by Irene Brand
“Yeah, but you’d better keep your distance,” he advised, climbing to sit on the fence not close to her but within speaking distance. “I smell of horse and sweat, which aren’t very pleasing aromas.”
Dirty or clean, he still had the power to provoke a tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach, and Kennedy didn’t like it. Always before, she had been able to control her emotions. What could she do to build a wall of defense against Derek?
“How’d you like Miranda?” he asked.
“Very much. I think we’ll get along fine,” Kennedy answered.
Amusement flickered in his dark eyes. “Mom said you held your own with her.”
“I don’t know what’s come over me,” Kennedy admitted, and she sensed that her face colored. “On Saturday I got tough with Cousin Smith when I found out he hadn’t sent the necessary reports to my lawyer. I told him he would have only one week to prepare them. Give me another month in Nebraska and I’ll have a reputation like my grandfather.”
“Some men try to take advantage of women in business deals,” Derek commented, “so be as tough as you want to be.” With a sidelong glance at him, she said, “When you get tired of hearing my problems, tell me, and I’ll stop pestering you.”
“I haven’t complained yet, and you aren’t pestering me. But let’s find a more comfortable place to sit.” He motioned to a weathered bench beneath a cottonwood tree. He jumped down, lifted his arms, and helped her to the ground. When they were seated, he put his left elbow on the back of the bench and turned to face her.
“What is it now?”
“I also got pretty sharp with Smith about the ranch sale,” she admitted, “and I know Dad wouldn’t have approved. But I told Smith in no uncertain terms that I would not be pushed into a sale, and if his clients had to have an answer in a matter of days to tell them no.”
“I can’t see any problem there,” Derek approved. “That’s what you should have done.”
“But I need advice about something else. Robin Donovan came to visit me this morning to discuss placing the Circle Cross, or some of its properties, on the National Register.”
When Derek said he wasn’t sure what that involved, Kennedy explained what Robin had told her and what she had also gleaned from scanning the papers Robin had left. “Do you have any advice for me?”
“I’d have to think about it awhile, but my first impression is that if I owned the Circle Cross, I would jump at the opportunity to preserve the land that way. I realize that progress is important, but it makes me mad to see a large ranch turned into an amusement park or a shopping district. And as for tying it up for your children, you’d be doing them a favor, although they might resent it at the time. God created just a certain amount of land surface, and we need to be good stewards over what we have left. You’re the one to make the decision, but I’d suggest that you give it a great deal of thought before you do anything.” Kennedy nodded. “I will. And the fact that Smith is so insistent on a quick sale makes me suspicious. I’ll be praying for guidance, too.”
“I know this isn’t any of my business, so don’t answer if you don’t want to. But who will your heirs be when you pass on?”
“Don’t spread this around,” she said in a resigned voice, “but I don’t have a will, and my attorney is pushing me to make one immediately. I’ve never given it any thought because I didn’t own much before Dad died. I’ve been concentrating on graduating from law school, and I’ve never had a full-time job, so I haven’t accumulated any money of my own. Dad paid for my education, but I worked for my personal needs and bought my own car.”
“That was good for you.”
“It sure was—it taught me the value of a dollar. But about my estate—the problem is, I don’t have any close relatives, and until now I haven’t known the extended family. I don’t know what to do.”
She appreciated Derek’s compassionate glance, and she wondered if he had finally realized that her familial situation in some small way resembled his own.
“I’m leaning toward giving my estate to my church and to several charitable organizations,” she said. “But I wouldn’t include the ranch in that. And until I make up my mind, it’s just as well that my scattered relatives in this country don’t know I haven’t made a will.”
“I won’t mention it to anyone,” Derek assured her, “but I agree with your attorney; you should make a will right away.”
“I will. Thanks for listening to me.” She smiled at him. “Now I need another favor. When you have time to take me, I’d like to go to that cemetery Robin mentioned. Do you know where it is?”
“Yes, but it’s too far away for you to ride on horseback when you haven’t had much experience. It’s located in a rocky stretch of land, and I can’t drive to it. The best plan is to drive the truck as far as we can and then walk the rest of the way. It’s a half-hour walk. Do you have walking shoes with you?”
“No, but I asked Rosita to pack a pair when she sends my other clothes. They may not be here for several days.” Smiling fondly, she said, “Rosita doesn’t move very fast. There’s something else, too,” she said hesitantly. “This is another matter that will have to stay between us. My lawyer wants a copy of your computer records from as long as you’ve been the manager. He wants to compare them with what Smith sends him.”
“Who do you suspect? Him or me?” Derek said directly.
“Certainly not you,” Kennedy said quickly, “or I wouldn’t have told you. It may just be carelessness on Smith’s part, but I’ve looked at your records and know that the ranch has been in the black all along. If there is anything wrong, I want my lawyer, not me, to approach Smith.”
“How do you want to send them?” he asked.
“I’ll fax them in a few days, if you don’t mind.”
“That’s fine with me. I have nothing to hide, and you know how to access the ranch’s records.”
“That’s fine with me. I have nothing to hide, and you know how to access the ranch’s records.”
“It’ll be tough to find out that Smith is dishonest, especially when Dad trusted him.” She stood, saying with a grin, “Only one more thing. I’d like to install air conditioning in your house. June says she doesn’t need it, but I know she does. If you don’t have any objection, I’ll contact someone to take care of it.”
“That’s good of you. I’ll check out the best firm for you to contact. I think there’s only one outfit in Valentine, but I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks for helping me.”
“Anytime.” He smiled. “I’ll have to take the horse I was training back to pasture, unless there’s something else you want to talk about.”
“No, that’s all. I’ll go back to Riverside. Your mom is going to stay tonight, and then Miranda will be coming tomorrow night.” When she headed toward her car, Wilson left the shade of the barn where he’d been resting and ran toward her. She stooped down and patted his head.
“You don’t have to look after me now,” she said. “I’ve hired a bodyguard.” She glanced toward Derek. “I’m sure he’d rather stay with you.” A smile tugged at Derek’s lips when he answered, “I doubt that. I think Wilson has changed his loyalties, but I’ll keep him here.” When he whistled at the dog and pointed back to the barn, Wilson whined piteously, but Derek said, “Stay.” With his tail between his legs the dog obeyed, but he turned and glanced at Kennedy as if it was her fault.
Laughing, she said, “Now I know what the term ‘a hangdog expression’ means.”
The next two weeks passed without incident as Miranda Pratt settled into the bedroom at Riverside. Because Miranda came in the late evening and most times left without her breakfast, Kennedy didn’t spend much time with her. Just knowing that she was upstairs was comforting. She had a feeling that Miranda carried a gun.
But on the first day of June when Kennedy went out onto the front porch to get a breath of fresh summer air and saw a sign nailed on a porch post, she realized that having Miranda in the
house was not the safeguard against danger that she had wanted.
LEAVE NEBRASKA NOW OR YOU’LL BE SORRY.
Alarmed more than she’d ever been in her life, Kennedy rushed back into the house, slammed the door, and leaned against it. Miranda was ambling down the steps and stopped short. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Kennedy couldn’t speak, but she opened the door and motioned for Miranda to look.
“Well, what on earth!” Miranda said. “Who’s responsible for that? We’d better call the law.” Kennedy shook her head. “No. I’ve got to think about it. What have I done that would cause people to order me out of the state? It’s just a practical joke of some kind.”
“I don’t think so. I’ll call Derek.”
“No, please don’t. He would insist on me leaving, and I don’t want to go.”
“I’d sure hike out of here in a hurry if I got a note like that,” Miranda said. “I don’t like to leave you alone. It’s hard to tell who’s after you.” Kennedy heard a vehicle approaching. By the sound of the engine, she recognized it as Derek’s truck. She ran out on the porch and snatched the sign off the post, holding it behind her when he hurried up the steps.
“Look what I found tacked on the barn,” he said.
TELL YOUR LADY BOSS TO LEAVE TOWN!
When Kennedy showed him the sign she’d found, his face whitened and anger turned his eyes to dark cauldrons of concern. Throwing the signs out in the yard, he slumped down on the top step and put his face in his hands.
“God, help us,” he muttered. “What are we going to do?”
Kennedy sat beside him. “Please don’t ask me to go home.”
He raised his head, and Kennedy had never seen such misery in a man’s eyes.
“No, I won’t.”
“Do you think Cousin Smith is responsible for this? This has to be connected with the offer to buy the Circle Cross.”
“I don’t believe he’s stupid enough to call attention to himself, but the warning could be from whoever wants to buy the ranch. That could be anyone. I have a notion to pay a call on Smith and see if I can scare the information out of him.” Miranda came out of the house carrying her purse, and she said, “You ought to call the police.”
“Not yet,” Derek said. “And please don’t mention this to anyone, Miranda. Wilson can stay with you at night, and he will sound an alarm if anyone comes on the porch again. He has a sore paw and I kept him in the house last night, or he’d have barked when someone strange came around the barns.” After Miranda left, Derek said, “Will you stay with Mom during the day?”
Kennedy shook her head. She didn’t want to add to Derek’s problems, so she said lightly, “I’m a big girl now.” Derek unwound his long frame and stood up. “I know,” he said grimly. “That’s the problem. I have to go to work, so be careful. What are you going to do today?”
“I have an appointment to see Smith tomorrow, but today I’m going to carefully read through all of that material Robin brought me about the National Register.
I’ll keep the doors locked, so don’t worry about me.”
With some misgiving, Kennedy kept her appointment with Smith the next day. Because she had experienced the trauma of strained family relationships all her life, she had hoped to avoid that with her cousin. He greeted her amiably and said that he had sent the requested papers to her lawyer in California.
Kennedy thought of mentioning the signs that had been placed on the Circle Cross to see if she could tell by his attitude whether Smith had been involved. She stifled the urge, for Derek had suggested that they might learn more if they didn’t tell anyone about the posters. However, watching Smith closely, she did mention that she was considering placing the Circle Cross on the National Register of Historic Places.
It didn’t surprise Kennedy that he was violently opposed to the idea. “Why can’t Robin tend to her own business? She’s always been meddlesome. Even when she was a kid, she was a bothersome brat.”
Kennedy thought she remembered that Smith’s father and Robin’s mother had been siblings, so no doubt they had seen lots of each other. Humorously, she decided that it might have been a plus to grow up without childish rivalry and bickering with her cousins.
decided that it might have been a plus to grow up without childish rivalry and bickering with her cousins.
“Surely you won’t be foolish enough to tie yourself to such an agreement,” Smith continued. “Even if you won’t consider selling now, you may want to sometime. But I think you’re making a mistake by refusing the sale offer. At least why not find out how much money you’d be offered for the ranch?”
“Smith, we’re at an impasse. You know that money isn’t the issue. I won’t consider the offer until I know who wants to buy and why.” She gathered up her purse and a copy of the report he’d sent to California. Standing, she fixed him with a direct stare. “Is my grandfather the one who wants the ranch? Is that the reason you won’t tell me?”
“Of course not!” Smith protested, but his expression was like a stone mask, and Kennedy couldn’t tell if he was being truthful. “And what difference would it make? Gabriel Morgan’s money is as good as anybody’s.”
“Not to me it isn’t!” Kennedy retorted. She turned on her heel and left his office. As she drove out of town, she saw Tony Morgan coming down the steps of the church. He motioned to her and she pulled over to the curb.
“I tried to call you and didn’t get an answer,” he said.
“I’ve been in Smith’s office and I left the phone in the car. What’s up?”
He came around the car and sat in the passenger seat. “I had a strange request yesterday, and I thought you might be interested in it. I don’t want to interfere with your vacation, so don’t hesitate to refuse—but it’s something you might want to do.” Grinning, she said, “Stop beating around the bush! Tell me what you want.”
“I had a call from the supervisor of a community outreach center in Omaha asking if I could recommend a ranch in the Valentine area where a group of inner-city kids could camp for a week. According to the man who called me, these kids have never been out of the city. Would you consider inviting them to the Circle Cross?”
Kennedy hesitated. “Well, I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I’d need to think about it and get Derek’s opinion. It will really be up to him.”
“You depend on him a lot, don’t you?” Tony said, in a teasing tone.
“Oh, don’t get any ideas. After all, he is the manager of the Circle Cross. I wouldn’t make a decision like that without his approval.”
“I was just kidding you,” Tony said. But chuckling, he added, “Judging from the fit Grandfather threw about my love affair with Matti, I can imagine his reaction if you and Derek got together.”
“It wouldn’t be any of his business.”
“I’d be the first to agree to that, and it would be unjustified if he did object. Derek and I were in school together. He had a rough time when he first came here, but he’s a smart guy and soon caught up with the rest of the class. Derek is sensitive about his past, but from what I know of him, I’d guess that he came from good stock somewhere along the line. We’ve always gotten along, and I intend to visit him and try to get him involved in our church activities.” He opened the door and stepped out of the car. “Let me know in a few days, okay?”
Kennedy nodded and drove away.
She wouldn’t see Derek for several days, for he and the men were mending fences on the range farthest from ranch headquarters, and they were camping out.
Most of the time they didn’t have cell phone access, and the time seemed endless without hearing from him every day. When he called upon returning home, a warm glow filtered through her body.
“Want to go try your horseback riding skills tonight?” he asked.
“Sure, but aren’t you tired of riding?”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t think of any other excuse to spend the evening with you,” he said, and she knew he was smiling
.
“You don’t need an excuse, but I’d like to take a ride. June has been helping me with saddling. I’ve ridden around the ranch yard a few times, but I’m still tense.”
“See you in a few,” he said.
It seemed to Kennedy that she’d just existed while Derek was away. When he rode into the yard and bounded up the steps to the gazebo where she waited, folding her in a tight embrace, she knew he’d missed her, too. But the embrace was brief—too brief for Kennedy—before he released her.
“What trouble have you gotten into while I’ve been away?” he teased.
“That’s for me to know and for you to find out,” she retorted, recalling a remark she hadn’t heard since she was a child.
He took her hand and held it while they walked toward the horses. “Mom says you can get in the saddle all by yourself now.” She nodded, mounting without too much awkwardness, and they headed up the river trail. “Tell me what you’ve been doing,” she suggested. “I want to know everything about the ranch.”
“We’ve been fixing the fences, and it’s what I like least about ranching. I like roundup time, branding new stock, even haying and planting new crops, but repairing fences is boring. Still, it’s an important part of ranching and has to be done.” Savoring the deep tone of his voice as he talked, she learned that in spite of the hard work, Derek loved every part of ranching. “We shift the cattle from pasture to pasture, and we always check the fences when we take the stock to new grasslands. Once a year we go around the whole ranch and check that the fences aren’t down.”
“And you still want to be a rancher?”
“There’s no other life like it, at least for me, and I like camping out. You and Mom might go along with us sometime. She used to go when Dad was living. I know you would like spending the night on the range as much as I do. I feel closer to God when I’m sleeping under the stars than at any other time.” His statement surprised Kennedy, but she was pleased to know that he wasn’t insensitive to God in his life.
