Count On Me: Baytown Boys

by Maryann Jordan

  Watching her carefully, he could see thoughts moving behind her eyes, but remained silent to give her a chance to process his request.

  After throwing away her tissues, she stepped into his embrace, and they stood in the middle of the kitchen, arms banded around each other with her cheek resting against his chest.

  “Right now, I’m not going to waste any more time thinking about what he did to me. But I promise that I’ll talk to Maddie if I need to. But, for the immediate future, Scott, I want to focus on the farm. Taking care of the animals, figuring out a way to get the barn rebuilt.” She jolted, then quickly added, “Oh, my goodness. I need to call the insurance company.”

  Pressing her cheek against his chest again, he said, “We’ll do that first thing in the morning. They’ll send out someone who will look at everything, check the police report, and then they’ll have a settlement for you to get someone to rebuild the barn.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing the weather is nice so the animals will be comfortable,” she sighed. “I hope it won’t take long to get a new barn up.”

  Thinking about the number of phone calls that had come in that day, Scott did not think it would take long at all but did not want to get her hopes up. Instead, he simply held her close, kissing the top of her head, offering his strength to her.

  Lizzie had found sleep easier than she thought she would. The long cry had exhausted her, and Scott fixing comfort breakfast food for dinner had almost made her comatose. But now, in the middle of the night with Scott sleeping with his arm draped across her, she had woken and could not settle her mind.

  She had allowed Scott to chat with their friends, not feeling in the mood to rehash the events with everyone. Grateful that she had friends who cared, the ache from her father’s actions still penetrated deeply. Mostly, she was glad that Papa Beau had not lived to see how low his son had sunk.

  The one person she had talked to was her mom, hating to call her but knowing it was the right thing to do. Jane had been horrified at Robbie’s actions, bursting into tears at the thought that Lizzie could have died. She finally convinced her mother to put Richard on the phone where she assured him that she was all right and being taken care of. Accepting their promise that they would be back in the United States by Christmas, she gave them both her love.

  Now, the full moon was casting faint light across the bedroom as she carefully slipped from under Scott’s arm and slid from the bed. Moving first to the bathroom, she took care of her business before going downstairs, avoiding the few steps that creaked.

  Not hungry, she still headed to the kitchen, recognizing that it had always seemed to be the heart of the house. Memories of family meals over the years, her grandmother baking, her mother cooking, and Papa Beau dressed in his overalls, a big smile on his face as he called out his greetings.

  As she glanced around the familiar room, she realized she had very few memories of her father… in this room, in this house, or on the farm. While she did remember a few of the arguments, her grandparents and mom had shielded her from most of that.

  Turning as she stood at the sink, she glanced at the view through the window, the moonlight casting the farm in a lovely glow. She sighed, knowing that it would be a pain to rebuild the barn but not an impossibility. The animals were safe, and she planned on calling Sam the next day to check on her pregnant goats.

  Moving to the kitchen door, she stepped down into the yard, the patio stones cool under her bare feet. As she continued walking, the grass cushioned her footsteps and she stopped halfway through the yard. Turning in a circle, she spread her arms wide, knowing that her family’s farm encompassed all the land that she could see.

  Her gaze stuttered to a halt when she spied Scott standing just outside the kitchen door, watching her. Taking in all the glorious beauty that was him, she appreciated the wide shoulders, muscular abs, lean hips, long legs. As he stalked toward her, it dawned on her that even with his prosthesis showing underneath his drawstring shorts, she never thought about it. It was part of him. Just one of his legs.

  As he approached, it suddenly hit her that he had lost so much and yet accepted all that came, the good and the bad.

  So much like Papa Beau.

  Stopping directly in front of her, he looked down and cocked his head to the side as he asked, “What are you smiling about?”

  “I was thinking how wonderful you are, accepting everything that comes in life, and realizing you are so much like Papa Beau.”

  Brows raised, he slipped his arms around her and said, “That’s the nicest compliment I can think of.” They stayed embraced for a moment and then he asked, “What are you doing out here, babe?”

  Without hesitation, she replied, “I was just thinking that all of this land, all of this heritage, is mine to pass on to my children.”

  His arms jerked slightly, and he leaned back to hold her gaze. “If you’re thinking about the future of this farm and your children, maybe I shouldn’t wait any longer.”

  “I don’t understand. Wait for what?”

  “I hadn’t planned on this right now, but when I looked out the bedroom window and saw you standing here in the moonlight, I knew I wanted to ask you this question.”

  Face scrunched, she had no idea what he was talking about until he dropped to one knee and said, “I know I’m not doing this right because I don’t have a ring, but I don’t want to wait to let you know that I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, if you’re talking about children, I want them to be our children. So, Elizabeth Weston, will you consent to be my wife?”

  Knees buckling, she dropped to the ground, tears of happiness streaming down her face. “Oh, yes!” she cried as they cupped each other’s faces, their lips meeting, sealing their vows.

  Later, lying in bed after they made love, she realized he had taken her worst day and turned it into something beautiful.

  30

  Two Weeks Later

  Walking back from feeding the alpacas, she stood at the small field and watched the goat kids frolic. The sun was shining with only a few white clouds dotting the blue sky. She inhaled deeply, pleased to no longer smell charred wood, but instead, the scent of freshly-mown grass mixed with the earthy farm smells met her nose.

  Smiling, she turned and walked past the newly graded area where the barn used to stand. Two local farmers, former friends of Papa Beau’s, had come by the previous week with their tractors and plows to knock down what was left from the burned barn. After hauling the refuse away, they returned to clear the land, making it smooth and ready for a new barn.

  The insurance check had come through much quicker than Lizzie expected. She supposed with the police having the confessed arsonist in custody, the insurance company was able to expedite the claim. She had been pleasantly surprised by the amount, knowing that it would cover the cost of having a new, slightly larger barn built.

  She had talked with several construction companies, but unfortunately, none were able to start building right away. She had called a few of her friends, wanting to drive around and take batches of muffins she had made in thanks for all of their concern, but it seemed everyone was busy on this beautiful Saturday morning. She knew there was not an AL ball game since Scott was still inside the house. In fact, now that she thought about it, it was odd that he had not already joined her since he usually helped with the animals.

  Heading toward the back door, she was suddenly met with the sounds that she had heard once before, only this time louder. Glancing up the road, she saw a long line of pickup trucks, SUVs, and cars. And at the end of the line was a big rig flatbed truck piled high with lumber. She stood with her mouth hanging open as the huge truck passed by before turning into her lane and she spied the logo for Giardano Farms on the side.

  Arms wrapped around her from the back, and she jumped, looking up to see Scott resting his head on her shoulder. Seeing his smile, she said, “I’m almost afraid to ask what’s going on!”

  “Get ready f
or an old-fashioned barn raising, sweetheart.”

  No words met his announcement other than her breath rushing from her lungs. She lost count of the number of vehicles that pulled into the drive, parking in front and to the side of the house. As people began to pile out of their vehicles, they waved toward her and Scott as several of them helped to direct the big rig driver toward the area where the wood would be delivered.

  “And before you ask, Lizzie, all materials have been donated by Luca Giardano. I’ve talked to Colt, and while at first, Luca denied that his daughter could have been involved in anything so nefarious, when the evidence came forth, she finally confessed. It seems her actions completely gutted her father.”

  With her hands holding onto his forearms still wrapped around her chest, she said, “Weird, isn’t it? It was my father and his daughter that schemed together, leaving the two of us devastated.”

  “I hadn’t thought about it like that, but you’re right,” Scott agreed. Giving her a squeeze, he added, “Luca has donated all the materials for your new barn. He contacted me, uncertain that contacting you directly would be the right thing to do. He told me that he had considered Beau to be a neighbor and friend and wanted to do anything he could to try to make up for his daughter’s actions. I informed him that you were getting an insurance check that would cover everything, but his words were for you to take that money and use it however you wanted. The barn was his gift.”

  By now, she watched as a line of people walked by, mostly friends and neighbors, although a few she did not know, head to where the barn would be built. To the side was a huge gathering of more friends and some people she recognized from the Auxiliary, already setting up makeshift tables.

  “Mitch, Grant, Lance, and Ginny have to take shifts,” Scott explained, “since Baytown has to have a couple of officers on duty at all times. Same with Colt and Hunter. Carrie’s working the breakfast service at The Diner, but she and Jack will be here before lunch. Callan had morning duty with the Marine Police, but he’ll be here early afternoon. Pretty much everyone else is here. We recruited a couple of the older members of the American Legion who’ve built barns before to give us direction. Some of them worked in construction anyway.”

  She recognized Aiden, Brogan, and Zac as well as Josh and Joseph. Scott pointed out the parents of some of their friends, all joining in the activity.

  Katelyn and Jillian came over and asked if they could help with the animals. Jolting into action, Lizzie replied, “Yes! Let’s move them to a further pasture so they aren’t as upset over the noise.” She soon found that she had an entourage of helpers, including some children, all wanting to see the goats, alpacas, and pigs. There was not much she could do for the chickens and hoped they would not be so upset they would stop laying eggs, but if so, she would deal. The barn raising was worth any inconvenience to the animals as long as they remained safe.

  Scott headed over to the building site, and Lizzie flitted back and forth between the house and the barn, finding her attention pulled in many directions. At one point during the day, she had a number of helpers in the kitchen making soap and lotion, but she continually looked out of the window over the sink, stunned at how quickly the barn was taking shape. There was no sexism during the work with a number of women hauling wood and hammering.

  Soon it was time for lunch, and Lizzie stood to the side watching some of the older Auxiliary women oversee the others hustling to fill the food-laden tables. She tried to count how many people had shown up, but with some coming and going she lost count at forty. The laughter and camaraderie ensued, and suddenly overcome with emotion, she quietly slipped around the side of the house, desperate for a moment of privacy. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she swiped at the few tears that escaped down her cheeks.

  Sucking in a cleansing breath, she let it out slowly, once again dabbing at her eyes to make sure no one could see that she had been crying.

  “Ms. Weston?”

  Jumping, she whirled around and saw Luca Giardano standing nearby. At first glance, his outward appearance was very much like the first time she had seen him. Silver hair still neatly combed. Khaki pants with a navy shirt, the farm’s logo embroidered on the pocket. Stepping closer, she could see that his face appeared to have aged even more than from the years of working in the sun on his farm.

  “Mr. Giardano, I understand that the building materials are from you. Thank you—”

  He lifted his hand dismissively, shaking his head. “Please, Ms. Weston. No thanks are needed. It was the least I could do under the circumstances, and I wish it could be more. I had suggested to Mr. Redding that I pay to have the barn rebuilt, but he assured me that there were already volunteers ready to perform the task.” His gaze shifted from her past the numerous vehicles in her drive to the beehive movements of all the people at work. Looking back at her, he said, “I see he was right. I’m not surprised.”

  Nodding, she said, “My grandfather had many good friends.”

  His head tilted, and he smiled ever-so-slightly. “Yes, he did, but so do you. I have no doubt, Ms. Weston, that many of these people are here for you. That says a great deal about who you are as a person. And I’m proud to have you as a neighbor, just as I was your grandfather.” His hat was still in his hands, and he took a step back. “Well, I just wanted to ascertain that the materials were delivered—”

  “Would you like to stay for lunch? There’s plenty of food,” she rushed, the invitation surprising her as much as it appeared to surprise Luca.

  The lines on his face softened, and he said, “I don’t think so, not this time. I’m still coming to terms with what happened. But, if the invitation stands for a later date, I’d love to.”

  His gaze shot over her shoulder, and she did not have to look to know that Scott was approaching. He came to stand next to her, his arm around her in a show of support, but he remained silent, letting her continue her conversation.

  She leaned her weight slightly into Scott before smiling up at Luca. “Mr. Giardano, you’re welcome at Weston Farms any time.”

  With another small smile, Luca inclined his head and walked back to his truck.

  Scott’s arm about her shoulders squeezed. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, honey. Everything’s okay.” With that, she allowed him to guide her back toward the gathering, her smile wide and her heart light as she looked around. She knew if he was looking down at her right now, Papa Beau would be smiling in return.

  Two Years Later

  Scott left the office, anxious to be home. From the moment he first laid eyes on the large, white farmhouse, he knew it felt like a true home. Now, he could not imagine living anywhere else. Soon, he drove past the Weston Farms sign, turning onto the gravel drive.

  For the past two years, the farm was running successfully, both for the alpaca fleece and goats. Lizzie continued making her goat milk products and had even begun breeding goats. She had a yoga instructor that ran two goat yoga classes per week, weather permitting. The farm was also a destination for birthday parties and days where people could come to pet the animals and learn about animal care. Lizzie kept the charges low for those events but still made money due to their popularity.

  A number of cars were just pulling past him, leaving the farm. He climbed from his SUV, anxious to see Lizzie, grinning as soon as he spied her standing on the back patio smiling toward the customers leaving goat yoga class. The instructor was saying goodbye to Lizzie, cooing over the bundle in her arms—their one-month-old son, Beau.

  The instructor tossed him a wave as she climbed into her car, but Scott’s eyes were filled with his wife and son. Bending to take her lips in a kiss, he then placed a sweet kiss on Beau’s forehead. “How did it go today?”

  “For the first day having the farm open again after having Beau, it went fine. Of course, I didn’t have to do anything except just make sure the goat kid pen was ready. The instructor did everything else.”

  Brow furrowed, he asked, “You didn�
�t overdo it, did you?” He knew Lizzie was more than capable but worried about her trying to do too much. Her mother and stepfather had come for the first week to help out before needing to go back to their home. Scott and Lizzie had hired a part-time farmhand who came early to see the animals in the morning before going to work at Giardano Farms. Then he would stop by to check on the animals in the evening before going home.

  Smiling, she lifted a hand and touched his cheek, saying, “Stop worrying, Scott. Beau and I are adjusting just fine.”

  They turned to walk into the house but stopped as they heard the crunch of gravel indicating an approaching vehicle. As Luca Giardano came into sight, they both smiled and waved. Several months after Careena had been arrested, Luca had approached Scott and Lia to look over the financial records of Giardano Farms. Lia, being a forensic accountant, quickly found that Careena had been stealing from the company, another blow to Luca.

  He climbed from his truck and walked toward them, his gaze resting on the bundle in Lizzie’s arms. Greeting them with a wide smile, he looked down at a sleeping Beau and whispered, “Congratulations once again. What a beautiful little boy.” Lifting his gaze to Lizzie, he reached out and touched her cheek, saying, “Your grandparents would be so proud.”

  Scott wanted Lizzie off her feet and invited Luca to come inside with them. Over the past two years, Lizzie had opened her heart and her home to Luca. Careena was never mentioned, but Scott knew that she was still in prison, as was Robbie.

  They moved to the kitchen door, where she settled into a padded rocking chair that they had placed near the table. Offering a glass of iced tea to Luca, Scott quickly poured one for him, getting water for him and Lizzie.

  “I don’t want to take too much of your time,” Luca began, “but I just had to come by to see your son.” He glanced down, his hands shaking slightly. Reaching inside his jacket, he pulled out an envelope and said, “I have a gift for you. It’s both in memory of your grandfather and in celebration of the birth of your son.”