Home on the Ranch--Tennessee Homecoming

by April Arrington

  Katie cringed, a familiar nauseous sensation roiling in her belly. “It certainly feels that way.”

  Matthew looked over his shoulder. His face paled and his chin jerked on a hard swallow. “I can’t do it.”

  Oh, boy. Neither could she.

  Katie blew out a heavy breath and walked over on shaky legs, cupping his cheek in her palm. “Yes, you can.”

  “No.” He shook his head. A strand of hair fell over his eyes. “I can’t do the duet. I’ll mess up and everyone will see.”

  A feeling she knew all too well. All her life, Katie had struggled with stage fright and Jennifer had been the only one who had ever managed to talk her out of running away from a stage in a screaming panic. Tonight was definitely not an exception. The only difference being that Jennifer wasn’t here to bail her or Matthew out.

  Digging deep, she tried to remember Jennifer’s voice. Tried to recall the phrases Jennifer had used with her during pep talks over the years. But the distance between her and Jennifer now felt impossible to cross.

  Katie forced herself to speak. “All they’ll see is you doing a great job.”

  Matthew stared up at her, fear still prominent in his brown eyes. “I’ll get it wrong. I won’t be able to remember the words.” His chin quivered. “I’ll mess up the whole thing.”

  Stomach churning, Katie lowered to her knees and drew him close. “Then we’ll mess up together, because I’m going to be with you the entire time. And we can handle anything so long as we’re by each other’s side.” She firmed her voice. “Whatever happens, you won’t be alone. I’ll be right there with you.”

  He looked at the crowd milling around them then peered into her eyes, his expression hard. “You promise?”

  She held his stare. “I promise.”

  Matthew watched her for a few moments then sniffed and seemed to collect himself. “Okay.”

  “Will you and Emma please round up the rest of the chorus members for me? Get everyone lined up by the stage like we practiced?”

  He nodded. “We’re gonna sing the group songs first, right? Then you and me will sing?”

  “Yes. Just like we’ve done all week.” She smiled. “It’ll be great.”

  Satisfied with that, Matthew grabbed Emma’s hand and they took off toward the stage.

  Katie stood and someone waving from the edge of the crowd at the foot of the stage caught her eye.

  “Katie,” Patricia called out. “Send Landon over here. Your dad and I are right up front and we saved him the best seat in the house.”

  For her very public demise?

  Katie’s whole body shook and a cold chill froze every inch of her skin. She jumped as a boy chased another boy around her legs then into the crowd.

  Landon’s strong hand settled against the small of her back, its warm support steadying her as she spun to face him. A look of admiration filled his gaze.

  “I...” Katie licked her lips and stared at that approving glint in his eyes, holding on to it. “I can do this, right? I just need someone to—”

  “You can do this,” Landon said firmly. “End of discussion.”

  Despite being on the verge of a meltdown, Katie managed a smile. “That’s very matter-of-fact of you. Kinda bossy, even.”

  “So be it.” Landon’s mouth twitched. His eyes narrowed on her mouth as he nudged Sophia’s stroller forward. “Now kiss Sophia and get your cute butt on that stage.”

  * * *

  Normally, Landon didn’t get nervous. There was no point. If something went wrong, he’d deal with it when it hit. And if things went well, being worried would have served no purpose.

  But as Landon sat in front of the stage, trying to focus on Patricia’s endless chatter while he waited for Katie to walk onto the stage with the kids, he had to admit tonight’s circumstances had gotten the better of him.

  “Are you listening to me?”

  Shaking himself slightly, Landon focused on Patricia’s concerned expression. “I’m sorry, what’d you say?”

  “I said, I hope Katie is prepared. This concert is a tradition and it’d be a shame for it not to go well.” Patricia waved Harold’s words away as he moved to speak then asked, “And I’ve been meaning to ask, how is Katie doing with the kids lately? With Sophia, in particular?”

  Landon studied Sophia as she sat in Patricia’s arms, her mouth working around her pink pacifier, then looked at Harold. The other man sat silently by Patricia’s side, a strained look on his face.

  “Good,” Landon answered. “Katie plays with her while I’m working, feeds her at mealtimes, bathes her.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “Katie’s even mastered the art of changing diapers.”

  Instead of the surprised but pleased expression he’d expected, Patricia looked down at Sophia, her brow creasing. “And how much longer is she staying?”

  Landon’s hand clenched around the program he held. “The kids are out of school next week for spring break. I’m assuming she’ll stay until at least next Friday.”

  Or rather, he hoped she would. Katie hadn’t mentioned it lately and he hadn’t had the nerve to ask.

  To be honest, he hadn’t had much of a chance to dwell on it during the past week. Last Saturday, he’d been a bachelor, living alone in a quiet house on a ranch people rarely drove past on rural roads. But now, three children and a woman slept under his roof, greeted him every morning, ate breakfast beside him at his kitchen table then smiled up at him from their sprawled position on new furniture when he walked into the living room every evening.

  But the moments he’d grown to look forward to the most were the handful of seconds between nine and ten at night. That brief window of time when Katie passed him on the way out of his bedroom, a quiet thank-you on her lips and a shy smile on her face, leaving a trail of aromatic mist behind her after soaking in his bathtub.

  After she passed by him each night, Landon would stand in his bathroom, enveloped by the steam she’d left behind, staring at that bright bath bomb on his medicine shelf and wishing that instead of walking down the hall to slip into the guest bed, Katie would slip into his own.

  And the kicker—the realization that had thumped inside his chest on more than one occasion over the past few days—was that he wished he could wake up to her every morning and experience the same wonderful day all over again on a permanent basis.

  The kids’ and Katie’s presence had transformed his house. It had, just as Katie had said, become a home. And the five of them had begun to feel like a family to him. Not in the way Amber had feared, for the sake of convenience, but something different. Something more.

  Landon stilled. He’d fallen in love with Katie. That attraction he’d always had to her had only strengthened since she returned to Elk Valley and this time, he knew he wanted to be more than friends. He wanted to marry her, and make a life with her here in Elk Valley.

  If only Katie would consider giving up her life in California to stay here and make a home with him. If only she felt the same way. Or maybe...she already did?

  “And then?”

  Landon blinked and met Patricia’s eyes. “And then, what?”

  “After spring break is over, will she leave?” Patricia urged, a flash of fear moving across her face. “Without the children?”

  Without the...? A hollow feeling opened up in his gut. That was the kicker, wasn’t it? If he told Katie he loved her and asked her to marry him, would she think he was only doing so as a convenient way of keeping the kids? Or, even worse, would she only accept the proposal out of a sense of obligation to Matthew, Emma and Sophia?

  “She could still take them.” Patricia’s voice weakened as she cradled Sophia closer to her chest. “Katie told me last night she was interested in something more long-term with them, and you never know with Katie. As impulsive as she is, she may very well decide to load the kids up and haul them
off with her. I just don’t ever see her giving up her job in California to come back and live here. I know I may have given the impression that I’ll only miss the kids, but I’ll miss Katie terribly, too.” She raised her gray head, tears in her eyes. “What would we do without all of them, Landon?”

  Sophia, grinning behind her pacifier, babbled softly and reached out a hand toward Landon. He slipped his finger inside her tiny fist, a sad ache spreading through him as she squeezed.

  “Good evening.” Katie’s voice hummed through the speakers on the stage.

  He looked up, studying her face as she gripped the microphone and leaned in closer. She was nervous. It was right there in the small tremble of her voice and her white-knuckled grip on the mic.

  “Elk Valley Elementary would like to welcome you to our annual spring concert.” She smiled as the crowd applauded then waited for several couples to find seats and settle. “Our chorus will sing three selections as a whole group, then there’ll be a short duet.”

  The mic squealed and, wincing, she stumbled back and gave a shaky smile.

  “Oh, no.” Landon reached for Sophia. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s give your aunt Katie a little encouragement.”

  Standing, he caught Katie’s eye from the foot of the stage, waved Sophia’s hand gently then winked. “You can do it, baby,” he whispered.

  Katie’s smile steadied, and she returned to the mic. “We hope you enjoy.”

  Landon waited as she took her seat at the piano. Feeling Patricia’s eyes on him, he returned Sophia to her lap and managed a smile.

  So many emotions flickered through her expression. Surprised confusion. Pride tinged with a bit of sadness. Fear. And it was the fear on her face that stayed with him as the kids filed onto the stage, filled the choral risers and began to sing in time with Katie’s playing and Melody’s lead.

  The group sang as well as they had last night. Several boys wore frog hats and a lot of the girls had bumblebee stripes or butterfly wings, and they belted out tunes celebrating flowers, wildlife and the joys of springtime in general. Their voices rose as one and, despite a missed note or ill-placed verse or two, the kids performed as fantastically as Landon had hoped.

  It wasn’t long before Melody’s arms slowed and the final group song drew to a close. The rows and rows of cell phones recording in midair lowered and parents clapped, laughing and spreading their arms wide as their sons and daughters skipped off stage and sat with the audience.

  Throughout the performance, the sky surrounding Main Street had darkened and night had fallen. The moon, full and bright, rose high, silhouetting the mountain range behind the raised stage and spilling a pool of white light across the piano where Katie and Matthew sat side by side on a bench.

  The crowd grew quiet. Katie shared a look with Matthew, whispered something then moved her hands over the keys. Gentle chords rose from the black piano, lifting into the starlit night and floating over the crowd.

  Moments later, Katie’s melodic voice emerged. Her slow verses swept over the crowd, silencing nearby chatter on the sidewalks, calming bystanders’ movements at vendors’ stands, and evoking a collective stillness throughout Main Street.

  Matthew’s voice joined her during the chorus then took over the next lyrics. His words shook at first then gradually steadied, drawing strength from Katie’s soothing tone. The more Katie played and the more they sang, the closer they leaned into each other on the bench.

  Soon, Katie eased back on the bench, her voice receding, and Matthew’s grew stronger. His chin lifted, his chest billowed with each of his breaths and he belted out each note perfectly.

  A soft sound escaped Harold. He squeezed Patricia’s hand at Sophia’s back then glanced at Landon with tears on his lashes.

  “That’s a little bit of our baby right there,” Harold said, gesturing toward Matthew. “My Jennifer’s still living through our beautiful grandson.” He looked at Patricia, determination in his eyes. “Our sweet Katie did that. I don’t ever want to hear you say she doesn’t love those kids again.”

  Patricia nodded. Pride, joy and sorrow flitted over her expression as she stared down at their entwined hands cradling Sophia.

  When the final note faded, Harold shot to his feet, clapped his hands and shouted, “Those are my babies right there!” His smile grew as the crowd around them laughed and cheered. He pumped his fist in the air. “Good job, babies!”

  Throat tight, Landon stood with him and clapped. The same pride that lifted Harold’s chest spread throughout his own.

  Katie and Matthew rose, rounded the bench and, after taking each other’s hand, bowed. The applause grew louder. A big smile broke out across Matthew’s face and he turned to the side and hugged Katie, wrapping his arms tight around her and rocking her back on her heels.

  Katie regained her balance and hugged him back. Laughing, she met Landon’s eyes then mouthed, “Thank you.”

  Landon nodded then watched as Katie and Matthew walked off the stage. The sight of their retreating backs as they moved farther and farther away pierced his heart a little deeper.

  Chapter 9

  Funnel cake, cotton candy and popcorn consumed on a sidewalk during a spring festival did not constitute a healthy, well-balanced family meal. But boy, did it taste like heaven.

  “Want some more cotton candy, Aunt Katie?” Emma stifled a yawn then held out a white stick topped with a small pink cloud of sugar.

  Katie groaned and rubbed her overstuffed stomach. “Oh, no. I think I’ve had enough.”

  “Aw, come on.” Landon, standing nearby, plucked a chunk of cotton candy from the stick and held it up. “You’re not gonna let one handful of cotton candy force you to wimp out on a night of fun?”

  Katie raised an eyebrow. “Now, wait just a minute. Did I not play in the bounce house with Emma—in a dress, mind you—throw darts with Matthew, hold my own on the inflatable slides with you and get my face painted?” She tapped the colorful butterfly on her cheek. “I think I’ve earned my fun stripes tonight.”

  Landon eyed her cheek and grinned. “Nope. That particular face paint doesn’t count.”

  “Why not?”

  “Not tough enough.” He shared a smile with Matthew. “If it were a skull and crossbones—” he shrugged “—maybe. But a butterfly...”

  “No dice,” Matthew said, laughing.

  Landon chuckled. It was soft and short-lived but a laugh just the same.

  Katie smiled. It was so wonderful to hear Landon laugh again. Two hours ago, after the chorus concert, Landon and Emma had met Katie and Matthew backstage and they’d wandered off to explore the festival activities while her mom and dad watched Sophia. It was a beautiful night and the later it became, the more the crowd had thinned out, leaving short lines, minimal waiting and tons of fun to be had.

  Only, Landon had remained relatively quiet at first and hadn’t loosened up until after his and Emma’s second cherry slush and three trips down the inflatable slide.

  Oh, the slide. Katie smiled. That had been her favorite. Speeding down an eighteen-foot slide with Landon’s arms and legs wrapped around her from behind, the wind whipping through her hair and his muscular chest rumbling with laughter against her back. She couldn’t remember a single date in her past that had made her stomach turn somersaults like exploring the festival with Landon had.

  Wait. A date? This wasn’t a date. This was—

  “If you want to earn your official fun stripes, you’ll eat one more bite.” Landon lifted the cotton candy to her lips. “It’s barely enough to fill a tablespoon.”

  Katie grinned. “All right. One more bite and that’s it for me.”

  She opened her mouth and Landon placed it on her tongue, the blunt tips of his fingers brushing her lower lip as he removed his hand. She closed her mouth and the sweet concoction melted, her face heating as Landon brought his fingers to his own
mouth to suck off the residual sugar.

  Landon’s eyes met hers, the blue depths darkening, and his lean cheeks flushed.

  “Having fun?”

  They both jumped at the sound of her mother’s voice. Katie coughed as the dissolved sugar trickled down her throat and Landon wiped his hand on his jeans and looked away.

  Patricia walked up, Sophia sleeping in her arms and Harold pushing the stroller.

  “Am I interrupting something?” Patricia asked, glancing between the two of them, a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

  “Not at all.” Landon found his voice first. “We were just thinking of calling it a night.”

  That blank look fell over his face, masking his expression. Katie licked the last taste of sugar from her lips then whispered, “A fun night.”

  A half smile crossed his magnificent lips. “Yeah.”

  “Which is why,” Patricia continued, beckoning Emma over with a wave of her hand, “Harold and I thought we’d offer to let the kids stay with us tonight.”

  Katie stared at her mother, noting the way she kept avoiding direct eye contact. “Wait, why?”

  “Why?” Patricia’s shoulder lifted near her ears and an innocent expression crossed her face. “Do I need a reason to invite my grandchildren over for a visit?”

  Landon frowned. “It’s late, Patricia. The kids are exhausted.”

  “As are the two of you,” Harold said, holding out his hand to Matthew. “Our place is only five minutes up the road and yours is almost a half hour away. If the kids jump in the car and go home with us, they’ll get a good night’s sleep and have an early-morning breakfast with Gammie and Papa. And you and Katie can go back to the ranch, catch your breath for one night then rise at your leisure.”

  Katie narrowed her eyes and mulled it over. She had to admit, the arrangement did make sense and being able to sleep in on a Sunday was something she never turned up her nose at. “I suppose. That is, if it’s okay with Landon?”