East of Easy

by Linda Bleser

  It was probably stupid of him to come here. He should be used to Kate thinking the worst of him by now, but it still hurt. More than he cared to admit.

  Max stood and brushed off his jeans, ready to call it a night. He could still be home in time to read Bobby the next chapter in his Harry Potter book before tucking him into bed.

  A car turned onto the road. Max recognized the deputy’s car, which slowed down as it passed Kate’s house. Ed Tate glared at Max from the driver’s seat. He pulled over and called out, “Everything okay here?”

  “Right as rain,” Max said, walking toward his pick-up. What the hell was Tate doing here? Still sniffing around Kate, Max supposed. Some things never change.

  Ed Tate had been a thorn in Max’s side since they were kids, making it his personal mission to compete with Max in every school activity. Unfortunately, Tate wasn’t all that smart, athletic or popular. He took his frustration out on Max, finding underhanded ways to come out on top. If Tate couldn’t win honestly, he wasn’t above cheating.

  Tate had always been a bully. Now he was a bully with a badge, and that could be dangerous.

  Max sat in his truck waiting for Tate to pull away first. Tate apparently had the same idea. The two vehicles idled at the side of the road in a silent contest of wills.

  Finally Tate pulled away from the curb, but not before turning on his lights, as if he’d just been called away on official business. Max saw right through the obvious bluff. To show Tate he knew it was a face-saving gesture, Max pulled out behind the patrol car and followed him until reaching the turn-off out of town.

  It probably wasn’t smart to goad Tate like that, since he had the law on his side, but the deputy made a convenient target for his anger. Max hadn’t forgotten that Tate had refused to shut down the ranch where Venus had been abused. It wasn’t the first time Tate had refused to investigate a case of animal abuse, calling Max and other animal rights advocates “bleeding hearts.”

  Max was still fuming about Tate when he pulled up to the TripleR. He was surprised to see Sue sitting on the porch, as if she’d been waiting for him. She cradled a bowl of snap beans on her lap, but that seemed as much a ploy as Tate’s flashing lights had been.

  Max leaned against the porch rail. “Bobby in bed already?”

  “No, he’s working on his new puzzle. He wanted to wait for you to read to him before going to bed. I told him not to wait, but—”

  “I said I wouldn’t be long.”

  She nodded, chewing her lower lip. “How’d it go?”

  “Kate wasn’t home. Saw Tate nosing around there, though.”

  Max heard Sue take a sharp, indrawn breath. He glanced at her, but her head was bent over the bowl of beans. The rapid sound of snapping filled the air like dancing crickets.

  “I’m not worried about Tate,” Max reassured her. “He’s all saddle and no horse.”

  Sue looked up, concern evident on her face. “Be careful, Max. Ed Tate can be a dangerous enemy.”

  Max gave a quick snort of derision. “Tate may not be all that bright, but he’s too smart to mess with me.” He pushed away from the porch railing. “I’m going to tuck the little guy in. You coming?”

  “In a bit,” she said, her voice distant. Then she stopped and smiled at her brother. “Don’t forget your pie.”

  Chapter Nine

  Kate barely had time to regret her descent into Merlotville the night before. She checked the teakettle-shaped clock on the kitchen wall. Cheryl would be arriving to pick her up in half an hour and she still hadn’t taken a shower.

  Kate popped a couple of aspirin in her mouth and watched her new coffeemaker bubble and perk. She’d called Nellie to tell her she wouldn’t be in this morning, and Nellie had assured her she had everything under control at the Tea and Crumpet Shop.

  When the coffee finished dripping, Kate poured herself a full mug. It was hot and black and strong—just what she needed to start her day.

  Sipping her coffee, Kate opened a can of cat food, which brought Sophie running from wherever she’d parked herself for the night. Sophie hopped onto the counter and began rubbing herself against Kate’s arm, purring softly. Kate scooped cat food into the bowl, crooning to the cat. “You’re a little lover when I’m holding your food hostage, huh?”

  The cat brushed herself back and forth, meowing and rubbing her head along Kate’s arm. Kate scraped the rest of the cat food into the bowl then turned to rinse the can out in the sink while Sophie dug in, acting as if she hadn’t eaten in eight of her nine lives.

  Kate finished rinsing the can then glanced at Sophie. The cat had stopped eating. She sat perfectly still, her food forgotten, her whole body on full alert. She was staring intently at the window. Kate followed the cat’s gaze.

  No, not the window—the cat was watching the cup sitting on the windowsill.

  “Sophie?”

  The cat didn’t move a muscle, her concentration focused on the cup. She almost seemed to be listening.

  Kate felt a shiver ripple through her body. This was too freaky. “Sophie, stop!”

  The cat slowly turned away from the cup and looked at Kate as if she’d lost her mind. Then, haughtily dismissing her, Sophie went back to her food.

  Kate shook her head and headed for the shower. “Stupid cat,” she muttered, vowing never to touch a drop of wine again.

  Twenty minutes later, refreshed by the shower, she poured a second cup of coffee. She’d pulled her hair up in a ponytail and put on jeans and a denim shirt for her trip to the ranch. The aspirin had kicked in, making her feel at least half alive. The second cup of coffee did the rest of the trick. By the time Cheryl beeped the horn outside, Kate was ready to go.

  She locked the door behind her and climbed into Cheryl’s car. The two women looked at each other and started laughing.

  “You look like hell,” Cheryl said.

  “So do you.”

  “Next time—”

  “Mountain Dew,” Kate finished.

  On the ride out to the ranch, they laughed like schoolgirls. Kate was amazed how the years slipped away. While they hadn’t been best friends in school, they’d been close in the way high-school friends are close when they’re constantly thrown together. What surprised Kate was that even though their lives had gone in different directions, there was still enough of a similarity to forge a new bond, an adult bond. If for no other reason, this renewed friendship made her glad she’d come back home.

  It also made her think that if she could put the past behind her, maybe there was a chance at mending bridges with Max as well. She thought of the direction his life had taken. While the news about Max’s ranch had been a revelation, it didn’t really surprise her. He’d always been a caring person. But if someone had asked her ten years ago what she thought Max would do with his life, running a disabled children’s therapy center was the last thing she’d have come up with.

  When they pulled up to the ranch, Kate noticed the wheelchairs lined up along the barn—all of them empty. Instead of cold metal, the children sat atop horses, their faces glowing with delight, their bodies in motion with the warm, breathing animals. The horses seemed to sense the special needs of their riders, walking a careful and steady pace.

  Kate recognized volunteers from town, some leading the horses, some walking alongside and assisting the riders when they needed support. Kate learned from Cheryl that volunteers also tacked and cooled the horses, helped with fundraisers when they could and even handled some of the administrative duties. But she realized that none of it would be possible without Max, and that filled her with a swift surge of pride.

  The feeling was quickly replaced by shame when she thought of the way she’d yelled at him. She should have paid more attention when her mother talked about her volunteer work. She should have put the past behind her before jumping to all the wrong conclusions. But most of all, she should have known Max wasn’t capable of the things she’d accused him of. She’d attacked him out of anger and pain, and re
alized now that she’d misjudged him terribly.

  She watched him amble around the track, giving each of the children special attention—a smile, a hug, a word of encouragement. Each child’s face lit up with pride. It was evident that they adored Max. His attention didn’t end there. Kate noticed that he was just as caring and gentle with the horses as he was with the children.

  Cheryl leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Chaps.”

  It wasn’t Max’s chaps that drew Kate’s attention, however. She was too busy admiring his heart.

  “Hey, there’s my girl,” Cheryl said as a chubby little whirlwind came bounding up to them. Nikki wrapped her arms around Cheryl’s waist and hugged her tight.

  “You ready to go riding today?”

  Nikki bobbed her head up and down, wiggling with excitement.

  “This is my friend Kate,” Cheryl said. “Can you say hello?”

  Nikki peeked out from Cheryl’s arms and gave Kate a shy smile, then carefully formed the word “hello.” The distinctive features of Down’s syndrome gave the child a look of pure innocence, and when she smiled it was the smile of an angel. Cheryl had been right. With one smile Nikki had already stolen her heart.

  “You two go ahead,” Kate said. She could see how anxious Nikki was to get on with her riding therapy. “I’d like to look around a little.”

  Kate watched Cheryl and Nikki wander off to the stables. She was interested in learning more about the work they did at the ranch. But most of all, she was hoping to find a few minutes alone with Max. She had so much to explain.

  “Hello Kate.”

  Kate spun around at the familiar voice, but when she saw Sue Connors, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The bright and shining young woman who’d stood beside her at the beauty pageant ten years ago had changed. Gone was the youthful radiance, replaced by lines tracking the hard edge of life. Her face was thin, her expression defiant, as if she’d learned that the only way to face a challenge was head-on, with no arguments or excuses.

  “Sue,” Kate held out her arms and gave Max’s sister a gentle hug. “It’s been awhile.”

  “You look good,” Sue said. “I was sorry to hear about your mother. Lillian will be missed here. The kids loved her…especially my son Bobby.”

  “I met Bobby,” Kate told her. “He’s a lovely boy.”

  Sue nodded and smiled, her eyes lighting up for the first time at the mention of her son. “Yes, he’s my special boy.”

  For a moment Kate glimpsed the radiant beauty she remembered, but then Sue’s eyes hardened again, her voice taking on a note of suspicion.

  “How long will you be in town?” she asked.

  For the first time since she’d arrived, Kate wasn’t sure how to answer that. A few days ago she would have given anything to go back to New York. It had always been easier for her to run away from her problems rather than deal with them directly. Now she saw a chance to make peace with her past, if for no other reason than to put it behind her once and for all.

  And then there was Max. She hadn’t resolved her feelings about him, but she was determined to try. She realized now that running away hadn’t solved anything. She’d simply turned her back on her feelings rather than face them. Now she’d been given a second chance to put things right one way or the other and move on. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life wondering what might have been.

  Kate hesitated. She glanced at Max working with the horses in the field. He looked so at ease in his surroundings, as much a part of the Arizona landscape as the saguaro cactus and desert wildflowers. He belonged on the open range. She couldn’t imagine him anywhere else—especially not New York City.

  It was hopeless. Max would never leave.

  And Kate couldn’t stay.

  Sue watched Kate’s face. She saw the hesitation there, the wistful way Kate glanced at Max working with the horses in the field. It was obvious to Sue that Kate was still in love with her brother.

  She knew Max hadn’t gotten over Kate either. What if this time he decided to follow her to New York? What would happen to her and Bobby then?

  Kate took a deep breath and turned back to Sue, as if just remembering she’d asked her a question. “I’m not sure,” she replied. “Another week at least—until Jeff and Sally come back from their honeymoon.”

  Sue nodded, fear gripping her heart like a tight fist. That would give Max and Kate plenty of time to discover what had happened all those years ago…and the part she’d played in it. Once Max realized Sue had been partly responsible for sending Kate away, he’d never forgive her. She’d lose her brother forever.

  “New York is a long way from Easy,” Sue said.

  Kate nodded thoughtfully. “In more ways than one.”

  Sue wished with all her heart that Kate would disappear again, go back to where she came from and never return. It had broken Max’s heart the first time she’d left. What would it do to him this time if he got his hopes up again only to have her walk out of his life once more?

  Stay away from my brother, she wanted to scream. You don’t belong here anymore. Just go away and leave us alone.

  “I was hoping to talk to Max,” Kate said. “But I can see that he has his hands full.”

  Sue nodded, not commenting one way or the other. She knew Max would drop whatever he was doing if he realized Kate was here.

  “Why don’t you come inside out of the sun,” she offered. “I can tell you about the ranch and how your mother helped pull it all together. None of this would be possible without the volunteers who give their time, and your mother coordinated most of it.”

  “I’d like that,” Kate said, giving one more wistful glance over her shoulder before following Sue into the house.

  It was cooler inside. A gentle breeze billowed the kitchen curtains. Through the window, Kate could see the children and horses and volunteers in the field. The sound of laughter mingled in the air with the dull clop of hooves over packed dirt.

  “I had no idea,” Kate murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

  “Of course you didn’t,” Sue replied. “You’ve been gone.” The words came out sounding like an accusation.

  Kate turned, but Sue was busy pouring lemonade, her expression hidden from view. She placed a plate of homemade sugar cookies on the table and gestured for Kate to sit down. Although she played the part of a gracious hostess, there was something about Sue’s manner that made Kate uneasy.

  Kate pulled out a chair, sticking with the only subject she felt comfortable discussing with Max’s sister. “How long have you been using the ranch for physical therapy?”

  Sue took a slow sip of lemonade before answering. “About five years now. Once Max saw how good it was for Bobby, he spread the word. Pretty soon people from all over were bringing their kids to the ranch for equine therapy.”

  Kate thought about Cheryl and Lillian and even Nellie. They all volunteered their time at the ranch. “I guess it takes a lot of people to keep things running smoothly around here.”

  Sue nodded. “That’s right. Everybody from town helps out when they can. That’s one thing about a small town. You can depend on people.” This time there was no mistaking the insinuation in her voice.

  Kate couldn’t help but wonder why Max’s sister was so bitter. Sue had gotten everything that Kate wanted. She’d claimed the title of Miss Easy County and stayed right here in town surrounded by her family and friends. Unlike Kate, she hadn’t been ridden out of town on a cloud of lies and suspicion. Why the anger? And why did it seem to be so fresh after all these years?

  Before Kate could ask, a small voice interrupted from the doorway. “Did Miz Lilly like my flowers?”

  Kate turned and smiled at the boy. “Hi Bobby.” She gestured him over, only now noticing how he favored Max. He had the same wide blue eyes and stubborn jaw. He’d be a heartbreaker someday. Just like his uncle.

  “I know she’s in heaven, but…” He lifted eyes that seemed to plead with Kate’s soul then shrugged one
shoulder as the sentence trailed off.

  It was a gesture she’d seen Max do a thousand times. No wonder Max would move heaven and earth for his nephew’s sake. Kate was already half in love with the child herself. A wave of yearning washed over her. Maybe if she’d stayed in Easy instead of running away, she could have worked things out with Max. Maybe she’d have a child of her own with Max’s eyes and mannerisms.

  Kate reached out and hugged Bobby close. “I think Lillian loved your flowers best.”

  The boy trembled in her arms. Then, as if realizing that even the littlest cowboys don’t cry, he straightened and put on a brave face. “I picked them myself.”

  Kate ran a finger through his corn-silk hair. “You did a good job, Bobby.”

  Sue interrupted the exchange. “Shouldn’t you be helping Uncle Max out in the field?”

  Bobby turned to his mother. “But…”

  Sue gave him a look that was all the admonishment he needed. Bobby dropped his gaze and tried another angle. “Can I have a cookie?”

  “You can have a cookie when you’re done with your chores. You know the rules.”

  “Yes ma’am.” Bobby pouted and cast one longing look back at Kate before turning to leave. “Maybe someday you can help me ride like Miz Lilly did.”

  Kate’s heart lurched. “Maybe,” she said. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she wouldn’t be in town long enough to volunteer at the ranch.

  When Bobby was out of earshot, Sue turned to Kate, her lips pulled into a tight, hard line. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she said. “He’s already had his heart broken once.”

  For just a moment, Kate wasn’t sure whether Sue was talking about Bobby or Max. Either way, there was no mistaking the warning in Sue’s voice.

  *

  Bobby wished he could have stayed in the kitchen and talked with the pretty lady about Miz Lilly. Maybe she’d heard from her in heaven. He wondered if Miz Lilly was happy up in heaven. Most of all, he wondered if she missed him as much as he missed her.