Coming Home: (Contemporary Christian Romance Boxed Set): Three Stories of Love, Faith, Struggle & Hope

by Debra Ullrick

  “So, how was piano?” Keith finally asked Peter.

  “Hard.”

  “Yeah, well nothing worthwhile is easy.”

  Once again, Maggie marveled at his easy way with the kids. He didn’t seem intimidated nor apprehensive around them at all.

  “How was work?” Maggie asked him just so there was something more than silence in the room.

  The question took him off-guard. “Oh, it was good. Ike thinks Q-Main has a great chance at Grand Prairie this weekend.”

  “Q-Main?” She needed more information to formulate a response.

  “Our best thoroughbred. Ike and Tanner are heading out Wednesday morning.”

  “To Grand Prairie?”

  “Yeah. It’s not too bad. Just upstate.”

  “And you’re not going?”

  The smile only lifted halfway. “No, I’m babysitting, remember?”

  The reply rumbled over her, and Maggie dropped her gaze. “We’d be fine. Really. We hate to keep you.”

  He shook his head, and his smile was full now. “Na, I was kidding. I only go to the big ones anyway. Too much work to get done around here to be off partying at the races.”

  “Ho’sies,” Isabella said, and a light went on behind Keith’s eyes.

  “That’s right. Horses. Good girl.” He started to take a bite and then let the fork drop down. “Hey, you know, you guys haven’t been out to the stables in awhile. Why don’t you come out tomorrow? I could come get you after lunch if you want.”

  The no jumped into Maggie’s consciousness. “Oh, I don’t…”

  “Really?” Peter’s eyes widened to saucer-size. Then he seemed to remember where he was, and his gaze slid to Maggie’s just before it fell to the table. “No, we better not.”

  That pushed Keith backward in his chair. A concerned scowl dropped across his features. “Why not? You love the horses.”

  Peter never lifted his gaze. “We might get dirty.”

  Disappointment slid over Keith’s features. “Oh.”

  Maggie heard the hurt in that single syllable. She knew it was taking her life in her hands, but nobody would ever know anyway. “Well, I think it sounds like lots of fun. We’ll put it on the schedule and call it a field trip.”

  The smile was back. She was beginning to love that smile.

  Keith made sure to call Dallas from the main house that night. It was good to hear her voice, to hear about her day, to hear about how things were going with the law clerking she was doing. It sounded so perfectly Dallas, he was happy for her. When he hung up, his thoughts traveled through the house to the other side. The kids’ wing. He considered going over to make sure everything was all right, but sanity stopped him from doing that. She would think he was checking up on her, and he didn’t want that.

  Besides, he needed sleep. Tomorrow was a big day. They were coming to the stables.

  Maggie was crazy enough to try this little diversion, but she hadn’t completely lost her mind. “Car seats,” she said as she stood on the mansion’s top step overlooking the driveway, two car seats flanking her stance. As always Isabella was snuggled in her arms and Peter was hovering not too far away.

  “Can’t be too safe.” Keith yanked the two seats from the top step and descended as if he was carrying a glass of water rather than two awkward, heavy objects.

  Maggie followed him to the pickup and waited while he fought to get the first seat in and secure. When Isabella’s was ready, Maggie stepped forward and settled her in. From the other side of the pickup, Keith opened the driver door and then the back. Once again, he went to work, getting the second seat in place and ready.

  “You didn’t know it was going to take an Act of Congress, huh?” Maggie asked, teasing him.

  “Na, it’s just a bill,” he replied.

  She laughed as he lifted Peter into the seat. A click and Keith slammed the door. She followed suit before climbing in front. “So, how far is this anyway?”

  “Mile and a half. We’ll be there before you know it.”

  For as dusty and dirty as Keith always was, the pickup was remarkably clean. In fact, the dark gray seats looked as if they could have just rolled off the lot. The air conditioner was on, not hard and high, but light and gentle. On the stereo, George Strait sang a waltz, and Maggie glanced at the read out, which showed Track 9. Not just some country station. He had the CD. That must mean he listened to Strait. That was a good sign. He had good taste.

  They skirted the main gate and went down a side road practically hidden in the crush of trees. Up a hill and down another stretch of road, and then a full racetrack came into view. “Wow. When you said racing, I had no idea.”

  “If you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right,” Keith said with a glance at her.

  “I guess so.”

  At the track they turned to the left, down another little road until they stopped at the barn.

  “Do we get to ride too?” Peter asked from the back.

  “You still remember how, don’t you?” Keith got out, and Maggie followed his lead.

  “Yes.”

  “Cool. Then we get to ride.”

  Keith had purposely “forgotten” to tell Ike about this little outing. It wasn’t that Ike would be mad. On the contrary, he was forever hinting at his concern for the kids with little off-handed comments. Still, something in Keith didn’t want to tip Ike off about things that weren’t happening anyway. It was better that way.

  “Hey,” Keith said, ducking into the trainer’s office. “We’re gonna take Buck and Nell out for a spin. Just so you know.”

  However, Ike’s glance up snagged on Peter standing at Keith’s knee. “Ok… Peter. Well. Well. Look at you. Aren’t you getting to be the big boy?”

  Great. There was no going back now. Ike stood and strode to the door. His sharply pressed jeans made their customary swishing sound. Those things must stand up in the corner by themselves. Unfortunately Ike’s approach pushed Keith back into the barn’s breezeway where Maggie stood, holding Isabella. The second Ike stepped out of the office nervous awkwardness snaked through Keith.

  “Oh, well, who do we have here?” Ike asked.

  “Maggie Montgomery.” She held out her hand, which Ike took like the true gentleman he was. “I’m the new nanny.”

  “Well, Ms. Montgomery, may I say you are a welcome addition to the outfit.”

  “Thank you,” she said and ducked with a half step back.

  “Like I said.” Keith whacked a hand into Ike’s chest. “We’re going to take Buck and Nell out for awhile.”

  The glint in Ike’s eyes told him he would never hear the end of this one. “Okay, but don’t get lost.”

  One ride on a pony at the county fair when she was five didn’t exactly give Maggie immense experience in the art of horseback riding. However, Isabella couldn’t ride by herself. So, praying like she’d never prayed before, she mounted the reddish mare that Keith swore was the tamest on the place.

  Once she was on, Keith handed her Isabella. It took a little effort to get her situated between the saddle horn and Maggie, but when she was finally there, she felt made for that space.

  “Got it?” Keith asked, gazing up at her from his stance on the ground.

  “Yeah. We’re good.”

  “Cool. Now for you little man.” With seemingly no effort at all, Keith swung Peter onto the other mount, a gray-speckled but otherwise dirty-beige-colored horse. There was no pause as Keith mounted behind Peter. “We set?”

  “Set,” Maggie affirmed.

  Keith turned his horse down onto the little trail, and with a deep breath, Maggie followed. The horses took a steady but slow pace as they passed through a knot of trees that Maggie had to duck underneath. There was a short span that the trees gave them breathing room, one more set of extra close ones and then they broke out onto the open plain beyond.

  “Oh, wow,” Maggie gasped before she could stop herself.

  He looked over his shoulder. “Nice, huh?”


  “It’s beautiful.” The field stretching to the horizon was awash in bluebonnets and orange paintbrushes. Spring had definitely arrived. A cool breeze brushed through her hair, sending it streaming behind her. It felt so good in so many ways she couldn’t catalog them all. The breeze was great. The day was beautiful. The landscape was perfect.

  Even the movement of the red mare was lulling and rhythmic. Staying right here forever sounded like the best idea she had ever heard. How far they went, she didn’t know, but suddenly she became aware of the heaviness of the child in front of her. Not wanting to bother Keith with slowing down, Maggie twisted her head around until she could see that yes, in fact, Isabella was asleep.

  She didn’t blame the little girl. Had she not known she was on an animal that could be unpredictable, she too would’ve fallen asleep. This was more perfection than anyone should have the right to enjoy. Her thoughts drifted to the kids at Mrs. Malinowski’s. They had no idea these kinds of places even existed. They had no idea of the possibilities in life. She wondered if she had ever known the possibilities in this life until this very afternoon.

  Determination to do something to show them drifted into her spirit. Someday. When she wasn’t worried about how to pay for tomorrow, she would step into Mrs. Malowinski’s shoes and do for others what that woman in her faith had done for her.

  “How ya doing?” Keith asked from ahead of her.

  “Great.”

  He spun slightly in his saddle to look at her. “Oh, she’s out.”

  “Yeah. She didn’t last long.”

  “Maybe we should go back.”

  “No. It’s okay.” Maggie shook her head, feeling the hair dance in the freedom of the breeze. “Let’s keep going a little longer. We can be a little late for naptime.”

  Chapter Four

  There was no question by the time dinner was finished that she was going to be sore tomorrow. Maggie stood from the table and swallowed the groan of pain that attacked her.

  Keith looked up from his spot by Peter. “So, how was riding?”

  “Fun!” Peter said before Maggie had the chance.

  “Ho’sies!” Isabella said as Maggie took her plate and set it to the side.

  “You, little missy need a good scrubbing.” Maggie picked the little girl out of the high chair, the evidence of the mashed potatoes smeared all across her face. “Goodness. You even smell like those ho’sies.”

  “Ho’sies!” Isabella said again, swinging her little feet into Maggie’s thigh.

  “Maybe some other time. Right now, it’s bath time.”

  Without being told, Peter stood from his place, stacked his silverware on his plate, and took it to the kitchen. Maggie sighed in spite of herself. He was much too old for four. “Well, we’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Yeah. Have a good night.”

  “We will.” She took Peter’s hand. “Come on, buster. I’ll let you play with the Ernie boat.”

  It was stupid. Keith knew it, but the quieter the house got, the more he wanted to check, just one time. They were already in bed, probably asleep, and yet, he wanted to make sure of that. Finally, unable to talk himself out of it, he quietly exited his room on the far opposite side of the mansion. He shook his head as he crossed past the master suite. How very far it seemed from the kids’ rooms.

  Not for the first time ever, he wondered why they bothered to have Pete and Izzy in the first place. Little trophies. That’s all they had ever really been. It was just like Ike said. Kids were meant to live with their parents, not be put on display to make the parents look good. Shaking his head to clear it of the disturbing thoughts, Keith made his way to the three doors at the far end of the hall.

  He noticed without really looking that the light was on under her door. She was probably reading or getting ready for bed. He’d have to be extra quiet. On his way to Isabella’s door, however, he noticed the white door on the opposite side cracked open. That was strange. Curious, he stepped over to it and peeked inside. The scene beyond knocked sanity and air from him simultaneously.

  There, on her knees, next to Peter’s bed knelt Maggie. He couldn’t see her face, but her back was arched. She was huddled in the protectiveness of her shoulders. Next to her, Peter lay, eyes closed, but turned toward her.

  “And help Mommy and Daddy come home safely. Thank You for today, God. Give us good sleep tonight, and let us have a great day tomorrow. Amen.”

  Unbidden tears sprang into Keith’s heart as he watched.

  “Amen.” Peter’s eyes opened, and he smiled at Maggie. Just then he glanced up, and Keith knew he was busted. He sniffed self-consciously.

  In the next heartbeat Maggie whirled around, fear and determination met in her face right up until she figured out who he was standing there. She stumbled to her feet. “Keith. I didn’t hear you there.”

  The A-lined white cotton shirt set off her curves as did the oversized tan pants. They were very loose and too short to be called pants. He was having trouble getting a full thought through his head. “I… I’m sorry. I was just checking everything before I turned in.”

  “Oh.” Her hand slid to the back of her shirt, which she pulled down. Then she brought her hand back around her middle and scratched the inside of her other forearm. “Everything locked down tight?”

  “Seems to be.”

  “Oh. Good.”

  If he hadn’t been thrown so hard off-track, he might have noticed how much trouble she was having to not fidget right off the planet. She wrapped her arms in front of her and scratched behind her ear. “We were…” Her gaze fell to Peter. “… just…”

  Compassion for her came over him. “No, hey. No need to explain. I talk to Him sometimes too.”

  “Oh.” She seemed rooted to the spot. “Well… I guess I should be getting to bed.” Her smile became gentle as she glanced back at Peter. “You, mister, have a good night. Okay? I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Okay.”

  The quiet peace of the scene traced over Keith as he watched her tuck the covers in around Pete. She was going to make a marvelous mother someday.

  “Good night, sweet prince.” She kissed the tips of two of her fingers and pressed them onto Peter’s forehead. “Now go to sleep.” Gently she drifted her fingers over his face and down the sides of his nose. With a sigh, he settled down and soft peace came over his little face.

  Maggie turned back to the door and walked all the way to it and through it without stopping. Keith let her pass and then closed the door and stood watching her in the hallway.

  “That was nice.”

  She had made it to her door obviously not planning to stop and talk to him. Her gaze was down when she turned to him. “Peter has a tough time getting to sleep. It seems to help.”

  Tenderness touched his heart. “So, you do that every night… pray with him?”

  It took her a long moment before she nodded. “It always helps me, so I figured it couldn’t hurt with him.”

  True admiration for her tilted his head to the side. “They’re lucky to have you.”

  She tried to meet his gaze but couldn’t hold it. “I wish I could do more. They’re great kids.”

  If he could’ve thought of something to say that would’ve kept her there, he would’ve said it. However, for some reason his brain wasn’t cooperating with his mouth.

  “Well, ‘night.” She turned, opened her door, and stepped inside.

  “Yeah, ‘night.”

  And then she was gone. Keith closed his eyes and shook his head. Why she had this effect on him, he couldn’t clearly tell. This was completely crazy. He was, after all, engaged to be married. Engaged. That meant you weren’t up at all hours of the night, standing in darkened hallways with some woman in her pajamas. He needed to call Dallas if for no other reason than to douse the guilt slashing its way through him.

  Okay, there are certain things in this life a girl just shouldn’t have to deal with. Changing flat tires for instance. Radiators ove
rheating, yes. A busted pipe. Programming the remote control. But being blindsided like that wasn’t fair at all. When the door closed between them, Maggie forced herself to breathe in a deep inhale. It did nothing at all to stop the swimming of her thoughts or the racing of her heart, but at that point anything was worth a try.

  Showing up in the kitchen at breakfast for no reason was one thing. Showing up when she was in her oldest pajamas with the rip on one side was quite another. Her hand went up to her hair, and she raked her fingers through it extra hard. There was no telling how she looked, but how he looked? Wow, was he easy on the eyes. Not to even mention how heart-stoppingly handsome he was minus the hat and the bandana. Dark hair, cropped extra short, and that face, and that smile. Ugh. It just wasn’t fair.

  She rolled her eyes so she was looking up at the ceiling in desperation. “God, listen to me. I do not need to fall for this guy. I don’t need him to keep showing up like this. Please. Please. I’m asking You…”

  “Good morning,” Keith said brightly the very next morning as he strode into the kitchen, bandana on, and hat in hand. Apparently her prayers all night long had had no effect.

  Maggie sighed in consternation and planted a patient smile on her face. “Morning. There’s Cheerios.”

  “Cool.” He sat down between the two kids and grabbed the box and a bowl from the middle of the table. Maggie had been wondering why Inez had set an extra one out. Now she knew.

  “Did you sleep well?” he asked.

  “Good. You?”

  “I’m going to have to go get my own pillow from my place. These extra fluffy things are about to do me in.” He leaned his head first one way then the other.

  “Ike’s heading out this morning?” she asked, pulling her shoulders up to her ears as wrists to elbows she straightened on the little window seat.

  “Ten. I’ve got to get over there as soon as I can. They’re gonna be wondering where I am.” He ate a bite and then looked over at her, which did nothing to calm her stomach. “You don’t eat breakfast?”