kay, the boy mumbled, although he continued to peer around the bus door while waving nonstop at Colt.
Rory had barely found a seat on the bus before the driver shut the door and began a wide turn back onto the road.
For some reason it touched Colt to see Rory press his smiling face to the window, his bright eyes following Colt until the bus rumbled out of sight. The warm feeling lasted until he turned and saw Summer Marsh glaring at him. Her arms were crossed, her spine taut. A frown hardened her pretty face.
He noted that she was dressed for work, wearing a wranglers wool plaid jacket buttoned atop worn blue jeans. Her scarred, low-heeled boots and leather gloves were far from new. A red scarf added a feminine touch to her outfit, and yet Colt himself wore a similar neckerchief, which he considered a standard ranch necessity. Riding the range, you never knew when a dust storm might blow up out of nowhere.
What? he demanded. You said seven oclock. According to my watch Colt made a show of digging it out from under his jacket sleeve its only 7:03.
Please be careful about the promises you make my son, she said sharply. Rory didnt want to leave the house this morning because you hadnt arrived yet. Spinning abruptly, she stalked back to her vehicle.
Angrier over her attitude than was warranted, Colt removed his hat and slapped it against the hood of his pickup. Just a damn minute! Youve got no call to take a strip off me. I said Id lend a hand to recover the eaglets. And Im here. Excuse me, but exactly what promise have I broken?
Summers shoulders bowed. This time she faced him wearing a guilty expression. N-nothing, of course. Im sorry. Im afraid Ive become very defensive on Rorys behalf since his fathersince Frank She gave a sigh so loud Colt could hear it yards away.
He gripped his own truck door tight to keep from going to console her. I understand from what you said last night that Rorys going through a rough patch. His worlds been turned upside down. The last thing I want to do is make the situation worse. Lets go after the eaglets. That way, Ill be gone from here long before Rory returns from school.
Good, she managed to say in a voice that was higher than normal. She slid behind the wheel and released her parking brake, leading the way to the house. Summer couldnt help wishing, for her sons sake, that Frank could change and be a little more like Coltrane Quinn. She gasped at such a thought and braked too hard outside the barn. Dust enveloped her as she climbed from the cab.
An old man hobbled up. He watched while Colt backed his pickup and trailer between the house and barn. The elderly mans presence buffered the tension that had sprung up between Summer and Colt.
Virgil, this is Coltrane Quinn. Quinn, Virgil Olsen. Hes held this place together with baling wire since before I was born. She hugged the mans bent frame, honest feeling reflected in her eyes. Its your lucky day, Virg. Mr. Quinn has volunteered to give me a hand catching the eaglets. Hows their mother doing? she asked as the two men exchanged a handshake.
Feistier than when you brought her home, Summer. The old girl nipped me good when I put food in her cage. Shell be better if you can bring in the little ones. Shes crying out and beating her good wing against the cage. Without her babies, Im afraid shell die just trying to escape. Id rather you two go after em than me, he remarked, gazing at Colt from faded brown eyes. Id neverve let Summer tackle the job alone. Doesnt mean I looked forward to hauling these old bones up those cliffs.
Colt rubbed his chin. Ive done a bit of rock climbing. I travel with all my gear, so I have rudimentary ropes, pitons and carabiners in my truck. What I think well need is some type of basket with a tie-down lid to put the eaglets in. Depending on how many and how large the birds are, we may need more than one container, he mused aloud.
Jiminy, Id have never thought of a lid. The old man took off his battered hat and raked his fingers through sparse gray hair. I spread some hay in an open box, thinking wed transport the birds that way.
I think well need a cover of some kind to make it work.
Dont have one. The old man shook his head. Cant think what we
Virgil, what about Audreys knitting basket? Summer broke into the mens conversation. She nudged him and winked. I realize if the birds poop in it Ill owe her a new one.
Why, thats just the thing. You go ask her, Summer-girl. Shed never refuse you. If I unload that womans knitting, shes liable to smack me upside the head with a frying pan.
Summer chuckled. You old fibber. Audrey loves you to pieces. But Ill go do it. I want to fill a thermos with coffee and toss a couple of apples in a saddlebag. I figure this trip will take a lot of energy.
Do you mind bringing an extra apple? Colt put in.
For the horses, you mean?
Well, thatd be nice, too. No, Im being purely selfish. The café hadnt opened yet when I left town. He rubbed his stomach, which chose that moment to growl.
Why didnt you say something earlier? Heavens, youre probably starved. Come inside. Ill ask Audrey to whip you up some eggs and toast.
No. Dont go to any trouble. An apple will do me. We should get underway. This is going on day two for those birds. Once the sun rises, theyll be increasingly exposed to predators.
Exactly. Summer turned to Virgil. Will you saddle Starlight for me, please? Shes surefooted enough for the gorge.
As Summer loped toward the house, Colt backed Spirit out of his trailer.
Your horse favors his foreleg, son, Virgil said.
He landed sideways on a rock the other day. Im lucky all he did was strain a muscle. Colt bent over his horse and ran a hand down the leg, checking for swelling.
My wife makes a herb ointment to help with my arthritis. The stuff works wonders on animals. Why dont you leave the gelding for me to treat? You can ride one of Summers horses.
Id appreciate it. I thought a workout might help him, but I dont want to push him if hes not a hundred percent.
Then its settled. You assemble your climbing gear and Ill swap your mount for one of ours. Itll only take me a few minutes to saddle two horses.
Use my saddle. It has extra ties for attaching mountaineering gear.
Sure. Here, cut the wrap off Spirits leg. Ill be back in a jiffy. Virgil produced a rusty pocket knife that had seen better days. Colt finally found one blade that literally chewed through the medicated wrap hed put on his horse yesterday.
Summer beat Virgil back to the place where Colt was readying his equipment. A dog, a mixed breed with some spaniel and terrieror that was Colts best guessbounded up to him, barking, and sniffing the items hed laid out on the ground.
Dont mind Lancelot. Summer rushed to catch hold of the dog. His bark is fierce, but hes really friendly. The best cow dog that ever lived, she said with a high degree of immodesty.
Best ever, huh? Tall praise, boy. Colt let the dog sniff his hand before trying to pet him. Hed owned a cutting dog named Vic. Monica had given him away. At least it was to a family with kids. Vic loved kids. Colt hadnt had the heart to demand him back and disappoint little children.