An Unlikely Rancher

by Roz Denny Fox

  “But I wanted to fly in Flynn’s plane.”

  Flynn stirred. “When people fly, they need to buckle in. Like you do in the car. So you don’t bounce around and get hurt. If you’d managed to get on the plane without me seeing you, you could have been injured. Then your mom and I would feel horrible. Worse than horrible, Andee.”

  “But you said you were gonna take Beezer flying, so I hid in the back of your truck. Beezer saw me crawl under the black thing.”

  “His canopy?” Jenna rubbed at her forehead.

  Flynn looked distressed. “Andee, you might have fallen out—the road to my airpark is so rough and the tailgate was down.”

  Jenna blotted away the last of her tears. “That’s something else we need to discuss. Right now, though, the sheriff’s coming. We can talk more after I explain things to him.”

  Flynn got up and set Andee on her feet. The girl and Beezer were subdued—as if aware they weren’t totally out of the doghouse.

  Jenna started to lift the heavy Harley, but Flynn nudged her aside and took over. She flashed him a trembling smile.

  He shut both pickup doors and stood by Jenna to await the sheriff.

  Andee sidled up. “Am I gonna be arrested?” Her voice quavered.

  Flynn answered for Jenna. “No, Sheriff Denton has grandchildren about your age. He’ll be delighted to see you’re safe and sound.”

  “Of course you won’t be arrested,” Jenna added. “Where would you get that idea?”

  “From TV,” Andee said. “Bad people get arrested.”

  Jenna paused to frown at that statement. “Another thing we’ll have to discuss apparently is what shows you’re watching. I do need to apologize to the sheriff for not notifying him the minute you showed up. I was just so rattled. I still am.”

  Striding off, she met the man exiting the patrol vehicle and launched into an immediate apology.

  Sheriff Denton was a big man who wore the trappings of law enforcement well. His expression didn’t change one iota as Jenna hastened to explain what had happened.

  Andee didn’t leave the safety of Flynn’s side. She peered out from around his leg and wrapped one arm around her bear and the other around Beezer.

  When Denton approached, the girl tipped back her head and gazed up at the tall lawman. “I’m sorry,” she blurted out, her voice squeaky. “Don’t take Mommy away, either. I did the bad thing, so I don’t want her to get arrested, either.” Giant tears rolled down her pale cheeks.

  Jenna automatically bent and hoisted the girl to her hip. “Shh. Honey, no one’s getting arrested. The sheriff knows I was sick with worry. He’s happy it was all cleared up as easily as it was.”

  Flynn placed a bracing arm around Jenna and Andee.

  Sheriff Denton removed his sunglasses and stretched out a hand to Flynn. “Lieutenant Sutton, nice to see you again. Is this your family?”

  Flynn’s fingers flexed around Jenna’s shoulders, and it seemed he couldn’t quite decide how to answer.

  Flynn finally laughed. “No, I’m Jenna’s boarder. But my dog and I were unwitting partners in this morning’s debacle. I think we’ve all come to an understanding, so it won’t happen again.” He gave an added clasp to Jenna’s arm and caught Andee’s eye.

  Both nodded vigorously and Flynn let his arm drop.

  The sheriff tucked a small notebook he’d been holding into his shirt pocket. “Well, I always say all’s well that ends well. These are the types of calls I like. Say, Lieutenant, the mayor tells me you’ve booked an air show to coincide with Pancho Villa Days. Just so you know, I’ll beef up our part-time deputies that weekend. Not that I expect trouble.”

  His sharp gaze flicked from Flynn to Jenna.

  “Ms. Wood, I heard you had a bunch of ostriches loose. How’d they get out?”

  She slid Andee off her hip. “The gate latches weren’t very secure. I had Barney Fisk, my helper, install new ones.”

  “Ah. Okay. How’s he working out?” the sheriff asked casually.

  “Fine. Is there something I should know?” Jenna let Andee skulk away with Beezer.

  “No, no. We seem to get more than our share of drifters. I’d say Barney’s a cut above. Haven’t had any complaints about the odd jobs he’s done for ranchers and such.”

  Jenna stayed behind, listening to the two men begin to chat about the mayor’s housing project as they walked toward the sheriff’s car. They stopped when Barney pulled in.

  Jenna went to meet him.

  “Hey!” Barney vaulted from Jenna’s Cherokee, a huge grin slashing his gray whiskers. “You found the little miss. Where was she?” he asked, handing Jenna the check he’d brought from the wholesaler.

  “It’s a long story.” She glanced down at the check. Shocked by how small it was, her breath stuttered. Not only wasn’t it enough to go with what she hoped to get for her wedding rings to buy Flynn’s new air conditioner, this paltry sum would barely cover next month’s expenses.

  Andee, who stood to one side with Beezer, released her hold on the dog. “I was a bad girl, Mr. Fisk. I wanted to fly with Flynn, but he found me and brought me home. I scared Mommy, and I won’t do it again.” She shook her head until her fine curls flew.

  “Whoa, that’s some adventure.” Barney scraped a thumb across his chin. “I know your mama was scared, all right. So, I guess you missed seeing the new baby ostriches come out of their eggs.”

  Andee perked up. “Baby ostriches?”

  “I’ll take you to see them when I finish talking to Barney,” Jenna said. “Barney, did Mr. Cline give you a price list for eggs and feathers? Eggs are supposed to bring in more than this, according to Oscar Martin.”

  “No price list, but Rick Cline said he’d buy twice the amount of eggs as you sent today. I gather his market for feathers goes up and down. He said the demand for ostrich meat is high because it’s so lean.”

  Jenna hauled in a deep breath. “I’m squeamish about the thought of slaughter. I need to pursue other avenues. I’m considering a couple.”

  Still a distance away with Flynn, the sheriff climbed into his SUV and drove off. Flynn moseyed back to where Jenna and Barney stood. “You look worried,” he told Jenna. “Has something else gone wrong?”

  “I just didn’t make as much money from selling eggs as I expected.”

  “Flynn, Mr. Fisk said we’ve got new baby ostriches,” Andee piped up. “Will you take me to see them?”

  “You have chicks?” Flynn smiled. “Are they in the main pen? Sure, I’ll take you, if it’s okay with your mom. Remember, we don’t do anything without Mom’s okay.”

  “It’s fine with me if you don’t need to rush back to work. They’re in the large shed with the incubators. I wonder if there’s a market for people to buy chicks. I could advertise in the poultry magazine or the local newspaper.”

  Barney shrugged.

  Flynn shook his head. “What I know about this business you could inscribe on the head of a pin,” he said, turning away.

  Andee peered back over a shoulder. “Don’t sell our babies, Mommy. You said I could take care of them.”

  “And you can help take care of them until I see if there’s a market. Don’t get attached,” she warned. “Don’t name them.”

  “What else can I do today?” Barney asked. “We didn’t collect loose feathers from probably half your flock.”

  “Sure, but first could you fill the feed bins with cracked corn? I have a couple of errands to run, but I need to clean up. By the way, thanks for the loan of your bike. I’ll pay you for the gas I used.”

  “Your kid is some plucky. But the way you gunned my old Harley and took off, I’d say the girl takes after her mom.” He laughed from his belly, reset his baseball cap and went off, leaving Jenna startled by what he’d said.

 
“Uh, would you swing by the shed and tell Andee I want to see her in the house when Flynn’s ready to leave...and tell her no detouring.”

  He circled a hand over his head to show he’d heard, so she hurried inside to shower.

  In less than twenty minutes she emerged from her room combing out her wet hair. She heard Andee’s voice coming from the kitchen, along with Flynn’s deeper tone. It surprised Jenna that he hadn’t left for the airpark.

  The pair sat at the kitchen table snacking on crackers and cheese. They looked up when Jenna entered the room.

  “Me ’n Flynn are talking about heaven,” Andee said.

  “Oh?” Jenna shot Flynn a guarded look.

  “Yep,” Andee said. “Flynn says heaven is way, way far past the sun and moon and stars. Even past the tiny, tiny ones we can barely see. When somebody we love goes there, it makes us sad. But everybody in heaven is safe. Even cats and dogs. So we shouldn’t be sad. And now I don’t need to worry about trying to find heaven, ’cause Daddy and Flynn’s friend Chip are up there together. They’re not lonely.”

  “Uh, that’s nice, Andee.” Jenna’s voice was strained. But when Flynn looked embarrassed, she set a hand on his arm. “I really appreciate how you stuck around, Flynn. May I fix you something more substantial for lunch? Tuna sandwich?”

  “Not for me. I’ll head back to work. Barney said you were going to run errands. Anything I can swing through town and pick up for you?”

  “No, but thanks. I decided I won’t bank with Franklin Hart. I found a savings and loan in the next town—Las Cruces. So, I hope I’ll be closer to having money to replace your air conditioner. But I’m not there yet.”

  Flynn snapped his fingers and Beezer got up from where he was catching a snooze under the table. “Listen, don’t short yourself to get that done. Add on fencing if you need to expand your flock to make more money. I’m, uh, well... Beezer and me, we’re okay bunking upstairs.”

  Flynn ducked his head and headed for the door.

  “Yay!” Andee fed her last piece of cheese to Beezer. Sliding off her chair, she first hugged the big dog, then ran and threw her arms around Flynn’s waist.

  That startled him and Jenna. She recovered first. Their eyes met. She ventured a smile. “I must admit, you have a nice way of making ordinary things special.”

  The red on his cheeks got ruddier. “Uh, ordinary things like having supper together in town? It’s Pot Roast Monday at the diner. Their cook makes the best pot roast in the West. We’ve all had a trying day, so it’s my treat. Say, seven?”

  His offer surprised Jenna, who hesitated for a second. “I’m not sure how long my errands will take. How about if Andee and I meet you there?”

  “It’s a da—” He stopped short of saying date. Jenna could tell Flynn knew it, and so did she.

  Unwinding Andee’s arms, he chucked her under the chin and made good his escape with his dog loping through the open screen door on his heels.

  Jenna gave a start when Andee piped up to say, “We love Flynn, don’t we, Mommy?”

  Jenna’s mouth dropped open and she shut it. She knew she blushed because her neck and face got hot. She was glad Flynn had charged off the porch and was probably too far away to hear. “We like him, honey,” Jenna emphasized.

  Andee tilted her head and pursed her lips. “Okay. But I don’t want him and Beezer to go away. Not ever.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  JENNA WAS HELPING Andee climb into her car seat just as her cell phone rang. She saw her sister’s number in the readout and stepped away to answer, leaving Andee to buckle herself in.

  “Melody, hi. Are you home from work? I can never remember our time difference.”

  “Is that why you’ve only called once since you moved to no-man’s-land?”

  Thinking back over all the ups and downs of her first weeks on the ranch, including her terror when she couldn’t find Andee this morning, Jenna tempered what she might have said. “Ranching isn’t a nine-to-five job, Mel.”

  “Neither is teaching boneheaded college kids US history.”

  “Listen, I’m just heading out to the bank. Can I call you this evening? Or tomorrow?”

  Belatedly, Jenna remembered Flynn’s dinner invitation. She wasn’t ready to share anything about him with her sister. She could do without the third degree, or worse, Rob running a background check on Flynn. That would be embarrassing.

  “I really called to tell you that yesterday Rob heard through a source that the investigative committee finished studying Andrew’s accident. They’ll be issuing a report.”

  Jenna clutched her throat, which suddenly felt tight and dry. “Wh-what did they find?”

  “Don’t know, sis. Rob says those committees never leak. But once they reach their conclusion, the report goes out fairly fast. He asked me to give you a heads-up. You’ll probably receive an official update in two or three weeks. Will you be okay being all alone out there? Are you prepared for a worst-case scenario?”

  Rubbing her free thumb across a temple beginning to pulse with pain, Jenna strangled out her answer. “Y-yes. All I want is to have it settled.”

  “Call me after you receive the report, okay? Hey, I have a staff meeting in ten minutes. I miss you, Jenna. Pinky promise you’re all right?”

  “Pinky promise. I like it here. I swear.”

  “Okay. But you sound off kilter.”

  “I’m standing out in the hot sun. And your news came as a shock. The committee has spun its heels for ten months. I wasn’t sure they’d ever reach a conclusion. I know we’ve both got to run but, Mel, thanks for the alert.”

  “Don’t forget us. And tell Andee I found the cutest cowgirl boots in her size. They’re pink. I’ve shipped them. She should get them today or tomorrow.”

  “She’ll love them. That’s so thoughtful of you. But rather than tell her, I’ll let them be a surprise. ’Bye. Love you. Don’t work too hard.”

  Her sister laughed. “I only get a week’s break between summer classes ending and fall ones beginning. I’d hoped Rob and I would have some time to fly out and see that ranch of yours. Doesn’t look like it can happen before my Christmas break.”

  “Sounds more doable then for me, too. I’ll put up a tree and everything.”

  Jenna loved and missed her sister, but the thought of her coming out made her neck pinch with tension. By Christmas, however, she ought to have a better handle on the business.

  And surely by then Flynn’s AC would be in and he’d be back in his own place. If he still lived upstairs, she foresaw how her relatives would grill the poor man.

  “Okay, I’ll log it into our day-planners. ’Bye, kiddo.”

  “Later, then.” Jenna dropped her phone into her handbag and slid behind the steering wheel.

  “Mommy,” Andee fretted. “What took you so long? Me ’n Cubby are hot.”

  “Sorry. That was Auntie Melody.” Jenna started the SUV and cranked up the AC.

  “You didn’t let me talk to her. She doesn’t know Beezer’s come to live with us.”

  Thank goodness. Jenna adjusted the rearview mirror. “She only had a few minutes to talk because she was late for a meeting. She and Uncle Rob may come visit us over Christmas. Won’t that be fun?”

  “Yay! Then they can see the baby ostriches, and Flynn and Beezer.”

  Time didn’t always compute with a child. And according to Oscar Martin, baby ostriches grew about a foot a month for five or six months. For sure the ones in the incubators now would be full grown by Christmas.

  And why upset the applecart by mentioning that Flynn and Beezer would be gone before the holidays? It was likely that the increased pressure to have him back in his own place weighed heavier on her.

  She’d soon receive the commission’s verdict on Andrew’s accident. Regardless o
f their personal issues, her heart ached when she thought about his death...

  What kind of fool risked disrupting her life by falling for another pilot?

  “Where are we going? You passed the town.”

  “Clever of you to notice that we’re going someplace new.”

  “Why?”

  “A bigger town has more stores. A larger bank.”

  “Oh.”

  It seemed farther than Jenna had estimated. But traffic was light, so it didn’t take long to cover the miles.

  Her GPS made the pawnshop simple to find. It sat in a nice strip mall, not seedy, which had been her main fear.

  “Andee, I have some jewelry to sell here. You can’t wander around once we go inside. Okay? And don’t talk while I transact my business.”

  “What’s trans...act?”

  “It means I’ll discuss stuff with the person in charge.” Jenna climbed out, then opened Andee’s door and helped her out.

  “Mommy, look in the window. A pink bicycle ’xactly like one Brittney got for her birthday, remember?” She frowned. “Daddy said I couldn’t have one, ’cause we lived in an apartment.”

  Andee scampered off for a closer look.

  After locking the SUV, Jenna turned, too.

  Sure enough, on prominent display in the pawnshop window sat a small girl’s bicycle with training wheels. Andee, with Cubby tucked into the crook of one arm, had her nose pressed to the glass. “We live in a house now. Can we buy me the bicycle? Please. I’ll be really, really good, I promise.”

  Her little face reflected hope mixed with worry that she’d be told no again.

  The bike looked nearly new to Jenna. Its paint and chrome sparkled in the afternoon sun.

  “Let me take care of my business, then I’ll ask the price. No promises. You know our money is tight right now. I’m trying my best to save enough to buy an air conditioner for the rental house. For Flynn.”

  “But he said he likes living at our house.”

  “He said he was okay with bunking upstairs. That’s different from liking it, honey. Maybe we can come back another time to see about buying the bike.”