Being Emma Read online

  Diane worked as a hair stylist in one of the salons in Naples. She and Janie had gone to school together and remained good friends after high school. Many times after work, the girls would figure out an activity and take off together. Diane was a welcome guest at the Johnson ranch and Janie’s parents knew her well.

  Getting home about 5:00 one afternoon, Janie walked in the door while Diane was talking on her cell phone. She brightened when she saw Janie and pointed at her phone, mouthing Wow… Janie heard her conversation as she locked up her weapon in the safe located in her closet, and changed out of her uniform. Going into the kitchen, she wondered whom Diane was speaking to. She saw Diane was wearing her long hair up, instead of down. She briefly thought another stylist had fixed her hair today -- They were always fixing each other’s hair. Diane tried time and again to get Janie in her chair at work to do something different with her hair. But she didn’t want to change her style – Janie liked her ponytail.

  “… Really? That’s interesting… I had no idea… No, I’ve never been over there… Is the food good?”

  Janie perked up her ears – It sounded like she was making a date.

  “… That sounds like fun, John, but I don’t have my work schedule with me right this minute. Could I call you back later and let you know for sure? … No, I’m not trying to put you off, but I promise I will call you later tonight… Okay… Thanks. Bye.”

  She snapped her phone shut and put it on the kitchen counter. Diane had a dreamy look on her face and sighed as she sat down in a chair.

  “What’s with you?” Janie took a drink of the soda she’d poured.

  “I might have a date with John Marston.”

  “John Marston? That guy who works in the garage in town?”

  “Yep. That’s the one.”

  Janie frowned. “When did you meet him?”

  “I needed to have my car serviced and took it in there. I couldn’t get in the garage in Carson City, where I usually go. I met him and I think it’s love at first sight. He’s got dark hair and darker eyes…” That made Janie snort and spit out some of her soda at the same time.

  “You’re kidding, right? Diane, didn’t you fall in love last year with some guy in Reno who sold shoes?”

  “…Yes… no. I just liked him a lot. He was nice.”

  “Yeah, until he hit on that girl in the bar where he’d taken you for dinner.”

  “Okay… so it wasn’t meant to be.” Janie looked at her dubiously.

  “Do you really want to get tangled up with some guy?” Diane looked over at her.

  “I don’t understand why you’re so down on love.”

  “I’m not. You know my brothers, Colt and Jesse, are happily married, as is sister, Meg, in San Francisco. But they all sure went through a lot of heartache to get to the other side. Not sure I want to do that…” When Diane frowned at her, she added, “I know lots of people in love, it’s just not for me.”

  Shaking her head, Diane tried again. “Why not, Janie? The last time I remember you with a guy was this side of never.”

  Janie took a sip and thought about that for a minute. “There’s just too many more interesting things to do. Men take up too much time. Some are real high maintenance. And some always want to tell you what to do. I don’t want some guy telling me what I can and can’t do.”

  Diane smiled slyly. “Maybe not yet… So maybe love’s not for you, but I kinda like it. And John could be the real thing for me.”

  “Really? ... The real thing with John Marston... For Pete’s sake, he’s a mechanic in a garage.”

  “What a snob you are, Janie. Never thought I’d hear you say something like that.”

  Janie had Diane’s best interests at heart – really… And she thought Diane would do better with a more professional man. So she thought she might offer up someone else to take her mind off John… It came to her just who that might be…

  “I’m sure he’s fine, but if you want to date someone interesting, you should consider Ethan Moody.”

  Diane stopped at that. Hmmm… Sheriff’s son…

  “Ethan, one of the other deputy sheriffs?”

  “Sure. Why not? He’s single, cute, I guess, and he’s a cop – the protective type, which should appeal to you. It appeals to most women.” She studied Diane for her response.

  “… Actually, that’s not bad. Is he seeing anyone?”

  “Don’t think so. I could nose around a bit and find out. Do you want me to?”

  Diane was hooked. “Definitely. Give me a call when you find out anything….” She thought of something. “Wait… What should I do about John Marston? I think I have a date with him – He’s expecting my call back. Maybe I should go out with him anyway.”

  Janie rolled her eyes. “You can’t go out with one guy while you’re thinking about another.” Diane laughed.

  “Where’d that rule come from? Did you make it up on the spot?”

  “Well, could you have a good time with John, if you’re thinking about dating Ethan? Really? Would you enjoy yourself?”

  “… Probably not… So I should call him back and cancel?” Her eyes widened. “How do you think he’ll take it? I don’t want him upset or mad at me.”

  “He’ll be fine. Guys get rejected all the time and bounce back. Wait and see… You’ll see him around with somebody else before you know it.”

  “Okay. I guess you’re right.”

  Janie drank down the rest of her soda.

  “Absolutely, I’m right. Now make that call and let’s go grab some dinner. I think Ethan will be at the coffee shop tonight. He mentioned something about it at the office. Maybe we’ll run into him.”

  Diane brightened. “All right. I’ll make the call and get my shoes.”

  Janie was happy that she had done a good deed and saved her friend from making a mistake – Or one that she thought she’d be making.

  She fixed her ponytail and put on a sweater over her jeans. Finding her cowboy boots in the corner of the room, she sat down to put them on while thinking about her archery lesson tomorrow. She was preparing for the state competition in Las Vegas and wanted to ask Craig about the new bow she had purchased. Ferguson was preparing for the competition too and had been an archer much longer than Janie. In fact, he was the one who got her interested in archery in the beginning. Craig had an ancestor who had been in the Royal Company of Archers in Scotland back in the 1800s. They were the archers who protected the Queen.

  Diane came out of the bedroom and brought Janie’s thoughts back to the present. She finished pulling on her boots and they took off for dinner at the coffee shop. And a hopeful encounter with Deputy Ethan.

  ####

  It was late afternoon of the next day and the indoor archery range was not busy. It was a long area that could accommodate twenty archers shooting at a time. There were targets placed twenty feet away that were regulation. Two yellow concentric circles were in the middle of the target with red, blue and black circles revolving around them. If an archer shot the X in the very centermost yellow circle, that indicated a bulls-eye – the best he could shoot. So naturally, everyone practiced for the bulls-eye.

  Craig and Janie happened to be the only archers practicing this afternoon and occupied two center lanes next to each other. Janie had just hit a bulls-eye and was insisting Craig tell her how good she was. He laughed.

  “Yes, all right. Janie, you are the best female archer I know.” He knew that would get a rise out of her.

  “Female? That’s a low blow, Craig. Archery is archery for man or woman. Haven’t you seen ‘Hunger Games’?” She pouted and Craig smiled at her.

  “You know I can draw more weight on my bow than you can. I pull seventy pounds. What’s your draw weight? Thirty?”

  She gave him an exasperated look. “Come on, Craig. You know men have more upper body strength than women. But I’m lifting weights so maybe I can match you for draw weight one of these days.” He looked at her and knew she was serious.

&nb
sp; “I don’t doubt that you’ll try hard, Janie, but seventy pounds is a lot to draw. You’ll be good to get fifty.” Of course, that gave Janie a goal to shoot for, which Craig very well knew.

  After they’d both shot their round of ten arrows, they walked together up to the targets to retrieve them. Craig looked over at her.

  “I was playing poker with a couple of guys the other night. John Marston was there. Do you know him?” Janie avoided looking at him.

  “Nope.”

  “He told me he’d asked Diane out and she turned him down. But the conversation was strange.”

  “Oh, really?” Arriving at the target, Janie began to pull her arrows out, still not looking at him.

  “Yeah… He told me that when he first called her, she was excited to go out with him. When she called later, she told him she couldn’t make it after all. And he couldn’t pin her down to any other time.” He started pulling the arrows out of his target.

  “Huh…”

  “It occurred to me that she called back and turned him down about the time you’d be getting home from work.” Janie slid her eyes over to him and away.

  “So?” She picked out all her arrows and started walking back to the shooting line. Craig put his hand on her arm to stop her.

  “Janie, did you have anything to do with Diane refusing John?” She paused, thinking she’d deny it. Then she decided against it – that would be lying and Janie didn’t lie.

  “… What if I did?” Craig blinked and shook his head.

  “You talked her out of dating him? Why would you do that? Why would you interfere?”

  “I don’t mean to sound snobbish, but she can do better.”

  Craig glared at her.

  “What are you talking about? Do you think we live in Victorian England?”

  “Ah… I mean.” Janie looked contrite for a minute.

  He blew out an exasperated breath and rubbed his forehead like he was getting a headache. He often felt that way lately talking to Janie.

  “Janie… You have to quit being Emma.” She looked him square in the face.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know exactly what I mean. I’ve known you this side of forever and I know your mother has read those books to you.”

  “What books?”

  “ ‘Emma’? A girl named Emma who played matchmaker to her friends in that book by Jane Austen?”

  She folded her arms and glared back at him.

  “I am not being Emma.”

  “You are so and you need to stop. Don’t you remember that she wasn’t a good matchmaker – Much like you’re doing now, I might add.”

  “I’m just trying to help my friend.”

  “Well, stop. There’s nothing wrong with Marston. He’s a good guy and likes Diane a lot. She could do much worse.”

  “She could do much better…”

  “Let her decide that.” She started walking again and Craig caught up with her. They got back to the shooting line and got their bows ready to shoot again.

  He looked over and considered her.

  “I bet you have Ethan in mind for her, don’t you?”

  They both had arrows placed on the bowstrings and shot their arrows. Craig hit a bulls-eye and Janie’s arrow hit a red circle farther down. She glanced at him.

  “Maybe…” They placed new arrows in the bowstrings, pulled their bows back and shot. Craig hit another bulls-eye and Janie hit a blue circle farther down. Her shots were getting worse. He looked over at her and smiled.

  “Well, you can forget that idea… Diane’s not Ethan’s type… He has a bit of a crush on you, in case you haven’t noticed. And you probably haven’t.”

  “For Pete’s sake, Craig. Where do you get these ideas?”

  “From my eyes… I can see.”

  Again they placed arrows in their bowstrings and shot the arrows. Craig hit a third bulls-eye and Janie missed the target altogether. She looked at him angrily.

  “I can see that we’re not going to agree about this, so we’d best not discuss it anymore. And you’re throwing off my game.” She hurriedly went down to retrieve her arrows and then rushed back to pack up her gear. Craig followed her.

  “Good idea… I’m heading over to your folks’ house for dinner tonight. Need a ride?”

  “No, thanks, Mr. Ferguson. I can find my own way there.” She was pissed and he laughed.

  “Suit yourself, Emma.” And he grabbed his equipment to head out the door.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Dinner at the Johnson ranch was always happy and loud. Sandy and Lily had had six children and when several were in residence and with their friends… the noise level tended to be high. Tonight Sandy had grilled steaks and the long table in the kitchen was packed with people. Craig sat next to brothers, Miles and Joey. Miles was in town for a week from his home in London.

  “So how’s London, Miles?” Craig passed the platter of steaks to Miles. He took one and passed it on.

  “God, it’s fabulous… There’s always some great event going on and if not, I love the museums or just a walk in Covent Gardens. And then there are the theatres. You should come to England next time you visit your grandparents in Scotland.”

  “Sounds like a good idea…. Say, didn’t you have a girlfriend? I remember one at Meg’s wedding a few years back.”

  He looked embarrassed. “…I had one -- Kate…She was great.”

  Joey laughed. “And then he screwed it up.”

  Lily looked over at Joey. “That’s not very nice, Joey.”

  “Maybe not nice, but true,” said Joey looking at Miles.

  “Yeah… Okay. I’d rather not talk about it.”

  Most everyone at the table had been talking for a while and passing various dishes around, when Sandy looked at his daughter, Janie. She seemed glum. He noticed Craig had been glancing at her occasionally. Sandy wondered what that was all about.

  “Janie, how’s work going?” She looked up from her plate and smiled.

  “Really well, Dad. The Sheriff’s Department just got some money from the town fundraiser and we’re buying new equipment.”

  “Are you buying new weapons?” asked her mother.

  “Yes, and probably a new vehicle as well. The money’s come at a good time. We were getting pretty low in supplies.”

  “What about the archery competition?” Miles asked her while slicing his steak.

  “What about it?”

  “Aren’t you and Craig preparing for the state competition?” He looked at her and then Craig. When she didn’t answer, Craig wiped his mouth with his napkin.

  “Well, the tournament’s in two months down in Vegas and we hope to be ready. Janie and I have been practicing almost daily.” He looked over at her. “Haven’t we, Janie?” She glared at him and didn’t respond.

  “Janie?” asked Sandy.

  “Yes… If you’ll excuse me, I really need to get going. Early day tomorrow…”

  Lily looked confused. “But you’re not done with your dinner…”

  She got up and took her plate to the kitchen sink.

  “Thanks for dinner, Mom and Dad. See you later.” And she left.

  Everyone was stunned. What was that about? Then Sandy turned to Craig. He shrugged his shoulders.

  “Is she upset about something, Craig?”

  “You know, you really need to ask her. I’m never too sure when it comes to Janie.” Then he got up. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go too.” He put his plate in the sink and walked over to Lily.

  “Thanks so much, Lily. I’ll talk to you soon.” And he left.

  Everyone blinked in surprise. Miles was the first to find his voice.

  “Lovers’ quarrel?”

  “Not a chance. Janie?” Joey laughed while Miles raised his eyebrows.

  Later after dinner when everyone had left, Sandy sat down on the couch in the family room by Lily. He took her hand.

  “What’s going on between Janie and Craig?”

  “
I don’t know, but they’re always mad at each other it seems. It’s hard for them to say a civil word sometimes.”

  “I wonder how they’re able to practice together.”

  “It’s unusual. They’ve been friends since childhood and have always gotten along so well. But recently all they do is scowl.”

  Sandy smiled at her. “It’s never dull at the Johnson ranch, is it? We got Meg married to Carter three years ago and now they have a little girl.”

  Lily smiled and continued, “And before that, Jesse married Audrey and Colt married Mandy. They have children now too, but remember the troubles all of them had before taking the big step.” She looked at him.

  “You don’t suppose that Janie…” Sandy shook his head.

  “No, I don’t. Janie has always said that love was the last thing on this planet she wanted. I’ve always taken her at her word.”

  “Yes, me too…”

  They looked at each other and shrugged. They’d find out eventually if anything was happening. Grandma Jeanne up in Sonoma would probably learn anything first, if there was anything to learn.

  ####

  Janie had walked over to Colt and Mandy’s house. Her brother and sister-in-law had a house on the property about a half-mile away. She needed the walk out in the cool air to clear her head. She was still mad at Craig, but knew he had a point too. Maybe she was sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong. But Diane was her best friend. Where was the line between helping and interfering anyway?

  Walking up the driveway, she heard a coyote howl in the distance. Looking out at the land, the sun had set leaving traces of orange and pink on the horizon. The fresh smell of sagebrush filled her nose with the aromas of home. She loved this land, like nothing else. These were her roots, her life and her future. Future? What would that be, she wondered… Before she could think any deeper, Colt flipped on the outside porch light and opened the front door to her.