Junkin Duncan

Junkin Duncan

happyhugo

Romance, Modern Day Western, Kids

69,524 words

copyright(C) 11/04/09

Readers score 8.32 

Junkin gets divorced. Soon after this, his business is
taken over by the Feds, giving him with much money.
Traveling west, he joins his mother and proceeds to help
a bunch of misfits straighten their lives out and finding
happiness in the process.

This story is of John Duncan and encompasses a little more than a year of his life. Divorced by a cheating wife, he goes west to join his mother on her uncle’s ranch. He finds a very dysfunctional group of individuals to work with.

Chapter One

My day had been very busy and I was tired. As I sat relaxing for a minute, Terry handed me a beer. She usually did this just before she put supper on the table. Without any preamble, “Johnny, I want a divorce. I’m not getting what I expected from you. We’ve been married seven years, and I’m afraid the next seven will be more of the same. Sooo, I'm telling you I want out.”

As if I needed this. “Have you been messing around and found someone better?”

“Maybe, but that’s my business. It doesn’t concern you at this point. To be fair I’m willing to settle for less than half of our assets in the divorce.”

“And how much is less than half going to cost me?”

“I want the house and my car and half of what is in our savings. You get to keep the business. You have your 403b account and you can keep that. That’s fair isn’t it?”

“Could be. You haven’t mentioned anything about love. That should be considered.”

“You are handsome enough. You can get sex from any woman in town.”

“I know I can get sex. I said love.”

“You mean you could still love me after I have just asked you for a divorce? Wake up Johnny, I’m gone and whatever love I had for you has been gone for awhile.”

“Okay you’ve made that plain. You want to tell me what happened to us? Actually I mean you?”

“The thing I want to get away from the most is your name. Not the name really, but what everyone calls you. Junkin Duncan and me being referred to as Mrs. Junkin Duncan. When we got married I never thought you would buy the junkyard from your father.”

“It pays damned well for all the stigma you claim it has. You live in a nice house and drive a nice car.”

“Yes it does pay well, but that doesn’t change the fact that it isn’t the best looked on business in town or take away the fact I’m always going to be Mrs. Junkin Duncan.”

“That seems a pretty thin reason to divorce me. Who is he? This person who has crawled into my bed.”

“I don’t have to tell you, but I will. It is Bill Boyle and he handles our affairs at the bank. He is one of the town’s best citizens. So there.”

“Seems as if he has handled more than our money. Moving up to a bank manager is a long way from living in a shack down on the south side where you came from. I knew you were ambitious and I suppose I should have known this was going to happen. You have one more problem. What are you going to do about hiding your father after you get rid of me?”

“I don’t know. The bank foreclosed on his place finally. I saw him the other day and he wanted to move in with us. I told him no. He said you would let him. If we aren’t married he can’t. He can move in with you, but not me.”

“Did you ever love your father?”

“I suppose so at some point. Before Mom died maybe. Now all he does is drink.”

“It could be he wouldn’t drink so much if his daughter had a little love left for him. Did you ever think of that?”

“So you say. Maybe he wouldn’t drink so much either Johnny, if you didn’t buy whisky for him. You buy him booze and rent those damned western videos he watches all the time. He should know by now he is never going to make it back out west where he came from.”

“This is an argument we’ve had before. If we are divorced, this may be the last time we fight. You know Terry, sometimes I wonder why I married you.”

“You know, but you don’t want to admit you haven’t been taking care of it.”

“Well lately you haven’t made it available that often. You have made sure of that. Was what we had three days ago the last time?” Terry’s face flamed for I told the truth. She didn’t say anything. She went over to the sideboard and brought back a folder with papers in it. I went through them. I took the pen from my shirt pocket and signed them. “You know, you may regret this some day.”

“I’ll remember you said that, but I very much doubt that I will. I wish I had known about you taking over the junkyard before we were married.”

“It got you what you wanted. A nice house and everything that goes with what the so-called Joneses have. It also made it possible for you to meet a two-timing bank manager. You don’t think he would have looked at you living where you did before, do you?

“Married to a junkyard operator got you out of the shack you grew up in. You were pretty sweet at that time. I can’t say that my life with you lately has been anything that wonderful.” I looked intently at the woman I had married. I didn’t see anything in the person standing before me that I had fallen in love with.

Going into the kitchen I saw that I had no meal waiting. I went upstairs and packed a suitcase. When I came down Terry was on the telephone. I scribbled a note just saying I would stop by and get the rest of my personal effects tomorrow. I drove over to my mother’s house and told her all about what had gone on.

This was less of a surprise to Mom than it was to me, for she had heard some rumors. Funny thing, Mom wasn’t my real mother. Dad had married her when I was two years old, the year after my own mother died. “How do you feel about losing Terry?”

“Hurt and somewhat sad. Sad for her, because she just doesn’t know some things.” I shook my head. “I should have realized it was coming. While I was packing my suitcase I thought of some glaring signals I was too dumb to recognize. I feel almost as bad about the way she is treating her father as how she is treating me. Say, haven’t you got an uncle out west somewhere? Maybe I could ship Pete out there.”

“Yes, Uncle Ezra Hogan, but I haven’t seen him for twenty years. He must be nearly eighty now. Too bad you have a business. We could go visit him.” Mom was grinning. “Uncle Ezra is quite the old buck. He was nearly sixty at the time I last saw him, and he had him a young woman who was living with him. She had a kid already by him too. I still get a card at Christmas so he is still alive.”

Next day I didn’t do much in the junkyard. I did do a lot of thinking and I called Mom at home a couple of times. It was odd as I stood looking out the window where I had always been so charged up about my business. Today it depressed me. Of course, old Pete lying drunk back of me in my chair didn’t help my mood any. Terry appeared to have no love for either of us. I hated to tell Pete that she and I were splitting. I honestly believed he loved me more than anyone else he knew. Somehow I wanted to make the old fart happy.

I made up my mind there was going to be some changes, but I couldn’t do anything about it today. Monday though, I was going to do some things that I had been putting off making a decision on. I shook Pete awake and made him clean up the best he could. I took him to Mom’s with me so he could have something to eat before I told him about Terry and me. He was about my size and I lent him jeans and a tee shirt. Mom threw what he was wearing into the washer.

Pete had the shakes some, but out of respect for my mother, he tried to control his actions. He was eating just a little and sitting very quiet while Mom served supper. “Pete, I got some news. Listen closely to what I’m going to tell you. Terry is divorcing me. She is leaving me for the banker over on Elm Street. My house is better and she wants it for him. She is keeping the house in return for me keeping the junkyard.”

“Junkin, I’m sorry for you. I know how you feel. She don’t want me either.”

“I know, she told me that. Forget Terry for the moment. I’ve got a proposition for you. Mom would like to go visit an uncle out west in Colorado. She may be there for a month and I can’t leave here to escort her. I have a lot of irons in the fire. Could you sober up enough in the next two weeks to do that for me?”

“Where will I be staying when I get out there?”

I slid a picture of a ranch house back-dropped by the Rockies. There was a small building with bunkhouse lettered over the door. Tears started pouring down Pete’s face. He was so choked up he could hardly speak. Finally he said, “I never have been on that ranch, but I know about where it is. I recognize those mountains. God Junkin, you’re the answer to my prayers.”

“Okay that’s good, but I have to have your promise of no drinking. You can stay here until you leave. Mom will feed you and help you get over the shakes. She wants to go west as bad as you do, so don’t let her down.”

“I promise no drinking.” I had the feeling that Pete would never come back east if he got out there, daughter or no.

***************

Before going down to the yard, I had my own business to tend to. My first stop was at the bank and a conference with Bill Boyle. I didn’t mention Terry, but her presence was there just the same. Bill was unhappy when I withdrew my business account and when I took the 403b account. I pulled my name from the checking and our joint money market account. I made sure that I just took half of what was there. I made the statement that if there were any checks out, Terry and I would settle that so everything was equal.

He had to ask. “What about the mortgage on your house?”

My wife’s lover was leery of me, but wasn’t worried. It was well-known that I wasn’t a violent man. I did have strengths though. Everyone agreed my business sense was pretty damned sharp.

“Terry didn’t say anything except it would be transferred and I needn’t worry about it. For some reason she wants our divorce to go forward as quietly and as quickly as possible. That’s sensible, wouldn’t you say?”

“Yes.” Mr. Bill Boyle saw me leave by the front door with four checks of the depositors’ money to the tune of almost two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I hoped someone would ask him why. I went down on Main Street and worked with the manager of the other bank setting up new accounts in my name only.

Next I called one of the government agencies that had been corresponding with me for months. “Okay, I’m ready to listen to offers. Send down your people.” I put the phone down and sat back and thought about my dad. Two years before he died he had purchased the property where my junkyard was located. This included the end of the spur that went down factory row. Not the whole spur, just the railhead where it connected to the mainline. All of the factories were closed now and sat empty and disintegrating.

The yard was the only access to the mainline as there were warehouses that served the local stores, etc., on both sides. I dealt in mostly junk cars, but could handle anything metal. I had a small crusher and a gantry-crane to load the junk cars onto railroad cars. Occasionally something bigger would come in and with the crane it was no problem loading it.

Six months ago, reps from the Federal super-cleanup-fund had approached me about using my facility to move equipment in, and during the clean-up, contaminated material out. This was going to be the focal point of the operation and it was needed to make the cleanup possible. I had several options, any of which was going to make me a rich man. Just the workers’ payroll coming in was going to drive the economy of the whole town in the next three to five years.

After the situation that had taken place last week, I decided that I might just as well walk away with a fistful of money and change my name from Junkin Duncan to Lucky Duncan. Time would tell.

***************

I thought that I had all of the surprises sprung on me already. At the divorce hearing, my attorney conferred with Terry’s lawyer before we went into court. He queried me if I was asked to okay an accelerated divorce, would I agree?

“Sure, no problem. Why?”

“Your wife claims she is pregnant by another man and wants to have the divorce moved up. The judge can do this if both parties agree.”

“I damned sure will agree.”

I had received the final decree two weeks later and that same morning I handed Mom up into the train for her trip out west. Pete had cleaned up well and with Mom’s cooking he was looking in better condition than I had seen him for years. He was like a kid for he said he felt he was going home.

I ran into Terry on Main Street as I was coming out of the new bank I was utilizing. “Junkin, have you seen my father recently? Is he still hanging out at the junkyard with you?”

“No, he hasn’t been around there for a month. I did see him two weeks ago. He was in no worse shape than usual. Maybe he has gone west. He was always talking about it. How are you doing with your new husband? I hear you are married.”

“Yes, I’m Mrs. William Boyle now. No more Mrs. Junkin Duncan. How are you doing?”

“Fine. I’m not missing you as much as I thought I would. You getting pregnant by another man kind of set my mind straight about you. I hope you are happy. A few people joke about me losing you, but I just tell them I’m the lucky one. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Whatever.”

***************

The call came in that the Feds were in town and we arranged to meet in the bank’s conference room. I had my attorney with me and we set to work hammering out an agreement for the agency to have full use of my junkyard and the equipment in it. Short of having the property condemned by eminent domain, I was in the driver’s seat. The yard was in a unique position with its own siding. This was the only access to the railroad for several miles. The agency could deal with me or have the prospect of tearing down some buildings on either side of it.

No agreement was reached on the first long day and none on the second. At eleven a.m. of the third day, I had what I wanted. It came out that when the agency finished their work cleaning up the different sites, the land would be in pristine condition. It could be used for dwellings or commercial construction. Then the junkyard would revert to me as the former owner. I could do with it what I wanted, as long as the use was permitted. I was already grandfathered so the use wouldn’t change as long as I owned it.

I made a deal after everyone agreed that my yard was priceless and necessary to the cleanup work. My father had purchased the property for $30,000 and I had paid him $35,000 two years later. Seven years after I bought it, the city assessed the value at nearly $200,000. All agreed that when the cleanup work was completed and with the newly cleared land, it would be worth millions. My property would still be the bottleneck and very unsightly if I continued to use it as a junkyard.

My proposal was for the agency to pay into an interest bearing escrow account $2,375,000 which would be the value of the property when the project was completed in three and a half years. This was because it was still the only feasible access to the railroad and the newly reclaimed property where the old factories had stood. At that time I would donate the property to the city in return for the deduction equal to what I had received. What it all boiled down to was that I would walk away with $2,375,000, tax free.

The mayor sat in on this and wholeheartedly embraced my contract with the Feds. In fact much of it was at his suggestion. The city would get a valuable unsightly property and wouldn’t have to use taxpayer dollars to buy it. The reclaimed land would be a chance for the town to expand and he was looking forward to a boom in land values.

I had one stipulation. My bank was the one that the federal agency had to use to handle the payroll. The president of the bank gladly agreed to the stipulation and the Feds followed suit. I hinted to the president that I would be very unhappy if he ever hired one Bill Boyle.

When the first of the agency equipment arrived by rail car, I handed the clerk-of-the-works the keys and walked away. Two days before this I had sent an embossed invitation to William and Terry Boyle asking them to join me at the local country club for dinner. I suggested a seven o’clock time. I had no idea if they would attend.

I had been much in the news and I suppose I wanted to rub Terry’s nose in it just a little. She and Bill had seen me on the street at various times and crossed the street to avoid meeting me. By my figuring Terry should be in her eighth month of pregnancy. I think they both were curious and wanted to find out why I wanted to meet with them. They were on time.

I did have a pang of jealousy when the host escorted Terry to my table. She was lovely to look at even pregnant as she was. I complimented her and received a kiss on the cheek. Bill shook my hand as I finished seating my ex-wife. He and I had a cocktail, she declined the alcohol. I was surprised in one way, for Terry usually thought of herself and here she was thinking of the child she was carrying.

It was a pleasant evening. As dinner drew to a close, I announced that I was leaving town and joining my mother out in Colorado. She had just remarried and was happy living on her uncle’s ranch. “I will be back in town occasionally. Technically I still own the junkyard although I’m not operating it. It reverts back to me when the cleanup is completed and at that time I’m going to turn it over to the city. Mom still owns the house where I have been living, so I’ll be back checking on that at times.”

Bill went to the restroom leaving Terry with me. “Why didn’t you sell the junkyard before I asked for a divorce? Bill tells me you made a lot of money on the deal. He knows enough not to say anything. You must have known it was going to happen.”

“I didn’t know you wanted a divorce, but would it have made a difference? Would you have stayed true to me? I suspect it was too late by the time this opportunity presented itself. And would you have treated your father differently?”

“Yes---no---I don’t know. I feel cheated somehow.”

“Think how cheated I felt then. Think how I would feel if I had told you about the cleanup and then I found out you had cheated on me already and stayed because I was coming into a lot of money. Something that you hated and couldn’t wait for me to get rid of. I looked at her. “You don’t have to answer that, but let me ask you. Will you be trading up again if things don’t work out just the way you want? Are you going to stick with Bill?”

“That I can answer. Yes I am. Maybe I have matured since our divorce, Junkin, and I really am ashamed of my treatment of you. That said, I do love Bill. I love the thought of having his baby. I suppose I could even stand my father around if he is still alive. I miss him and I never thought I would. Not like he was at the last, but how he was before he started drinking so heavily. Maybe if he knew he was going to have a grandchild he would shape up.”

“He might just do that. I think he will surface after awhile. Tell him you miss him when and if you ever see him again.” I looked up and saw Bill coming.

***************

I had never been west before and never had the urge to. Mom had told me much about visiting her uncle’s ranch when she was younger. This was before my father had lost my birth mother. She had never been back after her marriage to my father.

Her uncle was now seventy-nine and still spry. Pete was originally from the same area and it really was coming home for him. After reminiscing, Uncle Ezra and Pete found they had many common acquaintances. I knew Mom was forty-nine and Pete was somewhere near the same age, although he looked much older. Mom claimed Pete shed his old age look that was caused by his drinking and unhappiness. Uncle Ezra had hired him to do chores and take care of the stock that was still on the ranch.

My father had been dead for five years. Mom wrote that she had asked Pete how old he was and he said he was only two years older than her. This caused my mother to take a look at the man who had escorted her to the west. Mom wrote regularly, but a month ago I had received a phone call.

“Junkin, would you be upset if your ex-father-in-law and I were married? I know you have always liked him. He hasn’t asked me yet and I haven’t encouraged him. If you think it is okay and he doesn’t have the courage to propose, I very well might do the asking myself.”

“Can he make you happy? I know how lonely he has been since he lost his wife. You aren’t just two lonely people that want to console each other are you? If there is real affection between you two, I say congratulations.”

“Thanks Junkin. By the way, when will you have things settled there? I’m real anxious to see you again. You promised you would come out as soon as the papers were signed. Pete wants to see you too. He wonders if Terry is happy with her new husband. He is awful disappointed in her. He can’t understand why she treated you like she did.”

“I’ll be out there in three weeks, Mom. I see Terry occasionally, but haven’t spoken to her. I guess I’ll let her know that I’m leaving town. I suspect that will please her and Bill Boyle---not having me around as a reminder to them that they are an adulterous couple. The town knows and they did lose some friends over the breakup. So you and Pete go ahead and get married. I think it will be good for both of you.”

I received the note that Mom was now Mrs. Peter Dobbs. This was the day I sent the invitation to Terry inviting her and Bill to dinner. Two days later I was on a passenger train that was going past the siding where my junkyard was located. Equipment was coming in already, for I could see a huge bulldozer being swung off a flatcar and onto a waiting truck. I had a seat facing forward and that is as it should be.

****************

Pete met me at the rail depot which was forty miles from the ranch. It had been eight months since I had sent him off with Mom. I couldn’t believe the change in him. When he looked at me, he looked me right in the eye. I could tell he had respect for himself again. He hugged me and slapped me on the back. “I hope you don’t mind me and your mother hooking up. She is a fine woman. I wouldn’t have dared to on my own, but she came to me one night and then demanded I make an honest woman of her.”

“I thought that might happen. She called me about her intentions. Pete, I’m happy for both of you. I guess this makes you my pop, right?”

“In a way.” He was concentrating on driving. I was hanging on wondering if I was going to live long enough to see my mother. He drove with the gas pedal to the floor. Traffic we were meeting drove the same way. “Did you stop to think, my marrying your mother, Terry is now your stepsister?”

“I didn’t, but that’s okay. I talked to her a couple of weeks ago. You know, now that you aren’t around and she doesn’t know if you are alive or dead, she has been rethinking her thoughts about you. I think when she sees you, she will tell you she misses her father.”

“Maybe, but I’m not putting any money on it. I don’t care if I ever see her again.”

“You might not know, but in a few days you are going to be a grandfather. Hmm, let’s see, that would make me an uncle wouldn’t it?”

I was smiling as Pete turned his attention to me. He started laughing at how incongruous this situation was. Before we knew it we were in the water ditch. Even this struck us as funny. A half hour later a cattle truck came along and yanked us out. No harm done---happens all the time.

As we sat waiting, Pete started telling about the ranch. “Ezra owns a section outright and leases a couple of thousand acres from the government back of it that slopes up to the nearest mountain. There is not much of value on it except a couple hundred or more acres of hay land and some timber.

“He owns the timber rights and he is always talking about logging it off, but at his age it is unlikely. There is an old trail that winds up the mountain through the property and ends on the far side. Many years ago silver was discovered and a mining camp established, but after a short boom it died out.”

Living on the ranch were Ezra, Pete and my mother. Also a eighteen-year-old dropout lived here as well. Ezra had some family. The mother of his kids was still alive, but she had deserted him and gone back to Mexico taking the two boys with her. Ezra doesn’t know of which country she is a citizen.

There was a daughter who lived in the town where Pete had met me. She worked at a clinic and had two small children, both girls. Her husband had been a veterinarian, but a horse had kicked and killed him. She and the girls came out to the ranch a couple times a month for the weekend.

“So what does the ranch raise?”

“Not much. He has a stallion and a few mares. He also has two bulls and about sixty head of beef cattle. His main crop is hay. There is the 250 acres up on the lease and there is about double that amount here near the home place. He hires the haying done on shares.”

“You say his wife went back to Mexico. How come?”

“Yeah, her and their two boys. I guess they had a battle royal about something and she left him. He wasn’t married to her anyway. She went back with a hired Mex he had working for him. He speaks about the boys but she took them with her and he figures he didn’t sire them. Course they are citizens and have his name.”

“What’s the daughter like? What’s her name anyway?”

“Her name is Angelina Betite. You won’t like her. She’s uppity. Worse since your Mom and I got here so Ezra says. Her two kids are regular though. They just love the old man and would like to live here all the time. Can’t with Angelina for a mother. She don’t want anything much to do with her father. Putting it into perspective: Terry, your junkyard and you---same comparison as Angelina and the ranch.

“She wants Ezra to sell out and move into town. Course the money he got for the ranch might color her mind a mite. You keep away from her. She’ll eat you up just like Terry did.”

“Thanks for the warning. How much farther to the ranch?”

“Ten minutes to the house, tops. We’ve been on the land for the last three miles.”

Mom was waiting for me. At age fifty now, she was still a lovely woman. I was glad she and Pete had found each other. The two of them were the only people left in the world I had much affection for. It thrilled me that they were happy together. Mom hugged me asking, “How about your Mom being married? You got along with Pete coming out okay didn’t you? I should have warned you he drives like hell.”

“Everyone out here seems to drive like hell. God it is good to see both of you. Pete and I always got along. Where is your uncle? I want to meet him.”

I hadn’t paid any attention to the man standing back from us a little, waiting. He was a small person, five-five, and at first glance looked not more than sixty-five. He didn’t wait now for an introduction. He stepped forward.

“Ezra Hogan. Nellie says your name is Johnny but everyone calls you Junkin. I like that. Come in, come in, and welcome. God, we’re getting some people around the ranch again. Makes the place more home-like than it has been for years. You know at one time there were more’n twenty-five souls working and living here. Fact!”

“Glad to meet you. Mom often spoke of you and the ranch. I’m out here to see you and it for myself. Looks as if she is pretty happy to finally get relocated.”

“Yep, never going to let her go either. Kinda like the man she brought with her too. I hope you can stay as well. You’re welcome as long as you want to. The place needs some young blood around here.” We went inside. The rooms were huge. The living room was thirty by something foot square. There were rugs scattered about and seven couches placed willy-nilly. There was a fireplace on one end and a 50-inch TV next to it. I could see that the fireplace had a heatilator installed.

The kitchen eating area was as large. A massive table went down one wall with the cooking range, refrigerator, work counters and cupboards taking up the other side. “Used to feed all the help in here. Saved steps when we fed ’em. Good place to play poker too. Bunkhouse was just for sleepin.’ Most of the men didn’t have families. Made it more home-like for them.”

“Junkin, you sit and talk to Nellie. Me’n Pete got work to do. Izzy and us will be in for supper. Izzy’s the boy I keep around to muck out the riding mounts when they are stabled. You ride?”

“Nope, never been on a horse.”

“Real dude, ain’t you? Well if you stick around, we’ll change that.”

As Ezra left, Mom spoke up. “What do you think about Uncle Ez? Quite the old cuss isn’t he? Hard to believe he will be eighty in a couple of months. People talk about the passing of the old west. A good example of it will die when he goes.”

“What’s going to happen to the ranch when he dies?”

“I don’t know. Angelina wants him to sell out. She ain’t too happy with a relative of his showing up. He don’t pay no attention to her although he favors her above her two brothers. Pete tell you about them?”

“Not much.”

“I’ll tell you what I know. Ezra never married. That’s not to say but he had a woman around most of the time. He always had trouble keeping them. One would come and stay awhile, but invariably run off when one of the help left. He never had any kids until Nina came. Angelina is his oldest at twenty-eight. Two boys followed---Paco at twenty-four and Juan at twenty-two.

“He was pretty happy finally having a family although he was in his fifties and sixties. Then he caught Nina shacking up with a Mex he had working for him. The Mex was someone that knew Nina before and followed her. Ezra chased him out and Nina went with him taking Paco and Juan with her. It just about broke his heart.

“Angelina by this time was married and living in town and had two girls. Her husband was killed two years ago. Ezra has pinned all his love on the two girls and begs his daughter to come back to live here with him. She won’t. She’s foolish for he would do anything for her. He says her two brothers show up occasionally looking for money from him. Even he can see that he didn’t sire them, and he realizes that Nina strung him along for years. They have the Hogan name though and that means something to him.

“I honestly believe Angelina is his daughter. She is small like him and has the same facial features. I don’t know where her beauty comes from. Maybe from Nina’s ancestors.”

“Maybe from Ezra’s. You know Mom, you aren’t homely.”

“Say what you want to, you haven’t seen beauty until you see her.”

“What about this Izzy?”

“He’s just a kid that Ezra took in. He only has half a brain. I think he must be eighteen or so. He adores Ezra. Ezra is good to him and he takes the boy with him when he goes to the city. I ain’t going to tell you where they go, but they both come back happy. Ezra says he still has needs and I guess the boy does too.”

“You happy here, Mom?”

“Happier than I have been since your dad died. Some of that comes from being with Pete, but I love it out here. I’ll never live back east again. I wish that it could have been with your father, but Pete---well he is here and your dad isn’t. Did you see your wife before you left?”

“Yeah, I took her and her husband out to dinner. She’ll be having the baby in another couple of weeks. I didn’t mention it to Pete, but Terry is feeling guilty about the way she treated him. She doesn’t know if he is dead or not. I could have told her, but I thought Pete was the one to straighten it out.”

“How did you make out selling the junkyard? Did you make any money on it?”

“So much money I don’t know what to do with it. More’s coming in a few years. The Feds are throwing it at me. Not only that, the city will eventually end up with the property and it won’t cost them a cent. I’ve pretty much cut loose from back east. What’s for supper? I smell something good.”

“Beef. There is a roast in the oven. You’ll get beef most every day. There is a big bean pot in the same oven. Years ago that’s what they ate here about every meal and Ezra hates to change. Back east people eat by the ounce. Here everyone eats by the pound. You’ll see when I set half a critter on the table.” I knew she had to be pulling my leg.

***************

“Thank’e Lord for the food before us and the friends around us. Amen. Eat up folks. Junkin, your mother can cook. Most of the women I’ve had here, all’s they knew was to load on the hot peppers. Burned your tongue so bad you couldn’t taste nawthin’. Come tomorrow I’ll take you about to see the place. It’s getting run down some.

“I counted on them two lazy-ass sons of mine to take over someday. Nina done took them with her when she runned off. Guess I wasn’t ringing her bells anymore.” I think he was telling us he missed his unfaithful woman, but he was a hard person to read.

“Them sons of mine show up now and then for a handout. Most usually I don’t have anything for them. Things are pretty tight, or I let on it is.” I suspected things were tighter than he was letting on. I looked across the table at Mom. She knew what I was thinking and she nodded.

Ezra put me on a horse in the morning to tour the 640 acres around the ranch buildings. By the time we got back, the insides of my legs were rubbed raw. Mom was sympathetic and said she’d give me lessons when I went out next time. She glared at Ezra and he laughed. Later she explained at a certain speed of a horse a person bounced up and down in the saddle. That afternoon we went in the truck up to the lease.

You didn’t realize how high you were until you looked down through the gap we had just come up through. The land spread out, but you were still rising. The views from the uplands were awesome. There was one field of grassland. The edges were being encroached on by brush. Ezra said that twenty years ago the field was larger by half, but the land was rougher and as his herd had decreased, he hadn’t bothered to keep the land open.

We came to the start of the trail that went up and over the mountain and down into the valley on the other side. It was not passable by vehicle other than trail bikes. “You want to see a view you should make the trip sometime. There is another horse trail that splits off before you reach the top on this side and comes down over on the west side of the field. It is pretty much brushed in so it isn’t used at all now.”

I could see that the trail had been traveled. “Who comes this far out here to use it?”

“Kids on bikes mostly. Last year some kid in a dune buggy tried the trail. They buried him the next week. Junkin, I brought you up here where you could see the whole layout. I got to ask. You got any money you could put into the place? The lease is running out in a few months and it goes out to bid. I hate to see it go out of my hands.

“The home place is big enough for the stock I have, but if someone gets the high ground it will cause all kinds of problems. I’ll have to let whoever gets the bid access through my property. I’ve asked Nellie and Pete, but they ain’t got what it’ll take. Angelina has got little enough from her life insurance, but she wants me to sell out. I figure I got another ten years of life left in me. Damn, but I’d hate to move to town.”

“I’ll think on it. Mom is out here and I guess for good. I have an ex-wife back where I’m from. It still bothers me to see her. It’s going to take three-four years to wind things up back there, but I do have some money coming in occasionally.”

For the next two weeks I watched how the ranch was run. Izzy was the one that I hung around with the most. He was the one to teach me how to ride a horse. Not so much by telling me, as he very seldom found any words, but by showing me. Of a Friday night, I saw him and Ezra getting slicked up. Mom told me where they were heading and said it might be fun if I went with them. I declined, but kept the option open for next time.

A half hour after they left Angelina came driving in with her two girls, Amelia and Amy. She was confrontational immediately. “Another freeloader for Pa to feed.” This was said after I was introduced and where I could hear it. “Nellie, I know you are Pa’s niece and he likes you, but I don’t want you here. You have to leave. He was about ready to sell out when you showed up. Now you’ve brought in your son and I suppose he’ll be staying too. Pa needs to be in town where I can see to him.”

I knew my mother hated to fight with Ezra’s daughter, but I was also sure she wouldn’t leave unless Ezra told her to. Knowing my presence would make Angelina more upset, I went outside to the veranda and tipped back in a chair. I could still hear what was going on inside. In a few minutes Amelia and Amy came out.

“Where’s Pete?”

“Feeding the horses.”

“Would you take us down to watch him? Mama won’t let us go alone.”

“Sure.” The two girls were five and seven. Before we got to the barn I had one on either side of me with their hands holding mine. We went through the hay barn and out to the corral where Pete was breaking bales into a feed bunk. There were seven mares there. We could hear a stallion in the nearby horse barn trumpeting. The mares, all but one, paid no attention, so I figured he had seen most at some earlier time, but he knew he was needed.

The girls left me and ran to Pete saying hi. He held first one up and then the other so they could pat the horses. It wasn’t long before we each held one. When we went in to feed the stallion I had them both. We then had to feed a calf that had lost its mother and how the kids laughed when the calf sucked on their fingers and butted their hand.

When we got back to the house, Angelina was still haranguing Mom. Mom paid no attention, just putting supper on the table. My mother had known that Ezra was going to be gone so had put a big roasting chicken in the oven for a change of diet. She had a chocolate cake for dessert.

I totally ignored Angelina. It was difficult to do, for as I had been told, she was a beauty. Black shiny hair, full lips, sparkling eyes and even with having two children, her figure was as near perfect as any man could wish. At eight o’clock Angelina went up and put the two girls to bed. Pete and I were watching television. Mom and Angelina were now sitting on the couch nearest the kitchen.

*****************

The door opened and four Mexicans came in. I knew immediately that two of these were Angelina’s brothers. Both were small like her. The other two men were bigger than me or Pete. One had a scar across his face. It had to be from a knife slash. The other, the biggest one, had on a suit coat, but it hadn’t been cleaned for awhile.

He pointed to Paco and Juan and the kitchen table. “Sit.” They did. He came to the two women. “Well what have we here?” He turned back to Paco. “I thought you said there was just one old man here?”

“That’s my sister. I don’t know who the other one is. I don’t know them either.” He pointed in Pete’s and my direction.

“Don’t matter. More chance they will have the money you need to pay me. If they don’t, just maybe we’ll take some payment in kind. These two are pretty enough.” He headed for Angelina and reached for her. She twisted away and her blouse ripped where he grasped it. Pete and I were on the move, as well as my mother.

Mom headed to where the pots and skillets were hanging. I headed for the pokers that were displayed by the fireplace. Pete was headed for the smallest of the men who went into the kitchen after my mother.

“Stop before I shoot somebody.” This was uttered by the big man. I could see he had a small automatic in his hand. He was twisting and turning trying to keep track of everyone. Angelina didn’t run, she looked as if she wanted to slap the guy. I put my hand on the poker and kept going. I had about eight feet to go to reach him.

About that time I heard Mom clobber the guy in the kitchen. I was moving as fast as I could. The man I was after swung his attention back to me. He raised the gun just as I swung the poker. The gun went off and then he screamed---and kept on screaming. I kept going for him, but he was down.

The gun had skittered away from him by this time. I still had my hand on the ring of the poker. I let go of it and he screamed again. I looked at him. The poker had a four-inch hook on it and when I swung, the hook went into the cheek of his butt and was still embedded there.

I looked into the kitchen as Pete was just getting up off the other guy. He was on the floor, still and unmoving. Paco and Juan were still sitting at the kitchen table. Angelina picked up the gun. I could see it was a little .25 caliber Beretta. She said to me. “Take off your jeans---now! You’ve been shot!”

***************

The sheriff was still at the ranch when Ezra pulled in about three in the morning. The two Mexicans we had fought with were gone. One to the hospital, and the one Pete had tackled and clobbered by Mom, to jail. Angelina had dressed the flesh wound in my thigh. I was going to see a doctor sometime after daylight in town.

Paco and Juan were still here as Sheriff Robbins considered them victims. Paco had been gambling and owed the big guy $673. He had forced the two Hogans to find the money---and soon. Juan said they would get it from their father.

I guess we were all lucky no one had been killed. Ezra was all over his two sons for bringing trouble to the ranch. “Just think what would have happened if Angelina was here alone? And my niece---damn you. I should kick you out and never let you return. You are so damned useless! You two assholes sat right there while someone went after your sister. What would have happened if I had been alone? They might have killed me.”

Luckily the girls didn’t wake until the sheriff and the ambulance came into the yard. Angelina stayed out of sight with them except to give statements. I had a little surprise. After breakfast Angelina said to Mom, “Nellie would you and Pete watch Amy and Amelia while I take Mr. Duncan in to see the doctor? I don’t think he should be bouncing around in the truck. I’ll be back and stay another night.”

I was in pain. The bullet was a steel jacket and had made a small hole to the left of the bone midway between my knee and hip. The exit wound was larger of course, but still under an inch in size. Angelina had disinfected it and bound it up. No major blood vessels were involved and that was why I wasn’t rushed to the hospital. Actually I had sustained worse injuries working in my junkyard.

It was a silent trip to start with. As we neared the city, she asked, “How are you doing?”

“Okay. I’m feeling some pain, but nothing I can’t handle. We haven’t much farther to go by the looks of things.”

“Maybe five miles, that’s all. Mr. Duncan, I’d like to apologize for some of the things I said when I first met you. I want to thank you and tell you how glad I am that you were there last night. Things could have become ugly if you didn’t take over and fight back. I’m so sorry you got hurt.”

“Thank you Mrs. Betite. I have never been in a situation like that before. A man never knows what he is capable of until he faces a challenge such as this. My ex-wife never saw it in me. Maybe that is why she isn’t with me now.”

“You have been married before?”

“Yes. I was divorced nine months ago.”

“I’m sorry. Here we are at the doctor’s office. I know him and I will go in with you.”

There was some tissue damage that had to be cleared away to promote faster healing. I didn’t go home with Angelina because the doctor put me in the hospital for a day until the antibiotics kicked in. I saw a lighter side of Angelina when she was in the doctor’s office. He said to me, “So Mr. Duncan, you were fixed up by this pretty little horse doctor. Well I’d take a bullet just to get her to dress a wound for me.”

“I would again now that I know her. She scared me pretty bad at first. She had a gun in her hand and told me to drop my jeans.”

“When was this?”

“Right after the fight. I thought for a minute she liked me.”

Angelina blushed. “Doc, it wasn’t that way at all. The damned fool was shot and he didn’t even know it. I just wanted to see how bad the wound was.” Then she laughed. “Kind of funny now that I think about it. I think those were the first words I spoke to him.”

She stayed with me until I was in my hospital room. “Do you have insurance? This can be pretty costly.”

“All taken care of.”

“Okay. Would you call me to take you out to the ranch? I have to work during the week, but I can take you home some evening.”

“No you don’t have to bother. When I get out of here, I’m going car shopping. The ranch needs another vehicle besides the truck. Are you going to be out at the ranch next weekend?”

“Yes. The girls will be spending the week there. I don’t think Nellie will mind and Pa fools with them all the time.”

“I’ll see you then. Thanks for taking care of me.”

“I’m sorry I had to.” She paused when she realized how that sounded. “You know what I mean.”

“Yes, think nothing of it.”

The assistant DA tracked me down and took another statement before I was discharged on Tuesday. I bought a three-year-old Subaru Forester and made it in time for supper that night. Mom hugged me and Pete and Ezra declared they were glad to see me home. I will say the beef Mom put on the table was welcome after what I had been eating for the last three days.

Paco and Juan were still there. Ezra had put them to work. They were mostly silent. I thought they wouldn’t stay long the way their father was treating them. He cussed and swore and ordered them to do things and complained if they didn’t do just as he wanted. I could see some of it was they didn’t know how and some of it was built-in resentment.

It was Friday afternoon. “You going to town tonight like last week?”

“Hadn’t thought I would. Why, you want to go?”

“Nope. I just thought your two boys might like to though. You’ve been on their asses all week and they’ve pretty much done what you wanted them to. Why don’t you reward them? You do it with Izzy, do it for them.”

“You mean after all the trouble they brought here, you think I should do that?”

“Nobody got killed or harmed greatly and they certainly didn’t plan things that way. Isn’t this what you looked forward to when they were growing up? You know the three Hogans hitting the big city for a night on the town? I’d say you had some catching up to do.”

When it came time to leave, Ezra came to me. “Can we use the car? Izzy can drive. He just don’t have no license. He don’t drink so it will be safe. Besides them boys won’t want to go the same place Izzy and I go to. They’ll be lookin’ to get drunk and laid.” I handed him the keys.

Of course Amy and Amelia had to tell their mother all about their Grampa, Izzy and their uncles going to town when she arrived an hour later. I was asked how my leg was, but other than that I received a cold shoulder.

It didn’t help when the Hogan brothers came in at three in the morning. Paco and Juan made it to the living room and the couches. Angelina saw them there when she came down for breakfast. Other than looking a little sheepish nothing was said at the table, but I could see that things had changed. For the better, I hoped.

Saturday was quiet. Ezra seemed to have a lot on his mind. Sunday morning at breakfast he said, “I’ve been trying to decide something. After dinner I want everyone to sit at the table and listen to what I have to say.”

I think we were all curious. I wondered if he had decided to sell out and move to town with Angelina. Mom said she didn’t think so as he loved this place and had figured out a way to stay. She was right.

His first words were to his daughter. “Angelina, what would you do if you owned half of the ranch?”

“I don’t know what I would do. If I owned it all, I could sell it and take care of you in town. It would depend on who owned the other half. If it was Paco and Juan, they would side with me and do the same.”

“What if Nellie owned the other half?” Angelina’s lips tightened together and she just stared at her father. She was angry. I didn’t think she was greedy. I think it was just that she thought she wasn’t being treated fairly, given that Nellie had showed up just recently.

“Then I guess I would stay in town and forget about you and the ranch.”

“Don’t you care about your brothers? I can leave it to them. They are my sons, but you know they are never going to amount to much and they would gamble it away.” The boys sat there with an unconcerned look on their faces. “I’m relying on you to watch out for them. They shouldn’t have to go back to Mexico to be with their mother if she is still there.”

“I shouldn’t have to take care of them.”

“I know that. To be honest, Nellie and Pete haven’t much for prospects, the same as Paco and Juan. They are all happy here, but they need someone pushing them. How about if I partnered you up with Junkin? I been watching him. He don’t say much, but he asks a lot of questions. I admit he don’t know our ways, but I don’t expect to die off soon and I can teach him a lot. Besides that, I think he has enough money to keep the place afloat until I die anyway.”

“How do you know I have any money?”

“Pete. He bragged about his son-in-law when he first come here.”

I looked across the table at Pete. His face was red. “Well you saved me when my daughter disowned me. Why wouldn’t I brag about you? Maybe I let it slip that you owned a business.”

I glanced at Angelina. She got the connection immediately. “Christ, that would make your ex-wife your sister. I don’t believe it.”

I grinned. “Stepsister, but she is out of both Pete’s and my life.”

Ezra broke in. “Okay, okay, we’re getting off track here. You haven’t answered me, Angie. I’m thinking Junkin can figure out how to make this place pay for itself and make a home for him, his parents, me and my boys. You would be gaining if the ranch is kept up.”

“What? Why, so you and my brothers can go into town every Friday night? You never married mother just so you could do that.” There was silence.

Ezra was crushed and we all could see it. “I guess this wasn’t such a good idea. We’ll go on as we have been. This meeting is done.” Ezra walked into the other room and we heard him go into his room.

“Christ Sis, do you know what you have just done? Paco and me will be out standing on a street corner waiting for someone to come along and hire us for the day. Maybe we’ll have enough for a supper and maybe not. Pa ain’t even our blood. All we got between us is the Hogan name. You weren’t here when Mam left or you would know he begged her for a week to marry him.”

***************

“Did you know about any of this Mom?”

“Some of it Junkin. Pete doesn’t want the responsibility and I don’t either. I can’t figure her out. She sure hurt Ezra. Maybe she resents the fact that her mother and father weren’t married. That must be it. I hope she goes to him and tells him she is sorry.”

“You know this was all a surprise to me. He did ask me if I had any money. There could be a way to make the place pay. Those boys are willing to work. I watched them all week. Izzy may not be all there, but you give him something to do and show him how and he sticks right there until it is done. I’m not going to butt up against Angelina though. It’s not my place.”

“I know, but if it smooths out, would you stay and do as Ezra suggests?”

“It would depend on Angelina.” Mom shook her head for she felt that was an impossibility.

It got worse at supper time. Ezra came out of his room and sat at the head of the table the same as usual. I thought the storm was over. Angelina passed a plate to me. I responded. “Thank you Angie.”

“Mr. Duncan, Pa is the only one allowed to call me that. Please address me as Mrs. Betite or I will allow you to say Angelina if you are referring to me, but not when you address me directly. Is that understood?”

I smiled into her face. “As you wish, Mrs. Betite.” It was silent as the meal continued.

That was until Ezra capped it with, “Mrs. Betite, would you pour me a cup of coffee? While you are up, would you pour Junkin one too?” It was Angelina’s time for hurting and going to her room. The only tears that could be seen were in Ezra’s eyes. He had hurt his daughter, but he felt he had to bring her up short. He looked at me. “I’m truly sorry about all this. I can’t understand what’s got into her.”

“I know she wants the best for you. She resents me. You offering part of the ranch to me goes totally against what she thinks is fair. Why don’t we forget that you did offer it. I would be open to becoming the ranch manager, though. In that capacity, I could look for investors if we need some to keep the ranch going. Everything would be clear and open to everyone so Mrs. Betite couldn’t feel she was being edged out in any way.

“As daughter of the owner, she could command from the manager that I address her as Mrs. Betite. I would do that. It was too forward of me to call her by your pet name and I will apologize for doing so.”

“You already ran into one buzz saw today. Are you really going for two?”

“Why not?”

“If you are, would you mention what I talked about concerning Izzy? To be honest I want it done but can’t think of any way to approach her.”

“Sure. I might as well get it all done at once.” I went to Angelina’s door and knocked.

“Who is it?”

“Junkin.”

“Come in, I don’t suppose I can keep you out. Not after the way you have taken over.”

I stepped in. Angelina was sitting at a small desk and swung to face me. “Yes.”

“First, I would like to apologize for the way I addressed you. That was way too forward for a person that is just staying here. Second, I didn’t know what your father intended concerning the ranch. As to that, I have refused it. You must think I was taking advantage of him. I’m not. However I am staying on as the ranch manager.”

The woman facing me broke in with, “What is he going to be paying you with?”

“The understanding is that I am to figure out a way to generate some income and will be paid from the profits. There is a bank back east where I have done some business and I may be calling on it for some working capital. The books for the ranch will be totally open for anyone’s perusal, especially yours.”

“Why are you doing this? Why are you even thinking about doing it?”

“Not for myself. For Ezra mainly. More for Ezra’s granddaughters. Some for the sons he claims and knows he doesn’t have to. I’d like my mother to be happy and she is out here with him, although she and Pete could go anywhere and be happy.” I paused, “There is one other that enters into this who your father has asked me to tell you about. He expects you will hit the ceiling, but I said I would. He wants Izzy to have the Hogan name.”

“The half-wit? No way!”

“You’ve reacted just the way I figured. Would you listen to my reasoning?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Yes Mrs. Betite, you do have a choice, but remember this is something that your father cares deeply about.” I waited. “Shall I leave?”

“No, you might as well continue.”

“Maybe I need a little background here. How long ago did your mother leave?”

“Six years ago.”

“You’ve been gone eight. You left when you got married. Am I right?” She nodded. “So your father hasn’t had anyone around since he was seventy-three or four. He has lived here all alone because your mother took your brothers with her.

“When Ezra was seventy-five, a woman asked him to look after Izzy. She was just a friend---no benefits---that cooked him Sunday dinner on occasion. The boy was twelve and mentally challenged, but Ezra took him on when his mother died.

“I don’t know who has been helped more---Izzy or Ezra. I will say this, I believe neither would be here today if they didn’t have each other. Look at the place. Your father still has a herd of cattle and some horses. Mom said Ezra was worn out when she and Pete showed up. I’ll ask a question you don’t have to answer. How often did you come out here to the ranch to see him?” Angelina was sputtering and I held up my hand.

“No, don’t answer. I’ll continue. All of a sudden your father has someone around besides Izzy to care for him. Yes, that he too can care for as well. My father-in-law was a serious alcoholic when he got here. He had been sober for only two weeks. You wouldn’t know it now because Pete has recovered. You don’t have to worry about them, I’ll take care of them myself.

“You want to know something else? You begin to show up because you are afraid Mom is going to replace you in your father’s favor. That’s okay, for you bring his granddaughters with you and he wants to be around just awhile longer to see them grow up and remember him. He feels for them just as he did you when you were little.

“How about your brothers? They remember that love he had for them. Ask them how they feel about bringing near tragedy down on him last week. They want to make up for that and are willing to work to show him that they didn’t mean any harm.”

I contemplated what to say next. Angelina was sitting quietly now, not looking at me. “They are willing to have Izzy have the Hogan name. They know he is as near a blood relative to Ezra as they are, which is zero. Izzy was there for their Pa when they weren’t. They want Ezra to live as long as he can. They want to care for Izzy just because he kept Ezra alive so they could know him again.

“That brings things down to me. You resent me and I would do the same if I was in your shoes. I show up here and right away it may seem that I am taking over. Ezra wants to do wonderful things for me. Part of that is because he feels he may see a little more of life before he dies and with me around it will happen. Before Mom came he figured he would die and who would care. Then he would think of the boy that had been helping him maintain a semblance of the life he had lived for so long. He would get up and go tend his stock.

“I guess I have talked long enough. I came in to tell you I’m taking over as ranch manager. At the end of four years, I have other things to tend to. I will be leaving at that time so you won’t have to be concerned about me to any great extent. Good evening Mrs. Betite.”

Just before I closed her door, she spoke. “Mr. Duncan, how best could I apologize to Pa?”

“Let Amy and Amelia stay here until school starts. They will be safe enough and they need Ezra. I’m not going to say anything about Izzy. As you are the oldest sibling, you would be taking him on as an adopted brother, which is a big responsibility. Ezra has faith because of your intelligence that you would do right by all of your brothers. It is your call.” I closed the door.


Chapter Two

I heard Angelina tell Ezra as she was leaving Sunday evening that she would see about getting some advice about adopting Izzy. Amy and Amelia were not leaving with her, they stood beside Mom. As she was crossing the yard, she paused and looked at me. No expression on her face, she got into the car and drove away.

Morning came. “Junkin, I don’t know what you said to her. Whatever it was, I thank you.” I shrugged. “So, boy, what is your first move as ranch manager?”

“I think the first thing is how to raise money to pay for the lease. I do have a couple of things rolling around in my mind, but I will have to get more information. I’ll be gone most of the day. While I’m gone would you think about whether you want to keep the stallion around. He is dangerous. Also you have two bulls you use for service and they are even more dangerous. You could borrow or rent bulls for two months to do the breeding. When I get back I’ll let you in on what I’m thinking.

“For the now, Izzy, Juan and Paco do the chores. Ezra, you and Pete take stock of what needs to be done to shape the place up. You know paint up the place, replace broken boards and windows. Mom, I’ll want you with me for the day. We are going to need another vehicle. You can drive it back. Ezra, when is the hay crew coming? The hay is going by.”

“Next week.”

“Do you feel comfortable with calling them and having it pushed up to this week?”

“Sure I can call, but it won’t do any good.”

“Well, make the call. Promise them some help to make it go faster. If they won’t come, I’ll call when I get back and see if I can persuade them. Let’s go Mom. Leave the breakfast dishes. I’ll pick up some Hoagies for lunch. You’ll be back by then.”

As we were leaving Mom said, “What are you up to?”

“I’m thinking an area barbecue. I’m out looking for some organization that will put it on. I’m talking big barbecue. Beef, whole roast pigs and maybe some turkeys. Fried chicken definitely. I’ll be looking for music to go with the festivities.”

“That’s all going to be costly isn’t it?”

“Of course. But I think it will generate enough so that Ezra won’t have to worry about having to do this again for ten years, which is the term of the lease. He’ll be too old by then anyway.”

“Maybe or maybe not. We’ll have to wait and see.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Yes I do.”

My first break came when I went by a little business that advertised going out of business. There were three small Toyota pickups for sale. They were all four years old and had maintenance records for each. I dickered and ended up buying all three for less than what one new pickup would cost. Mom drove one truck home and there was enough help available to follow her with the other two. The drivers were picked up by the owner who sold the trucks to me.

Church Bazaar next week. Church Food Sale. I passed the sign and then thought that maybe this was what I needed. I turned around and went back. A man I assumed was the preacher was hammering some posts in to stabilize the sign. “Excuse me Sir. I saw your sign. Do you do something like this often?”

“One time every year. It is the way we raise the biggest portion of our money. Then it is just barely enough.”

“What do you serve for food?”

“Barbecue chickens are our main draw, which the men cook. The women make the salads and the desserts.”

“You don’t do beef and pigs?”

“No. We can never get enough money together to put one of that magnitude on or have the room. One in our congregation works for some outfit that does it, but they want so much for a guarantee up front we just can’t do it.”

“How much do you make from the food concessions?”

“Between eleven hundred and seventeen hundred dollars. That’s after we compensate some of our congregation for the bigger food costs.” He stopped work and looked at me. “Why all the questions?”

“Just looking for information. The ranch where I work is about to lose its land lease. I’m manager and I thought I might throw a barbecue to raise some money.”

“That could be a good way I suppose, but you could lose a lot also. You would have to know how to organize it right. The biggest problem would be in knowing how many people to feed. Selling tickets is the easiest way of knowing how many. Or you can openly advertise. How about parking? How many cars can you park close to the barbecue?”

“I thought I would set aside ten acres. I wouldn’t have to move the cattle.”

He stared at me. “You’re talking really big barbecue aren’t you?”

“Yes. It wouldn’t be worth doing a small one. It would be kind of an all or nothing deal.”

“When would you be planning this for?”

“The weekend before Labor Day.”

“Why not Labor Day?”

“I figured everyone has plans already for the holiday.”

“Good thinking. Question---would you employ the congregation to help put this on for you? We do have some experience.”

“Would a thousand do it?” He hesitated. “Up front to organize everything and carry it through and maybe a small bonus at the end of it.”

“I think maybe we could work it out. Let me make some phone calls and get back to you with some lists of things on how to make it work. I’ll come out to the ranch tonight about eight and talk about it.” We shook hands and I headed home.

I was almost home when I thought about how the crowd I was anticipating would be made up. There would be almost as many kids as adults. They wouldn’t want to be there just to eat. I had to provide some entertainment. Music---I had already thought about a marachi band, but there must be some country bands in the area that would want to showcase themselves. Maybe a contest or something.

Mom had been busy while I was away. She had lettered all three of the new vehicles with the name of the ranch on the doors. It was a fancy job on all of them for Mom was a master at calligraphy---The Hogan Hacienda. On one truck she had lettered Amy’s name and on the other she put Amelia.

“What will I put on the third? I can’t put Angelina or Angie.” Then she burst out. “How about Mrs. Betite? That would fix her.”

“Just put Angel. Just say the truck runs like an angel. She can’t argue with that. Put Ezra on the Forester. You can put my name on the old truck. Junkin is appropriate as dented up as it is.”

“She isn’t going to like it no matter what you do.”

“You know me, Mom. It’s her problem if she can’t get along.”

“Junkin, look at me.” I did. She searched my face until I turned away. Mom found what she was looking for. “I’m sorry Junkin. You just don’t have any luck with women. Someday someone will come along and love you.”

“I haven’t given up hope yet. We haven’t known each other that long. Hey get busy. You still have two vehicles to go.”

***************

The preacher brought the barbecue chef with him. Reverend Jones claimed that the chef was a maestro at what he did. The maestro explained what he needed to put on a successful meal. He wasn’t too worried about having enough beef for the crowd even if more showed up than expected. He said they did a whole critter, but that was mostly for show.

Most of the meat was cooked in smaller less-time-consuming quantities, which took only about an hour to prepare. This way there wouldn’t be so much left over. Same with the pigs. The chickens he was glad to leave to the church congregation.

Chili, baked beans and potato salad, along with rolls made up the bulk of the rest of the plate. He made other suggestions of things that would make a successful day. Things that the ranch could do to make it easier before the people started coming. He suggested a temporary wall to house a bank of porta-potties.

There was no need to have tables to eat on. It would be convenient to have seating which could be constructed of planks or even logs pulled into rows. The two men went away with my checks in their pockets and a signed contract to put on the barbecue.

Now all I had to do was to attract enough people to recoup the costs. I felt satisfied with what had transpired so far. The biggest worry was the weather. There could be no postponement!

I had almost forgotten about the hay crew. Ezra said they would be here the day after tomorrow and would start cutting on Thursday. Wednesday evening the equipment started arriving. Five hundred acres to cut. I walked out to meet the crew chief when he stepped down from the cab of his pickup. His first words were. “I need to talk to the manager. Ezra said he had one.”

“That would be me, Junkin Duncan.”

“Howdy, Hapgood here. Say our cook shack couldn’t make it. Can you feed the crew while we are here?”

“Sure, I’ll set it up. You can use the bunkhouse to sleep in if you need it. Eat in the house.”

“Sounds good. We’ll sleep tonight and start cutting at daybreak. Once we start we keep cutting day and night. By the time that is finished we’ll start getting it cured and baled. That won’t take as long as you think either. We’re bagging the bales this year so the hay doesn’t have to be as dry. More palatable for the cattle too.”

“I never heard of cutting grass after dark.”

“Can’t always. However if there isn’t a heavy dew we can do it. I know these fields and your grass isn’t that thick. I’m squeezing you in. We’re going to try it anyway.”

Monday the haying was completed. The white bags ringed the field nearest the ranch buildings. The bags measured four by six feet and each weighed between four hundred and five hundred pounds. Hundreds of them lined up as they were, made an impressive sight. In the past the haying was done on shares. The owner of the crew was not as interested in it this year. I renegotiated the custom price and he left with a check without the bother of selling the hay and transporting it. Ezra thought I was crazy.

“If we can’t sell it this year, it will keep. Next year we will sell the grass standing and still have enough to keep the cattle through another year.” I then turned my attention to the upcoming barbecue. I had all of us fixing up and painting the ranch buildings. The stallion and the two bulls were disposed of. This was strictly for safety reasons. If we were going to have a huge crowd in, the animals would be too dangerous to have here in the buildings.

I had wandered through the timber lot. It took time to build a road into where the trees I wanted were standing. Trees that were crooked or otherwise not suitable for saw logs we dragged down to where we were going to be putting up the seating. The minimum size had to be at least a foot in diameter. We set about cutting blocks exactly seventeen inches long and setting them on end. We had smoothed and leveled the ground.

I took delivery of a band sawmill and we set about cutting heavy boards to lay across the blocks to sit on. The barbecue was six weeks away. I was hoping that any pitch that had oozed out would be hardened and we could scrape it off before anyone sat on the boards. We would use the slabs that came from the logs to hide the porta-potties from the seating and barbecue.

The person who was doing the beef had a wealth of information and we kept in contact with him. He was in his middle sixties and had been doing this all of his life. He was the one that made the different suggestions that were going to make this a success. Before we were done it seemed we were going to have a small fair and he put us in touch with a carnival that had rides for the kids.

Three weeks after the haying was done, Angelina had come in late at night. She hadn’t seen what we had been working on yet. She confronted me just as I had completed the day’s work. “You said one time that anything that was done here I could see the books. I want to see them now. Pa must have put a mortgage on to pay for all of this with no assurance of any return.”

We were sitting in the kitchen and I went to the cupboard and pulled down the ledger the accounts were posted in. “The ledger is here. You may look at it anytime you want. I update it every evening. It is current with every bit of income and expense posted. In the back you will find a listing of the year when any of the large expenses will be amortized. I’m going to have a beer. I’ll be here for the next half hour. If you see anything you don’t understand, I’ll answer your questions.”

The first question was, “You have five names here. Yours, Ezra, Amy, Amelia and Angel. Are you trying to be funny? I don’t want my name connected at all.”

“There is no connection. Those are what Mom named the vehicles the ranch owns. Mom drove one small pickup home after we bought them. She claimed it drove like an angel. She wouldn’t go with Nellie so she named it Angel.”

I wasn’t believed, I could tell that. “This Johnny D, Investor. Is that you? I thought your name is Junkin.”

“That’s me. That’s my given name.”

“It says here that you have invested $67,000 already. It is almost depleted. What are you going to do then? Are you going to make Pa put a mortgage on the ranch?”

“No.”

“Well where is more money coming from then?”

“The stallion and the bulls are gone and the money from them hasn’t come in yet. The ranch owns all of that hay out there in those white bags you’ll see in the morning. I’ve had an offer for a portion of it already. What I receive will pay for keeping the cattle for a year. You will see that I have invested in fertilizer. That is something Ezra has never done. The hay crew will be back for a second cutting. That hay will put beef on the cattle where the hay he has now just keeps them alive. I’ll sell the poorer hay if a buyer comes around.

“That is called short term investing with return within three months. Some of the long term investing I have done includes a sawmill for the timber lot.”

“What are you doing about the lease? That comes up the first of October.”

“I’m hoping I have that covered. You will see the changes in the morning and I’ll explain fully at that time. If you would think back, I told you I was on a plan to be out of here in four years tops. I don’t expect to lose any money that I have invested and I don’t expect to take any out of the ranch. It should be worth more when I leave than it is right now. I like your father and I am enjoying myself. If I can make Ezra happy and me happy and have it not cost either of us anything, I’m going to do it.

“I’ll give you an hour after breakfast to tell you what is going on. Too bad you didn’t get here earlier tonight. Your daughters were looking forward to seeing you. Goodnight Mrs. Betite.” I turned to leave.

“Mr. Duncan. Don’t you dare censure me about my daughters. You forget I am a single mother. I feel they are well taken care of here at the ranch for the time being. I am working a full time job during the evenings and going to school during the day. The course I am taking precludes my seeing them as often as I would like.”

“My apologies Mrs. Betite. I made an assumption and apparently it was the wrong one. I’m sorry. You will find them both in your bed. I stayed with them until they went to sleep. They will be overwhelmed with joy to find you here when they wake in the morning. Again, my apologies. Goodnight.” It seemed as though we were always at cross purposes. I went to sleep finally thinking there never was a more beautiful woman than this one who couldn’t tolerate me.

****************

There was going to be a big blowup when Angelina came down in the morning. There were females in attendance. The three were sitting at the end of the kitchen table next to Ezra when Amy and Amelia came in followed by Angelina. The two kids ran and received good morning kisses from Ezra and Mom and a high five from everyone else. They were going around the table singing “Mama’s home, Mama’s home, I’m so happy!”

I stood and made the introductions. “Ladies, this is Angelina Betite. She is Ezra’s daughter and the mother of Amy and Amelia. Mrs. Betite, the two young ladies are twins as you can see. Their names are Maddie and Mazie Cornwall. They are third year students at the university. They are spending the summer with us.

“This other lady is Mrs. Jenny Berkley. She is a friend of Izzy’s and he has been seeing her when Ezra goes to visit her mother. She is staying here now. She helps Nellie out in the kitchen among other things. If you would have breakfast, I’ll give you the grand tour.”

Ezra came down the left side of the table and hugged Angelina. “I’ve missed you Angie. Hell, we have all missed you.”

“Yeah, I bet.” She saw that this hurt her father and she backed off to soothe his feelings. “Pa, I missed you too. It’s just that I have been so busy. So what’s been going on?”

“Junkin will explain. You will be here for the whole weekend won’t you?”

“Yes. For once I have a free day.” She stood watching me as I opened a folder I had retrieved from the cupboard where the ledger was shelved.

I started giving orders. “Maddie and Mazie, the boys will have the fence moved about now. Saddle up and go help them. Pete, you take Angel and pick up Paco, Izzy and Juan as soon as the cattle are moved and start sawing out the logs we brought to the mill yesterday.

“Mrs. Berkley, get in Amy about two this afternoon. Take the Winchester and Izzy and go hide out on the mountain. Take bedding so you both won’t have to be awake all the time. That wolf will be down to check the cattle because they are closer to him than they were. Make sure you are the one to do the shooting. Izzy can never hit a thing and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.

“Mazie, when you and your sister get back, sit Ezra down and make him tell you a little more of his history. Amy and Amelia you be there too. Mom, do a turkey for dinner. I’ll start the cooker. You be very careful when you put the bird down into the oil. Pete, Mom has sandwiches and coffee to take with you to eat for a snack before you start sawing. We’ll eat dinner at one. Are there any questions?”

“What are Maddie and I going to do when we finish with Ezra?”

“Start setting up the dehydrator that is going to do the beef jerky. In another week we will have a place for it. After the barbecue I’m expecting we will be having orders to fill. We have to know how to run it and it has to be state inspected.” I paused to see if I had forgotten anything. “Ezra, I’m going to need that list we spoke about. See if you can come up with a few more names? That’s it. Go everybody.

“You kids, you stick here with me and your Mom. She wants to know what we have been doing in the last three weeks. I haven’t eaten yet Mrs. Betite, so as soon as we have finished breakfast I’ll give you the tour.” I sat and the girls ran around serving us. Mom put a plate of eggs, bacon and toast on the table along with the coffee pot. Amy took my plate and put the food on it. Amelia did the same for her mother. Then they sat and ate cold cereal.

“Mr. Duncan, you like to give orders don’t you?”

I had never thought about it. “Hmm, I suppose I do, but how else am I going to convey what needs doing? I try to be explicit as to what I expect and by what time. Ezra gave me a job to do. Even he doesn’t like some of the things I ask of him, but he does them anyway for he knows that is what my job is. He asked me to find money for the lease payment. I think I can do that.”

“But you have advanced more money already than what the cost of the lease would amount to. Why didn’t you just write him a check?”

“I could have, but he would feel guilty about taking money from me. This way he is part of something. If it all crashes, he will at least have been involved. There are other considerations. His sons are here with him, not standing out there homeless waiting for a job everyday. His niece and her husband are here. His granddaughters are where they can know him.”

“What about all the others? Those young women, for instance, or Mrs. Berkley?”

I looked at the two kids. “Amy and Amelia. Go up into the top of the barn and see if you can see from there the cattle being moved.” When they left, “Izzy and Mrs. Berkley sleep in the same room. Both are happy and both contribute to the ranch. The twins are here doing research. They are quite well-to-do and have offered to pay board and room. However, this is a busy time here and so I swapped labor. They are compiling a living history on Ezra.”

“Where are they sleeping? There isn’t room for them in the house.”

“They sleep in the bunkhouse with Paco and Juan. It is a good arrangement for all.”

“I suppose you join them. You could order my brothers off to the other side of the ranch and have them all to yourself.”

“I could, couldn’t I? Why don’t you ask the girls if I ever have? You won’t, of course, so let’s change the subject. You are curious about how I am going to make the ranch earn the money for the lease, aren’t you?”

“You might as well tell me. I still think you are running some kind of a scam.”

“I’ll let that go until it is proven. First, there is going to be a huge barbecue here on the ranch the last weekend of August. Actually it is turning into a small fair. We are having the traditional foods of beef, pork and chicken. Everyone here right now is making preparations. We have the seating all in for people to have a place to sit while they eat. You will see that when we go outside. We are planning on a whole critter to be roasted. The people that are putting it on have been paid already.

“When you go out you will see that all of the buildings have paint on them. Everyone had a hand in doing that. This morning the cattle went up to the lease. For the fair, I have arranged to have a rescue squad here. The firemen from one of the towns are doing crowd control. The sheriff and his deputies are on line in case of trouble. I have all sorts of music for entertainment. There is a carnival for the kids along with some pony rides. I need two thousand fair goers to break even. The person putting on the feast is ordering food for ten thousand.

“Monday when you get back to the city, you will begin to see advertisements flooding the papers and hear them on the sound waves. The ranch is getting a cut of every concession that will be here. Most of my outlay has already been made. The only thing that is a worry is the weather. If it rains not so many people will come, but even then I’m told enough will come to cover my costs. In the meantime we are all having a great time working together.”

“You’re crazy. I noticed one thing from the accounts last night. There is no payroll. How are you paying everyone?”

“I’m not. Communes don’t make payroll.”

“You can’t do that. You can’t have a commune.”

“I don’t. Ezra has. Let me explain. Everyone here has the necessities covered. Food, clothing and shelter. When the fair and barbecue are over there will be some money divided. Not all of it for the ranch gets the biggest portion. Ezra has to provide for all living here for another year. The boys don’t want to leave.

“Mom and Pete want to stay on and I think they will until Ezra passes away. The twins will be gone, but have said they will be back next year. Mrs. Berkley and Izzy of course will be here. Oh, I want to thank you for seeing that Izzy gets the Hogan name. Ezra really appreciates that.”

Angelina just grunted. I could tell she was displeased. She was going to need some time to get a handle on everything I had told her. We walked outside. “Over there is where the beef and the pigs will be barbecued. Behind that you see all of those boards sitting on wood blocks? Those are so people can sit down to eat. They will have to hold their plates in their laps, but they can at least sit.

“The facilities are back of that slab fence. The parking for cars cover ten acres. Those that have pickups will probably go there to sit on their tailgates to eat.

“There will be no alcohol sold or served. Of course there will be a lot of it here brought in by the patrons. That is why the sheriff will be here. Many that are helping with this will not be paid. They have agreed to just having a free all-you-can-eat meal. There will be an advertisement in every mailbox for miles around. People will come just to see and get together with their neighbors. It is those that will come even if it rains. Questions?”

“Why?”

“Because of Ezra. People will come because he is the icon of a slower more satisfying age. Others for a different reason. Some of the old-timers remember him when he always had a pretty lady in the house. It was always a scandal when one left him and they waited to see what the next one would look like. Your mother was the last---well almost the last. I’ll tell you about that some other time. Ezra has had a long and titillating past. People years from now want to be able to say that they knew Ezra Hogan.”

“Foolishness!”

“Maybe, but isn’t it better to be a part of it than to look back at it and not know?”

“I know it all too well. Some of it is pretty painful too.”

“Yes, I suppose we all have to bear some pain. It only makes us appreciate the happiness more when it comes to us. Again I will make an assumption. You are referring to the loss of your husband?”

“Again your assumptions are wrong. No one was aware, but I hated the philandering bastard.” Angelina was silent as she stood beside me. She then swung around and faced me. “Just because I shared that, Mr. Duncan, don’t take it as an invitation to get friendly.”

“I promise I will never do that. Look if you have more you want to know about anything, I’ll see you at noon. The kids wanted to see the cattle being moved up close. Why don’t you take their place listening to their grandfather and I’ll take them with me. You might learn something about what a great old person he is.” I turned, leaving her standing alone in the middle of the ranch yard. I had to get away, for her beauty was such that I might go against the promise I had made moments before.

I glanced back at her before I went into the barn to fetch the two kids. Angelina was just looking around until she saw me looking at her. Then she whirled and hurried into the house.

We met Maddie and Mazie on the horses as they were returning from moving the cattle. They made an attractive sight as they bounced along toward us. I paused and asked if there had been any trouble. There hadn’t been so the men were all up at the sawmill sawing logs. “Ezra is waiting for you. The girls are staying with me so it will just be you and him and Mrs. Betite this morning. We will all come down for dinner as planned.”

As they left Amelia said, “They are pretty aren’t they Junkin?”

“Yes, but not as pretty as your Mom or you two little squirts. You guys are beautiful.”

When we shut down the mill at dinner time, Paco asked, “Sis on a tear this morning?”

“Some, but not too bad. You two boys keep quiet about sleeping in the bunkhouse with the girls though. That would rile her up as nothing else would.”

“What has she said about Izzy having a woman twice as old as he is?”

“Not much yet. I’m still skirting the issue. I’m keeping the two of them out of sight as much as possible. Maybe Jenny will get a crack at that wolf in the meantime. Let’s all act as normal as we can while she is here.”

All of us that were still awake at ten-thirty that evening heard the distant rifle shot echoing from the mountain. An hour later we heard the small pickup drive in. I went out into the yard. Izzy had the wolf carcass in the truck body. Mrs. Berkley explained, “The damned fool came down the mountain and went right by us headed for the cattle.

“He wasn’t more than fifty feet away. When he went between two boulders, I had the sight set for when he showed on the other side. One shot---no more wolf. I could have got him even if we didn’t have a full moon. Come on Izzy, let’s go to bed.”

“Good job, Jenny. Thanks.” I looked around. Pete had come out of the house. Paco and Juan were out in front of the bunkhouse. Maddie and Mazie were too. The boys had trousers on, but the girls only wore filmy nighties. In the moonlight they might as well have been naked.

“Shows over. Back to bed everyone. Busy day tomorrow.” I had cautioned Paco and Juan, but the girls hadn’t been warned. They draped themselves over Paco and Juan and giggling went back into the bunkhouse. I shook my head. Angelina was standing in the doorway and I had to brush past her.

“I want to talk to you. It might as well be now.”

“Where, your room or mine?”

She stamped her foot. “Don’t you wish. The living room will do.”

“No. Let’s go out and sit on the barbecue seats. That way if you get to shouting, no one will hear you.”

“That might be a good idea.”

“Do you drink beer? I’m going to take one with me.”

“No, I don’t drink beer. If I ever drink anything I drink white wine and that isn’t often. You know what I’m going to say and I’m not letting you put me off. Get your damned beer and hurry up.”

I grabbed a covered picnic basket, threw a towel in it, two beers and a bottle of wine that Mom had hidden in the back of the fridge. I hesitated and then thought what the hell, I put two goblets in too. As we went by the pickup sitting in the yard, I took a blanket from inside. I led Angelina out and halfway down the rows of seats. I walked between two rows to the middle and spread the blanket.

“We’ll face the mountain. The moon will be glinting off it and it is a pretty sight.” The wine was a screw top. I didn’t ask---I opened it and poured a goblet about half full and put it in her hand. I then popped a top, poured it into the remaining goblet and sat down. “Cheers.” I took a long pull. “You wanted to talk. I’ll listen.”

“Now that we’re out here I don’t know where to begin. That was your plan wasn’t it? That’s what makes me so mad at you. You always seem to have the upper hand.”

“Ok, I’ll start. Mrs. Berkley and Izzy. Boy eighteen and woman thirty-two, or put another way, man eighteen that adores an unhappy widow that has been abused. She could still be in danger. But there is more. Your Pa is friendly with Jenny’s mother and they all met at her house. He goes to see her as often as he can.

“This fall the mother may move out here after the barbecue. I have never met the woman but I understand she is crippled. It may not look right to the outside, but all in all they are four happy individuals. Do you want to destroy that?”

“Pa has got him another woman?”

“I don’t know what kind of relationship they have. Not too physical probably, but they are very friendly. You know your father went through a spell for a few years when he was very unhappy. Tomorrow would you observe him closely? There has been a change in him and I want you to see it.”

“I suppose you want credit for that as well as for everything else that is going on around here? I still think you are promoting some kind of a scam. No one else can see through you, but I can. Your, oh let’s go sit in the moonlight, won’t work with me. Feed her wine and get her tipsy, that ought to work.”

I ignored her outburst. “What else did you want to discuss? You don’t need to shout. I had an idea you would and that is why we are out here instead of in the house. More wine?”

Angelina automatically put her glass out until she realized that she had and then she pulled it quickly back. I had been able to fill it half way. She started in again with the questions. “How come you don’t have someone sleeping with you? Maybe you do and it is being hidden from me. There certainly are enough women around here.”

“Is my Mom included in the supposition? If she is, you are nastier than I thought. It shows little respect for the others too. It may not look right, but those with short or long term commitments are totally faithful to each other. I don’t have anyone because I prefer it that way. I haven’t been divorced that long and am nowhere ready to start a relationship with another woman.

“Before we start arguing again, may I ask you if you would have any time to be present the day of the barbecue? It’s going to be a great day for your Pa. I know he would like you to be here. Also it is going to be very busy at the start of the day collecting fees and at the end of the day settling up accounts. I could use some help.”

Angelina stood up and faced me. “Are you saying you aren’t making a move on me?”

“That’s it. I told you the first time we had a disagreement that everything is open and above board. I was referring to the accounts then, but everything else applies. Remember I’m not going to be around here forever. You are Ezra’s heir and the place will be coming to you whether you want it to or not. I’m not going to mess up your life or my own by thinking of a relationship between the two of us. We are too different to make it work anyway.”

She sat back down and put her goblet out for a refill. Again I poured it half full. I thought to myself that Missy here was going to have a big head in the morning. “Do you ever discipline your daughters?”

“Of course I do when they need it. Have they been bad?”

“Yes. Amelia got mad at Amy and was swearing at her and called her a dirty name. I gave her three swats on the butt.”

Angelina contemplated this for a full minute. “I guess as long as they are here and you are the boss, you had to. Is Amy always good?”

“No she got the same right afterward for taunting Amelia about getting spanked. They both hated me for all of one morning, but we are friends now.” I expected that this lovely creature would blast me for usurping the role of father when it was called for. She didn’t.

“I think I should go in now. For some reason I’m a little woozy. I can’t seem to remember what we were talking about. Thank you for bringing me out into the moonlight. It is beautiful isn’t it?”

“Yes it is. Let me steady you on the way in.” With basket in one hand and my arm around Angelina, we made it to the house without mishap. No words spoken, I watched as she crossed the kitchen and the living room and I waited until I heard her door close before going up to my room. It wasn’t the room I wanted to be in, that was for sure.

***************

Everyone was present for a late breakfast. As soon as we were all finished except for coffee, I said, “Okay, we have the cattle moved and with Jenny shooting the wolf, they should be fine for the next week or so until we move them over to the adjoining pasture. That was a good job done Jenny. Thank you. Pete, you and I will start marking out where the concession stands are going.

“Paco and Juan, you take the tractor and the big wagon and load it with poles at the sawmill. Izzy, you take the small tractor to load the bigger poles. Mrs. Betite would you like to visit with your brothers while they are working? Take the Angel and drive up to the sawmill where they are. The little girls can go with you. Mazie would you go into town to the rental center and get a power post hole digger? When you get back we will dig the holes for the poles to set in.

“Jenny, you can help Mom here in the house. Mazie, you keep after Ezra and his storytelling. Not many weeks left before you return to the university. I need that list of names he has been promising for a project I have in mind later on this year. Right after lunch we will need some pictures for the advertisements. We might as well all get dressed up a little and maybe have snaps of us all taken. We will take the rest of the day off. Are there any questions?”

“I have one. Pete, did you drink that bottle of wine I had? You promised you would never drink again.” Pete looked puzzled.

“I drank it last night Nellie. I went out and sat in the moonlight. Don’t blame Pete.”

“Okay Angelina, as long as it wasn’t Pete. Junkin what shall we do about Terry? Pete thinks he should let her know he is alive.”

“Pete, call her, just remember the time difference. Catch up on your life and tell her you are sober and have been since she turned away from you. I’m sure she will want to tell you also you have a grandchild. It has been a year since you left. If I know Terry, she will be the one to carry the conversation. You can tell her anything you want to about your life now.”

“Should I do it now?”

“Sure why not. Mom will get the number from directory assistance.” Pete went into the living room where it was private.

Twenty minutes later he came back and was grinning. “She was glad to hear from me. She really sounds as if she has been worried and said she has discussed my disappearance with the police. Maybe she does still love me a little.”

“What else?”

“I told her I was married to a wonderful woman who had a son about the same age as she was. That the woman I married lived on her uncle’s ranch and my stepson was the manager. Guess what? She, Boyle and the grandson are coming to visit. They will be here two days before the barbecue and will leave on Tuesday following it. I said someone would pick them up at the airport.”

“Pete, you are a bit of a bastard. You’re going to give her the surprise of her life.”

“No more of a surprise than the one you got when she dumped you, Junkin. Serves her right. I’d like to see how she feels about me now. She certainly didn’t have any warm feelings for me a year ago.” We could see the pain that the father felt when his daughter didn’t want him around anymore.

“We’ll see how this plays out. In the meantime we all have something to do. I’ll see everyone at noontime.” Orders given, we broke from breakfast and went about our various tasks.

I had an ulterior motive in sending Angelina up to the sawmill to talk with her brothers and her two daughters. I knew I would be discussed and I wanted Angelina to know everything she could about me. In the moonlight last night I had felt that she was softer than she appeared to everyone. For once she listened to me and there hadn’t been the bite in her comments that was her usual fare.

It seemed that her life had been pretty rough so far. A husband that she hadn’t loved. Two children that she had to raise alone. A father that she knew loved her, but thwarted every move of hers to take care of him. I had no doubts in my own mind that I loved her. I fell for her the first time I saw her.

She was in my thoughts constantly. She warned me against making a move on her and I respected her wishes, but that didn’t mean I was going to walk away from the goal I had set for myself. I was wooing her from afar, I suppose, and if that didn’t work, I would try something else.

Even my ex-wife arriving here in three weeks might work in my favor. At the breakup of our marriage, I hadn’t tried to tear Terry apart or humiliate her. She had to have some good memories of our life together. If Angelina was curious about me at all she would have Terry in a corner trying to find out what she could from one who had known me the best of all. I didn’t know that she would of course, but---and I hesitated to let the fact settle into my mind---she was a woman and that is what any normal woman would do.

Mazie was back with the post hole digger twenty minutes before the crew came down from the sawmill with the poles. Pete and I had the ground marked where the poles were to go and two holes dug. The ground was hard and it took two of us to manage the machine. I had planned on waiting until Monday to set the poles, but with all the help present, they set them in as we went along. We had all eighteen set before noon and with everyone working we had them plumbed to the vertical and the dirt tamped round to keep them that way.

After the last hole was drilled, I went inside the house for drinks for everyone. Mom, being alone, asked, “Were you out with Angelina last night? I found two glasses in the sink this morning?”

“Yes, but I am nowhere nearer to her than I was before. I’m going slow for I fear one wrong move will drive away my chances with her.”

“I can see your point, but you will have to make a bold move sometime. Not making it at the right time would be as bad as no move at all. You let me be the one to take the pictures this afternoon. Maybe I can help.”

Mom had it figured. She took almost fifty snaps. Before she commenced, she stated, “I’m going to be taking individual pictures and pairs and groups. Those that Ezra and I are in, someone else can take. I don’t know which ones we will use in the advertisements so we will take them like I say. Just so it doesn’t take too long, would you all move into position as quickly as possible?

“Maddie and Mazie, you first. That’s good. Okay, Paco and Juan, you’re next. Now the four of you together. Izzy, Paco, Juan and Angelina, the four of you. Fine. Now Ezra, you get in the group with them. Great. Junkin you come take some with me and Ezra and one snap of the boys and Angelina. Then we will get Pete in some of the pictures with me. Maddie, take over from Junkin. I want him in here with me and Ezra and Pete. Maybe one with just me and him. Jenny, you and Izzy, alone and with some of the others. One with Junkin in it too.”

Everyone was comfortable with Mom’s direction and no one gave it a thought when she started pairing me with Angelina. From then on, I seemed to be always beside Angelina and the kids. Even in the group pictures, I was near Angelina. For the final group picture, the camera had an automatic timer and Mom had us all squeeze together. Ezra, Paco, Juan, and Angelina with the two little girls before her, were all standing in the front row.

Mom set the timer and headed for her position next to Ezra. I was standing behind Angelina and just then I slid my arms around her. She stiffened and sucked in her breath as my arms encircled her. Just after the camera clicked, I dropped my arms and spoke to Pete standing beside me. I was so innocent, although having my arms around my Angel for a few seconds was electrifying---to me anyway. When I looked back, Angelina was waiting for my glance. She peered into my eyes.

She said nothing. I couldn’t tell how she felt about what I had done. For a moment she held my glance and then she turned and walked across the yard and into the ranch house. Mom was looking my way and smiled and nodded saying that she would be working on the computer print program and would have pictures for everyone to view before the evening meal.

After supper everyone drifted out to the bunkhouse except Mom and myself. “Junkin, I have something I think you are going to treasure. I was able to separate a picture of you, Angelina and the two girls out of the last picture taken. What do you think?” She slid the photo in front of me.

Somehow Mom had erased those on each side and in back of us. Then she had enlarged what remained, making a portrait of the four of us. The two girls looked happy and cute. Angelina was as beautiful as only she could be. My arms were around her middle and she had made the motion to remove them, but the camera had caught what looked like she was snuggling my arms to her. The intake of her breath had risen her breasts and the expression which I couldn’t define, made her look seductive.

Me, I wasn’t looking at the camera, but had my head inclined toward her head. My lips were pursed slightly as if I was about to kiss the top of her locks. Overall, the portrait was of a happy family that all loved each other. “She’ll kill me if she ever sees this. What about the group image this came from?”

“It was taken far enough away and with everyone in it, no one will see what is actually there, honest.” I didn’t believe her until she showed me the group picture. It was as she had said.

“Mom you are the greatest. Now if I can only make it come true. I think I will go put this in a frame and hide it where I can take it out and look at it sometimes.” I went into my room and lay on my bed gazing at the picture propped on my bureau.

***************

Sunday morning Angelina was getting ready to leave. “Mr. Duncan, I will help you the day of the barbecue. However, I will need the girls with me before then. I have to get them clothes for school. Would you free up someone and bring them into the city for me on Wednesday or Thursday of that week?”

“I will see that it is done. Ezra has your number doesn’t he, so we can call when to expect us?”

“Yes. Come kiss me girls. I’ll see you in two weeks. You behave so Mr. Duncan doesn’t have to spank you again.” Angelina climbed into her car and rolled the window down. “Mr. Duncan, I really enjoyed myself here this weekend. That is something I never expected to do. Good-bye.”

“Junkin, why does Mommy call you Mr. Duncan? We all call you Junkin. I wish she liked you better. You like her don’t you?”

“Yes I do, kids. Sometimes adults have trouble liking others. That is the case between your mother and me. Sometime adults change too. Maybe your mom will get to like me someday. We will have to wait and see. Let’s go eat lunch.”

Two more things to concentrate on. One: Mazie and Maddie had unpacked the commercial dehydrator that had arrived weeks previously. The spices had come in by UPS Saturday. I had ordered enough to prepare the marinade for 100 pounds of beef jerky.

The barbecue was in the present. I was intent on having a steady income after that. If I could sell some jerky locally and have some endorsements, I would start marketing it. I wanted the jerky ready to sell during the barbecue, giving out liberal samples as well as taking orders.

Two: Ezra had finally given me the list of men he thought might be interested. I had first inquired about his comment that the kitchen table had been used to seat poker players when he was carrying a large crew. I suggested that we host a poker game in October. His cut would be 5% of the cash brought to the game and paid before the game started. Each player needed at least $5,000 to sit in.

Ezra pooh-poohed that small amount and wanted to set it at $10,000, but I said no. There would be at least $250,000 we thought and the ranch would collect $12,500 of that number. No one from the ranch would gamble, especially not Ezra. He was unhappy with that, but could see the sense. Why go to all of this trouble and then lose it all in the very game we had set up.

There was no telling how long the game would go on---three days maybe. Those of us at the ranch would provide food, but no alcoholic beverages. This was all illegal as hell, but the income would help the ranch through the winter.

The ranch still had a million things to do to get ready for the crowd coming for the big day of the barbecue. Right off we worked on the advertising. Ezra had a fifteen minute spot on the television talk show in the city. After that it was a snap, for the print media came looking for the old-timer who had to generate income to save the lease so he could continue to cattle ranch. We even got in a few blurbs about Hogan’s Hacienda beef jerky. Mazie and Maddie did most of this, composing the copy, etc.

We had the corral where the pony rides were going to take place set up. All of the concession stands were completed. We even put up a shelter for the music stand. Everything was temporary and except for the framework of poles, the shelters were made out of tarpaulins bought at the local feed and hardware store.

Tuesday, the week of the barbecue, the maestro came and looked everything over. He was more than pleased. He would be in Friday as the whole beef had to rotate for sixteen hours to be ready to serve at noon on Saturday.

The church group were in and out. They would all be here on Friday---those who were free. The rest would be here after they finished work to get everything ready to go in the morning. It was suggested that I rent a box truck that had a cooling unit on it to keep all of the salads and uncooked food cool to be brought out as needed.

The only glitch that occurred was when Terry called informing Pete that she, Bill and the baby were arriving at six a.m. Thursday morning. It seemed as if everyone had chores to do on the ranch, so I called Angelina and told her that I would be bringing the two little ones in Wednesday evening and would stay over at a motel for the early arrival at the airport.

“Mr. Duncan, would you come early enough so I can have dinner with the girls? I will have time to prepare it. If you could stay for the night to sit with them it would help as I have to work four hours from nine to one in the morning.”

“I can if it won’t bother you, Mrs. Betite. I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“No, I asked so I wouldn’t lose the time. I need the money as I am taking the rest of the week off to help you and Pa with the barbecue. I’ll get the girls fitted out with their school clothes and then we will head out to the ranch. You would actually be doing me a favor.”

“Okay, I’ll see you this afternoon.” I wondered if this was her daily routine. In school or working all of the time. Maybe I can find out from the kids after we all get back to the ranch.

Dinner was a lamb stew cooked in a crockpot and it was delicious. I had stopped for a bottle of wine and a six-pack. “I brought you some wine. I know you won’t open it tonight if you have to work, but it might go well if you have company some other time.”

“Thank you Mr. Duncan, that was thoughtful. How are things out at the ranch? Are you sure there is room enough for me now that your wife will be there?”

I grinned. “You mean my stepsister don’t you? Boy is this ever going to twist her tail when she sees me at the airport to pick her up.”

“You sound as if you are enjoying this.”

“I am.”

“Because she divorced you?”

“No, more because of Pete. You know Pete is a recovering alcoholic. Terry pretty much disowned him because of his drinking. I suppose I abetted it some for I used to buy him booze. At the time it was the only thing he had to hold onto. Terry really is a fine woman, but she didn’t have much of a life before I married her. If she loves Bill Boyle as much now as she did when she informed me she wanted the divorce, I will be happy. Everyone should have one true love in their lifetime.”

“You must miss her.”

“Sure, it is hard not to have a woman to cuddle up to. I’ll have that again someday with someone. In the meantime I’m keeping my eyes open and when she comes along I’ll be all set.”

“Why didn’t you hook up with Maddie or Mazie? They hooked up with my brothers. You certainly have more going for you than either Paco or Juan.”

“Too young and they have their life before them. I guess I am too serious a person to get involved with someone that age. You offered me a bed for the night. Where will I be sleeping?”

“I made up my bed. You can sleep there. I’ll sleep on the couch when I come in from work.”

“Thank you, that’s very generous.” No way was I going to take my Angel’s bed from her.

***************

Angelina put Amy and Amelia to bed just before she went to work. I watched TV for awhile and then kicked my shoes off and stretched out on the couch. My thoughts were on the morning and seeing my ex-wife. Not for long for they always switched back to Angelina. I don’t think I was really asleep when the doorbell chimed. I opened it to a woman. “Yes?”

“Who are you and where is Angelina?”

I knew immediately who this could be. She was an older version of my Angel. “My name is Junkin. I work at her father’s ranch. You must be Nina. Come in, Mrs. Betite is working until one in the morning. She and the girls will be happy to see you.”

She came in and set a large case on the floor by the door. “I wonder. I haven’t heard from anyone for almost a year. How’s Ezra?”

“Still just as spry as ever.”

“Has he got another woman yet?”

“That you will have to ask him.”

“I will. What is this barbecue I have been seeing advertised. Hogan’s Hacienda. What a load of crap. The place is just a run-down old cow ranch.”

“People won’t know that until they get there. He needs some money to renew a lease from the government. He thinks this will do it. Look, I have to be at the airport by six in the morning. I’m sleeping on the couch. You will have to sleep in Mrs. Betite’s bed.”

“You ain’t very friendly. How come Angelina let you stay here?”

“I brought Amy and Amelia in from the ranch. She’s buying school clothes for them tomorrow.”

“Go to sleep then. I won’t bother you.”

I heard mother and daughter fighting sometime after Angelina came home about one-thirty. It ended abruptly and I could see one of them come out with a blanket and settle into the recliner. I went back to sleep. Five a.m. I got up and went to the bathroom. When I came back, Nina was starting to put her clothes on. “Don’t mind me. I’m sure you have seen a half naked woman before. I’m going out to the ranch with you. Angie doesn’t want me here. She doesn’t want me at the ranch either, but she can’t stop me.”

“I haven’t got room in the car for you.” I have my ex-wife, her husband and the baby to pick up and all I have is a small Subaru Forester. They will have bags. There just isn’t room.”

“If I leave my bag here there should be room.”

“No, I won’t take you with me. I will see if I can fit you in after I pick them up. If there is room I will come back and get you. Mrs. Betite will be awake at that time and I will talk it over with her.”

I didn’t wait for an answer and left before I received more arguments. I stopped for coffee and a cruller and made it to the airport as the plane from the east was landing. I waited where I could see the baggage being picked up. Terry came down the incline and stood there looking for her bags. She had a baby strapped to the front of her in a sling. There was no sign of Bill. She reached and swung a bag off of the carousel and started looking around for her father.

When she came to the gate I opened it for her. Terry stopped and looked at me. “Junkin, what in hell are you doing here? I thought Dad was picking me up.” We clinched and the kiss I received took me back to when I loved this woman with passion. She felt it too and then remembered she was married to another.

“Pete was busy so I had to come get you. Where’s Bill?”

“He’s coming in later. He got bumped. God, I didn’t think I would ever say this, but I’m tickled to see you. So, you are out here with Dad. Good for both of you, you two always got along great. Tell me Junkin, what is my step-mom like? Is she nice?”

“The best. Terry, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’m not your ex-husband anymore. I’m actually your new stepbrother.” Terry stopped suddenly and looked at me.

“You mean Nellie is my stepmom?”

“Yeah, weird isn’t it? I guess we won’t be exchanging kisses like the one we just had. When are you going to introduce me to my nephew?” Terry didn’t answer. We were standing in the middle of a crowd that was either coming or going to the airport.

Finally she looked at me. “Junkin, I didn’t think I was ever going to tell you this because I didn’t think we would ever be this close again. I’m going to ask you to not be more than an uncle to Bill’s and my baby. I’m begging you to not be more. You won’t cause problems will you? Bill loves the baby so much and I love Bill more than I ever did you. Please?”

“Does Bill know?”

“Yes. The baby has a small birthmark just like the one you have. Bill inadvertently found out when I had a DNA test done on the baby to be sure Bill wasn’t the father.” Tears were pouring down Terry’s face as she looked beseechingly at me.

“What did you name the baby?”

“William Jr.”

“Of course that would be the natural thing to do. Well let’s get to the car where there is air-conditioning. Son or nephew, he shouldn’t be out in this heat.” I started chuckling.

“What’s funny? Junkin, I know I haven’t treated you very good at all, but believe this---I will fight to keep my family whole.”

“I would expect that you would. No, I was thinking how Bill, you and I are mixed up. Wait until I tell you about Nellie and her uncle and his family. Best we wait until Bill gets here to talk about everything. In the meantime, I have a passenger to pick up this morning. Terry, you are going to meet the woman I want to make my wife. She is a widow. Right now we have issues, and she doesn’t like me much yet, but I’m working on that.

“The passenger is her mother and I’ve only met her for a minute. Mother and daughter don’t get along either. Something that goes back a long time. Please, just be friendly and circumspect and don’t say too much about my life before I came out here.”

“I can do that. What is your love’s name?”

“It is Mrs. Angelina Betite. I haven’t got beyond Mrs. Betite yet to her face, but in my heart she is my Angel, and someday she will be all mine.”

“I’m pulling for you. Is there anything else I should know about her?”

“A lot. She has two little girls and they are the sweetest things. I’d give my right arm for them to call me Dad.”

“You will make a great dad.” I turned to look at her.

“I’m sorry Junkin, one more thing I have stolen from you. It is a wonder you will even speak to me.”

“I’ll always speak to you. You’re my sister now. Remember? I suspect I will be a better brother to you than I was a husband. Anyway here we are at my Angel’s house. The kids will be up. I warn you, things might be a little frosty.”


Chapter Three

As I stepped through the door, Nina asked if there was room for her to ride out to the ranch. I said there was. Amy and Amelia were eating Cheerios at the kitchen table. When we came in Junior started fussing and Terry asked if she could have a place to feed him. The girls were interested and wanted to see the baby being nursed so I asked them to take Terry into their room. Angelina came out and sat down while Nina poured coffee.

“You’re letting Mam ride out with you?”

“Yes, there is room. My brother-in-law was bumped from the flight and won’t be in until this evening. As busy as we are at the ranch, I hate to come back for him. Would you pick him up at the airport? I have their luggage. He has a cell phone and Terry will call you just as soon as the plane lands. She will give you his number too, so if you can’t see him you can call.”

“Still giving orders aren’t you Mr. Duncan?” This hurt until I looked at her. There was a slight twinkle in her eyes. “I’d be glad to pick him up. Can you stay long enough for me to meet your,” she paused, “sister?” She put up quotes with her fingers when she said sister. Nina was looking for clarification.

I kept it simple. “Terry used to be my wife. We were married for seven years. Then her dad married my mother which makes her my stepsister I guess. Either way we are friends. I know Terry’s new husband and we get along okay. I’m really pleased they would come west at this time for the barbecue.” Nina snorted.

The baby was blocked so he wouldn’t fall off the couch while he was sleeping. Nina and I sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee. Terry, Angelina and the kids got acquainted in the living room. The phone rang just before I finished my coffee. It was Pete. “Junkin, can’t you hurry up and get back out here? The carousel and the rest of the rides were here when we got up this morning. The hay crew leader wants to start cutting hay. Damn it boy we need you here.”

“Okay Pete, I’ll be there in an hour. It may take an extra ten to get your grandson loaded up as he is sleeping. He’s a cutie. You got something to be proud of. Oh and tell Ezra that Nina showed up and she is with me.”

Just as I got into the car and after I had Terry, Nina and the baby loaded, Angelina asked to see me for a minute. “Thanks Mr. Duncan for warning Pa that Mam is coming. You know I think your ex-wife still likes you a lot. She whispered to me that she is the one who left you and you have been terribly nice and understanding about it. She also said that now you and she were sister and brother, it was going to make it that much easier to get past your previous relationship.”

“I think it will too. Thank you for having me to dinner last night and letting me stay over.”

“Anytime Junkin.” It took a minute and I was halfway to the car before how she had addressed me sank in.

***************

It was a mad house when we reached the ranch. Nina hadn’t said very much. Terry was interested in the scenery. Some of the fields were green but overall the landscape was brown. She couldn’t get over the differences in the houses in the two little villages we passed through. There were very few two-story houses and many were small. “Wait until you see where we live. The ranch house is huge.”

Pete was outside waiting for us as we pulled into the yard. Terry went to him. “Dad, I’m so glad you let me know you are alive. You’re looking great and so brown too. See your grandson. He will be four months old in two days.”

“God Terry, it is wonderful to see you again. Did Junkin tell you I’ve stopped drinking? He arranged it so I could get back out here where it is home to me. Nellie helped me through the worst of going from drunk to sober. I asked her to marry me and she accepted. I know that complicates your relationship to Junkin, but he is fine with it, I think.”

“We discussed it. He is being really nice.”

Mom was coming toward the car as Terry was getting little Bill Junior out. She cooed over the baby. Suddenly this was no place I wanted to be. The baby was mine and I couldn’t claim him. Nina was standing beside me looking uncertain. Ezra hadn’t made an appearance.

“Come on Nina, Mom always has the coffee pot on. I’ll chase up Ezra. Everyone will be here for lunch. Paco and Juan will be glad to see you. Oh, they have a brother, a boy named Izzy that Ezra has adopted. Izzy has a woman named Jenny Berkley and they live in the house. Paco and Juan have women friends too, who will be leaving next week. They all stay in the bunkhouse together.”

“I bet the women are something. I can’t imagine either one of them attracting anyone except something they have to pay for.”

“Maybe not, but you may change your mind when you meet them.” I went to Ezra’s door, knocked lightly and entered. He was lying on the covers, awake. “She here?”

“Out in the kitchen.”

“What’s she want?”

“I have no idea. Are you going to talk to her?”

“S’pos I’ll have to. She ain’t coming here and worming her way in. You’re my manager and you may have a job to do getting rid of her. I can take care of her bastards, but I ain’t takin’ care of her no more.”

Nina spoke from the door. “I’m not asking you to. I heard about this barbecue you are putting on. I wasn’t even sure you were still alive. I come up here looking for my boys. I understand they are here with you.”

“Yeah, they’re here. Good men too. You saw Angelina?”

“Yes, I spent the night at her place. She wasn’t happy to see me.”

“S’pect not. I finally told her about our breakup. She thought for years I kicked you out. Damn it woman, I begged you to marry me. I begged for a whole week and you told the kids it was my fault you had to leave. Well you are gone now and I got all three of them back with me. That’s the end of it and us.”

“Okay I can accept that. I’m married now, Ez. I’m only here to see my kids. You’ve got two beautiful granddaughters. They make me think of Angie when she was that age. Ezra, I’ve come back to say I’m sorry about how I treated you all those years. I came a day early before my husband gets here just to say that to you. He’ll be here tomorrow. We’ll leave after he gets here, I promise.”

“Okay, I won’t drive you away tonight then. Look around the place to find Paco and Juan. I think they are up on the lease moving the fence for the cattle. Junkin, you stay. I’ll fill you in on what’s going on. Pete ain’t been of no use to me. He’s been too excited about seeing his daughter.”

Nina backed out of the door into the kitchen. I expected things had all gone to hell, but nothing great had happened. The main thing was the hay crew wanted to start haying immediately. Ezra had told them they weren’t to start cutting until I said so. “I’ll find the crew chief.”

When I went out, I gathered Nina from the kitchen. I told her I’d find Maddie or Mazie to drive her up to see her sons. Mazie was just coming from talking to the crew that was setting up the barbecue. “Mazie, this is Paco and Juan’s mother. She hasn’t seen them for a couple of years. Drive her up to the lease to see them.”

Mazie stood there. Tall, long blonde hair, full busted and Colorado tanned. “Hi, so you are Paco’s mom. He looks like you a lot. He told me just the other day he didn’t think he would ever see you again.”

“Why would he think that?”

“He said you always left everyone who loved you. Come on, get in Angel. That’s the name of the pickup. Junkin claims he named the pickup because it drives like an angel. We all think it is because he is in love with Mrs. Betite. We suspect she likes him too, but she chopped him off at the knees the second time they met and she doesn’t know how to apologize.

“You know I hope I’m as pretty as you are when I get to be your age. My Daddy always said blondes wash out when they get to be fifty. If you want beauty to last, you have to have dark hair and white skin. I do run on, don’t I? You do know Maddie and I are sleeping with Paco and Juan. It’s all over next week when we go back to school, but we have had a lot of fun this summer. Paco says he is going to miss us, but would never marry me. He’s going to find himself a wife now that he has a steady job and a home here with his father. Juan probably will too. That’s all Junkin’s fault.”

I stood there listening to Mazie talk to Nina. I finally shook my head and walked off as she was still talking. I went looking for the hay crew. When I found them I said, “Here’s the deal. How many days have you had off this summer?”

“Three days because of rain and two because of broken equipment. Why?”

“I don’t want you to start haying until next week. We are going to have thousands of people here Saturday. They will be all over the place. If you are haying, they’ll be down watching you guys work and be in the way. I’ll give you what I gave you the last time. Four hands if you will hold off until Monday before starting. If you want to round up your families they can come and I’ll feed you all at the barbecue, and your kids can ride the ponies or the carnival rides for free. It will be a vacation for you.”

“Deal. It looks like we are in for a spell of good weather, so I’m okay with that---and thank you.”

***************

I was leaning against the kitchen door when Angelina arrived. Amy and Amelia came busting out of the back seat and ran over to me. “We’re home! I didn’t think we would ever get here. Wow look at all of the people already. Who are they?”

“Just people that are going to be setting up today. You guys got something for me?”

“High five!” I gathered them into my arms and went to meet Angelina and Bill Boyle.

I set them down and shook Bill’s hand. “Bill, welcome to the ranch. Did you have a good flight out?”

“Not really. I was worried about Terry and Junior. Are they okay?”

“Fine. Terry is putting the baby to bed. Cute baby you have there. Congratulations. Makes me think I want to get married again and have one just like him.”

“Junkin, sometime before Terry and I leave, we should talk.”

“Terry and I have talked some. I guess this was quite a surprise to find me out here with Pete. Hey man, I’m glad you and Terry are so happy together---and Junior too, of course.”

“You mean that?”

“Yeah, I do. Go find your wife and baby. She was worried about you getting here.” I turned to face Angelina. “No trouble picking up Bill at the airport?”

“No, none at all. He found me right off. Your sister had called him. Amy and Amelia, stop hanging onto Mr. Duncan. Go find your grandpa.”

After they left, I started being questioned. “Did Pa kick Mam out?”

“No, she said she was leaving tomorrow when her husband comes so he let her stay the night. She wanted to see Paco and Juan. She is up on the lease with them now. Did you get all the kids clothes you needed?”

“She’s married? She didn’t tell me. No I didn’t get all of the clothes yet.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll get the rest before winter. I talked to Mr. Boyle on the way out. He tells me you are a pretty good person. I could tell he was worried about you over something. Was what you said to him a few minutes ago what he was worried about? He seemed to relax after you talked.”

“Could be. Come, Nellie saved you some supper. I imagine the kids are eating by now. Tomorrow is going to be busy. I’m giving orders tonight so everyone will be up and on the run first thing.”

“More orders for me, I expect?”

“You did say you would help.”

“I did, didn’t I.”

Terry, Bill and the baby were offered my room by Mom. I was to sleep in the bunkhouse with Paco, Juan, Mazie and Maddie. Ezra said Nina would have to sleep there too. Angelina wasn’t happy over this arrangement, but couldn’t do much about it. She didn’t want Nina sleeping with her Pa so that mollified her some.

Maybe she was a little afraid that I might snuggle in with her mother if I had the chance. This was something I suspected when I saw her give her mother a distasteful look and then turn and give me the same.

Everyone was present when I opened the meeting I had called for 7 p.m. “Okay, tomorrow is important. Mrs. Berkley and Izzy, are you all set? How many pounds of jerky do you have to sell?”

“We have a hundred pounds in one ounce strips. We think we can give most people a sample and still have eighty-five pounds to sell. That should net us about $1500. The beef, the spices and most of the cost of the dehydrator will be paid for with that amount left over. Of course that is the pound rate. If people want amounts smaller than a pound we will take in more.”

“Do you have the packaging ready?”

“Yes. We are putting the paper on the scale and then weighing the strips, rolling it up and then stuffing it in some small paper bags. Takes about a minute. Izzy has been practicing. I’ll be writing orders if people order for delivery.”

“Sounds good. You move everything in early tomorrow morning.” I ran through what everyone’s assigned duties were to be. I concluded with Ezra, asking, “Would you tell everyone about Mrs. Berkley’s mother and her coming to live here. She wanted to come today, but she understands if we don’t have time to get her. She will be staying with your dad in his room indefinitely. Do you want to explain, Ezra?”

“Yes. I met Grace Lincoln a couple of years ago and we became friends. That’s where Izzy and I have been going when we go to town. She is disabled with arthritis. I’ve wanted her to come live here since I have known her. Since Junkin came and freed me up from worrying about the ranch and its management, she can now come and I can take care of her. She will be my responsibility and mine only, although Jenny and Izzy will take over if anything should happen to me.

“Touching on a couple of other things. I’d like to welcome Pete’s daughter and her family to the ranch. I hope you are comfortable while you are with us. Nina, you told me this afternoon that you are married and your husband will be coming here to get you. Please stay long enough for me and all of your children to meet him. In fact if you are comfortable sleeping in the bunkhouse, you might as well stay until the festivities are over.”

The meeting was over and everyone drifted away from the kitchen. I was working on a list of reminders of things still to do. “Mr. Duncan.” I jumped, not realizing Angelina was still there. “Did you get what Pa said to Mam?”

“No, what did he say that I missed?”

“He was telling her that he knew she would be comfortable in the bunkhouse, for he knew that Paco and Juan were conceived there. Enough of that. Saturday and Sunday are going to be really busy. You didn’t give me any specific orders. What will I be doing?”

“I’ve got the information booth I want you to man if you would. You will have a phone and a bunch of numbers of people to contact if there is some trouble. The police will take care of anyone drunk and disorderly, the fire personnel if there is any trouble with parking. If any kids get lost, you are to contact both units. There will be a rescue unit if anyone gets hurt or sick.”

“How many people do you expect?”

“I don’t know actually. There is no way to tell. The barbecue maestro has enough beef and pork for at least ten thousand meals. If he thinks he needs more he will have it on hand for Sunday. The church group will be serving the salads and beans and they say they have enough for twelve thousand. I’m going to have a thousand half chickens in the refrigerator truck for insurance and another couple hundred I can get if I need them. The weather is going to be nice. It is going to be sunny and cool for August.”

“You can’t do it. That’s too many people. You’ll have a riot if things don’t go right.”

I turned really serious. “Mrs. Betite, please have faith in me---in us. Sometimes I have my doubts about this thing I have started. Then I think of how your father, your brothers, your daughters and the others are depending on me. I have to pull this off.”

“Is it the money you would lose? You have put up all of it so far.”

“No, I can find more money. I’ll share something with you. My father ran a junkyard and I was looked down on. I bought it from him and was as successful in the same business and I was still looked down on. I lost a wife because I dealt in junk. That hurt me more than I have ever let on. I came out here. Even you said the people here on the ranch were a bunch of losers. Well I don’t think they are no more than I am, for I am one of them.

“Right now, here today, we are having a great time. They have faith in me and I have given them all a chance to have faith in themselves. All of the people I mentioned a minute ago are waiting for you to have faith in us. It would help a lot if you would go around and encourage your father and brothers.

“Believe it or not they look to you as the one that is ultimately going to own this place. They are working to make everything a success. They aren’t doing it for themselves but for you. This is home to them and they want it to be home to you as well, for you belong here.”

“You are very eloquent, Mr. Duncan. You have given me much to think about. You know Nellie was asking me when I was going to finish that bottle of wine. Maybe I’ll go out and sit on the seats tonight when the moon is up. I enjoyed that the last time. She paused as if to say more, but then changed the subject. “I’ll leave you to finish your paperwork. It is almost time for Amy and Amelia to get ready for bed. I’ll see to them.”

I watched as my Angel turned and went into the living room.

***************

This evening was much different than the last time Angelina and I had sat on the benches. For one thing the carnival workers were busy putting up the rides. They had their own generators for the lights and for the rides needing electricity to power them. I met her at the kitchen door as she came out. Angelina had a basket in her hand---the same basket I had filled the last time.

I took it in my hand when she passed it to me. The moon wasn’t full but still brilliant enough. We passed down in front of the concession cubicles and went near where the beef was being spitted. A tractor had spun around on the ground and it was uneven and we both stumbled. Righting myself I took Angelina by the arm. Not pulling away, she let me lead her to the seats.

When we were seated and the wine and beer poured, she spoke. “I want to know more about you. Everyone likes you even when you make them work hard all of the time. You even boss me around and I do it and I don’t know why. Your ex-wife is out here with her husband and both speak as if you are their best friend. I do know one thing about you that you have misrepresented about yourself.”

“What would that be?”

“You have maintained all along that you are only here for a few short years because you are committed back where you came from. Mr. Boyle says there isn’t much for you to go back to. He tells me that the city has an agreement with you that you will turn your former place of business over to them when the super fund cleanup is completed. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you tell me and everyone else different?”

“I am only leaving myself an out in case I don’t reach a goal I set for myself.”

“What goal would that be?”

“Too early to explain.”

“Okay I won’t pry. Seems as though when you and I are alone I have questions I want to ask. Tell me more about Jenny Berkley and how she could end up with someone like Izzy. She certainly is more intelligent than him.”

“It is a sad story. She and her husband were border agents together. A few years ago they were on patrol and ran into some members of a drug cartel. In the ensuing battle her husband was killed. I guess her husband was a John Wayne type and made some foolish moves leading up to the confrontation. To keep his record clear, she told her superiors she was the one that made the decisions. This was to save her mother-in-law from knowing the truth about her son.

“Long story short, her mother-in-law won’t speak to her at all and the unit she was with, told her there was no future in the border patrol for her. She ended up having a mental breakdown. The day she came home from rehab, Ezra was there talking to her mother. Izzy was with him. The rest is history. I know one thing, she is a dead shot with most weapons. That is why the money we take in tomorrow and Sunday will be placed as surreptitiously as possible in her booth.”

“Do you think that is a possibility? That scares me.”

“Not likely with Sheriff Robbins and his deputies here, but you never know. Maybe I read too many of Louis L’Amour’s books. Mrs. Betite, you know a lot about me. Tell me something about you.”

“Oh, let’s stop this formality with our names. I was wrong to chastise you. I knew it as soon as I said it. Pa sure let me know sudden enough. Call me what you want and I’ll do the same to you. I always think of Junkin when I see you.”

“Don’t get all tore up if I tell you how I think of you. Angel listen, some day I’m going to call you Angel and don’t ask me to explain that. For now I’d like to call you Angelina.”

“I can live with that.” She skipped back to answer the question I asked just a minute ago. “You wanted to know about me. You know Mam and Pa were never married. It didn’t bother me much until after I was married. My husband used to throw it in my face all the time. More after I caught him cheating. Then when he became aware of Mam and her sleeping in the bunkhouse away from Pa and producing Paco and Juan, he made my life hell. The only good that came from him is Amy and Amelia.

“Sometimes it seems as if the whole world knows about Pa and Mam and are just waiting to throw it at me. I bet you knew it soon after you got here.”

“Yes I did. It is a fact that can’t be changed. It is like Terry, whom I loved and she left me for another man. That’s a fact and I can’t change it. It is funny, but except for that, I still like Terry and I like Bill too---that’s another fact. So how is your life now that you don’t have a husband?”

“Not too bad. I work or study all the time. I hope to finish and get my diploma before the first of this year. By next spring anyway, if I have the time.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Some, but I’ll make it. Child care is expensive and I have to watch my pennies. I have to work more than I would like and my studies are pushed back. If I could just study I’d be done shortly.”

“What are you going to do when you graduate?”

“Find a doctor to be a nurse for. I think I can find one as everyone says I am very good. The clinic where I work lets me do things already as if I had the paper that says I can. So tell me what your future plans are for the ranch? You must have some.”

“I do. If this weekend is a success, it will take some time to put the place back together. If you don’t tell anyone, Ezra has given me a list of people he knows that like to play poker. That’s what his job is Saturday---to contact some of them for a date here at the ranch in October. The sheriff is on board with him already. That will net a few thousand.

“I talked to one of the schools in the area. The sports coach says there is no place for people to ski. I had him out here to look over the place. He agrees it would be a place for beginners or old folks to come and ski. The lay of the land isn’t steep enough to attract people that want a great amount of speed or a death defying run down a mountain. If someone wanted to ski a gentle slope over a great distance this would be fine.

“The biggest problem would be getting the skiers to the top of the lease and I’m working on that. Years ago some friends of mine rigged up a rope tow. We had fun for a few years. One of my friends who was in with me on that is coming out in a couple of weeks. He is an engineer and can figure out if my idea will work. If it will, there would be money from a couple of food concessions. For a steady income we have the beef jerky. I think that is going to be a big deal. I’ll know more about that tomorrow after the samples are given out.”

Angelina and I hadn’t touched since we sat down. We both had a long day and many things had filled our minds. The wine that my Angel was drinking was finished. I had only nursed one beer. My alcohol was the nearness of the woman next to me. We arose together and walked back to the ranch house.

As we neared the path to the bunkhouse and the door to the house, Angelina paused. “Mam has my room tonight. She wanted to get to know the girls better. I’m sleeping in the bunkhouse. Nellie brought out bedding for the bunks in the corner. I get the top bunk. I’ll be out when I get my nightclothes on. I may need a foot up, if you would be so kind.” She whirled and went into the house.

I supposed I would lie awake thinking of Angelina above me. When she made her way to the corner, no lights were on, just the moonlight coming in the window. She made her way to me and I did just as she asked. I couldn’t see her very well, but I could sense her when she put her little foot in my hand and I gave her a boost up. Surprisingly I went right off to sleep.

**************

Paco, Juan, Maddie and Mazie were on the other side of the room in double bunks, just as Angelina and I were on this side. It was just getting light when I rolled out. As I stood up I turned to face Angelina. She lay there in the top bunk facing the edge still sound asleep, I thought. God, she was beautiful. The blanket that covered her had been pushed off during the night. I stood staring at her and then I let my eyes drift down her form. Her charms were hidden by her pajamas, but I had an active imagination.

When my glance returned to her face, her eyes were open. “Good morning Junkin. Is it time to get up?”

“Good morning to you, Angelina. No need for you to get up yet. Do you need help getting down? If you do one of your brothers will help. I’m going in for coffee and then taking a quick run up to the lease to see how the cattle are.”

“Put coffee in a thermos. I’ll meet you in the truck. I want to see the sunrise.” How the situation between us had changed in the last two days.

Angelina was sitting silently in the little truck when I slid into the driver’s seat. I handed her the thermos, cups and a bag of sweet buns that Mom had just taken out of the oven. Angelina didn’t look at me as we traveled across the home ranch to the upper land. I parked the truck and got out to inspect the fence and the grass where the cattle were feeding.

I came back to where Angelina was sitting on the tailgate. She had poured the coffee and opened the bag of sweet things. Handing me the coffee, she put the buns onto a napkin. “Junkin, do you find me attractive?”

I almost choked on my coffee, I was so surprised. I looked at her and could see she was serious. “Yes, I do. I find you very attractive. Why do you ask?”

“Before I tell you why I asked, let me say some things. One time a few years ago I was sick for three weeks and couldn’t get out of bed. I watched soaps on television all that time. Do you realize that the life here is one big soap opera? Pa and Mam, never married. Only one child would be legitimate if they were married while the other two were sired in a bunkhouse by unknown persons.

“We’ve got a teenager that is seriously challenged mentally, hooked up with an older woman who is admittedly unstable. We’ve got the niece of the owner who married someone who is an alcoholic and he has a daughter that cheated on her husband. The husband shows up here to see his mother and finds she is married to the father of his cheating wife. That makes the cheating wife now his stepsister. Soon the husband steps in and manages the ranch and upgrades it.

“The owner still claims the two bastards as his sons and puts them to work. They live in the bunkhouse with two college chicks that are little more than whores. The owner’s whore who is now married, so she claims---the one that gave him the two bastards and one daughter---shows up and finds that her man has got him another love interest.

“By the way, I’m going to town after his new love interest this afternoon and I hope she will make Pa happy.” Angelina paused. “This manager saves the daughter from being raped and robbed and takes a bullet. He acts as if it was inconsequential. In return all he gets from the daughter is resentment and nasty remarks. It does sound like a soap opera doesn’t it?”

“I suppose, but you should continue. This daughter has two beautiful little girls that the manager thinks the world of and they feel the same about him.”

“I know they do. They keep telling me so. I know this is going to be our busiest day ever and we only have a few minutes before we have to go back down to the ranch. You asked me why I asked the question if you were attracted to me. Junkin, I’m ready to answer. Would you kiss me?” I stood up and turned to face my Angel. She never hesitated. She jumped down and came into my arms.

***************

By the time we reached the ranch it was a beehive of activity. The firemen and the sheriff and deputies were already here. The rescue squad would be here at ten. The parking area was slowly filling with campers and pickups. We could smell the beef and pigs that were slowly rotating over beds of charcoal. People were three-deep standing around the pit watching.

I went in and pushed Ezra out, telling him it was time he showed himself. I had retrieved a chair from the attic. The chair was of steer horns pegged together and had been covered with cowhide. This was pure theatrics. Ezra hated the damned uncomfortable thing, but he was willing to do his part by sitting in it. I had built a little raised platform with a canopy over it. I installed him on the chair and immediately old timers came around to speak and joke with him.

The carnival rides started as soon as there were enough kids around. Nina drifted over near Ezra. She had been his constant companion for many years and knew many of the same people that he did. I watched to see if there was going to be any trouble, and when I didn’t see any friction, I turned to other things. I began to get concerned because the Maraca band hadn’t arrived. Angelina came and said she was going after Grace Lincoln. “Ezra is so tied up with his old friends and acquaintances, he can’t leave. What shall I do?”

I thought for a minute. “Jenny and Izzy are selling the beef jerky. It can’t be too busy yet. Ask the little girls to take Izzy’s place wrapping and take him with you. Technically Izzy is your brother and Mrs. Lincoln is almost his mother-in-law, so this should work out. It will give you both a chance to meet and to get to know each other.”

“What if the girls won’t do that?”

“Just tell them Junkin said to. They will be glad to then.”

Angelina stood looking at me. “Does everyone always do what you want them to?”

“Not always. The kids will do it because I’ve already bribed them. Most usually people do what I wish if I ask them in the right way. I would never ask anyone to do something that they can’t do or that is something I won’t do myself. There is always a good reason behind my request and people understand that.”

“And what did you use to bribe them with?”

“It is something they want pretty badly and it involves you. I said if they would do everything I asked this weekend I would talk to you about what they want.”

“What if I won’t agree? That will put me in a bad light.”

“No it won’t as I have already explained that it might not be possible. They do have faith in you though, just as they have in me. They are grown up enough to know they can’t always have every wish granted. Angelina, how do you feel about Mrs. Lincoln coming here? You haven’t said.”

“Actually I don’t mind. If it makes Pa happy, I guess it is okay. Just as long as he doesn’t move Mam back in. She is my mother, but she cheated on him. I know how it feels to be cheated on.” She looked closely at me. “Takes the trust of the opposite sex away, doesn’t it? You must know. Pa was, I was and I understand you were as well. You aren’t bitter. How come?”

“Quick answer and we can discuss it some other time. These people who cheated aren’t all bad. There might even be some things that you can remember good about them.”

“Okay we will talk about it, but I don’t see how I’m going to change my mind about my mother. Today we are too busy. I’ll be back in two hours. Go find someone to give some orders to.” This was Angelina’s attempt at levity and I took it as such. She was not only beautiful, she was getting more human as well.

I made a tour of the grounds. I stopped at the booth where Amy and Amelia were helping Jenny. They were having a ball. They were passing out samples of jerky. Not much had been sold yet. We hoped that sales would come as people were getting ready to leave. This was going to be a long day and extending well into the evening.

Music was starting to blare. There were enough local musicians lined up to play in half-hour increments to have music all night if I wanted. The Mexican band I had hired was excellent. I noticed Nina over there dancing some traditional steps with a tall dark-haired man about her age. She noticed me watching and made her way to me dragging him with her.

“Mr. Duncan, I’d like to have you meet my husband, Hugo Gomez. He got here early. I have already introduced him to Ezra. I can’t find Angelina. I want to show her I am married. I don’t think she believed me. Hugo, this is Junkin Duncan. He is the ranch manager. He even gives Ezra orders.”

I shook his hand. I didn’t particularly like the looks of Nina’s husband. It was mostly because he didn’t look me in the eye. Just then a woman who had been selling raffle tickets for us walked by heading for Jenny’s little booth. She was carrying a change box and a roll of tickets. Hugo’s eyes followed her.

I made small talk until the woman went back by. She was fiddling with the box so you knew it had much less money in it. I knew it wouldn’t take much to figure out where we were holding the day’s proceeds. This man would bear watching. And Nina---she wouldn’t meet my eye either.

At eleven-thirty lines had formed at the serving tables. The maestro had brought plenty of help, for it was a pleasant day and he knew the crowd would be large. He set up two more serving lines so people could move right along and not have to stand waiting. He had worked with this church group before and he was well liked and known. I couldn’t have done better in picking this man to put on the barbecue---or the congregation from the church either.

The portions were generous and I was amazed at how fast the food disappeared. At a little after one the beef that had been prepared was almost depleted, and those that wanted it were told there would be a fifteen minute wait while more was cooked. The barbecued meat would not be rushed. Thinking fast I had one of the bands that had played in the morning come close and start playing. The man and wife who sang with the band asked for requests.

Soon “Last Cheaters Waltz” and “Kentucky Waltz” could be heard. A few couples even tried to dance on the uneven ground. “Your Cheatin’ Heart” followed and then someone asked for “Bed of Roses.” By the time “Waltz Across Texas” was finished, the lines were moving again. Someone threw some coins at the band and then the air was filled with more. Everyone was happy.

Not long after two, the maestro came and said he had served almost six thousand meals so far. “It will slow down now and we can keep up easily. There will be those that have been in the parking lot drinking and playing in the horseshoe tournament. All of the kids will be hungry after being on the rides all morning. How soon do you want me to stop serving?”

“How are you set for food?”

“Plenty. You keep the music playing and I’ll serve until all that we estimated for today is gone. I’ll start cooking tomorrow’s food before we stop serving tonight. That won’t be until about dark. That way we will get rid of all of the food we have cooked and you will pick up another few bucks from those that don’t want this to end. Next year you should build a dance floor. I don’t know how you thought up this idea, but it could be an annual event.”

I turned while I was talking. Angelina was seriously listening to the exchange. The maestro left to go back to his grills. “Did you make any money so far?”

“That is a did ‘we’ make money? You are a part of this and yes we are taking in money beyond my wildest dreams. There will be more before the night comes. Did you get Mrs. Lincoln okay?”

“Yes and I can see why Pa wants her to come live with him. If Mam was at all like her, Pa would have had some very happy years.”

“Have you eaten? I’m hungry. So far we haven’t had any crisis. One little girl lost her mother, but the mother located her before we had to declare an alert. Three fights down in the parking lot, but the sheriff handled that and no one had to go to jail.” I took Angelina’s arm. Maybe I was just a little proprietary, but I felt I had the right.

We started through the line together. I wanted a slice off the steamship round that was being carved. It was tender, pink with the juice slowly oozing out. Angelina chose a bit of a pork shoulder that had just been taken from one of the grills. She wanted the crusty rind and a deep narrow piece cut from the flesh under it. Her meat was off-white and looked oh so tender. There was Cole slaw and Potato salad. A Jello salad with nuts and berries folded in filled our plates. Cornmeal sticks with a pat of butter completed the meal.

Dixie cups of ice cream were stored in portable freezers if we wanted dessert. Coffee, tea, or punch was on hand for a beverage. I soon was full even though it was way past noon and I was unusually hungry.

I did have to sample Angelina’s pork when she was going to throw a bit away with her plate. Still a little beef left on my plate went with a smile to my Angel. Would you believe we were eating off each other’s plates just like a couple that had been married for awhile? Three days ago it was Mrs. Betite and Mr. Duncan. Wonders!

I reluctantly walked Angelina back to Ezra. There still was a crowd around him. Leaving her to talk with her father and Mrs. Lincoln, I made a circle around the lot. There were many cars leaving, but still there were a few arriving. The sheriff was talking to one of his deputies as I came up. “Junkin, this is the smoothest operation I have ever seen. Everyone is having a great time. There is something for all the kids to do and that makes the parents happy and relaxed. I take it this is going to be a profitable day for Ezra?”

“Yes, he will be able to renew the lease. He will have enough to see him through the winter as well. Sheriff, do you see that tall dark-haired man over there coming around from the toilets?”

“Yes, why?”

“I saw him checking out where we are keeping the money in Mrs. Berkley’s booth. I was wondering if you would keep an eye on him for me. He is supposedly married to Nina, Angelina’s mother. Nina showed up two days ago to reconnect with Ezra and her husband showed up today. She introduced him as Hugo Gomez.”

“I’ll put a deputy on him. Has Ezra got that list of names for the poker weekend? This is going to be a great place to hold it. We have to change places about every year. That way we won’t get raided. It wouldn’t do for the local sheriff to get hauled in, would it?” He laughed and I didn’t figure there was much chance of that happening, but I was glad he was cautious.

Now as it neared six in the evening, there was a steady stream of vehicles leaving. Ezra had given it up for the day and had retired with Mrs. Lincoln to his room. The carnival rides were still going strong, but the concessions had closed down.

The sheriff showed up at my side. “That man you pointed out has three others with him. They look like hard cases to me. I wish I had my flyers here.” He turned to walk away and then came back. “Junkin, do you have a computer I can use? Maybe I can do some checking and find out.”

“Sure.” Mazie was going by and I handed the sheriff over to her asking her to take the officer in and boot the computer up. I hadn’t seen Nina for quite sometime so I went looking for her. I went in and asked Mom if she had seen her.

“She is in the living room with her granddaughters. I think she is hiding out. She looks scared to death about something. She was okay up until about noon, but then she changed. I fixed her something to eat when she wouldn’t go out to the barbecue.”

“I’ll talk to her. You take Amy and Amelia out to the ponies or the rides. If you see the sheriff or a deputy, point him this way.”

Mom went in and got the girls. I went in and asked Nina, “Would you please meet me in the bunkhouse?” When we reached there I faced her. “What’s your problem?”

“Why, what do you mean? I have no problem.” There was some defiance in her answer.

“Yes you do. Let me ask you a question. Is that man you introduced me to really your husband?”

I could see wheels turning in her head. Suddenly she sank down on a bunk and buried her face in her hands. “He promised that he wouldn’t pull anything while he was here. I’m awful afraid he is going to rob you. He claims he isn’t, but I know he is thinking about it.”

“Okay, stop worrying. I’ll take you back to the house. You stay there. You still haven’t said if Gomez is your husband.”

“He isn’t. He is just someone I have been associated with. I don’t like him, but he can make an awful lot of trouble for me. Boy I can really pick men can’t I? Look at me. I’m getting old and I’m no better off than when I lived here with Ezra. My kids hate me for what I did to their father. Ezra isn’t really the boys’ father either and yet he claims them. He may not be very big, but he is a giant the way he acts. The thing is, I’m afraid Gomez is going to cause some trouble for Ez and I don’t want that.”

“When do you think this will go down if it does?”

“Not sure but probably soon after the sheriff and his men leave.”

“Okay, you have been a big help. Now, how are we going to get you out of this with Gomez? Let me think.” I paused, then continued. “You go find him and tell him that Ezra is pissed at you and you are going into town with the minister and stay in the motel. Tell him to come and get you in the morning.”

“He’ll know that I’m just trying to get away from him.”

“No he won’t. Wait here, I’ll find Angelina. She can clinch it for you.” I went out and found my Angel. I talked fast explaining what I wanted her to do and sent her in to speak to her mother. I looked for the Reverend Jones, finding him picking up the trays they had used to serve salads. I explained to him that Ezra’s former companion needed to leave almost immediately.

I led him in and then he and the two women came out and I saw the three of them approach Gomez. Angelina was haranguing her mother. Nina was crying and the reverend was staying slightly back. Two minutes later Nina and the Reverend Jones were headed for the parking lot. Angelina walked over to see me. “I don’t know what just happened. Pa didn’t kick Mam out.”

“I know. I’ll explain tonight after we finish up and can have a quiet moment. Right now I want to go over and talk to Mrs. Berkley. She has all the take from everything in her booth by now.” When we got there I said quietly to her, “I have word that someone may try to rob us. The sheriff is onto it. If it gets dicey, let him have the money.”

“Yeah, as if I would. Don’t worry about anything, Junkin. I can handle anything that comes my way.” It was time for me to go hunt up the sheriff. He found me first.

“Junkin, I have reports this Gomez is a bad one, but he never did robbery before.”

“He might though if he has the chance. What’s he usually into?”

“Dealing drugs mostly. He lost a big supply three months ago, but he got away. I can’t even arrest him. The only thing he is wanted for is questioning. Well, we will watch him.”

“His so-called-wife said he was waiting for you and your deputies to leave before he was going to make his move.”

“Okay, we will pretend to leave and see what kind of move he makes. You tell your people to keep out of the way. I don’t want any civilians hurt.”

At midnight there were still many vehicles in the parking lot. We hadn’t been able to discover what Gomez was driving. He might even have two vehicles. I wished I had asked Nina, but hadn’t thought of it. The sheriff in his van, drove across the grounds picking up his deputies. He had promised that we still have some coverage.

Things were very quiet now. The hay crew, those that weren’t home with their families, were asleep in the bunkhouse. I hadn’t seen Paco and Juan and that puzzled me. Then I realized that Izzy wasn’t in the booth with Jenny. Angelina had gone into the ranch house.

It wasn’t five minutes after the sheriff left that two cars came out of the parking lot and slowly drove across the yard and made a circle. They stopped one behind the other in front of Jenny’s booth. Oh shit, I wondered where the sheriff was. He better show up in the next few seconds or it would be too late. Both front passenger doors opened in the cars. Gomez got out of the front one and another man got out of the other. I was in the booth with Jenny. All I had was the little .25 that had figured in the earlier robbery attempt.

Gomez stepped up to the opening. “All right you two, this is a robbery. I want all of the money collected today. I know it is all in here.” He had a big revolver and was standing with it pointed directly at me.

Jenny, off to one side of the interior and partially hidden, spoke quickly. “Hello Hugo, I’m glad you stopped by. You killed my husband three years ago. Adios.” The gun she was holding went off and Gomez dropped like a dead steer.

The person who had been in the other car behind Gomez’s vehicle, turned to get back in. There was a gunshot from near the bunkhouse and he went down just like Gomez did. His weapon skittered away and I could see it glinting from either the moonlight or from one of the lights still on in the yard.

There was another gunshot and the rear tire of the front car exploded. The rear car with only the driver would have to reverse to get away. That driver shut his engine down and we could see his hands in the air. Gomez’s driver did the same. No one realized it, but there was a passenger in the back seat of the car with the blown tire. It was a woman and she was screaming steadily. Angelina, as the only medical person nearby, stood waiting.

The sheriff in his van came wheeling into the yard. Both drivers were out of the cars with their hands in the air. The woman was out now, still sobbing and screaming. A light was brought and Angelina determined that Gomez was dead. The other man down on the ground was hit pretty hard, but would probably live.

By this time there was quite a crowd of several hundred people gathered around. There was the hay crew and those individuals that were still drinking beer in the parking lot. All of us that belonged to the ranch were there---that included Mrs. Lincoln and Ezra.

Shades of the old west. I had been here about three months and two robberies had been attempted. Angelina was seeing to the wounded man and she had been the one to declare Gomez dead. Ezra addressed us that belonged to the ranch. “Damn fine job people. I’m proud of you all. Where’s Nina? She brought the bastard here.”

“Leave it Ez. She had nothing to do with this. I sent her into town a couple of hours ago.”

“Well, I’m going back to bed. Come Gracie, how do you like living in the country? Wild isn’t it?”

“Fine Ezra, fine. Jenny is here and she’ll keep us safe.”

I looked over at Terry and Bill. Terry came to me. “Are you all right? What happened anyway?”

“That guy tried to rob us. Jenny knew him and took him out. That’s about it. Out here you try to rob somebody of something and you just might end up dead.” I didn’t think how that sounded. Later that night it came to me. I had been answering a question from my ex-wife and Bill was standing beside her.

Just then Jenny said, “Good job, Junkin. I knew if I spoke to the son-of-a-bitch he would turn his attention from you to me so you could duck away from the gun he was pointing at you.”

“I was waiting for something. That gun looked awful big and awful close. I do thank you.” Terry and Bill looked at me. I guess they didn’t know what to think. I had faced death and was standing talking to them just as calm as could be. Angelina had heard the last exchange. I couldn’t read the expression on her face. There was something there and I’m sure she would share her feelings with me.

It was almost four in the morning before things settled down with the sheriff asking questions and all. I found out that Izzy had been directed by Jenny to tell Paco to get a gun and be ready if there was a robbery. He was the one that shot the other man.

The bunkhouse was full. I went into the house and pushed two couches together, face to face. It made a fairly large bed without danger of falling off. I begged one blanket from Mom and kicked my shoes off. I went over the arm of the couch and pulled the blanket over me. I was beat!

I was just getting settled when Angelina whispered as she leaned over the couch arm. “Junkin.” I turned so I could look up at her. Again, more insistently, “Junkin.” Then I felt her lips on mine. It was an awkward position to kiss from.

I hunched up and brought my hand to the back of her head so I could guide the next kiss to my lips. “Good night, Junkin. I wanted you to know that I’m glad you are safe.” One more quick kiss and she was gone. I went right to sleep after that. I would savor the memory in the morning.

********************

In the morning I couldn’t believe I had slept until eight. “Junkin, Junkin, wake up. The Reverend Jones is here and he wants to get the food organized. Also the carnival people want to know if it is all right to start the merry-go-round.” This was Amy and Amelia bouncing on the top of the couch. Suddenly the giggling little girls jumped down on me.

What could I do? I hugged them both to me. “Go you two or Junkin will turn into a big bear and you know what bears do to little girls.” Bouncing and screaming laughter, up over the couch they went out through the kitchen. I slowly started to crawl over the end of the couch. When I stood up, there was Angelina watching me.

“Who likes who the most? You or the girls?”

“They are great kids. They seem to like me. Me, well I love the little tykes. How are you this morning?”

“I’m fine. I’ll be glad when this is all over. You must be bushed.”

“I am, but hey, think what this will do for the ranch. The barbecue will be shutting down before two this afternoon. The carnival will be working all night tonight to tear down. The hay crew will start cutting in the morning after breakfast. Your brothers and Pete will be helping them.

“Mazie and Maddie will help clean up before they go back to university. My ex-wife and her husband will be leaving as well. You’ll be back at work. Next weekend, which is Labor Day, things will be back to normal. Soooo---I’ll rest up next week after the holiday.

“There are some things I’m going to miss and that brings me around to what I told your daughters I would do. I’m supposed to ask if they can stay here and go to school in town.”

“The town school is too small. They won’t learn anything.”

“You went to school there. You’re pretty smart. Another thing, Mom can teach them their lessons if they have homework. This would give you a chance to concentrate on getting your diploma.”

“And then what would I do?”

“You could become Doc Watkins’s nurse here locally. He is going to need one the first of the year.”

“You have it all planned out don’t you? What happens if I don’t agree?”

“Angelina, that is what I would like to happen, ideally, that is. I’m not telling you what to do. Not my place on this. All I have done is make a promise to the girls. I said I would ask and they know there isn’t much hope you would agree. Look, I have to go take care of things. Would you at least think it over?” I don’t know where my bravery came from. I stepped forward and took this lovely woman before me into my arms and kissed her.

She resisted a minute, but then I felt her melt. I was actually holding her from falling. I pulled back and when she opened her eyes, I said, “That was sweet.” I just pecked her on the lips once more and turned to the kitchen.

“Junkin, you aren’t toying with me are you?”

“No my Angel, I couldn’t do that.” I grabbed an egg sandwich from Mom as I went out to tend to the business at hand. The sheriff was here at nine with a pair of DEA agents. Shortly after that there were two suits from the Border Patrol here to question Jenny. They had Nina with them. She was scared shitless that she would be charged with something.

We found out that the woman that had been in Gomez’s car was just a local girl that he had plied with liquor and was to be his companion for the rest of the night. She wasn’t even sure of Gomez’s name.

The three men with him, one in the hospital, two in jail, had all been interrogated. Their leader was dead and they sang as only caught felons could. When I was questioned about Nina, I claimed that she had been a big help by warning me about what was planned by Gomez.

I had a minute alone and Angelina cornered me. “You lied about Mam. She said you knew what was happening before you spoke to her. Why did you lie?”

“She’s your mother and grandmother to Amy and Amelia. She is Paco and Juan’s mother as well. This concerns the ranch. I don’t want Hogan’s Hacienda getting a bad name. It might if Nina had to go to court.” Angelina turned and walked away.

Then she came back. “Damn it Junkin, I always feel as though you are running a scam on me. The thing is, I’ll think this through and know you are right. Sometimes I could almost hate you for being so right all the time.” She turned away, but not before I could see the smile on her face.

This morning was a repeat of yesterday. The only thing different was everything would be closing down at two in the afternoon. Izzy and Jenny sold out of beef jerky by eleven, but were still taking orders. There was a much smaller crowd today, The barbecue beef was all gone before one and there was a rush to get something to eat. The last pig was carved and the chickens were flying off the grill. It was a quarter of two when the last meal was dished up. By actual count thirteen thousand, one hundred and seventeen meals had been served.

I started making the rounds as things were closing down. I came upon the Reverend Jones and thanked him for taking Nina into town. He passed it off saying that he was glad to be of help. Anxious to get his crew and everything packed up, he didn’t give me his full attention until,

“Reverend, I gave you $1100. to advise and help us here with the barbecue. We have had a wonderful turnout and as you put your church service off until this evening, I would like to make a donation to your collection plate. You will find another $1500. in this envelope. I would ask you to ask your congregation to do the same thing next year here at Hogan’s Hacienda.”

“Thank you Junkin. I’m sure they will. Thank you very much for the donation as well. May we see you in church one day?”

“Yes, I think you will and not many Sundays from now, either.”

The crew that had put on the barbecue were fast picking up their equipment. The carnival rides were coming down and the parking lot was almost empty. I spoke to Angelina, “Would you find Paco, Juan, Maddie and Mazie. Tell them that as of right now they are off work. They have until tomorrow morning at nine for themselves. They can draw whatever money they think they might need from Nellie. There are two motel rooms reserved in the ranch’s name. They are theirs to use.”

Angelina pursed her lips as if to object. I forestalled her by saying, “Paco and Juan have to help the haying crew when they get back here in the morning. Maddie and Mazie leave for home Tuesday. This gives them a few hours to be alone together. The two girls may be back to visit. I’ve invited them for Thanksgiving. By that time they may have hooked up with someone else. The boys understand this.

“Let’s see, what time are you leaving? You said you have to work.”

“I’ll stay until noon tomorrow. Junkin, will you call the local school board and find out what I have to do to get Amy and Amelia enrolled? I’m going to miss them during the week, but I’ve decided it is the best for all of us.”

“Have you told Ezra yet?”

“No.”

“You should. It will make him very happy. Does this mean you are considering moving back here to the ranch after you get your degree?”

“Maybe. I’m not making any promises. Would you do me a favor? I still need to get the kids their clothes. Would you have time to bring them in Wednesday morning?”

“I’ll arrange it. Can we all have lunch together?”

“I’ll put something together.”

“No, I want to take all three of you out. By the way, Nina went back into town with the minister. She was over there helping the congregation pick up.”

“Oh no!”

I laughed. “Don’t worry, the Reverend Jones has been around. He is her age.” I laughed again. “What’s the matter, don’t you want a minister for a step-dad?”

“I don’t think that’s funny at all.” I stared right into Angelina’s face until she broke into a grin and then was laughing with me. She turned and shaking her head at the absurdity of it, went to find Paco, Juan and the girls. I was so up about the success of the weekend, I felt as if I was walking on air. Of course my Angel being so cordial lifted me a few more inches.

Twenty minutes later Paco came asking which motel rooms were theirs for the night. I gave him the keys to the Forester and told him to have fun. I went into the house and Jenny had all of the money we had taken in spread out on the table. She was sorting it out into various piles and marked which concession, booth, ride or food area it had come from. Angelina had the ledger out.

It was going to be a slow process, but then Bill Boyle came to our rescue. He helped tabulate it. The costs had already been determined and when the income was listed, we knew almost immediately how much we had made.

“Jenny and I will take this and deposit it in the bank in the morning. I would like to thank everyone that helped make this a success. Most of the time I think we had some fun. Sure there were some surprises and rough spots, but I think it came off better than anyone could expect.”

“Yes and we know who made it a success. I have to say I had many doubts about Junkin and his ideas. I admit I was wrong. I’d like to apologize.”

“Thank you Angelina. There were times I had my doubts. The lease is safe. That was the main thing and I’ll take care of that tomorrow as well. Let’s have something to eat and relax for the rest of the evening. Bill and Terry, how long can you stay?”

“We were going to leave Tuesday, but if you don’t mind we’d like to stay until Friday.”

“Stay, by all means and welcome. We really haven’t had much time to sit down and visit. Pete is going to be busy after tonight and you should hang out with him and Mom. He is pretty proud of his grandson. I’ll try to break him loose just before your family leaves.” Terry flashed me a glance. I would have to tell her I didn’t have any hidden message in that remark.

I continued, “The haying starts tomorrow and they work around the clock, the weather permitting. The forecast says it will be. The crew wanted to start last week, but I put them off because of the barbecue.” I grinned. “Barbecue this year---next year I am going to be calling it the Fair at Hogan’s Hacienda.”


Chapter Four

If you wanted to see desolation---the ranch was it at eight the next morning. The carnival roustabouts had worked all night and the trucks pulled out at five a.m. The hay crew were already in the lot the farthest from the ranch buildings. It seemed as if there was trash everywhere. I went over to where the cars had been parked to see if there was very much in the bordering hay field. There were a few empty beer bottles and cans thrown over the fence. I would get Amy and Amelia to pick them up later.

Paco and Juan and the two college kids came rolling in about nine, saying they had eaten breakfast already. Angelina was getting ready to go back to the city. “Amy and Amelia, Junkin is going to bring you into town for clothes on Wednesday. By that time he will have found out if you can go to school from here. That will make it so I can have more time to study. When I become a nurse, I’ll try to find a job near here and you can live here all the time. Now you do everything he tells you to do. If you don’t he has my permission to spank you. Now come give me a kiss and say good-bye to me.”

I wanted her to ask me to kiss her too. I did get a look that she was aware. “Junkin, I’ll see you when you bring the girls in. You promised to take us out for lunch so I’ll see you then.” She hesitated and then came over to me. “Junkin, thank you for what you are doing for all of us. I declare I never thought I would say that. I mean it though.” She put her hand out.

I took it and brought it to my lips as I bowed just a bit. “Thank you, Angel, I will see you on Wednesday.” I stepped back. Angelina flushed at the gesture of fealty I had bestowed on her. It was actually more intimate than if I had kissed her.

“Damn it Junkin, just once would you do something that I expect you to do.” She tried to act exasperated, but it didn’t work for she was smiling too broadly. I could tell she was pleased.

I wanted to get to the bank so just as soon as Angelina left, Jenny and I went into town. It took over an hour for the bank to tabulate all of the proceeds. I came away with my copy of the deposit slip saying that the ranch’s account had increased by $82,017.22. Not bad! I had lent the ranch $67,000. There was now plenty of funds to pay interest on what I had loaned the ranch. When Angelina came next time, I would talk with her about how some of the money should be distributed. I knew that I could finally work with her now.

The ranch was now in the black and we had accumulated quite a few assets. We had tons of hay over and above what we needed for our own stock. This second cutting was worth nearly as much as the first cutting, although there was only a quarter as many bales. It was of much better quality. We had a sawmill. We had enough vehicles to drive no matter what size crew we had. That thought reminded me that Izzy needed a driving license. What a boost to his ego if he could pass the test.

Our next project was going to be the poker party. That should bring in better than $10,000 over expenses for the one weekend. I had Randall Smith coming to look over how to get skiers up to the top of the lease. I was hoping he could come up with something that wasn’t too costly.

One thing I hadn’t had time to check out was the trail up the mountain and the ghost town that sat in the valley on the other side. Maybe I could convince Angelina to go horse backing to see the abandoned town with me. I knew she rode. I did now, but it wasn’t anything I was thrilled with. How in hell could people spend hours in the saddle and enjoy it, was beyond my comprehension.

Maddie and Mazie were all packed by the time Jenny and I returned from the bank and were waiting for a ride to the airport. They had said good-bye to Paco and Juan last night. The brothers were working with the hay crew as were Izzy and Pete. The twins were dressed in halters and shorts. Terry kept glancing at them in their brief attire. I was smiling and Bill was too.

I was tempted to suggest that Bill be the chauffeur, but figured it wouldn’t gain me any points. Mom was going to drive them. I whispered this to Mom and she landed all over me. “Don’t you dare! It would just make your sister mad.” Sister? I had forgotten for a minute that Terry was family to me again and Bill was my brother-in-law. I chuckled at the twist of fate that made this so.

All of us were in the yard when the young women were ready to leave. They kissed Ezra and he acted as if it was his due. Amy and Amelia had tears in their eyes for they had been treated as little sisters to the big girls. And then they came for me.

I mean they were all over me. I had both of them in my arms at once. This time it was they who had tears. They exclaimed over how much fun and freedom they had this summer. It was something they would remember and treasure all their lives. They didn’t know if they would ever get to come back. I assured them they would be welcome anytime. This was seconded by Ezra.

I looked around as Mom pulled out for the airport. All that were left here for the minute were Ezra and Grace Lincoln, Jenny, who was getting lunch, and Terry and Bill---oh yes, my nephew, and of course Amy and Amelia. I would be talking to Terry and Bill right after lunch.

The girls were hanging on my arm wanting something to do. “Okay, if you want to, you can go look for beer bottles and cans in the hay field next to where the cars were parked. Find all you can. I’m sure lots of people threw their empties over the fence. Just bring them up and toss them back over. We will pick them up soon.”

“Okay Junkin, don’t forget us when you eat.” They skittered off.

Terry was amazed. “How do you get kids that age to do something? That wouldn’t happen at home.”

“They know everyone works on the ranch. They also want to stay here when they go to school. At home with Angelina, she has them at the baby-sitters and they are bored. You watch, they will make a game out of picking up beer cans. The work will get done and they have fun doing it. You have met Paco and Juan. They are down there haying. When they came here the first of the summer they brought trouble with them and were a lazy pair. If they wanted to stay, I told them they had to work. As a reward, they had two college kids to sleep and play with. The rest is history.”

“What was the trouble?” Terry was curious.

“Paco and Juan were forced to bring two men with them who tried to rob the ranch. They almost succeeded as Ezra and Izzy were in town. Your dad took care of the one that went after Mom and I was able to stop the other when he went for Angelina. They are in jail now.”

I paused, trying to decide if I should expand on the relationship of some of the people here. “Paco and Juan belong to Nina. She was Ezra’s woman but she spent some time in the bunkhouse when she should have been in the ranch house. It didn’t matter to Ezra as the boys were born Hogans and he claims them.

“Izzy has just become a Hogan. Ezra was about worn out from running the ranch when Izzy first came. There was just the two of them here when Mom and Pete came out from the east. Angelina lived in town and rarely came out except to try to get Ezra to sell out. Paco and Juan, for a time Ezra had no idea where they were.

“Then I came. Ezra tried to give me half the ranch in return for keeping things going. That pissed Angelina off and she blew her stack, thinking I was running a scam on Ezra. She has just started speaking civilly to me. Then Jenny latched onto Izzy and to give him some stature, Ezra got Angelina to make him her brother the same as Paco and Juan.

“I haven’t done much more than meet Mrs. Lincoln and I’ll be getting acquainted with her. What I’m trying to say is, we all think the world of Ezra and we want to keep him going as long as we can.”

“These things all happened since you left home?”

“No, these things happened since Mom came.”

“Why did she come out here when she did?”

“Hmm, I guess that was my idea. What was I going to do with an alcoholic father-in-law who was going downhill because he didn’t feel as if anyone loved him? I knew I was part of the problem and I knew what his dream was.

“Mom and Pete were about the same age and both lonely. She came from around here the same as Pete. That took care of where. The why---you know Pete is your father and he became the same to me when my Dad died. I haven’t lost a bit of love for him and it has paid off in spades. Now he is actually mentoring me in the western ways. We both won.”

“That makes me look like a hateful, uncaring person.”

“Well you were, but tell me you didn’t change before you knew he had changed? You told me you went to the police and reported him missing. He has forgiven you. You immediately came out to visit him when you found out where he was located. You have embraced the woman he chose to make his wife. You have given him a grandson to carry on his bloodline. Forgive yourself Terry. People can understand why you acted as you have even if they think you were pretty shallow the way you went about it. Get on with your life.”

“But this is all tied in with you. How can you stand there and not hate me? I pushed you away just like I pushed Pop away and so much more. I showed the most disrespect when I started cheating on you. You provided for me and I threw that in your face because I was unhappy with how you earned your living. I---”

“Stop Terry, that’s enough, you don’t have to go any further. Just give my nephew the best care in the world. Tell him when he is old enough that he has an uncle out west who loves him. You might come and visit when you can. I’d like to see him occasionally as he grows up. You can always use the excuse that you want to see your father. Your father will never leave here and I don’t believe I will either.”

Bill stepped forward and shook my hand. “God Junkin, I don’t believe anyone that I know really knows what kind of a man you are. You’re the best.”

“Thanks Bill, just take care of your wife and son. Now tell me how the town is coping with the clean up?”

“It has been pretty upsetting. No one knows anyone else because there are so many strangers around. Your junkyard property is busy night and day, loading or unloading stuff. There is plenty of money floating around, but that has brought in a rougher element. The town has enlarged its police force by half to cope with the crime rate. We even have a redlight district. Of course we have two new churches too. We are all waiting until it is over. We are hoping that it won’t take the full four years.”

“I miss the old business sometimes. I had connections all over. If I wanted something or wanted to sell something that I had acquired, all I had to do was pick up a phone. Someone I knew could put me onto someone that could answer my questions. I’m new here and have to start all over making new connections to get things accomplished. This barbecue will help a lot. If I call someone and mention Hogan’s Hacienda they will know who and what I am.

“I have a lot of projects that need developing here at the ranch. I don’t want to take away the western flavor or heritage of the place, but to enhance it. Ezra is an icon and I want to make sure he is remembered. It is up to my generation to preserve it for the kids such as Amy and Amelia. Hmm, I do get carried away, don’t I? Let’s just say I’m happy here and have no regrets about anything that happened before I moved out here.”

My intent was to take away all the shame Terry and Bill felt in how they had treated me. If they had the freedom from that, then they would give Bill Junior that much more love. The baby might never know his real father and I am okay with that if he receives all the love from his parents that he deserves.

These were just words that I was speaking and I believed them most of the time. I wanted them to believe me! But there were still moments when I wanted to lash out and push Bill’s face in. Revenge toward Terry---figure out how to label her as a whore and tell the whole world about it. I knew I wouldn’t do this, but if I did, some people would better agree with those actions than the way I was treating Terry and Bill now. No one sympathizes with a cheating wife, but in this instance, they couldn’t know Terry like I did and some of the reasons to cause her to cheat.

Maybe my thoughts could be read on my face. Terry asked, “Are you okay Junkin? You looked strange for a minute.”

“No, I’m fine. I just remembered that I didn’t give the girls any gloves to wear while picking up trash. Would you excuse me while I go tend to them?”

*******************

Wednesday I took the two girls into town and had lunch with Angelina. I had news for her about the kids being enrolled in the school and how ecstatic they were. Our lunch was nothing special, we just went out to a fast food place. It was a place that catered to young kids and they had things for them to play in or on. We were there almost two hours.

It was the most relaxed I had been since coming west. I had many chances to flirt with Angelina and was tempted, but I figured I would let her open that can of worms. We were in her environment here---not out at the ranch under the moonlight or with a beautiful sunrise to exclaim over.

I did learn one thing. Angelina’s taxes were due on her property the first of October and she was owing her tuition for the next three months. When we reached her home I asked what the total would be. I made a decision. “The ranch will pay for both. It is about time you derived something as the daughter of Ezra. We will go over the books the next time you are at the ranch. Hopefully you can come out this weekend.”

“I will be out Friday evening. Are you sure about the money? How are the others going to feel about this?”

“They will be fine about it, honest. Jenny is agreeable as long as her mother and Izzy are taken care of. She has been promised money if she needs it. Paco and Juan have been told if they want better quarters on the ranch, we will build it for them. They don’t ever intend to leave.

Mom is a relative of Ezra and she may want separate quarters someday. I doubt it, for she loves the big old ranch house and Pete loves her. When you move out to be with the girls, we can figure something so you can have a separate apartment if you wish.”

“What about you, Junkin? You haven’t said what your plans are.”

“I’ll just adapt to whatever happens. I could say I just work at the ranch, but I think I’m a big part of it and I can’t see where I’m going to be leaving anytime soon. Look, I have to get back out there. I’m doing hard physical labor tomorrow. I’m replacing Pete on the hay crew so he can spend the last day that Terry and Bill are there with him. Where are the kids? I want to say good-bye.”

“I think they are in my room. You may go in.”

I went through the door. The girls were laying crosswise on Angie’s bed reading. They jumped up so I could kiss them. As I turned back I spotted a picture on Angie’s dresser. It was the one Mom had given me of Angelina and the two girls. The one where I had my arms around her. “Do you like my picture, Junkin?” This from the doorway.

“Jenny found it when she was putting away clean clothes in your bureau. She gave it to me. It is such a nice picture of the children, I claimed it for my own. I hope you don’t mind. It took almost a day before I figured out where and how the picture was taken. I paid you for it already so it isn’t yours any more.”

“When did you pay for it?”

“Saturday morning as the sun was coming up. Don’t tell me you have forgotten?”

“The kiss?”

“Yes the kiss.” She looked at me. “That was a down payment. There will be other payments forthcoming periodically. Not today though.”

“Okay, I can live with that. Bye girls, see you this weekend. You too, Angel.” I could have used a payment right then, but I decided I would let my Angel set the boundaries for just a little while longer.

I did work on Thursday. Pete spent the day with his daughter and grandson. I will say that I was getting more and more impressed with Paco and Juan. They had my ass dragging by noon. Izzy, who never said much, was the most capable doing this kind of work. It didn’t seem as if he expended any effort at all to get the job done.

Haying was moving to a close and would be done tomorrow. One of them, I don’t know if it was Paco or Juan, told me they could handle things the rest of the day. I headed in to the ranch headquarters.

I could hear Pete, Bill, Terry and Mom talking in the living room. I branched off in the kitchen and went into Ezra’s quarters to get acquainted with Mrs. Lincoln. I found her pleasant with a twinkle in her eye. Jenny came in and joined us. We went over the past weekend and then how the haying was going. I said things around the ranch would be slowing down now until the upcoming poker weekend.

I could see that Jenny Berkley wanted to say something. “I don’t know who to say this to, you Junkin, or Ezra. I’ll just spit it out. You know that Izzy and I are sleeping together. He is fourteen years younger than me, but he is of age.

“Now I don’t want you to think that I’m looking to horn into owning part of the ranch, but I want to get married to Izzy. It would have been easier to do if you hadn’t adopted him. Can one of you figure out how to arrange this so people won’t think I’m after some of the ranch? He loves me and I love him.”

I spoke up, “What if you fall in love with someone more your age and with a few more capabilities?”

“That might be a problem if I was ever going to leave the ranch. I would like to make my life right here and I would sign an agreement that if I leave, I will not make any claim on the ranch.”

“No, by God, if you marry a Hogan, you get a share.”

“Don’t go too fast Ezra. I’m in agreement that this is the way it should be. Think Ezra, about Angelina and how she may feel about it. Before anything is agreed to, let me talk to her. Remember what happened a few months ago when you wanted to divide up the ranch. I hope Angie has mellowed since then. Remember also she has two daughters to think of. Paco and Juan will be finding wives sometime. That will make them equal with Izzy and Jenny. If I can get Angie to half-way agree, that is the time to get an attorney to sort it out.”

I tried to inject a little humor. “How about you, Ezra? When are you getting married? You’re getting to be an age when it ought to happen.”

This brought a round of laughter, but Ezra ignored it as I continued. “Nothing has to be settled here today. Jenny will still be sleeping with Izzy and you will be sleeping with Grace. Mom is your niece. She comes into this as well.”

Ezra looked at me. “When are you going to get Angie into bed? That’ll calm her down. I bet she will do anything you suggest as soon as you do that.”

“She has to love me before that happens.”

“Shit man, she has loved you ever since she took that bullet out of your leg. You may not know it but that scar is just the same as the cows have after being branded. That’s a Hogan brand. Believe it boy! Oh sure, it took her awhile to realize it and she fought it some, but she loves you. She told me.”

I glanced at Grace and she was nodding her head. “I heard her tell Ez just before she went back to town the other day.”

I was speechless and had to think about this. “I guess I will go up to the lease and look at the cattle. I’ll be back, mealtime.” I was walking on air when I got into one of the pickups. I was up there two hours. Did I check the fences? Nope. I parked the vehicle right where I received the kiss the other morning. Did all my thoughts stay with Angelina? They should have, but then I started puzzling about how to get people way up here so they could ski down.

There was a hill off to the east that Ezra had named the “hogback” because that is what it resembled. Click! A year ago before I closed the junkyard I remembered that there was a small ski area that had been closed for years somewhere in southern Vermont. I was invited to bid on the tow and lift equipment. The biggest catch was that it was still on the mountain and would have to be removed before it could be scrapped. What if the equipment could be salvaged and made to work again?

The equipment itself could be bought for pennies a pound if it hadn’t been sold. Removing it would be costly and transportation even more so. It was a long way from Colorado to Vermont. Was it too much to bite off? Maybe. I’d have to get some figures and talk to a banker. Would Bill want a piece of it? I certainly had caused him some grief when I pulled my accounts out of his bank. I think he understood how I felt at the time. I mean if you are screwing someone’s wife, you should feel a little pain. Well I wasn’t ready to talk yet.

Finally my thoughts returned to my Angel and I was feeling a little guilty. I’d have to tell her about this someday. What would she say? She was getting to know me and I think beginning to understand me. One thing I was sure of, she would let me know how she felt.

I was quiet at supper time. My mind was on how I was going to handle this ski tow project. Several times those around the table spoke to me without me answering. Before Mom served dessert, I looked at my watch and figured what time it was where Randall Smith lived. I went into my room and closed the door and dialed his number. “Hey Randall, I’m ready to get that ski tow project started. Can you help me?”

He answered, “I can. I was wondering when I would hear from you.”

“I think I have scrapped the idea of a rope tow like we built when we were kids. I think I will look for a used ski tow or lift. I remember one being for sale up in Vermont a year ago. Would you trundle up there and see what you can find? All I need is the equipment. Get the figures on what it would cost if it is still there.

“If you can find what I want, start estimating what it is going to cost to tear it down, load it on trucks and transport it. I’ll need figures because I don’t have that much money right now. I do have a couple of million due me in the next three years so I’m not broke.

“Just as soon as you get the figures, come out here and show me what’s needed for bases for the towers or whatever they call them. Why don’t you get your engineering company involved for that part?” I listened as he clarified what he thought would need to be done. “You’re a buddy. Let me know just as soon as you can. Winter’s coming, you know.”

I wore a satisfied smile when I came out of the room. Terry was the only one smiling. “Junkin either just spent an awful lot of money or made an awful lot of money. I bet it had to do with junk, too. I’ve seen him like this too many times not to recognize that look. How much this time?”

“Don’t know yet. It is a risk. Ezra says there is plenty of snow here in the valley. All I’ve done so far is see if I can find a ski tow. How is your bank on making commercial loans, Bill?”

Bill flushed, “We haven’t made too many lately. Some pissed-off husband sewed the market up and took our business to another bank.” He was smiling.

“So if this pissed-off husband relented and threw some business your way, would you turn it down? Would you trust him to repay the loan?”

“Yes I would, and not because of his credit either. It is more personal than that. Junkin, just let me know and I’ll see if I can help you if you need it.”

Terry, Bill and little Junior got ready to leave in the morning. Mom was driving them to the airport. Ezra was the ever gracious host and invited them back anytime. “You’re family you know.”

It took me a minute to figure that one out. It came to me then, Terry’s father was married to Mom and Mom was Ezra’s niece---oh shit, it was too complicated! I suppose it didn’t matter. If Terry came to visit, I would be seeing Bill Junior. That was the only thing that interested me. I had given up my firstborn, but I did want to see how he turned out.

Terry caught me alone for a minute. “Junkin, I have seen another side of you this past week. You have opened up and I can see the kind of man you really are. I love you. I mean that, but it is for the way you have treated me and Bill. When you were sitting around in the junkyard, I didn’t see the real you and turned away. I should have known after the way you treated me way back the night you took me to the prom. I’m sorry about that in a way, but I think it was the best thing for both of us.

“Angelina is here and I know you love her. I think she is one that you should sweep off her feet. I’m speaking now as your sister. As your ex-wife, I guess I am a little jealous.” There was just the hint of moisture in her eyes as she turned away. Later I was the one to hand Bill Junior in to her as they were getting settled in the car. Bill shook my hand and thanked me one more time as Mom put the car in gear.

*************

Amy and Amelia rushed to me as they jumped out of the car when they arrived that night. I swept them both into my arms for a hug. “Did you have a good time in town?”

“We hated it. We had to go to the baby-sitter while Mom was in class. I’m never going to leave you and home again.” They ran off to say hi to everyone.

I looked at Angelina as she made the statement, “I guess you know now how they feel about where home is. It’s all your fault too. You have stolen my little girls from me.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

“Junkin, if this was back two or three months ago, I would be very upset. Now the only part I dislike is the fact that I’m not their only all-be-all. I miss that. They are so happy out here at the ranch. They have changed, and being out here hasn’t hurt them. Before they felt I was the only one who loved them. Now they know a whole lot of people love them. It is nice to feel loved.”

“Do you feel loved?”

Angelina came a little closer and looked intently into my face. Then she spoke. “This is about more than just a kiss isn’t it?”

“Yes.” I didn’t move. “Angelina, would you go on a date with me tomorrow evening? I would like to take you out dancing somewhere. Maybe we could talk a little without me having to pay attention to what is going on here at the ranch. Do you realize that I have spent only one night away from here in the last three months?”

“That was the night you spent at my house before picking up your ex-wife the next day.”

“My sister and her baby, not my ex-wife, you mean. Your mother was there that night too, but you weren’t if I remember correctly.”

“Yes, I remember. I remember also that I offered my bed to you, but you gave it to her to sleep in. Maybe I should offer it to you again.”

“Would you?”

“I might. At least I will think about it. Now go give someone some orders or something and stop looking at me like that.” We both turned away from each other with a little smile.

It wasn’t to be. Not that next night anyway. The hay crew wanted to finish up and I had to pitch in to help. Then the cows broke out of the fence and headed from the lease up the trail and the county beyond. Paco, Juan and Pete got horses and went after them. No way were they going to get me on a horse to chase cows in the dark on some mountain. It was almost midnight before things returned to normal. I was beat.

I didn’t see my Angel when I returned to the ranch and Mom said she had gone to bed earlier. I was pretty dejected as we all ate a late supper. It was after midnight before I was calm enough to think about going to bed. All day I had thought about the date with Angelina which was supposed to happen tonight. I honestly felt worse about this than I had the night Terry had asked me for a divorce.

I slid into bed. It was already occupied. “Hi.”

“Hi yourself. I didn’t expect to find you here.”

“I know. Life is full of surprises isn’t it? I’m here to make sure you know you are getting a rain check. I can imagine how disappointed you are that we couldn’t go dancing. I came in to tell you I am too. I’m not staying long so if you want to kiss me, I’m waiting.”

Angelina stayed longer than she planned to. One kiss led to another and than the natural progression was to do some exploring. “Junkin, it has been a long time since I have had a man’s hands on me. You have lit a fire in me and I don’t want you to stop. I know if you continue, I will lose all control.”

“I will stop if you say so. I don’t want to either. I am patient and don’t need to reach the ultimate goal tonight as long as it happens very soon. I would very much like to give you pleasure. Would you relax and let me make you feel good? I will stop the minute you tell me to.”

“Just a little bit then. Just until I tell you to stop.” Even with nightclothes on, she was worn out before finally telling me to stop. “Let me lie here in your arms. I feel so loved. Nothing has ever happened to me like this before.”

Angelina dozed. I was wide awake. I was needing relief and I didn’t know how I was going to get it. I did say I was a patient man, but the patient man didn’t know how he was going to feel after he had held this beautiful little woman in his grasp and more or less had his way with her.

“Are you awake, Junkin?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you might be. Kiss me and if you have any love for me, I’d like to hear you say it.” I said it and meant it. “Now it is your turn to relax. Remember I was married for several years so I guess I am as experienced in love making as you are. Of course if you want me to stop, I might listen and I might not.”

Her hands were like magic. There was more and I never did tell her to stop. It wasn’t long before we snuggled together. I went to sleep and when I awoke, I was alone and the sun was coming up.

It was Sunday and I remembered I had promised the Reverend Jones that at some point I would appear in church. Angelina, Pete and Mom went with me and the girls. The biggest surprise of all was seeing Nina sitting with the choir. She did have a beautiful voice. This was her first appearance and we could tell she was a little uncertain about how strong she should sing out. She sang and she looked almost saintly when she raised her voice to the heavens.

“Mam, what are you doing in church?” This was after Reverend Jones shook our hands and said he was pleased we had joined him on this Sunday.

“Angie, I’ve tried everything else. I thought I might try this for a little bit. I am living in a room the minister found for me with his sister. I have a job in a convenience store as a cashier. Junkin kept me from getting into trouble last weekend and I’m so thankful. I know Ezra doesn’t want me out at the ranch and I understand. I would like to see Paco and Juan sometimes though. You, too, and these two little girls.”

Nina had her arms around Amy and Amelia. “Okay Mam, as long you don’t screw up again and hurt someone. Pa probably won’t bar you from coming out sometimes either. You might as well know that the kids are going to school here in town. I’ll be at the ranch on weekends and holidays.

“Junkin has made it so I can go to school full time and I only work part time at the clinic.” She was debating whether to say more. “Mam, I do love you. You have just disappointed me so often.” The two women hugged. Striking how much they looked alike.

Angelina made an announcement after Sunday dinner. “Tomorrow is Labor Day and a holiday. I think we will have a picnic up on the lease. I will be going into the city later to pick up whatever we don’t have here at the ranch. Junkin will be going with me. He has promised to take me out to dinner tonight. It is time he had a day off. He will be staying over at the house and we will be back here about nine in the morning.”

“Mommy can me and Amy go too?”

“Not this time. Next week if we go into town you can go.” Disappointed they turned to me.

“Sorry girls, but this is what your mother wants. We will see you tomorrow. When we are up at the lease, I will point out where I have plans for a ski area. You both said you wanted to learn to ski. You are going to have your very own ski area.”

I glanced at Angie. Crap, I hadn’t filled her in about the ski area plans. Oh well, we were bound to have an argument again sometime. But then she hadn’t mentioned her plans about me staying with her tonight either. This couple was just going to have to learn to talk about things more. I chuckled. Angie looked at me and those pursed lips tightened some more.

For some reason I wasn’t concentrating on chores. Ezra wanted to talk about the poker party coming up in a few weeks. Believe it or not, the sheriff was the one that was doing the contacting of the players. Ezra said this was something he had run for years---and I thought my idea was original!

I should be working on how much money I would need to get the ski tow going. I had to know before Randall Smith actually spent any money. Then my thoughts were crowded out by memories of last night. It looked as if I was going to see Angelina unclothed this evening. I knew she would be so lovely.

Lunch was finally over and I spoke to Angie. “What time were you planning on leaving?”

“I don’t know if you need to go. I can go by myself.” Women! She was pissed again over plans I had made about the ranch and as yet she wasn’t included.

“Okay.”

I turned and walked away. She stopped me. Was there just a hint of puzzlement and pleading? “Junkin, don’t you want to go with me?”

“Yes I want to go with you, but you have to understand that I’m first manager of the ranch. I’ve told you before that the ledger we keep the accounts in is open to you all the time. There is a place where the estimates for upcoming projects are listed.

“I’m only two days into this project of the ski tow and nothing is listed because I don’t have any information yet. If you are going to get pissed because you don’t know about something when you haven’t even been here, we might just as well go back to Mr. Duncan and Mrs. Betite.

“I could get pissed at you as well. When were you going to tell me about me taking you in my arms and making mad passionate love to you? About me seeing you without clothes on and maybe taking a shower with you? About me caressing you and making you feel as good as we did last night? People here aren’t dumb. The only ones that didn’t understand what you were saying were Amy and Amelia and that’s because they are too young.

“It is the surprise of having a beautiful woman tell everyone all of this. I could forgive you if you are ready to leave in the next half hour. I think we should go by your house first though. After that we can decide where to go for dinner---if you still want to.” I paused for just a second. “Just one warning and one more thing for you to think about. I’m going to be telling you that I’m in love with you.”

“Junkin, I’ll be ready to leave in twenty minutes. I’ll wait until I get to the house to shower. Would you make sure the pickup you call Angel is ready? You can drive.”

No one at the ranch had anything to say when we arrived back in the morning. Mom, Jenny and Grace Lincoln had things put up for the planned picnic. The two girls were anxious to get going. When they went out to one of the pickups, most everyone was still in the kitchen.

“Just to stop people from speculating about me and Junkin, he slept in my bed with me last night. We find that we are quite compatible and have agreed to date with the idea of him becoming father to Amy and Amelia someday. Needless to say because we are compatible in bed may not be enough to hold us together for long. But we are willing to compromise when we misread each other until we get to know the other better.”

I can’t say I was in agreement with having my life out in the open quite this much. But then again, I wouldn’t give up what I had found at Angelina’s house last evening either. This had to be one of those compromises that my Angel spoke about.

As we all loaded into the pickups, I was thinking. This being in love with Angelina had not been well thought out. I mean we knew how to act when we were alone together, but how were we going to act in front of the family. That’s what we were here at the ranch---family. The picnic was being spread---I guess it was the time for me to make a speech as well. I waited until the kids were chasing up the mountain and couldn’t hear me.

I had everyone’s attention. “Angie has told you all about what is happening between the two of us. I confess I don’t know how to act, so if I do something stupid, remember I’m just working out this thing between us. I set one goal for myself and I have reached it. One more goal to go. I’m not saying anything more.”

Angie flounced over and faced me. “What was your damned goal? To get me into bed. Was that it?”

“No it wasn’t, but that was a wonderful thing too. It was to get you to calm down enough and stop being so bitchy so I could tell you I love you. I did that. I might as well tell you what the other goal is now that you misread what I meant. Angie, I want to make you the happiest woman on earth.” I didn’t want this conversation here and I looked up at the other people around us. They were trying to ignore this interplay.

I returned my attention back to my Angel. She broke out with a smile. “I did it again, didn’t I? Junkin, I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”

I didn’t answer her directly. “I do believe this is going to work.” I stood up and embraced her. I whispered, “I forgive you.” It was much more relaxed during the picnic. Later in the afternoon we picked up and everyone went down to the ranch.

***************

It was with regret that Angie left after supper that night. She had classes in the morning. Wednesday morning Amy and Amelia started classes in the small school closest to the ranch. I drove them there and went in with Amy to help her find her first grade classroom.

Amelia went along to her third grade room by herself. I remembered when I first went to school how shy and scared I had been, but these kids had been at the ranch where things were always going on. It gave them a confidence and this was just a new experience for them.

Angelina called before supper to ask them how their first day went. She said she wished that she could have been here for them. “That’s all right, Mom, Junkin was here and he took us. It’s almost like having a Dad take us.” This was Amy speaking and she was only three when her father died. Amelia remembered her father, but she rarely spoke of him.

I didn’t get to pass on any words of endearment for just the short minute I had Angie on the phone, because of the kids and others in the room. I did hear some from her though. I asked her what her schedule for the weekend was going to be. “I’m working from eight in the morning until three at the clinic on Saturday. I’ll be out right after that. Maybe we can watch the moon rise again.” I promised we would.

Everyone was working at the ranch as there was still much to do to put the place back together after the barbecue. All of the poles, the blocks for the seats and the planks that went on them we stacked and stored. They were preserved for next year. We would have to cut more, for I planned on making this into an annual event, only bigger. A hay buyer came along and I gave him a price for the remaining first cutting of hay. This left the second cutting and better quality hay for our own herd.

Before this, the cattle had free ranged over most of the home place. This year, after talking it over with Ezra and deciding that we had enough hands to close-herd the cattle, we started constructing feed bunks. The cattle would be in a holding pasture. That way if the ski area became something, we would have a jump on containing the herd away from the public.

The county prosecutor called and told us that the three men who had tried to rob us hadn’t made bail and were still in jail. He expected the drivers of the two cars would plead guilty and would draw light sentences. Neither were asking for jury trials and they were to go before a judge. The judge would follow the prosecutor’s recommendations for sentencing.

The third man, the one who had gotten out of the rear car with a gun and was wounded, would be tried later in the year or the first of next year. Jenny, myself and Paco would have to testify. The sheriff and Nina would also have to testify. What a bother!

Friday, I received a call from Randall Smith. He was at the airport and wanted me to pick him up. He was ready to look over the location I proposed for the ski area. I suggested he rent a car, but no, he had other things to discuss. He was pressed for time and had a flight out early on Saturday. This worked for me. Maybe I could steal some time alone with Angelina.

I had known Randall for more than twenty years for we had grown up together. He knew Terry, not well, for she had been from the other side of the tracks. He did know Bill Boyle too. His first words as he came up to me were, “How’s Terry? Is she out here with you?”

“Nope, we are divorced. She traded up to Bill Boyle. She even has a kid by him. We are still related, though. She is my sister now. Ain’t that a hoot?” He laughed so hard when I explained. Then I got serious and told him about Angelina and her two little girls.

“So are you trading up or down?”

“Up, definitely up. You probably won’t be able to meet her this time if you have to leave tomorrow, but you will someday. Now tell me what you have found for equipment.”

“What I found isn’t good. The tow on Hogback Mountain is all rusted and I’d say offhand beyond salvage. There is another lift not too far from there at the Maple Valley Ski Area, but they want a lot of money for it. More than it’s worth in my estimation. If you are really serious about this, I’ll look further. I thought I would come out and see what you have in mind. I might suggest some other alternatives. How much money do you have to put into this, really?”

“$50,000 a month that is being paid into the bank as we speak. I’ve got a couple hundred thousand in the bank and I’ve got a couple of million that will be all mine at the end of three years. That’s tax free when I turn my old property over to the town. I get the deduction equal to what I have received for the use of the junkyard. Pretty neat, huh?”

“You got to be shitting me. What did you pay for the yard originally?”

“$35,000.” Randall was shaking his head.

“What have you got going out here? What the hell are you doing out here anyway?”

“Getting happy.” I was quiet long enough for Randall to wonder if I was going to say more. I started again. “Mom is from out here. She came out to be with her uncle. Terry’s father was a drunk and hung around the yard. He was from around this area originally as well.

“When Terry dumped me, I didn’t have any place for my father-in-law, who I thought almost as much of as I did my wife, so I sent him along out here with Mom. Happily, they fell in love and got married. When I finalized things back home I came out. Long story short, I have found someone to love. Actually many some ones. My life is here now and I can’t think of being anywhere else.

“I’ve only slept with my Angel one night so far. That was last weekend. I’ll tell you right now, that one night was better than the whole seven years I was married to Terry. I can’t believe I can be so lucky.”

“Tell me about her.”

“She’s small and dark, part Mex or Indian and so beautiful. We fought for three months before I got to kiss her. Anyway, she is the daughter of the old man who owns the ranch. Angelina resented me at first and thought I was trying to scam the old man out of the ranch. I even took a bullet protecting her. That didn’t even help. We are alright now and our differences are behind us. You’ll meet the two kids tonight. Part of why I love Angelina is because of them. I love the little tykes.”

“Does she know you have some money? Maybe she is after that.”

“I don’t think so. Don’t matter. She can have it all if she continues to love me.”

“Junkin, I think you are crazy. I thought you were crazy when you married Terry and I thought you were crazy when you bought the junkyard. If this turns out as well, I’m going to have to change my mind.”

We pulled into the ranch yard just before the noon meal. Everyone was sitting down to eat. Mom put a fifteen pound roast of beef on the table. There were carrots and potatoes and homemade rolls in three foot pans, one on each end of the table. There were bowls of creamed onions. There was gravy by the gallon. If it wasn’t on the meat and potatoes it was to be sopped up with the rolls. For dessert there were two kinds of pudding---rice and bread. Both were speckled with raisins and there was vanilla ice cream to top it with if you wanted.

It was a mostly silent meal as everyone was eating. As we finished I introduced Randall to everyone. “Come on Randall, I’ll drive you up to the lease and you can see what I’ve got here and what I want to do with it.”

“God Junkin, you’ll have to carry me out to the truck. Christ, I don’t eat that much at Thanksgiving. You have meals like that every day?”

“Yeah, the women do all right.”

“How come no one is fat? I would be.”

“You wouldn’t be if you worked as hard as we all do.”

As I drove up to the lease, Randall estimated how steep the incline was. It was steepest where you went from the home lot to the lease as it was narrower there and the sides of the hills pinched in. It still was more than 400 yards wide. We had to drive right up through the middle of the two hundred acres as the cow herd was on the side where the normal road would be located. It leveled out for about thirty yards before the brush on the mountainside commenced.

“Okay, we are here. Now tell me about it.”

“I thought I could put up the towers next to the road. The road might even be passable part of the winter for a four-wheel drive. There is enough level room to have a small concession here for coffee and sandwiches. I suspect profit from the food will be where most of our money comes from. I’ve got about ten people to keep busy all winter long. I’ve already talked to one school and they want to start a winter sports program. There are several more schools within thirty-five miles.

“The land isn’t steep enough for any serious downhill skiers, but will be good for novices and older people that want to start or remember when they used to face more challenging slopes. Snow boarding has taken over a lot of ski slopes. This is wide enough so the two types could be segregated and not interfere with each other. If the snow is packed, a skier can get on and coast down almost two miles to the ranch house.

“The skiing will be totally weather regulated. I’m not investing in snow guns for I don’t have access to enough water and I’m not planning on lodges or anything. I think this can be a fun operation where those that like the snow can come and have a relaxing afternoon. I bet the place will call in seven or eight hundred people on a good day.”

“You are going to need a Ski Patrol and the insurance is going to be a big cost.”

“I know. There is one skier I have talked to. He has retired from active patrol but he said he’d love to come and help train new members. It shouldn’t be a problem on slopes like this one.”

Randall walked around and then walked over to where the cattle were feeding. Suddenly one cow laid down. Within ten minutes more than half of the cattle were laying down. In twenty minutes the whole herd were on the ground with the exception of a few.

I was laughing. “That’s called herd mentality. Cattle feed about seven times in twenty-four hours. It was time for them to lay down, rest, and chew their cud. This happens when there is adequate feed. In a mixed herd with calves by side, the calves will get them up and going when they get hungry.”

Randall came back and sat on the tailgate. “You know Junkin, I don’t think you want to go with a ski lift. I think you would do better with some over-the-snow vehicles. With those you could utilize them in two ways. They have wide tracks which is what you need to pack the slopes.

“With the gentler slopes here you could pull the skiers up on wagons with runners or just build some large boxes with runners. Hell, you have room enough to give hay rides at night using just the moon. That even sounds romantic to me.

“You would need some snow packers anyway, so why don’t you use them to the fullest. A lot of the big ski areas have used ones for sale. They usually have been well maintained and there are those areas that have gone out of business. There are several companies that build them. Bradley, Bombadier, and Tucker to name a few. If this doesn’t fly for you, you just have to unload the vehicles and you are right back where you started from.”

“Wow. I was worried about getting everything up and ready by snow fly. This I can do. All I have to do is get some warming huts built, organize the food concession and---oh yes, get some insurance. How many snow packers will I need? Do you have any idea?”

“Nope. I’ve got you pointed in the right direction, you can do the rest. Go talk to other ski areas. See what they advise. Oh and while I’m here, I’ll make reservations to ski here over Christmas.”

“Good, bring your wife and make a holiday out of it. No cost to your family. I’ll even put you up in the ranch house. Come on and I’ll buy you a beer.”

*****************

Randall stayed overnight and I got him started early. I had bragged about my Angel and I wanted him to meet her. I knocked on her door at six in the morning. I had some donuts Mom had made with me and a thermos of coffee. Randall was standing behind me. Angelina had just come from the shower and had just a robe around her.

“Buy you a cup of coffee?”

“Junkin, damn you. You are still doing the most unexpected things. I have to get ready for work, but you’re here so come in and have your coffee.” She looked at Randall. “I know who you are. How do you put up with Junkin?”

“Ma’am, I’m so sorry to interrupt you, but he said he had an Angel for a friend and I just had to meet her. I never saw an angel before, but I swear I have now. The name is Randall Smith and I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“God, you’re just as bad as Junkin. Come in, really. I will have coffee with you. Let me get dressed and I’ll be right out.”

I got cups and saucers out of the cupboard. “Junkin, can you come here a minute?” Angelina’s voice came floating out of her bedroom. I went in and stood at the door. Angelina had on her panties and a matching bra. “You stay in the doorway. You can look, but you can’t touch. Two of us can play this game.”

She went about getting dressed just as if I wasn’t there watching. I respected her orders. Her dress went on and then she pulled up her hose. That was one of the most sexy things I had ever seen. “Go out now and entertain our guest.” I got a teasing smile as I turned after shaking my head.

I went into the kitchen and said, “She’ll be right out.”

Randall was laughing at me. He had seen the evidence that Angelina had teased me and I couldn’t do anything about it with him here. Over coffee Angelina declared that she had had a wonderful summer. She was a widow and until Junkin came along, her life had been pretty bleak. Her father was happy and the ranch was in the black. He had drawn closer to those he loved. She thought for an Easterner, Junkin was enjoying being out west. Would we being seeing Randall again?

“He, his wife and son will be staying with us at Christmas time. The boy is Amelia’s age. They all ski and as Randall has helped me a lot, it is only fair for me to invite them.”

“Certainly and welcome.” There was so much difference in Angelina, it surprised me. I got that blinding smile that made me love her. “We are having a ski area then?”

“Yes and Randall gave me some expert advice on how to set it up without it being too complicated.”

“Thank you Randall. Junkin works so hard. Maybe he will slow down a little.”

“Don’t count on it. I have known Junkin for a long time and he is only happy when he is doing something.”

We picked up and as we went out I received a kiss from my Angel. I dropped Randall at the airport and went along home, knowing that I was to see Angelina later in the day. I hummed a tune all the way back to the ranch. When I got back, the feed lot manager who had bought the hay, had a check for me when the last bale was put on the truck.

There were checks totaling $765.00 from orders for Hogan’s Hacienda Beef Jerky. This was still Jenny and Izzy’s project. This was something for them to do, it was profitable and they enjoyed the closeness in working together.

I spent the rest of the day on the computer tracking down snow packers. To be honest I didn’t have any idea what I would need. I ended up not contacting any owners. I switched to looking for ski areas and decided I would need a week of traveling to investigate how the different areas were run, some of their problems, and most of all what I would have to buy for insurance.

I had Mom go out with me and take pictures of the land mass I would be using. I would take these with me as I went around in my travels to give the different managers I spoke to an idea of the kind of operation I intended setting up.

Things were pretty relaxed around the ranch now. What we had put together for the barbecue had been taken down and stored. The poker weekend was a month away. I was going to be away for at least a week looking for equipment to set up the ski area. There were a couple of other things I wanted to talk over with everyone. I would do that at supper tonight. I just knew I was going to have trouble convincing Angelina about some of them.

Angelina collected kisses from Amy and Amelia when she arrived late in the afternoon. I had to be satisfied with a smile. It was a friendly group as we listened to Ezra give the blessing. I had not figured out if he was religious and believed the words he was saying or if it was habit. For once I listened carefully and decided he meant every word.

“Okay, while everyone is still at table, Junkin, would you tell us where we stand and what your plans are?”

“I did want to say something. First, I think it has been a great summer for everyone and for once we don’t have any pressing problems. We have about $88,000 in the bank. I lent the ranch $67,000. I am going to have to declare some income and I agreed to lend the money at 6%, so the ranch owes me $4,020 in interest. I still have no need for that money so I’d suggest that I just take the interest sometime before next June when your note comes due. It is all in the ledger anyway.

“We have better feed for the cattle than Ezra ever had and they should winter well. That should add value and next spring the cattle will fatten up quicker. We will be able to sell some steers for market and some heifers for breeding purposes. The only care this winter is to open bales to feed them. We have most of the feed bunks built already. I haven’t seen but a few open cows, so we will run those into a chute and have them bred artificially now that we have the time.

“Now there is a whole bunch of us living here. I think we should make some changes. First, Paco and Juan---I don’t think we should try to heat the bunkhouse this winter. For the present you both are single, but that may change at any time. I would propose we purchase a sixty foot mobile home. Most come with two baths. You can divide the home in the middle giving each 300 square feet. We can figure where to place it. You can take your meals here in the house.”

“No! I won’t have it. I won’t have a trailer stuck out where everyone can see it.”

“Let me finish Angelina. These are well insulated now, fairly reasonable and don’t need much foundation. As far as looks are concerned, Juan has become really good with the sawmill. We’ve got that fifty acres of small pine where the forest fire burned over thirty years ago. We can make the mobile home look like a log house. Would that be more acceptable?”

“Maybe.”

“Good, for I want the same thing for a concession stand up on the lease where we unload skiers. We’ll need a warming hut up there as well. When Paco and Juan decide to marry, we’ll set up another one. It should be room enough with them taking their meals here in the kitchen. Now as far as the rest of you. Ezra what do you need for you and Grace? Now is the time to plan it out.”

“I’ve been happy for sixty years right in the one big room I live in now. I’ll stay right where I am. Grace?”

“There is plenty of room for me if Ezra is not minding. It is better than a nursing home. Much better company too.” This old lady actually blushed. Ezra did as well!

“Mom, what do you and Pete need?”

“I’d like another room besides the one we have. Maybe the room adjoining the one we are in now.”

“Okay, good. Decide what you want or need for new furniture. Jenny, how about you and Izzy? Where in the house would you like to be or are you satisfied with what you have?”

“We can make do with the room we have.”

“Jenny, I want to ask you a personal question about your future. You can answer it when we are alone sometime.”

“Ask it now. I have no secrets from anyone.”

“Okay, but I don’t want to embarrass you.”

“Ask it.”

“Do you and Izzy plan on having children? That is the question.”

Tears immediately started flowing down Jenny’s cheeks. “You mean you wouldn’t mind? I would love to have a baby.” Her breath kept catching as she waited for my answer. Angelina was looking as if she wanted to object.

“I think if he can give you a baby, we all would be fine with that. A baby will certainly be loved. You can even thank Ezra for bringing this up. I had a discussion about this with him as he knew Izzy’s mother. She said that Izzy’s problem happened when he was born. Izzy’s mother told Ezra that she had a terrible time delivering him. So this is nothing hereditary and any child sired by him should be fine. I went so far as to check with that medical site on the Internet that answers questions such as this.

“Angelina, do you want to say something? You are in the medical profession.”

“I’m not qualified to answer, but if you firmly believe what you have laid out for facts, then I have no objections. After all Izzy is a Hogan and my stepbrother. I can’t deny him the joy of fatherhood. I think Jenny should have as much room as Nellie and Pete. Give them the same amount of rooms. That leaves two more rooms upstairs for expansion if necessary.”

I was dumbfounded. This was just the opposite of what I expected. I would have to question her sometime when we were alone. “That leaves you and the girls in one room and of course myself in one. I’d like to keep a couple of rooms for guests that might be stopping by occasionally.”

“Like your sister and her family?”

“That was in the back of my mind, yes. There is Randall and his family coming to ski over Christmas. I’ve already promised I would put them up.”

“I remember. What are your thoughts seeing as this is going to concern you?”

“You are Ezra’s heir. I think you should have your own apartment. I have given some thought to constructing a twenty-foot extension across the front of the house. That would give the girls separate rooms as they get older and one large room for yourself.”

“Junkin, you are skirting the issue of where you will be.”

“Oh maybe eventually I’ll decide to double up with someone.”

“That is a possibility. Maybe we can discuss this more later.”

“Okay the living quarters are settled. We can work on moving things around when it rains or we just have a couple of free hours. Jenny, why don’t you plan on getting married soon. The last thing I want to touch on is if anyone needs money, don’t hesitate to ask for some. Mom is always here so I will give her the job of dispensing it.

“Oh, I have had the ranch pay Angelina’s taxes on her house. Also the ranch has paid for the last of her schooling so she doesn’t have to work such long hours. Hopefully she can complete her studies sooner and move here and call this home by Christmas. Is there anything else that should be covered?”

Everyone was shaking their heads. Ezra spoke, “I just want to say I’m so glad I lived long enough for all of this to happen. Tonight, I’m a happy old man.”

Chapter Five

In the morning I could hear the two little girls telling Angelina all about their week in school. They missed their mother, but with the love that everyone here at the ranch was lavishing on them, they weren’t sad or lonely. I asked if we were going to church today.

“No, Junkin. What I would like to do is take a ride up the old trail so we can look down into the valley where the old ghost town is located. I wish it was more accessible for it is a beautiful place.”

“This means horses doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it is five miles to the top of the ridge. We don’t have time to hike it this afternoon. You ought to get more practice on a horse. You’re still one of those eastern tenderfoots.”

“Maybe, but think of the poor horse.” This brought an explosive round of laughter from everyone including the little girls. They knew I was just making excuses. It was decided that Angelina, Mom, Juan and I would go. Mom had been up there several times in her youth before going east. Amy and Amelia wanted to go, but Angelina said no, not this time. She promised sometime before snow, we would take tents and go camp in the valley.

It was a beautiful clear day. When we reached the top of the ridge we got off the horses and walked around enjoying the awesome vistas; both back to the southeast and the ranch, and then due west down into the valley where the ghost town was located.

Several tumbled down buildings were still visible. The valley consisted of about thirty acres that surrounded the town. I was interested, as the valley was nowhere near as low as the ranch we had come from. It was only about a mile from the top of the ridge to the old buildings.

We spent an hour and then turned and headed for home. I walked down ahead of the horse. No way was I confident enough to stay on something that if it stopped I would be going over its head. I watched Mom and Angelina. They were totally relaxed, laughing and conversing with each other. I guess it was a matter of trust you had in what you were seated on. Maybe next time.

The trail actually wasn’t that steep, only at the switchbacks where you reversed directions. My mind, always active, studied the trail as I hiked along down. This could be made ATV accessible with a little work. Only two places would have to be blasted. One was where the kid lost his life the previous year in a dune buggy. If those two places were widened I would certainly feel safer on a four-wheeler than on the horse that was lumbering along behind me.

When we got back down to the lease, Mom and Angelina kicked their horses with their heels and raced for the ranch house, with Juan staying with me. We paused and watched and saw the two women, one over fifty and the other approaching thirty, arrive neck and neck. I don’t know which one I was prouder of. The one I gloried in her love or the one that I had looked up to since I was a child. Anyway both belonged here. Now, more and more, I was feeling I did as well.

I took off Monday morning from the airport for a tour of seven ski areas in five states. Two of them were in the northeast. Mainly I wanted to see what equipment they used on the slopes. I didn’t find the slopes as large as the one that we had here at the ranch. They had more trails and more land mass, but all trails were steeper and some very narrow.

This slope that we had would be classified as more novice than anything else. I did get some insight as to what I needed. I returned to the western section of the country and after visiting three areas here, I figured I had all the information necessary.

I tentatively put a binder down on one snow packer. It had four tracks and would also groom the slopes if they were too rough. I had looked at several snow cats made by various companies and estimated I would need at least three of these---four would be better. They all had some passenger capacity, but they would be used primarily for towing some sort of sled which would double the vehicles’ load. They had various engines in them, but I was inclined to stick with diesel.

I stepped off the plane Friday evening and took a taxi to Angelina’s house. I had left the Forester there before boarding the plane to tour the country. I had called her and she said she would be home at eight-thirty. I hadn’t eaten and I was pretty tired, but when my Angel got out of her car, I was refreshed. Maybe Angelina felt the same. We kissed and I took her out to a small Italian restaurant. “What’s the matter, don’t you like Mexican?”

This was becoming a standing joke and I always answered with, “You’re the only thing Mexican I like.”

“So how did your trip go? Did you find out everything you needed to?”

“I think so. The snow packers we need are costly, but by choosing older, but well maintained ones, I think we can manage with less than $250,000. Those will be the most single expensive items. All told we can get this thing going for under a half million.”

Angelina looked at me as if I was crazy. “Junkin, you can’t seriously be considering spending that kind of money. Christ, the interest alone will be thirty-five or forty thousand dollars a year. You’ll lose the ranch if this project goes belly up.”

“It would be that much if we borrowed it.”

“Where’s the money supposed to come from if you don’t borrow it?” I sat there grinning at her. “Junkin, don’t tell me you are worth that much? If you are, what are you doing here at Pa’s ranch?”

I turned serious. “Angel, let me explain. For some reason I bought something that turned into being worth much more than I could dream of. At the time I sold it, I had just been kicked to the curb by someone I loved. I left to get away from having to remember her. I have found someone else to love and others that have come to love me. I have found happiness and I think I have given others happiness in return. I’d like to share.

“As far as the money is concerned, I have a lot of it. Kind of rounding figures off, I’m collecting somewhere around $50,000 a month for the next three and a half years. I had some money before I came into the fortune and that is what I have been using. Just since signing the papers and coming out here, my net worth has increased by $300,000.”

“But why are you working so hard? You should enjoy it if you have that much.”

“How? I have just been gone five days. I’ve flown first class and I’ve stayed in the best hotels. I’ve eaten in the best restaurants. I wasn’t happy. I wanted every one of those days to be sitting across the table from Mom and Ezra and your two little girls. Tonight and everyday from now on I want to go to bed with you. How much more can I enjoy myself than that?

“To bring this into perspective. Say I give you a couple hundred thousand dollars. Would you give up finishing your schooling? Or will you give up working in the clinic? I will if that is what you want.”

“You’re bluffing. You wouldn’t give me that much money.”

I signaled a waiter. “Would you bring me a blank sheet of paper and an envelope?”

“Certainly Sir.”

The paper came and I creased and tore off a quarter sheet of the paper. I took a pen and wrote along the top left corner, John Duncan, my telephone number and my address. I put the date to the right. I drew a line and wrote over it, pay to the order of Angelina Betite. I wrote in the amount under that, two hundred thousand dollars and no cents. I put the numerals to the right of that. Below that I signed my name, John Duncan. I listed the bank tracking number and the account number it was to be drawn on.

“That is a check for that amount and I guarantee it is good and you can cash it at any bank. The bank might question it so when you cash it, they might want verification from me. I’ll freely give it.” I slid it into the envelope and handed it across the table.

“Junkin, why did you do that?”

“You said I was bluffing. I never bluff where you are concerned.”

My Angel sat across from me. The envelope was being held in her hands. She contemplated it. Then she looked at me. “You are right again about how I feel. I have worked so hard to get three-quarters of the way to my degree. I can’t give it up now. As far as working at the clinic, I need the experience in a medical setting. Is this going to change us?”

“I don’t see how.”

Angelina opened the envelope, took the paper check and tore it into small pieces. Then she put it on her plate and poured the remains of her coffee on it and stirred it until it was just a soggy mess. “Maybe it will change us a little. It is getting late and I’m tired. You said you were too. I have to work tomorrow. You will have a lot of catching up to do at the ranch.”

I guess the change she mentioned was presented by a little more intensity in what took place before we slept.

***************

The ranch had not fallen to pieces while I was gone. In fact things had moved forward on all fronts. The holding pasture was all laid out with feed bunks and places for the cattle to drink. I was worried about the water. I studied the situation. The cattle were to drink from a small stream that came from a spring up the mountain a short distance. To be sure that the water would not be fouled, we built a small dam and laid some pipe down to the edge of the pasture.

I had Paco and Juan build a trough that ran across the pasture where the stream normally ran. This was off the ground about two feet and twenty cattle at a time could drink from it. At the end of it the water dropped down into the stream bed and went on its normal way.

Other things were being done. The mobile home for Paco and Juan arrived and we set it up next to the bunkhouse. We had a great time putting the log siding on it. We had to extend the roof line. This had a peaked roof already so it was just a matter of loosening the drip edge and sliding some aluminum under it and having it supported by the logs. It wasn’t too professional, but no one would notice if it wasn’t pointed out.

Things were taking place in the house as well. We addressed what each apartment needed. I was satisfied with my room. It was much improved when new mattresses and bedding were purchased. Angelina’s room was the largest and held the bunk beds for Amy and Amelia. They didn’t want to change and Angelina said that she would just as soon wait for the building of her apartment in the spring.

We hired an attorney to settle ownership. Ezra still held title, but each of us owned shares in a corporation that was named Hogan’s Hacienda. Everything but the real property was included in this up to and including the silverware and cooking dishes in the kitchen. Basically we were a commune, none of us drawing wages, but all of our necessities met through the ownership of the private property.

I didn’t own any more than the other residents here. However, I was still the manager, the investor and the banker. The attorney railed against my decision to make my dealings with the corporation unsecured. I flatly stated that I considered those on the Hogan ranch as family. I stared the lawyer down until he threw up his hands and went onto other aspects of the meeting.

I think Paco and Juan were the ones most excited. A year ago they were penniless looking for day work and spending what few quarters they had, if any, on a beer in some tavern. Now they had a nice home, no worries, and were being treated as equals by both their sister and their father. All they had to contribute was a few hours of willing work. Work they knew was appreciated.

The only steady income came from the beef jerky. Every week our sales increased and I began to think I would have to find something else we could sell to the same customers. Then I thought how busy it was going to be when and if the skiing venture took off. I didn’t want to hire extra help and I didn’t want to enlarge our little group. Of course if Paco and Juan came up with women, they would be considered.

It was two weeks until the poker weekend. I was going to have to find beds for fifty extra people. The bunkhouse would house twenty-five. The living room would take twelve. I finally decided, after talking with the sheriff, that I would have enough room for the rest to flop down in the four extra bedrooms we weren’t using. The sheriff told me not to worry.

“We will start playing about seven on Friday night. By Saturday morning there will be at least eight out of money. The players will have breakfast and some will sleep, but not all. By Saturday evening more than half will be broke. I hope I’m not one of them. By Sunday morning, I predict there will be only seven or eight that still have enough on the table to make decent bets. Everyone will be gone by the afternoon.

“You have to remember that this is more of a social gathering than one for serious gambling. When they want to gamble they go to Vegas or some other place.”

I took one day and made the trip back to where I had looked over the snow packers. I had a mechanic from a local Caterpillar dealership with me to look at the vehicles. He was licensed as a diesel mechanic and was familiar of course with tracked vehicles. We looked at six of the snow packers and he approved four. I intended to buy only three, but bought the fourth one when it was offered at half price. I made arrangements for transport and I was home that evening well satisfied with the progress I was making in getting things organized.

I sent payment off to the owner of the fifth vehicle I had put a binder down on and that was unloaded at the Caterpillar garage to be gone over thoroughly. I approached a sporting goods store and offered them the chance to open an outlet at the ranch to sell skiing equipment. They suggested that I have equipment to rent. I started shaking my head no, but when they mentioned the cut I would get for each rental, I agreed.

I wasn’t involved in the selling of the ski equipment, except to provide space for sales and inventory. We had to use the bunkhouse. I looked toward the horse barn and three horses were staring at me. “I promise you will always have a home.” They whickered! Can’t have a ranch without horses.

It was for me to go the forty miles to see my Angel once during the week. She was committed to Saturday, eight or nine in the morning until two or three in the afternoon. She was still working some in the evenings, but the clinic realized that she had homework so she was able to cut her hours back to two hours. I timed my coming to town so I could take her out to dinner on Wednesday after her hours ended. Many of these dinners were short and just to catch up on what was happening. Then it was time to show our love for each other.

Weekends were for Amy and Amelia to reconnect with their mother. I understood this and more often than not, I was included, maybe staying slightly in the background while giving Angelina and the girls every chance at being a family. Amy, smaller and the youngest at five and a half, sometimes crawled onto my lap and let me hold her as Amelia talked about school and what was going on in her life. I felt we all were headed toward becoming a unit unto ourselves.

It did come to a head the last Sunday before the poker party. We had been talking for awhile and Amy was on my lap. “Mommy, all the kids in my class have a daddy. I don’t have one. I remember a man that I used to call Daddy, but that was a long time ago. Can I call Junkin Daddy sometimes? I really like him.”

Amelia jumped on her. “Amy you can’t call Junkin, Daddy. I remember our father and he slept in the bed with Mom.”

I could see that Angelina was without words. I spoke, “Girls, sometimes kids have dads that don’t live with their moms, but they are still their father. Your dad died so you don’t have one. Someday she might marry and then you would have a new dad. Amy, if you want to call me Daddy, I’ll be your pretend one. Would that make you happy?”

I was reluctant to look at Angelina. This was another make or break situation in my relationship with my Angel. Would she agree to my becoming a pretend father or would this tear us apart and destroy the progress I had made up to this point?

“Amelia, how do you feel about Amy calling Junkin, Daddy? You remember your father and she doesn’t.”

“Okay I guess. He treats us as nice as Dad did and he doesn’t yell at you all the time. When you get mad at Junkin and say mean things to him, he just agrees with you and then does something nice for you. But he agrees with you only until you understand that he was right all along and then you agree with him. Nellie told me that. Amy, give our pretend Daddy a kiss, it is time for bed.”

Amelia came over and after I received a kiss from Amy she put an arm around my neck and kissed me. They disappeared into their room leaving Angelina and me looking after them.

“Was that a set-up?”

“I don’t think so. Not by me anyway. Someone has been coaching them though. I guess it had to be Mom. I still don’t know how you feel about me becoming their pretend Dad.”

“I’m fine. Believe it or not, I couldn’t be happier. I think it is time that we did the kissing.” We awoke in the morning with two little girls standing beside my bed. We had talked about the future half the night and had dressed in our nightclothes. This wasn’t intended, but after we made love, we had laid down for a few more minutes of closeness and fallen asleep.

Amelia remembering what she had told Amy last night said, “I guess you can be our real Dad now, you slept with Mom.” I motioned for the little ones to climb onto the bed for happy hugs.

******************

Ezra held court as the cars started arriving in the afternoon for the poker weekend. It was a jovial crowd. As they went to Ezra they laid an envelope on the sideboard. This was the five percent that each player was ponying up to play. Jenny, Nellie and Grace, with Pete helping, were setting the table in the kitchen.

We had tables just outside and the seating was first come, choose where you want to sit. It was beef, beans, and cornbread, the preferred food. Mom had sheet cake for dessert---white or chocolate. Amy and Amelia served this to the men. I say men, but there were six women in the crowd.

I looked at Ezra when the first woman came in and put her envelope down. “Nelope plays poker and she usually goes home a winner. I wouldn’t even consider sitting at a table across from her. She is a real shark.” That got him a laugh and a kiss on the cheek.

All of the gamblers were aged forty or more, including the women. There were one or two that looked to be Ezra’s age. Supper was served at six and Mom and her crew had the table cleared by seven. Play commenced shortly after. It was quiet as the betting took place, both in the kitchen and at the long table outside.

The first player went broke just after eight. He didn’t seem concerned. “Cards just not with me tonight. That’s okay, I won $80,000 two years ago at one of these parties, so I’m still ahead.” He saw four of the snow packers that had arrived two days ago and wandered over to look at them. I drifted over and he questioned what was going on.

I explained and he thought it was a great idea. Guessed he might spread the word to the school board he sat on. Another man busted and came out wanting to know how I ended up here being from the east and all. “My Mom is Nellie, Ezra’s niece. She always talked about coming out and as I was winding up my affairs, I sent her out ahead of me. Best thing I ever did.”

I guess it wasn’t Nelope’s night either, for she came out next. “I should have dipped into the till.” She explained that remark, saying she was a branch manager of a sizable bank. We had said we wouldn’t be furnishing alcohol, but there was a keg brought in by a beer distributor who was inside at the table. There were a few bottles of liquor around. No one seemed to drink when they were gambling, but if they went broke they didn’t hesitate.

Angelina arrived at nine. Never hesitating, she came right to me and we kissed. Nelope was the second one kissed. It was friendly and I could see affection between the two. “Nelope tried Pa on for size for awhile. It didn’t last, but I have always loved her.”

Gambling stopped as Angelina made her way by the gamblers. Angelina went up to Ezra and kissed him on the cheek. I had never seen her do this before. “Ezra, you and Angie stopped fighting for awhile?” This came from one of the players that had been here for the barbecue.

“Yep, got me a manager and he straightened her out. Took him awhile because she is so ornery. There is more love in the air around here than you can believe. Even some for me. Grace, can you wheel out here?” Ezra introduced Grace Lincoln and after congratulations and small talk, play resumed.

Ezra didn’t keep his mouth shut, and with confirmation by the sheriff, by midnight everyone knew that I had been shot and how. Jenny had exterminated, not only a wolf that had bothered his cows, but also a major drug dealer who was trying to rob him. “Yessir, I got me a crew now and one way or another, they are all family.”

None of us got much sleep as someone would wander away from the game and come looking for something to eat. The big television stayed on low and the couches were occupied with people sleeping or watching the screen. There was no noon meal as such, only sandwiches. For supper, the crowd had thinned enough so everyone could find a place to gamble at the table outside. Mom roasted pork and potatoes and had a tuna salad consisting of macaroni, cucumber, green peppers and onion on the side. Dessert was a hot apple cobbler.

By early Sunday morning, the $250,000 less the 5% that came in, was being held among the remaining seven gamblers. It was agreed that at eleven a.m., the game would cease and whatever you had before you on the table was yours.

All seven were winners, having more than what they arrived with. They each threw a thousand into a pot for a tip to Ezra for hosting. This was in addition to the nearly $400 that had been tipped to Amy and Amelia for being so cute when they served the desserts.

It was a lucrative weekend amounting to $12,500, the agreed on 5% cut, $7,000 goodwill tip and $400 to the girls. We had a lot of free word of mouth advertising, both for the new ski area and for the proposed fair next year on Labor Day.

We had given out free samples of beef jerky and had almost $900.00 in orders to be delivered. Everyone had a great time with no fights or disagreements over money. We decided we could do this again if it was proposed.

Sunday night when we put the girls to bed, Angelina said the girls didn’t have to sleep in the bunk beds. They could sleep together in her bed. She was sleeping with me. In the morning they had permission to knock on my door and ask, “May we come in Daddy?” They had to wait for an answer from either their mother or me. It was never long before a yes was forthcoming.

***************

“Junkin, may I speak to you please?”

“What is it Jenny?”

“Awhile back, you said it was okay for Izzy and me to get married. Then you said you thought it was okay for us to have a family. I think we should be getting married very soon. You know, to keep the neighbors from talking.”

“Fine, we will arrange it. Do you want a church wedding or do you want to have it here in the ranch house? How about a honeymoon? Would you like to travel somewhere? You can you know. The ranch will give you money enough for anywhere you want to go. How about Hawaii?”

“No Junkin. Just maybe three days off when we don’t have to come down stairs or do chores. I want to show Izzy how happy I am with him. He is a special person you know.”

“You have it Jenny. Just think you will soon be Mrs. Israel Hogan. That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? May I hug you?” Tears were in Jenny’s eyes as she broke away to tell Izzy they were getting married. Twenty minutes later Izzy hunted me up, grabbed me and hugged me. Nothing was said and nothing had to be.

The two were wedded the Sunday afternoon following our talk. It happened right in the living room where they were at home and comfortable. An unlikely couple but none could be happier. Ezra handed Jenny to Grace, her mother and matron of honor. I was standing beside Izzy as his best man. Mom manned the camera and her photos turned out as only she could have them.

The newly married disappeared up the stairs after the evening meal. No one saw them to talk to until Wednesday when normal life resumed. We knew they hadn’t stayed in their room all that time for I could hear them in the kitchen getting food and we knew they went for a ride up to the lease in the moonlight. I told Angelina all about it Wednesday evening, my date night with her. She thought it was so sweet. “I envy them!”

“Is that a hint for me to propose to you?”

“No, not at all. I think we should know each other at least six months before something like that is considered.”

This surprised me for I expected now that we were sleeping together every chance we had this would be the next natural move. This conversation took place while we out for dinner. Then I remembered her telling everyone at the ranch that we were sleeping together, but that we might not go any further with it.

I didn’t make any comment. I’d wait until six months were up if that was what she wanted. I just continued eating and then started reporting how things were progressing at the ranch. I think Angelina was disappointed I had dropped the subject, not agreeing or disagreeing. I smiled when it was brought up later that evening. Somehow I knew it would be.

“You didn’t say anything earlier when I said we should wait six months before getting married. Talk to me.”

“Okay, proposing and getting married are two different things. A man can propose to a woman anytime when he decides he loves her and wants to get married. He can even propose and be accepted without knowing when it is going to happen.

“I can’t see how I can marry you and have a honeymoon until next spring at the earliest. That would be as soon as we shut the ski area down and before the cattle go out to pasture. Of course a honeymoon and a marriage go together, but considering the way we are living now they could be two separate events.”

“Damn it Junkin, you’re confusing me.”

“I don’t want to confuse you. I’d propose right here and now. We are living almost as a married couple. I’m certainly getting all the benefits. I am the most willing participant, but I have let you govern that agenda. I certainly haven’t forced you. I have been burned by being married, but I haven’t given up on it. I believe in it totally. There are two little girls that call me daddy, but I don’t feel as if I am until I marry their mother.”

“You didn’t seem to mind when there was all of the free love floating around the ranch this summer. The only ones married in this whole house were Nellie and Pete.”

“Maybe not then, but some things changed me. At that time I was still getting over Terry and the way she divorced me. I learned something from her and that hurt more than you can imagine.” I didn’t continue. I couldn’t.

We had been laying in bed in the dark. Angelina sat up and turned on the light. “Junkin, when Bill Boyle rode out from the airport with me, he was decidedly nervous about meeting you. He said he almost didn’t come, but Terry wanted to see her father, so he came anyway. Then when you two met, you said something to him and he calmed right down. Bill isn’t the father of Junior is he? You are. That’s what Terry told you, isn’t it?”

I reached over and turned the light off and we were in the dark again. I couldn’t answer. “Junkin, does family mean so much to you?”

“Yes it does. Did you know Nellie isn’t my real mother? My own mother died when I was only two years old and I don’t remember her at all. Then Dad died two years after I married Terry. Pete has been the best father he could be to me, but Terry wanted to rise in the world and she did it on the pain and suffering of her father when she practically disowned him. And then I find I gave away my firstborn before I even knew about him. I could fight for him, but what purpose would it serve?”

Angelina was quiet which I was thankful for. “I came out west and met you. The first time I saw you, you were bitching about Nellie and Pete freeloading off your father. Then you started in on me. You know something? I didn’t care. I was in love. You want to know something else? Everything I have done has been a form of courting the one I love. Angelina, I’m not going to wait two more months to propose. Will you marry me? It is now up to you to accept or reject my proposal.”

“Yes Junkin, I will become Mrs. John Duncan. When would you like to get married?”

“I’d like it soon before we get busy with skiers, but I will leave it up to you. I have already told you, you won’t get a honeymoon until spring. It isn’t because I am cheap either.”

“I know that. God do I ever know that. I would be satisfied to have a wedding just like Izzy and Jenny had. There is one thing I would like to do during those three days though. May we go up over the ridge and down into the ghost town and camp overnight? Of course we won’t be alone. We never would get away from Amy and Amelia.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. May I kiss you to seal all of these plans?”

We were going to be married Friday evening, Columbus Day weekend. However there had been a tenement fire in the city the night before and several people were injured. It was lucky there were no deaths, but all medical personnel were required to come in and help at the hospital. Angelina was crying when she called to tell me about it. She was compelled to be on station all three days.

“Angel I know this is a disappointment, but maybe something good can come out of it. I’m sure this crisis will be over by next week. See if you can get a couple of more days off to compensate.” Angelina called back after talking to the clinic administrator and was told she would be off duty Friday through Tuesday. “See, there is usually a good side when something bad happens.”

I should have been disappointed myself, but I wasn’t really. I was so damned busy on the ranch. Paco and Juan were running the mill most everyday sawing out timbers for the warming huts. Pete had been up in the timber lot and marked trees of a certain diameter.

Those that were the straightest were cut and dragged to the mill, slabbed two sides top and bottom and then cut in half. This made the timber flat on three sides and easily attached to a frame. It didn’t make for too tight a shelter, but it was sufficient for a skier to come in out of the cold and get warm. We constructed some at the head of the slope and some at the bottom.

Angelina arrived home late in the evening on Thursday just before the girls went to bed. We were to be married that next evening at seven. Amy and Amelia tried to convince us that they shouldn’t have to go to school on the day their Mom got married. It should be a holiday!

“No girls, you have to go to school. Saturday morning, we are going to put you on your ponies and your mother and I are going to get on horses (I made a face) and we are going up to the ghost town and spend the night. We will have a pack horse to carry the blow-up mattresses and sleeping bags and some food. We will plan to come back late in the day Sunday. If you don’t go to school you can’t go with your Mom and me.” Nothing more was said.

Later, “Junkin would you do something for me?”

“Sure, anything.”

“Would you tell me how you met Terry and why you decided to marry her?”

“Isn’t this an odd request a day before I marry you?”

“I know, but you have never said much about her. I love you and never want to lose you. Maybe if you told me about your first marriage, I could avoid any of the mistakes she made---or you made.”

“In a way, I am not surprised that our marriage ended. Terry was a victim even though she went out and cheated on me. Her Mom died when she was young. I never met her and Pete couldn’t handle her death. You may have guessed, but Pete isn’t a very strong person. I swear for several years it was first me and then Mom that kept him from doing himself in.

“To start with, Pete was a factory worker in one of the last factories that was open in the area. When that closed and his wife died, there he was with a fourteen-year-old girl to raise. There really is a wrong side of the tracks and it wasn’t too far from where the junkyard is located. Pop worked at the yard and as you know he bought it and I purchased it from him, but that was later. I used to see this pretty girl occasionally when I was down there at the yard with my father. We would say hi and that was about it.

“She went to the same school and I would say hi then as well, but I am ashamed to say I thought I was just a little better than she was. That was because I would see her father and usually he had been drinking. Just before we graduated there was the school prom. I had many friends, and I could have asked any one of several girls to go with me. I found a note in my desk and Terry asked me to talk to her after school one day.

“We met and before I left her, she was my prom date. I had the promise that she would let me have anything I wanted in return. You can guess what I wanted. Anyway, the night of the prom, Pop let me use his car. I had a corsage for my date. Terry had a prom dress that had been preserved in a trunk that held her mother’s clothes. It was several years out of style and nothing like what the other girls wore. Five minutes after we arrived she knew what a mistake it had been coming to the prom.

“She wanted to leave immediately, but I said I came here for the dance and I wanted to dance. We danced the first one and then she talked me into taking her out to Pop’s car. Later, even though our clothes were pretty rumpled, I convinced her to go inside for the last dance. That was the moment when if we ever married, it was inevitable we would divorce.

“The marriage didn’t happen for four years, but it was that appearance on our return to the prom that set the tone of Terry’s life. Some smart-ass that knew my father worked at the junkyard and I was there often with him, made a play on words. The connection of course was junk and Duncan.”

“Hi there Terry, have you been dunkin’ Junkin?”

“I immediately became Junkin Duncan. Fast forward four years. I had been on to school and had a business degree. When I came home, Pete was still drinking and Terry waited table in a diner. I was still ashamed for Terry over the humiliation she endured on prom night, although I didn’t see her that often.

“She didn’t hold it against me at that time as I had graduated from college and wasn’t associated with the junkyard. Terry was a beautiful mature woman by this time and had a body to die for. I was in the diner one morning.

“Terry, would you go out on a date with me?”

“Only if it turns out better than the last time we went out.”

“I promise it will.” I paused to reflect on that long ago moment.

Angelina questioned. “Just like that, Junkin?”

“Yes, just like that. Six months later we were married. I really think there were no two happier people than we were at first. That is until two years later when I bought the junkyard from Pop. I didn’t ask Terry if I could. I knew the yard would give us a good living---and it did. It gave Terry enough money to try to forget her roots, but she found it wasn’t possible. My name was a big portion of it and it turned out that it was something she found she couldn’t live down.

“You know most of the rest. Pete hung out with me, his son-in-law. I kept him in booze---just enough so it wouldn’t kill him. Terry never understood that Pete became like a father to me when Pop died, and you don’t let your father die if you can prevent it. The last year we were married, wasn’t much of a life for me. I was relieved when she told me she had found someone better, even though it hurt.

“This left Pete without any real ties to me when Terry and I divorced. Mom wanted to come west to visit and she was the one person after me he respected. I had no idea they would find love, but I’m happy they did.

“I had been contacted by the Feds off and on for months about them needing my yard to use in cleanup of the super fund. I gave in and talked to them after Terry asked for the divorce. Suddenly I find I am rich. Not rich, rich, but rich enough to go somewhere and do whatever I want to. Right then I decided I would travel west, find me a half-Mex chick that was bitchy, had two sweet little daughters, set about to tame said Mex chick and make her fall in love with me. How am I doing?”

“You’re doing fine so far, but this little Mex chick isn’t fully tamed yet. Do you want to see my wild side?”

Nina came to our wedding, arriving with the Reverend Jones. Angelina had asked me if her mother should be invited and I said of course as it was time for family to come together. Ezra was civil to Nina and made the comment to her that he thought Angie was more lovely and more beautiful than she had ever been. It had been difficult for her to decide who she should choose to be her witness. She ended up saying that her two daughters would be by her side. Pete stood with me.

The ceremony itself was short. There was a tear in Ezra’s eye and I came in for as big a congratulation from him as he gave his daughter to me. Mom, with her ever trusty camera, recorded the event. Ezra sat at the head of the table and when the toasts were being given, stood and said that this was one of the happiest days of his life.

“Look at me. I am surrounded by family. I have a lovely woman by my side. I have Izzy who I’m proud of because he was here to help me through some difficult and trying times. He is just married himself, and his wife is soon going to present us with another Hogan.

“My niece is here with her husband. They barely arrived in time to save this old man. My daughter has married a man that, I’m pleased to say, I took to long before she did.” This brought a round of laughter, for Angelina’s stubbornness in coming to terms with me was well-known.

“I’d like to acknowledge her mother Nina and I am pleased that she could attend tonight. I would also like to thank her for the gift of two fine young men that are now as important to me as my daughter. Anyway, let’s drink to Mr. and Mrs. Junkin Duncan. May all their years be blessed with happiness.”

Amy and Amelia were all over me and used every chance to call me daddy. The Reverend Jones and Nina stayed for awhile and Nina put her granddaughters to bed. I told them it was bedtime if they wanted to go camping with their Mom and new daddy in the morning.

I suppose the wedding night was the night for every new husband to consummate his marriage. It didn’t happen. We lay cuddling as close as could be and I was almost asleep when I felt my Angel relax and snore just a little. That was okay, we had our whole life ahead of us.

*************

The two ponies that the girls rode were fairly old and as safe as could be. I worried about the trek up the mountain and down into the bowl that held the ghost town. Angelina pooh poohed my concern. I led the way, riding the most docile horse that the ranch owned. My two stepdaughters came behind me and Angelina had her own horse and led the pack animal with a rope. By eight in the morning we were setting up camp next to a partly tumbled down log building that had a faded sign designating it as a saloon.

Part of it still had a roof over it so I lugged the camping equipment in and put it in the corner. I gathered some flat rocks from an old foundation, pulled some timbers off of another old building and soon had a fire going to cook our breakfast on. After we had eaten we explored some of the old buildings and poked around in the rotting timbers.

Amy was real excited for she found a large penny when I turned over some old planking that had been a floor. We poked around some more and again Amy was the first to pick up another of these large copper coins. Amelia beat her out when she found something that appeared to be a coin. I took it back to the campfire and pulled some cold ashes from the side. I mixed it with salt, moistened the mess and rubbed the coin. We determined it was a shilling piece and was silver. Both girls were happy with their treasure.

Angelina had a book that she had never had time to enjoy so I entertained the girls. I could see a little stream coming down off the mountain across the valley. I estimated it was about a quarter of a mile away. We mounted up and rode over to it. There was a little pond at the foot of the slope. The water was clear.

I puzzled over this fact for there didn’t seem to be an outlet to the pond and I knew there had to be for the water to stay fresh. Then I saw a leaf gently moving to the east and it came up to the edge. I poked around with a stick and could see where the water disappeared into the earth.

We rode slowly around the perimeter of the valley and I came upon a spot where there were some man-made workings. I could see a ledge had been undercut quite a ways into the mountain. I couldn’t see where any shafts had been sunk although there were holes drilled here and there. I assumed it was miners looking for more evidence of the vein. This had to be a very primitive operation for I didn’t see where the ore had been processed. The ore had to have been sent out on pack animals to be stamped out.

I didn’t know anything about mining so couldn’t determine how the ore was handled. I rode out into the valley, turned and studied the mountainside and could see where the ledge had been worked in several places. There might still be some ore here, but too expensive to process, given the location.

This brought the thought again---this valley really was inaccessible except for the trail up and over the lease. The land itself was possibly held by the Department of the Interior and managed probably now by the Forest Service. I would have the county land records checked to see if the land was owned by anyone other than the government.

After lunch, I laid down on one of the mattresses. Angelina was still reading and the girls were playing hopscotch in a level spot in front of the saloon. I heard Amelia come in and ask Angelina to saddle the two ponies as they wanted to ride across to the pond. “Junkin, do you think it safe enough for them to go alone?”

“It should be. Make them promise not to go into the pond though. In fact maybe they should stay mounted until they get back.”

“Girls, did you hear what you father said?”

“Yes, Mom. Bye Daddy, we’ll be careful.” I went to sleep.

I awoke with Angelina screaming for me to wake up. “Junkin! Junkin, there are some motorcycles here and one of them is chasing the girls on the ponies. Stop them.”

I rushed out. I could see two cyclists sitting at the end of the buildings watching a lone biker circling the girls. He would back off and then rush up behind the ponies. It looked as if the girls were barely hanging on. Suddenly the pony that Amelia was on stumbled and she went flying over its head about two hundred yards from us. I watched horrified as she didn’t move.

Angie was running for her. The man on the bike was still circling and I thought for a minute he was going to try and unseat Amy. There was a piece of timber about seven feet long laying on the ground. I grabbed it up and headed out after Angelina. The biker saw me and headed right at Angelina under full power. I shouted at her to stop and as I got to her, the biker tried to sideswipe me.

I was holding the board much as the knights of old held a lance. As he went by, I stabbed it into his front wheel. The bike flipped end over end with the rider still clinging to his machine. He went over twice before he let go and now he was the one unmoving. We went to see how bad Amelia was hurt. She was crying and we could immediately see that her leg was broken below the knee. I turned as another biker eased cautiously up to us. “Is she badly hurt?”

“She has a fractured leg. I hope you are happy with what you’ve done.”

“That guy isn’t with my brother and me. I met him and he said he would show us a place on a mountain to ride. I don’t even know his whole name. What can we do to help?”

“Do you have a cell phone?”

“Yes, but you can’t get a signal here. The nearest signal is from the top of the mountain.”

“Would you ride up and call for the medics? Tell them it is over the mountain west of Hogan’s Hacienda. Would you notify the sheriff as well?”

Angelina spoke up. “I better look at that biker and see if he is still alive. Give me a minute.” I was sitting on the ground holding Amy with Amelia’s head on my thigh stretched out as Angelina had positioned her.

Angelina went over to him. He was curled into an awkward position and unconscious. He was breathing and didn’t seem too distressed. “Go call. See if they will send in a medvac copter. There is no way we can transport Amelia up the trail. I don’t know what condition the biker is in.” We watched as the third biker made his way up the mountain trail and pause while he made the calls we requested. He slowly came back down the trail and putt, putted over to us.

“They said it would take about thirty-five minutes to get here. I said there was plenty of room for the copter to land. I explained the injuries the best I could. A medic advised that the man that crashed his bike shouldn’t be allowed to move at all. The dispatcher is contacting the law enforcement office. I don’t know when they will arrive.”

“Thank you.” It was going to be a long half hour. Amelia was in serious pain. When the woman took off her helmet, we could see she was young. She had beautiful auburn hair. She and her brother, who was a year younger than her at twenty-one, lived in a mobile home at a park. The property came to them when their parents died two years before.

They both worked at entry level jobs, he in a video store and she in a clothing boutique. Riding bikes was about their only recreation. They did ski in the winter time and planned their vacation in January. Angelina looked at me to see if I was going to say anything about our plans. I didn’t.

We got around to introducing ourselves. When I explained that Angelina and I had been married less than twenty-four hours, they were shocked. Ronnie Styles said he had a woman he went out with. Sharon didn’t have a boyfriend at the present time, and thought it terrible this had to happen on our so-called honeymoon.

I added, “We were supposed to be married a week ago, but Angelina had to work. I think we are lucky to be married at all.”

I had Amy, more to keep her occupied, catch the ponies and tie them up with the other horses. They all had to be hitched when the helicopter landed. Luckily the pony that Amelia fell from looked to be okay.

Angelina said she would watch the biker so he didn’t move around. “I don’t want to have to remember that we killed someone on our wedding day. I wanted to do it myself when I saw him chasing the ponies, but I guess I’ve calmed down a little now.”

Ronnie said he didn’t blame my wife one bit and hoped that we didn’t associate him and Sharon with the guy that led them here. The helicopter arrived right on time and Angelina was glad to turn the patients over to them. It took the three medics more than an hour before Amelia and the biker were ready for transport. The medic that was treating Amelia gave her some painkillers and produced some ice packs to reduce the swelling.

Angelina was going to the hospital in the helicopter with Amelia. Amy was going to follow me up the trail on her pony. My wife told me that the pony, the pack animal and her horse would follow me without having to be led. Sharon and Ronnie packed a few things on their bikes, and we left the rest of our camping equipment to be picked up sometime in the future.

I guess Angelina had called the ranch as soon as she could get a signal, for we met Pete, Paco and Juan coming to meet us as we reached the open land on the lease. I stopped the cavalcade and explained a little bit and then we went on down to the ranch to give everyone the details.

I was showered when Angie called to tell me exactly where she and Amelia were. Ezra was pacing around, swearing and wishing I had killed the bastard. “I don’t know Ez, maybe I did, because he was still unconscious when they strapped him onto the helicopter.” I took the Forester and headed toward the hospital as soon as possible.

“Hi Daddy. I had a ride in the whirlybird. I was right outside and Mom was inside, but she held my hand. I have a cast on. Would you be the first one to sign it? Amy is going to be so envious. I have to stay here tonight, but maybe they will let me go home tomorrow because Mom is almost a nurse.

“Daddy, I know why you don’t want to ride a horse. It hurts awful when you fall off. I’ll never laugh at you again.” My little girl was getting sleepy, so I leaned down and kissed her and her eyes closed.

“How is she?” I faced my wife.

“She’ll be fine. It is a simple fracture. The sheriff met me and I talked to him while they were putting the cast on Amelia. I guess this guy is a bad apple and has been in trouble before. Anyway he is known to be a troublemaker.”

“What is his condition?”

“The doctors are working on him and then they will tell us. They suspect he may have a fractured vertebrae. I made sure he wasn’t moved until the medics arrived, so any damage that was done was caused by the fall. Do you think those young people will verify it was self-defense?”

“I think they will.” I was smiling and then I chuckled.

“What’s funny?”

“I have to tell you. Sharon is beautiful. She got out of her leathers when we reached the ranch. She had on shorts and a tank top. Juan sat there looking at her and it was embarrassing. It was plain she knew what effect she had on him, but I don’t think it was intentional. Even your father was admiring her.”

“She must be something. Pa has always had an eye for a beautiful woman.”

“This one won’t do him any good. Juan has staked his claim already. When I drove out of the yard he was getting on her bike behind her. He said she wanted to see the cattle. His arms were around her and both were smiling.”

“You can’t be serious. What would she want with my brother?”

“I am serious. Angel, have you really looked at your brother? He is very good looking. Small, dark and attractive. Think back to this summer. If you had paid attention to him while he was with Maddie instead of being pissed at me, you would see what he has got going for him.”

“But he doesn’t have anything.”

“He does too. He has the same share in the ranch business that you or I or Mom or Jenny or Izzy has. He is a partner just the same as we are. You have extra money because you work out. I have extra because I am the Hogan Hacienda’s banker. Other than that we are equal.”

Angelina changed to, “She is pretty?”

“Yes, but not as pretty as you.”

“You had to say that.”

“I know.” I looked at my wife who was somewhat dejected. We still had been married just under twenty-four hours. “Angel, this is disappointing, us having to be here and not somewhere I can show you how much I love you. I promise you we are going to have a long happy life together. We have had trouble today, but we have risen to the occasion to overcome it and we are still together. Whenever we have trouble from now on, let’s look back on this moment and know we can survive whatever life throws at us.”

It was decided that I should go back to the ranch and be with Amy. She was never apart from her sister and would be feeling very lonely. She ran into my arms when I arrived. I looked over her shoulder and spoke to everyone. I knew they were concerned. “Amelia is going to be fine and thrilled about all of the attention she is receiving. At the hospital, Angelina will be able to sleep in the bed next to her tonight. She will be there for her if Amelia wakes up during the night in unfamiliar surroundings.”

“Daddy, can I sleep with you tonight?”

“Yes you can. I’ll go to bed with you until you get to sleep and then I’ll talk to everyone. You will wake up in the morning with me right beside you though.”

“I love you Daddy.” Could I have it any better than to have these little arms clutching me as Amy went off to sleep? I didn’t think so.

Sharon and Ronnie Styles had left before I returned from the hospital. Juan was out of it, his mind on this woman that had suddenly appeared in our lives. Mom filled me in. “We are having company for dinner tomorrow. There will be three more at table. Sharon will be here and Ronnie has a friend and he wants to be with her on a Sunday so Juan invited her.” All eyes were on Juan.

“What? I just thought it was a nice thing to do. After all she helped with Amelia. Also she saw the snow packers and wanted to know about them. She is planning on skiing here this winter. They don’t have much money and I thought maybe we could cut a deal where if they would help us we could give them a break on the tickets. I didn’t mention it though. I guess it is up to you, Junkin.”

“I’m sure we can work something out. Different subject. Angie has Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before she has to return to classes. I think Amelia will be able to come home Monday morning. Angie and I will be away just for Monday night and we will be back on Tuesday. Wednesday I’m going in to see what it is going to cost to get us insured to operate the ski area.

“Next Saturday I’m having several school administrators in to see what we can work out for the students to come and ski here this winter. I’m hoping that they will agree the school districts will cover the cost of the insurance for them.

“Another thing, what are we going to use to transport the skiers up the slopes? It has to be something strong, but light. I’m going to have to come up with something soon. Do you realize we only have five or six weeks before there will be skiers on the slopes? It would be great if we could open at Thanksgiving, but it may not happen until the first week of December. The last thing I need to ask tonight, who will go over the ridge and get the camping gear we left?”

Mom spoke up, “Pete and I will. We can go tomorrow afternoon after dinner. Maybe we will use the stuff you left and stay all night. Commune with nature you know.”

“That’s fine Mom---thank you. It will be pretty cold to go skinny dipping in the pond though.” I laughed at my own joke.

I had one happy little girl in the morning who awoke and found her daddy in bed just as he said he would be. Angelina called while we were at breakfast and I told her I would be in to see Amelia in the afternoon. The plans were made for me to stay in the hospital with her until I could bring her home on Monday and Angelina could return to the ranch. It had been promised she would be discharged by ten a.m. Angelina wanted me to call her mother to tell her that Amelia had been injured and maybe she would take the time to come visit her granddaughter.

I called Nina and when I said what time I was going in to the hospital, she asked if she could ride with me. I agreed she could as it wasn’t out of my way to pick her up.

“That’s good, I won’t have to miss church as I’m having fun singing in the choir.”

The Sunday dinner was a quiet affair. Mitzy Gunther, the girl Ronnie arrived with, was quiet and nowhere near as pretty as Sharon, but still attractive. I watched her when I had the chance and knew I was unobserved. I thought that she was more intelligent than the Styles’---brother and sister. What gave me this idea was the fact that her eyes took in everything and everyone. She seemed much more mature as well. Occasionally she would ask a question. Of course most attention centered around Sharon, the pretty and more vivacious woman.

The last time I had been in the car with Nina was when Terry and the baby were with me. I attempted some small talk. “So do you miss Mexico? I know I would miss the US if I moved to a different country.”

“I did too when I lived below the border.”

“You mean you aren’t a Mexican citizen?”

“Nope, I’m as American as you. I am of Latino blood, I can’t deny that.” I didn’t say anything and she finally continued. “Junkin, I guess it is time I shared a little more of my life with someone. Even Ezra doesn’t know that much about my life. Can you keep a confidence?”

“I won’t pass on anything you say to me, if that is what you mean.”

“That’s what I mean. I have been debating telling Angelina. I haven’t got around to it yet, that is all. Everyone that knows me thinks I am an old Mexican whore. I am that and I started just out of high school. Junkin, I was born in Southeast Texas, down near the border. If you want to label me, just call me border trash.

“My Mom was married and I did graduate school, so I’m not totally ignorant. I’ve got two brothers and one sister, all younger than me. My father died when I was in school. Mom is dead now as well. You know she was a lot like you. She had the ability to accept what life handed out and for her it wasn’t very much.

“I went into a bawdy house when I was right out of school just so my mother could have some money for my younger brothers and sister. You might think I hated it, but I didn’t. Hell I had more fun than you can imagine.

“When Mom died, I ran off with one of the men that promised me marriage. Ha, that was a joke! He just wanted something good that was free. I knocked around until I bumped into Ezra. I was twenty-two when I moved in here at the ranch. Ezra was fifty and as randy as they come.

“I have to tell you, he was the best of all the men I have ever been with. He is also the one I have been the least faithful to. He offered to marry me, even after he caught me with another man. But I couldn’t do that to him. I had saddled him with Paco and Juan and no, before you ask, they aren’t his.

“The biggest mistake I ever made was in thinking he would take out my infidelity on the two boys and retaliate against them. I just didn’t think the name Hogan could mean that much, but it has. So I took off with the boys which was a crime in itself in denying them Ezra and Ezra them.”

Nina sat silent for a mile or more. “What name were you born with?”

“You’ll laugh if I tell you.”

“No I won’t.”

“Annie Grabonski. Ain’t that a hoot? That’s still the only name I’m entitled to. Do I look like a Grabonski?” I looked at her and then a tiny smile appeared at the corners. “Not strange, really. My grampa was an orphan Mexican kid adopted by a Polish couple. He married and my father was born.”

I guess I was Nina’s father confessor because she related different periods of her life---many I certainly wasn’t interested in. I let her ramble on, but among those she spoke about, one was conspicuously absent. “Ezra?”

“Ezra you ask? Please don’t. I left him when I was forty-four and that was the dumbest thing I ever did.” We were almost to the hospital and the conversation died after Nina’s last statement.

Nina rushed to her granddaughter and hugged her. Amelia babbled on telling her all about our experience at the ghost town, the ride in the helicopter, and how nice the doctor and the nurses had been to her here in the hospital.

We had been with Amelia an hour and I was wondering how long Angelina was going to stay before leaving with her mother. “Mam, can I talk to you a minute out in the hall?”

Five minutes later they returned. “Junkin, would you drive me over to the house? Mam is going to stay with Amelia until we get back.”

When we got outside, “What’s up?”

My Angel had a smile on her face. “Mam is going to stay with Amelia in the hospital tonight. You, big man, are going to make our marriage legal. Remember it hasn’t been consummated yet and I’ve waited long enough. I called Jenny and she agreed to sleep with Amy tonight.”

We made our excuses to Amelia and we went over to Angelina’s house. Amelia was okay with this as long as she had someone near that she knew.

Passion ruled our lovemaking. Given our personalities I guess we both were trying to be the dominant one in the union. I was forceful to the point I was afraid I had gone too far when I left my Angel sobbing and shuddering on completion. I lay beside her as she quieted and I almost dozed as I relaxed. I roused when I felt her lips kissing mine. “Junkin don’t disappoint me and tell me you are finished.”

I guess you can say I took up the gauntlet and rose to the challenge. Both of us married previously and certainly experienced, we just had to find that level of compatibility that would suit us in a lifetime together. It took some searching and I believe we found it. In the morning we might not be as one yet, but we were damned close.

The doctor said Amelia could be discharged anytime when we arrived at the hospital. The only stop we had was to drop Nina off on the way to the ranch. When we got there Amy came running out. Ezra was right behind her to see how his injured granddaughter was.

Both girls were supposed to be in school but we relented and let them stay home. Angelina still had today and tomorrow away from classes and her work at the clinic. She decided as long as we had last night together and that we were as married as we were ever going to be, we didn’t need another night alone. Given the situations that had happened in the last few days, we needed to relax with our loved ones.

******************

Angelina and Jenny prepared the noon meal as Mom hadn’t returned from the ghost town by then. Amelia was the center of attention and she was reveling in it. She was fast learning how to manipulate her crutches. I thought she might not want to go to school tomorrow, but she was anxious to tell everyone about what happened, so didn’t give us any trouble. Besides she wanted to have her cast signed by her friends. I knew she would soon get sick of wearing it around and within a few days her leg would begin to itch. She might change her mind then.

When Mom and Pete got back with our camping equipment, I asked, “Did you see any ghosts?”

“No Junkin. I do think some way should be found to keep people from going there. It is so peaceful, it is a shame to have a bunch of bikers go in there and tear it up. I suppose the trail couldn’t be blocked off, as it is public land beyond the top of the ridge.”

“Good point. The trail on this side of the mountain is on our lease. I’ll check the laws and see if anything can be done.” I agreed, but I had another thought in mind for the ghost town.

We seemed to have had a stretch of really nice weather. Ezra made the statement, “This is Indian summer. That’s a sure sign that winter isn’t too far away. I’ve sometimes seen it snow this early. It won’t stay, but I guarantee it is coming soon.” I had to take Ezra’s word for it. He had lived here eighty years.

Tuesday morning after breakfast and as soon as we had the girls in school, I informed Angelina that I was going into the city and look for something that we could use to carry the skiers up the slopes. She said as long as I was leaving, she would go with me and she could study at her house if I would pick her up when I finished. This way we could spend one more night together and the girls could have one more night with their mother.

I had an idea during the night. I know, I know, my thoughts should have been on the woman laying beside me, but I was here at the ranch tonight. My mind just turned naturally to those problems here. I had been a junkman. If I could find a sizable junkyard, I’ll bet I could find something to use to transport skiers on.

Before kissing my Angel good-bye at her house, I looked through the yellow pages in the phone book, and noted three junkyards that were listed. The first one was small and efficient, processing junk immediately as it arrived. Nothing there for me. The next one was a mess with junk spread out over two acres or more. I spent an hour looking around and didn’t see anything. The operator, Bucky Brent, came out about the time I was ready to leave and questioned me as to what I needed. He directed me.

“Go over to my brother’s salvage yard on Alamo Street. He’ll have something I’ll bet. My brother-in-law runs a fabricating shop next door to him. I take care of all their junk. This yard doesn’t look like much, but I make more money than they do. I can turn scrap into bucks a hell of a lot faster than they can. My yard gets full, I just put on another man until I get it cleared out. They, on the other hand, have to wait for someone to come in and buy. You know what I mean?”

“I think I do. I worked or operated a yard for the last few years.” I told him my name and from then on I was his best friend.

“Well what do you know? Come on in and sit a few minutes. Where you living?”

“I’m the manager of Hogan’s Hacienda. I haven’t been there but a few months.”

“That so? Well I’ll be damned. I was out to the barbecue and had a great time. I came up short by two points at the horseshoe toss. You going to do that again next year?”

“Yeah. Planning on it anyway. It will be bigger if all goes right this winter.”

“Hope you find what you need at my brother’s. I’ll give him a call and tell him you are coming in. Damn, you get any spare time, come on back and we can shoot the breeze. I got a whole passel of funny things that happened around the yard. You must have some too.” I agreed I did and assured him I would be back.

“Junkin Duncan, I’m Benny Brent. I just got off the phone with Bucky. I think I can find just what you need. Get in the pickup and we’ll go down to the back side of the lot. I got a bunch of lightweight staging that could be used for frames and I got some aluminum walkways that would make great seats and foot rests. That’ll keep the weight down. We’ll find something for runners for the things to ride on. It ain’t going to cost you much either.

“Billy Pecker can put the sleds together for you. Billy, he’s Buck and my brother-in-law. His name is really William Peck, but we call him Billy Pecker. If we gets pissed at him we call him Billy Peckerhead. Makes him powerful mad and then he goes cryin’ to Sis and she makes us stop. Don’t happen often ’cause we don’t wants to get Sis too mad at us. I’ll bring her around next year if you are having another barbecue like Bucky said you might.”

I had handled enough junk and salvage, so when quoted a price by Benny for the salvage and then Billy for the fabrication, I was pretty damned pleased at the total cost. Six sleds or transports would be ready to take out to the ranch in just two weeks.

The last two things I needed to get done now were the insurance and concessions for the food to feed the skiers. Tomorrow was the appointment at the insurance agency. Saturday I would find out if I was going to look to the schools for kids learning to ski. I figured for every two kids I could line up, there would be at least one parent that I could charge full price for. We would see.

This would be the last night Angelina and I would be sleeping together this week. She informed me that she had a shift at the clinic Friday night and also had to work some hours on Saturday. It was up to me to be a father to the girls. That was no chore. I had them start calling my mother, Grandma. They thought this was so cool. All of a sudden they had both a new daddy and a new grandma.

The meeting with the insurance company Wednesday morning went reasonably well. The insurance would be reduced if I could get the schools to cover the students while they were on the ski slopes.

“What agency covers your buildings and the livestock? So far all we have is the insurance on your vehicles. It might be wise to have a blanket policy on everything at the ranch. You go after the insurance with the different districts to have the students covered and your whole package will be quite inexpensive.

When I heard the figure quoted, I didn’t think it was cheap---God no! I would work doubly hard when I went to present this to the different school administrations at the meeting on Saturday. I needed those kids and I didn’t need the cost of the insurance for them.

I called my bank in the east and had $125,000 transferred to my account. I was still well short of the half million dollars that Randall estimated the cost of the ski area setup would come to. I was eating into my reserve, but then I thought back over the last few months and I would pay double to gain what I have now.

********************

“Daddy there is a big bus driving in.” Amy had run to the kitchen window when she heard the vehicle as we were eating supper. I looked out and saw a large motor home in the yard.

“Okay, Amy. Whoever it is will come to the door.”

It was almost ten minutes later when someone knocked on the door. It was Mitzy Gunther. “Hi Mr. Duncan, may I speak with you?”

“Sure, come in. We are just having dessert. Would you have a piece of pie and a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, I might.” We informed Mitzy all about Amelia and she signed the cast, which pleased Amelia no end.

“Come into the living room. It is comfortable and we can talk there. What can I do for you?”

“Well this concerns the ski area you are setting up. First let me ask, how are you handling the food? If you haven’t started getting the kitchen and things organized, I would like to bid on it. If you have already, I’d like to ask you for a job. I am experienced as my folks own a catering business and I have been managing it for them. We don’t have many calls during the winter and I have to lay off those I have employed.”

“I do need a food service and that was to be my next project to work on.”

“Good. Let me explain what I can do for you.”

Mitzy was very helpful with suggestions and shortly after ten o’clock we had an agreement. This was contingent on my inspection of her equipment and facilities. She was to supply three employees and herself during the week. Weekends and holidays, and of course school vacations, she had part timers she could call on as needed.

Angelina called during her lunch break at nine o’clock. When I told her what I was doing and that I was with Mitzy Gunther, she sounded slightly jealous. I was sure I would know when we got together on Saturday afternoon.

After the agreement was reached, Mitzy and I talked of things a little more personal. I also got more of a sense of what she was like and what it was going to be like to work with her. Mitzy was five-years-older than I thought. She said she was twenty-seven.

“You are wondering why Ronnie is in my life, I suspect. He is a very dear friend and has been for years. I have a younger brother that has moved away. He and Ronnie were close friends and so when I go anywhere, I ask Ronnie to take me. That is why we were together here the other day. He was busy tonight and that is the reason I am alone. I wanted to come and make my bid.”

I didn’t pry into why a man six years younger than a woman would squire her around and act as if she was his girlfriend. It was nothing to me, so I put it from my mind. There was definitely something sexual about Mitzy, but I knew it wouldn’t bother me. I mean look at the woman that I had just married.

The meeting here at the ranch with the school officials began at ten o’clock. Mom and Jenny had again outdone themselves in providing a snack before we got down to business. There were eight schools represented. Before we were done, the administrator from one school said that the increased cost of insurance prevented his school from joining. I did sign up the other seven. We did have almost three hundred kids coming. Their attendance would be staggered throughout the week.

I was surprised, as the schools around us were not that big. It was explained that this was touted as a health class as well as skiing, and the students were encouraged to join this program. All of the officials were driven to the top of the lease so they could examine where the students would be skiing or snowboarding. The slopes were wide enough so that some adults could ski in a divided and marked off section at the same time. I had the sketches of the sleds I planned to use for transport.

When it came time to discuss money for the use of the slopes, I did cut the rate a little lower than what I had estimated. I charged a flat rate that I would receive as long as the number of kids didn’t exceed a certain number from each school.

Chapter Six

As they all drove out of the ranch yard, I breathed a sigh of relief. This was our last major hurdle and now I really believed we had a chance for a successful operation. When Angelina arrived, I met her before she was able to get out of her car.

“Come on Sweet, drive up to the lease and I will tell you all about how things are coming.” It took a few minutes before I started explaining. I mean I hadn’t been with her for three days. The mobile home for the food concession was already installed here at the top and the imitation logs were affixed.

“Mitzy hasn’t been up here to see it yet, but from the way I described it, she thinks it was a brilliant idea.”

“I’ll bet she did. What does she look like?”

“Just an ordinary looking person with brown hair, cut short. She is tall and has a nice figure.”

“I suppose you checked out the rest of her as well, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes. She has a nice butt, long legs and lips just made for kissing.”

My Angel stared at me to see if I was joking or if I was serious. “Angelina, don’t go jealous on me. She is attractive, there is no denying that. She has a boyfriend also, so remember that as well. She was all business when I talked with her. I courted you all summer long to make you love me. I did that for a reason. I love you and don’t you ever doubt it.”

“I know I’m worrying a little when I shouldn’t. You haven’t forgotten why I was unhappy with my first husband have you? You can’t blame me, can you?”

“No I don’t blame you, but look at the situation in reverse. You are working with a bunch of doctors and teachers. They are always clean and smell nice, whereas I get dirty on occasion. I trust you. I’m asking you to trust me. Will you?”

“Junkin, I guess you are right. One more kiss and we should go down to the ranch. Amy and Amelia must be mad at me for not stopping when I arrived. I’m going to tell them it is all your fault.”

“It is. I just had to get you alone for a few minutes.”

The rest of the weekend went by way too fast. Wednesday night I gave up my usual session alone with my Angel and took my daughters with me. The girls needed to see their mother. Amelia was sick of carrying her cast around. It was too heavy and it was dirty and her skin itched under the plaster. This was along with her inability to run and play. Amy was fed up with her sister’s demands on her as well.

Angelina tried to help. “One more week Amelia, and then we will see about having it removed. Maybe a lighter cast can be put on. Years ago, you know, kids with a broken leg had to stay in bed for five weeks. Count yourself lucky. Come on, Daddy will take us out to Tender Chicken.”

We put the girls down in their own familiar beds where they had slept most of their short lives before I came on the scene and changed everything. They were almost immediately asleep, although it was only seven-thirty. It was decided that we would let them sleep here and get them up early in the morning in time to get to the ranch and then on to school.

“Ten more weeks of this before I can move to the ranch. I don’t know if I can stand it. I miss you so and I miss the girls even more. Junkin, tell me it is going to all be worth it.”

“It will be, I promise.”

“I suppose that Gunther woman has been around. I’m going to have to meet her one of these days.”

“Yes, she has been out at the ranch getting things organized. It is time too. We had some snow on the ridges this morning. It was just a shower, but is an indication of what’s coming. The power company was out and installed another electrical entrance for her operation. There will have to be a generator for the upper warming hut and concession. Mitzy will have everything ready to go by the end of next week. She has decided to keep her motor home right at the ranch. I gave her permission.”

“I don’t like it, Junkin. I know you tell me I have nothing to worry about, but I have a funny feeling about her. Foolish when I haven’t even met the woman.”

All I could do was to shrug my shoulders. It was only a few minutes before I’m sure my Angel wasn’t having any thoughts about Mitzy. I had her full attention. Later, I suggested we get the girls and put them in her bed so when I woke them in the morning they would wake up next to their mother. There wasn’t room for me in the bed, but I would be waking all three of my loved ones with kisses. I slept on the couch the same as the first time I was in this house. The kids’ beds were too small for me.

As we were leaving in the morning, Angelina stated, “I’ll be home Friday for supper. Would you invite this Mitzy Gunther to dine with us so I can meet her?” I agreed I would.

The kids had needed their mother last night and were acting totally different than they had yesterday. I felt a little uplifted myself. I even sang some kids songs with them on the way to school. You know, I was getting into this married life pretty good again. This time it was better, though. Now I had these two little girls to love. All that love was coming right back to me every day as well.

*************

It was a little awkward when Angelina and Mitzy met for the first time. She was prepared to dislike Mitzy, but things were soon more comfortable between the two. It was helped a little as I had asked Nina to be there with us for the evening meal.

I hadn’t seen Nina since our talk on the way into the hospital two weeks ago. When she came in she kissed the girls, put her cheek up for Paco and Juan. She did the same to me and walked over to Jenny and Izzy, speaking warmly to them and the same to Ezra and Grace. In front of Mom and Pete, she paused. “Nellie and Pete, so good to see you both again. You know I’m getting to like my son-in-law more and more. I think the credit for being so nice belongs to you and I thank you for that. My daughter is so lucky.”

I glanced at my Angel who was shooting daggers with her eyes at this display of affection for everyone by her mother. Nina went over to Mitzy, who was standing by Angelina. “Angie, has Mitzy had a chance to tell you yet that I will be working with her at the food concessions for the winter?”

It was immediately apparent that she hadn’t. I didn’t know this myself, and then I thought that Angelina wasn’t going to believe me. I waited for an explosion. The only indication was one of puzzlement and a questioning look my way. “Mam, did Ezra say you could work here on the ranch?”

“I talked to Ez and Grace before I took the job. They are okay with it as long as I don’t stay in the house. I will be staying in Mitzy’s motor home with her. She has two other employees besides me that are living there too. Don’t go blaming Junkin. He didn’t need to know about this. I need the work. The store where I was employed is closing. The Reverend Jones set this up with Mitzy to hire me.”

“Okay I guess, but if you cause any trouble I’m going to make Junkin get rid of you.” God, how could I be in the middle of this. I hoped I never would have to settle a fight between mother and daughter.

I asked for everyone’s attention. “I have a package that came today. It is from Maddie and Mazie. This is a rough draft of the booklet before it is printed. This was a university project compiling Ezra’s life. There are ten copies here. I want all of you to go through it and look for any inconsistencies.” I passed them around, making sure Nina received a copy as she had been alluded to in the booklet several times. She was part of Ezra’s life for several years.

“This is what those two young women were doing here this summer?”

“Yes Nina, this was the summer project.” It was quiet while the pamphlets were looked at. I had heard little bits of information, but this book was going to give me the essence of what Ezra’s life had been like for eight decades. One of the girls was an accomplished sketch artist and had Ezra’s image down pat.

None of the likenesses were posed and they caught the subject as he really was. I guess the one I liked the best was of him with Amy and Amelia standing looking at a horse.

“Can the information in this be changed at this late date?”

“Why Mam, is something wrong?”

“Yes it is. On page thirty-seven they have my name listed as Nina Gonzales. That is my a.k.a. name. My real name will be coming up in the trial of the man that Paco shot during the barbecue robbery.”

Ezra was shocked. “Your name isn’t Nina? Christ woman, isn’t there anything true about you at all? You mean you lived with me for twenty-two years and I didn’t even know your name?”

“Ezra, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to shame my family. I have a sister and two brothers. I didn’t want my lifestyle to get back to them.”

“What lifestyle? Christ, you lived with me. You lived with me long enough to be my common-law wife and when that wasn’t enough, I asked you to marry me. Where is the shame in that?”

“Ezra, I’m not going to discuss my life with you. I started out as one thing and I never changed, even when I lived here at the ranch. Enough to say I could have changed and I should have changed. I didn’t though and that is why I left you. Be glad I did leave. Look what you have. You have a fine, honest woman that loves you, and you have my children that you are proud of.

“Junkin knows some of my life.” This brought everyone’s attention around to me. Angelina at first glared at me and then I could see her thinking. Did she trust me yet? Maybe she did, for her face smoothed out. I certainly was going to have some questions thrown at me later.

Nina continued, “You may wonder why I have shared some of the secrets with your ranch manager and not you. It is because I can see what kind of man he is. When the chance presented itself to keep me from being tied to that scum who killed Jenny’s husband, he saved me from humiliation and maybe worse. I could have even gone to jail.

“I started changing when he sent me out of here before the trouble started so I wouldn’t be implicated. Angelina was shocked to see me in church. I am being helped there, no doubt, but it is Junkin that has given me the faith to really try to change. I have been searching for the time when I could explain who I am and why. With Ezra’s life story before you in the book that came today, this would seem to be the time to share some of it. Junkin, would you tell everyone what my name is?”

“It is Annie Grabonski.” I then shared Nina’s ancestry with the family. It was a revelation to everyone. I did not open up about her lifestyle. She could tell as much or as little as she wanted to about that. Nina then started to tell about having a sister and two brothers, their ages, etc.

Mom excused herself while we were talking and disappeared into the room where the computer was located. When she came back, she asked Nina, “Would a Tomas Grabonski and a Mary Grabonski Reandas possibly be one of your brothers and your sister? I have their e-mail addresses if you think they might be. Both have been searching for a lost sister named Annie for several years.”

Tears started pouring down Nina’s face. She stood and Mom guided her into the computer room.

Ezra was looking bewildered. Grace took his hand saying, “Come on Ez, let’s go to our room. I want to read this book about your life. You are so fortunate to have had those girls here this summer.”

“What about Nina?”

“Ez, you have said right along that she is in the past. Do you----?”

“You are right Gracie. There is us now.” The family watched this old man that they all loved push her wheelchair through the door.

Mitzy came and sat down beside me and we discussed the food concessions. I had a pad of paper for notes and we listed everything that needed doing. Two things that were definitely needed was water for two kitchens and a central supply for propane to cook with.

The only other concerns were the porta-pottys for the skiers. This year I hadn’t installed restrooms, wanting to wait and see if permanent facilities were warranted. Restrooms would have been cheaper as far as the facilities themselves, but that didn’t address the sewage that would be generated. That was taken care of by the company that supplied the portable toilets. I did plan a warm place with wash basins for sanitary reasons.

****************

Thanksgiving was three weeks from this coming Thursday. It was getting cold and some mornings we could see snow on the near-by peaks. Mitzy moved all of her equipment in and set things up. Nina wasn’t here yet to work for Mitzy. The night that Mom had found Nina’s siblings, Nina came to me and asked if I would lend her enough money to fly one way to Texas. She said that if I would, her family would see that she returned in time to be here when the first skiers arrived.

“Mam, you don’t have to ask Junkin for money from the ranch. I’ll give you enough. I’m pretty thrilled to think I have uncles and an aunt. I’ll get Nellie to take pictures of all of us so they can see you have family too.”

“What am I going to say about Ezra?”

I came up with the idea that Nina was Ezra’s common-law wife and they had slowly grown apart from each other. You were still friends and you had a job right here on the ranch so you could be with your children.

“Would Ezra back that up?”

“I’ll ask him.”

He didn’t have a choice when I went to him. Grace answered for him. “Of course he will.”

The bunkhouse was stocked with ski equipment for both sales and rentals. The ski patrol I had hired earlier to train some more skiers in safety came up with a couple more retired patrol personnel, so that problem was solved. A week before Thanksgiving, I honestly believed we were ready to open, and we would as soon as we had enough snow on the ground.

Angelina had to work all three days before the holiday, but she had until the next Monday away from work and classes. Her studies were almost completed and she would be receiving her diploma the third week of December.

She had also given her notice to the clinic and was starting as nurse to Doctor Watkins on the third of January. This would put her home every night. Amy and Amelia couldn’t count the days fast enough. Me, well I was looking forward to some organized home life.

Mom informed me that Angelina had invited two more guests for Thanksgiving. I never asked or gave a thought to who it might be. It was to be a major surprise for Pete. It was Terry and Junior. They had arrived Tuesday afternoon and stayed with Angelina until she got off work Wednesday afternoon. I wondered about this. I mean I had been married to one woman and here she was staying with my present wife.

There was no friction between them that I could see. I received a brotherly kiss and held my nephew for a few minutes. My Angel was watching me as I did, but I soon returned Junior to Terry. When Mitzy stopped in for a minute that evening, Angelina was the one to introduce Terry to her as my sister. She might think through the relationship at a later time---or maybe not.

It had been three months since I had seen my nephew---I trained my mind to think of him as Bill’s baby. If I thought of me being his biological father, I knew it would cause me pain. I kept my mind on what the world knew and not what the truth happened to be.

Nina was back from Texas and had spent ten days while there with one brother and her sister. Both were solid citizens and well thought of. The other brother, the youngest and named Pedro, had not done as well although he lived in the same town. “He is more like me. He kind of lives for the moment. He has been married twice and divorced both times. Right now he is living with another woman. He has two kids by his first wife and she has two. I think they love each other and eventually will marry. She was easy to talk to. Actually they are the only ones I shared my past with.

“I would have stayed with Pedro and Camille, but there wasn’t enough room. I felt indebted to Mary for saying she would pay my way home so I stayed with her. Mary and Tomas both belong to a church, but it is nothing like the one here. I told them I sang in a choir and they thought that was wonderful. I had a feeling their church was a little more strict than I could deal with. If I go back to visit, I’m paying my own way and then I can spend more time with Pedro, who is more like me.”

“Hi Junkin, is it okay if I sit with you?” Terry had come in, leaving the others.

“Sure, I was just relaxing.” This was mid-evening. I was on a couch and Pete had gone out to the barn to check the horses. The women were in the kitchen getting ready for the big meal tomorrow and the kids had just gone to bed.

“Junkin I have some things I want to tell you. First, Bill is losing his position at the bank. Some of it might be indirectly your fault. Bill doesn’t blame you, but he can’t escape the fact.”

I broke in, “How is it my fault?”

“The two largest banks in the city are merging. There is only room for one manager. At one time you made the manager of your bank promise that he would never consider Bill for a position. Bill is out and wasn’t even offered a lower position in the new combined bank.” She held up her hand when I started to protest. “That was then and he doesn’t blame you at all.

“What I want to ask you is, would you be unhappy if we moved out here somewhere? I want to be a part of Dad’s life. I know Nellie and I didn’t get along while I was married to you, but she is the best thing that ever happened to Dad and I love her for it. Also, and don’t make too much of it, I’m still very fond of you. Bill thinks the same because you have been really decent to us.

“There is a position here in a bank in the city where Angelina lives. I’d like to become friends with her too. God, does she ever love you! You should know that. She talks about you all the time and says she could never imagine being as happy as she is now. Actually, I came west so I could talk to you and see how you feel about us.”

I sat still, just looking at the floor. Terry was waiting for a comment. I swung my glance over to her. I guess it made her uncomfortable. She got up from beside me and went across the room to get a straight chair, bringing it back and facing me. This was something I took advantage of---watching her as she moved around.

“Terry, I’m still fond of you too. I don’t see anything about you I can’t live with if you move out here. I’ve made a conscious effort to think of you as my sister, and I’m succeeding better than I expected. So I’m welcoming you and Bill and looking forward to seeing all of you occasionally. When is this going to happen?”

“Soon after the first of the year.” She may have still been fond of me, but she was uncomfortable around me. “I think I will go call Bill now.”

“Terry, do you realize you are more considerate of me now than you ever were when we were married?”

“Yes I do, and you deserve it. Thank you for mentioning it. Night Junkin.”

Angelina came in to kiss me. “I saw you talking to Terry. She told you Bill lost his position didn’t she?”

“Yes, and she also told me they were thinking about moving out this way. There is a job in the city if he wants it. She then asked me if I would be okay with it? Angel, I was watching her and I can see where I won’t mind at all. She is still as pretty as ever and I’m still fond of her and I love her as well as Bill’s baby.”

I wasn’t saying this well and I suppose I was rambling. “Terry said one thing that went right to my heart. She said that you love me and are the happiest you have ever been. To hear that about you just tells me how much you love me. Now if I can convince you that I love you as much myself.”

“I know you do. I really do.”

***********************

The Thanksgiving table was loaded down with food. Again the blessing was given by Ezra. When he finished and looked up he stated, “I know everyone is hungry so we’ll eat now. When the pie is served, I would like to say a word.”

It was as friendly a gathering as anyone could wish for. Everyone was more than full, but still made room for pie. Mom was the one to serve it. She had put it on plates and she just had to go around the table and set it down. Jenny poured coffee. Amy and Amelia were too full and didn’t wish for milk. The table was quiet waiting for Mom and Jenny to sit.

Ezra looked as well as he ever had and extremely happy. “Okay, first I would like to inform you that Nina was in and talked with Grace and myself this morning. She felt she owed me some explanations. I have listened and when she finished she asked me to forgive her. I have done that. I will add that I did it gladly and have welcomed her to be here with her children anytime. Enough of that.

“My niece’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Boyle. I understand that she and her husband are planning on moving to this area permanently. I would like to extend an invitation to make this her home away from home. Knowing of her previous relationship with Junkin and seeing that they are at peace with each other, I know she will feel welcome.

“To cut this short, you are all related to me in one way or another. I look back to two years ago at Thanksgiving. There was just Izzy and me here. Angie and the kids came out and brought us the meal, but it wasn’t a really happy time. She wanted me to move into town. I knew she cared, but I just couldn’t do it. She left that day as unhappy about the situation as I was.

“Anyway, me and Izzy made it through until Nellie showed up. She brought a shell of a man with her and said they were staying. I know this pissed Angie off, but for me it was the saving of me. Not only because they were here, but because Angie was coming out to check up to see that Nellie didn’t steal the place from me.” He grinned when he said this.

“You are right Pa. I’m ashamed to say that now.”

“I don’t blame you Angie and I understand your feelings. Let’s put that behind us. The point I want to make here is that there is one person that is responsible for all of us sitting here today. I’m talking about Junkin. He sent Nellie out here. That started things. Then he came out himself and I’m not going to embarrass him by listing all he has done for us. What I would like is to have everyone reflect back over the time Junkin has been here. Think how he has touched us all. To conclude this, this is Thanksgiving and I’m thankful.”

Ezra looked at me and there were tears in his eyes---maybe there was a little moisture in my own. Should I say something? Everyone was looking at me waiting. “Is this where I give an order? You all know how I love to give orders. Seriously, I think Ezra feels fulfilled. I do as much as he does and possibly more. I’m now part of a huge warm family. I’m related to all of you. Most of all I’m home and I’m happy. Our family will grow and expand over the years, but we can never be as close as we are right now on this Thanksgiving day.”

I choked up and took a sip of coffee. Wouldn’t you know that I took some down the wrong way and had a coughing spell. Amy and Amelia jumped up and pounded on my back. It couldn’t get better than this!

That night laying in bed with Angelina, she brought up Terry again. “Tuesday night, you know, Terry and I slept in the same bed and talked about you for the longest time. She told me about you taking her to the prom and how nice you were to her when she wasn’t dressed like the other students. You pretended it didn’t matter to you. Did it matter?”

“Some of course, but I had made a bargain and I was going to hold up my end of it.”

“Bullshit! You refused taking her virginity. You sat out in your father’s car and held her while she cried her eyes out. You’re a big fraud, Junkin.”

“I did take her virginity.”

“Yes you did, but not that night.”

“Why are we discussing this? That was many years ago. Since that time I married the woman and she dumped me after running around on me. That hurts, you must know that. The cheating, I mean.”

“Well I know the feeling. I think something like that colored my outlook on life as well. At least it did until I figured out you are just what you seem to be. There is no pretense to you. How I misjudged you.”

“Angel, let’s go to sleep. There is snow forecast for the next three days. I want to open the area a week from this coming Saturday, so dear woman, pray for snow.”

**********************

We did open to limited skiing when advertised. The ground wasn’t frozen and it wasn’t terribly cold. We had to be careful when packing the snow on the slopes that we didn’t cut through and have a muddy spot. I was honored to make the first run from the top of the lease to the ranch house. I didn’t make it all the way for the snow was too slow. We needed cold weather to make for excellent skiing.

I was very disappointed the first week we were open. If it hadn’t been for the 737 students from the area schools I would have been tempted to close up and forget this operation. But the second weekend it was cold and the sun shone as only it can in Colorado. We were swamped. It snowed heavily on the seventeenth and eighteenth of December and we just had enough time to get the slopes ready for that next weekend.

And word of mouth coming from those that were the first to ski: “This is a safe place to come and have fun. Hogan’s Hacienda---you know where they had the barbecue last summer. You can rent or buy equipment. They have good food and a place to get warm if you are cold. And there are hardly any lines. Old Ezra Hogan comes out sometimes and shoots the bull---Christ he must be ninety---he’s been around forever.”

Randall Smith came and stayed in the ranch house Christmas week. He was on the slopes all day, everyday. His son, Becker, took up with Amy and Amelia. He was an accomplished skier even though he was only eight. And before we knew it, the three kids were going up and coming down as often as we let them. Simone, Randy’s wife, was a little on the heavy side, but that didn’t deter her from a couple of runs early in the day. After that she helped in the house. This left Mom to drive the fifth packer we used to transport skiers when we were swamped.

I have to say everyone here on the ranch was tired out from the everyday crowds and there was no let-up in sight. Grace Lincoln turned out to be an asset as well. I was doing bookkeeping one night and fell asleep at the computer. It was late and when I awoke, I decided I couldn’t concentrate on the figures. When I got up to work on them in the morning, I found them all done. Tabulated just as I had always done.

“Junkin, I can do those everyday. That way you can get more sleep. ’Course you’ll just think of some other way to make more money and make us all work harder.” This was said with a twinkle in her eyes. I just leaned over and kissed her, I was that happy to be relieved of the chore.

Angelina received her diploma and was now a full-fledged registered nurse. This happened on the twenty-first of December. She moved to the ranch permanently the next day. The doctor she went to work for was one of the physicians we had contracted to be on call if there was need.

There was always need as there were sprains, sometimes cuts from falls and the usual bruises and abrasions. Often the doctor would send Angelina if the description of the injury wasn’t too serious. There was the ski patrol to handle anything that happened on the slopes and they usually made the determination whether to call 911 or the doctor. At the end of the first month, there hadn’t been any serious mishaps.

We had a short respite in the middle of January. There was a three-day thaw and I closed the skiing down until the weather improved. There was no rain, just a fog and the temperature went up into the sixties. I didn’t allow anyone on the slopes for I feared if I did, there would be ruts and ice when the temperature took the inevitable dive. I was right and we had snow before it got too cold again. This left our slopes in beautiful shape with a minimal amount of grooming.

We anticipated that we would be short-handed when last summer’s robber came to trial. Jenny, myself, Paco and Angelina would have to appear. Also Nina would have to go which would leave Mitzy’s crew short as well. The day before the trial was to commence, the robber entered a guilty plea and threw himself on the mercy of the court.

We suspected there was a plea deal made to gain information about the drug contacts he had inside the drug trade. Nina was asked to verify some facts she had gleaned when she was tied in with the deceased Hugo Gomez.

Nina was nearly a part of the ranch again---not with Ezra, though. Being the mother of Angelina, Paco and Juan, and the grandmother of Amy and Amelia, she was welcomed. Angelina had got over the hateful feelings she had harbored since her mother left her father. Ezra was civil to his former companion as well. Gracie had much to do with this and was friendly with Nina. I guess she saw Nina as an equal---but she was in and Nina was out, so why have ill will.

*************

Terry went back east after Thanksgiving, but kept Mom and Pete posted on her family’s move out here to Colorado. She had leased a house in the city and had moved into it during the week of the New Years. I knew she and Mom often talked, but she and Bill had been too busy to visit.

Everyday was the same as the previous. School vacation in February was especially hectic. It seemed as if all the kids brought their parents to show them how well they could ski. We were pleasantly surprised when Maddie and Mazie made a visit to us. They both had new boyfriends with them. This didn’t bother Juan as he and Sharon were definitely a couple by this time. Paco was odd man out in this instance.

That was the first day and we all felt sorry for him. When the twins got ready to go to their motel after having a late dinner with us at the ranch, Paco was with them. “Junkin, I may be late in the morning. Mazie says they have the motel half full of college kids where they are staying. She is going to fix me up. I’ll come back in the morning with them.”

“Okay, try to make it back by noon. We are expecting a crowd tomorrow if today is any indication. Have fun.” I guess he had partied hearty as he looked wrung out when he arrived. He said nothing, just getting onto his snow packer to transport a full load of skiers up to the top of the lease. I guess the cold air cleared his mind as he was smiling when he came down for another load of skiers.

It was work, work, work for the rest of the winter. Mitzy was the one person who took things in stride, never seeming to be tired. Her motor home was as much a gathering place as the ranch house was. Angel often went in to visit and sometimes I went with her. I knew I was welcome when Angelina wasn’t around, but I determined that my wife might be jealous if I spent too much time with Mitzy.

Angelina noticed how hesitant I was to go in without her even when I had business to discuss. The next time we both went in on business, Mitzy said, “I usually don’t tell anyone this, but it is time you knew something I have kept hidden. I want to show you something. I don’t want to discuss it so you will have to draw your own conclusions. Follow me.”

We followed Mitzy into the sleeping section. There was a double bunk across from the bath. “Nina sleeps on the bottom and Peggy sleeps in the top bunk. I sleep in the little room across the end. There is a double bed in there. Now let’s go out and have some of the fresh coffee I just made. I see you brought some of Nellie’s famous sweet buns with you. I want to discuss the fair you are planning and see if I can be part of it.”

I needed a little clarification. “Have you ever been to Vermont?”

“No, I haven’t, but I was in San Francisco a couple years ago. Sophia was with me.”

I understood fully now. Sophia and Mitzy were married. That had to be why she used Ronnie Styles as an escort---to keep her lifestyle hidden. When I glanced at her she said, “I like the way I am and I love the person with me.” She was waiting for my reaction.

“I’m happy for you. To change the subject, how can you help me better the system we had last summer at the barbecue?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I think there will be some benefits. Sophia is the barbecue maestro’s youngest daughter. She calls him Pop. I do too when we stay over with him and Sophia’s mom.”

“Okay, I get the picture. What can the Hogan’s do for you?”

“I’d like to have my motor home parked here more or less permanently. I like everyone here and I think everyone likes me---and Sophia.”

“I’ll bring it up at the next meeting. What do you think Angel?”

“It is okay by me and I’ll say so.”

**********

We officially closed the ski area on the nineteenth of April. For once everyone was able to sleep in. Pete and Izzy had volunteered to feed the cattle. They did this early, taking only a half hour. I fed the horses. When finished we all crawled back into bed with our respective spouses, turned over and went back to sleep. I did anyway. We had a leisurely meal with everyone lending a hand to put it together late in the afternoon.

Ezra, still happy, “I can’t believe what has happened in the last ten months. I didn’t even know many of the people that are sitting around my table tonight. Nellie had been here a few months and there was a few times I had to ask her for money to buy food to feed her and Pete, Izzy and me.

“Junkin has told me how much money there is going to be to put into each person’s bank account. I’m eighty years old and never dreamed I would have that much all at once. It isn’t just me either. Everyone here will have the same amount. A year ago my sons would come begging and I had nothing to give them.

“Outside of me owning the ranch, they have the same as I do. Junkin saw something in them that I didn’t and I have to say they have earned every penny that is their share. I’m damned proud of them. It looks as if I’m going to have a new daughter-in-law as well as a new granddaughter from Jenny and Izzy. Juan has asked Sharon to be his wife. I’m damned proud of all of you. It is getting to be more like it was when I was a kid here. Wars took some of my family and deaths crept up on too many too soon. There was happiness here then, but over the years it went away. I never thought I would see it again, but I have.

“The thing of it is, I think everyone else is as happy as I am. We have come out of the darkness and into the light. Thank you all. Junkin?”

“I think Ezra said it all. There is one other that should be happy that he didn’t name.” I waited. It was Amelia that asked the question I was waiting for.

“Who is that Daddy?”

“Why that is Uncle Sam. We are going to have to cut him in for his share. He will be happy for some of you have never had enough money to have to pay taxes.” This brought laughter. I looked around at all the happy faces.

“Okay, I think we can all relax a little. It has been a long hard winter. I know it isn’t the best time of year for a vacation, but if you want one, could you schedule it during the next six weeks. Whoever is around will be packing up from skiing. All the equipment will be repaired and refurbished.

“I have a few new things I want to get done this year. We have found out that the skiing is profitable and the expanded barbecue and fair should be. I have a new banker that I’m working with. That is Bill Boyle, my brother-in-law. He has just been engaged to give advice and the business from the ranch has made him look pretty good.

“The big things that are needed are the toilet facilities for both the ski area and the fair. Also the warming huts for the skiing can double for concession stands for the fair. I want to make them more permanent. I have one other project in the back of my mind that still needs work, but I’ll leave telling you about that until another time. I’ll see about financing that myself. Now I’ll ask---is everyone satisfied with the way everything is going?” I had a resounding yes.

Monday, Angelina and I drove into the city and took flight for New York for a belated honeymoon. I was hoping when I returned, Bill would have some word on a special purchase he was to find out about. In the meantime Angel and I enjoyed ourselves by going to two different Broadway shows, eating at the finest restaurants and living a pampered lifestyle.

Angelina had never had enough money to buy everything she wanted and wouldn’t purchase some of the clothes I assured her she should have to adorn herself with. The one splurge she made was a beautiful dress that she wore when I took her dancing. She was a vision!

This was fun. No responsibilities, but on the next to last day of our ten-day honeymoon, Angelina said, “We should go home today. I’m ready and your mind certainly isn’t on anything here in New York.”

“It is too. We have tickets for a Yankee game. They are playing here against Boston. I’ve always wanted to see both teams. I guess I will be rooting for the Red Sox. They are supposed to be good this year.”

“Okay, but we leave right after the game. Geez, I can’t even keep my husband’s mind on me on our honeymoon. Tell me your mind hasn’t been on something else?”

“I’ll admit the ranch and the plans I have for it intrude at times. It is a big responsibility. There are twelve of us, thirteen if you include me. Mitzy and Nina should be included as well, as they are tied in too. There will be one more when Izzy’s kid is born.”

“Is that the most you can count?”

“I guess so. Who have I forgotten?”

“Who did you count?”

“Ezra and Gracie. Mom and Pete. Jenny and Izzy and the soon to be baby. Juan and Sharon. You, Amy, Amelia, Paco and myself.”

“How about Johnny Junior? You want responsibilities, you’ve got them now. I’m not sure, but I think it was during the January thaw that it happened.”

“Oh him. Sure we can count him if you want.”

“Is that all you can say? You don’t sound too excited or happy?”

“Angel, look at me. Let’s order from room service tonight. I can find better things to do right now than going out on the town. I’ll show you excited and happy.” And I did!

We did go to the Yankee-Boston ball game. Angelina cheered for the Yankees and I couldn’t cheer against her, so I cheered for them too. Boston won, seven to five.

We stopped in the city on the way home and stayed overnight in Angelina’s house. The ranch business leased the property now for anyone connected to use while in the city. I went in to see Bill Boyle alone the next morning. He had papers for me to sign. When finished, I was handed a deed to a portion of land. I said nothing to Angelina when I picked her up to head out to the ranch. This was to be her birthday present.

The present wasn’t that expensive either. I paid less than twice what I paid for the Dior dress she wore to the dance when we were in New York. God it was good to get home. Bill and Terry wanted Angel and me to stay over one night with them when we returned, but I felt odd to be invited to my ex-wife’s home. I made my excuses.

Angelina questioned me about it. “Why can’t we stay? We have them out to the ranch on occasion.”

“It is different. They come out to see Mom and Pete. Remember dear, we are still on our honeymoon. You just don’t stay with a woman that was your previous wife and the man that took her from you.”

“But you still like them?”

“Yes, I do like them. That is the strange part. Under ordinary circumstances, I shouldn’t. For now though, I want to keep my distance. Maybe I still harbor some resentment.”

“You do love me, don’t you? You have just proved it. Let’s head for the ranch. We can be home and in our own bed in an hour. Honeymoons are great but I have had enough of this one. I miss the girls and I guess I’m homesick.”

****************

We were welcomed home as if we had been away forever. By the girls mostly, but Ezra almost as much.

Snow was almost gone when we awoke the next morning. There was still a little in the ravines between the mountain ridges. I walked out and inspected the fields that we had skied over for several months. It didn’t appear as if there was much damage. There were a few spots of grass that had winterkill. We should get a good hay crop. I was going to fertilize immediately after first green-up. There was some sections of the fields I planned on growing coarser hay for horses.

That was part of my new project. I needed some steady income from the ranch in the summer. If Angelina didn’t go along with it, I would be satisfied with what we had going already. I did think she would want to contribute though. I would soon know as her birthday was next week and I would lay it all out at that time.

I did invite Terry and Bill and the baby for her birthday. I couldn’t help but be interested. I thought that the child I was having with Angelina might look much like the Boyles’ baby. In a way I hoped not. Down the road it might complicate matters if the two kids looked too much alike.

Mitzy and the crew she had employed were invited along with Nina. Paco was dating a woman from the town and was with her most every evening. He had hinted he might decide to move in with her. I was noncommittal, hoping he would live on the ranch. I could think of a few ways to sweeten the pot if he wanted to move away. Time would tell.

Angelina’s birthday was on May first. “Angie, tell me when you fell in love with Junkin? You gave him such a rough time I didn’t think it would happen.” Ezra’s love for his kids had deepened and he was always giving me credit.

“Pa, I was interested from the first night, but I had to find out what kind of man he was. He had you wrapped around his finger and I thought he was after the ranch. He was always doing the unexpected. Every time I thought I had him figured out or backed into a corner to discover what his intentions were, he wouldn’t be cornered. Then when he continued to call me Mrs. Betite, I wanted him to stop and call me Angie just like you do. He still won’t.”

She gave a crooked little grin. “But he calls me his Angel and I’ll settle for that.”

Presents were given to my Angel. These were little things, some cute or foolish. All the family was wondering what I would give her. Finally no more presents were forthcoming and everyone was looking at me. “Angel, I bought a piece of property. I have no real interest in it because you can only get to it by horseback and you know me and horses. I looked at some old deeds and found that the ghost town was still owned by a couple of very old women. They are descendants of the original owners. I commissioned Bill Boyle to make an offer.

“The offer was immediately accepted. So Dear, here is the deed. The land comprises 1320 acres. Most of it is useless. The meadow will pasture a few horses and there are some trails up into some of the mountains. The trails don’t go anywhere as the property really is landlocked. The only access is still the trail from here.”

“What would I want to do with it?” She looked intently at me, and then I grinned. Angelina sat there shaking her head. “Oh no. I bet you have a plan for it. Why are you giving it to me?”

“Because Dear, it will be your decision, although I think the plan is a good one. I want you to trust me and you can only do that if you own the land. Happy Birthday, my Angel.”

“What’s the plan, Boy?” This was eighty-year-old Ezra who hadn’t given up his zest for life yet, and looked forward to the future instead of backward. Some change from the way he had felt about life just less than a short year ago.

“I admit it is going to take a lot of money to develop. Combining it with the ranch will give all of us here a chance to make a good living for years to come. If one project loses a little money, we will have enough others to compensate.”

“Spell it out, Boy.”

“Okay. I’m talking dude ranch. We’ll improve the trail up and over the lease. The road should be wide enough for ATVs. That won’t cost too much. I’ll sit down and figure what we need for buildings. I think rather than transport the material in a few pieces at a time, we’ll gather everything together here at the ranch and hire a helicopter to carry it all.

“That could be done in one day. That way we wouldn’t spend time transporting. Time which can be put to use putting up buildings. I guess it is up to you, Angel. You own the land.”

“How many months would the dude ranch be used?”

“Three at most. Probably ten weeks would be a viable business operation. Less this first year. There is also hunting season and we could book some weddings if we weren’t too busy.”

“You can’t even talk on a cell phone now. What are you going to do about that? Dudes are going to want phone service.”

“I looked into having service put in after Amelia was injured. We are building the road in anyway and I might offer to pay to have the cell tower itself carried up with the helicopter. We’ll need a large generator, but all that is just things that are worked through as any project demands.”

Angel sat mulling this all over. Everyone else was waiting for her decision. “No!”

I could see the disappointment on the faces around the room. “No, I can’t accept the land personally. It is a wonderful and thoughtful gift and I thank you Junkin. However, I will accept it in the name of all of us as part of the business here at the ranch. That way if some collateral is needed to save the ranch someday, we can use the ghost town property as a fallback position. It will be an asset just as the snow packers, the cattle, the horses and the extra hay to feed are. It will be just one part of the business that everyone has shares in.”

Ezra got up and came over to Angie. “I’m not the only one that has changed in the last year. I think the biggest change is in you. No way would you have done this before---”

“Before Junkin. That’s what you are saying, isn’t it Pa?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Junkin as the ranch manager, has lifted us all up to where we can look the world in the eye. He says he is doing this for all of us, but I know it is only for you.”

***************

It has been a year since I came west. So many changes in that time. The dude ranch at the ghost town was a big expense both in time and money. We were only going to be able to have it open for guests four weeks this season. That is to be the last week of July and three weeks of August. The fair is going to be held on Labor Day weekend.

The sheriff had been by and thought maybe we should hold another poker party. That was booked in for the last week of September at the dude ranch. It was going to be held in the rebuilt saloon there. How appropriate! Gambling had always gone on in the saloon and there had been two killings over card games in the short time the town had been in existence.

Records of the county showed there were two other deaths in the town. One, a man murdered by a Chinee, Kim Loo, laundry worker. The man, Jake Collins, had cut off the Chinee’s pigtail, so to save face Kim had waited his chance and stabbed Collins. He proudly proclaimed what he had done. The men of the camp felt he was justified and glued his pigtail back on---then they hung him anyway.

The hay crop, now that we were fertilizing the fields, was being cut this week and looked to be superb in quality and quantity. Jenny and Izzy had another person helping with the jerky processing, there were that many orders. Plus Jenny was big with the baby and it was awkward for her to get around. Our ski equipment had all been serviced and put in shape.

The one thing that hasn’t been done, is the apartment I promised Angelina. I was trying to fit in the construction of it, but with the building of the ghost town/dude ranch, it had been put on hold until the fall. This was Angelina’s decision, not mine. The sewer project to handle the ski area would be finished by Labor Day so that would dispense with the porta-pottys.

Nina invited her youngest brother, Pedro, and his wife for a visit. They are planning on staying. They are going to be living over the hill in the ghost town. She as cook and he will be managing the horses and the trail rides. There will be plenty of work here on the ranch for them when we close down the ghost town for the season.

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So there you have it---a year in my life. Junkin Duncan, that’s me. Over time people will forget how I came by that name. A few won’t---Terry and Bill Boyle---I’m tied to them in more ways than one. Mom and Pete---Mom wasn’t my real mother, but I couldn’t have a better one. Pete, who was my father-in-law and then my stepfather, he knows my name.

I wrote down notes of things that happened in that year. I waited a year before recording everything. Looking back on the second anniversary of my life here in the west, I can not see the need to continue beyond the first. Who cares if the cows got out or a horse bucked a fat lady off or that Jenny shot another wolf---seven months pregnant, she was too.

That I have a son of my own---we call him Johnny. That the two girls, Amy and Amelia are going to be as beautiful as my Angel. Or that Ezra may live forever. These are little happenings and are to be mentioned only as an adjunct to that first year.

Remember how I made a joke about Nina, my mother-in-law, and the Reverend---twan’t no joke. The Reverend has found comfort in Nina’s arms and Nina has found the stability that she has searched for all her life.

That kid who chased Amelia with the bike and was injured---he showed up here to apologize to her. The state gave him a van to get around in as he had lost the use of his legs in the crash that I caused. That woke him up and his regrets and apologies seemed genuine. The Reverend, who knew his family, asked me personally to find him something to do here on the ranch. I figured he paid a pretty high price for chasing Amelia and causing her leg injury. Enough so I did give him some work. He is the person helping Jenny and Izzy making beef jerky.

Uncle Sam still deposits money into my account for using the junkyard. $1,200,000 so far. I have used the money liberally, knowing that it would come back to me in love, if not in dollars. It looks as if I am going to have both. I still remember the afternoon Terry told me she was divorcing me and how much it hurt at that moment---but it turned out to be a short moment. I still give orders and for once I will give myself one. “Junkin, stop writing.”

The End