Redemption on Rivers Ranch

by Kathy Douglass

  “That would be fun,” Carson added. “We’ll put it on the list of things to do before you go back home at the end of summer.”

  Where had that come from? They were going to be here for a few more weeks. Was he already thinking about the time she and the kids would leave? Was he reminding her that their relationship had an expiration date? Hearing him talk about the end took some of the wind from her sails. Was she the only one considering a possible future for them? She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but with each passing day she was becoming more willing to take the risk.

  She thought about the life she’d left behind. Justin and Sophia had lived in the same house all of their lives. Moving here would make it more difficult for them to spend time with their father. But, realistically, how much time had he spent with them in the past year? Not much. As painful as it was to admit, he didn’t care as much for their children as he did for his child with Natalie. So he wouldn’t be a factor when she decided where she and the kids lived in the future. If he wanted to be a part of their lives, she wouldn’t stop him, but he was going to have to put in more effort. She was through accommodating him.

  The most important thing was the kids’ happiness. She wouldn’t forget that. But her happiness mattered, too. Thankfully, they weren’t mutually exclusive. They were all happy here now. They could be happy here later.

  The children climbed over more rocks and then walked along the water’s edge.

  “Be careful,” Gabriella called.

  Justin waved an exasperated hand in reply and Gabriella smiled. She’d crawled over these very same rocks when she’d been their age. Somehow she’d turned into an overprotective mother when she hadn’t been paying attention.

  Gabriella knew from experience that it would take about thirty minutes for the kids to make it around the watering hole. It might take them longer if they kept stopping to look at things they spotted on the ground, which would give her more time to talk with Carson.

  “I haven’t told you this before, but I think you’re an excellent mother.”

  “Thanks,” she replied, surprised by how much his compliment meant to her. Sometimes she doubted herself and the moves she’d made, so it felt good to know that at least one person believed she was doing it right. Especially when that person was someone she admired as much as she did Carson. “I’m making it up as I go along.”

  “I think that’s what most parents do.”

  “I guess. But somehow it seems like everyone else has it together.” She glanced at the kids, who were looking at something Justin held in the palm of his hand. “For a while there I was second-guessing every decision I made, and how it would impact them and everyone in our lives.”

  “And now?”

  “Now, I’m trying hard to trust myself. To extend myself a little bit of grace. They’re such good kids. I don’t want to do something to mess them up.”

  “It’ll take more than one wrong decision to do that. It takes a lifestyle of consistent bad behaviors—unless that one decision is a huge, life-altering, horrible one. Then all bets are off.”

  He sounded bitter, and she had the feeling that he was no longer talking about her but someone else. If she had to guess, she’d say it was his father. Just what had he done that impacted Carson so much? She could find out by asking any number of people, but doing so would have a terrible effect on their relationship. Besides, she had a feeling he was close to telling her. She was going to have faith in him for a while longer. Hopefully, he trusted her enough to tell her the truth.

  Maybe he was waiting for the right time to tell her. They would be alone tonight. If he didn’t bring it up, she would. The time for keeping secrets—if there was one—was over.

  “We’re back,” Justin announced.

  “I see. It’s time to get back to the ranch and take care of the horses.”

  “When will we be able to race?” Justin asked Carson. “We want to go really fast.”

  “We’ll build up to that. Right now you’re going about as fast as you can and still be able to control the horse.”

  Justin didn’t look particularly happy with that answer, but he nodded.

  Gabriella led the group back to the stables, where they brushed the horses and gave them water.

  Sophia gave her horse a hug. “I’m going to a sleepover party. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you next time.”

  Justin rolled his eyes, but he gave his horse an extra pat before closing the bottom half of the stall’s door and walking beside Carson into the sunshine.

  Even though Justin and Sophia said it was unnecessary, Gabriella insisted that they take showers and wash off the smell of horses. Then she fed them lunch and helped them pack. Finally it was time to go to the party. The kids were bursting with excitement, and she had to admit she felt the same although for an entirely different reason.

  The children chattered excitedly on the drive to Jessica and Jason’s house and gave a quiet cheer when she parked the car. She recognized several parents from the youth center dropping off their kids. Apparently, this was going to be quite the shindig.

  “Vicki is way braver than I am,” Elisabeth, another mother Gabriella had met at the youth center, said, coming alongside her.

  “Than me, too. I can’t imagine having a sleepover party. I’m doing good getting my own two kids to bed,” Gabriella said.

  “Vicki and her husband, Scott, do this every year. They have it down to a science. They grill hot dogs and burgers, and let the kids run around all day until they wear themselves out. When it gets dark, they sit around a campfire and sing songs.”

  “Really? I guess I’d better up my game if I ever let my kids have a sleepover. I was picturing pizza and a few Disney movies for the girls and video games for the boys.”

  “Trust me, after tonight your kids won’t be satisfied with a regular sleepover. Between this and the youth center, the sleepovers of our childhood are a thing of the past.”

  “Apparently,” Gabriella agreed. Perhaps she would ask Carson if they could use his pool or horses. Though she kept walking, inside she stilled. Her kids’ birthdays were in the fall. She and the kids would be in Ohio by then. Or would they? Perhaps, while her brain was still mulling things over, her heart had reached its conclusion. Maybe this was where they belonged. In Sweet Briar. With Carson.

  Sweet Briar was beginning to feel like home. From the way her kids greeted their friends, she wasn’t the only one making connections here. Maybe there wouldn’t be as much upheaval as she’d worried about.

  She went inside and greeted Vicki, thanking her for inviting Justin and Sophia to the party.

  “No worries. Our kids have become good friends quickly. Justin and Sophia fit in here.”

  “What time should I pick them up tomorrow?”

  “About ten o’clock works for me. The kids will stay up pretty late and sleep longer than normal. I’ll feed them breakfast, too.”

  “You are a saint.”

  Vicki just laughed. “The kids all enjoy themselves. And tomorrow my two will be happy and exhausted. They’ll be too tired to bicker. Instead, they’ll spend the day talking about how much fun they had. I’ll have time to relax and read. I count that as a win.”

  After saying goodbye and reminding her kids to behave themselves and earning matching eye rolls, Gabriella hurried to her car. She needed to get something sexy for tonight. She’d passed Hannah’s Boutique on one of her trips to Sweet Briar, but she hadn’t done anything other than peer through the window. The clothes she’d seen had been gorgeous, and she had planned to return. At the time she hadn’t thought she’d need anything fancy for a while, so a visit had fallen low on her list of things to do. Now, though, she was counting the seconds until she could step inside.

  There were only a few other customers in the shop, and Gabriella took the opportunity to look around. This was clearly a high-
end establishment, catering to those with money. The hardwood floors gleamed, and the clothes on the racks were organized by color, item and size. There were skirts and dresses, as well as shorts and pants. The clothes ranged from casual to after-five to formal. Everything was very well-made. Gabriella had no doubt she would find something wonderful to wear tonight.

  “Hi,” the saleswoman said, coming to greet Gabriella. “I’m Hannah. Are you looking for anything in particular?”

  “Hi. Yes. I’m going to dinner tonight and need something nice to wear.”

  “Are we talking a date or a business meeting?”

  “Date,” Gabriella said, and then smiled.

  Hannah grinned and steered Gabriella to the dresses near the wall. “From the smile on your face I take it that this date is with a special someone, so we can look at something a little more...enticing.”

  “Oh, yes.” She definitely hoped she could entice Carson tonight.

  Hannah quickly looked at Gabriella from head to toe, and then reached onto a rack and pulled out two different dresses. “You have a great shape and would look good in anything. I think you’ll blow his mind in either one of these.”

  “Thanks.” Hannah could have been flattering her, but Gabriella thought the other woman was being sincere. It wouldn’t be good business for Hannah to sell clothes that didn’t flatter her customers. Word would get around soon, and before long her clientele would vanish.

  “If you want to look through some of the other dresses, I can get a room started for you.”

  “Thanks.” Gabriella sorted through the rest of the items on the rack and picked up three other dresses. Folding them over her forearm, she headed to the dressing rooms. She slipped off her clothes and then pulled on the first dress that Hannah had selected. The green silk sheath felt so good on her skin. Gabriella fastened the zipper and then looked at herself in the mirror. The dress clung to her, emphasizing her curves. Although she no longer had the tiny waist she’d possessed before she’d had her kids, she still had a nice figure.

  Green wasn’t a color she generally wore, but the emerald shade made her skin glow. This dress was definitely a keeper even if she didn’t wear it tonight.

  Taking the dress off, she rehung it on the hanger, and tried on a red-and-orange-patterned dress. It hugged her torso and flared out at the hips. She shimmied in the mirror and smiled, pleased at the way the fabric moved with her. Another keeper. She tried on the other three dresses, one purple, one black and the other silver. Each of them looked great. After putting on her own clothes, she stared at the dresses, trying to make a decision.

  “How’s it going?” Hannah asked from outside the door.

  “Great. And terrible.”

  “Yikes. Great I like, but terrible, not so much.”

  Gabriella opened the door. “They’re all beautiful and I love the way I look in all of them. The hard part is deciding which one I’m going to wear tonight.”

  “Well, you can always use the process of elimination. Knock out your least favorite color or fabric. Things like that. Then I’ll put those back. Eventually you’ll be left with the one. It’s kind of like weeding out the wrong men.”

  Gabriella laughed. “Where were you when I was getting married? I could have used your help then.”

  “Probably choosing the wrong guy to get involved with.”

  Gabriella pointed to the enormous diamond on Hannah’s left ring finger. “Apparently, you figured it out.”

  Hannah smiled and her entire face lit up. “Thankfully.”

  “When is the big day?”

  “New Year’s Eve. We want to ring in our new year as husband and wife.”

  “That’s so romantic. Congratulations. I wish you and your fiancé the best.”

  “Thanks. I can’t believe I met a man as wonderful as Russell Danielson.”

  “Danielson? Is he related to Joni who runs the youth center?”

  “He’s her brother.”

  “Wow. I’ve only met her a few times, but I think she’s wonderful. You’re marrying into a great family.” And from her own experience, Gabriella knew that in-laws mattered.

  “They’re the best,” Hannah agreed, “but we need to get back to the task at hand. Which dress can you live without?”

  “Oh, they’re all coming with me,” Gabriella hastened to correct her. “I just don’t know which one to wear tonight.”

  “Oh. Well, then let’s talk shoes. Which dress works best with shoes you already have?”

  “Of course,” Gabriella said, slapping a hand on her forehead. “The red and orange. That was easy.”

  They walked to the cash register, where Hannah quickly rang up Gabriella’s dresses and expertly placed them inside a garment bag. Gabriella paid, and, after wishing Hannah all the best at her wedding, she drove home.

  Carson would be picking her up in about an hour, so that didn’t leave much time. She turned on soft music, took a warm bath and, after drying off, smoothed scented lotion onto her body. After spraying on perfume, she dressed and took extra care with her hair and makeup. She was taking a final glance at her reflection when the doorbell rang.

  She looked at the clock. Right on time. The fact that Carson was prompt made her smile. It was a small thing, but it showed that she mattered to him. She hurried down the stairs, unwilling to make him wait. After all, he was important to her, too.

  Swinging open the front door, she took one look at Carson and sucked in a breath. She’d seen him in his swim trunks, so she knew he had a great body. Heck, she’d caressed his muscular shoulders and chest. Her fingers still tingled at the memory that she’d played over and over in her mind. But there was something about the way he looked in his navy suit that made her mouth water. The jacket had been tailored to fit his broad shoulders and massive chest, and was tapered to fit his trim waist. The pants fell perfectly over his powerful thighs and brushed over his shined shoes. She couldn’t decide if he was an angel from heaven or a devil sent to tempt her. Either way, he looked like each of her dreams wrapped into one perfect man.

  He cleared his throat, and she realized she’d been gawking at him. Stepping back, she waved him inside. “Come on in. I just need to grab my purse.”

  “Take your time. And might I say you look gorgeous tonight.”

  His voice sounded deeper than normal, and butterflies began fluttering in her stomach at the admiration she heard there. “Thank you.”

  He wasn’t the only one who sounded different. There was a breathless quality to her voice. “You don’t look too shabby yourself,” she added, trying both to lighten the mood and to control her voice.

  “Thanks.” He’d followed her across the room and now was standing mere inches from her. The heat from his body wrapped around her bare shoulders, warming her. She inhaled and his scent tantalized her. His cologne was subtle yet woodsy. When combined with his unique scent, it made her weak in the knees.

  She looked into his deep brown eyes and saw warmth and affection. And something else. Desire. Perhaps he was feeling the same longing for her that she felt for him.

  After Gabriella grabbed her purse, they crossed the room side by side and then stepped onto the porch. Surprisingly, his truck was nowhere in sight. In its place was an expensive late-model sedan. She glanced at him, letting her eyes ask the question. He grinned. “I couldn’t take you to the best restaurant in the state in a pickup.”

  “I didn’t know you owned a car.”

  He shrugged. “I keep it in the garage. I only bring it out for special occasions. Like this.”

  He held out his arm and she took it, and they walked down the stairs together. When they reached the car, he opened her door for her and then circled the vehicle.

  They made small talk on the way to the restaurant, but Gabriella didn’t find it mundane. On the contrary, it was comforting. She was a bundle of nerves, wh
ich was ridiculous, given the fact that she and Carson were old friends. Yet she didn’t think she would be able to talk about anything deeper right now. Besides, it was soothing to discuss things of little consequence to either of them when she knew the serious conversation that was looming.

  The night was warm and they drove with the windows open. The scent of wildflowers floated on the summer breeze and the leaves rustled in the trees. An owl hooted in the distance and crickets chirped. She loved the sounds of the country. Or perhaps it was the lack of sound that appealed to her, harkening back to the carefree days of her youth.

  When they reached the restaurant, Carson parked and helped her from the car. It was a small courtesy, but one she appreciated. He’d offered his hand when he assisted her, but rather than release her hand as she’d expected, he held it as they walked the short distance to the entrance of Heaven on Earth. It felt natural to hold hands. Perhaps their lives could be joined as easily.

  There were more people out and about than Gabriella had expected. Several other couples strolled down the walk, nodding and smiling as they passed by. A few teenage boys sat on the iron benches lining the street, laughing and talking.

  When Gabriella and Carson reached the restaurant, the door swung open and a young man stepped outside, holding it for them. Carson nodded. “Thank you.”

  They were ushered inside and Gabriella looked around. Although she’d been to many upscale restaurants and clubs, she was still impressed by the graciously expensive decor. The lighting was exquisite in its subtlety. Uniformed waitstaff walked silently over the carpeted floors while elegantly dressed patrons dined at tables covered by pristine white tablecloths.

  The maître d’ led them to their table and promised that a waitress would be by soon to take their orders.

  The beauty of the room was nothing compared to the aromas floating on the air. Every time she inhaled, she got a whiff of the most delectable scents. If the food smelled this good, the taste had to be heavenly. She laughed quietly.

  “What’s so funny?” Carson asked.

  “It just occurred to me how the restaurant got its name.”