A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885) (11 page)

“Did he?” Ma smiled. “I had no idea. How did you find out?”

“Derrick told me.”

She chose to ignore her mom’s blatant show of pleasure at the prospect of having the hero attend Danny’s party. “I know we’ve spoiled Danny a bit. He’s the center of our lives, but we can’t let him run things around here, either.”

“Danny meant well.” Ma sighed and stood. “He’s a sweet, sensitive kid. I sometimes look into his dark eyes and think. . .” She crossed her arms over her midsection. “Ever wonder what his biological parents were like?” She moved toward the door. “We could ask, I suppose, but Cindy said the records were closed.”

I wonder all the time,
Allie mused, but she’d save that conversation for another day. “All right, we’ll make the best of it, but don’t blame me if things go haywire with Michael at the party.”

“You’re bigger than that, sweetheart.” Ma opened the bedroom door then turned. “So Danny really invited Derrick to his party?”

Allie grabbed a pillow and held it high over her head. “Another word about Derrick and—”

Before Allie could hurl the pillow, Ma ducked out of the room, laughing.

What did Danny have in mind, inviting both Michael and Derrick? Allie tossed aside the pillow and headed to the bathroom, her mother’s query hanging at the back of her mind.
“Ever wonder what his biological parents were like?”

Lately, and for no known reason, the question wouldn’t leave her alone.

Twelve

Sunshine streamed into the kitchen window. Allie poured batter into the pan to make another batch of pancakes. Saturday. Danny’s birthday.

“Allie!” Her ma’s voice gave her a start.

Spatula in hand, Allie swung around. “I’m making pancakes.”

“You didn’t have to tell me. I followed the scent from my bedroom.” Ma laughed and sidled up beside her at the stove. “Drown mine in syrup.”

“Drowned in syrup, coming right up.”

Her mother peered at her with a suspicious smile. “You seem very happy today.”

“I am.” Allie carried the two plates to the table. “Where’s Danny?”

She needn’t have asked. He thundered down the stairs and through the hall, skidded into the kitchen, and posed dramatically with his fists planted on his sides, hero-style.

“Do I look any different?” Danny puffed out his chest.

Allie exchanged a wink with her mom, then frowned and looked him up and down. “I don’t think so.”

Ma shook her head. “Except maybe your entrances are getting noisier.”

“My muscles are bigger.” Danny flexed his skinny arms, and she and Ma laughed.

“You’re the light of our lives, kid.” Allie set two plates stacked with pancakes on the table. “Now sit. Time to eat breakfast.”

Danny bounced his fists and planted them harder on his hips. “Don’t you remember what today is?”

“Today? Ma? Isn’t today Saturday?”

“I believe it is. And I’m very hungry.”

“Come on!” Danny yelped.

Allie laughed and pointed at his place at the table. “Silly boy. How could we forget? You’ve been reminding us for weeks now. That’s why I made your favorite breakfast.”

His ear-to-ear grin warmed her heart.

“Cool. I’m starving.” He yanked back a chair and hopped into it.

Allie brought her plate to the table, and after they prayed, Danny began a litany of all the people coming to his party. She almost choked when her nephew mentioned Derrick’s name, and she felt Ma’s eyes on her.

“He’s coming, right, Aunt Allie?”

“Yes. He said he’d be here.” She sipped her juice, lids lowered. Her mom would surely be able to read her internal reaction. Allie focused on slicing her pancake. She was looking forward to hosting Danny’s party. Her pulse kicked up a notch. And too eager to see Derrick Owens. In her head she wondered if his only motive for showing interest in her was part of his sales pitch. In her heart she wondered if there was more.

She’d better get her eyes off Derrick and a grip on reality.

“I almost forgot,” Ma said. “Derrick called me this week needing information about the property.” Her voice was light and cheery, as though losing the land Dad labored so hard to keep up was a simple necessity. There had to be other options. “He’s going to be here this morning to pick up paperwork from me. Then he said he’ll return for the party at five.”

Allie’s appetite fled. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t think it mattered much.” Ma shrugged. “He won’t be here long. So what are your plans this morning? Do you have appointments?”

“No, I’ll be getting ready for the party. I’ve got to get caught up on paperwork, too. And I’ve decided to begin my long-term project of going through the old files in the file cabinet to clean them out.”
In preparation for selling the property,
but she didn’t say that. The pancakes tasted like sawdust.

A knock at the back door gave her a start. Allie’s heart pattered erratically as Danny ran to get it.

“Mr. Derrick!”

“Hey, Spiderman. Happy birthday.”

They came to the table smiling, and Allie was suddenly struck by the similarity of their eyes. Both coal black. The one difference was that dark circles hung like half moons under Derrick’s. In fact, tension lined his face, making him look a bit weathered, which didn’t take away from his good looks. It made him appear less polished and more human.

“Aunt Allie made pancakes.” Danny pulled out a chair. “You wanna eat with us? Please?”

Ma greeted Derrick with a bright smile.

Derrick glanced at Allie as if gauging her reaction. She stood and pointed to the table. “We have plenty. I’ll get some for you.”

“Thank you.” He slipped into the chair. “I already grabbed a bite, but pancakes are my favorite.”

“They’re my favorite, too.” Derrick exchanged a high five with Danny then, head tilted, appraised Allie. Had he caught her staring? His gaze gave away nothing.

“If it’s not too much trouble, Allie, could I have a cup of coffee?” His yawn said how badly he needed caffeine.

“Oh, sure.” She piled a plate with buttermilk pancakes, her senses reeling, and set it in front of him and got the coffee. Her stomach felt like it was wrapped in a rubber band.

Danny, Ma, and Derrick held a lively conversation, but his presence turned her mind to mush, and she had trouble following their words.

“Delicious. Thank you.” Derrick laid his fork on his plate, took a gulp of coffee, then cleared his throat. “Now, let’s talk business. I need to look at the property more closely, take some notes. Nobody has to accompany me, but I need about an hour.”

Ma stood. “Danny and I are off to pick up his cake and party supplies. Allie has paperwork to catch up on. But please, have another look around. If you need anything, Allie will be in her office.”

“That works.”

Allie felt heat in the sidelong glance he sent her way. She quickly averted her gaze, met her mother’s eyes, and saw the faint smile on her lips. Matchmaking again.

❧

Derrick explored the cottage with land developer Les Links in mind. Les probably wouldn’t be interested in the old cottage on the Vahn property unless it could serve as a decorative landmark. Too bad. It would be a shame to knock it down.

When he’d completed his inspection, Derrick dusted off his hands and pulled a notebook from his pocket. Now he’d have a report to show his dad. He sat on a tree stump beside the door and scribbled out notes, listing the pluses and minuses of the acreage. He worded his report in favor of restoring the cottage possibly as a community meetinghouse.

He eyed the building. The Vahns hadn’t been able to keep it up. Weeds and plants grew in abundance. In the backyard was a massive blackberry bush that held berries just getting ready to ripen. Fixed up, the place would also make a nice home, smallish but charming, especially for a couple just starting out. But a developer wouldn’t do that.

A couple. His conversation with his father slammed into his mind. Most of his adult life he had fought a serious romantic relationship. The closest he’d come was with Lynn. His parents welcomed Lynn with open arms. His mom wanted a grandchild and his dad an heir to Owens Realty. But when he’d made a decision to live for Christ, Lynn rebuffed his beliefs.

No matter. Derrick sighed. What he had with Lynn wouldn’t have carried them through “till death do us part,” especially with the fundamental difference in their faith. And worse—or better—he realized he hadn’t loved her with a depth that would last a lifetime.

Now Allie. . .

Derrick got to his feet and stuffed the notebook into his pocket. Allie was unlike any woman he’d ever met, and they shared the same faith. He couldn’t deny the growing attraction between them. But what about Michael? He still couldn’t figure out Allie’s relationship with the guy.

He glanced back at the building next to the barn that served as her office. He wanted to see her again, spend time alone with her. He had to find an excuse.

Derrick rubbed his hand over his jaw, searching his mind. Hmm. He could ask her permission to drive his truck into the field to look at the far end of the property.

A plausible request, he told himself as he strode up to her office door and knocked. He heard no sound coming from inside and rapped his fist against the door, a bit harder this time. He was about to call her name when he saw movement from the side of his eye.

Allie appeared around the corner of the building holding a bridle in her hands. “Are you looking for me?” Her voice was shaky and her face pale.

“Yes, but I didn’t mean to disturb you. Um. . .” He suddenly felt awkward, like he’d intruded on a very private moment. “I’d like your permission to take my truck into the field to check out the pond.”

She studied him for a moment, frowned, then seemed to reach some kind of conclusion. “I was about to go for a quick ride. Want to come along with me? You can ride Storm. I’ll show you the boundaries myself.”

What brought this on? Derrick agreed, too quickly perhaps, but he was more than pleased by her offer. Perhaps he’d misread the panic on her face a minute ago. Still, the cheer in her voice sounded forced.

As they saddled and bridled the horses in relative silence, Derrick stole glances at the petite, auburn-haired beauty. At least the color had returned to her face, but something in her eyes clued him in that she was troubled. He could easily imagine her mixed feelings. She loved the land she lived on. Sellers weren’t always happy to see real estate people at their door—not when the sale was necessary to their financial survival.

“You ready?”Allie mounted. She looked regal atop the bay quarter horse.

Smiling, Derrick climbed atop Storm, and they took off at a leisurely pace into the field. A flock of birds flew up from a group of trees in the distance, and Pip danced a few steps.

“Derrick,” Allie called over her shoulder.

“What?” He lagged a distance behind her. She was by far a better rider than he.

“I’m going to run.”

Without waiting for his response, she lightly kicked Pip’s sides. As if the horse had been hoping for his cue, he shot forward like he was leaving a starting gate. Storm didn’t need much urging to follow, and Derrick felt the exhilaration of the wind in his face. Allie’s hair blew behind her, and he loved the sound of her laughter floating on the wind.

For the first time since he could remember, he felt at peace, thinking of nothing but the moment. Allie radiated an inner beauty that had unlocked something deep and hidden in his heart. A tenderness he hadn’t known existed.

As they neared the pond, Allie slowed Pip to a trot, then a walk. Following her lead, Derrick brought his horse along-side her.

“Beat you.” Allie smiled.

Derrick pretended to scowl. “Are you kidding? I let you win.”

Laughing, she stopped under a knot of trees and swung from Pip’s back in one fluid motion. Derrick dismounted, too, and she took Storm’s reins from his hands and tethered the horses loosely to a tree.

“They won’t go anywhere. Danny and I come down here for picnics and to fish.” She grinned. “Even if we never really catch anything. Come on. I have something to show you.”

She held out her hand, and he hesitated half a beat before he took it. The close physical contact sent a rush of warmth through him.

“I don’t know how much longer we’ll own this place, so I want to enjoy it while I can, and I love to share the beauty with friends.”

Her voice trailed away. She glanced at him, then back at the pond. A warning cloud engulfed him. A true “friend” would tell the truth and nothing but. He’d come to investigate whether or not Danny was taken care of properly. He had to be dreaming if he hoped for romance with Allie. She’d toss him out on his ear when she discovered the truth.

Derrick squeezed her hand and resisted the urge to pull her into his arms, hold her close, tell her why he’d come to Walla Walla to begin with. But he couldn’t—not without betraying his dying sister’s last wish. The only way he could help her was to get top dollar for her property. He glanced at her profile. Her pert nose and full lips. High cheekbones. What he wouldn’t give to hold her, kiss her. . .

“Here we are.” Allie led him along a path overgrown with plant life where the air grew cooler under the trees. They reached the pond’s edge, and Allie turned to face him.

“So many memories.” Her voice was resigned. “Daddy used to bring Luke and me here. Taught us both to fish. Then Luke and I did the same with Danny.”

The catch in her voice tore at his heart. Derrick looked into her eyes. A stray tear zigzagged down her cheek.

“I feel like I’ve failed them,” Allie whispered and backhanded the tear off her face.

He had to hold her, just this once. Derrick took her by the shoulders gently and looked into her eyes. “Please don’t cry. We’ll pray together that things work out and God will make a way for you and your family.”

If only he could confess everything. Right now.
I’m Danny’s uncle and—

“Would you please hug me, Derrick?” Her jaw worked and then she swallowed. “I haven’t had a big-guy hug in a long time.”

She was asking for a hug? “Of course.” Derrick pulled her against him, wrapped his arms around her slim shoulders, and inhaled the lilac scent of her hair. Is this what falling in love felt like?