“What are you up to?”
“Nothing really. I’m making them work for it. Besides, I’d like to show you a small waterfall I have on the ranch. It’s nearby.” He pointed toward the creek. “This originates in the hills on the west side of my property.”
Five minutes later Peter stopped at a waterfall, crystal clear liquid tumbling over large boulders into the stream. An assortment of different trees shaded the small pool that had formed at the bottom of the hill. Very tranquil. Very romantic. Very secluded for a nice picnic away from...
He faced her, taking her other hand within his. His touch snatched the rest of the thoughts from her mind and all she could do was stare into his dark eyes and melt.
His half-lidded look bored into her. “I might not have written the card or given you the flowers, but I agree with what your kids said. Beautiful flowers for the beautiful person you are.”
Compliments had always made her uneasy. The rare times Stephen had given her one he’d always wanted something in return and then later had taken it back. It had made her cautious about the motive behind one.
The sound of rustling behind her caused the corners of her mouth to lift. Right on cue her kids had followed them. She peered over her shoulder but couldn’t see them. They must have been hidden behind the bushes off to the side. Oh, well, so much for secluded.
“Do you think any moment they are going to jump out at us?” He lowered his voice so it didn’t carry, his eyes gleaming with silent laughter.
“No, probably Aunt Sarah and Alice instructed them in what to do. They’re probably watching so they can report back to those two.”
“Then we are in trouble.”
More rustling drifted on the air. Laura pivoted. “Okay, you-all come out here right now. The gig is up.”
Nothing.
The noise grew louder as though an animal was crashing through the underbrush. Laura stepped back, coming up against Peter. “I don’t think that’s the kids.”
The second she said that, a big dark brown dog loped out of the wooded area, chasing a rabbit from the bushes. As the hare darted past her and Peter, scurrying into a hollow log, the Great Dane skidded to a stop and barked at the hole where his prize had disappeared.
Laura pressed back into Peter, his hands clasping her arms. “Is this one of your new animals?”
“Never seen him before.”
His whispered reply tickled her neck and made her shiver. “He’s huge,” she murmured, imagining her eyes were, too.
The continual barking drowned out the sound of the water flowing over the rocks. The Great Dane lay down and crawled toward the dark hole, sticking his nose into it. Thankfully it became quiet as the dog investigated.
“Occasionally dogs left out here roam around in packs. He may be a part of one. He looks underfed.”
“Maybe we should get back to the kids. I’m surprised they haven’t come to see what all the noise is about.”
She and Peter in unison slowly backed away from the Great Dane. Laura held her breath until her lungs burned, afraid that any second the dog would turn on them. They had taken a half a dozen steps when the beast finally gave up on the rabbit and shifted his full attention to them.
The Great Dane stood, emitting a low growl.
Laura froze. “What do we do?”
“Keep moving away slowly. Try to show no fear.”
“Do you think he’s visualizing us as two large steaks?”
“Probably—and there’s no hole for us to crawl in.”
“How about a tree? I can scramble up one if I have to.” Laura kept moving toward where her children were. If this dog was part of a pack, then where were the other ones? She was afraid to ask the question out loud for fear of the answer.
Five yards away the Great Dane barked several more times then trotted into the middle of the stream and drank.
“Let’s go a little faster while his attention is elsewhere.” Peter grabbed her hand and increased his pace, always keeping an eye on the huge animal.
When they were out of sight of the Great Dane, Laura whirled around and ran, hoping her children were okay. Coming into the clearing where she and Peter had left the horses and her kids, she came to a halt. It was empty. No children. No horses.
“Where are they?” Sweat beaded her forehead. Panic-stricken, she swiped her hand across it and spun around toward Peter. “What happened here?”
“I don’t know, but let’s get back to the barn.” Peter threw a glance over his shoulder in the direction they’d come. “I don’t want to be around if that dog decides to pay us a visit.”
They started back, leaving the coolness of the woods. In the open meadow the sun beat down on Laura, covering her in a thin sheen of sweat. Her heart pounded a quickened beat with each step she took. Were her children all right? Did they flee because they saw a pack of wild dogs? Or something else? Until she knew the answers fear gripped her heart.
The barn doors stood wide-open, beckoning them into the refreshing shade. Laura hurried her pace. “They better be here and all right.”
But when she and Peter entered, no one was around. Its very emptiness sent alarm skittering down her.
He headed to the stalls. “The horses are here.” Leaning over the top rail, he plucked off a note taped to the wood. “And I think I know where your kids are. This says for us to go up to my house.”
She stormed out of the barn and across his yard. “Wait until I get my hands on them for scaring me. They set us up. Well, except for the dog.” She glanced over at Peter. “At least I think the dog wasn’t part of this whole matchmaking scheme.”
His chuckle penetrated her anger. “Look on the bright side. They care about you.”
She halted in the middle of his backyard, in sight of the patio table covered in a white cloth with dishes on it. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “I prefer they stop their meddling and that includes Aunt Sarah and Alice. I can do just fine on my own.” She started for the deck, hoping she sounded convincing, because she wasn’t really sure she could do fine on her own—not when it came to dating. She’d never dated much and what little she had had been over seventeen years ago.
“They had help, the adult kind.” Peter gestured toward the nice dishes, the silver candlesticks with long white candles in them, the silverware and white linen napkins. “Those look suspiciously like Alice’s.” He pointed toward the crystal stemware.
“And the candlesticks are Aunt Sarah’s. I’ve seen them in her china cabinet.” Laura picked up an envelope with their names on it and opened it. “Enjoy the delicious meal, courtesy of us.” She turned over the note card. “There’s no signature, but this is definitely Alexa’s handwriting. I’m not sure those are her words or the twins’, though.”
“More likely Alice’s or Sarah’s. Alice doesn’t drive, but Sarah does. She must have come out here and set this up with Alice’s help then taken the kids back home.”
“Where’s the delicious meal?”
One of Peter’s eyebrows rose. “In the house? Alice has a key.”
Inside the kitchen another note directed Peter to the oven, where a chicken casserole sat on the middle rack. “At least they signed this one so we know for sure your children are okay and involved in the plot.”
Laura removed the tossed green salad from the refrigerator. “There’s a French silk pie in here.”
“Alice can’t have it anymore, but she used to love to make that and I loved to eat it. My mouth’s watering just thinking about it. Do you want to retire to the patio and enjoy the fruit of their labors?”
“We shouldn’t let good food go to waste.” She cradled the wooden salad bowl against her chest and grabbed two different dressings, ranch and raspberry vinaigrette.
“They went to a lot of trouble.” Holding the casserole, Peter let her go outside first.
She needed to talk with her children. She wanted to make it clear she didn’t want their interference. She was afraid they would get their hopes up an
d be disappointed and hurt. From some of Peter’s comments she didn’t think he was ready for any kind of lasting commitment, either. And that was the only kind she could be involved in—that was if she ever decided really to date again.
Peter held Laura’s chair out and she sat, saying, “This isn’t quite how I envisioned dinner tonight. A far cry from pizza.”
“Don’t let Noah hear you say that. He thinks pizza is the ultimate food.”
“Well, if I owned a chain of pizza restaurants, I would, too.”
Peter poured ice water that had been sitting in a silver pitcher on the table into their crystal glasses. “I worry about him.”
“Why?”
“On the surface he looks like he’s on top of the world, but I’m not convinced he really is. He works hard and plays hard as though there’s no tomorrow. He’s running away from something and I’m afraid it will catch up with him one day.”
Laura spooned the chicken dish onto her plate. “When it does, you’ll be there as his friend.”
“I’m not sure he’ll let me help him. I’ve tried and he won’t listen.”
“Maybe he’s not ready. You can’t help a person unless they are.” She knew from experience. “For some it isn’t always easy to accept help.”
“We all need help. No one can stand totally alone.”
“But we can’t always depend on others to rescue us, either.”
His gaze trapped hers. “Do you need rescuing?”
I did once and for the longest time didn’t really know it. “I’m doing fine. My family is adjusting to Cimarron City. Sean seems happier. I like my job. I’m paying off some bills. I enjoy working on the fund-raiser.”
His eyes narrowed on her face. “Then why don’t you sound more convincing?”
She looked away, across the yard. “I have some problems I’m still trying to work through.” The second she said it she bit down on her lower lip, determined not to reveal any more.
“I’m a good listener. If you need a sounding board, just holler.”
She turned back to him, surprised by the sudden lightness in his voice.
“I know when not to push. You aren’t ready.”
“I did receive two calls from Cara today. You know my friend who lived next door to me in St. Louis. Her husband is back in the hospital and they have decided to send him to the Mayo Clinic tomorrow morning. It doesn’t sound good. The doctors haven’t been very successful in treating him.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but he hopefully will get the help he needs.”
“I hope so.” Laura stared across the yard toward the barn. She had to trust that Mason’s situation would improve, and if something happened, she would be there for her friend as much as she could be.
Peter laid a hand on her arm. “You?”
She turned back to him. “Yes, just thinking about Mason and Cara. It’s hard not being there with her, but I can’t leave my family.”
A pensive expression darkened his eyes. “Sometimes we can’t do what we want to do. That’s life.”
What did Peter want to do that he couldn’t? Have children? Something else? “The next month or so will be a whirlwind with the start of school, the More Than Dreams show and the fund-raiser. I’m here if you need to talk. I’m a good listener, too.” He tried to present a brave front to others, but she’d seen his pain and vulnerability beneath the surface, especially more and more as she got to know him better. He, too, was good at hiding his true feelings behind a facade.
His mouth tilted up in a lopsided grin. “You might regret offering. By the time I get around to being able to talk, it will be the middle of the night. Are you sure you’re willing to listen then?” A twinkle gleamed in his eyes.
Her heartbreak kicked up a notch. “A friend doesn’t put a time constraint on a friendship. If you need me in the middle of the night, you have my number.”
His look drilled into her, and a connection leaped across the table as though she’d been zapped with a bolt of lightning. He started to say something, shook his head and brought his fork to his mouth.
Laura watched him eat for a moment, her stomach knotted with her conflicting emotions. She wanted more from their relationship, yet she was afraid of more.
What do I do? Can someone help me this time? Or am I alone?
No one can stand totally alone. Peter’s words came back to haunt her. I depended so much on Stephen that I didn’t even see how harmful his verbal abuse was to me and my children until the damage nearly destroyed me.
“Laura, we have a visitor.”
She twisted around and saw the Great Dane trotting toward them. She stiffened, gripping her fork. “What do we do? Do you think he smelled the chicken?”
“Thankfully Bosco is in the house.”
“Maybe he isn’t a part of a wild pack. Maybe he’s seeking a home.” Like me. Suddenly the tension left her.
She relaxed in her chair while Peter scooted his back and rose. He went to a large box at the far end of the patio and lifted its lid. After pulling out a bag of dog food, he took a large bowl then headed to the steps.
The Great Dane stopped at the bottom and looked up at them with sad eyes. Peter descended and placed the metal container on the ground then filled it. The huge beast stuck his head in the food and ate.
“You’ve got a new friend.” Laura stood. “It’s getting mighty crowded.”
Peter’s whole face lit with a smile. “We’ll make room. I always have a home for someone in need.”
All you have to do is take a risk, Laura. The thought was tempting, but she didn’t know if she could.
Peter lifted his head and glanced toward his back door. “That’s the phone.” He hurried inside.
That left Laura with the huge dog. She thought about slowly making her way toward the house, but its tail wagging stopped her.
“Maybe I should take a risk and stay here with you, buddy.” Although she didn’t move, she kept an eye on the Great Dane as he devoured the dog food.
“Laura, the phone’s for you.” Peter handed her his mobile one. His frown alerted her that the call wouldn’t be a good one. “It’s Cara. Your daughter gave her my number.”
“Laura, I—I wanted—”
The roughened tone to Cara’s voice told Laura that something was very wrong. She sank down onto her chair. “Is Mason all right?”
“He died a while ago. I—I don’t—” Tears drenched her friend’s words.
“I’m coming. I’ll be there tomorrow just as soon as I find somewhere for my children to stay.”
“Hurry.”
When Laura clicked the phone off, she let it drop into her lap, numb, her mind blank. Peter plucked it up and placed it on the table, then drew her to her feet. He took her into his embrace and held her.
Then the tears came. She cried for Mason. She cried for Cara. She cried for their son. In all the years she’d been married to Stephen she’d never felt she could show her emotions as she had with Peter. What would she have done without him standing here?
When she stepped back, putting some space between them, she thought of how important he was becoming to her.
“I’d better get home. I’ve got a lot of arrangements to make. I’ll—”
“I’ll stay with your children while you’re gone. They can either come out here or I will stay with them at your place.” He took her hands. “The important thing is that you don’t need to worry about them. Go be with Cara. Help her through this.”
Stunned by the offer, she couldn’t think of a thing to say.
“Sarah will be around to help, too, but since the twins are a handful, I thought—”
She put her fingers against his lips to still his words. “I accept. I need to be there for Cara, and if you don’t mind me being gone for four or five days, I can’t think of a better solution. Sean already spends a lot of time out here, and my other kids love the ranch. Thanks for offering.”
“Friends help friends. That’s what I’ve been tryi
ng to tell you.”
She gathered up her purse to leave. Friends, yes, that was all they were. But she couldn’t help the disappointment that seeped into her heart. When had she started wanting it to be so much more?
Chapter Ten
SWEAT POURED OFF Peter’s face as he guided the wheelbarrow full of plants into the interior courtyard at the second home being built by the More Than Dreams show. After emptying his load, he surveyed the progress. With the house enclosing the large area on all four sides, this space would be a safe place for the children to play. The show’s designers knew what kids liked.
“I can’t wait to see it completed and furnished tomorrow.” Laura handed him a tall paper cup of ice water.
He drained the liquid, relishing its coldness as it slid down his parched throat. “I still can’t believe this is happening. They move fast when they make up their minds. Just weeks ago this was a dream.”
“Hence the title of the show. I imagine others have felt the same way.” Laura snatched the paper cup from his hand. “Want any more?”
“Nope. That hit the spot. August seems to be unusually beastly this year.”
“I heard there’s a cold front coming in tonight with a chance for rain. Tomorrow’s only supposed to be in the mid-nineties.”
“What will we do with all that cool weather?”
“And don’t forget the rain.”
Laura’s laughter penetrated his heart with warmth. He was glad she was laughing. The past few weeks since she returned from the funeral in St. Louis she had been quiet, withdrawn. “What’s rain? I’ve forgotten what it is. Refresh my memory.”
“You know water that comes down from the skies.” Laura crushed the paper cup in her hand. “If it does rain, we’ll have more than the completion of the houses to celebrate at the party tomorrow night.”
“If is the operative word.” As much as he loved talking with Laura, the sounds of hammers and saws coming from inside the cottage called him back to work. Peter picked up the handles of the wheelbarrow and started toward the sliding glass doors that led into the large family room. “Besides delivering water, what have you been doing?”
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