Ida, the social worker, walked up at the perfect time to end the conversation. “It’s good to see both of you. Grace, you’re pretty as a picture. We’ve missed you around here.”
Shifting her thoughts away from Seth, Grace glanced at Nana’s friend. “Thanks. It’s good to see you, too.”
“Join us.” Nana pushed a chair out for her. “Joey is resting.”
“Yes, I know, I was just up there. He’s sleeping comfortably for now. The nurse said they think they have the nausea under control.” Ida leaned across the table toward Nana. “The poor boy has been through it. I’m glad you’ve agreed to take him in. A home like yours is exactly what he needs.”
***
Joey Henderson opened his eyes to see three women sitting around his hospital bed. Just what I need. More people to gawk at me in my misery. “What do you want?” The social worker and the white-haired lady were back with another woman.
Ida stood and walked to his bedside. “Hi. How are you feeling?”
He frowned at her. “How do you think? Like crap.” Not feeling like talking, he rolled his eyes and stared at the ceiling, trying to ignore them.
“You remember Mrs. Sanderson. Well, this is her granddaughter, Grace. She wanted to meet you. Remember, you’re going to live with them when you leave the hospital.”
He swallowed a sob and glanced at the pretty blond lady with books in her hand. Hell, another stopover. Nobody really wanted him around. All they cared about was the money they’d make by taking him in. Then, when he was too much for them they’d ship him out.
“Hello, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. I brought you some books.” Grace laid them on his bedside table. “I hope you like them.”
“Thanks.” He muttered. “Reading is all I can do.” His eyes were dry, but he was on the verge of crying, because of the awful pain in his leg. Knowing she could hear the anguish in his voice, he didn’t care. Cringing at the thought of breaking down in front of these strangers, he swallowed the lump in his throat.
Nana patted his hand. “Is your leg hurting?”
“Duh, what do you think? They just got done cutting on it.” He frowned, squeezing his eyes shut and turned toward the wall, not wanting to talk to anyone. He wouldn’t admit it, but all he really wanted was his mom and dad. The ache from missing them so much had left him hollow and empty inside.
The old lady ignored his sharp tongue and leaned over and kissed the side of his forehead. “I’ll come and see you tomorrow. You rest now.” She motioned toward Ida and Grace to come with her. “Come on ladies, it’s time for us to let Joey get some rest.”
Only now that they were gone did he dare to relax. A tear slid down Joey’s cheek, wishing his parents were there, instead of the old lady.
***
Jamie sat on the steps of the big country porch when Grace drove up the driveway. “What are you doing, little girl?”
“Travis let me wait out here. My daddy is on his way home from the airport.” Her eyes sparkled with joy. “I can’t wait to see him.”
Grace's heart pounded faster at the thought of Seth coming home...tonight. Every fiber in her body warned her against him. She had let her guard down. It wouldn’t happen again. After letting him kiss her, she wasn’t quite sure how she should act when she’d see him. Oh, well, it’d all come out in the wash, as Nana always told her. “Good news, but you know it’s a long drive from the airport. Wouldn’t you rather wait inside with me?”
“I guess. It is getting cold.” She shivered. “Could we make him some cookies?”
“Let’s look in the kitchen and see what we can find. If there are enough ingredients, we’ll make chocolate chip cookies.”
“Goodie, he loves cookies.” She clapped her hands together in excitement as they went through the big oak door.
Grace hung her coat on the brass coat rack and rummaged through the cabinets in the kitchen. “It looks like we have all the stuff we need to make them.”
“Nana lets me put in the eggs.” Jamie opened the refrigerator and brought her two from the side door. “Here.” She carefully laid them on the counter.
Grace placed the mixing bowl with the other ingredients on the counter next to the eggs. Together, they started pouring things in the bowl. “Can I stir it?” Jamie asked with wide-eyed innocence.
“Sure. I need all the help I can get. It’s been ages since I made cookies.” Grace handed her the wooden spoon and held the bowl while Jamie pushed the mixture around it.
They were laughing and putting the second batch of cookies in the oven when Seth appeared in the doorway.
“Daddy, you’re home.” Jamie squealed in delight and ran and jumped into his waiting arms.
“Hi, Pumpkin.” The tenderness in his expression touched Grace’s heart while she watched the interaction between father and child. “I’ve missed you.” He held his daughter tight in a bear hug for an instant and pushed her back. “Let me look at you. I bet you’ve grown an inch.”
“Oh, Daddy.” She giggled. “Did you bring me anything?”
He set her on the floor. “Well, let me see. Frowning, he put his hands in his pockets, pulling out nothing. “Maybe it’s in here.” He unzipped the travel bag sitting on the floor and pulled out a blond china doll dressed in a frilly pink dress. “This is from your grandma.”
“Wow.” She watched with rounded blue eyes. “She’s beautiful.” Seth handed her the doll. Jamie hugged the doll with both arms. “I want to play with her. Thanks, Dad.” She ran out of the room.
Grace’s heart beat in an unsteady rhythm when Seth moved across the room toward the island counter. This was the first time they'd been alone since watching the stars together. She started tidying up the space, still uncertain how to respond to him. Somehow she had to keep it casual between them. Keep her hormones in check and keep her hands off of him.
“How are things going?” He picked a piece of cookie dough out of the bowl and nibbled on it. When she glanced at him, his eyes were blue as the Colorado mountain sky on a hot summer day. Her heart thumped dangerously in her throat as she found him watching her.
“Good. We enjoyed having Jamie while you were gone.” Keeping her hands busy, she wiped off the work area. “This Friday night, we have a pajama party planned for her with seven little girls from her class. I hope you don’t mind.”
He kept gazing at her, still chewing on the cookie dough. “Nana mentioned that. I don’t mind.” His voice was low and purposefully seductive. He grinned, moving closer to her. “Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter.”
To put distance between them, Grace took the sponge to the sink and rinsed it out. “It was our pleasure. She’s a delightful child,” she remarked, pleased at how nonchalant she sounded. She could do this. She turned back to face him. “She said she'd never had a sleepover and Nana and I thought it would be fun.”
“You’re a brave woman to take care of all those girls for the night.” He laughed. “Jamie told me all about it when I talked to her on the phone the other night. You’ve made her very happy.” His steady gaze continued to make her nervous. Feeling self-conscious, she glanced at the counter top.
He picked up the travel bag from the floor. “Thanks again. You made my being away much easier on her.” His voice had lulled her into a more relaxed mood and he caught her off guard when he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Stunned, she drew back and leaned against the counter, touching her cheek. The warmth of his kiss lingered on her fingertips while she watched him walk out of the kitchen.
He turned and winked at her. “You’d better check your cookies.”
She turned around to see white smoke rolling out of the oven, the smell of burning cookies filling the air. Damn. He had distracted her and she had forgotten about the cookies. Blushing from the roots of her hair down to her toes, she could hear Seth laughing as he walked down the hallway. Quickly, she pulled the burned cookies from the oven and dumped them in the trash. She stood motionless i
n the middle of the kitchen. What was she going to do about all these bottled up feelings about Seth? She had to put some distance between them to figure out what she wanted. At least the man had a sense of humor.
***
A week later, the sound of sawing and hammering filled the air while Grace stirred a large pitcher of lemonade. With Nana supervising, Seth and the boys were putting the finishing touches on the wheelchair ramp going out the back door for Joey. They had already completed the one connected to the front porch. To think, they could’ve been preparing it for her. A chill passed over her heart.
Later today, Joey would be coming home from the hospital. She realized once again just how far she had come and how lucky she had been.
She and Nana had been taking turns visiting and reading to him. She liked to think they had made some headway. He wasn’t quite so prickly and seemed to perk up when Seth and Jamie visited. He especially liked Jamie.
“Where are those drinks?” Nana called from the back doorway. “The boys are parched out here.”
“I’m coming.” Grace grabbed a stack of paper cups and carried the pitcher out the back door. Fortunately, the weather had worked in their favor and they had a mild mid-winter day to do the job. With his shirt slung over the porch rail, Seth's muscles gleamed in the warm sunshine as he put the finishing touches on the ramp. Mesmerized, she watched, enjoying the view.
Nana smiled and took the cups and pitcher and poured drinks for the other hands standing around. “Take a break. We’re almost done.” She handed Seth a cup of lemonade.
“Sure.” He took a swallow and grinned at Nana. “Now, that’s fine lemonade.” He winked at Grace, causing an eruption of flutters in her stomach. “What time do we pick up the boy?”
Nana leaned against the rail sipping lemonade. “Ida said for us to be there at four. Doctor Evans is in surgery until then and wants to take one last look at him before he leaves the hospital.”
“I see.” He glanced at the sun. “We have plenty of time to finish this. Do you need help with anything else?”
Nana looked up and down the ramp. “No, I don’t think so. Grace and I have the downstairs bedroom and bath ready for him.” She sighed. “Right now, I can’t think of another thing that needs to be done.”
“I know he's had a hard time of it.” He sighed heavily, his voice filled with concern. “What are the doctors saying about his recovery?” Seth asked.
Grace shrugged. “With physical therapy and counseling, they think he’ll eventually be able to walk again.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, worried about the boy. “That’s where Nana and I can really help him. He can rant and rave at us all he wants and we won’t give up on him.” From past experience, she knew healing wasn't always pretty and it didn’t happen overnight. The knowledge twisted and turned inside her. She knew it took time and understanding. Something, she could give the young man.
Seth glanced at his daughter playing in the yard. “I’d like to help, too. Sometimes a boy needs a man to sound off to about his problems.”
Nana watched the ranch hands pick up the last pieces of lumber and carry them to the back of the barn. “Good. He needs a man in his life.” She glanced over at Grace with a gleam in her wise old eyes. “You could help us with the pool therapy. It’s going to take two people at all times. You and Grace could do it.”
“Sure, if Grace doesn’t mind.” He smiled at her expecting her to say something. With reproachful eyes, she noted the tinge of sarcasm in his voice, making her feel guilty.
She was suddenly overwhelmed by the torment of the past few weeks. Since the kiss in the kitchen, she had stayed away from him, trying to figure out her feelings about the man. Since she had kept busy with work on her book he must think she was afraid to be alone with him. “Fine, but no dunking me in the pool,” she teased. It wasn’t that she was afraid...well all right...maybe she was a bit gun-shy. She didn’t relish the idea of him seeing her in a bathing suit, but she didn't want him to lose interest in her either.
He tipped his hat to her. “Sure thing, ma’am.” A gleam of mischief twinkled in his eyes.
A natural friendship was developing between them and the man was incorrigible. Her emotions whirled and skidded when she realized her heart was hammering foolishly. She made a quick involuntary appraisal of him. She hadn’t imagined it. He was hard to resist.
***
“Joey, where are you?” Grace went through the house searching for him. He knew he was supposed to wait in the living room for her. He had really been a pistol lately, fighting them on every turn lashing out at the least little thing. Doc Kruger had told them all Joey wanted was to love and be loved but he felt like he was betraying the memory of his parents and that was why he was being so obstinate. He had been through so much in his short life. Her heart went out to him. Sometimes she probably wasn’t as tough as she should be with him. She sighed.
It was time to leave for the trail ride and picnic with the family. Jamie had been looking forward to it for weeks. Joey had been acting funny all day. She wondered what was bothering him? “Joey?”
“I’m in here,” an angry voice came from out of the back bedroom—Joey’s room. “I’m not going.”
“Joey, that’s crazy. Come on now, everyone is waiting on you.” She walked toward him trying to figure out why he was so angry.
“I don’t care,” he shouted. “You can’t make me go.”
She got behind his wheelchair and started to push him out of the room. This was nonsense. She knew he would have a wonderful time once he got out in the fresh mountain air.
“I said, I’m not going,” he yelled and grabbed the side of the desk causing his books to tumble on the floor.
“Listen, you stupid woman, I said, I’m not going.”
“That’s about enough young man.” Seth stood in the open doorway watching them. “Grace, won’t you excuse us, Mr. Henderson and I need to have a word together.”
Grace glanced between them glaring at each other and decided that would be a good thing. “Sure, I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
“Joey. We can do this the hard way or the easy way.” Seth bent over and picked up the Harry Potter books from the floor and put them back on the desk. Joey sat there in his wheelchair all red faced and pouting not saying a word. “This isn’t good for you or the girls.”
Joey’s defiant face threw hateful looks Seth’s way.
“The bottom line is you’re a part of this family and you’re
going with us. The girls have worked hard on putting together this little outing and you’re not going to spoil it for them.”
“You can’t make me go.” Tears rolled down his cheeks. “You’re all crazy? I can’t ride no stinking horse.” He sniffled. “Just send me on my way to the next house.”
Seth got down on his knees in front of the wheelchair, meeting Joey at eye level. “Son, that’s not going to happen. These women would skin me alive if I even considered that option. You better face it you’re stuck here, so you’d better make the best of it.” He sighed and shook his head. “In case you haven’t noticed, Nana, Grace, Jamie and I care about you.”
“Nobody cares about me. I’m just an invalid in a wheelchair, a nuisance, always getting in the way cause I can’t do stuff.” He frowned, daring Seth to say it wasn’t so.
“That’s not true. Maybe that’s how it was at the other places you stayed but I’m here to tell you things are different at the Cactus Rose Ranch.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s what you say.” He sniffed and wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. “They make me work like a dog at physical therapy. They never let me get away with anything. If physical therapy isn’t bad enough then it’s homework, always finish your homework.”
“Here, blow your nose.” Seth handed him a couple of Kleenex, realizing how scared the boy was about being sent away. “You need to stop and think why they work so hard at making you do those things. If they didn’t care about you they woul
d let you slide. They want you to get a good education so you can make something of yourself.” He brushed Joey’s hair back away from his face. “They help you with your physical therapy so that leg will heal the way it’s supposed to—so you can walk again.”
He looked down at his lap. “I’ll never be able to walk again,” he mumbled under his breath and sighed deeply.
“With that attitude you won’t. You’ve already given up.” Seth stood and pulled his thoughts together. “But if you work hard, do what the doctor and the girls say, then you have a chance to change things and possibly make it happen.” He pointed his finger at Joey. “It’s all up to you. As much as they’d want to, the girls can’t do it for you. I can’t do it for you. Sure, we’re here to help you do the therapy the correct way but it all comes down to how bad you want it.”
“I want it. I want to walk again,” he shouted.
“If you really mean that then change your attitude. Stop treating the people who are here to help you so dreadful. You’re not a little kid anymore. You’re a young man. Start acting like it. You should be ashamed of yourself for talking to Grace that way.”
He hung his head. “I’m sorry for calling Grace stupid. I was upset.” Joey looked as if he was about to start crying again. “I can’t ride a horse. I’d fall off and look like a moron.
Seth laughed. “Is that what you’re worried about? I’ve got that all taken care of. Silly, we wouldn’t let you hurt yourself.” He moved behind Joey’s chair and started pushing him out of the bedroom.
“Come on, Joey, let’s go ride that horse. You can do it. I’ll make sure of it. You can trust me.”
“Okay, I gu..guess, if you’re going to make me, but I’m scared. I’ve never ridden a horse.”
“Let me tell you about your horse, Clara. She’s the most gentle creature in the stable. You’re going to love her. Give her an apple or a sugar cube and she’s your friend for life.”
“Really, can I feed her?”
Grace watched Seth bring the boy into the living room glad to see they had made peace.
No Direction Home (Sweet Home Colorado) Page 14