Rancher to the Rescue

by Patricia Forsythe

  “Can I ride on your head like she did?”

  “Sure. I’m already several inches shorter than I was an hour ago, so it’ll be easier to lift you up. I might take up a new career as a pack mule.”

  “Well, you’ve certainly got the mule part down,” Zannah responded brightly. “At least the stubborn part. And do I need to remind you whose idea it was for me to climb on your shoulders?”

  “Nah. I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

  He grinned at her as he lifted Liam and swung him onto his shoulders.

  “Yay,” the boy shouted. “Giddy up!”

  It was almost full dark by the time they reached the Bardles’ cabin. Robert and Greta rushed out with their two daughters to sweep their son up and check him for injuries. They thanked Zannah and Brady, then took their adventurous boy inside with the sheriff’s deputy accompanying them.

  At that moment, the skies opened up again. A heavy rain began pounding down on them. They both started to run toward the main house, but Zannah hit a patch of mud that sent her skidding.

  Brady grabbed her hand. She sloughed around in a circle, then came to a stop as she bounced up against his chest.

  He didn’t waste any time but picked her up and ran with her, carrying her the last few yards to the front porch of the main house.

  Gulping for air, she looked up in surprise as he set her on her feet. “I thought you’d had enough of carrying me today.”

  He swiped rain from his face as he said, “That’s what partners are for. Aren’t you glad you’ve got a partner?”

  “Oh, um, maybe,” she answered, out of breath and trying to figure out what had happened. In confusion, she pushed wet hair out of her eyes, then flinched at the pain in her hand. She looked down at it.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, tilting her palm toward the glow from one of the bright porch lights.

  “Splinters.” She pulled her hand away. “I think I’ve got some in my elbow, too.”

  “Want me to pull them out? Looks like the official first aid person is out of commission.”

  Zannah looked up at him. His wet hair was plastered to his head, and rivulets of rainwater ran down his face. He swiped them away good-naturedly with the sleeve of his also-sopping shirt. Through it all, his eyes were bright with laughter. Her gaze fell to his lips, which were curved in a smile directed at her.

  All of the emotional ups and downs of the past week settled into a feeling of solid rightness, as if where they were at this moment was exactly where they were supposed to be.

  Zannah felt that momentarily, a different kind of storm would break, one that wasn’t related to the weather. She had the crazy thought that it wouldn’t be a bad thing, because they were cocooned in some kind of safe haven they had created.

  Confused and alarmed, Zannah pulled her hand away and stepped back.

  “Nuh...no. I can handle it.”

  “Oh, come on, the ones in your elbow, too?”

  “I’ll get Sharlene to help me.”

  Whirling around, she dashed the few steps across the porch and into the house, shutting the door behind her.

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, Gus stood beneath the shelter of the awning above the back door and looked out across the ranch as he sipped a cup of coffee.

  He had already been out to check for storm damage. He was chagrined to see that the main road onto the ranch from the highway had been washed out in several areas because of the force of the storm, and because he hadn’t been able to afford repairs last winter. He had strung yellow caution tape and closed the main gate, even posted detour signs.

  Anyone coming or going would have to take an older, much longer route to the highway, but that road was in marginally better shape than the washed-out one.

  Zannah and Brady would have to undertake the repairs, and soon. He felt guilty about the neglected repairs, but at the time he’d had no choice, no financial option. Now, with Brady’s money, Zannah had that option.

  He was making a conscious choice to leave it all to them, and he had to stick with that decision.

  In the meantime, he would enjoy his coffee and the spicy cinnamon scent of rolls just delivered by his sister to the ranch kitchen. He knew he would get to eat one later. In the meantime, he was enjoying the fresh-washed scent of the air, drinking coffee and wishing he knew why the hell Sharlene was so mad at him.

  Sharlene had come into view around the corner of the farthest cabin, empty now of guests, ready to be cleaned and prepared for the next family. She was pushing a heavy laundry cart down the sidewalk toward the commercial washers and dryers housed in the utility room. Ordinarily, he would have hurried over to help, but he knew it would make her even madder than she already was.

  Sulkily, he watched as she turned the cart over to the new girl. What was her name? Laurie? They talked for a few minutes, then Sharlene started toward her office, pulling one of her never-ending lists from her apron pocket and making some notes.

  A few weeks ago, he would have known everything that Sharlene knew about this girl, but as he’d become more and more involved in his plans, he’d lost touch with the day-to-day details of both the ranch and the cowboy college. He knew that should bother him, but he had a right to do what he wanted to do for once. Didn’t he? Wasn’t that why he’d encouraged Zannah to come home when he realized her job was killing her? She had the right to live a life that she loved. Wasn’t that why he wanted to take on a partner? He also had the right to live a life, to do a job that he loved.

  He wished everyone else could see that. He also wished he didn’t feel so guilty about it. More than anyone else, he felt that he was letting Sharlene down.

  He would give her a little time, then try to talk to her. It was true that she and Esther had been best friends. Before Esther got sick, they would take overnight trips to Las Vegas during the slow winter season and come back richer or poorer than they’d been when they left—and always with hilarious stories of their adventures. He’d never been jealous of the fun they’d had. Because he and Stella had been raised by alcoholic parents who loved to gamble, nightlife had no appeal for him. Being a rancher was enough of a gamble. Also, he’d understood early on that marriage to Esther meant that Sharlene would be in their lives forever.

  Heartbroken after Esther’s death, they had leaned on each other and held up Zannah. They had been a unit of three, supporting and assisting one another. When his daughter had gone off to college, he and Sharlene had become a unit of two, getting each other through the days, then the weeks, the months and the years.

  One day, he’d realized that Sharlene hadn’t been only Esther’s best friend, but his, as well. He still remembered the shock of that realization, which he’d never shared with anyone.

  But now, even Sharlene was leaving him. Them, he mentally corrected himself. Or at least, she was talking about it. But she couldn’t do that, he thought, fuming internally. He was counting on her.

  As much as he didn’t want to risk her wrath, he knew he had to talk to her. He decided to wait a little while, finish his coffee and enjoy the crisp freshness of the rain-washed morning.

  Later, he returned his cup to the kitchen, ate the cinnamon roll that had been saved for him and talked to the kitchen staff for a few minutes about the incoming guests. Both Zannah and Sharlene were wrong about him and his interest in Eaglecrest. He still cared about it, about everything that went on, but he wanted to care about other things, too.

  He stepped outside once again, took a deep breath and headed toward Sharlene’s office, only to be brought up short by the sound of a man’s voice coming from inside.

  “It’s a big decision,” he was saying.

  The door was open a few inches, so Gus leaned closer, completely unashamed to be eavesdropping. After all, whatever decision Sharlene made would affect him and everyone else on the ranch.

&n
bsp; “It’s long past time for me to make it, though, don’t you think? Everyone else has already moved on this, taken the chance.”

  “That’s true.”

  “But it’s a big step.” Worry echoed in Sharlene’s voice.

  “Let me know what you want to do.”

  “I will. Thanks, Jim. And thanks for stopping by. I could have come to you.”

  “It’s my pleasure, Sharlene. I was already out this way.”

  There was a silence that Gus thought was far too long for someone who was getting ready to leave. Was this guy kissing her goodbye or something? His stomach made an odd little flip as he thought about that.

  Footsteps approached the door, and Gus barely had time to step back a few feet before it swung open and a man of about his own age emerged. He saw Gus and nodded at him, then walked away, carrying a briefcase.

  As he watched the man leave, Gus’s mind flicked quickly through all the people he knew locally and decided he’d never seen this guy before. He wasn’t from Raymond, Arizona. Maybe not even from the surrounding area.

  How could he find out who this guy was?

  Sharlene was smiling what Gus thought looked like a secret little smile as she watched him leave, but it disappeared when she turned and saw him.

  “Who was that?” he asked.

  “My private business,” she answered sassily, turning back into her office. “And none of yours.”

  “Does that guy have something to do with you wanting to leave?”

  “Why do you care, Gus? You won’t be here.” She sat down in her chair and picked up the phone. “I realize you no longer work here, but I do, and I’ve got plenty to do.”

  The dismissal hung in the air between them, but Gus wasn’t ready to go. Instead, he sat down in the chair facing her. She appeared to think better of making the call and put down the phone.

  “What do you want, Gus?” Sharlene asked, smoothing her hair away from her face, then folding her hands patiently on top of her desk.

  “I want to know what you plan to do.”

  “I’m not at liberty to divulge that at this time,” she answered coolly.

  Gus pressed his lips together as he stared at her, trying to figure out what he needed to say. He’d never been in this place before, not with Sharlene. She was reliable, steady, dependable.

  “You’re needed here, Sharlene.”

  “So are you, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping you from doing what you want to do.”

  “I’ve worked this ranch most of my life.”

  “So have I.”

  Frustrated at her untroubled tone, he sat forward. “People are depending on you.”

  She smiled but didn’t look happy. “Ditto,” she responded. “But that’s not stopping you from going off and doing what you want to do.”

  He pounced. “So you are going off somewhere? Can you wait until I get back? How about if I give you a raise?”

  “How about if you quit trying to spend money you don’t have?” She stood up suddenly and leaned over the desk. “You have something to do that’s important to you, Gus, and so do I. We’ll go our separate ways.”

  She looked so angry that he stood up automatically and backed away from her. “I thought you’d always be here.”

  “So did I.” Sharlene sighed and shook her head. “We were both wrong.”

  * * *

  “SO, DAD’S GOT gold fever, hmm?” Casey said as they rode out together to check the stock and the road damage after the rainstorm. Joelle and Emma were busy helping the staff get ready for new guests. They had rushed to their favorite spot for gathering wildflowers and were busily creating bouquets for every room and cabin.

  Zannah groaned. “Yes, a serious case. What do you think of him hunting down that old myth?”

  “I think it’s nuts, but he’s determined.”

  “I know. It’s mystifying to me.”

  They rode along in silence for a few minutes, heading toward the pasture where the cattle had bedded down for the night. Zannah switched her reins from hand to hand, easing the irritation to the one that had been full of splinters the night before. Sharlene had helped her remove them, but her flesh was still tender.

  She had slept badly, tossing and turning, telling herself it was because her hand and elbow hurt, but really because she had been thinking about the crazy moment in last night’s rain when she had been so drawn to Brady, momentarily willing to let him tend to her wounds, to comfort her. It was the last thing in the world she wanted, but she couldn’t shake her curiosity about what might have happened.

  Early this morning, she had awakened thinking about Brady, prompting her to recall his comment about traditions. She had uncovered her favorite camera in her closet and prepped it for some candid shots of Casey and his daughters. The simple activity had given her a sense of peace and purpose he had known she needed.

  She was grateful to have Casey beside her. Like most little girls, she had adored her big brother. When they were young, he had seemed to love Eaglecrest as much as she did, but in high school, a biology teacher had inspired him to look at the wider world, to see what someone with his interests and talents could do to create hardy strains of grasses and other plants to provide for animals and humans alike. She was proud of him and his accomplishments, but she missed him, missed having a big brother to rely on.

  Casey gave her a sidelong glance as if he was weighing his next words very carefully. “Sounds like your new partner has big plans, Zannie.”

  “I know.”

  “And you don’t like them at all, do you?” Casey looked at her with the kind of wisdom and indulgence he’d shown her all her life.

  “I guess I’ve made that obvious, haven’t I?”

  “To absolutely everyone.”

  Zannah grimaced and shrugged, hearing the truth but wanting to ward it off.

  Casey pulled up on the reins, then twisted in the saddle to face her. “Listen, I’m not going to tell you how to feel about this. You’re smart and mature and you’ll figure out how to handle whatever happens.”

  “But?” she prompted.

  “But I’ll listen if you want to vent, want to complain, want to indulge in self-pity.”

  “Thanks, I guess,” she said uncertainly because she could hear another but coming.

  “But only if it ends up being constructive. Only you can decide that. If you want to keep Eaglecrest—”

  “Unchanged,” she added for him, then held up her hand. “I know. I know. I have to accept change.” She gave him a desperate look. “But Hawk’s Eye, Casey. It’s beautiful, clean, untouched.”

  “And not helping to pay the bills,” he added drily.

  “You sound exactly like Brady,” she grumbled. “And Dad.”

  “That’s fine with me if it helps you quit stewing over this.”

  “Stewing is a little harsh,” she protested.

  Casey let that go, obviously ready to make another point. “And you can’t hang onto the past or try to preserve this place for my girls. If they want to live and work here, fine. If not, fine. They may want something completely different. Emma, for example.” He grinned and shook his head in bafflement. “She’s decided she wants to be a rock star. Thinks all she has to do is find that magical place where they create rock stars and she’ll be made into one. She says she’ll allow Joelle to be a backup singer.”

  Zannah laughed. “Big of her. Um, am I right in supposing they’ve got the Worth family musical talent?”

  “Sadly, yes. Which means none that we can find. Vanessa’s holding out hope, though, that one of them will play her old violin.”

  “Whatever they do, they’ll be good at it.”

  “I know they will.” Casey nudged his horse and they began moving again, soon arriving at the pasture, seeing the cattle up and milling about, finding abundan
t water this morning, as well as fresh grass.

  He looked around with interest. Zannah could see the scientist in him assessing the grass and the ground where it was growing.

  After a few minutes, he went on, “You will, too, Zannie. Stay here, go, run off and join the rodeo. Whatever you do, you’ll be fine. Make sure it’s what you want, and that you’re not staying here, preserving this place for our long-dead ancestors. I love this ranch, but I always knew it wouldn’t be my life like it was for Mom’s family, and for her and Dad. You’ve got to think of Eaglecrest’s future, sure, but not at the expense of your own.”

  “You’re a botanist, for crying out loud. How do you know so much about psychology?”

  “I don’t,” he answered with a self-assured grin. “I just know you. It’s my big-brother superpower.”

  * * *

  CASEY RETURNED TO Phoenix, and the subsequent days fell into a routine with the girls helping wherever they could. To his delight, Gus discovered that his granddaughters were a ready audience for his tales about the Lost Teamsters Mine.

  “So, they could never find it again?” Joelle was asking as the three of them examined the geographical maps.

  Gus knew they couldn’t really understand the topography. The dizzying lines indicated elevations, but it meant nothing to a couple of little girls. They knew what gold was, though.

  “No.”

  “They didn’t take a picture of it?” Emma wanted to know.

  “They didn’t have a camera, and it was more than a hundred years before cell phones were invented,” he answered, getting a kick out of their goggle-eyed amazement.

  This was what he’d wanted all along, somebody to listen, ask questions, be as enthusiastic about this as he was. He would have been happiest if it had been his daughter or Sharlene. Casey had been polite and indulgent, but clearly not interested.

  Even getting Brady to be as enthused as he was would have been nice, but there didn’t seem to be time for it. Once Brady had become fully involved in the running of the ranch, he had limited time for Gus.

  He’d also begun to ask uncomfortable questions about the search for the mine, like how long Gus would keep up the search and how many months or years he planned to devote to it.