The Legend of Lollipop

by Lisa Prysock

  Jed’s eyes opened instantly. He lay there for a moment, listening, his eyes blinking. It was barely sunrise. He threw off the covers, a sense of urgency in his spirit. He hurried to brush his teeth and dress.

  When he arrived at the barns, he was relieved to find Logan there, leaning on Storm’s stall. Somehow, he had a feeling the boss was there for a reason. Then it dawned on him why. Jed approached the stall, tipping his hat in Logan’s direction. “Morning, boss. How’d the alfalfa harvest go?”

  “Morning, Jed. It went great. Twenty acres, cut and baled. Couldn’t have done it if you hadn’t been able to get that tractor running. We really appreciate your expertise. How was Jackson?”

  “It was great. Went canoeing and trout fishing on Leigh Lake. Took in a wildlife safari in the Tetons. Saw some elk, moose, bear, deer, and fox.”

  “Wow, that’s awesome. I’m glad you had a great time. You deserve it, Jed.” Logan smiled. Then he winced and patted a sore muscle in his leg where he still limped now and then after a rodeo accident.

  “You okay?” Jed asked, shifting his weight as he leaned against the neighboring stall.

  “Yeah. The rainstorm must be rolling in soon. It always acts up when it’s gonna rain.”

  “So, were you out for an early mornin’ ride?” Jed looked at Storm. It didn’t look like he’d been out for a ride yet, but he thought he’d ask all the same.

  “Naw, the Lord woke me up a little early. I just had this feeling I was supposed to be here, but I’m not exactly sure why.”

  Logan removed his hat and ran a hand through his short hair. “I think I know why. The Lord woke me up this morning, too. Thing is, you probably read the papers about Bridie Jane and Lol...” He started to say the name Anastasia had given the filly, but then he thought the better of it. “Well, you know, the filly.”

  Logan turned and looked at Jed, nodding. “Yeah. It’s big news around here. I’ve thought about looking for them.”

  “Well, Anastasia has been looking for those horses a long time. She’s got some sorta connection to them from some years ago. Anyhow, I’m gonna be straight with you. I’d like to capture Bridie Jane and her filly for Anastasia, and the rest of the herd to sell for a shiny new tractor for The Sweetwater. The Lord told me I’m going to marry her someday, though I know she doesn’t know it yet. An’ everybody, including my friend, Landon Callahan, and I mean everybody, is out there lookin’ for them horses. So, I figure, the Lord woke me up this morning because they’re real close around here somewhere.”

  “I can agree that most everybody is lookin’ for those horses. We’ve had so many horse hunters ask us for a cabin. They’re all worked up about that legend when all they really need is the Lord.” Logan appeared to be letting all Jed had shared with him sink in as he patted Storm on the nose.

  “I agree. Just think what it’d be like to bring that herd in to get us a new tractor. We could sell ‘em for a decent price being they’re connected to the legendary Bridie Jane. An’ I could give Anastasia her horses. She’s been spending every night after work riding the trails, searching for them. She’s a Christian, so I know her trust is already on the Lord, but it would mean a lot to her.”

  “What about your friend, Landon?”

  “I don’t know where he fits into all of this, but he knows it’s ‘may the best man win’ when it comes to those horses, and he’s not the type to shoot them down with tranquilizers like some would.”

  “Maybe he’ll buy some of the herd so we can get our tractor.” Logan grinned wide. “Maybe we can break a few in ourselves for the ranch, too. I’m not sure how many horses are in this herd. Is it fifty? Twenty? Ten? In any case, there are others I know of who might buy some of these horses. I’d call my cousin Chase, too. He might want a few.”

  Jed shrugged. “Maybe. It all sounds good to me.”

  Logan stepped back from the stall as he considered the matter. “Tell you what, I’ll go up in the helicopter. How many head you think are in the herd? Any ideas?”

  Jed thought for a moment and then recalled when Anastasia had told the story of the legend to the 4-H club students. “I think Anastasia said there were about ten of them.”

  “Okay, great. I’ll radio you when I locate the herd, and I’ll tell you where they are. Let’s get the team helping on this. If these horses are close by, I’ll herd them to you from behind with the chopper, but it could be dangerous if those close to them on the ground aren’t careful.”

  Jed nodded. “They’re wild horses, so there’s going to be some risk involved. They’ll run from the sound of the choppers and they’ll definitely follow the lead horse if we get Bridie Jane or her filly out in front. In both pictures I’ve seen of this herd, the filly is keeping up with the mare way ahead of the herd.”

  “You got a good point there. You’ll have a fight on your hands if they turn in the wrong direction, but the Lord will be with us.” The boss paused and then grinned. “Jed, here’s what I think we could do. You ride out on Storm and take our wranglers with you. I’ll get the chopper in the air, and we’ll have a wrangler open the capture corral. We haven’t used it in years, but it’s still over by the northwest end of the creek, and it’s sturdy as ever. You lead them to the creek for water and then close the herd inside. When you get them contained in the corral, we’ll have Jack shut the gate and be there with a trailer to load half of ‘em up. I’ll bring the other trailer in when I land.”

  Jed glanced over his shoulder as McGuire, Jack, Buck, and Bronson strode into the barn. “Sounds good. I’ll get Storm saddled to ride out on the northwest trail with the others. I have the strongest feeling they’re northwest of here. Logan, will you bring them up to speed?”

  Buck looked from Logan to Jed, and then back to Logan. “I gotta feeling we’re going to be busy this morning.”

  Logan filled them in while Jed saddled their best mounts for the others, making sure to add plenty of rope to each one. “Everyone understand the plan? Jed’s in charge of what happens on the ground since this is his idea.”

  “Got it, boss.” McGuire nodded. “You spot them with the helicopter, we follow Jed and drive ‘em to the old capture corral for water, Jack closes the gate, we load them in the trailers to be shipped out to trainers or buyers.”

  “Let’s get ourselves a new tractor, boys.” Buck grinned.

  “And a girl for Jed.” Jack whistled as he headed to get the trailer hitched to his pick-up truck to drive it to the corral.

  Jed mounted Storm, ignoring Jack’s teasing and glad Buck was almost always up for anything challenging. He was a regular John Wayne.

  Logan chuckled. “All right cowboys, no time to lose. I’ll drive my truck to the hangar, but before I do, Jed, swing by my truck on Storm and I’ll give you an extra radio so we can communicate when I’m in the chopper.”

  “Thanks boss.” Jed nodded and steered Storm forward toward Logan’s pick-up.

  LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR later, Jed looked up from the trail as Logan’s helicopter thundered past them overhead. The wranglers waved their hats in salute and kept riding northwest as he flew by.

  Jed patted his side to be sure the ropes were still there in case he needed to use a lasso, and then urged the horse to keep trotting. He didn’t want to wear out Storm before they even reached Bridie Jane and the whimsically named filly. He could smell the rain in the air, but so far, all he could see were the brilliant pink and orange colors spreading across the sky as the morning sunrise chased the darkness away.

  At least Jack had driven past them a while ago in his pick-up with one of the horse trailers and would’ve reached the abandoned capture corral and opened it by now. His heart beat faster when Logan’s voice sounded over the radio moments later. He slowed Storm to listen more closely, easing up on the reins. That was quick. It hadn’t taken Logan long to spot them.

  “Yeah, boss?” He could hear the wings of the chopper in the background whenever Logan was speaking. He knew the boss would be wearing a headset equippe
d with a microphone so he could steer the helicopter hands-free. Buck, McGuire, and Bronson steered their horses close to his so they could hear the conversation going on over the radio as they progressed.

  “Bingo. They’re west of you by about two miles and then south about half a mile. They’re grazing in some prairie grasslands. If you reach Colten’s new ranch, you’ve gone too far.” Logan’s voice cut out.

  Jed pressed a button and talked into the radio. “Thanks, boss. We’re on our way.” He grinned wide as the prairie they were about to ride into at the other wranglers with him. Man, they were close. How had everyone missed them? He figured the good Lord must’ve kept them hidden.

  He didn’t have any fear about the monumental task. He only had a peaceful kind of excitement in his spirit because the Lord had woken him so directly that morning. Still, he knew they’d need to use all of their skills and experience.

  Logan’s voice came on again over the radio. “I’ll circle around overhead, but not too close until you arrive. I don’t want the chopper to spook ‘em yet. Go bring ‘em in and God be with you. Peace, out.”

  Jed drew in a deep breath as he slid the radio back into the saddle pouch and whispered up a prayer of thanks in advance. Turning to the other wranglers, he straightened in the saddle. “I’ll take the four o’clock position when we see the herd. Buck, why don’t you take the eight o’clock? You have the most experience and it will be hardest to get around the herd that quick. McGuire, it’s going to be almost as difficult, but take ten o’clock. Bronson, if you’ll take two o’clock, that’d help a lot. The chopper will be at six o’clock. We’re hoping Bridie Jane and the filly will lead out and take twelve o’clock noon. They’re the ones with the heart markings on their foreheads and four white socks. Got it?”

  Each wrangler agreed, McGuire speaking for them. “We’ve got you covered and we’ll bring ‘em in.”

  He paused, then gripped the reins firmly and snapped them yelling, “Yeeeehaww!” Everyone else followed behind him as Storm lurched forward into a gallop.

  When Jed figured they’d ridden about two miles, he turned south. It didn’t take him long to spot the herd, Lollipop, and Bridie Jane. The mare was the horse closest to him and looked exactly like the photo he’d seen in the paper. The herd must’ve heard them coming. They started to turn the other way, but then they heard Logan’s bird overhead.

  They turned toward the wranglers and the creek as the helicopter herded them from behind. The wranglers, in turn, surrounded the herd, turning toward the creek as they fell in alongside the beautiful wild mustangs. As Jed and Logan had hoped, Bridie Jane and Lollipop took the lead, the others following.

  The mustangs thundered toward the water, anxious to escape Logan’s chopper. When they reached the creek, the herd slowed to drink water, and the helicopter hovered a little further away. Jack was in position and closed the gate as soon as the last horse rode into the corral. Some of the horses realized they were trapped and neighed, trotting in circles from one side of the pen to the other, somewhat frantically.

  Jed sighed with satisfaction and circled around on Storm, bringing him to a stop beside Buck and the other wranglers to survey the glorious horses as they drank water from the creek and began to calm themselves. Glancing over at Buck and the others, he could see they looked on in approval from their saddles. They’d done it. They’d captured the notorious herd with the help of the Lord. Now, to bring in the trailers after the herd settled a bit. He could hardly wait to surprise Anastasia.

  The radio sounded as the helicopter continued to whirl around above them, the muffled voice of Logan coming through. Jed reached for the radio in his saddle pouch and pulled it out in time for them to hear the boss say, “Well done, cowboys! Well done! I’m heading back to the hanger and then I’ll bring the other trailer out in my pick-up.”

  The wranglers looked up and held their hats up to Logan, saluting him again as the chopper sped away toward the eastern side of the ranch.

  Chapter 17

  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12, NIV

  ANASTASIA HEARD THE timer buzz, indicating the ten trays of croissants were ready to pull out of the middle oven. Thankfully, these ovens were state of the art and the buzzing sound chirped loudly. She could hear the timer from any location in the bakery. She hadn’t tired of admiring them since her first day, or maybe the second, once all three were shiny clean.

  Each commercial oven also had five racks instead of the standard two or three in residential ovens, allowing her to bake in large quantities to keep up with demand. She put the oven mitts on and pulled the trays out of the oven after checking one of the croissants to see if it was done. The croissants were perfectly baked with a golden buttery outside, light and flaky inside. She slid each tray into the tall cooling racks on wheels and then pushed the cooling rack aside.

  Then the buzzer went off for the oven containing her twelve boysenberry pies, enough for at least two or three days by storing them in the cooler. It was a popular flavor in Wyoming, and topped with whipped cream, customers would love them. They did sell a few pies whole, but she found they loved being able to purchase by the slice, too.

  She rolled the cooling rack near the oven containing the pies and quickly pulled out the trays with three each, sliding those into the cooling rack, also. Glancing at her wristwatch, she could see she only had to wait about three more minutes and the butter cakes would be done. She’d made fifteen of the cake loaves. She would allow them to cool and then drizzle a glaze infused with lemon zest over the rich, buttery cakes.

  What a relief to have most of the baking done by nine o’clock in the morning. In her opinion, it paid off to arrive at the bakery before dawn. The only items left to bake were the frosted sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, and the chocolate chip cookies for tomorrow. However, she’d likely have those finished by noon and be able to go home at two o’clock for the day. The weekend had tuckered her out and she needed rest. Amy and Caroline were happy to finish out the day since they hadn’t had to come in so early, and it was Champ Greer’s day off, but he’d return tomorrow. He’d left a note in the communication log that Saturday had gone well.

  As soon as she finished pulling the buttery cakes out of the oven, her cell rang. It took her by surprise to find Jed calling on the other end of the line. “Hey Jed, what’s up?”

  “Can you meet me at the barn in five minutes? It’s important.” Jed’s voice sounded urgent. Something was up.

  “Sure,” she replied. “Make it about ten minutes though. It will take me a few to walk up there.”

  “Okay, see you then.” Jed sounded happy, but she had no idea why.

  Anastasia removed her apron and asked her cashiers to hold the fort down. Then she walked to the barns and found Jed looking more handsome than ever, leaning on a horse trailer parked outside the first barn, a coy grin on his face.

  “You look happy,” she remarked.

  “I am, but you’re going to be even happier.” He grinned at her.

  “All right, tell me what’s happened?” She raised a brow and waited.

  “Tell me where you’d like me to deliver Bridie Jane and Lollipop. With the help of my boss and our team, I was able to capture them for you this morning.”

  “No. Seriously?” Her hands flew to cover her mouth and her eyes grew wide as she studied the outside of the horse trailers and then Jed’s face.

  Then movement around the trailer side caught her eye, and she saw Lollipop crane her neck to peek out a small window in the trailer. She’d recognize that white heart shaped marking on her forehead anywhere. “Oh my, you’re not kidding! You captured her for me.”

  It didn’t take her long to recover from her surprise. When she did, she jumped straight into Jed’s arms as her spontaneous side took over. She placed her hands on each side of his face and kissed him, long and tenderly. She could hardly deny the love growing in her heart for
the cowboy who surrounded her with his patient strength and compassion. When she pulled back, the revelation had surprised her, shock written all over her face at the emotion running through her soul.

  Anastasia promised herself she would never let this cowboy go, and from that moment forward, she’d never tell him again she merely wanted to be friends. If only he’d ask her to be his girl. Even that didn’t matter. She was going to stick to him like butter on toast, like frosting on cake, like peanut butter and chocolate. It didn’t matter if he asked her. She surrendered her whole heart to him. They would be inseparable if she had anything to do with it.

  A LITTLE WHILE LATER, after she’d had a chance to pat Lollipop and Bridie Jane on their foreheads and soothe the flustered animals with her calming voice, Jed sat with her on a bale of hay, holding her hand while he shared the morning’s events with her. They could hear a few of the mustangs try to kick inside the trailers, but for the most part, they were beginning to settle down.

  Jed cleared his throat when he’d finished relaying his adventures. “So tell me where you’d like Bridie Jane and Lollipop to be delivered? Do you need to make a phone call to anyone? The trailers are leaving as soon as Logan has finished making the arrangements.”

  “You know, I’ve been thinking about it since last night after you asked me what I’d want to do with the horses, and a little more this morning while I was baking.” She scooted closer to Jed, as though she couldn’t be near enough to him. “I’d like to hire Landon to break them in and train them at Blazing Star Ranch. I mean, he’s the best trainer in the country. I know he’s probably wildly expensive, but I know he’ll do a good job. Maybe he’ll even work out a special price for me.” Anastasia turned to look Jed in the eye. “Plus, he understands the racing circuit for Lollipop better than I do. However, I have to get back to the bakery. I’ve left Caroline and Amy alone for too long as it is, and today is Champ’s day off. Will you ask Landon for me?”