Sea Of Grass (11 page)

“What makes him hate so much?”
 

Jed took a deep contemplative breath. “I don’t know. Well, I know why he hates me.”

“Why?” Tess asked and sat forward.

“He had his sights on your mother, and I think he just couldn’t stand it when I married her.”

“Yuck, he loved Ma?”

Jed laughed and nodded. “So remember, it could always be worse. You could have Telford as your father.” He kissed her head. “Go to bed, Tess. Let’s not worry about Telford.”

Tess agreed as she reached up and kissed him. “I’m sorry I left,” she whispered.

Jed kissed her once again. “You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. I miss your brother every day and your mother. I tried getting the district attorney in Helena involved. Did you know that?”

Tess saw the flash of confusion in his eyes. “Yes, Dad. You told me.”

Jed nodded. “Well, I’m off to bed.
G’night
, Em.”

Tess hesitated for a minute, close to tears. “
G’night
, Dad,” she whispered. He ruffled her hair and walked away.

Tess took off her boots and let out a sigh of relief as she put her feet up on the desk and leaned back in the chair. She picked up the brandy and sipped it, not wanting to think of her father calling her Em. She shrugged it off. People do that all time, she thought. It doesn’t mean his mind is slipping. Trying to think of something, anything else, her mind drifted back to the day she came home after her father called.

She had gone straight to the sheriff’s office after she viewed Stephen’s body, which Chuck had found after Stephen’s horse wandered back to the ranch. His body was in the south pasture, his head crushed. The coroner determined that the horse threw him and kicked him in the head. Tess remembered the conversation clearly.

“What the fuck is this called, Pat? You’ve known Steve his whole life. When was he ever thrown from his horse?” Tess bellowed.

Jed gently pulled at her arm, but she angrily shrugged him off. “And what about his crushed head? I saw it. Did you see any sign of his horse kicking him in the head? Shit, Pat, what’s going on?”

“I have to go by what the coroner said, Tess. It’s like I told Jed, they determined it was an accident.”

“I suppose that it means nothing that he had words with Telford that night or that Telford warned him to back off, in front of witnesses. I suppose that means shit, right?” Tess yelled, and Pat winced at her anger but said nothing. Tess wiped away the angry tears.

Jed agreed with Tess. “She’s right, you know. Warren Telford killed my son as sure as you’re standing here denying it.”

Tess took a menacing step toward her old friend. She never wanted to hit someone so badly in her entire life, but she knew Pat was not entirely to blame.

“Go to hell, Sheriff Hayward,” she said in a dead flat voice. Without another word, she turned on her heels and stormed out, slamming the door with such anger, it shattered the glass paneling.

Tess finished her brandy as she reminisced and put her head back. Tears filled her blue eyes while she watched the dying embers of the fire flickering across the log-beamed ceiling. With a sad, tired sigh, she closed her eyes.

Someone was shaking her.

“Tess,” Claire whispered.

Tess blinked and opened her eyes and focused on the worried face. “Go to bed. You’ll be stiff as a board tomorrow.”

Tess sat up, shaking the sleep from her eyes. “God, I fell asleep. What time is it?” she asked through a yawn.
  

“Nearly midnight. C’mon.”

Tess groaned and stretched. Claire noticed the ledger and bills on the desk. She said nothing as she turned out the light.

Standing in the glow of the fire, Tess looked down into Claire’s blue eyes. “Why are you still up?”
 

Claire pulled the flannel robe closer and shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. I heard mumbling. You were talking in your sleep.”

“Really? What did I say?” Tess asked with a small grin.

“You mentioned some man named Mel.”

“Man…?” Tess chuckled. “Mel is short for Melanie. She’s a, well, a colleague at the university.”

“A colleague?”

Tess laughed again and scratched her neck. “A long story for another night. Go to bed. Thanks for waking me up. I would have been a pretzel by morning.”

Claire laughed as they walked down the hall and stopped by her room; she handed Tess her cowboy boots. “Thanks again for today. Jack had a wonderful time. It was very generous of you.”

“Did you have a good time?”

Claire smiled and nodded. “I had a very good time. I only hope you didn’t destroy too many cowboy hats. Good night, Tess.”

“Good night, Claire.” Tess laughed and backed up as Claire walked into the room and closed the door.

“I can’t believe I knocked over that rack,” she said with a sigh and limped back to her room.

Chapter 7

Tess walked into the kitchen the next morning and heard Pedro talking in Spanish; she assumed he was talking to Manny and was shocked when she heard Claire’s voice. The two of them were conversing, and of course, Tess had no clue what they were saying. She was vaguely aware this bothered her as she walked into the kitchen.

“Bonito
tardes
,” she said with a grin.

Pedro and Claire stopped and exchanged quick glances, then started to laugh.

Tess immediately frowned and was acutely aware this bothered her. “What’s so funny? Didn’t I say good morning?”

Claire stopped laughing. “No. You said pretty afternoon.”

Pedro hid his grin in his coffee cup. Tess grunted and sat opposite him at the table, mumbling a thank you to Claire when she set the hot coffee in front of her. After a moment, Tess shrugged. “It could be a pretty afternoon.”

Claire laughed and explained to Pedro, who laughed along. He stood and picked up his hat. He nodded to Tess and Claire and walked out.

“Nice guy.” Tess watched him through the screen door. “He’ll do fine. So will his son.”

“That’s good,” Claire said as she loaded the dishwasher.

“So where did you learn Spanish?” Tess asked as she drank her coffee and watched her. She noticed the hesitation in Claire’s movements.

“High school, then from the people where I worked,” Claire said. “Now what would you like for breakfast?”

“Nothing, thanks. I’ll grab a cinnamon roll, though.” She took two sticky rolls off the plate and headed out the door.

“You really should eat something more substantial.”

Tess poked her head back in. “And gain ten more pounds,” she said with a grin and a wink. “See ya.”

She was still grinning when Jack led Stella out of the stable. “Good morning, Tess.”

“Good morning, Jack. And how is Clover this morning?”

“Doing better. I saddled Stella for you.”

“Thanks. You’re doing a fine job around here.”

Jack shrugged as he petted Stella. Tess watched as she slipped on her gloves; she saw the disappointment. “But you know, I really could use another man watching the herd.”

She glanced at Jack, whose eyes widened. “I’m getting better at handling a horse. Your dad is really helping me, and well, maybe I can help…somehow.”

Tess smiled when she heard the frustration in his voice.

“How old did you say you were?”

“Sixteen, seventeen in the fall.”

She wanted to ask him about his father, but for some reason, it didn’t seem appropriate at the time.

“Well, you are riding better,” Tess said, scratching her chin.

Jack said nothing as he continued stroking Stella’s neck.

“And you’re sixteen, practically seventeen. If I decide to let you help with the herd, you might have to sleep in the bunkhouse with the other men.”

“That would be okay,” Jack said, nearly pouncing on her words.

Tess slapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll check with your mom later. You keep up with the stable and the corral for today.”

Jack’s grin spread across his face. “Okay. Thanks, Tess.”

Tess mounted Stella and pulled on the reins. “No, Jack, I thank you.” She leaned down to him. “Between you and me, getting you out there will save my aching
arse
.”

Claire sat on the back porch peeling potatoes in the shade of late afternoon. She watched Jack riding the filly around the confines of the corral and chuckled at the fierce look of concentration on his face. As Claire looked past him, she saw Tess riding toward the corral. When Tess slowly dismounted and flexed her back, Claire saw how tired and dirty she appeared. The vision of Tess in a classroom with book in hand and wearing something other than dusty blue jeans had her dropping the paring knife into the bowl. It was then she also noticed how fit Tess had become; maybe it was her imagination.

“Tess! I’m getting better,” Jack exclaimed.

Claire was amazed and had to agree with her son; he took so easily to riding a horse.

Tess dismounted and tied Stella off to the post. “You’re doing just fine, Jack. Maybe after supper we can take a ride out in the open and let that filly run,” she said with a tired smile.

She walked over to the horse trough and took off her hat, then plunged her head into the water. Claire grimaced as she watched.

Tess lifted her head, shaking it like a dog. Jack dismounted his horse and took off his hat. Claire knew what was coming next.

“Man, it’s hot,” Tess exclaimed as she ran her fingers through her wet blond hair, then grabbed the towel hanging on the fence.

“No kidding,” Jack said and took off his hat and dunked his head in.

Tess threw her head back and laughed, then saw his mother sitting on the porch. She poked Jack on the shoulder and he came up for air, his wet face looking up in confusion. Tess motioned to the porch.

Jack sported a sick smile. “Um, sorry, Mom,” he called out as Tess threw him a towel.

Tess gave her a teasing smile. “Me too, Mom,” she called out.

She unbuckled her chaps and flung them over the railing. She saw Jack eyeing the leather. “Go on, you’re tall enough. They’re about your size,” she said, and Jack quickly pulled them off the fence. “You just buckle them like a belt, then they have a strap behind the leg. There you got it. You look like a real cowboy now,” Tess said proudly and turned him around.

“Yeah? Why do you wear them? I see them in the movies, but I never really knew.”

“For driving the herd and riding through the brush and thickets. They protect your legs.” Tess watched as Jack walked around. “You can have them. I’ve got another pair. Once you get used to riding, I’ll take you out to see the herd.”

“Great! Thanks, Tess,” he said sincerely.

“You’re welcome. Now get back to practicing,” she said as she walked up to the porch. “Good afternoon, Claire.” She gingerly sat on the top step. “What’s for supper?”

“Beef stew and biscuits.”

Tess let out a sigh of relief as she leaned against the railing.