by Linda Warren
Eli, unable to resist, picked up Katie and followed.
Inside, Katie wiggled to get down and Eli reluctantly let her go. As he straightened, he saw an older woman in her seventies come toward him, and he knew who she was.
“Aunt Vin, I believe,” he said.
She stared at him. “My, my, you have Joe’s eyes.”
“Yes, ma’am, my mother told me.”
“My, my, this is…” She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him, unable to say more. Eli hugged her back, finding it quite easy.
Aunt Vin wiped at her eyes. “Now have a seat, young man, and we’ll have a snack.”
Ben came from the kitchen holding a large platter and walking very carefully. Elise hovered behind him. He placed the platter on the table. “We made these for you.”
Eli stared at the cinnamon rolls. “Thank you, Ben.” He glanced at Jake, recalling a day in grade school when Althea had made cinnamon rolls for their class. Eli had loved them and Jake had remembered.
“Sit, sit,” Aunt Vin ordered, and everyone settled at the table.
Elise tried to put Katie in her seat. “No, no,” she said. “I have to tell Uncle Eli a story.”
Jake lifted an eyebrow. “A story?”
“Yeah.” She stood by Eli. “Aunt Vin, Granny Althea and me made these and Ben put on the icing and they’re really, really good. Do you know why?”
Eli shook his head. “No. I don’t.”
Her eyes sparkled. “’Cause they got love in them. See if you can taste it.”
Eli tried not to laugh. He reached for a napkin, picked up a roll and bit into it. It was as good as he remembered, if not better.
“Can you taste it?” Katie asked, watching him closely.
“Can you?” Ben pressed.
Eli smiled at them. “Oh, yes. I can taste it.” And he felt it all around him. He saw it on their faces and in their actions, and he wondered why it had taken him so long to find his way to heaven. As a kid, he’d thought this place was heaven, and he’d been right—maybe not then, but now. Jake had made this a haven, a place to be happy, and Eli wanted that, too.
He lifted Katie onto his lap, knowing he wanted his own home, wife and kids. He’d planned that with Ginny, but life had thrown him a destructive curve, which seemed to be a pattern for him. Life hadn’t been kind, and he dealt with it the best way he could. Alone. Keeping everything inside. If he didn’t let himself feel, he couldn’t get hurt.
But deep down he’d always longed for love and family.
Suddenly all he could see were Caroline’s green eyes.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
WHEN IT WAS TIME to leave, Eli felt a moment of sadness for the years he’d missed with the McCains, especially after Ben’s kidnapping. He hadn’t been ready to know them then, but now he was, and it felt so good to let all the resentment go.
He stood with Katie in his arms. Ben looked up at him.
“When you coming back, Uncle Eli?”
“I’m not sure, but I will be back.” He glanced briefly at Jake and saw approval in his eyes. Eli didn’t want to give Ben a date because he had to concentrate on the Buford case and he wasn’t certain when he’d be free. “In the meantime you practice your throwing.”
“I’ll use my muscles.” Ben made a fist and flexed his arm. “And Daddy and Uncle Beau will help me.”
Caleb placed a hand over his heart. “I’m crushed. I’ve been replaced.”
“Nah,” Ben said, running to him and wrapping his arms around him. “I love you.”
Caleb picked him up. “Love you, too, champ, and when we come back we’ll all play ball.”
“Okay.”
Eli walked to the car, feeling more love and warmth than he’d felt in a long time. On the drive back, Caleb talked about the family and Eli listened with an open heart.
They drove to the hospital where Caleb’s car was parked, and they hugged as brothers as they parted. It was an awesome feeling.
Eli didn’t drive to his place—instead he found himself driving to the ranch. He hadn’t planned to, but it seemed to be where he needed to go. It was dark as he pulled into the carport. He saw Sam through the beam of headlights, racing for the house thinking it was Tuck. Turning off the ignition, Eli got out and rubbed the dog’s ears.
“He’ll be home soon, boy,” he told him, and retrieved the cinnamon rolls Aunt Vin had given him to take home. Sam curled up on his mat by the door and Eli went inside.
Flipping on the light, he laid the rolls and his hat on the table, soaking up the ambiance of the big, comfortable kitchen and den. He’d learned about life here, learned about family. Eli never wanted to lose the feeling he got when he walked into this house. Letting out a long breath, he knew he hadn’t. Caroline was right. There were many facets to love, and he’d found another one tonight—the love of his brothers.
He opened the sliding door and stepped onto the patio. When he sat in Ma’s rocker, Sam came and lay down at his feet. Soon Dee materialized and went to sleep on Sam. Crickets chirped and Eli stared out into the night, feeling Ma and Pa’s presence all around him. He knew beyond a shadow of doubt they would have wanted him to form a connection to his brothers. If they were alive, they would have insisted on it. He hadn’t recognized that until Caroline mentioned it. They wouldn’t want him to continue to live with the resentment. They’d taught him better than that.
He drew in the fresh, cedar-tinged air and suddenly all his doubts and guilty feelings over loyalty vanished. He had family and he would build on the relationships he’d formed today.
Glancing up at the stars, he wondered where Caroline and Colin were tonight. Ignoring the sudden ache in his heart, he hoped she was happy and that Colin would be with her during the trial. She would need him.
Headlights flashed across the barn—Tuck was home. Sam ran for the carport and Dee disappeared into the darkness. Eli sat where he was. He didn’t feel like moving.
In a few minutes, Tuck came through the patio doors munching on a cinnamon roll. “Where’d you get these?” he asked, patting Sam and giving him a bite. “They’re delicious.”
“You’d never guess.”
“Probably not.” Tuck licked his fingers.
After a long pause, Eli said, “I went to visit the McCains today.”
Tuck plopped down in Pa’s chair. “What? How did that happen?”
“After you left the coffee shop, I forced myself to talk to Caleb. He was very nice, didn’t even mention how rude I’d been. We talked and talked. It wasn’t difficult at all, like you said. Joe McCain didn’t claim him, either.” Eli told him the rest of the story.
“Man—I never expected anything like that.”
“Me, neither.” Eli leaned forward. “I thought they were this happy, perfect family.”
“But you knew that Jake’s mother had left Joe a long time ago.”
“Yeah. But I thought the boys had a connection with their father. It seems Joe McCain didn’t raise any of us. Aunt Vin, Joe’s sister, raised Jake, and I met her, too. A very sweet lady.”
“Sounds like Joe had problems,” Tuck remarked.
“Big problems.” Eli rubbed his hands together. “He was selfish and manipulative—like a lot of criminals we see—willing to do anything to get what he wanted, even if it meant hurting people who cared about him.” He glanced at his foster brother. “I don’t want to be like that.”
“You’re not,” Tuck assured him.
Eli exhaled deeply. He didn’t want to be so rigidly selfish and stubborn, but he had been in the past. “I resisted seeing the McCains because I already had Ma, Pa and you. I felt guilty about wanting to have another family.”
“For heaven’s sake, why?”
“I thought that seeing the McCains would diminish my feelings for Ma and Pa. Everything they gave me and everything they did for me.”
“Eli,” Tuck sighed. “You know them. They wanted you to be happy.”
“Yeah.” Eli glanced at the stars
. “Someone made me realize that.”
“Who?” Tuck asked, stretching out his legs. Sam jumped into his lap.
“Caroline.”
“You’ve been seeing her?” Tuck stroked the dog.
Eli told him about the day he’d brought Caroline here and about the boxing gloves.
“She knocked you down?” Tuck laughed. “Would’ve paid a lot of money to see that.”
“Don’t get carried away. I didn’t fight back.”
“I wonder why?” Tuck mused, then asked, “How did the visit with the McCains go today?”
Eli told him every detail of the day.
“So Katie put love in the rolls?”
“That’s what she called it, and she wanted to make sure that I knew. She’s a little doll. She stayed with Althea while Elise was at the university. Aunt Vin went over and they cooked all day, making the rolls and practicing Katie’s introduction to me. They waited until Ben got out of school so he could put the icing on. I can’t believe they went to all that trouble.”
“They’re your family.”
Eli realized he could hear that now without his insides caving in. “I’ll be working with Caleb on the Buford case. We’re trying to get Belle to talk so we can find out who she is and maybe get more information on Buford.”
“That will give you a chance to get to know each other better,” Tuck said.
“Yes.” He stood. “I’d better go. I’m back in my office tomorrow.”
They walked into the house. Sam and Dee followed.
“Why don’t you just spend the night?” Tuck suggested.
“I need to get back to town.” He wished he was going to see Caroline.
Tuck observed his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Yes, there is. If you tighten your lips any more, they’ll disappear.”
“Caroline went back to her fiancé.” The words came out before Eli could stop them.
“That’s good, isn’t it? She’s getting on with her life.”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t say that with much enthusiasm.”
“It was unexpected and I don’t think it’s what she really wants.”
“Eli—”
“I gotta go,” he interrupted. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He tore off half the tin foil covering the rolls and divided them. Picking up his half, he left.
Unable to stop himself, Eli drove to Caroline’s apartment. He wanted to tell her about today and thank her, but she still wasn’t home. She and Colin had probably gone away for some time together. When she came back, she and Eli would be strangers.
And that’s the way it would stay.
CAROLINE LEFT SAN ANTONIO early, eager to get home. She’d done a lot of soul searching and she felt clearer, more in tune with her emotions and her fears.
There were several things she wanted to do. First, she had to see Colin. She felt she’d been unfair to him and wanted to more fully explain her feelings. Maybe they could end the relationship more amicably. Second, she wanted to visit with Belle. She owed the woman her life, and wanted to do something for her. Third was Eli. Just Eli. She wasn’t sure how she was going to explain her quick disappearance, so she’d just tell him the truth. She hoped he was ready to hear it.
The drive was long and tiring, but eventually she reached Colin’s office, which was over the camera shop. His car was in his parking spot, so she knew he was there. She walked up the outside stairs and knocked, then opened the door. Colin was at his desk and Julie, a girl who worked in the camera shop, was sitting on his desk with her legs crossed, facing him.
When Colin saw her, he jumped to his feet, almost knocking over his chair. Julie stood more slowly. “Talk to you later, Colin,” she said as she walked out.
“Caroline, I’m so glad to see you,” he said, coming around the desk to her side.
“I’m sorry I interrupted,” she replied.
“We were just going over some figures.”
“Yes. I could see.”
“Please don’t be jealous,” he begged, not missing her insinuation.
“I’m not, Colin.” And she wasn’t. She and Colin were wrong for each other. If not for the kidnapping, she probably would have married him. Or maybe she wouldn’t have. She’d had doubts—that’s the reason she couldn’t set a wedding date.
“I’ll close up and we can go to lunch.”
“No, Colin. There were several messages on my cell phone and I just wanted to ask you to stop calling me. It’s over and I’d like for us to get on with our lives.”
“You’ve been through so much—are you sure you’re thinking clearly?”
“I am,” she told him. “I’m thinking more clearly than I have in a long time.”
“Caroline…”
“Colin, don’t.” She looked around the office. Everything was in its place, nothing out of order. Everything was organized—just like at his stores. She smiled. “You know how I like to leave things out in my apartment.”
“Yes.”
“Well, if we ever lived together, we would drive each other crazy within a month.”
“No, I—”
She held up a hand. “Grace has the same personality as you, neat and organized. I can only stay with her a few days before we start to get on each other’s nerves. It would have been the same with us. Our interest in photography couldn’t be the only thing to hold us together.”
Colin looked down at the floor.
“And you’ve already moved on.”
His head jerked up. “Julie means nothing to me.”
“Be honest, Colin.”
“Your disinclination to put things away did bother me.”
That wasn’t what she meant, but she nodded. “Be happy, Colin. I plan to.” She moved toward the door and turned back. “I’m sorry about the ring.”
“Don’t worry. I had it insured.”
She should have guessed he had all his bases covered.
“Goodbye, Colin.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll—”
“I won’t.”
He nodded. “Bye, Caroline.”
This time it was final.
NEXT SHE WENT SHOPPING. Belle was about her size and Caroline intended to buy her some clothes. She purchased gowns and a robe, slippers, panties, one bra, just to see if it would fit, a couple of pairs of slacks and a few tops. Then she bought lotion and moisturizer and a few makeup items. Belle’s skin was so lovely that Caroline didn’t think she needed much.
Finally she headed for the hospital. On the way, she called Grace.
“Hi. I’m back.”
“Caroline,” Grace said in a nervous tone. “I didn’t think you’d get back this soon.”
“It didn’t take long to photograph the Alamo.”
There was a noticeable pause.
“Grace, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just busy.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you tonight. Maybe we can have dinner.”
“Sure. I’ll talk to you then.”
Caroline hung up, thinking Grace was acting weirder than usual. She put it out of her mind as she reached the hospital.
ELI’S MORNING WASN’T going well. He met with Tom, Bill and the attorneys handling the Buford case.
“It doesn’t look good,” Greg Sherr, the assistant U.S. Attorney said. “Caroline Whitten spent her college career protesting everything she could.”
“Why does that matter?” Eli asked.
“Because Lansing will take this evidence and devour her like a pit bull,” Greg replied, looking at the papers in front of him. “Listen to this. At her school, there was a professor, James Halter, who was a Mormon and had two wives. When the university found out, he was fired. Ms. Whitten, along with several other students, protested the firing and was arrested. Of course, Congressman Whitten got her out as soon as he could. But it proves she’s in favor of multiple marriages.”
“It proves she’s against someon
e getting fired unjustly,” Eli muttered.
“That’s not the way a jury will see it. Buford said she wanted to join their faith. After a jury hears that story, which you can bet your money Lansing will get in, it will plant a seed of doubt. That’s all he needs to do.”
“Goddammit. She was kidnapped,” Eli roared.
“Get me hard evidence,” Greg replied.
“Her word should be all you need. My word should be all you need.”
“It isn’t.”
Eli was about to explode with the injustice of it all. Caroline didn’t deserve this.
“Eli.” Tom drew his attention. “You said the dark-haired woman was starting to talk. Keep working with her. Maybe we can get her to testify. That would seal the case, but she has to be credible, unshakable.”
Eli took a long breath. “I’ll do my damnedest.”
“Caleb McCain will continue to help you,” Greg said. “Get me something quick. Lansing’s good, and he will use every shred of evidence he can to Buford’s advantage.”
Eli walked away feeling numb. He knew the system had flaws, but was feeling it personally once again. And it wasn’t just about Ginny.
It was about Caroline.
He would work day and night to get something on Buford. The man wasn’t going to go free, of that Eli was certain.
He wished Caroline would come back. He needed to talk to her. This time it wasn’t personal. It was business.
CAROLINE WALKED INTO Belle’s room and found her staring out the window again. “What do you see?” she asked, her arms full of shopping bags.
Belle swung around. “Ms. Whitten.”
“Call me Caroline, please.” She set her load on the floor.
“What are those?” Belle asked, looking at the bags.
“I brought some things that I thought you might need.”
Belle shook her head. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” Caroline pulled out the contents of the bags and laid them on the bed. “Come look,” she invited.
Belle moved closer.
“I bought you some gowns and a robe. Thought you might like them better than the hospital stuff.”
Belle drew the robe closer around her thin frame. “They’re okay.”
Caroline knew she was making Belle nervous so decided to take it slow. She sat in a chair. “How are you?”