A Home for Haley

by Mary Jane Morgan

  Haley gazed out over the land, wondering what creatures it held hidden in the brush. “Guess I’ll have to learn how to be a part-time country girl.” She set her empty coffee mug on a side table. A high yipping filled the air and Haley froze, adrenalin rushing through her like a broken water line.

  “Relax, it’s just a coyote. They’re everywhere out here, but they won’t hurt you. Too much game in these parts. They rarely even bother the quail pens.” He leaned closer to her and pointed to a bunch of trees by the pond. “See the eyes, just to the right of that big evergreen?” She nodded, her heart racing. “He’s watching us.”

  “Why?” she whispered.

  “Just being cautious.”

  “It’s kind of eerie, don’t you think?”

  “It’s nature. I love it.” He held up a finger. “Listen.”

  Haley heard a strange muffled sound. “What’s that?”

  “The coyotes are huffing. It’s the sound they make to call their pups.”

  Haley’s eyes widened. She leaned forward, straining to hear better. “Why don’t they just bark?”

  “Too loud. They bark when they’re protecting something. They huff—like they’re doing now—when they’re calling pups.”

  “Maybe I should start huffing with Ryan. See if he pays attention.”

  Ethan’s robust laughter filled the night air, and it pleased her. “Well, well, my shy new nanny is not always serious,” he said, nudging her with his shoulder.”

  She shot him a quelling look. “Of course I’m not always serious.” He cocked his head and studied her. She looked away and leaned back against the swing, sighing. “Okay, I have to admit, it’s been a long time since I felt like kidding about anything.”

  “I understand.” He took her hand. “I wasn’t being critical. I was glad to hear you joking. It becomes you.”

  She swallowed hard, suddenly fighting back tears. “I feel guilty when I have fun,” she finally managed to say around her tight throat.

  Ethan reached over and rubbed the back of her neck. “I did, too, for several years after Tommy died.”

  Haley jerked away from his touch. “Dale’s not dead.”

  “I didn’t say he was. I was going to say that it would be even more difficult for you because you haven’t had closure. You don’t know for certain what’s happened with your husband.”

  Tears threatened to spill from Haley’s eyes. “I know he’s still alive. He’s got to be.” She surged out of the swing. “I need to go to bed.” She started to retrieve her coffee cup.

  “Leave it. I’ll take it in.” He caught her arm. “It’s okay, Haley. Really. It’s okay to enjoy life.”

  Barely holding back tears, she hurried into the house and up the stairs, telling herself he was right. She didn’t need to feel guilty for having a little fun. She hurried into her and Ryan’s bedroom and closed the door behind her. Ryan was sound asleep. She went to him and stroked his soft curls. “I wish your daddy could have seen you fish today,” she whispered. “He would have been so proud of you.”

  Tears burned her throat as she changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. She squeezed her eyes shut and thought of Dale, and like she did every night, she prayed for his safe return. When she finally drifted off to sleep, she dreamed of her and Dale and Ryan being a family again. But somewhere in the middle of the dream, Dale disappeared and she and Ryan were, once again, all alone.

  ****

  Ethan stood by the horse corral and listened to the sounds of night, wishing he hadn’t upset Haley. He’d only been trying to help, trying to show her that life did go on and would get better, even when you didn’t feel like anything would ever be okay again.

  He ran a hand over his face and gazed toward Tommy’s grave. He knew how Haley felt and he also knew it was normal, but he probably should have kept his mouth shut. The chance was so slim that Haley’s husband was alive, it was practically nonexistent, but if he were in Haley’s shoes, he wouldn’t give up hope, either.

  He should call his buddy Chris at the Pentagon, and see if he could dig up some information about Dale Donahue. It was a long shot, but worth it. Haley deserved to know the truth. She not only deserved the truth, she needed it. His own grief when his dad and Tommy died had been pure and simple, no hope mingled with his all-consuming sadness, and it had been torture. When his uncle had been killed in Nam, he thought his Aunt Jo might fall apart. To this day he hated thinking about that. Haley deserved the chance to have a good life, and she couldn’t do that living in limbo. No one could.

  And Ryan. His chest tightened just thinking of that little boy. He deserved a mother who was happy and carefree, not forever suspended in a web of hope that her husband would miraculous appear.

  He would call Chris first thing Monday and get the ball rolling. If Dale were dead, at least Haley would be surrounded by people who cared about her while she dealt with the finality of her husband’s death.

  “Damn,” Ethan muttered, thinking how much he liked Haley. She was a remarkable woman and she was fast becoming a friend. He walked across the yard and climbed onto the top of the corral fence, remembering how comfortable he’d felt with her this evening. He couldn’t believe he’d spilled his guts to her about his ex. He hadn’t talked about Elisa to anyone except his own family. And he’d kept even that to a minimum.

  A loud scream splintered the night air. The horses whinnied and bunched together. Ethan jumped down from the fence. “Whoa there. Easy. Easy boy.” Keeping his voice low and soothing, he patted each horse, wondering what the hell was going on out in the hills. Another scream filled the night. One horse reared, pawing the air. “Whoa, easy does it,” he murmured, approaching the frightened animal.

  Hank raced out of his bunk at the back of the barn in jeans and bare feet, holding a rifle and looking like a mad rattlesnake ready to strike. Even bare footed he was several inches taller than Ethan.

  “Unless I had way too much whiskey tonight, Boss, that was the scream of a cougar.”

  Ethan plopped his hands on his hips. “Well you musta had too much whiskey because we don’t have cougars in Tennessee.”

  Hank’s blue eyes narrowed. “We had that damn renegade mountain lion less than a year ago. And old man Amos has one. The idiot. Keeps it in a pen.”

  Ethan cursed under his breath. “It better not get my ostriches or old man Amos is really gonna be really old when I’m done with him.”

  Hank raised his rifle at a sound behind the corral. A woman squealed. “Don’t shoot. Please don’t shoot,” she whispered, shrinking back.

  “What are you doing out here?” Ethan growled at Haley, irritation climbing up his throat. Damn, she should have stayed in the house, not come out here where there might be danger.

  “I heard an awful scream and saw you when I peeked out the kitchen window. Hi,” she said to Hank. “I’m Haley, the new nanny.”

  Hank nodded. “Hank Bradley. Nice to meet you. We’d better get the ostriches penned up, Ethan, before that cougar has one for dinner.”

  Haley’s mouth fell open. “Is that what made the awful scream?” she asked, hugging herself.

  Ethan walked to her. “Nah, just one of Hank’s women.”

  “He thinks he’s funny.” Hank started back toward his bunk. “I prefer the quiet type, Boss. I keep telling you that.” Haley laughed and Hank looked back over his broad shoulder at her. “You a screamer?”

  She flushed hot as a steaming kettle. Ethan could all but see the heat rolling off of her.

  “Don’t mind him,” Ethan said. “He’s got no manners. Get dressed, Hank, so Haley doesn’t have a heat stroke staring at you, then we’ll go round up the ostriches. Tomorrow, though, we’re going on a hunt.”

  “No need for that. I’ll set a live trap tonight.” Hank stepped into the barn.

  Haley jumped when one of the horses snorted. “There really are cougars out here?”

  “Not supposed to be, but Hank’s positive that’s what we heard. I’d have to agr
ee with him even though it doesn’t seem very likely.”

  She grabbed the front of her pink cotton robe and squeezed it. “The kids and I walked all over the place today,” she reminded him.

  Ethan’s heart all but jumped out of his chest. “Holy hell.” He glanced toward the hills. “Hank’s bait will probably catch the cat tonight. I imagine it’s hungry. But stay near the house tomorrow. Ryan’s just the right size to attract a cougar.”

  Haley’s hand flew to her throat. “Can’t we just go back to the city first thing tomorrow?”

  He studied her face, protectiveness surging through him “Sure. We’ll head out right after breakfast, let Hank take care of the problems here. But now I’ve got to go help him move the ostriches into the barn. You get inside the house.”

  She hesitated. “Please let me know when you’re back inside safe.”

  Her concern touched him. “No need to worry about me. Hank’s got his rifle and he’s tougher than any cougar.”

  She glanced toward the barn. “He’s big and gruff.”

  Ethan laughed. “Gruff or not, most women fawn all over him. The big lug’s got a heart of gold. Trouble is it’s usually for animals, not people. He’s not too keen on people.”

  “Because?”

  “Because they’re too damn nosey,” Hank answered coming out of the barn. “You ready, Boss?”

  “I wish you’d quit calling me that.”

  Hank grinned. “I like to irritate you.”

  “That’s the damn truth.” Ethan motioned Haley back to the house. He watched until she shut the front door behind her. He’d just as soon shoot that cougar as trap it. And to hell with Amos if it was his. Ethan wasn’t about to let his family be in danger. And that included Haley. He couldn’t explain it, but no way would he let any harm come to her.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Follow me, everyone. I’ve got something to show you.” Picking up Ryan, Ethan led the crew outside and over to Hank’s red pick-up. A huge mountain lion paced inside a large cage in the back of the truck.

  “Oh my God.” Haley stopped dead in her tracks and grabbed Ryan out of Ethan’s arms. Her eyes rounded with fear and awe as she hugged her son close. “He’s huge.”

  “Yes she is. Don’t go any closer. She’s scared and she’s hungry. Hank caught her early this morning, but the bait wasn’t enough to satisfy her appetite.”

  Dottie crept closer and pointed to the cougar with her cane. “That’s Amos’s cat, Lucille.”

  “You positive?” Ethan asked. Dottie edged forward. “Don’t get any closer, Mom.”

  Dottie stopped. “She’s missing a toe on her back left foot. After the county picnic this summer, Amos took me to see her. She was as gentle as a kitten. I even petted her.”

  “Well, don’t pet her now,” Hank ordered, walking up with a slab of meat, cracking the cage door, and shoving it through. She snarled and grabbed the meat.

  Hank cursed under his breath. “Amos and I are gonna have to have us a little talk this morning. He should have told people his cat got out. She shouldn’t be this hungry if she’s only been roaming around for the night.”

  “I wonder how she got loose,” Dottie said.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Hank said. “She did and she’s dangerous. Lucky for us she hadn’t quite killed the lamb she grabbed last night when I showed up, or else the live trap I set after she darted away would never have lured her in. I figured she might be some idiot’s pet, because if she’d known what she was doing when she grabbed that lamb, it would have been dead in a New York second.”

  He shoved his cowboy hat up with a finger then motioned toward the barn with a nod. “The lamb’s in there with a broken leg and a horrific slash on the side of its throat. Doubt it makes it. Riley’s, gonna be madder than a stuck pig when I tell him about his lamb. This cat needs to be in a zoo.”

  Haley took a step closer. The mountain lion eyed her and flicked the end of her tail, biting down harder on her meal and snarling. “I kind of feel sorry for her.”

  “Me too, but Hank’s right.” Ethan put a hand on Kayla’s shoulder. “I want to show you what her tracks look like, so you’ll know if you ever run across them again to get back home as fast as your legs will carry you. You, too, Haley.”

  “I’ll pass on any more hikes, thank you very much.” She hugged her son so tight he pushed against her and scowled. She eased her grip.

  Ryan waved at the cat. “Hi kitty.”

  “Not a kitty,” Ethan corrected. “I can’t say I blame you, Haley, for not wanting to hike anymore, but you need to know this anyway. Just in case.”

  “Just in case what?”

  Ethan ran a hand over his face. “In case she gets loose again and comes close to the house. Now let’s go look at the paw tracks.”

  Haley pursed her lips. “While we’re at it, why don’t you show me bear tracks, too?”

  Ethan hoisted Kayla onto his shoulders. “We rarely have bears in Tennessee.”

  “So Dottie told me, but we’re not supposed to have cougars in this part of Tennessee, either.” Haley looked pointedly at the cat.

  “She’s got you there, Boss.” Hank climbed into the pick-up. “I’ll go deliver her back home. If you hear shouting, don’t concern yourself. I think I can hold my own against a sixty-five-year old man.”

  “He’s sixty six,” Dottie chimed in.

  Ethan raised his eyebrows. “Care to share any other statistics with us, Mom? Favorite foods? Waist size? Good dancer?”

  “Fried chicken. Don’t know his waist size, but I’d guess around thirty eight, and I can’t dance with my bad knee, so how would I know?” She plopped her hands on her hips. “And he loves that cat, Hank, so don’t be mean to him.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of being mean to an old fart like him, Dottie, but he’s got to listen to reason. Someone could have been hurt, maybe killed. This animal is wild by nature and she was hungry. Do I need to spell it out?”

  Dottie shook her head. Hank slammed the pick-up door shut and started the truck, then pulled out.

  Ethan shot his mom a wicked grin. “I didn’t know you and Amos were such good friends.”

  “There’s lots you don’t know about me.” Dottie glared at him. “Amos is lonely, and we talk some. That’s about it. But I know he loves Lucy, and she normally wouldn’t hurt a fly. She purrs when you pet her.”

  “She probably purrs when she’s chewing on you, too.” Ethan started toward the field. “Let’s go look at cougar tracks. All of you need to know what they look like.”

  “You honestly would let Kayla hike again?” Haley asked, as she followed Ethan.

  “What’s she supposed to do? Stay cooped up all day whenever we come here?”

  “Don’t bite your nanny’s head off,” Dottie ordered. “She’s right. Kayla needs to stay close until you know Lucy can’t get loose again.”

  “Cougar Kitty will be in a zoo if I have any say about this. And I won’t let Kayla, or any of you, hike until this gets settled.”

  Kayla tugged on her father’s hand. “I want to see her paw prints.”

  Ryan kicked his legs, hitting Haley’s stomach with each kick. “Me too.”

  She lowered him to the ground, but kept a firm grip on his hand. “Why don’t we go on a safari next weekend? That might be a tad safer.”

  “Great idea.” Ethan started up the hill. “I’ll look into it.”

  Rolling her eyes at Dottie, Haley followed Ethan into the woods to get her first, and hopefully last, look at a cougar’s paw print.

  ****

  “I promise I’ll make an appointment for my surgery after the family reunion.” Dottie stared at Ethan across his mahogany desk, all but daring him to dispute her, and he knew better than to utter a word. “I think that’s fair,” she continued. “After all, I want to enjoy the family reunion and I wouldn’t have time to recuperate before then. What can a few more weeks hurt?”

  “Hopefully nothing.” Eyeing his mother, Ethan stacked some
scattered papers into a pile, and then shoved them to a corner of the desk. “Let me know as soon as the date is set for surgery.”

  Dottie let out a long-suffering sigh. “I guess I don’t have much choice but to tell you, seeing as how you’ll have to take me to the hospital.”

  “Good point.” She narrowed her gaze at him. He held up his hands in surrender. “Don’t look at me like that. I saw you stumble this morning in the kitchen.”

  Dottie glared at him. “Ryan’s toy was in my way. I tripped on it.”

  “Then I’d best tell Haley she needs to keep things picked up better.”

  “Don’t you dare. She works herself to death as it is. Besides, Ryan is my buddy.”

  In other words, you didn’t really trip over his toy. “You’re not going to be able to play with him before long, Mother, so please make the appointment. Get this over with.”

  Shooting him daggers, Dottie snatched up her phone from the desk and called her surgeon. After leaving a message, she ended the call. “Satisfied?”

  “I’ll be more satisfied when they’ve set the date.” Ethan stood and walked around his desk. Reaching down, he took her hand. “I’m just trying to take care of you, Mom. Kayla and I need you. And so do Ryan and Haley. I think she feels close to you.”

  “And me to her.” Dottie’s brown eyes warmed. “She’s such a sweet woman, and she’s had way too much to bear these last few years.”

  “Yes she has, but I think it’s helping her to be with us. Don’t you?”

  “Absolutely. We care and she knows it.” Dottie shook her head and drew in a deep breath. “I wish you’d hear something about her husband. You and I both know what it’s like to lose someone we love. I don’t think I could stand the not knowing. Haley’s not sleeping well. I’ve heard her in the kitchen in the middle of the night several times.”

  Ethan dropped his mother’s hand and plopped down on the matching, over-stuffed leather chair beside her. “I didn’t know that. When I called Chris last Monday about her husband, he said it would probably take a while to find out anything, and he couldn’t make any guarantees.”