One Last Sunset (The Long Ranch Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

or something.” Pushing the cup away from her she grumbled, “I ain’t of a mind to pay for water when God provides it.” For being in her seventies Theresa Long didn’t look it. A few wrinkles surrounded her soft brown eyes, but other wise the only sign of age was her stark white hair she kept in a cute bob as if she were still twenty. Her coloring was similar to Mel’s and she had been mistaken for her mother over the years. “I see you cut your hair since I last saw you.”
    “Yes.” Mel sighed in anticipation of the chastisement.
    “Looks good, you’re too skinny to have long hair.”
    The comments made by her family never ceased to amaze her. Not one made sense. “So was Lester the only reason you needed me to come by?”
    “I didn’t need you to come by, child. I’d been talkin’ to your mama on the phone the other day sayin’ that damn mutt had taken to humping my davenport. Now what kind of animal does his business with a piece of living room furniture?” She threw up her hands in surrender. “At least I didn’t have to see his lipstick since you stole his nature.”
    Mel covered her face with her hands at the crude euphemisms used to describe the act. If she ever slipped and called an animal’s erect penis lipstick in front of Doc Carlisle, he’d probably send her back for another semester of basic anatomy. “Well, I’m glad I got to see you anyway, MeMaw. Lester’s fine and, well, with the plastic on the davenport, I’m sure it’ll be okay.”
    “You’re not going to go rushing off, are you?”
    “I have to get to the clinic.”
    “You’re all done with your studies, but I assume your mother feels you’ve failed in getting the correct degree.”
    “I’m a doctor. I’m not sure how much higher I can go.”
    “Not that one child. Your mama sent you to get an MRS degree.”
    “I’ll get that one in my own time.”
    Her grandma’s soft hands covered hers as she smiled. “Just don’t be stupid like those confounded cousins of yours. Or like your Papa’s older brother. Never getting married.” She sighed and looked out the window to the open range. “Then again, the way no one leaves it’s probably best to have a few bachelors around.”
    “JT left, got a house and everything.” She left out the info on Betsy. No reason to embarrass him if things didn’t work out.
    “JT never liked the ranch, too big. You’ve wanted to live here for the rest of your life.”
    There was very little MeMaw didn’t know about everyone she came in contact with. Which made Melody wonder why she was bringing up marriage. It had never been a topic before. “I ‘spose, but the boys think I just want my cut and to go on my merry way.”
    “The boys never had to depend on their women on the range.” MeMaw stood and rinsed her coffee mug in the sink while looking out to the mountains at the edge of their land. “Your papa and I would ride the fence line in either direction making sure everything was secure. We’d meet up over by where we set up the cabin by dinner and then… woman worked this ranch as hard as the men at one time. Even the high and proper Loretta put in a decade before the boys got old enough to help out.”
    “Loretta? Loretta Long? As in my mother.”
    “Don’t let her fool you. She can ride western better than English any day of the week. And rode until her sixth month with each of you. Then your father put his foot down.”
    A crackling sound made them both turn.
    Then MeMaw filled her cup with water. “Lester, I swear to all that is mighty I’m gonna have Mellie put you down,” she warned as she tossed the water on Lester’s intimate love making with the couch. “I told you that dog ain’t right in the head. You can’t steal an animal’s nature.”
    “MeMaw, the faucet,” Mel said since she hadn’t turned off the water.
    “I know I’m just flushing the lines. Told you that water’s tastin’ funny.”
    Mel got up and filled a cup. Ranch water wasn’t the