Abandoned Hearts (The Ozark Durham Series)

by Regina Tittel

  A short pause followed before Mr. Stevenson answered. “You’re still there, huh? I thought you would have left by now.”

  She took a deep breath to contain her growing disdain and coolly replied, “I said I’d stay as long as I was needed.”

  After another pause, Mr. Stevenson said, “Hmm. It may seem I’ve been a bit hasty in forming an opinion of you, Ms. McHaven. When I called back to speak with Theodore last night, he mentioned all you’ve done. In fact, he read me a list. And for that, I’m thankful.” He cleared his throat. “Please, forgive me.”

  Ann’s jaw dropped, and Jacob gave her a curious look. “Of course, Mr. Stevenson.” She then turned the conversation away from herself. “How is Joseph doing?”

  “He’s recuperating quite rapidly, but of course hasn’t been released yet. Nevertheless, Mrs. Stevenson or I will return home today and our eldest son is coming home to lend a hand.”

  After a few more brief exchanges, Ann hung up the phone. “Joseph is doing really well and one of his parents will be home today.”

  Jacob rubbed a hand over his chin. “I can’t believe he’s pulled through so easily. The boy could have been paralyzed.”

  “See what prayer can do?”

  Jacob studied her. “How about I take your smug and sassy self to your uncle’s for a different set of clothes and then you stay with my kids until the hunt is over?”

  Ann smiled at the opportunity to spend more time with them. “Sounds great. Oh, and I forgot to tell you, Mr. Stevenson’s oldest son is coming home, too. That will give them an extra hand.”

  Jacob was glad Tommy Stevenson saw the importance of supporting his family in a time like this. Could they pick up where they left off? Perhaps Tommy would want to join in the hunt. The Lord knew Jacob could use his help.

  His coffee cup paused at his lips.

  Another thought occurred to Jacob, one not quite as peaceful. Tommy was a womanizer, with no respect of persons. Did he possess enough restraint to leave Ann alone? Most likely, not. More importantly, would Ann be swayed by Tommy’s charms? Not able to control the sudden onslaught of frustration, Jacob made an excuse to step outside.

  “Something bothering you, Son?”

  “Dad. I didn’t realize you were there.”

  “The ringing phone woke me from my sweet slumber.” Luke smiled as he joined his son. “People are always changing, aren’t they? Some for the worst, some for the best. And the hard part is keeping up with them.”

  Just how much did his dad know of Tommy’s life style? Jacob waited for the wisdom his father was sure to impart.

  “You want to know one of the things I’ve always appreciated about the disciples? They weren’t perfect. They came from all sorts of backgrounds, and just because they walked with Jesus, it didn’t make them perfect. They still made mistakes, even big ones like Peter’s. But, the Lord forgave them and by doing so, set a good example for us to follow.”

  “Something tells me you’re not talking about the cougar.”

  His dad grinned. “I know you don’t visit Tommy any more. I didn’t figure it was any of my business to ask, but I noticed all the same.”

  “The kids probably said a little, too.”

  “That they did.”

  “Tommy’s a hard one to figure, and I needed to hear what you said. Thanks, Dad.” Jacob clapped his dad on the shoulder as they returned to the house. Feeling his heart lighten, he tried to stay optimistic.

  ***

  Jacob stretched his arms over his head then ran a hand over his stubbled jaw. A shower and a clean shave would feel good right about now. Into the second day of hunting the cougar and they weren’t any closer to catching it than when they started. He glanced at his dad and saw the evident signs of fatigue around his eyes and in his stride. Though thankful for his help, the rough Ozark terrain was too much for him. Jacob needed to call it quits before his dad got hurt.

  Once his dad was home, the excuse to have Ann stay would be nullified. Jacob had become accustomed to her presence. And, so had the children. Of course, if he hunted this evening, he would have the excuse for her to stay one more day. One less day of the house feeling empty.

  Jim sighed loudly before his voice grated against the silence. “We need a team of dogs to corner this smart-alecky cat. This whole time we’ve been tracking it, I think it’s been walking circles around us. I don’t know about you two, but I’m tired of playing cat and mouse.”

  “I agree.” Jacob’s voice was rough from lack of sleep. “Let’s head back to the cabin. Dad, why don’t you check in with Candy and the family, and I’ll get Moses.”

  Jim stared at him for a moment. “You mean your mutt?” His condescending tone said it all. They were physically and mentally drained.

  Jacob squared his shoulders. “I don’t recall the state of Missouri having a dog team set aside for tracking cats. So, just what do you suggest?”

  “Well, I’m through for now. I’m beat and quite honestly, I’m tired of your company. I’ll have a team ready to hunt this weekend.”

  Jacob shook his head and continued toward home. Aside from Jim’s show of knowledge when they found the dead cougar, Jacob wasn’t impressed with the man’s credentials. If he was so smart, why hadn’t they found a trace of the cat since the kill? The hunt was down to him. His dad needed a break, and Jim had made it clear he was tired of playing chase.

  ***

  Ann left the front door of Jacob’s cabin open to allow the light to shine through the storm door as she gathered up the children’s school books. It had been another productive day and the children were now outside playing. She hummed pleasantly to herself as she enjoyed the simple pleasure of keeping house.

  She paused. The lighting in the room darkened. Ann caught the faint smell of expensive cologne before she turned to see a shadow loom in the doorway. “Aahhh!” The books fell from her arms with a loud thud.

  “Excuse me, ma’am. I had no intention of alarming you.” The young man had a natural charm about him and knew it. He eased the door open. “I’m Tommy Stevenson, the eldest son of Jacob’s neighbors.”

  He stepped inside and extended his hand. The children ran to the door and shouted greetings to him. Their familiarity eased the tension from Ann’s shoulders.

  “Hi Tommy, I’m Ann. It’s nice to meet you.” He flowed with confident charm. Though it was easy to be drawn in, Ann had met his type before. She gave a polite smile but refused to give him anything more. She took a step back and studied him. He was tall and lean, and though his facial features weren’t perfect, his smile drew them all together and made him attractive. Though, if he expected his charms to work on her, he’d find himself disappointed.

  Tommy brought his hand to his face and rubbed his cheek. “You probably wonder why I don’t sport a beard like my father. He’d say it’s because I’m rebelling against God.” His eyes sparkled in a mischievous way. “I don’t adhere to all their rules, so to speak.”

  A gruff voice came from behind Tommy. “I should’ve known to watch out for you.”

  Tommy spun around and looked sheepishly at Jacob. Jacob stood eye to eye with Tommy and glared at him with obvious suspicion. Tommy extended his hand. “Hi, neighbor. I just had to come and see for myself. But, no harm’s been done.”

  “See what?” Ann asked.

  He turned his attention toward her once more. “Why, you, of course. My siblings had plenty to say about their pretty baby-sitter. And since I didn’t get an answer from the Garret’s home, I assumed you were here. It seems you have a heart of gold to look after everyone’s kids like you have. And naturally, I wondered if you didn’t need a break. Perhaps a dinner, that those overworked hands don’t have to cook?”

  He cast a look at Jacob as he leaned his shoulder against the door’s trim. “I can’t imagine Mr. Neanderthal knows how to properly treat a lady.”

  Without hesitation, Jacob grabbed Tommy by the back of his neck and thrust him out the door. Ann’s jaw dropped before her
hand covered her mouth.

  “If what you came home for was to help your family, then I suggest you get back to it.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jacob followed Tommy outside to keep him from saying too much. “Okay. You had your fun. Now, go home and help out like you’re supposed to.”

  Tommy laughed so hard he nearly doubled over. “Man, can we say, pos-ses-sive? Jake, you’ve got it bad. And, it’s about time.”

  “Mind your business, will you?” Jacob slapped Tommy on the back while projecting him toward his car. “So how’s the little brother doing?”

  “He’ll survive. Do you think you’re any closer to bagging the cat?”

  “I’m fixin’ to eat a bite and head back out. You want to come?”

  Tommy’s eyes lit with the same twinkle Jacob remembered from childhood. “You bet. But since I’ve driven and flown all day, you’ll probably want me to get some shut eye.”

  “That’s right. I don’t want you to mistake me for the beast.”

  “Then it’s settled. I’ll see you at first light.”

  “That’s if I don’t get him tonight.” Jacob watched Tommy stride the remaining distance to his car. It was a new high-end model with all the bells and whistles. No surprise. Tommy hadn’t changed. The fact he drove over to check out Ann, proved it. “Just what I needed, icing on the cake of an already lousy day.”

  Jacob watched as Tommy turned onto the road and disappeared. He had graduated at sixteen and left home to earn his MBA. He’d been hired on with a million dollar company while still in college and climbed the ladder of success faster than anyone in the company’s history. Jacob shook his head. A six figure income at the young age of twenty-four, no wonder Tommy changed.

  Jacob knew life hadn’t been easy for his friend. Tommy’s father, Mr. Stevenson, was a hard man who demanded control. Tommy had originally tried to please him, but his strong spirit refused to be broken and he fled as soon as he could. Although Tommy had changed in many ways, Jacob knew he still had some good left in him. A younger sibling of Tommy’s once mentioned a truck load of new furniture had been delivered to their mother, but their father refused it. Jacob was sure Tommy had only wanted his mother to have something nice. But his father probably saw it as a challenge to how he provided. Thus, the constant friction.

  Jacob turned and saw Ann at the kitchen window. She concentrated on the dishes, unaware of her admirer. Jacob viewed her delicate features. She scowled at whatever was in her hands. Her lips were slightly drawn and a tendril of hair hung over one side of her face. Would Tommy show enough respect to leave her alone? He had driven all the way over to see what she looked like. He had entered Jacob’s house without him, to be close to her. He had asked her out.

  She was beautiful.

  And, Tommy knew it.

  ***

  The next day, Ann stepped into the kitchen feeling bright and cheerful. The coffee pot still sat empty. She carried it to the sink. As she reached for the faucet, a sigh sounded from the direction of the living room. She set the pot down and tiptoed around the table to peer into the adjoining room. Surprised, Jacob was still asleep on the sofa. He’d overslept. His late night hunt must have worn him out.

  Thankful he was sound asleep, Ann crept closer to stare at her sleeping prince. His muscular thighs were wrapped in worn jeans and tangled in an old afghan. His broad chest, covered in a white t-shirt, rose with each peaceful intake of air. His hair lay in a soft mess of waves and thick dark stubble shadowed his jaw. One arm hung off the couch while his face turned into the elbow of the other. She had to control the urge to touch the mound of his bicep…brush his hair back in place…kiss his cheek.

  What would it feel like to wake up to him each day surrounded by his love, protection, and trust? She didn't mean for the sigh to escape and wake him. But it did.

  “Good morning,” he said huskily. “I must have overslept.”

  “I - I’m sure you needed it,” she stammered. “I’ll make you some coffee.”

  Jacob smiled at her. Did the color of her cheeks match the warmth that seized her?

  Ann fumbled with a coffee cup. Her feelings for this man were so strong she was greedily thankful he hadn’t met the cougar. She feared what might happen if he did.

  God, please keep Jacob safe. I can’t stand the thought of him being out there. And help me to keep my trust in you.

  Breakfast was a mixture of chaos and laughter. The children had more energy than usual which resulted in spilled orange juice and burnt toast. Ann took it all in stride as she mopped up the sticky floor.

  “Uh, Ann, is our toast burning again?” Ethan looked over at the toaster where little swirls of smoke began to rise.

  “No.” Ann quickly popped the bread up. “They’re just right.” She took the slices of toast to the sink and scraped off the darkened areas. She applied a generous amount of jelly before laying a piece on each child’s plate.

  “Perfect. That looks delicious.” Jacob acted like he would eat Emily’s.

  “No. This is mine.”

  Ann watched with gratitude as Emily ate her slightly burnt toast without complaint. “Thank you,” she mouthed to Jacob. Ethan had already eaten most of his and jumped from his chair ready to run outside.

  “Hey, look. Tommy’s here.” The door flung open and Ethan was gone.

  “I’ll have to tell him the hunt’s been cancelled.”

  Ethan’s crazy hound had taken off sometime that morning. Since they’d already proven it was pointless to hunt without a dog to help track, their hunt had to wait for the hound to return. Jacob walked to the door, followed by Emily and Luke.

  Ann set the breakfast dishes in the sink and watched as Tommy stepped from his car. His movements held an artful grace that added to his refined masculinity. He appeared very high-society. If she didn’t know better, Ann would never believe his roots traced him to the Ozarks. He had perfected his articulate speech until all traces of the area were gone. He cast a glance toward the house and Ann’s skin prickled. She looked at her arms and blinked. Surely, he was harmless. Besides, Jacob wouldn’t let him touch her. The old fears that had vanished, threatened to return. She could hear part of his conversation with Jacob and Luke, as they discussed the fruitless hunt from last night before they entered the house.

  “Do you always look this lovely in the morning, Miss Ann?”

  Ann narrowed her eyes as she looked from Tommy to Jacob and back to Tommy. “Only when I wake up to this family.”

  Unperturbed, Tommy stepped to her side and let his body gently brush against her thigh and arm. “I could help you with these dishes.” His voice was as smooth and polished as his intentions, but Ann had been down this road often enough before.

  “No thanks, I’m done.” She pivoted, tossed the towel onto the counter and joined the children in the other room, but paused long enough to see Jacob’s heated look burn a hole straight through Tommy.

  ***

  With Sunday only three days away, Jacob was more comfortable with Ann going home. To his relief, so was Ann. Since the hound had yet to return, it took away the need to keep Ann at his home. He could convince her to stay and use the children’s schooling as an excuse, but Jacob didn’t want to harm her reputation. Though the storm and cougar incident couldn’t be avoided, to ask her to continue to stay would only fuel the sure-to-come ill-founded rumors. Now, he would have to settle back into his regular farm routine until their weekend hunt.

  Tommy had stopped by, just as promised. Jacob didn’t like the constant attention he directed to Ann. If Tommy was so glad he’d finally moved on, the guy sure had a funny way of showing it, which is exactly why Jacob offered to take her home so early in the day. If Tommy hung around, he didn’t want him anywhere around his Ann.

  As the Garret’s home came into view, Jacob let out a low whistle. “Wow.” He drove over the paved private drive where hundred year old cedar trees boasted their survival. The Garret mansion stood out like a cloud upon green pastu
res. Its stately pillars climbed forever upward and wrapped completely around two sides of the house. The driveway looped to the other side where Jacob parked his truck underneath an arched canopy probably designed for carriages many years before. “I’ve never been up to the house. It’s really something, isn’t it?”

  “It is. But I have to say, it lacks the charm of a log cabin. Would you like to see the inside?”

  “Sure, if you don’t think your uncle would mind.”

  Ann led him to the back of the house through the kitchen entrance. After they passed through a screened-in porch they stepped inside an enormous tiled room with hardwood cabinets that lined three walls and an island near the center.

  “I, for one, could never keep something like this clean. The more room, the more mess I seem to make!” Ann laughed at herself.

  “I believe that. But I also know that once you’re finished in the kitchen, no one can tell you ever stepped a foot in it.”

  “Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment, and use it against my mom every time she moans when I walk into her kitchen!”

  Jacob couldn't get over the space. He stared at the vaulted ceiling and then her. “Do they entertain a lot?”

  “Just their church group, and of course we hold our family gatherings here. With all the space, we don’t have to rent motel rooms.” She grasped his hand. “Come on, I’ll show you the parlor.”

  The parlor? He felt like he stepped back into time. Was Annie from a wealthy family? If so, did he have any right to ask her to submit to the life of a farmer’s wife? He would never have this kind of money, nor would he ever see a need for it.

  Ann’s voice interrupted his thoughts, “…and this is what we call our family’s hall of shame.”

  Jacob looked past the baby grand piano and saw that Ann stood before a hallway just off the parlor. He followed her lead and found himself in a narrow passage that must have originally been set aside for servants. All along the wall to his right was picture after picture of smiling faces of Ann’s family. He peered closer to a very petite little girl in pig tails. Jacob had to smile.