Goose in the Pond - Earlene Fowler [126]
“That problem hasn’t been resolved yet, but with Dove and Garnet playing on the same team now, I’d safely bet that poor man doesn’t have a snowball’s chance.”
“I’d say you called that one right, Friday.” I gave him a big smile. “That means we’re two down, one to go.”
“Make that three down,” Sam said from the doorway of the hospital room. He was followed by Dove, Garnet, and Daddy. I should have known she wouldn’t be able to sleep until she saw me with her own two eyes. We went through the obligatory hugs, exclamations, and explanations before I could ask Sam what he meant.
“He means he’s found somewhere else to crash,” Dove said.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Dove,” Garnet said, her thin lips pursed in disapproval. Her short, bubble-teased hair was tinted the same Band-Aid beige as her prim linen dress. A matching handbag hung off her milky arm. “Must you insist on talking like a hooligan?”
Dove’s blue eyes gave a vexed roll. “Hooligan? Sister, no one’s used that word for fifty years. Get with it and watch a little MTV.”
“I will not!” Garnet said, pulling her leather purse closer to her body, her eyes blinking rapidly. “Dove Ramsey, I swear California’s turned you into a heathen.” I looked at Gabe in dismay. The reconciliation between Garnet and Uncle W.W. better happen soon, or we’d all be back at square one.
“So where are you staying?” I asked Sam.
“With my new gramma,” he said, slipping an arm around Dove. “Out at the ranch.” Dove’s face glowed with a loving but devious expression. I almost laughed out loud. Sam had no idea what his future held.
“I’m letting him stay in the bunkhouse,” she said. “It’s empty now that all our hands are day workers. We’re going to be castrating and tagging next month. We’ll see if we can teach this young man a thing or two.”
“I’m keeping my job in town, though, or I’ll find another one if Eudora’s closes down,” he said, still looking at me and avoiding his father’s eyes. “I might even sign up at Cal Poly next semester.”
Dove beamed. “We’ll make a rancher out of this boy yet.”
I glanced at Gabe. His expression was as emotionless as a brick wall.
“It’s so cool,” Sam said. “The bunkhouse has a TV and stereo and six beds. I could sleep in a different one every night.”
“Not with me doing the laundry you won’t,” Dove said.
“What happened to Rita and Skeeter?” I couldn’t resist asking.
Dove cackled. Garnet set her lips in a straight line. Daddy just looked bemused as he did most of the time when Dove and Garnet were together.
“They’re down at the Best Western motel,” Dove said with a big wink. “Gonna work on their problems, Skeeter said.”
I laughed. “Yeah, and they might eventually talk, too.”
A nurse walked in and clapped her hands sharply as if we were a bunch of rowdy children. “Except for Chief Ortiz, you’ll all have to leave. It’s late, and Ms. Harper needs her rest.”
Dove shook a finger at me, her face stern. “I’ll save my lecture for when you’re feeling better, missy. You could’ve been killed. Why, I still get chicken skin just thinking about it. You’d best be thanking the Good Lord tonight before you go to sleep.”
“Believe me, I already have,” I said.
She leaned close and gave me one last hug. “Don’t you be worrying about Constance now,” she whispered.
I looked at her, tears stinging my eyes. How did she always know exactly what I was thinking? “I’m sorry it had to be Jillian. I’d give anything for it not to have been.”
“I know, honeybun. No one could have ever known Jillian was such a troubled girl. It’s not your fault. Constance knows that, and if she doesn’t, I’ll tell her. She’s not going to blame you.” Dove and Constance were old friends. If anyone could talk to her, it would be Dove. “Constance is a bit snooty at times, but I’ve never known her to refuse to look truth in the face.”
“It must be very hard for her right now.”
“Jillian will have the best lawyers, no doubt about that. All we can do for her and Constance and the Ayalas at this point is pray for them.” She patted my cheek, her wrinkled face sad.
They hadn’t been