Saddle Up(88)

“I’m sorry it came to this, my brother,” Keith said, stroking and caressing the horse’s neck. “But there can be only one master.” Time suspended as he crooned more words that she couldn’t understand. When Keith finally looked up at her, his grim expression had softened. “You see, Aiwattsi? It is over. Now, the real work with this horse can begin.”

*

Once recovered, Blue Eye seemed perfectly happy to follow the trail of his mares back down the mountain to their pasture. When the last weary wrangler arrived back at the ranch, a feast awaited. Jo-Jo had outdone herself with a spread of food that covered virtually every surface of the kitchen and dining room. The party lasted for several hours before eventually breaking up, with Dirk and Janice driving home, Dave and Donny heading to the bunkhouse, and Tonya and Krista retiring to the guest room in the ranch house.

Once the guests had left, Miranda revealed the truth to Jo-Jo. “You really believe Judith and Robert were behind this?” Jo-Jo asked incredulously.

“It’s possible Marvin acted on his own,” Miranda said, “but that doesn’t explain the source of the cash he’s been throwing around.”

“Unbelievable.” Jo-Jo shook her head. “My own daughter.”

“I’m sorry I came between you,” Miranda said.

“You didn’t, sweetheart. I’m just going to have to set Judith straight once and for all.”

“What are you going to do?” Miranda asked.

“I have half a mind to disown her completely,” Jo-Jo said, “but since no harm was really done, I’m just going to make it clear she isn’t welcome back for Christmas. Or maybe the next one either. Speaking of which…will Keith be spending it with us?”

“We haven’t talked about it,” Miranda said.

“He isn’t still planning to leave, is he?”

“I don’t know that either,” Miranda said sadly. Jo-Jo laid her hand on hers, her faded eyes seeking Miranda’s. “I didn’t think he was the right one for you in the beginning, but I’m not so sure anymore. If you really love him, Randa, I think you’d best do whatever it takes to convince Keith to stay.”

*

Miranda left her grandmother and pulled on a jacket, eager for a word alone with Keith. She opened the door and found him waiting for her on the front-porch swing. He silently held the blanket open and welcomed her into his arms. Claiming the quilt and the quiet of the night, she snuggled under his chin.

“I’m guessing you spoke to Jo-Jo?” he said.

“Yes. I told her all about Judith and Robert’s role in this sabotage.”

“What did she say?” Keith asked.

“She was livid,” Miranda said. “She called Judith right away. Of course my aunt said Marvin lied and denied all culpability, but Jo-Jo doesn’t believe her. She’s almost ready to disown Judith at this point. I hope it all blows over in time, but they won’t be welcome back to the ranch for a while. This day seems so surreal to me,” she said. “I still can’t believe you did what you did with Blue Eye.”

“I’m just glad he finally gave in,” Keith said. “I truly didn’t want to shoot him.”

“Would you really have done it?”

“Dunno.” He shrugged. “I’m just glad he didn’t push me to the point of having to make that decision.”

“I got all of it on film, you know. I’m adding it to my documentary. You’re the star of it, by the way.”

He frowned down at her. “I’m not so sure I want to be in any more films, Miranda. I got third-degree burns the last time around.”

“I know you did, and that’s exactly why I need to do this. I want to make it up to you, to make things right again.”

“What’s done can’t be undone, Aiwattsi.”

“Please trust me in this, Keith. I know this could turn things around for you if you would only narrate it for me.”

“You want me to narrate it?” He shook his head. “Why?”

“Yes. I want to tell the mustang story through your eyes. You understand them better than anyone. It’s almost magical the way you connect with those horses. There’s no one else I want. No one else who could bring the same passion and poignancy to this project. Please, Keith,” she pleaded. “This means everything to me.”

He cupped her chin and gazed into her eyes. “There’s no one else I would even consider doing it for. Just let me think about it, okay?”

“Okay,” she said softly. “There’s something else I’ve been wanting to talk to you about, but I didn’t know how to bring it up.”

“What is it, Aiwattsi?”

She took a deep breath. “Keith… I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. Do you think once everything is set straight again, that maybe we could talk a little bit more about that nonfake engagement?”

“I’d like very much to talk about a nonfake engagement. Maybe even with a nonfake ring wrapped around that skinny little finger”—he reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze—“but we can’t have a future together until I have something more to offer you than just my name.”

“What if we took you on as a partner? If we let you buy a stake in the ranch, would that ease your mind? I figure you’d then have a vested interest in this place and a reason stay.”