by Cheree Alsop
Cassidy ran out of the house at that moment. “Dad, can I invite Magnum to dinner? I’m sure he could help work on the house. He’s really strong, and he’s dependable. He’ll be able to cut the work time in half and we’ll have the foundation dug in no time!” She paused as if she realized she had been rambling.
Uncle Rick gave her an exasperated look. “I told you to stop seeing that boy. You need to be with someone your own age.”
“He’s only two years older than me,” she pointed out. “And he’s working on a football scholarship.”
That surprised Uncle Rick. He looked at me as I led Madelyn to the table. “Is that true?”
I nodded. “There have been scouts out watching his last training sessions. It looks like he might get an offer from State.”
Uncle Rick took off his cowboy hat, rubbed his forehead, then placed his hat back on his head. “I guess it wouldn’t be so bad to have another set of hands.”
“Thank you, Daddy, thank you!” Cassidy replied. She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before running back to the house.
“Where are you going?”
“To call Magnum,” she yelled over her shoulder as she disappeared into the house.
“He’ll miss dinner,” Uncle Rick muttered. “We’re not waiting to eat.”
“It’ll be fine,” Aunt Lauren replied, setting a hand on his arm. “It’s nice of you to let him come.”
Uncle Rick pulled out a lawn chair for Aunt Lauren and helped her sit at the table. I followed his actions and drew out a chair for Madelyn. She gave me a surprised look and sat down.
“You’ve turned into quite the gentleman,” Mom noted with a pleased smile as she took a seat between Madelyn and Deputy Addison.
“I’ve had a good teacher,” I replied.
Uncle Rick pretended not to hear us, but I saw the satisfied smile on his face when he sat down next to Aunt Lauren.
Madelyn and I held hands while we ate. It turned into a game, trying to pick up our hamburgers while not letting go of each other’s hands. She had it easier because she was on my right side. Eating a hamburger with only my left turned into a learning experience. By the end, a pickle and a tomato had taken up residence on my pants, and I had a not-so-charming mustard stain down my shirt.
Mr. West and Uncle Rick talked pretty much the entire meal about the best breed of cows to range on the arid land. Apparently, Mr. West was interested in turning his property into a ranch, now that he wasn’t needed at home so much.
“Getting tired of editing?” Uncle Rick asked.
“Sometimes I’m content reading about other people’s adventures,” Mr. West replied. “Other times, I want to go have some for myself.”
“Maybe you can turn them into a book,” Aunt Lauren suggested.
Mr. West gave her a warm smile. “You know, I just might. It’d be nice to let someone else do the editing for a change.”
“I doubt you’d need much of that,” Deputy Addison said. “When I heard that the esteemed Joseph West lived on our doorstep, I almost flooded you with manuscripts myself.”
Mom looked surprised. “I didn’t know you wrote books.”
Deputy Addison gave her an embarrassed smile. “I don’t know if I would call them ‘books.’ It’s more like a collection of writing that should probably never see the light of day.”
“I’d love to read them,” Mom said.
“We’ll see,” he replied. It was obvious he was both pleased and worried about her interest at the same time. He glanced at me. “There may be, uh, exploits of the Black Rider.”
Mr. West’s eyebrows rose. “I always felt like that would be the basis for an interesting story.”
Madelyn’s hand tightened in mine. “I agree,” she replied, giving me a smile.
I shook my head. “If you write like Martin, nobody will believe it.”
Deputy Addison chuckled. “Luckily, I’m close enough to know the truth. My writing’s not quite as . . .”
“Flamboyant?” Mom supplied helpfully.
“Idiotic?” Cole put in.
“How about colorful?” Jaren added.
Deputy Addison nodded. “Colorful. I like that. Martin is a very colorful writer. I’m more down to earth.”
“I wouldn’t mind taking a glance at the manuscript when you’re done with it,” Mr. West invited.
It was clear how much his offer meant to the deputy. “Thank you very much,” he replied. He threw Mom a surprised look. She smiled back and took his hand.
It didn’t bother me one bit. I couldn’t help but be glad at the look of happiness on Mom’s face. She glanced at me and I gave her an approving smile. She smiled back and leaned her head on the deputy’s shoulder. I squeezed Madelyn’s hand, happy to be with her without the need to sneak to her house every night, though I still cherished our trips by moonlight to the little hidden pond.
Cassidy jumped up at the sight of Magnum’s rusted red truck. Uncle Rick’s sigh of distaste was obvious as she raced up the road. Magnum stopped when he reached her and picked her up, then drove the rest of the way to the house.
“She could have just waited,” Uncle Rick grumbled.
“She’s excited, dear,” Aunt Lauren told him, patting his arm. “Remember being so young and in love?”
He gave her an aghast stare. “She’s not in love. She’s sixteen. It might help if everyone can help her remember that.”
“Oh, Rick,” Aunt Lauren said fondly.
Magnum walked over with Cassidy practically skipping beside him.
“I hear there’s a backhoe that needs to be driven,” Magnum said when he reached the table.
Uncle Rick gave him an appraising look. “You know how to drive one?”
Magnum nodded. “I drove a backhoe the full summer last year, digging ditches for the Dixons when they bought their new property.”
“Up by Anderson’s?” Uncle Rick asked.
“On the east corner,” Magnum replied.
Uncle Rick nodded. “That was good work.” His surprise was obvious.
Magnum just shrugged. “Got to provide for the family somehow,” he said.
Uncle Rick stood. “Well, we’ve got work to do and I’ll pay you for it.”
“I’ve come as a favor to Cass,” Magnum said, shaking his head. “I’m happy to help out.”
“I heard about your house,” Uncle Rick told him. “I’m glad insurance is going to cover it, but I know being out of your home can be a great inconvenience. If you do the work, I’m more than happy to pay you.”
Magnum looked at me for guidance. I nodded. “Take it. The more you’re behind the wheel, the less likely I am to destroy the backhoe.”
Uncle Rick nodded in agreement. “Trust me. You’re saving me money in the long run.” He held out a hand.
Magnum laughed. “I guess I can’t deny that.” He shook Uncle Rick’s hand.
“Let’s go see the plot,” Uncle Rick said.
We joined him as he led the way farther down the dirt road. “We’ll plow the middle so the bottom of your car doesn’t get destroyed by the weeds,” Uncle Rick explained. We followed him down the dirt path made by tire tracks that left a row in between of mustard weeds and alfalfa almost waist high.
“I think the Volkswagen can take it,” Mom replied. Uncle Rick stared at her. She laughed. “Not really.”
Aunt Lauren linked her arm through her husband’s as he led the way. He appeared to be in a surprisingly good mood, considering Cassidy’s companion. Cassidy decided to take advantage of the situation and hurried them both up to walk by her parents.
At her nudge, Magnum searched for a conversation starter. “Um, Mr. Ashby, while we’re staying with my aunt in town, she’d like us to plant a garden. Do you have any recommendations for what grows best in this environment?”
Uncle Rick nodded, his eyes on the fields around us. “What you want is somethin’ hardy enough for the arid climate that’s not a water hog and can stand a bit of alkaline soi
l.”
“In English, honey,” Aunt Lauren said, patting his arm. She threw me a look over her shoulder that was filled with laughter, reminding me of the multiple times he had asked me to help him out in similar verbiage that went straight over my head.
Uncle Rick chuckled. “All right, dear.” He cleared his throat and glanced at Magnum. “I’d recommend zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, squash, and probably some onions and green peppers. You’re catchin’ the planting season just right—we’re not anticipatin’ any more freezes. Just be sure to dig the seeds deep enough so the birds don’t steal them.”
“Got it,” Magnum replied. He grinned at me.
I gave him a thumbs-up. Madelyn laughed quietly at my side, her eyes as bright as the golden sunbeams reaching over the land as the sun sank behind the mountains.
“This here’s yours,” Uncle Rick said, stopping at the corner of a field.
It looked very similar to the land around it, except the field wasn’t planted.
“I’ve let it lay fallow in case we decided to use it again, but I think it’d do better with gardening.”
The smile on Mom’s face was enough to warm any heart. “I’ve always wanted my own garden,” she breathed, staring at the square patch of land before us. It was about half an acre and was far enough back from the Ashby house to give both families privacy. Mom looked like she was going to cry. Deputy Addison put an arm around her shoulder and held her close.
“Are you okay, Sarah?” Aunt Lauren asked.
Mom nodded. “It’s just so perfect. I never imagined anything like this when I came out here after Kelson.”
“It’s not even built yet,” Uncle Rick said, his tone slightly surprised.
“I can picture it,” she replied, sniffing.
Uncle Rick gave Aunt Lauren a bewildered look.
She smiled at him. “Remember how I cried when you brought me here?”
“The house was already finished,” Uncle Rick replied. “There was something to look at.”
“Don’t worry, dear. It’s normal,” Aunt Lauren reassured him.
“Ever have gopher problems?” Deputy Addison asked.
Uncle Rick gave him a grateful look as if relieved there was someone sane in the midst of the group. They walked away through the field and Uncle Rick pointed out the mounds he had dealt with.
A truck pulling a backhoe drove down the road toward us.
“Hey, Buck,” Mr. West called when the man climbed out of his truck.
“Have I got ta right place?” Buck asked.
Mr. West motioned toward the field. “This is the one. Guess I’ll go pull my backhoe around.”
“Might not be anythin’ left ta work on,” Buck answered with a grin that revealed the jutting front teeth he had been nicknamed for. “’Specially if’n ya got Fisher’s boy workin’ on it.” He nodded at Magnum. “That was nice work on ta Dixon field.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mason,” Magnum replied, clearly embarrassed and surprised everyone knew about the work he had done.
“I might be obliged ta have ya re-dig the ditches ‘round Cropper Lane, if’n ya need work next spring,” Buck continued.
“I appreciate that,” Magnum replied. “I’m hoping to be going to college at State, but come summer I might have to look you up.”
Buck nodded. “Make sure ya do that.”
By the time Mr. West had his backhoe off the trailer, Uncle Rick and Magnum had already marked the four corners of the house using the blueprints Uncle Rick had brought with him. Magnum climbed into the backhoe and began digging the first side.
“Remember what I showed you,” Uncle Rick called as I climbed up to the other backhoe.
“It’s not as hard as it looks,” Mr. West told me. He tipped his head to Uncle Rick. “But it wouldn’t hurt to begin slow and make sure you know what you’re doing.”
His kindness startled me. Apparently being with the Ashbys had improved his mood. “Uh, thanks,” I replied.
He gave me brief instructions on driving the machine, then climbed down. “You don’t want to try it first?” I called down to him.
He laughed and waved me away. “You’ll do fine. Just take it slow.”
Magnum had already started digging the second trench. He made it look extremely simple. I took a deep breath and started the engine.
MAGNUM’S SKILLS HAD BEEN required to straighten out the slightly crooked lines from my first attempt, but by the time it was too dark to see, we had made a good headway on the job.
“Not too shabby,” Uncle Rick said when I climbed down.
“Who thought I would actually be good at driving a backhoe?” I asked.
“We might get a house built yet,” Uncle Rick replied.
We walked over to join Magnum and Cassidy. She had waited with her father while the rest of the Ashbys, my mom, and Deputy Addison went back to the house. Apparently watching someone drive a backhoe was far less exciting than doing it, though I figured that after a few days, I would be plenty tired of the repetitive work.
As it was, I was just glad I had been able to complete the task without damaging the tractor or messing up the lines. All in all, it was an evening well spent.
The dinner bell rang.
“Want to race?” Cassidy asked.
“I’m in,” Magnum said.
I glanced at Uncle Rick.
“Don’t suppose that because I’m old it makes me slow,” he said. He started running, catching us by surprise.
“Dad, you cheated!” Cassidy shouted.
He laughed. “Got to get a head start on you kids somehow!” he called over his shoulder.
We raced to catch him. Cassidy reached the door at the same time as her father. “A tie!” she exclaimed.
Uncle Rick shrugged as we caught up to them. “You forget that your old man used to run track.”
“That was, like, centuries ago,” she replied, gasping. She pulled the door open and went inside. “I can’t believe Dad almost beat me,” she exclaimed.
Uncle Rick leaned against the door. “I don’t think I’ll be doing that again for a while,” he said, working to catch his breath.
Magnum nodded and bent over with his hands on his knees. “Your daughter is sure fast.”
Uncle Rick chuckled. “The best way to keep the boys from catchin’ her.”
I laughed. “Anyone who tries has got their work cut out for them.”
When we walked into the kitchen, Aunt Lauren and Mom had a meal of chicken and mashed potatoes with fresh dinner rolls ready. The group had gotten larger with the addition of Magnum and Deputy Addison and we barely fit around the table, but everyone enjoyed it.
“Kelson tells us you’re working on a football scholarship,” Mom said to Magnum.
He nodded and swallowed the bite of mashed potatoes he had just stuck in his mouth. “Yes, ma’am. Scouts from State were out about a week ago, and Coach said they had good things to say.”
“Good to hear,” Aunt Lauren said, giving him a smile. “We always enjoyed watching you play.”
“I let the last two years slide,” Magnum replied with regret in his voice. “I’ve got a lot to make up for.”
“I think you’ve found a fine start,” Deputy Addison told him. “Sparrow is proud of their football players, and it’s nice to see you back on the team.”
Magnum nodded. “I’m grateful Coach Farston gave me a second chance.”
“From what I’ve seen, he was glad to get a quarterback who could throw,” Uncle Rick noted as he smothered his chicken in white gravy.
“Beau wasn’t that bad,” Magnum said. At everyone’s stares, he laughed. “All right, he was that bad.”
Chuckles filled the table as everyone ate their food.
THE SPRING PARADE MARKED the beginning of Spring Break and the Spring Festival for Sparrow. On Monday morning, Main Street was lined with families crowded together to see the parade.
“I guess I’d better join the others,” Deputy Addison said, clearly relucta
nt to leave our group.
“You look great in your uniform,” Mom told him. “We’ll be watching for you!”
“You sure you don’t want to ride as the Black Rider?” Deputy Addison asked in an undertone. “The sheriff said you’d be more than welcome. It might boost the town morale and let them know you’re still keeping an eye on the place.”
I glanced at Mom. Her worried look said she had overheard. I shook my head. “I appreciate the offer, but I think it’d be better to keep a low profile with the FBI around. I don’t want to rub it in their faces.”
He nodded. “Probably smart.” He reached toward Mom, then glanced at me.
I grimaced. “Go for it.”
He laughed and kissed Mom before walking off to join the rest of the deputies near the sheriff’s truck.
Madelyn slipped her hand into mine as we sat on the camping chairs the Ashbys had brought. Cassidy and Magnum relaxed on a blanket. Uncle Rick, Aunt Lauren, and Mom lounged in the shade of the umbrella Uncle Rick had set up and ate the big turkey legs Aunt Lauren had been craving. The scent of the barbecued turkey tickled my nose.
“Want a turkey leg?” I asked Madelyn.
She laughed. “One of those?” She pointed to the leg Aunt Lauren held that was almost as big as her face. Aunt Lauren took a huge bite that was more worthy of a Viking than a smallish woman. She then dabbed daintily with a napkin at the barbecue sauce that was smeared across her face. Mom ate one with a bit less enthusiasm and laughed at her sister.
Madelyn shrugged. “It looks like a good challenge.”
I stood to go buy her a turkey leg, but just then, the sound of gunshots ricocheted along the street.
I froze halfway between sitting and standing. My muscles were tense as I scanned the street for the danger. The sight of six veteran soldiers marching at the head of the parade with old-fashioned rifles held at an angle across their chests eased my dread. The smell of gunpowder drifted to us. I let out a slow breath.
“You okay?” Madelyn asked.
I nodded and stood completely, willing my heart to stop pounding. “Yes. I’ll be back with your turkey leg.”