Finally Home

by Lyn Cote

  Guthrie had leaned forward, his powerful arms resting on the wooden tabletop. “The motel is going to take a lot of cleaning and repairs, and the café will have to be rebuilt. I’ve invited your mom and dad and now you to stay here while Lila gets everything back in order.”

  What?

  “Your parents said it was fine with them and didn’t think you’d have any objection.”

  Objection? Oh, Guthrie, what am I going to do about you? Or, more importantly, about me? This just isn’t a good time for either of us. Why didn’t I realize how susceptible I’d be to a warmhearted guy like you?

  Over two weeks later, Guthrie watched Hannah drive up and park her SUV on the muddy road near her parents’ lot. He stood beyond the construction site and watched the crew from the factory-built-shell company work. A huge crane was poised over the foundation, and the workers were putting up the shell, wall by wall.

  “Wow.” Hannah walked up beside him. “The windows are in and everything.”

  He ignored his marked reaction to her. She smelled of vanilla and glowed with energy. If he didn’t hold himself in check, he might just pull her into his arms and kiss her—right here in front of God and everybody. He couldn’t keep Hannah out of his thoughts.

  Each morning, he found himself lingering in the kitchen listening for her footsteps on the stairs. Then she’d sit down with him at the table where he’d eaten breakfast alone for years. She lit up the room with her teasing smile and friendly laughter.

  That evening after the Twenty-One Plus Night party, he’d intended to kiss her. That is, he hadn’t intended to, but he almost had. Nothing had gone the way he’d anticipated since then.

  More and more, Lynda had been letting Billy hang around her and the kids. Everyone seemed to think that Billy was a new man. They might be right, but the fear of history repeating itself still had the power to make Guthrie nervous. Hannah had been right, too. He could do nothing to prevent his sister from letting Billy into her life and in the process make what might prove the second biggest mistake of her life.

  All Hannah had said that night in the church kitchen made sense, but he still couldn’t quite shake the feeling that Billy couldn’t be trusted with the heavy responsibility of fatherhood. Billy might think he could, but he might bite off more than he could chew. Yet hard as it was, Guthrie had held his tongue.

  And Hannah… He’d let himself get too close to her. Hannah Kirkland had irritated him more than once, but he’d liked her right away. Everyone did. But she had this way of sticking her nose into his business. She’d insisted on helping him with the church roof out of concern for her parents. She’d spoken to him about Billy fearlessly and honestly. Who could stay mad at a kind-hearted, dark-haired, lovely…

  “Oh, this is so exciting! I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.” Hannah’s voice sounded her wonder. “The shell really will be up in twelve hours.”

  “Maybe less.” He kept his tone noncommittal. The crane creaked as it swung another wall into place. How could he help noticing that the woman beside him bubbled over with vitality and charm? “You’re looking good today.” He couldn’t have stopped the words if he’d been struck dumb.

  “Oh?” She blushed.

  Why had he said that to her? Hannah Kirkland was a writer. She was on TV. She wouldn’t be interested in him, a small-town carpenter, a farmer in deep debt. Besides, he’d given up on love long ago when…she’d left. Then his father had gotten sick. Billy had… He pushed away the unhappy memories. Today was a happy day. Finally, this summer, something good was happening.

  “After you left this morning, I got two calls.” She spoke to him, but her eyes never strayed from the activity yards in front of them.

  “Oh?”

  “First my sister Spring called to say she would be coming to visit. Would you mind if she bunked in with me a couple of nights?”

  “That’ll be fine.”

  “And the county fair chairwoman called to ask me to judge the pie competition at the county fair along with your great-aunts.”

  “Oh?”

  “That’s the news.” She turned to him with a smile bright enough to light up Milwaukee.

  He grabbed at the safe topic she’d offered him. “It’s hard to believe it’s time for the county fair. It always means the real end of summer.”

  “Yes, and fall always flies by. You’ve got all your hay in?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, and that’s a real blessing. I won’t have to pay for feed for my cattle this winter. They’ll be fat and ready to sell to dairies come spring without huge feed bills.”

  And though he hadn’t believed it would happen, Billy had started giving Lynda money each week. It wasn’t enough so she could quit work and stay home with the kids, but it was enough to pay the groceries and a few bills. Not having to help Lynda as much allowed Guthrie to start paying off his debts faster than he’d anticipated. Even though he’d argued against it, the Kirklands were pitching in for groceries and bills at the farm.

  Then Billy had tried to give him a check to help pay off the debt for Hunter’s birth. Though Guthrie had refused Billy’s check, telling him to give it to Lynda, it had felt good this month when Guthrie had been able to write a healthy figure on the principal line of the bank mortgage form.

  Hannah turned halfway from him. “I hope we’re not crowding you at the farm. We can always move out.”

  “No, not at all.”

  “But you might need our rooms. Your mom says your brother called today.”

  “Brandon?” Guthrie couldn’t remember the last time his brother had communicated with them.

  “Yes, he’s coming for a visit.”

  Guthrie snorted. “She must have heard him wrong. He never leaves San Francisco.”

  “No, I’m sure she said Brandon’s trying to come in time for the county fair. And he wants to stay at the farm. I’ll be happy to move out.”

  A spark ignited Guthrie’s temper. “No. You’re staying. He can get a room at a motel in Portage or bunk with Aunt Edith and Aunt Ida. They’ll enjoy having him.”

  “But your mom said—”

  “He’ll stay in town. Brandon never had any use for the farm.” Is Deirdre coming with him? Guthrie felt a little sick at the possibility.

  Under cover of the worn county fair marquee, open on all four sides, Hannah stood between Ida and Edith. The sweet scent of fruit pies wafted all around them and blended with the smell of warm canvas in the late September afternoon breeze. “Ladies, it looks like we have our work cut out for us.”

  They were surrounded by long tables covered with row after row of golden pies—cherry, apple, blueberry, peach, blackberry, strawberry, rhubarb and more, many more. Outside, gray clouds layered the sky, promising rain.

  “I hadn’t thought there would be so many entries,” Hannah murmured, feeling like a piece of pastry dough that had just been flattened by a heavy rolling pin.

  “It will be quite a challenge,” Ida agreed, sporting an old-fashioned full apron in pink-and-white gingham.

  “But we know how to do it.” Edith, wearing a matching apron, nodded.

  “What do you suggest?” Hannah bent over and propped one elbow on the front table. Right now, tasting pies ranked dead last in what she wanted to do.

  “We start by looking at each pie.”

  “Judging for appearance?” Hannah guessed.

  “Of course, dear.” Ida smiled primly. “A good-tasting pie rarely looks bad, at least in a contest, you know. The cook wouldn’t bring anything less than the very best.”

  “After we look, then we taste.” Edith finished with a knowing grin.

  So Hannah began, but as she judged she watched the ebb and flow of familiar faces around the centrally located pie-judging area. Part of her mind watched for Spring to arrive. Her parents had promised to bring her directly to the fair when she arrived. The other part of her concentrated on pie appearance, pastry texture, filling flavor. She marked these on her sco
recard, as did the aunts.

  But Hannah had to admit there was one face she was watching for even more than Spring’s—Guthrie’s. She had to turn this Guthrie trend around. Between Billy’s return, Mom’s health and the wait to look for the adoption papers, there was a great deal at stake in their families. She had to get over Guthrie and fast.

  After the pies had been judged by the visual criterion, Hannah’s vigil for her sister ended. Flanked by their parents, Spring, wearing an ivory linen shift, stopped and goggled at all the pies. “You’re not really going to taste all these pies, are you?”

  “I’m so happy to see you, too.” Hannah’s mouth twisted into a wry grin. She stepped outside the judging area.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Hannah.” Spring hugged her sister and whispered, “I saw the house. It won’t be long and you’ll be in.”

  “No problem.” Hannah gave her sister a special smile of understanding.

  After meeting the aunts, Spring and their parents wandered away with Martha, who had Amber and Jenna in hand, and Hannah returned to the rows of pies.

  At long last, Hannah, Ida and Edith finished the tasting and bestowed the ribbons on the top three pies. Hannah collapsed onto a lawn chair beside the pie tent. Carnival music accompanied the sound of shots from the target game and the ping of quarters tossed at jars. The buttery smell of popcorn and the sweet smell of cotton candy wafted on the increasing breeze. Crowds soon clogged the fairground walkways. Lynda and Billy with Hunter stopped to chat. Hannah smiled at seeing the three of them enjoying the fair together.

  “Daddy,” Hunter insisted, “I want a corn dog!”

  “Okay, okay.” Billy ruffled Hunter’s mop of blond hair. “We’ll be right back, Mom.”

  “Just one,” Lynda called after them. “He’s already had cotton candy and a funnel cake!”

  Hannah, certain she’d eaten the equivalent of two whole pies, felt a little queasy. “Please don’t talk about food.”

  Lynda laughed. “Pie contest get to you?”

  Hannah noticed that Guthrie’s sister looked even prettier than she had when they’d met. An inner glow had begun to glimmer in her eyes and expression.

  Spring, clutching a white bear almost half her size, returned with Garner and Ethel. “Look, Father pitched quarters and won me a bear!”

  Hannah made herself pout. “I want a bear, too.”

  Dad laughed.

  Guthrie made his way through the crowd. Stopping near them, he smiled at her.

  Her heart did a flip-flop, but Hannah covered it with a friendly wave to him. “Why weren’t you here earlier? We needed help judging those pies.”

  “I was judging rabbits for the 4-H kids.”

  Hannah introduced him to her sister.

  “Nice to meet you, Spring.” He nodded.

  “Rabbits!” Spring exclaimed. “They’re my favorite!”

  “Me, too. I love the ones with the lop ears, so unusual.” Behind them, Ida cut a generous piece of blueberry pie, put it on a paper plate and handed it to Guthrie.

  “Yes, dear, eat,” Edith encouraged. “You look tired.”

  Guthrie chuckled, then bit into the blueberry pie.

  “Let me guess.” Hannah rested her index finger on the side of her chin. “Blueberry is your favorite.”

  A drop of the purple juice and a berry slid down his chin. Hannah nearly reached out to catch them with her fingertip. She gave herself a little shake.

  “Lynda! Lynda!” Billy shoved his way to his wife, who had reached up to wipe her brother’s chin. “Is Hunter with you?”

  “No.” Concern leaped onto Lynda’s face.

  “He was right with me. I reached up for our corn dogs. I turned around and he was gone.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Don’t panic. We’ll find your boy,” Hannah’s father said, his face stern. “Hannah, do you have your new cell phone?”

  Still stunned, Hannah slid it out of her pocket.

  “Call nine-one-one. I’m sure I saw a deputy around here. I want the county sheriff right now. I think the little guy has just got himself lost, but these days we can’t take any chances.”

  As her father talked, Hannah punched the numbers in. Her hands trembled. Had Hunter become lost in the crowd or had he been snatched by a stranger? When a voice answered, she handed the phone to her father.

  With few words, he told the dispatcher the problem and hung up. “Now, Guthrie and Bill, there are only two parking lots. Bill, you take the north lot. Guthrie, you take the west. Gather a few friends as you go. The sheriff said to refuse to let anyone leave. His orders.” Guthrie and Bill raced off in different directions.

  Dad turned to his wife, Hannah, Spring and Lynda. “I’m going to go to the man in charge of the public address system, so he can broadcast an alert for Hunter. The four of you take different areas, search for Hunter and spread the word.” He gave Lynda a quick hug. “Don’t worry. God is with him and with us. We’ll find him. Now go.”

  Grateful to be able to help, Hannah hurried away, her heart racing. Visions of forlorn faces of lost children on posters and milk cartons filled her with icy terror. She tried to reason with her fear. Children got confused in crowds and wandered away all the time, but her urgency to search for Hunter didn’t wane. As she hurried along examining every nook, she watched for familiar faces. She saw Lila coming toward her. “Lila, Hunter’s lost! Have you seen him?”

  “No—”

  The public address system crackled to life. “Attention. Hunter Garrett, a four-year-old boy with blond hair, has come up missing. He is wearing blue jeans and a Packer T-shirt. If you see him, please bring him to the central judge’s station. Thank you.”

  Lila rushed to catch up with Hannah. “I’ll help you. Lynda must be frantic.”

  Hannah nodded, but concentrated on searching for a little towheaded boy in a Packer T-shirt. Each minute, each step made her heart thump harder. Dear Lord, please help us find him. Comfort Lynda and Billy. Don’t let anyone hurt Hunter.

  The minutes roared passed. Everywhere people, strangers and friends, were calling, “Hunter! Hunter!” Two sheriff’s cars drove into the fairground and blocked the exits. Hannah welcomed the blare of their sirens and their flashing red lights. No stranger would be able to get far.

  The sky was turning dark and stormy. Hannah and Lila made it to the west entrance. A young deputy there was talking to Guthrie. Guthrie had his arms folded over his chest, his face drawn into somber lines. She waved. He nodded.

  Hunter, where did you go?

  Then Hannah heard calling in the distance, happy shouting. “They found the little boy!” “He’s been found!” With Lila huffing beside her, she ran toward the voices.

  Beaming, Aunt Ida and Aunt Edith waited several yards away from the corn dog stand. Hunter stood between them, their arms around his small trembling shoulders. The little boy clutched their skirts in his small fists.

  With a shout of joy, Lynda rushed to him and swung him up in her arms. The crowd fell silent. Needing to be close, Hannah pushed her way forward.

  “I’m sorry, Mommy!” Hunter sobbed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get losted.”

  Billy and Guthrie came into view, running from opposite directions. The crowd parted to let them and the sheriff and a deputy through.

  Billy cried out, “Thank God! Where was he?”

  Weeping, Lynda reached out her free arm, and the two of them embraced each other with Hunter in the middle.

  Guthrie halted a few paces back, though he looked like he wanted to snatch the child from their arms and hold him close.

  Choked with emotion, Hannah made her way to Guthrie and took his arm. Emotions ran high, and she feared he might do or say something in the heat of the moment that would do harm. But he didn’t pull against her. Instead, he closed his large hand over hers.

  She tried to read his emotions, but she only had his profile to judge.

  “Where were you, baby?” Lynda asked her son.

  �
��I wanted…a corn dog.” Hunter sniffed back tears.

  “Yes?” Lynda prompted.

  Hannah leaned her head against Guthrie’s arm, suddenly feeling weak with relief.

  “But then I saw a quarter under there.” He pointed to a long, green-draped table across the way. “And I crawled over there. Then I saw a grasshopper and I wanted to catch him, but I couldn’t. Then I came back out and I couldn’t see Daddy and I got scared. So I hid under the table until my daddy came back to find me. I was scared some stranger would get me. I wanted my daddy.”

  Hannah blinked back tears. Happy endings were so rare.

  Lynda and Billy hugged their son again.

  “It’s okay.” Billy smoothed the little boy’s hair. “We just wanted you to be safe.”

  Again, Hannah expected Guthrie to speak up. Again, he remained silent, watching. She squeezed Guthrie’s arm reassuringly.

  He returned the pressure.

  Hannah smiled, Guthrie’s silence bolstering her.

  “Aunt Ida and Edith, how did you find him?” Lynda asked the beaming ladies.

  “We just thought like a child,” Ida replied.

  “Absolutely. We know that strangers do abduct children nowadays.” Edith frowned. “So the pastor had to call the sheriff and such—”

  “But children do just wander away. Always have. I remember Guthrie doing it at this fair when he was about six.” Ida glanced at her nephew. “We found him the same way. Looking where a child might hide.”

  “Well, no harm done.” Hannah’s father spoke. “Thank you, Sheriff. Sorry we called you out.”

  “No problem. You did just what you should. I was close by, and my two deputies were on-site and were able to close off the exits. If this had been an abduction, your quick action would have prevented him from getting away.” He turned to the crowd. “Everyone, the excitement’s over. It could rain any time, so let’s have fun!”

  Hoping no one had noticed her clinging to Guthrie, Hannah dropped her hold on his arm. People drifted away as the wind brought the rain.

  Guthrie turned to her. “I’m beat. I’m heading home.” His voice rasped with emotion.

  “Me, too. Too much pie,” Hannah agreed, tired, but with a heart full of thankfulness.