Leave It to Chance (12 page)

Ross stopped directly in front of her. Crowding into her personal space, his gaze darting over her as he checked for damage. He was making her nervous, and if he tried to run his hands up and down her limbs she might have to whack him. It was all she could do not to move back, but Sid and that horse were still behind her.

She wrapped her arms around her waist instead. “I’m fine.” At least the distraction had steadied her legs.

He ignored her and turned on Sid. “What on earth are you doing?”

Sid patted Chance’s neck. “We’re just getting the pair acquainted.”

Sierra rolled her eyes. She was
not
one-half of a pair with that beast, and getting acquainted was not what that near disaster had been.

Ross was still breathing hard. “By letting her loose in a field with a horse? Sid, she’s terrified of them.” Ross shot her a look, then stared at the older man again. “Come on, Sid.” He had his hands on his hips and annoyance wore grooves deep into his cheeks beneath snapping dark eyes.

“I am not
terrified
of horses.” Fearful, yes, the kind that came from firsthand experience.

Remnants of frustration lingered in his eyes. “That wasn’t you hightailing it across the field?”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Well, when a beast is charging you from behind, what would you do?”

Sid and Ross both glanced at Chance, then each other. Sid didn’t even try to stop the chuckles. Ross looked at the ground, then raised his head. She couldn’t tell if he was mad or laughing at her. “It’s okay to be afraid, Sierra. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be out here, pressured by him.” He jerked a thumb at Sid, then rounded on the older man again. “And don’t try to tell me you didn’t talk her into this, Sid. You know better.”

“Ross, I’m an adult. I can handle it,” Sierra jumped in.

His look conveyed disbelief. “By letting yourself get talked into something you don’t want to do?”

She pulled her jacket tighter around her body. “It worked out fine.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I would feel responsible if something happened.”

“Well, it’s nothing you need to worry about,” Sierra said and walked back toward the barn.

Ross stood in the barnyard after Sierra left. Cold air soaked into his denim jeans, making the fabric stiff and rough against his legs. But he didn’t move, not even when her car was long out of sight. The question hammered him: What was he doing getting wrapped up in her problems? Sierra Montgomery was one big complication. Single mom, messy ex-husband, and three lonely kids who’d attach to anyone she got involved with. He saw her eyes again. Vulnerable. Behind the fear lay uncertainty and pain. Definitely not what he needed at this stage in his life. It wasn’t hard to bring the protective shield up. He’d had plenty of practice. He walked back toward his house.

Ross stomped the mud off his shoes and let himself in through the back door. He wasn’t surprised to find Sid at his kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee. Another mug sat waiting. Ross slid into the chair across from him and took a sip of the steaming brew. Strong and fortifying. Sid’s coffee embodied his character.

“You certainly know how to treat a lady, Sid. I still can’t believe you turned her loose with that horse.”

Sid didn’t laugh. Just sort of smiled, his eyes faraway. “That gal’s had a lot of hurt.”

“Like most of the human population.” Ross wanted to change the subject.

“That girl is the ‘human population’ that is before us right now.”

“It doesn’t sound like she wants our help, Sid.”

The grizzled eyebrows glowered down at him. “Some cries are harder to hear than others.”

Ross knew better than to argue, but from what he could tell, Sierra didn’t seem to be sending any kind of telegram, other than one that said to leave her alone.

The older man rubbed his jaw, then moved it back and forth the way he did when he was really chewing on something. “What that girl needs is some hope. You’re always saying you need a real bookkeeper.”

He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach “I was just teasing you, Sid. I think the system we have works just fine.” The words came out fast and he swallowed hard. “And how is doing my books going to give her hope?”

“I’m jist gettin’ that feelin’ right here, son. In the spot God speaks to.” Sid poked a finger over his heart.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. She—it’s complicated, Sid.”

Sid gave him a thoughtful look. “Have my feelin’s ever been wrong?”

Ross leaned his forearms on the table, pressing his fingertips together. “What if I get saddled with her as my bookkeeper, and it’s just indigestion this time?”

Sid scratched through the hair above his ear, his right cheek hitched up in a grimace of regret. “Well, I’ve been meaning to tell you anyway, but my niece Leorna wants me to come back for a visit and, what with getting that new pony Traitor in, I’m not going to be available to help sort the bills this month.”

Ross took a breath.
And out come the thumbscrews.

The old scoundrel continued, “Looks like you’ll be
needin’
some help.”

“I’ll manage.” Ross bought some time with another gulp of coffee.

Sid rolled the stub of hay to the other side of his mouth. “And just how will you do that?” He shook his head. “I’d hate to see where you’re at in five months.” The next words were directed toward the floor. “Overpaying the nursery, underbidding jobs. Be a cryin’ shame after all that hard work. Especially with you working so hard on that Alex Cranwell job.”

Ross shook his head, feeling a grin tickle his lips, though he tried to hide it. “Nicely done, Sid. Though I didn’t know the Lord was into strong-arming people.” He should have covered his ears and locked the door when he heard Sierra’s screams from the field. One beautiful brunette with vulnerable brown eyes was a distraction he couldn’t afford.

“Yer forgettin’ Jonah and the whale. The Lord isn’t afraid to use a little muscle now and then.”

Ross tried one last time. “She probably isn’t qualified to do the bookkeeping.”

Sid folded his hands across his belly. “How is Mr. Cranwell doing these days?”

Ross scowled at his friend. “Fine, I’ll ask her. But all bets are off if she says no.” Something Sid had said worked its way from the back of his mind. “What’s this about Leorna wanting you to visit? You haven’t been to Kansas since you moved here.”

Sid scratched the back of his neck and wouldn’t meet his eyes. “We’ve kept in close touch.” He cleared his throat. “She thinks I ought to move back to be with family.”

Ross laughed. “Well, I guess she’s in for a surprise there.”

Sid chuckled, but kept his eyes on the floor.

“You’re not thinking about it, are you?”

Sid’s fingers bounced on the table and he gave him a brief smile. “Not anytime soon, son. Say, I better get back and check on the ponies.”

Chapter 12

Sierra parked the van and walked up her mom’s front steps just as her cell phone rang. She fumbled, trying to hold the phone and turn the key in the deadbolt. “Hello.”

“This is Celia Ward returning your call.”

Sierra shoved the door open and stumbled inside. “Oh, hi.” She dropped her purse and pulled off her jacket. “I, um, I have a situation. When my husband and I were divorced three years ago, I opted not to sign up for the Oregon Child Support Program.”

“Mmm.” The woman sounded like she’d heard this before.

Sierra hurried to explain, “It wasn’t a problem until a few months ago, when he apparently had some financial difficulties. Now he’s not paying at all.”

“I hope you understand that if you’d opted for the OCS Program at the onset, this conversation wouldn’t be necessary. Fortunately, you can still sign up for it through the Department of Justice, but it will take sixty to ninety days for the paperwork to process and for the state to start garnisheeing his wages.”

Sierra sank down on the sofa. “Sixty to ninety days? So there’s nothing else you can do?”

“Not until you sign up and the paperwork gets processed.”

Sierra closed her eyes. “Okay, thank you,” and hung up the cell phone.

The phone in the kitchen started ringing, and she pushed off the couch to grab it. “Lassiter residence, Sierra speaking.”

“Honey, it’s mom.”

Sierra smiled. “How was your flight?”

“Oh, fine. I took some of those vitamin immune boosters before I left. I hate breathing all that recycled air. You just never know what people are coming down with.”

Sierra leaned back against the counter, the familiar litany bringing a sense of comfort that was purely her mom.

“I know, Mom, it’s scary. How’s Aunt Marta?”

“She’s in a lot of pain yet.” A pause. “Honey, have you read the paper today?” Her mom’s voice sounded worried but with an undertone of excitement. Like someone driving past a horrible accident who can’t stop looking.

“No, I think it’s still on the walkway.” Sierra walked to the kitchen window and saw the paper on the grass, rolled inside its plastic bag.

“He filed for bankruptcy.”

“Who?” But the sinking feeling had already started.

“Michael.”

Bankruptcy.
“How do you know?” What would happen to her child support now?

“Marta told me how to find our paper on the Internet.”

And of course her mom would need to keep current.

“… I just think it’s a blessing you moved home when you did.”

Sierra couldn’t muster any inflection. “Yes, Mom, a blessing.”

Sierra folded a pair of pants from the pile on the couch. “Come on guys, your dad’s going to be here any minute.”

Braden pounded down the stairs, hair shiny wet from the comb. He flashed her an ear-to-ear grin as he bounded for the front door.

Emory rushed up and grabbed her arm. “Have you seen my pink sweater?”

“It’s in the pile of clothes folded on your bed.”

A relieved smile and a dash for the stairs. “Thanks!”

Sierra followed Trevor out the front door. “Go get your coat, honey.”

Trevor stopped. “Oh, yeah,” and dashed back in the house.

Braden sat close to her on the first step. “What movie do you think we’re going to see?”

She gave him a teasing smile. “Hmm. Maybe your dad picked
Winnie the Pooh.
”

Braden laughed and gave her a playful bump with his shoulder. “Mom!”

Trevor slammed the door behind them, coat tucked under his arm. “That’s what I want to see.”

Sierra reached behind her to where Trevor stood and tickled his ankles. “You need to put the coat
on
, Trev.”

He laughed. “Oh, yeah,” and pushed his arms into the sleeves. Everything was funny to him in the excitement of being with his dad.

Fifteen minutes later, they started growing restless. “Can I go call him, Mom?” Braden looked worried.

“Sure, honey.” Sierra started to chew her fingernail. Maybe Michael had been delayed by a procedure. Still he could have had one of the assistants call. She moved to the next finger. Maybe he was upset by the bankruptcy notice and forgot his date with the kids. She dropped her hand. How could anyone forget their kids?

Emory stood and walked to the end of the driveway, staring up the road. “When’s he supposed to get here?”

“Any minute, sweetie.”

Braden stormed out of the house, phone in his hand. “He’s not answering.”

A long hour later, they trudged back in the house. “Guys, how about after feeding Chance, we make some popcorn and watch a movie?”

“No, thanks.” Braden ran toward the van.

Emory brushed past her to follow her brother.

“I want to see
Winnie the Pooh.
” Trevor had started crying when she told them it was getting too cold to keep waiting on the porch. His face wet with tears and nose running, she carried him to the bathroom for a tissue.

“I know, honey. Mommy knows.”

Ross watched the blue van stop next to the barn and the kids tumble out.

Braden ran straight over to him, then stuffed his hands into his pocket, his voice dull. “Do you need help?”

Ross studied the boy, whose head was bent, kicking at the rocks in the drive. “Yep. Perfect timing, too; I just pulled up.” Braden didn’t respond. “You’ll need gloves. I have an extra set in my pickup door if you want to grab them.”

“’kay.” Braden walked for the pickup, his shoulders bent as if carrying a heavy load.

Sierra walked up with the other two kids, her lips curved in a slight smile. “I wondered where Braden went, then realized he’d been sucked over here like a magnet.”

He grinned back at her. “He’s going to help me with the fence, if that’s all right with you?”

She nodded and studied the back of her son, a slight furrow of concern forming between her eyes. Braden sauntered back, slapping the gloves against his leg.

Sierra smiled at the boy. “So you’re going to fix the fence, huh?”

He shrugged, not looking at her. “Yeah.”

Ross picked up the work tray. “Ready to find that hole?”

Braden shrugged again. “Sure.”

He glanced over his shoulder and saw Sierra staring after them. He tried to give her a reassuring look.

“How’s school going?”

Another shrug. “I dunno.”

Ross opened the gate and held it for Braden. In the pasture, Ross started down the fence line and stopped at the first wooden post. “See how all the staples are holding the wire tight to the wood? That’s what we want. See this wire here doesn’t have a staple.” Ross set the tray down, picked out a staple and pounded it into the post, fastening the wire back into position. He grabbed the tray and held the hammer out to Braden. “You want to carry this?”

Braden took it and matched his pace as they walked. After a few moments of silence, Ross said. “Want to talk about it?”

The boy looked at him. “What?”

“You seem pretty down. Something happen at school?”

Braden kicked his boots through the clumps of grass. “No.”

“Mad at your mom?”

He shrugged. “I dunno.”

They came to a loose section of fencing. “You want to try?”

“’kay.”

“I’ll do the top.” Ross held the fence staple between his lips and pulled the top of the sagging fence tight against the post with a pair of wirepullers, then set the nail. He held his hand out, and Braden passed him the hammer to pound the staple in.

Braden strained to pull the bottom portion just as tight.

“Got it?” Ross said.

Braden nodded, the only movement his tensed body could make, his face flushed red with exertion and determination. Ross pressed a staple into the wood and held the wire so Braden could hammer it in. The first blow glanced off the staple, dislodging it into the tall grass at the base of the post. Braden’s gaze jumped to his.

Ross nodded toward the grass. “Find it and try again.” The boy nodded and his shoulders relaxed as he bent to push the blades of grass apart to search for it.

Braden found the staple and pushed it in the same way Ross had. The next hammer swing knocked the staple sideways, but it didn’t fall off. The boy set it up again, and after several attempts managed to hammer it into the wood.

Ross tried not to think about Alex Cranwell’s plans waiting on his desk. Or the seedlings he needed to pick up at the nursery, or the work he needed to do in his greenhouse. A couple hours away from the job wouldn’t be a deal breaker, and he knew this boy needed him.

Braden pounded a few more staples, and they moved down the fence.

“My dad was supposed to take us to a movie tonight.”

“That so?” The grass swished briskly against their jeans.

Braden shrugged. “He was busy.”

“Did you get to talk to him?”

One quick shake of the head.

“Probably made you pretty mad.”

“I dunno.”

“I know what it’s like to be disappointed like that.”

Brown eyes turned up toward his.

“I bought this place from my parents and invited them to come over and see all the changes I’d made. I’d worked really hard all summer on the landscaping. But my dad was too busy to come. He still hasn’t seen it.”

Braden nodded and his gaze clung to Ross’s.

“You know what?” He squeezed Braden’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”

Color washed into Braden’s cheeks, and he dropped his gaze back to the ground. A few minutes later he sniffed and wiped a sleeve under his nose.

“So,” Ross said, “you play any sports?”

“I might play basketball this year.”

“That so?”

Braden grinned up at him. “Yeah. My friend Emmett plays, and he said I could be on his team.” A small shrug with the first hint of a smile. “I have to try out first.”

“I was a baseball man in high school.”

Braden frowned. “I can’t catch a ball very well. My dad doesn’t like to play catch with me anymore. He said I don’t keep my eye on the ball.” He gave Ross a goofy grin. “But a basketball’s a lot bigger.”

Ross ruffled Braden’s hair, a protective anger welling up inside. “I bet you could do it with a little practice.”

Sierra watched them coming, side by side, her son talking to the man nonstop. When they stopped in front of the van they gave her big grins.

“Were you successful?” she asked.

“Well, we got about a third of it checked. I’ll probably finish it up this weekend so Chance doesn’t get cabin fever.

“Mom, Ross said he’d hire me to work for him.”

Sierra looked to Ross, who wore a sheepish smile. “I should have probably talked to you first.”

She raised her brows. “Um, probably?”

He chuckled then nodded toward the highway. “I’m just working at that house across the road.” He gripped Braden’s shoulder and rocked him gently side to side. “He’s a good worker, and we’d love to have him help us out after school when he wants.”

“You want to do this, Braden?” She took in her son’s proud stance. Shoulders back, mimicking Ross’s body language. When had her son grown up enough to get a job?

Braden’s grin was all teeth. “Yeah!”

“I don’t see why not then, on the days it fits into our schedule.” She glanced at Ross, who was smiling at her son.
And where would this lead them?