Echoes From The Past (Women of Character)

by Grace Brannigan

  Garrett adjusted a brake cable, then pulled himself up abruptly. Why was he worrying about Christie? She planned on leaving when the month was up. So what if she had problems. Everyone had them. There was no sense getting worried about her plans. He had his own agenda. Garrett looked at Hannah playing on the swings. He needed to keep her safe and secure. She was coming along so well, he wouldn’t chance a setback by changing anything at the farm. . .especially not taking a lover when Hannah still felt the loss of her mother so keenly.

  Christie’s voice was in his head. I did what I had to do.

  He felt humbled. He’d never been so desperate. Even when he’d almost drowned in debt, he’d known he would survive, even if meant working somewhere for minimum wage. From the time he was sixteen he’d had a part time job for spending money. His parents had provided for him. He hadn’t worried about rent or if he had enough money for a gallon of milk.

  Garrett started the bike and revved it up a few times. When he cut the motor, he heard a vehicle drive into the yard. Randy drove by in a dark blue pickup and gave him a salute, then parked by the exercise ring where Ally still worked with the horse.

  "Hi Ally!" He heard his brother call out. "How’s my favorite redhead today?"

  With amusement Garrett caught the "yeah right" expression Ally tossed Randy’s way.

  "You’re distracting my help," Garrett said mildly, wiping grease from his hands. "Cut it out unless you’re serious."

  Randy made his way over to him. "Serious as a heart attack. What’s up? You look like you’ve got a load of trouble on your back." Bo Peep came rushing over to Randy and he bent down to pat the dog, then squinted at the bike. "Need some help with the bike?"

  "No." Garrett dropped a wrench back in his toolbox and looked at his brother with a raised brow. "You’re becoming quite a regular around here. Two, three times in one week. I feel honored." He grinned.

  "Am I supposed to call first?" Randy drawled, his smile crooked. "I wanted to show you my new truck."

  Together they walked over to the truck to check out all its features. "It’s a beauty," Garrett said, running his hand along the pickup bed fender. "Quite an improvement on the last one."

  "Yeah, I decided I needed more reliable transportation."

  "You’re getting quite responsible these days," Garrett said dryly.

  "Sometimes you’ve got to shake things up a little," Randy stared across the yard to where Ally worked the horse. He turned his attention back to Garrett. "I also wanted to tell you about Les. I’ve been nosing around. He’s not working and no one really seems to know what he’s up to during the day."

  Garrett swiped a sleeve over his forehead. "Come on over into the shade."

  Under the shade of a big Maple tree behind the house Garrett dropped down into a lawn chair and indicated to Randy the hammock he’d hung from the tree that morning. Bo Peep settled on the ground beside him. He fondled her silky ears and glanced over at Hannah still playing on her swing.

  Randy sprawled in the mesh hammock, booted feet crossed. Tipping his hat back he regarded him intently. "So what’s going on that you’re keeping track of Les?"

  "He stopped here one day for Kim’s check. He’d started drinking and was acting pretty belligerent. I’ve been keeping in touch with Kim to make sure she’s all right."

  "I’ll have the guys swing by their place on a regular basis."

  "Thanks. I knew I could count on you."

  "So, what else is going on?" Randy asked.

  Garrett plucked a blade of grass and chewed on it. Thoughtfully, he regarded his brother. "It’s business as usual."

  Randy’s glance was skeptical. "What’s up with Christie?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Ruth mentioned she moved into the apartment over the barn."

  "Now you’re tapping Ruth for information? Next thing you’ll be telling me Sam joined the local square dancer’s club. Since when did Ruth become such a fountain of information?" Garrett asked with resignation.

  "Since there’s someone here at the farm who might be able to loosen you up, big brother. Hannah called me this morning and couldn’t wait to spill the news. I get she’s happy that Christie’s over in the barn."

  "Yeah, there’s a bit of a problem with Hannah. Nothing I can’t handle. As to the other, I don’t need loosening up. I’d appreciate it if you stopped grilling everyone about my business."

  "Do I detect a touch of evasiveness?" Garrett couldn’t miss the smile in his brother’s voice, but he could damn well ignore it.

  "Hannah’s not happy anytime someone new comes in. I suppose with Christie staying in the house she was even more possessive of me." He shrugged. "Anyway, Christie is leaving in a few weeks."

  "Have you told Hannah Christie is her aunt?"

  "No."

  "Don’t you think it’s about time?"

  His jaw firmed. "I will when I’m ready."

  Randy squinted his eyes and looked over toward Ally. "Ally likes Christie and Buddy swears Christie is the next best thing to an angel. She’s been helping him with some kind of school paper. Legal stuff." Randy threw him an intent stare. "What do you think?"

  "I think you ask too many questions and you’re damned nosy."

  "Is that so? Well if you’re not interested, maybe Christie would like to go out with the fun loving brother."

  "Do you know one?"

  Randy just smiled.

  The idea of Christie and Randy together put Garrett in a bad mood. "I think you ought to narrow your concentration to one woman."

  Randy blew on his fingernails and pretended to polish them on his T-shirt front, but Garrett suspected some of it was mere bravado.

  "Nothing wrong with playing the field," Randy said. "Speaking of which, how about a double date this weekend?"

  "No."

  "It’d be fun," Randy said patiently.

  "Wouldn’t that ruin your plan to use the Harley’s seductive powers?"

  "I can use it another time. What do you say? Do you want to go out Saturday? Remember how we used to --" Randy stopped mid-sentence, as if suddenly realizing he’d let his mouth run away.

  Deliberately, Garrett finished the sentence for him. "How we used to double date, you and your girlfriend, me and Judith? How could I forget?" It seemed like a hundred years ago. "Thanks for the invite, but no thanks. I’m not into reliving the past."

  "Garrett." Randy sat forward. "You can’t use Judith as a measure for every woman."

  Garrett gave his brother a narrow-eyed glance. "That’d be a pretty damned short measure. Anyway, it’s past history."

  "Judith was selfish and not meant for the long run. Cut yourself some slack and have fun."

  "What -- with her sister? Leave it alone."

  Just then Garrett noticed Christie exit the barn and walk over to join Ally at the corral.

  Randy glanced at the girls. "You could ask her to stay longer. How’s everything going?"

  "Fine."

  "No complications from the accident?"

  "None that she admits to."

  "I’ll ask her if she wants to do a double date," Randy said blithely, uncrossing his boots.

  Garrett shot him a narrow-eyed glance. "I’m past the age where I need my brother to get me a date."

  "Your choice," Randy murmured. "I’m going to start some fun. That Ally needs some excitement in her life."

  "Why don’t you tell her that ... I’m sure she’ll appreciate it."

  Undaunted, Randy rose to his feet. "Maybe I will." He sauntered toward Ally and Christie.

  As Garrett watched his brother picked up a section of the water hose Ally was using on the horse. He kinked it so the flow of water almost stopped. Ally saw him and voiced a protest. Randy released the hose and the force of the water caught Ally across the legs, soaking her pants and boots.

  "Randy McIntyre!" she yelled, "if I didn’t have hold of this horse, I’d -- I’d give it to you good."

  Randy wagged a finger at her. "Promises,
promises."

  Garrett followed in his brother’s wake. Knowing all hell would likely break loose with Ally’s temper when it came to Randy, he ducked around behind Christie and relieved Ally of the horse’s lead line. "I’ll take Houdini out of harm’s way while you take care of my brother," he said. Garrett led the horse into the barn, laughing when Randy yelled as Ally turned the hose on him.

  Garrett settled the horse in his stall. He could hear female squeals and his brother’s protests. It sounded like even the dog had joined in with continuous barking.

  When Garrett walked back outside the trio was still at it. Randy had hooked up a second hose and stood on one side with Christie and Ally squared off against him. They were all soaked to the skin. Bo Peep stood halfway between the house and barn, hopping back and forth and barking excitedly.

  "What is this, kindergarten?" Garrett asked.

  Garrett had only a moment to notice Christie’s white T-shirt plastered to her body before a blast of water hit him square in the face. Spluttering with disbelief and the shock of the icy well water, he looked furiously at the culprit.

  Christie held the hose. She froze, watching him with wide eyes. Garrett put his hands up to his eyes and swiped at the water dripping down his face.

  "I’m going to get you for that," he promised, giving her a menacing scowl.

  With a squeal, Christie jerked the hose up and sprayed him again. Quickly, she ducked to the side, dragging the hose with her.

  "Garrett!" Randy indicated the bucket on the ground.

  Garrett moved across the now muddy ground as Christie kept the water spray trained on his back and shoulders. By now he was so wet the spray didn’t matter. In fact it felt good. He picked up the rubber bucket beside Randy and looked down into it. It was two-thirds full of water and had a skim of horsehair along the top.

  Garrett advanced on her, grinning no doubt like a fool.

  "Put down the hose," he said softly, turning his head quickly to avoid another blast of water.

  "Not a chance." She shook her head in vehement refusal, her wet hair whipping around her face. She continued to walk backwards but finally came to the end of the hose length. Garrett knew he had her.

  "Give it up," he said, threatening her with the water in the bucket. Bo Peep barked at his heels, adding to the confusion.

  "Never!" Christie shouted, spraying him in the chest.

  Garrett lifted the bucket and poured the water over her.

  Christie spluttered and squawked, squeezing her eyes tightly closed but still keeping her fingers clenched on the water nozzle.

  At that same moment Randy lobbed a handful of mud and hit Ally in the chest.

  "What a foul trick!" Ally yelled. "This means war."

  Garrett laughed so hard he dropped the bucket. Randy wasn’t any better. He kept laughing as he and Ally wrestled with the hose until he let her pry it from his hand. Ally and Christie now had complete control of the water. Garrett and Randy stood there and howled with laughter as they were squirted from both sides.

  Finally, when his sides hurt from laughing so hard, Garrett looked at Randy and gasped, "What do you think, should we do the old McIntyre rush?"

  "Great idea," Randy said, shoving the hair out of his eyes. He was a muddy sight. Looking down at his own clothes Garrett realized he was the same.

  "Now!" Garrett said. He rushed Christie and Randy rushed Ally. In the ensuing wrestle to take back the water hose, Garrett and Christie slid on the muddy ground and began to fall. Garrett twisted so he didn’t crush Christie. With a whoomph sound, Garrett landed with his back in the mud, Christie sprawled on top of him, her laughing face near his.

  He stared at the wet, bedraggled woman plastered to him and all laughter stilled. Every part of her body was making itself known to him as slender curves intimately pressed against him. His body had felt tired earlier but now he felt revived and full of energy.

  Looking at the sparkle in Christie’s eyes, Garrett felt in that moment as if the world narrowed down to soft brown eyes, milky skin with a faint scatter of freckles and full, red lips. He couldn’t resist. He didn’t think. He lifted his head out of the mud and kissed those red lips. Realizing what he’d done, he let his head drop back to the ground. Christie’s eyes widened and a flush touched her now serious face.

  "Well, hell," Garrett muttered, his glance fixed on her mouth. He had a notion to kiss her again and lifted his head to do just that.

  Chapter Nine

  "Hell indeed, Garrett McIntyre! What is all the noise about? My Lord, I thought I needed to call emergency services."

  Garrett shifted his focus. Ruth stood on the outskirts of the muddy mess they’d made, a stern expression on her face. Sam, beside her, was struggling to keep a straight face.

  Just then Bo Peep appeared beside Ruth and started her excited barking again. Christie looked at the dog and said, "Hush!"

  Garrett said, "Bo Peep, that’s enough." With a small whine, the dog lay down and stared at him, chin resting on her paws.

  Garrett groaned. He would never live down playing in the mud. Christie scrambled to get up, her knee inadvertently catching him in the groin. Garrett groaned again.

  "Sorry," she muttered, low enough so only he could hear. She got to her feet, almost falling again as her foot slipped in the slick mud.

  Garrett got to his feet and helped her right herself. He looked around. "Where’s Ally and Randy?" They’d disappeared.

  Ruth crossed her arms. "All I see are you two playing in the mud."

  "I think they made off for the creek behind the barn," Sam muttered.

  Garrett kept a straight face. "Well, it’s time I got cleaned up. It’s been a long day and I think I need a shower." He looked at Christie with mild inquiry, as if they weren’t covered from hair to toe with drying mud. "What about you?"

  "I’m going to do the same," she said, struggling to keep a straight face.

  Garrett flicked mud from his shirt collar.

  Ruth marched away, but not before Garrett had seen the glint of laughter in her eyes.

  Sam merely shook his head as he headed in the direction of the barn.

  A bit more soberly, Garrett began to rewind the hose. That’s when he noticed several of his employees standing at the edge of the yard and in the barn entryway.

  Garrett threw Christie a quick glance, but she was busy rewinding the other hose. Knowing the damage had been done to his serious, hard-assed image, Garrett gave the hose in his hand a few experimental squirts. "Anybody else?" he challenged the onlookers. There were a few laughs, but no takers. After some good-natured ribbing everyone wandered off to their cars.

  He might have made a fool of himself in front of his employees, but it had been worth it to see the laughter on Christie’s face. For once, Garrett wished he had Randy’s easy manner with women. He might have persuaded Christie to go down to the creek as Randy had done with Ally. Who knows what might have developed from there.

  Ruefully, he looked at the brown streaks of mud on his clothes, then pulled his shirttails out of his pants and yanked the material off his shoulders.

  "You’ve got mud on your neck," Christie said.

  Garrett twisted around to find her behind him. She reached out a slim hand and rubbed at a spot just above his collarbone. The touch of her fingers against his skin was disturbing, warm. After a moment he grabbed her fingers and held them still against his chest. "It’s okay, I’m going to take a shower." He cleared his throat, feeling as if her fingers were burning a hole in his chest. Her fingers moved beneath his, gently stroking the hair on his chest. Garrett was very conscious of the rise and fall of her breasts, the faint sound of her breathing. He stared into her eyes and took a step closer.

  Before he let rational thought intrude, he bent down and lightly touched his tongue to her lips. Christie closed her eyes and rested her other hand on his shoulder.

  In the next instant she stepped back. He saw her gaze shift and she stared behind him, then lifted her start
led gaze to his. "I have to get cleaned up." She turned and hurried toward the barn.

  Garrett knocked some of the caked mud from his jeans. Reaching down, he gently caressed the dog’s golden head, aware of the way his nerves jumped over the kiss he’d shared with Christie. "Come on, Bo Peep."

  When he turned toward the house, he saw his daughter standing there. "Hey kiddo."

  Hannah frowned at him and crossed her arms. "I saw you and Christie." Garrett read the mixed emotions on her face: Anger, sulkiness, perhaps fear. "You’re full of mud."

  Garrett grinned, ignoring the first part of her statement. "Yeah, I know. I can’t believe I forgot how much fun it is to play in the mud."

  Her eyes grew very wide. "But -- but Daddy’s don’t play in mud."

  Slowly, his heart rate came back down to normal.

  "Christie’s leaving soon, isn’t she, Daddy? I think she should go back to her own place."

  Garrett surmised now that out of the house wasn’t far enough for Hannah. He lifted a brow as the storm signals deepened in Hannah’s blue eyes and the tight, straight line of her mouth.

  "Christie’s leaving when Kim is ready to come back to work."

  "She should leave now." Hannah clenched her fists.

  Garrett motioned Hannah over to the chair he had earlier vacated in the back yard. "Hannah, come and sit down with me a minute. We really need to talk."

  Stubbornly, she shook her head and crossed her arms tightly over her chest.

  "Hannah," he said sternly, pointing to the chair.

  Reluctantly, she thumped her bottom down and slouched in the chair.

  Garrett pulled a chair close to hers and watched her intently, but she didn’t lift her head. "Why don’t you like Christie?"

  Hannah shrugged and started playing with the webbing on the chair.

  Garrett waited, feeling the mud soak through his jeans and drip down into his boots. He shifted his feet and stared at the water now puddling beneath him.

  "Daddy, I’m hungry and Ruth made my most favorite special dinner tonight." Hannah’s voice bordered on a whine and she jutted her lower lip.

  "Then you’d better give my question some thought and answer it." She looked at him in surprise and the corners of her mouth quivered, but Garrett knew he couldn’t give in. "Ruth made cheesecake with strawberry sauce, too," he added. "So tell me, has Christie been mean to you?"