Right Cup of Tea

Right Cup of Tea

Armed with pamphlets and instructions on caring for recovering stroke patient, Uncle Simon, Claire climbs into the front passenger seat of Lefty's big pick-up for the trip out to his Wimberley, Texas ranch. Try as she might want to admire her new surroundings as the gentle hills start rolling by, her head starts lolling to the side. Soon she is as sound asleep as Patches curled in the cat carrier next to her. The back-pack containing her laptop and all her worldly possessions is at her feet.

The rancher driving can't help but smile empathetically at her profile. Poor kid has been through a lot the last several hours. Night before last she was forced to flee her modest apartment in Altadena, California when Santa Ana winds blew wild fires into the working-class community. She could only save her cat and heavy back-pack. After calling her only relative, Uncle Simon, to see if he would take her in even though they hadn't seen each other since she was a young girl, she braved a day-long cross-country bus ride arriving a few hours ago to find out her uncle had suffered a stroke while she was traveling. Now she is determined to be the one to nurse him back to health. No wonder she can't keep her eyes open. But he feels relieved she is comfortable enough to trust him having only met him this morning before visiting her uncle at the hospital.

Lefty Long offered his own modest two-bedroom ranch house neighboring her uncle's larger ranch for the two of them to occupy while Simon recuperates. That way Simon's main rustic house can continue to be used as VRBO (Vacation Resort By Owner) that's become so popular in this beautiful sage strewn countryside. Lefty plans on throwing his bedroll in the tiny dice house Simon erected for himself. He already assists the old cowhand by helping entertain the guests as they try their waddie skills working an honest to goodness ranch. Lefty chuckles to himself. Sometimes they're a help; sometimes a hindrance. The group there now has been middlin' good but he decides he best stop in to see that all the morning chores can be set with. Hopefully Miss Calhoun will continue to get a little more shut eye. He knows she can't wait to get a hot shower to rinse the smoke from her pores. He'll put a wiggle on.

Assuring himself the greenhorns can't do more harm than good, Lefty pulls in front of his own house just as the sleeping beauty awakes. “Are we there already? I was going to remember the way.”

“There will be plenty of time for that. You're obviously exhausted. Would y'all like a cup of tea before you take that long awaited shower?”

“Sounds wonderful but I better let Patches stretch her legs and do her duty before I take any comfort.”

“That's thinkin' like a cowboy...er, girl. Always care for your animals first. And it's okay if y'all want to bring her inside.”

“Thanks. Uh, do you have any dogs? She's skittish around them.”

“My dog stays out in the barn most of the time. Right now he is making sure the guests at the main house are well protected. I think they may be spoiling him.”

“Ha! If he is a working dog he probably deserves to be spoiled.”

“Yep, he's a border collie. The best working dog. My right hand man.”

“Don't tell me his name is...”

“Mr. Right.”

“Sounds like someone I've been looking for.”

“Maybe you've found him.”

“You mean Uncle Simon. He may be the answer to my problems. If this doesn't work out I guess I can always go down to Mexico and serve cocktails at a beach cabana.”

“Y'all look fine in a bikini. I can see it now.”

As they talked they passed through a modernized kitchen open to a cowboy motif infused front room.

“You have a nice house here.”

“This way to the bedroom.”

“This looks like your master bedroom. Isn't there a guest room. I think Simon should use your room. It would be easier for you to take things out of should you need to later. And Simon would be more comfortable in here.”

“There is an attached bath in here.”

“Once again, easier for Simon.”

“Y'all so considerate of everyone else. How's this other room?

”It'll be perfect. Thank you. And thank you for opening your house. Once Uncle is on his own again I can find a room in town and be out of your way. Hopefully expenses won't be as bad here as in L.A. My remote job should cover them.”

“There're towels in the bathroom here in the hall. Let me know if you need anything else. I'll leave you to your shower and start some tea.”

“Are there water restrictions here? I think this may be a long one.”

“No, we're fine with water. I heard how the reservoirs were empty and the fire hoses had no pressure for the firemen to fight the blazes in your town. No wonder the place burned.”

“And the sprinklers didn't work. People were trying to save their house with the garden hoses as I was peddling out.”

“And some of them died trying I heard on news reports.”

“Oh, I hadn't heard that yet.”

“So sorry you had to go through all that.”

“It'll take a long time to get it out of my mind. Thank you.”

“Ah, shucks. It ain't nuthing.” He tipped is Stetson slightly. “I'll get a few things out of my room then be in the kitchen. Take your time.”

And Claire did. Even though the water was hot she was quivering and unable to tell the tears from the torrents of water pouring down washing away the soot and the charred smell that'd been following her for two nights. She slowly felt herself let go and absorb the healing waters. Praying for the people that had suffered and praying that someday she would be able to forget the horror. Silently thanking Uncle Simon for letting her escape to a safe place. A place she could pick up the pieces and start fresh.

Feeling Ace-high dressed in fresher clothes, she joined Lefty in the kitchen for a welcoming cup of steaming tea. She laughed for the first time in what seemed like plumb forever when she saw his squinny grin and thought maybe she did indeed find Mr. Right.