The Rebel of Copper Creek (Copper Creek Cowboys)

by R. C. Ryan

  “What’s he doing in a place like Copper Creek?”

  Griff shrugged. “That’s a good question. He seems to spend most of his time making those around him miserable.”

  There wasn’t time to say more as the plane began its descent and came in for a smooth landing along the strip of asphalt.

  Even before Griff stepped out of the plane, Casey and Ethan were running up to greet him.

  “Griff. I knew it was you. I told Mama it was you.” Casey gave Griff a fierce hug before turning to his brother. “Didn’t I, Efan?”

  The older boy nodded and shyly stepped close enough for Griff to haul him up into his arms for a hug.

  For a moment he held both boys close, wondering at the feeling of joy that poured through him.

  Just then the copilot door opened. When Ethan spotted Mad, he raced around to throw his arms around the old man’s waist.

  “Well now, laddie, that’s the warmest greeting I’ve had in a long time. I’ve missed you, too.”

  Griff removed the wheelchair from the rear seat and helped Mad into it. Before he could begin to push it forward, Mad patted his lap. “Come on, lads. Hitch a ride.”

  They needed no coaxing. They hopped up on his lap and gave whoops of delight as Griff wheeled them toward the barn.

  The strip of asphalt ended at the entrance to the barn. Once there they paused to allow their eyes to adjust from bright sunlight to the dimmer light inside the big building.

  What they saw had them staring in surprise.

  In the center of the barn Stan Novak—his shaved head gleaming in the glow of overhead lights, his rail-thin body no bigger than the size of a teenage boy—sat in the saddle of a swaybacked mare that moved in a plodding circle while Juliet issued softly spoken commands.

  “You’re doing great, Stan. Now slow your mount. Bring her to a halt. Good. Now turn her to the left.”

  The man followed her commands before shooting her a wide, gap-toothed grin. “How’m I doing, Juliet?”

  “Just fine, Stan. You have Princess completely under control.”

  She turned to a heavily tattooed veteran who looked like a linebacker. “How about it, Hank? Are you ready to follow Stan?”

  Hank Wheeler gave a quick shake of his head. “Not today, Juliet. I’m just not ready.”

  “You’re never ready.” Heywood Sperry’s angry bark got everyone’s attention. As usual, he wore a muscle shirt to show off his toned upper body. His face was marred by a scowl.

  “Mama.” Casey shouted from his perch on Mad’s lap. “Look who’s here with Griff. It’s Grandpa Mad.”

  Jimmy Gable shouted out, “Hey, Griff. I was hoping I’d get to see you again.”

  Griff managed a smile and a wave to his old marine buddy.

  Juliet’s icy look in Griff’s direction turned into a blazing smile when she spotted Mad. She hurried over. “You came.”

  “You invited me, remember? I figured it was time to take you up on your invitation.”

  “Oh, Mad, I’m so glad to see you.” She clasped his hand. “Will you ride when I’ve finished with the others?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe. For now, I’ll just watch.”

  “What’re they doing here?” Sperry’s frown deepened. “I thought you were offering this service for veterans.”

  Jimmy Gable’s voice cut in. “I told you. Griff and I served in the marines together. He’s my old captain.”

  “He’s not mine.” Sperry’s voice was a growl of anger. “Come on, Juliet. We’re paying customers, and you’re wasting our time.”

  Ignoring him, Juliet said to the entire group, “You know Griff Warren. Now I’d like you all to welcome Griff’s grandfather, Mad MacKenzie.”

  “Hey, Mad,” the voices rang out. “Welcome to the club.”

  Mad smiled and nodded.

  Sperry’s voice rose above the others. “Just ’cause he’s in a wheelchair doesn’t mean he’s part of the Romeos.”

  “Just ignore the crabcake,” Jimmy said with a laugh. The others laughed with him.

  “All right, Stan. Time for your dismount.” Juliet guided the machine to the man on horseback, lifting him easily from the saddle to his waiting wheelchair.

  Then she turned to a young man whose face was as round as a basketball, his stomach protruding over the waist of his faded denims. “Okay, Billy Joe. It’s your turn to get in the saddle.”

  He began alternately shaking and sweating. Without warning he broke down in tears.

  Juliet put an arm around his shoulders and leaned down to say, “It’s all right, Billy Joe. You know you never have to do anything you’re not comfortable doing. But you haven’t tried since you came back this week.” She knelt in front of him. “Did you forget to take your antianxiety medicine again?”

  He wiped his eyes with a rag before nodding.

  “How long this time?”

  He blew his nose. “I don’t know. Maybe a week or more.”

  “You know what happens when you don’t take your prescriptions, Billy Joe.”

  “Yeah.” He looked away. “I get scared.”

  “But when you take them, you’re not so afraid.”

  “But I get spacey when I take all that medicine.”

  “Which would you rather be? Scared all the time, or a little spaced-out?”

  He shrugged. “I guess spacey isn’t so bad.”

  “That’s right. So tonight, before you go to bed, be sure you take your medicine. And Billy Joe, you need to have a talk with your doctor. Okay? It isn’t safe to discontinue strong medicines in the middle of treatment. Promise you’ll talk to your doctor? He may even be able to find something that doesn’t have so many side effects.”

  He sniffed and nodded.

  She patted his shoulder affectionately before turning to Jimmy Gable. “You ready, Jimmy?”

  “Sure thing.” He grinned and waited while she adjusted the lift. When he was comfortably settled in the saddle, he waved to Griff. “Hey, look at me. I’m a cowboy.”

  Following Juliet’s instructions, he began putting the mare through her paces, having her walk in a circle, halt, turn, and walk in the opposite direction. When he’d become comfortable in the saddle, Juliet led the mare out into the sunshine and turned horse and rider into a corral. Soon the mare was moving along at a swift pace, with Jimmy smiling from ear to ear.

  Half an hour later, his smile began to falter.

  “You’re feeling tired, aren’t you, Jimmy?”

  At Juliet’s words, he nodded. “I guess this body isn’t used to all that movement.”

  “No it isn’t. Remember. You have to build up your muscles gradually. After all, you’re using body parts that aren’t routinely used. So you need to take it easy, and let me know when you’re tired before you reach a point where you could start to experience pain.”

  Jimmy grinned. “Feeling pain isn’t so bad. At least I’m feeling something.”

  A short time later he returned to the barn. The lift delivered him back to his wheelchair and he couldn’t hide his sigh of relief.

  From his position to one side Sperry made a sound of derision. “Crybabies. The whole pack of you.”

  “I didn’t see you stick it out for half an hour, Sperry.” Jimmy glanced at his companions, who nodded their agreement.

  “That’s ’cause we’ve been out of commission for so long. My muscles atrophied.”

  “Like your brain,” Stan Novak shouted.

  “Good one, Stan,” Billie Joe said through his tears.

  “All right, gentlemen.” Juliet smiled at the circle of men. “I know this week has been a tough one, coming back after the equipment was down for so long. But I think you’re all showing amazing improvement.” She clasped each man’s hand. When she clasped Sperry’s, he clamped his other hand over hers, holding on when she tried to step away.

  “That’s enough, Heywood.” With an effort she removed her hand and turned to the others. “I hope to see you all again on Monday. For now, have a s
afe trip back to town, and enjoy a relaxing weekend.”

  As they rolled past her, each of them had something to say to her.

  “Thanks, Juliet. You’re the best,” Stan Novak said.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t take my meds, Juliet. But I’ll do better next week,” Billy Joe whispered.

  “I know you will, Billy Joe.”

  “Thanks for all the time you give us, Juliet.” Jimmy Gable rolled past, then waved at Griff. “Will I see you in town this weekend?”

  “I’ll try to get there, Jimmy, but I can’t promise,” Griff called.

  Not to be outdone by the others, Heywood Sperry hung back, allowing the others to roll toward the bus while he caught both of Juliet’s hands in his. “Next week I go first. Remember, I’m the leader of this pack.”

  “If you go first one day, you have to go last the next, Heywood. That’s the rule. As for being the leader, these men are all capable of leading themselves.”

  His tone sharpened to a low note of barely controlled fury. “I’ve warned you before, Juliet. Don’t ever contradict me. Understand? I started this group, and I can disband them just like that.” He snapped his fingers before turning his electric scooter away and moving toward the waiting bus.

  Like the others, he rolled onto the rear platform of the bus and pushed the button for the hydraulic lift that transported the passengers inside.

  Minutes later, when the bus rolled away in a cloud of dust, Mad cleared his throat. “How do you manage to stay so calm with all those hotheads?”

  Juliet smiled at him. “When Buddy was in the VA hospital, most of his companions were in various stages of grief and anger. Most of the anger is directed at themselves, because they can’t do what they once did.” She arched a brow. “Didn’t you ever experience those feelings, Mad?”

  He winked. “You bet. And still do. But you’re that amazing thing we hear about, lass, but rarely see. Grace under pressure. You’re the calm amidst the storm. You were grand to watch.”

  They looked up as a truck came to a stop outside the barn. A woman, clearly frazzled and out of breath, stepped down and approached Juliet. “I hope I’m not too late.”

  “Too late?” Juliet shot her a puzzled frown.

  “I phoned you a week ago, asking if you’d allow my daughter to try riding under your care.”

  “Oh, yes.” Juliet glanced toward the passenger side of the truck and could see the pale, frightened face of a young girl.

  She sighed. “You didn’t call back for an appointment. My group is finished, but there’s always time for one more, especially since you’ve come so far. Do you need help getting her in here?”

  Before the mother could reply, Griff was crossing to the truck. “I’ll take care of it.”

  From the back he removed a wheelchair. Setting it down, he opened the passenger door. While her mother watched, he gently lifted the girl to her chair.

  “Thank you,” the mother whispered as she walked along beside her daughter, while Griff easily pushed the chair into the barn. “This is Sarah. She’s ten.”

  “Ten and a half,” Sarah corrected.

  “Of course. I forgot. Ten and a half. And I’m Rose Benning.”

  “Welcome Sarah and Rose. I’m Juliet, and these are my sons, Casey and Ethan, and my neighbors, Griff Warren and Mad MacKenzie.”

  “MacKenzie?” Rose paused. “Was your son Bear MacKenzie?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Mad braced himself for what he knew was coming.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you.” He always felt himself bristling under these offers of sympathy from kind strangers.

  He motioned toward Griff, hoping to deflect the attention. “Griff here is Bear’s son and my grandson.”

  “I thought you called him Warren—”

  Before she could ask more, the old man said, “Different names, but all one family.”

  “I…see.” She turned to Juliet. “If this isn’t a good time…”

  “The time is perfect.” Juliet explained about the lift, and what it did, before Rose cut her off.

  “I’m used to carrying my daughter, and lifting her. I don’t mind getting her into the saddle.”

  “I’d prefer to use the lift.” Juliet showed the girl how it worked, and how it would feel as it moved her from the wheelchair to the saddle. “Would you like to try it?”

  When Sarah nodded, Juliet began the process, while Rose watched from the sidelines with a worried frown.

  Once in the saddle, the girl held onto the saddle horn with both hands. Juliet kept hold of the reins and began walking Princess in a circle. Gradually, as the mare kept up a steady pace, the girl’s demeanor changed so completely, it was as if a switch had been turned on. From the mare’s back, Sarah waved to her mother before giving a joyful laugh. “Look at me, Mom. I’m riding a horse again.”

  “Yes, you are. You look good up there, honey.”

  “I feel good, too.”

  They circled the ring a number of times before Juliet brought Princess to a halt. “Do you want to go again, or would you like to take a break?”

  Reluctantly, the girl said, “Maybe I’d better get down now. But can I do this again another day?”

  “You can come as often as you like,” Juliet assured her.

  By the time the lift had returned her to her wheelchair, Sarah’s smile was as bright as the sun. To her mother she whispered, “You know what it felt like?”

  “What?” her mother asked.

  “While I was in the saddle, I felt like all the other girls in my class. The ones who can walk.”

  Griff rolled her wheelchair to the truck and lifted her inside before stowing her wheelchair in the back.

  When Rose got behind the wheel, mother and daughter waved and called their good-byes. As they drove away, both had tears in their eyes.

  Juliet turned to Mad. “Okay. It’s your turn.”

  He shook his head. “Lass, you have to be exhausted. You’ve been doing this all day now.”

  “You came all this way. You can’t leave without at least giving the lift a try.” She took his hand. “Are you willing?”

  He nodded. “I guess, now that I’ve seen a little girl use it, I’d look like a coward if I didn’t at least try.”

  “Everybody’s afraid of something.” Juliet adjusted the lift for size and weight, before fitting it to Mad.

  Within minutes he was out of his wheelchair and in the saddle.

  “How did that feel?”

  He was grinning. “No effort at all. And no time to be afraid. I feel like one of those time-travel characters. One minute I’m wheelchair bound, the next I’m back in the saddle where I used to spend most of my time.”

  “Good.” She handed him the reins. “I’m sure an old cowboy like you doesn’t need me to lead your mount through her paces.”

  As Princess began a slow circle, his face was wreathed in smiles.

  Griff looked up at him. “How does it feel, Mad?”

  The old man shook his head in wonder. “Now I know why Sarah changed so drastically. I’m not earthbound. I’m myself again. My old self. I’m a cowboy, lad. Back in the saddle, and free as the breeze.”

  As he continued circling, he glanced over to see the way both Casey and Ethan were clinging to Griff’s hand. And he saw something else. The way both Juliet and Griff were struggling not to stare at one another. But though they were making a valiant effort, they couldn’t quite succeed. Every once in a while Juliet would dart a quick glance at her sons, clinging tightly to Griff’s hands, and then at the man himself. And when she would turn away, Griff would chance a quick glance her way, with a look of pain that was so shocking, even from this distance, it was obvious what he was feeling.

  Maybe he’d been wrong, Mad thought. Maybe what Griff was feeling wasn’t mere lust. From what he could see, the feelings between these two appeared to be something much deeper.

  Maybe he’d meddled in something that had been none of his bus
iness.

  It wouldn’t be the first time. And now, having rushed in like a fool where angels fear to tread, he knew he had no choice but to clean up the mess he’d made of things.

  Chapter Eighteen

  After he was once again settled into his wheelchair, Mad caught Juliet’s hand. “Now, finally, lass, I understand what brings people all this way just to ride a horse. ’Tis such a simple thing, but it lifts the spirits. I’d forgotten how it feels to be in the saddle, with that powerful animal beneath me, carrying me across a field.” His eyes crinkled with the memory. “The little girl, Sarah, said she felt like the other girls. The ones who can walk.” His tone softened. “I felt that way, too. Like the old Maddock MacKenzie who’d often ridden horseback clear across this land, from sunup to sundown, feeling like a king in his very own kingdom.” He gave a joyous laugh. “King of the world. That’s how I felt.”

  Juliet’s smile matched his. “I’ve seen it change so many lives, Mad. I know it’s a little thing, to offer someone a chance to be in the saddle. But just to be free of your wheelchair, for even a little while, is transforming.”

  “It is that.” He turned to the two little boys, who stood watching and listening. “This work your mama’s doing is important work, lads. Do you know that?”

  At their look of surprise, Juliet laughed. “All they know is that my work causes them to spend too many hours here in the barn. If they had their way, they’d be in the house, playing with their trucks. But I refuse to let them stay alone, so far from me. So they’re stuck out here until my work is finished.”

  Griff looked around. “Why not set aside a play area out here for them?”

  Juliet shrugged, as though the idea hadn’t occurred to her.

  He walked around before pointing to a corner of the barn that was far enough from the work area that it wouldn’t interfere with the men or the work Juliet did. He paced it off in one direction, then another, before looking at her. “It wouldn’t take much for me to build them a raised box right here in the barn where they could set up their trucks and cows and some farm buildings. Their own miniature ranch.” He turned to Casey and Ethan. “Would you boys like that?”