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“You mean you calledher?”
“Hell, yeah. I’m trying to get her to come see me. Told her I wasn’t getting any younger and she needed to visit her old daddy. She’s been in New York trying to be a city girl too damn long. She’s losing her roots.” With a laugh, the old man spurred his horse and started out around the cowhands.
“Well. Shit. Just what I need.” Matt shook his head, climbed up into the saddle, and followed his men once again.
* * *
Damn,she hated to fly. Avoided it whenever possible. Ally stared out the window from the seat she’d claimed, overlooking the left wing of the 747. Most times, her job didn’t demand travel unless she had an author who needed her immediate attention. The majority of things could be handled by mail or email. A little sweet-talking and overnight accommodations was normally all it took to get them to New York.
“Excuse me, ma’am. We should be landing shortly. If you could please stow your computer and replace your tray table?”
She started at the flight attendant’s voice. “Oh, I’m sorry. Of course I will.”
With shaking hands, she shut down her laptop, slid it into the protective case, and stowed it under her seat. Her heart beat faster in anticipation of the part of the landing which scared her most—the sudden jolt when the pilot threw on the brakes, hearing the loose baggage shift in the overhead compartments, and the whining of the reverse thrusters slowing the plane as its tires squealed on the pavement when it touched down. She had nightmares that one day her flight would end with the oxygen masks dangling from above, and the plane spinning uncontrollably down the runway on its steel belly after the wheels broke off because the pilots hadn’t slowed the plane completely.
Trying to calm her frantically beating heart, she remained buckled in her seat, taking deep cleansing breaths while she waited for the passengers to file past, all grabbing their belongings which had been crammed in spaces too small to fit luggage. The landing hadn’t been at all what she’d expected—much smoother, actually. She might have to praise the pilots on her way out the door for a job well done. Seeming to be one of the last people left on the plane, Ally released her seatbelt, grabbed the laptop and her carry-on, and found her way to the exit door.
Ten minutes later, she stood amidst a small gathering of people waiting for luggage to appear on the belt of the rotating carousel.Finally. Laramie Regional Airport. Sad memories of the last time she had been there filled her mind. A little more than two years ago, her mother had finally lost her battle with cancer. She had stayed longer than planned because she’d been afraid to leave, wondering how her only remaining parent would cope with the loss of the love of his life.
“Ally-cat, don’t you worry, angel-girl,” he’d told her. “Your mamma’s gone to a better place. Don’t think I won’t miss her, but we had a lot of good years together, and I got to keep the best part of her. You.”
Maybe, one day, she would be lucky in love. At this point, things didn’t look too promising. Men were more trouble than they were worth.
Standing to the side of the car rental counter, she fished her cell phone from her too-cluttered purse to let him know she would be on her way when she picked up her vehicle. After dialing the ranch’s number, continuous ringing jangled across the line.Okay, Daddy. Now would be a great time to answer your phone.When she was ready to push the End Call button, the ringing stopped, and the phone was snatched up.
Oh please don’t let it be the awful cowboy again.
“Hello, Kincaid’s.”
At the sound of another female voice, she sighed with relief. “Maribella?”
“Miss Ally? Is that you? Oh gracious, girl, it is good to hear your voice,” gushed the beloved family housekeeper, who had been around since she was a little girl.
“Oh thank you, thank you, thank you so much for being there. You don’t know how happy I am to hear yours. Is Daddy there?”
“No miss, he is not here. I’m sorry. It’s roundup, and he’s still out in the pastures.”
“Oh gosh, how could I have forgotten roundup? Well, shoot. Maybe you can get a message to him? I’m at the airport in….”
“Oh heavens, child, why didn’t you say you need a ride home? I’ll send Roberto right away, where are you?”
She chuckled to herself. It was comforting to know the loving housekeeper hadn’t changed after all these years. She still wouldn’t let a person get a word in edgewise.
“Thanks, but I actually rented a vehicle. I wanted him to know I’d be there soon.”
“No worries, miss. You be safe driving, and I will take care of everything.”
Click.
Ally stared at her phone and frowned. Apparently, the whole household hung up and ended a call without saying goodbye. Her dad’s bad habits had clearly worn off on Maribella.
More than an hour later, with her luggage stowed in the bed of the rented pickup, she crept her way through Rock Creek, the closest town to the family homestead. Emotions got the best of her, and tears formed in her eyes. She’d stayed away too long. My, it was so good to see all the familiar places again.
After the fifteen-minute drive from town, she reached Circle K Ranch and turned onto the long drive leading to the house—the place she’d always called home. Not only because she’d been raised there, but also because it had always felt like home, even after she’d moved out. When she stepped from her rental, Roberto hurried to meet her.
“Oh, Miss Ally! So good to see you. You’ll stay longer this time?” His words rushed out as he enveloped her in a massive bear hug.
Ally giggled in delight; she’d missed his hugs so much. No matter the situation, she could always count on him Returning his embrace wholeheartedly, she then struggled loose before she lost all feeling in her arms—he was so strong. “We’ll just have to see. Roberto, it’s so good to see you.” She glanced here and there at all the familiar sights of home. The barn she’d spent countless hours playing in and around. The corral where she’d been taught everything she needed to know about riding horses, and of course the house where she’d grown up. She’d never expected it all would look so good. “Gosh, not much has changed here since I left.”
