by Jayna Morrow
“I have every reason to believe we have a bright future. And speaking of bright futures, that’s my prayer for you, little brother.”
“You don’t feel any differently about me now, do you?”
“I’m not judging if that’s what you mean.”
“Once I start bringing home a paycheck, I’ll be able to get a car and rent a place. Maybe I’ll be able to pay back some of the money you gave me.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“I want to pay you back. You’re the only one in the family who didn’t give up on me. That means the world to me.”
“I could never give up on you, Phoenix.”
“I don’t know what I could ever do to show you how much I appreciate you.”
She closed her eyes briefly then opened them and took a deep breath. “Don’t ever get into trouble again.”
~*~
Sparrow unbuckled her seat belt.
“Thanks for the ride, but I don’t need an escort inside.” Phoenix laid a gentle but firm hand on her arm as she reached for the door handle.
She ignored him, humming as she exited the car. She had that cartwheels, backflips, and dancing feeling this morning, on Phoenix’s first official day at his new job with Hearth Dairy. They were met with the smell of coffee and cows, but mostly coffee, when they entered.
“To your first day on the job.” Gabriel raised the mug in his hand then pointed toward the small cart that held a coffeepot and a microwave. “Y’all like some coffee?”
They accepted and filled foam cups with the steaming brew. Then they all raised their cups before taking a sip.
“You got a nice setup here,” Phoenix commented.
Gabriel filled them in on the history of the dairy, even the ups and downs of the business.
“And your role in all of this is getting the finished product safely to the stores.” Gabriel addressed Phoenix. “We make it. You take it. You’ll be delivering to our local vendors, as far as Bishop and the surrounding area. Here’s a delivery log for today.”
Her brother glanced over the long list. “I’m ready to get to work.”
“Irelynn has all the paperwork ready for you to sign. There are some things for your probation officer, too.”
Phoenix nodded and dropped his head, as if ashamed. This must be hard for him to deal with in front of her and others.
“Well, I’m going so y’all can get to work.” She hurried to take the focus off her brother. “What time should I come back?”
Gabriel smiled. “Actually, I’ve got an old work truck Phoenix can use until he gets a vehicle of his own.”
Her brother’s head snapped up. “You’d do that for me?”
“Let’s just say I’m a firm believer that people can change. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
17
Sparrow pushed the gas pedal and steered the four-wheeler in the direction she’d seen Gabriel heading earlier. She didn’t figure he’d mind her borrowing it, since she was off to rescue him.
He waited on a tree stump, twirling his hat in his hands and staring out at the surrounding pasture. When he saw Sparrow, he put his hat back on his head and stood to greet her.
“Thanks for coming to the rescue.”
“So your horse wandered off, huh?”
“He’s a new horse, and I spent too much time inspecting the fence line. I should have tied him up. I knew better than that, but my mind’s been elsewhere. I thought you’d drive your car down this way.”
“Nah, the four-wheeler’s much more fun.”
“I agree.”
She put the vehicle in park and let the engine idle. Then she leaned forward and rested on the handlebars. The day was hot and not much breeze stirred the air, but the view of green pasture leading up to a grove of oak trees was breathtaking.
Gabriel climbed onto the back and hooked his arms around her waist. “I’m ready to get back to the house.”
“Let’s get home then. I’m glad you have dependable employees so you can spend less time at work and more time around here getting things done. What were you doing out here, anyway?”
“Checking the fence line, mostly. Not an easy task in the sun. But I got to watch the sky fade from orange to blue and now back to orange.”
“I see.”
She put the four-wheeler in gear and started off slowly. Her zebra-striped rubber boots were covered in dust, and the jewels on the pockets of her jean shorts weren’t quite as shiny as the day she’d bought them. Her idea of casual country wasn’t always practical. She had a lot to learn. At least her hair was behaving. She’d thrown it up in a messy bun atop her head. Even at the slow pace she was going, the wind pulled at it and loose sections of hair tickled her face and neck.
The beautiful scenery whizzed by as a rush of warm air engulfed her. She felt Gabriel’s warmth behind her and rejoiced in the new peacefulness in his life now that things were working out so well with Slade.
Because he’d only received a couple of paychecks, Phoenix was still living in her spare bedroom. He and Slade had come so far in such a short time, and both owed it all to God. It was all that she’d prayed for, too. Now they were working men, focused on living right.
And then there was Gabriel. She was trying to be patient and not let her heart get the best of her, but she knew it would only be a matter of time before they hit a crossroads. She already wanted to take their relationship to the next level. She loved him. Every time she locked gazes with his radiant blue eyes, her stomach flip-flopped, and she fell in love all over again, a constantly renewing cycle. But she wanted him to love her, too.
“Remember, tonight all my family is coming over for a get-together to welcome Phoenix back home.” She spoke loud enough that he could hear her over the rushing wind.
“I didn’t forget. How long do I have to get ready?”
“They’re due for dinner in about fifteen or twenty minutes.”
Gabriel chuckled. “I can shower and shave in half that. Plenty of time.”
Sparrow rolled her eyes. “Dad’s bringing his fall-off-the-bone ribs. Mom’s making a salad. Robin’s bringing corn and potatoes. I made deviled eggs and put together a relish tray.”
“Sounds delicious. What should I bring?”
“I know you get ready fast, but I don’t think even Super Gabriel could get dressed and make a side dish in twenty minutes.” She pushed the gas pedal to the floor, and the four-wheeler lunged forward, producing the desired effect—Gabriel’s arms tightening around her waist. She loved having him near every day.
She parked the four-wheeler near the shed, and they both climbed down.
Sparrow was a little shaky on her feet from all the vibration. “I’m so happy you agreed to hang out with my family this evening.” She offered a little smile. “It took a lot of prayer and discussion to get every stubborn person in my family to forgive and forget.”
“I know how important this reunion is to you, and I’m glad to spend time with your family.”
He laced his fingers with hers to punctuate his sentence and, at once, she was lost…melted into the orange sunset, and glowing bright with a renewed love for him. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She’d never grow tired of this. She looked forward to his touch, basked in it every single day. Life was a beautiful sunset with Gabriel.
Why couldn’t he love her?
~*~
Sparrow was astonished when she opened the door and saw Gabriel on her doorstep, fresh, clean, and pressed, shortly after everyone arrived for dinner. He was true to his word about getting ready in less than twenty minutes.
He hugged her tightly as if her family wasn’t in the next room.
“You sure cleaned up fast.”
“I told you I’m a quick change. You look lovely this evening.” He let his arms slip away and looked into her eyes. “Didn’t anyone tell you not to bring things into the house that you find outside?”
“Huh?” She cocked her to one side.
&
nbsp; “Looks like you captured two stars and put them here and here.” He gently touched a fingertip to each eyelid. “And smeared some of that glowing sunset here and here.” His thumbs brushed across her cheekbones. “You’re more beautiful than any Texas sky, Sparrow.”
Blink. Blink. Gulp. “Gabriel, I...” Who am I again? She couldn’t think for the rapid beating of her heart. The man never ceased to amaze her.
Robin, who had been prepping food across the room, audibly sighed and let the fridge door slam shut. “All right, you two. Come on in and shut the door so we can get dinner started.”
“We’ll help.”
They followed Robin’s orders to set the table.
When everyone was seated, the kids at a smaller table in the corner, Sparrow looked around at the people she loved most in the world and smiled contentedly. Then she looked at Gabriel seated next to her, and her smile didn’t quaver. He belonged here, too. She glanced at Slade, at the far end of the table by Phoenix, and sent a small prayer of thanks to God.
“I’d like to say a few words.”
Her eyes flew open at the sound of her father’s voice, and her heart raced to the point of panic. She couldn’t believe her father was making a speech. He wasn’t one for speeches. And under the circumstances, she worried what he might say. So many scenarios ran through her mind, she could barely keep track of them. That was probably a good thing.
“I once said I’d never sit at the same table with my youngest son again.”
He dropped his chin, and Sparrow nearly dropped hers. Shame. Her father was ashamed!
“But here I am. Some may call me a pushover for my kids. I don’t care.” Now he looked at Phoenix with a serious expression. “I was wrong. I’ll admit it. Phoenix, you broke my heart. You were the most stubborn child out of the four. Wild as a hog. Impatient. A daredevil with instant gratification syndrome.”
Phoenix stared up at him, obviously perplexed.
Sparrow could almost hear his thoughts. Where is he going with this?
“Yes, you were all these things and more. But you were also loving, fun, good-natured, and I’m proud to call you my son. The point I’m trying to make is that a good soldier never leaves a man behind. When I turned my back on you, that’s what I did…I left you behind. I’m sorry, son. Can you forgive me?”
Sparrow’s gaze slid back and forth between her father and Phoenix.
Gabriel held her hand under the table and squeezed it.
Slowly, Phoenix nodded his head. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, son.” His grin lit up the room. “Now let’s eat. We’ve all got a lot of catching up to do.”
Nobody ever had to tell her family twice to start eating. A frenzy ensued as they fixed their plates. She’d worried too much about Phoenix being accepted back into the family. Everything seemed remarkably smooth. As Robin always said, “Everything was good as gravy.”
When they were engrossed in conversation, Gabriel whispered, “So this is what it would be like being married into your family, huh?”
She shrugged and eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you using the M word all of a sudden?”
“I’ve just been doing some thinking lately.”
~*~
The steady sound of drizzling rain awakened her the next morning. Rain always put her in a good mood. She put on her fuzzy slippers and padded to the kitchen. Phoenix had already gone to work and left her half a pot of coffee. She poured a cup and leaned against the counter. The aroma steamed up thoughts of last night’s dinner and Gabriel’s use of the M word. Had he been thinking of marrying her?
If he thought she’d agree to marry him when he hadn’t even told her he loved her, then he obviously didn’t know her at all. She wanted to marry Gabriel Hearth, but she wanted to do it for the right reason—because they loved each other. Frustration crept into her good mood.
Her cell phone rang.
“Hi, little brother. Did you forget something?”
“I wish that was the reason I’m calling.” His voice sounded troubled.
“What is it, Phoenix?”
“Gabriel’s been injured at work. He’ll be OK. But he’s at the hospital in Bishop.”
18
Sparrow parked her sedan in the closest spot she could find to the door then made her way into the emergency room registration area. A few more trips and she’d have a spot with her name on it by the front doors. Picking up members of the Hearth family from the hospital seemed to be an ongoing thing. She knew it was a bad choice of words, but she couldn’t help but think how dead the place was this morning. One lady in scrubs barely gave her a glance when she entered.
Gabriel was nowhere in sight. She sent up a little prayer of thanks that he wasn’t seriously injured, but it had been a close call. She’d talked to him on the drive over and found out the details. She prayed that they were finished stitching him up and she could take him home quickly. Her legs felt as wobbly as gelatin as she approached the woman in scrubs.
“Can I help you, ma’am?” the lady asked.
“I’m looking for Gabriel Hearth. He was brought in for stitches earlier.”
“Ah, yes. He mentioned a young woman would be picking him up.” She pointed off to her right. “Go right through those doors. You’ll find Mr. Hearth behind the third curtain on the right, Room 3.”
Sparrow followed directions, which led her straight to Gabriel. She pulled back the curtain and froze. The blood drained from her face. She hadn’t expected to see Gabriel looking so helpless and vulnerable on the gurney. She couldn’t stand seeing him this way. He’d come so close to....no! She forced the thought from her mind. “Gabriel, my word. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” She moved around to the side of the bed and dropped into a chair.
Gabriel was stretched out on top of the thin, white sheets, one arm behind his head and the other, bandaged arm across his stomach. Blood stains splattered his shirt and jeans. Dirt smeared his face, neck, and hands.
“Nice to see you, too.”
Sparrow finally regained control of her brain-to-mouth function. “I’m sorry. My head knows that you walked away from this just fine, but my heart keeps replaying what could have happened. When I pulled the curtain back, I expected to see you sitting up and—well, pretty much normal. Not lying down with blood and dirt all over. You’re a wreck.”
A mischievous grin split his face. “I look pretty good considering I’ve been half-trampled and gored in the arm by a dairy bull, thank you very much.” He pushed himself to a sitting position with his good arm. In spite of all he’d been through, his smile was as warm as ever, and he hadn’t lost his gift of sarcasm. “Those are my walking papers on the counter. Let’s get out of here.”
Sparrow picked up the papers and slipped them into her purse. “Do you need help?”
“Nah, my legs aren’t broken.” He rose and started down the hallway.
“Phoenix and another man got your truck for you.”
“They were supposed to take me back too. Why did you come all the way out here?”
“Phoenix called to let me know what happened, and I insisted on picking you up. No sense in taking employees away from their jobs when I’m available to help.”
Gabriel nodded his approval.
She opened the door for him when they got to the car, even though he had one good arm, and then tried her best not to hit too many bumps on the way home. When she did hit a bump, he didn’t flinch. His arm wasn’t bothering him nearly as much as she’d thought it would, but it was probably still a little numb from medication. “You picked a bad day to get injured.”
“What do you mean?”
“The birthday get-together at Garrett’s house for Micara.”
Gabriel stared at her blankly for so long she started to think something was wrong with him. Then he scrunched up his face and laid his head against the seat. “I forgot.”
“How could you forget? He’s been going on and on about it for weeks. And I put the inv
itation on your fridge.”
He rolled his head over to one side and smiled. “I’m glad I have you to keep up with stuff like this.”
“I’m happy to do it. Are you feeling up to going tonight? I’m sure everyone will understand if you don’t.”
“Yes, I’m going. I may not stay long though.” He looked down at his injured arm. “I’ll have to figure out how to shower and dress one-handed, but I’ll be there.” He paused a moment, looked at her with puppy dog eyes, then added, “Don’t worry. My arm is fine.”
“What is that look for?”
“I know you, and I can tell you really don’t think I should go.”
Sparrow nodded as she drove. “You’re right. I think you should stay home and rest and let me take care of you.”
“Let’s make a deal. We’ll go for one hour, and I promise to take it easy. I don’t want to leave Slade home alone for that long anyway. His friend is staying the night so he won’t be going to the party.”
She contemplated for a moment before relenting. “Deal.”
That evening, she played chauffeur once again for Gabriel. She didn’t ask how, but he’d managed to bathe and dress with an arm full of stitches. He looked a bit worn out though, and she caught him wincing often. His bad arm hugged his chest, and he covered it protectively with the other. The medication must have worn off.
“There’s the cripple,” Garrett called as Sparrow and Gabriel approached the house.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.”
When they entered the house, heads turned in their direction. By now, everyone had heard about Gabriel’s run-in with the dairy bull. Concerned expressions crossed their faces.
Hank Barnes called out, “You sure taught that bull a lesson!”
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Gabriel chuckled. He placed his good arm around his future sister-in-law’s shoulder and squeezed. “Happy Birthday, Micara.”
“Thanks, Gabriel. Glad y’all made it. We didn’t expect you to come after what happened. Scary.”
“Wouldn’t miss it, but I’ll enjoy the party from the couch if you don’t mind. I don’t want to take the pain pills they gave me, and my arm is killing me.”