Forbidden Entry (9 page)

What? Who the hell invited her? Dumbfounded, I said, “I…uh…wasn't aware that you were coming.”

Her cheesy grin was nothing short of sanctimonious. “Well, of course I'm going to be there! You and your intended need to work on communication skills, girl! My goodness, doesn't he tell you anything?” Her expression switched from patronizing to dreamy. “What was I supposed to do when Tally called and begged for my help? I couldn't very well say no, now could I?”

Really? Begged? If that actually happened, why would he not tell me? Smug bitch! Her deliberate attempt to belittle me in front of my family sent my blood pressure rocketing to the boiling point as I struggled to keep the impressive list of expletives whirling in my head from exiting my mouth.

Defusing what could have escalated into an ugly scene, my easygoing dad flicked me an insightful look and quickly interjected with a benign, “We're all looking forward to the barbeque.”

“You have yourselves a real fun day now!” Throwing me one last spiteful glance, she beamed an angelic smile at Sean and my dad before she disappeared through the swinging kitchen door.

Her voice filled with wonder, my mom shook her head slowly. “My goodness! You were spot-on, Kendall. That is one obnoxious young woman.”

I hadn't realized how tense my shoulders were until that moment. “Obnoxious isn't a strong enough word.”

“Gotta give you credit for holding your temper, Pumpkin,” my dad said with a chuckle, grabbing for his crutches. “I don't know which is redder, your face or this tablecloth.”

“If I had to bet, I'm going to go with her face,” Sean teased as we all rose and moved towards the door.

The remainder of the morning went smoothly—a vast improvement over the rocky beginning. It was a kick chauffeuring them around Castle Valley, showing them the various points of interest and stopping often for photo opportunities. And it was enlightening to view the town through the prism of new eyes, remembering how foreign the desert had looked to me and how difficult it had been adjusting to the harsh environment. At the same time, however, I was bothered by the notion that Tally had invited Lucinda to the barbeque and neglected to tell me. I consoled myself with the thought that there had to be a good explanation, or she was lying through her teeth just to get a rise out of me. Either way, it was irritating.

It was close to one o'clock when we finally headed out into the open desert—a spectacular sight all dressed out in cheerful afternoon sunlight, complemented by an unblemished sky of pure sapphire. Windows down, brisk air blowing my hair, I pointed out the names of more desert foliage and several nearby mountains as we bounced along Lost Canyon Road, finally pulling up in front of the rustic ranch house. “This is it!” We all got out and I helped my dad with his crutches.

“Awesome,” breathed Sean, staring up at the mammoth sandstone pillar of Castle Rock towering above the desert floor.

My mother stepped out and turned in a slow circle. “It's quite…desolate. Aren't you afraid to live out here by yourself?” she remarked to me, appearing apprehensive.

“Not really. I feel pretty safe,” I answered, digging my .38 caliber handgun from my purse. “Because I've got this now.”

Sean gave me a thumbs-up. “Way to go, Kenny!”

My mother's eyes widened in horror and she stepped back. “Good God! Is that real?”

“Don't panic, Mom, and yes, it's real.” She'd always been terrified of guns and refused to allow any in the house. “Tally bought it for me last month. We've been target shooting several times and I'm getting to be a pretty decent shot.” Actually he had insisted that I learn how to use a weapon because of what he termed, my propensity for getting myself into life-threatening situations.

“Well, good for you, honey,” my dad said with an approving nod, while my mom kept staring at me as if I'd lost my mind before requesting that I please put it away. Oh, dear. She already harbored the notion that Tally was a corrupting influence on me. Had I just added to the list of negatives she'd already built up in her mind? Would meeting him in person finally dispel some of her reservations? I sure hoped so.

I unlocked the front door and waved them inside. Dad and Sean were immediately taken by Marmalade, who responded to the unexpected attention by purring, rolling around on the floor and then racing madly through the house. Because of her allergies, my mother kept her distance and held a tissue against her nose. But everyone liked the house, and my dad could not stop talking about how much he loved the wide-open spaces of Arizona. “I could definitely get used to this,” he announced, turning his head in all directions as we all trooped out to the car. “This is about as far from city life as you could get.”

I smiled at him. “Wait until you see the Starfire.” Twenty minutes later, we turned onto Quail Crossing and cruised along the freshly graded dirt road flanked by miles of range fencing. Off in the distance a herd of cattle grazed on winter grass.

Sean let out a long whistle. “Man, how many acres does this dude have?”

“I'm not exactly sure, but a couple of thousand at least and he leases thousands more from the BLM for grazing the cattle.” I noticed the thoughtful expression on my mother's face in the rearview mirror. “Well, my dear, it appears you are poised to become quite the landowner,” she murmured, staring off into the distance.

Her judicious choice of words was her way of pointing out that I was about to marry into a well-heeled family, which I still couldn't quite believe. Of course, she had no idea of the cost of running such a large cattle and horse ranch.

“It's going to be a very different life for me,” I admitted. Moments after driving beneath the Starfire ranch entrance sign, Tally's two-story, white house jumped into view along with the three cottages occupied by the hired help. To our right stood the two imposing horse barns along with a half a dozen horse trailers parked close to the maze of corrals. A small herd of Appaloosa horses grazed behind the white piped fencing that surrounded the property. In the clearing between the house and barns, several ranch hands were erecting the large white tent Tally had borrowed from the Whispering Winds Resort. Adjacent to it were stacks of tables and chairs, at least two dozen outdoor patio heaters, a portable dance floor, bar and risers for the band. Wow. Tally had really gone all out.

As I parked beside Tally's extended cab pickup near the house, my dad roared with laughter as he read the prominent bumper stickers: WELCOME TO ARIZONA. NOW GO HOME! A second one read: EAT MORE BEEF! THE WEST WASN'T WON ON SALADS. “That's a little insight into Tally's character,” I informed them with a grin.

“Pretty clever,” my dad remarked as everyone else joined in the merriment. “I think I'm gonna like this guy!”

I glanced back at the still doubtful gleam in my mother's eyes and held fast to the belief that Tally would eventually win her over. And then I thought about Ruth's unpredictable nature. That was going to be a tough sell indeed.

CHAPTER

7

The slamming car doors ignited a chorus of barking as all four dogs raced around the corner of the yard towards us. It was a pretty intimidating sight, so I dropped to one knee. “Come say hello to everybody, boys!” One by one they sniffed and circled, greeting each family member with thrashing tails and joyous whimpering. Always vying for extra attention, Atilla, the black Doberman, licked me in the face so hard, I almost fell over backwards.

The noisy excitement came to an abrupt halt when Ronda whistled and called sharply, “Leave it!” The dogs immediately fell silent, pivoted and ran towards the porch. Tally's dark-haired sister lifted a welcoming hand and issued a halfhearted smile. She had a real knack for communicating with animals, but people, not so much. She and her mother shared that particular trait. I introduced her to everyone and then she herded the dogs behind the house just as Tally stepped outside, raising one hand in a friendly greeting. “Howdy, folks. Welcome to the Starfire!”

Howdy? He was pouring on the Arizona rancher persona a bit thick, wasn't he? Nevertheless, my heart quickened as he ambled down the steps and strode towards us. Damn, he looked good. So good that I momentarily forgot I had a bone to pick with him. Wearing a soft blue shirt, slim jeans, well-worn boots and Stetson hat, he looked every bit the part of the quintessential American cowboy. When he flashed me his signature crooked grin, I was reminded again of how much I loved this ruggedly handsome man with his keen intellect, calm temperament and steadfast disposition. I glanced towards the house to see if there was any sign that his mother planned to make an appearance as well. Nope. So far so good. If she waited until later that was fine with me. The less my family had to be exposed to her, the better.

As I'd predicted, Tally and my dad hit it off from the first handshake. “Bradley Talverson, sir. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. O'Dell.”

“Bill, just call me Bill,” my dad replied, his face beaming. He pointed to the big tent. “Thank you for inviting us here today and going to the trouble of having this shindig for us.”

“No trouble at all and call me Tally.”

My brother extended his hand exclaiming, “This is a really cool place.”

Pride glistening in his deep brown eyes, Tally replied with a winning smile, “Thanks, but there's still a whole lot more to see.”

His attempts to charm my mother didn't appear to be as successful. She assumed a polite smile, but still seemed detached as we toured the barns and corrals to show off his line of prize-winning Appaloosa horses. Dad and Sean asked a million questions so I waited patiently while Tally recited a brief history of how they'd been originally bred by the Nez Perce tribe in Idaho, explained the selective breeding process to maintain the genetic purity and pointed out the unique coloration—the various spotting patterns overlaid on top of the recognized base colors including splashes of contrasting color on the hindquarters of each horse known as the ‘blanket.'

Tally introduced everyone to Jake, his long-time, craggy-faced foreman, and several of the other ranch hands, one being the new hire, Vernon Holmes, chunky, blonde and current squeeze of the dreadful Lucinda. If I had to guess, I'd say he was at least ten years her junior, definitely placing her in the cougar category. Tally had given him high marks, citing his expertise with horses, but he didn't rate very high in my book because of their relationship.

It seemed to take forever, but we finally made our way towards the main barn where my horse was stabled. Itching to show her off, I dug in my pocket for the sugar cubes she'd be expecting. As I approached her stall she nickered softly. “Hey, you cutie!” I crooned, reaching out to stroke her mottled black muzzle. “Well, here she is! Meet Starlight Sky, the prettiest little mare in Arizona.”

Sean, who had learned to ride horses bareback at his best friend's farm and was a far more accomplished rider than me, stepped forward to stroke her neck. “Didn't you luck out getting your own horse?”

I couldn't keep from grinning. “I did, didn't I?”

While Starlight Sky munched the sugar cubes, I grabbed her halter off the hook and secured it before leading her out into the sunlit corral so everyone could get a better look at her stunning ‘white splotches over black' color pattern. Acting as if she was aware of all the attention, she put on quite a performance by tossing her head, swishing her tail and prancing around in circles showing off her striped hooves.

There was additional oohing and aahing as Tally led his stallion Geronimo, a spirited bay boasting a distinctive white snowflake pattern, into the arena. He discussed the more unique features of the breed, which made them popular for riding, cutting, reining and roping. Even my mother appeared more interested. “Well, what did you folks decide
about seeing the building site for our new house?” Tally inquired, casting a doubtful glance at my dad's booted foot before pointing to the northeast. “That's Sidewinder Hill. It's about a mile and a half or so from here. I can have my men saddle up the horses for a short ride or Jake can drive you over there in my truck.”

Sean grinned at me. “I know how much Kenny is dying to show off her riding skills, so I'm down for that.”

I could tell by my dad's frustrated expression that he was struggling with his decision and was surprised when he boldly announced, “You know what? I didn't come three thousand miles to miss out on this adventure.” He winked at me and turned to Tally. “Young man, if you can get me on the horse, I think I can handle the ride.”

Genuine concern crossed my mother's face. “Are you sure about this, dear? I don't really think it's a good idea considering your condition.”

He eyed her with a look of stubborn determination that invited no argument. “I'm sure. What about you? Would you be more comfortable riding in the truck?”

She hesitated and I felt kind of sorry for her being put on the spot, considering that he knew how nervous she was around horses. “I…I guess if you feel up to it, I can give it a try.” I could tell she didn't want to be left out.

Tally and I exchanged a perceptive glance. “The horses will be ready in about twenty minutes,” he said, leading Geronimo towards the gate before turning around to address my mother. “I'll make sure you get Sheba. She's even-tempered, very gentle and in fact, she's the one Kendall rode on her first ride with me last spring.”

“Thank you,” she said with an indulgent smile. “That's very kind of you.”

We followed Tally from the corral and I waved to two of his experienced stable hands. Juan and George returned my greeting with wide grins and as we neared the barn, Vernon appeared near the entrance. “Want me to saddle her up for you, Miss O'Dell?”

“No thanks, I'll do it.”

“You can help with the others,” Tally instructed him, pointing towards the second corral where Jake was leading three of my favorite horses.

“Yes, sir.”

While Big Blue, Apache, and Sheba were being readied, I saddled Starlight Sky and then led her back to the corral. When I mounted her smoothly and began to trot her around the corral, a tingle of pride rippled over me as Sean hollered “Yee Haa” and my dad clapped enthusiastically.

But it was even more gratifying to see the look of reluctant admiration on my mother's face. Hopefully she would accept the fact that I wasn't a city girl any longer. If someone had told me a year ago that I would be living in the Arizona desert and engaged to marry a wealthy rancher I wouldn't have believed it.

To make things super easy for my father, Tally had provided a couple of wooden pallets for him to stand on. He and Jake helped him up, then laced their fingers together
and gently eased him into the saddle, adjusting the one stirrup he could use. Sean bantered with Vernon as I reassured my mother, who was clearly uneasy straddling Sheba. In a surprise move, Tally gifted each of them with a beautiful new Stetson hat, which brought gracious smiles and words of gratitude from each family member. It was heartening to see the shadow of uncertainty in my mother's hazel eyes finally recede as everyone posed for a photo.

By the time we rode out single file with Tally in the lead and Jake pulling up to the rear, it was closing in on three o'clock. A feeling of euphoria overcame me as we rode across the cactus-covered desert. Now this was perfect—bright sunshine in my face, a light breeze and my loved ones gathered together to share a memorable experience and a little slice of my new lifestyle.

“You doing okay, Dad?” I inquired, loping up beside his blue roan while Starlight Sky tugged at the bit in her attempt to break into a gallop.

“So far so good,” he responded, his face beaming with pleasure as he adjusted his hat to shade his eyes.

“Is your foot okay? Does it hurt?”

“Yeah, but I can deal with it.”

“You're a trooper, Dad,” I said, grinning.

“No big deal.” Lowering his voice, his nodded towards Tally riding ahead of Sean. “You made a good choice, kiddo.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” He'd said it loud enough for my mother to overhear behind us. I glanced back and caught her faint smile. While not exactly a ringing endorsement, her expression conveyed gradual acceptance. Progress! As we rode on past imposing rock formations, saguaro and barrel cactus plumped up from the rain, Tally turned and warned everyone to stay away from the jumping cactus, called cholla. The golden field of teddy bear cholla that appeared soft and inviting from a distance, was anything but. My dad rode up beside Tally and continued to grill him for details on running a ranch. When we neared Sidewinder Hill, it struck me that I had been so preoccupied all day, I'd completely forgotten to call and check on Ginger. Stung with guilt, I vowed to contact her before the festivities got under way later. It also dawned on me that Fritzy had never returned my call or sent me a text. But that wasn't unexpected. She was either busy or, more likely, it was too early in her investigation to have any concrete news.

Long afternoon shadows had begun to creep across the landscape as we advanced up the slope towards the building site, and when we finally arrived at the top, everyone looked suitably impressed. I dismounted, tied Starlight Sky to a tree, then helped my mother down before pulling the building plans from Tally's saddlebag while he and Jake got my dad comfortably seated on flat rock. He was visibly uncomfortable, but I knew he'd never complain about it.

Aware that we had a finite amount of time before dusk, I spread out the plans on the ground and then Tally and I fielded questions. “That's going to be some house,” my dad remarked with an approving nod before his gaze traveled to the valley below and beyond to the distant purple mountains. “And you're gonna have one hell of a view!”

Anxious for my mother's endorsement, I made eye contact with her. “Well, Mom, what do you think?”

She chewed her lower lip for a few seconds before answering. “Well, I love the layout, but four thousand square feet is going to be a lot to take care of and…do you think you'll be happy living here on this isolated hilltop so far from the main house and…everything?”

I traded a knowing look with Tally. She had no idea how ecstatic I would be to have more than a mile separating me from Ruth.

“She'll have house help,” Tally interjected with a benevolent smile, sliding his arm around my waist. “And she won't be alone.” His intimate suggestion brought a blush to my mom's face and she quickly looked away, clutching her coat tighter. “It's getting chilly. Shouldn't we be starting back?”

“Not before I find a place to take a dump,” Sean announced impishly. I could tell he was deliberately needling her.

“Sean, really. Must you be so crude?” She skewered him with a contemptuous glare while the rest of us stifled laughter.

Tally directed him to go behind some boulders while he and Jake helped my father remount Big Blue and then gave my mother a leg up. I glanced at my watch, calculating that we should get back just about sunset, which would give everyone a half an hour to freshen up before the barbeque got underway. We trekked back down the hill, Tally in the lead followed by my parents, Jake, and Sean behind me. When the ground leveled out, Sean trotted up beside me. “How about you and me have a little race?” His eyes sparkled with challenge. “Just plodding along at this pace is putting me and this awesome animal to sleep.”

Starlight Sky, who'd been champing at her bit to cut loose the entire ride, apparently agreed by yanking the reins insistently and blowing softly. “You sure you're up for it?”

“Try me.”

When we pulled even with Tally I told him we were going to give the horses their head and he nodded with instructions to first walk our horses in the opposite direction from the ranch. “We don't want to get the others all wound up,” he cautioned, looking back to check on my folks.

“We'll be back shortly,” I informed my parents before turning the horses westward into the waning afternoon sunlight. The animals seemed to instinctively know what was in store and we had trouble keeping them contained until I determined we were far enough away. When I finally relaxed the reins, Starlight Sky took off and Sean hollered, “Ride ‘em, cowgirl!” as he urged Apache into a full gallop. It was exhilarating to race side by side through the desert on the sure-footed horses and we were both laughing breathlessly by the time we'd guided them in a wide arc and finally spotted the other riders ahead. As we approached, I reined Starlight Sky to a slow trot, but Sean ignored Tally's warning about exciting the other horses and, in an apparent effort to impress our parents, loped the powerful chestnut in circles around them, waving his hat in one hand and yelling, “Yeeee Haaaaw!”