by Lois Richer
The words were devastating to hear.
Dallas had longed for things to be the way they had been before—when he assumed his life had been normal, had made sense. But did he even have what it would take to be a father to Misty, to one day be the kind of husband Gracie wanted, needed?
The past months had taught him many things, foremost that he was not a quitter.
He rose, stood in front of his wife and stated his case. “Until someone or something forces me to go, I will be here, Gracie. For you, for our daughter. I’m not leaving.”
“But—”
“I want to know everything about Misty. I want to watch her grow, change, learn, live. I want to be her daddy. I won’t run away and I won’t walk out. But whether we’ll be a family is up to you.”
She stared at him, silent, brooding.
“I know I’ll fail sometimes. I’ll make mistakes, do the wrong thing, and probably make you angry, too. But I won’t work against you and I won’t pit Misty against you. I don’t remember who I was or know what you expect of me. But I do know I am going to learn how to be a part of her life. Because I will not give up my daughter. Not ever.”
Dallas turned and walked away, into the darkness, where he could deal with the shadows in his life without anyone watching.
Alone in the gloom, Gracie contemplated her future long after Dallas had left.
One chance encounter in the city and their entire world was changed.
The future Gracie had so carefully planned, the protection she showered on her daughter, the devotion she hoped would make up for any shortcomings—what would any of that matter now that Dallas was in the picture?
Gracie loved Misty, but she also understood human nature. Her little girl would soon want more than the basics her mom could offer. Once Dallas discovered his parents’ wealth, he’d shower Misty with everything Gracie could never afford to match. Her daughter’s days of contentment wouldn’t last much longer.
Neither would her own.
It was kind of Dallas to stay however long Misty needed him, but Gracie couldn’t let herself believe him. Not again.
She didn’t dare.
Dallas had loved his work, loved the excitement of traveling to each new place, seeing new faces. That first week they’d been married, he’d stuck around her father’s home in North Dakota for three whole days before he’d found a llama in the next county that demanded investigation.
Recalling that, Gracie’s insecurities resurfaced. She had reasons for feeling skeptical—Dallas’s past refusal to pin down their future.
“You’re working with your dad. He needs you. I understand that, sweetheart. And I need my work. But I also need you.” He kissed her nose. “Don’t worry about tomorrow or next week. We’ve got now. I’ll have to go away from time to time, at least until this contract is over. But I’ll always come back.”
The very next day he’d disappeared for six years.
And she’d been left to listen to lectures from her father about the foolishness of love, repeated weekly until the day he died.
“I don’t know what idiocy caused you to marry someone who can’t even give you a home. Someone who’s on the run all the time.”
“He’s not on the run, Dad. And this is his home. I didn’t want to leave you in the lurch. It was Dallas’s idea that I stay with you while he’s on the road. In the fall I’ll be back at college. We’ll work out something different then.”
“If he lasts that long.”
She could never forget the slams against her new husband, the sneers when Dallas didn’t come home, the outrage when she’d announced her pregnancy.
All the prayers Gracie could muster hadn’t brought Dallas back.
Until now.
Why now?
She tossed her cold tea under an azalea bush. Memories belonged in the past. There were too many things to worry about in the present.
“How long is Dallas going to be here?” Misty fiddled with the toast squares Gracie had smeared with honey and peanut butter.
“I don’t know, sweetie.” She tiptoed through this new territory. “For a while, I think.”
“’Cause we’re his family, right?”
“Mm, sort of. He also has a mom and a dad, so he has extra family.”
“You mean I have a granny and a grandpa?” Misty’s cute smile lit up her whole face. “Yes!” She punched her fists toward the ceiling in celebration.
Then doubt bullied its way in.
“Why don’t they come and see me?” she asked, her voice diffident, as if she was awaiting bad news.
Whoops. Gracie bit her lip, scrambled for a way to explain the inexplicable past.
“Don’t they want me for their granddaughter?”
“Oh, sweetie, that’s not why.” Gracie hugged her cuddly daughter close and prayed she wasn’t lying. “I don’t think they even know about you. I haven’t seen them since before you were born.”
“Oh.” Misty stayed still for a moment, then patted Gracie’s cheek before reaching for another slice of toast. “Do you think Dallas likes me?”
“Dallas loves you, Misty.”
Gracie whirled around, saw him lounging against the screen door. He lifted an eyebrow and she nodded, granting him permission to enter.
“How are my two beautiful ladies this lovely morning?”
“I’m not a lady.” Misty giggled. “And I don’t think I’m pretty. Rory Donovan said I was ugly, and dumb, too, ’cause I don’t know how to ride a horse.”
“Rory Donovan must need glasses. Trust me, you’re very pretty, Misty.”
“Rory doesn’t need glasses!” Misty giggled again. “He can see good.”
“Not that well, if you ask my opinion. And you can always learn to ride a horse, can’t you?”
Gracie opened her mouth to nix that idea immediately, but Dallas was already seated next to Misty. He’d stolen a corner of her toast.
“You make a delicious breakfast, Misty.”
“I didn’t make it. Mommy did.”
Gracie noted with surprise Misty’s flushed cheeks. Her daughter was enamored of Dallas. But why should she be surprised? She’d been the same way herself.
“You don’t make your own toast?” His own surprise was obvious in the look he directed at Gracie.
Gracie opened her mouth to explain, but Misty beat her to it. “I could do it if I tried,” she blurted in self-defense. “But Mommy doesn’t like me to touch hot things.”
“I see.”
Gracie felt the condemnation in his stare.
“Come on, sweetie. I’ve got to get to work and your class is going to start soon.” She didn’t have to explain her parenting style to him. Besides, Misty was only five. There was plenty of time for her to learn to do for herself.
“Can you get my backpack, Mommy?”
Gracie turned toward the bedroom, found her access blocked by Dallas.
“Don’t you have to wash the honey off your fingers, Misty? You could get your backpack on the way, couldn’t you?” Dallas winked at Gracie. “Your mom has to comb her hair. She’s got a cowlick.”
“Vets don’t let cows lick their hair.” Misty guffawed at his word choice. “Anyway, she hasn’t even gone to work yet.”
“A cowlick is when your hair stands up in places it’s not supposed to. And your mom’s got three of them. Or maybe I should have called it bed head. Anyway, she’s got it. You’d better get your own backpack because it’s going to take her a long time to get her hair fixed.”
Misty carried her plate to the counter, set it down, then paused. “I thought you said you forgot stuff. How do you know how long it takes ladies to fix their hair?”
“Boys learn about that at a very young age,” he said, visually daring Gracie to contradict him. “And trust me, they never ever forget. Not if they’re smart. If you don’t take all day washing your hands, I’ll walk with you. Would you like that, Misty?”
“Sure.” She hopped from one foot to the other. “To
day’s the first day of classes. No more babysitters.”
Gracie smiled at her daughter. Misty insisted babysitters were for babies, and had loudly protested the hours she’d spent at day care, while the teaching staff arrived at the ranch.
“Okay. I’ll walk you there. Then I’ve got to get to work.”
“Okay.” Misty skipped down the hall, humming a little tune as she went.
Gracie grabbed the opportunity.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t start questioning our arrangements, Dallas.” She walked to the mirror and smoothed her hair. “Our system works for us.”
“It works for you, maybe,” he argued. “It wouldn’t hurt Misty to do things for herself. Isn’t that the whole point of this place, to get the kids to learn independence?”
“Of course. But we’ve only been here a week, and she’s not that familiar with everything here yet. So back off, Dallas,” Gracie hissed as the child’s footsteps clattered toward them. “Ready, honey?” She savored a last mouthful of coffee, ignoring him.
“Yes. Did you get your hair fixed?”
“It’s as good as it’s going to get,” Gracie told her.
“Misty, I need to talk to your mom about something. Can you wait for us at the gate?”
Gracie caught her breath and stepped forward, but Dallas’s hand on her arm and the quick shake of his head stopped her.
“Okay.”
“Do you know how far it is?”
“Seven steps.” Misty sounded offended. “Only Mommy doesn’t allow…” Her voice trailed off.
“This time it’s okay for you to go to the gate by yourself, honey.” Gracie fumed at Dallas’s impudence. Only last night he’d promised not to interfere. “But only go to the gate. Don’t undo it.”
“I know. I know.” She walked to the door, grabbed the knob and yanked it open. “I’m not a baby, Mommy.”
“Of course you’re not.”
Gracie waited till Misty was halfway down the walk before she turned on Dallas. “What exactly are you doing?”
“Trying to understand you.” His lips quivered with the start of a smile. “Gracie, you can’t be there for every single move she makes. You’ve got to teach her how to function independently. What would happen if she had an accident or an emergency? Misty needs to know exactly what she should do and how to manage on her own.”
“We manage just fine, thank you.” Or we did, before you came on the scene.
“I was told Misty’s the only child her age whose mother walks her to the day care.” He kept his voice low, but that didn’t disguise his irritation. “How do you think that makes her feel?”
“I told you, we’ve only been here a week! Give us a chance. I haven’t had time to ensure—”
Dallas shook his head, holding her gaze with his own. “It’s not the length of time I’m referring to, and you know it. What I don’t understand is why you don’t want your daughter to be more autonomous. Why you keep her so dependent on you when she’s smart and more than capable of learning to manage on her own.”
“What I don’t understand is how you think you have the right to swoop in and tell me how to handle my child.”
“Mommy!”
Gracie peered out the window checking on Misty. She was okay, for now. Gracie didn’t bother to disguise her anger, as she stated, “Listen to me, Dallas. This isn’t one of your studies you can manipulate to figure out how to maximize results. I’m her mother and I’ll decide how much freedom she gets and when she can push the boundaries. I’m perfectly capable of raising my child without your advice, just as I have for the past five years.”
She’d gone too far and she knew it.
Dallas’s face blanched. He reared back as if she’d slapped him. He never said a word, simply walked to the door, pulled it open and stepped outside.
“Are we going now, Dallas?”
“In a second, Misty. Soon as your mom’s ready.” No trace of irritation or anger slipped through the smooth, even tone.
“I’m glad you came, Dallas.” Misty threaded her tiny fingers into his.
“So am I.”
Gracie emerged from the house a few seconds later to find Dallas and Misty bent head to head, discussing how many posts there were along the sidewalk to the main building.
“You probably can’t count that high,” he challenged, ignoring Gracie.
“Can so.” Misty smacked her hands on her little hips.
Despite her anger at him, Gracie almost laughed out loud. Dallas had just run up against the same stubborn streak that lay beneath his own easygoing exterior. She leaned against the door and watched.
“How many are there then?”
“Thirty one.” Misty glared at him. “I counted yesterday with Mommy.”
“Really?” Dallas ruffled her hair. “Good for you. I don’t think I could count that high when I was five. You’re way ahead of the game.”
A gong echoed nearby.
Misty gasped. “My school is starting. I have to go. Emily will be waiting.”
Gracie noted Dallas’s raised brow. “Emily is her attendant,” she told him quietly. “Each child has a specific person assigned. It makes them feel more secure. She met Emily yesterday morning.”
“Got it.” He nodded, but the warm glow she’d glimpsed earlier had been doused. “Let’s go.”
They walked together with Misty in the lead, widening the distance between them with every step she took. Gracie opened her mouth once to call her back, but Dallas caught her arm, shook his head.
“Doesn’t she know the way?” he murmured.
“Of course she knows it!”
He raised one eyebrow. Since her daughter was already at the gate leading into the school, Gracie abandoned the argument, unwilling to admit it was she who felt ill-equipped to handle this next stage of development. For so long she and Misty had only each other.
“Hi, Emily,” Misty crowed, showing her confidence that Emily would be there, as she had promised.
“Hello yourself. Did you sleep in?” The young woman glanced at Dallas curiously.
“I was up early. My daddy came to see me.”
Gracie caught her breath at the ease with which Misty had accepted Dallas.
“I heard about that. You are a lucky girl.” Emily nodded. “Dallas and I met last night.” She waited for Misty to reach her side. “See you later,” she said before they hurried inside.
Gracie watched her baby with regret and with joy. Misty was growing more confident, more comfortable. Leaving North Dakota and the friends who’d seen them both through some tough times had been difficult, but it had been the right choice.
“Are you going to the barn?” Dallas’s quiet question broke through her thoughts.
“Yes. I’ve got a mare that’s due to foal anytime.”
“Isn’t it late in the season?”
“Maybe, but I had no control over that.” Gracie picked up her pace, heard him catch up. “Aren’t you going to work?”
“Trying to get rid of me?” he challenged, a hint of mirth underlying his words.
As if she could.
“Elizabeth assigned me to shadow you, do whatever you told me to.”
She frowned at him. “Why?”
“Maybe she thinks we need the time together. I don’t know. Do you want me to ask her for something else to do?”
Gracie thought about it for three seconds, quickly shook her head. There would be enough gossip about them circulating through the ranks. No need to add to it.
“Okay then.” He followed her into the barn. “Tell me what to do.”
The morning went better than Gracie had expected. Dallas anticipated her needs so well she managed to finish her work half an hour earlier than usual.
“Now what?”
“Elizabeth just bought a horse. She likes to rescue animals that have been mistreated, and this one definitely was. We need to check her out.”
The mare whinnied at their approach, stomped hard to
make her displeasure clear when Gracie undid the gate and stepped into her space.
“Stay back,” she ordered. “Let me try to calm her. Two people will seem like a threat.”
“Are you—”
“Just this once, do as I ask!” Gracie pulled the carrot from her pocket and headed toward the horse, too irritated to apologize for her outburst. “Hello, Lady. Feel like a carrot?”
Having already sniffed the treat in the air, Lady definitely was interested. Holding it out, Gracie coaxed her into an area of the corral where she had a better chance of getting close enough to check her wounds. But the mare had other ideas.
She allowed Gracie to touch her mane, but when the carrot wasn’t forthcoming as quickly as she wanted, she pressed her head against Gracie’s chest and knocked her onto her backside. Snorting with disdain, the horse pranced off, head high in the air.
“Are you all right?”
“Of course.” Gracie accepted Dallas’s hand up, ignored the knowing smirk tilting the corners of his mouth. “She’s skittish, that’s all.”
“She’s playing with you,” he asserted.
“I suppose you have a better plan.” He probably did, and that didn’t bother Gracie. She only wanted to make sure the animal wasn’t suffering.
“I don’t know about a plan.” Dallas’s quiet tone surprised her. “I do have this idea…” His voice trailed away; his eyes clouded over. “Never mind. Maybe I should leave you alone. I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
So did he.
Gracie sensed what caused his confusion. His natural skill with animals was coming back to him. Though Dallas might not recognize why he understood the mare’s actions, she had seen her husband in action many times before, and knew Dallas simply understood animals.
“Go ahead. Try,” she said encouragingly.
He hesitated. “I—I’m not sure what to do.”
“Neither am I.” Gracie couldn’t ignore the plea for help he hadn’t uttered. It hurt to see strong, confident Dallas so uncertain. She couldn’t find it within her to let it last. “The worst she can do is knock you down. Go ahead.”
He searched her face for a moment, finally nodded. “Okay, but if I mess up you’d better know how to do first aid.”