I just wasn’t used to men like him. I knew two types of men. Men that treated women poorly and men that treated women like fragile objects that might break. Avery seemed to be a mix of the two. He didn’t treat me poorly, not really, but he didn’t treat me with kid gloves either. He said it was because he liked me. I took it differently but maybe he had a point. He liked me enough to be real with me, to not hide who he really was. He was cowboy and he cared enough to let me see the real Avery, the good, the bad and the ugly.
After our hike, Avery stoked the fire and we enjoyed its warmth for a while before Avery said we should go. I wish we could have stayed but we needed to get back before dark. Avery was comfortable riding at night, but he didn’t want me out after dark being new to riding horses. We packed up and gathered the horses and soon we were back in the saddle, headed home.
It was just as beautiful on the ride back but the landscape was different. The sun was low in the sky and the long shadows amongst the golden afternoon light gave the landscape a dramatic appeal. Avery explained what he did, the business of raising cattle, the life of a cowboy as we rode. There was more to it that I’d imagined. It wasn’t just riding around looking like a bad ass. There was a lot of work that had to be done to keep the cattle safe and healthy. In the summer, they would roam the range instead of being penned up as they were in the winter.
“We’ll move more of the cattle onto the open range this week. It’s warm enough and there’s enough new growth to sustain them. We’ll keep an eye on them but they know what to do. They’ll eat and raise their calves until it’s time to bring them back for winter. Then we’ll sell the calves off,” Avery explained.
“Sell them off? For what?” I wondered.
“They’ll be grazed until their mature and then sent off to a processing house,” he told me as we rode, the horses ambling slowly.
“You mean they’ll be slaughtered, right?” I asked. I knew where meat came from though I tried not to think about it. Like most people, I was insulated from how my food got to the grocery store. Like so many other conveniences of modern life, there were men and women working hard behind the scenes and most people never saw them or even cared.
“Yeah, but here we’re just a cow-calf operation. We produce calves and our mama’s have it pretty easy. Does that bother you?” he asked.
“No...yes...sort of. I try not to think about it,” I admitted.
“We’re animals. Some animals eat other animals. It ain’t pretty but its life. A lot of people don’t get that. We’re lucky here. Where the city and suburbs have bumped up against ranches, they get a lot push back for what they do. Some people don’t like the sights, sounds and smells. Others just think we’re barbaric and would shut down all cattle ranching if it were up to them,” Avery explained. I guess he was right.
“I don’t mind, I’m just glad you don’t do it here,” I told him. Avery laughed at that. He told me more about the ranch and how it worked. It was interesting. The ranch hands took care of things around the ranch proper. They fed the cattle in winter, maintained the ranch buildings, and did the chores that needed doing. The cowboys, like Avery and Stan, tended the cattle out on the range, herded and moved them as needed and took care of the horses. They all looked like cowboys to me but I guess there was a difference.
The sun was down when we got back to the ranch but it was still light out. I thanked Avery before he took the horses away and then he told me he’d be gone for a few days.
“I’ll be herding the cattle and pushing them out onto the range,” he told me.
“Well, be careful,” I replied. He tipped his hat and then winked at me.
“I’ll be kept warm at night thinking of paying you back like I promised,” he said and shot me a wicked smile. I couldn’t help but blush as things got warm in my jeans.
“OK,” was all I said as he glared at me with that smirk that I found so sexy. Then Avery turned and took the horses away. I watched him go before I retired to my little home. Yeah, I could enjoy the ride until I left and went back home. Avery’s upside definitely outweighed his downside. But as that thought crossed my mind, I felt something else for the first time. A vague pang of regret at the thought of leaving. It came and went before I could fully appreciate it but it was there.
>>O<<
“That sounds nice,” Deb said after I told her about my Sunday with Avery. It was Wednesday and I had to go to town to get some supplies and tell someone about my day on the range. It wasn’t as if I could gush to Stan about my date, could I? Considering the weather had turned sour, it was raining and dark outside, it was nice to relive my day on the range with Deb.
“It was nice,” I said and blushed but tried to hide it with the coffee cup as I took a drink.
“You did it again, didn’t you?” Deb asked. I wasn’t sure I should say but I needed to get it off my chest. I needed to tell someone.
“Yes! Right out there by the old homestead, right out in the open,” I gushed.
“Nice,” Deb replied as she nodded and smiled knowingly.
“It was,” I replied and then I told Deb what Avery had said. “He told me he looked after you once your past caught up with you,” I said.
“Um...yeah. He did. Brenda, he’s a good guy. I know you don’t like his rougher side but he’s got a tender side too,” she told me.
“Yeah, I’ve seen that. I just wish he’d be a little less...well I just wish he wasn’t such an ass sometimes,” I told her.
“Can I give you some advice?” Deb asked. Just then, a customer came in. “Hold that thought,” she told me and went to help the older woman that had come to pick up some supplies of her own. Ten minutes later, Deb returned and asked again if I wanted some advice.
“Yeah, sure,” I said.
“Avery’s a different breed. He’s not fit for life anywhere but here. He’s a cowboy. He’s wild and free and, well, he doesn’t have a lot of experience with women. Not relationship experience. It sounds as if he likes you. He’s brash with me too and I know it’s because he likes me. But I think he likes you in a different way. You should give him a chance,” Deb told me.
“Yeah, he kind of said the same thing. I like him too. I just need to get used to him, I guess. Stan told me he needed a woman to tame him,” I said.
“Maybe,” she replied. I smiled despite myself. I was falling for Avery and I barely even saw it coming. That pang of regret hit me again, more defined but still fleeting. Wyoming, or maybe its people, was growing on me.
“Well, I’d love to stay and chat but I’ve got work to do,” I said needing to change the subject. I’d showed up early at the general store after feeding the ranch hands that weren’t out on the range. I didn’t want to say so, even admit it to myself but Avery was supposed to be back later that the afternoon. I wanted to be there.
“Let’s see the list and get it filled then,” Deb offered. I showed her my list. Together, we went about filling the order, boxing it up and loading the old pickup I’d driven. Once we finished, we said our goodbyes.
“Hey, now that I’ve got internet, we can talk,” I told her. Deb nodded and ran inside, returning with a slip of paper with her email address and told me to look her up in Facebook. I told her I’d be in touch and started the old pickup.
“Good luck with the cowboy,” Deb told me. I blushed and felt like a fool for doing so. I was doing that a lot lately.
“Thanks. I’ll let you know what happens,” I told her and off I drove. I found myself smiling all the way back to the ranch. I thought about what Deb had told me and my Sunday with Avery. It was pleasant and the miles flew by despite the wet and sometimes muddy road. I was getting used to the drive and with my thoughts on other things, the seventy miles of gravel road were behind me before I knew it.
I pulled up to the mess hall and began unloading the supplies from the pickup and putting them away. Once I was finished, I went out to go park the pickup and take the office supplies inside when I heard Stan calling to me.
“There you are. C’mon, I’ve got Holly saddled up. I grabbed you a duster and hat,” he said as he approached.
“What?” I asked him confused as to why I needed a horse.
“Sorry. Avery went after a wandering calf last night and never returned. The boys are out looking for him. We need all the eyes we can get,” Stan told me and I suddenly felt like the walls were closing in on me even though I was outdoors.
“Uh...um...OK,” I said as the news sank in.
“You and I will ride together. It’ll be miserable in the rain but I’ll keep you safe and Holly is sure-footed,” Stan told me.
“I don’t care. I just want to find Avery,” I said.
“I know you do. That’s why I waited,” he replied. I wondered if Avery had said something but it didn’t matter right then. We had to find him. I told Stan to get the horses as I went inside the office, dumped the supplies in the old chair and then went to meet him. The yard was muddy as the rain continued. It was cold but the slicker would keep me dry and my jacket would keep me warm. I already had on my jeans and boots.
We didn’t waste a minute. Once I was mounted on Holly, we headed for the open range beyond the pens and pastures. “I know you’re not up to riding at full gate, but are you up for a good trot?” Stan asked.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” I replied. Like before, Holly followed Stan and his horse, keeping pace and making it easy on me. As we went, all kinds of terrible thoughts went through my head. I asked Stan at one point what had happened to Avery and he didn’t know anymore that he had told me except a general location of where he’d last been seen.
I fought hard to maintain my composure as we rode. I had to focus and a hysterical city girl wasn’t going to be of any help to anyone. Avery’s life might depend on it. After a while, we came upon another couple riders. It was Earl and Clancy. “Anything?” Stan asked.
“No news. I’ve got boys out all over. You two should head out that way,” Earl said and pointed off to his right.
“Will do, boss,” Stan replied. Earl must’ve seen the concern on my face.
“We’ll find him, Brenda,” he told me. Stan turned and nodded.
“Let’s go get him,” he said to me. I smiled at them both and then Stan and I rode off in the direction Earl had indicated. We rode for hours and the saddle was getting more and more uncomfortable but we didn’t see any sign of Avery. As we rode along a small wash that was usually dry but now carried a foot of water, the sun finally dipped below the horizon.
“Damnable, rain. Avery could have ridden by here a hundred times and we’d never know with this water washing all traces away,” Stan cursed.
“It’s getting dark. What are we going to do?” I asked.
“You need to go back?” he asked. I could tell Stan hoped I didn’t. He didn’t have anything to worry about.
“No way! Let’s keep going,” I said. He smiled at me and nodded. We rode for another half hour and once it got too dark to see well, Stan broke out flashlights. A moment later, things began to look familiar. I wasn’t sure how I could have remembered this particular patch of sagebrush and grass but I did. Suddenly, I had a thought. “Stan, how far are we from the old homestead?” I asked. Stan stopped his horse and turned to face me.
“Damn. Why didn’t I think of that?” he asked. He looked hopeful and I felt my own heart swell with optimism. Stan turned again and we were off. Even in the dark, I could see the bluff behind Vermillion Lake as we approached, a dark mass against an even darker sky. As the dark shapes of the old buildings came into view we saw a faint orange glow coming from one of them.
“Oh, thank God!” I said. I didn’t know what I was doing but I kicked Holly’s flanks and coaxed her into a full gallop. Stan followed suite and we rode hard towards the old homestead. Stan rode ahead, surer on his horse than I was, then brought us to a halt as we arrived. I all but jumped off Holly and rushed to the old wooden building. Stan was right behind me. I got to the doorway and inside there was Avery, Duke and a young calf on the dirt floor.
I rushed to Avery and hugged him without a thought. “I thought you were...,” I said leaving the obvious unsaid. The emotions I’d been holding in came flooding out. I began to cry as Avery wrapped his arms around me and held me tight.
“I’m fine, little filly,” he assured me.
“Good to see you,” Stan said flatly and without a hint of the worry I know he was feeling too.
“You too, old man,” Avery replied. I let him go but I was still crying but they were tears of joy. Avery sat before a small fire that warmed and illuminated the old ruined ranch house. The calf was snuggled near the fire and Duke was also lying down.
“What’s wrong with Duke?” Stan asked. I looked at the big black horse and only now did I see that his ankle was wrapped.
“The big lummox twisted an ankle in the mud. We found this little calf and as we were returning to camp last night, Duke slipped and came up lame. It happened nearby so I led him here. I was going to walk back but Duke’s not up to it yet. He might be able in the morning,” Avery explained. Duke snorted, recognizing his name and knowing Avery was talking about him.
“Well, looks like we’ll just have to stay here. Too dangerous to try to head back now that we know you’re safe,” Stan advised.
“Is the whole ranch out looking?” Avery asked though it seemed he already suspected.
“Not much we can do about that. I could ride around all night and I might not find them all to tell them. We’ll hunker down here and head back in the morning if Duke’s able. If not, I’ll ride out and let everyone know after it’s light,” Stan said.
“Don’t you have radios or something?” I asked. Avery and Stan looked at each other and then at me.
“She’s bound and determined to drag us into the twentieth century, kicking and screaming if she has to,” Stan said.
“It’s the twenty-first century in case you haven’t noticed,” I corrected.
“Once step at a time, little filly,” Avery said and he and Stan laughed. I shook my head. These men did need a mother.
“Hold on, I’ll go get the bedrolls and a little something to keep us warm,” Stan said and ducked outside into the night.
“So, did you miss me?” Avery asked with that smarmy tone I so hated. I slugged him in the arm.
“Don’t you ever do that again?” I told him.
“Not come home?” he asked. I hoped that’s what he thought and it was what I meant. But I wasn’t going to let him off that easy.
“No, be such an ass,” I said. He laughed heartily at that. I smiled at him and he grabbed my face, pulled me close and kissed me. I felt all the cold and chill from riding in the rain for hours melt away.
“Well, I missed you. I like you, you know that?” he told me after he broke the kiss. I didn’t have a chance to reply as Stan walked in, completely oblivious, carrying two bed rolls, a big bag of M&M’s and a bottle of whiskey. I looked away as the color left my cheeks.
“I always did like camping out with you, old man,” Avery said as Stan tossed him the bottle of liquor. Avery unscrewed the top, took a big swig and handed it to me. I sniffed it and then did that same against my better judgment. I winced as the fiery booze burned my throat and warmed my belly. I passed it to Stan.
“Smooth,” I said in a raspy voice, a joke I’d seen on TV somewhere. Both men chuckled. Stan took a swig himself and then broke into the M&M’s, passing the bag around right behind the bottle of whiskey. Soon Stan was telling us stories as Avery, even though I was pretty sure he’d heard every one of them, and I listened and laughed. Stan was quite the cowboy poet, as he put it.
“Did I ever tell you about the time the hard charger here dove off that tree yonder?” Stan asked. The bottle was half gone and while the two men didn’t look any worse for wear, I was having a hard time focusing my eyes.
“No, I just met you,” I said.
“I swear, old man. Don’t,” Avery replied shaking his head. Stan ignor
ed Avery’s subtle threat.
“Well, this boy here had his brain set on showing up one of the ranch hands. What Avery didn’t know was that his competitor was a diver in high school down in Colorado. Well, that dude, Riley I think his name was, well he climbs up that big cottonwood tree and does the prettiest dive you ever did see. He twisted and flipped like some kind of swallow and hit the water with nary a splash,” Stan began. Avery ran his hand though his hair and sighed.
“So what happened?” I asked as the Stan poured another pile of M&M’s into my hand and then handed me the bottle after he’d taken a drink himself.
“Well, our boy here had to show up that dude. His pride would accept no less. So he climbs up that tree and walks out onto the limb that juts out over the water, takes one look down, loses his balance and splat! He makes a hole in the water with his belly that still hasn’t filled back in,” Stan finished. I almost choked on the green M&M in my mouth I laughed so hard at that. I even snorted right before I fell over laughing. Stan looked pretty pleased with himself and Avery just frowned, took the whiskey from me and drank.
“I broke three ribs,” Avery added after a moment but I barely heard. I was still laughing.
“But that young dude, Riley, he didn’t last out here very long did he?” Stan asked.
“Nope. He ran home to mama later that summer,” Avery said. I managed to compose myself and sat back up, snatched the whiskey from Avery and took another swig.
“I’m drunk,” I said and giggled at my own words.
“We’d better put her to sleep before she does something we might regret,” Stan advised. I don’t remember much more after that. The whiskey and laughing so hard had gotten the best of me. All I remember was Avery kissing my forehead before I curled up in the bed roll and enjoyed the pleasant spinning for a moment before the world went dark.
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