A Home for Haley

by Mary Jane Morgan

  He bent down and talked softly to the owl. It turned his head and watched Ethan with bright yellow eyes. In awe, Haley slowly approached from the side. The owl swiveled his head almost halfway around to peer at her. Haley set Ryan down about a foot away from the box. He clung to her leg but couldn’t take his eyes off the bird. It let out another screech, making Ryan scream and dart behind his mother. Haley picked him back up and he immediately quieted.

  “They don’t call them screech owls for nothing,” Ethan said. “I’m glad Hank’s fixing him up. They’re good predators.”

  “He’s beautiful.” Haley couldn’t take her eyes off the bird, who screeched again. She and Ryan flinched and then laughed at themselves.

  Ethan grinned at them. “Folklore says that screech owls are a warning of disaster, disease or death. A person hearing one must either turn his left shoe upside down, turn his left trouser pocket inside out, or throw a piece of iron into the fire.” He looked at Haley as he turned his jean pocket inside out.

  Her mouth fell open. “You’re serious?”

  He nodded. “He’s screeched three times now. Better pay attention.”

  “Too bad he doesn’t lay eggs,” Dottie hollered from the kitchen. The refrigerator’s as bare as my last boyfriend’s head.”

  “The inside of his head was just as bare,” Ethan muttered. Laughter bubbled out of Haley. Ethan and Dottie’s wicked sense of humor kept her entertained and she was eternally grateful she was Kayla’s nanny.

  It felt incredibly good to be enjoying some of life again.

  Ethan rose from his squatting position. “Sounds like Hank’s been too busy rescuing animals to get to the store. He was supposed to stock up for us.”

  He started for the kitchen then looked back over his shoulder. “Don’t get any closer, kids. He could take your finger off. Not to mention clawing the you-know-what out of you.”

  Ryan fisted his hands and yanked them up to his chest, his big blue eyes changing from apprehension to downright fear.

  Haley held him closer. “It won’t bite you, honey, if you leave it alone.” She scowled at Ethan. “You’re dealing with city slickers. We scare easily.”

  “Could be a good thing,” Ethan said. He walked over and patted Ryan’s head. “That owl won’t come after you. He can’t even fly.”

  Ryan pointed to the owl. “Bad bird.”

  “He’s not bad, just scared,” Ethan explained. “When animals are scared they’re apt to bite. Just stay away from him. Understand?”

  Ryan’s eyebrows crunched together. He pointed to the owl again. “Bad bird.”

  Ethan shook his head. “Just keep him away from the owl.” Sighing, he started back to the kitchen.

  Haley made a face at his backside. She knew Ethan was protecting them, but she was smart enough to keep her son away from a wild creature.

  “Ryan, honey, if that owl even looks at you crooked,” Dottie said, coming out of the kitchen, “we’ll eat him for dinner.”

  “Oh, Grandma, we will not. Daddy already promised he’s catching some fish for dinner. And I get to fish with him.”

  Dottie scowled at her granddaughter. “You’re getting too smart for me, young lady.”

  Ryan squirmed out of Haley’s arms, looked warily at the owl, and raced over to Ethan. “Fish?”

  Ethan picked him up. “Tell you what. Later today after I have my chores done, I’ll let you go with us to fish. How does that sound?”

  “Can Haley come?” Kayla asked.

  “Only if she baits her own hook.” He grinned at Haley, who refrained from scowling at him. The thought of baiting a hook made her squeamish, but she’d do it if it killed her. “I can bait my own hook, but you’re not talking me into cleaning fish. I don’t have the faintest idea how, and I don’t want to learn.”

  “Smart girl.” Dottie pointed her cane at Ethan. “Now quit picking on these city slickers or I’ll have to whack you.”

  “Tell me something I might believe.”

  “Go get us some ostrich eggs while I scrounge up something to go with them. If Hank pokes his nose in here, I’m sending him to town for supplies. How can you have a dude ranch with no food?”

  Ethan rolled his eyes. “There’ll be food once it’s open. Which shouldn’t be too far off now. Only a few more rooms to paint, a hot tub to install and a corral to build. You build corrals?” he asked Haley.

  Her mouth dropped open and he laughed. “Fine. You paint. I’ll work on the new corral.”

  “I can do that.”

  Laughing, he shook his head. “I’m just messing with you. Relax. Take Ryan to pet the horses and do some hiking. You don’t need to worry about anything. Except maybe Mom.” He set Ryan down and he ran to his mom, grabbing her hand.

  Motioning to Haley, Dottie started toward the kitchen. “Come help me plot my son’s demise.”

  The owl screeched and Haley jumped. “I can’t help it,” she grumbled over Ethan’s laughter.

  “How about teaching Haley a thing or two about country living, Mom? That way when she sees a bear, she’ll know what to do.”

  Haley’s eyes grew round right along with Ryan’s. “Bears?” she asked in a small voice.

  Dottie sighed and waved Ethan toward the front door. “This is Tennessee, Haley. We have some black bears in the central part of the state, but rarely any in this area.”

  “Have you seen one out here?” Haley asked.

  “Nope. The only bear around here is walking out the door.”

  “I’m going with him,” Kayla shouted, racing after her father.

  Dottie led the way into the kitchen. “We only tease people we like if that’s any consolation,” she said over her shoulder.

  “That’s good to know,” Haley answered, thinking again how much getting this job and being with this family had improved her life. As she followed Dottie into the kitchen, a feeling of contentment and security she hadn’t had in a long time washed over her, and Haley knew for certain this was the place she and Ryan were meant to be. At least for the time being.

  ****

  Haley was almost as eager as Ryan and Kayla to go fishing. She and the kids had spent the day petting horses, hiking, and catching tadpoles and crawfish in a clear, winding creek that ran behind the house and through a wooded area. It had been one of the most relaxing days of her life, and she’d needed it. The last few years without Dale had been nothing but constant work and worry. And grief.

  Guilt stole through her when she realized this was the first time she had thought about Dale today. How could she enjoy herself so much when Dale was a prisoner of war? Or worse. She shook her head, refusing to go there, to even let her mind think that her husband might be dead. That he might never see Ryan. Or hold her again.

  A shudder rippled down her back. She went to the window of the living room and looked outside. Ryan and Kayla sat in the wooden swing on the porch with Dottie, who was about to fall asleep even though both kids were chattering like magpies.

  Ethan rounded the corner and took the porch steps two at a time. Kayla scrambled off the swing and ran to her father. Ryan tried his best to keep up with her. Haley watched Ethan pick a child up in each arm and give them both a kiss on the cheek. He was a good man, and definitely a kind and caring father.

  She wondered for about the hundredth time what could possibly make a wife walk out on her precious little girl and a man like Ethan.

  Ethan tickled the kids and Ryan’s laughter warmed her heart. Her son was obviously crazy about this man, and she could see why.

  Ethan saw her through the window and grinned. He set the kids down and came inside. “Ready for your first fishing lesson?”

  “The kids have been chomping at the bit for over an hour. I think they’re about to drive Dottie crazy.”

  “Can’t. She’s already crazy.”

  Haley laughed. “She’s crazy about kids, that’s for sure. Ryan adores her. He already knows when she’s teasing. Well, usually.”

  Ethan grinn
ed. “Me, on the other hand, he’s not so sure about. Right?”

  Haley looked him up and down. “You are a lot bigger than your mother.”

  “Not near as cray-cray though.”

  “Quit talking gibberish,” Dottie hollered from the porch.

  “Quit being so out of touch,” Ethan shot back.

  Dottie pulled open the screen door. “The word is ornery,” Dottie retorted, shaking her head. “Not some made-up slang like cray-cray.”

  Ethan rolled his eyes, then glanced at the owl. “Hank been here to feed him?”

  “I don’t know,” Haley answered.

  Ethan walked over to the box and peered down. “Yep.”

  “How do you know?” Haley asked, coming up beside him, then gasping at the sight of a half-eaten mouse. “That is so gross.”

  “It’s nature, Haley. That’s one of the reasons these little guys are good to have around. Would you rather the owl ate that mouse, or that the mice start taking over around here?”

  “When you put it that way . . .” She backed away from the gruesome sight. “I’m not sure I’m cut out for this country stuff.”

  “All because of a little screech owl? You haven’t even turned your pocket inside out, so he can’t be bothering you too much.”

  She glanced down at his pocket. “I see yours is back in place.”

  He grinned. “I didn’t say you had to leave it out.” He walked to the opposite corner of the living room and gathered up the fishing poles and tackle boxes, handing one of the tackle boxes to her. “Unless you want our little screech owl’s leftovers, we’d better go catch some dinner.”

  Casting a quick look at the half-eaten mouse, she shivered. “Fish is sounding better by the minute.” She promptly marched out the front door, looking forward to this next adventure.

  ****

  “Grab on right here, little buddy.” Keeping a grip of the fishing pole that he’d given Ryan, Ethan motioned Haley over. “I don’t think he can hold this himself.” Ryan shot him a ferocious scowl. “Fine,” Ethan said, letting go of the fishing rod. It dropped about six inches and Ryan struggled to keep his grip on it.

  Haley tried in vain to hide her smile as she reached out to help him. Frowning at her, Ryan moved away and grasped the rod so hard his arms shook. “You’re doing good, Ryan.” Haley bit her cheeks to keep from laughing. “Let me know if you want me to help.”

  Ethan grinned at the exchange. Haley was a good mother, loving and caring but not overly-protective. He liked that about her. Another reason to be glad he’d hired her.

  Kayla handed him a hook, and he expertly skewered a worm onto it. Haley made a sound of disgust and pressed a hand against her stomach. He held in a chuckle.

  “Need help casting?” Ethan asked Kayla, dropping the baited hook.

  She shook her head and cast out, stumbling a little as she did. Ethan turned to Haley and rolled his eyes. “Independent aren’t they?” She nodded. “Want to pick your worm?” He raised the bucket up to her.

  She wrinkled her nose. “Is one tastier than the other?”

  “Doubt it, but one might wiggle more than the other.”

  She wrapped her arms around her waist. “If someone poked me about a million times I’d wiggle too.”

  Their eyes locked and Haley looked away, her face flushed.

  Ethan couldn’t keep his gaze from coasting quickly over her. Stifling a groan, he picked up a fat, wiggly worm and handed it to her. The face she made had him grinning as he handed her the fishing hook.

  Still grimacing, she ran the hook through the top part of the worm. Goose bumps cascaded over her arms and neck.

  “Want me to do it?” he offered, impressed she was going through with this.

  “And be the only one here who needs help? I don’t think so.”

  The woman was a lot tougher than she looked. “The kids are just proving their independence. You’re past that stage, right?” he teased.

  “Unfortunately, independence has been my middle name these last few years.”

  Admiration for her courage seeped through him. “Here.” He reached over and expertly threaded the rest of the worm.

  She started to protest, then shut her mouth. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem. Ever cast a fishing line before?” She shook her head. “I’ll teach you.” He handed her the fishing rod and stood beside her, wrapping his hands around hers. Her skin was silky smooth, and he could imagine only too vividly how soft and smooth she was in other places. “Stay loose and let me move your arms,” he said, reining in his vivid fantasy.

  He pulled back, then arched their arms forward. Haley stiffened and the line fell into the water only a few feet out. “You have to stay loose. Here, let’s try it another way.” He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her, taking hold of the rod again. “Stay loose,” he instructed as he pulled their arms back and flicked the line forward. This time the lure swung far out onto the water.

  As he eased out the line, his body pressed slightly against her backside. He responded instantly and jerked back like he’d been jabbed with a hot poker. “If you get a tug, let me know,” he muttered, stepping away and baiting his own hook with hands that weren’t quite steady.

  He tried to ignore Haley but he could see her long, smooth legs out of the corner of his eye, and he couldn’t seem to stop fantasizing about those legs. Damn. She was so off limits. She was an employee, and she was married for God sakes. Probably to a dead man, but she didn’t know that. He wondered how much digging it would take to uncover the truth about Dale Donahue. He had a few friends in high places. Maybe he’d see what he could find out. His mother had been right. If Dale were gone, Haley needed to know so she could get on with her life, wherever that might take her.

  “Daddy!”

  Ethan turned to Kayla who was struggling to reel in a fish. He stepped over to her, glad for the distraction. “Reel it in a little bit at a time. Like this.” He helped her turn the rod’s handle then tugged on the pole. “Here comes dinner,” he said, helping her pull the fish onto the bank.

  Kayla squealed, and Ryan dropped his rod and scrambled over to them, stooping over the fish and pointing. “Fish, fish.”

  “Little fish,” Kayla said, frowning.

  “About the right size to feed Ryan.” Ethan picked up the flopping fish and took out the hook. “What do you think of this fish, Ryan?”

  He clapped his hands and turned to his mom, who was watching with a smile. Kayla ran a finger over the fish. “Maybe we should put him back.”

  “Your choice.” Ethan waited for her answer.

  “Okay, unless Ryan cries about it.”

  Ethan picked Ryan up. “This fish is too little to keep. He needs to go back home with his mom. Say bye-bye to the fish.”

  Ryan’s mouth turned into a pout. “Bye-bye, fishy.”

  Ethan ruffled his hair. “You do the honors, Kayla.”

  She picked up the fish with both hands and slipped it back into the pond. Ryan clapped when the fish swam away. Wiping her hands on her shorts, Kayla turned to her father. “Guess I need another worm.”

  Ethan baited her hook and then stood back to watch her cast. She threw her fishing line out as hard as she could, but it didn’t go far. “You’re forgetting your wrist action,” Ethan explained. Kayla made a face and tried again. This time the line went farther. “Much better. Try one more time, but be careful not to hook one of us.” Ethan grinned at Haley and hoisted Ryan onto his shoulders. He giggled and grabbed Ethan’s hair with a death grip.

  Haley smiled at her son then shifted her gaze to Ethan. “He loves every minute of this. Having a man around is good for him.”

  “He’s a great kid.”

  A warm smile lit Haley’s face. “You’re caring and gentle with him. Kayla is definitely a lucky little girl.”

  Ethan couldn’t remember when a compliment had made him feel so good. “Thank you, Haley. That means a lot to me.”

  Kayla ree
led her line back in and stretched her arms way behind her. Casting out with a grunt, she stumbled and fell into the pond. Ethan hurried to her and hauled her up. “You’re supposed to use your wrist, Kayley Girl, not your entire body.”

  She slapped his hand, tears in her eyes. Ryan hung onto Ethan’s hair so tight Ethan thought he might lose a handful of it. Squealing, Ryan kicked his legs and hit Kayla in the temple.

  “Ouch,” she yelled as she fell back into the water, immersing even her head.

  Ethan reached for her and Ryan slid sideways. Haley grabbed him and pulled him off of Ethan’s shoulders, just as he hauled Kayla out of the water and set her upright. Crying, Kayla glared at Ryan.

  “He didn’t kick you on purpose, honey.” Ethan ran his fingers over the area Ryan had kicked.

  “Ouch.” Kayla’s crying intensified.

  Ryan pointed at Kayla and tears pooled in his eyes. “KayKay hurt?”

  “My name’s not KayKay and I’m okay.” Kayla sniffed. “I’m all wet and yucky, though.” She gingerly touched the spot Ryan had kicked. He ran over and hugged her around the waist. Kayla gave a watery smile and hugged him back. “Now you’re all wet and yucky, too,” she said, patting his head.

  Ethan began gathering the fishing equipment. “Guess we should have kept that fish you caught, Kayla.”

  “I’d rather have pizza anyway. You like pizza, Ryan?” His blue eyes widened and he raced around them as fast as his short legs would go.

  “Looks like a pizza night to me,” Ethan said with a chuckle.

  “Yippee!” Kayla grabbed Ryan’s hands and ran in a circle with him. “I’m starved. Let’s order now.”

  “I’ll call as soon as we get back to the house. By the time you guys are cleaned up, the pizza should be here.” Ethan glanced at Haley. “You a pizza girl?”

  “I’m a hungry girl so I’m for anything.”

  “Anything?” He bent down and rummaged through his tackle box. “Then let’s see if we can nab a few bullfrogs for dinner.”

  She grimaced. “Let me re-phrase that. I’m for anything that we don’t have to catch and clean. Or kill.”