“No, Aunt Lola, we don’t need a check.”
“I can wash windows.”
He led her to the back room, where they found window cleaner and paper towels. “Go with God.”
She patted his cheek and headed off, singing an old hymn about when the battle was over.
“We shall wear a crown. Yes, we shall wear a crown,” Mattie piped in with the chorus.
Isaac couldn’t help but smile. It was the first time since Sunday that he’d truly felt like doing so. He might have put Rebecca in the friend category when he’d clearly like her elsewhere. But he could do this for her. He could make sure she knew that her dream was still intact.
He could hope, selfishly, that she didn’t give up and leave town.
He wasn’t sure he could handle that.
Chapter Fifteen
Wednesday evening, Rebecca went to church. She’d wanted to stay at the ranch, where she would continue to lick her wounds, but Allie had insisted on going. After all, she had Christmas play practice. And she was still going to be in the program. “Right, Mom? Right?” she’d asked. More than once.
So they were at church, and Rebecca smiled as the many friends she’d made in Hope came up to tell her how sorry they were that this had happened to her. “This” meaning the destruction of her salon. Somehow she smiled and managed to tell them that she would be fine. She’d figure something out. She just didn’t know what. Not yet.
She stood at the back of the church sanctuary and watched as Allie went through her lines. Rebecca waited, holding her breath, for the song the angels sang together. Her heart stilled, finding peace for the first time in days.
Peace, my peace I give to you... She remembered learning that verse in vacation Bible school.
Kylie joined her, smiling but not saying anything. They watched together as the adults helped the children with lines they would need to know for the program on Sunday. That put Christmas just one week away.
She didn’t have plans for Christmas. She’d imagined it would be just like the previous year—Rebecca and Allie spending a quiet day alone. Last year they’d opened a few gifts, ate a baked ham, then watched movies. This year would be different. She realized that now. Being here, at Mercy Ranch, close to her parents, things would be different. For Allie’s sake she wanted the change.
She still had to Christmas shop. Allie had given her a list. A small list with the usual suspects: dolls, craft items, a certain pair of shoes that she loved. And at the top of the list was a note to please make sure she was in Hope on Sunday for the program. Of course they would be. It was important to Allie. That made it important to Rebecca.
“Will you spend Christmas with your parents?” Kylie asked, as the kids were heading to the back of the church to remove their costumes. Allie’s costume had been cleaned and new wings had been found to replace the pair that had been crumpled.
“They haven’t said anything. I’m not sure. I thought I might go to Grove and look for a job. I’m going to need an income soon.”
“What about your salon here?” Kylie asked.
“I don’t have the money to replace everything Greg destroyed. He probably sold all of my supplies.”
“Are they any closer to finding him?”
“They say they have leads. And of course they’re watching for him. They have extra patrols around town, just in case he shows up again.” She felt better knowing that. “Really, I just hope he’s long gone.”
Kylie wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I’m sure you do. Just getting back to normal would be nice. And I’m hoping you are able to make things work for you here in Hope. We really do love having you all here.”
“I’ll just have to figure out a way to earn the money to make repairs. Jack and I had a deal, and I don’t want him to be hurt by this. He wants to fill the buildings with businesses for the sake of the town, and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to open back up.”
“Well, let’s just pray about that.”
Aunt Lola walked by as they were talking. She stopped to stare at them, as if trying to place them, and then she smiled.
“Hi, Aunt Lola,” Kylie greeted the older woman. “Did Isaac bring you to church?”
“Nope, Mattie did. We worked all afternoon.” She turned to Rebecca. “My goodness, girl, you need to learn to clean house. That place was a mess. But I think we’ve got it almost livable.”
Kylie and Rebecca both had no clue what she was talking about.
“You must have me mistaken for someone else,” Rebecca said. “I don’t have a house here.”
“That place of yours downtown. It was a mess. I can’t imagine living that way. But to each their own. And why my nephew would want a messy housekeeper, I just don’t know.”
Kylie snorted and Rebecca realized it was a laugh she was trying to hold in.
“What’s so funny?” Rebecca asked.
“I think she means the salon.” She spoke to Aunt Lola. “Honey, do you mean the beauty shop downtown?”
“I do and it was a mess.”
“You were in my salon?” Rebecca asked.
Lola sighed. “How else could a woman clean that place up? You’re a messy one. Next time try a trash can and a little ammonia.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
Isaac’s aunt wandered off, still mumbling about the younger generation.
“Should I know what that was about?” Rebecca asked.
“I can only guess that she was inside the salon today.”
“I thought Jack and I were the only ones with keys.”
Kylie arched a brow and shrugged. “I couldn’t say.”
“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?” Rebecca stopped questioning her, because Allie was approaching. She was talking to a friend and Jersey walked next to her.
Despite all the upheaval lately, it still felt good to be here. Rebecca wouldn’t undo what she’d done. She wouldn’t return to Arizona. She wouldn’t want to go back to the ten years of estrangement from her parents. She might never understand their actions, but forgiving them had started a healing process she hadn’t expected.
“I think we should go check out your shop,” Kylie suggested.
“Good idea.” Because now she was definitely curious.
She followed Kylie out of the building, and from the parking lot she could see Lakeside Drive and her shop. The lights were on and there were cars parked out front. She motioned for Allie to get in the back seat of the car. Rebecca didn’t trust herself to speak, not with her heart in her throat the way it was.
They drove to the salon in blessed silence, with Allie refraining from even having a conversation with Jersey. Rebecca parked in front of the grocery store. Her phone rang and the caller ID said Private.
“Allie, I’m going to step out of the car. You wait here.” She got out and answered the phone. “Hello.”
“Hi, beautiful Becca.” Greg’s voice made her skin crawl. “How’s my little girl doing? You know what upsets me is that you won’t make this easy and just hand over the money. The stuff inside your shop didn’t bring much. That means we have to bargain. Allie and her dog, or the money.”
From across the street she made eye contact with Kylie. Rebecca kept herself from looking around, but she knew he had to be out there somewhere. She smiled into the car at Allie, wanting her to be reassured. She could tell by the look on her daughter’s face that the smile wasn’t reassuring.
“I would love to help you out. Unfortunately, I’ve had some unexpected expenses.” She tapped on the car. “Allie, let’s go inside.”
“You’re spineless.” He laughed after delivering the insult. “So is your boyfriend, if I ever get ahold of him.”
“Not my boyfriend,” she whispered. “After you, I’m happier being single.”
She opened the back door
and Allie got out. Rebecca reached for her hand and gripped it tightly. She nodded toward the salon, where she could see people gathered. Isaac was on his phone and Kylie stood in front of him, watching Rebecca.
“Where you going, Becca?”
“Inside. With my friends.”
“Sweet.”
As she walked, she heard a motor rev. She glanced in the direction of the café parking lot. Tires squealed as a car took off.
“Run, Allie.” They were almost to the sidewalk when Greg came roaring up the street in their direction. And just as he hit the intersection, a police car flew past, blocking his way. He slammed on his brakes and the car turned sideways, barely missing the cruiser.
A strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her forward. “Rebecca, move.”
She nodded, allowing Isaac to lead her inside. She blinked against the bright interior lights of the shop. A half-dozen people were there, all hard at work. Although the tasks seemed to be put on hold as they gathered to watch what was happening outside. All but Isaac and Kylie, who stood with Rebecca and Allie. Jack pushed up out of his chair and made his way to where they were huddled.
“They got him,” someone at the front of the store called back to them.
Rebecca slumped against Isaac, thankful for his solid frame and strong arms around her. Allie tried to tug away from her.
“No,” Rebecca said.
“I want to see him.” Allie looked up, a pleading expression in her chocolate-brown eyes. “I need to really look at him because what if I never see him again?”
Rebecca didn’t know what to say. She understood Allie’s feelings. This man, vile person that he was, would always be a part of her. He was her father. He would never fill that role but still...
“They’re bringing him to the window,” Isaac told them. “They’ll want you to identify him.”
Rebecca nodded, but she still held tight to Allie. She moved her daughter forward a half-dozen feet so she could see more clearly. The police officer led the man in handcuffs to a spot on the sidewalk where the light shone down on him.
“He’s kind of creepy. Are you sure you loved him?” Allie strained to get closer.
“It wasn’t love,” Rebecca said. “It wasn’t love, but I have you. And I love you.”
She nodded at the police officer. He said something to Greg and then led him off. Isaac’s phone rang. He listened for a second and then hung up.
“They think he’s also a suspect in an armed robbery that happened last night. If that’s the case, you won’t be seeing him anytime soon.”
Rebecca whispered a quiet thank-you to God and then pulled her daughter close. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?” Allie asked. “He’s bad. That isn’t our fault.”
“That’s very true.” Rebecca hugged her close and finally allowed herself to relax. After a few minutes she glanced around the shop. “Oh, my...”
“Surprise,” Isaac said, with a big grin on his face.
She looked him up and down. “You’ve been here all day?”
He was a mess, with dirt-stained jeans and paint splatters on his face, his shirt and in his hair. Her heart was so full she couldn’t imagine being able to take a deep breath.
“We all were,” he answered. “Holly closed early and everyone at the café came to help. How did you know?”
“Aunt Lola said I needed to learn to clean house. I’m apparently too messy for words.”
He laughed. She loved that laugh, full-timbered and husky. She loved his smile, the way he included her daughter in everything, and the way he encouraged her to keep trying. She loved that he would spend a whole day making sure she had her dream.
“There’s new merchandise ordered. It should be delivered by next week. And a couple new chairs.”
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
“We have to keep you here, Rebecca. The town needs a salon. Haven’t you heard? People have to drive twenty minutes to get a trim. No one wants that. And the barber’s hands are shakier than Jack’s.”
Allie ran off to talk to Jack, who had gone back to supervising from a lawn chair in the corner. Rebecca stared up at the man standing in front of her.
She loved him.
“You’re quiet,” he said.
“I’m stunned. I never thought something like this would happen. And I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”
“We’re friends. And you’re a part of this community. The people here care about you and about Allie. You’ve had a tough time and they wanted to help make things a little easier.”
And in making this happen for her, he broke her heart just a little. As she stood there contemplating how to accept his generosity and his offer of friendship, she realized she would have to move off the ranch. It was too difficult, seeing him every day, having Allie spend time with him daily, and knowing that he had real convictions about remaining single.
So Rebecca thanked him, because he’d done such a beautiful thing for her, and then made her way around the room, thanking the others who had volunteered. It was overwhelming to have so many people on her side.
It was overwhelming, after so many years of blaming herself for what people, specifically men, had done to her, to realize it was them, not her. She’d been taken advantage of. She’d been hurt. She’d been stolen from. And it hadn’t been her fault.
If she learned nothing else from Isaac, she had learned that there were good, decent men in this world. And maybe, someday, she would find one who actually wanted her in his life.
* * *
Isaac spent Thursday and Friday catching up on ranch work he didn’t get done on Wednesday. They had cattle to move to a field with a little more grass. He, Joe and a new guy named Ross took care of that. Ross was a decent hand. He’d grown up on a ranch in New Mexico, so he knew his way around a horse and he knew cattle.
He didn’t much care for people. After moving cattle, they’d loaded steers to take to auction, then done some work with a couple of younger geldings they were training for cutting horses. On Friday evening, when Isaac walked out of the barn, he realized he hadn’t seen Rebecca’s car in a couple days. He thought maybe she was at her salon, but with the sun going down, he figured she’d be back soon.
He headed for the apartment complex she shared with Eve and Sierra. After a few minutes Eve opened the door. She stared at him, not saying anything.
“Is Rebecca here?”
She pushed her wheelchair forward and looked out the door. “I think you know she isn’t. If she was here, you would see her car. She clearly is not here. And you clearly aren’t as bright as I always gave you credit for. Now go away.”
“What?”
She started to close the door. He stuck his boot in the opening to stop her.
“Go away,” she repeated. She looked downright furious as she stared at him.
Like a mad little pixie.
“Come on, Eve. I’m not the enemy.”
“No, you’re not. You’re just a man.”
“Okay, I’m a man. But I would like to know that my friend is okay.”
“Friend?” Eve shook her head. “Moron.”
“Thanks.” He leaned against the door frame. Maximus came out to keep him company. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where Rebecca is.”
“She left. She’s staying with Kylie and Carson. She thought it would be too awkward being here. She wouldn’t tell me why, but I assumed you had something to do with her sudden decision to vacate the premises. And I’m not happy with you. I like Rebecca, and Allie is a kid I can handle spending time with.”
“But she’s staying. She isn’t leaving Hope.”
“Not leaving Hope, just leaving you.” She gave him a catty little smirk. “I meant to say she’s just leaving the ranch.”
He waved goodbye as he turned and wal
ked away. He needed to talk to Rebecca. He needed to make sure she was okay. The only way to do that was to head for Carson’s place and hope she would talk to him.
When he knocked on his brother’s door, he had to wait a minute for Kylie to answer. She didn’t immediately invite him in. She stood there looking at him as a cat circled his legs.
“What?” he finally asked.
“It’s just...you don’t normally visit us here.”
“Yeah, well, I...”
“I’ll get her. You can talk out here.”
“You’re not even going to invite me in?”
She peeked back inside. “Allie is in here. I think you and Rebecca have to talk. Allie doesn’t need to be included in that conversation.”
“You’re right. Thank you.”
She closed the door. A moment later it opened again. Rebecca stepped out. She was beautiful, with her long blond hair hanging loose. She wore black pants, a long sweater and boots. Her nails were painted crimson and reminded him of Christmas. She reminded him of Christmas. He just wished he could tell her that.
“What do you need, Isaac?”
“I know this makes me sound like a typical male, but I noticed your car was gone.”
She laughed briefly. “For two days?”
“I’ve been busy moving cattle. And I’m a typical male.”
“Right.”
“I hope you aren’t going to leave Hope. I don’t want to be the reason you go. And I don’t want you to leave the ranch. Eve is pretty upset with me because you left.”
Her tender smile warmed his heart, made him feel less alone. “I can’t come back to the ranch. Allie loves you all and she really loves it there, but the longer we stay, the more she’ll think that the ranch is her forever home. And it isn’t. I can’t stay there. I have to find a place that is ours. The more stability we have, the healthier she’ll be. So I’m praying, trying to decide if Hope is where we stay, or if this was just our home for this season in our lives.”
“Whatever you decide, I want you to know I admire everything about you. And if this was just your home for a season, I’m glad we were included.”
The Rancher's Christmas Match Page 16
