Sea Of Grass (2 page)

Tess instantly heard the serious tone. “What’s wrong?”

There was a moment’s hesitation in her voice. “It’s your father. It’s nothing major.”

Tess sat at her desk. “Is he all right?”

“You know I would never speak of this. Your father is a proud man.”

“Please tell me.” Tess could feel her heart pounding in her chest. “And don’t use your Cherokee intuition.” Tess heard the soft laugh and smiled.

“He’s doing too much on the ranch. There’s much going on here, and he doesn’t want to worry you.”

“What’s going on?”

“I will tell you one name and you will understand…”

“Telford,” Tess said in disgust.

“Yes.”

“He’s still after Dad to sell the north pasture. The fat fucker,” Tess mumbled, but she heard the soft laugh. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. We all feel the same.” Again Tess heard the hesitation. “I’m afraid for his heart. He needs you. It has been a hard winter. It will be spring soon and there’s much to do.”

“What about Chuck? He’s still foreman…”

“He needs you. He missed you at Christmas.”

Both listened to the silence until Maria spoke. “You’ve been away too long.”

Tess heard the truth and closed her eyes. She had been away from Montana, the ranch, and her father on and off for five years now. And since her brother’s death, nothing seemed to matter much.

“Tess?”

“I’m here, Maria. Look, I can get Professor Pruitt to take over till the end of the year. I’ll get things in order and be home in a week.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s okay. Please take care of him. And don’t let Telford anywhere near him.”

“I won’t. Goodbye, my child.”

“Goodbye, Maria.”

She closed the phone and smiled when she heard “my child.” It was what Maria always called her. Tess’s mother died when she a teenager, and it was Maria, the cook at the ranch, who took Tess and Stephen under her wing. Maria Hightower was a kind, wise woman of Cherokee descent who boasted of her lineage to a great chief. Tess suddenly realized how much she missed all of them.

“So Hawaii is out?”

Tess had forgotten Mel was there and winced. “Uh, yeah. I’m sorry, Mel. It’s my father. He’s doing too much on the ranch and Maria is afraid. I don’t blame her.”

Mel did not hide her disappointment. “We’ve had this vacation planned for three months. We’re locked in.”

“You can still go.” Tess looked her in the eye. “I’m going home for the spring and summer. I should have been there for Christmas.”

“And now you’re going to feel guilty about that.”

“Please don’t start the psychoanalysis.”

Mel straightened her back and glared at Tess, who raised an eyebrow. “Don’t give me that withering glare. I’m sorry this has changed our plans, but I’m sure you will still go to Hawaii.”

“Yes, I will. I need a vacation and I’m going to take it.”

She marched past Tess, who mumbled, “Yes, it’s taxing teaching How To Be An Anchorwoman 101. Don’t forget the lip gloss.”
 
She cringed when she heard the door slam.
 

Alone in her classroom, Tess walked over to the window and gazed once again at the blue cloudless California sky. Smiling, she remembered her childhood on the ranch. She remembered her family and warm summer days.

“Dad, will ya tell Tess to get off me?” Steve complained from the ground. Tess was sitting on him, laughing as she had him pinned.

Just then, their mother came out with the laundry. “Elizabeth Anne!” she scolded, and Tess winced.

“You’re in trouble now,” Steve whispered and Tess glared
down at him. “Now get off me, ya heifer.” He tried to buck her off.

“Tess, get off your brother and be a lady, for
chrissakes
,” her father called from the stable. “Both of you, quit your clowning. Steve, clean the stable and, Tess, get the hay from the barn,” he ordered, and both youngsters grumbled as Tess stood and offered her hand to her little brother. “Idiot children, you get that from your mother’s side of the family.”

 
Steve took the offering, then pulled her down and pinned her to the ground. Tess laughed as he narrowed his eyes at her. “You know now what has to be done, don’t you, Elizabeth Anne?” he said, and Tess laughed, trying to buck him off.

“Don’t you dare, Steve! Mom!” Tess called out while laughing.

Jed looked over to see Emily, his wife, hanging the clothes on the line and yanking the clothespin out of her mouth. “You asked for that, missy… Don’t start something you can’t finish,” she reminded her.

“Thanks!” Tess called out, then looked up at Steve.

“Beg me…”

“No!”

“Say it,” he warned and gathered the spit in his mouth. Tess’s eyes widened.

Jed chuckled from the stable door.

“Don’t you dare! Dad!” Tess called helplessly.

Jed shook his head. “You’re on your own, Tess.”

“Jed Rawlins! You’re as bad as they are!” Emily exclaimed.

“Say it.” Steve leaned over her.

Tess laughed and tried to wriggle out. “Okay, okay!” She hated herself for not being stronger. Steve sported an evil brotherly grin and waited. She felt him slack off for just a second, which was all she needed. “Ha!” she yelled and bucked him off.

“Darn it!” he said as Tess flipped him over and took off toward the stable.

“Elizabeth Anne!” Emily yelled, and Tess stopped dead in her tracks with Steve nearly knocking her over. “Both of you, stop the horseplay and get that stable cleaned,” she said seriously as she lifted the heavy basket.

Steve ran up and gently took it from her. “Sorry, Mom. Let me get that.”

Tess rolled her eyes and mimicked Steve. She turned to see her father standing in the doorway
 

Jed raised an eyebrow and handed her the pitchfork, then jerked his thumb toward the stable. Tess grumbled as she took the pitchfork.

She had a great childhood and a good relationship with Steve, who was more suited for life on the ranch. Oh, Tess loved it; she knew that. How could anyone be under that big Montana sky and not love it? But as she grew older, Tess wanted something more. Tess loved to hear her great-uncle talk about teaching. She was just a child, and Jeremiah was an old man but so soft-spoken and kind. She fell in love with the idea of traveling and becoming a teacher. So when the time came, off to school she went and never looked back.

Suddenly, a pang of regret rippled through her. Tess angrily rubbed her forehead, trying to dismiss the guilt she still harbored. Maybe going home was what she needed.
           

Chapter 2

Tess took Maria’s advice and took the train from Missoula to her hometown of
Silverhill
. When Tess saw the old engine and three cars, she smiled and shook her head. Maria was a sentimental Cherokee. As she boarded the train, she heard someone call her name.

“Rick?” she asked. “My God, how long has it been?”

Rick Cumberland grinned; he jumped down from the engine car and wrapped his arms around her. “Holy
moly
, Tess. I haven’t seen you in at least six years if not more.” He held her at arm’s length. “Still a looker, for an, um, older woman.”

Tess laughed and playfully pushed him away. “You’re still an idiot, and you’re losing your hair.”

Rick laughed along. “So you’re back. For good?”

Tess shrugged and explained her conversation with Maria. Rick’s smile faded as he listened. “Telford’s trying to pick up all the land he can get his money-grubbing hands on, and your dad is one of the last holdouts. The other ranchers are worried. You know how hard it is keeping a ranch going.”

“I know. It’s been a struggle since Dad took it over in the fifties.”

“Yep. And almost sixty years later, it’s still the same.” He then nudged her shoulder. “You’d better come up with something from all that fancy college
learnin
’.”

Tess glared playfully as he laughed. “So what’s the deal with the old train?” She pulled her coat around her. It was mid-March, and though spring was just around the corner, it was still cold. She remembered the brutality of a Montana winter.

“It was the city council’s idea to bring some tourists in. It runs from Missoula all the way to Wyoming and Yellowstone. Ya know, see the Old West. I’m the engineer.”

“Gotcha. It’s not a bad idea.” She looked around and nodded.

“I can see the wheels turning under that blond hair,” Rick said. “C’mon, get on board. I’ll stop by the ranch later and see ya.”

Tess kissed his check, then boarded the train.

“Hey,” he called as he walked back to the engine. “I’m still not married.”

Tess laughed and called back, “I’m still gay.”

Rick let out a laugh and waved as he boarded the engine car.

Tess settled back by a window seat; there were plenty to choose from. Winter was still in the air, and patches of snow dotted the landscape. Tess figured the only passengers were probably on their way to Jackson Hole to ski for the last time before spring. Her body swayed with the rhythmic
clickity
-clack
of the train. She chuckled to herself, feeling as though she were transported back in time to the Old West. Maybe the council had a good idea to revive this train. Rick thought so.

She smiled again thinking of Rick. He was Stephen’s good friend. They all grew up together, and although Stephen was the youngest, he fit right in. It was probably because he was an old soul. That’s what her mother would say. Stephen took to riding, roping, and ranching at a very early age. Her parents were glad to see it. Tess did, as well, but it was Stephen who was the golden child in this aspect. The survival of the Double R was strictly in Stephen’s capable hands. It was fine with Tess; this afforded her a chance to go to college with no regrets.

She gazed out the window and watched the last snow of winter covering the grassland whisk by. Underneath that snow was what her father, Jed Rawlins, and the other ranchers fought so hard for. Tess wondered if she could ever feel that for something—or someone.

Maybe she was destined to be single. She put her head back and let out a thoughtful sigh. Perhaps she was too old. Everyone seemed so young at Cal. Hell, she thought, I’m only forty-nine. Mel’s face flashed through her mind. Mel was thirty-four, but a very young thirty-four. “Or maybe I’m just an old forty-nine,” Tess whispered.

This might be a good spring and summer for her; maybe she could do some soul-searching and help her father. God, I haven’t been on a horse in six years, she thought, let alone try roping a calf again. “Good God. I may do more harm than good.”

Two hours later, the train pulled into
Silverhill
. Tess couldn’t help but grin when she saw the old depot just outside of town. She got off the train with the few passengers who were
oohing
and
ahhing
over the quaint western town. As they gathered their skis, Tess was curious.

“Excuse me,” she said to one. “Are you staying in
Silverhill
?”

The woman nodded. “Yes, we saw it when we booked our ski trip. So we thought we would stay over, then take the train down to Jackson Hole for a last ski for the year. Are you on vacation?”