Chapter Five
Wilber spent the entire day trying to think of ways he could show his wife that she was still the woman he loved beyond words or his wildest imagination. He went into town and found her a necklace that he knew she’d been eyeing, and he’d stopped to get dinner because she’d worked in the café all day. He knew she hated to cook anyway.
He opened the door to the cabin, expecting to arrive just before Bobbi did, and instead found her sitting on the couch, her head in her hands—sobbing. He set the Chinese take-out on the counter and rushed over to the couch, sitting beside her and gathering her close. “What is it?”
Bobbi couldn’t speak, so she simply handed him the letter.
Wilber felt a ball of pain forming in his throat. “What do you want to do?” He remembered the day all those years ago when her father had escaped from prison. It hadn’t been pretty. His mother had sent her home from work early, telling her to take a nap. Then she’d found someone to track him down where he was working with his father.
He’d been with his father on horseback, scouting out a place for a new ski lift to be put in, when he received a note from his mother.
As soon as he read the note, he panicked. “I need to go talk to Bobbi.”
His father frowned. “This ranch is your first love. Not some girl who came in on the latest bus and could leave any minute.”
Wilber’s eyes had met his father’s. “I’ve always known this ranch was my future, but I’ll tell you now that she’s more important to me than this land. She’s been the most important thing in my life since I laid eyes on her. If you can’t understand that, I’m not the man to run this ranch for you.” With that he pulled the reins of his horse to one side and started down the mountain.
By the time he’d gotten to the house, his heart was in his throat. He rushed through the house, calling her name. When he got to her bedroom door, he knocked, though he wanted to just rush in and hold her. She needed him, and he’d been off working. She came first, and she always would. He had to show her that.
“Come in.” Her voice was soft, and he could tell she’d been crying.
He opened the door and walked in. She was lying on her stomach on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. He sat on the bed beside her, his hand stroking her back and her hair, which had come out of the ponytail she wore for work. “Mom sent me a message that you needed me. Are you all right?”
She sat up, shaking her head. “I think I need to move on. I can’t stay here, suspected by the police. I’ve done nothing wrong!”
“And that’s exactly why you will stay here. You’ve done nothing, and you need to be with people who know that. People who care about you.”
She leaned into him, and he let his arms close around her. He didn’t let himself worry about the situation they were in—alone, on her bed—but just tried to take the pain away. “I don’t want your parents to run into trouble,” she finally said, swiping the tears off her face. “They’ve been so kind to me.”
“Running will do nothing good. I’d have to go with you, and then my parents would have to find another son to run the ranch…”
She laughed softly. “You can’t go with me. Your whole life is here.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “I don’t think you understand. My whole life is you.”
“What if he comes here looking for me?”
He cocked his head to one side, studying her face. “Are you worried he’ll hurt you?”
She shook her head adamantly. “No. Not at all. He’s never hurt me in any way.”
“Then what would it hurt to stay here? Surely you’ve had contact with him over the years.”
“I haven’t. Not at all. He wrote me every week while I was still in my foster home, but I returned all letters unopened.”
He frowned. “Why do you think he’s broken out, then?”
She shrugged. “Why does anyone break out of prison? He doesn’t look good in orange, and it’s not where he wants to be? I’ve heard it’s not exactly a vacation.”
“You don’t think there’s more to it than that?”
“Like what?”
“Maybe he’s worried about you. Is that possible? He doesn’t know where you are, now that you’re not in a foster home anymore. He could be looking for you to make sure you’re all right.”
“I guess…”
“Are you sure he killed your mother?”
She slowly nodded. “I was in my bedroom. Mom was in the living room talking to the pastor. He was a new pastor, and Dad never went to church, so he didn’t know him. When Dad got home, he was drunk, and he went for the pastor’s throat. Mom tried to stop him and he backhanded her, sending her flying into the wall. She fell and hit her head.” Taking a deep breath, she said, “The pastor testified against him, and he confessed. They called it second degree murder.”
He pursed his lips. “Sounds like it’s more manslaughter, but that’s neither here nor there. Do you have any desire to see him?”
The tears started flowing again. She had visions of him picking her up and swinging her around. Of him pushing her on the swing and calling her Bobbita. “No. He killed my mother.”
“All right. What do you want to do?”
“What do you mean? What can I do?”
“Do you want to go? Because I can pack what I need and be ready within the hour. Or are you going to stay here and stick it out. Here, where you have a family.”
She sniffled. “A forever family? That’s what I’ve wanted since the day my mom died. A forever family.”
“If you want us forever, then you’ll have us. Mom has decided you’re the daughter she always wanted, and it has nothing to do with your relationship with me. She’s keeping you.”
Bobbi smiled a little, but the tears were still flowing. “I’m going to stay here. If he finds me, he won’t hurt me. I know he won’t.”
He pulled her close, her head coming to rest on his shoulder. “I’m glad. I didn’t want to leave.”
“Thank you!”
Wilber shook his head and realized where he was as he frowned down at the letter in his hands. “How do you want to handle it?” He knew she’d gotten hundreds of letters over the years, but to his knowledge, this was the first one she’d opened.
She shrugged. “I really have no idea. It’s been forty-five years since I’ve seen him. Thirty-five since I’ve heard his voice. I don’t know what to think or feel. It’s like I’m the confused little girl who lost her mother all over again.”
“But you’re not. You’re a successful woman who has raised six pretty darned awesome kids—seven including Jess. You’re strong and confident. He can’t take that away from you.”
She sniffled again. “I’m just so torn. Am I being unforgiving? He is my father. How am I supposed to forgive him, though? Our kids never knew their grandmother. Well, they knew their Grandma Kelsey, who was pretty awesome, but not my mom. He’s also in his seventies. He’s alone in the world with no one. And I won’t speak to him? His own flesh and blood?”
“Maybe we should ask the kids if they want to meet him. Are we going to the family dinner on Sunday? That would be a good place to bring it up.”
She sighed. “They all know. But it’s one thing to know your grandfather killed your grandmother and another to come face to face with said grandfather. I just don’t know the right thing to do. And Kelsi has those two precious babies. Can I let him be around them?”
Wilber shrugged. “If you meet him with our boys around, there would be no danger. We have four strong sons. Two strong sons-in-law. Jake would be there. Nothing would happen to you or those babies. Nothing.”
She tilted her head to the side and thought about it for a moment. “That’s true. And we can ask Shane to bring his gun and his deputies if we’re that worried about it.”
“You could invite him to come to our thirty-fifth anniversary celebration and vow renewal.”
She frowned at him. “You know that hasn’t been decided yet!”
“It’s about to be. Wait ‘til you see what I brought you!” He kissed her forehead. “Close your eyes.”
Bobbi laughed, even as she obeyed. Her husband had spent more than half of her life bringing her surprises. How could she stay mad at him?
A moment later, he picked up her hand and put something warm in it. She looked down and laughed. “Chinese takeout. How did you know I wasn’t going to be up to cooking tonight?”
“I know my wife!” He took the necklace box and laid it on the couch beside her. “You don’t get the surprise until you eat all your supper.”
She grinned, remembering what he’d said to her at their first picnic. “All we need is Don Juan here to make things perfect.”
“I haven’t thought about Don Juan in forever. What made you think of him?”
She shrugged. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my first days on the ranch lately. I miss your mom and Don Juan the most.”
He nodded. “I miss them both too. Kelsi seems to be just like her other than the eyes.”
“Yeah, she does.”
As they ate, Bobbi kept looking at the letter, which was lying on the coffee table. “I’m not sure I should have read that letter.”
“I think you’re wrong. You did the right thing.”
She bit her lip. “Maybe. I do think I’m going to talk to the kids about it on Sunday. I think they should have a say in what we decide.”
“Promise me the final decision will still be yours.”
“It will be. They don’t know him, and I do.” She frowned. “Well, I did.”
The following morning, Bobbi decided she needed to make another trip over to see Jaclyn. Maybe she could talk out what had happened with the older woman and let her give an opinion. She already knew, so why not?
As she walked, she thought about her first visit to the little house at the edge of the RV camp. She’d been given Wednesday off, because Kelsey thought she needed time to think about what was going on with her father.
First thing that morning, a letter had been hand-delivered to her as she ate breakfast.
Dear Miss Jackson,
I would like to request the honor of your presence for tea and snickerdoodles this afternoon. The fairies would like to get a closer look at you. Please arrive at two. Thank you.
Jaclyn Hardy
She was nervous about seeing the crazy woman, but Kelsey assured her she’d be fine. Even Wilber had told her that she’d been an honorary aunt to him his entire life. She refused to be frightened.
As she wandered through the gate and into the yard with the bunnies hopping everywhere, Jaclyn stepped onto her porch, her hand over her eyes. “It’s about time! The fairies are getting antsy!”
“Do you always talk to fairies, Miss Hardy?”
“Oh, call me Jaclyn. Miss Hardy makes me seem like an old woman sitting on a porch and knitting shawls for my bunnies. And no, I don’t always talk to fairies. In fact, they just started talking to me a few days before you arrived. They told me you were coming, and that you’d be in need of my help. So? How can I help you?”
“I…don’t know. I came only because of your invitation.”
“Well, then it sounds like the fairies need to be more forthcoming!”
Bobbi looked down at the paper bag she held in her hands. She’d almost forgotten, and that wouldn’t be right after begging Wilber to take her on an errand in town during his lunch hour. “I brought you something.”
Jaclyn put her hand over her chest in surprise. “You did? Well, I don’t have anything for you!”
“That’s all right.” Bobbi felt like she was on firmer ground now, and she was so glad she’d gotten the gift. It had taken all the tips she’d earned from the few tables she’d waited while the waitresses were on break, but that was all right. It was something special, and she knew it would suit Jaclyn perfectly.
“Well, come in and I’ll open it while I’m sitting. That will be better, right?”
Bobbi had no answer for that, so she walked into the house, looking around for a place to sit. “Exactly how many bunnies do you have?”
“Only twelve. I had four, but…you know how bunnies are. Just scoop one up and you can hold it or set it on the floor.”
Bobbi was suddenly glad she’d decided to leave Don Juan at home. He would have loved the walk, but he would have wanted to chase the bunnies. It would have been a fun new game for him, but she was certain Jaclyn wouldn’t approve. She scooped a bunny out of the chair and planted her bottom in it, stroking the bunny’s head.
Jaclyn opened the paper sack and squealed with surprise. “It’s a gnome! For my yard? He’s perfect. I shall call him George, and he shall reign over the fairies with an iron fist!” She leaned toward the gnome, as if she was listening. “What’s that? The gnomes and the fairies are natural enemies? Life is about to get interesting around here, I see!”
“I’m sorry I didn’t wrap it. There was no time.”
“It’s perfect. George isn’t one who needs frou-frou wrapping paper. He’s content just the way he is.” Jaclyn sighed happily. “I can’t wait to put him in my yard. Maybe I’ll start an entire gnome village!”
“I think that would be very wise,” Bobbi said, struggling to keep her face straight.
“So you really don’t know why the fairies wanted me to help you? Nothing bad is going on in your life?” Jaclyn’s eyes narrowed at Bobbi, obviously thinking she was holding something back from her.
Bobbi bit her lip, wondering how much she should tell the older woman. Finally, she decided to spill it all. Why not? The whole ranch would soon know that her father was an escaped con. She spilled the story quickly and emotionlessly. She didn’t want Jaclyn to realize just how upset she was over the whole thing.
“So, has your father called you?”
Bobbi shook her head. “Not yet. I think he will, though.”
“How do you feel about seeing him?”
“I don’t know. As my father, I want to see him, of course. As my mother’s murderer, it’s harder to want to see him.” Bobbi raised her hands, as if confused.
“I’m not sure that’s why the fairies wanted you to come over. I think you’re here to talk about your feelings for Wilber.”
“Wilber?” Bobbi blushed profusely. “What exactly am I supposed to say?” How could she admit feelings she had to this woman when she hadn’t even admitted them to herself?
“How do you feel? I know he saw you and knew he’d marry you, but how do you feel about him?” Jaclyn leaned forward, studying her face.
Bobbi took a deep breath. “He’s a very kind man, and I like him a great deal.”
“Enough to marry him?”
“Having known him for precisely five days, that’s hard to answer. Maybe once I’ve known him for a week, I’ll have a better handle on my feelings.” Even Bobbi was surprised by the sarcasm that dripped from her words. Her foster mother had been determined to make certain she never used that tone of voice again. “I’m sorry. That was rude.”
Jaclyn simply laughed. “Not rude at all. When you’ve only known a man for a week and people keep bugging you about your feelings for him, sarcasm is definitely called for! I approve.”
Bobbi smiled. “I’m glad you do.” She shrugged. “I like him a lot. I’ve never had a boyfriend before, and he’s a very sweet man to be my first.”
“And last. I think the fairies are pushing for the two of you to marry. They approve of you together.”
“Did they tell you that?” Bobbi asked.
“Honestly, the fairies talking to me is very new. They told me that you were about to come to the ranch and that you would marry Wilber. They said the two of you are destined to be together, but you would perceive obstacles before you that you didn’t need to worry about. So stop worrying about them.”
“I can’t marry a man while my father is on the loose. It wouldn’t feel right.” Bobbi knew she was looking for reasons not to marry quite yet. As much as she cared about Wilber, it didn’t feel like it was time.
“Would it feel wrong, though?” Jaclyn asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Bobbi felt as if Jaclyn’s role in life was to confuse her.
Jaclyn cocked her head to one side. “The fairies say he’ll be back in prison tomorrow. Will that make you feel better about everything?”
“My father being in prison doesn’t make me feel good. How could it?”
“I guess that makes sense.” Jaclyn looked down. “Oh, I forgot to offer you tea and snickerdoodles. Do you like snickerdoodles? They’re the only cookie I bake, but I bake them like a champ.”
“I think so. I don’t remember ever having them.” There had been few treats in Bobbi’s life for the past ten years.
“Well, try one!” Jaclyn peered at her anxiously, making Bobbi feel a bit like a bug in a glass jar.
Bobbi took a small plate and added one of the cookies to it, also pouring herself a cup of the tea. She took a bite of the cookie and closed her eyes, smiling big. “They’re delicious.”
Jaclyn sat back happily. “I told the fairies that snickerdoodles would be good and you didn’t need chocolate chip. They were very fussy about it though. Do fairies talk to people everywhere you go?”
“If they do, no one has ever mentioned it to me before. Do you think they’ll stop talking to you? Or will they continue?” Bobbi didn’t believe in fairies, but it was so fun to play along with the game the older woman was playing. Surely it wouldn’t hurt anything for her to pretend fairies were real.
“Oh, I think now that they’ve opened their big mouths, they’ll never be able to close them. I don’t mind though. It’s kind of nice to have the company.”
Bobbi shook her head, stopping in front of the house. Over the years, she and Jaclyn had become very close, and she’d grown used to the fairy talk. She’d even spent hours consoling Jaclyn over the death of George.
Sure enough, as she walked up to the house, Jaclyn stuck her head out. “The fairies said you were coming. I have tea and snickerdoodles. Though the fairies still insist I should be baking chocolate chip cookies for you.”
“The fairies are silly.” Bobbi didn’t wait for an invitation into the house, knowing she was welcome. They’d been friends for too long for her to suspect anything else at all.
Once she was inside, Bobbi shooed a couple of bunnies from her favorite chair, determined that she would not have to deal with them. As much as she loved bunnies, what she wanted to talk about was serious, and not meant to be filled with animals.
She waited while Jaclyn set everything just so and poured her a cup of tea. “I thought you needed something special today, so I made chamomile.” Jaclyn flinched. “Okay! The fairies insisted on chamomile.”
“Chamomile is perfect,” Bobbi said, accepting the cup. “And as much as I love your snickerdoodles, the fairies were right about the cookies. I need all the chocolate I can get my hands on at the moment.”
Jaclyn studied her over the rim of her own cup. “Tell me everything.”