Rancher to the Rescue

by Patricia Forsythe

  “Yeah, a song entitled ‘I’m a Broken-Down Old Fire Trap—Enter at Your Own Risk.’”

  “Nevertheless, we’re going to make a go of it.”

  Sharlene could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he tried to determine how this would impact him and Eaglecrest—but mostly him.

  “You’re not leaving here, are you? I mean, somebody else will run the place, right?”

  “No. I’ll be the one running it. I’ve been working here for thirty years, Gus. I think I know a few things about looking after guests.”

  “Sharlene, you can’t.”

  She heard an edge of panic in his voice. Good. He needed to learn that he wasn’t the only one who could keep secrets and spring surprises on his unsuspecting loved ones.

  “Sure, I can. It will take a few months to get the place ready, and others in our investment group will look after those details, but once it’s done, I’ll be handling the day-to-day operations. Zannah and Brady will have plenty of time to find my replacement.” She paused, watching his face, gauging how he was absorbing this news. “I’ll suggest Amanda Clayborn to them. She’s been here for a couple of years. She’s smart and conscientious and knows almost everything about my job.”

  Gus made an odd gurgling noise, then his knees seemed to give way and he collapsed into the desk chair. The papers he’d been holding when she walked in fluttered to the floor.

  It was a few seconds before he could say, “But why, Sharlene?”

  “You mean why now, when you’re about to go off and chase a fantasy?”

  He didn’t even bother to argue that the lost mine wasn’t a fantasy. He simply nodded.

  She took a deep breath and plunged in. “When Zannah came home, I was thrilled, because I was so worried about her and that job that was killing her. She’s blossomed since she’s been back. She’s happy, content, settling back into a routine.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “But there was no way she was ready to take on the running of the ranch, much less a partner.”

  “Well, maybe my timing was a little off,” he responded in a gruff voice she knew all too well. It was the voice that said he was sorry, not sorry.

  “I had no idea you were planning to go off treasure hunting.”

  His face took on its usual stubborn, closed look as he looked away, but he said, “I didn’t want anyone to know until I was ready.” He glanced up. “And yeah, I know I messed up telling everyone.”

  “No, you messed up by not realizing that you’ve already got a treasure.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean this place, this legacy, your family, your granddaughters.”

  He jutted out his chin. “I know that, but I’ll be back, and—”

  “And me.” Her heart was pounding so hard in her throat she thought she might pass out, but she took another deep breath and said, “Me, Gus.”

  His face went completely blank. “Well, yeah, we’re friends and I hope we always will be.”

  “Gus, I’m in love with you. Have been for years.”

  “With me?” His expression went from surprised to stunned in the blink of an eye.

  “That’s right.” She was relieved to feel her heart settling into a normal rhythm. “And it’s about time you knew it. You can’t be the only one around here with surprises to spring.”

  “Um, I—” He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, then sank back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her face. His eyes were so glassy, she was afraid he would be the one to pass out.

  “After Esther died, we were both devastated, depended on each other because we had both loved her so much. Seems like you and I did everything together—looked after Zannah, encouraged her to go off and make a new life for herself.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “You needed me and I needed you. I had always liked you because you were good to Esther and she was important to me, and you were a good father, a hard worker. You were building something to be proud of here at Eaglecrest. Gradually, I began to realize that I felt more than friendship and affection for you. It was true love.”

  The color washed into his face. He covered his mouth with his hand, then dropped it to the desktop as he stared at her.

  Sharlene felt sorry for him. She knew from recent experience what a jolt it was to receive unexpected news.

  “I... I don’t know what to say. I never—”

  “I know, Gus.” She smiled at him, trying to soften all the hard truths she was lobbing at him. “I know this is a shock to you, and I honestly don’t expect you to do or say anything, but this is why I’m making plans to leave.”

  “But... I thought we were your family.”

  “And that I’d always be here. I know, but things have changed. You’ve made them change, and maybe that’s a good thing. We don’t know yet, but I do know it’s made me think about my future. I have to take care of myself, provide for myself, like I always have, but now I’m getting older and it’s more urgent.”

  Gus propped his elbows on the table and ran his hands through his hair, then looked up again. “We would always take care of you, Sharlene. We’re family.” His voice trailed off.

  She gazed at him for a few seconds, choosing her next words. She intended to say everything she needed to and never have this conversation again. This was hard on him, but it was hard on her, too. She had never expected to have this discussion, in spite of the endless sleepless nights and hours she had passed thinking of exactly the right things to say.

  She took a breath and plunged in again. “You know that I never wanted kids of my own because I had to help my mom raise my five little brothers and sisters after my father left. If it hadn’t been for Esther, for our friendship, my growing-up years would have been even more miserable than they were. I was so grateful that you gave some of my siblings jobs, and my nieces and nephews, too. You helped all of them learn the value of hard work.”

  “Nah, I think they learned that from you.”

  She smiled. “Either way, I’ve loved being part of your family, of Esther’s family, felt privileged to be a part of Eaglecrest, proud of it. But I’ve wanted my own place, my own business, for a long time. Now I’ll have it. I certainly don’t expect my family or yours to take care of me.”

  “And that guy who was in your office earlier? Who was he? I never saw him before.”

  “Jim Denton. He’s a real estate broker. He’s new in town, working with San Ramon Realty. He’s handling the details of the transaction. Several of us have invested in this, people I’ve known forever. They unanimously agreed that I would run the place.” She gave a small laugh. “I’m terrified but determined and excited.”

  “Why?” Gus lost his voice for a second, cleared his throat and started again. “Why are you telling me this now?”

  “Because I don’t want any regrets. You going off to hunt for the Lost Teamsters Mine has crystallized some things in my head, made me realize that life is too short to waste time not telling the people you love how you really feel.” She attempted a smile, but she knew it must look shaky. “I don’t plan to take this to the grave with me.”

  He nodded, but he looked confused. “I see. I... I guess I see.”

  Sharlene tilted her head to the side as she gazed at him. “I hope you do, Gus. We all have to make our own decisions, lead our lives the best we can. We’re at an age where it’s time for both of us to do that.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to get to my meeting.”

  Having the weight of what she’d told him lifted from her had her laughing and twirling toward the door. She knew she looked ridiculous, but she didn’t care.

  “So, you think this is funny?” Gus asked, surging to his feet, his face flushed with sudden anger. “Are you laughing at me?”

  “No, of course not. I’m happy that I’ve told you, and I’m happy to
be starting something new in my life. It’s time to move on.”

  He came around the desk, obviously not ready to let this go. “Have you told Zannah and Brady you’re leaving?”

  “I’ll tell them tomorrow, so please keep it to yourself until then. Tonight’s meeting will provide a timeline, and I’ll be able to give them an exact date.”

  “Well, be careful dealing with Lucas Fordham. He can be a real shark when he wants to.”

  Sharlene smiled again. “So can I.”

  With a wave, she went out. As she closed the door behind her, she felt a pang of regret at the lingering shock on Gus’s face, but she knew she’d done the right thing.

  CHAPTER NINE

  BRADY LEANED AGAINST the corral fence, his forearms resting along the top rail as he watched Zannah, Chet and Gus prepare for the day’s activities. The guests, some eager and some less so, were assembled with their horses, ready for what was to come next.

  Chet and Phoebe had tied their horses to the corral fence while they waited for the word from Zannah to begin. They moved among the guests, checking cinches and saddles, speaking reassuringly to anyone who seemed nervous. Brady appreciated the matter-of-fact way they approached their work, secure in their knowledge and skills. They knew their jobs and were happy to share their expertise.

  Ordinarily, Gus would have been the one to get the day’s activities started. Brady watched the older man. He seemed deep in thought, though not with the excited, going-to-hunt-for-gold excitement he’d shown since the day they had met. He appeared to have a heavy weight on his mind. Maybe he was worried about all the details he still had to handle before he left.

  Whatever it was, Brady wouldn’t pry. He’d seen Zannah casting concerned glances at her father but knew there wouldn’t be an opportunity for her to talk to him until much later.

  Right now, the show had to go on. And that was what this was, he reflected. He’d taken a wild chance and really stretched the parameters of his own dad’s challenge to his three sons. He had no idea what Finn and Miles had become involved in. They were playing things close to the chest. They knew where he was and what he was doing because he’d always been the most talkative of them.

  As for him, ranching and a cowboy college were far different than what he’d imagined when he had accepted the challenge. Zannah had been right on the day they’d met. There was far more hard work than entertainment involved in the operations at Eaglecrest.

  He’d had visions of turning this outfit around, exactly as his dad had mandated, making it a success, accepting the accolades from his folks and the envious comments from his brothers before moving on to another business, maybe something he actually knew.

  When he came in, he had planned only on being the money man, the one who balanced the books and paid the bills, riding horses whenever he chose, having a good time on a regular basis, then moving on. It wasn’t that he had itchy feet, he told himself. He simply hadn’t been raised to stay in one place for a lifetime.

  He admitted he had been having a good time, but he had also lugged hay bales and sacks of feed to stack in the storage shed, repaired the four-wheeler and unclogged the toilet in one of the cabins.

  The joys of being the boss, he thought as he watched Zannah climb atop the wooden mounting block the less skilled riders used to get onto their horses. She raised her hand to get the group’s attention.

  “Good morning, everyone,” she said cheerfully. “We’re going to have a great day, and I promise you’ll be completely exhausted by the end of it. Those of you who have been here before know what’s about to happen.”

  “We’re all gonna fall on our cans,” one man responded.

  “If you do, we’ll pick you up, George—”

  “Yeah, and put me right back on.”

  “Yup.”

  The guests laughed, and Brady straightened to look across at George Schallert, a man he’d met a couple of days ago. He was a divorced father from Phoenix who had brought his three kids to Eaglecrest every year for the past couple of years. He said it was something that he and his kids could do together that would ensure they had happy memories of time spent with Dad.

  His kids, two boys and a girl, had partnered up with Emma and Joelle. He hoped they knew enough about riding to remain safe today, but if the real professionals—Zannah, Chet and Phoebe—weren’t concerned, he shouldn’t be, either.

  Brady admired the way George focused on his kids but didn’t appreciate the way the man’s attention seemed to linger on Zannah. He’d noticed it last night and wondered if she had seen how his gaze had followed her around the room. He’d managed to be where she was several times throughout the evening.

  Annoyed with himself, Brady brought his attention back to what was going on. Zannah was a strong, capable woman who could doubtless handle anyone or anything that got in her way.

  And she was beautiful, too, he thought with a sense of longing, noting the way the sun glinted on the braid that swished across her back as she turned her head. He smiled as he realized the glint was because of a sparkly gold ribbon that had been plaited into it. He suspected that was something her nieces had thought up. He loved watching her with them. She was kind but firm, never talking down to them. He also liked the way she stood easily before a crowd, giving directions and good-naturedly fielding questions.

  “Today is when we have to move some cattle from the north pasture to the south so the north pasture can begin growing again,” Zannah continued. “Also, one of our staff discovered the fence is almost down in one corner of the north pasture near the road, so we’ve got to keep the cattle away from it until it’s repaired.”

  “What causes something like that to happen?” George asked.

  Brady knew he was only trying to keep Zannah’s attention on him, but she smiled as she said, “Ground softened by all the rain we’ve had. Cattle leaning up against it, trying to get any sweet grass they can reach.”

  George nodded, smiling back, and Brady forced himself not give the man a disgruntled look.

  “Then we’ll move some cattle into the holding pen in preparation for loading them onto the gooseneck trailer to go to a buyer a couple of counties over.” She looked around the group, then said, “Please remember that we have to move them slowly. A running cow is a cow that’s hard for new riders to handle, and a running cow is one that’s losing weight, reducing any profit we might make when he goes to auction. That’s especially true of the ones that are going to a buyer this afternoon. Remember, cattle ranchers get paid by the pound.”

  Brady watched as she carefully surveyed the group, asking for more questions, making sure they understood what she was saying. Seemingly satisfied, she said, “Good. So mount up and let’s get this workday started.”

  Some people needed help, but soon everyone was ready and the group started off. Chet, Gus and Phoebe spread themselves among the riders to monitor what was happening.

  Brady mounted Buttercream and urged her forward so he could catch up with Zannah, who looked around curiously when he trotted up beside her and her favorite mare, Trina.

  “Anything in particular we need to be looking out for on this ride?” he asked. “Any trouble that might happen?”

  Her expression told him she wondered if he could be any actual help if something did happen. “Just what I said before. The fence is loose, and it’s a hazard since it’s near the road. The rest of the fence is good along there, but there’s always the possibility of a break, or of cattle getting out. They’re wonderful opportunists when it comes to finding a fresh patch of grass, and they’ve been known to knock down a sturdy section of fence to reach some.”

  “So, it would be a good idea if we rode along the inside to keep the cattle away until we get them all moved and settled in, right?”

  “Yes, and by we, I mean you,” she answered with a mischievous smile. “Then you can double-check the fence for any
breaks or hazards.”

  “Got it, boss,” Brady said, grinning.

  The group stayed together well until they got to the pasture where the cattle were eating, lying in the grass or simply standing with their heads together. Brady wondered if they were planning to make a break for it.

  He thought about saying that to Zannah, but as soon as they got close to the cattle, she stopped being the charming hostess and became a rancher ready to take care of business and get these animals moving.

  Gus, Chet and Phoebe were still spread out among the guests, showing them how to work the cattle, using their horses to urge the animals toward the pasture gate. Within moments, the peaceful area was full of movement, loud whistles, running cows and riders chasing them, attempting to slow them down with their newly acquired skills.

  Brady tried to keep up but found himself watching them, especially Gus, who seemed to have forgotten his troubles and was showing what a lifelong cattleman could do. He rode fast, whistling and shouting, waving his left arm in the air as he went. He signaled to Rounder and Coco, the two cow dogs who had accompanied them, and they took off after a heifer who had decided to forge her own path. Then Gus pulled his horse around to bring another cow into line or let her have her head as she went after a runaway.

  Zannah did exactly what her father did, showing the same expertise. Brady could only dream of having those kinds of skills someday, but the thought crossed his mind that if he won the challenge and then moved on, he’d never learn them.

  “Hey, Brady,” Zannah yelled at him and pointed to a heifer who was loping straight for him, hooves hitting the ground, ears flopping up and down. “Head that one off and get her back to the herd.”

  Brady snapped out of his daydream. “Oh, yeah, right.”

  He nudged Buttercream, who seemed to know a great deal more about moving cattle than he did. She took off at a run, throwing him back in the saddle. He fought to stay upright and finally managed to tug the reins to the right so that she turned to cut the heifer off.

  The animal wasn’t having it, though, and made a quick dash in the other direction toward the fence. She ran along it, trying to get away from the pursuing horse and rider.