by Jet MacLeod
“What happened, Juan?” I begged.
“I need to talk to you, Miss Rayne,” he said.
“We are talking. Someone tell me what’s going on. Now,” I demanded.
“Take her up there, Juan. Show her,” Emilio said.
“Show me what?” I asked.
“Show you Misses Teresa Bradley,” the other man said.
“Who? What? What are you talking about?” I questioned.
“Miss, please just go with him,” Emilio told me.
“Juan?” I demanded.
“Come on, Miss Rayne,” he said, taking me by the hand. He pulled me into the office and up the stairs to the room where Reece was being held. He opened the door, let me walk in and then shut the door behind me.
I walked in slowly. I watched him sleeping on the bed that Doctor Von Kamp had placed him in. He looked wonderful. Even in his pain, he looked beautiful. I sat next to the bed in the chair that was in the room.
I leaned over. I rubbed the hair from his forehead. He smiled up at me. I couldn’t believe what they were telling me. He couldn’t be a woman. He loved me. A woman couldn’t love me like that.
“Reece,” I said quietly.
I was rewarded with a smile.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“Like manure,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry,” I told him.
“Look, Rayne…” he started, closed his eyes in pain, and then continued, “I have to tell you something.”
“It can wait. I want you to get well, first. Don’t worry about it. Whatever it is, it can wait,” I told him.
“No, it can’t,” he said, trying to sit up in the bed.
“Stay down, you don’t need to injure yourself more,” I commanded him.
“Listen, Rayne,” he stated, “You need to know that the two hands that are downstairs with Juan work for a local ranch.”
“I know that. Shh, just rest for now,” I said.
“Rayne, they work for me,” he stated.
I looked at him quizzically. Those hands downstairs worked for him, but wait, he worked for me. I was confused. I was still too upset to understand.
“I don’t understand,” I told him.
“I own a ranch, here, in Amarillo,” he said.
“But, why do you work for me?” I asked.
“It is a long story, but have you ever heard of the Circle B Ranch?” he asked me.
“Yes, everyone from Dallas to Amarillo and all around has. They have some of the best horses in the state, why? ... No... don’t tell me… you own the Circle B?” I begged.
“Yes, it is mine. I inherited it through marriage,” he told me, flatly. His eyes got dark and sad.
“So what?” I asked.
He managed to summon enough strength then. He sat up in the bed and leaned against the head board. He pulled the sheets up with him.
“I don’t know what to say to you. I honestly don’t. I feel horrible. Rayne, I’ve been lying to you since the day we met. My name isn’t really Reece Bradley,” he said.
“Then, what is it?” I questioned.
He started crying. I couldn’t tell if it was from the pain or not. He looked worried and then he recoiled from my touch.
“Please, don’t. I don’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want to hurt you. But, I know that I am going to, soon,” he explained.
“What are you talking about?” I demanded.
“This,” he said, dropping his sheet.
Two of the most beautiful breasts that I had ever seen appeared where the bandings had been earlier. HE WAS A WOMAN. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“What the hell?” I exclaimed.
“I tried to tell you so many times, Rayne, I really did,” he…she stated, “My really name is Teresa Bradley. My husband…”
I cut her off, “Don’t say anything more.”
“But, Rayne,” he said, reaching for my hand.
“Don’t touch me!” I shouted, “Don’t ever touch me, ever again.”
I was furious. I could see the hurt in her eyes. I’d never met the woman on that bed. The man I had fallen in love with died in the prairie. I was swooning and felt it.
The next thing I remember was running out of the doctor’s office and Juan in tow, trying to catch me. I couldn’t tell you what happened next. I can’t remember. I just remember being in Juan’s arms. He kept telling me not to worry about it and that he wouldn’t tell Jed what had happened. It would be our secret. No one else needed to know about Reece.
“I’ll tell them that he died trying to protect you, Miss Rayne,” he told me, “I’ll take care of everything. You’ll see.”
“We’ll not speak about this again, Juan,” I said.
“I know, ma’am,” he replied, simply.
I left Mrs. Teresa Bradley lying in the doctor’s office to deal with her husband. At least, I figured it was her husband. I mean, who else would have come to the office and made such a territorial stand for the man/woman upstairs, half-dead, that I once loved.
My love was dead. I was devastated. I could barely look at Juan. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to just fall away from everything. The only problem was that I was a woman…
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Eli, The Circle B Ranch, late Winter 1874
I was happy to see Teresa, again, but I’d wished it would be under better circumstances. I couldn’t say I blamed the girl for running off when her husband died, but it was what she chose to do to get home that scared me. I knew seeing her there on Doc Steven’s table let me know how close she had come to death.
I was equally glad when Doc told me I could bring her back to the ranch. He showed me how to care for her wounds. It was the leg he was most worried about. When I finally saw it, so was I. I promised George that I wouldn’t let anything happen to her, I’d be damned if I didn’t already. I was not going to let it happen, again.
I nursed her, there in her room at the ranch for weeks. Winter had finally set in. Her dreams and nightmares had begun to slow down. She would actually eat and get up. I had to make her some days but she knew that she had to or she would lose the leg.
I made her some tea, today. I was on the way to take it up to her, when I saw her coming down the stairs on her own. I was happy for her. I could hope that soon she would remember what happened to her before the accident, so we could all move on.
“Good morning, ma’am,” I said.
“Good morning, Eli. How are things today?” she questioned.
“Good. Everything is running smoothly. Doc should be coming by this afternoon to take a look at the leg for you,” I told her.
“That’s good. I hope to have clean bill of health, this time,” she answered.
“Still don’t remember?” I asked.
“Nope, Doc keeps telling me that is normal, though. He told me I conked my head pretty good. He told me that I might not ever remember what happened since last year. I do try to remember, though, Eli, but it hurts to try so hard,” she explained.
“I understand. Don’t push it, maybe it will happen on its own,” I added.
“Maybe,” she stated, “Maybe.”
She was quiet as she sat at the table and served the tea. She drank in silence as she read her books. I didn’t want to interrupt her. She looked somewhat happy again. I didn’t want to upset her.
I was amazed to see her in that purple dress, again. It had been George’s favorite. Her golden hair was barely below her chin after months of not trimming it so short. I could see her sky blue eyes beginning to show their light again.
I was still unsure of how she ended up at Doc Steven’s. I was most upset to find Emilio speaking Spanish with some stranger outside the Doc’s office. I was even more upset Emilio told me that Reece Bradley was looking for me. We had saddled and galloped all the way into town and to the Doc’s office. Never once did I question what Emilio told me that the other hand told him. We just left.
All I could see on the table was
a twisted and shot up body. It was her eyes that made me know it was her. There was a dark haired beauty with her that looked ashamed. I would never know at what. She left as soon as I got to Teresa’s side. No good-bye, no nothing, she was just gone. The tears in her eyes only served to make me wonder more about her relationship with to the stranger that I knew on that table in the doctor’s office.
When Doc got done with her and we could tell it was Teresa, my heart sank. Her leg was twisted and badly broken. He wasn’t sure she would keep it. The bullets had luckily gone straight through, so he patched those up. All he could tell me is she’d gone through Hell and back only to end up on his table with two strangers.
All he had gathered on the two strangers was some snippets of the broken Spanish he knew from the stranger that had gotten Emilio. He was a fellow named Juan Del Mar, a ranch hand for Miss Rayne Whittacre of Junction City, which was a good distance from Amarillo. The only other sure thing was that Miss Teresa had saved Miss Rayne from some savages. Miss Teresa had sent Juan after Doc and me as soon as she realized that she needed a lot of help and fast.
It wasn’t much to go on, but I had nothing else. I made some inquiries about Miss Whittacre, only to find out that she was a ranch owner and a damned good one. I couldn’t understand how Miss Teresa went from San Francisco to Junction City without Thomas being with her.
He followed her the night she ran away. He had always sent word back, no matter where they were. He wrote to tell me they were on their way back to Amarillo, a year ago. Months passed without anything and then she is on the Doc’s table, bleeding and broken, leaving me to wonder what happened to Thomas and how she’d ended up in that position.
I sat back and watched her as she drank her tea.
“Doc should be here soon. Do you want me to stay with you?” I asked her.
“No, not this time. I think I can handle it,” she answered.
“Any more of the dreams?” I asked.
“No,” she replied, quickly.
“Alright then, Miss Teresa, I’ll leave you alone,” I said, walking out the door.
I went to outside to check up on the boys. Emilio and Curly were arguing over the new filly we acquired. They couldn’t decide on what to name her. She was a fine horse and would be perfect to replace Miss Teresa’s Scout.
“Boys,” I said, walking up to them.
“Eli,” Curly greeted me.
“Señor,” Emilio offered.
“I have an idea about the horse,” I stared and they both looked at me, “Why don’t we let Miss Teresa name her? After all, it is going to be her horse.”
“Fine by me,” Curly said.
“Sounds good, Señor,” Emilio added.
“Good, I’ll ask her to come and look her over, later. I’ll let her tell you what the horse’s name is going to be, okay boys?” I asked.
“Si,” Emilio replied.
“Yeah,” Curly responded and then asked, “She remembered, yet?”
“Nothing,” I explained, “I was just happy to see her come down out of her room on her own, this morning. I don’t want to push her, no way. Doc said it would upset her. God knows that girl done been through enough without me egging her on. Now, you boys, go ride the pastures and see what the hands need out there and what we’ll need here. I am going to town tomorrow to square away some business for Miss Teresa. I’ll turn in the list while I am there to Joe, so he can start getting things together for you two.”
“Yes, sir,” Curly said, grabbing Emilio and jabbering away in Mexican.
It was those two, fighting like brothers, that had helped me keep the ranch running and away from the grubby hands and rustlers for the last two years. They were hand-picked by Miss Teresa some five years ago and been loyal ever since. Those two were part of the Circle B just as much as Miss Teresa was. I guess I am glad they were here, always, reminding that she’d be back. Something about every cowboy needs to ride now and then, but he always knows where to get a good bed, a hot meal, and fine whiskey to drink when he needs it. I could only hope that meant that Miss Teresa would be coming home.
I walked around the yards and to the stable to check on the other horses that we had. These were our work horses and not the ones we raised. Too many times had I walked through here thinking of the day when Miss Teresa would come home after Mister George had died. I should have known that the loss of her infant son would be too great on her heart but no one saw that coming. I know I didn’t see her son’s death coming, especially so close after George’s. And, when she left for the coast, no one could blame her.
I was rubbing down Shadow, a tall gray-black stallion, when I saw her coming towards me in that purple dress.
“He’s a beaut. What’s his name?” she asked me.
“This is Shadow. He is your prized stud,” I told her.
“Stud, huh?” she replied, “I hope he was worth it.”
“He was ma’am. You picked him. He has made you some fine deals,” I said.
“Well then, Shadow, keep it up,” she said, laughing to him.
It was good to have her back. I mean to see the real Teresa coming through, again. Her mind was fighting everyday to find itself, locked up inside that pretty little head of hers, but I knew that her memories would come back someday. She just smiled as she rubbed the horse’s neck. I handed her another curry comb and she went to work on his other side.
“I’ve got a surprise for you, Miss Teresa,” I said.
“What? What is it?” she asked.
“Come on, and I’ll show you,” I stated taking her by the arm. She dropped the curry comb and followed me out into the yards. I took her over to the breaking ring where the new filly was raising cane.
“She’s beautiful,” she stated as she climbed the round pins rails.
“Well, she better be. She’s yours,” I told her.
“Mine? Oh, Eli!” she exclaimed.
“Yes’m, she’s yours. We were sorry to hear about Scout. So, me and the boys picked her out special for you. She is one of Shadow’s girls. Her mom was a racer turned rodeo horse. Her momma’s name was Summer Smiles,” I explained.
“What’s her name?” she asked.
“Well, now, that’s the problem. The boys have been fighting over what to name her. So, I decided it was up to you, Miss Teresa,” I stated.
“Well, I guess I should, then, shouldn’t I?”
“Yes’m, that would be up to you, now,” I said.
“I want to ride her. Can I?” she asked.
“If the doctor clears you to ride, then you can ride her this afternoon, I suppose,” I said to her.
“Great. Have her saddled and ready. I can’t wait,” she replied running back into the house. She was a bundle of energy, again. And, just like when I met that little woman, she was raring to go. It had to be the horses.
Doc Steven came a few hours later and cleared her to ride. He did tell me that he didn’t want her leaving the ranch and coming to town just yet. It was too long of a journey for her leg. She didn’t care. She wanted to ride, again, even if it was only for a couple of hours.
Once the doctor was gone, she rushed inside and put on her riding skirts, so she could sit astride her new horse. I couldn’t tell her “No,” then. Curly had the new filly saddle and ready for her. Emilio caught her and placed her on the saddle. She looked at home, there, once again. It did us all good to see her happy and on top of a horse, again.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“That’s it, Miss Teresa,” Curly said, handing her the reins.
“Hold on tight, now, Señora, she’s a feisty one,” Emilio told her.
“Just like her owner,” I added.
We all shared in the laugh. Emilio and I mounted up to ride with her around the south pasture so she could see the horses. Curly mounted up to check on the boys and we all rode off.
*****
She had the horse at a gallop before I could stop her. I knew that she was tired of riding the buckboards out to che
ck on the cattle and horses, but it had been doctor’s orders until her leg was deemed fit enough to handle the horse. She rode her like the wind. She was a horse girl, there was denying it.
“Slow down, Misses Bradley,” I told her.
She brought the horse down to a canter and then a trot.
“Don’t want to overdo it, do you?” I asked her.
“No,” she stated, “I am just so happy to be able to ride again, that I don’t know what to do with myself.”
“It’s okay,” Emilio added, “I understand.”
“I do, too, Miss Teresa, but I don’t want you hurting yourself so soon.”
“I’ll be careful,” she said, returning the filly to a gallop and riding off.
I nodded to Emilio to follow her. He was off in an instant. I didn’t want her riding alone and I knew she would try it now that she could. I made a mental note to tell all the hands that she was to be with one of them if was to go riding at any point and I wasn’t there to be with her. I am sure that they would all love the chance to ride with her, anywhere.
She galloped right past me, with Emilio right behind her. The sound of laughter filled the pasture and her smiled brightened the day. Emilio was just as happy as she was, as they played their impromptu game of tag by horse back.
I rode down to check on the hands. I wanted a count of the horses by tomorrow. I wanted to know if we were expecting any new foals soon. I wanted to keep the place running. I was down in the main part of the pastures talking to Curly, who had finally made his way around to the south pasture, and Big Mike, my horse guy, when Emilio came riding at us full tilt. He didn’t slow up and he was screaming something in Spanish.
Curly looked up, pulled up his reins. I saw him slap the butt of the horse, digging his spurs in as he rode off in the direction that Emilio had come from.
“Curly?!?” I shouted, trying to get his attention.
Mike and Emilio were talking and then Mike told me, “It’s Miss Teresa, Eli. Something happened. Emilio says a snake or something spooked the horse. She fell. She needs help.”
He hadn’t finished that last word of his sentence before I was at a full gallop right behind Curly. Emilio and Big Mike followed me. I rode up on the scene to see a nasty cut on her head and Curly smoothing her blond hair back as he held her head in his lap.