A Feather in the Rain Read Online Free PDF Page B

and a candle burned. She closed her eyes to meditate. Coyotes were yapping along the hills to the south and there were calls from the northward rimlands, cries that seemed to have no other source than the night itself.

14
The Tar Ribbon
    T he country had begun to put on fancier duds. As the sun painted warmth on the rockscape sprouting tufts of green, he began to come out of himself and notice the world around him. At Pueblo, he crossed the Arkansas River with its stony palisades and muddy flats. The road, instead of just lying there reached out and demanded attention as it wound through limitless pasture flecked with sizable cattle herds. A buckaroo in chinks and wildrag was easing along on a plain-looking gray behind a bunch of heifers. One busted out on her own. The cowboy and the gray sprang to life whirling and streaking through the tall grass after the cow and, cutting her excursion short, turned her back to the herd. The action put a smile on Jesse.
    The sky was an untroubled lucent pearl. A stream accompanied the road for a while, then coiled off through soft meadows. He took off his hat and stuck his head out the window. The sudden mountain coolness blew through his hair and filled his lungs. He heaved a loud sigh into the wind. “Damn, this is pretty country.”

15
Ruby and the Bear
    A t the rodeo grounds at Colorado Springs, the stable manager told him Larry Littlefield had been there but had to get on over to the hotel. He got his horses set up in a pen, unhitched the trailer and drove to the hotel.
    The young woman at the front desk handed Jesse a message and went to the computer to check his reservation. The message read: “Had to get back out to the ranch to prepare for the arrival of guests for a shindig tomorrow. Put your horses up and come on out.” As the desk clerk pondered the computer, the shadow of a big man fell across him. He turned toward a bright-eyed flashing smile in a round face under a clean black cowboy hat. He had silver and black hair. A dark mustache made the smile shine even more. He was barrel-chested, tall, a powerful presence with a jovial spirit. He said, “Are you Jesse Burrell?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œI thought so. I was just with Larry, he told me to look out foryou. He had to run back to his ranch. He said for you to get your butt out there.” He laughed and extended his hand, “I’m Henry Bassett. Most people call me Bear. It’s good to meet you.”
    Jesse took his hand. “All right, Bear. Good to meet you, too.”
    â€œI’m doing publicity for the event. Can I buy you a drink before you go?”
    As they walked toward the restaurant, Jesse noticed that Bear’s polished boots had spent more time on carpet than they had in stirrups. They sat at a small table near the bar where a diet Pepsi waited. Jesse followed Bear’s glance to the woman approaching with a destination-oriented stride. She wore a long skirt, boots, a flowered shirt, fringed jacket, and an old-time Charlie Russell Stetson. Hardly anything over five feet, she was trim and neat with the bone structure women dream about and a smile that made Bear’s pale. She took Jesse’s hand in both of hers, looked deep in his eyes and said how very pleased she was to meet him. Ruby meant it and he knew it. She sat behind the Pepsi her husband had ordered for her.
    There was about them an open willingness to be perceived as who they were with no attempt to disguise or deceive. It didn’t take long for Ruby to say that Larry had told them about Jesse’s son and how truly sorry they were. Jesse was a little taken aback, but it seemed it was something she needed to say. She took his hand again in her delicate palms, and through the radiant smile said, “We lost our son, Brad. He was twenty-seven.” Jesse saw a small disturbance occur in her face. The smile vanished and returned as quickly as it left and she continued her thought.