Cary slid onto the rough bark and dangled her feet over the creek. She was coming back here by herself soon. It was a beautiful spot and quiet, soothing. “You wanted to ask me something?”
Clint leaned back and looked up into the tree branches. “You said something to Micah about me and Millie.” He kept his gaze averted, seemingly engrossed in the sight of the trees.
“I might have. Are you mad?” She’d done it again. Always sticking her nose in everybody’s business whether they wanted her advice or not.
He pulled out a pocketknife and began cleaning his fingernails. When he raised his gaze to hers, she could swear it was filled with sadness. “Not mad.”
They sat in silence until Cary was fidgeting with tension. Had she really overstepped her bounds? To curb her impatience she watched the water ripple underneath their feet.
“If you tell anyone this, I’ll deny it.” His expression changed from sadness to determination when his gaze locked with hers.
“I won’t.”
“Millie is special, but she’s fixated on Micah. No use for me to step in between.”
“He’s stringing her along?” One more black mark penciled in beside Micah’s name in her book.
“No, Micah wouldn’t do that. He just doesn’t see the truth.” Clint helped her off the tree trunk, and they started back to the house.
“Someone should tell her.” Cary turned to Clint and put her hand on his arm. “I can if you want.”
“No!” He stopped, caught himself then continued. “Promise me you won’t say anything to Millie or Micah.”
Chapter Ten
The five short miles to the lake, stuck in the truck cab with Marlene, seemed to take forever. He only had to be with her for a few hours, but even a minute spent with his ex-wife was too long. He parked and helped Willa Wild out of the truck then turned and grabbed the picnic lunch Marlene had packed.
He was surprised she’d taken the time to fix food. Usually she didn’t bother. He had an uneasy feeling about this whole family day, but Willa Wild was so excited he wouldn’t put a damper on it.
“Willa Wild, you stay away from the water. It’s too cold.” Marlene followed the girl to the sandy area and spread out a quilt.
Willa had started down to the water’s edge but turned back when Marlene spoke. “Aw, mom. I want to go wading.”
“Come here, shortcake.” Micah leaned into the back of the pickup and lifted out a fishing pole. “How about some fishing?”
Willa whooped in delight and did a cartwheel in the sand before running to his side. Together, they put a worm on the hook then Micah walked his daughter to the edge of the lake and stood by while she tried to cast.
“Want me to help you?” This little girl was everything to him, and she was growing up too fast.
“I can do it!” She bit on her lower lip and cast again. This time she got the hook out into the water. “See!”
Micah walked back a few feet and sat in the sand. The day was perfect, or would have been if Cary had been here instead of Marlene.
Marlene stood beside him and smiled down. “How do you like my suit?”
Think of the devil, and she will appear. He continued to watch his daughter and repeated the mantra that got him through Marlene’s visits. Having Willa Wild was worth anything his ex-wife could throw at him.
She took the edges of what looked like a big, blue silk scarf and untied the knot at her hip. The suit that was left was smaller than a Sunday handkerchief.
Marlene spread the scarf on the ground and lowered herself down beside Micah. “Well? Do you like it?”
“Sure.” He stood to walk away when she latched on to his pant leg. He’d tried every way outside of coming right out and saying he didn’t want her to touch him. It appeared he’d have to be blunt.
“Stay for a minute. I have something I want to say to you.” Marlene stood and shaded her eyes with one hand. “Willa, come over here.”
The little girl ignored her, but Micah knew she’d heard. Sometimes Willa was an obstinate little thing.
When Willa Wild continued to ignore her, Marlene laughed. “Willa Wild, you’re going to want to hear this.”
Micah had a bad feeling in his gut. Marlene was up to something. She’d been sneaky in the past, and he’d never liked her surprises.
Marlene knelt down beside her daughter. She took the little girl’s face in her hands and gave her a quick kiss. “Let me whisper in your ear.”
Willa Wild’s blue eyes went wide. She dropped the fishing pole and bounced with excitement. “Can I tell Pa now?” With Marlene’s nod, Willa turned to Micah. “Mom is coming home to stay. We are going to be a family like the other kids at school.”
Micah’s heart sank. Was there no end to Marlene’s deceitfulness? Now she was dragging Willa Wild into her plans.
“Isn’t that great, Pa?” Willa stood before him, her face lit with joy. “Mom says she’s going to stay forever.”
Micah put his hand on Willa Wild’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go catch us a fish for supper. We’ll talk about this when we get home.”
Willa ran to where she’d laid the fishing pole and resumed her fishing.
Micah rounded on Marlene, being careful to keep his voice low so his daughter wouldn’t hear him explode. “What the hell is this?” It was all he could do to look at her. At one time, he’d thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, but her deceiving ways had shown him true beauty wasn’t on the outside of a person.
“Now, Micah. Calm down.” Marlene placed her hand on his chest and gave him the smile that had worked until the day he found out it didn’t mean a thing. “I thought it was time I came home. Willa Wild needs her mother.”
“All these years she didn’t need you. Is that what you’re saying?” His voice rose, and Willa turned to look at them. Micah waved and forced a smile. “Any luck?”
“Nothing yet, Pa.”
“The Circle W isn’t your home any more. You gave up that right when you left us. You don’t get it back.”
“But Micah, I want to come home.” Tears filled her large blue eyes, and just as if she’d choreographed it, one rolled down her cheek.
Too bad she didn’t work as hard at becoming an actress as she did at manipulating people. The way she could turn emotions off and on would have earned her an Oscar. But Micah had been through this enough times to know when she was bluffing. “You’re not going to live with us.”
Marlene’s expression turned from heartbroken to irate with a bunch of determined thrown in to spare. “You, not me but you, are going to break your daughter’s heart if you make me leave. She wants me here.”
“I don’t want you here.”
“This is more important than your feelings. Willa Wild needs a mother, and I’m it.” She bent and picked up the scarf with a flourish and started for the truck. “Willa Wild, come see what I fixed for lunch.”
Micah watched as Marlene walked away, her hips swaying. She looked over her shoulder and gave him a look that said she was in control. The only way to stop her was to break his daughter’s heart, and he wasn’t sure he could do that.
Willa Wild ran to her mother and took what looked like a chicken leg. “Yay, Cary’s chicken.”
So Marlene hadn’t packed the lunch. She’d gotten Cary to do it. And she’d said she made it. Another small lie to get what she wanted.
Willa Wild called to him. “Pa, come eat. We’ve got Oreos for dessert.”
A smile broke out on his face. Cary knew he was hiding the Oreos to keep Willa from eating them all. She’d made the lunch her own no matter what Marlene said.
Marlene put her arms around Willa Wild. “I love you, baby girl. I’m so glad I’m going to be back home.”
“Love you too, Mama.” Willa Wild’s words were muffled as she tried to talk around the chicken.
“Micah, do you want potato salad with your chicken?” Marlene’s smug look told him she was sure she’d won this battle.
He could play the game, but he wouldn’t use Willa Wild as a pawn. “Yes, please.” He took the seat farthest from Marlene and relaxed. For the moment, he’d enjoy Cary’s chicken and a day with his daughter.
Marlene glanced up from her plate of food. “Willa thinks I should take the room next to hers.”
For a moment he thought he saw a flash of fear roll across Marlene’s face, but it disappeared as fast as it came. “We’ll talk about it when we get home, Marlene.”
“For Willa’s sake,” Marlene said. “Think of your daughter.”
“Unlike you, I always think of my daughter.” He turned away and walked to the water’s edge, bending to grab the fishing pole. He reeled in the line then stowed it in the back of the pickup. “Come on. Time to get back.”
“Aw, Pa.” Willa Wild ran to him. “I didn’t get to catch a fish.”
He reached out and pushed the curly, red strand that had come loose from her braid behind her ear. His little girl had it all. Her mother’s beauty, but more importantly, she was kind and sweet. Could he keep her from becoming manipulative like Marlene? Yes, or die trying.
“Micah, would you come help me pack up?” Marlene stood helplessly before the remnants of the lunch.
How hard could it be to put the food in the bag and fold the quilt? With a sigh, he walked back to his ex-wife.
She put her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his.
Micah pushed her away. “Don’t touch me again. We’re divorced and I’m not taking you back.”
“Oh, you’ll let me come back.” The determined look on her face turned his stomach. “If you fight me on this, I’ll tell Willa Wild you’re forcing me to leave. She’ll hate you.”
~~~
The look her ex-husband gave Marlene should have burned her to ashes. He hated her. Did he really think she’d stay if she had anywhere else to go? The ranch was dirty, boring, filled with work and entirely too far from the excitement of a big city.
She bent down and grabbed the edge of the red, white and pink quilt. Micah’s grandmother probably made it. The old woman could do just about anything. She’d tried to teach Marlene to cook and sew the first few months they’d been married, but she couldn’t get through to Gram she didn’t want to do that crap. She’d married Micah because he had money.
Oh, she’d thought she loved him. She wasn’t mercenary, but she also knew life gave you only what you went after.
Marlene shook the blanket and folded it into a messy square and marched toward the truck. This day hadn’t turned out the way she’d planned, but it would do. Micah wouldn’t dare kick her out. He was too afraid of breaking Willa Wild’s heart.
Having his parents die when he was young had messed with his mind and made it easier for her to get her way. She didn’t have much love left for Micah, but there was one thing she thanked Micah for every day. He was a great father for Willa Wild.
She lifted her daughter into the pickup and fastened her seatbelt. She loved this little girl more than anything or anybody on this earth. She just couldn’t live her life on this ranch. There were big things out there waiting for Marlene, and as soon as she got on her feet, she was going looking.
“Willa Wild, what do you think of driving into town and catching a movie with me and Pa?” God, she hated that name. Sounded like a hick, but she knew it would bother him that she used it. She watched as Micah’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel.
Willa seemed to know not to push. “What do you think, Pa?”
Micah’s chest swelled as he pulled in a huge breath and held it for a moment. He didn’t answer until he’d let it out slowly. “Not today, Willa. We’ve got chores to do at home.”
“Really, Micah. You never let our daughter have any fun.” Again, she’d pushed too hard, but one of the few pleasures in this god forsaken area was getting Micah all riled up. From the look on his face, she’d riled him to the max.
He turned his head until he looked her in the eyes. “No.”
There’d been a time she could get this man to do anything she wanted. But that had been gone for a while. He tolerated her while staying as far away from her as he could. If she weren’t careful, he might cut her loose.
She smiled. Time to play the game smart. “You’re right. We’ll go to a movie another day.”
Marlene tried to make small talk on the drive home, but Willa Wild was the only one answering her questions. Micah seemed completely immersed in keeping the truck on the road. When she asked him a direct question, he acted like he was stone deaf. But she knew him. He couldn’t stay mad long, and if she continued to be nice, he’d give in. There wasn’t a mean bone in Micah’s body and he’d do anything to keep Willa Wild happy.
And if her mama stayed, Willa Wild would be happy.
~~~
The sound of happy chatter let Cary know the family was home from their day at the lake. She hurried toward the stairs in an attempt to escape to her room. The last thing she wanted was to watch Marlene gloat.
“Cary, Cary, wait up.” Willa Wild’s voice called to her, and no matter how much she wanted to avoid Micah and Marlene, she couldn’t ignore her friend.
She stopped and sat on the stairs. “What’s up, Little Willa?”
Willa Wild scrambled up to the step beside Cary and plopped down. “We did lots of fun things today. Guess.”
“I have to guess?” Cary pulled the child on to her lap. When the little girl nodded, she held up one finger. “You ate lunch at the lake?”
Willa giggled, her high-pitched laugh sent waves of happiness through Cary. “Of course. You packed the lunch. What else?”
“How did you know that?”
“It was your chicken.” Willa Wild slipped her small hand into Cary’s.
“Okay, second. You went swimming?” Cary touched Willa Wild’s nose with her finger.
“Pa said it was too cold.” Willa Wild crawled off her lap then danced up and down the stairs in excitement. “But he taught me to fish.”
Cary rounded her eyes in a pretty good imitation of wonder and gasped. “Did you catch one?”
The little girl stopped, and the excitement drained from her expression. Her shoulders slumped, and she dropped down at Cary’s feet. “No. I tried and tried, but not one of those fishes would bite the worm. I really wanted to eat fish for dinner.”
Cary stood and took Willa Wild’s hand. “Maybe next time, honey.”
Willa’s face lit with a smile. “And I gots another surprise. My mama is staying this time. She’s gonna live with us.”
Cary felt a jab of disappointment. Disappointment gave way to disillusionment, although she didn’t have a right to feel that emotion either. She was just an employee who the boss had kissed.
Willa was giving her a confused look.
“That’s exciting. You and your daddy will like that, won’t you?” Cary started up the stairs then looked over her shoulder. “I’ve got something to do right now. I’ll be down to get dinner ready in a few minutes.”
She could feel the girl watching her as she mounted the stairs, and she hurried to her room and closed the door. Could her life get any worse? Flinging herself onto the bed, she covered her eyes with her hands. Well, if Mad Dog caught her it would be much worse, but still…
She sat up and leaned back against the gray tufted headboard, folding her hands behind her head and crossing her legs on the comforter. Light filtered in through the plantation shutters while she focused her attention on the photo on the wall. Micah as a child with his grandparents. Even though he’d lost his parents, he’d had people who cared.
A life without drama. That had been her goal for a while now, and she was sure she couldn’t find it here. In a few more days it would be two weeks since she’d arrived. The paycheck she’d get would give her enough money to head for New York. If she slept in the car and didn’t eat too much, it was enough to hold her over until she could find another job.
The soft tap, tap, tap of someone kno
cking on her door drew her attention. She opened the door to find Willa Wild on the other side. “Hi, honey. Did you need something?”
Willa nodded. Cary stepped back then followed the girl into the room. Willa Wild shut the door then looked at Cary.
“What’s wrong?” The expression on Willa’s face broke Cary’s heart. This child didn’t deserve to be sad. Cary sat on the bed then drew Willa onto her lap.
“Pa’s not happy about Mama staying.” Willa’s fingers slipped through Cary’s, and she laid her head on Cary’s shoulder. “I don’t think Mama’s happy about it either. I don’t know what to do.”
Cary put her hand on Willa’s head and cradled her. The tiny body shuddered with a huge sigh. How had she found herself in the middle of this family dispute? And what could she say to this child that wouldn’t hurt her more? “It’s not your job to make them happy. Your job is to be kind and smart and as happy as you can be. They will work out the rest by themselves.”
Willa Wild gave her a tremulous grin, her lower lip quivering. “How do I do that?”
Cary laughed as she hugged Willa. “Honey, if I knew that, I’d—” What would she do? She’d decide what she wanted out of life and go after it. “Come on. Let’s go get dinner on the table before Barnsey chews us out for being late.”
She took Willa’s hand, and they skipped down the stairs. As they entered the kitchen, Marlene came through the back door, her frown conveying her mood. When she saw them, the woman pasted a wide, fake smile on her face. “Did Willa Wild tell you our big news?”
About a dozen sarcastic remarks were on the tip of Cary’s tongue, but no matter how much she disliked Marlene, she wasn’t about to draw Willa into this mess. “She did. It will be so nice for her to have you around all the time.” She tousled the messy red hair and smiled at Willa. The worried look on the child’s face told her she’d done the right thing.
“Baby girl, will you go get my purse? I think it’s in the living room.” Marlene watched her daughter leave the room then rounded on Cary. “You stay away from Micah. He might not be as happy as he could be about me being back, but he’ll change his mind when he sees how happy his daughter is.”
Gimme Some Sugar Page 9
