Once in a Blue Moon (42 page)

Rounding the ranch
house, Melissa set the cake down on the nearest table, next to some
cobbler and oatmeal cookies. Jessica was right, Melissa was the
last to arrive. The widow and Hannah, all the families and the
single men stood around eating, chatting, playing games and having
a good time. Even the reverend and his wife were there.

Richard came over and
slid his arm around her. “This is great, isn’t it?”

Melissa smiled. “It’s
very nice of them to throw us a party.”

Sudden tears burned
behind her eyes, which she found ridiculous. It wasn’t as if she’d
never had a going-away party before. Every time she’d changed jobs
she’d received a cake. And one she hadn’t had to bake herself. She
blinked back the unwanted tears and looked around. Perhaps the
difference was she knew she’d never see these people again. She
straightened her spine, struggling to hold it together.

Sully, Jed and Henry
showed up on horses, dismounted, tied the reins to the corral fence
and hurried over.

Melissa was glad for
the distraction.

Sully grinned. “Did ya
all think you were havin’ a party without us?”

Melissa smiled.

Richard shook his head.
“We could only hope.”

Jed hit Richard in the
shoulder. “We’re here to talk to your wife, not you.”

Richard rubbed his
shoulder. “Fine. I know when I’m not wanted.” Sliding her a smile,
he shrugged and left.

The three men grinned
at her.

“Got somethin’ for ya,”
said Henry. He swallowed, his prominent Adam’s-apple bobbing, and
thrust a stick at her.

Gingerly, Melissa took it, looked at Henry, who was staring
at the stick, then turned it over. The stick, about twice the
length of her index finger had one side cut flat, and the
words
The MacPherson Ranch, 1887
carved into it, the lettering perfectly spaced,
even and skilled.

“Henry whittled it, but
it’s from all three of us,” said Jed.

Melissa felt a tickling
in her nose and pressure behind her eyes. She put a hand to her
chest and looked up at Henry. “Thank you. This is so sweet.”

Henry ducked his head
and kicked at the dirt. “It was Sully’s idea. He thought you’d like
it.”

Jed put a thumb to his
chest. “And I found the stick.”

Melissa’s chin wobbled
and she tried to hold the tears in, but they came anyway. She
averted her gaze. “I’ll treasure it, because it’s from the three of
you.”

Henry swallowed
audibly. “Well, I’d better get me somethin’ to drink. I’m real
thirsty all of a sudden.”

“Me too,” said Jed, as
he took off.

“Well, don’t be leavin’
me here with no cryin’ female. Wait up,” called Sully.

Obviously panicked, the
three men hurried off.

Melissa giggled and
wiped at her eyes. Trying to get herself under control, she watched
horseshoes fly though the air for a moment, then scanned the
crowd.

Richard was talking to
the widow, and she studied him with soft eyes. Melissa chuckled.
The old bat had never looked at Melissa that way.

Cowboys were teasing
Jeremy and pushing him around. Jeremy tackled one around the
stomach and they wrestled. The bigger man turned Jeremy upside down
and he struggled, his grin huge and his laughter loud.

Jessica and her friend
were flirting with a young cowboy who was treating them kindly.

Sarah, Emma, Hannah and
Amanda dished up dessert to some cowhands. Sully, Jed and Henry
joined the line.

Tears started up
again.

Richard came over. “Are
you okay?”

Melissa made another
attempt to control her emotions, and showed him the stick.

He admired it. “They’re
good guys.”

Melissa nodded and slid
the stick into her pocket. “I guess I am a little upset about
leaving my--” she waved a hand in the air “--friends.”

She looked over to
where Hannah was now talking with Jed. Hannah was half-turned away,
still shy. “It’s too bad things didn’t work out between Jed and
Hannah. I was hoping for a wedding announcement.”

Richard raised his
brows. “Didn’t I tell you?”

“Tell me what?” asked
Melissa.

“They do get married.
And they have kids.”

Eyes wide, she looked
up at Richard. “What?”

He grinned at her
surprise. “Yes, it’s all in the genealogy. One of Sully’s grandsons
marries Jed and Hannah’s daughter.”

Melissa shut her mouth. “I’m stunned.” She smiled and shook
her head. “Absolutely stunned! That is so great! I can’t--” Her
mouth dropped open, as suddenly appalled, she looked at Jed.
“
Jed
is one of
your ancestors?”

Melissa and Richard
shared a look, then both started to laugh.

“Yes, but so is
Hannah,” said Richard. “That should make you happy.”

Melissa nodded. She
was
very happy that Hannah had married and had
children. It was a bonus that she was also related to their family.
“So, let me ask you. If we weren’t here, would they have
married?”

Richard grinned. “Makes
you think, doesn’t it?”

The cowboy talking to
the young girls jumped up on a stump and raised both hands. “Listen
up, everyone. These two beautiful girls--”

Jessica and her friend
giggled.

“--have reminded me
that I have something to say, and I might as well get it over with
now. It’s been a pleasure gettin’ to know the Kendals, and I’m sure
I speak for everyone when I say we’ll all be very sorry that you’re
gone.” He grinned down at Jessica. “And I’m still sorry your
daughter wasn’t a mite older.”

Everyone laughed.

“As I was saying, you
haven’t been here too long, but we’re going to miss you, and we’re
sorry you have to go.”

A murmur of agreement
ran through the crowd, and many turned toward Richard and Melissa
as if expecting a response.

Eyes blurred with
tears, Melissa looked around. She couldn’t believe how emotional
this was making her. She was going to miss everyone, and was
touched that they would miss their family, would miss her.

“I just want to thank
you all for--” Melissa’s throat closed. She waved a hand around to
indicate the party.

Richard put an arm
around her and pulled her close. “We’ve enjoyed being here. We’ve
enjoyed getting to know you all, and we’ll treasure the friendships
we’ve made.”

Melissa nodded. She
felt like an idiot. What was the matter with her? She wanted to go
home, didn’t she? Of course she did. That wasn’t the issue.

She was really going to
miss these people. For the first time in her life she felt like she
had some real friends; people who would miss her when she was gone.
She’d never had that before.

She wiped at her eyes,
and determined to stop blubbering. She would enjoy the party and
enjoy being with her friends one last time.

Later that night, party
over and chores done, Richard walked back to the cabin with Jeremy.
He rolled his shoulders, enjoying the pleasant, tired ache that had
been part of him since his second week on the ranch. It was a good
kind of fatigue. Working outside for the last few months had been
great and his body appreciated it. Stronger, harder and tougher, he
had enjoyed every minute of the exercise. And now that the evening
chores were done, he was ready for bed.

But he doubted he’d
sleep. This was their last night on the ranch, and a kind of
nostalgic ache unsettled him. He carefully studied the area, trying
to commit everything to memory: the orchard, the barn, the empty
garden plot, the sounds of their boots hitting hard-packed dirt and
their cabin with the windows lit up.

A horse whinnied, and
he could hear cattle bawling in the distance.

He pulled in a deep
breath and the smells of manure, alfalfa, hay and dirt fill his
lungs. Permeated him. He was going to miss this place, but didn’t
doubt that it was time to go home. They didn’t belong here.

He looked up at the
nearly full moon and a chill ran through him. Clouds half-covered
the sky, skittered in front of the bright orb, then drifted away
again. It hadn’t rained all month, and Richard hoped it wasn’t
planning to start now. “You’d better do your job,” he said to the
moon.

“What?” asked
Jeremy.

Richard shrugged.
“Nothing. It’s just kind of cold tonight.”

He didn’t want to worry
Jeremy, but now that the time had come to go home, there was a big
part of him that wondered if it was going to happen. What if it
didn’t work? What would they do then? What would Melissa do?

“Yeah, it is kind of
cold,” said Jeremy.

“Doesn’t it seem
strange that this is our last night? Strange that we won’t be doing
this anymore?” Richard gestured a hand to indicate the ranch.

Jeremy rubbed his hip.
“Fine with me. Norrie won’t be able to kick me again for putting
her in her stall.”

Richard reached out and
rubbed Jeremy’s hair. “It’s a love tap. Anyway, admit it, you’re
going to miss Norrie. You’re going to miss milking her.”

Jeremy threw him an
astonished glare. “As if. The fat fiend would murder me if she
could catch me.”

Richard laughed. “You
want to know something?”

“What?”

“I have loved working
with you.”

Jeremy’s mouth quirked
up on one side. “Yeah, it’s been cool.”

Richard put a hand on
Jeremy’s shoulder and they mounted the steps together.

Jeremy threw open the
cabin door. “We’re back!” he announced.

Melissa and Jessica
stood at the table, Melissa washing dishes, and Jessica drying. The
lantern glowed bright on the top shelf, casting their shadows all
the way up to the loft.

Melissa threw them a
smile. “About time.”

Richard rubbed his
hands together and blew into them. “It’s starting to get a little
chilly at night.”

Melissa looked over her
shoulder. “All finished with your chores?”

Jeremy nodded. “Yes,
but I got kicked by Norrie again.”

Melissa’s eyes widened
and she half turned. “Are you okay?”

Jeremy tugged off a
boot. “Yeah, but next time I’ll just let the dumb cow run away and
get eaten by coyotes before I put her in the stall for the
night.”

“There won’t be a next
time,” said Jessica softly.

Everyone went
quiet.

Melissa threw Richard a
quick look, then glanced down to fold the dish towel and lay it
over the edge of the table to dry. “It’s time to get ready for bed,
kids.”

No one moved.

Richard felt a
tightness in his chest. This really was it. Their last night.

Melissa wrung out the
damp cloth. “We need to be well rested for tomorrow; for tomorrow
night. We don’t know how long we’ll be up. How long it will
take.”

Jessica’s blonde head
bent over and she started to cry. “I’m going to miss my
friends.”

Feeling a little
useless, Richard took a step forward, afraid to comfort her in case
he lost it too.

Melissa dried her hands
and pulled Jessica into a hug. “Jess, it’ll be okay.” Melissa’s
voice cracked, her own emotions obviously running high.

Forcing himself
forward, forcing the burn behind his eyes to subside, Richard
hugged them both close.

Melissa tilted her head
to meet his gaze.

“Are you okay?” he
asked.

Melissa’s face crumpled
and she pressed her face into his shoulder. “I’m fine.”

Richard grinned,
relieved that he could, and the pressure eased in his chest. “Is
that what fine looks like?”

Melissa nodded, hitched
in a breath, and looked around. Her gaze landed on the stove. “But
I’m going to miss my stove!” She started to sob.

Incredulous, Richard
glanced at the black contraption. She hated that stove, but now
wasn’t the time to contradict her. “What about the one we have at
home? It’s a top-of-the-line Aga. Remember all the fancy gadgets?
The stainless steel design?”

Melissa sniffed, then
wiped her eyes. “We have an Aga?” She looked around and her face
crumpled again. “But I’m going to miss my table and chairs!”

Richard met Jeremy’s
dubious gaze. They both looked at the rough table and chair set.
“Think of your oak pedestal table.” Richard rubbed her back. “Think
of your washer and dryer. No more scrubbing on a washboard.”

“No more laundry with
my friends?” She met Jessica’s gaze, reached out and grasped
Jessica’s hand. They both started sobbing in earnest.

Richard sighed. He’d
never understand women.

Melissa blotted her eyes with her collar. “And what about my
shelves with my little pink curtains? What about my windows? No one
can clean the soot off as well as I can. What about my lantern?
What about our family? Richard,
this place
has changed our family
!”

He had to agree with
her there.

“
Come here,
Jeremy
,” she wailed, holding out an
arm.

Jeremy shook his head,
and rolled his eyes, but he dropped his boot and came forward.

Pulling him close,
Melissa clung tightly to them all. “At least I’ll still have the
three of you. And I love you all so much.”

And, of course, that
said it all. His vision clouded as he lowered his head, his cheek
against the top of Melissa’s head, his arms encircling his family.
His heart thudded hard in his chest as he allowed the wonder of the
moment to seep in.

That they had come so
far, in so short a time, was amazing to him. And it was also what
mattered. Maybe they would stay, maybe they wouldn’t, but as long
as they were all together everything would be fine.

After a moment, Jeremy
squirmed away.

Jessica hiccoughed,
started to calm and drew away. “Think about our clothes at home,”
she whispered.