* * *
Standing at the fence watching a mother and colt frolicking in the pasture left of the barn, Tory heard the sound of a car approaching on the gravel road that led to her house. She didn’t have to glance over her shoulder to know it was Mindy and Slade. She cradled the cup of tea and brought it to her lips, taking several sips of the now-lukewarm brew. Coldness cloaked her even though the temperature was quickly rising into the mid-seventies. Her eyes stung from lack of sleep, but her jittery nerves kept her moving.
A car door slammed shut, then another one. Mindy called out to her. Tory turned and leaned back against the wooden fence, waving at the little girl as she headed into the barn to see Mirabelle. Dressed in dark blue dress slacks, Slade strode toward her, tired lines marking his features. He hadn’t slept much the night before, either. Good, she thought, since his surprise proposal certainly had robbed her of any rest.
Finishing her tea, she placed the mug on the post, more brown than the white it was supposed to be. “When will you be picking Mindy up?”
“I have a late-afternoon meeting with a contractor about the additions to the plant. When I’m through with him, I’ll come straight here. It should be by six.”
“Mindy and I can have dinner ready for you.”
A smile curved his mouth. “I’d like that.” He started to say something else but stopped before the first word was out.
“I don’t have an answer, if that’s what you want to know.”
“I figured as much. Did you get any sleep last night?”
She gestured toward her face, sure the circles under her eyes were still evident. “What do you think?”
“No. Neither did I.”
“So, I should probably have an answer soon if either one of us wants to get any sleep?”
“Yep, that about sums it up.”
His crooked grin melted any defenses she had automatically erected. She pushed away from the post and rolled her shoulders. “I’m not as young as I used to be. There was a time I could stay up all night and keep going strong the next day. That’s not the case anymore. I’m hoping Mindy will want to take a nap later this afternoon.”
“Since she was up bright and early this morning, I’d say she probably will. She was so excited to be coming out here and not having to stay with Mrs. Davies.”
“I’m glad.” She started past Slade, making her way toward the barn. “Why don’t you let her spend the night? Bring some clothes for her this evening, and when she goes to sleep, you and I can have a talk.” She hadn’t realized until the words were out of her mouth that she would give Slade an answer that evening. But she would. Now she just had to figure out what that answer would be.
“Then I’ll swing by the house and pick up some of Mindy’s clothes.” Slade stopped at his car and opened the door, throwing Tory a heart-stopping look.
From the entrance into the barn Tory watched Mindy’s father drive away, her time running out. Twelve hours to go.
“Tor-ee, can—I ride?”
She turned toward the little girl standing in the middle of the barn. “Sure, just as soon as I finish mucking out two stalls.”
“I’ll—help.”
“I was counting on that.” Tory approached Mindy and clasped her on the shoulder.
The little girl threw her arms around Tory’s waist. “I’m—so glad—no—Mrs. Davies. Thank—you.”
“You’re welcome.” Tory leaned back, staring down at Mindy. This child was the reason the answer wasn’t a simple no.
“I’m—a good—uh—helper.” Mindy puffed out her chest. “You—need—help.”
“I tell you what. I need to feed the cat and her kittens. Can you do that for me while I take care of the last two stalls?”
“Sure.” Mindy’s blue eyes gleamed, big and round.
“You know where their food is?”
The girl nodded.
“I’ll come get you then when I’m through.”
Mindy started for the tack room while Tory hurried toward the last stall on the left. Twenty minutes later, her muscles shaking with fatigue, Tory went in search of Mindy. She heard the child before she saw her. Mindy was outside the back entrance, talking to the kittens.
She held one in her lap, stroking it and saying, “Maybe—I’ll—get to—stay—here. I see—you—every—day. Wouldn’t—that be—nice?” The child buried her face in the kitten’s fur, rubbing it back and forth across her cheek. “Tor-ee—needs—me.”
Tory’s throat jammed with emotions of love. She did need Mindy. More than she realized. Tory closed her eyes for a few seconds. Thank you, Lord, for showing me the answer.
Swallowing several times, Tory stepped from the shadows into the light. “Are you ready to ride, Mindy?”
* * *
Dusk blanketed the farm, cooling the air slightly. The dark clouds to the south hinted at a chance of rain. Crickets trilled and frogs croaked. Tory brushed a stray strand of hair, fallen from her ponytail, behind her ear. Taking a deep breath, she relished the scents of grass and earth that mingled with the fragrance of the honeysuckle she’d planted along the fence to the west.
She needed to paint the fences, the barn and the house. Each year more of the white flaked off and yet she neither had the time nor the money to do that. There weren’t enough hours in the day.
The screen door banged closed behind her. The sound of even footsteps approached her. She remained by the porch railing, her fingers grasping it a little tighter.
“I finally got Mindy to go to sleep. All she wanted to talk about was the kittens and Belle. She told me when she grows up she wants to work with animals like you, Tory.” Next to her Slade settled himself back against the railing, his arms folded over his chest, and faced her. “See what kind of influence you have on Mindy?”
She looked away from the intensity in his gaze, warmed by his compliment and a bit afraid she could never live up to what Mindy needed. “It’s going to rain tonight. How is Mindy in a thunderstorm?”
“Fine. Unless the thunder gets too loud.”
“I love rain. A good storm cleanses the earth.”
“So long as it doesn’t set in for days at a time.”
Tory turned away from the yard and half sat, half leaned on the railing next to Slade, their arms almost touching. “Rain is important to a farmer.”
“How long are we going to discuss the weather before we talk about what I asked you last night?”
She slanted a look toward him, her head cocked. “Impatient?”
“Yes, I was patient all the way through that delicious dinner. How did you know I love pot roast?”
“Mindy mentioned it to me.”
“I guess I’m a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy.”
She suspected he was as nervous as she was about their impending discussion. “Also, according to your daughter, a dessert kind of guy, too.”
“Is that why we had blackberry cobbler?”
“Yes.”
“Did you and Mindy make that today?”
“Yes, but the ice cream was store-bought. I only have so much time to cook.”
“But you enjoy cooking?”
“Yes. I wish I had more time to do that.”
“Which brings me to why I am here. I can give you more time to do those kinds of things. Will you marry me, Tory Alexander?”
The question hovered between them, its implication vibrating the air as though a hundred hummingbird wings beat against each other. She took a deep, fortifying breath and opened her mouth to reply. No words would come out. They lodged in her throat. Swallowing several times, she tried again. “First, we should talk about—” Still she couldn’t say what she needed to.
“About what?”
The mere thought flamed her cheeks. She palmed them, feeling the searing heat. “What kind of marriage will we have?”
A dawning light shone in his eyes. “Do you mean, will we have a real marriage in every sense of the word?”
Her heart paused in its
frantic beating, then resumed its crash against her chest. Its thundering roar in her ears drowned out all other sounds. Perspiration beaded on her forehead. “Yes,” she finally said in a voice stronger than she thought possible.
He shifted so he fully faced her. “I hope so, but, Tory, you will call the shots. It will be up to you.”
She veiled her expression. She could accept those terms, but could he? What if she couldn’t ever take that step? What if—
No, she would deal with it one day at a time. The Lord would show her the way. She lifted her gaze to his. “Yes, I will marry you.”
* * *
Tory stood back from the one-story farmhouse and surveyed the freshly painted wood. White with hunter-green trim gleamed in the sunlight, rejuvenating the old structure. Even the swing and wicker furniture on the porch had been painted to match the trim. Turning toward the horse barn, she watched the three painters putting the finishing touches to its hunter-green trim. Then the fences would be painted white. Satisfaction and pride welled up in her.
Eight days ago she had accepted Slade’s proposal and the next day he’d had painters out here to discuss painting whatever needed to be done. The following day they’d started and had been working nonstop since then. Slade wanted the work done by the time of their wedding in four days. It would be close.
A blue Honda, at least ten years old, pulled into the drive leading to the house. She waited by the gravel road while the man parked and climbed from his vehicle. Approaching him, she extended her hand. “You must be Gus Morris.”
The older man with a full head of white hair pumped her arm. “Yes, ma’am. I sure am. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Let’s talk while I show you the operation.” Tory started for the barn.
Gus, who was no more than two inches taller than Tory, fell into step next to her. “It looks like you’re sprucing up the place.”
“Yes.” Tory gestured for Gus to enter the barn first. “I have fifteen horses—five of them mine and one pony. I offer classes, usually in the afternoon. The people who stable their horses here come out and ride, some more than others. I make sure the horses are fed and taken care of each day.” Tory paused in the middle of the barn. “Also, I keep the stalls clean and keep an eye on the various horses. I’ll inform the owner if a problem is developing. As you saw, I have several riding rings and also paddocks and trails for people to use.”
“What will my duties be?”
“Cleaning out the stalls, feeding and watering the horses, keeping the tack in good shape. You’ll be assisting me with whatever needs to be done.”
“Hours?”
“From six in the morning until three in the afternoon. You’ll have an hour off for lunch.”
The short man grinned, his brown eyes twinkling. “As I told you over the phone, I miss my ranch. I miss working with horses. My kids wanted me to move here, but they neglected to give me anything to do. I found retirement isn’t for me.”
“Do you think you can manage the duties?” Tory took in Gus’s wiry frame.
“Been doing that kind of stuff all my life. Don’t you worry about me. I am all muscles, no fat. I’m in good health and driving my daughter bananas. She’s actually the one who saw the advertisement in the paper and showed it to me.”
“Then, Mr. Morris, you’ve got yourself a job and you can start tomorrow if you want.”
“Please, call me Gus. Mr. Morris just makes me seem older than I care to be.”
“Tor-ee—I’m—done.” Mindy came to the entrance of Belle’s stall, holding a curry comb in one hand, hay sticking to her T-shirt.
“Who’s this little lady?” Gus asked.
“This is my helper, Mindy. This is Gus, Mindy. He’ll be working here and helping us.”
Gus covered the distance between Mindy and himself in three strides. “Let me see what you’ve done.” He looked inside the stall and whistled. “That’s a mighty fine job, if I do say so myself.”
Mindy beamed. “Thanks! Belle—is—my—resp—” Her brow knitted as she glanced toward Tory.
“Responsibility,” Tory said for her.
“Belle is one lucky pony then.” Gus turned toward Tory. “I’ll be here tomorrow at six straight up.”
As the old man left, Mindy shut the stall door and made sure the latch was hooked, then she walked toward the tack room to put up her curry comb. “Dad-dy be here—soon?”
“Soon. But you’re staying for dinner again. Your father and I still have to talk about the wedding plans.”
“Four—days. Can’t—wait.”
“Ready to help me with dinner?”
Nodding, Mindy took Tory’s hand.
“I thought we would have hamburgers tonight. What do you think?”
“Yes.”
When a black Taurus headed toward her house, Tory stopped for a moment, trying to make out who was behind the wheel. Judy? She was early.
“Who’s—that?”
“My older sister. She wasn’t supposed to come for the wedding until Thursday.”
“Sis-ter!” Mindy quickened her pace, nearly falling in her haste.
Tory steadied her. “Slow down. After the day we put in, I don’t have that kind of energy. Judy isn’t going anywhere.”
“Will—she—be my—aunt—when—you—mar-ry— Dad-dy?”
“You bet.”
“Neat!”
Judy slid from the car and stretched. “I know I’m early. But Brad told me to come and he’ll bring the kids with him in a few days. How can I pass up a minivacation without the children?”
Tory studied her sister’s face, her expression innocent, and wondered about Judy’s motives behind her early arrival. Her older sister was always trying to protect her. She was sure Judy was here to scout out the situation for Mom and Dad and make a report before they came. “Judy, I want you to meet Mindy. She’s Slade’s daughter.”
Mindy lifted her hand to shake Judy’s. “I—help— Tor-ee.”
“That’s what she said to me. She’s lucky to have such a good helper.”
Mindy preened, a big grin on her face.
“Pop the trunk and I’ll help you with your luggage.” Tory moved around to the back of the car. When she saw the jammed trunk, she laughed. “I should have known you’d bring your whole closet with you.”
Judy bent down and whispered into Mindy’s ear, “Ignore Tory. She likes to make fun of me and what I pack for a trip. My motto is to always be prepared and in order to do that I have to bring choices.”
Mindy giggled.
“And of course, Mom had me bring some wedding gifts for you.”
“Gifts?” Mindy’s eyes grew round. “I’ll—help—open?”
“I wouldn’t ask anyone but you. Come on, we’d better get started or we’ll be out here all night unloading the car.”
* * *
“Well, Mindy, I think you did a superb job with the baked beans.” Judy wiped her mouth on her napkin and laid it on the side of her empty dinner plate. “And the hamburgers were great, Slade. Grilled to perfection.”
“Yes—Dad-dy.” Mindy finished off her chocolate milk.
Slade pointed to his mouth and waited until his daughter had used her napkin to clean hers before saying, “With compliments like that, I could get used to cooking.”
Judy rose and began taking the dishes to the sink. “My contribution to this dinner is to clean up.”
“I’ll help.” Tory stacked several plates on top of each other.
“While you two are doing that, Mindy and I will take a walk down to the barn. I wanted to check out how the painters are coming along.”
Tory put the plates into the sink. “If it doesn’t rain, I think they’ll get finished by the wedding.”
When Slade and Mindy left the kitchen, Judy brought a platter and bowl over to the counter. “She’s every bit as cute as you said.”
“And?”
“What do you mean ‘and’?” her sister asked, again that innocent
expression on her face.
“I know you, Judy. Is Mom watching the kids so you could come early and pump me for information?”
“Why, Victoria Alexander, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Brad—”
“You haven’t suddenly changed. You’re dying to know what in the world has gotten into me. Don’t deny it.”
Judy placed one fisted hand on her waist. “Okay. I’ll admit Mom and I were curious.”
Tory barked a laugh. “Merely curious?”
“You weren’t even dating anyone the last time I talked to you, what, a week before you made this grand announcement that you were getting married. What’s going on?”
“I’ve known Slade for some time. I don’t tell you and Mom everything.”
Judy’s expression sobered. “Have you told Slade everything? Does he know what happened?”
CHAPTER SIX
Tory started rinsing the dishes off to put into the dishwasher, but her hands shook so badly she nearly dropped a plate. Judy reached around her and turned the water off.
“Tory, you can’t keep running from the truth.”
A band about Tory’s chest tautened, constricting the air in her lungs. She drew in a deep breath, then blew it out through pursed lips. Once. Twice. Still she felt as though she were suffocating. Clasping her wet hands together to still their trembling, she closed her eyes, wishing she could block the world out as easily as flipping off a switch. Life wasn’t like that. She’d learned that painfully. There were times she felt as though she were running as fast as she could and going nowhere.
She focused on the feel of Judy’s arms around her as she said, “The truth? You don’t think I’ve faced it? I have every day for the past four years. As much as I want to forget, I can’t. I’ve tried. Believe me, I’ve tried.” Tears, from the depth of her bruised soul, filled her eyes and coursed down her cheeks.
“Does Slade know about you being raped?”
The question struck Tory with the force of a sledgehammer. Even though she didn’t move, she felt as though she had been knocked back against a brick wall. “No, I don’t see why I should share my past with him. It’s in my past. It has nothing to do with my future.” Shame and humiliation nibbled at the edges of her mind. She shut down, refusing them entry.
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