Sea Of Grass (13 page)

Tess groaned again as she sat down. “Continue,” she said. Claire felt the heat rising in her neck. “I think you left off at, I’m an attractive woman who can’t cook,” she said with a smug grin.

Claire hid her embarrassment in her beer. “I shouldn’t drink.”

“Oh, no, I think you should drink more. If you sing my praises with one beer, imagine how you’ll turn my head with two,” Tess declared with a tease.

“Are you flirting with me, Miss Rawlins?”

Tess’s mouth dropped. “Uh, well, no. I mean, I don’t think so. I—”

Mercifully, Jack came bounding up to the porch. “All done!” he announced.

Claire stood and opened the kitchen door. “Good, go wash up. Dinner will be ready soon.”
 

She stood by the kitchen sink and slugged back the icy cold beer. Her heart was racing and her body tingled as she peeked out the kitchen window to see Tess laughing and talking with Jack.

“God, she is beautiful.” She sighed and turned away to get supper ready.

Chapter 8

May shaped up to be a very busy month for Tess. After making sure all the calves were tagged and matched with their mothers, it was time to make sure they didn’t over-graze each pasture. And that meant moving the herd every few weeks from the north pasture to the south and rotating the herd around their five thousand-acre spread. It was a long hard time in the saddle—thank God for Jack, Tess thought. And for Manny and Pedro. They were tireless in their efforts. And Jack, well, Tess never saw a more natural horseman.

“What are you thinking?” Chuck called out as he rode up to her.

Tess watched Jack and the rest of the men as the herd moved toward the south pasture. “Jack. He’s a natural.”

Chuck nodded as he took off his hat and ran his forearm across his brow. “Like Steve.”

“I was just thinking that, too.”

“After all these years, decades really, I can’t believe how green and thick this pasture is. Your great-uncle sure knew his stuff.”

Tess nodded. “I know. It’s kept our cattle healthy and fat for
 
seventy-five years. I think we’d have gone under long ago without it.”

“But it ain’t enough, is it?” he asked in a soft voice.

“I don’t think so, Chuck. We have about a thousand head, and the taxes on the ranch alone will eat up much of our profit.” She leaned on the pommel and looked at the old house in the distance at the foot of the Bitterroots. “I stopped by the old place when I first got back. It seems to be in great condition, considering no one has lived there in thirty years.”

“It’s your dad. He and Steve made sure it was kept up. Then after Steve died, your dad went there faithfully and had the men paint it and make sure the plumbing and all was in working order. I stopped asking why a long time ago.”

“I know why,” Tess said. “Because it was the house he was born in, like his family before. It’s why Steve helped him. And I left.”

Chuck turned in his saddle to face her. “Cut that shit out right now. You followed your heart just like your Uncle Jeremiah did and anyone else in this family.”

“I know. I just feel so selfish sometimes. And now I don’t know if I can make it right.”

Chuck grabbed her arm and gave it a healthy yank. “There is nothing to make right.”

“Maybe Steve would still be alive if I hadn’t left.”

“That’s the biggest pile of cow dung I’ve ever heard and you know it. Whatever happened that night, it would not have mattered if you were here or not. And don’t let your father hear you
talkin
’ like that, either.”

Tess felt the tears sting her eyes; she knew what Chuck was saying was true. Her head knew it, now if she could only feel it.
 
“Anyway, as I was saying. I was at the house, thinking how gorgeous it was with the Bitterroots and the stream that runs through it.”

“What about it?”

Tess shrugged. “Some other ranches are doing it.”

“Doing what?”

“It could supplement the cattle and maybe bring in a little extra.”

“What could?”

Tess looked around at the scenery with the cattle spread across the pasture. “It might work.”

“If you don’t tell me what in God’s name…”

Tess laughed. “Turn the Double R into a working ranch.”

“A dude ranch?”

She raised an eyebrow at the incredulous tone. “Now hold on.”

“Aw, Tess. I’m too old to be playing nursemaid to a bunch of New Yorkers who have never seen a cow and…”

Tess laughed and held up her hand. “Take it easy. It’s just a thought.”

Chuck scratched his chin as Tess stole a glance at his thoughtful pose. “You figuring on turning the old house into like a guesthouse?”

“Maybe. Maria will be coming back and Claire could stay on…”

Chuck grinned slightly. “You would need a reason for her and Jack to stay on. We certainly don’t need two cooks. Plus she’s nice to look at.”

“What do you mean?”

He rolled his eyes and gently nudged her; Tess had to grip the reins to stay in the saddle. “Don’t be an old fool. She’s a widow, for
chrissakes
, and has a son.”

“And a very nice woman.”

“Yes, she is.”

“And a real looker.”

Tess smiled reluctantly. “Yes, she is. And that’s enough, you dirty old man.”

The next few days found Claire watching with a worried eye over Tess. She would wake at night to find Tess sitting at the big desk, frowning and mulling over the bills. Many times, she wanted to go to her, but she felt it wasn’t her place. Sometimes Tess just looked lonely.

One night, she woke and found Tess sitting on the back porch. It was a chilly early May night; Claire pulled her robe around her as she watched Tess from the kitchen door. She shook her head, and as she was about to go back to her room, she decided enough was enough.

Tess gazed at the moon as she rocked back and forth. She just couldn’t sleep. It was well after midnight as she listened to the crickets chirp and the lone coyote howl off in the distance. With that, she heard someone moving about in the kitchen. As she looked up, she saw Claire struggling with two glasses of milk and the apple pie.

She grinned and shook her head as she came to her aid. “Hi. I was starving and I couldn’t sleep. I saw you sitting out here. How about some nice cold milk and apple pie?”

Tess took the glass and the plate. “I will never refuse your cooking or your baking, Claire.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Claire glanced over at the worried look and broke the silence. “You’ve been scarce lately. Is everything all right?”

Tess hesitated for a moment, then the stoic look appeared. She smiled as she took a bite. “Everything is fine.”

Claire took a deep breath. “I can help,” she said in a small voice.

Tess looked over at the pretty face half hidden by the moonlight. “Help with what?”
 

Claire drank her milk and held the glass in both hands. “You’re paying me too much, Tess. I-I don’t need this. Jack and I are living here in a very comfortable room. We have no expenses, so…”

“No,” Tess said angrily and drank her milk. “I can afford your wages.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying I—”

“No, damn it!” Tess barked and stood. She leaned against the porch railing and looked out into the moonlit night.

Claire narrowed her eyes at the stubborn pose. “Then I’ll quit.”

Tess whirled around and glared at her. “You will not!”

Claire stood in defiance. “You can’t run roughshod over me, Tess Rawlins. I’ll fire myself!” She stopped abruptly when she realized what she said.

Tess blinked while breathing heavily, then chuckled and leaned against the post.

Claire was now embarrassed and angry. “Don’t you laugh at me.”

Tess walked up to her and stood much too close. “I would never laugh at you. If I’m laughing at anyone, it’s me,” she said tenderly. “I’m sorry. I appreciate your trying to help. Why? Why do you care?”

Claire took a deep shaky breath and answered as honestly as she could. “I don’t know. It’s just since I came here, I’ve felt wanted and needed, alive almost. It’s been so good for Jack. Helena was just too big. He was lost, but in the past month or so, he looks older and healthier. Don’t you see it?”

Tess smiled warmly as she searched her face. “Yes, I see it. I see it in you, as well. You have some nice color. You look healthy. The Montana weather suits you.”

“Yes, it does. I love it here,” she said and looked up at the full moon. “It is a beautiful moon.”

“Yes, beautiful is the right word.”

Claire looked up to see Tess watching her; the sadness in her eyes pulled at Claire’s heart. “Let me help, please. I can help…”

Tess smiled fondly. “You’ve helped in so many ways, Claire Redmond, you will never know,” she said in a tender, honest voice. She put her hands on the smaller shoulders. “I can afford your wages.”

She continued quickly when Claire started to argue. “If it comes to that, I will let you know, but for now, I appreciate the offer and I’m awfully beholden to you. Awfully beholden.”

Claire noticed a tear in the crystal blue eyes. “I’ll hold you to that,” she whispered and found herself staring at her full lips.

“I’m sure you will. I’m beginning to know you. You get that determined tone in your voice.”

“I know. Jack says the same thing.”

Tess saw the faraway look and took a chance. “What happened to his dad?”

Once again, Claire stiffened. Tess went on quickly, “I don’t mean to pry.”

“I know you don’t.” Claire walked over to the porch railing and leaned on it.

Tess watched as she stared out into the darkness. Since she first asked Claire about her life, Tess felt she was holding back. “I know it’s none of my business. I don’t know why I need to know.”

Claire looked at her. “What do you mean you
need
to know? I’m not a murderer or a thief. I have no criminal background.”

Tess was shocked, and her face showed it. “I didn’t mean that at all. Good God. I just see a loneliness in you, that’s all. I’m sorry you think that of me.”

As she turned to leave, Claire held her arm. “Tess, I’m the one who should be sorry. That was out of line for me to say.”

Tess regarded her for a moment before speaking. “You don’t open up to many people, do you?”

Claire looked down at the railing and shook her head. “I need to make sure Jack is okay.”

“Jack is a fine young man. You’ve done a great job with him. I can’t imagine how you’ve done it all alone.” She was stunned to see tears spilling down Claire’s cheeks. Instinctively, Tess reached for her and gently pulled her into an embrace.

Claire clung to her, sobbing into her shoulder. “It’s okay. Let it out,” Tess whispered into her hair. “You gotta let it out.”

For a few quiet moments, Claire cried mournfully until she pulled back. “I’m so sorry. I have no idea where that came from.”