Cody listened to the recording saying the phone had been disconnected. He hung up, frowning. Would the phone company do that merely because Frank was in the hospital? He didn’t know, but it was inconvenient. Instead of calling to see if Holly was there, he’d have to go over and find out for himself.
He’d found Kyle earlier and the two of them had repaired the oil pump Jarred talked about. Kyle was hunting a wild cat and hadn’t liked being pulled away from the hunt. The Rocking F hadn’t lost any cattle to a mountain lion, but the Garrett ranch had and Kyle was hunting any sign the animal might be on their land.
Once finished with the repair, which did not need any more expertise than Kyle and Cody had between them, he resumed the hunt.
Cody cleaned up, grabbed lunch and tried the phone.
He debated riding over, but it was too hot to do a fence check or look for more horses. He’d take one of the trucks. If she wasn’t home, he’d leave her a note this time.
Luck was with him, Frank’s truck was parked near the barn. Holly had to be around somewhere.
She didn’t come out when he stopped the truck. Surely she heard him arrive. He checked the barn first, but didn’t see her. Heading toward the house, he instinctively went to the back door. It was closest and the one most likely used by family and friends.
The wooden door was wide open, only a screen door guarded the entry. Knocking he waited. No response.
“Holly?” he called.
She appeared a moment later.
“Cody? What are you doing here?”
She crossed the kitchen floor and pushed open the screen door and stepped outside.
She’d changed new jeans for shorts. Her feet were bare, her toes sparkling with some polish. He let his gaze drift down and back up.
He thought she should go back in and get into jeans before he swallowed his tongue.
“Well?” she asked, looking beyond him to his truck.
“I came to see if you need any help.”
He looked closely. Her eyes were a bit red and puffy.
“Has something happened to Frank?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, why?”
“You look like you’ve been crying.”
She looked away an expression of annoyance on her face.
“I’m fine. Just sad my dad’s so sick.”
“Yeah, we are, too. So have you given any thought to hiring someone to help out?”
“Yes. I’ll do that soon.”
“Soon? Why not today? You went into town, right?”
“I had other things to see to,” she said primly. “I’ll get to hiring someone soon.”
“And in the meantime?”
“What?”
“Who do you plan to look for those other horses? To check the cattle, check the fences, move cattle from one pasture to another if they’ve grazed it down, check the water holes and windmills–”
“Okay, okay, you’ve made your point. I’ll see to it. Thank you for checking on me, but I think I’ll be able to manage now.”
“Your phone’s out,” Cody said.
“Is it? I’ve been using my cell.”
“You get service out here?”
She shook her head.
“I make calls from town.”
“You should get the phone reconnected. You’ll need it in case of an emergency.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Soon,” he said.
She nodded. “Soon.”
Cody studied her for a long moment. Something was off, but he couldn’t tell what. Still, it wasn’t his business if she rejected his help.
“Okay, then, I’ll take off. Let me know if you need anything. I can help interview the cowboys if you like.”
“We’ll see. Thanks again for all your help.”
“Hey, my dad and yours are friends. If he were here, he’d be helping as much as possible. That’s what friends do.”
She nodded.
“See you around,” she said, and turned to reenter the house.
Cody ambled to the truck. Time he paid a visit to Frank Braddock. Maybe he knew what was going on.
At dinner that night, Seth suggested they invite Holly over for dinner on Sunday. Carlos didn’t cook that night, so the Fallon men all chipped in and cooked with their mom away. Usually a big roast or spaghetti or sometimes they called into town for pizza and bought a half dozen pies to share.
Jarred looked at his grandfather. “Any reason why?”
“To be neighborly.”
“Isn’t Cody helping out neighborly enough?” Jarred asked glancing at his brother.
Cody looked over at his brother.
“Any reason why not?” he asked.
Jarred looked from his grandfather to his brother and shrugged.
“Just wondered. We haven’t had Frank over in months even before mom and dad left on their cruise.”
“He stopped coming when invited, but he is always welcomed, same as any neighbor,” Seth said.
Jarred thought about it for a moment then nodded.
“I’d be interested in meeting his daughter. Is she pretty?” he asked Cody.
“Yes. And as out of place around here as an orchid would be.”
“Maybe we should invite her soon, before she leaves, then,” Jarred said. “Can you invite her, Cody?’
“Sure.”
He wasn’t going to tell everyone the phone was out of service. He’d drive over this evening and ask her. He wanted to talk to her about her father.
Cody had been shocked at the frailty of Frank Braddock. And dismayed to discover how little he could communicate. He could almost feel the frustration Frank felt when he tried to talk. Little by little Cody began to ask yes-no questions to which Frank could respond better. He still wasn’t clear on the entire situation, but he knew now Frank’s situation was more dire than anyone else realized.
He wished he could talk with his father. But his parents only called in when in port. He wasn’t sure when the next stop would be. Maybe he’d discuss things with his grandfather later. After he’d seen Holly.
In the meantime, he’d go along with anything Seth or Jarred suggested, to keep things quiet until he learned the extent of the problems at the Bar-B-Bar.
It was after dark by the time Cody drove into the yard at the Bar-B-Bar. His headlights picked out the horses in the corral, two of them ambling over to the fence to see the newcomer. The house was dark. Was Holly gone?
No, the truck was there.
It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet. Had she gone to bed already?
Holly came out of the back door, the screen slamming behind her.
“What do you want now?” she asked walking over to the truck.
Cody looked behind her at the house. Why didn’t he see any lights?
“I came by to invite you to dinner Sunday. If you’re still here.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked, coming up to the truck.
“If you hire a manager, you can take off,” he said.
“I’m here until my dad doesn’t need me any more. And that doesn’t look like any time soon. Thanks for the invitation. How do I get to your place?”
“Turn left when you hit the highway and drive 4 miles. The driveway’s marked. On the left.”
“Okay. Shall I bring anything?”
“Nope, just an appetite.”
She gave a half smile. “Count on it.”
“Are you sitting in the dark?” he asked.
“No, I’m standing here talking with you.”
He beat a rhythm on the steering wheel.
“You weren’t when I drove up.”
She shrugged and looked back toward the house.
“Power’s out and I turned off the generator to conserve gas.”
“How long before the electric company said it would be back on?” he asked.
The generator was good for some things, but it was a temporary fix at best.
“Did a transformer or something blow?” he asked.
“No and it’ll be soon.”
He looked at her.
“That seems to be your answer to everything. What happens soon.”
She shrugged again.
“Holly.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“What’s going on.”
“Nothing that concerns you. I’m managing.”
“I was in to see your dad today,” Cody said.
“That was nice of you.”
“Uh huh, and he confirmed there are only four horses, so you don’t have to ride out to look for others.”
“That’s good. I don’t think I can get that saddle on the horse’s back.”
“But there’s fencing to check, water holes–”
“I know, I know. You went through everything before. I’ll find a way.”
Cody might not be the most intuitive individual around, but even he could tell something was off. He opened the door of the truck forcing Holly to take a couple of steps back.
“I’m fine, you can go home,” she said, a hint of panic in her voice.
“Something’s up and I’m staying until I find out what. In the meantime, I’ll check the generator. You need lights at night. And water. What are you doing about the well?”
“The generator powers the well and the horses are taken care of.”
“I can see that, what about you?”
She stared at him for a moment, then shocked him when her eyes filled with tears. Oh, Lord, deliver him from a woman crying.
“Don’t cry,” he said desperately.
“I’m not,” she said turning away. A sob sounded.
“Oh, blast it,” he said, running his hand around the back of his neck.
His grandfather should have come. He had more experience being married to his grandmother for forty three years before she died.
“Go home, Cody,” she said, starting to walk to the house.
It was an out. He could take it as an order.
But his mother would skin him alive if he did.
Sighing, he followed her, reaching the back door at the same moment she did.
He touched her shoulder and she turned. In the faint light he could see tears on her cheek.
“Oh, Holly, it’s going to be okay,” he said, pulling her into a gentle hug.
It was as if he released a dam. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt, rested her head on his chest and bawled like a newborn.
Cody didn’t know what to do. He was one of four boys in the family. None of them had a steady girlfriend at the moment. He hadn’t a clue how to handle this situation. He tentatively rubbed her back, making soothing sounds like he’d gentle a scared puppy. He was so out of his league. If the phone had been working he could have called from home. He should have insisted his grandfather extend the invitation or Jarred or even Pedro.
“S-s-sorry,” she said a moment later, turning and hurrying into the house.
One minute there, the next gone. He stood on the stoop for a moment, then took a deep breath and opened the door.
The house was hot and muggy. It was cooler outside. There was a single candle on the table, providing scant light. But he could make out the table and chairs, the refrigerator and stove. He listened carefully. She’d moved into the center of the house.
Should he leave? Or stay.
Not one to give up, Cody pulled out a chair and sat. He’d wait her out. Sooner or later, she’d be back. He just hoped it wasn’t in the morning.
Five minute later Holly came back into the kitchen, carefully carrying another candle. She set it on the table and then saw Cody.
“Oh, I thought you left.”
“Not until I find out what’s going on,” he said, pushing the brim of his hat back so he could see her better in the faint light.
Her eyes were definitely swollen. Probably red, but in this light everything looked sort of gray.
She pulled out a chair and sat.
“Just everything that could go wrong has. I never expected my dad to get sick. What if he doesn’t recover? What if he’s bedridden the rest of his life?”
Tears spilled over again.
“Yeah, but that’s not what the doctor said. Without violating confidentiality he told me the prognosis looked good. That means he will get better,” Cody countered.
She traced a pattern on the worn table.
“That’s what he told me, too. But better from where he stands today doesn’t necessarily mean a complete recovery. He could be wheel-chair bound, or never talk again. How will he run a ranch if he’s not fit?”
“I thought you were going to take care of that,” Cody said.
She gave a short laugh.
“Yeah, right. You know how prepared I am to do that.” She sobered quickly. “I want to, I really do.” She darted a quick look at him. “You’ve been more helpful than anything. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
No sense letting her know how reluctant he’d been.
“Things will look better when the power is back on and you hire some experienced cowboys or two.”
She continued tracing a pattern, her eyes watching her finger.
“Right?” Cody asked. “I’ll help you interview if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Looking at him she shook her head.
“You know, Cody Fallon, you’re really a nice man. You don’t give up, do you? I’ll have to see.”
“About?”
“Calling on you when time to interview a cowboy.”
“Okay, then. It’s set. In the meantime, your phone is off and your power is off. I can call the power company from home to get an update on when it’ll be fixed.”
She shook her head.
“It’s not necessary. I know when it’ll be on.”
“And that is?”
“Soon.”
“Soon,” he repeated. “That’s your favorite word.”
“It’s the best I’ve got right now.”
He decided to call the power company anyway and see if there was anything they could do to expedite repairs. A ranch needed power. The generator was good enough to limp along, but unless it was a big set up like the Rocking F had, it only was good for the short haul.
“Want to come over to the house to spend the night?” he asked, suddenly thinking about all the things not powered by an emergency generator.
He rose and went to the refrigerator and opened it. Dark and warm.
“There’s nothing in there. I cleaned it out already.”
“How long has the power been out?” he asked as he closed it.
“Since before I got here. There was really some gross stuff in there.”
“Get your stuff. You’re coming home with me.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“We’ve got guest rooms galore and a hot shower with your name on it,” he said wondering what she’d been doing the last several days without hot water.
“Tempting. I’d love a long hot shower,” she said. “But I can’t impose.”
“No imposition. You can have your choice of guest room, with private bath. My grandfather lives in the house, for propriety’s sake. And I don’t.”
He didn’t know why he added that last part.
“Oh,” she grinned. “Well, then, just one night. Thank you.”
She rose. “I’ll get a change of clothes and some stuff and be right back.”
She snatched up a candle and disappeared into the rest of the house.
Cody went outside. He’d melt if he stayed in the house any longer. He walked over to the corral. Two of the horses came to the fence when he approached. Starlight nickered softly.
“Hey, old girl, how you holding up. Cushy place here, no work if the woman can’t even get a saddle on you.”
He scratched behind the horse’s ears and patted her neck. He heard Holly shut the back door and then the screen.
She walked across the yard a swollen backpack on her shoulder.
He walked to the truck and opened the passenger door for her.
“I can drive,” she said, hesitating.
“I’ll take you and bring you back in the morning,” he said.
She considered it another moment then nodded and climbed up into his truck.
In less than ten minutes Cody pulled into the yard of the Rocking F ranch. Wouldn’t his family be surprised at what he brought home.
Seth and Jarred were sitting on the porch when Cody drove in. He stopped by the front of the house to let his guest off. Since this was her first visit, he knew his mother would want her to be treated like a special guest.
The two men rose and walked to the truck when Cody went around to open the passenger door.
“Ah, we have a guest,” Seth said. “Welcome, my dear.”
“Hi Mr. Fallon,” she said, hopping down and pulling her backpack from the truck.
“It’s Johnson, but call me Seth, please.”
He looked at Cody.
“Power’s still off at her place,” Cody said as if that explained it all.
“Holly, this is my older brother Jarred.”
“Nice to meet you,” Holly murmured.
She was invited inside. Stepping inside the air conditioned house some moments later felt like heaven. She smiled at the men, a startled look when she saw Jarred in the light.
“Wow, you two look so much alike. You’re not twins are you?”
Jarred shook his head. “Thankfully, no.”
“Hey,” Cody said in mock indignation.
“Ignore those two. Can I get you something to drink? Did you already have dinner?” Seth asked, stepping in between Cody and Holly.
“I’m fine, really.”
“Told her she could take a hot shower. Let her pick her room,” Cody said, standing near the door.
He watched his brother and Holly. She was pretty even with slightly red eyes. Sometimes he and Jarred liked the same woman. Not that he was liking Holly exactly. More like concerned for her. Felt responsible since he’d seen her first.
“I’ll take you up,” Jarred said.
He flicked a glance at Cody.
“See you at breakfast.”