An Unlikely Rancher

by Roz Denny Fox

  The girl’s shoulders slumped as she turned away from the window. “It’ll be gone by then.”

  Jenna sighed. That was probably true. “Come on inside. Put on your best manners, please.”

  Andee nodded and slipped her hot palm into Jenna’s hand.

  A bell over the door jingled as they stepped inside the shop, which felt cool thanks to the lazy churn of an overhead fan. Andee peeled off to inspect the bicycle from a new angle.

  Jenna approached a bespectacled man seated behind a glass-fronted counter filled with watches, rings, cameras, cell phones and other small items.

  “Welcome. I guess you’ve come about the bike.” The man smiled. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Only took her in yesterday. A grandparent bought it new, but the dad lost his job and needed the money.”

  “Uh, I’m here to sell my wedding rings,” Jenna mumbled, suddenly depressed for sounding needy, too.

  “Ah, sorry.” The man abruptly became very business-like, his expression detached. “Let’s see what you’ve got. Bear in mind I’m overstocked and have to be realistic since times are tough all over.”

  Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jenna set the rings on the counter with an unsteady hand. The pawnbroker had already fitted a loupe to one eye.

  “Three-carat main stone. Four one-carat stones in the band. Set in platinum I’d say. I’ll be honest, ma’am. These are worth a lot more than I’m able to advance you.”

  He put them down and named a figure below what Jenna had hoped for. Calculating quickly, she thought that if she maxed out her new credit card, the two amounts might cover the lowest-priced air conditioner. Which would leave her without funds to invest in the farm.

  She ran a hand nervously up and down the strap of her shoulder bag.

  “If you need the money to house and feed you and the girl,” the man said, lowering his voice, “I can probably raise that by a couple hundred bucks.”

  Jenna followed his gaze to Andee, who stared reverently at the bike. She saw her daughter finger the pink and purple streamers attached to the bicycle’s handle grips. The bike even had a star-studded doll carrier attached to the rear fender, the perfect spot for Cubby to ride.

  Clearing her throat, Jenna turned back. “Out of curiosity, how much are you asking for the bike?”

  “You could get something cheaper at a discount store. But I’ll let you have the bike for sixty. That’s half what it cost new.”

  With a bike to occupy her, maybe Andee wouldn’t dream up another adventure like the one that had scared Jenna half to death today.

  “Would you be able to deduct the amount from what you’re giving me for the rings?”

  “I’ll even help you load the bike.”

  While he counted out cash from a drawer stowed out of sight beneath the counter, Jenna saw a blood-pressure cuff in a case on the round table. “Does this work?”

  “Yes. It’s nearly new. My wife bought it shortly before my mother had to go into assisted living. It may have been used once a day for a couple of weeks. How does ten dollars sound?”

  “Subtract that, too, will you? I’d better get out of here before I end up owing you money.”

  He laughed and exchanged a twenty he’d set out for a ten.

  When Andee learned the bike would be hers, she gushed, “Mommy, I love you this much.” She spread her arms wide. “I’ll take good care of it, like I do Cubby. I can’t wait to show Flynn. Can we go by his airplane place?”

  Jenna frowned over Andee’s dogged attachment to Flynn. On the other hand, she’d just forked over precious dollars to buy him a blood-pressure cuff. Moreover, she’d gone weak-kneed over his kiss. To say nothing of how her heart had jacked up at his dinner invitation.

  Plainly he’d wormed his way under defenses she’d erected against pilots. Especially military ones.

  Were ex-military flyers less apt to collide in the sky and die?

  She doubted it.

  True to his word, the pawnbroker loaded the bike, and Andee danced at the back of the SUV.

  Jenna tallied the many sleepless nights she’d spent worrying about Andrew’s flights. Only an idiot would go soft on another man involved in the same dangerous occupation.

  Especially someone like her, who didn’t even like to fly.

  “There you go.” The man shut the back of the Cherokee. “Good luck getting your renter that AC. They’re about the only item I’ve never taken in.”

  “Thanks for your help. I hope a madly-in-love needy couple buys the rings.”

  “Then you won’t be back to claim them?”

  Jenna shook her head. “I’m...widowed.” She hated that word. Widow.

  “Oh, uh, sorry, ma’am...” He backed up a step, clearly uncomfortable.

  She hated that, too. The reaction other people had when they found out she was a widow.

  “Uh, you two take care, hear?”

  A moment later Jenna checked that Andee was buckled in and set her GPS for the bank. It wasn’t difficult to find. But she had a tussle with Andee, who didn’t want to leave her new bike.

  “Honey, the bike’s not going anywhere. But the bank’s due to close in half an hour. I need to hurry.” Jenna cajoled until she coaxed the girl from the car. Even then Andee took her sweet time scooping up her beloved Cubby.

  In the bank at last, a woman behind the desk directed her to the office of the loan officer, who took them in immediately. This woman was efficient and couldn’t have been nicer. So different from Jenna’s last experience at a bank.

  “I can’t promise our loan board will approve this since you’re new to the area. But I do know they’ll take into consideration that you own property. And that—” she hesitated a moment before saying “—you’re a widow.”

  Jenna tried not to react; the loans officer was being so helpful.

  At the woman’s suggestion, she opened a checking account and deposited the money from the rings. She left with the paperwork she needed to apply for a loan for the full price of the air conditioner.

  “Yay, now we can go home and show Mr. Fisk my new bike,” Andee said, skipping out the door ahead of Jenna. “Mommy, what’s a widow?”

  Jenna stopped walking even as she clicked the Cherokee doors open with the remote. “It means...I’m raising you by myself, honey.”

  “Oh.”

  “Now let me ask you a question.” Jenna watched while Andee buckled herself in. “Why don’t you call Mr. Fisk, Barney? Like you do Flynn.”

  Andee shrugged. “Can we go by the plane place so I can show Flynn my bike before we go home and put on dresses?”

  “I hadn’t planned on changing into a dress. And I have another stop to make. I think you’ll find it fun.” Jenna tapped on her smartphone, getting an address for the alpaca farm she’d seen signs for on the highway.

  She backed out, ignoring Andee, who bobbed around excitedly asking where they were going.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  Fifteen minutes later she saw the farm sign. Leaving the freeway, she followed a fence along a dusty dirt road for about a mile. Soon big-eyed alpacas peered over the fence at them.

  “What are those? Are they sheep?”

  “They’re alpacas. They are sheared like sheep. Their fleece is soft and silky, lighter but warmer than sheep’s wool. And it sells for more than our ostrich eggs.”

  Slowing near the farmhouse and a row of low buildings in the center of a large patch of grass dotted with shade trees, Jenna saw a lot of pens like the ones that housed her ostriches. As she stopped beside a pickup and shut off the motor, two lanky dogs loped up to her door.

  Jenna heard Andee unbuckle her seat belt.

  “Honey, let me get out first to make sure the dogs are friendly.”

  “One is looking in the window
at me. He’s not cute like Beezer. What kind is he?”

  “I don’t know.” Jenna stepped out of the car. The dogs rushed to sniff the hand she extended. As quickly, they ran to meet a woman who had emerged from one of the buildings. They trotted back with her.

  “May I help you? I’m Peggy Johnson. My husband and I own Desert Hills Alpaca Farm.” She pointed to one of the buildings. “If it’s yarn you’re after, I have people who card and spin our fleece and dye skeins in glorious colors.”

  “Actually, I was hoping to get information on raising alpacas. I bought an ostrich ranch the next town over.” Jenna spared a glance at the car to check on Andee, who hadn’t yet come out. “A wholesaler who buys my eggs suggested he could sell alpaca fleece if I branch out. Frankly, I wonder if it’s feasible.”

  The woman nodded. “I’d love to explore that possibility with you.”

  The alpacas across the fence were making low honking noises.

  “They don’t recognize you,” Peggy Johnson explained. “Alpacas hum or honk like geese if they sense something new or possibly threatening.”

  Andee cracked open her door. “Mommy, can I get out and see the alpacas up close?”

  Peggy smiled. “I’ll show her our three new crias—baby alpacas.”

  Jenna beckoned to Andee, but said to Peggy, “You have a lot of animals. How many would I need to start with if I built slowly?” Jenna took Andee’s hand and closed the car door against the nosy dogs.

  Andee patted them gingerly.

  “We have thirty acres and currently keep two hundred adults. Let’s see...I started with a dozen. Two sires and ten females.”

  Peggy led them along a fenced enclosure where fuzzy-headed, slender-necked alpacas peered over.

  Jenna took it all in. “Your feeders look a lot like those I have for my ostriches.”

  Reaching into her jeans pocket, Peggy pulled out a handful of pellets. “By nature alpacas are shy. It’s better to feed them in groups. But I carry treats.” She opened a gate and went into the pen. Soon the mothers crowded around and the babies followed. Peggy picked up one of the babies and carried it over to them. Behind her the mother hummed nervously.

  “See how soft his fleece is.” Peggy knelt so Andee could stroke the long, silky hair.

  “He’s softer than Cubby or Beezer.” The child stroked the animal with care. “Are all the babies gold-colored?”

  “There are two classes of alpacas—suri and huacaya.” She pronounced it wa-kai-ah. “The suri are blond and silky. The huacaya are darker and woollier.”

  Rising, she set the baby down near its anxious mother and they all left the pen.

  “I’ll be in a position to sell you at least six of each, if you’re ready to start a herd by fall. A male of both types and the rest females. All of my stock is registered.”

  Andee clung to the fence while Jenna and Peggy discussed approximate costs to raise a herd.

  “I see you have two dogs,” Jenna said. “I’m considering getting one from a shelter, but I want one that won’t scare the animals.”

  “Then I’d suggest a herder breed. Ours are Australian blue heelers. A dog or two is crucial to protect alpacas from predators like coyotes.”

  “There’s a lot I need to consider.” Jenna turned in a small circle, studying the farm’s layout. Her phone rang, which surprised her. She got so few calls and she’d already spoken to her sister. Her heart jumped at the thought it might be Rob.

  Maybe he’d found a leak in the investigative committee, after all.

  She managed to get the phone out of her purse and say a breathy hello before the answering service kicked in.

  “Jenna? It’s Flynn.”

  Flynn. She hadn’t expected that.

  “I stopped back at the ranch over an hour ago, hoping to catch you. I figured it’s silly for us to take two vehicles to dinner. Barney said you went to run a few errands. Is everything all right? I mean, it’s after six...and...well...I was getting worried.”

  “After six? Yikes.” Jenna cast a quick glance at her watch. “I guess I’ve let time get away. I should reach the ranch in twenty minutes or so. Could we make dinner seven-thirty or will that totally screw up your plans?”

  “Is that Flynn?” Andee left the fence and dashed up to Jenna. “Is he home? Can we go so I can show him my new bicycle?”

  Jenna hushed her with a wave of her hand. “Sorry, I missed what you said. Oh, okay, you didn’t make reservations? We’ll leave now, then. ’Bye.”

  She shut off her phone and dropped it back into her purse.

  “Peggy, I so appreciate your time. I own more than enough land, but I need to see if I can afford to expand. I don’t have the grass and trees you do, and only ramadas for shade.”

  “Ramadas work, too. Ones made from sailcloth aren’t beastly expensive. Anytime you want to come back if you have more questions, I’ll be glad to talk. Are you interested in spinning or weaving? I start beginners’ classes in August after school opens.”

  They strolled to Jenna’s vehicle. “I’m so new to ranching I should concentrate on learning those ropes first. I’d guess there are tons of things to learn about raising alpacas. You probably have a vet you call, and someone for shearing?”

  “A vet immunizes our animals. My husband and I shear them and clip their toenails. My hubby handles most birthings. So, yes, if you’re on your own, unless you have experienced help—” She broke off to wave at a man driving past in a flatbed truck. “Speaking of my husband, he’s been trading help to a friend who’s haying. Enough trade to feed our herd through the winter.”

  “Can’t Flynn and Mr. Fisk help?” Andee asked before she climbed into her car seat. “I like alpacas better than ostriches. Today a baby ostrich pecked me. But the baby alpaca cuddled me.”

  Peggy laughed. “I can’t guarantee you’d be able to handle everything that comes up. You could manage both if you had a full-time employee.”

  Driving out, Jenna thought about how ill prepared she was for ranching. She liked the outdoor life and being her own boss, for sure. She also liked that it enabled her to be a work-from-home mom.

  She’d done a lot of volunteering on base as a military wife. She had a liberal-arts degree...which had prepared her for nothing specific.

  Really, growing up in a military family had prepared her to be a military wife. One capable of moving around a lot.

  She listened to Andee hum along with a Katy Perry song on the radio. A song about a romantic life. Things she’d learned and a decision to move forward feeling “wide-awake.”

  It reminded her of Flynn’s recent phone call. Jenna wasn’t used to having anyone check on her because they were concerned for her. Flynn’s concern felt...nice.

  Reflecting over her day, Jenna revisited parts she’d been too upset to fully register at the time. Such as the relaxed way Flynn had handled her hysteria and Andee’s tearful questions about heaven. It hadn’t dawned on Jenna that Andee only needed reassurance that her daddy was somewhere safe.

  Even Flynn’s voice had exuded calm. As had his firm hand on her shoulder when she’d talked to the sheriff. Flynn continued to claim her thoughts as the Cherokee ate up miles. And suddenly she found herself at the ranch.

  It was late enough that Barney’s motorcycle was gone.

  Jenna wasn’t prepared for the warmth that slid up her body when Flynn emerged from the house.

  She didn’t object when Andee shouted at Flynn to help her out so she could show him her new bike. The brief respite gave Jenna time to slow her pulse and stanch a rush of emotion that welled up when he drew near.

  Tonight, backlit as his rangy body was by the orange rays of a sinking sun, a curl of desire built in her. He had on gray pants with a razor crease and a formfitting gold T-shirt that defined his sculpted torso and deepened his ta
n. His blond hair had grown longer, and its attempts to curl made her fingers itch to ruffle it. To see if his hair felt as soft as alpaca fleece.

  Hearing him at the back of the SUV exclaiming over Andee’s bike jolted Jenna out of her daydream. Finally curbing emotions she needed to quash, Jenna managed to climb out and join them as Andee said, “I didn’t think Mommy would buy me the bike ’cause it cost too much. But she did, and she got you a gray thing with blood before we stopped to see the alpacas.”

  She let out a surprised laugh.

  Flynn questioned her with his eyes.

  “I intended to bring that up later because I don’t want you to think I’m meddling in your life. We stopped at a pawnshop to...uh... Anyway. Turns out they had this bike. It’s exactly like one Andee’s best friend has.” Jenna paused to haul in a breath.

  “I trust you’re getting to the blood part?” The corners of Flynn’s mouth twitched.

  “Right. So, the guy also had a digital blood-pressure cuff that’s almost new.”

  Jenna leaned into the back of the SUV and brought out the case.

  “I saw it and had a fleeting thought that if you took your pressure each day for a while and logged it, if it’s not high, your doctor should know. Maybe you get anxious because of being at the clinic, you know?”

  Flynn accepted the case. “I suppose it’s possible. Thanks.”

  “So you don’t think I stuck my nose in where it doesn’t belong?”

  “Not at all. I didn’t fill the prescription. Before I do, I’ll take my pressure for a few days.”

  Andee climbed onto her bike. She’d put Cubby in the doll seat and peddled off toward the ostrich pens, Beezer loping alongside her.

  “Don’t go beyond the first pen,” Jenna called. “We need to clean up for dinner.” Stretching, she shut the Cherokee’s hatch and clicked the remote.

  “You look fine as is.” Flynn ran an eye down her frame.

  “Says you, who looks all spiffed up. Andee and I tramped around a dusty alpaca farm. Anyway, the sun’s about gone. I’d as soon she didn’t ride at dusk with so many potholes on the paths. I’ll have Barney fill them tomorrow.”