When Love's Gone Country

Chapter Twenty-One



When the group returned to the ranch hand quarters, Meg smothered Jacob with hugs and kisses.

“I’m fine, Mom. You’re blowin’ this way out of proportion.”

“You were led away at gunpoint. I’m allowed to be glad you’re alive.” She kissed him three more times on the cheek.

“You did a good job of letting us know what your intentions were,” Bobby said, resisting the urge to pull him close as Meg had done.

“We’re still goin’ to the hoedown, right?” Jeremy asked.

Everyone looked at each other.

“I’d say we have even more reason to go and celebrate,” Purity said.

“What are we supposed to wear?” Jeremy asked.

“Jeans and flannel shirts, I imagine,” Brad said. “I can’t say for sure, since I’ve never been to one before, but it stands to reason.”

“Then let’s get going. I’m starving.”

“I second that,” Courtney said.

They all left the ranch hand quarters, heading toward the big, red barn. They could hear the music as soon as they stepped outside.

“Sounds like a party,” Alex said.

They followed the inviting sound of fiddles. Ranch hands and people they’d never seen before came out of the woodwork, walking beside them.

“Nice night,” one said.

“Perfect for a hoedown,” another said.

When they reached the barn, the doors were open wide. Light from colored lanterns hanging from the rafters spilled onto the dance floor and beyond.

“Look at all the food!” Jeremy’s eyes widened.

“Don’t eat everything at once,” Meg advised. “We’ve got all night. You’ll have time to try everything.”

Jeremy headed straight for the triangular sections of watermelon and took two, one for each hand.

“You can bet he’s going to have a stomach ache tonight,” Meg said.

“Reminds me of the Halloween candy incident,” Bob said.

“Man, we were sick that night,” Jacob said.

“Why don’t you give your Mom a whirl on the dance floor,” Bob said.

“I don’t really dance well.”

“I’ll teach you. Come on, it’ll be fun.” Meg put her hand in Jacob’s and led him toward the dance floor. “They’re doing a line dance. Just follow what they do.”

Jacob seemed to be a step or two behind, but after a few rounds he got the hang of it.

“You’re pretty good,” Meg said.

“How do you know what to do? You’re not even lookin’ at anyone else.”

“I’ve line danced before. Most of the moves are similar. Besides,” Meg shrugged her shoulders, “if I don’t like what they’re doing, I just make up my own steps.”

Jeremy joined them, this time with an ear of corn in each hand.

“Bobby, hang on to those for him, he’s going to choke.”

“He’ll be fine.”

Meg glared at her husband, but kept on dancing.

“This is fun!” Jeremy hollered and grinned.

Purity and Alex were drinking glasses of lemonade while sitting next to Frank and Emma.

“Are you enjoying yourselves?” Emma asked.

“Yes, very much,” Pure said.

“I heard there was some excitement this afternoon.”

“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Alex said.

“There’s a sayin’ about what happens in Vegas stayin’ in Vegas.”

“I know that saying.”

“It’s true of the Double Y, as well. We invite people to come here with the understanding that they’re here to learn about caring for the animals and what it’s like to live on a ranch. We don’t appreciate people snooping around on our property and drumming up attention.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we weren’t doing that then.”

Frank put his hand on Emma’s. “What she means is that we feel like our guests are family. We respect ‘em. And we hope that they’ll respect us, too.”

“Why don’t you quit dancing around and say what you mean,” Alex said.

“All right. I know you been to the hot springs. Ya’ll were tore up this mornin’ and now you’re dancin’ and gettin’ along without any pain, stiffness or soreness. There’s only one explanation for that.”

“What about all the salves and muscle relaxers you gave us? Those could have done the trick.” Purity said.

“We just hope you’ll keep its whereabouts to yourself. People been lookin’ for that spring for a long time. We tell ‘em it ain’t real. That it’s just a myth. Some back off. Some don’t.”

“Like the men this morning?” Purity said.

“And the men who poisoned the cows’ water?” Alex asked.

“Everybody has their reasons for doin’ things, but if someone were to find out where that spring was, well, we’d have a real mess on our hands.”

“Have you told anyone?” Emma asked.

Purity shook her head. Alex did the same.

“We don’t have any intention of saying anything to anyone,” Alex said. “Have you ever had the spring tested to find out what properties are in it?”

“Sure. Several times.”

“And?” Purity asked.

“Plain ol’ water compounds, mixed in with some other natural elements. It’s a mystery as to why it heals people. Maybe that’s part of the reason it works.”

“What do you mean?” Purity said.

“Because you can’t explain it. Maybe you have to believe first, then you receive your miracle.”

“Is that how you two have stayed so young looking?” Pure asked.

“No. Our grandkids keep us young,” Emma said.

“And sex,” Frank added with a wink. “Lots of good ol’ fashioned sexual relations.”

“Frank!” Emma’s cheeks tinted pink.

“Hear that, Alex. We don’t need a magic hot spring, we just need to keep having sex.”

“That’s a hardship I think I can endure most willingly.”

Brad approached their table. “Emma, may I pull you away from your adoring husband for a trip around the dance floor?”

“Why I’d love to. The conversation was taking a bit of an uncomfortable turn anyway.”

Brad held out his hand and escorted Emma to the dance floor.

“She’s just as beautiful as the day we met. Hasn’t changed a bit,” Frank said, his eyes filled with love. He saw Courtney standing alone. “Excuse me for a minute, will ya. Turnabout is fair play.”

Purity and Alex watched as Frank asked Courtney to dance. They did a mean bow to the corner of their square and then promenaded around in a circle.

“Do you think when we’re old, we’ll look at each other the way Emma and Frank do?” Pure asked.

“I’m certain of it.”

“Wouldn’t it be funny if we started a ranch of our own and invited city folk to vacation with us?”

“What would we call it?” Alex asked.

“Something reflective of our love, and our family.” Purity ran her hand across her growing belly.

“Bun in the Oven Ranch.”

“Okay, you don’t get to name it if you’re not going to be serious.”

“I was being serious, sort of. Let me take another stab at it.” Alex thought for a moment. “Family Farm.”

“You really suck at this.” Purity giggled.

“Diego’s Den.”

“Stop, please.”

“Cow Hands. We could have the outline of our hands done in metal and the word Cow Hands in great big letters.”

“Honey, I love you, but you’re fired.”

“Want to dance?”

“I’d love to.”

They joined the others in a square, laughing and messing up the movements, especially during the allemande. Purity ended up standing all by herself while Brad and Alex were holding hands.

“I think I went left when I should have gone right,” Pure said.

“I’m thinking Brad and I should team up. He’s a hell of a dancer,” Alex said.

Courtney and Purity laughed as the boys promenaded around the room, ending by bowing to each other.

“If you don’t need me, I’m heading over to get some of that fried chicken,” Court said.

“Oh, that does sound good,” Pure agreed.

“You’d rather eat than dance with me?” Brad asked.

“You seem to be doing fine without us,” Courtney said, heading for the buffet table.