Country Lightning

Chapter 13

CJ sat behind his desk in front of his laptop the Monday morning following his talk with Jillian. His gut ached at the thought of never seeing her again, never spending Sundays with her, or calling her during the week. How would he handle running into her in town?

He planned to tour the world, and there was a good chance he and Sadie wouldn’t come back. If he didn’t have Jillian, there would be nothing to come back to.

His phone lay on his desk in front of him, and he stared at it. Something ate at the back of his brain, along with what was eating at his heart. He picked up the phone, found Jim Butcher’s number, pressed the connect icon, and put the phone on speaker.

“CJ,” came Butcher’s jovial voice after a couple of rings. “How’s things with our ranch?”

“I’d like to visit one of your other dude ranches.” CJ leaned back in his chair. “I want to get an idea of what you’ll be doing with my place.”

Butcher hesitated only a moment. “By all means. We have a couple in California, one in Texas, and another in New Mexico. Which one would you like to visit?”

“New Mexico sounds good.” That location would be more like his property than something in California. “Give me the details.”

“It’s called Lone Pine Mesa.” Butcher muffled the phone and coughed before continuing. “We’ll fly you out there on our dime.”

“I’ve got it.” CJ typed “Lone Pine Mesa New Mexico Dude Ranch” into the bar on the search engine. A website for the ranch popped up, and he clicked the Directions tab. “I’ll fly to New Mexico this afternoon, find a place to hole up, and be there first thing in the morning.”

“You’re welcome to stay the night at the ranch,” Butcher said. “You’ll have a better idea of what we do—tell Greta I sent you. I’ll contact her as soon as we hang up.”

“I’ll take you up on that.” CJ did like the idea of a more personal experience since that was what his property would become once the corporation took over his place.

Butcher sounded cautious as he asked, “Why so soon?”

“Why not?” CJ pulled up Southwest Airlines in another tab. “I’ll talk with you tomorrow.”

He disconnected, found a direct flight to Albuquerque, leaving at 1:05 p.m., and booked it. He scheduled a rental car for the three-hour drive from the airport to the dude ranch.

Bear McLeod’s cell number was in his contacts, and he wondered if his veterinary practice had pet boarding. He called, and Bear answered, told CJ they did, and gave him the number for the front office.

It wasn’t much longer before he had arranged a time to drop Sadie off. He’d feed his livestock before leaving. He’d be back late tomorrow afternoon—everything would be fine until he returned.

CJ’s flight landed in Albuquerque at 2:15 p.m. By the time he got the rental car and drove to Lone Pine Mesa Dude Ranch, it was almost 6:00 p.m. He was glad he was staying there since he wouldn’t have a lot of time before he had to drive back to Albuquerque. He’d have to leave by 1:00 p.m. tomorrow to make his flight.

The entire day he’d thought of Jillian, his chest feeling like an anvil pressed down on him. How could he leave her behind?

The rustic main house made of split logs was lit up on his arrival, the yellow glow spilling from the windows. The cool forest air made him glad he’d opted for a light jacket. The air smelled fresh, of pine and rich earth.

Cattle lowed from a corral to the east as he walked from the dusty parking lot to the front porch. In the distance, the sounds of conversation and laughter met his ears. It appeared to come from around the corner on the west side of the main house.

Inside, a chandelier made of elk antlers hung from the open-beamed ceiling. Southwestern rugs lay beneath heavy pine furniture. Oil paintings depicting cowboys on horseback driving cattle, some riding into the sunset, while others sat around a campfire, and more hung from the walls.

A woman decked in a plaid shirt manned the registration desk, Greta on her nametag.

The redheaded older woman smiled at him. “Howdy. How may I help you?”

“Ma’am.” CJ touched the brim of his hat. “I’m CJ Jameson. Jim Butcher said he’d let you know I was coming in from Arizona.”

“Yes.” She turned a big, hard-bound book around, opened it, and held out a pen. “Please sign our guestbook, and I’ll get your key.”

CJ took the pen and scrawled his signature on a line beneath other names in the book. Greta asked him for his ID and checked him in on a computer.

She handed him an old-fashioned key. “You’ll be staying here in the main house rather than one of the cabins around the property.” She nodded in the direction of the stairs. “Your room is on the second floor, to the right, room number 23.”

He took the key. “Thank you kindly, ma’am.” He headed to the right and up the stairs to his room.

The simple and small space had a queen-sized bed, oak furnishings, and a painting depicting a rider on horseback at a creek on one wall. After CJ left his duffel bag on the bed, he headed back downstairs, his stomach growling.

When he walked into the empty reception area, he spotted Greta. “Is there a place where I can get a bite?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, but tonight we’re having a campfire cookout. It’s getting started now. Just head on out to your left—you can’t miss it.” She handed him a sheet of paper. “Tomorrow’s activities. Too bad you won’t be here for the evening barn dance.”

CJ thanked her, folded the paper, and put it into his back pocket, then walked out into the cool evening in her indicated direction. A dark, star-strewn sky reminded him of nights at home. Only in the Arizona desert, it stretched for miles instead of just visible where there were no trees.

A bonfire blazed and crackled, its yellow and orange flames dancing and reflecting on the faces of several men and a few women, who relaxed in canvas chairs. Most had plates filled with food from a long table on the other side of the fire. Smells of woodsmoke and grilled meats filled the air.

After sweeping his gaze around the circle, CJ went to the chow table. A server in a cowgirl outfit handed CJ an empty plate.

“Enjoy your supper,” the woman said in a thick country drawl that didn’t sound authentic to CJ’s ear.

He filled his plate with a cowboy steak, baked potato, cornbread, and pinto beans. He then sat between a burly man with some bulk on him and another gentleman, with half the width and a good deal shorter.

CJ introduced himself to the smaller man, who shook CJ’s hand and told him that his name was Trevor.

After accepting a beer from a woman in a cowgirl shirt and tight jeans, CJ turned to the man. “Are you enjoying yourself, Trevor?”

The man, who wore fancy dude duds, nodded. “I’ve always wanted to live like a cowboy.”

CJ had his doubts that Trevor would enjoy a real cowboy’s lifestyle. “How long have you been here?”

“Just arrived this afternoon.” The man held a fork and looked at the plate in his lap. “This looks good.”

The meal was decent, and CJ listened to Trevor’s excited babble as he ate.

CJ turned to the big man on his left, and they made introductions. The man’s name was Phil. CJ asked him the same questions he’d asked Trevor.

“Okay, so far,” Phil muttered. “Got in last night.”

CJ spent most of the time around the fire, listening and observing. He tried to picture the same scene at his own ranch and had a hard time doing so. How would his neighbors feel about having a bunch of city slickers playing cowboy nearby? He thought again about his parents, who had loved the land despite having rough years. It was often feast or famine.

After dinner, CJ went into the saloon in the right wing of the sprawling main house. A bartender poured him a whiskey straight, and he leaned up against a support beam as he watched a group of men play poker. The dealer wore an Old West gambler’s outfit and talked in a drawl as exaggerated as most of the other employees he’d heard speaking.

CJ observed other men and women in the saloon, who seemed to be enjoying themselves for the most part. Most looked like they worked someplace like Wall Street but dressed in urban cowboy garb.

Even though he was trying to focus on his surroundings and the folks in it, his attention kept drifting back to Jillian and the betrayal he’d seen in her eyes. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but what had he been thinking? He’d led her to believe they had the possibility of a future together. Only he’d hoped she’d say yes to coming with him.

He hadn’t just hurt her—the pain he felt was like a knife to his own heart. Every memory that came to mind twisted the blade even deeper. Her sweetness, beauty, intelligence, and caring—how could he ever meet another woman who made him feel as alive as she had?

To get his mind off the ache in his chest, he joined a table of men playing Texas Hold ’em. He held his own and ended up winning a good number of poker chips. Gambling, including poker, was illegal in New Mexico, everywhere but on the reservations. So, the poker chips could only be traded for snacks and drinks at the bar.

When it grew late, CJ headed up to his room. If he and Jillian had still been dating, he would have called her and shared his day’s experiences. The fact that he couldn’t talk with her about it made him feel hollow inside.

The next morning, CJ woke still thinking about Jillian. He tried to push thoughts of her aside as he headed downstairs at 6:30 a.m., but he had a hell of a hard time doing so.

He talked with Greta at the registration desk, and she told him breakfast was any time before 9:00 a.m. in the chow hall, and lunch started at 11:00 a.m.

People came in and out of the hall as CJ sat between a gentleman named Henry, and a woman, Carrie. He quizzed them both on how they were enjoying the dude ranch and what they’d done so far. They both seemed to have had positive experiences.

After breakfast, CJ sauntered out to the corral, where a cowboy was giving roping lessons to a group of city slickers. He watched several of the guests attempt to lasso a steer dummy, none of them having much success. The cowboy asked CJ if he’d like to give it a try, but he declined. He’d learned how to lasso at the age of four, so he’d just be showing off, and he was here to observe.

In another corral, a cowgirl instructed guests on how to ride a horse. After they mounted on a gentle mare, she let them ride around the corral to get used to being in the saddle.

“You’ll have the opportunity to go for a ride later this afternoon,” the cowgirl said. “First, you need to learn the basics.” She smiled. “At the end of the day, you’ll find yourself saddle-sore.”

Since he’d grown up on the back of a horse, CJ didn’t know what it was like to be good and sore from a horse ride. However, due to being away while in the service, or if it had been a long time between times astride one of the big animals, he’d find his legs would have a bit of an ache at the end of a long ride, but not much.

He pulled the list of activities out of his back pocket and scanned it. Earlier that morning had been a sunrise ride for those with at least basic training.

Some with more experience were invited to join a cattle drive as long as they signed a waiver beforehand. Others could participate in sorting and pairing.

Additional activities guests could enjoy included swimming and fishing in a nearby lake, hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking in the wilderness, archery and shooting sports, gold-panning, bird-watching, and riding ATVs or UTVs.

At noon, CJ headed for the chow hall to get a bite to eat before leaving for the airport. He continued to churn in his mind what he’d seen and learned about dude ranches as he drove from Lone Pine Mesa to Albuquerque and on his flight back.

He tried to picture those activities on his own place and all the people coming and going. Would the dude ranch have a negative effect on property values around King Creek? What kind of impact would it make on local wildlife? The small lake he and Jillian had fished at would be over-fished, become polluted, with garbage scattered around the shore.

Was he doing a disservice to those around him in other ways?

Would he be benefiting to the detriment of the people and the land?

When he got back to King Creek, he picked up Sadie and headed home. He fed the livestock, then went into his house, the Aussie bounding along beside him.

He had a lot to think about. He wished he could call Jillian and get her input, but he had to figure out this for himself.

A lump had been crowding Jillian’s throat all day. She refused to cry, but her eyes still ached from the hole CJ had left in her heart. It was Wednesday, four days after he told her that he would be leaving.

She wiped a clean cloth over the glass countertop and stopped to rub off a sticky spot.

Maybe in the past, she would have cried her eyes out, but she was stronger now and she would survive and hopefully love again. But it would be a while before her heart could fully heal and she wouldn’t be afraid to give it to another man.

Her sisters had been supportive and wanted to castrate CJ. It did make her smile a little, but she’d insisted she was fine and would move on.

Easier said than done.

She sprayed 409 on the sticky spot, and it finally wiped clean. The bells on the front door jangled, and she looked up. Her heart stuttered.

CJ strode toward her, a cautious smile on his features.

She couldn’t return the smile, so she waited for him to reach her.

“Hi, Jillian.” The low timbre of his voice caused a flutter in her belly. She’d always loved how he said her name. “How are you?”

“Fine.” She swallowed. “Is there something I can do for you?”

He looked pained at her terse response. “Can we talk? Is it possible for you to get away?”

She shook her head. “I’m busy, and there’s no one here to cover me anyway.”

He rested his hands on the countertop. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve handled things.”

She shrugged and set the cleaning cloth and 409 aside. “You didn’t need to come here to tell me that.”

“That’s not why I’m here.” He took her hands in his, catching her off guard. He raised them and put her palms against his chest. “I’m here because I can’t live without you.”

She tried to pull away. “And I can’t go with you. There’s no sense in rehashing this.”

He didn’t let go and held her gaze. “I love you, Jillian.”

Her eyes widened, and tingles raced over her skin. She didn’t trust herself not to say something stupid, so she remained quiet.

He squeezed her hands tighter to his chest. “I would do anything for you, and that includes staying here.”

She caught her breath. “You’re not leaving?”

He gave her a tentative smile. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’ve decided not to sell the ranch. I think it would be a great place to raise a passel of kids. Being with you and our children would make me happier than traveling anywhere in the world alone.”

Her heart rate sped up, and she bit her lower lip, hardly able to believe her ears. He loved her, and he was staying in King Creek.

He released her hands. “Will you come on this side of the counter so I can do this right?”

Like a sleepwalker, she obeyed him. When she stood in front of him, he slipped a small box from his pocket and opened it. Inside the black box, nestled in black velvet, was a two-carat diamond solitaire.

Blood rushed in her ears as she stared at it, mesmerized and unable to believe what she was seeing.

He set the box on the counter, took the ring and her left hand. “Jillian, will you marry me?”

She clapped her free hand over her mouth before she lowered it. She looked from the hypnotic sparkle of the ring to meet his eyes. “I love you, CJ.” Her heart beat a hundred miles a minute as his face broke into a grin. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”

He slid the ring on her finger then whooped, picked her up, and swung her around. He crushed her to him and then set her on her feet. He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers.

Their kiss was long and fierce, filled with the passion of their love. She breathed in his familiar scent that she’d missed, felt the strength of his arms, and savored the taste of him.

When they parted, she looked into his eyes and saw the depth of his care for her.

“I don’t know whether to string you up, CJ, or welcome you to the family,” Leeann said from behind them.

CJ draped his arm around Jillian’s shoulders as they turned to face Leeann, who had her arms folded across her chest, an appraising light to her eyes.

“I deserve the stringing up,” CJ said, “but I’m hoping for the welcome.”

Leeann studied him with a hard expression, which melted into a grin. “Welcome to the family.” She rushed forward and hugged Jillian’s future husband, then flung her arms around Jillian and hugged her, too.

When Leeann stepped back, she said, “So when’s the wedding?”

Jillian looked at the ring. “I’m still trying to get used to this whole getting married thing.”

CJ met Jillian’s gaze. “The sooner the better.”

Leeann leaned against the counter. “Looks like I am now the only single McLeod sibling.” She waved toward the door. “Go on now and celebrate. I’ll take over.”

“Thank you, sis.” Jillian headed toward the back room. “Give me a minute to grab my purse, CJ.”

Moments later, CJ and Jillian walked out to his truck. Once they were both inside, CJ looked at her. “I can take you out for dinner, or we can pick something up to take to my place.”

“Let’s pick something up.” She took his hand on the console. “It’ll be nice to be alone for the evening and spend time with our kids’ future protector.”

“Sadie will be great at that.” CJ flashed her a grin. “How many rugrats do you want?”

She sank back against her seat. “Two or three, eventually.”

He squeezed her hand. “We can start at two and work our way up.”

She studied CJ’s handsome profile and smiled. “Deal.”

After a moment, she said, “What made you decide not to sell? You would have been set for life and could have found another place to live in King Creek.”

He shrugged one big shoulder. “I grew up on this ranch, and I think it’s a good place for a family. Our family.” He glanced at her before looking back at the road. “I visited a dude ranch in New Mexico—went on Monday and came home yesterday. After spending a little time there, it just didn’t feel right to sell to a big corporation that would bring in thousands of people from all over, increase traffic and pollution, and damage the land.”

“I’m sure everyone around here would be grateful to know that you made that choice,” Jillian said. “I am. It would be hard to see any of that happening.”

“What are you hungry for?” he asked.

She pointed up ahead at Ricardo’s. “How about Mexican food?”

“Sounds great to me.”

Jillian smiled to herself. Anything sounded good as long as she was with the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with.