Wild Yellow Clover and Honey Wheat Sage

by Freda, Paula

  In looks, Cal had taken after his father — Sandy colored hair, grey-green eyes, rugged, earthy features, and a thick base voice that bordered on the gravelly. All the Driscolls were tall, but in contrast, Cal's two siblings had inherited their mother's sky blue eyes and graceful lines, wavy chestnut brown hair, and attractive, well aligned features. Tom was handsome. Lexie beautiful.

  "Macey, are you okay with it?" Cal repeated.

  "Yes, I'm fine with it. When can I leave?"

  CHAPTER THREE

  One week to the day, wearing her loveliest frock under her taupe fall coat, Macy, with Cal seated beside her, landed safely at LaGuardia Airport. Macey had to admit how spiffy Cal looked in the black western styled overcoat. The coat's length accented his tall stature, and the stitched yoke at the shoulders, outlined their width. She had never considered Cal bad looking. It-it was just that he lacked that certain Grecian quality of face, body and mind that made all the difference to her. The black ten-gallon hat he habitually wore didn't help. She'd always thought it old-fashioned and out of date.

  This was her first time visiting New York, and it showed in her barely able to sit still through the entire flight and the cab ride to the Nelsons' uptown apartment. Cal endured her excitement with quiet aplomb. He answered her question after question as she turned her head from side to side to view the streets of Manhattan through the cab's windows. She didn't wonder about his lack of excitement. Cal had visited New York on several occasions, especially the Catskills where his wealthy grandparents lived on their large estate. He often spoke of them highly and with much love.

  "We're here," Cal said, as the cabbie slowed to a stop in front of a luxury hi-rise apartment building. "Don't forget your bag."

  Macey slipped her arm into the shoulder strap of her carry-on bag and jumped out of the cab unto the sidewalk, her feet literally prancing like those of an excited child on her way to a toy store. She gazed wide-eyed at the double glass doors and up at the tall building, forgetful of the rows of people traversing up and down the sidewalk. She stood gazing up, one second too long, and right into the path of a quick moving gent in a business suit. Down she went with a yelp. A couple of buttons on her coat popped and the frilly skirt of her dress showed from under her coat.

  Cal had just finished paying the cab driver, and thanked him for taking the scenic route as requested. He heard her annoyed yelp, grabbed his own boarding bag and black ten-gallon hat, and quickly hurried from the cab. The man in the business suit was already helping her up. "You really should watch where you're going, Miss."

  He had a beautiful smile, Macey thought. And he was tall and sleek in his dark business suit. "I'm so sorry, it was my fault," she quickly admitted. "I'm new to the city. It's my first time."

  The gent eyed her inquiringly. "Refreshing," he said. "Instead of bawling me out, you're apologizing. May I ask your name? Are you here on your own?"

  Cal came up behind her. "No, my wife is here with me. We're visiting friends."

  Macey opened her mouth to vehemently deny she was Cal's wife. but a firmly placed hand at the back of her waist pushed her forward so she had all she could do to keep her balance.

  "Thank you for your help," Cal threw over his shoulder as he propelled Macey through the entrance into the building's lobby.

  Straightening herself to her full petite stature, Macey glared up at Cal. "How dare you!" she yelled.

  "Didn't you see the way he was looking at you?" Cal replied.

  Not sure if she was angry at his calm self-assertiveness, or at the fact that he'd just interfered with her free will, she answered heatedly, "He was only being polite. Nothing like the lying ruffian behind me!"

  "Yes, of course he was," Cal replied impatiently. "Especially after you told him you just arrived in town and were completely on your own."

  “I never told him I was on my own.”

  “Not in so many words,” he said.

  “Besides, what's that got to do with it!" she insisted.

  “Macey, don't you ever watch the news? This is a big city. There's lots of good folks in it, but there's also lots of the opposite. Haven't you ever heard of the sex trade, to put it delicately?"

  Macey sent him a disbelieving glare. "How stupid do you think I am? He was a gentleman. Just trying to be polite."

  "And he had a pretty face, and a nice smile," Cal told her. "Just the kind you enjoy falling for."

  Unexpectedly, Macey felt her face color red. He'd hit a nerve. She'd heard similar derogatory remarks, usually said with laughter behind her back. Her mouth trembled, and unwanted tears threatened to fill her eyes. She turned away, afraid to hear more, and noticed the uniformed door guard at the inside entrance to the luxury apartment house proper and the elevators. The guard stood calmly watching them, waiting, his cellphone in one hand, no doubt, Macey thought, readying to call in a disturbance in the lobby.

  The guard placed the tip of his free hand on the visor of his peaked cap. "Can I be of service," he asked politely.

  Trying to reassert herself, Macey asked, "We're here to see the Nelsons. They're expecting us."

  "Who may I say is here to see them?" the guard asked.

  "Tell them it's Macey."

  Cal added, "And Calvin Driscoll. We're Lexie's friends."

  Macey turned and scowled at Cal.

  He whispered in a placating tone, "They're more familiar with the Driscolls."

  Well, she thought, salving her pride, he has a point. She turned back to the guard. "Yeah ... what he said."

  CHAPTER FOUR

  JoAnn Nelson opened the door wide. "Hello, and welcome," she greeted Macey. "Come in, the both of you. My husband is freshening up and will join us shortly."

  "Hope we're not coming at an inconvenient time," Cal said, following Macey into the apartment's foyer. He took off his hat and held it at his side.

  "Not at all. Lexie called and told us the exact time your plane landed. Jim and I left the office early so we could have dinner ready."

  "That's very kind of you," Cal said.

  JoAnn turned to Macey. "So you are Linda and Tanner's daughter. I'm so pleased to meet you."

  Macey smiled a greeting, but it was difficult for her to hide her sudden shyness and discomfort. The surroundings were all new to her, as was the charming young woman who was temporarily entrusted with her care. She seemed nice enough. And she was lovely, her manner inviting. A few inches taller, she was blonde like her, hair pulled back and pinned into a french twist. Her eyes were dark blue and she had a slim figure that Macey already envied, JoAnn seemed not the least ill-used by Macey's planned stay in her home. Macey mustered the courage that had suddenly abandoned her and found her voice.

  "I'd like to thank you as well for having me here. I promise I'll be out of your hair as soon as I can settle in a residence of my own."

  "There's no rush, hon. We have a guest room and a den and they are all ready for you both. The luggage that your parents sent ahead of you, arrived yesterday." She addressed Cal. "One of the suitcases was yours."

  Cal nodded. "It was my mother's idea to send the luggage ahead; travel light, and avoid the hassle of claiming luggage.

  "Not at all a bad idea."

  Jim entered the foyer. Macey's heart skipped a beat. Wow, she thought. JoAnn had done well for herself.

  "Hello, Cal. Good to see you again. And this is Macey?"

  "Yeah, that's me," she said, eyes beaming with admiration. What kind of lawyer are you?" Macey asked. She ignored Cal's exasperated sigh.

  "Mostly cases for business firms." Jim said. He glanced at his wife and winked at her, adding with an affectionate smile ... and the occasional murder investigation."

  To be on such intimate terms with someone so desirable, Macey pined. Jim's wife was a lucky woman, indeed.

  JoAnn closed and locked the front door. "Come into the dining room and let's have dinner. I made a casserole of rice, chicken and veggies. And Apple Pie for dessert."

  "She's a great secretary
and a great cook," Jim praised." Again that glance at JoAnn and the affectionate smile, before he turned back to his guests. "I'll take your coats," Jim said. "Hang them up right here in the closet."

  Macey removed her coat and handed it to him. Cal did the same.

  "I'll put your boarding bags in here as well for the time being," Jim said.

  The foyer opened up into a spacious modern furnished living area. A breakfast aisle with high backed counter stools partially enclosed a medium-sized kitchen. To the sides, was the dining room with a mahogany china closet and buffet, and doors that led to the bathroom and bedrooms.

  The meal was delicious. Jim's words of praise for his wife were no attempt at flattery. The apple pie and coffee had them asking for seconds. Much of Macey's shyness evaporated as her excitement returned at the prospect of finally starting her own life on her terms. A job awaited her at Jim's firm, and JoAnn had already contacted the landlord about an affordable studio apartment in the same building for Macey.

  "I think you can go back home now and assure my parents I'm in safe hands," Macey told Cal, as they left the table.

  "I agree with you about the safe hands, but I think I'll hang around a bit longer. There are sites I'd like to revisit while I'm here."

  The grim expression on her face told him plainly that she guessed his real reason for hanging around, and it wasn't what she wanted to hear.

  "Sorry, sweets, but I did promise your father I'd keep an eye on you."

  "Until I'm settled."

  "Settled and on safe ground," Cal rephrased.

  "I am on safe ground."

  "In here you are. Out there, you're a small white pigeon in the midst of a pack of feral cats."

  Macey shuddered, not at the image which she gave no credence in relation to herself, but at the determined tone of his voice, its slightly gravelly quality reminding her of a lion's roar. Unwittingly, she fell back a step. The Nelsons were clearing the table, and she hoped they hadn't heard.

  She rallied her courage. "You keep thinking like everyone back home that I'm stupid and scatterbrained!"

  "You may be a bit scatterbrained, but you're not stupid! You're as smart as most of us. But maturity-wise, you have a lot of growing up to do."

  No matter what she said to him, he always had an answer, and one she could not deny had her well-being at its center. She had known Cal all her life. Even as a child he had a generous soul, and a kind disposition. But she was no stranger to his stubborn streak, much like her own. She'd seen him ride a bull, and tame a wild-spirited stallion, yet never hurt either animal.

  Still she asked, "So how long do you plan to stay?" Nose upturned, she waited for that answer.

  It came, and left her speechless.

  With all seriousness, he said, "Until you can judge the difference between a pretty face and a charitable heart." That might take forever, his expression said. "Or at least," he added, "until you find someone worthy of you."

  Macey felt the pit of her stomach constrict. She tried to think of those she considered her friends who would make such a statement. None came to mind. At that moment, instead of feeling oppressed and angry, she felt the opposite. Strangely protected and defended. Lord, she wished, if only Cal could light that spark in her.

  She turned away, tired, jet lag setting in.

  JoAnn noticed. "You two must be exhausted. Let me show you to your rooms. Tomorrow's another day."

  Gratefully, she followed JoAnn to the extra bedroom. Jim showed Cal to the den and the sofabed. Neither of them realized how truly mentally exhausted they were, until their heads hit the pillows and they both zonked out.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  An early riser, Cal woke with the first rays of sunshine. He allowed himself the luxury of nestling under the covers and imagining how he'd feel if Macey were in love with him. He realized of course, always had, that a girl as sweet and lovely as Macey could never fall for someone as plain and earthy as himself. True, not everyone saw her as lovely and sweet, but he'd always judged by what's inside a person, and their potential.

  He had loved Macey, it felt, forever. His first real memory of her was when the elementary school teachers had taken their classes for a Spring field trip. He was in the fifth grade. He chuckled at the memory of his chubby self and the small lasso he carried tied to his waist, mimicking his father whom he greatly loved and respected.

  The teachers had appointed the older children to chaperone the younger ones. Macey was in kindergarten. Let loose in a meadow of yellow and purple clover and grey-green sage, she had started running through the meadow further than allowed, even then spontaneous and carefree, resistant to rules and regulations. She was so petite, that all he could see as he tried to chase her down to bring her back, were her yellow curls dancing in the early morning breezes.

  By the time he'd caught up with her, he'd lost his sense of direction. Holding on tightly to her hand, he tried to find the way back. Macey was a "No" child — her father once told him that was the first word she uttered.

  Little Macey fought herself free. He caught up with her again, and afraid for her safety if he lost her, tied her to himself with his small lasso. He gave her enough slack to run a few feet ahead of him. But at least he was there for her if they ran into a wild cat, or a coyote, or a bear.

  After walking for over an hour, he realized they were hopelessly lost. He was still very young and hadn't yet learned the lay of the land. He sat down and decided to wait for the teachers that would come looking for him and Macey, the moment they realized they were missing. Macey protested, but she was too small and her fingers too little to untie the knot at her waist. She eventually gave up trying, and sat down crying, until a grasshopper climbing a tall blade of grass caught her interest. She forgot the lasso, and when the grasshopper moved on, she became aware of other insects. At length, already tired from the long walk, she came back to him, and studied him quizzically for a moment. He guessed she realized she wasn't going anywhere for the time being. She yawned tiredly, and when he innocently put his arm about her shoulders to comfort her, as his mom often did to him, she curled up in his arms and fell asleep. It was a memory he knew he would carry with him forever.

  The phone radio clock on the end table at the side of the sofabed rang, alerting Cal he'd dozed off for an hour. He shook off the drowsiness, reached over and picked up the receiver.

  "Cal, is that you?" the man's voice at the other end asked.

  "Yeah. Tanner?"

  "Sleepin' in?"

  "Jet lag," Cal replied. "I'm entitled," he quipped.

  "'Course, you are. Just checking to make sure you both got in safe."

  "Safe and sound," Cal said. The Nelsons have taken us both under their wing. Not to worry. I'm sure Macey will call you sometime today."

  "Not likely. She's not much for phone calls. Just let her know we called and spoke to you. She'll assume the rest."

  In the background, he heard Linda's voice, pleading, "Tell him, please to keep a close eye on her."

  "Don't worry, I'll make sure she stays out of trouble. The Nelsons already have a job lined up for her as a clerk in Jim's law firm. And they are looking into a studio apartment for her, in this building. They didn't tell her they were looking for me as well. We all thought it best not to mention that yet."

  Tanner laughed. "Best not be in the room with her when she finds out."

  "Look, I'm not here to stop her from settling on her own. Just want to make sure she stays out of trouble. This is New York City. There's a lot of good, but also a lot of bad. All Macey has ever known is our friendly home town. She has no idea what's out there for a sweet, naive, impetuous, beautiful young girl. I'm not leavin' until I see her on the right track, using her brain instead of her emotions."

  "Well, then, I guess you're in for a long haul."

  "However long it takes," Cal said. "My Dad has given me carte blanche to stay as long as I want."

  Tanner said, "I saw him yesterday in town. He told me Chris is taking
over for you until you return."

  "Yeah, he agreed to it, before I left. He's been hankering for the foreman's job. And with my mom and dad owning both the Triple R and the Bar LB, they're happy to have him on board, even after I return. With the number of cattle and horses increasing over the years, a foreman for each ranch makes more sense for better managing. Lexie couldn't be happier, and with the baby coming, Chris can certainly use the higher salary."

  "You got my vote, Cal, on all sides. Linda and I can't say enough to thank you for what you're doing for Macey."

  "Tanner, you've always known how I feel about her. Making sure she's all right comes natural to me, even if she doesn't care two winks about me. Sooner than later someone worthy of her will come along. Then I'll be off and leave her in his care. But not until I'm sure that she's in good hands, and content. I promise you that."

  He heard Tanner sigh with relief. "Okay, Cal. I'll leave you to it. God Bless you, both. Bye."

  Cal sat up in bed and hung up the phone, He had made great promises, but in all honesty, he wasn't sure how to proceed. There would be hell to pay when Macey found out he intended renting in the same building, and probably on the same floor with her so he could keep close tabs on her, especially when and who she dated. Well, he thought, climbing out of bed, he'd ford that river when he came to it.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Macey teetered on the edge of a steep butte. Below her, stretched a vast patchwork of desiccated plains. The sun burning in the sky had reached its apex, and the air rippled from the searing heat. She tried to see past the haze, further into the distance. Not one bush or a tangle of roots, or cactus, attempted to take root and grow. It was dead, no man's land under the scorching sun. She shivered, sweat dripping down her forehead. Everything was a blur and she was completely alone. She cried out Cal's name.