9781631053566SpringsDelightBallNC (7 page)

The more she got to know Shady, the more off she
thought he was. “I’m supposed to believe that you thought elves brought you
cookies?”

She felt a cold chill at her back and then a rumble of
laughter. “I could have come up with something better, Shady.
Elves?”

She turned and gazed at Colt. The laughter reached his
eyes, and she was glad. “Not just any elves. They were apparently green elves.”

Colt roared with laughter. He walked over to the
cookies, and helped himself to one. “They do look mighty fine.” He took a bite
and nodded. “Yes, Shady is right. These taste the same as the other ones the
green elves left for us a few years back.”

Spring grabbed a kitchen towel and threw it at Colt.
He stopped laughing and for an instant, she thought she’d done something wrong.
She braced herself but all she got was another round of laughter.

After dinner, Shady and Bibbs left. Spring washed the
dishes while trying to keep an eye on Colt. During dinner, they were all
kidding around until Shady mentioned Caleb again. Now Colt stared morosely at
the fire with his shoulders hunched over, and his expression spoke of immense
pain. It hurt her heart to watch him. He was so nice and so was Caleb. It must
be devastating to lose a brother but she really had no reference. She never had
a family. She thought she did once, she thought her and Billy would be a
family. Now she was glad she’d been made to see the truth about him before she’d
gotten pregnant. Thank God for Caleb.

Billy had wanted them to have kids, but now she
realized he never mentioned marriage. Somehow, it never came up. Wouldn’t a
couple trying to have children have at least talked about marriage or a future?
Maybe their brains were wired differently because of their upbringing.

That’s what brought them together in the first place.
They both had no one except each other. It had been a hard existence, and Billy
protected her from the other boys at the last home she had lived. She never had
protection before, not from the boys or from anyone. She’d thought of Billy as
her savior, but she learned the hard way he wasn’t.

Strange, he never showed any sign of his aggression
until they had both aged out of the foster care system. Billy’s birthday was
first, and he’d found a rundown apartment and a job driving a delivery truck.
She’d thought they’d hit the big time. When she aged out, she went to live with
him. Immediately she got the job at the diner, and soon after, he started to
beat her.

Thank God, for Caleb, otherwise she’d still be with
Billy. By the time she’d left, the beatings had accelerated but he’d never hit
her face before. She left Texas two weeks after Caleb. He’d given her a bus
ticket. She snuck out in the dead of night like a fugitive, but she did it, she
escaped. Colt didn’t know what a blessing he and his ranch were to her.

It physically hurt to see Colt so sad. She closed the
gap between them and laid her hand on his strong shoulder. He placed his hand
over hers, giving it a squeeze. Turning his head, he gave her a wilted smile.

“Just thinking I guess.”

She gave him a brief smile. “It’s fine. I know you
have a lot on your mind. It must be so hard for you. You’re mourning, I
understand.”

Colt let go of her hand and patted the cushion next to
him. She sat down on the couch. “What are some of your favorite family
memories?” he asked.

She took a deep breath. “I guess I never really told
you much about me.”

“You don’t have to.” His gentle voice was almost too
much.

“I want you to know. We’re friends after all. I come
from nothing. I grew up in a slew of foster homes, some not good, and some even
worse.”

“Why weren’t you adopted?”

She shrugged her shoulder. “My mother wouldn’t give up
her rights to me. There was no way she could have me. She was always chasing
after her next high, and they all knew she’d never be fit, but I wasn’t
adoptable.” She stared into the fire to avoid seeing any pity in his eyes.

“Sounds like a hard life.”

“You have problems of your own. You don’t need to add
to your burden by worrying about me.”

“I don’t see how you’d ever be a burden.”

Spring turned toward him, trying to see if he was
being honest. “I’ve always been a burden. At least here, I’m working to pay my
way. It’s my choice for once.”

Silence ensued; she wondered if she should ask him
about his favorite memories. It might open his wounds, and she didn’t want to
add to his pain.

“You said a slew of homes. How many did you live in?”

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. Slowly she
let her breath out. “I think about nine. Well actually ten but one I only
stayed a couple of hours. The woman claimed I was too enticing to be around her
husband. Just as well, he probably would have come to me in the dead of night.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.
Unfortunately, just like everything, there are good and bad. I loved the good
places but they never seemed to last very long. Kids were always bounced from
home to home. There never seemed to be a set reason. Sometimes it was the
parents, who didn’t want you in their homes, or it was the social worker, and
they never gave you a reason. One perceived misstep could land you in a tougher
home. It was hard moving from school to school but the worst part
was not knowing
when they would move you again.”

“Tougher homes?”

She nodded. “Yes, the homes where they put
hard-to-place trouble makers. The kids, who lied, stole, assaulted others and
were one-step away from
juvie
. It didn’t matter if
you were actually guilty of any of the infractions or not. I’ve never really
had anything that belonged just to me. Everyone helped themselves to my
clothes. I wore what no one else wanted. That’s just the way it was. That’s why
the sweater, hat and boots you bought me mean so much. I know they are mine to
keep.”

“Caleb and I never had much but what we did have was
ours to keep. Our mother died when we were young, and our son of a bitch father
raised us until his heart gave out. He was too busy being bitter at the world
to be much of a father. I’m never going to love anyone the way he loved my
mother. It ruined my father’s life when she died. He never got over it, and I
believe it’s why he died so young. I was twenty-one, and Caleb was sixteen. He
was the smart one, and he won a full scholarship to college but he almost didn’t
go. He didn’t want to leave Montana and go to Texas, but I made him go. He was
happy once he got there.”

Spring put her head on his shoulder. “He seemed happy
enough. I don’t think he had much of a social life. He spent most of his time
studying. He did mention you a time or two. He wanted to make you proud, but
when he was done with his schooling he was heading for home for good.”

“That’s Caleb. He hated that I had to shoulder so much
responsibility. I told him his responsibility was to learn as much as he could
and bring his knowledge home.”

His body began to shake. Spring lifted her head and
put her arms around his shoulders, awkwardly hugging him. His tremors went
straight through her. She whispered words of comfort to him, and after a
moment, he stilled and pulled away.

“If this is too hard for you, Colt, we don’t have to
talk.” She studied his brown eyes trying to gauge his feelings, but he hid them
well.

“Actually it’s the first time that I’ve been able to
talk about him. It hurt too much before, and I was so damn angry. It helps to
have you here.”

She’d been through hell in her life, but all her
concern right now was for Colt. Life hadn’t been fair for either one of them.
She could tell that he was a survivor just like her. That knowledge made her
feel good inside. She didn’t know what the future held for either of them, but she
knew that they would be friends.

They sat in silence for a while. Standing, she leaned
over and patted his shoulder. “Good night, Colt.”

He gave her a brief smile. “Good night,
Spring
.”

Chapter Five

Colt ran his hand over his
fresh shaven face. Morning came early. He had a hard time getting to sleep but
when he finally did sleep, it was the most peaceful slumber he’d had since
Caleb’s death. He was sure word had gotten out around town that he had someone
looking after him, because no one had tried to push a casserole on him since
Spring
arrived.

The snow lessened yesterday,
so most of the roads were passable. Bibbs and Shady could go home today if they
wanted. He had a suspicion they’d just stay around hoping for some of
Spring’s
cooking. She seemed to know her way around the
kitchen, and his house had never looked cleaner. Pulling on a green flannel
shirt, he made his way downstairs.

Spring must have already been
up. He could smell the coffee as he approached the kitchen.

She stood near the stove looking
at the timer, turning as he entered the room. Her blue eyes lit up. With long
red hair draped over her shoulders, she was an attractive little thing. He
watched as she poured him his coffee and brought it over. “Thank you.”

She smiled and nodded, hurrying
back to the stove.

“What you got
cookin
’? It smells wonderful.”

“It’s a chocolate cake. I
never made a cake before so I’m a bit anxious.” She lifted the cookbook from
the counter and showed it to him.

“I’ve used that book many a
time. After ma died, my dad was too depressed to eat much, let alone cook for
Caleb and me. I got out the cookbook, and it became my kitchen bible.”

Her smile lit up the room. “I
found it the other day. I can cook but I need a recipe. Sit, I’ll make you some
breakfast.”

He sat and watched as she
whipped up bacon, eggs and toast, enjoying the view in the meantime. Her rear
end swayed back and forth while she cooked. It was the perfect shape, and he
suddenly had the notion to squeeze it. He wondered what it would be like to have
her under him, open to him as he drove into her. He willed himself to pull his
gaze away. It wouldn’t do thinking like that.

He remembered his father, and
the pain he suffered when his mother died. He remembered the suffering he and
Caleb had. No, women weren’t for him. He refused to put his happiness in
someone else’s hands again. He suddenly felt uncomfortable sitting at the
kitchen table. To his relief, Bibbs and Shady came blustering in the door right
then.

“Close the door!”

Bibbs looked at him and smiled.
“I know, I know, we don’t have to try to heat the whole world with your tiny
furnace.”

They took off their coats and
both approached
Spring
. Shady handed her a brown paper
bag stapled closed at the top. This is from us.
Happy
Birthday.”

She gasped, and her face
turned red.
“For me?”
Her expression was one of
bewilderment. She handed the spatula to Shady and sat at the table. With
trembling hands, she opened the package. Reaching in, she pulled out a matching
set of blue gloves and hat. Tears came to her eyes, and she tried to smile.

Bibbs frowned. “If you don’t
like it, we can take it back and get you something else. Shady and I are no
good at buying woman things.”

Spring wiped away a stray
tear. “No. They are lovely, and I’ll treasure them always.”

Bibbs sighed in relief. “Good.
They match your coat. Shady and I got them when we got your coat and boots from
the store. Did you notice that everything matches? That was my idea.”

Shady shook his head. “I was
the one that came up with the matching part,
Spring
.
If you must know, I’ve suspected that old Bibbs here
is
color blind.”

Bibbs face colored and
irritation emanated from him. Spring put her hand on Bibbs’ arm as she stood
and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

She walked over to Shady, took
the spatula out of his hand and kissed his cheek too. “Thank you. How did you
know yesterday was my birthday?”

Shady shifted his weight back
and forth. “I guess the elves told me?”

“Oh hell, Shady saw your
driver’s license but he got the day wrong.” Bibbs looked embarrassed by the
whole thing.

Spring nodded. “I guess I did
have it out the other day. I wanted to see if I could keep this one or if I
needed to get a Montana one. It doesn’t matter at all about the date. I think I’m
starting to like you two.”

Shady’s eye widened.
“Starting?”

Spring got busy and made them
breakfast, and Colt had never seen her look so happy. It made him proud she
considered necessities treasures. She sure was different from others he’d
known.

Between Shady insisting he
didn’t know how he got the day wrong, and Bibbs muttering about stupid people,
breakfast was lively.

“Bibbs, you and Shady clean
the kitchen. I want to show Spring my gift.”

“You already gave me this red
sweater, the coat and boots. Truly I don’t need anything else.”

“You are pretty as a picture.
Come on get your gear on we’re going for a walk.”

She nodded and was ready to go
in record time. Colt held the door open for her. He could hear Bibbs mumbling
about closing the door and heating the whole world. Colt smiled. He grabbed her
hand and led her to the barn. Quickly opening the door, he drew her inside and
walked down to Heidi and Daybreak’s stall. He expected her to snatch her hand
back, but she didn’t.

“They are as cute as could
be.”

Colt gazed at her.
“Yep, the cutest ever.”

Spring peered at him, and her
eyes widened as she realized that he wasn’t talking about the horses.

“I want you to have Daybreak.
Of course that means we’ll have to adopt Heidi too, but it’ll be worth it so
they can stay together.”

“You’re giving me a horse?”

Colt nodded. He’d given many
horses away in his life, but he’d never seen the expression Spring
wore,
an expression of sheer delight that ran deep. Part of
him wished that he could always make her so happy.

“To
keep?”

Colt nodded.

“Forever?”

“Yes of course, honey.”

Spring stood on tiptoe and
quickly kissed him square on the lips. She suddenly jumped away. “I’m sorry! I,
well thank you.”

Their gazes locked. Something
passed between them. He wasn’t sure what, but it felt good.

“I’d better get the house clean
and some laundry done. A lot needs to be done.”

“You shouldn’t have to clean
all the time. I need to make time to teach you how to keep the books. I haven’t
touched them since...”

She smiled. “I’m just grateful
to have a place.”

“You go on in. I need to work
with these horses.”

She hesitated. “Do you think
that someday you could teach me about horses?”

The heaviness in his heart
lightened a bit. “Sure, honey, I’d be delighted.”

* * * *

A week later, the roads had
finally cleared, and the snow was melting as temperatures finally started to
climb. Spring enjoyed the milder weather. It reminded her of the warmth that
was probably already in the air back home.

She still did all the
housework and cooking, but she found time every afternoon to join Colt in the
barn.
Most of the time they were alone.
Daybreak had
come to know her and came right to her. She loved that little foal. Soon she
learned that her foal was a quarter
horse
, a bay
quarter horse to be exact. His coloring was that of his mother’s.

Pulling on her coat, she
walked to the barn. The warmer air stroked her face differently. She didn’t
miss the biting cold as the new season rolled in.

Inside she spied Colt talking
to Yokel as he slowly approached him. The poor horse had been neglected for so
long; Colt had to cut the halter off his head. The paint was terrified of other
horses, only allowing Colt in the same stall with him. She sat back and admired
his way with them.

He noticed her standing there
and winked. “I’d love to have just one minute with his owner.”

“I know. You have a very
caring way with them, and they are lucky to have you.” She walked toward him
down the length of the barn.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I
always had a way with horses. Don’t know what I do differently than anyone
else. I’m trying to get Yokel to let me touch him without flinching.”

“Must
be hard when you find them homes.”

“Some
more than others.
Yokel here will be a challenge. He
refuses to allow anyone to lead him out of the stall. I put him in the birthing
stall to work with him. It gives us more room.” He let himself out of the stall
and locked the door. Leaning against it, he smiled. “It’s that whole double
edge sword thing. I’m a proud papa when they learn and get better. I’m also sad
to see them go. I make sure they go to good homes, but there are a few I’ll
never be able to find homes for. Like Sideways here.” He pointed to a black
horse.

“Why what’s wrong with
Sideways?”

“He’s blind and his best
friend is Squirt. Squirt is a chestnut pony. He’s Sideways’ eyes. It’s amazing
to see them together. Sideways is fine here, he’s gotten used to it. I did try
to take them both out to a ranch to be fostered. But Sideways stopped eating.”

“I thought this was ranch
country.
Why so many hurt horses?”

“Hurt? That’s being polite. Most
of the horses are abused, neglected, starved. It’s lucky that I refuse to get a
horse if the owner is on the property. I just might have to kill one or two.
There are other reasons too. Hay prices are tripling, and the job market
sucks.”

He appeared troubled, and she
couldn’t blame him. “They really are lucky to have you.”

Colt gazed at her and grinned.
“You’re going to make my head too big to fit my hat, talking that way.”

She pretended to look at
Squirt, but she actually had Colt in her sights. He was a good man, just like
Caleb, and she was lucky to have him. Well, she didn’t really have him, but
being near him gave her a sense of security. Colt turned back and caught her
staring, and she turned red. It wouldn’t do her any favors to keep thinking that
way. He already said he didn’t want a woman.

“I’m going to look in on
Daybreak and Heidi then I
have
dinner to make.”

“Anything
good?”
His boyish grin enchanted her.

“Pot
roast.”

“That’s my favorite,” Bibbs
said, walking into the barn.

Spring laughed. “Every meal is
your favorite.”

“That it is.” He glanced at
Colt. “You might want to snatch her before someone else does.”

Colt’s embarrassment was
evident. “I’m going back to start dinner.” Quickly, she left the barn. Even
though she didn’t have any delusions about her future with him, she didn’t want
to hear Colt’s rejection either.

There was a box on the front
porch. As she got closer, she spied her name on it. A lump formed in her
throat. No one knew she was here. Picking it up, she brought it inside and put
it on the kitchen table. She grabbed a pair of scissors and opened it. There
were three flowers in the box wrapped in green tissue paper. Two calla lilies
and one red rose. There was also a card. Dread filled her being and she was
tempted to throw it out, but she was too curious.

The note said.
Happy Birthday to my one and
only
.
Only was underlined three times. The flowers were from Billy.
How did the bastard know where she was? Chills rocked her as she stared at the
flowers. Weren’t calla lilies flowers for funerals? The red rose meant love.

She sank into the nearby chair
and closed her eyes. It hadn’t taken him very long to track her down. Should
she tell Colt? No, that would just bring up more questions that she didn’t want
to answer. Maybe Billy wouldn’t dare come to the ranch.

“Who are the flowers from?”

Spring opened her eyes. She
wanted to tell him how scared she was.
“An old friend.
They’re for my birthday.”

Colt stared at her. He
appeared to be waiting for more of an explanation but he wasn’t getting one.
“Are those white flowers your favorite or something?”

“No,
not at all.”

He folded his arms in front of
him. Doubt was all over his face.
“And the rose?”

She gulped hard as her heart
raced. “The card wasn’t signed. I can’t be sure who they are from.”

“You know, you just don’t want
to tell me.” His voice grew gruff. “You look scared, but it’s your business. If
you don’t want to tell me so be it.” He shook his head, and his mouth formed a
straight grim line.