by Unknown
“Yes.” Catherine placed her arms on the table. “How can I help to make things better?”
Naomi glanced down into the attentive eyes of her daughter. “Honey, why don’t you finish coloring while I talk with Catherine?”
“Can I have another soda while I’m doing it?” Kayla asked, her red crayon poised.
“You’ve had enough, Kayla.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kayla began coloring her cactus.
“She’s very well-mannered.” Catherine had counseled with too many permissive parents who thought the easy way out was to let their children have their way. They soon learned, without rules and guidelines, children made themselves and everyone else’s lives miserable.
“Sometimes,” Naomi said, but she hugged the little girl to her, then rocked her shoulder into Kayla’s. Apparently it was an old game because they repeated the motion a couple of times before Kayla went back to coloring.
“I’m going to sit by Catherine a few minutes, you finish coloring.” Getting up, Naomi went to sit by Catherine. “I know you said you were here for a conference, but you seem to know the man who owns this restaurant. Do you think he’d give me a job cleaning up the place after it closes?”
“So you and Kayla wouldn’t have to be separated?” Catherine guessed.
“I don’t like leaving her,” Naomi admitted. “Could you just ask him?”
“I’ll ask, but I can’t guarantee anything.”
“Thank you.” Naomi went back to her seat.
Catherine left to find Brandon. Offering Naomi money would have only hurt her pride. She wanted work, not a handout. Catherine just wasn’t sure she was going to be able to give her what she needed, a chance to hold up her head and take care of her child. Seeing Brandon leaving his office, she realized she was about to find out.
His dark brow furrowed on seeing her. “She skip out on you?”
“No. She didn’t. Brandon, she needs a job and—”
He held up both hands. “I have a full staff and people on the waiting list?”
Catherine didn’t doubt his word. “If you hire her, I’d pay her salary.”
His eyebrow rose. “You really are a soft touch.”
“She and her little girl need help,” Catherine defended.
“So Luke says, but how do you think the staff will react to me hiring her when they have friends and relatives on the waiting list? I expect them to be honest and they have the right to expect the same thing from me.”
Catherine’s sigh was long and deep.
“Besides, she doesn’t have two qualities I look for.” He chuckled at the affronted expression on her face. “If you knew my mother and sister, you’d know I’d have to leave town if a woman’s figure had anything to do with hiring staff. I look for a calm demeanor and friendliness. Your friend has neither.”
Catherine brightened. “She wanted to clean up after the restaurant closed.”
He shook his dark head. “Some of my mother’s music students already have the job.”
“So there’s nothing she can do?”
“I’m afraid not.”
He curved his arm around her dejected shoulder. “Sorry.”
The door opened behind them. Catherine glanced around and saw Luke, his face hard.
Worried, she immediately went to him, placing her hand lightly on his chest. “Is something the matter?”
Brandon said nothing, just stared at his brother.
Luke didn’t know what to say. He’d trust Brandon with his life, but that hadn’t stopped the quick spurt of jealousy when he saw Catherine standing easily in his arms. “Sorry,” Luke finally said, chagrined.
Brandon shook his head. “I hope it isn’t catching?”
Catherine’s concern increased. “Are you sick?” The hand that had been resting on his chest palmed his forehead.
Her hand closed over his and brought it down to his side. “I’m not one of your strays.”
“I never thought you were,” she said softly.
For a long time they simply stared at each other.
“Luke, remember we’re supposed to watch the other’s back. You aren’t forgetting, are you?” Brandon warned.
Luke dropped Catherine’s hand, then rammed both of his into his pockets. “Why are you here instead of with Naomi?”
“She wanted me to ask Brandon for a job.” Catherine sighed for more reasons than one. She now understood Brandon’s cryptic message only too well. “He didn’t have one.”
So that’s what had been going on. “If she’s passing through, why does she need a job?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why don’t we go find out?”
NAOMI HUGGED KAYLA WHEN SHE SAW LUKE AND Catherine approaching. She read Brandon’s answer on Catherine’s face ten feet away. She thought she had prepared herself for the disappointment. She hadn’t. “Thanks for asking.”
Catherine sat down and scooted over for Luke. “This is a tourist town, so there must be plenty of job openings.”
“Yes, you’re right,” Naomi said. “It was just a thought. Thank you again for the dinner.” She turned to Kayla. “Come on, sweetheart. We have to go.”
“I don’t wanna.”
“Kayla, please.”
“Mama, it gets cold and I”—her head drooped—“I get scared.”
“Oh, Kayla,” Naomi cried, gathering the child against her. “I’d never let anything happen to you. Never.” But she had made other promises, promises she had not been able to keep. She had promised her the world the night she was born and she didn’t even have a bed to sleep in. Naomi could have wept out of shame, out of inadequacy. Luke and Catherine probably thought she was the worst mother in the world. At times she agreed with them.
“If you’re finished, we can leave,” Luke said quietly.
Naomi gathered Kayla in her arms, and started from the room, blinking back tears. The cooling evening temperature invaded her thin dress. Sitting Kayla down, she pulled her windbreaker out of her canvas tote. “Put this on.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Luke saw Catherine digging in her purse. He closed his hand over hers. “Here is my truck.”
“Of course. We didn’t mean to take up so much of your time. Thank you both.” Naomi stared down at the top of her daughter’s bowed head. “Say thank you, Kayla.”
Kayla kept staring at her feet. “Thank you.”
“Where are you staying?” Luke asked.
Naomi’s head came up sharply. “Why would you want to know that?”
“To make sure you get there safely,” he answered. “It will be dark soon.”
Fear shot through Naomi. She’d never make it back in time. “I can manage.”
Catherine approached the younger woman. “Naomi, are you sure? The decisions you make affect both you and Kayla. Don’t let misplaced pride or fear guide you.”
Naomi wanted to trust again, but was afraid to. Somehow it was easier than being disappointed again. “Why should either of you care?”
“Why shouldn’t we is probably a better question,” Catherine said. “Could you walk away from a child in need?”
Naomi swallowed and glanced away, feeling Kayla’s hand tremble in hers.
Luke walked over to the truck and opened the door. “There’s enough room for all of us.”
“Trust him,” Catherine said. “Trust us.”
Picking up Kayla, Naomi got into the truck.
THE ROADRUNNER INN, TWO MILES SOUTH OF THE plaza, was exactly what it looked to be, a thirty-year-old roadside motel that offered a cheap room and little else. The fake adobe wall was faded and chipped. The roadrunner’s upper lights were out, making it appear headless.
It took Luke all of one minute checking under the hood of the thirteen-year-old Honda Civic to determine it wasn’t salvageable. He slammed down the hood. “The engine is shot. Cost more to repair it than the car is worth.”
“I know,” Naomi said, her voice trembling.
“How did you get
into town?” Catherine asked.
“We’ve been able to catch a ride with a couple going to the Plaza,” Naomi explained.
“Do they also bring you back?” Catherine’s brow knitted.
The silence stretched until Naomi said, “No. It’s not so far once you get started.”
“Mama carried me because I get tired,” Kayla admitted, leaning against her mother.
Two miles was two miles, and with a tired child it had to seem like ten, Catherine thought.
Luke glanced around at the look-alike units. “Which one is yours?”
Pride meant nothing if her daughter wasn’t cared for. “I don’t have a room here anymore. The manager let me keep my car here because I had no place else to go.”
“Mama, I don’t want to sleep in the car tonight. It gets cold.”
Naomi turned to Catherine, her face desperate. “If you could possibly loan . . .” Her trembling voice trailed off, she bit her lower lip.
“Luke?” Catherine caught his hand.
A woman’s voice shouldn’t reach down to your soul and tug, her touch shouldn’t make him crave more. Luke had no intention of letting Naomi and her daughter sleep in her car again, but Catherine’s pleading expectation and trust in him to right the world got to him. Too much so. His mouth tightened. “Get what you need and let’s get out of here.”
Naomi unlocked the car door, grabbed a paper sack and quickly stuffed clothes into the bag. She wasn’t foolish enough to think people gave something for nothing, but she’d worry about the consequences later. For one night at least, Kayla wouldn’t be cold or afraid. “We’re ready.”
“WHY ARE WE STOPPING HERE?” NAOMI ASKED WHEN Luke stopped in front of an imposing white stucco two-story hotel shaded by large elm and spruce trees. A stone fountain spewed water five feet into the air.
Catherine wanted to ask the same question. Luke knew the hotel was full.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” he said and got out.
In a short time, he came back and opened the passenger door. “We can reach your room through the open courtyard.”
Naomi’s mouth gaped. She stared at the immaculate grounds and imposing facade. “I can’t afford to stay here.”
Luke picked up a dozing Kayla. “We’ll discuss it later.”
Naomi’s apprehension increased as she passed the grassy courtyard and saw the luxury swimming pool and hot tub. Her nervousness turned to surprised delight inside the spacious room, tastefully decorated with cornflower-blue carpet and a navy blue bedspread on the brass bed. On the pristine walls were Native American prints. Two easy chairs flanked a tiled table. The TV was inside the top half of the hand-carved armoire: the mini-refrigerator and honor bar occupied the bottom half.
After placing the little girl on the bed, Luke handed her the key. “Complimentary continental buffet breakfast is served from six-thirty to ten in the dining room.”
“Mr. Grayson, I—Thank you.”
“Do you want a job?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll check around. Good night.”
“Good night, Naomi,” Catherine said, taking the other woman’s trembling hands in hers. “I’ll be busy most of tomorrow, but I’m sure I’ll see you in the afternoon.”
“You don’t have to bother.”
“I want to,” Catherine said. “I haven’t finished telling Kayla what happened to the butterfly when it was free.”
“No, you haven’t,” Naomi said, tears of gratitude glistening in her eyes. “Good night and thank you.”
“Good night.”
CATHERINE’S STEPS WERE CONSIDERABLY LIGHTER ON the way back to the truck. “That was nice of you, Luke, but if you could get her a room, why didn’t you get me one?”
He opened the truck door for Catherine to get in. “Would you believe they just had a cancellation?”
She folded her arms and refused to budge. “No.”
“Would you believe I was worried you’d get into more trouble?”
Her arms came to her sides, her smile was huge. “That I’d believe.”
LUKE SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED INTO DR. YOUNG-blood’s clinic. “Might as well check on your other stray.”
Smiling, Catherine got out of the truck. She was on to Luke now. He might try to play hard, but he was a marshmallow. Opening the door to the clinic, he ushered her inside.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” a voice yelled from the back of the clinic. A few minutes later Dr. Youngblood came out. “I might have known it was you two. Hero is cutting up royally.”
“That means he’s feeling better,” Catherine said, already heading to the back where the animals were caged.
Luke caught her hand. “Not without me.”
“Come on, then,” she said, tugging him to the kennel. She heard Hero before she saw him. His bark was distinctive and high pitched. “Hi, it’s good to see you, too. Soon you’ll be out of here.”
“Then what?” Dr. Youngblood asked, leaning against the wall.
“I’m not sure.” She glanced up at the doctor. “How long before he’s well enough to leave?”
“Five, six days at the most.”
“Sunday. I have until Sunday.” Unconsciously her hand tightened on Luke’s.
His gaze caught hers and both realized the other was thinking time was running out for them.
The phone rang and Dr. Youngblood groaned. “If I ever see Cheryl again, I may do something drastic to her.”
Catherine pushed to her feet. She needed some time to herself. “I’ll get it.”
Richard hunkered down beside Luke, noting with admiration the way he had quieted Hero.
“Still haven’t found anyone to help?” Luke asked, absently stroking the animal’s head.
“No,” Richard lamented. “Guess I couldn’t blame Cheryl for running out on me. The pay isn’t that good and sick animals can be pretty unpredictable.”
“I think I may have someone for you.”
Dr. Youngblood’s strong face became pleaful. “Luke, you wouldn’t joke at a time like this, would you?”
“No, but you should know something first.” Quickly Luke told what he knew about Naomi and her daughter, and finished by saying, “For reasons I can’t tell you, I need to be able to keep tabs on Naomi.”
Lines radiated across Richard’s forehead. “Is she a suspect in some crime?”
“I don’t know how deep the lies go. I do know she’s running from something and afraid of her own shadow.” Luke pushed to his feet. Hero and Richard followed. “Her daughter, Kayla, is the exact opposite. Lively and open. She’ll have to come to work with her mother.”
“Is she pretty?”
“She’ll be a heartbreaker in fifteen years or so.”
Richard shook his head. “The mother.”
Luke shrugged. “She’s looks all right.”
“Tall, thin, short, wide? Is she as beautiful as Catherine?”
“No one could be that beautiful,” Luke said with feelings.
“My, my,” Richard said, grinning.
Luke scowled. “She looks all right, I guess. I don’t know anything about her except she’s afraid of something or someone and down on her luck. Not exactly the kind of woman you would want to get involved with.”
“Who said anything about becoming involved?” Richard asked, his smile growing. “I was simply trying to figure out how much you were going to owe me for the great sacrifice I’m going to be making.”
“You would, wouldn’t you?”
“You better believe it.”
Luke was still trying to figure how much it was going to cost him when they arrived back at the receptionist’s desk. “Catherine, Richard is going to hire Naomi as his receptionist and Kayla can come with her.”
She surged up from the desk. “That’s wonder—oh, no!”
Luke crossed to her in three long strides, his eyes searching her face. “What’s the matter?”
“She won’t have anything to wear.”
Luke tried to slow his heartbeat and not yell at Catherine for scaring him at the same time. “Women.”
The look she sent him told him she knew exactly what he thought of her outburst.
“I’m not particular.” Richard folded his arms. “Jeans are fine.”
Catherine’s anxiety deepened. “I don’t think she has any. Kayla’s and her clothes were in a sack.”
“A sack!” Richard jerked to his full height, his gaze going to Luke. “You didn’t mention that.”
“I said she didn’t have much,” Luke reminded him.
“I’d buy her some clothes, but I don’t want to offend her.” Catherine’s expression became thoughtful. “But I don’t want her embarrassed or to put you in a bad position with your patients either.”
“I have some things, if they fit.” Richard went to his office closet and came back with an animal-print smock on a bright pink background and pink pants. “Cheryl always said they clashed with her red hair.”
Catherine rushed over to the clothes. “They’re perfect.”
“So she’s a small woman?” Richard asked.
“Very, she looks like a china doll with huge black eyes.”
“You can see for yourself first thing in the morning when you pick her up from the Executive Inn. Room 105,” Luke said.
CHAPTER TEN
IF NAOMI HADN’T BEEN AFRAID THE PHONE WOULD wake Kayla, she never would have picked up the receiver. As it was, she tried to disguise her voice, “Hello.”
“Naomi, is that you?”
Relief and a small amount of shame swept through Naomi. When was she going to stop being such a coward? “Yes, Catherine, it’s me.”
“Good. I’ve great news. Luke has found you a job.”
“A job?” Naomi repeated, then plopped down on the bed.
“Isn’t that wonderful? You’ll be able to bring Kayla with you. Dr. Youngblood said she could nap on the couch in his office or watch the TV he never has time to watch anymore.”
Things were going too fast. “Dr. Youngblood?”
Catherine laughed. “Sorry, I guess I got excited. Dr. Youngblood has a veterinary clinic in Santa Fe. He wants you to be his receptionist. He even supplies uniforms, meals, and cleaning.”