He pulled the cups out of the microwave and tossed the sopping tea bags into the trash. He stirred a little sugar into each cup and held one out for her.
“Brandon is asleep. He woke up enough to mumble that you worked him hard today.” She squinted at him a little. “Something wrong?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you’re always smiling, like you’ve got the whole world in the palm of your hand. But I see the anger, the sadness behind it.”
“You’ve been watching too much Dr. Phil.” He sat down at her rickety old table and stretched his legs out.
Here he was, sitting in her kitchen, drinking her tea, never really thinking about getting up and leaving. Something was really wrong with that picture. Wasn’t there?
“I don’t have time for television.” She sat down at the table across from him. “I’m talking about you, the guy who showed up in town and decided to right past wrongs, starting with my life. But that isn’t going to fix what’s wrong with you.”
He sipped his tea, speechless.
“Gage?”
He looked at her, really looked at her. Her brown hair hung straight and long, framing her face. Her eyes were bright. And her lips... He really was losing it.
“I’m fine, Layla.”
“You’re not fine. What happened to Reese was a hard blow, to all of you. Especially for the brother who always looked up to him.”
He sat there staring into his empty cup and then he looked at her. Was this his life now, sitting at her table, sharing tea and talking? He should go immediately, get on a bull and get in touch with his cowboy side before she had him planting flowers in her garden.
“I’m dealing with it.” What else could he say to a woman digging into his life and his heart? “I’m working through it.”
“Good. Because angry doesn’t suit you.”
He stood up, because he needed to go. He hadn’t meant to stay. He’d meant to make sure she got home safely, then head to Cooper Creek. She was right—his time for making amends was over. Somehow she had turned it all around, making it all about him, his life. He hadn’t seen that coming.
“I’ll see you later.” He carried their cups to the sink. “Brandon said you work tomorrow. I’ll pick him up in the morning.”
“I’ll let him know.”
She stood, and followed him to the door. They stood there for a minute, his hand on the doorknob, while she leaned against the wall, looking sleepy and a little pale.
He wanted to kiss her good-night, but he held himself back.
“Layla, you’re right. I was doing this for myself. But then it became something else.” He reached for the coat he’d left on the coatrack. “I’m not even sure what to say except, I’d like for us to be friends.”
“We can be friends.”
For whatever reason, her softly spoken words made him smile. He needed her friendship in a way he couldn’t explain. Maybe because she didn’t mind being honest with him. If she could stay in his life, he thought he might be a better person.
But right now, he needed to say something. And he needed to leave.
“Thanks, Layla.” He hugged her. It felt right. And she hugged him back.
She stood there in his arms for a moment. He kissed the top of her head. Friendship. Yeah, right. He loosened his hold and she stepped back.
“Good night, Gage.”
He nodded and slipped outside, back to the cold and sleet of a December night. The icy air felt good as he hurried to his truck.
He glanced back at the house. Layla was watching, her face pressed against the rectangular window. He wondered what she could be thinking, standing there. Maybe she was wondering when the weather would switch back to normal.
Or maybe she was thinking about him.
He laughed at the idea. Since when did women think about him when he left?
She was probably standing there wondering what the roads would be like in the morning, thoughts of him not even crossing her mind. On the other hand, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Layla Silver, strong, quiet, never giving up. She’d had it tough, but she kept on going.
All of his life he’d taken for granted everything he had. He hadn’t put much effort into his career, because he hadn’t really needed to. He’d always had bull riding, the ranch and wherever the road took him. It was the perfect life.
Until now.
The thought stopped him in his tracks. Sitting at the end of Layla’s drive, he wondered why all of a sudden his life no longer fit. It felt like a favorite pair of boots that were suddenly too small. Man, he hated that. Breaking in a new pair of boots was never a good time.
Finding out that his life was no longer what he wanted it to be, also not good. He glanced back at Layla’s little house. He couldn’t see her from where he sat in his truck. Probably better that way. He needed to head home.
He needed to do a lot of thinking, figure out what in the world he was going to do next.
Chapter Twelve
Layla stood in the kitchen of the Back Street Community Center, shivering a little, wishing someone would turn up the heat.
“Are you cold?” Heather Cooper stepped close, placing a few cans of vegetables in a box next to the one Layla had filled with cereal and snack bars.
“Freezing. I keep thinking if I work faster, I’ll warm up. But I’ve been cold all day.” She’d been cold at church, at lunch and even when she’d sneaked in a nap. But it wasn’t cold outside. After the sleet on Friday and the frigid temperatures Saturday, Sunday had dawned sunny and almost warm.
“Maybe you should go home?” Heather suggested in a soft voice. “We can bring Brandon home later.”
“No, I’m good.”
While the women and teens boxed up the food, a group, mostly men, were outside putting the finishing touches on the set for the Living Nativity.
Today was a community service day. They were boxing and delivering food to families in the Dawson community. The Dawson Community Church youth group was wrapping gifts of coloring books, crayons and other small toys. There were also hats knitted by women in the church. No way would she miss out on all this.
She already had to bow out of the Living Nativity. She usually had a small speaking part or sang in the choir. Working two jobs, she just couldn’t fit it into her schedule this year.
“Brandon is enjoying himself.” Heather inclined her head in the direction of the group of kids wrapping gifts.
“He wasn’t thrilled with the idea until he got here and realized he might be the only guy.”
He’d wanted to be outside with the men. He was a man, he’d told her, not a kid. But he’d settled into the wrapping gig when no other guys showed up to help—making him the only guy among a group of pretty girls.
She went back to filling the boxes, hoping she could avoid Myrna Cooper, who was packaging cookies. Layla picked up a few of the packages to place them in boxes.
“Layla, how have you been, honey?” Myrna handed her another package of cookies. She had failed her task of evading Myrna.
“I’m good, Mrs. Cooper.”
“Call me Granny Myrna.” She smiled wide and patted Layla’s hand.
Oh, I couldn’t, were the first words Layla thought. But she knew better than to argue with her. She nodded. Myrna continued to give her a piercing look.
“Are you feeling well, dear?”
“I’m just cold.”
Myrna lifted her hand to Layla’s cheek. “My goodness, you feel warm. I hope you don’t have the flu.”
“I don’t think I do.”
“Maybe Gage should drive you home.”
“No, I have my truck. And really, I don’t feel sick.” Okay, a little nauseated, but nothing she couldn’t handle.
“If you’re sure.” Myrna patted her cheek. “One of these days you have to think about your future, Layla. Brandon is growing up. When is it your turn?”
“My turn?”
“To be young?”
Layla smiled at Myrna. “I think that ship has sailed. I haven’t felt young since...”
“Forever?” Myrna supplied the word.
“Maybe.” Layla smiled again, wanting Myrna to know that it was okay. She didn’t sit around bemoaning her life. She loved her brother, the farm and her community. Someday, maybe, she’d meet someone. But life wasn’t all bad. She sometimes thought people assumed that because of everything that had happened, her life must be horrible and desperate. It wasn’t.
It hadn’t been easy, but it hadn’t been horrible. There were good moments in every day. There were bad. Didn’t everyone have good days and bad?
“Well, I think your day is coming.” Myrna turned to wrap more cookies.
“I’m fine, Myrna.”
Myrna smiled at her again. “I know you are, honey. I know. You always have been. I think that’s what puzzles people. They don’t understand the kind of faith it takes to tackle life the way you’ve had to do.”
“Thank you.” Layla hurried away with the cookies. They were nearly done packing the food boxes. The clock on the wall said it was five o’clock. They would have to start delivering soon.
As if on cue, Layla heard footsteps heading down the stairs. The men returning from their work outside. Angie Cooper and a few other women had put out trays of sandwiches and fruit. There was coffee and tea to drink. The workers started lining up with plates. They would eat, and then the boxes would be loaded and delivered.
Heather walked up behind her and gave her a little push toward the food line. “Get something to eat.”
Layla nodded, but food was the last thing she wanted.
Getting in line behind Gage, whether Heather planned it or not, definitely wasn’t what she wanted. She held back a little, trying to come up with an excuse to head in the other direction. She’d never seen herself as a coward, but today that’s exactly how she felt. Two days ago she had pushed him to talk; now she wanted to avoid all conversation.
Gage turned and saw her. He smiled shyly at her.
“Better get in line, ladies, before it’s all gone.” He motioned them ahead of him. “Get ahead of me. I’m pretty hungry.”
“He’ll take it all,” Heather confirmed as she moved Layla forward in the line.
She somehow ended up in front of Gage with his hands on her shoulders, keeping her in line in front of him. He leaned in, and she felt his warm breath against her ear. “Nowhere to run.”
“I hadn’t planned on running.” She grabbed a paper plate and handed one to him, hoping to keep his hands busy.
In front of her, Heather laughed. Layla had never been close to Heather Cooper. They were a few years apart in age. They lived in different worlds, had different friends. Heather didn’t even go to church in Dawson. Although someone had told Layla that Heather was moving back to town.
Layla took half a sandwich and a handful of grapes. Gage reached for a bag of chips and dropped one on her plate, one on his own.
“I didn’t want those.” She looked back at him.
“You have to eat more than a half of a bologna sandwich.”
“I’m not hungry.”
He took the bag of chips from her plate. “Suit yourself.”
And then, somehow, she ended up at a table with Gage and Heather. One on each side of her. Brandon sat across from them. Conversation buzzed. Layla got lost in her own thoughts. As Brandon talked about the kind of truck he wanted when he turned sixteen and playing baseball in the spring, she thought about the electric bill, the loan payment and Christmas.
It wouldn’t do her any good to worry. Somehow she’d get through. She always did.
“We should go.” Gage stood up, taking his empty plate and hers.
Layla looked up at him, trying to process what he’d said. “I’m sorry?”
“Jeremy paired you with me. We have five boxes to deliver.”
She glanced around the room and spotted Gage’s half brother, Jeremy Hightree. He stood next to his wife, Beth, and her brother, Jason Bradshaw. Jason held his little boy in one arm while he talked.
Layla looked away from the group and back to Gage. She always delivered boxes with Beth. She started to say something, but Gage smiled and reached for her hand.
“Come on, Layla. We have a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to get it done.”
“But I always go with Beth.”
“She isn’t going this year. She’s exhausted. In the family way, you know.”
She knew, but she hadn’t expected that to stop Beth. Maybe baby number two changed things for a woman.
“Stop looking so cornered. We’ll have a good time handing out these boxes of food and watching little kids smile.” Gage grinned at her, and when he did, she melted.
Unfortunately he knew it. His smile grew bigger. His hazel eyes sparkled with mischief, the green flecks in his eyes made more green from the sun shining through one of the small basement windows and dancing across his face.
“Let me get my coat.” She headed for the closet under the stairs.
As she slipped into her coat, the men started grabbing boxes and carrying them up the stairs. Suddenly Layla felt weak and her stomach ached. She knew full well she didn’t have time to get sick.
She hurried up the stairs, wrapping a scarf around her neck as she went. The boxes were being loaded into various cars and trucks. People were pairing up. She searched for Heather and didn’t see her. She thought maybe she could switch partners, that maybe Heather would rescue her.
Gage waved and called to her. He was closing the tailgate on his truck. She took a deep breath and headed his way, smiling. Because she was going to deliver boxes of food to families in need, to children in need.
She loved Christmas traditions. She wasn’t going to let a virus ruin this for her. Her gaze connected with Gage’s. He smiled an easy smile and she knew it wasn’t about the virus. What she felt was a good case of her heart going into defense mode, trying to protect her from what it knew would happen when Gage Cooper tired of spending time with her.
* * *
Gage drove down Back Street. He and Layla had been given houses on the west side of Dawson and just outside of town. He pulled the list out of his pocket and handed it to her.
“Where do we start?”
She looked over the addresses. “I say we go to the house farthest from town and work our way back.”
“You’re the boss.”
She laughed at that. “Go left on 1011.”
“Got it.” He headed west on the main road until he found the farm road she’d indicated.
He pulled into the driveway of a house that had seen better days. Smoke poured from the chimney, and as his truck came to a stop, the front door opened and a little girl peeked out. She was dressed in pajamas but wore rubber boots on her feet. Her blond hair stuck out in all directions, and as she watched them, her thumb went into her mouth.
“She comes to church on the bus.” Layla spoke softly as they sat there in the warmth of his truck. “Her name is AnaLilly.”
“She’s a cutie.”
“Yes, she is. Their mom is single. There are three kids.”
“Well, let’s see if we can’t make their day a little brighter.” He got out of his truck, aching a little on the inside as he looked at the small house with the patched-up roof, a rusted-out van sitting in the driveway and a few scraggly chickens pecking at the frozen ground.
Layla joined him at the back of the truck. He glanced her way. She looked pretty, with jeans tucked into brown boots, a pretty brown sweater and a scarf around he
r neck.
Gage hefted up the box and followed Layla to the front porch. The little girl had gone back inside, and the door was closed. Layla knocked.
Finally the door opened. The mom stepped out, looking way too young to have three kids. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She smiled at them, shy and teary-eyed.
“Gabby, we brought you a few things.” Layla had taken over, smiling at the young woman barely out of her teens, he guessed.
The three kids pushed around her, trying to see who had come to visit. Gage smiled down at them. A boy and two girls, all under six or seven.
The boy looked to be about five. He had his eyes on Gage’s cowboy hat. Gage smiled at the kid as the mom allowed them to enter her house. He carried the box of groceries into the kitchen and put it on the counter. When he turned, the little boy was standing there, smiling up at him.
“Buddy, I think you need a cowboy hat.” Gage took off his hat, his favorite, and put it on the boy’s head. “There, it’s all yours.”
“Oh, Mr. Cooper, he can’t take that hat.” Gabby tried to get the hat back. “Jimmy, give him his hat.”
Jimmy ran off.
“Really, I want him to have it. Every boy needs a cowboy hat.”
Gabby nodded, her dark eyes overflowing with tears. “Their daddy got himself killed in Afghanistan. We wasn’t married yet or nothing. It’s been real hard.”
“I’m sure it has.”
Layla hugged Gabby. “It’ll get easier, Gabby. You make sure the kids come to church next week. We’re having a big Christmas dinner.”
Gabby wiped at her eyes. “Thanks, Layla, I appreciate that. And this food. Thank you. My folks went off to Oklahoma City to see if they can find jobs. I guess if they do, we’ll be moving down there. Until then, we’re just trying to get by.”
Trying to get by. Gage knew a lot of people in her shoes, just trying to get by. He cleared his throat and looked around the little house. “Is there anything else you need, Gabby?”
She laughed a shaky laugh. “A million dollars would be nice, but I haven’t seen any prize patrols wandering my neighborhood.”
The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship (Cooper Creek Book 7) Page 12
