by Nika Rhone
“You asked him to marry you?” Amelia asked in surprise.
“I didn’t have much choice. If I waited on him to decide he’d proven himself, I’d probably still be waiting on a proposal. The man had some strange ideas about not bringing anything to the marriage. As if I needed anything but him and Daryl.” She stood and brought her empty mug to the sink, waving Amelia back down into her seat when she moved to do the same. “Finish your tea. The men will be done with chores soon, and I want to make some progress on my project before Hank comes in for the night.”
Amelia had learned only that afternoon Kim’s “projects” were in fact the gorgeous rugs she’d been admiring all over the house. If she hadn’t felt she’d be intruding, she would have asked if she could watch her work for a little while, because honestly, how often did someone get the chance to see a rug being woven by hand? Instead, Amelia nodded and said, “Thank you for the tea and the company. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Just before she got to the door, Kim stopped and looked back over her shoulder. “Even if he isn’t blood of my blood, Daryl is still the son of my heart and I love him very much. There is nothing his father or I want more for him than to find his way home someday.”
Amelia lingered over her tea, thinking about everything Kim had said, and all she hadn’t. Clearly, Daryl hadn’t left the ranch at his parents’ instigation. They wanted him here. And judging by the look on his face while they’d been riding the land, Daryl wanted to be here too.
So, why wasn’t he?
Chapter Seventeen
“Why are you doing that?”
Not looking up from the chicken sandwiches she was making, Amelia replied, “I thought we could take them with us on our ride.” Maybe it was presumptuous to assume they’d be picnicking again, but she’d been so excited when Daryl asked after breakfast if she’d like to ride out with him she couldn’t help but hope they’d be able to duplicate that almost perfect day.
Except this time, she’d keep her big mouth shut and not ruin everything.
When Daryl stayed silent, she glanced up. He was standing in the kitchen doorway, Stetson still in hand. His dark hair was in disarray, probably from running his fingers through it the way she’d seen him do whenever he put on or removed the battered hat. He didn’t even seem aware he was doing it. It was more like an old habit that had been picked back up along with the hat. The rumpled look was sexy, like he’d just gotten out of bed. The same with the slight scruff that darkened his already bronzed face. Who knew bad grooming habits could be so attractive?
No, no, no. She erased the thought in a panic. Not sexy. Not attractive. Not ruggedly handsome. Those were forbidden thoughts. Bad, bad thoughts. No good could come of thinking them.
“I meant, why isn’t Kim doing it?” Daryl stuck his hat on a peg and closed the door behind him. The roomy kitchen seemed to shrink to half its size. “It’s not your job to cook and clean around here.”
Using careful, precise movements, she sliced through the last sandwich and wrapped it in wax paper. “I’m perfectly capable of cooking and cleaning. Granted, I’m still on a bit of a learning curve, but admit it, breakfast was darn good this morning.” She knew it had been. Even Horace had complimented her, and Horace never said anything to anyone. Ever. To tell the truth, until this morning, she hadn’t been sure he could speak.
“Breakfast was great, but that’s not the point.”
“I’m glad you liked it.” It was silly to be pleased when she’d all but coerced the compliment out of him, but it still gave Amelia a tiny flutter of giddy accomplishment. “But if your point is that I should be sitting around watching television and eating bonbons while I paint my nails, then forget about it. I can pull my own weight. I will pull my own weight.” She reached into the wire basket hanging near the sink. “Apple or pear?”
“No, my point is it’s not your job to do manual labor.”
“I hardly consider cooking manual labor, and it’s not Kim’s job to cook and clean for me, either. I’m more than happy to pitch in and earn my keep by helping her out while Ella’s away. Apple or pear?”
Daryl looked confused. “Who’s Ella?”
“Mike’s wife. She usually helps with the cooking, but she’s away visiting her sister who’s having a baby, so Kim has been doing everything for everyone all by herself. I know I’m sometimes more hindrance than help because she has to keep stopping and showing me how to do things, but I like to think in the long run I’ll make her life a little bit easier. And besides, I like spending time with her.” She gestured with the two pieces of fruit, her temper starting to fray despite her best intentions to not let anything ruin their upcoming ride. “Now, for the last time, apple or pear?”
“I didn’t know she had someone helping her.”
“She’s only one person, Daryl, not Wonder Woman. Cooking for all those men twice a day, every day, takes up most of her time as it is. If she had to do it alone, she’d never leave the kitchen. Fine, you’re getting a pear.” She put the apple back and placed two pears on the counter next to the sandwiches.
“I don’t like pears.”
Amelia shut her eyes and counted to five. Then ten. She was not going to get angry. She blew out a breath to release her frustration and reached for the pears with a forced smile. “Then apples it is.”
Just as her hands closed over the fruit, Daryl’s large hands closed over hers. She froze. Staring at their hands, her heart started to thud faster in her chest. She wasn’t afraid. She just wasn’t sure what she was. His hands were so much larger than hers, so strong, and yet so gentle. It took a few long seconds before she could bring herself to look up at his face. His expression confused her even more. It reminded her of his blank work face. Right. Work. She was a job to him. She needed to remember that.
“Just…forget about the damn pears.” Daryl drew his hands back, fisting them briefly at his sides before sliding them into his back pockets as he took a step away.
“Okay.” Her heart was still galloping. “Are we still going for our ride?”
Daryl gave a jerky nod and took another step toward the door. “Sure. If you want to.”
“Yes, please.”
“Okay, then.”
“Okay. Good. Just give me a minute to put the food in a bag and clean this up, and I’ll be right out.”
“Sure. I’ll be at the barn.” Daryl was reaching for his Stetson when the phone on the wall rang.
Amelia put the sandwich fixings in the refrigerator while Daryl answered it, but the second she heard him say, “Slow down and tell me what happened,” she turned her attention back to him. He didn’t say much, but it seemed like that was more because the person on the other end of the line wasn’t giving him the chance. Every time he started to ask a question, he was cut off and listened again.
Finally, Daryl said, “Okay, we’ll be right there,” and hung up. “Where’s Kim?”
“She went to Gladstone to pick up some things.” Ignoring Daryl’s muttered curse that Kim had traveled to the larger, more distant town to shop, Amelia followed him as he headed through the living room and toward the bedrooms. “Who was that on the phone? What happened? Is everything okay?”
“It was Winnie. Something happened. I couldn’t understand half of what she was saying, except that she needs Kim and she isn’t answering her cell.” He snatched his keys from the top of his dresser and turned, nearly knocking Amelia over in his haste. He grabbed her shoulders and moved her out of his way.
“Is it the baby?” Amelia followed as he headed back to the living room.
“I don’t know.” Daryl stopped and looked at her. “I’m going to the school and make sure she’s okay. Can you keep trying to get Kim on the phone and tell her what happened?”
“I’ll keep trying from the truck. I’m coming with you. Don’t even try to tell me no.”
“Dammit, Amelia…”
“We’re wasting time.” She walked past Daryl and out the front door. She heard hi
m curse, but a few seconds later he followed, helping her into the truck without another word. He didn’t say anything during the entire drive to the school on the Pine Ridge Reservation where Winona worked as a kindergarten teacher, but judging by the expression he wore, that had more to do with his worry about his sister than his aggravation with her coming along.
By the time they pulled into the parking lot outside the one-story school, Amelia had left two messages on Kim’s voice mail from Daryl’s burner phone and talked to Hank once after she realized they’d driven away from the ranch without telling him what was going on. She’d promised to call him back as soon as they knew anything.
Inside the office, a compact woman with mostly gray in the long braid she wore down her back introduced herself as Mrs. Mantooth, the principal, and led them with an air of relief to a small staff break room. Amelia heard the loud sobs coming from inside before the door was opened. A knot of dread formed in her stomach.
Winona sat on a faded gray sofa, her arms crossed tightly over her belly as she slowly rocked herself in time with her sobs. Another woman sat next to her, rubbing her back and talking in a soft, soothing voice. At their arrival, she looked up, an expression of relief equal to Mrs. Mantooth’s flitting across her face. She must have said something because Winona looked up as well. With another sob, she stood and flew into Daryl’s arms.
Amelia smiled a thank you to the woman as she left. Uncertain for the first time about her decision to come along, she hovered halfway between the door and the Raintree siblings. What had she been thinking? She didn’t belong here. She was an outsider, intruding on what was clearly a family moment. Why had she even considered she might be needed?
She was just about to go outside to call Kim again when Daryl sent her a helpless look of panic over his sister’s head.
Doubt fled in the face of Daryl’s unspoken plea. Amelia stroked Winona’s shoulder, speaking soft words even though she was still sobbing too hard to understand anything other than the comfort that was being offered. Amelia had been in this very state less than a week ago. It wouldn’t have mattered to her then if Thea and Lillian had been reciting the Gettysburg Address to her, just as long as they said it with feeling.
Daryl looked uncomfortable, but he continued to hold his sister as she sobbed into his shirt rather than try to force her from his embrace into Amelia’s. Amelia gave him major points for that. Slowly, the sobs started to lessen, turning into hiccups before Winona accepted the tissues Amelia put in her hand and blew her nose.
Taking advantage of the lull in the storm, Amelia took Winona’s hands and led her back to the sofa. “Are you okay? Is it the baby?”
Winona shook her head, sniffling into the tissues. “No, the baby’s fine. But…” Her eyes welled up again.
“What happened?”
“Kaitlin got…a phone call,” Winona said, her voice hitching.
“Kaitlin?” The name rang a bell. “Oh, your roommate?”
Winona nodded. “Her brother…he’s down in Texas, working the oil rigs. There was an accident, and h-he…” A sob choked her, then she wailed, “Oh God, he’s hurt, and they don’t know if…if he…” That was the last coherent thing she got out before she started sobbing into her hands again.
“Oh, sweetie.” Amelia looked up at Daryl with a confused frown, rubbing Winona’s back some more. “Is Kaitlin here?”
Winona shook her head. “Someone came and…picked her up. And I-I…”
Squatting in front of his sister, Daryl said softly, “Winnie, I know you and Kaitlin are close, but you can’t go making yourself sick worrying about her brother like this. It’s not good for the baby.”
Refusing to meet his eyes, Winona started to rock again. “But he…he…” She dared a glance at Amelia.
As soon as she saw the absolute devastation in the girl’s eyes, Amelia put the pieces together. “Oh, Winnie, honey. Kaitlin’s brother? He’s Kyle?”
A fresh downpour of tears was all the answer she needed. Biting her lip, Amelia glanced at Daryl, who was studying his sister’s bowed head with a look that said he was quickly making the connection between his sister and her best friend’s brother as well. Rage darkened his eyes almost to black.
“Don’t. You. Dare.” She mouthed the warning to him as she continued to comfort his sister. The last thing Winona needed was her big brother going ballistic over the news of who the baby’s father was.
Like a sign of divine intervention, Daryl’s phone rang. He continued to stare at Amelia for a few long seconds, like he wasn’t sure how to react to her admonition, before he stood and stalked across the room to answer the call. Amelia let out a relieved breath. The man was just a little intense when he was angry.
Winona’s sobs turned to hitching breaths as she tried to get them under control. Her dark eyes, so like her brother’s, were puffy and bloodshot, any makeup she’d been wearing earlier in the day long gone. “What am I…going to…do?”
“You’re going to calm down, just like Daryl said you should. I know it’s hard, but you have to try and think about the baby. You can’t do anything for Kyle right this minute, but you can take care of his child. Do you think you can do that for him?”
Grief morphed into determination. “Yes. Yes,” she said again with a little more conviction, “I can do that.”
“Good.” Amelia handed her the box of tissues. “I’ll be right back, okay?” After getting a small nod, she went over to where Daryl stood near the door. He was just sliding his phone back into his pocket.
“Kim’s on her way,” he said.
“Good.” She’d managed to give Winona something to focus on for the moment, but it wouldn’t be long before grief and worry started tearing at her again and battered down that small bastion of calm.
“So Kyle is…”
Amelia sighed. “Yes.”
“And you—” He bit off his words as the door opened a few inches, allowing Mrs. Mantooth to poke her head in. She glanced over at Winona, still seated in the couch mopping her face with a wad of tissues, and beckoned the two of them out into the hallway.
“How is she?”
“A little better,” Amelia replied, “but she’s still very upset. You know about the bad news?”
Mrs. Mantooth nodded. “Kaitlin was called out of class to take the phone call in the office. She was just devastated. She was too upset to drive herself home, and knowing she and Winona are friends, I called Winona down to wait with her until someone could come and pick her up. Only that seems to have backfired, since by the time Kaitlin left, Winona was in just as bad a state as she was.” The older woman sounded sympathetic but confused. “I hoped she would be able to take over her class again after lunch.” It was more of a question than a statement.
Daryl shook his head. “There’s no way she’s going to be in any shape to stay. Her mother is on her way to take her home.”
“Oh, dear. That’s going to be a problem.”
“And why is that?”
“We’ve already called in the closest substitute teacher to take over Miss Blackhawk, Kaitlin’s, class. The only other one we could get to cover for Winona would take almost an hour to get here, and that’s if she’s even available.”
“Well, can’t someone else take over for her in the meantime?” Daryl asked. “What about you?”
“Normally I would, but my assistant is out sick today, and that leaves only me in the office to keep things running. With budget cuts, we’re lucky to have enough teachers to fill all of the classes we need. We just don’t have any extra staff to move around.”
“Well, Winnie certainly can’t stay. You’ll need to figure something out.”
An awful, wonderful idea popped into Amelia’s head.
“Winona teaches kindergarten, doesn’t she?” she asked.
“Yes. Why, do you know someone?” There was a hint of desperate hope in Mrs. Mantooth’s voice.
Amelia nodded. She refused to look at Daryl. If she did, she’d chicken out
. “Yes, I do. Me.”
Chapter Eighteen
Daryl stared at Amelia. He must have heard her wrong. “You?”
Amelia gave a quick nod. “I’m a teacher.”
“You are?” Mrs. Mantooth sounded hopeful.
“You are?” Daryl asked, confused.
“Yes. I’m fully qualified at the elementary level. I received my teaching certificate from Brown, and while I may not be accredited in this state, I think my credentials would make it acceptable for me to watch over a roomful of five-year-olds for a few hours. Don’t you?”
Mrs. Mantooth pursed her lips, clearly caught between need and worry. “Oh, dear. I don’t know if I could allow that. It would be most irregular.”
“True, but this is something of an irregular situation, wouldn’t you say? And, quite honestly, you don’t have all that many options.”
“That’s true. But still…” The principal looked unconvinced.
Daryl’s brain finally came out of its stall. Amelia was a teacher? Since when? She’d attended some fancy school back east, but he always assumed she’d just gone to get out from under her parents’ thumb for a few years. She never struck him as a career-minded kind of person.
Another in a line of incorrect assumptions he’d made about Amelia over the years, it seemed. All he’d ever seen was the Princess. He never bothered to look beneath the surface and find the real woman that was hiding under all that emotional armor. Most people didn’t. Which was why everyone continued to underestimate her.
Including him.
In the end, Mrs. Mantooth didn’t have much choice. She agreed Amelia was more than qualified and decided that, under the circumstances, the rules could be bent for the few hours they needed to make it to the end of the school day as long as she stopped in frequently to monitor the classroom for herself. Amelia looked pleased with her decision.