What the hell did that mean?She didn’t want to see him?He’d been trying to call her for the last five minutes to find out what time they’d be finished.Why wasn’t she answering his call?He had to see her.Yes, he wanted to ask her about the house, but he mostly just needed to be with her.
Turning his horse around, Becket joined Hayden and one of their neighbors.Hayden had asked if Becket would join him this afternoon when he showed the neighbor the results of their grazing system.In their part of the world, Hayden had taken the lead and had embraced a new grazing system with the goal of avoiding over-grazing by using methods that mimicked the patterns of wild migrating herds.It had been an uphill battle to get other ranchers to see the benefits, but every rancher his brother could convince of the advantages of the new system was a win for him.
He caught Hayden’s last words.“It means the animals stay packed closely together for protection and they eat the vegetation to partial level, rather than all the way to the ground.They disturb the soil lightly with their hooves, which mixes their manure and urine into the topsoil, and then they move on to another paddock or pasture.”
As the neighbor nodded in agreement, Cooper joined them.“This way, grazing animals actually improve the condition of the soil rather than damaging it, and a significant amount of carbon can be sequestered because the land is always kept covered and the roots and soil microbiome are nourished and left mostly undisturbed.”
Nodding, the neighbor rubbed his face.“I don’t think I understand everything you’re saying, but I can see how beautiful the soil is.That’s why I’m here.”
As Becket followed them, he lost track of the conversation.He loved this ranch, loved the work, but he’d never been as passionate about ranching as Hayden was.His thoughts were back with Ellie.Just the idea that he wouldn’t be able to see her tonight had him tied up in knots.He couldn’t wait a whole day before he saw her.There had to be another way.
He’d call Willow.
*
“A prevailing themeinNorth and Southseems to be misconceptions,” Laura was saying.“Individuals make assumptions about each other purely based on past biases or experiences, without making sure they have the complete picture.”
“It reminded me of Lizzie and Mr.Darcy inPride and Prejudice, don’t you think?”Arlene said.“InNorth and South, Margaret and John Thornton also make snap judgments about the motivation and character of each other.This of course, leads to more conflict between them.”
“Margaret is such a snob in the beginning of the story,” Annie said.“But okay, I understand it had a lot to do with the way they did things in ‘the South’.”
“Whereas Mr.Thornton judges Margaret’s character after a single meeting,” Riley said.“I couldn’t help thinking of how I’d put Mitch in the ‘grumpy brother’ box when I first met him, when he was simply trying to protect his sisters.Of course, I didn’t want to see that; it took me a while to realize he’s a protector.”
“Like my Becket,” Arlene sighed.“He feels deeply but instead of showing the world who he really is, he hides behind this whole other persona.Don’t you agree, Ellie?”
Ellie had been lost in thought when the mention of Becket’s name intruded on her thoughts about him.
“You’ve been spending time with him,” Arlene said.“Don’t you agree?”
Her face flaming, Ellie covered her cheeks with her hands.“I’m still not used to everyone knowing everything about me.”
“Well, what did you think would happen when Becket picks you up each day and drives you home?”Willow laughed.“I’ve heard about it since last Tuesday morning.”
“We were in Bozeman on Monday!”Ellie cried out.
“That’s why we only heard about it on Tuesday,” Janice smiled.“I don’t know Becket that well, Arlene, but I must agree with you.He has a kind heart.So do we have a wedding date, Ellie?”
Ellie gasped.“Oh, my goodness, no!There will be no wedding!Arlene, I agree with you and Janice, Becket is kind and considerate, but he’s not interested in being tied down to just one woman.You were the one who told me he’s a womanizer, remember?Becket and I are spending time together, yes, but it’s a temporary arrangement.Until he’s had enough and decides to move on.”
“And how will that make you feel?”Willow asked.
“I’m a big girl, I’ll be okay,” Ellie got out.“Let’s get back to our book.Any other thoughts onNorth and South?”
Willow picked up her copy of the book.“Just that what Laura said needs repeating, I think.Individuals make assumptions about each other based on what happened in their own past or because of their own biases or experiences, without making sure they have the complete picture.You have your own reasons why you don’t want to get married, but do you know what Becket’s reason is?”
Ellie rolled her eyes.“He’s a man.I don’t think he needs another reason.”
Vivian chuckled.“Oh, so you don’t have any preconceived ideas about men?”
Throwing her hands in the air, Ellie got up.“Okay, yes.Guilty.Who wants more wine?”Turning, she picked up the bottle.“Everything was so clear, I was happy and then…” She quickly swallowed the rest of the sentence.Oh, my goodness, she’d nearly confessed to loving Becket in front of his mother, his sister and their friends.
When she turned around, everyone was staring at her.
Willow was the first one to speak.“You love him, don’t you?”
Shrugging, Ellie looked down at the bottle in her hand.“It doesn’t matter, does it?”
Willow also got up.“Of course it does.Anyway, that’s something you two should figure out.I must leave a little earlier tonight.Mom, can I give you a lift?”
