Chapter Four

“Grace.” Joslyn snapped her fingers and pointed to the stove. “The gravy is boiling over.”

Grace looked at the pot she’d been entrusted with and saw bubbling, thick liquid had broken over the top, preparing an escape onto the clean stovetop. “Got it.” She picked up a wooden spoon and frantically began stirring. “The gravy looks done. Should I take it off?”

“Keep going for another minute.” Her mother looked into the pot, and then went back to the vegetables she’d abandoned.

The steady beat of the knife started again. Grace worked in silence until one minute passed then she turned off the stove burner and set the pot on the granite counter to cool. “Do you need me for anything else?” She whispered a prayer to be released from kitchen duty. Not only to get out from under her mother’s watchful eye, but her stray thoughts about Heath were making her very jumpy. If she didn’t watch it, she’d ruin their dinner.

Being in the kitchen with her mother reminded Grace of the many times she’d been a disappointment. As she recounted the years spent attempting to please, only to realize she’d never be the daughter her mother had envisioned, the heavy weight of failure settled on her shoulders. Recently, their relationship was slowly improving, mostly because Grace was no longer running around the ranch like a wild child. She’d swapped ripped jeans and dirty T-shirts for designer outfits and expensive shoes. Living and working in Dallas had been the catalyst for many changes, and her relationship with Tyler was proof.

“Why don’t you set the table?” Her mother waved her away from the stove. “We need eight place settings. And don’t forget the salad forks.”

As Grace entered the large pantry off the kitchen, a knock sounded at the front door.

“Hello, hello, hello.” Her dad’s voice boomed from the entryway. “Come in, Heath. Glad you agreed to join us.”

Her stomach fluttered with nerves as footsteps sounded. Thankfully, they moved toward the family room. Grace counted out eight plates, which were decorated with delicately painted country roses, and then carried them to the dining room. Through the open door, she watched Heath stand beside her dad, listening as Dad told a long-winded story. She grinned at Heath. His posture was straight, feet wide set, and his folded hands rested against his lower back. If he was to survive her family, he’d need to loosen up.

Her dad looked like he’d just gotten in from the fields, standing tall with his fingers hooked in the straps of his overalls. As she set the table, she overheard their conversation. Cattle prices were stagnant, and property taxes were too high.

Heath remained quiet, nodding every once in awhile.

Her mother entered the family room and approached Heath. “Welcome. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Would you like a beer?” Bruce asked.

“Yes, thank you.” Heath settled on the oversized leather sofa. His gaze darted around the room.

Maybe searching for an escape. He reminded Grace of a cornered animal.

Joslyn exited the family room and caught Grace peeking through the door of the dining room. Her mother shot her the look, along with a swift nod, motioning toward their guest.

Darn, I’ve been busted. With her hiding spot discovered, she wiped her sweating palms on her skirt and left the safety of the dining room.

Heath stood as she entered. “Hi.” A small smile pulled at the corners of his mouth, which showed underneath his beard.

“Hello, it’s good to see you again…under drier circumstances.” She smiled, taking in his appearance. Although he still sported a bushy beard, she could tell he had showered and run a comb through his hair, tying it back with a leather strap. His clothes looked crisp and clean, with his shirt sleeves rolled up just enough to show off the tattoos covering his forearms. The guy cleaned up pretty well. Grace sat in the rocking chair across from the sofa. A good spot for studying their dinner guest.

Joslyn came in holding two beer bottles, both dripping with condensation. She placed them on the coasters set on the coffee table and looked at her husband. “I hope you plan on changing out of those dirty overalls before dinner, Bruce Murray.”

“Sure, sure. Let me finish this.” He lifted his beer bottle. “Don’t worry. By the time dinner’s ready, I’ll be as shiny as a pig on Sunday.”

Her mother’s laughter followed her out of the room.

Heath coughed with muffled laughter before taking a drink.

Now, his smile brightened his entire face. Too bad he hid his good looks underneath all that hair. With a cut and shave, she was sure he’d look like a totally different man.

“How’s the bike comin’ along?” Bruce took a long drink before setting the bottle back onto the coaster.

“The parts I need should be in tomorrow. The guy from the auto store said he’d drop them off.”

“Yeah, that sounds like Jerry. He’s a good man. Honest, too.”

“Have you decided where you’re going once your bike is fixed?” Grace asked.

“No, ma’am.” Heath turned in his seat to face her. “I was heading to Dallas, but I’ve changed my mind about staying in a big city.”

She pondered the fact he had no set plan for his journey. Her thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the front door and the arrival of two blonde girls running into the family room.

“Papa!” they both yelled in unison and jumped onto Bruce’s wide lap.

Heath scooted over to make room for the squirming little girls.

“How are my favorite twins?” Bruce gave them each a kiss on the cheek.

“We’re great,” Kara said while her sister, Lizzy, nodded.

As Alex and Jenny came into the room, Grace stood to give her brother and sister-in-law a hug. “Hey, girls,” Grace said to the twins. “Granny’s in the kitchen. Go see if she needs help.” The girls, who never missed an opportunity for fun with Granny, jumped off the sofa and made a beeline for the kitchen.

Alex sat and crossed his ankle over his knee. “You’re asking for trouble, Grace. Mom hates being called Granny, and the last thing she wants is a pair of six-year-old tornados helping her prepare dinner.”

“I know.” Grace rubbed her hands together. “That’s why it’s so much fun.”

A surprised cry came from the rear of the house. Everyone in the family room laughed.

“Heath, this is my son Alex and his lovely wife, Jenny.” The lines around Bruce’s mouth deepened with his smile. “Those two dolls now in the kitchen helping with dinner are their daughters, Kara and Lizzy. And this young man here is Heath Carter.”

Alex reached over to shake Heath’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Heath.”

Alex and Jenny cuddled up on the small loveseat placed under a large picture window.

Through the window, Grace could see her favorite mare grazing in the field by the stable. The sun’s strong rays bounced off the stable’s tin roof. Another beautiful summer day in God’s country.

Bruce stood. “Guess I should go change.” The stairs creaked as he made his way to the second floor.

“So, Heath.” Alex leaned forward and rested his forearms on his lap. “I heard you and my sister took a little swim in the Hickory River yesterday.” He turned to Grace and winked.

Oh no. Grace shot her older brother a look that could have halted a stampeding bull. But of course on Alex, her efforts were useless.

“Thanks for jumping in after her.” He kept charging on with his story. “Funny thing, though, that’s not the first time she’s been saved from drowning.”

“Alex.” The heat of embarrassment colored Grace’s cheeks. “Don’t go there.”

He avoided Grace’s stare. “In high school, she got a cramp while swimming in the community pool. She needed the lifeguard to save her. No doubt, she planned the stunt to get the attention of her crush, Tyler Ross. That time, he tossed her a ring buoy. Ten years later, she managed to get an engagement ring from the guy.”

“My leg really did cramp that day.” Grace’s cheeks grew even warmer. Why did her big brother love to tease?

“See those pictures on the mantel?” Alex pointed at the row of framed pictures. “The one on the far left is Grace, freshman year. Tyler was my best friend, and she used to follow him around like a puppy dog, but he had little interest in that version of my sister.”

If she would have had a cow pie handy, she would have launched it at Alex’s head. Now that would have shut him up. She knew from experience. Good grief. Grace had been home for a few days and already slipped back into the role of country girl. But to be honest, the thought of a good ol’ cow pie fight did make her giddy.

“Stop teasing your sister, Alex, or you’ll sleep on the couch tonight.” Jenny gave her husband a pinch on the arm.

Heath studied her high school picture, while Grace fought the urge to grab it, and then run and hide. The combination of braces and glasses, along with blotchy skin and a bad hair style, made her look like someone’s cruel joke. For years, she’d begged her mother to replace that picture, but her dad insisted it stay.

Heath caught her gaze. “You were beautiful. Don’t ever feel otherwise.”

“Where were you when I was sixteen?” Grace murmured.

Alex, mouth hung slack, was struck silent, and looked from Heath to Grace, and then back to Heath.

Soon, her mother appeared in the room, followed by Kara and Lizzy, who were cool, calm, and under control. “Supper is ready. Y’all, go wash your hands and get ready to eat.”

Bruce came downstairs, dressed in clean clothes, and walked with Heath to the dining room. Jenny went with her daughters to the bathroom.

Grabbing Grace’s arm, Alex pulled her back. “What’s up with him?” He pointed to Heath. “He’s a little odd, huh?”

“No, he’s not odd. He has more going on than meets the eye.” She was so curious about his story. Where did he come from? What had brought him to Liberty Ridge? Why had he jumped into a cold river, and subsequently damaged his bike, to rescue a stranger?”

“Pops took him into town today.” Alex tipped his head in Heath’s direction. “They must have stopped at the store to get him some new clothes. You can still see the store folds in his shirt.”

She had noticed that but found it endearing rather than funny. Heath had made an effort to look nice for tonight. Tyler always looked polished and put together, but he showed extra attention to his appearance when negotiating business dealings. That’s when he pulled out the custom-tailored suit, highly polished leather shoes, and six-thousand-dollar watch. “I want Heath to feel welcome here. Okay?”

Alex furrowed his light eyebrows, and a frown pulled down the corners of his mouth. “Do you think I was raised in a barn? Of course, I’ll make him feel welcome. He saved your life.”

She laughed and tucked her hand into the crook of her brother’s arm. “We were both raised in a barn. Let’s go see if we remember our table manners.”

****

Dinner tasted delicious, the best thing Heath had eaten in the past year and a half. The beef was tender and moist. The bread was freshly baked and still warm. And the apple pie that Grace brought to the table after dinner left him so full he could barely move. “The meal was wonderful, Mrs. Murray.”

Joslyn’s smile beamed. “Thanks, Heath. I’m glad you could join us.”

With the table cleared, the twins went off to play in another room. The adults lingered at the dining room table, recovering from overeating.

Over dinner, Heath realized that in this family, the dining room was the heart of the home. Cream-and-blue-striped wallpaper covered the walls, and a long mahogany table anchored the room. Pictures, along with a painting of the ranch, filled the space. He could almost hear the whispers of the countless stories shared around the table.

“Coffee anyone?” Grace stood to get the carafe on the sideboard. She poured the steaming liquid into white china cups before setting out the cream and sugar.

No use in denying his growing attraction. His feelings were harmless enough, even if they strengthened by the minute. Every time he glanced her way, his pulse quickened, sending hot blood coursing through his veins. Grace was charming and pretty, but more than that, her heart was genuinely pure. Tomorrow, he would leave to continue on his journey. And soon she would be a married woman.

The conversation flowed around the table, and Heath was content just to listen, only answering the occasional question thrown his way. Even though he was an outsider, they still made him feel like part of the family. That morning, when Bruce invited him to dinner, he’d first declined the offer. But he soon realized Bruce Murray would not take no for an answer. Now, he was glad Bruce had been so insistent.

The last time he’d enjoyed a meal like this was with John and Julie Ellis. In his head, Heath saw their cozy home at Fort Bragg. He had been a frequent guest, stopping by regularly for a home-cooked meal. Julie, with her curly, red hair and caring heart, was a very good cook.

Thoughts of his best friend tormented his already battered soul. They were his penance and reminded him of his failures, both professionally and personally. John would never eat another meal at home. John would never return to his wife and son. John would miss out on seeing his son grow up and become a man, strong and brave like his father.

“What do you do for a living, Heath?” Joslyn asked.

Heath’s dark thoughts were thankfully interrupted by her question. He unclenched his jaw and took a few deep breaths through his nose to help him relax. “My last job was on an oil rig, ma’am. Before that I worked construction.” He kept his answer as vague as possible. Even nice people judged him harshly once they realized he lived as a drifter. He’d been called many things—crazy, dangerous, deranged—but those words never stung, because he didn’t allow himself to care about the people saying them.

“You revived Grace after you rescued her from the river,” Joslyn said. “Do you have any medical training?”

He shifted in his seat and forced the words out of his mouth. “I served for twelve years in the Army, ma’am. Mostly as a medic.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “You were in the Army? I would never have guessed.”

Strands of panic tightened around Heath’s chest, causing him to strain for breath. He pushed back his chair. “Thank you for dinner, it was wonderful. I should be going.”

As if on cue, the twins skipped into the dining room. One of them held a small box in her hand. “Papa, is it time to play?” She placed the box on the table.

Bruce laughed and lifted the small, red box, waving it at Heath. “Sorry, young man, but you can’t leave just yet. We haven’t played SOLO.”

He glanced around at the Murray family, all looking back at him with wide eyes and raised brows, and he returned to his seat. A quick card game, and then he’d leave. Even though Grace’s smile continually chipped away at his resolve.

Since he’d never played SOLO before, the twins sat one on either side of him during the first round and fed him instructions. For the second game, he switched seats and was placed between Lizzy and Grace. After several rotations around the table, he noticed Grace held only two cards. Since she’d won the first game, his mission became preventing her from winning again.

“Heath, it’s your turn.” Lizzy elbowed his side.

He’d learned to tell the twins apart by the color of the ribbon tying their ponytails.

“Draw Four.” He slapped down his card on top of the pile.

Grace narrowed her eyes and picked four cards. “You will pay for that.”

“Bring it on, sister.” He smiled, because luck was on his side. He had another Draw Four and a Skip card in his hand. The muscles in his cheeks actually hurt from overuse.

“Nobody does that to Auntie Grace,” Lizzy whispered in his ear. “She hates to lose.”

“She doesn’t scare me.” Heath sent Grace a challenging grin. “She’s going down.” His index finger pointed to the floor.

Lizzy giggled and glanced at her cards.

He noticed that Grace was intensely studying her cards, maybe working out a new strategy. What a surprise to learn under her sweet and innocent exterior lay a cutthroat card player. For his next turn, he used his Skip card.

“That’s not fair.” Grace’s hand pounded the table. “He’s cheating.” She narrowed her eyes at the others around the table.

The twins laughed. One of them gave Heath a high-five.

Bruce laid down a card, leaving him with only three cards. “Seems to be working out well for me.”

“Ugh.” She folded her arms. “You guys are a bunch of traitors.”

Soon, Grace held ten cards, while Heath palmed his last card. She even tried to peek at his card in a last-ditch effort to cheat. The flushed glow of her cheeks looked hot to the touch. He fought the urge to reach over and trail a finger along her jaw line, stopping at her full bottom lip. The same lip that stuck out in an attractive pout.

He pictured Grace wrapped in his arms, her head tipped back in ecstasy, as he ran passionate kisses down her neck and across her—Not the time, man. Not the place.

Lizzy tapped his arm, shaking out the seductive image from his mind.

“Your turn.” Her sing-song voice fluttered.

When he placed his final card on the table, everyone cheered. Well, everyone except for Grace. Heath could almost see steam blowing out of her ears.

“I think that’s enough SOLO for tonight.” Grace bit her lower lip and glanced over at Heath. A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. She collected the cards and put them back into the box. “You got lucky tonight, Carter. Next time, I won’t go so easy on you.”

“Guess I’m looking at a rematch,” he said to Lizzy. His gaze followed Grace as she walked out of the room, her hips swaying under a loose black skirt.

“You’re a brave man.” Alex reclined in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. “We usually just let her win. Easier that way.”

Heath stood and shook hands with Bruce and Alex. “Then that’s my cue to leave.” He said goodbye and walked to the front door.

“Are you leaving?” Grace materialized from the family room.

Backlight spilled from the room and illuminated her dark hair. Heath forced himself to look at the engagement ring on her finger, which served as a visual reminder to his wavering heart. She was off limits. “I’m heading to the bunkhouse. Thanks for the friendly competition.”

She set a hand on one hip. The other hand rested loosely at her side. “Okay, then…goodnight. See you tomorrow.”

He longed to give her a goodnight kiss. Instead, he settled for a solitary night in his bunkhouse—and a cold shower.