Savannah’s Fun Evening #3
“Well, it’s better than nothing, isn’t it?” Maria said. Although the Montana Rider wasn’t interested in her, she wasn’t about to let Tim trash him. “At least he’s learning some information. He told me to look for a guy with a cow skull tattoo on his hand.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye out,” Tim said.
“I’m sure that guy isn’t one of ours. Of course, he could be in cahoots with some of ours.
It’s hard to rule anybody out when we don’t know much about some of the ranch hands.
I’ve only been the foreman here for a few years, and in that time I’d say we’ve had about fifty-percent turnover. ”
“Do you think there’s a way to keep tabs on the ranch people and rule them out?” Maria asked.
“Not unless we knew they were somewhere else, away from wherever the sabotage happened,” Tim said.
“Could you get them all off the ranch at the same time and then see if anything happens when they’re gone? That would rule them all out,” Maria said.
Tim grimaced. “The ranch is too big. I can’t patrol it by myself. It’s tough when you don’t know who to trust.”
Maria nodded. “I know what you mean. I’ve trusted people before and been let down.” Seth, especially. She didn’t feel like bringing him up.
“Even good people sometimes make bad decisions,” Tim said. “But it helps to get to know them. For instance, Annabelle and Elijah would sell the ranch in a second. But I don’t think you would.”
“No. This is such a beautiful place. And it’s our family heritage. I’d hate to see it turned into a resort.”
“Me too,” Tim said. “Ssh! She’s coming!”
Footsteps approached, Savannah’s voice coming with them. “Okay, I’ve checked the laundry room. Are you in here? By the way, if either of you can hear me, we’re not playing the kind where you wait until I’ve looked in a room and then sneak to another room. That’s cheating.”
Maria met Tim’s eyes, glimmering with amusement. He put a finger to his lips.
“Wait a minute,” Savannah said. “Tim, I got you! I can see you in that chair!”
Tim spun the chair around. “Ta-da!”
“That wasn’t a very good hiding place,” Savannah said. “We always used to hide there. Come on, you’ve gotta follow me around while I find Maria. But don’t give me any clues.”
“Your wish is my command,” Tim said. “Where are we going?”
“Downstairs,” Savannah said. “Come on!”
Maria grinned. Savannah hadn’t checked the other swivel chair. It might be a long time before she thought to come back here.
Savannah’s and Tim’s voices receded down the staircase into the basement.
Somewhere on the main floor, Maria heard a noise.
That was Uncle Russell’s voice. “Why are all the lights off?” he was asking.
“Where’s Savannah? I thought you said she was here with Maria.
You don’t think she’s sneaked out again? ”
So everybody in the family knew about Savannah sneaking out at night. That was funny. But Maria better let them know she and Savannah were there.
“I’m here,” Maria called, bouncing out of the swivel chair and turning on the den light. Blinking in the sudden brightness, she went to find her relatives in the living room.
“Oh, there you are,” Uncle Russell said, relieved. “Where’s Savannah?”
“Downstairs,” Maria said. “We were playing hide and seek in the dark.”
“We used to do that,” Annabelle said, shucking a fancy fringed cowgirl jacket carelessly onto the floor by the couch. “Guess what? Scarlett and I made up. She’s gonna work with me on riding and roping if I help her with the clothes for the pageant.”
Maria smiled. “That’s great. I’m happy for you.”
“And Russell and Steph and I had a productive conversation in the car,” Grandma Austin said, hanging her raincoat on the coat tree. “I want to talk to you about something tomorrow, Maria. Good news, don’t worry.”
Another spark of humanity in Grandma Austin—realizing that Maria might be anxious if she just told her she “wanted to talk.” Still, what could it be?
“Hey!” Savannah appeared in the doorway, blinking in the light, with Tim behind her. “I never found you, Maria!”
“Sorry,” Maria said. “Everybody else got home, and I didn’t want them to be worried.”
“You went right past her,” Tim told Savannah confidentially. “She was in the other big chair in the den.”
“Really?” Savannah burst out laughing. “I was so excited about finding you, I didn’t think to look in the other chair!”
Tim laughed. “I guess Maria wins this one. Well, I’d better get back to my house. I’ve got work early. Thanks for a fun evening, Savannah—Maria.”
His smile at Maria had warmth in it, and Maria smiled back, relieved. Clearly, she was forgiven for not having coffee with him.
It had been a surprisingly good evening.
If every day at the ranch was like this, staying at the Rocker A would be wonderful.
Of course, it was temporary. But at least Maria was getting a taste of ranch life.
She’d have to ask Annabelle for that next riding lesson soon, unless Annabelle was too busy getting ready for the rodeo and then the Miss Rodeo Montana pageant.
Tired from the long day, Maria kept falling asleep during her night prayers. When she finally got into bed, she slept like a rock, without even a thought about the Montana Rider.