“Fries, onion rings . . .”
“Neither. I think just the sandwich.”
Reggie nodded, pulled out the phone, and made the call. While he was doing that, Abby looked down at herself, trying to decide if she should be embarrassed about how she looked. She’d taken a shower when she got home the night before, but the pajamas she’d chosen were a few years old and had “Hello, Kitty” printed on them. A little fuzzbally, but she guessed it could be worse.
“Joni said they’re slow today, and she’ll deliver,” Reggie said as he slid his phone back into his pocket.
“That’s so nice,” Abby replied. She felt bad that so many people were worried about her and bending over backwards to take care of her, but at the same time, it felt really good—like she was surrounded by support. She guessed she had been for a long time, but didn’t really notice it until now. “So, I did something last night.”
“Oh? What did you do?”
“I Googled.”
He looked at her curiously, but didn’t say anything.
“I’d decided years ago that I didn’t need to know anything about my father, but when I couldn’t sleep, I changed my mind. It turns out that he died of an overdose the night my mother and I left.”
“Oh, wow.” He reached out and touched her arm. “That’s rough.”
“Yeah. I need to tell my mom, but I’m not really sure how. That’s going to be a hard conversation.” She pressed her lips together. “But there’s something else, and I’m kind of reeling from it. Grandma Lila is still alive.”
“She is?” Reggie sat up a little straighter. “That’s fantastic! Are you going to call her?”
“Well, that’s actually something else I did last night.” Abby ducked her head. “I may have charted out a road trip.”
“Where does your grandma live?”
“Casper, Wyoming, where I was born. And my mother’s in Fort Collins, Colorado. I couldn’t figure that out at first—I just remembered us running and then staying with a friend and then the diner, but as I was piecing things together last night, I remembered that after we ran, my mom found a pay phone and made a call, and her friend came and picked us up. So she would have picked us up in Casper and taken us to Fort Collins.”
Reggie nodded. “So, not too far from here.”
“Nope, not at all. About twelve hours.” Abby was trying to decide if she should say the words that were on the tip of her tongue. It was kind of a big deal, but she didn’t want to make it into a big deal . . . “Would you be willing to take that road trip with me?”
He looked surprised, but not in a bad way. “Me? Sure. I’d love to help out. I think I have some time off built up.”
“I do too, and our roles at the ranch aren’t crucial, so if we’re gone for a few days, nothing bad will happen. I mean, someone won’t die if they can’t mail their moose hat.”
He grinned. “So, what roads are we taking to Casper?”
Abby grabbed her laptop and showed him everything she’d marked.
Chapter Eleven
Abby ate her sandwich, said goodbye to Reggie, climbed back in bed, and slept for four hours. By the time Heidi came knocking at seven that night, she had gotten up, showered, and was watching a movie.
“Hey,” Heidi said when she opened the door. “Are you okay? Reggie stopped by and said you were a little under the weather.”
“Oh, boy.” How was she even going to begin telling this story? “Did you bring food? Because we’re going to be here a while.”
Heidi had brought food, and it was a good thing because by the time Abby filled her in on everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours, they would have been starving without it. “That’s just incredible,” she said when Abby finally wound down. “I can’t decide if that’s the best movie or the worst soap opera or what.”
“I know,” Abby replied. “I’ve had a hard time taking it all in myself. But this road trip is going to be a good thing. There’s this part of me that’s always felt a little wrong, missing, broken—this is a chance for me to put it back together.” Suddenly, she was reminded of the task Jaclyn had given her. “And I have to buy a Furbie.”
“You haven’t done that yet?”
“No, I got sidetracked.” Abby grabbed her laptop and Googled. “It was the purple one I wanted.” She clicked around until she found it, then clicked “buy” before she could talk herself out of it. “I still don’t understand why Jaclyn told me to do this, but I trust her, so … yeah. I just bought a Furbie.”
Heidi put her arms around Abby’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “You’re my bravest friend. Did you know that?”
“What? I am?”
“Yes. I love how you’re looking at your life and making decisions to face the past. I don’t know too many people who would be that brave.”
Abby didn’t know how brave it was—it felt terrifying. At the same time, she also felt like a door had been opened, one that she needed to step through or she would forever be pulled back.
***
Reggie popped his head into Wade’s office the next morning, looking for Wes. What he found was the entire Weston clan crowded around Wade’s desk, concerned looks on their faces.
“Um, hi,” he said, hovering in the doorway. “I just had a question, but I can come back.”
“No, come in,” Wade said. “We’d like your opinion on something.”
“Okay. What’s up?” He leaned against the doorframe, not wanting to make the room squishier than it already was.
“Something weird’s happening on the ranch, and we’re trying to figure it out,” Wade said. “We’ve had several reports of odd sounds, restless animals, strange smells, and then there’s the footprint you and Abby found. Maybe the strangest thing has been this pile of dung.” He held out his camera. “Kaya sent over this picture—she and Glen spotted it while they were out riding, but it doesn’t look like any dung we’ve seen before. Its configuration is different.”
Reggie nodded, trying not to smile at the fact that they were standing around discussing the configuration of dung. “So, you don’t think it’s a homeless man, like we were talking about?”
“I just don’t see how that’s possible,” Will said. “A homeless man wouldn’t be upsetting the animals, would he? And how would they even know he was up there?”
“You’re assuming that all these incidents are being caused by the same thing,” Dani interjected. “We could have a coyote upsetting the animals, some rotten garbage creating the bad smells, and a drifter making the footprint.”
“Or you could start listening to me for once in your lives and consider what’s right in front of your faces,” Kelsi said from the corner where she was rocking one of the girls. Wes had the other one and was bouncing it like he was born to bounce babies.
“It’s not Bigfoot,” Wyatt said. “He’s not real.”
She huffed in exasperation. “You are such unbelievers. I’m surprised Santa doesn’t put coal in your stockings every year.”
“What does Santa have to do with Bigfoot?” Wes asked.
“Everything! They’re all connected.” She said this like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Nick showed up in the hallway just then, and Reggie stepped aside to make room for him. “Excuse me, but I think you might want to see something,” Nick said. “I was doing some research just now, and . . . well, it’s easier if I just show you.”
He came in the room, sidling between the chairs, and set his laptop on Wade’s desk. “This website is called The Real Bigfoot, and it was made by someone right here in Idaho. These pictures show the kinds of things you’ve been talking about.”
Reggie pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. Everything Nick had just said was absolutely true.
Wade studied the screen, the look of concern on his face growing. “You’re right. These are exactly the same types of things we’ve been seeing.” He leaned back and looked at each of his siblings in turn. “
We may have to start thinking about this from an entirely different angle—what if we’re dealing with Bigfoot?”
“That’s just ridiculous,” Dani said. “I refuse to go there.”
Kelsi flicked her eyes over to Reggie. It was obvious that she was having the time of her life.
“I think we need to consider it,” Will said. “We have evidence right in front of us. We’d be stupid not to follow up and see where it leads.”
“I just keep thinking about the possible danger to the guests,” Wyatt added. “We need to figure this out, one way or another.”
Wade looked up and crooked a finger at Reggie. “Would you come over here and take a look?”
It was a tight fit, but Reggie made it over to the desk and looked at the screen. “Yeah, I’d say that looks a lot like the footprint Abby found,” he said.
“But that doesn’t mean it’s a Bigfoot,” Wyatt pointed out. “This website has similar images, but not with proof of what they are.”
Just then, a huge roar filled the entire room, and an eight-foot-tall Bigfoot burst into the office, beating his chest. Reggie startled and backed up against the wall, his heart catching in his throat. Dani screamed. Reggie heard someone say, “Whoa!” Will looked like he was trying to climb over Wyatt to get to the window. The only person not reacting was Kelsi.
Kelsi.
“Gotcha,” she said smugly, and Bigfoot ceased his Bigfoot-like behavior and stood calmly in the doorway.
“Wh-what?” Dani said, the first to come to her senses. “Kelsi, what on earth’s going on?”
“Well, I was bored, and I needed something to do,” she said casually. Both babies were still asleep, which Reggie thought was a miracle after all that noise. “And you’ve all seemed to have so much fun teasing me about Bigfoot, I thought I’d give it a try myself.”
“You did all this?” Wade said, pointing to the website.
“I didn’t do it all by myself. I’ve had lots and lots of help. Haven’t I, Reggie?”
Reggie swallowed as Wade turned to him with eyes of ice-blue lightning. So much for thinking he wouldn’t be in trouble. “Um, yes.”
“Everyone was so nice, so eager to help me stick it back to you guys,” Kelsi went on. “I ought to make thank you cards. I think thank you cards would be a nice touch. Don’t you, Dad?”
Bigfoot pulled off his mask, revealing the sweaty face of Wilber Weston. “I think it would be a very nice touch, my dear. It’s always polite to send thank you cards.”
The look on Wade’s face was priceless. Then everyone burst into laughter, scrambled over each other to give Kelsi hugs, and that’s what ended up waking the babies.
Reggie shook his head. Craziness. But that’s what families were about.
He was about to leave when Wade called out to him. “Hey, Reggie. What did you need?”
In all the commotion, Reggie had almost forgotten. “I was going to see about a couple of days off. Abby needs to take care of some family business, and I said I’d go along.”
Wade nodded. “Shouldn’t be a problem. Have you chosen the dates?”
“Not yet, but in the next day or two, I’d think.”
“Text me when you know for sure.”
“Thanks, Wade.” Reggie was about to walk away again when Wade called him back.
“You helped with all this?”
Reggie looked down at the floor. “Yeah, I did.”
Wade clapped him on his back, laughing. “Good job. You’re not getting a raise for it, but good job.”
Chapter Twelve
Abby’s eyes twinkled with merriment as Reggie told her the story. “It was Mr. Weston in the suit?”
“That’s right.” Reggie leaned on the counter, enjoying seeing her this way. She seemed so much happier, well rested—healthier.
“But he’s not eight feet tall.”
“The suit had this two-foot-tall headdress thing on it—it’s hard to explain. But it was great. I’m so glad I was in the office when it happened so I could see it.”
“You have all the fun. Speaking of which, what if we left tomorrow morning? Does that work for you?”
Reggie nodded. “Wade just said to let him know.”
“Yeah, that’s what he told me too. I can call UPS and have them deliver our packages to the main house—they’ve done that a few times before when we’ve needed to close the store for different reasons.”
Reggie smiled. “You look good, Abby. I think this trip is exactly what you need.”
“You know what? I think you’re right. And I really want to thank you for coming with me.” She reached out and touched his hand, and he grinned again. There was something about her that made him happy from his scalp down to his toes, and her touch was like warm honey trickling through his veins. This trip was good for her, and she was good for him.
“So,” she said, lightly running the tip of her finger across the back of his knuckles. “Have you ever thought about this? I mean, you and me, having more than just one date?”
“Have I ever thought about it?” He raised an eyebrow. “That’s just about all I’ve been thinking about, Abby. I thought I was dropping enough hints, but I guess not.”
“I must not be very good at picking up on hints.”
“I could be a little more obvious, if you needed me to be.”
“Obvious? How?”
He raised the other eyebrow, came around the counter, and pulled her into his arms. Wow. That felt a lot better than he’d anticipated, and he’d anticipated it feeling very nice indeed. Then he kissed her, long and slow and sweet. He felt her melting in his arms, and he grinned against her lips.
“Was that a little clearer?” he asked when he let her go.
“Wow,” she replied, grabbing onto the counter. “I did not know you could do that.”
He shrugged. “For some, it is a natural talent. Others must study it for years.”
“Oh? Which one are you?”
“I actually haven’t kissed too many people, so I guess it’s the first,” he said, his cheeks growing warm.
“Really?” She looked at him curiously. “Just how many people have you kissed, Mr. Armstrong?”
“Including or not including my mother?”
“Ewwww! Don’t even put that mental image in my head!”
He laughed. “I’m just teasing you. Let’s see. Um . . . four. I’ve kissed four girls.”
“Four? And you’re how old?”
“Twenty-five.”
“Wow. That’s one girl every six years.”
“Well, no, because I didn’t kiss the first girl until I was seventeen. We must be accurate.”
“Okay, so that’s one girl every two years. Why so few?”
“Because I’ve always believed that kissing is special.” He’d meant this to come out casually, but from the look on Abby’s face, he could see that it had made an impact on her.
“That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard,” she said, her voice so soft, it was almost a whisper. “And you chose to kiss me.”
“That’s because you’re special,” he replied.
The moment was broken, as most good moments are, by someone coming in. Reggie said goodbye, told Abby he’d pick her up at six the next morning, and left, walking with just a little bit more of a spring in his step than he’d had when he first came in. He hadn’t realized he could kiss like that either. It must have something to do with the person he was kissing.
***
Abby looked down at the phone in her hand as she paced her living room floor, wondering if she was making the right decision. The night before, it had seemed so clear—they’d drive to Casper, find her grandmother, and have a happy family reunion. But now she wondered if they should call first. She didn’t want to give Lila a heart attack by showing up unannounced, but if she called, she’d be obligated to go, and she wanted the ability to back out if she changed her mind.
This was all very complicated.
It had only taken her a
few minutes to pack, and her small suitcase waited by the door. She’d stopped off at the grocery store and bought several bags of travel snacks, including tons and tons of chocolate because one really couldn’t do life-changing things without tons and tons of chocolate, and she’d also made sure that she had plenty of Band-Aids in her purse. It never failed—as soon as she wanted a Band-Aid, that’s when she didn’t have one, and she wasn’t going through that kind of torture again.
By the time Reggie finally knocked, she was just about out of her mind.
“Where have you been? I knew I should have driven—if you’re going to be the driver, you have to be on time!”
Reggie glanced at his watch. “It’s thirty seconds after six.”
“Yes! Thirty seconds! And do you know how nuts I can drive myself in thirty seconds? It’s one of my many gifts.”
He put both hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, a smile on his face. “Abby. It’s okay. Time to calm down now.”
She took a deep breath. “Tell me the Bigfoot story again.”
“Again? You’ve already heard it twice.”
“It makes me happy.”
He sighed. “Okay. Once upon a time, there was a girl named Kelsi . . .”
“I changed my mind. I’m fine. Can we go? I really want to go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
Reggie slid his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close. “What are you so worried about, Abby? What’s got you so freaked out?”
“I don’t know. I just . . . what if she doesn’t want to see me?” Saying her fear aloud was supposed to take away some of its power, but instead, it made things worse.
“Hey.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “A woman who will buy completely illogical picture books for her granddaughter and sign her name in them will still want to see her twenty years later. That kind of love doesn’t go away.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m very sure.”
Abby nodded, but then she decided that she needed to give voice to her other fear, regardless of what the outcome might be. “What if she blames me for her son’s death? I mean, if he overdosed because he was so upset that we left . . .”
Delivering Destiny (River's End Ranch Book 23) Page 6