Chapter 20. Claire nearly dropped her ice cream; Tess saved the cup and smiled sheepishly

Claire nearly dropped her ice cream; Tess saved the cup and smiled sheepishly. “Jack? My Jack?”

Tess, Chuck, and Jed all nodded. Claire was stunned as she watched the starting gate. In a flash, she saw the calf run out, and there was Jack, his tan cowboy hat pulled down low and racing Zeus while his lariat swung over his head.

“Oh, my God!” Claire exclaimed and stood.

Jack let the noose fly and snapped back as he caught the leg of the calf. He quickly jumped off Zeus, got the calf on its back, and pulled out the rope, hogtying its other legs. He stopped and threw his hands up, signaling his finish.

Tess whistled and cheered. Claire screamed and laughed. She had no idea why she was screaming. “Did he do all right?” she yelled to Tess, who was still whistling.

“He did great!” she exclaimed, and Claire once again looked out at Jack, who was grinning from ear to ear as he took off his hat and waved to Claire.

“That’s my boy!” she yelled out to him.

“One second,” Jack muttered as he took off his cowboy hat and hit it against his leg. Claire put an arm around his shoulders.

“I’m so proud of you. I can’t believe you did that. You were magnificent.”

“I was?”

Claire nodded and kissed his cheek. “Mom…” he complained halfheartedly.

Jed walked up to him and stuck out his hand. Jack took it and looked up at the older man. “If I ever had another son, I would want him to be just like you. I’m proud of you. Today, you became a man. You earned the right to go on the cattle drive to Colorado.”

Tess fought the tears that welled in her eyes as she watched Jed fight with his emotions. Claire didn’t fight, she started to cry.

Jack put his arm around her. “Don’t cry.” He looked back at Jed. “Thank you, Mr. Rawlins, that means a lot to me. I won’t let you down.”

“I know that, son.”

Chuck was sniffing behind them and Jed gave him a look. “I can’t help it,” he said and walked away.

“Who is that redhead?” Claire asked suspiciously. Rebecca and Jack stood by the soda stand. Jack handed Rebecca a bottle of Coke and took one for himself.

“Rebecca Riley, just moved here from Three Forks. Her father bought the old hardware store,” Tess said as she dipped into the bag of popcorn.

“Mom? This is Rebecca Riley,” Jack offered the introductions. Claire smiled at the redhead and took her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Redmond,” the girl said with a smile.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Rebecca.”

“Jack almost won,” she said and blushed. Jack drank his soda.

“Yes, he sure surprised me,” Claire said.

“Mom, would it be okay if I walked Rebecca around? You know she just moved here,” he said in a hopeful voice.

“Sure, Jack. The fireworks start in an hour. We’ll sit by the car and watch.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“It was nice to meet you, Rebecca.”

“Same here, Mrs. Redmond. Bye,” the girl said and followed Jack.

“He’s growing up so fast,” Claire whispered as she watched Jack walk beside Rebecca. Tess saw the forlorn look on Claire’s face.

“Today was a rite of passage for him. He wanted so much to surprise you,” she said in a soft voice.

Claire gave her a playful scowl. “And you… How long did you know about this?”

“About a month.”

“That’s where you two have been?”

Tess nodded and ate the popcorn. Claire reached over and gently touched the denim-clad knee. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” she replied in a quiet voice.

“Well, good evening,” Ethan Drummond’s voice called out.

Both women looked up. Tess’s face was void of emotion. “Drummond. How are you?”

“I’m fine. Saw your event. I know how you pride yourself on your horsemanship, Tess. I’m sorry you didn’t ride.”

Tess looked at him and heard the honesty in his voice. She actually smiled slightly. “Thanks, Ethan.”

Ethan nodded and looked at Claire. “Claire, and how are you? I saw your son compete. He’s very good. He must have had a good teacher.”

“Thanks. I’m very proud of him, and yes, he had an excellent teacher.”

He studied both women for a moment or two. “I must be going. It was nice seeing you again, Claire. Tess, a pleasure as usual.”

“As usual, Ethan,” Tess agreed dryly.

They exchanged looks, then Ethan nodded and walked away. Tess narrowed her eyes at his retreating figure. “I’ve decided I don’t like him.”

“Tess, Ethan told me what happened after your brother died. He tried to help…” Claire started, and Tess shot her an angry look.

“Then he quickly started working for Telford when it was all clear. Just when did you two talk about all this?”

“Will you please stop with this jealously? I don’t care about Ethan Drummond,” Claire said seriously.

Tess turned to face her. “You don’t?”

“What do I have to do to assure you?”

Tess leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “A night with only you and me and waking up in my arms.”

“Oh, God, Tess. I want that so badly,” Claire said, looking into her eyes. “You must believe that.”

“I do. I—”

“Hey, Mom, Tess. Fireworks!” Jack called out, causing both women to jump. “C’mon, they’re starting.”

He pulled at both women, who locked gazes for the briefest of moments. They smiled and headed back to the car.

As the fireworks ended, Tess and Jed heard the whistle from the old steam engine blaring. “What’s going on?” Jed asked.

“I heard they’re starting a tour of the Bitterroots by rail. It starts in Helena and stops in Silverhill, then off to Three Forks and around again. It’s something the city council thought was a good idea for tourism. Get folks to come out and see the Old West,” Chuck said.

“People will pay for that?” Jed asked, scratching his head.

“Sure, folks who’ve never been out this way get a chance to see what life was like in the West,” Tess agreed thoughtfully.

Jed shook his head as he started the station wagon and waited for everyone. “Seems like a waste of money to me.”

Tess slipped into the front seat and shook her head. “No, Dad, it makes perfect sense.” She nodded and smiled. “Perfect.”

Дата добавления: 2015-10-16