“I think she just needs to rest. But if she needs to go, she’ll be honest and tell us.” Ruby stood, smiling down at her grandmother. “We should eat something.”
Her grandmother smiled. “I made soup.”
Ruby leaned to kiss her grandmother’s cheek. “Of course you did.”
She started to walk away, but Iva stopped her. “So how is Carson?”
“He’s just fine.”
Outside a horn honked. Derek looked startled as he glanced at his watch. “Oh, man, I’m late.”
“Late for what?” Ruby walked to the window, pushed back the curtain and looked out. The red convertible and a pretty blonde.
“I have a date,” he admitted.
Ruby looked back at her brother, surprised by the red in his cheeks. “Tell her to come in and meet us. I doubt Gran would put up with a guy honking for me. I don’t see why it’s any different for a girl to honk and a guy to go running.”
“It isn’t,” Iva said with a grin. “Let’s meet this girl who has you wearing cologne.”
“No.”
“Why not?” Ruby asked.
“Because, Ruby. I’m not having her come in here.”
That did it. Ruby shot her brother an angry glare and headed for the door. “Derek, she can either come in and meet your family or she can admit now that she thinks she’s too good for you. Or do you think you’re not good enough?”
“Ruby,” Iva warned. “This isn’t the same.”
At that Ruby turned to look at her grandmother. “It is the same. She’s sitting out there in a car that would cost more than this house, sunglasses that cost more than my entire wardrobe and she won’t walk up the front steps and meet his family. Or he doesn’t want her to meet us.”
Derek was at her side, his eyes narrowing. “Calm down. I’ll go get her. But I’m not sixteen and you’re not my mother.” He paused. “And this isn’t about you.”
That unsettled her. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Maybe the guy pulling up the drive has something to do with that. You’d better not go running if he honks.” Derek half grinned at his warning as he walked out the door.
“What’s Carson doing here?” Ruby spun to face her grandmother, remembering the homemade soup in the kitchen. A clue. She should have paid attention to the clues.
“When he called to tell me you all were stuck in that cabin, I told him to bring Brandon over for soup.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
Iva gave her a pointed look. “Really?”
The conversation had nowhere to go. Besides that, Brandon was heading at a fast pace for the front door. Behind him, Carson called out for him to wait. And Derek was opening the car door for his girlfriend, who looked just as shiny and pretty as her car. Ruby looked down at her own rain-soaked clothes and tried to avoid her reflection in the glass of the storm door because she knew her hair hung limp around her face. She probably had streaks of mascara running down her cheeks.
On the other side of the door, Brandon waited, a big grin on his face. She pushed the door open and let the little boy in. She reminded herself that insecurity wasn’t an attractive trait. She’d put herself through college. She’d worked her way up in the state of Oklahoma as a supervisor for family services. She was educated, knew how to handle juveniles, angry parents and state officials.
It was time to stop thinking she wasn’t good enough. Only one person, no two, had ever made her feel that way. Both were related to Carson. His father and his sister.
Only two people. She had to stop letting those two people, the memory of what they’d done, control her thoughts about herself.
She was more.
She faced Carson with that thought in mind. “Carson.”
“Surprise,” he said as he walked through the door she opened for him. He had changed into jeans, a buttoned-up shirt and boots that a man didn’t wear to work on a farm. Her eyes soaked up the sight of him. “I would have told you, but I had a feeling you’d uninvite us. And I do love Iva’s homemade soup.”
“Of course you do.” She glanced past him at Derek and the girl, now standing outside her car, their arms around each other.
“Alyssa Meadows,” Carson said. “Her dad has a big spread about twenty miles from here.”
“I’ve never heard of them.”
Carson glanced back at the young couple. “They sold out in California and moved here a few years ago. She’s a decent girl. She looks high maintenance, but I’ve been over there and seen her working cattle right along with her dad and brothers.”
Ruby nodded, willing to let it go.
When she turned from the window, Brandon was helping Iva to her feet, her unsteady hands on the walker. It hurt to see her struggle this way. The hurt deepened knowing that in a matter of months she would be in a wheelchair. In Ruby’s sporadic trips home over the past few years, Iva had managed to keep the disease a secret. This past summer when Ruby visited, it had been obvious. There had been a rapid progression since her visit at Christmas.
“Gran, take a seat at the dining-room table. You cooked. I’ll serve.” Ruby walked next to her grandmother as they made slow progress from living room to dining room.
“I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” Iva said, even her voice shaking as her body weakened. “Not because I have to.”
“No, of course not.” Ruby leaned to kiss her grandmother’s powdered cheek. She pulled out a chair, and Iva sat with a sigh of relief.
She heard the front door open, then heard Derek saying something about they wouldn’t stay long. Ruby and Iva exchanged a look.
A few minutes later Derek had entered the room with the woman, Alyssa. She was pretty, but not overwhelming. There was something fragile about her, something that made her more likable. Derek, all brash confidence and cowboy tough, softened in her presence. His hand was laced through hers and he looked down at her as if she might be the best thing ever.
“Ruby, Gran, this is Alyssa Meadows. Alyssa, this is my family. And our neighbors, Carson Thorn and his nephew, Brandon.” He looked at Alyssa as he spoke, saying the words clearly, and Alyssa watched him speaking to her.
After the introduction Alyssa held out a hand for Ruby to shake. “Ruby, I’ve heard so much about you.”
The young woman spoke, but her words were low and not easily understood. Ruby didn’t glance at her brother but she knew if she did look at him, his features would be hard with that protective streak of his. Alyssa Meadows was deaf.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Alyssa.” Taking her cue from Derek, Ruby made eye contact with the younger woman and spoke clearly.
And she meant it. It was good to meet Alyssa. Her brother had changed. Maybe this young woman had something to do with those changes.
Ruby’s gaze dropped to a pretty sapphire necklace hanging from Alyssa’s neck. “That’s a beautiful necklace.”
“Derek bought it for me. For my birthday.” Alyssa smiled up at Derek.
“That was sweet of him.” This time she did look at her brother. And he didn’t look guilty or as if anything was out of place. But the necklace? How had he bought something that expensive? She hated that her first thoughts were to suspect him of something criminal.
“Are we going to eat?” Brandon appeared at her side, a big grin on his face. “Iva told me to ask. And Uncle Carson is getting bowls.”
“Of course he is,” she said. She ruffled her fingers through the little boy’s hair. “I’ll help him.”
She looked around the dining room, filled to overflowing with people. Filled with laughter and conversation.
And then she looked toward her kitchen, filled with Carson Thorn’s presence. She watched as he moved around the tiny space, totally at ease. He had bowls of soup on the counter and he had put rolls in a basket.
“Making yourself at home, aren’t you?” She stopped next to him at the counter.
“I thought I’d make myself useful,” he admitted as he
dished soup into a bowl. “Iva always made me feel welcomed this way.”
“Yes, she did. From the first, when Dad...when he died and she brought us here, it felt like home. It felt safe.” Even after all of these years it stung. The tears blurred her vision and she had to inhale to keep it together. Her dad had done his best. She’d always known that. He’d been a man left alone with two kids and a dream. He’d missed the woman who had been his anchor.
He’d expected Ruby to become his anchor. And she’d done her best.
“Yeah, I’m sure it did.” Carson turned from the bowls of soup and his gaze turned her inside out. “Iva knows how to take care of people.”
They’d had this conversation before, years ago. She’d told him about those few years when they lived in the pull-behind RV, sometimes settling for a month or two in one place, never going to school. Her dad had bought them textbooks and it had been up to her to make sure they did schoolwork. Cooking had been up to her. Raising Derek, also up to her.
When Iva had taken them in, she’d worked hard to make Ruby let go of that need to parent, to take charge. She’d insisted that Ruby be a child.
As a social worker, Ruby had seen too many kids like herself, used to being the adult. And in each of those cases she’d urged the foster parents to do as Iva had done, make sure the children became children again.
“We should feed them before this gets cold,” she said, picking up two bowls and heading for the dining room.
Carson followed her.
They carried bowls of soup to the dining room. Ruby paused midstep when she saw her brother using sign language, smiling as he spoke to Alyssa. The young woman’s hands flew and her face beamed.
Who was this young man her brother was becoming? Ruby felt a bit of pride watching him, seeing the changes that were taking place. He was becoming a man.
She had to let him grow up. She couldn’t protect him. She couldn’t make decisions for him.
“He’s good,” Carson whispered behind her. “She’s good for him.”
She nodded and placed bowls of soup on the table before turning to go back for more. Carson followed her. It might have been better if he hadn’t. He could sit down, give her space and she could finish bringing the food to the table. But no, she didn’t get that break. He followed her to the kitchen, standing close behind her as she finished gathering bowls. He picked up the basket of rolls.
“You smell like rain,” he said as they walked out of the kitchen.
She shot him a look and saw that he was smirking just a bit. “Thank you. I feel like a drowned rat, so it’s good to know I smell like one, too. You’re very charming.”
He laughed at that. “Now you’re putting words in my mouth. I’ve said nothing about rats. You look fresh and beautiful. And that’s what I mean. Rain is—” he paused, leaning closer “—good.”
“Right.” She slipped away from him because the air in the kitchen seemed heavy and hard to breathe. “We should eat. I’m starving.”
“I’m starving, too.”
She ignored him. She ignored the painful thud of her heart against her ribs. She definitely ignored the knowing look Iva shot her as they sat down at the table side by side.
* * *
After they’d cleared the table and washed the dishes, Ruby walked Carson and Brandon out to his truck. He guessed she wasn’t going to invite him to stay for a cup of coffee. He smiled at that thought. He hadn’t expected that offer, not after he’d blindsided her by showing up for dinner. He guessed he should have told her back at the shack. He lifted Brandon into the backseat of the truck. The little boy leaned to whisper and Carson laughed and stepped back after the boy asked his question.
“He wants you to buckle him in.”
Ruby stepped forward. “I think I can do that.”
She reached to pull the seat belt over the little boy in his booster seat. He was sleepy and wrapped his arms around her neck. Carson, leaning against the open door, watched.
“I love you, Ruby.” Brandon, only five, but a boy with game. He got the goodbye hug that Carson doubted he’d get. Ruby kissed the little boy and hugged him good-night.
“I love you, too. Now go home and get a good night’s sleep.”
Carson closed the door, peering through the window at the little boy who was in his life for who knew how long. A few weeks ago he’d been alone in a big, rambling house. He’d been responsible for the ranch and himself. He hadn’t known how quickly life could change.
He turned to face the woman, the other change, a welcome change in his life.
“I should get him home and into bed.” He took a step toward her, not willing to take that chance that she’d rebuff a kiss good-night, but wanting to kiss her good-night.
They’d been in this yard before, standing under this same moon, these same stars.
“I need to go in and help Gran get ready for bed.” She stepped back from him. “Have you had any progress with the lawyer?”
He glanced inside the truck at the little guy almost asleep now. “Yeah, he thinks I have a good case and that I’ll get guardianship.”
“I’m sorry. That can’t be easy.”
“No, it isn’t easy,” he admitted as he reached to open the truck door. “I’ll see you soon?”
“I’m not sure, I—”
“Don’t think of excuses.”
“Not excuses,” she insisted. “It’s just that this is too easy, Carson. We can’t pretend there aren’t unresolved issues between us.”
“Then let’s talk it out.”
She touched his face, her palm cool against his cheek. And then she backed away, dropping her hand to her side.
Yeah, it was definitely time to go. “We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
She shook her head. “Gran has an appointment in Austin.”
“Do you need Derek? He’s working for me tomorrow, but I can turn him loose if you’re going to need help.”
“No, I won’t need him. Is he doing okay at your place? I appreciate you giving him the hours.”
“He’s a good worker, Ruby. I can put him on a job and he stays with it until it’s finished.”
“And if he’s busy at your place, he isn’t a suspect. I hope.”
He didn’t know what to say to that. She must have seen it in his expression because she gave him a cautious look.
“Is he still a suspect, Carson?”
“There are people around town who are still pointing fingers. That’s going to happen until we catch the thieves.”
“I understand that. I guess what I need to know is do you think he’s a suspect?”
“I don’t think he’s a suspect.”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. And good night.”
Yes, good-night. He got in his truck and headed back to his place. Brandon slept in the backseat. The little boy stayed asleep when Carson got him out of the truck and carried him inside and upstairs to the bedroom next to Carson’s.
He woke up as Carson tucked him in, pulling the blanket up to his chin. “Is my mom back?”
Carson sat down on the edge of the bed, surprised by the question. “No, kiddo, she isn’t back. Why do you ask that?”
Beneath the blanket the little boy shrugged. “I had a dream. Do you think she’s coming back?”
What did he say to that question? Brandon watched him, dark eyes sleepy and serious, as he waited for an answer.
“I think she will. But I don’t know when. But we’ll make it together until she does, right? You and me?”
Brandon nodded but tears filled his eyes, and that was almost too much for Carson. He placed a hand on his nephew’s shoulder.
A sniffle and then a little hand brushed at his eyes. Brandon nodded once and managed to look like a little boy who wasn’t going to cry. “Yeah, you and me.”
“I’m sorry, kiddo. I know this is tough. I’m not much of a cook. And I don’t know many stories.”
“But you take me to Ruby’s and she te
aches me to ride. I can be a rancher someday. And Derek says I’m mighty good at roping.”
“I think you’ll definitely be a rancher. And a mighty good calf roper in time.”
“Can I have my own horse?”
Carson patted his shoulder. “Soon.”
Brandon yawned and rubbed his eyes again. “Okay. I’m going to sleep now. If my mom calls, will you tell her I miss her?”
“I promise to tell her you miss her. And I bet she misses you, too.”
“Yeah, she always misses me.”
That stopped him. Carson watched his nephew, not wanting to push, but not willing to let this go. “When does she miss you?”
“When she leaves me with her friend Amy.”
“Does she do that a lot?”
“Just sometimes. Good night, Uncle Carson.”
“Good night, Brandon. I love you.”
Brandon closed his eyes but he smiled. “I love you, too. And I like Ruby a lot.”
“Yeah, me, too.”
He kissed his nephew on the forehead and then got up and walked to the door. He stood there for a long minute, watching his nephew drift off to sleep, curled on his side with a stuffed bear. Because guys could have bears and not be a sissy, he’d told Carson. Once he was sure Brandon was asleep, Carson flipped off the light and walked back downstairs.
For five years he’d lived in this house alone. He’d accepted his solitary existence. He’d pretended that memories of Ruby never made him wonder what they might have been like, if things had been different. If she hadn’t left.
He walked to his office and unlocked the safe. Tucked at the back of the box was a gift he’d never gotten a chance to give. He pulled it out and lifted the lid, exposing the engagement ring to the light of day for the first time in years. The diamond twinkled in the overhead light. The platinum gleamed as if it hadn’t been years.
If things had been different, he would have proposed that summer when he’d returned home from college. He’d planned it all out. The restaurant, the words, the promises. When he’d gotten home, she’d been gone. She’d taken his dad’s money and moved to Oklahoma where she planned to go to college.
A Reunion for the Rancher (Lone Star Cowboy League 1) Page 12