Just Kate: His Only Wife (Bestselling Author Collection) (37 page)

“Don’t be so hard on him, sweetheart. Growing older is rough, more so on some of us than others.”

“It doesn’t have to be. We live in a town where nine-tenths of the population would bend over backward to help a friend and neighbor. Insisting I stay is selfish and unfair.”

“He has his pride,” Susan said, her tone sharp.

Gage realized he’d gone too far and made an effort to control his temper. “No one would think less of him if he asked for an occasional hand.”

“Of course they wouldn’t. But he doesn’t see it that way. His gout has done as much emotional damage as physical.”

What would it be like to live with reoccurring and debilitating pain? Gage tried to imagine. Like his father, he’d probably resent having to slow down and rely on others. But he doubted he’d force his family to give up their goals and ambitions in order to compensate for his loss of abilities.

Susan went back to rinsing dishes and stacking them in the dishwasher. “If you want to leave with Aubrey next week, do it. We’ll manage one way or another.”

“How?”

It was probably just as well Gage’s dad had ridden over to the Double S Ranch on the other side of Neglian Creek and wasn’t home to hear their conversation.

“I’ll quit my job,” Susan answered.

“You love working at the real estate office.”

“I can always go back to work when Hannah graduates college.”

“Forget it.”

His mom was attempting to compromise, and while he appreciated the effort, he’d have none of it. She’d already made enough sacrifices for the sake of their family. Gage wouldn’t be the reason behind another one. Nor would he put his family in worse financial straits. They needed his mom’s income.

“What about Kenny Junior?” she asked. “He might be willing to work part-time in exchange for room and board.”

Gage’s mental wheels began to spin. “Maybe.”

“We could fix up the old bunkhouse,” Susan went on to say. “All it really needs is a good cleaning, a fresh coat of paint and a couple minor repairs. Kenny Junior’s not fussy.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Gage said, liking the arrangement more and more by the second.

“And I’ll talk to your dad. But I need to approach him just right.” Susan folded the dish towel she’d been using, hung it over the oven handle to dry and faced Gage. “Put it to him like we’re doing Kenny Junior a favor and not the other way around.”

The lead weight in Gage’s stomach felt suddenly lighter. Was it possible? Could he leave with Aubrey next week and move with her to Tucson? Excitement grabbed hold of him as his mind soared in a dozen different directions.

He’d have to put in his notice with the Blue Ridge Hotshots. Hopefully they’d give him a good recommendation, as Gage had no intentions of quitting firefighting anytime soon. The Tucson Hotshots were a top-notch outfit and if they weren’t hiring, he’d look elsewhere. With a little grooming, Kenny Junior could take over as head of the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.

All at once his mind ground to a screeching halt.

What about Aubrey?

Gage realized he’d been making one very large assumption. His and Aubrey’s agreement to date was only for the duration of her stay in Blue Ridge. She might not welcome him tagging along with her to Tucson, moving into her apartment with her. Just because the last couple of weeks had been unbelievably great for him didn’t mean they were great for her, too.

But, oh, they
had
been great weeks. Better than their marriage. Gage and Aubrey hadn’t argued once. Come to think of it, they’d never argued before they were married, either. Did their problems start only when they were cohabitating?

He’d talk with Aubrey tonight, he decided. Try and get an inkling of how she felt about him—
them
—before springing any plans on her.

“Your dad will dig in his heels at the beginning,” Susan continued. “He won’t like it that you’re leaving.”

“Dig in his heels?” Gage had to laugh. “He’ll blow his stack. And make everyone’s life miserable.”

“Only because he’ll miss you.” His mom went to Gage and gave him a hug. “And so will I. Terribly.”

“I’ll miss you, too.”

“Tucson isn’t so far. You can come up for a visit every few months.” She stepped back, and her eyes glistened with tears. “I’ve always loved Aubrey. She’s a very special person. Nothing would make me happier than to see you two married again.”

“Wait just a second.” Gage put out a hand. “Who said anything about marriage?”

“Well, I...”

“Let’s take this one step at a time. I have to talk to Aubrey first.”

Not that Gage wasn’t in favor of walking down the aisle with Aubrey again. He just didn’t want to rush things. Too much too soon was what had landed them in trouble the first time.

“She loves you. It’s obvious.”

Did she?

Susan’s smile spoke volumes. “And I think the feeling’s mutual.”

Was it?

He lifted the ice chest off the counter. “I’d better load up the truck and head out of here. I told Aubrey I’d pick her up at six-thirty.”

His cell phone abruptly rang, and Gage clenched his jaw. He didn’t want anything to interrupt his plans with Aubrey tonight. Setting the ice chest back down, he checked the caller ID before answering. His pulse jumped when he recognized the number.

“Raintree.”

“Gage. It’s Larry Newcombe.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Sorry to bother you so late in the day. We were in meetings all afternoon, and we just now got out.”

“That’s quite all right.” Gage told himself not to leap to conclusions, but it was hard not to. There were only a handful of reasons why a commanding officer called a Hotshot and it wasn’t to report for duty.

“I didn’t think you’d mind. Not when you heard what I had to say. Congratulations, son. Your promotion to crew leader came through.”

Excitement and elation surged through Gage. It was a minor miracle he was able to maintain a level voice. “Thank you, sir.” He looked over at his mother and grinned from ear to ear.

Her expression changed from curiosity to happiness, and she mouthed, “Did you get the promotion?”

He nodded, simultaneously listening to Commander Newcombe outline the responsibilities of his new position, which he pretty much knew thanks to Marty.

“Be proud of yourself,” Commander Newcombe finished up. “There were a lot of qualified candidates to choose from, and we picked you.”

“I’m very proud. And thank you again, sir.”

After Gage disconnected, he gave his mother a bear hug, kissed her soundly on the cheek and swung her around the kitchen.

“Stop it,” she squealed, laughing all the while.

Gage swung her around once more for good measure. Damn, but he felt good. He’d been waiting a long time for this promotion and had worked hard for it.

“I’m so happy for you, sweetheart,” Susan said once she caught her breath.

“That makes two of us.”

“I know Aubrey will be happy, too.”

Gage’s grin went slack. Not ten minutes ago he’d been seriously contemplating returning with her to Tucson. Then his promotion had come through.

His mother must have sensed the direction of his thoughts for she asked, “What are you going to do? Stay or go?”

“I don’t know.” He hefted the ice chest onto his hip. “Guess I’ll talk to Aubrey tonight.”

And say what?

Did it really matter?

She’d made it clear from the start her return to Blue Ridge was temporary. Which meant he either stayed here, or declined his promotion, let one of those other qualified candidates have it and went to Tucson with Aubrey.

Hell of a choice.

Just as he reached the back door, Biscuit began barking. “Are you expecting anyone?” he asked.

“No.” His mother followed him out onto the back porch.

Biscuit stood at full attention near the edge of the yard, lifting her head every few seconds to sound another alarm. Not a vehicle was in sight.

“That’s funny,” Susan mused aloud.

Gage heard it then, the loud clatter of galloping hoofbeats. As he and his mother stared, his father’s big buckskin gelding came charging up the side road for all he was worth, reins flapping and stirrups bouncing. Panic shot through Gage.

Where was his dad?

He dropped the ice chest and ran. The exhausted animal had reached the gate and stood there, sides heaving and nostrils flaring. Shoving open the gate, Gage gathered the reins and gave the horse a quick once-over, but there were no clues as to his father’s whereabouts.

His mother came rushing toward him. She’d evidently gone back into the house because in her hand she held a walkie-talkie. As she approached, he could hear her frantic attempts to raise his father.

“Joseph, are you there? Can you hear me? Come in.”

Her only reply was empty air.

Stopping in her tracks, she gazed at Gage, clearly on the verge of tears.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll find him.” He took the walkie-talkie from her and pressed the reins into her hands. “You unsaddle Comanche while I bring the ATV around. Call over to the Double S Ranch when you’re done. See if one of their guys can drive the road to Neglian Creek crossing. I’ll take the west trail and meet up with him there. One of us will find Dad.”

“What if you don’t?”

“Then we call the sheriff.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t wait.”

Gage glanced at the sun dipping low toward the distant mountains. Not much daylight remained. “Put a call into the volunteer fire department, too.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “Dad’s going to be mad as hell at us for having half the county out looking for him.”

His mom’s breath hitched. “I’ll take my chances.”

Ten minutes later Gage crested the rise a half mile from their house. While the ATV idled, he had a look around. The trail to Neglian Creek was more than a path but less than a road, too narrow for a full-sized vehicle. Some spots were wide open, others thick with clusters of trees and brush.

His dad could be anywhere. Walking along the shaded creek bank. Resting on a fallen log. Lying hurt somewhere, unconscious from a fall.

Guilt ate a gigantic hole in Gage’s middle. His dad really was in no shape to run the ranch alone. But then, maybe he didn’t have to. With Gage’s promotion coming through, him leaving with Aubrey had been reduced from a distinct possibility to a mere option.

It wasn’t until he revved the engine that he remembered his date with her. Pulling the walkie-talkie from his pocket, he depressed the button on the side and raised his mother almost immediately.

“Do me a favor, Mom. Call Aubrey and postpone our date.”

“All right.” She updated him on her conversation with the Double S Ranch then signed off so she could call the sheriff.

Gage hit the gas and flew down the slope, dust and pebbles shooting out from behind the ATV. If they didn’t find his dad soon, chances were they’d have to call off the search until morning.

A lot could happen to a person alone in the hills and on foot during the hours between nightfall and sunrise. Gage slowed to take a sharp turn and tried not to dwell on the many grave possibilities.

* * *

Aubrey clicked the “submit order” icon on her laptop computer screen. A second later, a confirmation page appeared. She reviewed the list of items carefully. Satisfied everything was there, she clicked on the “proceed to payment” icon.

“Here you are.” Grandma Rose teetered into the kitchen, a cane in each hand. She’d been doing well with her rehabilitation but still suffered periodic bouts of unsteadiness. “What are you up to?”

“I just finished placing your first grocery order.” Aubrey sat at the table, her laptop hooked up to the kitchen phone. “It’ll arrive in three days.”

“I don’t like the idea of buying my groceries with a computer,” Grandma Rose complained. She eyed the laptop as if it were an alien contraption. “I enjoy picking out my food.”

“I know. And you’ll be able to do your own shopping when Mrs. Payne or someone else takes you into Pineville with them on their errands. This is for times they can’t. If you run out of something before the regular order is scheduled, call me and I can take care of it from any computer no matter where I am.”

Grandma Rose’s grumble had a resigned tone to it. She pulled out the chair next to Aubrey and sat down, struggling slightly with her canes. Aubrey resisted the urge to jump up and help. Her grandmother had to learn to do things by herself if she was going to live independently.

“I’ve also ordered you a Guardian Angel. It’s supposed to arrive tomorrow by overnight mail.”

“What’s a Guardian Angel?”

“It’s a small device you wear around your neck. If you fall or need help for any reason, you push a button. It automatically transmits a signal to Mrs. Payne, the emergency dispatcher in Pineville and the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.”

“Sounds like a lot of fuss to me.”

“I really hope you’ll wear it. If not for yourself, for Mom. She worries about you being alone.”

More importantly, should anything happen, Gage or one of his crew would arrive at the house in a matter of minutes. Aubrey took considerable comfort knowing he’d be there for her grandmother in the weeks and months to come.

Unlike her.

Aubrey put thoughts of leaving from her mind, something she’d been doing with increasing frequency of late. Gage was due to arrive any minute, and they were going on an evening picnic. She didn’t know where, he’d made all the arrangements and refused to impart any specifics when she’d asked.

She really wanted the date to go well. They had so little time left together. True to his promise, he’d not once asked her to stay, but she felt pretty confident the thought had occurred to him. It had certainly occurred to her. Often. How could it not? She cared for Gage and their recent time together had been wonderful. It didn’t take much effort for her to picture herself living on the Raintree ranch with him again—though not in the motor home—and volunteering at the clinic.

Would that be enough to keep her happy? More than anything, Aubrey missed her job. Part of her dreaded returning, afraid she hadn’t conquered her crisis in confidence. The larger part of her, however, couldn’t wait to walk into the hospital and experience that familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins.