by Stephen Bly
“I must admit, I’ve never worn anything this … eh,…”
“Ostentatious?”
Develyn nodded.
“Then come on, Miss Dev, there are a bunch of men waiting for your entrance.”
“I doubt that. You are the beautiful one, Linds. I was never as pretty as you, even in my wildest dreams.”
“I’m afraid I’m still a little girl to most … and a snotty college girl to the rest. But you, Miss Dev, you’re fresh, different, and have those big wide eyes of wonder.”
“I never heard them called that before.”
“That’s what Mama used to say about her eyes. She said she had horse eyes … eyes of wonder.”
* * *
The long, rectangular table could seat sixteen. Develyn counted only ten, but seldom were they all seated at once. Mom and Pop Gleason served the ranch as housekeepers, groundskeepers, cooks, and caretakers. Most of the evening they scurried between the kitchen and the dining room. Cuban, Tiny, Juan, and Kidd seldom ate in the big house. They spent most of the evening watching Quint Burdett to make sure they didn’t do anything ill-mannered.
Develyn sat between Quint and Casey Cree-Ryder. Lindsay Burdett parked for the evening on the other side of her father.
Develyn spent most the meal time retelling the story of stalking My Maria … and escaping the clutches of Porter and Hendrix. Mrs. Gleason had just brought out the peach cobbler when Mr. Gleason answered a knock at the back door.
Renny Slater, hat in hand, swaggered in. He plopped down in a chair next to Cree-Ryder. “I’m happy to see the Indiana schoolteacher ain’t still wanderin’ around out on the prairie trying to find her horse.”
“How did you know about that?”
“I called Renny and told him to come down and help us find you,” Cree-Ryder admitted.
“I see your pony’s out in the corral, so I reckon you caught her all right,” Renny said.
“You won’t believe what Miss Dev went through today,” Cuban blustered.
“I believe it,” Renny winked at her. “From the first moment I saw her on Mrs. Tagley’s porch with that orange Popsicle, I said, ‘Cowboy, there’s a young lady who plans on living life to the fullest.’”
“Young lady?” Cree-Ryder hooted.
“Well,” he grinned, “the sun was in my eyes, come to think of it.”
“I know what you mean,” Cuban said. “Cree-Ryder looks good at a distance too.”
“Yeah,” Tiny blustered. “Twenty miles or more.”
* * *
The boys meandered back to the bunkhouse after supper, and the Gleasons whizzed around the kitchen cleaning dishes. Casey, Lindsay, and Renny Slater joined Develyn and Quint in the den, which served as the ranch office. Huge, overstuffed brown leather chairs were scattered in front of a floor-to-ceiling river-rock fireplace.
Lindsay and Casey studied a glass case of horse show trophies. Quint had begun an explanation of a portrait of a black stallion on the south wall when the ringing phone tugged him to the massive oak desk.
Renny and Develyn stayed close to the fireplace.
“I almost wish it was cold enough for a fire,” she mused. “This is a beautiful hearth.”
“Yep, I heard they hauled these rocks all the way up here from west Texas.”
“Really? Aren’t there enough rocks in Wyoming?”
“Quint’s wife insisted on Texas rock. What Miss Emily wanted, Miss Emily got.”
“Did you know her, Renny?” Develyn asked.
“Miss Emily? Everyone in Wyomin’ knew Miss Emily.”
“What was she like?”
“A saint.”
“That’s the impression I get.”
“A rich saint,” Renny added.
“Did she come from a wealthy family?”
“You might say that. Rumor has it that her family owned most ever’ oil well in the Texas panhandle. That’s exaggerated a tad, no doubt. But that Texas money made the Quarter-Circle Diamond what it is. Cattle business is a good deal, if you have a steady income from some other source.”
“So, Quint has some Texas oil money?”
“Miss Dev … that’s what I hear. But I don’t push. I can’t believe I’m standing here next to a purdy lady and talkin’ about some other man.”
Develyn grinned and laid her hand on Renny’s arm. “Now, Mr. Slater, don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
Twin dimples blossomed from his suntanned cheeks. “Yes, ma’am, I do believe I am.”
“I’m flattered.”
“You are?”
“Yes, I was married for twenty-two years, most of which were miserable. I’ve been divorced for over three years. During that time I have not gone out on a single date. So, I would guess it’s been twenty-six years since anyone’s been jealous over me. And even though you are joshing, it feels nice and I thank you for it.”
Renny’s voice lowered. “Would you thank me, even if I said I wasn’t teasin’?”
Her hand dropped from his arm. “Yes, I would.”
His voice was barely above a whisper. “I was just south of Buffalo when Cree-Ryder phoned me. That’s about 150 miles from here … half of it a dirt road. I made it in a little over two hours. Some of that time I figure all four tires were off the ground.”
“Oh dear, that doesn’t sound very safe.”
“I was worried about you.”
“I need to learn to chase down my own horse.”
“Yes, but my mind got to playin’ tricks on me.”
“Oh?”
“I said to myself … what if Devy really was in trouble? I’ve got a lot of regrets in my life already. I’ve been foolish, stubborn, and proud to the extent that it ruined my life and others. But, since I gave my heart to Jesus I’ve tried to overcome all of that. Somethin’ keeps pushin’ at me that I need to get to know you better. I know, I know … this is the wrong time and the wrong place to sound serious. I truly apologize for that. But when I’m with you, I like myself. And I don’t feel like such a failure.”
“Oh, my …” she murmured. “Renny, I’m a bit taken back by…”
“I know, I’m out of line. It’s just that…”
“No, no … it’s all right. I’m glad you can talk to me. But everything’s accelerated in my mind lately. I need to figure out where the Lord is leading me.”
“I believe he led you to Wyomin’.”
“I agree with that.”
“Did the Lord lead you to wear that sequined blouse?”
“I wondered when you’d mention it. It’s a little…”
“Texas proud,” Renny declared.
“I was going to say dramatic or ostentatious.”
“Nope. It’s pure ol’ Texas pride. They do like showin’ off that lone star.”
“You’ve seen blouses like this one before?”
“Not like this. But Texas pride is an amazin’ thing to watch. I reckon that was Miss Emily’s.”
“Yes, that’s what Lindsay told me. My sweatshirt got muddy, with all of today’s activity. So they loaned me an outfit.”
“Miss Emily was the embodiment of Texas pride. Every time she used that soft west-Texas drawl to say ‘Renny, darlin’ …’ you could hear that panhandle pride.”
“She called you darling?”
“No, she called me darlin’ … she called ever’one, includin’ the dog, darlin’. I reckon she had fancier shirts than that one.”
“Do you think it’s too loud for me?”
“Maybe a little loud in a small room, but in an arena, I’d vote for you to be roundup queen any day.”
“Renny Slater, you keep telling me I’m better to look at from a distance. I suppose close up I tend to look like a middle-aged Indiana schoolteacher.”
He shoved his hand in his back pockets. “Dadgum it, Dev, what I’d like to say is you look good close up. Real good.”
Develyn felt relief when Casey and Linds strolled over to them.
“Wow, you ought to see the tro
phies Lindsay’s mom won! She won grand champion at Houston four years in a row showing four different horses. Is that awesome, or what?”
Develyn glanced at Renny.
He shook his head. “That’s awesome, all right.”
“That’s before she married Daddy,” Linds added. “She didn’t show much after she moved up here. I think that disappointed Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma was forever pulling me aside and saying, ‘Child, I will never understand why your mama wanted to move to the end of the earth.’”
“Oh, dear,” Develyn murmured. “Are your grandparents still alive?”
“Grandfather passed away in ’99, but Grandmother still lives on the home place.”
“I thought this was the home place,” Cree-Ryder said.
“Not to Mama. Anyway, Grandma is eighty-three and still rides every day. She says the ranch would fall apart if she didn’t look over it. I tell her those oil wells keep pumping whether she watches them or not.”
Quint finished the phone conversation and strolled up behind Develyn.
“Are you talking about Grandma?” he said. “Now, there is a real horse woman,” Quint added. “But, listen … that was Bufe Telford … the sheriff of Johnson County. Quite a saga going on here.”
“Is it about the men who were chasing Dev?” Lindsay asked.
“That’s what the sheriff thinks. There’s been some sign of rustling down near Lander for a few months. Then last week a couple of tough-looking guys from Reno showed up looking for two cowboys who stole some money from a casino. They stayed in town a week, then went home, but the rustling stopped.”
“You think they settled up with the cowboys?” Renny asked.
“Sheriff thinks the cowboys just took off. The big boys from Reno didn’t go home happy.”
“Are you talking, like, mafia?” Cree-Ryder asked.
“Sheriff just said he was glad when they left town. Anyway … the sheriff over in Converse County was tracking down some illegal beef, and found some Circle-Diamond branded partial hides in a dumpster. So he was putting it all together, and thinks maybe that the Lander duo moved over here. Their method seems to be to slaughter and quarter the animals and find a butcher who’s not particular what he sells.”
“You told him they called themselves Porter and Hendrix?” Develyn said.
“Oh, yeah, I told him,” Quint said. “They got the report back from Nevada. Seems both of them are convicted felons. They were in the Nevada State Prison until last December.”
Develyn started to quiver. “Now I’m really getting scared.”
Quint slipped his arm around her shoulder. “It’s all right Miss Dev. You proved that you can handle the situation. You passed the test.”
“The Lord takes care of the foolish …” she muttered. Exactly what was the test a qualification for?
“And the righteous,” Quint added as he released her. “Anyway, they found the truck and trailer and are going to wait and see if those two show up. If they don’t, he’s going to mount a posse and look for them at daybreak. They are watching the highway between Casper and Thermopolis.”
“Mount a posse? Do they still do that?” Develyn said.
“Figure of speech, Miss Dev. They’ll use four-wheel-drive vehicles, four-wheelers and helicopters.”
“Hey, Harrison Ford can help,” Cree-Ryder remarked.
“Harry’s in London doing some studio work,” Quint replied.
Develyn stared at Quint Burdett. He actually knows Harrison Ford?
“Anyway, the sheriff says we should keep an eye out. Could be they’ll come north to look for gas, or even try to steal a rig. I’m going to go out and warn the boys. Would you like to go for a walk under the Wyoming moonlight, Miss Dev?”
She glanced at Casey Cree-Ryder, who grabbed onto Renny Slater’s arm and tugged him across the room. “Come on, mustang breaker, let me show you somethin’ you’ve never seen before.”
“That’s a scary thought,” Renny mumbled.
* * *
Though it was dark, some clouds hung in the sky, and the millions of stars that swarmed behind them seemed like Indiana fireflies. Quint Burdett took long strides, and Develyn scurried to keep up. He reached down toward her hand, and she was surprised how quickly her fingers laced into his calloused ones.
It feels like we’ve held hands for years. I haven’t held hands with anyone since …
With her free hand she brushed back a tear.
Lord, this is part of what I’ve been missing. Not just hand holding, but feeling like a woman. I’ve felt like a teacher … and a mother … and a friend … but it has been so long since I felt like a woman. I’m truly glad I’m a woman tonight, and he’s a man … and I’m strolling under a Wyoming night sky.
Develyn and Quint strolled to the bunkhouse.
Visited with the hired hands.
And strolled some more.
They paused in the shadows of the screened porch. He tugged her close. Develyn felt his hand slip to the back of her neck and tug her forward. She felt her thin chapped lips melt with the warmth of his when he pressed them tight. His other hand slipped to the small of her back as he pressed the Lone Star sequins against her.
Later, in the bright light of the study, among company, Develyn decided it had been a dozen kisses, but at the time she thought of it as one long, heart-stopping kiss.
* * *
Lindsay played the piano while Renny Slater accompanied with a guitar. Casey Cree-Ryder held an unlit, skinny candle like a microphone while she sang everything from Faith Hill to the Dixie Chicks to Patsy Cline.
Develyn and Quint sat in side-by-side brown leather chairs and held hands while serving as the audience.
“Casey, you sing really well,” Develyn said.
“I’ve had years of karaoke experience. Why, I’m the ‘Queen of the Silver Dollar.’”
“Are you going to sing Emmylou Harris songs now?” Quint chided.
“Take no offense,” Renny said as he put the guitar down. “But I’m bushed, and I still need to ride a couple of snuffy broncs before breakfast. Think I’ll head to the bunkhouse before Cuban locks the door.”
A heavy knock on the front door brought them all to their feet.
Then a shout. “Mr. Burdett? You’d better come out here and see this!”
11
Quint led the procession. “I’m guessin’ the boys must have caught your rustlers.”
Wide-eyed and biting her lip, Develyn refused to follow.
Renny sided up to her. “It’s OK, Devy-girl … me and Cree-Ryder have your flank protected.”
Develyn spoke between clenched teeth. “I just don’t know if I want to see them again.”
Quint reached back and grabbed her arm. “Come on, Miss Dev … this might be fun.”
She jogged to keep up. How can cattle rustlers be “fun”?
When they rounded the bunkhouse, she spotted Tiny, Cuban, and the other Quarter-Circle Diamond cowboys crowded around a man on a horse.
Cooper Tallon? This is like a scene from an old western movie. Is this real? Cowboy hat … chaps … canvas coat buttoned only at the neck. A gun across his lap.
“Look!” Cree-Ryder shouted. “Cooper’s brought them in.”
Develyn glanced behind Cooper to see a burro loaded down with two roped and tied bodies. “Uncle Henry, you’ve been a busy boy!”
“You ought to hear Cooper’s story, Mr. Burdett,” Tiny said.
“Cooper looks sort of like a mature Clint Eastwood in Fistful of Dollars, doesn’t he?” Cree-Ryder whispered to Develyn.
“What’s the story, Coop?” Burdett asked.
Tallon shoved his battered felt hat back and leaned on his horse’s rump. “Uncle Henry came across the prairie toward the cabins by himself. He never wants to be out of sight of Ms. Worrell, so I waited for her to follow. I had seen them pull out for the north earlier in the day.”
Develyn studied the leathery lines around Tallon’s gray-green eyes. He was watch
ing me? Of course, the cabins are only a hundred yards apart. I certainly could watch him.
“So I saddled up and headed north just in case she had trouble.”
“Uncle Henry led you to where she was?” Casey pressed.
“The burro doesn’t lead … but he tagged along. Her tracks were easy enough to read until the rain hit. Most had washed away by the time I got to the windmill. I did see where she got bucked off.”
“How could you tell that?” Develyn asked.
“Your tracks. You made a heavy imprint like someone thrown from a horse. Anyway, I saw signs of a band of wild horses, so I figured the mare got excited and ran. I surmised you might be sittin’ it out in the well house.”
“I was there for a while,” she admitted.
“Yeah, I know. I could smell your perfume.”
She tried to study his eyes but they remained in the shadow. My perfume? He knows the smell of my perfume? How could he smell that? I trust he doesn’t know the name of the perfume.
“I circled the place and found four-wheeler tracks in the mud after the rain, and signs of a running horse that led over to Little Dead Horse Canyon.”
“That’s what it’s called?” Develyn gasped.
“That’s where I found this.” Cooper reached behind the saddle and tugged loose a straw cowboy hat.
“My hat…”
He handed it to her.
“Thank you, Mr. Tallon.”
He tipped his cowboy hat. “You’re welcome, ma’am. Anyway, you can imagine how worried I was. There were tracks of the horse running away, but the four-wheelers could have been chasing a loose horse while a worse fate happened to Ms. Worrell. So I climbed down into the canyon to look around.”
Develyn felt her chin drop. “You went down in there?”
“Yep, and I tell you I just about panicked when I found this …” He pulled a cell phone out of his shirt pocket and handed it to her. “That’s when I got really worried. I couldn’t imagine any simple way of losin’ your cell phone half-way down that canyon.”
“I’m amazed you found it.”
“It was still on and beeping when I found it. I turned it off, but I reckon the battery was nearly played out. I knew you’d been there fairly recent. To tell you the truth, I was expectin’ to find …” Tallon paused and glanced out across the dark Wyoming prairie. Then he took a deep breath. “When I didn’t find you in the canyon, I started to follow the tracks north, but it was getting too dark. I was about ready to head out to the road, when I heard the cussing.”
