Being Emma (20 page)

Both brothers gave Craig unrelenting stares.
Craig cleared his throat.

“
Well…
first off, we
were
speaking
just fine when we left and second what happened is between us. All
you need to know is that we love each other and it’s finally out
where everyone can see it… Including us…”

“Have you proposed?”

“Yes and no…”

A
What?
look passed between Colt and
Jesse.

“… Which is it?”

“It’s complicated, but basically, Janie wants
us to get married before she leaves for training, if she gets the
Secret Service job. So she asked if I was going to propose and I
told her I would under different circumstances.”

Colt was more confused. “I don’t understand
that.” Jesse shook his head.

“I told you it was complicated…”

“So… what if you get married and then Janie
doesn’t get the job?” asked Colt.

Craig laughed. “Well, then she’s stuck with
me anyway…”

“From the look on her face, Craig, I don’t
think she’d mind. It’s wonderful she finally made a move. It was
hers, wasn’t it?”

“Oh, yeah… I’d still be at square one trying
to figure her out, if she hadn’t decided to prod us both.”

“Well… congratulations. I knew you’d be the
one to peel back those hard layers of hers. You’re as tenacious as
she is.” Colt stuck out his hand to shake Craig’s.

Jesse leaned over to shake his hand too.
“Congrats, Craig. Always knew you’d end up our brother-in-law.”
Craig smiled at them both.

“Thanks, guys. You both hung in there with me
when the going was rough, and I appreciate it.”

Colt took off his hat and brushed off the
dirt that clung to his jeans. “Gotta get going, guys. Mandy hasn’t
felt well the last few days and I have to cook dinner tonight. Want
to stop by, Craig?”

“… Love to, but it will have to be another
night. I’m helping Janie prep for her interview. It’s in a few days
and she’s nervous, if you can believe that…”

Jesse started laughing. “Remember that time
he told us he was happy not to have a wife and children to go home
to? I do believe he’s changed his tune.”

Colt laughed along with him, while Craig had
a sheepish look on his face.

“… I’m thrilled to have Janie waiting for me
at home, and you both know it. Cut me some slack here.”

Colt laughed and turned his horse. “See you
later…” Jesse did the same. Craig took one more look at that
incredible sky, pulled his hat lower on his face and turned his
horse to follow them. All three men were galloping back to be with
the women they loved. And it was the best part of their day…

* * *

The cattle were contentedly grazing in a
pasture located in an immense meadow between several hills outside
of Naples on the Johnson Ranch. Just past the smaller hills, rose
the jagged Sierra Nevada Mountain range complete with snow on top –
and it was spring. The mountains reached up like sharp-edged steps
into the big sky… Breath came out a little frosty on that chilly
morning.

It was sunup… Colt was on his horse about a
mile away from Jesse who was situated on a small hill looking down
at the herd. Jesse waved his hat at Colt who took off his hat and
waved back. Then they both started riding towards the cattle for
the start of the roundup. A few hands rode up to join them.

Sandy, Craig and Jason were waiting a few
miles in for Colt and Jesse to bring the herd forward. Sandy
smiled… The cattle could be heard for miles, bellowing and
snorting, running into each other and moving ahead. An immense
cloud of dirt swirled overhead and covered the cowboys with a fine
layer of dust. Colt and Jesse’s clothes and chaps were thick with
it by the time they reached Sandy. Their faces were covered with
kerchiefs to keep from breathing in all that dust. It was midday
when Colt pulled down his kerchief as he rode up to his father.

“Here’s your herd, Dad…”

Sandy grinned and tipped his hat at Colt.
“Thanks, son. We’ll help you out from here.” Colt laughed and
trotted back to one side of the cattle.

The men rode in various places along the
route to keep the herd moving. Horses and riders together moved in
and out, keeping the cattle from straying too far one way or the
other. Dogs ran around, nipping at the cows’ ankles if they started
going the wrong way. The noise was considerable, but to the owner
of the cattle, the view more than compensated. Sandy exported a
huge percentage of his unique cattle and prices right now were sky
high. He expected to do very well with the next shipment going out.
Each new calf brought an additional 6% to his bottom line, so the
today’s roundup was important.

Eventually, they drove the herd to the many
freestanding corrals on the backside of the property. All the
equipment needed for branding and inoculating the calves was
already in place. Meg and Janie had ridden out to join the men
during the last mile bringing in the herd. Meg and Carter had
driven over for the roundup, but they were still a few hands short
with Joey and Miles gone. So several hired hands were there to help
out.

As soon as they were close enough, the
cowboys started separating the mature cattle from the calves. It
was an exacting process and one that took an experienced hand to
complete. When the calves were separated, everything started
happening at once… In one corral, Meg lassoed a calf and a hand
jumped down to pull it over and brand it. Another hand came in to
inoculate with a big, strange-looking needle. In another corral,
Sandy lassoed a calf as Jesse jumped down to drag it down. Carter
ran in to inoculate and then brand it.

On and on the procedure continued… Lassoing,
branding and inoculating. It took everyone’s help, which included
Lily, Mandy and Audrey. Sam and Jeanne had babysitting duty with
all the children back at the house. There was so much dirt and dust
flying that Lily wanted the grandchildren out of the way. And
sometimes they were scared at the size of the big cows and how
noisy they were. But as soon as the grandkids were old enough,
Sandy would put the boys as well as girls to work in the roundup.
No one escaped because of age for very long.

It was a long day… After several hours of
branding and inoculating, Sandy couldn’t find any more calves. He
threw both of his hands in the air to signal they were done.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief… They began the long process of
cleaning and putting all the equipment away, as well as corralling
their horses and making sure there was hay and water for them.

Dusk was only a few hours off when Sandy made
his announcement.

“Okay, everyone. Go home and clean up. Come
back in an hour for the roundup party. Food and drinks are on us,
as usual to thank you for your help. See you later.” He and Lily
started for the house and party preparations.

An hour later, Colt and Jesse were stringing
the party lights around the perimeter of the back yard. Lily and
Meg were busy finishing food to be brought out to the tables that
had been set up, and Sandy had started the grill. Audrey began
bringing different kinds of meats out for him to barbecue – the
usual, steaks, chicken, hamburgers for the adults, and kabobs for
the grandchildren.

Janie looked out the kitchen window to the
back yard of the ranch house. The party lights were twinkling
giving the area a romantic feel. Craig was outside setting up the
sound system. It took all hands to put on a Johnson party, but the
effort was worth it. Janie smiled just thinking of all the parties
they had had at the ranch. Parties and weddings… The house was the
keeper of Johnson memorabilia and she realized how much she loved
it all.

“Janie… Are you just going to stand there or
could you give Meg and me a hand?” Lily looked over at her.

“Sure, Mom… Take stuff out, I presume?”

“Yes, indeed and see how your intended is
doing with the sound system. I don’t hear any music yet.”

Janie took platters from her mother and went
out to the back yard tables. After arranging them, she went over to
see how Craig was faring. She found him moving speakers and
twisting wires.

“How’s it coming?” He looked up and grinned
at her. Craig stood and walked over to her. He gently tugged her
ponytail and put his arms around her. As they kissed long and slow,
Lily looked out and saw them. She nudged Meg…

“Look, Meggie… Did you ever think you’d see
that?”

Meg glanced and then pretended to fan
herself.

“
Whew
… I can feel
the heat way over here.” They smiled at each other and went back to
work.

And then everyone was in the backyard eating,
talking, laughing and mingling. The music was fine, the food was
good, but the company was excellent. Colt and Mandy’s children were
running around with Jesse and Audrey’s kids with little Sofia
playing catch up. Colt had finally managed to get the twins to eat
kabobs with Sofia. She showed them how to put the napkins on their
laps, but they just stared at her puzzled. Colt and Meg laughed at
them.

“Don’t you teach your children any manners,
brother?”

“I’m lucky to get them to sit at the table.
Usually, Craig’s the one who can get them to eat, but he hasn’t
been over for a few days.”

“They’re probably starving then,” she
laughed. “And why haven’t Craig and Janie been over?”

“He was helping her prepare for the Secret
Service interview. It was a few days ago now, so maybe we’ll get
them back over.”

Jesse’s boy, little Sandy, ran past them and
Meg grabbed him. He squealed delightedly at his aunt. Squirming in
her arms, she lugged him over to meet his uncle Carter.

“Who’s this, Meggie?”

“This, Carter, is your nephew little Sandy.
Remember? He’s Jesse and Audrey’s oldest.”

“He’s going to be the eldest of three before
long, isn’t he?” Carter smiled at him.

“… Indeed. Audrey’s four months along and
doing well… She helped with the roundup today.”

Mandy was talking to Sandy and Lily, while
Jeanne and Sam were talking about his winemaking efforts with Jesse
and Audrey. Meg took little Sandy over to them.

“I believe this is yours, Audrey…”

“That’s where you are… We’ve been looking for
you,” she said to her son. “Jesse finally found Emily hiding under
a table with Sofia. The cousins have been having fun together,
Meg.”

Just then Mandy and Colt walked over to join
them. Colt mentioned Mandy’s recent stomach problems – Meg raised
her eyebrows at her.

“Stomach? Or another area perhaps?”

Mandy laughed at her. “Okay… You got me
there.” She looked at Colt. “I guess we can tell them, but where’s
Craig and Janie first?” Everyone looked around and, out on the
dance area, Craig and Janie were dancing slowly, looking into each
other’s eyes. Four little pairs of eyes were staring up at them –
Lucy, Livy, Sofia, and Emily sat close together smiling at their
beloved aunt and uncle. They were whispering to each other and
giggling. Craig and Janie noticed the little girls and reached down
to pick up two apiece. The girls laughed happily and were more than
willing to be scooped up.

Mandy looked at Meg, “Don’t they have any
announcement to make yet?”

“Not that I know…” Meg shrugged her
shoulders. Craig glanced over and saw them all staring. He and
Janie carried the laughing little girls over to their parents.

“What’s up?” said Craig while handing off
Lucy and Livy to Colt.

“Anything you’d care to tell us, guys?” asked
Meg.

Janie looked at Craig who shrugged, and then
back to Meg. She shook her head and handed Emily to Jesse and Sofia
to Carter.

“Not yet, Meggie. Give us a bit more time.”
They all laughed.

Mandy cleared her throat and looked at
Colt.

“In that case, we do have an announcement.”
Colt continued.

“Mandy and I are expecting again, due in six
months.”

Lily and Sandy heard that and everyone
gathered around to congratulate them. Lots of shoulder pats and
hands shaken… A few cheek busses between the women.

“We need to congratulate Craig as well. He
took second in the state archery tournament and put Naples on the
map!”

“How about a toast, son?” said Jeanne.

“You bet…” Sandy began. “To our archery
champ, Craig, and our new parents-to-be-again, Mandy and Colt, and
Jesse and Audrey. Congratulations to you all!” They held up glasses
and drank.

“Sandy, don’t forget Janie’s interview with
the Secret Service,” mentioned Lily.

“That’s okay, Mom,” said Janie. “I haven’t
been offered the job yet.”

“No, Lily’s right. Let’s also toast to my
incredible daughter who is both lovely and smart, and may be
working for the government soon.”

“To Janie…” Everyone held up their glasses
and toasted her. Craig leaned over to kiss her.

“And remember, everybody. Say great things
about me when you’re interviewed. That should be happening pretty
soon.” Craig refilled her glass and she took a sip.

“So we have to be nice, sis?” Jesse
asked.

“Unless you want me hanging around the
Sheriff’s Office in Naples forever. I suggest you suck it up,
brother…” Jesse gulped, while people laughed.

“How long will the background check take,
Janie?” asked Sandy.

“… I was told between two and three months.
They will be talking to friends, family, neighbors, co-workers,
etc. So it’ll depend on the number of people interviewed.”

The big announcement left unsaid was about
their engagement. Were they or weren’t they getting married? And
what was the big holdup if they weren’t? For once, the big noisy,
nosy Johnson family held their collective tongues and didn’t push
them. Seeing them happy together was a gift they all shared…