Her Hometown Hero (6 page)

“Okay. Don’t give me a reason not to.”

“Have I ever?”

Her eyes gleamed. “No. But then we haven’t been around each other in years.”

“I’m going to try not to be offended by that comment.” He sat forward and pressed his foot on the accelerator when the light turned green.

He was taking a risk with his plan to bring Kit to Caring Canines to meet Lexie after her visit with Madame Zoe. He knew she still wasn’t convinced she should take the dog, and that she might think he was overstepping. And maybe she’d be right...but because of their past, he felt he needed to help Kit find a direction for her life. In a way, it was what she had done for him. He realized if she hadn’t insisted on calling off their long-distance relationship he might never have become a veterinarian. He’d been close to dropping out of Auburn and following her wherever she went so they could be together. He hadn’t wanted to play football and yet he’d felt trapped. He’d thought dropping out to be with her would be a way out of his problems. When she left him behind, he was forced to take stock of his life and decide what he truly wanted to do for himself.

By his senior year he’d found a way to fund the rest of his schooling with another scholarship and loans so that he could drop his football scholarship. He’d turned his focus to his career—as a vet, not as a pro football player, although he’d had prospects in that regard. He loved his job and hoped Kit found something to care about like he did.

When he pulled up to the dance studio, he switched off the truck and started to get out.

“I can manage by myself. Call me when you’re out front again.”

Nate relaxed back in his seat and watched Kit limp toward the front door. Alone. Would she continually fight any help offered?

* * *

Kathleen watched Madame Zoe’s students disperse after she dismissed them, keeping back and partially hidden from view by an antique walnut wardrobe cabinet. Not far from her hung one of the photos Madame Zoe had of Kathleen. In this picture she was dressed as a firebird from the ballet by that name. She prayed no one saw her and said something. It had taken her an hour after the teens left the ranch to get up the courage to call Madame Zoe and ask if she could come talk to her. Her mentor had been thrilled, but then she didn’t know the reason behind Kathleen’s visit.

When the hallway cleared, Kathleen headed for the dance studio before she lost her nerve and fled. Madame Zoe had always pushed her to do better and never accepted anything but perfection. What would her mentor think of her now? She’d never put on her pointe ballet shoes again and do a pirouette—she shuddered to think of attempting one. She’d been known for her flawless pirouettes.

At the doorway Kathleen paused, took a deep fortifying breath and stepped into the room.

Madame Zoe caught sight of Kathleen in the mirror and swept around with a huge smile on her face, the warmth of it contrasting with the woman’s meticulous appearance, her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun. “What a treat to see you. How long are you staying this time?”

“Awhile.” She covered the distance to her mentor.

“Ah, your injury is still giving you a problem. I heard you were sitting out the rest of the season.”

“What else have you heard?” Maybe Madame Zoe knew, and Kathleen wouldn’t have to say the words.

“Only that you were hit by a car when the driver ran a red light, and that you’d been replaced in
Wonderland
. A friend from Tulsa had been in New York and went to see the ballet. Of course, I wasn’t that surprised since your accident occurred just two weeks before that.” Her former teacher tilted her head to the left and looked her up and down. “When will you be able to return to ballet?”

Kathleen coated her parched throat and said, “Never.”

Madame Zoe paled, her mouth dropping open. “If it’s a matter of getting back into dance shape, I’ll help you with that.”

Kathleen shook her head, her vision blurring. “I could do that, no matter how tough the work would be. That’s not it. My leg was amputated below the knee.”

“No!” Madame Zoe grasped the barre behind her. “Not you. You had such promise.” Tears welled in her mentor’s eyes as she released the wooden bar and advanced to Kathleen. Her arms engulfed her in a hug. “My child, I’m so sorry. My heart breaks for you.”

Why had she thought Madame Zoe would be disappointed? Her former teacher had always cared about her even when she was pushing her to do better.

When Madame Zoe pulled back and cupped Kathleen’s face, the worry furrowed her mentor’s forehead. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. That’s my dilemma.”
I’m not going to cry. I have to start looking for some answers.

“I’m surprised Gordon Simms didn’t say anything to me.”

The conversation with the man who ran the ballet company had almost been as difficult as talking to the woman who had trained her from an early age. “I asked him not to tell anyone the extent of my injury.” The dance world was a small one, and she didn’t want to deal with everyone knowing. Only Gordon and a few close, trusted friends in the company knew in New York.

“So you’ll be here for a while?”

“I have nothing drawing me back to New York. I sublet my apartment for a couple of months. But I’m not sure staying here is the answer, either.”

“Why not for a while? I have something you could help me with. The Summer Dance Academy.”

“I can’t dance and my secretarial skills are nonexistent.”

“But you know how to dance and teach. You did those last two years you helped me with my classes. My friend told me
Wonderland
was great, beautifully choreographed. She said you were listed as one of the choreographers. You still have a lot to offer the dance world.”

“No, that life is over with.” Kathleen backed away from her mentor. She’d spent the last four months telling herself that, and she wasn’t going to get her hope up only to have it dashed. She couldn’t be on the fringes and regret every day she wasn’t out on the floor doing the ballet steps. “I can’t demonstrate anything like a pirouette for the students so how am I supposed to get them to do it correctly?” It was one thing to help Carrie, but others were out of the question.

“You’ll be surprised what can be done with a little ingenuity. Don’t give up yet. Work for me this summer and see what you can do. Please.”

“Please” was rarely spoken by Madame Zoe. She demanded from her students—nothing ever given as a request.

“I don’t see how that’s possible.” Kathleen swung around and hurried as fast as she could from the room.

How could Madame Zoe say that to her? It was cruel to give her a glimpse of what she loved when reality would set in and end that dream.

Chapter Six

A
s Nate left the Harris Animal Hospital, his cell phone rang. He quickly answered it. “Are you ready for me to pick you up, Kit?”

“Yes.”

Although Kit had only said one word, the tremble in her voice concerned him. “How did it go?” He unlocked his truck, climbed into his cab and started the engine. “Hello? Are you still there?”

“Yes. See you in a few minutes.” Then she hung up.

He’d been afraid Madame Zoe would show disappointment in Kit, and obviously by the sound of Kit’s voice, the older woman had. Maybe when she saw Lexie later, the poodle would have a good effect on her. He’d tried to help but each time she had rejected his aid. In the past Kit had always been independent, but when she had been hurting, she’d turned to him.

Father, she needs You and the people who care about her. Help her to see that and accept she can’t always do it alone.

He turned down the street where the dance studio was located. Kit leaned against the side of the brick building. When she saw him, she hobbled to the curb and pulled herself up into the truck using the handhold. For a few seconds their gazes touched before she looked away, staring out the side window. But not before he’d glimpsed the deep sadness in her eyes. It tore at his composure.

He wanted to ask her again what had happened, but his gut instinct told him not to push, to give her time to decide what she wanted to say. She used to confide in him. Would she again? Or had too much changed between them? Were even the threads of their friendship gone?

He headed out of Cimarron City, but when he should have gone straight on the highway to reach the Soaring S Ranch, he turned left onto another road that led to Caring Canines.

“Where are you going?” she asked, still facing toward the passenger door.

“To show you my surprise.”

“Oh, I forgot about that.” Then she fell silent again and didn’t say another word until he pulled up in front of the large kennel at Dominic Winters’s ranch that housed the Caring Canines organization.

Her teeth digging into her bottom lip, she swiveled around to face him. “Why are we here? I haven’t agreed to take a therapy dog.”

“I wanted to show you Lexie. Emma has a couple of more days training, and then the poodle can be yours. I wanted you to meet her beforehand.”

“No. No.” Tears coursing down Kit’s cheeks, she averted her head again.

He clenched his teeth so tightly, pain shot down his neck. He hadn’t wanted to ask again, but couldn’t keep from asking, “What happened with Madame Zoe?”

Her eyes shiny with sorrow, she looked at him. “I finally realized I’m never going to dance again. I think until I saw the place where I learned ballet the possibility was always there in the back of my mind, even if it wasn’t logical. But now that’s gone. What am I going to do?”

Emotions he’d fought so hard to keep buried demanded release. He wanted to reach out and comfort her, to pull her into his arms the way he would have once...but he resisted the urge. No, Kit would not hurt him again. He could be a friend, and if that didn’t work, then he would walk away because he knew he’d never come first in her life.

“Take it one minute at a time. You’re still recovering from the accident. Give yourself time to make that decision. It doesn’t have to be decided right away.”

“It’s been four months!”

“Which is no time when you’re trying to adjust to such a big change. You’ve barely had the time to get your prosthetic leg, make sure it fits and go through therapy to learn to deal with it. You had to have left New York right after all that was done.” He’d read up on what the process involved and knew time wise she had pushed herself to be where she was, but she couldn’t see how much she had accomplished.

“There was no reason to stay around.”

“A big city like New York is great to visit, but I’d have a hard time getting used to living there.”

“I know that.” She slid a glance at him, taking in his cowboy hat, boots and jeans.

What did that look mean? She’d known even years ago he wouldn’t fit in. His heart would never be there.

“Madame Zoe asked me to help her with the Summer Dance Academy after I told her about my amputated leg. I don’t understand how she could do that. I can’t help other dancers.”

“Why not?” he asked, determined to focus on the present, not the past.

“I’m damaged. I can’t dance.”

“We all have things wrong with us. It’s how you deal with it that’s important. We can’t control a lot of things in life, but we can control our attitude.” He peered toward Caring Canines. “I can’t force you to take Lexie, but I’m asking you to at least meet her. She may change your mind.”
Because obviously I can’t. I couldn’t change it in the past, either
.

The door to the building opened, and Emma exited with a white poodle on a leash. She headed for the truck and rapped on the window where Kit sat.

Nate used the controls on his door to lower the passenger window. “We aren’t coming in. Kit has had a long day and needs to rest.”

Emma smiled. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Emma Tanner, one of the trainers for Caring Canines. Abbey’s sister-in-law, Madi, heard you were coming to meet Lexie and is on her way down here to meet you. She takes ballet at Madame Zoe’s dance studio and raves about you.”

Nate closed his eyes for a few seconds while inhaling a deep breath and holding it. He knew it must hurt her to have to meet someone else who admired the life she used to have. He’d wanted to help Kit, but he was only making everything worse. The sound of his truck door opening filled the cab. Kit scooted around in the seat facing Emma and started to climb down.

“Stay there. Lexie is a lap dog and loves to be held.” Emma handed the small poodle to Kit.

Lexie stood in Kit’s lap with her front paws on her shoulders and licked Kit’s face. Something changed in her expression as though for the present she was totally concentrating on the dog, remembering the one she’d had as a teen. The tension melted from her features, and Kit picked up Lexie, snuggling the pet against her.

“Except for the color, she looks just like Missy in the face.” Kit peered at Nate. “She’s beautiful.”

“That’s what I thought when I saw her. She’s perfect for you.”

“But Missy died. I can’t go...”

“Remember, live for today. Don’t worry or be concerned about the future. We don’t know what God has planned for us. Missy was fourteen when she died. She lived a good, long life. And now, maybe it’s time for you to let Lexie in.”

Kit swung her attention to Emma. “When will she be ready?”

“I have a few more lessons I want to go through with her. I can have her ready Tuesday afternoon. Okay?”

“Yes” came out in a hoarse whisper as Kit gave Lexie a final cuddle, then passed her back to Emma.

“I’ll bring her to pick up Lexie after five Tuesday.” When Kit opened her mouth, no doubt to protest, he hurriedly added, “Please, if that’s all right with you. I can take you before to get what you need for her.”

Kit nodded her head once, a small smile gracing her lips.

Madi, an eleven-year-old, with shoulder-length brown hair and the bluest eyes, came running toward the truck from the main house.

“I see Madi coming. Do you mind staying?” Nate asked, glimpsing a huge grin on the child’s face.

“No, she isn’t much older than Carrie.”

“Two years ago, Madi was in a wheelchair and the doctors weren’t sure if she would walk again,” Emma explained. “She’s one of the reasons why we have Caring Canines. She was our first client.” Emma moved out of the way before Madi skidded to a halt in the opening on the passenger side.

“I can’t believe I’m meeting you. Madame Zoe talks about you
all
the time,” Madi said in a breathless rush.

Kit glanced at Emma, then back at the little girl. “I’ve heard you had a dog from Caring Canines.”

“Still do. Cottonballs wanted to come, but sometimes she can cause a ruckus when she sees a squirrel. Are you getting Lexie?”

“Yes. I used to have a poodle.”

“She’s so sweet. She’ll be a great pet for you. If you ever want to while you’re here, come to the dance studio when I have class, and I’ll introduce you to my friends. I have class on Tuesday and Thursday at five.”

“Do you know Carrie Somers? She’s my niece.”

“She’s in the class before mine. We go to the same school, too.”

Emma put the poodle on the ground. “I’m going to work with Lexie some more this afternoon. Do you want to help me, Madi?”

“Yes. Bye, Miss Somers. Don’t forget any Tuesday or Thursday. I know Madame Zoe would be thrilled.” Madi stepped back and shut the door.

Kit didn’t say anything until Nate pulled out onto the highway. “I’ll be going to Carrie’s audition next Saturday, but I don’t know if I can go back to Madame Zoe’s after that. I hate to let down those girls when I don’t meet their expectations.”

“Are you sure it’s
their
expectations you’re worried about or yours?”

Kit sucked in a deep breath. “You don’t pull any punches.”

“I never have with you, and I’m not going to start now. You’re scared people will pity you and feel sorry for you, but you’re doing a great job without their help.”

Kit gasped. “Stop this truck.”

He glanced at the anger carved into her features, her eyes diamond hard. “What are you going to do? Walk back to Soaring S?”

She pressed her lips together. “I could if I had to. This ranch isn’t too far from the Soaring S.”

“Two miles. And yes, you could walk back by yourself, but Howard would be furious with me if I let you, so you’re stuck with me for the next few minutes.”

When the wrought-iron gate with Soaring S written across it appeared, Kit broke the silence. “I don’t feel sorry for myself. I feel angry. Why didn’t I look to make sure all the cars were stopping before I crossed the street? All I saw was the walk button flashing. All I focused on was the fact I was going to be late for the rehearsal. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the hospital. You’re right. I can be so single-minded that I forget everything else. Checking the traffic would have taken a couple of seconds and my life would be so different. Why did God let this happen to me? He gave me the ability and love to dance and now has snatched it away.”

After going through the gate to the ranch, Nate parked on the side of the gravel road, then angled toward Kit. “Has your love for dance changed?”

Her forehead knitted. “No. I wish it had, then the rest would be easier to take.”

“You can still dance, just differently and maybe not on stage. Your knowledge hasn’t diminished, either. Maybe you should start thinking about how you can use what you have left.” He reached for her hands and cupped them between his. “God has a plan for you. Trust Him. He’s in control.”

“It’s hard to give control over to anyone, even God.”

He quirked a grin. “I know. I’m still wrestling with that. So if you stay around, you’ll probably be able to throw my words up in my face.” After giving her hands a gentle squeeze, Nate withdrew his and straightened behind the wheel. If he touched her too much longer, he’d find himself drawing her into his embrace and that wouldn’t be good for either one of them.

At the cabin Nate walked beside Kit to the door. Part of him wanted her to invite him inside, but he knew it would be a bad idea.

On the porch Kit faced him, confusion in her expression. “Usually after a tough day, I retreat. Shut down.”

“Is that working?”

Both perfectly shaped eyebrows rose. “No. I know the stages of grief, and I’m still angry at what happened to me. But I don’t want to be.”

“I’ve got a solution. Invite me in. I’ll fix something for dinner and we can talk. Or not. You set the pace.” Obviously he wasn’t listening to the warning inside him to not get close to Kit. But then, with her he hadn’t always done the logical, safe thing for him emotionally. She didn’t know about the time he bought a ticket to New York to try and sway her to give them another chance to work their relationship out.

Oblivious to his thoughts, Kit said, “I know it’s still early, but I’m worn out with all I’ve done this morning and afternoon. I don’t think I could carry on any kind of conversation for long. I’m going to turn in early.”

He inched closer, smelling her usual fragrance, which reminded him of sugar cookies, and took her hands between his. “Do you want me to pick up Lexie at Caring Canines on Tuesday and bring her to you or do you want to go with me?”

She chuckled. “There’s a third option. I could go by myself.”

He inclined his head. “True. It’s your choice.”

“I’d love for you to pick me up. That way I can hold her on the way home. I’ll get her supplies beforehand. I know how much you love to shop and don’t want to put you through the ordeal.”

He smiled at her sarcasm. “You remembered.”

“Like when your friend bought my birthday present? Or the time your mom got the Christmas gift you gave me?”

“Online purchasing has made my life easier.” He released her hands and moved away before he thought they were both the same people they had been in the past. “Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow at church.”

“Maybe. I haven’t decided if I’m going with my brother and his family yet.”

“Then Tuesday.” He stepped back and waited until Kit went into the cabin, before strolling toward his truck.

As he drove away, he wasn’t sure what to think about today’s events. His confused feelings swirled around in his mind until his head ached. When he arrived at his house, pent-up frustration demanded he do something physical to release it. In his spare bedroom while his Great Dane watched, he sparred with a punching bag hanging from the ceiling. But even when he finished half an hour later, he didn’t have a solution to the war raging inside him over Kit.

* * *

Tuesday afternoon, bored and needing something to do, Kathleen dressed to go riding, not just in the pasture near the barn but to her special place. It was important to her to do the activities she used to when she was at the ranch. Riding to the ridge was always on the top of her list every time she came home to visit.