Page 26 of Home to the Cowboy's Arms

The raindrops began just as they reached the first barn. They rode inside out of the rain before he stopped them. He went inside one of the rooms and came out with a soft Indian blanket and handed it to her.

“You’re liable to feel a chill given you got a bit damp out there and the air has a bite to it. Use this to warm up. It’s really pouring right now so we’ll sit it out and wait for it to break. In the meantime, I’ll rub down the horses and put them up.”

Tori felt bad about sitting there while he unsaddled them. She stepped over to Ladybug who was waiting patiently for her turn. Watching Cade’s movements, she found another brush and laid it down until she could get the hang of unbuckling the saddle. Once that was done, she was about to take the saddle off but Cade stepped up at that moment. He grabbed under the saddle horn and at the back of the saddle and lifted it with one easy movement, setting it on a nearby sawhorse. She slid the blanket off the horse’s back and draped it over the saddle. Ladybug was led to her stall next. Tori watched while her bridle was removed and hung on a peg next to the stall door.

While the horses were chowing down from their feed buckets, they each had a brush and they began the brushing that was clearly okay as far as the animals were concerned. Once that was done, he checked outside and the rain was still not letting up.

Cade tossed a couple of fresh hay bales out of range of the water. He indicated she could sit on them.

“We might as well use this time to discuss the springs.”

That was a topic she could engage in and did so. “What is the reason you are against it? Too many people? We can set daily limits. The road needs to be worked on to handle traffic? The city and county are willing to provide their services. You wouldn’t be out a dime. As far as facilities such as restrooms? We can use portables until our crews can construct permanent ones. We are prepared to take on quite a bit of expense in order to help make this happen. What is left that you think is a barrier?”

“My grandfather’s wishes. He didn’t want to see crowds coming into a spot that clearly meant something very special to him and his life. He safeguarded its pristine beauty and peace all his life. And he made me promise to do the same.”

“Evidently, the springs were really special in some way to him. And I can appreciate that. But for those people who would be coming here for the springs as part of their medical needs, well wouldn’t that mean something to him also? We can limit those who come here daily. We…”

Cade held up a palm. “I was very much opposed to opening and for much the same reasons my grandfather had. But there are other ways to handle things that weren’t in his ability to consider before. And time…well time has passed. Grandfather passed. I did hear his concerns and the reason why he wanted things left the way they have been for decades. But he also trusted me to know if and when the time came for there to be another way to use their benefits.”

“You said youwereopposed? Does that mean you might be changing your mind?”

“Not so much as changing my mind as realizing that times have moved on. And seeing the springs we visited this past week opened my mind to one or two things that might have swayed my grandfather’s opinion in one way. It is something I might be able to get behind.”

“I’m listening.”

“Are you warm enough? I can get you another blanket.” His consideration touched something in her. It felt nice. But then she remembered, and it was time to keep her mind and eyes on the prize to be had.

“Thank you, but I’m fine. You were saying?”

“Always the mayor,” he commented. “Business before anything else. Very well.”

Let him think what he wanted. She could take exception to his remarks some other time.

“You pointed out in some of that thick folder of paperwork that you left with me to read a few days back, something that stuck with me and seemed to reinforce what had come to mind a couple of times before when this discussion about the springs first began.

“Setting aside the recreational use of the pools, let’s talk about the health value. You had a couple of studies and testimonies from the area doctors and hospitals in a hundred-mile radius. I found those numbers and their arguments quite interesting. And I coupled that with the two people, especially the child and his family, that we spoke with while visiting the springs. It stayed with me.”

“Yes.” She nodded. “The health value of the thermal springs found here among the pools can be of major value in physical therapy and rehabilitation of patients with a variety of needs.”

“I believe they were somewhat helpful to my grandfather in his physical ailments.”

“Somewhat? Did he have an incurable disease?”

“Incurable disease? Some might think so…he did. But in the true sense of those words…not really. He lost what he believed to be the love of his life. And from then on, he was a different man…with a broken, half-empty heart he said once. I was younger and not fully able to understand what he really meant. But with age, perhaps a bit of wisdom came along.”

The story touched Tori’s heart. “I’m sorry for him that he had to experience that. It’s very sad.”

“You are a romantic…something else I’ve learned about you.”

“We were discussing the springs,” she said bringing him back to the subject at hand and away from anything personal. “What is your thinking on allowing use of the springs?”

“I might be considering allowinglimiteduse,” he began and then held up his hand. “Now don’t go getting too excited or ahead of things. I saidconsidering.”

“I’ll take it. It’s a positive.”

“You don’t give up easily on something, do you?”

“I learned a long time ago that giving up is the last option. If it was important enough for you to fight for from the beginning, then it is just as important to see it all the way through. So what do you call limited?”

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