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The blaring ring of the house phone interrupted our breakfast. Nanna hurried up from the table to answer it.
“Thompson residence.” She answered.
“Nancy, dear, is Pete there?” The sheriff’s drawl floated over the line.
“Pete, the phone is for you.” She handed me the green receiver.
“I may have some good news about your cows.”
My heart leapt in my throat.
“Can you come down to the station this morning? We may have found them.”
“I’ll be there in a few.” I placed the receiver down.
“Good news?”
“Yes, they may have found the cows.”
A grin broke Nanna’s face.
I kissed her cheek. “Wish me luck.”
#####
I FOLLOWED THE SHERIFF into the gravel driveway of Old George’s place, and the cruiser led the way to some pens in the back. Old George owned one of the largest spreads in the four-county area. The cowboys’ horses stood tied in front of the bunkhouse as low bellows broke the silence of the morning. The sheriff and I strode to the office where Deputy Mark and Old George sat in wooden chairs, drinking coffee.
“Good to see you, Pete,” Old George said as I shook hands with all the men. “This morning the men had some extra cows in one of the pastures. The fence was down so they may have run right through. They all have those baseball bat horns that you like so much.” He chuckled. “Right this way.”
I followed him through the office, to the corrals in the back. The pens were full of bawling calves and momma cows.
“We were going to wean calves this morning, but those wild cows of yours are disrupting everything.”
My black cow looked over the backs of the other cows as my white cow paced the back fence, trying to determine the best spot to jump.
“That’s them alright,” I leaned over the metal rail. “My brand the Circle T is on their left hip.” I pulled out my brand and registration papers for all ten cows.
The sheriff looked over them and the papers. “Sure, looks like it. Let’s load them out.” He shook hands with Old George before heading back to his cruiser.
“I’ll get them loaded up and be out of here. Thanks for everything.” I headed out to my truck and trailer.
#####
AFTER THE EVENTS OF the morning, the girls walked off the trailer uneventfully into the dry lot. Once in the pen, they ran bucking and kicking around the small enclosure. A gust of wind slammed the trailer door shut, spooking the cattle causing them to run to the far end of the pen.
“Easy girls. It is just the wind.”
I threw some hay over the fence for them as the big black cow ambled over, leading the rest of the group. I rested my elbows on the fence to watch them eat, listening to the cows chew was relaxation in itself.
My phone buzzed once in my pocket. I reached for it. It flashed 1% Battery and Powering off.
“Oh well, I guess I need to find a charger.” I headed up to the house for a shower and change before heading to my shift at the factory.
“PETE HAS NOT CALLED me back all day.” I fumed to Benny. He laid on top of my feet as I sat at my desk. “Did you see this here?” I pointed to a paragraph in the contract. “It says if I can’t prove that I made a profit at the end of twelve months, the chief executor of Miss Elizabeth’s estate can decide if my lease will renew.” Benny flopped to his side, closing his eyes. “What exactly is showing a profit? I put in everything I have, and I’m not asking my parents for help.” I slammed my fist on the desk. “Is he going to kick me out at the end of twelve months? Is he trying to control me? Why didn’t he say anything? Is this just like with Vance? Can I trust him? What’s the point?” I banged my other fist down. Benny jumped up and barked at me.
“I am sorry, sweetie. I am not mad at you.” My knees gave out and I sunk to the floor. He crawled into my lap as I buried my face in his coat as alligator tears of frustration fell from my eyes.
My computer dinged, breaking me out of my pity party with Benny. A new message flashed in my email. I clicked on the little icon, the message opened, and I scanned the email.
“Guess what, Benny! The San Antonio Opera wants me to design the costumes for their spring show. How cool is that!” I scanned the list of characters and types of costumes. “This might be a little out of my wheelhouse. But money is money.”
Benny woofed and spun in circles at my new mood. I spent the rest of the afternoon making a list of supplies I needed and putting the finishing touches on Carrie Ann’s dress.
Before I knew it, the 5 o’clock bell rang at the factory. Cars drove by the front window: some of them stopping at the pharmacy, others going to the grocery store on the way home. The bell chimed as the front door opened. An aroma of pizza wafted towards me.
“Hey honey, how was your day?” Pete approached me and placed a chaste kiss on my forehead. “It’s pepperoni with extra cheese.”
I took a large piece and bit into it. The extra cheese was creamy and gooey. Some grease dripped down my chin. Pete took a paper towel to catch it.
“Mine was fine.” I tried to be grateful, but anger from before boiled beneath the surface. Part of me wanted to call him out on it and the other part just wanted to eat food. I threw a piece of crust to Benny, who caught it in mid-air. He smacked his lips as drool hit the floor so I threw him another piece. Pete glanced at me before grabbing a piece.
“We found the cows this morning.” He grabbed a cola from the fridge in the office. “Everyone was happy to be home. I’m glad we found them.” He slugged from the can. “They are the only thing my grandfather left me.”
“That’s great.” I shut off my computer, tapping the mouse harder than normal.
“Are you ok?”
“I’m fine.”
“What’s going on with you?” He approached me. I stepped away until the back of my thighs hit the desk. He placed his hands on either side of my hips and leaned in. The air in my lungs was trapped; I couldn’t expel it.
“You never called me back,” I whispered.
“What?” Confusion clouded his eyes until he pulled out his phone and checked it. “It’s been dead all day.”
“I read the contract this morning.” His eyes widened and he leaned away from me. I knew it! He did it on purpose to trick and use me. “It says you get everything at the end of the year if I don’t do well enough!”
Pete cringed and backed away from me. I couldn’t help it. All my anger and frustration exploded to one high pitch shriek that sent Benny cowering.
“Wait, what?” He held up his hands.
“You thought you were just going to stick it to some little city girl who was down on her luck, huh?”
“Um...”
“You could’ve told me you were my landlord. Here I was thinking Miss Elizabeth was being nice to me and it was you along!” I smacked at his chest as tears started to roll down my face.
“Will you listen to me?” He grabbed my hands in one of his hands. The other arm drew behind my shoulders, trapping me against his chest. I narrowed my eyes at him as my nostrils flared. “You’re being ridiculous. I’m not going to kick you out of here.” His lips were inches from mine.
My temper flared at those words. “I’m being ridiculous!”
“I wanted you to be happy here. That just was a clause the lawyer wrote, in case things didn’t work out.” He lowered his mouth towards mine as I turned my head away.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t think you’d let me help you.”
“How long have you owned it?”
“About eight years.” He removed his hands and ran them through his hair. “Miss Elizabeth needed the money for the nursing home."
"How can I trust you? What if you have a change of heart and kick me out in ten months?”
“Wow, Melanie. How could you think that? I care for you a lot.” He pulled his cowboy hat back on his head. “I’d never hurt you.” His voice was soft, barely able to be heard.
“On top of everything else, now this? I can’t trust anyone anymore. Please leave.”
I walked to the door and held it open for him. My hand gestured for him to leave. He gave me a long look before walking out of the shop, slamming the heavy door behind him, starting his truck up with a roar. I slid the bolt into place before heading up to the apartment with Benny on my heels.