“I met Red and his wife, Melba, at the barn dance last year. They were very nice to me and said if I ever needed anything to just let them know. Vets helping vets,” Shay murmured, nodding. “That’s the way it always goes.”
“Yes, and if Red offers you help like that, young lady, you take him at his word. If you had gotten up the gumption to tell him about your indoor arena, I’m sure he’d have either donated a crane for your use, or charged you a low fee for it. But you have to ask, Shay.”
Glumly, Shay nodded. “I get it, Maud. I really do. And you’re right. I’ll go ask him about it.”
“This valley holds a lot of fine civilians who respect what women and men in the military do for them, too. And they’re the ones donating to fine charity organizations like Operation Gratitude out of Van Nuys, California. Those folks send out boxes to the military folks overseas. They do a great job. And it was created by a civilian woman whose heart is in the right place. She’s an awesome and passionate gal. And you’re a lot like her in some ways. But instead of sending boxes of goods to our folks in the military, you’ve opened up your ranch as a place of healing for vets who are really down-and-out and need a hand up. We have Delos charity here as well, who have a food kitchen they man for a lot of the poor who struggle to make ends meet here. We’re lucky to have them, too.”
“You’re right,” Shay murmured. “And we couldn’t do what we do without their help, either.”
“When you consider only one percent of the men and women in the U.S. volunteer for military service, it’s a very tiny amount compared to our country’s population. And I’m grateful our nation does support our men and women who are sacrificing so much, even giving their lives, for our country. Which is why I want to coordinate with Red Grant, and we’ll get this arena-raising planned for you, Shay.”
Tears fell from Shay’s eyes and she gave her a smile, wiping them away. “You’re such a guardian angel to everyone in this valley, Maud,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Thanks . . . thanks so much . . .”
“I’m sure that man of yours, Reese Lockhart, will be very happy to hear this. You tell him to call me. I want to put some of the organization for this arena-raising on his shoulders. If he led a company of Marines, he can certainly help Red and me get this thing coordinated. We’ll meet at your ranch house in the coming week and get the details hammered out.”
“I’m sure Reese would jump at a chance to help, Maud. He keeps grousing at me that I’m carrying too much on my shoulders. That I should share it with all of the vets.”
Giving her a pleased look, Maud said, “This man is smart and he has a lot of good insight into people. Steve and I need to meet him sooner, not later. Okay?” She rubbed her hands together, smiling. “Between us, we’ll get that arena roof on in no time.”
Shay sat back, feeling as if a ton of weight was miraculously dissolving off her shoulders. “That would be so wonderful, Maud. Thank you.” She reached out, gripping the woman’s strong, roughened hand.
There was something special about Maud Whitcomb. And secretly, the times that Shay had met her as a child growing up, which hadn’t been often, she had always imagined that Maud was the other grandmother she never knew but had always wanted. And like a fairy tale grandmother, she was playing an important role in Shay’s life right now. Not only that, Maud was changing the face of Wind River Valley, one idea at a time. She knew that many of the ranchers in the valley were eagerly supporting her ideas to get new money into the area.
If tourism took root, it would be because Maud and Steve were at the helm of the great idea. Ranchers led hardscrabble lives in this valley. Shay was no stranger to that fact. Most ranches were a mortgage payment or two from default. The reasons were many, and a lot had to do with the short sixty-day growing season. Plus, cattle could not be wintered in this part of Wyoming.
“The best time to put that roof on is mid-July,” Maud said, thinking out loud after squeezing Shay’s hand and releasing it. “We’re gonna need at least a month of lead time on this. Ranchers have a lot going on in the summer because it’s such a short season around here. Everyone is working their hardest at that time. Usually, the hay bailing is done mid-July. That’s when the ranchers will have time to help us with this project. Plus, we’ll get the wives together and plan a huge buffet. Each family will bring their kids, dogs, and food. I love a barn-raising! It’s a great time for the community to get together, chat, and have fun. You’ll see,” Maud said, pleased. “So let me, Red Grant, and this Reese Lockhart do the heavy lifting on this mission. All you have to do is show up, smile, enjoy all the good food, and take photos of the arena roof going up. Fair enough?”
*