Texas Temptation

by Kathryn Brocato

  “Than zealotry and selfishness? And maybe some spite? And irrational fear?” She raised her eyebrows and Hailey offered an apologetic nod.

  “I’m sorry, Mom. Please forgive me. I feel so selfish.” She blew out a deep breath. “I’ve been so convinced this was God’s will for my life. It seemed the only way to truly honor Dad. I miss him so much.”

  “My darling daughter, you’ve given your father the most wonderful honor. You’ll always be his flying buddy. His little Comet. No one can take that away from you. Not me, not anyone. But don’t think you have to replace him, either. You cannot replace him.”

  Hailey wiped a tear. She didn’t trust her voice to speak.

  Her mother took both of Hailey’s hands in her own. “Now you listen to me. That young man was willing to take the blame for what someone else did so you could have some closure. He was more concerned about you being okay than anything else. I’m not absolutely certain who did it, but I have my suspicions.” Rinnie stiffened her back. “All I know is, Neal and Paul are the only two scoundrels around here low enough to do something like that. I don’t know how, but they’d be my first suspects.”

  “That’s what I thought, too, but there’s no way they got past Kisses. I guess instead of grabbing at straws trying to make sense of who, I should have called Sheriff Maxey right away.” She laid her head on Rinnie’s shoulder. “I was angry with you, Mom. I think I wanted it to be you so I could feel better about going against your wishes. I thought I was going to have to fight you for the rest of my life, and that felt horrible. I knew that was wrong. But I just wanted dad’s dream … ”

  Rinnie smoothed the hair back from Hailey’s face. “Darling, I know, and I understand, how important the business is to you. I think it’s because it’s a part of your dad and you want desperately to hang on. But I know your father would agree. It seems you may have someone else to hang onto now. And if you don’t go after him and set things right, it’ll be something you’ll regret for the rest of your life. And believe me, I know about regrets.”

  Hailey’s heart felt torn in half. If she left to see Jack now, while the airplane matter was unresolved, she’d be letting her father down.

  What would best honor him? “Mom, what would Dad want me to do?”

  “He’d want you to be happy.”

  Hailey bowed her head in prayer. It was time to ask God what He really wanted her to do. And for her to finally listen.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Hailey slipped an extra pair of jeans into her suitcase and checked one more time to make sure she’d packed her toothbrush. She flipped the top and pulled the zipper closing around the ends of the bag.

  She turned, suitcase in hand, to find Dee standing in her doorway wiping at red eyes with the hem of her sundress.

  Hailey’s mouth curved into a sad but affectionate grin. “I’ll be back soon, Deedles. Don’t cry.” She set her case down and stepped forward, giving the tiny girl a full hug.

  “I’m not cryin’ cause of that.” She wiped her eyes on Hailey’s shoulder. “I’m cryin’ cause of my daddy and Uncle Paul breakin’ up your planes.”

  “Sweetheart, we don’t know they did it.” She knelt eye level to Dee. A twinge of guilt tugged at her heart. How much had Dee overheard this morning?

  But Dee’s curl’s bobbed. “Uh-huh. ’Cause they were here last night.”

  “Are you sure, sweetheart?” Her stomach roiled. Part of her brain knew it had something to do with them, but a small part still wondered. “Did you hear Kisses barking last night?”

  She nodded again. “For a bitty minute, but then they gave him something to eat. I saw them. And then Kisses went really to sleep and didn’t say nothin’ to them. I saw them.”

  Hailey bit her lip. So that’s why Kisses seemed groggy this morning. They drugged him! Still, it was beyond her comprehension that Kisses would take food from them, or that they could even get close enough to give him food.

  “Please, Hailey. Please don’t be mad cause I didn’ tell you this mornin’. I was ‘fraid you’d be even madder at my daddy and Uncle Paul. You’re always mad at ’em.” She sniffed hard. “You always don’t like ’em.”

  Hailey closed her eyes and buried her face in Dee’s hair. She had decided to pick and choose which of her father’s traits to honor, and mercy toward the Watson boys hadn’t been one of them. “It’s okay, baby. I’m not mad at them anymore.”

  Dee pulled away from her in wide-eyed wonder. “You’re not even mad at ’em for breakin’ Papa Web’s planes?”

  Hailey shook her head slowly, standing and stroking Dee’s hair. “No, sweetheart. We’re going to get Papa Web’s planes fixed.” She felt a tug of forgiveness, for the boys and for herself settle into her heart. “And we’re going to get a whole bunch of other things fixed, too.”

  “Can I tell Felicia and Lindsey?”

  Hailey’s mouth curved with tenderness. Was there anything as pure as the love and innocence of a child?

  She grabbed Dee up in a grand hug and kissed her on the nose before setting her back on her little bare feet. “You bet! You can tell them all about it.”

  Felicia appeared in the doorway. “Hey, little gal, your daddy’s waiting in the driveway for you.”

  “Can I tell him, too, Hailey?”

  Hailey straightened her shoulders and sucked in a deep breath. This would take more strength than she knew she had. This would take God.

  “I think I’ll tell him myself. How would that be?”

  Dee’s fair curls bounced around her head in an enthused nod.

  Before turning to leave, Hailey reached into the top drawer of her vanity and pulled out an unopened sack of chocolates. She placed it in Dee’s hand. “This is all yours. Now go tell Granny Rinnie you’re leaving. And I’ll walk out and speak to your daddy.”

  Dee bubbled her thanks, and Hailey turned to take steady steps to the driveway, a silent prayer filling her heart.

  Yes, it was definitely time to get a whole bunch of things fixed.

  • • •

  Neal Watson leaned his tall lanky frame against the rusty pickup, seemingly preparing for the worse as Hailey made her way through the front gate. He muttered something she couldn’t hear to his brother, who waited inside the ragged cab.

  Neal tipped his cap briefly, avoiding her eyes. He eyed the suitcase in her hand. “Runnin’ away?”

  Hailey shook her head. “No. Just going to take care of some important business.” She walked to her own truck and set her suitcase into the back. “We need to have a little talk, Neal.”

  “Ya know I’m always happy to talk to ya, neighbor.” His eyes seemed to drink her up.

  She chose to ignore his lewd expression, returning his stare with solemn concentration. “I’m holding you responsible for the damage to our planes.”

  He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could respond, Paul yelled out from the passenger side of the pickup. “We didn’ do nothin’! You can’t say we did, neither.”

  Neal tipped his cap back on his head. “Oh, shut up, Paul!” He turned his attention back to Hailey. “I’m not admittin’ nothin’, you understan’, but if I was, how’d you find that out? About us, I mean.”

  “I kind of fooled myself at first. But I can see clearly now.” She took a step closer to him and he leaned back harder against his truck.

  “We haven’t been very nice to each other, have we, Neal?” Her heart swelled with unexpected forgiveness. In her eyes, the boys didn’t look evil and mean anymore. They looked pitiful. Scared. Like frightened little boys who bully others because they don’t know any other way to make themselves feel worthy. “And Neal, I’m sorry about that.”

  He cocked his head at her. “Why would you be sayin’ somethin’ like that to me? We’ve given your papa and the whole county a whole buncha gri
ef. Why’d you be so nice to me, now? It’s a trick, ain’t it.” he said flatly.

  “No, no trick. But I think it’s time we all grew up and stopped this ridiculous fighting. You and Paul. Me. It’s time we started acting like neighbors and care for each other instead of hating each other.”

  Paul bellowed from inside the truck again. “Don’t talk to ’er, Neal. Ya know she’s full hatin’ on us. I’m warnin’ ya, bub.”

  “I did feel something wrong for you — I’m not sure it was really hate — but I really don’t anymore.” Her words were true. “I don’t think that’s the way we’re supposed to act. Do you?”

  Neal responded quickly. “Why ya doin’ this turn around fer now? Why ya’ wanna care now? All a sudden.” His suspicion laced voice questioned her. “If it’s cuz you want us to fix your planes up, well, we don’t have no money to fix nuthin’.” His eyes narrowed. “Why you doin’ this, actin’ all nice?”

  “Because. That’s what my dad would do. And he’d do that because that’s what Jesus would do. And those are the footsteps I think, from now on, I’ll follow.”

  Paul stuck his head through the open window and called to his brother. “Are you gonna listen to this hog manure, Neal? Come on, grab the kid and let’s git outta here.”

  Neal hesitated, keeping his eyes fixed on Hailey. He seemed to be rolling her words around in his mind, half confused, half suspicious. After a while, a sorrowful look came over his face and he cocked his head in her direction.

  “No. It’s time to stop all this hatin’ Paul. It’s caused nothin’ but trouble. An’ I’m sick ’n tired of it all.”

  “Don’t talk thata way!” Paul demanded.

  Hailey felt for a moment that he might jump right through the window and grab hold of his brother. “You know it’s her pa’s fault that our pa got kilt. If her pa hadn’t asked him to get that tractor unstuck out ’o the mud, Pa wouldn’t ’ave fall dead of a heart attack.”

  Hailey lowered her eyes. She knew that wasn’t right. And she was certain Neal knew it, too.

  “Paul, that’s not ’xactly how it was. It was jus’ his time, that’s all.”

  Neal turned to face Hailey. “We’ll fix the plane for ya while you’re gone, Hailey. And we’ll not touch a drink, neither. You got my promise on it.”

  “I believe you.” She held a hand out to him. “And as long as the two of you are in church with your mom and Dee, starting this Sunday, I won’t report the vandalism to Sheriff Maxey.”

  Neal hesitated but finally nodded. “You got my word on that, too. We’ll be thar.”

  Paul threw open the pickup door and then closed it again in a huff. He sank down into the seat with an angry snarl and flapped his arms across his chest.

  A few moments later, Hailey was on her way to Cryder, feeling a peace settle over her that she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

  It was going to be a long, long drive to Cryder, she knew. But somehow, flying there didn’t seem the right thing to do.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Hailey brushed her bangs away from her face as she headed down the long hall to the office marked “Jack Stinson, Vice President.”

  She halted two steps short of the door, listening to the blustering sound of a male voice coming from the direction she was headed.

  “Jack, get these reports out before five and wait for a call from Eddie Lyles, then enter these figures and get us something final on the deal. You may have to try to catch him at home. Then call Steve and Carter and tell them we want a meeting by tomorrow to discuss that new airfoil design. I want something I can look at, not hear about and try to put a picture to on my own. Tell them we have another design firm on the job if you have to. And if Crites calls back — ”

  A familiar voice intervened. “Hold it, Dad. This is exactly what I’ve been telling you. There’s no way we can continue to run the business this way.”

  Hailey let out a low whistle and leaned her shoulder blades against the stark white wall. No wonder poor Jack had escaped. She would go raging mad if she had to face this barrage every day. She turned her eavesdropping back to the two men inside the office and held her breath for the explosion she knew must be about to follow.

  Instead, she heard a blustering sigh followed by a deep chuckle. “Jack, you know how difficult this is going to be for me. But I’ll meet you half way.”

  Could that be the dad she’d heard about? Marshall Stinson?

  The older man cleared his throat. “I’m an old man. Hard to change. This is how I am. But, well, I told you I’d try, and I’m going to try.”

  “Well, you’ve always been on the grumpy side.”

  She heard a muffled, rhythmic thump, no doubt as Jack gave his dad a brisk pat on the back.

  “This is a good time for a fresh start for all of us. While Eric’s here for the summer, we’ll split this load between us, so don’t worry about it. Oh, and Dad, don’t forget. We knock off at five o’clock.”

  “Good enough, I suppose. Just let me take a few of these files to my office and I’ll get started weeding some paperwork myself.” There was a long pause. “I’m working on this, son.”

  “I know, Dad. Let me know how I can help. We’re in this together.”

  There seemed to be a brief awkward silence. “Ugh, Jack, well, good to have you back. Son. Your mom and I missed you.”

  Hailey stood motionless, wondering whether to start walking or stay where she was until Marshall Stinson was out of sight. Jack’s dad’s voice was certainly gruff. Even his admission he missed Jack had been crusty.

  But she was pretty sure she detected a hint of … was it humility in Mr. Stinson’s voice? She knew what it must have taken for Jack to confront his father with love and honesty, man to man. It was another reason she’d grown to respect Jack. First came friendship, respect, and then … well, then she’d opened her eyes.

  • • •

  Jack watched his father stride to one of the massive file cabinets and sift through the sea of manila folders. The relief he felt that his father was even willing to attempt to work things out was almost overwhelming.

  It was more than overwhelming. It was a miracle. Jack felt a wave of thankfulness. Maybe God listened after all. Hours of prayer and questions had accompanied him on the drive from Barnes to Cryder.

  He had learned so much from Hailey. About loyalty. About family. About God.

  Her desire to follow her father’s dream, even after his death, still touched him. She may have been a bit confused about God’s design for her life, but her passion and determination were incredible. Whatever she put her heart into was going to succeed, he had no doubt in his mind.

  Jack didn’t want to wait until it was too late to work things out with his own dad. He wanted to communicate. To make things better for himself, his brother, and his parents.

  He would be here as long as it took, to be a part of returning the business to the honorable, reasonably paced family business it was intended to be. He wanted his father to understand that. Jack might leave again when the time was right to find his own mission. Or maybe the joy of being at Brown Aeronautics would be restored and he’d never want to leave. But one thing he knew for sure: if there was another departure, it would be different from his first. He wouldn’t be escaping. He’d be growing. And if he had his way, there was someone special he hoped would be by his side.

  Jack took a steady breath of the air around him. He no longer felt smothered by these four walls surrounding him. A keen sense of well-being filled him, and he thanked God for opening his eyes before it was too late.

  Marshall Stinson turned to leave, a stack of folders bulging from under one arm. He stopped abruptly at the door and turned to Jack, fishing something from his shirt pocket. He tossed it to Jack. “Almost forgot.”

  Jack caught it in his right hand and smi
led back at his dad as the older man disappeared around the corner with brisk steps.

  As Jack absently fiddled with the object, he lifted his head and spied Hailey leaning in the doorframe. His mouth opened in amazement, a mixture of shock and pleasure on his face. “How in the world did you … What are you doing here? Did you just fly in?”

  His stunned expression prompted a mischievous smile to ruffle her lips. “I didn’t fly. I drove.”

  She took another step into the office. “It’s a really, really long drive.”

  “Believe me, I know.” He stood motionless, staring at her.

  She stared back.

  “Could we talk for a few minutes?” She motioned to a thick mahogany chair by his desk. “I know how busy you are. But, do you mind?”

  “Are you kidding?” A stunned smile finally creased his face and he held the chair for her. “There are some big changes around here. Thanks to you.”

  She took the seat he offered and set her purse down at her feet. “Thanks to God,” she reminded him. “For both of us.”

  He didn’t move. He stood in front of his desk, less than two feet from the woman who had changed his life. I can’t believe this.

  All he wanted to do was hold her. “I’m sorry for leaving you like that. But like I said in the note, we both had things to work out on our own.”

  “Yes, we did.” Her eyes never left his.

  “I had to face my father.” His voice was certain. “And you had to face yours.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. Again.”

  “The first thing I did when I returned home was look something up in my Bible.” He shook his head. “No, the first thing I did was find my Bible. Sure enough it was right where I left it. Buried in the back of my sock drawer. Anyway, I remembered a little plaque my great grandfather always had above his work bench. It was Ephesians 5:1.”

  “Go on.”

  He stretched across his desk and gripped a black leather bound Bible. He held it up for her to see. “This Book goes where I go from now on. My manual.” He turned the pages quickly. “Ephesians 5:1. Here it is.” He relaxed measurably.