John frowned.
“What?” I said with a shrug. “That’s just how it is, and when you can’t save them, it makes you realize that you’re human, too. That’s when you just do the best you can and hope like hell it’s enough to make a difference. Everyone has a purpose, not the same purpose, but nonetheless a purpose. If all children grew up to be doctors and lawyers, this world would be a pretty boring place.”
“Hey,” he said.
“Fine. If everyone grew up to be lawyers and congressmen, this world would be a pretty boring place. Somebody’s got to deliver the mail. Someone’s got to bag the groceries and lay the bricks. That’s all I’m saying.”
I glanced over to Chloe who was showing Walter and Harry how to pick long strands of grass, hold it between her fingers, and blow to make sharp whistling sounds, loud enough to drive home the cattle.
“Somebody’s got to paint the pictures and make the music. Personally, painting the pictures would make my heart sing. Chloe could make the music,” I said, wincing at the piercing sounds cutting the air in intermittent bouts. “Where’d she learn how to do that?”
“Not sure. Some things they just learn on their own.”
The corner of my mouth curled toward the sun. “You’re right about that.” His eyes glimmered in the light breaking through the clouds.
“I like how your eyes shine,” I said, holding his stare.
“I think I get that from Chloe.” Clenching his teeth, he reeled in another fish.
Sun Ray nibbled at the low-hanging branches.
Chloe ran back to the bank of the pond. “Hey, Dad, we’re gonna go back to check on the kittens then Judy is going to make us some grub.” She scratched her head as she said the word grub. “That just sounds too much like dirt to have anything to do with food, but whatever.”
“Okay. Maggie and I will clean up here and meet you at the house. Take your poles back to the barn and tell Judy thanks.”
“Okeydokey.” Chloe trotted off.
I flipped my line into the pond. “Casting is more fun than catching.”
“I like the catching part. Makes me feel like I accomplished something,” John said.
Sun warmed the back of my neck and dried my shirt. “Yeah, but once you catch the fish, you have to touch it. I’m not so sure I can do that.” I yanked my fly out of the water and it stuck on the grass. “See, I scared myself just thinking about it.”
“You’ll never know until you do it.” John’s deep voice, filled with conviction. “Just might be up your alley. There is nothing about you that says sissy.”
Laughing, I wound the line up then narrowed my gaze at him. John tugged at his line and reeled in another fish. It flopped back and forth as he snagged it with a net. Water splashed as the dorsal fin tail wiggled to and fro, desperately trying to free itself.
“Natural selection,” John said.
“Touché.”
“Want to try and get it off the hook?” John grasped the trout with one hand and held it in my direction. It wiggled and I raised my eyebrow at him. Sticking my hand out, I tried to be brave, but when it wiggled again, I jerked my hand back to my side. I couldn’t do it.
“Maybe another day,” he said, retrieving the hook from the fish’s mouth.
Stepping closer, I inspected the process. The fish’s gills heaved in the air. “Um, I’m thinking no.”
“It’s okay, not everyone can grow up to be a doctor or a fisherman,” he said. “Somebody’s got to make the music.” John put the fish into the bucket. “Keep them or let them go?” he asked, staring up at me.
I knelt beside him. “That’s a good question. I don’t know. How bad do you want to eat them?”
John tipped the bucket and the five trout sloshed back into the pond. “We’ll save this bunch for later.” He tickled the water with his fingertips then flicked some at me, his grin growing mischievous. “I liked you better in a wet T-shirt.”
My cheeks burned, but not from the sun.
He glanced around. “Good, they’re all gone.”
“What’s all gone?” John’s wild stare bristled my intuition. I backed away as his eyes flashed with determination. He wiped his hands on his thighs and stepped toward me.
My palms grew clammy and sweat formed on my brow. I knew this game. “This is silly. We’re adults.”
“Um, I believe the words you used were natural selection.” He lowered his gaze and reached out.
Squealing like a schoolgirl, I ran for cover. Out of breath, and his feet thundering behind me, I darted around the back of the mighty willow. I shrieked again as John caught me by the hand and pinned me up against the hearty trunk.
“You are one hard girl to catch, Maggie Abernathy, but the chase is worth it.”
Chapter 11
“Eat up,” John said, biting into his second peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“I haven’t had one of these in a long time.” I took another bite. “Thanks, Judy.”
Walter’s cheeks bulged as he shoveled his lunch into his mouth.
Judy touched his hand. “Slow down.”
When he smiled, crumbs fell from his lips.
Chloe and Harry talked about fishing and collecting more rocks down by the creek.
“Ashley’s gonna get you three back up on those horses this afternoon.” John finished off his sandwich then guzzled down the last of his lemonade.
“Woo-hoo,” Walter said, lifting his arms overhead like a prizefighter.
“Maggie and I are going to see the cattle. Judy, you want to come?” John asked.
“As much as I’d like to see the cattle, I think I’d better stay here with the boys and give Ashley a hand.”
“John, how far away are they?” I asked.
“Not far. Give me a second, I have an idea.” He scooted his chair back from the table, got his radio from the counter, and then called Justin over the crackling line. He left the dining room to continue the conversation.
I nibbled on grapes as I listened to the kids’ conversation. Judy’s sideways glance caught my attention. “What?”
“You don’t need any tagalongs. Just go. We’ll be fine.” She bit off a hunk of her sandwich. “These do taste so much better in Montana.”
“You are so lucky,” Walter said, poking her in the arm.
Suspicion tugged at the corner of my mouth. I wasn’t seeing a kid opposed to moving eighteen hundred miles away from my quiet Michigan lake town. Maybe she’d feel differently when Harry and Walter were gone, but for now that wasn’t the case.
“Dad says I’ll probably get to come back to see you guys once in a while.” Chloe nibbled at the end of a strawberry. “Maggie, that means you, too.”
“What?” Walter asked, sipping his milk.
Chloe sighed. “I’m just so glad you’re here, but part of me feels bad.”
“Why?” Walter said, making his milk moustache twitch from side-to-side.
“Promise you won’t be mad,” she said.
Walter made the peace sign with his pointer and index fingers. “Promise. Stick a needle in my eye.”
Judy grimaced at the exchange.
My mind flashed back to the day Chloe and I sat on the kitchen floor moping about her and John’s move, her letter tucked away in my desk back home. My heart cracked like worn leather at the notion that she’d become a distant thought, kind of like those students in my class that I’d grown attached to over the years, but somehow all that’s left is a smudged crayon picture or letter telling me how much I meant when the school year ended.
Chloe’s eyes flashed in my direction. “Well, as much as I don’t want to leave you guys, I think I actually kind of love it here,” she said.
Walter smashed his lips together and his brow furrowed.
Harry munched on chips acting as if he wasn’t at all surprised.
Chloe set her elbows on the table and clasped her hands in front of her. “I feel bad, like I’m not supposed to want to stay here.”
My heart sank. Out of the lot of us, she seemed to be handling it better than me. Her green stare met mine. “I knew you’d like it once you got here,” I said.
“Anyway, let’s not borrow trouble,” Chloe said.
“Where did that phrase come from?” I asked.
“Grandpa. He told me that the other day when I told him I thought you weren’t coming. He’s a great listener.” Chloe showed her teeth like the horses did before they got a treat, then she finished her lunch.
John joined us at the table. “We can all go,” he said. “The fun way.”
“Woo-hoo.” Walter tilted his head and gave John a fist bump. “What exactly is the fun way?”
“What a dodo brain. He’s a weirdo.” Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head in dismay.
“Well that weirdo is my son, too, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call him names.” Judy collected empty plates from the table.
Chloe nibbled her sandwich down to the crust then left the remaining sliver of bread on her plate. She shrugged at her dad who was inspecting her technique. “What? I only like the insides.”
“So tell us what the fun way is.” Walter batted his eyelashes and begged. “Please.”
“Justin is going to hook up Starbuck and Caribou to the wagon. You guys can sit in the back and enjoy the scenery.”
“Woo-hoo.” Walter raised fists in approval.
Harry rolled his eyes at his brother. “Excellent.” His smooth intonation made him sound like one cool cat.
“Thank you,” Judy said, reaching for Harry’s plate. “See, that’s not so hard.”
“Yeah, whatever, but Walter’s still—”
Judy cut Harry off before he could finish the insult. “He’s still your brother.”
Walter grinned wildly and touched his mom’s hand. “Thanks, Mom.”
Harry moaned.
“Do you want to stay here with Ashley?” John asked. “She could probably use some help in the barn.”
Harry leaned back and rested his arm on his chair.
Chloe inspected him as he thought. “She’s too old for you,” she said, finishing her milk. “But cleaning up horse poop is fun.”
Harry glared at her. “You’re supposed to be my friend.”
Chloe lapped up the last drops of milk that trickled down the outside of the glass. “I am your friend. Friends don’t lie to each other.”
Taking a handful of dirty dishes to the sink, I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. Judy stood beside me at the counter, cleaning off plates and enjoying the wit. She leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Seriously, you two need some alone time.”
I pushed the food scraps down into the garbage disposal, and then checked over my shoulder for big ears. “Um, really we don’t.”
Judy sighed then bumped me with her hip. “Really you do. I saw you by the tree.”
I ignored her, my cheeks hot like glowing embers.
“Oh, come on, you wouldn’t have dragged yourself out here if you didn’t think there was a chance in hell that you two had something,” she said under her breath.
“I’m not talking about this now,” I said between clenched teeth.
Judy threw the dishtowel on the counter and planted her hands on her hips. “You can’t be serious.”
“What are you two arguing about?” Chloe asked, handing me her empty milk glass.
“Nothing,” I answered.
“It’s not nothing. Maggie is stubborn and won’t listen to me,” Judy said, tilting of her head.
“What’s the problem? Maybe I can help.” Chloe wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“It’s fine.” I took a deep breath.
“Chloe, let’s just say that she’s closed for business,” Judy said.
Chloe’s nose wrinkled in its usual fashion. “What?”
“Now we know where Harry gets it from,” I said, closing the dishwasher.
Chloe stuck her hands in her pockets and raised her eyebrows in exasperation. “Must be a grown-up thing, ’cause I’m not getting it.”
“Thank you,” I said, resting my hand on her shoulder. “You got that right.” I caressed her sticky cheek. “We can argue later. Let’s go find our wagon ride out to see those cattle.”
Judy raised her left eyebrow at me. “Whatever.”
“What’s going on over here?” John asked.
“Nothing.” I dropped the dishtowel on the clean counter.
A glint of curiosity flashed in his cowboy eyes.
Walking away, I didn’t look back. Chloe’s boots clicked behind me, through the mudroom, and out the door. I stormed off toward the creek and sat on the boulder next to the one-man bridge that crossed it. Chloe came over and sat next to me. This time she wasn’t having the melt down, I was. Too afraid to touch the truth, I focused on the gurgling stream.
“What’s the matter, Maggie? I’m sure Judy didn’t mean to make you mad.” Chloe found a pebble and tossed it into the water.
Running my tongue across my teeth, I glanced over at her from under my lashes.
Chloe shrugged her shoulders at me. “What were you really fighting about?” She stared across the field, her eyes soaking up the landscape.
“It’s stupid. Nothing.”
“Must not be nothing if you’re mad.”
“Okay, Dr. Phil,” I said.
Chloe draped her arm around my slumped shoulders. “Remember that one time when my mom left without me?”
I closed my eyes ashamed at my reaction. “How could I forget?” It was just last year that I cradled her as she sobbed for the mother who left her behind after promising to take her to Hollywood.
“Is it worse than that?” She took a deep breath. “Are you going to run away?”
“No, this is a little different.” I leaned my head against hers. “You ran away ’cause you were sad and hurt.”
“Well you don’t seem so happy.”
With my left elbow on my knee, I lowered my head to rub the tension from my brow. “You know when someone says something that’s not really their business?”
“Do I ever.” Chloe glanced over her shoulder at the sound of heavy boots scuffling behind us. “Hey, Dad.”
“Great,” I uttered under my breath.
John cleared his throat. “Chloe, why don’t you go see how Justin’s coming with the wagon and horses? Maybe Walter and Harry can go with you.”
Chloe rested her head on my shoulder. “Whatever Judy said, don’t let it wreck your day. That’s what Glad would tell you and I’m sure that’s what you’d tell me if I was moping around.”
Her warm cheek pressed up against mine and I knew she was right. “I guess. The only difference is I’d have to find you in the bushes.”
Chloe giggled then stared up into her dad’s face. “I’m going.” She hopped off the rock and kicked her heels against the ground as she sauntered away. “Geez.”
John sat beside me. “Since Judy wouldn’t say what that was all about, you want to?”
Pressing my lips together, I felt my brow crease. “Not really.” I turned my head to see him better. The front of his Stetson curved over his forehead and hung just above his brow line. The muscles in his temple twitched.
“You can keep it to yourself, but it’s gonna gnaw at you until you come unraveled.”
“Isn’t that what this is?” The hair stood up on the nape of my neck as his words brushed against my cheek.
“Eventually, you’re going to have to let something go.”
Thinking about our kiss under the willow tree warmed me through. Resting my head on John’s shoulder, I knew Judy had my best interest at heart. “Tonight when the stars come out, I’m going to find the brightest one and make a wish.” John’s lips were soft against my cheek.
“Me, too,” he said, holding me close.
Chapter 12
Caribou and Starbuck clopped along the dirt path that paralleled the main road. To the west, mammoth green pastures separ
ated the two. Chloe leaned against me. Golden strands of sun-bleached hair highlighted her braid. “Are we almost there?” she asked her dad.
“Yes. You’ll see them in a minute.” His temples twitched as he focus on the terrain. “Pretty soon you’ll hear them.”
“Chloe, lean over next to your dad.” Pointing my camera in their direction, I snapped a photo. John’s narrow gaze depicted someone deep in thought while Chloe’s haphazard grin complemented her father’s solemn façade. Justin commanded the horses, clicked his tongue, and maneuvered the reins like a pro, his feet resting against rectangular metal pedals. I snapped a photo of the horses hauling the wagon. Their flanks flexed with each step, showing off their muscular builds and power, Justin’s profile in the foreground anchored the image.
“They have big horns,” Chloe said, sitting up on her knees and peeking over Justin’s shoulder. She steadied herself then pulled herself up, leaning against him. His eyes warmed as he glanced back at her and the creases at the corner of his mouth indicated he didn’t mind having her so close.
John scooted closer to me. “She is something,” he said, shaking his head.
Chills ran down my arms. “Yeah, you’re right about that.” Chloe’s way with animals and people was a gift. Touch was natural for her, her eyes an invitation to unconditional acceptance.
Chloe rested her hands on Justin’s broad shoulders as the wagon bumped along. She reached down to pluck something from the bale of hay behind the driver’s seat. I smiled, realizing it was a feather. Chloe tucked it into the leather strap of Justin’s cowboy hat.
The dusty road wound through a patch of trees that towered overhead like a covered bridge of greenery. The dark woody patch was cool like my thoughts. John leaned over and told me the cattle were just ahead.
Chloe held on to her hat and pointed toward the break in the tree line. “Squint your eyes,” she said. “Those specks of white are the cattle. They almost look like fireflies when the trees move.”
John draped his arm around my shoulder. “Who knew cattle could be magical?” he said into my ear.
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