Another reason why Kelly envied Becky’s lack of curves. At least Becky always knew if a man showed interest, it was in her personality and not her bra size.
“You look awfully serious all of a sudden.” Becky frowned. “Is something wrong?”
From slightly behind Becky, wide eyed, Hannah shook her head, silently letting Kelly know that she had not shared last night’s secret.
Except Kelly’s suddenly sullen thoughts had nothing to do with her short stint in jail and everything to do with the last jerk she’d dated. No matter how hard she tried to erase Brett Cunningham’s biting words from her memory banks, every time she stepped in front of a mirror she had to look twice, asking herself if she really looked good, or if her choice of wardrobe made her look fat. Or worse—was Brett right and she actually was fat? She really hated him for managing in only a few months to make her question everything good she believed about herself, for making her look differently at herself. Really.
“It’s the creep, isn’t it?” Becky asked
Hannah’s face folded with confusion. “Creep?”
“Yeah. The last idiot she dated—and finally unloaded. Brett was an insecure moron who got his self esteem jolt by tearing others apart. And now he’s got Kelly doubting what a great figure she has.”
Among other things, Kelly thought to herself. At first she’d felt special being asked out by such a successful, handsome hunk. So much so that she never noticed when his sweet attentions turned to double edged put downs; not smart, not pretty, but definitely fat.
Frowning at Kelly, Hannah looked even more confused than before. “Why would you believe him?”
“Oh Lord, please tell me we’re not talking about Kelly’s recent ex?” Grace came walking up the aisle. “I’m still trying to think of something I can sue him for. Sadly, the court system doesn’t recognize self-centered, manipulative and controlling jackass as a suitable cause for action.”
“And Time magazine doesn’t have an edition for Asshole Ex Boyfriend of the Year either,” Becky chimed in.
Hannah snickered. “So I’m guessing this guy is a controlling asshole that no one likes.”
“What guy?” Ian’s voice carried over Kelly’s shoulder.
When she turned to face him, he frowned, except unlike his sister who was clearly confused, Ian looked more annoyed. Her stomach twisted with fear of how much had he overheard. Kelly had a feeling had he really been her big brother, her ex might have gotten an old-fashioned whooping for disrespecting her. Snapping her head back around to face her friends, she didn’t know quite what to say. She didn’t want him to know the ugly things her ex had said. How the guy had seen her. Right now, even though Ian was just visiting Tuckers Bluff, and was only her friend because of his sibling, she really, really, really wanted him to see her for who she’d thought herself to be only one short year ago and not through the idiot other guy’s eyes. “Oh, you know,” she answered with more aplomb than she felt, “just men. No one in particular. I think I’m going to buy the beef jerky. No carbs.”
Her friends shuffled about, grabbing things from the shelf.
“I like the honey roasted almonds.” Becky took a couple of bags.
Hannah reached over Grace’s arm. “Cheddar popcorn for me. Carbs be damned.”
“Atta girl.” Grace reached for a second bag of kettle baked potato chips. “Carbs be damned, indeed.”
Marching single file to the register, Kelly and her friends left Ian standing in the aisle. Sneaking a quick peek, she noticed he stood rooted to the floor, still frowning. It took Hannah jabbing her elbow into Kelly’s side for her to look forward again. And wasn’t that a new twist. Whether he sported the famous and charming Farraday smile or frowned like a territorial toddler, the guy had the same impact on her—knee buckling. She looked at the beef jerky in her hands and the popcorn in his friend’s hand. Who was she kidding, no carbs wasn’t going to change a thing, she should have grabbed the popcorn.
****
Whatever was going on with Kelly, it was enough to have the hairs on the back of Ian’s neck standing on edge. Maybe it had simply been too long since his last vacation, or maybe he was merely in big brother over protective mode—not that anything about Kelly reminded him of his sister—or maybe there was more going on in her life than a misdemeanor DUI and a crazy grandfather.
“Planning on spending the weekend in aisle three?” DJ smacked his cousin on the shoulder, lightly enough to be a casual gesture, hard enough to snap Ian’s attention away from Kelly.
Fingering a bag of sunflower seeds, Ian shrugged. “Just looking for something to snack on that won’t slowly poison me.”
DJ’s gaze traveled from the front of the store where Kelly and the others stood on line at the cashier, to the bags of peanuts, popcorn, and other typical car ride junk food neatly displayed, and back to the front of the store. “You might have better luck choosing a snack if you tried looking this way.” DJ dangled a finger at the food items.
Ian wasn’t fooling anyone. He should know better than to try. DJ was not that much younger than him, and both being in law enforcement had only added to the already strong bond from their youth. They understood each other, even without speaking.
“Want to tell me what’s really going on?” DJ asked.
Funny, that was exactly what he’d wanted to ask Kelly. Answering DJ would be much easier if Ian had a clue why his hackles were on high alert. “I’m not really sure.”
DJ looked to the cashier, only Kelly was left in line. “She is single.”
“That’s not it.” Ian wasn’t in the market for a woman, at least not the permanent kind. Tapping the toe of his boot behind him, he did a military turn. “Would you know anything about a sour ex-boyfriend?”
“Kelly’s?”
Lips pressed tightly, Ian nodded.
DJ’s gaze narrowed on his longtime friend at the front of the store. “How sour?”
“I’m not sure.” Having stepped into the middle of a conversation about a manipulative, controlling ex-boyfriend—never a good combination—and though his gut told him they were talking about Kelly and someone she’d dated, he couldn’t be sure. Which meant, under the circumstances, not being sure, he probably shouldn’t have said anything to DJ about his suspicions. Ian knew his cousin was still unhappy that recently he’d not noticed an abusive relationship under his own nose. Which is why Ian had to ask, “Heard anything about Jake and how he and his wife are doing?”
“Fine.” DJ continued to watch Kelly pay for her diet cola and beef jerky. “No more signs of violence and he’s recovering quickly from the surgery.”
“Good to hear. Nice to know the doctors were right about Jake’s prognosis.” Ian chose his next words carefully. “It wasn’t your fault. You know it, I know it, the whole town knows. We can’t be everywhere at all times and we can’t see all things.”
DJ turned to face his cousin. “Which is why you look ready to pounce at the next person who so much as looks at Kelly cross-eyed.”
Quickly evaluating whether to push or give in, Ian shrugged and followed his cousin’s lead. “Sometimes my gut is wrong.” Not very often, but he wasn’t telling DJ that part.
Shaking his head, DJ tracked Kelly on her way out of the store and toward the car, then turned back to Ian. “Last fellow she dated wasn’t from Tuckers Bluff. I think she drove to Butler Springs more than he drove here, so I didn’t get to observe much myself, but if anyone will know anything, my wife will. I’ll see what I can find out, but I hope to hell your instincts are dead wrong on this.”
He wasn’t the only one. But if his gut was wrong and Kelly’s personal life wasn’t the problem, then what was?
****
Eileen leaned left then right, stretching her back. She hadn’t said anything to her brother-in-law, but she was delighted when he decided to stop for gas instead of pushing the tank to its limit and driving home in a single span. These long car rides to and from Dallas had been a heck of a lot easier on
her twenty years ago. “Next time I say we drive to Abilene and fly into Dallas.”
“You hate puddle jumpers.” Sean Farraday unscrewed the gas cap. “Besides, it’s not like we go into Dallas often.”
“Doesn’t matter. Whenever we go back, remind me how much my back is protesting the drive.” Eileen caught sight of DJ’s car pulling back onto the road and pointed. “Looks like we’re not that far behind the kids after all.”
“Didn’t think we were. They were dancing all night too. Probably had as hard a time crawling out of bed this morning as the rest of us old folks had.”
“Speak for yourself.” Eileen patted the back of her hair playfully. “I’m not old yet. But too bad they didn’t all sleep in an hour longer. I had hoped for an earlier start to beat everybody home.” Twisting left and right, and feeling that aching tug at too many muscles, she figured she was lucky she made it out of bed this morning at all.
Strolling in her direction, his gaze going right past her, her nephew Ian didn’t seem to notice her until he was practically at her feet.
“If you’re looking for DJ, he just pulled out.” Sean lifted his chin in the direction his son’s car had taken.
“Nope. I had to use the men’s room and didn’t want to hold up the caravan.”
“Well,” Eileen shrugged, “with cell phones and GPS and emergency satellite road service, the need for caravanning is pretty much obsolete any how.”
Sean returned the gas nozzle to the pump and looked up at Eileen. “Want me to get you something from inside?”
“A cold drink would be nice. Mine has gone from chilled to lukewarm to not worth a damn. In the meantime, I’m going to inspect the ladies room.” Even though she’d spent the better part of the last couple of days surrounded by family, she leaned up and kissed her nephew on the cheek. It was going to be nice having him around the house for couple of weeks while Finn was on his honeymoon. “Careful driving home.”
Ian smothered a chuckle and Eileen was pretty sure a few years ago he would have rolled his eyes at her too. “Yes, ma’am.”
It was sheer habit after twenty plus years of worrying about her boys that had Eileen turning around by the glass door to track Ian’s last steps. She was pretty sure Ian had driven to the wedding on his own after visiting his folks near Austin. And even if Eileen was remembering wrong, she didn’t understand why Kelly waited for him by her car.
Eileen practically walked sideways making her way to the ladies room while keeping an eye on Ian and Kelly. Now, wasn’t this an unexpected turn of events? She knew for sure that Hannah had ridden to Dallas with Kelly in Kelly’s car. Which left a couple of questions. Where was Hannah, and how was she getting home? And why was Ian riding home with Kelly instead of Hannah? Curiosity winning out, she inched back toward the front door, giving her a clear view of her nephew. The man’s smile bloomed wide and strong.
“I thought you were going to use the ladies room?” Sean stood beside her, a couple of cold drinks in his hands. Always a sharp man, fully aware of his surroundings, her brother-in-law’s gaze followed hers and landed on the same thing she had been watching. “Oh no. Don’t you let that imagination of yours run wild. There’s a very logical explanation for why Ian is riding back to the ranch with Kelly.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” And he probably was, but just in case, she scanned the edges of the property for any signs of a shaggy dog and her puppies.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Turn up this road.” Kelly pointed to the last street at the edge of town. Her Dad had been raised in the town limits of Tuckers Bluff and her mom had grown up on a West Texas sheep ranch. Having met in college, the compromise for where to set up the rest of their lives had been as far out of town as possible while still being close enough to a neighbor to borrow a cup of sugar. All the homes on her street had anywhere from two to five acre lots. With one of the larger lots on the block, Kelly’s mom had been content to raise chickens and grow vegetables while her dad taught history and helped coach the high school football team to the state championship two out of his twenty years of teaching.
Ian turned the corner and scanned the houses to either side of him. “I don’t know that I’ve ever been to this side of town.”
Considering how small Tuckers Bluff was, Kelly would’ve thought anyone who had ever lived here knew every nook and cranny. Then again, Ian and his siblings time in Tuckers Bluff had usually been limited to a few weeks in the summer and spent mostly at the ranch. “I guess now you can say you’ve seen it all.”
One side of his mouth tilting up in an amused grin, Ian shook his head. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned on the job it’s that just when I think I’ve seen it all and nothing can surprise me…”
“Something surprises you.”
“Yeah. That about covers it.”
Kelly pointed to the two-story farm style house with a wraparound porch, two car detached garage, graying paint and one shutter on the second floor hanging precariously from a single hinge. The house looked a little sad.
“Do you park in the garage?”
Kelly shook her head. For as long as she could remember the garage was dedicated to her dad’s car and the riding lawnmower. Even though they long ago had to sell her father’s precious El Dorado Cadillac convertible, Kelly still parked her car in the driveway in front. “Right in front will be fine.”
Ian pulled into the front semi circle drive at the same time his phone pinged with a message. Coming to a complete stop, he leaned over and looked at his cell. “It’s Hannah. She’s just dropped Becky off and will be leaving Meg at the B&B then she’ll be here to pick me up.”
Shaking her head, Kelly refrained from saying what she’d said before. At the gas station the Farradays had changed things up by divvying the carloads into men and women instead of the couples that had left Dallas. At the time Kelly had thought it made the most sense for her to ride with Hannah and the girls, but Ian had insisted on driving her all the way home. She couldn’t decide if it was the stubborn chivalrous streak that ran in all Faradays, the one that assured a girl out with a Farraday would be well taken care of and brought home safe and sound, or legal responsibility, or simply male stubbornness, but she tended to lean towards the chivalry option. Not that she was technically out with a Farraday, like on a date or anything, but he was certainly making sure she got home safe and sound.
“There you are.” Kelly’s mom came running down the front steps and wrapped her daughter in a hug. Anyone watching would have thought they hadn’t seen each other for months, instead of days. Maybe this whole grandfather thing was weighing harder on Kelly’s mom than the woman was letting on.
Pulling at the arm her mother had pressing against her neck, Kelly shifted her weight. “Mom, I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry, dear.” Her mother kissed her cheek and stepped back. “And you must be a Farraday.”
“Yes, ma’am. Ian.”
“One of Patrick’s boys?”
“No ma’am, Brian and Anne’s.”
“Oh, yes.” Janine Morgan extended her hand to Ian. “Thanks for bringing my little girl home.”
Did her mother seriously just call her a little girl? Kelly came within inches of rolling her eyes, blowing out a sigh, stomping her feet, and telling her mother she wasn’t a little girl. She hadn’t been little for a long time. But of course all of that would only have proved her mother’s point of view. Instead Kelly bit her tongue, smiled, and hoped Hannah would pull up before her grandfather or uncle made an appearance, adding to the family performance.
Chickens suddenly cackled loudly, her dog began barking along with a few other canines in the distance, and Kelly turned her gaze down the road, praying for Hannah to appear.
“Dag nab it, Ralph.” Her grandfather Herbert’s voice carried from the backyard. “I said hold it.”
Through the open backyard gate, squawking with wings flapping, in a rushing wave, at least twenty chickens came scrambling toward them, her grandfat
her and uncle running behind.
“Oh Dad.” Her mom put her fisted hands on her hips. “You tried to fix the chicken coop, didn’t you? And for land sake stop chasing them.”
The way Ian’s eyes opened wide at the site of chickens scrambling left, right, and in every direction, he probably thought her entire family was stark raving mad.
Her mother untied her apron, and draping it like a bullfighter’s cape, began redirecting some of the hens toward the back of the house. “Well, don’t just stand there,” she said to Kelly, but Ian was the one to spring into action. Unbuttoning his shirt, he shrugged out of it and using it the same way her mom did the apron, waved a handful of chickens toward the rear of the house.
If Kelly thought she’d been mortified last night or this morning, neither was anything compared to this afternoon’s main event.
“Dad,” her mother yelled, “stop chasing the chickens.”
“I got one.” Her uncle Ralph held a squirming chicken up for everyone to see.
Her mother turned to Kelly and handed her the apron. “You keep trying to herd the birds in the right direction. I’ll man the back gate and then we can figure out what the boys did to the chicken coop.”
All Kelly could do was nod; she didn’t dare look up at Ian. She didn’t want to know what was running through his mind. The man had to be thinking they were all completely nuts.
****
Chickens. He was supposed to be helping move chickens. Not ogling Kelly’s hips. Distracted with business last night, he hadn’t really paid attention to what Kelly wore or how it may or may not have shown off her shape. Today, in casual sweatpants and a loose fitting T-shirt, her figure was well hidden. But with Kelly leaning forward, waving at the squawking hens, the outline of her shape was impossible to hide. A narrowing waist curved out to well-rounded hips. No matter how many times he dragged his attention back to the business at hand of moving chickens, whenever she got in his line of sight, he’d noticed something else about her. The rosy blush rising up her neck to her cheeks, the pearl-like complexion of her skin, how she nibbled on her lower lip every time a chicken ran off in the wrong direction, and heaven help him, the way her chest rose every time she blew out a frustrated breath.
Farraday Country Page 18