Chapter 20 #2
“We may be just meeting, but I feel like I know you. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your hospitality and this chance to see our long lost wayward son.”
She gave Bart a meaningful look. He looked un-fazed as his father walked up for a man to man handshake. No hugs there. Bart and his father were the same height, over six feet, both lean and muscled, tanned, and very western in jeans, buckle belts, and cowboy hats.
Molly said, “I’m so excited to meet both of you. Welcome to Summer’s End. We thought you might want to unload the horses before checking into your cabin.”
As Molly and Cassie were walking to the back of the horse trailer, she was conscious that she was being watched carefully by all three McKinnons.
Were they just checking out Bart’s girlfriend, or was something going on?
She looked at each of them working to suppress grins.
Something was going on, and she had no idea what it was.
Clint and Bart moved by the women to take charge of the unloading as Molly and Cassie stood by.
A silence had fallen over the group. Something was about to happen, and Molly didn’t have a clue, but everyone except her was in the know.
Clint opened the gate and backed a large, beautiful palomino stallion down the ramp.
That had to be his horse. Then Bart moved into the trailer and backed Ginger out.
But, wait a minute, that couldn’t be Ginger.
Ginger was in the corral. Molly was blinking and double taking and shaking her head. What was going on?
Cassie moved in to take her arm. Molly looked at the giant grins on all three McKinnons and understood immediately what was going on. Ginger was related to Bart’s mother’s horse because they were absolutely identical in coloring and characteristics.
All Molly could say was, “Oh my God.”
The McKinnons were laughing.
“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?”
Bart said, “We’re going to let Kitty tell you the whole story. It’s really quite amazing. But, yes, obviously, Ruby and Ginger are full siblings from the same dam and sire, two years apart. Ruby is four and Ginger is two. And, in my opinion, the two most beautiful horses God ever created.”
“Oh my God.” Molly walked over to examine Ruby. The similarity to Ginger was stunning.
Cassie asked, “How do you like riding Ginger?”
“Are you kidding? She’s a dream.”
“I’m sure the siblings will be excited to see each other.”
“Ginger is in the corral. Follow me.”
Cassie took the rope hanging loosely around Ruby’s neck and the entourage walked toward the corral where Silas was standing dumfounded, his mouth open, looking back and forth between the matching horses.
Okay, then, Silas didn’t know this part of the story either.
He opened the gate as Cassie removed the line and shooed Ruby into the corral.
The family lined up to see the two nearly identical chestnut mares move immediately to the other and rub noses.
Molly asked, “Were you still interested in exercising Ruby this afternoon?”
“Yes, if that works. What a beautiful set up you have.” The McKinnons were looking at the stables, the corrals, the extended workout field, and the snowcapped peaks of the North Cascade range in the distance.
“I’m guessing it’s a lot like your ranch.”
No one responded to that. Bart hadn’t said a word.
Molly said, “Why don’t we saddle up while Bart takes Clint down to get you checked into your cabin? He can give him the full tour and then come back here, or head to my cabin, or greet the rest of the family.”
They rode side by side in a light trot out from the stables toward the workout range.
Molly said, “I can’t keep my eyes off the two horses together. Isn’t it amazing?”
“I can’t tell you how much I looked forward to this moment. It’s really fun.”
“I have so many questions, but I guess we’ll wait for Kitty.”
“I’m expecting her any time, and I’m sure she’ll join us.”
“How about Cheyenne?”
“The same. Anytime. And she wants to ride too.”
At the range, they separated and ran their horses through different warm ups until Molly saw a woman riding toward them. Molly went over to greet her. The woman rode directly to her, stopped, and slid off her horse. Molly did the same.
It was Kitty, a shorter version of her mother. They did self-introductions and shared a hug.
“Oh, my God. Your place is so beautiful.” She was gesturing toward the mountains.
“I’m guessing it’s a lot like your ranch.”
This time Kitty responded. “Some definite similarities. Both places are western and beautiful.” She paused. “How’s Ginger?”
“Oh, my God. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Ruby. I understand you have the full story.”
“Yes, for sure. Later, over drinks.” She chuckled. “Cheyenne was just pulling in. She’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Perfect.”
They mounted up. Molly said, “I was thinking we’d practice for the race in the morning. I didn’t realize we’d all be riding this afternoon. The relay race is all about the baton pass, so we’ll want to do some drills.”
Kitty said, “For sure. We’ve done some relays, and I assume you have too. I don’t think it will take too much to get it down. Any chance we can take a ride someplace this afternoon? It’s just so beautiful. I want to see the country. I mean, do we have to get back to prepare dinner or anything?”
“Dinner is under control, and Bart is on it. He has to pour barbeque sauce on the ribs and put them in the oven for a couple hours. I think he can handle it. There’s plenty of beer to keep the men busy. We could make a fast trip up to Lookout Ridge?”
“What’s the record?”
Molly chuckled. “A girlfriend and I used to make it up there in forty two minutes.”
Kitty said, “Game on. Here comes Cheyenne.”
Molly looked at her phone. “Okay, we’ll give you and Cheyenne ten minutes to warm up then we’ll set the clock and go.”
In ten minutes, they gathered. Molly pulled out her phone and set the timer, yelling, “Game on!” as she kicked Ginger into a full gallop toward Lookout Ridge, three cowgirls at her side.
They rode hard on the range for fifteen minutes.
Molly felt like she was in a western movie about four cowgirls seeking vengeance against the bad guys who done them some injustice.
Molly lived for moments like this: galloping with friends on a hot summer day on four beautiful horses.
Ginger was running like a dream next to her older sibling.
Eventually, the way turned into the trail that allowed a side by side fast trot for another fifteen minutes, then it was single file up the beautiful forested trail to the ridge, where they were able to lope the final minutes to the lookout.
Molly pulled Ginger up and checked her phone. “Forty one minutes. A new record.”
They tied-off horses and Molly led the ladies up to the point where she and Bart had made love. They stood and admired the amazing view.
Cassie asked, “So what are we looking at?”
“The mountains and valleys in the short term, say fifty to seventy five miles, are the North Cascades, and part of the Pasayten Wilderness. The Pasayten is a federally designated wilderness area. It runs all the way to the Canadian border. In the far distance are the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia.”
Cassie asked, “So where does Bart live?”
“Out there.” Molly pointed generally into the wilderness.
Cheyenne asked, “Have you been there?”
“No one has been there except for Bart, but he’s promised to take me in October. I’m dealing with ten German Shepherd pups until then.”
Cassie asked, “What do you know about it?”
“He lives in a tiny wooded forest valley that he calls Dark Hollow. It’s far from any trails and in a location that no one will find. He found it using military maps and a drone. He has a tiny cabin tucked in a dark wood and lives there with his family.”
“His family?”
“Beryl is his jenny mule. And, of course, Bear. Then there’s Bella and Blitz.”
Everyone was laughing. Kitty finally asked, “And who is Bella?”
“Bella is his lynx. Bear found her as a kitten after her mother was killed by coyotes. Bart and Bear raised her. Bart built her a shelter not far from the cabin and she lives there with her mate. She’s expecting a litter soon.”
Cassie said, “I’m afraid to ask, but who’s Blitz?”
“Blitz is his hunting falcon. Blitz brings pheasant, duck, and chucker for dinner.”
All three ladies were laughing.
Cheyenne said, “You might have to change your name to Bolly.”
They made a fast return, brushed down the horses, boarded them at the stables, and walked to Molly’s cabin.
The ladies wanted to freshen up for the evening party, but decided to first check out Molly’s place.
Molly hadn’t expected the afternoon ride to last so long, so she was feeling badly about not being at the cabin when the family arrived. She was hoping Bart had taken charge.
The four ladies walked into the open door and went right to the kitchen.
Molly was relieved to see that the party was underway.
Western music was playing loudly, folks were milling around with drinks, and she noticed with relief that the ribs were in the oven.
Bart was busy cutting cheese and meat and organizing it on a platter.
Molly went right to him, wrapped her arms around from behind, and said, “Thank you for putting the ribs in the oven.”
He turned and focused those beautiful blue eyes on hers and said, “Hi, I’m Brett.”
Molly screamed and jumped back. That’s impossible.
She was looking at Bart. Then she looked to see another Bart walking into the kitchen.
She moved her eyes back and forth to the two identical Barts, figured out what was going on, and shouted, “You’d think someone could have told me the guy I’m dating had a twin brother. ”
The ladies were chuckling. Cheyenne said to Kitty, “I don’t think Bart will be getting lucky tonight.”
Molly said, “You got that right.” She was glaring at Bart, who was walking over to her with a sheepish grin.