by Delta James
Sierra dressed in layers and pulled her hair back into a French braid. She grabbed her hat, a down vest, and her favorite jacket and left the house through the front door. She wanted, if possible, to avoid Ruth and as many ranch hands as possible. The less any of them knew about anything, the better.
Charlie always set his alarm for 3:30 in the morning. He’d feed the horses that would be working that day so they’d have time to eat and start digesting their breakfast. Joker was waiting for Sierra when she entered the barn and nickered to her softly. She smiled and opened his stall door, putting on his halter and leading him over the tack room.
She put Joker’s saddle and bridle on. She tied on the small saddlebags that contained bottled water and grabbed a lariat. She didn’t know that she’d need the rope, but it was better to have it and not need it than the other way around. Leading Joker out of the barn, she swung into the saddle and had cleared the barnyard and was heading toward the rendezvous location before the rest of the ranch had started to stir.
* * *
Ryder had taken the time to speak with both Ruth and Charlie the night before. Charlie had suggested that Ryder join them in the morning for breakfast. Generally, Ruth had the ranch hands’ breakfast laid out and waiting for them when they got up. It had always been the practice of the Flying M for Charlie to lay out the day’s plan with the men and get them started before joining Ruth, John, and Sierra for breakfast up in the kitchen.
A couple of hours after Sierra left, Ryder drove in and parked his truck next to the others. He walked into the barn and into the room used for meals and ranch meetings. He introduced himself to those who didn’t know him and reacquainted himself with those that did. Ryder considered it a strength of the Flying M that they were able to retain ranch hands for years.
Taking a mug of coffee, he walked out into the barn and noticed immediately that Joker’s stall was open and that the big buckskin appaloosa was missing. Charlie joined him.
“She must have been up and out early. I just spoke to Ruth. She didn’t see her either and so didn’t tell her that you were coming by.”
Ryder smiled. “Think it would have mattered?”
Charlie grinned. “Probably not. Her daddy never could control her and she adored him. I’m thinking your chances are slim to none. She’ll do just the minimum she needs to satisfy the conditions of the will. I don’t envy you the next year. I don’t think John did you any favors.”
“I think John Morgan never did anything without thinking it through.”
“You’d be right about that. Well, unless there’s something else down here, we might as well head on up to the house. You thinking of making this a regular thing?”
“Thinking about it. And in all honesty it might be best that Sierra isn’t here. I need to talk pretty frankly with you and Ruth. While I’m thinking of it, is anyone using John’s horse?”
“No. I don’t think anyone feels right about it. The thing is though, he’s going a little stir crazy. He’s used to being ridden and working cattle daily. He’s got a great work ethic and doesn’t much care for retirement. I’ve been meaning to talk to Sierra about it.”
“I’ve been thinking I need to get a better horse than my father’s, but I hate to take a good horse out of the rotation for my men. Unless someone has some strong objections, I may just appropriate him for my use.”
“I think you’ll be glad you did. He’s a great horse—has a huge motor, lots of heart, and fears nothing. It’ll be good for him to go back to work.”
The two men headed up to the house and joined Ruth. As anyone who knew her would have expected, she had breakfast laid out. She was just picking up one place setting as they entered the kitchen. The table would now be set for three.
“I see you discovered Sierra is already up and about. Any idea what was on her agenda for the day?” Ryder asked Ruth.
“No, and she didn’t leave me a note.”
“Is that normal that she would just disappear before anyone else is up and about and not leave a note?”
Charlie and Ruth exchanged glances. “Sierra’s kind of a hit and miss on that kind of thing. I will say she always has her cell phone with her.”
Ruth and Charlie watched as Ryder dialed the number. The message came on that the person being dialed was unavailable. “Well, she’s either turned it off or she’s out of range of the towers. Don’t I remember that a bunch of the ranchers got together and had them put several towers up through here so that reception would be improved?”
“Yes. In fact, we have great coverage all over the ranch. Your dad had been interested but when he found there was a fee involved, he opted out.”
Ryder shook his head. “We’ll have to fix that. I just think it makes sense to have good cell coverage so people can communicate. You know, Ruth, one of the things I’ve missed was your cooking. People can go on and on all they like about French cooking and how good it is, but nothing I had in Europe compares to the meals I’ve enjoyed at your table.”
Ruth blushed and smiled. “You always were a sweet talker, Ryder. Now you boys go ahead and sit down and I’ll get the coffee to put on the table.”
Both Ruth and Charlie remembered Ryder and had always liked him notwithstanding what had happened with Sierra. He was smart and, unlike his father, knew and loved the ranching business and life. Charlie had heard from several of the men who now worked for Crooked Creek and through word about town that he’d made a lot of headway in getting his family’s ranch back on the right path.
Ryder asked them about the past five years both for them personally and here at the Flying M. He asked them about John and who had known how sick he was. He was somewhat surprised that apparently the only person who had known until just recently was Doc Walker and Ryder himself.
“And how did you come to find out John was dying?” asked Ruth quietly.
“He told me. He tracked me down in France and asked me to have dinner with him. I have to tell you, he didn’t look sick to me at all. A little older perhaps, but when he told me that he was dying and didn’t have long, you could have knocked me over with a feather.”
Charlie smiled. “That was his way. Wouldn’t want anyone to make a fuss or upset Sierra. If there wasn’t any hope for any kind of cure, he’d have wanted things to go on as if nothing was wrong for as long as possible. So, did you know about the change in his will?”
Ryder nodded. “I did. Not all of the specifics, but that’s what he came to talk to me about… that and what happened with Sierra.”
“What did happen, Ryder? I’ve always had trouble believing you’d cheat on her, but you just up and left.”
“Foolish male pride and the stupidity and arrogance of youth are the only honest reasons I can give you. I didn’t cheat on Sierra. Everyone always said that she’d been in love with me since she was a kid. Fact is, I’d been in love with her almost as long. I remember when I was senior in high school. I heard her coming down the hall on her first day as a freshman. I was going to give the freckle-faced brat I’d always known a ration of shit. But when I looked up, gone was the little girl. In her place was the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen.” He chuckled. “I have to tell you that if either of you ever repeats this, I’ll shoot myself. She wasn’t all made up in stiletto heels and a short skirt. She was in jeans, boots, a skin-tight black t-shirt, and a red flannel plaid open shirt, knotted at the waist. All those other girls were overdone and fake. Sierra was wild and open and completely fearless. I knew at that moment I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I knew she needed to grow up and I was willing to wait for her. I never seriously dated another girl. Fact is I broke up with Debbie because I knew she was serious about me, but I knew Sierra was my future.”
“But, Ryder, she found you with Debbie. And she didn’t have many clothes on…”
“I know, and I know how it must have looked, but I swear to you, I had nothing to do with her lack of clothing. The guy she’d been seeing had gotten rough with her
and had tried to rape her. She’d fled his place without much of anything on. She was terrified of what her dad would do and so called me. I got her some clothes and took them to her. That’s when Sierra found us. I knew Sierra was upset, but I thought she’d listen to me. Deb was really upset and I needed to take care of her. By the time I got that situation handled, Sierra had made up her mind and wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say. That’s where the prideful, arrogant stupidity on my part takes over. I decided that she should have trusted me, which she should have, but honestly looking back I can see it from her point of view. At the time, I just got angry and hurt that she didn’t have more faith in me. So, when she told me we were through and threw her ring at me, I got pissed and left town. One of the few regrets I have in this life.”
Ruth reached over and patted his forearm. “I wish you’d said something to somebody. I can tell you neither John nor I ever thought it sounded like something you would do… especially when we knew that you and Sierra had opted not to wait for your wedding night.”
Ryder looked up at her and grinned. “You know, John said something very similar to me when we had dinner in France. I just think we both got our feelings hurt and neither of us was mature enough to rise above that and get things straightened out. I’d like to think I’ve done a lot of growing up in the past five years.”
Charlie sat back from the table and smiled. “John believed you, didn’t he?”
Ryder nodded.
“He was a good judge of character. So, he changed his will so Sierra would have to spend time with you. He liked to tell everybody that your marrying Sierra was his master plan for founding a great dynasty. Fact is, he thought you could handle her and make her happy.”
Again, Ryder nodded. “And I have to tell you neither of you or Doc Walker have to worry about your inheritances. Nor does Sierra. I have no intention of letting this place go to the State. I would never let that happen.”
“I suspect John knew that as well,” said Ruth with a winsome smile.
“I’d like to think he did. He said that what happened never made sense to him. When he realized there was no cure, he tracked down Debbie. She told him what really happened. She’d wanted to talk to him, or Sierra or somebody, but I wouldn’t let her. I told her if she really felt she owed me for what I did that night, she should just move on with her life. She did that. Took some college extension courses, got her nursing degree, and got caught speeding up in the pass one summer night… she’s married to the highway patrolman who pulled her over.”
“So, once he knew that for sure, he came to see you?”
“He did. I confirmed what Debbie told him and that I knew the vast majority of what split up Sierra and me lay squarely on my shoulders.”
“He figured out you still love her, didn’t he?” Ruth asked softly.
“Yes, ma’am, he did. But I would ask that you don’t share that information with Sierra until after I make things right with her. Fact is, I’d already decided to leave the EquiBlues organization and come home. I realized that I’d never stopped loving Sierra; never stopped wanting to build a life with her and never would. So, I came back home. John filled me in on what had gone on with Crooked Creek. We agreed I’d come back and start setting things right. We had both hoped I could get Sierra to at least agree to see me, but she ignored every email, instant message, voicemail, or text I sent.”
Charlie chuckled. “By the way you knew her number without looking, I’m taking it you tried more than once.”
Ryder laughed. “You might say that. I bothered her enough that she blocked my old cell number and I had to get a new one. This is the first time I’ve tried her with this phone. So, what do you think my chances are?”
Ruth said, “Cards on the table?” Ryder nodded. “What Sierra thinks happened may not have been what happened, but it wounded her deeply. She’s never been seriously involved with anyone since you left.”
Charlie smiled. “But John knew his baby girl. My guess is he figured out Sierra had never gotten over you. Once he knew he was dying he started moving heaven and earth to try to fix what went wrong and set you up for your best shot at winning your girl back.”
Ryder smiled as well. “I’ll tell you this… if I don’t succeed it won’t be for lack of trying. But you two believe me, don’t you?”
Charlie and Ruth exchanged glances. “Yeah, we do.”
“Good. I’m going to have enough trouble with my wild child. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to fight that battle on more than one front.”
“Just so we’re clear, if you hurt her again, you’ll answer to me.”
Ryder chuckled. “Not to worry, Charlie. And you should know, Doc already reminded me he’s the medical examiner and can sign off on any death I might have as an accident.”
That last statement made Ruth and Charlie both laugh out loud.
“So, as I have you both on board, I thought I might put myself in the best position for Sierra to have to deal with me. I thought I’d move in here. Problem I have is that while my new hands are good, they’re still relatively young and inexperienced. If I’m here, Charlie, I have to ask you if you’d go to Crooked Creek and be the foreman there. Run things there while I’m here. We’d need to talk daily, but I need a strong, steady hand on the rudder over there to keep things moving in the right direction. Can I count on you?”
“As I said, John Morgan was a good judge of character and I’ve seen what you’ve done since you’ve been home with the wreck your father made of that ranch. So, yeah, Ryder, you can count on me. I’m all in. Ruthie?”
“He or Sierra might shoot you and you might be able to dodge their bullets. But you hurt my baby, and I’ll poison you so fast, it’ll make your head spin. But that being said, I’m with Charlie, I’m all in.”
“Ruth, at some point, I may ask you to go set up at Crooked Creek what you have here—meals provided by the ranch. Help me find somebody to take on a role similar to yours. I’ve always thought it was one of the things that made Flying M special.”
Charlie nodded. “That and it makes sure you have your full crew every morning. You get to see your men and look ‘em in the eye at least twice a day.”
Ryder agreed, saying, “We don’t have a separate foreman’s house, but I think we should think about building one come next spring. In the interim, as long as I’m here, why don’t you take over the master suite I created for myself on the main floor.”
“I can always bunk with the hands.”
“You can, but there’s no reason to. And I think putting you up at the main house will send the right message to the men that you’re in charge,” said Ryder.
“Sounds good, Ryder. As they say, daylight’s burning. Since you’re here and Sierra isn’t, how about I give you the penny tour of the place.”
“Charlie, I can’t remember the last time I had as good an offer. Ruth? Can we do anything for you?”
“No, I’m good. Do you want to take over John’s room?” she said with the barest trace of skip in her voice.
“I think it’s far too soon for that. In fact, my guess is once I’ve moved in up here? Sierra will take over her dad’s room to make a point.”
Ruth giggled. “You may be right about that. Sierra has the big room with the attached bath at one end of the hall. The other end has a room with an attached bath that is the mirror image of Sierra’s room. How about I open that up and get it ready for you?”
“I’d appreciate that. And if Sierra comes home while Charlie and I are on the tour, can you let us know she’s back safe and sound? I don’t like her just riding out into the wilderness with no one knowing where she’s headed, especially this time of year.” Once again, Charlie and Ruth exchanged glances. “Hey, I thought we’d agree to cards on the table. What aren’t you telling me?”
“You remember how Sierra loved mustangs?”
Ryder nodded.
“One of the things you didn’t know about her back when you two were engaged, was she has a ba
d habit of interfering with the Bureau of Land Management or BLM and others and their plans for the wild horses. She’s been known to move them off of open range and back onto protected lands. Since you left, she’s become passionate about it. Usually when she takes off and nobody knows where she is, she’s doing something with some of the rescue groups.”
Ryder nodded. “That makes sense. I saw her the other day with a herd of wild horses on open range. My guess is she’s off saving them.”
Charlie agreed. “If they were on the western border that would make sense. The BLM is planning a roundup in that area and specifically targeted a couple of good-sized herds.”
“I’ll follow up with her tonight. Thanks for the info. I’ll try really hard to never put the two of you in the middle between us.”
With that Ryder and Charlie collected their hats and coats and headed back down to the barn.
Chapter Ten
The morning air was cold and crisp. Sierra looked up at the sky. It didn’t look like a sky for snow, but she made a mental note that when she got back to the ranch this afternoon, she’d need to keep a close eye on the weather report, and finding a permanent spot for the mustang herd needed to be a top priority.
She waved to the small group who had come to help. They were parked in a large turnout usually used for trucks either to chain up or for drivers to get a bit of rest. The occasional rider would come out and use it as a hopping off point to ride in the open range. Thus, seeing a large horse trailer would not be taken amiss by anyone who happened to pass by.
The other riders greeted her and were mounting up as she joined them.
“Thanks for coming. Y’all ready to go move some horses?”
“Absolutely, but where is there protected ground close to here?”
“We’re going to move them into one of the upper pastures on the Flying M. I’m trying to figure out the best place to permanently relocate them. If push comes to shove, I can move them into one of the lower pastures once the cattle have all been settled and let them winter there. But the roundup is scheduled for tomorrow. I figured we needed to get them to safety and for now, that’s the Flying M.”