by Linda Warren
“Deal or not?” Callie asked, trying not to smile.
“You find Odell a girlfriend and I’ll never touch another cigarette again.”
Callie held out her hand and they shook on it.
“When can I expect results?”
Callie hid a secret smile. “Oh, it won’t take much time.”
“I still think you’ve had your head in the oven too long.”
They walked into the kitchen and Odell was taking a large tray of salads from Wanda to carry to the refrigerator. Ethel couldn’t see what was going on under her nose. By the glances Wanda and Odell were sharing, Callie knew it wouldn’t be long at all. And Ethel would stop smoking in the process. That might have been sneaky, but when sneaky worked, you took it.
How she wished her problems could be solved so easily.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE CAFÉ OPENED without a problem. Callie had intended to call it La Maison Bleue, the Blue House, but Odell, Ethel and Wanda had gone together and bought a mat for the entry door as a gift. On it was Callie’s Café and that’s what it was officially christened. It was perfect. That’s what everyone called it anyway.
Ms. Millie had run an article about the café opening and the day’s menu, so Callie was hoping a few people would show up.
Kristin, Ryan and Cody were the first to arrive. Callie came out of the kitchen to greet them.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Oh, please,” Kristin laughed, taking a seat. “This is going to be so great having a nice place to eat lunch, and I get to spend more time with my husband.” She touched Ryan’s cheek.
Ryan smiled. “I want you to know, Callie, that I drove all the way in to have lunch with my wife.”
“Are Brit and Adam here?” Cody asked, looking around.
“No, I’m sorry. They’re at the Montgomery—” Her voice stopped as she saw who was coming up the walk. Jock, Wade and the kids strolled in and Callie looked at them, puzzled. What were they doing back?
“Excuse me,” she said to Kristin and Ryan, and met the group in the foyer. “What are you doing here?”
Wade carried a large bouquet of mixed flowers. “Happy grand opening,” he said, placing the flowers on an entry table.
“Oh, my.”
“We brought you flowers,” Mary Beth exclaimed.
“And we’re here for lunch,” Jock said. “My treat.”
“Yeah. We’re customers.” Brit held on to Jock’s hand.
“You didn’t have to do this.” She was so touched she wanted to cry.
“Gal, are you going to stand here quibbling all day or are you going to get us some food? I’m hungry as a coyote on the prowl.”
“Me, too,” Adam said.
“Cody.” Brit ran to her friend.
Callie gathered herself. “Okay. Essie will show you to a table. I need to return to the kitchen.”
“Callie, can Cody and me go outside and play?”
Callie kissed the top of Brit’s head on the way to the kitchen. “Not today, sweetie. It’s time for lunch.”
“We can’t stay long,” Kristin said. “I’m busy at the clinic. Maybe another day.”
“Okay. Bye, Cody.” Brit ran to join her siblings at a table.
Wade followed Callie into the kitchen. “Whoa.” He grinned at all the activity going on. “It’s busy in here.”
“Yes.” She paused from arranging a plate. “Thank you for bringing them. The flowers are beautiful.”
“Thought we’d lend our support and when Pop saw in the paper that chicken-fried steak was on the menu, well, that cinched it.”
Ethel had gone around Wade twice to get a spoon, then a bowl. Suddenly, she stopped. “Now, Sheriff, you’re a big man and you’re starting to get in my way. Either do something or move that gorgeous body elsewhere.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He winked at Callie. “Talk to you later.”
A steady stream of people kept coming and Callie was so busy she didn’t even realize when the kids had left. She vaguely remembered them saying bye. She, Ethel and Wanda worked well together. Ethel fried the steaks that Callie had prepared, added gravy and handed it to Callie, who put a scoop of garlic mashed potatoes, green-bean bundles and sautéed vegetables on the plate. She garnished it with a sprig of green onion and a radish cut into a flower. Wanda took care of the salads, tea and desserts.
They’d scooped the peach cobbler into bowls earlier, and Wanda heated them slightly before topping them with ice cream and handing them to Janet. Out of the corner of her eyes, Callie saw Odell helping scoop the ice cream. No one spoke. They were all too busy.
When Callie went out to chat with some of the people, Wanda took over her spot. Ms. Millie and her husband, Hiram, came, as did Noah, Miranda and her mom, Virgil, Barbara Jean, Walter, Del and Little Del, Frances Haase, Arlen Enfield, Ed Tanner and his wife, Myron Guthrie, Gil Schafer the D.A., and several people from the courthouse she didn’t know. She shook hands and smiled and received a lot of compliments.
Afterward she was exhausted, but it was a good exhaustion. She, Ethel, Wanda, Janet, Essie and Buddy sat at the kitchen table going over ways to improve their work. Buddy had helped with the dishes to keep the kitchen from getting so cluttered. He didn’t have to. Callie had large containers for the dirty dishes, but she appreciated his help.
“We need another waitress,” Janet said. “I ran my butt off today.”
“I can help with the waitressing,” Essie volunteered. “But then there’s no one to take money.”
“I can do that,” Buddy said. At Callie’s frown, he added, “I’ll put on my good jeans and my white shirt. I’ll even take off my baseball cap. Heck, I’ll even wear a tie if you want me to.”
“But what about your station?” Callie asked, not wanting him to do it if it was going to hurt his business. She could see that he wanted to, though.
“I close it up all the time when I have to go somewhere. I make my money fixing cars and the big Exxon up the street gets all the gas business. That’s fine with me. I can come and go as I please.”
“Okay, then. Buddy will take the money, but a tie won’t be necessary.”
“Thank God.”
Odell came through the back door. “We got a problem.”
“What?” Callie turned to Odell.
“The cars were parked all over the street and Mrs. Miller couldn’t get her car out. We have to do something about the parking.”
“Let’s look out back and see what we can come up with.” Buddy and Odell headed outside and the women went to work on the dishes.
The kitchen clean once again, the women went home, but Wanda lingered. “I’ll be here early tomorrow to help you.”
“Thank you, Wanda. You did a great job today.”
“I didn’t get nervous or anything.”
“No…” Callie stopped as Buddy and Odell returned.
“This house sits on about an acre and a half so there’s plenty of room to make a parking lot. Don’t have to do much of anything, but put up some signs and Odell will direct traffic a few times and everyone will figure out where to park. Now I’m going home to make sure my white shirt is ironed and finish a car I need to get out.” He kissed Callie’s cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Buddy.”
“Callie.”
She turned to Odell.
“There’s the old servant’s quarters out back and it’s in real bad shape. Could I fix it up in my spare time? Then I could rent it from you. I’d have my own place away from Mama.”
Callie paused as so many emotions ran through her. She was a phony, a fake. She’d lied to all these wonderful people who’d welcomed her to their town and into their hearts. She wasn’t really who they thought she was and she would be leaving. She shouldn’t allow Odell to do anything to the place. But how could she tell him no? It would be good for the town to have Odell restore the quarters. It was falling apart like the house, so it couldn’t be wrong to give Odell some freedom. Ethel wou
ld have a different viewpoint, but…
“Sure, Odell. Go ahead.”
“Thank you.” He glanced at Wanda. “Wanna see it?”
“Yes.” Wanda’s eyes lit up.
As they went outside, Callie wondered where Bubba Joe was. He and Odell were usually inseparable, but Odell now had another interest. And it was wonderful to watch.
Callie sighed, then grabbed her purse and headed over to Tanner’s to pick up the prime ribs she’d ordered for tomorrow. She wanted to season them and put them on before she went to bed that night. Putting the beef in the refrigerator, she felt a stab of loneliness and knew where she had to go. It didn’t take her long to reach Spring Creek Ranch.
As she parked by Wade’s squad car, she saw Yolanda’s truck pull up to the barn. She walked toward it. Yo climbed out and Chester and Peanut followed.
“Hi, Yo,” she called.
“Hey, niña. How did the opening go?”
“Great. Where are the kids?”
“Oh. They comin’.” She waved toward the pasture. “Little bit usually rides with me, but when Mr. Wade’s around she’s stuck to him like glue. Sure is good to see.” Yo leaned against the truck. “Even the old bastardo’s different. After Zach died, things were pretty bad around here. Never thought it’d change. Mr. Jock’s done stop drinking and Mr. Wade he’s smiling again. Niños sure been good medicine. Life come back to Spring Creek.”
A stab of guilt almost paralyzed Callie. When her true identity was revealed, so many people were going to be hurt. She had to put a stop to it now before she hurt anyone else. But how did she do that? How could she break that old man’s heart?
And Wade’s?
She heard the thunder of hooves, and looked up to see Adam on Lucky and Brit on Fancy racing for the barn. Adam stood in the stirrups, leaning forward with his hat pulled low. Brit’s hat bobbed on her back, as she and Fancy sprinted after him. Dust spiraled behind them like a cloud and Callie was amazed at how well they could ride.
Adam pulled up a moment before he reached Yo’s truck and jumped off, patting Lucky. “Good girl, we beat Brit again.”
Brit was a second behind him, but undeterred by her defeat. “I’ll beat you someday.”
“Hi, Callie,” Adam shouted, leading Lucky into the barn.
“I have to take care of my horse.”
“Callie,” Brit called as she rode in behind Adam and dismounted.
She saw two more riders coming at a slower pace, Jock and Wade. Mary Beth rested in front of Wade, and Callie just watched for a moment, soaking up this peace, this joy that she was about to shatter.
Chester snorted.
“Gotta get Chester home and feed him,” Yo said, climbing back into the truck with Chester and Peanut on the front seat.
Callie waved bye and walked into the barn. Adam and Brit already had the saddles off and Callie wasn’t sure how they’d done that so quickly. They were brushing the horses down and talking soothingly to them, then they led them into the corral.
“C’mon,” Adam said Brit. “We have to get the feed.”
They ran to the storage shed and, between the two of them, they carried a sack of feed and dumped it into a trough. The horses neighed and moved around them and Callie’s heart leaped into her throat, but Adam and Brit were unafraid, stroking the horses as they ate.
Wade and Jock rode in.
“Callie, Callie, look at me,” Mary Beth called.
“I see.” Callie held up her arms and lifted Mary Beth from the saddle.
“We been checking cattle and we saw Sadie and Babe,” Mary Beth said. “Now I have to help Wade take care of the horse. If you ride, you have to take care of your animal ’cause he’s got feelings, too.”
Mary Beth slipped from her arms and Callie stood back as the horses were unsaddled, rubbed down and fed.
Wade came back into the barn. “Things looked like they went well today.”
“Yes. Thanks for bringing the kids and the flowers.”
“My pleasure.” Her eyes clung to his and all she could see and feel was warmth—a cozy, candlelit, just the two of them, skin-on-skin kind of warmth. She wished she could freeze this moment in time and not think about the future, just enjoy the present. But she couldn’t. She had responsibilities.
She looked away. “I came to pick up the kids.”
“You didn’t have to do that. I was fixing to bring them home.”
Jock and the kids strolled in.
“Get your things. Let’s go,” she said more sharply than she’d intended.
“But it’s early,” Jock complained. “They can stay a while longer.”
“No, they can’t. I’ve imposed on you long enough.”
“It’s not an imposition, gal.”
Jock wasn’t making this easy. “Thank you, Jock, but it’s time I started taking care of my kids again. They won’t be able to come out here so much because I want them at home.”
“What!” erupted from the kids simultaneously.
Wade and Jock exchanged a glance and Callie quickly herded the kids toward her car. They kept grumbling, but Callie was steadfast. She had to do this for everyone’s own good.
WADE AND JOCK WATCHED her drive away.
“What’s going on, son?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did somethin’ happen today?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“Callie’s acting strange.”
“Yeah.” Wade nodded. “And I’m going to find out why.”
THE KIDS WOULDN’T EAT supper. They just pushed their food around until Callie told them to go take baths. With the girls tucked in, she went to talk to Adam.
With a mutinous expression, he sat cross-legged on his bed. She took a breath. “Please try to understand that we’re getting too involved with the Montgomerys. We’ll be leaving as soon as I hear from my lawyer and—”
“Please don’t hurt him, Callie. He doesn’t deserve it.”
Callie knew he was talking about Jock and she should have stopped all this before it ever had started. Now she was the bad guy, hurting everyone. She kissed his forehead because she couldn’t promise anything.
Feeling spent, she went downstairs to the front porch. Wade marched up the walk and she slowly sank into the rocker, bracing herself.
He leaned against a pillar. “What’s going on, Callie?”
“Nothing. I’ve just decided that I can’t involve you and your father any further in our lives.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little late for that?”
“Maybe, but it’s my decision.”
His eyes darkened. “So all of a sudden you’re going to keep them away from Pop and me.”
She stuck out her chin, determined to be strong. “They need to be with me. I have to do what’s best for them.”
“Callie…”
“No.” She fought against the softness in his voice. “You’re not the one who abducted them and took them across the country. You’re not the one who the FBI is looking for. And you’re not the one who has to face the consequences.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m the one who aided and abetted you. I could have turned you in to the FBI and ended it then.”
“I know and I appreciate—”
“Do you?”
“Please, I’m trying to keep all of us from getting hurt.”
“You’re too late.” He turned and hurried to his car.
Callie drew up her knees and rested her forehead on them. The tears came and she didn’t try to stop them. She cried for everything she was losing and the tears echoed an ache in her heart that was never going to go away.
I’m sorry, Wade.
THE NEXT MORNING, THE KIDS were still sulking. She gave them chores to do, which at least kept them busy. The girls helped Wanda with the laundry and Adam was with Buddy and Odell figuring out the parking. He came back in for paper and Magic Markers to make signs. This was difficult, but it would be better in the long run.
By the time Ethel arrived, the rolls were rising and two large banana puddings were in the refrigerator. The prime rib had been cooking all night on a very low temperature. They went to work on the rest of the menu: roasted red potatoes with rosemary, corn casserole and a sautéed vegetable medley of squash, eggplant, green peppers, tomatoes, onion and garlic.
She gave the kids jobs while the rush hour was on so they wouldn’t be pouting. The girls handed out the mints and pecan kisses while Adam helped Buddy at the cash register.
The lunch crowd was larger than Callie had expected, but she was pleased. She met more of the Gallagher clan—Trevor and his wife, Donna, and their two kids, Hayden and Sara, were with Kristin and Ryan and Cody. Ethan and Kayla and their kids came, along with Kayla’s father, Boyd.
The kids were busy chatting and getting acquainted, so Callie asked Odell to carry two small tables that were in the utility room to the front veranda. She made hamburgers, fries and fruit wedges for all the kids and they ate outside, talking about horses.
She saw a lot of new faces and some familiar ones. Noah arrived with his mother, Ruth. Callie had met Ruth, as she was on the Home Free Committee. A dour, prim-and-proper type lady, she didn’t smile much.
Callie greeted them at their table.
“This is so nice, Callie,” Ruth said, arranging her napkin in her lap. “And good for Homestead. We’ve needed a place like this for a long time.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Kelley.”
“And thank you for hiring Wanda,” Noah said. “I’ve been trying to get her out of that house since her father’s death, but she was scared to even apply for a job. I told her you were a real nice lady and for her to come over here and ask. I was surprised when she actually did it.”
“Don’t thank me. I should be thanking you. Wanda is a jewel.”
Janet came to take their order and Callie made to move on.
