“I’ve been away from Texas a long time,” J.J. murmured. That weird sensation was probably brought on by dehydration.
After guzzling some water, J.J. took a dozen more pictures inside.
“Let’s call it a wrap,” she said, capping her lens. “If I haven’t gotten more good photos than you can choose from, I’ve lost my touch.” She grinned cheekily.
“I hope you did. Every one of my school photos has been horrible. And the snapshots Erma and my dad take on holidays...they’re awful, too.”
“Do other people like them?” J.J. asked as they returned to J.J.’s room. “Often we’re too critical of ourselves.”
“My dad buys the school packet, anyway. He started an album when I was a baby and he always does a new page every school year. We give a picture to Grandmother and Granddad Adams. Granddad always says my mom was way prettier.”
“What? He should be ashamed!” J.J. snapped before she could remind herself that it wasn’t her place to criticize Zoey’s grandparents.
“My dad argues with him. But they don’t exactly get along.” Zoey unfastened the belt and handed it back to J.J. She slipped off the jacket and hung it on a hanger, frowning. “He’s never said anything to me, but Erma told me that after my mom died, Granddad Adams thought they should raise me. Daddy said no. They hired a lawyer and so did he. Daddy’s lawyer won. Erma says my grandparents don’t act like the Christians they’re supposed to be.”
Thinking Zoey carried quite a weight for a kid, J.J. stored her camera and offered an understanding smile. “Tell you what, if you get out the stuff for lunch, I’ll wake Erma up. Maybe later we can go to town for ice cream, if Erma’s up to the drive.”
“Can I keep these braids?”
“Sure. I’m glad you like your hair. I think it’s a great look for you, Zoey.”
“And can I call Brandy to see if she wants to take a break and come with us? I want her to see my hair.”
“Inviting Brandy is fine by me, but we need to play it by ear. It all depends on how Erma feels.”
“I know. J.J., I wish Benny’s cousin couldn’t ever come and that you’d stay forever.”
“Don’t cross off Benny’s poor cousin until you’ve met her,” J.J. rushed to say, afraid of what else Zoey might wish. “I’m sure she’ll be a better cook than I am.”
“But you know a bunch of other stuff. You’d be the best mother. Hey, you’re my dad’s age. Why didn’t you ever get married and have kids, J.J.?”
A knot formed in J.J.’s stomach. She took a minute to cobble together a story appropriate for the child of the only man she’d ever wanted to marry. “Zoey, some careers demand as much time and energy as a marriage. It’s not fair to short-change a boss, or a husband and kids.”
“Oh.” Zoey’s face fell.
“Don’t look so glum. Not all careers require time away from family. You have a lot of careers to choose from, and years to pick one. I’ll go get Erma if you set out what we need for grilled cheese sandwiches.”
“Gosh, we didn’t wash the breakfast dishes.”
“I told your dad I’d only run the dishwasher after supper, to conserve water. You probably know all about the drought?”
“Brother, do I. Dad thinks I should take a three-minute shower instead of a bath.” Zoey made a face. “I like to read in the bathtub. You can’t read in the shower.”
J.J. laughed. “You’re a girl after my own heart. I also light votive candles and settle in my tub with a book and a glass of wine. See, that shows I’m too self-indulgent to do right by a husband and kids.”
“No, you’re not.” Zoey shook her head.
J.J. went to Erma’s room, feeling hollow. The sad truth was that the more time she spent with Zoey, the more J.J. regretted not being a mother.
“Erma? Good. You’re awake. Zoey wants soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.”
“That girl would eat grilled cheese seven days a week.” Erma covered a yawn even as she levered herself into a sitting position. “Ow, ow, ow!” She grabbed her hip. “I’m okay lying down. The minute I bend my hip to sit, it feels like someone stabbed me. Not that I really know what it feels like to be stabbed,” she muttered.
“You’re probably tired of me saying that healing takes time.” J.J. steadied the wheelchair. “It’s all I can say. That and I’m sorry you’re in pain.”
Erma eased out of bed into the chair. “The doctor did tell me I’d be laid up four to six weeks. I didn’t want to believe he was right. It looks like he might know what he’s talking about, so I should get better at working this contraption. Wait here, Jill. If I can’t manage on my own in the bathroom, I’ll holler.”
“I don’t mind lending a hand.”
“I’ve been taking care of myself for over fifty years and taking care of this family more than half of that. Needing help goes against the grain.”
J.J. understood, so she straightened the bed while she waited. Erma managed, and even combed her hair.
“Why don’t you phone the clinic and ask about your medicine while I get the soup going?” J.J. said as they entered the kitchen. She handed Erma her cell phone and the pill bottle.
“I need the phone number off that yellow invoice,” Erma said, pointing to the counter.
Zoey retrieved the paper and gave Erma a hug.
J.J. half listened to Erma’s side of the conversation while she sliced cheese. “Then it’s okay to take one pill during the day and two at bedtime?” Erma asked. From the way her head went up and down like a bobblehead doll, J.J. could tell those were the revised directions.
“I like what you did with your hair,” Erma said to Zoey once she was off the phone.
“J.J. fixed it two new ways. She used a curling iron first. Do you think I can buy one?”
“You can ask your dad.”
They sat down to lunch. “I feel better already knowing I can cut back on my pills,” Erma said. “I wouldn’t have questioned the doctor. Thanks for nudging me, Jill.”
“Do you want to be called Jill or J.J.?” Zoey asked.
“Either. I answer to ‘Hey, photographer’ a lot, too,” she said, laughing.
Erma gestured with half her sandwich. “Jill is such a pretty name. Why use initials? They sound harsh.”
“Initials sound more professional. When I started out in this business, a helpful magazine editor told me a name can make the difference in being selected or not.”
“Seems weird,” Zoey said. “Erma, if you feel better, can J.J. drive us to town for ice cream?”
“I don’t feel that peppy. You girls go ahead without me.”
J.J. was proud of Zoey, who was the first to say, “No, we can’t go off and leave you alone.”
So they all stayed home and spent a pleasant afternoon by the pool.
Later, after a light salad supper, Erma said, “If I wait to take my night pills, I’ll be awake longer. Is anyone up for a game of dominos?”
“If you teach me,” J.J. said. “I’ve never played.”
Zoey ran to get the box and J.J. cleared the table. She soon discovered they were both cutthroat players. “I can’t think as fast as you add up the spots,” she said halfway through the game. “Zoey, you must be a whiz at math.”
Erma reached over and patted Zoey’s arm. “She’s a whiz at everything. This girl gets straight As. Her dad is so proud of her. Me, too.”
Zoey blushed and ducked her head. Erma turned to J.J. “I said it before, but I’ll say it again...it’s nice having you around. You’re what Zoey needs.” Erma then muttered half under her breath, “And Mackenzie, too.”
J.J. bypassed that comment. “Are we going to finish this game? If not, I’m ready to call it a night. I can barely keep my eyes open.”
Erma won the round, and Zoey put the game
away before going upstairs to bed. J.J. got Erma water to take her pills and settled her for the night. Then she loaded the washing machine, hoping that running it at the same time as the dishwasher wasn’t using too much water. She sat on the patio until it was time to switch loads, then went out again with a glass of wine while the first load dried. It wasn’t until after she’d folded the towels and crossed the patio in the moonlight that she thought about meeting Mack out there. And wow, his kiss. Was she what he and Zoey needed? Recalling his reaction, sadness overtook her.
* * *
THE CATTLE WERE always restless following a move. Mack, Benny and the wranglers took turns in pairs riding through the herd during the night. Eldon played a harmonica, and the animals seemed to stop milling to listen. The sound soothed Mack, too. He’d always loved spending hours out with the cattle.
As the sun rose on a new day, Benny and Mack met on a knoll overlooking the green valley, now awash with red-coated cows. “What do you think, Benny?”
“They’ll calm down once they discover there’s water in the river.”
Mack leaned on his saddle horn. “They seem extra edgy to me. I’m going to leave Eldon and Trevor out here for another day. I need to get back to the ranch.”
“You’re the one on edge, Mackenzie.”
“Having Jill back messes with my head.”
“Your head, huh?”
“She’s just passing through, Benny.”
“Maybe she’d stay if some stubborn old mule would ask her.”
Mack loosened his reins. “I’m going down to make coffee. Then we need to round up strays and do a count. I want to be back to Turkey Creek by noon.”
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, Erma got up to try J.J.’s attempt at French toast. Oddly, J.J. missed bantering with the men at breakfast.
Zoey said, “I got up early. Daddy said if I feed the horses and chickens and gather eggs without complaining, he’ll think about getting me a cell phone when school starts.”
“Young lady, you should help with chores without having to be bribed,” Erma said.
Zoey grimaced as she brought her plate to the counter.
J.J. stacked the dirty dishes. “Zoey, the vet said we should turn the cow and her calf out to pasture after feeding her this morning. Do you want to do that now?”
“I don’t know which pasture since all the other cows are up at the summer range. Dad and Benny should be home this afternoon. Will it hurt to leave the cow and her calf in the barn and let my dad put them where he wants them?”
“I guess not.” J.J. rinsed their breakfast dishes while Zoey emptied the dishwasher. “Should we wait until the men show up before we eat lunch?”
Erma, who still seemed groggy, shrugged. “You can do up a Jell-O salad now, and serve it with tuna sandwiches. That’ll keep if for some reason they don’t get back until later.”
“Okay,” J.J. said. “I saw packs of gelatin in the pantry. Anyone have a request for what kind?”
“Orange with mandarin oranges. Erma fixes it like that,” Zoey said. “This is the bowl she uses. Do you make up three packs and two cans of oranges?” she asked, leaning on the arm of Erma’s wheelchair.
“If all the men come in I’d double that.”
“You must cook boatloads of food,” J.J. said. “Do you ever run out of ideas?”
“It’s routine,” Erma said. “I like to cook more than cleaning house or doing mountains of dirty laundry. Speaking of laundry, did I dream I heard the washer and dryer running last night?”
“I ran a load of jeans and also towels. I folded everything and left stacks on the dryer. I’ll put another load in now. Shirts,” she said, pausing to see if anyone objected. No one did.
“I believe I’ll have one of you wheel me out to the patio while you do morning chores,” Erma said. “I’m so used to running in and out that yesterday I felt cooped up.”
“I’ll set you up out there with a pitcher of iced tea if Zoey grabs the egg baskets. There, does this look right?” J.J. asked.
Zoey peered into the Jell-O bowl. “Looks yummy. I love the smell of oranges, don’t you, J.J.?”
“Orange is nice. I like vanilla, too. And cinnamon. There may be an orange scent to the shampoo I told you about. I’ll send you some to try.”
“You’d send me stuff all the way from New York?” Zoey watched J.J. make room in the refrigerator for the bowl.
“It’s no big deal. Working with models like I do, I see the latest, greatest products. My salon can order almost anything on the market.”
“I can’t imagine having so many choices,” Erma said, gazing at Zoey. “We’re lucky the general store stocks tried-and-true products that don’t cost a mint.”
Zoey rolled her eyes, prompting J.J. to recall the girl’s earlier remark about shampoo from the general store. “I like my hair to smell good,” she said. “Specialty products offer more variety.”
“Huh,” Erma responded. “I’ll grab the pitcher of tea while you load the washer. Then we can go outside. It’s gonna be a scorcher. There’s a breeze, but a hot one. We may only stay by the pool a little while.”
For early spring, the heat felt oppressive. J.J. parked Erma in the shade and said to Zoey, “If you want to feed the livestock, I’ll go straight to the chicken coop. Erma’s right about it being stifling. Let’s divide up the chores so we’ll finish faster and be back in the shade sooner.”
“Suits me. Don’t worry if there aren’t as many eggs today, J.J. When it gets superhot the hens don’t lay as many.”
“I don’t blame them.” J.J. laughed. “The roosters get to strut around catching a breeze while the hens have to sit on those warm nests.”
That comment made Zoey giggle.
They met again within half an hour outside the barn. “Hey, we’re both done,” Zoey exclaimed, blotting her sweating forehead on her arm. “Race you to the patio. I hope there’s still ice in that pitcher of tea.”
“You go on. I don’t want to risk breaking any eggs. You were right—I only got one full basket instead of two.”
Zoey slowed her steps. “I can wait and walk with you.”
“No, no. Go ahead. Pour me a glass of tea.” Zoey, who didn’t need a second urging, took off at a dead run. J.J. shook her head, wishing she had as much energy. As she neared the patio, she noticed puffs of dust rising in the distance. She watched as the line moved toward the ranch. Setting her basket of eggs on the table, she nudged Erma. “Look to the west. Do you think someone is moving a herd? Or could it be a dust storm building? We had those when I lived in Lubbock. This land is so flat and dry I imagine they’d be fiercer here.”
Erma shaded her eyes. “Mercy.” She gripped J.J.’s forearm. “That’s not dust, its smoke. A grass fire. Headed our way. I don’t mean to alarm you, but three weeks ago, a rancher south of town lost his barn in a grass fire.”
“I am alarmed,” J.J. said, digging her cell phone out of her pocket. “Should I call the local fire department? Surely someone needs to know.”
“Call 9-1-1 and report its location relative to Turkey Creek Ranch. They put out an alarm and all the available ranchers gather out there with water barrels and wet gunnysacks. They form a chain and beat back the flames. We’d better make tracks outta here, Jill. Dang, what a time for our menfolk to be away.”
J.J. held up a hand to quiet Erma, and reported the fire as concisely as she could to the dispatcher on the phone. “They’ll sound an alarm and get firefighters and ranchers right on it,” she said, pocketing her phone. “Erma, we can’t leave without wetting down some of this area in case fire reaches the ranch before they can put it out.”
“What can we do?” Erma asked. “A woman, a girl and a hurt old lady.”
Zoey started to cry. She scooted her chair around and tucked her head agains
t Erma’s shoulder. “I don’t want our house to burn down.”
“Listen,” J.J. said. “Let’s collect some important things from the house while we have time. Mack’s pickup is here. Erma, do you know where he keeps his keys? We can load up the bed. I’ll park it on the main road, and I can connect those hoses I saw in the barn, too. You and Zoey wet the barn and house siding while I take the horses, the cow and the calf to the creek.”
“Mack leaves his keys in his truck,” Erma said. “The ranch records are on the laptop computer on his office desk. Zoey, you know where the suitcases are in the hall closet. Jill’s right, we each need to pack a bag with essentials. Now get going.” She passed Zoey the egg basket.
The girl hesitated until J.J. said she’d meet her in the kitchen. Casting a last glance at the gray puffs she now knew were smoke, J.J. wheeled Erma toward the house. “We have some time,” she told the others. “The fire line is still quite a ways out from the ranch.”
Chapter Seven
“I’m scared,” Zoey said, hauling two suitcases into Erma’s room. “If our house burns down, where will we live?”
J.J. took one suitcase, opened it and set it on Erma’s bed. She opened the lower dresser drawers to make it easier for Erma to get her belongings. “We’ll do everything we can to keep that from happening, Zoey.”
“I want Daddy.”
She wasn’t alone on that score. “I know, honey. We can try to call him after we collect everything and move his pickup to safety. Your dad said some of the summer pasture is out of cellular range. Although, if he and Benny are headed home, he may be closer to a cell tower. You can try calling him from the house phone after we get the pickup packed up. Regardless, Zoey, he can’t help until he gets back, so we need to prepare. Okay?”
Zoey nodded, but still seemed frozen to the spot.
J.J. handed the second suitcase to the girl. “The wildfire is still a ways off. Hurry...go pack some undies, pajamas, jeans, shirts...whatever fits in this bag. Bring it out to your dad’s pickup and I’ll meet you there. Erma, I’ll come back after I see to the animals.” J.J. gave Zoey a big hug before dashing out across the patio. She didn’t want to look at the creeping fire, but couldn’t help herself. If anything, the band stretched wider but still seemed like dust.
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