“If it’s on my birthday,” Scotty said, “we can have two cakes.”
“Figure it out and let us know,” Wes said. “Manny’s favoring his injured leg. And I want to get home and start the ball rolling on sending you info on the new program.” He opened the door and the two men went out.
Tandy’s cell phone rang. “It’s the sheriff,” she murmured. “Hello.”
“Ms. Graham, I’ll be charging Preston at ten a.m. with his bail hearing to follow. He’s fit to be tied that his lawyer can’t get here tonight. You don’t have to show up, but come if you want.”
“I won’t if it’s not required.”
“Don’t blame you. He’s mad as hell and positive he’ll get off. We’ll see if his attorney has him go before a judge or requests a jury trial. If a jury, you’ll all have to testify.”
“Tell him Wyatt Hunt’s not leaving. In fact, we’re getting married. So if he thinks he’ll have a woman, a boy and an old cowboy to push around, he’d better think again.”
“Boy, howdy, congratulations. I’m happy to tell him. Say, my missus is a justice of the peace. Her office is across the hall from where you get a marriage license.”
“That’s good to know. We haven’t set a date, but we want to be married at the ranch. I haven’t talked it over with Wyatt—however, I’m hoping there’s still a clearing in front of the old silver mine on the ranch, where my folks held their wedding.”
“Joyce would come there, I know. You two deserve to have what you want. This community hasn’t been very welcoming.”
“You can say that again.” Tandy thanked him, and they said their goodbyes.
“Scotty, you’ve yawned about three times in a row. Off to bed with you. Tomorrow you can ride along when we check the cattle.”
“Wyatt, too?”
“You bet,” he promised just as Tandy said it was up to him.
The boy hugged them both then called his dog and the two scurried down the hall.
“I heard Wes drive off a while ago. So, you’re really okay with me working part-time for Fish and Game? I want you to know it wasn’t on my radar before Wes spoke up here. Well, coming back from the barn after the sheriff loaded the box trap, he said he had something to send me. He never said what.”
Tandy set two fingers across Wyatt’s lips. Stretching up on tiptoes, she replaced her fingers with her lips, murmuring, “I love you.”
Wyatt lifted her clear off her feet. They kissed until both ran out of air. “If we keep this up I’ll never get out of here, and I should go unpack my stuff from my truck.”
Bending slightly backward he held her aloft until she giggled, grabbed his ears and said, “You nut. Put me down.”
He did, and she hugged him tight as they meandered to the door.
“Should we pick a date before I go? I think you can tell from sliding down my body that I’m for choosing one sooner rather than later.”
“You make me blush. But, yes, I felt you and I’m anxious for sooner, too.”
“When is Scotty’s birthday? As a kid I never had a party, or a cake that I recall. I think he needs to have his own special day.”
Stopping, Tandy ran both her hands up Wyatt’s chest. “His birthday is March 3. See, it’s thoughtful stuff like that that had me falling for you. People may say our decision to marry is sudden. I’m so comfortable around you I feel as if we’ve known each other decades.”
“I agree. Maybe because I admired your pictures and remember thinking how lucky your dad was to have a daughter who phoned him twice a week, no matter how far away you were.”
“Has it crossed your mind that he engineered this?”
“If he did I’m not complaining. How about St. Patrick’s Day? It stands for luck. It’s after Scotty’s birthday and far enough out to buy rings and get a license.”
“Three weeks isn’t much time to invite a few people and arrange food and drinks and all. But it’s better than April Fools’ Day.” Tandy laughed. “I’m good with us wearing matching green cowboy shirts and having a shamrock cake. Okay, we have a date. Go unpack and I’ll go online to see what I can find for decorations.”
Wyatt paused at the door. “Did I say I love you more than Scotty loves pizza?”
That had them both grinning. They kissed again and reluctantly broke apart when Scotty called for his mother to come turn off his bedroom light. She heard Wyatt whistling as he bounded off the porch. It was then she realized the last time her heart felt this full had been the day Scotty was born.
Chapter Eleven
Early the next morning Tandy rapped on Wyatt’s door. He opened it, coffee in one hand and a breakfast bar in the other. “Am I late?” He washed down his last bite.
“No. I came to see if you’d changed your mind overnight.”
“About applying to work part-time for Game and Fish? That’s up to you. Wes sent the reports. I could do the job unofficially around your schedule. Not that I want the wolves killing anyone’s stock. But taking care of your cattle comes first.”
“Ours. It’ll be our cattle and our ranch. Take the job. Try it for a year. By the way, Manny called. He’ll only stay on if he can take care of our horses. He wants to be useful. What do you think?”
“Let him. Here we can keep an eye on his health.”
“Exactly what I thought. We’re going to make our marriage work, aren’t we, Wyatt?”
“Definitely.” He kissed her. “Hey, do we have a minute? I’ll call Loki. I waited in case you’d like a word with Abby.”
Tandy stepped inside. “I left Scotty eating breakfast. But I’d love to know if they can come to the wedding.”
Wyatt took out his phone and punched in his friend’s number. “Loki, Wyatt. I’ve got news. Tandy and I are tying the knot on St. Paddy’s Day. Can you guys come? I need a best man and Tandy needs Abby.”
“Hot damn! Abby, Abby, come here,” Loki called loudly, and Wyatt put the phone on speakerphone so they could both hear.
“Hey, buddy. Abby says the timing couldn’t be better. That’s Parker’s spring break from school. Can you put Tandy on? Abby has clothing questions.”
Wyatt gave Tandy the phone and finished his coffee while the women chatted like old friends. He marveled at how his life had improved tenfold since being scared to death just one day ago over Scotty.
Tandy wound down the call and passed the phone back to Wyatt with a smile. “I guess you heard me offer them the house if they’ll keep Scotty so we can have a honeymoon of sorts here in the casita.”
“I knew you were brilliant. Hey, I’m ready to go check cattle anytime you are. Maybe we can knock off early, go to town to apply for a license and scout out rings.”
“Will people be nice do you think? The sheriff acted as if his wife won’t have any problem officiating.”
Wyatt stored his phone in a pocket and gathered Tandy in his arms. “We’re going to create our own powerful place of happiness. Do we care what others think?”
“No. I liked you saying I was fierce. We’ll show everyone we’re twice as fierce together.”
“You bet. Let’s go get Scotty and Mr. Bones and kick-start the day. Oh, another thing I need to do in town is buy a pickup. I handed in my resignation last night and asked Joe to send someone for the department vehicle. I’ll have to wait to hear from Wes about officially applying to work part-time for them.”
Tandy led the way outside. “It’s really happening. I confess, I woke up wondering if I’d dreamed everything.”
“It’s real. You said yes, so you’re gonna be stuck with me forever and a day.”
She slid her arm around his waist and he looped an arm over her shoulders. Scotty met them at the door with hugs for each.
Later, at the lease someone had left a note on the gate letting them know Preston
Hicks’s ranch hand had returned Tandy’s four heifers.
“I see his cows are still drinking your water. I know you told him you’d never let his herd die of thirst. It’s big of you. I could remove the blockage at the headwaters, but that would have us stoop to his level.”
Tandy shook her head. “All’s well here. Let’s go clean up and take care of business in town. Maybe we’ll learn how Preston’s hearing went.”
* * *
THEY STARTED WITH hamburgers at a local café. They’d brought Scotty along, and after lunch, they went to the jewelry store and chose wedding bands. They didn’t have to seek out Joyce Anderson. She apparently was on the lookout for when they filed the applications for their wedding license.
“Doug said you two are planning to have the service in front of the defunct silver mine. I’d love to do your ceremony. Here’s a brochure on cost and what I provide.”
Tandy and Wyatt scanned the bifold page, nodded to each other, and Tandy said, “You’re hired. Is three o’clock good? There won’t be a lot of guests, and we’ll have a small reception afterward at the house.”
The woman took out her phone and set the date in her calendar. “Number of guests doesn’t matter to me. We’ll be in touch,” she said as her phone rang and she excused herself to answer it.
Wyatt bought a used pickup and drove home behind Tandy. She veered off on a fire road and he almost missed the turn.
When she stopped on a promontory overlooking the ranch and barn below, he realized she’d brought him to see the site of their wedding. “This is ideal,” he said, swinging Scotty up on one shoulder.
“I’m so glad you like it. It’s sentimental for me.”
“I actually recall seeing it as the backdrop in your folks’ wedding photos. Put a photographer on our list. I want to send my parents pictures.”
“You aren’t inviting them?”
“They’re excavating Aztec ruins. For them, nothing takes precedence.”
“That’s sad.” Tandy kissed him. “Now I understand where your tendency toward living your job came from.”
“I’ve seen the light thanks to you two.” He jiggled Scotty and returned Tandy’s kiss.
Leaving there, they drove on to the ranch.
Wyatt parked. “I’ll check on Manny,” he called from the man’s porch.
“Invite him to the house for supper.”
“Mama, Wyatt!” Scotty’s scream had Wyatt wheeling and bounding off Manny’s porch.
“Pickups, lots of ’em,” Scotty hollered, pointing at a number of trucks rolling toward them. The two leaders braked suddenly when Wyatt charged across the road.
Tandy hoisted the boy and Mr. Bones, who danced around barking nonstop. She made her way over to Wyatt and slid a trembling arm around his waist. “What do you suppose...” She never finished the sentence because ranchers and some women surged out of the vehicles.
Wyatt recognized Rollie Jefferies and so he moved even closer to Tandy. He noticed, too, Manny step out of his casita holding a double-barreled shotgun.
A fortyish man—and Wyatt heard Tandy murmur, “Stew Darnell”—swept off a high-crowned hat. He addressed Manny. “Drop the blunderbuss, Vasquez. We’re here on a peace mission.”
Hearing that, Wyatt’s spine relaxed.
Rollie stepped forward, his arm circling a sturdy, attractive woman. He also doffed his Stetson. “We’ve come to apologize for Preston and ourselves. Pres’s lawyer called association members trying to drum up bail for his client. We weren’t surprised to hear Pres was land and cattle rich, but cash poor. We didn’t realize he was such a jackass.” The man winced when the woman beside him jabbed him with her elbow.
“Sorry. He had us all buffaloed. When you asked about hybrids, Hunt, I knew Pres had bought two. He said to track your wolves. Until I spoke to Doug Anderson, I had no idea one of his wolf dogs had killed my cow.”
A man farther back said, “We didn’t know Pres needed your ranch for the lease so he could tap Cedar Creek to water his herd, either.”
“Yeah,” Stew Darnell added, “we’re ashamed how he treated you, Ms. Tandy. Ashamed we let him lead us like a bunch of dumb sheep.”
The woman standing by Rollie spoke up. “Joyce Anderson said you two are getting married next month. I’m Sue Jefferies, Rollie’s wife. I own the bakery in town. Please let me provide a free wedding cake. It won’t make up for what our foolish husbands did, but maybe it’ll show a measure of good will.”
“And if you need barbecue for guests,” a second jeans-clad woman said, dragging another rancher forward, “my husband, Roy Wilkerson, smokes the best brisket around. I feel thrice guilty for telling him the wildlife biologist had rented a cabin from you. Roy blabbed to Preston so he needs to atone by feeding your wedding guests. We wives will bring side dishes to prove we’re not all terrible folks.”
“My problems have all been with Preston,” Tandy said. “In spite of all he’s done, I’m sorry the mining company took his stream.”
“Yeah,” Darnell said, “the sheriff told us you would’ve shared your creek. It’s time Pres retires. His wife’s been after him to quit ranching and move to Kansas near their son. We’ve offered to buy and split up his cattle if his attorney gets him out.”
Rollie added, “We know the mining company will buy his house and land.”
Wyatt finally got Mr. Bones to quiet to an occasional low woof. He shifted his gaze to Tandy when she kneaded his waist, asking, “What do you think?”
“Entirely up to you, sweetheart. They sound sincere.”
“We want to be part of this community,” she said, raising her voice. “We also want us all to coexist with repatriated Mexican gray wolves. Wyatt will help that happen if he can. But Preston’s hybrids have to go back to Sonora where he bought them.”
There was a chorus of acceptances and smiles all around.
“Mama, I don’t think they’re gonna be bad anymore,” Scotty whispered loudly enough to garner chuckles.
Manny limped across to join Wyatt and Tandy, without his shotgun. “Your pa got along until Hicks hounded him to sell the ranch. If he moves I bet life settles down.”
“In that case, our wedding is at three o’clock on St. Patrick’s Day. I’d like a green shamrock-styled wedding cake. You’re all invited,” Tandy announced. “We’ll look forward to feeding guests with Roy’s brisket and all your side dishes. The ceremony will be at the silver mine. Let’s have the reception here at the ranch.”
The men filed past to shake Wyatt’s hand. The women lined up to hug Tandy. All spoke to Scotty. Some noted having grandchildren he’d see when he started school.
After everyone left, Wyatt got the attention of his soon-to-be family. “Does anyone else think this is reason to celebrate? How about we go to town, order pizza, and instead of take-and-bake, sit inside and eat among our new community friends?”
Scotty punched the air. “Maybe the guy who makes those yummy pizzas will fix some for our wedding. Can we ask?”
Tandy rolled her eyes, but Wyatt and Manny both said, “Why not?”
* * *
A WEEK AFTER the town’s surprise visit, the sheriff phoned Tandy. “Preston opted for a trial by judge. He can’t believe no one in the association will back him. Violet and their son have talked him into selling if he gets off with time served. He’s much subdued. Even asked if I’d tell you how sorry he is.”
“I’m willing to let bygones be. Will he follow through?”
“Yes. See you at the wedding.”
Tandy was in the middle of catching Wyatt up on the sheriff’s news when Sue Jefferies came to the door.
“Hi, folks. I’ve brought a book of possible shamrock cakes. By the way, these are my grandsons Trevor and Sam. I thought they could meet Scotty and play while we make cake decisions.”
Scotty heard. He greeted the boys and asked if they wanted to help him build a Lego city.
“That was easy,” Wyatt said. “I’ll make coffee if you ladies dig into that book. Whatever you pick is fine with me, Tandy.” He lowered his voice. “Maybe you can order Scotty’s birthday cake. He wants one with a wolf on it if that’s possible.”
“My decorator can do about anything. Are you having a party?”
“We haven’t had anyone to invite, unless your grandsons might be talked into pizza. Scotty eats it too often, but the other night he saw their party room with balloons and it’s all he can talk about. March 3. We booked the room for an hour at five o’clock, figuring it’d only be us and Manny.”
“The boys love pizza parties. I’m sure Toni Haskell’s great-grandson, Rory, would go. He’ll be six in July. Trevor, Rory and Scotty will all start first grade together.”
“That sounds great. This is exactly what I’d hoped for us when we moved back here. Of course I never dreamed I’d be getting married. Sue, all of these cakes look marvelous.”
Wyatt brought in a tray with mugs of coffee.
“What do you think of this one shaped like a shamrock, babe?” Tandy pointed to one with writing in the middle. “I thought our names and the date.”
Smiling, Wyatt said, “If you like it, so do I.”
Sue glanced at them. “With most of the community attending, you’d need three of these to feed about a hundred people.”
Tandy’s mouth dropped. “That many?”
Wyatt set a hand on her shoulder. “You still think we should wear jeans, boots and matching green shirts?”
“I do. It’s at the mine. Our reception’s a barbecue. We booked a four-piece hoedown band.” She snagged his hand and pressed a kiss in his palm.
Sue beamed. “I hear you contacted my daughter-in-law as your photographer. She’s excellent if I do brag a bit.”
“We loved the samples of her work. It’s really all coming together,” Tandy said in wonderment.
They made the final arrangements. Scotty was ecstatic to learn his party would be first and the boys would be his guests.
Marrying the Rancher Page 17