“We just want to know what happened. I mean they’re out in the pasture, all alone, and they both come back painted.” Miles chuckled. “I’m just trying to understand what happened, that’s all.” He shrugged his shoulder and grinned.
The sound of the back door opening caused everyone to fall silent. When Chase appeared in the doorway, everyone turned and looked at him as he walked up to the table.
His hair was still damp from the shower, and the fragrance of soap filled the dining room. He pulled out a chair and dropped onto it. “Thanks for the clothes, Bart. I never thought I’d have to change clothes at work.”
Booming laughter echoed off the walls causing Sami to flinch. Even a chuckle escaped Edna’s throat.
Chase looked right at Sami. “I take it we’re the brunt of this joke?”
“Yeap.” Sami didn’t look at him as she dipped her head. “Looks like it. Once again.”
“Maybe you can shed some light on the situation for us, Chase.” Miles lifted a brow. “We’re trying to understand how both of you got covered in paint.”
“Yeah, especially since Sami was the only one doing the painting,” Brent added with a snicker.
“Okay. Enough of this,” their father said, pointing his fork at Miles, and then at Brent. “That’ll be enough.”
“Okay, Pop,” Miles said, still grinning.
“Now, let’s get back to business.” Her dad settled his hands on the table in front of him and clasped them. “Next week we’re going to bring the cattle down. I think they’re fattened up pretty good by now. We need to start getting them ready for the sale. Doc Hughes will be here next Thursday to start vaccinating the heifers, and we have quite a few calves of our own that need branding, too.”
“Make sure everyone keeps their rifles close. Don’t forget about the carcass Clint and me came across last week up on the ridge. I’m just ‘bout sure it was that wounded cougar that tore that animal apart,” Bart added.
“Oh, I talked to Ellen Laney this morning, and she said they found two dead cows on their land, too.” Aunt Edna set a pitcher of sweet tea down in the middle of the table and took her seat. “That’s already three dead animals that we know of.”
“All of us need to be on our guard until this thing is killed.” Concern scribbled through her father’s voice.
Everyone agreed.
Sami hung around the house for the rest of the day, with the excuse of helping Aunt Edna bring her rummage sale items up from the basement. She didn’t want to deal with any more teasing from the boys. And, she certainly didn’t want to face Chase again, either.
The rest of the week, she found every excuse possible to keep a safe distance between herself and Chase. She’d finally concluded she just wasn’t strong enough to stay completely away from him enough to keep her heart in check. All he had to do was smile at her and she melted. But, he belonged to another, and she wasn’t about to let these ridiculous feelings surpass her will.
Saturday morning, Sami climbed out of bed feeling exhausted from yet, another restless night of sleep. Chase filled her dreams night after night after night, now, taking over when the nightmares let go.
She sat on the porch swing enjoying the peacefulness of the morning. The birds flew out around the barn, gathering hay for their nests. It wouldn’t be long before winter settled in. The signs were already in the air. She pulled her robe up close around her neck and shivered. The nights and early mornings were already beginning to turn cooler.
“Good morning. You’re up early.” Edna stepped out onto the porch and held out a cup of steaming coffee.
“Oh. Thank you.” Sami held the warm cup between her hands and breathed in the deep, robust aroma.
Edna eased down on the rocker. “I love this time in the morning. No yelling men. No truck motors rumbling. Just complete silence and peace.” Her aunt breathed in deeply and closed her eyes.
They quietly sat together, enjoying the tranquility of the cool morning air.
“Hey, what are y’all doing? When are you going to start breakfast, Aunt Edna? I’m starving,” Brent bellowed when he stepped out onto the porch.
“Well, that didn’t last long.” Edna chuckled. “I’ll go get it started now. I wouldn’t want you to die of starvation, you poor thing.” Aunt Edna stood, walked over to Sami, and lovingly touched her cheek. “It was nice while it lasted, wasn’t it?”
Sami nodded and smiled up at her aunt.
“Oh, by the way, don’t forget Chase’s family is coming to supper tonight at seven. I can’t wait to meet them.”
Shock and then numbness swept through Sami as she tried to still her racing heartbeat. Chase’s family? He’s bringing them here? She rubbed her face with her hands and moaned.
Oh, this just keeps getting better. Chase Townsend, you really do have a lot of nerve bringing your wife here. He wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore that he was married.
She didn’t want to face Chase’s wife and smile sweetly all through dinner, pretending everything was okay. She didn’t want to get lost in Chase’s eyes, especially in front of his wife.
But, her pride wouldn’t let fear win. She was stronger than that, and she had a point to prove. No man was going to rule her life.
That evening, Sami stared at her reflection in the mirror. She started to pull her hair into its usual ponytail, but stopped short. Not tonight. “You want to play with me, Chase? I’ll show you just what you can’t have.”
She brushed her long blonde hair until it shone. She opened her make-up case, which hadn’t been opened in months, and carefully put some on. So it wasn’t Hollywood perfect. At least she wasn’t head-to-toe dust from being out on Stardust. Make-up on, she dug through her closet. “No. No. No,” she groused, tossing several pieces of clothing onto her bed until she finally pulled out a cute black knee-length dress from the very back. “I haven’t worn a dress in years. I wonder if it still fits.” Holding the dress in front of her, she glanced in the mirror. “Hmmm.”
After slipping on the dress, she looked into the mirror again as a knot twisted in her stomach. Second-guessing herself, she decided to change clothes. This wasn’t her.
Just as she reached back to unzip her dress, she heard a tap on her bedroom door. “Sami, are you coming downstairs? Chase and his family are here.”
Her hands froze on the zipper. “I’ll be down in a minute.”
“Well, hurry. Supper’s already on the table. I don’t want it to get cold.”
Sami ran her moist, shaky hands down the front of her dress and inspected herself in the mirror one last time. “Okay, I guess it’s time to meet Chase’s wife.”
Chase’s wife. Those two small words burned in her throat and right through the gaping hole in her heart.
♥♥♥♥
“She’ll be down in a minute,” Edna said to everyone when she reached the bottom of the stairs.
Chase was anxious to see Sami. He hadn’t seen her in the last few days. She was playing hide and seek. And, she was very good at that game. He would catch a glimpse of her from time to time, but that was all. He wanted to be near her. He wanted to see her smile. He even missed her tough attitude. Who was he kidding? He simply missed her.
“It’s great to fina….” William’s voice trailed off, his eyes fixed at the top of the stairs.
Chase turned and looked to see what had caught William’s attention.
When he looked up, his heart thrashed around in his chest like a captured coon in a trap. “Sami,” Chase whispered under his breath. There Sami stood at the top of the stairs. It was the first time he’d seen her in a dress, and she was breathtakingly beautiful. He watched as she floated gracefully down the stairs. Not caring what anyone thought, he met her at the step, and slipped his hand under her elbow. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you.” Pink tinted her already tinted cheeks.
Chase guided her toward his family. “I’d like to introduce you to my family. Sami, this is my mother, Anna.”
His mother took hold of Sami’s hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, dear. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Sami’s eyes lowered demurely. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Townsend.”
He felt slight resistant from Sami when he turned her toward Emily and Kaylee.
“Sami, this is my sister Emily and her daughter, Kaylee.”
That seemed to snap Sami upright as her gaze went to him rather than them. “Your what?” Sami gripped his arm and looked into his face. The color drained from Sami’s face as she wobbled slightly.
“Are you okay?”
“But, I thought…”
“You thought what?”
A bewildered look swept across her face. “I need some air.” Sami made a dash for the door and out she went.
“What in the world was that all about?” Miles turned and asked Chase.
“I have no idea, but I’m going to find out. Would everyone please excuse me?” Chase hurried out the front door after her. He caught a glimpse of her just as she ducked into the barn. He followed and found her sitting on a bale of hay in the barn with her head lowered.
“What’s going on? And don’t say nothing because I know better.”
She lifted her eyes to meet his and shook her head. “I made a complete idiot of myself in there, didn’t I?”
He walked over next to her and pointed at the empty spot on the hay. “Do you mind?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
He sat down next to her and playfully bumped her with his shoulder. “Okay, tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m such a dim-wit. I didn’t know about your family. As long as you’ve been working here, I can’t believe I didn’t know.”
“Wait. Wait.” He waved his hands in the air. “Slow down. You’re not making any sense. What are you talking about?”
She jumped up and put her hands on her hips. “I thought she was your wife!”
His face contorted, first opening in shock and then falling in confusion. “What? Who? Emily?”
“Yes. Emily. I thought Emily was your wife.”
“Is that why you’ve been pushing me away for days now?” He took her hand and pulled her back down onto the hay bale right next to him.
Sami nodded miserably before lifting her gaze to his. “I saw the two of you in town together with the little girl, and you had your arm wrapped around her. I thought you were married to her.” Her chin quivered.
His eyes were soft and gentle. “Do you think I’m really that type of person, Sami?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. I have trust issues as you can very well see.”
He slipped his fingers between hers and held her hand. “Listen, Sami, I would never hurt you that way. I’m a Christian man, and I’ve dedicated my life to serving God. I’ve always tried to do what’s right, and I want you to know I’d never lie to you. If you ever want to ask me anything, I’ll tell you the truth. I want you to trust me.”
“I don’t know if I can. It’s hard for me to trust anyone. Can’t you see I’m damaged goods?”
That sent him backward three inches. “Damaged goods? You’ve got to be kidding me. Do you know what I see when I look at you?”
Courage would have been nice, but Sami couldn’t even look at him so she stared at her fingers. “What?”
“I see someone who stepped in at the age of ten-years-old and helped raise her family. You became a mother to Brent. You’ve been the one who has held this family together. That’s not damaged goods, Sami. That’s a perfect heart.”
She laughed softly. “A perfect heart? You must be blind.”
“I know what I see every time I look at you. You try to hide behind a masquerade of being a tough girl. But, I know better.”
Shivering, she rubbed her arms.
“It’s cold out here, you must be freezing.” He pulled off his denim jacket, wrapped it around her shoulders, and pulled her into his chest.
“Chase, where’s your niece’s father?”
Compassion filled Sami’s eyes as he told her about Chris’s death. “I’m so sorry for your sister’s loss. I know that must have been so hard on her, and poor little Kaylee losing her daddy that way. Thankfully they both had you.”
They sat together in silence for the next several minutes as he held her in his arms.
“I guess it’s time we go back inside. I need to explain myself. I bet your family thinks I’m insane,” Sami said as she pulled away.
“No, they don’t.”
“There you two are. We thought you two might have run away together,” Miles joked. “Come on, supper is on the table, and Aunt Edna won’t let any of us eat until you two come back inside.”
“We were just on our way.” Chase stood and held his hand out to her. “Are you ready?”
She placed her hand in his and smiled up at him. “I guess I need to go and convince your family I’m not insane.”
Chapter Nine
“Sami, I can’t believe every one of us knew Chase’s mom, sister, and nephew all lived with him, except you,” Brent said, laughing as they sat around the table eating supper.
“How in the world did you miss that?” Miles asked.
“I don’t know. I just did.” Sami glanced over at Chase and shrugged.
“You know what, honey? Everybody in life makes mistakes. And, the world is filled with misunderstandings. I wouldn’t worry not one more minute about it,” Anna said and softly patted Sami’s forearm and smiled.
Kaylee tapped Sami on her other arm. “Do you have a horse?”
Sami smiled at the child. “Yes, I do. His name is Stardust.”
“Do you ride her?” she asked excitedly, twisting in her seat and looking intently into Sami’s face.
“I sure do. Do you know how to ride a horse?”
“No. But, I want too. Uncle Chase says we will buy one soon. But all we have is a bunch of old cows,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “And, they smell really bad, too.”
Sami giggled. “I’ll tell you what. If it’s okay with your mother, Chase can bring you over one day, and I’ll let you ride Stardust.”
“Really and truly?” She climbed up on her knees and got within inches of Sami’s face.
“But only if your mother says it’s okay.”
The little girl’s eyes widened with excitement. “Mommy, can I? Can I?”
“We'll see, Kaylee. Now stop bothering Sami and turn around and eat,” Emily lovingly reprimanded her daughter.
“She’s not bothering me. Really.”
Her father’s cell phone rang. Sami yanked her attention toward her father, frowning, and wondering who was calling him again.
“William, we have company. Cut that thing off,” Edna scolded.
He glanced down at the screen and tried to hide the smile that crept onto his face. “Sorry, but I have to take this. Please excuse me.”
Sami glanced over at Miles; she could tell he was just as curious as she was. He shrugged and shook his head.
After dinner, everyone moved into the living room for coffee and coconut cake. Emily walked over and admired the piano sitting in the corner.
“Do you play?” Brent asked.
“Yes, I do a little.” Emily sweetly smiled. Her chocolate colored eyes sparkling.
“A little?” Chase draped his arm around his sister’s shoulder and smiled. “She’s being very modest. Emily has played the piano since she was a little girl. Take it from me, she really knows how to tickle the ivories.”
When Sami took a closer good look at Chase and his sister, a laugh bubbled in the back of her throat. How had she not seen the similarities between the two? They both had the same dark hair and chocolate colored eyes.
“Play something for us,” Edna insisted with a smile.
“I don’t know. It’s been a while since I’ve played.”
“Please.”
Even though she was hesitant and looked extremely uncomfortable, Emily pulled the bench out and placed her fingers on
the keys. Within minutes, the most beautiful old gospel hymn music filled the room, bringing back bittersweet memories for Sami. The piano belonged to her mother. Sami reminisced about sitting for hours on one side of her mother and Miles on the other side, listening to her play. When she closed her eyes, she could still remember the scent of her mother’s perfume.
Miles walked over, wrapped his arm around Sami’s shoulders, and smiled down at her. Her gaze came up to her brother’s. He remembered too.
When the song ended, everyone applauded and begged for more.
Kaylee climbed up on the bench. “Mama, play Amazing Race.”
A soft laugh escaped Emily’s lips. “It’s Amazing Grace, Kaylee.”
“Will you play it?” The little girl’s innocent eyes blinked up at her mother.
“I’ll do anything for my biggest fan.” She kissed the child’s forehead and put her fingers to the keys again.
After the Townsend family left for home, Sami stood on the front porch watching the soft glow of the tail lights of Chase’s truck disappear into the night.
All evening, she’d watched Chase with his family. He was such a devoted son, brother, and uncle. They were lucky to have him in their lives. And, she knew she was lucky to have him in her life, too.
She heard the door open behind her, but she didn’t turn around. Aunt Edna stepped up beside her and wrapped a sweater around Sami’s shoulders.
“They were nice, weren’t they?” her aunt asked.
“Yes they were.”
“Chase’s family is blessed to have him, aren’t they? Not every man would take it upon himself to care and provide for his mother, widowed sister, and niece. He’s one in a million.”
Just hearing his name made Sami’s heart smile. “I agree. So, what do you think about Anna Townsend? I noticed the two of you were chattin’ it up tonight.”
“I really like her. Bless her heart, they’ve been so busy over there, trying to get settled in, she hasn’t had much time to meet anyone or to make any friends.”
“Well, if I know you, it won’t be like that for long.”
Coming Home: (Contemporary Christian Romance Boxed Set): Three Stories of Love, Faith, Struggle & Hope Page 68