Texas Dad

“Boss, where are you? Someone we were just talking about a couple of months ago showed up. She says you know she’s here. It’s Jilly Walker.” The old ranch foreman whistled through his teeth—a wolf whistle that grated on Mack’s already frayed nerves.

“Don’t let her get too cozy, Benny. Jill is only a temporary pain in my butt. I’m with Erma. The doc’s not sure if her hip is just bruised or fractured, too. But she’s gonna be laid up for at least a month. We have to swing by the pharmacy for her prescription, and to see if they sell wheelchairs. I’ll stop and see Leitha Davidson at the employment office. We need a housekeeper to fill Erma’s shoes for a while. I hope they can supply someone. By the way, can you fix up some type of ramp into the house? Erma says she tripped on a loose board on the back steps.”

“Dang, she told me about that last week. It’s on my to-do list. But it came after hauling water to a thirsty herd, and bringing in cows with new calves.”

“I’m not blaming you, Benny. This is our busiest season. The last thing any of us need is to have Erma down, to say nothing of Jill messing up my life again. She promises it’s for a day or two. Why she’s here is a long story. I’ll fill you in later.”

“I might have a solution to one problem, boss. My cousin Sonja may be able to fill in for Erma. Sonja’s youngest daughter just got married and moved away, so she’s kind of blue. Hold off talking to Leitha until I call my cousin. She’d fit in here and I can vouch for her cooking.”

“That’s music to my ears, Benny. We’ll be home within the hour. Let Jill, uh, take her trial pictures, and send her on her way.” He ended the call and went back to fetch Erma.

Because Mack didn’t really want to explain Jill’s presence to Erma in front of the girls, he hurriedly mentioned the untimely visit as he wheeled the housekeeper out.

“Praise the Lord,” Erma said.

“From my perspective it’s more like a curse,” Mack muttered as Erma’s excited response made his heart flutter.

“What brought her back here?”

“Zoey and Brandy got it into their heads to enter me in a lame magazine contest. They won. Worse luck, Jill is who the magazine sent to do a story and take pictures of me around the ranch.”

“Mmm, seems like serendipity.” Erma shot Mack a broad smile over one shoulder.

“You’re far too cheerful for a woman in your condition. I’ll chalk it up to the pain shot the doc says he gave you. But there’s one thing we all need to get straight. I am not the least bit happy to have Jill Walker land back in my life, even for a couple of days.”

“Oh, I hear you, Mackenzie.” Erma closed her eyes and tucked her chin against her chest.

Chapter Three

As soon as Mack unlocked his pickup with the remote, Zoey hopped out and ran to hug Erma. That pleased Mack. Zoey really was a good kid, although he should probably still dole out some disciplinary action for sending embarrassing photos of him to a women’s magazine. He could take away a few of her privileges, he supposed, but he hated doing that to a lonely, only child. He knew what growing up alone was like.

“Zoey, will you please open the front passenger door? Stuff this bed pillow Erma brought under her right hip. Be gentle, she’s in some pain.”

“Is your hip broken?” Zoey asked Erma after her dad lifted the housekeeper into the truck. He folded the wheelchair and slid it under the canopy covering the pickup bed.

“The doctor won’t know until a specialist in Lubbock reads my X-rays, Zoey. I sure hate causing your dad so much bother. He has better things to do than waste half a day taking caring of me. I made a dumb mistake, tripping over a board I’d already said was loose.”

Mack boosted Zoey into the backseat, then rounded the pickup to the driver’s side. Then he said, “Come on, Erma. You’re family. Dad gave thanks every day that you happened to be looking for work when Mom’s cancer got bad.”

“Such a long time ago. Twenty-five years,” Erma murmured as she leaned back against the headrest. “You were younger than Zoey when your mom died, Mackenzie. The years sure roll on by quickly, don’t they?”

“I was eight,” Mack said softly as he pulled out of the parking lot.

Brandy rustled around in the backseat. “Gosh, Mr. B., you didn’t grow up with a mom, either?”

Mack frowned in the rearview mirror. He was surprised at the old sense of loss that arose, given how many years had passed. “Zoey and I are lucky Erma landed at the ranch equipped to mother us,” he told Brandy.

Erma stirred. “It was me who got lucky, y’all. You may remember, Mackenzie, but I was engaged to be married. My fiancé, Johnny, went MIA in Vietnam. It was right near the end of that awful war. I didn’t have any real skills. Johnny’s family and mine were both dirt poor. I attempted a series of odd jobs but couldn’t live on what I got paid. Back then there weren’t many good jobs available to rural farm kids. But I couldn’t bear to leave La Mesa in case the army found Johnny. Since I wasn’t his wife, they wouldn’t have tracked me down. Seems like yesterday, but it’s been forty years.” She passed a trembling, wrinkled hand over her eyes. “Shoot, it’s gotta be that danged shot making me lonesome. You kids don’t need to hear an old lady ramble on.”

Mack squeezed Erma’s arm. “I’ve heard they’re still finding dog tags over there.”

They drove in silence for a little while. “What’s MIA?” Zoey finally asked as Mack angled into a parking spot outside a chain pharmacy a ways out of town on Lubbock Highway.

“The letters stand for missing in action, Zoey,” Mack said, preparing to climb out. “I’m going in to fill Erma’s prescription and see if they have any wheelchairs— I’m hoping this pharmacy carries medical equipment.”

“What about the wheelchair you put in back?” Zoey jerked a thumb behind her.

“It’s on loan from the E.R. We can’t keep it for the four to six weeks the doctor said Erma needs to stay off that leg.”

“That long?” Zoey gasped. “Who’ll take care of us?”

Mack reached back to tap her nose. “Aren’t you ready to be our chief cook and bottle washer?”

Her eyes went wide.

“I’m teasing,” he said. “I talked to Benny earlier. He has a cousin who may be able to help us out. Everyone keep your fingers crossed.”

“I will,” Erma said as Mack’s door slammed. Silence filled the cab for a time, and it was plain to see from the way Erma’s head fell forward that she was nodding off. Then Brandy whispered to Zoey, “How old do you suppose Benny’s cousin is?”

Zoey shrugged. She kept her voice down, and said, “Benny’s seventy-two. I know because Erma baked him a cake for his birthday last month. There wasn’t room on the cake for so many candles, so Dad bought two in the shape of a seven and a two. Why?”

“Duh, our plan to find your dad someone to date.”

“Yeah, but maybe I should forget trying to find a new mom. I forgot how young my dad was when his mom died, and he turned out okay. Erma took care of him. Maybe I’m being selfish. Am I, Brandy?”

“I don’t know, since I’ve got a mom, a dad and all my grandparents. And from what you say about your grandparents, you don’t talk to them, either.”

“They’re so preachy! If I had to live with them like they wanted, I’d never mention getting my ears pierced or learning to wear makeup. They think TV and cell phones are sinful. I’m lucky Daddy’s lawyer fixed it so I only have to see them once or twice a year. And my dad goes with me.” She shuddered.

The back gate of the pickup squeaked open. Peering out the rear window, the girls saw Mack slide a big box in beside the wheelchair. Then he slammed the tailgate shut and got into the cab with sufficient noise to jolt Erma awake.

“Are we home?” she asked groggily.

“No, sorry. I didn’t realize you were sleeping, Erma. Here’s your pain medication.” She didn’t reach out for the paper bag, so he asked, “Are you okay?”

“I think I need to lie down. I can’t seem to keep my eyes open.”

“We’ll be home soon. Well, in fifteen minutes or so, after we drop Brandy off.”

“Can she come home with us? I thought J.J. might take our pictures. For fun.”

Mack ground the key in the ignition. “Jill will be long gone by the time we get home, Zoey. Plus I told Mrs. Evers hours ago that I’d collect you girls from the library.” He passed his cell phone back. “Call your mom and apologize for how late we are, Brandy. Explain that the E.R. was superbusy.”

Brandy took the phone. “I’m probably going to get my own cell for my birthday,” she said, sweeping her long hair back behind one ear as she waited for the number she’d punched in to connect. “Wait, I have to try again. I wish we had better cell service.”

They were on the road by the time she got through and relayed Mack’s message, then passed back his phone. “Mom said thanks. She was picking tomatoes and lost track of time, anyway.”

“Dad, can I get a phone for my thirteenth birthday? Some kids already have them.”