Thunder Mountain Ranch

by McCarthy, G. L.

  “Alex, this good looking cowboy is my pal, Andrew Andy for short.” Sam gave the blushing Andy a pat on the back as he held out his hand to Alex.

  “Nice to meet you, Ma’am.” Andy touched the brim of his hat and gave her a nod.

  “Please call me Alex. Ma’am makes me feel old and helpless.” Alex wondered how old this kid was. He looked like he was eighteen tops.

  “Okay Alex. I don’t think you’re old or helpless. By the looks of the shed, I would say you’re young and very energetic.”

  “Oh, Sam, I love your friend, Andy. Can I keep him around to tell me sweet lies like that all the time?” Alex winked at Sam as Andy was now turning red and looking at the ground.

  “Well, I think Dawson may charge you extra for keeping one of his best wranglers tied up full time.” Patting Andy on the back, Sam had finished wiping her hands and turned the basin over to him.

  As Andy washed his hands, Sam whispered to Alex that Andy was family. Alex realized why Sam was whispering. Out here with all these macho cowboys, being gay was hazardous to one’s health. When Andy finished, the three of them headed for the dining hall, which was filling up fast with hungry guests. Each meal was a feast of exceptional cuisine and decisions were hard to make. Today’s menu was once again fantastic barbecued chicken, chicken tacos, or chicken quesadillas. Side dishes were cottage cheese, carrot salad, refried beans, baked beans, or fruit cup. Alex went for the tacos and cottage cheese a strange combination, but packed with protein and not a ton of carbs. Sam and Andy both had barbecued chicken, baked beans and all three had raspberry iced tea. Conversation was at a minimum until they were finished and thinking about getting back to work.

  “That was great. That ought to hold me until dinner.” Alex was satisfied, but not stuffed. She wanted to get another side done by dinner time.

  “I’m going to change into my painting clothes and then I’ll join you.” Sam stood up to leave and patted Andy on the back.

  “Have fun taking the afternoon trail ride out.” Staying and painting with Alex was the only reason Sam wasn’t going on the ride.

  “Oh, I will. I’ll have that love-sick kid to talk to during the whole ride. Yippee.” Andy found himself the subject of a young fourteen year olds crush.

  “You know you love it.” Sam shook Andy’s shoulders as she headed for the door.

  “Yeah, right.” Smiling and staring at his glass Andy downed the last of his tea.

  “Be gentle. A girl’s first crush is always hard on the crushee and crusher.” Alex smiled at Andy and knew how he felt. Many a time she was the subject of a crush, from both boys and girls.

  “I know, but I get such shit from the other guys. I just wish she would get over it.” Listening to the other wranglers’ crude comments made Andy’s stomach turn.

  “Can’t you just throw it back at them? Tell them you know how jealous they are and to eat their hearts out. Once they realize they aren’t getting to you they will stop.” Men could be such insensitive jerks and Alex was glad she never had to date them.

  “That’s an idea. I can give it a shot.” As Andy looked at Alex he saw the other wranglers sitting a few tables back and looking in his direction.

  “Speak of the devil. They’re watching us right now.” What choice comments would they have about him eating with a guest a very attractive guest at that.

  “Excellent. When we get up, can I take your arm as we walk out?” Alex would love to really give them something to talk about.

  “Sure. That will get their tongues to wag.” Andy walked around the table and extended his arm. Alex took it and pulled him close as they walked out of the dining hall, much to the amazement of the dropped-jawed wranglers.

  Chapter 5

  Andy escorted Alex back to the shed and said his goodbye, but not before Alex gave him a big hug and kiss on the cheek, wished him a good afternoon and invited him for dinner. She wanted to keep the other wranglers guessing, and was anxious to learn something about this handsome young man with gorgeous deep blue eyes and sandy blonde hair. She could see how anyone, boy or girl, could have a crush on him.

  Alex moved the ladder to the east side, which was now in partial shade, and grabbed a broom out of the tack shed to sweep up the old paint chips. As she put the last dust pan full in the trash, Sam appeared with two gallons of white paint, brush, and a roller. She then went back to the barn to get the air compressor to blow off all the dust and remaining small paint chips. Alex was impressed at the thoroughness and time Sam was spending on a tack shed. She wondered if she went at all her chores in the same methodical manner.

  While Sam waited for all the dust to settle, she laid down a tarp and taped it to the concrete as close to the wall as possible. Alex was working at the top of the east wall and the paint was coming off nice and easy, much to her delight. She could hear Sam humming and wondered what the tune was.

  She heard some yelling off in the distance and saw the afternoon trail ride heading out. They would be back in a couple of hours and Alex hoped Andy wouldn’t become too impatient with his admirer.

  Just then Alex heard music and wondered where it was coming from. She climbed down the ladder and went to the west side to find Jessie adjusting a radio antenna. She had found a golden oldies station and the signal was coming in loud and clear.

  “This side looks great, Alex. You always do a great job. Dawson was wondering if you wanted a full time job?” The thought of having her best friend around all the time made Jessie smile wide as she gave her friend their first hug of the day.

  “Don’t tempt me. Although I don’t think you have enough tack sheds to keep me busy.” It was a great offer, but Alex had a job back at Taylorwood and she would miss teaching.

  “Oh, trust me, we would keep you busy  trail rides, hayrides, moonlight rides, just to name the fun stuff. Then there’s the chores, but not as dirty a job as this is.” Jessie trusted her abilities with horses and knew she was good with kids.

  “Well, I’ll keep it in mind. In fact, I have no idea what I’ll be going back to at work. With all that happened I hope things will go back to the way they were before the attempt on my life.”

  “Attempt on your life!” That statement got Sam’s full attention.

  “I never told Sam the whole story about why you came out here for a rest. I figured you could tell her that story in time.” Knowing Alex didn’t like a lot of attention, Jessie had only mentioned she was coming for two weeks.

  “Thank you, Jessie. I appreciate you letting me tell that story. I’ll fill you in, Sam, when you want to hear a story about a woman who took the phrase, “wanting it all,” to the extreme.”

  “I can hardly wait. How about after dinner? We can grab our dessert and find a nice quiet spot for you to tell the tale.” Sam could hardly wait to hear this lesbian drama.

  “Okay. But I did invite Andy to have dinner with me tonight, I mean us, if that’s all right with you?” Alex wasn’t sure he would want to hear about it and why did she need to ask if it was okay? She was single.

  “You did? What happened after I left to make you ask him?”

  “Well, he was telling me about the other wranglers giving him a hard time about one of the younger guests who has a crush on him. So I had him escort me out and asked him to have dinner with me to really give them something to talk about.” She hoped Sam and Jessie didn’t have a problem with her request for him to join her.

  “Darlin’, you always amaze me with your need to protect other peoples’ feelings. Remember that kid you had following you around? He had such a big crush on you and you didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Thank goodness he finally met a girl his own age. How long did that last, six weeks?” Jessie was chuckling to herself as she remembered the events.

  “It was seven weeks and Calvin was very sweet and a little gentleman.” Trying to keep a straight face Alex remembered that little drama and how adorable he was during it all.

  “Alex, Andy can take care of himsel
f. Although I didn’t know he was being harassed by the other guys. I may have to put an end to that if it escalates to more than just making a few comments.” Sam thought of Andy as a younger brother and she wouldn’t stand for anyone picking on him.

  “Fine, he can take care of himself. But I would like to get to know him better and having dinner is one way to find out a few things.” She wondered if Sam was going to become a little controlling over who she spent time with or maybe she just wanted Alex all to herself tonight. Time and her actions would soon tell.

  “Okay, you two get back to work. You can save the abused of the world later.” Knowing her as she did, Jessie was sure Sam needed to let this drop and let Alex handle Andy in her own way, whether she agreed with it or not.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Giving Jessie a parting hug she knew why she had cut them off. Jessie had been down this road before with Alex wanting to put bullies in their place. She hugged her friend tightly and whispered, “Thanks mom. I’ll be good, I promise.”

  “I hope so. Don’t over do it and if you get tired, quit. I mean it!” Jessie gave Alex the look that had passed between them before. Alex knew that look and what it meant if she didn’t comply. There would be hell to pay.

  Alex finished the east side in less time than it took to do the west side. Maybe it was because she was rocking to the oldies or she had found her groove. Anyway she stood back to make sure she had gotten all the old paint off, then walked around to see how Sam was doing. She had finished and was no where in sight. Alex touched the paint and it was completely dry, but then it was in direct sunlight. As she checked several more places to make absolutely sure it was dry before she fired up the compressor, Sam appeared with a clean brush and roller.

  “I was just making sure it was dry before I blew off the other side.” Alex wondered what was wrong with Sam, as she seemed distant all of a sudden.

  “I’ll do it. You’ve done enough today. Why don’t you go get cleaned up and take a load off until the dinner bell rings.” Sam was afraid Alex was annoyed with her for giving her a hard time about trying to help Andy. Andy was her friend and she was a little jealous that they had become friends so quickly. Or at least so it seemed to her.

  “Are we okay? Did I say something earlier to upset you?” Alex knew Sam had been taken back by the dinner invitation to Andy, but not this upset.

  Sam looked at Alex and realized none of the other women she had been involved with ever asked that question before. And here was a woman she had just met caring about her feelings and what she thought.

  “Are we okay? No one I’ve ever been with has ever asked me that question before. I’m at a loss for words to explain what I’m feeling right now.” The pain of her breakup and betrayal by her lover and best friend suddenly came rushing in.

  As the tears began to well up in her eyes, she started to walk away, but Alex grabbed her arm and pulled her back for a hug. Sam started to sob. She had never really let herself cry about how much the loss of her relationship with Teresa had meant to her. Alex just held her and told her to let it all go. Sam felt safe in Alex’s arms and was grateful that the west side of the tack shed couldn’t be seen by the rest of the ranch.

  It seemed longer than a ten minute crying jag to Sam, as she composed herself while washing her face and hands. Alex was putting all the equipment away for the day, folding up the tarp and stacking everything in a nice pile on the east side, ready for tomorrow. As she approached the wash basin, she gave Sam a wink and didn’t say anything about what had just happened. Sam knew Alex understood the loss of a lover. Whether it be your choice or theirs, it was a hard and emotionally draining experience on all parties concerned. The two walked in silence to the dining hall to join the rest of the guests for dinner.

  Chapter 6

  As Alex entered she looked to see if Andy had already arrived. Just then she felt someone at her elbow. It was Andy, who looked very handsome and escorted them both to the buffet line. Tonight was Italian night, the menu consisting of lasagna, spaghetti & meatballs, and several different kinds of pizza. Side dishes were Caesar salad, pasta salad, garden salad, and baskets full of garlic bread. There was wine for the adults and grape juice for the kids. Alex took the grape juice and lasagna, as did Sam and Andy. As she watched all the kids grabbing the pizza, she thought back to Cyn and their lunches in the cafeteria. She missed her and was also a little home sick, but she would be home soon enough and all this would be a memory. As they took their seats she spotted the other wranglers standing in a corner looking in their direction and talking. She hoped the sight of them together would end the harassment and turn the conversation between them to envy of Andy instead of mocking.

  “I’m so hungry and this smells divine.” Alex closed her eyes and took in the aroma.

  “Work hard today, did you?” Andy was smiling as he looked across the table at Sam and gave her a wink.

  “Yes, I did Andrew.” She give him a gentle poke in the ribs which caused him to flinch and laugh out loud. He then reached over to tickle her back and the two started to giggle.

  “All right, don’t make me separate the two of you.” Sam watched as they looked like siblings fighting at the dinner table.

  “She started it.” Andy looked at Alex and stuck out his tongue which caused both Sam and Alex to start laughing.

  Just then Jessie came up behind them. Alex felt her presence and turned around to see her friend looking down at her and smiling.

  “Now you children be good, or I’ll send you to your rooms without supper.” Kissing Alex on the top of her head she squeezed her shoulders and walked away.

  “You got us in trouble with Mom. Just wait until I get you back.” Looking at Andy she smiled and thought how much fun it would have been to have a little brother. “Truce?” Looking at Andy she made the peace sign.

  “Okay, for now. But just you wait.” He flashed the peace sign back at her.

  “So how did the trail ride go?” Alex wondered if Andy’s young friend rode with him the whole time.

  “Oh, we had fun. One of the guests decided to try and be John Wayne and went off at a dead gallop and then didn’t know how to stop his horse. Luckily the horse had more sense than the guest and stopped when he realized none of the other horses were behind him.” Shaking his head Andy was thinking how it could have turned out if the horse would have stepped in a prairie dog hole one seriously injured or possibly dead guest to bring back not to mention the loss of a good horse.

  “Did your little admirer ride with you the whole time?” Smiling as she asked, Alex hoped for Andy’s sake, that she didn’t.

  “No, thank goodness. I think she’s over me. I hope.” Crossing his fingers Andy was making short order of his lasagna.

  “What about the other wranglers? Did they say anything?”

  “Actually, they didn’t. They just looked at me and smiled a lot.” Trying to figure those jerks out was not something Andy wished to dwell on.

  “Don’t waste too much time thinking about it. Those guys are lucky to have one good thought a year between the three of them.” Sam was feeling a little left out of the conversation.

  “You’re right. I guess your idea worked, Alex. They saw me with you at lunch and now there isn’t anything to get my goat about. Thanks.” Andy just wanted to be left alone to do his job.

  “Well, I hope so, Andy. I hate people who can’t leave other people alone. There’s friendly teasing and then there’s taunting. Some jerks can’t tell the difference.” Hoping that was the end of it, Alex focused on her lasagna.

  When she took her last bite she noticed Sam was just finishing up too, but Andy was on seconds of lasagna and bread. A growing boy needs his carbs and he was very fit and trim.

  “Okay, who’s up for the dessert bar?” Alex looked at Sam and motioned her head in the direction of the dessert table.

  “I’m right behind you. Andy, you coming, or didn’t you leave room?” Sam never knew Andy to eat desserts.

  “No, th
anks. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. But you two go ahead and enjoy. If I’m gone when you get back, have a good evening. Sam, I’ll see you tomorrow. Alex, thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it.” Andy went back to eating as the two said good night and headed off to get in line for tonight’s goodies.

  Alex went for the cheesecake with raspberry sauce. Sam decided on the chocolate cream pie and both had a large glass of milk. Taking their dessert outside Sam led the way to a secluded spot for them to be alone. She didn’t want anyone interrupting Alex while she talked.

  Alex told the whole story from the first day of school and the roses, down to the meeting with Mrs. Greenway, telling Sam how that should have been the end of the drama but not quite. Having laid things out in such a way, she was able to bring the whole story to a dramatic conclusion just as it had happened that fateful Saturday. It was hard to believe that those events had occurred less than three days ago. Alex had been discharged from the hospital on Monday morning and had taken the first flight out for Albuquerque. Here it was only Wednesday and tomorrow was Halloween. Sam listened quietly and couldn’t believe how calm Alex was. She truly was amazing, but then again, Alex had been unconscious through the exciting part.

  Sam told her they had a special hayride, complete with ghost stories that were sure to curl your hair. They also had a nice sweet hayride for the kids who were too young for scary stories and the adults who wanted to be able to sleep through the night. She suggested that after all Alex had been through she may want to go with the kids. Alex was going to think about it, as she still had strange dreams. But that was more of a side effect of the Ketamine she thought and not from what had happened.

  Just then her cell phone rang. It was Jessie asking Alex to take tomorrow off on the painting chores as she was needed to help decorate the wagon and horses for the hay ride. Accepting what sounded like a lot of fun she said her good nights to Jessie. Looking at her watch she hadn’t realized how long it took for her to tell her story and it was getting late. Sam walked Alex to her casita and thanked her for the story and the support earlier in the evening. Giving Sam a big hug, Alex told her anytime. She would see her tomorrow at breakfast, as she planned on sleeping in. She was completely exhausted.