The Cowboy's Miracle

by Penelope Marzec

  “Has Marshall been in the barn lately?”

  She shook her head. “He says it smells bad.”

  Seth wanted to lie down and take the weight off his aching hip. Wood creaked above his head. He glanced up at the beams of the loft.

  Gabriella muttered. “Some large rodent. Now I’ll need to call the exterminator, too.”

  Seth shuddered. He hated rats. They were, in fact, the only animals he disliked since they harbored all sorts of horrible diseases. He’d been bitten once and gone through the series of shots to prevent rabies. A chill crept up his spine. However, there were a few humans far worse than rats.

  One of the angry investors in Colorado tried to shoot him. Fortunately, the investor’s poor aim and Seth’s fast feet prevented a tragedy. He sure hoped those folks gave up trying to find him.

  Chapter Six

  Gabriella locked the greenhouse at six o’clock and sent her employees home. No one lost a drawstring. Nobody noticed anyone going into the barn on Wednesday night.

  The police chief took away her evidence but refused to tell her who accused Harley of biting. Furthermore, he would not let Harley out of quarantine, though she could visit him.

  In all the turmoil, she forgot to call an exterminator. She’d do it tomorrow. Wild animals often took up residence in more sheltered quarters when winter approached. It was hard to blame them, but she didn’t want the alpacas to catch a disease from a sick creature.

  With low spirits, she glanced toward the barn. The lights were on. Seth was in there. When the police chief arrived, Seth stayed in her kitchen, surfing the Internet with one of her hot rice packs warming his achy hip. The minute the chief left, Seth went back to the barn.

  She squinted at her watch. She hated to visit Grammy this late. Grammy’s mind became even more confused as the sun descended. However, Gabriella promised to take Seth for a visit and she prided herself on keeping her word. She was also curious. Would Grammy recognize him—especially since he resembled his father?

  Her stomach growled. A large helping of leftover turkey sat in the refrigerator. She thought it might be enough for two. Though not one of her culinary masterpieces, she could heat it quickly and get to the nursing home before Grammy went to sleep.

  She walked to the barn where she found the alpacas settled in for the night. Her heart warmed. Having another set of hands was a real blessing. In the last stall, she discovered Seth sitting atop his horse with a stepladder on the horse’s right side.

  “Did you go for a ride?” she asked.

  “No, but at least I got into the saddle. It was quite a feat. Too bad you missed it.”

  “Do you still want to see Grammy?”

  “If I can get off Navigator,” he answered. “I think...if the ladder was on my left side...”

  “No problem.” She folded up the ladder and moved it around to the other side of the stall.

  “Prepare to be awed by my clumsiness.” The set of his mouth and the fierce determination in his eyes as he struggled tugged at her heart. She remembered all too well the pain of physical therapy as her hands healed from the burns and skin grafts.

  He placed his left foot on the ladder, but it took a while before he succeeded in getting his right foot over the wide expanse of the horse’s back and onto the ladder.

  Perspiration beaded on his forehead, but he grinned wide as he reached the bottom rung of the ladder. “Piece of cake.”

  His smile was enough to fry a few thousand synapses in her brain. She stood beside him and smiled back.

  “Won’t take me long to get the saddle off Navigator.” He slid his hand along the horse’s neck. “I borrowed several carrots from your refrigerator for him. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Gabriella blinked and came back to her senses. “Oh...but we need to eat before we visit Grammy. I’m starving. I’ll put together some sandwiches—”

  “I made Colorado Chili. It’s simmering on the stove. You had all the ingredients.”

  “You...cooked?”

  “You were so busy in the greenhouse, I figured you were building up an appetite. Quite an operation you’ve got going there.”

  “Uh, yes. It was Grammy’s idea, though I expanded upon it.” She might enlarge it even more if her profits continued to grow.

  “You go put your feet up for a while. I’ll be along shortly.” He lifted up the stirrup and unbuckled the leather strap underneath.

  “Okay...and thanks.”

  “My pleasure.” The warm tone of his voice was low and compelling. If he recited the alphabet, she’d anticipate every letter with delight.

  She might have stood there simply enjoying the sight of him, but one glance at her watch brought her back to her senses. She hurried off. When she opened the kitchen door, the aroma of his chili enveloped her. She wasn’t a fan of the dish, but it smelled wonderful.

  The table was set. The dishes from brunch were not in the sink anymore. Was this what heaven was like?

  The niggling shadow of doubt returned. Was he here to steal the farm away from her? Why else would he suddenly appear and decide to meet the grandmother he never knew existed?

  Her cellphone vibrated in her pocket. She glanced at it and found a message from Marshall, which read, “Car assessed as totaled. Bought a new luxury model.”

  That was it. No apologies. He didn’t ask about her. She decided not to respond.

  She checked the mailbox and her email. Before she finished, Seth came in, turned off the heat on the stove, and filled the bowls with the chili.

  “Navigator is anxious to go sightseeing. Flint told me about some trails in the park on the other side of the creek.” He set the bowls on the table.

  “But your new hip—”

  “Your hot rice pack loosened up my muscles. I’m almost as good as new.” He poured water into the glasses and set out crackers on another plate.

  She closed her laptop. He didn’t lie well—at least not when it came to hiding pain. Getting off his horse had not been a picnic judging by the expression on his face. “The park rangers never clear snow from the trails.”

  He chuckled. “Navigator isn’t bothered by snow.”

  “Oh.” She remembered horses galloping through snow in those old movies she watched with her father. “Does he wear boots?”

  He laughed. “Fancy ones with daisies all over them.”

  Gabriella frowned. “I don’t know much about horses.”

  “I don’t know much about running a greenhouse, so we’re even.” He sat, but she caught the twitch of the muscle in his jaw. He was still in pain.

  She folded her hands and silently thanked the Lord for the food and for the cowboy who put it together. She also added a little plea for their visit with Grammy. She hoped it went well.

  “Amen.” Seth’s soft rumble reminded her of distant summer thunder.

  “It was very kind of you to make this.” She stirred the chili in the bowl.

  “Thanks, but I was getting hungry.”

  She tasted the chili hesitantly. “It’s really good.”

  He smiled. “Glad you like it.”

  “Will you give me the recipe?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure I can write it down. It’s a little of this and a lot of that.”

  She studied the chili in the bowl. “A can of beans, a can of tomatoes, ground beef—”

  “I use steak when possible, but since you had ground beef in the freezer, I had to make a substitution. You didn’t have jalapeños either, so I added crushed red pepper.”

  Her tongue tingled. “I still think it could strip the paint off the barn.”

  He dazzled her with his grin. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

  She took a large swallow of the water. “Did you find the information you needed on the Internet?”

  “Yes, thank you. Plenty of helpful folks offered encouragement.” He crumbled some of the crackers and sprinkled the broken pieces in his bowl. “I checked into a few veterinarian practices and ho
spitals needing equine specialists, too.”

  They finished eating and cleaned up. Gabriella insisted on the use of her car. Seth didn’t put up a fuss. Some macho men, including Marshall, refused to be seen with a woman at the wheel. All around, Seth proved a far more pleasant companion than Marshall, and while Seth’s history remained a mystery, he was not only amenable, he was easy on the eyes.

  By the time they arrived at the nursing home, it was seven thirty-five. Gabriella bowed her head for a moment once she parked the car and said a quick prayer.

  “Something the matter?” Seth asked.

  “Visiting hours end at eight, but the minute the sun goes down Grammy gets cranky—or worse.” Gabriella found it difficult to deal with. She praised the aides who cared for Grammy during the evening.

  “What was she like before?” he asked.

  “In the afternoon, exactly as she used to be—sweet, always thinking about others, offering gentle advice—except she can’t remember anything that happened five minutes before or what day it is or what season it is or who has passed on or even where she is.”

  Grammy repeated the same thing over and over. Gabriella didn’t mind it, but some people did—notably Marshall, who only visited Grammy three times and decided never to do it again.

  “As long as the sun shines, her mood is cheerful, but when the sun goes down, the dark thoughts creep in and she becomes either morose or agitated. It’s disconcerting.” At times, it became downright frightening, though she wouldn’t admit it.

  “She’s like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?”

  Gabriella nodded. “Although she might simply be glum, which is easier to deal with.” She took a deep, fortifying breath and got out of the car. Seth followed her.

  The receptionist’s expression was one of surprise, whether it was due to the late hour or the cowboy at her side, Gabriella didn’t have a clue.

  “Sad,” Seth whispered as they passed a lounge where the patients were sleeping in their wheelchairs while a classic sitcom with its canned laughter played on a big screen TV.

  “The residents are more enthusiastic if there’s a live Elvis or Frank Sinatra impersonator. The entertainment is top rate, most of the time. I’ve enjoyed several shows with Grammy. Whenever an entertainer hands her the microphone, she is more than willing to belt out a song.” Gabriella smiled thinking about how Grammy’s eyes would sparkle at those times. “There’s still joy in the nursing home. Sometimes.”

  Grammy was awake in her wheelchair when they entered her room. Her roommate was sound asleep.

  “Hi, Grammy,” Gabriella said softly as she gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  “How did you find me?” Grammy asked.

  “I always know where you are.” Gabriella took the handles of the wheelchair. “Let’s go to the sitting room at the end of the hall so we don’t disturb your roommate.”

  “I keep calling my mother, but she hasn’t called back,” Grammy said as they rolled down the hall. “Where is she?”

  “I’m sure she’s out shopping,” Gabriella suggested.

  “She does love to spend money.” Grammy nodded.

  Gabriella turned into the small lounge. After she parked Grammy beside the table, she moved to sit. Seth pulled out the chair for her.

  “Allow me.” His teasing grin sent sparks right to her heart and filled her with a giddy sense of pleasure, as if he wove a spell over her.

  “Grammy, this is a new friend of mine. His name is Seth.”

  “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” Seth shook her hand and sat.

  “You’re a good-looking young fellow,” Grammy noted.

  “Thank you, maʼam.” Seth folded his hands on the table.

  So far, so good. Gabriella took a magazine out of her bag. “Here’s the latest issue of Crochet Paradise. There’s instructions for a darling little headband with a rose on it.”

  “Did you realize my mother sold the piano?” Grammy ignored the magazine. “Why would she do that? She must have lost her mind.”

  “What kind of piano was it?” Seth asked.

  “A Bogart piano,” Grammy replied.

  “Like Humphrey Bogart?” Gabriella questioned.

  “I was so angry!” Grammy started to cry.

  Gabriella grabbed the box of tissues on the end table.

  “Did you play the piano?” Seth patted Grammy’s hand.

  “I told her not to sell it. She wouldn’t listen to me.” Grammy continued sobbing.

  Gabriella dabbed at the tears streaming down Grammy’s cheeks. “I’ll call her tomorrow and tell her how this has affected you. I’m sure she’ll say she’s sorry.”

  “Tell her I’m not going to speak to her again—ever!” Grammy shouted.

  “I promise,” Gabriella soothed.

  Grammy’s aide strolled in. “Time to get you in your jammies. Unless you’d like some ice cream first.”

  “Vanilla?” Grammy asked.

  “With whipped cream.” The aide took hold of the wheelchair and rolled Grammy away.

  Gabriella picked up the magazine. The Happy Hookers would be delighted to read it. “I never heard about the piano before.”

  “Must have been a traumatic experience.”

  “I guess.” Gabriella reached for her coat.

  “Allow me.” Seth helped her into it.

  “Thanks.” Gabriella savored the touch of his hands on her shoulders. Marshall assisted her only if she wore the mink—so she always did when she was with him. To visit Grammy, Gabriella had donned her old, all-weather jacket.

  “How’s the blister on your heel?” he asked.

  “I’ll take care of it before I go to bed.” It bothered her during the day but she had no time to check on it.

  “Thank you for taking me to visit my grandmother.” A muscle quivered in his jaw.

  “I’m sorry she wasn’t at her best.” Gabriella was grateful. Grammy could have been far worse.

  He shrugged. “Too bad my father never told me about her when I was younger.”

  Gabriella continued to wonder about the reasons Seth’s father would cut all ties with his parents. After all, Gramps and Grammy were wonderful people.

  Her thoughts quickly drifted off to other matters as she drove home. Her mind churned with all the things she needed to do. The Christmas season always turned out to be the most hectic time of the year for her. While she was thrilled at the success of her business venture, she often worked late into the night, keeping up with orders and events.

  She should hire another employee for the holidays. When they stopped at a light, she turned to Seth. “Would you like a temporary job for a few weeks? My business gets chaotic during December.”

  “I’m seeking a permanent position with a veterinarian practice.” With his arms crossed over his chest, he did not appear open to her idea.

  “You don’t have it yet and I really need an extra pair of hands. The carriage house is booked every weekend until January, and there’s much more than the greenhouse to contend with. I rent a booth at the Cowtown Farmers’ Market and I sell my wares Tuesday and Saturday from eight until four. Plus, the grounds must be decorated and cookies must be baked—”

  “I’ve never made cookies.”

  The light turned green.

  “Your chili was delicious.”

  “Chili is easy.”

  “Cookies are simple, too, but they are time consuming.” She glanced at his dark eyes and furrowed brows in a passing street light and warmth shot through her. On an impulse, she blurted out, “You can live in the guesthouse and I’ll pay you.” She’d worry about the consequences later.

  “You are either crazy or extremely generous.”

  She bit her lip. He might be right. She was usually cautious. “Posting an ad and interviewing potential employees takes too much time. I’ve met you. You possess computer skills and your convincing voice would compel strangers to buy the Brooklyn Bridge. Selling my herbs and herb wreaths in the farmers’ market should be easy as pie f
or you.”

  “I wouldn’t count on the voice if I were you.” An underlying note of annoyance marred his words.

  She would never have guessed his fascinating voice was a sore spot. Was it only mesmerizing to her? Probably. Everything about him intrigued her. She needed to keep a clear head but she suspected she was already too far gone. “Not to worry. The wreaths and herbs sell themselves.”

  “What if I land another job tomorrow?”

  “I’ll post an ad and interview people and lose sleep, but odds are it’ll take you a while to locate the right place for you. Don’t grab the first job offer you get, make sure it’s a good fit. Check out who you’ll be working with. Look into their backgrounds and read what they post on social media...”

  She glanced at him again. His features clouded over as if a storm was brewing. “You didn’t do any of that for me.”

  “You’re only temporary.”

  Silence reigned for several minutes.

  “All right,” he said. “You drive a hard bargain. I’ll stick around, but mostly because I don’t like to be away from Navigator for any length of time.”

  “Good. Tomorrow, you and I go to the Cowtown Farmers’ Market and sell Christmas wreaths.” As she neared the farm, another car shot out of the driveway and sped away.

  “Who is that?” She didn’t recognize the car.

  “I hope it wasn’t someone with a bag of sand,” he growled.

  “Should I follow him?” she asked.

  “No. What if he has a gun?” His ominous warning sent a chill slid up her spine.

  She pulled into the drive and her alarm grew. “The barn door is open.” The padlock was gone.

  They both rushed to the barn to check the animals. Seth went to the back of the barn to check his horse. She scrutinized the alpacas who were kushed on the hay, dreaming of green grass and spring. They appeared so comfortable she did her best not to disturb them.

  She searched through all the food bins. She didn’t find a grain of sand. She shrugged and walked to Navigator’s stall where she found Seth furiously raking the bedding from the floor.

  “Jimsonweed!” He fumed. “You need a stronger lock for the barn door.”

  Chapter Seven