“Dad-dy—fun-ny.”
“Yes, very.”
He dropped the hose and strode to the deck. “This is war. She has to come back and I’m gonna be ready for her.”
“I’ll get you a towel. Don’t forget I can make some calls and see what we can do about the skunks.”
“I think she was actually mocking me,” Slade grumbled while heading back to the hose with a lawn chair in his hands.
Mindy giggled.
“I know, Mindy. No one will believe he is standing guard waiting for a skunk to return home.”
Tory went into the house and grabbed a large towel. When she walked through the kitchen to the back door, she noted the stacked dishes by the sink. She shook her head and stepped outside to the sight of Slade bolting out of the lawn chair, switching on the hose, and running toward the returning skunk. His feet hit one of the mud puddles and flew up into the air. Slade landed on his back, staring at the sky, with the hose in his hand, squirting water upward like a fountain. It fell in sheets onto his prone body, thoroughly soaking him.
Mindy doubled over laughing while Slade pushed himself to his elbows, water dripping off him. The skunk disappeared under the house. The hose continued to drench the ground around Slade.
Tory hurried to the faucet and twisted it off. “Stay there. I’ll get some more towels.”
“Oh—Dad-dy—you’re—too—much.” Mindy started toward the stairs to the backyard.
“I agree, Mindy, but I think you’d better stay here. It looks pretty slippery out there.” Tory waited until Mindy stopped by the railing before she headed back inside for some more towels.
She knew there was a competitive edge to Slade, but with a skunk? He was too much, Tory thought, her own laughter bubbling to the surface as she recalled his soaked, muddy body. When she returned to the deck, Mindy held the hose and was spraying her father clean. He pirouetted slowly, allowing her to reach his back, as well. When he was rinsed off, he took a towel from Tory and turned the faucet off. The sounds of two animals fighting came from under the house.
He arched one brow, a frown marring his features.
“It’s catching.”
“Like—a cold?” Mindy asked with a giggle.
Slade shivered, hugging his arms to him. “If I don’t get inside and changed, I’ll get a cold,” he grumbled.
“It’s ninety degrees out here. I don’t think so.”
Slade sloshed up the steps. “It could happen. I’ve heard of summer colds.”
“Hold it. Where do you think you’re going? You’re still dripping wet. And those shoes!”
He held up his hands. “I’ll take them off. Promise.” He bent down and removed his tennis shoes and socks, then draped them over the chair to dry. Taking another towel, he ran it down his body one more time. “Okay?” He spread his arms wide and turned in a full circle.
“Fine.”
When Slade disappeared into the house, Mindy looked over the railing at the crawl space where the skunks lived. “They—don’t—sound—hap-py.”
“If your father has anything to do about it, they won’t be until they move on.”
“The—ba-by was—cute.”
“Melinda Donaldson, you better not try to hold one again.”
Mindy stuck her lower lip out. “I—won’t.”
“Good.” Tory clasped the child’s shoulder and started for the back door. “Now, we have a dinner to clean up. Do you think you can help me while your daddy is changing?”
“Yes!”
Together they entered the kitchen and began rinsing the dishes to put in the dishwasher. Tory thought back to the past few hours and even though nothing had gone according to plans, she had enjoyed herself. Combating the skunk problem had made them seem even more like a family. She relished that feeling.
* * *
Slade sat down next to Tory in the audience and leaned close. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes, Mindy will be fine. I got her in her horse costume and she knows her line.”
“Still—”
“Slade, stop worrying. You saw the children with Mindy. They have accepted her and she feels part of the group.”
Sighing, he settled back and crossed his arms as though steeling himself for the next twenty minutes.
The lights in the recreational hall dimmed and the audience of parents and friends quieted. The curtain on the stage opened, revealing a boy playing Noah standing in front of what was supposed to be the newly built ark, even though it was a cardboard cutout. Soon the children appeared who represented the various animals of the world. When Mindy came on stage, dressed in brown burlap, a long tail of twined rope fastened to the back, Slade tensed, clasping Tory’s hand and holding it hostage.
Mindy trudged toward Noah and stopped. “We—want—to—join—you.”
Tory heard the swoosh of air leave Slade when Mindy finished her line. He squeezed her hand, but instead of releasing his grasp, he kept it clasped. His hand surrounding hers felt right. He didn’t let it go until the end when everyone clapped as the children took their bows.
He rose and stretched. “I’m glad that is over.”
“Why?” Tory came to her feet.
“It’s not easy holding your breath until your daughter makes her appearance.” His mouth quirked in a lopsided grin.
“Holding your breath?”
“Not exactly the whole time, but it was hard to breathe properly when all I could do was worry if she would remember what to say. I definitely hope she doesn’t want to go on stage as an actress. I don’t think I could take it.”
“Knowing you, you’ll support anything Mindy wants to do.”
“Dad-dy,” Mindy called out a few feet from them. She weaved among the adults until she was standing next to Slade. “I—did—it!”
“Yes, you did, sweetheart. You’re braver than I would be. I don’t think I could get up in front of a group of people and recite lines.”
“I—didn’t—for-get one—word.” Mindy’s chest swelled, her chin lifted.
“Nope.”
“I’m—get-ting—bread.” Mindy crunched her face into a frown. “I mean—cake.” She headed off into the crowd toward the table at the back of the recreational hall that had a large sheet cake on it with fruit punch next to it.
“Mmm. Chocolate cake sounds good.” Slade eyed the pieces being sliced.
“I’m sure there’ll be enough for the adults, too.”
“You know I have a weakness for chocolate.” He watched Mindy take a plate and a cup and walk toward a group of children sitting at a table.
“Is that your only weakness?”
“I do like ice cream and French fries. Both probably aren’t too good for you.”
“Oh, my, with weaknesses like those, you’re in big trouble.” Tory splayed her hand over her chest in mock shock.
A serious expression descended on Slade’s face. “I wish that was all.”
“What deep, dark secrets could you possibly have?” Tory asked, thinking of her own that she kept close to her heart.
“We all have secrets we want to protect.”
“Not from God.”
Slade’s frown evolved into a scowl, his lips clamped together. When Reverend Nelson joined them, Slade relaxed his expression into a neutral one, but Tory saw the slight stiffening to his shoulders that indicated his tension. When had she come to know Slade so well? They had been married only a few weeks, and yet she knew his moods even when he was trying to mask them.
“It’s good to see you at church, Slade.” Reverend Nelson shook his hand. “I hope this means you’ll be coming more often with Tory and Mindy.”
“Possibly, when work permits.”
“We could use someone with your expertise on our budget committee.”
“I don’t know if I have that kind of time.”
“I hope you’ll think about it. Tory, I like your idea about using your horses for the summer carnival. The kids will enjoy riding.”
/> When the reverend left, Slade asked, “What summer carnival?”
“The one we’ll be hosting over the Fourth of July weekend.”
“Hosting!”
Tory automatically took a step back. “I know I should have said something sooner, but it was just decided yesterday. Once I volunteered the horses, the committee liked the idea of moving the carnival to the ranch. There’s more room and I won’t have to transport the horses. It’s good advertisement for the riding stable especially now that it’s being fixed up.”
“But the Fourth is a week away.”
“I know. Mindy will be excited.”
“You mean she doesn’t know yet?” His frown returned.
Tory closed the space between them, placing her hand on his arm. “I haven’t had a chance to tell her, either.”
“Sometimes I think I’m the last to know what’s going on,” he grumbled. “How many people come to this carnival?”
“Probably over a hundred. The church uses it as a fund-raiser.”
“Have you volunteered me for any jobs?”
“Of course not. I hope you’ll help me with the rides, but you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. In fact, you can spend the day at work if you want to escape.”
Slade snorted. “Not if I want to come home to two ladies who will be speaking to me.”
“I’d better tell you also that my family has definitely decided to visit over that weekend. They come every year and believe me, this one will be no different.”
“Checking me out?”
Tory nodded.
“I can live with that. Thank goodness I didn’t make any plans for the holiday.”
“I’m not used to running my plans by someone. I haven’t had to before.”
“We’re a family, Tory. Don’t forget that.”
She inhaled a calming breath and braced herself. “I also think we should go to Carol’s grave site today after church. I know the past month or so has been hectic with you looking for a housekeeper then us getting married so suddenly.”
Slade closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them again, Tory saw the anguish in his gaze.
“Mindy needs to say goodbye to her mother.”
“I know. We’ll go.”
“Do you want me to go, too?”
“Do you want to?”
“Yes, we’re a family, Slade. And don’t forget that.”
“Then let’s get Mindy and go now.”
The ride to the cemetery was done in silence with a quick stop at a grocery store for some fresh flowers. Slade pulled up to the grave site and helped Mindy from the back seat. Tory followed the pair to the marble headstone with Carol Marie Donaldson’s name. Mindy put the assorted flowers in the vase at the base of the headstone, then stood back.
“They—die—with-out—wa-ter.”
Tory scanned the area and found an outdoor faucet nearby. “We can fill the vase with some water before we leave.”
With a somber expression, Slade placed his hands on Mindy’s shoulders and stood behind her. “Mommy’s buried here.”
“She’s—with—God—now.”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Can—she—hear—me?”
“I believe she can. I’m sure she’s watching over you. She loved you very much.”
Mindy leaned her head back until she stared at the sky above her. “Mom-my, I—love—you.” Tears roughened her voice. “Tell—God—hi—for me. Goodbye, Mom-my.”
Tory fought to keep her own tears at bay. Carol, I promise I’ll look out for Mindy and love her as you would, Tory vowed, brushing the back of her hand across her cheeks.
CHAPTER NINE
The sun dipped below the tree line as Tory approached Slade by the fence. With his forearms propped on the top of the railing, he stared at the horses eating grass in the field. For the past three days he distanced himself from her until he hardly said a word tonight at dinner. Even Mindy had noticed and said something to her while she was putting her to bed.
“Are we having our second fight?” she asked, stopping only an arm’s length away from him.
He threw her a glance, then resumed watching the horses. “No. What makes you think that?”
She shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact today we have exchanged no more than a handful of words.”
“Got things on my mind.”
“About the church carnival in a couple of days? I’m sorry I didn’t consult you first. I—”
“I’m not upset about the carnival, Tory.”
She shifted so she faced him. “Then what are you upset about?”
He didn’t look at her, but tension vibrated the air between them. The silence stretched to a full minute, and Tory began to wonder if he’d even heard her question.
“It’s really not a secret. Today is the second anniversary of the car wreck.” He leaned into the fence, his gaze still trained forward on the animals in the field.
The tension sharpened, cutting through Tory’s defenses that were always erected. “And?”
He stabbed her with his narrowed gaze. “And what?”
“Anniversaries are for marriages, things like that, not a car wreck. It’s not productive to look back like that.”
“So you never look back and wonder what your life would be like if something didn’t happen?”
His question caused Tory to suck in a deep breath. “Not if I can help it. Is that what you’re doing? Wondering what your life would be like if the wreck had never happened?” She hadn’t wanted the wreck ever to happen, either, but she couldn’t keep the hurt from lacing her words.
“I was thinking about how different Mindy’s life would be if she hadn’t been in the wreck, if I had paid more attention and been able to avoid the truck.”
“No matter how much you beat yourself up over this, accidents happen.”
He turned toward her, lines creasing his brow. “You don’t understand! I was arguing with Carol about her going back to work. I should have been paying better attention. The last words my wife and I exchanged were said in anger.”
Until Slade came to terms with his wife’s death and the wreck, there was no chance for their marriage to work. She saw it in the pain that shadowed his eyes. She heard it in the anguish reflected in each of his words. She wanted to take him into her embrace and hold him close to her heart. She wanted to erase the ache he felt and replace it with hope. “She knows how you really felt.”
“I broke my own rule. I never fought with Carol in front of Mindy. That day I did. I was tired, having put in a long day of negotiations with the union.” He pivoted away, staring again at the horses. “I don’t think my daughter remembers much about that day. But if she ever remembers the argument I was having with Carol, she’ll blame me.”
The torment in his voice shredded her composure. Tears clogged her throat. She stepped toward him and laid her hand on his shoulder. The muscles beneath her palm bunched. “Mindy loves you. Nothing is going to change that, Slade.”
“I was driving and I walked away. No one else did.”
She placed her other hand on his other shoulder. “Let God into your heart. Let Him heal you.”
“What if you’re too broken?”
As though they had a will of their own, her arms wound about him and she laid her head on his back. Too broken? She’d thought that at one time, lying in the hospital bed after her date had assaulted her physically and emotionally.
“No one’s too broken for God to fix.”
He straightened away from the fence, cupping her clasped hands. The quick rise and fall of his chest underscored the emotions churning inside him. Turning within the circle of her arms, he lifted her chin so his glittering gaze could seek hers. “I can’t ask Carol for her forgiveness.”
“Then ask God.”
“I’ve forgotten how.”
The sound of his voice, heavy with emotions, filled her with sorrow. Tory splayed her hand over his chest, feeling t
he rapid beating beneath her palm. “It’s simple. Ask from the heart.”
He plunged his fingers into her hair, loose and about her shoulders the way he liked it, and cradled her face between his hands. “You’re an amazing woman.”
“Slade, you are not to blame for what happened. Carol wouldn’t want you to waste your life agonizing over something you can’t change.”
“Ah, your motto. Forget the past.”
“Learn from the past but move on. You can’t change what’s happened, but you might have some control over what is to happen.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “That’s why I’m focusing all my energy into making sure Mindy recovers.” His hands fell away from her face.
She missed the warmth of his palms against her cheeks. For a few moments she’d felt connected to Slade. Now she felt the distance as he stepped back against the fence. “Mindy is recovering.” But was he? He might not have been physically hurt in the wreck but he was emotionally. Would he ever heal? The brightness and hope of their future as a married couple dimmed.
“I know. I just want it to have happened yesterday. Patience has never been my strong suit.” He took her hand and started for the house. “I could learn some from you. I’ve seen you with your students, with Mindy, with your horses. You have a great deal of patience. Want to share some with me?”
“I’m gonna need all I have to get through this carnival. I forgot what a big deal it was. The next few days will be hectic and I still have to see to my horses.”
“Not to mention your family coming tomorrow.”
“You don’t mind, do you?”
He stopped at the bottom of the steps up to the front porch. “The question is, will your family mind? It’s gonna be crowded here.”
“Don’t worry about them. Judy has a camper. The kids are going to stay out there while the adults are staying in the house.”
“There are only three bedrooms, Tory.”
“Oh.”
With all that had been happening, she hadn’t stopped to think about the sleeping arrangements. Three couples. Three bedrooms. That should be simple and it would be if she was sharing a bedroom with her husband.
“How do you want to deal with the situation?”
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