Sassy Cowgirl Kisses by Kathy Fawcett
Chapter 31
Kat didn’t bother to hide her surprise at seeing Sassy standing in the doorway.
“Oh, hello Sassy,” she said, coolly.
“Gunnar asked me to come by,” Sassy hurriedly explained, “to bring your mail.”
Still knitting her brow, Kat opened the door a little wider.
“Come on in.”
Stepping into the impressive foyer, Sassy exclaimed at the antler chandelier overhead, and oohed a little at the inlaid marble flooring. Her eyes caught the family portraits on the wall and the stone fireplace in the background, at the far end of the connecting great room.
As Sassy took in the visual treats, Kat seemed to be watching her closely.
“Let’s go in the kitchen,” Kat said, “you look thirsty, and a little pale.”
“It must be the altitude still,” Sassy said to a skeptical Kat. “I’ve been dizzy at times.”
Kat nodded and turned so Sassy would follow. “There’s other things that cause dizziness, you know,” said the doctor. “If it doesn’t go away soon, you might want to have a physical exam and some bloodwork.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Sassy said, wondering what Kat was implying. People tended to make assumptions about pretty girls—if she’s dizzy, she must be preggers, right? She was guilty until proven innocent, apparently. Sassy expected more from Kat, and if this is what she had been thinking, was more than a little disappointed.
Little did anyone know, and it was nobody’s business, that Sassy kept men at arm’s length as a rule. A rule she had broken for Ash, whose kiss she did not regret and could still taste. Being on West Ranch was intoxicating for Sassy, for many reasons now. It could be that Ash was getting tangled up in her complex emotions.
But honestly, Sassy thought, before long, she’d be gone and none of it would matter.
Minutes later, the two were perched on stools against a marble kitchen island so big it could land a small airplane.
“I’m sure you hear it all the time, but this house is amazing,” Sassy managed, after gratefully sipping the cold lemonade. The bracing tang of the drink revived her senses.
“Yes, it is amazing,” Kat said. “I never thought I’d be living in such a place, but it’s become home to me.”
“Did you… grow up in Wyoming?” Sassy ventured, already knowing the answer.
“No. Northern Illinois,” Kat said, watching the girl closely. “Not far from Wisconsin. You?”
“Southern Illinois,” Sassy said. “Close to the Missouri border.”
“Ah,” Kat nodded, eyeing Sassy with interest. “You’re a long way from home.” And then, “Why did you come here, Sassy?”
Sassy felt her heartrate increase at the question as blood drained from her head—she thought she might faint, but forced herself to reach down and lift the glass. With a trembling hand, she focused her energy on stilling the shaking ice cubes and taking another tart sip. This was the opening she’d been looking for with Kat, and opened her mouth to answer.
“I came to tell…”
“Mommy, Mommy,”a sharp little voice interrupted Sassy before she could say more. A child came running into the room, excitedly holding a book.
“Willow…” Kat started to say.
“Mommy, I can read this one all by myself!”
“That’s great sweetie,” Kat said, “you can read it to me in a minute, but first, do you see we have company?”
“Oh, hi,” the girl said to Sassy, rallying admirably to gain her composure. Sassy was sure that the girl’s parents were raising her as heir to a vast fortune and responsibility—of whom much is given, much will be required, or so goes the scripture.
“Willow, this is miss Sassy. She works in the ranch office, and is visiting us from the state of Illinois—the same state…” and then, Kat looked up at Sassy with a jerk before continuing, only this time, there was a dawn of recognition in her eyes, “…the same state I grew up in.”
“How do you do, Willow,” Sassy said with grace equal to Kat’s own. “It’s nice to meet you. And you’re reading books already? You must be very smart.”
Sassy had never been around many children in her life, but knew from her father’s example never to point out a little girl’s beauty.
Nobody can take credit for their God-given looks,he’d say; encourage their accomplishments and their mind instead. Which is how he raised Sassy.
“Would you like me to read to you?” Willow asked, about to hand her book to Sassy. Mama Kat intervened and took the book from the little hands.
“Sassy needs to get back to the office, Willow,” Kat said, “and I need to open my mail. We’ll see our guest out, and then read a few books together, okay?”
“Okay Mommy,” Willow said, “bye Miss Sassy.”
“Bye Willow,” Sassy said as she stood up to go, sensing Kat’s hot gaze even without looking. “Thanks for the lemonade, Mrs. West… Kat.”
Kat nodded, still holding a frown on her face as she gave her head a little shake and led Sassy to the door. There was no fond farewell, or “come back soon.” Moments later, as she walked to the Jeep, Sassy flinched as she felt as much as heard the large wood and iron door close hard behind her.
And a feeling of foreboding in the pit of her stomach.
“Whew,I would not want to be on the wrong side of Kat West,” Sassy said to herself as she made her way back. Kat had done all the right things, as the matriarch of one of the biggest ranches in Wyoming.
Nobody could accuse her of being inhospitable.
And yet…
There were no warm and fuzzies awaiting Sassy in the big house. Instead of feeling welcomed, Sassy felt as though Kat was biding her time and watching the clock; anxious to escort her guest out the door, and toss her back into the dry hot Wyoming sun.
Could she blame her? Kat was a busy doctor and mother, as well as wife to Gunnar West. Individually, these were all full-time jobs. Then there was the foundation. Sassy knew the West Foundation, led by Kat West, actively raised and dispersed funds to schools, shelters, and individuals in need—it was all there in the foundation’s social media posts.
The look on the students’ faces when they all received new laptops from the West Foundation is something I’ll never forget, a teacher from the high school posted.
Kat West was a godsend,posted another local family, after their home was flooded by the West River in springtime, and they had their temporary housing paid for.
The posts impressed Sassy, and filled her with hope that Kat would warm up to her before summer’s end.
“Be a godsend for me, Kat West,” Sassy said out loud, as a plea and a prayer. “There’s nobody else.”