The Reluctant Wrangler (10 page)

“I’m sorry, too, that I reacted so badly,” Nikki said.

“It’s understandable.” Cheryl’s sympathy rang true.

Jules, who had remained silent, leaned forward. “I’ve seen the same thing happen many times, Nikki. I was a Juvenile Attorney and also worked with CASA in my spare time. I started the boys’ ranch for those who slip through the cracks, but I can assure you through my own experience that many times things work out for the children. Parental counseling can help.”

Knowing how much Jules cared for the boys, Nikki gave her a grateful smile before turning to Cheryl. “Do you know who the caseworker will be?”

“I haven’t been given that information yet, but as soon as I do, I’ll let you know.”

“You’re here to tell him, then?”

Cheryl nodded.

Nikki glanced at Mac, who’d said nothing, but she hoped he would support her with what she had in mind. “Would it be against regulations for me to tell him?”

Cheryl seemed to consider it, and then smiled at Nikki, her own features easing. “I’ll fill you in on the details.”

M
AC WATCHED
as Nikki politely excused herself after talking with Cheryl, and he followed her outside, missing Bridey’s lemon-drop cookies. Nikki, he’d decided, was worth missing a lot of things for. Too bad he didn’t know what to do about it.

“Nikki, I’m sorry. If I could—”

She was in his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest. “I can’t believe this, Mac. I just can’t.”

“I can’t, either,” he told her, dismissing the fact that anyone and everyone on the ranch might see them. “And I don’t see that there’s anything we can do about it, except be there for him if he should need us.”

She looked up, the sadness in her eyes making his heart ache. “I knew you’d understand.”

He did, but not in a way she might ever know. How had he been lucky enough to have been adopted by a man who had raised him as if he was his own? He’d been angry when he’d learned the truth, angry enough to leave his father’s business, where he would soon have been appointed vice president of the company—something he’d worked toward since the first day his father had taken him to work when he was little more than Kirby’s age. He was still dealing with the anger that for thirty-one years his parents had hidden the truth.

Nikki sniffed, a sure sign that she’d been crying, along with a lone tear that now trickled down her cheek. “It’s not right. He shouldn’t be sent back to a man who hurt him.”

“I know.” There was little else Mac could say. The court had the final word. At least it was short-term. “They’ll be supervised,” he reminded her. “And it isn’t like Kirby is going back permanently. It’s a trial for all concerned.”

“Do you think he told anyone the truth about how he got the scar on his cheek?” she asked.

“I doubt it. Or if he did, his dad insisted it was an accident.” But, like Nikki, Mac hadn’t bought Kirby’s explanation.

Nikki stepped back, out of his arms. Looking around, she made a funny face. “I hope no one witnessed my little meltdown,” she said, her voice wobbling. “I guess I should get back to…something.”

“We both should.” But he hated to leave her when she was distressed.

He walked with her to the main building, and neither of them spoke as they passed inside. All he could hope for was that Kirby wouldn’t be upset when he learned about the visit.

Before they even made it to their respective doors, he stopped her. “You can say no,” he began, “but if you’d like me to be with you when you tell him, I will.”

Her watery smile nearly broke his heart. “I’d feel so much better if you were.”

He reached out and touched her cheek with his finger. “You’ll do fine. You always do. When do you plan to do it?”

“I told Cheryl I’d wait about an hour after lunch was over. I don’t want him to miss a meal, and I want to make sure that meal is settled.” Her smile was forced and lopsided. “Emotions on a full stomach can be dangerous.”

She surprised him when she placed her hand on his arm. He was even more surprised when she rose on her toes and kissed his cheek, then disappeared into her apartment, leaving him staring at her closed door.

A kiss on the cheek? What did that mean? Probably
nothing to get excited about, so he might as well forget it. Not that he would.

He returned to his rooms close to an hour after the boys finished lunch and waited. When he realized he was checking his watch every two minutes, he pulled a book from his small bookshelf, settled onto the more comfortable of his chairs and tried to read. But his concern about what would soon be taking place made reading impossible.

A light knock on his door brought him quickly to his feet, and he hurried to let Nikki and Kirby inside. One look at Nikki, and he guessed this might be one of the hardest things she’d ever done.

They sat together on the sofa, with Kirby between them. “Did I do something bad again?” he asked, looking from one to the other.

Nikki slipped her arm around him. “No, you haven’t done anything wrong. But we need to talk to you. Mac and I.”

Kirby looked at Mac. “What about?”

Mac had to swallow the apprehension he felt before he tried to smile. There was no knowing how Kirby would react, and Mac suspected it might not be good. The boy was very attached to Nikki, and to everyone at the Bent Tree. “We had some news today from OKDHS.”

Nikki glanced at him and hurried on. “Cheryl Bickham, the caseworker for the ranch, came to visit today.”

Kirby swung around to look at Nikki. “I know her. She’s the one who helped get me here.”

“Yes,” Nikki answered, a little too brightly.

She began asking him what he remembered about the caseworker, and Mac sensed she was stalling. And then he realized that she was setting the stage to tell him the
news. He watched Kirby closely, looking for signs that he knew something bad was coming, but although the boy was a bit reserved, he didn’t seem to suspect bad news.

“But why was she here?” Kirby asked.

When Nikki looked at Mac, he could see her distress. It was time for him to step in. “It’s about your dad,” Mac told him as gently as he could.

It was as if Kirby had flipped an internal switch. His features went blank, and he sat a little straighter between them, looking straight ahead. “What about him?”

Nikki glanced quickly at Mac before she answered. “He’s asked that you come home for a short visit.”

Kirby nodded slowly before he lowered his head. “Then I won’t be living here anymore.”

Nikki’s head snapped up. “Yes, you will! It’s only for a day, and there’ll be someone there with you at all times.”

“When do I have to leave?” Kirby asked, his voice flat and without emotion.

“Almost two weeks,” Nikki answered, and rubbed his arm with her hand as she held him closer.

But Kirby remained stiff and as still as a stone. “Then I’ll get to do the riding show.”

“Yes, you will! Isn’t that great?”

Kirby nodded again. “Okay.” After a heartbeat, he asked, “Can I go now?”

“I…” Nikki began, but looked at Mac over the boy’s head.

“It’ll be okay,” Mac told Kirby. “He’ll pick you up on a Saturday morning and bring you back that night. You won’t be staying overnight.”
Not yet.
“It won’t be like it was.” When Kirby answered only with a slight dip of his head, Mac continued. “And we’ll make sure
everything goes okay, that he doesn’t—” He had to stop before he said the wrong thing. “The caseworker who will be with you will make sure there’s plenty to eat and everything goes okay.”

Nikki quickly intervened. “And we’ll be waiting for you here at the ranch when you get back that evening.”

Kirby struggled to stand, and Nikki released him with obvious reluctance. “I want to go to my room now,” he said.

Mac wasn’t sure what to do or say. Nikki was concerned, and he didn’t blame her. Kirby wasn’t at all excited about the visit. In fact, Mac suspected there might be a little fear involved. But only Kirby knew what he was returning to, if only for a day.

Nikki followed Kirby to the door and spoke so softly to him that Mac didn’t hear what she was saying. When Kirby was gone, she leaned her forehead against the closed door, bringing Mac to his feet. “He’ll be all right,” Mac told her as he went to her.

“I hope so,” she said, turning to him. “But it isn’t this visit that worries me. It’s the future. Kirby’s future.”

When she stepped closer, he put his arms around her and held her close.

She took a deep, shattering breath. “I love him, Mac,” she said, leaning back to look up at him as he held her. “Almost as if he was my own. We can’t let anything happen to him.”

“I know,” he answered, stroking her long hair, “and we’ll make sure he’s okay.”
Somehow.

He didn’t know how long he held her as she quietly cried in his arms.

“We’ve certainly been blessed with a beautiful day,” Jules commented at breakfast with the boys. “I was so afraid it might rain, and we’d have to cancel the riding show today, but there’s not a cloud in the sky this morning. It’s like Indian summer.”

Nikki nodded as she watched Kirby. She hadn’t seen a smile on his face since they’d told him he’d be spending a day with his father, even though she’d tried to coax one out of him. Worry had disturbed her sleep, and she had to stifle a yawn as Billy handed her the syrup for her pancakes.

“What time did you say the new boys will be here?” Mac asked Jules.

She glanced at her watch. “In about half an hour. I was hoping Tanner would be here, but he won’t get back until just before the show starts.” She sighed and picked up her fork. “He’s as unhappy about having to leave last night as I am, but at least the stock he and Dusty went to buy aren’t out of state.”

Nikki’s ears had picked up at the mention of Tanner. She almost hoped he wouldn’t make it back until after the exhibition. Her nerves were on edge as it was. Oh, she knew the boys would do fine. There was no doubt in her mind that they were eager and ready to show off
their new riding skills. But she had a surprise planned for them, and for a short time the spotlight would be on her.

Nikki studied the faces of the boys seated down the table from her for clues of nervousness. “Don’t forget to be at the barn immediately after lunch to get ready today,” she told them.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to eat lunch,” Ray said with a nervous smile.

“No kidding,” Shamar agreed. “But who needs lunch? These are the best pancakes I’ve ever had.”

Mac laughed. “You’d think this was the first time you’ve had them.”

“Sandwiches for lunch,” Nikki said. “There won’t be a lot of time between lunch and getting on the horses. I don’t want any of you getting sick.”

“Oh, we won’t do that,” Shamar said.

But as wired as the boys already were, she didn’t want to take a risk. “Just take it easy,” she cautioned. But she added a smile. She was as excited for them as they were, and it was hard not to be proud of each of them. They’d worked hard and learned a lot in the few weeks she’d had with them.

Kirby looked up from his plate. “Are you going to have lunch with us?”

“I’ll be here,” she promised. “But like Ray, I’m not sure I’ll be eating much.” A chorus of “You can’t be scared” rose from the boys, and she assured them she wasn’t. “I have complete faith that all of you will be wonderful this afternoon.”

They assured her they would try, even Kirby, with his somber eyes. At least if he was ever returned to live with his father permanently, he would always have the memory of showing off his riding.

The thought brought tears to her eyes. Because she didn’t want anyone to notice, she put her napkin on the table and stood. “I think I’ll go take one more look at the horses. I’ll see you all at lunch.”

“Nikki?” Mac asked, eyeing her with concern.

She couldn’t hide her feelings much longer, but she managed a smile for him and the others, then started for the barn. It wasn’t the horses she wanted to check on—she needed to get a check on her emotions. Seeing her sad or worried would only make it harder for Kirby. It wouldn’t help the others, either.

Once inside the barn, where sunlight streamed in the windows, she sank onto a bale of hay, pressed her hands to her face and took a deep breath. “Just let everything go all right with the show today,” she whispered.

A horse whinnied, and she looked up to see one of the large doors opening. It was Mac, probably coming to see if she was all right.

“You okay?” he asked as he came down the center walkway toward her.

“I’m fine.” Pushing to her feet, she concentrated on brushing off the loose hay and dust from her jeans.

“You don’t look fine,” he said when he reached her.

She glanced up to see him studying her. “All right, I’m not fine, but I’m okay. Is that better?”

His hand came up slowly, and he touched a strand of the hair she’d been too rushed to braid that morning. “You don’t have to be tough around me.”

Still unable to look at him, she nodded. She was beginning to rely on him for strength, and that wasn’t good. She knew so little about him, and he knew next to nothing about her. She’d made sure of that.

His head went up and he dropped the strand of hair he held. “Sounds like a car driving up.”

Nikki listened more closely. “The new boys,” she said on a sigh.

“Are you up to this?”

It took an effort, but she managed a real smile. “Yes.” She had to be up to it. Kirby wasn’t the only boy who needed her. They all did. They needed her, Mac, Jules, all of them. For however long, they were the family some of the boys had never really had.

She’d also decided she would tell Tanner who she was. Now that she’d gotten to know him, she felt it was the right thing to do. She just didn’t know when she would do it.

“Let’s go meet the boys,” she told Mac, feeling more eager.

They were met outside the barn by Cheryl Bickham, Jules and the two boys. Jules introduced everyone, and Nikki was immediately taken with both boys. Twelve-year-old Jacob, with his dark, serious eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, tugged at her heart. Andrew, a carrot-topped eleven-year-old, was visibly nervous, his freckled face reddening when she greeted them.

“I’m going to show them to the bunkhouses,” Jules explained after they’d chatted for a few minutes.

“She loves having more boys here,” Cheryl said as Jules led the boys away. She turned to Nikki and asked, “How’s Kirby doing?”

“I’m not sure,” Nikki admitted. “He hasn’t talked about it. I haven’t seen a tear, but I haven’t seen a smile, either. To be honest, I’m worried.”

“That’s the way he was when I first met him,” Cheryl said. “I think it’s his way of shutting off emotions he doesn’t know how to deal with.” She laid her hand on Nikki’s shoulder. “He’ll be okay. We’ll be keeping an eye on things.”

Nikki didn’t doubt OKDHS would do everything they could, but she also knew from personal experience that things happened that OKDHS never knew about, unless someone told them. She suspected there were several things Kirby hadn’t revealed about his family life. All she could do was hope this first visit went smoothly. Her main concern now was to make sure Kirby was safe.

Needing to change the subject, Nikki asked, “Will you be here for the riding exhibition this afternoon?”

“I wish I could,” Cheryl answered, “but I have family obligations today. I’m sure it will be wonderful for the boys.”

“They’re definitely excited about it,” Mac said. “I’m not sure who’s more excited, the boys, us or the friends of the O’Briens who are coming to watch.”

“Jules has done such a wonderful job here,” Cheryl agreed. “I wish we could send more boys, but the state tends to move slowly with these things.”

As far as Nikki was concerned, nothing was perfect, but the Bent Tree Boys Ranch was the next thing to it. Maybe someday the state would realize it. She’d never been happier, and she suspected the boys had never been, either.

“I’d better get on the road,” Cheryl announced. “I still haven’t heard who’ll be supervising Kirby’s visit, Nikki, but I’ll let you know when I do.”

“Thanks, Cheryl,” Nikki said. When she was gone, Nikki turned to Mac. “Maybe I should go check the horses again.”

He shook his head. “I’ll check on them. If you trust me to do it right,” he added with a comical frown. “Take the rest of the morning off. Put on some music, read, relax, whatever it takes to get rid of some of those doubts you’re having.”

Nikki had to laugh. He knew exactly how jumpy she was feeling. “I trust you. And thanks.”

“They’ll do great.”

She knew they would, but knowing it didn’t settle her nerves.

M
AC LOOKED AT HIS WATCH
. What was keeping Nikki? It was getting close to one o’clock, and people from around Desperation were already arriving, but he hadn’t seen Nikki since their quick lunch, when she’d wished the boys good luck.

“We’ll have to build bleachers if we continue to do this,” Jules, beside him, said with a laugh.

Although he knew he probably shouldn’t be, Mac was surprised at the number of people who had come to watch the exhibition. “Looks like we’re going to have quite a crowd.”

“They’re ready, aren’t they?” she asked. “The boys, I mean. I know Nikki has faith in them and says they are, but…”

“They’re ready. She’s kept the whole thing simple. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

“Oh, I know I will,” she said. “I guess I’m feeling the same nerves the boys must be. Nikki, too. And shouldn’t she be here by now?”

Mac looked around the area near the corral, feeling the same nervousness Jules was, until he spied Nikki. “There she is,” he said, pointing to the other side of the corral.

They watched as she spoke with some of the guests, all friends and neighbors. Mac quickly chided himself for being worried. Nikki wasn’t the type to let the boys or the O’Briens down. Even as upset as she’d been about
Kirby, there wasn’t a hint of it now as she helped find chairs and greeted everyone.

“I should go give her hand,” Jules said. “She’ll lose track of time if one of them starts bending her ear.”

Mac laughed, agreeing, and started for the barn, where he found the boys talking in loud whispers. “Are you all ready?” he asked, and noticed that several of them jumped at the sound of his voice.

“Where’s Nikki?” Ray asked.

“She’ll be here in a minute,” he assured them all. “Is anybody nervous?”

Five heads shook, while one remained still. Kirby appeared to have emotionally detached himself from the others, although he stood in the midst of them. Mac knew he needed to bring him out of it, at least until the exhibition was over. “Ready to put on a show, Kirby?”

For a moment the boy remained still, his eyes wide. “Yes,” he finally answered.

Mac nodded. “Good.”

Nikki walked into the barn, her steps brisk and self-assured as she approached them. “Five more minutes.”

Mac looked around at the smiling yet nervous faces of the six boys. “They’re ready to put on a show,” he said, smiling at each of them.

“Just so you all know,” she said when she reached them, “there’s quite a crowd out there. Don’t let it bother you. Everyone out there is cheering for you, so everything you do will be special to them. Jules will welcome our guests. After that, Mac is going to make the opening introductions, and you’ll know what’s next when he announces it. Any questions?” Six boys shook their heads. “Okay, then. I’ll be close by, so if you have a problem, don’t worry. I’ll be there to help.”

The horses waited, tied along the fence on one side
of the corral, when the group stepped out of the barn and into the bright sunshine. The crowd quieted. Each boy walked to his own horse, while Jules welcomed the friends and neighbors who’d come to see the show. When she was done, Mac took the cordless microphone from her.

“It’s great that all of you have come out here to the Bent Tree Boys Ranch to meet our boys and see what they’ve learned,” he told the crowd. He went on to explain how hard the boys had worked on their riding skills and how far they’d come since the first day Nikki had introduced them to the wooden horse. The crowd enjoyed the story, eager to see for themselves what the boys could do.

The boys began by saddling their horses. Mac, with Shawn’s help, had built a set of steps for Kirby, and Shamar helped lift the saddle when the time came. The crowd loved it.

The show continued with the boys taking their horses from simple walking to trotting and loping. They formed two teams and rode a relay race along the length of the corral, passing off bandannas to the next rider. The exhibition ended with pole bending, as the boys formed a line and loped their horses in an intricate pattern around the six poles Mac and Shawn had placed in the ground.

The boys beamed with pride when they dismounted, and the crowd cheered them. Even Kirby smiled, Mac noted.

But to everyone’s surprise, and especially to Mac’s, the show wasn’t quite over. Nikki appeared at the opening of the barn, dressed in Native American attire, her hair twisted into two braids and wrapped with rawhide and feathers. The horse beneath her danced, as if impatient to get moving. With a loud yell, she urged her
mount forward, and the crowd watched, enthralled, as she raced around the poles in a fine exhibition of pole bending.

Tanner, who’d arrived right after Jules’s welcome to the guests and now stood with her and Mac, suddenly turned toward the house and walked away. Jules caught up with him, and Mac heard bits and pieces of what they were saying.

“…leave now,” Jules said.

“I can’t watch it,” Tanner answered.

“Nikki worked hard on all of this,” Jules pointed out. “You can’t just leave.”

“I’ll be back.” He breathed out a heavy sigh. “It reminds me too much of Sally. I remember watching her practice in that same corral. It’s just too much.”

“Tanner,” Jules called as the crowd whistled and applauded at the end of Nikki’s ride.

Mac turned to look, but Tanner was nearly to the house.

“I apologize for my husband,” Jules said when she rejoined Mac. “He has some issues from his childhood that he can’t seem to deal with or get over.”

Mac picked up the microphone to close the program, intending to forget what he’d heard. “We all have something,” he told her before turning on the mic. “Don’t worry about it.”

But Jules wasn’t the only one who’d noticed Tanner leaving. As friends and neighbors gathered around the boys, chatting and congratulating them on a job well done, Nikki walked up to join Mac, a slight frown on her face.

“Did Tanner leave?” she asked, searching the crowd.

Jules, standing nearby, joined them. “He had a call
he had to take.” She glanced at Mac and shook her head when Nikki’s attention was diverted. “He’ll be back soon, I’m sure.”

“You certainly surprised us, Nikki,” Mac said, changing the subject. “Very impressive riding.”

“The boys have been nagging me about what they refer to as my ‘trick riding.’ Maybe someday I’ll show them the real stuff. But for now, they have something to work toward.”