Riding the River (The Westerners, Book One)
Page 17
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Some of the cowboys walked into the big dining room for lunch to see a bunch of female guests excitedly picking teams. Aaron, Frank and Tyler had come in ahead of Matt and Richie… The women had finished up lunch and were about to head out. Matt noticed Sarah’s cheeks were flushed with excitement about something, but Tess was checking out Richie. He smiled over at her.
“Listen, Matt,” whispered Richie. “Can you play for me after dinner? I want to take Tess out to show her the stars.”
Matt laughed. “Oh, is that what you call it now?”
Richie nodded.
“Okay… Your guitar in your cabin?”
“Yeah, I’ll get it over to you.” Then he looked at him. “Where’s yours? You’re better than I am and you haven’t played much in weeks.”
Matt rubbed his forehead. “Just haven’t felt like it, I guess.”
“Well, get in the mood. Women like musicians,” he kidded.
The ladies all got up and left the room noisily. Mr. Walker came in from another room and walked over to the cowboys to say hello.
“What’s with the gals?” said Frank.
“… Off to play cowboy golf.”
Matt smiled at that. “They seem to be finding great things to do every day.”
“That’s what we’re here for, son. Let’s keep the guests happy.” Mr. Walker strode after the women to make sure they were heading to the right area. He stuck his head back around a corner. “Frank, give me a hand, would you? I want you to show the ladies where the golf course is set up.”
Frank got up and walked with Mr. Walker outside. The rest of the cowboys got their lunches and sat down to eat.
“So…” began Richie while cutting his steak.
“So?” asked Matt.
“She golfs too.”
Matt shrugged. “Probably plays a lot in Baltimore.”
“What can’t this girl do? Hmmm?”
“I don’t know, Richie. I don’t know her much at all.”
Dale heard that comment and walked over to stand by their table. Richie, Matt, Aaron and Tyler looked up at him.
“That’s your mistake.”
“What is, Dale?”
“That you don’t know her very well.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said… So?” Matt looked puzzled.
“And that’s all I’m saying.”
Matt and Richie were scratching their heads. “But you haven’t said anything, Dale,” said Richie.
“That’s right. Enjoy the chicken fried steak.” And he walked back to the kitchen.
The four cowboys looked at each other with wide eyes.
“What the hell was that all about?” asked Tyler. He reached for the saltshaker.
“… Absolutely no idea,” said Matt.
Richie tried again. “Maybe… he was trying to tell us something. You, Matt… “
“What about me?”
“You made the comment that he responded to.”
“What did I say?”
Richie looked confused. Aaron brightened. “… Something about not knowing someone or something…”
“This is hopeless.” Tyler began to eat his food.
Everyone agreed with him except for Matt. He sat there, fork in hand and tried to figure out what Dale had been saying. He put down his fork, excused himself and got up to walk into the kitchen. Richie gave him a puzzled look when he left.
Dale was cleaning pans when Matt walked in the kitchen. He pushed a hand through his dark hair, the other held onto his cowboy hat. Serious eyes.
“I said I didn’t know her very well.”
“That’s correct.” Dale stopped what he was doing and looked over at him.
“And then you said that was my mistake, right?”
“Yes.”
“What are you trying to say, Dale?”
“I’m saying nothing. You need to figure this out for yourself.”
Matt shuffled his feet and looked around the kitchen. His eyes finally came back to Dale’s.
“Can you give me a clue?”
“You want one, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“…Why?”
That was a question that sent him around the bend. Why did he? Didn’t he like his life as it was? Why did he want to get mixed up with some girl? A city slicker.
“Listen, Dale… I don’t know anything right now.” He sat down on a chair by the kitchen table. “I met this girl from Baltimore that I can’t stop thinking about. I know nothing much about her…” He shook his head at Dale’s unasked question. “I asked. She wouldn’t tell me anything about her life.”
“Maybe she’s not ready.”
“Okay, I get that but…”
“But?” Dale sat down by him.
“She’s a guest, for Pete’s sake. She’ll be going back to Baltimore in less than a week.” He lowered his eyes. “Why do I care?”
Dale smiled. “You care because you don’t want her going back to Baltimore, son. Face it…”
“That’s not fair of me. Her home is somewhere else. She has a life somewhere else… Probably a boyfriend.”
“What if she stayed another week?”
“… Same difference. She’d still be leaving sooner or later.” He looked up at Dale. “My stomach is tied in knots.” Dale smiled.
“This is a long time in coming for you, Matt. Even if she doesn’t stay, welcome back to the world. She’s apparently opened up that can of worms that you welded shut after Betsy left.”
“We’re not saying her name.”
“No, don’t give Betsy that much importance. You and she were a bad fit from the beginning. The only good thing to come of that relationship is little Tommy. How is he, by the way?”
Matt smiled. “He’s good and coming out to visit next month. He’ll stay with my grandfather, as will I.”
“Still looking at buying that little ranch next door to your grandfather’s?”
“Yep,” Matt smiled turning his hat around in his hands. “It’s a pretty place.”
“Take her out to see it sometime.”
Matt blinked his eyes in surprise. “You’re kidding. Why would I do that?”
Dale blew out a breath. “Youth is definitely wasted on the young. You and she need to talk to each other.”
“We’re still getting to know one another. That takes time.”
“Don’t take too long. Try to talk to her some night on the horse drive. You’ll be out under the stars – pretty romantic and all.”
Matt actually blushed and then laughed. “Yeah, well… I’ll see what I can do.” He met his eyes. “Thanks, Dale.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dale shooed him away. “Everyone comes to me with their troubles.”
“Father Confessor?” Then Matt thought of something. “Has Sarah talked with you about anything?”
“… Sorry,” he said, “confessions are confidential. You’re going to have to find out on your own.”
Matt got up from the table and put on his hat. “All right. Thanks, Dale. See ya.” He walked out of the kitchen. Dale sat there watching him leave and then shook his head.
“That boy’s smitten… but he doesn’t know it yet.”
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN