Wrangling the Cowboy's Heart (9 page)

Chapter Ten

F
riday afternoon Jodie pulled into an empty spot in the shade of a maple tree and looked out over Mercy Park, its gazebo sheltered from the midmorning sun by the cluster of ash trees.

A vague memory surfaced. Of her father, getting her to smell her ice cream, then tapping the bottom of the cone. Her nose had hit the ice cream and they all laughed. Then he'd pulled a hanky out of his pocket, wiped her nose and gave her a big smile.

She let the memory settle like a warm blanket over the colder, harsher ones. This, too, was part of her past with her father.

She got out of her car, locked its doors, then laughed at herself. In a town like Saddlebank, it was hardly at risk of being stolen, but she didn't want to take the chance. This car was her way out of here.

Or was it?

What should happen when she left Saddlebank?

Would she be staying in Wichita? Moving on? Waiting for the ranch to sell so she could finance another trip abroad?

She couldn't work up any enthusiasm for the ideas. However, the thought of meeting Finn at the Grill and Chill did. Was she being smart about this? Did she dare?

Ignoring the endless questions swirling in her head, she smoothed her hands over the bright blue silk tunic she had bought in a bazaar in Bangkok, paired with blue jeans she had put on for her date. Trying to straddle the line between her identity and what she thought it should be?

Maybe she should have worn the baggy pants she had picked up in Thailand. Just to remind herself who she was.

As she stepped up onto the sidewalk, someone called her name. She turned around to see Aunt Laura walking toward her, arms outstretched, her poufy gray hair tossed about by the spring breeze.

“Hello, my dear girl,” her aunt called out. “I haven't seen you for ages,” she chided. “What are you doing in town?”

“Sorry, Aunt Laura, I've been lying low at the ranch,” Jodie said, returning her tight hug, but not directly answering her question. She pulled back, smiling at the faded ring of lipstick on her aunt's mouth, the smudge of mascara around her eyes, her eye shadow gathered in the creases of her eyelids. Aunt Laura always managed to look vaguely put together, but not quite hitting all the marks.

“Doing what?”

“Helping Finn with the horses. Getting stuff sorted in Dad's office.”

Aunt Laura made a face. “That will be a job and a half. That man was turning into a pack rat.”

“There's enough paper there, that's for sure.” Jodie hadn't even begun to get it all sorted out. “I hope to have it filed and organized before Lauren comes. And deal with the horses, too.”

“Speaking of horses, how is the arrangement with Finn going?” Laura asked, giving her a broad grin.

“It's coming,” Jodie said, ignoring the speculation in her aunt's eyes. “I think Finn has Roany behaving how he wants her, and now he's working with Spot.”

“So do you know when you'll be selling them?”

Jodie was taken aback momentarily at her aunt's question, then reminded herself that was the purpose for Finn training the horses. “I'm not sure. I have to talk to him about that.”

The thought of selling them depressed her.

You could keep them.

Where? And for what?

A few people passed them, murmuring a quick hello. Laura returned their greeting, then turned back to Jodie. “I hear Mandie is coming on Wednesday,” she said, shifting her focus. “That's exciting. I imagine you're looking forward to practicing with her. You always did like a challenge.”

“I hope that I'll be able to meet her expectations.”

“You'll do fine,” Aunt Laura said, patting her on the shoulder. “You're a gifted pianist.”

“Not according to Amy Bernstein. She thinks I'm unreliable.”

“Well, to be honest, honey, you've had your moments.”

Jodie looked past her aunt toward the park, recalling the variety of memories it had evoked. “I was a different person then.”

“An angry young girl.” Laura hooked her arm through Jodie's, pulling her close in a half hug. “And you had your reasons. I know my brother, and while he wasn't the greatest father, I would like to say he tried his best. But after your mother—” Aunt Laura stopped there, shaking her head. “Sorry.”

“After my mother what?” Jodie pressed.

“Where are you headed?” her aunt said, changing the subject. “I doubt you came into town simply to chat with me.”

Guilt suffused Jodie. “I'm going to the Grill and Chill.”

“Who are you meeting there?”

Jodie didn't want to tell her, but knew she was postponing the inevitable. Aunt Laura's connections in Saddlebank were vast and varied. It would only be a matter of minutes after she sat down with Finn that her aunt would find out. “Finn. We have to make some plans.”

“Plans? Really?”

“About the horses,” Jodie said with a note of finality.

“Of course.” Aunt Laura's eyes sparkled as she grinned up at her. “I'm headed in that direction. I'll walk with you.”

She caught Jodie by the arm again, nodding a greeting at two other women whom Jodie vaguely recognized, then waving at a man who beeped his horn at them.

Small towns, Jodie mused, walking along with her aunt. Part of her had missed these connections. This feeling of being grounded.

You could stay.

The thought tantalized. But what would she do here? How would she make a living? Jodie had no answers to that.

“Well, here you are,” Aunt Laura said, stopping at the entrance of the diner. “I'm meeting Sylvia and Annette at the quilt shop. We're making a new quilt for the craft fair coming up this summer.”

“Sounds like fun.”

Her aunt kissed her on the cheek. “Say hello to Finn for me?”

Jodie nodded, said goodbye and stepped inside the diner, where the noise of people chatting washed over her. She had arranged to meet Finn at about one thirty, hoping to miss the noon rush, but the diner didn't look any emptier than it had when she and Lauren met here after their father's funeral.

She stood by the front counter, looking around. She saw a few familiar faces in the crowd. Two older women, Alice Fortier and Ellen Bannister, sat by a window with a younger one with long brown hair. Jodie recognized her as Keira, Ellen's daughter and a distant relative of hers. Obviously pregnant, Keira shifted, pressing her hand to her stomach. She glanced up, looking puzzled when she saw Jodie, as if trying to place her, then smiled and waved her over.

Jodie checked behind her, just to make sure she was looking at her.

“Hey, Jodie, how are you doing?” Keira asked, clumsily getting to her feet as Jodie approached the table. She gave her a quick hug. “Sorry I didn't make the funeral. I was feeling kind of rotten that day.”

Truth to tell, Jodie didn't remember her absence, but Keira seemed genuinely sorry, so she just smiled and said it was okay.

“Do you want to join us?” Keira was asking.

“Thanks, but I'm meeting someone.”

“You'll have to come up to Refuge Ranch sometime,” Ellen chimed in. “I was sad I missed Erin. I haven't seen her for ages, and though I enjoyed catching up with Lauren, we didn't have enough time.”

Lauren and Erin had hung around with Keira and her sister, Heather, whenever they came to town for their summer visits. Jodie, ever the rebel, had preferred the company of Jaden and his crew whenever Clair had decided she didn't want to hang out.

“Lauren is coming back here in a couple of weeks.”

“Tell her to call me. Heather would love to see her, too.”

“I'll do that.” Jodie wondered when it would be polite to walk away from them. Then Finn suddenly materialized beside her, smelling like soap and outdoors and...Finn.

He greeted everyone, made the appropriate amount of small talk, then, with a hand at the small of Jodie's back, guided her toward an empty booth at the rear of the diner.

Jodie settled in, unable to stop the fluttering of her heart when Finn sat across from her, his smile resulting in the most attractive crinkles at the corners of his hazel eyes.

“How was your shift?” she asked.

“Quiet, thankfully. Just a couple of speeding tickets and one disorderly conduct. Piece of cake,” he said with another grin.

“Speeding. Who would commit such a nefarious deed?” she asked with mock horror as she picked up the menu.

“There are a lot of heavy-footed drivers in Saddlebank County. I've nabbed more than my fair share.”

“Serve and protect,” she quipped.

“Actually, our motto is Protection with Honor.”

“I know. I heard it many times,” she stated.

“Of course you would, though I'm having a hard time imagining your dad working it into ordinary conversation.”

“Not much of that happened in our house.” Even as she let the words slip, the ice-cream memory returned and with it a few others of sitting in this very diner, having supper. Joking, laughing. And then her aunt's vague comment about her mother came to mind.

“You're frowning again,” Finn said, reaching across and taking Jodie's hand. “What are you thinking about?”

“My aunt said something about my mother. But she never finished the statement.” Jodie looked up at Finn, curious now. “Did my dad ever talk about my mom to you?”

He shook his head. “Not that I can think of. Just that he was divorced and she passed away four years later. Why?”

Jodie shrugged. “Just wondering. I'll have to quiz Aunt Laura later.” She didn't know if it would help. But what her aunt had said made her dig deeper into her own past. Wondering what that initial fight between her parents had been about.

“And what do you think you'll have to eat?” Finn asked, changing the subject. “Not that the menu has changed much over time.”

“My aunt and my sister always tell me I pick unhealthy stuff, so this time I'm going with soup and salad,” Jodie said, glancing over the laminated menu. “What does George have for the soup of the day?”

“It's Friday, so I'm guessing clam chowder,” Finn said. “And the salad would be spinach avocado with feta cheese.”

“The fact that you know the menu so well makes me think you eat here too often,” Jodie said. “Don't you have a kitchen at your place?”

“It's not my place yet, but yeah, I do.”

“Do you ever use said kitchen?”

Finn gave her a warm smile that made her curl her toes. “Why don't you come over on Sunday after church and see for yourself?”

Church followed by lunch at Finn's place?

Jodie hesitated, wondering if she was ready to do that. Practicing the piano at church the other day had been enough. Actually attending? Being reminded of how sinful she was? Did she want to put herself through that?

“I'd like to see your place. Could I meet you there instead? At about noon?”

Finn's smile dimmed just enough to make her realize he was disappointed.

She wanted to explain, but wasn't ready to expose herself like that. People in Saddlebank had long memories, and an out-of-control sheriff's daughter had raised a lot of eyebrows, brewed a lot of gossip.

Brooke's words still whispered through her consciousness.

Be careful.

Jodie would do well to heed that warning.

* * *

Finn wasn't going to be discouraged by Jodie's reluctance to go to church. One step at a time, he reminded himself, as he looked back down at the menu in front of him.

Besides, he wasn't sure himself how this would end.

Then, what are you doing all his for?

Because, deep down, he clung to the hope that Jodie was still the girl he had at one time been attracted to. Not the girl he had seen hanging around with Jaden Woytuk the rest of the summer, driving like a maniac, flouting the rules and partying.

Something besides her getting grounded that summer had happened somewhere along the way, and Finn was sure if he found out what, he would have a better understanding of who Jodie was now.

“Are you ready to order?” Allison, George's sister and full-time waitress, arrived at their table.

“I think I'm going with a burger and fries,” Finn said, setting the menu aside.

“Great. Now I'll be suffering food envy.” Jodie scrunched up her nose, which made Finn smile. “But I'm going to be strong and stick to my guns, mix my metaphors and hold the course. The main course that is. I'll have the soup-and-salad special.”

Allison chuckled, then left, taking their menus.

Jodie leaned forward, one of her dangling earrings catching on her hair.

“Where did you get those?” he asked, reaching across to untangle it.

“Some hard bargaining with a young man in a bazaar in Jordan.” Jodie flushed as Finn took the opportunity to gently touch her cheek, then pulled his hand back.

“What was in Jordan?”

“I went to see the lost city of Petra. Check out Aaron's tomb. Biblical dude. Moses's brother and spokesman.”

“You know your Bible.”

“I know my Bible characters,” she corrected.

He wondered why she sounded so defensive.

“So what was it like? Jordan?”

“Hot. Challenging. Interesting. I like how traveling broadens my thinking. Helps my perspective.”

“Where would you go next?” He asked the question casually, as if it didn't matter, when he was surprised how much it did. Her plans for another trip meant she would leave. And he didn't like to think about that.

Jodie fiddled with her earring, flipping it around as she considered his question. “I don't know.”

Her response kindled a flash of hope.

She gave him a faint smile, then shrugged. “But that's a conversation for another time. Tell me about your place. How did you find it? What do you plan to do with it?”

“Do you have a couple of days?”