She could call Tillie or one of the nieces to take her in, but then they would know, and she didn’t want that yet. Jake and Fiona were busy with the cows. Olympia was still in bed. She could call Rosemary or Esme, but they were probably busy. She didn’t know what time Fiona would return. She would be the best. It amazed her how much she was coming to rely on the girl. There was something steady about her.
She sank into a chair at the kitchen table and covered her face with her hands. It was hard coming to terms with the fact that her days were numbered. There was so much she wanted to do. She was running out of time. Well, she wouldn’t worry about that right now. She would do what she could. She picked up the phone and called her lawyer, Wade Stewart.
“Wade, it’s Opal,” she said when they connected. “How are we coming on the settlement papers for the ranch and that deed? Good. I’ll be in this afternoon to pick them up.”
No sense mooning around here with so much to be done. She busied herself at the stove fixing the noonday meal for Jake and the buckaroos. She didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to do this. They said chemotherapy would sap her strength and make her sick. She was an old woman. She wondered if she really wanted to go through all this.
Dear Heaven, what next?
By the time they rode in for lunch, Fiona was glad to dismount. She had enjoyed the work, surprisingly enough, but her legs were wobbly. She almost buckled when she finally slid off Harriet. Jake caught her around the waist.
She righted her hat and said with a smile, “Thanks. I’m about done in.”
“You did great, but horse riding does take getting used to. I really appreciate your helping. The work went faster with three of us, especially since you can read and follow a chart better than Sweet can.”
Sweet heard the remark. “Paperwork is not on my job description,” he said, grinning at them. “Give me a horse and rope any day.” He led the horses away to unsaddle them.
“Let’s see what Opal made for lunch,” Jake said. “I could eat a bull, hide and all.”
As they walked to the house, Fiona said, “I like being outside in the sun with the big sky over head, and I like being around the horses and the cows and watching the horses work the cows. It kind of grows on you.”
“I know what you mean,” he said.
They washed up in the mud room and left their hats on pegs on the wall. Opal was in the kitchen. The overhead fan created a breeze to take away some of the heat.
“Hello, you two. You’re just in time for roast beef and vegetables. Sit down. I’m taking biscuits out of the oven now. I guess the boys will be in soon.”
Fiona thought the meal was pretty heavy for a hot day, but Jake, Sweet, Glory and Tommie dug in like it had been several days since they’d eaten. Opal tended to make meals with a load of spice. The meat had some kind of spicy marinade. Even the ranch beans had a bite to them. She had made a couple dozen biscuits, and they disappeared fast. Opal didn’t eat much herself, and Fiona wondered if she weren’t feeling well.
As they lingered over coffee, Opal said, “Fiona, I need to go to town this afternoon and wondered if you could drive me.”
Fiona smiled. “Of course, I’ll drive. Are we going shopping? I could use a few things.”
“I have an appointment. But we can shop, too.”
“I’d like to look for a contractor who could help me rebuild.”
Jake said, “Harley Davies is good. I’d stay away from Bob Wills. He’s spendy.”
“My uncle is pretty good,” said Sweet. “He’s slow but meticulous. You might call him. He is name is Sanchez. I’ll get you a number.”
Fiona smiled. “Why, thank you. That is very kind. I’d like to talk to Lauren Brooks again. Maybe we could stop by her store, if we have time. She has names of people to recommend for some of the work.”
“We can do that,” Opal said. “We’ll go by the lawyer and get that deed for you. He’s got it ready.”
Olympia came in as they were finishing. “My-oh-my, I can’t seem to get enough sleep.”
“It might have to do with what time you go to bed,” said Fiona, smiling at her.
“That, too,” she said with a yawn. “Something smells good.” She helped herself to a plate and sat beside Fiona. “What’s up for today?”
“We’re going to town. Can we use your car?” She smiled. “Old Faithful isn’t quite as reliable as the Red Bomb.”
“You are welcome to it, but you have an expired license.”
“I called the Virginia DMV and found out I could go on line and renew, and I did, and the new license is on the way.
“Okay,” said Olympia. “I don’t think I’ll go along. I thought I might watch some of the cowboys and get a feel for ranch life. I’m working out the story for my next blockbuster novel.”
Jake said, “Sweet will be working horses in the corral this afternoon. He wouldn’t mind an audience, would you Sweet?”
Sweet grinned and said, “You come out, and I’ll show you how it’s done.”
“Great,” said Olympia, giving him a sexy wink. “You might end up a character in my new book.”
“Thanks for the loan of the Red Bomb,” Fiona said to Olympia. “Try to stay out of trouble. I know you’ll have a good time.”
Opal and Fiona were on their way half an hour later, leaving the chore of dishwashing to the automatic dishwasher. Fiona was getting the hang of driving rural roads and kept her speed to the posted limit. She couldn’t afford another ticket.
Opal said, “This rig is pretty luxurious, but I like Old Faithful better because you feel like you’re in a real vehicle on solid ground and not in a cloud.”
“I guess both vehicles have their merits. What’s our first stop?” asked Fiona.
“The doctor. I have to see the doctor today.”
Fiona kept her eyes on the deserted road. Other vehicles were rare on this stretch of the road but there were enormous ditches to be wary of. “Are you feeling okay? You were awfully quiet at lunch today.”
Opal didn’t answer, and Fiona wondered if she heard the question.
Then Opal said in a small voice, “I’ve been feeling pretty exhausted. The doctor ran some tests, and I got the results back this morning.”
Fiona waited, but Opal was not forthcoming with any more information so she ventured to ask, “What were the results?”
“I have leukemia. The doctor is going to tell me my options this afternoon.”
Fiona gripped the steering wheel hard. She wanted to close her eyes and scream no, no, no, I haven’t known this woman very long. She can’t be sick now. But instead she said, “I’m so sorry, Opal. What are you going to do?”
“I’ll find out first what my options are and then decide. If I have to have treatments, I guess I’ll go through with it. Depending on the frequency, I might have to stay in town for a while, I don’t know. Driving back and forth to the ranch everyday may be too much. I have friends with cancer. Chemotherapy can be intense.”
“I’ll drive you if you want to remain at home. That might be better. I don’t mind. I know you’ll probably want to stay at home. You’ll feel better.”
“Old Faithful is not always so faithful, I have to admit. I don’t know if it will take a lot of driving.”
“I’ve been thinking about getting a car. Maybe a rental.”
“Truck would be better.”
“Truck?” said Fiona. “I hadn’t thought about a truck. I’ve never owned a truck in my life.”
“You need four wheel drive and something with a bed to haul stuff around in. You could get one of those extended cabs with a six foot bed. The Ford dealership in town sometimes has good used trucks if you don’t want to spend so much money. I know the dealer real well. He’d give you a good deal.”