Sea Of Grass (8 page)

“Good morning,” Mrs. Redmond said. “It’s early.”

Tess walked into the kitchen. “I know, but the smell was heavenly. What are you making?” she asked excitedly as she looked beyond Mrs. Redmond.

“Cinnamon rolls, and no, you can’t have one. I haven’t iced them yet,” she scolded as Tess reached for the hot rolls cooling on the rack.

Tess pulled a face and stepped back. “I’m your employer, Mrs. Redmond,” Tess tried and got a smirk. “No go, huh?”

“No. Besides, you’ll burn your mouth. Sit, I’ll get your coffee.”

Tess sat at the long table and smiled her thanks as Mrs. Redmond set the steaming cup in front of her. “What’ll it be?” she asked over her shoulder.

“I’m so hungry, I don’t care,” Tess said happily as she blew at the steaming cup. “So tell me about yourself, Mrs. Redmond.”
 

With her back to her, Tess thought she saw Mrs. Redmond stiffen momentarily. It was forgotten as she watched her drizzle the icing over the warm sticky rolls.

“There’s not too much. I was born in Portland, Oregon. Married, had Jack, and my husband was killed in a car accident.”

Tess frowned for a moment at the abrupt tone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No. I’m sorry. You weren’t prying. It was just a painful time.”

“I understand. And I’ll never ask again if you would please let me have one of those.” She motioned to the cinnamon rolls, newly iced.

“Deal. You can have one.”

Tess grinned and licked her lips, grabbing a sticky roll off the rack. “Oh, my God!” Her exclamation was muffled by the mouthful of warm cinnamon, brown sugar, and the lightest dough she ever tasted, the topic completely forgotten as she concentrated on breakfast.

“Mrs. Redmond, that was the best breakfast I… Well, Maria has her work cut out for her when she gets back. Thank you,” Tess said, wiping her mouth.

Mrs. Redmond eyed the cleaned plate. “You’re welcome.
And Maria’s job is very safe. I have no problem moving on in August.”

Both women were silent for a moment. Tess saw the faraway look as Mrs. Redmond drank her coffee. “Well, I’m grateful for you. It’s amazing how quickly you and your son eased into the family routine. And it’s only April, let’s not talk about leaving,” Tess said as she stood. “Would you tell my father I’ll be back later in the day, maybe around suppertime? We’re going up on the high ridge to do some branding, which I haven’t done in almost six years, the poor calves. If you see a calf with a double R branded on its forehead, you’ll know who did it.”

Mrs. Redmond laughed again as she cleared the dishes. “Why do you still brand them? I mean, isn’t there a more humane way of keeping track of them?”

“We ear tag the calves when they’re born to match the tag on their mamas, so we can make sure we know which calf belongs to what cow if they get separated.”

“Doesn’t it hurt them? The branding, I mean.”

“If I had to guess, I’d say yeah. Hell, if I were stuck with a red hot poker on my ass—” She stopped when Mrs. Redmond laughed; she laughed along. “You know what I mean. Anyway, I have to go into town later and see Tom about our order. I’ll take a ride out to the south pasture on my way back. I should be back by supper,” she said quickly, avoiding Mrs. Redmond, and slipped into her buckskin jacket.

Tess caught her staring at the fleece-lined coat. “You like it?” she asked and modeled it. “I snagged this buck, skinned it, and had it made.”

“Really?” Claire said dryly as she leaned against the counter.

Tess saw the wary look and grinned. “I was online between classes, saw it in a catalog, and just had to have it?”

“That sounds more like it. Now what about lunch?”
 

Tess shrugged and put on her cowboy hat.

“I’m no expert, but that hat looks like it’s seen better days.”

Tess gave her a scathing look. “This is brand new, only five years old. Hell, it’s just broken in, the way I like it. Don’t you like it?” She took the cowboy hat off and dusted the brim, then replaced it on her head.

“Yes. You look great.”

“I do?”

Mrs. Redmond quickly continued as she wiped off the countertop, “What about lunch?”

Tess hid her grin and slipped on the worn work gloves. “I’ll get something on the way back. I’ll be out saddling my horse, if I can remember how, if my father wakes up anytime soon.” Tess smiled and walked out.

The sun was barely up as she walked into the stable. Clover was lying in the vacated stall on the bed of hay, licking her bandaged leg. “Good morning, Clover. Jack should be out to see you later.”

After saddling Stella, Tess mounted the mare and trotted out of the stable. She pulled the reins when she heard Mrs. Redmond calling her name. She ran up with a bag in hand.

“Here, I have a feeling you’ll get hungry. You can’t go all day without eating.” She handed the bag up to Tess.

“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that. I’m sure I won’t starve.” She sniffed the bag. “Hmm, you gave me cinnamon rolls, thanks.”

Mrs. Redmond ran her fingers through her long dark hair and grinned. “You’re welcome. Don’t fall off that horse. Have a good day, Miss Rawlins.”

Tess pulled on the brim of her hat. “We’ll have to do something about this ‘Miss Rawlins’ thing,” she said with a smile and rode down the dusty trail away from the ranch.

When she was almost out of sight, she turned and waved. Mrs. Redmond grinned and waved back.

Tess met up with Chuck on the south pasture. He was standing there with several new men. “Well, here goes.”

As she dismounted Stella, she glanced at Chuck, looking for some sign. He nodded with a wink; Tess hoped that was a good thing.

“This is Tess Rawlins, she and her father own the Double R,” Chuck said. “This is Pedro Garcia, and his son, Manny. And this is Kyle Mathis from Texas.”

Tess shook hands with Kyle first as they took off their hats. He looked to be about twenty-five; his hands were rugged and calloused, which was a good sign to Tess. When she took Pedro’s hand, he only smiled and nodded.

“He doesn’t speak much English, miss,” Manny offered in perfect English.

“That’s fine,” Tess assured him. “As long as he can work the ranch with all of you, we’ll be fine.”

“Oh, yes, ma’am. We’ve worked in Texas since I was a boy.”

Tess raised an eyebrow. “And how old are you?”

“I’m nearly eighteen.”

“You speak very good English.”

“I just graduated high school.”

Tess grinned then. “Good for you. What about college?”

Manny frowned and shrugged. “We will see.”

Tess understood and merely nodded. She then regarded Kyle. “And where have you worked, Mr. Mathis?”

“Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Been doing this all my life, as well.”

“Why did you leave Texas?” Tess noticed his bright smile and a twinkle in his brown eyes. Oh, brother, she thought and glanced at Chuck, who hid his grin.

“The ranch was being sold. Besides, the ladies are more attractive in Montana,” he said with a grin.

Tess looked him in the eye. “I couldn’t agree more, Mr. Mathis. I’m partial to Montana women, as well.”

The flirtatious grin quickly faded from Kyle’s face. Chuck rolled his eyes and groaned. Manny snickered and his poor father didn’t know what had just happened.

“I think we understand each other?” Tess asked Kyle.

“Yes, ma’am, we surely do.” His face was as red as the bandanna he wore around his neck.

“Good. I’ll leave you to Chuck. He’ll show you the ropes, literally,” Tess said with a smile. As she turned to mount Stella, Pedro quickly stood beside her.

“Gracias,
señorita
,” he whispered and held out his hand.

“De nada,” Tess said. “And that is the extent of my Spanish.” She turned to Manny. “Please tell your father it is I who thank him for helping us.”

Manny nodded and spoke to his father, who watched Tess. When he spoke to his son, Tess waited for the translation.

“My father said we will work hard to bring the cattle to market. This is a beautiful ranch with good pastures.”

Tess nodded and looked around. “Like a sea of grass.”

“Mar de
hierba
,” Manny said to his father.

“Ah,” Pedro said and smiled. “
Sí
.” He bent down and plucked a few blades of the thick grass. “Mar de
hierba
.
Bueno
.”

“Let’s hope it’s very
bueno
.” Tess mounted Stella and pulled at the reins. “It sounds so romantic when they say it,” she said to Chuck.
 

“Good morning, Mrs. Redmond,” Jed called out from the doorway of the kitchen.

“Good morning.”

“Everything go all right this morning?”

“Very well. All the men fed and on their way. Your daughter included.”

“They’ll be gone most of the day so you won’t have to worry about lunch. However…”

“I know. Come six o’clock, there will be several hungry men ready for dinner.”

Jack walked in sleepily behind him. Jed turned and laughed at the tousled dark brown hair and sleepy face. “Well, good morning, Jack.”

“Hi, Mr. Rawlins.” He yawned and slipped into a chair. His mother ruffled his head and put a glass of orange juice in front of both of them.

Jed watched the boy with interest. He reminded him of Stephen when he was a teenager. Steve was a quiet child, so unlike Tess, who was running any time her feet hit the ground. The tortoise and the hare, he thought.

 
“Mr. Rawlins?” Jack asked, breaking him from his reverie.

Jed blinked a couple of times and looked over at Jack. “I’m sorry. I was daydreaming, son,” he said fondly.

“I was just asking if it was okay if I went to the stable to see Clover,” Jack asked as he ate his cereal. Jed smiled tenderly at the youngster. His mother watched the quiet scene.

“Sure you can. I bet she misses you,” Jed said with a smile.

“Thanks. I miss her, too. Is it dumb to miss a cow?” He looked up from his cereal.

So much like Steve, he thought. He shook his head. “No, it’s not dumb at all.”

“Good. Okay, I’m done. See ya,” he said quickly and slid off his chair.

“Hold on, young man. Wash your hands,” his mother said and pointed to the sink.

“But I’ll just get them dirty in the stable,” he grumbled but obeyed. He looked at Jed. “She has a thing about clean hands,” he whispered.

Jed chuckled as he drank his coffee and leaned in. “It’s a mom thing. Go on now, do as you’re told,” he said with a wink.

Jack ran to the sink, splashed water on his hands, dragged them through a towel, and dashed out the screen door. Both adults laughed at the retreating figure.

“He’s a good boy, Mrs. Redmond. You can be proud of him. He reminds me of my son, Steve, when he was a young one.”

“Tess mentioned having a brother. Does he live here, as well?” she asked as she cleaned the dishes. When Jed didn’t answer right away, she looked back at the table. The look on his face made her heart ache.