Sunday #3
“Huh?” Savannah said. “You want to be a rodeo queen all of a sudden? Your riding isn’t good enough!”
“Who says my riding isn’t good enough?” Annabelle retorted. “Have you been listening to the guys at the bunkhouse? They’re just jealous. Or they talk to Elijah too much. My riding is fine. If people are saying rude things about it, I’ll just have to show them.”
“Grandma says your riding could use a lot of improvement,” Savannah said.
“What does Grandma know about it?” Annabelle said. “Anyway, I’m an adult. Thankfully, Grandma doesn’t have any say over a grown adult’s decision to enter a pageant or not. I can do this if I want to.”
“Dear, we still need to talk about the clothes for the pageant.” Aunt Steph brought Annabelle down to earth again.
“Why don’t you look through the pictures from the last few pageants and see if you can get any ideas.
If this is a fashion show, I should be able to help.
I was in a few beauty pageants back in the day. ”
That, Maria readily believed. Aunt Steph was tall and thin and pretty like a model. Annabelle took after her, although she had Uncle Russell’s blonde coloring. But looks weren’t the only thing about this pageant.
“Yeah, we’ve got to work on the clothes right away,” Annabelle said. “Honestly, I think the beauty pageant is one of the most important parts of this. Miss Rodeo Montana has to represent the whole state. You have to have a good stage presence and personality and a good look.”
“And know how to ride horses,” Savannah said.
“Anyone can ride a horse.” Annabelle waved her away. “And I can practice riding anytime. I ride every day with the ranch guests.”
“Oh, all right,” Savannah said. “I’m just the kid sister. Nobody has to listen to me.” She whisked away, leaving Maria alone with her aunt and Annabelle.
“Maria, would you be a dear and follow her, so Annabelle and I can figure this out?” Aunt Steph said. “I suppose it’s natural there should be a little tension since Annabelle is doing it and Savannah’s too young. But I don’t like to see Savannah get upset.”
A “little tension”? Aunt Steph must be oblivious about her family’s dynamics. Didn’t she see how upset Savannah was about being left out in general? Didn’t she see how much she wanted to be included in family activities?
“Sure,” Maria said. “I’ll talk to her.”
§
Maria went up to Savannah’s room, but Savannah wasn’t there. She didn’t like the idea of her little cousin going off somewhere upset. She’d better look for her.
Besides, Maria didn’t feel like hanging out with Annabelle and Aunt Steph as they got Annabelle ready for the pageant. It must need a lot of preparation, because from the way they’d been talking, it wasn’t happening for a while. Why did they need to find clothes for it so far in advance?
Maria had come to know a few of Savannah’s favorite spots in the house by now, but the girl wasn’t in any of them. Maybe she’d gone out on her ATV. At least it wasn’t dark.
She wasn’t in the barn, but her ATV was missing. Maria took another one and drove around, first searching up where they’d had the picnic—no luck—and then down by the lower buildings. Maybe Savannah was in a barn somewhere.
Maria got to the stables and peered into one of the entrances. There, silhouetted against the other end of the stables, was a familiar blond ponytailed girl, talking to somebody in the second-to-last stall.
“Savannah, there you are!” Maria exclaimed. “Your mom’s worried about you.”
“No need to worry, she’s with me,” a masculine voice said from the stall. Maria looked in. Tim was bent over doing something to a horse’s leg.
Maria stiffened. Outside of politely serving his food, she hadn’t talked to Tim since she’d overheard him telling that other cowboy he wasn’t interested in her.
“Tim’s making sure Champion didn’t hurt himself,” Savannah said. “He might have strained a muscle.”
“I think he’s gonna be all right.” Tim straightened up. His blond hair fell across his forehead. “Hi, Maria.”
He must have heard her name from someone, because Maria certainly hadn’t introduced herself. “Hi,” she said.
“What brings you down here?” Tim asked. “Just looking for Savannah?”
“Yeah. Aunt Steph was worried you were upset,” Maria said to her cousin.
“I was,” Savannah said. “But I’m all right now.”
“Talking things out helps,” Tim said. “Can I do anything for you, Maria?”
Why would she need the ranch foreman to do anything for her? “No, I’m all right,” Maria said. “I’ll go back up to the house. I want to video call my dad and grandma before it gets too late in Michigan.”
“Good idea,” Tim said. “I’ll make sure Savannah doesn’t get into mischief.” He winked, and Savannah giggled.
Maria headed back toward the ranch house. It was funny that Savannah confided in the foreman, of all people. What did she talk to him about?
There must be something about Tim to attract both Austin girls so strongly—Savannah looking for a friend and confidante, Annabelle looking for a love interest. Well, that was fine for them. Maria didn’t understand the appeal.