A Randall Thanksgiving

by Judy Christenberry

  Melissa turned away, tears in her eyes.

  Harry wanted to reach out to her, to help her, but he actually agreed with Griff and John. Couldn’t she see how important it was to all of them that she come home?

  Not that it was any of his business. Of course not. She might be the most kissable woman he’d ever met, but he knew better than to lose his heart to someone who didn’t want to live in Rawhide. This was his home and he wasn’t leaving.

  John stood as his father moved past. “You might as well sit down, Dad. You’ve got to think of Mom. She’s going to need you to be strong for her.”

  Griff looked at him as if he hadn’t heard his words.

  Melissa added her plea. “Mom will be leaning on you, Dad.”

  “And what about you?” Griff roared. “She’ll need you, too!”

  “And I’m going to be there for her, Dad. You know I will.” Melissa sat back down. “I’ll take care of her.”

  “And then you’ll leave again!”

  “Dad,” John interrupted. “Now’s not the time to fight this battle.”

  “You’re right,” Griff said with a sigh as he sank into his chair. “But we will fight it, Melissa. I’ve been too tolerant of your staying in France.”

  “I’m an adult, Dad, not a child,” Melissa said indignantly.

  Harry stood. “I think it’s time you and I go find some lunch for everyone, Melissa. You all need to eat to keep up your strength. Come on.”

  She resisted momentarily, then picked up her coat and started to join Harry. Suddenly she stopped. “Dad, I don’t have any money to buy lunch. Harry paid for breakfast and—”

  “Sorry, Harry, I didn’t think,” Griff immediately said. He pulled out his billfold and offered a fifty dollar bill.

  “No, Griff, it’s all right. I’ll—”

  “I insist you take this. You’ve taken care of all of us this morning and you’re not even family. The least I can do is pay for lunch.”

  Melissa reached out and took the money. “I’ll bring you back your change, Dad.”

  Harry grabbed Melissa’s arm and dragged her to the door. “Put on your coat.”

  “Yes, boss, I will.” She shrugged into the warm garment. He’d already put his on. As soon as she was wrapped up, she followed him out into the snowy weather.

  “Isn’t it a little early for lunch?” Melissa asked, suddenly realizing it was only ten o’clock.

  “Yeah, but you weren’t helping the situation in there. I thought you needed an exit. We can walk around town, get you some fresh air and exercise. I don’t think you get that much in France.”

  “Oh, really? You think you know so much about life in France? For your information we walk everywhere. People usually don’t own cars in Paris. They have good public transportation and walk a lot!”

  “And you think life there is that much better than life here in Wyoming?”

  “Yes! If you want to eat out, you have a million different places to go. Here you have only one or two.”

  “Don’t you believe in home cooking? Do you eat out all the time?”

  “It’s convenient. I work hard all day long. I don’t want to work hard at dinnertime, too.”

  “You work regular hours?” he asked in surprise.

  “No. I work a lot longer than most people. I kind of work the hours a rancher does. Daylight hours.”

  “You don’t work with lighting?”

  “Yes, I do, but I don’t prefer it. My place was built by an artist and allows in a lot of natural light.”

  “So you’re definitely going back?”

  She didn’t look at him, but said, “Yes, I am.”

  “Damn. Then I guess I’d better kiss you goodbye again.” Pulling her into the shadows of a doorway, he wrapped his arms around her and bent to kiss those lips that were driving him crazy.

  She didn’t resist. In fact, she slipped her arms around his neck and willingly participated in the kiss. Which made it all the more addictive for Harry.

  How long they would’ve continued, he didn’t know. But they were interrupted by one of his fellow deputies.

  “Hey, you two should find a warmer— Oh, Harry! Uh, I didn’t realize— Maybe you should go indoors.”

  “Yeah, Wayne, thanks.” His face red, Harry took Melissa by the arm and started walking again. As they went, he bent down to say, “You’d better leave soon, or I’m going to be fired for assaulting you on the street!”

  “It wasn’t an assault!” Melissa retorted indignantly. “It was a goodbye kiss. That’s different.”

  “Yeah, except that you’re not leaving today.”

  “He didn’t know that.”

  “If he didn’t, he will tomorrow,” Harry muttered.

  They walked in silence after that, except for the greetings Harry exchanged with townspeople who passed.

  Finally, she asked, “Do you know everyone in town?”

  “I reckon. Why?”

  “I don’t know a lot of them. Those I do know don’t even recognize me. I feel like a stranger, and I was born here!”

  “That’s what happens when you leave for another continent and don’t come home.”

  “I think it’s because I cut my hair and spiked it.”

  “Why did you do that?”

  “Because it’s all the rage in Paris.”

  “Well, it’s not in Rawhide,” he drawled, still moving.

  “How long are we going to walk?”

  “I don’t know. We’ve got awhile before it’s really lunchtime. I figure your dad will get some rest if he’s not fighting with you. Your mom will wake up and he’ll go in and see her. He’ll be a lot calmer when we get back.”

  “But I want to see Mom, too.”

  “She’s not going anywhere, honey. But your dad will go in first, even if you’re there.”

  “I know. I’m just worried about her,” Melissa said, lowering her head.

  Harry put his arm around her, and she leaned into him, drawing on his strength.

  “Maybe you’ll even get to feed her her lunch when we get back.”

  “Do you think they’ll let her eat lunch?”

  “Why not, if she’s awake and feeling good? And if you feed her it’ll free up a nurse to do other things.”

  “Then let’s go get our lunches so I’ll be finished and can feed her.”

  “We’re getting there,” he assured her. They’d walked all the way to the end of town. He turned her around and they started back to the center where the café was located.

  “What should we get them? Is Thursday still enchilada day?”

  “Of course. Things don’t change around here that much. Since it’s Sunday, we can get hamburgers or maybe some pot roast.”

  “So tell me what there is to see and do in Paris,” Harry asked, surprising Melissa.

  “Do you think you’re going to visit someday?”

  “You never know. When you were living in Rawhide, did you expect to go to France?”

  “No, not until I started taking French in college.”

  “So tell me about Paris.”

  “There’s a million things to see and do. The museums are incredible. Not just the Louvre, where the Mona Lisa hangs. The Centre Pompidou features modern art. The building itself is a work of art. And there’s an impressionist museum across the Seine, on the Left Bank.”

  “Isn’t there anything other than museums?”

  “Of course. There’s the Père Lachaise burial ground, where Jim Morrison is buried, and—”

  “You go visit a cemetery? Isn’t that a little bizarre?”

  “No, some famous people are buried there. And there are lots of street performers to see, and outdoor cafés where you can sit and watch the people go by. The river and its bridges are wonderful, too.”

  “You got me there. We don’t have a river in the middle of Rawhide.”

  “And the churches are spectacular. Notre Dame, of course, but there are others. And then there’s the Eiffel Tower.”<
br />
  “Have you been up it?”

  She nodded. “Everyone goes. It gives you the best view of the city. That and over in Montmartre you can ride a cable car to the top of the hill, where the Sacre Coeur Cathedral looks down on the city.”

  “Okay, you’ve convinced me that Paris is an exciting place to visit. But don’t you get tired of it after a while?” Harry asked.

  “Do you get tired of living in Rawhide?” she asked, taking him by surprise.

  “Of course not. It’s always changing.” He sat back and stared at her. “Okay, you’ve made your point.”

  “It’s strange, isn’t it? I was born here and went away. You were born somewhere else and came here.”

  “Are you saying you’ll never move back here?”

  “I don’t know about the future. Neither do you. Who can tell what will happen?”

  “I’m pretty sure I won’t be moving to Paris. After all, I don’t think they have a big need for deputy sheriffs.”

  “Is that all you’re trained to do?”

  “’Fraid so. I majored in law enforcement back in Colorado. My minor was business, but I don’t think I have much talent in that area.”

  “You seem better suited to ranching than anything else.”

  Harry shook his head. “I don’t know much about that, either. John knows tons more than me. But I can ride a horse and chase a few cows, so I could probably work as a cowhand. I like being a deputy sheriff here, however.”

  “But you can’t get promoted to sheriff. Mike is young and he’s not going anywhere.”

  “I know,” Harry said. “I wouldn’t want him to leave. He’s good for Rawhide.”

  “Well, Caro certainly doesn’t want him to go move away. If he left, she’d go with him and the whole town would protest.”

  Harry laughed.

  “It doesn’t bother you that you can’t be promoted?” Melissa pressed.

  “No. Mike lets all of us take responsibility. We’re happy being deputy sheriffs.”

  But he could tell Melissa didn’t really understand his position. She was a go-getter, career minded, with high ambition. An ambition that had taken her halfway around the world.

  When the takeout order was ready, Harry grabbed the sacks and, after Melissa paid the bill, walked her to the hospital.

  He held the door open and after a thank-you, goodbye and a smile, Melissa rushed through it, eager to find out how her mother was doing.

  Despite the smile, Harry felt all knotted up. Over breakfast they’d laughed easily, and he was beginning to think they’d made a connection—beyond the physical one that had been there since the night in the bar. Until she brought up their innate differences.

  He left her at the hospital and headed over to the Sheriff’s Office to work out. That was exactly what he needed to blow off his mood.

  “What are you doing here, Harry?” a voice called out as he walked into the Sheriff’s Office. “You don’t work on Sundays.”

  “Hi, Wayne. I thought I’d catch up on some things today.” Without any small talk, he headed for the workout room.

  “Uh, before you go, Harry, I need to tell you something.”

  “Look, if you’re referring to what happened earlier, it’s no big deal.”

  “No, that wasn’t it. I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d known that was you, but I hadn’t heard you’d found a new lady.”

  Harry squared his shoulders. “What did you need to tell me?”

  “Uh, I turned in my resignation earlier this morning.”

  “You what? Why would you do that, Wayne? I thought you were happy here.”

  “I am! I mean, I was. But my wife’s mother died and she says we need to go to Cody to help out her dad.”

  “And you’re willing to do that?”

  With a rueful grin, Wayne said, “Yeah. She has to come first, you know? Mike’s promised to call the sheriff in Cody and see if he’ll consider me for the first opening they have.”

  “I bet they will. Mike’s made a good reputation for himself and our department since he’s been here.” Harry crossed over to the desk where Wayne was sitting and offered his hand. “I’ll miss you, Wayne. It’s been good working with you.”

  “You’ve taught me a lot, Harry. It’s not just Mike. You’ve been a real help. I’ll miss everyone here. I feel like I’m letting down the team.”

  “No, you’re right, Wayne. The wife has to come first.” After he said that, Harry moved toward the workout facility, eager to start feeling those endorphins.

  “You don’t have to work today, Harry. Consider it my farewell gift.”

  “Naw, I’ll work. You might need some extra time helping your wife pack up.” He closed the door behind him before Wayne could argue. Harry figured he needed the discipline that the job brought to him. It would help keep thoughts of Melissa at bay.

  If anything could.

  Chapter Six

  “All I hear is ‘Harry this’ and ‘Harry that.’ I guess I owe him a debt of gratitude for taking care of you all.”

  Camille smiled at her family, gathered on both sides of her bed. They’d been here when she woke up, and their faces were a blessed sight, one that had brought tears to her eyes.

  “We were worried about you,” Griff explained. “I guess we needed Harry’s level head.” He took his wife’s hand.

  “He reminded us to eat.” Melissa added.

  “And he kept us from having a fight right there in the waiting room,” John stated.

  Immediately Melissa and Griff turned to glare at him, and Camille noticed his deer-in-the-headlights look.

  “Fight? You almost had a fight? What about?” she demanded.

  “It was nothing, Mom,” Melissa insisted.

  “Yeah, honey, it was just the tension,” Griff said hurriedly.

  Camille looked at her son. She could always get information out of him. “John?”

  “Uh, yeah, Mom, it was just the tension.”

  “Children, I need to speak to your father alone,” Camille said calmly, with a smile.

  “I don’t think—”

  She cut off her husband with another plea to her children.

  “We’ll see you later, Mom,” John said, bending to kiss her cheek.

  Melissa sent her father an apologetic look and followed her brother out of the room.

  Griff gave his wife a smile. “Now, honey, there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “I hope not, dear, but I would guess it was one of two things. Either you were pressing Melissa about Harry, or you were pressing her about returning home. And I won’t have either one occurring. Do you hear me?”

  “Sweetheart, it’s only right that a daughter be there for her mother,” Griff stated, his voice filled with righteous indignation.

  “She is here for me right now, isn’t she? That doesn’t mean she has to give up her life in France. She’s an adult and she gets to make her own choices. I don’t want you mentioning that subject to her ever again!”

  “But what if you get sick again?”

  Camille saw the fear on his face, but she gave him a soulful look. “You mean you wouldn’t take care of me?”

  “Of course I would, sweetheart! I’ll always be here for you!”

  “Good. Then we don’t have to worry about what Melissa does, do we? Because I’ll always be here for you, too.”

  Griff leaned over to kiss her. “You’re right, honey. I guess it was the fear that got to me. I shouldn’t have said anything. Anyway, Harry saw that both Melissa and I needed a breather, so he took her to get lunch for us. He was a good friend this morning.”

  “But you didn’t push Harry on her, did you?”

  “Nope. I wasn’t thinking that clearly.” He laughed. “I swear it was Harry’s idea. And Melissa went with him without fussing. She seemed okay when she came back, didn’t she?”

  “Yes, she did. You’ve all been wonderful, dear.”

  “We’re trying, honey.”

  “Now, I wa
nt the three of you to go home. The nurses will take care of me, but the ranch needs you, especially in this weather.”

  “Let Melissa stay with you, and John and I will go. I don’t want you here alone.”

  “All right. But take Melissa home so she can pack a bag, then bring her back. I don’t think she’s used to driving in this much snow.”

  “You’ve got a deal, sweetheart.” He kissed her again and headed for the waiting room.

  After Griff announced that they were going home, Melissa stepped forward. “I’ll stay here with Mom. She shouldn’t be left alone.”

  “That’s what I told her, honey. She’s going to have a nap while I take you home to pack a bag. I’ll have you back here within the hour.”

  And he was true to his word, pulling up at the hospital forty-five minutes later. “Take good care of your mother,” he said to her.

  “I will, Dad, I promise.”

  “Oh, and about that almost-fight we had, that won’t happen again. You’re right, you’re an adult. You get to make your own decisions, no matter what I think about them.”

  Melissa drew a deep breath. “Thank you, Dad.”

  “I’m going to drop by the Sheriff’s Office and thank Harry again. Any message you want me to take him?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Melissa appreciated her father’s apology, but was a little suspicious about his offer to deliver a message to Harry. Maybe she’d check with Harry later, when her dad had gone home.

  She found her mother still sleeping, so she took out a pad and pencil and began sketching ideas for new jewelry she might want to make. Especially if she started her own line here in America.

  She had forced that idea from her mind while she dealt with the question of her mother’s health. Now she could consider her options.

  Her opinion didn’t change, however. She had learned a great deal from Monsieur Jalbert, but she was tiring of his iron-fisted control. She thought she would enjoy being her own boss. Even if she never got rich from designing jewelry, she didn’t have to worry about money. Her father had continued to manage both her and her brother’s sizable accounts, established by their grandfather long ago.

  Melissa flipped to a new page of her pad and began drafting a letter to her boss, explaining that she wouldn’t be renewing her contract and thanking him for all he had taught her. She kept her unhappiness with him to herself. She wouldn’t send such a letter until she knew when she would be returning to Paris to pack. But she would be sending it. As for where she’d go to start her business, she wasn’t sure. But she had some time now to think and plan.