by Kat Brookes
“I love how the house, barn and your vet building are all the same shade of red trimmed in white.”
“Chili pepper,” he said. “At least, that’s what the builder said the shade was called when I chose it from the color strips he gave me to look over. The white was listed as marshmallow. Not sure when paint selections became centered around food, but I’d rather go back to having it referred to as just plain red or basic white. No way was I going to tell my brothers I had decided to trim my house in marshmallow. Takes the cowboy right out of a man.”
Hannah laughed, the sound beyond sweet to Garrett’s ears. “I think you still have plenty of cowboy left in you.”
He chuckled. “Appreciate that. Sorry to have rambled on about house paint of all things. I’m not the best conversationalist. Truth is, most of my time is spent with animals.”
Her sweet smile widened. “I think you converse quite well. And I’m grateful for any conversation that helps keep my thoughts from straying to things I have no control over.”
He was glad to hear her say that. He’d been trying to do just that, knowing how upset she’d been when they’d left the hospital that afternoon. After another mile or so, Garrett pointed off to the side. “That’s Tucker’s place.” A one-story log house with a sprawling cottonwood shading a section of the front yard. Garrett smiled as his gaze passed over the swing he and Jackson had hung from one of the thick cottonwood branches when Blue had first come to Bent Creek. Their niece had spent countless hours on that swing, much to Tucker and Autumn’s dismay, as they’d been the ones who’d had to stand there, pushing her for hours on end.
“Jackson’s place, which I took you to during the storm, is a few miles down the road, just before the bridge. Or, at least, what used to be the bridge,” he corrected.
“Do many people use that bridge?” Hannah asked.
“A few, but it’s mostly my family, since the road cuts through our ranch,” he told her. “We’ve all built our homes along this road.”
“I’m sorry you lost your quickest access to town.”
He shrugged. “Not a big deal. The bridge has been washed out a couple of times before. We’re used to it. We’ll just have to allow ourselves extra time to get to town, since we’ll have to take the long way in until they get a new bridge up in its place.”
“It’s nice that you all live close by each other,” Hannah said with a sad smile. “Heather and Brian lived on the outskirts of Steamboat Springs, so we were able to see each other often. I’m thankful now for the time we were able to spend together.”
“I never really gave it any thought,” he admitted. “It’s all I’ve ever known, where they’re concerned. We grew up together, rode in the rodeo together, at least for a while, work together, and live on the same stretch of land. I suppose we just take being together for granted.” Something he should have known better than to do. Mari, his baby sister, had been taken from them far too soon after she’d contracted meningitis. Only six years old. And then his high school sweetheart, who had been on the verge of adulthood. Even Summer had died far too young.
“Life has no guarantees,” Hannah said with a frown.
Garrett nodded solemnly. “That I know.”
“You’ve lost someone close to you?”
His gaze pinned to the road, he replied, “Haven’t we all?” Needing to redirect their conversation to something that touched less upon his own painful past, he nodded in the direction they were traveling. “The Triple W is about a half mile down the road.”
“The Triple W?”
“The Triple W Rodeo Ranch,” he clarified. “It’s the property my brothers and I grew up on. My parents still live there, while my brothers and I have built our own houses elsewhere. The main ranch is where we keep the livestock trailers, supplies for the rodeo as well as feed and medical supplies. It has the largest barn and several smaller areas of fenced-off land that allow us to keep the horses we will be taking to upcoming rodeos in a more contained area. Saves us from chasing them all over creation.”
She looked to him questioningly. “Shouldn’t that be the Four W Rodeo Ranch? You, your brothers and your father.”
If he and his brothers had gotten their way, it would have been. But their father preferred to remain in the background, helping when needed, but not actually being a part of their growing business.
“When Dad retired from the rodeo, he spent years building this place into one of the most respected horse ranches around. People knew they could be assured of purchasing quality horses from the Big W Horse Ranch. So, by the time the three of us boys were grown and done riding the rodeo circuit, he was more than ready to take a step back from the business, turning everything over to us. We began taking in, as well as breeding our own, horses for rodeo competition.”
“I never really gave any thought to where rodeos get their livestock from,” she said. “I’ve never even been to one.”
“You haven’t?” he said in surprise. It was hard to remember that going to rodeos wasn’t just the norm for some families. But it was all he had known.
Hannah shook her head. “No. I was more the stay-at-home, bookworm type.”
He took a moment to study her before glancing back at the road. “Bookworm type, huh? Not sure I see it.”
She arched a questioning brow. “Why is that? Because I’m not holding a book?”
He shrugged. “Maybe because you were traveling all alone, even when you were so far along in your pregnancy. Throw in your braving a raging flood, and I see you much more as an adventurer.”
Her smile withered away, making Garrett wonder what he’d said wrong. “I didn’t set out seeking adventure. I drove to Shoshone Falls in Idaho to spread my sister’s and her husband’s ashes in a place that held special meaning for them. And I was only alone because Dad was feeling under the weather. Not that I minded making the drive by myself. It gave me time to work on coming to terms with things.”
“I’m sorry you had to do that,” he said regretfully, wishing he hadn’t taken the conversation in that direction. No matter how unintentional it had been.
“It was hard,” she admitted. “But doing that for my sister gave me a sense of peace that I had been struggling to find. Partly because I was seeing my sister’s wishes carried through, but some of that peace came from the untouched beauty of mountains and prairies that surrounded me during my drive to Shoshone Falls.” She glanced around. “I would imagine that living here, surrounded by such a picturesque view of nature, offers the same kind of inner peace.”
He’d never thought of it that way, but after Grace had died he’d spent hours each day riding across the ranch, stopping at times to just sit and take in the view. He hadn’t thought so at the time, because the pain had been too great, but looking back he supposed he had found some sort of solace back then as he’d sat looking out over God’s land.
“It does,” he answered with a nod as he turned into the drive leading up to his parents’ house.
Garrett’s mother stepped out onto the porch, waving as she welcomed them home. Autumn followed, smiling warmly, and Blue came hurrying out behind them, her long, chestnut curls bouncing wildly around her tiny shoulders.
“Looks like you have a ‘welcome home’ committee awaiting you,” he said, casting a look in Hannah’s direction. “Should I apologize now? My family can be somewhat overwhelming at times.”
Her expression softened, and tears immediately filled her eyes.
“Hannah?” Garrett said worriedly.
“That’s so kind of them,” she said with a sniffle.
Relief swept through him with her response. She wasn’t upset. She was touched. “Prepare to be smothered by kindness,” he warned with a grin as he came to a stop in the drive.
Chapter Five
“Hello,” Hannah said, feeling slightly anxious as she and Garrett stepped up onto his mother’
s porch, the overnight bag he’d managed to salvage from her flood-totaled car clutched in his large, sun-browned hand.
“Welcome to our home,” his mother greeted with a warm smile.
“Thank you for having me,” she replied.
“Don’t be too grateful,” Garrett said with a charming grin. “She might never let you leave. Mom loves to coddle people.”
Garrett’s sister-in-law, Autumn, laughed. “He’s right. In fact, her homemade cookies, of which I’ve eaten plenty of since coming here, are one of the reasons I stayed.”
“Me, too!” the little girl Hannah presumed to be Tucker’s daughter chimed in.
“Tucker and my granddaughter being the biggest reasons Autumn decided to stick around,” his mother said with a knowing smile.
Blue nodded. “Daddy, too. He loves Grandma’s cookies.”
They all laughed.
“I meant that your aunt Autumn stayed not only because of my cookies, but because she fell in love with your daddy.”
The little girl’s head swung around, her gaze lifting to Hannah’s face. “If Grandma gives you cookies, will you fall in love with my uncle Garrett? He has to live in his house all by himself.”
Hannah tried not to smile overly big at his niece’s innocent query. It was clear she loved her uncle and worried about him being lonely. Before she could respond, Garrett answered for her.
“Cookies can’t make two people fall in love,” he gently explained.
“I beg to differ,” his mother replied. “My oatmeal raisin cookies won your father’s heart over.”
Blue giggled.
“You had his heart from the first day he met you,” Garrett promptly reminded her.
“I had his attention,” his mother corrected. “But it was my oatmeal raisin cookies that convinced your father that his heart was indeed on the right track.”
“I can see that there is no use trying to set Blue straight on her cookies-and-love misconception.” He turned to his niece. “Miss Sanders will be going back to where her family lives in Steamboat Springs when her baby is big enough to travel. So, cookies or not, she isn’t going to be sticking around for long.” He turned to Hannah. “If you haven’t guessed already, this adorable little chatterbox is my niece, Blue Belle Wade.”
“What a pretty name,” Hannah said.
“My mommy named me after a flower,” Blue, the spitting image of her father with her chestnut-colored hair and lone dimple that dipped into her cheek whenever she smiled, announced with a measure of pride.
“Her very favorite flower,” Autumn added with a pained smile.
Hannah understood what Autumn was feeling. They had both lost sisters that they loved dearly. They were each now responsible for the raising of their niece and nephew. At least Autumn had a husband to turn to for support.
“Let’s not keep you standing out here on the porch,” Emma Wade said, her short, auburn curls dancing atop her shoulders as she leaned forward to open the screen door. “Come on inside.”
They all moved into the house with Blue in the lead.
Hannah glanced around, finding Garrett’s parents’ place to be warm and welcoming. From the pictures displayed on the walls to the crocheted throws draped over the sofa and recliner. The staircase wall had been stenciled in large black script that read Family, Faith & Love. Exactly what she would have expected from the people who had raised a man as kind and caring as Garrett.
“I wasn’t sure if you would have anything to wear other than the clothes you had on when Garrett found you,” Autumn said, “so I brought a few of my things for you to make use of while you are here, or until you have a chance to pick something up that suits your taste better.”
Hannah was beyond touched by the gesture. “That was so kind of you, Autumn. I only had one change of clothes with me when I drove to Idaho, because I was only planning on being away for a night. So, thank you for thinking of me.”
“How could I not?” she said with a warm smile. “I helped deliver your son. I can’t help but feel as though we will always have a special bond.”
It was true. While her own sister hadn’t been able to be with her for Austin’s arrival into the world, she had been blessed to have two wonderful women at her side. “I agree. I am so thankful that you and Mrs. Wade were able to be there.”
“You and me both,” Garrett chimed in with a grin as he removed his cowboy hat. “Barn deliveries are more my specialty.”
Everyone laughed, Hannah included. Some of her sadness and fear from that morning eased with their lightheartedness.
“Let’s get you settled,” Emma said with a smile. “The clothes Autumn brought for you are in a bag on the bed. Come on, I’ll show you to where you’ll be sleeping during your stay here. It’s Garrett’s old room.”
“I wanna show her!” Blue exclaimed as she raced to the staircase and bounced excitedly up the steps.
“Walk,” Autumn called after Blue.
Garrett turned to Hannah. “I’ll run your bag up, and then I’ll head out to the barn while you ladies proceed with your tour.”
“Your brothers have everything under control,” his mother assured him. “Stay and help Hannah up the stairs, just in case she’s a bit unsteady. Once we’ve shown her around up there, we’ll go down to the kitchen and have a piece of peach pie.” She smiled knowingly at her son. “I just pulled it out of the oven before you got here.”
“I had intended to give Hannah a chance to settle in and get to know you and Autumn a little better without me around,” he admitted. “But how could any man turn down peach pie fresh out of the oven?”
“Your brother wouldn’t,” Autumn said with a smile. “That’s for sure.”
“You don’t have to worry yourself over me,” Hannah protested, not wanting Garrett to change his plans again because of her. But inside she was thankful to have him there. She liked spending time with Garrett. Liked the low, soothing tone of his voice. The kindness in his smile.
He shook his head. “Can’t be helped. And Mom’s right. You’ve just had a baby. Best to take things slow. That being said, why don’t we see how you handle the stairs before you try and tackle them on your own?”
She relented with a sigh, admitting, if only to herself, that she did seem to tire more easily since having her son. She supposed her body did require a little more time to recover from all the changes that it had gone through.
Placing a supportive hand at Hannah’s back, Garrett escorted her up the steps behind his mother.
Autumn took up the rear.
Hannah looked up at Garrett with a grateful smile and nearly missed a step in her distraction.
“I’ve got you,” he said, wrapping a supporting arm around her back.
She found herself leaning into his strength when what she should be doing was insisting she do this on her own. Because that’s how things were going to be once she and Austin went back to Colorado. Her father had already raised his family, and he wouldn’t ask him to help her raise another. Not that he wouldn’t do plenty of doting on his grandson; of that, she was certain, just as Garrett was determined to dote on her. Truth be told, it was nice having someone look after her the way he had been since coming to her rescue.
“This is the bathroom,” Garrett’s mother said, pausing to point it out to Hannah. “The linen closet with fresh towels and washrags is right there.” She motioned toward a tall, narrow, oak cabinet door next to the bathroom’s entrance.
Hannah nodded and then followed them into what Emma announced was to be her guest room during her stay there. Three walls were beige with the remaining one behind the bed done in a navy and beige plaid wallpaper. The bag Autumn had left for her sat atop the bedspread, which matched the wallpaper almost exactly. The only difference was that the quilt was edged in beige with embroidered miniature cowboy boots with spurs, and a lone boot inside
a circle of beige embellished each of the two pillow shams. The bedside lamp was an antiqued bronze statue of a cowboy atop a bucking horse. A smile moved across Hannah’s face as she turned to face Garrett.
“Your room is so cute.”
“Let it be known that my room was not cute when I lived here,” he said defensively. “This was all done after I moved out.”
“I confess,” his mother said. “I redid all of the boys’ rooms after they moved out with things that reminded me of my sons.”
“You should have seen Tucker’s reaction when he saw his momma’s most recent makeover to his old room,” Autumn said, laughing softly.
“It’s a princess room!” Blue declared, her face beaming with delight.
His mother nodded. “We added a frilly pink bedspread to Tucker’s old bed, and then hung shimmery pink netting over it. But there are still reminders of Tucker in there. A wall displaying some of his rodeo pictures and ribbons, and a few framed newspaper clippings.”
“Which go perfectly with the miniature crystal chandelier you switched the overhead light out for,” Autumn teased with a smile.
The corner of Garrett’s mouth hitched upward. “I forgot about all of that. I guess little boots aren’t so bad after all.”
Hannah laughed. And then she thanked the Lord for bringing the Wades into her life. Their kindness, and their humor, would undoubtedly see her through the emotional days ahead. But she was most thankful for Garrett and the happiness he stirred in her heart—one that had suffered so much hurt in recent years—whenever she was with him.
* * *
The next morning, Hannah walked into the kitchen. Emma glanced back from where she stood at the sink, washing dishes. “Good morning, dear.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Wade,” Hannah replied as she stepped into the room, and then catching sight of Garrett’s father seated at the breakfast table, added, “Morning.”
