Montana Morning (20 page)

“Big ones,and
Addy?” He stopped digging and looked up at Andy.  “Hurry, if you
can.  I think we should try to be all done before Grandpa gets
back.”   

***

The ride home from
town had been particularly silent, each man dealing with today and tomorrow in
his own way.  Will had seen the pain in his son’s eyes when they picked up
the urns at the mortuary and knew nothing he could say could make it go away,
so had spent the day tending to his memories of Emily. 
‘She’d be
mighty pleased at the way things are going at home now.’

“Don’t know what
to tell the boy or how to tell him,” Jack spoke up, as they turned in the lane
and towards the house.  Scotty was sitting on the front porch behind Addy,
brushing her hair.

“Makes a pretty
nice picture, doesn’t it?” Will asked, as he saw the smile creeping across
Jack’s face.

“Yeah, it
does.”  Jack parked the pickup by the back walk as Andy walked towards
them.

“Andy, would you
mind unloading these supplies?  Dad and I have to go up to the orchard for
a bit.”

He opened the door
to the back seat and removed the box containing the urns just as Scotty and
Addy came around the end of the house. He stole a quick look in Will’s
direction.  Will took the box and walked towards the orchard.

“Scotty, I need to
talk to you.” Jack wished there was a better time or better way tell his
grandson about burying his folk’s ashes, but for the life of him, he couldn’t
figure out what it was.

“He knows,” Addy
said simply.  Scotty walked into his grandpa’s arms.  “Why don’t you
two go on up while Andy and I put the groceries away?  We’ll be up in a
bit.”  They took their time putting the supplies in their proper places
and starting supper.  They wanted to give Jack, Will, and Scotty all the
time they needed.  When she left the house, Addy took her Bible with her.

“The flowers are
just perfect,” Will told her as she stepped up next to him.  “Jack and
Scotty just finished putting them in place.  Looks mighty nice.  Did
you know Scotty fixed up Emily’s spot for me?” he asked, pointing to the plants
and flowers with pride.  “Even weeded all around it.”

“Thanks for having
everything ready, Andy.  You don’t know how I was dreading this . . .”
Jack admitted to his old friend, “but then, I guess you did know.”

“Could you read
the Twenty-third psalm for Emily, Mary, and Jeff?” Will asked Addy as they
watched the sunset.

“I think Scotty
would kind of like to do it,” she said in more of the question than a
statement.

“Yeah, I
would.’  Scotty swallowed hard and took the book from Addy’s hands.
’
The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want . . .’
Jack stood with his hands
on the slim shoulders of his grandson, as they said farewell to a daughter, and
a mom and dad.  It was as painful as he had imagined and more comforting
than he could have ever believed it would be.  They mourned as a family
and they would heal as one.

***

“Grandpa there are
a couple of trucks coming up the road,” Scotty yelled across the corrals.

“Tell Addy to put
on the coffee pot, and then come back and give Andy a hand,” Jack hollered, as
he took off the horseshoeing apron.  “Can you fellows manage without me
for a spell?  Jeff and Seth must have the list we’ve been waiting for.”

“If we run into
trouble, we’ll holler,” Andy said and took the apron, pulling the strap over
his neck.

“I’ll be back as
soon as I can,” Jack assured them as he walked towards the pickups parking in
the drive.  He recognized the second truck as John Tompkins rig. 
‘He
must be the first rancher is trouble.’

“Morning, Jeff . .
. Seth.” Jack shook their hands and turned to John Tompkins.  “Morning,
John.  Come on in the house.  Addy is making a fresh pot of
coffee.”  The men took off their jackets at the back door and sat around
the kitchen table.  “Addy, this is John Tompkins.  John, Addy
Banks.”     

“I take it, we now
have a list,” he said to the men across the kitchen.  “Let me wash up and
then we’ll have a look.”

“I sure hate being
the first . . .” John Tompkins started.

“Now hold it right
there.” Jack dried his hands and turned back to the table.  “We all agreed
to do this thing, didn’t we?” He looked to Jeff and Seth for support.

“We sure
did.  No exceptions.”

“But still,” John
fought for the right words.  “I’ve never taken any charity.”

“This isn’t
charity, its survival, for all of us,” Jack assured him and helped Addy serve
the coffee.  “Let’s take a gander at this list.  Does it have all the
due dates for everybody’s notes and other deadlines?” he asked Jeff.

“Yeah, and it sure
isn’t very pretty.” 

Jack studied the
list and arched his eyebrows.  Setting the list on the table before him,
he looked down at the floor, then over at Addy standing by the kitchen sink and
exhaled.  “First things first, I guess.  John, it says here your note
at the bank is due in two weeks on June 14
^th
.  How much do you
need?” 

John looked as
embarrassed as he felt.  He had never discussed his private finances so
openly.  “Look, maybe I can do this myself.”

“If you could, you
wouldn’t be here,” Jack growled. “How much?”

“Twenty-seven
hundred and eighteen dollars.” John grimaced.  He knew most of the
cattlemen were in as tough of shape as he was.

“Any other stuff
in hock?”  Seth asked, as he took notes.

“Nothin’ due right
away, and I can ask my father-in-law for a loan, but . . .”

“Only as a last resort!” 
Jeff laughed.  “I know the man.” 

John grinned for
the first time.  “Only as a last resort, is right!  I can come up
with about fifteen hundred of it, if we cut corners.”

“Like not eating,
you mean?” Jeff scoffed.

“Something like
that,” John admitted, as he looked out the window, not wanting to see their
faces.

“Can you scrape up
a thousand without pinching your family?”  Jack asked and watched the
man’s response. “Remember this isn’t going to work, unless we’re all completely
honest with one another.  No room for pride right now, false or
otherwise.”

“I can make eleven
hundred of it.”

“Okay, according
to my figures that leaves us with sixteen hundred and eighteen to come up
with,” Seth calculated.

“I’ve got about
ten tons of hay I could sell, if I had more pasture.” Jeff offered.

“How many head
will you need to pasture out?” Jack asked, as he sipped his coffee.

“Around sixty.”

“Done.  You
can use the timbered land at the edge of the meadows.  Andy and I will
help you fix up the fence. Will a couple of months do you?”

“That would work
fine.  Watson said he’d put in whatever he could.”  The men went over
the list again and again, each time coming up with more ideas.

“I have lunch
about ready. If you’ll get all those papers off the table, I’ll feed you,” Addy
said, as she began dishing up the fried chicken. “Jack, would you call the
others?”

“Are you sure you
have enough ma’am?” Jeff asked.  “We didn’t intend for you to feed us.”

“Don’t believe a
word of it!” Seth cut in grinning. “Jack has told everyone what a terrific cook
you are. We timed it this way on purpose.” 

As they ate lunch
Addy listened to the men around the table discussing their families, plans for
the future, problems with their cattle . . .   “You know, this ruckus
with Western Pacific may be a blessing in disguise,” she offered, as she served
the apple pie.  “Lifetime friendships are most often formed in times of
adversity.”

“I’ve been meaning
to ask,” Will interrupted, “are we still having the Fourth of July picnic and
dance this year?”

“Two weeks ago,
I’d have told you no way,” Jeff said, as he looked around the table. “But now,
there is no way we won’t have it.  Come one, come all.”

“Even
Simpson?”  John blinked in surprise.

“Especially
Simpson,” Jack smiled with a twinkle in his eye. “Especially Simpson.”

***

The days were
warm, but the nights were still chilly and the fire in the fireplace felt
good.  Scotty and Will had taken turns popping corn over the coals and the
house smelled of buttered popcorn and hot cider.  Addy had been reading
from the Psalms and everyone was enjoying them.

“I like this part
of the Bible best so far,” Scotty said quietly, as he gathered the bowls and
cups and started for the kitchen.  “It not only makes sense, but it’s kind
of pretty, know what I mean?”

“I never thought
about it much, I guess,” Jack admitted, dropping another log on the fire, “but
you’re right.  It is pretty, like poetry or music.  Which reminds me,
how are the lessons coming?”  Scotty had been spending a lot of time
outdoors helping around the place since the weather had cleared up, and Jack
didn’t want him falling behind in his studies.

Addy smiled and
nodded at Scotty. He ran up the stairs, returning quickly with a grin from ear
to ear.  He handed his grandpa an envelope.

“What’s this?”
Jack asked, as Addy winked up at Scotty.

“Open it and
you’ll find out,” she reasoned.  Jack nodded agreement and opened the
envelope.  He read it over several times and shook his head, returning his
grandson’s grin.  “When did you get this?”

“Jeff Baker
brought it when he and the others were here the other day.” 

 Jack looked
from Scotty to Addy. “Why didn’t either one of you tell me?”

“Scotty wanted to
show it to you himself,” Addy said, as she sat her Bible on the stand.

“And I was waiting
for you to ask.” Scotty laughed.  “I took the test the week before
Memorial Day and Grandpa Will took it to the courthouse to be graded.  He
asked Jeff to bring it when he came up.” Jack scowled at his father, who had been
sitting back all innocent like.

“Quite a bunch of
conspirators I live with.”

“I asked them not
to tell you.” Scotty blushed with embarrassment. “I’ve never been real good at
school and I didn’t want you to know if I did bad.”

“Sure doesn’t look
like that was much of a problem,” Jack said, as he grabbed Scotty and wrestled
him onto the floor, where they rolled over and over, ending up at Addy’s
feet.  “Did you remember to thank your teacher?”

“Sure did. 
In fact, I gave her a great big kiss,” Scotty admitted shyly. “On the cheek.”

“I can’t tell you
how happy and proud I am of you, Scotty.  You’ve worked hard and it paid
off,” Addy said, smiling down at the two fellows lying at her feet.

“That goes for me,
too,” Will threw in.  “In fact, I think this calls for a special
celebration.  First thing after breakfast, you and I will start your
riding lessons.  Okay?”

“You bet!” Scotty
whooped, as he ran for the stairs.  “The sooner I go to sleep, the faster
morning will come.”  They heard him holler good night just as his bedroom
door slammed.

“I’d say that was
a hit, Pops,” Jack said, as he sat back into the couch. “Addy, how did he go up
almost the equivalent of two grade levels so fast?  In just four months?”

“He just found out
he liked to learn, I guess.” She really couldn’t believe the test results were
that good either. “I knew he was doing well, but I was surprised how well.”

“He has a great
teacher,” Will said, knowing how hard she had worked.  “She taught him to
love to learn, that’s the key.”

“You fellows have
helped too.”

“Before we all
break our arms slapping each other on the back, let’s have a cup of coffee,”
Jack said, as he started for the kitchen. “We need to discuss next Saturday.”

“Someone I know
turns ten . . . creeping up on becoming a teenager!” Will grinned and sat out
the cups.  “Heaven help us all.”

“Teenagers are a
marvelous age group of kids to have around, Will,” Addy informed him as she put
Chester out for his evening run.

“Hope you’ll still
be saying that this time next year!” Jack said, as he poured the coffee and sat
down.  “Now, what are we doing for Scotty’s tenth birthday?” 

“I’m making his
gift and his favorite food is pepperoni pizza, so I’m fixing that for
dinner.”  Addy watched Will’s face and laughed knowing he wasn’t fond of
pizza.

“Suppose I can
survive it for one night, just don’t let it get to be a habit,” he
growled.   “I’m not saying what he’s getting from me, but I got it
picked out.”

“Need to go the
town, Pops?”

“Nope,” Will said
smugly.  “My present is coming from right here on the ranch.”

“Mine too.” Jack
was really looking forward to this weekend and he couldn’t keep from
smiling.  “With everything going on around here, you’d think this would be
the worst summer in years, but I have to tell you,” he sipped his coffee and
looked at Pops and Addy, “I’m one very happy man.  Saturday is Scotty’s
birthday and Sunday will be my first Father’s Day with my grandson.” For just a
minute they both saw the pain flash in his eyes. “I never did get to have Mary
here with me, but I praise God every day for Scotty.”

“Me too,
Son.  Me too.”  Will put his cup in the sink and said good night.
“I’d better hit the hay.  I have riding lessons first thing in the
morning.”  Jack watched as Addy put the dishes away and he filled the
kitchen stove with enough wood to keep it warm till morning.  Sparky and
Chester were at the door and he let Chester in.

“Sparky you still
belong outside,” he said, as he patted the wolf on the head and sent him on his
way.  Chester bound up the stairs to Scotty’s room.  Jack turned to
find Addy looking at the night sky out the living room window.  “Pretty
night. It’s clear and it’s going to get nippy.”

“Scotty and I
covered some of the plants in the garden, just in case.”

“Addy, thanks for
everything you’ve done for Scotty.” Jack stood beside her with his hands in his
pockets, staring at the stars.