"What are you doing, Mattie?"
So startled that she almost dropped the little angel figurine she held, Mattie recovered with a guilty start. "I, um, I'm memorizing the prices of the new collectible items we just got in."
"Memorizing?" A sudden flash of understanding hit Aurora. "Mattie, do you have trouble seeing?"
Mattie twitched nervously. "Well...yes. That's why I try to memorize the price of everything. Then when a customer buys it, I don't have to try to read the price tag." She lowered her head. "That print is so small, and I'm always trying to hurry so I won't keep the customer waiting."
"Have you seen the eye doctor recently?"
"Yes. He says I...I have cataracts. He wants me to have surgery." Mattie started to cry. "I know I make mistakes, but sometimes I forget the prices. Peggy knows how much I need this job, so I think she pretends not to notice."
"Why don't you have the surgery? These days it isn't complicated or dangerous. It doesn't even require much time convalescing. If it's the money, I'm sure the doctor would let you work out some sort of payment plan."
"I have my health insurance and medicare. It's that, well, at first I couldn't leave with Peggy feeling so bad, you see. Then you came and, well, I was afraid you'd fire me if I was off work long enough to have the surgery."
"Oh, Mattie." Aurora’s mouth gaped in shock. Was every woman in Post a martyr? With a resigned sigh, she explained, "In the first place, I just work for Peggy and probably don't even have the authority to fire you. In the second place, you positively must take care of your eyesight." With soft, firm hands she turned Mattie toward the back of the store and gave her a gentle push. "Now, you go to the phone at the back and call the doctor right now to arrange for your surgery as soon as possible."
Mattie appeared poised for flight as she stood ready to rush to the phone in the office. "But what will you do about the store?"
"If Susan can't fill in full-time while you're out, I'll find someone on a temporary basis."
Aurora shook her head as she watched Mattie head for the phone. Who dreamed the reason for all those mistakes was poor eyesight instead of merely stupidity? She grimaced. Poor eyesight didn't totally explain resistance to any change, but it helped. With a shudder, she thought of Mattie driving the two miles to and from work and her small home each day.
Susan could not work full-time, but her friend Emily Weston jumped at the chance to fill in for Mattie. With school now dismissed for the summer, Emily found an abundance of teenagers to babysit her two children. Emily caught on to store procedures quickly and appeared a real natural in retail sales. Aurora found herself wishing she could keep Emily permanently.
Emily wanted to be a stay-at-home mother for another year until her youngest child entered first grade. Working these two weeks garnered extra money for the family vacation. She agreed to fill in on an emergency basis for Aurora or Peggy in the future. Well, maybe in a year...Aurora startled herself when she realized she planned for the future as if, in a year, she would be here at Raphael's Cards and Gifts in Post. She gave herself a mental shake. What could she be thinking?
At the nursing home, Aurora explained the employee situation to Peggy.
"It's always nice to have a back up," Peggy told Aurora.
"By the way, I love the ads you've placed in the newspaper. Did you think them up?"
Pleasure flooded through her. At last, something positive from this woman. The reception the advertisements received from the customers surprised even Aurora. "Yes, I spent quite a bit of time on them, so I'm glad you like them. I think they've paid for themselves."
Happy to find Peggy in a positive mood, she broached another project. "Have you thought of stocking a few more choices in china and pottery? I think it would encourage brides from this area to register selections with you rather than only at the stores in Lubbock."
Peggy nodded, a frown creasing her brow. "I did think about it, but the good china companies I spoke to wanted so much money to establish an account--thousands on deposit. I just couldn't afford it."
"I've been doing some checking, and I'd like to leave you some figures on several companies you might not have considered." Aurora took a sheaf of papers from her handbag and placed them on Peggy's tray.
The two chatted a few minutes about the store and events around town. Aurora didn't want to overtire Peggy and stood to leave.
Peggy suddenly sobered. "I never thought I would enjoy myself away from the store. For years I thought about nothing but the store night and day. I really thought it couldn't go on without me there every day."
Aurora didn't know how to respond. Actually, business continued to improve in Peggy's absence. With so many little changes, it now seemed almost like a different store. Customers often commented on the improvements. They liked the brightened and cleaned store with its fresh and welcoming atmosphere. But Aurora couldn't tell any of this to Peggy, so she tried to be noncommittal. "Well, you know people ask about you every day. You have a lot of friends and loyal customers."
Peggy tapped at her chin, deep in thought. "That's lovely, isn't it? I thought I would miss it more." She raised her head, a look of dismay in her eyes. "Aurora, I'm very grateful to you for handling things for me. I'm just so surprised I enjoy not having to worry about the store. A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders."
* * *
The next evening Lily, Catrina, and Kelly showed up at the store just five minutes before closing. Kelly and Catrina bounded up to Aurora. Both chattered at once, but Kelly seemed to be the spokeswoman for the trio.
"We've come to steal you away for a dinner and a movie. Can you come?" The eagerness in her eyes warmed Aurora's heart. She tried to pretend her growing fondness for Kelly solely was friendship, with no maternal feelings involved. Sometimes Aurora almost convinced herself.
Behind Kelly, Lily placed an arm on the shoulder of each girl. "I called Rose to let her know we intend to spirit you away and also invite her," Lily explained. "She is much too smart to be caught with these two, but she says for you to come with us. Is this okay by you?"
Aurora nodded her agreement with a smile. "It sounds wonderful. I haven't seen a movie in weeks. Let me close up and then you can tell me where we're eating and which movie you chose."
With only one theater in town, the choice of movie was simple. The girls picked the local Dairy Queen for supper, and the women acquiesced.
"What are Raul and Will doing tonight?" Aurora tried to keep her voice casual, as if the answer were of no importance.
"Ha. Those two with Bob and Greg Hankins have gone to the Cattlemen's Association meeting. It is because many ranchers have lost cattle to rustlers lately.”
Concerned, Aurora turned to Lily. "Will didn't mention this to me. Has he lost cattle?"
Lily shook her head. "No, but many around us have. Never a great number of cattle, so it is a small operation. There is much concern, though. For days there will be nothing but talk of cows and rustlers. Juan and Hector were allowed to go with them."
Catrina pouted and added, "Yeah. They were really being stuck up about it, too." The women exchanged knowing glances. Catrina sounded as if she resented her brothers' special treatment by their father. This must be the reason for tonight's outing.
Aurora assured the young girl, "They'll be sorry tomorrow when they find out what a great time we had without them."
Lily shot Aurora a grateful smile. "Sí, this is verdad. They will be so jealous their brown eyes will turn as green as Aurora's when they learn of the evening we have had."
Kelly clung to Aurora like glue. As they waited for their food Kelly waited until Aurora gave her a reassuring smile. This gave her the courage to speak her mind. "If you marry my dad then we can do this a lot."
Lily’s eyes widened in alarm at Kelly's statement and she started to speak, but merely shrugged.
Oh, dear, thought Aurora. What can I say to make Kelly understand? "Kelly, you remember that I'm on my way to Colorado, don't yo
u?"
"Yes, I know you said that, but you can change your mind. I know you like Daddy and he likes you. Don't you like me?"
Aurora hugged the girl. "Of course. I like you very much, Kelly, and any woman would be very proud to have you for a daughter." She kept an arm on Kelly's shoulder and sighed. "It's just not that easy.”
Disappointment showed in Kelly's eyes. "It could be. You could marry my dad and then you'd be my stepmother. We could all be together and do a lot of things. It'd be great!"
Aurora hope for help from Lily but received only another shrug. "Kelly, only your father can decide who he wants to marry. It's not something I can explain easily, but you'll just have to trust his judgment and be patient."
Finally, Lily spoke up. "You girls go to the restroom now, so we can leave for the movie. Leave the grown up things to the grown ups."
With the girls out of earshot, Lily turned back to Aurora. "Now you know I would never interfere, but Kelly is right. You and Will make a perfect couple. You think about it."
Aurora’s voice betrayed her turmoil. "Oh, Lily. I have thought about it. He's still in love with Nancy. I never know where I stand with him. Besides, I'm on my way to Colorado. I really am intent on having my own business and becoming independent." Aurora twisted a paper napkin.
"Ha. You could make Will forget the pain of losing his Nancy." When Aurora looked up sharply, Lily added, "I've seen the way he looks at you. This is a man who cares deeply for you. There are businesses in Post." She leaned forward as if inspired. "What about this shop you're working in now? Already you have made many improvements there. You could buy this place."
Aurora shook her head. "I don't know. I just don't know." Could she live in Post if Will rejected her as a businesswoman? As she had many times recently, she asked herself, What should I do?
* * *
Aurora sat at what she had come to think of as her desk in the little office at the back of the store. She found it hard to believe that in only two weeks it would be Father's Day. Lost in thought about the time spent in her temporary situation, she jumped when a large hand set a bag on the desk in front of her.
Will stood in the doorway separating the store from the office and supply area. Aurora leaned back in her chair to gaze at the handsome cowboy in the doorway. She leapt to her feet. "You're not on crutches! You got the cast off your leg."
Will held out his arms and pivoted slowly for inspection. In one hand he held a cane. "I get to replace the crutches with this cane, and the cast is replaced by this brace for a while."
She grabbed his hand a squeezed. "That's wonderful, Will." Then, hands on hips she scolded, "You didn't say a word to me about getting the cast off."
He smiled and took her hand to pull her gently toward him. "Nick wasn't certain until he saw me this morning. I tried not to get too hopeful, just in case."
"What a wonderful birthday present for you--getting your cast off in plenty of time for your birthday and party in two weeks."
Aurora peered into the bag on her desk. "Mm. Those chunky chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies I love." She extracted a cookie from the bag, and bit into it. Her eyes closed as she savored the taste of the treat. "Mm. This is marvelous."
"Ahem. I hoped you'd share." Will’s mouth turned down in a pitiful expression.
"Oh, you did, did you? Well, I guess I can spare one cookie." Aurora extended the bag of cookies toward Will.
He took the bag from her and returned it to the desk. "You have a smear of chocolate," he said as he pulled her near.
With her hands resting lightly on his arms, Aurora asked, "Oh? Where?"
"Right here." Will leaned toward her and his tongue flicked at the imaginary spot on her lips before claiming them with his.
Aurora responded to his kiss with an intensity that surprised her. She pulled him closer and let him edge her further into the corner of the office.
When at last she pulled away, Aurora rested her head on Will's chest. "I think that Mrs. Barton who lives near you saw that. She's probably about to burst with disapproval if she did."
Will's low chuckle rumbled in his throat. "You can count on the fact that she saw us. That woman has to know everything that goes on in the county, you know."
Aurora peeked around Will to check the view through the door. "It's the fact that she has to tell everyone else what she knows--or imagines--that worries me."
He hugged Aurora to him again. "Aw, forget her. I came by to tell you that Kelly and I want to celebrate getting my cast off by taking you on a trail ride Sunday afternoon. She can hardly wait to show you how Misty performs. She wants me to tell you she has a nice gentle horse picked out for you to ride."
A slight furrow appeared in her brow as Aurora tried to remember the last time she had been on a horse. "I haven't ridden much, and not at all in ten years. I'm not sure I'll be a very good riding partner, Will. But, well, I'm game if your are."
"Great." He kissed the top of her nose and grabbed another cookie from the bag. "I have to get back to the ranch but I'll see you Sunday. We'll leave right after lunch."
* * *
On Sunday, the weather cooperated to present a day perfect for any outdoor summer activity. The ever-present wind calmed to a gentle breeze that cooled the sun's rays. Clouds like fluffy white cotton candy dotted the brilliant blue sky.
After church and a quick lunch, Aurora hurried to change into her blue denim jeans and a blue and white gingham shirt, the only long-sleeved shirt she had with her. When a couple of Will's cowboys eventually found her car half submerged in sand, the clothes in the car had been beyond repair. The insurance company declared the little car a total loss. Aurora replaced it with a sturdy used Jeep Cherokee great for driving in the Colorado mountains--or on a West Texas ranch.
Kelly knocked on the door and peeked in. "Aren't you ready yet?"
"Almost. I guess I'll wear my little Keds. Maybe the horse won't care."
Kelly’s grimace made it clear she thought Aurora's shoes pathetic. "You really should get some boots. They're much better for the stirrups."
Aurora slipped on the canvas shoes and rapidly tied the laces. "I know, I know. For today, though, these little shoes will have to do. One of the things I've noticed about managing a store is that it doesn't leave much time to shop at other stores." She gave her jeans one last tug over her socks and followed Kelly downstairs.
Rose waited at the foot of the stairs with a hat and a pair of riding gloves. "With your fair skin, you'll need this hat. The gloves will help, too, if you can stand them in this heat."
Aurora set the hat on her head and fastened it under her chin. Rose reached to adjust the tilt of the hat slightly and stood back to judge the effect. "Kelly has a hat similar to this one"--she gave Kelly a pat on the seat--"and she should wear her hat, too."
Kelly rubbed her seat and grinned. "I have it in the truck, Aunt Rose. I'll put it on when we get back in the truck and then Aurora and I will be twins."
Aurora checked herself in the entry mirror. The well-used hat gave her the appearance of a real cowgirl. Her face actually glowed, but with sun-block creme rather than any natural condition. "I've lathered my face and hands in sun block, but the hat will help. Thank you, Rose. I envy women with skin like yours that tans. My skin goes from white to red to painful blisters within minutes in the sun." She turned to Will and Kelly and curtsied. "I'm ready kind sir and fair maiden."
Kelly thought her remark hilarious, but Will just gazed at her with open admiration. She put her hand through his arm and gave a gentle tug that set him in motion.
Kelly's chatter about her week at school and stories of her horse Misty filled in the short drive. Soon the ranch’s native stone entry pillars appeared in view. Will drove through and bypassed the house to head directly to the barns.
In a manic mood, Kelly hopped up and down with excitement then ran into the barn. Will's horse was a large black gelding named Midnight. Kelly led a spry little brown and white pony to show Aurora.
"Here she is, this is Misty."
As if he sensed Aurora's apprehension, Will brought Honeycomb up to her. "Pat her on the nose to get used to her. She's a good horse and won't give you any trouble."
Aurora tentatively stroked the velvet nose of the palomino. "She's not one of your cutting horses who's going to turn sharply and leave me hanging in mid-air?"
"Not this one. I promise. Come on, I'll hold her while you mount."
Aurora climbed into the saddle with moves she hoped were more graceful than she suspected. Will retrieved saddlebags and canteens from the barn where he and Kelly stashed them earlier in the day. He put his cane in the empty rifle scabbard hanging from his saddle. Soon, the trio were on their way down to the creek.
Although she thought she recognized the big cottonwood tree by the creek, Will confirmed her memory when he pointed it out. "That's where you landed after your swim in the flood."
Ages old, the tree stood so majestically she could reach the bottom branches only because of the added height the horse gave her. Water here had been this deep! Now the little stream trickled with water only a few inches deep and a few feet wide. What a change the storm made.
Will led the way from the ranch and stream as they moved across rolling pastures. Aurora and Kelly engaged in a contest to identify the myriad of wildflowers blooming along the stream and in the grasslands, but Aurora was always conscious of Will's presence. He seemed relaxed and at peace here.
Aurora sighed with contentment. What a perfect day, so far, she thought. It was peaceful. Maybe she could fit into this life style. "The growth on the bluffs is so nice and green."
"Cedar, yuk." Kelly made a face as she spoke.
Will grimaced. "Yeah, it's a job to keep cedar, juniper, and the mesquite under control and out of the pasture land. We have to fight them constantly. Otherwise, they'd take over and cover the land. That ruins the grazing."
"You mean the settlers had to clear the grasslands of all those trees?" The enormity of that task seemed impossible to Aurora.
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