Echoes From The Past (Women of Character) (13 page)

Reluctantly, it seemed, he said.
"Did you find her?"

Christie drew a deep breath, and
it hurt her to say what she had to say. "Judith died, Darrell. She died
right after she sent Ellen that letter."

He swore. "Then come home.
There’s no reason for you to stay."

"I can’t. There are other
reasons I can’t leave yet."

"Ellen had a memorial
service. Let it all go."

"Ellen asked me for more. I
made her a promise."

"It’s a crazy idea, taking
ashes across the country."

Tensely, Christie said, "How
can you criticize my choice to honor Ellen’s last wish? Can I talk to
Eric?" she asked in a measured tone.

"Hang on."

Christie heard voices in the
background and then Eric’s sweet, innocent voice. "Hello, Aunt
Christie."

Relief spread throughout her body,
yet she felt as if she wanted to cry. "Eric, it’s so good to hear your
voice. How are you doing? I could hear you singing just a minute ago. What song
was that?"

"Itsy bitsy spider. I learned
a new one this week. Mrs. Gardner taught me."

"Which song did you
learn?"

"Wee Willie Winkie. Mrs.
Gardner said it’s the best song she ever heard anyone sing."

"I’ll bet she’s right. Are
you looking forward to school? It’s so exciting that you’ll be starting in the
fall." She had thought she would be there to see him get on the bus that
first day of school.

"It’s okay, I guess," he
said slowly, as if he hadn’t made up his mind yet. "Daddy said I’ll have
new friends."

"Of course you will. I’m very
excited for you."

"Aunt Christie, when are you
coming home?"

For a moment her mind went blank.
When was she coming home? When the heartache lessened, when the memories faded?
Where was home? Her apartment had been rented, her furniture sold. With the
exception of Eric, she had no reason to go back.

"I’m not sure, Eric. How
about if I make you a promise that we’ll see each other by the end of the
summer?"

"Okay. Then I’ll be able to
tell you about summer camp," he said, excitement entering his voice.

Christie’s heart tripped and then
speeded up. "You’re going to camp?" Her sister had thought Eric was
too young to attend camp.

"Yes, Daddy said I
could."

"You’ll have to tell me all
about it." She tried to keep her voice neutral, but her thoughts raced
with worry. What did Darrell know about keeping a five-year old safe?

"I will. Daddy wants to talk
to you again. I love you Aunt Christie."

The tightness in her throat
threatened to choke her. "I love you too, sweetheart."

"So when are you coming
home?" Darrell asked in her ear.

Christie closed her eyes.
"I’m not. I-I like it here at Winding Creek. I’m staying awhile."

"Where is Winding
Creek?"

"I’m in Kentucky."

"Geez! Christie, don’t you
think you’re carrying this a bit too far? What the hell was your sister doing
in Kentucky?"

Darrell’s barely concealed anger
made her hunch her shoulders. She knew from past experience Darrell would voice
his opinion whether she wanted to hear it or not. He used to ride roughshod
over Ellen, even though she had to admit he’d made her sister happy. "Eric
said he’s going to camp?"

"Yes." She heard the
steel in his tone.

"Do you think he’ll be happy
there?" she asked carefully.

"He wants to go, it’s a kid’s
camp. They’ve got riding and swimming. I did check it out." He was Eric’s
father and she had nothing to say in the matter.

She persisted anyway. "It’s
just that Ellen felt he was too young."

"I know what Ellen’s thoughts
were on camp. I don’t agree. He’ll have a good time, meet kids of his own age.
Besides, it’s just a day camp, not overnight."

Relief filtered through her.
"Oh, I thought he would be away overnight."

He made an impatient sound.
"I’m not an idiot. Eric isn’t ready to stay away overnight. We both know
I’ve screwed up in the past," he added, "but I'm taking good care of
my son."

She had questioned Darrell’s
suitability as a father. Was she so unforgiving she would risk hurting her
relationship with her sister’s only child? She knew in her heart Darrell had
always been a good father, she couldn’t take that away from him. That’s why
she’d been able to leave. She knew Darrell needed time with his son.

"You’re right, Darrell. I’m
sorry. I know you’ve always done what was best for Eric." When he walked
away from Ellen he had left Eric with her. Losing her son would have devastated
her sister.

His tone softened a bit.
"You’ve had a rough time, Christie." He let out a deep breath.
"I know we’ve never gotten along that great, but you’re always welcome
here when you’re ready to come back."

Her throat ached with unshed
tears. "That means a lot to me. Eric is my last link with Ellen."

"Christie," he said
tiredly, "I’m his father. You know the judge’s ruling is the way it should
be."

The truth in his words didn’t
lessen the hurt and loss she felt deep inside. Ellen had asked her to take care
of Eric and she had lost him. Christie felt incredibly tired, confused.
"I’m going to go now. I’ll call again. Goodnight."

"Wait, let me know how to get
in touch with you."

She hesitated. "I’ll send you
the address. Good bye, Darrell." Christie pressed the disconnect button,
knowing she wouldn’t send him the address. For now, she needed to be on her
own.

###

Garrett found Christie sitting
alone on living room terrace. Her bare feet rested on his wicker footstool and
her dark silky head rested against the cushioned back of his chair. She held
the cordless phone in her lap, one of her hands still curled around it.

He stood in the living room
doorway, gripping the wide curved handles of the French doors that stood
slightly ajar. Christie hadn’t seen him yet. Even in T-shirt and jeans, he
realized she was eye catching. It was strange, but he hadn’t noticed how
attractive she was when she first arrived in town. Of course, with Ruth’s good
food, she didn’t look as tired or thin as that first day either. For a brief
moment, he wondered how hungry she had been and knew she’d never tell him. He
had a feeling there were a lot of things Christie kept to herself. She had a
stoic air that hinted at things better left unsaid. Judith had always joked
about her horrible childhood. Garrett had never really known what stories were
truth and what she’d exaggerated.

Garrett studied what he could see
of her profile, sensing a certain vulnerability there. But there was something
undeniably sexy and alluring about her face, the slim nose and full lips.

"Christie." He stepped
outside, his boots scraping across the stone floor. She looked up at him.
Garrett felt a rush of adrenaline. He clenched his fists, then flexed his
fingers, wondering at the expectant look on her face. He remembered the last
time they’d been close, the kiss they had shared. It had been a simple kiss,
but one that had stuck in his memory all week. He wasn’t sure why, anymore than
he was certain why he’d sought her out after settling Hannah in bed. Something
had drawn him out here tonight. Curiosity? Desire? If only it was something as
simple as mere desire. Garrett shook that dangerous thought from his head.
Desire led to sex which led to complications.

"Hi, Garrett."

She curled toward him in the chair
and he moved closer.

"Hannah and I just got back
from town."

"I haven’t seen her all
day," she said.

"She’s been with my mom. I put
her to bed since she’s not feeling well."

"Have you had her to the
doctor?" Her voice tense with concern, her urgency surprised him.

"It’s just a cold."

Christie sat up straight. "I
know kids get colds all the time. But when I was little I never got sick."

"Never?" he asked with
disbelief.

"Not that I remember."
She hesitated and then added, "My sister Ellen was always sick. She wasn’t
real strong. I looked after her. We were a team."

"I’m sorry, Christie. You’ve
had a double loss."

She turned her head away. "I
miss her," she said in a low voice. "And Judith." She looked
back at him. "But you understand how it is when you love someone. When
they’re gone from your life it’s a void that can never be filled. At times it’s
still unreal."

"Christie. . ." Garrett
didn’t say the words that would disillusion her about his relationship with
Judith. He heard the pain in her voice and understood the sense of loss she
felt. Judith, however, had squeezed out all the love he’d felt for her long
before she had left. Garrett clenched his fists.

Christie’s face held a sweet
innocence, similar to the trust in his daughter’s face. How could he extinguish
that by telling her the ugly truth about his marriage? About her sister. . ..

"I know how you feel,"
he said simply. "I lost my Dad a few years ago. It seemed like he’d be
around forever. Brothers and sisters have a special bond too. It sounds like
you and Ellen were really close. Randy and I are pretty tight, most of the
time." Garrett grimaced. "I ride him about his carefree lifestyle and
he gives me a hard time about working all the time."

"You two must have been some
pair while growing up."

"We were inseparable, but
things change. Randy’s got his life in town and I’m out here."

Garrett pulled up a chair and sat
beside her. He lifted his feet onto the footstool, staring at his boots next to
her delicately curved bare feet.

Needing some action, he reached
over and removed the cell phone from her hands, then placed it on the table
beside him.

Christie stared at him blankly for
a moment. "I made a long distance call to my nephew. Let me know how much
it is so I can reimburse you. Hannah has a first cousin, you know. He’s younger
than her and his name is Eric."

Carefully, he took her hand. She
looked so wrapped up in her thoughts that he had to give her some form of
comfort. Maybe to let her know she wasn’t alone. "Memories getting to you,
huh, Christie?"

Her hands were cool, the fingers
slender against his rough and calloused hands. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to offer
each other friendship and a bit of caring on this quiet Kentucky night.

Christie’s fingers moved. No
longer passive in his palm, they gripped his fingers with strength.

"The memories are nothing I
can’t handle." As she looked up at him the soft glow of the overhead lamp
showed the smile curving her lips. "You’re one heck of a cowboy, Garrett.
Running this place, raising a little girl."

He gave an amused laugh.
"Honey, cowboys are a dime a dozen out here. Somehow, I don’t think you’ve
had much experience with them."

"You’re right about
that." She threw him a sidelong glance. "I wouldn’t mind getting to
know at least one of them better while I’m here."

"Since several of my men have
lined up to ask you out, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunity," he
remarked, staring out into the dark night. "You’re young, you should go
out and have a good time. No reason to sit around on a night like this."
If the better part of him didn’t feel so scarred he’d even think about pursuing
her.

Christie shrugged in an offhand
manner. "I’m the new face around here so of course they’ve asked me
out," she said simply. "But I wasn’t talking about any of your
men." She sat forward in the chair, her eyes soft and vulnerable.

"Do you want to ask me out
Garrett?"

Her question took him by surprise.
He breathed in her clean scent. Feminine, something fresh, like flowers and
laundry soap. Her dark eyes were so close he felt as if he looked into her
heart.

He stared at her warily as she
touched his rough-whiskered cheek with tenderness. "I’m not one for games
or waiting in line," he said harshly. "I did it once, I’ll never do
it again."

"I don’t play games,
Garrett." Her voice was deadly serious. "Life is too short."

It had been a long time since he had
tried to read the signals a woman sent out, maybe too long to think he could
get it right. Damn, but Garrett wanted to believe Christie wouldn’t mind him
kissing her again. But then, maybe she would let one of his ranch hands kiss
her too. "Maybe you just want a cowboy experience." His voice was
harsh, he knew it.

"No."

Garrett stood, pushing his chair
back. Christie stood also and leaned toward him just the slightest bit. Feeling
her warmth, drawn in by the quiet, waiting quality in her face, Garrett thought
maybe he didn’t care if that’s all she was after. Maybe he could learn to play
that game.

He bent slowly, unable in that
moment to deny himself the pleasure of kissing her. He pulled her to him until
they stood inches apart. Lightly, he brushed her mouth with his. Sensation
rocked him. He closed his eyes, repeating the light caress. A groan built
inside his chest. He wanted to lift her off her feet, bury his face in her
neck, the fragrance of her hair, and maybe take her inside and into his room. It
had been a long time. Garrett cupped her face and kissed her again, deeper, and
her lips parted to welcome him as her hands gripped his arms.

"Not here," he said, and
he took a step toward the living room doors. He hit something with the toe of
his boot and looked down. A doll. Hannah’s doll.

The sight of that jolted him. He
swallowed hard. He wasn’t a kid. He had a daughter to think about, a life he
was getting back on track. He dropped his hands. He had only taken a taste of
Christie, but that taste made him want more. Iron control kept him still and
his arms at his side.

In the next moment Christie’s
hands crept up his shoulders. The pads of her fingers rubbed the worn fabric of
his shirt. His shoulders tensed in anticipation and his body grew tight with wanting
but he stiffened his resolve. Better to stop now before things went further.