Tehama Grace is Finished...last chapter

Autumn turned to winter. The grape vines had dropped all their leaves and stood dormant in the fields. The rains hadn't started yet and the days were still warm, though nights had gotten quite chilly. Little work needed to be done on the ranch and many of the hands had left to go back to look for work elsewhere.


Now that there were three women in the house, the chores got done quickly and the rest of the day was free to do with as they pleased.

Jesse and I usually took the horses out for a ride after the morning chores were done, then he'd go into town to work on Mrs. Shupe's house. According to him, she'd grown quite fond of him and had taken to calling him her grandson. She'd send him home at the end of each day with home baked breads and cookies. He'd share them with me and Shep under the big tree after supper.

Emily and I had settled into a comfortable relationship, though it was quite different from before. Instead of taking on a mother role, she acted more like she was my aunt or godmother and deferred all decisions on what I could and could not do to Mother.

Pa and Mother spent long afternoons driving around the countryside looking for a ranch to buy. Mother had bought another horse and buggy shortly after getting to Vina, not wanting to have to borrow Emily's again. Some days they were gone for hours, and I hoped they wouldn't choose a ranch so far away from Vina. I would miss seeing Emily, Jesse and Shep too much.

Late in the afternoon of one lazy day, while Emily and I sat knitting by the fire, I heard the sound of Pa and Mother returning up the drive. I put my knitting down and went out to meet them.

"Hello there, daughter." Pa took his hat off and waved it to me. "We've found her, all right."

"Her?"

"Our new home. Rancho Paraiso."

I clutched at my throat, happy that we would soon be in a new home, but hoping it would be nearby. I held my breath.

"We reached an agreement with the former owners, and just as soon as the money is transferred from Wells Fargo, Rancho Paraiso will be hours," Mother said, getting down from the buggy. "Let's go inside and I'll tell you all about it."

I exhaled and followed her into the house, my heart thudding against my chest wall.

Mother got a cup of coffee from the pot on the wood stove, and brought it with her to a chair near the fire where Emily sat knitting.

"Good news, Emily. We'll be out of your way soon. We've found a ranch to buy." Mother sipped at her coffee.

Emily didn't answer for a moment, and kept her eyes on the work in her hands. After a bit she said, "Going to be awfully quiet around here."

"You could go with us," Mother said quietly. "There will be plenty of room for you and Grace and I will need help."

"Mr. and Mrs. Gerke couldn't do without me."

"Well, certainly they would have a difficult time finding a replacement..."

Emily raised her hand. "No. I can't leave here, but thank you for the offer."

"Well then, we'll just have to visit often. We aren't going to be but a few miles away."

"Oh, Mother, where?" I was so relieved I couldn't wait any longer.

"Why, just a few short miles north of Vina, on the road towards Tehama. The Southern part of our ranch borders Vina Ranch. The east border of our land is the Sacramento River. We'll have about 13,000 acres. It was originally one of the Mexican Land Grant Ranchos, but now the family is selling off half of it. It will be just the right size for us to start our cattle operation."

I looked at Emily and saw that she had a contented look on her face.

"It will be good to have women friends as neighbors. I'm pleased." Emily put her knitting in the basket. "I'm going out to fee Shep, then I believe I'll retire to my room to read. You and your family have a lot to talk about."

Shortly after Emily left, Pa returned, followed by Jesse.

"Did you tell her all about it?" Pa was looking at Mother expectantly.

"Not everything. You and Jesse sit down and I'll make you sandwiches."

"Not for me, ma'am." Jesse rubbed his stomach. "I'm gettin' fat as a tick. Mrs. Shupe stuffs my face every time I go there."

"I could eat a bear," Pa said. "Give me his share."

"Is there a house?" I asked.

"Why, there's at least three houses. One main one. It's a big old thing, kinda like this one. A wood farmhouse. Then there's another smaller wood one, and a long old bunkhouse. We'll need a lot of help in the beginning." Pa took the sandwiches Mother handed him and bit off a big chew.

It dawned on me that Mother had mentioned a cattle operation. "What do we know about cattle?"

"Not a lot, Grace, but we can certainly learn and we'll hire the appropriate men to help us." Mother was gazing at Jesse. "I don't suppose you know about cattle ranching?"

"Me?" he asked.

"Yes, Jesse, you."

"Well, yes, ma'am. I grew up on a cattle ranch. I've wrangled since I was just a little guy."

"Then perhaps you'd like a job as our foreman." Mother leaned forward and looked into Jesse's eyes. "Are you man enough for the job?"

"I put in a good word fer ya son," Pa said, then took another bite of his sandwich.

I noticed Jesse blushing in pleasure. He looked at the ground and rubbed his palms together in thought. "Yes, I s'pose I am man enough at that."

"Well then we've got us a deal," Mother said, extending her hand to him to shake. "We'll move in early December. You can come when you're ready and once we all get settled we'll plan out our operation."

"Ma'am, this is just about the best thing that's happened to me in many a year, and I thank you. I'm going to call it a night."

We all said our good nights and Pa decided he was going to retire as well. Mother set to cleaning the kitchen, then got out her book to read.

"I'm going out to check on Shep."

"All right, dear. Don't be long. It's dark outside now."

I got my shawl from my room and wrapped it around my shoulders. The moon was full so the path that led to the old oak tree was well lit.

Shep was lying on a pile of leaves underneath the tree. He was snoring softly but woke when I approached, his tail thudding on the leaves sending them into the air. I settled down next to him and took his big head in my lap. He sighed contentedly as I scratched his ears. Maybe Emily would let me take him, but then again he was a good watch dog and she was here alone a lot. I was sure Mother and Pa would let me have a dog of my own. I had a horse, and a dog was less trouble than a horse. We would need dogs on the ranch to help with the cattle, too. Why, I'd have lots and lots of dogs.

Most importantly I had my family back together again. It had been a long haul, but we'd made it. And Jesse was coming, too. Not as my husband as he'd wanted, but there was plenty of time for that in the future. I looked into the sky, saw a shooting star, and made a wish.

TEHAMA GRACE

Here I am, in Ireland, flying a Harris Hawk. Such fun. Lots has happened since my last post. We had our Ireland trip, came back, I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right (typing) hand, then came down with severe asthmatic bronchitis. Whew! Much better now.

The good news is, the http://www.textnovel.com/ contest is almost over. I almost have Tehama Grace finished as well. (Now that I can type again). Wish me luck in the contest, please! If I win, I get $1000 but more importantly, a chance for agent representation and a chance to get published. That would be wonderful. I love Tehama Grace and believe in it. I could do a whole series of Grace stories! Maybe I just will.

TEHAMA GRACE/TEXTNOVEL CONTEST FINALIST

Hi Everyone,

My novel Tehama Grace is now a FINALIST in the Textnovel Contest. I'm so excited. Please go to http://www.textnovel.com/ and vote for my story by signing up and clicking on the little fist. Thank you all so much.