a new assignment. They want him to manage one of the new drilling platforms off Brazil. He’s leaving tomorrow. I’m going to put the house here on the market by the end of the week, then look for a house for us in Rio de Janeiro.”
“How long is his assignment?”
“At least two years, maybe three. They think this area is a gold mine, which means we might be there longer. I’m going to have to learn to speak Portuguese.” She spoke Bahasa Indonesian and Dutch, which she’d learned while they were in Indonesia. And when they were in Ghana her mother had learned Dagbanli, but she couldn’t remember any of April’s friends’ names. She’d even forgotten April’s twelfth birthday because she’d been too busy managing a reception in honor of the president of Ghana given by the oil company.
April’s stomach sank. “So we won’t see you this Easter. Maybe Christmas?”
“I don’t know. Things are still hectic. I want to see those babies of yours, but this move just caught us off guard. Your dad was offered a very nice bonus to take this job.”
A familiar refrain that her father had accepted this new challenge didn’t shock her. His job always was number one. April had realized it the Christmas she was eight and her father couldn’t make it off the oil platform. He’d come home the week of New Year’s and explained that his working on Christmas meant he could buy her a nicer bicycle as a gift. What she wanted was her father sharing Christmas with his family.
“I know the kids will be disappointed not to see their grandparents. They are growing so quickly that you won’t recognize them.”
“I’m disappointed not to be able to see them, too, but this opportunity just showed up and we couldn’t turn it down.”
Nothing had changed with her parents. Living with her in-laws had taught her to expect more, but then she had to realize she was talking to her mom.
“You know, maybe you and the kids could come to Brazil and spend Christmas with us. It would be such a treat for them to be in the warm weather.”
Instead of enduring the cold wind and weather in the Panhandle. April heard her mother’s implication although no words were spoken.
“I don’t know, Mom. Who would take care of the animals and ranch while we were gone?”
The line remained quiet for several moments. Finally, her mother said, “Your dad and I have talked about it. Both your husband and his family are dead, and all you have are those precious children. We think you should consider selling the ranch and moving to the city. Without the burden of that place, you could have time for your children. Find a job you like or go back to school and get a degree. You can’t do all that ranch work by yourself.”
Her mother’s words felt like a knife in her heart. Sure, there were problems, but she wasn’t going to sell her children’s inheritance no matter what. Vernon had bragged how big the ranch had been in the early 1900s, when the Landerses had a big family and relatives who lived close by. But slowly, the family members had died or moved away. Vernon and Grace had only had one son instead of the seven that Vernon’s parents had had. The Circle L Ranch might not be the size it once was, but she wasn’t going to sell or desert it. It was part of her heart.
April knew her father wanted her to sell the ranch, but she’d thought she had her mother’s support. Apparently not. “Thanks for the input, Mom. I’ll think about it.”
“I know you love that place, but face reality. It’s a mighty big job and there’s only you.”
“I have help to plant this year.” The words were out before she thought.
“Oh?”
It was the truth even if Joel was only here for the week. “I know the kids will miss seeing you. You and Dad might want to call them before Dad leaves and explain your exciting news.”
“We’ll try.”
In other words, it won’t happen. “I pray things will go smoothly with the move, Mom.”
“We can talk with the kids over the computer and they can see our new house once we’re settled.”
April’s heart broke. “They’ll love it.”
“I know you’re disappointed, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
The familiar refrain rang hollow. “I know.”
When she hung up, April’s mind raced over all the birthdays, holidays and graduations her father had missed. She didn’t want that for her children. She wanted her kids to have a connection with their home and good memories of growing up—memories like going to the rodeo every year and having a tall cowboy show them how to lasso a horse or a cow.
Determination filled her heart. She wouldn’t fail her babies. “Thank you, Lord, for sending help to plant my field, but I’m going to need a long-range plan and a way to make this happen.”
And did that long-range plan own cowboy boots?
The following day, Joel finished planting the hay field well before 10:00 a.m. Next they tackled the chores around the barn. Finally, Joel roped Buckwheat and Sammie and tied them to the posts outside the barn.
“What are we doing, Mr. Joel?” Wes asked.
The screen door slammed and April and Cora appeared.
“If you’re going to own a horse, you’re going to need to learn to groom him. Had your opa shown you how to do that?”
“He did, but Todd might need to be shown again.”
Joel heard a choked laugh. He didn’t look at April because he knew he’d laugh, too.
“Then we’ll do that.”
With a couple of buckets of soapy water, a wooden step stool he found in the barn and Buckwheat and Sammie tied up, Joel gave a sponge to each boy.
“Is this just a boy party or can the girls help?”
The boys glanced at Joel.
“Of course. I know Cora’s going to need to learn this, too.” Joel motioned them forward. “Mom, you might want to keep Miss Cora toward the front of Sammie.”
They began to wash both horses, with Joel adding commentary on what to do. He held Cora up so she could run the sudsy sponge over Sammie’s back. “Let’s rinse off Sammie and Buckwheat.”
Wes picked up the hose and sprayed Buckwheat. When he handed the hose to his brother, Todd accidentally sprayed Joel in the face.
“Oh.” Todd’s face went white.
Everyone froze, unsure of Joel’s reaction. Even the horses stilled. Joel threw back his head and laughed. He snatched the hose and spritzed Todd. When April started to object, he aimed the water dead center at her chest. She looked down at the wet spot, lunged for the hose and got a face full of water. The water fight was on.
Twenty
