It's Just A Ranch

by Misty Malone

  Over the next few days, Garrett was surprised at how well Mindy was listening to him and his concerns for her safety. It was actually a little scary, such a big change after a head injury, but she explained to him it was only because she was serious when she said she understood what he was saying now and was determined to listen to him better when it concerned safety. He took her to a follow-up visit with Dr. Fielding, who assured him she was doing fine.

  She still got a headache if she tried to focus too long on something like her writing, but Dr. Fielding told them both that was normal and would just take time for her brain to heal completely, so for the time being, her time spent writing was very limited. He gave her the okay to start taking her walks and four wheeler rides again, but suggested she keep the speed way down, as he was afraid faster speeds or a good bump might bring about the dizziness again.

  So she started walking again, but was very careful to follow Garrett’s rules. He insisted she have her fully-charged phone, and let someone, usually Maria, know when she left and which direction she was going. If she was out longer than an hour he asked her to call in, just so Maria knew she was okay. She thought he was being a bit overprotective, but understood how worried he was, and didn’t argue.

  She mostly took walks, but on the occasions she did take a four wheeler out, she drove it slower than she normally did, just as the doctor suggested and Garrett insisted. Instead of it feeling like Garrett was being overprotective to the point of being restrictive, she had now begun to get a warm, fuzzy feeling when she thought of it. She’d come to realize he wasn’t really restricting her from doing anything, but was concerned about how she did it.

  Garrett was extremely proud of how well she’d been accepting and following his rules. He knew he might be a little overprotective of her, but after that big scare, he couldn’t help it. She seemed to understand his fear, and accepted his guidance.

  The only problem the two of them had now was with the wedding. They had both agreed they didn’t want a long engagement. Neither of them wanted a large wedding, either. They both wanted their parents there, but neither had much family that was close, and both felt that their closest friends were their fellow residents on the ranch. They had decided on a date in early December. That would give both parents time to make arrangements and get there. It would also be after the fall harvest, so it would be a slower time on the ranch, both for this year, as well as future anniversaries.

  They easily agreed on all that. Where the problem came in was her insistence that everything be perfect, and that she needed to do everything herself. Maria and every one of the wives offered to help her, knowing she was still recovering from a concussion and had one arm in a cast. On top of that, he kept reminding her that the people that would be in attendance, mainly their parents and the people living and working on the ranch, not only weren’t expecting everything to be perfect; they probably wouldn’t notice something that wasn’t quite perfect. The people who would be there loved them and would want to be there with them to celebrate, not to look for and find something out of place.

  She agreed with him every time he pointed that out, but she was a perfectionist, and had trouble setting that aside. She also had had a problem with her nerves ever since her horrible experience on 9/11, and Garrett was keeping a close watch on that situation.

  Several times he sat her down on his lap and wrapped his arms around her very tightly, and held her. She had confessed to him previously that that feeling of being in a cocoon helped her calm, as she felt safe in his arms and found it easier to relax. Each time he did that he talked to her as she relaxed, reminding her that she had to stop worrying so much about things that the people there wouldn’t care about. She always seemed to understand, and she was better for a few days. But she never seemed to be able to completely let go of her need for perfectionism, or her worries.

  He had a serious talk with her when it started affecting her attitude. That was one thing he wouldn’t allow. He was not about to allow his sweet little lady to become a bridezilla, to be feared and avoided by all.

  It came to a boiling point one day when he overheard her on the phone with the florist. “I didn’t tell you that just any old shade of pink would work. I told you specifically I wanted a deep pink, like a magenta, and you agreed you could do that. Now you’re trying to convince me some light pink would be better. Am I to take that to mean you can’t get enough of the ones you promised me you would have? If that’s the case, I’ll go to someone who can deliver on their promises.”

  He stepped in, taking the phone from her hands. “Hello. Excuse me, but I’m afraid something has come up that requires Mindy’s immediate attention. I apologize, but she’ll have to call you back. It shouldn’t take too terribly long. Thank you for your patience and understanding.” He hung up and turned to her. “It’s time we have a talk, in my office.”

  Her eyes shot wide open and she looked up at him. “In your office? Can’t we just talk here?”

  “Trust me, honey, you don’t want to stay here to have the kind of talk I intend to have with you.”

  She harrumphed, but allowed him to lead her to his office. She was out of control, and didn’t even seem to realize it.

  He led her into the office and locked the door behind them. He sat down on the couch, pulling her down next to him. “Mindy, it was hard listening to you speaking to the florist. That’s not you, and it’s certainly not the lady I’ve asked to be my wife. Would you care to explain to me what happened?”

  “I wanted bright, but deep pink flowers. I went to and talked with a few florists, asking if they could get what I wanted. This florist assured me they could, so I went with them. But now today they called and said they have some of the flowers in a really pretty light pink, and it looks really nice with the darker, bright pink ones. They suggested I might want to come in and look at them together.”

  “And did you?”

  “No, of course not! Don’t you see what they’re doing? They obviously can’t get enough of them in the dark pink, so they’re trying to convince me that the light pink ones look just as good. Well, they’re not fooling me. That’s not what I wanted.”

  Garrett tilted his head and looked at her. “Did you ask if they could get enough of the dark pink?”

  “No, not yet. You grabbed the phone out of my hand before I had a chance. I was telling them what I thought of them trying to pawn the others off on me. Then I planned on asking if they can get what I want and they promised, or not. So, as soon as you give me my phone back that’s what I intend to do.”

  Garrett was shaking his head. “Do you even hear yourself?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means,” he answered in a stern voice, “that you’ve let your nerves get the best of you, and you attacked that poor lady before you even knew what she was saying. I won’t allow that, Mindy.”

  “That’s not true. I knew exactly what she was saying, and I didn’t like it. And what do you mean you won’t allow it? I’m the one ordering the flowers.”

  “If you knew exactly what she was saying, you know for a fact that she won’t be able to have the dark pink ones you want. Did she say why she can’t get them?”

  She paused to look at him intently. “You took my phone before I could ask her that.”

  “Mindy, I want a straight, honest answer here. Do you know for a fact that she can’t get the flowers you want?”

  “Well, she said—”

  “No, I didn’t ask what she said. Did she tell you she can’t get what you want?”

  “I think that’s what she meant.”

  “But you don’t know that for sure, do you?”

  “Not yet for sure, but—”

  “Then what makes you think it’s okay to talk to a lady like that? As a matter of fact, what makes you think it’s ever okay to treat anyone like that?”

  “But if she told me she’d have them for me and now she’s not—”

  “Then you should
find out why. Maybe there’s a reason for it that is beyond her control. Maybe she ordered the flowers and the order was confirmed, and they were being shipped to her when the truck they were in was in an accident, or something like that. If that were the case, it wouldn’t be her fault, and she certainly wouldn’t deserve being blamed for it. But what bothers me the most, Mindy, is that you don’t know. You don’t even know if she can get the flowers you wanted. She may simply have been telling you the two shades of pink together look real nice together, trying to be helpful.”

  “Yeah, right. If she would have meant that she would have said that.”

  “I see. And what exactly did she say?”

  “That they had some light pink that look real nice with the ones I asked for. So that means—”

  “Mindy, stop.” His stern voice stopped her immediately. “Mindy, you aren’t even listening to yourself. Your nerves have gotten the best of you right now, and I will not allow it to continue. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  She was ready to argue, tell him he was crazy, when he caught her eyes. She was glaring at him, but he didn’t flinch. He held her eyes, with his stern expression still in place, and watched as she gradually seemed to come out of a trance. Her shoulders slumped, and she looked down. “I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”

  “Mindy, have we talked about your nerves getting to be too much for you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “When we’ve talked about it in the past, what have I said? How can I tell when it’s bothering you that much?”

  She sighed and hung her head. “I know, and I’m sorry. You have no way of knowing when it’s bothering me that much, so I have to tell you.”

  “Why tell me; what will happen?”

  “If I tell you, we talk about it and I always feel better.”

  “And I can watch you closer for signs of problems you’re having.” He picked her up and sat her down on his lap, wrapping his arms around her. “Honey, if you don’t talk to me, I don’t realize how much you’re suffering. And there’s no reason for you to suffer like that. I’ve seen it a couple times now. I know it’s hard on you, and I understand that. But you seem so much better after we talk.”

  “I am better afterwards.”

  “Then why won’t you tell me? You know I’m always here for you, and I’ll do anything I can to help you.”

  “But you’re busy, Garrett. You’re running a large ranch. On top of that, you just lost a lot of time from that because of me, and my accident.”

  “That doesn’t matter, honey. That’s why I have a foreman who’s capable of stepping in. The ranch did fine. It isn’t as important as you, anyway. I’ve told you all this before, but it hasn’t sunk in. Maybe a spanking will change that.”

  “Garrett, no, please.”

  “Mindy, I’ve talked to you about this before, but you refuse to talk to me before you allow your nerves to get the best of you, and once that happens you lose your patience. Your behavior changes, and I will not allow my wife to treat people that way. Talking hasn’t helped; maybe a spanking will.”

  “But don’t I get a warning first?”

  He lifted her chin up so she had to look at him. “Melinda Louise Clayton, I can’t believe you asked me that. Would you care to think about that a minute and then try asking it again?”

  She tried to look down again, but he didn’t allow it. She gulped, and spoke softly. “I’m sorry. I don’t have to think about it. I knew it was wrong as soon as I asked it. You have warned me, I know that. I just don’t want a spanking.”

  “I understand that, honey, but you’ve earned one. And you know when you earn one, you will have one. But unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait for about a week.”

  “Wait a week? Why?”

  “Dr. Fielding said you need to take it easy for five to six weeks. It’s been five weeks.”

  Garrett could see the conflicting emotions at war within her. He gave her time to digest his words. Her statement after thinking about it surprised him. “So you’re not going to spank me today; I don’t have to worry about that?”

  “Not today, no.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Good. I really don’t think I could have handled it tonight.”

  Her reaction was a little disconcerting to him, but before he could talk to her about it, Wyatt was knocking on his door. “Garrett, I’m sorry to bother you, but we got a mare and a heifer both in labor, and they’re both having problems. You busy?”

  Garrett stood, taking Mindy with him. He opened the door, with his arm around Mindy’s shoulders. “How long have they been in labor?”

  “The mare not real long, but the heifer’s been in final stages for a couple hours. I’m worried about her.”

  “I’ll be right out.”

  “Sorry to interrupt you two,” Wyatt said apologetically.

  “You didn’t interrupt a thing. We’d just finished talking,” Mindy assured him. Garrett looked at her, but she missed his expression. He had to get out to the barn now, so this would just have to wait. Occasionally time worked wonders. Maybe a little time for this to settle into her mind would be beneficial. That was his last thought on the subject, as he put his hat on his head and headed toward the barn.

  He came in at two o’clock in the morning, exhausted. He had a healthy foal and a healthy new heifer calf, but it had taken a lot of work by both he and Wyatt. He took a shower and climbed into bed for a few hours, too whipped to think about anything.

  He was a little surprised when he went in for breakfast the next morning and learned she hadn’t come downstairs yet. She usually got up early enough to have breakfast with them. He had noticed her resting more since her concussion, though, so maybe it was just a side effect of that.

  He was glad to see her there for dinner, and she assured him she was fine, just a little sleepy. She didn’t eat much, though, or join in the conversation as much as usual, and that was not missed by Garrett. He’d keep an eye on her the next couple days and make sure she wasn’t having any residual problems. It wouldn’t be at all unlike her to try to hide anything that wasn’t quite right.

  When he came in for supper and Mindy wasn’t in the kitchen, he knew something was wrong. “Maria, where’s my future wife? What’s going on?”

  “She went upstairs to lay down for a few minutes before supper, and hasn’t been down. I went up to check on her about an hour ago and she was sound asleep.”

  Garret didn’t even try to hide his concern. “She isn’t feeling good today, is she? Did she say why she was going to lay down?”

  “She didn’t come out and say,” Maria said, hedging a little, “but I think she may have a headache today.”

  Garrett nodded. “She’s not too likely to tell anyone when something hurts, so that doesn’t surprise me at all. What makes you think she had a headache?”

  “She seemed to be hesitant to move her head much, like she was when she first got home from the hospital.”

  “Do you think she was dizzy, or—”

  “No, I don’t think she was dizzy, but I think moving her head too much or too fast was giving her a headache. I saw her flinch a time or two after moving her head. She seemed guarded.”

  “I’m going to go up and see if she’s awake. She seemed to be doing much better, but if she’s having headaches again, maybe I need to call and talk to Dr. Fielding.”

  He went upstairs and reached up to knock on her door, just as it opened. She was surprised to see him, and glanced at her watch. “Oh, I’m sorry, Garrett. I didn’t realize it was quite this late. Did you need something, or were you coming to get me for supper?”

  “Maria said you laid down for a little rest, and I was concerned. Are you feeling okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she tried to assure him. “Dr. Fielding told me I’d get tired easily the first little while, and that’s all it is. You guys both keep telling me not to overdo, so I was trying to follow your suggestions. I was a lit
tle tired, so I took a nap. I should have set my alarm, though. Sorry I’m a few minutes late.”

  “That’s not a problem, honey, but are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

  “I’m fine. Honest. Quit worrying so much and let’s go eat.”

  He wasn’t convinced, but wasn’t about to argue, either. He’d keep an astute eye on her. They appeared in the dining room a couple minutes later, and Garrett could tell Maria looked happy to see Mindy. During supper, however, it was clear to Garrett something was amiss. After supper, without saying a word, he led her to his office. It was time to find out what was wrong.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Mindy didn’t put up a bit of objection as Garrett led her to his office, which only served to confirm his feeling that something was terribly wrong. He sat down in the same place as the evening before, and again pulled her down beside him. Tonight, though, he turned to her and took both her hands in his. “Okay, honey, what’s going on?”

  “What makes you say something is wrong?”

  “Mindy, I wouldn’t go there. You and I both know something is wrong. I’d like to have you talk to me, tell me what it is, so I can help you. If you want to be stubborn and insist everything’s fine, I’ll be forced to follow my instincts.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I’ve been watching you, and it seems to me like you’re having a headache again. If you won’t talk to me, I intend to call Dr. Fielding and talk to him.”

  “No, don’t do that,” she said with a sigh. “You’re right, something is wrong. But I don’t think I need to see him to fix it. I think I need you.”

  Garrett’s voice softened and he patted her hand. “Thank you for talking to me, honey. Now we can work together to fix whatever is wrong. What do you mean you need to see me instead of Dr. Fielding? Do you have a headache?”