Rancher's Girl

by Jeanne Harrell

  They turned to watch the show in front of them. Popcorn would have been a nice touch.

  “… So who’s in the cast here, Jeanne? Who would Amy and her friends be?”

  “Well, they’re the bad guys Gary Cooper has to fight. Remember the whole town wouldn’t help him? He’s all alone.”

  “And Lily? Who’s she?”

  “She’s Gary Cooper who has come to face his mortal enemy and his fears.”

  “… His fears?”

  “Well, yes. He’s unsure of himself and not confident that he can get rid of the bad guys.”

  “So then who’s Grace Kelly here?”

  “I guess… that would be Sandy.” Jeanne scratched her head.

  “… Sandy is Grace Kelly?”

  “I think so. Grace Kelly and Gary Cooper have just gotten married, as I recall, and he hangs up his badge. She doesn’t want him to be a lawman anymore.”

  “Okay, so…”

  “So no one in town will help him get rid of the bad guys, except for Grace Kelly. She helps him somehow. I forget that part.”

  “How is Sandy helping Lily?”

  A wind blew tumbleweeds down the street and they watched them roll by.

  “She was over for dinner again last night and they were discussing what to do about Amy Breen. Sandy was encouraging her to stand up for herself and tell Amy off. Lily didn’t want Sandy stepping in for her. It’s wonderful to see them working out a problem together. I think they’re a good team.”

  “…Think they’ll marry, Jeanne?”

  “I’d bet on it. My son has his heart set on her. Jesse loves her too. It’s obvious as the nose on my face that she adores them both.”

  They looked at each and sighed. Romance… and turned to watch the movie.

  From opposite ends of the dusty street, Amy and Lily saw each other. And at the same time, they began walking slowly towards one another. People in stores glanced out the windows.

  “Narrate for me, Jeanne,” said Millie.

  “Okay. They’re walking as if they mean to duel.”

  “Duel?”

  “Shh…”

  The women stopped on the street about four feet apart and began talking. Amy’s face contorted and frowned, while Lily looked calm and composed.

  “Gary Cooper is advising the bad guy to give it up and get out of town before he gets hurt.”

  Amy reached over to slap Lily and Lily grabbed her arm.

  “That was the quick draw of guns.”

  Lily gently let go of Amy’s arm and continued talking to her in a calm way. Gradually, Amy’s face relaxed and she smiled. Maybe she was remorseful. They talked a while longer and eventually shook hands.

  “Okay, that would be Gary Cooper shooting the bad guy dead. Maybe we can assume the bad part of Amy has been killed. What’s that called, an analogy?”

  “Yep. Sounds good to me. Great job of narrating, Jeanne.”

  They held up two fingers like toy guns and blew at the end at their index fingers, like blowing the smoke from their pistols.

  Lily walked up to them with raised eyebrows, as if to say ‘what are you two up to’?

  “Hi, Lily. How did it go?” Jeanne asked with a straight face.

  “It went okay, I think. I stood up for myself like Sandy said I should. We’ll see what comes of it. She seemed sorry, but who knows?” Lily shrugged. “Guess I’ll go sell some fudge.” She walked into the candy store with a look of confidence on her face.

  Jeanne and Millie grinned playfully.

  “What’s that they say about life imitating art, Millie?”

  “You bet, Jeanne.”

  * * *

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Dad, I’m so sorry I haven’t called you in a while. I really have been busy. It’s not some lame excuse,” Lily said in a mock plea. She was in the middle of grading papers. She had Sandy over to her house for dinner and he had her for dessert.

  “Oh, sure. Just forget about your old Dad in his time of need.”

  “What time of need?”

  “Huh… Did you forget about grape harvesting time or has that cowboy stolen your memory along with your heart?” Sam laughed long and heartily.

  “Jeez, Dad, I am so sorry! When do you want me up there? I have a three-day weekend coming up. Could I bring Sandy? He’s been asking to meet you?”

  “Absolutely. He’ll probably want to officially ask for your hand in marriage. Has he gotten down on one knee like all the gentleman do in your Jane Austen books?”

  “You need to go out on a date once in a while, Dad. The world has changed since 1813, although maybe not in Naples,” she conceded. “And no, we haven’t made those kinds of plans – yet.”

  Lily immediately had a vision of her darling Sandy in his leather chaps and big old cowboy hat, climbing down off his golden horse and kneeling in front of her in those great talking boots.

  “Still there?”

  “Yes. How about this coming weekend? We could fly up.”

  “Please do. I haven’t seen you in way too long. And your beau is very welcome too.”

  “… Beau? You’re worse than I am about being a hopeless romantic.”

  “See you soon, precious daughter.”

  “I love you, Dad,” Lily sniffed.

  “Love you too, sweetie. Can’t wait to see you.”

  Sam hung up the phone and that nagging thought kept coming forefront. Sandy Johnson. Johnson…. No, it will be fine. Just fine.

  * * *

  “A grape harvest? Are you kidding? And in what ways are you not like Lucille Ball? Do you have a bandanna for your head? You’ll need one for the grape stomping.” Sandy rolled his smiling eyes at her.

  “For one thing,” she huffed, “I don’t have a best friend named Ethel. My best friend is named Sandy and he can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.”

  “What I’d really like to see is the assembly line scene in that one episode. Remember when Lucy and Ethel worked at a candy factory, the assembly line was going too fast and they started stuffing chocolate in their mouths,” he poked her arm. “That was a comedy high point and you do like chocolate.”

  “Let’s see. What is it I like about you so much? Oh, I know. It’s your smart mouth,” Lily poked him back.

  “At least I don’t go around fainting in the sheriff’s office.”

  “Technically, I knocked myself out, remember? You laughed your socks off at me.”

  They were in the kitchen at her house, laughing, and Sandy was helping her make fudge. Mixing all the ingredients together, Sandy stirred the molten chocolate as it bubbled away. The aroma of fresh cocoa was heavy in the air.

  “That smells incredible! Where’d you learn to make fudge?”

  “…From my mother,” she smiled. “Margaret was always cooking something in the kitchen that smelled heavenly. Dad would say she was the best cook in three counties. She would look at him and say, ‘Only three?’ and they’d laugh.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  “When I was little, I’d pull up a chair to the stove and watch her work. Those were happy times.” She tried not to sigh.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  “You’re going to owe me lots of money if you keep saying that,” she teased. “I was thinking about the new poem I wrote last night. Want to hear it?”

  “You bet. I’ve been working on a new one myself.”

  Sandy poured the newly made fudge into a pan to cool and set it on the table.

  “Come on,” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go into the living room and talk about our poems while the fudge cools. Want to?”

  What a guy! He cooks, he cleans, he writes, he’s funny.

  “Sure.”

  “I feel like Robert Browning to your Elizabeth Barrett.”

  She thought about that for a minute, shaking her head.

  “You know, Elizabeth’s father didn’t want her to marry Robert Browning. They had a sweet love story and loved each other very much.”


  “Wonder why her father objected to him.” Sandy sat on the sofa and tugged Lily down with him. “Will your father like me?”

  “Dad will love you and I know he wants me to be happy.”

  “Are you, sweet Lily? Are you happy?”

  “Let me count the ways…”

  * * *

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Sandy had booked reservations on a flight from Reno to fly to Oakland and then he rented a car to drive the remaining fifty miles to Sonoma. Lily was excited to be spending her three-day weekend with her father. Sandy felt something was stirring, but he didn’t know what. Talking to his mother on the phone the night before they left, Jeanne had been vague about the trip to Sonoma. Sandy thought she would have been pleased, since it was obvious he was planning a life with Lily and he knew Jeanne loved Lily. Jesse would be staying with his grandmother while he was away.

  He noticed the attention Lily received walking through the Reno airport. There were slot machines everywhere and some guys peeked around corners to get a look at her. She was pretty enough to be on the cover of a magazine and he was proud to be by her side. He held her hand most of the time and a few men looked wistful.

  The flight and drive were uneventful. Being comfortable with one another, it was easy to joke and laugh. She was good for him, he knew and felt they were a good match.

  “I’m a bit nervous about meeting your dad, sweetheart,” Sandy admitted when they pulled up outside Sam’s house. “Are you sure he’ll like me?”

  “Honey, of course, he will. I love you, why won’t he?” Lily smiled at him. “Besides, it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t. I’m pretty set about you.”

  “Lily, is that true? It really wouldn’t matter?”

  “That’s not even going to be an issue. He’ll love you.” She batted her pretty lashes at him and he chuckled.

  Sam Cable still lived and worked on the small ranch where Lily grew up. She had many childhood memories that flooded over her as they pulled up in the circular drive in front of Sam’s house. Behind the house, vineyards spilled out covering the hill with green and brown stripes. There were several barns and corrals on the side. Fragrant smells of lilac and sage permeated the air.

  Lily got out of the car, lazily stretched and took a deep breath. It smelled like home.

  “Pretty spread,” said Sandy, getting out of the car. “He’s done well here—it’s obvious. You grew up here?” She nodded happily at him. “Well, no wonder.”

  “No wonder what?”

  “…No wonder you are the way you are. You’ve been nurtured with nature and love.” She came around the car and put her arms around him. He kissed her lips and her nose. “Let’s meet your father.”

  Lily grabbed his hand and was leading Sandy towards the house when Sam Cable opened the door. “Hey! How’s my beautiful daughter?” He looked like a rugged individual and not someone to mess with. Lily noticed the inspection Sam gave Sandy as they seemed to size up one another.

  Sam hurriedly came down the sidewalk as Lily ran up to him. He gathered her in his arms, kissed both her cheeks, then hugged her again. The love between them was obvious and touching. Sam pulled her away to take a look at her. “You look good, darlin’. I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Missed you too, Dad. I want you to meet Sandy Johnson,” said Lily proudly and stepped aside for Sandy.

  Tall and handsome, he took a step towards Sam and shook his outstretched hand. Sam was hard to read, but he seemed pleasant enough. It would have to be a tough moment for any father when his daughter’s love comes calling.

  “How do you do, sir?” Sandy grasped his cowboy hat in his left hand and shook Sam’s hand with his right.

  “Nice to meet you, young man.” He took a long look at Sandy, then at his hat. “Nice hat. Where’d you get it? Have to get one like it.” He winked at Lily.

  “Dad, what are you talking about? You haven’t bought a new cowboy hat in twenty years.”

  “And thank you,” Sam said to Sandy, “for bringing my darling Lily home to me at last. She’s been gone much too long.” He beamed at his daughter. “She looks good, doesn’t’ she?”

  “That she does, sir.” The corners of Sandy’s mouth curved.

  “Okay, you two. Let’s get into the house before you start ganging up on me.”

  Walking behind them, Sam shuddered. Sandy was the spitting image of his father, Miles. Seeing him walk up his sidewalk was like seeing the ghost of Miles Johnson. Could he keep it together for Lily? He had to…

  * * *

  The grape harvest was in full swing. Sam barely let them get their bags in the door, when he took them off for a tour of the vineyard. He had laborers helping with the harvest this year.

  “Dad harvests his grapes by hand, which is more expensive a process but protects the grape,” explained Lily.

  “I am a traditionalist,” offered Sam waving a hand toward the vineyard. “But I don’t have enough acreage to harvest by machine.”

  “I’m afraid I know nothing about harvesting and making wine,” said Sandy.

  “Great!” Lily’s eyebrow arched. “Then I finally know more than you do about something!”

  “And that’s okay with me.”

  “Quit picking on Sandy,” chuckled Sam. “Let’s get you two into pickin’ clothes. I have overalls, but you can wear jeans. I sure wouldn’t wear anything that grape juice would wreck.”

  “I want the overalls, Dad, and so does Sandy.”

  “You bet I do.”

  After freshening up and changing, they met at the front of the vineyard. Everyone was given buckets and they began picking the grapes. It’s a laborious process but must be done at the moment the viticulturist or winemaker says the grapes are ready. Working on a hilly terrain was tricky keeping one’s balance. Lily showed Sandy how to plant his feet, so he wouldn’t slip.

  Sam watched their every move out of the corner of his eye. Lily was definitely in love with this cowboy. She was so solicitous of everything he did—like she revolved around him. She was in his orbit. If Sandy had been almost anybody else, Sam would have kicked up his heels in glee. Instead, he found himself almost moping.

  Sandy wasn’t sure how to gauge Sam Cable’s reactions. He didn’t know the man at all, but he had hoped for him to be a little more congenial. Sam seemed to pull in when he should have been reaching out. What’s going on here? Is it the “he’s taking my little girl from me” problem again? That didn’t seem appropriate, since Lily had been married once before, albeit briefly.

  What an incredibly tiring day…Sandy was in good shape, but harvesting grapes used a different muscle set. All that standing, bending, picking, crouching… He’d be sore tonight, he knew.

  “You guys about done with that row, honey?” Sam called out from a back row.

  “Yes, Dad. Want us to start another one?”

  Sandy stretched his back and hoped he didn’t.

  “That’s good for today. We’ve made a good dent.”

  They trooped tiredly back to the house, while the laborers left for the day. Everyone would be back at it bright and early tomorrow morning. That evening, over dinner, Sandy received a crash course in winemaking.

  “There are many processes to winemaking.” Sam proceeded to take them through de-stemming, crushing to extract the juice, alcoholic fermentation and racking, where the clear wine is removed from the sediment. Sandy’s head swirled with viticulture information.

  “My beautiful daughter grew up with my varied attempts at winemaking. Some not always as successful as others,” Sam laughed.

  “Dad, I’m pooped. We need to get some sleep before we get up and do it all again,” Lily whined. Sandy tiredly nodded.

  “Of course. Lily, you’re in your old bedroom and Sandy has the guest room. All the sheets are clean and new towels already installed in the bathrooms.”

  Sam went to clean up the kitchen, while Sandy and Lily made their way to the bedrooms. Lily mouthed “Sorry” at Sandy as t
hey went into separate bedrooms; Sandy wasn’t surprised. They weren’t married and her dad was old-fashioned—and that was fine. He would have liked to kiss her goodnight, however. That would no doubt embarrass her father, so he just wished her goodnight.

  Sam dried the dinner dishes long after the dishes were no longer wet. He was desperately thinking of how to handle what was surely going to happen. Sandy was a decent, well brought-up man, but…this was going to be much harder than he thought. When Sam was too tired to think anymore, he wearily wandered to his bedroom, and sank down on his feather bed. Sleep didn’t come easily.

  * * *

  The next day was a copy of the first. They walked all over the hills behind Sam’s house picking every grape cluster that looked ripe. Sam would wander around with his refractometer, a device that checks sugar levels. He would always come up to tease Lily and ask Sandy how he was doing. Sandy noticed he kept his distance. Something was wrong, he decided, but he would let Sam bring it up when it was time. That time would probably be tonight, since he and Lily had to leave tomorrow.

  After the harvest finished for the day, Sam said, “Get dressed, you two. I’m taking you out for dinner.”

  “Dad, not the Hitching Post!”

  “It’s a great restaurant, really, Sandy. Lily just has been there one too many times.”

  Sandy laughed. “That’s fine, Mr. Cable. Anyplace you say, but I’d like to pay, if you don’t mind. Just to repay you for your hospitality this weekend.”

  Dinner went fine. The old restaurant looked and smelled like an ancient chuck wagon, complete with steak, bread and beans. Sandy thought the atmosphere a little strained, but chalked it up to the newness of the situation. Since they both loved Lily, he was sure anything could be worked out… smoothed out, if there was a problem.

  Sam and Sandy both smiled and practically cooed at Lily. It was easier to talk with and about her than to each other. Lily finally said to Sandy, “You’ve hardly said anything at all about your ranch. Or about your mother.”

  Sam looked up, an unreadable expression on his sagging face.

  “Dad, you know Jeanne Johnson, don’t you? She mentioned being in school with you when you lived in Naples.” Lily looked questioningly at him.

  Sam withered physically right in front of them. He looked guilty, like he had been caught with his hand in a cookie jar. Did he have a stroke?