Page 16 of Heart & Hope

When her not-so-white Mercedes rolls into the driveway, Charlie takes off after the wheels. I shoo him away before he gets any ideas about barkin’ at her and open her door.

“Hey,” she says, holding a hand up. “Olive, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Can’t you sort this bullshit out? Honestly, it’s 2024, not the 1970s.”

The woman on the line, who I’m assuming is Olive, talks fast. Her East Coast city jabber assaults the phone. How it doesn’t make Ruby flinch, I have no idea. “Fix it, or I’m out, Olive.”

Olive snaps out a few short words.

“Fine, whatever.” Ruby glances at me, lost in thought. “Never mind, I’ll figure it out. Thanks for your help.”

The sarcasm is dripping from her pretty tongue, and I hope to hell those fighting words don’t land her in trouble with whoever Olive is. Ruby hangs up and tosses her phone into her tote bag, groaning as her head hits the steering wheel.

“Baby, you work too much. You know that, right?” I drawl.

The second I realize the words I used, I curse under my breath. But to my surprise, she doesn’t miss a beat. Nor does she object to me calling her baby.

“Reedsy, you have no idea.”

Reedsy. I’ll take it.

I grin back at her and extend my hand. She grabs her tote and pushes out of the driver’s seat. When I close the door behind her, she turns back. “Your mom, how old is she going to be? Is this a milestone birthday? I don’t want to organize a party and miss any of the details.”

“Not a milestone, and she will never tell.”

Ruby laughs at that and follows me as I lead her through the gate and into the house. Ma’s at the kitchen table and stands when we walk in. She leaves her seat and is wrapped around Ruby the second she reaches the table. Something warm grows in my chest.

“Hey, Louisa.” Ruby chuckles.

“I have been thinking about the things you asked me to. I have a list; I hope that’s okay?”

Ruby sits in the spot by Ma’s and dumps her tote on the floor. “Of course! This is an amazing start. You’re very organized.” She smiles at Ma as she sits and waves me off. I stand, my frozen gaze swinging between them, before I clear my throat, wipe a hand through my hair, and head to the kitchen. There’s gotta be some iced tea in here somewhere. I pull the refrigerator open and listen as they chatter away.

Two peas in a pod.

I pour three glasses of iced tea and deliver two over to the table. Ma glances up with a smile and Ruby takes one from my hand without looking up. Her fingers brush mine as the glass leaves my hand. She continues to talk to Ma about whatever they are planning. Flowers or something.

I glance at the clock in the kitchen. Ugh, almost ten. Hudson will be hunting me shortly. Or worse, sending that hellhound of his after me.

“Alright, I have chores to get to ladies, have fun.” I wave as I wander out the back door, grabbing my hat from the hook as I go.

Ten minutes later, I have Magnet saddled and mounted up, before pushing him into a trot down the lane toward the southern paddocks. Harry wants the herd of weaners shifted further downfield to let the pasture rest. Shouldn’t take more than an hour or so.

Hudson’s truck is at the paddock gate of his brood mares. He walks around between them, checking them over. Always fussing over them, my big brother. And Ruby is back at the homestead, completely immersed in planning Ma’s party. You can tell she loves it, the way she lights up talking about her work. I wish I had that. Something I loved to sink my teeth into.

I push Magnet into a lope.

The grey gelding picks up a steady rhythm. I sit back in the saddle. This is one of the few parts of ranching I actually enjoy. Me and Magnet, the wind whipping past. A thousand pounds of pure power.

When I reach the paddock with grazing cattle, I slow Magnet to a walk and lean down and slide the gate latch open. Maneuvering the gelding around, I pull the gate shut and trot around the herd. The gate for the next pasture runs along the back fence. I head for that, running an eye over the animals as I pass.

No obvious signs of anything amiss.

Harry always wants an update. I open the gate and lope back before pushing the herd onto greener pastures, literally. When all are squared away in their fresh field, I head home. Hopefully, I can catch Rubes before she goes.

Rubes.

Reedsy and Rubes.

R & R.

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