“So do I, but let’s slow it down and play a little while,” he said. “There’s a lot of night left, darlin’.”
* * *
Kasey awoke to the aroma of coffee and bacon. She slung her legs over the side of the bed and looked around. She’d gone to sleep in Nash’s arms in his bed and now she was in her own room and Silas was standing in the door. Had she dreamed that amazing night of sex?
“Me hungry,” he said.
“Me, too. Let’s go get breakfast.” She started to whip off the covers and then realized she was naked. “Why don’t you wait for me on the top step? I’ll be there in just a minute.”
“Six thirty!” She moaned when she glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It had been after three when he’d rolled her up in the bedspread with him and they’d fallen into a deep sleep together. She didn’t have a single recollection of going from his room to hers.
Kasey hurried to the door and shut it. She would have liked to slide down the backside and think about the night before, but it was morning and that meant she was a mother now. She pulled on underpants, a bra, and an oatmeal-colored thermal shirt with a red-and-green plaid overshirt and socks before she jerked on a pair of jeans. Rustin was slow moving in the morning, so she’d have to keep at him…and then she remembered that it was Sunday, not a school day.
“Me hungry!” Silas frowned up at her when she opened the door.
“Relax, little man, I’m here.” She gathered him up and carried him across the hallway to change his diaper before they went down to the kitchen. Rustin’s bed was empty and Emma’s giggles drifted up the stairs along with the delicious aroma of bacon.
“Rusty?” Silas looked over at the empty bed beside his crib.
“I hope he’s in the kitchen.” She gathered him up in her arms and left the bedroom the two boys shared.
“Nashie?” Silas asked.
“I hope he’s in the kitchen, too.” She bit back a groan.
If that was Granny Hope or Lila making breakfast, they’d take one look at her and know exactly what she’d done all night. She checked her reflection in the mirror out in the hallway. Yep, there was a hickey the size of a silver dollar shining on the side of her neck. She quickly popped up the collar of her shirt, but it wouldn’t stay put so she flipped her red hair over her shoulder to cover it.
Nash must’ve heard them coming because he met them halfway across the kitchen. “Good mornin’,” he said but his dark eyes said much more when he locked gazes with her. They said that he wanted to draw her into his arms and maybe even take her back to the big king-size bed in his room to welcome the new day in a much more personal way.
“Good mornin’,” she said without blinking.
Silas reached out his hands toward Nash. “Hun-gee!”
“Well, big guy.” Nash took him from Kasey and put him into his high chair. “We’ve got bacon and eggs and waffles. What looks good?”
Silas waved his chubby little hand to include all of it.
“That’s a cowboy after my heart.” Nash chuckled.
Kasey set about making a plate for Silas.
“We waked up and Nash was cookin’ and we let you sleep,” Emma said. “I want to wear my red dress to church.”
Rustin hardly let her finish her sentence before he said, “I get to help feed this mornin’. Nash is goin’ to let me.”
“How?” Kasey whispered to Nash.
“I carried you up a couple of hours ago. Rustin is old enough…”
“Yes, I am,” Rustin said. “I gots to learn if I’m goin’ to be a cowboy rancher.”
“And that’s why?” Nash grinned.
“Thank you,” she mouthed and then added, “for letting me sleep and making breakfast.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“What did Mama do?” Emma asked.
Nash smiled at her. “Your mama worked very hard at the party yesterday and then had to get out in the cold and walk a long way to find Silas when he ran away. She was very tired, so we let her sleep a few extra minutes this mornin’.”
Man, he was quick on his feet. The only answer Kasey could come up with was the truth—that she’d spent the whole night having amazing sex and didn’t even wake up when he carried her upstairs to her own bed. And you damn sure didn’t tell a three-year-old that.
Chapter Twenty
Hope could see and feel the difference in Kasey and Nash that morning. They sat with Jace, Brody, and Lila in the pew right in front of her and Valerie, Gracie, and Paul. It was nothing that she could put her finger on, but his dark eyes were full of life instead of pain, and Kasey—well, she looked alive instead of just living. That little sliver of a hickey that she almost hid with her turtleneck sweater said that they’d come to an understanding and at least part of it had been in bed or maybe a hayloft.
Hope’s thoughts went back to the days when she and Henry had argued and then made up. She even had a few close calls when it came to covering marks on her neck. Her mother would have died a lot earlier than she did if she’d ever seen a sucker bite on her daughter’s neck.
And here I sit in church of all places wanting to applaud them both, Hope thought as she opened her hymnal to the congregational song that morning. She sang along with everyone else and tried to pay attention to the preacher, but memories of Henry flooded her mind. Nash reminded her so much of his great-uncle. He was taller, but those dark eyes and that head of black hair were the same, plus he had that same swagger and quiet way about him. Kids had always flocked to Henry after church, even when the adults kept their distance because they mistook his introverted personality for strangeness. Nash had that about him—Kasey’s kids loved him and he appeared to really care about them.
As the preacher cleared his throat and everyone began to get ready to leave, Hope left the past behind and came back to the present. But it was a good thing that getting through the pearly gates of heaven didn’t depend on the scores she’d make on a test on the sermon that morning. If it had been, she’d have been looking forward to an up-close-and-personal visit with Lucifer, himself.
“Just a reminder that we will have our church Christmas program on Wednesday night. Right now the weatherman is sayin’ we’ll have a clear night, even though it will be cold. So the stars should be shining bright to bring our shepherds and wise men to the live nativity scene and the folks out to the special night we have planned. The nativity will be up from five to seven, and then the inside program will be presented. Afterward there will be refreshments in the fellowship hall. And now, Brody, will you please give the benediction.”
With Silas still in his arms, Brody stood up and bowed his head. “Thank you for our blessings, even those that we thought were obstacles…”
Hope smiled and nodded. Brody was accepting the situation with his sister, and that was good. Lila could take part of the credit for that, since she’d stood her ground on the issue from the beginning. Hope wrapped her arms around her body and hugged herself. Who would have ever thought that Henry’s nephew would come to Happy and that he and Kasey would have a chance at happiness?
Maybe that’s what God or fate or karma, whatever a person calls it, had in store all along. Hearing Henry’s voice in her head made her eyes pop wide open. It was so clear and definite that she glanced over her shoulder to be sure he wasn’t on the pew behind her. She reached up to touch her little gold necklace.
There probably still would have been a Nash even if I’d gone with you and left Hope Springs behind, but there wouldn’t be a Kasey. So you’re right, Henry. It was a plan far above what we had any control over, wasn’t it? Someone with far better future sight than we had or will ever have knew that Kasey would be the only one who could give Nash life again, and that he was the only one who’d understand her. Hope swiped a lonely tear from her cheek.
“You all right, Granny?” Kasey asked as they all made their way to the center aisle. “Are you cryin’?”
“I’m fine, honey. Never better. There was
something in my eye. Let’s go home and have some dinner,” Hope said.
“We’re going to take the kids to the Amarillo mall for pictures with Santa this afternoon. Want to go with us?”
Rustin jumped up and down half a dozen times. “Why didn’t you tell me? Did you know, Nash? Emma, we get to see Santa today and whisper in his ear.”
Emma hugged Rustin in a tight squeeze. “And sit on his lap?”
“No, thanks.” Hope grinned. “I’m going to take a long nap. After yesterday, I’ve had enough excitement for a few days. I have to save my strength for getting things all ready for the church program on Wednesday, but you might pick up a couple of gifts for me while you’re at the mall.”
Kasey fell in behind Hope. “Just make a list.”
That Nash kept his hand on her shoulder or that her granddaughter’s green eyes had more sparkle in them than she’d seen in two years did not escape Hope. Yes, Henry. She touched the gold locket around her neck again. Someone does see the future much better than we do.
She and Valerie got to the ranch before anyone else and went straight to the kitchen to pull the barbecue from the warm oven. Valerie had been talking nonstop about the upcoming church program and how much they still needed to do when Hope butted in.
“I’ve got something to say before all the kids and Gracie and Paul get here. You’re going to crawl down from the soapbox that you’ve been on about Nash and Kasey,” Hope demanded.
Valerie opened the refrigerator door. “Now, Mama, don’t start on me.”
Hope slammed the door shut. “They’ve been to bed.”
“No!” Valerie squealed. “Did she tell you that?”
“Look at her when she gets here. She’s smiling and it reaches her eyes for the first time since Adam died. So step back and let her alone. She’s a grown woman.”
“But what if—”
“She’s a big girl. She can make her own decisions and accept the consequences for whatever they are. We’re family and we need to support her, not fight her when it’s evidently bringing her happiness,” Hope said.
“Who are we supporting?” Brody came into the kitchen through the back door.
“Your sister,” Valerie said bluntly.
“It’s not easy, but Lila has made me see the light, Mama. Kasey will always be my little sister and your baby girl. She’s happy. I can see that Nash is good for her. Nothing might come of it, but that’s for her to decide,” Brody said.
“And you all know Kasey,” Hope said. “If we fight her, she’ll set her heels and then it’ll be our fault if she makes a wrong choice.”
“Amen to that,” Valerie said. “I hear little feet runnin’ on the porch, so here they come.”
“Brody? You goin’ to make things right with her?” Hope whispered.
“Yes, Granny. I’ll find a minute to talk to her today.”
“Good. A house divided cannot stand.” Hope patted him on the arm and opened the refrigerator door for Valerie. “Now you can get the cold stuff out.”
* * *
Dinner was over. Dishes were done and Kasey was herding the kids into the foyer when Brody appeared out of the west wing of the house and cornered her. “Can I have just a minute?”
Lila stepped out of the bathroom. “I’ll gladly get them ready to go see Santa. Mind if me and Brody follow y’all in Amarillo? I’ve got some last-minute shopping to do and I’d love to snap a picture for my first Christmas album of all the kids.”
“I’d love that. Granny gave me a list of things to pick up. It would be great to have help with that or with the kids.” Kasey turned to Brody. “What’s up?”
“Are we okay?” he asked.
“You tell me.”
“I’m sorry that I’ve been a jackass.”
“Apology accepted. Which of these kids do you want for the afternoon?”
“Rustin. I think Silas belongs to Nash.” Brody smiled. “And FYI, I don’t like sharing you.”
“And FYI, you aren’t. I will always be your little sister no matter what other title I get bestowed with, Brody Dawson.” She tiptoed and threw her arms around him. “And I’ll always need a big brother in my life.”
“Just not an overbearing father figure, huh?”
“Something like that. And while we’re on the subject, is Mama sick?”
He removed her jacket from the coatrack and held it out for her. “Not that I know of but”—he lowered his voice—“Granny took away her soapbox this morning.”
“Well, bully for Granny.” Kasey slipped into the coat he was holding and turned to Nash. “You’d better hurry and get your denim jacket on because Silas will want you to carry him to the van.”
“Who’s driving?” Nash asked.
“You are.” She grinned. “It’ll be nice to look at all the holiday decorations on the way up there without having to worry about running off the road.”
“Hey, Rustin, you want to ride with me and Lila?” Brody asked.
“Naw, I think I’ll just go with Nash,” Rustin answered.
“And there you have it.” Brody sighed.
“Same thing applies that I just told you. He’ll always need you and Jace to fill the spots for the greatest uncles in the whole world, just like I need two wonderful brothers,” Kasey said softly.
“You really are happy, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes, darlin’ brother, I am.” She slipped out the door behind two kids.
Nash was right behind her with Silas in his arms. They got everyone buckled into the backseat and were ten miles up the road when a car whipped around a semi in a no-passing zone. Kasey squealed and grabbed the dash for support and saw a small portion of her life flash before her before Nash jerked the wheel to the right and braked hard, coming to an abrupt stop just as the car and the semi sped past.
“Is everyone all right?” he asked, hoarsely.
“What happened?” Rustin asked.
“Thank God for seat belts.” Kasey could barely force words from her mouth.
“Or they’d have been thrown around like marbles in a tin can. Are you okay, Kasey? No bumps or blood?” All the color had left his face and his eyes were as big as saucers.
“I’m fine. You?” she asked.
“Will be when my heart slows down. What in the hell was that driver thinkin’? I’d like to get my hands around his rotten throat about right now.” Nash doubled up his fist and shook it at the windshield.
She covered his right hand with her left one and brought it down. “Let’s just sit here a couple of minutes and get our bearings.”
“I don’t want a bear from Santa,” Emma declared loudly. “I want a singin’ machine.”
“Me wants sheeps and cookies!” Silas then said.
Rustin puffed out his chest. “Mama said bearings, whatever that is.”
“Bearings means until we feel better about going on. That kind of shook me and your mother up,” Nash explained.
“Otay.” Silas nodded seriously.
If Nash said it then it should be written in stone. Kasey was suddenly green with jealousy. She’d had Silas all to herself since the day he was born. Sharing him with Brody and Jace had been one thing, but the relationship he had with Nash went far deeper.
And it happened so quick, she thought.
“All goes to show that we better take advantage of opportunities while they are in front of us,” Nash said.
“Life can do a one-eighty in nothing flat, can’t it?” Kasey could finally feel her nerves unwinding.
“Lesson learned.” Nash brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “On to enjoy Santa Claus and maybe even buy some presents.”
“Yay!” all three kids yelled from the backseat.
* * *
Kasey’s hands were still shaking when they reached the mall, but when Nash laced her fingers in his on the way from the parking lot until they were inside, all the jitters settled right down. The first persons she saw when they were inside the doors were
Brody and Lila. He waved and motioned her over.
“We were about to send out the military to find y’all,” he said.
“We had to get bears,” Emma said.
Lila frowned. “Bears?”
“Bearings. We had a narrow escape with a car passing a truck and Nash had to brake hard and pull over or we’d have had a crash,” Kasey explained.
“And then bears before we could see Santa,” Emma declared in her most authoritative tone.
“I see. Well, I’m glad no one was hurt,” Lila said.
“You okay, Kasey?” Brody asked.
“Fine now. Shook up for a minute.”
“Scared the hell out of me,” Nash admitted.
Brody clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Would’ve me, too, especially with kids in the car.”
“Sandy Claws!” Silas pointed.
“Let’s get in line,” Kasey said.
When it was his turn to sit in Santa’s lap, Silas had a change of heart and the only way they could get a picture of him was if Nash held his hand. When Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas he took a deep breath and said loud enough that the whole place could hear. “Nashie. Me wants Nashie.”
“Is that a puppy dog?” Santa asked.
Silas shot a go-to-hell look at him. “No!”
“I betcha we can find a Nashie at the North Pole and I will do my best to bring him to you for Christmas,” Santa said and they moved on to the next child.
“Well, that was an experience.” Nash grinned when he joined Kasey and the rest of the family.
Brody chuckled. “I want to see Santa shove you down into his bag of toys.”
“I’ll do my best not to break anything,” Nash said. “How about we take these kids to the play area and let the ladies do some shopping? I bet they’d all love that.”
“Please, Mama! Please. I hate to go in the stores!” Rustin said.
“I want to shop.” Emma pouted.
“Then it’s boys to the jungle gym with us guys and girls to the stores?” Nash looked over the kids’ heads at Kasey.
“Sounds like a good plan. Let’s get goin’, Lila, before they change their minds.”
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