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

by Debra Ullrick

  She scrambled to her feet and waited for Miles to slow his horse, which seemed to happen at lightning speed.

  From the expression on her brother’s face, she knew he was furious.

  “Do you know everybody at the ranch has been out looking for you?” He jumped off his horse and stomped toward her. His nostrils flared and sweat beads sprinkled his brow.

  She scrambled to her feet. “What? Why?”

  He grabbed hold of both of her arms and shook her. “Do you know what time it is?”

  “Let go of me, Miles. What’s your problem?” She jerked away and looked at her watch. To her surprise, it was one-thirty. “Oh, wow. I lost track of time. I didn’t realize I’d been out here that long.” Guilt reverberated through her but came out as nonchalance. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like I was hurt or nothing.”

  “What’s the big deal? Are you kidding me? Are you so selfish you don’t even care when others are worried about you? If you would carry your walkie, Sami, we would’ve at least known where you were!”

  She ran her fingers along the empty case on her side. She’d done it again, gone and left without her walkie. She got that, but still. It wasn’t like she was a child. Why was Miles so angry? Going over to Stardust, she started readying him for the ride home. “I still don’t know what your problem is.”

  “You don’t get what my problem is.” Miles stomped right along with her. “Ah, let’s see, Sami. Cougars, coyotes, rattlers, shall I go on?”

  “I’m not a child, Miles. I have my rifle. I know how to take care of myself.”

  “Oh really?” He walked over to his horse and pulled out her rifle. “Do you mean this rifle?”

  She stared at her rifle now resting in Miles’ hands. She knew she’d been somewhat preoccupied this morning, but to leave her rifle and walkie behind out here, that could prove to be a deadly mistake, and she knew it. To make matters worse, she had fallen asleep. A shiver raced down her spine at the thought of all that could have happened. “I don’t know what to say. Okay?” Her gaze dropped to the ground. “I’m sorry.”

  Now she understood fully why Miles was so angry. She’d be angry too if any one of the hands would’ve been so careless and irresponsible.

  “You know the dangers out here as well as I do, Sami. And, you’re right, you’re not a child. So stop acting like one!”

  “I’m sorry.” Her eyes came up to her brother’s. “Really. I don’t know where my head was this morning. You know this isn’t like me. I really am sorry if I worried anyone. It wasn’t intentional.”

  “Well, we all assumed the worse, you know. Especially since Aunt Edna was expecting you to take her to town.”

  That dropped Sami’s shoulders another three inches, and she moaned. “Oh, no, Aunt Edna. I completely forgot. Is she really upset?”

  His hard face softened slightly. “You know me and Aunt Edna are the least of your worries, don’t you?”

  Her heart sank in her chest. “Dad?”

  “Yeap.”

  Even at the age of twenty-four, Sami was still afraid of her father. At that precise moment she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. That would be far better than going home to face her father. “Well, I guess I better go home and face the music.”

  “I can just about assure you, you won’t be hearing any music. Come on. I’ll help you pack up. I’m glad you’re okay though. Who else would I torment if something happened to you?”

  “There’s always Brent.” She sent him a smirk of a grin.

  “Naw, he’s too soft.”

  With dread still tracing through her, she mounted Stardust and followed Miles back to the ranch. When the house came into view, she spotted her father standing on the front porch watching for them. His arms were folded over his chest, and his hat was pushed far back on his head. Just from his stance, she knew he was furious.

  Humiliation and a deflated feeling sloshed around in her stomach when the others surrounded her as soon as she hopped off Stardust.

  “Girl, you’re gonna be the death of us all.” Bart pulled his hat off and playfully swatted her. “I’m thankful you came back without being chewed on by a cougar.”

  “I truly am sorry I worried all of you.” Her throat seemed to have closed up because she couldn’t bring herself to tell any of them she had fallen asleep.

  “We were worried about you. I’m just glad you’re all right.” Daniel patted her on the shoulder. “Well, I’d better get back to work.” He turned and headed toward the corral.

  Clint just nodded, smiled, and fell in behind Daniel.

  “Don’t let it happen again, or I’ll be forced to throw you over my knee like when you was three.” Bart winked and followed behind the others.

  She cut her eyes over at Chase who hadn’t said anything. “Do you have something to say, too?”

  To her surprised Chase stepped in close and hugged her to him. “Don’t ever do anything like this again.” He released her and took a step back, searching her face. “I don’t think my heart could take it if anything happened to you.”

  An electrical shock jolted right through her entire body. Her breath caught in her throat, her knees felt weak, and her hands began to tremble. “I…” Sami tried to speak, but words failed her.

  She liked the feel of being in his arms, the closeness of him, and how his eyes danced in the sunlight. She drew in a shaky breath and smiled.

  “Samantha Lawson, can I have a word with you?” Her father’s angry baritone voice stung her ears, breaking the moment between them.

  Without a word, Sami put her head down, turned, and headed in her father’s direction.

  An hour later, on their drive into town, Aunt Edna broke the silence. “You okay?”

  Sami shrugged. “Sure. There’s nothing like being yelled at by your father when you’re twenty- four years old.”

  “He was really worried about you.”

  “I know. I understand everyone was worried. I’ll remember to tell someone where I’m going to be next time. I just didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

  “No big deal, huh? Not only were you miles from the house, you were all alone, and with no protection.”

  Really Sami didn’t need the litany of her mistakes. She already had it memorized from its relentless march through her own brain. “I know, it was a stupid mistake, but I promise you it won’t happen again.”

  The scowl deepened on Aunt Edna’s face. “I just can’t believe you forgot your rifle. I’ve never known you to leave the house without it. What were you thinking?”

  “I don’t know. I just forgot it, that’s all.” She knew exactly what she was thinking. Chase’s face flashed before her eyes, a grin tickled the corner of her lips, and the butterflies in her stomach fluttered about wildly.

  Was he different? Was he someone she could trust? Her stomach quivered when she thought of the possibility of letting Chase into her heart.

  “Sami Lawson, are you listening to me?”

  Shaking out of the questions, Sami forced herself to focus. “What? Sorry, what were you saying?”

  “I said, it’s not like you to be so irresponsible.”

  “Look, like I said before, I can assure you it won’t happen again, Aunt Edna. I made a mistake today. I get it, but everyone’s entitled to make a mistake once in their lifetime, right?” Sami teased. “Just one? Eeny-teeny mistake.”

  “Very funny.”

  Then Sami let the teasing fall away. “All joking aside, I am sorry I worried you. It won’t happen again.”

  For the rest of the week, everyone felt the tension between Sami and her father. They hardly spoke a word to one another, and when they did, it was short and to the point. Sami knew it would take some time for him to get over being so angry with her.

  The reasonable thing for her to do now was to leave him alone and give him time to cool off. And, because he was William Lawson, she knew better than anyone that it could take days for that to happen.

  Sami
had just strolled out to the tack house to get a couple of things when Chase walked up behind her and poked her in the side. “Hey there, you.”

  Jumping at the sudden rush of feelings, Sami swatted his arm. “Stop that.”

  “Sorry.” He grinned. “Need a shoulder?”

  “No thank you. I already have two.”

  He lifted a single eyebrow and grinned. “Was that a joke?”

  Once again, his smile made her feel all tickly inside. She grinned back at him and shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe.”

  Leaning on the parked ATV, he surveyed her. “So is your dad still mad at you?”

  She nodded. “Yeap, but it’s definitely not the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

  Readjusting his hat, his gaze came back over and onto her. “I’m sure he won’t be mad at you too much longer.”

  A dry laugh bubbled out of her throat. “Then you don’t know my father very well. That man can carry a grudge for an awfully long time.”

  “I don’t know. All you’d have to do is flash those pretty blue eyes of yours my way, and I couldn’t stay mad at you if I tried.”

  She laughed as her heart played rat-a-tat-tat against her ribs. In that moment, she knew better than she ever had that she could easily fall for this guy. Then again, would that really be so bad? What was so wrong with him? Although she kept her gaze from drifting over to him, her heart said there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. Still, she knew better than to let him get too close. “Oh, I can get under a person’s skin pretty easily.”

  “You’re already under my skin,” he whispered. Stepping within an inch of her, he wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his arms. “And in my dreams, and in my heart.”

  Sami saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down, and she felt the tremor that rushed his body. Even though his hands were calloused, they were soft and tender against her skin.

  Stop! Stop! Sami’s mind wanted this to stop, but her heart wanted something else, and she was powerless to decide which part of her to listen to.

  He tucked one finger under her chin, lifted her face, and gazed into her eyes.

  She knew he was about to kiss her, and against all reason, she wanted him to with all of her heart. Tossing common sense aside, she closed her eyes and tiptoed herself up toward him.

  “Chase? Are you there?” Daniel’s voice sounded through the walkie on Chase’s side.

  In a breath, Sami pulled away, touched her lips with the tips of her fingers, and stumbled backward. “I have to go.”

  Chase put his hand out to stop her. “Sami. Wait.”

  However, on the wings of what-am-I-doing, Sami fled from the tack room and rushed toward the house. Stepping inside, she quickly closed the door behind her. She sank into the door, closed her eyes, fighting to calm her breathing. He had almost kissed her. How that one thought could do so much to her, she would never know.

  She knew if she’d allowed Chase to kiss her, her defenses would have crumbled around her like a building in a tornado. She wanted to be normal. She wanted to trust Chase. She wanted to be loved. But at what cost could she do any of that?

  Could she afford to have her heart broken again from being abandoned yet again? And what if… what if he wasn’t the way she thought he was? What if he was just waiting for a defenseless moment from her?

  But then again, Chase had changed things in her life, hadn’t he? And because of him, she was beginning to think she could love and be loved. She twisted her finger around a loose strand of hair that’d slipped from her ponytail, and chewed on her bottom lip.

  She’d worked so hard for so long to keep people at a distance that she wondered if she even knew how to let someone in. But, Chase’s determination and not allowing her to push him away, no matter how hard she tried, sparked something deep inside her soul and her heart. Maybe it was time to lower her guard.

  Chapter Seven

  Saturday morning, Chase laid awake in bed with one thing on his mind. Sami Lawson. When he’d first met her, he could see all the hurt and anger she had bottled up inside her. He believed God had sent him to the Lawson’s for a reason. With that in mind, Chase believed his mission was to be a friend to her and to show her that God loved her and would heal her brokenness if only she would let Him.

  However, somewhere along the way, she had found a way into his heart instead. He knew the feelings he had for Sami now were so much more than a friendship.

  “Father, you know my heart even better than I do. I can’t help how I feel about Sami, but I do know one thing, I’m not giving up on her until she finds her way back to You.”

  “Uncle Chase! Uncle Chase!” Kaylee yelled as she ran into Chase’s bedroom, climbed onto the bed, and began to jump up and down.

  “Kaylee!” Emily ran into the room after her. “I told you not to bother Chase.”

  “It’s okay, Emily.” He turned to Kaylee. “What’s up, Miss Kaylee?”

  “You said you’d build me a tree house today, remember?” Her excitement bubbled out as she bounced on his bed on her knees.

  “I did, didn’t I? Okay. Give me a few minutes to get dressed, and we’ll head out.”

  “Yoo-Hoo!” Kaylee shouted and ran out of the room.

  “Emily, would you like to join us? I’ll even treat you to the best cherry cobbler in town.”

  “Thanks. I’d like that. I need to go and make sure Kaylee’s putting her shoes on.”

  “Hey, Emily?”

  She stopped at the door and turned back around toward him. “Huh?”

  “There’s a craft store in town. I think they may carry some of those paints you use. You think you might want to browse around in there today?”

  Emily sucked in her bottom lip as she wrapped her arms around her stomach. Breaking eye contact with him, she looked to the floor. “I don’t think so, maybe next time.”

  After Emily left the room, he looked up at the painting hanging on his wall. It was a beautiful work, featuring wild mustangs standing next to a snow-covered riverbank. Emily had painted it for him years ago. She had been an extraordinary artist at one time.

  The last painting she’d been working on was a family portrait of Chris, Kaylee, and herself. She’d planned to surprise Chris with it on his birthday. But, it was never given, and it was never received. In fact, it had never even been finished.

  Once ready, the three of them headed out. Kaylee chattered the entire time on the ride into town. From how tall she wanted the tree house, to the baby birds in the tree outside her window. Chase felt guilty for not being at home more often with her. She needed a father figure in her life now more than ever, and Chase wanted to be that for her.

  Emily sat silently against the truck door. In his heart, Chase remembered how vivacious and happy Emily once was. When she laughed, her entire face would light up and her eyes sparkled when she smiled. She was truly a ray of sunshine, but not anymore. That was gone now, replaced with this ghost of a woman he hardly recognized.

  She’d always been a devout Christian woman. She loved the Lord with all of her heart, but her faith was beginning to waver. The pain and grief of losing her husband was taking a toll on her mentally, physically, and spiritually.

  She never cried. Never broke down. She’d just lost her zeal for life.

  When they arrived in town, Emily climbed out of the truck and said through the opened window, “I’ll meet you back here in a half hour.”

  Mr. Barley filled Chase’s order. By the time they had the truck loaded, Emily came walking up to his pickup with her arms loaded with shopping bags and put them behind the seat.

  “Hey, how about some ice cream and pie?” Chase asked.

  “Yes, yes, yes!” Kaylee squealed.

  Chase picked up Kaylee in his arms and swept her up to one side. “Come on, Emily. Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream.” He wrapped his free arm around Emily’s shoulder.

  For the first time in forever, Emily actually laughed.

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  Sami froze in her footsteps. Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.

  She couldn’t breathe.

  Everything around began to spin.

  She ducked in behind a display rack sitting on the sidewalk outside of Tami’s Clothing Store.

  In disbelief she watched Chase cross the street and walk into Maude’s diner. He was carrying a child and had his arm draped around the shoulders of a beautiful dark-haired young woman. The three of them were all smiling and laughing. A perfect little family.

  Sami clutched her fists into knots. “I should’ve known better. Why did I allow myself to trust him? How could I have been so stupid?” She slammed her fist into her leg and fought the anger welling up on the inside. “He’s no different than anyone else. He lied, he lied to all of us, he really is married, and he even has a child!”

  Heartache and disappointment washed over her like a raging flood, washing her away, drowning her, dragging her under into its darkest and deepest depths.

  “Sami, what are you doing?” Aunt Edna asked when she came out of the store and gazed at Sami, her brows forming a V between her eyes.

  She clenched her stomach through her shirt when a sudden onset of nausea made her body tremble. “I’m feeling kind of sick. Can we just go home now?”

  “Sami, look at me. Has something happened?”

  “No, can we just go? If you’re not ready, I’ll wait on you in the car.”

  “Sure, honey, we can go home.”

  Aunt Edna attempted to talk to Sami on the way home, but Sami wasn’t in the mood to talk. She was dealing with so many emotions, but most of all she was angry with herself for trusting Chase. How could I’ve been so stupid? Why didn’t I see through him? I won’t be fooled again.

  When Aunt Edna stopped the car in front of the house, Sami jumped out before her aunt could switch off the engine. Sami jerked her bags out of the car and headed inside.

  Just as she entered the house, she glanced at the family portrait hanging over the fireplace. It was the only picture of Maggie Lawson left in the house that her father refused to take down. She looked into her mother’s painted face. “I’ll never let anyone break me the way you broke my father. Never!”