“You sure look lost in your thoughts there, Boss. Everything okay?” Steve, the hand who’d been with him the longest, had walked into the tack shed where Tim had been hiding out. They were done with the horses for the day, and all the tack had been put back in its proper place, so Tim hadn’t expected anyone to find him there.
Tim pushed himself off the saddle stand he’d been leaning against, and wiped his hands on his pants. “Everything’s fine. I just needed a quiet place to think.”
Steve was a dark-haired, giant of a man. He was six-foot-four and weighed well over two-hundred fifty pounds. When Tim had first hired him, Steve had been really shy, but he’d come out of his shell over the years, and Tim would honestly call him a close friend now. He was easy to talk to, and kept secrets better than anyone else Tim knew.
“I don’t blame you,” Steve said. “Sometimes, even while working out in the country, it’s hard to hear yourself think when the guys are chattering non-stop. Can I help you sort through anything?” Steve had apparently come into the shed to return a couple of halters that had been left out, and he reached around Tim to hang them up on their designated hooks.
Tim leaned out of his way. “I really appreciate the offer, but I think these problems just need time to sort themselves out.”
“It’s hard to wait though, isn’t it?” Steve asked.
Tim looked up. He’d been studying the pattern that was stitched into the toes of his boots, trying to avoid Steve’s eyes for fear that the man would be able to see the worry in them. “It is,” he finally said.
“Don’t fret. Most good things require patience.” Steve left the tack shed, but Tim stayed put for a while.
After his friend’s comments, Tim thought about why he was feeling worried and impatient, and the contract he and Susan had signed popped into his head—along with its looming expiration date. He shuddered. What if Susan didn’t actually come around? What if she decided she wanted him to leave after their year was up?
Even thinking about the possibility of this arrangement coming to an end made him sick to his stomach. He’d fallen too hard for Susan and her boys to be okay living without them for the rest of his life. What about the baby? Would he have to walk away and never find out how things ended up for any of them?
He didn’t know if he would be able to recover from that, and he knew if that happened he’d never marry again. Tim had been willing to give Matchrimony a shot, but if it didn’t work, he figured marriage just wasn’t in his cards.
“Tim! Tim! Stop!”
It had been two weeks since the kiss, and Tim still hadn’t heard a word from Susan other than questions or instructions about work that needed to be done on the ranch. That day, he was driving home from work and passed by her house, just like he always did, but this time Cody came running out the front door, waving him down and screaming at him to stop.
Tim pulled over and rolled his window down. “Is everything okay?” he called out.
Cody jogged over to where Tim had stopped and rested his arms on the edge of the window, sucking in a few deep breaths. “Everything’s fine. Adin and I just haven’t seen you in a while. Where’ve you been? I swear I only catch sight of you in your truck nowadays. Working with Andy’s great and all, but it was a lot more fun when you’d stop by.”
“Sorry about that. I’ve been really busy overseeing the other guys. Jed and Bob are working on a big project building some new corals by the squeeze shoot so we can tag some of the calves that got missed at the branding.” Tim explained.
“Yeah, I know. Andy said Bob almost burned Jed with the welding torch.” Cody laughed.
“Are we surprised?” Tim asked sarcastically.
His comment made Cody laugh even harder. If Tim would have known how good it would feel to make him laugh after their rough start, he wouldn’t have worried so much in the beginning.
“Hey, Adin decided he wants to do pee wee football. It starts in a week so they can finish up before the school teams have any games. I’ve tried to teach him a few things, but I know he’d think it was pretty cool if you came by and threw the ball with him. Maybe give him some pointers on tackling. He’s not sure if he’ll play offense or defense.” Cody was pushing gravel around with the toe of his boot. Even though things were better between them, it seemed like it was still difficult for Cody to ask Tim for a favor.
“I’d love to,” Tim said.
Cody looked up, his wide eyes sparkling as the sun reflected off of them. “Really? When?”
“Anytime. You just let me know and I’ll be here,” Tim said.
Cody smiled. “Okay. Cool. Adin can’t stop talking about how you played for Iowa. He’s going to flip.”
“Tell your mom to text me about a time. I’m looking forward to hanging out with the both of you. You’ll be there, right?” he clarified.
“Wouldn’t miss it!” Cody said. He patted Tim’s truck a couple of times, then backed away so Tim could continue on to his house.
“See ya later!” Tim called out as he drove his truck back up onto the gravel road.
“Go long!” Tim yelled as Adin took off in a dead sprint across the lawn.
It was late in the evening and Susan was sitting on her front porch. She watched the sunset while Tim, who looked totally exhausted from his long workday, tossed a football around with Cody and Adin.
She’d been shocked when Cody asked her to text Tim and invite him over, but it had been the push she needed to reach out to Tim again. At first she’d felt bad for the way she’d left him the other night, but then she reminded herself of all that she was going through, and she realized it was okay.
She trusted Tim, and she knew that he would support her if she decided she needed some alone time. The only thing she didn’t want was for him to wonder about her feelings for him, and she was afraid she’d let the silence go on for too long now. Tim was doing great with the boys, but he seemed distant, and cold toward her.
It had been a really hot day, and she was sweating just watching her boys run around. She’d been trying to stay hydrated throughout the summer, but she was always thirsty. She imagined her boys were too. “I’m going in to get some water. Anyone else need something while I’m inside?”
The boys were too busy to even hear her, and after a few moments with no response, Susan went in to fill her water bottle. Of course, the running water made her have to go pee, so she also visited the bathroom.
When Susan opened the door, Tim was standing right outside of it with his hand stretched out like he’d been about to grab the handle.
“Oh!” Susan jumped when she saw him.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, but where are the Band-Aids?” Tim asked.
Susan furrowed her brow. “Is someone hurt?”
Tim waved his hand as if to dismiss her worry. “Oh, Adin fell and scraped his elbow. He’ll be fine, but it’s bleeding pretty good. He’s a tough kid, though. I’m the one who wants the Band-Aid. I don’t want to have to look at the blood running down his arm.”
Susan chuckled. “I see.” She turned back toward the medicine cabinet above the sink and pulled out a box of bandages, some antibiotic ointment, and a couple of alcohol wipes. “Here you go,” she said, handing them to Tim.
Tim’s eyes locked on hers, and he held her hands in his as he reached for the supplies. “Thank you.”
Time seemed to stand still for a few moments, and Susan’s heart felt like it was turning over and over again in her chest. She’d missed Tim, and his touch reminded her just how much. Her heart ached with a desire to be held by him and kissed by him.
When he’d kissed her on the cheek at their wedding it had been platonic, and she’d felt nothing. She’d been all business that day, committed to maintaining her position about the two of them basically having a business arrangement and not a marriage. However, when Tim had kissed her on their date at his house, it had been completely different, and it had stirred up feelings inside of her that she’d convinced hers
elf she’d never feel again.
Those feelings, and the fear of what they could turn into, had kept her silent until Tim had shown up to play football with the boys. Seeing him out there with them, being such a good sport even though he was probably exhausted, had made her see that holding out on Tim was affecting them too. She didn’t want her kids to grow up without a father figure. Especially the baby. It was one thing for the boys to finish their time under her roof with only her influence—as they could remember their dad’s, but this new baby deserved to experience what it was like to call someone Daddy, and feel that special love too.
Tim pulled his hands away with the things he needed to take care of Adin’s arm. He turned to walk back outside when Susan acted impulsively and grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Tim,” she said as she spun him around.
“Hmm?”
“Would you…move back in?” she asked.
She probably should have given the idea more thought before asking him, but she knew she’d just be flooded with doubts and convince herself she wasn’t ready if she pondered it for very long. Deep down she knew this is what she wanted, and she knew this is what Clarence would have wanted for her and the boys, and their new addition.
Tim narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure? Have you talked to your boys?”
Susan was surprised at his response. She’d kind of expected him to just jump for joy and agree right away, but she didn’t blame him for asking. “No, I haven’t, actually.”
One side of Tim’s mouth curved into an impish smile. “I think we’d better talk to them first,” he said. “I don’t want to ruin what we have going on right now.”
Susan nodded. She felt solemn, like she’d just been scolded for being too hasty by a disappointed parent. She was about to go to her room to dawdle in her defeat, when Tim reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. The pure surprise of it startled her, but after that wore off, the feelings of longing she’d experienced before came back, and they were stronger than ever.
“Don’t you dare go away thinking that I don’t want to be with you, Susan. I want to be here, more than anything, but I want to do this right. I want to join your family, not encroach on it, and that means involving the boys in this decision,” he said.
“You’re right.” Susan couldn’t take her eyes off of his. The light blue hue was truly enchanting.
Tim let the wipes, bandages, and ointment he’d been holding fall to the floor, then he used his free hand to trace Susan’s lips. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you again since the moment you pulled away.”
Susan’s legs felt limp, and she was glad he still had his arm wrapped around her. Her belly felt huge between them, but Tim managed to make her feel closer just by the way he looked at her. She felt like he really saw her for who she was, and not for her current condition. “I wish you would.”
Tim leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. A moment passed, then more. The kiss deepened, and Tim’s tongue teased her lips, coaxing her mouth open. A surge of heat filled her belly when he thrust his tongue inside her mouth, and she groaned as he repeated the action again and again.
After a few minutes, Tim pulled away. “I better go take care of Adin.”
Susan covered her lips with her fingers, a small smile taking them over without her consent. “Come back,” she whispered.
Once it was too dark outside to keep throwing the football around, Tim and the boys came in. Susan sent Cody and Adin to their rooms to get ready for bed, and as soon as they’d brushed their teeth and shut their bedroom doors, Susan moved across the room to sit next to Tim on the sofa.
“So, when do you think we should talk to the boys?” she asked.
Tim shrugged. “I think that’s your call.”
Susan sat up. “Oh, no. Nope. If we’re really doing this, from here on out, we’re making decisions together.”
Tim let out a long breath. “All right then. How about tomorrow?”
“Are you ready to come back so soon?” she asked.
“I was ready to come back the day after I moved into that house.” Tim chuckled.
Susan laughed too. “I don’t blame you.”
Tim shook his head. “I don’t think you know what I mean.” He scooted closer to her. “The house was fine. It’s being near you that I miss.”
Susan nuzzled into his neck and nodded. “I miss it too.”
Tim leaned down, and found her lips with his, nudging her to lift her head so he could kiss her better. She let him coax her and guide her until they were lying together on the couch, as close as they could be with her pregnant belly between them.
Susan expected Tim to keep prodding her for more and more, but when she pulled away and laid her head on his chest, he seemed content to just let her lie on him. He wasn’t taking anything she didn’t freely give, and she felt completely safe in his arms.
Eight
Tim pulled his truck—once again loaded down with his clothes and boxes—into the driveway of Susan’s home. He was only halfway up the walk when Adin came bounding down the front stairs.
“This is the best day ever!” Adin yelled as he ran out to meet Tim, nearly tackling him in a hug. Tim had a duffle bag in each of his hands and was easily knocked off balance, and they both almost tumbled to the ground.
“Woah! You’re not excited, are you?” Tim teased.
Adin stepped back. “Only a little.”
Cody pushed open the screen door from inside the house and held it open so Tim could shimmy past.
“Thanks, Cody,” he said.
“Mm hmm,” Cody mumbled.
Tim set down his bags just inside the door, then turned around to face Cody. “You’re still okay with this, right?” He wasn’t about to put Susan back in a bad situation with Cody, and he seemed a little off.
Cody’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, yeah! Sorry. I was just thinking about football tryouts. They’ve made the first cut, but the next one is tomorrow, and I made a few dumb mistakes today at practice. I hope I still make the team.”
Adin looked up at Cody, his eyes full of admiration for his big brother. “Of course, you’re gonna make the team,” he said adamantly. “You’re amazing!”
Cody rolled his eyes and punched Adin’s shoulder. “Only you think that.”
“Not true!” Adin protested. “Tim does too. Right, Tim?”
“That’s right,” said Tim. The whole exchange touched Tim deeply. He was so grateful to be able to witness these moments between brothers. It reminded him of the way he’d always seen his older brother. He felt sad sometimes that the oldest child never got to experience the intense love and admiration you feel for your older siblings. He always wanted to be just like his older brother, and it was clear Adin felt the same way.
“I guess we’ll find out who’s right tomorrow,” Cody said.
Just then, Susan walked in from the kitchen. “Oh! I didn’t realize you were already here.”
Tim put his hands in his pockets. “Yep. Didn’t see any point in wasting time after work today. I packed up as soon as I got home.”
Susan smiled. “Well, good.”
“So, where do you want me to put my stuff?”
Susan looked at her boys, then back at him. “In my room, of course. We are married. About time we started acting like it.”
Tim tried not to look overly happy about her answer, but he’d hoped that’s what Susan had in mind when she’d asked him to move back in. He was relieved he didn’t have to move into the room down in the basement again. He would have, but he wanted to really be with her. He wanted their marriage to mean more than just a certificate that was kept at the county clerk’s office.
“Will you take me to a show?” Susan asked Tim one night over dinner. It had been a few days since he’d moved in, and everyone seemed to be adjusting to his presence much easier this time around.
“What kind of show?” Tim asked.
“Well, Branson is kind of known for their plays
and performances, but I’ve never been to one. Clarence’s unexpected death was the wake-up call I needed to stop waiting to do things I say I want to do. There’s no guarantee I’ll have time to do them later on in life. There might not be a ‘later on’.”
Tim chuckled. “Well now I can’t really say no, can I? When do you want to go?” he asked between bites of the honey-glazed salmon he’d made for dinner that night.
Adin looked longingly at Susan. “Can I come, Mom? Please?”
Susan rubbed a hand over her belly. “Not this time, sweetie. We’ll go on a date before the baby comes, though. Just you and me. I promise.”
Adin looked disappointed, but he didn’t argue.
“When do you want to go?” Tim asked again.
“Oh, sorry. Uh—I guess whenever you feel like you can get away from the ranch. I know there’s always a lot to do,” Susan said.
Tim waved his hand in front of him as if to dismiss her worries. “There is a lot to do, but the guys can handle it. At least long enough for me to slip away and go to a show with you.”
“Well, good. I’ll look for tickets to the ones I’m intrigued by and let you know.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Tim said.
The day of the play Susan took a long hot shower, blow-dried and curled her hair, and applied her makeup carefully. Since Tim had come to the ranch, she’d been a little more motivated to put effort into her appearance, but it hadn’t been since the wedding that she’d gotten this done up. She could never do what Cynthia had done to her that day anyway. She wasn’t a hair or makeup pro by any stretch of the imagination.
The thing was, it didn’t always seem worth it to spend a bunch of time primping when she’d sweat her makeup off working out in the yard, or on the ranch. This summer she wasn’t doing as much as she normally did, though—doctor’s orders.
Besotted in Branson: An At the Altar Story Page 7