by Gloria Doty
She continued talking, “He was a great cowboy in his day. He never drank a drop of alcohol but he smoked like a chimney. I remember helping him roll his own cigarettes many times. He was a three-pack a day man. In his defense, no one knew it was as dangerous as we know now. That’s what finally caught up with him. He was diagnosed with lung cancer. They removed the tumor and treated him. It never reoccurred, but he has COPD and is on oxygen all the time. He has a great attitude and is quite active for someone who has trouble breathing.”
She stopped and looked at Jace. “I apologize for talking non-stop. I am never this chatty. You must be an easy person to talk to. I won’t say another word, I promise.”
“Please don’t think a thing of it. I’m enjoying getting to know you. You can talk all the way if you want to.” He sincerely meant those words. She was like a breath of fresh air…no games and no pretenses.
“Oh no. It’s your turn. Tell me something about your life. I’m pretty sure you didn’t have to pretend to be a girl to get a job.” They both laughed at that statement.
“No, that I didn’t have to do. We do have some things in common, though. I grew up without a mom also. Mine didn’t die…she left me and my dad to run off with some other guy. Sounds like a bad soap opera, doesn’t it?”
“Have you ever seen her again?”
“One time, at a rodeo in New Mexico. She must have seen my name on the program and she came to talk to me. It was awkward…what do you say? Hi, Mom, it was nice of you to take off and leave me like you did.”
“I’m sorry, Jace. Maybe it would’ve been better if she had just left it alone.”
“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know the answer to that. She tried to explain her reasons for what she did but it was too little, too late, y’know?”
Dani was quiet for several miles, then asked, “Have you forgiven her, Jace?”
He thought maybe he didn’t hear her correctly. Then he realized he did and didn’t know what to answer. Was he trapped in this truck for two days with a Bible-thumping woman? Surely if there was a God, he wouldn’t do that to him.
CHAPTER 14
CAMILLE OPENED ONE eye and realized she had slept way past her usual ‘wake-up’ time. The sun shining in the window was almost blinding or maybe she was still asleep and dreaming or maybe she died and this was the ‘light’ people talked about seeing in near-death experiences. She closed her eyes and tried again. Nope, it was still shining in the window and making splashes of light across the bed and she was fairly certain she wasn’t dead. Where was she? Sunlight wasn’t this brilliant nor did it shine in her bedroom windows in her townhouse.
She laid her head back on the pillow and focused. Suddenly it all came back to her. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and went to the window. The scene splayed out before her was breathtaking. The sun reflecting off the mountains and the trees was a scene most people could only see in movies.
‘Well, Camille, you’re not in Kansas anymore. Or rather, Emily, you’re not in Missouri any longer.’
After drinking in as much natural beauty as she could stand, she made her way to the kitchen. Rummaging around in the cupboards, she found an unopened and apparently recently purchased, container of coffee. She had not taken the time yesterday when she arrived to find a grocery, so this could only mean Collier had stocked her cupboards with a few essentials before she got there.
‘Hmmm, handyman, landscaper, grocery shopper…I wonder how old he is and what else he’s good at accomplishing,’ she mused. ‘I also wonder if he’s on a dating site and if so, which one? Maybe he could be my first encounter to write about. That’s an intriguing thought.’ She stopped that train before it left the station. ‘Camille, slow down. He might be married and have six kids for all you know…although he wasn’t wearing a wedding band.’
At that precise moment, the doorbell chimed, once again causing her to jump. That caused spilled coffee down the front of her nightshirt. ‘Damn! What time do people come calling in this town for heaven’s sake? And who even knows there’s someone at this house?’
She’d parked her car in the garage last night hoping to gain a bit of time before anyone knew her mother’s house had an inhabitant. Right now, she walked to the door and opened it just a crack. She was surprised a house this size didn’t have a peephole in the front door. The smiling face on the other side was of course, Collier’s. She proceeded to open the door all the way so he and the bag he was carrying could make it inside.
“Hey. Sorry to bother you again, but I thought maybe you’d want a few groceries since you didn’t leave to get any last night. It’s not much…some fruit and veggies and tea, in case you weren’t a coffee drinker.” His smile was even more dazzling than it had been yesterday, if that was even possible.
‘What was it about this man that made her lose her ability to articulate any complete sentences? Good grief!’
“Thank you. I do appreciate it. Fruit and veggies sound wonderful, actually. And the can of coffee was a nice gesture. I needed it this morning.”
He laughed and said, “You’re going to need another cup. Looks like you’re wearing half of that one.” His eyes were on the wet spot that was causing her night shirt to cling to her breast in a most conspicuous manner.
She felt the color rise in her cheeks and nodded. “Yes, I am and it’s your fault for ringing the doorbell before a person has time to get dressed. Would you like a cup?”
“I really should get to my first job this morning but what the heck…sure, I’ll join you.”
“Unless you brought milk or creamer with you, I hope you like it black.”
“I wouldn’t be able to drink it any other way but there is a small carton of milk in that bag,” he said as he jerked his thumb toward the bag on the counter. “And a half dozen eggs. I was trying to cover all the bases,” he laughed.
“Are you always this attentive to newcomers?”
“Truthfully? No. But Barbara is a good customer and asked me to make sure you were comfortable and had everything you needed.”
Camille’s face must have registered her shock at that statement. “Really? I find that a bit hard to believe.”
“Why? I’ve only met her a few times when she first bought the place. Then she left for Paris and I’ve never seen her again, with the exception of a few weeks at Christmas a year or two ago. She faithfully sends a check every month just to make sure everything is taken care of here. Seems like a nice enough person to me.”
Camille shrugged her shoulders. “Okay…it’s not the Barbara I know but I’m glad she has you to take care of things.” She felt as though she needed to add an explanation of some sort so she continued, “My mother and I have not had a good relationship or really any kind of relationship since I crossed her and didn’t do what she wanted when I was in my early twenties.”
“That’s a long time to not speak to a parent, isn’t it? Never mind,” he quickly added. “It’s none of my business. I’m happy you’re here and the house has some life in it again. It makes me sad when I come in to check on things and it seems so lonesome here. It’s not good for a property to set empty. I asked her once why she didn’t sell it but she was evasive so I knew she had her reasons, obviously.”
Collier drained his coffee cup and took it to the sink. “I have to go and I’m sure you have things to do, also, Camille.”
She retrieved her purse from the chair she hung it on last night and opened her billfold. “How much do I owe you for the groceries?” she asked.
“Not a thing,” he told her, waving it off. “Consider it my welcoming gift.”
As he climbed into his truck, he wondered who Emily Hasbro was. Camille’s driver’s license, which he couldn’t help but see when she opened her billfold, had the name Emily Hasbro on it and not Camille Desmond. He couldn’t see the picture, but he was sure that was the name he saw.
CHAPTER 15
THE MILES SLIPPED by as the two travelers sped down the interstate, stopping only for
lunch and to switch drivers. Jace was prepared to be nervous about allowing Dani to drive his truck. It was one of his possessions that was paid for. His fears were unfounded as she handled the driving effortlessly.
Since it was nearly 650 miles to Loveland, they planned on driving all day and into the early evening. The person that wasn’t driving was trying to sleep. They had no mechanical trouble but did encounter a few traffic jams and a lengthy construction area which caused them to arrive later than anticipated.
The Frasier rig was in the designated parking lot when they pulled in.
As Dani climbed out of the driver’s side, Lucy came to her with outstretched arms and wrapped her in a big hug. “Oh, Honey, I’m so happy to see you.”
Cal hugged her, too and then proceeded to shake hands with Jace, who was slowly waking up. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Jace…face to face.”
“Yes Sir, it is,” was his groggy response.
“Well, come on up to our hotel room and get the dust washed off.” Lucy invited. “Then we’re going to take y’all to a nice place for dinner.”
Dani went to the room to try to make herself presentable if they were going out to eat. She hadn’t expected to be going anywhere but in retrospect, she should have known better. Cal and Lucy would never allow her and Jace to turn around and immediately head back. It wasn’t in their nature.
The two men looked at Jasper. “He’s a good-looking piece of horseflesh, Jace and I’m happy to take him home with us. It’s obvious you take excellent care of your animals. You won’t have to worry about him. I give you my word he will have a home on our ranch until he dies.”
Jace was nearly in tears. “I know he will and I thank you for that. I will miss him so,” he said quietly.
Cal put his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “It’s hard when you have to part ways with a horse that’s been your best friend. I know the day is coming when my horse, Cutter, and I won’t be together anymore; either due to his death or mine,” he said softly. Then he turned and smiling again, said, “Let’s get these two horses switched so they’ll be ready to travel in the morning.”
When Dani joined them, Jace observed she looked like she was just starting her day instead of like someone who had been riding in a truck for twelve hours.
“Okay, it’s your turn to try to wash off the horsey smell,” she told Jace.
“Don’t scrub too hard,” Lucy interjected. “There’s nothing better than that horsey smell.”
Dani stepped up into the horse trailer. She clasped her hand over her mouth when she saw the mare that was going home with her. “Oh my,” was all she could say as she ran her hands over the horse’s side and down her rump. She moved to her head and whispered to her, “You’re beautiful. I can’t even describe just how beautiful you are.”
Dani stayed with her until one of the others said they were going to eat with or without her. She wouldn’t have cared but her stomach was complaining.
They laughed and told stories during dinner at a local BBQ restaurant, with Lucy giving a blow-by-blow description of the time the bull had two of their grandsons cornered in a pasture. “Dani was an integral part of their rescue,” she bragged.
Jace smiled at Dani. “I’m impressed. Was this before they knew you were a girl or after?” he teased.
Jace described The Branding Iron for them but omitted the part about the looming possibility he might have to sell it soon. He had trouble admitting that fact to himself, let alone telling it to people he hardly knew.
As they ate their dessert, Cal cleared his throat and became serious. “Lucy and I have a big favor to ask and it concerns both of you. We are planning a trip to the West Coast…Washington, specifically…and want to know if our grandson, Luke, could stay with you, Dani, for a few weeks. And Jace, even though we understand it’s been a while since you were riding the rodeo circuit, we’re asking you to show him some of the positives and maybe more of the negatives of making that his life’s vocation.”
Dani immediately nodded and was smiling from ear to ear. “I would love to have Luke stay. Dad would enjoy his company, too. Of course, the answer is yes.”
Jace hesitated. “I guess I don’t know exactly what you want me to tell him or show him. Do you want him to be a rodeo man or not?”
Cal and Lucy exchanged glances. “His parents are not exactly thrilled about his choice. He’s still young but he’s talked of nothing else since he was old enough to talk. I guess we’re asking you to just be truthful with him. Describe the dangers without totally obliterating his dreams. Is that possible?”
Jace shrugged, “I’ll give it my best shot. Maybe after I show him my scars, he won’t need any other persuasion.”
“Great. It’s a deal. Thank you both. The plan is to drop him off on our way to Washington. We’ll fly to Montana and drop Luke with you, Dani. Then we’ll drive the rest of the way to Washington. This is a serious business trip but we’re going to mix in a bit of pleasure too. A country-western band we enjoy is going to be playing at a music festival in Seattle and we plan on being in the crowd one night. On their website, they have the dates and locations they’ll be playing on their way back home so we may follow them back as far as Montana when we pick Luke up again.”
Jace laughed. “So you two are groupies?”
“Yep,” Lucy agreed. “We are Texas groupies for an Indiana band. I bet that doesn’t happen often.”
Before they left, Lucy told them, “I reserved two rooms for y’all. You can’t drive safely when you’re exhausted. Get a good night’s sleep and leave in the early morning.”
They both protested but to no avail.
“This mare you can’t use because of her bloodlines,” Dani said pointedly to Cal, “does she have a name?”
“Her registered name is Stargazer but we’ve shortened it to Star.”
After a moment she added, “You know I don’t believe that story about the bloodlines for a minute, don’t you?”
“What?!?” Cal feigned surprise. “You don’t believe me?”
Dani laughed at his expression. “No, I don’t but I’ll pretend I do. I’m eternally grateful to you and Lucy and Ben.” The tears welled up in her eyes. “I’ll never be able to repay you for this kindness.”
***
When Cal and Lucy were alone, she said, “You know, Honey…I was watching those two. They’re both tender hearted people, they love horses and they’re both very hard workers, obviously…”
She was cut off in mid-sentence. “Lucy, don’t even get started. We don’t know much about Jace and we’re not in the matchmaking business, ok?”
She smiled at him. “Okay, Calvin, but don’t be surprised if one day they decide they’re interested in each other. And y’know, with taking care of Luke for two weeks, they’ll be thrown together a lot.”
He shook his head and put his arm around her. “Go to sleep, my Love. We have an early breakfast, then a wedding to attend and then a long trip back to Texas.”
CHAPTER 16
THE FOUR OF them met for breakfast early the next morning. They discussed the possibility of taking an alternative route home to avoid the one traffic snarl they had run into the previous day.
“It really was the only traffic-related problem we had. There’s some heavy and continuous construction in one area and it becomes a ‘parking lot’ very quickly. It wasn’t good for Jasper to be in the heat with no breeze coming into the trailer when we were not moving for so long,” Jace explained. “I certainly don’t want to have Dani’s new mare in the same situation today.”
Cal and Jace pored over the route and chose what appeared to be a way around the construction. “You should be okay,” Cal told him. “You’ll be on two-lane highways for a while…maybe even a few hours. You’ll go through some smaller towns but that’s called the ‘scenic route’ and occasionally, it’s nice to see some countryside instead of whizzing by at seventy miles an hour. You’re starting this trek early enough that you should be home in
the early evening, even with the slower pace.”
“One more cup of coffee and then we’re out of here,” Dani stated.
“No more for me,” Lucy told the waitress as she placed her hand over the top of her cup. “I plan on going back to the room and sleeping for a few more hours…if you’re going to join me, Cal.”
He shook his head and smiled, “See what I have to put up with?” he said to no one in particular.
“I wish I had someone who cared that much for me,” Jace said. Then he realized how it sounded and his face turned red immediately. “I didn’t mean that the way it came out of my mouth, exactly.”
Lucy asked if he was married or ever had been. Cal nudged her knee under the table.
“You’ll have to forgive my wife, Jace. Subtlety isn’t one of her strong suits.”
She raised an eyebrow. “What? It was a simple question.”
Jace shook his head as he answered. “It’s quite alright and the answer is no, I have not been married. In the beginning, the rodeo was my life with no time for anything or anyone. After I could no longer pursue that, I changed my lifestyle, bought The Branding Iron and made a lucrative living being a guide for hunters and tourists. The old injuries came back to haunt me and I had to give that up, too. There’s never been time for a woman in my life, I guess.”
“Well, it sounds like it’s a good thing you have the bar and restaurant to keep you going but it also sounds to me like now you might have the time for a woman in your life,” Lucy commented.
Jace took a deep breath and continued, “I don’t know about that. The bar situation might change in the near future, but that story would keep us here until lunchtime, so I’ll just leave it there.”
“For what it’s worth, my friend, you should do two things: pray about any and all situations and find a good woman…” Cal wrapped his arms around Lucy and kissed her quickly. “The right one will make everything in your life seem better. I’m speaking from experience.”