He opened the drawer where Millie kept her novel. The cover, picturing a cop with a badge attached to his belt and a woman on the run, had piqued his curiosity. He opened to the bookmarked page. A chill raced through him as he read about Texas Rangers finding headless corpses. He closed the book and read the title: Shadowed Reunion. Some imagination, he thought. This was exactly the kind of exhilaration Freddie Sumner craved, and it was this kind of danger that could very well get him killed.
If the transfer to Baltimore, Maryland came through, Wade faced the dilemma of deciding whether to approve it and send Freddie to a dangerous and uncertain future, or deny the transfer and watch his deputy wither in a job he was slowly growing to hate.
Chapter Four
Wade ambled down the sidewalk toward BB’s Café. He greeted visitors as well as folks he’d known most of his life. A tooting horn drew his attention toward a beat-up red pickup that wheeled into a parking space. A lanky man in his seventies stepped out of the truck. “Mornin’, Wade. Glad I spotted you.”
“Same to you, Emmett, what’s on your mind?”
“I’m runnin’ a few errands for Nell. She’s in need of chicken feed, a few bales of hay, sack of oats, and such.”
“Join me for breakfast?”
“Already ate, but I could go for another cup of coffee. Besides, I was comin’ to see you.”
Wade grabbed the door handle and held the door wide, then followed Emmett Oxbow inside the bustling café. The aroma of bacon tantalized his taste buds.
“Morning, Wade…Emmett.” Brenda Brown greeted the men with a wide smile. She pointed them in the direction of an empty table. “Seat yourselves. I’ll bring the coffee.”
“Same to you, Brenda.” Wade removed his hat and seated himself. “I’ll have my usual.”
The stout woman cocked an eyebrow toward Emmett. He said, “Two spudnuts.”
“Plain or glazed?” She held the pencil over the order pad.
Emmett groused, “You already know the answer, Brenda. Why do you always ask?”
She grinned as she tweaked his leathery cheek. “Somebody’s got to keep you mentally alert.”
The old rancher expelled an aggravated snort. “Maybe I’ll surprise you and order a chocolate-covered one.”
“You feisty ol’ goat, you don’t like chocolate, and you know it.” Brenda grinned as she filled their cups and then bustled toward the kitchen to place Wade’s order of two pancakes with scrambled eggs and a double order of crispy bacon, and two glazed spudnuts for Emmett.
Wade wrapped his cold hands around the cup to garner the heat. “Why were you coming to see me?”
Emmett glanced around the crowded room. He leaned forward, his voice lowered. “I haven’t mentioned this to Nell, no need to worry her. I’ve been seein’ flashes of light up on the northern ridge of her property. At first I didn’t pay no never-mind, thinkin’ it was just the sun glintin’ off the snow. Thing is, it’s happenin’ regular-like. Thought maybe you’d go with me to check it out. We’ll have to horse it in. Too much snow for a truck.”
“How about if I bring the snowmobile?”
“Nope. Makes too much noise—spoil the element of surprise.”
Brenda bustled over and placed the food on the table. “How’s Nell, Emmett? Haven’t seen her out and about in a while.”
The rancher cut a large piece of spudnut with his fork and held it in midair. “She’s feisty as ever. Got a couple new young’uns, girl and a boy—six-year-old twins. Besides, you know she doesn’t like to drive on snowy roads.”
Brenda harrumphed. “Yeah, I hear you. Makes me glad I live upstairs.” The café owner was thoughtful for a moment. “Those babies can consider themselves lucky. In fact, half the people in this town can count their blessings that Nellie Hopewell opened her heart and her home to them.” She shook her head. “Still, she’s no spring chicken.”
Emmett guffawed. “I know it and you know it. Thing is, Nell hasn’t figured it out yet.”
Brenda refilled the half-empty cups. “You fellas have a good day.”
Wade waylaid her. “Brenda, have you seen any strangers in town lately?”
Brenda answered with a good-natured grin. “Look around you, Sheriff. Seventy-five percent of the people in here are strangers. What kinda question is that?”
Wade offered a sheepish grin toward the plump woman with rosy cheeks, who wore her customary Mrs. Santa hat to celebrate the season. “I stand corrected. What I meant to say, have you noticed anyone who doesn’t resemble the usual touristy type?”
She bent low to the table, her voice hushed, as she asked, “You mean nefarious types…suits?”
Emmett snorted. “You and Nell read too many dang mystery novels. What Wade’s tryin’ to say is—ˮ
“Oh, don’t go gettin’ your suspenders in a tangle, Emmett. I’m just joshing. Anyhow, I’ll keep an eye out and let you know, Wade.”
Someone yelled, “Brenda, telephone.”
Emmett finished off the remaining bite of the donut made from mashed potatoes, then cut into the second one. He was thoughtful for a moment. “Well?”
Wade frowned. “Could be campers thinking the land is part of the park.”
“Yeah, sure, and it could be poachers, or Christmas tree thieves. That’s why I don’t want to go up there alone. I’m not a young pup anymore. Can’t run very fast with these ol’ arthritic knees.”
Wade rolled his eyes. Crime in Meadow Creek was limited to jaywalkers and occasional squabbles over a parking space, but the last thing he wanted to do was rile the older man. “All right, we’ll check it out.”
Emmett downed the last of his coffee. “Good. I got things to do. When can you come out?”
Wade checked his watch. “It’s seven. If you can wait until I check in with Freddie and Millie, and then go by the barn to hitch up the snowmobiles, I’ll follow you out to Nell’s and help you unload the hay bales.”
“Nope. Like I said…horses! You can hear a snowmobile a mile away. Don’t want to scare off whoever it is that’s trespassin’.”
Wade lifted his eyebrows and offered a sardonic smile. “What about your ol’ bones?”
Emmett answered with an aggravated snort. He pulled money from his wallet and laid it on the table. “Well, don’t just sit there. Time’s a-wastin’.”
****
The morning sun crept into the room. Comforted from a restful night’s sleep, Addison lazed with her eyes shut. The bedroom door’s squeak alerted her that someone had entered. Soft shuffles toward the bed, followed by whispers, prompted an inner smile as she listened to the cherubic voices of two youngsters. She remembered that Nell had called them Joey and Julie.
“She sure is pretty.” Addison surmised the little boy had made this comment.
“As pretty as our mommy?”
Without opening her eyes, Addison almost felt the little boy’s shrug as he answered his sister. “Dunno.”
The little girl whispered, “She looks like a princess.”
“Who, our mama?”
The little girl countered with a hushed pitch in her voice. “No, dork, her.”
Addison envisioned the little girl’s annoyance and almost laughed out loud. Instead she decided to keep up the pretense of sleeping to see what she could learn about the children.
“Maybe she’ll ’dopt us and be our mommy.”
“Don’t be silly, Julie. Gram promised Mama would come get us.”
“But Gram’s in heaven. What if she don’t? Who’s gonna take care of us?”
A wave of compassion washed over Addison at the worry in the little girl’s voice. She remembered, all too well, what it was like to be a six-year-old in a strange place and afraid that no one would come get her.
Joey’s voice lowered, and Addison strained to hear what he said. “Let’s write a letter to Santa. If we’re extra good, betcha he’ll bring Mama home for Christmas.” And then, “Shh, don’t tell anybody, Julie. It’s our secreeee…”
The
word “secret” came out as a surprised screech when the half-closed bedroom door burst open and seventy pounds of Labrador retriever bounded into the room and in one leap landed on top of Addison.
****
Addison’s scream, accompanied by the twins’ frantic shrieks and Boomer’s barking, sent Wade bounding up the front steps with Emmett close behind.
Nell labored up the stairs. “Oh, thank goodness, Wade. I can’t get up the stairs fast enough to see what’s causing all the ruckus.”
Wade took the steps by twos until he reached the landing. He sprinted toward the woeful sobs and the children’s pleading voices. “No…get down…Boomer!”
He burst through the open doorway to find a chaotic scene with the twins struggling to drag the big black dog off the bed, and Addison shielding her face with her good arm to ward off slobbery kisses from the rambunctious two-year-old dog.
He grabbed Boomer by the collar and hauled him off the bed while Nell scolded everyone. “Wade, get the dog out of here and outside where he belongs.” She pointed to Emmett. “Make yourself useful. Take the twins downstairs and fix ’em a bowl of cereal.” She scowled at the youngsters. “What’re you doing up here anyhow?”
Joey and Julie clasped hands and stood close together, tears puddling in their eyes.
Addison’s breaths came in deep gasps. After the initial shock of being pounced on by the dog, followed by the hullabaloo, her already stretched thin emotions erupted into a combination of sobs and laughter. “It’s okay, really. Don’t be mad, Nell. They were just curious.”
Emmett guided the children through the door. “C’mon, young’uns, and don’t mind Nell. Her bark is worse than her bite.”
Wade spoke gently. “You look a little shell-shocked. The dog didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Addison’s heart stilled in her throat when she looked up at him; a shiver wracked over her. Too soon, she silently chastised herself. Her emotions were still raw from the break-up with her fiancé, and she certainly didn’t want to get involved in a relationship on the rebound.
Her voice wavered. “I’m more startled than hurt, I think.” She reached up to touch the bandage on her forehead.
“I’ll telephone my sister and ask her to come out to take a look at you.”
“That’s okay. I don’t want to be a bother.”
The dog whined and tugged against Wade’s grip. “No bother. Just call it my civic duty to keep the citizens of Meadow Creek safe from attack puppies.”
Addison knew the sheriff was making a joke. Her voice was sharper than she intended. “Then someone should teach the puppy some manners. Please, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get dressed.”
A lazy grin spread across his tanned face. “C’mon, Boomer, let’s give the lady her privacy.”
Her heart was still in her throat when Wade left the room, the Labrador walking obediently beside him.
As soon as the room emptied, Nell eased the door shut. She sat on the edge of the bed, her voice calm. “I know hysteria when I see it. I won’t push you into telling me what’s brought you back after all these years and why you call me Nell instead of Aunt Nell.” She reached forward and smoothed a wisp of hair from the corner of Addison’s mouth. “I don’t keep up with the news, but I hear things about most of the kids who called Hope Ranch their home.” Nell stood and smoothed her hands down toward the knees of her jeans. “I’ll listen—and without judgment—when you’re ready to talk about whatever’s eating at you.”
Addison’s brows were drawn into a single tense line. Nell had a right to know everything, and she didn’t want the information coming from gossips, or news rags spouting fake reports just to sell magazines. She forced a smile. “You’re right. I did come back for a reason.” The smile crumpled. She sank back against the pillow and tried to shove the bitterness aside. “I—I just can’t talk about it right now.”
Nell leaned forward and lifted Addison’s hand into her own. “It’s okay. Like I said, when you’re ready, I’ll listen.”
Addison removed her hand from Nell’s and swung her feet over the side of the bed. “Do you mind helping me into my robe? I’ll dress later.”
Nell grabbed the cream-colored silk robe from the door hook. “Why don’t you stay in bed? I’ll bring up a tray.”
“Absolutely not!” Addison hugged her foster mother.
Although she’d been catered to by beauticians, makeup artists, and housekeepers, feeling helpless wasn’t Addison’s style. She tamped down her annoyance at having to depend on Nell to do simple things like pulling her hair into a ponytail. Note to self: go shopping for practical ranch clothing.
She lifted her nose, sniffed, and found the perfect opportunity to change her thoughts. “No one makes coffee like you, Nell. Besides, I’m hungry.” And she really was—for the first time in years.
Addison followed the older woman down the stairs and into the kitchen. The twins sat at the counter munching on slices of gingerbread. Each wore a milk ring around a full mouth. Her heart melted when they lowered their eyes to keep from looking at her.
Nell set out two mugs. She hovered the coffeepot over the cups as she addressed the two men. “You and Wade had your breakfast yet?”
Wade answered, “Yes, ma’am, at BB’s. I came out to help Emmett unload the hay bales and sacks of feed.”
“Yep, and speakin’ of that, times a’wastin’. Let’s get to it.” Emmett doffed his cowboy hat. “Nell, holler if you need any chores done. I’ll send over one of my hands.” He winked. “Don’t let her boss you around too much, Miss Addy.”
Addison didn’t miss the slight blush that pinked Nell’s cheeks. Who could blame her? Tall and whipcord lean from years of ranch work, Emmett Oxbow was still a handsome man. She thought he was easily Sam Elliot’s doppelganger. Even when she was a kid Emmett had always been around, doing things like trimming the horses’ hooves, patching the barn roof, or taking the boys fishing…and sitting in the kitchen sipping coffee. She brushed aside the thought of why he and Nell had never married.
A lazy grin swept across Wade’s face as he thanked Nell for the coffee, yet his gray eyes were sincere when he said, “Let me know if you need anything.”
Addison knew he’d directed the comment toward Nell; still, it seemed the statement was open-ended. She didn’t know why she was mesmerized by him. He was different. Under all that handsomeness his dark eyes hinted at personal secrets. Note to self: find out more about Wade Grey.
“Sheriff, perhaps I spoke a bit too hasty, before…upstairs.” She touched the bandage over her eye. “Rather than flying back to New York for a doctor’s appointment, it would be much more convenient to see your sister. May I have her number?”
He removed a business card and a pen from his shirt pocket and jotted his sister’s office number on the back. A tiny smile quirked the corners of her lips when he extended the card toward her. “Ava makes house calls if it’s an emergency. Otherwise, I can send my deputy out to drive you in if Nell doesn’t feel comfortable driving in the snow.”
Nell guffawed. “Don’t you worry, Wade Grey. I can still hitch up the sleigh. It won’t be the first time Bud and Chipper have driven me to town. Besides, the exercise will do ’em good.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “You are one in a million. I can’t think of any good reason why some man hasn’t claimed you. Can you, Emmett?” He winked at the crusty old rancher.
Addison nearly choked to keep from laughing out loud at the indignant expression on Nell’s face and the crimson creeping up Emmett’s neck.
The awkward moment was broken when the twins chimed in unison, “Where’s the bathroom? We forgot.”
Wade stood behind Emmett trying to hide his own amusement. His wink brought a spurt of laughter from Addison. She was suddenly conscious of her bed-mussed hair and that she wore no makeup.
Nell cleared her throat. “Don’t you two have hay to unload?”
Chapter Five
Joey tugged on Addis
on’s sleeve. “Lady, we really have to go.”
Still chuckling, she held her good hand toward the brother and sister. “C’mon, I’ll show you.”
Joey scrunched his face into a concerned frown. “What’s so funny?”
She had no idea why the moment had struck her as humorous. “You know, I really don’t know.” She led the twins down the hall and pointed to the bathroom. “One at a time. Little boys need to respect a girl’s privacy even if they are brother and sister.”
“You go first, Joey. I want to ask the lady somethin’.” Julie waited until her brother had closed the door, then looked up at Addison. “Lady, are you mad at us?”
Blue eyes brimming with tears and deep concern on the freckled face tugged at Addison’s heart. “First of all, my name is Addison, and second, why would you think I’m mad at you?”
Julie’s face puckered, and Addison wasn’t sure what she should do to comfort the child. “Please don’t cry. It’s okay, you can tell me.” She knelt to be on eye level with the little girl.
“W-we didn’t mean for the dog to jump on you. P-please don’t let the grouchy lady send us away. Our Gram is in Heaven, and…and…and…” The emotional dam broke, and tears streaked down both cheeks.
Addison mustered a smile. Images of her six-year-old self flashed through her brain as she gathered the little girl into her arms and cooed, “I’m not mad, and neither is Aunt Nell. Things happen.”
Julie pulled back a little and snuffled. “But…she yelled…and really loud.”
“Yeah, and she looked real mad.” Joey added as he came to stand next to his sister.
“Aunt Nell isn’t mean, really and truly. She loves children, and you know how I know?” Addison was careful to keep her smile bright but sincere. The fact was that it hurt more than she expected that she had put pride and fame first in her life.
The twins watched as if not fully convinced they should believe whatever Addison was about to tell them. Joey blurted, “I bet she’s a witch.”
Christmas at Hope Ranch Page 4