“Mom, I’ll lose my figure if you keep feeding me this way,” Hunter teased.
“All of you are much too handsome anyway. The women around here have spoiled you. Honey”—she glanced at Lacey—“I hope you’ll consider marrying one of my boys. I want grandchildren, and I’m pretty sure I’d like having you for a daughter-in-law.”
Lacey choked on her drink. Mr. Garrison patted her back. “It wouldn’t be so bad. You could come to Mom and me, and we’d straighten out any problems.” He grinned from ear to ear.
“Mom and Dad, you’ll scare her away for sure. Lacey isn’t ready to think about dating, much less marrying.”
“We’ll see. She just got back.”
Hunter looked across the table at Lacey. “You’d better run for the hills. Mom doesn’t understand the word no.” His mother cheerfully swatted her kitchen towel at him.
Chapter Three
When they’d finished with dessert and coffee, Hunter stood. “I have a few more places to show Lacey. Thanks for the delicious desserts, Mom.”
Mr. and Mrs. Garrison hugged her on her way out the door. “You can visit anytime,” Mrs. Garrison said.
“Thanks, I may take you up on the invite, and thanks for the cake and pie for Doreen and Billy. They’ll love it.”
When Hunter pulled out on the highway, Lacey asked him where they were going.
“I’m driving to the creek where we used to play and fish. I thought we’d sit on the bank and talk. I stop by frequently on my way home from work. It’s a good spot to help clear my mind.”
They didn’t go far before Hunter turned down a familiar dirt road. Lacey was surprised it hadn’t changed at all. In the distance she saw the creek.
“Why haven’t they paved this road?” she asked.
“Because it’s part of our land, and we like keeping it natural.”
“I’m glad. It brings back happy memories.”
Hunter stopped the car and Lacey walked to the creek bank. The water was deeper along this area. She’d always loved the sound of the gurgling water falling over rocks before spilling into the deeper hole. A cool breeze brushed over her shoulders and she shivered.
“I’ve got a jacket in the car.” Hunter quickly returned with a worn, wool jacket. He placed it around her shoulders and pulled the edges together in the front. He studied her face.
“You’ve become a beautiful woman. I remember you with wild hair, braces, and freckles across your nose. You were tall for your age, and skinny.”
His glance took in the rest of her body, sending a wave of heat rushing through her veins. Then he bent his head, put a hand on each side of her face and brushed his sexy lips across hers.
She’d thought briefly of stepping back. He’d given her time to pull away, but she couldn’t. His tongue stroked across the seam between her lips, and when she parted them his kiss deepened.
He tasted of coffee and blueberries. His tongue caressed the inside of her mouth, and without thinking she stepped further into his arms. His warm body wrapped around her as the jacket fell to the ground.
When his lips slid to her neck, she pushed him back. “I’m not ready for a heavy relationship.”
Hunter bent and put the jacket back around her. “I’m not going to say I’m sorry. You’re delectable, but more than that, the expression in your eyes is that of a wounded bird. I want to take you home, cuddle you, and make love. I want to take away the hurt.”
She looked at the ground. “Give me time. I think being here will help me heal and know what I want.”
“No problem. We’re friends, right?”
“Yes, just remember friends don’t kiss so earnestly.”
Hunter’s smile showed off his dimples, and his eyes sparkled with good humor. Then he got out two cushions for them to sit on.
“Have you gotten too old to sit on the ground?” Lacey asked.
Amusement flickered in his eyes. “No, but I hate to ruin a good pair of pants. You can put your cushion aside and sit on the damp ground if you wish.”
“I’ll admit I have. I don’t want to sit on the dirty, damp ground.”
“What a pity. I’ll have to try and help you recover some of your younger years.”
Lacey shook her head and watched the water flow by. The only sounds were a few birds chirping and the ripple of the water. A sense of peace seeped into her skin. She didn’t remember when she’d been this relaxed.
“Do you remember how we sat here and talked while we fished? Dad thought it strange I had a girl for one of my best friends.” Hunter grinned remembering. “After you left I’d come here and spend time, but it wasn’t the same. I even missed the mud-ball fights when we’d get mad and throw them at each other.”
“Mom threatened to make me stay away from you every time I came home looking like a ragamuffin. One time she was having a party with some of her lady friends and I thought she’d explode. Her face got all red.”
“Even though I was just thirteen when you moved, your leaving left a hole in my life. I thought I’d filled it and forgotten you, but I’m not sure now.”
“And yet you didn’t write.”
“I’d rather have been horsewhipped. Give me a break. I was a kid and boys don’t write letters.”
“I know, but it hurt.” Lacey looked off in the distance.
“I saved them.”
She looked back around at him. “All of them?”
“Don’t dare tell anyone,” he frowned at her.
Lacey started to laugh. “I have something I can hold against you. Your brothers would love to know you have my love letters.”
Hunter pulled her against him and started tickling her.
“You know I hate to be tickled,” she said, and squirmed away from him.
“I’ll stop when you promise to keep what I told you a secret, forever.”
“Oh, all right. You are no fun to tease.”
“Do you really plan on staying here?” Hunter asked, and sat back away from her.
“We’ll see.”
“What type of job will you be looking for in Pleasure Valley?”
“Hmmm, I don’t even want to think about it yet. I have a few ideas.”
“You said you ran your husband’s campaign. I’m planning on running for state senator this year. How about taking charge of mine?”
Lacey sat up. “How far do you hope to go in politics?”
“I don’t know, maybe governor. Perhaps I’ll run for Congress in the future. I’d have to see how I like being in the public eye. What’s wrong?” he asked.
She stood and picked up the cushion. “I’m tired. Please take me home.” She walked quickly toward the truck.
Hunter caught up with her and turned her to face him. “What happened? What did I say that upset you?”
“I’m not interested in helping with your campaign. I think going into politics may be the worst decision you’ve made.” Tears flooded her eyes and she blinked. “It changes you. You become someone else, and the differences aren’t for the better. Take me home.”
He opened her door, put the cushions in the back, and got in the truck. He started the engine and soon they were on their way to Doreen’s.
“You are overreacting,” Hunter said. “Everyone doesn’t become like your husband.”
“I’m not taking a chance.”
When they stopped at the end of Doreen’s driveway, Hunter reached across her to open the door. “See you around,” Hunter said, and then he squealed his tires, leaving.
“Show off,” Lacey mumbled, going in the front door.
Doreen came out of the family room. “Did I hear Hunter going out the drive in a huff?”
“Yes, he’s mad at me.”
“Why? You all were gone so long I thought the day must have gone well.”
“It did until he told me about his ambition to be a state senator, governor, and maybe go to Washington. He wanted me to run his campaign for senator.”
“And you refused?” Doreen lo
oked surprised.
“Of course, I didn’t come here to get back into politics. I hate the system.”
“You might feel different after you’ve been here for a while.”
“I don’t think so, but I did enjoy seeing his mother. She sent this cake and pie for you and Billy.” Lacey handed the cake to Doreen and she carried the pie as they walked to the kitchen.
Lacey sat at the small table and put the pie down. Doreen walked around to the other side and joined her. “I guess I’d better tell Billy to forget about offering you the job of being his campaign manager.”
“Talk him out of running, Doreen. It won’t be good for your marriage.”
“Lacey, not every man is like the creep you married.” Doreen frowned. “I’m secure about Billy and us as a couple.”
“I guess you’re right. I’m sorry if I’ve upset you.”
“I’m not upset or angry, but I am worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’ll be all right. I’m going to bed. Tell Billy good night for me.” Lacey climbed the stairs, and then walked down the hallway to the bedroom she was using. She pushed the curtain open and stared across the pastures and prairie. Moonlight glistened on the mountaintops.
I thought coming back, I’d find myself again. But I guess wherever I go I’ll take the broken pieces with me.
* * * *
Devin called her early the next morning on her cell. “Hi, I heard you’re looking for a house. Do you want to rent or buy?”
“I thought buy, but perhaps I should rent first. I have been gone a long time. I might decide I don’t want to stay.”
“I have a few places where I could probably convince the owners to let you rent with the possibility of buying later.”
“That would be perfect.”
“Have you had breakfast?”
“No, I just got up and was going downstairs to eat.”
“Why not meet me at Shirley’s Place. I can show you some pictures before we start out looking at them.”
“I can be there in about thirty minutes,” Lacey said.
“I’ll see you then.” Devin clicked off.
Lacey pulled her hair back into a twist and fastened it with a pretty clip. Then she dressed in dark brown slacks with a brown and white blouse. She slipped on her brown flats and was ready. When she walked in the kitchen, Doreen and Billy looked around.
“You’ll get attention in that outfit,” Billy said. “You look great.”
“You sure do,” Doreen agreed. “Where are you headed?”
Lacey told them about her call from Devin. “I thought it might be best to look presentable since this is business.”
“You’ll impress the neighbors,” Doreen teased.
“If I find a place today, I can be out of your hair very soon.”
“We like having you visit. There’s no rush to decide on a house. Make sure you like it.” Doreen poured her a cup of coffee. “Sit and drink this. Devin can wait a few minutes.”
Lacey was anxious to go, but she sat beside Billy and drank some of the coffee.
“Doreen said you aren’t interested in being a campaign manager.”
“Not really, but you all have been so nice to me that I’ll do it for you, but no one else.”
“That’d be great because I don’t know where to start,” Billy said.
“We’ll talk about the campaign tonight,” Lacey promised. “But I must warn you, I might try and change your mind.”
“Doreen told me. We’ve talked about it. This is what we both want.”
“Then all right, we’ll do it.” Lacey put her cup down and grabbed her purse. “See you all later.”
* * * *
Shirley grabbed her when she walked into the diner. “Devin told me you were coming in for breakfast. Let me look at you, girl.” She stepped back and gave Lacey a quick once over. “The single women in this town will hate you. You’ve grown up right fine. Come on back this way. Devin’s in the back booth.”
As she walked by booths and tables, some people smiled and some didn’t. There were a lot of new faces.
Devin slid out and stood when she got near. He hugged her and motioned for her to sit across from him.
“I’ll bring your coffee, and would you like orange juice?” Shirley asked as she put down the menus in front of them.
“Juice would be great,” Lacey said. Then she turned to Devin. “She hasn’t changed. She still has the same bright red hair and big smile. This place hasn’t changed much either.”
“No, Justyn keeps teasing her about letting him modernize the restaurant. I think he may be wearing her down. She’s beginning to show some interest. Her husband, Larry, died last year and she took it hard, but she’s getting back to her old self.”
“I’m sorry to hear about her husband. I still recall how he used to tease us kids.”
Devin grinned. “He still did until he got real sick. I’m having the pancakes for breakfast. You’d better decide quickly. Shirley’s headed to our booth.”
Lacey ordered bacon and eggs, and then she sat back to look at the book Devin handed her. She opened it.
“I’ve marked the places I thought might interest you. I wasn’t sure if you wanted a ranch or just a house with some property around it.”
She checked the first page he’d marked. It was a small ranch with an old-fashioned house similar to the one Mr. and Mrs. Garrison lived in. There was a small barn to the back and pasture land and prairie around it. As she ate, she scanned the other places he’d marked. When they’d finished eating and Shirley removed their plates, Devin looked at her questioningly.
“I see you’ve written down three page numbers. Let me see your choices.” He turned the book facing him and checked each property she’d marked.
“The Henrys have already moved to Montana to live with their daughter and son-in-law. They may be willing to rent for a while. Doc and his wife want to move to Florida for their retirement and just want to keep the portion of the land that has a small cabin on it. But they definitely want to sell.
“Your third choice is a good buy. The Simpsons divorced and neither one was much interested in taking care of the small ranch. They didn’t live here but a year or two. The asking price is low for what you’d get, but you’d have to buy. I’ll show you all three and you can tell me if you are interested in one of them.”
Devin paid for their meal and they walked outside. “We’ll take my SUV.” He directed her toward a large, black vehicle parked right out front. He opened the door for her.
She stepped on the running board and sat on the passenger seat. Devin went around and got in the driver’s side. “We’ll start at the Simpsons’. They’re the closest to town.”
He drove fast, but he wasn’t reckless. Lacey studied his profile. Although he resembled the other Garrisons, there were some differences. Lacey knew he’d been adopted by the Garrisons at three years old when his mom and dad died in a plane crash. His dad was Mr. Garrison’s brother.
Devin had black hair and emerald green eyes. They’d said he got his eye color from his mother. He was tall and had wide shoulders, but his build was more lean and tough than the rest.
“I can feel you staring at me,” Devin said.
“All you Garrisons are so good looking it’s hard not to stare. What a change from when I last saw you.”
“Well I was only eleven. I should hope I look different.”
“Why do you choose to participate in the rodeos? I’ve heard it’s dangerous.”
“Danger puts spice in your life.”
“And it can take your life or injure you badly.”
“You sound like Mom. I like the thrill. Some women even participate.” Devin slowed the SUV and turned onto the entry road from the two-lane highway. They were jostled as they rode over the bumpy dirt road. “This needs to be graded.”
At the end of the circular drive was a small house facing east. Devin stopped and came around to help her down. The small porch had two rockin
g chairs, one on either side of the front door.
Devin took out a key and opened the door. “After you, my lady.” He swung his arm and hand in a fancy wave to motion her in.
Lacey chuckled and stepped inside. Devin pulled back curtains to let the sun in and dust motes danced in the air.
“It needs some cleaning,” Devin said. “I have a lady who’ll get it shining clean for you before you move in, if you choose this place, or whichever place you want.”
He followed her, but didn’t add anything else as she wandered from the kitchen to the two bedrooms and the one bath. The main bedroom had a back door to the porch. When she walked outside she saw rolling hills and the mountains in the distance. The air was crisp and clear.
“The barn”—he pointed to a small wooden building—“will hold about three horses.”
Lacey walked around the side of the house. “There’s plenty of room for a garden. I like it, but the house has an empty sadness about it. Show me the other places.”
“Sure.”
Back on the highway, Devin turned west and drove for about five miles. He turned onto a paved road and drove another mile. The road circled a large area with a pond in the center. A house faced the water. Devin parked by the front door. A tall, white-haired man came out to greet them.
“Doc, do you remember Lacey Donelles?”
“I sure do. My, you’ve grown into a lovely lady. Matilda, come see Lacey. She’s back home.”
Matilda Francis came out the door and hugged Lacey. “Welcome back. I’d heard rumors you’d arrived. Come inside and have a glass of iced tea.”
When they were seated around the old kitchen table, Devin explained how Lacey was looking for her own place. “She thought she’d like to see this ranch if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Mrs. Francis said. “I’ll show you the house and Doc can take you around the outside area, but first have a piece of my spice cake with your tea.”
“Just a small one. We just ate breakfast,” Lacey said.
“You can make mine big. I’m a growing boy,” Devin said, which had them all laughing.
Lacey liked the house. It was cheerful and had three bedrooms and two baths. There was a large front porch and a smaller back porch. The large kitchen was sunny and had plenty of room for cooking. Outside, the flowering prairie brightened the land around the house, the trees were more abundant, and the mountains seemed closer than at the other place.
The Unforgettable Bride [Brides for the Garrison Brothers 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 3