Windswept Hearts, Robynn Gabel [good summer reads .TXT] 📗

you pointers, or advice--whatever you need."

Anna flashed an irritated glance at Emily. "Yeah, I can use all the advice I can get."

"How come you promised your mom you'd keep it?"

"I promised Mom I wouldn't sell it; I didn't say anything about leasing it or letting it sit. I wanted to make her feel better. I've no desire to move here. I'd never live in the country where it's a forty-minute drive to get anywhere remotely civilized. No malls, shopping, restaurants or coffee shops."

Emily snorted again. "There's more to life than malls and the latest fashion." She had her head cocked to the side, her green eyes serious. She reminded Anna of a bird listening for a worm. "You're the modern little city mouse, I see. I guess that makes me the country mouse."

"Oh yeah, a country mouse all right! I remember you always knew what the latest fashion was,"' Anna shot back, hefting the pillow at her for emphasis.

Emily caught the fluffy, airborne missile. "It's a heritage thing, girl." Her tone was gruff. "This is one of the original homesteads in the county, with a rich history. You grew up in the city; you don't understand roots, knowing where you come from, and the struggles to get there. You can't let it sit; the buildings need constant repair. The cattle should be your first concern right now." She shrugged irritably. "But sell if you want to. Instead of looking at this as a curse, see it for the blessing it can be. I don't think your mom would come back and haunt you if you sold it. Herman would take it in a second. You got prime grazing land, a natural spring, and BLM leases going way back. Uncle John worked hard to have the best. His cattle always brought top dollar. You couldn't find a better stockman."

Anna jumped up and started pacing, causing the floorboards to squeak. "I understand family history, it's just Mom's request surprised me. I thought she hated this place." Her hands swept the air in agitated punctuation. "She always seemed reluctant to come here and visit."

"Well, I'm sure that was because she thought she had let your grandfather down. Being their only child and running off with your father created some hard feelings. I know your grandfather hoped she would marry a local guy and take over the ranch. But your mom was a city mouse too."

Anna sighed, stopping in front of Emily, crossing her arms. "You're probably right. Mom and Grandpa didn't talk a lot about the past. She had a good relationship with Grandma, though. It broke Mom's heart when she passed away." Brusquely she turned, "Can you help me do a walk-through and check to see if everything is working?"

"Sure. Just give me time to get back down those stairs."

Anna started in the kitchen, having noted earlier the bowed floor in front of the sink. When she turned on the faucet, it emitted an alien squeal until a rusty-brown torrent ran out. Picking up a pen and pad from the counter, she started writing. An hour later, Emily and Anna met up outside to compare lists.

"Okay, we need new flooring in the kitchen and laundry room, the porch has a hole, the outside could use some paint. I'm not getting any water running in the bathroom sink; two light switches aren't working, and every room needs a good paint job. I think the water pump needs to be checked too.”

Emily nodded, still scratching down notes. "Okay, well the inside of the barn is in better condition than the house. There's fence work out in the pasture, and some shingles are missing on the barn roof. Bunkhouse is musty, needs cleaning, but is in good order. If you're thinking of selling, I have the number of someone who can come out and give you a pre-sale walk-through. Several handymen hire out at the local hardware store if you need help."

Anna nodded. "I'll start tomorrow. Any place good to eat in town?"

"So you're still planning on staying out here by yourself? You're crazy. I'm willing to hang out and help."

She shook her head. "I'm grateful, but I already owe too many people."

"Girl, you've always been hard-headed and by the way, Herman would like to go over the accounting with you. He suggested after the potluck tomorrow at church."

"You know if Herman hadn't stepped up last October to take care of the herd, I don't know what I would've done. How many head did Grandpa run?"

"Over two hundred and you need to figure the feeding, vetting, and the calves delivered this spring too. If you're planning on selling the herd, I'm sure he'll subtract it from the total cost."

"And you call me stubborn? At his age, what was Grandpa thinking to run a herd that big with no one but himself?" Anna fumed.

Emily pushed her lips together, silence her only response.

 "So you didn't answer my question on places to eat."

"Well, they're having a street dance tonight in town, and there'll be food there. So here's a chance to get that break you wanted."

Emily's poker face didn't fool Anna. She sighed. "You're rotten. Let's go."

 

>>>>> 

 

Built around the train depot, the town of Lander hadn't changed much. A fair share of booms and busts had come and gone. Cattle ranching, farming, steel industry, mineral mining, oil, and other various industries had all helped build the quaint, little town. Main Street boasted of architecture from the late 1800s. One block festooned with orange cones re-directed traffic as people milled in the street. Anna caught a glimpse of a park filled with vendor's colorful tents.

Emily parked the aging sedan in front of someone's little, cottage-style home. Getting out, Anna caught the sweet odor of the lilac's spring debut. Band music traveled softly in the warm air.

Emily proceeded to introduce Anna to different people in the crowd. Who doesn't she know? Anna thought, as she shook hands with friendly townsfolk dressed in jeans, which seemed to be the dress code. They ducked and jostled through the thick crowd in the little block until they spotted Emily's short and portly husband, Seth, doing a balancing act with three cups.

"How are you doing, Anna? So good to see you," Seth said, handing her a plastic cup, wet with condensation. She glanced at the soda swirling darkly around ice cubes. Seth had remembered her dislike of alcohol.

"I'm checking out the band. Richard Crowley's son is playing tonight, and I'm saying hi. Want to come along?" Emily offered.

"No, I'm going to wander around. You go on without me."

Emily nodded and disappeared into the crowd with kids and husband in tow. Anna started up the street to check out the window of a jewelry store.

Rowdy voices rang in Anna's ear as a heavyset man with a sweat-stained cowboy hat stumbled back, knocking into her. The drink fell from her hand as she started to fall until two hands clamped around her upper arms in an iron grip. She gasped at the touch. Panic pushed her heart into flight. She twisted to pull away from the imprisoning grasp. The hands immediately let go. She turned to face her rescuer.

Frowning, he asked, "You okay?"

"I'm fine." Blushing, she quickly looked away. His voice had a pleasant timbre that she instantly liked, and his hazel-eyed gaze was direct.

He veered off to the left, shouting into the milling mass, "Hey Tim, watch out. You almost ran over the little lady here." He headed in the direction of the offending subject, who raised his beer in acknowledgment. Anna crossed her arms over her heaving chest. She needed to escape. Her eyes caught an opening in front of the local movie theater, and she headed there. In the little bubble of space, she watched people passing by, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. He hadn't been half-bad looking, but his touch brought back a face from the past. Trying to find something else to occupy her mind, she looked around until she saw Emily across the street at a food vendor's stand.

A gentle breeze brought the seasoned smell of beer-brats cooking, and her stomach reminded her six hours had passed since lunch. Joining Emily, she bought one of the plump, shiny brats. Adding a dollop of mustard, she enjoyed the satisfying pop of the tough skin as her teeth sunk in, releasing a flood of flavor.

Wiping her mouth after the last morsel, she heard Emily speak behind her.

"Hey Anna, this is Steve Johnson."

She turned around, mouth full, holding up one finger while she chewed furiously. Emily continued, "He's the son of Jack Johnson, owner of the hardware store in town. He'd know of any handymen needing work." She appeared smug at finding a work hand.

Catching Steve's bemused expression, Anna looked down and quickly wiped her mouth again. She noticed his weathered cowboy boots sticking out from under his faded jeans. Great, a red-necked cowboy type, derisively skimmed across her mind. Anna glanced up, noticing his confident smile created little crinkles at the corners of his eyes. "Oh, Steve, right? Uh, thank you for your help earlier."

Emily smiled impishly. "You've already met Steve? What did he help you with?"

Anna glanced at her overly observant cousin with irritation.

Nonchalantly, Steve interjected, "Tim never looks where he’s going. I’m always picking up after him.” He ran his fingers through his unruly hair. “So really, it was no problem. What type of job do you need done?"

Anna spoke quickly, "I recently inherited my grandfather's property, and it needs some fixing up…possibly to sell."

He nodded. "Give me your number and I'll get back to you on our schedule. What kind of repairs?'

She opened her purse, pulling out a slip of paper to write on, relieved not to have to make eye contact. "I'll just list them for you. Also, if you know anyone who does ranch work, like fencing, I would appreciate their names." She handed him the note, looking up quickly, with a curt nod. "Again, thank you."

His lips turned up in a slight smile, but she slid her gaze to the band and stepped away, dismissing him. Behind her, she overheard him talking to Emily.

"Thanks, Emily: can always use the work. How's your dad doing?" Steve and Emily walked a little farther into the crowd, catching up with Seth and the boys, sharing neighborly information. Anna kept her distance as she followed behind, glad not to be the center of his attention. He said goodbye to Emily, glancing back at her. Staring intently for a brief second, he turned, disappearing into the throng. As the multitude began to thin, the band shifted into slower tempos and Seth's princely bow to Emily caught Anna's attention.

 "Well, my darling, would you care to dance with me?" Seth extended his beefy hand towards his wife. Anna chuckled as Seth pulled Emily into a country swing. She moved gracefully, despite her portly size, around her balding little husband.

The sun disappeared over the mountains, and the lavender hues of dusk began to settle. Matthew tugged at Anna's hand. "Stay with us, Auntie. You can sleep in my room! We are going to camp outside tonight. Please." Anna smiled down at his pleading face.

"If you don't go back to the ranch tonight, we'll stay later," Emily added breathlessly, joining her. "I can take you out after church in the morning and pick up those boxes you need."

Oh, what will it hurt? Anna thought. It will be better than being all alone with the family ghosts tonight.

"Okay, sounds good. Let's find some ice cream," she said to Matthew, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

"Be on the lookout for Rob Miller. I ran into him when I visited the band. He asked about you and wanted a dance with you." A mischievous giggle escaped Emily.

Anna groaned. "For heaven's sake, Emily, I can't deal with any more cowboys tonight!"