Sea Of Grass (15 page)

Tess jumped and fell over a bale of hay. Jed laughed and offered her a hand. “Damn it, Dad!” she grumbled as he helped her to her feet.

“What are you doing lurking around?”

She looked skittish and nervous as she brushed herself off.

“Answer me. Why weren’t you at dinner?”

Avoiding his face, she shrugged. Jed gave her a wary look. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, for
chrissakes
. I was just checking on Clover. The poor thing misses Jack.”

Jed rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me that.”

She stopped, then explained her predicament. Her father listened and glanced every now and then at the house. Tess finished as she ran her fingers through her blond hair.

“So it’s just Claire.”

Tess kicked at the bale of hay. “Oh, I know. I just don’t want her mad at me, I guess,” she mumbled and jammed her hands deep into her pockets.

“Then be a grownup and go talk to her, for
chrissakes
. You’re her boss, Tess. It’s not like you’re…” He stopped as Tess avoided his face completely. He blinked a few times in wonderment.

All Tess’s young life, Jed wondered about her. So did Emily. She never wanted to date. Never wanted to get married. Went all the way to California to go to college when she could have gone right here. She would have stayed out there if not for Stephen’s death. Jed didn’t want to think about it. It was wrong and unnatural, for
chrissakes
. That sort of thing just didn’t happen to your daughter.

He frowned deeply and looked at Tess. All her life…he thought. He then remembered what Em had told him, just before she died—

“Tess will be the one to count on, Jed. Stephen is a good boy, and he loves this land, but in the end, Tess will be the one. She’s different,
Jedediah
Rawlins, and we both know it, though we won’t talk about it. My time is growing short… Promise me you’ll love her always.”

“Christ, Em. I love her, you know that,” Jed said with tears in his eyes as he sat on the edge of the bed. His wife looked so small, so pale. All her strength seemed to vanish, but her eyes still sparkled. Jed leaned down and kissed her deeply.

“You know what I mean. There’ll come a time, you mark me. She’ll need your love. Be strong for her. Be strong for me,” Emily pleaded, and Jed nodded in understanding. “I love you,
Jedediah
. Love your daughter unconditionally for both of us.”

Jed now looked at his daughter, who was looking down at the ground in shame. A feeling of guilt swept through him that was so palpable it nearly made him sob. He stood tall and ran his finger under his nose as he sniffed.

“You get in there, young woman. You’re a Rawlins. We fight and stay together,” he ordered.

Tess’s head shot up and searched the watery blue eyes.

“You’re a grown woman. How dare you hide in a stable? Didn’t your mother and I teach you?”

“Dad. You don’t know...”

“I don’t care. You’re a Rawlins. You’re my daughter and someday you’ll own all this. You can run a ranch, handle ten men and me, and be a big professor. Are you telling me you can’t handle a woman?”

Tess blinked and took a deep breath. “She’s not just a woman to me, Dad. At least I don’t think so.”
 

Jed struggled with his reaction. He didn’t like it. He didn’t understand it. He didn’t want anyone to know.
Em’s
words bombarded his brain; this was his time. God, how he needed Em.

“Tess, you must understand what’s happening. I love you and I will always love you. But you must...”

“If Warren Telford gets wind of this. Dad,” she started sadly, “why do you think I went to college in California? Not just to follow Uncle Jeremiah’s idea about agriculture. Don’t you think it’s been on my mind for as long as I can remember? It’s not easy for you. Imagine how hard it was for me,” she finished and slumped against the bale of hay.

“I don’t give a damn about Warren Telford. I’m talking about you and your life. If this is what you want, you must be sure. Because I know you, Tess. It’s all or nothing. That’s what I mean, sweetie. Does Claire know this?” he found himself asking. “And look at me when you talk to me. Don’t ever hide.”

Tess looked into his eyes. “No, I don’t know. Shit, what am I thinking?”

Jed took a deep breath. “I’ve long since given up on figuring you out.”

Tess laughed along with her father. “I don’t know what Claire is thinking.”

“Then find out.” He reached for her and Tess flew into his arms. He rocked her for a moment, then held her away.

“Nothing about me has really changed,” Tess said in a pleading voice, willing him to understand. He smiled sadly, gave a disbelieving snort, then chuckled. Tess blushed and chuckled along. “Well, maybe a little thing, but I’m still Tess Rawlins. I’m still your daughter and I’m still gonna fight for this land.”
 

“I love you and I believe you. Now quit feeling sorry for yourself and get in there. Get,” he said, turned her around, and gave her a shove.

Jedediah
Rawlins stood there and watched as his daughter stood tall and walked toward the kitchen. Well, Em, he thought. I did it. I don’t know if I did the right thing, but she’s a good woman like you. She’ll make a fine…he didn’t know the right word. Well, she’ll make a good partner for someone. Like you, Emily Richardson. You were a good partner through thick and thin, good and bad. You were at my side. That’s what I hope for our Tess. Isn’t that okay? God, did I do right by you?

He smiled as Tess walked confidently to the porch, walked up two steps, and abruptly did an about-face, walked down them, and headed around the front of the house. Jed hid his face and laughed.

“Em, we raised an idiot child,” he mumbled to the heavens. “She gets it from the Richardson side of the family, not mine.”

After walking around the house a few times, Tess decided to go in; she was starving. She cleared her throat as she opened the kitchen door, announcing her arrival.

Chuck looked up and stood. “There you are. Got the herd all settled?” he asked and winked. Tess grinned and avoided Claire, who was putting the cups in the sink.

“Um, yeah. Had a few strays that I had to round up all by myself.” She glanced at Claire, who was washing the dishes. “It was dark and...” She stopped, knowing she sounded like a fool.

Chuck rolled his eyes. “Well, I’m off. I’ll make the rounds and head for bed. Thanks for the coffee, Claire,” he said, and Tess frowned noticing him calling her by her first name.

“You’re welcome, Chuck,” Claire said happily over her shoulder.

Chuck slapped Tess on the shoulder and walked out. Tess stood by the sink and absently picked at the corner of the countertop.

“Did you eat?” Claire spoke first.

Tess sighed with relief. “No,” she said in a low voice.

“Sit down, I’ll make you something.”

“No, you don’t have to do…” Tess started, then stopped as Claire gave her a firm look. “Okay, thanks,” she amended and quickly sat.

“Wash up, please,” Claire said over her shoulder and offered the bar of soap.

Tess dried her hands and sat back at the long table. Claire put a beer in front of her. “Join me?”

“No, thanks. I…” She stopped and laughed remembering her earlier conversation. “I’ll just have coffee.”

Tess sat in silence as Claire prepared the steak and eggs. She placed the large plate in front of her and sat beside her. Tess dove in with gusto. “I’m starved.”

“Watching over the herd all this time must have done it,” she said into her coffee. She hid her grin.

“Yeah,” she mumbled with a mouthful.

She finished and Claire took her plate away. She came back with a piece of rhubarb pie. Tess groaned. “I’m surprised I haven’t put on twenty pounds. Claire, you are a wonderful cook.”

“I’d better be if I’m feeding sixty people,” she said evenly.

Tess stopped with the fork in her mouth. “I’m sorry about that. I don’t know why I didn’t tell you sooner,” she admitted with a sigh. “I mentioned it in town, then completely forgot again.”

Claire smiled and reached for her hand. Tess instinctively grabbed onto it. “I know why. You’re doing too much by yourself. You think you don’t need any help and you can run this ranch all alone. There’s no shame in asking or needing help,” she said and patted her hand. Tess pulled a childish face that nearly made Claire laugh openly.

“Now tell me about this barbecue,” Claire said, mercifully changing the topic.

“The ranchers from the surrounding area all come over. The wives bring food, as well, so you won’t be making too much. At least I don’t remember Maria or Mom making too much,” she said thoughtfully. “Anyway, we have a side of beef and a pig on the spit. Corn on the cob, baked beans, if I recall. Oh, and …”

“Don’t tell me, biscuits,” Claire interrupted. Tess nodded helplessly and both women laughed. “Tomorrow, Miss Rawlins, you are taking me into town. I called Tom with a list, and it’ll be ready in the afternoon. Now what do you do for entertainment?”

Tess nodded as she ate yet another piece of pie. “If I remember correctly, Tom plays the clarinet.”

Claire gave her a curious look. “That’s it? A clarinet?”

Tess laughed. “No, he’s got a band. Ray plays the fiddle, my dad plays the guitar, and Stan plays the piano, sort of,” she said happily. “There’ll be dancing and …”

She looked at Claire, who pulled a face. “What? Don’t you like to dance?”

“I-I, no...”

Tess gaped at her. “You don’t know how to dance?”

Claire glared at her. “So what? I’ll be too busy cooking...”

Tess shook her head. “Oh, no, you don’t.” She got up and turned on the small radio on the counter. After searching, she found the right station and tuned in the Patsy Cline song. It was slow and rhythmic.

Tess stood in front of Claire and held out her hand. Claire cocked her head, then blushed horribly. “Tess...”

“Come with me,” she said and pulled Claire by the hand.

“Oh, no, really...” She struggled as Tess pulled her outside.

They stood close to each other; Tess gently took Claire into her arms.

“We have plenty of room, and no one is watching. I know you’ve probably never danced with another woman before,” Tess said tentatively and glanced at Claire.

“Yes, I have as a matter of fact.”
 

Tess blinked in surprise and grinned wildly. “You have?”

“Many times, but it’s been so very long.”

“Then this won’t seem awkward for either one of us, will it?” Tess asked with a soft smile.

Claire returned the smile and shook her head. “I have a feeling it’ll be quite natural.”

Claire relaxed as Tess masterfully waltzed around the yard.

“You got it,” she whispered in her ear. Tess sighed openly as she waltzed near the corral. Claire smiled but said nothing. A shiver went up Tess’s back when she felt Claire’s hand caress the back of her neck.

The song ended much too soon but still Tess held Claire in her arms.

“It’s over,” Claire whispered.

A ghost of a smile touched Tess’s lips. “Is it?”

Claire knew she was blushing; her entire body felt on fire. Tess gently slid her hand up and down her back, barely moving.