Saddle Up(76)

*

Miranda opened her eyes, spooned against him in a warm postcoital cocoon. “Jo-Jo asked if you have plans for Thanksgiving. I told her I wasn’t even sure if you celebrated it or not.”

“It’s not our custom,” he said, “but some of us do. Did you know that Thanksgiving was really an Indian harvest celebration way before the Pilgrims ever landed? There are those who feel the white people hijacked our holiday. A few bands in New England have even gone so far as to designate it as a great day of mourning.”

She rolled over to face him. “How do you feel about that?”

“I think the past is the past. We need to let the bitterness go. As far as the holiday is concerned, it’s just another day to me, but I do like turkey.”

“Were you planning to go and see your grandparents?” She added hopefully, “Or would you like to spend it here with us?”

“I wasn’t planning to leave, not with the horses arriving so soon.”

The frown etching his brow told her it was more than just the horses arriving that kept him from going home. His pain was deep, and a wound she ached to soothe. She hoped that time would bring about a reconciliation with his family.

“I’m glad you’re staying,” she said. “I just hope you don’t mind my aunt Judith and uncle Robert. They’re coming up from Phoenix tomorrow. When Jo-Jo told them about the mustangs, they booked the first flight to Montana. Jo-Jo said Judith is having a real cow over it.”

“Why should they care?” Keith asked.

“Because Judith is a real control freak. She had it all planned out for Jo-Jo to move to Phoenix with them, whether it was what Jo-Jo wanted or not. I just hope they don’t cause any trouble.”

Keith shrugged. “They might not like it, but there’s not much they can do, given it’s all a done deal.” He fingered one of her curls. “It doesn’t sound like you’re too fond of your aunt.”

“No, I’m not. She’s a real be-atch. She and Jo-Jo don’t get along very well either. Judith hated the ranch and couldn’t leave soon enough. She went away to nursing school, married an oral surgeon, and never came back. He’s a real asshat too. The man extracts wisdom teeth for a living but acts like it’s neurosurgery.”

“Have you heard yet when they’ll be bringing the horses?”

“The guy from the BLM is supposed to come out tomorrow to look things over. If he gives us the final stamp of approval, we can expect them the day after.”

“Are you nervous about it?” he asked.

“I guess I am a little nervous. This is a really big commitment. I just hope Jo-Jo never regrets that I talked her into it.”

“You understand that there’s no turning back once they unload those trailers.”

“I know. I’m ready. I’m just really glad you’re here with me. I don’t know how I could have done it without you.”

His brows pulled together. “But you were determined to do it anyway, weren’t you?”

“Yes,” she admitted. “I was. And I still would have, but part of me could never quite believe that you’d let me down. I think I always knew you’d come through in the end.”

“So much faith in me, Aiwattsi?” he asked softly, his mouth forming a hint of a smile.

“Yes,” she said, rolling on top of him. She loved feeling him beneath her almost as much as on top. “Supreme faith. You’re not at all the person I once thought you were. You came even though it wasn’t what you wanted. And the fact that you are still here with me makes everything feel complete.”

“How does your grandmother feel about me being here?” he asked warily.

“She likes you, Keith. A lot. She’s just been worried all along that you might not stick around. She’s afraid you’ll break my heart. You won’t, will you?” she asked softly, her eyes searching his. “You’ll keep it safe, right?”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close enough that she could hear his heart beating. “I would never intentionally hurt you, Aiwattsi. If I ever did break your heart, it would break mine too.”

*

“You’re up early. Where’s Keith?” Jo-Jo asked.

Miranda bit her lip with a guilty look. “Um. He said he wanted to sleep in today.”

“I suppose it was all that fence work that wore him out.” Jo-Jo’s knowing wink said she knew exactly what had tired Keith out and where Miranda had spent most of yesterday and all of last night. “Maybe you and he ought to cool it down just a bit while Judith and Robert are here.”

“We will,” Miranda promised. “When are they arriving?”

“At three. Should we flip a coin?” Jo-Jo asked. “Heads picks up Judith and Robert, tails gets to stay here?”

Miranda set her cup down with a laugh. “I don’t mind picking them up, but that would mean you’d have to ride the property with the BLM agent. I was thinking that Keith and I should do that in case he has any questions about the work we did.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Jo-Jo sighed. “I’m just glad they’re staying only a few days. The thought alone is enough to bring on a migraine.”

“I knew you and Aunt Judith weren’t close, but I didn’t know it was that bad,” Miranda remarked.