Chapter 6: A Family Summer

"You all ready for the invasion of the Corvallis Steeles?" Adoré asked Hazel in one of her regular, 'touch base with home' calls. The school year was winding down. Monday would start 'dead week' and finals the week after that.

"Sure honey. We can't wait. Is Robby walking yet?"

"Walking! The little monster runs! It's all I can do to keep up with him... And of course, anything he can pick up in his hand goes into his mouth."

Hazel laughed, delighted. "Sounds just like his daddy. Marty would eat anything. One time I had to take him to the doctor. He'd swallowed a balloon... fortunately, Ad saw him do it, and we didn't waste any time."

"Uh, Hazel?"

"What, honey?"

"Thinking of Robby, our friend Denise wants to come to the ranch this summer and take care of Robby. I told her that summers are full-time work, but I couldn't afford more than half-time pay... She wants to come anyway... I think things are pretty rotten for her at home. Would it be too much of an imposition to give her a guest room? She'll help with the housework and all that."

"Sure, Dory. She'll be welcome. And we'll help pay her, too."

"No need. She'll be thrilled just to be there."

"If she's working for me, I'll pay her for her work. I don't want to hear any more about it... Did I tell you Rick's bringing someone home?"

"No. One of his buddies from school?"

Hazel chuckled. "Not quite. A girl from San Francisco. He doesn't say much, but I get the message that he's pretty serious about this one."

"I'm sure he is. How many girls has he brought to the ranch?"

"Total?... None."

They laughed, both happy for Rick... and desperately hoping some bimbo hadn't latched onto him.

It was a small convoy that returned to the ranch. Marty and Adoré were in their pickup with Robby bouncing on his mother's lap, towing the horse trailer with Champ behind them. Following in a battered Chevy, was their friend Denise, with everything she felt she'd need for the summer stacked in the car around her.

Marty had rented their house to one of his professors, who would in turn let a friend who was visiting for the summer from Auburn use it. Marty didn't know the visitor, but he knew his prof, and trusted him to make anything right that the tenant might break.

When they pulled in, the first order of business was to get Champ unloaded and into a corral-where he promptly took a good roll, then whinnied to let the other horses know he was back.

The next order of business was for Hazel to pluck Robby from his mother's arms and give him a big hug, telling him how much he'd grown and how much fun she expected to have with him that summer.

"Horsie, gramma?" he asked, repeating himself several times.

"Yes, honey. I'll take you on the horses, too," Hazel laughed. The boy sure took after his parents.

When Robbie was passed to Ad, for his granddad's welcome, Denise was re-introduced to Marty's parents. Ad and Hazel were impressed with the quiet girl, whose underlying air of sadness was covered by her calm aura of competence. They had met her before, on an infrequent visit to Corvallis; they liked her, and welcomed her warmly.

Rick waited until 'the grandparents' had a chance to welcome his brother's family. Seeing that it was winding down, he strolled out on the porch, hand in hand with Elin.

Adoré, for a change, spotted a beautiful girl before Marty. She ran up the stairs and gave Rick a big hug. "You rotten oaf! You've been hiding this treasure away from your family. Didn't even tell us about her..."

When she ran down and let go of him, Rick smiled bashfully. "Ah shucks, Dory. Didn't know she was comin' along until just a bit ago. Then it was just as easy to just bring her. Phone calls aren't cheap..."

"Bullshit, Rick. You just didn't want to admit that some girl had civilized you enough to make you worth her spending some time with you."

"Come on, Dory. I'm not that bad."

"Yes, you are. But maybe trainable... Hi, I'm Dory. This idiot isn't going to introduce us, so we'll have to take care of it ourselves-like women always seem to do."

Returning her welcoming smile, Elin answered, "Elin Gustafson. I'm very happy to meet you, Adoré. Mrs. Steele has told me so much about you, I think I've known you forever."

"Well, Hazel's one of the good ones. But she's probably made me out to be a lot more than I am. We're all family. Hazel is an aunt, a couple times removed, and Marty and I are distant cousins. Anyway, take it all with a big spoonful of salt, OK?"

"Certainly, Adoré. But I am glad to finally meet you."

"And I you. How did you ever meet Rick, anyway?"

The girls drifted into the house, already deep in conversation. Marty ran up the stairs and slugged his brother on the shoulder.

"Where did you find that, Rick? She's gorgeous. I thought all you dated were those heifer-breasted, corn-fed beauties from Davis?"

"She literally fell at my feet one afternoon when I was visiting San Francisco," Rick replied. "Since she wants me that badly, I just can't turn the poor thing down."

"She's sure a pretty one. Dresses kind of funny, though," Marty allowed, dragging Rick to the truck to help him unload.

"That she is. And I think she's a keeper, Marty."

"Well, good for you! I hope it works as well as Dory does for me."

"That's saying a lot. But I hope so, too. I really hope so." Rick's reply was almost a prayer.

Dinner was a noisy time, filled with laughter. Denise wasn't allowed to sit quietly by, either. Adoré and Elin compared ribald stories about their men, to the boys' extreme embarrassment. Hazel got in a couple of shots of her own and then the talk turned general, everyone catching the others up on their lives in the time they had been apart. Details would come over the following days. This was general information so they all knew what the others had been up to.

"Dory," Ad said, "we'll get your house framed and sealed this summer. Then the electricians and plumbers can do their rough work in the fall and winter."

"That sounds wonderful. It'll put us right on schedule. I'll order fixtures and appliances."

"So, Rick," Marty asked, "what are your plans, now?"

"Nothing's changed. I still have my ideas about breeding a superior Angus strain... The ranch is my life, Marty. One more year, then I'm back for good. How 'bout you?"

"Pretty much the same. Except I think I want to work more with horses. I've been thinking a lot about it this past couple years. A horse like Champ is worth thousands. I think we can raise a bunch like him. If Dory and I keep going to horse shows, we'll keep the people who count aware of what we're doing, too. I think it's real good advertising."

"You might be right, little brother. Let's kick it around and look at some numbers, OK?"

"Sure. But not for a couple days. I need to get the mold out of my lungs first."

Their parents were listening closely to the boys' conversation, as were their women. All the listeners were satisfied with what they heard.

The boys were committed to the ranch.

Later, while the girls were making up the rooms, Hazel wandered out to the porch, where Rick was gazing at the Milky Way.

"Rick, honey," Hazel started, "you didn't say anything about where Elin fits in, when Marty asked you about your plans."

"That's because I'm not sure yet, mom, just where she's going to fit."

"God, Rick! You're as dense as your dad, sometimes."

"How do you mean, mom?"

"That girl loves you, boy. Can't you see that?... I guess the question is, how do you feel about her?"

"I worship her, mom. But I'm not as sure of her as you seem to be. She wants to live together this next year. Then we'll see."

"Son, if you love her, make sure you don't blow it, waiting around. I'm a woman and I know these things."

"I'll think about it mom," was the best she could get from him.

Over the next weeks, Denise fit in perfectly. She was ecstatic when Hazel offered to pay her a living wage in return for full-time work that she considered easy, and that included looking after little Robby.

Her only problem was that she found that, although she loved to look at them, she was deathly afraid of horses when it came to getting up on one. So Hazel and Adoré had the duty when it was time to put Robby on one-usually in front of someone on a saddle.

They bought Elin a couple pair of blue jeans and a half dozen cotton blouses. With a lot of good-natured help from the whole family, she became a good weekend rider. She liked riding, but had absolutely no interest in dressage or jumping. She did just fine on a western saddle, thank you, and was perfectly happy when she could ride out with Rick to see other parts of the ranch. She enjoyed his instruction about raising cattle and the things he looked for when he toured the ranch. Until it was pointed out to her, she hadn't even thought of the idea of cleaning out springs and water holes, or spraying blackberries and tumbleweeds so they didn't take over the grazing land.

She had no idea so much fence existed.

Elin even learned how to work cattle, and became a valuable member of the roundup crew.

The beauty of the ranch was a constant enchantment. When she commented about it, Rick laughed. "You haven't seen anything. Let's take a ride up in the mountains next week. I think dad can spare me for a couple days, once I fix this section of fence."

Elin was ready to go. She'd been pretty sore, the first couple of days she rode. But she had excellent natural coordination and learned to move with the horse. She'd never been camping before, either. It would all be new experiences for her.

Marty and Adoré were busy, too. Marty helped with the cattle for a couple weeks of spring roundup. (Ad put off working the calves until Marty and Rick were there to help.) Once rounded up, it was four days of hot, dusty work, separating the yearlings from their mommas, then running them through the chute where they were given shots, branded, and sorted. Most were culls and would be kept another year, then sent to a feedlot for beef. The males were castrated when they were branded.

The select few were sent off to a different pasture. Their progress would be watched, and another culling would occur in a year. This was the start of Rick's program. Ad thought it made sense, though the ranch was still selling ninety percent of their cows for beef.

Adoré worked with the horses, a job that, while hard work, she considered a pure joy. She gentled the yearlings and those two-year-olds she hadn't seen before. She rode each and set aside a very few, like Rick with his Angus. She also practiced an hour or two on Champ daily-keeping them sharp for the summer show season. She'd put in a full day's work when she finished with the horses. Then she got to play with her son. She played with her husband when they tumbled into bed at night.

Once the initial work with the cows was done, Marty helped with the horses, too. He could spot good and bad things about them while Adoré was riding them in the corral they used as a training ring. And he was still her primary coach.

She thought about what she was doing, and the lifestyle-and considered that life on the ranch was heaven. She couldn't conceive of any future or career half as rewarding.

The horses Adoré selected became the foundation of a Steele Ranch horse herd. There was a big show coming up in Tacoma. She was eager to participate. Not only did she and Champ need the competition, she wanted to get a look at horses that might be available. The herd needed some new blood-top end new blood.

Rick took Elin on the ride into the mountains once the work with the calves was done. They took a packhorse; Rick assured her they could carry a lot more a lot easier this way. Elin thought it would be easier to just tie bedrolls on behind their saddles. "We'll take enough for a week in the high country," he said. "It's easier to bring home what we don't use than it is to find something to eat above five thousand feet."

Their first night they were still on the ranch and Elin experienced sleeping under the stars. She learned that she loved it-the freedom and openness... and the solitude with just her man. She also learned that while sleeping naked is wonderful in a warm bed and bedroom, it is not a good idea in the high country. After she'd made wonderful, slow love with her man and was cuddled up to him, the evening temperature dropped. Her shoulders and chest got chilled-and Rick's arms around her weren't enough. She asked him about it and he chuckled, then handed her a flannel t-shirt, donning one himself.

"Bare skin is great, honey. But up here, you'll sleep a lot better with this on." He was right and she wore it every night-after they'd made love.

Rick showed her all the tricks he knew of camp cooking. Soon Elin was cooking for them and Rick swore she did a lot better than he ever had. She claimed it was just so he could stick her with the cooking, though she was really pleased. He gathered wood and cared for the horses while she was working over the fire. It worked out.

(Later, she discussed it with Hazel, who taught her some additional techniques. Elin became a superb camp cook.)

Up around 8,000 feet, they came upon a small park with a meadow full of grass and wildflowers in many colors. In the center was a small lake of snow water, so cold it was milky. They only stayed there overnight and used the tent-it was too cold to sleep in the open. When they awoke, there was a layer of frost on everything. The place was breathtaking in its beauty, but too fragile and too cold. They headed down the mountain that morning.

The rest of the summer was like that. They worked hard and played when they could. Denise wasn't ignored and was consistently treated like a valuable member of the family. Elin and Adoré became good friends and both bonded with Hazel.

In a quiet moment when they were alone, Adoré asked Elin what her plans were. "If I can catch him, I intend to spend my life on this ranch, taking care of Rick," she declared.

"That's kind of what I thought," Adoré said. "How can I help?"

"Maybe, hold him down while I tickle him until he asks me to marry him?" she teased. "Seriously, I don't know that you can help, Dory. Just keep a positive image of me. Tell me what a wonderful woman I am where he can hear, and so on. OK?"

"Anything, Elin. Personally, I think of you as a sister... and I'd consider it a great shame if you weren't here with us."

"Thanks, Dory. I think of you that way too. I'm working on it... I sometimes think Rick thinks I'm not serious or committed enough, or something."

"Why would he think that?"

"Oh, because of how we met. And how I lived. Face it; I'm a 'flower child'. This so-called 'Age of Aquarius' fits me. I never slept around, but I'd known a few men before I met Rick. I think he loves me all right. But I think he's afraid I'll just walk away one day. I won't. But I don't know how to make him believe that."

"I don't have an answer for that either, Elin. I sure wish I did. Maybe just show him, by being completely monogamous this year at school."

"I plan to do that. I'll even let him know every time somebody tries to hit on me. But..." her pretty face collapsed. "Oh, Dory. I'm so frightened. I love him. And he doesn't trust me. I'm scared clear through, Dory," she sobbed.

Holding her friend, Adoré didn't know how to solve it either. It was a problem with Rick's heart and she didn't know how to change it.

The girls didn't think, or weren't aware, that the solution was right there. Hazel overheard the last part of their conversation. Her heart went out to the lovely blonde, who she already thought of as a daughter. Hazel made a point of speaking privately to Elin the next day.

"Honey, I have the feeling you want to stay with us. True?"

Elin surprised them both by bursting into tears and falling into her arms. "Oh, Hazel," she wailed. "More... mu... mu... more than anything ever. But he... he... he doesn't trust me. He's afraid... I'll leave... him... sometime." Quieting, she added. "I'll never leave. He'd have to drive me away."

"Hush, child. I know. I'm so glad you picked him. I don't think he deserves you, except a mother always hopes for the best for her children. But I'm really glad you're the one he brought home." She smiled and shared a small family secret. "You don't know, but Ad and I were afraid he'd found some floozy in a bar or something. But you... you're not just a step or two better than that, you're from a whole different universe. We're so proud of him, because of you, we could bust. And that's the whole of it."

"Thank you, Hazel," Elin said quietly, back in control. "That's kind of you. I just don't know how to get through that wall he has in his head, though."

"Have you talked to Ad?"

"Ad?"

"Yeah. Ad. You know, my husband?"

"No. Why?"

"Maybe you should. He isn't just a slow-moving, slow-talking cowhand. There's an awful lot to the man. Maybe you should make a point to talk to him." She grinned. "He thinks you're so pretty, just having you around paying attention to him a bit will make his whole day."

"Since you put it that way," Elin smiled, "I have no choice do I? After all, he's my host. Common courtesy..."

Ad was a lot more aware of what was going on than any of the women realized. He knew what Rick's hangup was and even had an inkling of why. And he knew that Elin was scared to death that Rick would send her away.

So when Elin asked to talk to him, he wasn't surprised. He did play the role a little bit. It never hurt if people underestimated him-even prospective daughters-in-law. Thinking about Adoré and how smart she was, he changed that to 'especially daughters-in-law.'