A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885)

by Candice Miller Speare

  Allie’s heart pounded hard, and she was relieved by Danny’s interruption. “You go on. I’ll feed the horses. He’ll enjoy showing you his treasures. Danny is so much like Luke, even though he was adopted. From a little boy, Luke would stash things in hiding places. Anyway, when you’re done, tell Danny to bring you to my office.”

  Derrick headed toward the back of the barn, and despite her efforts to resist, she drank in his retreating form. He looked capable and strong, like he would protect the people he loved. For a dangerous moment, she found herself longing that Derrick Owens would fall in love with her.

  Nine

  Sunday evening Derrick hovered in the doorway to Sandy’s bedroom, trying to muster the courage to face his sister. This was his “appointment” that he’d mentioned to Allie and her family. He needed to tell Sandy everything he’d discovered.

  The decor was so like her. Creamy yellow walls, bright white curtains open wide to let in the light. The room glowed, even in the dark of night.

  He clutched the bouquet of flowers in his hand and stepped through the door. His mother rose from a blue cushioned chair next to Sandy’s bed and came toward him. It seemed Mom had aged overnight, and he hoped his face didn’t give away his concern. Dark roots were visible through her usually perfect blond hair. Lines carved around her eyes and mouth had appeared during the last month.

  “Mom.” He gave her a peck on the cheek.

  “So glad you’re here,” she said. “Sandy ordered me to wake her when you arrived.”

  His sister looked pale and thin under her covers. “Please don’t. I can come back later.”

  “I think we should do what she asked.”

  Because we don’t have much longer to do it, Derrick completed his mother’s thought while he fought tears. His mother wouldn’t cry. His parents never did, at least not publicly. They regarded stoicism as admirable, to be worked at and sought after like some people worked at getting fit. His father alleged that displays of emotion made one vulnerable. Something others could use as tools to manipulate.

  Derrick sighed. He agreed in part, but there was a time and place for emotional expression. To allow loved ones to know how much they were cared for. He’d seen and felt it this past weekend in Allie, Betsy, Danny, and even goofy Shannon. Allie was the one who withheld the most, but even she showed depth of emotion with her poetry, her horses, and her love for her family.

  “Mom is right,” Sandy’s weak voice came from the bed. “You’d better do what I ask.”

  “You’re not asleep; you’re just pretending.” Derrick crossed the room, smiling. “And what are you going to do if I don’t do what you ask?”

  “Don’t mess with me, D-man. You know I have ways of getting even.”

  The light banter helped relieve the knot of dread in his stomach. No matter how ill, Sandy’s sense of humor remained.

  She pointed to the flowers. “Wow. A girl has to be dying for her brother to pay attention to her.”

  “Sandy!” Mom hissed. “What a horrible thing to say.”

  Sandy laughed softly. “Why should I deny it, Mom? I am dying. Laughing makes it easier to cope.”

  “I find nothing funny about it.” Their mother edged toward the door. “I’ll leave the two of you alone. Your father will be here soon; I’m going to wait for him.”

  Derrick watched his mother slip from the room, her high heels tapping hard on the wood floor of the hallway as if clicking their disapproval.

  He placed the flowers on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the double bed. “Did you do that on purpose? To get rid of her?”

  Sandy shrugged. “Not really, but I’m relieved. I feel bad for Mom. She’s really struggling with this, but she acts like I’m already dead, walking around on tippy toes, turning off my happy worship music when she thinks I’m asleep, and putting on this heavy, funeral dirge classical music. As if she’s afraid anything lively is going to kill me more quickly.”

  He laughed and cried at the same time.

  Sandy’s smile lit her eyes, making it easier to look at her thin, pale face. “The hospice nurse has been coming in. . .Leanne. She’s wonderful, and we conspire together and think up practical jokes.”

  That was so like her, the joker. He feared if he took a breath, the tears he fought would come in a flood.

  Sandy took his hand. “It’s okay. You can cry. In fact, do anything you need to do. God’s biggest gift to me is the realization that He isn’t just a stern God, but He’s also a loving Father who wants His children to enjoy life. We’re allowed to laugh and even get mad. Sometimes I’m so mad at God, I could just spit.” She sighed. “Yeah, I know. Some church people would tell me that’s horrible. I should never be mad at God, but He knows my thoughts, so I might as well admit them. Mostly I’m peaceful. I’m beyond grateful I had the opportunity to be born again. And even better, that you and I were born again at the same time.”

  The memory of the altar call they’d answered together was clear, like a series of snapshots in his mind. Sandy’s street-hardened expression had melted into peace, taking years off her face.

  Derrick swallowed past the hard lump in his throat and kissed her forehead. “It’s so good to see you.” He pulled the worn picture of Danny as a baby with Cindy and Luke from his shirt pocket. “I wanted to return this.”

  “Thank you.” Sandy pointed to her Bible on the bed stand. “Put it in there and tell me everything. All about this young man who is my son.”

  “I have good news, and I have bad news.”

  “Of course. That’s always the way, isn’t it?” She poked his arm. “So get on with it. I really don’t have forever.”

  “Okay, here’s the good news. His name is Danny. I’m positive he’s your son. I saw a larger version of that picture you gave me on top of a piano in the living room of their house.” Derrick tucked Sandy’s copy in her Bible.

  “Danny.” She smiled. “Short for Daniel.”

  “The bad news. His parents are dead.”

  Her eyes widened. “What? How?”

  “Car accident. A little over a year ago. Now he lives with his aunt and grandmother.” Derrick pulled his phone from his pocket. “I have some pictures. I took these at a picnic at their house today.” He went on to explain about Danny’s award at church while she flipped through the photos. “And I have a surprise for you.”

  “You do?”

  He pulled a photo from his pocket. “This is Danny and his grandmother. I e-mailed it to myself and printed it out for you.”

  “Wow, look at my handsome son. Aw, his grandma looks sweet.” Sandy glanced up. “Whoa, D-man, I just realized what you said. You got invited to a picnic at their house? How?”

  He grinned and saw himself pulling Allie from the horse. “I guess you could say it sort of fell into place.” He explained in detail about the parade, meeting Shannon, playing Scrabble, and being invited to church. Then he explained about Michael and expressed his worry that Paige might recognize the Owens name.

  “Maybe. But how many people have the last name Owens? She’d need good reason to tie you to Danny. Do you have a picture of Allie?”

  Just the mention of her name sent a rush of adrenaline through his veins. “No, I don’t.” Derrick squinted at the photo for all the diversion was worth.

  “I see. And she’s not married?”

  “No.” Derrick massaged his forehead, hiding his eyes from his sister. Their relationship had always been close because they were together so much as children, tended by a nanny while their parents worked long hours. That bond gave them rare and precious insight into each other’s thoughts.

  “Danny,” Sandy said softly. “Like Daniel, the Old Testament prophet. A man with great faith and conviction.”

  Derrick nodded. “His eyes are dark like ours.”

  “Danny’s family are good people then.”

  “Real good people. Danny’s Aunt Allie and his granny love him. . .adore him. But they’re struggling financially.” Derrick
looked directly into her eyes. “A big part of me wants to do something. Intervene. He’s family. He’s our blood. I want him to know, and I want to help take care of him.”

  Sandy shook her head violently. “Derrick, no. The family has been through so much. A boy losing his parents and then just when he finds out he’s got a biological mother, she dies, too? That would be cruel. And then there’s Dad. If he found out, there would be no peace for Danny’s family.”

  Derrick said nothing. Knowing Danny as short a time as he had, he wasn’t sure the boy would struggle, at least not for long. But Sandy was right about their father. “I feel dishonest. And now I have to go back.”

  Her mouth fell open. “You’re going back?”

  “Yes.” Derrick clarified about the Vahns’ land. “Danny phoned me on my way here. He invited me to his birthday party next Saturday night. I’ve woven a tangled web.” Derrick couldn’t help but think of Sir Walter Scott’s words, “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”

  Sandy was quiet for a moment, then drew a ragged breath. “It’s risky, you know, but the land is a good way to help them. And I know you want to see Danny again. I want to see more pictures if you can get them. Close-ups.”

  “The Vahns could discover I’m a fraud, I suppose.” A big part of him wished it would happen and save him the pain of an explanation. The more time went by, the harder it was to keep up the subterfuge.

  Derrick squeezed Sandy’s frail hand. “Are you sure you don’t want them to know? I mean, the way you gave up Danny. . .I’m not sure it was on the up-and-up. At the very least, it was coercion. They took advantage of a young, drug-addicted woman.”

  “We’ve talked about this. No.” Sandy’s voice was surprisingly strong. “ ‘In all things God works for the good,’ you know.”

  Strange, Shannon had said the exact same thing.

  “The thing is, D-man, I couldn’t have cared for Danny at the time. I was living on the streets. And I was on the outs with Mom and Dad and was afraid to face them with my story. Now, looking back. . .well, he wouldn’t have been raised in a Christian home. Mom and Dad weren’t. . .aren’t. . .”

  “I know.” He and Sandy prayed for their parents. They thought their childrens’ conversion to Christianity was an annoying but passing phase. “Remember when Dad said we were in a cult?”

  Sandy laughed and shook her head. “Oh, it’s not funny really.” She pointed at him. “Have Pastor Clark officiate at my funeral. If anybody can bring down the conviction of the Holy Spirit. . .” Sandy’s face lost all animation. “Seriously, if Mom and Dad hear him preach, they’ve got a real chance of coming to the knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus.”

  “If Jesus takes you home, I’ll do that.”

  “ ‘If,’ huh?” Sandy blew out a long sigh. “There’s no ‘if’ about it.”

  Derrick wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. Instead he vented his anger at the disease that was killing her. “Why cancer? You could have fought the hepatitis.”

  “I talked to the doctor about that. Hepatitis makes a person more vulnerable to lymphoma. Talk about reaping what you sow. I was in such a drug haze back then. I didn’t care about anything but my next fix.”

  She grabbed his hand. “I was a fool. I didn’t even know who Danny’s father was. Could’ve been anyone, probably a dealer. I was a charity case in drug rehab. Scared to death. But God watched out for Danny. Cindy came along. She was a volunteer nurse at the clinic. She wanted a baby badly. Said she and her husband had been trying for a long time. She said if I agreed, she would adopt my little boy, and she seemed like an angel at the time. I never saw Cindy again, and before Paige disappeared, she gave me that picture I lent you.”

  “I’d still like to tell them the truth, sis.”

  Sandy raised his hand to her cheek. “Remember Danny’s namesake? God protected Daniel even in the lions’ den. His grace is sufficient. I’m dying, Derrick. Please let Danny be. God will take care of him.” A little twinkle lit her eyes.

  “Now what?” Derrick frowned. “You’re up to something.”

  “Tell me about this Allie. I think you find her attractive.”

  Derrick leaned back on the bed and huffed out a sigh. Just as he’d dreaded, Sandy had seen through his facade. “It doesn’t matter. She can’t know who I am, remember?”

  Sandy’s smiled died. “Yes, that’s true.”

  “I’m invited back next weekend for Danny’s birthday party, and I’m going to inspect their property and see what I can do for them. Then I’m going to disappear from their lives.”

  “I’m sorry.” Tears came to Sandy’s eyes. “I can tell you like this woman. Maybe more than like her?”

  Derrick shrugged. “There are lots of women.” His statement was ironic. He’d always said that after ending relationships in the past because no one had ever captured his heart. But this time the words felt hollow. Allie wasn’t like the others. For the first time in his life, he realized he was truly capable of falling in love—deeply, madly, and forever.

  Ten

  On Tuesday afternoon after she’d shoed the Armstrongs’ two palominos in preparation for a show, Allie sat in her truck and consulted her planner. As she scanned her to-do list, she nodded. “Looking good.” She and Ma had worked out their schedules with Mary, the mother of one of Danny’s friends, so he could be cared for while Ma trained at Shannon’s shop.

  Shannon. What would she do without her best friend? Tears pricked the backs of her eyes, and her nose burned. Another loss. It seemed the Lord saw fit to strip her of everybody and everything she’d given her heart to.

  Allie drew a breath and shook her head. She was just feeling sorry for herself. She still had Ma and Danny. They were more than enough to be thankful for. They were her life. Her reason to get out of bed in the morning and keep going.

  She swiped a tear from the corner of her eye, returned her attention to the planner, and groaned. She had to check on Eddieboy, Frank Johnson’s cranky pony, who was recovering from a bad case of thrush caused by a poorly cleaned stall. Frank, who was almost as cranky as his pony, could have treated the thrush himself, but Eddieboy was not cooperative, to say the least—one of the reasons he was often left to his own devices in his polluted stall. He had an enormous set of teeth and wasn’t hesitant to use them.

  Allie tossed the planner on the passenger seat and started down Highway 12. If she survived her encounter with Eddieboy, she’d call on Raymond Connor. He ran a stable of trail horses and had given the Vahns business for years. But after Luke died, Raymond had moved on to another farrier. He didn’t believe women should be farriers, let alone work outside the home. Losing the man’s business had been a hard financial blow. If only she could convince him that a woman was just as capable as a man.

  “Good luck with that.” Allie flicked the turn signal and hung a right.

  So much to do today. She would stop at the bakery between her other appointments to ask if they were on top of Danny’s cake.

  And last. . .she didn’t have to look at the planner to see what she wanted to avoid at all costs. She’d prefer to deal with Eddieboy and his teeth than to hear that deep voice and try to act casual.

  Return Derrick’s call.

  What luck that she’d been in the middle of an appointment when he’d phoned. Last thing she needed was to be caught off guard with nothing clever to say.

  Allie grabbed her cell phone from her purse. She’d already heard Derrick’s message, but she wanted to hear it again. “Hi, Allie, this is Derrick. I’ve got a quick question for you. Call me back.”

  She sucked in a breath. His deep voice. . .the way he spoke her name. . . An involuntary chill raced up her spine.

  “Call me back,” Allie repeated. As though any single woman in her right mind wouldn’t return Derrick Owens’s calls. The man was not only self-confident and good-looking, but also nice. Which is precisely what drew her to him and scared her all at once. She shouldn’t waste her time. H
e was most likely only after her land. And she couldn’t really fault him for that. He was a businessman. But he had the courage to save her at the parade. That said a lot for the kind of person he was.

  Allie glanced at the clock on the dashboard. She wasn’t due at the Johnsons’ for an hour. Plenty of time to call the tall, dark hero.

  She pulled her truck over to the side of the road, threw the gearshift into PARK, and rubbed her thumb over the clouded glass on her cell. Derrick was probably calling her with an offer. She’d either accept or reject. Nothing more to it. Then he’d walk out of her life.

  “Oh, for Pete’s sake.” She had to grow up. Allie snapped on her headset, drew a breath, then dialed Derrick’s number.

  After three rings, her shoulders relaxed. He wasn’t going to answer. She could leave a message and—

  “Hello.” Derrick’s voice sounded close and intimate and sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine.

  “Umm, Derrick. This is Allie. Allie Vahn.”

  “Allie.” Was she imagining the smile in his voice? “I’m glad you called me back. I have a question for you.”

  “Sure. Fine.” She readied herself for the worst. “Is this about selling my property?”

  “No.” Derrick laughed. “I want to get Danny a birthday present, and I wondered what he’d like.”

  A birthday present? Of all the things Derrick could’ve asked, this hadn’t been on her radar.

  “You don’t have to do that.” What was he really getting at? “Between myself and Mom and Danny’s friends, he’ll have plenty of—”

  “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. I’m not going to show up without a gift for him.”

  “Show up?” Allie pressed her hand to her heart. “Show up where?”

  After a long silence, she shook the phone. Had their connection been severed? “Derrick, you there?”

  “Yeah, um, this is awkward.” Another pause. “On my way home on Sunday, I got a call from Danny. He invited me to his party. I assumed you knew.”

  “He called you?” Where had Danny gotten Derrick’s phone number? Aha! The business card on the fridge. Smart boy. Wait till she got her hands on the kid.