Wildflower Ridge

by Sherryl Woods

  “But I should be the one—”

  He grinned. “You’re wasting your time arguing with me, young lady. If you disagree with the plan, you’ll have to talk to Justin.”

  Patsy sighed. He was doing it again. He was fixing things for her. On the one hand, she was grateful. On the other, it was a reminder of too many years of weakness and dependence on other people.

  “I’ll speak to him,” she said grimly.

  The older man grinned. “Let me know how it turns out. It’s been my experience that once an Adams makes up his mind, there’s not much use in fighting him.”

  “We’ll just see about that,” Patsy retorted. “Before I go to see Justin, there’s something else I want to discuss with you.” She explained her idea for lighting a fire under Sharon Lynn and hopefully jolting her out of her depression. She didn’t mention that the plot was helping her to keep her own mind off whatever was going on with Will down at the sheriff’s office.

  “Are you sure you’re not an Adams?” he asked when she’d finished. “You’re sneaky just like they are.”

  “You disapprove?”

  “No, indeed. Not if it’ll get the job done. I’ll go along with anything that’ll get that pretty little gal out of her bed and back among the living. I’ve just been putting off my retirement until she made up her mind whether she wanted to take this place off my hands.”

  Impulsively Patsy hugged him. “Thank you. Since the lunch counter’s already covered, I’m going out to White Pines now, if you don’t mind.”

  “Go. Be sure to let me know how it turns out.”

  “If I go about this right, you won’t need me to tell you. Sharon Lynn will be busting down the door before the afternoon’s over with.”

  “Lordy, I hope not,” he said with mock horror. “One busted door in a day is about all an old man can cope with.”

  “You know perfectly well what I mean.”

  “Yes, I do. Now, get along with you.”

  When she arrived at the ranch, she went straight up to Sharon Lynn’s room in the main house. She found her friend still in bed, still gazing blankly at the ceiling.

  “Hey, sweetie, how’re you feeling?” she asked, pulling a chair up beside the bed.

  Sharon Lynn cast a distracted look her way, then gazed off in the distance again.

  “I have some news,” she said, deliberately injecting a somber note into her voice.

  The statement drew no response.

  “It’s about Dolan’s.”

  There was a flicker of interest in Sharon Lynn’s eyes, but nothing more.

  “The Doc told me today that he intends to close it down.”

  Sharon Lynn blinked rapidly at that, then turned slowly to face Patsy. “He’s closing it?”

  “Well, you know he’s been thinking of retiring for some time. You told me that yourself. I guess he’s decided it’s time.”

  Sharon Lynn frowned. “But he knew I was thinking about buying it.”

  “I guess he figured since the accident and all, you wouldn’t be interested, and he didn’t want to wait around until another buyer showed up. I guess he’s anxious to move on down to the Gulf Coast and go fishing.”

  The news clearly agitated her friend. Sharon Lynn began to fiddle with the pretty flowered comforter that was drawn up to her chin.

  “This couldn’t have come at a worse time,” Patsy said sorrowfully.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I guess you haven’t heard. My husband, Will, he showed up in town today and bashed down the door at Dolan’s.” Her shudder at the memory was only slightly exaggerated for Sharon Lynn’s benefit. “Maybe that was the final straw for Doc. I don’t know. Anyway, Will’s in jail, and Janet’s about to file divorce and custody papers. It’s going to be expensive, and I’m out of a job again.”

  “You don’t need to worry about that. Janet won’t take your money, anyway.”

  “Of course she will. I’m not accepting charity. It’s important to me to prove I can stand on my own two feet. I’m sure you can understand that. Dolan’s has always represented a certain amount of independence to you, too, hasn’t it?”

  “Yes, I suppose it has. I’ve never thought about it that way before. I just knew I liked working there. It gave me my own identity away from the family’s ranching. Plus I was following in my mother’s footsteps. She and Daddy did most of their courting in that place while she ran the lunch counter.”

  “There, you see?” Patsy said brightly. “I knew you’d understand.” Then she sighed heavily. “Of course, I can probably find another job in another town.”

  Sharon Lynn appeared genuinely shocked by the suggestion. “And leave Justin? You would do that to him?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t want to, but—”

  The next thing she knew, Sharon Lynn had tossed off the comforter and was climbing out of bed. She brushed past Patsy.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, get out of my way.”

  Patsy barely contained a hoot of triumph. “Why? Where are you going? Should you be out of bed?”

  “I should have been out of bed days ago. As for where I’m going, you know perfectly well, I’m going to have a talk with Doc Dolan. I will not let Dolan’s be closed down, and if anybody’s going to buy that place, it’s going to be me.”

  Patsy regarded her innocently. “If you’re sure...”

  “I’m sure.”

  Patsy kept up a steady barrage of doubts all the way to the front door, right past a gaping Harlan Adams. After they’d waltzed past him, Patsy turned around and caught his wink. Obviously Janet had filled him in on the plan, though he was clearly stunned to see it had worked.

  “I really don’t know if you should be going all the way into town your first day out of bed,” Patsy said, along with half a dozen other protests designed to keep Sharon Lynn just irritated enough not to back down.

  “Oh, will you just shut up,” Sharon Lynn finally snapped. “I’m going and that’s final.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Well, I do.”

  Outside, though, Sharon Lynn came to an abrupt halt. Patsy regarded her worriedly. “What is it? Is something wrong? Are you feeling faint?”

  “I don’t have a car,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “And even if I did, I couldn’t... I don’t think I can ever drive again.”

  Patsy reached for her hand and squeezed. “Then isn’t it a good thing that my car is here? I’ll drive you into town, if that’s what you want.”

  For a moment, Sharon Lynn looked as if she might back down, but then she squared her shoulders. “Perfect. I’m sure Justin or someone in the family will be coming out this way later. I can hitch a ride home with them.”

  “Or I’ll bring you back. It’s not a problem.”

  “Whatever.” She walked over to Patsy’s car and reached for the handle of the passenger door, then faltered. She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure...”

  Patsy sensed that Sharon Lynn had to do this today or she might never try again. “You’ll be fine. I’ll drive very carefully.”

  “Of course you will. It’s not that.”

  “Let me ask you something. Have you ever fallen off a horse?”

  Sharon Lynn regarded her impatiently. “I grew up on a ranch. What do you think?”

  “And what did your dad or grandfather tell you?”

  “To get up and get back on.”

  “Same thing after an accident,” Patsy said lightly, praying that she was giving the right advice.

  “I’ll never get behind the wheel of a car again,” Sharon Lynn said fiercely, her expression anguished.

  “You don’t have to drive, if you don’t want to, but you’re bound to want to go places. How will you get into town every day, if someone doesn’t bring you?”

  “I’ll move to town.�
��

  “Then how will you get back out here for family dinners and holidays?” Patsy asked reasonably.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Sharon Lynn finally grumbled, and opened the door. “Let’s just go and get it over with.”

  She maintained a white-knuckled grip on the edge of the seat all the way into town, but she didn’t utter another protest. Still there was no question she was relieved when Patsy parked in front of the drugstore. She rushed out of the car as if she’d just been advised there was a bomb under the hood.

  Thankfully, the glass cutter had been busy while Patsy had been at the ranch. Though the window displays hadn’t been redone, at least there were shiny new windows in place. Sharon Lynn viewed the residue of the disaster with lifted brows, then walked inside. Heads turned as she sailed past the lunch counter and straight to Doc Dolan’s place behind the prescription counter.

  “We need to talk,” she said in a no-nonsense tone.

  “As soon as I finish getting Mrs. Phelps’s pills ready for her,” the pharmacist said without looking up.

  “Now!” Sharon Lynn said fiercely.

  “Sounds like she’s back to her old self,” Justin observed, coming up behind Patsy.

  “Not yet, but I think she’s getting there.”

  He rested his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “You’re a good friend, maybe even a bit of a miracle worker.”

  “There were no miracles involved. I just thought of a reason for her to get out of that bed. Thank God, it was the right one.” Satisfied that everything had been set into motion at the back of the store, she met Justin’s gaze. “Anything happen at the jail I should know about?”

  “Your husband got the divorce papers.”

  Stunned by the speed with which Janet had worked, she asked, “Is the building still standing?”

  “It was when I left. He’s demanding a conference with Janet.”

  “Oh, dear.”

  “Not to worry. Janet was sitting in Tate’s office waiting. She’d anticipated the request. She looked downright eager to have a little face-to-face with him.”

  “Did she tell you about the visitation with Billy?”

  “I’ll be there,” he said softly. “Don’t worry about it.”

  She regarded him worriedly. “You won’t be looking for an excuse to shoot him, will you?” she asked, only partially in jest.

  He grinned. “Not as long as he keeps his temper in check and Billy’s glad to see him.”

  “Any idea when he’ll be free to come over?”

  He nodded. “That’s why I came looking for you. He’s going to be released right after his meeting with Janet. I thought you might want to go home to prepare Billy.”

  Patsy’s knees turned weak at the prospect. She hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, not on a day that had already been a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs. “Tonight?”

  “Yes. Then with any luck he’ll leave town. That’s the deal for his release. Doc Dolan won’t press charges if Will heads back to Oklahoma and never sets foot in Los Piños again except for liberal court-approved visits with his son.” He stroked a finger down her cheek. “It’s going to be over, Patsy. By this time tomorrow, it’s finally going to be over.”

  She wanted to believe that, but she couldn’t. Not yet. Not until she saw Will actually get in his car and drive away. Maybe not even then. Maybe not until he’d been gone for weeks or months and there’d been no attempts at payback.

  The first step to insuring that Will would stick to their bargain and leave was to let him see Billy tonight. Needing Justin’s strength, she reached for his hand and said in an unsteady voice, “Let’s go home.”

  “I’ll walk you over, then head back to the station,” Justin said. “I’m going to escort him officially to your place after his release. After that, he’ll stay overnight at a motel, then if all the details are ironed out in the morning and all the papers are signed to Janet’s satisfaction, you can say goodbye once and for all.”

  If only it would go that smoothly, Patsy thought wistfully, but this was Will they were talking about. He didn’t give up anything he considered to be his that easily.

  * * *

  Justin stood idly by as Will Longhorn signed himself out of jail. Tate made it a point to remind the lawyer of his agreement to be gone by the next day. For a brief instant, the man’s arrogance threatened to erupt, but he finally set his jaw and nodded.

  “If you’re ready, I’ll take you by Patsy’s,” Justin said when the last paper was signed.

  “I can get there on my own,” Will said, dismissing him.

  Justin stood his ground. “Afraid not.”

  “More rules?” Will demanded sarcastically, but he followed Justin to the waiting patrol car. “What kind of town is this? Do you all just make up these regulations as you go along? Or are you taking particular pleasure in tormenting me?”

  “We believe in the kind of justice it takes to get the job done,” Justin said evenly as he drove the few blocks to Patsy’s and pulled up to the curb in front. “If it requires a little creativity, so much the better.”

  Will glared at him. “Believe me, I know exactly what your agenda is. You think you’re so smart, don’t you? You think you’ve won.”

  “Where you’re concerned, I don’t have to win. This is all about your wife and son and what’s right for them. If you’ve got a shred of decency in you, you’ll set them free.”

  “It’s not up to you.”

  Justin feared prolonging the debate would only make the other man’s hackles rise. He was clearly spoiling for a fight and Justin was a handy target. If Justin thought about accommodating him, it might be enough to cause him to back out on whatever deal he’d agreed to with Janet. To prevent that from happening Justin remained tight-lipped.

  “Nothing to say to that?” Will taunted.

  “Maybe you should stop worrying about me and concentrate on your boy,” Justin said mildly, gesturing toward the window where Billy was watching for them.

  Even as they looked, Billy scrambled down and raced out the front door.

  “Daddy, Daddy,” he shouted as he toddled unsteadily down the walk.

  To Justin’s surprise, Will Longhorn bolted from the car, knelt down on the sidewalk and scooped his son into his arms. There were tears in his eyes as Billy’s arms locked around his neck.

  “I missed you, Daddy. I missed you lots.”

  “I missed you more,” Will murmured, his voice thick with tears.

  Justin felt his throat squeeze tight as he watched the two of them. The sight had shaken him more than he cared to admit. It was yet another reminder that not everything was as black-and-white as he’d always believed. His view of Will Longhorn had been colored by what he knew of the man’s shabby treatment of Patsy. Now, seeing him with his son, he realized that whatever his faults, Will Longhorn loved his son and Billy returned that love. It wasn’t a bond that could be broken lightly.

  He glanced up and saw that Patsy was watching the scene with tears in her eyes. He went past the man and boy to stand beside her.

  “How can I do it?” she wondered aloud. “How can I keep them apart? Billy still brings out the good in him.”

  “That’s a heavy burden for a two-year-old. Will needs to find the good in himself some other way.”

  She sighed. “I know you’re right, but—”

  “No, darlin’. You’re doing the right thing. I suspect if he’s honest with himself, even Will sees that.”

  “I hope you’re right,” she said as Will stood up with Billy in his arms and started toward the house. Despite whatever trepidations she might be having, she managed a smile for them. Justin had never been prouder of her.

  “Daddy’s going to stay for dinner,” Billy announced. “S’ghetti.”

  “That’s right, munchkin.
Your favorite.”

  Justin hid a smile. He’d seen the damage Billy could do to the surrounding area with a plate of spaghetti. He wondered how Will would feel when it wound up splashed all over his fancy clothes, even if they were a little the worse for wear.

  He was in for a surprise on that score, too. Will never batted an eye when sauce splattered off Billy’s exuberantly wielded fork. Patsy started out of her chair at the sight of the red stain, but Will waved her off.

  “It’s a suit,” he said mildly. “It’ll clean, or I’ll get another one.”

  She stared at him in blatant amazement. Even Will grinned at her reaction.

  “Okay, so I’m mellowing. Maybe I’ve finally started getting my priorities in order.” He regarded her wearily. “Too bad it’s too late, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” she said softly. “Yes, it is.” And then she turned and gazed at Justin.

  There was no mistaking the message in her eyes, and Will didn’t pretend not to get it. He rose from the table and picked up his son. “I’ll give Billy his bath and put him to bed, if you two don’t mind. Then I’ll be on my way.”

  “Fine,” Patsy agreed, watching as he left the room and headed toward the bathroom with Billy pointing the way.

  After he’d gone, she gazed at Justin. “He’s changed.”

  With an odd, cold sensation in his chest, Justin stared at her evenly. “Enough?”

  “No,” she said, reaching out to lay a hand against his cheek. “It can never be enough.”

  Relief swept over him then. They weren’t at the end of her troubles yet, but they were getting there. And when they did, Justin vowed that he would be waiting.

  When it was time to escort Will to his motel, Patsy beckoned Justin back inside for a moment. He studied her expression, trying to guess what was on her mind.

  “Second thoughts?”

  “About Will and the divorce? No. I just wanted to ask you if you could come to dinner tomorrow night, alone, just the two of us?”

  Justin’s heart lurched and his blood began to pump a little faster. He had a thousand questions begging to be asked, but with Will waiting, there was no time. “Seven o’clock?” he asked.