"I don't know where to start," said Ally shifting in her chair. "I moved to Texas because I became tired of modeling and wanted to do something else. I also found out the guy I'd been seeing for three years had been cheating on me. Kat talked me into helping with her catering business."
"Did you have a fight with Kat?" asked Fran.
"No, not at all, you see, it's my neighbor."
"You had a fight with your neighbor? So soon?" Fran tried to follow Ally's thought process..
"No, I mean, yes." Ally started to get angry all over again. "It's a he, Caleb Strait. He's one of the town's most eligible bachelors, so they say. I didn't want to get involved with anyone for a while, but things started happening. I mean, Aunt Fran, all these things have gone wrong with my house and Caleb has been right there helping me. Kat's been there, too, don't get me wrong, but we all made a pact together. Caleb isn't looking for a woman, I'm not looking for a man and, of course, Kat is married."
"So, sparks started to fly between the two of you?"
Ally nodded because she could barely talk, anger and sadness battling inside her.
"What does Kat think of this?"
"She doesn't know. Oh, Aunt Fran, I've barely known him a month. It's too soon to fall in love with someone, but I have." Ally began, but couldn't continue.
"Looks like I'm going to have to play Charades," said Aunt Fran kindly. "So, you don't want Kat to know because she'll make fun of you?"
Ally nodded her head vigorously.
"
I get it," said Aunt Fran. "Everyone thinks you didn't think this whole move thing out; giving up a million dollar career and now dating your neighbor."
"I tried." Ally started to continue, but could only pantomime because she
had lost her voice.
Aunt Fran tried to hide a smile."But you knew you did. Oh, Ally. You're just following your heart. You shouldn't let other people make decisions for you. Now, what happened between you and this man?"
"He took me to a rodeo," said Ally a bit more composed because of Fran's encouragement. "I really looked forward to it because I'd never been to one before. I pointed at one of the clowns and they saw me. There I showed on the arena's television screen and people recognized me. Only one person interrupted me, but that one interruption was too much for Caleb.."
"I can understand why. No one likes to be disturbed, especially on a date."
"I know, but it's happened to me so many times, Aunt Fran. It's a part of my life. Even when I run away, they seek me out even more because they think I have something to hide. But that's not the end of it."
"There's more?" Fran refilled Ally's coffee cup and poured some more for herself.
"We were on our way out to dinner and TMZ showed up. They had been waiting for me."
"And Caleb did not like this at all," finished Fran.
"He said he liked me, but he couldn't live his life like this." Ally stabbed her toast.
"There, there," said Aunt Fran. "Does he realize right now, the press is after you because you quit modeling? The publicity will die down eventually."
"I couldn't reason with him," explained Ally. "He's a stubborn man and when he makes up his mind, that's it."
"Being famous is never easy. Look at what happened to poor Princess Diana," commented Fran.
"At least her boyfriend loved her enough to put up with it." Ally blew her nose loudly.
"Oh, Ally," sighed Fran. "Things will work themselves out."
"I'll just try not to look at his house. I mean, I can't see his house, but he rides by everyday to check on his cattle."
"That's right. You're a strong person, Ally. Now come on, let's get started on your dinner."
"After I take a shower," said Ally, feeling relieved as if a big burdened had been lifted. She trudged upstairs with Tank at her heels and headed into the shower. She stopped thinking about Caleb momentarily while she organized her schedule for the dinner preparations.
When Ally had finished her shower, she went back downstairs where she heard voices and stopped dead in her tracks. Caleb? How had he found her? He had come looking for her? No way.
"Here she is," said Fran merrily with a twinkle in her eyes. "Caleb and I were just talking."
"How did you find me?" Ally more or less ignored Aunt Fran.
"Hello, Ally." Caleb smiled warmly at the sight of her. He had been sick with worry over her and it made his heart ache. Fran left the room, unnoticed by the two of them.
"I thought you hated my lifestyle and never wanted to see me again." Ally stood her ground.
"Ally, I'm sorry about the other day, which is why I came to find you. I didn't like the way I behaved and should've realized you don't enjoy it any more than me. Ally, please forgive me."
"Oh Caleb," cried Ally as he hugged her fiercely, not wanting to let her go.
"Do you forgive me?” Caleb held his breath.
"Yes, yes," Caleb kissed her tenderly breathing in her scent. For the love of God, this woman had driven him over the brink of sanity.
"I have to get back to Jeb. We're on our way to an auction, which I talked him into going so I could see you."
"I'm glad you did," said Ally not wanting to let him go. "How did you know I'd go to my parents?"
"At first I guessed Kat's or New York. If not, Houston would be the most logical spot."
"Am I that predictable?"
"No. Come home soon?" pleaded Caleb.
"I'll come home Tuesday night rather than Wednesday morning." Ally kissed him fully on the lips.
"Good." She sighed as she watched him leave admiring his muscular, athletic stride. Nope. She had never felt this way about any man.
"He is a looker, Ally," commented Fran. "I've never seen a man so in love before. I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"I hope you're right," sniffled Ally feeling so much better. "Let's get started on dinner." Ally headed for the pantry where she had stored the ingredients and then searched for some pots. She then stopped dead in her tracks and turned to Fran. "Please don't mention this to mom or dad. I really don't want to tell them about us just yet. I think Caleb and I still have a lot of work to do."
"You're right, Ally. Lord, if we tell your mother, she'll be planning your wedding by the time you leave."
Chapter Nineteen
Tuesday morning, Ally woke up early and prepared to go home. Her mother and father knew she had been preoccupied about something, but weren't quite sure what. They were so caught up in their own world that they barely gave Ally a thought. Only Fran hugged Ally and wished her good luck.
Ally made it home around one and dropped off Tank. She then ran to the grocery store to pick up a few items and headed back home. Kat had left her a message about the dinner they were doing tomorrow night and instructions of what she wanted Ally to make. Ally unpacked and started her laundry before she headed to the pool for a swim. Bringing her towel, a new novel and a bottle of water, Ally got comfortable. She walked into the pool and swam a couple of laps luxuriating in the warmth of the water. Oh yes, this was the life. It wasn't until she almost was upon him, when a bull frog joined in the pool; a very large bull frog. "I did not invite you into my pool!" shrieked Ally. She quickly got out and found the pole with the skimmer attached. The frog knew it was being chased, so it dove down into the deeper part of the pool where Ally couldn't reach it. She waited until it surfaced again. This time she chased it onto the ledge of the skimmer basket.
"Aha, I got you," cried Ally as she peered into the skimmer bucket and saw the frog hunkering down at the bottom of the basket. "I'm sending you to greener pastures." Ally took the bucket and proudly walked to the fence and straddled it while she tried to fling the contents of the bucket over the fence. Little did she realize, a full grown steer grazed quietly on the other side of the fence and the bucket landed on top of the steer's horns. The steer panicked, kicked up his heels and tossed the bucket further into the pasture. The animal glared at Ally and dared her to retrieve it. Ally backed down off of the fence, but the bull butted his head against her fence. She shook her head in dismay thinking of Caleb's reaction. He would probably kill her. Grabbing her phone, she called Caleb but didn't get any answer, so she decided to text him.
Problem, my pool bucket is in your pasture. help!
Ally stared at the bull, overwhelmed by his size. He had no plans to leave her alone, either. She stared off in the distance and finally saw Caleb riding towards her, his face set in a mask totally unreadable. His dog, Rex ran next to his side.
"Ally, get down," said Caleb in a soft voice. Caleb rode around the bull to get his attention while Rex nipped at the bull's heels to force it to go into the herd. It took some coaxing, but the bull's attention rested on the others. Caleb rode up to the fence and just shook his head at Ally once again in disbelief.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to Caleb. "It just happened," she explained. Ally tried to read his expression but his face was guarded. "You see, this big frog decided to join me in my pool and I chased him into the skimmer bucket. I tried to throw him over the fence and I didn't see the bull. I got startled and the next thing I knew the whole bucket went with the frog and landed on the bull's horn. He threw his head up into the air and that's when the bucket went flying over there." Ally pointed to where the bucket had landed. Caleb stared a hole into her and Ally squirmed uncomfortably.
"I should know better, but, Ally, you never cease to amaze me." Caleb burst out into laughter. "Only you could do something like this, all over a little, itty, bitty frog."
"Ha, what do you know?" Ally raised her chin in defiance. "Besides, I don't like having frogs in my pool."
"Come here," said Caleb as he urged Thor next to the fence. "Let's go get your bucket."
"What? You want me to get on the horse? Caleb, I'm not dressed for riding."
"Get your shoes over there and hop on. Good thing you're wearing tennis shoes."
"But I'm only in my bikini!" said Ally self-consciously.
"I know." Caleb's smile turned sexy.