Cowgirl Up (21 page)

“Dammit, Coal, that could have killed you,” Mary Leah said.

“But, it didn’t,” she said as she wrapped her arms around Mary Leah’s waist and kissed her face softly and then her lips.

Mary Leah’s tension melted in her arms. Her kisses always had that effect on her. When the kisses ended, she looked into Coal’s eyes. “Every time you kiss my face like that you plant a kiss on my heart.”

Coal saw tears filling Mary Leah’s eyes. “Where did that come from, my love?”

“I don’t know,” Mary Leah said, wiping her tears, “it just came out.”

“Those are the most romantic words I have ever heard,” Coal said as she held her close.

The timer on the stove sounded to bring them back to reality. Her eggs had finished boiling. “Will you do something for me?”

“Sure, what can I do?”

“Lift the pot with the eggs into the sink for me? The doc doesn’t want me to bust the seam on the superglue he used on me,” she said with a grin.

“No problem,” Mary Leah said as she chuckled and placed the heavy pot in the sink and turned on the cold water.

“Thanks. I can handle things from here if you want to shower and get ready for dinner.”

“I’ll be right back then,” Mary Leah said, kissing her before leaving the room.

†

Coal prepared the macaroni salad and placed it in the refrigerator to chill, and was working on the deviled eggs when a pair of warm arms circled her waist. “Welcome back,” she said as Mary Leah’s body pressed into her back.

Mary Leah stood on her tiptoes to look over her shoulder. “Those look good,” she said as she watched Coal fill a halved egg white with the mixture she had concocted.

She carefully turned in Mary Leah’s grasp and offered her a bite. Mary Leah opened her mouth and bit half of the egg, and Coal popped the remainder into her mouth.

“They taste even better than they look,” Mary Leah announced after a loud moan.

“How are we doing on time?” she asked.

“It’s a little after five.”

“Care to join me for a cold one before we head over to the cookout?”

“I’d love too. The doctor didn’t put you on any pain medicine did he?”

“No, ma’am, only antibiotics which I will take after dinner, besides I’ll only have the one with you,” she answered. “Go have a seat on the deck and I’ll bring our beers out in just a second when I put these eggs in to chill.”

“All right, my love,” Mary Leah said and walked out to the deck.

She placed the eggs inside and took out two beers before closing the door behind her and walking to the deck. Mary Leah was reclined on a lounger, relaxing as a cool breeze blew softly. The brilliant orange of the setting sun glowed on her face as Coal approached. “You look beautiful,” she said as she sat next to her lover.

“Why thank you, Coal.” She accepted the beer she offered.

“The sunset is going to be beautiful tonight if this is any indication,” she said as she nodded to the glowing horizon.

“Another glorious weekend ahead for us,” Mary Leah said. “Do you still want to go to the movies on Sunday?”

“Of course I do,” Coal answered. “I’d go anywhere with you.”

Mary Leah chuckled. “You are such a smooth talker, Coal Bryan.”

“Tell me you don’t love it.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” she answered and took a long drink from her beer. “We could probably go tomorrow if you wanted. I doubt Melissa will let me do anything tomorrow. Well, I would hope not.”

“We can prepare lunch for the crew if that will make you feel any better,” Mary Leah said.

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Together they watched as the sun continued to creep toward the horizon and then Mary Leah announced it was time to go to the ranch. “I’ll carry a tray with the beans and macaroni salad if you can grab the deviled eggs,” she said as she took her hand and they walked inside.

Chapter Fourteen

Gene ran up to the car as they pulled in front of the bunkhouse and opened Coal’s door. “How are you feeling?” he asked with a worried expression.

“I’m fine,” she said as she stepped out of the car.

“Here let me get that for you,” he said as he took the tray with the baked beans and macaroni salad.

Coal reached onto the floorboard and took out another dish.

“What’s that?”

“Deviled eggs,” she answered.

“Oh hell yes,” he said with a whoop of excitement.

Mary Leah looked over at her and smiled. “I think you made his night.”

“It would appear so.”

She and Mary Leah walked to the group of men sitting in lawn chairs surrounding the grill. When Gene returned from the bunkhouse, she gave him the dish of deviled eggs and sent him back inside.

“What can I get you ladies to drink?” Lucas asked.

“Just a glass of tea for me please,” Coal answered.

“I’ll take a beer,” Mary Leah said and winked at Coal.

“How are you feeling?” Harley asked.

“I’m a little sore, but I’ll be good to go in a day or so.”

“Melissa says the doc said no lifting for at least three days, so we decided next week you can drive the rake, if you feel up to it,” Harley said.

She grinned, happy to be able to help. “I’m good with that,” she answered. “Mary Leah and I have already decided to cook a nice lunch for you all tomorrow.”

“What’s it going to be?” Lucas asked.

“It will be a surprise, but I guarantee you won’t go away hungry,” she promised.

“We’ll only work until lunchtime tomorrow and then have Sunday off,” Melissa said.

“We’re going to practice tomorrow afternoon instead of tonight, so you can come and watch,” Gene said as he settled down beside her.

“That sounds like a good plan,” she said.

“If we can finish up the hay next week, Stan says we can spend the afternoons the following week practicing before we leave for Dallas on Thursday,” Lucas said.

It was obvious to her that Gene’s excitement was growing contagious and Lucas had caught the bug.

Harley busied himself cooking the steaks while the others relaxed and talked together. Lucas and Gene pulled several folding tables out of the barn and set them up so they could eat outside and enjoy the evening that had finally begun to cool down.

Coal stood to go inside and bring the food outside. Gene quickly redirected her. “You ladies sit tight and let us guys do the work tonight.”

“All right, guys serve away,” Melissa said and gestured for her to return to her seat. “Let them enjoy this tonight,” she said to Coal.

†

Coal enjoyed the nice break and allowed the men to take control over the meal. She was eyeing seconds of macaroni salad when Melissa reminded her of the cake she had baked. She quickly dropped the spoon back into the salad bowl.

“Cake, oh hell, we forgot to bring the cake out,” Gene said and dashed back inside the bunkhouse.

“I can’t believe Gene would forget about dessert.” Melissa chuckled as he raced back to the table. “Put it down here, and I’ll cut everyone a slice.”

“Would anyone besides me like a big glass of milk?” Harley asked.

“That sounds great,” Coal answered.

“I’m going to nix that,” Mary Leah said. “You need to take those antibiotics and they don’t mix well with dairy products.”

“You heard the lady,” she said and passed her tea glass to Lucas for a refill. “Fill ’er up, please.”

Lucas laughed and filled her glass as Melissa passed slices of cake around the table. “This looks fantastic,” he said as he handed Coal’s glass back to her and took a slice of cake.

Gene returned with a gallon of milk and poured for those that wanted a glass. “You know, I was thinking today, Coal.”

“Now that’s a scary thought,” Lucas teased.

The crowd around the table roared with laughter and the goodhearted Gene shook his head at Lucas.

“What were you thinking?” she asked.

“I was thinking that you and Shadow should also sign up for the pole bending event. As fast as he is, I bet you would win.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Melissa said. “It could be another notch made toward Top Cowboy honors,” she added with a wink to Gene, who wiggled in his seat.

“Exactly,” Gene said. “I’d be more than happy to pay your entrance fee.”

“I’m paying all the fees this year,” Melissa said, surprising the crew.

“That’s not necessary,” Coal said, “I can handle the fees.”

“I know you can, but you all have worked hard and we’ve had a great year, so it’s my treat. No more arguing.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Coal said and took a bite of her cake.

“So, what do you think, Coal?” Gene asked.

“Where do I sign up?” she said with a smile. “Do we have the materials to make a course?”

Harley grinned as he came up with an idea. “We have some of those orange traffic cones and we can get some broomsticks to use for poles.”

“Just let me know how many and I’ll go to town tomorrow,” Melissa said.

“Why don’t you let us do that since Coal is on house restrictions tomorrow,” Mary Leah said.

“I need to make a grocery store run in the morning for some lunch ingredients anyhow,” Coal said.

“I reckon that’s decided then,” Harley said. He looked over at Gene, who was about to bounce out of his seat. “You and Lucas go saddle up while Tom and Roy pen the steers. Melissa and I will clean up here and meet you at the corral.”

Melissa looked at Coal and Mary Leah. “You two can carry a few of these chairs over to the corral for us.”

“Yes, boss,” she said and picked up two chairs and carried them over to the corral.

“Flip the switch on those lights too, please, it will be full dark soon,” Melissa added.

Coal and Mary Leah carried the chairs and put them in place, and turned on the lights to illuminate the corral. She settled back into the chair and propped her boots on the railing as they waited for the show to begin.

She heard the sound of thundering hoofbeats and turned in her seat to see Shadow galloping across the field. “I guess someone was feeling left out.” She chuckled.

“That is one smart horse,” Harley said as Shadow slowed his approach and stood beside her, his head leaning over the top rail to see what was going on.

†

The group watched Gene and Lucas practice for over an hour until Mary Leah noticed Coal’s head starting to nod.

“I think it’s time for us to head home,” she said to Melissa as she nodded toward a dozing Coal. “We will see you in the morning.” She gently shook her awake. “Time to go,” she whispered.

“I guess I can’t argue since I can’t keep my eyes open.”

“Let’s go home, big boy,” she said to Shadow, who raced ahead of them and cleared the fence. He was halfway across the pasture before they made it to the car.

“He’s such a showoff,” Melissa said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, he is,” she said with a grin. “Thanks for a great dinner.”

“Thank you, you made a lot of it,” Melissa reminded her. “Oh, wait a second,” she said and walked inside her house. She returned a moment later carrying a plate covered with foil. “A slice of cake for later, if you wake up hungry.”

“Thanks, boss, see you tomorrow,” she said as she climbed in beside Mary Leah.

“Let’s get you home and to bed,” Mary Leah said as she pulled out onto the drive.

†

Coal barely remembered taking her medicine and climbing into bed. When the alarm sounded the next morning, she sat up and, without thinking, raised her arms above her head to stretch. “Damn,” she said, quickly lowering them.

“A bit sore this morning,” Mary Leah asked.

“Yeah, my side is a bit tight.”

“Lay back and relax and I’ll get our coffee,” she said.

She fluffed up their pillows and waited for her lover to return.

“What did you have in mind to cook for lunch?” she asked.

“I thought I’d make a big pot of chicken and dumplings for the crew. Maybe some corn on the cob and biscuits,” she answered.

“Why don’t you let me use Melissa’s bread machine to make a loaf of fresh bread?”

“That does sound good,” she admitted. “Makes me hungry just thinking about it.”

“Let me treat you to breakfast in town. Then we can run by the hardware store for the broomsticks and the grocery store. Do you need to shower?”

“No, I think I’m good.”

“Well, let’s drink our coffee and then dress for town,” Mary Leah said.

†

After purchasing the broomsticks, they went to the grocery then drove back to the ranch. She could see the dust trailing the machinery as the crew worked in the fields. She couldn’t be out there with them today, but she could make sure they had a great meal in their stomachs.

 
Together they carried the groceries into Melissa’s kitchen, and Melissa took the broomsticks and placed them on the porch. Coal would carry them out to the barn later. She was sure Harley, or more likely Gene, would jump on the task of making the poles for her training. She smiled as she entered the kitchen and went to work preparing the chicken breasts for cooking while the water on the burner came to a boil.

Mary Leah pulled out Melissa’s bread machine and mixed the ingredients for a loaf of sourdough bread. “Will you preheat the oven for me?” she asked her.

“Sure, darling,” she said and reached down to turn on the oven. She finished placing the breasts in the water and walked to the table to take the bag of flour from the grocery bag to begin mixing dough for her dumplings. She also took out tubes of chocolate chip dough and placed them on the counter. They had decided on cookies to add a sweet treat for the crew.

They worked quietly side by side until Coal looked over to see Mary Leah watching her. “What?” she asked.

“I was just thinking how good you look in the kitchen, up to your wrists in flour and dough,” she said.

Coal smiled at her lover. “I really enjoy cooking for the guys. They appreciate the effort so much.”

“It’s nice to have someone to cook for isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is. It never seems to matter what is cooked. They always seem to enjoy the food.”

“You are a good cook, my love,” Mary Leah said and leaned over to kiss her lips. “Do you want me to start brewing some tea?”

“That would be great. I thought we could make a gallon of lemonade too.”

Mary Leah put a pot of water on to boil, mixed the lemonade, and put it in the refrigerator to chill. Coal poured some flour on the counter and took out the first dough ball to begin rolling it out to cut the dumplings.

“Do you want me to shuck the corn?”