Marrying the Rancher

by Roz Denny Fox

  Tandy paused, her spoon halfway to her mouth. “Heavens, he’s too active to leave with Manny.”

  “Let’s take him,” Wyatt declared after swallowing a bite. “Loki has three or four dogs.” Thinking about his friend’s cow dogs made Wyatt remember he’d asked Manny to inquire at Darnell’s if Stew knew of any hybrids in the area. Although, he was beginning to wonder if he’d seen things. He hadn’t run across any tracks up the mountain or in the lower mesa today. Really, though, he couldn’t think of another animal with that same profile.

  “Wyatt, you said you’d read me more of the wolf book tonight. And you said you’d draw me pictures of animal tracks.” Scotty, who’d been eating while the adults talked, scarfed down the last of his biscuit.

  “If we have to leave at dawn,” his mom said, “it has to be early to bed, young man. We can take the book. I’ll read some to you on the drive. I guess I don’t know about drawing animal tracks.” She angled a glance between Scotty and Wyatt.

  Wyatt blotted his lips with the paper towel by his soup bowl. “I’m going to the Game and Fish office, and they keep stacks of educational materials used at schools. I’ll pick up a set that includes animal tracks. Some are pictures, others have written information your mom or I can read to you, Scotty.”

  “Goody. Since I have to get up way early, maybe I’ll go to bed now.” Darting around the table, he hugged his mom and then did the same to Wyatt. Calling Mr. Bones, the boy ran off down the hall.

  Smiling, Tandy dipped her spoon back into her stew. “This is a first, him wanting to go to bed early. Early to bed, early to rise hasn’t been his mantra.”

  “It was never mine, either. He reminds me of myself as a kid, except he’s sharper. I showed him one set of rabbit tracks and he knew when that bunny joined a second one. He also reminded us about the wire cutters. Stuff sticks in his mind.”

  “That’s music to a mother’s ears. I was away from him so much. Now hearing some of the things he says, I fear he got shortchanged in the parent department.”

  “Not so.” Wyatt stood and stacked his dishes. Reaching across Tandy, he picked up those Scotty had left. All at once he hesitated. Bent as he was, his face was close to hers. “Your hair smells good. Like apples.” He leaned nearer.

  She straightened, which put her even closer. “Uh, my shampoo is apple based.”

  “I like it, but I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” He hurriedly collected the dishes and strode to the sink.

  “I’m not embarrassed. Actually, it’s nice. Soldiers don’t get compliments like that.”

  Finished rinsing dishes, he stacked them in the dishwasher. Turning, he saw her fiddling with her spoon but gazing at him with a yearning look that set his pulse racing. Caught up in an urge to kiss her, he said instead, “Then it’s good you’re a cowgirl now.” He motioned to the door. “I forgot to ask Manny something. I’ll go do that and see you in the morning.”

  “I forgot to tell him about the fence. Will you fill him in? Do you realize how lucky I was you were along today? At Manny’s age, could he have repaired that fence?”

  “He was fixing fences before you or I were born,” Wyatt said lightly.

  “You’re right. His arthritis bothers him more than I like. I need to hire someone to replace him, but maybe I’ll have to look farther afield to find a new cowboy. When we get back I’m going to attend the next cattle and sheep owners meeting and tell them point-blank what I think of their crummy tactics.”

  “Maybe that’s what they need. To be publicly shamed,” Wyatt said.

  “Providing they even let me in the door.” Tandy trailed him out so she could lock up behind him.

  Wyatt had no idea why, but instead of just leaving, he stopped and hugged her. “Spiritridge Ranch is your birthright. They’re bound to respect you more if you stand your ground.” He withdrew quickly and struck out for Manny’s casita without looking back. He guessed his hug shocked her, too, because he didn’t hear her shut the door until he was halfway to Manny’s.

  He wondered if she’d mention it in the morning. And what would be his response? He couldn’t fall for her. That wouldn’t be good for either of them. While it was plain they were both lonely, his job here would soon be over.

  But shoot, he’d gotten ahead of himself, he mused, stopping to rap on Manny’s door. All he had to give him the notion Tandy might be interested in him were a couple of affectionate glances and invitations to a home-cooked meal or two.

  Wyatt heard Manny shuffling to the door. “Your light was on, so I figured you hadn’t turned in yet,” he said after the door opened a crack.

  “I fell asleep in front of the TV. Did you talk Tandy into going after a bull?”

  “Yes, but I wondered if you’d asked Darnell about hybrids?”

  “He said he doubted any rancher would own a hybrid. My feeling is he’s reluctantly going along with the rest of the association about the bulls.”

  “Well, Tandy may confront the lot of them at the next meeting. Oh, hey, another thing we neglected to tell you...she had a section of fence down today.” He launched into relaying all that had gone on with Preston Hicks.

  “What’s wrong with that man? He’s always been the big cheese in the area, but he didn’t used to be mean.”

  “You’ve been here a long time. I thought maybe you’d know why he’s picking on Tandy.”

  “He’s always been a leader.” Manny pulled a wry face. “It’s like he’s gone tetched in the head.”

  “I suppose that’s a possibility. He never made any secret of not liking me, and he’s the most vocal about ridding the earth of wolf predators. He wouldn’t listen to my team’s ideas on how to help cattle and sheep ranchers coexist with wolves.”

  “Ya got that right.”

  “How much do you think my job is to blame for his antagonism toward Tandy? I’m prepared to pitch a tent in the forest.”

  “Dunno. I do know he badgered her to sell before he had any idea you’d show up and rent from her. I hope you stick around. I’m not able to stand up against him like I could’ve done even half a dozen years ago.”

  “As long as I’m here I’ll watch her back. When I can, that is. There will be days I’m off and gone doing my work with the wolves. And once my mission here is done, I’ll be sent elsewhere.”

  “That’s too bad. I’d hoped you two...never mind. She needs a young guy with a strong back around. And you’ve won over her boy and his dog.”

  Something about hearing it stated so bluntly troubled Wyatt. Tandy and Scotty deserved a permanent champion in their lives. It didn’t seem as if they’d had that in Scotty’s dad. “I won’t keep you longer,” he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “We agreed to leave at dawn. You have our phone numbers if need be. My hope is to hold the trip to three days. One of us will let you know if it takes longer.”

  “Don’t rush back on my account. You’ll likely hit snow going over the rim. Driving back with the weight of a bull will be slower out of necessity.”

  “Gotcha.” Wyatt bounded off the porch and noticed Tandy’s house was dark. He still needed to toss a few clothes in a duffel and set his alarm. Besides packing, he needed to text Loki to expect them tomorrow evening.

  He had a long day’s drive ahead and it’d do no good to stay awake wrestling with concerns for Tandy and feelings he couldn’t develop for her.

  * * *

  THE MORNING EASTERN sky was barely pink when Tandy, a sleepy Scotty and his wide-awake dog beat Wyatt out to his SUV.

  “Hey,” he said, emerging from his casita. “I had to wait for coffee to brew so I could fill a thermos. Hope I haven’t kept you waiting long.”

  “We just got here. I brought coffee, too,” she said, lifting a thermos bag.

  Scotty yawned. “She made me hot chocolate, but can Mr. Bones and me sleep longer
on the drive?”

  Chuckling, Wyatt tweaked Scotty’s cowlick. “Sure. Your mom can sit up front with me and give you and the pup the whole back seat.” He opened the hatch and stored their bags. “I see you packed light. I didn’t know what to expect so I unloaded all of my equipment last night.”

  “It’s army training.” Tandy opened the back door and boosted Scotty and the dog in. “Here’s your pillow and blanket, but be sure you buckle up.”

  “Cool, I get to use a big-people seat belt instead of my booster.”

  “I didn’t realize he needed a kid seat,” Wyatt said, slamming the hatch. “Let’s unhook yours and install it in my vehicle for the trip.”

  “I hate to put you out. He’s big for his age. But, when I got my Arizona license he was with me. The lady at the DMV said the new kid seat belt law was strict.”

  “It’s no problem. Hop in, we’ll drive over to where you’re parked.”

  “Aww, Mom.”

  “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Wyatt told the boy. “Manny reminded me last night that we could hit snow in the mountain pass.”

  “Snow,” said the sleepy voice from the back seat. “I’ve never seen snow, ’cept on TV or Mark’s DVDs.”

  “Really?” Wyatt stopped next to Tandy’s vehicle.

  “He was born in Hawaii and lived there until our move. Santa even arrives by surfboard there.”

  “I’ve only seen that on TV,” Wyatt said, laughing again. It didn’t take him long to remove and reset the booster. Minutes later Scotty was buckled up with his pillow and blanket.

  Manny came out of his cabin dressed for work and waved them off as daylight shone in a thin strip of lavender and gold between mountain peaks and a layer of clouds.

  “I hope I’m doing the right thing,” Tandy murmured as she poured coffee into her travel mug.

  “I hate to call your neighbors enemies, but showing them you won’t be cowed by their silly pact to hold you back is good, don’t you think?”

  “Yes.” She settled back, clutching her mug as they made their way down the highway. “I wish things were different. I wish we could become part of the community like my parents were. It’s what I imagined when we moved here.”

  “My grandmother always said stop wishing life away and start living it.”

  “Smart lady. With luck, if we don’t budge, maybe eventually neighbors will accept us.”

  “Exactly.” Wyatt braked as three elk crossed the road.

  Tandy hurriedly reached back and kept Mr. Bones from sliding off the seat. “I forgot how many deer and elk live around here. I’m surprised I haven’t encountered any when tending my cattle.”

  “We’ve climbed around six hundred feet from where your ranch sits, and you run cattle several hundred feet below that. In the last five years the elk population blew up in this region. That’s primarily why these mountains were chosen to bring back wolves. I can’t get the ranchers to see how their grazing lands are as threatened by overpopulation of deer and elk as by a small pack of wolves.”

  “This isn’t the only area for such an experiment, right?”

  “Our projects are mainly in Arizona and New Mexico. But other wolf programs are in many states. The Mexican gray I’m working with is the rarest of all formerly extinct gray wolf subspecies. They were on the endangered list for forty years.”

  “Were wolves lost due to expanded ranching?”

  “They were hunted out in areas that were taken over by city expansion, recreation and camping, and sport hunters. Ranchers are the loudest objectors to repatriation.”

  “Interesting. Is that why you decided to become a wildlife biologist?”

  “I always had an affinity for wild animals. In college I thought maybe I’d work at some kind of wildlife zoo. Two summers between classes I volunteered at national parks, educating campers on how to keep bears from bothering them. And I helped relocate bears that wandered into campsites.”

  “Wow, sounds like quite a big job for a college student.”

  “Yep, but all that experience led to state Game and Fish offering me a job when I graduated. I’ve always been footloose, so it suited my lifestyle when they sent me to restock lakes with fish, clear trails at wildlife refuges, and I even manned different state park visitors centers off and on.”

  “Oh, I assumed you’d always worked with wolves.”

  “No. No matter what you do for Game and Fish, it’s rare to stay long in one location.”

  Tandy drank more coffee. “I had no idea you’d jumped around as much as I did in the military. Is that why you aren’t married?”

  Wyatt slanted her a wry look. “A nomadic life didn’t prevent you from marriage.”

  “It should have. And yet I wouldn’t trade Scotty.” She glanced over her shoulder.

  “Trade me for what?” asked a muffled voice from the back seat, punctuated by a yawn.

  “I wouldn’t trade you for anything,” Tandy hastened to say. “Did you get any sleep or has our talking kept you awake?”

  “I sleeped. Now I woke up. Mama, will you read me the wolf book?”

  “Sure.” She set her mug in the console holder and dug the book out of a tote at her feet. “You got through chapter one, right?”

  “Yes,” Wyatt answered.

  She began to read about wolves living in mid-to higher-level forests. The current page listed juniper, pinyon and ponderosa pine. “We’re in ponderosa pine right now,” she added, pointing out the window.

  “Hey! Look over there—is that snow?” Scotty asked, pointing at the trees.

  “Yep,” Wyatt said with a grin. “And more is beginning to fall from the sky.”

  Tandy and Scotty both pressed their foreheads to their windows. “Oh, boy, can I touch it?” Scotty flung off his blanket and leaned forward to speak near Wyatt’s ear.

  “I’ve a feeling from the way it’s coming down it’ll stick. Let’s drive another twenty or so miles to the top of the pass. Then we can get out and build a snowman if you’d like.”

  “Goody, goody.” Scotty clapped loudly, causing Mr. Bones to wake up and bark.

  “Calm down,” Tandy ordered. “Scotty has a hood on his jacket. I packed gloves thinking we might need them at the ranch, but what if we all get wet?”

  “There’s the SUV heater. I figured on stopping for lunch once we’re in New Mexico. The restaurant is halfway to Loki’s ranch near Silver City. We’ll have time to dry off.”

  “It’s been twenty years since I played in snow. It should be fun,” she said, warming to the idea. “Until you stop I may as well continue reading.”

  Scotty agreed, so she opened the book again. “‘If fed by humans, like bears, foxes and coyotes, wolves can become a bother to people and pets. Partly they’re susceptible to humans because they travel in packs along foot and horse trails.’” Tandy stopped reading and glanced at Wyatt. “Is that why ranchers see them as such a nuisance?”

  “Maybe. It’s true they’re carnivorous. No one has ever said ranchers don’t have legitimate gripes. I keep going back to pointing out ecosystem balance. Wolves lived and thrived in the Southwest prior to the introduction of cattle.”

  “The next page says studies show wolves don’t totally eliminate their prey, but continue to move to different locations.”

  “What does that mean, Mama?”

  “Some of this will make better sense when you’re older.” She went on to read about wolf families setting up dens and having four to seven babies in a litter. She passed the book back for Scotty to see the pictures of baby wolves.

  “They’re cute,” he said. “Are they soft? How many babies do your wolves have, Wyatt?”

  “Our team members who flew a helicopter over the area to try and get a count thinks one pair we released had three pups. The second pa
ir we released a few weeks later may only have two. It’s hard to get an accurate count from the air. I hope when I catch up to them I can document a true number.”

  “I wish I could go with you,” Scotty said.

  “Absolutely not,” Tandy told him. “They probably live in mountains like we’re driving through now. It’ll be hard enough for Wyatt traveling by himself.”

  Scotty closed the book and dropped it in the seat. “There’s a lot more snow outside. When can we stop and build a snowman?”

  “Up ahead there’s a place to pull off at an overlook. On a good day we could see towns and ranches in New Mexico. But the weather’s too foggy today. Only one other traveler has passed us since we left the ranch. I predict we’ll have the overlook to ourselves.” Shortly after making the statement, he turned off the highway and stopped inside a flat, walled area deep with pristine snow. “This is it. We need to establish some rules. No climbing on the benches. In fact, we should stay far away from the wall as there’s a sharp drop-off beyond it. Tandy, do you need both bags for hats and gloves?”

  “No, just the camouflage one. The caps and gloves are in the side zip pocket if you just want to grab them. Are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked, peering at the thickly falling snow.

  “Up to you. If we don’t take this opportunity, how long before you’ll have weather to help Scotty build his first snowman?”

  “Good point,” she said. “Let’s get our gear. Scotty, unbuckle, but snap on Mr. Bones’s leash and don’t let go of him when we get out. I see what looks like a water faucet where we can tie him up for a few minutes. This will be his first experience with snow, too.”

  “In snow this deep domestic pets need sweaters and booties,” Wyatt said. “While you two zip your coats and put on hats and gloves, I’ll take him out for a few minutes.”

  “I should have realized his coat isn’t thick enough for such cold. We could still get snow at the ranch. I’ll need to order him winter wear.”

  As it turned out, Mr. Bones didn’t like snow at all. Wyatt swept off a spot on the concrete parking area, but the dog shivered, hopped around, whined and barely did his business before trying to climb back into Wyatt’s arms. He carried the wiggling animal back to the SUV.