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Her mother’s words felt like a knife in her heart. Sure, there were problems, but she wasn’t going to sell her children’s inheritance no matter what. Vernon had bragged how big the ranch had been in the early 1900s, when the Landerses had a big family and relatives who lived close by. But slowly, the family members had died or moved away. Vernon and Grace had only had one son instead of the seven that Vernon’s parents had had. The Circle L Ranch might not be the size it once was, but she wasn’t going to sell or desert it. It was part of her heart.
April knew her father wanted her to sell the ranch, but she’d thought she had her mother’s support. Apparently not. “Thanks for the input, Mom. I’ll think about it.”
“I know you love that place, but face reality. It’s a mighty big job and there’s only you.”
“I have help to plant this year.” The words were out before she thought.
“Oh?”
It was the truth even if Joel was only here for the week. “I know the kids will miss seeing you. You and Dad might want to call them before Dad leaves and explain your exciting news.”
“We’ll try.”
In other words, it won’t happen. “I pray things will go smoothly with the move, Mom.”
“We can talk with the kids over the computer and they can see our new house once we’re settled.”
April’s heart broke. “They’ll love it.”
“I know you’re disappointed, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
The familiar refrain rang hollow. “I know.”
When she hung up, April’s mind raced over all the birthdays, holidays and graduations her father had missed. She didn’t want that for her children. She wanted her kids to have a connection with their home and good memories of growing up—memories like going to the rodeo every year and having a tall cowboy show them how to lasso a horse or a cow.
Determination filled her heart. She wouldn’t fail her babies. “Thank you, Lord, for sending help to plant my field, but I’m going to need a long-range plan and a way to make this happen.”
And did that long-range plan own cowboy boots?
Chapter Four (#ulink_8a98ac1c-a022-57cc-b607-52cd5a787d33)
The following day, Joel finished planting the hay field well before 10:00 a.m. Next they tackled the chores around the barn. Finally, Joel roped Buckwheat and Sammie and tied them to the posts outside the barn.
“What are we doing, Mr. Joel?” Wes asked.
The screen door slammed and April and Cora appeared.
“If you’re going to own a horse, you’re going to need to learn to groom him. Had your opa shown you how to do that?”
“He did, but Todd might need to be shown again.”
Joel heard a choked laugh. He didn’t look at April because he knew he’d laugh, too.
“Then we’ll do that.”
With a couple of buckets of soapy water, a wooden step stool he found in the barn and Buckwheat and Sammie tied up, Joel gave a sponge to each boy.
“Is this just a boy party or can the girls help?”
The boys glanced at Joel.
“Of course. I know Cora’s going to need to learn this, too.” Joel motioned them forward. “Mom, you might want to keep Miss Cora toward the front of Sammie.”
They began to wash both horses, with Joel adding commentary on what to do. He held Cora up so she could run the sudsy sponge over Sammie’s back. “Let’s rinse off Sammie and Buckwheat.”
Wes picked up the hose and sprayed Buckwheat. When he handed the hose to his brother, Todd accidentally sprayed Joel in the face.
“Oh.” Todd’s face went white.
Everyone froze, unsure of Joel’s reaction. Even the horses stilled. Joel threw back his head and laughed. He snatched the hose and spritzed Todd. When April started to object, he aimed the water dead center at her chest. She looked down at the wet spot, lunged for the hose and got a face full of water. The water fight was on.
Twenty minutes later everyone was soaked. Joel turned off the hose. He hadn’t had a water fight since he was in the fifth grade.
Water fell off him in rivulets.
April looked at him, then snorted, drawing the boys’ attention.
Todd laughed first, followed by Wes, Cora, Joel and April.
The horses shook, sending more water flying, bringing another round of laughs.
April handed out towels, drying the kids before she wiped down Sammie. Joel took care of Buckwheat.
The laughter died when a truck drove up and Beth Moore opened the driver’s door. She observed the dripping kids and adults. “A water fight?”
“We wash horseys.” Cora pointed at Wes. “Brother sprayed Mr. Joel. Mr. Joel sprayed brother and Mama.” She giggled. “Me, too.”
The truck’s passenger door opened and a man in his early fifties slid out. His right arm was in a sling and he sported a goose egg on the right side of his forehead.
The children fell silent.
“How are you feeling today, Albert?” April walked to the truck.
“I’m doing fine, but Beth and I were worried how you’d get your fields planted.”
Joel saw April blush as drops of water continued to drip off her shirt.
“The boys hired Joel for this week. He’s with the rodeo, and he’s helping us plant the fields and taking care of some chores.”
Beth surveyed the group. “I see,” she said, but laughter colored her words.
“Joel gave the kids instructions on how to bathe their horses, but things got a little out of hand.” She shrugged. “And a little foolish.”
Al remained quiet, but his gaze missed nothing.
“Well, we were concerned and planned to call the church to get volunteers to come out and help you, but it looks like you have things under control,” Beth explained.
Water continued to drip off Joel, drawing the couple’s attention. Joel tried to keep his smile casual to cover his awkwardness. Nothing like standing in the middle of the yard dripping wet and laughing to make folks think you were nuts.
Beth leaned close and whispered to April. She drew back, her eyes wide.
“You be sure to call the church secretary and tell her what you’re bringing for Sunday’s lunch on the ground.” Beth opened the driver’s door and slipped in.
“I’ll do that.” April stepped toward Al. “How are you doing?”
“He’s milking this for all it’s worth,” Beth answered before Al opened his mouth, “that’s how he’s doing.” She started the truck. “C’mon, old man. You need your nap.”
April closed the passenger door for Al. “I wish that accident never happened. You be sure and let me know when you get the bill. I want to pay for it.”
Al rested his hand on April’s. “I know you will, but God sees needs and sends miracles.”
Frowning, April stepped back and watched the truck drive away.
She turned to Joel. “Let’s finish with the horses, then I think we all need a change of clothes.”
“Mr. Joel doesn’t have any dry clothes,” Wes pointed out.
“Not to worry. Once y’all are dried, the wind should’ve taken care of me. ’Sides, I won’t melt.”
The boys gave him a puzzled look. “Why would you melt?” Todd asked.
“Your mom can explain it later.”
After drying the horses, Joel walked them to the corral, while April took the children inside.
Leaning against the fence, Joel thought of the water fight. It did his soul good to laugh and play. He hadn’t been that foolish since he was a teen. But he knew it helped April and her children more than it did him or the horses. The expression on her face when she got smacked with the stream of water had been priceless. It had taken her several moments to understand he was playing, as if she couldn’t recall how to do it. But once she keyed in to the play, she’d embraced the fun. Too bad the older couple had showed up and robbed the situation of all its pleasure.
He felt a nuzzle by his right ear. He glanced over his shoulder, reached up and rubbed Sammie’s neck. “You looking for a treat? Not happy with just a bath but want a reward, too?”
The horse nodded.
“Well, I can’t go inside and drip all over April’s kitchen floor.”
The screen door slamming brought his attention to the house. Todd stood outside, his face grim.
“Your horse wants a carrot. Would you like to get him one?”
Todd nodded and disappeared into the kitchen only to reemerge moments later with a carrot. Walking to the fence, he handed Joel the treat.
“Don’t you want to give it to Sammie yourself?”
“No.” He walked to the side of the barn and sat on the ground, his back against the wooden siding. It looked as if the weight of the world sat on those small shoulders, which tugged at Joel’s heart. What had happened that changed Todd’s attitude from laughing and playful to down and troubled?
Joel searched his mind. The only thing he could think of was the Moores driving up. The boys had mentioned that their mother’s help had been hurt, but was there something else there?
Casually, Joel walked to where Todd sat. The boy didn’t look up or acknowledge him in any way. Settling by Todd, Joel leaned back against the barn, his knees raised. He rested his forearm on his knees, knowing he couldn’t push this youngster any more than he could’ve rushed Sadie and Helo a couple days ago.
In the corral before them, Joel watched the two horses. “I think Buckwheat and Sammie enjoyed their bath. I know the rest of us did. Didn’t you?”
Todd found the dirt by his small boot extremely interesting. “Yeah.”
So much for a light conversation. Apparently, Todd wasn’t going to make this easy. He needed to rope this problem from a different direction. “Is this your favorite place to think?”
Todd shrugged.
“When I was growing up, I had a place in our barn, in the hayloft. It was a good thinking place. I sometimes went there when I did something I knew would get me in trouble.
“One time, my mom had made a birthday cake for my grandmother. Chocolate with Gran’s special icing.” He paused and made an appreciative sound. “I tried to sneak a big finger full of icing off the cake, but instead I pushed the cake off the counter. It made such a terrible sound when it hit the floor and the plate shattered into a million pieces, with cake and icing exploding all over the kitchen.” It had been a spectacular mess.
Todd looked at him.
“I can’t tell you how scared I was. I ran out into the barn and hid. Of course, my sister ratted me out.”
“But you didn’t hurt your grandmother.” Todd’s voice quivered with emotion.
Joel’s heart ached. “True, but we had no cake that birthday.”
Todd hugged his knees and rested his head against his thighs.
“What happened, Todd?”
Tears rolled down the boy’s cheeks. “After you picked up Sadie and Helo, Mr. Moore came to work. He got the pitchfork down, but Mom called him up to the house. I wanted to help, so I got the fork and tried to put straw in Sammie’s stall. Wes walked into the barn and saw me. He said he’d tell on me for messing with the pitchfork. I got scared and put it against the stall wall and left the barn.” He shrugged. “I guess it fell down and that’s how Mr. Moore stepped on it. It was my fault.”
It was, but this little boy didn’t need that rebuke. “Do you see why you were told not to mess with the pitchfork?”
He nodded and with the back of his sleeve wiped the tears from his face.
“I understand that you never would’ve wanted Mr. Moore to get hurt.”
“I didn’t want that” came the wobbly reply.
“I didn’t mean to ruin my grandma’s cake, either. We have to fess up when we do wrong. Gran and Ma forgave me, but my sister wasn’t as nice and reminded me of it often.”
Todd glanced up at him. “Girls are like that.”
“True.” Joel heard a movement and glanced over his shoulder. April stood at the corner of the barn. Todd didn’t notice.
“I think you need to tell your mom what happened. You’ll feel better.”
Todd stared at his hands. “Really? We can’t just keep it a secret between us?”
“I think it’s best if you tell your mom.”
Taking a deep breath, Todd thought a moment. “’Kay.” He stood and waited for Joel to stand. “Let’s go.”
Todd marched to the house, much like a condemned man to the gallows.
Admiration filled Joel’s heart for this little cowboy.
