Learnin' The Ropes

by Shanna Hatfield

  Beth talked Ty into spending the night on their couch. It was too short for him to stretch out, but better than trying to sleep in his pickup. It was also a lot warmer. The next morning, he peeked out the miniscule balcony window, shocked to see a frosting of snow covering everything. Beth was right once again.

  Mindful that Nate and Beth still slept, Ty quietly took his things to the bathroom and enjoyed a hot shower. Hastily dressing, he bundled into his coat and headed outside. He walked down the street to a bakery and bought muffins and hot coffee, returning to the apartment just as Beth came out of the bathroom, dressed for work.

  “Told you it would snow,” Beth said triumphantly as Ty set the muffins and coffee on the table. He grinned and helped her get plates and napkins. By then, Nate was up and the three of them ate breakfast before Beth left for work.

  “What are your plans today?” Nate asked as he sipped his coffee and ate another muffin.

  “I thought I’d try going to some of the bigger car dealerships again to see if any positions have opened up since the last time I checked,” Ty said, slowly drinking his coffee. It was too early to start going door-to-door and too cold to sit out in his truck for any length of time. “How about you?”

  “I heard a rumor that a new facility is opening in Woodburn. Thought I’d drive down and check it out. If I can get a contact name, maybe I can get my foot in the door before they fill all the positions,” Nate said, finishing his coffee and rising from the table. He and Ty washed the breakfast dishes and left them in the drainer to dry.

  The two men moved to the door where Ty shrugged into his coat. He thumped his brother-in-law on the shoulder with a grin. “Thanks for letting me crash here last night. I might have frozen outside.” Ty opened the apartment door.

  “Thanks for coming in. You know Beth worries about you. You’re always welcome, bro,” Nate said as Ty waved and hurried down the hall.

  Before he had a chance to make the dealership rounds, a friend called and asked Ty if he would come over to do some work on a car.

  Ty arrived at Jeff’s house to find a car dead in the carport. It didn’t take long to determine the problem. He called Jeff and shared an estimate on the cost of parts. Jeff told him to do whatever he needed to get it running. Ty purchased the parts with his credit card and had the car back together and running smoothly by the time his friend arrived home for lunch. After taking the car for a quick test drive, Jeff paid Ty for the parts, throwing in a nice bonus for his labor.

  They visited over lunch before Jeff headed back to work.

  Ty deposited the cash needed to cover the credit card expenses into his bank account then pocketed the rest, planning to buy groceries for Beth and Nate. He was waiting behind a line of cars to leave the bank parking lot when his cell phone buzzed with a text message.

  Swiftly pulling back into a parking space, he read the text from Lex Ryan about the job in Riley. Lex was impressed with his experience and references, and wanted to conduct an interview. Ty needed to call someone named Swede at four o’clock if he was interested. Lex was sending a list of questions to be completed and e-mailed back before four, if that was possible.

  Ty quickly changed his plans and drove to the library. Inside, he sat down at an empty computer station, opened his email account, and completed the questionnaire from Lex.

  At first, the questions didn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary, but toward the end of the document, a few of them caught him off guard.

  Confused and somewhat unsettled by the questions, he answered them as best he could.

  Are you afraid of dogs?

  No

  Do wide-open spaces bother you?

  No

  Can you live without access to modern conveniences?

  Yes

  Ty didn’t know how he could have access to any fewer conveniences than he did living in his pickup, but decided it was best not to offer that opinion.

  Are you willing to relocate to a rural atmosphere?

  Yes

  How bad could it be living in the country? He’d gone for many drives in the rural communities around Portland and enjoyed the gentle rolling hills of farmland. It seemed peaceful and nice. He could adjust to that, no problem.

  The final question, however, Ty classified as downright bizarre.

  Will it bother you to live in a house with the rest of the employees without access to nightlife or eligible young females?

  No

  A man living in his truck doesn’t have a night life or dating scene. Heck, he barely had a day life since he gave up his apartment. No eligible female with a brain in her head wanted to hang out with a homeless man. It didn’t bother Ty in the least to answer that question honestly.

  However, the reason behind the question did give him a moment of pause before he hit send.

  Desperate to land the job, he decided if Mr. Ryan had a few quirks, so be it. He’d learn to deal with the man.

  Ty found a quiet corner and pulled a small notebook out of his coat pocket as he waited for time to pass until he needed to make the call. He used the little notebook to keep track of all sorts of information and wanted to have it handy in case he needed to take any notes from the man named Swede.

  At two minutes before four, he punched in the number. A man answered the phone on the first ring.

  “Rockin’ R Ranch,” said a voice that sounded like it chewed gravel for breakfast.

  “This is Tyler Lewis. Mr. Ryan requested I call this number at four today to speak with Mr. Swede,” Ty said, using his best professional phone manners.

  “I’m Swede and yer right on time. And it’s jes Swede, no mister needed,” Swede said. “The boss asked me to interview ya, since I’m the one ya’ll mostly be workin’ with, so let’s git ‘er done.”

  Swede asked Ty a number of questions about his skills, experience and training. Ty got a little worried when the man asked if he’d ever worked on farm equipment. Ty honestly answered he had not, but added that he could fix everything from lawnmowers to semi-trucks.

  A pleased grunt sounded over the line then Swede went over the list of questions Ty answered earlier that afternoon via email.

  “Are ya sure ya can live somewhere thet’s remote without much in the way of a social life?” Swede asked. “It’s all guys around this place and it’s a long way to town if yer lookin’ for some Saturday night action.”

  “I haven’t had much of a social life since I lost my job, Swede. I don’t see that the location will make much difference in that,” Ty said, badly wanting this job. He didn’t care if it was in Timbuktu. Gainful employment was necessary for his sanity and sense of self worth. The money he hoped to be able to send to Beth and Nate until they got back on their feet would be a help to them, too.

  “Well, then,” Swede said, drawing out the short words in a long rural drawl. “Let me talk with the boss and one of us will get back to ya soon.”

  On the verge of begging, Ty stopped himself and took a deep breath. “Thank you, Swede. I appreciate the opportunity to have this interview with you.”

  “No problem. Talk to ya soon.”

  Ty disconnected the call, feeling like the interview went well. In a moment of self-deprecating humor, he realized if he did land the job, he was all packed and ready to go.

  With a quick glance at his watch, he hustled out of the library to the grocery store. He filled a cart with fresh fruit and vegetables along with cuts of beef and chicken. As a splurge, he added a strawberry cheesecake from the bakery, Beth’s favorite. After parking across the street from her apartment, he lugged in the groceries and rang the bell.

  She opened the door, surprised to see him. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you again for a few days. What are you up to?” She moved aside as he walked inside and set the grocery bags on the kitchen floor. “What’s all this, Ty?”

  “Jeff hired me to fix Geena’s car today and paid in cash. Thought I’d restock some of what I ate yesterday.” Ty shrugged and started putting
groceries away. Beth tugged on his arm and he looked down into her tear-filled eyes. She attempted to give him a hug around her wide girth, making them both laugh.

  “You are such a good brother and good man,” Beth said, swiping at the tears that trickled down her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. How about you feed me dinner and we’ll call it even?” Ty took the cheesecake out of a grocery bag and held it in front of her. “I even brought dessert.”

  “Always did know how to get around me, didn’t you?” Beth teased. She set the cheesecake in the refrigerator, looking forward to the treat. “Did you hear back about the job?”

  “I did. I had to answer more questions via email and I had a phone interview with the ranch foreman. You should hear the way he talks. It sounds like he swallowed glass, the way his voice is all raspy and rough.”

  “But the interview went well?” Beth slid a casserole into the oven and set the timer.

  “I think it did. He seemed a little hesitant when I said I’d never worked on farm equipment, but I have yet to meet a vehicle I couldn’t fix, so I’m not too worried about it.”

  “That’s wonderful, Ty. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.” She helped Ty put the last of the groceries away. “You really think you’ve got a shot at this?”

  “I hope so, although I’m not so sure about the remote location.” He leaned against the counter and accepted the cup of hot coffee she handed to him. “Swede, that’s the foreman’s name, said it’s about a five-hour drive from Portland.”

  “Well, that’s not so bad. You could always visit on a weekend, couldn’t you?” Beth stirred sugar into a cup of tea then motioned Ty toward the couch. She sank onto the cushions with a tired sigh.

  “Swede said the closest town is Burns,” Ty said, trying to remember where Burns was located on the map they looked at last night. He pulled out his phone and Googled the small town, browsing a few web pages. He showed the map to Beth with a grin. “At least it’s on a major highway. You can put your fears at rest of me being eaten by a bear.”

  “I really hope you get this job, Ty, but I’m going to miss you so much. I… we’ll…” She choked back a sob and brushed at tears. Slowly taking a deep breath and releasing it, she turned a watery smile to her brother. “Sorry. I know how well you do with emotional women, but I’m eight months pregnant and it comes with the territory.”

  “I’ll forgive you this once.” Ty offered an understanding smile. They chatted until Nate came home and the three of them discussed plans for the next day while they ate the filling chicken casserole Beth had made for dinner.

  Ty’s phone buzzed as he set the cheesecake on the table. Hurriedly reading the text message, he let out an excited whoop. Nate almost dropped the dessert plates he carried from the kitchen.

  “I got the job!” Ty high-fived Nate and hugged Beth. “Lex Ryan, that’s the owner, said I can start anytime. I guess I’ll leave tomorrow.”

  “Dude, that is so awesome.” Nate cut big slices of cheesecake and passed them around while Ty sent a text to Lex Ryan saying to expect him the following afternoon.

  “Congratulations, Ty,” Beth said, smiling through her tears.

  Gently patting his sister’s hand, Ty shot her an excited smile. “This will be a good thing, sis, just wait and see if it isn’t.”

  The next morning, Ty rose early. After taking a quick shower and dressing, he hustled out to purchase breakfast while Beth and Nate slept. Quietly returning to the apartment, he set the food on the table, careful not to awaken Nate. The sound of water running in the bathroom, let him know Beth was up and getting ready.

  A glance at his watch confirmed she was running ahead of schedule. He resigned himself to a teary goodbye from his sister. When she walked out of the bathroom a few minutes later, she gave him a tight hug. The baby launched into a flurry of field goal worthy kicks. Ty laughed as he placed his hands on her stomach and savored the last time he’d get to feel the baby kick before he actually got to meet the little one in person, whenever that may be. It could be a few months before he made it back to Portland. By then the baby would no longer be a newborn.

  That thought made his throat tighten with emotion. He and Beth were close. They grew up that way and were even closer since their mom died of pneumonia six years ago. They were all the family the two of them had in the world, other than Nate, and that bond was special. It was important to Ty that Beth’s baby get to know him, but that might be difficult from miles and miles away.

  “Well, little mama, I think we should eat breakfast before it gets cold and then I’m going to hit the road,” Ty said, holding her chair as Beth sank down at the table. Nate yawned and opened his eyes, joining them. The guys tried to joke and keep things lighthearted, but Beth’s quiet sadness lingered around the table.

  Quickly cleaning up from their meal, Ty made sure he gathered his few meager belongings before he gave Nate a brotherly hug and thanked him for all he’d done for him in the past years.

  He hugged Beth again, inhaling her scent that reminded him so much of their mother. When he released her, he studied her long and hard. For the first time, he noticed she looked like a replica of their mom from her warm brown hair and oval face to her small build and short stature.

  “I don’t think I ever told you how much you remind me of Mom, Bethie,” Ty said, hugging her again. “You’re a beautiful person and I know you’re going to be a fantastic mother.”

  “Thank you, Ty. I’m really going to miss you.” She sniffled and swiped at her tears. “Promise you’ll stay in touch.”

  “I promise. As long as I’ve got cell service, you can call or text me anytime.” Ty carried his small duffle bag out the door and waved one last time. “Be well and be safe. I’ll let you know when I get there.”

  Before his own emotions got the best of him, he headed out to his pickup. The gallons of gas it took to fill the tank with fuel put a sizeable dent in his wallet as he headed south out of Portland. Following the signs, he turned southeast toward Bend and found himself there a few hours later. He filled up with fuel again and ate a quick lunch, although it wasn’t quite yet eleven.

  Back on the road, he continued heading southeast. As the pine trees and neat little farms gave way to mile after mile of sagebrush and open land, Ty thought he might have reached the dismal stretch of nothingness before driving right off the end of the earth. No matter which direction he looked, all he could see was sagebrush and more sagebrush interrupted by the occasional craggy rocks and straggly trees he thought might be junipers.

  Swede wasn’t kidding when he said the landscape was a little different.

  He drove up to a tiny store by a big sign that read “Welcome to Riley.” Ty stopped to stretch his legs and wandered inside the store. A pot-bellied man with a walrus mustache stood behind the small counter at the cash register.

  He offered Ty a toothy grin. “Howdy.”

  “Hi,” Ty said, taking a bottle of soda from a cooler and setting it on the counter. He dug money out of his pocket and handed it to the friendly man. “Do you happen to know how to get to the Rockin’ R. Ranch?”

  The man gave him a speculative stare before he handed Ty a few pennies in change. “I sure do. The Ryan family has been in this area forever. Poor old Lex passed away last fall after that awful cancer got him, but Lex Jr. is doing a right smart job of running the place now. Been trying to hire on a mechanic and a housekeeper. I’m guessing you’re here for the mechanic job.”

  “That’s right,” Ty said, not feeling in a mood to be particularly chatty with the loose-lipped clerk.

  “Well, good luck to ya!” The man cackled and slapped Ty on the shoulder. “You’re built for the job, but so were the last two. Together, they didn’t last more than a week.”

  Suddenly, Ty wondered what he’d gotten himself into. If he had to turn around and drive back to Portland, he wasn’t sure he even had enough cash left to cover the fuel.

  Uncertain what to say, he didn’t
need to worry as the clerk rattled on about the ranch and how to find it. Lex, Lex Jr., Ty corrected himself, sent him directions last night, so he wasn’t overly worried about finding the place. He had the address programmed into his truck’s GPS system, along with the emailed directions.

  After offering a word of thanks to the clerk, he got back in his truck and drove a few miles further east on the highway before taking a right. According to the directions, he was supposed to drive three miles then take a left then follow directions through two more turns to the ranch.

  Lex indicated a possibility of not being home. The text message said if no one answered at the house, to call Swede.

  As he turned off the highway, Ty noticed the road, though paved, had not seen any maintenance for quite some time. Easily following the directions, he soon found himself bouncing down a gravel road, surrounded by snow-covered fields and pastures filled with red and white cattle.

  Ty smiled, wondering if the cows were the animals he wasn’t supposed to fear. They looked harmless enough to him.

  Impressed as he pulled into the ranch yard, it was hard not to gape at his surroundings. A Victorian house, painted a shade of pale yellow with white and dark green accents, provided the focal point. Complete with wrap-around porch, gingerbread trim and a yard enclosed by a white-picket fence, it looked like the house he once dreamed of living in when he was a boy. A garage, painted the same shade of yellow, sat off to the side of the house.

  A small but tidy-looking cottage-style home and a sprawling ranch house stood far off to the left of the main house with a hulking red barn, machine shed, large shop, and various outbuildings across an expansive open area from the two houses.

  Ty parked his truck, got out, and smoothed down his jeans before straightening his sweatshirt and jacket. Swiftly running a hand through his thick brown hair, he realized he probably should have gotten a haircut before he left Portland. It had been a few months since he last had his hair trimmed and it was getting long.

  Purposeful, he strode through the gate in the fence, down the sidewalk, up the porch steps, and to the front door of the house. He rang the doorbell and waited, listening, but no sound of movement came from inside. Finally opening the screen door, he knocked on the wooden door and still heard nothing.