by Kim Redford
“I don’t know…but they talked about healing, and that place felt so forlorn, so empty,” Fern said. “I wish…well, I wish we could make it right.”
“How long ago do you think it caught fire?” Rowdy asked.
“I don’t know,” Craig said, “but it might have been at least a hundred years ago.”
“I never heard about it.” Oscar adjusted Tater’s bandana and then looked at the group. “If anybody’d know, it’d be Arn of the Crazy Eight. He’s about that old. He’s ornery as all get-out, but he might know, and he might tell or he might not, depending on his mood.”
“Is he still on that horse ranch near Sure-Shot?” Craig asked.
“Yeah,” Oscar said. “That cantankerous granddaughter of his runs it now.”
“Samantha?” Craig grinned. “I remember her. Tall redhead. She could ride like the wind.”
“She’s back home,” Oscar said. “She won’t know nothing, but Arn might.”
Rowdy glanced at Belle and caught her eye. Wherever this was going, he didn’t want to get involved in it. He knew she really wouldn’t want to get involved in it either. He had no idea why the Buick Brigade was trying to draw them into some drama that happened a hundred or so years ago. They had enough to do to get ready for Christmas.
“Truth of the matter,” Fern said. “When we were driving around looking for an old dance hall, I was kind of hoping we’d find a building we could turn into a community creative center…something like that since the funding for the arts in the high school was cut.”
“Arts?” Belle’s head snapped up. “I was thinking along the same lines.”
“Really?” Fern focused on Belle. “Drama? Painting? Writing? Music?”
“Clothing design, too.” Belle nodded in satisfaction.
“Business,” Storm said. “Creative arts applied to business. My Fernando T-shirts are selling better than ever.”
“Don’t try to get me involved,” Oscar said. “Ranching is my one and only game. Tater here, too.”
“It makes life simpler.” Rowdy thought about his own creative interests and how they complicated life, but on the other hand, he couldn’t imagine living without them.
“Poetry.” Belle smiled at Rowdy.
He smiled back, knowing she was thinking about the poem he’d written and recited for her.
“Do you think—” Belle said.
“It’s small.” Fern shook her head.
“That’s why we keep guys like Rowdy around who can build stuff,” Sydney said.
“I’m already overextended.” Rowdy wasn’t about to get involved in any more construction projects, or non-construction, as was currently his project.
“It’s okay,” Fern said. “I sincerely doubt it’ll come to anything. We don’t have the funds to upgrade or build or anything. It was just sort of a pipe dream of mine.”
“You’re right,” Sydney agreed. “We’ve got too much on our plates this Christmas already.”
“Daisy Sue comes first,” Storm said.
“Right.” Belle nodded in agreement. “And I’m busy at my new ranch. It’s just kind of a fun idea.”
“Tell you what.” Craig pulled his key ring out of his pocket. “To stay on the good side of the Buick Brigade, why don’t y’all run over to Sure-Shot one afternoon and see the schoolhouse? It wouldn’t take long, and that’d be that.”
“You might stop by the Crazy Eight on the same trip,” Fern said. “We don’t have time right now to do it ourselves what with Wildcat Hall Christmas preparations, but I’d really like to know what he has to say, if anything.”
“Here’s the padlock key.” Craig selected a key on his ring, slipped it off, and tossed it.
Rowdy caught the key even though he didn’t want it. “We don’t have time to get involved in this right now either.”
“Just a quick look,” Sydney said. “Then we’ll all be off the hook.”
“I guess we could take a few hours.” Belle shrugged as she glanced around the group.
“We’ll see, but I’m not promising anything.” Rowdy pocketed the key where it felt like it was burning a hole in his pocket. The old schoolhouse was interesting, but lots of things were interesting. Just because he had a key didn’t mean he had to investigate the mystery.
“Daisy Sue first.” Storm glanced down at the plate of cookies she held in both hands. “Nobody cares anything about what happened a million years ago. Fernando cares about his love, and she’s missing right now.”
“I do understand,” Belle said. “And I haven’t forgotten about discussing cross-promotion with you either.”
“Yeah.” Storm nodded in agreement. “Now that you’ve met Fernando and he’s accepted you, we can move forward with our plans.”
“I didn’t know this was an audition.” Belle chuckled as she walked over to the corral.
“Fernando has very discerning taste.” Storm leaned against the railing beside her. “He likes you.”
“He’s certainly handsome,” Belle said. “I like him, too.”
Rowdy glanced around the group, and they all smiled at each other at the bonding taking place. Storm was the one with discerning taste, and if she liked somebody, they were considered solid gold, not gold-plated. Belle might have had a rocky start in the county, but she was covering ground fast. At this rate, maybe he’d be let out of his slow-walking her construction job…at least he could hope so.
“Fernando,” Belle said. “It’s been lovely meeting you.”
He gave her a long look with his big, brown eyes, and then he focused on the cookies Storm held in her hands.
Belle selected a cookie, balanced it on her flat palm, and held it out to him.
Fernando gently took the cookie into his mouth.
“He got hooked on these when he was a baby,” Storm said.
“They’re good,” Belle said.
“He’s so smart he probably even recognizes the shapes,” Storm said.
“Could be.” Belle glanced back at Rowdy. “I guess we better be on our way. We’ve taken up enough of y’all’s time today.”
“It’s time well spent,” Storm said. “You’ll find Daisy Sue now. I just know it.”
“Yes, I will…and I’ll let you know when I hear something about her.”
“We appreciate you stopping by to meet Fernando,” Sydney said.
“And Tater.” Oscar chuckled as he patted the dog’s head.
“Right.” Belle walked over and fingered the bandana around Tater’s neck. “Fine-looking accessory.”
“He’s got them in all colors,” Oscar said. “But red’s his favorite.”
“It looks good on him.” Belle glanced around the group. “I’d just like to say…I’m really enjoying living in Wildcat Bluff County. I hope I can make a positive contribution to the area.”
“We’re glad you’re here,” Fern said. “My sister, Ivy, and I came here from Houston, big-city folks, so we know how it is to find your own niche in the country.”
“Thanks.” Belle glanced at Rowdy again.
He moved to her side, feeling proud of the way she was handling the situation but also knowing it was time to move on.
“Now, don’t be a stranger,” Sydney said.
“Right.” Storm walked up to Belle. “Give that Fernando and Daisy Sue line some thought, why don’t you?”
Belle grinned at her. “I will. And let’s stay in touch.”
“You bet.” Storm grinned back.
“Let us know if you follow up on the schoolhouse,” Fern said.
“We will. See you later.” Belle waved and then headed for Rowdy’s pickup.
Rowdy nodded to his friends before he followed Belle, opened the door, made sure she was safely inside, and shut the door. He rounded the cowcatcher and sat down beside her.
“Are you okay?” He started the engine and then set off down the lane before anybody else could arrive and hold them up.
“Yes.” Belle leaned her head back against the seat. “Quite a group of folks you’ve got in this county.”
“Tell me about it.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “You did great. They all like you.”
“That’s good…I think.”
He chuckled at her comment. “I get it. The more they like you, the more they can think of for you to do.”
She joined his laughter. “One-room schoolhouse? Arn of the Crazy Eight?”
“We don’t have to put that on a front burner.”
“No, we don’t, but it is intriguing, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. But right now I’m taking you home where you can catch your breath.”
“Will there be cowboy cookies?”
“No.” He crossed over the cattle guard and then glanced at her. “But there’ll be a cowboy.”
“Oh my.” She fanned her face as if he was too hot to handle. “Does this cowboy have a name?”
“He’ll answer to whatever you want to call him.”
“Bad boy?”
“Yep.”
She reached over and lightly stroked his arm with long fingers. “Fernando. Daisy Sue. Storm. The Buick Brigade. And now my very own ‘bad boy.’ Life is certainly interesting in this county.”
“Let’s see how interesting we can make it once we get you home.”
“Without drunken cowboy cookies?”
“We won’t even need the whiskey.”
And then he turned off Wildcat Road and roared up to the front of her house with all the shingle stacks glistening in the sunlight.
Chapter 25
A few days later, Rowdy knew for a fact that he was doomed, doomed, doomed to lose the love of his life…kind of like Fernando. Belle. Daisy Sue. How had they come to this point?
He glanced over at Belle where she sat beside him in his ratty pickup, looking just as pleased as punch. She’d gotten her way, so she ought to be happy, but she didn’t have all the facts, or she wouldn’t have come anywhere near where he was taking her now.
Up ahead, he saw the entry that proclaimed to folks who knew about it to take the next turnoff. He slowed down, noting that the silver double gates with HF&R in the center that usually stayed closed were wide open for him. On either side of the cattle guard rose a four-sided column with HOLLOWAY FARM & RANCH engraved into the pale sandstone. Blue-and-silver rope light wound around each column with a large, blue bow on each flat top, representing holiday packages waiting to be unwrapped on Christmas morning.
He turned off Wildcat Road, crossed the cattle guard, and headed up the well-maintained black asphalt road. Red Angus cattle stood in clusters under the spreading limbs of green-leafed live oaks or grazed on what was left of summer grass now turned golden in the winter. Sunlight glinted on a large pond with green lily pads floating across its blue surface while a weeping willow cast a dark shadow across one corner of the water. In the distance, a large red barn and numerous outbuildings rose above the gently rolling prairie land.
All Rowdy could think was home-not-so-sweet-home now that he was bringing Belle to his family ranch.
“This is beautiful.” Belle pointed out her side window. “I don’t know why you were so reluctant to bring me here.”
“I don’t like to intrude. The Holloways haven’t been much for parties or visitors since Bert lost his wife and Bert Two his mother.”
“That’s tough. I hope they’re doing better now.”
“Yes, they are. Now that Bert is seeing Hedy, everybody in the family is happier.” He felt like a fool referring to his dad and himself as if he didn’t know them well. If Belle ever found out…it didn’t bear thinking on.
As the lane wound upward, higher and higher, they passed a pasture that held white-face Herefords with deep-red bodies. They weren’t as popular as they’d once been on ranches, although he still preferred the breed for looks and temperament. Black or red Angus was the current favorite among North American ranchers due to economics because Angus cattle matured quickly and easily put on weight.
“Big spread, isn’t?” Belle said.
“Thousands of acres. It’s been in the Holloway family for generations like most of the big ranches around here.”
“That’s the way it is with my family, too. We were lucky to get the Lazy Q in this area.”
“Yep.” He could’ve said a lot more, but he was trying to keep his mind in the right groove. He’d phoned ahead so they were expecting him and knew to continue playing the stupid game. He hoped they could stop it soon, but then what would he tell Belle? He pushed it from his mind and drove on up to the house that dominated a rise on the ranch.
“I hadn’t expected to see such a lovely Southern mansion.” Belle glanced at him and then back at the house. “If my brothers hadn’t insisted I stop by to pay my respects to the Holloway family, since they’re friends, I wouldn’t be here now, and I’d have missed seeing this beauty.”
“The Holloways were originally from the South like a lot of folks who settled in Texas. I know their house looks unusual here on a ranch instead of perched on a cliff overlooking the Mississippi River or on a rise above the Gulf Coast. I guess you know the style is Colonial Revival from the antebellum period.”
“I do indeed, since I’m from East Texas. It reminds me of Jefferson, the riverboat town that used to be the gateway from the South to the West. Beautiful homes there, too.”
He parked in front and waited so she could get a good look. He didn’t normally notice the architecture much since he lived there with his dad. He was always just running in and out to take care of business. Anyway, he was away from home more than usual now that he and Belle were…doomed, doomed, doomed if this didn’t go well today.
He tried to see his home with fresh eyes. It was a large white two-story house with black shutters on the floor-to-ceiling windows that were overshadowed by the covered portico that ran the length of the front with tall columns holding up the roof. Redbrick chimneys rose on each end from the ground to high above the roofline. A redbrick path meandered from the lane up to the house through a golden, manicured lawn with neatly trimmed bushes and ancient, leafless oak trees.
As he turned off the pickup’s engine, the double front doors opened, and Bert and Hedy in her motorized wheelchair came outside. His dad wore his usual rancher suit, cowboy boots, and Stetson, while Hedy looked good in shirt, jeans, and boots.
“They’re such an adorable couple,” Belle said thoughtfully.
“Kind of like us?” He couldn’t resist saying it, hoping the words would ward off any bad mojo coming their way.
She glanced over at him with a smile that lit up her hazel eyes. “Just like us.”
“Good.” He reached over and clasped her hand, clinging for a moment before he let go. “If anything happens…I mean if something was said…it’s just that no matter what…I love you.”
“You’re really uneasy about this, aren’t you?” She gave him another sweet smile. “There’s absolutely no reason to be intimidated by this fancy house or thousands of acres just because you’ve only got…well, I don’t know what you’ve got, but judging by your clothes and vehicle…I don’t mean to say you have less since I really don’t know. I’m not doing this well at all.” She took a deep breath and looked at him with love. “It doesn’t matter to me what you have or don’t have. What matters to me is the person you are right this moment. You’re honest, trustworthy, kind, considerate, loving in a world that needs more of your type of person.”
He didn’t move a muscle because he felt sick to his stomach. Every one of her words was a knife thrust to his lying, cheating heart. He wasn’t honest or trustworthy. Maybe he had been, but not since meeting her and accepting his assignment. If she ever found out…no, she c
ouldn’t find out. He’d come up with some reasonable excuse when the time came to kick his actions into the dustbin of history with all the other nefarious doings of humans.
“I’ve embarrassed you, haven’t I?” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“No. It’s just…well, I do want you to see my place, and today is—”
“The day for me to make friends with the Holloways. It’s important to my brothers. I wonder if Bert Two will be here.”
Rowdy rolled his eyes, but not so she could see it. “I think he’s out of state.”
“Really?”
“He hunts with bow and arrow, so he might be up in the mountains of Southeast Oklahoma.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Not really.” He didn’t want any more discussion of Bert Two or he wasn’t going to be able to keep it together. “Let’s go say hello.”
He got out, walked around to her side of his truck, and opened the door. He was getting into the Buick Brigade gentlemanly conduct, and it seemed appropriate here and now. Belle stepped down, clasping his hand and smiling at him in encouragement. If she’d been any sweeter about the situation, he’d have a toothache. As it was, he just had to buck up and bear it.
He held her hand as they walked up the redbrick path, stopped, and waited for Bert and Hedy to come down the ramp to join them.
“Belle Tarleton, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Bert held out his hand, but when she reached out to shake, he gave her a big bear hug. “That’s to let you know I consider you part of our family while you’re here in Wildcat Bluff County.”
“Thank you.” Belle stepped back with a big smile as she turned to give Hedy a quick hug. “I’m so glad to be here.”
“Rowdy,” Bert said with a grin and roll of his eyes, “thanks for bringing Belle to see us.”
“My pleasure.” Rowdy gave his dad a narrow-eyed look that should warn him off laying it on too thick.
“I regret Bert Two is out of pocket today,” Bert said.
“That’s okay. I’ve been meaning to come over, but I’ve just been so busy getting my new home ready for the holidays,” Belle said.