the visit

as arch stepped up on the wooden porch the snow started falling in earnest. opening the door to the house a warm gust met him. the fire place had a fire dancing and the little radio in the kitchen was playing a George strait tune. hanging the black hat on a hook by the door he unwrapped his scarf, and shrugged out of his coat. the aroma of beef cooking floated out of the kitchen. as he entered the kitchen his dark haired sister, two years older was standing at the stove. dressed in faded wranglers and a white blouse, a apron tied around her waist. arch walked behind her and with out a word gave her a hug, and reached for the bottle of jim beam that set on the refridgerator. pouring a solid 3 fingers in a heavy , thick glass . turning the glass up he swallowed half in one gulp. feeling the warmth race through his body.
 " not one word of hello, just a swallow of whiskey. it must have been a tough day" janet smiled
 " ime damn near froze out. the bloody wind was a killer. ime glad your here. I sure need a good meal." arch sipped at the glass
 " you look like a starved  killdeer. all legs and no body. sit down this is ready." janet starting putting food on the table.
  arch blinked at the fresh checkered table cloth on his bare table " whats the occasion? big meal, table cloth, a new bottle of beam. you settin me up for something?"
  " as  arch was filling his plate with potatoes and beans next to his steak, janet poured a dollop of the bourbon in a glass and pulled up a chair. " no set up, but since we are partners in this outfit I think we need to have a business meeting."
 arch nearly choked  on the fork full of  potatoes he was stuffing in his mouth. after slowly chewing he decided  he ought to ask about  her concerns.
" what? you unhappy with the way I been doing things? " he asked
 " no ime tickled with it. the debts are paid, we have a little money in the bank and the cattle are ok. we own four sections of deeded ground, hold a lease on thirty more. not many ranchers can say that, you've worked yourself to  a frazzle and not one word of complaint." janet took a sip of whiskey." but yesterday a mr. Wilkens came by my job at the feed store. since ime listed as a part owner he leaned on me to have you unlock the gate on the road. he said when he talked to you you became belligerent. is that so?
 " did he  also tell you he took the gate off the hinges while I was gone to town and let trespassers in on the ranch. people who left a mess that took me hours to clean up? " arch was working on the steak now
" no he left that out. but it didn't matter because I told him daddy and momma were buried here and I didn't think they would want the public traipsing around over their bones. you run the ranch. I told him to deal with you and if you were belligerent you probably had good reason. he didn't like that much. "janet was smilling. she got up from the table and picked up another dish and set it on the table. " since your in a foul mood I made you a peach cobble to sweeten it with."
arch looked up and  smiled" you always know how to make a bad day good. " he dished up a third of the cobbler . janet set back and smiled, her dark hair framing her face.