CHAPTER FOUR
“You want me to meet you at the café at noon?” Jane Patterson asked her husband, although the question was more of a reminder for Cal.
It was Saturday, a beautiful May morning, and he’d parked the pickup on Main Street. Jane had the distinct feeling Cal hadn’t heard her, and it wasn’t the first time this had happened lately. “Is something bothering you?”
Cal’s gaze drifted to her rounded abdomen and he grinned. “Not a thing,” he said and briefly kissed her cheek. “We’ll meet at noon.”
“Right.”
They simultaneously opened the truck doors and climbed out, then headed in opposite directions: Cal to visit his parents at the local bed-and-breakfast and Jane toward Tumbleweed Books to see Annie.
The moment Annie Applegate had opened her doors for business, she’d been swamped with eager customers. Jane was delighted to see Annie’s venture already a success—and delighted to have her company again.
Jane chatted with friends and neighbors as she strolled down the sidewalk. It seemed every rancher in the area made a trip into town on Saturday morning. Once she was inside Tumbleweed Books, Gina Greenville, the high-school girl Annie had hired part-time, rang up the book Jane had ordered—the latest blockbuster by their local writer, Travis Grant. Travis was very much part of the Promise community and something of a hero. It’d been Travis and his wife, Nell, who’d solved the mystery at Bitter End, the original settlement that had been abandoned in the 1880s and reestablished as the town of Promise.
Annie sat in the back of the shop, surrounded by a circle of children for Story Time. Among the ten or eleven gathered there, Jane saw Heather and Hollie Porter; they were huddled together, close to the front, their father, Lucas, leaning against the back wall.
A chapter from Beverly Cleary’s book, Ramona the Pest, had the children’s rapt attention. Hardly a sound could be heard above Annie’s voice. Jane hadn’t seen her friend look happier or more at peace with herself since their high-school days. Annie held the book up so the children could see one of the drawings, and caught Jane’s eye as she did. Annie smiled as if to thank her.
The bookstore was Jane’s first stop, and she hadn’t intended to stay more than a few minutes, but she couldn’t make herself leave. On Saturdays she crammed in as many errands as she could, and this morning’s schedule was heavier than usual. The baby was due in about two-and-a-half months, but she was only now buying clothes and equipment for the nursery. She’d be able to take time off both before and after the birth; besides the physician Promise had under contract, there was a midwife who’d been hired because of the town’s recent population explosion. The children gathered around Annie were testament to that.
Three-year-old Joey McMillen crouched next to Roy Weston, Grady and Caroline’s boy. The two were the very best of friends. Johnny Patterson, Ellie and Glen’s son, was only a few months younger. Jane saw all three mothers—Amy, Caroline and Ellie—chatting animatedly at the other side of the store, near the children’s book section. From what she’d heard, watching those three boys was like looking back thirty years and seeing Cal and Glen Patterson with Grady Weston. The three ranchers had been close friends their entire lives.
Jane knew she needed to leave, but was mesmerized by the story and by the simple joy of seeing her friend this happy.
“How’s it going, Dr. Jane?” Lucas Porter asked quietly.
“Great,” she whispered back. “How about you, Dr. Luke?”
“Fair to middlin’,” he said, keeping his gaze trained on his daughters.
“Your girls certainly seem to enjoy Story Time.”
“That’s not the half of it,” Lucas muttered. “Annie is all they talk about these days. It’s Annie this and Annie that. They’d come to the bookstore every day if they could.”
It did Jane’s heart good to see those motherless children bond with Annie. Of all the women in town, Lucas’s children had found the one who could really understand them, the one with whom they shared a common experience. It seemed as though the two little girls intuitively knew that Annie had also lost her mother when she was young.
All at once Jane saw the romantic possibilities between Annie and Lucas. It made sense; they were perfect for each other. Cal would probably be furious with her if she told him what she was thinking—but what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. She’d invite them both for dinner, she decided, and nudge them in the right direction—just as Dovie and Ellie had once steered her toward Cal.
“Annie’s really terrific with kids, isn’t she?” Dovie commented, coming up behind her. “I knew we needed a bookstore, but I had no idea it was going to be this popular.”
Jane nodded happily. It looked as if the bookstore was about to become the new gathering place in town. Maybe Annie should buy an espresso machine and sell cappuccino and latte. It was time Promise caught up with the rest of the country in that regard, although she couldn’t imagine Cal or any of the other ranchers sipping a tall, skinny, double-sweet latte with a dash of Madagascar cinnamon.
Jane’s eyes connected with Dovie’s and held. She pointedly slid her gaze toward Lucas, then Annie. She couldn’t believe she was the only one to notice the romance potential between the widower and her friend. Odd that it’d taken her this long to see it.
Dovie frowned.
Jane’s eyes widened as she repeated her maneuver, glancing from Lucas to Annie. She gave Dovie a moment to catch her meaning, then raised her eyebrows in mute comment.
Jane knew the instant Dovie understood. The older woman’s mouth formed a small O. Then she winked, letting Jane know she was in full agreement.
“You’re right, the girls seem to like Annie,” Jane mentioned casually as she sidled closer to Lucas.
Oblivious to what Dovie and Jane were plotting, he nodded.
“You’re sure everything’s okay?” Jane asked.
“At home,” Dovie added.
A frown clouded his face. “I guess so.”
“The new housekeeper’s working out?” Jane asked next.
Lucas lifted one shoulder in a shrug.
“I imagine you could use a break now and then,” she continued.
“Get out, spend a few hours with another adult,” Dovie elaborated.
“Yes, I suppose, but—”
“Have you ever thought of asking Annie out?” Jane asked point-blank. She was already behind schedule with this matchmaking and didn’t have time to be subtle. Besides she’d been married long enough to realize men were dense creatures—often loving and wonderful but sometimes dull-witted, especially where romance was concerned. She knew Cal appreciated it when she came promptly to the point; subtlety was usually wasted on him. After conversations with her friends, Jane had concluded that her husband wasn’t unique.
“Out? Like on…a date?”
“Why not date Annie?” Jane said quickly.
Lucas sent her a stricken look.
“Come on, Lucas,” Dovie cajoled, “it would do you both good. Annie hasn’t taken a break since she arrived last month.”
“The girls…”
“Frank and I would love having them for the evening,” Dovie volunteered.
“Cal and I would, too,” Jane said, although she probably should have checked with Cal before offering.
“You would?” Lucas resembled a man who’d been thrown a lifeline, but didn’t know what to do with it.
“Ask her,” Jane urged.
The story ended, and the children started milling about the store in search of their parents.
“You think I should?” Lucas said in a hesitant voice.
“Yes,” Jane replied, perhaps a bit too emphatically.
“I’m sure Annie would enjoy your company.” Dovie spoke lightly, as though this was merely a suggestion on their part.
A minute later Lucas’s daughters had found their father and begun chattering excitedly about the story.
“Daddy, Daddy…”
Jane noticed that Lucas’s assessing gaze followed Annie as she moved here and there, answering questions, helping customers. “Maybe I should ask her out,” he murmured before turning his attention back to his children.
Jane reached for Dovie’s hand and squeezed it hard.
Not long afterward, Jane left the bookstore grinning widely. Oh, yes, Lucas and Annie were perfectly suited. She felt pleased with herself as she hurried on to her next destination.
Shortly after noon, when Jane walked into the café at the bowling alley, she immediately saw Cal sitting in a booth toward the back of the room. She made her way toward him and unloaded her packages before sliding into the opposite seat.
“I had the most fabulous idea.” She hadn’t planned to tell him, but she couldn’t resist. “Annie and Lucas.”
Her husband looked at her blankly.
“Lucas was at the bookstore with his girls this morning and I suddenly realized…” Her voice faltered as she noticed his frown. “Well, I suggested Lucas ask her out and I think he’s going to do it.”
“Jane, for the love of heaven—”
“I know—I shouldn’t interfere. Just this one time, though.” She paused. “Don’t be angry with me, but I volunteered us to watch Heather and Hollie when they go out.”
He shrugged and muttered something she didn’t catch, then reached for the menu tucked behind the napkin dispenser.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He studied the menu like a legal document, even though he was as familiar with it as he was with the current price of beef.
“I stopped off at the JCPenney catalog store and looked at some stuff for the nursery. We need to get that order in soon.”
He nodded.
Jane chatted for a few more minutes about Dovie and Annie’s story hour and various people she’d seen, then stopped abruptly. She’d become aware that Cal wasn’t upset with her over this matchmaking issue; in fact, he was barely listening. Something else was on his mind.
“All right,” she said sternly, “what is it?”
He stared at her a moment, apparently uncertain about whether or not to speak. “It’s Mom and Dad,” he finally said. He sighed, but seemed relieved to talk about it. “I found out they aren’t accepting guests at their bed-and-breakfast anymore. Glen was as shocked to learn about it as I was.”
“But why aren’t they taking guests?” Jane asked. She adored her in-laws, and Mary and Phil were terrific grandparents to Johnny, Ellie and Glen’s son. They were thrilled that Cal and Jane were expecting.
“I haven’t got a clue.” Cal looked away. “I wondered what was happening. The last couple of times I’ve stopped by, there weren’t any guests, but I didn’t think much of it. Then this morning when I was there, the phone rang and Dad answered and said they weren’t accepting reservations. When I asked him about it, he didn’t really answer. Said he and Mom had decided to take a few months off.”
“Maybe they need the break,” Jane suggested, not understanding her husband’s concern. “They might have a trip planned.”
“No.” Cal shook his head. “If they were going to leave town, they’d at least mention it to Glen and me. Something’s going on, something they don’t want to talk about.”
Jane wondered if he was overreacting, but that wasn’t like Cal. If he suspected something was amiss, then he was probably right. “Do you know what it might be?”
Cal took her hand. “I’m afraid that after nearly forty years, my parents’ marriage is in trouble.”
* * *
Savannah hadn’t heard a word of Pastor Wade McMillen’s sermon on Sunday morning. When the singing started, signaling the end of the worship service, she hardly knew where the time had gone. She’d been confused and distracted since receiving Richard’s letter, which she hadn’t answered yet. He wanted her forgiveness, and she could see no way to refuse him that, although she knew both Grady and Laredo would prefer she not respond.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Wade,” Savannah whispered to her husband. The church started to empty.
“I’ll collect the kids,” Laredo said as they slipped out of the pew.
“I won’t be long.”
Almost everyone had left by the time Savannah reached Wade and his wife, Amy, who stood in the foyer and spoke to as many of their flock as possible. Wade’s eyes met hers, and Savannah felt as if he’d read her heart.
“Do you have a moment?” she asked him.
“Of course.”
Amy made an excuse and was about to leave when Savannah stopped her. “No, please, I’d like you to stay.”
Both the pastor and his wife gave her their full attention.
“It’s about Richard,” she began.
Wade sighed and shook his head. “Something told me this had to do with your brother.”
“He wrote for the first time. He said these three years behind bars have given him a perspective on the wrong he committed. He’s asking for my forgiveness.”
“And Grady’s?”
Savannah shook her head. “He wrote only to me.”
“I see.”
“Grady doesn’t want me to answer him. He’s afraid it’ll open the door to…something else, and he doesn’t want Richard back in our lives. I don’t blame him. I love both my brothers, but Richard’s brought us nothing but pain and embarrassment. He’s hurt our family and our community. I’m ashamed that people know the things he’s done.”
“But you feel you can’t ignore his plea?” Amy asked.
“God’s word is full of forgiveness.” Savannah couldn’t stand inside a church and say otherwise. That was what made this situation so difficult. Truly forgiving Richard meant forgetting everything he’d done. She wasn’t sure that was possible.
“It’s in forgiving others,” Wade said quietly, “that we learn to forgive ourselves.”
“Sometimes it isn’t as simple as it sounds,” Amy said. “Shortly after Joey was born, I heard from my mother. She told me she wanted to mend fences.”
Savannah knew how deeply Amy had been hurt by her mother, who’d abandoned her when she was pregnant, leaving her to face the world alone.
“As soon as she learned I’d married Wade and that he’d adopted Joey, she wanted back in my life. It took me a long time to be able to forgive her for deserting me when I needed her most.” Wade placed his arm protectively around his wife’s shoulders. “But I have forgiven her. I can look back now and not feel that pain anymore. Yes, I know the type of person my mother is. But while I love her and have forgiven her, I avoid contact with her. I have to be realistic about it. She’s a selfish, self-destructive person, addicted to drugs and alcohol. I love her, I pray for her, but I’ve chosen not to make her a part of my life.”
Savannah let the words settle in her mind. The way Amy felt about her mother was the way she herself felt about Richard. She wanted a better life for him, but not at the risk of her own or her family’s. “Thank you,” she said and hugged Amy.
Wade hugged Savannah next. “Your heart will tell you what to do,” he assured her.
The minute she’d finished with the noon meal and tucked Laura and Matthew in their beds, Savannah sat down in front of the computer and typed a letter.
Dear Richard,
After three years without a word from you, I’ll admit your letter did take me by surprise. I’m glad to hear you regret the crimes you’ve committed and the pain you’ve caused Grady and me—and those poor helpless immigrants in New York City. My prayer is that this realization is a new beginning for you.
You asked about home, and I’m pleased to be able to tell you that the Yellow Rose is thriving. The partnership between Grady and Laredo has been a good one.
As for Laredo and me, our marriage is very happy. Laura and Matthew keep me busy, and my rose gardens take up the rest of my time. I’ve raised several prizewinners in the past few years. My catalog business continues to blossom (pun intended). Laredo splits his time between ranch work and raising quarter horses. He has a gentleness about him that children and horses instinctively respond to. I married a good man.
I want you to know that I do forgive you, Richard. You’re my brother and I could do no less—but forgiveness is all I have to offer you.
You rejected your home, your family, your heritage, and that can’t be undone with a mere apology. The trust that used to exist between us has been destroyed. Not once but twice, and that isn’t easily repaired. I can forgive you, Richard, but I can’t trust you.
Savannah
When she’d finished, Savannah read the letter through, then saved it. She glanced up as she heard the sound of footsteps.
Laredo had moved into the room and now stood behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You answered him?”
“Yes,” she said tentatively, knowing he might disapprove.
“Tell me what you think,” she said and scrolled the letter back onto the monitor for him to read.
“Well?” she asked a few minutes later, wanting his opinion.
He kissed her cheek. “I knew you’d answer. You’re much too kindhearted to ignore Richard’s plea for forgiveness.”
“But I can’t allow him back in my life,” she said and experienced an almost overwhelming sense of sadness. The brother she loved was someone she no longer knew. In the years since their parents’ deaths, he’d become a stranger.
“Are you going to let Grady read your letter?” Laredo asked.
“Yes,” she said, “if he wants to. He has a right to know what I told our brother.” It wouldn’t be easy for Grady to accept her decision. He had his own demons to confront when it came to Richard.
* * *
It took Lucas almost a week to find the nerve to approach Annie Applegate about dinner. Friday morning, he sat on the edge of his bed, rubbed his face with both hands and heaved a deep sigh, promising himself he wouldn’t put it off any longer. He just had to make sure he explained himself clearly.
Since the day Jane and Dovie had suggested he take Annie out, he’d made a dozen excuses to visit Tumbleweed Books.
He’d bought two more stories by Beverly Cleary for the girls, an atlas and a biography of Abraham Lincoln. But he still hadn’t spoken to Annie.
At one time he’d had it all, and then his wife had died from cancer. For two years he’d railed against the unfairness of life; now he merely felt empty. He hated to disappoint Jane and Dovie, those two great romantics, but he wasn’t interested—not in a romantic relationship, at any rate. He intended to be honest with Annie about that. Despite what he’d said to the Pattersons a few weeks ago, he wasn’t planning to remarry.
The truth of the matter was that he was lonely, and he thought maybe, just maybe, Annie was lonely, too. Two lonely people who might share an evening out sometimes. Two people who could each benefit from someone to break the monotony of everyday life. Someone to laugh with. A friend. He didn’t quite know why he hesitated about approaching Annie. After all, they had things in common. They were both newcomers to the community, although he’d lived in Promise as a child and returned a few years ago. More important, Annie Applegate was alone, the same way he was, and she might be open to a just-friends arrangement.
Both his daughters now loved books. Heather, who’d recently been a reluctant reader, spent her entire allowance on books every week. Hollie, who was only learning to read, followed Annie around the shop like a shadow. Lucas marveled at Annie’s patience with his daughters. He appreciated it, too.
Today was the day, Lucas promised himself. Jane had reminded him twice about her offer to watch his girls, and so had Dovie. A single father didn’t get baby-sitting offers all that often; he’d be a fool to turn this one down.
Dr. Jane had made no attempt to be subtle about setting him up with her bookseller friend, and that worried him. But as long as he and Annie understood each other, it could work. The problem was, how exactly did a man convey that to a woman without disappointing or insulting her? Still, he had to try.
With a sense of resolve, Lucas readied himself for his day, paying extra attention to his appearance. When he’d finished, he studied his reflection for several minutes, scrutinizing himself with a fresh eye.
He concluded that at thirty-five he hadn’t lost his looks. True, he was a little rough around the edges, but after everything that had happened in the past four years, plus his responsibilities at home and work, that was to be expected.
He possessed a full head of dark hair, with a few gray strands. But not many; he deserved more. The shadows beneath his eyes revealed too many sleepless nights and a grief that would haunt him to the grave.
All morning as he went about his duties, Lucas searched his soul…and thought about Annie.
He also thought about his wife.
It seemed an eternity ago that he’d dated Julia. They’d been college classmates and had married before he entered veterinary school. She’d worked to support them while he completed his training. Once he’d graduated and joined a practice, they’d started their family. Everything had been so well planned, so carefully worked out. Then Julia had become ill and was soon diagnosed with cancer. Within six months she was dead—and so were all his dreams.
Driving into town, he parked his pickup, then quick-marched down the street toward the bookstore. He burst inside, determined to be done with this once and for all.
“Annie.” He hadn’t intended to sound quite so demanding—or so loud.
Belatedly, and thankfully, he realized she was alone.
Startled, she looked up from the cash register. “Lucas?”
“No,” he said. “I mean yes, it’s me. Obviously.” He groaned inwardly. “I…I was wondering…” He stopped, not knowing how to proceed. This was even worse than he’d envisioned.
“You were wondering…” Annie prompted.
Before he could say another word, the bell above the door jangled and Louise Powell walked in. Oh, wonderful—the town gossip. One thing about Louise, her timing was impeccable. He could only imagine what she was thinking. Here he was, hat in hand, stuttering with awkwardness. Louise paused when she saw him, and that sly knowing look came over her features.
“Hello, Louise,” Annie said cheerfully. Too cheerfully, Lucas thought.
He didn’t have a thing to feel guilty about, but he might as well have been a cat standing in a froth of feathers. Lucas cursed silently at the interruption.
Louise stared at the two of them as though waiting for them to continue their conversation. “Hello, Lucas.”
“Louise…” His gruff response did little to disguise his displeasure. Damn woman was about to ruin everything.
Louise glanced from one to the other. “Did I interrupt something?”
Annie shook her head. “Not at all. How can I help you?”
“As a matter of fact, you did interrupt something,” Lucas muttered. Taking the woman by the elbow, he escorted her to the door. “I’m sure you won’t mind coming back at a more convenient time.”
Based on his experience, it wouldn’t matter what he said or did from this point forward; Louise’s version of what had happened would be all over town within minutes, anyway. That was the last thing he wanted, but he wasn’t about to let this old biddy stop him now.
“Well, really…” Louise clucked as he escorted her out the door and then locked it after her. To be on the safe side, he reached inside the window and flipped the Open sign to Closed.
“Lucas?” Annie stared at him as if he’d taken leave of his senses. “What’s going on?”
The problem was, he didn’t know. He drew in a deep breath, switched his hat from his left hand to his right and then rammed his fingers through his hair.
“What’s going on?” she demanded.
“Do you like to eat?” he blurted out, immediately cursing himself for asking such an inane question.
“Eat… Of course. Doesn’t everyone?”
“The Mexican Lindo—or what about the Chili Pepper? And there’s always the café at the bowling alley.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you asking me to lunch? Is that what this is all about?”
“No, not lunch,” he snapped before he could stop himself. God help him, he was making a mess of this.
“Oh?” Her confusion apparently matched his own.
“Dinner,” he said, and fearing what he might say next, clamped his mouth closed.
Some of the bewilderment left her eyes. “If I understand you correctly, you’re not asking me to lunch but to dinner, right?”
By this time, Lucas was afraid to say another word. Nodding seemed the best form of communication.
“Any day in particular?”
All of a sudden Lucas felt the need to sit down. He sank into one of the overstuffed chairs she’d placed throughout the store. Hoping to make a fresh start, he ran his hands through his hair, disarranging it further, and inhaled deeply. “Annie, I apologize.”
A hurt look flickered over her face. “For asking me to dinner?”
“No, for making a fool of myself. It’s been a long time—years. Jane and Dovie suggested that I—” He stopped. One thing he didn’t need to tell her was that the entire idea had come from someone else. “I wouldn’t blame you if you decided you never wanted to lay eyes on me again. But in case you do, how about dinner?”
Her smile was warm and forgiving. “I think that would be wonderful.”
“You do? You’ll go?” He bounded to his feet. “Great—that’s really great.” Feeling jubilant, he headed toward the glass door, pausing only long enough to change the sign to Open.
“Lucas.”
He turned back, but not before he caught a glimpse of Louise Powell peering in through the display window, her hands cupped in front of her face.
“Is there any particular night you’d like to go?” Annie asked.
“How about…” He paused, afraid to suggest an evening without first clearing the date with Jane and Cal. “Is it all right if I get back to you? There’s…some other stuff I’d like to talk to you about, as well.” In light of how poorly this had gone, it seemed best to wait before he introduced the “just friends” idea.
“Sure.”
“You won’t change your mind?” he asked.
“Not unless you do.”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “Trust me, after all this, it ain’t likely.”
Annie smiled, and for the first time since entering the bookstore, Lucas felt like grinning himself.
Louise Powell was still standing on the sidewalk outside Tumbleweed Books. He stopped, debating whether to say anything, then decided against it and hurried toward his truck.