by Verna Clay
Chapter 26: "Barn" Bitches
Dovie slipped a hand under her head, yawned, and smiled at the ceiling. Dinner with Toby the night before had been wonderful. He'd taken her to a restaurant named Sizzling Sicily that he said had been around for years. The food had been delicious and they had talked until closing time about their childhood and teen years. They'd laughed and shared funny happenings and even confided a few insecurities. She'd been surprised when he said he often felt inept around his brother's superior intelligence. He'd joked and revealed a little of Preston and Freckles' history, and then said Freckles was the perfect woman to keep his brainy brother off balance.
Dovie had even opened up a little about her loneliness during childhood, having no siblings, and often being teased by peers. Toby had lifted her prosthetic hand and kissed it after her confidence. His gaze had been so intense she'd been unable to breathe until she'd looked away.
After arriving back at the ranch, he'd lifted her from the truck, placed her on the ground, and held her close. Then he'd kissed her like he had in the meadow. All rational thought had flown as if on wings, and she'd returned his kisses at first with hesitation, and then with no hesitation. Finally, he'd broken away and rested his chin on top of her head, breathing heavily, and said in a husky voice, "Please say you'll let me take you out again."
At her nod, he'd asked, "Where would you like to go? You name it. I'll take you anywhere."
Her voice had also sounded husky when she replied, "I'd like to go back to Boot Bustin' Barn and dance with you. I've never danced with a man."
Toby had made an unintelligible sound and nestled her head against his heart. Leaning toward her ear, he'd whispered, "Honey, every dance is yours." Then he'd kissed her again…and again.
Dovie turned onto her side. Her rational mind broke into her romantic remembrances and asked the same question as before, "Are you headed for heartbreak?"
The next Saturday night arrived and Dovie again found herself preening in front of a mirror. With Roxy's help they had fashioned a western outfit by visiting Cindy's Second Chance Clothing Store, a popular shop among the locals.
Dovie admired the ankle length denim skirt and bright yellow cowgirl shirt with muffin sleeves and front snaps. Topping the outfit was her straw cowgirl hat.
Roxy tilted her head and smiled. "You look awesome!" She bit her bottom lip and said, "Maybe someday I'll meet a Toby or Sean who can see beyond these." She motioned toward her leg braces.
Dovie turned from the mirror and replied, "And he'll be the luckiest man in the world."
Roxy said softly, "You're the nicest person I've ever met, Dovie."
Dovie said, "You know, don't you, that our leaving this ranch is not the end of our friendship. If your parents say its okay, I expect you to hang out with me during school breaks. We're only about a hundred miles apart so I can be at your house in less than three hours." Dovie watched Roxy swipe a tear.
"I'd like that. You were right when you said the Trail Blaze would change my life. After a taste of what the true pioneers experienced and listening to the stories told by Newt and Molly and Chief Soaring Eagle, I realized how easy my life is. And when I see how successful and happy you are, I want to be just like you."
Roxy's confidence touched Dovie's heart deeply and soon they were hugging and crying together. Roxy finally backed away and said, "Geez, your makeup is smeared and Toby will be here any minute. We better stop crying and start repairing. Head to the bathroom while I grab the makeup bag."
If Toby noticed she'd been crying when he arrived, he didn't say anything, although he did glance questioningly between the women. However, before they pulled into the parking lot of the Barn, he had her laughing again. When he held the door open for her, she wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. She was on a real date with a handsome cowboy who seemed to have deep feelings for her, and she was about to have a—she searched for the words—shit kickin' time! She giggled and Toby bent to whisper in her ear, "You're beautiful, Dovie." She lifted her eyes to his and replied, "So are you, Toby."
He seemed surprised by her response and for long moments they just stood in the entrance gazing at each other. Someone behind them said, "Hey, Toby, get a room! Me and Martha want to dance and you're blocking the entrance!"
Just then, Sally walked by and said, "Toby, I've got the perfect table for you and your gal. Follow me."
Dovie grinned at Toby as he held her arm and they followed Sally across the room. At a table in a darkened corner he pulled out her chair. He said, "Sally congratulations on your marriage. I just found out that you and Flatfoot tied the knot."
She smiled widely. "Yeah. And it's the best knot I ever tied." Her eyes got dreamy and then she snapped back to the present. "What can I get ya'll to drink?"
Toby looked at Dovie. "Honey, what do you want?"
Dovie gnawed her bottom lip. "I-I want to try a beer. Which one should I order, Toby?"
He grinned and said to Sally, "A Bud Light for Dovie and a draft for me. Also that appetizer assortment."
"You got it." Sally hurried away from their table.
Toby sat across from Dovie and reached his hands to hold both of hers. She said, "Thank you for bringing me here."
He leaned across the table and gently kissed her lips. "I'll take you anywhere you want to go."
Sally returned a few minutes later with their beers. She brought an iced mug for Dovie and Toby poured her drink into it. Dovie must have made a funny face when she sipped because Toby laughed and asked, "Do you like it?"
She swallowed. "Not really. Does it take awhile to get used to?"
Her question made Toby laugh even harder. "We can try a different one."
Dovie said, "Can I try yours?"
"Of course." He scooted his chair around the table and lifted his mug to her mouth in an intimate gesture. Gently, he tilted the mug upward and Dovie swallowed. The brew was strong, but she barely tasted it when Toby's eyes went dark and dangerous. She was out of her element and she knew it. There were secrets hidden in the depths of his eyes.
Toby suddenly inhaled sharply and looked toward the dance floor. "Hey, looks like the band is tuning up. Do you want to dance?"
Dovie's heart raced. Something had just happened between them; something incredibly erotic and beautiful. To cover her confusion she said with too much enthusiasm, "I do. I want to learn the two-step."
Toby pushed his chair back, helped her from hers, and guided her to the dance floor as the band struck the first note. The upbeat melody had cowboys and cowgirls rushing to the floor. Toby led her to the least crowded area and put his arms around her. In her ear, he verbally explained the two-step, nodded toward a couple doing it, and said, "Let me know when you're ready to give it a try."
Dovie watched the pair and then, holding tightly to Toby's shoulder said, "I'm ready to try." He grinned and began patiently leading her into the different positions. Dovie knew she looked awkward and clumsy as she struggled to maintain her balance, but she didn't care. She was determined to learn this dance.
The next song was a little slower, but not much, and Toby continued her lesson. When she felt like she'd finally gotten the hang of it, she threw her head back and laughed and again met Toby's gaze. She could feel his eyes devouring her when he bent to kiss her right there on the dance floor. She reached her good arm around his neck and returned the passionate exchange. The musicians began a love ballad and Toby said softly, "That's what I've been waiting for." Slowly and sensuously they swayed with the music, barely moving their feet. By the time they returned to their table, Dovie admitted to herself what she'd known for days—she was in love with Toby Tanner.
For Dovie, her date with Toby at Boot Bustin' Barn was magical. A few cowgirls came to their table to ask him to dance, but he declined every invitation. When Dovie didn't drink her beer, Toby ordered her a soft drink. He only drank one beer and then also ordered a soft drink. A few cowboys and their dates stopped by the table to talk and
he introduced Dovie. Everyone was nice and for the first time she felt like she was part of the crowd, not just an observer.
Grady Granger and his date had joined them at their table, but when the musicians returned from a break, they said goodbye and headed for the dance floor. Toby said, "Let me know when you're ready to leave." Something in his voice made Dovie's heart pound.
She cast him a quick glance and looked away. "I just need to visit the lady's room first." She reached for her cane and Toby jumped up to pull her chair back.
"Would you like me to walk with you?" he asked.
"No. I'm fine. Most of the crowd is either dancing or watching the bull riding. The coast is clear." Dovie cast a glance at the mechanical bull just as a lanky cowboy climbed astride the wiry-haired beast and it began bucking. Onlookers cheered, others jeered, but one thing was sure, everyone was having a good time.
When Dovie entered the lady's room, she glanced in the mirror and was surprised by her reflection. She practically sparkled with happiness. Just as she closed the stall door, she heard women enter the restroom. As she reached to pull up her skirt she heard Toby's name mentioned.
"Can you believe the woman Toby is with? What's her name?"
"Dovie," replied another woman.
"Cute name," a third voice interjected.
The first woman spoke again, "Well, maybe this sounds catty, but she's definitely not his type."
"You could have fooled me by the way he's drooling over her."
"Oh, he's always attentive to his dates. He's just a nice guy. I mean, you could look like a toad, and Toby Tanner would make you feel beautiful."
"Do you suppose he's just trying to make Dovie feel good? She's not really pretty, although her face is unique. And him being the rescue type, and her wearing prosthetics…" Her voice trailed.
"Oh, I think it's a given. Why, she could barely dance and you know how much Toby likes to kick-a-boot."
"Yeah."
There was silence and then the third woman said, "Nan, you ever sleep with him?"
There was a giggle before the woman answered. "Yeah. Once. Years ago at the river when he was a randy teenager. As he got older he wasn't so promiscuous. I think he only sleeps with Shari or Rita now."
"So, Nan, are you admitting to being promiscuous?"
Another giggle. "Hell, yeah. In fact, have ya'll noticed how hot Grady Granger is lookin' these days?"
"Yeah. What's up with that?"
"I think he's lost weight. I saw him leaving the gym the other day. He's combing his hair different, too."
"Wow. You really have had your eyes on him."
"Yep. Hey, just let me freshen my lipstick and then we'll go back. I don't have to pee."
"Me neither."
"I do."
Dovie heard a stall open and remained perfectly still. She'd never felt so humiliated in her life. Part of her wanted to push her door open and confront the women with scathing remarks about their insensitivity; the other part wanted to cower and disappear. The cowering Dovie won out.
A few minutes later the women left and Dovie finished her business.
Chapter 27: Cabin Fever
Toby tossed another bale of hay off the bed of his pickup and said a few choice words. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out what he'd done to change Dovie's attitude toward him. They'd been having a wonderful time at the Barn and then she'd gotten all skittish. He wondered if something had happened in the restroom, but what could he say? Hey Dovie, what happened in the bathroom?
He jammed his pitchfork into another bale and tossed it into the pasture, cussing some more. His cell phone rang with a familiar song.
"Hey, Mom. What's up?"
"I need you to help me with something."
Toby didn't feel like helping anyone with anything, but he said, "Sure. What and when?"
"I've got a load of supplies in the green truck that need to go to the cabin. Some of the packages are too heavy for me to unload. Your father's got Skipper and Beaner doing emergency repairs on some fence line, and since its Sunday, the other hands are gone. So it looks like you're elected. I thought maybe we could ask Dovie to join us. She's never been to the cabin."
Toby's bad mood suddenly brightened. Maybe he could get Dovie alone and get to the bottom of whatever was bothering her. He replied. "As soon as I unload this hay off my truck I'll drive over. It'll take about twenty minutes."
"Sounds good. I'll call Dovie." She hung up.
Toby sure hoped his mother could persuade Dovie to join them.
Twenty minutes later he pulled to the front of the ranch house. The old pickup used for chores was loaded with supplies for the cabin his family and their employees used for getaways. It was about a hundred years old, but had been restored and refurbished inside and out and ran on solar power. Toby's mom and dad usually spent a few days there every fall when things slowed down. Years ago, Toby and Preston had named the cabin the "Honeymoon Hang Out." And, in fact, Preston and Freckles had spent several days of their honeymoon there.
Toby walked in the house and from the expression on Dovie's face he knew she was surprised to see him. He removed his hat and said, "Hi, Dovie. Hi, Mom."
Sarah said, "Oh, Dovie, I got sidetracked and forgot to mention that Toby is joining us. He'll be the muscle emptying the truck." Before either Toby or Dovie could respond, Sarah continued brightly, "Well, kids, let's go. There's work to do."
Toby waited for the women to precede him from the house and then followed them to the truck. He had a sneaking feeling his mother was up to something. Sarah opened the king cab door and said, "I'll ride back here. Dovie, you ride up front with Toby."
Toby stepped over to help Dovie, but she already had her door open. "I've got it," she said.
He didn't know whether to insist on lifting her onto the seat or give her space. The cab wasn't high, so he decided to give her space.
The drive to the cabin near the northern boundary of their land took about forty minutes and traversed hills and meadows and afforded beautiful views of mountain peaks. Sarah kept up a running conversation. Toby only half listened as he again pondered the sudden change in Dovie.
When the cabin first came into sight, Sarah leaned forward and pointed out the front window. Dovie responded by releasing a long sigh. "Ohhhh, it's so beautiful. I feel like I just time traveled to the 1800s."
Toby grinned. "I know what you mean. It's a popular place with the hands and their families during the summer, but I love it during winter snows. Hey Mom, remember the time we got snowed in?"
"I do," Sarah laughed. "You and Preston were ten years old and Hannah was a toddler. I also remember your father almost missing his plane for an overseas job. He was on pins and needles waiting for Newt and Beaner and the hands to arrive on snowmobiles to rescue us." She reached to touch her son's shoulder. "It's also one of my fondest memories." She was silent for a long moment and then said, "I hope this cabin holds many more memories for you throughout your lifetime, son."
Toby glanced sideways at Dovie who was staring straight ahead. Would this cabin hold their memories? He shook his head at his runaway thoughts and pulled to the front of the cabin.
Sarah climbed excitedly out of the truck and opened Dovie's door. "I can't wait to show you around, Dovie."
Dovie smiled. "I can take pictures with my cell phone."
Sarah said, "Oh, please send me copies."
"I will." Dovie started snapping photos of the cabin. "Why don't you and Toby stand on the porch and I'll take your picture together?" She took several of mother and son and then Sarah offered to take one of Dovie on the porch. She said, "Toby, get in there beside Dovie. The two of you can pretend you're pioneers. I sure wish we had the Old West costumes for you to dress in."
Dovie didn't appear too happy about taking a picture with him, but he used the opportunity to place his arm around her shoulders. To stay in character he said, "Darlin' can you b'lieve we finally reached our homestead? What're you cookin' fer supper
?"
Toby was rewarded by a smile and retort from Dovie. "We ain't eatin' nothin' lessin' you git out there and shoot us some game."
Dovie's momentary lapse into playfulness warmed Toby's heart. After picture taking, Sarah handed him the key to the cabin. "I can't wait for Dovie to see the inside." She waved them forward.
Toby held the door open for Dovie. She entered and stopped short. Then she whirled around to face them. "It's fantastic! Now I know I've time traveled."
Toby grinned. "Looks can be deceiving. It's got all the modern conveniences."
Sarah interjected, "It runs on solar power. Water is piped in from a well, and best of all, there's an indoor bathroom."
Dovie asked, "How many rooms are there?"
Toby made a waving motion. "There are six. As you can see this is the living area." He pointed to three doors at the back of the room. "The center door is a bathroom and the ones on either side are bedrooms." He motioned to their right. "Through that entrance is the kitchen that opens into a small dining room."
Sarah headed for kitchen. "Come on, Dovie, you've got to see the view from the dining room!"
Toby followed his mother and Dovie.
They entered the kitchen and Dovie exclaimed, "It's the perfect country kitchen!" Then they entered the dining room and she gasped. "I could sit here for hours staring at those mountains and writing my blog."
Sarah agreed. "I know what you mean. Sage and I sometimes sneak away to relax here and I've happily written several novels from this room."
After the tour of the cabin, Sarah clapped her hands. "Well, kids, are you ready to start unloading supplies?"
Toby inwardly grinned at his mother's reference to them as "kids." It was a term she often used.
When the supplies were unloaded and they were putting them away, Sarah's cell phone rang. Toby didn't pay much attention until she said, "Okay. I'll be right there." He sent his mother a questioning look.