His Dry Creek Inheritance

by Janet Tronstad

  “Oh. That was sweet,” Bailey said as she stood there. “I wish I’d known that back then. You should have told me.”

  Mark snorted in disbelief. “What seven-year-old boy is going to tell you that?”

  “I suppose you’re right,” Bailey said, looking a bit sad.

  Mark knew Rosie could come barreling into the living room at any moment, but he didn’t care.

  “I still want your heart to go on and on forever,” he whispered, stepping closer and leaning over to pull the collar up on her coat. When he finished getting the coat just right, he glanced down and noticed Bailey looking at him wistfully.

  “I want you to be warm, too,” he said and then dipped his head to kiss her. He didn’t plan for it to be more than a quick tribute to the past, but he found he couldn’t stop himself. The past wasn’t enough. Everything he’d wanted today and for his future was wound up in that kiss. And then he heard quick footsteps coming from the hall.

  “I think I’ll be warm forever,” Bailey said softly before she turned to greet her daughter.

  Mark stood there feeling like he needed to go back to basic training. He didn’t understand the kinds of emotions he was feeling. He was supposed to be immune to these things. The kiss was one thing. But the longing that welled up in him wasn’t good. He wasn’t meant for this kind of life. He wasn’t a family man. He needed to stop kissing Bailey.

  “Markie!” Rosie’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She was twirling around in a white-and-black velvet dress with a full skirt that flared out with a dozen net petticoats. Her black patent leather shoes shone. Her copper curls shimmered and her black velvet bows sparkled.

  “You look like a princess,” Mark said in awe.

  The girl giggled and clapped her hands. As if on a signal, the dog came out from the hallway wearing a black velvet bow around its head and glitter sprinkled over its back. The dog came right up to Rosie and seemed to sit at attention.

  Mark smiled. Rosie finally had her partner. He’d be sure and stand beside them so he could help her do her twirl, but she looked confident and ready.

  Josh came inside then and whistled at Rosie, to her delight.

  “Oh,” Bailey said, like she just remembered something. She went over to the small table that held the phone and picked up a piece of paper. Then she turned to Josh. “I finally got a call back from the lawyer about Emma. He’s a little worried, too. Here’s his number. I’m hoping you can go check on her in the next few days. She’s probably fine, but I’d feel terrible if—”

  Josh interrupted before Bailey finished. He walked over and accepted the paper from her hand. “I’d feel bad, too. I’ll leave after the talent show.”

  “But you won’t have time to drive there and get back today,” Bailey protested. “And it’s getting colder. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s snowing before the end of the day. Maybe you should wait for tomorrow.”

  “I’ve got an uncle who lives close to Missoula,” Josh said and glanced over at Mark. “A different uncle than the one here. We’re a big family.” Josh turned back to Bailey. “Anyway, I’ve got time to get over there today even if I wait until after the show. That way I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon with my report on how she’s doing.”

  “I’d appreciate it,” Bailey said. “I know she’s probably got family over there, but—”

  Mark nodded to Josh. He was glad the other man was going to check, as well. If the lawyer was worried, Mark was too. Unlike Bailey, he didn’t think having family was always enough.

  Everyone needed to do a few last-minute things before they were ready to head off to the café for the talent show. Josh packed a small duffel and got his pickup ready for his longer drive to Missoula later. Mark changed into his new suit and then brought the ranch pickup close to the house for Rosie, Bailey and, of course, the dog.

  “Don’t forget the music,” Rosie called out to her mother as they both walked toward the door to go outside.

  Rosie was carrying her top hat and her cane. Mark reached out to take the portable CD player out of Bailey’s hands.

  “It’s enough if you carry your purse,” Mark told Bailey.

  “The CD is in the player,” she said as she handed it over. “I just checked.”

  Mark carefully led each one to the pickup, starting with Rosie. He even carried the dog since Rosie had spent hours combing the mutt’s hair. Bailey was his final passenger.

  Mark concentrated on the road as he drove into Dry Creek. Bailey was right about the changing weather. The skies were growing grayer as time went on. The air felt damp, too. Given the low temperatures, that probably meant some snow before the day played out. He was glad that the talent show was scheduled for midafternoon instead of evening.

  When Mark pulled up to the café, he counted over twenty pickups scattered around the building; some parked on the street and some found a place in the wide space between buildings.

  There was always a heavy dark blanket in the backseat of the pickup and Mark wrapped it around Rosie as he hauled her into the café. The burst of warm air was comfortable, but he left immediately to go back and get Bailey. This time, he decided, the dog could get his feet wet and wait next to the café in the large enclosure reserved for animals.

  When Mark came to the door the second time, Mrs. Hargrove was there and opened it for him and Bailey. The scent of coffee drifted toward them. Mark hadn’t been in the café for years and it looked better than ever to him, despite all of the people inside. A door led to the kitchen in back. Various people were sitting at round tables that had been pushed to the walls. Black-and-white linoleum covered what floor was visible. Large red hearts hung from the ceiling and twisted in the air. A red-topped counter ran along the left wall. And, on that counter, were dozens of heart-shaped boxes of candy ready for sale.

  Dry Creek was going all out for this day.

  “Wow,” Mark said in admiration. He liked that these ranchers and their wives took time to celebrate.

  “The day is finally here,” Mrs. Hargrove said with a smile as she nodded her head at Rosie. The girl was chattering and laughing and having a grand time with another young girl. “Time for the contest.”

  “She’s been practicing,” Mark said.

  “So has her friend Lucy,” Mrs. Hargrove replied. Then she gestured to a small table beside the door. “There’s punch and cookies before the show if you want some.”

  Mark nodded and glanced down at Bailey. She was looking around the crowded eatery, probably to see who was there. As far as Mark could tell, half of the people in the county were there. He saw Josh talking to some of the ranchers and decided to move over there.

  Before he got there though he was walking alongside the counter with the heart-shaped candy boxes. He wondered if he should buy one for Bailey. Women set some store by such gestures, he believed. There were so many red hearts and a few gold ones. They all had extravagant bows and some had silk flowers attached.

  He looked up and noticed that Josh was watching him, amusement lurking in his eyes.

  “Just looking,” Mark said as he finished walking past the hearts and made his way to the other man. When he got there, he looked up nonchalantly. “Thought you might want to buy one for Emma.”

  “Me?” Josh protested. “I barely know her.” His face flushed. “Besides, I thought about buying her some groceries before I get to her place. I think she’d like that better than some fancy box of candy.”

  “You may be right,” Mark conceded and then grinned. “Although nothing says ‘I’d like to get to know you’ more than a big box of chocolates.”

  Josh snorted. “What do you know about it?”

  “Nothing,” Mark agreed airily. “But I might buy a box all the same.”

  Mark saw the owner of the café and signaled her to set aside one of the boxes for him. “A big one,” he mouthed and she nodded.
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  Mark was distracted then because he saw Gabe walk into the café and walk over to Rosie. He patted the girl on the head and appeared to be wishing her well in the competition. He guessed maybe the man did view Rosie and Bailey as family, after all.

  Gabe walked over to him and said, “I’m having trouble finding that Amber Cast Iron company that Eli wanted for the bell tower. I’m not giving up though. I have some people to ask.”

  “Good,” Mark said with a nod.

  Gabe walked away and, a few minutes later people started to move to the edges of the café, some of them sitting on a chair and some of them leaning against the wall. Mark managed to snag a chair by the door for Bailey and motioned her over.

  Gradually the movement and rustling settled down and Linda Enger, the long-time owner of the store, stepped into the middle of the empty space and lifted a small microphone up.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone,” she said and people cheered. “I’m glad to see all of you here for our annual youth Valentine talent contest. We have six entrants today and we wish them all well as they perform. Remember, the grand prize is a hundred-dollar gift card and a Valentine box of the winner’s choice.” At that, the woman gestured to the lineup of heart-shaped candy boxes.

  A boy of ten years old juggled five balls for two minutes while whistling. Mark applauded him heartily. Then a teenage girl sang the national anthem and hit most of the notes right. He applauded her, too, mostly for her courage. The youngest two Baker boys played a song, one on a guitar and the other on drums. Mark looked around and saw Joe standing with Mary and Billy as they cheered on the two boys. An older boy performed some magic tricks, pulling a penny out of many unexpected places. Rosie’s friend was up and she played a delightful song on a flute.

  Then it was Rosie’s turn to shine. Bailey had the CD ready to go and Rosie had already let the dog inside so she called him over from his place by the door. Mark stood up, far enough away from Rosie so he wouldn’t interfere but close enough that he could close in when she needed a hand for her twirls. Before she started, Rosie stroked the dog’s back so his hair was tidy.

  Mark looked around, but didn’t see anyone who even recognized the dog now that the beast was well-groomed. The music started and Rosie struck a pose, her cane in her hand and her top hat on her head. For a second, Mark thought she looked like a red-haired Shirley Temple with her curls and her impish smile.

  Then the beats started and Rosie began to tap. Her toes tapped, her heels tapped, the cane tapped. Even the velvet bow clipped into her mass of hair quivered in time to the music. And then Rosie held a hand out and Mark stepped in to help her execute a twirl. Which only set her off on another whirlwind of taps and flying feet. Mark noticed the dog was inching in closer to Rosie, glitter falling off his back like fairy dust.

  Rosie held out her hand for Mark to hold and she gave a magnificent final twirl. People were standing up to applaud when Rosie slowed down enough to take a solemn bow. That made people clap louder and then she motioned for the dog to come to her and she signaled the animal to cross his front legs, with his hind end in the air, and dip his head. Mark was amazed that the dog could bow like that, but the canine seemed to enjoy it.

  Mark looked over at Bailey and they shared a proud moment. He never thought he’d be so touched by a child’s efforts, but he was. Rosie was special to him.

  * * *

  Bailey was thrilled. She supposed every mother wanted their child to be a star at something and this was Rosie’s day. Bailey watched as her little girl got even more applause and bowed yet again.

  And then Linda was walking to the center of the area again with her microphone.

  “The judges will step into the kitchen for a few minutes and compare our votes,” the café owner said. “So have some more punch and tell someone you love them. We’ll be out before you know it.”

  Linda and several others headed off to the kitchen. Bailey sat right where she was. Her feet were still tapping, but she was settled. Her chair by the door was one of the best seats in the house she thought as she saw Mark walk over and study those heart-boxed candies. She wondered who he had in mind to give one of those to. Not, she supposed, that it was any of her business. Just because she’d been friends with him her whole life didn’t mean she should crowd him. She looked around quickly. There weren’t really any single women around anyway. Well, except for her and maybe Mary Baker. Although Mary was apparently still married.

  The judges came back into the main area and Linda picked up the microphone again.

  “Our winner today is Rosie May Rosen!”

  Bailey stood up without thinking about her back and her swollen ankles. Her little girl had won. Bailey joined in the applause with her whole heart before she felt a pain race across her abdomen. Her backache had returned. She figured she might feel better if she stayed on her feet for a few minutes.

  She saw her friends and neighbors surge forward to congratulate Rosie. The Bakers were there first, then Josh, the minister, some of Rosie’s classmates, Mrs. Hargrove and several local ranchers.

  Then Josh walked by her carrying the heart-shaped box of candy that Mark had been admiring. Josh nodded to her and mouthed “Missoula.” She nodded in response, glad Mark was sending the candy along. Josh would probably say it was from everyone on the Rosen ranch and that would be a nice thing to give the young woman.

  Josh opened the door and the cold air rushed in. He closed it behind himself, but it seemed people were starting to leave and a minute later there was another blast of winter. She was almost going to look for another place to stand when she heard a familiar screech from inside the crowd of people in the middle of the room.

  “Rosie!” she called.

  Then she saw Billy Baker running past her with Rosie’s black velvet bow held high in his hands like a trophy. The door was open as someone else was leaving and Billy started to race through. Then Bailey heard the low growl from the dog and, almost immediately, a dark shape raced after the boy.

  “No-o-o!” Bailey cried. That dog was going to bite the boy. Without thinking, she knew she needed to stop that dog. She rushed to follow the mutt out the open door, moving as fast as she could, and took a step off the porch as she watched the boy wind between two pickups. The dog was tearing after him.

  “Bailey,” she heard Mark call, but she didn’t turn back. She was focused on what was ahead.

  “Come back,” Bailey breathlessly pleaded with the dog as she tried to catch up. Someone really needed to name that beast, she thought, as her foot went down wrong on a slick place and, before she even knew what was happening, she hit the ground. Shooting pain went through her like lightning. She’d turned midair so she would fall on her side and now she curled up as best she could. Then she knew nothing more as her mind went black.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mark’s heart had stopped. He’d heard Rosie call out and saw the dog chase Billy Baker out of the café. It wasn’t until he was at the door that he realized Bailey had gone after them. He called, but she hadn’t turned back. Then she fell and here he was, forcing himself down to the frozen ground to try to figure out how she was. His cane had gone to the snow near him. Fortunately, he and Bailey were sheltered between two parked pickups so the cold wasn’t so bad.

  He couldn’t think. He felt for Bailey’s pulse and was relieved to find it beating strong. He gently felt around her head and pulled a hand back in alarm when he discovered he had blood on it. She’d hit the ground forcefully. She probably had a concussion. Then he felt her body squeeze in upon itself and he remembered the baby.

  “Help!” he called, so focused on Bailey he hadn’t realized that half of the people in Dry Creek were already gathered around.

  Josh separated himself from the pack and came close. “What do you need?”

  “She hit her head,” he said. “I don’t know if she can be moved. Do you know if anyo
ne around has a gurney?”

  “I have a stretcher I use sometimes for calves,” one of the ranchers in the back said. “I made it myself. It should do for a person, as well. I’ll get it—it’s in my pickup.”

  The rancher took off at a fast clip.

  Mark was starting to sweat. He needed to remember everything he read from that pregnancy book. Not that Bailey was going to have the baby now, he assured himself as he felt along the sides of her stomach. But he needed to be careful they didn’t do anything to damage the baby while they were helping Bailey.

  Lord, help me. The words came unbidden to Mark’s mind. He’d been reading that pamphlet from Mrs. Hargrove at night, but he still wasn’t lined up with everything it said. It all fell into place now though. He needed God.

  “Here,” the rancher, clearly winded, held out a small stretcher.

  Mark took it and tested it. It was sturdy.

  “I need to get her to the hospital,” Mark said.

  She’d fallen on her left side and Mark felt along her spine, praying as he went and paying particular attention to her neck area. “Anyone know about spine injuries?”

  He looked up, hoping someone had medic training. He was surprised when Joe stepped forward. “I’ve done triage more times than I’d like to count. Mostly explosions, but we had some spine injuries from the falls.”

  As the man spoke, he was stepping closer and finally crouched down beside Bailey and Mark. Joe ran his hands down Bailey’s spine, too, and finally nodded.

  “No breaks,” he said. “We’ll still want to lift her careful.”

  “You’re sure?” Mark asked.

  Joe nodded. “We can’t leave her lying in the snow. The blizzard is starting to turn colder and she’ll get frostbite and then—”

  Joe left the rest unspoken, but Mark did not need to be told. There was no time to wait for an ambulance to get here from Miles City. Someone—and it had to be him—had to make a decision.