He took the hymnbook from Kaitlyn and slid it into the rack. For a minute or two he almost wished he had stayed in the back after all, but as he sat next to Kaitlyn, feeling the warmth of her nearness and smelling the fragrance of her hair, he decided that he liked being just where he was. A lot. And if he were honest with himself, he’d have to admit that Gran and the others might have reason to show a little wonder. He’d never been a real dedicated churchgoer. In fact, once he got too old for someone to tell him to get in the car, he’d usually found someplace else to be on a Sunday morning. But this was nice. In fact, sitting here in church with his family and Kaitlyn’s just seemed right this morning.
After church, and after Brother Parker had slapped his shoulder, pumped his hand, and told him how glad he was to see him, Steven joined the others in the parking lot just as Kaitlyn returned from the Sunday school rooms with Olivia. If left to arrange things himself, Steven would have put Gran and Olivia in Chris’s car, but before he could say much, Kaitlyn had taken Olivia’s hand and invited Gran to ride with them. Then she insisted that Gran take the front seat while she and Olivia sat in back.
“How was Sunday school, Olivia?” Elizabeth half turned so she could see into the back seat. “What was your lesson about?”
“Jesus.”
“I can’t think of a better subject. What did you learn?”
While Elizabeth and Olivia talked about Sunday school, Steven glanced at Kaitlyn in the rearview mirror. She gazed off to the side, a sad and resigned look on her face. He looked back at the road and lightly thumped the steering wheel once with his fist. Where did she go when she got that faraway look on her face? And why was she so sad when she was there? He had seen her face light up like Christmas when she laughed. Just the thought of it made him want to follow her around like a puppy in case she laughed again.
Gran and Olivia were still the only ones talking when Steven bumped over the cattle guard onto the dirt road that led to the ranch house. A float of dust over the road told him that Chris’s Jeep was not too far ahead. When he stopped in front to let Gran out, Chris and Sarah had just reached the front porch and were being greeted by Aunt Nancy Jo. She waved an arm over her head as Steven drove up.
“Welcome, everyone. You’re just in time. Dinner is almost ready. Come in this house.”
Steven smiled to himself as he got back in his truck after helping Gran out and up the steps. You’d think from all the hugging and carrying on that everyone had just returned from a trip to the South Pole. He parked in back and came through the kitchen to the living room where everyone was still talking and shedding coats. Actually, Gran and Aunt Nancy Jo seemed to be doing all the talking. Sarah was awfully quiet, an event he had rarely seen, and Chris looked as uneasy as a sixth grader on report card day. Olivia, oblivious to them all, had scooped up Speed Bump and was cuddling with her in a big chair.
Aunt Nancy Jo ushered Gran and Sarah off to the kitchen, and Uncle Joe Jr. ambled back to his chair and the televised football game. Steven went over and knelt by the chair where Olivia and Speed Bump nestled.
“What you got there?”
Olivia looked up. “I was just telling Fluffy that Sadie and Beau were real nice, and she shouldn’t worry about whether they were going to like her.”
“Oh, she’ll be fine. Wait and see.” Steven reached over and scratched his dog’s ears. “But I have to tell you, Livvy. I just can’t call her Fluffy. I’ve tried. I really have. But it’s just not her name. Do you think maybe Speed Bump could just remind people to drive slowly and carefully? That’s all real speed bumps do, you know.”
Olivia looked down at Speed Bump, and Speed Bump looked up at her. “I guess. Is it okay if I call her Fluffy sometimes, though?”
“Hey, if it’s okay with her, it’s fine with me.”
Chris cleared his throat, and Steven noticed he was still standing in the middle of the room.
“Um, Mr. Cooley, I was wondering if I could have a few words with you in private before dinner, sir.”
Steven had never heard anyone call his uncle Mr. Cooley before, and it sounded just odd. People had called Granddad Mr. Cooley, but that was Granddad. However, Uncle Joe Jr. wasn’t a bit confused about who was being addressed. He gazed at Chris a moment over the top of his glasses and then got to his feet.
“Sure, son. We can go in my office.” His voice was light and easy, but Steven had been on the wrong side of that expression before, and he was mighty glad it was Chris disappearing behind that closing door and not him.
He looked at Olivia and discarded the idea of asking her what was going on. Whatever it was, it didn’t look like it was the kind of thing someone would discuss with a seven-year-old. He settled himself on the sofa to watch the game.
When the door opened a few minutes later, Steven looked up, ready to bring them up to speed on what they had missed of the game, but Uncle Joe Jr. only stuck his head out and hollered.
“Nancy Jo! Sarah!”
Okay, that’s enough. Steven got to his feet and headed for the kitchen. On the way, he passed Sarah and his aunt. Nancy Jo’s face was crunched in a worried frown and Sarah, just behind her, mouthed, “Pray for me,” as she went by. He raised his eyebrows. Something big was going on, and whatever was being discussed in the office, Steven was pretty sure it was going to wind up in a wedding.
“What’s going on?”
Gran was just releasing Kaitlyn from a hug when he walked in the kitchen.
She looked at Kaitlyn. “Can we tell?”
Kaitlyn shrugged and lifted her hands shoulder high. “I don’t think it’s much of a secret anymore.”
“Chris asked Sarah to marry him. He’s in there asking Joe Jr. for his blessing right now.” Elizabeth looked like she could have started dancing.
“Wow, that’s fast work. Any particular reason why they’re in such a big hurry?” Steven didn’t have time to worry about the look of disgust that settled on Kaitlyn’s face before Gran waded into him.
“Steven Braden, if you’re implying what I think you’re implying, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. In the first place, that’s just plain none of your business, and in the second, you might try thinking the best about people instead of automatically assuming the worst. This is your family you’re talking about.”
“Sorry, Gran.” How many times had he said those words in his life? “But you didn’t see Uncle Joe Jr.’s face. I’ve seen that look on his face more times than I’d care to admit to, and it’s never meant anything good.”
“Oh, pshaw.” Elizabeth flapped a hand at him. “He’s just being a father. If he doesn’t have sense enough to see that he won’t find a finer son-in-law anywhere than Chris Reed, I’ll be happy to remind him of a few things.”
“How long have you known about this?” Steven looked at Kaitlyn, who had turned her back on him and was busy making the salad.
“Since last night.” The words floated over her shoulder. “When he got home, he told me he had just asked Sarah to marry him, but he swore me to secrecy. Sarah insisted that no one should know anything until she and Chris talked to her parents.”
“But he told you.”
Kaitlyn turned to face him. “And that was fine with Sarah. I’m Chris’s family. And I know how to keep a secret.”
There it was again, that reference to family. Despite being surrounded by relatives all his life, Steven was beginning to wonder if he even had a clue as to what that meant.
“She sure does know how to keep a secret.” Elizabeth put her arm around Kaitlyn’s waist and gave a squeeze. “Butter wouldn’t have melted in her mouth until Joe Jr. started hollering and Nancy Jo and Sarah took off.”
“Then you spilled the beans.” Steven grinned, trying to get a smile, even a tiny one, from Kaitlyn. He had blundered big-time, and he knew it. His attempt didn’t work. Kaitlyn just gave him a look before she turned back to her salad.
“Do you think she needed to say a word?” Elizabeth opened the oven and peeked at the bi
scuits. “My lands, Steven, how many of these announcements do you think I’ve seen in my day? In fact, the only one I wasn’t party to was your parents’.” She stood up and gave him a glare as if he was somehow at fault. “They just ran off and got married. And let me tell you, whatever is going on in that office right now is nothing compared to the talking-to your granddad gave your dad when they got back.”
“Yeah, I heard about that.” The story of his mother and the rodeo bum was family legend. To tell the truth, Steven didn’t see it as the scandal everyone else in the family seemed to. His parents loved each other to the last day of their lives. And he was kind of proud of his dad for daring to face the wrath of his formidable grandfather, even if it was after the fact.
“These biscuits are going to get too brown if I don’t get them out of the oven.” Elizabeth set the pan of hot bread on the stove and looked around the kitchen with her hands on her hips. “In fact, everything’s ready to dish up now. Let’s get dinner on the table, and if they’re still not finished talking, I’ll go get them. Joe Jr. can talk till he’s blue in the face, and he’s not going to change a thing.”
Setting Kaitlyn and Steven to work carrying platters piled high with fried chicken and bowls brimming with mashed potatoes and green beans simmered with bacon to the dining room table, Elizabeth took off her apron and headed down the hall to Joe Jr.’s office. Steven watched her go. Uncle Joe Jr. was a force to be reckoned with, all right, but nobody messed with Gran.
When he turned to go back to the kitchen, he found his way blocked by Kaitlyn.
“I need to talk to you.” She glanced through to the living room where Olivia still played with Steven’s dog. “In the kitchen.”
Puzzled, Steven followed her. Ordinarily, Kaitlyn wanting to talk to him in private would interest him greatly, but from the expression on her face, he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what she had to say.
In the kitchen, she leaned against the counter and brushed back that lock of hair that always fell over one eye. “That comment you made about Sarah and Chris needing to rush their marriage . . .”
Aw, man. Is that what this is about? Steven started to speak, but Kaitlyn held up a hand to stop him.
“Let me finish.” She took a deep breath. “Do not judge my brother by me. Yes, I have a daughter. And no, I’ve never been married. But my brother is not me. You will not find a finer, a more respectful, a more loving, a more godly man anywhere than Chris. And believe me, present company is not excluded—not by a long shot.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she batted her lashes to keep them from falling as her voice threatened to break.
Steven spun so his back was to Kaitlyn and dropped his head back as if looking for help from the ceiling. How can you be this stupid and still live, Braden? He turned back to Kaitlyn, who had crossed her arms over her chest. “Kaitlyn, I swear, I wasn’t even thinking about you, at least not in that context. In fact, I think it’s pretty obvious I wasn’t thinking at all. It was just a really dumb comment that I never would have made if I had given it a second’s thought. I am so sorry.”
He took a step toward her, but she held up a hand to stop him. “Shhh. They’re coming.”
Voices approached, and Kaitlyn gave her eyes a quick brush with the heel of her hand as she headed down the hall. “Livvy, put the dog down and go wash your hands. We’re going to eat now.”
Dinner conversation was dominated, not surprisingly, by wedding talk. And also not surprisingly, almost entirely by the women sitting at the table. Chris was occasionally drawn in to answer a question or two, but after asking the blessing, Uncle Joe Jr. said little beyond asking for the gravy or the biscuits to be passed. Olivia matched his indifference, which surprised Steven since she was supposed to be flower girl or something, but mostly he was just thankful to be ignored. He had said enough on the subject for one afternoon.
Finally, as Nancy Jo and Sarah got up to clear the plates in preparation for dessert, Uncle Joe Jr. put both elbows on the table and clasped his hands. “I just don’t see what the big fat hurry is. You two barely know each other.”
Nancy Jo and Sarah sat back down again.
“Daddy, that’s just not true.” Sarah was one of the few people, the others being Aunt Nancy Jo and Gran, not intimidated to silence by Uncle Joe Jr. “I may not have known Chris as long as you think I should have, but I know him as well as I’ve ever known anyone in my life. He’s the only man I’ve ever known who comes anywhere near being as fine a man as you are. And, you know, I had pretty much decided there were none like you left.”
She smiled at her dad, and Steven could see his uncle beginning to show signs of giving in, but he clearly wasn’t ready to capitulate completely quite yet.
“Okay, be engaged. It looks like you already are, anyway. But take some time. You don’t need to get married this spring.” He fastened his glare on Chris. “Again, what’s the hurry?”
Chris cleared his throat. “Well, sir, with Sarah teaching all winter and the food and music festivals we have scheduled for the summer at the Dip ’n’ Dine, it just seemed like Sarah’s spring break was the only time available.”
“But why this spring?”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Joe Jr., you are just being obstinate.” Elizabeth leaned back in her chair. “They’re getting married this spring because they love each other and they want to begin their lives together just as soon as they can. Surely you can understand that. I remember what a tear you and Nancy Jo were in to get married, even if you don’t. We tried and tried to get you to wait till you finished college, and you know how well that went.”
“Well, we’d known each other a lot longer than these two have, that’s for sure.”
“Honey, you had known each other all your lives. Chris and Sarah would have to have a twenty-year engagement to catch up. Is that what you want?”
“Maybe.” Joe Jr. still scowled, but it was clear he had given up, and Sarah jumped up to give him a hug. Her dad patted her arm, and if Steven hadn’t known his uncle to be such a tough old bird, he would have sworn there was a mist in Joe Jr.’s eyes.
Nancy Jo got up again and began gathering dishes to carry to the kitchen, and Gran and Kaitlyn joined her. In a moment just Chris, Steven, and Joe Jr. were left sitting in awkward silence. Olivia was also there, but since Kaitlyn had whispered that if she asked to leave the table to take Fluffy outside one more time before dinner was over, she was going to spend the afternoon sitting on a chair, she had slumped down in her seat and wasn’t talking to anyone.
Finally, Joe Jr. broke the silence. He leaned back in his chair and gazed at Chris over his glasses. “Well, it looks like this is a done deal. Welcome to the family, son.”
“Thank you, sir.” Chris sat tall, and Steven was impressed with the confidence in his smile. “You can rest assured that I will devote my life to Sarah’s happiness.”
“I know you will.”
His tone made the words sound more like a warning than an affirmation, but Chris’s smile never wavered as he met his future father-in-law’s eyes. Steven took a sip of iced tea to hide his own smile. He was going to have to get to know Chris better, maybe learn his secret.
Steven was relieved when dinner was finally over and he and Olivia could head out back with the dogs. As he had predicted, he had no trouble introducing Speed Bump to Sadie and Beau. She was little, of course, but she had big dog attitude. And since she, like Beau, was willing to accept Sadie as alpha, everyone got along just fine.
Olivia was right in the middle of the three dogs, trying to boss them all around, and Steven was sitting on the back steps when Chris joined them.
“Hey, congratulations.” Steven grinned and held out his hand as Chris lowered himself to the back step. “Sarah’s always been my favorite cousin. Looks like she found a good man.”
Chris nodded as he picked up a stick and threw it, sending the dogs, followed by Olivia, racing across the yard. “Yeah, well, Sarah is one amazing woman. I’m the lucky one.”
If Steven thought Chris would join him in smiling at his grandmother’s old-fashioned ways, he was mistaken. Chris couldn’t have looked more serious as he nodded.
“Yep, and I thank him every day for it. I have no idea why he decided to bless me like he has, but believe me, I am surely blessed.”
Steven didn’t have much to say about that, and silence fell between them as they watched Olivia and the dogs. Chris had this funny little smile, and Steven guessed he was thinking about Sarah.
“I escaped! Take me away.” Sarah burst through the back door, and Chris’s smile broadened into a wide grin as he stood to grab her up in a hug. “I told them what I want. I want Gran to make me a pretty white dress, and I want to get married right here in this yard. I want barbecue and I want music and I want everyone in Last Chance to come help us celebrate. But Gran’s saying I have to get married in the church, and Mom’s talking about taking her wedding dress out of mothballs, and I just had to get out of there.”
Steven stood too and shoved his hand in his front pocket. He grinned at Chris. “You going to try to get your two cents into these plans, or are you just going to bow to the inevitable?”
“Oh, he doesn’t care, do you?” Sarah looked up at Chris, who just shook his head.
“Nope. As long as when it’s all over I’ve got you, nothing else matters. You could wear a gunnysack for all I care.”
Clearly that wasn’t the right answer either. Sarah drew herself up to where she almost reached Chris’s shoulder. “Well, I hope you care a little more than that how I look. It will be our wedding day, after all.”
Chris tried to backtrack, but Sarah wouldn’t let him, and she was still needling him when they headed off together, Chris trying to take Sarah’s hand and Sarah refusing to let him. They hadn’t gone halfway across the yard before Chris snatched it anyway, and Steven heard Sarah giggle.
At Home in Last Chance Page 10