Page 5

CHAPTER FIVE

T ANNER GRUMBLED TO himself as he rummaged in the linen closet, breathing in the scents of bleach and fabric softener. Not unpleasant smells at all. They brought back his earliest memories of staying with Addie, sleeping on a soft, clean bed with a fluffy pillow. The quilt had been worn, frayed in places, and he’d loved it. Long ago Addie had repaired it, but her talents were in the kitchen, not with a needle and thread. That made him grin, remembering the mismatched stitches.

Didn’t matter. It was her care that had really touched him.

Using a laundry basket to hold it all, he stacked in two sets of sheets, two quilts, an extra blanket, and lastly, two pillows.

Good thing Addie kept everything so well organized.

He was just about to start down the steps when Blu barked a greeting and a second later, the front door opened. In came Kam, predictably sniffing the air.

From the top of the steps, Tanner said, “Catch,” and tossed down the pillows, one after the other.

“Shit.” Kam caught them, one in each fist, and held them away from his body. “I’m covered in sweat. It was hot as hell in the shop today.”

“Air’s not on yet?”

“This early in spring?” Kam grunted. “The owners won’t turn it on until we’re all roasting midsummer.”

At the local shop where Kam worked, he made good money and the hours were usually great, leaving him time to help out around the farm as needed, especially in the busier seasons. The conditions, though, could be grueling. Tanner much preferred the fresh outdoors to being cooped up in a machinery shop with flying sparks singeing both his hair and his clothes.

Kam eyed him as he came down the stairs with the loaded basket. “Moving out?”

The question, asked jokingly, gave him pause. Leave the farm? Leave Addie? Never. His heart, as well as his sweat, was forever bonded to this place. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

“Ah, so then all this is for our sexy new neighbor?”

Deliberately, Tanner “bumped” him with the basket, knocking him into the wall.

“Hey!”

“Sorry. My bad.” Tanner looked at his brother and grinned.

“Again, dude, am I not supposed to notice her?”

That’d be asking a lot. Sexy didn’t begin to describe Callie. Scorching, sweet, admirable, funny, direct, determined… He ended the litany in his head, knowing he could go on all night listing everything he liked about her.

It was weird, actually. After years of envisioning her as a perfect little princess, now, after one morning of coffee, he knew her as a flesh-and-blood woman. Warm and interesting. He knew what made her blush, what annoyed her, how fiercely she’d reacted to the idea of abuse. Her ex’s disrespectful treatment had dented her pride, but he hadn’t touched her heart.

Much as she tried to hide it, it was obvious the lack of support from her family was the larger wound. Tanner knew what family meant, and he couldn’t imagine how badly it would hurt if Addie and Kam were ever that disloyal.

Best of all, he knew Callie wanted him. She hadn’t even tried to hide her interest. The way she devoured him with her gaze, you’d think she’d never seen a grown man before.

“Earth to Tanner. Did I lose you?”

Damn it. He’d been staring into space—and probably smiling. Switching his gaze to Kam, he said, “Maybe keep your observations on Callie to yourself. Or better yet, focus on her cousin.”

“Haven’t met the cousin. When I left for work, she hadn’t yet come down.” Kam propped a shoulder against the wall. “Is she sweet on the eyes, too?”

Huh. Mostly what he’d noticed was how late Glory had slept, how she’d come downstairs fully dressed, her makeup and hair perfect. Total opposite of Callie, who was far more laid-back.

Callie had immediately catered to her cousin, getting coffee for her, offering her a cookie, and very deliberately drawing her into the conversation.

Until now, Tanner hadn’t thought much about it. “Her name is Glory. She’s…different from Callie. More polished.”

“And?”

“And what? She’s not my type.”

“Because…?” Kam prompted.

Fed up, Tanner asked, “What do you want to know exactly? Blond hair, blue eyes, perfect features.” Almost too perfect—although that didn’t really describe her, because he thought Callie was pretty damned perfect, too, but in a much more appealing way.

“Now I want to meet her.”

That suited Tanner just fine. “Addie’s over there now. From what she said, the kitchen, bathroom, and much of the yard has been cleaned up, but you can imagine the shape Reggie’s bedroom is in.” Just the thought of it gave Tanner the creeps. He’d loved the old guy and didn’t mind saying so, but sleep in his bed?

He’d rather camp out with the goats.

When he glanced at Kam, he saw a similar aghast expression.

“Yeah.” Laughing, Tanner said, “Don’t let your mind go there. If I was Callie, I’d burn that mattress.”

“The girls seriously need to just sleep here again tonight.”

“The girls? Is that Addie’s influence?”

“Probably. She’ll end up getting me killed by an enraged woman.” Kam smelled the air again. “What’s for dinner?”

“Crock-Pot stew.”

“One of my favorites.” Dropping the pillows on the couch, Kam said, “Give me five minutes to shower and change, and I’ll help you carry over everything.”

“Only five. I’m already hungry.” And although he’d like to deny it, he was edgy with a vague sort of anticipation. He wanted to see Callie again. Maybe a day’s worth of work and an up-close view of the undertaking before her had changed her mind about staying.

Then again, maybe it hadn’t. He was betting on the latter.

* * *

A S THE SUN dropped lower in the sky, Callie’s exhaustion settled in. She still had so much to tackle. Her to-do list kept growing. She’d complete one task and think of three more. “It’s a lot of land for one person to keep up.” Not that she was anywhere near giving up.

“It is,” Addie agreed. “But it’s manageable. I can give you tips along the way that might help.”

“I’d love that.” Callie sincerely hoped she and Addie would be friends. She already felt a kinship for the woman unlike anything she’d ever known. It had nothing to do with the fact that Addie was close to Tanner, though that was certainly a bonus.

Addie brushed her foot over a clump of weeds. “Tip number one: the goats are good at clearing out your yard, but if you want any kind of lawn, you’ll need the fence repaired to keep them contained.”

Callie eyed the faces of the goats with their big ears and funny horizontal pupils and wondered if she’d have the heart to corral them. If not, any flowers she wanted would have to be in front, or up in window boxes so the goats couldn’t eat them.

They were all so sweet. Who knew she’d like farm animals?

After checking that the spot near the tree wasn’t too messy, she sat down on the ground, her forearms draped over her knees. “I’ll get to that tomorrow, if you think it can wait.”

“Course it can. Most of it could wait another day if you’d stop being stubborn and stay the night again.”

Coming from Addie, the mention of her stubbornness sounded less like an insult and more like affectionate teasing. Callie harked back to Addie’s earlier comment, one that had caught her attention. “You said you’ve known about me?”

“Tanner didn’t mention that you went to school together?”

“He did, sort of, only I don’t remember him.”

With a secret little smile, Addie said, “I know that, too.”

“So…what am I missing?”

“He was sweet on you back then. You were his first crush.”

“What?” Tanner used to be hung up on her? “How can that be when we never met?” She was certain she would have remembered if they had.

“Hmm,” Addie said. “So you never had a crush? Like for some cutie in a boy band or a young actor or something?”

“I guess I did.” She tried to think about her high school days, but it was mostly a fog after her tumultuous college time. “I was never star status though.”

“No? Rich, pretty girl, out of reach of the boy from the wrong side of the tracks.”

Callie winced. There were train tracks that literally divided the town.

“When you were off buying dresses for school dances, Tanner was there at the tracks, waiting for the train to pass so he could get home. He wouldn’t let me pick him up and he refused to ride the bus. Wouldn’t let Kam ride it either. You know how cruel kids can be. Tanner kept his brother at his side as much as possible.” Addie rested her head back and closed her eyes. “I remember once, Tanner came home with a horrible black eye and bruised, bloody knuckles. He wouldn’t talk about it, but back then, Kam was the weak link. I could usually get anything out of him.”

“He tattled?”

“No, never. Those two backed each other up no matter what. But Kam had a hard case of hero worship. Made sense, with him being younger and Tanner being…so much. So proud and tall, so determined and smart.” She peeked one eye open to look at Callie. “He wasn’t perfect, but near enough to stump me sometimes.”

“He feels the same about you.”

Smiling, Addie closed her eyes again. “Kam never missed a chance to brag on his big brother, so he was all about telling me how some older boys were giving him a hard time.”

Callie imagined that and felt anger tightening her chest. “Did that happen often?”

“Often enough. Neither of them would say what started the fight that day, so I’m guessing it was about me. Some people around here liked to get a rise out of the boys by insulting me since I used to work at a bar. I never minded much for myself. Jackasses are easy to ignore, especially when I’d see them all at the bar, drinking to excess and spending money they shouldn’t have. But the boys, man, I had a tough time teaching them to rise above. Especially Tanner.”

To Callie, that just made Tanner more impressive. He protected those he loved. Good for him.

She wished her family felt just a tiny bit of that loyalty.

“Kam said that Tanner leveled both boys. He took some hits too, but…” Whatever she was thinking silenced her for a while. When she opened her eyes and sat forward, Callie saw the pain in her expression. Her voice was much softer when she spoke. “Tanner’s good at ignoring that sort of thing.”

Hating the reality of it, but suspecting it was true, Callie whispered, “You mean…getting hit?”

Abruptly, Addie stood. “Some people in this world leave a bad mark even after they’re dead and buried. Then other people pile on, as if a kid has any say in how he handles abuse.” She picked up a stick and threw it toward the pile.

For her age, she had one hell of a throwing arm. Callie was impressed.

Subtly, Addie wiped at her eyes before facing Callie again. “Early on in school, Tanner got labeled as something he’s not. After that, others refused to see him any other way.”

Callie slowly stood, too. She wanted to say, I see him , but the words were private, still new and special to her. She’d only known the man a day. Surely there was more to him than what he’d revealed so far. Layers and layers of ugly past and wonderful present, hurt and happiness, broken dreams and future goals. She wanted to uncover it all.

And Tanner wanted only for her to move on, to sell him the house and go away. If she thought about that too much, especially after the impact he’d made on her, she’d get upset. So instead she’d concentrate on anything and everything else.

“I’ve never thought of people that way,” Callie promised. “That someone was all good or all bad. Certainly not bad by association.” Her cousin could attest to that. “Or because they lacked money? No, never.” She felt confident in that. She might have been a people pleaser, going along to get along in the easiest way possible, but she’d never been mean. Never cruel. To convince Addie, she said, “I had a whole scope of friends in school. Jocks, eggheads, kids in choir and band, arts and athletics.”

Addie gave her a look that instantly made her feel chastised. “Were any of them dirt-poor?”

“I don’t know.” Liar . “I mean, I never asked them about their…” Asking hadn’t been necessary. She knew her friends were comfortable because they were always ready to shop with her, to dine out, to see a show or concert. Maybe most weren’t as well off as her parents, but she couldn’t recall any of them ever lacking anything. “I guess not.”

“Exactly,” Addie said, as if she’d read her mind. “Before God put us together, Tanner was the kind of poor that he sometimes went to bed hungry, and then had to go to school that way, too. Even after we became a family, we sometimes had to pinch pennies, but the boy was always fed. Always.”

Taking a good look at herself made Callie feel bone-deep shame. “I hope I never deliberately looked past anyone or excluded them.” That she might have done that to Tanner, and in the process made him feel bad, left her stomach in knots.

“I’m sure he never introduced himself, or even said hi. He wouldn’t have, not back then. He’s a tough one though, don’t you worry. Graduated with honors, but had no interest in the ceremony, not even for me.”

“He didn’t attend graduation?”

“Picked up his diploma from the school office and that was that. I couldn’t change his mind. He went to college locally so he could still help out around here. Never mind that I told him we’d be fine. Oh, how I wanted him to go off and have some fun, an adventure or two, maybe fall in love. He’s always been too serious and levelheaded though. Got himself degrees in business, agribusiness and forestry.”

“Nice,” Callie said, though she had no real idea what agribusiness and forestry entailed. Later, she’d look it up and educate herself a little. “There’s nothing wrong with staying here. I love it, the business and your home, and especially how close you all are. I’m sure this place brings him comfort.”

“The boys spruced up the house. Back when my husband was alive, it was nice enough, but over the years it needed more care than I could give. Almost from the time they could hold a hammer and nail, Tanner and Kam have been adding to it and updating it. Reggie was a contractor once, did you know that? He taught them a lot.”

“I didn’t know.”

“He retired early, if you know what I mean.” She gave a snort. “More like he simplified his life and enjoyed his vices. But that beautiful kitchen of mine? Six years back, they redid it all and I love it. Reggie supervised and they did the labor. The house was wrecked for months, but in the end it was worth it.”

“Wow. So much talent.”

Addie nodded. “They added on the rear porch, too, and a big bedroom and bathroom for me so I wouldn’t have to use the stairs anymore. Tanner traded labor and landscaping with other local businesses, like plumbing, electrical, and cement work. Sometimes it feels like he works around the clock. Him and Kam both.”

Emotion put her close to tears again. “They love you.”

“Yeah.” Addie’s gentle smile showed deep contentment. “God blessed me the day He put Tanner within reach, and then later added the bonus of Kam. I’ll tell you, you think life has meaning until real meaning lands. Then you know what you were missing all those years. If it weren’t for them, I’d just be another old, weird widow, doddering around in my home alone. Or maybe homeless. Who knows? A gal could only tend bar for so long.”

They’d talked so much about Tanner, and some about Kam, but Addie hadn’t really said much about herself. Callie moved closer to her. “When did you lose your husband?”

“Years and years ago. We were young. John started out as a salesman and sometimes had to travel. Then he bought us a house and we started a tree farm.”

These memories were happy ones; Callie could see it in her eyes and the slight curl of her mouth.

“My John was such a guy’s guy, you know? Rough around the edges, sometimes crass, but as a salesman he could smooth-talk anyone. He sure did love me.”

“He sounds wonderful.”

“My John was a funny guy, always making me laugh, always talking about our future. I believed in him, in us. I thought we’d have a happy-ever-after…until he died and then I didn’t know how to live without him.”

“You’re strong,” Callie said, knowing it and needing Addie to know it, too.

“Maybe now, but then? I let the business go under, got a job bartending so I could pay the bills. I lived pretty much day to day, just trudging through without feeling, without happiness. Nothing much mattered. Until Tanner.”

Until Tanner . Did he know how much he’d helped Addie, too? It sounded like they were two lost souls who’d needed each other.

“For him, I’d have moved heaven and earth.” She gave a short chuckle. “Getting the tree farm going again was a huge undertaking, but I needed to be home more, not out late serving drinks, and Tanner needed someone wholesome, someone he could believe in. We’d work together selling hardwood, and then Christmas trees in winter and saplings in the spring. I cleaned for people while he was in school, and he took odd jobs.”

“Sounds like you both pitched in.”

“You could say he grew up with the business, took what my husband left me and got it thriving, and he wasn’t much more than a boy when he did it. When Tanner wants something, get out of his way. I learned that while I learned about parenting.” Another grin, this one self-directed. “Sometimes the heart tells you what’s right, and you just gotta listen. That’s what I did. Some were saying a gal like me, who’d never birthed kids of her own, didn’t know squat about taking on a troubled boy, especially one that was already thirteen and thinking he was a man grown.”

“You proved them wrong.”

“In part anyway. He really did think he was grown. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to guide him and he’d just go about making up his own mind anyway.” She gave a soft laugh. “Usually he was right, too, and when he wasn’t, he’d own it and try to do better.”

“I guess Tanner had to think that way. It sounds like he could only rely on himself—until you.”

“That’s about it. He came to me with an independent soul, ready to forge a path of his own making.” When her eyes clouded with tears, she shook her head. “This is what I used to do to poor Reggie. Carry on and on. But I’ve never had anyone I could brag to.”

“I’m one hundred percent positive that Reggie loved your visits, and I hope you brag to me whenever you want, as much as you want. I think it’s beautiful.”

“Reggie said the same. He let me share all that motherly pride, and he chimed in. He and Tanner went way back, you know. Almost from the day Tanner came to live with me, Reggie was around, teaching him things, giving him advice, hiring him for odd jobs so he’d have money to get gifts on holidays and stuff like that. Reggie was a good one.”

Holding back the emotional excess was getting harder. Callie drew a slow breath. “Please feel free to talk to me anytime. I’ve never had a heart-to-heart like this. I’m enjoying it, too.”

“Not with your own ma? Or even your dad?”

In a roundabout answer, she said, “I guess Glory comes close.” But even then, Glory didn’t always understand her. Sometimes it felt like she was talking to hear herself, and Glory was busy trying to figure out what it was Callie’s parents would want. In so many ways, Glory was far more worried about pleasing them than Callie would ever be.

Fortunately, a goat wandered over to butt Callie’s hip, almost knocking her over. It gave her a good excuse to change the topic. “Are they friendly?”

Addie patted the goat. “They sure are, and they’re smarter than you’d think, too. Start petting one and the others will get jealous. Gotta spread the love around with them.”

She no sooner said it than the other goats showed up. All four of them making noise and wanting attention. Tickled by their antics, Callie used both hands to dole out affection. “They sound like they’re crying.”

“That’s called bleating, and they do it for attention, or to communicate with each other. Goats like companionship.”

Appalled, Callie’s eyes rounded. “You mean me ?”

That had Addie laughing again. “I meant other goats, but sure, they’ll enjoy seeing you now and then.”

There were so many things she didn’t know. Maybe she could hire a local high school kid to help her out and teach her more in the process. It was a thought worth considering.

As Callie did her best to keep the goats appeased, she worried. “Do they get along with the chickens?”

“Mostly ignore each other.” Addie stretched. “If something spooks the chickens, the goats will run off, too. Luckily, part of your acreage is fenced. You’ll just need to check it routinely for holes.”

At least Addie assumed she’d stay, Callie thought. She wasn’t trying to run her off like Tanner did. “I noticed I had to go through a gate to get into the woods.”

“Make sure it’s closed tight each time, and secure the goats at night in their shelter, okay? They need to be protected from the weather. You want them separate from the chickens. Chickens leave droppings everywhere and goats don’t want it anywhere near their food or water.”

“Eww,” Callie said. “I wouldn’t either.”

“Come on. Break is over. I want you to see what I accomplished in the house.”

Together, with Callie carrying the chair and rake, they headed up to the porch. It had been a cluttered mess earlier, as if Reggie had only used it to store every broken piece of furniture, small appliance, or bag of garbage that he didn’t feel like disposing of properly. Callie now had it in a neat pile to be hauled away tomorrow. With it was bags of leaves and twigs that had accumulated over the winter and early spring. The porch and the surrounding yard looked much nicer. She was already imagining how the porch would look after a good power-washing, an outdoor rug, and some stylish lawn furniture.

Then again, she had goats, so maybe she’d need to keep outdoor décor off the front porch until she figured out the setup.

“I got a few guys who’ll come by tomorrow to do some minor repairs, clean the windows, and haul away the trash. You’ll be right as rain soon.”

Addie’s help, as well as her enthusiasm, reinforced Callie’s decision to stay. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done, and how patient you’ve been with me.” Callie’s mother was not a person she could ask about goats, or a broken pipe, or clearing out a trashed house.

She felt silly as she admitted, “I’ve never had a home of my own. Apartments, sure, but the landlords were responsible for the upkeep on them. If something broke, or overflowed, or whatever, I called them.”

Addie slanted her a knowing look. “Feels good to fix up your own place, doesn’t it?”

“Amazingly so.” As they stepped through the back door and into the kitchen, Callie felt the ache of muscles she didn’t know she had. “I’m sore, but it’s…satisfying.” And then she pulled up short. “Oh, wow.” The kitchen was now pristine, with the sink, countertops, and floor all shining. She inhaled the scent of lemon and pine. “It sparkles.”

“A woman needs a spotless, well-organized kitchen.”

The front door opened, there was some rustling of plastic bags, and Glory appeared in the doorway, arms laden with groceries. She, too, appeared stunned as she looked around the kitchen. “It’s like an entirely different room.” Giving a deep inhale, she hummed, “Mmm, and it smells so good now.”

Callie rushed forward to take two bags from her. “Did you get everything?”

“And then some.”

Glory had spent most of her time in the car, first heading out to buy cleaning supplies and heavy-duty lawn bags for all the garbage. Once she returned, instead of offering to pitch in, she’d headed out for food. First for lunch, which the three of them had shared on the front porch, since that had been the least smelly space on the property. When that was done, Glory had again driven off, that time to fill the grocery list Callie made for her.

Because she understood Glory, Callie didn’t expect her to partake in manual labor. The very idea of it probably repulsed her cousin clean down to her manicured nails, but it would also terrify her. Neither of them had much experience with that sort of thing, but whereas Callie never minded jumping in to learn something new, Glory always feared messing up and looking foolish.

“You’ve been a huge help,” Callie told her as she checked the cabinets and found them all cleaned. She turned to Addie. “And you! My goodness. You accomplished so much.”

“I ran the dishes through the dishwasher, but they won’t be done drying for a few minutes yet. If I had more time, I’d stick around and put them away for you.” She glanced at Glory, but her cousin was checking messages on her phone.

Callie sent Addie a smile and a wink. “I can do it.”

“You’ve put in a full day. If you two would just come to stay at my house again, we could finish getting it in order tomorrow.”

Glory looked up in hope, but Callie was already shaking her head. “Thank you, but I want to stay here tonight.”

“I thought you’d say that. You’ll need clean bedding, so Tanner is bringing over some sheets, quilts, and pillows. He should be here any minute.”

Her first thought was: oh goodie, she’d get to see Tanner again. Her second thought had her questioning Addie. “When did you arrange that?”

“Before I joined you in the yard.” She grinned. “But you’re still welcome to come over—”

Callie laughed. “Thank you, no. If I’m going to live here, I might as well start now, but I do appreciate clean bedding.” She needed Tanner to witness her resolve, to know she was settling in, not cutting corners and finding an easy way out.

What she’d seen of the bedroom wasn’t promising, so she had figured on being up late to wash…well, everything. Now she could put that off for tomorrow.

She’d just started unloading bags when a knock sounded on the front door.

“That’ll be Tanner,” Addie said, and went to answer.

Callie couldn’t deny the sudden tripping of her heart. It was exhilarating, overriding a lot of her exhaustion. Using her wrist, she brushed a hank of hair away from her eyes and smiled at the doorway.

And then kept smiling, but no one appeared.

Glory glanced at her. “What are you doing?”

“We have company. Didn’t you hear the knock?”

Twisting around in her seat, Glory whispered, “Who?”

“Good grief, Glory, were you completely tuned out?”

“Sorry. I hadn’t checked my phone in a while and I had a lot of messages.”

New tension sank into Callie’s neck and shoulders. “From my parents? From Sutter?”

Droll, Glory said, “I do have a life of my own, you know.”

Yes, she did know. Her cousin was far more social than Callie had ever been, but then, they had very different personalities. “Sorry.”

“But some of the messages were from them.”

Rolling her eyes and huffing, Callie said, “I hope you’re not talking about me.”

“Only to say that we’re staying here again tonight, and you’re fine.”

She’d be staying forever, but she didn’t want Glory carrying tales, so she just nodded. “I appreciate the loyalty. If I want them to know something, I’ll tell them myself. Okay?”

“They’re worried about you,” Glory countered.

“I’m better than ever, so there’s no reason.” From the living room, she could hear a few muted voices, one of them Tanner’s. Before Glory could say anything else, Callie went to investigate, and found the whole family—Addie, Tanner, and Kam—standing in her small living room, arms filled with linens.