"You stuck it out no matter how terrible it got. She always had her Christine Louise."
Christie flinched. Her parent’s name for her. "Don’t call me that."
"Sorry. I’m bushed."
Christie stood up. "Get some sleep. Garrett said to come to the house in the morning for breakfast. I’ll see you and Eric then."
She walked quickly to the door. She needed to get out in the open air. Too many conflicting emotions were pushing at her. Her stomach churned to think she may have come between Ellen and Darrell, perhaps contributed to their breakup. Why had she never seen that?
"Christie?"
She stopped with her hand on the doorknob. "Yes?"
"We can’t change the past. It’s the future we have to deal with."
Christie closed the door, feeling numb. Had she over-protected her sister, interfering in Ellen’s life by loving her too much? Did she put an emotional stranglehold on the people she loved? Her interference had helped Judith flee her husband.
Her emotions churned and tension held her rigid. One thing was clear to her where she and Darrell were concerned. She had to figure out a way to meet on common ground for the sake of her nephew. It’s what Ellen would have wanted.
Christie reentered her apartment, her mind searching for answers. A light still burned in Garrett’s house, but she couldn’t talk to him. Wearily, she wondered if there would ever be a right time to let all the secrets out in the open.
Christie had just brushed her teeth when she heard heavy footsteps on the stairs to her apartment. Quickly, she walked to the door and peered down into the stairway. "Who’s there?" she called, her voice echoing back to her high and thin.
"It’s Garrett, Christie. I just talked with Randy. Can I come up?"
"Yes."
"He told me what happened." He entered semi-dark room and Christie quickly turned on another lamp. "Are you okay?" he came immediately to her. Gently, he reached for her hands and turned them over, muttering an angry curse as he saw the bruising on her wrist. He put his arms around her and she let him, savoring his closeness, his caring. She wanted to hang onto him and not let go. Not realistic, but for right now it felt wonderful.
"I was just shook up," she said, "but I’m okay now." She stepped back.
He looked at her doubtfully. "You don’t look okay. I want you to stay at the house until they find Les. It’s the safest thing to do."
She turned away. "I’ll be fine," she assured him.
"That’s right, you will be. Come on." He gently urged her toward the door.
She held back, but he wasn’t giving up and she was tired. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let him take charge for one night and not worry about being the strong one.
"Okay. I am worried about Les being out there ... maybe watching me."
"Randy filled me in, but I want you to tell me what happened."
As they walked downstairs and back to the house she related everything that had occurred that night. By the time she had finished, Garrett looked even more furious. "The guy’s off his rocker, but then, when he gets drinking, he seems to lose all sense of decency."
Christie couldn’t help the shiver that crawled across her. "Are his wife and little boy okay? Ally said Kim left with the baby."
"They’re fine. Randy spoke to Kim at her mother’s house. Randy’s going to keep in touch with her."
As they entered the house, Christie couldn’t help but look around outside one last time. "I wondered if Les might have had something to do with the fire."
"When they catch up with him he’ll be questioned about that too." Garrett glanced at his watch. "It’s late, why don’t you try and get some rest. You’ll be safe here, I promise."
Christie felt the threatening prick of tears and blinked quickly. "Thank you Garrett."
He stared at her intently, and she thought he would say something more, but in the end all he did was nod his head.
"Goodnight." She wanted to stay with him, but she turned and walked down the corridor to the room where she had stayed before, wishing things had been different.
###
Christie continued her work routine in the barns. With Darrell and Eric at the farm the last three days she knew she would be staying at least until they left. The authorities still hadn’t been able to locate Les, and that preyed on her mind also.
Christie dumped a wheelbarrow load of sawdust in the next stall and paused to look at Eric. He’d been helping her all afternoon and she could sense something was bothering him, but he’d remained quiet when she’d gently prodded him about what was wrong.
"Aunt Christie, can I smooth that sawdust for you? Ally showed me how to do it."
Christie smiled. "Sure, just keep the pitchfork tines pointed away from you." Christie kept a close watch as he leveled the sawdust. "So what did you and Hannah play this morning?"
"We played games and then she showed me the ponies. They’re really neat. They can find carrots in your pocket without even seeing them."
Christie laughed at his obvious amazement. Eric was a city kid, just liked she’d always been a city kid. Although maybe now that was changing, Christie mused. She didn’t want to be a city kid anymore.
As Eric finished with the pitchfork she took it from him and led the way from the stall. "We’ll make a country boy out of you yet."
"I liked the puppies," he said suddenly, kicking his heel against the ground. "Dad said I couldn’t have one, even though Hannah’s got lots. He makes me mad."
Christie squatted beside Eric and pushed the hair out of his eyes. "Those kind of dogs grow pretty big and they need room to run. It’s tough having a dog that size in the city."
He crossed his arms. "He could stay at our apartment."
"Eric, I bet your dad would love to have a dog, but he knows a puppy wouldn’t be happy in an apartment all day while you’re in school and he’s working."
He looked thoughtful. "Do you think Daddy always wanted a dog and he could never have one?"
"I think you should ask him," Christie said, seeing Darrell enter the barn with Ally.
"See you later, Aunt Christie." Eric ran to meet his father and Christie could see him talking to Darrell. Darrell looked at her thoughtfully a moment, and then he smiled and took the hand Eric held out to him. Together, they walked from the barn.
"Whew! Are you as hot as I am?" Ally asked, dropping down to sit on a bale of hay. "I can’t remember the last time we had a stretch of weather like this in June."
"Might as well be a hundred," Christie muttered, feeling a trickle of sweat slide down her cheek as she too sat on the long bale.
"Got any plans for after work?"
"No."
"Well, it's Garrett’s birthday. We've reserved a room in town at one of the restaurants. Everyone's going. There'll be music and dancing. Say you’ll come."
Christie felt her heart race, then slow. Garrett's birthday and she hadn't known. She didn’t know a lot of things about Garrett. Christie pushed back the ache. "Is it a surprise?"
"Yeah. His mother planned it. And Randy," she added.
Christie thought Ally’s voice sounded too nonchalant. She gave her a coy look. "Oh yes, Randy."
Ally’s cheeks turned a delicate pink. With a small laugh she shrugged. "You know Randy, he likes to play both ends so I don’t take him seriously."
"Maybe you should," Christie suggested gently.
"Sometimes I think he’s the best thing that ever happened to me, the next minute I can imagine him flirting with every woman he comes in contact with." Ally shrugged and looked across the driveway. "I don’t want to take that route again. I keep thinking it won’t last."
"I can understand the fear."
Ally sighed. "But you think I’m wrong."
"I think you’re smart. You’ll figure it out."
Ally smiled and draped an arm across Christie’s shoulder. "Thanks for the confidence. Now what about tonight? There's a bunch of us riding in my car if you need a ride."
"Come on, Christie, don't tell me you're thinking of staying home. It'll be loads of fun. I invited Darrell and he’s planning on going. Anyway," her smile turned teasing, "Garrett would miss you if you didn’t show up. Now I’m going to give you a little advice. Don’t let the opportunity pass to get to know this guy. I know the boss likes you."
"Seems he likes everyone here," Christie supplied casually. "It’s nothing more than that."
Ally raised an eyebrow in obvious disbelief.
"Christie, come on, level with me. I like to think I've gotten to know you in the time you've been here. I think you and the Boss would be good together. I've never seen him pay attention to anyone else the way he does you. I’d take that as a good sign."
Christie cleared her throat. "Have you known Garrett long?"
"Most of my life. It's a small community and we all know each other at some level."
"Did you know Judith, his wife?"
"I’m sorry to say I did." Ally gave her a straight look. "Look, I don't gossip, but I know for a fact Judith made Garrett miserable. She'd say one thing to his face and sneak around behind his back. Everybody knew it, which of course made it worse. That girl had a bunch of problems." Ally lowered her voice. "I was here the day she took off. I was still working in the barns, finishing up some painting and whatnot. Luckily, it was late, and no one else was around. It was hard not to hear what was going on since Judith was screaming. Some of the things she said, she was downright cruel. The best thing she did was walk out. It was too bad she forced Hannah to go with her. That accident messed that little girl up pretty bad for a while."
"Hannah didn’t want to go?" Christie asked quietly, disturbed by what Ally had revealed about Judith.
"Nope. She wanted to stay with Garrett. She’d called him Daddy from day one and it was like she was his second shadow. He was probably the first bit of stability she’d ever had in her life. That poor kid begged to stay with him but Judith made her go, pulled her out to the car by the arm. I don’t think Garrett even knew Judith was leaving until her car tore out of here."
Christie felt an ache in her chest for Garrett and Hannah, for the wounds inflicted. "Judith sounds like she was a lost soul. Her leaving really hurt Garrett," she said flatly.
"To give Judith her due, though, she was a good mother to Hannah. She just had a lot of insecurities. But truth to tell, it would’ve hurt Garrett worse if she’d stayed. Those two were like a pair of Kansas twisters. You can only take so much of that kind of living and then it starts to wear you down."
Christie looked askance at Ally. "Are you kidding? Garrett seems one of the most even-tempered guys I’ve come across."
"Normally he is, but she brought out the worst in him. They brought out the worst in each other." Ally leaned closer. "Garrett hasn’t been an angel by any means, but there aren’t many men who’d raise someone else’s child. He’s done a good job raising Hannah, too." Ally stood up and dusted the hay off her jeans. "So what do you say, are you with us?"
Pushing aside her misgivings, Christie nodded. "Sure. I'll have to stop somewhere to pick up a gift."
"Not to bother. We're all putting in toward a new bike helmet and jacket, since he's started riding again."
"He hasn't been riding that long?"
"Not that much since I've worked here, about three years now." Ally arched a brow and gave her a slow smile. "He's starting to have a bit of fun like in the old days. I’d venture a guess somebody’s a good influence on him. What do you think, Christie?"
Truthfully, Christie didn’t know what to think. Her heart was telling her to love the man and take a chance, but her head was saying run like hell and save herself potential heartache.
"I don’t want to miss Garrett’s party."
###
Later that evening Christie sat at the table next to Ally while Darrell and Eric sat across from them in the restaurant’s dining room. She’d ridden into town with Darrell and on the way over he’d thanked her for explaining to Eric about big dogs in small apartments. For a moment, Christie had almost felt close to her brother-in-law. It had been the first time they’d spent any time together and hadn’t ended up in an argument.
Garrett and Hannah hadn't arrived yet. The restaurant was full of people. Randy stood behind Ally and played with a strand of her hair, then urged Christie out of her seat and introduced her to his mother, Caroline McIntyre. Christie recognized her from the pictures in Garrett’s living room. Caroline was an attractive woman dressed in a gorgeous midnight blue dress, flitting from person to person. Christie had felt decidedly underdressed beside her even though the older woman commented with admiration on Christie’s soft blue floral slip dress. It was light and cool and packed easily. For some reason Christie had thrown it in her bag before she left New York, never dreaming she would be wearing it. The matching sandals were perfect for the warm evening.
Ally had taken Christie under her wing and introduced her to several of Garrett’s friends and their wives. Christie had sensed their curiosity and friendly interest and she’d wished she would be here long enough to develop lasting friendships. She had never experienced such warmth and a feeling of coming home as she did since staying at Winding Creek Farms. It would be difficult to leave.
Christie was seeing the social side of Garrett’s life. She knew he was involved in quite a few community undertakings and she was finding small towns a quaint novelty. Garrett’s friends seemed genuinely interested in her and didn’t hesitate to ask about her life in New York.
When people began to whisper that Garrett had arrived she was aware of a pounding in her chest. Garrett walked through the door and people began to yell surprise and throw paper confetti. Eric of course, had a great time pelting everyone within range from the confetti-filled paper cup he’d been given.
Slowly, Christie turned her head, looked past Darrell’s curious and suddenly knowing eyes. All sound fell away as she met Garrett’s glance, saw her presence register on his face. He gave her a quick smile then he turned as people greeted him on all sides.
"So you and Garrett are involved," Darrell said beside her.
Christie looked at him.
"He was Judith’s husband, for Christ sakes!"
Christie opened her mouth to tell him to mind his own business. Instead, she said, "Don’t you think I know that? I can’t forget it."
Darrell frowned but didn’t say anything further.
Garrett looked incredibly handsome in a dark blue shirt with an equally dark tie tucked across his flat stomach. Black jeans hugged long legs. A jacket was slung over his shoulder, and he was laughing and talking. Hannah stood by her father in a long pink, frilly dress, ivory colored bows in her hair. Christie wondered if Ruth had helped her pick the dress and had fixed her hair.
One after another, friends greeted him. Women hugged and kissed him and hung on his arm. Jealousy bit at Christie sharply and she became annoyed with herself but she couldn’t bear to think of Garrett with other women ... making love with other women. She thought of him as making love only to her. She wanted Garrett to be hers alone.
Wondering why she did this to herself, Christie looked around wildly. She caught Ally’s glance and the other woman lifted her glass. So Ally knew she and Garrett were involved. It didn’t matter. He was an adult, he must have had affairs before now. Christie shook her head, disliking the idea that she might be just an affair. Maybe she and Ally had more in common than she’d realized. Both of them hankering after a McIntyre man who wouldn’t or couldn’t commit.
"Christie," Randy said, startling her when he appeared at her side. "How’s the wrist?"
She moved it this way and that. "No problems." She lowered her voice. "Have you found Les yet?"
He looked disgruntled. "No, it’s like he vanished."
"Well, he has to turn up somewhere. Speaking of which," she added lightly, "you’ve been pretty scarce around the farm all week."
Randy’s smile
reminded her of Garrett. He was a fun-loving guy, and she could only imagine the trouble the two of them could have found together as boys.
"I’ve been putting in a lot of overtime and I’m seriously considering buying a small farm on the outskirts of town. It’s too good a deal to pass up. There’s an attached barn with room for a few horses. The place needs work but I like doing that kind of thing, and Garrett’s real good at fixing up places, so I’m going to rope him in on this."
"I had no idea you were looking to buy something. I wish you luck with it."
"By the way," he said, looking past her shoulder. "Have you seen Ally? I’ve lost her."
Christie wondered if Ally had anything to do with him wanting a place that had room for a few horses. "Yes. She was over by the buffet a few minutes ago. I think she was looking for you also."
Randy flashed a confident smile. "I’ll find her."
"Randy. Christie." She turned instinctively toward Garrett's voice, her body instantly filled by warmth.
Randy shook his brother’s hand. "Happy birthday, Garrett. What’s it feel like to be an old man of thirty?"
"Same as yesterday," Garrett said with a laugh.
Christie studied him, taking in the carefully brushed back hair, lean jaw and the smile in his eyes. He was a man who would be at ease and confident in any surroundings.
"Happy birthday," she said, aware of the sizzle of attraction when his attention turned to her. "Many more."
Garrett’s intent gaze made her feel as if she was the only woman in the room. Reaching forward, he took her arm and drew her closer to his side. "Don't I get a birthday kiss?" he murmured, turning his back on his brother.
Surprised, Christie raised a brow. "I think you've had your quota of adoring women already. I don’t want to be one more in a long line."
"You’re in a category all by yourself, Christie," he murmured. He lowered his head, bringing his face close to hers. She could see each whisker on his smooth shaven face and the laugh lines beside his eyes. She wanted the birthday kiss, or any kiss from Garrett for that matter.
When his lips touched hers, warmth sped through her, infusing her with heat and want. The sounds of revelry fell away. Christie felt only Garrett. She brought her hands up to grip his arms and then his arms circled her back. Christie put all her desire for him into the kiss.
Echoes From The Past (Women of Character) Page 22