by Nancy Radke
She took advantage of the opportunity to concentrate on Adam. Although younger than Mike, he was the natural leader, good humored yet decisive, orchestrating the efforts so that they functioned as a team. Under his direction the work progressed swiftly and without hesitation. They brought enthusiasm to their job, working with zeal at the type of labor they loved, outdoors and with companions whom they respected.
As they worked, they discussed Karen’s plan and the possibility of changing Gramps’ attitude. Mike admitted he could think of nothing better and was fulsome with his recommendation of Jo. “She’s the only one of us who can pull it off.”
“That’s for sure. So you’re going to do it, Jo?” Adam cast her an inquiring look, his challenge like a thrown rope—with a noose on the end.
“I don’t want to. Not particularly.”
“Why not?” Adam lifted his chin sharply, his eyes narrowing. “Afraid of what Gramps will say? That sounds familiar.”
“I’m afraid we might stir up something we can’t handle.”
“You willing to let Karen and Johnny try instead?”
Commitment, like a lasso, settled on her shoulders. “No. No, I’ll do it. I just don’t want anything bad to happen.”
“Why should it? He’s tougher than you think.”
“How would you know? But it might work.”
“Then it’s a go.” The noose tightened. She was caught.
She nodded.
“Good.” Adam grinned. “Now the way I understand Karen’s plan, our courtship needs to be out in the open to be effective. Then when we announce our engagement, Gramps will be more or less prepared.”
“Good luck on that,” said Mike. “It has a chance of working, but you’ll have to make it realistic—and extremely convincing.”
“We will,” Adam promised confidently. “No problems there.”
Jo studied a heart-shaped patch of lichen on a nearby rock. He might not have a problem, but she did. And Mike wasn’t helping things at all. He was getting Adam primed and ready. Last night Adam had said he would collect on the many debts she owed him. What if he called in all his markers?
“Gramps is a suspicious old devil. He won’t be fooled if he suspects anything not ringing true. You’ll have to do the love scenes over and over,” Mike added mischievously, as they finished and prepared to leave.
CHAPTER FIVE
Alone with Adam. It was what Jo wanted, yet did not want. With the fence work finished at five-thirty, Johnny left them, followed shortly by Mike, who accepted Adam’s off-hand assurance that he wasn’t needed to separate the herds.
Jo eased herself into the saddle, her legs still stiff and sore from yesterday’s outing. “You go first,” she told Adam. “Since they’re on your land, you’ll know where they’ll most likely be.”
With a flashing grin and a flick of a gloved finger to his hat brim, Adam rode off down the trail into the timber, his mottled-gray dog, Murray, following like an extension of his master.
Jo lifted the reins in an imperceptible signal and Paca obediently moved out, ears pointed forward, eager to go, instantly responsive. They rode silently for some time, single file because of the narrow trail, each encompassed with his own thoughts. It was peaceful in the woods, and cares had a way of floating away, but Jo continued to worry.
Everyone assumed she could change Gramps’ mind. She had her doubts, both as to her power to sway him and to the method used. Wouldn’t it have been simpler to tackle the old man on her own and not involve Adam? This way, she had to worry about what Adam might do or say, as well as herself.
How would Adam approach this? As a joke, or as a serious attempt to get the families together? Adam was as capable as Mike of being a prankster. She did not trust him one bit.
The cocklebur in Jo’s young life, an irritant she rarely escaped, Adam had teased her constantly as they were growing up. She had retaliated by sic’ing her two older brothers on him. Especially Tom, who was the same age as Adam and loved a good fight.
How she wished she knew him better. What if he reverted back to the old Adam who had tormented her during the one year of high school they had shared? He had made that time nearly impossible.
Perhaps she was a traitor for even considering this arrangement. Gramps trusted her more than anyone. She had never betrayed him. She was not in the practice of letting anyone down.
Adam had let her down, hard, and she’d never forgotten, or forgiven.
It happened soon after she entered high school. She was just becoming aware of boys as something other than a general nuisance and had begun to covertly examine the adolescent crowd in which she found herself.
The time remained so vivid in her mind, she still remembered what she wore—jeans and a teal-blue T-shirt, one of her favorites, since it brought out the reddish highlights in her auburn hair and made her hazel eyes look blue-grey.
She was weaving her way through the crowded hallway, searching for her locker number, when Adam stepped out abruptly in front of her, making them collide.
“Hello, Jo,” he said, grinning as he steadied the two books back into her arms. “Still having accidents?”
Struck dumb by the suddenness of his appearance, she backed off, casting quick glances to either side, seeking escape. Up to now, she had successfully avoided him.
“Oh...uh...hello,” she squeaked, in a voice high-pitched with nervousness. “I’m late...excuse me.” She shuffled from side to side but he effectively blocked the way, eyes focused intently on her.
“What’s your hurry?” he demanded. “You have two minutes before the bell. Stay and talk.” His smile broadened, invitingly.
Struck by shyness, Jo turned her face away. She never spoke to Adam unless forced to, mainly because she never knew what words were going to come out. “I, uh, I need to put these in my locker and...and get my math book.”
“Sure.” Stepping back two strides, he stopped at her locker — a lower one — and stood aside for her to open it.
Kneeling, she dropped her books on the floor. Her heart was racing, nervousness scrambling her mind. What did Adam want to talk about? Why had he stopped her? Reaching out she spun the dial, left, then right and back. It did not work, so she tried again.
Her combination. She could not remember it. After three embarrassing attempts Adam dropped down on one knee long enough to do it for her. In the process his hand covered hers, and she jerked away as if stung.
“Thanks.” She was not going to ask how he knew her locker number and its combination. As a senior, he probably had his sources. Had he looked hers up? And if so, why? Quickly she switched books, slammed the door and stood up.
She caught Adam’s sweeping glance, admiring her. Her hair was in a ponytail and she wished she had left it down that day. Was he actually interested in her?
He stood even closer, hands on hips, confident. “Are you still too good for the Traherns?” he asked. “Afraid of your Grampa?”
“Why, no. No, of course not.”
“All grown up, huh?” he said, grinning sideways at three boys who had stopped to see what was happening. “Let’s see.”
With the lockers behind her, Jo felt trapped. She was having trouble thinking straight and had a dreadful feeling she should not have denied being afraid of her grandfather. Not that she was, just overly considerate of the old man and fiercely loyal to him. Jo rubbed one foot on top of the other, scuffing her new shoes. Although a Sophomore, she was only fifteen, helpless to know how to get out of the situation.
Adam’s earnest expression was topped with an encouraging smile. “Prove it. There’s a football game Friday night. Come with me. Deal?”
Jo closed her eyes, swallowing hard. The temptation to say “yes,” to go out with her “dream hero” was impossible to resist. The football game...she could come in early with Tom, who played left halfback. “Deal,” she said, for she could slip away and meet Adam after her brother dropped her off. Gramps need not know that she’d stolen this one even
ing with the enemy....
“I’ll pick you up at five at your place,” Adam said. “It will have to be early so I can suit up.”
“Oh, no. You needn’t bother. Tom has to come in and I’ll ride with him. It’ll save you the extra—”
“No, no problem...I’ll pick you up,” he interrupted. “I always do the polite thing and say ‘howdy’ to my date’s parents before we leave. Let ‘em know when I plan to bring her back.” He lifted one eyebrow at the gathering crowd of boys. “Don’t I, fellows?”
They nodded, grinning, watching her squirm. Of course they’d know all about the rift between the two families, being in the same class as Tom and Adam.
Jo wished the floor would open and drop her through, like a magician vanishing effortlessly. Why had he done this in such a public place? “It’s all right this time, honest. I’ll meet you at the game.”
“Nope. A date’s a date.” Before she could react, he plucked her book out of her hands. “Let’s go. I’ll walk you to your class.”
“Oh, no.”
“It’s the least I can do, now you’re going out with me.” He sounded so sincere. How was she going to explain that in order to do it his way, she’d have to hurt her grandfather? She could not do that.
“But you don’t understand.” Jo closed her eyes for a second, wishing it was true. To be able to be with Adam, to have him claim her as his girl....
“What’s there to understand? I asked and you said, `Yes.’ I have your word on it.”
He looked so innocent. Surely he must know what she was talking about? She did not want to hurt Adam, but if she had to, she would. She must keep this from getting back to her grandfather.
“Well, now I’m saying ‘no.’ I’m sorry, but I can’t.” She felt terrible, doing this to him.
“Why? Too much of a coward?” he mocked, his words cutting into her sensitive heart.
“No. But I can’t hurt my grandfather. It’s too soon, Adam. You know how he feels. It would just re-open old wounds—”
His expression turned bitter, his words clipped. “Might clean ‘em out. It wasn’t my fault. I wasn’t driving the car.”
Jo almost stamped her foot from frustration. Why was he making it so hard for her? “Just the same—”
“You’re as stubborn as your grandfather and just as unforgiving. Anyway, I figured you wouldn’t go through with it. I won five bucks.”
“Five bucks? You had a bet on it?” Anger and pride slammed across her, effectively wiping away all feelings of sympathy for him. “Well thanks, but no thanks, Adam Trahern. You just proved my grampa right.”
A bet. It had all been a joke to Adam—he’d planned the whole thing—and she had gone through agony over it. Burning with shame and humiliation, she shoved her way out of the circle of laughing boys, vowing she would never speak to him again.
It had all happened years ago, but the scene raged furiously through Jo’s mind as she rode behind Adam, disturbing her as usual. It made her simmer with hurt and anger, stirring up wounded feelings that had tormented her over the years. In one cruel moment he had destroyed her hero-worship. Her dream image of him had turned from rescuer to enemy, making her vow revenge. She’d lead him on, then drop him, in front of everyone. Or refuse to dance...or hand back his ring.
Could she trust him now? He had seemed so sincere years ago. She had made an easy target. Was this just another trap, more elaborate, to get at her grandfather? Was he using Karen’s plan for his own devises?
With the passage of time, the desire to get even had left Jo. She had to give Karen’s plan a try...but she’d watch Adam all the way.
A flash of blue announced the arrival of a Steller’s Jay, his raucous call breaking the silence, as he warned all the forest folk that there were intruders in the woods. As they grew near, he flew up the trail about a hundred feet, his call sounding like a toy noisemaker spun at a New Year’s party. He repeated this until the two riders broke out of the trees onto the ridge. At that point the jay flew back into the timber, quiet at last.
The jay could prove an effective icebreaker. It was time to try a little normal conversation.
Urging Paca closer, Jo called forward, “That was quite a performance. Do you think he’ll give an encore when we return?”
“Maybe,” Adam called back over his shoulder. “He’s done that to me before—at least I expect it’s the same bird. He reminds me of your grampa, always warning everyone about me, even though I pose no threat.”
Can you guarantee that? “Gramps is just protective.”
“...of you. Always of you. He’s afraid I’ll take you away from him.”
“He doesn’t need to worry about that ever happening.”
“He will if we start dating, get engaged.”
“Well, yes. Maybe we shouldn’t. I’m still leery of this charade, Adam.”
He stiffened and snapped his reply back over his broad shoulders. “Grampa’s favorite girl. Can do no wrong.”
She was her grandfather’s favorite and proud of it, but Adam’s words mocked that pride. “We’re lucky I am,” she snapped back, “or this might not work.”
“It still might not work. He’s going to be mad as a wounded bull if he thinks he’s losing his grip on you.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. We’re going to have to deal gently with him, Adam.”
“Huh. He doesn’t have a gentle word in him...towards me. He even tries to re-arrange family history to make your family look better.”
“What do you mean?” Jo frowned, staring hard at Adam’s back, straight and tall in the saddle.
“He claims the Davies family was the first to settle in these mountains...before the Traherns..”
“Well, we were. Our family settled on the ridge in the early 1900’s, from Ohio.”
“But we were here before you, not that it makes any difference.” The words shot back to her, clearly, as he negotiated a small ravine.
“How do you figure that?” she challenged, clamping her sore legs to hold herself as Paca dropped to the bottom, then jumped out. She knew the history of this area. Gramps had made sure of that.
“The first Trahern, Trey, settled in the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla before your folks came. His grandson, Barnabas, moved to this part of the mountain when it got crowded.”
“So Gramps is partially right.”
“Not to hear him tell it.”
“But we were in this part of the mountains first.”
He turned in the saddle so as to face her, his dark eyes ablaze with pride. “Not really. My great-great-great grandmother is Shoshone. The tribe that guided Lewis and Clark. They, and the Nez Perce, were here before anyone.”
“I can’t argue that. But I’m sure Gramps wasn’t thinking of them when he referred to your family.”
“He should have. They’re part of it. No different from other folks. I’m very proud of her people. They’re peace-loving and honest.”
And handsome, Jo added to herself, knowing that Adam got most of his impressive features from them. “And I’m proud of Gramps. He and his mother brought us through the Great Depression without losing our ranch.”
“He’s tough all right. As tough and stubborn as an old range bull.”
“Except for his heart.”
“Maybe.”
The way he said the word made Jo’s hopes plummet. It was going to be hard to convince Adam that they must be extra careful of her grandfather’s feelings. “What do you mean?”
“I think you folks coddle him too much.”
“We don’t. His heart condition is real. We can’t upset him—-”
“I know, I know. But you’ve let him get away with so much, he’s like a spoiled child.”
“I don’t agree. Gramps is a little hard to get along with, but he’s certainly not a spoiled child.”
“Well, he acts that way to me.” Adam reined to a halt, pointing to his left. “There’s your Dad’s bull.”
The old Hereford
stood by himself, head up, watching them. No cows were with him. It looked like his entire harem had turned traitor, defecting to Adam’s younger bull.
He should have known better than to take on the younger animal, Jo thought. Now he’s lost everything...at least until Adam and I sort things out.
“Let’s drive him to the corral, then find the rest,” Adam said as he swung his mount to circle the animal. “Ride ahead and see if the gate’s open. The corral’s in the next valley ahead, to your left. You’ll need to look sharp, it’s in a grove of willow.”
“Okay,” she said, and put Paca into a trot, willing to drop the discussion for now. She did not enjoy sparring with Adam, not when he was so set against her grandfather and all the old man meant to her.
She had ridden this trail lots of times and never saw a corral. Maybe it was new. Curious, she pulled up in the dry creek bed and looked to her left. There was brush there, all right, but no fence as far as she could see.
“Come on, Paca, let’s take a closer look. The man said there’s a corral here, so where is it?”
She rode into the willows, up the creek bed then out again, following the semblance of a trail. Straight ahead was a closed pole gate with a fenced-in area behind it. She dismounted and opened the gate. Not very big, but well hidden in the brush.
Adam ushered the Hereford across the clearing and into the small pen. The animal took its time, looking around. He appeared to be in good health. Evidently his battle with Adam’s bull had done him no harm. Would Gramps come through the next few months as unscathed?
“What do you think of my corral?” Adam asked.
Jo shut the gate. “Kind of small, as corrals go. How are we going to separate them in there?”
“Gotcha.” Adam laughed. “That’s the holding pen — you’re standing in the corral. I’ve woven poles and wire throughout the brush so this is all enclosed. You came in the gate when you went through that brush over there.”
He rode ahead of her to the entrance. “See, here’s my gate.” He pointed to three poles, their ends sticking out between two trees.
“Neat, but why the camouflage?”
