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Chapter 1
Late summer
Near Sweet Grove, Texas
Riel Shepard slowly drove into the yard of his grandfather's ranch, taking in the shape of the place. The rustling green leaves of the cottonwoods softened the look of the place. It was a little worn down than the last time he'd been here six years ago while on leave from the army, but he expected worse since his widowed grandfather, Russ Cooper, was seventy-eight years old and living alone.
Barn still needed painting, but then the century-old building had needed it as long as he could remember. He assumed it had been red at one time, but now the weathered wood only had a tint of the original color on it.
Corrals around the barn were updated to steel posts a decade or so, and the once white-painted posts needed a new coat of paint to cover the rust spots. Two chestnut horses stood in the shadow of the barn, swishing their tails at flies and watching Riel’s arrival.
The one-story limestone rock house with a porch running the long length of the home showed its age, but that would be understandable being it built shortly after the Civil War.
Half-whiskey barrels full of blooming red geraniums flanked each side of the front door. Huh. Riel didn't remember his grandparents ever having flowerpots on their porch before.
Riel's gaze caught a bouquet of red by the old bunkhouse too.
A pair of barking mixed breed dogs met Riel at his truck as soon as he pulled to a stop in front of the house. No way to sneak into this farmstead with these two watchdogs on patrol.
A shrill whistle from the barn stopped the dogs in their tracks, turning them to their owner for direction.
Riel stiffly climbed out of his truck, carefully easing his left foot to the ground to see if it would hold, or collapse underneath him. Maybe driving from central Kansas to central Texas without an overnight break was pushing it, but he wouldn't have slept much anyway. He’d pulled in and parked at the interstate rest stop a few hours down the road, just so he wouldn’t arrive here before dawn, but he watched traffic more than napping. He took a few tentative steps while holding on to the bed of the truck to get the kinks out. Maybe he had better use his hated cane after all.
Reil watched as the elderly man eased down the porch steps and peered at him through dirty spectacles.
"Gabriel? Well, I'll be! What are you doing here?" Riel welcomed the older man's bear hug and slap on his back. When had his grandfather shrunk six inches?
"Hello, Grandpa. Thought I'd surprise you with a visit if you want some company for a while."
Riel held his breath, hoping his grandfather didn't mind him barging in for a long visit. He was going stark raving mad back in Clear Creek, Kansas on his parent's ranch and needed to get away for a while.
His family wanted to help him recuperate from his injury, compliments of his last tour to Afghanistan, but Riel needed to come to grips with the end of his military career and loss of his foot. There were too much sympathy and sorry looks at home for him to heal and decide what to do with his life next, so he decided to take a road trip.
His grandfather cupped his face with both hands and stared into his eyes. “I’d love the company, so stay as long as you want. I know you're sick of sympathy, so I'll only say it once. I'm sorry for your injury, but it's not the end of the world. Stay here as long as you want because I can put you to work and get some muscles back on your skinny body. Need some sun too. You look too pale for a rancher." His grandfather tapped his right cheek and grinned.
"Grab your duffle and come on into the house." Russ pointed to the truck before turning toward the barn.
"I thought maybe I could stay in the old bunkhouse?" Riel asked, hoping he could have some solitude by himself at times.
"Nope. Jenna lives there."
"Uh, Jenna? Who's Jenna?"
"Jenna McDowell, my housekeeper, and farmhand." Russ winked and whistled the barn.
Housekeeper and farmhand?
A woman, probably in her thirties, strolled out of the barn with the two dogs walking on either side of her. A thick braid of rusty orange hair draped across her right shoulder. Beat-up straw hat, plaid shirt, faded jeans, and dusty boots that smelled of fresh manure as she walked closer to them.
"Jenna, I'd like you to meet my grandson, Gabriel Shepard."
The woman pulled off her right leather glove and held out her hand to shake his. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jenna McDowell."
Her hand was warm, calloused and she gave a firm handshake.
"Please call me Riel." Her blue eyes met his without the note of sympathy, and it felt good being considered normal for a change.
"Russ talks about his family, but you're the first I've met." It was one of the reasons he drove to Texas in the first place. Riel knew he'd be left alone down here two states away from Kansas.
“And our constant companions, patiently sitting here for your attention are Kelsie and Tanner.”
Riel leaned over to let the dogs sniff his hand before giving each a pat on the head.
“Looks like Kelsie’s got a litter she’s feeding,” Riel noted.
“Five of the cutest two-week-old pups you can imagine. And Kelsie to the point she wants to leave them alone for a while to recuperate from their badgering.”
The female dog added to Jenna’s note by plopping down on the ground while letting out a big sigh.
“Four are already sold. Maybe you want the fifth one for the company?” His grandpa didn’t add, “When you’re ready to leave,” but Riel guessed his message. Maybe a dog would help with his loneliness, plus make him focus on something other than his problems.
“I just might do that, Grandpa. Thanks for the offer.”
"And you arrived just in time for forenoon coffee, so let’s get to the kitchen.” Grandpa turned to Jenna who had patiently listened to the two of them talk. “Got any cookies hidden you could pull out to feed my boy?" Russ raised and wiggled his eyebrows at Jenna. What was going on between the two?
"That you haven't found and eaten already? Your doctor said to stop eating so many sweets." Jenna sternly asked, but Riel could tell she had a soft spot for his grandfather.
"But I have company. I'll let Riel eat most of the cookies."
"Okay, but you stay outside and visit a minute while I get coffee and the cookie stash on the table. Deal?" Jenna wagged a finger at Grandpa.
"Deal." Grandpa held up his right hand, but Riel noticed his hand behind his back and his fingers crossed.
Whoever this woman was, she'd put "spry" back to his widowed grandfather. Should he worry? Was she fleecing him, stealing money from his bank account? Maybe it was a good thing he came to visit.
"I'm surprised you have help, Grandpa. How long she been working for you?" Riel asked as they both leaned against the truck.
“Jenna’s a neighbor girl, so don't worry about me. Your grandma and I watched her grow up. She needed a place to stay and a job after her husband died, so I decided I needed help.
"But she’s a strong woman, and she’s recovere
d pretty well. I only told you this, so Jenna doesn’t have to.” The older man pushed away from the truck and started for the house. “Jenna will have refreshments out by now, so we better go in."
Chapter 2
Jenna eyed Riel as Russ ushered him through the back door into the mudroom. Other than his chestnut brown hair, he resembled his grandfather, with their matching round jaws and light blue eyes.
“Coffee’s ready.” She motioned for them to sit down. Riel gave her a startled look, maybe because she was acting like the woman of the house when he was used to his grandmother in the role.
Well, he could think what he wanted because she and Russ were comfortable with their arrangement.
“Need sugar or cream, Riel?” Jenna asked, trying to keep her voice calm and relaxed.
“Black is fine. Thanks.”
“Sit down, Jenna. Don’t fidget around the kitchen like a flighty bird.”
“I was thinking about what to fix for lunch,” she protested.
“Maybe we’ll just go into Sweet Grove to eat at Mabel’s on Maple to celebrate.” Russ winked at her. “You mentioned you needed to go to town for groceries anyway.”
Jenna hated to go into town when she first moved back, but the sympathetic looks and comments had mostly ceased, or she’d gotten used to them.
Counseling sessions with Pastor Bernie Olson at the First Street Church had helped her come to terms with her husband’s death and the aftermath of it all.
Her parents had wanted her to move home with them, but after being married for almost fifteen years, she couldn’t help feeling like a child in their home again. They meant well, but two weeks of living with them had been a strain on all of them.
Russ’s offer was a godsend, even if she knew it was more for her benefit than for him. But she kept busy here, and Russ appreciated her help and company.
“Is your new foot up to helping around the ranch with projects, Riel?”
Jenna glanced at Riel to see his skin flush red with embarrassment. Russ had told her about his grandson’s military career and what happened to end it, but she wasn’t about to mention it. She knew how it was to be on the end of questions about one’s past.
Riel took a deep breath and shifted his eyes towards her once before answering Russ.
“I’m getting used to my foot prosthesis,” he almost coughed getting out the words. “Still working on my balance.”
“Well, there’s nothing like ranching jobs that will help with that. After coffee, you can help Jenna, and the dogs move the cows to a fresh paddock of grass.”
“I don’t know if I can walk that far, or get up on a horse yet.”
”No problem. My horses, Billy and Bob, are old like me and enjoying retired life in the pasture. I have a side-by-side ATV now. Even has a back bed the dogs can ride in if they don’t want to run.” Russ was so proud of his new toy, even though she had to talk him into buying it instead of trying to climb on a horse every day.
“You sure you don’t want to take him on tour yourself, Russ?” Jenna wasn’t ready to spend time with his grandson yet.
“Nope. Got some paperwork to do before we go into town.” Russ pushed away from the table, picked up his coffee cup, and left the kitchen, leaving the two of them sitting at the table.
“Well, I think we’re on our own until it’s time to drive into Sweet Grove then.” Jenna stood up and busied herself picking up the empty plates and taking them over to the dishwasher.
“Look I don’t want to bother—“
“Never think of yourself in that way.” Jenna whirled around to face Riel. She hesitated a moment to continue. “Everyone has something to contribute to society, no matter what happened in your past.”
“I meant I didn’t want to bother your chore routine. I…could use a little time to me after the long drive.”
“Oh.” Besides rumpled clothes, he had dark circles under his eyes. The man didn’t look well, and she didn’t think it was just his foot. His mental health was damaged on his last tour too.
“Tell you what; you take a long hot shower and maybe some shut-eye in the extra bedroom while I move the steers this time. We can drive around the ranch this afternoon instead.”
Riel’s shoulders slumped, looking relieved he didn’t have to take a ride with her. No, more as if he came to his grandfather’s ranch to rest and he used his last bit of energy to drive here.
***
Riel’s mom always talked fondly about Sweet Grove, so he knew some of the businesses in town. They’d eaten a satisfying lunch at the quaint little café. Now his grandpa was driving his pickup down Main Street, with Jenna sandwiched between the two of them in the bench seat, pointing out the various businesses.
Growing up, he and his parents drove down to Texas during his Christmas break, so he remembered the small town. His mother was an only child, as was Riel, so he’d gotten special attention from his maternal grandparents. He’d even spent a few summers with his grandparents until he was old enough to spend his summer haying in Kansas. Then after high school, he’d enlisted in the army, wanting to see the world before he settled on his parent’s ranch.
But he came home wounded, physically and mentally, and he’d fought back every time they suggested on what to do next with his life. His anger put a wedge between his parents, as they had different ideas of what he should do.
It was his father who told him to leave, at least for a while. Riel’s mother cried as he pulled away from their house, but he knew it was for the best. Maybe by Christmas, he’d pull himself together, or so he fervently wished.
“Got church clothes along?” his grandfather asked, pulling Riel from his thoughts.
“Uh, depends on how dressed up I need to be. I haven’t added much to my wardrobe since getting out of the army. Why?”
“Because we’ll go to church tomorrow,” his grandfather pointed out, not planning on a different answer from him.
“I don’t know…”
“We’ll stop at the Thrift Shop now then, so you got the proper attire.”
Riel glanced at Jenna, who’d been silent most of this trip. She looked sideways at him at the same time, raising her shoulders and giving him a little smile, as if saying, “What else can you do but give in.”
“Okay then, as long as Jenna goes in with me to show what I need for proper attire for church.” For some reason, it felt good to…flirt with Jenna. He hadn’t known her a day, yet he felt comfortable with her after visiting at the diner.
“You’re on. That’s my favorite store now. You wouldn’t believe the bargains you can find there.”
“You a clothes hound?” He would never have guessed it seeing her in simple western clothes.
“Back in the day, I was…before…” Jenna’s voice trailed off, and she stared out the pickup window.
“Jenna, don’t go back there.” His grandpa patted Jenna’s knee. “You’re past that, and clothes don’t make a person anyway. You can only wear one shirt and one pair of pants at a time.”
Jenna laughed. “Says the man who could use more jeans, so I didn’t have to wash clothes so often for you.”
“Maybe Grandpa needs to come to the Thrift Shop with us, Jenna?”
“I think that’s fair since he says you need to buy clothes, don’t you?”
Jenna’s wide smile and his grandfather’s exaggerated cough eased the tightness in his chest just a little bit. Maybe time spent in Texas would heal some of his pain.
*
Hello.” The sales clerk smiled as they walked in the Thrift Shop. “What can I help you with today?”
Hello! This is my grandson, Gabriel Shepard who’s visiting a while. And would you believe he forgot to pack his church clothes?”
The woman laughed, probably knowing the situation. He didn’t have “church clothes” because he didn’t go to church, but he needed them now because he’d be going with his grandfather tomorrow.
“Head over to the south wall for men’s clothing. Let me kno
w if you need any help." The woman turned to the next customer who walked in the door, thankfully not hovering over them. Or watching him limp to the clothes rack of long-sleeve shirts.
"You don't have to wear a suit jacket, but at least get a tie," his grandfather told Riel as Jenna handed him two pairs of jeans to try on.
"I don't need to try them on if they're my size."
"Humor me, please, while I help Riel," Jenna said as she pointed to the dressing room in the back of the store.
"I'll go sit in the 'waiting bench' up front for you two."
Riel couldn't help commenting on the two's conversation.
"Sounds like you're an old married couple." Was he jealous of their relationship? Maybe.
"I spent a lot of time with your grandparents when I was young. My parent's ranch house is only four miles away, and your grandma was my babysitter when my mom needed to do something without me along."
"How's come I don't remember you when I visited a few summers here?"
"Probably because I was spending my summer elsewhere with my maternal grandparents," Jenna laughed.
"Where was that?" Riel kept the conversation going as he watched Jenna quickly push through the shirts on the rack.
"Montana. Glorious state to visit during the summer, but I’ll stay in Texas the rest of the year." She chuckled as she handed him three shirts, one white, one a light blue and a blue pinstripe.
"Grab a couple of slacks from that rack in your size, and then please try them all on."
"Can't I just be like my grandpa and say 'no' in his pleasant way?"
"No. Clothes here tend to be missing labels so it may not be the size and fit you need."
Jenna pointed to the dressing room and then turned around to walk toward his grandfather. No doubt, he’d be seeing him in the dressing room in a minute to try on his jeans.
Chapter 3
"Thanks for supper, Jenna. I love that burger casserole."
"I know, Russ, since you request it every week," Jenna easily said as she rose from the table.
"It was very good. Thanks." Riel hastily added.
First Street Church: Love's Blessing (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Clear Creek Legacy Book 1) Page 1