Ever Faithful

by Carolyne Aarsen

  “You passed me on Saturday, heading to the city.”

  Paul frowned at the tone of censure in her voice, wondering why she would be antagonistic toward him. Maybe Rick and Judd had finally convinced her what a wastrel he really was. Maybe, he thought with a small measure of disappointment, maybe she had changed in other ways as well. “I just drove Stacy back. She had an emergency at work. Didn’t you see me in church on Sunday?”

  Amy blinked her surprise. “No. But I didn’t see your parents, either.”

  “We came late and ended up sitting in the balcony.”

  Amy nodded and reached up to rub her eyes with her fingertips. Sitting across from her, Paul noticed the weary droop to her eyes.

  “Who were you talking to?” he asked, concerned.

  “Case IH in Vancouver. I ordered a part for the tractor. It was supposed to be in this morning but it got sidetracked with another shipment from Prince George, and Rick needs it right away.”

  “Can’t you go and pick it up?”

  She fidgeted with a pencil and paper on the table in front of her.

  Paul reached over and, as he had done so many times in the past, affectionately stroked an uncooperative strand of hair out of her face. Even as he did so, Paul caught himself. Once she would have waited eagerly for any sign of attention, but no longer. She belonged to another, and his rights to touch and console had been abrogated.

  Amy pulled back, confirming his thoughts.

  She doodled a moment, biting her lip, a faint blush staining her cheeks. “I can’t because I don’t have a truck. The fuel pump went this morning. It gave me trouble when I hauled Sandover to the auction mart on my way to work, but I thought it would last for a bit yet.”

  “Did you get a decent amount for the beast?”

  “Enough. We got back what we paid for him so I’m happy.”

  “You don’t sound happy.”

  Amy frowned. “I would have liked to keep him and work with him some more. He had a lot of potential.”

  “And a wicked kick,” Paul added, touching the elbow of her sore arm.

  “Amy,” Judd called again from the living room.

  “What?” Amy turned in her chair and winced with pain at the sudden movement.

  “Nothing. If you’re too busy yapping with Henderson, don’t bother.”

  Amy rolled her eyes, got up and walked to the living room, supporting her sore arm. Paul decided to face Judd head-on and followed her.

  Judd Danyluk lay stretched out in a worn recliner, a pair of crutches leaning against it. The bright afghan tucked over his legs served as a sharp contrast to the cracked vinyl and thread-bare armrests. Paul had seldom been in this room. In the Cariboo most visiting was done with elbows propped on a kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee or tea.

  “What’s the matter, Dad?” Amy’s voice lost its impatient edge, her hand resting lightly on his.

  Judd was rubbing his eyes, frowning. “I can’t see real great. It’s like everything’s blurry.”

  “How’s your heart feel? Are you having any pain going down your arm?”

  “It’s my eyes, Amy, not my heart.” Judd glared up at her and blinked again. He shook his head and then frowned. “I don’t know why I can’t see so good.”

  “Does it hurt?”

  Judd shook his head, looking around. “No. Just feels funny.”

  “You’ve got your regular checkup coming up, you can ask the doctor then.”

  “I suppose.” Judd pushed himself up. “Oh, hello, Henderson.” Judd acknowledged Paul’s presence with a curt nod, then turned back to Amy. “Who were you talking to?”

  “Case IH. I’m trying to straighten out a mix-up with parts.” She crossed her arms, supporting her shoulder, and frowned as she looked down at her father. Paul had to smile at the sight. As long as he could remember Amy was almost as much a mother to Judd as daughter—bullying him into helping on the ranch, making him go outside, eat properly, get out and visit other people, reminding him to do his devotions.

  “And you’re not going to talk about canceling your doctor’s appointment.”

  “I told you I would go.” Judd glowered at her, and Amy stared back.

  “You canceled the last two.”

  “I’ll go.”

  “I know you will. I’m going to take you in,” Amy said as she turned and left.

  Paul watched as she carefully bent over to tie her boots, heavily favoring her sore shoulder. He wanted to go and help, but figured he wouldn’t be welcomed. His ego was wounded at her offhand treatment. He didn’t know what it was he wanted from her, but he did know it wasn’t this casual attitude. Time for him to leave.

  The phone rang again, and Amy straightened with a sigh.

  “Do you want me to get it?” Paul offered.

  She shook her head and strode over to the table. She picked up the phone, turning away from him and Judd.

  Judd straightened his recliner and reached for a deck of cards beside him. “Have time for a game of crib?”

  Paul didn’t really want to. It was a strange turn of events. Amy, who always listened, who always had time to talk, obviously didn’t want him here, whereas Judd, who could hardly speak a civil word to him, was inviting him to stay. The old guy must be mellowing, he thought. And Amy had outgrown him.

  He turned back to Judd and pulled up a chair.

  As Judd silently dealt the cards, Paul tried to ignore her as she spoke on the phone.

  “You’re going to buy a car?” she exclaimed to whoever was on the other end. “How in the world can you afford it?”

  Paul picked up his cards and glanced up as the porch door opened. Rick entered the kitchen, frowning.

  “I might be able to drive you. Rick’s been working on our truck.” Paul saw her glance hopefully at her brother who lifted his hands in resignation. “Nope. I don’t have a vehicle,” she said, frustration edging her voice. “It would work out great. I have a tractor part to pick up in Prince George, and I know I owe you big-time but I just can’t. I’d drive the tractor if I could, but Rick’s got it in pieces all over the garage floor.”

  Paul looked down at his cards, discarded two and tried to ignore Amy’s obvious distress.

  “I know, Shannon, I’m sorry. Yes, I’ll let you know if anything changes. Take care.” She hung up the phone with a loud click.

  He looked up in time to see her sag against the counter, her lips tight, her eyes shut. She looked like she was in pain. He couldn’t take it any longer. He set his cards down on the table and got up.

  “You ain’t quitting already?” Judd accused, turning to watch as Paul strode to the kitchen.

  Paul stood in front of Amy, waiting for her to notice him. She finally opened her eyes. “You can use my car, Amy.”

  “No. Thanks, anyway.” She straightened and moved to get past him.

  He took a step to the side, blocking her passage. “Don’t be so stubborn. You can’t do much work with that shoulder, you may as well go pick up that part, and this way I can help out Shannon as well. I owe her, too.” Paul remembered with a sudden moment’s regret, a date with Shannon Lawson over seven years ago. She had pestered him to take her to a local dance. When she got more serious than he intended the date to be, he talked Rick into taking her home. It had happened many years and a lot of girlfriends ago. She teased him about it each time he came home; her offhand treatment of the fiasco made him pass it off. But now, with too many comments from his family ringing in his ears, he felt as if he should somehow try to make up for it.

  Amy bit her lip as if contemplating, glanced over at Rick, who looked as if he would sooner eat nails than allow her to accept Paul’s offer. “No I don’t think so….”

  “It’s easy to drive. I’ll ride Sasha home, pick up the car and be back here in less time than it takes you to shower and change.”

  “Look Paul…I can’t imagine taking that expensive car of yours around the yard, let alone all the way to Prince George.”

 
“I’m sure a girl who learned how to double clutch in a one-ton beater before she had her learner’s permit wouldn’t be afraid to drive my little car,” Paul insisted.

  “That thing is worth more than our cows,” spluttered Amy.

  Paul could tell she was starting to give in and pressed his advantage. “I’m going to sell it anyhow. If you total it, I won’t have to go through the trouble,” he continued, grinning down at Amy.

  “I don’t drive that badly,” she protested.

  “So you are going to drive it.”

  She glanced up at him, a wry expression on her face. “I suppose…”

  “I can take Shannon,” Rick put in, his expression hopeful.

  “No. You’ve got to check the cows. The last thing Paul needs is a heavy-footed guy like you driving his car.” Amy ignored Rick’s sputtering and looked back at Paul sighing in resignation. “I guess I’m going.”

  “Good.” He took the phone from her before she changed her mind. “What’s Shannon’s number. I’ll call her myself.”

  Amy gave it to him, and as he dialed, he kept his eye on her. Her face had more color than a few moments before, and she looked a little less tense. He hoped it was because of his offer.

  Shannon picked up the phone with a terse “Hello.”

  “Hi, Shannon, it’s Paul.”

  “Oh, you. The guy that sets all the Cariboo hearts aflutter.”

  “Not really,” he said with a frown.

  “Paul,” her tone was disappointed. “Is that the best you can come up with? ‘Not really.’ Or are you afraid I might nag you into taking me out again?”

  “No,” Paul laughed, comforted by her breezy tone. “You’ve got better taste than that.”

  “Actually I do. I’m in love with a far more interesting guy than a mere businessman.”

  Paul grinned, leaning back against the table. He’d always liked Shannon. She was fun and straightforward. “So you think businessmen are boring?”

  “No comment.” Shannon laughed. “You didn’t phone to listen to me pester you.”

  Paul grinned then decided it was time to get back to business. “Amy will pick you up about eleven o’clock. Does that work for you?”

  “Anytime would be great. Thanks….”

  “Take care,” he said, hanging up the phone and turning to Amy who was still frowning.

  “I wish you hadn’t done that,” Amy reprimanded him. “Rick will be gone, and you won’t be able to get back home. Unless you walk.”

  “Well, I don’t have a whole lot to do today, I can hang around here until Rick or you come back.”

  “In case anyone’s noticed, I’m not gone yet,” Rick put in, glowering at both of them.

  “Then maybe you should get gone,” Amy replied. “When you check the cows, keep an eye on the calves of 25B and 68C. They were looking a little peaked last time I checked them. You might want to take some Liquamycin and scour boluses along, just in case.”

  Rick nodded, watching Paul with narrowed eyes. He slapped his gloves against his legs once, turned and left.

  Amy turned to Paul with an apologetic look. “Sorry about that. Rick’s just being Rick.”

  Paul said nothing, aware that the statement didn’t require an answer.

  “I can’t ask you to do all this,” she said, trying once more.

  “Amy, you’re not asking me to do anything.” He stifled his impatience with her insistence. “I’m offering and this is your cue to give in and say ‘Thanks Paul. Why don’t you go and get the car and I’ll be ready when you come.’ Please stop making a big deal of this.”

  “Okay, but if I hit something…”

  “I checked the policy before I left Vancouver. I’m fully insured against wild horses, cows, pigs, chickens—the whole farmyard and a few others besides.” He grinned at her and pushed himself away from the table. “So I’ll just put on my boots, and then I’m history.”

  He gave in to an impulse and ran the back of his fingers over her cheek. “See you later.” He turned and left, whistling, feeling more cheerful than he had since he’d come here.

  Chapter Five

  “I’m glad Paul sweet-talked you into using his car,” Shannon remarked as she slid into the sleek sports car, closed the door almost reverently and sniffed. “He never had a vehicle this nice when he lived here before.” She looked over at Amy and grinned. “Too bad the man didn’t come, too.”

  “He’s taking care of my dad while I’m gone.”

  “Your dad’s fine,” snorted Shannon. “He doesn’t need to be baby-sat.” Shannon frowned. “Or would that be old-man-sat? I don’t know.”

  Amy shook her head at her friend’s bluntness as she carefully pulled into traffic. “Dad hasn’t been too well lately. I’m glad Paul’s staying.”

  “Me, too. It gives me a chance to drive in style instead of the Greyhound.” Shannon stroked the leather of the seat, almost caressed the dashboard. “Very nice, indeed.” She turned to Amy. “I was sorry I missed the man at your engagement party. He’s been gone so long I’ve forgotten what he looked like.”

  “Like he stepped off the cover of GQ.”

  “Oh. Just like Tim.”

  “Tim doesn’t dress anything like that,” Amy protested.

  “C’mon, Amy. I’m sure the man doesn’t even own a pair of blue jeans.”

  Amy frowned. “Of course he does. When we went riding a few weeks back…”

  “He wore chinos.” Shannon patted her on the shoulder. “That’s okay. It’s about time someone elevated the dress code around here.”

  Amy shot her friend an exasperated glance. “I wish you wouldn’t talk about Tim like you merely tolerate him. I know you like him.”

  “Tim’s a wonderful guy. There’s no doubt about that. I’m still having a hard time adjusting to the change in you.”

  “We’ve been going out for almost sixteen months.”

  “It doesn’t seem that long. And now you’re engaged.” Shannon sighed wrinkling her nose at her friend. “Remember how we used to steal Paul’s school pictures from Tyrell’s room?”

  “My dad was furious when he found them.”

  “I’ll never understand why he disliked Paul so much,” Shannon said with a frown. “My mom and dad thought my crush on him was funny. Though they did warn me about chasing him too hard. Poor guy, I’ll never forget how relieved he was when he talked Rick into taking me home after our one date. I got over him pretty quick, after that.”

  Amy said nothing, her mind drifting back to the time when she and Shannon, giddy eleven-year-old girls, both madly in love with Paul Henderson, would follow him around. Both knew he was unattainable, and after a while, Shannon threw away all the pictures she and Amy had scammed from Tyrell and Derk, Paul’s younger brothers. When Shannon wasn’t looking, Amy fished them out.

  “What did your dad have against Paul, anyhow?” Shannon continued, breaking into Amy’s thoughts.

  Amy shook her head. “He had a dislike of Hendersons period. He’s always had a hard time with the fact that they have a more successful ranch. It isn’t as bad as it used to be.”

  “Well I hope he won’t chew Paul’s head off while we’re gone.” Shannon flipped down the visor, checking out her lipstick in the mirror. “So how was the engagement party?”

  “It was fun. I was sorry you couldn’t make it.” Amy stepped on the brakes at the highway, almost sending both of them through the dash.

  “Whoa, girl. This isn’t your one-ton,” Shannon cried, bracing herself against the dashboard.

  Amy blew out a sigh as she shifted back into first as a pickup behind her let out a blast on his horn. “I knew this car would make me nervous.”

  “I’ll drive it.”

  Amy shook her head. “The way you drive? You’d have every Mountie from here to Prince George on your tail.”

  “I’ve only had two speeding tickets.”

  “In the past month.” Amy eased the car out onto the highway, ignoring the impatient driv
er behind her. “No wonder your boss won’t let you use the truck.”

  “Drew won’t let me use the truck because he’s stingy. I’ll be so glad to be finished working for that man.”

  “And then what?” Amy glanced sidelong at Shannon. “You always talk about quitting, but what else would you do?”

  “Maybe I’ll throw myself at Paul Henderson’s feet again.”

  “Trust me girl, Paul Henderson is a waste of time.”

  “I know. But he’s so good-looking and so rich. I mean, look at the kind of car he drives.” Again Shannon ran a finger along the dashboard. “Of course I could settle for Rick,” she said quirking a grin at Amy.

  “Rick’s another hard one to pin down.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It seems like we’re always working on different projects with no time to sit and talk. I’ll be at work and he’ll be checking the cows. Or I’ll be in the garden and he’ll be running to town for parts. He’s gone every evening to Jack Dilton’s working on the truck. Not that I mind. I’m glad he likes working on the equipment. I just wish he’d be a little more enthusiastic about the other work. He’s got to settle down and figure out what he wants sooner or later.”

  “Maybe you should ask him what he wants?” Shannon suggested gently.

  “I have, and he always shrugs and says he likes what he’s doing.”

  “Push him.”

  Amy frowned. “What do you mean?” She threw her friend a sidelong glance. “Do you know something I don’t know?”

  “What? Other than the fact that your brother is quiet, shy and good-looking?” Shannon laughed. “Nope.” She leaned back in the seat and stretched, changing the subject. “I really like this car, Amy. Paul didn’t have it the last time he was up, did he?”

  “No. I think he had a Land Rover then.”

  “When was that?”

  “I think about two years ago.”

  “Oh, yes. He had that absolutely gorgeous blonde. What was her name?”

  “Don’t ask me. I can’t keep up with Paul’s girlfriends.”

  Shannon half turned, catching Amy by the shoulder. “You sound grouchy again. Don’t tell me you’re jealous of his girlfriends?”