Shane bounded up the steps, pushed the door open, and walked inside with Nicholas following close behind. A gasp of surprise escaped his father, "Wow!"
"Like I said, not much on the outside, but it has what counts on the inside. The television is wired for satellite. There's also Internet at the big house if you need it. There are two bedrooms and one bath. Ellie washed all the linens and Carla stocked the cabinets with food. You should have everything you need, but if you think of something else, just let me know. Do you have any questions?"
Nicholas was in awe.
After a study of the room, his father said, "The only thing I need to know is what you want me to do to pay for all this and when do you want me to start."
Jake smiled and grasped Shane's hand. "Don't worry about that. We'll discuss everything in the morning at six sharp." A sigh escaped and Jake added, "I guess I better get back. I'd invite you to the big house, but with Carla being so–"
Shane shook his head. “Not a problem. Nicholas and I need to rest anyway. We wouldn’t be good company.”
Jake relaxed and turned at the door. "Shane?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you're here."
****
Ellie sat on the porch, cradled a cup of coffee, and waited for her father. Carla was inside fuming. Ignoring her step-mother, Ellie sipped the hot brew and thought about the farm's newest residents. Shane Wiseman was just as she remembered—a huge, muscular man with gentle blue eyes and a calm manner. His son, Nicholas, wasn't much different; he was tall, broad shouldered, and good looking. His skin glowed with a healthy tan and his blond hair, shaved into a military cut, served to highlight his sapphire eyes.
Her dad had mentioned that Nicholas had left the military recently and now Ellie couldn't stop envisioning him on the battle field. He would stand up for what he believed in, she could feel it. He would run into a burning building, rush into a place rigged to explode, give up his seat on a rescue boat, anything to save another human's life. In fact, the lines etched in his face might be an indication that those things had already happened.
Sighing, Ellie realized she was romanticizing the man. Perhaps her father was right and she needed to get out more. She was still thinking on that when Jake bounded onto the porch. He leaned against the railing, a smile wrinkling the corners of his eyes.
"Well, they're settled in. So what do you think?"
Caught off guard, Ellie swallowed a gulp of coffee too quickly and choked. She covered her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her father slapped her on the back and tried to stifle a laugh. When she was able to catch her breath, she laughed with him.
"What are you two laughing about?" Carla asked, as she wandered onto the porch.
Jake waved a hand. "Nothing important." He planted a kiss on Carla's cheek, adding, "And how are you, dear?"
"I'm right as rain now that those friends of yours have moved on."
Ellie noted her father's frown. "I don't get you. What did they do to offend you?"
"Well if you don't know, then I'm not sharing." She flung her head back, slinging her hair to the side, and stomped back into the house.
Jake shook his head. "I don't think I'll ever understand women." He looked at Ellie, "Are you coming in for dinner?"
Ellie left the rocker and followed him inside. For dinner they enjoyed roast beef, boiled potatoes and carrots, and cornbread with pinto beans. A cold glass of milk washed it all down.
Jake said, "Tomorrow we'll give our compliments to Charlotte. She must have dragged out the recipe box because that reminded me of…"
Ellie caught Carla's frown as her father's speech faltered. The tension in the room increased. A storm was brewing between the two. It was the same every time Charlotte, the housekeeper, made one of her mom's old dishes.
In hope of avoiding the conflict, Ellie slipped from the room, taking her dirty dishes to the kitchen. A window above the sink revealed light from the cabin. The Wiseman men were no doubt settling in. After their long drive, they probably didn't feel like preparing dinner. Ellie dished up several containers of leftovers and prepared a note for her dad and Carla. She placed it on the refrigerator under a magnet. Leaving the kitchen, she walked out the back door and took the wooded path to the little house.
Chapter Three
Shane and Nicholas unloaded suitcases and boxes in the cozy living room and bedrooms and then plopped on the couch. An air conditioner hummed in a nearby window. The ceiling fan wobbled with each rotation.
"So, what now? Wanna watch TV?" asked Shane, twirling the remote in this hand.
Nicholas pushed up from the couch and walked to the adjoining kitchen. He poked his head in the refrigerator. "Dad, didn't Jake say his wife stocked the fridge?"
"Yeah, he did."
"Well, somebody must have gotten their wires crossed because there's no food in here."
"What about in the cabinets?"
Nicholas opened cabinet doors. Every shelf was empty. He shook his head and swore under his breath. Before long his father joined him in canvassing the kitchen. After a fruitless search, they collapsed back on the couch.
"So what do we do now?" asked Nicholas. "I guess we should have stopped before we got here."
Shane raised an eyebrow. "We'll have to go out and eat and then run by the store. I don't know what else we can do."
"What store? I only saw an auto repair shop and a gas station—and maybe a fast food joint."
Shane laughed, "Nicholas! It isn't that bad."
"Might as well be." He crossed his arms over his chest.
Shane grabbed the truck keys. "Let's go find something. I just hope once we leave this place we can get back in. That narrow road wasn't exactly easy to see."
Nicholas sighed and slipped his shoes back on. Jerking the door open, his heart thumped when he saw the hand poised to knock.
"Oh, hello. I thought you two might be hungry."
The girl with the emerald eyes stood with a box full of food containers. She thrust the box toward Nicholas, but Shane stepped between them to grab it. It was a good thing his father took the initiative because all Nicholas could do was gawk.
The word, "Thanks," finally pushed past his lips.
She shrugged. "Sure. We had plenty left over. No reason to let it go to waste."
Shane said, "Nicholas don't just stand there, invite the girl in."
Nicholas stood aside and motioned for Ellie to enter. She hesitated before crossing the threshold. Once inside, she walked to the kitchen and opened cabinets and drawers. Plates and cutlery were pulled out and she set the table. Shane and Ellie worked together to spread out the feast. Another cabinet was opened and Ellie came away frowning.
"I thought…I mean...there was supposed to be food here."
Shane grabbed her hand and led her to a chair. "Not a problem, we can rectify that tomorrow."
"You're right. I'll see to it myself. I guess Carla forgot."
Nicholas sent her a questioning gaze and her cheeks colored.
Shane took a bite. "This is great. Did you make it?"
"No, I'm afraid not. Charlotte comes during the day to cook and clean; she made it." She twisted a long strand of black hair. "I used to help mom cook this meal, but I haven't tried it on my own." Sorrow tinged her voice, and a sad smile lifted her lips.
Shane said, "Jake must be doing pretty good if he can afford a maid."
"Not really," Ellie replied, studying the table.
"What do you mean?"
Nicholas enjoyed the meal and listened to the conversation. The tone of Ellie's voice made a dull ache start inside him.
She shrugged. "Truth is Charlotte feels bad for dad so she gives him a discount."
Nicholas replied, "What's there to feel bad about? He has a decent farm. A beautiful new wife. A faithful daughter."
Ellie shifted in her seat, nervously twisting her hands. "I think I should go. I mean, I'm sure dad is trying to track me down and you two need to settle in and get some res
t after your long drive. I'll see you tomorrow."
Nicholas and Shane stood when Ellie scooted her chair back and rushed from the kitchen. They walked to the window and watched her flashlight bob and weave down the trail toward the big, white house.
Nicholas asked, "What's up with that girl? She seems skittish."
"Nicholas, let's go back to the table and eat."
"But, she's out there alone."
"She's fine. Sit down."
"If I do, will you explain what you know that you're not telling me?"
"Yeah." Shane waited until Nicholas was seated. "What Ellie was trying to say was that Charlotte feels sorry for Jake because his first wife died in a car crash."
****
All night, sadness and thoughts of loss haunted Nicholas. When morning came, he was in a surly mood.
Jake knocked on their door with an offering of waffles and coffee, apologizing for the lack of food in the house. "When Ellie told me what happened…man, I'm so sorry. I guess Carla just forgot to stock the shelves. Everything else is okay though, right?"
Shane smiled and slapped Jake on the back. "Sure is. Everything is fine. We'll go after work to pick up some things. No big deal."
Jake shook his head. "No need for that. Ellie's already headed to the store. She'll have everything ready when we get home today."
Nicholas pulled his work gloves on and stifled a groan at the headache beginning behind his eyes. He walked to the medicine cabinet and popped two aspirin.
His dad came around the corner. "We good to go?"
"Ready when you are."
Jake had brought three horses with him. As they rode, he explained that in addition to raising a few head of cattle, the ranch was also a fifty acre farm that grew corn, green beans, potatoes, and other vegetables for farmers' markets and people in the region.
While the horses trotted, Shane said, "Jake, when you called and asked me to move here and help, you never really told me my duties. I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do."
Jake scratched between his eyes and cleared his throat. "Well, the fact is, the place is too big for me to run on my own and I need help with everything. I hate to admit it, but I let some things go after Annie died. I just couldn't seem to move on. I kept thinking back and realizing how much time I could have spent with her. I just don't want to make the same mistake twice."
Shane nodded.
Nicholas understood. How could he not? How many years had he spent away from home trying to be his own man? There had been times when he could have spent more time with the family, but he'd blown it off. It was time he could never get back.
They traveled a little further before stopping next to a broken fence. Supplies were piled nearby. Jake said, "Here's our project for today. We need to repair this fence so the cows don't escape."
Shane dismounted and started right in. Nicholas gave him a puzzled look. How did his father know about fence repair? He'd worked as a plant supervisor for a chemical company in Louisiana. He'd never repaired anything at home. Nicholas' mom had always called in specialists: carpenters, plumbers, electricians. She'd claimed his father was hopeless when it came to home repair.
Shane must have noticed his confusion, because he explained while he worked, "Don't look so shocked, son. Jake and I worked together on a ranch one summer. In fact, that's how we met. Both of us were on school break and trying to make some spending money. Where was that place again?"
Jake laughed. "Oh, don't act like you've forgotten. That was the most memorable summer of both our lives."
Shane grinned sheepishly. "True. It was one with lasting consequences."
As he lifted the pile driver from a hole and dumped the dirt, Jake guffawed, "The ranch was in Oregon; beautiful country. But I think if you're going to tell the story of that summer, you need to tell the boy the truth."
His father shrugged. "Nothing much to tell. It was a great way to make some cash. The ranch was a fancy resort where people with more money than sense go. People would pay to come out and "play" at the ranch. Only we were the real hands keeping everything going. We were responsible for some hard, grueling labor. I don't think I've worked as hard since."
Jake never looked up, his tool striking the ground. "And tell the boy the other reason we were there."
"I did. I told him we wanted spending money. And it was a good learning experience."
"And?"
"Oh, all right. We were there looking to find girls."
Nicholas snickered, "Girls? Did it work?"
A blissful expression covered his father's face. "Yeah, it did. I met your mother that summer."
"And I met my Annie."
Both men stopped working and stared off into space. Nicholas watched changing emotions flash across their countenances. "Not to interrupt your walk down memory lane, but if you two were such great friends, how come we never got together while I was growing up?"
Shane answered, "No real reason—life just getting in the way. When the summer ended, we left the ranch and went our separate ways. We finished school, got married, and started working. Time and distance just kept us apart."
Jake added, "We talked on the phone occasionally and sometimes sent letters, but we didn't have time for anything else. The wives kept in better touch."
Both men started working again. Before long, the heat of the day caused all three men to sweat profusely. Shirts were removed and thrown aside as the day waned. Each horse carried a water container but it wasn't long before the canteens were empty.
"I guess we should stop for the day. This heat is unbearable. And I didn't tell Ellie to bring more water."
Shane propped himself against a fence post and rubbed the back of his neck. "Stopping is okay with me. I haven't worked this hard in forever. I may not be able to move tomorrow as it is."
They laughed at Shane's admission. Mounting their horses, they headed back to the small cabin. When they dismounted, Jake said, "I told Carla this morning I was inviting ya'll to dinner. I think Charlotte's making lasagna. How about it?"
They readily accepted and while Shane showered, Nicholas went to inspect the cabinets. He was surprised to see the shelves overflowing with staples: pasta, rice, sugar, flour, canned goods. There were even bags of chips and cookies and boxes of cereal. The fridge was also overflowing. He read a note on the counter.
Hope I got everything you need. Feel free to let me know if I forgot something. —Ellie
Shane came into the room toweling his head. "What's that?"
"A note from Ellie."
"Ah, already getting love letters, are you?"
"Dad! Jeez. It's about the food."
Shane lifted his hands in defense. "I'm only joking, son. You're usually not so sensitive about these things. I remember the time your mother found a letter in your backpack and started reading it at the dinner table and–"
Nicholas interrupted, "Maybe we should go. We don't want to be late for dinner."
Shane laughed and pocketed a flashlight, heading outside to the trail.
Chapter Four
Carla's voice rose in volume. "What's taking them so long? Don't they know supper is getting cold and it's rude to make people wait?"
"I'm sure it's taking longer because of the one bathroom. They'll be here," said Ellie.
Carla rested her hands on her hips. "Doesn't it bug you that the money your dad spends on their labor is money you'll never see?"
"No.” Ellie turned to walk away. “I think I'll wait on the porch."
"No, I need your help here. Cover those dishes." Carla lifted a lacquered fingernail and pointed at the table.
Releasing a pent up breath, Ellie went to the kitchen, grabbed some foil, and returned to cover the bowls. When the task was finished she looked up to see her father's smiling face. He hugged her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"How was your day, sweetie?"
"Very nice."
"So what are you doing?"
Carla interrupted. "Jake, she
offered to cover the dishes since our guests aren’t here yet. She's very considerate." While she spoke, she sidled up to Jake, placed an arm around his waist, and sent Ellie a warning look.
Jake smiled. "What have you been doing today, darling?"
"Oh, this and that."
Ellie bit her tongue and walked to the front porch when her dad pulled Carla into a tight embrace. Anger made her heart pump faster. She paced the length of the porch and sweat beaded on her upper lip from the heat.
Without warning, a light bobbed through the trees and out came Shane and Nicholas. They laughed and Ellie felt guilty at her envy of their companionship. Stepping off the porch, she said, "Hello."
"Hello, Ellie. Sorry if we kept you waiting," Shane apologized.
"No problem."
Shane walked past her, going inside and leaving her alone with Nicholas. They walked up the porch steps and Ellie waited for Nicholas to speak. He said softly, "Thanks for the food."
She shrugged.
"No, I mean it. You went way beyond just buying a few items."
"Well, I hope you like what I picked out."
"I'm sure we will. We're easy to please."
Nicholas quirked a smile and Ellie's face flushed. A voice behind them caused her to jump.
"Hmm, that's nice to know. Guess I was right about figuring you're the type who knows exactly what he wants."
Nicholas frowned at Carla's flirty tone. Ellie ignored her and invited him inside. He followed without comment and she led him to the dining room where Shane and Jake were uncovering dishes. Carla entered and took over. "Oh, that's not work for you two, allow me."
To tamp her irritation, Ellie kept her body moving by filling glasses with sweet tea. When she came to Nicholas, he flashed a smile that made her heart flutter.
Jake and Shane sat at each end of the table while Carla and Nicholas sat on one side and Ellie sat alone on the other. The meal was shared without much conversation. At the end, Ellie brought out coffee and peach cobbler.
Shane finished first, leaning backwards and massaging his belly. "I'm full to bursting. That was mighty fine eating. You'll have to give my compliments to Charlotte."
All I Have Page 2
