Calder Storm by Janet Dailey

Author:Janet Dailey
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2006-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

Halfway up the knoll, Chase came to a halt and leaned both hands on his cane. It galled him that he could no longer climb the smallest hill without stopping to catch his breath. Growing old could be hell at times.

As his breathing began to even out, he gathered himself to make the final push to the front steps of The Homestead, where he could sit for a minute or two and pretend to be enjoying the morning air. He hadn’t traveled more than two feet when he heard the front door close and saw Sloan skipping lightly down the steps. There was an exuberance about her that made him smile.

“Just getting back from your walk, I see. You must have taken a long one this morning,” she remarked.

“It wasn’t long, just slow,” Chase corrected, then gestured with his cane at the leather case she carried. “Where are you off to?”

“On a picture-taking spree.”

He frowned. “Who’s getting their picture taken on a workday?”

“Oh, I’m not taking pictures of anyone in particular,” Sloan hastened to explain, “just whatever I happen to see. Trey mentioned they were moving cattle to another pasture today, so I thought I might try to capture some of that on film.”

After a small hesitation, Chase nodded, a little slow at recalling. “That’s right. The grass at the Broken Butte range was getting short.” He ran a thoughtful glance over his grandson’s young bride.

“If that’s where you’re heading, you might want to wait and follow the cook when he takes the noon meal to the boys. He’ll be pulling out in an hour or less.”

She shook her head in unconcern. “This morning light is too good to waste. Cat gave me directions. I’ll find them.” She struck out for the ranch pickup parked a few feet away.

Chase called out after her, “You got water with you?”

“Are you kidding?” She threw a laughing look at him as she pulled opened the driver’s door. “Cat loaded me up with everything—water, sandwiches, the works. I feel like a schoolkid with a packed lunch. See you sometime this afternoon. I’ll probably be late, so don’t worry.” Offering a farewell wave, Sloan climbed into the cab and pulled the door closed after her.

Dust billowed around the tires when she backed away from the house and pointed the truck at the ranch yard. It hung like a haze in the air, smudging his vision. Chase turned from it and resumed his climb up the steps.

With the ranch headquarters reflected in her rearview mirror and an open road before her, Sloan increased the truck’s speed. Soon there was nothing but the sun-baked plains stretching out from the road, vast and empty, constant yet ever changing. The sight of them filled her with a sense of freedom. For too many weeks she had been obliged to stay close to The Homestead while the master suite went through its face-lift. The work was finally finished, and all their clothes, toiletries, and other personal items were back in place, leaving her free to explore.

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