by Leigh Smith
Randy Colburne had been on the rodeo circuit since he was seventeen, and after eighteen years and more broken bones and bruises than he cared to count, he was done. This had been his last circuit. He was ready to settle down and work the ranch he had purchased with money he had set aside over the years. The land abutted the Bar C Ranch which had been in his family's hands for generations. His family wanted him to take over ranch operations at the Bar C when he graduated from college but instead he had chosen the rodeo circuit. He and his father had differences of opinion on many things, and although he loved and respected his father, Randy knew he could not work under him. To his dad he would always be a 'little boy' no matter his age.
He was loading the last of his equipment into his truck when he heard what he thought was an animal mewing. What he found was a girl sitting on a bench, head in her hands and crying her eyes out. She was about twenty-five and didn't look at all familiar. Going over to her, Randy placed a hand on her shoulder and she jumped. When she looked at him she cowered.
"I won't hurt you sweetheart. Can I help?"
She didn't answer, so he kneeled down in front of her and offered her his handkerchief. She took it and wiped her eyes and blew her nose. She handed it back to him and he told her she could keep it. As he looked at her he could see bruises on her face, and looking closer saw bruises along her arm. He put his arm around her shoulders and once again asked if he could help.
"I need a ride."
"A ride to where, sweetheart?"
"Anywhere, away from here."
Randy said he was traveling as far as Reno and he would be happy to drop her somewhere along the way. When she climbed in the truck she hugged the passenger door and kept her hand on the handle so as to provide a quick escape if it became necessary. She had no belongings and when he asked her about them she told him they were gone along with everything else. He decided he wouldn't ask any questions. The silence between them continued as he drove down the road. Randy's stomach was beginning to grumble and he asked her if she would like something to eat.
"I don't have any money."
"That's not what I asked. You don't need money. I will pay for your food."
"Just so you know mister if you buy me dinner don't expect me to be dessert."
The way it sounded she had been down this road before.
"I'm stopping to get something to eat. If you are hungry I will be glad to treat you. I don't have any other expectations."
She nodded. He pulled into the next roadside eatery. The parking lot, as usual, was filled with truckers. The place was always busy; the prices were reasonable, the service quick and the portions generous. He slid into a booth in the back and ordered a steak dinner. Misty ordered a cup of soup. He told the waitress to bring two steak dinners.
"You look like you could use a little fattening up, little girl."
"Don't call me that. I am not a little girl."
"I don't know what else to call you. You haven't told me your name."
"You haven't told me yours either cowboy."
"You're right. I apologize. My momma would take a switch to me for my bad manners. I am Randy Colburne," he said as he extended his big hand across the table.
"Nice to meet you Randy. I'm Misty Callahan," she said.
Just then the waitress delivered the soup and Misty practically inhaled it. He figured she hadn't had anything substantial to eat in days so he was glad he had ordered for her. They ate their dinners in silence and Misty wolfed down everything on her plate. Randy ordered pie and coffee for them and she ate hers with relish.
As she climbed back into the truck he reached over to fasten her seat belt and she flinched.
"Misty, like I told you back in Cheyenne, I am not going to hurt you."
"I'm sorry and thank you for dinner."
Randy didn't know what SOB had done this to this sweet little thing but if he ever got his hands on him he would regret the day he was born. He didn't know her story and didn't have to, but no man had the right to treat a woman that way. A good spanking now and then to clear the air was one thing but using your fists on someone of the opposite sex was unacceptable, no matter what the circumstances.
After a while, Randy's resolve to not ask any questions got the better of him and he asked her where she was from. She told him she had been born in Oklahoma but hadn't been back in years. When she didn't reveal any additional information Randy told her about his family's ranch and how he had a place of his own and had quit the rodeo circuit to go home and start living the next portion of his life. She asked if he had any family and he told her he had two sisters, both married. He told her his sister was a practicing veterinarian and his other sister lived in a separate house on their parents ranch with her husband and their two children. She smiled when he mentioned the children and he asked her if she had any children. She shook her head no and he watched as the tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up hurtful things," he told her.
"I know you didn't, there are some things that are too hard to talk about."
With that Randy turned on the radio and didn't ask any more questions. As they got closer to Reno he asked her if she had any plans.
"Don't worry about me. I appreciate the meal and the ride but you don't owe me a thing. Please drop me off in a town and I'll take it from there."
"Boy, somebody really did a number on you didn't they. Not everybody in this life is out to get you. Some of us are actually good people. Why don't you let me in?"
"Because I've been down this road before and every cowboy in my life has been alike, including my daddy. It's all yes ma'am and shucks and cute little thing until one day you look at him the wrong way and he backhands you. Once you've picked yourself up off the floor you say you're never going to allow that again. And you don't, until the next time. Well for me there is never going to be a next time."
Randy listened and each word made him want to beat the daylights out of everyone that had made this sweet young thing so down on life at such a young age. It sounded as if she had been beaten down her whole life.
"Is that how you came to be sitting there in Cheyenne?"
"Yes, I actually thought this one might have been different. We were together for over a year. We were getting along really well. We had fun together but lately he began losing and we were almost broke. We'd been there before but this time using the last of the money to enter the events in Cheyenne didn't work out. He didn't win his events and didn't have the money to buy any food or to pay the rent at the trailer park.
"He did find money to buy beer though and when I reminded him of that fact he began using me as his punching bag to quell his frustrations."
"Once again I'm saying I'm sorry for your bad luck. If you would like to come home with me I'm sure we could fix you up."
"I don't need fixing. I am not broken, just broke."
"I didn't mean it that way. My sisters could probably find some things that would fit you and Momma is a natural born caregiver and would love to take you under her wing. As a matter of fact, my sister is always looking for help in her veterinarian practice. If you are so inclined, I'm sure she could put you to work."
"How do you know I'm worthy of any of this? You picked me up and have known me all of five hours. Why are you doing this? Are you one of those do-gooders?"
"I don't know for a fact if you are worthy or not. I see a girl down on her luck that could use a hand up and not a hand out. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong but I don't think so."
"Well, Mr. Randy Colburne, this must be my lucky day. I found the one cowboy who goes against the grain. And yes, I could use a hand up and no, I am not looking for a handout."
"After you meet some of the good folks in my neck of the woods you may change your tune about cowboys. Most of my friends would be more than willing to help out anybody down on their luck and I can't think of anyone I know who would treat a lady the way you've been treated. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I'm saying it is not anyone I know."
"Are you telling me you've never raised a hand to a woman before?"
"That's what I'm saying and I'll tell you why. When I was about ten years old there was a girl in my class that teased me something awful. One day I couldn't take it anymore and I turned around and punched her in the arm. When my daddy found out he took me out to the woodshed and wore out my backside with his belt. Momma told me she was glad he got there first or I would have had two whippings that day because she would have cut several switches and worn me out before he got home. I learned my lesson. So to answer your question, no, I've never raised a hand to a woman. Now spanking, that's another matter. I have no compunction about taking a naughty woman over my knee for a little fanny warming when needed."
She laughed softly and it sounded like bells tinkling. He loved the sound of it and hoped it was only the start of the ice beginning to thaw. He liked her but knew there wasn't any way she was ready for anything more than friendship right now. With any luck and over time he would be able to wear down that protective armor she carried around with her.
Randy hadn't intended to stop at the Bar C. He wanted to get to his place and unpack, take a shower and spend the evening doing nothing. It had been a while since he had been home but Misty Callahan changed that. He knew she would be uncomfortable staying with him. Trusting him, or any man for that matter, was not something she was going to do easily. No, the best thing he could do was take her to his folks place.
Misty took in the long drive and the old fashioned two story house as Randy drove up. It was the kind of house she had always pictured when she thought about a real family. She noticed the rocking chairs on the wrap around porch and thought about sitting there on cool summer evenings. How wonderful it must have been to grow up here. Before the truck had even shut off, his Momma was out the door with open arms. When he reached her he picked her up and twirled her around.
"Put me down, you big fool."
"You love it and you know it," he said, and then planted a big kiss on her cheek.
She was laughing and swatting at his shoulder when she spied Misty in the truck. She immediately went over and opened the door.
"Hi, I'm this big galoot's momma. Call me Sadie. And you are?"
Misty told Sadie her name and said she was glad to meet her. She helped her out of the truck as Randy's dad came out and embraced his son. Sadie introduced Misty as she ushered everyone into the house. Randy could tell his momma had a thousand questions but she managed to keep them to herself as she raised her eyebrows to Randy.
"Misty ran into a little bad luck down in Cheyenne and I thought maybe she could stay here with you guys for a little while, if that's alright?"
"Of course, it's alright. Any friend of yours is always welcome here at the Bar C Randy, you know that."
"That's what I told Misty."
"Have you eaten; I could whip something up in a jiffy."
"I'm good Momma, how about you Misty?"
"No, I'm fine too."
"Well, let me put on a pot of coffee and we can have some cake while we sit around getting acquainted."
The house was just as cozy on the inside as it was on the outside. Although neat and tidy it had that lived in look. They settled in the kitchen and Misty could tell it was the central gathering place. As they sat quietly at the large kitchen table and she watched the interaction between Randy and his folks, she began to understand that Randy might just be different. She could feel the love and respect they gave each other. Randy's dad, Sam, kept his hand on Sadie's the whole time. For a couple that had been married a long time, she could still see the passion in Sadie's eyes when she looked at Sam. Misty hadn't experienced that in her short lifetime but thought it would be wonderful to have the love of a good man and to share what these two people had.
They were laughing at some story Randy was telling when the door flew open and in popped this whirlwind. She didn't appear to be much taller than her mom but she was sure Sadie's daughter.
"Oh, you're home!" she squealed.
Randy stopped mid-sentence, got up and did the same thing to her as he did to his Momma earlier. Whirling her around she kept yelling at him to put her down. When he did, he took her hand and introduced her to Misty.
"Why in the world would you hook up with this damn hard headed cowboy?" Becky asked Misty.
Misty's face colored with embarrassment. Randy gently punched Becky's shoulder
"Look what you did. You embarrassed Misty. She hasn't hooked up with me and what do you mean saying I am a hard headed cowboy?"
"The boot fits, doesn't it, or have you kidnapped my brother and taken his place?"
Sadie stepped in and told them that Randy had met Misty in Cheyenne.
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