Never Say Never

by Tina Leonard

  She grimaced at his sarcastic tone. If she hadn’t spent days listening to Marsh and Dustin badger each other, she would think the man purely didn’t like her. It certainly felt personal.

  “I can tell you’re fine, Sheriff,” she said dryly. “Sadie is downstairs, saying you let her know she could pick up Holly. After the morning I’ve had, I decided I’d better double-check with you first.”

  “Bad day, huh? Dustin hasn’t even left the hospital yet.”

  “He hasn’t? Is…Eunice all right?”

  “I haven’t been able to pry that information out of any of the nurses. The doctor is having additional tests run on her.”

  “Oh. It sounds serious.” Jill’s heart sank.

  “I think the old gal has seen spryer days, that’s for certain,” Marsh said. “Do you want me to have Dustin call you when he lights?”

  “No.” Jill couldn’t hold back her worry. “I want you to tell me if it’s all right for Sadie to take Holly.”

  “I’ve cleared it with CPS. The Christmas angel is free to go home.”

  She let out a sigh that was both relieved and despondent. “Thank you.”

  “So, what’s the problem?”

  “I don’t have one.” Jill wrinkled her forehead. “At least, I hope I didn’t create one this morning.”

  “If you need to talk, I’ll let you bend my ear.”

  It could be a way to get the word to Dustin that Maxine was upset, Jill thought. Hesitantly, she said, “Maxine came by this morning to pick up Joey. I didn’t have him ready, which seemed to offend her.”

  “Everything offends Maxine. She’s just looking for something to complain about.”

  “She wasn’t very nice.”

  “No kidding.”

  “No.” Jill remembered how Maxine had seemed so disgusted with her. “It was more than that. She was angry.”

  “Blow her off, Jill. Maxine Copeland has toys in her attic. They’ve been rattling around up there all her life.”

  “I wish I could forget about it that easily. But I’m terribly worried.” She tried to take a breath that would reach into her rib cage but couldn’t relax that much. That woman had been listening too closely to Jill’s answers, waiting for any mistake, anything she could use against Dustin. She had felt it. “Thanks for trying to ease my mind, Marsh. I’d better get back downstairs to Sadie. She’s probably about to die from waiting to hold her baby.”

  He chuckled. “I’m glad it’s all worked out for her. Are you taking them home?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll let Dustin know where you’ve gone. He should be in here soon.”

  “I’d appreciate that, Sheriff.”

  She hung up and went down the hall into her bedroom to gather together Holly’s clothes and diapers and other items. She packed them into her own suitcase, which Sadie could return to her when she was settled again. It was hard putting together the little pieces of the child’s life who had come to mean so much to her, though she knew this was the happy ending they had all hoped for. Once everything was packed, she took the holiday dress from the closet. Helplessly, she held the dress to her, smelling Holly’s sweet scent, before laying it in the case. The tiny tights she’d bought for the baby were placed on top of the dress, and the evergreen satin headband Eunice had made followed. For just an instant before she closed the case, tears pricked at her eyes. She was happy for Holly, very happy. But it was so hard to see her leave. Telling herself not to cry, Jill picked up Holly’s basket. The baby slept on, oblivious to the change in her fate.

  “You’re going to be so surprised, Holly. You get to go back home to your mother, and your grandmother. Isn’t that a nice Christmas present?” she murmured soothingly, all the while wondering who she was trying to comfort.

  Sadie jumped to her feet when Jill walked in. “Oh, baby!” she whispered, her voice a hoarse cry. Her fingers reached out to take the basket carefully. “Oh, Lord. I was beginning to think I’d never see you again!” Without heeding the infant’s sleep, Sadie set the basket on the table and snatched her out, holding the child close to her chest. Sadie’s eyes were closed as she reveled in the moment. Jill’s mind spiraled back to that other time Sadie had held her baby in the bakery and so much had gone wrong after that.

  Yet it had all turned out for the best. She smiled and went to get her purse and car keys. “Are you ready to go home?” she asked.

  “We sure are,” Sadie said. “We sure are.”

  The drive to Sadie’s house went too fast. Jill was surprised to note how short the distance seemed between her home and the Reed Ranch. She wouldn’t want to travel the distance on a bicycle the way Sadie had, but looking at the small frame house where Sadie lived, Jill couldn’t help thinking she knew how the girl had made it all the way there.

  Determination must have pushed Sadie’s feet. Jill looked at the worn little house and for a moment worried about Holly’s and Sadie’s safety. That was ridiculous, of course. Curtis couldn’t bother them anymore. She told herself that Holly would be so loved by her family that she would grow up rich by that measure, if by no other.

  “Well, Sadie,” she said, turning off the car. “May I help you take these things inside?” She was half afraid the girl would refuse.

  But Sadie smiled. “You’re awfully nice to offer.” She opened the door and got out, removing Holly from the car seat. Sadie held Holly’s basket close to her as she walked to the front porch. Trying to ignore the sadness inside her, Jill took the bike from the trunk, then got the car seat out and carried it to the porch. Taking the suitcase from the car, Jill followed Sadie into the dark interior of the house. A light snapped on and Jill breathed a sigh of relief. They might be poor, but the Benchleys kept their home nice and neat.

  Sadie placed the basket where she could keep an eye on Holly before turning. “I forgot to ask you your name,” she said softly.

  “Oh, how silly of me. I suppose I thought—never mind.” Jill was embarrassed. “My name is Jill McCall.”

  Sadie smiled at her softly. “I always thought of you as my angel.”

  “Oh, that’s nice of you,” Jill said uncomfortably. “But I’m far from that, I assure you.”

  “I can’t help thinking it. I saw you pick my baby up when you found her, and I knew then everything was going to be okay. Well, maybe not okay, but better.” She twisted her fingers together. “Leaving her was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

  “I’m sure it was.” Having tasted Curtis’s violent nature firsthand, Jill thought Sadie was very brave.

  “He did that to you, didn’t he?” Sadie pointed to Jill’s face hesitantly.

  She had forgotten in the shock of seeing Sadie. Gingerly, she touched her bruised face before nodding. “Yes.”

  “You see? You are my angel. It should have been me.” Sadie’s eyes filled with unshed tears.

  “No. It should have been no one.” Jill knew she was stronger than Sadie, less vulnerable to Curtis in any way. It had been an awful night. She had endured some tough treatment. But in the end she had survived. Sadie might not have survived Curtis’s rough handling.

  “The Reeds saved my baby. I’ll never forget that.”

  “They’re good people.” Jill thought for a second. “Sheriff Marsh probably wouldn’t mind some baked goods when you’ve got a chance to take some by the hospital.”

  “Is he sick?” Sadie’s eyes went wide.

  She shrugged. “Not if you listen to him talk. But Curtis got off one shot that just happened to hit the sheriff.”

  “Oh, no! He didn’t tell me.”

  “I imagine not,” Jill said dryly. “But he’s not pleased about it. That boy’s going to spend a lot of time in jail for assaulting an officer of the law, and likely attempted murder, too.”

  Sadie sat as if her feet could no longer support her. “He’s bad. Curtis is bad all the way through.” She stared up at Jill. “How could I have loved him? How could I have fallen for someone with so much badness in him?
”

  Jill shook her head. She walked over to the window to look out as she considered Sadie’s words. A moment later, she swiveled to face her. “You’re not the only woman on earth to fall for the wrong guy, Sadie. As unfair as it seems, it happens to the best of us.”

  “You didn’t…did you?”

  She shrugged. The two of them had more in common than anyone might have guessed. “Maybe not with the pure evil Curtis had. But I thought I loved someone who supposedly returned my love. He didn’t love me at all. I think he really wanted to own me. And when he couldn’t, he tried to hurt me in other ways.” She stood straight as a thought occurred to her. “Actually, he did hurt me for a while. But I don’t hurt anymore.” Not since I came to the Reed Ranch. I have as much to be thankful for as Sadie. The realization that she, too, had been healed by the Reeds amazed her. She had gotten the Christmas present of peace that she had hoped for when she came to Lassiter, despite everything.

  “I was so ashamed to leave my baby.” Sadie held Jill’s gaze shyly. “I didn’t think anyone would understand why I had. Somehow I feel like you understand me.”

  Jill went to hug her. “I do.”

  Sadie returned her hug. “Thank you for protecting my baby.”

  “Thank you for letting me. She’s a doll.”

  She heard a sniffle. “Maybe you’ll have one of your own someday,” Sadie said.

  A surprising pang shot through Jill’s heart. She stood, barely able to smile. “I’ll just pop by every once in a while to play with Holly, if you don’t mind. Eunice is going to fret to get her hands on that baby occasionally.”

  “I hope she’s going to get better.”

  Another pang hit her, harder. “So do I. Listen, is there anything I can get you? You probably haven’t had time to get to the store. Anything you need?”

  “No. Mother will be home soon, and to tell you the truth, I’m looking forward to just sitting and holding my baby.”

  Jill nodded. She understood and appreciated that need. As soon as Joey got back from that battle-ax’s house—no, his maternal grandmother’s house, she reminded herself sternly—she was going to hold him and kiss him, and help those little fingers string that popcorn he’d been itching to string.

  “Well, goodbye, Sadie,” she said softly. “Goodbye, Holly.” She said these words even though the baby wasn’t awake to hear. Jill shot one last look at Sadie, trying to tell her heart to stop beating so nervously. It felt strange to go off and leave behind the infant she’d fought for last night. “Call me if you need anything,” she told Sadie, before walking out and closing the door behind her. Some fine foster parent she’d be, she told herself, boo-hooing over leaving a ward she’d known was temporary. She couldn’t help it, though. It was a perfect happy ending, and she’d feel better later, but right now, Jill wanted to get home and indulge herself in a moment of sadness. Lord, she wouldn’t know what to do now that she could sleep through a whole night without warming a bottle.

  Occupying herself with morose thoughts like that, Jill drove her little car up the ranch drive. Dustin’s truck was in its usual spot. Quickly, she parked the car and hurried to the house. She couldn’t wait to hear about Eunice’s condition.

  She couldn’t wait to see Dustin.

  Hurrying inside, she nearly collided with him in the hall. He took her into his arms to steady her. Jill stared up at him, quickly checking his face for signs of serious news. He appeared relaxed—until his gaze went from her eyes to her cheek.

  “Whew. That looks worse than it did last night,” he said, tracing the outline of the bruise with his finger. “I left so fast with Mother I don’t think I noticed it this morning. You should see a doctor, Jill.”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  He pulled her back to look at her closely. “I’m surprised your cheek bone didn’t break.”

  “Didn’t hit me hard enough,” Jill said lightly.

  He swore, calling Curtis a few choice names.

  “I’m more worried about Joey. I hope he didn’t bruise.” She stiffened, remembering Maxine’s dreadful visit. “Did you forget to tell me that today was Joey’s day to go to—”

  “Damn.” Dustin’s eye riveted back to her face. “I’m sorry about that. I don’t suppose Maxine was nice to you?”

  “Um…” Jill thought about how upset she’d been that Joey had been in his pajamas. “I…maybe you’d better call to check with her. She seemed pretty upset with me, and…I don’t think I handled it very well.” That was putting an optimistic light on it, Jill thought.

  “I do want to talk to Joey.” Dustin went into the kitchen, saying over his shoulder, “I’m sure Maxine wasn’t any more or less herself than usual.”

  He picked up the phone and began dialing. A shudder went through Jill. With heavy steps, she went up the stairs and into her room. The likelihood that Maxine had decided not to ring Dustin’s ears with complaints about her was remote. She sat on the bed despondently. As Dustin’s voice rose with so much irritation that she could hear it through the floor, Jill closed her eyes in dismay.

  Maxine was keeping her word.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Joey sat in Grandmother Copeland’s kitchen, hearing her voice carry angry tones all the way down the hall. The cookie in front of him lost its appeal. Whoever Grandma was mad at was in big trouble. He sighed and looked around the big kitchen. His stomach hurt, and he wished his father would come and get him. Grandmother’s cookies didn’t taste like Jill’s, and though he loved his grandfather, Joey was sad. Everybody in the house was making brows. If he could just go home, he thought everything would be much better.

  Swinging his legs, Joey wondered what baby Holly was doing. Sleeping, probably. All that baby did was sleep. He understood she was going to go home one day, but he sure did like having her around. She made a lot of noise sometimes, and one time when she burped and he’d been sitting too close to her, he thought she smelled like a sandwich. That had made him laugh.

  She was soft, too. He liked touching her head because it reminded him of the velvet on Rooster’s nose. One day, maybe Holly could ride Rooster with him. Suddenly, he wondered if Santa would bring Holly’s presents to his house for her. Joey sat up straight. What if he had to stay at Grandmother Copeland’s for Christmas? Santa Claus wouldn’t know where to find him. Santa would go to his house and see the little tree Joey had decorated with Jill and the big tree his daddy had chopped with him and leave the presents there.

  Grandmother Copeland yelled louder. Joey started to cry.

  Eunice opened her eyes slowly, waking up instantly when she realized who was sitting beside her in the hospital room. “How are you, my friend?” she asked.

  Vera smiled and patted Eunice’s arm lightly. “Better than you, I think.”

  “Oh, I’m fine.” Eunice shook her head, knowing it was true. She was simply tired, perhaps, and getting old. Her mind didn’t feel old, but the body was obviously running down. “I’m not the spring chicken I used to be, of course. But I’ll be up and going in a few days.”

  “Did we do this to you?” Vera asked.

  Her deep brown, worried eyes passed over Eunice’s body. Eunice couldn’t help a smile. “No. Your grandbaby kept me young and made me feel alive again. And I slept through all the excitement, anyway.”

  “I suppose you wouldn’t tell me any differently.”

  “Well, I will tell you that I always wanted a little girl of my own.” She rolled her head on the pillow to look at Vera. “Oh, don’t mistake me. Dustin was enough child to keep me busy, and he’s grown into a fine man we were always proud of. But there was a time when…” She hesitated for a moment, her eyes downcast. “I was pregnant one more time,” she said softly. “I thought maybe I was going to finally get that little baby girl I so badly wanted.” She smiled to herself. “I miscarried two months into my pregnancy. It just wasn’t meant to be, I guess, because there never was another baby. So getting to hold yours was a blessing to me that I cherished.” />
  Eunice’s voice was deep with sadness, perhaps even with regret. Vera knew that was something Maxine would never understand about Eunice: she hadn’t gotten everything in life she had wanted. Vera looked at the woman who still resembled the girl she’d known, very much a Homecoming Queen despite her age. Frailer now, maybe, but with the same spirit. “I can still hear you comforting your mother about your shoes, Eunice. Nobody in the world would have guessed how hurt you were.” She sighed, remembering. “You’re comforting me, now.”

  Eunice covered Vera’s hand with her own. “No. You’re comforting me. And that’s what friends are for.”

  Vera leaned back in the chair. Together they sat there, and though Eunice’s eyes closed once again, Vera didn’t move, except to take her hand from under her friend’s. This time, she covered Eunice’s hand with her own.

  Dustin walked right into the room that was Jill’s. “You read the situation correctly,” he told her. “Maxine’s ticked.”

  She was always ticked. Even he had been able to tell that this time she was losing it. Dustin shook his head. The very thought or mention of Jill was gas on a fire to Maxine. Like it or not, he needed Jill. His mother would hopefully come home soon, but since she’d suffered a minor stroke, she was going to need some care. Joey needed someone to look after him. Dustin preferred for all of his family to have a caretaker who loved them. It was clear Jill had become very close to his mother and son. He was in a fortunate position to have hired someone who was so special to his family.

  Dustin sat on the bed next to Jill, though he was hardly aware he’d done it. “I wish I understood Maxine’s concerns.” He paused, trying to sort through everything he’d just heard. Maxine had called Jill a slut, which had not surprised him. But it was her vehement accusation that Jill wasn’t fit to care for Joey that bothered him. “I’m trying to, I really am, but for the life of me, I don’t know what she wants me to do. Well, besides build a shrine to Nina.”

  He snorted, wishing be hadn’t said that. It sounded so mean. Jill laid a comforting hand on his arm.