“No, but…”
Lisa cut me off. “Maryann, boarding schools are very expensive.”
“You don’t get it, Lisa.” Now I was losing my temper. “I have money, plenty of it. Money isn’t the problem. I can afford it.”
She didn’t understand.
“I’m just getting used to Wyoming and living on the ranch.” I started to cry and waved my hands helplessly. “Now I’m gonna have to leave.”
Lisa looked at me curiously. “Did she say she was sending you away?”
“No, but….”
“Maryann, listen to me.” She grabbed both my arms for emphasis. “You may be jumping to conclusions.”
I backed up. “Gee, thanks, Lisa. You’ve been real helpful. Never mind.”
Pushing past her, I reached for the knob and started to open the door.
“No wait,” She flung her body against the door.
I glared at her.
“Come home with me after school. We’ll talk to Mom. She’ll know what to do.”
“Your mother is a good friend of my aunt’s, remember? What can she do?”
“We’ll figure something out,” said Lisa. “At least you won’t be going back to your aunt’s place right away until we have time to think things through and come up with a plan.”
She stared at me. “Say yes,” she pleaded.
My back was against the wall. What were my options? None.
“Okay.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.” Lisa was always optimistic. And me? Not so much.
The bell rang for class ending our conversation.
Rick caught up with me in the hall. “What’s wrong?” he asked, scanning my face. “You’re upset.”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.” I avoided further explanation. “I gotta go to my next class.”
“Meet me at lunch,” he called as I walked away waving my hand in the air as I left him behind.
The rest of the day crawled by. Would this day never end? Since I lost my appetite, I skipped lunch and hung out in a library study booth. No one noticed me. Finally, the day was over.
I hesitated before getting on the bus. “Are you sure your mom’s gonna be okay with me landing on your door step?”
“She’ll be fine,” Lisa reassured me as we sat down together.
I hoped so.
Thankfully we got home before her two younger siblings appeared.
“Mom we need to talk to you,” said Lisa throwing her books on the kitchen table and her coat over the chair.
Her mother looked up from the counter where she was cutting potatoes.
“Oh hi Maryann. I didn’t expect you.” She turned and wiped her hands on the apron around her waist. “What’s up?”
“Mom, Maryann’s aunt is getting married.”
Her mother smiled. “I know, isn’t it wonderful?”
This was the last straw. I turned and ran up the stairs to Lisa’s room. What was I going to do now? After a few minutes, Lisa and her mom joined me. I tried to explain why I was so upset. I could tell she didn’t understand.
“Why don’t you spend the night with us?” her mother suggested. “It will give you a break and chance to take stock of things.”
I looked at Lisa.
“That’s a great idea.” My friend nodded.
Her mother asked, “Did you let your aunt know you were coming here?”
I shook my head.
“You better call her.”
I couldn’t face that. “Could you call her for me?” I asked. “Please?”
Her mother hesitated, a considering look on her face. “All right.”
“At least I don’t have to talk to her,” I muttered to Lisa after her mother left.
Moments later her mom came back.
“Bess is really upset you didn’t let her know you were coming to our house after school. She thought something happened to you.”
“We decided last minute,” explained Lisa.
“That may be, but Maryann should have called her.” She turned to me. “Don’t you think?”
“Yes,” I reluctantly agreed.
“She’s bringing over a bag with a change of clothes and your pajamas.”
It looked like I’d have to face my aunt after all. Could things get any worse?
“I’ll call you when she gets here.”
After she left I turned to my friend. “Oh Lisa, what am I going to do now?”
“We’ll think of something,” she said.
We didn’t, and when her mother called, I slowly walked down the stairs.
Instead of my aunt, Russ stood at the bottom holding my bag.
“I need a few words with Maryann in private,” he told Lisa’s mom. My heart sank. Why didn’t everyone just leave me alone?
“You can talk in the living room.” Mrs. Barrows gestured to the room on the other side of the hall. She went back to the kitchen with Lisa.
Russ put the bag down and indicated for me to go ahead of him. He was tall and rail thin yet moved with dignity and assurance. There was something solid about him.
I sat down on the sofa. Russ took the chair nearby. He took his hat off and held it in his hands. Scanning my face with piercing gold eyes, he didn’t say anything. He didn’t look directly at me as if I were a skittish colt. I watched his hands. Hands I’d seen gentle colts. Hands that stopped Grady from whipping me. The silence stretched on and he waited as if he had all the time in the world. Russ never rushed a horse or a person.
Finally, I broke the silence. “I’m scared.”
Startled, he looked up.
“Honey, there’s nothing to be scared of,” he said softly. Then he waited with the patience I’d witnessed hundreds of times whenever he worked with horses. His voice low and gentle, never in a hurry, always giving them the time they needed no matter how long it took.
I didn’t want to leave the ranch and Aunt Bess — or Shadow Dancer. Wyoming was becoming comfortable and familiar. The thought of leaving made me want to cry and I couldn’t stop my tears.
I must have made a noise because he looked up and noticed them, too.
“Ah honey, don’t cry. There’s nothing to cry about.”
I could tell by the l look on his face that my tears upset him.
“There’s nothing wrong that we can’t fix.”
I didn’t believe him.
“She’s gonna send me away,” I sobbed. All the fear and anger of the past few days rolled down my cheeks.
Russ dropped his hat on the carpet, leaned over and took my hand. Though they were rough, his touch felt gentle. I couldn’t look away from the concern in his eyes.
“No she’s not, darlin’,” he said softly. “She’d never send you away.”
I cried louder. “She will when she marries you.”
“Why would she do that?”
“So you could be alone on the ranch without me — on your honeymoon.”
He laughed. “We’re not going on any honeymoon.”
He saw my confusion and struggled to explain — still holding onto my hand.
“I’ve loved Bess since the day I met her. She was married to Jacob then. I respected that. She didn’t know how I felt. After Jacob died, I tried to be the best friend and ranch foreman she could ever ask for. I wanted more. She wasn’t ready. So I waited.”
He squeezed my hand. “And then you came to Wyoming and I watched her heart crack wide open.” His eyes grew moist. “All that love she buried after Jacob died came spilling out when you stepped outta that car.”
“Really?” I whispered.
“Yeah.”
“Bess couldn’t wait to get you here after your parents died,” he continued. “She would have flown to Boston if she didn’t have problems with her blood pressure. Her doctor wouldn’t let her on an airplane.”
He shook his head. “She was going to ignore him and fly anyway. I finally had to put my foot down.”
“She has problems with bloo
d pressure?” I asked.
“Don’t say I told you.” He winked.
“Is she okay?” I asked, now concerned.
As long as she takes her medicine, she’s fine,” he said and paused again. “Bess and I getting married isn’t gonna change anything except the bed I sleep in.”
I blushed.
“Never been married before. Never had any kids.” He laughed, “At least none that I’m aware of.” He stood up and looked down at me. “If I were lucky enough to have a daughter, I’d want her to be just like you.”
“Oh Russ.” I stood up and hugged him, the cold fist of fear in my stomach started to melt.
He wrapped his strong arms around me. “I love you, Maryann, and so does Bess. We’d never send you away.”
Finally, I believed him.
He let me go and stepped back.
“Now you have a good time tonight with your friend. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
He bent down, picked up his hat and put it on his head. We moved out into the hall.
“Put that fool nonsense out of your head about going away to school. That’s not gonna happen.”
“Okay,” I murmured.
Russ headed to the front door. “See ya, Mrs. Barrows,” he called over his shoulder.
After the door closed, she came into the hallway and poked her head in.
“Everything better?” she asked.
I nodded.
“He’s a good man, Maryann.”
“I know. Thanks for letting me stay overnight.”
“Glad to help.” she put her arm around my shoulder. “That’s what friends do — they help each other.”
Lisa came downstairs. “Is everything settled now?” she asked.
“Yeah.” I smiled and realized everything was.
Lisa and I had fun together that evening. We stayed up talking late into the night. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.
The Next Day
Her mom made waffles for breakfast. Dad used to cook them for me on the weekend. Remembering that, the waffles stuck in my mouth. I chewed and had trouble swallowing it. No one noticed. Surrounded by Lisa’s family, I felt alone in my grief. I missed my parents. Today I missed the ranch, Aunt Bess and, especially, Shadow Dancer.
After breakfast I asked Mrs. Barrows for permission to use her phone, I called the ranch.
Russ answered the phone.
“Hi, Russ. It’s Maryann. Can I talk to Aunt Bess?”
“Sure, she’s right here, honey.”
“Maryann?”
“I’m sorry Aunt Bess. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“I’m just glad you’re all right.” She cleared her throat. “I’d never send you away. I love you, Maryann. You’re my family. This is your home.”
“Yes, I realize that now.”
“Marrying Russ won’t change anything.”
“I know. He told me.”
“You come right home after school, Maryann. I need you.”
“I need you, too, Aunt Bess,” I murmured.
I realized, hanging up the phone, that I needed Aunt Bess, Russ and especially, Shadow Dancer.
Chapter 23
Wednesday, June 7, 1961
Russ was there for breakfast the next morning when I came downstairs. Usually by this time he was busy working outside.
As I sat down, he winked at me.
After I finished my eggs, Aunt Bess spoke.
“Russ and I discussed it,” she began. “It’s okay if you get a ride home from school with that boy.”
“Bess,” said Russ in a low voice, almost like a growl.
“You can get a ride home with…with Rick Ferguson,” she spit out as if she had trouble pronouncing his last name.
I looked from her to Russ and back again.
“I can?” I asked in disbelief.
I got out of my chair and hugged her. “Thank you.”
Then I went around the table and hugged Russ. He patted my arm, awkwardly.
“I hope I don’t regret this,” muttered my aunt.
“You won’t,” said Russ.
“Have him drive up to the house to let you out,” she instructed.
She’d be watching to make sure he didn’t kiss me. I didn’t care. Rick could give me a ride home. He didn’t have to drop me off at the top of the driveway. He could drive right up to the house like a normal person.
Now I could show him Shadow Dancer.
“Can I use the phone?” I asked.
Russ smiled. “Take it in the office. It’s more private in there.”
Aunt Bess glared at him in silence.
I dialed Rick’s number, hoping he hadn’t left for school yet.
“Hello, Rick? Hi, it’s Maryann.”
I took a deep breath, and then rushed on. “Listen, you’ll never guess what’s happened.”
Later That Day
“I can’t believe your aunt let me drive you home.” Rick reached for my hand.
“I know. Russ was responsible. When I asked her last week if you could give me a ride home from school she said no. Russ told her she made a bad decision.”
“Really? He’s a good friend of my dad’s.”
“They had a really big argument about it.”
“There’s another reason she agreed to let you give me a ride home.”
“What’s that?”
“Russ and my aunt are getting married.”
“I didn’t see that coming,” said Rick.
“Neither did I.”
“It will be okay, won’t it?” he pressed. “I mean you like him, don’t you?”
“Liking him and having him marry my aunt are two different things.”
“Nothing’s changed, though, has it?” he asked.
He didn’t get it either. Nobody did.
Rick slowed down and turned down the road to the ranch.
“If you want to kiss me, you should do it before we go down the drive,” I said.
“Who says I want to kiss you, sweetheart?”
“Don’t call me that,” I said, remembering Russ calling my aunt ‘sweetheart’. It was more than that.
“Why not? What’s wrong?”
Rick pulled over and shut off the truck.
“My dad used to call me that,” I said staring straight ahead. Without warning my eyes filled and I choked, “I miss him.”
“Of course you do.” Rick pulled me closer.
How good it was to have his arms around me. I felt safe and excited all at the same time.
“Oh Rick.” I wanted to just sit here in his truck and not go back to the ranch.
When I looked up at him, he bent his head and kissed me.
Reluctantly, I pulled away. “We better get going or Aunt Bess will be walking up here to check on us.”
“She wouldn’t do that, would she?”
I laughed. “You don’t know my aunt.”
“Oh, but now I do.”
Rick gave me a quick kiss, started his truck. We made our way down the dirt drive and pulled up in front of the house.
“It’s nice to see it in the daylight,” remarked Rick.
Aunt Bess walked toward us. She must have been watching from the barn. I relaxed when Russ followed right behind her.
“I can’t wait to show you Shadow Dancer,” I said getting out of the truck. Rick held the door for me and helped me down.
“Hi, Rick.” Russ stuck out his hand and they shook.
I knew Rick was nervous in my aunt’s presence. He touched the brim of his hat respectfully and tipped his head. “Mrs. Perkins.”
Russ must have said something to her. Or maybe he nudged her because she moved forward. “Rick,” she said in acknowledgement.
“I’m gonna show Rick Shadow Dancer,” I said taking his hand and pulling him toward the barn.
Behind me I heard her mutter, “I thought he was just giving her a ride home.”
“Bess,” Russ said in a low, warning tone.
“Shadow’s in the smal
l field behind the barn,” called Russ. “I put him out for some fresh air and exercise.”
“Okay, thanks.” I pulled Rick along with me.
We walked up to the fence. Shadow grazed on the lush spring grass. As we approached his head came up. Then he nickered and trotted over to me.
“You’re spoiling him rotten,” said Russ, digging in his pocket and handing me a chunk of carrot
“And look who’s helpin’ her,” said my aunt who had come up behind us.
Shadow crunched the carrot and nudged my hand.
“That’s all you’re getting, Shadow.” I rubbed my hand over his beautiful face.
“He’s real nice,” said Rick.
“Goes back to my original stock,” said Aunt Bess. “You don’t get better bloodlines than that.”
“Hear you’ve got a nice quarter horse mare,” Russ joined the conversation. “How old is she?”
“Treasure’s four,” replied Rick. “I plan to breed her next year.”
“Treasure,” said my aunt’s head turned, alert like a coyote scenting game. “That’s not Bud Bixler’s Treasure Map bloodline is it?”
“Sure is.” I heard the pride in his voice.
She eyed him suspiciously. “How did you manage that? His stock costs a fortune.”
“Dad has a friend in Montana who worked for a wealthy rancher. His wife started breeding quarter horses. Three years later they were in the middle of a divorce and wanted to liquidate their stock real quick. We went up to look at the horses.
Rick smiled as he remembered. “The minute I saw Treasure, I wanted her. She was just a weanling, yet there was something about her I couldn’t walk away from.” Clearing his throat, he continued. “Even that young she was way outta our price range.”
“How did you get her then?” pressed my aunt.
“My grandfather had this rifle. Dates back to Custer’s time. When he passed, Dad got it. It’s worth a fortune.” Rick’s voice got husky. “He sold that rifle to buy me Treasure.”
“You got her papers?”
“Oh yeah.”
“I’ve seen that rifle. Your father showed it to Jacob and me once,” said Aunt Bess. “I can’t believe he’d sell it. Musta been like selling one of his kids.”
“I plan to buy it back for him when I sell Treasure’s first foal.”
“Might have to be her first two,” pointed out my aunt.
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