“Mama, when is Jared coming?”
Peggy’s voice broke into Kerry’s thoughts and she looked around at the angelic sight of her daughter all dressed up in a red sundress and white sandals. Claws was carefully cradled in one arm and the sight of the little orange cat made her soft smile deepen. Jared had chosen the perfect pet for her daughter. In spite of the endless, sometimes pestering attention Peggy gave the cat, the little guy never hissed or clawed. He seemed to understand that Peggy loved him and he returned her affection with purrs and licks from his spiky tongue.
“Any minute now, darlin’. Are you ready to go?”
Peggy grinned and hopped on her toes. “Yeah! I want Jared to carry me.”
“Carry you?” Kerry asked with a puzzled smile. “You’re a big girl now. You don’t need to be carried.”
Peggy giggled and the tinkling, musical sound reassured Kerry that her daughter was slowly returning to normal.
“I know. But Jared smells good. And he’s big and strong.”
When a three-year-old noticed such things, there was no way a grown woman could ignore them, she thought wryly. But she had to try. She couldn’t let herself fall victim to Jared’s charms. If she did, she would lose her head and then her heart.
Twenty minutes later, the three of them were seated in the booth of a popular downtown steakhouse. To no surprise of Kerry’s, her daughter had chosen to sit in a booster seat placed next to Jared and so far the child had dominated the conversation.
As of yet, Kerry had not interfered with the interplay going back and forth between Jared and her daughter. Instead of giving him a break, she’d purposely allowed Peggy to chatter on. Which was mean of her, she supposed. Especially when she knew Jared wasn’t accustomed to entertaining small children.
Yet these past few minutes had given her a chance to study the man sitting across from her, to watch for any sign that he resented Peggy’s presence. But so far he’d displayed nothing but patience and genuine fondness for her daughter. That in itself was enough to soften Kerry’s heart toward him.
“Peggy, you’re about to talk Jared’s ear off. He’ll have to get it sewn back on.” She finally spoke up.
Chuckling, Jared reached up and tugged his ear that was receiving the brunt of Peggy’s chatter. “Your mama is teasing, little dove. My ear is still hooked on pretty tight.”
As though she needed to confirm things for herself, Peggy reached up and touched Jared’s ear, then shot her mother a quizzical look.
“His ear is okay, Mama. It’s not gonna fall off.”
Kerry laughed softly. “I was only teasing, Peggy.”
“That means you can talk all you want to,” Jared said to Peggy as he reached over and gently tweaked her rosy brown cheek.
The playful gesture was natural and full of affection and Kerry couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like for Peggy to have this man as her father. Seeing him like this with her daughter made Kerry believe he would be a wonderful, caring father. But would he always be there to love her and support her, even after she’d grown into womanhood? she wondered. Or would the role of father and husband be boring to him after years of playing the field?
Thankfully the waitress suddenly appeared with their orders and scattered Kerry’s wandering thoughts. The meal wound up being far more relaxed and enjoyable than she’d expected. When Jared eventually suggested it was time for them to leave, she was actually disappointed.
“Of course,” Kerry told him as the three of them left the booth. “Don’t let us keep you out late. Especially when you have work tomorrow.”
Amused by her sudden jump to conclusions, he gave her a crooked grin. “I didn’t mean that we needed to go home now. I have something else planned for the two of you.”
Feeling a bit like a foolish teenager on a first date, her heart lifted with excitement. “Oh? What is it?”
“I thought you might want to have a little visit with Great-grandfather George,” he answered as the three of them made their way toward the exit of the building. “I’ve already told him about you and Peggy and I know he’d enjoy meeting the two of you.”
Kerry studied his face and as she did the corners of her lips tilted to a faint smile. If Jared Colton was nothing but a playboy, he was doing a good job of masking it. She said, “I guess you realize that you’re not living up to your reputation.”
Grinning, he snapped his fingers in a gesture of regret. “Dang, I must be losing my touch.”
No. He wasn’t losing his touch, Kerry thought. She was falling for his masculine charms hook, line and sinker. But she’d worry about that later. Tonight she was simply going to enjoy herself. And him.
The smile on her face deepened. “If that’s the case, then Peggy and I would be happy to visit your great-grandfather.”
Chapter Six
About forty minutes later the three of them drove down a narrow dirt lane until they came to the small house where George “Nahiman” WhiteBear lived. Built just before the Great Depression and dust bowl had devastated Oklahoma, the structure was covered with brown tar siding made to look like mortared rock. A shallow porch ran across the narrow front and was totally shaded by an enormous cottonwood tree that grew on the west side of the tiny yard.
They found the old man sitting in a wooden rocker on the porch. Nearby, a carved cane of native cedar was worn smooth from years of use. As Kerry drew closer, she decided that George had to be somewhere in his mid-nineties and appeared to be amazingly alert for his advancing years. His sharp, hawklike features were dark brown and lined with a network of endless wrinkles. Black eyes were partially hidden by drooping folds of skin, while coarse, gray hair was slicked back from his face and fell to his shoulders. He wore black jeans, a white shirt and a black vest patterned with beaded shapes of horses and bears. Soft brown moccasins covered his otherwise bare feet.
“Great-grandfather, this is Kerry WindWalker and her daughter Peggy,” Jared said.
The old Comanche lifted a gnarled hand adorned with a large silver ring that was set with smooth stones of turquoise and malachite. Kerry clasped the bony fingers and smiled with genuine pleasure.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. WhiteBear.”
George cast Jared a look that said he was already impressed with Kerry’s gracious manners. To Kerry he said, “I have already heard a lot about you and the little dove who was lost. I’m glad my grandson was able to save her life.”
She glanced up at Peggy who was perfectly content with her perch on Jared’s strong arm. “I’m very glad, too, Mr. WhiteBear.”
The old man’s head shook back and forth. “Call me George,” he said to her. “Mr. WhiteBear makes me sound like an old man.”
Jared laughed. “You are old, Great-grandfather. There’s no use trying to make Kerry believe otherwise. And don’t go making eyes at her either ’cause she’s my girl.”
To emphasize his point, he curled his free arm around Kerry’s shoulders. A few days ago, the intimate gesture would have sent her into a silent panic. But tonight was different. She was beginning to trust Jared enough to relax. And his touch made her feel special and protected. Two things she’d never expected to feel again in her life.
Jared set Peggy on her feet and the child immediately scurried to the opposite end of the porch and sat down cross-legged on the floor. Since no other chairs were available, Kerry took a seat beside Jared in a nearby wooden porch swing.
George inclined his head at the two adults and grinned. Except for an empty gap where an eyetooth used to be, his teeth were incredibly straight and white.
“You have liked many women, my grandson. But I think this is the woman our Great Spirit has made for you.”
For as long as Jared could remember, George had been spouting off words of wisdom and predictions of things to come. Especially where family members were concerned. But Jared had never paid too much attention to Great-grandfather’s remarks. The mystic lore of his Comanche heritage had never figured into his busy m
odern life. Yet this particular divination sent a strange shiver down his spine. Just because he wanted to spend a little time with Kerry didn’t mean he was looking for a wife!
He turned his head slightly toward Kerry to see that she was studying him with raised eyebrows. No doubt she’d latched on to George’s remark about his grandson’s many women. Damn it. The old man could have kept that to himself.
“He’s exaggerating about the women,” Jared whispered. “You’re the first woman I’ve ever brought out here to meet him.”
Kerry didn’t know whether to feel flattered or worried. She’d believed Jared had brought her out here to his great-grandfather’s place because he’d thought she would enjoy meeting the old Comanche man. But now he seemed to be hinting there was a more intimate meaning behind this visit. And what had George meant by the Great Spirit making her for Jared? she wondered. Did he really believe God intended the two of them to be together?
Don’t be crazy, Kerry. Jared Colton has no long-term interest in you. He’s only enjoying your company while he’s here in Black Arrow. George WhiteBear was a very old man. He probably didn’t know half of what he was saying.
Seeing the unsettled look on Kerry’s face, Jared decided it would be best to change the subject completely.
“How have you been, Great-grandfather?” he asked. “Have your knees been giving you trouble?”
George rested long bony hands on both knees. “I walked a mile yesterday with Betty. The old woman says all I need is a good limbering up.”
“She’s probably right,” Jared agreed with a chuckle, then explained to Kerry, “Betty is an eighty-year-old woman who lives down the street from my sister’s feed store. She’s had a crush on Great-grandfather for years now. But he refuses to give in and marry her.”
“Apparently bachelorhood runs in your family,” she said with wry amusement.
He flashed her a guilty grin before he turned his attention back to his great-grandfather. “Well, did the walk limber up your knees?”
George WhiteBear cackled with glee. “Guess the old woman was right. Today my knees feel as good as they did when I was seventy. Maybe I ought to give the old woman a kiss. What do you think about that?” he asked Jared.
“I think you’re going to mess around and get yourself in real trouble with Betty. She might be more woman than you can handle.”
George’s chest swelled as he waved away his great-grandson’s suggestion. “Bull. I’m a Comanche warrior. I could still ride these plains and fight off the Kiowas if I had to.”
“Yeah, but I think Betty has the idea you’re a big chief. I wonder where she came up with a notion like that?” Jared asked, then shared a covert wink with Kerry.
“Well,” George said with a sheepish shrug, “the woman thinks she knows nobility when she sees it and I didn’t want to make her out as a liar.”
Jared laughed loudly and Kerry could plainly see he adored his great-grandfather.
“Naw,” Jared agreed with George, “that wouldn’t have been a gentlemanly thing to do.”
Suddenly George grabbed up his cane and slowly pushed himself to his feet. When he turned and walked over to where Peggy still sat, the little girl quietly studied him with wide, fascinated eyes.
“Come with me, Chenoa,” he invited with a gentle pat on top of her head. “I’ll show you my chickens and horses. I might even let you gather the eggs. Would you like that?”
After regarding him for a moment, Peggy gave him a slow, thoughtful nod, then looked to her mother for permission.
Kerry said, “Stay close to George. And do what he tells you to do.”
“I will, Mama,” she promised.
After George and her daughter had left the porch and disappeared around the side of the house, Kerry said, “I’m surprised. Peggy doesn’t normally take to men. Except for you,” she added wryly. “But she seems to feel comfortable with your great-grandfather.”
“Charming women runs in the family,” Jared teased, then with a contented sigh, he pushed the toe of his boot against the floor and put the swing in gentle motion. “Actually, I don’t know of any kid that doesn’t like George. Maybe that’s because even though he’s in his nineties, he still has the heart of a young boy.”
The fiery ball of evening sun had finally fallen, lengthening the shadows across the porch and the fresh-mown grass. Out near the wire fence that separated the small yard from the nearby woods, a two-story martin house was covered with the small purplish birds. Their happy songs were joined in by the high-pitched drone of cicadas inhabiting the cottonwood and the occasional call of a tree frog. The summer sounds and the velvety warm air wrapped around Kerry like the welcome arms of a lover.
“Exactly how old is George?” she asked him.
“No one really knows for certain. I don’t believe he ever had an original birth certificate. He claims he’s ninety-seven and Gloria, our grandmother, believes he was born well before statehood in nineteen-seven. So we figure he has to be in his upper nineties for sure.”
Kerry was amazed. “Oh my. That means he was a baby when this land was still Oklahoma Territory. There was no law to speak of and every bandit and gunslinger in the West came here to evade jail or the end of a rope. It’s incredible to think that anyone from that era is still living, much less be as spry and alert as George.”
His gray eyes sparkled as he studied her face. “You make his life sound fascinating.”
Her widened eyes said she found his remark incredible. “His life is fascinating. He’s seen decades of history.”
One corner of his lips crooked upward in an expression of guilt. “Well, I’m not exactly a history buff, Kerry. And George has spent his whole life here in Comanche County. He’s not what you’d call world educated.”
“You don’t have to see the world in order to be wise about life, Jared.”
Funny that this beautiful young woman would say the very same thing to him that George had said to him more than twelve years ago when he’d first left Black Arrow to spread his wings. At the time Jared had considered living in a quiet Oklahoma town as not really living. And down through the years he’d stayed away from Black Arrow far more than he’d visited. But now he was beginning to wonder if he’d been missing out on things he’d once taken for granted.
“Well, some people around town might debate whether George is wise or not. But one thing is for sure, he’s never been bashful about letting any of his relatives know when he thought they were doing wrong.”
She sighed wistfully. “Like I told you the other night, you’re a lucky man, Jared. You have such a sense of family. I’ve never had anyone but Mom,” she admitted. “And Peggy, of course.”
“What about your father? Is he not around anymore?”
With a shake of her head, Kerry looked away from him and focused her gaze on the shadows stretching across the opposite end of the porch. “No. Marvin passed away a few years ago. But he was someone I hardly knew. After I was born my parents drifted apart. Dad would wander in and out of our lives when we least expected it. Sometimes he’d be gone for months, other times he might return after a few days. I’ve tried to think of a time I saw him when he wasn’t drinking. But I can’t. And I used to wonder if I was the reason he drank. Because he didn’t want the responsibility of a child. But after he died…well, I gave up trying to figure him out.”
The sad regret Jared saw on her face suddenly had him thinking back to all the happy times he and his brothers had shared with their dad while fishing on Lake Waurika, hunting pheasant up in the panhandle or just tossing the football in the back yard. Trevor Colton had loved his children and even though he’d been a hardworking man, he’d always made time to give each of them attention.
For a long time after his father’s death, Jared had been bitter and angry that someone he’d loved and needed so much had been taken from him. But now he could see that Kerry was right. He was lucky. He’d had a loving father and he had years of wonderful memories of a man who’d
spent his whole life making things as good as he could for his wife and children. That was much more than Kerry would ever have. And the realization tore at him.
“Your mother never remarried after Marvin died?”
Kerry shook her head. “She runs if a man so much as looks in her direction. And if one does manage to corner her, she isn’t bashful about setting him straight about her feelings.”
He nodded. “She sounds like my Grandmother Gloria. George has often tried to get her to marry, but being widowed at a young age must have twisted her. She doesn’t have any interest in becoming a wife again.”
Curious, Kerry asked, “Did your dad and his twin brother ever know their father? Or did he die before they were old enough to remember?”
“From what I understand none of the family ever met the man. Back in nineteen-forty Gloria left here and went to Reno, Nevada. She was working as a cocktail waitress when she met and married my grandfather. By the time she finally came back here to Black Arrow, she was pregnant with twins and her husband had been killed in some sort of accident.”
“How tragic,” Kerry murmured. “She must have never gotten over her first love.”
Her remark had Jared curiously studying her face and after a moment he reached over and picked up her hand. “Is that what happened to you? You’ve never gotten over Peggy’s father?”
Surprise parted her lips and then her heart lurched into a heavy thud. “What—makes you ask that?”
His gray eyes continued to roam her face and she felt her cheeks warming to their touch. He was so close his thigh was brushing against hers and his masculine scent was swirling around her like a seductive cloak. She’d never been so aware of a man or so reminded that she was a woman. A woman who’d not been caressed or kissed in nearly four long years.
“You told me you don’t date,” he reasoned. “Peggy is three years old. Most women would have gotten over losing a lover by that time.”
A lover. How strange that term seemed in connection with Damon. At one time Kerry had considered him the very light of her life. Yet now she had to look back on that time in Virginia and wonder if what she’d felt had been infatuation for him and the idea of having a family of her own.
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