ARKANSAS WEDDINGS: THREE-IN-ONE COLLECTION

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  The forest canopy enveloped them in a peaceful, ray-blocking blanket.

  “Can we stop for a minute? I’m sorry. I’m afraid I’m not very good at this.”

  Hayden reined in his horse and swung down to help her dismount.

  Despite his offer, Laken clambered from the saddle.

  “You can borrow Pearl anytime if you’d like to come out and practice.” Hayden tied the horses to a tree. “Pearl doesn’t get ridden much since Brady graduated to Spot.”

  “I might take you up on that, after I recover from today, that is.” She leaned against a huge oak. “Sorry I cut your fun short the other night. It wasn’t you.”

  “I knew that.”

  “If I’d stayed one more minute, I think the top of my head would have blown.”

  “Sounds messy.” He grinned.

  Laken frowned. “Mother said Wade Fenwick used to live in my rental house. Did he…?”

  “No, I think he lived in Searcy when he shot himself.”

  “Good.” Laken shivered. “I mean, I hate that it had to happen anywhere, but it was kind of creepy thinking it might have happened where I live. Poor Helen.”

  “She’s had a tough time of it.” Hayden stroked Buck’s long neck and the horse nickered. “Her son is in a nursing home now. She visits him several times a week.”

  “Please don’t think I’m anything like my mother just because I asked. Sara and I grew up next to each other. We were good friends. So Mother’s info was rather jarring.”

  “I’m sorry. Her death must have been hard on you.”

  “It was.” Everyone else who loved Sara seemed to be past her death and focused on fond memories. Of course, they’d been here. Being where Sara had last lived, with the people she loved, opened unhealed wounds.

  “It electrified my last nerve for Mother to gossip about Sara’s death.” Laken crossed her arms over her chest. “As far back as I can remember, my mother has spent her time picking everybody’s lives apart, like she’s Miss Perfect. Isn’t there something in the Bible about backbiting?”

  “A few things.” Hayden settled on a tree stump.

  “My parents used to drag my brother and me to church three times a week. Mother was on all the committees and Father was a deacon.” Her insides twisted. “We sat through countless sermons about gossip and drunkards. Yet, as soon as we got home, Mother called everybody she knew with the latest scandal and Father drowned himself in the liquor cabinet.”

  Hayden plucked a fuzzy dandelion and blew the seedlings off the stalk. “Sounds tough.”

  “On the outside, we were the perfect, upstanding family.” She hugged herself tighter. “On the inside, we were a sham.”

  “That’s what you’ve got against church?”

  She huffed out a big breath. “I’ve seen enough hypocrites to last me a lifetime.”

  “There are hypocrites everywhere. The only difference is, some are forgiven.”

  So, if you go to church, you do whatever you want and God forgives you? She wanted to know more, but she’d heard enough about God for one day.

  “You’re not a hypocrite, Hayden.” Laken searched his luminous eyes. “You’re true-blue, without a bone of put-on in you. You’re so together. I bet you had a good, solid, functional family.”

  He looked off in the distance and his eyes misted. “We were, before Katie’s cancer. None of us have been very functional since. My folks can’t forgive me for what happened to Brady. I backed into him.”

  Laken’s jaw dropped.

  “Two years ago. I was leaving for work, and Brady slipped away from his nanny. He ran out the front door as I backed my SUV out of the garage.” Hayden closed his eyes and ducked his head. “He thought I saw him and headed for the passenger side. I’ll never forget the thud.” Raw pain echoed in his voice.

  She swallowed the golf-ball-sized lump in her throat. “It was an accident.”

  “Yes, but Brady still can’t walk. I was the one driving, and they can’t get past that.” He focused on her, his eyes damp. “Neither can I.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Me, too.” He blinked several times and stood. “Any togetherness I have comes straight from above.”

  She bit her lip, not wanting to get into that subject. “He seems very well-adjusted.”

  “He’s the only one who is. I cost Brady his legs. Yet, he doesn’t hate me. I blame me. Everyone who knows what happened blames me. But Brady doesn’t.

  “We better get our horses.” Hayden turned away. “By the way, folks here don’t know what happened, and I’d rather it came from me.”

  The urge to touch his shoulder, to provide comfort, rose within her. She shoved her hands in her pockets. “Don’t worry. I don’t give my mother fodder for her gossip mill.”

  Hayden spun to face her again. “I didn’t think—I just meant—”

  “It’s not my place to say anything to anyone.”

  A whip-poor-will’s haunting call echoed, announcing the onset of dusk. “Brady’s probably getting antsy. Can we walk the horses over, so I’ll be able to move tomorrow?”

  “Sure.” His crooked grin materialized. “Just watch your step. As hot as it is, we should be okay as long as we stay on the path.”

  His calm reminder about snakes almost made her want to ride. Almost.

  His confession rattled her. How could he and his nephew have such a wonderful relationship after the accident? Why didn’t Brady blame Hayden?

  “Special delivery. Happy Monday.” Hayden stepped inside the cool post office, hoisting a large black plastic pot.

  “What’s this?” Despite the red blotches covering her neck and arms, Laken’s eyes lit up at the sight of the towering orange flowers with long, spiky stems.

  “You’ve got poison ivy.”

  She rubbed the deltoid muscle in her upper arm. “I feel like clawing my skin off. I should have stayed on Pearl. Grace brought me some cream this morning.”

  He set the pot on the work counter. “Adrea sent this over. She apologized for just getting around to it now, but she’s really been sick.”

  “Poor thing.” Laken buried her nose in a vibrant blossom. “I love gladiolas. How did she know?”

  “She asked me to describe you, so she could figure out something you might like.”

  “And you said…?” With a hand propped on one hip, she shot him a saucy grin.

  “That you’re the strongest, most determined woman I’ve ever met, but somewhere in there, I’ve glimpsed a soft side.”

  The smile faded. “Keep that last part to yourself, will ya?”

  “Tough as nails on a chalkboard.” He saluted. “She said glads symbolize strength and I knew you liked orange. I’ve seen you wear it.”

  Laken swallowed, tracing a lacy blossom. “Beautiful. I’ll send Adrea a thank-you note.”

  “Even with courage as fierce as a lion, you still need Jesus to steer you through this life.”

  Her head whipped around. “Now you’re gonna preach to me?”

  “Just trying to help.” He opened the door. “I better get my sack.” Maybe his words would take root if he left her alone a minute or two. He wrestled the stuffed mailbag out of his truck.

  When he returned, she still stood at the counter. “Adrea said she’ll stop by soon and tell you how to plant the glads sometime in the spring.”

  “That’s very sweet, but I may not be here by next spring, and even if I am, I don’t want to plant anything I’d end up leaving behind.”

  Hayden’s spirits plummeted. “Are you going somewhere?”

  “Romance wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, so I only accepted this position temporarily, until something else opens up.” Laken shrugged. “Even if I end up staying here awhile, I probably wouldn’t keep renting forever.”

  “You’ve only been here a month. Give it some time.” Why did he care? She certainly didn’t want him to. And why did his heart flop like a dying fish at her mention of leaving town?

  “Co
ntrary to popular beliefs, time doesn’t heal everything.”

  “Where do you want to go?” He managed a casual tone.

  She scanned the tiny office. “Anywhere but here.”

  Hayden shuffled the mail from his sorter into his tray, careful to keep it in order by route. “Romance is a great little town.”

  “Yes, but my parents are forty-five minutes too close.”

  “That could be a good thing.” He tried to sound enthusiastic, even though his own parental relations were strained.

  “My life was much better when I was far away from them.” Her shoulders sagged, as if her words weren’t quite true.

  He’d definitely hit on something Laken had buried deep. Something bigger than she could handle. Lord, help me make her see she doesn’t have to go it alone.

  The side door opened. “Hey, y’all.” Carol set down her sack. “What’s going on here? You could cut the tension with a butter knife.”

  “Nothing.” His voice blended with Laken’s.

  “Ooh, honey.” Carol winced. “Just looking at you makes me want to scratch.”

  “I have an appointment at lunch to get a big, nasty steroid shot.”

  “Good. Guess what?” Carol’s enthusiasm was almost contagious.

  “What?” Again, he and Laken answered together.

  “I told you Jim loved church Sunday. He’s coming to Bible study on Wednesday, too.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Hayden spoke alone this time.

  “Would you like to come, Laken?” Carol clamped a hand over her mouth. “Oops, sorry. I promised not to bother you after the trail ride.”

  Color crept up Laken’s neck, connecting the splotches of her rash. “Even if I wanted to go, my brother’s coming for a visit next weekend.” She winced. “But keep it quiet.”

  “Oh, it’s a surprise.” Carol squealed. “I love surprises.”

  “It’s a total, complete secret. In fact, he’s not planning to see our parents while he’s here. So please, Carol, not a word.”

  “All right.” With a dramatic eye roll, Carol scooted her case closer to her sorter. “But I wish y’all would get your issues sorted out. This is not what a family is supposed to be like.”

  Can’t help with that subject. Hayden grabbed his bag and headed out the door. “Catch ya later.” But he and Carol had definitely planted seeds.

  Longing for a glimpse of her brother, Laken fidgeted as she searched the chaos.

  The weekend airport crowd rushed about, burdened with luggage. The endless line of passengers trying to get through security snaked through the bustle. Squealing reunions took place all around her while flight departures boomed over the intercom.

  A little girl danced, legs clamped together. “But I gotta go now !”

  Laken’s lungs deflated like a pricked balloon. She turned away from the reminder of family ties she’d never have.

  Briefcase in one hand, a man strode confidently past, with his wheeled carry-on trailing behind. She knew that walk. With his light brown hair cropped close, businessman-style instead of shaggy, he looked professional and polished. The way his suit enhanced his lithe body testified to its high cost. Obviously, expensive tailoring had finally replaced his favorite ragged, kneeless jeans. The jeans that had almost given Mother heart palpitations. She’d love this version of him.

  “Collin.” Laken scurried after him.

  He turned around. Recognition dawned in his sapphire eyes, and he smiled. That big toothy grin she hadn’t seen in eight years flashed. “You weren’t supposed to come.”

  “I couldn’t stay away.” She lunged into his arms. “I missed you so much.”

  “Me, too.” He set down his cases to hug her. “Look at you. You’re an adult and so pretty.”

  Tears blurred her vision, and she buried her face in his shoulder.

  He patted her back as she tried to control her sniffles.

  With slight decorum, she pulled away and traced his lapel with her fingers. “Look at you, Mr. Fancy Businessman. You clean up good.”

  “Thanks. Let’s get out of here.”

  “Don’t you have more luggage?”

  “I travel light.”

  Her heart dropped to her toes. “You’re not staying long?”

  “My flight leaves tomorrow evening.” He managed his two cases with one hand and slung his other arm around her shoulders. “Let’s pick up my rental car, and I’ll buy you supper.”

  “Here we are.” Laken waited on the porch, certain her humble rental house didn’t measure up to the accommodations this new Collin was accustomed to. Especially since he’d rented a Lexus. At least she’d gotten everything unpacked and put away. Even a few paintings graced the walls.

  With an unreadable expression, his gaze swept the place. “Tell me again why you moved from Little Rock to Romance.”

  “I got a promotion.” Her key clicked in the lock.

  He parked his cases in the living room and followed her to the adjoining kitchen.

  “Did it have to be here?” With his chin propped on his knuckles, Collin stared at the large painting of the Romance Waterfalls above the couch.

  “That’s exactly how I felt.” With shaky hands, she poured them each a cup of coffee, adding cream and sugar to hers. The spoon slipped from her fumbling fingers, clattering to the linoleum floor. “But I’d have been crazy not to accept the position, and it’s actually temporary until something closer to Little Rock opens up.”

  He knelt to retrieve the spoon, dropped it in the sink, and trailed her back to the small living room.

  She set two steaming mugs on the coffee table. “So, tell me about you. How’s California and the world of accounting?”

  Collin closed his eyes. “Sit down, sis. There’s so much you don’t know about me.”

  A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. She dropped to the couch and patted the seat beside her. “Is everything okay?”

  He ran his hand through his hair and sat. “My senior year of college in Little Rock, I met someone. It was love at first sight for both of us.”

  “You never said anything about it.”

  “She wanted to get married and all I could think about was Mother and Father.” A world-weary sigh emanated from deep within him. “It scared the heebie-jeebies out of me.”

  Laken understood completely. Unwilling to get caught in the trap of marriage, she’d avoided any kind of emotional attachment to anyone. Yet her traitorous heart longed to know a nurturing love, longed for a real family, longed for children of her own. “So what happened?”

  “My company wanted me to transfer, so I ran away as far as I could get.”

  “To California and broke her heart.”

  “Yes. And on top of that, she was pregnant.”

  The room spun. She grasped the arm of the couch. Anything to keep her afloat. “How could you abandon your child?”

  “I didn’t know about him.” Collin cupped his face in his hands. “Until recently.”

  A jolt went through her heart. “The mother just contacted you?”

  “Not exactly.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s complicated, but…” Collin stood and paced. The aged hardwood flooring creaked with every few steps. “He’s here. Brady is here.”

  “Brady?” A hard ball formed in the pit of her stomach.

  A knock sounded at the door.

  “You’re expecting someone?”

  “No.” She’d only had one visitor since she’d lived here, and surely Mother wouldn’t have the nerve to come again. “It’s probably my landlord.” She hurried to answer.

  “Good. I’ll tell ol’ Pete he needs to spruce this place up for you a bit.”

  Laken opened the door.

  Hayden stood waiting.

  “What are you doing here, Hayden?”

  He held her cell phone toward her. “I found this in the parking lot. Didn’t know if you had a home phone or not, so I thought you might need
it.”

  “Hayden?” Collin’s voice came from directly behind her. “Hayden Winters?”

  Hayden raised a brow. “I’m sorry. Have we met?”

  “I’m Collin Kroft.”

  Hayden’s jaw dropped. “You’re…?” He pointed at her.

  “Collin’s sister.” She voiced the thought for him.

  “You’re planning to help him take Brady away from me?”

  “What? No.” Laken frowned. “I’d never do that.”

  Collin grabbed her elbow and turned her to face him. “You’re planning to help him keep Brady away from me?”

  “No.”

  Hayden sidestepped her. With his muscled frame, stature, and fire in his eyes, he made an intimidating picture. “So, you are planning to try to take Brady away from me?”

  But Collin didn’t back down. “He’s my son.”

  They stood almost nose to nose, chests puffed out, ridiculous and frightening.

  Laken squeezed between the two men. “Why does Hayden have Brady?”

  Hayden’s breath fluttered across the top of her head. “Tell your sister why I’m raising your son. Tell her how you left Katie alone and pregnant. Tell her how you never would marry her, and how when she begged you from her deathbed to come and care for your son, you ignored her letter. Such a coward, you didn’t come to claim your son.”

  Chapter 5

  Hayden’s insides boiled.

  “Shut up,” Collin hissed. “I didn’t know.”

  Laken elbowed her brother in the stomach and managed to push him away from Hayden. “Stop it, both of you. You’re adults, and you should be able to talk without throwing punches.”

  What a poor witness. Hayden hung his head. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “It seems to me, you both want Brady to be happy. So there has to be some kind of compromise.”

  “I’m not the compromising type.” Collin shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “Well, maybe you can learn.” Laken took a deep breath. “Hayden, thank you for bringing my phone, but it’s time for you to go.”

  He nodded. “How about breakfast, Collin?”

  “I will see my son.” Collin ground the words between clenched teeth.