Glad to be back so soon! Here y'all are, chapter twenty seven for your enjoyment! Ta tah!
The ranch was just as I had remembered it. It had been a stroke of luck, really. The old tenants were actually selling the property which made it easy to repossess on my behalf. I walked through the pens, the stables and reminded myself of the walks and rides I used to have in the woods.
Out in the woods however, in a clearing, stood a little grave. I knelt beside it. I had watched them lower Sabrina's coffin into the ground then covered it myself. Now all that was left was a little mound of earth and a headstone with her name, date of birth and date of death. Swallowing the lump in my throat I tore open the packet of flower seeds then sprinkled them into the ground before patting them down.
"I hope you like it here." I whispered to her softly. "It's where I grew up. Now I'll grow old here too." Smiling weakly I stood, stuffing the empty packet into my pocket before turning and walking back to the house. My house, my land, my memories. I had so many of them here, laughter filled my head as I walked up the wooden steps to the porch, gazing at the faded redwood and chipped white painted windows before going inside. It was your typical ranch house, two floors, large rooms, right next to the stables.
The place had been redecorated completely but thankfully the rooms hadn't been changed. Now that would have pissed me off. Still, I had two weeks. I had time to start restoring the place. It felt strange, walking up the stairs to my old room. Last time I had been here, it had been painted sunflower yellow with green chequered curtains, stuffed toys on the bed and shelves of books about animals.
The house felt bare, empty, like a shell but soon I would have it feeling like my home again. "Well dad, mom, I'm home." I whispered. "And I'll never let this place go. Not ever." Tossing my pack into the main bedroom I rolled up my sleeves then began to shift the furniture that had been left behind.
Anything too old, too broken or too musty was thrown into the old bonfire I used to roast marshmallows on. The ranch had been well looked after so there was little for me to do on the outside, just needed a few more things. Bed sheets for instance. Cleaning tools, some food and a lot of other stuff. Sticking my wallet into a zipped pocket I began to jog to town. It wasn't far, just literally down the hill but it brought back hundreds more memories. There was an old man sitting on a stool, playing his harmonica with a yellow stained moustache and a cowboy hat. "Howdy Jeffrey!" I yelled and he paused.
"Howdy there Robyn." Then continued to play. I smiled, waiting for him to realise. Suddenly he dropped his instrument and leaped to his feet, tilting his hat up to stare at me. "Well I'll be…it's Robyn!"
"Hey there, how's it been?" I asked. Jeffrey raced over and laughed, taking my shoulders to look at me.
"You look just like your ma, damn it's been years! You still remember an old goat like me?"
"Course I do, you old goat." I teased then hugged him tightly. Suddenly Jeffrey pulled away and began to holler.
"Folks! Come on out here! Our little Robyn has flown back to us!" Doors burst open and people came out of shops, abandoned their stalls to race over, smiling and gasping with shock.
"Robyn? Is that you darlin'? Oh look at you! So pretty…" I heard them all as they all crowded around, drawing me into their arms then wiping tears from their faces as they remembered the sweet little girl in pigtails who used to bring cookies around every Sunday and hand them out to the neighbourhood.
"It's great to be back. I've bought the old ranch back, so it's all mine again." I explained to them. "I've been waiting to come home for a very long time, it's so great to see you!"
"We have to celebrate, how about a dance? Yes! Let's have a dance!" Everybody cheered in agreement. We were a small town but we sure knew how to throw a party, I remembered them from my childhood. "Oh honey, what is it you need? Come get some food, you look hungry." Then someone asked the dreaded question.
"Where's your ma?" I stopped, choking a little as I tried to remain calm. I smiled sadly.
"She died in a fire."
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry. Your parents were good folks." An older lady with a slight dumpy figure patted me on the shoulder as she steered me into the convenience store. "Now, you pick whatever you want and I'll buy it for you."
"Oh no, Celia please, you don't have to do that." I said to her quickly. "I can manage, I'm earning good money."
"What do you do?"
"I'm in the army." I told her and she gasped.
"Well bless your heart child, I always knew you were a good egg. Didn't fall far from the tree did you? Good girl, I'm proud of you. Your ma and da would be proud of you too." I purred inwardly with pride. "Now, come on. We all insist." With very little choice, I pushed a trolley around with a few ladies following, putting other items in when I tried to skip them to lower the cost.
They had all changed so much in my absence but I knew every single one of them by face and their smiles. They had taught me how to read, how to sew, how to cook, how to dance and all sorts of things. Most kids left town as soon as they could but I knew that this was the place my heart truly belonged. All that was missing were the horses.
Feline put some fresh bananas into my cart as well as some apples. "So tell me, is there a man in your life? We want details!" I giggled as she looked at me seriously, the twinkle never leaving her eye.
"Not as such." I said to them as they all gripped each other hopefully. "There is a guy but we're not together."
"Tell us more! Is he handsome?"
"Very." I nodded my head. "But not only that, he's a gentleman of the old sort. He can't speak though but he has a way with using his eyes to talk to you." I sighed a little, thinking back to those beautiful electric blue eyes I had only ever seen once. "I'd like you to meet him one day but I don't know if…you know…we'd ever happen. You see there's this other women-"
"Argh! There always is. Even in the greatest stories." Feline threw her hands up in the air as she put some cleaning products in. "Go on dear, tell us more."
"Well she's tall, beautiful, talented, brave, smart and clever, in all honesty I'm a little jealous of her." I admitted, looking down at my feet. "She paws at him all the time though, which irritates me to the point of explosion. She's always touching him, smiling at him, it makes my blood boil." The ladies all giggled.
"It seems someone has fallen hard."
"Yup." I popped the 'p' then sighed. "Flat on my face."
"You need to go up to him and tell him how you feel." A familiar voice said from the next aisle. I ducked down to look through the gap between the shelf and the freezer.
"Albert? Is that you? You've lost your belly!" I beamed at him and he chuckled richly, patting his now flat belly.
"Yes, took him a while but I insisted. He needed to lower that cholesterol of his." Annie-Marie said sharply but looked lovingly at her husband. "And hush! This is girl talk. Go find some newspapers to look through."
"Yes dear." He laughed, blowing a kiss to his wife who caught it discreetly then blew one back. I loved this town. This place was the only other time I'd felt at home, with a large family. I decided that it was the right choice to come back. Although my cart was now practically overflowing with food, toiletries and heaven knows what else.
"So dear, as you were saying. What's this gentleman's name?" Uh oh, what should I call him? The name Snake Eyes wasn't exactly on your Top 100 Names to Call Your Child list.
"Samuel." I answered simply. It was the first name that came to me head.
"Ooh! I like it. You'll have to bring him with you next time you're on leave." Celia said to me. "We'd love to meet him. We could also set you up?"
"No! Oh please no, we're in the same unit, it wouldn't really be practical to be together when we're out on call." I laughed uneasily. "I'm biding my time, that's all."
"Well, you'd better get in there before that other woman or she'll take him away from you." My knuckles turned white from gripping the cart too tightly.
"Annie's right, men aren't too sensible when it comes to women. They listen to their heads so you've got to tell him you're the right one for him." Albert called from the newspaper stand.
"Girl talk!" His wife reprimanded and he grinned before returning to his paper. The ladies bought my groceries for me then called Jeffrey over with his pickup truck, putting the bags in the bag for him to help get them home. Then they all climbed in too. I laughed, smiling proudly. These old ladies were the best.
"Come on Jeff! We've got a house to clean!" Celia yelled, slapping the roof of the truck to signal that they were ready.
"Dang, I've missed being home." I chuckled as the old truck guttered into life then lurched forwards, making the ladies in the back yell aloud then laugh as a thick plume of dust shot out from under the wheels. All day we talked and cleaned. I told them everything that had happened to me, keeping as close to the truth as possible.
"Oh honey! You should have come back here! We'd have never have let you be without a home." Annie-Marie said as she washed the windows as I dragged the rug out to beat out the dust. "You poor pet."
"It wasn't so bad. It gave me a more optimistic view on life." I shrugged. "I volunteered for the army, went through training then haven't left since. I like the training. It's tough and pushes you beyond your limits."
"You always were a true cowgirl." Annie-Marie said, taking off her hat to drop it on my head. "There. Now all you need is a jacket and some boots."
"I'll be sure to get some." I smiled, tossing the rug over the line then began to hit it, coughing as the dust cloud flew out. "So tell me all that's happened! Any grandkids? Any arrests? I want details!" We all began to laugh. Once we'd cleaned the house from top to bottom I then began to scrape away the ugly magnolia wall paper from the hallway and living room.
I made plans with the ladies, all of us going over how I'd like to redecorate. I initially had planned to revert it to its old ways but then I remembered the just as disgusting lime green wallpaper my mom had put up in most of the rooms. Maybe not. We made colour patterns, talked about curtains and new furniture until we all sat down at the table with tea and biscuits.
"You know what this place is missing?" Celia said as she carefully dunked her biscuit. "Horses."
"Aye, horses. You need to get some horses back in those empty stables." Annie-Marie agreed with a slow nod of her head. "Your daddy always had horses."
"I will get some horses in once I know I have the time to focus solely on them. I don't want to have to keep abandoning every time I get a call back. It wouldn't be fair on them." I said. "But it has been years since I've sat in a saddle."
"Well blow me down we'll get you in one right now!" Celia stood, pushing back her chair. "Feline, ring that husband of yours and tell him to saddle up a horse for Robyn here. Honestly, where have our priorities gone? Cleaning the house first when we should have got a horse tacked up the moment we saw her! Come on!" Jumping to my feet I followed Celia as she marched forwards, leading the way over to the next ranch which was only a few minutes away, Feline calling her husband as we walked.
When I walked up the driveway and the familiar scent of horses enveloped me, I began to feel giddy. "What if I can't handle the horse? I haven't ridden in over ten years!" I said but Annie-Marie clucked her tongue.
"A rider like you could never forget. Even as a small child you were barrel racing with the best of them. You never forget to ride, just let it all come back to you." Sucking in a deep breath we approached Benjamin, who had a horse tacked up next to her. She was a beautiful chestnut appaloosa with white powdery spots on her rump. Instantly I was going to her and holding out my hand, allowing her to meet me and get used to my scent.
She was curious, stepping towards me with a large step but I didn't let her intimidate me, holding my ground. It showed that I was in charge. Lowering her head she sniffed my hand then allowed me to stroke her, wrapping myself in her scent. "This here is Ginger. Beautiful ride, though I wouldn't give you one of the stallions just to be safe." Ben said to me, patting her neck. "You ready?"
"I'm ready." I grinned then lifted myself up into the saddle. I walked her over to the open pen where a few jumps were already set up. I walked and trotted circuits with Ginger, warming her up until she was all lose and smoothly stepping, keeping up the energy in her trot.
"There you are! See? What did I say? Never forget to ride. It's in your blood!" Annie called and I beamed, turning my head towards a jump. It was rather high, higher than any I had ever jumped before but I was determined. "Come on, atta girl!" I whispered, easing her into a canter, the transition smooth as I guided her head around.
Everyone's jaws dropped as we sailed over the jump, me tucking myself into position before rising at the landing, grinning from ear to ear. "Ginger's never jumped like that! I can't even get her to do a foot off the ground." Benjamin whispered to Feline who clapped her hands, jumping with excitement. "That's talent, that is."
I did a few more jumps, absorbing the sensation of flying as I did what I loved most. Riding. Holding the reins in one hand I guided Ginger around some barrels, keeping the canter collected and controlled as she rounded them. "You're doing great!" Celine called out to me. Then a flock of pigeons flew out from the bushes and Ginger reared.
She thrashed out with her hooves, the whites of her eyes showing as her ears flattened against her neck. I leaned forwards, keeping grip with my thighs as she cried out then dropped down, bucking her back legs then began to go all out rodeo. Everyone gasped hands clapping to their mouths but I held on, rolling my body with the movement then took off my hat, laughing with excitement as I let her buck herself out before pushing her forwards into a trot.
Once she was once again under my guidance, I stopped her, letting her calm down and catch her breath whilst stroking her neck. "Good girl, that's the spirit." I said to her, scratching her shoulder then rubbed her at a pressure point to help soothe her.
"Well, it's great to see you're as wild as ever." Benjamin smiled, tipping his hat to me. "I'm sorry about that, she's not normally spooked."
"Nah, she was just trying to see if she could get away with it. Weren't you girl?" She snorted in reply. "See?"
"You're a very good rider. I haven't seen you around here before." A deep masculine voice mused and I looked to the man on Benjamin's right as he leaned against the post, looking up at me under his hat. His sandy blond hair went well with his light green eyes. He was a tough looking man, with thick shoulders and plenty of muscle.
"I'm an old favourite." I told him, clicking my neck a little as Ginger lifted her head, signalling she was ready. I moved her around in tight circles then backed her up, testing out familiar waters. "What about yourself? I didn't go to school with you did I?"
"I was the year above you." He answered. "Toby Daniels. Remember me?" The name rang a bell, a very distant bell but a bell all the same.
"A little. You weren't the jock who used to shove nerdy kids into the girl's toilets were you?" He grinned.
"That was me." I blinked at him blankly.
"How impressive." Tapping my heels to Ginger's flank she cantered forwards, all too eager to pick up the pace but I reined her in. Once Ginger had worked enough to earn herself a nap, I jumped off and led her back over to her stall. The ladies were all talking with Benjamin so I put Ginger away, tacking off her tack then rubbed her down with a warm sponge.
"You were that girl who always used to get into fights, weren't you?" I nodded my head without looking up to Toby, focussing on Ginger who seemed to be enjoy her rub down. "And the one who lost the ranch at ten." He hit a sore spot.
"I bought it back."
"I heard. So, are you doing anything later?"
"Redecorating." I answered simply, not elaborating.
"Need a hand?"
"Nope. I got it." I glanced his way and he smirked. His blond hair just touched his shoulders, making his jaw look even more defined than it already was, as well as the cleft chin. "I'm getting a hand from everyone in town apparently."
"Oh good, I'll drop in and help too." I didn't want him too. I didn't like the way he was looking at me, like a mare at auction.
"Robyn! You in there?"
"Where else would I be?" I answered back to Benjamin who laughed.
"True. Come on, there's someone I want you to meet." He said as he reached the door, glancing to Toby. "You two getting along?"
"Famously." I said with a hint of sarcasm. Finishing Ginger's rub down I checked her water, fished out a little hay then picked up he saddle and bridle.
"Let Toby take that. Come on." Benjamin smiled so I dumped the gear into Toby's arms then followed excitedly, wondering who he wanted me to meet. He was leading me to a stall, so I got even more excited. When I looked in, I let out a breath of awe.
"She's beautiful." Her fine head lifted and she snorted at me, her black coat glistening like jet. Her mane was slightly tangled and there were a few mud spots on her belly but she had the most magnificent composition I had seen in a very long time. Her wide nostrils flared on her regal head, lifting a hoof to paw the ground with muscular but refined shoulders. Then in noticed her swollen belly.
"How long?"
"A few weeks yet. She's from a fine line of wild mustangs, still a little bit wild herself. She managed to get out and I guess another wild one must have found her because a few weeks after catching her again, she was swelling up like a balloon." I reached in slowly and offered my hand. The mare turned her head away and swished her tail.
"She's very proud, isn't she?"
"Normally she bites. I'm not sure what to do with this one. The only people she seems to trust are children and women. Feline takes care of her mostly but she's not as strong as she once was. If that mare decides to lash out or bolt, I worry what will happen." I could see what Benjamin meant but what did this have to do with me?
"So I got thinking. You have empty stables, I have too many horses. How about we do a little bit of liaising? I'll sell you a few if you want for good prices once you're in and settled down." I stared at him, mouth dropping. "Except for Magic, Magic you can have for free, as well as her foal." My jaw dropped further.
"Really?"
"Aye. Welcome home little Robyn." I flung my arms around him and gripped him into a tight but careful hug.
"Boy! You sure have a pair of arms on you. At least I know she'll be in safe hands." Ben patted my shoulder and smiled, tilting his hat back. "So what do you say?"
"I say…it's great to be home."