Uh, sure. Can I help?
Jenna stuck the phone back into her pocket without answering. She waved her arms at the offending bird.
Andee, please hush! Your crying is making trapping him harder.
Of course she didnt stop crying; she wanted her toy. However, she did cut the decibel level enough for Jenna to slow the ostrich, who ran in circles around her. She discovered that an ostrich could cover a lot of ground on those long, spindly legs.
Wishing she had brought some of the cracked corn with her, she took a calming breath and figured out a way to cordon off the thieving bird. Having foiled his escape route, she swatted his scrawny neck with a glove. The ostrich swung around to peck her, dropping the bear. Triumphant, Jenna grabbed Cubby by a legbut not before the ostrich drilled her left arm with its beak.
Trying not to reactsure her shirt had a hole and afraid her arm was bleedingshe hurried out the gate.
Andee ran to her, arms outstretched.
As Jenna looked for any damage to the bear and herself, she decided this was not a good beginning to ostrich ranching.
Her phone rang again. Once more the birds closest to the fence stampeded for a canopy.
Yes? Hello? Jenna did her best to keep her voice calm.
Its Flynn Sutton again. What in blazes is going on over there? Im at the airpark. Do you and the kid need help?
No, but thanks for asking. Jenna sagged against the metal fence rails. Its a long story and I wont bore you with details. Im sure you didnt call to check on my well-beingthe first time.
Uh, no. I called because the air-conditioning guy can check out the unit today. I have an appointment in town at four that I expect will take about an hour. He said hed stop by at five. But he thought since you own the place, itd be a good idea if you were there.
Jenna looked at her watch. It was three forty-five. She didnt know where the day had gone. She had maybe a hundred feathers for her effort. Andee had Cubby in a body-lockbut shed retreated to the side of the shed, where she now huddled, looking anxious.
That was a mighty sigh, Flynn said. Look, if its inconvenient for you to get away, Ill make that clear. Ill have the repair guy write an estimate. But if you dont mind, Ill drop it by this evening. Id like to have it fixed ASAP. I dont relish sleeping in an oven.
My problems arent yours, but your problem with the air conditioner is mine. Ill clean up and be there at five. Maybe itll be something the repairman can fix today.
I hope so. Thanks. If Im not right there on the dot, the repairmans name is J. D. Fuller. He should be in a panel truck marked with Hometown Electric.
All right. Goodbye. Jenna slid the phone back into her jeans. Happy that blood wasnt running down her arm, she returned to the pen long enough to retrieve the blindfold shed dropped. Darting past the curious birds, she latched the gate and crossed the dusty yard to where Andee hovered.
Is Cubby okay? Bending, Jenna inspected the brown bear that had been Andees favorite toy since hed been a present for her second birthday. Jenna had done the birthday shopping because, as usual, Andrew had been away. But hed surprised them by coming home in time, so Jenna had let him give their daughter the bear. From then on Andee associated the stuffed animal with having her daddy home.
Since the funeral, the bear had been her constant companion.
I thought his ear would be ripped off. Andee inspected the ear, wet from ostrich spit.
Jenna sponged it dry with a tissue. I imagine the bird was attracted to the red satin bow around Cubbys neck. Maybe you didnt hear us the day Auntie Melody, Uncle Rob and I discussed how ostriches are attracted to shiny things. Thats why I took off my earrings earlier. The bird wasnt being mean, Andee. Just curious.
It scared me.
I know, sweetie. You scared me when you screamed. She gathered her daughter, bear and all, in her arms and trudged to the house. That was Mr. Sutton on the phone. Were going to change clothes and meet him at his place.
I get to see Beezer again! I wish he was mine.
This time Jenna recognized when she sighed. Flynn Suttons dog was another problem.
Inside the house, Andee set her stuffed toy in a kitchen chair. Are we going to dress up in dresses to go see Mr. Flynn?
No. No, of course not. Jenna tucked her gloves in a drawer. You probably dont even need to change. I was in the dirty pens. I need to shower.
We always wore dresses when we went to get Daddy at the airport.
Yes, well...Mr. Sutton is not Daddy, Jenna said through her clogged throat as she headed for her bedroom.
I want to call him Mr. Flynn, or Flynn, cause I like that name better.
Maybe he wont mind, Andee. She stepped into the shower and turned it on. She took the time to wash her hair.
Chasing ostriches around was hot work. Maybe she should have agreed to pay Don Winkleman more.
Rob and Melodys skepticism about her ability to make a go of the ranch was proving valid.
She vowed, as she dressed, that shed do whatever it took.
She felt refreshed and upbeat by the time they left the house.
Its hot inside the car, Mommy.
Ive turned on the air. It should cool down soon. As she adjusted the vents, Jenna felt compassion for Flynn Suttons predicament with his home air conditioner. She hoped the repairman could offer an easy fix.
Do you know where Mr. Flynn lives?
I have the address, Jenna said, turning off the main street and driving in the direction the Realtor had marked on the map. The residential area didnt look overly prosperous. Not that the homes were in decay, but they were far from being as elegant as the residential areas in Florida and Maryland.
There. Its that cream house with the dark green shutters.
I dont see Beezer.
Jenna rechecked the address on the back of Flynns business card. It was the right house. Its just five oclock. Apparently weve beaten the repairman and Flynn.
Ah, you didnt call him Mr. Sutton, either.
Jenna frowned and parked at the curb. Oddly, in spite of counseling Andee on what to call him, shed begun to think of him as Flynn, too. He is renting from us, honey, so well probably be on friendly terms.
A panel truck with the Hometown Electric logo splashed across the side pulled to a stop behind Jenna. She got out of the Cherokee and put on her sunglasses.
Mr. Fuller? She extended her hand to the young man, whod also gotten out.
Ms. Wood, I guess? He grinned and briefly touched Jennas hand. Flynn said he might be detained. Ill just run up a ladder and have a look at the unit.
Fine, well wait under that tree. Even now she felt a trickle of sweat under her bra.
J. D. Fuller was on the roof by the time Jenna saw Flynns pickup round the corner. He pulled into the driveway and sprang out of his truck, removing his sunglasses as he greeted her. He wore gray pants and a pale blue short-sleeved shirt that matched the color of his eyes.
He looked as handsome in civilian dress as he did in a flight suit. Better, maybe, she thought grudgingly.
She wished she hadnt changed into her worn jeans.
Beezer leaped from the pickup, zeroing in on Andee, who greeted him with a big hug.