Rodeo Reunion (6 page)

On top of all that, coaching Little League baseball wasn't part of his doctor's prescribed treatment. He shouldn't even have pitched for Hunter at all; forget taking on a coaching position.

“I can't.”

“You can't?” The light dimmed in her eyes.

“I'm sorry.”

“Oh. Um… Okay.” She stood, stepped over to the stove and ladled roast into a plastic bowl. “Take some leftovers with you. I guess I need to get back to my other company anyway.”

“I'm sorry.”

She waved a hand through the air as if it didn't matter. But her eyes said it did. “It's no problem. I shouldn't have asked.”

“I'd help if I could.” He sighed. “I can still get together with him for batting practice.”

“It may not be necessary if he ends up without a team.”

“I'm sure the assistant will be fine.”

“Probably. I just want Hunter to have a good year.” She sealed the bowl and pushed it to him across the granite counter. “The move was tough on him. He had to leave all his friends and his baseball team. And in Garland, he happened to end up on a really good team and they won their league championship. I'm worried if his new team doesn't do well, he'll miss Garland even more.”

“I'm sorry.” No matter how many times he said it, he could never show her how sorry he was.

“It's okay. I understand.” She hurried to the back door and placed her hand on the knob. Ready to open it for him. Ready to be rid of him.

And the disappointment in her eyes would haunt him. For days. Maybe even for months.

Could he go against every instinct he had and sign up to coach Hunter's team? He'd help Hunter and make Raquel happy, but he'd surely lose his heart in the process. And what if at the end of May, God still wanted him back on the road?

Maybe he could keep his feelings in check, keep Raquel at a safe physical distance and take on the coaching position. Just to help Hunter. That way he'd have to worry only about his shoulder. A much easier task. Besides, they probably used a pitching machine.

“I'll do it.” He made no move for the door.

“You will?” Her eyes lit up. “Hunter will be so excited. We can change the schedule up however you need to. Whatever is convenient for you.”

“I think the current one will work.”

“You have no idea what this will mean to Hunter. He'll be big guy on the field. The kid who got a former Ranger to coach. This will do wonders for his friend-making issues.” She spoke faster and faster and did a little bounce, then launched herself into his arms. “Thank you.”

Slade's heart rocketed in his chest.

Yes, her hair was that silky. Yes, she fit perfectly in his arms. Yes, he really wanted to kiss her.

S
lade's arms around Raquel warmed her from head to toe. What had she been thinking—throwing herself at him? She hadn't thought past how excited Hunter would be about his new coach.

Why was she still in his arms?

“Sorry.” She pushed away from him, but her brain was mush from the feel of him. Resting her hands against his rock-solid chest, she risked looking up at him. “I get a little excited sometimes.”

“Not a problem.” His gaze latched on her lips.

“Ahem.” Brant cleared his throat.

Raquel sprang away from Slade.

Her brother leaned against the kitchen door frame, glowering.

“Slade agreed to coach Hunter's team. I was just thanking him.” She patted his shoulder.

Wow, he was solid. Shouldn't have touched him again. No touching. Definitely no touching Slade.

More space between them was in order. She took another step back. Lots of space between them.

“It was only a friendly hug.” Slade held his hands up in surrender. “But in case you haven't noticed, Raquel's a grown woman. I think she can hug whoever she wants.”

The space she'd made between them cleared her brain. “You go on, Slade. I'll handle this.”

“I'm not sure I should leave until your brother calms down.”

“His bark is worse than his bite.” She waved her hand as if to wave away his concerns. “And I'm pretty sure he got his rabies shot this year. We'll be fine. I've been defusing Brant since we were kids.”

Slade grinned. “I guess I'll see you at the ball field Tuesday night?”

Brant's scowl grew deeper.

“Yes. And thank you so much. You have no idea what this will mean to the kids. I'll call Hunter's coach and he'll probably bring a form for you to fill out. You can meet us at the ball field.”

“Where is it?”

“I'm terrible with directions. Why don't you just ride with us? We'll leave about a quarter till six.”

“It's a date.” Slade's mouth tightened. “I mean…see ya then.”

“I really appreciate this. The kids will, too.” She handed him the bowl of roast and the pie.

“It'll be fun.”

Fun. Keeping her heart from revving for three months in Slade Walker's presence. Not Raquel's idea of fun.

“Can I trust you to play nice if I leave?” Slade turned to Brant.

“My
nice
will come out when you leave.”

Slade blew out a sigh and left them alone.

“Didn't I warn you about him?” Brant barked. “I turn my back for two minutes and he's all over you.”

“It was a hug. An innocent hug. And I instigated it. You know how I am when I get excited about something. I'm a hugger.”

“And I love that about you. Just be careful who you hug. But that wasn't a hug I saw. It was ‘I wanna kiss you' written all over his face. I tell you, that guy's a womanizer or a stalker.”

Her face flushed. She'd read the look, too. “He told me what happened with Tori. She reminded him of someone and I guess it kind of threw him. He didn't hold her hand to make moves on her.” She rolled her eyes. “He's a rodeo chaplain. Not a womanizer. Or a stalker.”

“He wouldn't be the first preacher to sample the congregation.”

“Brant!”

“Well, it's true. You hear about it all the time in the news.”

“And you don't hear about the millions who don't.” She took her frustrations out on the counter, scrubbing it hard with a dishcloth, trying to forget the way Slade had looked at her. “Dylan became a Christian because of Slade. He's spent years on the rodeo circuit preaching sermons. He's a good man.”

“And you know this because?”

“Dylan only had good things to say about him. And I can just tell.”

“The people who live next door to the serial killer always say, ‘He was such a nice guy.'”

“Brant, please.”

He sighed. “You're my baby sister and I don't want you to get hurt. Didn't you caution me when I was falling for Tori?”

“True. But I was wrong. Look how great that turned out.”

“Really great.” Brant's mouth curved into a goofy grin but then flatlined. “But think of Hunter. He's been through a lot. More than any kid his age deserves.”

“Yes.” Raquel leaned her hip against the counter and folded her arms across her chest. “But what does Slade coaching Hunter in baseball have to do with either of us getting hurt?”

“Say he's not a womanizer or a stalker and he is a nice guy. There's something stirring between you and Slade. If you two end up dating and getting involved, and then he leaves… You can't raise Hunter traveling the rodeo circuit. And you don't deserve a long-distance relationship.”

Brant was right. Even if Raquel could handle it, Hunter couldn't. She didn't need him getting attached if Slade was leaving.

“Hunter just needs a coach and Slade's the best baseball player around. That's all there is to it.”

“I still want you to be careful. I wish you'd taken that self-defense class I sent Tori to. Just keep it about baseball with Slade. That's all I'm saying.”

Could she keep her heart out of things? With the only guy who'd made her heart race since Dylan?

“Truce?”

“Truce.” Brant gave her a hug.

“Awww.” Tori chuckled as she entered the kitchen. “Isn't that the sweetest thing, Lorraine? Maybe someday you'll have a brother.”

The sweet moment misted Raquel's eyes.

“I like the sound of someday.” Brant pecked Tori on the cheek and scooped Lorraine from her arms. “Ready to go home, my beautiful wife?”

“Yes.” Tori yawned. “I'd like to sleep for three days.”

“I can keep Lorraine one night next weekend if you want.” Raquel tickled Lorraine's chin and the baby gurgled.

“We might just take you up on that.” Brant shouldered the diaper bag.

It all reminded her of Dylan when Hunter was little. How attentive he was and how he always carried the diaper bag or car seat for her.

Having her brother home with his happy family warmed her heart. And made it ache with loneliness.

She and Dylan had planned to have another baby. But Dylan was gone. And Hunter was an only child.

And the only man she'd felt anything for since then lived right next door—temporarily. Totally out of reach.

* * *

Slade had tried to make small talk during the short drive to the ball field. But his brain didn't seem to fire right with Raquel next to him in her car. He couldn't stop thinking about the hug. About wanting to kiss her and her not seeming to disagree with the notion.

He'd been tired of traveling the circuit for a while now, but not tired of preaching. Could he fulfill his calling and stay in Aubrey?

Could he preach in a regular church? He was used to being surrounded by the smell of manure, with horses stamping and whinnying in the background and his congregation wearing cowboy hats under the Texas sky.

Churches were definitely more comfortable. Yet he couldn't imagine the cowboys he ministered to being comfortable with carpet and padded pews.

But he could definitely be comfortable riding to Raquel's rescue. At a slow but steady pace.

Focus on baseball.

“Got any power hitters on the team?”

“Power hitters?” Raquel laughed. “We're talking second grade here.”

“Okay. Anyone who can hit the ball?”

“Three or four kids,” Hunter piped up from the backseat.

Raquel turned into a parking lot and cut the engine. The field teemed with Little Leaguers and supportive parents.

“I can work with that.” Slade opened his door and they all piled out.

“And thanks to you, Hunter's one of our hitters now.” Raquel pulled the cooler she'd packed with Gatorade out of the backseat.

“Let me get that.” He wrestled the cooler from her.

“Watch for cars.” Raquel called as Hunter ran across the parking lot. The boy obediently slowed down.

Once on the field, Hunter spoke to a boy and they both turned to look at Slade. Hunter's teammate passed the word and soon the team huddled in the middle of the ball field staring at Slade.

“This is priceless,” Raquel whispered. “He just went from zero to hero in five seconds flat. Thank you.”

“I just hope I live up to whatever hype he gave me.” Slade grinned.

They neared the bleachers and a man met them at the edge of the field.

“What's this I hear about a former Texas Ranger agreeing to coach the team?” A tiny blonde ran to meet Raquel.

“This is Slade Walker.” Raquel stopped and Slade did, too. “He and Dylan were friends and he played for the Rangers.”

“I know.” The man offered his hand and Slade clasped it. “I mean, I know who he is. James Johnson, former coach. Commentators used to crack jokes about the pitcher named Walker who never walked anybody.”

“I wouldn't say never.” Slade winced. “And the Rangers was a long time ago.”

“Not that long ago.” Raquel's elbow brushed his as she
twisted off the cap of her bottled water. “He helped Hunter with batting.”

“You can put the cooler in the dugout.” The blonde pointed him in the right direction.

Grateful to put some distance between himself and Raquel, Slade fell in stride beside the coach. This was turning out to be harder than he'd thought.

* * *

“He's cute,” Lacie whispered, and waggled her eyebrows at Raquel.

Raquel's cheeks heated and she was glad Slade was busy setting up the cooler in the dugout.

“Hunter, introduce Mr. Walker to everyone,” the coach called.

“This is my friend Slade Walker.” Hunter stood tall and proud. “He used to play for the Texas Rangers and he's gonna be our new coach.”

Gasps and whoops echoed through the gathering.

“Let's get started with batting practice so Coach Walker can see what we got.” Coach Johnson smiled at Hunter. “You're up first since you saved the team.”

Hunter's pride warmed her heart as he stepped to the plate and took his pro stance.

“Where's the pitching machine?” Slade scanned the mound.

“Eight and Under is coach pitch. But we can get a machine for practice, if you want.”

“It's fine.” Slade rotated his shoulder. “Guess I'll pitch, then.”

Slade warmed up and wound up on his pitch. It was perfect. Thwack. The ball sailed into outfield and Hunter made it all the way to second base.

She and Lacie cheered, then settled alone on the guest bleachers.

“So what's the story on Slade?” Lacie bumped Raquel with her elbow.

“No story. He happened to move in next door for the spring, happened by when I was trying to pitch for Hunter and helped him with his batting. So when the coach thing came up—” she shrugged “—I asked him.”

“That's a lot of happening. Is he an old flame?”

“No.” Raquel shook her head decisively. “I never met him before. He and Dylan were friends until the fifth grade, when Slade moved. After graduation he got a scholarship and went to college and then the major league. But an injury in his first season ended his career. They were great phone friends for a few years and always planned to get together but never managed it.”