by Cate Nolan
When he looked into the bonfire now, David could remember gazing down into her sparkling emerald eyes as clearly as if the moment had been a day ago rather than fourteen years.
Life had seemed so simple then, so perfect. He had his girl, and she had her horses, and the future stretched before them with such promise.
He sighed. Until Susan had set her eyes on him, and set out to steal him away. He wasn't a complete fool. He'd known what she wanted and he'd ignored her. Except, in the end, she hadn't had to steal. Willa had thrown his love away.
He looked back at Willa, expecting that same chill she'd shown him last night, the same distance she'd built ten years ago and maintained since. Instead he found a warmth in her gaze, a regret and maybe, if he wasn't just being a hopeless fool, a spark of something new.
“Willa, do you want to have cocoa with us?”
David didn't often resent his daughter's presence, but he did then as she distracted Willa's attention.
Willa beamed at Hailey. “Sorry, I'll have to take a rain check on that. Mom is waiting for me at home to finish up baking for the Christmas Ride.
“Maybe your dad would bring you over early and you could help us make cookies.” Seeing David's nod of approval, she continued. “It's a family tradition for us to bake together and we'd be honored to have you join us.”
“Can I, Daddy?”
David smiled at his daughter, then turned to Willa with that same smile lighting his face, “I thought the Christmas Ride was tomorrow.”
She returned his smile, and his heart leapt in his chest. “It opens to the public tomorrow. Tonight is a preview for family and close friends.”
As a friend who wanted to be family, David gratefully accepted.
*
Willa was elbow deep in flour and sugar when Hailey and David arrived. Hailey came rushing in eager to get started. David trailed behind looking like he wasn’t quite sure he belonged.
“Willa, it looks like we’re running low on brown sugar,” Lisa commented. “David, do you think you could run her to the market for more? I don’t want to be short on gingerbread cookies for opening night.”
As ploys went, it was rather obvious. Willa was about to object when she heard her mother’s whispered aside to David. “Please get her out of here and talk to her. Her nerves are more fragile than these eggs and she’s making me crazy.”
“I can hear, you know.”
“Good, you were meant to. Now scat. Hailey and I will take over baking duties, won’t we?”
Hailey nodded enthusiastically.
Willa surrendered. “Give me a minute to clean off the flour and lose the apron.”
David grinned at her. “I like the apron.”
“Can I wear your apron, Willa?”
“May I,” Lisa corrected gently. “You don’t need Willa’s floury apron. I have a special one just your size. Willa wore it when she was a girl.”
With Hailey distracted, Willa grabbed her jacket and headed out the back door. She started across the lawn, but David called to her.
“My car is out front.”
She waited for him to catch up with her. “We don’t need your car and my mother doesn’t need brown sugar. She was just giving us a chance to be alone.”
He stopped and laid his hands on her arms, sliding them down until he held both her hands. “Do we need time alone, Willa? Is there anything left for us to say?”
She looked down and kicked at the ground. “Maybe.”
When she looked up, she noticed Hailey watching wide-eyed from the window. “We have an audience. Let’s go around front and at least pretend to go to the store.”
They got in his car and he started down the farm road. “Where do you want to go?”
She wanted to go to the stable. She wanted to hide out with her horses. But that would only lead to more of the same lonely life she’d had. If she was ever going to find the nerve to make things right with David, she had to do it now, before she lost her courage.”
“Pull over here.”
David didn’t question her. He just pulled the car to the side of the road.
Willa jumped out. “Walk with me?”
He climbed out and joined her. “Always.”
She turned on him. “You don’t have to make this so easy. I deserve to pay. You can make me work for it.”
David simply opened his arms and let her walk into them.
“I don’t need to make you pay for anything, Willa. You’ve been paying for ten years. All I want to do is love you.”
She started to cry then and he held her while she sobbed against his jacket.
“I loved you so much, David. You were everything to me. I’m so sorry I pulled away from you.”
She sniffled and he searched his pockets, finally coming up with a napkin for her. She wiped her nose and laughed through the tears. Some romantic moment.
“Is that what we’re supposed to be having, Willa? A romantic moment? Because if we are, I know how to fix it.”
Without waiting for her reply, he drew her close. “I’ve been waiting ten years to hold you again, Willa. I’d wait forever if I had to, but right now, I’m going to show you why we shouldn’t wait another moment.”
He cupped her face gently with the palms of his hands and brought his lips down to hers in a kiss that drove away all the pain, all the loneliness, all the years apart.
When he finally lifted his head, she smiled tremulously. He smiled back and his eyes were shining brightly. “I love you, Willa. Then, now, and forever.”
Chapter Eleven
Christmas Ride was in full swing and David had his hands full trying to keep track of Hailey in the midst the crowd. His formerly sullen, bossy tyrant was the happiest child at the party. She’d ridden the children’s holiday steeplechase more times than he could count and was currently begging for another go round.
David knew he should have been thrilled, but all he wanted was find Willa and spend the rest of the evening kissing her to make up for lost years. He hadn’t known it was possible to feel so happy, so over-the-top full of Christmas joy.
“There you are.” Lisa wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned up to kiss his cheek. She looked as happy as he felt.
“You know,” she said, her mouth curling in an impish grin. “Willa is alone monitoring the North Pole Steeplechase in the paddock. I imagine she must be pretty cold and lonely. I bet she’d appreciate some hot cocoa.”
David winked at her. “You think?”
“I do.”
“Oh, Daddy, let’s bring Willa some hot chocolate. We can add a candy cane the way she likes.”
David laughed, suspecting that hadn’t exactly been Lisa’s plan. She confirmed his thoughts mere seconds later.
“Actually I was hoping you would help me with a surprise, Hailey.” She looped her arm through Hailey’s. “What do you say?” Daddy can bring the hot cocoa to Willa and we’ll go work on our secret surprise.”
Hailey brightened. “Okay, what is it? What are we going to do?” Hailey was practically skipping along beside Lisa as they left.
“If I tell you it wouldn't be a surprise.” She winked at David. He had the strongest feeling she'd be coming up with something as they walked, but he wasn’t going to second guess her. She’d offered him the opportunity of time alone with Willa, and he wasn’t about to forego it.
Excitement beat in his heart as he headed to the drink vendor and ordered two of the largest hot cocoas they served. He added a candy cane to each drink and stuffed a few sugar cookies in the tray before setting off for the paddock.
As he approached, he saw Willa standing with two young men. A surprising thrust of jealousy twisted his insides. They couldn’t have been more than fifteen, but they were obviously flirting with his girl.
“Hello, Darlin’.” David eased his way between the boys and Willa, staking his claim.
“Hey Mr. Marlow. Nice seeing you again, Willa.”
Willa laughed as they practically ra
n away.
David set the cups of cocoa aside and caught her into his arms for the long, lingering kiss he’d been thinking about all evening.
When he drew back, she beamed up at him. “You’re kind of cute as a Neanderthal.”
David had the grace to blush. “Yes, I’ve achieved caveman status. What can I say? I lost you once through my own blindness and stupidity. I don’t intend to make that mistake again.”
“You’re cute when you’re blushing,” she teased.
“It’s the cold.”
She laughed in his face and turned to the cooling drinks. “Are these for us? I was freezing a few minutes ago.” She snuggled up against him. “Not anymore.”
“Hailey will be quite disappointed if you don’t at least try it. The candy canes were her suggestion.”
She sipped the drink. “Mmmm. Where is Hailey?”
He grinned. “Spirited away by your mother so we can have some time alone.”
Willa’s eyes were dancing as she challenged him. “How exactly did you intend to spend that alone time?”
He took her cup and set it aside again. Then he slowly backed her into the corner where the paddock fence met the barn wall.
Snowflakes were beginning to drift from the sky as she snuggled close and nipped at his lips. “The cocoa tastes even better this way.”
He kissed her back. “It does indeed.”
Chapter Twelve
The Christmas Ride was winding down the next afternoon, and Willa was waving a family off when David came racing up to her. “Have you seen Hailey?”
Willa caught the concern in his voice. “I saw her earlier. She was out in the paddock with the older girls watching them jump.”
“I checked there. They haven't seen her in at least an hour.”
“Did you check the house? Maybe she's with my mother.” Seeing the negative shake of his head, Willa took out her phone and called her mother. “Nope, not there either.” Willa wracked her brain. “The holiday shoppes?”
“Most of them are closing up, but I'll check again.”
Willa rested her hand on his arm in reassurance. “I'll check the stables. Call me if you find her.” Impulsively she gave him a hug. “Don't worry, David. We'll find her. I'm sure something caught her eye and she forgot to check in.”
Willa hurried to the barn, her quick stride in contrast to her reassurance to David. A wave of urgency spurred her through the barn doors. No sight of Hailey in any of the tack rooms or the central barn, but when she got to the stalls, a new fear gripped her. The door to Wildfire's stall was ajar and the stall was empty. “Oh Hailey, noooo.”
“What?” David was rounding the corner. Your mother's checking the shops. Did you find her? What's wrong?”
“Wildfire is missing. We weren't using him for the Holiday Ride. He's still not good with crowds so it didn't seem safe. But he's not in his stall. Since Hailey's missing, and Wildfire's gone...” She sighed heavily. “I'm afraid she might have taken him out. She's been begging to ride but I said no. He still needs more training and so does she.”
David had gone completely pale. Willa grabbed his hand. “No, I don't mean to scare you. Even if she did take him, she'll be fine. She loves that horse and he is so gentle with her. He wouldn't hurt her. Don't worry.”
“Gentle or not, he's a thousand pound animal and she's a nine year-old girl, and she's out somewhere with him, and it's getting dark.”
“You're right, we have to get looking. Have my mother call in people in to search the grounds. You take the car and try the roads. I'll take Colonel and start across the fields.”
She grabbed David's hand. “Lord, please keep Hailey safe until we can bring her home. Help her not to be scared or lost. Let her know You are there always to keep her safe. Amen.”
Willa reached up and gave David another quick hug. “It will be fine. We'll bring her home.”
*
David wished he had Willa's confidence. And her ability to trust in prayer. It had been so long since he'd prayed for anything specific. He took Hailey to church and he did all the right things, but had he trusted in prayer? He hadn't even prayed when Susan died.
Maybe he should have. Probably he should have.
Trying to follow Willa's lead, he whispered, “Please protect my baby, Lord. I don't want her to be alone and scared. I want her to feel safe and loved. Please lead me to her.”
He got in his car and headed down the farm lane, his eyes scanning the darkening fields hoping for some sign of his tiny girl on the big horse. When he came to the road, he instinctively turned toward home. He'd check there as Willa suggested, just to be sure she hadn't gone home.
The house was dark and so lonely looking. It struck him that his houses had never felt like home. What would it be like to make a home with Willa and Hailey, to take a new chance on the life he'd always wanted?
He needed his daughter back so they could begin to build that life.
David jumped out of the car and ran to the front door. “Hailey?” He called and checked inside even though he knew she wasn't here. The door had been locked. How would she have gotten in? He checked her room anyway, but there was no sign she had been here.
As he stood in the doorway, terror overcame him. There were so many things that could go wrong. So much bad that could befall a little girl on her own. How had he failed her? How had he not noticed her leave?
*
Willa followed the tracks across the field and through the woods. It was late afternoon and the winter sun would be setting soon. She was all too conscious of how quickly darkness would cloak the woods and fields. She could only pray she would catch up with Hailey before it got completely dark. Colonel knew his way through these woods, so she wasn't worried about getting lost, but she didn't want to chance missing Hailey. What if she'd fallen or gotten hurt?”
Thankfully the hoof prints were pretty clear. It wasn't long before she had a fairly strong sense of where they had headed. Should she call David?
What if she was wrong? What if she pulled him away from a different location? Better that she wait until she was certain.
The moon was rising in the dark sky when Colonel stepped out of the woods and onto the sandy beach. Willa breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Wildfire standing by the remnants of the bonfire pit. Her relief evaporated when she saw the still figure beside him.
She swung down off Colonel and raced over, sinking onto the sand beside Hailey's huddled form. “Honey, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“Go away.”
Willa sat back on her heels. The angry words inspired relief and confusion. “Hailey, talk to me. We've been looking all over for you. Are you okay?”
“I'm fine. Leave me alone.”
Willa's eyes widened. This was far more like the Hailey she'd first met than the sweet girl she’d come to know.
Willa rested an arm on her shoulder. “Honey, I just want to be sure you’re okay. Your dad is worried about you.”
Hailey shrugged off her touch and curled herself tighter into a ball. “Don’t call me that. I said go away.”
Willa hadn’t thought her heart could be broken by a nine-year old child, but she discovered she was wrong. The sharp edges of Hailey’s words cut deep. Willa backed away as much from the wave of pain as the need to call David.
Once she was out of earshot she immediately punched in his number. He answered on the first ring.
“I found her.”
“Is she all right?” Willa could hear the barely contained fear in his voice, but she didn't really know how to alleviate it.
“I think so. She won’t talk to me. You’d better come down here. We’re on the beach - by the bonfire pit.”
“I was just about to check there. I can’t be more than five minutes away.” There was a beat of silence. “What aren’t you telling me, Willa?”
She could tell he had the car speakerphone on. “Are you alone?”
“Yes. What is it?”
“I don�
��t know. She won’t talk to me. She told me to go away.” Willa knew she’d been unable to keep the hurt from her voice, but she didn’t want David wasting any emotional energy on her. “I’m sure she’ll talk to you, tell you what’s wrong. She’s here with Wildfire. They both seem physically fine. I’ll watch over her until you get here.”
“I’m turning onto Beach Road now. I’ll be right there.”
Willa stood on the hard sand, huddling into her sweater. The wind was brisk and icy so she coaxed Wildfire into laying down beside the girl and she draped her coat over Hailey. “Please hurry, David,” she whispered, teeth chattering. She alternated between watching Hailey and staring down the dark road. Finally, a pair of headlights rounded the bend and the car sped toward her. She used the flashlight app on her phone to wave him over.
David came running across the sand. Willa pointed to where Hailey lay huddled against the horse.
“Baby, I’m here. Are you okay?”
Willa breathed a sigh of relief as Hailey turned and threw herself into David’s arms. “Take me home please, Daddy.”
“Do I need to take you to a doctor? Did you fall off the horse? Are you hurt?”
She shook her head and nestled against him. “I didn't fall. Just take me home. Please.”
David lifted her in his arms and started off across the sand. “Are you going to come with us,” he asked Willa.
Before she could answer, Hailey’s head shot up. “No, I don’t want her to come.”
David looked at Willa. Tears welled in her eyes and bewilderment must have been evident in her face. She could only shrug helplessly. She cleared her throat and murmured. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll bring Wildfire back and take care of him.”
Hailey didn’t look at her, but she did offer her thanks in a tone so polite, so stilted that David and Willa exchanged another puzzled glance.
“Wait here,” David suggested. “I’ll tuck Hailey into the car and then bring your coat back. You’ll need it if you’re riding.”
