“The calf you’re looking for is in the fourth pen on the left.”
“Are you afraid to use his name?”
He glared at her. “It’s not a good idea. I told you that.”
Nodding in acknowledgment, she hurried down the aisle to the designated pen. “Boomer,” she called softly.
J.D. was watching to see how upset she’d be when the calf didn’t recognize her. Instead, he stared in exasperation as the calf lifted his head and gazed at her, then trotted to the gate.
She stroked his little head through the boards, talking to him all the time. Then she looked around. “Can I go sit on that bale of hay and pet him?”
“If you insist,” J.D. said in disgust.
About that time, he noticed the shocking prematurely white head of hair that belong to his oldest ranch hand. Bluey had come into the barn.
“Did you need something, boss?” he asked.
“No, Bluey. Rachel wanted to see the calf she hand-fed during the storm.”
By that time, Rachel had led Boomer to the bale of hay. She was petting him and cooing to him as she had before.
“Did she tame the little feller?” Bluey asked.
“I guess so. Not that taming him changes anything.”
“Did you tell her?” Bluey asked in a whisper.
“Yes.”
“’Course, you could let him be your next bull.”
“Are we looking at the same calf? He’s a midget. I don’t want to breed a herd of little cows.” J.D. glared at his employee, mostly because Bluey was searching for a way to please Rachel, something J.D. had already done. But he hadn’t come up with a good answer.
“I think he was born too soon. I always thought his mama was a fine cow.”
“Bluey, you can’t have memorized all the cows!” J.D. exclaimed.
“Not all of ’em. Just the ones I liked.”
“We’ll see,” J.D. said as he walked toward Rachel.
Bluey followed him. “Miss, you done a fine job with this little feller.”
Rachel looked up and smiled. “Thank you. He’s already growing.”
“Rachel, this is Bluey. He’s been working here longer than I’ve been on earth.”
“Hello, Mr. Bluey,” Rachel said, holding out a hand to the man.
“No, ma’am. It’s just Bluey. That’s what all the fellers call me.”
“All right, Bluey. I’m pleased to meet you.”
“They told me you was a city girl,” Bluey said, frowning.
“I am,” Rachel replied, a question in her gaze.
“Well, you sure don’t look like one. Them city girls are worried about gettin’ dirty.”
Rachel looked down at her jeans, where Boomer had slobbered. “Madge has been doing my laundry while I was sick. Now that I’m almost well, I’d better start doing it. Maybe then I won’t want to play with Boomer.”
“Aw, I reckon Miz Madge will go on taking care of you.”
“You know her well, don’t you, Bluey?” Rachel said with a laugh.
The man’s weathered cheeks turned a bright red. “No, ma’am! I mean, I’ve heard she’s a good person.”
“Yes, she is.” Rachel didn’t say anything else because she’d already embarrassed Bluey, apparently, though she wasn’t sure how.
“I’ve got to get you back to the house, Rachel. I promised Madge I wouldn’t keep you out here for long,” J.D. reminded her.
Rachel hugged Boomer and kissed his forehead. “Sorry, baby, I have to go. But I’ll come see you again.”
Bluey elbowed his boss. “She needs to give those kisses to someone who’ll appreciate ’em, right, boss?”
J.D.’s own cheeks darkened. “Come on, Rachel. Bluey will put the calf away.”
Rachel reluctantly followed J.D. to the barn door. “I don’t see why we have to hurry. It’s not like I’m Cinderella.”
Once they were out of the building and away from Bluey’s sharp eyes, J.D. slowed down. “Right. I must’ve been confused by your glass slippers.”
She looked down at her feet, clad in an old pair of Madge’s boots, with extra socks stuck in the toes so they didn’t fall off. “I need to buy my own boots and quit wearing all of Madge’s wardrobe.”
“I have to go to the feed store in the morning to settle a bill. They have boots there. Want to go with me?”
“Oh, I’d love to. I need another pair of jeans, too. Do they have those?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll have to ask Madge. She may have planned another cooking lesson.”
“I’m sure she can postpone it if she has. We’ll ask her.”
“I don’t want to hurt her feelings,” Rachel said urgently. “She’s been wonderful to me.”
“Don’t you want to learn to cook?”
“Of course I do!” Rachel exclaimed. “And there’s no better teacher than Madge. She makes me feel good even when I make mistakes. My mom used to— Never mind. I just don’t want to upset Madge.”
“She won’t be upset. I promise.”
“If you’re sure.”
They reached the porch and J.D. took hold of Rachel’s elbow to help her up the steps. “I’m not ancient, J.D. I don’t need your help.”
He shook his head. “I was afraid you’d trip in those big boots.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Madge was sitting at the table knitting something while she watched a program on her little television.
“Madge, why aren’t you watching it on the big television in the family room?” J.D. asked. “I’ve told you before you should use it.”
“I can see this one well enough. Besides, I’m fixing myself some decaf.”
“Good. Can you make a cup for me?” he asked.
“Sure. How about you, Rachel?”
“I think I’ll make myself a cup of hot chocolate, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t. I’ll make it for you.”
“No, Madge. I won’t be waited on like a guest or an invalid. I can fix my own drink.”
J.D. looked at her. “Are you trying to tell me I should be pouring the coffee?”
“It wouldn’t hurt you. Madge is knitting.”
“Land’s sake, girl. The man’s put in a full day’s work already.”
Rachel smiled at her. “I know he has, but it’s not like you’ve been sitting around doing nothing.”
J.D. raised a hand, palm up, toward the housekeeper. “She has a point, Madge. Besides, I’m still on my feet and it looks like the coffee’s ready now. You want yours black?”
“Yes, please,” Madge said with a sigh.
“Oh, by the way, Rachel wants to go to the feed store with me in the morning so she can buy some boots that fit her,” he added.
“That’s a good idea. I was afraid she’d trip in those old things.” Madge continued to knit, though she looked up briefly to smile.
“You don’t mind, Madge? Did you have anything planned?” Rachel asked.
“No, I didn’t, honey. We don’t want to rush those cooking lessons.”
“But I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here,” Rachel said, worry in her voice.
J.D. spun around to stare at her. “What are you talking about? You’re not well yet.”
“Yes, I am. I need to build a little more strength, but I’m well.”
Madge looked first at J.D., then Rachel. “Well, now, since I’m the only medical professional here, how about I say when you’re all better? You’re doing fine, but until you put on more weight and reach full strength, I don’t think you can go back to the city and start work again.”
“Right!” J.D. said, triumph in his voice.
“Of course not, Madge, but that shouldn’t take more than a week or two.”
“I would expect it to take three or four weeks, honey, but we’ll play it by ear.”
With a sigh, Rachel agreed. Then she began fixing her cup of hot chocolate.
J.D. gave his housekeeper a smile and a nod of gratitude.
J.D. STARTED WORK at his usual time, telling Madge to have Rachel ready about nine o’clock. He divided his men into three groups, sending each to check a different herd of steers. Steers from one herd required special feed as they were being fattened to take advantage of the recent high beef prices. Mad cow disease in Europe was suddenly making American beef preferable, which would no doubt add to J.D.’s profits.
When he returned to the house at nine, he’d already done quite a bit of work. But his mind had been elsewhere.
No matter what task he was involved in, all he could think of was Rachel. When he stocked the feed, he thought of the cookies she’d made with Madge. As he checked on the calves, his mind’s eye was treated to a scene of Rachel with the runt she’d hand-fed and petted. He just couldn’t seem to get her out of his system this morning. And he still had the trip to the feed store to look forward to. A time to be alone together.
What about your promise to leave her alone? a niggling inner voice asked.
J.D. well remembered his vow to Vivian when he’d taken Rachel to the ranch. He’d never intended to break it. But Rachel hadn’t remained an invalid in her bed. She’d become a part of life on the ranch. His life.
He broke his stride as he walked to the house. Rachel a part of his life? With thinking like that, he’d have to tread carefully. Carefully, indeed. He didn’t need to remind himself how bad he’d felt when she’d left the Stanley Ranch before.
But what could happen today? he asked himself. It was only a trip to the feed store for boots.
That flippant thought suddenly vaulted from his mind as Rachel entered the kitchen. “You can’t wear that!” he bellowed.
She stared at him before looking down at her clothing. “Why not?”
Didn’t she see what he saw? A tight denim skirt that hugged her curves and exposed a length of long, shapely, beautiful leg. “Because when you sit down to try on the boots, every man in a ten-mile radius will be trying to look up your skirt.” His tone was harsh, due to the scene he was picturing.
Rachel blushed from her head to her toes. Then she spun on her heel and returned to her room, slamming the door behind her.
J.D. looked at Madge. When he read disapproval in her eyes, he said, “You know I’m right, Madge. She can’t wear that short skirt to try on boots.”
“Whether you’re right or not, I think you could’ve said it a little nicer.” She took down a mug and poured coffee into it. “Sit down and have a hot drink. If she comes out at all, I think it may take awhile.”
“What do you mean, if she comes out at all?” J.D. looked at Rachel’s door, then back to Madge.
“You embarrassed her. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere with you if you’d done that to me.” Madge poured herself some coffee and sat down at the table with a sigh.
“So what do we do?” J.D. demanded as he joined her.
“We wait a few minutes. Then, if she hasn’t come out, I’ll go talk to her.”
After ten minutes of total silence, and J.D. frowning, Madge got up and knocked on Rachel’s door.
She responded at once. “I’m not going!”
“Honey, it’s Madge. May I come in?”
“Yes,” Rachel called through the door, her tone apologetic.
Madge slipped inside, closing the door behind her. Rachel was sitting on her bed, tears on her cheeks, still wearing the short jean skirt.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m sorry to make such a scene, but—but I didn’t wear this skirt for that reason. I thought it would make it easier to get the boots on. I wouldn’t have to roll up my pant leg.”
“J.D. isn’t too subtle, but he said that because he didn’t want you to be embarrassed in public. He didn’t mean to speak so harshly, you know.”
“Okay, but I don’t feel like going to the store with him.” Rachel didn’t look at Madge.
“You don’t? I was going to go, too, and get some more yarn.”
That snagged Rachel’s attention. “You can buy yarn at the feed store?”
“We call it the feed store, but it has a variety of things for sale. There aren’t a lot of choices, or the latest styles, but you can usually find something that will work for you. If not, you have to drive an hour into Abilene for any big store. Or to Lubbock, a two-hour drive.”
“I can’t wait to see this place. It sounds fascinating.” Rachel had sat up straight, interest in her voice.
“Why don’t you slip on some pants and we’ll go? It’s only five miles away.”
“Practically next door,” Rachel said with a grin.
Madge came back out of Rachel’s room, pulling the door shut behind her. J.D. was still sitting at the table, nursing his cup of coffee, but jumped to his feet when she appeared.
As Madge headed for her own room, he called out, “Madge! What did she say?”
“She’s coming…as long as I come, too. I’m getting my purse.” She disappeared into her room.
J.D. stood there with his hands on his hips, wondering how his morning alone with Rachel, where he showed her his world, had become a threesome with Madge.
The housekeeper returned to the kitchen just as Rachel’s door opened. She peeked out to be sure the older woman was there before she came forward. “I’m ready,” she said, clearly speaking only to Madge.
“You look nice,” J.D. managed to say, after he’d risked a quick glance at Rachel. She was dressed in gray slacks and a pink, short-sleeved sweater.
“Thanks,” she muttered, but she didn’t look at him. J.D. figured he’d lost all the ground he thought he’d gained since they’d parted six months ago.
“Well, let’s go,” he said, turning toward the door. He opened it and stood there, waiting for the two women to pass through. Then he led them to his truck. “One of you will have to ride in the back seat,” he said.
Rachel immediately volunteered.
He wasn’t surprised. She’d made it plain she wanted to stay as far away from him as possible. He opened the cab door, but didn’t make any effort to assist her.
After helping Madge up, J.D. got behind the wheel. “Sorry for the cramped space,” he said to Rachel.
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s not my first time in your back seat.” Her voice was cool, but her words were a little friendlier.
“Yeah,” he agreed, “but Betty had turned it into a bed with all those pillows.”
“Yes, I slept most of the way.”
“It was best, right, Madge?” J.D. asked, looking at his housekeeper.
“Yes, of course. You needed to conserve all your energy.” The housekeeper sounded distracted.
“What is it, Madge?” Rachel said, leaning forward.
“What? Oh, I was thinking about what color of yarn I should buy.”
“What are you making?” Rachel asked.
“A long scarf, you know, to wrap around your neck when it’s cold. It’s a Christmas gift.”
“For one of the guys?” J.D. asked.
“Yes.”
“Each year, Madge finds something nice for all the cowboys. For some of them, it’s the only present they get. It makes a big difference,” J.D. explained. “Let me pay for the yarn, Madge. It’s the least I can do.”
“All right,” she agreed calmly, but Rachel stared at her, still sure something was on her mind. When J.D. looked back with a question in his eyes, Rachel shrugged her shoulders. She had to agree with him. Something was on Madge’s mind, but what? Then she stared at the back of J.D.’s head. How had she understood what he was asking her? How could they have a moment of complete understanding like that when she hated him?
Hate?
A strong emotion, but at this moment it described exactly what she was feeling.
She hated him because he’d yelled at her, criticized her clothing, picked on her city ways in naming the sick calf. But mostly she hated him because he’d done his best to make sure they were never alone. From the first moment she’d arrived on the ranch,
J.D. had found inventive ways to stay away. Did he dislike her so much that he couldn’t stand to be with her, for fear she’d bring up their…well, their night together?
She could put his mind at rest. No way was she going to mention that mistake, she told herself emphatically.
She ignored that little voice inside her that questioned, Was it really a mistake, Rachel, or the best night of your life?
Instead, she stared out the window for the rest of the short drive.
When J.D. pulled into the parking space in front of the feed store, she gazed at the few buildings nearby. They included a diner, a small bank and a grocery store. “Is this a town? What’s the name of it?”
“You’re in downtown Prairie View.”
“What fun!” she exclaimed, surprising J.D.
“You think this trip to Prairie View is fun?”
“Of course. In the city, you have to fight for a parking space and traipse around to thirty different stores to get the best bargain, or the perfect gift. Here, life is much simpler.”
“Yeah, sure,” J.D. said dryly as he got out of the truck.
Madge and Rachel didn’t wait for him to come around and open the door for them, but met him on the sidewalk. Once they were inside the store, the housekeeper headed for the yarn display.
“This project seems very important to Madge,” Rachel murmured.
“Yeah. She’s not usually so intense.” J.D. watched her sorting through the colors, as if looking for a particular one.
“I think we should offer to help her. Do we have time?” Rachel asked, as if they hadn’t been at odds earlier.
“We have all the time you want.”
Rachel led the way across the store to the older woman’s side. “Can we help you, Madge?”
She jumped a foot. “Oh! I thought you’d be looking for boots. I’m fine. I don’t need any help.”
Again J.D. and Rachel exchanged a glance. Rachel gulped. She couldn’t believe they could understand each other so well. She must be imagining things.
“What color are you looking for, Madge?” Rachel asked, trying to put any communication with J.D. out of her mind.
“A hazel-green. You know the color—not quite green, not quite brown.” She sounded distracted as she searched through a big bin of colored yarn.
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