Promise Me Tomorrow

by Lori Wick

  “I don’t suppose it matters all that much.” It was Jackie’s turn to sigh. “After all, he’s headed back to Colorado Springs on Monday, and she’s going to the orphanage later in the week.” Jackie felt Clayton’s chest shake with laughter and said, “What did I miss?”

  “I think you’re forgetting how close Manitou is to Colorado Springs. If our Mr. McCandles wants to see Rusty, he can do so with little effort.”

  “But that would be obvious,” Jackie pointed out, “and if he isn’t even aware of the way he feels, I don’t think visiting her, at least not without a specific reason, will even come to mind.”

  She had a very good point, and Clayton took a few minutes to think it over. It was while he was still thinking that he felt Jackie relax against him. He was thankful that the possibility of Chase’s loving Rusty was not going to keep her awake. Not so for Clayton. This was a new experience for Rusty’s father, and he lay staring into the darkness and praying about it for some time.

  19

  “What time is your appointment?” Rusty asked Chase over breakfast. Clayton and the others had gone off on various pursuits. Only Rusty, Jackie, and Chase were in the kitchen.

  “Ten o’clock. Can you refresh my memory as to which bank it is?”

  “I can do one better than that. I can show you. I have to go uptown anyway.”

  “Now, that’s an offer I can’t refuse. Are you also free to join me for lunch at the hotel?”

  Rusty dimpled at him. “Only if you can make it for three. Mother and I are going shopping.”

  “I would consider it an honor to escort both of you.”

  “Escort us where?” Jackie asked. She was in the kitchen with them but had been intent on her reading and heard only the last part.

  “Mr. McCandles is taking us to lunch.”

  “How nice.” Jackie smiled much like her daughter.

  “Katherine is going to show me the bank I need, and I’m returning the favor.”

  “I think we got the better end of the deal, Rusty. Mr. McCandles doesn’t know how much we can eat.”

  Chase smiled. “If your appetite is anything like your daughter’s, Mrs. Taggart, I’ll not worry.”

  Jackie laughed and Rusty groaned.

  “Are you blushing, Rusty?” her mother asked.

  “I’ll never tell,” Rusty told her and bent over her breakfast plate.

  Chase studied Rusty’s face. “No blush there,” he reported.

  “How is Rusty wearing her hair today, Mr. McCandles?”

  “Down on her shoulders,” he told her. He’d never seen it any other way and wondered at the question.

  “Then Rusty is the only one who knows.”

  Chase made no comment to this cryptic statement, but he did catch Rusty checking the sides of her hair, presumably to see if her ears were covered. The visitor from Colorado Springs knew in an instant that he had discovered a family secret but decided against saying anything.

  Rusty was just as happy to let the subject drop. She rose just a few minutes later and started on the dishes.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McCandles.” Robert Langley shook Chase’s hand and offered him one of the chairs in his office.

  “Thank you, sir. I assure you the honor is mine. I’ve been trying to get up here for several months. Your niece’s plans to travel home gave me the push I needed.”

  “How is Cat?”

  “She’s doing well. She and her mother pointed out your front door, and I dropped them off at Squire’s Department Store.”

  “My wife had plans to shop today. I hope they run into each other.”

  “Katherine told her mother she had plans to track down her Aunt Eddie, no matter what. Is that your wife?”

  “Yes, it is,” Robert answered with a smile, not just because of Chase’s words, but also because he had used Rusty’s real name. He suddenly wondered at the relationship between the two. However, that was not the reason Chase McCandles had come to see him. He pushed thoughts of family from his mind, and the two men got down to business.

  “This fabric is so soft,” Jackie said. “Is this the blue one?”

  “No, it’s a dark purple.”

  “Perfect,” she said with satisfaction.

  “Perfect for what, Mother?” Rusty asked again. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what we’re doing.”

  “It’s a secret, Rusty. Ask me again and I’ll tell you the same.”

  “But I won’t tell anyone.”

  “It’s a secret for you.”

  “Well,” the younger woman spoke with complete sincerity, “in that case, I won’t tell anyone I know.”

  Jackie laughed but still shook her head. They continued to gather goods—lace, more fabric, buttons, a small piece of silk— until Rusty had no idea what her mother could be making.

  Jackie didn’t do all the stitching herself, but for a woman who hadn’t been able to see for more than 20 years, she still had remarkable taste. If she was making a dress, Rusty knew it would be a beauty. She also knew she would be able to figure the style out when her mother had the saleswoman cut the yards. Rusty, however, hadn’t planned on being sent across the store.

  “Who will carry this for you?” Rusty protested.

  “You can carry it, but you can’t come back until it’s all wrapped up. Now, off with you.”

  “You’re thoroughly enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am. I don’t have you home much anymore, and your father has given me permission to be as extravagant as I want. How are your shoes, by the way?”

  “I just bought a pair.”

  “Good. Now you go look at gloves. I’ll see to this yardage.”

  This time Rusty was obedient. She had just pulled on her first pair of gloves when a familiar voice spoke.

  “Rusty Taggart! When did you get into town?”

  “Gary!” Rusty turned with a hug for Garrett Buchanan. “How are you?”

  “Just great. How about yourself?”

  “I’m doing fine. How is Avril?” Rusty inquired about his wife.

  “She’s fine; in fact, she’s the reason I’m in here. It’s her birthday next week.”

  “Tell her I said happy birthday. How are the kids?”

  “Adam and Zach are at school, and Wesley misses them terribly. The baby isn’t much fun for him at this point.”

  “What did you name your new little one?”

  “Peter.”

  “That’s right, I remember now. How about your folks?”

  “They’re on a trip to Denver right now with the Harringtons.”

  “How fun! They do that every year, don’t they?”

  “Yes. For more years than I can remember.”

  “And I hear that congratulations are in order for Wyatt. I thought he would be a bachelor forever.”

  Garrett smiled. “He thought so too, but then Grace Harrington returned from that teaching position back East, and he was smitten. All the folks are ecstatic, and we’re having the time of our lives watching him in action. He’s been walking into walls and staring into space for three months.”

  Rusty laughed. “Poor Wyatt. You must tease him without mercy.”

  “Of course I do,” Garrett said without repentance. “I well remember what I put up with when I met Avril.”

  “Well,” Rusty tipped her head way back to meet his eyes, “all I can say is that Wyatt is blessed among men. Grace is the sweetest girl in the world, and her grades in school were the envy of us all. I’ve missed her terribly since she went away. We said we would keep in touch, but we’ve both failed miserably.”

  “Have Katie and Roz learned that you’re in town?” Garrett asked, referring to his sisters.

  “I wrote to Kate, but I haven’t seen anyone. I’m going to let them know at church tomorrow that we’re having a small gathering Monday night.”

  “Well, I hope you have a good stay. How’s work at the orphanage?”

  Rusty beamed at him. “I
love it.”

  Garrett smiled in return. Rusty’s love for children was well-known.

  Jackie chose the moment to look for her daughter. She had a few words with Garrett, also sending Avril greetings, and the two women left Garrett to his shopping.

  “Is it time for lunch?”

  “Not quite. Hungry?” Rusty inquired.

  “A little. How do you suppose Mr. McCandles is getting along with Robert?”

  “I think with their identical heads for business, probably just fine.”

  The women had walked to the door and headed down the boardwalk. Jackie had told the clerk at Squire’s that they would return for their package.

  “Do you suppose that Mr. McCandles is looking for financing for a new venture?”

  “I couldn’t say, but if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say no. There might be a new venture, as you put it, but it doesn’t seem to me that he has any pressing financial needs.”

  Jackie nodded, not needing to know more. Beyond that, she wanted a moment of quiet to mull over the tone in her daughter’s voice. Had she been matter-of-fact, or was there a slight tone of resignation? Rusty informed her mother a few moments later that Mr. McCandles was coming toward them. Jackie had been given sufficient time to think about Rusty’s tone, but she couldn’t reach any conclusion.

  20

  “That was delicious,” Jackie told Chase. “Thank you very much, Mr. McCandles.”

  Lunch was over. The three of them were on the street standing next to the buggy Chase had rented early that morning.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he told her. “May I help you into the buggy?”

  “You’ve been so kind, Mr. McCandles, but in truth, Rusty and I are going to see my sister.”

  “I’d be happy to take you,” he offered, but saw in an instant that they were hesitant.

  “It was not our intention to take up your whole day, Mr. McCandles,” Rusty finally explained. “We’ve had our time in town, but you might want to do some shopping of your own.”

  “Shopping?” He said the word as if he’d never heard it before.

  “Yes. We have some lovely shops here in Boulder.”

  “I have no doubt, but what would I shop for?” He was still at sea.

  “Well,” Rusty replied matter-of-factly, “I thought you might be interested in a gift for Quintin or for some of your staff.”

  He looked so surprised that Rusty wished she had kept her mouth shut. For just a short time she’d managed to forget what a distant relationship he had with his son. The thought caused a moment of deep regret to fill her. They could have brought Quintin with them, but never before this moment had she thought of it.

  “You think I should take something to Quintin?” Chase asked, seeing very swiftly that for some reason he had saddened her.

  Hearing his tone, Jackie had to swallow a smile. He was trying his best to please Rusty, and the older Taggart would have bet that he had no idea how he sounded.

  “I just think it would be nice,” Rusty said softly, her eyes on his.

  Chase was still searching his mind for why his response had upset her. Still confused, he said, “I’m not certain he would enjoy a gift.”

  Rusty’s tone changed in an instant. “He’s a four-year-old boy, Mr. McCandles. I can’t think of a toy in which he wouldn’t delight!” There was no missing her mood. This time she was outraged.

  “Are you terribly busy for the next few hours, Mr. McCandles?” Jackie inserted tactfully.

  “No, Mrs. Taggart, I’m not. As a matter of fact, I have no plans at all.”

  “I can’t guarantee that we won’t be somewhat silly and giggly, but if you’d like to go with us to my sister’s, Rusty could help you find something for your young son when we come back through town.”

  “I have no wish to intrude on your time,” he said sincerely.

  “You won’t,” she graciously told him. “My sister would love to meet you. Rusty and I were concerned only about your own plans, but now that we know you are free, we’d be honored if you would join us.”

  Chase inclined his head. “Thank you, Mrs. Taggart.” He then assisted the older woman into the coach. As soon as she was settled, he turned back to Rusty.

  “I’m sorry I upset you.”

  Rusty bit her lip. She hated being so transparent.

  “I’m the one who needs to apologize. It’s really none of my business what you do.”

  Her comment bothered Chase. He honestly cared what she thought but knew she would find it odd if he told her that.

  “I think that women are more sensitive to the needs of children than men are,” he said rather slowly. “I didn’t find you intrusive or bossy. Indeed, I strongly value your advice, especially where Quintin is concerned.”

  His words did a great deal for her heart. Chase saw the pleasure in Rusty’s eyes and felt an unexplainable contentment at having pleased her. He sent a smile in her direction, offered her a hand, and helped her onto the seat in the buggy. She thanked him quietly, but he didn’t answer. Even after he joined them and picked up the reins, he could still feel Rusty’s small hand within his own.

  “For heaven’s sake, Rusty,” Patsy Langley, Rusty’s cousin, said, her young eyes huge. “He’s gorgeous!”

  “Who? Mr. McCandles?”

  “Of course! Who else could I mean?”

  Rusty laughed. She and Patsy were in the kitchen where Rusty was getting a glass of water. Fifteen-year-old Patsy had not joined her siblings as they went to work at the church cleanup day because she was just getting over a spring cold.

  “What did Clare and Dana say when they saw him?”

  “About the same, I guess.”

  “You act like you haven’t even noticed,” the younger girl accused. Rusty stared at her. She had noticed that Chase McCandles was nice-looking. She’d even told him so. But she couldn’t look at him without seeing Quintin, and that put a damper on her view. How could a man be so charming and caring of others, and yet not know his son existed?

  “Rusty, are you all right?”

  “Yes,” she mentally shook her head. Now was not the time to examine her feelings for the handsome Chase McCandles. “I was just thinking,” she added but did not explain. She got her drink and then returned to the living room, her cousin in tow. The other adults were still talking. Rusty and Patsy sat down in the midst of a story they never found tiring.

  “And Clayton had no idea that you lived here?” Chase asked.

  “That’s right,” Jackie clarified. “Robert and Eddie had brought me here from Georgetown, and we all thought that Clayton was in Denver.”

  “He had been,” Eddie inserted, “until just before we saw him. With no children, Robert and I were not involved in school activities. We had heard that a new schoolteacher had been hired but never heard the name.”

  “But it turned out to be Clayton?”

  “Yes.” Jackie picked up the story again, her voice soft with remembrance. “I had lied to him in a letter and told him I’d fallen for someone else. You can imagine how surprised he was to see me. Not only was I not involved with someone else, I was blind. Robert hired him to tutor me, and the fun really began.”

  It didn’t take more than a heartbeat for Chase to see that it hadn’t been fun at all.

  “Actually,” Eddie said, “it was fun as soon as Jackie came to Christ and let Clayton get close to her. He never stopped loving her, not in all that time did his feelings fade.”

  Chase smiled. Even he could recognize a romantic story when he heard one. And he had seen the end of the story as well. He’d watched Clayton and Jackie Taggart together. They were clearly as much in love today as they had been all those years ago.

  “Thank you for telling me,” Chase said graciously.

  “I think Eddie should tell her story,” Jackie said with a smile. “Our Mr. Langley, a most successful banker, actually got a wrong address and lost his heart in the process.”

  Eddie laughed in delight.


  “Now this sounds interesting,” Chase coaxed. “I must admit you have piqued my curiosity.”

  “It’s not as complicated as Clayton and Jackie’s story, but it was fun. I was having tea at my aunt’s, and this handsome man knocked on the door. He had the wrong address. We looked at each other and, well, let’s just say he never made his appointment.”

  Patsy beamed at her mother, and Eddie smiled tenderly at her. “Now, 23 years and five children later …” She let the sentence hang.

  Chase turned to Patsy as well. She was a lovely young woman with eyes as blue as her mother’s.

  “Are you the youngest?”

  “No, that would be Bethany.”

  “And she is—” Chase asked.

  “Thirteen,” Patsy supplied. “Bobby is the oldest, and he just turned 20, then Marty is 18, and Christian is 17.”

  “Three boys and two girls. Sounds like fun.”

  “It usually is, but Chris is a horrible tease, and Beth falls for his jokes every time.”

  “And you never do,” Eddie said quietly.

  Patsy dimpled. “Only some of the time.”

  “Chris is a tease,” Rusty confirmed, “but then so is Bobby. Remember when he had us convinced that he’d seen a ghost, and that it kept showing up outside each night?”

  “Yes.” Patsy was indignant. “And it turned out to be Les! My hair stood on end for a week.”

  Rusty laughed. “Clare and Dana were sad that they’d missed the whole charade, but I don’t think they knew how eerie he looked with that white paint on his face.”

  “I can’t remember how you saw him, Rusty,” Jackie said to her daughter.

  “He scared me out of my wits when he snuck back into the house while I was in the kitchen getting a snack.”

  “Oh, that’s right. Your father tried to scold him but was laughing too hard.”

  Listening to them banter back and forth, Chase thought how special it would be to have siblings and cousins near. He did have a few cousins, but they were all in the Midwest. And now for the first time he wondered what family Quintin would have. Chase had no plans to remarry and no siblings. Without forethought, his eyes swung to Rusty. The successful entrepreneur suddenly knew that if he could meet a woman like Katherine Taggart, he would be strongly tempted to marry again.