McKenzie

by Penny Zeller

  “Now, don’t you and Lucille go getting any ideas,” Jonah said. “I’m perfectly content with my life. I’ve never much cared to be married, anyhow.”

  Asa elbowed Jonah in the ribs. “Ah, my boy, but you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s nice not to be alone.”

  “Right now, being alone is fine with me,” Jonah said. “The last thing I want is the stress of finding a wife. I’ll be satisfied being a bachelor my entire life, if that’s the Lord’s will for me.”

  ***

  An hour later, after Zach had saddled the horses, he helped McKenzie mount Sugar and then climbed up on Cinnamon. “I’m not too sure about this, Zach,” McKenzie said. She’d been thrilled when Zach had suggested a picnic but not when she found out they would be riding horses to reach their destination. “Are you sure we can’t just take the wagon?”

  “I’m sure, McKenzie. The wagon is too large to fit on the narrow paths, and we could go only as far as the ridge, about half a mile away. Besides, you’ll see much more scenery this way.”

  “I think you’re forgetting what happened the first time I rode a horse,” McKenzie said.

  “Oh, I haven’t forgotten,” Zach said, grinning.

  McKenzie felt precarious as she sat in the saddle, not unlike the first time she’d tried….

  ***

  As if giving her a foal as a wedding gift wasn’t bad enough, now Zach wanted her to ride a horse? Of all the outlandish propositions he could make! McKenzie glared at the man who had recently become her husband. Why on earth was it necessary that she learn to ride a horse? Being a passenger in horse-drawn carriages, and even wagons, was much more to her liking.

  McKenzie stared at the horse Zach had prepared for her. Her name was Sugar, and she was the mother of the foal he’d given to McKenzie, whom Davey had named Starlight. According to Zach, Sugar was the gentlest horse on the farm; he’d chosen to teach Davey to ride on her. Sugar and Cinnamon, Zach’s favorite horse, were often a team, whether pulling the plow during planting season or leading the wagon to town.

  “Let me help you,” Zach offered.

  McKenzie narrowed her eyes at him. Why was he always being so helpful? Did she look inept? “I can mount this horse perfectly fine by myself, thank you very much,” she said, placing one foot in the stirrup. So much for riding sidesaddle. What would her mother think of her unladylike horsemanship? At least McKenzie was wearing her favorite dress—and her fanciest one, too—red velvet with lace trimmings. She was certain that a more elegant woman had never graced Sawyer Ranch with her presence. McKenzie swung her other leg over the horse and situated herself in the saddle, feeling rather pleased.

  “Now, with your heel, gently tap Sugar’s flank,” Zach told her as he hoisted himself onto Cinnamon’s back.

  McKenzie rolled her eyes. She could figure out how to make a horse go! Her intelligence insulted, she gave Sugar a good kick. The horse responded by taking off at a gallop, gaining speed with every stride.

  “Zach! Help!” McKenzie screamed as the horse began to run.

  “Hang on, McKenzie!” Zach shouted, following her on Cinnamon.

  “Zach!” McKenzie screamed again. She turned to see if Zach was coming to her rescue. When she saw the amused look on his face, she became even angrier. “Zach! Help me!” In that second, McKenzie lost her grip on the reins, and she tumbled backward off the horse, performing an acrobatic maneuver that the Boston Circus Company would surely applaud.

  “McKenzie, are you all right?” Zach asked, slowing Cinnamon to a stop beside McKenzie, who lay motionless on the ground. “McKenzie?”

  “Zach?” McKenzie finally managed.

  “McKenzie, thank God. I thought you….”

  McKenzie felt her head throbbing, and, with effort, she tried to sit up.

  “Here, let me help you,” Zach said, scrambling down from his horse.

  “I need no more of your help, thank you kindly. Now look what happened! Of all the preposterous suggestions! I can’t believe I allowed you to talk me into riding that horse,” McKenzie muttered with irritation.

  “McKenzie, I’m sorry. Next time, tap Sugar gently in the flank. You confused her—”

  “I confused a horse?” McKenzie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her headache was spreading to every recess of her head, and she closed her eyes tight. “How can a person confuse a horse?”

  “Never mind, McKenzie. Let’s get you back to the house.” Zach proceeded to pick her up and carry her toward the house.

  “Put me down!” McKenzie shrieked. “I can walk myself.”

  “I don’t think that’s such a grand idea,” Zach said.

  “I mean it, Zach, put me down!” When Zach finally lowered her to her feet, McKenzie attempted, with wobbly legs, to walk toward the house. Glad to be free of Zach’s grasp, she brushed off her dress as best she could. It was then that she spied a rip in the side of her prized garment. “My dress! It’s ruined!” she cried.

  “McKenzie, that can be fixed. We just need to make sure you’re all right. You hit your head mighty hard back there,” Zach said, grasping her elbow.

  “Let me go, Zach Sawyer. I can walk by myself!” However, the next step McKenzie took was her last for the time being. She stumbled into Zach’s arms….

  ***

  “McKenzie?” Zach said, interrupting her reminiscing. “We should probably start toward the river. It’ll take a little while to get there.”

  “Pardon?” McKenzie looked over at Zach. “Oh! Sorry, Zach. I was just thinking back to that first time I tried to ride a horse.”

  “I know that wasn’t a good experience for you, McKenzie. I am truly sorry I ever made you try before you were ready.”

  “I just don’t want to fall off again,” McKenzie said.

  “You won’t.”

  “How can you be so sure? This is only my second time riding.”

  “Remember to nudge her gently—not with a big kick, but gently,” Zach said.

  “All right—I’m ready.” McKenzie carefully nudged Sugar. In response, the horse began walking slowly alongside Cinnamon.

  “We’ll just take it easy,” Zach said. He held the reins in one hand and the basket of lunch McKenzie had prepared in the other. “You’ve come a long way since that first horse-riding adventure,” he said, winking at McKenzie.

  “Now, Zach Sawyer, you listen here,” McKenzie said in the most uppity tone she could manage. “I’ll have you know that in the past few months, I have become an expert horse rider. As a matter of fact, many a time, while you were sleeping in the deep of night, I sneaked out of the house and practiced riding Sugar, unbeknownst to you.”

  “Oh, really?” Zach grinned. “No wonder you’re riding with such poise!”

  McKenzie giggled. “Actually, I’m terrified of falling off!”

  “You’ll be fine, McKenzie. Besides, it can’t be any worse than last time.”

  “No, there’s probably no horse riding adventure that could compare to that,” McKenzie sighed. “I’m sorry, Zach, for being so unkind during those first days at the ranch. I should have been more grateful when you gave me Starlight and less rude when you offered to teach me to ride.”

  “I forgive you, McKenzie,” Zach said. “Those early weeks were a mite rough, but God has answered my prayers in ways above and beyond what I could have ever expected. Please forgive me, McKenzie, for not doing more to make you feel more at ease.”

  “But, you did make me feel at ease. You were kind and patient with me. I’ll never forget when I discovered you’d filled in that hole in the road so it wouldn’t rattle me when I traveled into town. Thank you.”

  “I want to make you happy, my sweet McKenzie. I want to grow old with you and enjoy the life we share.”

  McKenzie turned her head away from Zach so he wouldn’t see the tear trickling down her cheek. Was it a tear of remorse at the way she had first acted? Perhaps. A tear of regret for not being honest with Zach about her intentions? Perhaps. A tear of sa
dness that she would have to leave someday soon? Definitely. But, what other choice did she have? She’d written to her parents and promised to bring Kaydie back home again. To stay in Pine Haven, as much as she wanted to, would defy all that her parents were counting on.

  “McKenzie, let’s stop here for a minute.” Zach turned Cinnamon around facing the opposite direction. He climbed down from his horse and helped McKenzie get down. “Isn’t this an amazing view?” he asked.

  McKenzie took in the panorama from the high ridge they’d climbed, far above the ranch. Pine trees surrounded them, and the songs of birds filled the air. “The ranch looks so small from here,” McKenzie said.

  “That it does,” Zach agreed. “I can just barely make out our house, the barn, the cattle, Rosemary and Asa’s house, Jonah’s bunkhouse, and the fences.”

  “I didn’t realize how high we’d climbed. It is beautiful up here,” McKenzie said.

  “I used to come up here once in a while with Davey. He and I would ride Cinnamon and collect leaves up here from the aspen trees. Every time I’m up here, I am astonished at the view. Look at what the Lord has blessed us with, my sweet McKenzie. That entire area down there is our ranch.”

  Our ranch. The words echoed in McKenzie’s mind, and she realized that Zach had never called the ranch, or anything else, just “his.” No, he had always been quick to share with her the blessings God had given him: Our ranch. Our home. Our family.

  Zach reached for McKenzie’s hand. “I love you, McKenzie,” he said, leaning forward to kiss her.

  As she returned his kiss, McKenzie was struck by the fact that even though he kissed her more frequently, she hadn’t grown accustomed to the flutter in her stomach—the flutter she had experienced the first time they’d kissed, during their wedding. She reveled in his strong protective arms around her and the love she could feel in his kiss. She knew that she would never find a man who could compare with Zach in love, godliness, character, and integrity.

  “I suppose we should continue on toward the river,” Zach said, pulling gently away from her. He reached up and stroked her cheek.

  McKenzie nodded and allowed Zach to once again help her mount Sugar.

  ***

  The river water was clear and blue. In some places, it swirled calmly, while in others, it cascaded in mighty rapids. McKenzie and Zach ate their lunch by the riverside, where they took in the sights and sounds of the forest. “I’m sure thankful that I have someone to share raising Davey with,” Zach said.

  “He is such a precious boy,” McKenzie said. “He won my heart from the beginning.”

  “Mine, too. My first day as his father seems so long ago.”

  “It probably seems like he’s been your son always,” McKenzie said. She knew she was beginning to feel as though Davey had always been hers.

  “It does seem like that,” Zach mused. “I was concerned about him after Duke died. That was a good idea of yours to give him that ball. I think it took his mind off of his sadness, even if for only a short time.”

  “I didn’t know what to do. He was so distraught, and I just wanted to hold Davey and comfort him, let him know everything would be all right.”

  “You’re a fine ma, McKenzie,” Zach said.

  McKenzie had never thought she would hear those words. Her own mother, though she loved her, wasn’t a role model McKenzie desired to emulate with Davey. Her mother lacked compassion when things went awry and mercy when it was desperately needed. “I think Davey has really taken to Waddles,” McKenzie said, allowing her mind to shift to the topic of Davey’s new dog.

  “I think so, too. I couldn’t believe it when Wayne Waterson told me his dog had just had pups. It was perfect timing. I didn’t even have to explain to Davey that I knew Waddles wouldn’t be able to take the place of Duke.”

  “The other day, I looked out the window and saw Davey teaching Waddles how to play fetch with the ball,” McKenzie said, giggling. “Poor Waddles had no idea what Davey was trying to teach him.”

  “Waddles will learn in time. I guess Jonah has really been helping Davey to train Waddles and teach him some tricks. For years, Jonah had a dog that could do all kinds of things—fetch, sit, shake paws, you name it.” Zach paused. “That was a great meal, McKenzie. You’re becoming quite the cook.”

  McKenzie felt herself blush. “I don’t know about that, Zach. I still have so much to learn.”

  “You’ve got all the time in the world. We both know Rosemary has the patience of Job.”

  “That she does,” McKenzie agreed. “If you think my first attempt at horseback riding was trying, talk to her about my debut in the kitchen. I’m sure she never met a more hopeless cook than I, and yet she put up with my mistakes and withheld the criticism I surely deserved. It seems I’ve found a cherished friend in Rosemary.”

  “I think she favors you in the same way,” Zach said.

  After a few minutes of companionable silence, Zach announced, “I’m going for a swim. The river is beckoning. Care to join me?”

  “I think I’ll pass,” McKenzie said. Although she no longer wore her fancy dresses, except to church or for other social occasions, the thought of getting her prairie dress wet and possibly ruined didn’t hold much enticement for her.

  “You don’t know what you’re missing. We won’t have many more summer days like this one,” Zach said, then took off his hat and ran to the water without awaiting McKenzie’s response.

  McKenzie placed the remnants of their lunch in the picnic basket, then leaned back on the rock she was seated upon, watching Zach in the water. She felt so relaxed, so at peace. She stretched out her legs and was reveling in the warmth of the sun on her face when she suddenly felt a cold, wet spray on her arm. She opened her eyes to see Zach standing in the water with a sly grin on his face. “Zach Sawyer!” she admonished him with mock severity.

  “If you won’t get in, I’ll bring the river to you,” Zach declared, splashing her again.

  McKenzie scooted away from the river’s edge, out of range. “How about now?” she asked.

  Zach walked closer to the bank, and, with one gigantic swoop of his arms, sent a tidal wave of water toward McKenzie.

  “That’s it, Zach Sawyer!” McKenzie yelled, but she couldn’t help giggling. “It’s time for a water war!” She jumped up from her place on the bank and, not caring about her prairie dress, jumped into the water. Tripping over a polished rock in the river, she tumbled and fell, immersing completely in the water.

  “McKenzie? Are you all right?” Zach waded over to McKenzie as she reemerged and held out his hand.

  “I don’t know, Zach,” McKenzie answered, feigning worry.

  “We can get out now, if you want,” Zach said.

  Without warning, McKenzie reached into the water and splashed Zach with all her might, then gave a triumphant laugh.

  “Of all the nasty tricks!” Zach exclaimed. He splashed her back, and they continued trading heaps of water until Zach wrapped his arms around her. “Truce?” he asked.

  “Truce,” McKenzie agreed. There wasn’t a dry spot on either of them.

  Zach kissed her, then tenderly pushed back several strands of hair, which had escaped from her braid. McKenzie reached up and smoothed Zach’s hair to one side, though a few stray pieces remained plastered to his damp forehead. Zach closed his eyes at her touch. Who would have guessed that they would grow so close so quickly?

  ***

  An hour later, McKenzie and Zach were riding back to the ranch, taking their time and laughing about their water war. McKenzie couldn’t recall when she’d had so much fun—especially in one day!

  When they got back to the ranch, they stabled the horses in the barn, and Zach took McKenzie’s hand as they walked toward the house. “I enjoyed being with you, McKenzie,” he said, slowing to a stop and leaning down to give her a kiss.

  “I enjoyed spending time with you, too, Zach,” McKenzie said, tilting her head upward to receive Zach’s kiss. As she did, she noti
ced a wagon on the road, approaching the ranch. Who could be coming to visit them? Reverend Eugene and Myrtle? Lucille and Fred Granger?

  When their kiss ended, Zach followed her gaze. “It looks as though we have company,” he said, nodding his head toward the road. The wagon continued to make its way slowly toward the house, crossing under the Sawyer Ranch arch.

  “Who could that be?” McKenzie asked.

  “I’m not sure. I don’t recognize the driver,” Zach said.

  As the wagon came closer, McKenzie couldn’t believe what she saw. “It can’t be!” she exclaimed.

  “What is it?” Zach asked.

  “Why, it’s my mother and our driver, Lawrence!”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  What? Your mother? From Boston?”

  “Yes—I can’t believe it!” McKenzie tried to sound excited, but she couldn’t help feeling extremely nervous about why her mother had come and what she’d have to say. “I can’t wait for her to meet you!” McKenzie exclaimed, keeping up the façade of delight. She took Zach’s hand and led him toward the wagon, which had stopped just in front of the house.

  McKenzie watched as Lawrence climbed down from the wagon, then helped her mother get out. “Mother! What an unexpected surprise,” McKenzie said.

  “Ugh! What a detestable ride,” her mother lamented as she smoothed her skirts before giving McKenzie an appraisal and then embracing her briefly.

  “What brings you here, Mother?” McKenzie asked, her apprehension mounting. “Is Father all right?”

  “Yes, your father is fine,” her mother said flatly.

  The awkward silence that followed prompted McKenzie to make an attempt at conversation, starting with introductions. “Mother…uh, this is Zach…my husband. Zach, this is my mother, Florence Worthington, and our butler and chauffeur, Lawrence.”

  “Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Zach said in a reverential tone, extending his hand to her mother.

  “Yes, indeed,” McKenzie’s mother said, sounding less than convinced. She didn’t shake his hand, either.