A Place Where I Belong, Page 3

  Chapter 3

  By 5:30 am, everyone was gathered around the breakfast table discussing the day’s list of chores. They glanced up, surprised to see Mandy walk in wearing worn cowboy boots, jeans and a long sleeved shirt. They all greeted her warmly. Madge got her a cup of coffee and a plate of eggs, ham, and biscuits.

  “I was hoping you might find some chores for me to do. I know ‘everyone on a working ranch does chores’,” she echoed Robert’s words.

  “You don’t have to do chores. You’re our guest,” ”Melanie insisted.

  “I know I don’t have to do chores, but I’d like to do something useful. I’m used to working on a ranch. I lived most of my life on ranches. My dad’s ranch wasn’t as big as this one, but my dad taught me a lot, and I always did my share of chores, too. I think it would be good for me,” Mandy explained. “I don’t like bragging, but I can ride a horse as well as most guys. I can milk cows, herd and brand cattle, and mend fences (although I am out of practice). I can clean stalls, buck hay, and handle most jobs. Just tell me what you want me to do.”

  “We are going to check the fence lines and start moving the strays over to the other range,” Buddy said.

  “If that’s where you need help, that’s fine with me,” she answered happily.

  “I’ll saddle a horse for you and meet you at the barn,” Buddy said.

  “Okay, I’ll meet you there,” Mandy replied

  Melanie asked, “Are you sure you want to do that? You could stay here and rest or help mom with the cooking or canning. Later, we could take a ride.”

  “It will be good to get back in the saddle and feel useful again. I wasn’t allowed to do anything like that at our ranch in Montana. I’ve missed riding in the early morning hours,” Mandy said happily. She ran upstairs, grabbed a hat, a worn pair of work gloves, and walked to the barn. When she walked inside the barn, Buddy wasn’t in sight. She quickly sneezed three times in a row. “I must be allergic to something in this barn,” she chuckled. She smiled remembering how Ginny and she had laughed as kids about their weird sneezing patterns.

  Buddy had already saddled his large tan quarter horse named Buck. Next to Buck was a smaller black and white pinto with a saddle blanket on its back. Mandy saw a saddle on the ground. She reached down, picked it up, and threw it effortlessly over the pinto’s back. She quickly cinched it tight, adjusted the stirrups, and began stroking the horse’s head. She spoke soothingly to the horse.

  When Buddy strode around the corner of the barn, he stopped and watched Mandy saddle Thunder. He walked over checked the cinch, and nodded his approval. Buddy mounted Buck, the big stallion. Mandy climbed on Thunder’s back and rode over to Buddy’s side. They turned their horses and began riding along the fence line, checking for strays or signs of damage. Whenever they saw strays near the fence, they spurred their horses to move the steers toward the western range land. As they rode along, Buddy pointed out landmarks and talked about the ranch that his family had worked for nearly 100 years. His pride and love of the land rang through his words.

  As they rode through brush, Buddy spotted a group of cattle and rode over to move them toward the rest of the cattle they had headed toward the next grazing range. While Buddy was moving the strays, Mandy sighed as she felt the rhythmic movement of Thunder’s gait. She felt her body relaxing with the gentle swaying movement. The sun had risen during the early morning hours and was shining through the clouds. It warmed her back as she skirted a sage covered ravine. Mandy closed her eyes against the reflection of the sun on the large cattle pond. She suddenly felt a wave of dizziness sweep over her. She pulled on the reins, and Thunder stopped moving forward. She grabbed the saddle horn and held herself steady. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, hoping the strange uneasy feeling would disappear as quickly as it had come on her.

  Thunder took a couple of steps forward and lowered her head to drink from the cattle pond. Mandy heard the lapping sounds as he drank. She gradually opened her eyes. Instead of feeling steadier, she began feeling nauseous as well as dizzy.

  While she sat there wondering what was wrong with her, Buddy rode up to her side. When Buddy stopped Buck next to Thunder, he took off his bandana, wet it in the water, and wiped his forehead. “It’s sure getting warm this morning,” he remarked. He glanced over at Mandy and noticed her face was red and her eyes were closed. “Mandy, are you feeling all right?” he asked.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong. I just started feeling hot and dizzy and nauseous,” she answered.

  “Maybe the sun got to you. Let me help you off Thunder,” he offered.

  Buddy quickly dismounted and lifted Mandy down to stand beside him. He felt her weaving unsteadily. He held her steady and led her over to a shaded area near the creek. Once she was seated on a large boulder, Buddy hurried over, wet his bandana in the clear cold water in the creek and hurried back to Mandy. He felt her forehead and gently pressed the cool cloth against her forehead and red cheeks.

  Mandy shivered and trembled. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms across her chest.

  “Is that any better?” he asked.

  “It feels better, but I’m so lightheaded, and I feel awfully shaky. I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Mandy groaned.

  “Whatever it is, I need to get you back to the ranch house. With you so dizzy and so far from the main house, you can’t go back alone,” Buddy declared.

  “I don’t want to cause so much trouble. Just let me sit here for a while, and then I can ride back,” she said.

  “No argument,” Buddy said. He scooped her up and carried her over to Buck. He lifted her up onto Buck’s back and climbed up behind her. He fastened Thunder’s reins to his saddle horn and began riding quickly back to the main ranch house.

  Mandy leaned back against Buddy and closed her eyes. Buddy’s arm was wrapped around her waist holding her steady as he rode quickly across the range land. When he arrived at the main house, he quickly dismounted, reached up and lifted Mandy to the ground. When she began swaying, he lifted her up into his arms and hurried up the steps.

  Once inside the house, Buddy called, “Mom, come quick. Something’s wrong with Mandy. She’s dizzy and sick. Please come and help”

  When Madge came rushing in from the kitchen, she took one look and ordered, “Take her upstairs to the bedroom. What happened?”

  “I noticed she was red in the face and hot, and she said she felt dizzy. I got her home as quick as I could.”

  Buddy carried her up the stairs and sat her down on the edge of the bed. Madge hurried in, felt her forehead and said, “She’s burning up with fever. Mandy, how do you feel? What’s hurting you?” Madge asked.

  “I don’t know. I felt good this morning, but now I feel nauseous and so light-headed. I haven’t felt this bad since I was a little kid. I’m usually always healthy,” she moaned.

  “Buddy,” she ordered. “Go call Dr. Massey and ask him to come as soon as he can. After raising four kids, I can tell you are really sick. You need to get in bed and rest. Buddy, scoot out and let me get Mandy ready for bed.”

  Buddy hurried to the telephone and called the doctor’s office. The nurse explained he was out on other house calls, and she would give him the message, but it might be evening before he could get there. Buddy relayed the information to his mother. Feeling helpless, he went back, unsaddled, fed, and took care of Thunder and Buck. Afterwards, he went to his house, got cleaned up and returned to the main house.

  Madge helped Mandy undress and slipped a nightgown over her head. She pulled the bedding down and helped her settle into the bed. She got a cool washcloth and placed it on Mandy’s forehead.

  “I’m okay. I can’t let you take care of me. I don’t want to be a bother,” Mandy moaned.

  “Honey, you don’t have a choice. You are sick, and you need someone to take care of you. No arguments or tears. We’ll take care of you. That�
��s what friends and families are for,” Madge added. Madge got an aspirin tablet and some water. She gave it to Mandy. Mandy put the tablet in her mouth and swallowed it. In a few minutes, she closed her eyes and drifted into a restless sleep.

  Buddy paced anxiously downstairs waiting for his mom to come downstairs. When she did, he asked anxiously, “How is she? What’s wrong with her?” he asked.

  “I’m not a doctor, but I think she may have the flu. I heard there was a lot of it going around now. She has all the symptoms, but we’ll know more when Dr. Massey arrives.”

  “Mom, may I go up and see if Mandy needs anything?” Buddy asked.

  “Just don’t wake her up if she is sleeping. Rest is the best thing for her right now. I’m sure she will be all right, but go on up if it will make you feel better,” Madge said patiently.

  Buddy silently opened the door and tiptoed over to the bed. Mandy’s eyes were closed. Buddy pulled a chair over and sat quietly by her bedside. Her face was still flushed with fever. He dipped the washrag in a bowl of water and lightly wiped her forehead. Mandy sighed and opened her eyes. When she saw Buddy, she smiled weakly.

  “How are you feeling now?” he asked softly.

  “Awful. I feel like I’m going to throw up. I’m so hot and uncomfortable. I’m sorry to be such a nuisance,” she whimpered.

  “Don’t be silly. You aren’t a nuisance. Just relax and let us take care of you. The doctor said he’d be here this afternoon or evening. Apparently several people in the area are sick with the same symptoms. The nurse said some of them got sick at the card game where we met,” Buddy explained.

  “I wonder about Ginny. When I was visiting with her, she was sneezing She said she’d been feeling tired lately, but she thought it was the usual problem with allergies. She always had problems with them when I knew her. I didn’t think anything about it. Maybe I picked it up there,” Mandy said.

  “Well, if you had to get sick, I’m glad it happened when you are here. I hate to think about you sick like this and all alone in a strange place with no one around to help. At least here you have people to take care of you,” Buddy said.

  “I still feel terrible that I’m bothering you,” Mandy said miserably.

  “You aren’t a bother or a nuisance or a pest. You are a friend and our guest. I hope you will settle in and get well soon. Just rest and let us take care of you, Mandy,” Buddy said. Buddy walked over and opened the bedroom window a little ways so a gentle breeze swept the stale warm air out of the room.

  “Thanks, Buddy,” Mandy said. “I think I can sleep now.”

  Buddy walked downstairs where the rest of the family was eating dinner. He went to the kitchen and served himself. He returned to the table and reported to the others that Mandy was sleeping.

  The family was just finishing dinner when Dr. Massey arrived. Buddy went to the door and showed him up to Mandy’s room. Dr. Massey took Mandy’s temperature, checked her eyes, ears, throat, and blood pressure. He listened to her breathing. “It seems like you have the same kind of flu that most of my patients have right now. It comes on very rapidly. Usually there is sneezing or coughing. Then the fever comes with achy joints, nausea, and vomiting. After the fever breaks, the symptoms go away almost as quickly as they started. Most of my patients who have had it followed the same pattern. It is good to check it out. If it isn’t treated promptly, it could go into pneumonia. So far only one patient of mine has had to be hospitalized. Buddy, do you remember Ginny, Melanie’s 4-H partner? She got so sick at the card game in Carmelita the other day that she was taken to the hospital. When I checked on her this morning, her fever had broken, and she was released this afternoon. Just make sure Mandy gets plenty of rest, fluids, and aspirin to bring the fever down. I’ll check on her tomorrow. If she gets worse during the night, take her to the regional medical center.”

  “Thanks for coming out so late. We really are lucky to have a good-old fashioned doctor like you who still makes house calls. Thanks again,” Madge said as she walked him out the front door. He walked to his car and drove out of sight.

  Buddy went into the kitchen, filled a pitcher with ice water, and carried it back to Mandy’s room. He moved the chair over beside the bed. He straddled the chair, poured a glass of water, and handed her the glass.

  “Come on, Mandy”, he coaxed. “You’ve got a fever. Doc says you need to drink a lot of liquids. Besides you need to take another aspirin.”

  “I’m not thirsty,” she mumbled.

  “Please, drink a little now. Swallow the pill so we can get the fever down. Please, it’s important to me that you get well,” he encouraged her.

  Mandy took the pill and swallowed it. She took a few sips of water before handing the glass back to Buddy. He put the glass near her on the bedside table. “Can I get you anything else?” he asked. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll get out now and let you rest, but I’ll be downstairs. Just holler and I’ll get whatever you need.” Before leaving, he felt her forehead, tucked the covers in around her, turned off the room light and walked out. “Get some rest, and I’ll check back in a little while.”

  Mandy watched him walk out of the bedroom. At the door, he looked back and mouthed, “Sleep well, sweet dreams, Mandy.” Mandy closed her eyes and soon drifted off into a restless sleep.

  It was after 10 pm, and everyone else in the house was asleep. Buddy was sitting downstairs thumbing through a magazine. Mandy began moaning and writhing in pain. She struggled to get up to go to the bathroom. As she felt herself growing more nauseous, she stood up and was overcome with a wave of dizziness. She grabbed for the nightstand to steady herself. It tilted and the pitcher fell off and landed with a crash on the floor. She crumpled down on the bed and began retching. She doubled over and vomited the foul smelling liquid over the bed, down her night gown, and onto the floor.

  When Buddy heard the loud thud, he dashed up the stairs and rushed into the room. He saw Mandy slumped over the bed looking more helpless and miserable than anyone he had ever seen. He lifted her up and carried her into the bathroom. She sank down on the edge of the bathtub. Buddy pushed an empty waste basket over beside her. He rushed out and grabbed clean sheets and blankets from the linen closet. He quickly stripped off the soiled bedding. With many years of practice, he soon had the bed made. Buddy got a towel and cleaned up the mess on the floor. He scooped up the dirty bedding and towels and tossed them in the upstairs washing machine. Next, he returned to the bedroom to find something clean for Mandy to wear. He started to open her suitcase, but decided to check in his closet first. Long ago, he had moved most of his clothing to his house, but he found, tucked in the back of the closet, an old football jersey. It was extra-large, but at least it was clean and it would completely cover her.

  Buddy hurried into the bathroom. He took a towel and gently washed her off. He said, “Mandy, can you take off your nightgown so you can put on clean clothes?”

  Mandy nodded and groggily began tugging at the soggy garment. Buddy tried to look away, but he ended up grabbing the soppy gown and helping her remove it. He unfolded the jersey and slipped it over her head. “Mandy, do you need to use the toilet before you go back to bed?”

  Mandy nodded yes. Buddy helped her over to it, and she sat down. Buddy walked out and pulled the door shut behind him. He took her soiled night gown and threw it into the washer and started the machine; then he hurried back and helped Mandy get into bed. Buddy brought the empty wastebasket back and put it beside the bed.

  Buddy felt her forehead. It was still very hot. He washed her face with the cool cloth and laid it across her neck. She sighed. He lifted her shoulders up so she could take another aspirin with a few sips of water. He laid her back down. She closed her eyes and dozed off.

  Buddy straddled the chair beside her bed. It was very late, but he decided to stay in case she awoke sick again. He rested his head on the back of the cha
ir. In the stillness, he could hear her breathing. The steadiness of her breathing began to lull him to sleep. When it changed, he came alert. .As he watched, she began writhing, trying to sit up. He quickly grabbed her shoulders and leaned her over toward the side of the bed. He placed the wastebasket under her mouth just as she began vomiting. Buddy kept his arm around her and steadied her as she retched again and again until nothing more came out. Buddy cradled her against his chest for several minutes to be sure she was not going to vomit again. Gently he helped her lie down on the bed. He watched her silently while she slept.

  Buddy sat beside the bed and closed his eyes. He prayed, “Dear Father in Heaven, please touch Mandy with your comfort and healing power. Please restore her health. Let her fever break and let her soon be well. Give me the wisdom to do whatever is needed to help her. Amen.”

  Buddy looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was nearly 2 am. He gently touched her forehead. It was still warm, but it didn’t feel as hot as before. He roused her enough to slip the thermometer in her mouth. It had dropped from103.4 to 101.6. About an hour later, she woke up. He got her to take a few more sips of water. He washed her face with the cool cloth. Before she went back to sleep, he took her temperature and smiled when he read the result. It was now below 99. Whether by the power of prayer, aspirin, cool compresses, or her body’s own healing power, the fever had broken. He watched her for a few more minutes. She seemed to be sleeping more comfortably. He bent down, gently kissed her forehead, and whispered, “Sweet dreams, Mandy” before tiptoeing out of the house.

  When Buddy walked into his house, it was nearly 4 am. He quickly undressed and fell onto his bed. He slept for about an hour before the alarm rang. He stretched and took a quick shower before starting the new day.

  Before eating breakfast, Buddy peeked in on Mandy. She was still sleeping. Her face felt cool to the touch. He smiled when he saw her turn her face towards him. He wondered what she was dreaming about. All he knew was, she was better, and he was happy about that. He quietly walked back downstairs and sat down at the table. Soon the rest of the family wandered in.

  He found Madge in the kitchen and told her how ill Mandy had been during the night. Madge looked at him astonished at all that he had done during the night. “Why didn’t you wake me up? I would have helped,” she said.

  “I didn’t want you to lose sleep, too. Luckily you’d taken such good care of me as a child that I knew what needed to be done. I just checked in on her. She’s sleeping peacefully. Her bed is still clean, and it seems her fever has broken. The dirty bedding is in the washer. It’s washed, but I forgot put it in the dryer last night before I went home to sleep. Do you want me to go do that?” he asked quickly.

  “No, Buddy, I can take care of that after breakfast. I am really impressed! It sounds like you did a great job. Maybe, if you get tired of ranching, you might become a nurse,” she added with a laugh.

  Buddy chuckled, “No way. I just remembered how you took care of us when we were little and how much it meant to us. I had a great teacher, but that’s not a job I’d want to do all the time, or ever, for that matter. While I’m out doing my chores, will you look in on her? I’m so glad she wasn’t travelling and all alone in a motel when she got sick. I can’t imagine being sick and alone. I’d never survive without you and my family. I hope she stays here after she recovers completely. I really like her, Mom. I’ve never known anyone like her. I feel so happy when she is around. Even when she was sick, I felt glad that I was able to help her. I guess that sounds pretty strange, but I hope she stays here a long time,” Buddy said quietly.

  “So do I. She is a beautiful young lady—both outside and on the inside. Outer beauty fades away, but inner beauty lasts forever. I’ll take good care of her for you—just like she was my own daughter,” Madge said. “According to Dr. Massey, if she has the same stuff the others have, she should be well very soon. It may be hard getting her to stay inside and rest. We sure don’t want her to have a relapse.”

  “I trust you, Mom. You always managed to get us to rest. Mandy’s in good hands. Thanks, Mom, I’d better get out and go to work.” Buddy said.

  Later that morning, Madge walked upstairs, put the wash into the dryer, and peeked in on Mandy. Mandy was still in bed, but she was wide awake.

  “You certainly look better today than you did yesterday afternoon! How are you feeling?” Madge asked. “Buddy said you were really sick last night. Let me check your temperature and see how you are doing today.”

  “I can’t remember being that sick since before my mother died. I’m sorry I was so much trouble last night. Thanks for taking such good care of me last night,” Mandy said.

  “You must have been really sick. I didn’t even know you were sick last night until Buddy told me about it this morning. He was the one who took care of you. He never even woke me up. I was amazed when I saw how efficient and thorough he was,” Madge added.

  “Now I remember! It was Buddy in the room last night. He was the one who helped me after I threw up. Was he the one who cleaned up the bed, the room, and me? If you say it wasn’t you; it had to be Buddy. I remember when I took care of sick kids. That was hard enough, but managing a sick adult! I don’t know how to thank him. Oh, my goodness,” Mandy blushed. “When I woke up this morning I wasn’t wearing my nightgown. How did I get into this shirt?”

  Madge giggled, “Well, it is really refreshing to find a woman modest and sweet enough to blush about that question! Don’t worry. Buddy is a gentleman. He said he took you into the bathroom. He had you take off your nightgown; then he gave you the jersey to wear. Don’t worry. Buddy isn’t a saint, but he is a gentleman. He wouldn’t take advantage of anyone, especially not a friend, when they were helpless and vulnerable. He didn’t want to go digging through your suitcase, so he found his old football jersey in his closet. I must say it looks a lot cuter on you than it ever did on him.”

  Mandy looked up, her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know what to say to him. No one has ever treated me so kindly, except my mom and dad. I didn’t know there were any true gentlemen left in this world. You have raised one amazing son,” Mandy cried.

  “I have to agree with you on that! We think he is really special, too. I realize I may not be totally objective, but he has been a wonderful son and a great friend to everyone. I give all the credit to God. We tried to raise him to be the best man he could be. He isn’t perfect, but I am very proud of Buddy,” Madge said wiping tears from her eyes at Mandy’s words of praise.

  “Everyone has already eaten breakfast and left to do their chores. Do you feel well enough to eat some breakfast?” Madge asked.

  “I still feel weak and shaky, but something light and not too greasy or spicy sounds good. Just cereal or toast and a scrambled egg,” Mandy said.

  “Good. You stay in bed and rest while I fix a tray for you,” Madge said.

  “No, that’s too much trouble. I can come downstairs to eat,” Mandy said.

  “No. Stay in bed and rest for now. Buddy’s orders. He doesn’t want you to relapse, and neither do I. It’s no trouble,” Madge insisted.

  A few minutes later, Madge returned with a breakfast tray. It contained a plate of scrambled eggs, fresh homemade bread and a bowl of homemade strawberry jelly. A small glass of cold water and a cup of black coffee were on the tray next to a single red rosebud beside the plate.

  “Paul picked the red rosebud for you,” Madge explained when she saw Mandy’s reaction.

  “This is a feast. It looks and smells wonderful, but I don’t know if I can eat it all,” Mandy said.

  ”Don’t worry about that. Eat whatever you want. You don’t have to clean your plate. I hope you enjoy it and can keep it down. I’ll come back and get the tray when you are finished. Just rest and get well,” Madge said.

  Mandy looked at the tray and realized she actually was hungry. Mandy
put the tray down on the chair. She started with the scrambled eggs and then finished with the strawberry jam slathered on the homemade bread. Last, she finished the coffee. Mandy picked up the beautiful red rosebud and smelled it. She placed the tiny flower in her half empty water glass. Mandy smiled happily and settled back down on the soft squishy pillow and fell asleep.

  Madge tiptoed in a few minutes later to pick up the tray. She looked at Mandy sleeping peacefully and smiled. Madge adjusted the open window, closed the curtains, and dimmed the room lights before walking down stairs to the kitchen. She washed the last dishes and put the tray in the china cupboard.

  Madge finished preparing the chicken before placing it in the roasting pan and setting the oven timer. By the time the kids and Melanie came in, the smell of roast chicken and stuffing filled the kitchen with its inviting aroma. She scrubbed and oiled some potatoes and put them in the oven to bake. Lisa got fresh fruit and vegetables out and helped Grandma Madge make a fresh salad. Lisa helped measure and mix the soft white flour dough to make fluffy buttermilk biscuits for dinner.