Praying for Daylight (14 page)

He accepted the gift with a mystified shake of his head. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.” She took a seat on a small bench next to the pond and folded her hands in her lap. “How are you?”

He smiled, “I’ve been better. Darn legs don’t work like they used to…but I get to cut in line with this chair.”

“That’s nice… Do they treat you well here?”

“Oh, yeah. Folks here are honest and hard working.”

Kate nodded, “That’s what I like to hear.”

“How’s the music business; lucrative and exciting?”

“Yeah, can be a little overwhelming, but I’m getting used to it.”

His eyebrows drew together, “So tell me, what brings you all the way out here to see me? Could have just called.”

“Well, I was just passing through. I thought I’d see how you were.” She frowned. “And maybe we could talk?”

“About?”

“I don’t understand a lot of things…about what happened.”

Isaac gave a nod, reaching out to pat her hand. “It was a messy time, Kaitlin. Bad blood and bad business.”

Kate frowned. “Could you tell me? That is, if it won’t upset you?”

He nodded, “Of course, I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

“Okay, my first question is, what happened between you and Cheyenne?” she sighed. “Why won’t she visit you? She wouldn’t tell me.”

Isaac tapped his fingers on the candy tin and his jaw worked, “Your sister disgraced our family by having a child out of wedlock with some cowboy named Perry.”

Kate went rigid, and I bet her face went red to the roots of her blonde hair, but from where I was standing, I could only see her back. “That’s why you guys started fighting? Because of Tom?”

He nodded, eyes narrowing, “Your sister was hurting from the loss of her mother. I can understand why she sought out physical comfort, but she ignored my request that she terminate the child.”

I felt sick listening to him. To think he wanted Cheyenne to have an abortion. That Ben wouldn’t have been born?

“Is that all that happened?” Kate prodded, too sweetly. She was being an angel, when I knew she wanted to scream and yell at the old man.

“When Cheyenne refused to terminate the child, I suggested she marry the man and at least patch up the mistake,” he huffed. “She refused. Perry was willing, but Cheyenne would go on to have a child without a father for it. And I would no longer call her family.”

Kate bowed her head, “Grandpa, Perry wasn’t a great guy. He didn’t love Cheyenne, and they never would have lasted.”

“Well, your sister should have thought of that before running around like a cat in heat.”

I had to force myself to keep my mouth shut, and looked away to draw a calming breath. He’d gone too far, talking about Cheyenne like that.

“I’m glad she didn’t marry Tom. He was never nice to me, and something about him didn’t seem right. Even as a kid I knew this.” Kate slid back, her hands clutching the bench. I didn’t realize I’d walked closer until I was close enough to touch her. “Cheyenne is so happy now. Ben’s a great kid. And she found the right man to marry Grandpa.”

He snorted, glancing up at me, “Another cowboy?”

“No, a retired marine who is now a very wealthy businessman,” she sighed. “She’s got everything she wanted. And she never would have been happy with Tom.”

Isaac tilted his head to the side, “Really? Seems I underestimated her.”

“Yes, you did.” There was a scolding tone in her voice that made me smile. “Is that all that happened, or is there more?”

“Now you know all of it.” He nodded absently, his eyes going back to me. “And who might you be?”

I reached out to shake his hand, but he never offered it to me. I pulled back, thinking he was just going to be a rude bastard, no matter who I was. “Dustin O’Brian.”

Isaac sniffed, looking sourly at Kate, “A Kelly with an O’Brian?”

“Things are different now, Grandpa,” Kate said.

“That’s exactly what Cheyenne said to me when she decided to have the bastard child of a cowboy,” Isaac looked mad enough to spit. “And I seem to remember that the O’Brian’s coveted Kelly land for the last eighty years.”

“The only thing I covet is Kate. I could care less about land.” I couldn’t wait to get out of this place. If he wasn’t so sick and frail looking I might have accidently tossed his peanut brittle in the lake. Or maybe I’d toss him in the lake.

“I would have a moment alone with my granddaughter,” he said, not looking at me.

I glanced down at Kate, ready to protest, but she nodded. “Fine, I’ll be at the entrance waiting for you,” I said as I turned to go.

I walked away, without looking back, mostly because I didn’t want to see the bastard again. I ripped off my name tag and handed it to the lady at the front desk, signing out.

“Did you have a nice visit?”

I nodded, putting on my most charming smile. “Yeah, thanks. I do have a concern though.”

The woman whipped out a pad and pen, hanging on my every word, “Anything we can do to make your family member’s stay more comfortable.”

“Great,” I grinned. “Seems Grandpa is a little constipated. He’s complaining something awful.”

“Oh,” her face went tight. “That’s terrible.”

“Maybe you can ask the nurse to give him an enema? A nice big one?”

She frowned, “I’m not sure what our policy is on that, but I’ll pass the message on.”

“Thanks,” I winked at her and her cheeks went pink.

“Ready?” Kate breezed past, practically tossing her ID at the attendant and didn’t even bother to sign out. I quickly signed her name, tipped my hat to the older woman at the desk, and hurried out the door.

“How’d it go?” I asked, unlocking the truck.

Kate must not have heard me. She was in the cab before I could even open my door.

I got in, started the engine, and got us on the road. She was silent, just staring at nothing.

“Kate?” I asked, debating pulling over to see if she was still breathing. She looked…well, she didn’t look good. “Hey, what’s up?”

“He is the most…the most…he’s such an asshole!” she shouted, her hands smacking the seat. “He told me I had no business being with an O’Brian. Then, then he threatens to disown me if I wind up pregnant like Cheyenne. Selfish bastard! He thinks my sister is trash, and is worried I’m heading down that path to be just like her.”

“So the whole thing about her and Jake, and the fact that he’s a wealthy, upstanding guy didn’t faze him?”

“No, he told me the only reason Cheyenne was keeping Jake around was because of…well, she’s a loose woman. He said Jake would never marry her. Cheyenne isn’t the marrying kind. He called her a whore.” She covered her face with her hands and groaned, “I got so mad, I did something terrible, Dustin.”

I slowed the truck, debating pulling off the road. “What?”

“I tossed his peanut brittle to the ducks.”

Laughter burst from me, “Really?”

She nodded, “You should have seen his face!”

“I told the lady at the front desk that he was constipated and needed an enema,” I confessed, bracing myself, thinking I’d crossed a line.

But Kate laughed, “I would pay good money to see the look on his face if she actually listened to you.”

I reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “It’s okay.”

“I know… thanks for taking me to see him.”

“You’re welcome.” I headed for McCree Ranch, feeling like every minute Kate and I were together, brought us closer. It was like it used to be in some ways, but different too. We were older and had been through a lot more. I knew now, with even more certainty, that Kate was the right girl. My girl. The one that I could be with, that would make me smile every damn day. Rain or shine.

Now all I had to do was convince her.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Kate

Millie was sitting on the front porch with a mug of cocoa when we got back. It wasn’t her usual spot. Normally she sat in the living room by the fireplace. She’d been waiting for us. “What took you so long? I was worried so much my gray hairs have gray hairs now.”

“Sorry, Kate had to see someone,” Dustin offered, since I didn’t want to tell anyone where we’d gone. The McCrees couldn’t stand my grandfather, and now I knew why.

Millie smoothed the tight bun of hair on her head as she stood from the rocker and opened the door. “Pray tell, Miss Kate, who did you see?”

I sighed, looking up at her, “My grandfather.”

Millie stepped back, “Why?”

“He is family…” I grabbed my overnight bag from Dustin. “But don’t worry. I threw the peanut brittle I bought him in the lake.”

“You would have been proud, Millie.” Dustin grinned as we went inside, “And then I recommended he get an enema.”

“I’m not sure proud is the word you’re looking for, Dustin.” Millie shook her head. “Briar has a guestroom all ready for you, and since I figure Dustin wouldn’t want to leave, there’s one for him as well.”

“Thanks,” I said.

Millie eyed me, and then Dustin, “And his room is on the other side of the house. No funny business.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Dustin said as he followed me upstairs.

“Hey,” Briar met us at the top and grabbed my bag. “You’ll have the room next to mine. Millie said it used to be your old room, actually.”

“Yeah.” I went inside, and was relieved to find it had been redecorated. Typical ranch style. Just like the rest of the house. “Looks great.”

Briar wrinkled her nose, “It’s good, but I think we could modernize it just a touch.”

I flopped back on the bed and closed my eyes. It was perfect. “I’m so tired.”

“Then I think you should get some sleep,” Briar’s voice had a smile in it. “Come on Dustin, I’ll show you your room.”

I heard them leave and thought I’d get up and change out of my clothes, but I couldn’t move. I stayed right where I was, sinking in to the mattress. I must have fallen asleep, because I was jolted awake by someone tugging at my boots. I cracked an eye open, saw it was Dustin, and closed them again.

“Could have told me it was you,” I mumbled.

“Yeah, and then I would have woken up the most beautiful snoring angel.” He let one boot drop to the floor, then the other.

“I don’t snore.”

“When you’re really tired you do,” he laughed. “Don’t worry, I find it cute.”

“Well that’s a relief.” I turned and crawled up the bed to settle into the pillows. “I thought you had your own room?”

“Yeah, but no one’s around to see me sneak out, so I thought I’d come share yours.”

I smiled, “Millie will kill you if she finds out.”

“I’d love to see her try.” I heard his boots hit the floor and the bed dipped. He was right next to me, throwing an arm over me and hugging me close. “Get some sleep. Got a big day tomorrow.”

I nodded, “Yep, my sister and Ben will be here.”

“I wonder how that’s going to go…”

A few minutes later, I heard him snoring softly, and smiled again. Never would I have thought I’d be sharing a bed with Dustin, or that I’d be hiding from Death. Things seem to turn out the way they are supposed to though, and I settled into knowing that Dustin and I were probably going to end up in some sort of relationship. It didn’t scare me, but I was a little worried my music career would make things tough for us.

The next morning Dustin was gone and so were his boots. He probably snuck out so no one would see him leaving my room, but I was still a little disappointed. I showered, threw on a fresh pair of clothes, and opened my door to see Chase leaving Briar’s room.

I raised my eyebrows, and he actually blushed!

“I know Dustin was in your room, so you have no room to talk,” he shifted, uncomfortably.

“Yeah, I just hate to think what Millie will do if she finds out.”

He gave a fake cringe, “I don’t even want to think about that.”

I glanced at Briar’s closed door, “So what is it with you two? I never thought you’d fall for a city girl.”

He smiled, his eyes going warm and happy. It was a new expression for him. “She’s my match, Kate. I can’t explain it any other way.”

That made me smile. “So she’s living here now…and then what?”

“I’m going to marry her.” He pounced on me, giving me a big hug. “I’m going to marry that girl one day.”

I hugged him back. “And I’ll be front row to see it.”

“Hey, break it up,” I heard Dustin, and glanced around Chase to see him smiling. “Good thing you two got the brother sister thing going on, or I’d have to fight you for her, Chase.”

I shook my head, “Fighting over a girl is…”

“Romantic,” Dustin winked at me.

“Right…” I smiled.

“I’ll see you two later, I’ve got some work to do before company comes.” Chase went into his room, leaving me alone with Dustin.

“Now, let’s get going. We got work to do.”

“What kind of work?” I let him take my hand, pulling me behind him.

“We’ve got to get you back to the old Kate.” He glanced over his shoulder to smile. “This fancy city girl is kind of growing on me, but scrappy Kate is going to fare a lot better.”

“What?”

“I mean…let’s get you some shooting practice, a gun, and a dog.”

I glared at him as we left the house and went into the backyard, “Are you saying I’ve lost my touch?”

“No, but you’re probably a little rusty.”

I saw what he had in mind, toward the back of the property. A practice range with a few different guns was set up.

I’d show him.

I pulled my hand free and charged ahead, grabbing the first gun on a folding table. I hit each target, reloaded, then hit each one again. Then for good measure, I grabbed the biggest shot gun on the table, and aimed past the targets.

“What the hell are you doing?” Dustin tried to grab the gun from me, but I held it tight.

“I’ve never been one to let my reputation be called into question.”

“But…” he searched the yard, his face in shock. “What did you shoot?”

I pointed at a tree pretty far away, “Third limb from the top.”

“Damn.” He snatched the rifle from me, using the scope to see where I pointed. “Kate, that wasn’t a challenge.”

“Oh, but you thought the city changed me into some pampered little poodle. You were asking for it.”