“Of course. I’ve love to learn a little more about these pieces. Maybe it’s an important find! It'd be nice if something good comes from all of this,” she said, pointing to the all the storm debris.
“I know some good guys who would be happy to help you clean this up, too, if you let them keep the wood,” Jake said.
“That'd be great. I wouldn't even know where to start,” she said surveying the littered landscape. He practically read her mind. How wonderful.
She noticed Jake looked mesmerized studying one of the pottery pieces.
“I'm part Native American, you know,” he said softly.
“Really?” Terri said. That explained his handsome, dark features. His cousin Carl looked more typical all American apple pie.
“Yeah. My maternal grandmother was Crow,” he said, remembering the kind old woman who would always weave him a new sweater every Christmas. Carl would often tease him when they were children, calling him “half-breed” in front of the other neighborhood kids. They would make him play “Indian” to their cowboys.
“I hated being part Native growing up. Not only were they bad guys in the western movies, but sometimes I’d see alcoholic Indians begging on the streets of town or committing crimes around the reservation. At the time, I didn’t understand what was really behind some of that. When I got older I found himself wishing I had learned more about that part of my culture from my grandmother before she passed. Her last words to me were, ‘You should be proud of your Native heritage. Learn the wisdom of ancestors.’”
He looked at Terri, who was listening intently, fascinated by his sharing of something personal to her.
“Those words led me to take Professor Redfeather's Native American Studies class,” he continued. “The bespectled, long dark haired man opened up a new world for me and gave me insight into the past of my Native ancestors. How they were masters of the land and respected nature’s natural rhythms and cycles. How in many tribes men and women were equal. And how helping others, such as the English Colonists, was ingrained in their culture. I guess you could say my becoming a sheriff is ingrained in me!”
“Thank you, Jake, for opening up to me. I didn’t realize…,” Terri said. Terri thought to herself how this man in all of his authority but sensitivity had to be one of the sexiest men she'd ever seen.
“What I found it ironic is that only now is modern society relearning green principles that were respected by Natives for thousands of years. I guess that why I butt heads with my cousin Carl so much…”
Jake's phone rang momentarily interrupting their moment together.
“Collins,” he answered.
He hung up the phone and said, “There's been some accidents down the highway I need to go check out, but I don't want to leave you...”
“No, go,” Terri said, placing a hand on his chest. She could feel his heart beating through the fabric of his uniform. What she would give to lay her head on his chest at night, his strong arms enveloping her. She could only imagine the sense of serenity that would bring her. “You have a duty, and I'll be fine.”
He looked at her, obviously hesitating. It had been years since he felt this drawn to any woman, not since his fiancée…
“Are you sure?” he asked one more time, a bit uncertainly.
“Yes, definitely. You're needed,” Terri said, taking a deep breath and putting on a strong face. “I'll take some time assessing the rest of the damage. I okay. Thanks again for being there for me.”
“No problem. Be very careful walking around.”
“I will.”
He started to head back to his patrol car, but abruptly turned back around and said, “I'll stop by and check on you later.”
Terri thought it almost sounded like a question, a request for permission.
“Thanks. I would really like that,” she replied because she couldn't think of anything more wonderful that moment that seeing this man once again. Even though her brain told her to shield her heart, it was exactly her heart that was unmistakenly drawn to Jake.
She wrapped her arms around herself, wishing they were his strong, sinewy arms, as she watched him hurry back to his car.
In the background, she heard a distant ringing and realized it was her phone. Dodging fallen twigs and branches, she made her way back to the house and picked up her cell phone right before it went to voicemail. It was Martin calling from the office in New York. What a pleasant surprise, she thought.
“Hello?” she answered breathlessly.
“Terri, is that you?”
“Oh, Martin, you have no idea what just happened. Is work okay?”
“Forget about work! I wanted to check on you, and see how your trip is going.”
“Well, I just survived my first tornado.”
“Seriously?”
“Unfortunately, yes. But I'm okay, and amazingly, so is the ranch. A few fallen trees but nothing major.”
“Well, I'm glad to hear that. I've been...worried about you.”
She was truly moved by Martin's words. She'd been so lost in her fog of hurt and rejection between Uncle Bud dying and Tom leaving her that a friendly voice from back home made a huge difference.
“I'm okay. Life is definitely...different here. But it's nice.”
“Have you met some people?” Martin asked.
She paused momentarily. “Yes, I have, actually,” she said with a little lilt in her voice.
“Ah. You’ve met someone. There’s a story there. C’mon, tell Uncle Marty everything…” Martin said, knowing her too well.
“No, Martin, it’s not that,” she said dismissingly. “Just some sweet people here. That’s all.”
“Sweet? Is that all, really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Oh, okay. I’m a little disappointed. I thought maybe you met your cowboy. Well, have you decided what you want to do with the property yet?”
Had she met “her” cowboy? Terri gazed outside at the huge mess that now was her lawn.
“I’m not sure what to do with the property yet. First, there's a huge mess outside to get cleaned up. How are things in the office?”
“The usual. Nothing that can't wait. Take as much time off as you need! I think you need this time now for many reasons.”
Martin had been the only person at work that she confided in about her breakup with Tom.
“Thank you, Martin. You’ve been very supportive and patient. I'm so confused about so many things right now. So many things.”
“Well, you’re one of the smartest women I know, Terri. If anybody can figure it out, I know you can. I’ll talk to you later,” Martin said.
“Okay, bye,” Terri said, pressing the “end call” button on her phone.
Could she figure things out? Martin had so much confidence in her. Her trip to Montana was supposed to clear her mind. But her thoughts drifted back to Jake and the feelings he stirred within her. Part of her wished she could push them away, reject those feelings just as Tom had rejected her. But worse than any tornado, she feared the storm brewing in her heart for Sheriff Jake Collins.
Chapter 7
Later that night, after accidents in which, thankfully, no one was hurt were cleared, Jake went home, took a quick shower, and then drove out to Bud's ranch wearing jeans, his favorite boots and his cowboy hat. The sudden occurrence of the tornado today and the accidents on the highway reminded Jake how precious, and sometimes chaotic, life could be. Ever since Sherilynn passed away, he'd kept everyone at bay especially the advances of any women. His constant pangs of guilt for letting her drive that evening prevented him from opening up to anyone. He told himself he just couldn't feel that kind of pain again, the kind that he was convinced had to be worse than dying. Survivor guilt. But ever since pulling Terri over on the highway, he felt a spark inside that had been long dormant. Maybe this was a sign. He decided he knew what he had to do, and maybe Terri would be the perfect woman for it since she wasn't planning on staying in town very long.
He pulled his Jeep up to the driveway, leaving work and the patrol car at home. He stepped over the storm debris and strode to the door. He wanted to appear calm, causal, and confident, but inside he felt anything but. He felt like a high school boy again and asking Sherilynn out for the first time.
Jake knocked on the door a couple of times, and Terri quickly answered. He thought she looked breathtaking in a light blue sundress, her hair pulled back loosely behind her head showing off her delicate neckline.
“Hey there,” he said, leaning against the doorway. He quickly decided that that posture looked a little too casual, and he stood back up straight. What was it about this woman that made him a bundle of raw, loose nerves?
“Hey there,” she said back. “Thanks for checking on me. I've managed to calm down quite a bit. Would you like to come in?”
God, would he ever! But he didn't trust himself. He feared if he took one foot inside that door he would sweep her up into his arms, carry her off to the bedroom, and make urgent passionate love to her that would allow both of them to forget all their troubles from the day. But, Jake was nothing, if not a gentleman.
“Thank you, but I can’t stay. I told Sally I'd stop by the diner and help her move some debris. ”
“Oh, sure,” Terri said. She immediately hoped she didn't sound too disappointed.
She noticed that even though he wouldn't come inside he appeared to be hesitating.
“There was something I wanted to ask you though,” he said, his voice a little shaky.
“Sure.”
“Um...well...this may sound kind of corny to a big city gal like you, but there's the MontanaFair happening not far from here this week. There are all sorts of events and a lot of good fried food. I'm off tomorrow, and wondered if maybe you'd want to check it out,” he said, feeling a sense of relief for finally getting the question out.
“That doesn’t sound corny at all, Jake. Sounds like a fun way for a lady to lose her figure, but if it means going with a guy like you, I'd be delighted,” she answered, showing off her cute smile.
A flood of relief swept through Jake's body and he broke out into a huge grin.
“Great. Would nine in the morning be too early to head out?”
“I'm a morning person. So, make it eight-thirty.”
He chuckled and said, “You got it, ma'am.”
Jake started to head back to the Jeep with a little spring in his step and even he knew his face was still beaming.
Terri closed the door behind after Jake left, and even though it had turned into night, she felt like she was floating on sunshine. She let out a little gleeful cry. She was going out with Jake!
She headed into the kitchen, took out some ingredients to make a small salad, and then went searching through the kitchen drawers looking for a corkscrew to open a bottle of Merlot. She came upon a small photo album with ragged edges in the back of what appeared to be Uncle Bud's all purpose junk catch-all drawer filled with matchbooks, screwdrivers, old newspaper items, etc.
She felt a rush of sadness. Uncle Bud. Why didn't she take more time to spend with him these last few years? She knew why. Her career. Before Tom and after her transition, she had made her career everything. She mistook having a career for having a life.
Terri opened the photo album and saw a snapshot of Uncle Bud and Sally on what appeared to be a mountain top somewhere. She found it curious that he never mentioned her. What else hadn't she known? Even those we know the best can still surprise us, she thought.
She turned the page, and she immediately sucked in a breath. It was a picture of her. Actually, it was a picture of him or who people knew to be Terrence. Fifteen years old, arms and legs too long for the body, a pimply face, sitting on a park bench but an actual genuine smile. She then remembered it was taken on a trip to Vermont with Uncle Bud. Despite the awkward growing pains, it was one of the few happy moments from her teenage years.
Terri felt a quick sense of dread. Doubt and fear crept into the back of her mind. What was she doing going out with Jake tomorrow on what was obviously a date to him? They were from two completely different worlds. Should she be upfront with him now? She pondered the thought of having to have the talk, explaining her transition from Terrence to Terri. But all she really wanted to be tomorrow was a girl on a date with a nice guy. Hell, she needed it. Why complicate things? What was the harm in a simple date? Her therapist had always told her to enjoy the present. After all, there could never be a future with Jake. Could there?
Jake dragged a large tree branch to the back of the diner while Sally followed him, excitedly yakking the whole time about that day's weather excitement.
“Swear to you, Jake, I thought I was going to have to bend over and kiss my own ass goodbye when I heard it coming from yonder. Mindy dove under the counter, but then the sound drifted off,” she said, one hand on her hip and smacking gum in her mouth. “I'm glad to hear Terri was okay. I tried calling her back. I was so worried about that poor girl all out there by herself.”
“She's fine and so’s the ranch. I just checked on her again, too,” Jake replied.
He picked up the huge branch with his husky arms, like it was a piece of paper and tossed it in the dumpster.
“Ya did, did ya?” Sally said, cocking her head.
Jake felt his face redden. He gave away embarrassment way too easily. He knew now the barrage of questions would begin. If Sally sensed a new piece of gossip, she could be like a hound dog with a meaty bone. She wasn't going to let up on that for anything until she was satisfied.
“Just wanted to make sure she was okay,” he said. He flipped the top back over the dumpster.
“And…?” Sally said, digging deeper. “What's going on there with you two?”
“We just met!” Jake protested.
“So, what's that got to do with the price of potatoes in Idaho? I can tell when two people have some...tension, and I mean the good kind between them.”
Jake relented. She would find out sooner or later once he was spotted at the fair with Terri the next day. World travels fast in a small town. There were no secrets.
“Well, I did ask her to go to MontanaFair with me tomorrow.”
“Hot damn!” Sally said, clapping her hands. She then playfully slapped Jake on the back. “It's about time you got your motor running again. You are just a too damn good looking man not to!”
Jake just shook his head, too embarrassed by the compliment to respond. Trying to change the subject, he said, “You know something? Bud never mentioned a niece when I worked for him. Only a nephew.”
“Hmmm...” Sally said, thinking about it for a moment. “He only mentioned his niece to me. Never a nephew.”
“Just seemed a little odd to me. Maybe he fell out of contact with the nephew,” Jake wondered.
“Maybe,” Sally said. “I'm just glad to hear you're dating again.”
“Let’s not start booking the wedding chapel, Sally.”
“I can't help it. I worry about you, son. You're a good man, Jake. You would make any woman happy. And she would be lucky to have you. What happened with Sherilynn...it just wasn't your fault, honey. It was an accident.”
Jake nodded, but his facial expression betrayed him. He still wasn't convinced that he didn't play a part in what happened to Sherilynn. If only he had been more insistent. If only…He truly loved her, but he knew instinctively he had to start moving on. Life is for the living, as his grandmother always told him. Maybe, just maybe, Terri, the beautiful stranger from the big city, would remind him what life was all about.
Chapter 8
As Jake and Terri headed down the winding Montana highway in his Jeep, Terri, wearing a sleeveless pink blouse and jeans, took a deep breath of the crisp, clear mountain air and let the warm sun kiss her shoulders. She looked over at Jake and thought how handsome he looked in his cowboy belt and tight in all the right places dark blue jeans.
To while away the time during the drive, he asked about her life in the ci
ty and her work. She spoke a little of all the corporate litigations she'd been involved in over the years.
“Work for the big guns then?” Jake said. “Impressive.”
“Not always. I do some pro bono work for a local nonprofit,” she said.
“What kind?”
“Human rights organizations. But let’s leave work at work and just have fun today, okay?” she said trying to nip discussion of the details of her work in the bud. The time and place was not yet appropriate for the talk.
“Roger that,” Jake said, looking at her curiously before his eyes went back to the road.
“Thanks.”
Terri took another deep breath of air and decided that today she would just focus on having some innocent fun with a dreamy guy.
MontanaFair, Terri came to learn, was a big deal around those parts. The fair is the region’s largest event with attendance of nearly a quarter of a million each year. The fairgrounds were spread out just out the outskirts of Billings and included an arena, an expo center and a racetrack.
“This place is huge,” Terri marveled, after they finally found a parking space after driving around for twenty minutes. “I'm pleasantly surprised. Who says there isn't anything to do outside of New York?”
“You just wait, city girl. Montana is full of more surprises,” Jake said, opening the passenger door for her. “Let's go get our tickets.”
After they entered the fairground, the smell of corn dogs and BBQ, corn on the cob, ‘Vikings On a Stick’, fresh lemonade, and beer gardens. Also, the sounds of hi-speed rides and competitive games filled the air. As they walked through the grounds, occasionally someone would yell out a “Hey, Jake” from the crowd. Jake would wave hello or tip his hat and give the person a big smile. It seemed to Terri that he knew half the people around.
One older gentleman, wearing overalls and a huge grin, greeted Jake and said, “Hi, Jake. Why your lady friend here, she's prettier than a glob of butter melting on a stack of wheat cakes!”
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