by Rose Verde
Chance lingered a moment more then took himself off to work the ranch.
He hoped her showing up was the sign that they had another chance. He couldn’t wait to show her what he did with the barn. He’d talked with his lawyer and had some information to share. He’d taken liberties there and hoped it met her taste.
After she’d left that day, weeks before, and dropped the catalogue, he’d looked it over. He loved her choices. The only reason he didn’t execute it was the fact that he figured she’d enjoy doing it herself.
I hope this is it, Lord, he breathed.
“CAN WE TALK?” SAM ASKED after they’d cleared out the table. She’d agonized over what she’d say and how. His reception had been nice but...
He frowned. “Should I be worried?”
She gave him a small smile. “It depends on how you see it.”
He stared at her for a moment until Sam felt she was drowning in those eyes. It wasn’t long ago she’d stood before him, his eyes icy cold. The ones that looked at her now were uncertain, vulnerable.
“Daddy, why are you staring at her like a lion?”
He rolled his eyes and turned to his son. "Alright, bud. Come watch something so Sam and I can talk.”
He looked between both of them then zeroed on Sam. “You’ll say goodbye before you leave, right?”
How had she expected him to forget? “Definitely.”
“Good.”
He let his father lead him out.
Sam rinsed the dishes and stacked the dishwasher, then, grabbed a couple of paper towels. After squirting some surface cleaner, she proceeded to wipe down the tables. She sensed his presence at the door but didn’t turn.
“You don’t have to do that.”
She turned then. “It’s nothing.”
He sat at the table and gestured for her to sit. “You wanted to tell me something.”
“Uh, yes.” She sat and stared at her hands for a moment. In his usual unhurried manner, he leaned back and waited. She met his gaze briefly and then back to her hands. “It’s okay if you want to find someone else to teach Andy.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
She shrugged. “I left and...”
“If I wanted to, I would. I don’t want to.”
This time around she met the gaze that held hers. “Why?”
“Because you’re great with him. We went over what you’d taught him over and over in the last few weeks. He has them all down pat now. I was sure you’d be back.”
The tension thawed from her like a block of ice. “How did you know?”
He tapped his chest just like Renee had done the day before. “I just know right here.”
“Look, I don’t regret leaving Todd. I knew if I’d stayed longer, he would’ve killed me. But finding out he was dead... uh, kind of ... I freaked out.” she went on to tell him about all the guilt and questions. He listened.
When she was finished, he leaned forward and took her hands. “I didn’t know what you were feeling, but I knew you had a history together and I’m not surprised you felt responsible for his actions somehow.
“But, you made the right decision in leaving. I do not believe in divorce, but that’s as long as someone’s life is not at risk. I’ve seen people take out restraining orders against a spouse and still get killed.
“He took the decision to stay out of your hands. Just like Teresa did in leaving and remarrying immediately. I found out he’d been asking her out. I mean he was everything she wanted, not some cowboy.”
“How did you know?” she couldn’t hide the shock.
“She told me. I guess she wanted to come clean after all. I actually suspected something else had been going on because they were married within three months of our divorce going final. With due respect, based on my belief that marriage was meant to be forever, I’d have tried again. At least, even if it’s only for Andy’s sake, I couldn’t break another man’s home. The natural thing would be to do the same thing he did to me, give him a taste of his own medicine. But to what intent? And then God brought this wonderful woman who was like a breath of fresh air to me, what more can I ask for?” He squeezed her hands, his grin as wide as the sky. “I knew I would wait for her no matter how long it took her to come back.”
“So, you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Sam. I love you and I knew you were dealing with things. I wanted you to reach a point you could talk them over with me and we could work together on whatever those things were. I missed you with every breath I took until it hurt.”
Her pulse raced. “Like literally?”
“Silly. Yes, literally. Satisfied now?”
She smiled.
“Did you even miss me?” his thumb drew circles on the back of her hand.
“I did. I just figured you deserved better?”
“Why? Because you were mourning? What would it make me if I didn’t understand what was going on? Even as things are between me and Teresa, I’d never wish death on her. Have you heard absence makes the heart grow fonder?”
She nodded.
“I just loved you more with each passing day. And with each passing day I prayed for you, I knew I was making the right decision in waiting.”
“I love you, Chance Caruthers.”
“I thought I’d never hear that.”
She rolled her eyes. “I told you before.”
“Not with the kind of passion in your eyes like I’m seeing now.”
She swatted him.
Chance grabbed her and pulled her up with him. “I’ve missed doing this.” He kissed her briefly on the lips. Once. Twice. She tried to kiss him but he pulled back, his eyes glinting with mischief.
“Ugh!”
He chuckled. “You missed me that much?”
“Stop playing around. Andy will show up soon if we’re not out there in a bit.”
His eyes widened. “Are you blackmailing me into kissing you?”
She rolled her eyes and stepped back with a pout.
“Not so fast, babe.” He tugged her closer and slipped his hands around her waist. She didn’t flinch like she’d done those early days. “Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?”
She giggled, the feeling of being loved and cherished washing over her. “You are telling me now. Shut up and kiss me before it’s too late.”
Chance chuckled and found her lips. The kiss, though brief, promised of a lifetime of love and fun. When they finally ended, Chance pressed a kiss to her head.
“You should go before it gets dark. I have something to show you when you come tomorrow.”
“What is it?”
Instead of answering, he turned her around and led her to the living room. “You don’t want to tell me?”
“If I told you, it won’t be a surprise.”
“Well I love good surprises.”
“I thought so,” he said with a smile.
CHANCE FLIPPED THE pancake.
Andy reached out stealthily to grab one of the bacon slices. “I have eyes at the sides of my head, buddy.”
He chuckled and popped it in his mouth. “Even at the back of your head.”
“Oh, yeah. We should go see Nelly this weekend, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, we should. I hope Uncle Fred is better.”
Fred, Nelly’s husband, wasn’t related to them, but Andy always called him uncle. “I spoke with Nelly yesterday. He’s been released from the hospital.”
Chance looked up. He’d been doing that for the past ten minutes since Sam was due to arrive at the ranch.
“Do you think she will not come?”
Feigning innocence, Chance put the last of the pancakes on the plate. “And who are we talking about here, young man?”
Andy scrunched his nose. “Sam of course.” And then his gaze turned to the window. “I hear her car.”
Chance had heard it too, and his pulse raced. How could he be so in love with this woman? To think he hadn’t wanted her to teach his
son.
She crested the hill and came to park at the driveway. Andy was out of his chair in a flash. Minutes later they both walked in hand in hand.
“Good morning,” she called in greeting.
“Good morning to you too. Join us for breakfast.”
“I can’t say no. It smells great in here,” she said, inhaling deeply.
“I hope you think so when you’ve eaten it.” He winked at her.
“I’m sure I will. What can I help with?”
“If you can help Andy make his chocolate, I’ll be ready in a minute.” He poured coffee in two mugs and then carried condiments to the table for four.
He’d always dreamed of a family of four like the one he’d grown up in. Sam helped Andy while he told her what to do like she’d not done it for him several times already. The patience with which she listened to him, joked with him and laughed as they prepared his drink made Chance smile.
When they were done, Andy said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She ruffled his head.
They sat at the table and said grace. Chance took some pancakes, then passed the plate, did so with the bacon. They talked back and forth over what he needed to do today. “How about you guys hang out with me for the day? It’s going to be a big day. I’m having a friend come over because of the branding tomorrow. You’ll love it.”
“That be cool, right, Andy?”
He bobbed his head excitedly. “I want to rope calves too, daddy.”
“I can teach you how, but on the ground now, not on the back of a horse. I need you to eat more beans and grow taller and develop muscles like mine.”
“That’s going to be a long time,” he said in a disgruntled voice.
“You’ll thank me for it, and besides, time flies. Before you know it, you’re this big.” He measured a hand above his head to show just how tall. He’d been like Andy at that age and wanted to work with animals all the time. He remembered the times when he and Sierra would try to see who lassoed more calves than the other. It was fun.
They finished eating and did the dishes.
“Where’s my promise,” Sam whispered.
He looked at her. “Did you sleep at all?”
“I did. But I had all kinds of dreams about what it was.”
“I know what it is!” Andy piped in.
“Now, don’t you dare say a word, boy!” Chance knew when he was showing Andy the day before, that he could easily spill the beans.
“But we can show her now, right?”
“Sure. Let’s finish here.”
His pulse raced with anticipation. When she was done, he said, “Here’s the deal. I’m going to blindfold you and then Andy and I will lead you there.”
She gave an exaggerated shudder. “Okay. But you guys have to promise I won’t fall on my face.”
“Pinky promise.”
“Good.”
Chance took out the new bandana he’d kept in his pocket for the purpose. He shook it out, then grinned at her. “Trust me. You’ll be fine. But if I sense any doubts, you’re on your own.”
She giggled. “Okay. I trust you with all my heart.”
He went behind and loosely wrapped the cloth around her face covering her eyes. “Is it too tight?”
“Nope.”
He secured the ties, then he and Andy on either side of her led her by the hand out of the house, down the porch steps and into the ranch yard.
It was funny how she walked even though she knew they were guiding her. When they got to the door of the barn, he said to her, “One second.”
Chance unlatched the door and then they led her inside. “Ready?”
“As can be,” she said with a giggle.
Chance loosened the bandana and let it fall away from her face.
She looked around. Chance had removed all the clutter, repainted the barn into her favorite color of pink. He now had two dozen chairs gracing the back of the huge hall.
“Is this what I think it’s for?”
“Yes. And it’s all yours. You can improve on it; whichever way you want. Just say the word.”
“I helped too.”
Chance turned to his son, his eyes narrowed. “You did what?”
“I saw it too. That’s helping right?” he had a mischievous grin.
Chance chucked him on the chin. “I think it is, if you put it that way.” Then he faced Sam who had yet to say anything. Tears coursed down her cheeks. Chance frowned. “You don’t like it?”
She threw her arms around his neck. “I love it. I didn’t know you’d even remember to the point of doing anything about it.”
“I think of you all the time and I’m sure God brought us together for a time like this.”
She released him and knelt beside Andy and hugged him too. “Thanks for helping too.”
“So, will you stay and never go away?”
She released him, and looked between Chance and then back to Andy. “Uh...”
“I’m hoping you would. I love the designs you have for the ranch house. I didn’t do it, because I guessed you’d love to do it yourself.”
A huge smile broke on her face. “I’d love that.”
“Cool.” Andy hugged her again. Sam’s gaze met behind Andy’s head and she smiled.
“Thank you both.”
“You’re welcome.” Chance was happy with himself. “Alright, we don’t start until ten. So, you can go back to the house and have some fun. Maybe do some planning. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Okay.” She and Andy walked out.
Seconds later, he sensed her at the door. He turned back, and looked at her, his brows rose.
“I didn’t say a proper thank you because Andy was there. I have one minute.” She walked closer to him.
Amused, Chance waited. She stepped closer and pulled his head down. She gave him a smacking kiss. “Thank you.”
Chance wrapped his arms around her and went for more. When he ended the kiss, he said, “I need to come up with creative ways to get this kind of thanks.”
She laughed. “I better run else Andy will come find me.”
She backtracked toward the door and then wiggled her fingers at him. Chance watched her until she was out of the door.
“God, make me an instrument of healing for this lovely woman,” he whispered.
Epilogue
Yates Caruthers whittled away at the small toy he was making for the pile he donated to the children’s church. It was something he did when he needed to think, and he needed some thinking time now, maybe he’d make sense of what was going on with him. His phone buzzed, and welcoming the distraction from his wait for the pre-veterinary summer student, he glanced at his phone screen. It was his cousin, Chance. He’d gotten married the week before. He dropped the whittle knife and grabbed his phone. “Hey, bro. How’s married life?”
“It’s going great. We just came back from the States and I wanted to call and check on you guys.”
“Awesome. I’m actually heading out to the branding site. Let’s catch up later. How’s that?”
“Perfect. My regards to everyone.”
The call ended and he noted the time. She was an hour late. Last summer was her third and final summer job on the ranch. She’d called him and asked if there was anything she could do and he’d told her about the branding. Why had he agreed to let her come? A car drove up the ranch house road just then. “About time.”
On a second thought, he went back and pulled the door shut on his whittle room, as he called the small space he carved out of the den. Only his family knew of his pastime.
Yates walked out of the house as Amira Haddad got out of her small two-door Audi. She smiled at him and his heart knocked against his ribs. Not a good thing. He ignored the sassy student as he walked down from the porch, glancing pointedly at his wristwatch. “You’re late and you didn’t think to call in.”
She blushed. “I’m so sorry. I slept through my alarm.”
“I spent all this t
ime waiting for you. You report to me and should have at least called in.”
“I’m sorry. I misplaced my phone last night. I had no way of reaching you. I don’t have anyone’s contacts written anywhere.”
Yates didn’t respond but went in the direction of the barn. They had cattle branding today and he’d rather deal with that than the sudden attraction he felt toward Amira. Unfortunately, he’d had to wait for her when others had gone. The first year she worked at the ranch, it had been nothing but work related. By the second year, he and Kat had broken up. Somehow, he and Amira had become friends.
He didn’t even know how it all started. But, she reported to him and they worked together. He’d done everything to keep things professional. And then she wanted him to teach her things. Truth was that he loved her quick smile, easy banter and sharp mind. The lines blurred before his eyes and he didn’t do anything about it.
When she’d called him last month to say she needed some spring job because she was broke, he hadn’t been able to say no. But seeing her again was a whole lot different.
Amira caught up with his long strides. “Seems like you’re angry with me. Look, I get it.”
Yates ignored her and kept walking. Amira caught up with him a second time and cut him off.
“Look, I’m sorry for being late. I thought... I mean you said it was okay to come, right?” Confusion marred her honey brown eyes. “This feels...different.”
He felt like a cad. “How so?” he hedged.
“For the past few weeks, you’ve barked orders at me, for one.” She shrugged. “You hardly answer my questions straight without a question of your own. If I did anything wrong, I want to know.”
Yates stepped past her. If only she knew. “We have a busy day ahead of us, so you can stop talking already.” He increased his pace. They were almost at the barn now. If he could just get her to the branding site then she’d get out of his face.
She ran and cut him off yet again. “Look, um... Yates, I like to be on good terms with people. You probably don’t need me and you’re doing me a favour. I don’t want my last days here to end like this. So you can save us all the trouble and tell me why you hate me all of a sudden.”
“I don’t hate you. Can we just get this going?”