“You think I should call the vet?” asked Emily.
“Nope, me and Sophie can take care of it,” said Wade standing.
“Me?” asked Sophie.
“Yes, you can be my assistant.”
“Okay, but I’m sending you out there with some pie and whipped cream so you’ll have something to eat while you play vet,” said Emily.
****
It started to rain by the time she and Wade arrived at the paddock. Sure enough the horse in question was making a big fuss and scratching up what little grass there was with one of her front hoofs.
Wade stroked her belly as Sophie watched his hands glide over her shiny brown coat. It was stupid, but now she was even jealous that the horse was getting his attention and gentle caresses.
“Oh, yeah, she’s in labor. How about we take her into the barn so she can get out of this rain?”
Sophie went ahead and opened up the gate as the horse let Wade lead her out toward the barn. Once inside Wade checked her over again.
“Is she doing okay?” asked Sophie.
“She’s got a ways to go, but she’s going to be just fine.”
“You want to eat our pies while we wait?”
“Sure, I can’t wait to taste one of your grandmother’s creations again,” said Wade.
Sophie took the cling film wrap off the plates and handed one to Wade. They sat on a bale of straw, shoulder to shoulder, thigh to thigh.
Wade took a fork from Sophie and dived into the pie.
“Oh, wow, this is even better than I remembered. Soph, I never understood why your grandmother never remarried after your grandpa died. A man would kill for meals like these.”
“I think she had a couple of suitors, but she was too busy raising me by that time. That’s why I can’t let her go to jail for something she didn’t do. I owe everything to her.”
Wade squeezed her knee. “I promise you I’ll find out who really murdered Ambrose.”
The horse kicked a few times and started fussing again.
“Hold my plate for me while I check on her. And no eating my pie when my back’s turned.”
He handed the plate to Sophie, and she balanced it on her knee. She leaned back against one of the oak beams and smiled as Wade walked over to the horse and gently whispered in her ear. He rubbed her nose, and the horse nudged his neck with her nose.
Grans had always told her you could gauge how good a person was by how animals reacted to them. Animals weren’t dumb enough to be nice to someone they knew had an evil nature.
Judging by this horse, and all the other animals she’d seen Wade interact with while they’d been growing up, she’d say he had the purest heart of any man.
All the more reason to think herself an idiot for doing what she had. Not that Travis was a bad person; he wasn’t. However, thinking about it now, Sophie never had, and probably never would, ever meet another human being quite like Wade.
He was kind, considerate, generous, and yes, now drop-dead gorgeous, too. She watched as he spoke to the horse some more, stroking her nose, and then checking her belly.
“How’s she doing?” asked Sophie.
“She’s almost ready to become a mother. Hey, you’re not touching my pie over there are you?”
Add great sense of humor to his list of positive attributes.
“Maybe.”
“You better not be.”
“You know you’d never catch me if I took off running.”
“Don’t be so sure about it. I’ve had experience in the police force catching criminals. And you’ve been stuck at a job where you sit most of the time.”
Sophie stood and walked over to him. “Catch anyone interesting in Cheyenne?”
“One or two bad guys. Do you want to stroke her nose while I check her out to see if a foal’s starting to emerge?”
Sophie rubbed the horse’s mane and then ran her hand down her nose. She jerked up when Wade touched her rear end.
“Okay, don’t get feisty. Usually ladies like me touching their rear.”
Sophie bet they did. She secretly wanted to be one of them.
“Hey, Soph, this is so beautiful. Come and look.”
Sophie walked to where Wade stood and saw the foal emerging from its mother’s body.
Wade didn’t say anything but put his arm around her and pulled her in close as they watched the scene together. “Nothing quite like the miracle of birth,” he said.
She had to agree. Since she’d been a little girl she’d fantasized about having Wade’s babies. Sophie looked over at the corner of the stable. Wade looked there, too.
“Are you going down memory lane again?” he asked.
She nodded.
Over there at that very spot he’d insisted on seeing her boobs, which she’d known was a bad thing to do. And over in that corner they’d had a pretend wedding when she was eight and he was ten. They’d married themselves. They’d both slipped on wedding bands which were really curtain rings Sophie had found in Grans’s sewing box. Sophie had worn an old lace drape she’d found in the attic, and Wade one of his dad’s older jackets. They’d looked quite the pair that day.
“We now pronounce ourselves husband and wife,” they’d said in unison.
“I may kiss the bride,” Wade had added.
It hadn’t been on the lips but on the cheeks.
“Now we have to go on our honeymoon,” Sophie had said. “Other than lots of hugging and kissing, what’s so special about those?”
“It’s the start of their new life together,” Wade had said.
“And they start to share a bed. You want me to come and sleep in yours, or will you sleep in mine?”
“Hey, Soph, I really like my bed all to myself.”
“Okay, but will we still be married?”
“Sure we will.”
“If you say so. Oh, and when bride and grooms come into Mountainview, the groom carries his bride up to the room.”
“I can carry you, no problem. And you know what this means, don’t you?”
“No what?” Sophie had asked.
“That we can never marry anyone else,” he had said, holding both her hands. “It would be against the law, and we’d get in all sorts of trouble.”
“I promise I won’t.”
Sophie closed her eyes thinking back to what he’d said and how she had broken her word.
“We’re nearly there.”
Sophie glanced at Wade as helped the horse deliver her foal. It slipped out onto the straw.
“It’s a boy, and he’s a handsome one,” he said, stepping away so the mother could clean up her newborn.
“I wonder if the owner got rid of her because he knew he’d have another mouth to feed?” asked Sophie.
“Maybe. If Emily doesn’t want to keep it I think Pops might like it. He had to have his horse put to sleep last month, and you know how he loves to ride. At least with a foal he could raise and train it. I think he’d really enjoy that.”
Wade slipped his arm around her waist, and she set her head on his shoulder. She loved this man so much it physically hurt.
Chapter Eight
Sophie flicked through some design magazines she’d picked up in town earlier that morning. She’d checked with Amy who was filling in for her while she was away, and everything was okay, no problems. Even her client’s furniture had finally been delivered.
“When do you think you’ll be heading back to Seattle?” Amy had asked her.
She only just thought of Grans, the real reason she’d been forced to return home, when Amy had asked her that. Up ‘til now it had been all Wade. How would she deal with saying goodbye to him?
Can I say goodbye to him?
“I’m not sure. Probably after Grans’s pretrial and then I might fly back to Seattle for a while and then come back if it goes to a full trial.”
“You think it will?”
“I hope not, but I have to be prepared for that scenario.”
“Don’t
worry because I can handle anything for you.”
“Thank you so much, and I’ll call you again a few days.”
Sophie pressed the end call button on her cell and then tapped her fingers on the reception desk. She’d told Grans that she’d man the desk as Julie was heading out to the police fundraising dance. The same one that Cathy was attending with Wade.
Grans walked out of the office carrying two cups of coffee. She placed one down in front of Sophie.
“While I’m home I should give this reception area a makeover.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” said Grans, perching on the stool beside her.
“It’s outdated. I mean how long have you had those pillows on that couch over there? And the drapes…no one has that style any more. In fact, let me start taking some measurements now.”
“Nelson’s Ice Cream parlor is still around you know.”
“Meaning you want me to go there and not mess with your décor?”
Grans grinned.
“You want to come with me?”
Grans shook her head. “I have an outdated reception area to man.”
It was Sophie’s turn to grin.
“Go on, take my car and buy yourself one of those banana splits you used to love so much. You don’t want to spend your Saturday night with an old lady.”
“I’m home because of you.”
“We have plenty of time to hang out, and besides, I’m working.”
“If you say so.”
Grans flickered her fingers pretending to shoo her away. “My car keys are on the hook in the kitchen.”
Sophie ran up to her room to brush her hair before heading out. She grabbed her purse and then ran back downstairs. She collected the keys and made her way outside toward her grandmother’s car.
She could almost taste the banana split as she drove through the entrance of Mountainview and down the dirt road that led to the main street leading into Greenville. Sophie turned on the radio and tapped the steering wheel trying to decide what three flavors of ice cream she’d pick to top the banana. Funny how you always loved the foods you remembered from childhood. She turned on the radio while she waited for the light to turn green. Sophie used her index finger to hit the wheel in time with the beat of the music as she made a left onto the main street. She glanced momentarily at the parking lot of the Horseshoe Inn. It was packed because the police fundraising dance was being held there. Sophie knew it had started about an hour ago and didn’t want to think about Wade being inside there with Cathy. She signaled left and made her way down the street. At this time of the evening you could park on the street, so she pulled up as close as she could to the entrance of Nelson’s Ice Cream Parlor.
Nothing like ice cream to take your mind off things and to chase away the blues.
She got out of the car, locked it and headed down the road a few feet. Nelson’s looked exactly how she remembered it. A few tables and chairs outside on the sidewalk. The red and white checkered curtains in the window. By the look of their faded colors, Sophie guessed they were probably the same ones that had hung there since she’d been a kid. What was it with everyone in Greenville not changing their décor? Maybe she’d give the whole town one of her design makeovers. But no, that would be wrong. It was, after all, what made it so unique and homely. In all honesty, it’s what she liked most about coming home. Everything was familiar and predictable. Seattle was fast paced and constantly changing.
She smiled when she heard the bell over the door ringing as she stepped inside. Even that was the original. On a Saturday night she hadn’t expected there to be a line of people waiting for ice cream, but eight people were ahead of her. She looked up at the menu above the freezer housing the ice cream while she waited.
The bell over the door sounded again, and as she looked around she saw Wade’s father heading inside. He pushed his cowboy hat back on his head and smiled.
“I’ve been meaning to drive over to see you, honey,” he said.
They hugged one another, and then he kissed her on the cheek.
“How’s Emily holding up?” he asked.
“I think she’s doing okay, but she has her moments when she’s scared.”
“And I don’t blame her. The whole thing is crazy. I told Wade count me in on helping get to the bottom of the mess.”
“Thank you.”
“And you, young lady, you’re more beautiful than ever. What are you doing without a date on a Saturday night?”
“Waiting for a banana split.”
“You getting one of those things? Me, too. Hey, this is my treat,” he said reaching into his back pocket for his wallet.
“No, really, Bob, you shouldn’t.”
He lifted his hand. “I insist, and I’ll be insulted if you don’t let me.”
“Okay because I wouldn’t want to do that.”
They approached the counter, and Bob ordered two splits with the works.
“Let’s take the table over by the window there,” said Bob, putting his hand in the small of her back.
They sat down, and Bob pulled out a pile of napkins from the stainless steel dispenser. “There we go. Don’t know about you, but when I eat these things, well, it tends to get real messy.”
Bob looked great, and she suddenly realized where Wade got his good looks from. Despite grey hair and some lines around the eyes and mouth, Bob was still a handsome cowboy.
“And how come you don’t have a date tonight?” asked Sophie when the assistant placed two glasses dishes overflowing with ice and whipped creams and chocolate syrup.
“I am in fact supposed to be at the police fundraising dance, but I guess my heart wasn’t really into it.”
“You didn’t want to tag along with Wade and Cathy?”
Sophie took her first bite of the strawberry ice cream and thought she’d gone to heaven.
Bob shook his head. “I’m happy to see that Wade is dating, but I don’t know what it is, can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something about Cathy I don’t like.”
“Me neither.”
That had slipped from her mouth before she’d realized it.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t be judging. I mean I don’t know her, only met her briefly a couple of times.”
“No, I think your instincts are probably right. We’re not the only two who dislike her either. In fact, everyone in town thinks something isn’t right about her, but they just can’t put their finger on it either. She seems nice enough, but she’s pushy and nosy, too. Wade brought her over to my place one evening, and her eyes were everywhere, asking me where I got this and that.”
“You don’t think she’ll hurt him do you? Listen to me. I did just that.”
Bob put his hand on top of hers. “I think that’s sweet of you to think about him and his welfare. Don’t worry; I know Wade’s sensible enough to take care of himself.”
“I think so, too.”
“Hey, I suddenly do feel like dancing. Maybe my body will need to work off the calories from eating this ice cream. How about being my date for the fundraising dance?” He looked at his watch. “The night is still very young.”
Sophie would have jumped at the chance to go with Bob, but she didn’t want to see Wade and Cathy together, dancing together, being happy together.
“Bob, I’m wearing a t-shirt and jeans.”
“And I’m wearing jeans and a cowboy shirt. We’ll make a perfect pair.”
“I’m not much of a dancer.”
“Not a dancer. Listen to this girl. Do you remember who taught you all those fancy moves?” He swayed his shoulders from side to side.
Sophie laughed recalling Bob letting her put her feet on top of his at the Valentine’s dance when she was seven. It was the first one since she’d lost her parents, and the theme had been dads and daughters. It had taken all her nerve to walk down to the Linleys’ house to ask him.
“Mr. Linley, would you be my dad for the Valentine’s dance this year?”
“
Sophie, my sweetheart, I’ll be your dad whenever you want me to be. I’d be very honored to escort you, little lady.”
Sophie remembered she’d lost one of her front teeth the night before, and her dress being so new had scratched her all night, and she’d ended up with bright red welts on her arms and legs.
“I still have that photo they took of me and you,” said Bob. “You looked so pretty.”
“With missing teeth and that awful frilly dress.”
“It was cute…you were cute. So what do you say about tonight?”
She was weakening. She’d be with Bob, so it wasn’t as if she’d be all by herself, sitting being tortured when Wade and Cathy danced by.
“Okay, you’ve twisted my arm.”
“Then let’s be on our way.”
They stood. He put on his cowboy hat before offering her his arm.
****
Wade wanted to sit the next dance out so he could at least get his breath back, but Cathy insisted he wait until after the next tune finished.
At least it was a slow song. The place was getting hot now that everyone seemed to have arrived all at once. Cathy put her arms around him and made him pull her in closer. He’d decided they’d have their talk when he took her home tonight. She rested her cheek on his chest. He twirled her around. As he did so he caught sight of his dad. He only saw his back, but he recognized the shirt and the brown leather belt he’d seen him wearing earlier that afternoon. Wade was happy that he’d decided to come along after all. He spent too much time on his own, and in way he wished he’d find a nice lady friend who would be by his side as he grew older.
Well, he’d found a dancing partner. That was a good start. Wade wondered who it was. He couldn’t see because his father’s back was still toward him, and with his dad’s large size, Wade couldn’t see around him. However, at that very second he swung around, and Wade did a double take.
Sophie.
His dad was slow dancing with Sophie. Not that he wasn’t allowed to, but what were they doing together? How did they get together?
Wade casually moved Cathy around so it didn’t seem like he was staring at Sophie and his father.
“Isn’t that your dad and Sophie?”
“Yes, yes, it is,” said Wade.
Last First Kiss Page 9
