Hummingbird
Copyright© 2026 by Krista*
Chapter 15
It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The office had closed at noon and wouldn’t reopen until the following Monday. Yzzy was alone in her office, placing a few screws into the drywall to hang up her framed Montana Law License. A document shipping package had gotten there from Helena yesterday, courtesy of FedEx and everyone was thrilled to see the license with the state emblem embossed.
“I think I need to add a few more pictures in here,” she mused. “The office looks bare, unlike Arnolds.” Her partner had almost a dozen pictures in his office of his family, friends and the town as well. The saddest picture was that of his late wife who had died in an auto accident.
The bell on the front door jingled as someone came in. Stepping to the lobby, she paused. “Leona, it’s so nice to see you again. How are you?” Hugs were exchanged.
“Been better, been worse. I wanted to see you for a little bit, just to talk? Is that okay?”
“Certainly!” Yzzy moved forward to lock the front door and lower the blinds to indicate the office was closed. “I was wrapping up early today. Please, come in and sit. Can I get you anything?”
Leona accepted a mug of coffee and sat in the small kitchen area at the back of the office. “I’m going back to Bozeman,” she said softly. “Darren asked me to move in with him.”
“I’m surprised and not,” Yzzy reflected. “When did you two decide this?”
“I was out there this past weekend. In fact, we have been in touch all along and I’ve gone out there a few times. Yzzy,” she looked up, “it’s strange. I still love Ryan but its like a sibling. We would be miserable if we got married. And as crazy as it seems,” she paused, “as crazy as it seems, I think I can love Darren more than I could ever love Ryan. We just fit. Please don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” Yzzy replied softly. “Disappointed in some of the things that happened? Yes. But honestly? I’m impressed at how you handled everything. You didn’t try to hide from what you did. Took ownership. And in the long run, it was the best thing to do. And if possible,” she took Leona’s hand, “I would still welcome a role in your life as a friend.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that more than you know. Also,” a blush crossed her face, “I appreciate you not saying anything after that night out and I made a fool of myself.”
“Fool?”
“The ‘I had eight drinks’ comment in the bathroom,” Leona looked down at the table.
“You did surprise me, but I didn’t say anything later because I figured that you might not remember or if you did, feel ashamed. Leona, you’re a beautiful woman. Sexy. And under different circumstances, we might have woken up the following morning in bed together. But you had Ryan and I had Annette.”
“And now you have Anne.”
“You must have missed the memo,” Yzzy laughed, “because she’s engaged to Mickey!”
“No! Really?” A smile crossed her face. “That’s wonderful. I hope they are happy together forever. Too many stupid girls here just let him slip through their fingers.”
“I believe a few are starting to realize that.”
“About still being my friend? Always. I just regret we didn’t have a chance to be lovers.”
Yzzy kissed Leona gently. “It’s best that it never happened. Some relationships need to stop at a certain point or they are damaged beyond repair. A night of fun together isn’t worth what would happen after.”
“You’re right,” Leona nodded. “I can always know that ‘what might have been’ wasn’t the best thing. But thank you for pointing that out to me. Now?” she paused, “now I have to pack up and get ready to move to Bozeman. Papa Bear said he will help me with renting a U-Haul for my things.”
A hug, a kiss, and Leona headed home.
Anne sat with the Packard family and glowed. Thanksgiving dinner with Mickey and his extended family was an experience unlike all the previous ones she had growing up at Magdalena. While previously she had been with people who were close friends and to some extent, a family, here she was included as someone who was welcomed because of the love she and Mickey shared. His parents, siblings, and the rest of the family did everything possible to make her feel like someone special.
At one point, she found Megan (“I told you to call me mom!”) in the kitchen checking on dinner rolls and hugged her, sobbing into the older womans blouse. “This is my first ‘family’ Thanksgiving, ever. All the ones before took place at the school I grew up in.”
“I don’t understand,” Megan returned the hug.
“I have nobody. I’m an orphan. Someone in social services just gave me the name ‘Anne’ because I couldn’t always be referred to as case number whatever. Being here today is like nothing I have ever experienced. Thank you so much for having me here today!”
“We need to clear something up right now,” Megan wrapped Anne tightly in her arms. “You are no longer an orphan. You have my son. I see how he looks at you. He will love you until his last breath and I know you love him. And, we all love you. You’re my daughter now. Don’t like it? Too bad. You can go stand in the corner until you get over it.”
Anne let out a sound that was a mix of a sob and a laugh. “Okay Mom. What can I do to help?”
Yzzy looked around the common room for the main house at Red Wolf Ranch. “What a difference a year makes,” she thought to herself. Thanksgiving day started cold with the sky heavy with snow waiting to fall. The house was full of savory smells as Francine ruled the kitchen. Besides the traditional turkey and all the standard sides, there was a pork roast that was a traditional Mexican dish for holiday meals. Yzzy had made a few previously for office pot lucks and other functions. Several times, Cameron and Ryan had their fingers slapped as they tried to peel off some of the juicy meat that was sitting in a serving platter, covered with foil. “Everyone waits until we all sit!” Francine laughed as she pointed a spatula at her sons. “Now out of my kitchen!”
Spud and Sweetpea were doing their best to look pathetic in the manner of neglected dogs to have someone sneak them a tasty morsel.
When everyone sat down together, it was Ryan and Yzzy, Cameron, Nichole and Logan in his booster chair, one of the ranch hands (the others had gone to celebrate the holiday elsewhere), Francine, and surprisingly, Arnold Cunningham.
“Too much food and too many people,” Francine laughed. “Everything is set out buffet style in the kitchen so you can serve yourself. But before anyone moves,” she held up a wine glass, “I want to thank all of you for being here today. Each of you is special to me, yes, even you Mark,” she grinned at the ranch hand, “you are a tremendous help here after Ryan was hurt. Everything you do is greatly appreciated.” Mark stammered his thanks. “I’m blessed,” Francine continued. “I’m blessed to have two sons that are hard workers and do so much to keep their family legacy alive here. Your father would be proud. Nichole? You’re my daughter in every way except for me delivering you. Thank you for loving my son and giving me a wonderful grandson.”
“Yeah, about that,” Nichole grinned. “Logan is going to be a big brother some time in early April. We just confirmed it with the doctor this week.”
Happy shouts of congratulations rang out and many hugs were exchanged. When things calmed down, Francine continued. “Arnold, I’m thankful for you as well. A life long friend who has been there to help us for so many years. I’m happy that you could join us today.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” he smiled at Francine with warmth. “My family is scattered and today would have just been another day for me.”
“Ysabella,” Francine continued, “God Himself had to have sent you here. You’re the guardian angel my family needed and I have no way of properly expressing how grateful I am that you are here with us. You have blessed us with your love, friendship and help when things were headed towards tragedy. Please don’t ever withdraw that from us because it would break my heart to lose you.”
“You’re going to need a court order to get rid of me,” Yzzy laughed and she looked over at Arnold, “and don’t look to my partner to get it going!” She held up her wine glass. “To family!”
“TO FAMILY!” came the reply.
Yzzy awoke to a knocking on her door. Looking at the clock, she grunted. It wasn’t even 4:30 and it would be hours before sunrise. Getting out of bed she shuffled to the door with a sheet wrapped around her body.
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