by Kim Redford
“What do you want me to do?” Kemp asked.
“For now, go on back to your regular work,” she said. “I’m sure you’re way behind on stuff.”
“You know it.”
“I’ll call my brothers and see if they can find her.”
“Okay,” Kemp said. “If you need me to run over to East Texas, let me know. By now, I want that cow back here as bad as anybody.”
“Maybe not as much as Storm and Fernando…but we’re all with you on this one.” She just shook her head because she still hadn’t found Daisy Sue.
“I doubt it’ll take them long to check tattoos or ear tags,” Rowdy said.
“Lot of cattle on that ranch, but it’s doable.” Kemp looked at Belle. “Right sorry about the mix-up. What with that cousin of mine and all, it’s just been a flat-out mess.”
She smiled, shaking her head. “You’re right. A mess. But at least we now have another way to go. Thanks for all your help.”
“Anytime.” He tipped his hat and then headed for his truck.
As she watched Kemp drive away, Rowdy’s phone rang.
“Fire station.” He gave her a serious look as he answered his cell, engaging the speakerphone. “Hedy, what’s up?”
“Need you down here pronto. I’m sending two boosters to a barn fire in the northern part of the county.”
“Arson? Accident?”
“Don’t know yet.”
“I’m at Belle’s. I’ll be there as quick as I can.”
“Thanks.” And Hedy was gone.
He turned to Belle. “Got to go.”
“Stay safe.”
He squeezed her fingers. “Will do. Why don’t you call your brothers while I’m gone? If you can wait, I’ll bring back Chuckwagon when I’m done.”
“Thanks. I’ll wait up for you.” She went up on tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
He quickly stalked away, got in his truck, and drove down the hill.
She watched until she couldn’t see him anymore. Then she walked inside, leaving the front door unlocked for his return. She slipped her phone out of her purse before she plopped down on the sofa in her living room. She stared at the fireplace for a moment. She could use a nice, warm, cozy fire…a controlled one, for sure, but she didn’t know if she had any firewood. She probably didn’t. Maybe Rowdy could get some for her. And she stopped her thoughts right there. She was coming to rely on him too much. He could be gone in an instant…just like Daisy Sue.
She punched Ty’s number on speed dial. Tyrone was her youngest brother and the most available in a time of crisis. He’d get the loss of Daisy Sue as an iconic symbol of cows everywhere. Her other brothers… Well, they were of a more practical bent.
“Hey, Sweetie,” Ty said, using his favorite endearment for her.
“Hey yourself.” She smiled at just the sound of his voice. “How’re you doing?”
“Fair to middlin’.”
“Good.”
“You?”
“I guess I wouldn’t call if I didn’t have a problem, would I?”
“That’s about the size of it.”
She exhaled on a sigh. “I’m here at my new-and-improving Lulabelle & You Ranch.”
“How’s it going?”
“Slowly.”
“You need me to come over and speed things up?” He chuckled low in his throat, as if the idea of busting heads or using brass knuckles held a certain appeal to a cowboy like him.
“Don’t you dare. I have enough trouble without my big brothers… Let’s just say I’m taking care of business fine and dandy.”
“If you are, why do you need me?”
“I don’t suppose you’ve been following this whole Fernando and Daisy Sue fiasco online, have you?”
He laughed harder. “Yeah. How’d you get Lulabelle & You entangled in that reality show?”
“Oh my…oh my…oh my goodness, don’t you ever let Storm Steele hear you say something like that.”
“Reality show?”
“She’d do it. She’d do it in a heartbeat. And it’d work. That girl is an entrepreneur in diapers. Wait till she gets into training pants. It hardly bears thinking on.”
“Sounds like somebody I watched growing up.”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“And that sounds like a lot of admiration,” he said.
“Well, yes, but the reason I called—”
“You’re making friends, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I guess so. It’s an interesting community.”
“We always thought so.” He cleared his throat. “Anybody special?”
“Well, there’s this guy named Rowdy…”
“Rowdy who?”
“Uh…just Rowdy.”
“Who’s his family?”
“Uh, don’t know.”
“How’d you meet him?”
“He’s doing some work here at the house,” she said.
“Handyman?”
“Construction.”
“Cowboy?”
“He’s got a small place.”
“You been there?”
“No.”
“Belle, you know I’ve always looked out for you.”
“I know where you’re going, so don’t do it.”
“If you don’t know his last name or his family or his home, what do you know about him?”
“He’s kind and considerate and—”
“He’s a guy…of course he’s all that until—”
“I told you not to go there.”
“Okay. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I’m a big girl. If I need to, I can pull up my big-girl panties.”
“I know. I just don’t want you to have to do it,” he said. “Anyway, did you get a chance to meet Bert Two Holloway yet?”
“No. I met his dad and Hedy Murray on the Holloway ranch, but Bert Two wasn’t there.”
“I wish you’d find time to meet him. I think you’d like him a lot.”
“I’m sort of hooked on Rowdy right now.”
“I hear you. Still, if you need a shoulder to cry on later, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks.” She stared at the fireplace. She really could use a nice, warm, cozy fire—one to share with Rowdy.
“But I got us off track, didn’t I?”
“Right. Let’s back up to Fernando and Daisy Sue.”
“Okay.”
“You’ve read or seen or heard that she’s missing from my ranch.”
“Yep. That’s not bad publicity. I figured you had her stashed somewhere till folks lost interest and you unwrapped her like a Christmas present to start up the interest again.”
“I wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Some marketing folks would do it in a heartbeat,” he said.
“Never. It’s too painful for Storm and Fernando.”
“Wait a minute…if you don’t have Daisy Sue, where is she?”
“That’s my problem. She really is missing.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“No, I’m not.” She took a deep breath. “That’s why I’m calling you. Kemp Lander, my foreman…remember y’all hired him.”
“Yeah. Sound guy.”
“He’s been looking for her all this time.”
“He finally found her?”
“No…but he thinks she might have been picked up with that load of cattle y’all transported from here to our ranch there,” she said.
“Why would he think that?”
“We can’t find her anywhere else.”
“That was right before you got there and took over, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Let me think back,” he said.
“Please tell me you didn’t sell that load.”
“I don’t know. We don’t watch over the day-to-day operations. I’ll need to talk with our head honcho and get back to you.”
“I’ll send her AAA registration number.”
“Good.”
“We need to find her as soon as possible. Storm is getting more anxious all the time.”
“I’d like to meet that little girl sometime.”
“All I can say is you ought to be careful or she’ll try to sell you a T-shirt or signed photograph or corral you into some type of business.”
He laughed. “Is that what she did to you?”
“She really thinks a Fernando and Daisy Sue line of Western wear would sell like hot cakes.”
“Now there’s a girl after your own heart, isn’t she?”
“Yeah. She’s adorable.”
“I’ve got to tell you, you’re fitting in there a lot better than I thought possible.”
“It’s taken a while, but I like the people and the community…and it’s just a really fine county.”
“I’m glad it’s working for you. For now, I’ll get right on the Daisy Sue situation.”
“Thanks.”
“And if you need me to come over and knock a few heads together, just let me know.”
“Appreciate the support, as always.”
“Bye, Sweetie.”
When he was gone, she sat there a moment, feeling a little lonely, a little blue, and yet knowing her connection with her family was deep and strong and unbreakable…much like the way she felt about Rowdy.
Chapter 34
After touching base with Ty, Belle took a quick shower to wash away the day while she waited for Rowdy.
She slipped into a soft blue sweatshirt and sweatpants…and nothing else. Clean and sweet-smelling, she returned to the living room. She sat down on the sofa, wishing she was watching a crackling blaze in the fireplace while she snuggled into Rowdy’s warmth.
She’d accomplished a lot that day. Kemp was back, and there might actually be a lead on Daisy Sue. She’d learned that all of the children had survived the schoolhouse fire, even if the teacher hadn’t made it out alive. And then there was the tender, touching, yet sad tale of the other Belle and her Bertram.
Belle had developed a great appreciation for the strong friendship between the ladies of Destiny as well as for the obvious deep love between Bert and Hedy, Ivy and Slade, and Fern and Craig as well as all the other loving folks in the county like Sydney and her daughter, Storm. They didn’t overlook animals, either, revealing their love for Fernando and Daisy Sue as well as so many others like Homer, Aristotle, and Socrates. They included strangers, too. They did their best to ensure the welfare and happiness of each and every person who came to their community festivals throughout the year.
She didn’t doubt for one second that she’d made the right choice in coming here because what she wanted to do dovetailed so perfectly with what was already being accomplished in Wildcat Bluff County. And then there was Rowdy. How could she have anticipated such generous love?
Now that she was getting things more under control on the ranch, she looked forward to interacting with others in the county. So far, she’d liked everyone she’d met, and she was anxious to do even more with them, particularly when the time came to develop the one-room schoolhouse.
She felt satisfied that she’d done all she could for the moment. Now was the time to catch her breath. She wished Rowdy was with her, but he’d be back soon enough and he’d bring delicious food. She heard her stomach growl at that thought, so she patted it in reassurance that it’d be full pretty quickly.
She hoped all the firefighters were staying safe while fighting the fire. Maybe they could even save the barn. She tried to relax, but with Rowdy and others in possible danger, she felt on edge. She resisted getting up and checking outside for him every few minutes, although that was what she wanted to do.
As night fell, she noticed a chill in the air, so she put her feet up and tucked a pretty Lulabelle & You throw around herself. Life was good…except for the lack of Rowdy. She smiled, thinking of him getting there, thinking of tasty food, thinking of her big bed, thinking of his naked body, thinking…
And then he was there, opening the front door, calling to her, leaving food in the kitchen, and finally, coming to her…wearing a clean Wildcat Bluff Fire-Rescue sweat set.
He smiled in triumph.
“You fought the fire and won?” She tossed aside the throw, jumped to her feet, and hurried over to him.
“That we did. We saved the barn and didn’t lose any animals.”
“I’m so happy to hear it.”
“And nobody suffered an injury.”
“That’s experience for you.”
“It helps.”
“Hungry? Thirsty? Tired?”
“Yep.” He grinned, holding out a hand to her. “All the time I fought that fire, I knew I’d be coming home to you. It gave me energy and purpose.”
She slipped her fingers into his hand. “And I waited for you, knowing you’d soon be with me.”
“And that I’d bring food.”
She chuckled. “Well, I was anticipating Chuckwagon.”
He joined her laughter. “Come on. I cleaned up at the station. Now I’m so hungry I could eat a horse and chase the rider.”
She smiled at the old joke as she led him toward the kitchen and the delicious scent of barbecue.
“That food smelled so good on the way here I almost tore into the sack.”
“Now that would have been naughty.”
“I’m feeling naughty.” And he gave her a suggestive grin.
She smiled at his words. “You’re almost as satisfying as food.”
He grinned bigger. “Give me time and I’ll see if I can take care of all your appetites.”
“I don’t have a single doubt you can.” She gave him a quick hug, enjoying the feel of his hot, hard body, and then walked into the kitchen.
He followed her. “Am I being tossed over for Chuckwagon eats?”
“Don’t take it personally. I’m sure many a man has lost out to the aroma of barbecue.”
He grinned as he opened the sack and set out two white dinner containers, two drinks, two smaller pie containers, and plasticware with napkins. He pulled out a chair at the table and gestured for her to sit in it.
“You’re too kind.” She smiled at him as she sat down. “The Buick Brigade would approve of your manners.”
“I do my best.” He sat down in a chair across the table from her.
She slid a set of everything across to him and then pulled her own dinner and dessert close. She popped open tops and inhaled the delicious aroma. He’d selected sliced-beef sandwiches with sides of potato salad and fried okra. A big wedge of pie beckoned her, so she picked up a fork, cut off the tip, and put it in her mouth. She closed her eyes as the rich, sweet taste of pecan pie melted in her mouth.
“You can’t do any better than Slade Steele pies, can you?”
“Absolutely divine.”
“He’s developed quite the national following for his award-winning pies.”
“I can see why.” She picked up her sandwich. “If I don’t save my pie for dessert, I’ll eat the whole slice first.”
“Go ahead. You deserve it.”
“I do, don’t I?” She had another delicious bite.
He watched her as he bit into his sandwich. “You can’t get any better barbecue in the state of Texas.”
She took a bite of her sandwich and nodded in agreement.
“What’d your brother have to say about Daisy Sue?”
“Ty says it’s feasible, so he’s going to check tags or tattoos and see if she’s on the ranch.”
“I sure hope so.”
“Me
, too.” She forked up potato salad and sighed in pleasure. “Just the way I like it. Plenty of mustard.”
“Yeah.”
She ate with him in silence for a while, enjoying the food, the company, and the satisfaction of a day’s good progress.
After a bit, they finished their food, set down their forks, and simply looked at each other. She smiled. He smiled. And they stood up as one, never looking away from each other.
“When I was in her store, Morning Glory gave me something. Do you want to see it?”
He grinned. “Do I?”
“I think you might like it.”
“Morning Glory, huh?” He grinned even bigger.
She smiled back. “You know, all the pampering scents and creams and bath products that she makes for her customers.”
“Oh yeah.”
“Well, this is along those lines, but not quite the same.”
“Am I going to enjoy it?”
“I’ll let you decide for yourself.”
He glanced down at the leftovers and then back at her with a question in his eyes.
“Let’s clean up later,” she said as she stepped away from the table.
“Where are we going?”
“Where do you think?”
“I hope the bedroom.”
“You hoped right.”
As she headed that way, she glanced over her shoulder. He was with her. And no wonder… He was eager to see what the legendary Morning Glory had sent their way.
In the bedroom, she tossed throw pillows to the floor, pulled back the cover to expose the sheets, and glanced back at him again. He stood in the doorway simply watching her with a smile on his lips.
“I could get used to this every day of my life,” he said.
She froze. He sounded as if he truly meant it.
“Belle, I’m serious.” He took several steps into the room. “I’d live here. I’d live anywhere you wanted me to live…as long as I could be with you.”
“But Rowdy, it’s so soon to get serious. We hardly know each other. We’ve never met each other’s families.”
“We know each other. We know what we do to each other. We know what we mean to each other. Does anything else really matter?”