The Courting of Thomasyna Tollefson

An Unexpected Proposal-2-1

SITUATED A COMFORTABLE distance from the road, the big white colonial house at DreamWynd topped a knoll that sloped sharply behind to the stable yard. The front lawns, tiered in two levels with stone walls for support, were tastefully planted with varieties of flowers, shrubs and trees. An ageless, but well maintained, stone wall enclosed much of the land belonging to the Tollefsons, adding a good deal to the charm of the place.

The driveway, white stone gravel as far as the parking lot, emptied into the stable yard. There it became a lane that went beyond the barns, the indoor arena, and the three riding rings outside, and led to the pastures, fields, and the wooded trails; some of which in turn, went to sandy beaches lining ocean coves.

Thomi parked in the family’s private parking area—next to an older model white Lincoln she wasn’t familiar with. Who could this be? Hardly had she gotten out of the car, when her youngest brother and sister besieged her. A little girl of about three or so tagged along. With gorgeous blue eyes and coppery curls, how much like Stephan she looked!

“Hi, Thom! This is Kailey Van Kirk, and she don’t talk!” said four-year-old Stacia-Lynne breathlessly. She hauled her new friend forward, still chatting away. “Don’t know why, she just don’t. And she came with your new boyfriend. Know what? Her mom’s name is Karla Storm, just like Geoffrey’s horse is April Storm! That’s funny, huh? But we like her! And they’re in the boarding barn. And I like Stephan lots better than Charley, Thomi! Maybe Daddy will like him too, huh, Thomi? But he don’t wanna get his hopes up, 'cause you never pick the good guys!”

“Stacia, spare me Dad’s remarks, okay?”

“But this guy’sth a good guy, huh, Thomi! He talksth to us and he gabe us candy, and Kaiwey’sth mom let her ride my pony,” exclaimed Stacia’s twin brother, Daine-Anthony, obviously thrilled to be so honored. “They came to sthee Fairwind and Wogue, 'cause they’re the onesth who used t’ own ‘em. They’re Stephan’sth cousinsth, y’ know. But Mom’sth not here and Dad’sth busy, so they’re waitin’ for him. You want me to show you?”

“No,” replied Thomi, quelling the unexpected fingers of thrill that mingled with an equally unforeseen apprehension. Not safe from tall redheaded idiots anywhere! Figures he’d be the cousin of someone they’d done business with in the past! Figures he’d know how to charm children! “Where is Dad?”

“Out in the field. Heidi foaled out there, so he’sth checking on her. Know what? Stephan thaid he wants to mawr—”

Sudden angry brays and equally outraged squeals ripped the air, together with the sound of splintering wood. “Oh, great! You kids stay out here! Don’t come in!” Thomi sprinted for the boarding barn.

Seven-year-old Jacqlyn burst out of the barn and spying her, cried at the top of her young lungs, “Thomi! Thomi, quick! Cedric and Squeaky are kicking the barn down! Mrs. Green’s gonna kill Wanda and Louise for this, and your new boyfriend’s here with his cousins, and I’m getting Dad!” She dashed away in the direction of the pastures.

“Jacqi, I don’t have a new boyfriend!”

“Yeah, y’ do!” called back Jacqi, without stopping.

Thomi uttered a sound of annoyance and hurried down the aisle toward Mrs. Green, who was certain her precious spotted mammoth jack was about to be murdered by the much smaller red dun Quarter Horse mare. Mrs. Green alternated between crying out her concern for Cedric and upbraiding an absent Wanda and Louise, DreamWynd’s hired help, for ignoring her orders not to put her mule and that mare next to each other. Just now, fortunately for them, they were in the main barn, grooming two of the animals Nicholas wanted exercised today.

Already, Stephan and his cousins had responded to the emergency. The tallest of the girls slipped into Cedric’s stall, undaunted by the mammoth jack’s furious tantrum—which Squeaky answered with a nasty one of her own from her side of the wall. There’d be nothing left of those stalls shortly! Or Stephan’s cousin, either. Cedric wasn’t fond of strangers!

“Stormi, be careful! He’s no pony!”

“Stephan, he’s got deep cuts! If he strikes again he could—” Cedric let fly his hooves, and caught one in the jagged opening he’d kicked in the wall between the stalls. “Damn! He’s done it! I’ll calm him! See if you can get him free!” Stormi went closer to the trapped mule, unafraid. Cedric scrambled about, trying to intimidate her and free himself at the same time. But his unpredictable disposition and his imposing height didn’t frighten her. She spoke to him confidently and softly. His ears went from laid back flat to perked forward interestedly within a few short, but harrowing minutes.

Stephan, trying to get nearer to the mule’s back end, glimpsed Thomi’s arrival. He called out, “Thomi! Run back and get my case from the Lincoln! This could be bad!”

Mrs. Green made a small cry and pressed her hands to her mouth. For a few moments, her worry overshadowed her vexation with Nicholas’ hired girls.

Thomi about-faced, took a second to grip Mrs. Green’s arm in reassurance, then sprinted out to the parking lot. Now she knew who the Lincoln belonged to! Considered himself family already! And she’d thought she’d be safe from him here! Ha! Wouldn’t be safe probably if she went to the moon!

Stephan’s large saddle brown medical case sat on the backseat floor. She yanked it out and hurried back. Yeah, didn’t it just figure, too, that he’d be something useful—like a vet!

By the time she got back with Stephan’s medical case, Stormi had succeeded in totally winning Cedric over. With no halter or rope, she kept the mule under control with just her low sweet voice and the soothing touch of her hand. Thomi halted by the open stall door and simply watched in amazement as the ornery animal lipped at Stormi’s dark auburn hair and nuzzled her cheek. Let himself be persuaded into cooperating with his liberator—who possessed an equally mesmerizing voice. And an infinitely gentle, patient manner in dealing with temperamental creatures . . .

Well, at least, Ming wasn’t swayed!

In the next stall, Stormi’s sister had, despite an obvious disability, done the same with Squeaky. Now that Cedric had quit his foolishness, Squeaky lost interest in the quarrel. Both girls had clear, musical voices, although Stormi’s seemed lower and sweeter—and Thomi halted outside the stall, not announcing her return—just so she could listen herself. Watched Stephan free the mule’s trapped back leg and assess the damage done.

“He’s cut it deeply, yet, luckily, hasn’t done it permanent damage! Be laid up a while, however.” He stood and glancing out, perceived Thomi at the door. “Thanks, Thomi. Is there someplace else we can get him so I can stitch him up? I don’t think I want to attempt anything in such close quarters with him.”

“You can use the paddock right outside,” said Thomi, swinging the door open wide. “It’s closest. If you can actually get him to move . . .”

Not a problem. Even as she spoke, Cedric, deep under Stormi’s spell, willingly hobbled outside. One could only admire her way with the usually anything but tractable mule.

Stephan at once began to prepare Cedric for his operation. Then, sedating the animal, Stephan repaired the gash and neatly bandaged the leg. While his cousins were perfectly capable of attending him, he was inclined to enlist Thomi’s aid in assisting with the operation. As she was no stranger to such occurrences, and had, in the past, assisted Dr. Ayer, she acquitted herself well, earning his praise when the job was done.

In the meantime, Mrs. Green, upset over the occurrence, and the sight of her mule’s bloodied hock, had gone off on her own search of Nicholas Tollefson—and his hired hands. First, she ferreted out Wanda and Louise, since they were the easiest to locate. A new ruckus raged.

Nicholas, dragged out of the field by Jacqi, found himself in the center of it. Unable to sort out all the complaints and the pleas of innocence besieging him all at once, he told everyone to calm down, and he strode off in the direction of the paddock.

Naturally, a parade of people followed him, not a one of them inclined to heed his command. They all hustled toward the paddock where Thomi, Stephan, and his cousins stood watch over the slumbering mule, their disagreement plainly reaching them.

Jacqi ducked between the rails, and ran over to report cheerfully, “Mrs. Green is gonna make Dad fire those two nutheads!”

Mrs. Green felt her grievance legitimate. Everyone in the county knew that Quarter Horse mare and the mammoth jack loathed each other. Why had Wanda and Louise changed the mare’s stall to that next to Cedric’s?

“Nicholas, you’re well aware they don’t get along! That mare instigates these scenes! And if your ‘help’ can’t follow orders, I say fire ‘em! Get someone who can!”

Mrs. Green then collared Louise. Nearly fainting with dread confronting the old lady’s displeasure, Louise could only whimper apologies. She was cut off ruthlessly. “I don’t want you near my animals, do you understand me? And as for you, my girl—” She glared at Wanda.

They, yet again, swore the animals were getting along when they’d left. In her mind, the two were twits, and Mrs. Green refused to listen. Thomi didn’t blame her. Wanda, in general, had an inflated opinion of her equine knowledge, while Louise dissolved into tears at the slightest reprimand. Such babies!

“Mrs. Green,” Nicholas interrupted, trying for control of the situation, “I’ll deal with them! Go settle up with Deverill!”

Of Scotch-Irish, Native American, and Norwegian parentage, Nicholas Tollefson possessed, besides great height, a powerfully built frame, and he wore his blue-black hair at shirt collar length. His bearing, that of one accustomed to having his will obeyed, encouraged few to pluck up heart to cross him. A glance from those remarkable emerald eyes caused bold men to give way. However, there were a few who weren’t intimidated by any of this. Notably, his wife, certain of his offspring—and Mrs. Emmajean Green.

She regarded him quite in the light of a recalcitrant boy. “Nicholas, I won’t insult you by threatening to take my animals elsewhere, although I daresay you’d lose more than my business if I took them out! But I will have to seriously consider alternative measures if you can’t train these two featherbrained nitwits better than this!”

“That’s it! I’ve had it with this crap!” Wanda burst out indignantly. “We don’t have to put up with her garbage! Keep your stupid mule here! We’re leaving! Come on, Louise!”

Louise, head bowed and tears flowing, followed her friend and fellow worker back the way they’d come.

Jacqi hopped with glee, chanting, “I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! YES!” and she and Thomasyna hit a high five, flipped a thumbs up at Mrs. Green. It incurred their father’s frown, but beyond that he didn’t censure them, nor did he try to stay the girls’ departure.

Mrs. Green, thrilled to see the back of the incompetents, scolded him, “I should think someone like you, Nicholas, could judge a person’s worth within five minutes—or less—and weed out the undesirables! Whatever possessed you to hire those two twits in the first place?”

“I didn’t hire them,” he answered, “my wife did. But don’t go looking to rake her down for it! She operates under the principle that everyone needs a break sometimes. Even you, Mrs. Green! So, I won’t insist you take this troublesome creature elsewhere! I’ll even be big enough to admit you’ve done me a service in scaring them off! Saves me from having to tell Anetra to get rid of them!”

“Nicholas, it’s a good thing I admire you!” she retorted with a reluctant twinkle. “But I’m not joking here! I’m quite taken with this trio! Inform Ayer I’m dropping him in favor of young Dr. Deverill here! And if these girls are available, you ought to hire them!”

“If they were, I would,” he said promptly, and he turned his head to Kourtnay, addressing her in familiar accents. “Kourtnay Deverill! It’s been a long time! Glad you all could drop by to impress Mrs. Green! Are you here to check up on Rogue and Fairwind? They’re doing well!”

Kourtnay smiled, coloring deeply. “Yes, Stormi wanted to see them. I know they’ve been safe with you.” She paused, fidgeting with a pretty diamond and sapphire ring on her finger. With a shy hopefulness and a certain glow in her gray eyes, she asked, “Is . . . is Nicky here?”

An odd look came into Nicholas’ eyes. “You’ll find him in the garage under the blue pickup! I hope the shock doesn’t give him a stroke!”

Kourtnay flushed a deeper red, uttered a quick, “Thank you!” and limped away in the direction Nicholas indicated.

Nick watched her go, a speculative look in his eye. “He’d wanted to marry her before he ever knew her name! Before we got out of the truck, as I recall! Thought it merely infatuation of the moment at the time but—a few things are beginning to make sense now.”