Hill Country Redemption

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  “I don’t understand.” Mom frowned. “We always thought she broke your heart.”

  “The whole thing left me heartbroken, but I had a solid reason for ending things. I wouldn’t have if I’d known about Jayda, though.”

  “You were just a kid, son.” His father always had his back.

  “But I knew better. You raised me to get married, then have kids. To follow God’s leading, not my own.”

  “You’re certainly not the first to have a child out of wedlock, son. And you won’t be the last. Besides, you didn’t ever decide to follow Jesus until after Larae.”

  “They’ll be here soon. I know it’s a lot, Mom.” He strolled over to her side and put his hand on her shoulder. “But try to pull it together. You can’t be mad at Larae. And if you blubber all over Jayda, it might freak her out.”

  She nodded, patted his hand and blew her nose. “I’ll just focus on the good. I’m a grandmother.”

  The doorbell rang. “There they are. We cool?”

  “As a key lime pie your mother won’t let me have anymore.”

  “Oh, stop.” His mother stood and hurried to get the door, as he and his dad followed.

  Jayda stood on the porch, holding a sack. “I brought play clothes.”

  “Good.” His mother opened the door wide. “I plan on doing lots of playing today.”

  “Do you know who I am?”

  “We sure do.” His father’s voice was tight with the hold he had on his emotions.

  “I’m Daddy’s Baby Girl.”

  His mom’s laugh came out watery. “That’s a very fine name.”

  “And I like hugs,” Jayda hinted.

  “Good, ’cause we do, too.” His father scooped her up into his arms, and his mother hugged them both.

  His gaze went to Larae. She looked so lost, like she needed a hug. But that would be a very bad idea for his peace of mind.

  “I’m really glad to have a grandma and grandpa, specially since my other grandpa went to Heaven.”

  “I imagine you miss him,” his mother said. “But we’re really glad to have a granddaughter. We’ve never had one before.”

  Someone’s stomach growled from the hug huddle.

  “Are you hungry, Jayda?” His mother withdrew a little.

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “Well, you came to the right place. I’ve got chicken in the Crock-Pot.”

  “I’ll help you,” Larae offered.

  “Me, too,” Jayda chimed in.

  “How about you go change into your play clothes first?” his mom suggested. “That way you won’t mess up your pretty dress.”

  “Okay.”

  “Come on.” She clasped Jayda’s hand. “I’ll show you where the bathroom is.”

  That would leave his mom and Larae. Alone in the kitchen. Together. With seven years of secrets standing between them.

  “Don’t worry.” His mother patted his arm. “We’ll be fine.”

  So why did Larae kind of look like a sheep being led to the slaughter?

  Chapter Ten

  Larae should have stayed in the bathroom with Jayda. But her daughter had insisted she could change by herself and find the way to the kitchen.

  “Rance has probably told you all about my low-fat cooking, but my mushroom gravy is to die for if I may say so myself.” Maggie scooped heaping ladles of chicken and vegetables into a roasting pan. “You’ll never miss all that fat and calories.”

  “He probably wouldn’t have known the difference if you hadn’t told him,” Larae said. The pale yellow walls combined with white cabinets gave the space a bright, sunny appeal. But it did nothing to soothe Larae’s nerves.

  “The plates are in the cabinet to the left of the sink, silverware directly below and glasses on the right. If you’ll set the table, I’ll get the tea out.”

  “Sure.” Larae found everything and went to work. Might as well address the elephant in the room head-on. “I’m sorry that you just now learned about Jayda.”

  “Rance explained everything. I’m afraid he was young, made some poor choices, and didn’t treat you very well. I’m just glad I know now. And that you and Jayda are here today.”

  “I didn’t consider you and Mr. Shepherd at all when I decided not to tell Rance about her.”

  “You were young.” Maggie set the chicken on the table. “And you were having to make some very adult decisions. Without a mother to guide you.” She patted Larae’s arm.

  The tender gesture brought tears to Larae’s eyes. She grabbed a glass and filled it from the ice dispenser in the refrigerator door, letting the clatter cover her emotions.

  “I thought a lot of your mother,” Maggie persisted. “It must have been tough losing her.”

  “It was.” She filled the remaining glasses.

  “I hope we can grow close.” Maggie poured tea. “That you can come to count on me. No matter what happens between you and Rance.”

  “There’s nothing between us. Not anymore. I mean—other than Jayda. He wants to be part of her life. But not mine.”

  “Still. I’d like us to be friends.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Maggie gave her quick hug, as Larae worked at blinking away the moisture.

  Rance stepped through the entry, took one look at her and frowned at Maggie. “What did you say to her?”

  “Nothing. I’m fine.” Larae swiped at her eyes.

  “Relax, Rance. I’m not a monster. Larae and I are bonding.”

  He caught Larae’s gaze, questioning.

  “She hugged me.”

  “Oh. Good. That’s good.”

  Very good. Maggie was quite a woman. She had every right to be angry at Larae and to hold a grudge. Instead, she’d given a very much needed motherly hug.

  “Is it time to eat yet?” Davis strolled into the kitchen holding Jayda’s hand. “The princess’s tummy won’t stop growling.”

  “You must be growing.” Rance knelt to Jayda’s level. “I cooked you a good breakfast.”

  “Maybe I’m getting taller.” Jayda giggled.

  He stood. And realized both his parents were locked in on him with questioning eyes. “What?”

  “You cooked Jayda breakfast?” Dad ventured.

  Did they think he’d spent the night? His ears burned. “I stopped by to make sure they were coming to church with me. Jayda hadn’t eaten yet, so I fixed breakfast while Larae got ready.”

  “Oh.” Mom sounded relieved.

  “I’ve grown a brain since I was eighteen, you know.”

  Larae’s face went scarlet.

  “I hope so, Daddy. Life would be hard without a brain.”

  A beat of silence and then they all laughed.

  But the thing Larae noticed most was the way Rance’s heart pooled in his green eyes every time Jayda called him Daddy.

  As they gathered around the table, Larae thought back to her childhood, the last time she’d shared a meal as a family, back when her mom was alive.

  Even if Rance hadn’t really grown a brain. If he got bored playing daddy and ended up leaving, Maggie and Davis would be good for Jayda. She needed a family. And since Larae’s father was gone, family was something she could no longer provide for Jayda. Maybe this would all work out. With or without Rance in the picture.

  * * *

  On monday morning, Larae pulled into the school parking lot. Medina had always been a close-knit small town, and most of the teachers at the public school used to go to Rance’s church. Hopefully, it was still like that. She’d longed to go there when she was a kid instead of the private school where her parents had sent her.

  Jayda hesitated, looking even smaller than usual and very uncertain.

  “You ready?”

  “It’s smaller than my old school, and I don’t know anybody her
e.”

  “I know, sweetie. But you’ll make new friends.”

  “Okay.”

  Larae opened her SUV door and met Jayda on the sidewalk. A tiny hand slipped into hers. She hadn’t been sure if Jayda would go all big girl on her or not. Apparently the insecure new girl needed her mother’s reassurance. She squeezed Jayda’s hand.

  Why was starting somewhere new always so hard? It made her want to drop the whole rodeo thing and take Jayda back to her familiar school in Dallas with her friends.

  A woman met them at the door with a smile. “Hello. Do we have a new student?”

  “Are you starting school here?” a little girl asked.

  “This is Jayda Collins, and today will be her first day.”

  “We saw y’all at church yesterday,” the little girl said. “I’m Amelia Johnson, the hall monitor.”

  “And I’m Amelia’s mother, Miss Marjorie. I’m the elementary secretary, manning the door this morning since the principal is in a meeting. What grade will you be in, Jayda?”

  “Second.” Jayda clung tighter to Larae’s hand.

  “I’m in second.” Amelia did a little skip. “We’ll be in the same class. And at church, too, if you come to Sunday school.”

  “Can I, Mommy?”

  “Sure.”

  Relief warmed her worries. Her little girl would be fine. Thank you, Lord, for Amelia and Marjorie. “I’m Jayda’s mom, Larae.”

  “Have you registered her yet?” Marjorie asked.

  “No.” Would Marjorie think her a bad parent for changing her daughter’s school so near the end of the term? “I came here for spring break to sell my family ranch. But Jayda loves it here, so we decided to stay.”

  “I’ll show you where our class is,” Amelia offered.

  Jayda let go of Larae’s hand.

  “We’ll need to go to the office first. Which is exactly where I’m headed.” Majorie checked her watch. “The bell will ring any minute. Amelia, you go on to your class. You’ll see Jayda later. I expect you to keep an eye out for her and not let her get lost.”

  “I will, Mommy.” Amelia waved as she turned the corner.

  “Thank you.” Larae pressed a hand to her heart. “That makes me feel better. Jayda, we need to check you in first, then you can go to class with Amelia.”

  “Okay, Mommy.” She reclaimed Larae’s hand.

  “The office is right through here.” Marjorie escorted them through the foyer lined with concrete block walls. “I know it’s hard to leave our babies in a new place. But Jayda will be just fine. Amelia and I will see to it.” Marjorie ushered them to seats and handed Larae a clipboard. “Once you get the top two sheets filled out, Jayda can go on to class while you finish.”

  Larae started on the paperwork while Jayda played a game on her phone.

  “Can I go to class yet, Mommy?”

  “Almost, Pumpkin.” She finished the first sheet and started on the second.

  Minutes passed as she listed Jayda’s medical history and emergency contact numbers.

  “I’m done.” She stood to hand the two sheets to Marjorie at her desk.

  “Yay, I get to go to class now.”

  “You sure do. I’ll take you there while your mommy finishes up here.”

  “Give me a hug first.” Larae opened her arms.

  “Bye, Mommy.” Jayda gave her a squeeze. “Don’t worry. I already made a friend.”

  “I can’t even tell you how glad I am to hear that.” Larae kissed the top of Jayda’s head.

  Marjorie took Jayda’s hand. “I’ll be right back.”

  Jayda waved with a confident smile.

  Larae almost burst into tears of relief. She worked at pulling herself together, moving on to the next page. Bus or pickup? Definitely not the bus. Larae didn’t want Jayda exposed to older kids for an hour each morning and afternoon. She circled pickup, then listed her name and number and relation to Jayda.

  Three more lines for authorized pickup names. She listed Denny and Stella as family friends, then wrote Davis and Maggie but hesitated over their relation. Rance was Jayda’s father, and she might as well get used to it. She wrote in “grandparents,” then listed Rance with his number as “father.”

  By the time, Marjorie came back, Larae was almost finished.

  “Thank you for making this so much easier than I was expecting.”

  “I’m glad to help.”

  A few minutes later, Larae handed over the clipboard.

  “Pickup.” Marjorie explained where the pickup line entered and exited, then scanned the list. She didn’t show any shock at Jayda’s family ties. “Anyone other than you will have to provide identification, and Jayda will have to know them before we’ll let her leave. But I actually know everyone on your list.”

  “That sounds good. You can never be too careful in this day and age.”

  “It’s never been a problem around here, though.” Marjorie smiled. “Okay, I’ve sent an email to her last school, so I should have her records in the next few days. We’re all set.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  “I’ll see you Wednesday night? At church.”

  “Yes, we plan on coming.” Larae waved as she left the office and retraced her steps to the exit.

  Outside, as she approached her SUV, she spotted Rance’s truck. He got out and met her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to make sure everything went okay. Was she nervous?”

  “At first. Until we ran into Amelia and Marjorie Johnson.”

  “They’re good folk. Go to my church.”

  “Yes. Amelia remembered seeing us Sunday, and before I knew it, Jayda was champing at the bit to go to class with her new friend.”

  “I’m glad.” He released a big breath. “I was worried about her. Changing schools can be tough on kids.”

  “You should probably stop lurking around or they might call Security.”

  “You’re right. Except that Marjorie knows I’m harmless. How about we swing by the Old Spanish Trail for breakfast?”

  “I can’t. The arena guys are finishing up today.”

  “Anything I can help with?” Rance asked.

  “I think it’s all under control.”

  “I’ll want to check on Jayda after school. Is it all right if I stop by later?”

  “Of course.”

  “See you then.” He sauntered to his truck, climbed in and drove off.

  Now why was her heart all out of rhythm from spending two minutes with him?

  Chapter Eleven

  In the distance, Larae stood at the fence with her look-alike child. The afternoon sun shone in their spun-gold hair. So similar. Rance strolled up the driveway as several cowboys reinforced sections of the arena.

  “Daddy!” Jayda whirled around and hurled herself into him.

  She might look just like Larae, but she was Rance’s, too. He scooped her up and swung her around as she giggled. When he set her down, he caught Larae’s evil eye.

  “What?” He splayed his hands palms up.

  She made a slight motion with her head toward the ranch hands and arena crew.

  The arena crew paid them no mind, but Denny and the hands were downright staring. Then they saw him returning the stare and all went back to work. Denny would hold his tongue, but the rest of them wouldn’t. Soon all of Medina would know the secret that Larae had kept so carefully for so many years.

  “Isn’t it exciting? We’re getting our own rodeo.” Jayda clambered up the fence to the second rail and propped her elbows over the top.

  “It is exciting.”

  “They’re gonna break ground on the indoor arena soon. Mommy said that means dig in the dirt.”

  “That pretty much sums it up. How was your first day of school?”

/>   “It was awesome. Amelia Johnson is my new bestest friend.”

  “Do you have any homework?” Larae asked.

  “Nope. I got it done during last period when the teacher gave us quiet time.”

  Gravel crunched behind them, and Rance turned to see his parents’ car pulling up to the house. Larae would probably kill him before the day was over. First he’d outed her to her employees, and now his parents were descending on her.

  “I’ll tell them it’s not a good time.” He started for their car.

  “No. It’s okay.” Larae sounded like she meant it. “They’re welcome anytime.”

  As his parents stepped from their car, Jayda realized who it was and launched toward them. “Grandma and Grandpa!”

  “You sure about this?” He quirked an eyebrow at Larae.

  “She needs family. And I don’t have any secrets. Not here at least.”

  “Look, I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t anticipate Jayda’s reaction.”

  “At least this way I don’t have to explain anything.” She rolled her eyes.

  His parents strolled over, each holding fishing poles, with Jayda in the middle latched onto their free hands.

  “I hope it’s all right for us to come.” His mom smiled. “We probably should have checked with you first, but Jayda invited us to go fishing today.”

  “Grandma gave me her phone number, and I called to make sure it worked while you were cooking supper last night.”

  “It’s fine.” Yet strain showed on Larae’s face. “Just maybe let me know what’s going on next time. And you’re not supposed to make calls without asking me first.”

  “We can make it another time,” his father hedged.

  “Please stay. Jayda’s been wanting to go fishing since we’ve been here, but I’ve been so busy.”

  Ah. It was guilt. “Why don’t we all go?” Rance suggested.

  “I’d love to, but the arena guys are here.”

  “They know what they’re doing. You’ll still be on the property, and they can call if they have questions.”

  “Come on, Mommy. Please.”

  Larae visibly caved. “Okay. Let’s go.” She turned to Denny. “Are the poles and gear still in the shed?”