Melody's Next Christmas (Timeless Love Book 6)

by George H. McVey

  Tallis cut a second slice off and then spoke to the horse. “It’s just my morning snack, Sunset, would you like a slice?” He held it out to her and watched as she sniffed the air and started to slowly walk closer to him. He smiled as she came ever closer. “That’s right, come on over and help me impress your trainer. I want her to see me as a perfect match to her and you can help me. In return, I’ll feed you all kinds of good tasting snacks.”

  The horse got close enough to lip the apple slice from him and crunch it down. Tallis grinned and cut a larger slice, and laid it in the palm of his hand. The horse snorted and came close enough to take it from him. He cut another piece and held the hand closer to where he was on the fence. The horse stared at him for a minute and whinnied. Then slowly moved closer till her head was even with the fence his hand laid on. She took the apple and he slowly raised his hand to rub the top of her nose. She pushed into him. He laughed and slowly climbed up on the fence, watching as the horse stilled and watched him. He took the other half of the apple and placed it in his hand, and she came close and took it from him as he slipped into the ring with her.

  Next her pulled a carrot out of his pocket and held it up to her. She sniffed and took it from his hand, munching on it as he lifted the saddle blanket and slowly walked around to her side, rubbing her neck and back the whole way. She turned her head to watch him but never moved nervously or away. He placed the blanket on her and moved back around for the saddle. He handed her half of the second carrot and as she crunched on it he lifted Melody’s saddle and placed it on the mare’s back. Now came the dangerous part.

  He slowly dropped the tongue end of the cinch strap and carefully reached under the horse, who shuddered a little but settled quickly. He grabbed the cinch and pulled it, waiting for the horse to let out the breath she tried to hold and pulled it tight, securing it in the cinch ring. Then he grabbed the bit and bridle and gave the horse a sugar cube, slipping the bit in her mouth and the bridle over her head. He smiled, thinking that he’d been able to get her horse saddled and hoping that Melody would be impressed. He turned to lead the horse out of the corral to see the woman in jeans and a denim shirt watching him with a smirk on her face. “You didn’t tell me you’d bribe her into letting you saddle her.”

  He smiled. “Not bribe, make friends with. I may not know the 1800s way to a horse’s heart, Melody, but I do know the way to a horse’s heart. Apples, carrots, and sugar cubes: they work every time.”

  Melody laughed and the sound washed over Tallis like a warm shower after a hard day’s work. Soothing and invigorating at the same time. He definitely had to make her do that more often. She climbed into the saddle like she’d been born to it and it took all of his self-control not to turn into a drooling idiot right then. “Well then, let me get your stuff loaded into the wagon and we’ll head down and show you the house and get your opinion on that before heading over to the stable to see if you can make any headway with my father’s most stubborn horse.”

  She smiled and nodded. “Ready when you are.”

  Soon enough he had her oversized duffle bag loaded in the back of the wagon and he and Reverend Johnson settled on the bench seat and then headed for the homestead and to see if Melody Hughes was as good a trainer as she claimed.

  Chapter 6

  R iding down the lane and onto the homestead atop Sunset felt so much like home that for a brief moment Melody was able to forget she was one hundred and forty-seven years into the future. She almost expected to see her Pa step out on the front porch of the house or come out of the barn. Even more so she expected to see Brent frowning at her from the foreman’s cabin or standing with his hands on his hips scowling from outside the training ring. Instead she was jarred back to the present by the sight of some kind of machine lifting giant logs as they built a series of small cabins around behind what had once been the bunkhouse.

  Thankfully it was far enough away from the training ring that she wouldn’t have to worry about it spooking the horse she was supposed to start working with. Much more disturbing to her was the crowd of people seated and chatting with each other like spectators at a social. Their excitement and the emotional fall out was, even from where she sat atop Sunset, already affecting the stallion they wanted her to work with to show her skills. “Why is there spectator seating around the training ring?”

  Tallis Ryder looked over at her. “I told you that this would be a tourist ranch. People will come and learn and then participate. That seating is where they’ll watch you work and where you’ll explain what it is you’re doing.”

  She glared down at him. “Mister Ryder, that will make it harder to train any horse. Horses pick up on the emotions of the people around them and we both know that an untrained horse is very susceptible to noises on top of that emotional influence.”

  “I told you the people will be quiet when you’re ready to work today.”

  She climbed down off her horse. “Yes, but now the horse you want me to work on is already worked up into an untrainable state. Look at him. He’s covered in foam from where he’s been reacting to all the noise and stimulation going on all around him. Before I can even see what work I need to do to train him, I’ll have to spend hours just calming him down.”

  Tallis looked at her. “Are you telling me that you can’t work with an audience? That’s going to be part of what we do here teach and demonstrate.”

  “I can teach and demonstrate but not with a completely green horse. You want me to show you how good my skills are but you’ve made it so I can’t even show you those skills by letting all those people work that horse into a frenzy. What has been done to him won’t allow me to show you anything but how to get a trainer killed.”

  “Tell me what you need from me today to be able to show me and my father who owns that horse how you work.”

  Melody looked at him and saw the honesty of his question. “First send all those people away and make sure they stay away for at least an hour. Then just let the horse be. He needs to calm down enough that I can even climb in the ring with him before we can start working on him. I can’t even see what I need to do he’s so worked up. Then when it’s time to work with him I’d appreciate it if only you and the owner were around to see what I do. But only if the two of you can keep your emotional states from interfering with the horse. Like I said, they pick up on the emotions of those around them. All those people right now are excited for the show and it’s got the horse overly excited.”

  Tallis looked over at the horse and then nodded. “I’ll take care of that then you can tell me what you think of the homestead and bunkhouse renovations. I’m having them and then the Foreman’s Cabin retrofitted to be as close to authentic as I can. We can talk about the plans for the future expansion and what I need from you. If your historical knowledge is equal to that of your horse knowledge, I’d say you have a job, Miss Hughes.”

  He climbed out of the wagon as they drew up to the barn and called one of the spectators over, a young woman who looked remarkably similar to him. “Tell everyone that our new trainer is not going to put on a show today and get everyone away from the ring. Send Dad to the house and then come over yourself. I want you to meet Melody. She’ll meet Diablo when she thinks the time is right, but no spectators. She says they are all making the horse more worked up.”

  The younger girl looked at him and laughed. “You know she’s right. Diablo is a handful anytime, but he’s ready to kill right now. All those emotions bouncing around, and all the excitement of seeing if anyone can tame him, from the people in the stands has him worked into a frenzy.”

  Melody watched as her potential boss deflated. “I know, I just didn’t want to disappoint everyone. But she’s right; there’s no way anyone can get in that ring with him right now. He’d kill them. Tell everyone to go about their jobs, no show today. Then you and Dad come and meet Miss Hughes.”

  “Will do.”

  Melody watched as the girl walked back to the stands and stood beside an older
man who looked like a salt and pepper haired version of the man standing in front of her. The older man nodded and started sending everyone back to work. Tallis Ryder turned to Reverend Johnson. “We’re going to hire her, so what do you need from me?”

  “The contract is for six months. Pay and all that is between you two and I’ll leave you to it. I’ll be back to get her just after Christmas. Her official contract will end December 31st at 11:59. I need a few minutes with my client alone and you need to agree to my contract by stating you understand the terms of her employment, include room and board and that the end date is set.”

  “What if we want to extend that contract?”

  “That won’t be possible, young man. She has been made promises beyond that date. She’ll need to be elsewhere the first of the year.”

  She could see that Tallis didn’t really believe that she’d leave when the job was done, but to get her ranch back and put Brent off her land she would indeed do the job and complete the terms. Then next year she’d go home and see all her dreams come true. Until then she’d obey the rules the Reverend had given her and she’d just forget that this man in front of her had literally come to her in a dream. He wasn’t for her, wrong place and time, and she was going to go home and see her dreams fulfilled no matter how many times he filled her dreams at night.

  Tallis stood floored by what the Reverend just told him. Six months! That’s all the time he could have with Melody Hughes, then she’d move on to another assignment. Well the mysterious Reverend Johnson better get used to disappointment. Now that he had Melody Hughes here on his ranch, he had no intention of allowing her to leave. He’d find a way to keep her close at hand even if he had to marry her quickly to do it. All it had taken was one look into that face that had haunted his dreams for Tallis to know she belonged right here by his side, wearing his ring, having his children, helping him run the ranch. She and the Reverend might not know it yet, but she was going to be his wife and he had a whole six months to get her to realize it as well.

  He watched as she led her horse into the stable and got her rubbed down and in a stall. Then she turned and looked at him. “Where to now?”

  He tried to sound like her boss and not like the infatuated lovesick fool she made him feel like. “Let’s get your things, let you get settled into your room and then I’ll give you a tour of the house.”

  She smiled and Tallis felt his heart slam into his throat. How in the world was he going to act normal around this woman? She already held his heart in her hand and she didn’t even know it. He saw his sister out of the corner of his eye and he knew that her gifts had made it so she knew exactly what was going on. He tried to ignore her but she was smiling and trying to hide her laughter behind her hand. She walked up to him and whispered to him. “Oh, you’ve got it bad, already!”

  “Shut up, Sara!”

  His sister laughed. “If it makes you feel any better my Calling is telling me you two were made for each other.”

  Tallis looked at Sara. “She still has to choose me too, Sara. Free will and all that you know.”

  His sister’s grin widened. “I know, but at least you know the spark is there. Maybe you should talk to dad, he’s been looking at her and that Reverend strange since they arrived.”

  Tallis felt a kick of his own gift at his little sister’s words. His dad’s reaction was important. He needed to see what his dad’s Calling had picked up on. He usually knew when something was hidden. If his Calling had picked up on something having to do with the Reverend and Melody, Tallis needed to know that. “Will you show Melody her room and around the house? I’ll go see what Dad picked up on.”

  Sara smiled. “Sure, but maybe you should introduce me to the lady first.”

  Tallis gained a sheepish grin. “Yeah, that might be a good idea.”

  He hurried up beside Melody. “Miss Hughes, this is my little sister, Sara Marie, she’ll be your assistant while you’re here. I need to go check on something, she’ll show you to your room and give you the tour of the house. I’ll be back as quick as I can to show you the rest of the homestead.”

  Melody smiled at him then turned her attention to his sister. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Once he was sure that Sara had things well in hand he excused himself and headed over to the training ring where his father stood leaning against the side of the stable. He looked up when he heard Tallis approach. “How in the world did you get messed up with the Reverend and his newest project, son?”

  Tallis frowned. “What do you mean, his newest project?”

  His father turned to look him in the eye. “You have no clue who that man is, do you?”

  “No, but Nate ran a background check on him and he came back clean. What’s the problem?”

  His dad laughed. “I bet he did come back clean seeing as how he exists outside of the constraints of our society. Listen Tallis, that man has a gift that makes even Nugget Nate’s Calling look like a parlor trick. If he brought you your history expert there are two things I know will be true: first, she will absolutely know everything there is to know about ranching in the 1800s; second, the good Reverend won’t be forced to change his mind. I can already tell you that he’ll be back and it will bring you trouble personally. He’ll be wrong but he won’t waver in what he thinks he has to do. Whatever you do, don’t let anyone drink anything in his presence, especially that little filly he just brought here. If she drinks when he returns, she’ll leave and be beyond your reach, son. Beyond it forever. As in you’ll never find her again and she’s supposed to be here.”

  “You’re being awful cryptic, Dad, more so than usual.”

  His dad nodded, “I am, because you wouldn’t believe me if I talked straight right now. Just trust me, that man is trouble for your girl and she is your girl, isn’t she? Even though she don’t know it yet.”

  Tallis looked at his dad and nodded once. “Yeah she’s the one, without a doubt she’s it for me.”

  “Then you’d better heed my warning and get a wedding ring on her finger before the good reverend returns, or she’ll be gone for all time.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  David Ryder shook his head. “Not yet, son. It’s too early. You just woo the girl and get your ranch up and running the way you want it. Just know you’ve got a long hard row to hoe ahead of you and that foreman is going to give you trouble. Better start looking for a replacement for him.”

  “Great! Just what I need, another setback.”

  “Not another one. I think if you dig you’ll find he’s the biggest part of all your setbacks.

  “Well, I have to have proof before I can let him go.”

  “Just keep your eyes open and you’ll find it before the months out; and keep that girl close, son.”

  “Thanks Dad. You’ll tell me what’s going on when you can?”

  His father nodded once. “If you don’t figure it out for yourself before the Reverend returns, I will step in to help. That’s the best I can promise.”

  Tallis nodded and smiled. “Well if he tries to go up against the Ryders he’ll be the one to find trouble.”

  “Alright, let’s go have you introduce me to your lady, son. I can’t wait to see what she can do with the stallion.”

  “Me either, she sure was riled up by all those people in the stands.”

  David winked at him. “That’s a good thing; shows she does know what she’s doing. I was about to send most of the hands away before that horse hurt himself or someone else, when she went off on you.”

  The two Ryder men headed inside to sit down with the newest member of the Ryder Historical Ranch team over a good hot meal before seeing what she could do to train the untrainable horse they owned.

  Chapter 7

  “B oss, you can’t let that little woman into the ring with that horse, he’ll kill her.”

  Melody couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The ranch foreman was standing there blocking the gate to the training ring. Even from
where she stood she could feel the anger rolling off of him and it was obvious that the horse in the ring was reacting to it.

  “I thought I made it plain to you that you and the boys were supposed to ride out and check the fence line this afternoon.”

  The man looked at Mr. Ryder and nodded. “The boys are riding the fence but I couldn’t let you put that girl in danger. You need to put that horse down, he’s untrainable. If she gets in that ring he’s gonna stomp her into the ground.”

  Melody felt a flash of anger roll through her and tamped down on it quickly. She stepped up to the man blocking her way to do her job. She held out her hand. “Melody Hughes, Mister…?”

  He looked down at her hand before looking her over like she wasn’t dressed. The way his eyes lingered over her sent a feeling of cold clammy disgust; she tamped it down too. “Brent Cole, ma’am and a pretty little thing like you shouldn’t be so eager to get herself scared up.”

  Of course his name was Brent. “Mr. Cole, I need you to leave the vicinity of the training ring. You’re not in control of your feelings and it’s riling up my horse. The only person here putting me in danger is you.”

  His eyes hardened. “Listen here, missy, I’m the foreman on this ranch and if I say you aren’t getting in that ring then you ain’t getting in that ring.”

  She smiled up at him. “See, I think you’ve got things backwards, cowboy. She poked her finger into his chest with each of her next words. “I. Don’t. Work. For. You. From what I was told my position here is to teach you and your cowboys how to run a ranch like they did in the 1800s, so technically you work for me. So why don’t you do what your boss told you to and get away from my training ring.”

  The man turned red like he was about to explode. “Now listen here!”

  Melody was surprised when Tallis reached out and grabbed the man by the shoulder. “Nope you heard Miss Hughes, get on your horse and go check on your men or you can go pack your things and get off my ranch. You may be foreman here but I’m the owner and I have the final say. So do the job I pay you for or pack up and get off my ranch.”