Loving the Heartland

by Marjorie Jones

  “He did what?!”

  Michelle could feel Kendra’s body heat rising through the fabric of her shirt. “It’s okay, Kendra. It’s going to be fine.”

  “No. No. There’s no way that little Brad—”

  “’Little Brad’ is going on eighteen years old. He’s a grown damn man, and he is just as much okay with you being a dyke as every single man on this ranch – and woman too, apparently.” Casey winked at Michelle.

  “But how did he—”

  “He asked and I told him. He asked why you weren’t married because you were so pretty and stuff. I told him that you hadn’t found anybody worth marrying. He made a couple of suggestions – himself included, mind you—like Harvey Whitehouse from the library, Colton Reeve, and that guy who used to pump the gas at the filling station on Old Farmer’s Road.”

  “Christ! He was like ninety!”

  “Yeah, but Brad liked the penny candy he used to slip to him every time you filled up that beater truck you used to drive. Anyway, I finally had to tell him that you hadn’t found anyone to marry because you’d want to marry a girl and there weren’t very many around who wanted to marry a girl, too.”

  “Oh, God... you didn’t.”

  “Hell, yeah, I did. And do you know what he said? He said, ‘Why would she want to do that? Girls are icky.”

  The kitchen fell silent for a few short moments, long enough for the words to bounce around from wall to wall and fall into a jumbled heap on the kitchen table.

  “Icky?” Kendra repeated.

  “Icky. And that was that.”

  “So, basically, you’re telling me that everyone on this ranch knows I’m gay.”

  “Everyone,” Lacey interjected.

  “And nobody gives a flying rat’s ass,” Casey continued.

  “How did everyone know? I mean, I never dated anyone... not really.”

  “Well, that might have had a little something to do with it, but come on, Kennie. You really weren’t trying to hide it. You’re... well... you’re just a little... I dunno,” Casey stammered. “Butch. You’re kinda butch. And not just tough like some of those rodeo cowgirls or the gals who help at roundup with their husbands. I mean... you’re really butch.”

  “Okay, okay,” Kendra Chuckled, rubbing her fingers into her forehead as though she tried to keep the top of her head pinned into place. “I get it. I’m butch.”

  Michelle’s eyes began to swell with moisture and heat. There really wasn’t anything to tear up about, right? But she couldn’t help it. It felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off of Kendra’s shoulders, and the fact that Michelle felt that weight lift meant something. It meant that she truly cared for this strong, independent woman who seemed so relieved that she didn’t have to hide anymore. The feelings had grown so subtly over the course of the days she’d been on the Heartland Ranch that she hadn’t even noticed it, really. Of course, she’d noticed the flutter in her stomach and the heat that made its way through all of her most intimate parts routinely, whenever Kendra entered a room. But she hadn’t noticed the deeper, more connected feelings that swept across her now.

  She hadn’t noticed...

  Lacey popped the top of a soda can, the aluminum sound snaring her attention. Lacey giggled and propped her feet on an empty chair. “So, that’s settled right? Ya’ll are being big ol’ lesbians together.”

  Kendra growled. “That’s enough. We’re all adults here.”

  “I guess that’s a good thing,” Lacey laughed.

  Kendra spun in Michelle’s outstretched arm so they were facing each other as they leaned against the counter. “You okay? You haven’t said much.”

  Michelle could only nod. She lifted her head and released a sigh.

  “Look at her,” Casey announced. “She’s bright red.”

  “That’s enough, Case. I mean it.”

  “So, um, how long as this been going on?” Lacey asked.

  “How long has what been going on?” Brad led Lenise into the kitchen through the swinging door.

  Kendra stood up straight and answered, “Nothing, Brad. Hey, there, Lenise. I thought you were watching a movie?”

  “We did.”

  Michelle looked at the clock and realized she and Kendra must have been occupied for much longer than she’d realized. Time flies when you’re having fun, right?

  “Hey, there’s some guys with a van unloading a bunch of stuff in front of the house, by the way.” Brad grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit on the counter and bit into it. Then he handed one to Lenise who made a face and shook her head.

  Michelle perked up and headed for the door. “A black van?”

  “Yeah,” he mumbled around his mouthful of fruit.

  “They’re here! She dashed out of the kitchen and raced up the stairs to change her shirt.

  

  She’d rather be boiled in a vat of motor oil.

  Kendra sat on her horse and watched the activity unfold on the range in front of her with disgust and annoyance as her constant companions. Brent sat next to her, his horse munching on new grass. Casey reclined in the passenger seat of the old Jeep Wrangler, one arm flung over his eyes to block the midday sun.

  Eyes narrowed against the glare from several windshields, including the black van, Kendra focused her attention on Michelle. She did her best to ignore the eight men and one woman who’d invaded her home last night. Her success could be measured with a thimble.

  “You know, you could be a little more sociable.”

  She looked at Brent, leveling as icy a glare as she could manage in the growing heat. She suddenly envied Brad who was, at this moment, taking his geometry final at the high school. Turning her attention to the front once more, she watched Michelle dismount Bethany and approach the camera man.

  She held her hands in front of her, her fingers pointing up while the tips of her thumbs met in the middle, staring over the rolling hills and the distant mountains. She looked like an old-school filmmaker. She pivoted on one foot, twisting her body until her jeans hugged every curve, every crevice. A breeze caught her unbound hair, lifting the golden strands on a whisper. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her field of vision, then gave up and tucked several locks behind her ear before scanning the horizon again. Fastened to the image, Kendra nearly moaned.

  “Okay,” Michelle shouted.

  The leader of the pack of vagabonds from the black van – what was his name? Vincent? – approached Michelle with a clipboard in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.

  Kendra didn’t like Vincent. Her eyes narrowed on the younger man’s shoulder-blade length black curls and wide back. He seemed a little too familiar with Michelle. The hint of jealously spiking in her nerves made Kendra push Preakness toward the small crowd.

  Vincent turned toward her and smiled. Kendra’s eyes narrowed a little further. Never trust a man who smiled like that; all teeth and no grit.

  “Jus’ the woman I wan’ed to see.” The lazy British accent felt like ice water poured down the back of Kendra’s shirt.

  She didn’t answer.

  “We need ye to ride yer ‘orse across that pasture,” he instructed, pointing behind him with his thumb, “an’ chase a couple of yer beasties toward the camera.”

  Kendra raised one eyebrow.

  Vincent waved a hand through the air. “’Ello! Cowboy, person? Anybody in there?”

  Kendra just stared at him. Hey buddy, you want to lose that hand?

  “Hang on, Vin.” Michelle patted the director on the shoulder and stepped up to Preakness’ neck. She stroked the glossy coat with delicate fingers. “Hey, Kendra? You know, this isn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be.” She smiled up at her and Kendra’s heart swelled, stealing what little breath she had left.

  “I don’t like him. If he pats your ass one more time, I’m going to run over him with my horse.”

  “Is that what’s bothering you? Vincent’s flirting?”

  “He doesn’t have to t
ouch you.”

  “Don’t be jealous, sweetheart. He really isn’t any competition. You know that, right?”

  “Do I?”

  Michelle crooked her finger in Kendra’s direction, indicating Kendra should lean down from where she was perched in her saddle. She complied and Michelle lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m gay. I don’t like guys that way.”

  Kendra sighed and pursed her lips as she sat upward again. Was she really? What if she was bi, and just didn’t want Kendra to know? Hell, she knew women who had claimed they were gay and ended up marrying men, for whatever reason. All signs pointed to Michelle’s integrity, but experience was a hard taskmaster. Kendra couldn’t help but worry, just a little, about putting her heart out there in stampede territory.

  “Come on, Kendra. Don’t make this more difficult than it is. You haven’t said more than three words to them since they got here.”

  “Three? That many? And ya’ll keep telling me I’m not being sociable.”

  It was Michelle’s turn to sigh and Kendra hated the fact that she felt exasperated because of her. But she hated strangers on her property. She hated the fact that the whole world would know her business. Her eyes shifted back to the wannabe rock star director. And she hated Vincent. She returned her attention to Michelle. She was prettier, anyway.

  Michelle Chuckled and pushed her sunglasses further up on her nose as she tilted her head to one side. Her hair came untucked and Kendra’s fingers itched to smooth the strands behind her perfect little ear. “Can you please behave?”

  “Why are they here, again?”

  “We are making a publicity video. We’ll send a disk to anyone who contacts us about it from the website. And all the major news outlets, of course.”

  “Like that will do any good.”

  “It will.” Michelle stroked her leg and the touch burned through Kendra’s chaps and jeans. Fire shot through her insides and moisture followed, forcing her to shift in her saddle.

  “Well, I’m not going to drive the cattle toward the camera.”

  Vincent replied from several feet away. “Why not?”

  What was he; a rabbit? Kendra glared at him. “If you must know, hot shot, I don’t trust myself not to stampede them right over your citified ass.”

  Michelle squeezed her thigh. “Behave!”

  She groaned. Could this day get any worse? She supposed the sun could fall out of the sky and land in the back of her pickup. Or her head could literally explode.

  “Kendra? Do it for me?” Michelle’s voice washed over her in a plea made from blue flame.

  She closed her eyes and took a breath. She would do anything for Michelle.

  Nudging Preakness back toward her brothers, she grumbled under her breath. Somebody would have to ride with her to make sure she didn’t kill Vincent, but she’d do what they asked.

  She pulled on the reins when she reached Brent. “Let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “We’re going to run a couple of cows and let them film us.”

  “We are?”

  Kendra recognized the sarcasm in her brother’s voice. You mean you caved? it said.

  “Don’t start in on me, Brent. I mean it.”

  Her brother laughed. “Me? I wasn’t going to say a thing.”

  Spurring Preakness to a gallop, she made for the herd. Within a few minutes, she and Brent had cut out three cows and drove them back toward the video crew.

  She cringed as Vincent screamed into a bull-horn. “That’s righ’. Good. Righ’ there! Now! You’re goin’ to push ‘em toward me.”

  “If he talks any slower, he’ll be talking backwards,” Brent stated flatly, shaking his head. “Does he think we’re idiots?”

  “I think so.” Kendra looked for Michelle and found her climbing on Bethany’s back again. If it weren’t for her, she’d never do something this ridiculous.

  “... an’... Action!”

  Brent leaned back in his saddle. “Does that mean we’re supposed to start? I’m not so sure, you know, me being a dumb-ass and all.”

  “Ha!” Kendra yelled and waved her coiled lasso in the direction of the three cows. They pranced a moment before they started moving forward.

  Brent laughed and joined her. Before they’d moved twenty paces, the cows picked up speed. Kendra and her brother chased them. If it weren’t for the cameras, she would love this. Hot wind stung her cheeks and, as Preakness moved from a lope to a run, she felt as if she floated over the range.

  Scenery rushed past her in a blur of green and blue. Focused on the ride, she let herself ignore the camera crew as they blew past.

  Echoes of the bull horn cried in the distance, but she couldn’t make out the words. Brent released a rebel yell and raced against her. A smiled formed on Kendra’s lips.

  “Think they’ve had enough?” Brent bellowed over the creaking leather and rushing wind.

  Kendra looked over her shoulder and pulled on the reins. Preakness slid to a halt.

  So did Kendra’s heart.

  None of the visitors watched them. Even the camera stood unattended on its tripod. Instead, they gathered in a circle. Some of them kneeled, some stood, looking at the ground.

  Bethany snorted and stomped the ground nearby.

  Riderless.

  

  Michelle squinted against the pain in the back of her skull. She inhaled and winced. Why was everyone staring at her? And how did they get so tall?

  “You a’righ’, then, love?” Vincent asked.

  He knelt beside her and she realized that she was lying on the ground. She’d fallen off her horse? A stream of memory washed through her mind. Bethany had bucked and pranced and Michelle had fallen off.

  She moaned. Every part of her body ached now. Had she blacked out? “Yeah. I’m fine, Vin.”

  “Out of the way.” Kendra’s voice came from far away, it seemed; further away than it should have been. Squinting against the sunlight, she watched as Kendra pushed her way to Michelle’s side through the circle of people. She shoved past Vincent and fell to her knees. “What the hell happened?”

  “I dunno, mate. She fell off, I’d imagine.” Vincent raised his head to the crowd. “Anybody see wha’ happened?”

  “It’s alright, Kendra. I just hit my head, I think.”

  “You think?” Kendra looked into her eyes, apparently studying her pupils. Her eyes narrowed. “Did you lose consciousness?”

  “Just for a second. Nothing serious.”

  Kendra growled.

  “Really,” Michelle continued. “I’m fine. Let’s get back to work, okay?”

  She tried to sit up, but Kendra eased her shoulders back to the soft grass. “Not so fast, sweetheart,” she whispered. Michelle could actually feel the sound to the pit of her stomach; soothing, warming, gentling.

  Strong hands moved over her shoulders and neck, then moved to her hips and...

  “Ouch!”

  Kendra turned back to concentrate on her face. “Where does it hurt?”

  She sucked in an breath as Kendra kneaded her right thigh. “Right ... there! Right where you’re... ow!”

  Kendra sat back on her ankles and rested her hands on narrow hips. “I think you can call it a day.”

  “We have more work to do.”

  “No, we don’t. Come on. Let’s see if you can even walk.”

  She snorted. Of course she could walk. As though she convinced herself, she gritted her teeth and said, “Of course I can walk!”

  Kendra helped her to her feet and she put her weight on her injured leg. Wincing, she pulled her foot off the ground again.

  “That’s it. You’re going back to the house. Now.”

  Something inside Michelle shifted. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time, if she ever had. She couldn’t tell, the sensations were so foreign. Someone took care of her. Someone concerned herself about her well-being. As much as she knew it couldn’t last, she liked the feeling of letting g
o. She leaned against Kendra’s weight and she allowed her to lead her toward the jeep. “I’ll drive you back.”

  “What about Bethany?”

  “I’ll shoot her in the morning.”

  “You will do no such thing! God, Kendra, it was just a little fall. You can’t—”

  Kendra laughed. “Settle down, little warrior. I’m only kidding.”

  Michelle laughed and suddenly realized that her ribs hurt, as well. She must have taken quite a fall. So much for her career as a western horsewoman. The thought brought a smile to her face despite the pain.

  Kendra knocked on the hood of the jeep with her free hand and Casey jumped.

  “What?” He wiped the side of his mouth with the back of one hand.

  “Move,” Kendra ordered.

  Casey jumped out of the jeep and helped Kendra maneuver Michelle into the passenger seat. “What happened?”

  “She got tossed. I’m taking her back to the house and calling Doc Weaver—”

  “I do not need a doctor.” She winced deeply as Kendra slid Michelle’s foot onto the Jeep’s rusted floorboard.

  Kendra ignored her protests, but immediately apologized for hurting her. “Is that better?” she asked as she helped her adjust to the hard seat.

  “Yeah,” Michelle replied, breathless and gritting her teeth. “I’m fine. Really.”

  After making certain Michelle was settled completely and firmly into the seat, and pulling the seat belt across her lap as gingerly as possible over her injured leg, Kendra climbed behind the wheel, turned the key and the engine roared to life. “Casey, you bring Preakness and Bethany back with you.”

  Michelle couldn’t suppress the smile that formed at the incredulous expression on Casey’s face.

  “I don’t ride them damn things.” Casey’s head shook as if he’d rather be thrown off a cliff.

  “Don’t give me that crap. You ride as well as any of us, now move it.” Kendra sped away, leaving her younger brother in a near state of shock.

  “I don’t need a doctor, Kendra.”

  “Yes, you do. You hit your head hard enough to black out. You’re seeing the doc!”

  “But I’m fine, really. I know my name. I know your name. And I know I don’t need a doctor. Ow!” she yelped when the Jeep hit a particularly deep hole in the uneven terrain.