Riding the River

by Jeanne Harrell

  “Sarah, will you please take her back to camp? I’ll take care of this.” Then he spoke to the girl. “I’m sure he’s sorry for any trouble he caused you, miss. Rest assured, it won’t happen again.”

  “Thanks…” Sarah gave him a questioning look, but put her arm around the girl and started walking her back down the path. Matt watched her leave and then he turned to Aaron with blazing eyes.

  “Are you out of your freaking mind?”

  “… Ah…”

  “Don’t speak. Just listen… First, she’s underage. Second, Mr. Walker will fire you once he learns of this. Are you nuts? What do you think you were doing?”

  “Jesus, Matt. Calm down… Who do you think you are? My father?”

  “Apparently you need someone to keep you from screwing up. Listen to me… Don’t talk to her again. Don’t look at her again. Got it?”

  “Yeah, sure. I got it, Dad…”

  “Knock it off, Aaron. You came on too strong obviously, but when a woman says no, it’s no. Besides, she’s way too young…”

  “Okay, okay.”

  “And don’t mention this to anyone unless you want to lose your job. Believe me, if you breathe her way again, I’ll tell Mr. Walker myself.”

  Aaron strode angrily past Sarah coming back up the path. He didn’t look at her, just huffed in anger as he went by. She walked up to Matt as he blew out an exasperated breath, and rubbed his forehead hard.

  “You did good, cowboy…”

  “Cowboy? Well, I guess that’s a step closer to my name, isn’t it?”

  She smiled. “… You really handled that situation well. It’s obvious you care about people, about protecting people. I don’t see that very often, and it was another brave thing that I’ve seen you do…”

  “What kind of place is Baltimore that people don’t care about other people?” They’d started walking along the path in the trees again.

  She shrugged. “I’m sure there are many caring people. Just not many that I know… My world is computers, a grumpy boss and politics. There’s not a lot of love there.”

  She’d opened up a bit more to him.

  “Tell me about your family.” She gazed up at his soft eyes and took his hand. He held his breath as she laced her fingers through his. “Sarah…”

  “I’m getting there… I’m getting there. Breathe…”

  He let out a breath and laughed. “I’m ready for the story, ma’am.”

  For the next hour, they walked and talked. Sarah told him about her prominent, political family, their expectations and her dread of disappointing anyone. He wanted to know whose life she was living – hers or theirs.

  Matt asked questions and Sarah answered them. By the time they’d almost walked their way back to camp, Matt thought he knew most of her troubles that had forced her to escape. He knew her professional dilemma and her personal ones. He marveled that she had the strength to come West all by herself, and he realized she was looking for a new life. More importantly, he knew that she trusted him…

  Before they were back at the campsite, Matt stopped and glanced at her soft hand that he was still holding. Then he looked into her lovely face.

  “You seem pretty alone in your life…”

  “… I have my friend, Abby, and…”

  “You know what you need, Sarah?”

  “…What?” She grinned at him. What a know-it-all… Though maybe a pretty cute know-it-all…

  “You need to find a way to ride the river…”

  “Ride the river? Is that some kind of cowboy code?”

  “… It means to find someone you can count on. Someone who’ll be there for you.”

  He watched her face as she turned that over. She was thoughtful, would think things through…

  “Riding the River… I like how that sounds.” Sarah looked down at their entwined hands, then back up at his smiling face. “I’ve never met anyone like you before…”

  “…Matt. I’ve never met anyone like you before, Matt.”

  “Wait for me… I’m a little slow.” She blushed under his questioning gaze.

  “I’ll wait…” His eyes seemed to be sketching her face. “Do you know why you won’t say my name?”

  “You’re just full of answers tonight, aren’t you?”

  “… Because once you do, that’ll be it…”

  “What do you mean?” She knit her eyebrows in confusion.

  He just smiled at her. When she stifled a yawn, he laughed. “Let’s go. You’re tired and we have a big day tomorrow. Did you get your tent up?”

  “Yes, I just hope Richie’s not in it.” That made them both chuckle as they walked happily back to camp. Clasped hands swinging slightly between them…

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Sarah awoke before Tess the next morning. She stretched, listened to Tess snore over in her bedroll and decided to get up. Slipping on her clothes, she opened the tent flap to greet the new day. And what a gorgeous morning it was… The sun was peeking up over the horizon throwing splashes of vivid yellows everywhere.

  The other guests were still asleep as Sarah freshened up and made her way to the kitchen area. She could hear Dale already working on breakfast.

  “Mornin’, sweetie,” smiled Dale when he saw her walk up. “How about some cowboy coffee?”

  “Sounds great.” She took the mug of steaming coffee that he poured from a coffee pot on the stove. Her first cup in the morning was always the best and this cowboy coffee was delicious – strong… She took her first tentative sip. “What’s for breakfast?”

  “All right. We’re going to have fruit, pancakes with syrup and sausage. How does that sound?”

  “Great. What should I do?”

  “Come in here, get the sausage links and cook them in one of those pans. I’ll do the pancakes.”

  Soon, fragrant aromas of coffee, sausage frying and pancakes filled the air. Guests began to move around, cowboys came in for their coffee. When many people were eating at the picnic tables, Cooper walked over to brief them about the day’s activity. After a few dusty days in the saddle, the stubble on his face was more pronounced. He’d obviously quit shaving…

  “Today we need to get about seventeen miles to the pasture where we’ll leave the herd. We’ll be traveling between hills on a grassy area for most of the way – No mountainous areas like we had to deal with yesterday. Remember, everyone – Just keep ‘em movin’.” He laughed and went over to the stove to refill his cup of coffee. Then he walked up to Sarah and Tess, just finishing their breakfast.

  “Mornin’, ladies.” He tipped his hat at them.

  “Morning, Cooper,” they both said.

  “Sarah, thanks for all the help you’ve been this trip. Dale said you’ve helped prepare the lunches for us as well.”

  “… Just trying to be useful.”

  “You are that…Thanks.” And he left.

  “Sarah,” began Tess. “I don’t suppose I could ask another favor from you, since you’re being Miss Helpful and all…”

  Sarah scrunched up her face at her. “I shudder to ask…”

  “It’s just that… I’d kinda…”

  “You’d kinda what?”

  “I’d kinda like the tent to myself tonight. Could you sleep out under the stars for one night?”

  Sarah started laughing. “I don’t suppose that rascal Richie is going to keep you company instead of me?”

  “… Maybe… Would you mind? Pretty please?” Tess’ face had a mock Help me look that made Sarah laugh harder.

  “I guess I could move my bedroll out.” She thought about it. “Actually, it sounds nice. The sky is black as ink at night with a whole lot of stars… It looks like someone came along with this big chest of bright, fluorescent lights and just started throwing them everywhere…” She’d been looking up at the sky while she was talking. When she stopped, Tess looked at her curiously.

  “You’re a romantic, Sarah. Did you know that? That kind of imagery is lost on a computer nerd�
��”

  They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Sarah had been doing that a lot of this drive and it sure felt good…

  After breakfast was over, everyone helped to break up camp. The cowboys folded chairs and got Dale’s kitchen equipment back into the trailer. He drove off, waving as he left. Guests took down their tents, rolled up their bedrolls and packed up their duffels with stray clothing. Outside of an hour, guests and cowboys were saddled up and riding with the herd. The day’s lunches packed in saddlebags.

  The horses were content to poke along today, which was just fine with Sarah and Tess. They’d had trouble yesterday rounding up strays and hoped the herd would cooperate and stay together for once. One could always hope…

  Sarah rode along watching the horses, but looking around at the landscape. They rode between hills that were colored in light and dark green circles, after a recent rain. One small hill backed up against a larger hill with the pale blue horizon in the background. Way off in the distance, she could see the mountain range where they were heading. It was pleasant to just ride. Thunder walked well, expertly avoiding uneven ground by the sagebrush, keeping an even tread. Sarah, Tess or one of the guests or cowboys would occasionally yell out, “Hey, Hey,” or “Git on,” or “Yup, yup” which seemed to encourage the herd to keep moving.

  She glanced around at the other guests. Everyone had started off as greenhorns, as the cowboys would say, but were beginning to lay back and relax into their jobs. She looked for the cowboys and saw Aaron glancing back at her. Wonder how that’s going to go… She sincerely hoped there would be no more trouble with him.

  Watching Matt, he was competent and graceful. He set a horse like it was what he was born to do. He moved between the horses in the herd, keeping them calm and moving. Swinging his rope occasionally, she heard him whistle at them as well. Matt was a real cowboy – and didn’t have a fake bone in his body. Sarah was beginning to appreciate that… What a man like Matt might have to offer her…

  Tess broke her reverie.

  “He’s pretty cute, huh?” She smiled at Sarah who was obviously staring at Matt.

  “I think handsome is the better adjective here.”

  “Really? I stand corrected.”

  She looked over at her. “Do you think Richie’s cuter than Matt?”

  “Parts of him are…”

  Sarah pretended to be shocked. “Oh, missy. What a potty mouth you have.” Tess laughed at her, then her eyes lost their sparkle.

  “There are a few reasons for my devil-may-care attitude, Sarah.”

  “Uh-oh… This sounds serious.”

  “It is…”

  Sarah’s smile faded and she reached out to touch Tess’s arm. “Sorry… Tell me what you want to say…”

  Tess rode for a minute alongside Sarah and looked out at the hills. Then she focused on Sarah’s face and became quite serious.

  “I was married for a few years, Sarah.”

  “Okay…”

  “We were happy for a while until we lost a child.”

  Sarah’s eyes filled, as did Tess’.

  “I’m so sorry, Tess.”

  “It was horrible, the whole ordeal. I hope nothing that bad ever happens to you.”

  “… Then what happened?”

  “Bobby and I couldn’t make it work after that. We both blamed each other for the lost of the child, but it was no one’s fault. Mother nature, maybe…”

  “So you split up?”

  “Yes…”

  “… How long ago?”

  “Two years now.”

  “Do you still think of him?”

  “Bobby?” Sarah nodded. “No, never… But I think often of the baby I lost. It was a life changing experience.”

  “So… that’s why the carefree attitude with Richie?”

  “I think so. I’m not sure. I just know there’s no way a relationship would work out for me right now.”

  “… But the sex is nice…”

  Tess and Sarah looked at each other and started laughing.

  “Oh, yes… the sex is very nice. You should try some.”

  “Maybe I will… sometime…”

  Tess smirked. “I’m sure Matt would eagerly oblige, if you asked him sweetly.”

  Sarah quickly shook her head. “Not there yet, Tess. Give me some time.”

  “Don’t take too long, Sarah. Our time is up at the ranch in five days, counting today.”

  “… I’ll keep that in mind,” frowned Sarah.

  “Look lively, ladies,” called out Richie. “There’s some strays to be rounded up over by you.”

  Tess smiled at him, while Sarah rolled her eyes. Then she reined in Thunder to turn him towards the strays.

  “Come on, Tess. Let’s get to work.”

  They galloped off together to find those wayward horses and contemplate what had just been said. As far as Sarah was concerned, everything in her life these days was life changing. And that was all right…

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The day flew by… They were riding into camp and saw Dale’s truck and trailer. He was probably hard at work setting up the kitchen area. Sarah smiled just thinking about his crazy hair and all the pots and pans he’d have going at one time.

  Second day of the horse drive and Sarah could feel it. Two days in the saddle – Creaking joints and stiffening legs… She dismounted and gave her horse to Frank to put with the others for the night. Sarah stretched every limb and wearily moved her head around from side to side. That helped a bit, as did walking around.

  The cowboys finished putting the herd into its seasonal pasture and headed back to camp for a little rest, food and relaxation. Sarah thought it felt good to have achieved the purpose of the drive.

  She’d gone back to help Dale get ready for the evening meal. He was boasting that tonight’s meal was going to be the best yet – Bison chili, salad, black-eyed peas, Jalapeno cornbread and blueberry dump-cobbler for dessert. Sarah couldn’t believe the incredible meals Dale was able to fix out in the middle of nowhere. She marveled at his cooking abilities and planned to continue learning from him --- She enjoyed cowboy cooking.

  Dale was instructing her how to prepare the black-eyed peas as they worked together in the kitchen.

  “Hey, Sarah. Hang on a minute. I need to dump this dishwater and I’ll be right back.” He grabbed the big tub and headed out back by some rocks. Sarah was mixing her ingredients and turned to watch him as he leaned over to pour the tub of water. All of a sudden, she heard a rattling sound and Dale jumped back, holding onto his hand. She dropped what she was doing and ran out to him.

  “Get back! There’s a snake over here…”

  Sarah was frozen with fear for an instant. “What should I do?”

  “Go get Cooper…”

  Matt had come around the corner to see if Sarah needed any help just as she ran by. He grabbed her arm to stop her and saw the look of fear on her face.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Dale was bitten by a snake out back. I’m going for Cooper.”

  “Go... I’ll stay with him until you get back.”

  Sarah ran off and found Cooper with some of the cowboys. After briefly explaining the situation, they all ran back with her to see about Dale. Matt was keeping Dale calm by making him stay seated with his hand lower than his heart. He was talking softly to him when Cooper hurried up.

  “Let’s take a look, Dale.” He looked at the puncture mark on Dale’s hand.

  “Damn thing got me when I dropped the stupid tub and bent down to pick it up.”

  “Rattler?”

  “… Yeah…”

  “Good work keeping him calm, Matt. That’s the thing to do.” Cooper looked around. “Okay, I need a volunteer to take Dale to the clinic in Wells. Who will drive him there?”

  Cooper looked at Dale. “Sorry, cookie, your days on the drive are officially over.”

  “Damn, damn.” Dale immediately turned to Sarah. “Will you take over cooking for ton
ight and tomorrow, Sarah?”

  When she visibly gulped, Matt stepped in. “We’ll help her, don’t worry, Dale. Just get going.”

  Aaron volunteered to drive Dale to the clinic and he had started up the truck.

  “Sarah, get what you can out for dinner and tomorrow’s meals. Matt, give her a hand,” instructed Cooper.

  Sarah and Matt walked quickly over to the kitchen area and started stocking a cooler with food that would keep for meals. Matt got breakfast foods together, while Sarah found sandwich makings for lunch. For dinner tonight, they found various breads that Dale had already made, some vegetables and fruit.

  As they pulled foods together quickly, Sarah looked over at Matt.

  “So you don’t cut the wound and suck out the venom?”

  Matt laughed. “Nope. Only in the movies…”

  “You don’t do anything for him?”

  “He’s got to get some anti venom serum, which we don’t usually bring with us on horse drives. That was a freak accident that he and the snake were together at the same time. Probably scared the both of them.”

  “So that’s why he needs to go to the clinic?”

  “Yes, he needs medical attention as soon as possible. The best thing to do for him right now is to keep him calm. A fast heart rate will speed up the circulation of the venom.”

  She smiled at him in the midst of their rush. “You’re pretty calm in a crisis, aren’t you?”

  He smiled back at her. “I’ve been through a few – Maybe I’ll tell you about them sometime…”

  Just then Aaron honked the horn. Frank and Richie had gotten Dale in the truck and he was ready to go. Cooper yelled over at Matt.

  “Got enough for a few meals?”

  “Yep. We’re good… Take off.”

  Aaron drove the truck out of the camp area taking all their kitchen equipment and the rest of the food with them. Cooper turned to look at the scared, assembled guests watching Dale go.

  “It’ll be fine, folks. Aaron can get him there in a few hours which will be plenty of time to fix Dale up.” Then he looked over at Sarah.

  “What are you going to do for dinner?” It was interesting to Matt how quickly Sarah had become indispensible to the horse drive, but it didn’t surprise him.