by Lisa Prysock
Tory nodded, beginning to understand Bronson more and more. “There is a lot of history and heritage on this ranch. And, horses are awesome.” She reached in her purse and produced her wallet, opening it to a photo of her white mare. “This is Glory.”
Bronson smiled, studying the photo. “What a beauty! Tell me more.”
Tory kept her eyes on the side of pasta she’d ordered with her steak and continued to wind fettuccine around her fork. “There’s not much to tell. My dad bought her for me when I was twelve as a birthday gift,” and laughing, she added, “because I wouldn’t stop begging for a horse.”
“Ah, so you’ve been bitten by the horse-loving- bug, too. That makes you like the perfect girl for me. I should’ve known something was wrong with Erica and it started right there. She didn’t like horses.” He drank some of the sweet tea and set the glass down, a look of reflection on his face. “I guess to be fair, I wasn’t as strong of a Christian then, either.”
“Being raised a country girl, horses have been a big part of my life. I can’t imagine life without Glory. It would be hard to be with someone who didn’t share your love for all things equestrian.” Tory marveled at everything about this man. Not only did they have more in common than they’d realized about each other, he had this way of making her feel like the only woman that mattered. Even in talking to her about Erica, he was giving her praise for being different than what his former girlfriend had been. “Maybe the good Lord had been preserving you for me.”
Bronson grinned widely at her remark and ate another bite of the steak. “What about you? I have a feeling you’ve had a few boyfriends, a girl as beautiful as you are.”
“Well, not too many. Tommy Norton gave me my first kiss in middle school.” She laughed softly, remembering the kiss under the enormous staircase in her two-story middle school. “I was kind of a late bloomer and had a few dates over the years, but didn’t have a lasting boyfriend until Harrison Baker. He was the only other love I’ve had, but kind of like you and Erica, Harrison and I grew apart during our second year in college and felt it would be best to break things off. I haven’t had a serious relationship with anyone else since, except for a few dates here and there.”
“Where’d you go to college?” He added butter and sour cream to his baked potato.
She tried another bite of the side of fettucine. “My brother, Ryan, and I went to the University of Wyoming in Laramie. I minored in art with a focus on interior decorating and design and earned a four year degree in English. Though I want to teach or write someday, for now, as I mentioned before, I mainly help my mom with her interior decorating and design business, New Beginnings.”
“I like that name. It’s catchy. Plus, it sounds like your mom is a strong, Christian business woman. So you’re postponing a career in your major field of study as well.” Bronson took a bite of the potato and then reached for the salt and pepper. “Interesting.”
She nodded. “That is interesting. We’ve got more in common than we knew. And yes, Mom is a strong Christian, and that was exactly the intent she wished to convey when she chose the name for her business. My dad was so proud of her when she started up her own company.” She sighed, missing her dad.
“So, do you normally work a full time week with the business since you’ve graduated?” He added salt and pepper to his baked potato.
“Yes,” she laughed, “when I’m not gallivanting at the whim of my kid sister doing beauty pageants.” He passed the salt and pepper her way and she added. “You know, I’m joking. This is the only pageant I ever plan to participate in. It’s very hard work.”
“You make it look effortless. I can tell you loved your dad, a lot.” He stopped eating and looked at her eyes deeply, showing understanding to her. “I’m sorry he isn’t with you and your family still.”
She dabbed at a tear welling up in the corner of one eye with her linen napkin and nodded, too choked up to say anything. Finally she managed to continue. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. My dad was this completely amazing guy. He loved the Lord, so I know we’ll see him again. I know he’s in heaven, living in his eternal home with Jesus. But you know, we still miss him tremendously. He was the catalyst for my faith, taking us to church, reading the Bible to us, living a Godly example before us. He led me to understand what John chapter 3, verse 16 meant. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at an early age and a strong desire to follow the Lord’s example in water baptism came over me later that same year.”
“Your dad sounds like the kind of person I would’ve loved to have met.” Bronson seemed so interested in the testimony of her faith, he’d stopped eating to listen.
“Stephanie, took his passing the hardest. She’s the youngest, but don’t get me wrong. It was hard on Harper, Ryan, my mom, and me, too. It was so sudden. One day he was perfectly fine, the next, he’d suffered a major heart attack and was gone. We’ve had to be strong and go on, because that’s what you do. That’s what the good Lord would want us to do. Sometimes I think in a strange sort of way, it’s why I’m so klutzy at times. Every now and then, I just get completely distracted with missing my dad or a little stressed out from trying to be strong all the time. I forget to pay attention to what’s going on around me.”
“I can see how that could happen,” Bronson responded with care and compassion in his voice. “But I don’t think you’re klutzy. You’re beautiful and amazing, kind, warm, fun-loving, and gracious.”
“Thank you.” She chuckled, more at herself than anything else. “I try to take life with a bit of humor and laugh at myself when stuff happens.”
“That’s good,” Bronson acknowledged, confirming her thoughts that she was still on the right path in life. “That’s a great way to approach life. Laughter is a good medicine.”
The song changed to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley and he surprised her again when he stood up, came around to her side of the table, and taking her by the hand, invited her to join him on the dance floor in a husky, breathy voice. “Dance with me?”
“All right.” She smiled, allowing him to pull her to her feet and lead her to the dance floor.
She leaned her head on his shoulder, her heart overflowing with joy and peace as they slow danced to two songs. The whole time she was thanking God for the beauty of their magical night. It was serene, calm, and just the two of them.
Chapter 14
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
—Mother Theresa
WHEN BRONSON AND TORY returned to their table, he reached in his blazer pocket and produced a small, white bag and handed it to her as they sat down. “Something else for you.”
“Two surprises, in one night?” Tory raised an eyebrow, blushing with her sweet, shy smile again. She looked inside the bag and had to restrain a squeal from escaping her lips. “Red shoestring licorice! You remembered how much I love this stuff?”
“The only place that sells it in Lander is the five and dime.” Bronson ate another bite of his steak.
She set the bag inside her purse to enjoy later and picked up her fork to eat another bite of her own steak. “Thank you so much. You’re right, too. It’s the only place I’ve been able to find it.”
Bronson chuckled. “I confess, I bought a ton of candy, including some for the wranglers and a stash in the bunkhouse. I’m going to use it to entice them to cooperate with the plans for Pioneer Week.”
“When all else fails, try candy!” She laughed softly. “Who doesn’t love a sweet treat now and then?” She chewed another small bite of the delicious steak. “How do you like living in the bunkhouse?”
“It’s rough,” he admitted as squeezed a lemon wedge over his lobster. “Jed’s not the easiest person to live with, but most of the time he stays on one side and I’m on the other. It’s primitive, but I’m saving a lot of money this way.”
“At least the commute’s not far, just a short walk to the horse barns.” She used her fork
and the rustic steak knife to cut a few more pieces of steak. A waitress came by to check on them and refilled their sweet tea.
“When we marry, we’ll find our own place; a real home somewhere in the countryside, not too far from Lander or The Sweetwater.” Bronson had a contented look on his face as he talked about their future.
“I can see you’re a man who knows exactly what he wants. I like that. I don’t like weak, indecisive men. My father was a born leader and a man who knew how to go after his dreams. As his daughter, I’ve always been the same way.” Tory tasted another bite of her fettucine. “Being in the countryside near this area sounds perfect for us. I’d like that very much. We’d be close enough to visit your parents, too. I’ve always hoped for a little country cottage with window boxes and a rose trellis.”
“Then a country cottage you shall have,” Bronson promised.
BRONSON TASTED SOME of the lobster. He didn’t look too happy to be dealing with the bunkhouse for living quarters, so Tory decided to change the subject.
“We’ve got everything on the list to make the soap and candles. We’ve also got everything on the list for the spinning wheel and hand-sewing station. We’ve got everything we need for the butter churning and pioneer cooking station. How’s the blacksmith station coming along?” She was doing her best to help keep him on schedule with his project and prevent trouble spots.
“I’m still working on that one.” His brow furrowed as he stabbed a mushroom with his fork. “McGuire agreed to take on the log cabin station. Jed said he’d do the covered wagon station, but to be honest, I’ve had no luck finding a covered wagon. Maybe I can talk to some folks about it after church. Since McGuire’s been preaching in Logan’s absence, he’s been leaving work early to work on his sermons and I’ve been too busy during the day to ask around elsewhere, but I have a feeling McGuire might know who to ask about these issues. He’s lived around this area a while. Buck might know someone too, but I have to wait 'til he returns from Cheyenne.”
“Eeks, the wagon and the blacksmith, those are a big part of attracting folks to visit the stations.” Tory paused, thinking about the list they’d made. “Do you have the lumber and staff to build some small platforms and the idea we had of putting up at least a corner of two walls for the backdrop for each cabin station? We need to start building those this week if we’re to finish setting everything up properly on time.”
“Yep, got it. We start buildin’ on Monday. Before Buck left for Cheyenne to go to Ella’s side, he gave me permission to hire a crew.” Bronson finished eating the last of his steak. “I’ve been enjoying McGuire’s sermons. Every time I think about The Sweetwater Chapel, I know I’m right where God wants me. Being a part of what Logan is doing here, it’s like we’re all a part of this unusual mission to reach souls for Jesus. Every Sunday, our little chapel fills up with guests staying on the Sweetwater, and even a few locals now and then. Some of them tell us they haven’t been to church in years.”
“Yes, I noticed the other contestants are enjoying Sunday mornings. The looks on their faces, I mean, they’re truly listening to the words of the sermons and you can see them leaving with increased faith and becoming closer to the Lord.” She smiled as they pondered it.
“I need a favor.” He grinned again. “Remind me later on—but speaking of Sunday—I also purchased some candy for the Haven kids to give them after church. Jack, Sadie, Betty Anne, and Meredith have been bringing them and sitting together so the kids get to keep a fairly normal routine.”
“Okay, I’ll try to remember. Sounds like you stocked up on candy. Everyone’s going to love you.” Then she had an idea. She reached for her phone inside her purse and pulled up the internet. She did a quick search for renting a Conestoga wagon near Lander. Though she knew most pioneers heading farther west used smaller ones to navigate the mountains, one of big Conestoga wagons would suit the purpose for Pioneer Week. Nothing pulled up for rent, so she tried searching for wagons for sale. Sure enough, a few popped up in her search.
“Here ya go, Bronson. These seem reasonably priced, and then the ranch would own one to display. I think any of them would fit in the budget for the project.” She saved the search and then handed him her phone so he could see the results. “I’ll text you a link to this page.”
“Sweet!” Relief swept over Bronson’s face. “What would I do without you? I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of searching the internet. I guess I’m not all that internet savvy. You’ve saved this project from an epic fail, my love. We can’t have a Pioneer Week without a covered wagon.”
Chapter 15
“It didn’t matter how big our house was; it mattered that there was love in it.”
—Peter Buffet
“HAMBURGERS FOR DINNER! Yippee!” Zachary did a high five with Micah. The boys loved burgers.
“Why don’t you both go outside and gather some sticks and branches for the campfire for after dinner?” Jill asked.
The boys looked at each other and grinned. Apparently, exploring the woods to gather firewood and kindling made them happy. She’d thought it might. In her sternest voice she added, “Be careful you don’t get into poison ivy and stay close to camp. Dinner will be in about thirty minutes.”
“Okay, Mom.” Zach scratched a mosquito bite. “We know.”
Micah nodded. “We promise.”
They turned to go when she stopped them. “Hold it, boys. Are you both wearing insect repellant and sunscreen?”
“Yes,” Zach swatted at another bug, this time, a pesky gnat that had followed one of the kids inside the camper. She called it a camper, but it was really an enormous recreational vehicle with a small kitchen and dining area, a decent sized sitting area, two small bedrooms, and a bathroom. She and Logan shared the bedroom near the front, and the kids, the double bunkbeds at the rear.
“Yes, ma’am,” Micah nodded.
Standing at the little counter in the kitchen, Jill continued shaping hamburger patties for the outdoor grill beside the monstrous camper. They’d had to rent a big R.V. for their trip along the Oregon Trail. They’d have to stick with traveling along main highways and main roads with a camper of this size, but the family was enjoying it so far. It was their first family vacation and the kids were ecstatic. “All right, your father will be back from fishing by then. He’ll be hungry and want to eat immediately. Don’t be late. If you can’t see the R.V. from where you are, you’ve wandered off too far. I should be able to see and hear you at all times.”
Zach grinned. “We promise to stay close. We don’t want to miss out on burgers.” He high-fived Micah.
“All right, don’t let me down or you’ll spend the rest of the trip five feet from this camper,” Jill warned with her best, sternest, mom-warning look.
“Yes, we know, Mom.” Zach nodded. Turning to Micah, he threw out a challenge. “Let’s go! Race ya to the woods! Last one there is a rotten egg!”
The boys took off, and Jill chuckled that kids still used the same expression as in her own childhood. It did her heart good to see them playing together. She continued shaping burgers and watched them race to the edge of the woods about fifty yards from the camper, expending more of their contagious, exuberant energy.
She was glad to see the girls getting along well, too as they chatted about the wonderful camper, making s’mores, and other fun things they planned to do while carrying plates, utensils, cups, and condiments outside to the drop-down table under the awning. They’d brought all sorts of activities along on the trip. They each had tote bags filled with books, coloring books, sketch pads, dolls, paper dolls, and games.
Jill and Logan had returned from Ireland only three days ago and were refreshed and looking forward to their first night on the road. She’d missed the kids terribly. Though Ireland had been one of the best journeys of her life, it was a joy to return to their smiles. They’d set out that morning and by early afternoon, they were settled in at their very first campsite south of Lander in an area where they
could introduce the kids to some historical sites. It’d taken Logan about ten minutes to take off with his fishing gear toward the lake. Jill and the kids preferred to hang out at the campsite, explore the R.V., make dinner, and chill.
After a dinner of refreshing pink lemonade, grilled burgers with all the fixings, Jill’s homemade potato salad, brown sugar baked beans, and chunks of watermelon, they all pitched in to clear the table.
“All right kids, gather around.” Logan, standing, pulled a map from his back jeans pocket. He unfolded it and spread it out on the center of the table. “Let’s discuss the route of our travels.”
The kids gathered around, eager to hear more about the trip plans. Jill joined them at the table and sweet little Savannah, the baby of the bunch, cozied up beside her, resting her golden-brown braids on her mother’s forearm.
“Okay, listen up kids. We’re here at this campground near Fort Bridger, Wyoming.” He pointed to a spot on the map. “This is where some very historic important stuff is going on. Many pioneer trails converge here. This fort was a re-supplying point for the Oregon Trail, California Trail, Mormon Pioneer Trail, Pony Express Trail, Overland Trail, Cherokee Trail, and the Lincoln Highway. These were all trails used by many pioneers to travel and settle the western frontier of our nation. We’re going to pick up the Oregon Trail at this point,” Logan pointed to a spot on the map, “Interstate 80, exit 34.”
“Whoa! That’s a lotta trails!” Micah whistled, his eyes wide with interest.
“Sure is!” Zach perked up.
“What did the pioneers buy here?” Grace Anne asked.
“Most of them purchased flour, sugar, coffee, salt pork, corn meal, dried beans, lentils, and tea.” Jill pointed to the book she’d placed on the table after dinner. “I’ll read to you some about the pioneers when we have s’mores by the campfire.”