The Rancher's Best Gift

by Stella Bagwell

  This was getting ridiculous, Matthew thought, and it was making him a heck of a lot more than annoyed. “You’re damned right, it’s true. And if you would take a bit of your time to really talk to your little sister, even come see her, then you might understand.”

  There was no sound on the other end of the line and then the faint shuffle of papers and the creak of a chair. Blake was clearly in his office. A place he didn’t actually want to be, but being Joel’s first-born had put him there, along with the man’s untimely death. Maureen could search far and wide and never find a better manager of the ranch than Blake. But that wasn’t where he actually wanted to be. If the truth was known, he’d rather be right here with Matthew, working on a stubborn water pump, or digging up a rotten fence post, than sitting at a desk.

  “I’m sorry, Blake. I shouldn’t have said any of that. It’s not my place to butt into your family affairs.”

  “You are family, Matthew. You do have a right to say all that and more. I realize you’re not down there to control Camille.”

  Control her? The idea was laughable. She was about as controllable as one of Holt’s wild fillies. “Thank God. I’d fail pretty miserably at that job.”

  “Well, I’m going to try to think in positive terms about this diner thing. If you think it’ll be good for her, then I have to believe it. The thing is—we were all just hoping that she’d come home.”

  A pain crept through his chest. “Blake, I think it’s time that you and the rest of the family understand that Camille is home.”

  Chapter Ten

  By the end of the next week, Matthew and the men had the cattle all settled and grazing on valley grass. The water pumps were all in good working order and the fences were sound. Their job on Red Bluff was finished.

  On Saturday afternoon, as the ranch hands loaded the trucks and trailers to head home to Three Rivers, TooTall was following Matthew around like a lost pup.

  “I don’t like this, Yellow Hair,” he said. “I want to stay here with you.”

  “You can’t. Right now you’re needed back at Three Rivers. If the weather takes a turn you men will be hauling hay from morning ’til night. I’m only going to be here at Red Bluff for few more days anyway. Just long enough to look things over.”

  TooTall didn’t look convinced and Matthew could tell he wanted to argue the matter. But he was a loyal hand and no matter how unhappy he was with the current setup, he wouldn’t create a problem for Matthew.

  As the two men walked out to where the men were loading the last of the horses, TooTall cast Matthew a determined look. “You remember what you promised,” he said. “You’ll let me work here with you—whenever you come to stay.”

  Damn it, he didn’t know where TooTall was getting such an idea. It was ridiculous. Even worse, it was grating on his nerves. Trying to hold on to his patience, he said, “I haven’t forgotten that I promised. But you need to get that notion out of your head, TooTall. I’ll be home at Three Rivers in a few days and then you’ll see that nothing is going to change. We’ll be working together just like always.”

  Frustrated, TooTall stopped in his tracks and frowned at him. “I saw a vision, Matthew, and—”

  “No, you had a dream, that’s all,” Matthew interrupted, not wanting to hear any more nonsense from the man. “Now get in the truck with the rest of the men before I put my boot in the seat of your pants.”

  To soften the order, he patted TooTall’s shoulder. “I’ll see you in a few days. In the meantime, I’m counting on you to keep the rest of the crew in line. Okay?”

  Nodding glumly, the cowboy climbed into the back seat of the truck and shut the door. Matthew walked up to the driver’s window and Pate stuck his head out.

  “Drive safely, Pate. And send me a text to let me know you all got there in one piece.”

  “Sure thing, Matthew,” he said with a toothy grin. “This couple of weeks has been a hell of a ride, huh?”

  “Yeah, a hell of a ride.”

  He lifted a hand in farewell, then turned and walked inside the barn so he wouldn’t have to watch them drive away.

  * * *

  The next morning, Camille was thrilled to have Matthew join her in Sunday services at the little church in Dragoon. As they sat close together on the worn wooden pew, she couldn’t help but notice how closely he followed the pastor’s sermon and how he knew exactly where to find certain passages in the Bible. From the time he’d become an employee of Three Rivers Ranch, she recalled that he’d attended church with the entire Hollister family. Even so, Camille had never thought of him as a spiritual man. Maybe that was because his rugged exterior had always covered up the softer, gentler parts of him.

  After the service she introduced him to Peggy and Gideon, who eyed him with great interest.

  “Camille tells us you’ve been the foreman for her family’s ranch for a long time,” Gideon said as the four of them stood outside the little white church. “That must be a huge job.”

  Matthew humbly shook his head. “Not really. I have plenty of ranch hands to help get everything done that needs to be done.”

  “He’s being modest, Gideon,” Camille told the older man. “He works long hours and deals with a lot more than punching cows. Blake couldn’t run the place without him.”

  Peggy’s all too curious gaze slipped back and forth between Matthew and Camille. “I hope you’ll find time to come eat at the diner before you head back to Three Rivers, Matthew,” she told him. “You need to try out some of the good things Camille cooks for the customers.”

  Camille didn’t miss the bit of color creeping up his neck.

  “I—er—I’ve tasted a few things that Camille has cooked,” he admitted. “But if I get a chance I’ll drop by the diner.”

  “I guess she’s told you about buying the place,” Gideon said to him. “We’re just tickled pink about it, too. Norm is a nice boss, but he’s burnt out—he needs a rest.”

  Peggy let out a good-natured groan. “Gideon, Norm is probably ten years younger than you!”

  He laughed and winked at Matthew. “True, but he’s not in as good as shape as I am. Anyway, Camille will get the old place hopping. You can bet on that.”

  “Yeah, we’re already planning on a big Christmas around here,” Peggy told him. “It would be nice if you could come down and celebrate with us. Do you get a break for the holiday?”

  Matthew cast a doubtful glance at Camille and she wondered if he was thinking it was about time for her to celebrate Christmas at Three Rivers. For his sake? No. He wouldn’t ask her to do anything like that. Not for him. But he might ask her to do it for the rest of her family. Even so, she couldn’t. Not when she was just now taking over the diner.

  He said, “Ranchers don’t really get time off. This break today is about the most I ever get.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad,” Peggy grumbled. “It would be nice for Camille if you could. She gets lonely out there on the ranch, you know.”

  “Peggy! This isn’t the time or place to be talking about Camille’s social habits!” Gideon scolded her, then clamped a hand around her upper arm. “Come on, I’m going to take the kids over to Benson for lunch. You can come along—if you think you can talk nice.”

  Peggy pulled a face at him. “Talk nice! Gideon, you need a good dose of castor oil and—”

  Before the woman could finish, Gideon yanked her away, while giving Camille and Matthew a backward wave.

  “Do they always fuss like that?” Matthew asked as they watched the pair walk to Gideon’s car.

  “Always,” Camille said with a fond smile. “They’re worse than some old married couple. Except that they’re not really a couple in that sense of the word. There’s a forty-year age gap between them.”

  With a hand against the small of her back, he urged her toward his truck. “Hmm. What’s a few years? Just look at Sam a
nd Gabby,” he said.

  Camille laughed. “Why, Matthew, I think you’re getting a romantic streak in you.”

  The faint smile he gave her was more like the wave of a white flag. “You’re rubbing off on me, Camille.”

  * * *

  Two hours later, Matthew decided this had to be the best day of his life. The sky was vivid blue, the sun was warm and Camille was riding beside him. And from the happy look on her face, she wasn’t the least bit worried about her riding skills. In fact, he was surprised at how confidently she handled the paint mare, Daisy.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been this far south on the ranch before,” she said as the two of them reined their horses down a shallow wash thickly dotted with sagebrush. “It’s very pretty, isn’t it? I’ll bet if we rode to that next ridge we could see all the way to Tombstone.”

  “Maybe. I’ve never been that far, either. But there is a place you might like to see before we get to the ridge. Unless you’re too tired to keep going.”

  “Oh, I’m not the least bit tired. This is lovely, Matthew. And it’s so beautiful here.”

  He had to agree it was a scenic area with the sage and barrel cacti and tall saguaros covering the hills and canyons. “There isn’t much grazing for cattle to be had here, but more than you’d think.”

  Her smile was impish. “I forget this is actually a working ride for you,” she said. “So, what are you thinking so far? Think Blake is being foolish to consider putting more cattle on Red Bluff?”

  “No. Not from what I’ve seen so far. And this area basically gets as much moisture during the year as Yavapai County, while the temperature stays warmer, so that’s a plus.”

  They rode up out of the wash and Matthew reined Dahlia, the paint sister to Daisy, in a westerly direction. Camille guided her mount alongside his.

  “I think you’ve been doing some major fibbing to me, Camille. You’re riding Daisy like an old ranch hand. I thought you said you rarely ride.”

  “Thank you for the compliment,” she said. “But it’s true that I rarely ride.”

  “You know what I think? You sit the saddle like your father did.”

  She studied him for long moments. “That’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever said to me.”

  “Well, I meant it or I wouldn’t have said it.”

  “Yes, I’m learning that much about you,” she said.

  They rode along in companionable silence for a short distance and then she asked, “Matthew, do you think Major Bob caused Daddy’s death?”

  Her question caught him off guard and caused a frown to crease his forehead. “Your father’s horse would’ve never intentionally harmed him. Not for any reason. You believe that, don’t you?”

  Her nod was solemn. “Yes. I believe it. I just wondered what you really thought. I know Mom says you and the hands are still using Major Bob on the ranch.”

  “That’s right. Maureen even rides him on some days.”

  “I’m glad. Because I have a feeling Major Bob misses Daddy as much as the rest of us do.”

  He reached over and picked up her hand that was resting against her thigh. Then, squeezing it gently, he said, “I think your feeling is right.”

  She glanced thoughtfully at him. “Do you believe my brothers will ever find out what really happened to Daddy that day?”

  His throat tight, Matthew shrugged. “That’s tough to say. I do know that Joe is like a bulldog. Once his jaw is set, he’s not going to let go until he’s satisfied.”

  She sighed. “I’ve not mentioned this before, but about a month ago, Blake told me and Viv about the woman down in Phoenix. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”

  He nodded. “I know. I just wasn’t sure if any of your brothers had mentioned it to you. I didn’t bring it up because—well, that’s your private family business.”

  “You are family, Matthew,” she said. “So tell me, do you think Daddy was cheating on Mom?”

  “Hell, no! He adored your mother.”

  “Strange how you can be so certain,” she mused aloud. “When my own brothers have their doubts about our father.”

  He squeezed her soft little fingers. “It’s like I told you before. It’s easier to see something when you’re on the outside looking in.”

  She smiled at him and the dark cloud that had momentarily settled over Matthew lifted.

  “That’s all I want to say about that,” she said. “So tell me where we’re going.”

  “We’re going to ride around this next hill and then you’re going to see how Red Bluff got its name.”

  * * *

  Ten minutes later, they rode along a narrow ledge that skirted the hill. Then suddenly the rough trail dropped into a deep valley and there, straight in front of them, a cliff made of slabbed red rock towered into the sky to create a boxed canyon.

  Camille automatically reined her horse to a stop and stared in awe at the incredible sight. “Oh my, this is fantastic! How did you know about this?”

  “I came here a long time ago with Joel. He said it was a spiritual place. I wanted to bring TooTall here to let him see it, but we didn’t have the time. He’s a mystical kind of guy. I figure if he ever does see it, he’ll tell me he’s seeing ghost riders in the sky or something.”

  “Well, it does strike the imagination,” she said. “Let’s ride closer and dismount, shall we?”

  “Sure. Follow me. From here on the trail gets narrower.”

  Five more minutes and they were at the base of the bluff. Camille was delighted to see a pool of water beneath a trickling spring. Nearby pines seemed to be growing straight out of the rocks.

  They dismounted and tied the two horses to a desert willow growing near the edge of the water. Butterflies flittered around its purplish blooms, while high above the bluff, a hawk tilted its wings in the desert wind.

  Camille sat down in the cool shade and patted a spot on the rock next to her. “Come sit next to me.”

  He sank down beside her, then pushed the brim of his hat back on his forehead. “This is nice.”

  “I could stay here forever,” she said with a wistful sigh, then added with a chuckle, “Until I got hungry.”

  “I just wonder if this is the way it looked years ago—back before gold was discovered.”

  “Hmm. Probably something like this,” she said thoughtfully. “Did you ever think that maybe Billy the Kid roamed through this land?”

  “No. His stomping ground was New Mexico. But Wyatt Earp might’ve. We’re not far from Tombstone. Before then, some of the Spanish expeditions could’ve traveled through here.”

  She glanced curiously at him. “You know about history?”

  “A little.”

  “I noticed today at church that you’re very familiar with the Bible.”

  “Yes, my mother often read passages to me and my sister. When things were really tough that seemed to bring her more solace than anything.”

  She reached over and laid her hand on his forearm, but there was nothing she could really say to wipe away his sad memories. All she could do was to let him know that whatever hurt him, hurt her, too.

  “I hear your phone dinging,” he said after a moment.

  “A message,” she said. “I really don’t want to bother with it now. But maybe I should—just to make sure it’s not an emergency.”

  She pulled the phone from her shirt pocket and punched open the new message. “Oh, it’s from Viv. She says congratulations on buying the diner. Gosh, I do love my sister.”

  Camille started to put the phone back into her pocket when it dinged again and she looked to see Vivian had sent a pair of photos. One was of her and Sawyer’s twin boys, Jacob and Johnny. The toddlers were both dressed like pumpkins for Halloween. The second pic caused her to gasp out loud.

  “Oh, oh, Matthew, look! Roslyn and Chand
ler’s baby was born this morning! It’s a boy! Look at that precious little face!” She moved the phone over so that he could see the screen with her. “That’s Chandler’s hands holding him. I can tell.”

  “Hmm. He’s bald and his eyes are squinted, but if you say he looks precious, then he does,” Matthew said. “I wonder what they’ve named him.”

  “William Chandler. But Viv says Chandler is already calling him Billy.”

  “Chandler never was big on formalities.”

  Camille laughed and then suddenly, before she could do anything to stop it, the joyful sound turned to a broken sob.

  Hearing it, Matthew wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Camille, what’s wrong? I thought you were happy about the baby.”

  Blinking back her tears, she returned the phone to her shirt pocket. “I am. I’m thrilled for my brother and for the whole family. It’s just that—” She looked at him and did her best to smile. “It’s like you when you talk about standing on the outside looking in. That’s what I’m doing, Matthew. I see my siblings with spouses and children and I don’t have that. I’m not sure I’ll ever have it.”

  “Camille, you’re still very young. Your life is just beginning.”

  Now was the time, she thought, if he was ever going to say that he loved her, that he wanted a life with her and the children they’d hopefully have together. But nothing like that was going to come out of his mouth, she thought sadly, and she was beginning to realize it never would.

  You can’t be angry about that, Camille. You can’t even be sad. You knew all along that Matthew was in your life on a very temporary basis. But you wanted him. Now you want to believe in miracles. But they don’t happen. Not for you.

  Sighing, she nodded and forced another smile to her face. “Yes. You’re right. I don’t have any reason to be sad. I’m young and my dream of owning the diner has just come true. I couldn’t possibly hope for more.”

  * * *

  They remained at the bluff a few more minutes and allowed the horses to drink and doze in the shade. By then, Matthew determined there wasn’t enough time before dark to make it to the last ridge marking Red Bluff’s most southern boundary, so they headed back to the ranch.