Page 34 of Heart of the West

I can’t decide what to wear. Am I a friend helping out? Am I “the help”? Should I wear a uniform? Ahh, hell. After Effrem gives me the rundown, I’ll run back out to Calico Gypsy’s for some new clothes.

Thanks to her generous discount and a few online sales, I have money for new clothes. Selling all those designer clothes I’ll never wear again was one of my better ideas. Clothes, shoes, purses. I kept a few of each, but put most of it up for sale.

A knock on my door has me sprinting across the apartment. I opened it to find Deputy Jeffries. He smiles and touches the brim of his hat.

“Miss Ruby. The sheriff got called away. Asked me to escort you to the ranch.”

“Deputy Jeffries, I’m not ready yet and could stand to run an errand. Could you possibly give me directions?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He digs a set of keys out of his pocket and hands them to me before giving me directions. I write them down on a phone app and thank him again. Now I have plenty of time. I head to the bathroom and finish packing my toiletries before filling half my suitcase. I’d have to come back here for part of the day, most days, anyway.

Satisfied with my selections, I hurry downstairs, locking both doors behind me before loading my bags into the Suburban. Ipull out of the parking lot and head straight for the clothing store. Gypsy is behind the counter. She waves and smiles.

“Ruby. It’s good to see you.”

“Thank you, Gypsy. It’s good to see you too. I’m in need of some help.”

“What can I do?”

I told her about helping out Effrem and my lack of appropriate clothing. I hardly need a designer cocktail dress in the bakery. One whirlwind of an hour later, the back of my SUV is full of bags containing clothes, shoes, belts, jewelry, and other accessories. Two bags of that are new underwear, including a few pieces of lingerie. Why not? What I wear behind closed doors is my business. I don’t need an excuse to wear something that makes me feel good. Not anymore.

The drive to Effrem’s ranch is scenic. As is most of the driving around Wolf Creek. I fell in love with it via pictures. And the pictures don’t do it justice. It’s breathtaking, with open fields and pastures on both sides and the mountains rising off in the distance.

As I draw closer to the Busted Knuckle Ranch. I see a field of longhorn cattle. I’ve only seen them before on screen. Half a mile later, a herd of horses streak across a pasture heading toward the mountains.

I have to pull over, so I don’t wreck. I watch them until they are out of sight. I feel lighter than I have in forever. Back on the road and a few minutes later, I’m pulling into the driveway. It’s not a short drive by any means. but it’s not nearly as long as the Bennetts. I park near the house and walk to the front door. I try the door, surprised to find it open. Maybe people don’t lock their doors around here.

I let myself in.

“Hello, is anyone home?”

When I don’t get a response, I begin to walk around the house. The front door opens into a foyer area with tall ceilings and stone floors. There’s a bench on the wall on one side. The house opens up from there with soaring ceilings. Wooden beams cross the ceiling. A large chandelier made of antlers hangs from the center of the ceiling.

Leather furniture surrounds a low, round coffee table that takes up the center of the room. There’s a fireplace on one side of the room. With a natural stone chimney.

It’s an open floor plan with the dining room on one side. A teakwood table that sits ten. A gold table runner splits the middle of the table in half. Beyond the table is a wall of windows with a set of French doors that opens onto a patio.

I can spruce it up for Christmas with ease. I walk past the table and into the kitchen. The kitchen is a dream with marble countertops, dark wooden cabinets, an enormous island, and a pot filler on the stove.

It has two double ovens. Upon closer inspection, I see they both have a convection setting. The island has a small sink with a faucet and an opening for garbage. I walk through the kitchen, opening all the cabinets and checking out the dishes, pots, and pans.

I want to be as familiar as possible with the kitchen since I’m cooking for eight people. Well, seven, and then me. I still don’t know my exact position, but Gypsy put me at ease about needing a uniform.

After searching the cabinets, fridge and freezer, I find a pantry. A walk-in pantry big enough to store food, seasonal dishes, and just about every extra you could need, like bread and picnic baskets.

The sound of boots on the stone floor alerts me to the presence of another person.

“Ruby?”

“I’m in the pantry.”

The sound of boots draws closer. I turn to see Effrem walk through the pantry door.

“Familiarizing yourself with the work space I see.”

“I am. I’m going to load up a bunch of pans and baking supplies this afternoon when I go grocery shopping.”

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