13

Look what I’ve got!” Rita bustled into the Dip ’n’ Dine waving a sheaf of papers over her head. She plopped the stack on the counter and held the top sheet up for inspection. “‘Hot Chile and Cool Jazz: An Evening of Spice and Ice.’ I thought that last bit just makes it perfect. What do you think?”

Chris took the flyer from her and read it, slowly nodding. “I think it’s going to work. I like the ‘spice and ice.’”

Rita handed another flyer to Carlos, who had appeared in the kitchen window. Since the evening party had been his idea, he had taken particular interest in the plans.

Chris handed back his flyer and Rita read it again. “I just wish the last weekend in September would have worked. When you head into October, you’re flirting with a cold snap, and earlier in September just doesn’t give us the time we need to do this thing right.”

“Sorry, but that’s the only weekend Tom can bring his band down. And we’re lucky to get that since we’re holding this right in the middle of hunting season.”

“Just another reason why it might have been a good idea to stick with a local band, even if it wasn’t jazz.” Rita handed a flyer to each of the few diners finishing up a late lunch. “Here, you won’t want to miss this. And tell all your friends.”

“Are you kidding me?” Chris grinned. “You really think ‘a foot stompin’ time’ is better than ‘spice and ice’? This is a real winner.”

“I do have a knack for slogans, if I say so myself. It just comes naturally.” Rita cocked her head as she admired her own handiwork before peeling off four flyers and handing them to Chris. “One for the front door, one for the cash register, and one in each of the restrooms. Oh, and here are the tickets. The flyer says you can buy them either here or at the motel. Keep track of the number you sell and who buys them. This thing is going to sell out. Mark my words.”

Chris nodded, thinking he should probably be taking notes or something.

“Well, I’ve got to get these flyers out. The sooner they go up everywhere, the sooner people will start talking about it and buying tickets.” She stopped with her hand on the door. “Oh, what about the food? What’s on the menu?”

Chris glanced at Carlos, who turned back to his kitchen with a scowl. “Well, we’re still in negotiations about that. I think I’ve about got Carlos to agree to share the kitchen with me that night. We’re thinking there’ll be a choice between a traditional New Mexican combo plate and something a little more contemporary. Still haven’t quite decided what.”

“If he sells even five orders of that fancy Santa Fe stuff when folks can eat my cooking, I’ll eat one myself.” Carlos’s grumble may have been intended for no one in particular, but it carried to the dining room.

“I heard that.” Chris turned and pointed at Carlos through the window into the kitchen. “And you’re on. I’ll serve you myself, right here in this front and center booth.”

“You’re pushing it, boss.” Carlos turned back to his stove.

With Rita gone and the diner nearly empty, Chris found some tape and set about putting up the flyers. The timing of the dinner was perfect. He could throw himself into it and not miss Olivia so much. He’d been surprised at how easily she had fit into his life, and the nearly two weeks she had been with him had flown by. But it was nearly time for school to start, and she’d soon be going home.

When the phone in his pocket vibrated, he took it and raised his eyebrows at the screen. Kaitlyn hadn’t called Olivia nearly as often as she had promised, but it was often enough for Kaitlyn, he guessed. He pressed Talk.

“Hey, Sis. How’s it going?”

“Just great! How are you guys doing?” Kaitlyn sounded more than cheerful, and that made Chris nervous. Usually that meant she wanted something.

“We’re doing fine. I’m sorry Olivia’s not here. She’s out at the ranch with Sarah getting in one last ride, but she’ll be home in a couple hours. Should I have her call you, or do you want to call back?”

“Oh, I’ll call back. Don’t worry about it. But I’m glad I got to talk to you. You usually just hand the phone to Olivia.”

“I thought that was our deal.”

“But you’re my brother. I like talking to you too, you know.”

“All right.” Now he was sure of it. Kaitlyn wanted something. Probably the money to get back home.

“So, who is this Sarah that Olivia keeps talking about? Is she cute? Should I be worried about my brother?”

Chris walked through the kitchen and out the back door. Juanita and the last table of customers were following his conversation with unabashed interest, and he had a feeling the call was going to require some privacy as soon as Kaitlyn got around to why she called.

“Sarah Cooley is a teacher who’s taken an interest in Olivia. She grew up on a ranch near here and has taken Olivia riding a couple times. Now, what’s this call all about, Kaitlyn? Do you need money?”

“No, I just wanted to talk to you, that’s all.” Kaitlyn sounded deeply hurt that Chris would question her motives. “Can’t we just talk without you finding fault?”

Chris glanced at his watch. “We could and I’d love to. But I’m at work right now and I need to get back at it. Why don’t you plan on spending an extra day or two here when you come back for Olivia? We could catch up then.”

There was a long pause on the line, and Chris thought they might have been cut off. “Kaitlyn? Are you there?”

“I’m here.”

Totally exasperated, Chris sat down on the concrete back step. “Okay. I don’t have any more time for this. You called for a reason. If it’s not money, what is it?”

Another long pause. “Kaitlyn?”

He heard her take a deep breath, and then the words came in a rush. “I—we’ve decided to spend the winter here in Florida. I’m not coming back till maybe spring, so can Olivia just stay with you?”

“Can Olivia what? What are you talking about? Of course you can’t spend the winter in Florida. You have responsibilities. You have a child, for crying out loud.”

“Don’t I deserve some fun once in a while? I was barely more than a baby myself when Olivia came.” Kaitlyn started into her old self-pitying rant, but Chris cut her off.

“Save it, Kaitlyn. I’ve heard it all before. You need to grow up. Olivia deserves better.”

“She’s got you.” Chris thought he may have heard tears in Kaitlyn’s voice, but he couldn’t tell. The line had gone dead.

Muttering a curse, Chris immediately called her back, but it went straight to voice mail. Of course Kaitlyn would turn off her phone as soon as she hung up. Rage coursed through him, and his hands shook with his desire to put a fist through something. He drew back his arm to throw his phone as far into the desert as he could get it but wound up jamming it back in his pocket instead. The phone was his only link, however tenuous, to his irresponsible, immature, unreliable sister. He took a deep breath, held it as long as he could, and slowly let it hiss through his teeth. Kaitlyn had been smart to turn off her phone. He needed to cool off before he talked to anyone.

The back door opened and Juanita stuck her head out. “Everything okay?”

Chris nodded without looking at her.

“Chris, what happened? Your sister’s not hurt, is she?” It was Juanita’s firm and often stated belief that anyone who got near a motorcycle was bound to end up in traction, or worse.

“Nope. She’s doing great.” Chris jumped to his feet and headed off the step into the desert behind the diner. “I’m going for a walk. Back in a while.”

At least an hour had passed before Chris walked back up the steps and into the kitchen. And honestly? If it hadn’t been for the fact that Olivia would be back and Juanita would be wanting to go home, he’d probably still be heading for that mountain in the distance.

He’d made another attempt to reach Kaitlyn but was not surprised to find the call still going straight to voice mail. A call to his mom in Arizona had been more successful, even if she was about to walk into a meeting and couldn’t give him more than a few minutes.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” his mom had said, “but I am so mad I could spit nails. I give, give, give to that girl and she just takes, takes, takes. She sold the car I gave her, quit the job I got her, and now I’m stuck with cleaning up her mess here. And what am I supposed to do with that cat? I just don’t have time for this.”

When Chris got the conversation back around to Olivia, his mom didn’t see the problem. In fact, as far as she was concerned, things couldn’t have worked out better for Olivia.

Carlos looked up from scrubbing his stove when Chris walked in, and even though he didn’t say anything, Chris could tell from his expression that Juanita had poured out her concerns. He supposed it was too much to hope that the diner had been empty at the time.

“Well, here’s your uncle Chris! We were starting to get worried.” Juanita really did look more relieved at his return than annoyed at his absence, which surprised him. Maybe he had been gone a little longer than he should have been.

Olivia, on her stool at the counter, looked worried, and Chris forced a smile for her sake and tried to tousle her hair. “Sorry, kiddo. I got out there in the desert and lost track of the time. Have a good time today?”

Olivia leaned away from him and shrugged. Clearly, he was still not in her good graces. “You were gone a long time.”

“Well, I’m back now.” He turned to Juanita. “Sorry to have kept you. I know you need to get home. See you tomorrow.”

Juanita seemed in no hurry to leave. Something was obviously amiss, maybe even gravely so, and as she often said, offering help and advice to a friend in need always took precedence in her life. “Are you sure everything’s okay? I’ve already called Russ to tell him I might be late.”

“No, everything is fine.” Chris made his voice calm and easy and hoped his smiled matched it. “Really. You can go on home, although I do appreciate you staying with Olivia till I got back.”

Juanita waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, don’t mention it. We knew you’d be back when you were ready.” She waited another moment, but when it became clear that Chris had said all he was going to say, she edged toward the front door. “Well, if you need anything, anything at all, you call me now, you hear?”

“Will do.”

Juanita finally had nothing to do but leave. Chris watched through the front window as she walked to her car. Her brisk pace and the slam she gave the car door told him she was not a bit happy with his evasiveness. Well, too bad about that.

“So, Liverhead, what’s wrong? Are you mad at me for not being here when you got here, or is something else going on?” Chris took the stool next to Olivia’s.

“No, I’m not mad at you.” She was busy dragging her straw through a puddle of lemonade on the counter and making squiggles.

“Then what’s up?”

She was quiet for another long moment and then looked up. He was pretty sure that if it were any other seven-year-old, there’d be tears. “It’s just that this was probably the last day I was going to get to ride Belle, and Sarah was going to take me on a trail ride, and then this guy shows up and starts bothering us.”

“A guy?” Chris frowned. “What guy? Did Sarah know him?”

“Yeah. I think he was her boyfriend. They’re going to go on a date or something tonight.”

“Oh.” Somehow, it hadn’t occurred to him that Sarah might already be seeing someone. “Well, it couldn’t have been too much of a bother. Did you go on your trail ride?”

“Yes, but he came too, and he kept trying to make Sarah talk to him instead of me, and we didn’t ride very long, and I probably won’t ever get to see Belle again, and she won’t even know where I am.” She looked up at him and her chin jerked a time or two, but there were still no tears.

Chris lifted her onto his knee and stroked her hair. “Ah, Liverhead, this has been a rotten day all around, hasn’t it?”

She sniffed. “Not all rotten. I did get to ride Belle for a little while.”

He leaned back so he could look in her face. “You know what we should do? Let’s go up to San Ramon and get a pizza. What do you say?”

“Cool. I like pizza. I used to get it all the time at home.”

“I’ll bet.” Chris set Olivia on the floor and stood up. She ran out the front door ahead of him, and Chris called a good-night to Carlos and followed her to the Jeep. He still had no idea how he was going to tell Olivia that her mom wasn’t coming to get her, but he was pretty sure there wasn’t enough pizza in San Ramon to make it all right.

Chris was just getting into his Jeep when Brandon and Sarah drove by. She waved, but he must not have seen her.

“Who’s that?” Brandon checked his rearview mirror to see who had her attention.

“That’s Chris Reed, Olivia’s uncle. He owns the Dip ’n’ Dine now.”

“Big guy. I wouldn’t want to tangle with him. Know him well?”

Sarah shrugged. “Not really. We’ve talked a few times. Why?”

“Because that was either the most disagreeable kid I’ve ever met, or she just hated me at first sight. I could see it if she thought I was moving in on her uncle’s territory.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It was you and you alone that she loathed.”

“Wow. Harsh. Was it something I said?”

“I think it was more like something you did. What made you turn up at the ranch, anyway? I thought you were picking me up at my place.”

“What can I say? I couldn’t wait.” He grinned as he reached across the console for her hand. “I got into town a few hours early and got your grandma to tell me where you were.”

“And look how popular it made you. You might want to call next time.”

“Oh, come on, Sarah. Lighten up a little. I thought we had fun this afternoon. I’m sorry if what’s-her-name didn’t like it, but I’m leaving for Chicago in three days, and I wanted to spend as much time with you as I could. So sue me.”

Sarah took a deep breath and looked out her side window. The summer sun was beginning to slide behind the hills, and the sky was turning every shade of pink and coral. The evening was far too beautiful to waste by being mad, and besides, she had forgotten how nice her hand felt in his.

“So, tell me.” Brandon interrupted her thoughts. “Is Uncle Fry Cook going to give me any competition when I’m gone?”

Sarah slipped her hand from his. “Don’t be a jerk, Brandon. Chris owns the Dip ’n’ Dine, and from what I hear he’s an amazing chef. And it’s way too soon for you to be talking about competition, anyway.”

Maybe it was the chill in her voice, or her pulling her hand away, but Brandon seemed to realize he had some damage to control.

“You’re right. That was a dumb thing to say. And I’m sorry.” He kept his eyes on the road but reached for her hand again. “I’m sure he’s a great guy. Maybe I can even meet him next time I’m in town. Only, it’s too bad about his niece, though. I wouldn’t wish her on anybody.”

“Don’t be mean.” Sarah’s laugh was light, and again she left her hand in his. “Olivia is attitude in tennis shoes, but I don’t think she’s had an easy time of it. And face it, you did turn up where you weren’t invited.”

“If I agree that both Chris and Olivia are terrific people and I was wrong to take shots, can we just leave them behind in Last Chance? This is the last evening I’m going to get to spend with you for I don’t know how long. I don’t want to spend it talking about people who aren’t even important to us.”

Sarah, who had lowered the visor against the setting sun, took a look in its mirror and then turned around to look over her shoulder.

“It’s fine with me if we don’t talk about the Reeds, but we’re not leaving them behind in Last Chance. They’re right behind us.”

“You’re kidding me.” Brandon checked his rearview mirror. “Are they following us?”

“Of course not. If I had to guess, I’d say they were just going to San Ramon. Why would they be following us?”

“I don’t know. That kid was awful mad at me, and her uncle is awful big. Maybe she took out a contract on me.”

Sarah laughed. The silliness, the ability to make her laugh was what she found so attractive about Brandon in the first place. When was it supplanted by his need to control? And how could she bring that sense of humor back?

“I’m not taking any chances.” He pressed hard on the accelerator, and Sarah watched Chris’s Jeep fall farther and farther behind until they went around a curve and she lost sight of it for good. An unexpected sense of loss surprised Sarah. She loved the time she spent with Olivia, but she also had to admit that she had begun to look forward to seeing Chris when she picked Olivia up at the diner and dropped her off after their rides. And she didn’t like seeing either of them disappear in the distance.