“Sadie.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “What are you doin’ to me, girl?”
Her hands slid up and down his forearms and he felt every tender touch press through his flannel shirt and jean jacket.
“I’m not going to sleep with you,” she breathed. “Not yet.”
He fixed on the “not yet” like a dog with a bone.
“You’ve already slept with me,” he teased, nibbling at her ear, knowing exactly what she meant, and not eager to hear it confirmed.
She smiled into his eyes. “I don’t know, can you handle that?”
“Girl, I’m a cowboy. I’ve been kicked by an angry bull and thrown from my horse a few times. Fixed fences until my hands bled. I think I can handle this.”
“I think you can, too.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m going to enjoy waiting.”
“Me, either.”
He would ask why they were both waiting when neither of them wanted to but thought better of it. Sadie was in his arms. She might just be worth waiting for. When they hooked up, not if, it would be explosive. And it would be soon, too. He would bet his life on it.
“You have to promise me something,” Sadie said. “I want one hundred percent honesty between us. If you want someone else, just tell me first. And don’t think I’m so fragile and sweet that I can’t handle the truth. Apparently, everyone seems to think I need to be sheltered. And I don’t.”
“Honesty. You got it.” He kissed the column of her neck. “What’s next?”
“Some of that making out you were talkin’ about.”
“Oh, yeah.”
* * *
Sadie nearly floated home later that night. After walking her to her truck, Lincoln sent her on her way home with one of the most heartfelt kisses she’d ever experienced in her life. He put his entire body in a kiss. Not a simple meeting of lips and tongue. He held on tight when he kissed. They were hip to hip, one of his hands on her butt, the other one around the nape of her neck, him keeping her close.
This time, there was no “see ya later.” He’d said, “See you tomorrow.”
Sadie couldn’t sleep for hours, so she went next door and updated Eve on everything.
Lincoln would never string her along. He’d never make false promises and lie to keep the peace. He’d proven just how painfully honest he could be, and she’d let him know in no uncertain terms she wanted the truth. So yeah, this could be good. She could do this. Just one day at a time.
The next morning, she was in such a great mood that she woke excited to grade papers. In other news, Jimmy Ray made her laugh with his answers even though they were one hundred percent incorrect. Even when he paid little attention, he might be the most creative genius eight-year-old she’d ever met. She’d done a short lesson with the third graders on earth science and on one of the questions she’d wanted an explanation for their answer so she could check reasoning skills.
Under “How do you know?” Jimmy wrote:
I read the book.
Not quite what she’d asked but he’d been very literal. Earlier that week, when she’d asked the children how they earned money at home doing chores, Jimmy Ray wrote:
I don’t. I’m a freeloader.
That answer made her chuckle, as she silently wondered where he might have heard that phrase before. Pamela Ann was still picking peaches, probably not making much doing it, and Derek nowhere to be found. Sadie wished she could help more than she already did, but she’d let the ladies of SORROW know. Beulah organized a canned drive to help with food. Sadie kept a barrel in the classroom which already brimmed with soups, canned beans, and vegetables.
One of Beulah’s biggest planned fundraisers would happen today, and the entire town would turn out. One of their famous town barbeques would take place in the center of town. The meat was donated by several local cattle ranching families, including the Carvers, and the Hendersons. Sadie’s father would bring wine, a shock to no one. Priscilla would provide beer, soda, and chips. Others were bringing baked goods and raffle items which included a lot of hastily knit hats from a recent knit-a-thon. They expected all residents to pay generously for the food, drinks, and cake, in support of funds to repair the old church building.
Sadie opened her door to Eve. She carried a small box filled with aluminum foil–covered items. “Are you ridin’ with me or on your own?”
“I guess we should ride together.”
“Right.” Eve winked. “You never know, you might just come home with someone else. I have no idea who. I’m just putting that out there.”
“He’ll be there.”
Eve put the box down. “Honestly? Can I tell you how happy I am for you? Let me hug you.”
For the first time, Sadie almost felt guilty at being this giddy. Maybe she should have contained her joy, somehow, at least for the sake of Eve.
“I’m still sorry it didn’t work out for you and Jackson,” Sadie said through the hug.
“That’s okay, honey. Now it’s your turn to go grab some happy.” She pulled back and met her gaze. “Please do better than I did.”
“I’ll try.”
Eve squeezed Sadie’s shoulders. “You’ll do better than try. You’re going to rock his world.”
Sadie didn’t know about that, but she would have to trust herself again. Overall, she believed she made good judgements about people, and her old college boyfriend was simply an aberration. She’d been away from home. Lonely, she’d gone for the first bright and shiny attraction who’d chosen her.
The party had started when Sadie and Eve arrived. The grills were on, many of the older men gathered around them, including, not surprisingly, Hank Carver. He rarely came off his hill unless it involved a fundraiser. To Sadie, Hank was always just a bit scary. Tall and imposing with a full head of white hair, you’d be as likely to get a smile or a scowl out of him, depending on his mood. He didn’t seem like the kind of father to give his daughter heartfelt advice about falling in love. Poor Daisy.
“Hello there, Sadie.”
Sadie whipped around to find the source of the male voice, not too surprised to see Judson behind her. “Oh, um. Hi.”
Instead of the Wranglers and boots most men wore today, Judson wore a pair of khaki shorts and a white polo shirt with a designer emblem. “I thought you’d be here.”
“Hi, I’m Eve Iglesias.” Eve offered her hand. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
“I’m Dr. Judson Grant, a friend of Sadie’s. Ada Armstrong is my aunt.”
“Judson is here to consider possibly opening up a clinic,” Sadie said. “And Eve owns the only clinic in town.”
“I’m a veterinarian.”
“Ah,” Judson said with a smile. “We’re both doctors.”
Eve nodded. “We do need a health clinic. Everyone either drives to Kerrville or just patches themselves up and gets right back on their horse.”
Judson quirked a brow. “Where do pregnant women go when they’re in labor? Do you have a midwife?”
Sadie and Eve exchanged a glance. Their midwife left town a few years ago practically under the cover of darkness. No idea why.
“No,” Sadie said. “Women either make it to the hospital in Kerrville or they give birth wherever they are.”
“Right,” Eve said. “Lenora tried to cross her legs, but she didn’t make it to the hospital and gave birth to Ellie in the back of her husband’s Land Rover.”
“Oh, dear,” Judson said. “I’m beginning to think my services here would be greatly appreciated.”
“Eve!” Annabeth rushed up to them, carrying a box. “Here you go. My contribution today.”
Sadie peeked inside the box when Eve took it. “What’s that?”
“I made a bunch of knit caps. My first try at knitting and I think I’m pretty darn good.” Annabeth turned to Judson. “Oh, hello. You really shouldn’t have worn white today.”
Eve pulled out a knit hat and Sadie noted that it seemed to have a large hole on one side. “Well, okay. I�
��ll walk these over to Lillian. She’s selling them.”
Annabeth followed Eve as she headed to the table where Lillian Carver sat.
“Are you busy later, after this?” Judson asked.
“Yes, I’m sorry. Busy, busy.”
Sadie didn’t know what else to say. She would have thought that her feelings about their one date should be perfectly clear to Judson. But she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, either. It wasn’t his fault that he’d become her mirror and what she’d witnessed terrified her.
“How about another day?” Judson asked.
“I, um, well…” Sadie glanced up and saw her mother and father arriving. “Oops. Gotta go, I see that my parents have arrived.”
She rushed to meet her father, joining him at the tailgate where he removed a case filled with bottles of wine. “Hey, Sweet Pea. Why don’t you help your mother with the jam? I’ve got this.”
Sadie went to her mother’s side, where she was counting jars. “I’ve brought forty of my latest stock. I hope that’s enough. If we sell at $10 a jar, and Lord knows it’s worth that, we could raise $400.”
“Thanks for the donations. Everyone loves your jam.”
“I do want my daughter to eventually teach in an actual building, of course, not one of her father’s portables.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that portable,” her father grumbled.
“May I help you?” A male voice came from behind Sadie.
Judson, who Sadie couldn’t seem to lose today. “We’re fine.”
“I’m Dr. Judson Grant. Nice to meet you.” He offered his hand to Sadie’s mother.
Sadie didn’t miss how he always introduced himself with “doctor” as if this was his name at birth. Eve never introduced herself as “Dr. Eve Iglesias” and Sadie knew plenty of Ph.D. candidates in education who didn’t, either. Wonder if Judson would refer to Sadie as “doctor” if she decided someday to go for her doctorate in education.
“Oh, my goodness! So nice to meet you. I heard you’re dating my daughter. Welcome to the family!” Wanda gushed.
“Mom, no. We went on one date. We’re not dating.”
“I’m seeing if I can remedy that, though,” Judson said.
“Well, son, you have my blessing.”
Seriously? Sadie slid her mother an incredulous look. Smiling, Judson picked up a single box of jam, leaving the rest for Sadie and Wanda.
For the next few minutes, Sadie visited with her students, most of whom were here with their families. Jimmy Ray arrived with Pamela Ann and shyly said hello. Mother and son needed a fundraiser themselves, but Pamela Ann came anyway, ready to help where she could. She’d brought some items for the bake sale and an old quilt for the auction.
“This is beautiful,” Sadie said of the quit. It looked familiar. “But isn’t this…”
This could be her wedding quilt from the ladies of SORROW. They sewed one for each bride and all carried a distinctive look. But all the cross stitching where Pamela and Derek’s names and their marriage date were had been removed. In its place were simply the words:
Stone Ridge Elementary
Established 2021.
Pamela Ann nodded. “Don’t worry, it’s been dry cleaned. Some of the ladies’ best work. Back before Beulah had arthritis.”
Sadie couldn’t imagine the sacrifice needed to give something this meaningful up for the sake of a school. “This is yours.”
“It’s not being used, and I wanted to give it a new life. Besides, the memory is fading fast.”
“Still no word from Derek?”
Pamela Ann gave a slight shake of her head. “I wanted him to clean up his act, not disappear from his son’s life.”
“I’m sorry,” Sadie said. “Jimmy Ray must be having a tough time, though he’s been a lot better in class.”
“That’s because he has a raging crush on his pretty teacher. I think he’d do anything you asked of him. Would you move in with me?” She grinned.
“Hey.” That voice could only come from one male, a deep scraping sound that made her special places wake up and do the Macarena.
“Hi.”
Vaguely aware that Pamela Ann left, saying something about her son, Sadie simply stared at Lincoln, just drinking him all in. He wore clean Wranglers and a blue button down that matched his eyes. His sleeves were already pushed up his forearms as the day began to warm.
“You okay?” He grinned, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
“I was just looking for you and wondering when you’d get here.”
“Had to wait for Daisy. Want to put me to work, every little boy’s crush?”
She might have blushed. “You heard that?”
“Yep,” Lincoln said, tipping back on his heels. “He’ll have to get in line. But I say, play to your strengths, sweetheart. You’ve got him where you want him.”
“I feel terrible for him. Derek still hasn’t shown up.”
“If I know him, he’s sleeping off a bender somewhere.”
“He needs to come home, if for no other reason than Jimmy Ray.”
“Lincoln!” Jolette Marie walked up, all tall, thin, and gorgeous.
“We could use your help at the grill,” she said. “I think Hank wants a break from the smoke.”
“Sure,” Lincoln said and giving Sadie a wink, tucked hands in his pockets and headed that way with Jolette Marie.
Sadie watched as Jolette Marie slipped an arm around Lincoln’s waist, tilting her head to give him her full attention.
And a little spike of fear and dread clutched her.
She couldn’t compete with Jolette Marie, former beauty and rodeo queen. But rather than feed her insecurity, Sadie got busy and spoke with every person who’d come out today to support the school. She talked with the parents about her plans for the year and how they could help now and in the near future. Judson was never far, and she wound up introducing him a great deal. He did eventually strike up a conversation with Beulah, who seemed just as enthralled with him as Sadie’s mother.
Lincoln never moved far from the grill, hanging out with his friends Wade, Beau, and Riggs Henderson, occasionally sliding Sadie a wink when he caught her looking. Hank seemed glued to Eve’s side, her mother Brenda never far from either of them. Lillian sold out of all her knitting and was trying to give Annabeth a quick knitting lesson. Apparently every one of Annabeth’s hats had a large hole in them. But Eve took one, threaded her ponytail through it, and walked around advertising a new kind of hat.
Many families with young children began to leave after lunch. But when the sun started to slip down the horizon Sadie noticed Pamela Ann wandering around the town square. Alone.
She ran up to Sadie when their gazes met. “I can’t find Jimmy Ray anywhere.”
Chapter 11
Lincoln half listened to Hank discuss current cattle prices with Riggs Henderson when out of the corner of his eye he caught Sadie running toward him. The wild look in her eyes spun a rush of fear straight through him.
He jogged over to meet her halfway, heart already pounding.
“Jimmy Ray is missing, and Pamela Ann can’t find him anywhere.”
“How long has he been missing?” Lincoln asked Pamela Ann.
“I don’t know…I just…he was playing right over there with his friends,” she pointed toward the shaded tree area in the center of town where games were set up for the children. “I don’t know how long it’s been.”
“Did you ask any of his friends?” Lincoln asked.
“Yes, and they don’t seem to know a thing,” Pamela Ann said.
“Any idea where he could have gone?” Lincoln pressed. “Maybe he has a favorite place around here?”
“I’ve looked everywhere.” Biting her lower lip, Pamela Ann seemed on the verge of panic.
Lincoln looked over his shoulder to meet Wade’s eyes. The men surrounded him in seconds. Hank, Riggs, Wade, and Beau.
“How can we help?” Wade asked.
Within m
inutes they’d devised a plan to comb every inch of the surrounding areas. Some would go on foot, others drive a short distance, and then go on foot. They’d meet in the middle. Except for the strip of downtown, this area led to thick brush and streams a few feet away in some areas. The idea of a kid near the water unsupervised made everyone move quickly. Lloyd handed out walkie-talkies from the General Store to those who needed them.
The women sat Pamela Ann in a circle surrounded by Beulah, Mima, Brenda, and Wanda. They were all holding hands, heads bent in prayer.
Lincoln grabbed a walkie-talkie and a flashlight to add to the one in his glove compartment. He shut his driver’s side door and turned to find Sadie when Jolette Marie came up behind him.
“I’ll go with you,” she said.
Sadie stood right behind her. Without a word to Jolette Marie, he reached for Sadie’s hand. “C’mon, sweetheart.”
For a minute, Jolette Marie looked like someone had sprayed her with a firehose but then quickly saved face. “Oh, right. You should go, you’re his teacher.”
As he drove them to his assigned area, he reminded himself that he’d need to have a talk with Jolette Marie at some point. To inform her their temporary and occasional “arrangement” was over. Even if they hadn’t been together in months, she’d expect something from him at some point. An explanation. A word or two.
“I’m so scared,” Sadie said. “What if someone grabbed him and he’s miles away by now? What if Derek did this? Maybe he was just waiting for the right opportunity to snatch him from Pamela Ann.”
He took her hand and squeezed it. “Try not to imagine the worst. This could all have a logical explanation.”
“I’m trying to believe that. But all I can think of right now is this little boy who’s so confused and scared because his daddy is suddenly gone. He must think it’s his fault.”
Lincoln’s thoughts went to Daisy, who at three, just couldn’t understand her mother was gone.
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