Hill Country Redemption

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

“Your mama’s right about that.” His green eyes were all misty, and his throat convulsed with his effort to keep it together.

  She was having the same problem, for different reasons.

  Thankfully, Jayda didn’t seem to notice. She clambered down the steps and skipped toward the barnyard.

  “You had no right to answer her about church, and I have no intention of going.”

  “You don’t have to. I can take her.”

  “You most certainly will not.”

  His gaze turned sheepish. “I’m afraid I have a hard time telling her no. Just come once. Then if you don’t like it, maybe you’ll at least feel comfortable with letting her go with me.”

  “I have calls to make.” She stopped the swing, intent on escaping him. And church.

  He caught her wrist. “I’ll help you make them. But first, when do you plan to tell her?”

  “Soon.”

  “How soon is soon?”

  “Soon.”

  “What’s holding you back?”

  Her insides stilled. “I don’t want to introduce you into her life if you’re not planning on being a permanent fixture.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m trying to be.”

  “But what about when your business is up and running? Will you go back to the circuit, then?”

  “I’m officially retired. For good. After my last rodeo injury, I ended up with a shoulder replacement. That’s why I started my business. Now I don’t want to be Rance to her. I want to be her father.”

  “And you will.”

  “Tonight. I want you to tell her tonight.” The uncompromising steel in his tone sent chills over her.

  He was setting the deadline to open her daughter’s heart up to him. Locking him into their lives. For as long as he felt like sticking around, anyway.

  “Please, Larae. Tell her tonight.” The catch in his voice tugged at her.

  “Tonight it is.”

  * * *

  Boards creaked and groaned with each step as Rance paced the old house. What was going on next door? Did Jayda know about him yet? Would Larae call once she’d broken the news?

  The place needed some sprucing up. If he was gonna be a daddy to Jayda, the house needed to look and feel like a home. He hadn’t done anything other than move furniture in. It was too stark, with bare walls. Maybe some plants or throw pillows. He’d ask his mom to help.

  It wasn’t dark yet. Larae had had plenty of time. Maybe he should just go on over there.

  He bolted for the door, out the side gate, down her long driveway and then loped up onto her porch. Larae would be madder than a red wasp drunk on fermented plums over him just showing up. But Jayda was his, too, and it was high time he got to claim her. He rang the bell.

  Several seconds ticked past before the door swung open. Larae’s brows shot into a V. “What are you doing here?”

  “Have you told her yet?”

  “I’m working on it.”

  “How about we work on it together?”

  “No. We’re about to eat supper, and I’m doing this my way.”

  He crossed his arms under his chest. “We’re both her parents—maybe we should start trying our way.”

  “So you came to bully me with your bulging biceps.”

  “No.” His hands dropped to his sides. “Of course not. Come on, Larae, work with me here. You’ve had her for seven years. It’s my turn.”

  “You have no idea how hard this is.” Her chin trembled. “Explaining to her that she has a father. And I kept you from her.” Her eyes went all glossy. “I didn’t think you’d care.”

  His anger melted away. “Well, I do. But I’m not here to fight with you. I just want her to know the truth. How about we tell her together and not point any fingers or blame?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I didn’t know Rance was coming to eat supper with us.” Jayda bounced around Larae. “We’re making dessert.” She grabbed his hand. “Come on. You can help. Mommy makes the best roast in the whole world.”

  “The whole world, huh?” Rance shot her a wink. “Sounds like something I need to get in on.” He sidestepped Larae as Jayda tugged him inside.

  “We’re making million-dollar cake, and it’s so much fun.” Jayda didn’t let go of him until they were in the kitchen. “And so yummy.”

  It was the farthest he’d ever been in the ranch house. The kitchen was warm and rustic with knotty pine cabinets and walls, and there was an adjoining great room with cowhide and leather furnishings. But he was much more interested in his daughter—and her mother—than his surroundings.

  Storm clouds brewed in Larae’s icy blue eyes. “I’ll get the cake out of the oven. Jayda, go to the bathroom and wash up. You smell like a horse.”

  “I do.” Jayda giggled. “Okay, but don’t start without me.” She wagged her finger at Rance.

  “I won’t ’cause you gotta tell me what to do.”

  Jayda scurried down the hall.

  “You could have begged off.” She slipped on an oven mitt and scooped the cake out, setting it on a metal cooling rack on the counter. “I never agreed to tell her with you here.”

  “She dragged me here. There’s not much I could do.”

  “Oh, come on,” Larae scoffed. “She’s seven and tiny. And you’ve got biceps.”

  His grin tugged into place. “You seem to be obsessed with my biceps.”

  “I am not.” She rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you just leave while she’s gone and let me do this?”

  “What are you so afraid of, Larae?”

  “If you must know.” She tugged off the mitt and threw it on the counter. “That she’ll hate me for not telling her about you for all these years.”

  “Well, for starters, she’s not old enough to connect all that. Or for resentment to set in. Just brush over the facts and don’t dwell on the secrets. I’ll help you.”

  She straightened her shoulders and gave a quick nod, resolve settling in.

  Jayda skipped back into the room. “Can Rance poke the holes in the cake, Mommy?”

  “But that’s your job sweetie.”

  “I know, but I want Rance to do it.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  Jayda grabbed a red-and-white straw from a drawer and handed it to him. “You take this and poke holes all over the cake. But not too close together or it will get all messy looking. I like to keep them about an inch apart.”

  He sank the straw into the golden cake near the corner. “Like this?”

  “Yep. Now pull it out and just keep poking.”

  The straw left a round hollow in the fluffy, buttery confection. It smelled like Twinkies. He poked another hole and another.

  “That’s it. You’re doing it perfect.”

  Jayda’s approval melted his insides. To the point of making him tear up. “I can make holes, but I can’t bake a cake to make them in.” He had to keep things light. For her sake.

  “That part’s easy. It comes in a box, and you just add stuff.”

  He shot Larae a grin, but she wasn’t concerned that Jayda had ratted her out. That little line between her eyes was obviously about him.

  “Now your straw will get full of cake, so I’ll get you another.” Jayda handed him a fresh straw. “It’s just a yellow cake now, but we’re fixin’ to make it yummy.”

  He finished his last row of holes. “Is that enough?”

  “Yep. Now we’re gonna make it yummy.” She loaded a small can on the electric opener. The appliance hummed while the can spun and then stopped.

  “I’ll get it.” Larae tunneled between them and removed the can and lid. “Jayda’s not allowed to touch once it’s open in case there are sharp edges.” She set the can in his hand and slipped away behind them.

  The brush of her fingers sent warm
th through him.

  “Now pour that on the cake.” Jayda instructed.

  “What is it?” The yellow thick liquid reminded him of spun honey.

  “This is the yummy.”

  “It’s sweetened condensed milk,” Larae supplied. “Basically thickened milk and sugar.”

  “It sounds like the yummy.” He poured the goo over the cake. It puddled and sank into some holes.

  “Now you have to take this and spread it all over.” Jayda handed him a large spoon. “While you do that, I’ll open the pineapples.”

  “You mean there’s more?” The sweet milk soaked into the cake.

  “Lots more.”

  The hum of the opener started up, and once again Larae stepped between them to retrieve the can and lid. This time she set the crushed pineapple on the counter instead of in his hand.

  Had his touch affected her, too?

  “Now dump the pineapples on top and smooth them over like you did the yummy.”

  The juice soaked into the cake and ran into the holes he’d made while he spread the crushed fruit.

  “You did good.” Jayda took his spoon and licked it clean. “By the time we eat, it’ll be cool, and I’ll put whipped cream and coconut on top.”

  “You know so much about cakes, I think you’re gonna be a baker someday.”

  “No. I wanna be a princess.”

  “Well, there isn’t any royalty in Texas. But you can be whatever you want to be.”

  Larae shot him the evil eye, probably longing to explain to her daughter that there were no princes. Only teenage bronc riders who broke hearts and moved on to the next girl.

  He turned around as Larae took three large stoneware bowls and matching saucers out of the cabinet. “Let me get that.” Another brush of their hands.

  Did he imagine her sharp intake of breath?

  “I don’t know where y’all sit.” He turned to the small pedestal table surrounded by four chairs. A pan of corn bread sat in the center.

  “I’ll set the table.” Jayda brought silverware and napkins while Larae filled the glasses with ice. “Mommy sits here, ’cause she likes to look out the window, and I sit here. You can sit by Mommy so you don’t block her view.” She put the three settings in place.

  “You’re good at this.”

  “Thanks. I always set the table for us.”

  “I hope you still like sweet tea.” Larae brought two glasses of amber liquid. “It’s all we drink, so it’s all I’ve got. Apart from milk or water.”

  “It’s all I drink, too.” He hurried to the counter to get the third glass for her. When he returned to the table, Larae was unlatching the lid of a robot-looking Crock-Pot with a digital display.

  “I hope you like pork roast.”

  “I do, and it smells divine.”

  She scooped slabs of meat, thick fragrant gravy, and potatoes and carrots into each bowl, while he used a spatula to serve the corn bread.

  As soon as they sat down, Jayda and Larae dug right in.

  Rance usually prayed before he ate, but he didn’t want to make them uncomfortable. If eating together became a habit—and he hoped it would—he’d ease them into praying first. This time, he just said a quick silent prayer, thanking God for Jayda. And for bringing Larae back into his life.

  His hand shook as he reached for his fork. Would Jayda be happy to know about him? Or would she see him as an intrusion into her one-parent world?

  Chapter Eight

  The roast was tender and flavored just right. But with Rance sitting next to her and the impending conversation hanging in the air, after a few forced bites, Larae couldn’t eat. Nerves zinging, she pushed a carrot around with her fork while Jayda talked nonstop about how much more she liked the ranch, the kittens in the barn and riding Beans than their condo in Dallas.

  “Mommy, you’re not eating. Or watching the birds. Or talking like you normally do.”

  “I was just listening, Pumpkin. And I may have sampled a bit too much of the roast while it was cooking. I’m just not very hungry.”

  “How old is Beans, Mommy?”

  “She’s twenty-one, but ponies can live into their thirties. She still has lots of rides left in her, and the exercise is good for her.”

  “So why is Beans named Beans? It’s not a very pretty name for a girl.”

  Larae chuckled. “She’s a pinto pony. Pinto is a type of bean—the kind we call brown beans.”

  “Oh.” Jayda giggled. “That’s funny.”

  “Your grandma named her, and she had a good sense of humor.”

  “Your grandma was a very kind lady.” Rance pushed his plate away. “And a good cook if she taught your mama how to make this. I think this is the best pork roast I’ve ever eaten.”

  “Thanks.” But Larae’s mood sank again with the reminder of his presence.

  “I’m ready for dessert. Can we put the whipped cream on the cake yet, Mommy?”

  “Let me feel the pan and see if it’s cool enough.” She stood, retrieved the cake and set it on counter, as Jayda scurried over to look.

  Larae squelched a sigh as Rance stood and strolled over to Jayda’s side like he belonged there. Jayda spread the whipped cream, then let Rance help sprinkle the coconut.

  The only people who’d ever baked or eaten with them had been her dad, Lexie, an occasional friend from work and one of Jayda’s school friends. Jayda didn’t even know who Rance was yet, and he was infiltrating everything. Larae didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  “Do we need to let the cake chill a bit longer with the topping on it, Mommy?”

  “Probably wouldn’t hurt. We don’t want the topping to melt.” She snapped a plastic lid over the cake pan and set it back in the fridge.

  “So now would be a good time for that talk?” Rance leaned against the counter. A challenge dwelled in the depths of his green eyes.

  She couldn’t put this off any longer. He wouldn’t let her.

  “I guess. Let’s go in the living room.”

  “What talk?” Jayda’s gaze went from one adult to the other.

  “Come sit with me.” Larae took her daughter’s hand as they made their way to the front room. This was the only room that still had her mother’s touch—pastel vintage with French provincial touches in sharp contrast to the rest of the ranch house’s horse-and-barbed-wire decor with its cowhide furnishings.

  She settled on her mother’s flowered couch and snuggled Jayda beside her. Rance hesitated as she wished the floor would swallow him. Could he read her thoughts? He took a seat on the other side of Jayda. Invading their boundaries. But all boundaries were about to fall away.

  “Do you remember when you were younger and you asked me how come your friend Chloe had a daddy and you didn’t?”

  “Uh-huh, and you said that some kids have daddies and some don’t. I’m just one that doesn’t.”

  “But you do,” Rance interrupted.

  “I do?”

  Larae shot him the evil eye. “I’ll handle this.”

  “I’m just trying to help.”

  “Who is my daddy?” Jayda looked back and forth between them.

  “Rance is your daddy, sweetie.”

  “He is?” Her eyes grew huge as she turned to Rance.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been around before now, Jayda.” His eyes were misty.

  “And I’m sorry I’m just now telling you this. But—”

  “See, your mommy and I were high school sweethearts, but I broke up with her over something stupid. Because teenagers are stupid. Especially teenage boys.”

  Jayda snickered.

  Something stupid—like another teenage girl.

  “By the time your mommy found out about you, I was off riding the rodeo circuit, and she was in Dallas for college. We lost touch, so she didn’t know where to f
ind me to tell me about you. But I can promise you one thing, Baby Girl.”

  “What’s that?” Jayda hung on his every word, obviously warming to him.

  “If I’d known about you, I’d have been around. For every minute of your life.”

  Jayda turned to Larae and frowned. “So, were you and Rance married, Mommy?”

  “No, sweetheart.” Larae hung her head. “He was just my boyfriend.”

  “I been wanting to ask this for a long time. Aren’t only married people supposed to have babies? That’s what Chloe said when I told her I didn’t have a daddy.”

  “Oh, sweetie.” Larae gave her daughter a little squeeze.

  “That is the way it’s supposed to be.” Rance’s tone dripped with regret. “The way God wants it to be. But people don’t always do things the way God wants them to. And you just meeting me is a perfect example of why only married people should have babies. If your Mommy and I had been married, I’d have known about you from the beginning.”

  “Do you wish you hadn’t broken up with Mommy and married her instead?”

  Rance caught her gaze. “I certainly do.”

  “Well, why don’t y’all get married now?”

  “Jayda!” Larae tried to silence the child.

  “Your mommy and I are just getting to know each other again.” Rance lowered his voice. “And I’ll let you in on a little secret.”

  “What’s that?” Jayda asked.

  “I’m pretty sure your mommy’s still mad at me for breaking up with her back in high school.”

  Jayda turned to Larae. “Are you, Mommy?”

  Larae drew in a deep breath. “A little.”

  “Well, I’m not mad at you. I mean, I wish you’d married Mommy. But I like you, and I’m glad you’re my daddy.” Jayda reached toward Rance.

  He enfolded the tiny child in his arms. “Me, too, Jayda. Me, too.” He blinked away tears, focused on Larae. Thank you, he mouthed.

  “Can we have cake now?”

  “It should be ready. Let’s go see.”

  “Can you do that and let us sit here a minute?” Rance asked. “I mean it’s not every day I get to officially meet my Baby Girl.”

  “Sure.” Larae managed to sound fine. “I’ll bring the cake in here. Do you want milk or tea with it?”