More Drama #4
Maria caught Tim’s eyes resting on her intensely, and she forgot the rest of what she had been going to say. There was tension there—maybe some good reason Tim couldn’t tell more about the Montana Rider.
“Never mind,” she said. “That wasn’t a fair question, I guess. I can’t expect you to give out somebody else’s secrets. Let’s lighten this up. Ask me one.”
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Not a big fan of dares, are you, Miss Gilbert?” Tim’s blue eyes shone with amusement.
“Fine, then, dare!”
Tim grinned. “I dare you to jump across the creek.”
The creek was narrow. She’d be embarrassed if she couldn’t jump over that.
“No problem at all,” she said. She got up, drawing back a few feet for a running start, and dashed for the creek bank. Her foot slipped on the far edge, and she landed with a splash and a cold shock in the middle of the creek.
Gasping with the sudden cold, sitting in the water, Maria started laughing. Now what had she done! She’d have to change. Her jeans would never dry by themselves.
She looked over, and Tim was laughing too, wading toward her with his hand extended. “Help you up?”
Maria splashed water, splattering him. “This was your idea,” she gasped between laughs.
“I know, and I’m not sorry,” Tim said, wiping his eyes. “That was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
Maria took his hand, and he lifted her to her feet. His handgrip was firm, and his arm was strong. He was still laughing, a contagious, ringing laugh.
Maria’s clothes were sopping. She would drip on the ATV something awful. “I think we’ve done enough exploring for today.”
That sent Tim into renewed peals of laughter. “Let me get my boots, and we’ll go.”
They drove down over the hills again, Tim pointing out various ranch landmarks.
The warm sun made Maria’s wet jeans not as cold as she had feared.
Still, the heavy wet fabric was uncomfortable.
She couldn’t wait to get back to the house and change.
But she wouldn’t have traded the delighted look on Tim’s face after she landed in the creek.
They were approaching the house. Far below, somebody was riding a horse in the round pen.
“Looks like Annabelle’s practicing for the rodeo,” Tim said.
“She says she’ll be fine,” Maria said, “but I can tell she’s nervous.”
“Well, between you and me, Annabelle’s never focused much on her rodeo skills,” Tim said.
“There’s nothing wrong with her riding, but she hasn’t done much roping or racing, and those are things you have to practice.
Elijah’s gonna be in the rodeo too, but he practices a lot more.
He’s the top hand here, but Annabelle mostly shows guests and beginner riders around. She doesn’t get the chance to improve.”
“I see,” Maria said. “Well, Scarlett said she would help her practice.”
“That’s good. I would have offered to help, but I think she’s still mad at me.”
Maria grimaced. “I think so.”
“I guess I don’t blame her. Well, here we are.” Tim pulled up in front of the ranch house. “You go change. I’ll put your ATV away.”
Maria got out, soggy in her wet jeans. This had really been a nice afternoon. “Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.”
He smiled, touching his hat. “Anytime. If you want riding lessons, feel free to come to me.”
“I might take you up on that,” Maria said.
He hesitated, his face turning serious. “And don’t give up on finding somebody you can trust. I guess I’m the last one who oughtta preach on that, but I believe that in a world where you find a lot of snakes and wolves, you also find good people—God-fearing, honest people you can trust with your life. ”
He rode away before Maria could respond, almost like he’d said too much and wanted to leave before he said anything else. Maria watched him until he went into the barn.
Had he been mulling over Maria’s confession about it being hard to trust people? That was kind. He hadn’t been listening superficially—he actually cared about encouraging her.
Maybe Tim was right. But how did you know who you could trust? Everybody had the side they presented to the world, and the hidden side they didn’t share. Although Maria had certainly blurted out more of her feelings than she’d intended, this afternoon.
Maybe some people didn’t have a hidden side. Tim didn’t seem that way. And yet he said odd things. Why was he the last person who ought to preach on trust?
Maria shook her head and went to change out of her wet clothes. Jessie could probably use kitchen help before dinner—Aunt Steph was a good cook, but she wasn’t used to bulk cooking or time pressure.
As Maria, now respectable in dry clothes, drove her ATV down to the kitchen, a cowboy came from behind the bunkhouse. It was Neil Baldwin. He must be here to help Annabelle get ready for the rodeo.
“Hi,” Maria said.
Neil touched his hat as he went past. “Howdy.”
Maria parked the ATV, and Neil continued on. He didn’t go toward the round pen where Annabelle was practicing, though. He went into the stables.
That was funny. Maybe Neil wasn’t there to help Annabelle get ready for the rodeo. Maybe he had ranch business to discuss with the Rocker A people—fences or something. Maria still didn’t know much about ranching.