The Best Little Joeville

“Not only is she bright, but she’s blond, beautiful and just about the age you’d be interested in.”

“What’s that?” Ryder piped in. “Fourteen?”

Josh tossed a roll across the table and Ryder caught it. “Very funny.”

Max laughed with the others, then added, “She’s in her mid-twenties...a graduate student and one helluva physical therapist. I don’t have the patience to do the follow-up work with my busted up cowboys, but I’d bet they wouldn’t balk at physical therapy if Taylor was the one they had to work with every week.”

“That special, huh?” Josh grinned.

“Come to the banquet and find out.” Max looked around the table. “Savannah and Jenny... I hope you’ll come, top...if it doesn’t sound too boring.”

The women eyed each other for only a second. “Of course we’ll come,” Savannah said. “If this Taylor is as gorgeous as you say, I’d better keep a leash on Ryder.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down, feigning interest, and Savannah punched him playfully in the arm.

“Uncle Shane,” Billy said between mouthfuls. “Do you think I could stay overnight with Buck while you’re all at the party?”

Shane glanced at Jenny before answerittg, noticing she wore her usual frown whenever Buck’s name was mentioned. “I bet Buck would love that, Billy. Why don’t you go ask him after dinner. You could take him a big plate of leftovers while you’re at it.”

Billy stopped eating and the space between his eyebrows dimpled. “How come Buck isn’t here with us now?”

While everyone else kept their heads down and their forks moving, Shane could feel Jenny’s stare, waiting for his answer. “He was invited, big guy, but Buck isn’t too keen about crowds and small talk. One-on-one is more his style. That’s why I’m sure he’ll love you to stay with him when we go to Grandpa’s dinner, okay?”

Billy studied Shane’s face a moment, then resumed eating. “Okay.”

After a few seconds of utensils scraping plates and no conversation. Josh changed topics in his usual upbeat fashion.

“Think I’ll go into Billings tomorrow and load up on materials for my house. I’ve just about run out of drywall and studs.”

Ryder heaved a sigh. “Great. That means I get a day off from swinging a hammer. Thanks, little bro.”

“Enjoy it while you can.” Josh laughed. “Wait till you see what I’ve got in store for you next week.” He glanced at Shane. “You ought to ride over and look at the place, Shane. You wouldn’t believe how much we’ve got done already.”

Shane shifted in his seat and accidentally his leg rubbed against Jenny’s calf. She didn’t pull away. He knew he should—what signals it might send if he didn’t move soon.

He didn’t move a hair.

“Well?” Josh persisted.

“Uh...sure. Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow morning after chores.” He wanted to ask Jenny if she’d like to ride along, but he couldn’t look at her. But then she slid her leg ever so slightly against his and he knew she was reading his thoughts. There was no doubt they would ride out to Josh’s farm together. Tomorrow. Miles from the ranch and curious eyes. Alone in a place with no heat other than the wood stove in the kitchen and a fireplace off the parlor.

Then he remembered Ryder mentioning there was a bed.

He shifted in his chair and broke contact under the table. This line of thought was as dangerous as the woman sitting next to him. Maybe he should ask Billy to come along—

Savannah broke into his reverie. “Ryder...as long as you have some free time tomorrow, why don’t you take Billy and me into town for some Christmas shopping?”

Ryder groaned, but nodded.

Shane pushed his plate away, food no longer on his mind.

Four

After breakfast Friday morning, Savannah retreated to her quarters to work on her gift list before Ryder and Billy could return from plowing and they would leave for their shopping expedition. She was so excited by the prospect that her enthusiasm spilled over on Jenny, who now stood in the middle of the kitchen, smiling.

Shane had said he would be ready for their ride to Josh’s farm at ten o’clock. She wondered how long they would stay there, what would happen if they spent a lot of time alone. Her smile turned to a mischievous grin as she spun around and checked the clock on the stove. It was twenty to. Enough time to pack a picnic lunch if she hurried. But how would she carry it?

Her down jacket hung over the back of a chair. She grabbed it and rushed out the door before zipping it closed. A gust of frigid air hit her chest and she clutched the jacket with both hands and ran to the tack house in front of the corrals. With a mighty jerk on the heavy wooden door, it gave way and sunlight spilled over the jam-packed room, a room heavy with the scent of leather, damp blankets and the hard earth floor. She stood with her hands on her hips and scanned the walls of bits and bridles, feeling for a moment as though she were on a simulated Western movie set and that she might hear the hammering of a blacksmith any second.

“Can I help?”

Jenny spun around and fell back a step. Blinded by the brightness of the snow and sun, she could not make out the features of the man in the doorway, but there was no doubt who he was. Not only had she recognized the voice, but his long hair, which fell to his belt, was blowing to one side.

“Why are you always sneaking up on me?” It annoyed her to no end that she never heard Buck whenever he approached her, and she imagined he enjoyed her consistent reaction.

“I am not a horse. I do not pound or paw at the earth when I move.”

She didn’t have time for this nonsense, so she got right to the point. “I need something to pack food in...for when Shane and I go riding out to the farm.”

He didn’t move, but simply pointed over her right shoulder. She turned and blinked and saw a row of saddlebags straddling a rough-sawn rail.

“Second one from left best. Most room,” Buck said behind her.

She picked it up and started for the door, but he didn’t move, blocking her path.

“What your last name?”

Was this old man senile or what? She expelled an exasperated breath. “Moon,” she said, still not able to see his eyes because of the blinding backlight.

He cocked his head slightly to one side. “I mean... whole Indian name.”

She wanted to tell him to take a hike, but figured the quickest way to end this farce was to give him what he wanted. “Howls at the Moon,” she snapped, not hiding her impatience with his stupid questions.

His head and back straightened and he stopped breathing.

Oh, for Pete’s sake. Was she going to have to shove him out of the way? She moved toward him and turned sideways, determined to get by him one way or the other. Suddenly he stepped backward and let her pass.

“Thanks for pointing out the saddlebags,” she said over her shoulder, and ran back to the house. When she got inside and shut the door she could see him standing rigid in the same spot, staring in her direction. She turned away, slapped the bags on the chopping block and started pulling yesterday’s leftovers from the refrigerator.

How did Shane put up with that weird old geezer? she wondered, working as fast as she could and eyeing the clock. He gave her the spooks. And why did he ask about her name? She hadn’t thought about that name in years. It had never actually been her name since her mother had legally changed it before she was born. She was surprised she even remembered it.

Shane burst through the side door just as she packed the last pouch. His cheeks were red and he stomped snow from his boots on the worn braid rug.

“Sure you want to do this today?” he asked. “It’s colder than usual and looks like it could snow any minute.”

Jenny picked up the loaded saddlebags and rolled her eyes. “If I wasn’t going, would you still be riding out there?” She watched his slow grin and knew his answer. “Well, here then.” She handed him the bags. “Make yourself useful.” He took the load and shook his head in amused defeat while she shrugged back into her jacket and tugged on her hat and gloves.

Shane lingered with his hand on the doorknob, his smile disappearing. “Did you talk to Buck in the tack room this morning?”

Jenny shifted her weight impatiently to one leg. “Yeah. Why?”