“Tyler?” Dub’s rough voice pulled him out of his stupid coil of self-pity. “Son, don’t be so rude. We were talking to you.”
Flexing his jaw, he looked up from the wooden floorboards. “Sorry.”
“You should take Kar to town.” His father’s steel-blue gaze glared at him.
Hadn’t he just offered to take her? What had he missed? He looked back at Karly.
“I can take you to town to drop Bryce at school. I told Bryce I’d take him to see the airplanes.”
“Thank you for the offer, but it hasn’t rained since I arrived, and the water is down. I don’t want to be a bother. I’ll take my car.” She picked up empty coffee cups and carried them to the sink.
“It’s not so much the high water as it is the roads and crossing. Your car might not make it. Let me take y’all to town.”
She started shaking her head.
He swallowed a chunk of his pride. “I’m sorry about what I—”
She waved her hand at him. “Don’t worry about it.”
Dub coughed. When she rushed over to him, he held up his hand, coughed a couple more times, then laid his hand on her arm. “Let Ty take you to town in the ranch truck. I’ll feel better.”
She glanced at him, then over to John, who nodded. Tyler rolled his eyes. It was just a trip to town. “Are you and Cowboy ready?”
Nodding, she turned. “Let me get him.”
His father sat back and gave John a lopsided smile. Somehow he had lost another round to his dad. Why did he even bother?
Chapter Eight
During the morning trip to school, Bryce had chatted all the way. Other than that, the easy conversations she and Tyler had developed over the week disappeared. Today he hadn’t come in for lunch or for a visit with his dad.
Karly rubbed the worn leather key chain between her thumb and index finger. Sometimes the action soothed her. Not this afternoon.
He didn’t like her at all. His charm was a lie, like every other man she had ever been attracted to. Slow learner might be the biggest understatement regarding her. He wanted her gone.
Dear Lord, remove this fear. I know I’m in Your hands, but it’s so hard to relax and not worry.
Tyler’s rumbling voice from the driver’s side drew her out of her thoughts. “Dad makes me so angry sometimes. I really need to apologize about what I said. I didn’t mean—”
“Tyler, it’s okay. I haven’t given it another thought. I’m not interested in you, either. I do want you to know I really care for Dub, and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. You love him and you worry about him. I get that. That’s what good families do. It’s okay. Believe me, I have thick skin.”
She rested her forehead on the window and started playing with a hoop earring.
He cleared his throat. “You shouldn’t have to have thick skin.” He eased the big truck into the main highway. “You seem anxious about something. Relax. If you’re not worried about my opinion of you, then it must be Bryce. He’ll be excited today, the same as he was the past three days. You left him with Mrs. Farris, and she’s a great teacher.”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. He acted as if he knew her. “Yes, I worry about Bryce.” Tyler’s life consisted of grand adventures with safety nets. He couldn’t understand. “He refused to wear the prosthesis for his arm. Physically he’s behind in his development from kids his own age. I’m not sure he’s ready for school.” Even she heard the whining in her voice. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and prayed again. Turning her worries over to God didn’t come easy for her.
“He’s more than ready. You’re the one not ready to leave Bryce.” His left hand lay over the top of the steering wheel while his right arm relaxed across the back of the bench seat. “He’ll be fine. Probably better than fine, he’ll have another great day and be excited to tell you about it when we pick him up.”
He was probably right. She scooted closer to the door, as far from him as possible. Even his hands were perfect—long fingers, the bones at his wrist slightly protruding, looking all masculine. It irritated her.
She sighed. Her reaction to him was what really irritated her. She was finished with relationships, finished with being Cinderella to every prince that came along and promised a happy ending if she just followed him. Happy endings were fantasies and charm was overrated.
He studied the road for a while. The sound of the diesel engine filled the silence in the cab as the rain-drenched countryside slipped past them. He looked back at her with his eyes narrowed in thought, maybe even suspicion, as though he was trying to figure her out. “Are you willing to get your hands dirty?”
Fear froze her stomach. Did he know about her past with her stepfather? She had told the counselors she felt dirty, as if she couldn’t get her hands clean, no matter how hard she worked to be good. Pastor John told her she was new and clean with God, but he didn’t know everything, and it was hard to believe all she had to do was ask for forgiveness. Would all the people they hurt agree that she was new and clean?
She looked at her own hands, twisted in her lap. Anthony was in her past. Her stepfather could no longer use her; he was out of her life. And she needed to stop being consumed by the guilt, a guilt that led her to overanalyze the simplest of statements. Lifting her head and taking a deep breath, she looked over at Tyler.
Prayer. She would be better off in constant prayer instead of focusing on fear.
After a long moment of silence, Tyler started talking again. “Jake asked me to help with building the village for the Christmas pageant. He said they’re not sure yet where they’re going to have it this year. It would be good for Bryce. I’m picking up supplies today for Jake. It can be dirty work, recreating Bethlehem.”
“Okay.” Not that he actually asked her permission. She sighed. Just going along didn’t make her weak, she reassured herself. The people pleaser that lived in her heart always got her in trouble.
* * *
Tyler pulled off Main Street and parked behind the two-story limestone Bergmann’s Lumber building. It had been years since he had walked through the back door at Bergmann’s. When he was a kid, the selection of nails alone would keep him entertained while his father picked up supplies for the ranch. Old Mr. Bergmann always had butterscotch candies on the counter. Even though the former owner had passed on, the bowl full of candies still sat on the old wooden counter. Tyler popped one in his mouth. He handed another to Karly. Stan, along with two of his four daughters, ran the store now.
A golden Lab met them, sniffing their hands and its tail wagging.
“Well, I heard you had come back to town!” Samantha Bergmann walked from the power tools. “How’s the world treatin’ you? How’s your dad? Hi, Karly.” Sam gave Karly a hug before leaning against the counter.
“He’s as stubborn as ever.”
Sam laughed. “Good, then, he’ll be back in the store soon. Miss him. Jake said you’d be swinging by to get the Christmas pageant materials.”
“I’ll let Dad know you said hi. Yes, I have the truck in the back.”
She reached through the handmade soap display and grabbed a walkie-talkie. “Joaquin, Childress is here to pick up the Bethlehem stuff. Over.”
A crackling sound came over the speaker. “The truck kind of told me that, but thanks.” The voice speaking back sounded heavy with sarcasm.
She rolled her eyes. “You know I can fire you. Over.”
“Try it. Ooover.”
“He drives me crazy.”
Tyler had to chuckle. “Joaquin Alvarez? He still riding bulls?”
“Not this month, but I’m sure he’ll go back. He always does. I don’t know why Daddy has to hire him every time he comes back to town with some broken bone.”
Tyler grinned. “Do I owe you anything?”
She went to t
he other side of the counter and flipped through a notebook.
“So you’ve gone high tech?”
She laughed. “Dad doesn’t trust what he calls ‘those internet things.’ Dani has a computer upstairs, but Dad refuses to use it. He says he’s never lost a notebook. Here it is. There is a balance of eighty dollars. I was told to send it to the church.”
He imagined the church had a tight budget. “I’ll get it.” He handed her his card. “So Danika’s not here today?”
“She ran to town. She’ll be sorry she missed you. Just the other day we were talking about you.” As she ran the charge, she gave him a squinty look.
“What?” He glanced down. “Do I have something on me?”
“I was trying to decide if what I want to tell you is something I should tell you so you don’t get caught by surprise, or is it just drama and gossip?”
“Sam, you’re making it too complicated.” He signed the paper she gave him and handed it back to her. “Is anyone going to get hurt?”
“You again, maybe. You know for the record I always said she was a liar.” She handed a candy to Karly. “Here, take this to Bryce. Bring him to the store. Kids love it here.”
“You’re going to say that, then change the subject?” This was why he hated small towns...well, one of the reasons. No matter how old you are you’re still Dub’s son, the wild one. Everyone knows your business or they think they do.
Sam glanced at Karly. “It’s Gwyn Peterson. That’s Tyler’s high school girlfriend. I never liked her.” She adjusted a display before looking back at Tyler. “She’s back and she has a couple of sons. With you being back on the ranch, it’s brought up the old stories. I’m sorry.”
“Neither one of them are mine, no matter how old they are. Is that what people are saying? This is ridiculous.” He wanted to leave, drive to the airport and take off.
“I know. The only reason I’m telling you is her youngest son is in Bryce’s class. I hear you’ve been going with Karly to pick him up, so you have a good chance of running into her. If you’re prepared, it would give the talkers less to talk about. The other boy is about ten and had red, curly hair.” She shrugged. “You know, like all the Havenders, but the boy’s last name is Peterson. Just wanted to give you a heads-up.”
He shook his head. “Yeah, thanks. I’m going to help Joaquin load up.” He turned to Karly. “When you’re ready, I’ll be in the truck.”
* * *
Karly shadowed Tyler up the short, uneven steps that went to the back door. The Joaquin person that she had heard on the radio was not anywhere to be seen, but the truck bed was full.
Tyler got in the cab and slammed the door. Once she buckled up, he started the engine. His jaw flexed.
The mother in her wanted to soothe his hurt. “Gossip can be hurtful.”
He snorted.
There had to be something she could say that would be more helpful, but couldn’t think of a thing. She hated the silence. “So you think Bryce can help build the Christmas village? He loves helping. You’re great with him.”
“Were you ever accused of something you didn’t do?”
“No.” She had done plenty with her stepfather, but somehow they had gotten away with all of their scams. “Sometimes the world isn’t fair.”
“That’s the understatement of the year.” He turned the wheel, taking them off Main Street to the school. “That was the worst part. Not her lies, but my dad believing them. He got mad at me.”
“Your father believed her over you?”
“I shouldn’t have had to tell my father I didn’t do it. He should have known I would never...” His knuckles turned white. It looked as if he was going to rip the steering wheel off its column. “My parents got in the biggest fight. That’s when I moved to the bunkhouse and waited to graduate so I could leave for Florida.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Sorry. I don’t know why I let the old history get under my skin.”
“The past has a way of messing with the future if we let it. We’re supposed to turn it over to God, but our brain or maybe our pride doesn’t want to go along with that plan.”
“I don’t get God’s plan. Most of the time I hate it.”
Karly sighed. “The hardest part for me is letting go of my own understanding. But it seems the more I don’t try to understand the clearer some things get. Not all things. Some things I just don’t get and never will. If I had my way, Bryce would have been born whole. People joke about counting all their fingers and toes, but Bryce doesn’t have his. For the longest time I battled guilt over that. What did I do wrong? For most of his life I blamed myself.” She sighed and twisted her fingers. “Anytime you’re different, it makes life harder, but maybe if it’s harder up front, then it can actually be easier.” She was talking too much. Turning away from Tyler’s stern face, she looked out the window. “You don’t have to have all the answers, just faith.”
The school came into view. A few parents had already started lining up in the pickup area. The kindergarten building and playground were on the edge of the campus that housed pre-K through twelfth grade, a place Tyler had spent his whole childhood.
She wanted to point out all Tyler’s blessings. If he didn’t want to see them, he wouldn’t, even if she listed them. She didn’t want to give him another reason to be angry with her.
“I’ve meet three of the Bergmann girls. They all have been supernice to me. Your father said you had dated one of them in high school. That must be strange, seeing old girlfriends every time you’re in town.” Karly was looking out the window, trying to keep her voice casual.
He shook his head. “We didn’t really date. I was too afraid of getting stuck in Clear Water to get really serious about anyone.” Another reason his father should have known Gwyn was lying. “They were just friends. I went to homecoming with one of the twins and prom with the other, can’t really tell them apart. All I remember is wearing a tux and walking in a parade thing. Plus, I think I’m related to over half the families in town.” He gave her a wink. “Didn’t feel right dating a cousin, no matter how distant. How about you? Did you ever date a cousin?” His anger evaporated and the charmer was back. She might like him better, however, he was the one she didn’t dare trust.
Shaking her head, she finally looked at him. “No, no cousins. Just street thugs and toads I tried turning into princes.”
He pulled into the parking lot between the fine arts building and the football field. Bryce ended his day in art or music, so they had gotten in the habit of waiting there for him.
“I can’t imagine growing up in one house and going to one school my whole childhood.” The statement came out as a wishful whisper. Opening the door, she stopped midway. “Are you going to stay here?”
He flashed the smile that made her knees go numb. “Nope. Apparently, the whole town is brimming with anticipation.” He nodded to the pickup patrol. “Might as well get it over with so they can move on to another hot topic. They might get bored if we wait too long.” He got out of the truck and winked at her again. “It’s all about timing, you know.”
Elbows on the silver hood, he leaned back and propped his boot on the bumper. The elementary students started filing out of the buildings. They were released before the “big kids,” as Bryce called them.
Moving next to Tyler, she kept an eye on the door. “You had to have good memories growing up here.”
Tyler scanned the campus and looked back at her with a lopsided grin. “Yeah, some of the teachers would tell you I had too much fun. I remember waking up excited in the morning. Between sports, the horses and flying, there wasn’t enough time in the day to do it all. I had some great friends. I took for granted that I got to go to the same campus as my big sister. Fortunately for me, everyone loved her, so they put up with me by default.”
“I doubt t
hat very seriously. There’s Bryce.” Her little guy dragged his backpack behind him, his head down. Something had happened. Putting her hand over her heart, she could feel the blood rushing. This had been her fear. She would send him out into the world and he would be hurt.
She moved toward him, but Tyler stopped her.
“I suggest you get the world-has-ended look off your face and smile. Greet him as if everything’s good. Let him tell you what’s wrong, and we’ll go from there.”
Nodding, she knew he was right. If she overreacted, it would only make everything worse. She waited with a smile planted on her face.
“Tyler?” A female voice called from the other side of the parking lot. The women approached them slowly before stopping about five feet from them. “It is you.”
Petite, with jeans and silky blond hair in a short, stylish cut, she was the exact opposite of Karly.
Leaning close to Tyler’s ear, she whispered, “I suggest you get the world-has-ended look off your face and smile. Greet her as if everything’s good.” She straightened and smiled at him.
He actually threw his head back and laughed, a deep, authentic laugh. Cocking his head to the side, he whispered, “If half the town wasn’t watching, I’d kiss you right now.” He stepped forward with his beautiful smile in place and let Gwyn give him an awkward hug.
All Karly could think about was the idea of a kiss he had just put in her head. Oh, no, girl, don’t even go down that rocky road.
Gwyn said, “I heard about your dad, so sorry. Such a dear man. So what are you doing at the school?” Her gaze slid over to Karly.
Her voice sounded like a country-and-western love ballad.
Tyler put his strong hand on Karly’s shoulder. The idea of a kiss popped up again.
“This is Karly. Karly, Gwyn. We are here to pick up her son, Bryce.”
Bryce had finally dragged himself to her side. Pulling him close, she ruffled his hair and focused on her son. “Hey, Cowboy.” She hoped using his new nickname would cheer him up.
Gwyn smiled. Karly saw the moment she noticed his missing hand. Pity filled her eyes and she looked away. “Well, it was nice meeting you. Tyler, tell your dad hi for me. My son, Cooper, is on the playground. Bye-bye.” And she was gone.
A Texas Christmas Wish Page 8
