A Place to Call Home

by Sharon Sala

  “Yeah. I can only imagine,” he said softly. Then he raised his voice a notch. “Come on, little girl, it’s time to go inside.”

  To Charlie’s surprise, Rachel minded the stranger and followed them in. As soon as Judd put her down, Rachel crawled up in Charlie’s lap and laid her head on her mother’s breast.

  “Is she okay?” Judd asked.

  Charlie nodded. “Just a little confused, I think. She’ll be all right.” Then she pointed toward the phone. “There’s a phone book in the drawer underneath.”

  Judd shook his head. “You come first. If you don’t mind me prowling a bit, I want to put some ice on your ankle.”

  “The kitchen is that way,” Charlie said. “There are some plastic bags in the drawer beside the sink and there’s an ice maker in the top of the fridge.”

  Judd headed for the kitchen, returning shortly with a bag full of ice wrapped in a towel. Charlie winced when he laid it on her ankle.

  “Sorry,” Judd said. “Does your husband work nearby?”

  The tone of Charlie’s voice never wavered. “I don’t have a husband.”

  Judd glanced at Rachel, then at Charlie, then fussed with the bag of ice just for something to do.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories. It’s just that you can’t be here by yourself. Is there anyone I can call for you?”

  Charlie sighed. The man was getting the wrong impression, and while it really didn’t matter what he thought, she felt obligated to explain.

  “I am not a widow. To the contrary, I have never been married. And yes, there is someone—my brother, Wade. If you don’t mind handing me the phone, I’ll give him a call.”

  Judd turned, then stopped and stared. “There’s a police car coming down your driveway.”

  A wave of emotion suddenly washed over Charlie. Wade was hardly ever home on time. Thank God this was one of those rare days. To her surprise, she felt tears threatening again.

  She took a deep breath, trying to still the tremble in her voice. “That would be Wade. He’s the police chief in Call City.”

  Judd stiffened, then made himself relax, accepting the irony of the situation. He’d driven halfway across the country to get away from law enforcement, and the first time he lingered long enough to exchange names, they were tied to the same damned branch of government.

  A few moments later, the officer who’d been driving the car came through the door, his eyes wide with concern. Judd braced himself for the confrontation.

  * * *

  Wade had been looking forward to an easy evening until he’d seen the destruction to the pasture fence. His mood had taken a quick swing downward and was far from level when he came through the door. Seeing Charlie’s tears and the stranger standing next to her, his hand automatically slid to the butt of his gun.

  “Charlie…honey…what the hell happened?”

  “It’s okay,” Charlie said, and then started to cry in earnest.

  Judd sighed. She’d been bordering on hysteria ever since he’d pulled her out of the dirt. It was inevitable that she would finally break down. What surprised him was the urge he had to comfort her.

  Wade moved toward Charlie, but his attention was completely focused on the man standing next to her.

  “Easy, buddy,” Judd said, “I’m the good guy here.” Then he offered his hand. “My name is Judd Hanna.”

  Wade nodded, but reserved the right to the handshake until after he knew some more facts. Judd shrugged. He couldn’t really blame him.

  “What the hell happened to the fence?” Wade said, looking straight at Judd. “Did it run into your car?”

  Judd laughed out loud. Even Charlie managed to chuckle through tears. Rachel giggled, too, although the joke was over her head, and then she pointed out the door.

  “Big bull.”

  Wade frowned. “What bull, honey?”

  Charlie choked on a sob. “Oh, Wade. Tucker’s bull…it was in our pasture again. I couldn’t find Rachel, and then I saw her…and the bull was charging…but I couldn’t outrun…if it hadn’t been for…he drove through the fence and…I fell and it was…oh, God, Wade, the bull would have killed her.”

  She shuddered, then buried her face against the back of Rachel’s neck.

  All the color faded from Wade Franklin’s face. He looked at Judd, and this time, he was the one who offered his hand.

  “Mister, I suppose we’ll sort out the details later, but if I’m understanding the situation here, you just saved their lives, and if that’s so, then there aren’t enough words to thank you.”

  Judd shrugged, a little embarrassed at being the sudden focus of attention. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

  Too overcome to speak, Wade impulsively hugged him. Judd was still reeling from the impact of being royally thumped on the back when Wade let him go and shifted his focus to Charlie.

  He squatted down beside her and lifted the ice from her foot. “I think you need to see a doctor,” he said, then took out his handkerchief and wiped at the tears and dirt on her face as if she was a child.

  Charlie caught his hand. “No, it’s just a sprain. I’ll be fine.”

  Judd’s heart twisted again. The closeness between brother and sister only served as a reminder of what was missing in his life.

  “About that phone call,” Judd said. “If you’d recommend a towing service and a motel, I’ll be out of your hair.”

  Wade rocked back on his heels. “There aren’t any motels in Call City, and the only tow truck is out on a call. I know because I sent him.”

  Then he glanced at Charlie. She nodded. They had no options but to offer their home to the man. After all he’d done, it was the least they could do.

  “Charlie and I would consider it an honor to put you up for the night.”

  Judd shook his head. “That’s not necessary. I’ve slept in my car plenty of times. It won’t hurt me to do it again.”

  “No,” Charlie said. “You’ll stay in the house, with us.”

  He took a deep breath and looked down. Even with the dirt on her face, Charlotte Franklin was a good-looking woman, but it was the expression in her eyes that swayed him. She needed to make reparation. Whether he wanted to or not, he felt obligated to accept her hospitality.

  “Then I thank you,” he said. “And just to make sure you folks don’t feel the need to sleep with a gun under your pillow, would it make you feel better to know I’m a cop?”

  Wade’s smile was one of relief as he stood abruptly. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?”

  “Probably because I’m AWOL from my precinct,” Judd said. “And, before you assume the worst, I’m not in trouble, I just got fed up.”

  Wade’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully. “Yeah, that can happen.”

  Judd handed Wade a card with the phone number on it.

  “Call the Tulsa, Oklahoma, P.D. Ask for Captain Roger Shaw. He’ll vouch for my honesty, if not my sanity.”

  Charlie flinched, then held her baby closer, suddenly unsure of having this stranger in their house all night. Judd caught the look.

  “Ma’am.”

  She looked up.

  “I swear to you that the only person I’m capable of hurting is myself.”

  Charlie stared intently. She had no reason to trust his word, other than the fact that he’d saved their lives. It would have to be enough. Finally, she nodded and managed a smile.

  “Then that’s that,” Wade said. “And before you call a mechanic, I need to use the phone. I’ve got to talk to a man about a bull.”

  Wade stalked to the phone and punched in some numbers before taking the portable with him as he strode out to the porch.

  Charlie combed a shaky hand through her hair as Rachel wiggled to be put down. Through the open doorway, bits and pieces of Wade Franklin’s conversation could be heard.

  “Don’t give a good damn about why…nearly killed…going to be hamburger if you don’t get the son of a…”r />
  Charlie looked at Judd and then sighed. “Wade has a bad temper.”

  Judd shrugged. “I don’t blame him. If it had been me, I would have probably shot the son of a bitch and worried about the complications later.”

  Startled by his matter-of-fact tone, Charlie could think of nothing to say. When Judd turned away, she found herself watching his every move.

  “Potty,” Rachel suddenly announced.

  Charlie groaned. With her bad ankle, she’d never make it to the bathroom with Rachel in time.

  “Wade! Come quick.”

  Her call brought her brother running.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Rachel needs to go to the bathroom.”

  Wade laughed and tossed the cell phone on the cushion beside Charlie as he picked up his little niece.

  “Come on, shortcake, let’s hurry.”

  Rachel giggled. “Hurry, hurry,” she repeated.

  Charlie rolled her eyes and then glanced at Judd. He was grinning.

  “Potty training,” she explained. “There’s never much time between her and disaster.”

  His grin widened.

  “As soon as Wade comes back, he’ll show you where you can sleep. After I wash some of this dirt off myself, I’ll see to fixing supper.”

  “No, ma’am,” Judd said. “We’ll cook. You just sit there and look pretty. It’ll make us all feel better.”

  Charlie blushed. Moments later, Wade was back. He helped her to her feet and then down the hall to the bathroom, leaving Rachel and Judd alone.

  Judd squatted until he was eye to eye with the little girl, and then reached out and pulled a flower petal from the side of her face.

  “These any good?” he asked, and licked it.

  She giggled and ducked her head.

  As she smiled, the knot in Judd’s belly shifted slightly. Maybe this detour wouldn’t be so bad, after all.

  * * *

  Within the hour, Judd realized how unimportant haste was in Call City. It would be morning before the mechanic would come get his car. Even if he’d been willing to pay the extra money to have it hauled in tonight, it would solve nothing. The garage wouldn’t be open until 7:00 a.m., so there was no need to hurry just to have it parked.

  Resigned to his fate, he’d taken his suitcase out of the Jeep and headed for the room he’d been given. It was small but clean, and the furniture was sturdy. The fact that he’d have to share a bathroom with a baby and two other people seemed a small price to pay for the comfort of a home-cooked meal and a place to wash some clothes.

  A short while later, Judd saw a pickup truck coming down the driveway and pulling a trailer. The owner of the runaway bull, he assumed. He watched from the window as Wade met the man in the drive. Again, harsh words were traded, and while he was debating with himself about getting involved before someone threw the first punch, he overheard something that stunned him. The man called Tucker wasn’t only the owner of the bull, he was Rachel Franklin’s grandfather, as well. What made no sense was that he was so belligerent about the fact.

  “He’s not a happy man,” Charlie said, pointing toward the man in the truck.

  Startled, Judd turned. “Who, Wade?”

  “No, Everett Tucker.”

  Judd turned away, a little embarrassed at being caught eavesdropping, but he supposed it was the cop in him, always wanting to know the why of everything.

  “I didn’t intend to pry,” he said.

  Charlie shrugged. “It’s no secret in these parts that Everett doesn’t like us.” Then she turned and looked at Rachel, who was playing on the floor in front of the television. “He especially doesn’t like Rachel.”

  “But why?” Judd asked.

  “Because she’s all there is left of his only son, Pete, and I guess it hurts him too much to look at her.”

  “I’m sorry,” Judd said. “Again, I seem to be stepping on ghosts.”

  Charlie glanced at him and managed a smile. “No. All my ghosts are laid, Mr. Hanna. It wasn’t in me to grieve for Pete’s death when he’d already walked out on me for getting pregnant.”

  Judd paled. “Look, I know I keep saying this, but I’m sorry. And for what it’s worth, the man must have been a purebred fool.”

  Charlie sighed. “Pretty much.”

  Uncomfortable with the emotions tumbling around in his head, Judd stared at her for a moment, then strode out the door.

  * * *

  The sun was hanging low in the west before Judd came back in the house. He’d helped Wade mend the fence, but did little more than watch as the livestock were fed. Country life was something foreign to his world.

  After washing up, Wade had handed him a bowl of potatoes and a paring knife and then headed for the door with a platter of steaks. Now he stood at the sink peeling potatoes while Wade tended to the meat cooking on the grill outside. Judd watched as Rachel ran from the swing set to her uncle and back again, talking nonstop without care if anyone answered. He paused with a potato in one hand and the paring knife in the other, imagining himself in such a family tableau. Then reality surfaced and he returned to the potatoes, removing the peelings in angry chunks. It was obvious as hell that he couldn’t take care of himself, let alone a wife and kids, so why want something he couldn’t have?

  In the midst of his anger, it dawned on him he was no longer alone. He pivoted. Charlotte Franklin was standing in the doorway, using the facing for a crutch. He dropped the knife and potato and bolted toward her, wiping his hands on his jeans as he went.

  “You shouldn’t be on that foot. Let me help you to a chair.”

  Grateful for his strength, Charlie started to lean on him, when Judd slid an arm beneath her shoulders and lifted her off her feet.

  “This is getting embarrassing,” she muttered.

  Judd grinned, trying to put her at ease. “Now, Charlie, you wouldn’t deny a man such a golden opportunity. It isn’t every day I get the excuse to hold a pretty woman.”

  “Not even your wife?”

  Judd found himself caught in her gaze. For a long moment, neither moved—neither spoke. Damp tendrils of her freshly washed hair brushed the backs of his hands. Her eyes were wide and questioning, her expression tense, as if she were holding her breath for an answer she didn’t want to hear. Then he shook off the thought. This was crazy. She was a stranger.

  “Not married,” he said, and then added, “No significant other, either. Being a cop isn’t conducive to permanent relationships.”

  “You can put me down now,” she said.

  Judd blinked, a bit startled by the abrupt change in their conversation, and then continued his trek across the floor, gently lowering her into a chair.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He nodded. As he started back toward the sink, she spoke.

  “Mr. Hanna…”

  He sighed, then turned. Obviously she wasn’t going to call him Judd until she was ready.

  “Yes?”

  “It isn’t the job, it’s the man inside the uniform that controls his own life.”

  Reeling from the brutal truth in her words, he was still struggling for an answer when Wade came inside.

  “Steaks are done,” he announced, carrying the platter before him as if he were bearing pure gold.

  “The potatoes aren’t,” Judd said, and headed for the sink.

  Charlie stared at the stiff set to Judd’s shoulders, and ignored her brother’s curious gaze. Obviously, her comments had touched a nerve.

  “No matter. These will keep,” Wade said. “I’ve got to fish Rachel out of the sandbox, anyway.” He set the plate down on the table near Charlie’s elbow and headed back out the door.

  The evening meal came and went, but long after Judd had gone to bed that night, Charlotte Franklin’s words still rang in his ears. It isn’t the job, it’s the man inside the uniform that controls his own life.

  If that was true, then no wonder he thought he was going crazy. That night he dreamed of
his partner, Dan Myers—laughing one minute, then the next, drowning in his own blood from the bullet that had exploded inside his chest.

  * * *

  Judd was in the country, so awakening to the crow of a rooster didn’t surprise him. But he wasn’t expecting to feel soft baby breath on the side of his face. One heartbeat he was drifting toward consciousness and the next second he was wide-awake and staring into a pair of round brown eyes. Before he could move, Rachel Franklin stuck her finger up his nose.

  “Nose,” she said.

  He laughed. It wasn’t the soft, easy chuckle that his buddies in the department would have recognized. In fact, if he’d heard a replay of it, he wouldn’t have recognized himself. It was a deep, from-the-belly laugh that echoed within the silence of the house. The little girl giggled and ducked her head behind the blanket wadded up in one arm, then peeked out at him again.

  He reached down and picked her up, sitting her on the side of the bed. Soft baby curls straggled down in her eyes, and she was missing a sock. But she smelled sweet and the smile she gave him was even sweeter.

  “So, you’re an early bird, are you, punkin?”

  “Bird,” Rachel said, and pointed out the window.

  Judd’s grin widened. She wasn’t just pretty. She was smart, too. It shouldn’t have mattered, but the knowledge pleased him.

  “Yeah, that’s right. Birds live in trees.”

  She wiggled her bottom a little closer to the warmth of his leg beneath his covers, and pulled her blanket up under her chin just as Charlie came hobbling into the room.

  Her hair wasn’t in much better shape than her daughter’s, but that was where the similarities ended. Devoid of all makeup and with eyes still heavy with sleep, she had the look of a woman who’d spent the night in a loving man’s arms. He had a moment of insanity wondering what it would be like to make love to her, and then tossed it aside.