by Linda Warren
“Yes, you did.” Callie took the bands out of Brit’s ponytail, so grateful that she wasn’t jealous that Adam had ridden her horse. Their normal personalities were surfacing again in the peace and quiet of the ranch. John had taught them to share and to respect and love each other. In the past few weeks, Callie hadn’t seen much of that. Fear had turned them into angry children and Callie hesitated to discipline them.
The future loomed with uncertainty, but now Callie didn’t feel so alone. She had Wade to help her. Her fingers touched her lips, remembering his kiss. She didn’t want him to get in trouble because of them. Before she’d let that happen, she’d take the kids and leave.
The thought tore at her heart.
THE KIDS SOUND ASLEEP, Callie went in search of Wade. He was at the kitchen table reading the Homestead Herald. She sat down and he turned the paper so she could see the headline—Vandals Hit Mrs. Austin’s Home.
Callie read the article. “Millie doesn’t miss a thing does she?”
“Not much in this town.” His eyes caught hers. “Do you want to press charges against the boys?”
“They’re so young.” She hesitated. “But I don’t want them doing this kind of thing again.”
“I dropped them off at your house to start the cleanup and I’m sure June…Odell still has them working. He was very upset about the whole thing. I believe Odell has a crush on you.”
“Maybe a little, but I talked to him about it and he understands there can never be anything between us. I just feel for the awful childhood he had—people teasing him because of his size. Thank you for calling him Odell.”
He grinned. “Caught myself just in time there.”
Callie clasped her hands in her lap. She had to tell him everything. “I need to tell you something else.”
Wade shifted in his chair. “What?”
“I…ah…I met Miranda in college.”
His eyes narrowed. “So Miranda knows who you are?”
“Yes. I was always intrigued when she talked about Homestead and I’d heard about her plans for the town. When I knew I had to take the kids out of that situation, Homestead seemed like the perfect place to hide. After I got all the false IDs, I sent the application in to the Home Free Committee. I didn’t tell Miranda who I really was until after I was approved. She was very sympathetic to my situation and I agreed to stay a year and fix up the Hellmuth house so Homestead would be able to find a buyer for it. In its present condition it was almost worthless.”
“So that’s why you took the Hellmuth house?”
“Yes. And this was all my doing—not Miranda’s.”
He frowned. “You don’t have to take up for Miranda. She can take care of herself.”
“I know, but I don’t want her blamed for this…and there’s something else.”
“There’s more?”
“Yes. I had a reason for being intrigued with Homestead.” She chewed on the inside of her mouth for a moment. “I was born here.”
His frown deepened. “What?”
“My mother divorced my father when I was five and we moved to Houston. I never saw him after that. He signed away all his rights to me, and I’ve wondered over the years if he was still alive. My mom said he was an alcoholic and probably died long ago. Somehow I need to know.”
“You said your stepfather adopted you, so what was your biological name?”
“Collins. My father was Dale Collins. I’ve listened for names since I’ve been here, but no one seems to have the name Collins.”
“Have you asked?”
“Yes. I asked Del and he bit my head off because I wasn’t too tactful, and I asked Buddy.”
“What did Buddy say?”
“That he didn’t know any Collinses.” She linked her fingers together. “My dad gave up all rights to me and may not want to meet me. But I’d just like to know if he’s dead or alive.”
He drew a quick breath. “What was your mother’s maiden name?”
“Glynis Dryden.”
“I’ll see what I can find out.”
She jumped up and hugged his neck. “Thank you for being so nice.” Kissing the side of his face, she whispered in his ear. “Do you think we’ll ever have a chance to be alone?”
“Maybe it’s best this way,” he said instead of answering, not responding to her touch. Her heart sank.
“Maybe.” She straightened. “I better go to bed. I don’t want the kids to wake up and find me gone. Good night.”
“’Night,” he called.
She walked to her room with feet that felt like lead. She wasn’t planning to stay here that long so getting involved with Wade would only hurt him. Hurt her.
So why was she hurting now?
WADE SAT IN A STUPOR. Dale Collins was her father. How could he tell her who Dale Collins was? God, this just kept getting worse.
He reached for his phone and called Virgil. Everything was under control and Odell had finally sent the Harvey boys home. He walked out onto the patio, sat down and propped his feet on a chair. Crickets chirped and a couple of june bugs buzzed around the screen door.
Yep. June Bug had a big crush on Callie. Wade did, too. And he wasn’t going to do anything about it. He wanted to. He wanted her like hell. She was unlike any woman he’d ever met. She cared for others more than she cared for herself and she had a beauty that went straight through to her soul. A man couldn’t ask for more, but pain was still fresh in his heart and he couldn’t endure another parting.
So many obstacles stood between them.
There were two floodlights around the corral to keep coyotes away. In the light, he could see Lucky walking the fence. She’d seen a boy today and the horse thought Zach was back. Back and forth she marched the fence.
It was time.
He’d been taught all his life not to ride at night unless it was an emergency. This was an emergency. He stood and headed for the corral. He’d been waiting for someone else to ride Lucky, but that was his job, his responsibility. Zach was his son and he’d been avoiding riding the horse.
In the barn, he flipped on a light, grabbed a bridle and walked to the gate. Lucky stopped marching and he slipped the bridle on and led her into the barn.
He rubbed her face. “I miss him, too.”
Lucky reared her head as if she understood.
Wade swung a saddle blanket then a saddle onto her back and cinched it tight. Tonight he was going to outride the pain on a horse called Lucky. And outride everything that awaited him in Homestead.
CALLIE COULDN’T SLEEP. She kept thinking that Wade had reacted strangely to what she’d told him. He’d seemed turned to stone. She had to talk to him again. She crawled out of bed, wondering if he was asleep. The kitchen light was still on, but Wade wasn’t there. As she turned, she saw something out of the kitchen window and she looked closer. Wade rode out of the barn on Lucky and disappeared into the darkness.
What was he doing?
Trying to outrun the pain, she answered her own question.
She went back to bed, knowing it would be a long time before he returned.
IT WAS ALMOST MIDNIGHT when Wade came through the back door. Jock was waiting for him at the kitchen table.
“You rode him, didn’t you?”
“Yes. It was time. It was long overdue.”
“You keep saying that like we should have a timetable.”
Wade leaned against the cabinet. “All I know is that I can’t keep grieving. It’s killing me. I have to find a way to live in the present.”
“Have you talked to Kim lately?”
“Not since she called to say she’s getting married in July.”
Jock scratched his head. “And you’re okay with that?”
“Yeah, Pop. I’m okay with that. What Kim and I had is over. When we look at each other, all we see is sadness. Neither of us can live like that. She’s found someone and I’m happy for her.”
“When you two were younger you couldn’t keep your hands off each other.
You had a gleam in your eyes when you’d see her.”
“Yeah, but all that love and passion got derailed with the reality of life.”
“You have that same look in your eyes when you look at her.” Jock thumbed toward Callie’s room.
“Her name is Callie.”
“How long she staying here?”
“Until she can move back into her house.”
“Are you sure you don’t want her to stay longer?”
Wade pushed away from the cabinet. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
In his room, he fell across the bed fully clothed. So many emotions churned inside him and he was struggling to handle all of them.
Riding Lucky, he’d felt a release he couldn’t explain. This was a step into the present without all that past’s pain dragging him down. Now he was better equipped to deal with the problems in town.
But what could he do about Callie? How could he tell her that her father lived in Homestead? And how could he keep her safe?
The questions ran around in his head like children at play, taunting, cajoling, until he fell into an exhausted sleep.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SOMEONE WAS SHAKING her.
“Callie. Callie.”
It was Mary Beth. Callie quickly roused herself, thinking Mary Beth had probably wet the bed.
She pushed hair out of her eyes. “What is it, sweetie?”
“Where’s my jeans?” Mary Beth stood by the bed in nothing but her underwear.
Jeans? Mary Beth always wore shorts or capris in the summer.
“Why do you want jeans?”
“I have to check on Babe and I don’t want my knees to get brown again.”
“Oh.” She looked around the room. Brit looked all set to go and she assumed Adam was in the bathroom dressing. Crawling out of bed, she rummaged through the suitcase, pulling out a pair of Mary Beth’s jeans.
“Yay.” Mary Beth clapped and quickly slipped them on. “I need boots, Callie.”
“Really?”
“To walk in the corral you have to have boots. Wade and Mr. Jock have boots.”
“I see,” she said. They were becoming cowgirls and a cowboy and it appeared that Nigel was becoming a distant memory. But he was always at the forefront of Callie’s mind. She needed to call her lawyer, although that could wait until she was back at her house. She didn’t want to disturb the quiet they’d found here with the reality that was waiting for them. It would come soon enough.
The house seemed very quiet and she wondered where Wade and Jock were. Callie quickly dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, brushed the girls’ hair into ponytails, as well as her own. Then she headed for the kitchen.
Adam came out of the bathroom dressed in his jeans and sneakers.
“You think Mr. Jock will let me ride again today?” he asked, eagerness filling the voice that was usually tinged with worry.
His hair was parted on the side and combed neatly and he looked like the happy boy he’d been less than a year ago. She kissed his forehead. “We’ll see.”
“Can we have pancakes?” Brit asked.
Callie turned to Brit. “Yes. I think we have everything to make pancakes. I don’t think Mr. Jock will mind.”
In the kitchen, Jock sat at the table, drinking coffee. “Made the coffee,” he said.
“Mind if I have some?”
“Help yourself.”
She poured a much-needed cup as the kids slid into their chairs.
“Oh, my goodness,” she exclaimed as she took a big sip.
“I like my coffee strong,” Jock said to her shocked expression.
“Yes. You do.” She was sure her lips were curled back. “This will remove paint and I’m sure the lining of my mouth. Not to mention my stomach.”
His mouth twitched. “Put some hot water in it and it’ll be fine.”
“Wish you’d told me that before I took a swallow.” All of a sudden she didn’t want any more coffee. She’d had enough caffeine to last her all day—probably all week.
“We’re having pancakes for breakfast, Mr. Jock,” Brit said.
“If it’s okay with you,” she added quickly.
“I want steak and eggs,” Jock replied, his eyes on Callie. “And before you say the steak has to thaw, I already took it out. It’s ready to cook. Throw it in a pan, sear it on both sides, drop in a couple of eggs and it’s done.”
“Sounds as if you could do that yourself.”
Jock’s eyes narrowed. He might have washed a dish or two in his time, but it was clear he’d never cooked anything.
“Okay,” she said, pouring milk and juice for the kids. “I’ll cook your steak and eggs.”
“Might stir up some of those biscuits and gravy, too.”
She stared straight at him. “If you say please.”
His eyebrows knotted together and he muttered something that sounded more like a cuss word than please.
“Can I please have one of your bananas, Mr. Jock?”
“Kid, I’m having steak and eggs. You can have anything you want.”
“Thank you.”
“Where’s Wade?” Brit asked.
Callie was wondering the same thing. Had he gone to work without telling her? She wanted to go home today.
“Yeah,” Mary Beth chimed in. “We have to check on Babe and she might need us to feed her. We don’t know how and Wade will have to help us.”
“That calf is going to suck or she and her mama will go to the auction barn,” Jock informed them.
“No.” Mary Beth pouted, then frowned. “What’s an auction barn?”
“It’s where you sell animals.”
“No. No. No.” Mary Beth stood on her knees in the chair in agitation. “You can’t do that.”
“It’s my calf and we don’t have time to fool with her. Other work needs to be done.”
“Callie!” Mary Beth wailed.
WADE WAS SHAVING in the utility room, not wanting to disturb Callie and the kids in the other bathroom. He could have used Jock’s in the master bedroom, but he thought it was easier this way. Wiping his face, he slipped into his shirt, hurrying to get into the kitchen before Jock had all the kids crying.
“Wade,” Brit shouted as he entered.
“Morning, everyone.” He glanced at Callie and had the urge to kiss her, which he curbed. Her eyes sparkled and her skin glowed and he had a hard time looking away.
“We’re having pancakes.” Brit took a swallow of milk.
“I love pancakes.” His eyes clung to Callie’s. “Anything I can do to help?”
“No. Take a seat and play referee.” A smile curved her mouth.
She had the biscuits in the oven and turned her attention to the pancakes. With two frying pans going, she did the pancakes and Jock’s steak at the same time. She flipped the pancakes and turned Jock’s steak, then broke the eggs into the pan. Working efficiently, she had everything on the table within minutes, including butter and maple syrup.
Brit said blessings and Mary Beth pushed her pancake around on her plate. “Mr. Jock says he’s gonna sell Babe.”
Wade looked at his father. “I don’t think Mr. Jock meant that, did he?”
“Damn well did. That calf better suck this morning.”
Callie stood and grabbed Jock’s plate with the partially eaten steak and eggs.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he growled.
“If you can’t cook this, then you can’t eat it.”
Jock’s face wrinkled into a leathery frown. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Callie put her hand on one hip, the plate was in the other. “This is the way it is, Mr. Jock. Babe stays and you get your food back. You insist on selling her and this goes in the garbage and you can cook some for yourself.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Callie took a step toward the trash can.
“Okay. Okay. The damn calf can stay, but these kids are going to help feed her.”
“Deal.”
Callie laid the plate in front of him. “And one more thing—I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t use cuss words in front of the kids.”
“Listen, gal—”
“I’m sure Pop will watch his language,” Wade interceded, resisting a smile. No one handled Jock like that.
“Like…” Jock stopped when Callie reached for his plate. “You’re one tough lady.”
“Remember that.”
This time, Wade smiled right into her gorgeous eyes, as blue and inviting as the Texas bluebonnets that covered these hills in the spring. She’d said she planned to stay a year. In a year, he would be so in love with her that…
Love? Was he in love with Callie?
She smiled back and he knew he was.
But there was no happy ending for them.
AFTER BREAKFAST, THEY WALKED to the corral to check on Babe. The kids ran ahead.
“I’d like to go home today,” Callie said.
“Why don’t you give it another day?” Wade suggested. “By then Odell will have most of the repairs done.”
If she stayed here one more day, she might never want to leave. “I have so much to do at the house.”
“It’ll be there tomorrow and you’ll have a hard time getting the kids away from Babe.”
He was right. The kids were happy and another day wouldn’t hurt. Another day to be with Wade. A stolen day, but she’d take it.
They reached the corral and the kids climbed the fence to the top. “There they are,” Adam shouted, pointing to Sadie and Babe in a corner.
Even from a city girl’s eye, she knew Babe hadn’t sucked. Sadie’s udder was huge again and Babe was butting it with her head, unable to get the big teat in her mouth.
Tex and Jock came from the barn. “Don’t look good, Sheriff. Time to get this one to the auction. Poncho and me’ll load her up.”
Before Wade could respond, Jock said, “Milk her again. I promised the lady.”
Brit and Mary Beth clapped in excitement. Tex had a puzzled look on his face, as if he wasn’t hearing right. But he and Poncho opened the gate and herded Sadie into the chute, shoving the pipe behind her.