His tone got on her last nerve, and she made her way outside before she said something she’d regret. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. First she left Blue Falls because it didn’t feel right to stay. But now that she was home, it felt wrong here, too.
Maybe things would start getting better when she saw her mom in a few minutes. Thankfully, her mom had arrived back home from France the night before, and Natalie was actually looking forward to hearing about her adventures. The few pictures she’d seen Renee post online almost hadn’t seemed real, but she’d detected a flicker of life in her mom’s eyes she hadn’t seen in a long time.
She sank onto the metal bench under the big tree out front to wait for her mom. At least now she wouldn’t have to depend on friends and coworkers to tote her to work and back. But as the minutes ticked by and her mom didn’t show, she wondered if the jet lag had her mom’s schedule so messed up that she was sleeping. She pulled out her phone but then saw a familiar car turning the corner.
Her mom pulled her aging sedan to the curb and hopped out. “So sorry I’m late.” She glanced at Natalie’s cast. “Oh, honey.”
“It’s okay, really.” She wasn’t about to tell her mom that this was actually the second cast required for the same broken leg or about the events that had led to the need for a replacement cast.
Once they were both in the car, her mom didn’t drive toward Natalie’s apartment or her own house.
“Where are we going?”
“For ice cream. I’ve had a hankering for a giant milkshake all day.”
They went to Dave’s Drive-In and both ordered milkshakes. “This was a good idea, Mom.”
“I brought Renee here when she broke her arm skating when she was in second grade.”
“Oh, so it’s the official broken-bone stop. Got it.”
Her mom chuckled a little.
“It’s nice to hear you laugh.”
“It feels weird, like I shouldn’t be able to.”
“I know what you mean.”
Her mom looked over at her, a touch of anxiety in her expression. “How did things go with the Brodys? I still can’t believe your dad asked you to do that and that you agreed.”
“It was rough at first.”
“At first?”
“They’re understandably upset, but we parted on friendly terms.” At least as friendly as she could possibly expect. Not wanting to go into more detail, Natalie changed the topic. “What I want to know is how did you like Paris? The pictures made it look as if you were having a nice time.”
“It was like being in a movie, as if it wasn’t real. But I actually loved it. Does that make me a bad person?”
“Why on earth would you ask that?”
“Because I just lost your dad.”
Natalie reached across the car and grabbed her mom’s hand. “I know you loved him and miss him, but you missed out on a lot in life because you were so busy trying to keep our family together, fed and a roof over our heads. You deserve to do whatever you want now. You can cry when you need to and laugh when it feels right, all without any guilt. Most women would have left Dad long ago, but you stuck it out.”
“He wasn’t all bad.”
“I know that. He just had a lot of demons he wasn’t able to slay, and we were all collateral damage even if we loved him.”
Her mom grew quiet.
“Is something else bothering you?” Natalie asked.
“The reason I was late today was because I was meeting with a real estate agent about selling the house.”
Though that bit of news surprised Natalie, she could understand her mom not wanting to live in the same space she’d shared with Natalie’s dad. It was hard to move on when you were constantly surrounded with reminders of your loss.
“I think that’s a good idea. You could always get an apartment in my complex. There’s usually a vacancy or two.”
“Actually, I’m thinking about making a bigger change. Would you feel as if I’m abandoning you if I moved to Kansas City?”
Seemed it was a day for surprises. “Of course not. It makes sense you’d want to be close to the grandkids.”
“This might sound crazy, but I’m thinking about splitting my time between staying with Allison and Renee. And of course I’ll visit you, too.”
“You’re going back to Paris?”
“Yeah. I feel as if I only scratched the surface. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even try to learn a little French.”
Though it felt as if everything in Natalie’s world was falling apart, she couldn’t help but smile. Though she knew her mom had loved her dad a great deal despite their less-than-easy life together, it was as if she was witnessing a rebirth. And her mom deserved it.
They talked more about her mom’s plans as they headed to Natalie’s apartment. Instead of dropping Natalie off, her mom parked but didn’t make a move to get out of the car.
“I need to apologize to you,” her mom said. “I should have been the one to tell the Brodys the truth.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” Natalie stunned even herself by saying that. “I think you’d borne enough guilt hiding Dad’s secret all those years.”
“But it wasn’t right, even if we did it out of the fear of losing you girls. We ripped you from your home, away from your friends, and never told you why.”
“What’s done is done. Someone recently told me that maybe it’s time to leave all the heartache in the past and move on, make new, happy memories.”
“Sounds like a forgiving person.” The way her mom said that sounded as if she’d guessed it was one of the Brodys.
“Yeah.”
“Honey, is there something you haven’t told me?”
“No. It’s just that...the trip to Texas wasn’t what I expected.” She shook her head. “Listen, Mom. I’m pretty worn-out, so I’m going to go in and lie on my couch and pretend it’s a nice bubble bath.”
She thought at first her mom was going to question her further, but she didn’t. Instead, she got out of the car and came around to help Natalie out.
“Thank goodness you’re on the first floor.”
Natalie adjusted her crutches, but before she could take the first step toward the sidewalk someone called her name. No, not just someone. She turned slowly toward the sound of his deep voice and couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Garrett.” Mixed in with the surprise in her voice was happiness to see him and fear for why he’d arrived on her doorstep when her mom was there. In her absence, had he decided that someone—her mother—had to pay for his mother’s death?
Her mom gripped Natalie’s arm, and when Natalie looked at her she saw the same fear in her mom’s eyes.
Garrett took a few steps toward them and looked at Natalie’s mom. “It’s okay. I’m not here for the reason you think I am.”
“You’re not?” Her mom’s voice sounded small and frightened, as if she was watching the new life she was planning for herself being snatched away before she could even begin living it. “Why are you here then?”
He took another step forward and Natalie tensed. That was in large part because of how much she ached to step into his arms and have him pull her close.
Instead of maintaining eye contact with her mother, he locked gazes with Natalie.
“For Natalie.”
Not to see her.
Not to talk to her.
For her.
Natalie’s heart sped up so much that she imagined the top story on that night’s Wichita news being that the entire populace had heard a mysterious heart beating.
She sensed her mom staring at her. “What’s going on?”
“I’m here to tell Natalie how I feel about her, something I should have done before she left. And then I have to hope that’s enough to
convince her that Blue Falls is where she belongs, with me.”
Natalie’s knees went weak, but Garrett was there to steady her, just as he’d been so many other times.
Her mom took a step back and looked from Natalie to Garrett and back again. “I’ve definitely missed something.”
“So have I,” he said. “The fact that in only a few days, I fell totally in love with your daughter.”
Natalie gasped and brought one hand up to her mouth. Garrett gently ran his hand along the side of her head, smoothing her hair, before cupping her jaw and rubbing his thumb across her cheek.
“I’m sorry that I was so unwilling to listen. And that I let you go because I thought that would be easier. But it wasn’t, at least not for me. If you want to stay here, I’ll respect that. But I had to tell you the truth. I love you, Natalie Todd. And I at least want to give us a chance.”
Tears popped into her eyes as she let his words sink in.
“Is this really happening?”
She glanced at her mom, who looked every bit as shocked as Natalie felt.
“Yes,” Garrett said, drawing her attention back to him. “I know it’s not the most romantic place to confess my feelings. I’m risking looking like the world’s biggest fool, but I didn’t want to wait a moment longer.”
She wanted to say yes, that she wanted the same thing with all her heart, but nothing had changed about the awful past that lay between their families. “How could this possibly work? When people find out about...” She paused and looked at her mom, not wanting to hurt her further despite the part she’d played in covering up the truth. Natalie shifted her gaze back to Garrett. “When they find out about what my dad did, they won’t understand how you and your family can be around me.”
“No one has to know but us.”
“But the police?” her mom said, sounding as if she was surprised she’d spoken her biggest fear.
He looked at her mom. “It wouldn’t change anything, so there’s no need to tell them. I don’t want to hang on to the past anymore. Neither does my family.”
Her mom’s sound of relief, as if twenty years of fear had just been alleviated, caused Natalie to pull her mom close for an embrace. After several moments, her mom stepped away.
Natalie met his gaze. Still half believing this was a dream and she would wake up any minute, she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I know that you have things tying you here. Your mom—”
“She’s moving to Kansas City.”
“And your job—”
“I can work anywhere there are animals.”
“Then the only questions left to answer are do you feel the same way I do, and do you want to take a chance?”
As Natalie looked up at the face of the man she loved, everything that had been holding her back fell away, allowing her to breathe fully for the first time since her father’s confession.
“Yes.”
Garrett’s eyes widened as if he’d been prepared for rejection. “Really?”
She laughed. “Yes, really. I love you, Garrett. I just didn’t think you could love me.”
He took her hand. “You aren’t your father.” He shifted his gaze to her mom. “And you aren’t your husband.” Again he looked at Natalie. “I won’t say it doesn’t hurt, because it does. But I don’t think your dad was evil. I know he didn’t do what he did on purpose.”
A sob broke free from her mom, but Natalie couldn’t move to hold her. She was too afraid that if she even blinked then everything that was happening would be revealed as a cruel dream taunting her with all she could ever want.
Garrett took Natalie’s hands in his, not once breaking eye contact. “From this moment, I only want to look forward. With you.”
“I love you,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
He smiled. “Then if your mom doesn’t mind, I’m going to kiss you.”
“Don’t mind me,” her mom said through her sniffles.
As Garrett gathered Natalie close and brought his lips to hers, she didn’t think there was any possible way she could ever be happier than she was in that moment.
* * *
NATALIE LOCKED THE door of the clinic and looked up at the clear, blue October sky. She loved this time of year when the brutal heat of summer had lessened and the changing of seasons was in the air.
“Hi, Dr. Todd.”
She looked toward the sidewalk in time to see little Sarah Thompson and her mom walking their German shepherd, Ernie.
“Hey,” she said and waved. “Nice day for a walk.”
As the mother and daughter continued up the street, Natalie couldn’t help but smile. Though everyone was sad to see Dr. Franklin leave, the local pet owners and ranchers had welcomed her with a warmth that eased the nervousness that had accompanied her on her return trip to Blue Falls.
Even now, only weeks after she’d relocated, she still found it hard to believe how well things were going. She still woke up sometimes with her heart thundering, afraid it was all a dream and that Garrett hated her. It had even happened to her once when they’d spent the night together, and he’d pulled her into his arms and comforted her, telling her again that he could never hate her. That he hadn’t even hated her in those horrible moments after she’d told him the truth about her dad. He’d been hurt, shocked, yes. But he hadn’t hated her. He’d told her that it had hurt so much because he was already falling for her.
Though she knew it would take time to move past the pain they’d both endured, things were going remarkably well between them. A day didn’t go by without her seeing him, sometimes only briefly because of their busy work schedules, but others when they were able to spend an entire day and night together. They went riding on the ranch, hiking at nearby parks, to dinner and movies in Austin, dancing at the music hall. They’d even driven down to San Antonio for a concert and a boat ride along the River Walk. Though she woke up each day thinking it was impossible to love him more, she was proven wrong.
Realizing she’d been standing in the same spot daydreaming for who knew how long, she headed for her truck. When she opened the door, a wide smile tugged at her mouth. Sitting in her seat was a bouquet of fall flowers full of vibrant orange lilies, burgundy daisies and happy yellow sunflowers. A folded piece of paper was propped against the flowers. Having no doubt whom it was from, Natalie grabbed the note and opened it.
Meet me at the cliff. I have a surprise for you.
It had been such a wonderful surprise to find out how much of a romantic Garrett Brody had hidden underneath that no-nonsense cowboy exterior. With excitement pumping in her veins, she slid into the truck and headed for the spot overlooking the lake where they’d first made love. They’d been back there a couple of times while out hiking, but something told her that Garrett wouldn’t be so mysterious simply for another hike. Her blood heated as she considered she might be in for a repeat of that first night, only with a much better morning-after.
When she reached the parking lot at the bottom of the trail, she pulled in next to Garrett’s truck then followed the path that led to the cliff overlooking the lake. She stopped and her heart filled with happiness when she saw the feast of a picnic Garrett had laid out on what she was pretty sure was the blanket they’d shared that night.
She shifted her gaze to Garrett, who was wearing a grin the size of Texas. She smiled back as she crossed to him.
“What’s the occasion?”
“It’s a beautiful day, and I felt like a picnic with a beautiful woman.” He pulled her close and lowered his lips to hers.
After a couple of minutes of kissing, Natalie stepped back. “More of that later. Right now, I’m starving. I didn’t have time for lunch.”
“Any luck on finding someone else to join the practice?” he asked as they sat on the edge of the blan
ket.
“I’ve got a few possibilities. Just have to find the time to set up interviews.”
“Lot different running your own show, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“But you’re loving it.”
She smiled as she picked up a piece of cheese and a cracker. “I really am.”
They chatted about the animals she’d tended that day, Owen’s latest horse sale to an up-and-coming roper, and the news that they’d heard the night before, that Linnea was pregnant.
“Hard to believe how much has changed in the past year,” Garrett said before taking a bite of a chicken-salad sandwich.
Natalie slathered another cracker with the smoky cheese-and-pepper spread. “I think I could eat my weight in this stuff. Where did you get all this? Doesn’t seem like Primrose fare.”
“I might have hired Brooke Teague,” he said, indicating Ryan Teague’s wife and the chef out at the Teague family’s guest ranch.
Natalie stopped with the cracker halfway to her mouth then set it back on her paper plate. “This is awfully fancy for a casual picnic.”
Garrett turned in her direction and took one of her hands in his, rubbing his thumb across her skin, leaving a warm trail behind.
“That’s because it’s not a casual picnic.”
Natalie’s heart rate picked up, whether from excitement or anxiety she wasn’t quite sure. Sometimes the two danced a tango, making it hard to tell them apart.
“These weeks we’ve spent together since you came back have been the best of my life,” he said.
“Mine, too.”
“I know we agreed to go slow, and I will continue to do that if that’s what you want. But I know what I want, and that’s you.”
She smiled. “I’m right here.”
“Forever.”
It took her a moment to realize that he was holding a white-frosted cupcake toward her. She blinked, not believing what she saw at first. But even after blinking, the diamond ring poking out of the icing was still there.
“Oh, Garrett.”
“I love you,” he said. “And I want nothing more than for you to be my wife.”
The Heart of a Cowboy Page 17
