by Barbara Gee
After only a couple of rings, Elaine answered.
“Hello, this is Elaine Redding. How can I help you?”
Maddy smiled, picturing the other woman sitting behind her desk piled high with folders and littered with sticky notes of every color.
“Hey, Elaine. It’s Maddy.”
After a long pause, Elaine said, “Maddy? Oh my gosh, is this really you?”
“It’s me, Elaine. I’m so sorry I couldn’t call before now.”
An earsplitting squeal caused Maddy to quickly pull her phone away from her ear.
“Madison Harper, you little stinker! Where in tarnation have you been? You didn’t show up to work that Monday after my vacation, and you didn’t answer my calls or emails and I was worried sick! The next day I went to Rob’s office to tell him I was reporting you as a missing person, and he said he’d just gotten a call from a reputable person saying you needed to take an indefinite leave of absence. That’s all I got, it’s all he would tell me, and it’s been driving me crazy all these weeks. What in the world, Maddy? Where the heck have you been?”
“It’s a really long story, Elaine, and Rob didn’t know much more than what he told you. I’ll tell you everything once I get back to North Carolina.”
“You’re not here in town?”
“No, not even close. I’m just calling to see how things are going and to see whether I still have a job. I know I’ve been gone a long time and I haven’t been able to check in, so if you’ve had to replace me I understand.”
“No, no, Rob said we weren’t going to replace you because it wasn’t your fault you couldn’t work. We’ve been making do with temps. The first two were pretty awful, but we have a guy now who isn’t too bad. He doesn’t have much HR knowledge, but he catches on pretty quickly and he’s a whiz with computers, so that’s a big help. When can you come back?”
Maddy grimaced. “It’s probably going to be another six weeks. Maybe a little less, if I’m lucky.”
“Oh darn, I was hoping you’d say tomorrow,” Elaine said, obviously disappointed.
“I’m sorry, I wish I could but I can’t leave where I’m at for a little while yet.”
“You’re being so mysterious, Maddy. You know I can’t stand not knowing what’s going on. I’m the company busybody and proud of it.”
“I know that all too well, my office is right beside yours, remember? And I promise I’ll fill you in on everything that’s happened, Elaine. I just want to do it in person rather than over the phone.”
“But you’re okay, right, Maddy? Whatever happened, you’re okay?”
“I’m okay, Elaine, and getting better every day.”
“So you’ve been sick?”
“Not exactly sick, Ms. Super Sleuth, just incapacitated for a while. Has anything big gone down there since I’ve been gone?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. But we’re fast approaching the end of our benefit plan year, and we’re probably going to need to switch insurance carriers, and you know what that means.”
“Yeah, employee enrollment meetings. I hope to be back by then.”
“That makes me the happiest girl in the world, Maddy. Seriously, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you, and how awful it was not knowing what happened to you.”
“I would have told you if I could, Elaine. But for various reasons, I wasn’t able to. I really am sorry to put you through that.”
“Well I guess I’ll just have to be patient a little while longer,” Elaine said. “Hey, while I’ve got you on the phone, can you tell me how to find that spreadsheet that you use to track all the employees’ continuing education hours and requirements? I’ve been able to find most everything else I need, but that one eludes me.”
Maddy told her which folder the spreadsheet was in, and Elaine was thrilled to be able to access it again.
“You have my number now, Elaine, so you can call me any time. And I’ll send you my new email address so you can contact me that way, too.”
“You’ve made my day, Madison Harper. It’s so good to hear your voice.”
“Yours, too. I hope the temp can stay until I get back so you don’t have to train another one.”
“I think he will, he seems glad for the job. I’ll let Rob know that you checked in and there’s an end in sight to your leave of absence.”
“Thanks, Elaine, I appreciate that. And thanks for being so understanding.”
“I’ve got your back, Maddy. Always have, always will. Just do what you need to do to get back here soon, okay?”
“I will. And don’t hesitate to contact me if there’s anything I can help with from afar.”
“Oh I will, trust me. Take care, my friend.”
Maddy said goodbye and hung up, then sent Elaine her email address before she forgot. It had been good to talk to her friend, and she really did miss her job. However, the thought of leaving the ranch made her feel unbearably sad. If Tuck weren’t in the equation, it would be easy to settle here. Libby hadn’t said anything yet, but Maddy was pretty sure her friend was going to stay indefinitely. Her love for the Full Heart Ranch and her growing romance with Cal would likely trump her brother and best friend. Especially if she knew the two of them would now have each other.
For Maddy, though, it didn’t matter how much she’d grown to love the Full Heart. Tucker was in North Carolina, so there was simply no question about whether she’d go back there. More than anything, she needed to be closer to him, and she would work as hard as possible to make that happen sooner rather than later.
Tucker texted her after lunch to let her know one of his flights had been cancelled and he would be later getting home than he thought. His call finally came right after dinner. Maddy quickly rolled her wheelchair out to the front porch, so she could talk in private. It was an hour before they hung up and she went back inside.
“Look at those dreamy eyes,” Libby teased when her friend joined the rest of them in the sitting area.
Maddy raised her right hand to shoulder height and waved it slightly. “Guilty as charged. I know I can’t hide it from you guys.”
“I’m so glad you and Tucker are finding your way,” Kay said. “Virgil and I knew you would be good for him as soon as we met you.”
“They’re perfect together,” Libby agreed. “They just need to get past what they call complications.”
“What would you call them, Lib?” Maddy asked, genuinely curious.
Libby grinned and swooped a hand grandly in Maddy’s direction. “Challenges that, when overcome, will make the love that much sweeter,” she declared, making them all laugh.
“I guess we’ll see about that,” Maddy said.
Libby’s phone buzzed and she checked the text.
Maddy chuckled. “Now who’s looking dreamy?”
“My cowboy is on his way,” Libby announced. “We’re going to his place to watch a movie. But don’t worry, I’ll be good and I’ll be home early.” She looked at the other three, her expression becoming serious. “I guess you could say I’ve turned over a new leaf here. At least I’m trying to. I don’t want to be the girl who jumps from man to man and parties too hard.”
She looked at Maddy, her eyes tearing up. “I know that’s the kind of person I was becoming, Maddy, and I know it bothered you. But you’ve always been there for me, even when you didn’t agree with what I was doing. Thanks for not giving up on me.”
Libby’s sudden revelation was a surprise, because Maddy never would have expected her friend to reveal her struggles so publicly. She wasn’t shocked, however, to learn that Libby was determined to make some changes in her life. She’d already seen evidence of it, with Libby’s newfound interest in prayer and going to church being the biggest, and Maddy was thrilled to realize that Libby had grown even more than she’d thought.
“I could never give up on you, Lib. I’ve never even been close.”
Libby looked at Maddy, her eyes sad and apologetic. “We need to talk about what comes next, girlfrien
d,” she said.
Maddy nodded. “I know. Don’t worry, Libby, I’m pretty sure I know what you’re going to tell me, and I support you.”
Libby choked back a sob and turned to Virgil and Kay, who both looked a little confused.
“I didn’t intend to do this tonight, but here’s the thing, guys,” Libby said, her voice wavering. “I don’t want to leave here. I’ve already quit my job, and there’s nothing left for me in North Carolina except Tucker and Maddy, and I love them both so dearly but they’ll have each other now, and I just can’t tell you how much I hate the thought of leaving this place. I feel like I’ve come home, after all these years, and if it’s okay with you two, I want to stay for a while. Maybe a long while. I want to talk to Jolene more about the veterans retreat center, and if that doesn’t work out I’ll find a job around here, or work remotely. I promise I won’t laze around and distract Cal from his job all day, like I’m doing now. I’ll contribute to this ranch, I really will, if you don’t completely hate the idea of me staying.”
“My dear girl, is that even a question?” Kay asked, getting up and enveloping Libby in a motherly hug.
“It would be an answer to prayer,” Virgil chimed in. “The only thing that would make us happier is if all three of you would stay.”
Libby smiled through her tears. “We’ll work on the other two,” she said. Her phone buzzed again and she checked the text. “Cal is here. We’ll talk more later, okay? I know I just kinda sprang this on you all, but staying here has been all I’ve thought about for weeks. I’ve prayed about it a lot, and then when we started talking about bringing veterans here to heal, I felt like a huge piece of the puzzle dropped into place. I know it’s just a pipe dream right now, but it’s the first thing I’ve been excited about in forever.”
“Kay and I have spent hours talking about it,” Virgil said, “and Tucker and I did some brainstormin’ as well. I think we can all agree it would be a worthwhile endeavor, and a good use of a portion of the ranch. You girls get with Jolene and put your minds together and see what kinds of ideas you can come up with.”
Libby beamed. “We will, Uncle Virgil.” She ran over and kissed him on the cheek, and then Kay as well. “Good night, all. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She hurried out, looking so happy it made Maddy beam.
“North Carolina won’t be the same without that girl,” she said, “but I sure love seeing that smile.”
“It’s kind of you not to make her feel guilty about staying,” Kay stated. “How do you think Tucker will feel about it?”
“He won’t be surprised. He already told me he wasn’t sure she would ever leave. They’re so close, and I know he’ll miss her, but she’s been searching for a long time. She’s had four jobs in the two years that I’ve known her. If she finds what she’s looking for here on the ranch, I can’t imagine Tucker would try to talk her out of it.”
Kay nodded. “I think you’re right.”
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” Virgil added.
“I guess we will,” Maddy agreed. She tried to stop a yawn but failed. Jolene had worn her out once again.
“Why don’t you head on up to bed,” Kay suggested. “You need extra sleep to offset all those hours spent in the gym. I hope Jolene isn’t pushing you too hard.”
“She knows her stuff, so I don’t think she is. I’m sore, but that’s inevitable. And I think I will go to bed. I’ll read until I fall asleep.”
“Sleep well, my dear.”
“I will, Kay. You guys, too.”
Maddy wheeled herself to the elevator. An hour later, showered and shampooed, she got herself into the bed, book in hand.
A few chapters in, her phone beeped. She grinned and reached for it, knowing it was Tucker.
I’m hitting the hay. Just wanted to say goodnight.
I’m in bed myself. Jolene wore me out. Sleep well. Talk to you tomorrow.
Sweet dreams, Maddy.
Maddy sighed and relaxed back into her pillows. She hoped she never had to go another night without hearing those words from him. And she couldn’t help but wonder whether she would ever hear them directly from his lips as she fell asleep in his arms.
That intoxicating thought kept her awake for a while. It seemed too much to hope for, and yet impossible dreams were already coming true. Meeting Tucker, her dream man from the photos. Getting to know him. Becoming friends. Kissing him. Having him tell her he wanted more than friendship. Kissing him. Knowing he was coming back to the ranch to see her. And hopefully that would mean kissing him again.
Chapter 30
On Friday Maddy met Jolene in the gym and announced that she was through with the wheelchair.
“I hate it. What will it take to get me using crutches?”
Jolene studied her. “Your right arm. It was in a cast for a long time, Maddy. The muscle tone is really diminished, and you have limited range of motion in your elbow.”
“So let’s work on that.”
“It’s not like I can just say the magic words and have it instantly healed,” Jolene said. “Building muscle takes time.”
“It can’t take that much muscle to use crutches,” Maddy insisted. “It’s not like I’m going to go long distances.”
Jolene put her hands on her hips and surveyed her impatient patient. “I guess there’s no reason we can’t give it a try.” She walked over to a closet and brought out a set of aluminum crutches. “Naturally Tucker made sure these were provided along with all the other equipment.”
Maddy held out her hands for them. “Let’s see how it goes.” Jolene helped her up and Maddy took a few awkward swings forward on the crutches. She winced.
“Okay, so we have some work to do on my arm. But I can handle a little discomfort if it means never having to get in that chair again.”
“Your wish is my command,” Jolene said with a smile. “Let’s see what we can do.”
After two long, grueling sessions in the gym, Jolene left that evening to go back to her home for the weekend. She left Maddy with plenty of strengthening exercises to do during the two days she would be gone, and Maddy ended up spending almost as much time in the gym on Saturday and Sunday as she did when Jolene was there calling the shots.
By Monday, she was wielding the crutches almost expertly, and with very little discomfort. Jolene assessed her after being gone for two days, and was surprised by how much her elbow had loosened up after being locked immobile in the cast for so long.
“You’re not going to need to stay here much longer, my friend,” Jolene said. “Another couple of weeks working on that knee, and then you’re going to be out of here and able to see your boyfriend a whole lot more often.”
Maddy couldn’t stop a huge grin. “I’m down for that. But I’m sure going to miss this place.”
“Who wouldn’t? This ranch is a dream.”
“It is. And actually, it looks like Libby is going to be staying here instead of going back east. We’d like to talk to you some more about the idea of building a retreat center on the ranch. Libby is pretty excited about the possibilities, and I have to say, that girl is real good at making things happen.”
Jolene grinned. “We’ll talk over lunch. I’ve given it quite a bit of thought myself the last couple of days, and I have plenty of ideas to run by you guys. It’s so exciting I can hardly stand it.”
The rest of the week, when they weren’t in the gym, Jolene and Maddy were talking with Libby, and often Virgil and Kay as well, about the retreat center that had so piqued all their interest. They even went so far as to determine the best location, with Virgil’s expert input of course.
Libby then put on her artistic hat and started sketching out some possible site layouts, which led to brainstorming about the kinds of buildings they would need. They dreamed big with Plan A, which included an incredible cafeteria building and even a movie theater, and then scaled back and came up with a Plan B and finally a Plan C, so as to give themselves options based on
the size of the initial capital investment.
At that point they decided they needed Tuck’s input. Maddy talked to him on the phone daily and he knew they had been sharing ideas, but it was hard to go into a lot of detail over the phone. It was best to wait until he was with them and they could all discuss it together. Libby remained just as excited as she had been on day one, and Maddy enjoyed seeing her friend so wholly engrossed in the project. The girl had a formidable mind and endless energy when she felt passionately about something, and it was good to see that coming to life.
When Maddy’s phone rang on Friday evening, she was alone in the house. Cal and Libby were on a double date with one of Cal’s friends and his girl, and Virgil and Kay had gone to visit friends a few towns over. Maddy definitely didn’t mind the peace and quiet now that she was mobile and able to take care of herself perfectly well. She was even down to using one crutch.
She smiled when she saw who the caller was.
“Hi, Tuck.”
“Hey, Maddy,” he said, his voice sending familiar shivers through her body. “How’s your day going?”
“It’s been great, but tomorrow will be better,” she told him happily. “I can’t wait to see you.”
“Yeah, well that’s what I’m calling about. There’s been a slight change of plans.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re not coming tomorrow.” Maddy closed her eyes, willing him not to give her bad news.
“Well, actually, that’s exactly what I’m calling to tell you.”
Maddy took a deep breath, determined not to overreact. She knew the pressure Tuck was under with his unpredictable job, and if she didn’t respond to glitches in his schedule in a mature way, it would only add to any lingering concerns he might have about whether they could make things work.
