“This is Ms. Harris’s first time on a ranch. Kolby is going to teach her how to ride.”
“Hrmp,” Sonya said. “Kolby is a busy man. He doesn’t have time to teach some greenhorn how to ride.”
Marissa looked at Genieva for help. Her niece was smart enough not to let the cat out of the bag either.
“He’s not busy today, mama,” Genieva said. “He’s doing it as a favor to me.”
Sonya put the pan of cornbread on the counter to cool and then sat down at the table and began shucking peas. “Why do you want this? Is she your new best friend?”
Genieva put the potato salad into the refrigerator. “Yes. She’s a very nice lady.”
“What’s so special about her?” Sonya asked.
“She’s smart and funny and she’s a teacher just like me. It’s nice to have a friend you have something in common with.”
“And she’s pretty,” Marissa added.
“What do you know about pretty?” Sonya asked Marissa. “Is that the only reason that you like this person?”
Marissa shook her head and her pigtails flew into her face. She brushed them away from her eyes.
“No, she’s a good teacher. She helps me when I ask her to.”
“Oh,” Sonya said. “I guess I have to meet this fantastic person who everyone likes.” She paused. “Is she married?”
“No,” Genieva answered.
“Then keep her away from Kolby. He doesn’t need to be saddled down to some greenhorn. He needs a wife who can help him around the ranch.”
Genieva had heard this sermon before, but what it all boiled down to is that her mother felt that there wasn’t a woman alive good enough for Kolby.
Marissa looked like she wanted to cry.
Genieva winked at her niece to ease her sorrow. She knew how much Marissa wanted her father to be happy.
The front doorbell rang. Marissa hopped off the stool.
“I’ll get it,” Genieva said, grabbing her niece’s hand and taking her out of the kitchen so Sonya couldn’t continue to question her about her teacher. They hurried through the house to the front foyer. Genieva opened the door. “Aliya,” she said. “Come on in.”
Her friend had on a pair of jeans and a button-up plaid shirt and she carried a small overnight case and a garment bag.
“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.” To be on the safe side Genieva would put Aliya in a room on her side of the second floor where Hale’s mother stayed when she visited. It had its own private bathroom too.
“Hey, Marissa,” Aliya said to her student.
“Hey, Ms. Harris.”
Genieva took Aliya up the stairs to the room. Marissa followed.
“Ooh, this is pretty,” Aliya said looking around the room.
Genieva took her garment bag and hung it in the closet.
“Thank you.”
“I want to show you my room,” Marissa said.
“Sure.”
Aliya and Genieva followed Marissa out of the door. Genieva pointed out another bathroom as they walked.
Marissa led them down the hall to the other side of the house and opened a door.
“Ooh, this is a very pretty room Marissa, and so clean,” Aliya said stepping inside.
Kolby had given Marissa the princess bed when she turned five and she had outgrown her other bed. And her niece always kept her room neat and orderly.
Aliya walked over to a shelf to look at Marissa’s doll collection.
“I used to love Barbie when I was a little girl. Believe it or not I still have all of mine.”
“Me too,” Marissa said. “Maybe you can bring your dolls over to play with mine.”
Aliya chuckled. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. Mine are boxed up in my parents’ attic waiting for my future daughter.”
“Are you going to give them to her?” Marissa asked.
“Yes. They are special to me so they deserve to go to a special little girl who would take care of them and cherish them.”
“I think I’m going to do the same thing,” Marissa said.
“You have a very nice room, Marissa.”
“Thank you,” the child said. “Daddy’s room is next door but I can’t show it to you without his permission.”
“That’s okay, sweetie,” Aliya said.
“I guess we need to go down now,” Genieva said dreading introducing Aliya to her mother. The three of them walked downstairs and headed toward the kitchen. Genieva opened the door. Her mother was still busy cooking.
“Mama, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Sonya looked up from what she was doing. Surprise registered clearly on her face.
“Oh!”
“Mama, this is my friend Aliya Harris. Aliya, this is my mother Sonya Patterson.”
Sonya wiped her hand on a towel.
Aliya walked over to her.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Patterson. You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you,” Sonya said, shaking Aliya’s hand. “Where are you from?”
“New Orleans,” Aliya answered.
“What are you doing in Texas?”
Genieva shook her head. Her mother could also be rude at times.
“Teaching,” Aliya answered.
“You couldn’t find a job in Louisiana?”
“Yes,” Aliya answered. “But I wanted to come to Texas.”
“Why?” Sonya asked.
“Because I wanted to see a cow.”
Genieva couldn’t help but laugh. Aliya was standing up to her mother— something not too many people did.
“Lunch will be ready in about two hours,” Sonya said to them.
“Do you need some help?” Aliya offered.
“Have you ever cooked for a lot of people?” Sonya asked.
Aliya nodded.
“Yes, ma’am. My father owns a restaurant and I’ve helped out from time to time. What do you need me to do?”
“The gumbo still needs to be prepared. Do you think you can handle that?”
“I’ll do my best,” Aliya said politely.
“I’ll start on the cakes,” Genieva said. “Marissa can help me.” Before she started she took out the big pot they used to make stews and soups and handed it to Aliya. She showed her to the raw ingredients and handed her an apron. Moments later she peeped over and Aliya was busy cutting up seasoned ham, chicken and hot sausage into bite-sized pieces. Afterwards she made a roux from scratch. Genieva never saw her mother look so impressed with anyone before.
Score one for Aliya
.
§§§
Kolby decided to take a dip in the creek. He, Hale and Harry had been busy all morning branding cattle and he was seriously sweating.
Hale and Harry jumped in and joined him, splashing water liked they used to do as kids.
Kolby shook the water from his face and then swam around. Hale and Harry did the same. Once they got back to the ranch house he’d take a proper shower but this was just to cool off. Even though it was April it was hot as hell in Texas.
“Do you think our guests have started to arrive yet?” Hale asked as they floated.
“I suppose,” Harry said. “It should be close to noon.”
“What time is that pretty teacher lady coming?” Hale asked Kolby.
“I don’t know. Genieva was supposed to tell her to come around twelve.”
“Do you suppose she’s here?” Harry asked.
“What are you getting so excited about?” Hale asked Harry. “She’s Kolby’s date.”
“She is not my date,” Kolby corrected. “I’m just going to teach her to ride Rosie.” He had been looking forward to Aliya’s visit too, but he wasn’t going to mention that to these two.
“If you don’t ask her out, I will,” Harry said. “She and I can make some seriously pretty babies.”
Kolby splashed water on his horny cousin. “There will be no baby making at this barbecue.” And he wasn’t about to let Harry get within ten feet of Aliya Harris. There would be plenty of women at the barbeque to entertain him.
Kolby hopped out of the creek, pulled on his jeans, and laid down on the ground in the grass while Hale and Harry continued to play in the water. Trying to soak up a little sun and even out his tan.
“So this is what cowboys do?” someone said behind him.
Kolby recognized that southern twang.
Aliya
.
§§§
Kolby had the best looking ass she’d ever seen. Imagine her surprise when she and Genieva walked upon the three young men swimming and sunbathing. Kolby lay on his stomach with his jeans riding low on his hips. The crest of his butt and his back were exposed. He looked so delicious she felt like smacking her lips.
Hale and Harry were in the creek. Their jeans lay on the ground. So either they were swimming in their skivvies or naked.
“Their bodies have grown but they’re pretty much kids mentally,” Genieva teased. “Have you no shame, Kolby Louis Patterson? We can see your butt cheeks.”
Kolby rolled over while trying to button up his pants and zip them.
Aliya saw a patch of black pubic hair. Young master Kolby was commando under them there jeans.
“Sorry,” he said, standing up. “We were just cooling off after branding cattle all morning.”
“No need to apologize,” Aliya said to him. “I was just admiring the view.”
Kolby wiped the grass from his chest.
Aliya brazenly ran her eyes over Kolby’s body. Besides a broad chest, Kolby also had abs of steel. She just wanted to run her tongue all over him.
Genieva caught her staring.
“Aliya, you are so bad.”
“Babe, can you hand me my pants?” Hale asked Genieva.
“Mine too,” Harry said.
“Ooh, I better turn around,” Aliya said as the other two guys began getting out of the creek.
“You can turn around now, Aliya,” Genieva said to her. “They’re decent.”
Aliya turned to face them again. Apparently decent to Genieva meant that all three of them now wore pants. To Aliya they were still shirtless, muscular, and very tanned.
Kolby put on his shirt first.
Aliya smiled at him.
Shoot. Just when I was having a good time
.
“We better get back to the house,” Genieva said. “Mama sent us to call you guys for lunch.”
“We’ll be there shortly,” Hale said.
“It should be illegal for you to wear jeans,” Harry said to Aliya as she walked away from them. “What a caboose.”
Kolby punched Harry on the arm.
“Ouch. I was just paying the lady a compliment.”
“Thanks,” Aliya said laughing. Some kids definitely don’t grow up.
§§§
Kolby showered and dressed and finally walked down the stairs. He ran into his mother in the kitchen when he was about to go out through the back door. The air in the room smelled faintly of seafood.
“Have the guests arrived yet?”
“Yes,” Sonya said. “Marissa’s teacher is here too. Did you invite her?” Sonya asked.
“Yes,” Kolby said. “Both Genieva and I did.”
“Why?” Sonya asked.
“Because it’s the neighborly thing to do,” Kolby answered. “She sat with us at the church social and it would have been rude not to include her.”
“What do you know about her?” Sonya asked.
“Not much,” Kolby answered. “I know she is a good teacher. Marissa likes her and so do the other kids in her class.”
“Oh,” Sonya said. “Do you think she’s pretty?”
“Why are you asking all of these questions?” Kolby asked.
“Because I don’t want you to get involved with her,” Sonya said. “She’s a greenhorn.”
“You say that like it’s something bad,” Kolby said. “Not everyone had the privilege of growing up on a ranch like we did. Ms. Harris grew up in New Orleans and the last time I checked there weren’t too many, or any ranches there.”
“I just want you to be careful,” Sonya said. “You’re a pretty rich fellow and I don’t want some woman latching on to you for that reason.”
Kolby sighed. He expected that things were going to go down this way once his mother met Aliya.
“I’m just going to teach her how to ride a horse. No one said anything about me becoming involved with her. And if I do, I am a grown man and can make my own decisions.”
“I know that,” Sonya said in her own defense. “It’s been a long time since you’ve dated. I just don’t want you to fall for the first pretty face that comes along.”
He didn’t think his mother was prejudiced so she had to have some kind of other beef with Aliya.
“Did she say something rude to you?”
“No,” Sonya answered. “I just don’t know her.”
“The only way to do that is just to spend time with her,” Kolby said. “It would be nice to have another lady around here to help you out, but I’m not recruiting anyone at the moment to do this.”
“I need you to help me carry this pot out,” Sonya said, pointing to the counter.
“What’s in it?” Kolby asked.
“Gumbo,” Sonya said. “Marissa’s teacher made it. I don’t know what it tastes like but she asked to help.”
Kolby grabbed the handles and followed his mother out the door to the picnic area. He placed the pot in a cool spot so it could be served with the rest of the food. He saw Aliya and Marissa helping out in the food line along with Genieva. Aliya was smiling at one of the guests while dishing up their food.
Sonya came up behind him with a pan of jambalaya.
“Stop staring at her.”
“I’m not staring,” Kolby said. “I was just looking for Marissa.”
“Your daughter has been under that woman’s feet since she arrived,” Sonya said. “I don’t think it is wise to let her get too attached.”
“She sees Aliya five days a week. It’s going to be hard to separate them,” Kolby said. He spotted Hale and Harry coming towards them. They too had showered and changed. “Do you need me to help carry anything else out of the house?” Kolby asked his mother.
“No, you go get yourself something to eat,” Sonya said as she joined the other servers in the food line. “I can handle this.”
Kolby walked away and steered his brother-in-law and cousin in the opposite direction. He saw his father Kirk busy playing horseshoes with some of the older guys. Hale’s parents had arrived and were in the food line too. Kolby went over to speak to them. Mary Christian kissed him and Harry on the cheek and pinched Hale. Kolby liked Hale’s family. They were good people. They walked to the back of the food line.
“Ooh, the pretty lady teacher is serving food,” Harry said as they got closer.
“Mama said she made the gumbo,” Kolby replied.
“I’m going to get me some of that,” Harry said. “If she cooks as good as she looks I might marry her.”