No Direction Home (Sweet Home Colorado) (19 page)

“I hope you’re right.
”  The tension between them began to melt when she turned to him. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“You don’t have to worry about that
. Dr. Kruger said she’ll get more of her strength back as each day passes. I know it’s tough, but we have to stay positive.” 

She took deep breaths until she was strong enough to continue speaking
. “You’re right, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”

“By the way, the last time you were in with Nana, Travis called
. He and Cindy are taking the kids out for pizza and a movie tonight, said not to expect them home till late.”

“That’s nice
. I need to have some time to put my best face forward for the kids. I can’t let them see how worried I am.”

“No, we can’t.
”  He hesitated. “He also said Joey’s social worker called. She wanted to know what was happening with him since Nana became ill.”  He grinned. “News sure travels fast in this town.”

She smiled wryly
. “Small towns are like that.”

“By the way, they moved our stuff together in one of the larger bedrooms, because the social worker will be paying us a visit in the next few days to check on Joey.
”

“If that’s the way it has to be, you’ll sleep on the floor.
”  She sighed in resignation. “Like I told you this morning, I want to adopt Joey. We can discuss it with her when she comes out.”  Grace gave him a look capable of bending steel. “He’ll stay with me after the divorce.”

He shrugged and parked next to the house
. Grace opened the car door before he could get around to her. She breezed by him in a rush to get to the front door. “What’s your hurry?” he shouted.

“I...I’m hungry
. Let’s fix some soup and sandwiches.”  She opened the front door and continued into the kitchen, putting distance between them.

“Here, at least let me hang your coat for you.
”  He held out his hand to her. “Listen, it’s been a long time since I’ve had to share a room with anyone. I think we need to set some ground rules.”  He took her coat and hung it on the coat rack.

“How do you do it
? How do you always presume to know what I’m thinking?”  Her voice was taut with anger while she stood there. The man could read her like a book. He knew she was nervous about sharing a room with him.

“I don’t presume to know anything
. Like I said, we need to discuss this.” 

She didn’t want to fight with him
. That only made things worse. “What kind of rules?”  She stomped to the cupboard and pulled out a can of soup.

“To put your mind at ease, yes, I’ll sleep on the floor
. You have half the room and I’ll have the other half. I haven’t seen the room so I can’t draw a line down it...yet.”

“Well, let’s remedy that little detail right now
. Come with me.”  She marched out of the kitchen, around the corner and up the stairs to the last room on the right and stood outside the door. This was to be their room to share as man and wife. An unexpected jolt jabbed at her spine which caused her to bend over in pain.
Too much stress
. She wished things could be different.

Suddenly, she was lifted into the cradle of Seth’s arms
. He had a look of determination in his eyes so she kept her mouth shut. “Even, if it doesn’t mean anything to you, it’s my wedding night and I will carry you across the threshold.”  He kicked the door open and carried her into the room.

Grace gasped in shock at what had to be Cindy’s handiwork
. The room glowed in soft light with low classical music playing on the stereo. A fire burned in the hearth and champagne chilled alongside two fluted glasses and a dish of chocolate covered strawberries sat on the small table next to the bed. Rose petals were strewn across the bed and around the room. Her friend had outdone herself.

Grace swallowed a sob and a tear slipped down her cheek
. If only it were the real thing.

  Seth held her and kissed her tear-streaked face
. As if he sensed her thoughts, yet, again, he spoke. “Let me make things right for us. Let me love you?”

Chapter
Eighteen

The enclosure of his arms around her was warm
—right. Her anger seemed to melt when Seth laid her down in the middle of the rose petal covered bed and gently kissed her. She wanted it to be real so badly she chose to ignore the warnings.
Maybe he
does care. Maybe it's time to just let go for a change and grab
a little pleasure
.
After all, they were married.

She buried her face against his throat, kissing the pulse of his heartbeat
. His invitation was a passionate challenge as her mind told her to resist, but her body refused.

He deepened his kisses and a response awakened deep within her soul
. But from the back of her mind, a seed of doubt entered her thoughts, echoing her ex-husband’s hateful words from the past.
Making love to you is like screwing a corpse
.
What if she
couldn’t please Seth?
Was Lee wrong? She had to know, once and for all. A delightful shiver of wanting ran through her as Seth continued kissing her deeply. His nearness kindled rivers of fire running through her body.

The occasional
bump of his thigh brushing against her hip almost sent her over the edge. Giving herself freely to the passion of his kisses, Grace molded her body against his.

Raising his mouth from hers, he gazed into her eyes
. “I want you.”  His words were smothered on her lips as she moved her mouth against his, devouring its softness. She wanted him, too...had since the first day she saw him with his shirt off in the rain. No more thinking. She wanted to feel...to live again. She had desires and needs he could fulfill. She kissed him back with all her pent-up frustration. A burning desire, an aching need for him pulsed through her as she unbuttoned his shirt, needing to feel his bare skin against her body.

He removed her sweater and his lips seared a path down her neck and across her shoulders
. His tongue sent shivers of desire racing through her when she pulled his shirt off and threw it on the floor. His hand gently outlined the circle of her breast. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra. He eased the lacy cup aside as his tongue caressed her sensitive swollen nipples, one after the other, sending shock waves through her body.

She stroked the length of his back while his lips traced a sensuous path to ecstasy
. His hands began a lust-arousing exploration of her soft flesh while his body imprisoned hers in a web of growing arousal. He unfastened her slacks and pushed them down her hips, undressing her slowly, worshipfully. She helped him remove his clothes. The beauty of his naked body taunted her while her own passion pounded the blood through her veins.

He gathered her into his arms and slid one hand across her taut stomach to the swell of her hips
. Pausing to kiss her, he  whispered his love for her. “You’re so beautiful and I want to make you mine.”  She moaned softly as his body moved to partially cover hers, taking the time to explore, to arouse, to give her pleasure.

His tormented groan was a heady invitation as she squirmed beneath him
. His expert touch sent her to ever higher levels of ecstasy when he entered her. She moaned aloud with erotic pleasure. Their bodies were in exquisite harmony with one another, soaring higher, exploding in a downpour of fiery sensations.

After holding each other for what seemed like an eternity, he gently rolled to her side and gathered her in his arms
. “That was the best.”  She sighed in pleasant exhaustion while he cradled her against his body with tantalizing possessiveness.

Lee was wrong
.
She snuggled against Seth, drowned in a flood of liberation of her mind and body, slowly succumbing to the numbed sleep of the satisfied lover.

The next morning Grace reached across the bed to find it empty
. Seth had already left for the day. What a night. She had never known such lovemaking. They had made love several times, each of them unable to get enough of the other. Relieved to know Lee had been wrong, she snuggled back under the covers stifling a yawn. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and glanced at the clock.

My goodness, it was late morning
. She had slept like the dead. What must Seth think of her? Where were the children? Pulling on a robe, she rushed downstairs.

“Well, good morning, sleepy head.
”  Cindy sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee. “Aren’t we just the picture of satisfaction?” 

Cindy grinned while Grace poured herself a cup of coffee
. Her inquiring look begged her to tell all. She’d always shared everything with Cindy, but what had happened between her and Seth was private, theirs. “I’m glad you’re here. Did the kids get off for the day okay?”

“Yes, Joey went with Seth and Jamie caught the school bus, complete with her Mickey Mouse lunch box
. You know I’m enjoying this. It’s actually fun getting them going in the morning.”

“Thanks for taking care of the kids for me
. I feel like I’m trudging through mud, can’t get anything done on time.”

“Not a problem
. This job does have its perks. I get to see Travis.”  Cindy rubbed the side of her coffee cup, deep in thought. “To feel like you’re knee-deep in mud is only normal with all you have going on. By the way, how did things go last night?”  She raised her eyebrows and grinned. “Seth had a big smile on his face when he came down this morning.”

Grace flinched
. “You set me up. You knew I didn’t want to sleep with Seth. Some friend you are, that room was like something from the Arabian Nights. With my favorite champagne, flowers and soft music playing, how could I resist him?”  She smiled. “It’s your fault.”

“All right.
”  Cindy squealed and smacked the table with glee. “It’s about time. You’ve been lusting over that cowboy long enough.” 

“Do you have to put it that way?
”  Grace frowned, knowing Cindy was right. She had been day-dreaming about Seth since the first day she saw him. Her heart did a flip flop in her chest at the memory. And now she was married to him.

“There’s nothing wrong with lust
. It’s a good thing. You’re finally dealing with life on your terms, not letting anything being taken from you.”  A smile spread across Cindy’s face. “I’m proud of you.”

“I feel wonderful
. I didn’t think it was possible for a man to make me feel this way. He makes me feel alive. It was never that way with Lee.” Grace stopped.
Oh, my God. I love Seth.
She had to sit down.

“It wasn’t just Seth
. You’ve been cloaked in the darkness waiting to step out into the sunshine and Seth was there to help you. It’s perfectly understandable after what you’ve been through. But the bottom line is...you’ve won.”

“I feel like dancing.
”  Grace danced around the kitchen, laughing. “My heart is full. I’m a complete woman. I never thought I would ever feel this way again.”  Then she frowned as it dawned on her. “I know how I feel about him, but I don’t know where I stand with Seth. Last night was all about feeling. Proving to myself Lee was wrong, that I could enjoy making love.”  She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I...I let myself be carried away, not thinking of the consequences.”  A horrible thought struck her. “Do you think he made love to me out of pity?”  

Cindy’s mouth dropped
. “You’ve got to be kidding. He wouldn’t do that.”

“I don’t know.
”  This was too much to digest all at once. Her feelings were too raw. She’d have to think about it. Shrugging Grace glanced at the clock. “I have to take a shower and get to the hospital. No matter what’s going on between Seth and me, Nana comes first.”

“You’re wrong
. Seth is a good, honest man. See how he treats you when you see him at the hospital.”   

“
You don’t know everything. I know you mean well, but I may have made the biggest mistake of my life.”  Grace sighed deeply. “You see, by marrying me he gets half of the Cactus Rose. That’s incentive enough to consummate the marriage. I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly when it happened.” 

***

Seth drove Joey out to the back forty and gestured at the vista before them. “Grace and Jamie don’t know it yet, but this is where I’m going to build our new home.”  They sat side by side, there in the truck, the same place he and Grace had come to gaze at the stars. The lush valley stretched far below them, with high mountain peaks jutting against the deep blue sky on the distant horizon.

“It’s a pretty spot.
”  Joey hesitated for a heartbeat, and then said, “A new home? Are you moving out?” A wild look of fear crossed the boy’s face before Joey could get it under control.

Knowing the boy was thinking he’d be left behind again, Seth said, “There’s something I need to talk to you about...man to man.
”  He turned toward Joey, pushing up the brim of his Stetson, getting the boy's full attention. “Right now, Grace is all tied up in knots about Nana or she’d be here with me to talk to you about this.” 

Joey gazed at Seth with apprehension in his huge brown eyes as if waiting for a bomb to drop.

“Grace and I have talked about this and we would like you to come live with us—to make it permanent. Would you like that?” 

In the blink of an eye, Joey scooted across the seat and was against Seth’s chest, crying, mumbling, “Yes, yes...yes.
”

“There now
. It’s okay.”  Seth held him, showing Joey a fatherly comfort the young man had sorely missed. Joey was a good boy and Seth would be proud to be his father. This young man possessed more strength and courage than most grown men. “I want you to know I’d never try to take your father’s place, but I’ll be here for you.”  Seth pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Joey.

Leaning back and wiping the moisture from his eyes, Joey stuttered, “I...I...I can’t believe it
. Not to have to go anywhere else? Just stay with you all?”  He sniffled into the hanky. “Is it possible?”

Seth grinned at the astonishment on the boy’s face
. “That’s right. The Cactus Rose will be your home until we move here, into our own place.”  He laughed. “Now, it’s only a matter of paperwork. I’m sure Nana’s friend, Ida, would be happy to help us push it through.”  

“I don’t know what to say.
”  Joey twisted Seth’s handkerchief in his hands.

“You don’t have to say anything
. We’ll take it one day at a time. Welcome to the family.”  He gave Joey a hug.

Joey released Seth and sat up, gazing across the valley
. “This is great. Jamie will be my little sister.”  He sat up straight as if he were trying to appear older. “I’ll always watch out for her.”

“She’d like that
. She’s always wanted a brother.”  Seth tweaked Joey’s nose and grinned at him. You’ll be good for each other.”  Seth opened the door and came around to Joey’s side of the truck. “Now, I need your help.”  Joey sat there as Seth pulled a pair of crutches out of the back of the truck. The boy’s eyes grew round with fear.

“Doc Kruger says your leg is strong enough for you to try these
. I thought you might want to get used to them without the womenfolk around.”  He handed the crutches to Joey.

Beads of sweat popped out on Joey’s upper lip
. “I’ve been practicing walking with the bars. Do you think I can do it?”

“Sure, you can, with a little work
. It’s like roping a steer. If you don’t succeed the first time, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again.”  Seth grinned at the boy. “Besides, it took me several times to rope my first steer. My grandpa was there to help me. And I’m here to help you.”

Joey’s hands tightened as he placed the crutches under his armpits, obviously hesitant to take the first step away from the safety of the truck.

“Let me help you.”  Seth put his arm around Joey and lifted him out of the truck to a standing position, and stepped back. “You’re doing it.”  Unbidden, moisture came to Seth’s eyes while he watched Joey take the first step.

“I am
. I’m standing and walking. I never thought it was possible until I came to the ranch.”  His mouth split into a wide grin. “Watch me take another step.”

Seth rushed to catch Joey as he lurched forward and almost fell
. “I got you. Remember, it’s like the steer—it takes practice. Let me guide you to that big flat rock.”

Slowly, Joey straightened himself and with Seth’s help made it to the rock
. Breathing hard at the exertion, Joey grinned. “I can do it. I can walk again.”

“You’re such a trooper
. You make me proud.”  They sat on the rock hugging each other for a minute, before gazing out at the valley.

“I’d like to ask your help with something else, if you’re willing.
”

Joey glanced at Seth with open admiration
. “Sure, anything for you.”

“As I said earlier, this is where I want to build our new home
. I know you play with a lot of design web sites on the Internet and have talked about wanting to be an architect when you grow up. I want to surprise the girls and I’d like you to help me design the house, especially, yours and Jamie’s rooms.”