That gave Ty a small window of time. He had until New Year’s Eve to win Mia’s heart.
Chapter Five
"What do you mean you're leaving?" Mia asked, staring at her uncle. Shockwaves reverberated through her. She'd arrived back at their ranch to find him packing things into a rundown hatchback. And there was an older woman, maybe in her sixties…maybe older. It was hard to tell under all her red lipstick. There was enough of that to paint the barn and it was smeared–but from the look of Uncle Huey, he'd been the cause of that. On top of that the woman had a nervous twitch in her left eye and the fake eyelash on that eye had come unglued at the edge and kept waving at Mia with every twitch.
“Mia, I’m sorry, honey, but I’m moving. It’s time and Earline and me, we love each other. And she's come all the way from her pig farm in the panhandle to fetch me." He put his weight into stuffing the last bag into the back end of the car and then yanked the hatchback shut.
Mia could only watch in dismay. Was he serious? He'd been acting odd but this was absolutely shocking. She tried to speak but nothing came out. She tried again, “But,” her voice cracked. “Um, how did y’all meet?" She wasn’t sure what to do in a situation like this. He was a grown man…
He grinned–no–beamed as he wrapped an arm around Earline’s waist and tugged her close. Earline was taller than him by three inches and looked down at him with adoring eyes.
"We met on that matchmaking website for farmers,” he said. “I took one look at her photo and the rest is history. I went out to her place for a little while you were gone and then came home. But, honey, I can’t deny it any longer. I love Earline and I am gonna make her my wife. It don’t mean I don’t love you, Mia. Because I do, honey. And I’ve tried to be here for you.” He looked love-struck as he gazed up into Earline’s adoring eyes. “It’s time to get on with my life. You’re going to be fine.”
Mia’s heart turned over at the conviction in his voice and in both their eyes. “Yes, sure. I’ll be fine.” Was she hearing this correctly? “But–so you just met recently?”
“Naw,” he laughed. “We’ve been talking now for four months and like I said I went out there last month for a couple of days until I got worried about my responsibilities…but I can’t go on this way.”
“I got real worried about him,” Earline said. “So I had to come check on him. I told him last night that I was coming.”
Uncle Huey looked up at her adoringly. “And she came to me.”
“I couldn’t help myself, pookie,” Earline rasped. “I stayed away as long as I could.”
Uncle Huey grinned wide enough to swallow the Grand Canyon. “And I’m glad you came after me. I’ve been moping around here long enough by myself. I need you, Earline.”
Mia groaned inside. Despite being in total and complete shock the tender touch of true affection bubbling out of her uncle dug deep. Her uncle had been lonely.
For as long as she’d known him he’d been alone. In his quiet little world. Yes, he adored her and she knew that, but deep down she sensed so much missing from his life.
He shot her a glance finally. “The place is yours, Mia, not mine. I’ve just been taking care of it for you because you needed me to. Your daddy wanted me to take care of you if he couldn’t be here to do that and I was honored to do it... But, honey, you’re old enough now and I’ve finally gotten my chance at happiness…so I’m takin' it."
Mia’s heart clutched as he gave a lovelorn look at Earlette or was it Elvira? Mia was so overwhelmed she couldn’t think straight.
"I'm not asking you to not go,” she managed. “But maybe you need to think—"
“I don't need to think about it. I’ve been thinking about it for four long months now and I don’t want to waste another minute. I’ve been waiting on Earline all my life. Now that I’ve found her I ain’t aiming to lose her. I'm goin’. I love you, girl, but Earline is my soulmate and she needs me now.”
Earline peered earnestly at Mia. “I love your uncle so much. And we're going to be real happy. Maybe you can come up for Christmas in a couple of weeks. I’ve plenty of room in my old rambler of a house."
What was she supposed to say? Mia could not stand in the way of her uncle’s happiness and he was happier now than she’d ever seen him. But he’d met this woman on the Internet. Shouldn’t he learn more about her before running off with her?
“Okay, we got to go. It's a long drive to Vegas.”
“Vegas?” Mia’s antenna flew to attention. “What do you mean Vegas?”
“We’re getting married.”
“But…Oh,” Mia squeaked. Her uncle came forward then and wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hard hug.
“You’re going to be alright, young lady. Do what you want with the place. Keep it or sell it and make your dreams come true. I’m fixin’ ta go after mine now. I guess you could say we’re eloping.”
Tears welled in her eyes. He had the right. He’d given up his own life and moved here after her parents died in order to take care of her. All she could do now was to be happy for him and let him go. She hugged him tight. “I love you, Uncle Huey. Take care—” before she could finish he’d released her and with a hurried smile he ushered Earline to the car. Mia watched as Earline and her leopard print spandex disappeared inside the passenger side of the car and then her uncle, grinning like a kid, hustled around and jumped in behind the wheel. The car cranked up and with a sputter and a hiccup carried her uncle away and left Mia standing in a cloud of exhaust. The last thing she saw was Uncle Huey’s arm waving out the driver’s side window at her.
She coughed and watched with watery eyes as the man who’d always been there for her drove away.
Suddenly brake lights came on and then, the car backed up. Her uncle had come to his senses. Mia wiped tears from her eyes as Uncle Huey’s door opened and he came hurrying back to her. His smile lit his entire face.
“Mia, honey, I almost forgot.” He tugged a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. “Here is where you can find me. This is Earline’s address and you know my cell number.” He pressed the paper into her hands and then frowned. “Don’t look so sad. Aren’t you happy for me?”“W-well yes, I’m just worried.”
“Worried,” he scoffed. “There’s no need to worry. And besides, I’m very capable of taking care of myself. Be happy for me.”
She nodded and hugged him tight once more. “It’s just, sudden, you know.”
“But it’s right for me.” He gave her arms a squeeze and a serious glint came into his eyes and then he strode back to his car and drove away.
“What do you mean he just left?” Ty had received a call from a very distressed Mia and had immediately stopped what he was doing and driven out to see her.
Worry etched her expression.
“He’s been acting strange every time I talked to him on the phone for the last few months. He’s been forgetful and distracted. I thought something was going on and I’ve been very worried. I knew I needed to come home even before I got hurt but I didn’t.”
“Mia, you were on a mission. He understood that. He always supported you in reaching for your dream.”
Her forehead crinkled. “But, he was always here for me and I haven’t been here for him. This is all my fault—”
“Whoa. Mia, he’s a grown man. You are not responsible for this.” He put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. “Slow down and breathe, honey.”
Her wide eyes held his as she nodded then inhaled. “He eloped, Ty. Eloped. I wasn’t even invited to the wedding. I barely got to meet Earline.”
He knew this was a blow to her. “I think your uncle was so excited about what he was doing that he hasn’t even realized he might have hurt your feelings by not inviting you to the wedding.” He could tell she was struggling and he wondered if she even realized how expressive her facial features were.
“It was just such a shock. He was here and then he was gone. Just like that.”
He could only imagine h
ow she felt. His own parents had moved to Florida a few years earlier and were having the time of their life. He’d never lost one of them. That had to be especially hard on a young kid.
“He loaded his stuff up and told me it was his turn to be happy. And then he drove away in a puff of smoke.”
“He has a point.”
Her eyes narrowed. “He met her on some online dating site. Which is fine, I have friends who are happily married after meeting online but…well, he never said anything before. It seems to have come out of nowhere.”
Ty massaged her tense shoulders, trying to calm her as he rolled the conversation over in his mind. “The truth is he’s a grown man.”
Fire danced in her eyes. “Yes, he is. But what if he’s having issues that I’m not aware of because I wasn’t around? You know, maybe he’s showing signs of compromised thoughts? Onset of some problem?”
“I get that. But, if you’re worried you can go out there and check on him. Mia, he’s done nothing wrong. And you can’t start blaming yourself for something that is out of your control.”
“But—” she moved away from him.
“Mia, for now maybe you should stop worrying about Huey and let him try to find his own way while you find your own way. If he’s made a mistake he can always come back here, right?”
She nodded.
He gave her a smile. “That’s what I thought. So the best thing you can do is try to figure out a plan of what you need to do. Let Huey have this time, be happy for him. And you enjoy your Christmas holiday. ”
Mia searched his gaze with conflicted eyes, her expression pensive. Finally, she nodded. “You’re absolutely right. It’s just that ever since I lost my parents he’s been there for me. And even when I was on the road I always knew he was here. Yes, its selfish sounding but I feel lost with him not being here.”
He watched her as she gazed around the office. “He was your grounding stone even though you weren’t here that much.”
“Yes. But, he has a right to a life too. He deserves the chance to make his own way. Even if it’s a mistake. I hope it’s not. I pray it is wonderful. And that he’s happy. He does deserve it.”
Ty pulled her into his arms for an impulsive hug. Tugging her to him, he held her close and was startled when she came easily, as if she needed it as much as he did. “I’m doing the same. And I’m here if you need me.”
She felt so amazing in his arms. Her head rested momentarily on his shoulder and her arms were draped easily around his waist. He resisted the urge to hold her closer and press a kiss against her temple…or her lips. He was grateful that he was a pretty restrained kind of guy or he might have messed up royally.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He felt her face move and he looked down to find her looking up at him, his heart dropped and his mouth went dry. His gaze moved to her slightly parted lips—
“I better go,” he blurted out and let her go as he backed toward the door. “Call if you need me.”
In a rush he strode out of the office and out of the house. The cold blast of air was welcomed as it swept across his heated skin. He had to fight the need to turn around and go back in there and tell Mia exactly how he felt. But that was the last thing she needed now.
No, what she needed now was a friend. And only a friend. Exposing his feelings to her at this point and time would only be selfish on his part.
He got in his truck and headed for safety. A few miles down the road he found himself smiling as he thought of reclusive Uncle Huey tossing his fears aside and taking a risk for love.
“Way to go, Huey,” he said out loud. “Way to go, buddy.”
Chapter Six
“So, what’s up between you and Mia,” Dalton asked the next morning.
“Nothing,” he shrugged and shot a glance across the street toward Mia.
He and Dalton had been designated to help decorate while Rafe and Chase oversaw ranch business today. Maddie was helping too and she was across the street with Mia and a herd of women including Norma Sue and Esther Mae who were ramrodding the decorations. Adela was there too but she wasn’t as vocal as her friends.
Ty was curious if Mia had opened up to the ladies and he planned to ask Maddie later if she had. Mia and Maddie would make good friends and he hoped so, Mia needed someone she could relate to and since both his partner and Mia were horse women maybe they’d connect. He hoped she would find a friend.
He and Dalton were standing on top of the Heavenly Inspirations Hair Salon hanging wreaths among the lights down Main Street. The town had been decorated for three weeks, with lights so thick a satellite would think the town of four hundred was the size of Houston. It was pretty though, he couldn’t deny that.
“C’mon, what’s going on?” Dalton prodded, looking unconvinced.
Ty busied himself tightening the tie strap that would hold the wreath to the bannister that edged the salon’s roof. From beneath his hat brim he could see Mia across the street from him wrapping another strand of lights around the window of Pete’s Feed and Seed. She was bundled up like everyone else in a coat and a scarf that almost hid her face. Looking at her, Ty didn’t feel the chill but felt pure warmth radiate through him.
“That much,” Dalton said, amusement in his tone.
Ty slung his gaze to his friend. They were the last of the partners not married so far and he and Dalton had been close from the first day Dalton had shown up at the ranch, barely three years ago. “Is it that evident?”
Dalton grimaced. “Afraid so, buddy. So what’s the story, you’ve never mentioned her.”
“I didn’t see a need to talk about something that I never saw any hope in. I never expected her to come home. I figured she’d reach her goals and move on to bigger and better things than this tiny town.”
“But now she’s back.” Dalton finished attaching the wreath he was working on. “So how’d y’all meet?”
Ty told him about how shy he’d been and how he couldn’t talk to her and then because Dalton was a good friend he told him everything.
“Wow,” he said, when Ty finished. “So she has no idea you’re in love with her?”
“None.” He’d kept his silly Christmas wish to himself because it was so unlike him to wish something like that. A man could only go so far before his buddies thought he was a complete sap.
“You need to tell her. Really, Ty. I’m not jumping on the marriage bandwagon like all our other partners and I thought you were going to hang onto your single status with me but…man, if you love her you need to let her know.”
She happened to look his direction in that moment, almost as if she knew they were talking about her. He smiled and she reciprocated. Her simple smile from three hundred feet away warmed him. She looked tired this morning and he wondered how long she stayed up worrying about her uncle.
“Yeah, I plan to.” He needed to tell her how he felt before he made a mistake and kissed her.
“You’ve got it bad,” Dalton grunted. “Come on, let’s get this finished before you fall off this roof and hurt yourself.”
Ty laughed. “Keep that between the two of us, okay.”
“Buddy, if you looked in the mirror you would see that it’s not me who has the look of a lovesick pup written all over his face. I don’t need to tell anyone.”
Ty scowled. “Give it up, I’m a great poker player.”
Dalton just laughed. “In your dreams, partner.”
Mia concentrated on attaching the garland to the window frame. She'd almost not come to help the ladies decorate. She’d tried not to worry about her uncle but she couldn’t help herself and she’d had a hard night. She’d finally given up trying to sleep and gotten up and made coffee. She’d watched the sun rise while sipping the hot brew and prayed that the Lord would give her some direction on her life. She’d realized that she and Uncle Huey had had something in common over the last few years…they’d both been growing increasingly unhappy with where their life was heading. Uncle Huey had ta
ken control–at least it would seem so–and now had taken steps to alter his future and his happiness. Adela had been excited for Uncle Huey and had gone immediately to tell Sam.
Adela’s reaction had helped Mia feel more positive about her uncle’s sudden direction change for his life. But could Mia do it?
“That Ty Calder can’t take his eyes off of you,” Esther Mae said with a lilt and an elbow to Mia’s arm.
Mia shot a startled glance over her shoulder to where Ty was climbing down a ladder across the street. She’d fought not to watch him all morning. Her mouth went dry every time she looked at him and she thought about him holding her in his arms the night before.
She shivered as a new burst of chilled air hit her–looking at Ty every once in a while had helped keep her warm.
“He’s probably worried about me,” she offered. Trying to diffuse the interest that was obvious in Esther Mae’s observation. But deep down knowing he was watching her had her stomach turning over with nerves.
“The posse tells me you and Ty go way back,” Lacy Matlock said. It was a statement rather than a question.
Mia’s alarms went off at the nickname Esther Mae and her two buddies had earned. She looked at the blonde salon owner and hoped this wasn’t a signal that the matchmakin’ posse had zoomed in on her. She had enough problems without that, though she knew the truth…and a quick glance at the expectant and bright eyed look on Esther Mae’s face confirmed her suspicion.
“Well…yes we do,” she fumbled, then added in a rush. “I mean we are friends. Have been–since school.” Her answers were choppy from the nervousness that had slammed into her. She glanced around the group helping with the decorating of the feed store. Esther Mae, Adela and Norma Sue plus Lacy were all smiles now.
Esther Mae held a box with sprigs of greenery tied with red ribbon and two silver bells. Now she picked one out of the box and waved it in the air causing the two bells to tinkle as she smiled mischievously.
Ty: Contemporary Western Romance (New Horizon Ranch Mule Hollow Book 4) Page 4
