by Tanya Hanson
Addie waited by a crossing guard, so firm and tall he felt both pride and relief. God had indeed brought her health full circle. Her pink sneakers tapped in impatience. Make that excitement. She chatted happily to a girl next to her. He parked, and she loped over, her gait secure, leaving her companion. He unrolled the window, and Addie leaned in.
“Dad, that’s Stella. I told her we’re going to check out the new house and can she come, please? And you always said you need a woman’s touch.”
“Well, I...” Disappointment flared. They might have had some good father-daughter bonding. Yet he hated to dash her new happiness and her new friendship. But...all the candles, the decanter from last night. He had to jump in headfirst again. “You know I had a date last night?”
“Yeah. I don’t mind you dating. Playing the field a bit. It would be OK to go out with Stella’s mom, too.
“I made Rachel Martin dinner in our new place.”
“Oh.” Addie’s face changed, but definitely not for the worse. “Well, I like her, too. She’s really pretty. If you two got together, I’d really belong at Hearts Crossing. But she seems kinda snooty.”
Brayton had to disagree. “The word you want is wary. Widowhood’s a tough adjustment.”
“I know. Hers happened not long ago. But Stella’s mom’s been a widow for ten years. Just like you. You two must be over it by now. Come on, Dad.”
“Why are you suddenly talking about Stella’s mom so much?” His hackles crackled at the back of his neck.
“Aw, I asked her along, too. I mean, I texted her. She said yes.”
“What?” Now that was a big overstep, but her face glowed so bright. “Well, I was thinking maybe asking Rachel Martin’s opinion on things.”
Everything from last night surged again. Dinner, disappointment on both their parts. He tightened his fingers around the steering wheel. The casual enjoyment of the mega-candlelit dinner. Then, the solemnity of the gorgeous painting and Rachel’s clear confusion that had doused any possibility of a kiss. The loss stunned him. Yet how could you lose something you’d never had?
“Well, you sure don’t look like it was a good date,” Addie said finally. “So you should go out with Mrs. Aubrey. Nate could have brothers. And I would have a built-in sister.”
“Come on, Addie. That’s jumping the gun a bit. Don’t forget, you still need to ask my permission about outings with your friends. And their mothers,” he chided wryly. “What if I said no? It would be embarrassing for you. And who knows, it all might be awkward for me.”
At least she avoided rolling her eyes. “OK, I got it. And I’m sorry. But could you be cool just this once and not be embarrassed and awkward?” She hugged his neck in public, and his heart melted. The smile that resulted was huge. She waved for Stella to come over. “Mrs. Aubrey—Carol—works at the café. Her shift is over at three, so the timing is perfect.”
Carol, ah, the waitress.
“All right.” He didn’t lose often, but this was one of those times. “You girls get in and buckle up.”
A few blocks later, he found the waitress sitting on the little overflow bench in front of Kelley’s cafe. “There’s my mom,” Stella yelled.
Brayton parked and exited the cab, coming over to the right side to open it for his guest. With the girls busily texting, snug in the backseat of the truck’s stretch cab, Carol stalled outside.
“Nice to see you again, Carol. I hope my daughter didn’t put you on the spot.” The awkwardness hit.
Her smile was kind, as if she knew. “Brayton, hi. Well, I almost said no, but didn’t want to seem un-neighborly. And no worries. I know what the girls are up to. Trying to match make us.”
Brayton gasped out loud, so Carol rushed on, face colored a pretty pink. “Thing is, I might be off the market. Just one date, but sometimes you know.”
“Yes, I do know.” Indeed, he did. Remembrance of Rachel skittered through his mind and tickled every cell. “I understand. And I’m okay with checking out my new place myself.”
“I know you are. And I sure don’t want to be in the way. But I’m afraid Stella and Addie will never forgive us. I’m telling my kids about Crusty, my new crush, tonight. I can’t get her mad at me this afternoon.” Her laugh was warm on the cooling afternoon wind.
“Crusty? Crusty Ruggs? My neighbor from River Ridge?”
“Why, yeah, of course you’d know him. Sounds like a dog.” Her forehead wrinkled attractively. “Or a doughnut. I met Christopher a couple weeks ago. He was in town arranging some Boy Scout events.”
Brayton grinned. “Yeah. I actually joined up with him and the troop last weekend in Rodeo College.”
She laughed, and he joined in. “Oh, the joys of small-town living.”
“I gotta tell ya. It beats the anonymity of the big city by a long shot.” He opened the truck door, and she buckled herself in.
The eight mile drive to Woodside Meadows passed pleasantly. As he headed out of town, the archway of elk antlers shone white against the bright blue sky. He wasn’t a hunter and gladly noted that elk lost their points naturally every year. Beautiful crown for a beautiful place.
Suddenly both girls shrieked at once, and when they’d settled down, Addie took the stage, leaning from the backseat toward him.
“I forgot before. Dad, we need a dog for our new house.”
He shrugged, unwilling to let her excitement make another major decision. It still stung, spending the afternoon with someone not Rachel Martin, no matter Carol’s friendliness. Still, he had a hard time not caving in to Addie’s smile lighting up the rearview window. And Carol definitely had no designs on him.
“Well, a dog sounds like a possibility.”
“And not just any dog, Mr. Metcalf,” Stella threw in so enthusiastically her mother shushed her. “A service dog.”
“Yeah, Daddy. A service dog.”
His heart so melted at the “daddy” Addie hadn’t used in years he practically agreed on the spot. Yet her handicaps were largely in the past. “Honey, I don’t think you need...I mean. You’re so healthy now.”
He didn’t know how much she’d shared with Stella and her mom although he doubted the young girls had any secrets left.
“No, not a dog like that, Daddy. A military dog who’s been overseas and now needs a forever home.”
“Sounds complicated,” tossed in Carol.
Addie settled in the backseat, as if she’d triumphed already, her voice loud over the rattles of the truck and rough road. “It isn’t complicated at all. Gregory Lamb did an oral report on it today in Social Studies. We spent computer lab looking things up. And another thing...”
Her face was so bright in the mirror, her eyes glistening with enthusiasm, that Brayton was glad for his sunglasses as he turned right on Shield Nickel Road. “Well, I can’t say yes right this minute, but of course we can check things out.”
“Another thing. Kim’s report was on a woman named Wild Horse Annie. So I got this wild idea.”
He nodded although he tightened his shoulders at her last two words. Wild idea? How much more could he take? But any horseman knew about the brave woman who had fought hard to establish protections for the wild horses and burros.
Addie nodded so hard in the backseat Brayton felt it in the front. “So I think we should set aside part of the Red Hill Ranch as a horse rescue.”
“How’s that?” Fortunately he had to stop at one of the area’s few stop signs so he could turn to her.
“A place to care for horses who have been abandoned or neglected. Or even abused.”
Her passion thrilled him. She’d gone a long time without the shimmer of excitement in her eye. But still.
“Whoa, girl. I don’t know how much new stuff we can take on all at once. I know it hurts to think about...what our animal friends must endure. But, honey.” He turned to the steering wheel and set off. “We’ve got plenty going on with the move and all.”
“We can’t wait too long, Daddy. There are horses who n
eed us and we have plenty of room at the Red Hill. Our goal would be to get them well, so folks can adopt a healthy horse.”
Practicality reared its head. “I know what your heart is saying, Addie. But we’re starting a new life here.” Once again, Rachel as a neighbor flashed inside his head with a thrill. “Of course we’ll get back to the Red Hill on weekends and during the summer. Times like that. But somebody would need to be there to tend the horses. Feed them twice a day and clean the stalls. Turn them out for exercise, horse-whisper them. Groom them. Once you get a horse of your own, you’ll know what work that is.”
In the rearview mirror, he read the look of stubbornness in her eyes that he’d once feared, but now welcomed. His heart thrilled.
From behind, she gave his neck a massive hug. “We’re not that far away. We’ll get there a lot. And the ranch hands you have on staff would help, wouldn’t they, Daddy? I mean, we’re not talking about hundreds of horses. Maybe we could start with two or three.”
The return of her high spiritedness gladdened his spirits, so he hated to douse her enthusiasm. Plus it would be a way to give back. After all, he’d saved the Red Hill herd due to feelings like his daughter’s. “All right. We’ll look into it and talk about it.”
It seemed polite to consult with their guests. “What do you think, Carol?”
Her smile was real, too. “Well, I know there’s a rescue in Longmont with a whole phalanx of dedicated volunteers. Sounds like something Boy Scouts might want to help with. My boys, too.”
“Oh yeah, Daddy. You know, Harper from last weekend? And his leader Mr. Ruggs? I bet they’d help out.”
Next to him, Carol tossed a secret smile. Groaning with a defeat that was new but becoming more and more familiar, Brayton nodded then grinned back. Once Carol revealed her new love interest, Addie would no doubt corral her into dealing with the Scout aspect of her own romance.
With the womenfolk in the truck busy with their own thoughts, Brayton settled to enjoy the drive. Rolling ranchland was studded with cattle brought down from summer range. Here and there a working dog barked its head off. Yeah, a dog might be just the thing. At the turnoff to Hearts Crossing, his heart thudded more than a little. Rachel. He hadn’t given up, not by a long shot, and he had to hope she felt the same. Maybe...it was early enough in the day to catch her for a trail ride. Surely she’d say yes.
At least the little development came in view first. His pride was real. Woodside Meadows already held the aura of peaceful woodland surrounding rustic vacation homes and the comfortable townhouses replete with well-chosen amenities. The saplings brought in had years to go before full growth, but other native trees had been left standing. A quiet gentleness rustled in the air through the autumn branches. The planners had tried hard for each living space to have a view of the rolling range and spiking mountains. His own view was a stunner.
Carol murmured about the pretty setting, the girls gabbed about something, and Brayton was certain he heard the name Harper. But he grinned, recalling Rachel’s admonition that he not go all shotgun about the boy. He turned onto Gray Eagle Circle. Carol was cool, but Rachel belonged here at his side, and he’d likely blown it. They’d parted amicably last night, solemn, careful of each other. Certainly not with the romantic kiss he’d longed for.
Her hands had lingered in his, though. With more than business, much more than friendship.
Brayton had barely braked before the girls streaked out, up the porch and inside.
“It’s a new concept for me,” he admitted, “nobody locking their doors around here. We had a security patrolman and state of the art alarm system in Los Angeles.”
“Once again, the charms of small-town life.” Carol smiled then grew serious. “I sure hope Stella and I haven’t intruded. It seemed like such a good idea at the time.” She was out of the truck before he could open her door.
“No, not at all,” he said as they headed to the porch. “You already explained why you accepted. Gotta keep on Stella’s good side for your news tonight. And me, Addie. We’ve had...some rough patches lately. When she gets her mind set on something, I don’t like to disappoint her if I can help it.” He held the front door to usher Carol through. Upstairs, the girls’ foot falls sounded like a soccer championship.
“This...is quite a floor plan,” Carol said immediately, but Brayton knew it was the battalion of candles that had made her exclaim.
“I had Rachel Martin over for dinner last night.” He shrugged, tried to seem casual, but the date had been so much more. And he was ready to shout it to the world. “There was no hurry getting the table and chairs back to the inn.”
“Must have been lovely. All those candles.” Carol batted her eyelashes at him in a fun, friendly way. “Rachel’s a wonderful woman. Known her since high school. Good luck.”
Brayton figured he’d need good luck as he followed Carol to the fireplace. Ah, next time, soon, he longed to cuddle up with Rachel in front of it. “High school, huh?”
“Yep. I married Hank the weekend after graduation.” Her voice slowed for just a second, and he heard the catch, had felt it in his throat many times. “I lost him...ten years ago. Hunting accident.”
Ten years. Same as him. The eerie coincidence skittered across his spine. But before he could commiserate, she quickly changed her tone and the subject.
She waved toward a wall, baseboards still outlined with candles. ”You should measure the wall if you want a couch here. And you could set some comfortable chairs over there. Although...” she grinned, “you’re a guy. You probably want those massive lounge chairs with cup holders on the arm rests.”
“Nope. Black leather like everybody else. Maybe a cowhide rug. Although…” He grinned. “Maybe I should try Scottish plaid or something unpredictable.”
Carol chuckled then headed to the kitchen. “Goodness, looks like something in a magazine.”
A flush heated him. Clear in his vision even though she wasn’t present, he saw Rachel loading the dishwasher, humming in the pretty voice he’d heard at church.
“You cook?” Carol asked. “You got some pretty amazing appliances if you don’t.”
“’Course. Had to feed two kids.”
The girls clattered down the stairs, Addie shrieking in a manner that, he guessed, was the norm when two pre-teen females were together. “Daddy, there’s a balcony off your bedroom. You can see the Hearts Crossing from there. You guys go check it out.” Addie stopped for breath at his side. “And my room has such a tall ceiling I can get a giant canopy bed.”
Brayton faked a frown. “Do girls still get those?”
“Or a hammock. Come on, Stella. Let’s go check out the back. I’m getting a dog…”
“A hammock now? I better follow orders,” he said dryly as he headed for the stairs, Carol not far behind.
Addie had been right. From the balcony, not far away, Hearts Crossing ranch sat like a scene in a snow globe. White peaks glistening above the burnished hills added sparkle in the glow of the late afternoon sun. It wouldn’t matter what sort of furniture or color scheme anybody brought in here. It was the view that brought this room to life.
So he’d keep things simple. Rustic log furniture like he’d slept in at Hearts Crossing. With fresh wind in his face, he leaned against the outside balcony rails, beholding a slideshow of Colorado whichever direction he turned his head. Aspen trees shivered, and pines stretched tall.
Carol walked outside to him, fragrant and pretty but not the one he saw when he closed his eyes. He prided himself on logical, careful study of pros and cons but also on his ability to make quick decisions. It was Rachel true and through.
“Oh my. Hank always wanted a room with a view.” Carol gave a little laugh.
He nodded, thinking of the hilltop Brentwood home only half-built when…at the time of the accident. “Marianne did, too.”
“What happened? To her, I mean.”
Was it possible Carol didn’t know? And was he comfortable enough to tell her? H
e’d blurted out his sorrow and guilt to Rachel the minute they’d met.
“A plane crash when Addie was two. I was the pilot.”
“I’m so sorry.” Compassion glazed Carol’s eyes. “That must be impossible to get over.”
“It was.” He sighed, not looking at her. He’d said his goodbyes and knew Marianne had accepted them. “For a while, it was. But I’ve had to go on.”
“What about the…guilt?”
He busied himself counting the leaves on a tiny tree below.
“Sure, guilt beat me up. Ground inspection had been spot on. What could it be but pilot error? Even when it wasn’t, then I suffered with survivor’s guilt. Why did I live, and not her? It was a long time before I accepted in my head and in my heart what it was: an accident.”
She leaned her elbows on the railing. “So they said of Hank’s.”
The pain in her voice clogged his ears. “It wasn’t?”
“Yeah, of course. A bullet ricocheted off a boulder. But my guilt is something I can’t get over.”
“Your guilt? You were there?”
“No.” Carol busied her gaze far and beyond and didn’t look at him. Maybe because he was widowed too, for just as many years. Maybe because the girls were friends, they had teenage sons. For some reason, he understood. Widowhood was a strange and bizarre brotherhood. “No. But we’d always said we loved each other before we left the house. That day, we’d had a fight.”
Brayton’s heart churned.
“I sent him off in anger.” She breathed hard, arms crossed, fingers tensed on upper arms. “And then...What I mean is, if I’m to go on, with Christopher or with anybody, I need to let it go. And I don’t know if I have. If I can.” Thick on the air he recognized the cry of pain that had clobbered him so many times.