Chapter Forty-one
June shook the young man’s hand. “It was nice to meet you too, Collin. I look forward to working with you.” He was a young cowboy of twenty-five, had some experience wrangling cattle, and seemed willing and able to do the job. He also had manners, which only impressed her all the more.
“Ma’am,” he said, tipping his cowboy hat. “I’ll see you Monday.” He walked away, heading back toward his pickup.
June sighed, feeling relieved. Collin was the second and final new ranch hand. They could always hire more if needed in the future. But she and Vaughn seemed to think they had enough for now. Especially with Vivian and Natalie continuing to help out. She walked back toward the house to check on Vaughn, who had sat in on the virtual interview but hadn’t met Collin or the other new hire, Jason, in person. She was laid up on the couch and having a tough time accepting her immediate future. So June had been the one to meet the new hands and show them around.
She entered the house as dusk was settling in. She’d sent supper home with the others in some Tupperware, knowing she’d be too busy to serve it with the two new hires stopping by to tour the ranch and meet the horses. So, the house was quiet, save for Vaughn who was in the living room cursing.
June grabbed her a cold can of root beer from the fridge and walked into the living room to find her lying on the couch, looking at her phone and cussing up a storm.
“What’s wrong with you?” June asked, handing her the root beer.
Vaughn frowned but took it, and did her best to sit up. She moaned in pain and June felt for her, unsure what to do. It was going to be like this until her surgery in two weeks, and then for some time after as she healed. They were all just going to have to get used to it.
“Damn tech guy can’t come out to replace the cameras until next week. This is the second time he’s put me off.”
Thankfully, the gate had been fixed. But it wasn’t foolproof. Someone could still get in, if they drove through fast enough or had bolt cutters. But it was the best they could do considering they couldn’t afford an electric one. So Benny locked it up every evening as he left, following the other ranch hands out. Which, he should’ve just done, June realized as she glanced out the window to see all the vehicles gone, save for hers and Vaughn’s.
“It’s been over a week. He should’ve already had it taken care of,” June said.
“I know.” She cursed again and cracked open her drink, then sipped it slowly. “Thanks for this, by the way,” she said, gesturing with the can.
“You’re welcome.”
“So, how did it go with the new hires? They pass the final test?”
“They did. They both start Monday.”
“Great.” She took another sip but seemed less than thrilled. June watched her closely, concerned. She’d lost weight and her usual sun-kissed skin was paler now, due to being indoors. And her mood had changed. She was solemn where she was once feisty and determined. June had noticed it after her appointment at the brain and spine center and her meeting with the neurosurgeon. Vaughn had learned that she had stenosis. Her spinal cord was compressed, causing unbearable pain. The surgeon wanted to do surgery to relieve the pressure and he wanted to do it sooner rather than later. So now the waiting game. And in the meantime, Vaughn had to rest and suffer on the couch or in her bed. Unfortunately, all the resting was getting to her.
June glanced at the stack of magazines and books that Natalie kept bringing her and the easel Vivian had set up for her to experiment with painting if she wanted to. But Vaughn had little interest in either, preferring to play on her phone and text everyone at the ranch about their jobs, checking in and letting them know what all needed to be done. She was about to drive everyone crazy. June included. She also, for as long as she could tolerate it, sat at the computer and learned all about the website and studied the finances. While doing both was going to help a lot in the long run, June was growing weary of the constant questioning. She wished Vaughn would do what she was supposed to do and actually rest and relax . But it didn’t seem it was in her to do so.
“That’s one more worry off your plate,” June said, hoping it would calm her some. But Vaughn had seemed to have already moved past it. She was looking at her phone again.
“How does he expect me to monitor the drive when I have no cameras?” Her thumbs were flying as she texted. “I’m sending him another message. I’m going to go with someone else. I don’t care if they do cost more.”
“You’re worried about those assholes doing something else, aren’t you?”
Vaughn glanced up. “Well, yes. Aren’t you? It’s been too quiet around here.”
“Maybe the cops are finally close on their tail so they’re laying low.”
“Yeah, right. The cops who refuse to keep us updated?”
“You never know.”
“They won’t stop, Gram. Not until they get caught and put away. I expect they’ll strike again here soon.”
“Let’s hope not.” June eyed the TV tray she’d set up for Vaughn. Her supper was still on it, growing cold. “You not going to eat?”
“I had a few bites.”
“Vaughn, you have to keep up your strength.”
“What for? I’m not doing anything.”
“For your upcoming surgery.”
She didn’t say anything to that. Just absently stared down at her phone.
“Will you put that thing away and talk to me?”
Vaughn sighed and tossed the phone aside. “Fine. What would you like to talk about? My horrible MRI results? Or the risks of the surgery? Or how about the fact that I’ll be laid up for at least a few more weeks? Take your pick.”
“How about Natalie? How are things going there?”
Natalie had taken her supper to the guesthouse to work on her laptop in the quiet. As far as June knew, she’d finally reached out to the detective who had sent her the email, telling him her location and insisting on some sort of protection for her and the ranch, but he’d offered little in the way of help, telling her that Allen had disappeared as of two weeks ago. Just up and vanished once they served a search warrant on his residence and business. Apparently, the man was on the run. June hoped he ran far and wide and never returned.
Natalie feared that he would still come after her. She was thinking like Vaughn. Worried that things were too quiet. She was still sleeping in the main house every night. Making herself a little bed on the couch, while Vaughn moved to her bedroom to retire. She only went to the guesthouse to work on her blogs when she needed the quiet. But even doing that, here lately, seemed to frighten her. So when she was there, she left the door open wide while she worked, convinced it was somehow safer to do things that way. That at least she could see outside and call for help if needed. Thankfully, the weather was now nice enough for her to be able to do that.
“What do you mean?” Vaughn looked surprised at the question and frankly, a little worried.
“Nothing.” It was obvious she still didn’t want to talk about it and she didn’t want to keep bugging her about it. The last thing she wanted to do was to scare her away from Natalie. But she did wonder about the two of them and what their future held, if anything. She’d sure hate to see Natalie go.
“No, what did you mean by that? Has Natalie said something?”
“Like what, Vaughn?”
“Like maybe how she wants to leave. I don’t know. I’m not exactly a catch anymore, am I? And the way I’ve put her off…I wouldn’t blame her if she wanted to leave again.”
“Vaughn, she’s not going to go because you’ve hurt your back. You ought to know her better than that.”
“But maybe it would be better for her if she did. I don’t want her to feel like she has to take care of me.”
“I don’t,” Natalie said, entering the room. She’d come in through the kitchen without them noticing. “I like taking care of you.”
Vaughn clamped her mouth shut. Then, tentatively, said, “You do?”
“Can’t you tell?” She sat down next to her and gripped her hand. “Nothing makes me feel warmer inside than helping you.”
“But I’m…useless.”
Natalie shook her head. “No, Vaughn. You’re everything.”
June smiled, moved by her words. Vaughn kept flushing. June stood, aiming to give them some privacy. “See if you can get her to eat. She won’t do it for me.”
Natalie looked at the plate on the tray. “Vaughn, you finish eating while I run back to the guesthouse to shower and change. Then we’ll watch a movie together or something. How’s that sound?”
Natalie did this every night with Vaughn. She either put on a movie, having signed them up for something called Netflix, or she worked a puzzle with her or played a board game. It was really quite sweet and Vaughn seemed eternally grateful and liked having her near.
Vaughn grumbled but Natalie pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead, shutting her up. “Fine, I’ll eat,” Vaughn finally said.
“Good. I’ll heat it up for you.” She took the plate and carried it into the kitchen to put into the microwave.
June was still smiling in the doorway. Vaughn caught sight of her.
“What?”
“Just enjoying watching you give in. It’s a sight I’ve rarely seen.”
“Oh, be quiet.”
June laughed and left her alone, bypassing Natalie on the way back into the kitchen. She worked at washing the dishes as she heard Natalie return Vaughn’s plate to her and leave.
It sure was nice to have Natalie around.