Green-Eyed Desert Serenade

by Heather(Trix15)

 

They turned their horses and started back toward the ranch. After 30 minutes of riding, the feel of the wind blowing through Trixie’s short curls was nothing short of exhilarating. Almost as priceless as the sight of watching Jim and Brian’s expressions as Tenny led her away to the horses they would use for their ride. She hated to admit it but Jim’s face had been the most precious and she had given in to a small feeling of satisfaction at this. Remembering the look on his face as Tenny had helped her onto her horse and they had rode away served to turn her nose up a bit father. That should make up for all of the looks and oh-so-kind words he’s had for me ever since we arrived, she thought. But soon Trixie sighed inwardly at the commentary running through her mind.

She shook her head, trying to concentrate on her conversation with Tenny. She had just finished telling him of some of the past Christmas experiences that she had with her family, most of them involving Bobby and his antics. They had laughed so hard that Trixie felt like she was going to fall off of her horse. "So tell me about what you all do back at home this time of year. I know that most families have much that goes on. You said you were from the East? Whereabouts?"

"I grew up in Pennsylvania, which is where my folks still live of course. We had great Christmas times. In fact, my very first pony was a Christmas gift. I named him Bethlehem because I was going to play Joseph in the church Christmas pageant that year and the little church ladies always giggled at me because I could never learn to say Bethlehem properly."

Trixie giggled herself at this. "You must have sounded very much like Bobby. How any of us understand him is beyond me. He spent a great deal of time last Christmas thinking that the story of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and their journey had a lot to do with American Indians because he kept calling the "nativity scene" the "native scene".

Tenny laughed. "I must have been very much like Bobby, from the stories that my parents tell me. They sound similar. I have to admit that what I miss most about being at home for the holidays are the cookies that my mom makes. Even when dad had money and our grounds were full of servants, mom still always wanted to do the cooking and she was heavenly at it. Each year she’d make pecan crescents, my favorite, decorated sugar cookies, chocolate pan bars and don’t tell anyone about this one – rum balls. I have a weakness for cookies but she’d only make those kinds at Christmas. She said they were like Girl Scout Cookies. If she made them all the time, they’d never be special. And I suppose she was right. She sends me some every year, but it’s not the same as smelling them being made, and eating them right out of the oven."

"Our moms makes tons of food for Christmas as well. And I guess we really get the best of both worlds because she promised to have more stuff waiting for us when we return. I can just taste everything now," Trixie looked at him, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Christmas is indeed a special time for things. I look forward to finishing so I can begin teaching somewhere and then have the freedom to return home for holidays and the like when I want."

"It must be hard being away," Trixie mused.

"It is. But you get used to it. And you know it’s not forever so life goes on." He smiled at her. "But enough sad stuff. We’ve got lots to do right here."

"It is getting pretty exciting around here," Trixie replied as they neared the areas where the horses were kept.

"I hope to have the pleasure of shakin’ a hoof with you at the square dance tonight, ma’am," Tenny said, lapsing into the lingo.

"I’m just going to watch," Trixie said. "I don’t know any of the complicated steps."

"You don’t need to know’em," he said, grinning. "You don’t need to do nothin’ but sashay forward and backward or prance around your podner. Mr. Wilson is going to do the calling, and he’s no expert; sort of makes it all up as he goes along."

"Well, maybe I will try it," Trixie said dubiously.

"Shore," he predicted enthusiastically. "It’ll be a rompin’ and stompin’ shindig – more fun than a barrel of rattlesnakes!"

Trixie merely grinned after him as he headed off to do whatever he had to do before dinner and the square dance, while she made her way to the girls’ suite of rooms to change clothes. She shook her head and sighed, remembering a certain red head, hot-tempered friend of hers that she wondered if he’d even want to dance with her that night. "We’ll see Mr. Stetson. We’ll see."

 

Meanwhile, during the ride…

Da-da-da-dum, da-dum-da-da-dum… Jim sat on the bed nearest the window humming the same notes over and over again. He didn’t know why the song had come to him suddenly. He remembered that his father had played an old Christmas album over and over on Christmas day while he was growing up. They could not open presents until each song had been listened to and cherished at least once. And then after the packages had been ripped open and were spread out on the living room floor, the album would start all over again. It had many songs, but for some reason, this one was stuck in Jim’s head and had been since he had returned from the rodeo.

Brian and Mart had changed into their uniforms and headed out to relax by the pool for a short time before they were expected in the kitchen to help with meal preparations. Jim had declined, deciding instead to give some serious time and consideration to what had just happened. He felt like he had been run over by a truck, And this was perhaps the reason that this song was of comfort to him now, as depressing as it was.

I’ll have a Blue Christmas without you.
I’ll be so blue thinking about you.

Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won’t mean a thing if you’re not here with me.
I’ll have a blue Christmas that’s certain.

And when that blue heartache starts hurtin’
You’ll be doin’ all right
With your Christmas of white,
But I’ll have a blue, Blue Christmas.

Let’s just face it Jim. You have it bad, he thought. When he had seen Trixie walking across the ranch to the Op’ry House with Tenny, looking like she hadn’t a care in the world and in close conversation with the cowboy, he had felt the most disturbing and yet powerful of emotions flare across his body. He was jealous. There was no nice way of putting it. Before he could even get his emotions under control, he had asked her in a chilly voice if she had corrected all of her problems. He hasn’t missed the flash of hurt beneath her sarcastic answer. Couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you Frayne. Dropped the ball there, didn’t you?

He hadn’t said much to her during the rodeo – she had seemed fascinated by her surroundings. But that hadn’t stopped him from wanting to lean over the fence post and whisper to her. He didn’t know what he would say, anything would do. Just something to pull his rather large and choking foot out of his mouth. And then, to top it off, just when he thought he had finally gotten the nerve to say something, the icing was slathered all over the cake at Trixie’s acceptance of a late afternoon ride with the handsome cowboy. And wordless acceptance at that, he muttered. It didn’t take anything for him to get the kind of reaction from her that I wanted, Jim fumed, trying to remember to breathe.

He sighed, sitting down on his bed. Let’s face it Frayne. You screwed up. So what are you going to do about it? Trix is the most generous forgiving person on the planet. She rode out with him because he asked. And you could have done the same thing instead of harping on her math ability. Well you missed your chance, but tonight – tonight you’ll be ready. It’s a dance. And all girls like to feel appreciated and they like to be danced with.

Jim stood up and looked out the window with renewed vigor. Looking towards the corral and bunkhouses, he could just see two people dismounting from horses. One was rather tall and the other, short with a curly blonde head. He watched as the tall one walked toward the bunkhouse leaving the shorter one standing there. She shook her head about something known only to her then began walking towards the main lodge with her head down.

You just wait Trixie Belden. Just wait. I’ve changed my tune.

The End

Happy Holidays V