“We have to.”
She shook her head and then she sobbed into his shoulder. Her tears were damp and warm against his sleeve. “If we don’t say it, it won’t be real.”
She’d said the same thing ten years ago. She’d cried when she saw him on the front porch and she’d told him not to tell her. She’d begged him to go away and not be the one to do this to her. But he’d taken her by the arm and led her inside and he’d told her anyway. He’d told her that her only child had died in a car accident.
“You don’t have to do this, Cord. You don’t always have to be the one.”
He laughed a little because she sniffled and looked up at him, smiling. “I wish that wasn’t true, Lulu.”
“Please, just one more day of normal.”
“What’s normal anyway, Lulu?”
She sobbed again. “Normal is waking up in the morning and knowing your granddaughter’s name and why she’s in your home. I want more of those days.”
He wasn’t ashamed of the hot sting of tears in his eyes. He swiped at them and leaned to kiss the top of her head. “I know.”
“Promise me you’ll take care of her.”
“Lulu, I already promised. I signed on the dotted line two weeks ago, remember?”
“Yes, I remember. Don’t patronize me, you big ox.”
He laughed because laughing hurt a lot less than crying. “You always say such sweet things, Lu.”
“I know I do.” She reached for the front door. “I don’t know what we’ll say to her. How do we explain?”
“We’ll figure it out together.” He reached for the door and they stepped inside, Lulu holding his arm as he led her to her green upholstered rocking chair.
She held her arms out to Marci. “Come here, sweetie.”
Marci fled the room.
“Marci.” In answer, Cord heard a door slam.
Lulu reached for his hand. “Give her a minute. And tell me, who’s your pretty little friend?”
Katie didn’t run. Instead, she knelt down in front of Lulu, taking both of the trembling, frail hands in hers. “I’m not really a friend, Mrs. Jenson. I’m here because my sister is getting married. I’m staying with the Shaws.”
“Why aren’t you getting married?”
“Because no one has asked me and because I think it’s easier to be single.”
“Posh, that’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. I wish you would marry Cord. He’s going to need someone.”
“He has a big family and he loves Marci.”
“I know he does,” Lulu shook her head. “We need to talk to Marci.”
“I’ll go get her,” Katie offered.
He knew it was a coward’s way out, but Cord let her. “First door on the left.”
When she walked through the door, he stayed close, listening. He heard Katie, a stranger, telling Marci that Cord would always be there for her. She told Marci how blessed she was to have so many people who cared about her. And that she would still have her grandmother. It might not be the same, but they would have each other and they would even have moments when nothing felt wrong.
And then she told Marci a story about a neighbor that she still visited in the nursing home. Sometimes the neighbor remembered her, sometimes she didn’t. But the hugs were still the same. The smile was the same. And they sang songs together and her neighbor always remembered the words. The songs helped the neighbor remember Katie and other details of her life.
“Does your grandmother have a favorite song, Marci?”
“‘In the Sweet By and By,’” the girl responded in a voice that trembled.
“Then make that song your memory together, Marci. Sing it with her every day and every time you can be together later, and it will be your connection. She’ll remember that song.”
Cord leaned a hip against the wall and thanked God above that Katie Shaw had happened into their town and into their lives. Even if she didn’t stay long, he had a feeling they would be grateful that she stayed.
Chapter Five
Katie felt a little lost in the big ranch house that belonged to the Shaw family. Nadine had been nothing but kind, showing her around, telling her to help herself to anything she needed. Katie knew where the coffee and filters were kept so that she could make coffee. She knew that the pantry was stocked with cereal and there were homemade pancakes in the freezer that could be reheated in the toaster. Everyone had been kind and welcoming to the stranger in their midst. Even the couples who were taking part in the big wedding had included her.
But still, she was a stranger in someone else’s home, living in one of their bedrooms, eating their food. And because Gwen had asked. And then Gwen had gone back to work. Such was Katie’s life. Her work wasn’t important, not like Gwen’s. She ran a clothing store. She wasn’t going to deliver babies or keep pregnant women healthy.
She didn’t know if anyone would ever love her as anything more than a friend. And she was so tired of trying to make someone love her—by being friendly, funny, one of the guys, or any of the other ways she had tried to get attention.
On the front porch of the Shaw house she watched the sun climbing on the eastern horizon and she thought about the previous day when Cord Shaw had sat down with Lulu and her granddaughter and discussed what Alzheimer’s would do to Marci’s grandmother and how it would change their lives. She’d wanted to cry for the three of them. Later she’d wanted to hug the man who had taken it upon himself to be there for a friend’s child and that friend’s mother. Hugging that man, Cord Shaw, equaled danger in the highest degree. So she wouldn’t. Ever.
A truck stopped in front of the house, the dust settling around it. The Shaw’s cattle dog ran from the back of the house. Julie Shaw stepped out of the car, waved and headed her way.
“What are you up to today?” Julie leaned to run her hands through the dog’s coat and then she pointed and the dog sat.
“Not much, I guess. I’m here as Gwen’s proxy until she can escape residency for a few days. Her schedule is pretty tight and I had time off because I haven’t taken a vacation in a couple of years.”
Julie took hold of Katie’s hand and led her through the front door. “I need to pick up some mail for my dad. Mayoral stuff, I think, and some copy for papers in nearby towns that will advertise the wedding and coming events. Do you want to go to town with me? I think it would be much better than shuffling around here looking for something to do.”
“It would be great to go to town. I haven’t really had a chance to explore.”
At that, Julie laughed. “I promise, you won’t have much to explore. A museum that isn’t finished, the library and a broken-down bridge that hasn’t been repaired since the town’s heyday, really.”
“Because of an accident?” Katie followed Julie to the kitchen and watched as the woman, only slightly younger than herself with hair more auburn than red, poured a cup of coffee.
She knew from Lilibeth Shoemaker, purveyor of local gossip, that Julie was engaged to a cowboy who had come to town for the rodeo in July. Julie and Ryan Travers were one of the local couples getting married at the end of the month.
Julie faced her holding a cup of steaming coffee in her hands. “Yes, the accident. My great-great-aunt Lucy Shaw ran off the bridge in her Model T, back in 1926. They never found her body and of course the whole incident shook everyone up.”
“I can imagine. But why not repair the bridge?”
Julie shrugged one shoulder and lifted the cup to take a sip. “Because people are funny and they get ideas they can’t let go of. The bridge ended Lucy Shaw’s life. The bridge might bring the world and the world’s problems right to our proverbial doorstep and we wouldn’t want that.”
Katie didn’t know how to respond and then Julie smiled.
“Ah, so we are keeping th
e world at bay?” Katie asked.
“Something like that. Or maybe we’re holding on to old grudges. I hope they can all work it out and that’s why we have the Bridge Builders. They’re the committee in town that is tasked with ideas on how to rebuild. But I think they are also building bridges in the community, trying to get everyone on the same page. But we shouldn’t talk about—”
“Julie.” The word of warning came from the doorway. Katie turned, smiling a hesitant smile at her host, Jackson Shaw. In this room with just herself and Julie, he seemed bigger than life with his silvery-gray hair and strong personality so evident.
“I’m teasing, Daddy.” Julie set her cup down and went to give him a hug that eased his frown into a half smile. “But you know that people in our little town do hold on to some grudges.”
“Maybe so.” Jackson poured himself a cup of coffee and then glanced around the room. “Where’s your mother?”
“Not in here. You don’t know where she is?”
He shook his head but didn’t respond. Instead, he sipped the hot coffee and grabbed a biscuit off a plate on the counter.
“Maybe she went to the store.” He shifted away from the counter, his expression easing. “I guess Wes Middleton is doing a little better and coming in to the store once in a while, but Rosemary is still running the show.”
“And being the purveyor of gossip and goodwill. Her gift.” Julie said it with a smile.
“Not a gift I want you to have.” His voice was gruff and he leaned to kiss his daughter on the brow. “I’d love to stay and chat with you girls, but we’re tagging some calves this afternoon.”
Julie glanced from her father to Katie. “Ear tags, kind of like putting a name tag on a dog. It becomes the calf’s identity.”
“Got it.” Katie smiled at Mr. Shaw. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No, you enjoy your stay here at the ranch. I hear Helen, our wedding coordinator, left us and Cord is trying to put you to work. See that you stand your ground.”
“Thank you, sir, I will.”
He gave her a curt nod and with that he was gone, grabbing a black cowboy hat off the hook by the door as he walked out.
Julie watched him go and Katie wondered at the troubled look in her eyes.
“Is everything okay?”
Julie turned, smiling again. “Of course, I’m just a little worried. I can’t recall my parents ever losing track of each other. They’ve been this way for a few months and I’m not sure why.”
“All couples have their troubles.”
The conversation ended with the arrival of the Shaws’ housekeeper. Julie hugged the older woman whom Katie had easily become fond of in the past few days.
“You know you missed breakfast.” Sandy opened a drawer and filled it with kitchen towels she’d carried in with her.
“I made breakfast this morning.” Julie went on in a conversational tone. “Oh, and I need to know how to make your casserole, the one with beef and peppers.”
Sandy’s eyebrows rose as her eyes widened and she stepped back. Her eyes danced with amusement as she surveyed the youngest Shaw. “You cooked?”
“Yes, of course I did.”
“And you’re still alive to talk about it.”
Julie looked a little hurt, but the twinkle in her eyes said otherwise. She brushed auburn curls over her shoulder. “I’m a work in progress, Sandy.”
At that, Sandy laughed. “You sure are and I’ll print off all your favorite recipes so that when you and your young man are married, you can impress him with your culinary skills.”
“And maybe sometimes you could just come over to my place and cook for me?”
The housekeeper shook her head, but Katie got the impression that she’d do anything for Julie Shaw.
They left shortly after that, with Julie driving down the bumpy road. The radio was on and Julie kept up a steady stream of conversation about her business, Warm and Fuzzy, and her relationship with Ryan Travers.
“Do you want to eat at Great Gulch Grub?” Julie asked as they drove into the small town situated in a picturesque valley, mountains rising in the distance, snow-covered at the tops. Montana the way it was meant to be, thought Katie. She’d lived in Montana since her preteen years. But she hadn’t spent time in small towns that dotted the state. She hadn’t spent nearly enough time enjoying Big Sky country without city streets and suburbs.
“That sounds good. I’ve heard it has the best pies.”
“Homemade,” Julie concurred.
They drove in on Shaw Boulevard and turned right on the wide main street, parking immediately in front of the diner.
“Wow, we’re lucky to find a parking space,” Julie announced as she pocketed her keys and opened the door. “Let’s go to city hall first. I think Cord is there. He’s on the city council and I think Dad has him busy on the Centennial Committee work as well as the wedding.”
Katie stepped onto the sidewalk and followed Julie back across Shaw Boulevard and then across Main Street to the opposite side. She glanced up and down the street and her gaze settled on the empty store she’d seen when they first came to town.
“Is that building for rent?”
Julie turned to look. “Yes, as a matter of fact, Cord owns it. He bought a couple of empty buildings, hoping that in time we’d bring in new business.”
The “why” look Julie gave her went unanswered because Katie didn’t really have an answer. She had a dream, not real plans. And as she followed the other woman, Katie’s plans grew. She loved the sweaters that Julie sold mainly online. Of course, other women would feel the same way and want to buy them locally. She imagined a store, the one she’d always dreamed of owning, with women’s clothing, accessories. Just a dream.
The city hall and chamber of commerce were located in what appeared to be an old bank building. Like so many of the stores, the front was sided with wood. A shingled awning gave a small amount of cover. Katie looked up and down the street, taking in a police station, bakery, veterinarian’s office and a beauty salon called the Cutting Edge.
“Oh, a salon. Do they do nails?” Katie looked at her hands because before wedding time a manicure was going to be in order. And she had a feeling if there was only one salon in Jasper Gulch it would be a busy place.
“They have a girl who comes in a couple of times a week. She doesn’t do a lot of business in Jasper Gulch, so she alternates between several small towns.”
“She’s going to be popular before the wedding. I wonder if she has friends who would want to set up the day before the wedding to take care of manicures for any of the brides that might want one. And, of course, hair, there will be women wanting their hair done.”
Julie reached for the door of the city hall. “You’re Cord’s answer to a prayer, aren’t you? He’s been dreading this wedding and now he has someone who can get him through the next month without his going crazy. I can guarantee he wouldn’t have thought about details like hairstylists and manicurists.”
Heat settled in Katie’s cheeks and she moved her hands to her face. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t take over. I think I even told him I would help, but I’m not a wedding coordinator.”
Julie laughed at that. “I really don’t think he’ll mind if you take over some of the details.”
“Are you talking about me for some reason?” Cord asked from behind the counter as they walked into the building with its high ceilings, big windows and dark, polished wood.
“Katie is planning out loud, for the wedding.” Julie walked through a gate and stepped behind the counter. She gave her brother an easy kiss on the cheek. “Don’t overwork her, though. She deserves a little time to see the sights.”
“I don’t plan on overworking anyone,” Cord insisted, handing his sister a file. “Except you. I have some ideas for revamping
your website. I shoved the notes in with the advertisements that need to be taken care of. I’ve been calling radio and television stations to make sure we’ll have at least some media here at the end of the month.”
“You think of everything, brother mine.” Julie stepped away from him. “What else did you have planned for today?”
“I’m not sure, but I think some photos for the wedding. Vintage photographs to hang in the reception hall.” His blue eyes shifted from his sister to Katie and it unsettled her, that look with the easy smile.
“I’ve been thinking about this,” Katie admitted, and then she bit down on her lip and shrugged. “I’m sorry, it isn’t my wedding or my place.”
Cord extended his hand, giving her the floor. “No, you go ahead. My idea of marriage probably is a little less romantic than yours.”
She didn’t really have romantic feelings about weddings, but she didn’t tell him that. “What if we find vintage wedding pictures, scan and enlarge them? We can use them in the decor for the reception, but also the brides could be photographed holding the vintage photos.”
Julie squealed and clapped her hands. “As a bride, I love that idea. I could have a photo enlarged of my great-great-grandmother Elaine and have my picture taken holding it. Maybe the brides who can would want to bring pictures of their own relatives.”
“I like that idea.” Cord came out from behind the counter, and Katie didn’t have time to steady herself before he gathered her in a tight hug and kissed her cheek.
He stilled and then his arms moved, releasing her. She looked up, meeting that steady blue gaze of his, wishing she’d see laughter. Instead, other emotions flickered across his face. Shock. Yes, she definitely saw shock in his eyes.
Katie shot a look in Julie’s direction and saw the same surprised expression on her face. Katie shrugged it off, because she was used to this, to men who treated her like a sister or a friend.
She definitely didn’t want Cord to think of her as a little sister. But tumbling into complicated emotions for someone like him was also not something she needed. The past year of her life had been less complicated due to her no-dating policy. She hadn’t been overlooked, stood up or forgotten when someone else came along.
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