No Direction Home (Sweet Home Colorado) (16 page)

The woman drove him crazy
. He’d like to kidnap her and run away with her for about a year, and make mad passionate love to her every day. Because she had put on a few pounds she thought she wasn’t appealing to any man. She was wrong. He’d better start watching the kids or the bulge in his jeans would embarrass them all.

“Kids, it’s about time to get out of the pool
. I have to get dinner ready.”  Grace climbed the steps and picked up a large fluffy towel and wrapped it around her waist.

“Oh, can we stay in a while longer?
” Jamie and Joey pleaded.

“You go ahead.
”  Seth winked at her, knowing she wanted to get away from him. “I’ll stay with them.”

“Okay, have fun, you tadpoles
. I swear they're growing fins.”  She laughed when she picked up her things and moved past him.

Seth reached over and grabbed her hand before she could escape
. “Hey, how about going to town with me tonight? I hear there’s a good band at the Starlight Inn.”  Stunned at the tingle that flew up his arm, he gazed into her eyes. Even though she’d been keeping her distance, the attraction between them was a mutual thing growing on a daily basis. He knew they wouldn't be able to deny it much longer.

Like two little old maids with big ears, the kids watched and waited for her answer
.

“I'm sorry, but I already have plans with Cindy and
Jenna. We’re going to the movies. Maybe another time.”

“Well,
if you’re going out with those two, I’m sure you’ll end up there.”  He laughed. “Save a dance for me.”  He let go of her hand and she hurried out of the room.

“Do you like dancing with Grace?
”  Jamie called to her dad from across the pool.

“Of course he does.
”  Joey swam to the side of the pool. “Grace is a neat lady.”

He was right
. Grace was a neat lady and Seth did like dancing with her. He knew she liked it too, but was afraid to get involved, because she had been hurt so badly with her ex-husband. He’d like to grind her ex-husband into the dust. Well, tonight he might have to do something about making her feel more comfortable with him.

He grinned
. “Yes, she’s a good dancer and she smells good, too.” 

They burst out laughing
. “I think you should marry her.” Jamie said. “Then I’d have a mom.”

Jamie's words were music to Seth's ears
. She was right, but he had to convince Grace he was marrying material. And now he had money and would soon have his own ranch, he had something to offer her. Time was on his side.

He grinned at his little mermaid
. “Marry her? Honey, people need to know each other a long time before they get married.” 

“You’ve known her a long time
. I like her and she’s good to me and Joey and you.”  She pulled up on the edge of the pool and sat kicking the water with her feet. “She likes to play games with me and she even stayed up and watched movies with us at the pajama party.”

“We’ll see
. Things like marriage take time.”  He picked up two terry cloth beach towels. But for now, “I think you guys need to get out before you turn into wrinkled prunes.”

“Okay, I am getting hungry.
”  Joey pushed himself up on the steps to the pool. Since Joey had come to the ranch, his appetite had increased by leaps and bounds.

Seth rolled his wheelchair close to the edge
. “Let me help you.”  He carefully lifted him into the chair, handed him a towel and helped take off the floats. “The way you're progressing you won’t need these floats or my help much longer. I’m proud of you.”   He leaned down and patted his shoulder.

Joey grinned at him
. “Thanks.”

Jamie stared at the two of them
. “When you marry Grace you can adopt Joey. Then he can be my brother.”  She grinned. “I’ve always wanted a mom and a big brother.”

Joey glanced away with moisture in his eyes
.

“Joey would make a wonderful brother, but you never know what the future holds.
”  Seth knew the turmoil this conversation was causing Joey. He squeezed the boy’s shoulder when he wheeled him away, glancing back at Jamie. “Come on, slow poke. Nana and Grace will have our heads if we’re late for dinner.”

Together, the three of them left the pool area
. If Seth could have his way, he would marry Grace and adopt Joey in a heartbeat, keeping them together as a family forever...but Grace would take work.

Chapter
Fifteen

The night was clear and brightened by a full moon as Grace glanced out the car window
. Thousands of stars stood out against the inky black sky, twinkling in the distance high above the surrounding mountain tops. On this cold winter’s eve, some snow still covered the ground and dotted the dark green sage brush along the country road as Cindy drove them toward Cedar Falls in companionable silence.

Before Cindy had picked her up for the evening, Grace tucked the children in and left Nana an
d Seth in charge. Lately, Nana didn’t seem to have as much energy as usual. Grace would try to get her to go to the doctor on Monday. Turning from the view, she glanced at Cindy’s smiling face. “You look like the cat that swallowed the canary. What gives?”

“You know the cowboy I’ve been sweet on
? Travis finally got up enough nerve to ask me to the Valentine dance they’re having at the Starlight Inn.”  She grinned. “He is one shy cowboy, but I’ll take care of that.”  She laughed. “I have big plans for that man.”

“It’s about time.
”  She glanced at Cindy.

“Travis told me you’ll be going to the same Valentine dance with Seth."  She grinned mischievously at Grace.

Grace turned. “Travis is a sweetie, but what do you mean I’ll be going with Seth? He hasn't said anything to me about it.”  

“Well, I'm sure he will
. According to Travis, you’ve been on his mind.”

Grace grabbed the side of the car when Cindy swerved to miss the shadow of what might have been a prairie dog that ran across the dirt road
.

“Travis says he talks about you a lot
. He told me Seth was going to ask you and we could double date if I would like. And I would like very much, so I said yes.”  She smirked. “I guess Seth hasn’t gotten around to asking you, yet. If I hadn’t run into Travis in town he probably wouldn’t have asked me, yet, either.”

“What makes you sure I’ll go to the dance with Seth?
”  She liked the idea Seth was thinking about her, but it made her angry she had to hear it from Cindy. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “The man has a lot of nerve telling the fellows at the ranch I’ll go out with him.”

“Hey, don’t get your
panties in a bind. He and Travis are good friends. I’m sure he didn’t say anything to anyone else.”

“Easy for you to say.
”  In spite of her busy schedule with Joey’s physical therapy, her writing and helping Nana with the ranch, thoughts of Seth invariably intruded during the day. Grace shouldn’t let the man affect her this way, but she couldn’t help it. Why did it bother her so much? Then, it dawned on her...she was afraid to let herself feel anything for him, for fear of getting hurt.

“Don’t go getting huffy on me
. Promise me that you’ll act surprised when he asks you and go with the flow. It’s just a dance and could be a lot of fun.”  She slowed down at the stop sign and turned toward Grace with a grin. “You know you want to go.”

“You’re too smug for your own good
. You always think you know what I want.”  Grace was still mixed up with her feelings about the man. Sure, she was drawn to him, but her self-preservation told her to steer clear. She’d had enough trouble of the heart to last her a lifetime.

“And I’m always right, too
. Go ahead, admit it. You like Seth.” 

Grace shrugged
. “I don’t know how I feel about the man.”  If she let herself feel things for him, he would have the ability to hurt her. Could she risk it? Her heart clenched at the memory of the anguish she went through when Lee betrayed her.  

“
Jenna and Charlie will be there. I talked to her today and she told me he asked her last night when they went out to dinner in Denver. She’s finally going to get to wear the black number you gave her when we spent the night.”  She grinned. “They’ve been real chummy lately. Every time he looks at her he gets all gooey eyed. I think he’s ready to pop the question.”

“I’m glad to hear things are working out so well for the two of them.
”  She was truly happy for Charlie and Jenna. Anybody could see they were perfect for each other. “They make a lovely couple.”

“Yeah, at least one of us is going to get a good man
. Jenna is walking on cloud nine. I’ve never seen her so animated.”  Cindy's mood abruptly changed, and she groaned like she’d lost her best friend.

“What's gotten into you
? A person can be happy without having a man.”  She’d never seen Cindy so forlorn. “A minute ago you were laughing and now you sound defeated.”  Something wasn’t right with this picture.   

“Oh, the other day at the beauty salon, when I was doing Mrs. Baker's hair, I got to thinking
. That woman has been divorced for over twenty years. She’s all alone, except for her cats.”  Cindy fiddled with the radio station and finally settled on classic rock. “I’m getting older every day. The single, eligible men I’d be interested in are few and far between.”  Her expression stilled and grew more serious. “The older I get, the fewer they get. I don’t want to end up like her. I’m tired of eating TV dinners by myself. I miss the married life.”

“I know what you mean
. There are things about being married I miss, too.”  Grace searched for the right words to express her feelings. “But it’s natural for you to feel lonely. You’re a beautiful woman. Give yourself time and you’ll find someone.” 

“That’s just it
. Time's running out.” 

Grace glanced back at the stars
. She’d like to spend her life with someone, too, but she didn’t want to saddle anyone with her problems. Then again, the last few months she had been living a pretty normal existence. Her pain level had been reduced to a bearable thing. She was doing it—she was controlling her pain. Maybe there was hope for her yet.

“How about you, don’t you want someone to share your life with
? Do you think it’s too late for you, too late for kids and a husband after everything that’s happened?” Cindy asked.

Talk about reading her mind
. Cindy was dialed in to her innermost thoughts tonight. Her words cut to the quick, like a painful paper cut through her thin emotional skin. Grace swallowed, keeping her voice light. “Sure, I would like that, but I don’t want to pile my problems on anyone else.”

Cindy forced a smile, looking more like her happy-go-lucky self
. “Seth doesn’t see you with problems. Hell, I don’t see you with problems. Since you’ve been home, I’ve seen you grow and become an independent woman again, taking your life back. And the way you interact with Joey and Jamie is a marvel.” 

Grace watched Cindy’s expressive face change and almost become somber while she listened to her friend
. She hated discussing these things when she was so unsure of herself.

“I don’t think of you as being disabled or handicapped
. I think of you as my friend with a challenge and I’m sure that’s how Seth sees it, too.”  Cindy hesitated, and then said bluntly, “It’s time for you to get over it and move on.”

Grace stared at her best friend, mildly upset, but the sad truth was...Cindy was right
. She had to stop feeling sorry for herself. She sighed. “I needed to hear that. It’s easy for me to get caught up in this pity poor me thing. I try to fight it, but sometimes when I hurt, I can’t see the moon for the stars.”  She lifted her chin and smiled. “You’re the best.”

“Of course I am.
”  Cindy laughed and turned on her blinker to move onto the paved road heading toward town. “Jenna’s meeting us in front of the theater. Should we ask her what she and Charlie have been up to? They've been together a lot, lately."  

“You’re ornery
. It isn’t any of our business. If she wants us to know, she’ll tell us.”  Grace smiled as thoughts of Seth wove their way into her mind. He had told her to save a dance for him. Maybe she would. Cindy was right about several things. It was time to move on with her life...let someone in.

It was easy to mouth the words, but could she do it?

***

After getting ready for his night out with the ranch hands, Seth came down the stairs two at a time
. He had been keeping the tradition Nana’s husband had started years ago. She insisted, at least once a month, he go into town and buy the ranch hands drinks on the Cactus Rose at the bar.

Nana sat by the fire reading a book, with Ollie curled up by her side, in her comfortable leather recliner
. Earlier at dinner she had said she wasn’t feeling well and planned to take it easy this evening. She looked pale. He greeted her, wondering if he should leave her alone tonight.

She settled deeper into the cushions, letting the cozy room lull her with its pleasant aroma of the wood burning fireplace
. “Good evening, Seth.”  She leaned forward in her chair, as if she were trying to hide a twinge of pain. “My, don’t you look handsome.” 

He was wearing his new blue chambray cowboy shirt with the white pearl buttons
. Hoping to see Grace later, he wanted to look good for her.

“Ah...to be thirty years younger,
” she teased. “That shirt brings out the blue of your eyes.”   

He could see her smiling face in the firelight
. Even though she was teasing him, she seemed to be kind of down tonight. “Thanks, ma’am. You’re too kind. Are you sure you want to be alone tonight?” 

"Yes, I'm fine
—go. I'm just going to go upstairs in a bit and turn in with my book.

"Okay, if you're sure
. The kids are down for the count."  He laughed as he strode through the room to the coat rack. “Travis is meeting me here. Do you need anything from town?”

“No, I don’t think so, but thanks for asking.
”           

A knock at the door sounded through the room
. “I’ll get it."  He hurried across the room to the door and opened it.

Travis stood under the porch light with his hat in his hand
. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah, just about
. Come in for a minute. I'll grab my wallet.”  He showed Travis into the living room and went to retrieve his money.

“Good evening, Ma’am.
”  Travis held his hat when he walked into the living room.

“Evening
, Travis. Do you boys have a hot date tonight?”  Nana smiled at the blushing cowboy. “You’re both looking mighty sharp.”  

“Just drinks with the boys
, ma’am.” 

Nana
grabbed her chest and pitched forward in the chair.

He stood transfixed watching her eyes grow round
.

“G...
get Seth,” she muttered in short breaths, gasping for air.

"Seth
. Get down here. Something's wrong with Nana," he shouted up the staircase.

Seth rushed to her side as Nana doubled over in pain
. He had to help her. “Ma’am, how can I help you?”  He wavered, trying to comprehend what he was seeing. He couldn’t let anything happen to her. It would break Grace’s heart and besides...he loved Nana, too.

“
Ge...get me...my heart pills...on the kitchen counter.”

Seth held her, letting her head rest against his shoulders
. Travis rushed to the counter, picked up the bottle of pills and brought them back to Seth with a glass of water.

“Here, ma’am.
”  Seth eased her trembling body back in the chair, glancing at Travis. His eyes had grown huge in fear at Nana’s condition. Seth could relate—he never knew she had heart problems. When did that happen? “Take one.”  He placed the pill into her shaking hand and held the glass to her lips.

She swallowed it with a drink of water
. “Thanks, I’ll be okay now.”  She laid her head back against the recliner.

Seth continued to gently hold his arm around her, noting the flash of pain mingled with stubbornness in her eyes
. He didn’t care what she said—he had to get her to a doctor. Didn't have time for an ambulance to come all the way from town. Minutes counted. Moving quickly, he picked her up in his arms, holding her close to his chest. The fact she didn’t object worried him greatly. “Ma’am, you’re going to the hospital to get checked out. We’re not taking any chances.”  He glanced at Travis. “You stay here with the kids. Call Grace and tell her to meet us there. She’s at the movies with Cindy.”

“Sure, boss, no problem
. I’ll take care of things here.” 

Seth wrapped her in a burgundy throw from the couch
. “We’re going to take real good care of you. Doc will make it all better,” he crooned to the top of her small white head, trying to soothe her nerves...and his. He quickly carried her to his truck. He loved this lady and couldn’t let anything happen to her.

“Nonsense, I don’t need to see the doctor,
” she finally sputtered against his shoulder, gasping in pain.

“Hush, ma’am
. We’ll be there soon.”  His heart hammered in his chest when he laid her in the seat and closed the truck door, running to the driver’s side. She was a tough lady, but she needed medical care and fast.