“Actually, that’s a good idea.” Audrey linked arms with Carly. “After the turmoil we had going on yesterday, we could all use some fun. But only for an hour or so. That way we can get back in plenty of time to clean up and go to Wednesday night Bible study.”
“What happened yesterday?” Cooper eyed each of the adults.
“Just some stuff with your father.” Carly covered. “The internet server was down and I couldn’t get in touch with him to find out when his flight lands. But it’s all worked out now.”
“He’ll be here, tomorrow. Right?”
“Of course. In fact, he’s already on his way.” Carly squeezed Mom’s hand. “I need to change clothes, so we’ll walk. It’s not that far. Go ahead, Lexie.”
“I’ll take Monkey until you get in.” Clint reached for her, sat Charlee in his lap between him and the steering wheel, while she crawled in. Lexie tried to leave space between her leg and his as she retrieved Charlee.
“Drive, Uncle Squint.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He started the engine, then slowly drove away. “Everyone wave bye to your mom and Grandma. And by the time they get there, we’ll have caught supper. Slowpokes.” Clint drove off.
Once they got out of the yard, she saw that Mule tracks had cut a permanent path through the woods over the years. Live oaks lined the way with a smattering of wildflowers. Mexican hats with their drooping gold and red petals had always been her favorite, but they didn’t usually show up until May. Then she heard the river before she could see it. The soothing flow of water over a rock bed.
The trees parted, revealing a swath of shallow spots, deep and seemingly bottomless in others about ten feet wide. Cypress trees lined both sides with fat, clawlike roots reaching hungrily into the water.
Clint killed the engine and he and Cooper unloaded all the gear while Lexie tucked Charlee against her and climbed out of the vehicle. With the toddler settled on her hip, she strolled over to the water.
“Charlee wanna swim.”
“It’s too cold for that, Monkey.” Clint tucked his arms against his chest and did a fake shiver. “Brrr. Cold.”
“Brrr. Cold.” Charlee mimicked him.
It was a tie on which one was cuter at it.
“Your uncle Clint is right. We have to stay out of the water. And never, ever, ever come to the river without an adult.”
“Never, ever, ever.” Charlee shook her head, then peered into the water in deep concentration.
Lexie followed her gaze and spotted a school of minnows. “You see all those tiny fish, don’t you?” Rocks led across the river and she carefully used them as stepping stones, then sat on the largest one near the minnows and planted Charlee in her lap.
The little girl leaned forward and peered into the water. “Here fishy, fishy.”
“She’s heard our neighbor call her cat.” Cooper giggled. “I don’t think fish come when you call them, Charlee.”
“Most cats don’t, either,” Clint added wryly.
Cooper sat his pole down, then hopped the rock trail out to where they were. “Those would make great bait. I wish we had a trap. Remember that trap you made last summer, Uncle Clint? We need to make another and leave it here overnight.”
“You’ll have to remind me how to build it.” Which meant Clint didn’t remember. The familiar dullness settled in his eyes the way it did every time he couldn’t summon a memory.
“Mommy! Grandma!” Cooper hollered. “You made it. Come see the minnows.”
The two women followed the stepping stones out to see.
“They’re pretty,” Audrey said. “Shimmery.”
“They’re called golden shiners.” The boy pointed at the pool. “That one’s big. Come see, Uncle Clint.”
“I’m not sure Uncle Clint’s balance is quite that good yet.” Carly tried to deter him. “I’m sure he’s seen a minnow that big before anyway.”
“I can do it.” Steely determination set his jaw.
And Lexie knew they wouldn’t be able to stop him.
“Let me help you.” She handed Charlee to Carly. Then Audrey stepped farther across, so Lexie could get by.
She followed the rock trail back to the shore to where an impatient Clint had already taken a few steps.
“I don’t need help.”
“Humor me.” She offered him her arm.
He latched on, obviously aware he was pushing his capabilities.
Slowly, they made it a few rocks at a time. Until Clint wobbled. She turned to try to steady him. But it was too late.
Everything went into slow motion. Him going down. Taking her with him. Cold soaked her backside, then her entire back, stealing her breath as she squealed. Clint’s muscled arm was around her middle as he landed on his side beside her with a splash that soaked every part of them both.
“Brrr. Cold,” Charlee said.
“You okay?” Lexie’s teeth chattered through the question.
“Fine.” He pushed up onto his knees and offered her a hand. “You?”
“Freezing.”
“I could have done it if you hadn’t tried to help,” he muttered, his pride obviously injured.
“Probably. But I didn’t want you to fall.”
“I appreciate the thought.” He slicked his water-soaked hair back from his face.
“Y’all will catch your death,” Audrey called. “Get out of there and back to the house.”
“But I wanna fish,” Cooper whined.
“Y’all stay.” Clint stood, then managed to help Lexie up. “I’ll take her back to the house, get dried off and warm, then come back with the Mule to pick up the kids and the gear.”
“I’ll bait the hooks and take care of any fish we catch,” Cooper volunteered.
“We’ll probably just watch you.” Audrey waved a hand at Clint. “Will y’all please get out of the water.”
“I don’t think we need to worry about trying to stay on the rocks anymore.” She turned toward the house side of the river.
“No. But our feet won’t be as wet if we do.” Clint climbed up on a rock, raising his arms out to his sides like a tightrope walker.
She followed with her arms out, so he wouldn’t be embarrassed.
He made it to the shore, then turned to face her. “See. I just needed my arms.”
“Me, too, apparently.” She made a few bobbles on purpose to make him feel better.
“There’s a blanket under the seat of the Mule,” Audrey hollered. “Wrap up in it, until you get back to the house.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Clint saluted her, ushered a shivering Lexie to the Mule, then dug under the seat for the blanket.
With them both seated, he wrapped the blanket around their shoulders, started the engine and turned toward the house.
“I’m really sorry, Clint. If I’d let you do it, you probably would have been fine.”
“It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have tried it.” He frowned. “Thanks for acting like you needed your arms to balance and those few fake wobbles you threw in to save my pride.”
“You’re welcome. Pride goeth before a fall.”
He chuckled, then burst into a full-out laugh, as she joined in.
They made it to end of the path, into the yard. He pulled up right by the front sidewalk, killed the engine and turned to her.
With fingers shaking from cold, he pushed a damp tendril away from her face. “I’m gonna miss you, Lexie Parker.”
His words put a hitch in her heart as his gaze lowered to her lips.
“I think I better go home to get warm.” She turned away, flailed her way out of the Mule. Somehow, on trembling legs, she made it to her car, started the engine, turned the heat to full blast and backed out of the drive.
She’d miss him, too.
After all the warnings she’d given her
self about falling for him, not a one of them had worked.
Chapter Fifteen
While Ted gathered wood, Clint tried to be useful. He’d managed to hang a Welcome Home banner between two trees, and string twinkle lights in the branches behind the firepit. Without getting on a ladder. And mostly avoiding Lexie.
Cooper and Charlee ran amok, overenergized, waiting for Carly to return from the airport with Joel in tow. Which was exactly why she hadn’t taken them with her. Mom was busy preparing food, while Lexie made frequent trips back and forth, bringing out paper plates, cups and plastic cutlery.
At some point, she’d changed from her sea life scrubs into jeans paired with a sequined purple tee and her blue jean jacket.
Even though last night she’d proven in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t interested him, he couldn’t seem to ignore her.
After two final days of therapy, she’d be gone from his life. He’d continue overseeing his ranch and being careful not to overdo it until his doctor released him to normal activities. She’d move on to her new job. But he couldn’t imagine not seeing her every day.
“They’re here!” Mom called from the back porch.
Cooper and Charlee ran around the house to the front yard, while Ted and Clint headed for the house to cut through.
He glanced back at Lexie. “You coming?”
“I’ll let y’all welcome him and meet him later.”
“You’re welcome to join us,” Ted encouraged.
“I know. I’m fine out here. Y’all go on.”
Clint was torn about seeing Joel. He was thrilled to have his brother-in-law back. They’d become close over the years. But he still felt weak and incapable and didn’t want Joel to see him like this.
By the time he made it into the kitchen, Joel strolled in with Cooper in one arm and Charlee in the other. Both kids clinging, their faces buried in their father’s shoulder.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” Joel raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t remember anything that happened from the last two years?”
“Not a thing.”
“Including that hundred bucks I owe you?”
“I think it’s coming back to me.” Clint grinned. “Now that you mention it.”
“Maybe this is my chance to finally beat you in arm wrestling again.”
Clint guffawed. “So you’re saying it takes me with a brain injury for you to win?”
“Whatever it takes.” He hugged Clint around the kids. “Missed you, bro.”
“You, too.” Clint’s throat clogged, eyes burned.
“Thanks for being here for these knuckleheads.”
But had Clint been there? He had for two years, but he couldn’t remember. And then he’d risked his life riding a bull. What would have happened to Cooper and Charlee if he’d died? If Joel hadn’t come back from Afghanistan? Would Ted have been a father figure for them? Probably, but it was Clint’s place.
No more risks. Carly and the kids would need him whole and healthy if Joel got deployed again.
Mom and Carly entered the kitchen.
“Okay, Ted,” Mom announced. “Now that our guest of honor is here, you may start the bonfire.”
“I’m on it.” Ted clapped Joel on the back. “Glad you’re home, son.”
Mom and Carly busied themselves, getting hot dogs, buns, condiments and s’mores ingredients ready to carry outside.
“Arm wrestle, Uncle Squint.”
At the moment, Charlee knew him better than she knew her daddy.
“We could have a quick round,” Joel agreed, sitting down at the table.
“Bring it.” Clint settled across from him, completely unsure of his arm wrestling abilities.
“You two.” Carly rolled her eyes.
The kitchen door opened and Lexie stepped inside. “Ted needs lighter fluid.”
“I’ll get it.” Carly rifled through the cabinet. “Joel, this is Lexie. Lexie, this is my Neanderthal husband.”
“It’s a tradition.” Joel propped his elbow on the table, flexed his hand and winked at Charlee. “When me and your mommy started dating, your uncle Clint wanted to arm wrestle me. I soundly beat him.”
“Your daddy had been in the air force for two years, including boot camp, where all they did was build muscle. And I was only sixteen. But after a few years, he couldn’t beat me.”
“But Uncle Clint couldn’t beat me, either.”
“So who won?” Lexie asked.
Carly snickered. “They spend hours straining their muscles, but no one wins.”
“And your daddy wants to take advantage of your poor old brain-damaged uncle now, thinking he might win.” Clint pouted for effect.
“It is pretty sad when you put it that way,” Carly remarked as she handed Lexie the lighter fluid.
And Clint wished his pretty therapist would go back outside. Not watch him get beat. But she lingered.
He put his elbow on the table, flexed his hand, sent his brain a message to make his hand fight.
“Ready.” Joel gripped his hand. “Set. Go.”
Clint closed his eyes, pushed against Joel’s hand. Managed to hold steady.
“I call a time limit of two minutes.” Mom chuckled. “Or we’ll never get to eat. Here, Lexie, you keep time and I’ll take this to Ted.” She retrieved the lighter fluid, then stepped out the back door.
Hands at a standstill. But Clint was starting to tire. Thank goodness for Mom’s time limit.
An eternity passed, but Clint managed to hold his ground.
“Time!” Lexie announced.
Joel’s hand relaxed. He grinned as he let go. “Well, you may have lost some marbles, but not any muscle. I guess I’ll never beat you, bro.”
“Okay, children.” Carly grabbed a sack of hot dogs. “And I’m including the two overgrown ones at the table. Let’s take this party outside. Everybody grab a bag to carry out.”
Joel flashed a smile. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Lexie.”
“You, too.”
The women and kids filed out, carrying bags, while Joel and Clint nabbed what was left.
“So Carly failed to mention Lexie is a looker. And she had eyes only for you, just now.”
“Trust me. She only sees me as a patient, probably afraid I’d strain myself.”
Joel winked. “I think it was more than that.”
“Well, it can’t be.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t remember anything from the last two years.”
“I know that must be weird, but what does that have to do with Lexie?”
Clint sighed heavily. “I was here when Dad got sick. The first thing to go was his memory.”
“That doesn’t mean you’ll end up the same way,” Joel reminded him. “Carly said it was a brain injury. Your dad had several concussions on top of concussions.”
“Who knows if it was the first one or the fifth one that did him in. I can’t pursue a relationship with that hanging over my head.”
His brother-in-law narrowed his eyes at him. “But you can’t keep your life on hold.”
“I can. And I will.”
“For how long?”
“Until I know for certain I’m okay.” He hurried as best he could toward the door, longing for the day when he could say his piece and make a dramatic, quick entrance.
He finally made it outside.
“Uncle Clint, watch.” Cooper walked the heavy benches surrounding the firepit like he was on a balance beam.
“That’s awesome, bud.”
“Can you do this?”
At the moment, he probably couldn’t. “Not as good as you, I bet.”
At least he didn’t have to use his walker anymore. Even outside. He’d just have to hold on to the progress he’d made physic
ally and pray his mind bounced back, too.
And forget Lexie. She was perfect. Good with kids, she understood him and his need to run his ranch. And she was beautiful. If only his brain didn’t have a kink in it that might derail his future.
Two more days and she’d be out of his life. Something he looked forward to. And dreaded.
* * *
“I’ve never had a s’more with a Reese’s before.” Lexie moaned. “So good.”
Cooper giggled over her reaction, tugging a smile from Clint.
“Why did I never think to make them this way? The chocolate bars never melt good the other way.” She really wasn’t exaggerating. It really was that good. Hot, bubbly marshmallows, toasty graham crackers, oozing melted chocolate and peanut butter.
“You’ve officially lived now, Lexie.” Carly chuckled. “Glad we could help you out.”
Thick, chunky beams lined the firepit, forming a hexagon shape. Lexie had one length to herself, with Clint to her right. Ted and Audrey sat on one side, leaving space between them probably for Clint’s comfort. Carly and Joel cuddled, all armed up as Lexie’s grandmother used to put it, with Cooper and Charlee in their laps. They’d obviously missed each other. Seeing the reunited family put a pang in Lexie’s heart. Would she ever have a special someone?
Her gaze collided with Clint’s and her cheeks promptly heated.
“Can I have another, Mommy?” Cooper asked, but he was already sliding two marshmallows onto his skewer.
“Just one more, but then I’m afraid we’ll have to take the guest of honor home because it’s your bedtime.”
“Aw, Mommy,” Cooper whined.
“I’m kind of tired, too.” Joel yawned. “And I’m looking forward to officially being home, sleeping in my own bed.”
“Okay.” Cooper hovered his marshmallow over the fire. “I put an extra one on for you, Lexie.”
“Thank you. I’ll take you up on that.” She readied the crackers and Reese’s Cups.
The marshmallows turned golden and Cooper stuck them toward her.
“Careful,” Carly cautioned. “You don’t want to burn Lexie.”
Lexie placed the Reese’s-laden crackers on each side of the marshmallow and pulled it off the skewer, then handed it to Cooper and repeated the process for her own.
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