Chapter 26
Carl took over as the driver on the way home. He wanted to stop by and check on one of the flocks that were wintering on the way. Julie chose to sit in the middle seat instead of the back and was quickly snuggling into Chet, after reaching over and locking his door of course.
Chet noticed his future father-in-law watching them and made sure he stayed respectable and was surprised at the road that Carl turned off on, that is if you could truly call it a road. Surprisingly they did manage not to get stuck and once they were on the paved road once again Chet had a question that showed he knew nothing about sheep ranching.
"Don't you keep your sheep in a barn during bad weather like this?"
Julie started giggling quickly but she did try to keep it quiet. "If you call this bad weather you have no idea how bad the weather can get."
Carl just smiled, "Julie's right this is nothing as far as what we've yet to get. But you also have to understand that our biggest market is for the wool the sheep grow. The colder they are the thicker their wool, if we kept them nice and warm in a barn all winter there wouldn't be nearly as much wool come spring shearing."
"I guess I never thought about that." Chet responded, "I have to admit though that I'm glad I live along the coast line where it doesn't get this cold."
There was silence in the truck for a moment as the occupants watched the snow swirl across the road in the breeze.
"You two talked at all about when you want to get married?" Carl asked.
"Not yet Daddy," Julie answered with a clear tone in her voice that implied, 'don't go gettin' all pushy on me now.'
"I was just thinkin' that if you were to say do it soon here, say in the next couple of weeks now, you two could take that cruise I've got booked and call it your honeymoon."
"Daddy," Julie started then paused to choose her words, "you promised momma, that you'd take this cruise, it was the last request that she made of you. Besides, I'm starting a new job next week, I can't exactly take three weeks off just after I start."
"That's real thoughtful of you sir," Chet followed Julie's lead, "but I'm not scheduled for vacation for another six months and I've already taken some time off to come here that I'm going to have to pay back before the end of the month."
"Guess I didn't think of any of that. Round here your mother and I just always took vacation during the winter when things were quietest here on the ranch. You know no lambing, no bummer lambs to feed, no sheering and sheering crews to feed. Not to mention no wild fires that make it so you have to shift grazing fields in a hurry."
"Or go show the paid fire fighters how to put out the fire," Julie added with a smile.
"Yeah, I've had to do that a few times alright, them government officials and their let it burn policies. Don't take into account a man's grazing lands or what the fires do to their livelihood."
"Still," Carl shifted the conversation back to his daughter's wedding. "It seems like a better idea for the two of you to hurry up and get married, than for Julie to go out there and look for an apartment where you have to come up with first and last month's rent and utility deposits for a lease you won't finish out. Of course it would be best if we waited to for warmer weather to have a reception here in these parts. Like after sheering time next spring but there's no need to wait that long for the two of you to get married. Why I can see now that you're Fightin' to behave yourselves as it is, and I suspect that's only because I'm right here in the truck with you.
"If you stop to think about it you have to go through Nevada to get back home and to your job as it is. The two of you might just as well make it official."
Julie looked at Chet out of the corner of her eye then back to her father. "Can the two of us talk about it before we make a decision?"
"Well you should, it's your wedding you know, just the first of many decisions you're going to be making together for the rest of your life."
The rest of the ride was made in silence but both Julie and Chet could tell by the way the other was thoughtfully rubbing their hand that they were thinking.
When they turned into the main ranch they noticed three unfamiliar cars parked near the main house. The exhaust from two of them showed that they were idling their car's engines and it was quickly guessed that it was for the purpose of running the car's heater. Carl recognized one of the people in one of the cars and pulled up in front of the garage before he stopped and got out. Just as he suspected the six men waiting were consisted of the medical clinic and hospital board of trustees and they were there to talk to Julie.
Taking pity on the shivering men, Carl welcomed them into his home and quickly lit a fire and got it burning good before adding a couple of sizeable logs. He then motioned for Chet to follow him into the kitchen where they would work together to make some warm drinks for the guests while they had their private words with Julie.
Once they were in the kitchen Carl placed his finger in front of his mouth before he reached over and flipped a vent open. This allowed warm air to come in from the living room but it also allowed the men to hear all that was being said in the next room.
"Miss Clark," one of the men started and Carl was silently surprised that it wasn't the all knowing voice of Larry Jackson. "We've done some looking into the pay scale for nurses of your training throughout the state and we're embarrassed to admit you were right when you said our offer made to you yesterday was an insult."
"Of course we do have our own budget restraints to work within," that was Larry Jackson speaking and the look on Carl's face told Chet just how little respect he had for the man.
"Anyway, we are here to make you a more appropriate offer." They could hear papers being shuffled, "Dr. Frick was unable to attend this meeting but he did send along a letter, I'm sure you are aware of the great admiration he has for you and your skills."
There was silence for a moment as Carl managed to get some coffee going and mix up a pot of hot chocolate as well as a pot of tea. Chet was directed to the cupboard where the cups were stored and serving trays.
There was still silence in the room when Carl and Chet carried the warm drinks into the living room and placed them on the coffee table there. They noticed Julie looking over papers she had been handed and watched as she opened a sealed envelope and pulled a card from within reading it thoughtfully. Chet thought for sure he had seen a surprised smile on her face but he could only guess what was written there.
"Thank you," Julie offered along with a smile that was all Chet's and it gave the assurance that she wouldn't be accepting the job. Her life was with him now.
Carl and Chet returned to the kitchen where Carl silently moved one of the kitchen chairs right next to the vent and motioned for Chet to do the same. The two men sat silently with their heads bent toward the vent to maximize their hearing ability.
"Well I see that you have indeed increased your offer, double what you offered me yesterday still there are a lot of, shall we say intrapersonal political type issues in this area that would make employment in this region less than totally enjoyable for myself."
"Before you say no, think about where your loyalty lies. You've been a part of this community all of your life, you know better than most the needs in this area as well as the people." Someone cut in.
Chet could hear Julie's sarcastic laugh, "Yes, yes let's talk more of loyalty, and my part in this community. I don't recall every being considered a part of this community. I've always been just one of the Ranchers that lived out of the way. Never once have I been considered worthy of the scholarships that you trustees award every year.
"I could easily tell you that I'll think about this offer but I won't. It is still substantially less than a previous offer that has been made by a company that is impressed by the accomplishments I've made and the work that I've done, and the working conditions are much more pleasurable than what I can expect if I were to stay here. Not to mention a few other personal reasons involved that I will not discuss with you, I will be accepting that offer. I wish you men luck in finding someone to fill this position. Please however stay and finish your drinks and get warmed up before you take on the long trip back into town."
In the kitchen Carl cupped his hands over his mouth to muffle the sound of his laughter. Chet just kept silent and shook his head, he felt some of the humor his future father-in-law was seeing but he also felt relief.
It wasn't long before Carl was seeing his guests to the door and when the last of them were driving toward the main road Carl turned to Julie and Chet. "I'll go work on getting some dinner ready you two have some things to talk about."
Chet and Julie smiled at each other and moved over to the sofa where they could sit together. Julie set the papers she had been given down on the coffee table and Chet couldn't help but see the card that lay open on top of the other papers. Above the fold was written in large hand writing; Run Julie Run. Then below the fold was written in smaller print. You know you'll never be totally respected or find real happiness here. That mustached fireman may not be a Roy but anyone who cares can see that he makes you happy and treats you with the respect you deserve. Don't forget to send me a wedding invite. Doc Frick
Chet picked up the card and gestured with it to get Julie to talk.
"Doc and I have done some talking since I got back in town and let's just say, he understands." Julie offered and then there was silence again.
"Who goes first here?" Julie looked to Chet to share his feelings first. "It's not hard to tell Dad's trying to hurry this wedding along but it is up to us. What are your feelings?"
"Hey," Chet shrugged his shoulders, "I've always thought the groom just showed up when and where he was told to. I'll confess I like the idea of just taking you home with me and moving you into my duplex. I have a second bedroom that I was thinking of offering to you but, hey, I like the idea of making it official right at the beginning a little more. But what about you, do you want a big wedding like your brother had, one with all of your family and friends around?"
"Frankly I much prefer the thought of an elopement, if we have a big wedding my sisters, all of them, will probably bring someone for me to meet." The two of them laughed and fell into each other's arms.
The engaged couple talked a while longer, Julie admitted it would be better to change all of her professional licenses over to her married name before she started working, and that she liked the idea of not having to hunt for an apartment or having to move multiple times. She also shared her desire to join Chet in the bedroom, adding that she wanted it to be in an official state.
There was talk of where to find a wedding dress on such a short notice and who they would like to have there as well as who they thought would be willing to travel to Vegas on such a short notice. Then Chet remembered the kitchen.
"You know your father can hear everything we're saying in here don't you?"
"Uh hu. That's why the box with my mother's wedding dress in it is now leaning against the door frame."
Chet turned to where Julie was looking and sure enough there was a box there that hadn't been before.
"I would really like to have my mother there," Chet admitted, "She'd never forgive me if I didn't invite her. I'm sure my brother will drive her and bring my sisters along."
The phone from the kitchen was handed around the door opening and sat on the table just inside the room.
Julie giggled than added. "Where will we tell them to meet us?"
The Los Vegas phone directory was soon added to the table next to the phone, partially on top of the phone.
"It might be a good idea to get the maps out and find a place that will be easy to find for everyone traveling."
Two maps were soon placed on top of the phone book. Never once did Chet and Julie see any more than her father's arm.
"You sure you don't want to come out here and join us dad?" Julie called.
"Nope, you two are doing just fine without me."
Chet and Julie giggled and shook their heads.
"At least I don't see a shotgun," Chet added.
"I've got several that I could show you if you want to see them." Carl called from the kitchen.
"Um, thank you sir, perhaps another time."