Kate looked stunned. “Why do you call her Little Lady?”
“Well, darlin’, because she’s — little.” Seeing Kate fluster, Blake didn’t joke, just told his story. “I contacted the owner of Lady Bug’s dam and sire. For years I tried to get him to sell Lady’s mom to me. He refused every price I offered. Finally, I convinced him to breed them again and to sell that foal to me. That’s one of the reasons I went to Alaska. I wanted the extra cash that I needed for her to be my own and not Grandpa’s. A filly was born about a year ago. Little Lady is her.”
“You bought a horse for me?”
“Yes, darlin’, I did.”
The rest of what Blake said sank in. Little Lady was hers. “Blake,” was all Kate could say, the tears were streaming so fast. She had so much to say, but nothing would come. Blake bought me a horse. Not just any horse — Lady Bug’s sister. Looking at the picture, Kate could see the same eyes, the same confident look.
“Can I see her?”
“Of course you can,” Blake answered elated. “Do you want to go now?”
“Yes.”
• • •
The drive to the ranch seemed touched with magic. The longer days of summer were coming and even with evening coming on the sun was still bright. The view of the prairie sage showing green and purple through the window on her side of the truck was spectacular. The Lazy J Ranch spread long and wide at the mountain’s feet seemed even more so. The sight of the wrought iron sign with its sideways J brand of the Spencer ranch, made her smile when she remembered Leona saying of it, “Oh, hell it just means that the old man’s lazy.”
“How is Leona?” Kate asked as Blake’s truck curved up the narrow winding dirt road to the home corrals.
“She’s doing fine. I think she conned Grandpa into lettin’ her buy a new pair of boots for your graduation tomorrow.”
“How many does that make?” Kate laughed. She’d seen Leona’s closet. Clothes were not the priority.
“One hundred and twelve.”
“Are you kidding?” Kate laughed again and noticed a small pair of gray ears poke up from the end corral as Blake turned off the truck. “Can I go? Can just I go?” she asked, so wanting to meet Little Lady on her own.
“Of course.” Blake walked around to open her door — But Kate was already gone. Happiness filled him as he saw Kate rush from the truck, but slow her walk to the corral as to not frighten the little horse.
“Hey, baby,” Kate’s voice was a whisper as she lifted the latch that held the gate to Little Lady’s pen. “Come see me. Oh, you are a pretty little thing with those eyes.”
The horse gave a tiny whinny as she walked to bow her head at Kate’s hands.
“Well, look at that. You act like you know me. Who told you about me?” Kate wrapped her arms around the small neck, breathing in the scent of horse. “My Little Lady Bug,” she crooned. “I love you already.” Her hands trembled as she held the little horse. Tears filled her eyes and dripped into the dust at her feet. For an instant she gave into the desire to dream about the years to come. About training this Little Lady to carry her around the rodeo barrels.
The cool wind that accompanied the setting sun brought Kate from her dreaming in time to watch the world turn to a brushed gold while the mountains misted with purple. She remembered her last ride with her Lady Bug, and the dreams she had once held. The future wouldn’t be the same without Lady Bug, but looking into the eyes of Lady’s sister, the dreams she used to have weren’t hard to believe in again.
CHAPTER 11
Graduation day dawned bright and clear to a knock at the apartment door.
“Leona, what are you doing here?” Kate opened the door to see the chipper little lady with fussed over gray hair and new red-and-black boots.
“I just came to help you get gussied up for your graduation. And from the looks of it, we had better get started.” Leona looked Kate over, taking in the hair that was still braided from the night before and the eyes that were puffy from being awake too long. “Up dreaming about that horse, were you?” Leona smiled.
“Yes. I guess a little.”
“A little my butt, now sit down right here and let’s get to work.” Leona left Kate to finish her breakfast while she clunked her new boots off to the bathroom to get all the supplies she needed for doing Kate’s hair. And to talk to Blake in the living room. “You get yourself on outta here and go check on those cows. This is a women’s day and you don’t need to be here for it.”
“Good morning, Grandma.” Blake winked at her from his seat on the couch.
“Well, you’re the charming cowboy this morning, aren’t you?” Leona patted his head. It wasn’t often she could reach it. She enjoyed being able to fool herself that for just a moment he was still her boy.
“Always, Grandma. Always.” Blake stood, towering over her — knowing even as he did so that there wasn’t a person in the world taller than Leona. She had too much personality to ever be mistaken for small. He grinned and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll see you in a while,” he told Kate as he walked through the kitchen. His mood was still light, so he kissed Kate’s cheek. When she didn’t flinch, he whistled all the way to the truck.
“Good morning, Leona,” called Ranae. “How are you? Did you get your boots?”
“Darn right I did and I’m fine.” Leona smiled at Kate whose hand was on her cheek, covering the spot of Blake’s kiss.
“How many pairs do you have now, Leona?” Ranae hollered.
“One hundred and twenty-four, and don’t tell Jack or I’ll skin ya both.”
“Oh my God. I thought Kate said you only had one hundred and twelve.” Ranae laughed.
“Well, that just goes to show you the men in that house don’t know how to count.”
Kate finally heard the conversation going on around her asked, “Where did you hide the other twelve pair, Leona?”
“Under the bed. Any housewife worth her salt knows her husband’s not going to be looking under the bed for anything. Those are old anyway. I don’t wear them much.”
“You almost have enough to wear a different pair every day of the year,” Kate declared.
“That’s the plan, Darlin’, that’s the plan.” Leona smiled. “Now quit distracting me. I’m trying to do your hair.”
“Thanks, Leona.”
“Don’t mention it. I may not do as good as your mama would, but I can curl as good as the next gal.” A tear slid down Kate’s cheek. Leona patted her arm. “Now don’t you go gettin’ all teary eyed. I’ve got sympathetic tear ducts and if you start, you’ll have me a bawling like a calf stuck in barb wire.”
“Okay. Sorry.” Kate sniffed. “It’s just that I really miss her today. I have a lot lately. We were like best friends. I remember sometimes mom would call in sick to work and we’d stay up all night watching movies and talking.”
“Have you told Maggie yet?” Leona asked.
“No.” Kate bowed her head.
“Don’t you think you ought to?”
“I’ve thought about it. Even talked to the girls about what to do, but I don’t think I can.” Kate wiped a tear away.
“You’re her little girl. She has a right to know, don’t you think?”
“Yeah … but I told her about Lady and that was hard enough. She’s spent I don’t know how many hours worrying about that. She’ll go crazy if — ”
“I know what you mean,” Leona interrupted. “I feel the same way and you’re only mine by proxy.”
For the next while, Leona coaxed Kate and Ranae to tell her stories about all the things they did in college and the memories they had of growing up. It made the morning go a little faster and it helped wipe away the lingering sadness. Before they knew it, Nichole and Erin had arrived and it was time to take pictures. Leona stayed to help.
>
“Now, girl, you just stand there in that pretty red dress and don’t sass me,” Leona scolded Erin. “This is like teachin’ a rattler to eat with a fork.”
“How many of these damn pictures do we have to take anyway?” Erin shot back.
“Well you have to have one of all of you together in several different poses and then you all have to have one with Kate individually and then one with Ranae individually and then — ”
“Ah, hell, I got it,” Erin said. And sighed. Big.
“I think we should all stand in the grass outside,” suggested Ranae.
“And what, get dog shit on your shoes. No,” Erin growled. Her patience was nearly gone.
“I think we should all stand by this mural of Ireland Kate has on the wall,” Nichole chimed in.
Kate looked at the view of the Cliffs of Moher that she’d found years before and wished she could take it with her when their lease was up.
“That’ll be great,” Ranae agreed and smiling, she stepped into place and put her arm around Kate.
The flashing of Kate’s camera began.
Finally all that was left was the graduation itself. Looking around the basketball court turned auditorium, Kate saw advertisements on the walls for the local bars — The Pub, Wranglers and the Pig. She saw other advertisements for law offices, restaurants, and coffee shops, all of which supported the college and sought recognition for their dollars.
Her mind wandered to the previous night. It was true what she’d told Leona about lying awake, dreaming about Little Lady, but now she was thinking more about what she and Blake had talked about when they’d gotten home from the ranch.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry,” Blake had told her.
“For what?”
He’d paused uncomfortably, then shrugged. “For all the things I never did. For not being there when you needed me the most.” Anger had filled his features.
Kate shivered. “What?”
“I should’ve been the one taking you to San Francisco. Maybe not on a private jet, but I could have. We can go anywhere in the world — ”
“Wait,” Kate interrupted waiving her hand. “I don’t want to do all that. I didn’t want that when I was doing it.” Tears stung eyes. All I ever wanted was you, she thought.
“I’m just sorry I wasn’t there.”
“You were when it was important.” Kate remembered pausing before she said, “Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Why’d you leave when Mom was in the hospital? You made sure that she got there safe, and that Nichole and I got there from the rodeo, but as soon as we did you left. Why?”
“Because I couldn’t stand to see you hurt.”
“I thought it was because you didn’t want me anymore, but earlier you said — ”
“That I didn’t want you?” Blake shook his head. “Nothing could be farther from the truth. I couldn’t stay because I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to help you or how to fix the problem.” He rubbed his face. “Your tears tore at me. Still do.”
“Then why are you here now?”
“Because I need to be. You need me to be. And,” he admitted wryly, “maybe I’ve grown up since the last time you saw me.”
“You know I never expected you to fix the problem. I just wanted you to be there with me.”
“I didn’t understand that then. I was … ” he hesitated, searching for the word “ … selfish and I’m sorry. I just figured it was about time you heard it out loud.” Again he paused.
“What?” Kate asked.
“Well, I was wondering if you’d let me hold you now? You know to sort of make up for all the times I didn’t.”
The request made her smile. “I guess that might be okay.”
Gently, Blake had pulled her into his lap and curled his arms around her. “Thank you, darlin’,” he whispered against her ear and smiled.
“Thank you, Blake.” Kate had rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Maybe everything will work out, Kate hoped.
Now, waiting to graduate, Kate thought of Blake in a way she hadn’t let herself since he’d walked out of her mother’s hospital room and left her alone. She opened her heart and the love she’d always felt for him was still there. It was small and faded, but with each breath she took it pulsed to life again. She could feel it travel through her body, creating warmth as it went. Excitement flared and raced through her. She closed her eyes and felt Blake’s hands on her face, his lips caress hers. She could see his easy, teasing grin. She could smell his strong body as he pressed it against her. She smiled.
From his spot in the stands, Blake watched Kate. He’d been watching her since he sat down. He smiled slightly when she hunched over in her seat to plant her elbows on her knees. She doesn’t even know she’s doing it, he thought. But then she sat up, tucked a stray hair behind her ear, folded her hands in her lap, and smiled.
He wanted to be the cause of that smile.
A big bang sounded through the gym. Both Kate and Blake jumped. Neither had noticed the commotion near the stage where the band was set up. The traditional drum “boom” caused the crowd to clap and whistle. The graduation ceremony had begun.
• • •
As soon as the ceremony was over, Leona headed for Blake.
“Blake, I need you.” Leona grabbed his shirt and yanked him around the corner behind a huge potted fern.
“Good to see you too, Grandma,” Blake teased.
“I know, sorry, but this is serious.”
“What’s going on?” Blake’s heart almost stopped. He had never seen his grandmother’s face look so pale. “Is Grandpa okay?” That would be the worst. Blake didn’t even want to think such a thing.
“Yes, now be quiet and listen. I found a red rose.”
“What?” The meaning quickly registered. Blake’s eyes hardened. “Where?”
“This morning after I took the pictures of the girls. I was leaving the apartment to go home and I found the rose on the sidewalk by the door. I didn’t know what to do. You and the girls were ready to leave. I just put the rose in the truck.”
“Was there a note?”
“I didn’t see one.”
“Did you tell Grandpa?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell Kate.”
“No, of course not today.”
“Not ever.”
“Don’t you think she should know?”
“Don’t you think she should know what?” Kate asked as she walked up.
“Oh, damn,” Leona said. “I didn’t want to spoil the surprise.”
“What surprise?” Kate smiled.
“Oh, nothing except, we have this great big cake and balloons and music and people and food. You know a party, for you and the girls.” Leona put her arm around Kate’s shoulder and led her away.
“Really? We were just going to — ”
“Nonsense. We have it all planned.”
Good cover, Grandma, Blake thought.
Leona looked back at him and gave him the you-do-it look.
Oh, hell. I guess I’d better call the ranch and have some food made. How in the world am I going to find a cake and balloons on graduation weekend in this town? Blake walked toward his truck, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
First things first, he thought grimly and called Aaron Barrs.
CHAPTER 12
Before the lease ended on Kate and Ranae’s basement apartment, Ranae had searched for a house to buy. She’d found a beautiful little white one-bedroom on the edge of town. Boxes of clothes and books and all the things Kate thought she would need in Oregon were packed and stacked in the corner of Ranae’s living room. Kate was sleeping on her couch. This was the last weekend she and the g
irls would share before Kate left for Oregon. They’d decided to spend some of it at the rodeo.
“Blake, will you just let me go first?” Kate asked. They were sitting in Blake’s truck parked behind the arena. “It’s early, but I want to — ”
“Go ahead, darlin’.” Understanding what she meant, what she needed — to feel the excitement and nervousness that every participant experienced before the rodeo’s start — Blake unlatched Kate’s seatbelt and squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right here if you need me.” He knew he had to let her go, give her back the independence that her attacker had taken from her, but all he wanted to do was call Chief Barrs again to verify that Luke wasn’t in the area. He’d talked to Barrs once a week since graduation and there was still no sign of Kate’s would-be killer/rapist or even how the rose had been delivered. That fact made Blake more worried than relieved. It felt like waiting for a rattler to strike.
On a grateful smile, Kate stepped out of the truck. She was greeted by rodeo sounds, sights and smells. All around her tack compartments slammed and horse trailer gates squeaked. The low hum of contestant voices filtered to her as they went through the motions of preparing for the rodeo. Cowboys warmed up roping arms or stretched in anticipation of the rough stock ride ahead. Some wore shirts that hadn’t been washed since the first time the cowboy had ridden to a win or close to one, hoping the luck would find them. In other areas, cowgirls warmed up their horses or glossed their mouths with lipstick or fastened on their lucky earrings. The whole affair, all the careful acts and routines, were rituals sacred to the doer.
“Getting their head right,” Kate whispered as her feet moved the first few steps. She remembered the green ribbon that was attached to her saddle horn. Her mom had tied it there herself. “For luck, for safety — for winning,” Maggie had said smiling.
Of all the rodeo grounds she knew from New Mexico to Kansas, from Wyoming, Montana to Utah, this one here in Colorado was her favorite. It was her hometown rodeo. It was where she’d carried her first flag. As rodeo queen, it was where she waved to the crowds for the first time. As a professional barrel racer, she’d made her first run in this dirt. It was good dirt, damp and heavy, sturdy enough to withstand the fury of horse hooves as they pounded around the barrels.
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