Farraday Country

by Chris Keniston

  “Yes.” Fancy nodded. “I really don’t want to displace Meg or her routine.”

  “The café around here is busier than a salmon swimming up stream,” Ethan’s calm expression remained unchanged, “but the pub doesn’t serve lunch. At least not to the general public. It’s a short walk if you don’t have any objections?” He let his words linger.

  “Did someone say pub?” Rick swallowed his last bite quickly and appeared on Fancy’s other side.

  Garrett rolled his eyes. “It’s only ten o’clock in the morning.”

  “As the saying goes, it’s five o’clock somewhere.”

  Ethan slid his phone from his pocket. “Well then, if we’re all in agreement, I’ll just give Jamie a call. The man spends most of his day in the office doing whatever it is pub owners do at a desk.”

  The last to step outside, Rick looked up and down Main Street. “As far as sleepy little towns go, this one is pretty cool.”

  “We think so.” Allison walked in step by her husband.

  It still rattled Fancy’s senses that her sister had wound up with Brittany’s father. It also made her heart swell. She’d loved her kid sister more than anything in the world. That had been one of the reasons Fancy had kept her distance and the nickname bestowed upon her. Allison had so much potential and Fancy feared her influence could only hold her kid sister back. Knowing in the end her sister wound up with the world’s most perfect man, in the most perfect place, meant everything to her. More than she would have thought a few days ago. As a matter of fact, nothing felt the same as it had a few days ago.

  From behind large paned glass windows, store owners waved at Ethan and Allison as they passed by. Comments like “Lovely day for a walk” or “Nice to see you in town” could be heard from the other side of a few open doors.

  They strolled past the police station and a snake of recollection slithered to the forefront of her mind. Leaving Brittany behind may have been the best thing she could have done for the baby girl at the time, but it had been the hardest damn day of Fancy’s life. She’d had no idea how much any one person could love another tiny human being. All she’d ever wanted for her little girl was to have the best life could offer, and at the time, that wasn’t with Fancy.

  “Here we are.” Ethan waved an arm at the massive dark wood door.

  “Oh.” Fancy glanced up at the sign. “This is new.”

  Two deep furrows slid between his brows. “Yes, my cousin opened it recently with a little help from some of the family.”

  “O’Fearadaigh’s,” she said softly.

  Still frowning, Ethan held the door for everyone to pass through. “That’s the original spelling of the Farraday name back in Ireland.”

  “Of course it is.” Fancy sighed. The perfect man. The perfect town. The perfect family. What was she thinking coming back for her little girl?

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  So what if after loading the truck, Eileen and Glenn had run off and climbed in like a couple of teens on a first unchaperoned date? Sean Farraday swung the sledge hammer onto the post. Seeing his former sister-in-law happy was a good thing. Former? Once more he hammered the new fence post a little deeper into the hard Texas ground. He’d taken a vow till death do us part. Was there a statute of limitations on familial relations? Swinging the heavy hammer around and up into the air, he brought it crashing down one more time and froze, staring at the new section of fencing. Former. Death do us part. Did the in-law relation die with the spouse? In more than twenty-five years since he’d lost Helen, since the vows had played out, not once had he stopped to consider what that made Eileen to him. Definitely Aunt Eileen to the kids. Always Helen’s sister. But to him?

  From his breast pocket, the loud trill of a call echoed in the crisp West Texas air. He and Finn were supposed to work this fence line together but reports of mountain lions near one of the back pastures had him and the ranch foreman, Sam, riding the line for any signs of trouble. The kid was probably checking up on his old man. Seeing if he remembered how to repair a fence. Kid. That made him laugh. Finn was a married man. Every one of Sean’s children were all grown up and a few raising families of their own now. Finn probably wouldn’t be too far behind on that count. While there was no talk of babies, Sean recognized the look in Joanna’s eyes every time she got close to one of his grandbabies. Yep, it wouldn’t be long now. “I still have all ten of my fingers,” he laughed into the phone.

  “Good to know.” The voice belonged to Ethan, not Finn. “Are you at a point where you can stop and do us a favor?”

  Even if he wasn’t, unless it was something absurd like a craving for a root beer float, nothing was more important than being there for his children. Never had been, never would be. “Whatcha need?”

  “Toni took the girls over to Connor’s for the new toddler and horses program and can’t leave. Could you bring Brittany to the pub?”

  “The pub? Don’t you think she’s a little young to be learning the joys of a good ale?”

  Ethan’s voice lowered. “Fancy is here. We’ve agreed she can see Brittany.”

  “Oh.” Sean swallowed hard. Though little was said, last night every one of the family had been on proverbial pins and needles considering why Brittany’s birth mother would be returning to Tuckers Bluff now. Though deep down, they all knew the answer they didn’t want to face.

  “For now, we don’t want her at the ranch.”

  “Of course.” Not that Sean understood what difference it would make, but his son was a grown man married to a smart woman. If this was what they wanted… “I’ll be on my way as soon as I wash up a bit.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  The call disconnected and Sean looked over the rolling land that had been referred to as Farraday country since the days his grandparents first settled the area. Ethan and Allison rented a small house not far from Brooks and Toni, one of the reasons Toni took care of Brittany with her own when Allison was working. Plans were in the making for Ethan and Allison to build on a nice piece of land close to the new hospital. Plans for their family. He prayed this Fancy wasn’t going to cause any trouble. For some time now he’d had a picture in his head with all of his kids and grandkids living near or on Farraday land. He didn’t want some woman swooping in and tearing apart his son’s life. He liked the picture in his head just fine. His children happy and settled, him and Eileen manning the homestead to keep the family together. Him and Eileen?

  ****

  “Those two are a hoot.” Glenn slid out of the passenger side of the ranch pickup.

  “You could have knocked me over with a feather when they opened that door.” Eileen slammed the door and scooted around to the back, not mentioning that the touch of his hand had almost sent her flying into the next county. Talk about letting her imagination run away with her.

  “This place looks different in daylight.” Glenn came around to meet Eileen, glancing sideways at the pub windows.

  “You’re timing was perfect. You arrived on opening night.” Eileen popped the lids off the two ice chests and reached inside, handing off a foil covered tray. “Might as well make yourself useful.”

  “No problem, Miss Kitty,” he teased.

  “You know…” Eileen couldn’t decide if she found Glenn’s play on Miss Kitty and Marshall Dillon amusing or ridiculous. Though somewhere deep down she was eating up the flattering attention. “You really need to get out more.”

  Glenn chuckled softly. “What are these for?”

  “I promised Jamie a couple trays of my rice pudding.”

  “Your rice pudding?” He balanced the tray on one hand and opened the pub door with the other.

  “Don’t look so shocked. I told you I learned to cook for twenty or more people. This was my mother’s recipe. My sister Helen tweaked it a bit and after all these years the whole town knows it’s the best. Now any one dining here from out of town will know too.” Eileen stuttered to a halt at the people seated inside. She’d expected to have to hunt Jamie down in
the back. “Oh, hi.”

  Glenn’s attention went straight to the man tinkering at the piano in the corner.

  Most folks were huddled around one table. Jamie was behind the bar shining brass fixtures. Immediately Eileen’s heart caught in her throat. The strawberry blonde woman she’d never met before had to be Allison’s sister, Francine—Fancy.

  “Let me help you with that.” Ethan sprang from his seat and arrived at her side in a flash, removing the large tray from her hands.

  Angling her head and lowering her voice, Eileen whispered, “Is everything all right?”

  “So far,” he whispered back.

  “I’ve got this.” Jamie relieved Glenn of the tray. “Thanks.”

  Handing the tray over and following the pub owner, Glenn glanced at the man and the piano. “Looks like an oldie.”

  “Yeah. It was in the back. I was shocked that it played as well as it did. Had a piano restorer come in from Butler Springs and he was just as surprised it wasn’t in worse shape.”

  “Mind if I take a closer look?”

  “Suit yourself,” Jamie called over his shoulder.

  The moment the piano man stopped tinkering, Glenn ran his finger along a few of the keys. “These are ivory.”

  The man seated pushed back and stuck out his hand. “Rick Mason. Want to give it a whirl?”

  The way Glenn eased onto the bench anyone would think he hadn’t seen a piano in years. Eileen suspected that one session with the band was on a keyboard not a piano. Both made music, but even she knew there was something different about playing an honest to goodness piano. His fingers curled over the keys and beautiful sounds seeped across the nearly empty pub.

  “Wow,” Ethan mumbled beside Eileen.

  A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She’d actually forgotten how well he could make music out of just about any instrument. The rambling of notes flowed into a very specific tune. One she remembered so well. Her fingers began to snap with the rhythm of the music and her feet brought her closer to the piano. She could feel every note from her fingertips to her toes. Lord how she’d missed this.

  ****

  Parked in front of the pub, Sean hurried around to the passenger side of the truck to unstrap Brittany from the car seat. For decades ranch kids had ridden in the backseat, front seat, bed, heck, a time or too he’d been known—a lot older than Brittany of course—to ride on the hood, and they’d all survived. But the law was the law, not to mention the thing came in awfully handy with only him and a toddler. He never was one of those parents who rode with a kid in his lap. That just struck him as foolhardy and a miserable heartbreaking accident waiting to happen. So, every single truck at the ranch had a car seat just in case immediate transport was needed. Like today.

  Holding a grinning blonde-haired cherub in one arm, he kicked the truck door shut. From inside he could hear traces of a familiar tune played on a piano. The moment he opened the door he recognized the song, and the voice. Eileen stood, eyes closed, her arms open wide, belting out with more power than he remembered hearing in a very long time. He stood frozen, afraid to move, to make a sound, to break the spell. She was in the zone. The piano was with her for every note, and the energy in the room was palpable.

  Her fingers spread, one arm lifted and she sang, “Cloudy or Sunny” and sent goose bumps up his arms, and most likely the arms of every person in the place. She was on fire. The piano vibrated, her arms rose high and the last words, the title of the old popular tune “Come Rain or Come Shine” ricocheted around the room. Her arms fell to her side, applause from the handful of occupants filled the space and Eileen opened her eyes. She looked… stunning. Had Sean ever seen her this happy?

  For a few seconds she seemed startled and then a smile slid across her face, her eyes twinkled and his heart dropped. They were going to lose her. He could feel it in his bones.

  “That was amazing.” A blonde woman Sean had never met who must be Allison’s sister was the last one still applauding.

  “Wow.” Jamie had practically flown over the bar to give his aunt a hug. “I’ve heard you and Mom sing together enough to know you could carry a mean tune but, wow, I’d never heard anything like that.”

  Behind her Glenn had pushed away from the piano and come to his feet. Standing over her he nodded. “You haven’t lost your touch.”

  Brittany made a loud gleeful noise and began clapping again. All heads turned to her, the smiles and praises over Eileen’s impromptu performance forgotten for the family business at hand. Immediately, Allison jumped to her feet and scurried across the small space to retrieve the beautiful little girl. “Mama,” Brittany cooed, throwing herself at the woman who had been the only mother she’d known since she’d been left on a doorstep.

  “How’s my girl?” With the reluctant stride of a person taking their final steps, Allison eased toward her sister.

  “She calls you Mama?” Fancy asked on a shaky whisper.

  Allison nodded. “We tried Auntie but somehow she seemed to connect that if Toni is Mama to Helen, and Catherine is Mama to Stacey, then I had to be—”

  “Mama,” Fancy finished for her.

  Ethan fell into step beside his wife and Brittany threw her arms up. “Da.”

  Kissing his wife on the temple, Ethan pulled his little girl toward him and twirled her overhead, receiving heartfelt giggles before he took a seat at the table. Brittany’s sweet smile slipped. Pressing her head against her father’s shoulder, she studied the new people staring quietly at her.

  Halfway between the door and the table, instinct told Sean to stick around. This was a time when the family might need to circle the wagons. Without hesitating, he started toward the tiny stage where Eileen stood watching the interaction with the same eagle-eye intensity he had. The moment his gaze saw Glenn inch closer to her, Sean recognized the move. A protective gesture that stopped Sean mid-step. Air sucked from his lungs. She deserved a real man to protect her. One who appreciated her. He pivoted around and strode to the bar.

  “Isn’t this something,” Jamie whispered, wiping the same spot on the bar.

  Sean nodded. “What did I miss?”

  “Well, I’ve been a bit far back to hear it all. But seems like she wants to get to know her daughter.”

  The words made Sean cringe. Normally he didn’t judge people on hearsay, but this woman had done the unforgiveable.

  “That can’t be good,” he mumbled.

  “Like I said, hard to hear everything but there was lots of crying and hugging going on for a while. I think the sisters are bonding.”

  “Bonding, huh?” Sean blew out a sigh. “Who’s the guy with her?”

  Jamie shrugged. “Don’t know.”

  “It’s his band she sings in.” Eileen slid onto the stool beside him.

  “That’s all?”

  Eileen turned her head to the small group of four around the table, five with Brittany. “Not sure yet.”

  A soft mellow tune came from the piano where another man and Glenn were tinkering and talking. “And the other fellow?”

  “Another member of the band.”

  Sean nodded. “What’s your take on this?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Something’s not lining up.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She’s not what I expected. Her tone of voice, her eyes, the few things she’s said. Doesn’t sound like a woman who would drop a helpless baby on a doorstep.”

  Sean studied the woman in question. One thing he’d learned to trust all these years was Eileen’s instincts. The woman had a sixth sense that could get her and anyone else in or out of trouble, but she usually hit the nail on the head. He’d come to rely on that instinct more than once raising seven kids alone. No, not alone. At least not yet. His mind turned over the idea of playing Grandpa without Eileen. Of Sunday suppers without Eileen. Of morning coffee without Eileen. Bedtime tea without Eileen. The rest of his life just took an unexpected, and unwanted, left turn.

  CHAPTER
TWELVE

  For the first time in her life Fancy understood the expression heart-stopping. This little girl, her little girl, was so much more than beautiful.

  “She looks like you.” Fancy glanced at Ethan for only a minute before returning her attention to the toddling cherub.

  Ethan ducked his chin and placed a feather-light kiss atop Brittany’s head.

  “Hi, Peanut.” Speaking softly, Fancy curled and uncurled her fingers in a more entertaining wave hello. “I brought you something.”

  Brittany’s eyes widened with interest. Her father’s, on the other hand, narrowed with concern. Somewhere deep down, Fancy knew she would have to win over everyone’s trust if she was going to accomplish what she wanted. What she thought she wanted. Just now when so many feelings bubbled to the surface at the sight of her sister, her daughter, and the family bond held by the three, Fancy realized how much she had underestimated. The look on father and daughter’s faces made that perfectly clear. Allison looked totally torn, but somehow, eventually, Fancy would show them she’d changed. She simply had to.

  From the bag beside her Fancy retrieved a small fluffy lamb. “I understand this little guy from a TV show is popular with kids.”

  Brittany reached forward, poked one finger at the stuffed toy and then giggled before clutching it tightly to her chest.

  She liked it. Her little girl liked the present. Garrett barely set a reassuring hand on hers, smiled, and quickly let go. Always a support. He’d spent the hour or longer with her in the store, walking the aisles, asking questions of the sales staff and the moms shopping and finally going with the suggestion of one little girl. Well, as much of a suggestion as a two and half year old could make when she grinned at the two stuffed animals Fancy had shown her mother and grabbing at the white one yelled, “Lambie!” Once the mother had explained that her “Lambie” was at home waiting for her, Fancy had her present for her daughter. At least one of them.