“A little. I think Avery is under the impression she’s an heiress.”
“I’m sure once she gets here and we explain, she’ll understand.”
“I hope so.”
Tanner got up to leave. “I have to run to the store and get puppy supplies for two puppies.” He grimaced as the words slipped out.
Too much. Gabriel arched an eyebrow and waited.
“Colby wanted a puppy. It’s about starting over and...”
Gabriel held up a hand. “You don’t have to explain.”
No, he didn’t have to explain. He picked up Chloe’s puppy and walked away. It wasn’t his most manly exit ever, with the puppy wiggling and licking his face.
He ignored Gabriel’s parting comment, telling him he was getting in deep. He didn’t need to be told.
Chapter Thirteen
The two vans belonging to the Silver Star were pulling into the church parking lot as Macy got out of her car on Sunday morning. She waited for them to park and then for Colby to get out. He spotted her, said something to Eleanor and headed her way.
“How’s my puppy?” he asked as Macy hugged him.
“He’s good. He said to tell you that he loves your bed.”
Colby laughed at that. “He didn’t sleep in my bed.”
“No, he slept in his own doggy bed that Tanner bought him.”
“Tanner bought him a dog bed?” Colby took her hand, and they started up the sidewalk to the church.
“He did. A dog bed, food, a collar and a leash. We’ll have to take Arthur to Doc Harrow for his shots.”
“He has to get shots?” Colby paled a little. “Why?”
“Well, because just like boys, dogs can get sick. We want to protect him from diseases.”
“Can I go?”
“We’ll see.” She turned as a car pulled into the parking lot of the church, the engine of the red convertible loud and rattling.
The woman behind the wheel of the car was a blonde. From the tint, probably not natural. Definitely not natural. As people turned to watch, she got out of her car and combed fingers through dry, brittle hair that had almost a hint of green to the pale shade.
“Uh-oh.” Chloe came up behind Macy. “Is that our Avery Culpepper?”
Bea appeared next to them. “Don’t tell me.”
“Avery Culpepper,” Macy and Chloe said simultaneously.
“If that’s Avery, she’s early.” Macy watched the woman dig around in her car. “And she said she wouldn’t be here for church.”
“She has green hair,” Colby whispered.
All three women put fingers to their lips and told him, “Shh.”
Avery stood next to her red convertible, her hair now covered by a Western hat with a big feather hatband. Her jeans were tight. Her boots were bright pink. Her shirt was pink satin with fringe.
“Oh, my.” Bea chuckled. “That girl found a Western store on her way to town and they had relics from the Urban Cowboy days.”
“John Travolta called, and he wants his...” Chloe started and then giggled. “Seriously, that’s bad. Even Macy didn’t try that hard to fit in.”
“Gee, thanks.” Macy looked down at her own boots. “My boots look just like yours. As a matter of fact, I bought them at your farm supply store.”
“My brother’s farm supply store.” Chloe rolled her eyes dramatically. “Here she comes.”
Avery, or they guessed she was Avery, headed their way, arms swinging and mouth chomping on gum. She saw them waiting and grinned big, waving as she climbed the steps.
“Hey, y’all, I’m Avery Culpepper. I got a call from someone saying I’d inherited a ranch.”
The ground fell out from under Macy. “I didn’t say that.”
Bea put a hand on her arm and stepped forward, taking control. “Avery, my name is Beatrice Brewster and I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Loss?” Avery stopped smacking her gum and managed to look a little bit sad. “Yes, when I heard about my grandfather, I knew I had to head on over here. I wish I could have known him.”
Her blue eyes, rimmed with dark blue and silver eye shadow, watered in a convincing-ish manner.
“Yes, of course. He was a dear man.” Bea patted Avery on the back. “Tomorrow morning you can talk to his lawyer. Harold Haverman has an office here in town. You’ll find he can help you with everything.”
“And do you have a key to the ranch so I can have a place to stay?” Her gaze landed on Macy. “Are you the one who called me?”
“Yes, I’m Macy Swanson. As I told you on the phone, you’ll have to find a place here in town. The bed-and-breakfast might have a room.” Macy added a smile to help ease things along.
“I seriously have to rent a room? I thought that was a joke.” Avery’s sweet sentimental act disappeared. “I was under the impression I had a ranch.”
Bea’s smile slipped away. “No, my dear, your grandfather had a ranch.”
“Which is now mine because I’m his only living relative.” Avery turned her attention back to Macy. “You tell this lady I’m his heir.”
“Avery, I told you that your grandfather had passed away and you are in his will. If you’ll remember, I didn’t mention the contents of the will or the stipulations. This will all take time, and we’ll have to verify that you are indeed the granddaughter of Cyrus Culpepper.”
“If I can’t stay at my ranch, where will I stay?”
Macy started to say something about it not being her ranch, but Bea put a hand on her arm. “I’ll give you the number for our local B and B.”
The church bell was ringing, and Colby was pulling on Macy’s hand.
“Church is about to start,” Chloe chimed in, her tone far too amused.
They entered the church, and Macy relaxed a little. The interior of this building, with its warm tones, wood pews and the smell of citrus, always did that for her. Chloe led her to a pew near the front. Only as she sat did she realize she was sliding in next to Tanner.
Their arms brushed. He scooted to make a little more room. Colby climbed on her lap. It felt right to have him in her arms. It felt right to be in this church. No matter how complicated things had been, maybe she did have a life here in Haven. Maybe she would become a part of this community.
For the past year it hadn’t always felt that way. The majority of the time she’d been more tempted to go than to stay.
Her gaze shifted forward to where the Wayes were seated with their family. The family Grant and Cynthia might have planned for Colby to be a part of if something should happen to them. And yet, here she was. She hugged Colby close, holding him tighter than a boy of seven wanted to be held. But she needed a minute with him in her arms.
The music started; the hymns took the roof off that old building when everyone sang. But even with raised voices, she could hear Avery Culpepper asking someone if her grandfather had actually attended this church. Next to Macy, Chloe chuckled. Tanner shot her a look.
The music ended, and the sermon started. Macy tried to focus, but Colby had fallen asleep, and he was heavy. Somewhere behind them, Avery still commented from time to time. And all around them people were wide-eyed and shocked.
Cyrus had been ornery, a little bit of a hermit, but his granddaughter was something else.
With the final amen, they all stood. Avery was at the back of the church, standing with Fletcher Snowden Phillips. He was nodding as she spoke. And then he took her by the arm and led her out of the church as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
“That can’t be good,” Tanner said.
“No, I don’t think it is. She’s still determined to call herself an heiress.”
“She’s not going to be happy,” Chloe offered.
“No, she isn’t,” Tanner said
as he took the groggy Colby from Macy’s arms. “He’s got a pass today?”
Macy nodded. “Yes. He can’t wait to get home and play with Arthur.”
“We’re still invited for lunch, right?” Chloe asked.
“Of course. I even made a pie.” She glanced around the parking lot for Avery. “Since I found her, should I do something to help her? It feels strange that I was her contact person and I’m not doing more.”
Tanner nodded toward Fletcher’s car, where Avery stood. “I think Avery has found a friend. It isn’t a good friendship, but at least she’s being handled.”
“I think that’s the last person you want her talking to,” Chloe offered. “I don’t understand that man.”
“None of us understand him.” Tanner opened the back door of Macy’s car for Colby to get in. “We’ll just hope his good side overcomes, and he stops fighting the moving of the ranch.”
She hoped Fletcher had a good side. But she didn’t comment. As they stood there talking, she noticed curious glances directed at them.
People whispered and nodded. They were being seen as a couple, she and Tanner.
But they weren’t. Couldn’t they just be friends?
* * *
Macy’s house smelled like roast and baking bread. Tanner followed Chloe inside. He noticed that Macy had taken down a few pictures, replaced throw pillows and added flowers.
“What do you think?” she asked in a quiet, hesitant voice.
“It looks a little more like you.” By that he meant warm and welcoming. But he didn’t want to say it.
Colby stood next to him, a little wired up. “Want to see Arthur?”
“Of course I do. Where is he?”
“Aunt Macy left him in the backyard. He likes it out there. And Aunt Macy said you brought him a doghouse. That makes him almost like our dog and yours. We can share him.”
“I think he should be all yours,” Tanner said. But he let Colby lead him through the living room to the dining room and the French doors that led to the deck and the fenced backyard. Arthur was waiting for them.
They played with the dog while Macy and Chloe made the decision that it was too nice a day to eat inside. He watched as they set the table and then brought out the food. Macy had pushed the button on the side of the house, and the porch awning slid out to cover the table area, giving them shade.
On any given Sunday it was just Chloe and Tanner for lunch at the ranch. Sometimes they went to the Candle Light. Every now and then they drove to Waco for lunch and shopping. Lately Chloe had been missing, choosing Sundays to go out with Russell.
“Time to eat,” Macy called out. She was filling glasses with iced tea.
Tanner motioned Colby to follow him. “Let’s wash our hands.”
“Ah, man.” Colby looked at his hands. “They aren’t dirty.”
“No, but you’ve been playing with the dog.”
“He cleaned my hands,” Colby said with a mischievous grin.
“Yeah, he did.” Tanner put a hand on Colby’s head. “You’ve got me there. But if we don’t wash our hands, Macy will pull our ears.”
“She wouldn’t pull our ears.” The boy led Tanner inside. They were alone in the kitchen, hands in the sink, when Colby spoke again. “My aunt Macy is really nice. And I hope you are nice to her. Because that guy Bill yelled at her.”
Tanner pulled his hands back and reached for the towel.
“Bill?”
“She was going to marry him, but then he yelled a lot and left.”
Tanner knew he shouldn’t ask. He definitely knew better than to get involved. He usually knew better, he corrected.
“What did he yell about?”
Colby grabbed the towel to dry his hands. “Me. He didn’t sign on to be saddled with someone else’s kid.”
And then the little boy hurried out of the house, leaving Tanner with more questions than answers.
Lunch was easy. They talked about the Silver Star, about the arrival of Avery Culpepper, and Arthur. Tanner fought the urge to ask Macy about Bill, a man who had made a little boy feel small and unimportant.
And, no, Colby hadn’t said it. But the reality had been there in his eyes and his hurt tone. Tanner had to wonder if losing his parents and then overhearing what Bill had said might have been what pushed Colby Swanson to the level of anger that had seen him placed at the ranch.
He would talk to Macy, later. When they could be alone.
He looked up and caught her watching him. Alone. He guessed that was a bad idea. Her lips were pink and kissable, and he couldn’t stop imagining the way it felt to hold her.
Maybe he would just mention the conversation with Colby to Eleanor and let her handle it.
No, he wouldn’t do that. Macy deserved to know. Even if it put him in the bad position of having to tell her.
“Everything okay?” she asked as they cleared the table.
“No,” he responded. She stopped moving, holding the empty meat platter in her arms and waiting.
“What’s wrong?”
“We need to talk. About Colby.”
“I have to take him back to the ranch soon. I bought posters for him to put on his walls. We’re going to do that first. But if something is wrong, you need to tell me.”
“It’s about the past. Nothing you can fix right now.”
She moved away from him, cradling the platter, her shoulders stiff. He followed her inside. He hadn’t handled this the right way. Maybe because he didn’t want to get involved. He wanted to give her the information and let her do what she needed to with it.
“Chloe, could you take Colby out back to play with his dog?” Tanner asked as they entered the kitchen.
Chloe was washing dishes, and she gave him a look that said he’d lost it. Colby got up off the floor where he’d been sitting with the dog.
“Sure, why not?” Chloe turned off the water and looked at Colby. The little boy grinned, grabbed his dog and followed her out of the kitchen.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Macy told him as she sat the platter by the sink and rinsed her hands.
“I think I did. I don’t want you to be worried all day.”
“It scares me that I rely on you so much.”
It scared him that she’d just admitted that.
“I guess I never met Bill,” he started.
“We ended things soon after I moved here. He hadn’t signed on for this, he said. It was supposed to be us starting our lives. We had a five-year and a ten-year plan. A nephew and a move to Haven didn’t fit.”
“Macy, Colby overheard that conversation.”
She shook her head, biting down on her lip. “No. I thought he was in bed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Colby didn’t say anything. If he had, I could have explained that sometimes things end. They aren’t meant to be. And my relationship with Bill was one of those things.”
“Tell Colby. He needs to hear that from you.”
“I will. I’ll talk to Bea and we’ll find a time to sit down with him and talk this out. He is the world to me.”
Tanner made a move toward her. She stepped into his arms, allowing him to close her in an embrace. Her head rested against his shoulder.
“You’ve been strong, Macy. Colby is blessed to have you.”
She nodded. “I hope so. I hope I’m doing the right thing, and I hope he can come home and learn to be happy with me.”
“I think he’s already happy with you. He’s hurt and angry that his parents left.”
“Yes, and someday he’ll understand that they didn’t want to go.”
“I think he already knows that,” he assured her. “Sometimes our mind plays tricks on us, convinces us of things that aren’t so.”
/> The words settled between them, and she pulled back as if they had been meant for her.
If she’d intended to say something, she didn’t. The back door opened, and Colby and Chloe returned, laughing and discussing the puppy. Chloe was telling him about her puppy and about a pony she’d recently bought just because it was cute. She told him maybe Macy could bring him out to see Lucy, the pony.
Tanner pulled at his collar as he watched Chloe, Macy and Colby discussing ponies and puppies. It was definitely time for him to make his excuses and go.
“Chloe, are you heading out with me?”
She looked at him like he’d lost his mind or had three eyes. “Yeah, I guess. Are we going?”
“I got a call from Flint this morning, asking me to come by the ranch and talk to him. He’s at the Culpepper place.”
“I guess we can go, then, if you’re in a hurry.”
“I am, kind of. Lunch was amazing, Macy. Thank you.” Tanner noticed the flush of pink in her cheeks. He guessed he noticed a lot about her, after having not really paid much attention for the past year.
“Anytime. We enjoyed having company.” Her hand went to Colby’s shoulder. The little boy was saying something about Chloe’s pony.
They left, Chloe shaking her head as she walked to his truck. He’d driven the flatbed farm truck today. She yanked the door open because sometimes it would stick. Slamming it wasn’t necessary, though.
“What?” he asked as he backed out of the drive.
“You are so weird. This is why you don’t want me to date Russell, because you don’t know the first thing about relationships.”
“I do.” And he did. He’d come pretty close to proposing to a girl he dated in college. And the two of them had realized they wanted completely different things out of life. He talked to Marcia from time to time. She lived in San Diego and worked in fashion.
“Why the rush to leave?”
“We had lunch. It was good. They had things to do. So do I.”
“You’re afraid.” She narrowed her eyes at him, the way she’d done since she was about three.
“Yeah, I’m afraid.” He tried to make it sound like a joke.
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