Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2

by Carolyne Aarsen

  “What did you need to apologize for?”

  Grady wasn’t sure he wanted her to see him for who he really was, an irate and judgmental man who thought himself better than his brother, but he felt a need to tell someone. And who better than this gentle, caring woman?

  “I got angry with him. I told him he was living a life unworthy of the Stillwater name. Told him that he didn’t deserve to be a Stillwater. That he had to clean up his life.” As he spoke, Grady heard again the harshness and condemnation he had thrown at his twin.

  “What did he say to that?”

  Grady caught his brother’s limp hand, despairing over how lifeless it felt. How cool to the touch. As if Ben already had one foot in the grave and all it would take was one tiny push—

  “He told me I didn’t have any right to judge him. Told me that I was turning into a self-righteous jerk who thought he was better than anyone else.” Grady stopped there, the pain of his brother’s anger still so fresh.

  “Was that the end of the argument?”

  Grady nodded. “I walked away from him, got in my truck and left for my base. I shipped out the next day. We haven’t talked since then.”

  Chloe was silent a moment. “That must be so difficult for you.”

  “I just wish I knew how to fix it.” He gave her a sorrowful look. “When we were little we both had bad tempers. Whenever we fought, our parents would walk us through the reconciliation process. Now they’re gone and I can’t put this on my grandmother.”

  “I think you are taking too much on,” she said. “The fact that Cody is here and clearly a Stillwater says something about the life your brother was living.”

  Grady felt an instant moment of defensiveness for his brother at her comment, but he relaxed. “I know. He hadn’t embraced faith the way I had. My father’s accident and my mother’s leaving made him turn away from God. Which makes me feel even worse about our fight. The fact that it’s unresolved. The fact that I should have been a better example of faith at work.”

  “You told him right? That you feel bad?”

  Grady released a harsh laugh. “I did. For what it’s worth.”

  “It’s worth a lot. He knows now. And even if his brain can’t sort it all out, I am pretty sure he can feel your love. As for his faith, that’s in God’s hands.” She set Cody down beside Ben on the bed, close enough so he could touch Ben, but not so close that Cody could grab at the many tubes connected to him. “I’m hoping that by bringing Cody to see him, he builds an unconscious attachment to his son.”

  Grady looked from the baby to Ben and felt an unreasonable burst of jealousy. His brother, so irresponsible, had a son. A child.

  Something he wanted for himself.

  “This might sound a little strange to you, but how do you feel about praying with your brother?” Chloe said, shooting him a glance over her shoulder. “I know when you first came here you made a comment about leaving the praying to those who are more capable.”

  “It was a reactionary comment,” he said, remembering that moment. “I still struggle with my faith, though. I’ve seen things that made me wonder about God.”

  Chloe reached over and touched his shoulder. A brief contact, but it was as if a current hummed between them. He knew he couldn’t deny his attraction to her, though he still felt he couldn’t act on it.

  Her casual words from the other day still hung fresh in his mind.

  “I’m sure we’ll never understand what you’ve had to deal with, and this may sound like a cliché, but I know that God understands. I think we forget that He also carries the burdens of the world.”

  Grady shot her a wry glance. “You’re smart for a young whippersnapper.”

  “I’m only two years younger than you.”

  “That’s all?”

  “It seemed like a lot in high school. At this point, it’s minuscule.” She shrugged. “And I’ve had my own difficulties.” She said those last words quietly, as if to herself.

  “Are you talking about your father?”

  She blinked, as if she hadn’t understood what he’d said, then she nodded quickly. “Yes. Of course. Yes, I was talking about my father.”

  But as she looked away from him he caught a flare of anger in her eyes, a set to her jaw that was so completely out of character it jarred him.

  He sensed she spoke of something else when she said that she’d had her own difficulties.

  He wanted to ask her more, but she picked up Cody, walked around the other side of the bed and took Ben’s other hand in hers.

  “Did you want to pray with your brother?” she asked, avoiding his gaze.

  Maybe God listened to her, he reasoned.

  “I guess it can’t hurt,” he said, taking Ben’s other hand, the unconscious man between them their only bond.

  But just before he lowered his head he looked at her again and this time caught a look of utter sorrow in her eyes.

  Chloe, it seemed, had her own secret sorrows.

  And he wanted to know what they were.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “So have you discovered anything I can use?” Lucy rested her elbows on the table at Maggie’s and released a heavy sigh, rubbing her forehead with her fingertips.

  Though she had been in town yesterday, Chloe had asked for this morning off. Her father’s lawyer wanted to meet with her to sign off the last of the papers for the estate. Lucy wanted to meet with her and Chloe had agreed, feeling as if she needed a break from Grady. He was growing far too appealing and his actions toward her were so confusing.

  “Maddy Coles, the girl who got some gifts from the anonymous donors?” she said. “She works at the ranch through a program that Ben started.”

  “Really? Since when?”

  “Since before I started there.”

  “Do you think it was before the thefts started?”

  “I can find out.”

  Lucy stroked her chin as if thinking. “Maybe Maddy is the reason the Stillwater ranch hasn’t had any thefts.”

  “Maddy was carrying around her iPod, but she didn’t know who it was from. I didn’t have a chance to talk to her any more than that.”

  “It’s a start.” Lucy sighed and pulled her hands over her face. “I just wish I could get one solid lead.”

  From the little bit of buzz Chloe had heard, people were growing increasingly weary of the thefts and the lack of action on the part of both Lucy’s office and the Lone Star Cowboy League, which also was supposedly looking into the burglaries.

  “But enough about me,” Lucy said, an edge of determination in her voice. “How is your work at the ranch going?”

  “I’m good. Cody is a sweetie and easy to work with.”

  “A far cry from Grady, I’d imagine,” Lucy said with a wink. “Have you talked him into doing his exercises?”

  “A work in progress,” Chloe said taking a sip from her mug of tea. “I live in hope.”

  “You always did where Grady was concerned,” Lucy goaded, picking up her coffee. “And now you’re blushing even harder. Don’t tell me you’re falling for him again?”

  Chloe knew that if she gave Lucy even the vaguest hint of what she felt for Grady, Lucy would drag every emotion, every nuance of every conversation between her and Grady out of Chloe. But she also knew Lucy wouldn’t quit pushing until Chloe threw her even the tiniest crumb.

  “It’s...complicated,” she said.

  “What’s complicated? You like him. You work there. You let him know. You’re a beautiful girl, and you’ve got a lot to offer someone like him. Don’t sell yourself short, my dear,” Lucy said.

  “Ever the matchmaker, aren’t you?” Chloe said.

  Lucy shrugged. “May as well try to get other people together. Guys usually don’t go for the tomboy typ
e like me.”

  “Now you’re the one selling yourself short. You’re a beautiful woman.” And you don’t come with as many complications as I do, Chloe thought as she tried to pull in her stomach. It was getting harder to hide her pregnancy. She knew sooner or later it would have to come out.

  Lucy waved off her compliment. “I know who I am, and right now I’ve got more than enough to keep me busy. No time for romance.”

  “At least you have a job,” Chloe said in a moment of self-pity.

  “You’ve got a job now,” Lucy said.

  Chloe nodded. “I do and, don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for it, but I want to focus on physical therapy work. That’s what I’m trained for.”

  “So what would be your dream job?” Lucy asked.

  “What I’d like to do is open my own physical therapy clinic. With proper equipment and consistent care. The hospital does okay, but the program is not a priority there. I often think that if my dad had gotten better care and follow up he might not have ended up where he was.”

  “Can you use the money from your dad’s estate to start it up?”

  “I just met with dad’s lawyer to finalize the estate, and it’s official. There’s nothing left. I won’t be starting a clinic here or anywhere anytime soon.” She blew out a sigh as she glanced around the bustling café and coffee shop, recognizing many of the people. When she had first moved back to Little Horn, she had nurtured some hope that somehow she would be able to stay here. This was home to her, and with a baby on the way, she wanted to be in a place where people knew her and she knew they would support her.

  Fort Worth had been a cold, lonely place for her, but the way things were going, she knew she would have to move back there or some other large urban center where she could get steady work in her field.

  Lucy touched her hand in sympathy. “That’s too bad. I know you were hoping that could happen when you first moved here.”

  “It was a dream and I guess it will stay that.” Chloe gave her a smile, then glanced at her watch. “I should get going. I promised Mamie I wouldn’t stay long.”

  “I should, too.” Lucy drank the last of her coffee and pulled her jacket off the back of the chair. “So you’ll let me know the second you find anything out about Maddy or hear even the tiniest bit of gossip you think I might be interested in?”

  “I will.”

  Lucy shrugged on her coat, adjusted it, her eyes still on Chloe, who was winding her own scarf around her neck. “And I still think you should give Grady a chance. I think you two would have ended up together if that snake of a stepsister of yours hadn’t gotten in the way.”

  “If he really wanted to be with me—”

  “I’m positive he would have, if you had let him know. Just like I’m sure something could happen between the two of you now if you just give him an idea of what you’re feeling.”

  Chloe knew better, but her friend’s encouraging smile ignited a spark of hope. She thought of that electric moment in the hospital yesterday when she had helped Grady after his stumble. When they had stood virtually face-to-face.

  Could something truly happen?

  She tried to dismiss the thoughts as she got up from her chair and pushed it back.

  Lucy smiled at her and looked as if she was about to say something more when Byron McKay shoved past Chloe, almost knocking her over. He was a tall man, imposing, with a stomach protruding over the large, ornate silver buckle of his belt. His steely blue eyes seemed to impale her, as if it was her fault she had stumbled.

  His teenage sons trailed behind him, hands in their pockets, their hoodies unzipped, shoulders hunched forward as if trying to make themselves invisible.

  “Well, I’m sorry, missy,” Byron said, his voice, as usual, carrying over the buzz of the café. He caught her arm to steady her. “Didn’t see you there. You okay?”

  Before Chloe could reply, Byron thankfully let her go and turned his attention back to Lucy. “So, Miss Sheriff, I don’t imagine you’ve found out anything?”

  “I would have reported it to the league if I did,” Lucy retorted, her shoulders straightening, her chin up. “But now that I’ve got you here, I was wondering if you’ve heard anything from your cousin’s daughter, Betsy McKay?”

  “Why do you want to know about that crazy girl?” Byron said, his hands dropping on his hips in a defensive gesture, his voice growing belligerent. “Haven’t heard a peep from her since cousin Mac died.”

  Chloe knew exactly why he was so prickly. Everyone in Little Horn knew Byron hadn’t done anything for his cousin, Mac McKay, a struggling rancher who had ended up losing his ranch and, as a result, fighting a losing battle with alcohol. Mac had died about six months ago, and according to town gossip, Byron hadn’t been bothered even to attend his funeral.

  Mac’s daughter, Betsy, had fled Little Horn in shame before she’d graduated high school. Hers was a sad story, but Chloe was curious why Lucy wanted to know about her.

  “I was simply wondering how that poor girl is doing.”

  Byron snorted. “If she’s anything like her loser father, she’s probably getting into trouble.” He laughed at his comment, looking over at his boys as if asking them to join in.

  “That’s a lousy thing to say, Dad,” Gareth snapped, shoving his strawberry blonde hair back from his narrow face with an angry jab.

  “You shouldn’t talk that way about her father or her,” Winston joined in, his hands now balled into fists at his sides. “She’s our cousin.”

  “Can’t think why you’d want to have anything to do with that washout family,” Byron snorted.

  Winston just shook his head, and both boys looked visibly upset with their father.

  Gareth turned to Lucy. “We haven’t heard from Betsy since she left Little Horn, but we’re guessing she might be in Fort Worth.”

  “Probably living on the streets,” Byron put in.

  Winston’s eyes narrowed and Chloe could not understand how the man could be so obtuse.

  “Do you boys know Maddy Coles?” Chloe asked, thinking they might have heard some gossip through their other friends in high school as to why she ended up with the gifts she had. “She works at the Stillwater ranch.”

  “Other than that she was friends with Betsy, not much,” Gareth suggested with a shrug. Winston simply shook his head.

  “Stop this.” Byron spun around, stabbing one long, thick forefinger at her, and Chloe felt a shiver of fear. “Why do you think my boys would hang around with some foster kid?” He glared at her and for a breath Chloe understood how this man could intimidate so many people.

  But as he stared her down her back stiffened. Jeremy all over again.

  And she wasn’t allowing anyone to push her around again.

  “Don’t yell at me,” she snapped, pushing his finger down and away from her.

  Byron’s eyes widened and Chloe felt suddenly sorry for the members of the cowboy league who had to put up with this man as their vice president, and for Carson Thorn who, as president, probably had to rein him in from time to time.

  But to her surprise Byron didn’t do anything more.

  “Enough of this useless talk,” Byron said, shooting one last glare at Chloe. “Boys, we’re out of here.”

  He marched out of Maggie’s, indignation trailing behind him like a cloud, and a sudden silence falling over the café.

  Chloe pulled in a wavering breath, her knees suddenly weak after that confrontation.

  “Wow, girl. I didn’t think you had it in you,” Lucy said, admiration tingeing her voice.

  I didn’t, either, Chloe thought, pulling in another breath. “I don’t like pompous men yelling at me” was all she said.

  “I’m officially impressed,” Lucy said, zipping up her coat. “And glad you thought to ask about Maddy. I ca
n’t help think there’s some connection between Maddy’s gifts and the fact that the Stillwater ranch still hasn’t been burglarized. Maybe Grady has some idea?”

  They stepped out of the café just as an icy gust of wind caught them. Lucy shivered, pushed her hands deep into her pockets and nudged Chloe with her elbow. “Hey, maybe you can get closer to Grady,” she said with a mischievous grin. “You could be my honey trap. Use your charm and feminine wiles to get what you can out of him.”

  “He’s been back only a couple of weeks,” Chloe protested. “He doesn’t know anything.”

  Lucy sighed. “I was just trying to convince you to flirt with the guy a little.”

  “He’s my boss. There will be no flirting,” Chloe said.

  “I think you need to live a little. Who knows where it might get you this time?”

  Chloe let that thought register for a moment, but then, right then, she felt a movement low down in her abdomen.

  She stopped, eyes wide, her hand flying to her stomach as if to verify.

  “What’s the matter?” Lucy asked, stopping to see what was wrong.

  Chloe’s heart began racing. This was the first time she had felt the baby move. She felt it again, stronger this time. And in that moment the pregnancy that had felt so vague was now very real with all its consequences.

  “Are you okay?”

  Chloe just nodded and gave Lucy what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’m fine.”

  But as she walked out the door of the café and down the street to her car, she knew it would be a while before she would truly feel fine again.

  * * *

  Was that rain?

  Grady rolled over in his bed, shedding the sleep clinging to him as what sounded like icy fingers tapped on the panes of glass. Frowning, he stumbled out of bed and looked out the window. Through the lines of frozen moisture on the glass he saw the blurry glow of the yard light.

  Snow and sleet poured down, creating a sheen on the snow that had fallen overnight, and Grady groaned.

  The forecast had been for a few scattered showers, which would have created its own difficulties. But this?