Rocky Mountain Daddy

“You’re hungry already?” Olivia’s eyes stretched wide. She checked the slim silver watch on her wrist. “Lunch was only an hour ago.”

“Didn’t get any lunch. One of the riders decided he didn’t want his lesson to end.” Gabe smirked. “But Betsey didn’t like it when the kid dug his heels into her side and wouldn’t get off. She decided his ride was over.”

“What happened?” Eli blinked as if he’d surprised himself with the question.

“Betsey, uh, let him down.” Gabe winked at Eli.

“She bucked him off?” Eli’s eyes grew huge.

Gabe was about to launch into a full-fledged tale of the event when Olivia cleared her throat. He glanced at her. She shook her head, just once.

“The trail riding horses at the Double M don’t buck off their riders. Do they?” she asked Gabe pointedly.

“Uh, no. They’re way better trained than that.” Gabe smiled at the boy. “Betsey just moved against the rails and rubbed so he had to let go and slide off. But he pretended he was hurt so we had to get him checked out. That was my lunch hour.”

“Oh.” Eli frowned as he considered that.

“Would you like to learn to ride, Eli?” Olivia smiled as their server brought their drinks and a huge plate of golden fries.

“Uh-uh. Horses are huge.” Eli helped himself to a fry after Gabe nudged the plate toward him. “How old were you?” he asked his father.

“When I first rode a horse?” It was the first time his son had addressed him directly. Gabe tried to conceal his pleasure and treat the question matter-of-factly. “I was raised on a ranch, Eli. My dad told me he first put me on a horse when I was two. But I don’t remember that,” he added lest the boy feel intimated.

This fatherhood thing was treacherous. A guy had to be so careful not to say the wrong thing. What should he say next? While he thought it over, Gabe squirted ketchup on the edge of the plate and dipped his fries into it, hoping his stomach would stop that embarrassing growling. He hid his smile when Eli copied his actions by dipping into the ketchup, too.

“Not everyone rides the full-size horses, Eli. There are miniature horses at the Double M, just your size,” Gabe explained. “Francie and Franklyn like to ride them.”

Eli thought that over as he ate more fries.

“What kind of things would you like in the house you live in, Eli?” Olivia’s question startled Gabe, but then he figured it was probably one he should have asked himself. Maybe the kid had preferences.

“Windows.” Eli popped another fry into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “So I can see to draw.”

“You like to draw.” Olivia nodded. “I see. What else would you like?”

“Grass. Mine.” Eli fell silent for a moment. The sad look he gave Olivia tore at Gabe’s heart. “Not just a park.”

“It’s not the same, is it? I lived in an apartment in Ottawa and I loved the park, but having your own yard is way better. Did your aunt have a yard?” she asked nonchalantly.

Not nonchalantly enough, Gabe figured, watching Eli’s face close like a clamshell.

“No.” Eli said nothing else.

And here I’ve lived my life surrounded by grass. I could have... Inside Gabe the nugget of bitterness toward Eve hardened.

“Too bad.” Olivia sipped her coffee. “What other things would you like, Eli?”

“Nobody beside us?” Eli peeked sideways at her, as if he doubted this could be accomplished.

“You mean no neighbors?” When he nodded, she added, “You don’t like neighbors?”

“Yelling.”

Was it fear that made the kid’s eyes so huge? Gabe wondered.

“I don’t like yelling, either. What about a pet? A cat maybe?” Olivia ignored Gabe’s vigorously shaking head.

What was the woman doing? A house, a kid and pets? Gabe cleared his throat, but she ignored him.

“No cat,” Eli said firmly.

“Okay. A dog? A horse?” she added, even though Gabe shook his head.

“A canary. I like canaries.” Eli licked the ketchup off his fingers, then dug in his pocket. “Like this.” His small fingers spread out a sheet of paper on the table to reveal a carefully drawn canary with even the tiny claws sketched out.

“Eli, this is beautiful.” Olivia leaned nearer to study the delicate strokes. “Did you used to have a canary?”

“Aunt Kathy did. It died.” The words sounded ominous.

“It’s a very good drawing,” Gabe said quietly. “So you like to draw birds?”

“Uh-huh.” Suddenly Eli came alive. “In the house?” he said in a rushed tone.

The house, not my house or our house, Gabe noted. “Yes?”

“Could I get one of those seats in front of a window to sit and look out? An’ maybe a tree?” he added wistfully. “Then when birds come an’ sit in the tree, I could draw ’em. I really like drawing birds.”

“We’ll put that on the list.” Gabe pulled out a small notebook he kept tucked in his shirt pocket. He opened it to a fresh page and dutifully noted window seat, canary and tree. “They’re such small things to want,” he said softly to Olivia, who was watching him.

“And such important things,” she agreed with a funny smile that half mocked, half shared. Then she said briskly, “That was great coffee. Ready to start looking again, Eli?”

“’Kay.” He drank the rest of his soda, ate one more ketchup-laden fry, wiped his fingers carefully on a napkin and then slid out of the booth.

After a rest stop they were back in the truck. Gabe felt a little better about this search now that Eli finally seemed interested, but everything they saw was too small or too dirty or out of his price range.

“I’m sorry,” Olivia said as she watched Eli climb back into the truck. “I guess Chokecherry Hollow is such a small town that there aren’t many rentals. I should have realized that. Just for curiosity sake, let’s drive past the Realtor’s office and see what’s in the For Sale window.”

“Sure.” Gabe had already checked the advertisements in the huge picture windows last night, but he pulled up to the curb anyway.

“Maybe we’ll see something here that will suit,” Olivia murmured.

Gabe doubted that. Most all the ads were for massive spreads with fancy homes and lots of cattle, starting well above seven figures. Way beyond his means. But he would look with her because he knew Olivia well enough now to know she’d insist they leave no stone unturned in their search. Since Eli had fallen asleep, Olivia eased free of him, stepped out of the truck and quietly closed her door. Gabe did the same. They met in front of the windows.

“I had no clue ranch land sold for this much,” Olivia gasped after scanning the display, obviously taken aback by the prices.

“They’re big spreads. I wouldn’t be able to work at the Double M and manage so much land or cattle,” Gabe told her.

“You don’t want to raise your own herd?” She looked at him with those big silver-gray eyes, as if trying to fathom why he would settle for less than his own animals.

“It takes a while to build a really good herd and lots of money to cover the lean years so, no, I don’t. But it’s mainly because my interest has always been horses.” He shrugged, adding before she could question him, “That also takes lots of cash and time to build your stock.”

“I see.” She turned back to survey the window once more. A long time passed before she finally faced him. “There’s nothing here for us?”

Us. He liked the sound of that. As if he wasn’t alone in this new and uncertain world. But only because she’s a friend, his brain reminded.

Olivia frowned at him, waiting for a response.

Gabe simply shook his head. Together they walked to the truck. He held her door until she was inside, then gently closed it. Once he was behind the wheel again he looked at her.

“I guess that’s it,” he muttered.

“You’re giving up already?” She glared at him, eyes shooting silver sparks. “We’ve only been looking for what?” She checked her watch. “Three hours. And you still need a place to live with your son. Let’s go for a drive.”

“A drive?” He wanted to ask why, but faced with her implacable glare, Gabe obediently shifted into gear. “Where to?”

“In the country,” was her only directive.

That was fine by Gabe. He never tired of the densely verdant rolling hills, thickets of green trees, lush meadows and rocky peaks where granite foundations thrust into the light.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Olivia breathed reverently. “Ottawa’s lovely, too, but I never realized how much I’ve missed all these wide-open spaces.”

“Quite a Creator we have,” Gabe agreed.

“Look at that house, nestled against the hillside. It has a wonderful view.”

“That’s the Browns’ place, Evensong. Not much more than a few acres now.” Sadness crept through Gabe. “They bought a big spread five years ago to live out their retirement dream, but they’ve been slowly selling off bits of land to neighbors. Since Mrs. Brown got sick Art just can’t handle it all and look after her.”

“Mavis? Isn’t that her name?” Olivia smiled at his nod. “I think the aunties mentioned this morning that she’s having treatment in Edmonton.”

“Yeah. Would you mind if we stopped for a few minutes? I’d like to see if there’s anything Art needs help with. I think he’s home today to catch up.”

Relieved when Olivia nodded her agreement, Gabe pulled into the yard. He usually stopped over to check the few head of cattle grazing in the pasture and sometimes curried the last two horses the Browns owned. The house looked worse than usual in the bright sunlight. It sure could use a coat of paint. Maybe he could manage that this summer. Somehow.

After he’d figured out fatherhood.

As they pulled into the yard, Art Brown emerged from the shed carrying a gas can and a wrench. To Gabe he looked weary beyond belief.

“How are you doing?” he asked after he’d introduced Olivia. Eli was still sleeping.

“Okay. Hated to leave Mavis in Edmonton alone, but she must be close to the hospital for her treatment and I’ve got to tend things here. All this back and forth is wearing me out,” Art admitted, heaving a sigh. “But you don’t want to hear my woes. Come on inside and I’ll make you a cup of coffee. Place isn’t very tidy but—”

“You have the most glorious deck. Do you mind if we sit out here for a bit? Then Eli, that’s Gabe’s son, will see us when he wakens. And we had coffee earlier so don’t go to any trouble on our account.” Olivia’s smile seemed to put the fatigued man at ease.

“Okay. Have a seat. Son, huh? Good for you, Gabe.” Art sat down gratefully. “Thought maybe I’d mow the yard today. Sure does need it, but that beast won’t start.” He shook his head at the ancient green ride-on mower sitting in the long grass. “Guess it’s getting old, just like me.”

“Mind if I take a look?” Gabe asked. He shot Olivia a questioning glance, relieved when she nodded. “Stay here and relax,” he ordered Art with a grin. “I’m better if I work alone. Or at least I’m less embarrassed when I can’t figure it out.”

“Join my club. Have at it.” Art stretched out his legs when Gabe stepped off the deck and bent to look at the mower.

“My aunts, Tillie and Margaret, send their best wishes to you and Mavis. They’re praying for both of you,” Olivia said quietly. “Is there anything we can do to make things easier for you?”

“Everybody’s already doing so much,” the man said, tears welling at the corners of his eyes. “Embarrassing to ask for more.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Olivia assured him.

Gabe listened in unabashedly, liking the way Olivia deflected the man’s concern.

“We’d like to help if we can, Art,” she said now. “Please tell us how we can best do that.”

Gabe already knew most of the issues at Evensong. He’d been trying to rectify them since the couple had left, but the list seemed to increase daily.

“I’m most worried about the house roof,” the retired man admitted. “God’s blessed us so far this summer and we haven’t had a big deluge. But the next downpour is going to cause huge problems inside.” Art hung his head, obviously ashamed he hadn’t been able to fix it.

“Don’t you dare go up there, Arthur.” Gabe called his warning loudly, hoping the older man would heed him. “Climbing on roofs won’t help that knee of yours.” He glanced at Olivia, surprised to see her writing in a tiny notebook. “We’ll get it done,” he assured his friend with a grin while wondering, When?

“What else needs doing, Art?” Olivia glanced around.

“Well, the cattle and the horses are a worry, of course. Gabe’s been great at taking care of them while I’m gone but we can’t keep relying on him. Guess I’ll have to sell them, though Mavis raised that mare from a foal and she’s attached to it—”

“You know I don’t mind caring for the animals, Art.” Gabe fiddled with the carburetor, then flicked the starter switch. The mower sputtered momentarily but finally came to life. He let it run for a few minutes as he added gas from the nearby can. “I’m going to give it a whirl,” he called to the pair on the deck.

He noticed Art start to rise, saw Olivia restrain him with a gentle hand on his arm. Then, heads bent together, the two chatted and Olivia wrote some more in her book. Gabe was curious about that book, but he concentrated on grass cutting until he saw Eli’s head pop up inside the cab. Then he parked the machine, got off and went to his son.

“Ever ridden on a mower?” Gabe asked. Eyes wide, Eli shook his head. “Come on, you can ride with me while we cut this grass for my friend.” He explained the rules about riding to Eli, then sat him on the back of the long seat. “Hang on to me now,” he ordered, a tiny rush of pleasure surging through him when the small hands wrapped around his waist.

Just then Gabe happened to glance up. Olivia was watching them. She smiled and nodded her approval. For some reason that made him unreasonably happy, and he returned to his mowing with a light heart.

Whatever You have in store for me, God, I thank You for my son and for a friend like Olivia. Underneath that reserve, she’s got a good heart.

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