Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) (24 page)

She went hot all over.
Really
hot.

“I’ll follow you home.”

“You...you don’t have to,” she choked out.

“Want to,” he said as he walked her to her car. “Be careful now.”

He didn’t kiss her. Nellie was surprised to realize how much she wanted him to.

As his headlights followed her through the ranch gate, she looked at her watch. Almost ten. Donovan would be worried.

She saw the family cars parked in the drive. Taralyn’s and the boys’. For a moment her heart fluttered. Had something happened? No. If that were the case, someone would have called. Why didn’t they tell her they were coming? It wasn’t her birthday. She was used to those surprise visits, but... What was going on?

Her usual spot by the kitchen was filled with cars, so she parked in the front of the house, got out at the same time as Beau got out of his truck.

“Are you having a party?” he asked, walking up beside her.

“It’s the family. But I don’t know why they’re here.”

“Maybe they came for a visit.”

“Maybe,” she said, unconvinced.

He put his arms around her and tugged her close. “Thanks again, Nell. Seems as if I’m always thanking you for one thing or another.”

“No need. I had a wonderful time.”

He pulled her to him and kissed her.

The kiss slammed through her like an electrical current. She clung to him, opened herself up for another kiss. “I’d better go,” she finally said, her voice breathless.

“See you soon.” His voice rumbled.

She went through the front door, doing her best to calm her nerves. How could he do this to her every time?

Voices from the kitchen carried all the way to the front door as she closed it quietly behind her.

“I don’t like it one bit,” Darin said, his voice hard.

“Neither do I,” Douglas put in. “But what can we do about it?”

What didn’t they like? The rustlers? No one did.

“Mom has a right to do as she likes,” Phyl said over the boys’ complaints.

They were arguing about
her
?

Nellie’s heart went still. Taking advantage of the dark living room, she moved closer to the kitchen.

“Beau Chandler is a good guy,” Donovan told them. “But I don’t like the idea of Mom dating.”

“Why not?” Taralyn asked. “Mom’s a beautiful woman. Why shouldn’t she enjoy a man’s company?”

“I agree,” Phyl said.

“I think you guys are upset because you’ve had her to yourself all these years,” Kate, Dugan’s wife put in. “You’re being selfish. All of you. You don’t want to share.”

The room exploded with male denial.

Nellie sank into the nearest chair. Her family was squabbling over
her
?

Because she’d had a few dates.

If she thought about it, she could see their point. She hadn’t had anything to do with another man all these years. She’d spent her life catering to them.

Not that she regretted her decision to do so, but it was the truth.

Kate was only partially right. The kids might be selfish, but Nellie had made them that way by centering on them instead of building a life for herself.

It was past time to move out of the big house—past time to step away from the kids. They were grown, married, and had lives of their own. She was still young. Sixty wasn’t that old. It was the new forty, wasn’t it? She deserved her own life.

Besides, she liked Beau a lot.

“Being the newest addition to the family, I hesitate to add my two cents, but Kate and Phyl are right. Would you want someone telling you what you can or can’t do?” Darin’s wife, Gina asked.

“Mom isn’t young anymore,” Dugan shouted.

“Young enough,” Max interrupted. “You know what my first thought was when I met your mom?”

Silence.

“I wondered why such a lovely woman hadn’t remarried.”

Lisa laughed. “I’ve had thoughts of playing matchmaker for years, but decided not to fight you guys.”

Stilling her trembling legs, Nellie stood, walked silently back to the door, opened it and shut it soundly.

The squabbling in the kitchen stopped.

“Is anything wrong?” she asked as she stepped into the kitchen and saw the sullen male faces. “What is everyone doing here?”

“Nothing,” Taralyn lied smoothly. “Just wanted to visit.”

“A nice surprise,” Nellie said, going to each one, handing out hugs and kisses, ignoring the frowns the boys threw her way. When she reached Lisa, Douglas’ wife, she patted her protruding belly. “Feeling all right?”

“I couldn’t be better.” She smiled that contented mother-in-waiting smile.

“There’s nothing like the first one,” Nellie said. “I can’t wait.” She looked around. “Where are the children?”

“Upstairs. They decided they wanted to camp out so we pulled out blankets and covered the floor in Mark’s room. An hour later they were sound asleep.”

“It will be good to see them.”

Though the boys were visibly disgruntled, it
was
good to see all of them. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“Spur of the moment, Mom,” Taralyn said, glaring at her brothers.

“I’m glad you’re here.” She looked over at Phyl, then back to the rest of them. “I’ve talked to Phyl about this before. It’s something I’ve put off way too long.”

They looked at her. Waited.

“I’m moving to the homestead. Tomorrow. It’s wonderful you’re here. You can help with the move.”

There was total silence as she bade them goodnight and went upstairs.

Yes, it was past time to make a life for herself.

The kids would just have to get used to it.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nellie spent a restless night wondering if she was doing the right thing. By morning, she concluded she was. Even though her family clearly didn’t understand, it was something she should have done long ago.

With a spurt of energy, she got out of bed and looked out the window to see the grandchildren playing in the sun-filled yard. She wanted to gather them up and smother them with kisses. Later. Turning, she went to dress.

As she went downstairs, she heard voices and knew without a doubt the children were discussing her again. She hesitated before leaning against the banister. They were arguing over what to them was the sudden urge to move to the homestead.

“I don’t care what you say,” Douglas roared. “Mom belongs here.”

“Is she moving because of Beau Chandler?” Darin asked.

Nellie gasped. She couldn’t believe she was hearing this. Not from her family. Didn’t they trust her to do the right thing for herself?

“I like Chandler,” Donovan said. “What I don’t like is the idea that Mom would move because of him. That makes this, whatever it is between them, serious.”

“What if it is?” Phyl spoke up.

This had to stop.

Making as much noise as possible, she went into the kitchen. “Sorry to be so late,” she said. “I’m not accustomed to having a job.”

“How long are you going to keep this up?” Douglas asked with a frown.

“You don’t owe the neighbors anything that I know of,” Darin added. “And you don’t have to work. It’s ridiculous.”

“Maybe I like it,” she said, going to get a cup of coffee.

“But it wears you out,” Dugan added. “That’s not good.”

“I’m getting used to it.”

“How long has it been since you worked away from home?” Phyl asked.

Stilling her shaking hands, Nellie looked at her beloved daughter-in-law. “Since I was in college.”

“Why do you want to do this, Mom?” Taralyn asked softly.

Why did she? It wasn’t something she’d sought out, but once started, she found she liked the rhythm of getting up, going into town, talking to people she knew, those she didn’t. “I like it,” she said simply.

“You told Phyl you were going to help plan Mark’s birthday party. Then you didn’t have time,” Donovan accused.

“You didn’t have time to baby-sit Devlin last week as you do every other week when Kate goes shopping,” Dugan added.

Had she forgotten? She had. She’d been too busy with other things. No wonder they were upset. But Phyl was more than capable of planning Mark’s birthday and Devlin’s great-grandparents were eager to baby-sit.

They
were
spoiled. And it was her fault.

“I’m sorry you think I’m shirking my grandmother duties, but Dani was overwhelmed when Molly got sick and couldn’t come in. Did you know Molly is going to close the diner at the end of the month? Dani is helping her out.” She shrugged. “I helped Dani.”

“Sounds as if by the time you get accustomed to the job, it will be over,” Taralyn pointed out.

“Probably.”

“How about breakfast?” Phyl asked. “We’ve already eaten, but I can fix you something.”

“I figured you’d eaten when I saw the children out playing,” Nellie said. “But no, coffee’s fine.”

There was an uncomfortable silence.

“I haven’t changed my mind. I’m moving to the homestead this morning. I was hoping you would help.”

“You belong here,” Donovan said.

Tears came to Phyl’s eyes. “You know how I feel about this, Mom,” she said. “Your home is here.”

Nellie went to Phyl and took her in her arms. “I love you, Phyl, as much as I love the others. But I remember when I first came to the ranch as a bride and had to live with Duncan’s parents until this house was built.” She looked at her children, one at a time. “Though I loved your grandparents with all my heart, I was thrilled to get my own home.” She looked over at Donovan, standing there with a look of anguish on his face. “Each of you has your own home. Donovan deserves the same.”

“What did we do?” Donovan asked, his voice strangled.

She went to him, hugged him around his waist. “This has nothing to do with anything the family did or didn’t do. Please. Try to understand. Each of you has your own life. Don’t you think I should have the same?”

They started talking, Donovan the loudest.

She raised a hand until they calmed down. “You won’t talk me out of it. Now I’ll ask you again. Will you help me move? Or will I have to do it myself?” She looked each of her children in the eye—saw their uncertainty. “I will, you know,” she said softly.

“What if you hate it?” Phyl asked, tears in her voice. “Will you move back?”

“I wouldn’t be that stubborn. I’d admit to a mistake.” She smiled at them. “After my stint at the diner, I’ll baby-sit anytime you need me. If you have an emergency before then, I’ll take Susie with me and give her paper and pencil. She’s doing quite well at writing the alphabet. It’s not as if I’m leaving town for goodness sakes, I’m moving to the homestead. I’ll see Donovan and Phyl every day. I’ll see the rest of you when you come for visits the same as I do now.”

“But it won’t be the same,” Dugan said.

“No, it won’t,” Donovan agreed. “Just for the record, I don’t like it one bit.”

“I’ll help, Mom,” Taralyn said, looking around at the others. “So will the guys.” She glared at her brothers and her husband.

“We’ll finish the dishes and go to the homestead with brooms, mops, and cleaning supplies. If you’re moving, you’ll move to a clean house,” Phyl said firmly. “The guys can work on the yard and cut the tree branches hanging over the roof.”

“How about drapes?” Kate asked. “Last time I was there, they looked kinda threadbare.”

“We’ll make a list. Doesn’t Potter’s open at noon? We can get what we need then,” Taralyn offered.

“I’ll go into town for what I need,” Nellie said firmly.

“Should we paint the walls before we move Mom in?” Gina, Darin’s wife asked.

“We don’t have time if I move in today,” Nellie said. “If necessary, we can do it later.”

“Mom’s right,” Taralyn agreed. “This is going to be her place. She decides what she does and doesn’t want.” She grabbed a long-handled sponge mop. “For now, we’ll wash walls, ceilings, everything.”

The women headed in all directions to get the necessary tools and cleaning supplies while the men glared. “I’m going to the barn,” Donovan said and headed outside. The rest of the men followed.

Max, Taralyn’s husband, who had been silent until now, waited until they were out of earshot. “I’ll try and talk some sense into them,” he told Nellie. “I understand what you’re doing. We’ll clean up the outside. It’ll calm them down and get them used to the idea.”

“Thank you, Max,” she said. “I’m going upstairs,” she told the girls. “To pack.”

Her heart lighter than it had been in a while Nellie did just that.

As she went upstairs, she heard Lisa say, “I’ll stay with the children until lunch. Then someone else can take over.”

By afternoon the homestead was sparkling. Nellie took Darin’s pickup and made a trip to Potter’s, came back loaded down with everything from curtains to a wall clock to a bookshelf for the living room, plus a new mattress and box springs. She didn’t want to take the one from the house and didn’t want the old one at the homestead.

The boys had gotten over their pout. Though far from happy, they trimmed and mowed around the house, checked the air conditioner to make sure it worked, changed the locks on the doors, and got rid of a nest of bees on the front porch.

After a break for a quick lunch, the youngest were put down for a nap. They finally convinced Lisa to stay with the children again while the rest moved Nellie in.

They trooped back to the house to eat before leaving to go to their homes.

“It’s going to seem strange not to see you in the kitchen when we come for a visit,” Taralyn said.

“I’ll be less than a half-mile away. Let me know when you’re coming, and I’ll have a meal ready.”

Taralyn chuckled. “I know, Mom. You always do.”

After goodbye kisses and the last car had disappeared down the drive, Nellie turned to Phyl and Donovan. “I guess it’s time to go home.”

Donovan turned on his heel and went to the barn.

From experience, Nellie knew he’d pound his punching bag until he was exhausted.

She started for the car.

Mark hugged her around the waist. “I don’t want you to leave, Gran.”

Susie started to cry.

“You know where I’ll be, Mark. You can ride over anytime. I’ll be here so often you won’t know the difference.” She picked up Susie, kissed her tears away.