Snow Melts in Spring

by Vogts, Deborah

  Gil’s mouth twisted in concern. Mattie could handle Tulip, but Dusty might have injured himself. He sopped his biscuit in the stew for one last bite. “Maybe I better check on them.”

  “No need.” Mildred smiled. “There she is, coming in from the pasture.”

  He tossed his napkin on the table and stood, only to have Mildred motion him to sit.

  “Finish your stew. You’ll be eating cafeteria food soon enough.” She refilled his glass of milk, then returned to her dishwashing. “You and Mattie seem mighty friendly these days. With her traveling all the way to California, it must be gettin’ serious.”

  Gil scooped a carrot with his spoon. “I wouldn’t call it serious. Too many kinks in the water hose.”

  The gray-haired housekeeper glanced at him. “She reminds me of your mama. Not many young women like her these days.” Her eyebrows raised an inch. “Take Mattie’s sister, for example.”

  Mildred had been with Gil’s family almost as long as Jake. She’d helped his mother cook and clean this big house up until the day his mama died. They would have talked about things — shared intimate thoughts. “Did Mama like Jenna?”

  Mildred dried her hands on a tea towel. “We all liked Jenna fine.”

  “What if she and Frank had married?”

  She shook her head. “Jenna was too flighty. It would never have lasted. She’s not like Mattie.”

  No truer words had come from the woman’s lips. Images of Jenna bathed in moonlight flashed in his mind, and he blinked them away. “You think Mama would approve of Mattie?”

  “Course, she would. Mattie’s sensible and caring.”

  An angel compared to her sister.

  “Are the two of you making plans?”

  Gil’s neck grew warm at her question. “Not yet, but I’m sure if that changes, you’ll be one of the first to know.”

  Mildred chuckled. “Someone has to look out for you. You might be big and tough on the outside, but your insides are as tender as a baby’s bottom.”

  He stood and kissed her on the cheek.

  She flicked him with her sudsy water. “Scoot out of here and go see that girl of yours.”

  Gil pressed his lips together, wondering if Mattie had cooled down yet. One glance at his pocket watch confirmed they didn’t have time to finish their previous conversation. He gathered his suitcase and jacket and lumbered to the truck. As he loaded the backseat, his cell phone beeped from the dashboard. Thinking the battery low, he checked and saw a text message from his real estate broker in California.

  Owners ready to sell. Name your price.

  FORTY-TWO

  MATTIE MET GIL AT HIS TRUCK AND WAITED WHILE HE CHECKED HIS phone, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

  He tucked the phone in his shirt pocket and turned to face her. His hair drooped to his brow as he shot her a winsome smile. “Still mad at me?”

  The ride in the pasture helped calm her nerves, but it hadn’t erased her memory. “That depends. Are you going to tell your dad about Jenna’s offer?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  She resisted the urge to swipe the annoying locks from his forehead, not quite ready to give up her fight. “I think it’s a mistake if you do.”

  “If I don’t, she will,” he said. “Seems to me an announcement like that would be better coming from his son.”

  “Or not . . . considering your history with your dad.”

  At her comment, Gil ducked his chin as though she’d hit him.

  Mattie’s irritation wavered. “I know you’re trying to work things out, but still — ”

  “He’s likely to get mad and give himself a genuine heart attack. Is that what you’re afraid of?”

  That was exactly her fear. “I’ve seen the way you two fight. His temper shoots through the roof, and yours goes haywire. You can’t blame me for worrying.”

  “I’ll try to control myself. Maybe I’ll call a nurse in to keep the peace.” He grinned and her armor cracked enough to let a smile through.

  She didn’t try to force it down. “A lot of good that would do. You think he’s scared of a little ol’ nurse?”

  “You haven’t seen the nurses in this place.”

  Mattie uncrossed her arms. “I still don’t like it. You should at least wait until he’s home — not cooped up in that hospital room where he feels all helpless and trapped.”

  “Afraid of what he’ll say?”

  “More afraid of what you’ll talk him into.” Mattie’s smile faded at the thought. For John to give up the ranch at this time in his life might kill him, and it would certainly break her heart.

  Gil slid his hands around her waist, and his touch thawed her defenses. “I’m not going to try and talk him into anything. I’ll simply tell him the truth — that an offer’s been made on the ranch. We’ll see what happens from there.” He crouched to her eye level.

  “Speaking of offers, Mattie . . . the estate in California is officially on the market.”

  Her lungs deflated. Could there be more bad news this day? She rested her hands on his chest and saw his excitement. “That’s great. I’m happy for you, Gil.”

  “Save your congratulations, because I know you don’t mean it. I’m not going to make an offer until we’ve had a chance to talk. You and me, alone, after I bring Dad home.”

  “I suppose we could discuss it after my cousin’s wedding. If you still want to go with me, that is.”

  “I like the sound of that.” Gil nuzzled his chin against her cheek and kissed her lightly on the neck. “It’d give us a reason to slip out early.”

  He did it again. No matter how angry or upset she was, this retired quarterback had the ability to melt her with one smooth touch of his lips on her skin. Gil lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her deeply, a penetrating kiss that hinted of a future. His lips lingered on hers, reducing her legs to jelly.

  Then he pulled away. He checked his pocket watch and frowned. “I hate to do this, but if I don’t leave now, I’ll miss what the doctor tells Dad.”

  Mattie stepped back, surprised her knees didn’t falter. “By all means go, but be careful.”

  Gil tipped her chin. “You’ll be okay? You won’t let your sister push your buttons, right?”

  “I doubt she’ll show her face here again . . . at least not until John gets home.”

  “See that she doesn’t trouble you. I’ll call when I know more about Dad.”

  Mattie nodded and watched Gil drive away. She pressed her fingers to her lips where he’d kissed her, never wanting to forget the sweet sensation.

  HE LIFTED JENNA IN HIS ARMS AND TWIRLED HER IN THE SWIRLING CREEK water. He plunged backward, soaking their glistening bodies as laughter filled the moonlit sky. Jenna faced him, her hands massaging his chest with a sensual touch. Her fingers climbed to his shoulders, and her laughter turned to shrieks as she pushed him under the water and held him there. The water turned to blood, thick and horrifying. Gil couldn’t breathe.

  Gil awoke with a start in the shadowed hospital room, his face beaded with sweat. The nightmare had returned and with it, the guilt. He should have been the one to die. Not Frank. Why, God, why? He shook the thought away and tried to slow his rapid breath — listened to his dad snore, the lights from the heart monitor glowing green and red. When he’d arrived at the hospital that afternoon, he barely spoke to his father before they wheeled him off for a stress test and an echocardiogram. According to the attendant, he did well on both.

  The door slid open and a lab technician in a pink blouse came in with more syringes. She went to his father’s bedside and pushed a button to elevate his head.

  His dad’s eyes fluttered open.

  “Did you have a nice nap?” Her words were loud as she placed her tray of items on the table.

  “Can’t get any sleep with you nurses poking me all the time.”

  Gil forced a chuckle, and the woman gave a hearty laugh. “We need to check your enzymes again,” she said and prepared his ar
m for the needle. “Do you feel like eating some supper?” She worked quickly and attached a bandage to the inside of his elbow where she’d drawn the blood.

  His dad grimaced. “What’s on the menu? Soy burgers?”

  Another nurse stepped into the room with a tray and set the covered dishes on the bedside table. “Tonight you get meat loaf.” She lifted the plate’s plastic cover to reveal a pale slice of meat masked in ketchup, with a few green beans and applesauce on the side.

  The two left, and Gil watched his dad nudge the food with his utensils. “If you ever hear me complain about Mildred’s cooking again, punch me in the teeth.” He cut into the loaf and held it up with his fork. “Never knew they could make so many things out of soy. It’s a plumb embarrassment to the beef association. How dare they call it meat loaf.”

  Gil chuckled, glad he didn’t have to eat the meal. “Part of your heart-healthy diet.” He held up the pamphlet he’d been reading that gave the American Heart Association’s food recommendations and restrictions.

  “Yeah, no salt, no color, no taste.” His dad put the slice in his mouth and made another face. “There are some things in life I’m not willing to give up, and meat is one of them.”

  Gil wasn’t sure he agreed with his father’s attitude but figured the man had lived a full life and could make his own decisions about what he chose to eat. It reminded him of what Jake said about a man needing his dreams to keep him alive.

  “How come you never went to church with Mama?”

  The old man looked up from his food. “What makes you ask such a question?”

  “She used to take us boys to church and Sunday school, but you stayed home. Do you not believe in God? Or were you too busy?” Gil remembered interrogating his mother about this, but she’d never answered his questions.

  “Doesn’t matter now. Your mother’s dead and gone. Can’t do nothing to change that.” He cleared his throat and tried to situate himself in the hospital bed by punching on his pillow.

  “It seems a good question to ask, with your heart problems and all. Maybe now’s the time to make amends with your Creator.”

  His father’s eyes darted to Gil’s. “Who says I need to make amends for anything? Did Mattie put you up to this?”

  Gil rested his elbows on his knees and grinned. “Has she been talking to you?”

  “Been trying to get me to go to church with her for the last several months.”

  “Why don’t you go? It’d be good for you.”

  “What’s good for me is to have some peace in my life and not be pushed by you or anyone else to do something I don’t want to do,” his father snapped.

  The words cast a stone on Gil’s heart the size of a boulder. “What do you want in life, Dad? What gives you peace? Living on the ranch where your memories of Mama and Frank are?”

  “It’s good to have the reminders.” His dad nodded. “What would bring me peace, though, is for you to marry and give me grand babies. Any chance of that happening soon, or will I go to my grave without anyone to inherit the Lightning M, seeing as how you don’t want it?”

  “Speaking of the ranch . . . ” Gil scratched his chin, figuring now was as good a time as any to mention Jenna’s offer. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

  FORTY-THREE

  THURSDAY AFTERNOON, MATTIE STOPPED BY CLARA’S CAFÉ AFTER treating a cow’s injured leg at a nearby ranch. She sat on a stool at the counter and waited for her friend to finish an order.

  “Hey, you, what’s going on? You haven’t been by all week.” Clara winked and handed Mattie a plastic menu.

  “I’ve been called out five times this week for inoculations. You heard about John?”

  Clara nodded. “How’s he doing? Your sister told me they sent him to the Heart Hospital. She sure surprised me the other night. What’s Jenna doing here?”

  Mattie pointed to her usual menu choice of a hamburger and fries. “Gil’s bringing John home tonight. Jenna returned for our cousin’s wedding.” She clenched her teeth, trying to forget the real reason for her sister’s return.

  “She looked good. Her divorce must not have bothered her too much.”

  “Maybe because she didn’t want to be married.” Mattie clenched her teeth when the sharp words came out, ashamed of the judgment.

  Clara’s eyebrows raised as the door to the café jingled. “Let me know if I can order your sister anything.” She placed an icy cola in front of Mattie and nodded toward the entrance.

  Mattie turned and saw Jenna wave, headed straight for her. “What are you doing, sis? Thought you’d be operating on dogs and cats this afternoon.” She sat on a stool next to Mattie and grinned.

  “Not today. What about you?” Mattie sipped her soda and fought to maintain a level of composure. “Any success buying land?”

  Jenna placed cool fingers on Mattie’s arm, and her gold bangle bracelets tinkled against each other. “Still sore about that?”

  “If we’re going to talk, let’s go somewhere more private.” Mattie grabbed her glass and moved to an empty booth in the corner. She sat on one side, Jenna took the other.

  “Like old times, huh?” Jenna pulled out a menu and browsed the selections.

  “Not at all. A lot has changed since we were girls.”

  Jenna studied her from across the table. “You’ve done well for yourself, despite staying in this dinky town. I still say you ought to look for a job in the city. You’d make three times as much as you do now, and you wouldn’t be stuck in the middle of nowhere.”

  Mattie let her sister’s comment slide. “You never answered my question. Have you found any land to devour?”

  Jenna tore open a sugar packet and poured the white crystals into her palm. “Not yet.” She dipped a finger in the sugar and stuck it in her mouth.

  Mattie watched as Jenna repeated her childhood habit. “Why don’t you leave the people in Charris County alone? Tell your boss no one wants to sell.”

  “And miss out on a hefty bonus? Besides, I’d be doing these folks a favor. John McCray, for example.” She licked the rest of the sugar from her hand, then wiped her palm with a napkin.

  “Stay away from John.” Mattie’s tone filled with hostility. “Leave the McCray land alone.”

  “You’re too close to those people, sis. You’ve let them get under your skin.” Jenna tapped the menu on the table and glanced around the café. “Where is that waitress friend of yours, anyway?”

  Mattie pressed Jenna’s menu to the table. “If you won’t do it for me, do it for Frank. Don’t steal his family’s ranch.”

  “Frank’s dead.” Jenna pulled the menu out from under Mattie’s hand. “Besides, nobody’s stealing anything.” She pierced Mattie with her dark brown eyes. “You’ve got the hots for Gil, don’t you? That’s what this is about.”

  Mattie shook her head. “Gil and I are friends. I’ve grown fond of his father the last few years, and I don’t want to see him hurt.”

  Jenna stared down at the table, her expression sullen. “You’re not after Gil? I got the impression the other day that the two of you were an item.”

  Images of Gil swept through Mattie’s mind. Days spent with Dusty and working on the ranch, their trip to Central Kansas, and the most recent time spent in California. Of course, they’d grown close . . . but she wasn’t after him. That wasn’t her way. She might like them to be a couple, if only he’d come around to her way of thinking. And, although he’d spoken some big words about a future together, never once had he mentioned that he loved her. “He’s going to the wedding with me tomorrow night, but I wouldn’t call us an item.”

  Her sister’s lips twisted into a condescending smile. “Gil’s too old for you, anyway, honey. Much too bullish for your sensitive nature.” She reached across the table to squeeze Mattie’s hand, and the icy touch against her skin seemed too cold to be human.

  GIL RELAXED HIS WRIST ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS HE DROVE Mattie to the wedding Friday night. His free hand squeez
ed Mattie’s fingers, warm and dainty beneath his own. Eager to spend a few hours in her company, he’d settled his father in at the ranch and arranged for Mildred to look after him until they returned. The night was theirs.

  He peered over at the doc, dressed in the ruffled skirt and denim jacket he’d admired before. “You look good in that color.”

  “You look nice too.” She smiled.

  Gil lifted his hand from hers and twirled a long curl in his finger, loving the silky texture as it wrapped against his skin. “You said to dress casual.”

  “My cousin doesn’t like fancy parties. The wedding’s a small affair with a barbecue at her parents’ house afterwards.”

  Gil nodded, wondering what it would be like to see Mattie’s mom and dad. He vaguely remembered meeting them at Frank’s funeral. Then of course, there was Jenna to contend with. He hoped she wouldn’t cause trouble, but just in case, he planned to whisk Mattie away so they could talk. “You still willing to leave early?”

  Mattie’s eyes sparkled. “Most definitely. As soon as we can escape.”

  THE WEDDING WAS SHORT AND SIMPLE LIKE MATTIE PREDICTED. GIL held her hand as they walked to the outdoor reception, imagining the conversation he would have with her later, and how she’d respond. If it went well, the two of them might be considering a future together.

  “Shall we get this over with?” Mattie motioned to where her parents stood by a blossoming redbud tree as the evening dusk settled around them.

  “Come on, it won’t be that bad.” He prompted her forward by the elbow. When they reached her parents, Mattie introduced him with a guarded voice.

  He stretched out his hand to Mattie’s father, a tall gentleman dressed in a gray western suit. “It’s nice to meet you again.” He turned to Mrs. Evans and nodded. She smiled up at him, the resemblance to Mattie uncanny.

  Mr. Evans scratched his chin. “You’re Frank’s younger brother, right? I remember meeting you years ago.”

  “He’s the owner of the horse Mattie’s treating.” Mrs. Evans told her husband in a matter-of-fact way and nudged his arm. “We hoped to meet you tonight, since we missed seeing you when we moved Mattie to the ranch. Mattie told us you played for the 49ers —remember, Owen?”