Monday already.

Happy March and almost spring.  It's also March 19th, the day the swallows supposedly come back to Capistrano.  It's an old song and Capistrano is San Juan Capistrano, an old mission and now town on the So.California coast. It's also the feast of St. Joseph and was my grandmother's birthday.  Isn't that more information than you wanted or needed?   Lots going on here - it seems to be the norm anymore. My friend came and I swear I don't think we did anything but shop for the entire time she was here.  Mind you, that's not my favorite thing to do but...

Went to an Eagles tribute band concert the other night.  Are any of you Eagles fans?  I was and still am and rocked to all of my favorites - the band was pretty darn good.  Eight oldsters movin' and groovin' to the beat.  Of course, the Eagles (who started in 1972) and tonight's players are no young things either.  

We live close to Luke AFB and this weekend is their air show.  They're close enough that we can watch the action from the house but I think Ray wants to go anyway.  It's supposed to rain in the AM and clear in the morning, so we'll see.  There's also a St. Patrick's party going on - as I said lots going on.

During all this, I managed to write a few lines.  A few of you have been asking about a new cowboy book - well this story might just be the start of one.  Let me know what you think?

Without any further ado, here we go.  I'll need a title if it becomes a book, so suggestions please.

When he rode through the gates of Milestone Ranch he felt he was coming home.  In essence, he was.  Steven Connor had lived on this ranch until he was ten.  Miles Sanderson, the owner of the ranch, was a friend of his father’s.  They’d met when they served in Viet Nam and when Jay Conner didn’t make it back, Miles Sanderson took it upon himself to look after Jay’s family.  He offered Chrissie Sanderson a job as the housekeeper and cook for the ranch, she readily accepted and they moved to Wyoming. 

The ranch had belonged to the Sanderson’s for generations, located in an area known as Shell Valley at the base of the Big Horn mountains. Shell Valley was once the winter hunting grounds of the Shoshoni and Arapahoe Indians and so named for the abundance of fossil shells in the area. The area was great for raising cattle and that’s what the Sanderson family did – raise cattle.

Miles’ father died shortly after he returned from overseas, and his brother Randy had no desire to be a rancher, so hiring Mrs. Connor was an easy decision, he needed the help. Steve took to the life immediately, what little boy didn’t want to be a cowboy.  Miles loved Steve like his own and was devastated when Chrissie fell in love with Chance Slocum, a wrangler at the ranch, and moved them to Colorado.

Steve returned to Milestone Ranch every summer until he went off to college.  After college to took a tech job in California but longed for the wide open spaces of Wyoming. So when Miles suggested he come for a visit, Steve jumped at the invitation. Instinctively, he knew he wouldn’t be returning to California, so he took a leave of absence and sublet his condominium and arrived at Milestone with his belongings packed in the back of his Jeep Cherokee.

When he arrived, Miles was sitting on the front porch in one of the rockers he remembered from his youth.  The two of them would settle into the rockers after dinner while Chrissie cleaned up the kitchen.  Here he learned to whittle and play the harmonica – his lips curved up into a smile as the memories came flooding back.  As his Jeep rounded the drive, Miles stood and Steve gasped at the state of this man he loved like a son does his father.  His hair had gone grey and there were large dark circles under his eyes.  This was no longer the stocky frame that Steven remembered, but a hunched over thin rail of a man.  Steve sucked in a breath and took a moment to hide his expression before he stepped out of the truck and into Miles loving arms.

“Welcome back, son.  So glad you came.”

“Me too.  How long has it been?”

“Way too long.”  They hugged each other like two starving men and held on, each hesitating to break the connection.  Finally, the front door opened and a voice called out.  “Hey, you two cowboys, are you ever going to quit hugging?”

Miles broke away and turned to Steve.  “Steve, meet Cassidy.”

Steve extended his hand.  “Oh, so you like hugging guys but not girls, huh,” Cassidy said. 

 “I’ll fix that,” and grabbed hold of him and hugged him tightly.

Although surprised at the strength that came from this slip of a girl, he hugged back.  “No, I like hugging girls just fine, it’s just that where I’ve been a guy can get in big trouble for being so forward.”

She laughed then – a full throaty laugh shocking him that such a little thing could laugh so heartily.

“Steve, Cassidy is Randy’s daughter.  You remember my brother, doncha Steve?”

“Sure do.  How is Randy?”

Miles avoided the question and Steve watched Cassidy turn away.  “Let’s get you inside and settled and then we can catch up,” Miles said.they

After settling in, Miles and Steve went back out onto the porch.  They were both into their own thoughts when Cassidy joined them bringing a tray of cheese and crackers.  There was always beer in the cooler Miles kept on the porch and everyone partook of the cold golden liquid. After a long swig, Miles began to talk.  Steve learned that Randy had died or at least it was assumed that he was dead.  He was an NTSB investigator and en route to a helicopter crash he went to investigate, his plane went down somewhere deep in the jungles of South America.  Investigators at the crash site found no human remains. The case remained open but Miles was suspicious of the findings and decided there had to be more to the story.  He and Cassidy went down to search on their own. They were there about a month when he became ill with some sort of bacterial infection that explained his current condition.  He was getting better all the time but the stress of not finding his brother weighed on him and Cassidy.

Steve had a million questions but could see the toll the talk was having on Miles.  He decided he could research the crash online and talk to Cassidy rather than wearing out Miles. 

“So how long do you plan to stay Steve?” Cassidy asked.

He knew the reason she was asking.  If he stayed Miles had someone to look after him and the ranch.

“As long as you can put up with me “ Steve answered. Steve looked at Cassidy and couldn’t quite read the look on her face.  He didn’t know her well enough yet.

Miles spoke up then and told Steve he could stay forever if that was his choice. Steve looked at Cassidy. Did that look mean she felt threatened by his presence - he didn’t know her well enough yet to make a judgment.  Steve knew that Miles meant every word but he didn’t want to cause any family problems.

“Cass, if Steve is committed to staying for a while you can get back to your life.”

“Are you kicking me out because of him?  Is it because he’s a guy and I’m just a girl and you don't need me anymore."  Once again,  Steve couldn’t tell if she was teasing or not.

“You know, little girl, you’re not so big as I couldn’t take you over my knee,” Miles replied

“Unca, I hate to tell you this but you don’t have the strength to do such a thing,” Cassidy answered.

“No, but I do,” Steve spoke up.  “You just say the words, LT, I’ll be glad to do the job.”  He smirked at Cassidy as he watched her face redden.  She was feisty and cute as a button.  Picturing her over his knee gave him feelings he hadn’t experienced in a while.

“I’ll let you know, Steve.  You know, I think you’re old enough to just call me Miles, I haven't been a Lieutenant in a very long time.”

Steve grinned and told him that he’d work on it but it make take a while.

See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.