by Nancy M Bell
“Laurel? You okay?” Coll poked his head in the door. “Oh, Mrs. Rowan, you’re here…” He hesitated on the threshold.
“I’m good, but the crops won’t be. I don’t even want to think about the damage,” Laurel replied.
“Since we’re all up, let’s go down and get some hot chocolate.” Anna herded them down to the kitchen.
Colt Rowan stood at the open kitchen door, a hand braced on each side of the frame, his wind-swept black hair glistening with moisture. Laurel went to his side and hugged him. He glanced down at her and dropped an arm around her shoulders.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered.
“Not your fault, Laurie. It’s such a damned shame about the crop.”
“Don’t we have crop insurance though?” She looked up him.
“It only covers input costs, nothing near what we would have got at the elevator.” The storm raged on past the covered porch, and even it was accumulating a little drift of hail.
“Close the door, Colt. Staring at it isn’t going to make it go away.” Anna touched her husband’s shoulder.
His face was in shadow as he turned from the devastation outside. Coll made a strangled noise and Laurel’s breath caught in her throat. Her father’s eyes were huge, glittering darkly and with his wind-blown wet hair she would have sworn it was her grandfather Vear Du who stood there instead of her father. She pivoted sharply and caught Coll’s gaze. Her mouth shaped the word ‘Wow’ and he nodded in agreement.
“What’s wrong, Laurie? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Her father ruffled her hair. “Losing the crop is bad, but we’ve been through worse.”
“No…Dad. You don’t get it, for a minute there you looked like Vear Du. Kinda freaked me out.”
Colt snorted. “It’s wet enough out there to make a selkie happy. Fat lot of good all that crazy stuff does me. It’s just as well Ma and him are cozied up…well wherever it is they go off to.”
“Here, Colt.” Anna pressed a mug of steaming coffee into his hand. “Come sit down.” She glanced at the clock. “It’ll be light soon. Once the rain lets up we can go assess the damage.”
“It’s stopped hailing,” Coll remarked shaking his head. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. Bloody hell.” He looked through the curtain of rain at the icy pellets.
“We’ll have to check the cattle when it clears. Hail that big, there’ll be some injuries for sure. Mostly the young stock.” Colt dropped into a kitchen chair and twisted the cup back and forth in his large hands.
“We can do that,” Laurel offered. “Me and Coll. I know where they like to hide when it storms.”
“That would be a help, there’s gonna be a lot of cleaning up to do around here. A couple of those old cottonwoods behind the house came down, I heard them right after the wind really picked up.”
“Stay away from the river, it’ll be running high after the storm,” Anna cautioned. “If anything is stranded, leave it and come get your dad and Harry.”
The shrill of the house phone sent Laurel to her feet. “’Lo?” She paused to listen. “Hi, Mr. Good Smoke. No, we’re all okay. A couple of trees down that we know of, but it’s still raining here, and we haven’t gone out to see what else is wrecked. Wait, here’s Dad.” She put the phone in her father’s impatient outstretched palm.
“Hey, Harry.”
Dad sounded older and more tired than Laurel had ever heard him. She exchanged a worried look with her mom. Anna smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Yeah, I imagine the barley is done and maybe the oats. We’ll have to see what can be salvaged for feed…” Colt left the kitchen headed down the hall to his office.
“It’s gonna be okay, right Mom?” Laurel looked to her mother for reassurance.
“It will be. Somehow it always is. Drink your hot chocolate and see if you can get some sleep. It’s going to be a long day.” Anna picked up her coffee and padded down the hall to join her husband.
“C’mon, Laurie. Let’s go back to bed.” Coll took her hand and picked up his hot chocolate.
“When did you start calling me Laurie?” She grinned at him.
“A bit ago. You didn’t object, so I figured you were okay with it.”
“Huh, I never noticed ’til just right now.” She shrugged. “I kinda like it.”
Coll halted at the top of the stair. “Let me know when you wake up. I don’t think I can sleep much after that.”
“Me either. Come keep me company until it’s light.” She shivered. “I hate the sound of the wind in the wires. Gives me the creeps.”
The winds slackened, the rain only pattered against the window now, but outside the ground still bore its cover of ice. Laurel curled up against Coll and sipped her drink.
“I could get to really like this.” Coll’s mouth moved over hers. “Mmmmm, chocolate. Even better.”
“Idiot!” She giggled. “I wonder how high the river is?”
“Why?” He wriggled into a more comfortable position.
“It might slow down the cull if the horses are all on the other side of the river.” She brightened. “Depending on the amount of damage, maybe they’ll just call if off for this fall.”
“That wouldn’t solve anything though would it? They’d just do it another time, right?” Coll played with her hair and she leaned into the caress.
“Probably in the early spring or late winter. They’ve done that before. What kind of idiot chases pregnant mares and new born foals through deep snow?” She gestured wildly and almost spilt her drink.
“Easy, girl.” Coll steadied her hand.
“It would give us more time to come up with a good plan if they gave up on the cull tomorrow,” Laurel continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted.
Coll kissed her again. “You have a one-track mind, but I like it.”
He trailed kisses over her face before finding her mouth again. She shivered in response to the strange thrill his tongue slipping past her lips produced. She allowed herself to be carried along on the sensation, turning toward him and pressing against his long body. The smooth touch of his hand sliding inside her pajama top along her collarbone brought her back to her senses. Laurel wriggled upright, pushing her tangled hair out of her eyes. Coll’s expression was unreadable when she looked down at him.
“Laurie, sorry if I—”
She cut him off. “Don’t be. You didn’t do anything wrong, but we have to concentrate on tonight. That’s partly why I offered to go check the cattle. I want to see what condition the coulee is in and how high the water is. Maybe we can take a quick look for Coal and his mares while we’re at it. No telling where the cattle might have got to with that storm.” Laurel tucked her feet under her crossed legs, pulling the blanket from the end the bed around her.
Coll scooted up to lean against the head board. “Okay, boss. What’s the big plan?”
“First thing, as soon as it’s late enough, we need to talk to Joey and I’ll check with Carly. See if she knows anything new and if she wants to come with us.” Laurel chewed at her bottom lip. “I’m betting she won’t come, but she’ll tell me if she knows anything about her dad’s plans.”
“It would be brill if the Band Council voted to help us, wouldn’t it?” Coll offered.
“For now, that would be the best-case scenario. But I’m not holding my breath on that one. Some of those guys are just as eager to see the horses gone, and a lot of them also work seasonal on the ranches around here. They won’t want to piss anyone off if it means a loss of jobs.”
“So, what exactly is the plan then?” Coll frowned at her. “Can we hide the herd somewhere?”
“But where?” Laurel picked at a hang nail and thought hard. “I suppose we could maybe drive them unto that land I want to buy. It’s vacant and I think the owner is a holding company, so it’s not like anyone is going to be out there to stop us.”
“It that legal?”
“Probably not, but it’s an option.”
/> “I guess. Let’s try and think of something else though, okay?”
“Be my guest. My brain just keeps going around in circles.”
They lapsed into silence. Laurel finished the dregs of her cold hot chocolate and got up to put the cup on the bedside table. She padded to the window and pulled the curtain aside to peer out.
“It’s getting grey in the east, it should be light enough to see soon.” She let the curtain fall back.
Coll levered himself off the bed and joined her by the window. “Guess I should go get dressed. I don’t want your parents to find me in here like this.” He gestured at his pyjamas.
Laurel giggled. “Dad would probably have kittens. You’re right, go get dressed and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“I’ll be quiet, so I don’t wake your parents.” Coll pulled the door open slowly.
“I bet Dad never even went to bed. He’s probably down in his office figuring out how to juggle the books. He’ll have to re-budget the loss of the crops.”
“Ouch.” Coll slipped out the door and disappeared into his room.
Laurel shut her door and wasted no time in pulling on jeans and a T-shirt. Her stocking feet made little sound when she hurried down the stairs and headed for the kitchen. Just as she suspected, Mom was already there starting breakfast, a fresh cup of coffee at her elbow.
“Morning, Mom. Did you get any sleep at all?” Laurel gave her a quick hug.
Anna shook her head. “No. Your dad wouldn’t come up and I couldn’t settle so I just came down here to wait for the dawn.”
“How bad is it, Mom?” Laurel dropped into her usual chair at the table.
“We’ll manage, sweetie. We won’t know for sure until we check the damage, but you know your dad always keeps some aside in case of emergencies. Don’t worry your head about it.”
“Morning.” Coll schlepped into the kitchen, blond hair sticking up every which way. He combed his fingers through it again when he sat down. “Hear from anyone yet?” he whispered to Laurel.
She shook her head and nodded at her mom to indicate she didn’t want to talk about it right now.
“Morning everyone.” Colt appeared in the kitchen door still wearing the old sweat pants he always slept in. He yanked out a chair from the table and almost collapsed into it. “God, I’m tired.” Briskly he scrubbed his hands over his red rimmed eyes and down his face, the stubble on his cheeks making a faint scratching sound. He leaned his elbows on the table and dropped his head into his hands for a brief moment before shoving his chair back from the table again.
“Dad,” Laurel protested.
“Colt, sit down and eat. There’s nothing that can’t wait until after breakfast.” Anna put a hand on his shoulder and pressed him down into the chair. “I mean it,” she added when her husband looked like he wanted to argue.
Laurel hid a smile and found Coll’s hand under the table. She got up to cut the potatoes for home fries while her mother flipped the bacon in the cast iron fry pan.
“Can I do anything?” Coll asked.
“Just sit still, son. Don’t mess with the women folk when they’re cooking. Good way to get hit up the side of the head with a pan.” Colt grinned at Anna’s mock outrage.
“Keep that talk up Colt Rowan and you’ll find salt in your coffee instead of sugar,” Anna threatened.
Laurel rolled her eyes and slid the cut potatoes into another cast iron pan where grease already sizzled.
“Morning, Rowans.” Harry Good Smoke stepped in the back door. “Figured you’d need me this morning after that storm last night.”
“You figured right, Harry.” Colt pushed back from the table and kissed Anna on the cheek. “No time like the present to see what the great white combine has left us. You come with us, Coll. We can use an extra pair of hands.”
“Sure.” Coll got to his feet in a hurry. “Just gotta grab a jacket.”
“Meet me out front by the truck.” Colt and Harry clomped out the back door.
Laurel watched them go with some misgivings. Usually it would have been her going out to help. She turned back to finish drying the dishes. Hanging the dish towel on the rack, she surveyed the kitchen.
“Go on, Laurel. You look like you’ve got some place to be. I’m going out to see what’s left of the vegetable garden. The house might have taken the brunt of the hail.” Anna whipped off the apron she’d tied over her jeans and tossed it over a chair back, the kitchen door snicking shut behind her.
Laurel pulled her phone from her jeans and checked for texts. Nothing from Carly. Darn it. Fingers flying, she sent her friend a quick text. Almost immediately the phone beeped, but it was a message from Joey.
:Dad there yet? No news from Council. On my way over:
:C U soon: Laurel texted back.
What’s going on with Carly? She always answers my texts, even when things are really bad at home. Sighing with frustration, Laurel went to join her mother at the vegetable garden. She found her standing by two rows of green slime.
“Looks like the lettuce didn’t make it,” Anna remarked. “We’ll have to hoe them under.”
The bean plants were broken and shredded and beyond help. Large pock marks marred the cabbage and holes showed in the kale leaves. “We’ll have to pick the zucchini early and make relish, they’re so bruised they’ll just rot if we leave them. The last of the tomatoes are a lost cause.”
“What a mess.” Laurel surveyed the wreck of her mother’s usually tidy garden. “At least the potatoes, beets and carrots will be okay.”
“We might as well get started.” Anna handed her daughter a rake and a hoe. She pushed the big wheel barrow into a spot where it was within easy reach of them both and started pitching ruined vegetation into it.
Much as Laurel wanted to get away and find out what was going on with Carly and meet up with Joey to plan their attack on the catch pens, she couldn’t leave her mom to clear up the big mess. The quicker I get at it, the quicker I’ll be done. She set to work raking and hoeing. The barrow filled quicker than she anticipated.
“Hey Laurel!” Joey showed up just as she was shoving the heavy load around the potato hills. “Let me.” He took over the chore and was back far quicker than Laurel would have been.
“Where’s Coll?” Joey dropped the empty barrow between where Anna and Laurel were working.
“Out with Dad seeing what damage was done to the crop. When he gets back we have to go check on the cattle. You coming with us?”
“Sure, if you can lend me a horse. I didn’t ride over, got a lift from Chance.”
“Chance? Was Carly with him?” Laurel’s interest was piqued.
“Nah, just Chance. Said he was on his way into town to pick up something for his dad.”
“Have you heard from Carly?” Laurel moved a few steps away from her mom. “I haven’t heard from her since the day we went swimming.”
“Here help me with these tomato plants.” Joey moved further away from Anna. He bent down to pull one out and Laurel started on the row beside it. “She sent a short text last night. Just said ‘trouble’ and ‘meet me tomorrow our place’.”
“That’s it? You think she’s okay?” Laurel pitched a plant into the pile Joey had started.
“Don’t know. We usually text back and forth all day, but that’s all I heard from her.”
“When are you supposed to meet her?” Laurel finished pulling up her row of mangled plants.
Joey glanced at the sky to check the position of the sun. “Pretty soon.”
“We can go once we finish here. Coll should be back by then too.” She gathered up the mess of greenery and lugged it to the wheel barrow by her mom.”
“What are you two planning?” Anna straightened up and arched her back to ease the strain. “Don’t think I can’t hear you whispering over there.” She smiled at her daughter.
“Joey’s gonna help us check the cattle and we’re gonna meet up with Carly at the same time.” It was pretty close to the truth, s
he figured.
“Haven’t seen much of Carly lately. Everything okay between you two?” Anna frowned at her daughter.
“We’re not arguing, if that’s what you mean. I think she’s just been busy at home.” Laurel scuffed her boot in the soft dirt of the garden.
“I think I hear the truck. The men must be back. You run along and get Coll. I can finish up here. Thanks for helping, Joey.”
“Thanks Mom. You’re the best!” Laurel slapped the dirt from her jeans and loped out of the garden and cut around the house, Joey on her heels.
Laurel skidded to a halt at the sight of the pickup. The hood was dented, and the windshield was a spider web of cracks, one of the side windows was broken and the back window was smashed. “Holy cow! Good thing the new truck was in the shed.”
“You got that right, Laurie.” Colt slammed the driver door shut and winced at the sound of falling glass. “Damn!”
“What did the crop look like?” She was almost afraid to ask.
“Barley’s gone,” Colt said succinctly. “We might be able to salvage some of the oats. The hail seems to have missed some of it.”
“We helped Mom with the vegetable garden, we’re gonna go check the cattle now.”
“Take your phone in case you run into trouble,” Colt cautioned.
“Sure, Dad. C’mon, boys.” Laurel headed toward the barn. Sam greeted her at the gate and she inspected him quickly. Running her hands down his legs she was relieved to find no lumps or swellings. There were some bumps on his neck and rump but nothing too serious. She was careful to check his back where the saddle would rest. Joey did the same for the mare he chose, and Coll followed their lead with Jewel. Satisfied the horses were none the worse for wear, they saddled up.
“They must have got into the shelter of the barn and got out of the worst of it,” Joey said.
“Thank God,” Laurel said stepping up into the saddle.
They rode out of the yard and headed for the area the cattle were pastured in. Joey got down and held the ranch gate open wrestling the wires of the gate shut once they were through. Riding side by side, they let the horses pick their way across the flattened grasses. When they reached the spot where a trail branched off toward the Cullen’s, Laurel drew rein.
