by June Faver
Ty related his story to the principal, a man named Mr. Blanchard. He appeared to be stressed but made notes on a pad and asked the secretary to have the Carter boy brought out of class. He gestured for Ty to take a seat.
In a short time, the secretary escorted a tall, gangly boy into the principal’s office. He eyed Ty, a sullen expression on his face.
Mr. Blanchard told him that bullying would not be tolerated and explained the boy’s parents would have to come up to the school to discuss the incident. He also asked for the names of the other boys involved, but Deke hung his head, a muscle in his jaw working.
“I ain’t no snitch,” he mumbled.
“I can find out from the bus driver,” Mr. Blanchard said, glaring him down.
The boy huffed. “Tom Rivers ’n’ Albert Folsom. We was just havin’ some fun.” His gaze kept returning to Ty as though wondering why he was there.
Mr. Blanchard stepped to the door to ask the secretary to have the other boys brought to the office.
Deke gazed at Ty contemptuously. “Whut are you lookin’ at?”
Frowning, Ty narrowed his gaze. “I’m looking at someone who’s in trouble for bullying a little girl. Don’t you feel proud of yourself?”
“Aw hell,” Deke said. “Someone in her family done kilt my cousin Ray. We wuz just givin’ her a little payback.”
“That’s not true!” Ty fixed him with a stern look. “No one in her family killed your cousin. His body was found on her grandmother’s land, but they didn’t kill him.”
“How do you know?” The boy’s mouth pinched up tight.
“Because I was there. Let the sheriff handle it, and just back off.” Ty got to his feet and almost ran over the principal as he was making his way back into the room. “I have to go now,” he said. “I hope you can stop this from happening again.” He stormed out to his truck.
* * *
Leah timidly knocked on Breck’s office door. When she peeked inside, he waved her in and pointed to a chair. He was on the phone, so she sat and fidgeted.
Apparently, the business of being a lawyer required one to argue incessantly and raise your voice. Oddly, even though Breck had appeared to be angry and he pounded on his desk for emphasis, when he hung up the phone, he turned a smiling face to her. “Good morning, Leah.”
“Um, good morning, Breck.” She paused, wondering how to begin. “I need to start taking my lunch break at a few minutes before three.” She said it so fast, even she wasn’t sure what she’d said.
Breck stared at her, a puzzled expression on his face. “What did you say?”
“It’s my daughter. I have to pick her up right after school and—” She broke off abruptly, sucked in a breath, blew it out before starting again. “She was bullied on the bus. It was some relative of the Carters. I need to pick her up after school and…”
He leaned forward encouragingly. “And?”
“And I need to bring her over here until I get off work. She’s a nice, quiet little girl…really. She can read or draw until my quitting time.”
Frowning, Breck continued to gaze at her, his dark brows knit into a fierce frown. “That’s all? Just go pick up your daughter and bring her here?”
Leah nodded miserably.
“That’s nothing. Of course you can go pick her up. Not on your lunch hour though. The school is just a few blocks away. Just put the sign in the window and go get her. It won’t take you any time at all.”
Leah felt as though a tight band had been cut from around her chest. “Oh, Breck! I appreciate it so much. She was so scared this morning. Ty took her to school, and he was going to talk to her teacher or the principal or whoever could make it right.” She stopped abruptly.
“Take it easy. I’m sorry the Carter boy is giving her a hard time. Damn! Poor kid. What a way to start off the school year.” He drummed his fingers on the desk, frowning. “Unfortunately, we can’t ask for a restraining order against a schoolkid. More’s the pity.”
She nodded solemnly. “So it’s okay if I go pick her up every afternoon? I know it’s an imposition.”
Breck rubbed both hands over his face. “No matter what else is going on, whether I’m here or not, just go get her. Gracie’s safety is more important than anything else.”
* * *
Ty had shared the events at the school with Leah, but she still looked worried. “I hope the principal will talk to the boys’ families. I hope it makes a difference.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“In the meantime, I appreciate your help in getting her to school.”
He frowned down at her. “About that—I talked to Will, and he wants me to come back to Dallas for a few days. He called the sheriff, and he agreed to allow me to travel that far. Will said it was because the sheriff’s a fan of Country Idol…and he knows my dad and all… Anyway, are you going to be okay if I take off for a couple of days?”
“Sure,” she said brightly…too brightly. “We’ll be fine. Breck was really nice about me picking Gracie up in the afternoons. He said to just bring her back to the office and keep her with me right there. Nice as anything.” Her smile looked a little tight.
He drew her into his arms and kissed her. “I won’t go if you’re worried. I don’t want you to be afraid.”
“Oh, we’ll be fine.”
“I wouldn’t be going except Will said the Texas Country Star producers are flying in and want to shoot some film of me singing in a club…you know, for promotions.”
She nodded a little too enthusiastically. “Sounds like fun. You’ll do great.”
Ty was torn. He knew she was scared, and he was scared for her. There didn’t seem to be a solution to this problem.
The next morning, he saw her off, driving toward Langston with Gracie in the passenger seat. Gracie looked back and waved.
Ty waved, feeling like a major rat. He wasn’t happy about hanging them out to dry. He climbed into his truck and started her up. The diesel engine rumbled to life. He sat inside for a minute, gripping the steering wheel and looking around the little farm. It looked better for his having been there. He had cleaned up the rubble. Tilled a vegetable patch for Gran, which now bore row after row of sprouting seeds. He repaired the fence line where the Carters had cut it and planted two small fields with winter rye to use for cattle feed.
He put the truck in gear and headed out.
Still, it didn’t feel right to be leaving them. But what if this was his only chance? What if he spent the rest of his life not stretching to make his dream come true?
As Ty turned onto the highway and headed toward Dallas, he reached for his phone. Only one way to make sure things stayed under control.
* * *
Leah picked up Gracie, and she spent the rest of the workday tucked in a corner of the long sorting table with a book. She had her crayons and a big legal pad if she got tired of reading but so far seemed content to bury her nose in the book.
Leah waited a good fifteen minutes after five to lock up, mindful of the time she had taken off to pick up her daughter and not wanting to take advantage of Breck’s good nature. When she had Gracie in the car, Leah went through a drive-through to order a milkshake for Gracie.
In the back of her mind, she acknowledged that she was avoiding returning to the farm, because she knew Ty wouldn’t be there. She felt sad, once again abandoned by someone she had come to love. She determinedly made conversation with Gracie about her classmates and her teacher.
“Miss Diaz is real pretty,” Gracie declared. “She has real shiny black hair, and her lipstick matches her fingernails.” She paused as if considering. “And she always smells good too.”
“That’s nice,” Leah said automatically.
“I was kind of afraid to go out for recess, but Miss Diaz said the big kids have recess at a different time than us little kids. Well, we’re
not the really little kids. The first and second graders go out at a different time. My grade goes out at the same time as the fourth graders, and the big kids in fifth and sixth go out together.”
Leah nodded intermittently, fixing a smile on her face. As she turned in at the little road to Gran’s house, her stomach was in a knot. She hoped she wouldn’t cry when she got home and Ty’s big red truck was gone. She had to hold it together for Gracie. She could always mope later.
When she pulled up in front of Gran’s house, she could hardly breathe. The big, shiny red truck was missing…but two big, shiny silver trucks were lined up side by side.
Gracie slipped out of her seat belt, peering over the dashboard. “Look, Mommy! It’s Colton…and Beau.”
Gran came out on the porch, shaking her head. She motioned for Leah and Gracie to join her.
Dazed, Leah climbed out and followed Gracie. Her daughter ran straight up to Beau, who hoisted her into the air like she was a toddler. Leah’s heart did a flip-flop as she saw her daughter airborne, fearing her wrist might be reinjured. A scream died in her throat as Beau placed Gracie firmly on her feet.
Colton had set up a barbecue grill to the side of the house and seemed to be involved with some activity in which smoke was roiling up into his face. He looked hot, and not in a good way.
Both brothers greeted her, Colton waving a pair of long-handled tongs at her.
“Would you just look at that?” Gran exclaimed. “Ty sent both his brothers to babysit us while he’s gone. Seems to think we need tending.”
A rush of emotion choked Leah’s airway, clouded her vision. “What?”
Gran snickered. “Yep, they just showed up and moved into the bunkhouse. The older one brought the grill in back of his truck and seems to think burnin’ meat is better than fryin’ it up in the skillet.” She winked at Leah.
Beau gave a wink. “Nah, it’s that rascal dog of his. Ty said Gracie would need some help taking care of Lucky. You know, opening bags of dog food.”
Leah started to giggle. Suddenly, everything seemed funny. She laughed and laughed until she had to collapse into the old wicker rocking chair. She laughed until her sides hurt. Both brothers eyed her from a safe distance, and Gracie came to sit in her lap.
“Are you okay, Mommy?”
“Yes, honey. I’m absolutely fine. Everything is fine.”
Chapter 13
“Tyler Garrett, ma’am.” He reached across the table to shake hands with an attractive woman in her early thirties and then the man sitting beside her. The man had hardly spoken, but then again, there was little room to get a word in edgewise between Will and the woman. The two of them had exchanged a barrage of words in some rapid-speak only the two of them seemed to understand.
The woman swiveled her attention back to Ty. “You just look like a Country Idol. I mean, you have the right image.” She turned to the man beside her, and he nodded. “Just perfect.”
Will was grinning expansively. “And he can sing too.”
“Of course he can,” she agreed. “We heard the demo and saw the videos. He’s perfect.”
The foursome sat in a darkened corner of a Dallas bar. This one wasn’t open to the public yet, but Will had wrangled an early entry due to his important guests. The visitors from Nashville had also brought a videographer with them, but he had yet to arrive.
Ty wasn’t certain what the distinction was between a videographer and a photographer or cameraman, for that matter. He tried the word out, but it felt strange on his tongue.
The bartender brought drinks over himself, since it appeared to be too early for the waitstaff to be on duty. The owner hovered near the bar, chatting with the bartender while glancing frequently at those seated at the table.
Ty wondered what Will had promised him to be given access this way but figured he would make good on it. Will had a way of charming people into doing whatever he wanted them to do, and they seemed to be grateful for having been a part of his schemes.
Will and the woman were still yammering away while Ty quietly sipped from his longneck and the other man knocked back a few rounds of Jack and Coke.
Soon, the videographer arrived, a camera mounted on a tripod balanced on one shoulder and the strap of a huge canvas bag thrown over the other. He grinned and pushed his sunglasses up on his head. “Hi, everyone. This is a great setting.” His gaze fell on Ty. “And this is our star. Pretty boy. The camera will love him.”
Ty almost choked on his beer. Pretty boy?
“Can we get a barstool up on the stage?” the woman asked.
Will went to converse with the owner, and immediately, the bartender hoisted a barstool onto the stage along with a stand microphone.
Ty wasn’t sure if this was part of the audition or what. Will had told him he had already been selected as a contestant. Will motioned him to the stage. He noticed the bar owner had disappeared but was apparently now running the lighting, as Ty was hit with a baby spotlight. Momentarily blinded, he groped for the stool and climbed onto it before setting his guitar on his knee. He began to strum the strings. Will walked up to the edge of the stage and told him to sing an old classic country song.
As Ty sang, the videographer moved around, apparently capturing him from different angles. He went through the list of several songs he had recorded, and the lighting changed each time. Now a series of strobe lights made it appear he was in a crowded club. A couple of the waitresses came in and moved to the edge of the stage, seemingly spellbound. The video guy captured their expressions too.
When Ty had finished his recently recorded repertoire, he stepped down off the stage. Will slapped a fresh, cold beer in his hand and thumped him on the opposite shoulder. “Dude! You were awesome!”
“I hope so,” Ty muttered.
* * *
After dinner, Leah washed dishes and put them away. The meal had been delicious, and now Gran was sitting in the living room between Gracie and Beau. They were watching some situation comedy and laughing intermittently.
Colton sat at the table, enjoying a cup of coffee while he observed Leah as she worked.
When she had wiped down the countertops, she turned to find Colton still gazing at her. She felt her cheeks flame as she draped the dishcloth over the edge of the sink.
“Come sit down for a minute. You’ve been busy all night.”
She sank onto a chair opposite him and folded her hands on top of the table. “What’s on your mind?” she asked.
He smiled and set his cup down. “Ah, the direct approach. I like that.”
Leah shrugged. “I don’t know any other way to be.”
“I like that even more.” He gazed at her across the table as though weighing his words. “It seems my little brother has been quite busy here.”
She nodded, suddenly uncomfortable. “Tyler has been a great blessing to us.”
“All the improvements he’s made must have been costly.”
She cleared her throat. “Are you asking me if Ty has paid for these improvements?”
“Ouch!” Colton cringed. “I just can’t be subtle with you, can I?”
“I’m not an idiot,” she said. “I didn’t ask Ty to spend a nickel on anything, but he did anyway.” She sucked in a deep breath and let it out. “He even took it upon himself to buy Gracie some more school clothes.” She watched as her words sank in on Ty’s older brother. “He’s a really good person.”
Colton nodded. “Yes, he is.”
“Mommy!” Gracie shrieked. “Come here. It’s Ty!”
Leah ran in to the living room in response to Gracie’s cries and almost stumbled when she saw where her daughter was pointing. Ty was on the television screen. He was singing on a stage. She couldn’t really hear his voice, because an announcer was talking over him. It was an advertisement for the upcoming premier of Texas Country Star, the regional contest lea
ding to Country Idol.
“Well, dang!” Beau exclaimed. “Looks like old Ty is gonna be a star after all.”
A rush of warmth filled Leah’s chest. He looked so happy and natural singing in the spotlight. He looked as though he belonged there and not on this little farm, no matter how much he cared for her. She mopped at her eyes as the image faded and the next advertisement came on. She turned away, seeing the expression on Colton’s face.
He caught her eye and raised his brows. “I hope he knows what he’s getting into. Dad is never going to understand if Ty walks away from the ranch.”
* * *
The next day, Leah drove away from the little farm feeling confident at least that her grandmother would be safe with Colton and Beau there. They had outlined chores for themselves, and it appeared that they planned to keep busy.
She dropped Gracie off at school and watched as she walked up to the building. Tina had been waiting for her and fell into step beside her. That alone was enough to make Leah’s day.
She was still stunned over seeing Ty on television. He hadn’t called her last night, but perhaps he’d been too busy. She tried not to fret about it, but still, it seemed to remind her of all the differences between them and how he could just as easily forget about a simple person such as herself. She heaved a sigh and parked her car in front of the law office.
The day progressed as expected. Breck called in to say he would be in court most of the day and probably wouldn’t be in at all. She had pretty much cleared up all the filing and didn’t relish an entire day of sitting on her rear waiting for the phone to ring.
She enjoyed her lunch break with Sara Beth in the quaint shop. Sara Beth was planning her wedding to Frank and had purchased a bridal magazine. Together, they turned pages and commented on the various gowns.
Sara Beth looked wistful. “Of course, I just want a simple wedding. I can’t wear white, because I’ve been married before.”
Leah shrugged. “I think nowadays you can wear any color you want.”
Sara Beth frowned. “Really? I don’t know. If you and your boyfriend get married, are you going to wear white?”
