She pondered on his thoughts, wondering if God was looking down on her need. How often had she cried out in her brokenness, waiting for Him to really answer her? Was all of this part of His answer? Was God providing her with a second chance at love and happiness?
Jill pondered on Logan’s words during the days and weeks following their time together touring The Sweetwater River Ranch Resort. The ranch was nothing short of amazing. Her head was in a daze after seeing all Logan had accomplished. Jill was completely invigorated by the attention to detail he had put into everything… not to mention the attention he had shown so far for her and the kids. There were so many features giving the ranch character, appeal, and charm. Things like the old-fashioned, red water pump by the horse barns; the covered water well in front of the barn house; the addition of the covered bridge; the elegant, scrolled, black iron street signs and coordinating lantern lamp posts; the window shutters and flower boxes beneath the windows filled with colorful snapdragons…
Everything about the place deeply immersed her into the ranch and drew her in! With mountain views in the distance, wildflower meadows, and plenty of riding trails to explore, who wouldn’t enjoy the scenic ranch? It had certainly come a long way from their childhood when it had merely consisted of barns, dirt roads, hay fields, riding trails, and old sheds.
The next day, Logan agreed to her terms of employment without blinking an eye. She would work from ten to four o’clock, Tuesday through Friday. Mondays, weekends, and evenings she would set aside for writing and spending time with her children. For special events at the ranch, she had the option to attend with bonus pay for doing so at her choosing. He agreed to Jill’s salary and benefit requirements without hesitation.
She also negotiated four weeks of vacation annually and quarterly bonus pay based on a small, but fair percentage of profits. She brought tremendous marketing and advertising experience to the table along with years of experience as a travel critic, including the acquisition of a vast number of media contacts. Her hard work and experience could help turn The Sweetwater River Ranch Resort into a successful operation with no lack in a stream of steady, interested clients.
“All right, now that we’ve got your salary requirements worked out, let’s discuss the trip down to Tipton.” The big surprise on this topic was finding out Logan’s cousin, Chase Haven, had married a girl by the name of Philomena, the owner of a ranch called The Broken J. There was no mistaking she’d heard the name before.
“Wait! Did you just say The Broken J? My friend Madison recently returned to New York from there! She’s in love with a guy she met there named Randal.” Jill proceeded to explain the connection her friend had to Logan’s cousin’s ranch.
“Randal, huh? Must’ve been a ranch hand as the name kind of sounds familiar… It’s possible my cousin may have mentioned him before. In any case, Chase said come on down the first Friday in September when I talked to him on the phone. That gives me the next two weeks roughly to get you acclimated to your new position and finish harvesting. We can spend the weekend there… in separate rooms in the main house, of course. They just opened The Broken J in July, so we can get plenty of advice, tips, and ideas from Phil and Chase for our upcoming Investor’s Week and the Grand Opening. Plus, I’d like to talk to Chase about getting a few foals. I’m hoping to get a throw-back stud colt from Old Butch.”
“Say, before I forget…” Jill mentioned, “I was thinking about the type of clients The Sweetwater will attract. Some women may not want to leave their cabins to do little more than light gift shopping and joining in the dinner events. Have you considered adding a small boutique, an art gallery, and a quilt and candle shop to the community shops on Bridge Haven Road? If someone doesn’t want to spend every day riding a horse, particularly wealthy women, they may want to spend an afternoon or evening viewing exclusive local artwork or doing a bit of shopping. Wealthy women usually have money to burn.”
“Very true and not a bad idea at all,” Logan nodded. He surprised her by pulling out a pocket notebook and pencil from his shirt pocket and writing her suggestions down with the date. He showed her the notebook briefly before stuffing it back in his flannel shirt pocket. “Helps me keep on top of projects and keep track of great ideas…”
“Who’s Old Butch?” Jill inquired.
“Only the best pure-bred, quarter horse my Grandpa Haven ever acquired... the keystone of our family herds,” Logan explained. “I think Grandpa gave him to Chase because his father squandered his inheritance, including the family ranch. My cousin worked hard to take good care of his herd of horses, though. That’s part of why I’m so happy for Chase and the blessing of The Broken J coming through his marriage to Philomena. She inherited the ranch before they married as I understand it… but he helped her build it up with his inheritance…. his horses. Besides that, being a big name rodeo rider, Chase will draw in a lot of clients for The Broken J and already has.”
“Were you a big name rodeo rider, Logan Haven?” Jill asked coyly.
Logan chuckled and actually appeared a bit shy as he looked at the ground. “Some might say so.”
“How long has it taken to build up The Sweetwater?” Jill asked as he drew her into the smaller office attached to his through a connecting door.
“Two years and plenty o’ setbacks along the way,” Logan answered. “This will be your office. Do you like it?”
“It’s awfully close to your office,” she noticed out loud, surveying the window at the far end of the room.
“Is that a problem?” He raised an eyebrow.
Jill laughed. “I’m not sure we’ll get much work done.”
Logan drew her into his arms and gave her another gentle kiss. “You mean I might be a source of…” Then he kissed her again. “…distraction?”
“If you keep that up, you will be,” Jill teased with a smile, slipping out of his arms as she placed her briefcase on the desk beside the computer keyboard and screen.
“Has anyone told you you’ve got the most beautiful smile?” he leaned against the counter top desk running the length of the office.
Jill’s cheeks turned a darker shade of rose pink. Smiling, she ignored the complement. “I do like the windows facing the sunken living room…and especially the fact I’ve got another door leading into the foyer.”
“You can draw the blinds when you want privacy,” he mentioned, reaching for the string to draw the blinds.
“Don’t you dare, Logan Haven!” she laughed, her voice sounding slightly hoarse from the emotions running through her soul. “I’ll be keeping those open to ensure your best behavior. Whatever will Corky and Mrs. Wright think?”
“Aww, shucks!” he grinned. He slid two keys across the desk and then enfolded her in his arms. “In addition to holding a key to my heart, you’ve also got your own office key… and a key to unlock the front door now.”
She could almost feel the walls she’d built in her heart begin to crumble and melt away. Was she really falling for Logan Haven all over again?
“Mama, I finally had time to ride Molly again the other morning,” Jill told her mother as they relaxed side by side on the porch swing after dinner with their coffee a few days later. “If I get up early I can ride for about twenty minutes before I go to work.”
“I know Molly loves having you home again, as we all do. How do you like your new job?” Mama asked as she sipped her coffee, inspecting the view of her pedicure whenever the swing moved in a forward motion and her manicure whenever she finished taking a sip from her coffee mug.
Betty Anne Fontaine only wore open-toed slippers, and hers were a shade of pastel pink. She didn’t believe in being wasteful with money so she did her own manicures and pedicures. She had her hair up in pink rollers to make pretty curls in her hair. She had quite the regimen during the week and as bedtime neared, she had begun to don her autumn robe for the change in weather; an old-fashioned, long, crushed-velvet robe in a shade of pale lemon yellow. The robe tied with a lengthy, cre
am, silk ribbon around the waist. The three inch cuffs and ruffled lapel of the robe were also cream silk. It reminded Jill of something Scarlett O’Hara might have worn.
“I love my new job so far, although sometimes I just want to take a cut in pay for a three day work week instead of a four so I can put more time in writing my novel.”
“I can understand that,” Mama replied as they listened to the creak of the swing. Savannah and Zach were tucked in bed. Jackie’s desk lamp was still on because she was putting the finishing touches on a paper for school. School was going well for them this year so far. Everything else seemed quiet except for the night crickets. Aunt Meredith had stopped by for dinner and returned home, enjoying time with the children whenever she didn’t have to wake up early the next day for work at the resale clothing shop she owned in Lander called Second Chances.
“I’ve noticed since almost my first day here you’ve got Daddy’s fields on the other side of the creek and the woods chock full of potatoes, wheat, barley, and corn… and all prime and ready for harvest. I thought you were going to give up farming when Dad passed on.”
“No, I didn’t give up farming,” Mama replied. “I make a tidy little profit on those crops and enough to feed Molly, Daisy, and the chickens just about year round.”
“I think not! Well, I didn’t want to be nosy, but who’s going to do all that harvesting? We can’t do it… that’s an enormous task. Surely you haven’t been doing it yourself?”
“The same guy that seeded and harvested for me last year,” Mama answered. “Logan will oversee my harvest when he’s done with his own…”
“Logan!” Jill was stunned. Was there anything the man didn’t do to help them?
Grandma Betty was in her glory to have her grandchildren to herself for the weekend by the time the first weekend in September rolled around. Logan would be flying Jill to The Broken J for the entire weekend since the harvesting had been complete at both The Sweetwater and Belden Farm. Well, she only knew her family homestead used to be called that from reading all of those letters she kept fishing out of the old steamer trunk. Mama and Aunt Meredith made plans to take the kids to a movie in Lander Friday night, out for ice cream Saturday night, and church Sunday morning in Lander. Jill chose not to make an issue of church attendance. She concluded it might even be good for them. She was beginning to catch a glimpse of the good future God might have in store for her and she’d literally felt a ton of her anger dissipating as their lives began to take on a new shape in Wyoming.
Something in her heart was changing. It was merely a tiny flicker of hope at present, but something stirred within her soul in a way she hadn’t felt for a very long time. Besides, the kids might even make more new friends at church. They were really looking forward to having time alone with their grandmother where she could freely spoil them away from Jill’s watchful eyes. Sadie and Jack, whose log cabin faced the front western corner of The Sweetwater, agreed to keep Grace and Micah for the weekend. The Havens had plans for a family game night on Friday and church in Lander on Sunday.
With the children situated happily for the weekend, on Friday morning once each of the kids boarded the school bus, Jill stashed a stack of the interesting letters she’d been reading from the old trunk in the attic into her purse. She would want some night reading, and the letters continued to interest her. Then she packed a light bag of necessities, adding an extra pair of jeans, boots and shoes, a few shirts, and pj’s to the overnight bag. She tossed in a few other essentials and chose the outfits she planned to wear at The Broken J, placing those items in a garment bag.
Logan helped her climb into the helicopter after picking her up in the silver truck. She glowed with excitement while watching him climb into the pilot’s seat, clad in jeans, cowboy boots, plaid shirt, and a jean jacket. He began flipping a few switches and requested permission from the Rock Springs airport for flight clearance as the propeller wings began swirling around. The helicopter climbed and climbed until they were high up in the sky, being whisked away to The Broken J. Glancing over at the handsome blue-eyed pilot in the seat beside her, she could hardly believe all the good things happening as surreal emotion swept over her, stamping a look of wonder in her big brown eyes and a smile on her face.
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. Psalm 32:7
Chapter 9.
The Broken J
Less than an hour later, Logan had no trouble landing the chariot near Tipton in a flat spot in the middle of a pasture belonging to The Broken J. Chase had spray painted a big white ‘x’ on the ideal location. While Logan landed the aircraft, the dust and dirt from the field whipped around, filling the air with a dusty cloud and a lot of noise. Chase and Philomena Haven greeted them when the dust settled with a wagon pulled by a team of mules to carry the foursome directly to the house. Chase had waited to pull the wagon up to the landing until the helicopter had shut down, considering the noise might frighten the mules. They seemed a little nervous as he pulled the wagon to a stop at a safe distance away. They stamped their hooves a few times on the earth until they heard Chase’s steady voice.
After helping Jill down from the helicopter, Logan fished out their luggage. Locking the doors, he seemed satisfied with the landing spot, assured the craft would be visible from their guest quarters. He took her hand and led her to their hosts for the weekend.
“Logan Haven! Look at you flyin’ birds now instead of bronco bustin!’” Chase grinned as the two did a high five slap of hands and exchanged a bear hug in the middle of the field, making Jill and Philomena teary eyed and sentimental.
Logan reached for Jill’s hand and pulled her forward. “Chase and Philomena, I want you to meet the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, Jill Michaels.”
Jill blushed as they each took turns embracing her with a warm welcome to The Broken J.
“Is this the all grown up Jill Fontaine, the girl next door to my cousin? Wow, look at you little lady! Welcome to The Broken J. Long time no see,” Chase said, giving Jill a similar bear hug. He put his arm around the lady at his side with the violet eyes. “This is my beautiful wife, Philomena.”
“Thanks Chase! It’s nice to see you again!” Jill grinned as Logan piled two of their bags into the wagon. To his wife she added, “It’s very nice to meet you.”
“You can call me Phil… and welcome. It’s exciting to have you both here with us for the weekend!” Phil greeted both of them with a warm hug and a friendly smile.
“Nice to finally meet you, too!” Logan responded. He surveyed the team of mules with the wagon. Turning to Chase, “They keep looking at the chopper. I’m surprised they aren’t more skittish.”
Chase patted one of the mules heartily. “Not these mules! They’re calm as a ladybug on a leaf. Besides, I wanted you to get the real feel of the place and you can’t do that from a pick-up.”
“True… and you timed it just right!” Logan said as he tossed the last bag inside the wagon. “I think we need one of these wagons on our ranch.”
“Folks love the wagon! Comes in real handy!” Chase helped his wife into the front seat of the wagon and took the reins with her at his side.
When Logan picked Jill up as if she weighed a feather and swung her up into the back of the wagon, butterflies did another dance in her stomach. They cozied up to each other, settling on the bench directly behind the newlyweds.
Chase steered the wagon toward the main house and called over his shoulder, “There were once two cousins… who married two girls named Phil and Jill!”
Logan and Jill looked at each other and burst into a fit of laughter. “We talked about the same thing on the flight here,” Logan admitted with a grin.
“What? Gettin’ hitched… or their names rhyming?” Chase grinned.
“Well, maybe a bit of both…” Logan covered Jill’s hand with his own larger one and looked deeply into her big brown eyes with his baby blues. She blus
hed, wondering if he really meant to marry her someday. She had to admit, the idea had crossed her mind more than once in recent weeks. Seeing him and working with him every day at The Sweetwater had been like a breath of fresh air in her life. So far, he had treated her like royalty and behaved like a perfect gentleman. She also enjoyed getting to see him interact with Gracie and Micah when they walked in the door after school, her cue it was almost four o’clock and time to go home. Having a shorter commute had been equally refreshing and offered more time to spend with Jackie, Zach, and Savannah.
“I guess we’ll have to try avoiding the rhyming thing all weekend,” Philomena chimed in with a warm smile and an eye roll. “If the ranch hands latch onto that, they’ll never let us live it down.”
“Especially Kade!” Chase remarked mischievously.
Philomena gave Chase a stern warning look with her smile.
“Oh, all right!” Chase relented. “We’ll try not to get them riled up to heckle you girls all weekend. I’m pretty sure I’ll have enough trouble keeping Cousin Logan here from ruining my reputation.”
“That’s right, Little Haven!” Logan didn’t waste a minute starting in on his younger cousin “You better watch out or I’ll have to turn you upside down in the latrine and give Boss Kade the flushin’ honors… like we used tuh do when you were a Haven runt up at The Sweetwater during the summer!”
“Oh, yeah!” Jill laughed remembering their antics as she leaned forward to explain to Philomena. “I do seem to remember them doing all of these crazy pranks to each other!”
“They must have been a remarkable team on the rodeo circuit,” Phil remarked.
“I was just thinking the same thing!” Jill replied, taking in as much as she could of the beautiful property.
Dreams of Sweetwater River (Whispers In Wyoming Book 3) Page 7
