Authors: Kelly Nelson
Seven
One of the old-timers tipped his hat in her direction. “Evening, miss.”
Never having been in a tavern or even associated with someone who drank, she failed to find her voice and simply nodded. She stepped forward. Her high heels clicked on the hardwood floor as she walked passed the table with the three younger men.
“Hey, what’s your name? Come ’ere, girlfriend. I’ll buy you a drink,” one of them slurred.
Cat ignored him and marched toward the bar. A chair rubbed across the floor. “No need to be rude. I’m just offering to buy you a drink.” From the sound of his voice, the guy was following close behind her.
The walk across the tavern seemed like a marathon. She dropped her purse on the black granite countertop and climbed onto the barstool next to Ty. The shocked look on his face was priceless. But showing up here felt more and more like a stupid idea with every passing second. With her luck, he would still be mad and drive off, leaving her stranded at this hole in the wall. Then she’d be begging Allen to come rescue her—the ultimate embarrassment.
The young man from the table pulled out a barstool and sat on the other side of Cat, grinning. “Hey, my name’s Nick. Why you ignoring me? I won’t bite.”
She turned to look at him. The smell of alcohol hung on his breath. “I’m with him.” She pointed her thumb toward Ty. “But thanks anyway.”
The guy laughed at her. “Girlfriend, it don’t look like you’re with him, and he sure don’t act like he wants you here.”
Cat glanced back at Ty. It was true. He looked like he wanted nothing to do with her. What was his mother thinking, dropping her off like this? Nick’s hand touched her back and he leaned closer. “So what’ll it be, baby, a beer? Bud Light? Margarita? Or maybe a shot of tequila?” His hand made slow but steady progress down her back.
“Don’t touch me!”
Ty jumped to his feet, his chair scraping the hardwood as he shoved the man’s arm away. Nick swore and stood to face Ty. At his full height, Ty towered over him. “The lady said she was with me.”
Everyone in the bar fell silent. The bartender stopped wiping the counter and looked at the two men. “No fightin’ allowed. You boys take it elsewhere or I’ll be callin’ the cops.”
Ty dug his wallet out of his pocket and dropped a ten on the bar. “We were just leaving.” He picked up Cat’s purse and offered his hand. “Come on. Let’s get outta here,” he said, his expression and voice stern. She took his hand and scrambled out of her seat. The young man glowered at them as they walked past.
Ty led her outside. “What are you doing in a bar?”
“Actually, I thought it was a tavern.”
“What’s the difference? It’s the same thing.” He sighed. “So, what are you doing here?”
“Looking for you. I didn’t know taverns were so treacherous.”
He laughed, his expression softening. “For most of us, they aren’t. But you walking in there in your Sunday best is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. You’re just asking for trouble with guys like that.” Ty stopped next to his truck and looked around the parking lot. “How’d you get here?”
“Your mother.”
He raised his eyebrows. “My mother?”
“Yes, she said you were at Moe’s. I had no idea Moe’s was a tavern or bar or whatever you call it, or I wouldn’t have come.”
Ty shook his head and opened the truck door. “Did my mom call you or something?”
“No, I came to your house. Why didn’t you answer your phone when I called?”
He pointed to his iPhone on the seat. “I left it in the truck.” Cat stood in front of the open passenger door. “Hop in,” he said. “I’ll take you home.”
She crossed her arms. “Is that a good idea? Since you’ve been drinking and all . . . I mean . . . maybe I should drive.”
He leaned around her and set her purse on the dash. “I’m not a lightweight, Catherine. Don’t worry, I’m not drunk.”
“Well . . .” She paused. “Isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?”
He let out a grunt and offered her the keys. “Suit yourself. Scoot over there and you can drive.”
Cat took the keys, climbed into the truck, and slid across the seat. Ty got in and closed the door. He turned and watched her, his left arm casually slung over the backrest. She buckled her safety belt and put the key in the ignition. Looking at him, she asked, “Aren’t you going to put on your seat belt?”
He grinned. “Why? You think I’ll need it?”
“Click it or ticket,” she replied. “If I get a ticket, you’re paying for it.” She turned the key. The engine sputtered and died. Again, she turned the key. This time, the sputtering of the truck’s engine was even shorter lived. “What’s the matter with this thing?”
Ty stifled a chuckle. “Sure you don’t want me to drive?”
“Just tell me what to do.”
“You’ve got to give it gas. It doesn’t idle right—the engine won’t get enough gas by itself. Keep your foot on the gas pedal all the time, even when you stop. You’ll have to brake with your left foot.”
Again Cat tried and failed to start the truck. She let out an exasperated sigh. Ty moved next to her. “Let me help you get it going.” She became acutely aware of his left arm around her shoulder. He turned the key and revved the engine. “There you go. Slide your foot over here on the gas pedal. Now remember to keep giving it a little gas.” He stayed where he was, and she felt his eyes lingering on her face. She backed out of Moe’s, killing the engine once in the process. After Ty restarted the truck he said, “Guess I’d better stay here,” and buckled himself into the middle seat belt.
His nearness made it difficult to concentrate. He watched Cat’s every move, and she could smell him—his deodorant or his shampoo. The scent was intoxicating, whatever it was. His face was inches from hers, and she detected a trace of beer on his breath. It reminded her of the break-up plan.
“Why did you come looking for me, Cat? Is it over? Playing house or whatever it was we were doing the last two weeks? Are we done now that your boyfriend’s back in town?” He spat out “boyfriend” as if the word tasted bitter.
She huffed. “Maybe it should be. Why’d you go storming off? You didn’t even give me a chance to explain. I’m not sure I want to spend time with someone who runs off to the bar every time he’s mad. That’s not what I’m looking for in—”
Ty’s eyes darted to each side before he fixed his gaze straight ahead. “You’re going to run a stop sign, Catherine,” he interrupted her calmly.
Her attention returned to the road and she slammed on the brakes. Both of their heads snapped forward. The truck screeched to a halt in the center of the rural intersection. Deprived of gasoline, the old engine died. Cat pulled her foot off the brake. “Oh, for goodness sakes!” She dropped her head into her hand.
Ty moved her foot out of the way with his, put the truck in neutral, and restarted the engine. A chuckle escaped his lips. “If you aren’t careful, you’ll get us pulled over. The way you’re driving, the cops will think you’ve been drinking.” He moved the gearshift into drive and accelerated through the intersection, then turned the wheel, edging the truck off the road.
Thoroughly mortified, Cat looked at him. “Would you go back to your own side? I can’t think with you hovering over me.”
After putting the truck in park and turning off the engine, Ty unbuckled his seat belt and moved away. “I’m sorry, Catherine. I’ll admit I acted immature. But the thought of you on some romantic campfire date with that other guy made me mad. I know it’s none of my business what you do or who you’re with. It’s just that . . . if I didn’t like you, it wouldn’t bother me so much that you’re kissing some other guy.”
Cat stared at Ty through the dim interior of the cab. He leaned against the opposite door and crossed his arms over his chest. “First of all,” she said, “it wasn’t a romantic campfire date. A fireside is a church meeting, in the chapel, with lots of people. Actually, now that I’m thinking of it, I’m not sure why we call it a fireside. Maybe it goes back to the pioneer days when the Saints gathered around the fire in the evenings to sing or study the gospel. But no matter, the Church is important to me, and if you don’t like me going to the meetings with Allen, then you’d better start going yourself.”
“Okay,” Ty replied.
“Okay what?”
“Okay, I’ll start going to firesides or Church meetings or whatever else you’re doing.”
“You’re going to start going to church, just like that?” Cat blurted.
“Sure, why not?”
“I’ll believe that when I see it. You’ll have to wear a suit. Or at least a collared shirt and tie. Do you even own a suit and tie?”
Ty started laughing. “Of course I own a suit and tie. Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”
“All right then. The meetings start at one o’clock. Be at my house next Sunday at twelve thirty.”
“Done. Anything else?”
“Yeah, where’d you get the idea I was kissing Allen?”
“Danny.”
Cat’s jaw dropped. “What else did he tell you?”
“Not much. Trivial stuff, mostly.”
“Not that it’s any of your business—and don’t you dare read anything into this—but for your information, I wasn’t kissing Allen tonight. In fact, I told him I need time to figure things out.”
“That’s good to know,” Ty said. “Do you mind if I ask if it was a break-up, or something less serious?”
At the grin on his face, which he clearly tried to hide, Cat replied, “Yes, I do mind.”
Why on earth did I just tell him what I said to Allen?
Ty’s gaze never left her as the silence stretched between them, and the awkwardness finally compelled Cat to speak. “Well, it felt like a break-up. I’m not looking for a relationship right now. Period. So if you are, we shouldn’t be seeing each other.”
“Would you mind if I ask why you broke up with him?”
At the lift of Ty’s eyebrow and the half smile that made her stomach flutter, she let her guard down. “I’m not sure it would have worked out between Allen and me. I know they say opposites attract, but we had some big differences.”
Ty leaned forward. “What kind of differences?”
Cat let out a sigh. Had he not heard her? She’d spell it out for him, then hopefully he would move on. “I like living in the country and having my horses. But Allen wants a prestigious career, a nice house in town with a manicured lawn, and a wife who has dinner on the table when he gets off work. He’s never come right out and said it like that, but I can tell. Unfortunately for him, I’m not that kind of girl, and I don’t want to be that kind of wife. I’m feeding sixteen horses at dinner time, and honestly, I don’t want to lose that. It would smother me to live in the city. But it would be torture for Allen to live on our little ranch. He’s allergic to hay and horses and cats and who knows what else. Five minutes in the barn and he’s wheezing, coughing, sneezing, and wiping tears from his eyes. On the other hand, he and I have the same religion, which is very important to me—more important than even my horses. We have other things in common, but I don’t think it would be enough to make a marriage work. It’s not fair to keep him hanging on. It’ll be better for him in the long run to meet someone else.”
Ty nodded his head. “I see.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure that’s way more than you wanted to hear.”
“No, don’t apologize. It’s good to know where you stand. I want to hear it. Plus, I like knowing what you’re thinking.” He studied her in a way that had her shifting her gaze away from his intense blue eyes.
Cat watched a pair of headlights pass them, then took off her seat belt. “Maybe you
should
drive. I feel like a mess. There’s so much on my mind I can’t concentrate.”
He opened his door and walked around the truck. She tried not to notice him in the headlights—tried to ignore the subtle swagger in the way he walked, his straight back and strong shoulders.
Ty opened the driver’s-side door, sending her scrambling to move out of his way. He reached over and caught her hand in his. “Sit by me, please.” At the softness in his voice she scooted back over and fastened the middle seat belt across her hips.
He started the truck and pulled onto the road. “You make it look so easy,” she said.
“I’ve had a lot of practice.”
Neither of them spoke again until he turned onto his driveway. “Can I show you something before you leave?”
“Sure,” she answered.
Eight
Ty drove past Cat’s truck and parked by the barn. “Come on,” he said, holding his door open for her.
She climbed out and watched him disappear into a small office at the front of the barn. He emerged wearing a flannel jacket and carrying a blanket, which he handed to her. “Hold this, please.”
“What’s it for?”
He pushed his motorcycle out of the shadows and set the helmet on the hood of the truck. “In case you get cold.” He straddled the bike and kick-started it. “Hop on.”
She shook her head. “I’m in a dress.”
Ty grinned. “Pull it up. It’s dark. Nobody will see. And I promise I won’t look.” He turned his head away.
Cat stared at his back, thinking maybe she didn’t want to see whatever it was he wanted to show her. But as if her body had a mind of its own, she tucked the blanket under one arm and hiked up her skirt. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she swung her leg over the bike and settled onto the seat behind him.
“Hold on,” he said. “I don’t want to lose you off the back.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “If my friends could see me now, they’d think I’ve gone off the deep end,” she muttered.
Ty chuckled. “Lucky for you, I’m a good swimmer.” He let out the clutch. Cat tightened her grip around his middle as the motorcycle sped across the open field toward the tree line.
Wind whipped past her face.
What am I thinking?
She had climbed on the back of a motorcycle in the middle of the night to drive off to who knows where, with a guy she had known for two weeks and planned to break up with. And he’d just left a bar, of all places. Cat took a deep breath and sent up a silent prayer. While she hoped this wouldn’t be one of those bad decisions she’d regret later, a peaceful calm came over her. Ty had a good heart and maybe her friendship could be a positive influence in his life.
He turned the motorcycle into the woods and for a short time followed a nearly overgrown trail, then slowed to a stop and cut the engine. “We’re here,” he said.
Still holding the blanket, Cat climbed off the bike and looked at the shadowy tangle of brush and trees surrounding them. “This is what you wanted to show me? The woods?”
Ty pulled a flashlight out of his pocket and searched the brush. “Not exactly. It’s on the other side of the river. But if I can’t find the canoe, I won’t be showing you anything.”
She listened to the gurgle of slow-moving water. A gentle breeze stirred the trees, rustling the leaves overhead. “Is that the Tualatin River?”
“It is. Our property borders the river. My best friend Larry used to live on the other side.”
“Your mechanic friend?”
“Yup—Larry the Mechanic Guy.” Ty elbowed his way into a blackberry bramble and shoved a warped piece of plywood out of the way. “Aha! I found it.” He pulled a canoe onto the trail and handed Cat the flashlight.
She aimed the beam of light in front of them and followed as he dragged the canoe to the river. When he stopped at the bank, she surveyed the dirt- and moss-covered watercraft. “Are we getting in that thing?”
“Sure.” After brushing off one of the bench seats, he held his hand out to her. “You can sit on the blanket.”
She handed him the blanket and took his hand to step into the canoe. “Will this thing even float? How old is it, anyway?”
“Ancient. But it should float.” Ty grinned at her. “You do know how to swim, though, just in case?”
Cat gripped the sides of the boat. “Of course I do.” Fortunately, the Tualatin River wasn’t particularly wide or fast-moving.
When he stepped in and shoved off, the boat rocked in the water, so she tightened her hold. Ty picked up the oar and they glided into the darkness. He pulled the oar through the water, propelling them forward. Black water swirled beneath the canoe, while a chorus of crickets serenaded them. Cat glanced skyward. Moonlight filtered through the tree canopy, illuminating Ty’s face. His eyes searched the trees. Soon, the canoe bumped into the opposite bank, and he climbed past her and pulled it onto dry land.
Cat held his hand as she climbed out. “Well, we made it without swimming.”
She stood close enough to see his smile in the moonlight. “I figured we would,” he replied. “Come on. It’s this way.”
The path had probably been wider at some point, but brush and brambles now crowded in, leaving only a trace of a trail. Ty and Cat walked in single file as he led her up the bank and through the woods. He stepped on any protruding blackberry branches, holding them away from her bare legs. An aggressive bramble grabbed her skirt, pulling her to a stop. She gathered her skirt closer and said, “I’m definitely not dressed for the occasion.”
Ty reached behind her to free the billowy fabric from the thorn. “But you sure look nice. It’s not much farther.”
Her foot sank into a molehill and she wiggled her toes, trying to shake the loose dirt out of her strappy heels. Suddenly, she giggled. “This is crazy! Where exactly are we going? I’m starting to think the only thing that will make this worthwhile is buried treasure. If that’s the case you better have shovels hidden in the brush too, so we don’t have to go back to the barn for them. It’s not easy hiking in these shoes.”
He laughed. “Yeah, they weren’t made for this terrain. I usually see heels like those on women in the office, or at a fancy restaurant. But you aren’t like other women, so it doesn’t surprise me you’re managing superbly.”
“I’m glad it meets with your approval.”
Ty stopped. “Most definitely. Everything about you meets with my approval. But lucky for you, we’re here.”
Feeling herself blush at the compliment, Cat looked around. Nothing but trees and bushes. “Is this a joke?”
He shined the flashlight beam above his head. “No. Look up.”
She followed his gaze. High above her perched an irregularly shaped hexagon made of wooden planks. “A treehouse?”
“Yup. Larry and I built it. But I haven’t been out here in years.” Ty walked to the tree and she saw two-by-fours nailed to the enormous trunk. “Ladies first,” he said.
“No thanks. I’m wearing a dress. I’ll let you go first.”
He dropped the flashlight into the pocket of his jacket and draped the blanket across his shoulders. “Okay,” he said excitedly, then scrambled up the tree and disappeared into the dark branches.
Cat stepped back.
How old is this thing?
What if the wood is decayed and the treehouse collapses under our weight?
Just then a dusting of dead leaves and debris drifted down from above. “Ty?”
“Climb up, Cat,” he called.
“Is it safe?”
“Yes, it’s great.”
Slowly she moved forward and set her hand on the piece of wood before her. It felt sturdy enough. She put her foot on the first rung of Ty’s makeshift ladder but her shoe slipped. Some of the boards were nailed at an angle. Cat reached down and slid the strap off her ankle.
“Are you okay down there?”
The beam of his flashlight nearly blinded her when she looked up. “I’m fine. But turn that light off or I’ll fall for sure.”
He clicked off the light. “Be careful. About halfway up, there’s a loose board. You’ll want to step lightly on that one.”
Cat stepped out of her other shoe and wrapped her toes around the board. “Thanks for the warning,” she mumbled.
She climbed up the crude ladder, carefully placing each hand. Her skirt tangled around her ankles.
This would be so much easier in shorts.
Gripping the board above her head, she reached down to yank her skirt above her knees and tuck it in her waistband. Steadily, she propelled herself upward.
The next board tilted dangerously when she grabbed it. “Oh! I found the loose one.” She wiggled it—only one nail held it to the tree. She stretched her arm up the trunk to the next board and continued her climb. When her fingertips curled around the platform, Ty grabbed her wrists. In one fluid motion he lifted her up next to him and set her on her feet. Without her heels, he towered over her. “Hey, Shorty, you shrunk,” he said.
Cat straightened her skirt and wiggled her toes. “No shoes.” She turned her face and looked toward the horizon. From their perch in the treetops she could see the sweeping fields on both sides of the river and the snake-like curvature of the tree-lined Tualatin. A stiff breeze sent a shiver down her spine.
Ty released her hands and bent to retrieve the blanket. He moved closer and wrapped her shoulders with its warmth. Between the wind blowing through her hair, the wool tickling her neck, and the man gazing down at her, Cat felt as if she’d entered another world. She took the corners of the blanket and crossed her arms in front of her. “Thank you.” She walked to the edge of the platform. A makeshift railing framed the perimeter. “What a beautiful view. I can’t believe you built this. How old were you?”
“Twelve when we started. But we rebuilt it the summer before our junior year. Larry worked at a lumberyard and picked up scrap wood whenever he could.”
She peered down at the forest floor. “It’s impressive, but not particularly safe.”
Ty tucked his hands in his pockets and chuckled. “So you won’t be letting me bring Danny up here?”
She whirled around. “Absolutely not. I’d have a heart attack for sure.”
By the smirk on Ty’s face he had clearly been teasing her. He sat down and brushed off the spot next to him, then leaned back on his elbow. Pointing to the sky, he said, “It’s a full moon. Clear skies. Come lie down and take a look.”
Her heart raced. She didn’t dare move. Trapped—that’s how she felt—high above the ground, with Ty between her and that rickety excuse for a ladder. Had he planned this all out? Maybe he wasn’t just
showing
her something. Was his plan to get her alone . . . in the woods? Obviously he didn’t have the same values as she did—she had found him in a bar, for Pete’s sake. Her voice came out in a nervous squeak. “No . . . I’m fine where I am.”
Ty laced his fingers together and tucked them beneath his head. He glanced from her to the sky. “There’s a better view of the stars from over here.”
Cat looked above her head, hardly seeing what beauty the heavens held. “I can see them fine from here.”
When Ty didn’t say anything else, curiosity soon drew her gaze back to him. The moonlight streamed through an opening between the branches, illuminating his face. But his gaze seemed to be focused on her, not the night sky. “Catherine, don’t worry. I promise I won’t try anything. I got it. You’re not that kind of girl.”
She exhaled, not having realized she was holding her breath. He’d addressed her concern. But could she trust him? The peaceful calm she had felt earlier returned—she was safe with him. She took one step. Then another. Once she reached him, she sat down. He stretched out his arm on the wood floor, inviting her to lie down. She leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Look!” he said.
She followed his finger and watched a streak of light soar through the sky. When it disappeared, she smiled. “Wow! A shooting star. You don’t see that very often.”
“Unless you spend time watching the stars,” Ty replied. “It’s a meteor, actually. Rocks burning in the atmosphere leave a trail in the sky. It happens more than most people realize.”
“I suppose I don’t lie around looking at the stars much.”
“You could start.”
“Maybe.”
“Do you know the constellations?” he asked.
Cat pointed into the sky. “The Big Dipper. There’s a Little Dipper somewhere. And I’ve heard of Orion’s belt. But no, I don’t.”
Ty raised his arm to the sky. “The Little Dipper is there—above the open-cup side of the Big Dipper. Do you see the North Star?”
“Yes.”
“The North Star is in the handle of the Little Dipper. Its handle has more of a bend in it than the Big Dipper’s handle. And of course it’s smaller. On the handle side of the Big Dipper are the constellations Bootes and Hercules. In my opinion, Bootes doesn’t look like a boot and Hercules doesn’t look like a man, but that’s what they’re called. Somewhere behind that branch is a kite-shaped constellation called Libra. And if you stretch your imagination, Scorpius, in the south, does look a little like a scorpion.”
Cat glanced at Ty’s face next to hers. “How do you know so much?”
“My grandpa was an avid stargazer. He used to take my sisters and me outside to study the stars when we were little. My sisters got bored with it, and soon it was just Grandpa and me. He died when I was fifteen, so my grandma gave me his telescope and star maps.”
“That’s nice,” Cat said.
“I actually prefer moon-watching—tracking the phases and studying the craters and plains with the telescope. Tonight is the full moon.”
“It is beautiful.” She gazed into the shadowy spots on the moon’s surface. “What else do you like to do?”
“I usually work out at the gym, but my dad’s keeping me so busy I haven’t done much of that lately.”
Cat turned on her side and giggled. “Here I thought these muscles were all-natural—a byproduct of your hard work on the farm.”
Ty laughed. “If working out at the gym doesn’t count as all-natural, then I guess I’m not.”
“Lucky for you, gym muscles are fine with me. Okay, what else? What are your other hobbies?”
“I like to surf.”
“Isn’t it cold? That sounds like torture to me.”
He smiled. “It’s only cold when the water’s cold. But that’s what wetsuits are for. It’s my turn now. I know you like to ride horses. But what other hobbies do you have?”
“Hmm . . . that’s a tough one. Other than spending time with Danny and riding my horse, I don’t really have time for hobbies.”
“If you had the time, what would you do?”
“I’ve got a stack of pictures a mile high that need to go in scrapbooks. My house could use a thorough cleaning and the yard needs a good weeding. The fences need painting. The—”
He interrupted her. “Hang on, Catherine. That’s work. What would you do for fun? What would you do, just for yourself, if you had the time?”
Cat smiled and lay on her back again to look up at the moon. “I’d read books. Something with fantasy, romance, and adventure that will immerse me in another world. But if I had the time and the money, I read my book on a warm beach somewhere. Maybe I’d sit in a hammock beneath a palm tree. And when I was tired of reading, I’d go shopping. I’m not really a big shopper, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been to the mall and actually had any money to spend on myself. But I suppose that wouldn’t really be a hobby. That sounds more like a vacation. Maybe I’d like to go to movies—actually see them on the big screen instead of on DVD. What do you think about that?” Cat studied Ty’s handsome profile, waiting for his answer.