The next day, Lilly was back to painting, but from then on she asked Dalton what they would be doing the next day. He started letting her watch as they did some things, and she was like a sponge, soaking it all up. She loved watching and hearing about the ranch.
Dalton had been so proud of her. She'd been following his rules to the letter. It seemed that as she was seeing more about what all went on there, she understood his concern for her safety and followed the rules better. Because of that, he started giving her more leeway.
One evening while they were watching a movie after supper, he amazed her again. "Honey, you know that wide spot in the creek you said you'd like to paint some day?"
"Of course."
"I've got an idea. Tomorrow I'm going to be cutting hay in that big field right behind it. If you can find a spot to set your easel up where I can see you from that field, you can paint."
"Really? You'd let me do that?"
"As long as I'm in the field, yes. I can glance over a few times and make sure you're okay. But be sure you have your phone, and if you see anything that doesn't look or feel right, call me. There have been some wild animals out there. They drink from the creek but they usually don't come around when we have our equipment running in the field. The noise usually keeps them at bay. Do you want to try it tomorrow?"
"I'd love to try it. I just finished a painting and was trying to figure out what to paint next. I've kind of run out of places close to the house."
"Yeah, I figured that. You've been being very careful, and I appreciate that, so we'll try this and see how it goes."
After some good kissing and cuddling, he walked her to her room and said good night.
She was again waiting for him for breakfast, with her art supplies in her backpack. He loved seeing her so happy and anxious.
He worked in that field and the one beside it for the next three days, which gave her plenty of time to get her painting started. When he finished that field on the third day she assured him, "No problem. I've got the depth of the picture already established. I can finish it here at the house. Thank you again for letting me do this. The painting is turning out great. Well, at least I think so."
"I can't say yet, but I never seem to be able to follow your paintings much until they're just about done. I'm sure this one will be good, though, if you're happy with it."
It was five more days before she finished the painting, but he was even surprised. "Lilly, this is one of your best pieces yet. And that's saying a lot because I've loved every one you've painted. But this is fantastic."
"Thank you. I like this one, too. It came out well." She was smiling, looking at it.
Stella and Clay agreed when they saw it, both saying it was a stand out among her many wonderful works of art.
"I'm glad to hear you say that," she said, "because I want to talk to all of you about something." She had all their attention as she began. "You know the local art gallery?"
"The one you're so fond of and we've been to several times?" Dalton answered.
"Yes. The curator called me and said he saw some of my work on a recent trip he took to South Carolina. He wants to do a show in a couple weeks."
"That's wonderful," Stella said, giving her a hug.
"It seems like that should be a good thing, but you don't look real excited. What's the problem?" Clay asked.
She hesitated, biting her bottom lip. Dalton spoke up. "You feel you should be loyal to the gallery in South Carolina?"
"Yes," she said. "They're the ones who took a chance and displayed some of my things the first time. I feel like I should be giving them my work, now that my pieces are selling better, and for a little more money."
The others all nodded their heads in understanding. Dalton pulled her next to him. "Lilly, I don't know a lot about the art world and how it works, so will you answer some questions and explain some things to me?"
"Sure."
"It seems to me that since you've realized this is where you belong and have moved back in, you're painting more than you used to. Am I right about that or does it just seem that way?"
"No, you're right. I've found the inspiration here that I was lacking, and it's like there's so many paintings around this ranch just waiting to explode onto my canvas."
They all chuckled at her wording. "But if that's the case, and you're finishing more paintings than you had been, has the small gallery in South Carolina been able to keep up with you? I mean, they're a fairly small gallery from what I understand. Have they been selling all of them?"
"Well," she hesitated a bit. "They've been selling more of them, but I think right now they still have several."
"And look at how many you have here," Dalton continued. "Would you be able to talk to your gallery and explain how many more you have? If you tell them the small local gallery would like to have a show for their new resident artist, maybe your gallery would be okay with an occasional show here if you keep them supplied, as well. Would something like that work, or—"
Not caring that Stella and Clay were in the room, Lilly threw her arms around Dalton's neck and pulled him in for a kiss. "Thank you. I hadn't thought of that. They want to have a show, and if it goes well, start selling my paintings here. I thought all along in terms of here instead of South Carolina, but you're right. I have enough paintings here right now for a show. If my original gallery's okay with it, I could tell this local gallery exactly that; that I'd love to have a show here, but they'll have to understand that my original gallery comes first."
"If they know that up front, it shouldn't be a problem," Dalton added. "Especially if you keep painting like you have been." He thought a moment, and she could tell he was thinking about something. "But I don't want this to put too much stress on you. I don't want you to feel you have to keep both galleries supplied."
"I understand," Lilly promised. "I'll call them tomorrow and make it clear that I'll give them what I can, but I may not always have much for them. Right now, though, I have enough for a show." She turned to all of them then. "What do you guys think about having a show at a local gallery? Good idea or bad?"
The overwhelming consensus was it would be a wonderful way to advance her career. The only concern anyone had was shared by all of them. They didn't want people knowing they were paintings of actual scenes on the ranch. No one wanted people visiting the ranch to see a certain area. It was agreed that the gallery would be told not to give an address or mention the ranch at all. She would simply be a painter who had lived in this area at one time and had come back for a visit. She found her inspiration while visiting, and painted her pictures from that inspiration.
The next day she called her gallery in South Carolina and got their approval. She then called the local gallery and explained what she was willing to do. They were glad to get what they could, and they set up a date six weeks down the road for her first showing. George Freeman, the curator, wanted enough time to advertise the upcoming event that would be showcasing the talents of a new local artist. She was excited, as was everyone else in the house.
Over the next several weeks, Dalton gave her more freedom to go further out from the house to paint. He taught her how to drive the Gator. Then when she'd find a spot she wanted to paint that wasn't too far from the house, he'd have her drive him there three or four times to assure himself that she knew where she was going.
She didn't know that he generally checked on her at least a couple times during the day, but he felt much better after seeing her safe and painting.
Everything was going well, until one day when she took the Gator out to paint. Dalton was working in a field not too far away, but out of sight. He found himself looking over in that direction several times while he was working, and one time when he glanced over in her direction his breath caught in his throat. There was a cloud of dust coming from that general area. It was the type of dust cloud you often see with a stampede or running cattle.
He wasn't at all sure what it was, but he didn't like it. He untied Midnight and w
as on his way to her in an instant. When he got close enough, he could see the cattle were running, kicking up dust. Something had obviously scared them, and he had to find out what it was quickly, and fix it before they started to stampede. If they stampede, they panic and run full speed, over anything that's in their way. He called Clay and got him and a couple guys headed down to help, while he continued on to see what had spooked them, and make sure Lilly was okay.
When he topped the hill he couldn't believe what he saw—and heard! She had set up in the pasture, something she'd been told not to do unless he told her the pasture was empty, and had a radio blasting as she calmly painted. The first thing he had to do was get her out out of that pasture, and shut the music off. If the cattle stampeded in her direction she wouldn't stand a chance.
He slid down off Midnight and tied him quickly to a tree. Running to the fence, he climbed it and looked to see where the cattle were. They were still toward the other end of the pasture, but were kicking up a lot of dust. They were obviously upset and could head in their direction at any time. He quickly jumped down and ran to Lilly, who was still unaware of his presence. He yelled at her, but she couldn't hear him over the music.
The first thing he did when he got to her was grab the radio and turn it off. She quickly turned toward him, shocked to see him there. She started to object to his turning the radio off, but he quickly said, "Don't ask a single question or say one word. Get your stuff together quick, we've got to get out of here, and right now." He quickly grabbed her easel, holding it and the canvas both in one hand while he ushered her, along with the container of paints she'd grabbed, over to the fence. He climbed up and saw the cattle headed in their direction.
He glanced back out to where she'd been working. Luckily, the only thing still out there was the soft-sided cooler. She put the paints down and started out for the cooler, but he quickly grabbed her arm and stopped her. "Leave it there. We need to get on the other side of the fence quickly." Just like that, he lifted her up onto the top rail of the fence. She climbed on over and as soon as her feet were on the ground he handed her the paints and brushes. "Put these in the Gator and take it over to that group of trees over there. I'll be over in a minute to explain what's going on. Now go!"
He reached the easel and canvas through the fence, and quickly climbed up and over. He grabbed them and took off for the trees. She was in the Gator, and he motioned her over to the center of the clump of trees. She turned it off and looked at him, confused.
"Your music scared the cattle in that pasture. They're running, close to stampeding. If they do stampede, they won't stay in the fence. If that happens, the safest place for you is up in one of these trees. Can you climb a tree?"
Her eyes were huge, and he knew she was scared. He'd like to hold her and calm her, but there wasn't time now. That would have to wait. First things first. He helped her up into a tree. "If the cattle do stampede, they'll more than likely stay clear of the trees. If they do come close, stay here and don't move. If they don't see you it'll be better, so stay as still as you can. And keep quiet! No matter what happens, stay here until I come get you."
He turned and left without giving her a chance to complain. He got on Midnight and headed toward the cloud of dust, which was heading in their direction. When he got to the hill so he could see what they were doing, he turned around and got far enough away from the fence for Midnight to get a good running start, and jumped the fence into the pasture. He saw Clay coming up fast and doing the same thing. The two of them rode in front of the cattle coming at them, crossing back and forth. They were far enough in front of them to be able to get out of the way if they didn't slow and hopefully stop, but they hoped it would get their attention and they would stop before reaching them. They both kept waving their arms, trying to get the cattle to stop, or even turn around.
Just as they were about to give up and move out of the way, the lead cattle started to slow. Clay and Dalton continued, and eventually the cattle stopped. They were obviously nervous, and Dalton knew it was a dangerous situation. They could spook again easily.
Luckily, as if right on call, two of the men got there in a pickup. Per Clay's instructions, they'd gone to the barn and gotten a load of hay, which they now carefully threw over the fence, into the pasture. When the cattle closest to the hay saw what it was, they went over and started eating. The rest of the herd watched, and gradually started going over to share in the treat the men were throwing over to them. It effectively calmed them. The men threw it over in a long row along the fence so that more cows could get in to eat, and soon the whole herd had calmed and was eating.
Dalton rode up to Clay and thanked him for his help and quick thinking. He quickly told Clay what had spooked the cattle, then left them in Clay's capable hands while he went to Lilly.
Lilly's eyes were huge when he got back over to the tree she was in. He reached up and helped her down, and feeling her trembling, pulled her into his chest. He held her tight while she calmed. "Are you all right now?"
"I think so," she said quietly. "That—was it because—umm, were they—"
He looked down at her, waiting. He was pretty sure he knew what she was trying to ask, but he didn't plan on making it easy on her, and he wanted her to ask. "What are you trying to ask, Lilly?"
She squirmed in his arms a bit, and he had to listen close to hear what she asked. "Was all that my fault?"
"It certainly was, and we're going to be talking about it shortly."
"You're really mad, aren't you?"
"I told you I won't lie to you, Lilly, and I won't. I am angry. I'm upset, and I want to know what you did and why, but not here. I'm going to thank my men for their quick help, and then I have to go back to pick up the tools I was using to fix the fence I was working on. I'll take them back to the barn and then I'll go into the house, to my office. When you get home, I want you to take your painting supplies up to your room. Then go down to my office and wait for me. When I get there, we have some talking to do. The first thing I'm going to ask you is what you did wrong and why. Give that some thought while you're waiting for me because I'll be expecting a full and complete answer."
"Dalton, no, can't we just—"
"Lillian Yvette Jamison, stop right there. Let me explain something. I'm not very happy right now. I came very, very close to having a stampede on my hands. Worse than that, the lady I love was in the direct path of the stampede, had it happened. I'm upset that you put yourself in that spot. To be honest, I'm gathering up my tools and taking them to the barn to give myself a chance to calm down some before I come talk to you. If I hear one word of argument from you right now, I'll give you a spanking now, out here for anyone who happens to see or hear, and then expect you to wait for me in my office with your nose in the corner and your pants off so your bare bottom is on display. Now, it's your choice, and right now I'd be happy to do either one. You choose."
She started to say something, but a quick glance at his face stopped her. He was completely serious. She turned toward the Gator without saying a word. "Wise choice, Lilly. Wait for me in my office."
She angrily kicked at the dirt and mumbled, "I heard you," as she headed for the Gator.
Before she knew he'd even moved, Lilly was shocked when he grabbed her arm, swung her around and give her three swift swats on her bottom. "I told you, not one word. Are you done now, or shall we start this out here, like I told you we would?"
"No. I'm sorry, Dalton."
"That's better. I'll see you in my office." He waited right there while she started the Gator and turned it around, heading back to the house.
Dalton got back on Midnight and went to meet Clay, who was smiling at him. "Did you get her straightened out, boss?"
"You saw that?"
"Yeah. Sorry. I just glanced over at the wrong time. Everything okay?"
"I told her we're going to have a talk when I get back to the house, and she mouthed off."
"Bad move," Clay said.
"Agreed. Anyway, she better be waiting for me in my office when I get back there. I can't wait to hear how she could possibly have thought it was okay to have the radio on loud enough to scare the cattle. The little fool could have been killed."
"Which is precisely why you're so upset about it, isn't it, boss?"
Dalton contemplated Clay's words. He knew he would have been concerned about the cattle being spooked regardless of the reason. However, he could admit that he'd been frantic because of Lilly's involvement. Even if he could understand her ignorance due to her lack of knowledge about the workings of a ranch, the fact that she had put herself in danger could not be so easily accepted. He sighed at the realization. "So you are saying I should give her a pass for this?"
"Absolutely not," Clay said. "If she were my lady I'd warm her bottom for her. But first, I'd make sure you're both sure as to why. Because she scares the hell out of you is not a good reason to spank her, boss. Be sure you remember that."
"Yeah, I hear you," Dalton said. After he'd obviously given it some thought, he looked at his friend. "Thanks. You're right; I was horrified when I saw the cattle racing toward her, and her standing there totally unaware of the danger she was in."
"I can imagine. She was totally unaware, though, or she wouldn't have been standing there calmly painting. I'm not telling you what to do because frankly, that's a tough call. I just wanted you to see that you can't tan her hide every time she scares you if she doesn't realize she's doing something to scare you. Good luck, my friend."
"Thanks, Clay."
Dalton thought about Clay's words as he went to gather up his tools and return them to the barn. He tried to concentrate not so much on the cattle's reaction to her and the music, but the rules they'd gone over and she was fully aware of, and if she should have known not to have music blaring around them. By the time he'd gotten his tools away and was ready to go to the house, he had calmed and felt ready to listen to what Lilly said.
***
Lilly was embarrassed when Dalton smacked her three times outside. It not only hurt, but Clay and two of the ranch hands could easily have seen or heard him. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that at least one of them almost had to have seen or heard something. She'd never be able to face them again without being embarrassed. How could he!
A Beautiful Ranch Page 13
