Labor of Love

by Mary Manners

  “OK. I can do that.”

  “Of course you can. Ready?”

  “Uh huh.” Garrett drew a breath and held it, his face taut with effort as he got ready to push.

  Jace counted off, “One, two, three!”

  In a single, fluid motion Garrett heaved at the calf’s flanks as Jace pulled on the rope secured at his neck. Together, with a collective oomph, they managed to maneuver the calf up onto the bank.

  The animal’s legs bowed and it collapsed in a heap at the edge, panting loudly while its eyes grew huge and round as a pair of full moons.

  “Here, grab my hand,” Jace turned his attention to Garrett as he reached into the pit.

  Garret snatched Jace’s hand and held tight while he crab-walked up the side to safety.

  Addy enfolded him in a bear hug, her face streaked with tears. “Are you OK?”

  “I’m fine, Mom.” He wiggled from her grasp.

  “You don’t look fine.”

  “I am.” Garrett fell to his knees beside the exhausted calf and sliced Jace a look. “Is he going to be OK?”

  “He’ll be just fine, thanks to you.” Jace quickly removed the saddle from Skye, took the blanket draped beneath, and unfolded it. He layered the heavy cloth across the calf’s back and rubbed hard to exact warmth from the friction.

  “You did great, Garrett.” Lindy announced as she knelt next to the calf. She took a corner of the blanket and helped rub wet from the calf’s coat. “You saved him.”

  “I was just walking and I heard this strange sound.” Garrett wrapped his arms around his midsection and huddled forward. “I didn’t know what it was, so I came to look…”

  The kid was cold, too, Jace noted. Yet that hadn’t stopped him from hanging on…saving the wayward calf from certain death.

  “You did the right thing, Garrett.” Jace slipped from his over-shirt and handed it to the boy. “Put that on until we get back to the house. It’ll help chase the chill away. You’re a brave kid.”

  “Yes, he certainly is.” Jace’s mom rounded toward him, her gray eyes lit with admiration. “Come on, Garrett. Let’s get that calf in the barn for the night so we can keep an eye on him. Then we’ll get you cleaned up and feed you something worthy of a hero. We were just waiting for Lindy’s dad to return for dinner when we heard you bellowing.”

  “Your dad?” Garrett glanced up at Lindy through a curtain of mud-caked hair. “Who is he, Lindy? What are you doing here?”

  Jace wouldn’t bet the farm on it, but from the look in Garrett’s eyes the kid was sweet on Lindy.

  “My dad’s Sam Sanders, the foreman here.” Lindy explained. “I was helping feed the horses and straighten tack when we heard you bellowing. I went to tell Mrs. Baldwin right away, and when she saw what had happened, she called my dad.”

  “Cool.” Garrett’s eyes lit. He stood a little bit straighter at Lindy’s side.

  OK, maybe Jace would bet the farm. And, from her awestruck grin, it appeared Lindy returned Garrett’s admiration.

  “You deserve a feast, don’t you think?” Jace’s mom asked as she slipped an arm around Garrett’s shoulders.

  “A feast? I beg to differ.” Addy, now that the excitement had ebbed and Garrett was safe, allowed a shard of anger to flash through. Her green eyes flashed like summer lightning. “You frightened a decade off my life, Garrett, taking off the way you did and then this.”

  “I’m fine, Mom.”

  “Maybe you’re fine, but I’m certainly not.” Her voice trembled. “I should ground you for another three days—make that three times ten days. Yes, a solid month ought to leave an impression.”

  “Ground me from what, Mom? There’s nothing to do out here…no one to call and no one to hang out with.”

  Jace watched as Addy’s gaze swept to Lindy, whose lips bowed into a disappointed frown. Apparently she wished to be considered one of Garrett’s friends and Jace figured the kid had a gold mine of opportunity right in his back yard, yet he couldn’t see the gemstones.

  “I’ll…figure something out.” Addy swiped at eyes that heated like flames. “You’re grounded. It’s official.”

  “No! Mom, you can’t.”

  “I can and I will. After what you pulled at school and now this—”

  “Mrs. Shaw—Addy—I can explain that,” Lindy interjected.

  “There’s nothing to explain.”

  “Just listen to her for a minute, Mom, won’t you?”

  “No. There’s nothing to listen to. Now, you need to get dried off before you catch pneumonia. We’ll discuss this further when we get home. But for now…” Mindless of the mud that caked nearly every inch of him, Addy eased in and wrapped her arms around her son. “I love you, Garrett.” She brushed the hair, caked with dirt, from his forehead as the color returned to his cheeks. “Whatever you might think…whatever happens from this point on…never, ever doubt that I love you.”

  “Geez, Mom…really.” But he rested against her for the slightest moment before pushing back in an attempt to put space between them once more.

  “But no matter how much I love you, you are grounded…so grounded.” She waggled a finger at him, her lips pursed into a frown as her eyes filled once more. “Don’t you ever run off like that again; you scared me to death.”

  “OK, I heard you. You’re suffocating me, Mom.” He wiggled from her grasp. “Let go. I’m filthy and I’m starving. Mrs. Baldwin said she’s got a roast in the crock pot, with yeast rolls and potatoes. Can’t we at least eat at her house, Mom, with Lindy and Jace before you ground me? It’s been forever since I’ve had a decent meal.”

  “No!” Addy’s cheeks reddened as her eyes flew wide. “No dice, we’re going straight home. We’ve had enough excitement for one day and besides, you’re a mess. I’m sure Mrs. Baldwin doesn’t want mud all over her kitchen.”

  “A little dirt is no problem at all.” Jace’s mom shook a finger at Addy. “We have a shower in the mudroom and I think we can scrounge up some extra clothes in the bunkhouse that might only be a little big on Garrett—good enough to sit through dinner, at least, while I run his clothes through the washing machine. We’ll get him fixed up.”

  “Oh, we couldn’t impose on you like that, Mrs. Baldwin.”

  “I’ve told you to call me Carol,” Jace’s mom nudged. “We’re neighbors now—for good. And you certainly can join us for dinner. It’s no imposition at all. There’s plenty of food to go around. Living on this ranch for the past thirty years, with a posse of ranch hands and guests of all shapes and sizes, I don’t know any other way to cook than for an army.”

  Jace covered his mouth with his hand to stifle a grin. He’d never known his mom to lose a battle of wills. Addy had only skimmed the tip of the iceberg when it came to dealing with her.

  “Well…” Addy tapped the top of her tennis shoe along the ground. She shot an apprehensive look toward Skye. “Is the house within walking distance?”

  “Yes, so there’s no point in arguing,” Jace murmured as he offered a quick wink. “Once Mom has her mind set to something, there’s no changing it. You might as well gather your appetite and head that way.”

  “But Garrett’s grounded.”

  “He can be grounded later.” Jace nodded. “And I can help you with that if you’d like.”

  “How so?”

  “Dinner, Addy…” Jace took her by the shoulders and turned her toward the house. “Patience…”

  “I’m just about out of that, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  “Oh, I’ve noticed.” He’d also noticed the way her hair held the sweet, light scent of ripened strawberries and how soft she felt settled back in his arms as they flew over the pasture together. He’d noticed, all right.

  “What are we gonna do with the calf now?” Garrett’s question broke the tension.

  “I’ll show you. Here, take this.” Jace eased the calf to its feet and handed Garrett the rope. “I’ll need yours and Lindy’s help getting him to the barn while I
get Skye back to the paddock to cool down. Can you manage?”

  “Sure.”

  “After dinner I’ll show you how to groom Skye, OK?” Lindy offered.

  “Really?” Garrett scrambled to his feet careful to stay clear of the mud—and Addy, before she got wind of Lindy’s offer and had a chance to protest due to the grounding she’d imposed. “I’d like that.”

  “It’s a deal, then.” Lindy reached for his hand. “Come on.”

  ****

  Addy stood outnumbered, so she had no choice but to follow Garret and Jace to the barn. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment as Garrett’s words echoed through her mind...

  “It’s been forever since I’ve had a decent meal.”

  Addy cringed. She wished for nothing more than to crawl into a dark hole and stay there. Forever. Carol and Jace must think her the worst sort of deadbeat parent in her failure to provide even the most basic of Garrett’s needs—a decent home-cooked meal. Had she really been that detached the past few months? Good grief.

  Forever…really?

  “It’s about time I had you to dinner.” Carol Baldwin eased in at Addy’s side and they matched one another, step-for-step. “This isn’t exactly the way I planned things, but it’ll work, none-the-less.”

  “Are you sure we’re not imposing?”

  “Bite your tongue, dear. Everyone’s welcome at the Baldwin ranch. Seems like you can use a friend, too.”

  “Jace said the same thing this afternoon.”

  “Ah, did he then?”

  “Yes. Is it that obvious?” The tears that had just begun to dry flooded Addy’s eyes once again, causing her vision to blur as a dark wave of guilt washed over her. “Oh, I’ve failed miserably.”

  “Oh, honey, you’ve done no such thing.” Carol paused and turned to her as Jace and Garrett continued on toward the barn with Lindy flanked between them and the rescued calf loping behind. “You’ve been through a lot since you moved here…and all the way from the Windy City, to boot.”

  “Things certainly haven’t turned out like I expected.”

  “They rarely do, do they?” Carol climbed steps that led to the back door of the farmhouse. She tugged on the screen door and ushered Addy into the warmth of the kitchen. “Life is just full of little surprises.”

  “You can say that again.” Addy inhaled the aroma of roast bubbling in its juices, tender potatoes, and fluffy yeast rolls. Her belly yawned with a deep, gnawing hunger she hadn’t noticed until now.

  “Sometimes those surprises knock the wind right out of our sails.” Carol wrapped her arms around Addy and gave her a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “But that doesn’t mean life can’t be good again. Sometimes God has a revelation or two up His sleeve.”

  “I wouldn’t know.” Addy reveled in Carol’s compassion. Again, guilt prodded at the thought of how she’d so neglected Garrett. Could she blame her son for his insolence? “I’ve tried to pray, but He doesn’t seem to hear me anymore.”

  “Oh, He hears you, dear, and He’s listening with both ears wide open. And He’s answering those prayers of yours, too.” Carol brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and patted her cheek. “Maybe you’re the one who needs to listen more carefully…and with an open heart.”

  “My heart is broken into a million pieces. I don’t think it will ever be glued back together again.”

  “It’s not glue you want, but a seamless mend,” Carol advised. “So we’re fortunate for the fact that not only is God a good listener, but He’s a miraculous tailor, as well. He’ll mend that heart of yours, no matter how many fragments might be scattered to the wind, in His own time. Hang in there, Addy. You’ll see.”

  “In the meantime, Garrett…”

  “Will find his own path, too. Looks like he’s found a friend in Lindy. She’s a good girl…a little rough around the edges and opinionated as they come, but sweet nonetheless.” Carol released Addy and stepped back. Her gray eyes twinkled beneath dappled sunlight that danced over a distant ridge. “She’s had to grow up tough—her mama ran off the summer she turned eleven.”

  “Oh, that’s awful. Why?”

  “Said she fell out of love. She met someone new on the rodeo circuit and the rest is no more than a sad, sad story. It was a shock to all of us. Lindy’s got a good daddy, though, in Sam. He’s planning to remarry this summer to Lila Jenkins…the librarian in town. Now, that’s an unlikely pair. You never know what the good Lord has in store.”

  “Isn’t that the truth!” Addy leaned against the counter. “I never imagined He’d send so much misfortune my way.”

  “It’s all in your perspective, dear…and in your ability to trust God’s plan. That’s the hardest part for all of us, and sometimes we need a little help to find our way.” Carol tsked merrily as she turned toward the stove to slather juice over the roast. The rich aroma rushed up in a cloud of steam, reigniting Addy’s appetite. “So I’ve made a decision. You and Garrett are both coming to church with us this Sunday.”

  “What? No, I can’t. We can’t.” Addy stammered for an excuse. “Garrett’s grounded.”

  “From church?”

  “From life.” She nodded. Yes, that should do it. “He’s grounded from everything. Period.”

  “Good luck with that.” Carol laughed. “There’s no use digging in your heels and staging a protest. It’s settled. The two of you are coming to church with us, Addy. We’re having a pot luck following the service, and it’s the perfect time to introduce you to some of the fine people in this community. Jace will swing by to pick you up around nine-thirty or so, and he’ll make sure you get back home safely following the meal and fellowship.”

  “Shouldn’t you ask him first?” Addy’s gaze flicked through the window over the sink to find Jace walking alongside Garrett as they crossed toward the barn together. Garrett held tight to the calf’s rope while fingers of sunlight caressed the pair, wrapping them in a soft halo of light. “I mean, what if he’s not OK with taking me?”

  “Oh, he’s OK with it.” Carol’s gaze joined Addy’s, and together they watched Jace disappear through the barn doors with Garrett at his side. “After thirty-six years of knowing my son, I can assure you he’s perfectly OK with it, Addy. As a matter of fact, I imagine he might very well welcome the opportunity with open arms.”

  “Thank you.” The pressure in Addy’s chest lightened. Suddenly, the headache that had plagued her for weeks now disappeared. “Can I help you with dinner?”

  “Of course you can. I thought you’d never ask.” Carol laughed again, light and easy, and Addy wondered how sadness didn’t consume her since she’d lost her own husband not long before Mack had died. “Come on inside while the boys and Lindy get the animals settled and they wash the mud off the wayward calf. We’ll see what we can whip up for that growing son of yours to go along with the roast and potatoes.”

  7

  The rumble of a pick-up truck drew Addy’s attention toward the driveway the next morning. Gravel crunched beneath tires and spat in displeasure as the truck settled in the shade of a huge weeping willow that spread its arms between the garage and the barn.

  “Hey, Addy.” Jace dipped his hat as he climbed from the driver’s seat and stuffed the truck’s keys into the front pocket of his jeans. “How are you today?”

  “Good.” She nodded, glad the single word constituted an honest answer. For the first time in weeks, she’d awakened to soft rays of sunlight reaching over the horizon and in her own bed instead of sprawled on the couch. The headache that had hung on relentlessly for weeks now had yet to arrive. Perhaps it would decide to forgo its visit today. “I made coffee.”

  “Great. I can use a good, strong cup or two. Sam and I were up past midnight filling in the hole that nearly swallowed the calf, in case the rains come again. It should be good now, though. No more accidents or lost calves.”

  “What about Charlie?”

  “Charlie?”

  “Yes…Good Luck Charlie, the calf you and Garrett r
escued?”

  “Wow…” Jace laughed softly as he removed his hat and raked a hand through his hair. “You named him, huh?’

  “Not me—Garrett and Lindy did the honors.”

  “I see. Well, doesn’t that beat all? I suppose we’ll have to find a special place for her, other than the dinner table.”

  “Other than the dinner table?” The full meaning of the words took root. Addy blanched. “Oh, Jace, you wouldn’t…”

  “Let’s see…” He pushed back the cuff of his over-shirt to check his watch. “Barely six-thirty and the guilt wagon has already arrived. Go figure.”

  “Really, come on, Jace.”

  “Well, I do own a ranch and that means…” He shook his head. “Never mind. My plan is to use her for calves.”

  “Calves?”

  “Good grief, we have a long way to go here.” Jace took the coffee mug she offered, sipped, swallowed, and sighed with satisfaction. “Some cows make good mothers and are used for breeding. Perhaps Charlie will make a good breeder…time will tell.”

  “Whew…that’s a relief.”

  “Depends on whether you’re the cow…or the hungry diner waiting for a meal.”

  “I’ll pass on the meal if I’ve looked the poor creature in the eyes. Maybe I’ll even become a vegetarian if it comes to that. I think I have a vegetarian cookbook in one of those moving boxes somewhere inside…”

  “Speaking of boxes…don’t you think it’s about time you unpack them?”

  “Probably…yes.” The unpacking had stalled when Mack died. Each day Addy meant to tackle the half-dozen or so cartons that still lined the spare room off the kitchen meant to become an office, but the task had seemed insurmountable…until now. Addy sipped her coffee, her gaze connecting with Jace’s over the rim of the mug. His eyes were large, observant, and carried the intense blue-green shade of his T-shirt. “But Charlie…you’ll save the cute little…um…calf, right?”

  “Cute little…” His laughter tumbled. “I don’t know, Addy, I grill a pretty mean steak. What do you think is the purpose of owning a ranch?”