LITMIR.BIZ

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you!”

      “Would you give me a chance before you bite my head off? No wonder you and your brothers are at one another’s throats.”

      “I didn’t mean—I knew you were right about what you said, but…I knew if I spent more time with the guests, it would be like pushing a boulder up a steep hill. So I gave up.” Her shoulders slumped in shame.

      “Jess, you don’t have to do it alone anymore,” he whispered.

      “You don’t understand! This ranch is our baby! And we’re doing a good job! We’ve made mistakes, of course, but—”

      “I’m not trying to take it away from you. Cliff just thought you needed some help.”

      “Which makes me a failure!”

      “Woman, would you give me a chance to talk? Look, all I wanted was for you to sit down with Leslie and explain your bookkeeping system. That’s all! So can we throw out the dramatics until later?”

      She knew her expression was sullen, but it was difficult to smile and be happy when he’d just insulted her. And he had, by calling her concerns “dramatics.” They were very real!

      With her nose in the air, she looked away from Jim and realized Leslie was sitting quietly by, listening to their conversation. Thank goodness she hadn’t said anything about the woman. Not that she had anything to say except that her grandfather had an interest in Leslie. How could he even think of remarrying now, at sixty-four?

      “Hello, Leslie. I didn’t see you there. Jim says you want the job of bookkeeper and clerk with us?”

      “Yes, Jessica, I would, if I can do the job. It would be…very helpful.”

      “Oh, of course. I understood you were quite—I mean, I didn’t think you needed a job.”

      “I’m afraid I do.”

      Jessica looked at the woman, whose white hair had been cut in a very modern style. She was always nicely dressed.

      “Well, come with me, and I’ll explain what I’ve been doing.”

      Leslie got up and followed Jessica as she went back through the dining room, reminding herself to add another table so they’d all have a seat when the ranch was full to capacity.

      It amazed Jessica how quickly Leslie caught on. She didn’t even seem fazed by the amount of filing that had piled up. She also understood the importance of writing personal letters to those who inquired about the dude ranch.

      In half an hour, Jessica had shown her everything and left her to it. She admitted that it was freeing, knowing that the books would be kept up-to-date. She had been overly busy with all the complaints from her brothers and all the extra jobs she was supposed to do.

      “Now what do I do?” she muttered. Slowly, she went out the back door, thinking she would see what was going on in the corral. But Hank was organizing twelve people on horseback to take a ride through the forest. He wasn’t going on the ride. One of his men was taking the riders alone.

      She didn’t think that would be a good idea. “Steve, do you mind if I ride with your group? It’s such a beautiful day.” With a smile, she waited for him to agree.

      Didn’t he realize he had to let her go? He hesitated for several moments. “Uh, I guess so, Jessie.”

      “I’ll saddle up right away.”

      She saddled her favorite ride and swung up, snatching one of the extra hats they had hung in the stable.

      “I’m ready, Steve,” she said as she rode into the corral. “Are all your riders set to go?”

      “Yeah. Okay, follow me!”

      Jessica already spotted several guests who would need help to complete the ride. They were the last ones out of the corral and they seemed a little nervous on their mounts.

      She was enjoying herself until she spotted Jim watching her as she rode along with the two women on the end. Though she stiffened, she thought she hid her irritation as she continued to talk the two riders through their paces.

      The ride was supposed to be two hours long. It was offered on the second day of the guests’ week, supposedly after they had participated in an hour-long ride the day before. When she questioned the two ladies about yesterday’s ride, she discovered they hadn’t participated. This was their first time on a horse.

      Another problem she’d need to fix. She’d talk to Steve about not pushing the guests too hard. By the time they got back to the corral, her two riders were dragging, complaining nonstop of aches and bruises.

      When they entered the corral, Jessica warned both women to delay their dismount until she got to each one of them. The first woman, Alice, managed to get off, but her legs couldn’t hold her for several minutes. Finally she toddled to the gate to wait there for her friend Miranda, holding on to the railing. Miranda simply threw herself into Jessica’s arms. Jessica staggered and almost fell until strong arms came around her.

      “Easy, Jess,” Jim whispered from behind her. “Lean on me.”

      “Miranda, put your feet on the ground,” Jessica ordered. She had no choice but to lean on Jim, and she didn’t like it.

      When Miranda finally put her feet on the ground, Jessica got her to take baby steps toward her friend’s side. Then Jessica turned and politely thanked Jim for his support.

      “My pleasure,” he assured her. “What happened?”

      “Hank had one of his men take the group ride this afternoon. He didn’t check to see if they’d taken the hour-long ride yesterday. These ladies were real beginners. They’re in a lot of pain. Excuse me.”

      She walked to the women and asked whether they were staying in the main house or a cabin.

      “Main house, second floor, room four,” Miranda said, whimpering. “I just don’t think I can get up those stairs.”

      “I know what you mean. But I have a secret potion that, when dumped in a hot bath, can make most of the pain go away. Soak in this stuff and you’ll be amazed at the results.”

      “Will you give it to us?”

      “Of course. It has one drawback, however. It smells.”

      “It does?”

      A deep voice from behind her said with a chuckle, “It does.”

      “Oh, are you going to help us, too?” Alice asked. “I’m afraid Jessica can’t handle both of us at once.”

      “I don’t think she can, either. My name is Jim. What’s yours?”

      The lady giggled and said, “Alice.”

      “Well, Alice, why don’t I help you to your room and then we’ll ask Jessica to go find this wonderful secret potion.”

      Jessica helped Miranda to follow in Jim and Alice’s wake, but she wasn’t happy. She could’ve gotten both guests up the stairs and into their room without his assistance.

      Her conscience told her she had needed him when Miranda collapsed in her arms. Without his strong arms shoring her up, she might’ve fallen on her rear.

      But she’d never admit it. Least of all to James Bradford.

      JIM CALLED A MEETING for Jessica, Pete, Hank and Cliff that night at ten o’clock. That was after he had insisted the men walk the guests back to their cabins in the dark with bright flashlights.

      When Jessica assumed she would also participate, he told her to put on a pot of coffee and they’d have their meeting in the kitchen.

      She resented being left out of normal duties, even though she was exhausted. As much as she did today, she didn’t know how she’d stayed up-to-date with her bookkeeping.

      With the pot of coffee ready

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