“I hope you’re hungry. Breakfast is ready,” Carol said from the living room entrance.
Darcy blinked and pushed thoughts of Fletcher from her mind. Besides Avery and her, there was only another couple staying at the inn. The husband and wife weren’t in the dining room. She was curious about the people of Haven, and from what she’d seen so far, Carol would be a great person to talk to.
“Will you sit and join me? I hate eating alone.” Darcy sat at a table for four with a coffeepot and a bread basket already on it.
Carol smiled. “I’d love to. Be right back with our breakfast.”
When she disappeared through the door into the kitchen, Darcy poured herself a cup of coffee and dumped several scoops of sugar into the brew. Carol returned with two plates, placed one in front of Darcy and then took the chair across from her.
Darcy peered at her omelet and the slices of melon on the side. “This looks delicious. I usually don’t have much time to eat a big breakfast.”
“I have some blueberry and bran muffins in the basket.”
“This omelet and fruit is perfect. I stay away from breads.”
“You have to watch your weight? You’re thin.”
“I have celiac disease and have to avoid all foods with gluten in them.” When she was diagnosed six months ago, Darcy had begun her search for her biological parents. Celiac was a genetic disorder. Was there anything else she needed to be aware of in her family history?
“Are you all right now?”
Darcy didn’t like talking about that time of uncertainty when she didn’t know why she was tired all the time, losing weight and getting sick after eating certain foods. “Yes, so long as I follow my diet.” She bowed her head and blessed the food.
When she looked up, Carol was studying her. “If you’re still here on Sunday, you’re welcome to attend the Haven Community Church with me and Clarence.”
“I’d love to. What few people I’ve met so far have been friendly.”
“Most are in Haven. There isn’t much that goes on in our town that others don’t know about.”
“Nick mentioned someone called Fletcher Phillips. Do you know him?”
“I imagine Nick wasn’t too happy with Fletcher when he talked about him. Nick volunteers at the Lone Star Cowboy League Boys Ranch, and Fletcher is trying to get it shut down.”
“Why?” Darcy wanted Carol’s take on the boys ranch.
“He thinks having a boys ranch here is bringing down the value of the property around town. All he sees is troublemaking kids. That’s really not the case. The children need love and care, but he won’t listen to reason.”
“How do the people in Haven feel about it?” Darcy ate her first bite of omelet, the taste tempting her to take cooking lessons from Carol.
“Some go along with Fletcher, but there are many who don’t.”
“What would happen to the boys staying there if he got his way?”
“That would be the state’s problem. The ranch is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for their residential needs and for programs to help the boys.”
First from Nick and now from Carol, Darcy wasn’t getting a good feeling about her biological father. “Which side of the argument do you support?”
“One hundred percent for the boys ranch. My husband was there for a few years as a kid when his dad died and his mother couldn’t manage him. Fletcher thinks of the boys as juvenile delinquents. They are troubled but still children.”
As Darcy ate her omelet, she decided she would drive out there and look into the ranch. Without seeing it, she couldn’t form an opinion. Did Fletcher have a legitimate concern? “I’d like to see the place, maybe later today if I get my car back. How would the people running it feel if I went to see the ranch?”
“I’m sure Bea Brewster, the director, would welcome you.” Carol rose and stacked their plates. “I’ll make a map for you. And I’ll call her to let her know you’re coming by.”
As Carol hurried away, Darcy finished the last of her coffee, pleased she had something to do. When she’d planned to come here, she hadn’t thought of how she would spend her time other than catching up on her reading. She liked to keep busy, and looking into the boys ranch was a good way to have something to do—and possibly see Nick when he volunteered.
A minute after the phone rang, Carol reappeared in the living room. “Nick’s on the phone for you.”
“He is?” Darcy followed Carol to the phone in the hallway, surprised to be hearing from him, especially after she had just been thinking of him. When she answered, she asked, “Is Corey okay?”
“Not exactly. I’m at Mrs. Scott’s house. The state is taking Corey to the boys ranch, and he’s locked himself in the bathroom, screaming he won’t go there. Mrs. Scott is looking for the skeleton key.”
Her first urge was to drive to Mrs. Scott’s house and do...what? She was a relative stranger to Corey. “I wish I could help. My car won’t be repaired until late this afternoon or possibly tomorrow. Will he go to the ranch today?”
“Yes. I just wanted to let you know because of your concern last night.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. If I get my car fixed later today, could I visit Corey at the ranch?”
“Seeing someone familiar would be great.”
“We don’t know each other well, but I’m glad to come as soon as I can.”
When Darcy hung up, Carol came over to her. “I couldn’t help overhearing that Nick’s friend is going to the boys ranch. If you don’t get your car back, I’ll drive you.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“It would be a good reason for me to pay a visit to my friend Bea. I could take you after I do a few things around here.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know about my car.”
An hour and a half later, Carol drove Darcy to the boys ranch. Carol had called and discovered Corey was there at the barn with Nick. Darcy dressed in jeans, a white blouse and tennis shoes. As she strolled to the porch with Carol, she noticed Nick’s beat-up pickup parked next to the barn. Before she had a chance to ring the bell, the front door swung open and an older woman with brown hair and brown eyes appeared in the entrance.
The lady hugged Carol and then turned to Darcy. “It’s nice to meet you, Darcy.” She stood to the side. “Come in. I understand you’re staying at the inn for a few weeks. What has brought you here to Haven?”
“A forced vacation.”
Bea’s eyebrows rose. “Forced?”
“My parents, who fund a legal-aid office in Mobile, insisted I finally use my vacation days. It’s their way of telling me I work too much.”
“Why Haven?”
“Texas interests me, but I don’t want to go to a large city. I’m here for rest, not sightseeing. I thought I could help out while I was visiting. It’s hard to go from working ten-hour days to no hours.” When she’d been diagnosed six months ago with celiac disease, her parents were convinced the stress of her job had made her symptoms worse.
“She’s met Nick and even helped with locating Corey last night,” Carol said as Bea closed the front door.
The manager of the boys ranch grinned. “My, you’ve jumped right in. So you’re familiar with ranches or, in your area, farms?”
“Well, no. But I’m a quick learner. I help out in my church’s nursery as well as in a shelter for families. I love animals and children.”
“Good. We have both,” Bea said with a chuckle. “C’mon. I’ll show you the house while Katie, our receptionist, calls down to the barn to have one of the other volunteers show you what we do there.”
“I’d show you,” Carol said with a chuckle, “but I’m a displaced city gal who can barely tell the difference between a cow and horse.”
Bea laughed.
“She isn’t quite that bad, but I can attest to my friend being out of her element when she comes here.”
“Give me another year, and I’ll get the hang of it. Darcy, you’re young and probably not as set in your ways as I am.”
As Bea escorted Darcy and Carol through the three different wings of the home that each housed up to eight residents, Darcy glimpsed the various ages of the children, often seeing older boys helping younger ones. In addition, she met some of the houseparents, their ages a wide span too. The home was large but had a warm, comfortable feel to it. She could see why Nick thought this place would be better for Corey than where he had been.
When Bea and Darcy returned to the director’s office, she met Katie Ellis, who was talking with Nick. He swung his attention to Darcy as she entered the room.
“You have your car back already? What was wrong with it?” he asked in a Texan drawl.
“No, Carol brought me. Slim told me it was a glitch in the electrical system. Thanks for recommending him. He should have it done later this afternoon.”
“He’s the only one in town, but he’s a good mechanic. Saves us having to go into Waco.” Nick looked at Bea. “I finished taking care of trimming the horses’ hooves. I can show Darcy the barn and some of the corrals before I need to leave. And Carol, I have to go into town. I can bring Darcy back to your place.”
“I appreciate that. Clarence just texted me that he forgot to tell me about a dental appointment I have in half an hour and we have a new guest coming right after lunch.” Carol glanced at Darcy. “You can go with me now or have the grand tour of the barn.”
“I understand Corey is at the barn.”
Nick nodded.
“I’d like to see how he’s doing after last night and this morning at Mrs. Scott’s.”
Bea shook Darcy’s hand. “Katie will give you the application to fill out, and we’ll get the necessary information so you can start as soon as possible. We have all our volunteers do that. I hope to see you around even if your stay is temporary.”
After Bea left, Katie gave Darcy a sheet of paper. “I’ll take it after you fill it out. You won’t regret volunteering here.”
Darcy grinned. Based on what she had seen of the house, she had to agree with the receptionist. This would be perfect for her while she became acquainted with her biological father and made the decision whether to approach him or not. But, even more, she would have a chance to get to know Corey and possibly help him, even if he never knew she was his cousin.
And see Nick occasionally. The words sneaked into her mind and made her grin. She didn’t understand why she responded to him. Maybe it was because he was so different from the men she knew at home.
Darcy turned to Nick, whose neutral expression told her nothing. “I’m ready. I’ll fill out the form later.”
As she walked in the direction of the barn, Nick pointed to her feet. “I’m glad you decided not to wear those heels you had on last night.”
She chuckled. She’d probably looked as though she was going to her office rather than driving across country for eleven hours. Even working at Legal Aid, she always dressed as she would have if she’d worked for a big law firm. Her professionalism helped ease her clients’ fear they wouldn’t get good representation in court.
She slanted a look at Nick. “I still haven’t gotten into vacation mode.”
“How often do you take a vacation?”
“This will be my first in three years, since I finished law school. I’m not even sure I know how to slow down.”
“Volunteering here won’t necessarily be restful, but nothing beats helping these boys.” He held the barn door open for her to enter first. “I’ll introduce you to the ranch foreman. When I left, he was in the tack room showing Corey around.”
A tall, rugged man stepped out of a room off to the right, accompanied by a black Lab. He smiled, deep creases at the sides of his blue eyes. “You must be the new volunteer Katie told me about. I’m Flint Rawlings.”
News spread at sonic speed here. She shook his hand. “I’m Darcy Hill, and yes, I’m that person.”
Corey came out of the tack room but hung back by the door.
“Do you want to help with the animals?” Flint asked Darcy.
When the black Lab sniffed her fingers, she petted him. “I love animals like dogs and cats, but I have to confess I haven’t been around cattle, and the last time I was on a horse was several years ago.” When her mare had died, she had walked away from riding. The memories of her horse robbed her of the pleasure she’d always gotten from riding. “But if you need help, I’m willing to learn.”
“Flint, we could always use someone to clean out the stalls,” Nick said next to her. “I can show her what to do.” One corner of his mouth tilted up.
She got the impression Nick thought she didn’t know how to get her hands dirty. She’d changed enough diapers while in the church nursery and cleaned Beauty’s stall the ten years she had her. Their bond had gone beyond horse and rider. “Is it much different from cleaning out cages at an animal shelter? I used to volunteer there as a teenager.” She decided she’d keep quiet about having her own horse.
Nick’s face lit with a smile. “Not quite. On second thought, you’d fit in better at the house, maybe helping with homework or something like that.”
“It’s been nice to meet you, Darcy. I’m leaving to have lunch with Lana. She tutors the boys after school and has said on a few occasions they could always use more volunteers doing that.”
“So what will it be? Mucking stalls or teaching kids?” Nick asked in a light tone.
But she also heard the challenge in Nick’s voice. He thought she was a pampered socialite and couldn’t do either task. Yes, she came from a wealthy family, but her father and mother always believed in working for what you wanted. As much as she would like to prove she was capable of mucking out a stall and doing much more with horses, she said to Flint, “I look forward to meeting Lana then. Tutoring the kids would be perfect for me.” In that area she could help Corey, and that was the reason she’d come to the boys ranch.
“I’ll tell her. C’mon, Cowboy.” With his dog beside him, the ranch foreman left the barn.
“I think that’s a wise choice,” Nick murmured close to her ear, a dare still lingering. “Less messy.”
She looked at Corey, his shoulders hunched, his head down. “What do you think, Corey? Mucking stalls or homework?”
The ten-year-old shrugged, his stare focused on the ground by his feet.
Nick walked to Corey and clasped his shoulder. “Let’s give Darcy the grand tour.”
The boy didn’t reply but followed a step behind them. First Nick and then Darcy tried to include him, but they could only get one-word responses from him.
When Nick paused by the fence of one of the paddocks, he rested one booted foot on the bottom slat. “These are some of the horses the kids get to ride. They see to them. Several children are assigned to each horse and rotate duties every week.”
Darcy paused next to Corey. “Which horse do you like the best?”
“Dunno,” the boy mumbled.
“I think that’s smart to check each one out before you commit to a horse.” The urge to hug the child and tell him things would get better inundated her, but she wasn’t even sure that was true. His dad could get Corey back and everything could remain the same as it had been before he was taken into state custody. She’d seen that happen working in her job.
Nick locked gazes with her for a brief moment and then shifted his attention to Corey. “C’mon, partner. I have to get you back to the house. Miss Bea still needs to show you the house.”
* * *
As Nick settled behind the steering wheel and started his truck, he slanted a look at Darcy. “So what do you think about the boys ranch?”
“He’s scared.” That was why Bea had brought him to the barn first to see Nick. “In Dry Gulch, he had friends and knew some of the people, like Mrs. Scott. He’ll feel better after he meets some of the other boys his age.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“He’s confused. He wants to be with his dad, and yet not if he’s always being left alone. He doesn’t know what to expect from day to day and certainly doesn’t feel safe.” Those same feelings used to plague Nick while he was growing up.
“I’ve dealt with kids like that.”
“In a perfect world, Ned wouldn’t drink and would love Corey unconditionally. But that isn’t going to happen. Ned isn’t going to change.” He knew firsthand the mindset of an alcoholic and remembered the times his dad promised to stop drinking and reform. He never did; in fact he got worse.
“People can change. I’ve seen some turn their lives around.”
Nick shook his head as he pulled away from the barn. “Ned is too far gone.”
“How do you know that for sure?”
“I just do.” He didn’t share his past with anyone. It was a part of his life he wanted to wipe from his mind, but it was always there in the background. He never wanted to see a child grow up the way he had.
“Then I’ll pray for the best for Corey.”
“The best scenario would be the state taking Corey away from Ned and a family adopting him. I wish I was in a position to do it.” The second he said that last sentence he wanted to snatch it back. He had no business being anyone’s father.
“Because you’re single? That might not matter in certain cases.”
“I’m not dad material.” How could he explain that he was struggling to erase the debt that his father had accumulated? If he lost the ranch, he would lose his home and job. But, more important, what if he wasn’t a good father to Corey? It was one thing to be there to help when needed, but it was very different to be totally responsible for raising a child.
In the silence Darcy’s stomach rumbled. She chuckled. “I guess I’m hungry. I’ve wanted to do something for you for helping me yesterday. I’d like to treat you to lunch.”
The Cowboy's Texas Family Page 5