Learnin' The Ropes

by Shanna Hatfield

  Slowly shifting so she was in more of an upright position, Lexi realized the big fleece blanket she kept on the back of the couch swathed her form. She still felt chilled but not freezing like she’d been out in the rain.

  “Would you like some more tea?” Ty asked and she nodded her head. He turned his head and raised his voice as he yelled in the direction of the hall. “Swede, the lady would like more tea.”

  Swede hurried into the room, mop still in his hand, with a big grin on his face. “Well, Lex, you jes about had me scared half to death,” the old cowboy said as he picked up her empty mug. “I’ll be right back with more tea.”

  “Thanks,” she called after her foreman as he retreated to the kitchen. Lexi looked around and noticed wet, dirty clothes in a pile on the floor at the end of the couch. Clothes that looked exactly like the ones she had been wearing earlier. When she moved her hand, she touched bare skin where her shirt should have been. Upon further investigation, she was grateful to find her underclothes still in place, even if they were damp.

  Her face flushed red as she thought about Swede and Ty removing her cold, soggy clothes. Mortification would bring about her demise long before she died from being out in the cold rain.

  “What happened?” she asked, going stiff in Ty’s arms.

  He felt the change in her and reassuringly rubbed his hand along her back. “You sort of passed out in the barn so I carried you in here. Swede and I tried to warm you up. We finally decided you needed out of the wet clothes, so…”

  “So the two of you took them off?” Lexi asked, completely horrified at the thought.

  “Well, not exactly.” Ty knew this was bound to be embarrassing for them all, but not fully realizing how much until right at that moment. “Swede turned his back and made me do it.”

  “Oh,” she said, not wanting to examine why the knowledge that it was just Ty made her feel better.

  “I promise I didn’t look at anything.” Ty grinned wickedly and waggled one eyebrow. “At least not much.”

  “You are insufferable,” Lexi said, trying to act offended. She would have slapped him on the arm if she hadn’t been wrapped in the blanket so securely or suddenly felt as weak as a newborn colt.

  “Honest, Lexi, I just did what needed to be done and wrapped you in the blanket as fast as I could. There was no unnecessary peeking. I promise. Swede was in the room, although he didn’t watch.”

  Before she could respond, Swede returned with a steaming cup of tea. Lexi wiggled one hand free of the blanket and took the mug from him. It felt like a lead weight in her hand and Ty must have sensed she was about to drop it as he placed his hand around hers.

  “Need some help?” he asked, guiding the mug up to her lips. She took a sip, enjoying the feel of the hot liquid along with the taste. Swede wasn’t much of a cook, but he could make a fine cup of tea.

  She finished the cup, with Ty’s help, while Swede cleaned up the muddy mess from the floor and took her wet clothes into the laundry room off the kitchen.

  “What now?” Ty studied her as she sank back into the warmth and strength he offered.

  “I’d like to take a hot shower and then maybe have a little something to eat before going to bed,” Lexi said. The thought of climbing the stairs, taking a shower, fixing dinner, and getting herself back up the stairs to bed seemed an insurmountable task. She could hardly hold up her head.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Ty said. With her still in his arms, he stood and walked to the staircase in the back hall. After pulling the tail of the blanket off the floor so he wouldn’t trip on it, he started up the stairs.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. Not only did he carry her as if she weighed no more than a sack of potatoes, he also seemed to have read her mind about her inability to navigate the stairs.

  “Taking you upstairs so you can get that shower you wanted,” he said, trying not to huff as he reached the top of the narrow staircase. He should have gone up the main stairs in the front entry. They had a wider tread and weren’t quite as steep as the steps in the back hall. “Which room?”

  Lexi pointed him to a door on his right and he carried her inside the spacious room painted in a soothing sage green with cream trim. He gently set her down on the big bed and grinned.

  “Can you manage that shower by yourself or do you need my assistance?” he teased, shooting her a wink fit for a rascally rake.

  She glowered at him and pointed a finger toward the door. “I think I can manage by myself, thank you very much.”

  Ty chuckled as he stepped in the hall. “If you need me, just yell.”

  As he disappeared downstairs, Lexi gave herself a mental pep talk, convincing herself she could make it to the shower.

  On wobbly legs, she turned on the steaming water and took the fastest shower of her life. Warmth returned to her blood, but she also felt lightheaded and dizzy. Quickly drying off, she pulled a warm flannel gown over her head, and reached for her robe when everything went dark.

  After cleaning up the last of the mess they’d made on the floor, Ty and Swede warmed up soup and set leftovers out of the refrigerator when they hear a loud thump overhead.

  Ty ran down the hall and took the stairs two at a time, racing into Lexi’s room. His eyes darted across the bedroom, landing on her passed out on the floor by the dresser. Gently lifting her in his arms, he held her close and tapped her cheeks.

  “Ty?” she asked groggily.

  “Yeah, babe, I’m here,” he whispered, glad she had come to. His heart was still racing and he was sure he’d just lost a few years off his lifespan.

  “I guess I needed some help after all,” she said, making him grin.

  “You’ve got help now.” He carried her to the bed.

  Swede panted into the room from the exertion of hustling upstairs. He folded back the covers so Ty could lay Lexi on the smooth sheets. Once he tugged the blankets and comforter up around her, she sank back into the pillows, pale and wan.

  “Thanks, guys. I guess I owe you overtime pay for this,” she mumbled, before her eyes drifted shut again.

  “Leave her be for a bit.” Swede guided Ty back to the hall. “I think the lil’ gal is plumb tuckered out. Let’s eat some grub and then see how she feels.”

  Ty half-listened to Swede while keeping one ear tuned to any noise from upstairs as they ate.

  “She’ll be fine, son. She comes from tough stock, even if she has a tendency to catch cold faster than ya can blink,” Swede said, noticing Ty’s anxious looks toward the hallway. “Did I ever tell you about the first time I met her granddaddy?”

  “No, I don’t think you did,” Ty said, glad for the distraction of Swede’s storytelling. He knew Swede had worked on the ranch since he was a young man, but it was interesting to hear more details.

  As Ty cleaned up the dishes, Swede talked about the family, sharing amusing stories about Lex and Lexi. Ty even chuckled a few times. Ty looked around the clean kitchen as he finished wiping the counter and wondered what they should do. He hated to leave Lexi alone, but wasn’t exactly sure she’d welcome their presence in her room.

  “Should we sit up with her tonight?” Ty asked as they walked down the hall and started up the stairs to check on Lexi.

  “Let’s see how she feels and then decide,” Swede said, puffing up the last few steps. “I tell ya, these stairs get steeper every time I climb them.”

  Ty grinned as they walked into Lexi’s room. She continued to sleep, but her face appeared flushed and she tossed and turned in the bed. He touched her forehead with the back of his hand and it felt hot.

  “I think she’s got a fever.” Ty glanced at Swede.

  Swede touched her head and felt the heat radiating from her. “I’d say so. Ya know anythin’ about doctorin’ sick women?”

  “Nope, but Beth might.” Ty called his sister. Beth told them to pull off some of the blankets, keep Lexi hydrated, and see if they could find a thermometer. She warned them if Lexi’s temperature got too high, th
ey should take her to the hospital.

  While Swede adjusted blankets, Ty ran downstairs and poured a big glass of juice for Lexi. He hurried back upstairs, getting her to take a few sips. In her bathroom, he found a washcloth and ran tepid water over it, wringing out the excess. He placed it on her forehead and she seemed to calm a little.

  “Where would she keep a thermometer?” Ty asked, not willing to go through her things in the bathroom.

  “I’m sure I don’t know,” Swede said, tipping his head toward the bathroom door. “Somewhere in there, I’m guessin’.”

  With a resigned sigh, Ty returned to the bathroom and looked in the medicine cabinet. Luckily, the first shelf he searched had a thermometer that could be placed on the forehead to take a temperature. Back at Lexi’s bedside, he ran it across her forehead and got a reading of one hundred and one.

  “Thet’s high, ain’t it?” Swede stared at the digital reading.

  “Yeah.” As the evening wore on, Ty grew more concerned. “Are you sure we shouldn’t take her to the hospital? Isn’t there one in Burns? Are there any doctors who make house calls out here?”

  “If her temperature gets any higher, then I think we better haul her in.” Swede studied Lexi. “There’s a hospital in Burns. Only one doctor makes house calls and he can’t see to drive at night. So let’s jes do the best we can and go from there.”

  Ty got Lexi to take a little of the cold juice then rinsed out the washrag and replaced it on her forehead. Swede disappeared and returned holding a book. The ol’ cowboy pulled up a chair by the bed, sank into it and started reading The Virginian. Surprised by Swede’s choice of books, the story drew Ty in as he continued caring for Lexi.

  An hour later, they heard voices downstairs. Ty glanced over the banister into the foyer where Jimmy and Keith stood on the rug by the front door.

  “Hey guys,” he said as they looked up to the landing.

  “How’s she doing?” Jimmy asked.

  “Not great. She’s got a fever and passed out on us a couple times,” Ty said, glad to see the hands show an interest in the welfare of their employer.

  “Anything we can do to help?” Keith asked, shifting from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable being in the boss’ house.

  “Not right now. Swede and I are trying to get her fever down. We may be here a while. Any of you guys have any medical training?”

  Jimmy offered a lopsided grin. “Nope. Not unless cows count.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell the boss you said that,” Ty teased. “We’ll let you know if there is anything you can do. Thanks for checking in.”

  They waved before going back out the door.

  Ty returned to the room to find Swede involved with his reading. Ty took Lexi’s temperature again. It hadn’t risen or dropped..

  He placed another cool cloth on her head, got her to sip more juice, and then sank down on the floor by her bed.

  He’d spent the last three days doing some of the hardest, most physically demanding labor he’d ever done in his life. His body felt battered and abused from wrestling calves, chasing cows, and dodging flying hooves. The entire evening, he’d worried and fussed over Lexi, further depleting his energy reserves. Exhaustion dragged him down and he fought to keep his eyes open.

  “You look done in, son,” Swede said, setting aside the book and giving him a thoughtful glance. “Why don’t ya take a lil’ siesta and I’ll keep an eye on the boss. Then we can trade.”

  “Are you sure?” Ty knew if he stretched out on the floor, he’d be asleep in a few seconds flat.

  “Haul yerself into one of the other bedrooms and get some shut-eye.”

  Ty hated to leave Lexi, but he needed some rest if he was going to be any help to her at all. Fatigued, he opened the door to the guest room across the hall, collapsed on the bed, and was soon asleep.

  “Wake up, son,” Swede said, giving Ty a shake.

  Confused, Ty opened his eyes, finally remembering where he was. “Is it Lexi?” he asked sitting up on the bed.

  “Yep, she’s been mumblin’ in her sleep and keeps sayin’ yer name. I thought maybe ya could calm her down. She’s been mighty restless.” Swede didn’t stop to wonder why Lex talked to Ty in her dreams. It wasn’t a secret to anyone she’d taken a shine to the mechanic. For now, though, he didn’t see any need to offer his opinions on the matter.

  Ty hurried back to Lexi’s room where she tossed and turned in agitation. Not knowing what else to do, he sank onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms, holding her against his chest.

  “It’s all right, Lexi. I’m here,” Ty whispered. He brushed the hair off her forehead and planted a soft kiss to her temple. “Everything’s fine. I’m right here with you, babe.”

  Lexi relaxed and Ty held her for a while. Her breathing evened out and deepened. A hand to her forehead confirmed her fever dropped.

  When Swede returned to the room, he settled himself in the chair he’d occupied most of the evening and soon emitted soft snores.

  Unable to keep his eyes open, Ty drifted off to sleep. He awoke to Lexi pushing against his chest.

  “Ty? What’s going on? What are you doing?” she asked in a raspy voice.

  “You’ve been sick. Swede and I stayed to take care of you,” Ty said, pointing to Swede asleep in the chair.

  In the muted light from the hall, Lexi could see her foreman snoring away in a chair by her bed. She sighed and coughed. “You guys have been here all night?”

  “Yeah. We couldn’t just leave you alone.” Gently, Ty rubbed Lexi’s back.

  Barely able to fathom him stepping up to care for her, especially in his tired, sore state, she tipped her head to better look at Ty.

  “Thank you,” she said. Hot, salty tears rolled down her cheeks. Being sick always made her weepy.

  “You’re welcome.” He brushed away her tears and felt the tug at his heartstrings as more fell from her beautiful green eyes. “Don’t cry. Everything’s just fine.”

  Lexi sniffled and nodded her head.

  Ty got her a glass of cold water and made her drink the whole thing before he took her temperature again. It was down to ninety-nine.

  “Much better.” he said, brushing his fingers across her forehead and down her jaw line. “Do you need anything?”

  Lexi shook her head as she sank back into her pillows. She remembered taking a shower and pulling on her nightgown. After that, she only remembered cool fingers on her forehead and quiet voices. For some reason, a western story played around in her head and Ty kept appearing in her dream as the hero. She was the heroine and he rescued her from the villain.

  “I’ll wake up Swede and we’ll let you get back to sleep.” Ty took a step toward the foreman.

  “No, don’t go.” Lexi’s voice sounded pleading as she held out her hand to Ty. She knew what she asked was far beyond the call of duty, but it’s what she wanted all the same. “Will you hold me again, until I go to sleep?”

  “I’ll hold you as long as you like.” Ty slid back onto the bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her. Lexi turned her head so it rested on his chest and relaxed against him. Sinking down against the pillows, Ty released a contented sigh and closed his eyes.

  He wanted to hold Lexi in his arms every night.

  Lesson Twelve

  Maintain Control at All Times

  “If ya start to lose yer grip,

  grab onto it with both hands

  and hang on fer all yer worth.”

  “Are you joking, girlie?” Bertie asked so loudly Lexi had to hold the phone away from her ear. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “Nope, that is the honest truth.” Lexi smiled as she sat at the kitchen counter, sipping tea.

  Tired of the confinement of spending the last three days in bed, Lexi got up and made her way to the kitchen. Although she figured one more day spent in the house probably wouldn’t hurt, she’d dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

  Briefly, she thought about going
outside, but changed her mind. It was still cool and rainy out and the last thing she wanted to do was to make herself sick again. To entertain herself, she called Bertie to see what was going on in her world and told her aunt about being sick.

  “I can’t believe that ol’ goat Swede and your handsome mechanic took such good care of you,” Bertie said.

  “Believe it or not, it’s true.” Lexi dropped bread in the toaster and pushed down the lever. “I’m not sure I’ve ever had better care when I’ve been sick.”

  “Then quit messing around and put your brand on Ty. Mark my words, baby, he’s a keeper.”

  “Aunt Bertie…”

  “Don’t ‘Aunt Bertie’ me, honey-pie. I know what I’m talking about and so do you. Think about what I said. Men like Ty are few and far between. Count yourself blessed to have happened upon such a great guy, especially one so fine-looking. Mercy, Lex, he could start wildfires all over the county if he runs around much in those Wranglers you made him buy.”

  “Aunt Bertie!”

  The woman laughed. “I’ve got to go, but call if you need anything. Love you, girlie.”

  Lexi smiled. “Thanks, Aunt Bertie. Love you, too.”

  While she buttered her toast and ate it, Lexi mused over her aunt’s words. The woman was crazy if she thought Lexi could just walk up to Ty and tell him she was branding him as hers.

  She liked Ty. The intense attraction she felt for him frightened her yet she was drawn to know more about him. In the depths of her being, she knew he was a good, solid man who would never willingly hurt her. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she fell a little bit more in love with him with every passing day.

  The problem was that she didn’t trust herself or her feelings. Not after she thought she was in love with James. What she’d felt for the stuffy businessman was nothing compared to the wonderful, wild emotions that raged through her heart for the hardworking mechanic.

  The care Ty had given her while she was sick had further illustrated his innate goodness and caring nature.