The Rancher Next Door

by Darlene Mindrup

  Still, rather than being harmful, the opposite seemed to be the case. They were becoming more mature. Less selfish. Of course much of this was due to their growing spirituality, and as long as she lived she would be thankful to Hattie Ames for pressuring her into going to church.

  The problems Jenny had to face no longer seemed insurmountable when she had someone so powerful to lean on. God’s love was continually made manifest in the very things He continued to do for her.

  Fudge’s joyous yapping brought her to a realization of the time. The twins must be home from school.

  David breezed through the door first, flinging his books on the coffee table. “Four days off!”

  Jenny grinned as Renee followed her brother at a more sedate pace.

  “You make it sound like a reprieve from jail,” Jenny told him.

  “Isn’t it?” he quipped. “Man! It’s flat cold out there!”

  “Still, it’s not as bad as New York,” Renee told him as she ruffled Fudge in her arms. There was no hint of the dog’s injury anymore and he was growing like a weed. He was Renee’s constant companion, rarely letting her out of his sight when she was home.

  Jenny had to agree about the weather. After the long, hot summer she was unprepared for the cold of a winter in the desert. As Renee said, it was nothing like New York, but still cold enough to almost freeze water at night.

  She had spent the past month hurriedly putting together a couple of quilt tops. The designs were her own and reflected the tastes of each twin, but finding time to quilt them was a problem. She had started quilting David’s last night, staying up long into the night. Since she and Renee shared a bed, David was in greater need of the warm blanket.

  The cold was beginning to worry Jenny. If it was this cold now, how cold would it get in December and January? Supposedly they were the coldest months.

  It still amazed her that Cousin Tito had refused to add heating and air-conditioning to the cabin. Her vivid imagination pictured him huddled by the fire, staring into the crackling flames with his hands wrapped around a hot drink. Had he been lonely here? She wished she knew more about the man who had been so generous with her family.

  David interrupted her thoughts. “Mitch is taking me out later to chop wood. He owns land in Prescott and gets his wood from there. Is it okay?”

  “Since you’re telling me you’re going, I assume you have already made plans. Now’s a fine time to ask permission.”

  “He just asked today,” David replied defensively. “He stopped the school bus to ask. Said if it wasn’t convenient I could give him a call and let him know.”

  There was really no reason to refuse. She should be grateful.

  “I guess it’s okay. We definitely need the wood.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  Sniffing the air, David turned an appreciative look on his sister. “You made pumpkin pies.”

  “Yes, and you stay out of them. They’re for tomorrow.”

  “Aww...”

  “And take your books to your room.”

  David headed into his room, dragging his things along with him.

  “David?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Is Mitch stopping by here to pick you up, or do I need to take you to his place?” Jenny crossed her fingers.

  “He said he’ll pick me up here since it’s on his way to Prescott,” he answered, peeking his head back around the corner of the door. “Why? You wantin’ to hide out again?”

  “David!”

  David looked at his twin. “What? It’s the truth. She’s always hiding out. Especially from Mitch.”

  Is that how David really saw her? It made her sound like some kind of slinking mouse. Remembering Mitch’s comparison, she had to admit they were probably right. She had always been an introvert, even in college. But her desire to avoid Mitch had nothing whatsoever to do with that.

  Deciding to ignore his comment, she told David, “Dress warmly, and don’t forget your gloves.”

  She turned and retreated to the warmth of the kitchen. She leaned against the sink and stared out at the autumn landscape. So, the twins had not been fooled. Giving herself a mental shake, she reached into the cupboard and pulled out a pot. Hot cocoa sounded good. Maybe she would put some in a thermos and send it with David.

  Ten minutes later she set three steaming mugs of cocoa on a tray and plopped a large marshmallow into each one. Taking the tray to the living room she set it on the coffee table in front of Renee, who was busily working on her homework.

  “You have four days, you know,” Jenny told her.

  She put her books aside. “I know. I just thought it would be better to get it out of the way and not worry about it all weekend.”

  “Well, that’s true enough.”

  David came in from the other room. “Do you want me to stack some more wood for the fire?” he asked, tucking in his green flannel shirt.

  “That would be great. When is Mitch coming for you?”

  David picked up his mug, taking a large draft. His blue eyes widened in surprise, filling with sudden tears. Jenny watched in amusement as he rolled the drink around in his mouth trying to cool it enough to swallow. Finally he was able to gulp it down.

  “Yeow! Why don’t you warn a guy?”

  Jenny shook her head and grinned.

  Renee gave him a scathing look. “Anyone who can’t tell a drink is hot by the steam curling into the air must be dense. I think you need to leave off the Stetson for a while and let your brain air out.”

  David scowled. “Oh, yeah? Well, what about—”

  Jenny interrupted him. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “When’s Mitch coming? He said he’d come by about two. Said it would still be daylight for a while, since we only had a half day of school.”

  Jenny retraced her steps to the kitchen. “Good. That will give you time to eat something.”

  David followed her. “Mmm. Something sure smells good. Is it soup?”

  “Yes. You and Renee get yourselves washed up.”

  After they had all eaten, they once again gathered around the fireplace. Except for the kitchen when she baked, the living room was the only really warm room in the cabin. Still, the cabin was very weathertight and if they left the bedroom doors open the fire took the chill off. All in all, it was rather cozy. Jenny decided she must be from pioneer stock, because she found it invigorating.

  It wasn’t long until they heard an approaching vehicle.

  David jumped up and ran for his bedroom. “That must be Mitch. I’ll get my coat.”

  Renee glanced up at Jenny speculatively, but Jenny ignored her.

  “I suppose I should invite him in,” she told Renee without moving, ringing her hands around her mug.

  Renee continued to stare at her, her lips twitching. “Mmm.”

  Jenny threw her a disgusted look before striding to the door. She opened the door just as the Jeep rolled to a stop. Mitch didn’t bother to get out; he merely rolled down his window. If it was cold outside, it was nothing compared to the ice in those green eyes.

  “David ready?” he asked as she came down the steps.

  “Almost.”

  She looked everywhere but at that granite face. “Would you like to come in?”

  “No. We don’t have time. Darkness falls early this time of year.”

  “So I noticed.”

  What an absurd conversation between two people who once had shared such a beautiful, intimate moment. Was Mitch remembering, too? If he was, he was keeping it well hidden.

  Before she could form another coherent thought David pushed by her. “Hi.”

  “Hi, yourself,” Mitch answered. “Got your ax?”

  “I’ll get it.”

  Je
nny watched him go around the corner of the house. When she turned back she was startled by the look on Mitch’s face. It was there only an instant, but it caused her errant heart to start thudding heavily. The tenderness she thought she saw was more than likely only wishful thinking on her part.

  Both remained silently watching the corner where David had disappeared. Before long he returned, the ax thrown over his shoulder.

  “Be careful,” Jenny told him as he climbed in beside Mitch. He rolled his eyes.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him,” Mitch reassured her.

  “I never worry when he’s with you,” she told him softly. His glance flicked swiftly to her face. He stared at her a long moment before he started the engine.

  “We should be back by six but if we’re not, don’t worry. I thought we might stop for a meal, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Sure.”

  He put the car into gear and was about to drive forward when she remembered the cocoa she had prepared for them.

  “Wait!”

  Running into the kitchen she returned with the thermos and two old mugs.

  “Something to keep you warm,” she told them, handing the thermos through the window to Mitch. Her hand touched his briefly and the jolt she felt had nothing to do with static electricity. She raised startled eyes to his and found him watching her intently, his eyes dilating until they were more black than green. He looked as if he was about to speak but then decided not to.

  Stepping away from the car she told him in a voice that shook, “I’ll see you later.”

  Nodding, he drove away without once looking back.

  * * *

  “Could you put the pies on that table over there with the other desserts?”

  Hattie was rushing from one area to another trying to see that everything was being accomplished according to her plan.

  “What can I do?” Jenny asked.

  “Let’s see...” Pausing, Hattie looked around her. “It looks as though everything is under control.”

  “Mom! The gravy is ruined!” April wailed, coming from the kitchen.

  “What! What happened?” Taking her daughter by the arm, Hattie marched her back to the kitchen, Jenny following. Smoke was billowing from the frying pan on the stove, where a blob of black liquid resided.

  Jenny grabbed an oven mitt and pulled the pan from the stove while Hattie hurried over and threw open the patio door that led into the kitchen.

  April looked so woebegone that Jenny was instantly sorry for her.

  “The phone rang,” she told them sorrowfully.

  Hattie stared belligerently at her oldest child. “Let me guess. Dennis.”

  “We only talked a few minutes,” April protested.

  Jenny laid a hand on Hattie’s arm. “Why don’t you let me make another batch of gravy?”

  “I didn’t invite you here to work,” Hattie protested, giving her daughter an eloquent look.

  “I know, but I’d like to. It would make me feel more comfortable.”

  “Well...if you’re sure. Everything you need should be right over there.”

  She pointed to the counter where a conglomeration of kitchen paraphernalia was strewed across its surface. Flour was scattered here and there, on the floor as well as the cabinets. Hattie turned to Jenny. They stared at each other several seconds before they broke into spontaneous laughter.

  “You go take care of your guests. I’ll take care of the gravy and the mess,” Jenny told her, pushing Hattie toward the doorway.

  “Okay. As long as you don’t hide yourself out here too long.”

  Jenny watched Hattie’s retreating back before turning to the work at hand. “Everyone thinks I’m hiding out,” she muttered, reaching for the flour. She cleared a place on the counter and dumped the contents of the burned gravy down the garbage disposal.

  “Hattie sent me in to see if you needed any help.” Mitch’s deep voice made her jump and she dropped the whisk, rescuing it before it hit the floor.

  “Uh...no. Not that I know of.” One look at his face and she knew he would rather be anywhere right now besides standing in this doorway. She sighed soundlessly, regretting the fact that they seemed to be back to square one in their relationship. His steady stare made her nervous.

  “I just have to make some gravy. Seems April got tied up on the phone and burned it, so I volunteered to make some more. The kitchen’s a real mess, but that’s what happens when you’re serving a large meal to a large crowd.” Jenny started clearing a space as she continued to nervously prattle on. “It’s amazing how cold the weather has gotten. I appreciate you taking David for the firewood. I—”

  “Slow down!” he interrupted. “Shift your tongue into neutral a minute.”

  He was leaning against the doorjamb and grinning at her.

  The flush on her cheeks was not only due to the warm kitchen. Her eyes flashed, but she forced herself to hold her tongue. She reached for the cornstarch, giving herself time to stifle the urge to fling the whole sorry mess in his face.

  * * *

  Mitch didn’t miss the fire in her eyes, nor the ramrod-straight set of her shoulders. He’d ticked her off again, and no wonder with a comment such as that. There were times he wanted to shake her. Instead he usually wound up saying something he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. What had started off as a promising friendship had turned into something much more and now he was having a hard time forgetting the past few months and finding that earlier footing.

  After several minutes of cold silence it became obvious that Jenny wasn’t going to say anything more. He supposed he deserved it. He exhaled through the side of his mouth.

  “I’m sorry. That was rude.”

  Jenny remained silent, measuring the cornstarch into the turkey drippings. She began whipping it with unnecessary force, giving vent to her aggravation.

  Her bottom lip was protruding in a childish pout as she poured the mixture into the saucepan. Mitch grinned again. He should really try to focus his eyes somewhere besides those rosebud lips. They reminded him of things best forgotten if he wanted to keep his peace of mind.

  His anger was directed more at himself than her, anyway. She had every right to live in Prescott if she chose. She had the twins to think of. It was his own fault for allowing himself to care so much.

  “I really am sorry,” he told her softly.

  Her shoulders slumped. He couldn’t begin to interpret the look that flitted across her face and then was gone. She threw him a halfhearted smile over her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry. I guess I was just concentrating too hard on getting this gravy right. You have nothing to apologize for.”

  That was Jenny, always the peacemaker. Straightening, he walked over and stood beside her and saw her tense, increasing his frustration with the whole situation. He frowned, stifling the urge to whip her around and kiss the living daylights out of her.

  “How do you get it not to have lumps?” he asked, accepting the olive branch she was offering.

  Sighing, Jenny continued stirring the gravy.

  “Technique.”

  When it was time to eat, Hattie reached for a spoon and clinked it against her glass.

  “Okay, everyone. We have a tradition at the Ameses’ house,” she announced. “When we thank the Lord for the food, everyone prays. You don’t have to say much, just one thing you’re grateful for. It has to be something personal. Not things in general, such as health or wealth. And not Jesus because, after all, we’re all thankful for that. Jacob will start and we’ll go clockwise around the table until I finish. Okay?”

  Jenny wasn’t too sure about praying in front of people. Prayer was a private thing for her. Something between God and her. Nevertheless, she decided to enter into the spirit of the
thing. Pushing her reservations aside, she wondered what she was most thankful for. God had done so much for her lately. Given her so much.

  She listened as one after another added their thanks to the prayer chain. A knot formed in her throat when Renee thanked God for Jenny and her little dog, Fudge. What a blessing to have such a sweet, loving sister. Her heart almost melted when David added his thanks for a sister who loved him enough to make sacrifices for him. He added his thanks for Mitch, who taught him a lot. Jenny desperately blinked back the tears trying to force their way out.

  Annie thanked the Lord for her fiancé, Jeremy. Opening her eyes briefly Jenny watched Jeremy squeeze Annie’s hand and gaze lovingly at her. Jenny hurriedly closed her eyes again.

  When it came to Jenny’s turn, she suddenly knew what she would say. What she was most thankful for.

  “Father, although it’s sometimes hard to understand or accept the things that happen to us, thank You for allowing circumstances to work to bring me to live in Mayer. Without Your leading, I would not have found You again.”

  It was only as everyone was serving themselves that Jenny realized she had missed Mitch’s prayer. She must have been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard him. Frowning in frustration, she decided to ask Renee later.

  The rest of the evening seemed to go better after Jenny and Mitch’s talk in the kitchen. Mitch forgot to hold himself aloof and became the charming man Jenny knew he was capable of being. For a time, she was able to relax and enjoy herself. As she had promised herself earlier, she decided to let go and just have fun. And surprisingly, she did.

  Afterward, everyone sat around grumbling about their overindulgence at the dinner table. Despite protests, everyone knew that later there would be room for dessert. In the meantime, conversation seemed the only thing anyone had enough energy to contemplate. Everyone except David.

  “I’m ready to play Ping-Pong,” David addressed Mark.

  Mark groaned. Picking up a pillow, he threw it at David.

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Aw, come on,” David urged him. “If you don’t, you won’t have room for dessert. And Jenny makes the best pumpkin pie around.”