A Chance to Love Again

by Hutton, Callie

  “She fed me some nonsense about wanting to be in town closer to the school so Will wouldn’t miss any days when the bad weather hit.”

  “What did Big Bob say about it?”

  “Actually, Big Bob and his wife have left Oklahoma and set up housekeeping in Arizona Territory. Mrs. Richardson’s doctor suggested the air might be better for her arthritis there.”

  “And the ranch?”

  “I worked out an arrangement with Big Bob to buy the place.”

  Michael let out a low whistle. “Congratulations. That’s quite a spread.”

  “I know. I still can’t figure out why I was so lucky. I imagine it’s a case of being in the right place at the right time. It will require a heck of a lot of hard work to get it paid off. I had to let some of the men go because I needed a leaner payroll in order to make payments to Big Bob. I want it to be free and clear as soon as possible.”

  “From what I’ve seen, you are certainly up to the challenge.”

  “Yeah, too bad I don’t seem to be up to the challenge of convincing your sister to marry me.” He’d made numerous visits to the café since Rachel moved out two weeks ago. She was always too busy to talk to him, and refused outright his invitations to go to supper, or even for a walk after she finished work. He’d spent more time than he could afford to running back and forth between the ranch and town.

  The harder she fought him, the more determined he became to win her over. Now that he was living in the big house, all he could think about was having her and Will there with him. He and Amelia had reached an arrangement of sorts. If it hadn’t been for her love of cooking and helping Mac, they might have had more problems. He had opted to let just Amelia and Mac take over the cooking. Another way to trim the budget. Amelia was happy.

  And he was miserable.

  “I haven’t forgotten how you sullied my sister.” Michael crossed his arms over his chest.

  Rusty spoke through gritted teeth. “That is precisely why I’m here. I need some help. Your sister is as stubborn as Old Man Weasly’s mule.”

  They stared at each other like two gunslingers, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

  Michael shrugged. “Fine. I’ll talk to Rachel, but I’m warning you, this better get resolved fast. I’m not against dragging her to the altar, but I think my sister deserves a better wedding. Hell, she deserves a better husband, but it looks like you’re what we’re stuck with.”

  “Thanks. I guess.” Rusty spun on his heel and made his way out of the store just as a young woman with a baby on her hip entered. “Ma’am.” He tipped his hat and stepped onto the boardwalk.

  ***

  Rachel slowly climbed the steps of Mrs. Beamer’s boardinghouse. Despite Ellie’s prodding, she wouldn’t tell her why she gave up her job. Having Michael involved in this mess was bad enough. She had told her sister it was time for a change. Of course, Ellie hadn’t believed her.

  Since the Café closed for the day after lunch, her workday was over before supper, so she was able to spend time with Will, helping with homework and trying to adjust to her new life. Wearily, she made her way up the stairs and continued on down the hallway to her bedroom.

  It hadn’t taken her long to realize she’d acted in haste, and this was probably not one of her better decisions. Not that she had any intention of forgiving Mr. McIntyre. His accusations still stung. But giving up a nice job, moving out of a comfortable home, and making her son unhappy had probably not been the right thing to do.

  Her son. Now there was a problem in the making. Will had balked, stomped around, and eventually cried when she told him they were moving. She handled his temper quite well, but his tears tore her up.

  He was now in full rebellion mode, dragging his feet each morning in getting ready for school, denying he had homework when she knew differently, and answering her with quick, one-word remarks. No matter. She needed to make the best of this. Hopefully, she could tuck a little bit away and maybe buy a small house one day.

  She flopped on her bed, and cursed the man who had driven her to this. She should have stuck to her guns and kept him out of her life. She rolled to one side, and tucked her hands under her cheek. Without conscious thought, the good memories drifted into her mind. The looks Rusty had given her that burned through her clothes. The way he treated Will like his own son. His tender touches, warm embraces, and knee-weakening kisses.

  A soft knock on her door drew her attention. She sat up as the door opened and Mrs. Beamer stuck her head in. “Your brother, Michael, is here. He’s waiting in the parlor.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Beamer. I’ll be right down.”

  Rachel groaned, almost certain why Michael was visiting. She hadn’t forgotten his threat to invite Rusty to the altar with a shotgun. Now that she was the holdout, would he use the shotgun on her? Knowing Michael’s sense of honor and duty, she wouldn’t be surprised if he tried that tactic.

  Well, there wasn’t any point in delaying. Will would be home from school soon, and she’d rather not have this conversation within her son’s hearing. She climbed to her feet and washed her hands and face with the tepid water from the bowl on her dresser. She ran a comb through her hair and re-braided it, flinging the braid over her shoulder to hang down her back.

  Michael stood in the center of the parlor, fidgeting with the hat in his hand.

  “What brings you here in the middle of the day?” Rachel asked.

  “I think you know why I’m here. Miss Benson is minding the store. I don’t have much time, but I had hoped you and I could take a walk.”

  Rachel’s eyebrows rose. “Indeed? You left the store in the middle of the afternoon in order to take a stroll with your sister? How quaint.”

  “Not funny, Rachel. We have some serious business to discuss.”

  She sighed and waved toward the front door. “Since there is apparently no way for me to avoid this, let’s proceed.”

  Early fall weather had arrived, cooling things off quite a bit. Summer flowers were fading and the darkened leaves on the trees were starting to turn color. Her favorite time of the year, she took in a deep breath of the crisp air. She was only too glad to leave the heat of the summer behind.

  “Rusty came to see me yesterday.”

  “Oh? Rusty who?”

  “This isn’t funny. We have a situation here. You are a respectable woman, the mother of an impressionable young boy.”

  “And?”

  “And it’s time to put aside your anger and hurt and think about the potential consequences of your behavior.”

  “Michael, you’re stepping out of line.”

  “Am I?”

  “Yes, you are. I am well aware of my status, and my behavior, as you so nicely put it, is my own business. If there are consequences, I will deal with them.”

  His head snapped around. “Are there?”

  “Frankly Brother, this conversation has gone far enough. I am a grown woman. I don’t need, nor do I want, your meddling.”

  They reached the small park in the center of town. Three stone benches were placed under large oak trees. Michael took her by the elbow and directed her to one of the benches. Against her better judgment she sat when what she really wanted to do was march back to the boardinghouse and stomp up the stairs. Except with Will arriving home shortly, there would be no peace or quiet for her to curl up and lick her wounds.

  “How long are you going to punish Rusty?”

  “You see this as a punishment? Michael, you were there. You heard what he accused me of. You received a punch to the face due to his misplaced anger. The man believed I was in that hotel room for nasty purposes.”

  “Do you have any idea why he would leap to that conclusion?”

  She fiddled with the end of her braid, sliding it back and forth over her lips. “Maybe. He told me once he had a fiancée that he caught in bed with another cowboy in the bunkhouse.”

  A slight breeze lifted the hair that had fallen on Michael’s forehead. He brushe
d it back impatiently. “I can see why that might make him susceptible to jumping to the wrong conclusion.”

  “I’m not like that.”

  “Of course you’re not. But you’re dealing with a man who was just waiting to see if you were like that woman. I’m not saying he was right, but I think you might find it in your heart to understand. And forgive.”

  She snorted. “Do you think I want to spend the rest of my life wondering if my husband is imagining all sorts of bad things about me? Is perhaps following me around to prove him right?”

  Michael reached out and touched her hand. “Just talk to him. Hear his side of the story. Give him a chance to make it up to you.” He stood and offered Rachel his hand. “I know you very well. You are in love with that man. Sometimes love has to take a leap of faith.”

  “He has no faith in me!”

  “Maybe his faith was a bit shaken. But you have to have faith that your love for each other can handle whatever problems come up. I’ve told you many times before. Will needs a father. I think Rusty would be a great one.”

  They started back to the boardinghouse. “And if I don’t forgive him, will you come after me with a shotgun?” Her smile didn’t quite make it.

  “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

  ***

  Two days later Rusty snapped at another of his men, then stormed off. Hell, if he didn’t get Rachel out of his mind he would be left with no employees at all. He was pretty damn sure his men had taken about as much as they would. Even Mac threatened yesterday to drag him behind the barn and beat the living tar out of him.

  If only that would solve his problem. What he needed was for someone to take hold of that stubborn woman and shake some sense into her. Tomorrow was Saturday, and he had plans for Mrs. Stevens. He’d arranged for Mac to fix him a picnic basket, and even if he had to tie her up, she would go with him for an afternoon out and listen to what he had to say.

  Things had gotten so desperate that even Amelia warned him she would ride into town and tell Rachel how difficult Rusty had become to live with. The only good thing to come of Rachel’s desertion was how he and Amelia were getting on. Having her in the house with him, without Rachel to buffer them, had done a lot for their relationship. They’d had several long talks, and he was almost confident that things would work out between them.

  He strode into the ranch house and made his way to his bedroom where he gathered clean clothes and headed for the outdoor shower. Washing all the dirt and dust from the ranch off with soap and cool water did a bit to quell his temper as well. He tossed his clothes into the laundry basket by the back door and sat at the long kitchen table with a cup of coffee and the sandwich Amelia had left for him. He opened his ledger book and flipped to the last page, his finger tracing the numbers.

  Once in a while he glanced up and watched dust motes dance in the sunlight coming through the back window. His chest swelled with pride as he surveyed the ranch through the large window. In a matter of several years, with a lot of hard work and economy, this would be his. He was well on his way to realizing his dream.

  The sun was just beginning its descent behind the trees when he was jarred from his work by a panicked feminine shout. “Rusty!”

  Rachel.

  He hopped off the bench and strode to the front door. She was already pacing in the entrance hall, wringing her hands. She looked up at his arrival, tears streaking down her cheeks.

  Walking up to her, he took her ice cold hands in his. “Rachel, what is it?”

  “Is Will here?”

  “Will? No. Why?”

  “Oh, God.” She collapsed against his chest, gripping his shirt, trying desperately to get some air into her lungs. “He’s gone.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “What do you mean, gone?”

  “He’s run away. We had a terrible fight this morning.” She pushed away from him and continued her pacing. “He accused me of hating him because I took him away from . . .” She looked up, misery plain on her face. “From you.”

  “Go on.”

  “I’m afraid I was a little hard on him. I told him you weren’t his father, and he better get used to the idea of not having you every minute of his day. Then he grabbed his schoolbooks and stomped out of the house. I went to work, certainly not feeling good about the way we parted.”

  She wiped her nose on the hem of her apron. “Then this afternoon he never came home from school. I went to the schoolhouse, and Mrs. Davies said he hadn’t been to school all day.”

  She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I thought for sure he was headed here, that I would find him with you.”

  “No, honey. I haven’t seen him.” He put his arm around her shoulders and led her to the kitchen. “Here, sit down and catch your breath. We’ll put our heads together and I know we’ll find him.”

  “If he’s not here, then where is he? He’s only a little boy, he could be lost, or kidnapped. It’s all my fault.”

  “Honey, you’re getting yourself worked up for no reason. I’m sure he’s fine, and we’ll find him.”

  “But it’s getting dark.”

  “How well did you search along the way here? Did you come by horse, buggy, what?”

  She accepted the handkerchief he handed her and wiped her nose. “I was so sure he was with you that I probably didn’t look too well on the way here. I borrowed a horse from the livery.”

  “All right then, this is what we’re going to do. I’ll grab a couple of coats for us and a blanket for Will. It’s getting chilly outside. I’ll have Amelia come down here to the kitchen in case Will shows up while we’re searching. She’ll take good care of him until we get back.”

  Rachel looked wide-eyed at him, hanging on his every word. She appeared lost and scared to death. He didn’t feel that confident himself, but he needed to be strong for her. Too many things could happen to a child all alone between town and the ranch.

  “Go to the stable and have one of the men tack up Blazes for me. I’ll meet you there as soon as I talk to Amelia and get the things we’ll need.” When she didn’t move, he pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her cheek to his chest. “We’ll find him, darlin’, I swear to you it will be all right. Trust me.”

  Trust me.

  The words echoed in his head as he took the stairs two at a time and gathered the coats and a blanket from his bedroom. He asked Rachel to trust him with finding the most important person in her life. Yet he’d proven his lack of trust in her when he hurled the accusations that had driven her away.

  If he loved her, he had to trust her. It was that simple. Why he hadn’t seen it before now surprised him. There was absolutely no reason to distrust Rachel, because he loved her. It was part of the package.

  Despite the anxiety of knowing Will was out there somewhere all alone, he felt as though a weight had been lifted from his heart. He loved Rachel and she loved him. And as soon as her son was safe and sound at home, he would sit her down and explain it all to her. This time she would listen because he knew the right words to say.

  After giving instructions to Amelia he raced to the stable, grateful for the little bit of moonlight that would help in the search. The dim light emphasized Rachel shivering as she stood alongside Lefty working on Blazes. Rusty walked up to her and draped the coat over her shoulders, helping her into it. She nodded her thanks, her eyes still wrought with fear.

  He tugged her close against his side. She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed. “Thank you for helping me.”

  “I will always help you, sweetheart. That you can count on.”

  As soon as the horses were ready they rode to the end of the path from the ranch. Rusty put up his hand to stop Rachel. “We won’t split up. I don’t want you riding around alone in the dark. Plus two sets of eyes see more than one. We’ll go slowly and cover every inch between here and town.”

  “How are we ever going to see him in the dark?”

  “We ha
ve some moonlight, and as I said, we’ll go slowly and call him. He could be hiding, waiting for it to get light again.”

  What he didn’t want to add was the boy could have been hurt in any number of ways and might not be able to walk. That thought was best left unsaid.

  They spent the next hour keeping the horses at a slow pace, calling for Will, watching for any movement, listening for any sound. Rusty’s muscles screamed for relief from holding himself tightly, straining to hear and see anything to indicate Will was in the area.

  Once in a while Rachel would whimper, a reminder that the strain was far worse on her. The next hour proved to be just as unsuccessful as the first one. Full darkness had arrived, but the scant moonlight continued to help. They called for Will, then would stop and listen for a response.

  “Where can he be?” Rachel’s voice was thick with emotion.

  “We will find him. You have to believe that.”

  His frustration was growing. Where could the boy be? They were only a mile or so from town and they hadn’t seen or heard anything. Was it possible he hadn’t headed to the ranch?

  “Rachel, does he have other friends whose house he might have gone to? We’re assuming he came to the ranch, but maybe not.”

  She shook her head. “No. He has a few friends but I checked with them before I came to your place. You’re the one he missed, the one he prefers to live with. Not me.” She dragged the sleeve of her dress across her eyes.

  They reached the edge of town, the only sounds coming from the saloon. The tinny sound of a piano, the sultry voice of a woman singing, and loud conversation spilled out onto the street. The other businesses had closed for the day, giving the main street an eerie feeling.

  Rachel turned to him. “I’m scared.”

  So was he, but he didn’t want her to know that. They should have heard or seen something by now. “Let’s go back to the boardinghouse and see if he’s gone home.”