Chapter 18Staten Kirkland
Chapter 18
Keeping with Tradition
New Year’s Eve
Staten Kirkland
W ith Staten and J.R. both on the mend, Christmas had been a quiet affair. Granny had almost canceled their annual New Year’s Eve party, but Gramps had insisted they hold to tradition. He may not have been the life of the party, but he seemed to enjoy himself as he sat in the corner of the big house, trying to hide the whiskey he’d snatched from the kitchen.
It was no surprise to Staten that his dad didn’t show up. After all, there’d be no press on the ranch. There were too many big, important parties in Austin, and Samuel needed to rub elbows with the right people.
Granny was in her element. She loved having people over. And she hadn’t gotten to see much of her friends since J.R.’s stroke. She mingled through the living room and sitting room, talking with everyone. She remembered everyone’s names and asked after all their kin.
Staten was glad she could enjoy herself. Granny might not be out riding the land every day, but in her own way she worked just as hard as everyone else on the Double K.
Meanwhile, Staten might be sore all over, but he was going to make the most of his time with Amalah. Every year since the fourth grade, they’d slow danced at Granny’s parties, and Staten couldn’t wait to hold his girl on the dance floor.
Over seventy-five friends and neighbors showed up. The younger kids stayed in the barn playing games. A three-piece band played a dozen tunes every hour in the small sitting area off the living room of the big house. Amalah danced with everyone who asked her. There was no doubt she was the belle of the ball. Staten watched as she chatted with classmates she hadn’t seen all semester. She was happy to be home, and he was thrilled to have her close.
Quinn arrived late, moving quietly through the crowd to Staten. “How’s your head?”
“It’s fine. Thanks to you. Jake told me about your quick thinking and waiting with me until help arrived. I appreciate it.”
“You getting better is all the thanks I need. Besides, what else could I do?”
Staten gestured toward Amalah, dancing with a group of girls from the high school cheer squad. “You going to join them?”
Quinn made a face like she smelled a rotten egg. “No, thanks. I think I’ll head out back and see what the kids are up to. Maybe go say hi to the horses.”
Staten chuckled as he watched her sneak through the house like a burglar afraid of getting caught. Quinn had never been one for crowds or parties.
As the night passed, most of the older folks settled into talking. Reliving their glory days. The band had slowed to about five songs an hour. And the young adults had wandered outside to watch the ranch hands gather up the fireworks.
Granny and J.R. were relaxing in their comfortable chairs. J.R. had been quiet most of the night but he talked now and then to his wife. Staten wasn’t even sure that anyone had noticed that his speech was slower. Staten knew his gramps was ready for the party to end, but it was good for the old man to sit among friends.
Staten didn’t ask Amalah to dance until ten. He was having fun just watching her twirl around. And if he was being honest with himself, part of him hoped this would help her remember how nice things could be in Crossroads. How good it was to be home.
The melody of a slow, old Western song moved through the small room, and everyone in the house knew it was played for the two young lovers. Staten moved to Amalah’s side, taking her hand and spinning her into his arms.
He still had a few fading cuts and sore bruises, but he was a healthy young man. And with Amalah by his side he felt even better. Like he could do anything. Even keep up the Double K. It seemed no one doubted Staten could handle taking over the ranch until J.R. recovered. No one except Staten.
Halfway through the song, he pulled Amalah in closer. A year ago Staten and Amalah had been kids, but now they moved as lovers. He knew every inch of her and he never wanted to forget.
They swayed through another song before Amalah reminded him that as a Kirkland he was the host and needed to mingle with the other guests. Unwrapping his arms from around her waist felt like prying open a ten-ton gate. He didn’t want to let her go. But he knew his duty, and he’d do it like he always did.
Staten planted a swift kiss on her lips and was rewarded with her warm laugh as he moved through the guests, making sure to smile and thank everyone for coming. As the night grew later, he watched over his grandparents. J.R. was dozing in his green armchair. While Granny chatted with Miss Butterfield, she kept her hand on her husband’s knee.
The younger children came in from the barn for milk and cookies, and by eleven most of the smaller kids had curled up near their parents. The music faded to background noise as neighbors and friends relaxed into comfortable conversations.
By eleven thirty, the home-care nurse rolled J.R. to bed, but everyone else stayed. It was almost like old times before J.R.’s stroke.
Those still awake began to bundle up and move outside to watch the fireworks show the Kirklands put on every year. Covered in blankets, the guests waited with hot cocoa as the ranch hands finished getting everything ready.
Staten found Amalah on their porch swing, huddled in one of Granny’s old blankets. “This seat taken?”
Her response was to open her arms wide, inviting him to join her. He settled next to her and pulled her into his chest.
He slowly rocked them back and forth as they gazed up at the sky exploding in a rainbow of colors. He and Amalah may not have spent the semester together, but at least they would get to finish the year and start a new one wrapped in each other’s arms.
Amalah sank deeper into his side as the last fireworks fizzled out and the smoke began to clear. The show wasn’t long or big, but the fifteen minutes were grand.
All around them conversations were whispered in the dark. With low goodbyes, a few at a time, everyone left the big house and made for their vehicles. A long row of cars and pickups left the Double K Ranch and slowly drove toward town by starlight, headed for the school to ring in the New Year like they always did.
Staten knew those watching from town would think the line of cars was beautiful. Like a glowing snake slithering through the valley.
Amalah hopped off the swing to head to his truck, and he grabbed her hand. “Wait a second.” He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her full out like he’d been dying to do all evening. When he pulled away, they were both trying to catch their breath.
She leaned her forehead against his and whispered, “I love you, Staten. I know a lot has changed lately. But that hasn’t.”
“I love you too. Always will.”
For a second he crushed her to his chest, thinking they’d never be close enough. Then he lifted her to her feet and led her to the pickup. When Staten jumped into his truck, Amalah curled against his side, slipping her hand in his. He kissed the top of her head.
They followed the forty vehicles slowly moving toward Crossroads. The line of cars and pickups turned on their low lights so they could find their way to the school parking lot as the whole town seemed to turn off its lights and wait.
The night was silent, peaceful. Staten squeezed Amalah’s hand as he saw the first cars reach the parking lot. He pulled up behind a dented old sedan and cut the ignition. Amalah seemed to hold her breath as they waited.
Then suddenly, all the town’s bells began to ring as one. All around the valley, everyone knew it was New Years. Laughter blended with the bells as the whole town celebrated. Staten loved this tradition. He tilted Amalah’s chin up and kissed her sweetly. Her first kiss of the year.
They watched as most of the cars circled the center of town and then turned off toward their homes. In five minutes, Staten figured Crossroads would be asleep again.
As the parking lot emptied, he turned to his girl riding shotgun and smiled.
Even with everything that had gone wrong lately, this had been a moment of heaven.