Thank you, Claire mouthed toward Levi.
You’re welcome. Levi removed his denim coat and draped it over the back of the pew. He never remembered the church being so warm before. Claire unbuttoned her jacket, and he helped her out of it.
Then they both settled back in their space, shoulders and thighs both pressed firmly together. The song leader took her place behind the podium and called out a number for congregational singing. Claire picked up a hymnal and opened to the page and then realized that she’d gotten the last one, so she shared it with Levi.
When their hands brushed against each other the sanctuary got even hotter. Folks who saw them sharing a hymnbook would think they were a couple, and rumors would spread like wild fire that week.
Levi and Claire harmonized through all four verses of the hymn, but he didn’t pay much attention to the words. He couldn’t stop thinking about that dang hymnal and the repercussions that it would bring about—especially with Mavis. Then the preacher took the podium and read a few verses in Psalm 37 about not fretting.
“Are you a worrier?” Levi whispered softly into Claire’s ear.
She nodded. “Can’t lie in church, so sometimes. You?”
“Shhh…roast beast will burn,” Zaylie scolded them.
Levi winked at Claire and tried to pay attention to the sermon, but his mind kept wandering back to what Claire had told him about her parents. One with a new wife in Hawaii. The other in Italy with friends. Both he and Claire were kind of like orphans, only he’d had roots and Mavis and Skip. Suddenly, he didn’t feel abandoned but blessed.
He was sure glad that the preacher asked Justin to deliver the benediction because if he’d been called upon, he would have stuttered and stammered through it that morning. As soon as the last amen was said and the people began to move toward the doors, he picked up Claire’s jacket and helped her into it.
Zaylie tucked her hand back into Benjy’s and looked up at him adoringly. “Can you come see us at the ranch next week?”
“If it doesn’t snow anymore. I like the snow, but I miss the ranch. Snow is precipitation in the form of ice crystals, and no two snow flakes are alike,” Benjy answered.
“You are very smart,” Zaylie said.
“Yes, I am.” Benjy nodded. “But now I have to go home and eat, and then I have to do my homework for school. I’ll see you when I come to the ranch.”
Zaylie let go of his hand. “And I will show you the new kittens.”
“It’s amazing,” Levi whispered to Claire as they made their way out to the center aisle.
“I agree. I didn’t think she’d be that good especially after that pouting fit over the cats,” she said.
“No, I mean that Benjy lets her hold his hand. He usually doesn’t like anyone to touch him,” Levi explained.
Mavis turned around and said, “I doubt he’s ever been around someone as little as she is. He probably sees her like he would a baby kitten. Why don’t y’all come home with us for Sunday dinner? I’d like to show Claire a new quilt pattern I got last week. If the committee approves, we’ll probably make it for the next quilting bee.”
“We’re going to drive up to Randlett to get some stuff that Claire needs to mail, and”—he lowered his voice—“Zaylie is going to have a hard time leaving the ranch, so we’re trying to smooth the pathway. Maybe next Sunday?”
“I’ll probably be gone by then, but I understand you’re coming to the ranch tomorrow to help Retta. Maybe you could bring it then?” Claire asked.
“I sure will,” Mavis said. “I’ll get Skip to bring Benjy out to the ranch after school. I’d like to see him spend some more time with Zaylie.”
“That would be great. She misses her little friend Teresa, especially since we haven’t had cell service. When their parents are out on a mission, they usually have some FaceTime every day,” Claire said.
“Sounds great.” Mavis drew her coat tightly around her body and stepped out into the weather.
“So you and Mavis hit it off pretty good, huh?” Levi asked as he and Claire each held one of Zaylie’s hands and bent against the north wind.
“Sure,” Claire said. “She’s a sweetheart, and we speak the language of quilts.”
“Bye, Benjy!” Zaylie yelled when they were outside and in the truck.
He waved at her through the van window.
“He uses them big words I don’t know. Am I ever going to be that smart?” Zaylie asked.
“Of course you are,” Levi said as he lifted Zaylie into the backseat of his truck. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes, and I want a hamburger with pickies and no onions,” she said.
“Pickles, right?” Levi asked Claire.
“You’re beginning to understand her.” She smiled.
“Retta told me that she invited you to stay longer. I might not even need a translator if you stick around the ranch until after the party,” he whispered.
“And tator tots and chocolate milk,” Zaylie said from the backseat. “And then an ice cream cone.”
“You’re makin’ me hungry just talking about all that food.” Levi chuckled.
“Me too,” Claire said. “But save some room for a snack because Franny says she’s made cookies and we have to visit her before we leave town.” It was her turn to whisper. “It makes sense if I buy the house to be closer, but I’ve imposed on y’all’s hospitality too long.”
“No, you haven’t,” Levi said. “We love having you both.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said. “But right now, we’re on our own mission, aren’t we? I’m hoping that seeing Franny will make Zaylie remember how much she loves staying in Nanny’s house.”
Suddenly, it got as warm in the truck as it had been in the church. From what Claire had said, Franny was pretty much a surrogate grandmother, and meeting her made him more than a little bit nervous.
Chapter Nine
How many more miles? Are we nearly there?” Zaylie asked from the backseat as they went through Wichita Falls.
“Not much longer,” Claire answered. “Why don’t you read two more books?”
“I’m tired of reading. How many more songs is it?”
“Six or maybe five if there’s advertising,” Claire answered.
“I might can make it that far.” Zaylie sighed.
“Songs?” Levi raised a dark eyebrow.
Claire pointed toward the radio. “We measure distance by songs, and it teaches her to count.”
“Smart.” Levi nodded.
At the same time the radio DJ announced that he would be playing five in a row, Claire noticed that Levi had reset the cruise to add a few more miles an hour.
“I can’t wait to see Franny. I haven’t seen her in forever,” Zaylie said after the fifth song. “Just one more and oh, oh, there’s the church.”
“Forever is last summer when she came to stay with me for a week,” Claire explained to Levi. “Turn left at the next stop sign.”
Zaylie pointed at both. “I can see Nanny’s house. We are here. And there’s Franny’s.”
“Just pull up under the carport,” Claire said. “We’ll bring my stuff out the back door.”
She’d barely slid out of the seat when her cell phone rang. It startled her so badly that she dropped her purse on the driveway, and then when she and Levi both bent at the same time to get it, they bumped heads.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” he joked.
“Answer it!” Zaylie dropped to her knees and fished it out of the purse. “It might be Daddy.”
Claire recognized her brother’s picture and was glad that she’d recharged the phone before leaving the ranch. “Why don’t you answer it?”
“Hello,” Zaylie said, and then squealed when she heard her dad’s voice and saw his face. “Daddy, it’s you. It’s been forever.”
“Yes, it has,” Grant said. “So are y’all home now?”
Claire unlocked the kitchen door of her grandmother’s house. Oddly, she di
dn’t think of it as “home.”
Zaylie ran in first and headed back to her room. “We just now got here, Daddy, and guess what? Levi brought us up here to get some quilt stuff and we get to stay longer at the ranch, and I don’t have to leave my kittens.”
“Guess I just lost my place,” Levi said.
“So do I when Grant calls. And you can bet she’s going to want some FaceTime with Teresa before we leave,” Claire told him. “Follow me and we’ll load up the boxes while she’s talking.”
His cell phone pinged in his pocket before they made it across the kitchen floor and to the living room. He fished it out and then hit a button.
“Hey Retta, what’s up?” he asked. “She wants to talk to you.” He handed the phone to Claire.
“I have an enormous favor to ask,” Retta said.
“Tell me.” Claire sat down on the sofa.
“Cade’s mother, Gloria, has given me and Cade a honeymoon trip to Florida as an early Christmas present. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but…”
“But what? That’s an amazing present,” Claire said.
“We’ve got the ranch party and— Just a minute. Cade is right here and holding out his hand. He wants to talk to Levi,” Retta said.
“Putting this on speaker,” Levi said as he took the phone. “Just me and Claire here. What’s going on? Is everyone all right?”
“We’re fine,” Cade said. “Mama has given Retta and me a little vacation in Florida, but we have to go this next week. That’s the only time she could book a condo. I want to go, but Retta is worried about leaving the ranch right now.”
“Go on. We can take care of it, and I bet Mavis would come help out,” Levi said.
“She’s got Benjy to take care of,” Retta said.
“I’ll help,” Claire said. “This would be great for you. Might even take care of that morning sickness if you’re less stressed. I’ll be glad to stay on another week and help.”
“You know Mavis won’t be able to keep her nose out of the party planning, so she’ll be there part of the day to help out too,” Levi said. “Pack your bags and get going.”
“When are you leaving?” Claire asked.
“Today. Are you sure about this, Claire?” Retta’s voice sounded both excited and apprehensive.
“Of course I am,” Claire said. “Go on and have a fabulous late honeymoon. Don’t forget your tea and crackers,” Claire said.
“Okay,” Retta said.
“Hallelujah! And thank you both,” Cade said.
“Hey, you’re not foolin’ me one bit, Cade,” Levi chuckled. “You hate putting up outside decorations, and this way you get out of it.”
“And in addition to that, I get to spend a week with my lovely wife all alone. We’re on our way to get out the suitcases right now. See y’all later.” The phone went dark.
“Well, welcome to Longhorn Canyon for another week,” Levi said.
“Thank you,” Claire said. “We need to take my sewing machine back with us too since I’m staying a little longer.”
“Just show me what you want loaded, and I’ll get after it.” Levi grinned.
“But we have to come back here in only two more days,” Zaylie was saying when they passed by her bedroom door. “And Daddy, I just can’t leave my kittens.”
“It’s okay, baby girl. Maybe Santa will bring you some kittens,” Grant said.
“You tell Aunt Claire that.” Zaylie came out of the room and handed the phone to Claire.
“Take me off speaker,” Grant said.
“Okay. But before you start, I want you to know I’ve agreed to stay on for another week to help out at the ranch,” Claire said.
“We’re stayin’ longer!” Zaylie danced around the bedroom. “Did you hear that, Daddy? I don’t have to leave my babies.”
“I’m so glad,” Grant said. “It sounds like Zaylie is so happy there. Do you know when you’ll be getting cell service back?”
She turned to Levi. “Got any idea when we get service back at home?”
“Justin said he called them and they said by tomorrow morning it should be up and going,” Levi answered.
Claire relayed the info to Grant.
“Good. I need to talk to you when you’re alone.”
A chill ran down her spine. “You’re scaring me, brother.”
“I’m fine. I’m healthy, and it’s not bad news. I just want to run something by you,” he said, and chuckled.
“Well, I need to run something by you too but not right now,” she said.
“Then we’ll talk tomorrow night?”
She nodded. “I’ll look forward to it.”
They ended the call while Zaylie continued to dance. “Can we tell Franny that we get to stay at the ranch?”
The back door hinges squeaked, and Franny’s voice drifted down the hallway. “Hey, is my precious little girl here? I brought cookies.”
Franny was a tall, lanky woman with an angular face, a sharp nose, and gray hair that she pulled up on top of her head in a tight little bun. She set the plate of cookies on the coffee table and opened up her arms.
Zaylie ran into them. “Guess what, Franny. We get to stay at the ranch more days and I got kittens there and there’s a dog and a donkey and I love it and do you want to come with us?” She finally stopped for a breath and grabbed a cookie.
“I can’t leave Randlett, darlin’.” Franny laughed. “This town would just plumb blow away if I wasn’t here to hold it down.”
Zaylie backed away from the hug and sighed, but she didn’t cry. “Okay, but I wanted you to see my kitties.”
“Show them to me on the phone when you get service back in that area,” Franny said, and then shifted her gaze to Levi. “You were just a little boy last time I saw you. Don’t reckon you’d even remember me, but I’m Franny.”
He shook hands with her and gave her a brilliant smile. “Of course I remember you. Your husband taught me how to whittle when we were at a cattle sale one summer.”
“Nice that you remembered that. He liked kids,” Franny said. “Now, let’s have some cookies, and y’all can tell me about this adventure you’re having.”
Levi waited until the ladies sat down on the sofa before he took a seat in a rocking chair and reached for a cookie. His phone rang before he took the first bite.
“Hello, Retta,” he said, and then handed it off to Claire. “It’s for you again.”
“Are you okay? Is something wrong?” Claire asked.
“No, I’m already packing and Cade is making the flight arrangements. Oh, and we have cell service back on now. But,” Retta’s voice cracked. “Dammit! I’m all emotional. I feel like I’m putting a burden on you.”
“Too late to back out now…Zaylie knows.” Claire laughed.
“Well, then thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything,” Retta said. “God sure knew what he was doing when he dropped you into our laps.”
“You sure it was God?” Claire giggled.
“Yes, ma’am. Bye now,” Retta said.
“I’m glad you’re stayin’ a little longer. Fresh air and sunshine and animals is good for Zaylie,” Franny said.
“And cats and a bunny rabbit.” Zaylie nodded seriously. “Can we take the rest of the cookies home with us?”
“Of course you can,” Franny told her. “And now I’ve got to be going. Got a meeting at the church to discuss the Christmas dinner. Y’all drive real safe on the way home. And don’t worry about a thing. I’ll keep a good watch on the house for you.”
“Thanks for everything,” Claire said.
“No thanks necessary. You’d do the same for me.” Franny bent to hug her and whispered softly, “He’s one sexy cowboy, and I like the way he looks at you.”
She was gone before Claire could respond, but that didn’t stop the blush making her cheeks fiery red. To cover her embarrassment, she pointed down the hall. “Zaylie, go see if there’s anything in your room that you want to take to the ranch. Le
vi, there’s six boxes in that room that need to be loaded. They’ve got a blue sticky note on them with tomorrow’s date. I’ll get my sewing machine in the case and ready to go.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Zaylie sing-songed as she danced down the hall. “We’re going home to the ranch to see my kitties and Little Bit and Hopalong.”
Home to the ranch—the words echoed in Claire’s head.
Levi draped an arm around her shoulders. “She said home.”
“I heard.” Claire sighed. “It’s goin’ to be chaotic when we leave.”
“What about you, Claire? Will it be hard for you?” he asked.
“Don’t know until the time gets here,” she said, knowing fully well that she’d probably be crying every bit as hard as Zaylie all the way from the ranch to Randlett. But until then, she planned on enjoying every day that she spent in the wide-open spaces of the Longhorn Canyon Ranch.
“Right now I’d like to see if Nanny’s car will start. If it will, I’ll drive it back to the ranch, and then we’ll have a way to get home after the party is done.”
She headed toward the door leading out into the garage with him right behind her. Together they removed the canvas tarp covering an old boat of a car, and Levi whistled through his teeth. “Do you even know what this is?”
“It’s the last brand-new car that my grandpa bought for my Nanny. A 1978 Lincoln, and it drinks gas like a thirsty camel suckin’ down water after a two-week trek through the desert. That’s what Nanny said when gas got so expensive, but she wouldn’t trade it in,” Claire answered.
“Buddy would drool over this.” He brushed a layer of dust from the top of the shiny white vehicle.
“Who’s Buddy?” she asked as she got inside the driver’s seat.
“The guy who is going to tow your van to his repair shop. Remember I told you about him fixin’ up old cars.” He opened the passenger door and slid into the soft leather passenger seat. “This is in mint condition. You could get a fortune for it if you want to sell it.”
“No, thank you. I’ll just drive it until I find something more economical.” She turned the key and nothing happened; tried three times and still nothing.
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