That had been a long time ago. Now she was definitely not a girl. Her heart had long since healed. And Keeton West did things to her insides that she couldn’t begin to fathom. The air between them felt like electricity, like summer air before a storm hit.
Fear and courage were duking it out inside her. She was on one hand afraid to take a chance, and on the other wanting nothing more than a chance to be loved by someone like him.
He touched her chin and his fingers slid to her neck.
“I’m sick.” She backed away.
Keeton nodded and stood up. “I should go.”
“You should.”
“Will you call if you need anything?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl, Keeton.” She smiled to prove it. He brushed fingers through her hair. She shivered at the gentle touch.
“I’m going.”
He gathered Lucy up from the playpen and reached for the diaper bag. At the arched door that led to the entryway of her house he stopped. “I’m sure you’re used to taking care of yourself. But, Soph, we don’t know who these people are or what they’re after. If you hear or see anything that worries you, call my cell.”
“I will.” She didn’t walk him to the door. Her legs were weak, shaking. And not because she was sick.
After he’d left she told herself this wasn’t real. She was sick. She was emotional. Keeton was sweet and easy to look at. Tomorrow, when she felt better, she’d get things in perspective.
She reminded herself that she’d already told him she wouldn’t date a bull rider. It was easy-peasy if she remembered that rule.
But when he treated her this way, as though she mattered, it made it harder to remember why she’d ever stopped dating bull riders. And it also made her think that there should be exceptions to every rule.
* * *
Keeton’s mom showed up two days after the fire. He had just met with Jeremy Hightree concerning the business they’d opened the previous fall. So far the motorcycle dealership had rocked and it kept rocking. But did that make it easier to see his mom sitting on Sophie’s front porch, Sophie in the chair next to her? Not really. He was suddenly the one being rocked.
At least Sophie seemed to be better. He’d worried about leaving her for an entire day. Yeah, he knew the Coopers had been supplying her with food, stopping to check on her, and Heather had even spent one night. But he’d worried about her when he drove off this morning.
He parked his truck under the carport next to her car. After unbuckling Lucy from the car seat he lifted his daughter and walked up the sidewalk to Sophie’s.
His dad hobbled across the yard on crutches.
Dread or hope? Keeton didn’t know which to feel. Maybe both suited the situation. What in the world had he thought, coming back here? Yeah, that was a good question.
He stopped on the bottom step, Lucy in the crook of his arm. He turned her so his mom could see her granddaughter for the first time.
“Lucy, meet Grandma. Mom, this is your granddaughter, Lucy.” He walked up the steps to the front porch, shaded by the arched, stone columns.
“She’s beautiful, Keeton.” His mom held out her arms and he handed over his daughter. It was still new to him, that Lucy was his.
He hadn’t seen her birth. He hadn’t watched her grow inside her mom, or gone to prenatal doctor’s visits. He hadn’t had time to prepare for this. But it suited him, he decided. Yeah, he liked being a dad. He liked everything about it.
As his mom rocked Lucy, his dad came up the steps. He eased down on to the wicker loveseat across from the women. Keeton smiled at Sophie. She looked better than she had the first night, but still pale. Of course she hadn’t been to the doctor. She said it was a virus, she didn’t need to go.
“How are you?” He sat down next to his dad and smiled at Sophie.
“Good. How about you?”
He grinned at that and looked from his mom to his dad. Sophie smiled, too.
“Good.”
His parents in Dawson at the same time. He hadn’t really thought about that happening. One thing he’d learned in his life was to trust God’s plan. Trust that sometimes God used people’s plans to carry out His greater plan.
Or maybe it was more wishful thinking, that his parents would find a way to work things out. All these years later and he was still the kid thinking his mom and dad might get back together. He shook his head at that. He definitely didn’t qualify as a kid.
He’d gone to the doctor for his knee and was looking at knee replacement in the next ten years. Yeah, way past being a kid. He’d also been told he should think about quitting. No, he didn’t get “doctor’s orders” to stop riding bulls, just a strong recommendation.
Stop riding bulls. He refocused on Lucy, who had hold of her grandmother’s shoulder-length hair. If he quit, what would he do? He had options. He could get a job teaching. He could start a bull-riding school. Or he could keep working with Jeremy.
“What’s up?” Sophie leaned close to ask the question.
He smiled at her and shrugged. “Nothing, just a lot to think about.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s okay.” He touched her hand but stopped short of lacing his fingers through hers, the way he wanted to. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. No fever today.”
“Glad to hear that. Is there anything I can do for you? The grass is getting pretty high. I can mow.”
She leaned, touching her shoulder against his. “No, I have a guy who does that. He’s on a limited income and…”
“Yeah, I get it. But let me know.”
“Have you seen the mule in the last couple of days?” She switched topics, taking him by surprise.
“Yeah, he was at the pond today. What are you going to do about that mule? Eventually Lucky is going to see him.”
“I kind of thought I’d see if you would trailer him to the rodeo in a couple of weeks. I’m going to ride him in the opening parade.” She smiled and lifted her brows. He laughed.
“That would require riding him. Right?”
She held a finger to her lips and he turned, smiling at his suddenly silent parents. Sophie saved the day. “So, Doris, how long are you staying?”
“Just for the night. I’m staying with a friend and I have to be back at work tomorrow.” His mom leaned to kiss Lucy. “But I have to admit it will be hard to leave this little sweetheart.”
“You can stay here,” Sophie offered. “I have plenty of room. That will give you more time with Lucy and Keeton.”
His mom smiled at Sophie. “That’s really sweet, but I don’t want to take advantage. I think you have plenty of my family members staying here.”
“They aren’t taking advantage and you won’t be, either. If you want to stay, you’re more than welcome.” Sophie stood, and Keeton had a moment where he wondered how he had ever let her go. All of those years ago, why hadn’t he fought to keep her in his life?
Because he’d decided back then that in his arms, she’d always be thinking about his brother. He had worried that she’d compare them and he’d come out on the short end of the stick.
But a woman like Sophie shouldn’t be ignored, let go of or taken for granted. She was beautiful, classy and down-to-earth. All in one pretty, amazing package.
She had opened the door to go in and she paused. “Would you all like coffee?”
His parents nodded, but their attention was focused on Lucy and he wasn’t sure if they actually heard.
Keeton followed her through the front door. “Hey, wait up.”
She turned, smiling at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I thought I could help since Lucy is busy entertaining her grandparents.”
He thought about turning and walking away. Instead he reached for her and pulled her close. He held her tight and she held him back. Man, she felt good in his arms, her hands on his back. The scent of her, the feel of her, it filled up empty spaces inside him and he thought maybe he’d hold her forever.
He would if he could.
After a minute of holding her he stepped back, breaking contact but first kissing right next to her ear. “I needed that.”
She brushed her hands down his arms. “I knew I needed something, I didn’t realize that’s what it was. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
They walked to the kitchen together. “It’s a big deal, having your parents in Dawson together.” Sophie pulled the coffeepot out.
“Yeah, it is. I didn’t think about it, about the two of them showing up at the same time like this. I’m a grown man, but I still would like to see them work things out.”
She turned from pouring water in the coffee maker. “I don’t think that’s so unusual. Years ago when Mom found out about Jeremy being my dad’s son, I thought my parents would divorce. I guess I was considered an adult at the time, barely. But even at that age, I didn’t want them to split up. I thought about all of us not together at holidays and how it would feel to have a wedding…”
Her voice trailed off.
“But they stuck it out. They’ll both be there, for every big moment in your life.”
“I’ve had big moments. They’ve been there. I’m not a kid, still dreaming about those things.”
Those things? He watched her pour coffee in mugs. “You’re breaking my heart, Soph. Are you telling me I’m too old for weddings and babies? Because I love the one I have and I’ve been thinking she’ll need brothers and sisters. Maybe I need to stop reading that romance novel of yours.”
“Just because I’m a happy spinster doesn’t mean you have to stop dreaming.” She handed him a cup. “And if I had a Lucy, I’d want a dozen more.”
He could tell Sophie one better. He’d held her and he could imagine holding her for the rest of his life. Which meant he needed to get his parents and head for his place before he said too much.
* * *
Sophie watched Keeton and his family leave a short time later. His family. His parents. His daughter. She let out a sigh and closed the door so she could lean against it. And then slide down to the floor and sit.
She had to go do something. She had to get out of this house. She hadn’t stayed inside for this many days in a row since…she couldn’t remember.
A few minutes later she walked out the back door in linen capris and a light cotton blouse. It amazed her, that the simple of act of changing into something lighter, less like pajamas, could make her feel so much better.
As she drove down the road she made plans. Where to go? She decided on the Bible study at church. For some reason she hadn’t been going lately. Not because she didn’t enjoy it. She’d just gotten out of the habit. Or maybe she’d gotten tired of being the only single person in attendance. Everyone her age had a husband, wife, kids, and the stories or prayers requests that went with those things.
She didn’t even have a cat or a dog. She had a mule that no one had known about until recently. She had a project she enjoyed keeping to herself, until that too became public knowledge.
And when she walked through the doors of the church, she realized other things were public knowledge. Lucky’s wife, Anna, smirked and elbowed Jana Tiller. They both looked her way, nodded and then whispered.
Of course they headed straight for her.
Too late to leave, the door appeared to be blocked by people either sharing news or trying to hold her hostage. She steadied herself for the assault.
“So, how’s it going?” Anna smiled big and hugged her. “Are you feeling better?”
“Much better.” She dug her Bible out of her bag. “So good, in fact, I thought I’d join you all for Bible study. When do we start?”
“Fifteen minutes.” Anna looped her arm through Sophie’s. “You haven’t been here in a while.”
“I know. I started thinking about that and realized it’s been months. Is there coffee?”
Third attempt to get conversation off herself and on to a more neutral topic. Another fail.
Anna led her toward the coffeepot, almost fooling her. “I heard that Keeton West stayed with you the other evening.”
“Really?”
At that, Anna laughed. She had pretty blue eyes and a smile that lit up her face. Lucky had loved her since preschool. They’d married right after college. Anna had once apologized to Sophie, because Sophie should have married Kade first. It should have been her walking down the aisle with her best friend.
Best friend. She faltered at the words and had to collect herself quick because Anna had handed her a cup of hot coffee. When she thought about best friends she thought about Keeton, about summers at the creek, riding horses on trail rides, sometimes arguing over silly stuff.
She coughed to cover her lapse. Anna stared, and then smiled.
“I think you’re not really over that virus.” Anna covered for her, smiling at a few of the other attendees who stood nearby.
“I’m good.” She took a sip and gave herself a few seconds reprieve, thanks to her sister-in-law. “I’m all better.”
Lucky appeared, carrying a notebook and his Bible. “Hey, sis, glad to see you here.”
He hugged her tight.
“It’s good to be here.”
Stop with the easy conversation. She loved them all but light conversation and deep, questioning looks didn’t match. She wasn’t about to lose it. She wasn’t going to fall apart because Keeton West had moved back to Dawson.
Not because of the past anyway.
Maybe it was the present that had really started to get to her.
Chapter Eleven
Two days after the Bible study that hadn’t changed her life but had pulled her back into her old group, old friends, Sophie pulled up to the building site and climbed out of her truck. Now that everyone knew that this project, the land and the nonprofit were hers, she guessed she didn’t really need to go incognito. But she kind of liked the old truck she’d bought a few months back. The seats were worn but comfortable. The radio played static with the occasional country music lyrics or talk radio filtering in.
Yeah, old trucks were special. She was a little disappointed that Keeton had shipped his off as soon as his new one got delivered the previous week. His had reminded her of riding to town with her grandfather, windows down and an ice cream cone melting down her arm as she tried like crazy to finish before they got home.
Gabe pounded a few nails into the frame of the house he had been working on, shoved his hammer into his tool belt and walked down to greet her. He glanced around, looking a little unsure. Maybe because he’d been working alone again and she’d told him he really didn’t have to spend every day here.
It was Saturday, he could go home and relax, hang out with friends, maybe grill hamburgers. When she told him that, he grinned and told her he’d rather be busy.
They walked up to the house together. “Do you think you should keep doing this, Ms. Cooper? I mean, it’s starting to seem kind of dangerous. I’m not sure these houses are worth someone getting hurt over.”
He wasn’t a tall guy, but he looked tall because of his broad build. His shaggy brown hair, covered with a ball cap, tended to frizz in this hot weather. He didn’t look like a guy that would be afraid.
“I’m not going to let someone scare me off, Gabe.”
“No, ma’am, I didn’t think you would.” He grinned and reached for another two-by-four. “I’m just worried, that’s all. Someone sure seems bent out of shape.
”
“Yes, well, I’m not sure if that’s the case.”
He looked up, brows arching under the bill of his hat. “What do you think it is then?”
“The police are looking more at kids vandalizing, and not realizing what a serious crime they’re committing.”
“I guess I don’t agree. But you stay safe, you hear?”
“I’ll stay safe.”
The sound of cars, tires on pavement, all moving their way caught her attention. Sophie turned and watched as a dozen trucks in a row turned onto the gravel road that would someday be a paved street.
“What in the world?” Gabe straightened and watched the procession of vehicles.
“I don’t have a clue.”
At the front of the line she recognized Jackson’s truck, Lucky’s, Keeton’s and then more that she didn’t know. As they parked she walked toward them. Jackson got out of his truck, and then reached into the back to grab a toolbox.
“What are you doing?” she called out as she got closer.
Her brother grinned, big. “Someone called in the troops.”
“What?”
He nodded in the direction of Keeton’s truck. “Keeton arranged it. With all of the problems you’ve had getting this project off the ground, he thought it would be good if we all chipped in, donated some time and got these houses going.”
“Who are all of these people?”
“Family, friends and the Jorgensons.”
A local Mennonite family. “I can’t believe this.”
“Believe it. By the end of the day these two houses will be framed, and then some.”
Sophie wiped at her eyes. “Jackson, this is wonderful.”
“Don’t cry, you’ll make Lucky cry. Not me, just Lucky. You know how softhearted he is. And besides that, it’s Keeton. He made the calls.”
She turned and Keeton stood behind her. Lucy wasn’t with him. Her heart nearly came apart at the seams. “Thank you.”
It seemed simple, thank him and don’t throw herself into his arms. But his crooked smile, dark eyes that lit up with laughter, yeah, it made it hard not to hug him tight.
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