Angel's Rest (28 page)

“It’s weird how you speak of yourself in the third person.”

“Makes me feel like a pro athlete,” he dryly replied.

She grinned. “You’ve talked about your brothers before. There are three of them, right? Do you have any sisters?”

“No sisters. I’m told the guys have all married now, though, so there would be sisters-in-law. My … um … manager, I guess you could call him, updates me when I ask.”

“You don’t see your family at all?”

“No.” Gabe drew in a deep breath, then exhaled heavily. “My family is politically connected. For the plan to work, they had to believe I was dead. The black hats were well aware of the Callahan family’s response.”

Nic’s eyes rounded in shock. “That’s horrible. That’s just so sad.”

She took his hand in hers and gave it a comforting squeeze. She seldom touched him casually, though it was something she did with others all the time. It made him realize just how careful she was around him, and he found comfort in her spontaneity now. He turned his hand, linking their fingers, and they sat holding hands and swinging gently back and forth.

After a time she asked, “Was it worth it? Are you glad you made the choice you made?”

He couldn’t tell her about the high-level Al Qaeda operative whose defection his own “death” had provided cover for, or that the information the terrorist had offered up thwarted a terrorist attack on America, so all he said was, “Yeah, I am.”

“Would your family think it was worth it?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Yes. They would. They are patriotic to a man. I only wish …”

“What?” she prodded.

“At the time it all went down, I didn’t know how much it hurt to lose someone. I might have looked for another way.”

“So this happened how long ago?”

“Over ten years now. It’s hard to believe so much time has passed, that I’ve gone so long without talking about them. Other than my contact, you are the only one I’ve told.”

Surprise widened her eyes. “Jennifer didn’t know?”

He hesitated, then shook his head. “No, not the whole story. When I met her, the situation was such that I couldn’t. After that … well, it was complicated.”

“So you lost your Callahan family, then you lost your wife and son. I think I’m finally beginning to understand why you have trouble with …” She held up the baby name book.

Gabe closed his eyes. “You married a head case, I’m afraid.”

She tightened her hand around his, then released him. “Sorry, Callahan. I’m of the opinion that you’re the strongest man I know. I’m glad you told me about your brothers.”

The conversation lulled, but he didn’t leave. He could almost hear the wheels spinning in her mind. Eventually, she picked the baby name book up again and opened it. “What are your brothers’ names?”

He winced.

She noticed and said, “What?”

“It’s so, well, corny. Let me put it in context. My parents were married a long time before my mom got pregnant the first time. They thought they were infertile. She named my oldest brother Matthew. Yes, my Matty was named for him. Then, when she had the twins, she decided to continue the biblical theme. They’re Mark and Luke.”

Nic pursed her lips, holding back a laugh. “Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?”

“In our hometown, they called us the Holy Terrors of Texas.”

Without conscious thought, she placed her hand over her stomach. “Did you all have celestial middle names?”

“Nah. Our middle names had no special meaning. Mom said she just liked the name Gabriel.”

She thought about it a little longer than said, “Celeste would say it’s no coincidence that you ended up in Eternity Springs. She’d say that Gabriel was meant to find his way here, where Angel Creek runs at the center of the valley.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Starting the whole healing woo-woo stuff a little early there, aren’t you?”

“Nope. I don’t think so. Thank you for sharing this, Gabe. It means a lot.”

He shrugged, uncertain why he’d said so much. Why had he told her about the Callahans? Why did he trust her so much?

While he searched for answers, she met and held his gaze. “What happened to you—losing your family, twice—that’s not right. I think you need to be here. I think you need to be with me. With …” She reached for his hand and placed it atop her womb, pressing lightly. “Us.”

Gabe felt movement beneath his hand and closed his eyes. He felt as if he were standing at the peak of Murphy Mountain and a breath of wind would push him over the cliff.

Nic continued. “Like it or not, Callahan, the twins and I are your family now. When you are ready for us, we’ll be waiting.”

It was, he thought, the perfect thing to say. This was why he’d confided in her. Why he trusted her.

When it came to wounded souls, Nicole Sullivan Callahan had a healer’s touch.

At the Trading Post Grocery and Meat Market, Lori Reese stacked cans of green beans onto metal shelves and wondered how in the world she and her mom would survive the next year without totally destroying their relationship. She loved her mom. Truly, she did. But the woman was driving her insane. From the way Sarah was acting, you’d think Lori was going to graduate from high school in a year and move to New Zealand instead of going off to college. When the latest packet of college information arrived in the mail today, Mom had made a valiant effort to appear just as excited as she, but Lori hadn’t missed her trembling chin and watery eyes. It almost ruined the moment for her, and she resented it.

“If she didn’t want me to go off to college, she shouldn’t have taken me on a trip to visit universities and helped me investigate scholarships,” Lori grumbled, sliding a can toward the back of the shelf.

“Sarah, hon?” Lori’s grandmother said from the end of the aisle. “Have you seen your father? I need to tell him that Jane Waggoner wants him to cut her a nice rump roast.”

Oh, Nana
. Lori straightened and smiled at her grandmother. Rather than correct her, she said, “I think he’s at the barbershop. I’ll tell him about the roast.”

“Okay, dear. Don’t forget now.”

“I won’t. I promise. Now, can I walk you back home?”

Lori hung the Back in a Minute sign on the front door as she led her grandmother across Aspen Street to their house. Walking inside, she called out, “Mom? Nana’s a little mixed up. Do you want to sit with her or shall I?”

Sarah rushed out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her expression wreathed with worry. “Hey, Mom. I’m in the middle of mixing up a cake. Will you come sit with me in the kitchen and have a cup of coffee?”

Ellen Reese wrinkled her brow in confusion and glanced between Sarah and Lori. “Where’s your father?”

Lori and her mother shared a pained look, and once again Lori mentally cursed Alzheimer’s disease. Nana always became the most agitated when she went looking for her husband, Lori’s grandfather, who had passed away eleven years ago. It was difficult to watch. “Go on back to the store, Lori. I’ll take it from here.”

Lori nodded, hating to leave her mom to deal with Nana alone, and at the same time, glad for the reprieve. It was her dirty little secret. She loved her grandmother dearly, but watching this slow deterioration broke her heart. It was one more reason to look forward to college, though admitting it made her feel like pond scum.

Back inside the Trading Post, she finished shelving the green beans, then reached for the box of canned corn. Kneeling, she glanced around for the box cutter, then remembered she’d left it in back. “Shoot.”

“Can I help?”

Startled, she jerked back and fell on her butt, staring up at a guy who at first glance could have doubled for Christian pop-rocker Joe Jonas—except that he held a pocket knife with the blade extended. Before she could draw a breath to scream, he calmly reached down, sliced
open the carton, then closed and pocketed his knife. “Here you go. Sorry I scared you.”

Lori swallowed and felt her cheeks flush. “Uh … that’s okay. Thanks.” She scrambled to her feet. “I didn’t hear you come in. Is there … um … something I can help you with?”

“Yeah. I’m looking for a job. Do you know if the store’s owner needs any help?”

Her mom needed lots of help, but she couldn’t afford any employees. At least not before the summer season started in earnest. “My mom owns the store, and I’m afraid we don’t have any openings right now. What sort of job are you looking for? I might be able to give you some suggestions if you let me know what you want.”

“I’ll do just about anything. I’m not picky. I just need enough hours to pay for a place to stay, pay for food. I worked whitewater rafting last summer and I’m certified, so if anyone runs a trip out of Eternity Springs to the Gunnison River, I’m their man.”

So if he needed a place to stay, that meant he hadn’t moved here with his family? He had a backpack hooked over his shoulder. “What’s your name?”

If he said anything even close to Joe Jonas, she was going to faint dead away.

“Sorry.” He flashed a bashful grin that made Lori’s pulse speed up. He extended his hand. “My name is Chase. Chase Timberlake.”

“Nice to meet you, Chase.” Lori gave his hand a quick shake and said, “I’m Lori Reese. Unfortunately, we don’t have any rafting trips out of Eternity Springs. If you’re licensed, you could probably get on with someone in Gunnison. It’s not exactly commuting distance from here. Where are you living?”

“I don’t have a place yet. I just got into town. Rode my Yamaha down the back roads from Boulder this morning. Awesome drive. I’ve heard really good things
about Eternity Springs from my mom. Thought it would be a good place to spend the summer.”

OMG, he has a motorcycle
. When she got past that interesting fact, his name and mention of his mother registered. “Timberlake? Is Ali Timberlake your mother?”

“Yes. You know her?”

“I’ve met her, yes. She’s a neat lady.”

“I think so. She’s the one who suggested that I’d like living here this summer. I love the mountains and I have a thing for history. Since my ancestor helped found the town, we thought it’d be neat for me to walk in his shoes, so to speak. But I need a job to make it happen.”

Lori thought hard. He was too cute to lose to another mountain town. “It’s still a little early for the summer season, although the Double R might be worth a try. Do you know horses? Do you ride?”

His eyes lit up and he showed her a grin that had just enough wickedness in it to make her weak in the knees. “I’ve ridden most of my life. Is the Double R a ranch?”

“Yes. They have the biggest trail ride program in the area, and even better for you, summer help stays in the bunkhouse. Room and board are included in the job.”

“Excellent. Can you tell me how to get there?”

“Their brochure has a map. We have some up at the checkout. Come with me and I’ll get you one.”

“Thanks.”

She handed him the brochure and was both surprised and pleased when he lingered after looking at it. “I really appreciate your help. Maybe if I land this job, I could buy you a pizza or something? To say thanks?”

Yes!
She labored to keep her voice level. “You don’t need to do that.”

“I want to.” He added with a grin, “Unless there’s some big mountain-man dude who’ll come after me with a fly rod or something for trying to poach his girl.”

She laughed. “A fly rod?”

He flashed a grin and shrugged. Flattered and excited, Lori wanted to say yes, but told herself not to be too easy. “I don’t know anything about you—who you are, where you’re from, why you’re here—my mom would tell me it’s not safe to make a date with a stranger.”

“Smart mom. Okay, so how about we meet somewhere public and talk until I’m not a stranger anymore?”

“Persistent, too, aren’t you?” Lori made a show of sighing, even though inside she was giving herself a high five. She tugged the brochure out of his hands, picked up a pen, and copied down her cell number. “If you get the job, let me know. We’ll figure out something.”

“Awesome.” He folded the brochure and stuck it in his pocket, then headed for the door. “Thanks, Lori. I’m really glad I stopped in here.”

“Good luck with the job.”

Lori stood smiling a bit stupidly at the door until her mom opened it and stepped inside a few moments later. “Was that Andrew?” she asked. “Is he pestering you again?”

“No.” Lori pursed her lips and shook her head. “He’s a summer guy looking for work. Ali Timberlake’s son.”

“Really? That’s cool. It’s early yet for summer people, though. He might have better luck in a couple of weeks.” Sarah shrugged, then said, “Lori, I called Nana’s doctor and she wants to see her this afternoon. Can you hold down the fort here?”

“Absolutely. How is Nana doing?”

Sarah winced. “Her meds need tweaking a bit, I’m afraid.”

Lori reached out and gave her mother a hug. Poor Mom. No wonder she acted so cranky all the time. She got it from both ends, didn’t she? Her baby was growing up, and a horribly sad illness was slowly stealing her mother away. At least the family’s financial situation
had improved in the past six months. Celeste Blessing’s healing center was proving to be a great kick-start for Eternity’s economy and Lori’s college fund. With any luck, she’d hear good news about the Davenport Foundation scholarship in the next few weeks, and that would relieve some of her mother’s concern.