Always on My Mind (The Dawson Brothers, #1)
Page 15
Luke spoke up. “I think it’s best you show her around, the last thing we need is her upsetting the chickens and killing the garden. Hell, it ain’t rocket science, she’ll get the hang of it pretty quick. She seems like a quick learner.”
“Yeah, she’ll do great, and later I’m taking her with me to the hospital to check on Mama and Dad. I want to tell them we’ve got everything under control here. That’ll give them one less thing to worry about.” I hoped it did, too.
Ted and Luke finished their breakfast and hurried out to the barn and I fixed Sarah a plate and because I didn’t know if she drank coffee or not I poured her a glass of juice and brought it all upstairs to wake her.
I tried to keep my stubbly chin away from her soft face as I kissed her. I wanted the morning to be as pleasant as possible as well as her assimilation to the work I’d give her. She wanted to help, and the best and easiest way she could, would be to take on Mama’s chores. I leaned to her ear and whispered, “Sarah.”
She moaned and opened her eyes, squinting at the sun that now shone through the window. “What time is it?” She blinked and then her eyes fixed on the tray I’d set on the bedside table. “You cooked breakfast?”
I nodded. “Yes, and though I heated it up for you, it’s getting cold again so you better eat.”
She sat up and I placed the tray in her lap and then sat beside her as she made quick work of the dish. “I would have cooked.” She covered her mouth, chewing around her words.
“No, it’s fine. I know you want to help and I do have a few things to show you if you’re up to it. But don’t think you have to earn your keep or anything like that. You’re welcome to stay around just for some time off.” I didn’t want her to think we were taking advantage, especially once she found out the chores I had lined up.
“No, I want to help. I’ll even make dinner again. So, what do I get to do?” Her eyes widened and she spooned another forkful of food between her pretty lips.
I stood. I wasn’t going to give it all away so quickly. “Finish your food and I’ll be downstairs waiting. I have a few things to do before I can take the time to train you.” I leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her lips were much too busy chewing.
“Fine, but I’ll be right down.” She quickened her pace and smiled and I was happy to see her so eager to help.
“Take your time. I need you to pace yourself today.” I had a feeling that things were going to be a little more challenging than she thought.
I went downstairs and outside to the barn to check the schedule for the day, then I lined Luke out with some of Dad’s duties as Ted headed off to start his and Mason’s. Mason still hadn’t shown up and it was times like this that I wished he had a phone where I could reach him. This ranch was going to have to get up to date if it killed the old man. His stubbornness was only making things worse.
A feminine scream brought my head around to see Sarah dancing around in the yard swatting at what I suspected was a horsefly. I waved her over, but she took off in the other direction. I ran to help her and swatted the pesky insect with my hat, knocking him to the ground where I stomped him dead.
Sarah held her arm wincing in pain. “That thing had fangs.”
“Yeah, they really hurt. You get used to them. If you see another one, swat it with this.” I handed her a handkerchief and she tucked it into her back pocket. “Come on, I’ve got a few animals I’d like you to meet.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Animals?”
“Yes. I figure the easiest thing you can do to help is to take on a few of Mama’s chores. Since you’ve volunteered to cook, you’ll need stuff to cook.”
“You’re not going to have me kill something, are you?” Her eyes were full of horror and she took two steps back as if she might break into a run.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, nothing like that, silly. But you can collect the eggs from the chickens and milk the cow. I’m also going to show you how to tend Mama’s garden. We still have plenty of vegetables growing, and frankly these chores just add too much to us but cannot be ignored.”
Sarah clutched my arm as I led her off to the coops to fetch a basket. “I guess I could do that. Do the chickens bite?”
I glanced around and hoped like hell that Ted was out of earshot. I’d never live that one down. “Chickens peck. But these probably won’t get you. They never get Mama.”
I took her down the line of hens and showed her how to slip her hand in and gently snatch the egg. She didn’t seem too scared. She kind of hesitated a few times, but bravely stuck her hand in and collected her part of the eggs.
She smiled at the basket. “That wasn’t too bad.”
I headed over to the shed to get the wagon that Mama used to carry everything as she collected it. “No, it’s not. You’ll do it tomorrow by yourself.”
I led her into the barn and showed her to Bernice’s stall. Her eyes widened when she saw the big bovine, but I gave her a gentle pat on the back to assure her it would be okay. After showing her how to clean and dry the udders, we were ready to start. “I’ll show you how to do this and you can get a feel of how it’s done and then we’ll go to the garden.” She nodded as I patted the stool letting her have a seat. I knelt and leaned in to take the udders into hand. I squeezed into the waste bucket first and showed her how to milk. “Here, you try.” She took the teat and tugged and after a few tries she got the hang of it.
“This isn’t so bad.” I took the first extracts and set them aside, replacing the pail with a clean one.
“No, it’s not. Here, we’ll fill this up and take it inside. I’ll filter it out later.”
She tugged the teats, doing it just how I’d showed her. “My hands are going to be so sore.”
“And strong.” I sighed. “I think I could watch you do that all day.” I gave a wink and she blushed, shoving at me playfully until she lost her balance and turned over the little stool landing on her ass in the straw.
“Dammit.” She stood and dusted off her pants as Bernice let out a grunt of disapproval. We finished up and while I sent her inside with the milk, I pulled the wagon to the garden.
Mama’s vegetable garden needed daily attention and Sarah was perfect for the job. She joined me outside and I led her through what needed picked and what could wait a day, taking her row by row but only through one of each plant. She had rows to pick and it would take her a good part of the morning.
“I guess this will give me a good idea of what’s available to cook for dinner.” She stood with her hands on her hips and surveyed the job ahead.
I walked to the fence and took Mom’s hoe from where she kept it propped. “Yeah, and it’s the fresh vegetables that need to be eaten first. Mama won’t be canning for a while, so we’ll save what’s in the pantry for later.”
“What’s that for?” She gestured toward the hoe.
I prepared myself for her reaction, knowing my next words might not go over too well. “This is for snakes.” I let the words sink in and her eyes widened.
“Snakes?” She glanced down to her feet as if one was there coiled to strike.
“Well, sometimes Mama gets a snake or two in here.” I glanced to the hoe imagining her trying to kill a snake with it. “On second thought, just holler. I’ll come kill it.”
She glanced out to the acres and acres of pasture behind the house. “Where will you be?”
“I’ll tell you what, I’ll leave you a walkie so you can radio me if that happens.” Dad kept them in the office, but we hadn’t used them too often. They were Dad’s idea of high-tech.
“Okay.” The word scampered out of her like a scolded dog, and with the pained expression on her face I thought she might be second-guessing her desire to help. “I’m okay,” she reassured.
After getting her situated with the walkie and showing her how to use it, I headed off to the field to find Ted. He and I had our own load of things to get done and with Mason still gone we had to pick up his slack.
*
We pulled into the hospital half an hour later and held hands as we went upstairs. Her hands were so soft I made a mental note to get her some gloves. The work she was doing wasn’t too rough, but I wanted to feel the soft touch of her hands for as long as possible.
When we ended up in the elevator alone, I stepped in close and hiked her up on the handrail, kissing her deeply. Her lips parted, welcoming my tongue, and I obliged as my hand trailed up her front, feeling her perky breast beneath her shirt. I couldn’t wait for the night to be over so I could get her back in my bed, but we’d have a long wait with me singing at Kinsey’s.
The elevator stopped and I helped her to her feet. She whispered in my ear, “We’ll have to finish this later.”
I was about to say something inappropriate when the door opened revealing four random people waiting to get on. I took her hand and pulled her out into the hall. Mom’s room was just two doors down.
I knuckled the door. “Knock, knock.” I heard my dad on the other side of the door calling me in.
“Hey, son.” My dad stood and welcomed Sarah with a smile. Mama lay still with her eyes closed but opened them as we sat down in the squeaky pleather furniture.
“Sorry to wake you, Mama.” I felt horrible that we’d disturbed her. She lay there hooked up to her IV looking pale and weak. I gripped Sarah’s hand.
“Don’t you worry about that. I’d be so mad if I missed a visitor, especially one of my baby boys. You come give me a kiss.” I hurried to her bed and leaned down to kiss her soft cheek, and hugged her gently.
Dad’s cough brought my head around. “How are you feeling, Dad?”
“I’m fine.” He gave me a hard glare and nodded toward Mama as if he didn’t want her to know he was feeling bad. I hoped he was okay. Dad could be as stubborn as a mule and it wouldn’t be good if he got down, sick too.
“Can we get you anything?” Sarah asked. I stroked my hand across her back as Dad gave her the same hard glare.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Mama, Sarah’s been staying with us. She’s been cooking dinner and she’s helping out in the coop and garden.” Dad scoffed, but Mama smiled a warm smile then sank down lower in her bed. Sarah glanced toward Dad. Her posture deflated but mother’s voice caught her attention.
“I’m sure sorry about before. I didn’t realize how special you were to my son and I’m afraid I acted so impulsively that—”
Sarah leaned over and patted Mama’s hand. “You think no more of it.” Sarah was so good-hearted and I hoped that she and Mom could be friends. That would sure make things easier, and I wanted her to have a better relationship than she had with her own mother, which seemed strained from what she’d told me.
We made small talk for a bit, but Dad seemed wore out and Mama had started to doze off. Dad said she still had a few more days up to a week in the hospital, but she was doing so good, he hoped it would be sooner.
As we said our goodbyes, Mama clutched Sarah’s hand. “Thank you for taking care of my boys.”
“You have a fine family, Mrs. Dawson. Now you don’t worry about a thing and just get better.” Mom’s eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep, a sweet expression that seemed to show her content still on her face.
Sarah patted her hand and we said our goodbyes and headed out to the elevator.
Chapter 22
Sarah
My emotions were mixed as I left the hospital with David. On the one hand his mother was being very apologetic and appreciative, but his dad didn’t seem too happy that I was there. Maybe he didn’t like the idea of his son bedding down his women out of wedlock under his roof, or perhaps it was just that he didn’t want me encroaching on his family and into their ranch business. I tried to keep my head high as I held David’s hand in the truck on the way home, but I felt my silence was probably more telling than I wanted it to be.
David squeezed my hand. “You okay? You haven’t said two words since we left.”
“I was just thinking that maybe I should go or perhaps stay someplace else. Your daddy didn’t seem too pleased with me being around.” I sank in the seat, drawing my knees up a bit.
“Oh, that’s just how he is. He tries to be a hard ass, but he’ll come around.” He gave me a quizzical glance. “If you’re having second thoughts about all of this, just say the word, Sarah. I’ll understand. You have your own life, your job, and probably much better things to do than milk cows and gather eggs.”
I thought about my impulsive return and hoped I hadn’t placed more of a burden on him than he’d bargained for. I didn’t want to be a distraction, and maybe he was hoping I’d bow out so he didn’t have to admit it. “If you think I’m in the way or it’s too much having me around, I understand.” I tossed my hair across my shoulder and shifted in my seat angling toward his direction. “I just don’t want to put another burden on you.”
“You don’t. And I want you here. I think you’re doing a great job and I’m glad you’re helping. Don’t let Dad upset you. You heard Mama. She’s happy you’re here and that you’re helping out. That peace of mind alone is going to help her heal so much faster.”
I relaxed a bit, but still worried if two weeks would be enough time to get him to Rowena’s. His mother was out another three weeks, at least. I felt horrible that deep inside I was worried over the deadline. I didn’t want to let David know because he would surely think I was only helping his family to try and get him to sign with us, and though part of me was concerned for that, my heart truly was in the right place. I needed David to feel good about his life when he did pursue his dreams. I wanted it to be in the right time for him, even if there was a huge chance his timing was going to shoot me in the foot. I kept hoping that being there I could control it, but I didn’t want him worried over that. He had enough burdens and I hoped like hell I wouldn’t become one of them.
“I want to be here. I do. I just hope I’m helping and not in your way.” I lay my head on his shoulder and looked out to the road ahead.
*
We arrived at his house and found his brothers working horses in the round pen. David went out to join them while I went in the house to put the casserole I’d made into the oven. I had enough time to freshen up while it baked.
After drying my hair and pinning it back, I hurried downstairs fearing I’d missed my timer.
Mason’s voice boomed out from the family room, “I didn’t think I’d be gone that long. It was one time and I won’t let it happen again. Don’t go getting your panties in a twist.”
I found him and David face to face with one another, as if they were arguing and about to trade punches. David postured over his younger brother. “It’s just a fucked up time for one of your stunts.” Mason’s eyes met mine across the room and David glanced over his shoulder to see me ducking out.
I went to the kitchen as they continued their argument in a much calmer tone and beat my timer with a minute to spare. Before it sounded, Mason walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of tea.
“Sorry you had to see us that way.” He turned the glass up, taking a long pull.
I shrugged and pulled the casserole out of the oven. “It’s none of my business.” I placed the hot dish on the stovetop.
Mason approached leaning in to smell it. “Wow, that smells amazing. You know those dumplings were really good too. Who taught you to cook?”
“Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. My grandmother taught me a little here and there.”
“Do you have a big family too?” He took the stack of plates from the cabinet as I hear
d the others walking through the next room to go get cleaned up for dinner.
David entered the kitchen and approached the stove to see what I’d made. I smiled, but turned my attention back to Mason. “No, it was just me and my mom, but she’d leave me with Grams for the weekend, and we both loved to cook Sunday dinners for friends and neighbors.”
“Well, I’m sure glad she taught you.” He carried the tea to the table along with the stacks of plates.
David grabbed the oven mitts and carried the dish to the table. “It shouldn’t take me long to get ready, I’d like to head up to Kinsey’s a tad early. I want to help the boys in the band get their equipment set up. I feel bad about bailing on them before.”
Mason stood in the doorway as I turned to respond. “Sounds good. I won’t be much longer. I need to fix my hair and change, but I’ll hurry.”
He pulled me into his arms and closed his hands behind my back, resting them on my ass. “No rush.”
Mason took his place at the table and we did the same. “Hey, are you and the others coming to see your brother sing?” I smiled at David, but found him frowning. “What’s the matter?” I glanced between the two of them as Ted and Luke came into the room and found their chairs.
David waved his hand dismissively before grabbing a spoon and serving himself some dinner. “They never come.”
“Never?” I gave Mason a wide stare.
Mason sighed. “I’ll come out tonight if you want.”
David adjusted in his chair. “If you want. I’d love to have you all come.” He seemed uncomfortable and I hoped it wasn’t that he didn’t want his family to see him sing. I hadn’t realized they didn’t ever go see him. I hoped he wasn’t feeling obligated to include them all in the invite.
Luke covered his plate with his dinner. “I’ll go, what about you, Ted?”
“Sure. Why not? I can’t remember the last time we were all at Kinsey’s at once. The damned place might just implode.”