The Reluctant Cowgirl (19 page)

He listened to her talk about her day. The third time a yawn interrupted her words, he knew what time it was. “Good night, sleepyhead. Gran will tuck you in and I’ll be there tomorrow when you wake up.” He’d be in sometime after midnight, but as much as he wanted to, he knew he shouldn’t get Beka out of bed to take her home. He would eat breakfast with her before school, though.

“Good night, Daddy. Love you.” After he hit the End button, he sent a heartfelt thanks to God for bringing Beka back to him.

His food still hadn’t arrived, so he scrolled down to Crystal’s number and stopped, his thumb poised over the SEND button.
“Seize the day,”
he remembered Mr. Smith saying.
Seize the day.
He looked around the greasy truck stop, with its vinyl-top tables punctuated by truckers, each one eating alone. This was the day.

Jeremy hit the button to put the call through.

“Hey, cowboy, how’s the trip going?” Crystal sounded happy to hear from him.

He picked up a straw and opened it, then slid it into the water glass. “Livin’ the dream, babe. I’m officially a cattle owner.”

“Oh, Jeremy, that’s awesome. How many head did you buy?”

“Around five hundred. Some of them will be delivered tomorrow.” He fiddled with the straw wrapper. “I spent a lot, but I think I got a good deal.”

“I’m sure you did. I’m so happy for you.” Crystal paused. “There’s just something about living and raising a family on a ranch that can’t be beat.”

“Yep. That’s what I always thought.” Was she thinking about the future in terms of him? Or was he delusional? He glanced down at the straw wrapper. He’d shredded it.

“So when will you be home?”

Funny, how everything she said seemed personal, but then when he analyzed the words, they could be purely conversational. “Sometime after midnight. Since I stopped for supper, it will probably be closer to one or two.”

“I bet you’ll be on cloud nine when they deliver your livestock. Want me to bring the guys over and help you get them settled in?”

“That would be good, Crys. Dad and I will be there. And Dad’s two hired hands. But we can use all the help we can get.” He took a sip of his water.

“Your food will be out in a minute, hon,” the waitress called as she sashayed by him with an armload of plates.

He nodded.

“What time should the cattle be there?”

“The first batch will probably be in around noon.” He hesitated. “If you want to come early, I’ll have some coffee ready.”

He wasn’t sure if she realized that invitation was a personal one, but if she showed up early with Slim and the boys in tow, he’d just make more coffee.

“I’d love to.” Her voice was soft. “It’s been weird, you being gone.”

Relief at hearing her say those words made his stomach do a flip. “We’ve seen each other a lot since that first day at the river. It’s odd not seeing you, too.” He took a big gulp of his water. “I miss you.”

The waitress shoved his plate under his elbow. “Here you go, hon.” Her loud voice drowned out any response Crystal might have made.

“Hold on a minute,” he said into the phone. He forced a smile. “Thank you.”

“Need anything else?” She waved her hand at the cheeseburger plate, overflowing with french fries.

“No, thank you.”

As soon as she was gone, he put the phone back up to his ear. “I’m so sorry.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I’d better let you eat. I’ll see you tomorrow. Drive carefully.”

“Okay. ’Night.”

“’Night.”

He stared at the phone in his hand. Had she said she missed him, too? Or not? Why hadn’t he asked her to repeat it? He started to slip the phone into his pocket then yanked it back up. When was he going to learn? Seize the day. He hit REDIAL.

“Jeremy?” she said, her voice sounding puzzled. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes.” He could feel his ears burning. “Everything’s fine. I’m sorry for bothering you, but a minute ago when I told you I missed you, the waitress showed up with my food and I didn’t hear what you said.” He stared at his cheeseburger plate, his appetite gone. Why had he called her back? Seizing the day didn’t mean losing his mind.

“I said I missed you, too.” He could hear the amusement in her voice. She probably thought he was crazy. “I’m glad you called back to ask.”

He grinned. “Oh. Well, good, then. Good night.”

A muffled giggle came through the line. “Good night, Jeremy.”

He hung up, suddenly starving again.

“I can’t believe we’re playing hooky.” Crystal linked her arm with Elyse’s as they walked down the sidewalk in old Hardy town.

“
We’re
not playing hooky.
You
are. I just happened to have a cancellation.”

Crystal grinned. “Either way, I’m glad you came with me.”

“You just didn’t want to drive the farm truck.”

“Well, I admit I wasn’t looking forward to bouncing and putt-putting all the way here. But mostly I’m glad for your company.”

“I’ll accept that.” Elyse motioned toward the line of quaint little gift shops just ready to open. “Do you know exactly what we’re looking for?”

Crystal shook her head. “The perfect gift for a new rancher. That doesn’t cost a lot.”

“So”—Elyse gave her a sideways glance—“nothing but the best will do. As long as it’s cheap.”

Crystal snickered at her blunt assessment. “Well, it’s the thought that counts. And I
am
unemployed.”

A woman, obviously a shopkeeper, stepped out on the sidewalk and turned her sign from CLOSED to OPEN.

“Let’s go in here.” Crystal dragged her sister into the store. “Look for anything that says
cows
or
cattle
or
rancher.
”

“Look at this,” Elyse said, pointing toward one of many small rectangular wooden signs.

Crystal read it aloud. “COW COUNTRY ... WATCH YOUR STEP.” She laughed. “Cute, but not exactly what I had in mind.” Her gaze went to the bottom row of signs and she gasped. “This is it. It’s perfect.”

Elyse walked over. “That was easy. Let’s see it.”

Crystal held it up.

“HOME Is WHERE THE HERD Is,” Elyse read slowly. “Oh, that is perfect.”

Crystal carried the sign to the cash register and paid for it.

Back out on the sidewalk, she looked at Elyse. “It’s really good, but it’s not exactly what I was hoping for.”

“What?” Elyse put her hands on her hips in mock indignation. “Are you this picky when you’re buying me a gift?”

Crystal blushed but was spared answering when she spotted a junk store a few yards down the sidewalk. “This place looks neat.”

Elyse chuckled but followed her in.

Crystal gasped. Stepping inside was like being transported back into the past. An old Radio Flyer wagon in the storefront window was filled with a Kewpie doll, a jack-in-the-box, a tattered copy of
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew,
and a variety of other old toys. A giant red ribbon was tied around the whole ensemble.

Crystal walked around in wonder. She’d been in antique stores before, but they’d been stuffed with high-priced furniture. On these shelves, Cabbage Patch dolls mingled with I Like Ike campaign buttons. Old copies of the
Farmer’s Almanac
rested on a rickety turntable from several generations ago. Crystal picked up a set of jacks and a red rubber ball. For a buck or two, a person could buy a piece of her past and preserve it.

Of course in her case, most of her childhood was preserved in a bedroom at the top of her parents’ staircase. Just waiting. She laid the jacks and ball back down.

Her gaze lit on an old doctor’s bag and she smiled. An exact replica of the one she’d taken out in the pasture the day Anastasia had given birth. She picked it up and ran her hand down the uncracked brown leather. It was in excellent condition. She opened it. No unpleasant odor or rips in the lining. The price tag caught her eye and she nodded. The perfect gift.

Elyse, apparently mesmerized by the collection of old books, looked up as Crystal walked by. “Did you find it?”

“Um-hm.” Crystal held it up.

“Oh. A doctor’s bag. Interesting.”

Crystal laughed at the droll tone in her voice. “I’ll explain it later.”

Elyse followed her up to the cash register. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

After Crystal paid for the bag, she glanced at her cell phone. It was nine thirty and she wanted to be at Jeremy’s at eleven for coffee. She explained the significance of the satchel to Elyse on the way to the dollar store.

“Ew. You’re getting him a satchel full of stuff to use when his cows have a difficult birth?”

“Well, he can, but it’s more of a joke. Or a remembrance, I guess. Of that day that Anastasia gave birth to Prince.”

Elyse shook her head. “You make cows seem like so much fun. Almost makes me wish they didn’t scare the living daylights out of me.”

“If you’ll just go with me out to see Prince—”

“‘Almost’ being the key word there,” Elyse said firmly. “Thanks but no thanks.”

After a quick stop at the dollar store, Elyse eased the car out onto the highway and headed for Shady Grove.

Crystal bounced in her seat. She never sped, but her cautious sister had a habit of driving three to five miles under the speed limit. Usually not a problem. But today...

“Any chance you’ll move back to stay?” Elyse’s gaze stayed on the road.

Crystal had been waiting for one of her brothers or sisters to ask her that question. But she wasn’t expecting it right now. “There’s a chance. I think I’ll stay a while after Mama and Daddy get back.”

“Oh good! You just need a break?”

Since Elyse had been gone with Beka to take the dogs home during the infamously overheard conversation with Mia by the campfire, Crystal stared at her suspiciously. Had one of the guys or Bree told her?

Elyse glanced away from the road long enough to give Crystal a puzzled look that surely couldn’t be feigned.

“Yeah. A break.”

“Mama and Daddy would be thrilled to have you around. We all would. And you’re welcome to bunk with me after they get back, if you want to.”

Crystal shrugged. “I’m pretty comfortable in the sewing room.” She glanced at the speedometer and resisted the urge to ask Elyse to pick up the pace just to the limit. On the other hand, she’d considered talking to her sister about the future and here was the perfect opportunity. She respected Elyse’s quiet wisdom and completely trusted her. “I’ve been thinking about something. But this is just between you and me, okay?”

“Sure.”

“Remember when Allie Montgomery mentioned that drama day camp?”

Elyse nodded, still watching the road.

“Then we got those books at Coffee Central.”

Elyse nodded again.

“So now we’ve cleaned up the pole barn...”

Elyse slapped one hand on the steering wheel and flashed Crystal a quick smile. “How perfect!”

Crystal chuckled at her sister’s contagious enthusiasm. “But I’m not ready to commit yet. I’ll decide by the time Mama and Daddy get home Friday night and talk to them about using the barn if I want to do it.”

“So what play would you do?” Elyse whispered.

Crystal laughed. “You don’t have to whisper. We’re the only ones in here.” She thought about the question. “I don’t know. What do you think?”

“Remember that one we did where Spring didn’t want to let Summer come? That would be a really good one. Simple enough for all ages, but you put humor in to appeal to the older kids.”

Crystal nodded. She remembered it now that Elyse brought it up. Funny how she hadn’t thought of her plays in years. She used to write one every six months or so.

Elyse gave her an appraising gaze. “I guess those plays are still in your bedroom?”

“I guess so.” Crystal sighed and slumped against her seat belt.

“Do you want me to go look for them?” Elyse’s voice was filled with sympathy.

“No, I’ll do it. But thanks.” She’d conquered a lot of the mystery of the room just by opening the door and then getting her Bible from the nightstand. She could surely go in and get the plays. Suddenly, she remembered how she’d told Elyse that she’d never be ready to go in the room. Maybe she needed to quit using that word so much.

Jeremy glanced at the kitchen clock as he put the coffee on to brew. One minute till eleven. He didn’t know which he was more excited about—Crystal coming over early for coffee or the fact that his cattle were arriving in about an hour. He slid the filter holder in with a rueful grin and poured the water in. As much as he hated to admit it, Crystal probably trumped the cows as far as excitement factor.

When he heard her old farm truck pull into the driveway, his heartbeat accelerated. He was pretty sure the cattle delivery truck wouldn’t cause that reaction. He took his best coffee mugs out of the cabinet and set them on the table then got the cream out of the refrigerator and put it by the sugar bowl. There. He was ready.

The doorbell rang and he walked slowly into the foyer to answer it. “Crystal, good to see you.”

And it was. Dressed in faded jeans, a blue shirt that matched her eyes, and a beat-up cowboy hat that he’d guess was one of her brothers’ castoffs, she was still prettier than any model he’d ever seen.

She slipped off her hat as she stepped inside. “The coffee smells delicious.”

“Come on in.” He motioned her to follow him. In the kitchen, he reached for the coffeepot. “Have a seat.”

“Wait.” She held up a familiar brown leather satchel. “I brought you something.”

He stopped with his hand still extended toward the coffeepot and raised an eyebrow. “You thought my cattle might be sick?”

She smiled and blushed. For the first time he noticed a smattering of freckles across her nose. “No, silly. This is for you. I figured the Buchanans needed their own official calf-birthing kit to pass down through the generations.”

He stared at it. “For me? This isn’t the same one you had that day?”

She shook her head. “Nope. This is your very own.”

He took it and opened it. She stepped close to him and watched him lift the items out. There were all the same things she’d pulled from the bag the day they’d helped the cow give birth.

He grinned. “This is amazing, Crystal.” Something in the bottom caught his eye and he reached in and fished it out. “What’s this?” It was rectangular and flat, wrapped in the Sunday comics.

She shrugged, her chin almost touching his shoulder. “Looks like the good rancher fairy left you a welcome-to-the-cattle-business present. You’ll have to open it and see.”

He ripped the paper away carefully, holding it out in front of him.

She gave him a look of feigned disbelief. “What? You don’t trust me?”

He glanced down at her sparkling eyes. “Most of the time I do.”

He held the sign up and read it. HOME Is WHERE THE HERD Is. He grinned at her. A couple of years ago, he’d have agreed. But today he knew his home was wherever Beka ... and Crystal were. “Thank you,” he said softly. “That’s my kind of sign.”