Through His Grace (8 page)

I knew it was a bad idea for her to come to the ranch
.

“Now, now.” Sondra wasn’t put off by his baleful look. “You’re a worse sport than Lizzie, huffing off like that!”

“I didn’t huff,” Nickels protested.

“You sure did,” Dylan added, his thumbs hooked into his belt loops. “I’m kinda disappointed in you, Nickels.”

“What for?” He glared into his cup.

“A strapping fellow like you should know better.” Sondra grinned mischievously.

“What exactly”—he crumpled the now-empty paper cup in his fist—“should I know?”

“If you want to catch her—,” Sondra began.

“You have to play the game,” Dylan finished.

“I’m not going to argue with you, Uncle Carl.” Grace kept her tone firm but not angry. She’d had a fine day at the Curly Q and was determined to resolve her issues with her uncle to top it off. “You hung up on me the night I brought Lizzie and Jake home and told you I had custody. You’ve had time to get used to the idea—weeks, in fact, and the time you waste being angry with me is time you could be spending with the children.”

“You stole them from me.” Uncle Carl’s voice came through so loud Grace moved the receiver further from her ear. “I asked for your help, and you took the kids for yourself!”

Lord, help me keep my patience
. Her uncle’s anger guided his choices. He hadn’t visited the children at the group home, and he’d given her the silent treatment. She needed to remember how much he’d lost. His wife had passed on less than two years ago. His only son and daughter-in-law just died in a tornado. He had taken the children, and she knew he’d done his best; but they were snatched away from him, too. Then he asked her for help.

“I did what I had to, to bring them home.” Grace shot an anxious look upstairs where Lizzie and Jake were cleaning their rooms. She didn’t want them to hear this conversation.

“Lasso is not home. Their home is in Buffalo Walk with me.” The older man’s voice broke on this last.

“Uncle Carl, I agree with you on some of that.” Grace took a deep breath.

“You do?” Her words wiped the fight from his voice.

“Jake and Lizzie need all the family love and support they can get. That’s why it’s so important they see you regularly.”

“But Lasso is a two-hour drive from Buffalo Walk,” Uncle Carl complained. “That’s a long way.”

“You’re right.” Grace plunged ahead. “That’s why I want you to think about moving in with us.”

“What?” From his response she couldn’t tell if he was pleased or outraged by the invitation.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Truth of the matter is, two small children are a handful for any one person,” Grace admitted. “We could raise them together. I know Jake needs a man in his life.”

“That he does.” Carl spoke more calmly now. “Are there stairs at your place? They’re hard on m’ knees, you know.”

“Yes, there are. I have a downstairs bedroom and a half bath. Right now I use it as my office, but it would be simple enough to move my desk into the den.”

“And I can bring Queenie, of course?”

“Queenie?”
Oh, no
.

“She’s my cat,” Uncle Carl said. “And Lizzie and Jake are very fond of her.”

Grace pinched the bridge of her nose. “I forgot you had a cat.”

“She’s a friendly thing,” he began.

“I’m sure she is, Carl. Thing is, I’m very allergic to cats. And she’s not an outdoor kitty, is she?”

“Absolutely not.” He sounded affronted. “Well, that’s a pickle. Queenie and I are a package deal, you see. Can’t you just…I don’t know…ask a doctor about it?”

“I have.” Grace sighed. “Nothing helps. My eyelids swell shut, and I break out in hives.”

“Then this isn’t going to work.” His disappointment came through loud and clear.

“Maybe we can meet in the middle.” Grace’s mind whirled as she tried to find a solution. “I’m sure we can find an apartment in Lawton, and then you’ll be a lot closer.”

“Moving is going to be a hassle,” the older man hedged.

“I can help. And I have some friends who’ll be glad to lend a hand.”
Lord, thank You for today. I know Sondra meant it when she said to let her know of anything she could help with. Moving will be a snap with a ranch hand or two! I’ll find some way to repay her. I’ll babysit so she can have a romantic evening with Dylan
.

“I’ll still be an hour away,” Carl said. “That’s not exactly spittin’ distance.” A long pause followed. “I don’t have the car anymore.”

“The bus goes from Lawton to Lasso.”
It makes sense he’s not allowed to drive; it’s the reason he didn’t visit the children at the group home
. Inspiration struck. “Besides, we can still move my desk to the den and put a bed in the spare room. That way you can spend the night and catch the bus again the next day. If need be I can pick you up.”

“That sounds like a good arrangement.” He sounded pleased. “And I do want to be involved with the children. Jake and Lizzie…well, they’re all I have left. And I thought I’d lost ‘em.” His voice grew gruff. “There aren’t many times in a man’s life when he gets a second chance.”

“What do you say we meet in Lawton on Saturday for lunch with the kids then find you an apartment? You’ll stay the night and come to church with us the next morning.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Scraper,” Dylan stated in the tone of a surgeon requesting a scalpel.

“Here.” Nickels passed it to his boss, who was cleaning the barbecue with near-clinical precision. He wandered off, stuffing napkins and paper plates into a garbage sack. They tidied up in silence for a while.

“I like her,” Dylan said, breaking the calm.

“Don’t let Sondra hear you talk like that.” Nickels wanted to keep the conversation light.

“Sondra likes her, too.” Dylan eyed him. “She’s welcome anytime.”

“Good thing. Sondra and I roped her into coming back next Sunday.” Nickels sat down, stretching his legs out in front of him.

“So…what’s the situation there?” Dylan took a chair next to him. “And I don’t mean about her taking in the children.”

“Are you sure?” Nickels adjusted his hat. “That one’s easier to explain.”

“You’ve been spending a lot of time over there lately. I haven’t said anything since you never ask for time off, but I’ve noticed you’ve been scarce most Saturdays.”

“Sondra has me taking the chicks by the group home,” Nickels pointed out. “That’s how I met Jake and Lizzie. Little tykes love them, and I promised to bring them back the next Saturday.”

“But Jake and Lizzie weren’t there anymore.” Dylan filled in the blanks. “Or so Sondra told me.”

“Yes, and a man’s word is his bond. So I asked Miss Chesterton to call Grace and find out if I could swing by.” He shifted a bit. “It’s become a regular occurrence.”

“I see.” Dylan paused for a few minutes. “Judging by the way you glowered at Danny this afternoon, I’d say that’s not the only thing occurring.”

“You might have a point there.”

“I’ve never seen you take such an interest in a woman, and it’s only fair to warn you that Sondra’s pretty keen on the idea.”

“So I gathered.” The two men shared a look that plainly said “women” and laughed companionably.

“I’ve got a soft spot for her,” Nickels ventured. “Thing is, it’s not as simple as ‘boy meets girl.’”

“First off, ‘boy meets girl’ is never simple.” Dylan gave him a knowing look. “Second, I’d already figured that much out…
Eric.”

Nickels glared at him.

“All right, all right!” Dylan held up his hands in mock surrender. “That glower of yours could scare the stripe off a skunk.”

“Good.”
It oughta work on Danny
.

“I’d hate to see you get moody, Nickels.”

“All’s fair in love and war,” Nickels quipped.

“And which is this?”

“I’ll have to get back to you on that.” Nickels stood up and dusted his hands on his jeans. “I’m heading for the bunkhouse.”

And a little peace and quiet
. He gazed up at the stars. He hadn’t sorted things out yet. No matter how good Dylan’s intentions were, Nickels didn’t like his boss putting him on the spot. Talking about Grace and the kids and how he figured into their lives was not something he was ready to discuss. He pushed open the door and headed for his bunk.

“Best afternoon I’ve spent in a while.” Danny hung up his hat when he came in a few minutes later, stomping his feet to get the dirt off his boots.

Best one you’re going to have for a longer while
. Nickels slid him a sideways glance.

“That Grace Willard is a purty li’l thang,” Hank agreed. “It’s nice to have women on the ranch.”

“Why is it we’re only just meetin’ her anyway?” Danny directed the question to Nickels.

“She just bought her house in Lasso.” Nickels bent over to take off his boots. “Used to live in Lawton where she works.”

“What’s the deal with those kids—her niece and nephew?” Danny wasn’t letting up.

“Parents died in the last tornado—she’s taken ‘em in as her own.” He gave them the barest information he could.

“Should’ve known there’d be a catch.” Hank rolled his eyes, and Nickels resisted the urge to jump from his bunk and let him have it.

“Lizzie and Jake are special—great kids.”

“Grace is pretty special, too, taking ‘em in like that.” Danny rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t see a ring on her finger.” “Watch yourself, Danny-boy,” Nickels warned. “Grace is going through enough right now.”

“Oh-ho!” Hank slapped his knee. “I think Nickels is staking his claim, Danny.”

“No need to get hot under the collar, Nickels.” Danny grinned. “Besides, it’s up to the lady who she wants to spend time with when she’s at the Curly Q.”

“This is not a competition,” he growled back. “She’s not on the market, you hear me? Her close kin just died, and she’s taken in two children all alone.”

“She doesn’t necessarily have to raise those kids alone,” Danny pointed out. “Anyway I’m just talking about enjoying her company.”

“Don’t push this, Danny.” Nickels crossed his arms menacingly. “You may have seniority over me on the range, Nickels”— Danny set his jaw—“but you’ve got no authority on this matter.” “You’re right, but remember this: A real man doesn’t dally with a woman’s affections, and he certainly doesn’t drag two defenseless kids into it.” Nickels stood up. “If you raise any expectations, you have to follow through. Lizzie and Jake have lost enough. Don’t get involved unless you’re willing to commit to all three.”

“I don’t know if I’m up for that.” Danny gave him a measuring look. “Are you?”

“Yes, I am.” Jake huddled under his race-car comforter, the top of his tousled brown hair sticking out.

“Oh, no, you’re not.” Grace pulled the blanket off with one swift yank.

“Am so!” Jake’s normally big, bright eyes narrowed to little more than slits as he glowered fiercely.

“Jake.” Grace bit back a grin at the contrast between his glare and his wildly ridiculous hair. “I repeat—you are not staying here today. It’s the first day of school!”

“What’s wrong?” Lizzie appeared in her nightgown, rubbing her eyes.

Grace had decided to wake up Jake first, thinking Lizzie would follow suit when she saw her brother getting ready for school.

“I’m staying right here today.” Jake stuck out his little chin defiantly.

“What?” Lizzie’s sleepy eyes opened wide.

“Good morning, Lizzie. Now you can help me out.” Grace smiled at her ally. “Tell your brother he can’t stay here all alone.”

“Auntie Grace is right. You can’t stay here alone.” Lizzie settled onto the bed beside Jake and wrapped her arms around him in a motherly fashion. Relief and pride swelled in Grace’s chest at the sweet sight. “So I’ll stay with you.” She smiled innocently at her aunt.

Traitor!
Grace barely refrained from burying her face in her hands. She’d known the first day of school would be a formidable challenge. New campus, new teachers, new schedules, and new faces. But she’d assumed the difficulties would start once she got them to Lawton Elementary.

“That won’t work either.” She stood up, taking advantage of her greater height. “I want both of you out of that bed this minute.”
I’m in charge here
, she silently tacked on.

“No.” Both children stared up at her—still on the bed.

I can’t believe I’m being held hostage by two children!
Grace cinched the belt of her bathrobe a bit tighter and squared her shoulders. She could show no weakness if she was going to break through their united front.

“This is not up for negotiation. You both have to go to school.” She warned them of the impending consequences of their behavior. “If you disobey me again, you won’t go to the ranch with me after church.”

“You’d leave us behind?” Lizzie’s hurt whisper almost broke through Grace’s reserves.

“Mary would watch you while I went,” she informed them.
It won’t do to let them think I’d abandon them somewhere
.

“But…” Jake sniffled and clung to his sister. “We, we just want to stay h-h—” He took a hiccup-like breath and tried again. “We want to stay—”

Here. I know you want to stay here, but you can’t
. Grace formed her response before he finished.