“Yes. And we want her to wake up soon.”
Darcy patted Belle’s arm. “I’m going to ask Violet if I can be part owner of the goat,” she told her.
“There’s so much for you to catch up on. Wake up soon, okay?” Maddie said. She wished Belle would open her eyes and smile at her. She’d seen pictures at the house. Belle was a beautiful woman who was always caught smiling.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Maddie said. “Now that you are back in Grasslands, we can come visit every day.”
There was no response.
Sighing softly, Maddie took Darcy’s hand again. “We’ll go now.”
“Why doesn’t she wake up?” Darcy asked as they headed back to the truck.
“She hit her head and it really hurt. So she’s coping by sleeping until she’s better,” Maddie said, trying to make it understandable for Darcy. She knew coma patients sometimes woke up and felt as if they’d been asleep for a day. Others with severe head trauma woke up and remembered nothing. Still others never woke up. She offered up a prayer that Belle would awaken soon as if she’d only fallen asleep for a night.
“How’s she doing?” Ty asked when they climbed back into the pickup truck.
“The same. She moves some, makes noises, so that’s a good sign, they say. But she is still unconscious. I wish I could do something.”
“It’s in the Lord’s hands,” Ty said gently.
“As is everything. You’re right. The Lord is in charge. Patience isn’t my strongest virtue,” she said.
It wasn’t until Darcy was in bed that Maddie was alone with Ty. As they’d been doing most evenings, they went to the front porch to sit. He rocked back on the chair, she sat on the bench and leaned against the warmth of the house. The wall held the heat of the day.
“So I assume the attorney had news,” she said hesitantly.
“The preliminary hearing will be on Tuesday. The judge had an opening and Forester took it.” He rubbed his palms against his jeans. “It’s too soon. What if she has to go live with her grandparents? She’s only been here a few weeks.”
“What if she gets to live here all her life? She’ll want to visit them as she gets older, but she’s your daughter.” She touched his hand. “Keep the faith. The Lord will work everything out. He can do anything.”
“I know, but what if working out right means not me?”
“Why would you ever think that, Ty?” she asked. “You’re a good man. A Christian who has the respect of everyone we saw today, as well as the men and women on this ranch and in town. You have a great job, a house, money in the bank. Great riches is not the thing custody is decided upon.”
“Going against me is that I never even knew I had a daughter until she showed up. I don’t own my house, I’m a single father and have no other relatives.”
“Two can be a family,” she said. “You and Darcy will be a great family.”
He stared out over the ranch. Dusk had fallen and in a short time it would be too dark to see much. “Would you go with me?” he asked.
“To the hearing?”
“Yes. I’m to bring Darcy, though I don’t think she’ll be in the courtroom. But I’d like someone on my side. I’d like it to be you.”
“I’d be honored. And I’m sure Jack and Violet and Landon and all the ranch hands and half the town would go in as well.”
He shook his head. “It’s sort of personal. I know the Colbys would stand by me. And yeah, probably the hands. But I think I just want you.”
“Then I shall be there.”
“Dressed up?”
She lifted a brow. “Should I?”
“Enough to show there’s a good influence on Darcy.”
“Superficial, but I’ll do it. My most stylish suit and high heels. Is it your intent to distract the judge?”
“Nope, just show the Parkers that Brittany wasn’t the only woman in Darcy’s life. And you’d be someone they’d recognize as like her.”
“I’m not like her,” Maddie protested.
“I know that. But you can look like she used to look, all sophisticated and cosmopolitan. Not like a ranch hand from west Texas.”
“I happen to like ranch hands from west Texas,” she said softly.
“Let’s hope the judge does as well.”
* * *
Maddie let Ty take Darcy to church the next morning without her. Ever since that night when Darcy had had the nightmare about her mom, she’d been totally comfortable around Ty. Maddie wanted them to have special time together.
She attended with Violet and Landon. She waved at Darcy when they entered, her gaze then moving to Ty. She would never tire of looking at him. He looked happy enough holding his daughter’s hand, greeting those he knew. They sat in a pew several behind Maddie. She wished they’d come up to her pew. When Violet nudged her, she looked back to the front.
“I think Sadie’s getting braver,” her twin whispered. “She’s actually sitting in the second row this morning. And the pink blouse she’s wearing is pretty.”
“We shouldn’t talk about her like that. If she has a crush on the pastor, can anything be done to draw his attention?” Maddie whispered back.
“A complete makeover might do the trick, but I don’t know if Sadie’s ready to go that far. I’m not even sure she knows she’s got a crush,” Violet responded.
Landon leaned over. “Care to share with the rest of us?”
The twins looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Later,” Maddie mouthed, and turned back to the front.
After church, Landon took Violet and Maddie to see Belle.
“Hi, Mom,” Violet said when they entered her room. “Pastor Jeb outdid himself today at church. You would have loved it. Landon’s here, and Maddie.”
The three of them chatted for a while. Violet was constantly at her mother’s side, touching her, brushing her hair, linking hands at one point. She believed touch would work as much as hearing her voice.
Before they left, Violet once again asked her mother to wake up. “There’s so much you’re missing, Mom. We need you. Please, wake up soon.”
Maddie felt she was growing to know the woman more and more through Violet’s conversations. She yearned for Belle to wake up so she could meet her and Grayson —as soon as he heard the news and could get to Grasslands. Once again she felt isolated from her family, floundering to find answers and hitting brick walls.
On the ride to the ranch, Landon asked again if they’d had any other ideas on who had given them each a Bible with an identical note.
“No, but I think it’s some man,” Maddie said. “The handwriting’s bold with defined downstrokes. I haven’t seen anything close in any writing I’ve seen before. But how did some guy know about our family split before we did?”
“Maybe he knew Mom and Brian when we all lived together in Fort Worth,” Violet speculated.
“So why does the note sound as if the person’s the reason for the split?”
“Could there have been a love triangle or something?” Landon asked.
Maddie shook her head. “Not with the father I know.”
“Or the mother I know,” Violet added. “Which makes the rumor Mrs. Earl told us seem very unlikely. Jack’s even madder now. He thinks that’s the reason Mom would never talk about our father—maybe we didn’t have the same one.”
“That, I don’t believe,” Maddie said staunchly. “Dad’s an honorable man.”
“But we don’t know what happened twenty-five years ago,” Violet reminded her.
“You’re right. If asked before I met you, I’d have adamantly claimed Sharla as my mother. That’s another part of the mystery—why didn’t Dad ever tell us she wasn’t?”
When they reached the ranch, Maddie went upstairs to change. She had to check in with all the committee chairs one last time to make sure everything was a go for next Saturday’s picnic. Ty was with Darcy, so she was relieved of duty today.
She had the den to herse
lf as Violet and Landon had gone off together after lunch. When talking to different people, she also had a chance to visit. The long-lost twins story had lost some of its novelty and she chatted amicably with each person. She enjoyed learning more about them and the traditions surrounding the picnic. Really, Sadie should have taken charge of this project—it would have helped her get to know people better.
She was delighted everything was falling into place. Even a stranger could manage this. She looked forward to meeting everyone in person at the picnic. It would be a full and busy day, but sounded like a lot of fun.
While jotting notes, Maddie wondered what Ty and Darcy were doing. She couldn’t see his house from this room. They probably had gone out riding, or even swimming. She felt a pang at the thought of them doing things without her. She enjoyed spending time with both of them. Did they miss her?
Lupita looked in a short time later.
“Violet said they would eat out. Jack is still at the other house, so I wasn’t planning a dinner tonight, but I can prepare you something.”
Sunday was usually her day off and Maddie was touched she thought about her.
“I’ll be fine. I might join Ty and Darcy.” The perfect excuse. Not that she needed one. She was supposed to be fixing their meals. They’d agreed to let Sunday be Maddie’s day of rest, but she could still help out. Maybe they’d grill out.
Before wrapping things up, she ran upstairs to get her own laptop, which had her résumé on it. She studied it a bit, tweaked it slightly and then printed off a couple of copies. She would give one to Paul Linder tomorrow at her interview, and have the other handy, just in case.
It was almost five when she walked over to Ty’s house. Knocking on the door, she opened it and called out. No one was home.
She went into the kitchen to check on supplies for dinner and soon had hamburger patties made, a salad and was thawing buns. Darcy came in the back door and smiled broadly when she saw Maddie.
“Hi! We went riding. I’m getting good. I wanted to go swimming, but we didn’t wear our swimsuits,” she said, running across the room and hugging Maddie. “We missed you. Why did you have to stay away today?”
“I had things to do for the church picnic. We want that to go well, right?” Maddie said, giving her a hug and looking up as Ty entered.
He took in the preparation and smiled. Her heart flipped over. She released Darcy and turned back to the counter. “I thought we could grill burgers tonight, suit you?”
“Sure does. I didn’t expect it, however.”
“Oh, I didn’t think. Maybe you and Darcy want family time alone,” she said turning back to face him.
“Nope. She’s right—we missed you on our ride. Get everything set for the picnic?”
“There’s so little left to do. The only thing I’m worried about is who’s going to cook the tri-tips, but Pastor Jeb assures me men step up and it’s always taken care of.”
“True. I wouldn’t worry about that aspect. What time do we need to be there?” He placed his hat on the hook near the door and ran his fingers through his hair as he crossed the room to stand beside her, looking at the salad and the buns.
“I need to be there early. It officially starts at eleven but I thought I’d get there at least by ten.”
“Earlier, I’d think. Let’s plan to get there at nine-thirty. We’ll get good parking that way, too. I assume you have things to take.”
“Yes—food, folding tables, fly nets. Violet assures me they always take those things and they’re all together ready to be loaded. You don’t have to go that early.”
“Sure we do.” He looked at her, his dark eyes holding hers.
Feeling slightly flustered, she smiled. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“What else did you do today?” he asked.
Chatting as they prepared dinner gave Maddie an insight into how being married would be. She loved discussing what each had done since they’d last seen each other. Darcy chipped in and the feeling of family pervaded.
Ty did a masterful job grilling the hamburgers and they enjoyed eating on the folding table out on the minuscule patio, which sat in shade thanks to where it was situated by the house.
“We have ice cream for dessert,” Maddie said. She had brought some from the main house complete with chocolate syrup and chopped pecans from Violet’s orchard.
Maddie glanced at Ty and Darcy. “Tomorrow Vacation Bible School starts,” she reminded them.
“I know. Sadie told me all she’s learned since she’s been here. Did you know she just moved here a few weeks ago?”
“Yes, I did. I also know how fast she found a job. I hope I have as much success,” Maddie said, licking the last drop of chocolate from her spoon. She put it in the bowl and looked up to meet Ty’s eyes.
“Tomorrow will be a big day for both of you,” he said.
She nodded.
“But you’ll have to miss the end of Tuesday’s Bible School,” he said. “We have to be in Floydada by two.”
“What for?” Darcy asked.
“A hearing.”
She frowned. “I can hear.”
Maddie smiled. “A different kind of hearing, honey.” She looked at Ty. How much should they explain?
He drew a deep breath. “We’ll meet with a judge and he’ll decide where you’re going to live,” he said.
Looking perplexed, Darcy glanced at Maddie. “Don’t I live here?”
Maddie nodded. “Yes, you do.”
“And both Maddie and I are happy you do. But your grandparents also want you to live with them,” Ty explained.
Maddie held her breath. Darcy looked back and forth and then wrinkled her nose.
“They don’t have goats and dogs and horses. And they’re old. I like it here.”
Maddie almost saw the weight lifting from Ty as he closed his eyes briefly. She thought he was offering a prayer of thanksgiving. Not that anything was settled, but at least Darcy wouldn’t be against living with her father.
“Besides, if I went to live with them, I’d miss the church picnic. And they probably wouldn’t come here to visit and how could we sleep in the barn?”
“Good points,” Ty said with a smile, which shone with love at his daughter.
Maddie hoped the judge could see the bond developing and give it the importance it deserved.
* * *
Monday morning, Maddie dropped Darcy at the church for the first day of Vacation Bible School. She chatted with some of the mothers dropping off their children and met one of the chairs from the picnic committee. Then she went to meet with Paul Linder at the Grasslands newspaper. She’d dressed in one of the few work outfits she’d brought, an emerald-green suit with a white silk blouse. It felt odd to be wearing a skirt again after so many weeks in jeans.
Paul came to greet her as soon as she was announced. “Come on back here, the newspaper’s hectic, but my office is an oasis.”
It was. Maddie was delighted to see the big window in back overlooking a small flower garden in riotous color. The walls were a soothing pale blue, and the furniture was placed to take advantage of the view. His desk was stacked with papers and folders and newspapers, but the visitor’s chair was free of any clutter.
“Sit and tell me a bit about yourself and what you’re looking for in Grasslands,” Paul said as he sat.
They chatted for several minutes. Maddie gave him a copy of her résumé and told him what she’d been doing since the layoff.
“Impressive job history,” he remarked, perusing her résumé.
“Thanks. I know there are no magazines published around here, but I’ve learned a lot about project management, which I could use in any industry. I loved working at Texas Today, but you know the economic climate of publishing these days.”
“I do, indeed. Fortunately, most of the subscribers of the newspaper are satisfied to get it as it’s always been and not from a computer. But I can see one day that might change.”
When Maddie was
ready to leave, he promised to call around and see if he could discover anything suitable. She thanked him and left with a positive feeling that he might be able to help her.
Shortly after Maddie and Darcy had finished lunch that afternoon, the phone rang. It was Violet.
“There’s a social worker here. She came to see Ty, so I’ve sent one of the men to find him. He’s out somewhere on the range. Anyway, I’m sending her your way. She wants to see the house. Probably has to do with the hearing tomorrow.”
“We’re here, send her along.” Maddie felt her heart drop. Glancing around she knew she couldn’t clean up lunch before the social worker arrived. But at least the rest of the house was picked up and tidy.
“Wash your face and hands, we’re going to have company in about two minutes,” Maddie said to Darcy, dashing over to the sink to at least run water over the dishes.
Before Darcy came from the bathroom, the social worker was knocking on the door.
It was Mrs. Lucas, the one in charge of Darcy’s case.
“Sorry to barge in like this,” she said with a frown. “I know we make spot inspections, but this is a rush because of the hearing tomorrow. Is Mr. Garland around?”
“He’ll be in as soon as one of the cowboys finds him. He’s working on the range today. Come in. I’m Maddie Wallace, Darcy’s nanny.”
“So he did find someone, I’m so glad. I believe we spoke on the phone?”
“About Darcy’s things, yes.”
Darcy came down the hall, watching Mrs. Lucas warily.
“Hello, Darcy,” she said with a warm smile.
“Hi.” She went to stand next to Maddie, leaning against her slightly.
“She came to see your house and how you’re doing,” Maddie said lightly. “Want to show her your room while we wait for your daddy to join us?”
“Okay. It’s down the hall.”
Once the inspection was finished, Maddie offered Mrs. Lucas iced tea and they sat in the living room making small talk while they waited for Ty.
Maddie was dying to ask her about the visit, but knew the woman wouldn’t be able to tell her anything. Still, it was like being on pins and needles. She hoped the report would be favorable.
Ty strode in a few minutes later.
Mirror Image Bride (Love Inspired) Page 17