“We could make a morning of it,” Ann Pryor said, smiling at Tina as they stood in the foyer of the church after the service. Wyatt listened with unabashed interest. “Bring Tyler and Frankie,” Ann went on. “You and I can get to know each other better, and the boys can play. Dean’s grandmother will want to make lunch for us, I’m sure.”
Tina frowned even as Tyler practically danced on air. He had gone from petulant to delighted in the ninety minutes or so that he’d spent in children’s church. “Yeah, Mom. Donovan said he don’t got school tomorrow.”
“Teacher workday,” Ann confirmed. “Dean’s going to be over at your place, so we might as well get together at mine.”
Wyatt jumped in to explain. “I’ve contracted Dean to spray the pastures for the worms that cost Dodd his last herd. It’s got to be done before the horses and cattle can be purchased.”
Tina nodded. “It’s just that I have so much work to do at the house.”
Wyatt knew Tina well enough by now to recognize the concern that she wore like sackcloth. She worried that Tyler wouldn’t behave properly, but Wyatt felt he would be happier with a new friend, especially one like Donovan Pryor.
Wyatt sidled up to Tina, softly encouraging her to agree. “Ty needs a friend his own age.” Donovan was a year older, but he was closer in age to Tyler than Frankie.
“I’m sure Frankie would enjoy a morning of play,” Jake put in heartily, “provided you’re sure he won’t be any trouble to include.”
Dean hoisted up a flame-haired little girl into his arms, her ruffled skirts fluffing. “Maybe Frankie can entertain Glory,” he said hopefully. “Otherwise, Donovan will be toting her everywhere.”
“He’s a very protective big brother,” Ann said with a chuckle. “We had to conspire to keep him away from Glory to get her walking. It will do him good to have some time with a new friend.”
“Every anchor to War Bonnet and Loco Man Ranch is a good thing for Tyler,” Wyatt whispered.
“What about your lunch?” Tina hedged. “Who’ll cook for you guys?”
“We can fend for ourselves once in a while.”
“And if you’re interested in gardening, Grandma Billie will be only too willing to show you her vegetable patch,” Ann prodded. “That way, if you simply must work, you can pull weeds.”
Tina laughed, but Wyatt caught the note of tension in the sound. He placed an encouraging hand on her shoulder. Finally, she gave in.
“How can I turn down such a gracious invitation? Thank you.”
Ann smiled brightly. “We’ll expect y’all around nine tomorrow morning. All right?”
“Sounds fine,” Wyatt confirmed before Tina could change her mind.
The adults said their farewells, and Wyatt slid his hand to the small of Tina’s back, urging her toward the church’s exit. In truth, Wyatt didn’t know if Ty could put aside his resentment and confusion long enough to mind his manners and enjoy the playdate, but he believed wholeheartedly that Ty needed this friendship, and Wyatt expected that the Pryors were more than capable of handling one unhappy little boy if the need arose. Moreover, he felt that Tina could benefit from the relationship, too. He didn’t know Ann Pryor very well, but his dealings with the Billings family had shown him that they were solid, caring, generous people. Tina could use a friend like Ann.
What Tina apparently didn’t need was him. He walked her to her car and helped Ty into his safety seat. She got into the car and drove away without a single word for him. She’d looked so pretty in her flowered Easter dress. Sighing, he turned toward his truck, only to find his brothers looking at him with lopsided grins on their faces.
“What?” he demanded. “Donovan will be a good influence on Ty.”
“You would know,” Ryder said. “You and Donovan have that protective big brother thing in common.”
Wyatt made a face. So he liked being the big brother. Nothing wrong with that.
“Make fun if you want to, but we all know that Tyler needs a friend his own age.”
“Uh-huh,” Jake said. “That isn’t all he needs.”
Irked, Wyatt shot back, “It’s not that she doesn’t try to discipline him. She’s doing the best she can in difficult circumstances.”
Jake just grinned and turned for the truck.
“He means that, from all you say, Tyler needs a real dad,” Ryder explained. “And even Frankie can see who the likeliest candidate for that job is.”
Recalling the moment when Frankie had offered Unca Wyatt as Tyler’s daddy, Wyatt felt heat burn its way up his neck. Wyatt snatched Frankie from his father’s side and lifted the boy into his safety seat. He couldn’t help thinking that, for all practical purposes, Frankie had three fathers, all of them fully capable of seeing to his needs. It didn’t seem fair that Tyler didn’t have even one.
Jake clapped a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “What Ryder’s trying to say is that it takes a good big brother to know one.”
“Look, it’s about time you thought about someone other than the three of us,” Ryder told Wyatt. “Maybe it’s time to think about what you want and need.”
“So, you think I need a prickly woman soured on marriage and a brat?”
“I think you need—”
“And deserve,” Jake interjected.
“—a woman who loves you. And a family of your own.”
“You’re my family,” Wyatt said, his voice gravelly with emotion. “You two plus Frankie.” Besides, Tina had made it perfectly clear that she couldn’t—wouldn’t—love him or any man.
“Of course we’re your family,” Ryder said, “but we’re big boys now. You don’t have to look after us anymore.”
“And you’ve proved with Frankie that you’re a great substitute father,” Jake added. “Besides, we didn’t stop being family when I married Jolene, did we?”
Wyatt shook his head. “No, Jolene just added to the family, and so did Frankie. I’m not sure it would be the same with Tina and Tyler, though.”
“But you want to find out,” Jake prodded.
Wyatt shook his head again. “I don’t know. I’m not sure she even likes me. In fact, I think she likes you and Ryder better.”
Jake laughed. “She’s not attracted to either of us. We don’t threaten her single existence.”
“We see how she looks at you,” Ryder teased, “and how you look at her. Go for it, man. What have you got to lose?”
His heart, for one thing. And the odds were certainly against him with Tina. Still, the worst that could happen is that he’d get shot down. It wasn’t as if she’d take away anything he already had, anything more than the ranch house and the mineral rights, anyway. He found that he didn’t so much mind losing those things now. And his ego could take it if she wasn’t interested. He’d just have to keep his heart safely locked away until he knew which way this thing would go.
“We want you to be happy,” Jake said.
“And to stop worrying about us,” Ryder added urgently.
Too moved to speak, Wyatt slapped each of them lightly on the cheek and got into the truck. Maybe it was time he started thinking about his own future. Jake and Frankie were getting on with life after losing Jolene. Ryder was far removed from the anger and pain of what had happened in Houston. Loco Man Ranch would soon be a real operation again.
Tina said she didn’t want a man in her life, but she’d tolerated his interference with Tyler and let him convince her to accept Ann Pryor’s invitation. That had to mean that she at least trusted him.
Didn’t it?
He supposed he could ask God to guide him and see what happened.
What happened didn’t give him much hope. Despite his attempts to engage her in friendly conversation, Tina kept her distance, barely looking at him as she went about her business. Still, he couldn’t seem to leave her alone. After a Sunday dinner of baked ham and all the fixings, Tina and the kids dyed eggs. Jake and Ryder went out to hide them while Tina took the boys into the den.
Wyatt wandered in to see what they were watching on Dodd’s old TV. The ancient antenna outside received only two stations, but Wyatt had arranged for cable and internet, which would be installed in the next day or two. Meanwhile, Tina had set up a DVD player and several videos appropriate for children. The one currently playing was an animated superhero film. While the boys watched the ridiculously small television screen, Tina sat to one side, reading a book. Wyatt stood there for several minutes, waiting to see if Tina would acknowledge him. He knew perfectly well that she realized he was there, but she neither looked up nor spoke.
Finally, he said, “We have a flat-screen TV that we can hang on the wall there.”
“That’ll be nice,” Tina murmured without looking up from her book.
“Might have some furniture you want to use in here, too. We won’t need it all in the bunkhouse.”
She turned a page. “Better wait and see what you need first.”
Deflated, he left the room. So much for her interest in him.
He watched from the sidelines as the boys hunted for Easter eggs. Then, feeling restless, he went out to the barn and fired up one of the ATVs that Jake had gotten running. After driving around the ranch for a couple of hours, he felt better, but he was still puzzled by all those fenced parcels of grass. He decided to search Dodd’s office for any related papers, but the search proved fruitless.
He did, however, find a safety deposit box key. Leaving the key where he found it, Wyatt decided to go down to the bank in town sometime soon to see if the key fit a box there.
When he walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, he found Tina building thick ham sandwiches. He went to the cabinet to get out plates.
“I thought we’d use paper plates tonight,” she said without stopping what she was doing. “Less cleanup.”
He closed the cabinet door. “Okay. Want to unlock your car, then? I’ll transfer Frankie’s safety seat from my truck to your car before it gets dark. That way it’ll be in place when you’re ready to leave for the Pryors’ farm tomorrow.”
She sent him a look from the corner of her eye as she walked to the small, decorative table next to the back door. Taking her keys from her handbag, she pointed them outside and remotely unlocked her car doors. Then she returned to the sandwiches.
Wyatt removed Frankie’s seat from his truck and carried it around to the passenger-side door of the back seat of Tina’s little sedan. She came out then to open the vehicle door for him and clear away several items of Tyler’s. Wyatt installed the seat, while Tina stood there with her arms folded. He didn’t know what was eating her, but he wanted to.
“Dean and Ann Pryor are excellent people,” he told her, just for something to say. “All the Billings family are.”
“I know that.”
“I met Donovan the day I went to talk to Dean about the spraying,” Wyatt went on. “I was impressed by the boy’s behavior.”
“Meaning you think Tyler will benefit from Donovan’s example.”
Wyatt faced her. “I do think Donovan will be a good influence.”
Tina huffed out a sigh. “I never know anymore whether to be offended by your high-handedness or grateful for your concern.”
He flattened his lips, choosing his words carefully. “You can think I’m high-handed if you want, but I meant what I said to Tyler this morning. I won’t put up with his disrespect for you or any other adult around here. I can’t. Frankie looks up to Tyler.”
She lifted her chin, holding his gaze. Then, without another word, she flounced off, heading back into the house.
Wyatt shook his head, but something told him that she wasn’t as upset as she wanted either of them to believe. He hit the lock and closed the car door, wondering if he ought to ask Rex about interstate custody petitions. Maybe it would be high-handed of him, but he couldn’t see how it would hurt to know the facts, especially when all he wanted to do was help.
Setting aside her tea glass, Tina laughed heartily. She hadn’t laughed so much in...she couldn’t remember when. Ann’s tales of Donovan and his dog, Digger, had kept everyone in stitches for a good hour.
Ann’s sister, Meri Burns, had been there when Tina had arrived. They had discussed the upcoming wedding of Ann and Meri’s father, and Tina had found herself volunteering to contribute to the effort. Afterward, the women had toured Billie’s vegetable patch, which was less a patch and more like a small farm, since it covered at least an acre. Tina had learned plenty to help her with the much smaller garden that she planned to plant on Loco Man Ranch next year. Then Meri had left to put her little one down for a nap and make her husband’s lunch. Dean’s grandmother, Billie, who lived with Ann and Dean, was considerably younger than Tina had expected. She’d prepared an excellent lunch and offered to teach Tina how to can and freeze her eventual harvest.
Billie and Ann were obviously close. Tina envied them, and she had to admit that Donovan was a good influence on Tyler. Donovan’s manners were impeccable, and Tyler eagerly followed his example in an apparent effort to ingratiate himself with the older boy.
The two boys had been playing outside for some time, while Frankie and Glory entertained themselves in the living room. Donovan ran in just then, followed by Tyler, and came to his mother’s side, standing quietly until she smiled at him in acknowledgment.
“Can Tyler and me play in my room?”
“Why don’t you bring some toys down to the living room, so the younger kids don’t feel left out?”
Donovan agreed easily. “Okay. Come on, Ty.”
To Tina’s surprise and delight, Tyler looked to her and asked, “Is it okay if I help Donovan get his toys?”
“Why, of course you can,” Tina replied. “Just be sure that you help pick up the toys after you’re through playing with them.”
“I promise!” Tyler vowed, rushing off after his friend.
Soon, he and Donovan were racing toy cars around a track while Frankie and little Glory played with a busy center. Frankie pushed the same buttons over and over, and Glory giggled every time. Digger lay at Donovan’s side patiently watching the play. From her seat at the dining table, Tina could see that Tyler occasionally reached over and stroked the dog.
She wondered if Wyatt would object if she got a dog for Tyler, then she scolded herself. The house belonged to her. She could get a dog if she wanted one. Thinking of Wyatt made her check the time.
She gasped. “I had no idea it was getting so late.”
“Oh, do you have to go so soon?” Ann protested. “We’ve had such a good time.”
“I need to get supper in the oven,” Tina said regretfully.
“That reminds me. I need to pull a casserole out of the freezer,” Billie Pryor proclaimed. “Where is my head today?” She rose from her chair.
“Where it always is,” Ann countered affectionately. “Wrapped around taking care of this family.”
“You have the kids to look after and the business,” Billie said, heading for the kitchen.
“The business?” Tina queried, smiling at Ann.
“Our custom farming business,” Ann answered. “I just handle the books and scheduling. Dean does nearly all the tilling, planting and harvesting in this county, along with a lot of other things. Because equipment is absurdly expensive, local farmers are happy to pay Dean to do the work. They don’t have to borrow money for equipment, and we’re showing profit. We’ve also put in our own crops for the past two years now, which means my husband works much too hard.”
“Honey, that man wouldn’t know any other way to work,” Billie said as she returned. “Besides, it takes a hardworking man to make it out here.”
“True,” Ann agreed. “Dean wouldn’t be happy with any other life, though, and I wouldn’t be happy if he wasn’t happy. Meri does pretty much the same thing for Stark that I do for Dean.”
“That’s the way it is out here,” Billie said. “Takes everyone pitching in to make this life work. It’s a good life, though.”
Nodding, Ann smiled. Tina couldn’t help thinking of Wyatt and his brothers. While Layne had complained about having to return phone calls, preferred to sleep late and painted only when conditions were exactly right, the Smith brothers got up early every morning and went to work happily with no complaints. None of them ever seemed to lack for work, either. While she kept Ryder busy in the house, Jake had completely reconfigured the bunkhouse, and Wyatt had gone from research to repairing the barn and corrals and purchasing tack and equipment. Just today he’d gone out to buy a cattle hauler, after discovering that Dodd’s old trailer had rusted clear through. Now that they had cable and internet service—the technician had arrived as Tina and the children were leaving this morning—Wyatt would be setting up books and accounts on his computer next.
Thinking of all that Wyatt and his brothers were doing, Tina got to her feet. “I really have to go, but I’ve so enjoyed myself.”
“We’re very glad you came.”
“So am I.” She got to her feet and went into the living room, Ann following, just in time to hear Donovan say, “That stinks. My first mom didn’t want me, but it’s okay. Dad wants me lots, and Ann’s my real mom, anyhow.”
Momentarily stunned by the topic the two boys were discussing, Tina whipped a glance at Ann, who simply smiled and whispered, “It’s true. Dean would’ve married her, but she just handed over the baby and apparently never looked back.” Obviously, the subject wasn’t a secret in the Pryor household.
“My mommy in Heaven,” Frankie said matter-of-factly. “Maybe she come back.”
“That won’t happen,” Tyler informed Frankie bluntly. “No one comes back from Heaven.”
“Nor would we want them to,” Tina interrupted, fearing Frankie’s reaction. “Heaven is a wonderful place, and everyone there is very happy.”
Frankie frowned, then yawned.
“Someone seems ready for a nap,” Ann remarked with a chuckle.
Tina crouched before Frankie. “Would you like to go home and take a nap now?”
He nodded, rubbed his eyes and reached for her. She gathered him up, standing with him on her hip. Like all the Smith males, he was large and his weight nearly staggered her, but she remembered happily how it had felt when Tyler had reached for her, begging to be held. Looking down, she saw the envy on Tyler’s face and felt a jolt of joy. He remembered those times, too. If only his father would stop trying to poison him against her, they could have a lovely relationship. Still, she knew the days of him wanting to be held were behind them.
She knew she would never have that particular experience again.
Unless she remarried and had more children of her own.
But she was already blessed with one son. She wouldn’t ask for more.
Smiling, she set Frankie on his feet and addressed Tyler. “Help Donovan clean up, sweetie, so we can go.”
“Aw, Mo-om,” Tyler whined, but he started helping Donovan break apart the racetrack and stow the pieces in a plastic tub.
Ann added the busy center to the tub and picked up Glory, saying, “Thank you, Tyler. Donovan will take the toys upstairs.”
To Tina’s surprise, Donovan got up and hugged both her and Frankie. “Bye, Mizz Kemp.”
“Goodbye, Donovan.”
Not to be outdone, Tyler leaped up and ran over to give Ann a quick hug. “Bye, Mizz Pryor.”
“Goodbye, Tyler, and thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for having us,” Tina replied.
Tyler looked at Donovan. “Maybe you can come to my house tomorrow.”
“Not tomorrow,” Ann said, “but soon.”
Dissatisfied with that, Tyler began to whine again. “But when? Why not?”
“Donovan has school tomorrow,” Tina quickly pointed out, “but we’ll set up another playdate soon.”
Tyler bowed his head in obvious disgust, but he didn’t protest further.
As she drove back to Loco Man Ranch, Tina thought about all that had happened. Wyatt had been right on every count. Ann and her family were wonderful people. Tina was grateful to have made friends with her and her sister, and she was thrilled that Tyler wanted to emulate Donovan’s behavior. She’d never met a better behaved, more loving, well-adjusted child than Donovan.
Looking into the rearview mirror, Tina said to her son, “You made me proud today, Tyler. You behaved very well. And I promise you’ll get to see Donovan again as soon as possible.”
Smiling slightly, he nodded and turned his head to gaze out the window.
Yes, Wyatt had been right. Again. Tina was coming to realize that he usually was.
She couldn’t help wishing that she had met Wyatt first. If it had been him instead of Layne...
She shook her head.
Why wish for the impossible?
It was enough that she and Tyler had Wyatt and his brothers in their lives now.