by Jillian Hart
Nice man. Not at all what she’d expected and exactly the kind of man she liked. Didn’t that spell trouble?
He’d made it home. Noah took a deep breath, said a prayer of thanks and turned off the engine. Snow pelted the windshield as he sat in the silence. The pain was coming back in slow but steady increments. Probably because the drugs he’d received in the emergency room were wearing off.
Maybe he would take one of the pills from the brown plastic bottle in his jacket pocket. Just to make it through until morning. More tests were awaiting him, starting at 8:00 a.m., when he was supposed to be flying home. There was a finance meeting on Monday morning. He couldn’t miss it.
Pain pulsed in the middle of his diaphragm, as if someone was trying to tell him to pay attention. Okay, maybe he’d keep the doctor’s appointment. Then he’d worry about his company.
Moving carefully, he climbed out into the winter weather. The night was bitter cold and dark. Driving snow blew him off course. A lilac bush tried to ambush him on the way to the front porch, but he escaped up the steps.
“Noah, come in,” Nanna called the instant he opened the door. “My stars, look at you. You’re all alone. I can’t believe it. I saw you dancing with so many lovely young ladies, why, I kept hoping you’d find my future granddaughter-in-law.”
“Keep dreaming, gorgeous.” He leaned stiffly, trying not to wince, to kiss her cheek, and noticed the distinguished gentleman sitting on the couch. “Good evening, Harold. You two look as if you need to be alone. I’ll just head upstairs.”
“Some awfully pretty girls.” Nanna bounded up from the sofa, refusing to be distracted. “And what did you do? You made yourself scarce. A business call came up, and that was more important than dancing with eligible young women.”
He couldn’t lie to her, but he couldn’t tell her about the emergency room. “I was otherwise engaged, it’s true, but how can you blame me? After dancing with the loveliest lady in the room, those other women paled by comparison.”
“You stop trying to charm me.” Nanna blushed, pleasure wreathing her face. “I know I ought to be mad at you, running off the way you did, but dancing with you was such a treat, I’ll have to forgive you this once. When will you learn that your work isn’t everything? Even our good Lord rested on the seventh day.”
“I’ve heard that somewhere before.” He let his grandmother wrap him in a warm hug. She felt so small and fragile, so much love and goodness. Tenderness warmed him, and he wanted to protect her. He’d do anything to make her world right.
Nanna stepped away, leaving the scent of her violet perfume on his jacket. “It’s cold tonight, and if this wind keeps up, we’re likely to lose power. I’ll run upstairs and fetch a few blankets, just in case.”
“I can do it, Nanna. I’m a big boy.”
“Stuff and nonsense.” She was already heading toward the stairs. “You two can get to know each other while I’m gone.”
He did want to get to know Harold Renton, just not right now. Exhaustion weighed him down, and he eyed Mr. Renton warily.
Harold nodded in the way men from the country did, his drawl unassuming. “Counted on seeing you at the dinner tonight. My granddaughter went to some trouble to seat you at our table. You hurt your grandmother when you didn’t show.”
There was no accusation to the man’s words. Just hard plain fact. Noah couldn’t find fault with that. He had missed dinner. “I can only apologize.”
“Might be good to consider her feelings for a change. She thinks the sun rises and sets by you.”
“I think the same of her. If you don’t know that, then you and I have nothing to say.” Pain curled deep in his chest, but Noah didn’t back down. This man was a stranger. Maybe good, maybe bad. Noah didn’t know for sure. But he’d had a long day, and he wasn’t in the mood.
The kitchen was quiet and welcoming, with a light over the sink guiding his way. He filled a cup with water and popped it into the microwave. While the machine hummed, he lifted the lid from the cookie jar and rummaged inside.
What was he going to do about Harold? Noah tugged two cookies from the ceramic beehive cookie jar and replaced the lid. Because of the medical tests, he’d be staying here for at least another day. That gave him plenty of time to find a detective.
That felt kinda sneaky, but how else was he going to protect his grandmother? He’d seen her tonight, alight with love for this Harold guy. She was too trusting. Noah had to take care of her. All that mattered was her welfare.
The microwave beeped, drawing him back to the room. He took a bite out of the cookie—raisin oatmeal—and removed the cup out of the microwave. Steam wafted off the heated water as he went in search of a tea bag.
“I didn’t have a chance to buy any more of that fancy tea you like.” Nanna tapped into the kitchen. “Some nice chamomile ought to help what ails you.”
“I’m fine.” It wasn’t a lie. He was suffering from stress, like any businessman in his position. That’s all the doctors were going to find out come morning—stress. He’d start working out regularly, and he’d be all right. No need to worry his grandmother.
“You can’t blame me for fussing over my only grandson.” She swept a jar from the counter and dug out a tea bag. “Here, try this. It’s not fancy, but it will help you sleep. You look exhausted, Noah. No doubt from that lifestyle of yours.”
“Here we go again.” He loved his grandmother. That’s why he wasn’t going to argue with her, so he took the tea bag and dunked it into his cup. “Fine. I’ll drink this tea that smells like weeds, to make you happy.”
“Wonderful! That’s my boy.” She squeezed his arm in approval. “I hope you won’t be up late on that computer of yours. You need a good night’s rest. I’ll feel better when I see those dark circles of yours gone for good.”
“I like it when a beautiful woman fusses over me.” He doused the tea bag a few more times. “That’s why I’m not even going to argue with you tonight.”
“Wise man.” She beamed her approval. “I’d better see your light off when I come up to bed, or they’ll be trouble to pay.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And drink every last drop of that tea, you hear?”
She cared. It felt good. Noah couldn’t disappoint her. “I’ll drink every last drop. Even if it tastes as bad as it smells.”
“Sleep well, my Noah.” She blew him a kiss across the kitchen. When she disappeared down the hall, he stood listening to her steps, missing her.
She’d been his to care for, for as long as he’d been grown up enough to do things for her. Manage her finances and make sure she had everything she desired. He’d watched out for her, flown her out for holidays and vacations. Called her faithfully every week.
And now there was this Harold. This man who was going to be responsible for Nanna. Who wanted to marry her.
Marriage. That single word could cinch up Noah’s stomach tighter than anything could. What if Harold didn’t treat Nanna right? What if he hurt her? Ran off with her money, or broke her dreams right along with her heart?
In Noah’s view, those outcomes were more probable than the happily-ever-after other people imagined.
Noah’s guts burned. Pain pounded in his chest. This had to be upsetting him more than he realized.
Taking the weed tea and the remaining cookie, he climbed the steps to the cooler second story. Boards squeaked beneath his shoes. A dim light lit his way to the top.
One thing for sure, this house needed a remodel. Nanna could trip and fall on these stairs. And what about that draft? She could catch pneumonia, and at her age that was a concern.
He’d talk to her about it at breakfast. But for now, he’d check his messages and his e-mail. Make sure no crisis was brewing back home.
The door whispered on old hinges in the guest room at the end of the hall. Lamplight glowed from the night table near an old fashioned, four-poster bed. Several of Nanna’s afghans were folded at the foot of the bed, topped by her page
-worn Bible. A yellow ribbon marked one of the pages.
Leave it to Nanna to speak to him, even when she wasn’t in the room. Noah set aside the tea and cookie and opened the precious book. Nanna had chosen a passage from Psalms. “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.”
He sat down on the bed. Okay, he could see where she was going with this. He kept reading. “We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.”
Like an arrow hitting its target, Noah felt the words take root in his heart. Fine, he knew he was unhappy. Stress was taking a toll. He had an appointment in the morning for blood tests, a CT scan and an MRI. Pain roared like a jackhammer in his chest.
He took the bottle of pills from his jacket pocket and studied them. There were only a few, enough to get him through until morning. He wasn’t going to take one. He knew, as had happened last time, the pain was winding down. By morning, he’d feel okay. Not great, but not horrible, either.
“We need more tests.” That’s what the doctor had told him when Julie had gone to find a pay phone. “We could be looking at a real problem.”
Help me, Lord. Noah bowed his head and prayed.
Chapter Six
Julie yawned, refusing to think about how late she’d been out last night. She was no night owl, and she was paying for it this morning. Her alarm clock had rousted her from sleep hours ago, and she was still in the sweats she’d pulled on over her nightshirt.
Caffeine was bound to help. She took a sip from her steaming cup of coffee and flipped open the book in front of her. Were they making the print smaller today? No, her eyes were tired. The cleanup had gone later than she’d planned, but that wasn’t the real reason she was tired. She’d tossed and turned half the night.
She’d been worried about Noah Ashton. He’d been in so much pain. She’d been afraid for him, and she still was.
Maybe she ought to call, after all. It was a few minutes past nine. Surely Nora had been up for hours. With any luck, Noah was back from his early-morning appointment.
A knock at the door echoed through the house. Julie leaned in her chair to get a good view out the door. There was a green pickup visible through the glass door. Granddad! What was he doing here?
Probably come to plow her driveway. She turned the dead bolt and yanked open the door. “Perfect timing. The coffee just finished brewing.”
“I’ll take you up on that offer.” Granddad knocked the snow off his boots on the small deck before venturing inside. “Whew, it’s cold out there. We’ve got a good ten inches out there, and it’s still falling. Thought I’d warm up before I clear your driveway.”
“Want some muffins?” Julie snatched a ceramic mug from the cupboard and reached for the glass carafe.
“Don’t go to any trouble for me.” He went straight to the pink baker’s box on the corner of her kitchen island. “That was some party. You did a good job, girl. Sure made my Nora happy.”
“I think you make her happy.” Julie filled the cup with steaming coffee. “You want sugar with this?”
“Takin’ it black today.” Granddad kicked out a chair and plopped into it. “That’s a nice flower you got there.”
“What flower?” Julie turned from the counter.
“That one, right there.”
There, in the center of the table, right next to her devotional, was Noah’s corsage. The single white rose looked as perfect as ever.
“It’s nothing.” She gave Granddad his coffee and snatched the flower from its place on her table. “And since it’s nothing and means nothing at all, I’m going to go put this in the fridge.”
“Are you gonna fess up? Tell me who bought it for you?”
“It’s top secret. Classified by the government and everything.”
“You’re fibbing, girl, and that tells me what I need to know.” Granddad looked proud of himself. “Who’s your new beau?”
“Nosy, aren’t you?”
“Just looking out for my granddaughter. It’s a grandfather’s job.”
“Well, it’s a granddaughter’s job to keep you guessing.” Julie grabbed a plate from the shelf and carried it to the table. “There is no boyfriend. You know why.”
“You just need time to find the right one, that’s all.” Granddad unwrapped his blueberry muffin. “Look at me, getting married at this time in my life. Figured I’d be alone for the rest of my days, and the Good Lord saw fit to send Nora my way. Only He knows what’s in store for you.”
“I think God has already told me that.” The empty place on her left ring finger still remained both a memory and a humiliation. Only Granddad knew how much. Determined to change the subject, Julie slid the plate in front of him. “I noticed your lights were on late when I drove by last night. What were you doing up?”
Granddad reached for the butter dish. “Couldn’t get to sleep. Guess the party had me all charged up.”
“You don’t look happy when you say that.” Julie pushed a clean knife across the table for him. It was there in the crinkle of his brow and the exhaustion dark beneath his eyes. Something was making him unhappy. “What happened?”
“Nora and I had a little disagreement.” Granddad dropped the muffin on his plate and left it there. He sighed, looking miserable.
Julie wanted to comfort him, to reassure him that everything would be all right, and that he and Nora would work out their problems. But she’d been in this same place, and it hadn’t turned out okay. Wedding plans were easy enough to cancel, but the cost to the heart was staggering.
“I’m sorry.” It was all she could say. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Yep. Help that grandson of hers pack up and get the blazes out of here.” Granddad rubbed his brow. “Pardon me for sayin’ that. I get my back up when I talk about that young man.”
“What happened?”
“I just spoke my mind. Should’ve thought about it first, but I figured it needed to be said. It wasn’t right the way he left the party like that. He’s always off doing what he wants to do. Nora won’t admit it, but it hurt her when he left. I can’t stand her hurting. I told him about it, but he didn’t apologize. Just told me I didn’t know a thing.”
Julie bit her bottom lip. So, Noah had decided to keep his condition secret. What should she say now? She’d given her word to him. She couldn’t break it, but she couldn’t stand to see her grandfather hurting. “I think Noah had a good reason to leave, and he did return to the dance.”
“She forgives him for anything.”
“That reminds me of another grandparent I know. Let me think who it would be….”
“Not me.” Granddad blushed a little, relaxing as he reached for the coffee mug. “That’s different. I don’t indulge you. I don’t look the other way or make excuses. You’re a good, responsible girl, nothing at all like…” Granddad sighed. “No, I’ve vowed not to say an unkind word. I shouldn’t be making judgments, but if he makes Nora sad one more time…”
“The trouble is when you really love someone, you hurt for them, too.” Julie knew something about that. “I know how you feel. You want to protect Nora. That’s wonderful. But you don’t know what happened last night.”
“And you do? I noticed you were missing. Your friends made a few excuses, how you’d just ran out on an errand and whatnot. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you left about the same time he did. And came back, too.”
“You can say his name, Granddad. Noah’s different from what I expected. You should get to know him.”
“When? He’s probably halfway to New York by now.”
Julie glanced at the clock. Noah’s pain was so severe, what if there was something terribly wrong? No one else knew where he was or what he was going through. “I like Noah, Granddad. You might, too, if you gave him half a chance.”
“I don’t need advice from you, missy.” He winked, to soften the impact of his words. “What I need is to finish this c
offee so I can get back to work. He gave you that flower, did he?”
“If he did, that would make him a nice guy. Mean guys don’t go around giving corsages to women they don’t know.”
“He got one for Nora, too. Giving her flowers is my job.”
Mystery solved. Julie reached across the table for her grandfather’s muffin. “Noah’s been looking after his grandmother for a long time. It’s probably going to be hard for him to step aside and let someone else take over. Even someone as wonderful as you.”
“You’re takin’ his side.”
“No way. I’m firmly on yours.” She grabbed the knife and buttered the muffin. “You can’t let anything stand in the way of your special love for your bride. It’s that simple. Noah adores his grandmother.”
“Adores her, or her money?”
“Granddad!”
He looked fierce and protective and every bit a hard, seasoned cowboy. He looked ready for a fight. Her gentle granddad! He fisted his hands. “He’s the one who takes care of her finances. Nora has no idea of her net worth. She has to call him to transfer money if she needs it. He’s generous and says he takes care of her, but who knows if he’s taking advantage of her.”
“Noah wouldn’t do that.” She was certain of it. The man who’d risked his life in an electrical storm and crossed a flooding creek to save a child, had to have a good heart. A man who’d suffer pain and fear alone, so he wouldn’t worry his grandmother, had to be protecting her, not out to hurt her. “Noah wouldn’t, Granddad. Trust me.”
“I’d sure like to, but the truth is, you don’t know Noah Ashton any more than I do. Thought I could get to know him last night. Talk to him a bit, but then he ran off.”
“He had a good reason. He wouldn’t travel all the way from New York just to stand up his grandmother.”
Granddad’s fists relaxed. “Maybe you’re right, and maybe that grandson of hers is overprotective.”
“No one I know is like that.”
