Ray waited for Jesse to dismount his horse. Tom had gone off with the hands to help them with some work. He was trying to earn some sort of badge for Boy Scouts, and every once in a while he liked coming out on the land. He was old enough to help out now. “Came out to make sure I didn’t screw anything up,” Jesse said. “No.” Jesse have him a pointed look. “I trust you, Jesse, but I just had to take a look at her myself.” “Uh huh.” “But since we are talking about her. What do you think?” “I think if we don’t want to lose the calf or her and we should call a vet out here to look at her,” Jesse answered seriously as they began to walk away from the noise of the mooing cattle. “I think the same,” Ray agreed. “I can call him after lunch. Hopefully, he can get here before night fall. If not, hopefully, first thing in the morning. Either way, we shouldn’t leave her out here whether the
The next day . . . Ava had gotten the boys off to school an hour ago. Ray wasn’t at breakfast this morning. He had texted her last night before dinner saying he wouldn’t make it for dinner and he wouldn’t be at breakfast this morning. That pregnant heifer was really worrying him. Ava had placed a plate in the microwave last night for him. Her burner phone rang. “Hello?” “Hey, beautiful. How is this morning treating ya?” “Hawk,” she said as she laid down on the bed in the guesthouse. “So nice of you to call.” “I wanted to check on you. Ray was fit to be tied the other night, and I was checking to see if he took it out on you.” “He tried but I gave as good as I got.” Hawk laughed. “That a girl. Do you mind me asking what happened?” “Well, you weren’t entirely wrong about Ray learning about us going out on the town as you had put it. Obviously.” “Yeah.”
Tonight was the Halloween Party at the community center for the pre-teens and teens. Ava got into the Halloween spirit by dressing in a sock hop costume. It only cost her thirty-five dollars at the holiday shop in Helena. It was an A-line silhouette. The white T-shirt had a scoop neckline with short sleeves and the letter A largely stitched in black over her right breast. Her red swinging skirt came to her knees. A five inch black belt was around her waist. A black, sheer scarf held up her ponytail. One of the ranch hands drove her and the kids to the center. Jesse and Ray wanted to look over the pregnant heifer who was no longer pregnant. She had gone into a rough labor last night. Both mother and calf were weak. The brothers had said they would meet them at the party. Tom was dressed as the Mad Hatter. The costume was rather clever and fun. Tom wore a white broadcloth with a collar with a black ascot around the collar. The vest was orange and brow
An hour and a half into the party and all was well. Lana had no idea it was really Dax she was with. Dax and Beau were almost the same height, give or take an inch. Dax only answered yes and no questions that she asked. He couldn’t talk or she would know instantly it was him. Lana had assumed ‘Beau’ wanted to really be in character as Ghostface by not talking. It didn’t seem to bother her because it gave her a chance to talk. Just by listening, he learned a lot about Lana. She loved lavender roses. Her father gave her a dozen of them on Valentine’s Day and her birthday every year since she was ten. She was a Walking Dead fan and watched the spin-offs religiously. And she loved horror movies, which was a pleasant surprise. Dax loved horror movies, too. “I have to say, Beau, I’m having a great time with you,” Lana commented as they walked to the refreshment table. “I hope you’re having a good time with me.” Dax nodded enthusiastically. The only downsi
Hawk couldn’t help how angry he was. The last thing the Calhouns or the Steeles needed was another generation of their first-borns feuding. And the last thing everyone else needed was the school getting wind of the fight. The boys could get suspended for a week or more from the football team. Hawk was getting too old for this shit. “Explain yourself, boy,” Hawk said through gritted teeth. “Why were you fighting with Dax?” The front of Hank’s black hair was damp with sweat. Some of the heat had left his cheeks. “Well, me and a couple of the guys were hanging out out front. Dax and a few of his buddies were just across the way hanging out. I . . . I knew Dax was dressed up as the killer from Scream. So, I might have said some things about . . . Miss Ava and I might have said it loud enough where he could hear it.” “Like what?” “Uh . . . like how . . . hot she is and how I wouldn’t mind . . . doing things to her,” he said and then his eyes
An hour later, the Steele family arrived back on The Cross Creek Ranch. Dax and Tom went upstairs to change and get ready for bed. They had school tomorrow. “Jesse, before you go to your separate corner of the world, I need to talk to you,” Ray said. He thought it best to address it at home than at the party.“Yeah?” Jesse said.“Why are you advising Dax about a girl he likes?” Ray asked. “I’m his father. You should have directed him to me.”“Hold on,” Ava interjected. “That wasn’t Jesse’s fault. You see, Dax came to me first about the girl. Well, we were talking about something else, and Dax brought it up, actually. I advised him the best I could, but I told him that if he didn’t like my advice he should go to Jesse.”“What? Why would you send him to Jesse and not me?” Ray asked, offended.“For one thing, I got the impression that Jesse was the ladies’ man in the family,” Ava said.“And your assumption was correct,” Jesse said with a nod and a small smile.“So
Ray got up at five a.m. the next morning. He had only gotten three hours of sleep. Ava’s words and the conversations he had with the boys last night had plagued his mind. Ray put on a pair of dark brown cowboy boots, black jeans, and a turtle neck and sweater over it and hit the kitchen. He fixed himself a turkey sandwich and gobbled it up and left. What he needed this morning was solitude – and a good hard ride. Ray went to the stables and saddled up Nicklaus and he was off. He trotted the horse for a few minutes, letting him stretch his legs and then he broke out into a hard ride. It was thirty-four degrees. The cold prickled his face as he rode as hard as he could across the land. The leaves on the trees were shades of red, brown, and orange. The grass – not so green as it was this summer. Fall was definitely here. Ray rode across one of the more shallow creeks. The splashing was like music to his ears. A few moments later, he jumped a fence and then slowed
Ava whipped the towel off and padded herself dry. She opened her closet and grabbed a long, light gray cable knitted sweater with a turtleneck collar and a pair of dark gray leggings. After getting dressed, she put on white socks and a pair of tennis shoes. “I’ll just be another minute, Ray.” “It’s fine. Take your time,” Ray yelled back. Ava grabbed a fresh towel and tried to dry her hair a little more. Then she ran a comb through it. She would blow dry it later. She walked back to the living room and rounded the kitchen. “One brandy coming up. Do you want a sandwich or some chips or something?” “No, the brandy is fine.” Ava poured herself a glass of red wine and she poured the brandy in a short glass. She walked back to the living room. And handed Ray the brandy. “Thanks,” he said as he took it. He took a sip of it as Ava sat down next to him. “So, what brings you by?” Ray pulled an envelope out of his
Ray wasn’t sure what Coach Willis had said to the boys during half-time but it worked. The game was now 35 to 14. The Bulldogs – Dax had scored a touchdown right out the gate of the third quarter. All the boys huddled down on the field. They all watched intently as they all collided. The Falcons’ hefty looking quarterback whirled around the chaos, carrying the ball. Two line backers tried to stop him but he whirled around them with ease. “Uh, oh, here comes, Calhoun!’ the announcer yelled over the loudspeaker above. “Can he stop him?” Hank was the last line of defense to block the end zone. Hank was running hard, directly at the quarterback. He’s going to dodge, boy, stay light on your feet. Before Ray knew it, Hank jumped. If he didn’t know any better, he would say the boy was flying. Hank tackled the quarterback so hard to the ground it was a wonder there wasn’t a dent there. The Bulldog fans cheered
Ray didn’t leave the study until he knew the house was empty. He knew when Tom, Ava, and Jesse left because Ava had knocked on the study door and shouted at it that they were leaving. Ray had suspected she waited there for a minute to see if he was going to come out or say anything. He hadn’t. Ray carried the wedding album into the living room. He sat down on the stool in front of the fire place. There was a small fire still burning in it. Ray opened the album and looked through it for the tenth time. He had looked through it on and off all day. His heart clenched as he looked at a few of the pictures. Ray stared at the picture of his father with Jesse. They had all worn bolo ties that day. Ray pulled the picture out and set it to the side. All the pictures that had him, Jesse, and their father in it he had pulled out of the album and set aside. Then he pulled out a single photo of Lillian. She smiled that million dollar smile of hers. Her blonde ha
A week later . . . Late afternoon, before the big game at Broadwater High School. Ava knocked on Ray’s study door. He had been in there all morning and this afternoon. He hadn’t even joined them for breakfast. Ava assumed he had gotten up before anyone else and fixed himself something to eat. “Yeah,” Ray answered. Ava opened the door. “Hey.” “Hey.” Ray was sitting in his office chair at his desk. He was wearing a wool turtleneck, charcoal sweater and denim pants. “Ray, I’m not going to mince words. Are you coming with us to the game tonight?” “I . . . don’t know.” “Ray, I think Dax is hoping you be there tonight.” “Did he say that?” “Not directly but he did hinted that . . . he needed the support of his family tonight.” Ray blew out as he glanced down. “Ray, I understand your pain and I definitely understand how memories can rush back in your
Uncle Jesse pulled up a few feet away from Lana’s door. He had dropped Rhonda off ten minutes ago. She seemed to have had a good time. Before Dax and Lana could get out of the Cherokee, the front porch light came on along with the lights that lined the walkway. The front door swung open. Mr. Anderson stepped out on the porch – with a gun holstered on his hip. “Oh, good grief,” Lana moaned as she placed her hand over her face. “Do you think it’s loaded?” Dax heard his voice crack. “Don’t worry, nephew. I got your back,” Uncle Jesse said as he leaned over and opened the glove compartment. He pulled out a hand gun. “Ever since that away game you had with the Columbus Cougars, I’ve started keeping this close.” “Oh my god,” Lana said nervously. “Please don’t shoot my dad. He just . . . overreacts sometimes.” “Honey, I won’t shoot him as long as he doesn’t shoot at us,” Uncle Jesse said. “Come on, let’s go.”
Ava had snacks ready for Dax and Lana when Jesse had brought them to the ranch – with a date of his own surprisingly. Ava had served homemade Chex mix, homemade pizza bites, and cookies she had baked that morning. The teens – and Jesse and his date, Rhonda, gobbled it up like they hadn’t eaten in days. Now, they were ready to ride. Ava and Ray were going to accompany Dax and Lana on their little ride. Thankfully, Ray had gotten back from Radersburg in time to go with them. Jesse and Rhonda decided to tag along. Lana had a black vest in her bag. She put it on under her coat before they walked out the door.They all rode in Jesse’s Cherokee to the stables. Ray was already there and he had already saddled the horses. Ava was on Whisper like she was last time. She and the horse had developed a relationship. During the times she rode with Dax in the old Ford, practicing for his driver’s test in a couple of weeks, they had stopped by the stables. While there Ava had
The next day . . . The day after Thanksgiving, Dax’s first date. He had never been that interested in girls –until Lana Anderson came along. It was ten o’clock when Ray went to Dax’s room to check on him. Dax was playing it cool but the pile of clothes on his bed said he was everything but cool. “What’s with the clothes? Surely, they’re not all dirty,” Ray said. “Um, no. I was just . . . going through things. You know. What I still where and what I don’t where anymore,” Dax said. Ray couldn’t help but snort with amusement. “Couldn’t figure out what to where, huh?” “Nah,” Dax said taken aback. “That’s something girls go through. Not guys.” Ray chuckled. “When a guy goes out on his first date with a girl he is crazy about, we do.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Can’t get anything by you these days,” Dax mumbled as he turned to look in the mirror that was attached to the short dresser.
In New York . . . Just like every year, Lester Bartholomew sat at the head of the dining table and whatever woman he was married to at the time sat at the other head. And as usual all twelve of his children were at the Thanksgiving table – minus one. Lester had fired the five private detectives he had hired to find Ava. Not one of them had a clue after five months of searching – or not searching. Lester believed at least three of the PIs were just cashing the checks and spending his money on other things. He had called Sheriff Wilson last week to see if he had turned up anything. He hadn’t but he had a suggestion. “Sir, why don’t you hire a PI that’s actually from and still lives in Montana? A guy from this great state would know all the small towns, cities, and hidey holes a person could get lost in.” “I have to admit it’s worth a try. I have also been thinking about slapping an award on Ava to anyone who has information of
Ray nearly groaned out loud at the aroma that was tickling his nose as they walked down the hallway. “Damn, something smells good,” Gill commented. “I suspect it’s a lot of things smelling good right now,” Jesse said. They began walking through the living room. The sunset got Ray’s attention, making him glance out the huge frame window. And that’s when he saw it. “Son of a bitch,” Ray said as he strode to the front door. He opened it wide – damn the cold. “What is it?” Jesse asked as he rushed up behind him. “Whose truck is that?” Ray asked with disgust. It was taking up half the drive. It had Getter Done Trucking on the truck and the trailer. “You didn’t hear it pull up?” Dax asked. “No,” Ray said, taken aback. “Did you?” “Yeah, while we were watching the game,” Dax answered. “I guess you were too busy cussing that bad referee out.” “I guess we all were
It was Thanksgiving Day and Ava was working her ass off in the kitchen. Despite making the mashed potatoes, gravy, two pumpkin pies, an apple pie, and cranberry sauce the day before, she was still running around like a chicken with its head cut off. The turkey was still in the oven and she still had to bake the sweet potato casserole and the rolls. Per cooking tips from Mrs. Porter, Ava was cooking green beans in a crockpot and macaroni and cheese cooking in another crockpot. Luckily, there were already various crockpots in the kitchen. Two were smaller sizes. Ava had stuffing in the turkey but from what she gathered from the Steele men, they don’t like their stuffing baked in the turkey. So, Ava had a separate dish filled with homemade stuffing. She trotted over to the oven to check on the twenty-two pound turkey for the third time in two hours. The popper was finally out on it. She turned the oven off and closed the door. Instead of running to the den to get