Joanna Wayne - Ambush At Dry Gulch

“I had some paperwork to do.”

Lizzie perched on the arm of the other end of the sofa. “Those camps must be a lot of work, but I bet those kids love it—or do some of them hate it?”

“Some do when they first arrive,” Carolina admitted. “But we usually convert them long before the month is over. The horses win their hearts.”

“I know. When I got my first very own colt, I even slept in the horse barn a few nights. Do you teach Western saddle riding?”

“Absolutely,” Carolina said. “We do the whole cowgirl experience. Riding, some minimal roping, sampling every kind of taco you can imagine and singing songs around the campfire. Of course they have to learn to clean stables and take care of the horses, too.”

“Naturally. So, do you get out with the kids yourself or just sponsor the camps and the training?”

“I’m hands-on,” Carolina said, “especially for the fun activities.”

“She’s out there every day, all day,” Mildred said. “Works harder than any of us.”

“Awesomesauce,” Lizzie said. “The way Edna talks, you’re like a queen or something.”

“Those were not my exact words,” Edna denied, untying and pulling off her apron as she joined them in the den. “But I’m impressed myself that you’re out there with the kids getting all hot and sweaty.”

Peg joined them in the den. “Looks like the gang’s all here except for the boss man himself. Where did your father disappear to, Lizzie?”

Lizzie shrugged. “Who knows? He’s always doing something on the ranch. Some days we hardly see him.”

“Running a ranch is hard work,” Edna reminded her. “Does anyone mind if I turn on the TV? I’d like to catch the early-evening news, see what they have to say about that storm that blew through here like a wailing banshee.”

Of course, no one objected.

They tuned in just in time to be reminded that a little pill could guarantee them a perfect sex life at any moment with no preparation. It had been years since Carolina had given much thought to a sex life.

The top news story of the night was the storm. The screen switched to a live shot of a male reporter in a dark blue wind jacket standing in water up to his knees. The running print dialogue below the images warned of flash flooding in low-lying areas in and around Austin.

“Looks like Austin got the brunt of it,” Peg said as images of flooded streets, overflowing drainage ditches and cars stranded on the highway were shown in rapid succession.

“Good thing we didn’t hang around there all afternoon,” Mildred said.

“Or get out on the road during the storm,” Sara added as the images and narrative skipped to the report of a six-car pileup on the interstate. “We could have been stuck out there for hours if we’d been behind that.”

“Numerous fender benders and stalled cars have basically shut down the interstates in all directions around Austin,” the reporter continued. “Stay off the roads unless it’s absolutely necessary, but if you must venture out, watch out for rising water.”

“That settles it,” Edna said. “It is definitely not safe or sane for you ladies to drive back to Austin tonight. There’s plenty of room for all four of you to stay right here.”

“Makes sense for Mildred and Carolina,” Sara agreed. “I definitely wouldn’t risk flooding out Carolina’s sports car if I were her. But our ranch is less than a half hour from here. My hubby will come pick up Peg and me in his four-wheel-drive pickup truck.”

“Staying here works for me,” Mildred said.

It definitely did not work for Carolina. Things were awkward enough as they were without adding a sleepover with Jake to the mix. “Thanks for the offer, Edna, but I’m sure the roads will be safe for travel again in a couple of hours.”

Conversation stopped as the back door opened, followed by heavy footsteps. A few seconds later, Jake joined them in the den.

Jake’s six-foot-plus frame and commanding demeanor dominated the scene even before he said a word.

“Any storm problems?” Edna asked.

“Some of the horses needed a bit of calming down, as usual, but no wind damage that I noticed except for a couple of limbs down in that stretch of pines along the creek.”

“Did you check the entire ranch?” Peg asked.

“Not enough time for that, but we’ve been through enough storms to know where floods and the wind usually do their damage.”

Edna straightened the skirt of her blue-flowered housedress. “You should have seen the pictures of the flooding in Austin.”

“Too much rain or not enough. That’s Texas.”

“I invited the ladies to spend the night,” Edna said. “No use for them to risk facing a flash-flooding situation.”

For the first time since he entered the room, Jake turned and looked directly at Carolina, his dark eyes peering into hers. Her chest grew tight.

“If you want to stay, there’s room.”

That wasn’t exactly what she’d call an eager agreement.

“We’ve already been far too intrusive in your lives,” Carolina said. “I’m sure the roads will clear up enough that we can get back to our hotel tonight.”

“Suit yourself, but the offer stands. Now if you ladies will excuse me, I need to make a few phone calls.” He started toward the hallway, then stopped and turned back to face Carolina. “If you had no problems with Tilson today, I’ll assign him to assist you in any way he can during the training session. If you need other wranglers, he can line them up.”

She wondered if that offer was to make up for Jake’s less than enthusiastic offer of hospitality.

Even so, she could use the help. “I appreciate that, and I’m sure Tilson will do fine.”

“Does that mean you’re neglecting us?” Peg asked, her voice bordering on outright seduction.

“I’ll be around if you need me, but I’ll do my best to stay out of your way.” He stopped next to Lizzie and put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t even think about leaving the house tonight.”

“Wasn’t planning to.”

“I’d better get back in the kitchen and get started on those chicken enchiladas,” Edna said.

“Please don’t go to any extra trouble for us.”

“No trouble at all. Nothing more fun than having a full table to cook for. Is dinner at seven okay?”

“Perfect,” they said in unison.

“I’ll give Edna a hand,” Mildred said, following the housekeeper to the kitchen.

“You know, Lizzie, I don’t think your dad’s as excited as Edna about having a houseful of women around,” Sara said. “Not that I blame him, since he doesn’t even know us.”

“No. That’s just how he is,” Lizzie said. “He doesn’t get excited about much. But if he didn’t want you here, you’d know it.”

Lizzie’s cell phone rang. She grabbed it and answered quickly, “What’s up?”

She left the room before she said more, but it was clear from her suddenly strained expression that the phone call was upsetting.

Lizzie was vivacious and smart, but Carolina had a feeling she was also as complex and troubled as many of the youngsters who’d show up for the Saddle-Up summer-camp program.

Now that she thought about it, Lizzie, with her knowledge and love of horses and riding, would be a perfect junior volunteer for the session on Sara’s ranch. Not only would the participants learn from her, but the interaction with young teens so much less fortunate than herself might do Lizzie some good, as well.

Her involvement would require Lizzie’s willingness and Jake’s permission. The latter might be the more difficult to obtain, but worth a shot.

Determined to face the issue before she changed her mind, she went off in search of Jake. It didn’t take long to find him. He was at a wide wooden desk in his home office, staring at a table of figures on the computer screen. She tapped lightly on the open door.