by Grace Warren
Lucy looked to each of the children and gave them a reassuring smile. “You two finish up, I’m going to go with your father this morning and we will play a game together after lunch, okay?”
Olivia and Galen agreed and Lucy ran upstairs to change her clothing and prepare to head out with Nash.
Dressed in pink, primrose printed Wellies, jeans and a tank top; Lucy tied her hair up off her neck and walked down to the kitchen to find Nash. Vanessa was chopping vegetables for their noon time meal. “Vanessa, did you see which way Nash went?”
“I am not his keeper. Isn’t that your new position?” She slammed the knife down on the cutting board and walked away at a swift pace. Lucy stood there dumbfounded.
The truck was gone from the driveway. Lucy turned a slow circle, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight. Had he really left without her? Her heart sank. Maybe this was not the right choice. As much as she adored the kids she was beginning to feel they were the only ones that truly wanted her around. She took a deep breath of air, set her jaw in determination and headed off along the running fence to find Nash. If he wasn’t going to take her seriously then they had a lot to discuss regarding the future of this agreement.
An hour and a half later Lucy was windblown, dusty and her tank top was damp with perspiration. She needed a drink and a bit of shade. Off in the distance she could see the blue Ford truck and several men on horseback corralling a herd of cows. She hoped Nash was with them. The closer she got the more she was able to tell that none of the riders were Nash. Squinting she saw a ranch hand working to repair a fence. His back was to her and she admired his shirtless form, following the glistening line of his muscular torso to the waist band of his faded jeans. His muscles rippled as he swung a hammer against the new wooden post that had replaced a broken one, which now lay at his feet.
Lucy walked up, drinking in the fine visual specimen. She felt a small twinge of guilt, but she was a woman after all. “Excuse me, can you tell me where I might find Mr. McCain?’ she managed to squeak out over her parched tongue.
The man took of his hat and wiped his forehead on his bare arm before turning around. His chest was tanned dark and silky smooth, and his abdomen hard form long hours of strenuous work. “How can I help…”
Both Lucy and Nash stood there stunned, starring at one another until Lucy had to grab the fence to stop from falling over with a sudden wave of light headedness. Nash lunged forward to steady her.
“What are you doing out here? Did you walk?” he asked, holding her up by her shoulders.
“Wow, it’s hot.” She shook the dizziness from her senses. The action made her head swim more and she toppled backward. Nash caught her and scooped her up in his arms with no effort at all. He carried her to the truck and set her down on the front seat, reaching in a cooler and popping the top of a chilled bottle of water from behind the seat.
“Drink this.” He ordered.
Lucy took a sip and went to speak. He tipped the bottle towards her lips again. “Drink all of it, please.”
She didn’t question him and downed the entire contents of the bottle. Her eyes never left his face. She saw him smile when she pulled the empty bottle away with a satisfied sigh.
“Better?”
Lucy nodded.
“Now tell me why in the blue blazes are you out here?” his brow furrowed with concern and a small hint of annoyance. “Didn’t Van tell you it was better for you to stay close to the house and work? It’s too hot for you out here.”
Lucy was caught between being angry at Vanessa for not saying anything and offended that Nash thought she was too fragile to handle the Texas heat. She jumped from the truck and crumpled to the ground, her ankle twisted in a dip in the ground beneath her. Nash reached for her and she swatted his hand away. “I’m fine.” she snapped.
Nash took a step back and watched her struggle to get up. She limped several feet away from him before the tears of frustration fell from her eyes. A gentle hand grasped her upper arm and turned her around. Nash towered above her, his green eyes soft. He wiped at the tears that had stained her flushed cheeks. “Come on, Dusty. I’ll drive you back to the house.”
The two arrived back at the drive way, the few minutes it had taken were bathed in silence. Nash helped her from the truck and held her arm guiding her up the stairs and putting her in a rocking chair on the porch. “Stay put.”
He disappeared into the house, a moment later Olivia appeared with a bag of ice wrapped in a towel. She assisted Lucy with pulling off her Wellies and then rested her foot on a stool placing the ice on her ankle. Galen walked gingerly with a tall plastic up of lemonade through the front door, handing it to her at a snail’s pace so as not to spill any.
“Daddy says drink this.” Galen gave her a strict look. “I gotta make you.”
“You have to make me.” Lucy corrected.
Galen picked up the cup an extended it up to her lips, tipping it so she had to quickly take a drink before it spilled in her lap. She took the lemonade from him and ruffled his hair, laughing. “Good job, Galen.”
He beamed with pride. There were shouts and slamming of doors in the house and the children looked at each other with surprise. Lucy rocked forward to look though the screen door. Vanessa shoved the door open with force, stopped long enough to drop her apron in Lucy’s lap and stormed down the stairs. Nash came out after her.
“Van, don’t be so pig headed.” He called after her as she opened her car door. “Van, please.”
Vanessa slammed the door and drove away, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.
FIVE
Three days had passed before Vanessa showed up at the house again. Lucy had managed to make all the meals, keep up with the laundry and entertain the children. She had limped about the house, dusting, sweeping and polishing. When Vanessa walked in and found them all seated at the kitchen table indulging in fried eggs and sausage she had no words to offer.
The children sprang from their chairs and ran to her. “Aunt Van!” they yelled and hugged her. She kissed the tops of their heads and wiped the corners of their mouths with the pad of her thumb.
“Welcome back, Van.” Nash said.
“Humph” the woman added and set off toward the laundry room.
Lucy got up and started to clear the table. She was happy for the children, but she was less excited for herself that Vanessa had returned. Spending the day cooped up with her was not her ideal day.
“Lucy,” Nash interrupted her thoughts. “Do you think that ankle is good enough to go out with me to the stables?”
Lucy’s face lit up. She wouldn’t have to deal with Vanessa right away after all. “Yeah, it’s perfect.” she lied.
“Great. Kids behave for Aunt Van. Lucy and I will be back for lunch.” He got up from the table and waited as Lucy hugged each child and followed him out to the truck, trying with all her effort not to limp.
Nash drove them down to the lower barn. He slid the large door open and a dozen horses stomped and whinnied at their sudden presence. Nash pulled a few sugar cubes from his pocket and handed them to Lucy. “Have you ever ridden?”
Lucy shook her head, popping a sugar cube into her mouth. Nash tilted his head and eyed her with amusement. “You do know those are for the horses?”
Lucy blushed. “Oh yeah right, of course I do.”
As they walked together through the center of the barn, Lucy saw each horse had a name on a carved plaque, similar to the one on Jasper’s stall. “Who did these?” she asked, tracing over several on their slow journey.
“I did Ma’am.” He answered.
“They are beautiful. You are talented,” she complimented.
“Thank you.”
They stopped next to a black spotted appaloosa. The plaque read “Georgia Pines”. Nash took a sugar cube from his pocket and held it out in the flat palm of his hand. The mare curled her lips around the sweet treat as Nash stroked her neck. “Give it a try. She’s very gentle.”
L
ucy lifted the cube up in her fingers, holding it out to Georgia. Nash wrapped his hand around hers. He opened her fingers and placed the square piece in the center of her palm, silently showing her the proper way to feed the horse. The lips tickled her hand as they lifted the cube away. Lucy dared to reach out and pet the mare’s nose. “She is a beautiful creature.”
Nash had stepped away to retrieve a saddle and bridle. He climbed into the stall with easy and fitted Georgia with the equipment. “You want to give it a try?”
They had gone a few miles when it started to rain. Nash guided them to a tree and tethered the horses to a low branch helping Lucy from her saddle. She rubbed at her thighs and bottom. Nash looked so natural up on his horse; she felt like a fool bouncing all over and trying not to fall flat on her face. He had promised she’d pick it up in no time, but Lucy felt it would be years before she would look graceful and would be better suited to keep her own feet on the ground.
They stood under the boughs of several trees on the outskirts of the open field they had crossed. Lucy looked over the afternoon sky seeing the shelf of clouds and rain fade off over the horizon. Droplets of water dripped from her bangs and the tip of her nose. “It’s so beautiful here Nash, so very different from the noises and crowds and heavy air of New York. Every day I wake up an am amazed all over again.” She looked over to Nash and her heart caught in her throat. He was standing there starring at her. She crossed her arms over her rib cage and hugged herself, suddenly self conscious. “Your children are wonderful.” She wanted to end the uncomfortable moment.
Nash touched her cheek and her words stopped. He turned her face towards him and lifted her chin. His lips were soft and his skin smelled clean and fresh like morning dew. He kissed her and time stopped. She hadn’t been prepared for it. When he pulled away her heart sank to her feet. “I’m sorry.” He whispered.
She was confused. “Why?”
“It stopped raining, we should get back. Van will have lunch waiting.” Nash untied the horse, helped her get back on Georgia and rode off ahead of her without another word.
As he stored the tackle, and walked the horses back to their stalls giving them water and food, Lucy stood by the truck. Neither of them had said another word the full way back to the barn. She was confused. He had kissed her, she hadn’t initiated it and it felt right. So why was he sorry? Nash emerged from the barn and walked to the truck opening the passenger door for her. She hesitated. “Nash, you have to talk to me. Why did you kiss me?”
He stood by the open door for a full minute before he opened his mouth. “I thought it was time we had that moment over with. Are you getting in?”
It was Lucy’s turn to stand silent for a minute. “I think I’ll walk.” She needed to calm down.
“Lilly, don’t be like that.”
“I’m Lucy.”
Nash blushed a deep red that filled his cheeks and traveled down his neck. He didn’t say a word, closed the door and walked to the driver’s side. Lucy stood there in silence and watched the truck drive away.
SIX
The smell of bacon and waffles wafted up the stairs and seeped under the door to Lucy’s room. She had no appetite. Her mind was heavy and her heart felt hollow. She had lain awake all night hashing out how she was going to afford to return to New York. She knew she could stay with a few of her friends for a short time, but she’d need to get couple of jobs and try to find an apartment or a roommate situation. After the kids were outside and Nash was sure to be out in the back pastures she would pack her belongings and contact her bank to see if she could draw on an overdraft for a short amount of time.
Looking out her window she could see Olivia dashing off to care for Jasper. Galen and Rufus were not far behind. She would miss them and already felt the sorrow in the pit of her stomach. The truck was gone and when she opened her door she could hear the clanking of dishes as Van cleaned up after the morning meal. Venturing out, she walked on tip toe down the hallway, past Olivia’s room and beyond Galen’s room. Nash’s bedroom door had been closed.
In the spare room at the opposite end of the hallway Lucy moved to the computer that set on an old roll top desk. She logged into her bank account and sent out a request. Then she tapped out the website address for the train station. Lucy sat there and starred at the screen. The schedule showed the first available train, without overnight layovers, taking the most direct route back to New York was not available for another five days. Lucy sighed and researched plane tickets, her budget could not afford it. She sat there and considered talking to Nash, telling him this was a mistake and if he could lend her the money she would return it as soon as she could. This would be difficult, but she felt she had no option. Her email flashed one new message. Her bank had refused her.
She leaned back in the desk chair and cursed into the empty room. Walking out of the room she saw the picture for the first time, just inside the door off to the right was a built in shelf, a silver frame sat below eye level. She hadn’t noticed it before, but with the sun glinting off the glass she took note. Nash stood in front of the house holding a small blue bundle, a vision of pride. Olivia clung to his leg, a brand new golden retriever puppy at her feet. Standing on his opposite side stood a petite woman with golden hair. She was the same height as Lucy with blue eyes as well. The bundle must be Galen. They were happy. How long did they have from that moment in time before their lives had been devastated.
Lucy’s heart was being strangled in her chest, Nash was in pain. How could he not be? He had lost his love, the mother of his children. Lucy was an intruder in her home, learning to take over her duties with her children. She had been selfish, thinking of only herself and her situation. She needed to find Nash and apologize.
“Vanessa,” She called as she ran down the stairs. “Vanessa.”
She appeared from the kitchen, the usual apron tied at her waist. “For Pete’s sake, what is it?
Lucy jumped from the last step and wrapped her arms around Vanessa. “Van, I’m sorry.” She smiled and ran from the house leaving Vanessa standing there stunned and silent.
The distance between the house and the back pasture was much shorter when taken at a running pace. She arrived at the truck and opened the door snagging up some water and drinking it until it was gone and she had regained her breath. Nash was on horseback with the other hands and she leaned on the grill of the truck watching him take control and call out commands. When he looked in her direction she waved and smiled. He stopped, tilted his hat back and looked at her with confusion. She watched as he told a hand to take over and trotted over to her, dismounting and crossing the last few yards on foot.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
Lucy walked up close to him. She took his face in her hands as she stood on her tip toes. She kissed his lips with a light swiftness and looked into the sea green of his eyes. “I get it.”
Nash didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry I was so self-centered. I can’t pretend to know how hard this is for you, but I recognize that it is.” She let her hands drop from his cheeks and was surprised when Nash took them and held them in his own. “I was going to go back to New York.” Lucy paused and saw his brow crinkle with concern. “I’m planning to go, unless you say you want me to stay, but don’t tell me unless you mean it.”
Nash kept hold of her hands. “Do you need a ride back to the house?”
She shook her head and recognized he needed time. “I can walk. I only wanted to say that and now I have. I’ll see you at lunch.”
Nash stood by the truck and watched her walk away.
Vanessa had prepared a lunch of sandwiches, potato salad and lemonade. The day was cooler than normal so when Lucy arrived back at the house she saw that Vanessa had set up a picnic table just outside the kitchen door. Lucy jumped in and began to help her, bringing out plates and napkins. She set the table and then walked to the barn to find the children.
Olivia had stationed herself in a heaping stack of hay near
Jasper’s stall and was reading out loud. Galen was busy driving miniature toy tractors and plastic horses through a box of kernels of cow corn.”Hey there cowpokes.” greeted Lucy.
“Lucy!” they both cried and Galen ran and jumped into her waiting arms. “What’s a cowpoke?” he asked.
“What’s a cowpoke?” she teased and tossed him with gentle care into the hay pile by his sister. “This is a cowpoke.” Lucy began to tickle the small boy’s sides and he laughed with genuine glee. She started to poke Olivia too until the three of them were wrapped up in a tickle fight of epic proportions, covered in hay from head to foot. None of them noticed Nash standing outside the barn door observing their interaction.
Vanessa called from the porch and the hay covered trio walked to the lunch table hand in hand, their face glowing with happiness. “We should go in and clean up first.” suggested Lucy. “Van, it looks wonderful, thank you for all your efforts.” She placed her hand on Nash’s forearm with a little squeeze as she walked by and led the children into the house.
While in the bathroom washing their hands, Olivia hummed her usual tune. Lucy dried her hands and handed the towel to Galen, helping him dry his fingers, hands and the sleeves of his shirt. “Olivia, where did you learn that song?”
Olivia stopped and considered her answer, not sure she should vocalize it. “Momma, use to sing it to me and Galen.”
Lucy now understood why Vanessa had quieted Olivia that first day. She smiled at the girl. “That makes it extra special.” She sang in a soft whisper as they made their way back outside. Once they stepped onto the porch she squeezed Olivia’s hand and gave her a wink before placing her finger to her lips. “We can sing again later.”
Nash walked out behind them, Lucy had not seen him. He stood there with a fresh picture of lemonade waiting for them to go before him and be seated.
After lunch Nash remained at the house. He played with the children outside while Vanessa and Lucy picked up and put items away. When Lucy had stacked the last of the plates back in the cupboard she turned to Vanessa. “I want you to know I see what a wonderful person you are.”
