Promise me tomorrow (17 page)

Jackie suddenly found herself crushed in her husband's embrace. He held her close, turning to his side so he could cuddle her against his chest. Jackie wrapped her arms around him and held him right back. They were quiet for a time.

"What are you hearing?" It was a familiar question to her, one she had heard all their married life. She depended on his eyes, and he often depended on her ears.

"No one calls her Katherine, and when he says it, or addresses her for any reason, he sounds like you when you talk to me."

She felt his chest lift on a sigh.

"Talk to me, Clayton," she begged. "Tell me what you've seen."

Clayton pressed his lips to her brow. "He watches her almost constantly. I would say he's fascinated, but I don't think he would label it love."

"Does Rusty see it?"

"Yes and no. She doesn't have love on her mind either, yet she cares for him. I think she's under the impression that he sees her as a little sister. It's almost as if she wants there to be more, but something is holding her back."

"Maybe he does see her as a little sister. That would stop any woman. "

"Maybe."

For a moment Jackie thought about the evening. "She's certainly not afraid to tease him or tell him what she's thinking."

"She's rarely afraid to tell anyone what she's thinking." Clayton's voice was dry.

"True. Do you honestly think she could be in love and not know it?"

"Yes," Clayton admitted, and they both fell silent.

Jackie well remembered the way she fell for Clayton when they first met. It was months, more than a year, before he returned that love. He had viewed her as a sister, and because of that she felt she couldn't say a word about her feelings.

"Is this going to keep you awake tonight?" Clayton asked Jackie.

"I don't think so. Do you think we should say anything to her?"

"No, we'll just stay quiet and watchful. If we say anything, it might cause Rusty to put a wall up between them. She's always been so careful not to give a wrong impression. Our saying something would probably cause her to back off so swiftly that he would think he'd been struck by lightning. That's not fair to either of them."

"I don't suppose it matters all that much." It was Jackie's turn to sigh. "After all, he's headed back to Colorado Springs on Monday, and she's going to the orphanage later in the week." Jackie felt Clayton's chest shake with laughter and said, "What did I miss?"

"I think you're forgetting how close Manitou is to Colorado Springs. If our Mr. McCandles wants to see Rusty, he can do so with little effort."

"But that would be obvious," Jackie pointed out, "and if he isn't even aware of the way he feels, I don't think visiting her, at least not without a specific reason, will even come to mind."

She had a very good point, and Clayton took a few minutes to think it over. It was while he was still thinking that he felt Jackie relax against him. He was thankful that the possibility of Chase's loving Rusty was not going to keep her awake. Not so for Clayton. This was a new experience for Rusty's father, and he lay staring into the darkness and praying about it for some time.

19

"What time is your appointment?" Rusty asked Chase over breakfast. Clayton and the others had gone off on various pursuits. Only Rusty, Jackie, and Chase were in the kitchen.

"Ten o'clock. Can you refresh my memory as to which bank it is?"

"I can do one better than that. I can show you. I have to go uptown anyway. "

"Now, that's an offer I can't refuse. Are you also free to join me for lunch at the hotel?"

Rusty dimpled at him. "Only if you can make it for three. Mother and I are going shopping."

"I would consider it an honor to escort both of you."

"Escort us where?" Jackie asked. She was in the kitchen with them but had been intent on her reading and heard only the last part.

"Mr. McCandles is taking us to lunch." How nice." Jackie smiled much like her daughter. Katherine is going to show me the bank I need, and I'm returning the favor."

"I think we got the better end of the deal, Rusty. Mr. McCandles doesn't know how much we can eat."

Chase smiled. "If your appetite is anything like your daughter's, Mrs. Taggart, I'll not worry."

Jackie laughed and Rusty groaned.

'Are you blushing, Rusty?" her mother asked. I'll never tell," Rusty told her and bent over her breakfast plate.

Chase studied Rusty's face. "No blush there," he reported.

"How is Rusty wearing her hair today, Mr. McCandles?"

"Down on her shoulders," he told her. He'd never seen it any other way and wondered at the question.

"Then Rusty is the only one who knows."

Chase made no comment to this cryptic statement, but he did catch Rusty checking the sides of her hair, presumably to see if her ears were covered. The visitor from Colorado Springs knew in an instant that he had discovered a family secret but decided against saying anything.

Rusty was just as happy to let the subject drop. She rose just a few minutes later and started on the dishes.

***

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McCandles." Robert Langley shook Chase's hand and offered him one of the chairs in his office.

"Thank you, sir. I assure you the honor is mine. I've been trying to get up here for several months. Your niece's plans to travel home gave me the push I needed."

"How is Cat?"

"She's doing well. She and her mother pointed out your front door, and I dropped them off at Squire's Department Store."

"My wife had plans to shop today. I hope they run into each other."

"Katherine told her mother she had plans to track down her Aunt Eddie, no matter what. Is that your wife?"

"Yes, it is," Robert answered with a smile, not just because of Chase's words, but also because he had used Rusty's real name. He suddenly wondered at the relationship between the two. However, that was not the reason Chase McCandles had come to see him. He pushed thoughts of family from his mind, and the two men got down to business.

***

"This fabric is so soft," Jackie said. "Is this the blue one?"

"No, it's a dark purple."

"Perfect," she said with satisfaction.

"Perfect for what, Mother?" Rusty asked again. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what we're doing."

"It's a secret, Rusty. Ask me again and I'll tell you the same."

"But I won't tell anyone."

"It's a secret for you."

"Well," the younger woman spoke with complete sincerity, "in that case, I won't tell anyone I know."

Jackie laughed but still shook her head. They continued to gather goods—lace, more fabric, buttons, a small piece of silk—until Rusty had no idea what her mother could be making.

Jackie didn't do all the stitching herself, but for a woman who hadn't been able to see for more than 20 years, she still had remarkable taste. If she was making a dress, Rusty knew it would be a beauty. She also knew she would be able to figure the style out when her mother had the saleswoman cut the yards. Rusty, however, hadn't planned on being sent across the store.

Who will carry this for you?" Rusty protested. You can carry it, but you can't come back until it's all wrapped up. Now, off with you."

"You're thoroughly enjoying yourself, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. I don't have you home much anymore, and your father has given me permission to be as extravagant as I want. How are your shoes, by the way?"

"I just bought a pair."

"Good. Now you go look at gloves. I'll see to this yardage."

This time Rusty was obedient. She had just pulled on her first pair of gloves when a familiar voice spoke.

"Rusty Taggart! When did you get into town?"

"Gary!" Rusty turned with a hug for Garrett Buchanan. "How are you?"

"Just great. How about yourself?"

"I'm doing fine. How is Avril?" Rusty inquired about his wife.

"She's fine; in fact, she's the reason I'm in here. It's her birthday next week."

"Tell her I said happy birthday. How are the kids?" "Adam and Zach are at school, and Wesley misses them terribly. The baby isn't much fun for him at this point." "What did you name your new little one?" "Peter."

"That's right, I remember now. How about your folks?" "They're on a trip to Denver right now with the Harringtons."

"How fun! They do that every year, don't they?" "Yes. For more years than I can remember." "And I hear that congratulations are in order for Wyatt. I thought he would be a bachelor forever."

Garrett smiled. "He thought so too, but then Grace Harrington returned from that teaching position back East, and he was smitten. All the folks are ecstatic, and we're having the time of our lives watching him in action. He's been walking into walls and staring into space for three months."

Rusty laughed. "Poor Wyatt. You must tease him without mercy. "

"Of course I do," Garrett said without repentance. "I well remember what I put up with when I met Avril."

"Well," Rusty tipped her head way back to meet his eyes, "all I can say is that Wyatt is blessed among men. Grace is the sweetest girl in the world, and her grades in school were the envy of us all. I've missed her terribly since she went away. We said we would keep in touch, but we've both failed miserably."

"Have Katie and Roz learned that you're in town?" Garrett asked, referring to his sisters.

"I wrote to Kate, but I haven't seen anyone. I'm going to let them know at church tomorrow that we're having a small gathering Monday night."

"Well, I hope you have a good stay. How's work at the orphanage?"

Rusty beamed at him. "I love it."

Garrett smiled in return. Rusty's love for children was well known.

Jackie chose the moment to look for her daughter. She had a few words with Garrett, also sending Avril greetings, and the two women left Garrett to his shopping.

"Is it time for lunch?"

"Not quite. Hungry?" Rusty inquired.

"A little. How do you suppose Mr. McCandles is getting along with Robert?"

"I think with their identical heads for business, probably just fine."

The women had walked to the door and headed down the boardwalk. Jackie had told the clerk at Squire's that they would return for their package.

"Do you suppose that Mr. McCandles is looking for financing for a new venture?"

"I couldn't say, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say no. There might be a new venture, as you put it, but it doesn't Rusty beamed at him. "I love it."

Garrett smiled in return. Rusty's love for children was well known.

Jackie chose the moment to look for her daughter. She had a few words with Garrett, also sending Avril greetings, and the two women left Garrett to his shopping.

"Is it time for lunch?"

"Not quite. Hungry?" Rusty inquired.

"A little. How do you suppose Mr. McCandles is getting along with Robert?"

"I think with their identical heads for business, probably just fine."

The women had walked to the door and headed down the boardwalk. Jackie had told the clerk at Squire's that they would return for their package.

"Do you suppose that Mr. McCandles is looking for financing for a new venture?"

"I couldn't say, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say no. There might be a new venture, as you put it, but it doesn't seem to me that he has any pressing financial needs."

Jackie nodded, not needing to know more. Beyond that, she wanted a moment of quiet to mull over the tone in her daughter's voice. Had she been matter-of-fact, or was there a slight tone of resignation? Rusty informed her mother a few moments later that Mr. McCandles was coming toward them. Jackie had been given sufficient time to think about Rusty's tone, but she couldn't reach any conclusion.

20

"That was delicious," Jackie told Chase. "Thank you very much, Mr. McCandles."

Lunch was over. The three of them were on the street standing next to the buggy Chase had rented early that morning.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he told her. "May I help you into the buggy?"

"You've been so kind, Mr. McCandles, but in truth, Rusty and I are going to see my sister."

"I'd be happy to take you," he offered, but saw in an instant that they were hesitant.

"It was not our intention to take up your whole day, Mr. McCandles," Rusty finally explained. "We've had our time in town, but you might want to do some shopping of your own."

"Shopping?" He said the word as if he'd never heard it before.

"Yes. We have some lovely shops here in Boulder."

"I have no doubt, but what would I shop for?" He was still at sea.

"Well," Rusty replied matter-of-factly, "I thought you might be interested in a gift for Quintin or for some of your staff."

He looked so surprised that Rusty wished she had kept her mouth shut. For just a short time she'd managed to forget what a distant relationship he had with his son. The thought caused a moment of deep regret to fill her. They could have brought Quintin with them, but never before this moment had she thought of it.

"You think I should take something to Quintin?" Chase asked, seeing very swiftly that for some reason he had saddened her.

Hearing his tone, Jackie had to swallow a smile. He was trying his best to please Rusty, and the older Taggart would have bet that he had no idea how he sounded.

"I just think it would be nice," Rusty said softly, her eyes on his.

Chase was still searching his mind for why his response had upset her. Still confused, he said, "I'm not certain he would enjoy a gift."

Rusty's tone changed in an instant. "He's a four-year-old boy, Mr. McCandles. I can't think of a toy in which he wouldn't delight!" There was no missing her mood. This time she was outraged.

"Are you terribly busy for the next few hours, Mr. McCandles?" Jackie inserted tactfully.

"No, Mrs. Taggart, I'm not. As a matter of fact, I have no plans at all."

"I can't guarantee that we won't be somewhat silly and giggly, but if you'd like to go with us to my sister's, Rusty could help you find something for your young son when we come back through town."