Zoey drawled, flopping against her seat back.
Mack pulled slowly down the Everses’ lane. He beeped his horn at Amanda Evers, who was in her produce stand talking with a customer. “Erma, those tomatoes look great. Want me to send Zoey to buy some?”
Erma, who was dozing again, gave a start. She grabbed her hip and grimaced. “Darn, I’m afraid that pain shot is wearing off. Sorry, Mack, what about tomatoes? I, uh, thawed hamburger to make meat loaf. I sure hope I can stand long enough to fix supper.”
Mack chewed his lip. “The doctor said to take two of those pills when you get home, and he wants you off your feet. The kitchen counter is too high for you to work from a wheelchair, even if you were in any shape to make supper tonight. Zoey and I can figure it out after I haul water to the herd.” Turning in his seat, he said, “Zoey, run and see if Brandy’s mom has some lettuce and sweet onion to go with those tomatoes so we can have a good salad. I hope Benny’s cousin can come ASAP.” Digging in his pocket, Mack handed Zoey a twenty-dollar bill.
She crawled out and ran to the stand with Brandy.
Amanda Evers listened to the girls natter on about Erma’s accident as she bagged produce, took Zoey’s money and gave her change. “Honey, tell your dad to call me if he needs meals until he hires help. I’ll round up neighbors to bring casseroles you can pop in the oven. Or better yet, tell your dad Trudy Thorne can come and stay at your place. She stopped by a while ago and mentioned Erma’s fall. She wanted Mack to know she’d be happy to pinch-hit until Erma’s up and around.”
The girls traded a dark expression that Brandy’s mom intercepted. “Girls, be nice. I realize some people think Trudy is pushy, but she probably has a lot to offer you and your dad, Zoey. Brandy tells me you’re feeling the loss of your mother a lot lately. And the teen years can be rough. Trudy spent her teens here in La Mesa.”
“Yes’m,” Zoey said, although she pursed her lips. “I’d better go. Erma needs to get home and take her medicine.”
Brandy walked back with Zoey. “Mom thinks everyone is nice.”
“What if my dad likes Trudy? He called her neighborly.”
“He called Erma family.”
“Well, she kinda is. It’s just that Trudy acts all gushy with me when Dad’s around. When he leaves, she turns off all that sugar.”
“You’ll have J.J. around for two days. If Trudy brings a casserole, pretend J.J.’s staying longer. Pretend your dad really likes her.”
Zoey brightened. “Good idea. Thanks. I’ll call you later, Brandy. I’m excited that school’s only a half day on Monday and then we’re out till September.”
Mack jumped out of the pickup and took the produce. “Honestly, Zoey, I told you Erma’s in pain and we need to hurry home.”
“Sorry.” Zoey climbed unaided into the backseat.
“I’ll take it as easy as I possibly can on the graveled section of our road, Erma. You seem like you’re in even more pain now than when I took you to the doctor.”
“The nurse said I don’t have much padding over my old bones. She said to expect it to be bad for a week or two. I thought I was a tough old bird, but I hurt everywhere.”
“I’m sure you tightened your muscles when you hit the cement. If it turns out you didn’t chip or break a bone, it’ll be pure luck.” Mack soon left the smooth highway for a gravel track that led to the ranch. He slowed way down, but he could see tension building on Erma’s face. The last thing Mack expected when he entered his circular drive was a strange SUV parked at his house. Did that mean Jill was still here?
Zoey squealed happily and unbuckled her seat belt before Mack had completely stopped. “J.J.’s at the corral with Benny, Trevor and Eldon.” Leaning into the front seat, Zoey pointed so her dad and Erma would look the right direction. “J.J. must like dogs. She’s petting Jiggs.”
Indeed, his herd dog, a two-year-old border collie, sat at Jill’s feet, lapping up her attention. So did his foreman and wranglers. They were huddled around her, laughing and gesturing animatedly. A red haze of anger clouded Mack’s vision. It wasn’t until after he stepped out on his vehicle’s running board and bellowed, “Since when doesn’t time equal money on this ranch?” that he realized his irritation was due more to seeing Jill being lavished with attention from his wranglers than the fact his men were sloughing off work. He’d never been a hard-nosed boss.
* * *
HEARING THE BITE in Mack’s voice, J.J. quickly scooped up her camera bag and gave the dog a last pat. She jogged across a patch of dry grass to his truck. “It’s my fault the guys took a break,” she said, squinting into the sun as she faced Mack. “When I arrived Benny was waiting for your veterinarian—you had a laboring cow in distress. The vet asked Benny to call your wranglers to hold the cow while she and Benny pulled the calf. I wanted to make sure everything turned out okay, so I stuck around. The whole process was worrisome but thrilling, especially when they got him. Once everything was okay, I took some candid shots of the work that goes on at your ranch. The fact that one of your cowboys is a former army sergeant will be great in my article on your charity work. Oh, hey, is that Erma you’ve brought home?” J.J. lowered her voice as the woman in Mack’s truck struggled to open the passenger door. “How is she?”
By then Benny and Jiggs the dog had crossed the yard from the corral.
“We had a cow in trouble?” Mack asked Benny. Stepping off the running board, he walked around the cab and reached for Erma to keep her from falling out the door. “Erma, you can’t get out until I bring the wheelchair. Will someone please stay with her for a moment?”
J.J. rushed to comply, and Benny followed Mack to the rear of the pickup.
“Around noontime, Trevor stumbled across a young heifer set to deliver her first calf,” Benny said. “He brought her to the barn because she seemed to be laboring too hard. We tried to help her, but she went berserk. She kicked me a good one on my shin. I called Delaney, who gave her something to calm her down.”
Mack lifted the hospital wheelchair out and opened it, locking the seat in place. He listened to Benny with half an ear. The majority of his attention was focused on Erma exclaiming over how great it was to see Jill, and Jill responding with sympathy for Erma’s plight.
“Benny, I’ll take a look-see at the cow and calf after I get Erma inside. She needs to take her pain meds now.”
Erma held on to her hip when Mack lifted her from the pickup and carefully set her in the wheelchair.
“I should have fixed that loose back step,” Benny said sheepishly.
“I knew it was loose,” Erma said as Mack wheeled her toward the house. “Accidents happen, Benny. Hey, did anyone gather the eggs? That’s where I was headed when I fell.”
Benny shook his head, so Mack said to Zoey, “Bug, you can gather eggs. Uh, sorry. I’m not going to have an easy time remembering you don’t want to be called Bug.”
“I hate gathering eggs, ’cause those old hens peck me.”
“I’ve never gathered eggs,” Jill said. “But maybe I can distract the chickens for you.”
Erma waved a hand feebly. “Good idea. After you bring in the eggs, Jill, perhaps you can, uh, help me out of these clothes and into something more comfortable. These jeans are rubbing my sore hip.”
Mack stopped at the base of the front porch steps. Anyone could see his displeasure.
“What’s the matter, boss?” Benny eyed the makeshift ramp. “I cobbled boards together like you asked. Is there too much slope?”
“Huh? Oh, no. The ramp is fine. Jill is only here to do a job for her magazine, Erma. I believe she was headed back to town, weren’t you?” He shot the query at their visitor.
Erma