Debbie Macomber - Heart of Texas Volume 2 - Caroline's Child

When he was sure he wouldn’t disturb the child’s slumber, Grady dragged the vacant rocker next to Caroline.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Reaching out, she squeezed his hand. “I hate to think what could have happened if you hadn’t arrived when you did. Maggie knows better. I’ll have a talk with her later, but I don’t think you need to worry about anything like this again. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her so frightened.”

“I was terrified myself.” He wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

Caroline closed her eyes as though to shake the image of her daughter in the stallion’s stall from her mind.

It was difficult for Grady not to stare at her.

“Go and have your dinner,” she said a moment later. “I’m only going to stay a few more minutes.”

“I’m not hungry,” he said, wishing he could convince her to stay.

“I’m sorry, Grady, for everything.”

He gestured with one hand, dismissing her apology.

“I was looking forward to riding with you this afternoon,” she said.

He’d forgotten the ostensible reason for her visit. He shrugged as if it was no big thing. “We’ll do it some other time.”

She brushed the hair away from Maggie’s sweet face. “I’d better go.”

The screen door opened and Savannah poked her head out. “Do you want to put Maggie down on my bed?” she asked. “I’ll watch her so you two can…” She didn’t finish the statement, but Grady knew his sister. She’d been about to say, “so you two can have some time alone together.”

Caroline shook her head. “Maggie’s had a terrible fright and she’s embarrassed because she knows she did wrong. I need to talk to her and it’d be best if I did that at home.”

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Grady offered. He stuffed his hands in his back pockets as he stood up.

“I’m so sorry, Savannah,” Caroline whispered.

“I’ll see you again soon, won’t I?”

“Of course.”

Savannah and Grady walked down the porch steps with Caroline holding the sleeping Maggie. “Laredo and I are driving into Fredericksburg to talk to our builder next Wednesday. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll be in our own home by October.”

The house would be empty without Savannah, but Grady refused to think about it. At least her new home wouldn’t be far from the ranch house, no more than a five-minute walk.

“The house plans are ready?”

Savannah looked inordinately proud. “Laredo and I finished going over everything Friday afternoon and gave our approval to the builder. You can’t imagine how much time and effort went into that.”

They reached the car and Grady opened the passenger door so Caroline could set Maggie down. The child didn’t so much as stir when Caroline placed the seat belt around her.

“Seeing as Laredo and I will be gone most of Wednesday, perhaps that would be a good day for you two to get together.” Savannah made the suggestion casually, as though she often arranged her brother’s schedule.

“Ah…” Grady was a little embarrassed by her obviousness.

“I can come over after work,” Caroline said, smiling at him. “But I don’t know if the sitter can keep Maggie.”

“Bring her with you,” Savannah said. “That’ll give the three of you time together. It’s important for Maggie to feel comfortable around Grady.”

He was warming to the idea. “Perhaps we could all go riding,” he said. “I’ve got a nice gentle horse I’ll put you and Maggie on.” He thought it would be fun to show them the herd and stop at a few special spots along the way. He was proud of the Yellow Rose.

“That would be wonderful!” Caroline sounded enthusiastic; her voice and movements seemed animated, even excited.

“Then it’s a date,” Grady said.

“I’ll see you soon.” Savannah turned to leave, hurrying back to the house.

Grady and Caroline stood in the yard, and Maggie slept on contentedly as a cool breeze passed through the open door.

“I’d better get going,” Caroline said.

Grady noticed the reluctance in her words, felt it himself.

“I’m glad we had a little time together, anyway.”

“Me, too.”

There was a moment’s silence, then Caroline did something completely out of character, something that stunned him. Without warning, she stepped forward and kissed him.

Caught by surprise, Grady was slow to react. A second later he clasped her in his arms, so deeply involved in the kiss that he didn’t care who saw them. Even Richard.

Neither one of them was able to breathe properly when the kiss ended. Their balance seemed to be affected, too. Grady gripped her elbows and she held on to his waist.

Their eyes met and she smiled the softest, sweetest, sexiest smile he’d ever seen.

“What was that for?” he asked, his voice thick with passion.

“For saving Maggie.”

“Oh.” He cleared his throat. “I once saved a wounded falcon.”

She kissed his cheek.

“It was hurt real bad.”

Her lips inched closer to his.

“Richard broke his arm when he was eight and I carried him home. Will you reward me with a kiss for that, as well?”

“Grady!” she protested with a laugh. “Enough.”

He loved the sound of her laughter. Because he wanted to hold her one last time, he scooped her into his arms and swung her around. Throwing back her head, she continued to laugh with such sheer joy it infected his very soul. They hugged for a long time afterward, content simply to be in each other’s arms.

This was heaven, Grady told himself. Heaven in its purest form.

* * *

GLEN WAS AT FRASIER FEED early Tuesday evening just as he’d promised. Ellie’d had a long grueling day; not only was the store exceptionally busy, their wedding was less than a month away and there was an endless list of things that needed to be done.

“I’m glad you’re on time,” she said, smiling at him, loving him. She marveled again at how they’d both been so incredibly blind to their feelings. Obtuse was the word for the pair of them.

“Hey, when was I ever late?” Glen teased.

Ellie rolled her eyes and hung the Closed sign in the shop window. She started toward the office where she kept her purse, but hadn’t gone far when Glen caught her hand and stopped her.

“Not so soon. Aren’t you going to let me know how pleased you are to see me?”

“I see you every day,” she reminded him.

“We aren’t even married and already you’re treating me like an old hat.” He wore a woebegone look.

Laughing, Ellie locked her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss he wouldn’t soon forget. Neither would she.

“Oh, baby,” he whispered, his eyes closed. “How much longer until the wedding?”

“Less than a month.” Her head buzzed with everything they still needed to do, to decide and plan. “Sometimes I wish we could just run away and get married.”

“That idea appeals to me more and more,” he murmured.

Ellie was tempted herself, but reason soon took over. “Your mother and mine would never forgive us.”

“In that case, let’s live in sin and give them something to really be upset about.”

Despite herself, Ellie giggled. “You always make me laugh.”

“I’m glad to know you find me a source of entertainment.”

“Always,” she joked, kissing him again, lightly this time.

He released her with a reluctance that warmed her heart. Ellie retrieved her purse from the office and tucked in her to-do list.

“When are we scheduled to meet with the Realtor?” Glen asked.

“Not until seven.” Where they would live had been a major decision. If she moved out to the ranch with Glen and Cal, she’d be commuting to Promise each day. If Glen moved into town, then he’d be the one commuting. In the end they’d decided to buy a house in town. Glen would continue working with his brother for a number of years, but hoped someday to start his own spread. When the time came, they’d buy a ranch closer to town, but that was years in the future.