Luckiest Cowboy of All--Two full books for the price of one

by Carolyn Brown

  Carlene’s mind wandered to buying a house, which was far more than bread for just today. It was putting all her money—and possibly borrowing more—into it. She wanted something that Tilly would call the home place when she was older. A place where she’d have memories in every corner, a house that would call her soul back to it so that she could revisit all the good times.

  With all the moving that Carlene’s family had done, she’d never had that and it was the one thing missing in her life. She caught sight of Jace sitting about three pews up from her. Just looking at the back of his head created a soft flutter in her stomach. Prairie Rose had been and was his home place and she’d always envied him that.

  Carlene visualized Tilly leaving the house with a boy for her first junior high Christmas dance. That segued into her prom dress hanging on the back of her bedroom door for a month before the actual night that she’d wear it. Then there would be college friends who came home with her for the weekend and a wedding dress in the far distant future.

  And if she gets pregnant right out of high school or before—the voice in her head was definitely Aunt Rosalie’s—that might blow all those plans to the devil.

  Carlene glanced over at Tilly and a vision of Jace with a loaded double-barrel shotgun in his hands popped into her head. And right along with it was Belinda’s warning when Carlene told her that she’d taken the job in Happy.

  “You can’t unring a bell when the whole state heard it. You better be sure you’re ready for the consequences when you make that decision,” Belinda had warned.

  If she stayed in Happy, then Tilly would have her home place and she’d have the prom dress and the small town atmosphere. But the price would mean that she’d have to share it all with Jace because he was her father. However, if she took Belinda up on that offer to go to Germany, Tilly would never have roots but Carlene wouldn’t have to share very much of her daughter’s life with Jace.

  She opened her hands, palms up, and stared at them. In the right one was roots; in the left was “just you and me.” The decision didn’t have to be made that minute or even that day or that week but until it was, Carlene would have no peace. She slowly closed her left hand. The roots would be worth it all.

  “And now I’m going to ask Fred if he will deliver the benediction,” the preacher said, and Carlene bowed her head.

  Since she and Tilly were on the back row, they were the first ones out that morning. They shook the preacher’s hand and were driving toward the café before anyone else.

  “I didn’t even get to see Maribel,” Tilly whined. “I know she was there because she told me that she would be and why are you in such a hurry?”

  “We have one hour until we go see the house. If we don’t get to the café pretty fast, we’ll have to wait for a table and might not even have time to eat. You want food or to talk to your little friend that you’ll see at two o’clock anyway?”

  Tilly placed a hand over her stomach. “It’s growlin’. The muffins we had for breakfast are all gone and it wants a hamburger and maybe a piece of chocolate cake.”

  “Don’t know if Molly made cake today. You might have to be satisfied with a piece of pie.” Carlene whipped into a parking lot where half a dozen other vehicles were already parked. “The other church must’ve let out a few minutes early.”

  “Why do we go to the one that we do?” Tilly asked.

  “Because that’s where Aunt Rosalie went and where I did when I lived here in Happy,” Carlene answered. “I see a whole string of cars and trucks on the way. We’d better get a move on it.”

  Tilly grabbed her mother’s hand when they were out of the minivan and Carlene was glad that she was wearing flat shoes because she was practically jogging when they reached the café. Carlene went straight for the bar, where she and Tilly claimed two stools.

  “I like sittin’ here but there’s a booth,” Tilly said.

  “And four people can sit there,” Carlene said.

  “What can I get you?” Daisy asked. There was no doubt that Daisy was Lila’s mother but she wasn’t nearly as tall as her daughter.

  “Two burger baskets. Mustard, no onions, and fries. Root beer for both of us,” Carlene answered.

  “Easy enough.” Daisy yelled the order through a small serving window. “Figured y’all would be eating at Hope Springs today with the family.”

  “We’re going to buy a house,” Tilly said. “And then I’m goin’ to Maribel’s.”

  “Well, now, that sounds like an exciting day for sure.” Daisy smiled. “Which house are you lookin’ to buy?”

  “The little brick one about a block from the school. Price seems reasonable and it’s close to work,” Carlene answered.

  “You look close at that place,” Daisy whispered. “Last bunch that lived there were renting it and they were not gentle with it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Hey, Jace.” Daisy waved toward the door. “Booths are taken but we’ve got a couple of bar stools left.”

  He chose the one on the other side of Tilly. “Just a burger basket with mustard and no onions and onion rings. Sweet tea, please, Daisy. I’ve got a rodeo meeting at one so I’m pushed for time.”

  “No onions but onion rings?” Tilly frowned.

  “I don’t like raw onions, but cooked ones are pretty good. So I hear you are ridin’ four-wheelers today?”

  Tilly rolled her eyes at Carlene. “Ridin’, but not drivin’.”

  “One more of those little insolent looks and you’ll be cleanin’ your room instead of ridin’,” Carlene told her.

  “And you’re going to look at a house?” Jace changed the subject.

  “Yep,” Tilly answered.

  “Think you might like moving again, Tilly?” Jace asked, but his eyes were on Carlene.

  “You’ll still be my friend even when we move. Mama said so,” Tilly said.

  “Well, thank you,” Jace said. “You’ll be my friend, too, no matter where you live.”

  “Natalie is my friend and I moved from Florida so maybe,” Tilly said, as if trying to convince herself.

  “Order up!” Molly called from the kitchen, and three red plastic baskets appeared on the shelf.

  Daisy set them on the counter along with a bottle of ketchup. She quickly filled three glasses with their drinks and then picked up another plate from the shelf and carried it to the far end of the café.

  “What’s goin’ on with the rodeo?” Carlene asked between bites.

  “We were discussing the demolition of Rosalie’s place. If there’s anything you want, you might want to get it soon.”

  Carlene couldn’t think of a single thing she wanted except maybe the sugar bowl with the yellow flowers on the side that had always sat in the middle of the kitchen table. She and Jace had sat at that table for after-school snacks, and the last time he was in the house, he’d had brownies and milk with her and Tilly. The sugar bowl would always remind her of the happiness they’d shared, both past and present.

  “After I take Tilly out to Maribel’s house, I’ll go by there,” she said. “Anything that you want, Tilly?”

  “Nope. You want something, Jace?” she asked.

  “Not from there.” His sexy eyes met Carlene’s over the top of Tilly’s head and the look he gave her spoke more than the three words from his mouth.

  The Realtor, Joan Richmond, turned out to be a tall brunette who wore jeans and cowboy boots. She met them outside the house, handing Carlene her card with one hand and extending the other one to shake. “This is a sweet little property but it does need a little cosmetic face-lift. The lady who lived here died and her daughter tried using it for rental property for six months but she figured out how much of a hassle that can be, so she put it on the market about a year ago. Things don’t move very fast here in Happy.”

  She unlocked the door to the house and a blast of stale air hit them in the face. “With some paint and new carpet, it could be a nice little home for two people.”

  Th
e walls and ceilings had been white at one time but they were nicotine stained now and the brown carpet would definitely have to go. “Yes, the last renter was a smoker and in full disclosure, it was a known drug house. But like I said, the price is low and it can be made into a lovely home with only a little money and a lot of elbow grease.”

  Tilly barely glanced at the room that would be hers. “I don’t like this house. It’s ugly and it smells awful. Don’t make me move here, Mama.”

  “Well, now, darlin’, your mama can fix the smell and it would be very pretty with some flowers out front and a cute little picket fence around it.” The Realtor smiled.

  Carlene mentally tallied up the cost of the remodeling along with putting up that cute little fence and quickly decided that this was not the place for Tilly to put down her roots. “Thank you so much for driving up from Tulia to let us look around but this won’t do. If you get anything else in this price range but in better shape, call me.”

  “I happen to know that the owner would be willing to take less than the asking price,” Joan whispered. “I’m not supposed to tell you that because it cuts down on my commission but I’d really like to move this property.”

  “No, thanks,” Carlene said. “But again I appreciate you taking time on your Sunday afternoon to show it to us. Let’s get you over to Maribel’s, Tilly.”

  “If you change your mind”—Joan sighed—“you’ve got my card.”

  Carlene tapped the hip of her denim skirt. “Right here in my pocket.”

  Ten minutes later she was a mile north of Happy at a small house not far off the highway. Maribel hopped off the porch steps and waved, and was crossing the yard before Carlene even came to a full stop. Tilly had unhooked the seat belt, grabbed her tote bag with her jeans and sweatshirt inside, and jumped out of the van the moment the back door slid open.

  Maribel’s mother, Gloria, rounded the end of the house and yelled, “Come on inside. I’ve got a pot of coffee on.”

  Carlene rolled down the window. “I should be going. I’m supposed to stop at Aunt Rosalie’s house this afternoon.”

  Taller than Carlene by several inches, dark haired and long legged, Gloria soon covered the distance between house and vehicle. “Next time then or anytime you want to stop by. All Maribel has talked about is how much fun she had at the ranch with Tilly.”

  “That’s all I’ve heard too. And the invitation goes both ways, Gloria. You and Maribel are both welcome at the ranch anytime.”

  “I’ll drive her home about five.”

  “I’ll have the coffee ready.” Carlene smiled.

  “Maybe next time but thank you. I’ll have to get right back to get supper done in time for evening church.” Gloria waved over her shoulder.

  Carlene drove back into town, made the turn down Main Street, and went out to the dirt road beside the rodeo grounds. There were half-dozen trucks parked near the gate, not far from the concession stand where the guys must’ve been having their meeting. Whether Jace was riding that weekend or not, Tilly would want to go to the event, so Carlene mentally planned the week to include Saturday at the rodeo grounds. That would mean looking at another house that someone at school had mentioned might be available to rent soon.

  Aunt Rosalie’s house looked downright pitiful, like a little old lady who’d gotten lost. Carlene sat in the van for a long time, letting the memories and things that Aunt Rosalie had told her come back to mind.

  “She did things her way right up to the end and even past her life. I’m going to be just like her when I’m old.”

  She reached behind her seat and picked up an empty tote bag and then opened the door. The smell of smoke filled her nose as she walked up onto the porch. It had been more than a week and they’d had a big snow since the night it burned, but evidently charred wood that was already a hundred years old held the scent for a long time. She walked inside.

  The ugly sofa had been soaked and now had mildew growing on the cushions.

  Surprisingly enough the cabinets in the kitchen weren’t so badly damaged even though everything in them was covered with soot. She found the sugar bowl still in the middle of the table. Then she remembered that there were two albums of family pictures in the hall closet. There was the stench of old house mixed with smoke on them but she could take the pictures out and put them into new albums.

  She shoved them down into the bag and smiled at the memory of Aunt Rosalie telling her about each picture and showing her that their names were written on the back. She’d started toward the outside when she heard a vehicle coming to a stop. Her hands were black, so she looked around for a paper towel but there was nothing to be had.

  “Thought I might find you here,” Hope said at the doorway. “I keep baby wipes in the truck for the great-grandkids. Come on out here and we’ll get you cleaned up in no time.”

  “You’re a lifesaver.” Carlene put her keepsakes in the van on her way to Hope’s truck.

  “I wanted to talk to you about that conversation we had yesterday. I was angry and very upset and I shouldn’t have burdened you with it.” Hope yanked half a dozen wet towels from a round container and wiped Carlene’s hands like she would a child.

  “So are you and Henry still renewing that old friendship?” Carlene asked.

  “Several times a day either by phone or by text. I love this new technology. I’m seriously thinking of going down there for a few days just to see how things are away from this area, but it won’t be for revenge.”

  “Revenge? What happened?”

  “I shouldn’t have let that word slip out. Forget it. Hit the delete button.” She waved her hand in the hair. “I want to go see Henry in his new world. Right now I’m not sure either of us can leave the place that we’ve built, so we might always have a long-distance relationship.” Hope pulled down the tailgate, hopped up onto it, and patted the spot beside her. “It’s not a bad day. Sit with an old woman and let her pretend she’s as young as you are and we’re friends.”

  “You will never be old, Hope Dalley, and we are friends.” Carlene bounced up beside her. “Aunt Rosalie was one of my best friends and she was old enough to be your mama, so age has nothing to do with friendship.”

  A smile deepened the wrinkles in Hope’s face. “You flatter me but I love it.”

  They sat there for a full three minutes, swinging their feet like little girls. “We need ice cream cones or lollipops,” Carlene said.

  “Red suckers. Those round ones that last a whole day. Cherry flavored.” Hope said.

  “I’ll have them on hand for next time. So you and Henry?”

  “Will forget about sagging skin and wrinkles.”

  Carlene giggled. “No rose petals on the bed or candles and wine chillin’ in a crystal bucket?”

  “More like a Viagra on the nightstand and two cold beers in the refrigerator,” Hope laughed.

  Carlene blushed. “Miz Hope!”

  “Hey, I’m not stupid, girlfriend. I know all about those little blue pills.” She lowered her voice and an impish grin covered her face. “At our age, at least I don’t have to worry about protection.”

  Carlene clapped a hand over each ear. “I can’t hear this. You’ve always been right next to the angels in my eyes.”

  “Me, an angel? Not this girl. How about you?”

  “Don’t think so and my daddy will be glad to introduce you to his older daughter. She’s the one that got the wings and halo. The younger one is more than a little bit of a disappointment.”

  “He’ll wake up one of these days, darlin’.” Hope slung an arm around her shoulders. “Valerie and I were pretty stiff-necked this time last year but we’ve loosened up a lot, so don’t give up hope on your dad. We both threw us a fit when Lila came back to town and then when Kasey moved in with Nash we pitched a bigger one.”

  “I heard about that,” Carlene said.

  “I imagine you did. We would have interfered with both of them but we would have been wrong and we’d have destroyed li
ves if we had. So we’re holding back with you and Jace. Besides, you’re kind of holding an ace in this card game. Valerie is in love with Tilly.”

  “I want…” Carlene took a deep breath and then went on. “I want Jace and Tilly to have a good relationship. I should have told him about her before now. And I want her to be a part of the family, to have roots here in Happy.”

  “But if there’s ever going to be anything between you and Jace, you want it to be for you, not just because of Tilly, right?”

  Carlene swallowed hard. “And I’ll never know, will I?”

  “Follow your heart. That’s the advice I’m giving both of us.” Hope eased down off the tailgate and held out a hand to help Carlene. “The heart don’t know how to lie and it’s painfully honest.”

  Carlene took her hand and landed on both feet. “I’ll try, Granny.”

  “Trying is all any of us can do. I’ll see you at the bull ridin’ on Friday night. Bring a quilt. The weatherman says it’ll be cold but we can bundle up and please sit with the family.”

  “Thank you. I will.” Carlene hugged her and got into her own vehicle.

  She checked the clock on the dashboard when she parked in front of the ranch house—two forty-five. That meant she had a little over two hours before Gloria brought Tilly home, plenty of time to get caught up on all her papers and be ready for Monday morning at the school.

  After both of the places she’d been in, walking into the ranch house was pure heaven. No stained, smelly carpet. No smoke lingering in the air. She caught a faint whiff of Jace’s shaving lotion and followed it up to the second floor, where she found him standing in the doorway to his bedroom.

  “Did you buy the house?”

  She shook her head. “Tilly hated it and anything that needs that much work on the surface is bound to have problems underneath what is visible.”

  “Well, that makes my day brighter. Go by Rosalie’s?” he asked.