Page 37 of Roughing It with the Rancher

A half-hour later, we park on the flattest spot I can find, and Esmeralda and I comb the cemetery, walking out in larger circles with each pass. Looking for anything that sticks out. Anything that could point to the treasure.

“Reese, come here!” Esmeralda calls from a distance, and I bring my hand up to cover my eyes, straining against the sun to see her in the distance.

“Should I bring shovels and gear?” I ask, knowing we won’t be able to get any closer with the car.

“Yes, bring all your gear. I think this is it!”

My heart races as I unlock the trunk, pulling out as many digging implements as I can manage and stuffing a backpack with food and beverages. Just in case she’s right, and we’re out here for a while.

Closing the distance to Esmeralda, excitement grips me as I see what she’s found. An ancient mound of dirt with a weathered, dark brown wooden tombstone covered in toys, cars, costume jewelry, stuffed animals, books, and every other gift you can imagine. There are even a couple of bras hung over the tombstone.

“Could this be it? The gift of death?”

I shrug, setting the shovels and pickaxes down along with the backpack. “What say we have an ice-cold beer and snacks before we start digging?”

“Wait, are we really going to dig up a grave?”

I eye the distant ghost hunters, wondering what we can get away with out here. Shifting my weight, I furrow my brows. “We’ve come this far. We can’t give up now.”

“Yes, but exhuming a body? Won’t that make us grave robbers?”

“Treasure, I’d wager you all my winnings that there are no human remains beneath this swatch of soil. Just buried Aztec gold. But we’ll never know until we dig.”

Esmeralda nods, her face tight with resignation and concern.

As we dig in, Esmeralda strains to break the ground. “This soil is rock-hard. Like concrete.”

I frown, running a hand over my forehead. “Nevada dirt. If you can really call it that. That’s why my digging tool of choice is a pickaxe. Why don’t you step back while I give it a few swings to loosen up the ground.”

A few swings turn into hours of intense labor as the sun beats down on us, putting perspiration thick on my forehead and back. The work is punishing, straining the injuries from yesterday. After removing my shirt, Esmeralda gasps. “Your back looks so angry and bruised, and you’ve reopened some of those lacerations by digging. You’re bleeding. You need to take a break.”

“But we’re so close,” I say through gritted teeth as I hammer away at the ground, noticing that it softens the deeper I go, making the work easier as I continue busting through layers.

“You’re starting to sound like my grandpa again. So caught up with this treasure you can’t think about anything else.” She delivers the words in an exasperated tone, concern written on her face. “I’ve watched one good man obsess over what might honestly turn out to be a curse. Please don’t make me watch another.” Her lush lower lip quivers.

I drop my pickaxe, sauntering towards her and wrapping her in my arms. I reassure her, “It might look like I’m obsessed with this treasure. But what’s really driving me is making you happy. If this treasure really exists, I’m hellbent on finding it because it means something to you. And I can’t stand the thought of seeing you disappointed. Especially because of something I have control over.”

Esmeralda’s large doe eyes water as she takes me in, her mouth parting slightly. I lean in to kiss her, drawn by the call of her delicious mouth as my hands run up and down her back. “Truth be told, I’d rather be in the Caddy, showing you the skill of my tongue.”

Her eyes sear me.

“But we’re so close, and you’ve come so far, Okie. We can’t stop now.”

“But Reese, this won’t change anything between us. Whatever we do or don’t find, right?”

I chuckle, stroking her delicate jawline. “I’ve said it all along, and I’ll say it again. You’re the real treasure. And if I have my way, I aim to keep you forever. What do you think about that?”

“I think I love you, Cowboy.”

My heart dances around in my chest at her unexpected words, my eyes swirling with moisture. “Well, I know I love you.Known that ever since you decided to impart a little of your luck on me. How about you work on that again now?”

“Okay,” she says, straining on her tiptoes to kiss me. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, husband. No matter what happens, finding you is the luckiest strike I’ve ever had.”

Through layer after layer, I bust the thick gray ground until the pickaxe hits something hard. I continue digging and scraping, the metal making a hollow sound against the wooden structure the work reveals. “Shit, Esmeralda.”

“What is it?” she asks breathlessly, headed in my direction.

I put up a hand to stop her, eyeing the baby coffin I’ve uncovered. The last thing my woman needs is to see something grisly. “Stay back, Angel. This may not be for your eyes,” I warn, my heart sinking as I lean down, feeling the cool of the smooth wood. I’m not especially fond of the idea of grave robbing, either. But I’ve come too far not to find out.

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