As soon as the girl retreated, the cow returned to her calf. Erika jumped back into the car. “If our cell phones worked, we could call him.”
“If we had his phone number.” Ragni jockeyed back and forth to get the car turned around in the middle of the gravel road.
“Hurry.”
Ragni hurried as much as the curvy road allowed. She roared up the driveway, grateful to see Paul’s truck in front of a log house that had been added on to several times. Erika bailed out as soon as the car stopped and pushed through the gate to head for the porch and the door. She stopped at the barking of a mottled gray and black cattle dog that didn’t bother to leave the porch.
“Okay, Paunch, that’s enough.” The dog wriggled all over as Paul, obviously recognizing trouble, came through the door in a rush. “Erika, what’s wrong?”
“A calf is stuck in that muddy pond up the road.” She pointed back the way they had come. “The cow chased me off.”
“Pond? What pond?” Paul’s eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead.
“You know the one up the road, where all the cows are standing?”
“Oh, you mean the watering hole. Thanks for coming back to tell me.” He headed for his pickup. “Let’s go, Paunch.” He waved the dog into the cab and followed right behind. “I’ll meet you up there.”
Erika slammed the car door, latching her seat belt in a smooth motion. They followed the truck, eating dust all the way. “The calf could drown by now. Stupid cow wouldn’t let me help her.”
So this is what it takes to get you excited? Ragni swallowed her words and just drove. She parked behind Paul’s truck on the shoulder, more than a little concerned about getting stuck herself. She didn’t have four-wheel drive like he did.
Paunch leaped from the cab and headed for the watering hole with Paul, rope in hand, right behind him.
The muddy calf stood head down, nose grazing the top of the water, sides heaving from his efforts to break loose. Paul stopped at the edge of the muck and signaled Paunch to circle the cow.
The calf struggled again, and his front legs buckled. The cow headed for the dog, head down, murder in her eyes.
Erika and Ragni stopped behind Paul.
“What can we do?”
Paul nodded toward the cow. “If Paunch can get her away from the water and hold her back, I’m going to wade in and pull the calf out. If I have to put a rope on him, you two can pull on this end, and I’ll try to heave him loose. But if that cow comes at you, drop the rope and run. She means business.”
Keeping an eye on the cow, Ragni watched as Paul sloshed his way to the calf. The barking dog and the bellowing cow almost drowned out the sound of her own pounding heart but not quite.
The other cattle scattered at the ruckus going on, but the mama had no intention of leaving and fewer intentions of letting anyone near her calf. She tried dodging the dog, but Paunch nipped her on the nose and drove her back.
“Here, catch.” Paul threw the coiled rope and Erika caught it. “Okay, pull easy now, steady.” He reached around the calf’s chest and back legs and pulled. The sucking sound made Ragni smile. The calf reared back and caught Paul under the chin with the top of its flailing head. He grunted and jerked back.
“Hang on,” Ragni said, as much to herself as to Erika behind her. She and Erika backed up, keeping the tension on the rope while watching for the cow, which was now running back and forth along the edge of the watering hole with Paunch staying between her and the rescuers.
Paul hefted the calf again and pulled it free, but then the calf staggered and its head went under the surface.
“Pull.” He waved an arm.
They did, and dragged the calf to the shallows.
“Okay.” Paul sloshed after the calf, grabbed the rope looped around its neck, and ordered, “Give me some slack.”
When they loosened the rope, he slid the loop off the calf and stood back. The muddy creature struggled to its feet, staggered to solid ground, and stood straddle-legged, head down.
“Is it all right?” Erika asked.
“It will be. Let’s get out of the way and let Mama have her baby back.”
Once they’d moved closer to the vehicles, Paul whistled and Paunch came racing toward them. “Good dog.”
The cow glared at them, inspected her calf, and shook her head before walking off toward the remainder of the herd.
“And thank you to you too,” Paul called. “Keep your baby out of the water after this.” He turned to his helpers. “You probably saved that calf’s life, so I thank you more than she does.” As he talked, he looped the rope over his other hand. “Looks like we need a hosing down, dog.”
Paunch sat at his feet, tongue lolling and his rear end wriggling in delight. He whined but never took his gaze off Paul. Paul leaned down and thumped the dog on the ribs. “Good dog. Thought she was going to get you there for a minute, but you showed her who was boss.”
Ragni sucked in a deep breath of relief and regretted it immediately. The mud not only looked bad, it smelled worse. She looked down at her mud-spattered shoes and the bottoms of her jeans. At least she hadn’t worn her khakis. White canvas tennis shoes and mud didn’t mesh well. Erika’s boots came through in far better shape.
“Sorry for the mud bath. You’re welcome to wash off at the house.”
“Thanks, but if we want to get back at a reasonable hour, we’ll wash off at a gas station.”
His smile made her swallow. “Well, thanks again. I owe you one.”
“These are your cattle?” Erika asked.
“Right. We have open range around here, so they may not all be mine, but not a lot of the ranchers raise Charolais like I do. That’s the all white breed you see. The colored ones with white faces belong to a rancher over the hill. He has mostly crossbreds.”
“I see.” Like heck I do. But he sure has a voice that’s easy to listen to. “We’ll see you later then.”
“In the back, Paunch.” He let down the tailgate so the dog could leap in, then slammed it in place. “See you.”
“Bye.” Ragni started her car and fastened her seat belt, waiting until he pulled out.
“You think he has a wife and kids?”
Ragni glanced over at her passenger. “How would I know?”
“Remember he said ‘we.’ Guess we’ll find out tonight, huh?”
“Guess so.” Wouldn’t he have said my wife and family if he had one? So why am I hoping he’s not married?
“That calf sure was cute.”
“His mama thought so too. Hoo boy, she wanted to stomp us right into the mud.”
“I’ve read about how protective animals can be, but I didn’t think it would be like that. She was big!” Erika’s eyes grew rounder.
“If your mother knew you’d been fighting off a mad cow, she’d have a cow.”
“I won’t tell her if you don’t.”
“Deal. She’d have my head—be worse’n that cow.” Ragni chuckled, pleased to hear a giggle from her passenger.
As they crested the last hill before Medora, Ragni wished she could stop and take a photograph. “Add one of those disposable cameras to our list, will you please?” Across the valley a two-story red house with the green metal roof made her itch for a brush and canvas. At least if she took a picture, she could paint if after she got back home. Yeah, right! In my spare time! Here she certainly didn’t have any painting time, let alone the proper supplies.
Even after they stopped at a truck stop in Dickinson and scrubbed, they weren’t clean.
“You think we could use their showers?” Erika asked.
“The sign said only for truckers.”
“So how would they know we aren’t truckers?”
“Somehow we don’t look the part.”
Erika leaned into the mirror and studied a bump on her right cheek. “Think I’ll get a stud in my nose.”
Ragni caught the quick look her way. Over my dead body “You want McDonald’s for lunch or a rea
l restaurant? Or we could eat here.”
Erika shrugged. “Whatever.”
Keep a lid on it, Ragni, she’s just trying to find your hot buttons. “Then here it is.” She slung her purse strap over her shoulder and exited the rest room.
So much for the old adage that truck stops always served good food. The food this one served was fast and basic with the smell of diesel fumes wafting in every time the front door opened. Ragni paid their bill, wishing they’d gone somewhere else.
Back in the car, she had trouble finding the home and garden store, even though she’d asked for directions. Erika had reverted to her iPod and earphones.
“Are you coming in with me?” Ragni asked when they’d finally arrived at the parking lot. She tapped Erika on the arm before repeating her question.
“Whatever.”
“I’ll be a while.” Ragni was prompted to think about never leaving small children in a car, but that didn’t exactly apply in this case. “Keep the doors locked.”
“Oh, for…” Erika pushed open the door and grumbled her way out. “You think someone’s going to kidnap me in the middle of the day in Dickinson?” Her tone made clear what she thought of the town.
“And this morning, who was it who thought burglars would steal our things from the cabin?” The corner of Ragni’s mouth rose slightly. “Give it a rest. I’m not used to this mother gig.”
“Mom lets me stay in the car.”
“So I’m not your mom and we have errands to run. You could help me pick things out.”
“I’m coming. I’m coming.” She rolled her eyes and mumbled something else, but Ragni ignored it.
By the end of two weeks, I’ll be a master at ignoring things. Teen things, that is. I’ve had plenty of practice so far.
By four thirty they’d made their purchases and were heading out.
“You want ice cream? I figure we earned a reward.”
“Where?”
“I saw an ice-cream shop as we came in. It won’t spoil your dinner now, will it?”
“Puh-leese.”
Ha. This time it was my turn to push a button. She slung an arm around Erika’s shoulders. “Just kidding.”
Ice-cream cones in hand, they headed back to the car and the trip west. Ragni checked the time. “We’re not going to have time to go back to the cabin and unload this stuff before we need to be at Paul’s.”
“So?”
“So I’m wishing I’d bought something as a hostess gift.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. At home I’d have made hors d’oeuvres or bought a bottle of wine.”
“They sell wine here.”
“But I have no idea if he drinks wine.”
“We could stop at a bakery and bring a loaf of bread or something.”
“If we had any idea where a bakery…”
“Or cheese and crackers. That’s what Mom takes. Some kind of gross cheese and a box of fancy crackers.”
Seeing one of the chain grocery stores up ahead, Ragni hit her signal and turned in. “Thanks, kid.”
“You’re welcome, but if you don’t mind, this time I’ll stay in the car with the doors locked and the windows rolled down. It’s too hot otherwise.”
Ragni sighed. How could she be so lucky as to have this kid along?
But when she got out of the car, Erika did too.
“I thought…”
“Thought of something I need. You didn’t bring extra paper along, did you?”
“Nope. Should have.”
“I’ll get some, and pencils.”
Later, after they drove across the railroad tracks in Medora, Ragni swung into the motel entrance. She ignored the questioning glances from her passenger and stopped at the office.
“Be right back.”
When she returned, Erika gave her a what-now look.
“We’ll be staying here, just for tomorrow night. And they have washers and dryers.”
“And TV and phone and a…” Erika paused, then pumped a fist. “A pool and showers. Yes!”
None of the cows were at the watering hole when they drove by. Ragni sighed in relief. At least the calf was safe.
Paunch barked when they drove in and parked in front of the house.
“I should a washed my hair in the sink at the truck stop.” Erika complained, picking at a strand.
“You look fine.”
“Right.”
“Grab the sack, please.” At least I have strong deodorant.
Paul pushed open the screen door and beckoned them on in. “Paunch won’t bite, and neither do I.”
Erika rolled her eyes as she reached in the back for the package.
So is he married? Ragni wondered, exiting the car. Or is he just being neighborly and that’s all? Besides, she would never be interested in a North Dakota rancher. She was a city girl, she called Chicago home, and dinner with a handsome man was just dinner. Or supper, as he’d called it. Besides, how long was it since she’d had dinner with a handsome man, or any man for that matter? She made sure her smile was in place as she led the way up the walk.
“You want to see my new young un?” Paul asked.
“Uh, sure.” Ragni and Erika looked up at the man standing on the top of three steps. A child? What? Ragni held the bag with the cheese and crackers in front of her like a shield.
“This way.” Paul paused. “Does that need to go in the kitchen?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” He reached for the package.
“And, um, if I could use your powder room?” Why did asking make her uncomfortable?
“Oh, sure. Sorry. Right this way.” He turned and led the way back in the house. “Bathroom is first door on the left. I’ll take this to the kitchen.”
Erika—the kid with the bladder the size of Minnesota—beat her to the bathroom. Ragni glanced up and down the hall. Rodeo pictures framed in black marched along the walls, along with several framed displays of various kinds of barbed wire. A collection of spurs and bits took up another section. Obviously the man was into cowboy memorabilia. She studied the pictures, all a younger version of the man who owned the place. Between two doorways he had hung family pictures going back a couple of generations, from the look of it, including photographs of him and what looked like two brothers and a sister. Another photo that appeared fairly recent included the apparent siblings and the parents; the young children might be nieces and nephews, judging by the family resemblance.
Ragni’s eyes continued scanning the photos on the wall. Did the woman in this picture know my great-grandmother? She studied the man and woman, posed so straight and sober they looked friendly as a porcupine she’d seen once in a park. Although the porcupine had had a cuddly kind of face, this twosome certainly didn’t. Even though she knew that in early photography people were told not to smile because they couldn’t hold a smile long enough for the picture to be taken—but still she wondered if they’d really been that serious.
As soon as Erika came out of the bathroom, Ragni stepped in. It was like going back in time. The room had a pull-chain toilet—its tank mounted high on the wall—barn board walls, and electrified gaslights. Even the mirror was framed in silvered barn boards.
When she came out, she wandered back to the front door, taking a moment to study the main room, where a cowhide was draped over a leather sofa and another over the matching chair made of natural lodge poles. Rocks from the Badlands—all the colors she saw on the buttes—formed the fireplace that went clear to the ceiling. The heavy chunk of aged wood mounted as the mantel might have come from the flooded river. A bear hide covered the plank floor in front of the fireplace, the teeth white against the black pelt. High above the mantel, an elk head with a large rack held the place of honor. It was clearly a man’s room, without a knickknack in sight.
Stopping on the porch, she stared out toward the barn and corrals. Where had they gone?
“Out here!” Paul called, waving from the faded red barn door.
Blinking in the dimness as she stepped inside the barn, she heard two voices off to her left and followed the sound.
“Come see, Ragni, he’s the cutest thing ever.” Erika rested her crossed arms on the half stall door. “Look.”
Paul stepped back and motioned her to take his place.
The nursing foal ignored them, his brush of a tail ticking back and forth. The mare turned to nuzzle her baby’s rump, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the visitors.
“Oh, what a doll. How old is he?”
“Three days. If he develops like I think he will, he’ll make a great stud in a few years. He’s got all the right breeding.”
“What kind is he?”
“Appaloosa. He’s got a few spots in all that baby hair. If he turns out like his daddy, he’ll be something. Come over here. You can see the blanket on the mare better. She’s always thrown superior foals.”
Ragni did as he told her, and sure enough, while the mare had a red face with a blaze, her rump was a field of red dots and spots on a blanket of white. “She’s beautiful.”
“When the sun catches that sorrel hide of hers, she looks on fire. This little guy is her fourth foal, two colts and two fillies. She’s quite the good mama.”
“You breed Appaloosas?”
“Not a lot. I have three mares is all. Diamond Lil took honors as a cutting horse back when I was showing.”
He turned to Erika. “You want to come play with him sometime, feel free.”
Erika looked over her shoulder, her smile reminding Ragni of earlier years. “Could I really? The mare would let me?”
“We’ll let her out in the pasture,” Paul said. “She’ll need a break by then.”
“Does he get to go out?” Erika asked.
“Of course. But he needs to be handled—gotta get a halter on him and brush him so he’s used to people from the get-go.”
The Brushstroke Legacy Page 10