“Will he be okay?”
“Drink your coffee,” she instructed dodging my question.
I began praying in earnest that Rick would be okay.
An hour and a half later Russ pulled up. He came in with the Sheriff on his heels.
Without asking, Aunt Bess poured two mugs of coffee and handed one to each of them.
“Did you see Rick? Is he okay? Did he have to go in the ambulance?”
“Slow down,” said Russ. “We got my truck outta the ditch. They took him to the hospital. Banged up his head. He was groggy. Doesn’t look like he broke anything. Probably a concussion. Doug’s with him. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
“What do you think happened?” asked the Sheriff.
“Someone ran him off the road. That was no accident,” spat Russ.
“No it sure wasn’t,” agreed the lawman. “Did you see those skid marks?”
Russ nodded.
“I don’t like coincidences. You got shot, now your truck gets run off the road. Why was Doug’s boy using your truck and not his own?”
“Battery died,” explained Russ. “We swopped trucks. I was going to get a new battery for his tomorrow. Offered him my truck. Figured it would save time me driving him home since Doug was at a fire house meeting.”
The Sheriff nodded still taking notes.
“What color truck does Grady drive?” he asked.
“Yellow,” answered Russ. “Like its owner.”
“You don’t think Grady…” I left the thought unfinished.
“I wouldn’t put anything past him,” said Russ. “It’s my truck that Rick was driving. I didn’t think I was putting him at risk.” He looked tired. “Grady ran him off the road, thinking it was me. That worries me, Sheriff.”
“I know,” the lawman said. “He’s targeting you and the ranch. We have some leads on him.”
“In other words, you don’t have him.” Russ’ face was grim.
“No, we don’t,” he reluctantly admitted.
“Great.”
“Wish I had a photo of Grady to show around,” said the Sheriff. “The camera didn’t work the night he spent in jail. I wasn’t aware of that until after I let him go the next day.
“Could you use a drawing of him instead?” I asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I have a drawing of Grady.”
“What she’s trying to explain,” clarified my aunt, “is that’s Maryann’s an artist. She’s always drawing people and horses around the ranch.” She turned to me.
“Do you have a sketch of Grady Gibbons?”
I nodded. “Yes. Let me get my sketchbook and I’ll show you.”
Returning with the book, I put it on the table and began flipping through the drawings.
Looking over my shoulder, the Sheriff watched. “These are really good,” he said.”
“Of course,” said my aunt proudly. “She’s an artist.”
I found the sketch I’d done of Grady. It was after he’d turned his whip on me. It helped get rid of my nightmares by putting his image down on paper. I’d captured it all — that wild look in his eyes, the sneer of his mouth. Even if you’d never met him, taking one look at the drawing, you’d step back.
“He looks mad enough to kill you,” said the Sheriff. “Can I borrow this? I’ll get copies made from it. Maybe we’ll get lucky and someone will recognize him and tell me where he is.”
“Sure take it,” I said, ripping the drawing out of my book.
“I had no idea your niece was so talented.”
I blushed at the compliment.
“Why of course she’s talented,” said my aunt, putting her arm around me. “She’s an artist. That’s what she does.”
“Well I’ve got to be on my way.” The Sheriff got to his feet. “Thanks for the sketch. You folks be careful now.” He turned to Russ. “Tomorrow I’ll be interested to see if there’s any paint on your truck from the vehicle that ran him off the road.”
“Me, too,” muttered Russ.
We were still sitting around the table when Doug Ferguson called. Rick had a concussion and they were keeping him overnight. If all went well, he’d be released in the morning.
“Should never have given him my truck,” said Russ after he hung up. “I put a target on his back.”
“You had no control over what Grady did,” said Aunt Bess. “You’re too hard on yourself.”
Russ didn’t answer.
Chapter 28
July 1961
Rick missed the last week of school. Although he was out of the hospital, he had to take it easy. Doug Ferguson’s sister from Denver came out to help. She was divorced and didn’t have any children. Her library job allowed her to take an immediate two-week vacation.
I stopped over when he got home. Although he was happy to see me, Rick was still getting headaches and slept most of the day. While we were talking, he fell asleep. I left him on the couch. He looked pale and had a big bruise on his forehead where he’d hit the windshield. The doctors were confident he’d be fine.
Taking the bus home from school didn’t improve my mood. It was only for a week.
It took two weeks for Russ to get his truck fixed and back from the garage. In the meantime Doug Ferguson insisted he use Rick’s.
The Sheriff called Russ to confirm yellow paint visible on the tail gate of his truck. That meant it was probably Grady who ran Rick off the road. It would be confirmed once Grady’s truck was found and a paint sample taken. The evidence against Grady continued to pile up. Yet, they still couldn’t find him.
I continued training Shadow under saddle instead of the lunge line. Russ worked with me to make sure the Appaloosa was doing what he should. My confidence grew the more I rode him.
Shadow’s rich color sparked with gold highlights as the sun hit his back. Chestnut spots on his white rump made him even more valuable. His thin white blaze balanced the four white stockings on his legs. I loved the sparkle in his soft, brown eyes and how gentle he acted around me. He nudged my hands for treats and I dug a piece of carrot out of my pocket. The moment I met Shadow, I felt a bond with him. Although Table Top Ranch owned him, in my heart Shadow belonged to me.
I took the large portrait of Shadow home from school to work on over the summer. My art teacher wanted me to enter it in a contest in the fall. I didn’t know if the painting would be good enough. I’d decide once it was done.
Russ’s arm seemed back to normal. If he favored it, I couldn’t tell. Even my aunt stopped fussing over him.
The threat of Grady hung over us like a pending storm for a while. As the days passed without any further incidents, our lives got back to normal and we stopped thinking about him.
Saturday, July 15, 1961
A month after the accident, Rick came over to pick up his truck.
“How are you feeling?” asked Aunt Bess.
“I’m finally back to normal,” he said. “Feels good not to have any more headaches.”
“I bet.” She smiled at him. “What are your plans for the summer?”
“Don’t have any. Was going to get a job before school let out. Then with the accident…” Silence completed his unfinished thought.
“Well, if you don’t have a job, I’d like you to work at the ranch for the rest of the summer.”
Rick didn’t hesitate. “Sure. I’d like that.”
“If it’s okay with your father, you can sleep in the bunk house with the other hands. Take your meals with us in the house.”
“Can I bring Treasure?” he asked. “I’m still working her. Of course, I’d only do that on my own time.
“Sure,” agreed my aunt. “In fact, we have a small herd of cows you can work her on.” She laughed. “I’d sure like to see what she does with them. You ever worked her with cattle before?”
“No, I haven’t,” he admitted.
“If your daddy’s okay with you working here, have him trailer your mare over.”
“Yes, ma’am.�
�
Rick here for the rest of the summer? I couldn’t believe it. I’d see him every day. The reality of it hit me and I felt giddy. It didn’t seem real.
After Rick left, Aunt Bess turned to me and took in my pink cheeks.
“Guess you’re happy I hired him,” she said. “You’ll both work long hours. It’s rough work training horses.”
“I know. Rick is fine trainer, Aunt Bess. He’ll do a good job.”
She smiled and touched my cheek. “I know, child. That’s why I hired him.”
“Who did you hire?” asked Russ joining us.
“I just hired Rick Ferguson for the rest of the summer.”
He grinned. “Glad you took my advice. We can sure use the help. If his mare’s an example of his training skills, he’ll be a fine addition to the ranch.”
I’d see Rick every day. We’d work with the horses. It was a dream come true. I wanted to scream out loud I was so happy.
Once Rick got his things in the bunk house and his father trailered Treasure over, we settled into a routine. My day began with having breakfast each morning with Aunt Bess, Russ and Rick. The other hands ate in the bunk house. Then we rode the horses.
Summer was the busiest time on the ranch. A continual stream of visitors stopped by. There were letters to answer and phone calls to make. I began to help with both.
In addition to selling horses, mares arrived for breeding to Leo, the Appaloosa stud, or Ramrod, the handsome bay quarter horse. Russ handled that end of the business.
Aunt Bess had a keen eye for sizing up people. Her questions quickly got to the root of what someone wanted in a horse. She ignored requests for specific colors. Instead, she put riders up on one of her quieter mounts to assess their skill. Then she matched them to a horse she thought would suit them. She seldom was wrong.
When school first let out, I wasn’t used to working so hard all day. I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open at supper. Then I adjusted and had more energy. By the time Rick started working I could work a full day without a problem.
Russ started us out so we knew what to do with each horse. Aunt Bess kept a close eye on us as well. There was so much work to do it left little time to be alone. With the constant stream of visitors, there was always someone around. Working beside Rick was exhilarating. Once he snuck in a kiss when we were briefly alone in the barn.
Rick and I grabbed sandwiches for lunch when there was a lull. We ate with Russ or my aunt so someone remained to handle visitors. Then thirty minutes later we were back in the saddle, training horses.
Aunt Bess approved of Rick and the way he handled the horses. I overheard her talking to Russ. I told Rick what she said. He just smiled and didn’t comment. He reminded me of Russ in a lot of ways. They had their own code and didn’t care what other people said or thought.
Friday, July 21, 1961
One afternoon we went out to the small herd of Hereford cattle the ranch kept so Treasure could work them. The mare cut a heifer out and kept it away from the herd.
“She’s a natural,” Aunt Bess told Rick afterward.
“I haven’t had a chance to work her much with cows,” he admitted. “I’m amazed how fast she caught on.”
“It’s in her blood. It’s what she’s been bred to do.”
Rick just smiled and stroked the glossy neck of his mare.
Before we sat down for supper, Russ suggested Rick and I go to the movies.
“You two have been working real hard. Time you relaxed. It’s Friday night. Go enjoy yourselves.”
“Thanks, sounds great,” said Rick. He turned to me. “You up for a movie?”
“Sure.” I looked at my aunt for her approval.
“You come right home when the film is over,” she said.
“Bess, let them have time to get a burger or something,” he said, contradicting her.
Rick grinned.
“Let me change my clothing.” I rushed upstairs.
Looking through my tops, my eyes blurred. Where was my mother? Why wasn’t she here to help me get ready for my first date? She’d pick out something for me to wear. Now I had to decide without her advice.
I remember something she said once about purple being a good color for me. In second grade I had a purple dress the same shade as the T-shirt I chose to wear for the evening. Looking at my reflection, I saw the color did look really nice. From the drawer I pulled a paisley scarf and wound it around my neck. Glancing in the mirror I tidied my hair, pulling it back on either side with two barrettes. Lisa said it made my cheek bones stand out. My hands were shaking and I had to fix one of them twice before I got it right.
A knock on the door made me jump.
“Maryann? Are you ready?” Aunt Bess opened the door.
I studied my reflection. “What do you think?” I asked, turning around.
“Rick’s not gonna recognize you,” she said, smiling.
“Oh, Aunt Bess.” Tears filled my eyes. “I wish Mom was here to help me get dressed.”
“You look lovely Maryann. Your momma would be real proud.”
She wiped the tears from my eyes with her hand.
“Come on. No time for tears. You’ve got a young man waiting for you.”
I grabbed a navy sweater and followed her downstairs.
“You look amazing,” said Rick when he saw me.
“I just changed my top,” I said casually. Aunt Bess met my eyes and smiled.
Rick looked at his watch. “We better go if we’re gonna make the first show.”
* * *
“We can go out the back exit,” Rick whispered, squeezing my hand reassuringly in the dark movie theater.
THE END flashed on the screen.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
Before anyone moved, we got up and hurried out the back exit.
“Are you up for going to the diner?” asked Rick once we were in his truck.
“Sure.”
“Okay, the diner it is,” he said.
I was starving since I hadn’t eaten much at supper. My stomach had been in knots about going out with Rick..
We sat in a booth facing one another.
“I can’t believe we’re here,” I said.
Rick smiled and looked at the menu.
I felt confused with all the choices. Then I had a sinking thought.
“I have money,” I blurted out. “You don’t have to pay for me.”
He put his menu down. “It’s okay. I have enough for whatever you order.”
I felt my face get hot. “Okay,” I said softly.
“Unless you order a steak dinner,” he teased. “Not gonna have my girl pay for her food.”
My girl? That was the first time Rick called me that. My girl? My head spun.
Picking up the menu to give my hands something to do, I tried to decide what I wanted to eat.
The waitress came back. “What will it be kids?” She held her pen ready to take our order.
“Maryann?” Rick prompted. I still hadn’t decided.
“I’m still not sure,” I hedged. “You go first.”
He ordered a burger and fries. I ordered the same.
“And to drink?”
“I’ll have a chocolate shake,” said Rick. “Haven’t had one of those in a long time.”
“And you honey?” asked the waitress.
“I’ll just have a coke,” I said.
“Okay.” She scribbled on her pad then collected the menus and we were alone.
“You’re awfully quiet,” said Rick. Then he began talking about the ranch and Treasure. My anxiety faded. This was just Rick talking to me and I relaxed.
“Guess you’ve been on a lot of dates,” he said.
Astonished, I blinked. “No, this is my first one.”
“Really? A pretty girl like you? Were those Boston boys blind?”
How could I explain how different my life back east had been? Our food arrived so I didn’t have to answer.
; “Guess you were hungry,” said Rick looking at my empty plate.
I blushed, wishing I had left something on my plate.
“Do you want anything else?”
“No. I’m good.”
He flagged the waitress down for the check.
Rick looked at the bill and took out his wallet.
“Do you want me to leave the tip?” I asked.
“No. I’ve got it.”
As we walked to the truck, he put his hand on my lower back. I liked the feel of his hand. It was the same way my dad escorted my mom whenever they went anywhere. And it was how Russ walked with my aunt. I felt comfortable around Rick. I trusted him. He wasn’t rude, and he didn’t push to see what he could get away with like some of those boys back in Boston.
We were quiet on the drive back to the ranch. He held my hand and I wanted to just keep riding.
As we got closer to home, the sky got lighter.
“What’s that?” said Rick pointing to an orange glow ahead.
“I don’t know.”
I stared at the salmon horizon that looked like a sunrise. That couldn’t be right. It was nighttime, not morning.
“It’s a fire!” he yelled,
“Oh my God Rick, it’s the ranch!” I realized, sick with fear.
He stepped on the gas and his truck spring forward. We raced toward the unnatural light ahead.
Chapter 29
Friday, July 21, 1961 - Later that night
We couldn’t get very far into the drive because of the fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. So we parked on the side of the main road and ran down to the ranch.
I could see flames in the main barn. Thick hoses twitched on the ground as firemen focused water onto it. Other fireman hosed down the roof of the house and the mares’ barn. They ran hoses to our pond to get the water.
Aunt Bess stood beside Russ staring at the fire eating up the main barn.
“Aunt Bess, are you okay?”
She looked small and tired.
“Maryann. Thank God you’re here.” She hugged me quickly.
“They got all of the horses out, I think,” she said, looking at the flames.
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