Oh, dear,” Mary said, shaking her head. “I try to get the boys to act like gentlemen and this is what happens.”

  “I guess it’s the same as getting girls to act like ladies,” Bailey said with a smile. “It’s impossible.”

  “And not a bad thing,” Mrs. Hargrove added. “Kids need a little freedom to be young.” The older woman turned to Bailey. “I remember when you and Mark were that age. I knew he was going to be all right when he started snatching your bows.”

  “I don’t see how,” Bailey said.

  “He was connecting,” Mrs. Hargrove said with a smile. “He didn’t have words, but he was reaching out to you.”

  Bailey wasn’t sure about that, but she accepted the older woman’s words. She didn’t always understand Mark. That much was a certainty. She knew for sure she didn’t know what was going through his mind when he invited Joe to come over to the ranch and bunk with him and Josh for a few nights. She supposed he wanted the other man away from the boys and Mary, but Joe didn’t give him a hard time about going. He even nodded when Mrs. Hargrove invited Joe, Mary and the boys to church this coming Sunday.

  They all got back to the ranch around noon and Josh made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for everyone. Bailey promised to roast a pork loin for the evening meal and everyone was content although Mark did say he’d make the meal under her instructions.

  The sun was shining by the time they got up from the table and it was clear that the day was growing warmer. Rosie wanted to go outside and play with the poor doggie and Mark said he’d take her out and stay with her. Bailey knew he wouldn’t let any harm come to Rosie and so she nodded her approval. She certainly couldn’t take Rosie outside to run around.

  Life, Bailey concluded, was settling into a comfortable groove. She was relying on Mark too much. She knew that. But she didn’t have the energy to worry about it now. After the baby was born, she would get her life in order. As for right now though, she was going to take a nap.

&n
bsp; She’d left her door to the napping room open so she’d hear Rosie if needed, but she went to sleep quickly. She was only half-aware when a downy blanket drifted down on top of her sometime later. She started to wake a little more when a kiss brushed across her forehead, but she finally decided it was Mark. He made her feel safe and she drifted back to sleep.

  Chapter Twelve

  It wasn’t snowing Wednesday so Mark decided it was a good day to separate the cows into groups by age and whether or not they were pregnant. He and Josh did their best to guess which cows would give birth first and they put them in pens closest to the barn.

  The gray morning clouds had burned off by midday and they both heard the sound of a pickup driving up the lane. It pulled up close to the barn and Joe stepped out.

  “You’re a fruitful ranch,” Joe said after he walked over and leaned on the main corral fence. He was eyeing the cows. Mark and Josh had moved most of the pregnant ones into that holding.

  “Not as fruitful as we’ll be next year,” Josh said proudly as he put one of his elbows on a sturdy post. “This is good ranch country.”

  Mark was silent. He wouldn’t be here next year. Josh at least had a job long term. Mark’s time would be up whenever the requirements of the will were met. He best do more than talk to Mr. Durham about places to buy around here or he’d be homeless.

  “The Bakers never had any animals,” Joe said as they stood there. “We were lucky to get a big crop of potatoes this past summer.”

  Mark frowned. “How is Mary making it over there?”

  There was no market around for potatoes and he guessed she grew them solely for the family table.

  Joe was silent for a minute. “I use my disability check to buy groceries. We don’t talk about it. I just go to town and get groceries and leave them on the counter or hide them in the freezer.”

  “Boys that age eat a fair bit,” Josh offered.

  Joe nodded. “We manage.”

  With that Joe turned and began to make his way to the bunkhouse. The drifts were melting and there was more mud than snow around. Mark and Josh stood there and watched the other man go. Joe had left his pickup parked by the barn.

  “He’s got some surprises to him,” Josh finally said.

  Mark nodded. “Seems like he slept better last night, too. There might be hope for the guy.”

  “He doesn’t drink,” Josh added. “I’ve kept a watch for bottles and such. Even looked in that pickup of his to see if there were any empties.”

  “Find anything?” Mark asked.

  “He does the crossword puzzles they put in that shopping paper out of Miles City,” Josh said. “Pretty good at it, too.”

  Mark frowned. “He doesn’t strike me as an educated man.”

  Josh shrugged. “Maybe Mary does them.”

  “And leaves them in the pickup?” Mark asked. “It sounds like the only time she goes anywhere is once in a while to church—and I think someone else gives her and the boys a ride on Sunday.”

  Josh thought a bit. “Well, I couldn’t say.”

  “Maybe he gives someone else rides,” Mark offered.

  They turned back to their work in the corral.

  Lunch was leftover sandwiches in the bunkhouse and, since the afternoon was growing warmer, Mark let the dog come out into the yard with them. Rosie wanted to come outside, too, and her mom dressed her warm once Mark said he’d keep an eye on her.

  As it turned out Joe was playing fetch with the dog and Rosie joined in. Leaving them to their game, Mark and Josh went back to the corrals to finish their task for the day.

  In a couple of hours, Mark noticed that the game of fetch had changed into serious pet training.

  Rosie called him over before he even got close to the house to see how she could raise her hand and make the dog growl.

  “Good doggie,” Rosie said as she patted the mutt’s head. The dog looked up at her in adoration. The canine had been given several baths by now and Mark noticed that the dog’s hair was brown with copper overtones. He no longer worried about the canine turning on the girl. He was more worried about the dog attacking Billy if the boy ever ruffled Rosie’s feathers again.

  “You don’t want the doggie to hurt anyone,” Mark told the girl.

  “He’s my guard dog,” Rosie said proudly. “If someone tries to kidnap me, doggie will stop them. Off with their heads.” She made a dramatic gesture across her own neck.

  Mark heard a muffled chuckle and looked over at Joe. The other man was trying to keep a straight face.

  “I tried explaining limited response,” Joe said. “It didn’t take.”

  “I’m not surprised,” Mark said as he turned to Rosie. “You can have him growl if there is a kidnapping. Or have him come find me. But you’re not to make the dog think that someone is hurting you when they are not. If it’s just play, don’t go screaming for the dog.”

  Rosie reluctantly nodded. Mark wondered if she was bloodthirsty or if she just didn’t understand what would happen if the dog bit someone.

  “Who should I scream for if I can’t scream for my dog?” Rosie asked. Mark noted she was practical like her mother.

  “Me,” he said. “You can scream for me.”

  That made Rosie happy enough and she turned to walk back to the house.

  The dog watched her go, but Mark noted the mutt didn’t seem forlorn. The beast was content to stay there with the three men.

  Mark bent over and patted the dog. “We need to give you a name, Old Boy, don’t we?”

  The canine leaned into Mark’s leg, probably in hopes of getting scratched. Mark obliged him.

  “How do you feel about Scout?” Mark asked. He’d been thinking of names.

  “How about Sarge?” Joe suggested. “If he’s going to be a guard dog, he needs some authority.”

  Mark noted that Joe was talking more about his army days since he’d become comfortable around Josh and him. Mark had set up an appointment with the baby doctor in Miles City for next Monday. He planned to go with Joe even if Bailey couldn’t. The physician said he knew of programs and would do a consultation for Joe at no charge. Just having some hope seemed to make Joe do better. He went over to the Bakers early every morning to get Billy off to meet the school bus. Then he drove back to the Rosen ranch until school was over. He picked Billy up and went to the Bakers for a couple of hours before coming back to the bunkhouse for the night.

  Josh and Mark went back to working with the cattle. By late afternoon, Mark realized he’d been hearing Rosie’s voice for some time. When he walked back toward the house, he saw that Joe was helping her teach the dog more tricks.

  Everything seemed quiet around so he thought he’d go inside and see if he could help Bailey with dinner. If he could make it happen, he’d have her take one long nap until the baby came. Of course, Bailey wouldn’t stand for that. He’d only bribed her to rest so much today by saying that she’d want to be able to go to the Valentine talent show on Friday. The whole ranch would close down to go see that.

  * * *

  Friday morning, Bailey snuggled into the cocoon of her covers. She felt sluggish and had for several days now. She guessed it was because, for the first time in years, she felt all of her responsibilities lifted from her shoulders. Mark was looking after Rosie. The girl had been bubbling with enthusiasm when she poked her cold nose into the bedroom yesterday afternoon. Full of stories about how she was teaching her dog tricks, Rosie was content. Bailey didn’t even need to worry about feeding everyone. Mark and Josh had a handle on that. Even Joe seemed willing to help around the kitchen.

  It was nice to not need to worry about anything, Bailey told herself as she lifted her head and looked at the clock on her bedside stand. The numbers told her it was nine o’clock. It would have to be morning because the sun was coming in along the sides of her blinds.

  F
inally, she realized it was Friday morning. The talent show was going to happen at two o’clock this afternoon. She was going to have to get up and get dressed. She felt a twinge race along her lower back when she lifted herself into a sitting position on the edge of the bed.

  It was Valentine’s Day and she was going to wear her black pleated top with a big red heart pin that Rosie had made in Vacation Bible school this past summer. She wondered if Mark would recognize the pin. Both of them had made similar pins when they were a few years older than Rosie and in the same Vacation Bible School program. Bailey had given her red heart pin to Mark and he gave a green heart to her. She was hurt, assuming he thought she was jealous or greedy or some such thing. But he never said when she asked. There were so many things he’d never told her, she thought, as she stood up. Of course, they both had unusual upbringings. Maybe by now they would agree on appropriate Valentine Day sentiments. Everyone knew a red heart meant affection.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mark saw the red heart pinned to Bailey’s black blouse before she even put her coat on and he smiled. He’d be embarrassed if she knew he still had the heart that she’d given him all of those years ago. He’d never had nerve enough to wear it, but it was carefully wrapped in a handkerchief and lying at the bottom of the trunk he’d kept with him throughout his years in the military. The trunk was now stowed at the foot of his bed in the bunkhouse.

  “Remember these?” Bailey asked. She must have seen him looking at the pin. “Rosie made it.”

  “Some things don’t change,” Mark said with a smile as he watched Bailey finally get her coat bundled around her. She couldn’t button it shut and he knew it would not keep her warm enough, but it would help. “Mrs. Hargrove and her hearts.”

  “You made my heart green,” Bailey said accusingly just like she’d done when he gave it to her twenty years ago. “I am not a jealous person.”

  “It was never about that,” Mark replied sheepishly. “It was because green is for go and red is for stop. I wanted your heart to go on and on forever. I didn’t know a Valentine heart needed to be red.”