CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“What the hell are you talking about?” Veins
on Jason’s neck bulged out as he glared at his friend.
“What?” Sandy looked confused. “What’s the
matter with you?”
“What’s the matter with me? What the
hell’s the matter with you?” Their staring contest
intensified.
Sandy and Jason had ridden out to the eastern
part of the property to check on the cattle. While Jason was doing
a cursory count, Sandy had been daydreaming about Lily. About the
day she danced around in his kitchen wearing his shirt, singing
about what a wonderful guy he was -- that song from the movie. He
sighed and said out loud, “South Pacific.”
“Sandy, you just told me to send the cattle
to the South Pacific. Are you nuts? We don’t sell to anyone there.
I think our closest customer is in Singapore.”
“Why would we send cattle to the South
Pacific?”
“Exactly my question.”
“Um…” Sandy started and stopped.
“…And while you’re listening, let me voice
everyone’s complaints on this ranch. You’ve been spitting nails at
all of us this week and some guys are talking about quitting.” He
paused in his rant and said in a softer tone, “This is about Lily,
isn’t it?”
They sat on their horses in the middle of the
ranch land with cross expressions on both frowning faces.
Sandy’s Appaloosa swished her tail to flick
off a few flies. He ran his hand through his hair, which hadn’t
been combed in a week. Lots of things were falling apart, Jason got
out his logbook, leaned back on his horse, and decided to wait him
out. He knew Sandy would talk when he was ready.
It took a while… Jason managed to put in a
full day’s entries before he heard Sandy clear his throat.
“Um…”
“Yeah?”
“I think we broke up.” He could barely look
in Jason’s face.
“You’re joking, right?”
“… Don’t think so.”
“What happened? You two have been so happy
together. Oh, yeah, you went to see her father up in Sonoma. Guess
he blew a gasket? You aren’t good enough for his little girl?
Something like that?”
“Actually, nothing like that.” Sandy told
Jason the whole story from Jeanne to Sam to Miles and back again.
About all the fallout that splattered Lily and him…
“Unbelievable. What’s that expression about
‘the sins of the father’? Don’t remember it all.” Jason blew out a
breath. “Unbelievable.”
“I’m having trouble remembering my name,
Jason. I can usually solve most problems, but this is something I
can’t seem to resolve. And Lily won’t answer my phone calls. She’s
not home, she’s not at school… she’s nowhere. I can’t find
her…”
“Damn, Sandy, I had no idea. It’s a wonder
you’re still upright.”
“Well, I won’t be for long, if I don’t find
her soon.”
Jason had never seen Sandy out of control in
any situation and they had worked together for going on ten years.
He knew Sandy to be a sturdy, strong, independent man—this thing
with Lily had knocked the stuffing out of him. It was obvious that
Sandy was coming apart at the seams.
“Listen, don’t worry about the guys. I’ll
take care of ‘em—soothe some ruffled feathers. I’ll also take care
of the immediate shipment and anything else that comes up this
week. Why don’t you knock off for the rest of the week?”
“What the hell am I going to do if I don’t
work?”
“You’re not working now, you’re in a fog.
Stop…Take a deep breath and go find her. The ranch will be here
when you get back. I’ll mind the store.” Jason winked at him.
Sandy looked at him for a long minute.
“You’re absolutely right. Jason, thank you.” With that Sandy
smiled, his first in a long time, turned his horse into the wind
and galloped back to the house. Jason was right—he had to find
her.
* * *
Sheriff Moody was checking cars and giving
out parking tickets when he saw Sandy coming out of the elementary
school where that cute girlfriend of his worked. He watched Sandy
look all around his car and then start checking through his
pockets, and hat. What was he doing?
“Hey Sandy!”
“Hey Bud…”
“…How’s that cute little gal of yours? I hope
her head is better after knocking herself out in my office. I tell
you, that got my heart started.” Bud laughed until he saw Sandy’s
face. His laughter died. Uh-oh…something’s wrong.
“Hey, you all right? I say something I
shouldn’t?”
“Listen, Bud. I’ve got to get going, if I
could just find my damn car keys.”
“Would those be the keys in your hand, by
some chance?” This guy was losing it.
Sandy looked down at his hand, rolled his
eyes.
“Shoot, there they are! Thanks, Bud,” And he
turned to open his car door.
“Sandy, hold up a minute there. Of course,
this is none of my business, but are you all right? You
seem….distracted.”
Sandy glanced at the school and back to Bud.
“I don’t know where Lily is. I just spoke with Mrs. Nolan at the
school and she doesn’t know where Lily is either. She asked for a
two-week leave of absence and that’s all Terri knows.”
Bud thought that over for a minute. “Well, if
you ask me, and I know you didn’t, if there’s one snoop in this
town who can find anything or anyone, it would be your mother. Have
you asked her?”
Sandy brightened like the light was turned
back on. “Thanks, Bud. Later…” He got in his car, started the
engine and drove off fast, almost running over Bud’s toes.
“Hey!” Bud stepped back breathlessly. “He
almost got me that time. He and that gal of his are quite the pair.
The wedding should be fun.” Bud’s eyes twinkled as he laughed,
heading back to his office. “Yep. Lots of fun.”
* * *