* * *
CAROLINE HAD READIED the picnic basket and cooler before church, packing everything that didn’t need to be refrigerated. It had been Grady’s idea to go on a picnic in Pioneer Park and she suspected she knew why. Ever since she’d brought up the subject of Maggie’s father, he’d been waiting for her to tell him. She wished now that she’d ignored his advice the day they’d gone horseback riding. The day Maggie disappeared. It would make everything far less complicated now. She pushed the worry to the back of her mind, determined to have a good time. If the subject arose, she’d deal with it then.
The park sat in the very center of town and took up four square blocks. It had a wading pool for toddlers, as well as Promise’s one and only swimming pool, complete with diving board. The grass was lush and green and meticulously groomed. A statue of a pioneer family stood proudly in the middle, along with a plaque that described the pioneers’ role in Texan history. The paved walkways all led directly toward the statue.
Maggie loved the playground, and Caroline appreciated Grady’s willingness to indulge her child. Ever since that terrible night, Grady had given special attention to her daughter.
Caroline didn’t know what she would have done without Grady. That night had been a turning point for all of them. For her and Grady, and for Grady and Maggie.
The doorbell rang and Maggie screamed from inside her bedroom, “I’ll get it!” Caroline heard her race for the door.
The only person it could be was Grady. He’d followed them home from church, driving the old Ford pickup, which had been returned to him a few days before. Maggie had already changed out of her Sunday-school dress and into shorts. Caroline wore a sleeveless yellow cotton dress, with a wide straw hat and sandals, the same clothes she’d worn to the service. Grady sent her a purely masculine look of approval as Maggie dragged him by the hand into the kitchen.
“It’s Grady,” Maggie announced unnecessarily. “Can we go now?”
“Soon. I’ve got to load up the potato salad and fried chicken first.”
“Mommy makes the best potato salad in the world,” Maggie said. “She lets me peel the hard-boiled eggs and help her stir.”
“No wonder it’s so good,” he said and glanced from Maggie to Caroline.
The look, however brief, made Caroline wonder if he was speculating about who had fathered her child. Then again, she might be imagining it. Every time they were together, she became obsessed with her secret, with the need to tell Grady. She loved this man and she feared what would happen once he learned the truth.
“Go put on your running shoes,” Caroline instructed her daughter. Maggie dashed out of the room, eager to comply.
Grady watched Maggie go before turning his attention to her. “I didn’t embarrass you in church this morning, did I?”
“No,” she answered, wondering what he was talking about.
“I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
“I didn’t really notice…” She hated this tension, this constant fear that any look he gave her, any silence, meant he was wondering about Maggie’s father. Soon, she promised herself. She’d tell him soon. Perhaps even today.
Grady gripped her about the waist and they kissed, sweetly and unhurriedly. “I didn’t hear a word of Wade’s sermon,” he whispered into her hair, holding her close.
“Me, neither.” But not for the reasons he assumed.
“Wade stopped me on the way out the door,” Grady said, grinning, “and told me there’d be a test on the sermon next week. Not to worry, though, he was willing to share his notes.”
Caroline managed a smile. “I think Wade’s the best thing that’s happened to Promise Christian in a long time.”
“You’re the best thing that’s happened to me,” Grady whispered. “Ever.” He reluctantly let her go when Maggie tore into the kitchen.
The five-year-old was breathless with excitement. “I’m ready!” she cried.
Caroline added the potato salad and fried chicken to the cooler, and Grady carried it to his pickup. The three of them piled into the front and drove to the park.
Caroline noticed that Maggie was especially quiet on the short drive. She was concerned the child might be reacting to her tension. But Maggie’s spirits lifted the instant they arrived at the park. Grady lugged the picnic supplies to a vacant table, and while Caroline covered it with a plastic-coated tablecloth, Maggie insisted on showing Grady her favorite swing.
“Go on, you two,” Caroline said, waving them away. Once again she noticed—or thought she did—the way Grady studied Maggie. Briefly she wondered if he’d guessed.
Determined to ignore her worries, at least for the moment, Caroline spread a blanket on the grass in a shady area. When she’d finished, she slid the cooler beneath the table and out of the sun.
The sound of Maggie’s laughter drifted toward her, and Caroline looked up to discover her daughter on the swing set with Grady standing behind her.
“Higher!” Maggie shouted. “Push me higher!”
Grady did, until Caroline held her breath at the heights the swing reached. She pressed her hand to her mouth to keep from calling out a warning, knowing she could trust Grady with her daughter. She gasped once when the swing buckled, but Grady swiftly caught it and brought it back under control.
Eventually he stopped the swing and Maggie returned to earth. Squealing with delight, she still had energy left to run back to their picnic table.
“Did you see, Mommy?” Maggie cried. “Did you see how high Grady pushed me?”
Caroline nodded. “I saw.”
“I could touch the sky with my feet. Did you see? Did you see?”
“Yes, baby, I saw.”
The afternoon was lovely. After they ate, Maggie curled up on the blanket and quickly fell asleep.
Now, Caroline commanded herself. Tell him now. But she couldn’t make herself do it, couldn’t bear to see the look in his eyes when he learned the truth. Avoiding his gaze, she brushed the soft curls from her daughter’s brow.
“Any effects from her night away from home?” Grady asked. “Has she told you anything of what happened?”
“Not a word, but she woke up last night with a nightmare and wouldn’t tell me about it.”
“Poor thing.”
Caroline gazed down at her slumbering child, loving her with an intensity that went beyond anything she’d ever known, even the strong love she felt for Grady. “She’s back, safe and sound, and for that I’m grateful.”
“I am, too.”
Caroline leaned against Grady, letting him support her weight, his hands resting on her shoulders.
“Savannah reminded me that it’s Maggie’s birthday next week. I’d like to give her something special, but I need to ask you about it first. She seems quite taken with Moonbeam, so—”
“You’re giving her the colt?” Caroline could barely believe her ears. At the same time she realized that the mention of Maggie’s birthday created a natural opening to talk about her child’s father. To reveal his name.
No! she couldn’t tell him, Caroline thought in sudden panic.
“Of course we’ll keep Moonbeam at the ranch.”
While the offer was tempting, horses weren’t cheap to maintain.
“The gift includes room and board.” Grady answered her question even before she could ask it.
“That’s generous of you.”
“She’s going to be six, right?”
“Yes.”
His gaze softened as he studied the little girl. “You said once that you’d dated Cal.”
Caroline felt as though her lungs had frozen. This was as close as Grady had come to asking her outright about Maggie’s father.
“I did,” she said and looked away. He reached
for her hand. “Now that Richard’s gone—”
“Do you mind if we don’t talk about my brother?” Grady said, interrupting her. “I want to escape him for a few hours if I can.”
“Of course, but—”
“I’d much rather concentrate on other things just now, like how good you feel in my arms.”
Caroline closed her eyes.
“It doesn’t matter, Caroline,” he whispered close to her ear.
“What doesn’t matter?”
“About Maggie. I already love her.”
“I know. It’s just that…” Caroline liked to think she would have continued if Maggie hadn’t chosen that precise moment to awake.
“Can we go swing again?” she asked Grady.
He grinned. “This time let’s bring your mother, too. All right?”
Maggie took Caroline’s hand and the three of them headed toward the swing set, the subject she was about to broach shelved once again.
The day ended far sooner than Caroline and Maggie would have wished. Grady dropped them off at seven and went to check in with Frank Hennessey. Caroline assumed it had to do with Richard, but she didn’t ask and he didn’t volunteer.
The light on her answering machine was flashing, and while she unpacked the picnic basket, she played it back.
“It’s Savannah. Give me a call when you get home.”
Tucking the phone to her ear, Caroline punched out her friend’s number. As she waited for Savannah to answer, she set the leftovers in the refrigerator.
“Hi, it’s me, Caroline. You called?” she asked when Savannah picked up the receiver.
“I did.” Savannah sounded pleased about something but didn’t elaborate. In fact, she appeared to be waiting for Caroline to speak first.
“Um, Savannah, was there a particular reason you called?” Caroline finally ventured.
“Aren’t you going to tell me, or is it a big secret?”
“Savannah, what are you talking about?”
The line went silent. “He didn’t ask you?”
“Ask me what?”
“Oh, dear,” Savannah said with an exaggerated sigh. “When he left this morning, Grady was as fidgety as a drop of cold water on a hot skillet.”
“Maybe he’s got heat rash,” Caroline teased. “Now tell me what this is all about.”
“Grady,” Savannah said as if that much should be obvious. “And then in church, the poor man couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
“This isn’t making a lot of sense, Savannah Smith.”
“And I was so sure, too.”
“Sure about what?” Caroline demanded.
“That Grady was going to ask you to marry him.”
9
EVERY PEW IN PROMISE CHRISTIAN CHURCH was filled for the wedding of Ellie Frasier and Glen Patterson. Glen had asked Cal to be his best man and Grady to serve as one of the ushers. Grady had agreed before he learned that he was expected to wear a tuxedo. He wasn’t sure how a man could breathe with a shirt buttoned up that tight.
The main advantage of being in the wedding party was that Caroline was one of Ellie’s bridesmaids. Grady had never realized that four women all wearing the same dresses could look so different. In his—admittedly biased—opinion, Caroline was the most beautiful. Savannah, of course, was a close second.
Since it was the hottest time of the year, Wade McMillen kept his sermon short. Ellie and Glen exchanged their vows as both their mothers sat in the front row quietly weeping. The Moorhouse sisters sobbed loudly, and Dovie Boyd dabbed at her eyes, as well. Even the coolly composed Dr. Dickinson, sitting beside Dovie, sniffled a bit as the I do’s were said.
Grady met Frank Hennessey’s eye as they exited the church. Frank had his arm protectively around Dovie, and his expression seemed to say that he had plenty of years on Grady and he still didn’t understand what made women weep at weddings.
The reception was held at the Grange Hall and, on this Saturday afternoon, there were as many cars parked out front as the night of the big summer dance. The table closest to the door was stacked high with elegantly wrapped wedding gifts.
Grady ended up spending most of his time in the reception line, but once again he was compensated by having Caroline at his side.
“Ellie looks so beautiful,” she said when the last guest had made her way through the line.
Grady’s patience when it came to these formal affairs was limited. He felt tired and hungry. “Do you want something to eat?” he asked with a longing glance at the buffet table.
“I’ve got to help Ellie change out of her wedding dress,” she told him.
“You mean we can take off these fancy duds?” He eased his index finger between the starched collar and his neck.
“Not us. Just Ellie and Glen.”
“Not fair,” he complained.
“Go help yourself to some dinner and I’ll be back before you know it.” She kissed his cheek, and while it was only a sample of what he wanted, he’d take what he could get.
“Where’d Caroline go?” Cal asked, coming up behind Grady in the buffet line.
“To help Ellie change out of her dress.” Grady thought that made him sound like an expert on wedding etiquette, but he wouldn’t have had a clue if Caroline hadn’t told him.
“Who designed these starched shirts, anyway?” Cal muttered, “The Marquis de Sade?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Grady reached for a plate. It’d been hours since he’d last eaten. Between that and the afternoon’s exertions, he was starved.
“Glen’s a married man now,” Cal said as if it had only now hit him.
“Does that bother you?” Grady asked, thinking there’d be a big adjustment in Cal’s life. Grady had heard Glen was moving into town with Ellie; apparently, they’d put money down on a house.
“Doesn’t bother me at all—but it would if he hadn’t married Ellie. Those two are good together.”
Grady felt the same way. Cal and Glen had been his neighbors all his life. Neighbors and best friends. The three of them were as close as family, and yet Grady had to wonder if he knew Cal as well as he thought he did. Again and again he’d mulled over the news that Cal had once dated Caroline, but he firmly believed Cal would have married her if he’d been the baby’s father.
Grady had given up trying to work out who Maggie’s father was. He felt certain it had to be someone he knew, perhaps trusted, otherwise she wouldn’t hesitate to tell him. Whenever they were together he watched her struggle with herself. The one time she’d been ready to tell him, he’d stopped her. He wanted to kick himself for that now. This secret was tormenting her—and him, too.
Last Sunday on their picnic, he’d tried to reassure her that it didn’t matter. He loved Maggie and he loved her. Apparently he’d failed, because she seemed more apprehensive than ever.
“Glen looks at Ellie the way you look at Caroline,” Cal said casually.
“It’s that noticeable, is it?”
Cal nodded. “You could say that.”
They carried their plates to a recently vacated table in the far corner of the hall.
Grady stacked the empty plates to one side and pulled out a chair. Cal sat across from him. “I’m thinking of asking Caroline to marry me,” he said, mentioning it in an offhand way. It was the first time he’d said it aloud. He watched Cal’s reaction, closely.
“All right!” Cal grinned. “I wondered how long it’d take you. I’ve always liked Caroline.”
“I love her.” Grady had no problem admitting it, and if Cal had any leftover emotion for her, he’d rather they cleared the air now.
“Then what’s the holdup?”
Grady felt a surge of anger, not at the question but at the an
swer. He stabbed his fork into a thick slice of ham as he waited for the bitterness to leave him. This was a day of shared joy, and he refused to allow his brother to ruin it.
Cal propped his elbows on the table. “My guess would be that Richard’s got something to do with this. I thought he wasn’t around anymore.”
Without elaborating, Grady told him about the latest fiasco involving Richard. Cal and Frank Hennessey were the only two people with whom Grady would discuss his worthless brother. He supposed Cal had told Glen; that was only natural, and fine with him. Six years earlier, when Richard had disappeared with the inheritance money, Cal had advised Grady to press charges against him. Grady had agonized over it and in the end decided not to. Now he wondered if he’d made the right decision.
Few other people knew of Richard’s treachery.
Savannah might have told Caroline, but he couldn’t be sure. Of all the women in town, Caroline had been the most sensible about Richard and his attentions. Grady admired her for seeing through his brother and not being taken in by his easy charm. Nearly everyone had been deceived by his flattery and suave ways, but not her.
“Richard’s gone,” Grady said, answering his friend, “and yet he isn’t. He left behind damn near eight thousand dollars in debts.”
Cal gave a low whistle.
Grady told him how his brother had charged things on local accounts all around town. Clothes, liquor, food, even camping and ranch supplies, although God only knew what he intended to do with them. Frankly, Grady didn’t want to know.
“They aren’t your debts,” Cal was quick to remind him. “The bills have Richard’s signature on them.”
“But he put them on the family accounts.”
Cal sighed in resignation. “You paid them, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t have any choice.” It was the Weston name that stood to be tarnished. Grady knew he wouldn’t be able to look his friends and neighbors in the eye when his own brother had bilked them, unless he himself made good on the debts. Which he had. That eight thousand had nearly wiped out his savings, but he’d get by, just as he always had.
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