Chapter 55

I looked at the note again, scarcely able to believe my eyes. I had expected some frustration, some impatience, even some anger, but I never expected anything quite like this. “IF YOU DON’T WANT TO TALK TO ME, JUST SAY SO!” What in hell was that supposed to mean?

I had done nothing, given him no reason to think my feelings had changed. Who did he think I was, some giggling twelve-year-old who changed boyfriends faster than you could say training bra? And if there was one thing he should know by now, it’s how completely honest I am. If my feelings ever did change, I’d tell him face to face. This was total crap, and I wasn’t putting up with it. Yeah, Roger, I thought; I want to talk to you real bad!

I stormed out the door and got in my little SUV. Laying rubber like a teenage boy, I headed out to the Ramie Ranch. When I skidded to a stop at the head of the driveway, I saw Roger’s truck but no sign of him. Laura Ramie was sitting on the front porch as though expecting me.

“Howdy, Elizabeth,” she greeted me. “Thought maybe I’d see you here today. Roger told me about that damn fool note he left. You plannin’ to kill him or just maim him a little?”

I had to laugh in spite of my anger. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but I’m pretty sure loud vocalizations are going to be part of it.”

She nodded. “Well, do what you’ve got to do. I tried to raise him smart, but in the end, he’s still just a guy. Sweet, more sensitive than most, but then he pulls a bone-headed stunt like this. Anyway, you’ll find him in the barn. And I just remembered I’ve got business in town, so make all the noise you want.”

“Thanks, Laura,” I said, turning to go towards the barn.

“Elizabeth,” she called, and I hesitated. “He really does love you, and he’s been beside himself, since he heard about that job. He’s heartsick at the thought of loosing you.”

“I know,” I said over my shoulder, as I headed off to find him.

He wasn’t hard to find. He was on a ladder, getting some hay bales down. Thank goodness, I was afraid he was mucking out the stalls. I wasn’t sure how dignified or safe it would be, and it certainly wasn’t appealing to me to have a knock-down, drag-out fight with a man covered in horse shit. I scampered up the ladder, but he didn’t hear me over the whump-whump of the giant ventilation fan.

Coming up directly behind him. I growled in his ear, “I’d like a word with you, Cowboy.”

Roger froze in surprise; then turned with a big smile and went to hug me. I fended him off with a firm hand on his chest. “No way, Jose; no hugs for you, until you explain THIS.”

I pulled out his note. His embarrassment showed in the quick coloring of his cheeks, but he made the usual male mistake of trying to bluster his way out of it.

“Well, where the hell were you, anyway? It’s not like the town is all that damn big. I thought you’d at least...”

His voice kind of trailed off, as he saw he was digging himself in deeper by the second. I know men can’t usually read emotions in your face, but he seemed to get the message I was not amused. With sarcasm you could cut with a knife and the worst southern accent since Gone With the Wind, I replied. “Oh, ‘scuse me, Massa Roger, I guess my leash musta slipped off. I surely won’t presume to go anywhere without your permission ever again.”