Saddle Up(48)

“Matter of fact, I did a little more than that. I made some phone calls to the regional BLM office, as well as to my neighbors.”

“Why the neighbors?” Miranda asked.

“I told you there was a bunch of ranchers up in arms about the outfit down in Ennis. I don’t want that same thing to happen here. Although it’s my right to do as I wish with my land, it’s important to keep good relations with the neighbors, especially the ones I share common fence with.”

“What did they say?” Miranda asked.

“They voiced the same frets about horses getting loose, but I reminded them how many times their cows have wandered into our pastures. Dirk Knowlton over at the Flying K seemed the most concerned, since he’s experimenting with a new cattle breed, but said it wasn’t any business of his as long as our fences were secure. That’s my other worry at this point. I think we’d have to upgrade some of the fencing, and that’s a big expense.”

Encouraged, Miranda asked, “I’ll be happy to pay for any repairs. This whole thing was my idea, after all.”

“I don’t want you to drain your savings,” Jo-Jo argued.

“How much do you think it would cost?”

“Probably a couple of thousand dollars, but I wouldn’t know for certain without inspecting it.”

The oven dinged. Jo-Jo donned a mitt and pulled out a pan of steaming blueberry delights.

“Can we?” Miranda asked. “Inspect it?”

“Sweetheart. It would be a waste of time. I don’t have any money to put into fencing.”

“But maybe I do,” Miranda said. “Depending on how much we’re talking about. I have a little bit saved up. If that’s the main thing that’s stopping us from doing this, I’d really like to know what it’ll cost.” With a pleading look, Miranda laid a hand on her grandmother’s shoulder. “Please, Jo-Jo. Let’s at least find out before you decide anything.”

“All right.” Jo-Jo sighed. “We’ll investigate, but don’t get your hopes up.”

“Thank you, Jo-Jo.” Miranda smiled. Although Jo-Jo tried not to show it, she was definitely softening to the notion.

Jo-Jo placed a basket of muffins on the table beside the large crock of salted butter. “Eat up, now, cowgirl. We’ve got us some fence to ride.”

*

Tails wagging madly, Jo-Jo’s three old herd dogs trailed hot on their heels as they left the house for the main barn. As she slid back the metal door, the mixed smells of alfalfa hay, fresh manure, and oiled leather greeted her, filling Miranda with remembrances of the happy summers she’d spent on the ranch. It was here she’d learned to ride a horse, and even drive. Gramps had taught her how to shift and clutch at the age of twelve, when he’d put her behind the wheel of the old farm truck in the back pasture.

She’d always loved the visits, but she had never considered making a life out here until now. Silver Star was a tiny community with only a post office to even mark its existence, and the nearest town, Twin Bridges, wasn’t exactly a metropolis. If she sought entertainment of any kind, Butte was an hour away and Bozeman a good eighty miles. Would she grow bored with it as Jo-Jo feared?

She recalled Keith’s words about yearning for a simpler, quieter life. Would that kind of life suit her? She was beginning to believe it would. She’d always been a homebody anyway. During four years in L.A., she’d been out only a handful of times. The only things she’d ever really needed to be content were her camera, an Internet connection, and Netflix.

Jesse and Doc pulled away from the hayrack to greet them with quiet nickers. “Hello, boys,” Miranda said, stroking one head and then the other. “I hate to interrupt their breakfast.”

“They have nothing to fear,” Jo-Jo said. “We’ll be taking the ATV.”

“Why not ride the horses?” Miranda asked.

“Because I haven’t put a saddle on either of those ol’ timers in almost two years.”

“Oh,” Miranda remarked in surprise. Most of her childhood memories were of her grandmother on a horse. Jo-Jo had always loved riding. She never thought Jo-Jo would give it up as long as she was still able to sit a horse. “You don’t ride at all anymore?”

“Nope. I quit after Bud passed,” Jo-Jo said sadly. “Haven’t been able to bring myself to get on a horse since. I sold all but these two retirees. Bud built these stalls to shelter them from the harsher weather, and I soak their feed every night. We never pampered our ranch horses, but these two old boys have earned a comfortable retirement.” She patted Doc’s neck. “I hope someone does the same for me one day.”

Miranda had never imagined her fiery grandmother needing that kind of care, but it seemed the years were finally beginning to catch up with her. “I’ll take care of you, Jo-Jo. I promise.”

“Are you really planning to hang around here that long?” Jo-Jo asked.

“Yes,” Miranda replied. “If you’ll let me. I really do want to make this my home.”

“Then you better know up front that I refuse to live on Jell-O, applesauce, and instant potatoes in my old age.”

“I promise to make you pureed roast beef and gravy at least twice a week,” Miranda teased.

Jo-Jo grinned back. “Then I’d best teach you how to cook!”