Buffalo Gal
Page 16
Buffy nodded and leaned her head against Wyatt’s shoulder. So strong. So alone because she wasn’t with him. “I’ve spent my whole life studying buffalo. I’ve researched their history, their genetics, their health, and how money is made from them.”
“You’d be the perfect person to run this business.”
“And the ones I couldn’t save would have to die.”
“Yes,” Wyatt said without flinching. “It’s not a perfect solution, but you know Yellowstone sells off part of its herd for meat. Leonard would have had to start doing it. You have to cull the herd somehow, or they overgraze the range and ruin the prairie grass and die of starvation.”
“I’ve thought about it for years.” Tears stung Buffy’s eyes. “I’ve thought about it until I’ve got brain fatigue from thinking about it.”
“You can’t turn South Dakota into a buffalo commons. There are nearly a million people in this state. There’s no natural barrier between here and Denver. It’s impossible to move Denver. You know that.”
Buffy nodded. “I know that.”
“So tell Yellowstone to get themselves another girl. Stay here and finish your dissertation and be the most overeducated woman to ever hitch herself to a country boy with a high school diploma.”
“I feel like I’m betraying them, Wyatt. Just like I’ve been betrayed.”
“You’re not. You’re saving them. You’ll be the woman who turned a novelty into a thriving breed. Stay here with me.” He lowered his head and kissed her gently. “Be my Buffalo Gal.”
He kissed her again.
Buffy let herself sink into the kiss. . .and her future.
At last she turned and studied the herd. Her friends. She said a prayer under her breath, “God, there is no other way.” She was asking for forgiveness, and as simply as that, she knew God didn’t think she needed it.
She sat still and felt Wyatt’s tension and hope. And his love. “You’re my future, Wyatt. You and Sally and the boys.”
“And buffalo. You were called to care for them. I won’t ever make you give that up.”
“What if we can’t make it pay?”
Wyatt hesitated. “Wolf is as passionate about these buff as you. He’s not just hoping. He’s done a lot of research. He thinks it’ll work.”
“If we can’t afford to keep them, can I at least have one as a pet?”
Wyatt smiled in the moonlight; then he laughed. “It’s a deal. And not just one. We’ll make sure it’s at least a family.”
They sat together in the dark, with the buffalo. It had always been the time they were best together.
She turned away from the herd. “We can make it work.”
“Is that a yes?”
Buffy rested her hand on his cheek and felt his strength. “That’s a yes.”
“No more standing alone,” Wyatt added. “From now on, you’re not a buffalo. You’re that mama possum with babies hanging from her tail.”
“Just how many children do you want to have?” Buffy asked suspiciously.
“How’s seven sound?” Wyatt gave her a quick kiss on the nose.
“Seven?” Buffy slapped his arm, but there wasn’t any force behind it.
“Well, we’ve got three already.”
Buffy nodded. “That’s a good start.”
“This weekend—five days from now—we’re getting married.”
“There you go, being domineering again.”
Wyatt gave her an unrepentant grin. “Let’s go tell Sally and the boys.”
“No, Sally’s asleep.” Buffy pointed at the baby monitor sitting beside her on the fence. “And so are the boys and Anna. Let’s sit here awhile longer. I want to think among my buffalo.”
So they sat, and she thought, but not for long.
God had told her she’d have to stand alone for a while. She’d done it. It had been hard, but it had forged her into the woman she wanted to be.
But the time was past. Now she’d stand with Wyatt.
She wasn’t alone anymore.
Epilogue
Buffy Lange became Ally Shaw, standing in front of a preacher, with a buffalo herd munching grass at her back.
Sally perched on Wyatt’s shoulders through the ceremony. Cody and Colt only tried to shoot each other twice while the pastor was talking.
Wolf stood up with both of them, because although he refused to be a bridesmaid, he said it was disloyal to pick Wyatt over Buffy.
The S Bar B Ranch—Shaw Buffalo Ranch—was born.
About the Author
MARY CONNEALY is an author, journalist, and teacher. She writes for three divisions of Barbour Publishing: Heartsong Presents, Barbour Trade Fiction, and Heartsong Presents Mysteries. Mary lives on a farm in Nebraska with her husband, Ivan. They have four daughters: Joslyn—married to Matt; Wendy; Shelly—married to Aaron; and Katy.
Dedication
Two people are really responsible (or to blame) for me writing. Wendy Connealy and Janell Gatewood Carson. Wendy, my daughter, was ten or eleven when she wrote this very short book about the Bermuda Triangle, and it was really good. I’m still in negotiations with her to steal her idea. So far. . .no way. Janell, my kindergarten classmate, interviewed all the WWII veterans in her area (not while she was in kindergarten) and got a book printed to sell in the local county museum. It was really well done and a fun, fascinating read. I was so impressed with both of them and thought, If they can write a book, maybe I can, too, and fired up my computer for the first time. Thank you both for being an inspiration.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Mary Connealy
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683