The Rancher's Daughter

by Pamela Ladner

  They showed up two days later with horses in tow and a million ideas on how to make it successful. Sam had been on the phone with the foreman’s of ranches in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and one ranch up in Arkansas. He had a few men and women lined up for the rodeo. Although a date was not set yet, people seemed to be interested or they just wanted to help. It didn’t really matter to Sam which one it was, as long as they showed up. There were a few others that needed to have more details first. In addition, there were some who just weren’t interested.

  He called the ranch where Heath worked, and was told that Heath was not there. He wondered where he was but figured the boss probably had him running around somewhere. He asked that they give him the message and spread the word around to see if anyone was interested in competing.

  Later that night they were all gathered around in the ranch house living room discussing ideas. They came up with a few good ones such as wild cow milking and mounted shooting. They figured on a race and a roping event. The ideas just kept coming. Then they discussed what kind of permits and things would be needed and what to do about injuries. They would have to line up an emergency crew that would probably cost money. They discussed how much money they would have to collect at the gate and how many people they thought they could get to come. They discussed how to advertise it. They were on a budget and could only do so much with what they had. It cost plenty of money to put one of these things on but hopefully they would make enough back to cover it and make a little extra.

  They hadn’t heard the knock or the door opening nor did any of them see the figure standing there in the shadows of the hallway listening to their discussions. “Where are we going to get the money to cover all that?” Josey asked. “I hadn’t thought this through we can’t take out another loan. This is crazy what are we going to do? Even if we put all our money together, we would probably still be short. We’d have to sell some more of the stock. Where else are we going to get the money?” she said.

  “From me,” Heath said. Everyone turned in surprise at the voice of the man they hadn’t known was in the room. The instant their eyes met Josey and Heath both swallowed and forced their eyes away. The look that flickered across their eyes was enough to tell them both that they still longed for each other. Heath looked at his father and J.W. I have the money to put up for the event. You can pay me back afterward.” J.W. nodded his thanks. Sam jumped up and locked his son in a bear hug. Josey felt like the room was spinning. She excused herself from the room and Hilary watched her go. She grabbed J.W.s knee and squeezed it telling him with her eyes, what she could not say aloud. She got up to go check on Josey. It was after all something only a mother could understand.

  Josey was in the bathroom washing her face. She was crying and Hilary pulled her into her arms. “It seems all I do these days is cry.” Josey said. Hilary rubbed her back and leaned back to look at her. “You are just under a lot of stress. This is a man’s world Josey. Trying to carry the weight of a hundred people is not usually, what we women do. At least not women like you and me. You and I are the kind of women that work beside our men but never lead them. You’re so much like me. It’s amazing to me that you’re not my own flesh and blood. Even if we didn’t have this ranch, we’d still be that way. I’d be a homemaker and you would be too, if you were married. We are not meant to be business, women and that’s not as bad as people make it out to be these days. Oh, I know I gave it a go with the horses. Truth be, told that was the only thing I wanted to do, until I married your father. There is nothing wrong with that. We are the kind of women that puts our family, our friends and our homes before everything else. You are just overwhelmed. Your father can barely get around some days and you have taken his role on the ranch. You need a man to take up the reins. And who knows maybe that man just walked through the front door.”

  Josey understood what Hilary was telling her. She knew she needed help but no one had ever been able to fill those shoes. No one except Heath and she had run him off with her hurtful words. Yet, there he was standing in her living room offering her, a solution to half of her problem. Taking the reins from her, as Hilary had put it. She wondered if she could win him back or if it was too late for them. God knows she never stopped loving him. “I understand you’re right, Mama.” Hilary looked at her a moment, before melting into a smile. It still shocked her every time Josey called her Mama. Josey smiled back at her and wrapped her arms around her neck. “I love you.” She said. “I love you, too Josey.”

  “Now let’s get back in there and see if we can’t put our two bits in on this conversation after all it was your idea wasn’t it?” She led the way down the hallway to the living room. “I’m going to go and make us some coffee. Anybody want any?” Hilary asked. Josey sat down beside her dad. The men, in unison, raised their hands for coffee. A few minutes later Hilary came to the door “Josey could you give me a hand?” She got up to go help and Heath followed behind her. “I’ll help too.” He said. Neither one of them, caught the look that passed between Sam and J.W. or the words that were spoken next. “I see your little plan worked.” J.W. said to Sam grinning. Sam forced out a fake cough with a little wheeze. J.W. just laughed.

  “I’ll get that Mrs. Chisholm you go on out and join the men. Josey and I can get this.” Hilary thanked him and just as she passed him, she winked at Josey before leaving the kitchen. It’s been a long time Josey.” He said. “Yes it has.” She hesitated before getting the coffee cups out of the cabinet. Her hands shook from nerves. “Do you want me to leave again Josey? I’m sorry for just showing up, Dad seems to have turned into a very good actor. He does not seem as sick as he made out on the phone, but I can see some things are just as bad as he said it was. I guess he didn’t completely lie to me. How can I help? I know it isn’t my business but I was raised on this ranch and it’s my home too.” “There’s nothing you can do Heath. Dad and I took out a loan and we can’t afford to pay it. Horses dropped out of the bottom. People are literally turning horses loose in the forest around here and abandoning them in people’s pastures. One minute you go to bed with two horses and wake up with five. We can’t get the prices that we need for our horses even though they are well trained. This drought is preventing the grass from growing and the hay supply is getting low. People are out of jobs and I refuse to let the men go. They would be, hard pressed, to find a job in this community. I just don’t know what else to do. This rodeo will probably only take care of half the amount we owe at the bank. I don’t want to be the one Chisholm who couldn’t hold onto the land my ancestors fought long and hard to keep and rebuild. I’m bone tired.” She said.

  Heath looked at her boots and grunted his eyes trailed their way up. She looked so good to him but he could see the worry lines, she really was, worn out and tired. She had circles under her eyes. She had lost weight it seemed but then, he really didn’t know how much of that was from the years he’d been gone or from the stress. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. Her left hand came up to repeat what his had just done. He noticed no ring on her finger engagement or otherwise. An idea crossed his mind that he hadn’t thought of before. “How much do you owe Josey?” She gave him a figure and proceeded to tell him what she figured she could make off the rodeo. “Are you seeing anyone?” The question threw her for a moment. “What?” she said. “No! I don’t have time to see anyone; I’m trying to keep this ranch from the bank.” She looked up and her lips parted to ask a question but he was so close too close. His lips captured hers before she could decide what to do. Her body reacted instantly. Her arms went up around his neck and her lower body pressed into his. A groan passed her lips and she drew back and pushed herself out of his arms. Her fingers came up to her lips where he’d kissed her and she looked at him with confusion, hurt, and longing. He stepped back. “We’ve still got it.” He said.

  Josey immediately started pouring coffee into cups and set them on a tray. She didn’t look at him or reply to his statement. There was nothing she could say, she still l
oved him and always would there was no denying that, but she didn’t know how to go about this right. She had hurt him years ago and it scared her to think he may just be paying her back for that hurt.

  “I’ve got a proposition for you.” Heath said. “But I haven’t decided my terms just yet.” He stood up grabbed a tray and followed her into the living room.

  Chapter Four

  Josey stood on the porch of the ranch house just about to ring the lunch bell when she saw the dust swirl around in the driveway. Someone was there. She stepped down off the steps and walked out to meet them. She recognized the weasel of a banker as he stepped out of his sedan. “I still got 30 days so you can get off my property.” She said. “Now Ms. Chisholm, I came out here to talk to you and your father. We heard some talk in town and to tell you the truth we’re a little bit concerned.” The banker said. Hilary ground her teeth. “My father is busy and so am I, now if you don’t mind, LEAVE!” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Well I was just wandering how it is that you can afford to put on a rodeo when you can’t seem to pay your note?” said the banker rather sarcastically. “That’s my business, not yours Mr. Williamson, now get.” “I’m not leaving till I find out what you are up to Chisholm. You owe the bank a lot of money.” Williamson said shaking his finger at her. Josey was about to ask him to leave again but someone else came out of the shadows behind Josey and that someone had something to say. “Williamson huh, I should have known you were the one behind this charade. I’m pretty sure the lady told you to leave. And I’m telling you right now that if you don’t I’ll be dragging you out of here.” Heath said stepping out of the shadows. Williamson swallowed. “I thought you were in West Texas. How is it you know the Chisholm’s?” “This is my home Williamson, but I must say I’m a little surprised to see you. Have to say the last time I saw you, you wouldn’t have dared raise your voice and threaten a rancher but then I guess Ms Chisholm doesn’t look like your typical rancher being a woman and all that. So, let’s see they ran you out of West Texas and here you are in my old neck of the woods. What a coincidence?” Heath said flatly. Williamson shook, “I’ll be coming back and when I do you can bet this land will belong to the bank.” He squirmed as he turned and got into his car.

  They watched him drive off nearly hitting a cow that was lazing in the driveway. Heath cussed. Josey went back to the bell to ring it for lunch. Heath followed behind her. “Looks like I came home just in time.” “What do you mean?” Josey asked. “Nothing really, I just owe that worm something. That’s all.” Heath said. Josey cut her eyes toward him and gave him questioning look, but he didn’t supply any answers. They walked in the kitchen and took their seats at the table, followed by everyone else. They sat across from each other. For some reason they kept sneaking glances at each other. Every time she looked up she found his eyes on her and it made her feel like a teenager again. She honestly didn’t know how much more she could stand. Just being near him, made her body pull in his direction. She couldn’t get him out of her thoughts and she needed a clear head. The bank was trying to take her family’s ranch from her. She had to think about that but he was in her every thought.

  Everyone bowed their heads and Sam said a prayer. He thanked God for bringing his son home and for providing them with an answer to help save the ranch. He thanked him for the food and everyone said Amen. They all dug in and Heath was a little surprised to learn that Josey had cooked the meal herself. Before he left there was a cook on the ranch but he was told that Cook retired some time ago and that Hilary and Josey shared in the cooking. “I always wanted to be a homemaker anyway.” Hilary said. “But there ain’t a thing that could have taken me away from my horses. I just wouldn’t be me without them.” She said. “It bothers me to see them treated as if they’re worthless. People just abandoning them where they please. All the sale barns are closing or switching to cattle and other forms of livestock to stay afloat.” The whole table grew quiet for a minute. J.W broke the silence. “Who was our visitor earlier, Josey?”

  “That weasel of a banker. He heard about the rodeo and came to investigate. Heath sent him on his way though.” She said. Heath spoke up. “The same guy was in West Texas a few years ago. He went after every ranch he could get his hands on. A lot of the neighboring ranches got word of it and sent him packing. I should have known he’d end up here.” He straightened in his seat and continued. “That weasel would show up if you got behind one month. My boss had me run him off more than once. He never threatened him the way he did Josey today. I expect he was a little terrified of him, being a lawyer and all. Guess he thinks he can bully women, picked the wrong woman though.” He laughed at his joke, and the rest of the men joined in. Each, and every one of them, had something good to say about Josey. They all had a tale, about something she did that would have shocked most women. They were all proud of her. They all loved her too. It was in all their faces, good friends who had become a family.

  Heath thought about that word. He really had missed this. This was the only family he had ever known. He and Josey nearly had their own little family once. If only he’d stayed, maybe they still would have. They would have gotten back together and he would have asked her to marry him. He pictured what his life would be like married to her. He pictured little girls and boys running around calling him daddy and her mommy. That was the life they should have had. He wished he could have it all back. There was no changing the past. Maybe, he thought, just maybe they could have a future, though.

  The conversation continued with all the sounds of forks scraping their plates and ice clinking in tea glasses. Soon everyone was standing up and putting their plates in the sink. Josey started washing them but Hilary shooed her away saying she would do it since she hadn’t helped cook. Josey stepped out the back door and walked to the barn. She rolled down her sleeves since it was a little chilly out. She got a lead rope and walked out to catch Legend. Heath followed grabbing a second lead rope. “Mind if I join you?” He asked. She shook her head and smiled “You can take the gray.” She said. She watched as he saddled her fathers’ horse up. It fit him she thought. This was the one man, whom could take up the reins of her fathers’ ranch and set things straight. She saddled legend with ease. It was so natural to her. She rode out often checking fence and checking cattle. It was a daily habit of hers. She got her saddlebags, and checked to make sure she had fencing tools. Then she added some bottled waters on the other side. She tied it off to the saddle and pulled the headstall over Legends head. He didn’t fight the bit at all. She checked the girth one last time before stepping up in the saddle. She wasn’t very tall but she was limber enough that she mounted with ease. Heath followed, close behind. They rode out to the south pasture, in silence.

  About an hour out, she found a broken wire in the fence. She dismounted and got out her fencing pliers and pulled on her gloves and set to work. Heath dismounted and helped. He helped her bend and stretch the wire until he was sure it would hold then they got a bottle of water out. They sat down in the shade and let the horses get a belly full of grass while they drank their water and talked. This was what it would be like to work beside the woman you love. This is how it would have been if he’d stayed, he thought.

  Her hair was down and the wind blew it in her face. The hat on her head only managed to keep it out of her eyes. It settled in the corner of her mouth catching in the wet crease. Heath smoothed it behind her ear with one gloved hand and just like before he bent and kissed her, knocking the hat off her head. This time the kiss was more passionate and dragged his hand down her side resting on her right breast. He rubbed and fondled until it peaked. She moaned and leaned back. Heath followed until he was on top of her. He pulled his glove off with his teeth and spit it out. His hand went back to the peak it had just left and then slid to the other one. He held himself up on his left arm and unbuttoned her blouse with his right hand, never taking his lips off her.

  Sliding the shirt to the side and pulling her bra down. He re
sted the small mound in his hand and found its peak once again only this time with his warm mouth. He licked, sucked and nibbled at the peak before moving to the next breast. Josey ran her hand through his hair tugging on it and arching her back toward him. She hadn’t felt so much pleasure since last she was with him and she knew it was too soon but nothing would let her stop it. This man, whom she had never stopped loving, was in her arms pleasuring her with his mouth.

  The horses neighed and they heard another horse answer in the distance they sat up Josey fixed her bra and buttoned her shirt. She stood up and Heath placed her hat on her head, then reached down and grabbed the water bottle. Sam rode up and greeted them. “I thought I heard some horses greeting my Little Gyp.” He said. “You taking a break?” He asked. Heath answered. “We just finished we were about to mount back up. We found a break in the fence and fixed it. We got a little thirsty. Where are you heading?” he asked his dad. “Just checking the fences son, but I see y’all have it covered. I think I’ll head on over to the West and check things out over there.” The smile on his face told Heath that he knew exactly what they were doing. If that didn’t do it, his next sentence proved it. “Behave yourselves now. Ya here?” he teased, winking.