by Bale, Leigh
He flashed a wide smile, his left cheek streaked with dirt. He’d removed his beat-up cowboy hat and she caught the gleam of his sweat-dampened hair. He’d worked hard tonight, winning her deep-seated gratitude.
“Nothing I can’t handle. I just finished the mowing and thought I’d check the blades to make sure she’s ready for tomorrow night.”
His consideration pleased her. Knowing he’d be here again tomorrow evening brought her more relief than she could express. Being so short on funds, she dreaded having to hire someone else to bring in her hay. She owed Scott. A lot. She had to pay him somehow.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.” She stood nearby, shining the flashlight on his hands to help him see better. Using the front weight support of the tractor as an anvil, he struck the back edge of a broken blade with a heavy rock, knocking the damaged rivet out of the bar.
He didn’t look up as he spoke. “Likewise I appreciate your looking after Shelley for me. She’s happy for the first time since her mother left us. Anne even has her playing soccer. She refused to play with me whenever I offered, so I’m grateful that she’s found a friend to talk her into it.”
Her heart ached for him. How miserable both he and Shelley must have been to lose their wife and mother. Melanie still cried over losing Aaron, mourning what their life together might have been like if he hadn’t started drinking.
If he hadn’t gone up onto the mountain during a thunderstorm.
“I think I’m getting the better end of the bargain,” she said. “You’re saving me a lot by working on my ranch. I’d like to pay you some as well as tend Shelley for you.”
He stood and dusted off his hands. In the shadows of the headlight, his gaze locked with hers. “That wasn’t our agreement, Mrs. McAllister. I promised I’d work for you, and I meant it.”
His kindness amazed her. She couldn’t help smiling, thankful that this good man had come into her life. She’d realized at the ranchers’ meeting that she’d misjudged him. She’d never met a more intelligent, self-assured and hardworking man. Being so near him sent shivers racing up her spine. Before she could stop herself, she stepped close and kissed his cheek. He smelled of freshly cut hay.
He stiffened and she drew back a bit too fast. What was she thinking, being so forward with him? When they’d shared the sunset together earlier, she’d stopped him from saying something they both might regret. She felt much too comfortable around this man. How she wished they could be more than friends. But the situation was impossible. And getting more difficult all the time.
“I…I just wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done.” She folded her arms against the cool air and jutted her chin toward the house. “At least let me give you supper. You must be starved.”
He chuckled. “That I am. I could eat a straw hat right now. Let me drive the mower back to the barn first.”
Again, his thoughtfulness impressed her. He always worked neatly, even when he was hungry and tired. He never left equipment out or empty of gasoline, but always put everything back in good order so it was ready for the next usage.
She walked back to the house, then washed her hands. Using a hot pad, she took a heaping plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy from the oven.
The girls sat at the table, scarfing down pieces of warm apple pie with ice cream.
“Is Daddy coming in now?” Shelley asked.
“Yep, he’s just finished the mowing for tonight.” Melanie opened the fridge and retrieved the milk and butter along with a plate of homemade rolls.
Scott came in and doffed his boots. “Wow! Something smells good.”
“It’s ready. Get washed up.”
He stepped into the laundry room. The spray of water sounded as he turned on the faucet. Melanie had put out a fresh towel for him. By the time he’d scrubbed the grime from his face and hands, she had his meal ready.
He sat down and smiled at Shelley and Anne. “How are my favorite girls tonight?”
“Fine,” Shelley said. “I was getting worried. You took a long time working tonight.”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. It had to be done.” He bit into a piece of chicken and released a sigh of relish. “This is delicious.”
“You’re supposed to bless it first.” Anne frowned.
Scott froze, his gaze darting over to Melanie. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
Melanie shook her head. “We’ve already blessed it. Go ahead and eat.”
She shot a warning look at her daughter. Anne’s mouth quirked with disapproval before she concentrated on her apple pie. Melanie picked up the dish towel and dried a plate. How she wished Anne could be more accepting of Scott. The girl was young, but she should understand how much they needed Scott’s help around the ranch. He’d made such a difference for them. He wasn’t like the other rangers who had come to town. Scott was different, in every way.
Scott continued eating hungrily. “Tomorrow, I think I can finish mowing the other fields. We’ll have your hay put up in no time.”
“In a few days, I can go out with the side rake and roll the hay so it’ll dry better.” Melanie leaned her hip against the counter, feeling content with Scott and their kids in her kitchen. She couldn’t help wondering if this comfortable companionship was how it should be for all families as they talked and planned their lives. She’d never experienced this contentment with Aaron and couldn’t help wishing she could always feel this way.
“Don’t knock yourself out,” he said. “I can turn the hay on Friday night, after I get off work.” He glanced at Anne. “Could you pass me the butter, sugar?”
Anne dropped her fork and pushed back from the table so fast that her chair toppled over with a clatter. “Get it yourself. I’m not your sugar. And you’re not my dad.”
The girl raced from the room. The stunned silence was followed by the slamming of her bedroom door.
Scott’s jaw fell slack as he looked at Melanie. “I’m sorry, Melanie. I didn’t mean to upset her.”
Shelley’s eyes widened and her bottom lip quivered. “Why’d Anne talk to you like that, Dad? Is she okay?”
Melanie stepped over to the table and picked up the chair before pushing it under the table. “Anne’s fine. I think I’d better go talk to her.”
“Let me.” Scott stood and rounded the table.
“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
He rested his hand on Melanie’s arm, his eyes filled with concern. “Until we become friends, she’ll never trust me. I think it’s time we talked. Don’t worry…I’ll be gentle. Why don’t you listen in?”
“Okay.” Melanie nodded and said a silent prayer.
As Scott walked down the hallway, Melanie followed, staying back so she could listen without being detected by her daughter. Scott gave her a reassuring smile as he knocked on Anne’s door. “Go away.”
Undeterred, he turned the knob and entered the lion’s den. Melanie peeked around the door and saw Anne sitting at her desk, coloring furiously.
“Anne, can I talk to you for a few minutes?” Scott said.
“No! Go away.”
The mattress squeaked as he sat on the edge of the bunk bed. “I’ll tell you what. You don’t have to talk. Just listen to me for a moment.”
Silence. But that was better than shouting. Even so, Melanie wasn’t heartened by the lack of response.
Scott’s voice filtered out into the hallway, soft and gentle. “I was a few years older than you when my father died. We ran a sheep ranch in Northern Nevada. When he died, I wasn’t big or strong enough to really help my mom a lot and we had to sell our ranch before the bank foreclosed on us.”
Anne gasped. “You did?”
Melanie closed her eyes at the emotion in her daughter’s voice. This was her greatest fear right now. That they’d lose Opal Ranch. Frank Donaldson kept offering to buy her land for a pittance of what it was worth, but Melanie kept refusing to give up the fight. Until now, she hadn’t realiz
ed that Anne was worried about it, too.
“Yep. And my mother died a year later. I had nobody in the world.”
Anne made a derisive sound. “If you were a rancher, why’d you become a ranger?”
Melanie caught the tone of disgust in her daughter’s voice.
“I couldn’t be a rancher anymore, no matter how much I wanted to,” Scott said. “But I figured if I worked hard, I could work my way through school and learn to be a good ranger so I could help other ranchers.”
“Really? That’s why you did it?”
“Yep. Not all rangers are bad, just like not all ranchers are bad. I’ve learned that most people are basically good inside. Sometimes we just forget to be kind to one another. Fighting is easier. It takes more patience and self-control to get along.”
“You mean like how the Donaldsons won’t sell us groceries anymore?”
“I guess that’s a good example. But it wouldn’t be very nice if I pulled Mr. Donaldson’s grazing permits, would it?”
“No. Mom said Jesus doesn’t like mean tricks like that.”
“That’s true. I think right now, you’re afraid,” Scott continued. “You’re worried you and your mom might lose Opal Ranch. Am I right?”
No sound came from the room, but Melanie knew it was true. Her daughter was frightened and insecure, just as she was.
“You don’t need to worry,” Scott said. “I’ll do everything in my power to help your mom keep your ranch safe.”
“You mean it?” Hope filled the girl’s voice, as if she couldn’t quite believe what he’d said.
“It’s my promise to you. Okay?”
Melanie couldn’t resist peeking around the door. Her daughter shrugged, then nodded. “Okay, but once you make a promise, you have to keep it.”
Scott patted the girl’s shoulder. “I intend to. You can count on it.”
Melanie’s heart squeezed hard. Scott’s words reached deep inside her, giving her hope. It wasn’t just Anne who needed to hear his promise. It had been a long time since Melanie had the faith to believe in anyone other than God. Maybe Scott was the answer to her prayers. Maybe the Lord had sent him and Shelley to Snyderville to help out. And Scott didn’t even know it.
Chapter Ten
Melanie awoke with a start. Alarm prickled her skin and she stared into the darkness above her bed, feeling disoriented. The nightlight by the bathroom door cast an eerie red glow down the hallway. Bob’s barking mingled with yells and raucous laughter from outside the house.
“What on earth?” Who could be here at this time of night?
She glanced at the bedside clock, which read 1:37. As she jumped out of bed, she grabbed her bathrobe and thrust her arms into the sleeves.
Scurrying to the front room, Melanie drew back the curtains and peered outside. The headlights of two trucks almost blinded her and she jerked back, blinking. One truck skidded through her wide driveway, turning circles, flipping up gravel as the driver and passengers screamed with delight. Though she couldn’t make out their faces in the shadows, two teenage boys tromped through her delphiniums before pelting her house with what appeared to be eggs. The crack and splat struck her picture window, followed by a sickening crash.
Gasping in fear, Melanie stepped to the side as shattered glass covered the cream-colored carpet. A rock rolled and landed by her bare feet.
Melanie cried out as a sliver of glass bit into her skin. Bob yelped in pain and she watched in horror as a boy pelted the dog with eggs. The dog growled and snapped, lunging for the boy until he gave up his torment. That’s when Melanie got good and mad. Nobody attacked her dog and got away with it.
Hopping on her good foot, she brushed the glass away. Then she thrust her feet into her garden clogs sitting beside the door. As she passed through the kitchen, glass crunched beneath her feet. She reached for the cordless phone and dialed 9-1-1. While it rang, she went to the back room, turned on a desk lamp, entered the code into the gun safe, then removed Aaron’s loaded rifle.
She had a right to defend her home.
The emergency operator came on the phone line and she quickly reported her address and the intrusion. When the operator asked for details, Melanie lost patience. “Just wake up Sheriff Chambers and tell him to get out to Opal Ranch fast.”
She turned off the phone and tossed it onto the sofa before she cocked the rifle and returned to the front door.
“Momma!” Anne screamed as she came running down the hall, her eyes wide with fear.
“Stay back, sweetheart,” Melanie ordered. “There’s glass all over the floor. I want you to stay right there until I find out what’s going on, okay?”
“Okay.” Anne’s voice quivered as she cowered beside the wall in her thin nightgown.
Anger flared anew as Melanie thought of her little girl being awakened in the middle of the night to a bunch of hooligans egging their house. She flipped on the porch light and the tall mercury vapor lights before she jerked open the front door. The lights bathed the yard in blue, but clearly outlined the five culprits. Two of the vandals were big and tall, their body size unmistakable. Melanie thought they must be Ryan and Luke Donaldson. Without being able to see their faces clearly, she couldn’t be sure of their identities.
“Let’s get outta here,” a boy yelled.
Melanie stepped outside amid a mass retreat.
“Come on! Get in,” one of the drivers called to his friends.
Lifting the rifle, Melanie fired into the air. The boys let out a screech of fear. Good! Maybe they’d think twice before causing trouble at Opal Ranch again.
Tires squealed, shooting up rocks. Boys jumped into the backs of the two trucks as their drivers sped toward the main road. Melanie squinted her eyes, studying the license plate number on one vehicle, repeating it over and over again so she wouldn’t forget it.
She had them now. She was not about to stand for these shenanigans.
After the boys left, Melanie wrote down the license plate number and kept the rifle near as she went to comfort Anne. Sitting on the floor in the hallway, she held her trembling girl close.
“Wh-what did they want? Wi-will they come back?” Anne sobbed.
“Shh, no, sweetheart. I think they’re gone. The police will be here soon. Don’t cry now. Where’s my big girl?”
Anne hiccupped and wiped her eyes. “I’m right here, Mom. But I didn’t like that.”
“Neither did I.”
It took twenty minutes to calm Anne down. Then, Melanie turned on every light in the house and they both got dressed. Melanie stepped out on the back porch and whistled for Bob. The dog didn’t come to her, but she didn’t dare leave her house to go and look for the animal. She prayed that he was okay. They had gotten the sheepdog as a pup and Aaron had trained the animal. That had been in the early years of their marriage, before a bottle took precedence over everything else. Melanie sure wished Aaron were here right now, guarding and protecting them.
And then she thought about Scott Ennison. He would have taught those boys a lesson about terrorizing women and children in the middle of the night.
Anne retrieved the broom and dustpan to clean up the glass, but Melanie shook her head. “Not yet, sweetie. We need to wait for the sheriff. He’ll want to see the evidence.”
“What’s this?” Anne picked up the rock and handed it to Melanie.
“That’s the rock that broke our picture window. There’s a note attached.” A piece of white paper had been folded and attached with a rubber band. Melanie pulled the paper free and opened it. It read:
Stop tending the ranger’s brat or you’ll be sorry.
“What does it say?”
Melanie folded the paper and tucked it inside her pants pocket. “Nothing for you to worry about. Why don’t you get us both a jacket from the coat closet? The night’s a bit chilly.”
Actually it was quite warm outside, but nerves and fear had made both her and Anne shake uncontrollably. Maybe a jacket would help.
Anne gave her mom a quizzical look, but did as she was asked. Melanie wanted to distract her daughter. It would do no good to frighten Anne even more by revealing the contents of the note.
It took the police forty minutes to arrive. Sitting in her living room with Anne cuddled close to her side, Melanie related everything that had happened that night. She handed the note and license plate number to Sheriff Chambers, the only law enforcement officer in Snyderville.
“The note was attached to the rock they threw through my window.”
Sheriff Chambers scanned the message, looking stern. Thank goodness he was neither a rancher nor a ranger. He had a reputation for being honest and fair and she was counting on him to put a stop to what happened tonight. She never wanted a repeat performance.
She explained her identification of the two Donaldson boys.
“You’re sure it was them?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t see their faces clearly, but very few people around here are that size.”
“The license plate number will tell us a lot. I’ll look into it. I can accompany you into town if you’d like to stay there tonight.”
“I’m not leaving my home. I doubt they’ll come back. Not now that they know I have a rifle.”
The sheriff glanced at Anne, seeming cautious of his words so he didn’t further upset the girl. “This could have been very serious, if it had gotten out of hand.”
“Yes,” Melanie agreed. “Someone needs to pay for the damages to my home.”
“With the description of the boys and the license plate number, it should be easy to track down the culprits. I’ll see that they pay for what they’ve done. Do you want to press charges?”
Melanie hesitated, remembering what Aaron had said about bullies. If she let it go this time, it might be worse the next time. She had to stand up to these bullies. “Yes.”
“Fair enough.”
He left and Melanie tucked Anne back into bed, then went to turn off the light.
“Don’t leave me, Mom.” The girl sat up, her eyes glimmering with panic.
“I won’t leave. Never, ever will I let anyone hurt you.” She lay beside Anne on the narrow bunk bed and held her until the girl fell asleep. She pulled the covers up over Anne’s shoulders and watched her for several minutes, adoring the girl with her eyes. How she loved Anne. How heartbroken she would be if anything bad happened to her little girl.