Shelter of Hope (3 page)

She marched across the yard toward the pair. Somehow she would get him to agree to go on the boat tomorrow for Labor Day. But maybe she needed to change tactics.

She again caught sight of the little girl, who swung around and waved at her to hurry up.

I’m doing it for Carly.

But when her gaze fell on Nathan, a frown carving lines in his face, she wasn’t so sure that was her sole reason.

She could get most people to tell her their life story. She should have become a counselor like Cody Weston, but she’d never been able to afford to go to college.

Still, she was sure she could get Nathan to talk about why he was retreating from people when he had a daughter who was so full of life. She would make it her mission.

Chapter Ten

Story:

Hours later, Nathan scanned the barn and the yard outside it from one pen to the next. Clean. Thanks in part to Susan. He couldn’t believe how she’d pitched in and worked right beside him, mucking out stalls, hosing down cages and spreading straw around, especially when she’d looked so fresh when she’d first come to the farm.

Not anymore. He turned back into the clinic and spied Susan sitting on the floor by Oreo, talking to the dog while stroking her fur. The mutt perked up and even wagged her tail a couple of times. Susan’s white capri pants were no longer white, and he wasn’t sure even bleach could get the dirt out, but she didn’t seem to mind. His wife had never felt that way. She’d wanted nothing to do with the upkeep of the few animals he’d had at the farm before the hurricane, preferring her pottery.

Susan glanced back at him. “When did you come in?”

“A minute ago.”

“I must be even more tired than I thought. I didn’t hear you come in. Is Oreo out of the woods?”

He came and knelt next to her, running his hand over the dog. “I think so. She’s a fighter. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s up and hobbling about in no time.”

“Good.” She flashed him a smile that made her blue eyes sparkle, adding radiance to her pretty features.

Whoa. Don’t go there.

“I appreciate all you’ve done today,” he finally said to break the silence hovering between them.

“I’m glad, because I would like to come on a regular basis.”

His defenses went up. “Why?”

“Because I enjoyed today.”

“You did? Mucking out stalls isn’t my idea of fun.”

“What
is
your idea of fun?”

The question took him by surprise. That happened a lot with Susan—like when she and Carly had gotten into a hay fight earlier today. He saw a stray piece in Susan’s hair and plucked it out. “You missed this.”

She laughed. “I guess using hay was less messy than a water fight. I was tempted when I was using the hose.”

“I’ll have to stay alert the next time I see you with a hose in your hand.”

“Next time? So you’re all right with me helping out on the weekends?”

What if he came to depend on her? People had let him down in the past, to the point that he found it easier if he just relied on himself. Even God had let him down when he needed Him the most.

“Consider it my way of paying you for taking care of Oreo.”

The words
You don’t have to do that
were on the tip of his tongue, but he made the mistake of looking into her eyes, full of caring, and he couldn’t say them. His throat tight, he nodded.

“Great. Now you have no excuse not to go on the boat tomorrow with Kim and Zane. Your daughter really wants you to go. I can come pick you two up, help with the early morning feeding and check on Oreo. So, what do you say?”

Nathan stood and towered over her. “Why is this so important to you?”

Chapter Eleven

Story:

“It’s important y’all go because I believe in playing as well as working. I don’t think you’ve taken a day off in a long time. Very overdue.” Susan shut the door on Oreo’s crate and rose, leaving only a couple of feet separating her and Nathan.

Tension poured off him. She was getting to him. She could see the war of emotions flitter across his face.

He opened his mouth but then snapped it closed. Looking away, he stared at Oreo. “I know how to play.” He sighed, some of the stiffness easing from him. “But you’re right, it has been a while since I’ve done it. I’m trying to do two jobs and raise Carly. I usually fall into bed each night totally exhausted. Sometimes to the point I can’t fall asleep.”

His words, full of that weariness he talked about, gripped her heart and squeezed, sending an aching pain through her. That was when she was sure the Lord had led her to Nathan to help him. He was a good man, hurting, who tried to deal with pain by drowning himself in work. That often didn’t succeed. She knew from experience. She tended to overcommit, whereas her mother could never commit—not even to her daughter. And there was no escaping that pain.

“So y’all will go?”

He met her gaze. “Yes. But I’ll follow you to the pier. That way you don’t have to come all the way out here again after spending a day on the water. Playing is just as tiring as working.”

“Don’t I know it. The last time I went out with Zane and Kim on the boat I was exhausted when I came back to the dock. But a good kind of exhaustion.” She glanced down at her dirty clothes. “I think I’d better call it quits before even I don’t want to ride with myself to my apartment.”

His chuckles peppered the air. “Backbreaking work during a hot and humid day will do that to you.”

Susan headed for the door. “I’ll say goodbye to Carly, then leave. See you tomorrow at six. I think Zane wants to be gone by eight.”

“I’ll be out here by five.”

Her gaze connected with his. “I figured that.”

For a long moment she felt tethered to him, not able to move forward, not able to look away. A softening in his expression undermined her determination to help him, but keep it strictly as a favor to a friend. Though past relationships had demonstrated she wasn’t very good at that.

Maybe she was more like her mother than she thought.

Dragging her attention from him, she murmured, “Bye,” and hurried from the clinic, shoring up her resolve to be a friend to Nathan and Carly. Nothing more.

Chapter Twelve

Story:

On Labor Day, Nathan stood with his feet planted apart, clasping the railing on the upper deck as Zane maneuvered the boat alongside the dock on his private island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Gideon, Zane’s best friend, hopped up onto the pier while his wife, Kathleen, tossed him the rope to tie to the posts.

Zane cut the engine. “I’m glad Susan talked you into coming. She does have a persuasive way about her.”

Nathan searched for the woman in question. She sat at the front of the boat, sunning herself and talking with Kim. Suddenly she twisted around and looked right at him—he’d been caught staring at her. Heat that had nothing to do with the sun scored his cheeks. “That she does. Sorta reminds me of a bulldog.”

“Leave it to a vet to compare a woman to a bulldog. I wouldn’t tell her that’s how you think of her, though. She might not like it.”

“Let me put it another way. She is one determined lady.”

“Which makes her a great worker for me. I trust Susan to run the office, and I’ve never regretted that decision.”

“Trust in a work situation is different from trust in a relationship.”

“Whoa, Nathan Grayson is talking about a relationship? This is new.”

“I mean…” What had he meant by saying what he was thinking out loud? It must be the hot sun, although at the moment the boat’s awning shaded him.

“You don’t have to explain. She has a certain charm about her that can befuddle a person. She works for me, so I know the feeling.” Zane slapped Nathan on the back. “Let’s go. My wife and Kathleen have planned a feast for lunch, and I’m starved.”

“But it’s only ten o’clock.” Nathan climbed down the ladder after Zane.

“Nathan Grayson, we’re not going to refer to the time today.” Susan’s saucy voice drew his attention toward her coming around the side of the boat.

He offered her his hand, helping her around the railing. “Didn’t know that was a rule.”

“Remember, I’m going to show you how to play. Rule one, time is suspended. Think of the moment you are in, not of the past or future.”

He wasn’t sure he could do that. Although he couldn’t see her eyes behind her dark sunglasses, he was sure there was a twinkle in them. “Throw caution to the wind.”

“Yes! There’s hope for you after all.”

“C’mon, Daddy, Susan. We have an island to explore.”

“Susan?” Nathan picked up the bag with the beach towels, sunscreen and various items to build a sandcastle, Carly’s requested activity.

“We’re coming,” Susan called out to a dancing Carly on the dock, then said to him, “I couldn’t see her calling me Miss Fayard since I’m gonna be around so much when I help with the animals. Miss Fayard makes me sound way too old.”

“When was this decided?”

“When we were sunbathing on the way out here.”

“How did you get her to stay still for that long?”

“Girl talk.” She winked at him and climbed off the boat.

Zane passed him, chuckling. “You might as well relax and enjoy the ride. Susan’s adopting you.”

“Adopting me? What’s that mean?” A sense of panic gripped him.

“I’ve seen her on a mission before, and she is definitely on one now.”

Nathan watched Susan settle her hand on Carly’ shoulder, deep in conversation with his daughter while they started down the pier.

I’m in trouble. Deep trouble.

Chapter Thirteen

Story:

“I thought Carly wanted to build this sandcastle,” Nathan said as he dumped a bucket full of sand down for the wall around their two-foot sandcastle.

“She did, until Anna suggested something more fun to do. They’re determined to find the best seashell. Besides, it’s so much better if an older cousin wants to do something with you than adults.” After pounding her sand down, Susan sculpted a turret.

“Then why are we doing this?”

“I like to finish projects I start.”

“Zane seems to think I’m your newest project.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. The sandcastle is.” A grin tilted the corners of her mouth up. There was no way she was going to admit to him that, in a way, he
was
one of her projects. At least, not until he got used to seeing her around the farm and got accustomed to her help. “I’m beginning to understand how time-consuming all the animals are. We barely made it this morning to the pier before the boat left, and that’s with my extra hands.”

He dropped his gaze to the sand in front of him. “I got a late start this morning. I had only fed one pen of animals when you showed up.”

“So you didn’t get up at five?”

Nathan shook his head.

“You slept in.” She grinned. “That’s a great way to start a day of play. A good night’s sleep will prepare you for all the fun we’re going to have today.”

“Yeah, I know. Playing is hard work. But I
didn’t
get a good night’s sleep. Probably about four hours. That’s why I slept in.”

“After all the chores we did yesterday, I would have thought you’d have no trouble sleeping.”

“I did, too. But I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

Susan stilled her sand carving and shot him a look. The sun seemed oppressively hot all of a sudden, but she resisted the urge to fan her face. That might send the wrong signal. “Oh, why not?”

“Good question. What are you up to? Zane said—”

“First of all, don’t listen to Zane. I have to because he’s my boss, but you don’t. It’s simple. I want to help you and Carly with the animals. It’s a good cause, and I have some extra time now that the rebuilding of the town is beginning to slow down.” She needed to get him off this subject before it turned too personal, too uncomfortable. “On the drive to your farm this morning, I thought of a way to get you even more assistance with the animals, and possibly interest some people in adopting them.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask.”

“If you’ll let me organize what I propose for the shelter, I think it’ll be the answer for you.”

The intensity in his expression faded, his gaze brushing across her face as though he were caressing her. “What idea?”

“I want to get the youth group at church involved with the animals. I can schedule them to come throughout the week. And not only them, but anybody else who enjoys animals. This shelter can be a community project. Not just yours alone.”

“What happens if I begin to depend on them and they don’t show up?”

“I’m not gonna tell you that everyone will show up. We can’t control what others do. But instead, focus on the ones who do come. You have a chance to let people volunteer for a good cause, and in the end that will make them feel better. Think of the joy you’ll be spreading.”

Nathan chuckled. “No wonder Zane raves about you running his office.”

She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “Don’t tell him, but it goes much farther than just his office. It’s the whole company. He just doesn’t know it.”

She winked, causing Nathan to burst out laughing. “I have a feeling he does. Okay, I’ll try your idea.”

“Good. You won’t regret it.”

Nathan started to say something, but just then, Carly screamed.

Chapter Fourteen

Story:

His daughter’s scream propelled Nathan into action. Racing into the water, he spotted her scrambling backward not five feet from him while Anna ran past him to Susan. “What’s wrong, Carly?”

Carly whirled around and flew into his arms, tears streaking down her cheeks. “It hurts.”

“What?” He scooped her up and hurried toward the shore, noticing a redness developing on her leg.

“I didn’t see the sea nettle until it was too late. It stung me before I could get out of the way. I tried, Daddy.”

“I know, baby. Zane has something in his first-aid kit for it.” Nathan placed her on the beach towel.

Susan knelt down next to Carly. “I’ve dealt with this before. I got stung once. Anna, get your dad’s first-aid kit. Let him know what’s happened.” Then she turned to Nathan and said, “Use a bucket and fill it with salt water without sand.”