“How’d you know?”
“I could smell them across the room. What are you doin’ up and around this early?”
“After last night when you just laid there on the ground and I was afraid that you’d never get up, I’ve changed my outlook a little,” she said. “I’m leaving for Florida tomorrow after church. I’m stayin’ a week at least, maybe longer. I’m not putting off anything ever again. I’m past seventy and I’m livin’ on borrowed time as it is.”
“Good for you,” Carlene said. “I’ll miss you but go and have a wonderful time. I’m plannin’ on celebratin’ your hundredth birthday with you, so don’t give me that crap about borrowed time.”
“Well said, Carlene, but, Granny, are you sure about this? You’ve never flown, much less alone, and a whole week away from Hope Springs and Happy?” Jace asked.
“I’m ready for a new adventure. It might be a little scary, but Henry is waiting on the other end, so the end justifies the means,” Hope answered.
“Who’s takin’ you to the airport?” Carlene asked.
“I am. I’m capable of driving in Amarillo and I can ask questions if I’m lost and besides I have a cell phone.”
Tilly stepped inside the room. “Can I go with you, Granny? I’ve flown lots of times and I can show you how it’s done.”
“You’ve got school, young lady,” Carlene said.
Tilly crossed her arms and huffed. “Rats! I miss the beach and gettin’ an ice cream from Henry.”
“I’ll bring you a shell or two. I’ve never seen the beach. You want to go with me over to your aunt Kasey’s and aunt Lila’s to deliver muffins? You could tell me all about it.”
“Give me five minutes to get dressed.” She was gone in a flash.
“I should’ve asked you first, Carlene,” Hope said quickly.
“No problem.” Carlene grabbed the last muffin from the tray. “This one’s mine. I didn’t bring all of them in here for you, Jace Dawson.”
Carlene watched out the kitchen window as Hope drove away with Tilly. It wasn’t easy sharing her but if she wanted her daughter to grow long, sturdy roots, it was necessary. She heard the sound of crutches on the wood floor. Still, she stared out the window, trying to figure out how to even begin to talk to him and how to make him understand. It wasn’t until the hair on her neck began to prickle that she looked up into his eyes.
“Would you really not marry me?” he asked.
“I really would not,” she answered.
“What if after six months we were so in love that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together?”
“I might consider it.” She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue.
“What if after three months?” He lowered his voice to a sexy whisper.
“The answer would be no.”
“Why?” His thick, dark lashes fluttered shut to rest on his cheekbones.
“Because—” She got one word out and then his lips were on hers. A sweet kiss with no tongue but so passionate that if he’d asked her to marry him right then with the wedding held in the kitchen, she would have said yes.
His lips left hers and he carefully took a backward step and stared wistfully out the window. “I hate being cooped up.”
She wiggled around him, dropped a tea bag into a cup of water, and put it in the microwave. “Then do something to pass the time. Read a book. Watch a movie. Want me to get out the Legos so you can build a tractor?”
“We could open up that box up there in my nightstand,” he teased.
“Yeah, right. Look at you, Jace Dawson.”
“I can dream.” He headed for the living room, then stopped and looked over his shoulder. “When I’m well?”
“We’ll break out the Pappy for a shot to celebrate when you are well.” She brushed past him and flopped down on the sofa. She hadn’t made plans for that day but she had entertained notions of going to Amarillo to do some shopping for a dress for Tilly that would serve for both an Easter dress and the Valentine’s dance.
The sofa was at least six feet long, but he eased down so close to her that their sides were pressed close together. The crackle of the electricity between them sounded loudly in her ears. When he traced the outline of her lips, her heart threw in a couple of extra beats.
“You drive me crazy, Carlene,” he whispered.
“I thought I was over you.” She tangled her fingers in his dark hair and brought his lips to hers.
“So did I, but it looks like we were both wrong.” He draped an arm around her shoulders when the kiss ended. “Please give us a chance.”
“Hey, how’s the invalid?” Brody yelled from the front door.
She moved to the recliner. “We can talk later.”
Chapter Nineteen
Carlene was in the kitchen getting the last of the dishes from lunch loaded into the dishwasher when a rap on the back door was followed by Valerie popping her head inside. “Have you eaten? There’s leftover pot roast on the stove,” she said.
“I stopped at the café. Jace in the living room? How’s he doing?”
“Go see for yourself.” Carlene said and hit the button to start the dishwasher. She could only imagine how Valerie must feel. Had it been Carlene’s son out there in that arena with blood on his face and unable to sit up, she would have probably fainted.
Carlene followed her into the living room, where Valerie kicked off her shoes and slumped down in a rocking chair with a long sigh. “How about some hot chocolate or coffee?”
“I’d love a cup of chocolate. Thanks,” Valerie said. “Okay, son, give it to me straight. How are you?”
“I’m not ready to get back on a bull this week but maybe by the next event, I will be,” he joked. “Seriously, Mama, I hurt but I’ll heal.”
Carlene made three cups of hot chocolate and carried them to the living room on a tray. “Tilly’s napping but she’ll be up in a little while.”
“Mama’s worried about Granny,” Jace said. “I told her that she’ll be fine.” Jace took the cup of chocolate from Carlene and winked. “She’s got a phone and Henry will be there to pick her up.”
The brush of his hand against hers and the wink sent delicious little tingles through her body. Carlene quickly picked up the second cup and handed it to Valerie. “Granny is like a little girl on her first trip to Disneyland.”
“I’m learning what they mean by the sandwich generation.” Valerie blew on the chocolate and took a sip. “Very good. Nice and rich. I hate that instant stuff. It’s barely more than chocolate-flavored water. How’d you get it ready so quick?”
“I make a slow cooker full about once a week, pour it into an empty milk jug, and then all we have to do is heat it in the microwave,” Carlene answered.
“Sandwich generation?” Jace asked.
“I’m in the middle of my own kids plus grandkids on one side and then have a mother who’s acting like a teenager on the other side,” she explained. “What if she decides to move down there?”
“Not Granny. She’s too rooted in ranchin’ to leave it behind,” Jace chuckled.
“And he’s too rooted in the beach and sand to leave there,” Valerie said. “So where does that leave them?” She took another sip of the chocolate. “I’ll tell you exactly. Miserable because they want to be together.”
Carlene poured chocolate for herself. “They’ll figure it out. We can’t do it for them. Maybe they’ll split the time and live in Florida part of each month and here the other part.”
Jace poured half coffee and half chocolate. “Granny’s worked hard her whole life, Mama. We can’t begrudge her a few adventures. You should be thinkin’ of going on a few yourself.”
“You sayin’ I’m old?” Valerie frowned.
“I’m sayin’ that you have worked hard your whole life just like Granny and it would be good for you to have some fun,” Jace said. “How long has it been since you were outside the state of Texas?”
Valerie’s dark brows drew down even
farther. “Probably when we all drove to Las Vegas during Brody’s senior year. That next summer we lost my daddy and yours as well, so we all had to buckle down and run two huge ranches.”
“Why don’t you and your Sunday school class plan a cruise?” Carlene asked. “You could fly down to Houston or Fort Lauderdale…”
“No, thank you. If I went on a cruise, it wouldn’t be with that bunch of women.” Valerie finally smiled. “They’d have me ridin’ to hell on a rusty poker if I had a drink. I’d rather go by myself on one of those fifties things where they have shows all week with music from that era. I hear they even have Elvis impersonators.”
“Aha!” Jace pointed. “You have been thinkin’ about it.”
“Thinkin’ and doin’ are two different things,” Valerie said quickly.
“Just like dreamin’ and doin’,” Carlene said. “But that does sound like fun. Belinda and I looked at that cruise once because Tilly loves oldies. If they had a country music cruise with some of the stars on it, she’d go with you for sure.”
Valerie finished her chocolate and stood up. “Did you decide if you’d like to build something here on the ranch or are you still set on living in town?”
Carlene shook her head. “Haven’t had time to think about it but I don’t know that it would work too well.” The idea of Tilly ever dealing with a stepmother still fired up Carlene’s anger.
“Keep thinkin’.” Valerie set her cup on the tray. “I’m going home and wait for Mama to call me when she gets to Dallas. I swear raisin’ parents is a helluva lot tougher than raisin’ kids. With kids you’ve got some control. Parents are a whole different matter.”
“Hey, where are all y’all?” Brody stuck his head around the door frame. “Lila and Kasey are going to Amarillo to Walmart and want to know if you’d like to go with them, Carlene.”
“If you’re goin’, can I have Tilly for a few hours? I’ll wait until she wakes up.” Valerie’s dark eyes lit up. “We can play games or watch kid movies. I’ve got dozens of them at my house, so she can choose.”
Tilly yawned as she entered the living room with her kitten in her arms. “Do you got the one about Dory?”
“Yes, I do,” Valerie said. “It’s one of my favorites.”
“Please, Mama,” Tilly begged. “Grandma needs me.”
“I could do some grocery shopping and we do need a few things from Walmart. Are you sure, Valerie?” Carlene asked.
“I’ll stay with old hop-along here,” Brody said. “We can find a good bull ridin’ on television and maybe he can get some pointers on how to stay on the critter.”
“Hey, now!” Jace protested.
“Why don’t you run upstairs and get some pajamas and that teddy bear you like, Miz Tilly?” Valerie looked across the room at Tilly. “We’ll get all comfortable and throw some popcorn in the microwave. And don’t rush to get home, Carlene. I’ll love havin’ the company. She’ll keep me from worryin’ about Mama until she’s safe on the ground in Florida.”
“Mama, can I?” Tilly asked.
“I bet Rella would love to spend some time with Grandma.” Carlene smiled. “Go on and get your stuff all ready.”
“I’ll just be a minute, Grandma. Rella will be so happy that she can go. Gator can keep Jasmine company while we’re gone.” The last words were said when she was halfway up the stairs.
“Tilly sure reminds me of Kasey at that age. She had more energy than both of us boys put together,” Brody said.
“She’s got a never-ending supply. Sometimes I wish I could borrow some of it.” Carlene sighed. “Thanks, Valerie.”
“I’ll just step out here in the foyer and call Lila if you want to go, Carlene,” Brody said.
“I’d love to,” she said.
“And I’ll go up and help Tilly,” Valerie said with a better attitude than the one she’d brought in earlier.
“And I can think of lots of ways we could spend the afternoon if you weren’t going shopping,” Jace whispered when Carlene reached for his cup.
“Down, cowboy!” She pointed at him.
“Any way you want it, darlin’,” he said.
She was blushing scarlet when she passed Brody on her way up to change clothes.
If Jace had to be laid up in a recliner again for a whole afternoon, he would have rather been stuck in the house with Carlene than his older brother, but he couldn’t begrudge her some time away from the ranch. Lord only knew how much he’d love to go somewhere that afternoon.
Brody picked up the remote and found a station that was doing a rerun of a bull riding in Central Texas and the two of them were laid back watching it as all the ladies left the ranch. As soon as they’d cleared the driveway, Brody turned off the television.
“Grab them crutches and let’s break out of this joint. There’s a bull up on the other side of Claude that I want to go look at.” He picked up a pillow and headed to the kitchen and came back with two ice packs.
“I’ve got a cooler already in the backseat to keep the second one cold.”
“God bless you, brother.” Jace grinned.
“I’d be crazy if I had to sit in the house two whole days. Besides, I really want your opinion on this bull. He’s young, but he’s got a lot of potential and the price is really good because Danny Richmond’s widow is downsizing.” Brody led them back through the kitchen where he and Jace grabbed old work coats from a couple of hooks by the back door and put them on. “You in the market for any heifers about to drop calves for Prairie Rose? Danny’s stock is some of the best in the area.”
“I figured his widow would keep things going forever,” Jace said.
“She ain’t Granny.” Brody opened the pickup door for Jace and tossed his crutches in the back. “Now put your foot on this pillow and slap an ice pack on it; then when Carlene gets home you can truthfully say that you remembered to ice it twice while she was gone.”
“And I’ll tell her that the new cows arriving tomorrow just dropped down from the sky.” Jace chuckled. “I’ll tell her the truth.”
“Must be gettin’ serious if you’re doin’ that.” Brody fastened his seat belt and started the engine. “So talk, little brother. Tell me how things are really goin’.”
Jace slowly shook his head. How could he tell Brody how he felt when he couldn’t put it into words himself?
“I don’t know exactly, but I don’t want them to leave the ranch,” he started. “I’m trying to remember that saying about giving someone wings and letting them fly and if they come back it shows that they love you. I don’t want to give her wings. I don’t want her to fly away with my daughter. I want them to have roots so deep here in Happy that going to Amarillo is a big deal.”
“Sounds like you’re ready to be a husband as well as a father,” Brody said.
“That feelin’ started the morning after they moved in. Since the accident on Friday night, it’s gone to a new level. It’s goin’ to kill me to see Carlene move Tilly away from the ranch. I get up in the mornin’ thinkin’ about them and count the hours until they come home in the afternoons.”
“Sounds like you’ve come a long way from the last time we talked,” Brody said.
“Miles and miles,” Jace said. “And I have no idea how to make Carlene understand that my feelings aren’t the same as when we were a couple of crazy kids, that they’ve gone a lot further than that.”
“I found my way through the maze and I’ve got faith that you will too. I’ve got a confession. Lila and I are so jealous of you having Tilly and Kasey’s family that we’re not putting off a baby of our own. We threw away the birth control pills last night.”
“Whoa! That’s great news.” Jace raised his hand for a high-five.
Brody slapped hands with him. “Please don’t tell anyone. I’m past thirty and even if it happens quickly, I’ll be past fifty when the first one is through college, and Lila wants a big family.”
“Me, too, but”—Jace paused, took a deep breath, groaned with the p
ain it caused, and then went on—“only with Carlene.”
“Love always is,” Brody said. “Heard someone say on television a while back that life only moves one way and you have to go with it. So get that ankle well so that you get your walkin’ boots back on. Life and love both are goin’ to leave you in the dust if you don’t get with it.”
Jace pushed the button on the stereo and the country station Brody listened to the most was playing “Livin’ on Love” by Alan Jackson.
Brody kept time by tapping his thumbs on the steering wheel. “Ever wonder what would have happened if Granny had married Henry instead of Grandpa? If he’d been Mama’s daddy instead of Grandpa, we might have all been military brats instead of ranchers.”
“Ever wonder where you’d be if you’d married someone else and then Lila came home? You still had deep feelin’s for her for sure and that couldn’t be changed, but what would have happened if you’d been married and had a child or two? You’d have never, ever left them because you’re not made that way,” Jace said. “Listen to us, rambling on about all these what-ifs like a couple of old ladies.”
Brody laughed as he turned off the highway onto a county road. “Good thing that we’re nearly to the ranch where we can talk bulls and lean on rail fences like men, ain’t it?”
“You got it.” Jace removed the ice pack and tossed the pillow into the backseat.
Delores Richmond removed her work gloves as she came out of the barn when Brody parked beside the corral filled with four bulls.
“Hey, Brody, I’ve been watchin’ for y’all.”
“Hello, Delores. I hate to see you sell out. Y’all have been a big help to all the cattle ranchers in this area,” Brody said.
“Besides, you make the best apple pies at any ranchin’ party.” Jace got the crutches in position when he slid out of the passenger’s seat.
“Well, Jace Dawson, what happened to you?” Delores asked.
“Had a misunderstanding with a bull last night.”
“Looks like he won,” Delores laughed.
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