He also made note of the bear’s small toe. It was half the size that it normally should have been, and it was missing the claw mark.
“Hey, Buck. Wait until I tell everybody that I had a visit from Old Grouch.”
Buck nickered his acknowledgement.
Hugh made a quick breakfast, then packed up, and mounted Buck to find where he knew his dad and Roly would be working this morning.
He worked his way off the ridge and, once he had broken out of the trees, spotted the pickup truck where the two men were working on the fence.
He rode quietly up to them, keeping the pickup truck between him and them. With their attention on their fence work they hadn’t noticed him coming up, until Buck nickered his hello at the men.
They both jumped in surprise, then acted like they knew all along that Hugh had been there.
“Hey, pal. ’Lite and set,” Hugh’s dad said, glad to see his son.
Hugh dismounted, and went up to greet his dad and brother.
After the ritual back slaps, Roly asked Hugh where he had gone during his two days out there.
“I stayed close to home this time,” Hugh said. “Ran the perimeter. Stayed on the ridges, and checked things out. Nothing new to report.”
“Didn’t want to stray too far from our young guest, I guess,” Roly remarked, with a grin.
“Well, now that you mention it …,” Hugh started, then stopped. “Well, I was wondering what the climate was like down there.”
Hugh, Sr., and Roly exchanged glances. Obviously, Martha had filled her husband in on everything that Jenny had told her. And Hugh, Sr., in return, had told Roly all about it during their time of working together on the fence. So, basically, everybody in the family was well aware of what had transpired over the past week—at least from hearing Jenny’s side of the story, anyway.
“Squalls and gales. Stormy weather,” Hugh’s dad said solemnly. But, he couldn’t hold his solemn expression when he saw the confused and hurt expression on Hugh’s face.
Hugh’s dad burst out laughing.
“Son, if you don’t beat all. I swear you are acting like a love-struck teenager,” Hugh, Sr., said.
“What?”
“Listen, truth is, it’s going to be what you make of it,” Hugh’s dad said. “Jenny has told us everything … well, told Martha everything. That little gal thinks the world of you, Hugh, and she couldn’t be more sorry for everything she has put you through.”
Hugh quietly considered what his dad was telling him.
“Fact is, if you don’t make that sweet girl my daughter-in-law … well, you’re not too big for me to take you over my knee and spank the tarnation out of you, you know.”
Hugh wasn’t quite sure what to say.
Then, “Dad, I don’t know. I’m nowhere near considering anything like that. That’s way too sudden.”
“It’s up to you, son, it’ll be for you to decide. All I can suggest is to go slow and easy. She’s very fragile right now. After hearing all that you two have been through, I can understand why.”
Hugh mounted up. “I’d best be going. Thanks Dad, and Roly. I’ll see you back there for lunch.”
With that, Hugh rode down to the ranch house to who knew what.
“Jenny, we’re about to have company,” Martha said, while standing at the kitchen window, as she was putting away the last of the breakfast dishes.
“Is it …?” Jenny asked.
“Yes, it’s Hugh,” Martha replied. “How do you want to do this?”
“Can I meet him first, privately?” Jenny asked.
“Of course, dear. I’ll go upstairs and do some chores. Good luck,” she said, patting Jenny on the cheek as she passed by.
“Thanks,” Jenny said. Straightening up her hair, she nervously walked out to meet Hugh, where he was just pulling into the horse barn.
Hugh had dismounted Buck, and was loosening the horse’s cinch strap, when he saw Jenny walk up.
First impression? Wow!
Hugh wondered how this girl could continue to get more beautiful every time he saw her. Her skin had a healthy, light-tan glow to it, which accentuated her cute freckles even more. Her hair was an even lighter blonde than it had been before.
But, also very noticeable was the graceful, confident way that she now comported herself. She had never been flabby before in any way, shape or form, but she now seemed more toned, more balanced in her walk.
She wore figure-hugging jeans, obviously from Mary, and a knit tank top that accentuated her features.
“Jenny,” Hugh said, simultaneously with her, “Hugh.”
“There we go again,” Jenny said first, to break the ice. Then they both laughed.
“How’s it going for you here,” Hugh asked. “Is everybody treating you OK?”
“Oh, yes. You’ve got a wonderful family, Hugh. They couldn’t be treating me better.”
“I’m glad. I knew they would. That’s why I brought you here.”
“How about you?” Jenny asked. “How was your ride out?”
“It was great. I always feel like a new man when I go out there. I had a chance to do a lot of thinking, and praying. And, we need to talk.”
“I know, Hugh. We will. But …”
“But, what?”
“Can we take it slow? Not do anything rash or sudden?”
Hugh wasn’t sure if what she had said meant the same to her as it did to him, but he nodded his agreement.
“But, there’s something real important that I’ve got to do right now,” Hugh said, with a serious expression on his face.
With a worried look on her own face, Jenny asked, “What?”
“I’ve got to get this saddle off of Buck, and give him a good rubdown. He’s really deserved it,” Hugh replied, smiling at his little joke.
Relieved, Jenny lightened up considerably. “I’ll help you. I’ve been coming out here with Mary, and
