The Rancher's Homecoming (10 page)

“I know.”

“Make him stay.”

Floored by that comment, Callie felt her jaw drop. She hugged Bodie to her. “How would you suggest I do that?”

Woody gave her a droll look. “You're a smart cookie. You'll figger it out.”

“It's not my place to figure out anything around here,” Callie declared.

“Huh,” Woody retorted, a world of skepticism in that one syllable. “Seems to me you've made a good place for yourself here, too.”

Shaking her head, Callie muttered that she didn't have time for this and hurried to the house.
Make him stay
. As if. Even if she'd had any influence, her father had surely destroyed it in the time it took her to get inside. She heard the shouting before she even reached the porch. Bodie reacted by wailing.

“Now look what you've done,” Rex declared, as if he hadn't been shouting, too.

“Me?” Stuart bawled. “You're the one sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong!”

“Those people came to me,” Rex said as Callie carried Bodie into the kitchen. “I didn't go looking for them, and if you were more ethical in your personal business practices, you wouldn't be sued.”

Callie caught her breath and gaped at Rex. “You're suing my dad?”

“No.” He parked his hands at his hips. “I'm not suing anyone. I'm not even representing anyone who is suing anyone.”

“You're not lily-white in this!” Stuart accused.

“People have come to me with contracts they've signed with your father,” Rex explained to Callie. “I advised some of them that they had reason to seek redress. They went to other lawyers, and some of them have sued. Knowing that he's in the wrong, Stuart has settled most of the cases out of court.”

“Some of them won't settle!” Dolent exclaimed.

“Then maybe the offer is too low,” Rex countered.

“You're trying to break me,” Stuart growled.

“I'm doing no such thing,” Rex retorted, while Wes, Callie noted, sat calmly at the table drinking a cup of coffee. “You're just not used to being beat at your own game,” Rex went on. “You've taken advantage of folks around here for so long you think it's your right to do so. Well, it's not. There are laws.”

Stuart shook a meaty finger at Rex. “You're not getting away with this, Billings. You hear me? I don't push.”

“No one's pushing you,” Rex said reasonably. “People are just tired of being taken advantage of.”

“So now they're paying you to tell them I'm scamming them,” Stuart sneered.

“No one's paid me a dime,” Rex pointed out. “Your problem is not with me, Crowsen. Your problem is that you've had your way for too long. You began to think that you always would, that the law didn't apply to you personally. But it does.”

“Your problem is that you think you've got pull around here,” Stuart scoffed, puffing out his chest, “but you don't.”

“All I've got is a working knowledge of the legal system,” Rex said, “and the trust and friendship of my neighbors.”

“I'm thinking,” Wes put in quietly, “that may be more than you've got these days, Stu. Maybe you ought to consider that.”

“Maybe you ought to consider just how difficult I can make life around here if I've a mind to,” Stuart snarled, nodding at Callie. “Just ask my daughter.” With that, he stomped from the room, leaving Dolent to scurry along behind him.

Callie sighed, struggling to hold a fractious Bodie. “He can, you know. When Bo first started asking me out, he was associate pastor at the church in town. Dad got him fired. That's why Bo took the ministry in Turner Falls.”

Rex and Wes traded looks. Then Rex stepped forward.

“I'm so sorry he did that, Callie, but Bo was right not to let Stu discourage him.”

Wes nodded in agreement. “Stu holds no power over us, Callie. If he did, he'd have used it already.”

“He'll find a way to come at you,” she warned, looking at Rex.

He shrugged. “What can he do? The Straight Arrow doesn't need Stuart Crowsen to survive. We'll be fine. He's just upset, like I said, because someone's finally beat him at his own game.”

Callie wished it was that simple. She didn't doubt that Rex was correct about the contracts; her father wouldn't settle if he hadn't been caught dead to rights. Nevertheless, Stuart Crowsen did not take kindly to being thwarted, and he had a long memory. Rex's advice had cost him money and pricked his pride. Stuart would not let this go. Somehow, someway, he'd find a method to strike at the Billings family—and ultimately it would be her fault.

“I have to bathe Bodie,” she said, needing to think.

She hurried away, telling herself that she couldn't let harm come to these good people. She just wasn't sure how to stop it now. Rex had already advised those people about their contracts, and it wasn't as if he'd been wrong about his advice. She'd never expected him to get the better of Stuart like this, though, and for a moment she wondered if Rex and her father were too much alike.

Bo had been her father's exact opposite. That's what she had loved about him, that he was so very different from Stuart. He'd been compassionate and giving, and his quiet, calm strength had flowed from that. Caring nothing for money, unconcerned about security, he'd lived in the moment, trusting God to fulfill each need as it arose. He'd been brave enough to risk his life for others but strong enough to walk away from a fight.

Rex seemed intent on battling her father on Stu's own terms. That being the case, perhaps it was best for everyone that Rex didn't intend to stay around War Bonnet once Wes was strong enough to take over the Straight Arrow again. Doing so would only antagonize Stuart.

Callie didn't even want to think about what might happen to the ranch if Wes
didn't
recover his health. The idea of it passing out of the family appalled her, but it was none of her concern, no matter what Woody said. Like Woody, Cam and Duffy, she was nothing more than hired help around here, despite that kiss beneath the cottonwoods today.

In any event, it would be best if Rex left. It was certainly best for her, because the longer he hung around here, the greater the risk she ran with her foolish heart.

Chapter Ten

T
he skies poured rain on Thursday, just as the forecast had predicted. With the hay all safely stowed beneath metal roofs, Rex hung around the house, playing chess and cards with his father while Callie used the computer in the study to research straw bale gardening. It was too late to get started for that year, and she wouldn't be around for the next growing season, but she had the idea that she might be able to grow a little garden for her and Bodie with a couple bales wherever they wound up.

When Rex came in to see what she was doing, he showed surprising interest in the subject. The next thing she knew, he was sketching a plan for his mom's old garden spot out behind the house. Callie couldn't help wishing that she could be there to see his garden plan come to fruition, but in truth neither one of them would likely be on hand for that. Still, planning the garden passed the afternoon in a fun, imaginative way, and she learned that Rex loved pickled beets, fried okra and mashed turnips but had no use for Brussels sprouts or kale.

On Friday, while Rex checked to see when the custom cutter might be able to get his equipment into the field of oats, Wes asked Callie to help him shave his head. His hair had started coming out in small chunks, thanks mostly to the pills that Wes took daily, according to Dr. Shorter. Callie made sure to keep Bodie in the room so she could see the transformation taking place and not be shocked by Wes's appearance later. Strangely, Wes looked younger without hair, but his eyebrows had receded to pale, thin lines that looked odd over his light blue eyes.

Rex joked about it when he came in.

“You're going to look younger than me before we're done.”

Wes chuckled, running his hand over his smooth scalp. “We'll see. Dr. Shorter says there's no telling what color it will be when it comes back in. My eyebrows, what there is of them, are white. If my hair comes in white—”

“You'll look like a white-haired kid,” Rex finished for him, but Callie had seen the sheen of tears in his eyes when he'd first caught sight of his newly bald dad.

“No fear of that,” Wes retorted, rubbing a jaw going smooth. “Your sisters are going to freak out.”

Nodding, Rex snapped a picture with his cell phone and texted it to them, saying, “Best not to blindside them.”

Wes nodded, looking tired. Rex's phone rang, and Callie assumed it was one of his sisters, but to her surprise, he frowned before he answered. “Dennis? What's going on? Yeah, I remember the Shallot case. What do you want to know?”

He carried the phone into the other room, saying he would check his computer files. Wes looked at Callie, his slight eyebrows rising.

“Sounds like his former boss and father-in-law.”

Callie turned away to hide her interest. A knock at the front door had her hurrying into the living room to let in Dr. Stark Burns, the local veterinarian.

“Rex around?”

“He's on the phone.”

“Any chance I can see Wes? I cleaned up before I came over.”

“I guess it'll be okay, but no physical contact, if you don't mind.”

“I understand.”

She led the tall, lanky, dark-haired animal doctor into the kitchen, where he beamed a smile at Wes without getting too close to the table where Wes sat.

“Now, that's a sight I'm not apt to forget anytime soon.”

Wes laughed. “I'm starting a new trend. Next thing I know, you'll be shaving your head.”

Burns ran a hand through glossy black hair that showed no glint of silver, though he had to be at least forty. “Yeah. No. I suspect we'd find out I have a pointed head.”

Wes laughed again and changed the subject. “How's the herd?”

“Preliminary exam looks good. Going to take a few days to do a detailed inspection. Just thought I'd let Rex know I'd gotten started and see if he wants to ride along on Monday.”

“He could be a while,” Wes warned, glancing into the dining room.

“Well, just tell him to give me a call,” Burns said, hanging his thumbs in his belt loops. “I won't keep you. It was good to see you, Wes.”

“You, too, Stark.”

“Take care now.”

“I'll walk you out,” Callie said, and the veterinarian nodded, signaling with his hand for her to go through the doorway first. He fell in beside her in the living room. Then, to her surprise, when they reached the front door, he reached around and held it open for her, giving her a direct look.

Ducking her head, Callie stepped out onto the porch and listened to the sound of the door being pulled closed behind him. He walked to the edge of the porch and turned to face her, leaning a shoulder against the post.

“Wes doing okay?”

“It's hard to say at this point.”

Burns nodded. “Horrible disease, cancer.”

“Yes.”

“Rex has sure done a fine job with this place, though.”

“That's what I'm hearing.”

“Actually,” Burns said, rubbing the bridge of his nose with one long forefinger, “the ranch seems to be running like a top.” He linked his fingers and let his hands drop. “Frankly, Wes hasn't been on his game since Gloria died. It's been three years since I surveyed this herd, and when Rex found out, he scheduled a full inspection. He's a natural at this business.”

“Good to know,” Callie said carefully, though why Burns was telling her this she couldn't imagine.

“Any chance he'll be staying to take over?”

Callie shrugged. “You'll have to ask him that. I'm just hired help around here.”

Burns grinned. He was a handsome man in a lean, rugged fashion. “That's not what I'm hearing.”

Appalled, Callie blinked. “I don't care what you've heard. That's the fact of it.”

The doc folded his arms, staring at her from beneath the crag of his brow. His eyes, she realized, were a deep, dark blue.

“You sit together in church.”

“So? He drives me because I don't have a car. It's a condition of my employment.”

“Uh-huh. I'm told your little girl calls him ‘Daddy.'”

“That's not true!” But she would, given the least encouragement.

“So you're not interested in him at all?” Burns asked skeptically.

“I cook and clean around here,” Callie said, aware that her voice shook. “I take care of Wes. That's all.”

Stark Burns turned and stepped off the porch, his booted feet thudding on the walkway. “Didn't answer the question,” he commented dryly, strolling through the trees.

Callie clamped her jaw, fighting tears. She'd given the only answer that she could. Whirling, she stomped across the porch and swept through the door. She met Rex moving through the living room.

“Did Stark leave?”

“Yes.”

“I'm sorry I missed him.” He frowned, his gaze narrowing. “You okay?”

“Fine.”

“Dad says Stark wants me to call him. Did he say anything else?”

“Yeah,” she snapped. “He said you're a natural at ranching and have the Straight Arrow running like a top.”

Rex straightened, his eyes widening. “And that has you upset?”

She grimaced. “No, of course not.”

Rex smiled. “You know, as a boy, I thought it was all physical labor, but there's more mental aspect in the job than I realized.”

“I'm sure,” Callie muttered, brushing by him.

“Hang on,” Rex said, catching her by the arm. “What did Dr. Burns say to upset you?”

Callie made herself calm down. Putting on a smile, she shook her head. “Nothing. He just wanted to know if you're interested in riding along when he inspects the herd on Monday.”

“I'll call him later,” Rex said. “Right now I need to do some research on an old case that's reopened. It's what we lawyers call ‘found money.'”

Callie tilted her head, asking, “How's that?”

Smiling, Rex spread his hands. “It bills at four hundred dollars an hour.”

The figure boggled her mind. “Then please don't let me keep you.” Callie turned and walked into the dining room.

Four hundred dollars an hour. To her that sounded like confirmation that Rex would never consider staying around to run the Straight Arrow.

* * *

Stark Burns had always struck Rex as a likeable fellow, educated, knowledgeable, hardworking. And single. Suddenly Rex wondered if he ought to be worried about that single part. He'd never thought much about it before, but Stark had kept Callie out on the porch for several minutes on Friday afternoon, and she hadn't quite been the same since. When Rex entered a room, she left it. If he sat down next to her, she got up, and on Sunday morning she actually argued for staying home from church.

“I just think Wes ought not to be alone,” she mumbled, her gaze fixed on the breakfast dishes that she carried to the sink.

“He was fine on Wednesday when we went riding.”

“If you're worried about your father showing up again,” Wes said, “there's an easy fix for that. I just won't answer the door. You can even put up the sign, if it makes you feel better.”

Dr. Shorter had provided them with a quarantine sign saying that a cancer patient with a compromised immune system in the house could receive only prescreened visitors. Wes had refused to have it fastened to the door, claiming that it wasn't necessary, and at this point it probably wasn't, though it would be after his next treatment. Rex understood that Wes didn't want to deal with Stuart Crowsen. He couldn't help wondering if Wes had noticed any particularity in the way Stark Burns had dealt with Callie on Friday, but he couldn't think of a way to ask without betraying his own interest in her.

Frustrated, Rex got up from the table, saying, “I'll put up the sign.”

Callie sighed, but she didn't argue. He tacked the sign to the front door and went upstairs to get dressed. When he came back down again, freshly shaved and wearing dark jeans with a brown suit jacket and a white shirt, his best boots and a brown felt hat—funny how he'd started to feel underdressed without the cowboy hat lately—Callie and Bodie waited.

Wearing white leggings and a white eyelet blouse beneath a short denim jumper, Callie looked neat and wholesome. Beautiful. Especially with Bodie, decked out in a bright yellow sunflower dress, lolling in the crook of her arm. As soon as she saw him, Bodie launched herself at him, flinging her whole little body in his direction with such determination that Callie almost dropped her.

“Whoa!” Rex caught her in both hands. “Sunshine, you're going to smash that pretty face if you're not careful.” He gathered her to him and smiled. “What's that in your hair?” He'd noticed that her fair hair seemed to be thickening lately. As if she understood every word, Bodie reached up and pulled the silk sunflower from her hair. Rex laughed, but Callie scolded her.

“Bodie!” She snatched the flower clip from her daughter's hand and began combing the baby's hair with her fingers. Sliding the clip into place once more, she fixed it and admonished Bodie not to pull it out again. “Leave the pretty alone.”

Bodie gave her mom a cheeky grin, pointedly displaying her teeth.

“Has she got new teeth coming in?” Rex asked, shocked to see the glimmer of white on her gums.

“She does.”

“Well, look at you, little Miss Overachiever,” Rex teased, jostling the baby higher in his arms. Bodie giggled, hunched her shoulders and made a grab for his hat brim. “Uh-uh.” Laughing, he dropped her to hip level. Bodie promptly clamped her teeth down on the lapel of his suit jacket.

“Bodie,” Callie scolded, prying her off Rex and taking her back.

“Adorable,” Rex told Bodie, chucking her under the chin and very nearly getting his finger bitten. She literally snapped her jaws shut just short of his skin.

Finally, Callie laughed. “Be careful for the next few days.” She dug in her bag and found a bright orange teething ring, which Bodie went after with great enthusiasm.

Bodie fussed all the way to church. Her front was wet with slobber by the time they pulled up in the dusty parking lot of Countryside Church, despite the soft bib that Callie had fastened around her neck.

The pinkish brick walls of the church, white eaves and cross-shaped front windows needed softening, and not for the first time Rex thought that the place could use some landscaping. Maybe he'd see to it. Some potted evergreens and brightly colored flowers would go a long way toward beautifying the place.

Before he could ask Callie what she thought of the idea, she practically snatched Bodie out of his arms and hurried into the church. Figuring that she wanted to change the little one after dropping her off in the nursery, he shrugged, pocketed the keys and followed, smiling and nodding at others making their way inside.

He removed his hat under the overhang and held open the door for an elderly couple, the Taylors. Mr. Taylor asked about his father, and then, “Where are your girls?”

Rex couldn't help smiling. His girls. He liked that. “Callie and Bodie are already inside.”

Others greeted him as he made his way through the small foyer and into the white-on-white sanctuary with its painted woods, brass accents and clear, sun-filled windows. Rex slipped into the usual pew, leaving room for Callie. She liked to sit on the end in case she was called to the nursery. With one paid worker and sometimes a dozen or so children, the church depended on volunteers to help out, and parents with children who used the nursery were always on the list.

The prelude music started, but Callie didn't appear as expected. Rex looked around, thinking that she'd gotten hung up in the nursery. Then he spotted her sitting several rows back and to the side. He motioned to her, but she looked away. Puzzled, he took his hat in hand, got up and went to her. She looked around uncomfortably as he eased past her and dropped down onto the pew beside her.

“You shouldn't,” she said softly.