A Ranch to Call Home

by Leann Harris

  He had a point. The rodeo was for the ranchers. “What about the other board members?”

  “They’ve talked with the other members at the fairgrounds. Nan followed them here. They want to interview you and put the piece on tonight.”

  “Okay.”

  As she started out of the barn, Caleb called out to her. “How did the counseling group go?”

  “I’ll tell you tonight.”

  After the news piece ran on the TV, the house phone immediately started to ring. It had been a wonderful advertisement. Finally around ten, Kaye found time to talk. They walked out to the corral.

  “So tell me how the counseling session went,” Caleb said.

  “I felt at home. They understood in a unique way. When I talked about my flashbacks, no one was shocked or looked at me as if I was crazy.” She looked out into the night. “It was a burden lifted off my shoulders.”

  “Good. You’re on the right road.” He hesitated, opened his mouth then closed it. “You’re a strong woman, Kaye. Don’t sell yourself short. I don’t.”

  Her eyes watered. “It helps to have someone believe in you.”

  “I do and am awed by your courage.”

  Throwing her arms around him, she hugged him. When she stepped back, she touched his cheek. “Thank you.”

  They stared into each other’s eyes. He started to lower his head when the back door slammed.

  “Brenda, you’ve got a phone call.”

  She sighed. “Thanks, Gramps.” Stepping away, she said, “I think this publicity might be bigger than we think.”

  * * *

  Rodeo or no, spring was branding time, and all the area ranchers helped each other. Caleb and Joel helped at the neighbors’ ranches, while Kaye stayed at the house, continuing to work on the rodeo. After a week of branding, the final day the ranchers were at the Double “K” Ranch.

  “I’ll say, things sure have taken off. I feel like we’re in the middle of a stampede with all the folks showing up in town,” John Burkett, the closest neighbor, said.

  “Things have heated up since the network spot,” Caleb replied.

  “Well, my son and daughter are going to compete. Carrie’s going to do the barrel racing and Jon is doing the calf scramble.” He nodded toward some of the calves they’d just branded. “I heard that Joel is going to use these calves in the scramble.”

  The men heard an engine and looked up and saw the jeep.

  “Lunch is here, guys,” Joel announced.

  “I never thought I’d see that girl again,” John muttered.

  Caleb’s heart raced at the sight of Kaye. In spite of the work on the rodeo, Kaye had taken time out of her activities and brought them lunch. Diane Burkett was in the jeep with Kaye. The day before, the men had been at the Burkett spread, and Diane had worked with another wife providing lunch.

  Kaye brought her jeep to a stop. “Hey, guys, anyone hungry?”

  “Yes,” echoed through the air.

  “Diane and I have barbecue, beans, potato salad and cookies. And gallons of tea. Come and get it.”

  The men finished up their work. Caleb walked to the vehicle.

  “Caleb, can you get the card table out of the back?” Kaye called out. She didn’t look at him again as the two women worked in tandem to get the food out of the jeep.

  “Thanks for thinking of us,” Caleb said as he set up the table.

  “Part of the job.” Kaye continued putting out the food. “I remember my mom doing this when we were growing up. And cowboys don’t change. They’re still hungry during branding time.” She paused, a smile lighting her face. “As if I could’ve forgotten.”

  The men gathered around. After a quick prayer, the guys dug in.

  “Are you going to join us, Sis?” Joel grabbed a paper plate.

  “Of course. I loved this new place in town. When we had it the other night, it was to die for.”

  Riley’s Bar-B-Q was on the sacks the food came in. “It’s been there eight years, Sis.”

  Kaye ignored the comment. “I served Gramps a plate before I came. Beware, he told me this was the last day he’s staying close to the house. He’s done with all the babying.”

  Over the next thirty minutes, Caleb watched as Kaye greeted each man, asked about their families and caught up on her time away. She made sure all the men put their plates and cups in a trash sack. Diane also talked to each rancher. Once everything was back in her jeep, the women drove off.

  John walked to Caleb and Joel’s sides. “That sister of yours, Joel, is a mighty sharp woman. I think some single man needs to snap her up.”

  “I’m telling you, I’m praying that guy’s going to get on the stick. He’s late.” Joel slapped John on the back and they went to finish the last of the branding.

  That man would be a blessed man. If only things were different....

  * * *

  That afternoon Kaye contacted Jason Kelly.

  “Do you need something else from me, Miss Kaye?” Jason asked.

  She had to smile. Jason addressing her as Miss Kaye told her he was a true Texas boy. “I want to order a pair of boots.”

  “For yourself? I can measure you when I come to the rodeo.”

  “They’re not for me. They are for Caleb Jensen.”

  The boot maker remained quiet.

  “You did a pair of boots for him a while back.” Her heart beat faster and she began to feel like this idea was a mistake.

  “I remember Caleb. He was one of my first customers. Those boots I made him have been some of the best advertisement I’ve had.”

  “Can you make a new pair of boots for him? Do you still have his measurements?”

  “Of course I do. I never throw away a customer’s measurements in case they want to order new boots.”

  “Well, I’d like to order another pair for him.” She wanted to thank Caleb for his help.

  They spent the next few minutes discussing details of what leather she wanted and the particular style. Jason directed her to his website and she picked the leather and color.

  “Anything special you want on them?”

  Kaye thought a moment. Did she want to fancy up the boots? “Can you put an outline of the state of Texas on the side?”

  “I can do that.”

  They discussed price and when he could have them done.

  “I can bring the finished boots to the rodeo with me. Will that do?” Jason asked.

  “That’s perfect. Thank you.” She hung up.

  “What’s perfect?” Caleb asked.

  Kaye’s gaze went to the entrance to the dining room. Caleb stood there, dusty with his hair wild. How long had the man been standing there?

  “The arrangements I just made. You finished for the day?” Hopefully he would not probe further into the conversation he just overheard.

  He looked down at himself. “We are.” He stood there, his hat in his hands.

  Her heart started beating hard. The man looked entirely too good standing there, covered with dirt. She’d been noticing too much about him and wanted to be held in his arms again. Caleb wormed his way into her heart. And now that God had started healing the wounds left by her parents’ deaths, she found a deep joy. The man standing before her now was part of that joy.

  “Would you like to go out to dinner tonight?”

  Well, if he’d asked her if she wanted to stand on her head and sing the army anthem, the Caisson Song, she couldn’t have been more surprised. She studied him.

  His mouth curved in a shy smile. “I feel like I’m sixteen asking my first girl out.”

  “That’s okay. I feel the same way, except the girl thing.”

  They laughed.

  “Fort Worth?”

  “Yeah.
I thought we could have our pick of any place we want.”

  “I’d like that.”

  He nodded. “Let’s plan on leaving around five.” He walked out of the house.

  A date.

  He’d asked her for a date. Her heart fluttered. That teenage Brenda was still there deep inside. A tear slipped down her cheek.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Oh, my, that is one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.” Kaye took a drink of her Dr. Pepper.

  Caleb took the last cowboy fry that came with his burger and popped it into his mouth. “I found this place several years ago. The guy who runs it is an ex-rodeo man. Whenever I come through Fort Worth, I have one of his burgers.”

  They’d tried to go to several fancy restaurants, but on Friday night the wait was anywhere from a half hour to an hour and a half. He suggested the Crooked Boot instead.

  “Well, I’ll say, there’s nothing better than a burger with fries.” She shook her head. “My ex used to complain I had plain tastes, along with being boring and monotonous.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being plain about a good burger, as any cowboy can tell you. As for monotonous, if being dependable is monotonous I’ll take boring every time. In my humble opinion, there’s something seriously wrong with your ex.”

  Her eyes warmed and she smiled. “Of course, when you’re overseas at a posting, sometimes it’s just easier not to ask what they’re serving you.” She grinned. “Didn’t the Apostle Paul say something about ‘just eat what’s put in front of you and not ask where it came from’? I had a wonderful dish with chunks of meat floating in gravy while I was visiting a village in northern Iraq. You ate it with flatbread. It was delicious until I asked what it was.”

  He waited for her to tell him what she ate. “And?”

  “Well, let’s just say I’m glad to have a hamburger with meat I can identify.”

  “I’m glad I could grant your wish.”

  She settled back into the wooden chair out on the restaurant porch. “So have you decided what you’re going to do? Are you going to go back and work the rodeo or do something else?”

  Caleb ran his fingers over the outside of his paper cup. “I haven’t decided yet.” Since Charlie had preached about giving things to God, his heart felt lighter, but he still had no direction on what to do. Something was there, making things hazy, and he couldn’t figure out what. “You still on board with getting your counseling certificate?”

  “Yes, I am. Of course, with all the rodeo stuff, I haven’t had time to look over class schedules, but I have applied. Now I have to decide how—as a social worker, counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist. How long do I want to go to school? I’m letting that decision stew while I take care of the rodeo.”

  They finished their meal and walked to the truck. A large park was across from the little hamburger stand. “C’mon.” He took her hand as she stepped down into the street. He didn’t release it as they crossed the street. Kaye didn’t object.

  “Watching you deal with this rodeo, well—I’ve been impressed.”

  She shrugged. “Being organized helped. I guess I just had an untapped talent inside me and the army found it. Looking at your trailer, you understand the importance of order.”

  His brow arched.

  “Remember, we used the microwave in your trailer after that lightning strike.”

  Okay, that made sense. “Living in that small an area, it’s important to be organized.” He stopped on a small bridge that spanned the creek running through the park.

  “You don’t mind so small an area?” She looked into his face.

  The woman was just the right size, tall enough where he could easily see her incredible blue eyes and her lips—

  “No, it doesn’t bother me. It’s mine. The house I grew up in was rented. We had nothing that belonged to us except our horses, truck and horse trailer. That trailer sitting at the ranch is mine.”

  She thought about his words. “I can understand that. I’ve moved from one base to another, and all I took was my duffel bag.”

  Again, they had something in common.

  “Do you know this is my first official date?”

  Kaye turned toward him. “I find that hard to believe that you’ve reached the ripe old age of—” She waited.

  “Thirty-two.”

  “The ripe old age of thirty-two and not officially asked a girl on a date.”

  The realization knocked him off center. “Well, I didn’t date in high school because I worked to help support Sawyer and myself. When I was working the rodeo, there were lots of gatherings and parties. I’d go to a party, but the woman I was hanging out with knew about the party and it was just understood we’d go together. But to actually ask someone on a date, you’re the first.”

  “Whoa, you’re in worse shape than me.”

  “I don’t know. I think I’m just at the right age to be asking a girl out.” He pulled her gently into his arms, allowing her the chance to back away. She didn’t. As he bent down, she went up until their lips met. Kaye wrapped her arms around him and eagerly kissed him back. When he pulled back, he smiled.

  “That wasn’t your first kiss,” she said.

  “You’re right, but I think it was the best.”

  * * *

  “I can’t believe it’s almost here,” Gramps said over dinner. “Y’all have been running around like chickens with your heads cut off today. I’m tired just watching y’all.”

  Last-minute details had filled every waking hour for Kaye and the members of her committee.

  “Imagine if I’d been trying to do this thing.” Joel popped the last of his steak in his mouth. “Each rodeo event is maxed out and all the booths are assigned to different groups. And I’ve got enough calves for the scramble for the kids.”

  “You still owe me, brother.” Kaye’s words were softened by her smile.

  “What can I say?” He shrugged.

  Yesterday, the fairgrounds manager had given her the checklist of what needed to be done. She also had a checklist of accommodations for the riders. Different ranchers and people in town had volunteered a bedroom in their house for cowboys and cowgirls if they didn’t bring their own trailers. Since everyone had volunteered their prize money to the ranch fund, the ranchers were eager to help.

  Seeing all her old high school friends had brought Kaye countless memories, yet her reminiscences were not bittersweet, but warm celebrations of her youth. God was healing her one memory at a time.

  She couldn’t believe the biggest change that occurred over the past six weeks was her growing relationship with Caleb. His first date. She’d been his first date. After that night they’d talked and spent time with each other. He helped after dinner when she worked on the rodeo issues. Joel grumbled that Caleb was building up too many good-guy points that no one could compare with him. Caleb only laughed at him.

  As Kaye cleaned up the kitchen, Caleb joined her. “It’s not your turn. Go sit down with Gramps and Joel. You grilled.” Joel, Caleb and Kaye had made a pact—the person who made dinner didn’t clean up. Their rotating calendar was stuck on the refrigerator.

  “They’re not the person I want to spend time with.”

  Kaye stared at him, then looked down at the dishes in the sink, suddenly shy and feeling that teenage thing again where you acted stupid. “Okay, be prepared to load the dishwasher.”

  They finished the dishes in record time while Kaye tried to tamp down the teen reaction. What was wrong with her? She’d led men, ordered them in stressful situations, composed strategy, gone through countless scenarios where she had no problem dealing with things. But with Caleb, her mind turned to mush.

  When Caleb put away the last pot, he turned to her.

  “Want to go stargazing?”

  Hi
s suggestion captured her imagination. “I like that idea.”

  He held out his hand. She slid her hand in his and they walked outside. Caleb had placed a couple folding chairs in the yard. “I didn’t think we had any of those chairs.”

  “You didn’t. I have them in my trailer.”

  He guided her to a chair, then sat beside her. The clear night made the stars dance in the sky.

  “Sometimes, when I was overseas, I’d look at the night sky and think of home. There was a comfort in that.”

  “Sawyer and I loved stargazing. It was our favorite pastime. Our dad used to take us out and show us the stars.”

  There was something—a tone in his voice—that caught Kaye’s attention. “Tell me about your brother.”

  “Sawyer’s three years younger than me. We were and are best buds, especially after Dad’s death. We were two scared kids who learned to rely on each other. Sometimes we sneaked out of the house and sat in the field behind the house and watched the stars.” He fell silent, as if lost in a memory.

  Kaye understood about sharing those special moments. She’d had that with her dad.

  He came back to her from the past memories and gave a short laugh. “We got really good at spotting the different constellations. I toyed with the idea of becoming an astronomer when I was in high school.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders.

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “Life got in the way.”

  “But your brother got his masters.”

  “He did.”

  Kaye knew how life got in the way. She rested her head on his shoulder and they quietly shared their disappointments. But her feelings for this man who’d sacrificed his future for his brother only grew. How different was Caleb’s view than her ex. If he wanted it, he went for it, no matter the consequences or the cost.