by Leann Harris
Chapter Thirteen
Finally, after several minutes of sheer terror, the sirens quit and the air calmed. An eerie quiet settled around them, except for Amanda’s sobs.
Kaye raised her head and looked over the edge of the incline. The tornado had only destroyed a couple booths. A door from someone’s car rested in the middle of the parking lot.
“Is everyone okay?”
The kids looked up at her and nodded. “I want my momma.” Amanda’s bottom lip quivered.
Stewart hadn’t cried, but his eyes were huge with fear. Kaye hugged him and kissed the top of his head. “You’re okay.”
Kaye stood up and lifted the little girl into her arms. “I know your momma wants to see you.” She looked at Stewart. “You hurt anywhere?”
“No.”
“You should be proud of yourself for holding your sister’s hand. I’ll have to let your mom know about how brave you were.”
He gave her a tentative smile and they went to find their mother.
* * *
Caleb dialed the ranch number, praying that someone would answer. A large storm system had moved across Oklahoma about one o’clock in the afternoon, generating a couple tornados. The same system moved southeast into Texas, hitting the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The local TV station in Oklahoma City said the tornado had touched down in Peaster. The instant that story aired, he called.
“Hello.”
Caleb hung his head in relief. She was safe. “You’re okay.”
“Yes.”
“I saw the news report and freaked.”
“Well, it did surprise us. It touched down at the fairgrounds but only damaged a couple stalls, then moved on. It’s going to take a day or so to clean up. Billye and her children were there on the fairgrounds and were a little shaken up. How are you? The news said Oklahoma City had experienced some damage.”
“It struck the parking lot of the coliseum. Several trailers were damaged, mine included.” He didn’t want to worry her, but she needed to know it was going to take a few days for him to get his trailer repaired.
“Are you okay?”
“I am. Thankfully, Razor and I were inside working. The repair shop up here doesn’t think they can get to my trailer for a couple days, but I’ll be back in time for the rodeo on Friday no matter what. If I have to, I’ll rent a trailer.”
“I’ll count on that.”
He’d be there no matter what. Working this rodeo had freed him and made him realize he had no regrets giving up rodeoing. The drive up I-35 had convinced him his traveling days were over. He wanted to stay in one place and wanted Kaye by his side. “How are you, really? Did you have any more flashbacks?”
“I’m fine. The sound of the tornado didn’t trigger anything except getting Billye’s kids to safety. I didn’t freeze.”
He knew the train sound of a tornado, had gone through a couple of them himself, and remembered the wind and pressure changes those monsters brought. If she’d made it through without a problem, it could only be a good sign. He heard what sounded like her choking back tears. “I was able to keep Billye’s kids safe.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
“We’re going to work tomorrow to repair those damaged booths and do some cleanup. I think we should be ready in time for the rodeo.”
“I’ll be there. It’s a promise. I won’t let you down.”
“I’ll count on you.”
He hated the delay, but he’d prove to her that she could count on him.
* * *
Kaye disconnected the phone but held the receiver to her chest. In the chaos of the afternoon and her concern for Billye’s children, she’d gone through that storm—a tornado at that—without having a flashback. She hadn’t even thought of the flashback until Caleb had mentioned it.
Thank You, Lord.
“You going to hang the phone up?” Joel asked from the doorway to her bedroom.
She put the receiver in the cradle.
“I take it that was Caleb. Anything wrong?” The tenderness in her brother’s voice made her smile.
“The storm system that hit us struck Oklahoma City first and damaged Caleb’s horse trailer. He needs to have it fixed before he can drive back. He promised he’d be here before the rodeo.”
Joel’s gaze met hers. “You can believe him, Sis. Caleb has a reputation of meaning what he says. Anyone on the circuit will tell you, Caleb’s a man of his word. You believe me, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She believed Joel, but as much as she didn’t want it, visions of her ex-husband filled her head.
He nodded, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed.
But as much as she wanted these doubts to go away, they still lingered.
* * *
Early Friday morning, Kaye stumbled out of her room to grab a cup of coffee and a piece of the coffee cake Nan had delivered yesterday. The woman wasn’t giving up her quest to win Joel.
“Hey, Sis. This is the big day. Rodeo starts tonight.” Joel grabbed his travel mug.
“It’s D-day.” Her stomach danced with excitement and anticipation, but mostly because she’d see Caleb.
He’d called every night that week, and last night he’d promised no matter what, he would be there either with or without his trailer. He’d also told her that he’d taken care of his part of rodeo business while away. He’d warned the stockman that if he wasn’t there in Peaster to contact either Joel or Kaye.
Joel caught her arm, put his mug on the counter and folded her into a hug. She hugged him back, resting her forehead on his chest.
“Don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine.”
She pulled back. “I know the rodeo will be fine.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. Have faith. Caleb will be here. He had a good reason why he was held up in Oklahoma.”
“He had to have the trailer repaired.”
“True.”
Warning bells went off in her head. Joel knew something. “Want to share?”
“No.” Joel grabbed his cup and filled it with coffee. He also cut a big piece of coffee cake.
“I could tell Nan you adore her cooking,” she threatened.
Joel stopped in the doorway. “Nope, you won’t do that.” He took a big bite of the coffee cake.
“Don’t count on that.”
He shook his head and swallowed. “Sis, your heart hasn’t changed. You don’t do dirty.” He went outside, whistling.
Kaye didn’t know whether to feel outraged that Joel wouldn’t talk or pleased at his backhanded compliment. Her cell phone rang, giving her no time to ponder. Someone needed something for the rodeo.
* * *
Caleb arrived in Peaster a little after nine-thirty Friday morning. He’d been on the road since five-thirty and had only stopped once for coffee and an egg-and-potato burrito. As he made his way south, he knew his final ride as a pick-up rider would be in this charity rodeo. He’d surprise Kaye, then tell her it was his swan song. He drove straight to the fairgrounds and spotted the rodeo rigs carrying all the stock animals driving into the fairgrounds. He waved at Jack, pointing to where he needed to park the vehicles. Caleb quickly parked his trailer and after unloading Razor and taking care of him, he helped Jack with the stock.
“I appreciate you stepping up to the plate, Jack,” Caleb said as he led one of the horses into the corral.
“Not a problem, friend.” He looked around at all the help that showed up. “I wish all my stops were this easy. And I’ll be able to stock up on feed with the help I’m getting here.”
The generosity of the local merchants and their suppliers blew them all away. Caleb knew all the different congregations in the city had joined together for this single goal. Seeing the Christian wa
lk in action buoyed his spirit. “They’re good.”
Once the animals were unloaded, Caleb wanted to find Kaye, but he turned around and was caught by George “Shortie” Landers, the pick-up guy who was to work.
“This is quite a shindig.”
Caleb pulled Shortie aside. “I have a favor I want to ask of you.”
“Sure, what is that?”
“I’m going to change up a few things.” Caleb told him what he had in mind. Shortie agreed.
* * *
Kaye walked up and down the booths to make sure everything was in order. “Are your electrical connections working?”
“Ours seems to be messed up,” Viola, the head of the PTA, answered.
Kaye hurried around the booth, knelt and worked on the tape holding down the extension. When she stood up, Billye was there with a rugged-looking cowboy. He wasn’t hard on the eyes, and Billye looked like she’d run the forty-yard dash. Branigan stood between Billye and the stranger.
“I was just looking for you,” Billye said. She peeked over the counter. “What were you doing down there?”
“Securing the PTA’s electricity.” Kaye nodded to the man with Billye. “Who do you have with you?”
“This is Jason Kelly, our boot maker.”
Kaye offered her hand. “I am glad to meet you, Jason, face-to-face.”
“Ma’am.”
The ladies from the PTA oohed and aahed, with a couple giggles thrown in. Kaye thought they sounded more like teenage girls instead of mature women.
Billye nodded to the booth beside the PTA. “We’re going to set up your display in the next booth, Jason.”
Jason grinned. “I’ll be the first booth folks see. That’s good.”
“We did that on purpose, but while you’re setting up, let me borrow Jason and show him the schedule for when he is due to draw for the boots.”
Billye’s brows knitted into a frown.
“It’s easier to do this now because it’s only going to get more hectic as the day wears on.” Kaye didn’t wait for Billye to reply but pulled Jason toward her small fairgrounds office. “Did you bring the boots?” Kaye nodded to several people as they walked.
“Yes, ma’am, I did.” This man was a true cowboy, polite in his manner.
“I feel like I’m still in the army with all the ma’ams.”
He smiled, and if another cowboy didn’t have her heart, she could see possibilities here. Except Jason had eyes only for Billye. “I have the finished boots in my truck. Would you like me to get them for you after we go to the office?”
“No, let’s walk out to your truck and I’ll put them in my jeep so I can surprise Caleb without my brother or Gramps spilling the beans. I’ll have your money for you tomorrow.”
“I trust you. I don’t think Joel Kaye’s sister would short me. Besides, if you bought those for Caleb, I know I will be paid.”
Reputation, Kaye thought. Your name and your honor still went a long way out here. “We’ll do the drawing for the custom boots between the bareback riding and the calf-roping on Saturday night. I’ll have the office open so you can take measurements of the winner.”
At Jason’s truck, he pulled a box off the floor behind the driver’s seat and opened the lid. The two-tone boots were exquisite, and the leather felt smooth and soft. Jason was a master.
“You are a genius. They’re beautiful.”
“Thanks. I’m blessed to have my passion pay.”
“I’m glad you contacted Billye and she brought the idea to me, but you could’ve called any one of the board members.”
A lopsided smile appeared on his face. “It gave me an excuse to call her. I’ve been looking for one for a while.”
Immediately, Kaye understood what Jason was implying. “Does she know?”
“No, but I’m going to make it clear this weekend.”
“I hope you like kids. And dogs.” If this man objected to either, their romance wouldn’t last long.
“I love kids, and Branigan and I get along just fine. He knows I bring him treats.”
“Ah, a smart man.”
They parted ways and Kaye rushed to her jeep and stashed the boots.
Hurrying back inside, she saw Joel and Caleb over by the cattle pens. They laughed and joked. Both men seemed to come to life in this atmosphere, which only reaffirmed what she’d observed earlier.
Kaye stilled.
Was that it? Did both of the men have the rodeo so far in their blood that anything else paled in comparison? Did Caleb and Joel feel alive only in this atmosphere?
A chill swept over her soul.
* * *
“So how was Oklahoma City? You miss the excitement?” Joel asked Caleb. He’d seen Caleb talking to the other pick-up man and pulled Caleb aside when the other man left.
“Boring. Lonely. My last paid rodeo.”
Joel’s jaw dropped. “You sure?”
“I am. I have my eyes on something else and someone else.”
Caleb looked up and saw Kaye coming down the aisle. He was zapped again. The woman had that effect on him. He still couldn’t believe his feelings for her and that she returned them. He’d wrestled this past week with loving her, but then he read what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13 on how unselfish true love was. What his mother practiced was not love, and the results her children lived with were disastrous. True love never brought the fruits his mother reaped.
Kaye was waylaid by someone, who waved wildly. They exchanged several words, then she turned and shrugged at them. “Wait,” Caleb protested, but before he could run after her he heard, “Hey, Caleb.”
He turned toward the voice. Caleb scanned the workers. When several people moved, Caleb saw the familiar face.
“Sawyer.” Caleb met his brother halfway and enveloped him in a big hug. “You’re here.” Seeing his brother only added to Caleb’s joy.
Caleb pulled his brother along with him. He looked around for Joel, but in the press of people he’d disappeared. “Did you register for any events?”
“No, not yet.”
“Good, because since this is my final rodeo, I’d like you to ride pick-up with me. If you feel uncomfortable doing it, though, I can have Shortie work with me.”
“Sure, I’ll help.” Sawyer studied his brother. “You look different. Do I see stars in your eyes? And was the woman I saw you eyeballing a minute ago Joel’s sister?”
“It shows?”
“Yeah. Looks like you’ve been smacked between the eyes.”
Caleb thought about it. “Good description.”
Sawyer grinned. “Where’s that ornery horse of yours?”
Caleb laughed. “You want to hear something amazing? Razor adores the woman.”
Sawyer stopped and stared at his brother. “You’re pulling my leg.”
“I hope you’ll see for yourself. You got a place to stay tonight?” Caleb scanned the crowd, seeing if Kaye had had a chance to come back.
“I planned on the moon.”
Caleb’s head jerked around. “What?”
“No need for me to say more. You’ve been bit.”
* * *
Local volunteers, contestants and vendors poured into the fairgrounds, readying the facility for the start of the rodeo at five o’clock on Friday night. Finals would be held the following night. The kids’ events would be on Saturday afternoon.
Kaye didn’t have a moment to think, and last-minute details kept her from finding Caleb. The instant she solved one problem, another person needed something else or had a question. She didn’t lack for help, but they all wanted direction or to check with her. Two radio stations had reporters on site and two broadcast stations were also there doing background pieces. She occasionally saw glimpses of Caleb and they wa
ved.
The mayor pulled her aside. “It looks like we’re going to be a success.”
She surveyed the grounds teeming with people. “I think you’re right.”
“I’ll admit, I was annoyed with your brother for drafting you. I thought he was ducking his responsibility. But I think I owe him an apology. He knew what he was doing.”
The mayor’s words encouraged her. The day rushed by, giving her no time to sit down. By three-thirty, her stomach rumbled. Kaye walked by the booth Billye had fixed up. It looked amazing. Also, the ladies’ auxiliary had brought a small bookcase and displayed handmade quilts on it.
Kaye’s stomach complained again, and the ladies heard it.
“I’m going to run over to the restaurant and grab a bite to eat.”
Billye rushed out of the booth and linked arms with Kaye. “I’ll come with you.” Branigan whined.
Billye hurried back, picked up the dog’s leash and locked arms with Kaye and dragged her off the fairgrounds down to the Sweet Shop. “They have great lunches here, and she was going to stay open late today.”
Kaye got the three-salad lunch and Billye had a cookie and latte.
“Oh, this is so good.” She forked another bite of chicken salad. “Where are your kiddos?”
“With my neighbors. They’ll be coming tonight.”
Billye’s eyes twinkled.
“What’s up?” Kaye asked, knowing her friend had news. Kaye waved her fork. “And don’t try to say nothing. Remember, I can read you as well as you read me.”
“Jason Kelly. He held my hand and asked if I’d like to go out after the rodeo was over.” Billye sat back, shaking her head. “He wants to go out with me.”
“I believe he likes you.”
“That can’t be it.” Billye shook her head. “That can’t be. My ex—”
“Forget about that man. He’d want you to be miserable. Trust your heart. Maybe God is bringing a blessing into your life.” The words intended for Billye rang loud and clear with Kaye. She’d been talking herself out of happiness, worrying and doubting Caleb. Maybe she should allow her heart free rein. Maybe God was restoring her wounded soul. And maybe she ought to find Caleb and give him a kiss.
