Her Cowboy Soldier

by Cindi Myers

  “You’ve really transformed this space,” Amy said. In place of the packed dirt lot stood rows of brick raised beds filled with fledgling lettuce, beans, tomatoes and other vegetables. “It looks beautiful.”

  “The kids and their parents did such a great job,” Erica said. “But Josh was the real hero. He built the water collection and irrigation system for us—and got ranchers he knew to donate almost everything we needed.” She led Amy to a covered metal tank that stood at one corner of the school building. Plastic piping extended from the tank to the garden. Erica was showing Amy how the valves allowed water to flow into the garden as needed when Josh arrived.

  “Hello, Amy. Erica.” He nodded to the women. “Sorry I’m late.”

  “No, you’re right on time,” Erica said. “Amy’s going to write about the garden for the paper. I know she’d want to talk to you about your contribution.”

  He eyed Amy warily. She could almost read his thoughts—he’d had enough of being in the paper, especially in any article she’d written.

  “It’s just a basic, gravity-flow collection system that uses rainwater from the school’s roof,” he said, his face devoid of emotion.

  “Can I quote you on that?” she teased, but the school principal interrupted before she could gauge Josh’s reaction.

  “It’s time for the ribbon cutting!” the principal announced from his position behind a wide yellow ribbon stretched across the beds.

  Erica fished a pair of scissors from the pockets of her voluminous skirts and approached the ribbon. “Is everyone ready?” she asked.

  A cheer went up from the onlookers. Amy snapped a photo as Erica cut the ribbon, and people swarmed over to offer congratulations and admire the planting beds.

  “Some people call Erica a tree-hugging flake, but she actually does a lot of good.” Josh spoke from beside Amy.

  “Turning wasted space into a garden was definitely a good idea,” Amy said. “Everything looks great. She says you were a big help.” She nudged him with her elbow. “You can at least admit that without worrying I’m going to make you look bad in the paper.”

  Some of the stiffness went out of his spine, and he had the grace to look sheepish. “It was fun to use some of the things I learned when I was studying agriculture. Did you work on any water projects with the Peace Corps?”

  “I mostly taught hygiene to women and children. Brent helped dig waterlines from a reservoir in the mountains. I read about some other projects for collecting water in Africa, though.”

  “You should have said something. You probably had ideas we could use.”

  She’d never thought of pitching in to help with the project. “I guess I didn’t feel it was my place.”

  “Your place? Didn’t you see the announcement in your paper asking for community volunteers?”

  Maybe that was the problem—she didn’t see herself as part of the community. She still thought of herself as an outsider—a temporary visitor.

  “Hello, Amy. Is it a slow day for news?”

  Rick Southerland joined them, wearing his usual pinched expression.

  “Hello, Rick,” Amy said. “Ed says everything that happens in Hartland is news to our readers.”

  “If you really want a news story, you should ask how much the district spent on this project.” He waved his hand toward the garden beds and irrigation system. “Whatever it was, it was a waste of money.”

  “Relax, Rick,” Josh said. “Everything was donated by people in the community, including our time.”

  “It was a waste of time,” Rick said. “It’s not as if anyone is going to grow enough vegetables here to save money on the cafeteria budget, and when the novelty wears off the district will be stuck taking care of all this.”

  Amy wanted to ask him if he was always this cheerful and optimistic, but sarcasm would only antagonize him. “Is your wife with you this afternoon?” she asked. “I’d love to meet her.” If Rick’s wife losing her job was at the root of his bad attitude, Amy was curious to get her perspective.

  “She has a new job in Junction. She leaves early and comes home late.”

  “Oh. Well, perhaps I’ll meet her some other time.”

  “What’s she doing in Junction?” Josh asked.

  Rick glared, and Amy thought he wouldn’t answer, but after an awkward silence he said. “Not that it’s any of your business, but she’s working for a lawyer there, managing his office.”

  “I imagine that pays better than the teacher’s aide job she had here,” Amy said.

  “The aide job allowed her to be here for our son. Now he has to be in day care after school, until I can pick him up. None of us are happy about that.”

  Rick struck Amy as the type of person who was never really happy. “Perhaps she’ll find something local soon.”

  Rick said nothing, but continued to scowl at Josh. “Give it a rest, Rick,” Josh said. “I’m not responsible for your wife losing her job, and stopping spending on everything you consider nonessential isn’t going to get the job back. Time to move on.”

  “You don’t know anything about it,” Rick said. He bunched his hands into fists, and for a second Amy thought he might take a swing at Josh. She stepped back, but held her camera at the ready. She wasn’t too worried about Josh’s ability to defend himself—though he and Rick were the same height, Josh definitely looked stronger, and he’d probably learned a few moves in the military.

  Rick apparently thought the same thing. Without another word, he turned and stalked away.

  “I’d watch your back around him,” Amy said as she tucked her camera away once more.

  “Rick’s all talk and no action,” Josh said. “If he were a nicer person, I might even feel sorry for him.”

  “I feel sorry for his wife,” Amy said. “She probably has to listen to his complaints every day.”

  “That went great, didn’t it?” Erica joined them, a wide smile across her face, and at first Amy thought she was talking about the confrontation with Rick. “Everybody seems really excited about the gardens,” she added.

  “You did a fantastic job,” Josh said.

  “Thank you. You two can be the first to hear about my next project.”

  “And what is that?” Amy took out her reporter’s notebook.

  “I think the town council should hire a herd of goats to clean up the weeds and trim the grass in the town park, instead of spraying chemicals and using mowers.”

  “Goats?”

  “Sure, I have a friend who rents a herd. It’s the perfect solution.” She waved and all but skipped away.

  “She might be on to something,” Josh said.

  “Either way, it’ll make a good story.” Amy stowed her notebook.

  Josh walked her to her car. “You did a good job on the science bee story,” he said. “The kids were really excited about it. And the principal was so impressed he’s going to ask for a budget item for next year to fund our participation.”

  “That’s terrific. It was a great day for the students. If I’d had something like that to look forward to growing up, I might have learned more science.”

  “I’ll admit I wasn’t that interested in science when I was a kid. I pretty much lived for sports—classes were an afterthought.”

  “No wonder you became a coach. Do you enjoy coaching as much as you did playing?”

  “Maybe even more,” he said. “We finished this season with a ten and five record.”

  “Your first winning season in seven years—or so Cody tells me.”

  “I hope we can do as well or better next year. It depends on what the new crop of freshmen look like. Some of my best players are graduating this weekend.”

  “Like Chase?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Is he still talking about enlis
ting?”

  “He hasn’t said. And I haven’t asked.”

  The thought of the young man fighting and being wounded, or even killed, pained her. But of course, not every soldier suffered that way. “Maybe getting away would be good for him,” she said. “Grandma said his grandfather was an alcoholic, too.”

  “Let’s hope Chase can break the cycle.”

  “What will you do for the summer?”

  “There’s plenty of work on the ranch. We’re moving cattle next weekend—you should come.”

  “I don’t know anything about working cattle.”

  “Not to work, but to watch. We take them up the highway, from the lower pastures to upper pastures. The sheriff’s department closes the road for us. It’s almost like a parade, with cows and horses instead of marching bands.”

  “I’ll bring my camera.”

  “Don’t just come for the paper. You should come to the dinner afterward. You and Bobbie and Chloe.”

  “All right.” She took out her keys, but was reluctant to break this moment of easiness between them. “Bobbie got a dog,” she said. “A puppy, really. Neal gave it to her, but it didn’t take long for Chloe to latch on to it.”

  “I bet those two are cute together.”

  “Adorable.” She’d already taken dozens of pictures of them playing. “They’re practically inseparable. The dog’s supposed to sleep in the kitchen, but Chloe sneaks it into her bed at night. I don’t know what’s going to happen when we move.”

  “Oh?” His expression darkened. “Where are you moving?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” She made a vague gesture with one hand. “I haven’t decided yet, but all along the plan was for us to stay until Bobbie got back on her feet again. She’s walking with just a cane now.”

  “I know you’re a lot of help to her. She’s going to miss that—and miss you—when you’re gone.”

  Would he miss her? She avoided his gaze, afraid of what she might see there. She couldn’t deny the connection she felt with him, but it wasn’t anything she wanted to develop further. She wasn’t ready to be close to a man again; she probably wouldn’t be ready for a long time. “I’m really worried about Grandma,” she said. “I always think of her as so strong, but I can’t pretend she’s ageless anymore. I worry the farm is getting to be too much for her.”

  “You could stay and help.”

  “I don’t know anything about farming.”

  “You could learn. And there are plenty of people here who’d help you.”

  Would he help her? She wouldn’t ask.

  “Hey, you two!” Charla waved as she crossed the parking lot. She wore a white dress that billowed around her, a strand of thick turquoise beads at her throat and turquoise sandals. Amy felt suddenly dowdy in her faded blue cotton capris and blue polo. “You two are just the people I’ve been looking for,” Charla said.

  “What are you up to now?” Josh asked.

  “I’m heading up the Chamber of Commerce’s new tourism committee, and I’m recruiting volunteers.” She regarded them expectantly.

  “Better ask some of the Chamber members.” Josh took a step back. “I’ll see you ladies later.”

  “Was that a no?” Char asked as they watched him walk away.

  “He’s right—if the Chamber wants a tourism committee, they should pitch in to help,” Amy said.

  “Except the committee was my idea and I had to twist arms—and promise to find my own volunteers—to get them to agree to it.”

  “Why are you interested in tourists?” Amy asked.

  “Can you think of a better way to bring new people to town?”

  “New men, you mean?”

  Char laughed. “New women, too, but I’m mostly interested in the men. Please say you’ll help me.”

  “I don’t know what I could do.”

  “A project like this needs publicity, and you work for the paper, so you’re a perfect fit.”

  Amy’s gaze drifted to the garden, where children and their parents were still milling among the beds of vegetables. “No offense, but what does Hartland have that would attract tourists? I mean, it’s a pretty little town, but it’s kind of...quiet.”

  “It’s too quiet. I was thinking we should have some kind of festival, for a start. There are a lot of farms and ranches around here. We could have a harvest festival, with music and a dance—maybe tours of some local farms and ranches. What do you think?”

  Amy didn’t think it sounded very exciting, but maybe that was because she lived on a farm now and knew how much work was involved. “People from the city might enjoy coming out to see a farm. And people like cowboys....”

  “That’s why I was hoping Josh would agree to help. He’s a cowboy, when he’s not coaching baseball and teaching science.”

  “I hadn’t really thought about that until today,” Amy said. “He invited me to the ranch to see them move cows or something.”

  “Or something is right. You should go, if only to see Josh in a Stetson and tight jeans on the back of a horse.”

  The image of Josh as a classic Western hero was appealing, despite the continued friction between the two. “I’ll go because I’m curious to see what all the fuss is about,” she said. “And because he invited me and Chloe and Grandma to dinner afterward.”

  “I’ll see you there, then. In the meantime, think about what we can do to promote a harvest festival in Hartland.”

  “I’ll do what I can,” she said. “But I don’t have a lot of spare time, between the paper and work on the farm. Things are going to get busier as the summer progresses.”

  “I’ll take any help I can get,” Charla said. “And I’ll recruit others for my committee, I promise. This will be a great way for you to get to know more people in town.”

  I might not even be here in the fall, Amy thought. In three months, Grandma should be completely healed from her surgery. Relocating before Chloe started school would be the smart thing to do, and fall would be a good time to begin a new job in a new place. Hartland would have to celebrate the harvest without her.

  If the thought made her feel a little sad and nostalgic, well, that was only natural. She’d always have a tender place in her heart for this little town, even if it wasn’t where she really belonged.

  * * *

  JOSH HADN’T ATTENDED a graduation since his own. It felt odd to be sitting here now, watching his students receive their diplomas. He spotted a lot of familiar faces in the crowd—other teachers and parents, of course, but also townspeople. Charla was there, and with her, Amy, Bobbie and Chloe. The little girl sat on her mother’s lap in the crowded auditorium and watched in wide-eyed wonder as the graduates, in their gold caps and gowns, crossed the stage to receive their diplomas from the school superintendent.

  Chase Wilson was one of the last in line. He accepted his diploma, then pantomimed hitting a ball out of the park, to the laughter and cheers of the crowd. Josh hoped this was an indication that he’d decided to join the team at Western State rather than signing on with the army.

  When the ceremony ended and the graduates had sailed their caps into the air, Josh joined the crowd on the school lawn. “Josh!” Charla hailed him and started toward him, Chloe in her arms.

  “Hey, Chloe,” Josh said. “What did you think of the graduation ceremony?”

  “I want a yellow dress like that. And a hat like that, too.” She assumed a serious expression. “I’m going to school soon. I’m going to learn to read. I already can read some, but I’m going to learn more.”

  “That’s pretty exciting, huh?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And the cycle goes on,” Charla said. “Chloe’s starting out, and all the kids today are moving on. Kind of bittersweet.”

  “I’ll miss seeing them in class and on the
ball field,” Josh agreed.

  “But then a whole new crop comes along to hang around the coffee shop and the ball field,” she said.

  “Job security,” Josh said.

  “There you are!” Amy rushed up to them, out of breath. “I was talking to Ashley Frawley and when I looked around, you were gone.”

  “Chloe was getting restless.” Charla set the girl on the ground. “Besides, talking to Josh is much more interesting than listening to Ashley go on and on about how the paper doesn’t pay enough attention to the Garden Club.” She turned to Josh. “She said she didn’t see what all the fuss was about the school garden, when her club members had been growing things for years.”

  “Hello, Josh,” Amy said.

  “Hello, Amy. I’m surprised to see you here. I wouldn’t have thought graduation would interest you. Or are you working?”

  “Ed and Cody are covering graduation. I feel like I’ve gotten to know some of the kids, from the science bee and prom. I wanted to wish them well.”

  “That’s very community minded of you.” He hadn’t meant the words to come out as sarcasm, but clearly Amy took them that way. She frowned and started to say something, but Charla stepped between them.

  “We’re going to make Amy a local girl yet,” she said.

  “We’d better get back to Grandma,” Amy said, taking Chloe’s hand.

  “Coach! Glad I caught you before you left.” Chase Wilson ran up to them, his open graduation gown billowing behind him like a cape. Heather Prentice followed at a slower pace.

  “Chase. Good hit up there.” Josh shook the young man’s hand.

  “Thanks.” He released Josh’s hand. “I just wanted to let you know I enlisted in the army. They’re sending me to California for Basic Training, then I’m hoping to get into aircraft mechanic’s school.”

  This wasn’t the news Josh had wanted to hear, but he forced himself to rein in his turbulent emotions. After all, this wasn’t about him. “I hope it’s a great experience for you,” he said.

  “Yeah, me, too.” Chase glanced over his shoulder at Heather, who was in quiet conversation with Charla. The girl looked as if she’d been crying. “Heather is upset. I told her I’d write and email and call, but it’s not the same.”