Healing Hearts

by Margaret Daley

  As Josh darted toward the back of the house, Abbey asked, “What’s this about firecrackers?”

  “I found him and the neighbor boy blowing up anything they could with some firecrackers earlier today. He doesn’t know what the word danger means. He’ll try anything. What happened to his uncle in the army hasn’t slowed him down one bit. His antics have given me a few gray hairs and I’m only thirty-one.” Emma frowned. “I need to put this morning behind me. Tell me some good news. How’s the paperwork for the foundation coming along?”

  “Almost done. In the meantime, I think we should start looking at training a few more dogs. Dad said we could use the animal hospital for now until we grow bigger.”

  “The weekends would be a good time to do that.”

  The doorbell rang. “I’ll talk with you later about setting up a schedule and looking for the kind of dogs that will work best.” Then Abbey went to let the guests in.

  When she opened the door, she found Dominic and Madi waiting, with Gabe next to them.

  “Sorry we’re late. We decided at the last minute to bring Gabe.” Dominic held the screen door open while Madi maneuvered her electric wheelchair over the slight hump and into the house.

  The child grinned. “I didn’t have a bad dream for two nights. I know how much you love Gabe and miss him.”

  “We thought Cottonball is ready to go solo, so that Gabe can go home.” Dominic held Abbey’s gaze.

  “That’s what Emma told me a few minutes ago. I’m so glad that Cottonball is ready. She’s a smart dog.”

  “Yep, that’s my dog.” Madi sat up straighter with her chest thrust out. “Is Emma here?”

  “Out back. We put up a temporary ramp from the door to the patio, like out front. You should be able to get around with little or no trouble.”

  “Thanks.” Madi headed for the back with Gabe trotting next to her.

  “She was up at the crack of dawn ready to come over.” Dominic snagged Abbey’s gaze. “It was her idea to let Gabe go home. She thought he was missing Corky and Ginger.”

  “It’s more likely they’re missing Gabe. How did everything go yesterday with your plans for the factory?”

  “Moving right along. I’m actually getting excited about the possibilities of the factory being here in Cimarron City. I know the mayor is thrilled. He’s pushing the zoning through as fast as he can. We should break ground by the end of the month.”

  “It sounds like things are starting to settle down for you. Have you decided to stay in Cimarron City?”

  “Yes, for the time being. I’m going to make some changes around the ranch after I get the factory taken care of.”

  “What kind of changes?”

  As Dominic told her about shifting the focus of Winter Haven from cattle to raising horses, she saw the excitement spark his eyes. Before she could ask him any questions about his decisions, her father came into the foyer.

  “I’m Wes Harris.” Her dad shook Dominic’s hand. “I’m glad we could finally meet.”

  “I want to thank you for giving my sister a tour of your animal hospital. She talked about it for days.”

  “Anytime Madi wants to visit, she can. I saw her outside and wondered what was keeping you two. All the fun is happening out in the backyard.” Her dad glanced at Abbey. “Your mom has gathered the kids to play a game, and she could use your help. There are more here this year than usual.”

  “I’ll help, too. That’s the least I can do for being invited this evening,” Dominic said.

  Outside, her parents’ piece of property stretched toward the woods on one side and the river on the other. Her father’s dogs and Gabe mingled among the guests, a lot of them from the neighborhood. “Mom and Dad have the best view of the fireworks, so everyone gathers here to watch. And my parents go all out.”

  “I see what you mean. A big waterslide and a bouncy house.” Dominic stood next to Abbey and took it all in, while her father left to start grilling the hamburgers and hot dogs.

  “Mom’s a firm believer that a child who is kept occupied stays out of trouble. And there are activities for the ones who don’t want to jump around or get wet.” Abbey pointed toward the fenced-off area with a petting zoo. “She calls in a few favors and always has some unusual animals as well as the regular ones. I see Madi is already over there.”

  “Where’s your mom?”

  “She’s setting up the turtle races.”

  Dominic’s eyebrow hiked up. “Turtles and racing shouldn’t go together in the same sentence.”

  “Yeah, I know. C’mon. I’ll introduce you to her. We’ll probably be crowd control for when the race begins.”

  Dominic laughed. “Never thought I would be doing something like that.”

  When she peered at him, the merriment in his eyes mesmerized her, and she forgot what she was going to say. Everything around her faded, except for Dominic. She didn’t want to care, to love him, but it was too late.

  * * *

  Abbey sat in a lounge chair between Dominic and Madi, enjoying the sounds of laughter, oohs and aahs coming from the people lined up near the river to view the spectacular Fourth of July display. The last burst of fireworks splashed across the dark sky, illuminating the river in red, white and blue. Everyone applauded and cheered.

  Abbey looked over to say something to Madi. Her father switched on the backyard lights now that the fireworks were over. Suddenly Madi’s eyelids drifted closed.

  Abbey turned toward Dominic. “Madi is asleep. I’m not surprised, considering how hard she played with her friend Brandy. I’m so glad there was someone here from her class at school.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Do you have that list for me?” Abbey whispered, in case Madi wasn’t totally asleep.

  “Yes.” Dominic stuffed his hand into his pocket and withdrew a piece of paper. “Want something to drink?”

  “Yeah, I think I’ll come with you. We can still keep an eye on Madi.”

  Abbey grabbed a water bottle from the ice chest while Dominic snatched a soda pop. Then he moved toward the bank of the river about ten yards away from Madi, who was still sleeping.

  “I’m glad there’s a good breeze tonight. The mosquitoes aren’t as bad.” Abbey came up beside him and tipped her water to her mouth.

  “Also keeps the heat bearable.”

  Abbey glanced at Madi. Gabe had come up to her chair and plopped down beside it. “I think my dog is tired, too.”

  “Today has been a nice distraction from everything I need to do.”

  “Back to work for both of us tomorrow. I didn’t get a chance earlier to ask you what made you decide to change cattle for horses at Winter Haven. I got the impression that you weren’t interested in becoming involved with the ranch.”

  “So did I for a while, but as I rode over the land looking for a place to put the factory, I began to remember how much I used to love the place.”

  “What changed that for you?”

  Dominic inhaled a deep breath, his eyebrows dipping down to form deep grooves at the bridge of his nose. His mouth tightened, and he faced the river, throwing his profile into the shadows.

  Silence hovered between them, and Abbey realized this was a subject he didn’t want to discuss. Why? She knew he held part of himself back from her, even after she’d told him about her husband’s abandonment.

  Realizing she’d overstepped their boundaries, she said, “I didn’t mean to pry,” and started to turn away to help her mother clean up.

  Dominic caught her arm and brought her back toward him. “My father and I had a falling-out years ago, and I left home, not intending to ever come back. But Madi came along, and I began to yearn to see my little sister. But even then, Dad and I didn’t really make up. We silently agreed not to talk about the past, but it was there non
etheless. Always between us. I’ve finally realized my anger was only hurting me, holding me back. It would be much easier if I made the ranch my home. Madi doesn’t need the upheaval of moving away. This is her home, too. I tried to put my differences with Dad behind me. When I did, the solution I’ve been wrestling with lately came to me.”

  She tried not to feel the hurt that he never had confided in her about the problem he’d been wrestling with. She felt as though he’d slammed an impregnable door in her face. Her throat swelled with emotions she fought to tamp down.

  “In exchange for using part of the ranch for my factory, I’ll fulfill what my father always wanted me to do—take over the ranch and run it.”

  “I’m glad.” She wished she could be as forgiving to her ex-husband. She’d seen him the other day at the post office with his pregnant wife, and that had cut deeper than she thought it would. Her heart still cracked at the thought that he would have what she didn’t—a family. “I’ve always been so close to my parents. They were here when I needed them the most.”

  “I used to think that about my father. He helped me through the death of my mother.”

  “So what happened that caused you two to become estranged?” She prepared herself for him not to answer her, and for a long moment he averted his gaze and stared at Madi.

  Abbey had started to make some excuse to leave when finally he said in a low voice, “My father married the woman I was engaged to.”

  “Madi’s mother?”

  He nodded.

  Abbey was speechless. Looking at him, she held back the impulse to put her arms around him. Something about his stiff posture warned her off.

  “I know. When it happened to me years ago, I couldn’t think of anything to say. All I could do was leave. I didn’t talk to him for four years, then he went into the hospital with pneumonia. They weren’t sure he was going to live. Mrs. Ponder called to let me know. As angry as I was at him, I didn’t want him to die without saying goodbye. I knew I would regret that later.”

  “Then you met Madi and that changed everything.”

  “Yes. I even was able to have a civil relationship with my dad and Susie, for Madi’s sake.”

  She thought of Peter with his wife. “I applaud you for being able to put aside your feelings and forgive your father.”

  “That sounds like you haven’t been able to forgive your husband for leaving you.”

  “It’s hard when I see him from time to time, especially with his pregnant wife.”

  “That’s got to be hard. Seeing him like that. It was torture for me every time I came back to the ranch, seeing Susie and my dad together. After a while I became numb to my feelings.”

  “Each time I do see them, I think of all the children we were going to have. I wanted a large family. I...” The words clogged her throat. She was afraid to say anything further, for fear of breaking down in her parents’ backyard.

  “This probably wasn’t the best place to have this conversation.” Dominic wrapped his arms around her and pressed her against him. “It’s never easy to look at our pasts and see what could have been.”

  His chest rose and fell beneath her cheek. His warmth surrounded her as though protecting her from harsh reality. She was scared to trust her emotions. Look what had happened with Peter. She couldn’t go through that again. And yet...

  She leaned back and stared up into his eyes, the shadows hiding part of his face. She lifted her hand and caressed his jaw. “We need to build new dreams.”

  His mouth curved up. “You’re right but, like you, I’m not sure if I can trust my feelings. I’ve taken a beating the past months. It’s been one thing after another.”

  “But Madi’s getting better each day. It won’t be long before she’s walking again.”

  He cradled her face between his palms. “That’s what I like about you. Your positive attitude. I know what you’re saying will happen, but as I saw her playing and trying to fit in with the others today, I wanted it to be right now.” The corner of his mouth hitched up. “I guess I’m an impatient man. I know God is working in Madi’s life, but why does it have to take Him so long?”

  Abbey chuckled. “That’s a question I’ve often asked myself. That’s when I figure the Lord is trying to teach me patience. I’m not the best student in the world.”

  He laughed, wiping away the intense moment between them. “I think you’ve described me perfectly.”

  Then, taking her by surprise, he lowered his head toward hers. His lips whispered across hers so softly she wondered if she’d imagined it. But when he pressed her even closer and claimed her mouth, there was no doubt.

  She savored every second in his arms. Her heartbeat galloped like a runaway horse and she clung to him, wishing the moment could last for eternity. But the feel of a cold nose against her leg and a single bark reminded her where they were. And that was wrong.

  Chapter Eleven

  Dominic rushed over to find Madi thrashing around on the lounge chair where she’d fallen asleep. The child bolted up, looking around frantically. “Dominic,” she cried out.

  “Here I am.” He sat on the chair near his sister.

  “Where...” Madi’s gaze landed on Abbey, standing next to Dominic. His sister twisted around and saw the house and patio. “I didn’t know where I was at first. I thought I was—” she shook her head “—in the airplane, but that can’t be.”

  “No, you’re with me, and Abbey is here. We’re at her parents’ home. Do you remember?”

  Madi nodded slowly.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded again.

  Dominic rose. “We’d better go. It looks like everyone is leaving, and Madi needs her rest.”

  “No, I don’t. I don’t want to go yet. I’m not tired anymore.”

  “But I am. It’s been a long day, and I have a lot to do tomorrow, and so do you.” Dominic picked up Madi and placed her in her electric wheelchair. “Greta will be over in the morning, and the tutor in the afternoon.”

  “Oh, great. Schoolwork.” A pout descended over Madi’s features as she maneuvered her chair around and started for the patio.

  Abbey smiled inwardly. “Tell you what. If you do a good job tomorrow, I’ll come pick you up on Saturday and you can help me at the nursing home again. We could use Cottonball again, too.”

  “Cottonball loves going there. I’ll have to be careful. Mrs. Parks wants to keep Cottonball all to herself.”

  As Abbey and Madi talked about Shady Oaks, Dominic slowed his pace and watched them interact. Abbey had a way with his sister as though they had been friends for years. Madi needed someone like Abbey in her life. But it was getting harder and harder to see Abbey and not want more from her. He thought of the kisses they had shared, and his gut clenched. She stirred something in him that he hadn’t felt in years. But what were Abbey’s true feelings? Was she around because of Madi or because she cared for him? Their kiss said the latter, but he’d been duped before, by Susie. Could he ever trust another woman with his heart?

  * * *

  Abbey looked at her car clock. She didn’t have much time before she had to meet Emma at the ranch to set up the birthday party for Madi. Why couldn’t she get all the items she needed on her first trip to the Super Center? Now she had to make a second trip.

  Passing the stack of handheld baskets in the store, she grabbed the handle of the top one and didn’t slow her pace as she headed back to the area where the eggs were.

  When she came around the corner near the dairy section, she halted in front of the yogurt. There in front of the milk stood Peter, holding his newborn baby, with his wife next to him.

  Peter glanced up and spied her. Saying something to Julia, he gave the baby to her and started for Abbey. Panic set in, and all she could think to do was hurry in the opposite directi
on.

  Why did I run? Because she hadn’t expected to see him, especially not with his new baby. But mostly because lately she’d been revisiting her emotions about when he’d left and Lisa had died. She didn’t know what she felt anymore. Dominic’s, and even Madi’s, entry into her life threw her into confusion. She loved Dominic, but there were so many barriers in their way.

  After a few minutes had passed, she snuck her way to the dairy section and saw that the coast was clear. Relief washed over her. She knew she had to deal with these conflicting emotions someday, but today was not the day. She had a party to throw. And she would see Dominic, who had been so busy recently that they often only glimpsed each other in passing. But today he would be there the whole afternoon. And she was looking forward to that very much.

  * * *

  “We have about an hour to set up before the guests arrive, then Dominic will be bringing Madi home about thirty minutes after that,” Abbey said as she carried several sacks into the barn. “I’m so glad you agreed to help me, Emma. I want this to be perfect for Madi. She doesn’t know that the doctor has said it’s okay for her to ride with the physical therapist’s direction.”

  “And Greta’s coming today?”

  “Yes. All Madi’s wounds have healed, and she is getting stronger, especially her upper body. She should be fine on a horse with some help. She’s going to be so excited.”

  Abbey and Emma headed toward her yellow car, which was parked on the side of the barn away from the house. “It sounds like someone else is excited, too,” Emma said.

  “I can’t wait to see the expression on her face. Ten girls are coming. Brandy had already told some of them how good Madi was getting around. I’m hoping this is the start of her getting involved with her friends again.” Abbey slid the huge cake from the back of her car. “What do you think?”

  Emma whistled when she glimpsed the cake decorated with chocolate icing as though it was dirt. An enclosed paddock made out of candy cane sticks and candles surrounded a pinto that looked like Spice. A banner on the candy fence said, “Happy Birthday, Madi.”