“Caleb, I need your help.” Mia wished she hadn’t needed to call him at his office. “Actually Meals on Wheels needs your help. It’s my day to volunteer, but Abby has an emergency at work, so, well...”
She was babbling and she knew it. Caleb’s generosity in organizing her housewarming still gave her a warm feeling inside. His actions had helped ease her way into making friends in Buffalo Gap. But lately she’d realized the community was pairing her with Caleb, which made her nervous and wary. She’d decided to avoid him. Until now.
“Mia? Are you there?”
“Sorry,” she apologized, stuffing away her concerns. “What did you say?”
“I said I’d love to help you, but I’m due in court in ten minutes and I can’t back out.” He sounded rushed. “Maybe if you’d called earlier—”
“No, it’s fine. Really. I’ll get someone else. Thanks anyway.” She hung up before his rumbly voice could cause any more damage to her skittering nerves. Why was it that she only had to hear him speak and her insides trembled?
“Mia? Is anything wrong?” Mayor Marsha stood at her car door. “Nice,” she said, admiring the vehicle Mia had finally purchased a few days earlier. “I’ve always loved red vehicles.”
“Me, too.” Mia smiled, wondering how it was that the mayor seemed to show up at just the right moment. “You wouldn’t have a spare hour, would you?”
“Ah, Meals on Wheels.” Marsha shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’ve a meeting in about five minutes. Maybe Joel could help you.”
“Joel?” Mia blanked out for a minute, then followed Marsha’s glance to the man sitting on a bench across the street. Caleb’s dad.
“He doesn’t look busy and he’s been here long enough to know where most everybody lives,” Marsha said. “He helped me last week with meal deliveries. Maybe you could ask him.”
“But Caleb—” Mia didn’t want to say it, but it seemed important to consider his aversion to his father.
“Forget Caleb. You need help, and Joel’s available,” Marsha said firmly. “I’ll ask him if you’re shy. Joel!” She waved her hand to beckon him. The older man rose, walking toward them with a quizzical look on his face.
“I’m not sure—” Mia swallowed the rest of her objections because Joel was too near.
“Mia needs help delivering meals,” Marsha explained. “Are you available?”
“Yes. Nobody seems to need a handyman today.” He looked directly at Mia. “Are you sure you want me to help you?”
Swallowing her reservations, she nodded. “I’d appreciate it. Otherwise I’m going to be late because I’ll have to do it alone. I don’t know most of the people on my list. Not yet,” she said with a smile, thinking how little he seemed like the monster Caleb portrayed. “Climb in and let’s go pick up the meals.” While Joel got in her car Mia smiled at Marsha. “Thanks for your help.”
“Have a good day,” Marsha said with a nod. Was that glint in her eye satisfaction?
Mia didn’t have time to dwell on it as she drove to the hospital kitchen and loaded the meals. Joel had to repeat his directions to the third house because her mind was busy noticing how easy he was to talk to. As they delivered the meals she thought how lonely Joel seemed.
“Three more and then we’re finished.” Mia checked the car’s clock, amazed to see an hour had flown by. “I’ve really enjoyed this. You should add your name to the volunteer list. They could really use more people.”
“I’d like to,” he said quietly. “But I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in town.”
“You have to move on?” From the downturn of his lips, Mia didn’t think Joel wanted to leave Buffalo Gap.
“I haven’t been able to find much work and my money’s getting low.” He sighed. “Turn in here.” When she pulled to a stop he got out and delivered the meal.
“You were saying you didn’t have work?” she prodded when he returned. If Joel left town, she felt certain he and Caleb would never reconcile and Caleb would never be rid of the anger and bitterness that had built up over the years.
“I was hoping to stay here longer.” Joel glanced at her with eyes so like Caleb’s. “I’d hoped to get my son to at least talk to me, but...”
“I have some jobs at Riverbend,” she blurted. “I know it’s autumn and probably too late to do much in the garden, but I’d like to prepare the area for some work in the spring. There’s also the matter of two horses.”
“You own horses?” he said with some surprise. “I didn’t know you rode.”
“I don’t.” Mia made a face. “A neighbor phoned this morning to say he’d been looking after two horses that belong to Riverbend. He’s not able to do it anymore and would like them moved as soon as possible.” She sighed. “I didn’t know anything about horses coming with the property, but I can’t just abandon them. Do you know how to look after horses?”
“I worked on a dude ranch down South for a while. I know the basics.” A smile lit up Joel’s face, then dissipated in his frown. “Are you sure you want to trust me to work for you? You know about my wife?”
“I know she died in tragic circumstances.” Mia followed his directions to the next address. When he returned to the car, she faced him. “I know there’s a wall between you and Caleb. I can’t guarantee that you staying in town will help break it down but I do think it’s important you keep trying.”
“He’ll be furious with you for hiring me.” Joel’s sad eyes met her. “I don’t want to be the cause of a rift between you.”
“Caleb is my friend. I’d like you to be my friend, too,” Mia said with a smile. “But more than that, I think it’s very important for both of you to find common ground. If you’re at the ranch when Caleb visits, maybe he’ll be forced to see the past in a different way and come to terms with it. I just want to help him, Joel.”
“Thank you for caring about him,” Joel said quietly.
Mia took the plunge. “You’re welcome to come to Riverbend with me. I’ll show you what I want you to do. There’s a little bunkhouse that you could use. Once you see everything you can decide whether or not to accept my offer.”
“Thank you.” Were those tears in his eyes? “But if at any time you’d like me to leave, you must say so. Agreed?”
“If that’s the way you want it.” Satisfied, Mia drove to their final stop. With all their meals delivered, she headed for home.
Home. What a lovely word.
On the way she prayed that she was making the right decision. Caleb would be upset, but that wasn’t going to stop her from doing what she could to help him reconnect.
But could You step in and ease things a bit, Lord? She shuddered at the thought of Caleb’s anger turned on her. She didn’t want to hurt him. He’d been good and kind to her and she liked him a lot.
Too much?
Mia reminded herself of Caleb’s insistence that he couldn’t love. Given his relationship with Lily, she knew he had a lot of love to give. But it wouldn’t be for her. If she ever let herself trust a man enough to have a relationship, it would be to have a real marriage, with children.
And that was a dream Mia could never have. She wasn’t fit to be a mother. Ever. It was too dangerous. Harlan had made sure she understood the consequences of that long-ago mistake. He’d forgiven her but Mia doubted Caleb would.
In his eyes she’d be a murderer, just like Joel.
“What, exactly, is going on?” Caleb glared at his father, barely able to squeeze out the words around the lump of gall lodged in his throat. “What are you doing here?”
“Joel’s working for me,” Mia said, stepping between father and son. “He’s the answer to my prayers, actually.”
“Some prayers,” Caleb mocked. He crossed his arms across his chest as an iron band tightened inside. “Doing what?”
“Helping me with my horses, for one thing.” Her joyful smile sent that familiar yet crazy warmth through his blood.
“Horses?” He listened impatiently while she explained. “Yeah, I remember old man Ness did have a couple of horses when he owned Riverbend. I didn’t realize Harlan had boarded them.” He faced his father. “But that doesn’t explain your presence here.”
“I hired him.” There was a steely tone to Mia’s voice that Caleb had never heard before.
So mind your own business was implicit in her words. He’d wanted Mia to stand up for herself, Caleb mused in self-mockery. He just hadn’t expected she’d do it with him.
“Joel, you go over and explain that we’ll take possession of the horses as soon as we can make provision for them,” Mia said. “If Mr. Ness has any suggestions about which outbuildings we should use, please take note of them.”
Joel nodded and left after a glance at Caleb.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” he asked when his father was gone.
“You’re the one who told me I needed to step out and live,” Mia reminded him. “Or words to that effect. Now you’re changing your mind?”
“No, but you also need to protect yourself,” he warned. “Joel Crane will take advantage of you. That’s what he does, Mia. He is not a man who deserves your pity.”
“I don’t feel pity. I need help. Joel can help me.” Her tone changed to reproof. “Everyone deserves a second chance, Caleb.”
“Haven’t you learned yet to protect yourself?” Exasperated but seeing her implacability, Caleb put away his other objections for another time. He’d have to be the one to protect her from his father.
“I’m going inside for tea. Feel free to join me if you have time.” Mia tossed the offer over one shoulder as she headed for the house.
“Can I have coffee? Strong coffee? I need the caffeine.” Caleb followed, wondering why he’d chosen to drive out here yet knowing the answer. Mia would listen and understand. She wouldn’t say something inane. She’d address his issue head-on.
Sure enough she asked, “What’s wrong, Caleb?” once the coffeemaker was dripping water through the grounds.
“You got a new coffeemaker—just for me?” He grinned, enjoying her flushed face as he sat on a stool at the breakfast bar.
“For anyone who visits and wants coffee,” Mia corrected, flushing more deeply as she lowered her head to avoid looking at him. “New house, new coffeemaker. Now, what’s bothering you?”
“You met Bethany, the newest girl at Family Ties?” he asked.
“Last week. She had her baby yesterday, didn’t she?” Mia nodded. “I’m going to stop by tomorrow with a gift for her.”
“Don’t bother.” When she lifted her head from arranging a plate of cookies, Caleb told her the rest. “Her parents arrived and took her and her baby boy home.”
“But she was adamant about giving him for adoption when I spoke to her last.” Mia studied him. “You couldn’t stop it?”
“I wish I could have. She’s very mature, but it turns out she’s underage and they don’t want their grandchild given to strangers.” Caleb clamped his jaw shut, remembering Bethany’s shame, pain and hurt. He should have been able to protect her.
“If they want her home, that’s good, isn’t it?” Mia poured his coffee and nudged the plate of cookies forward before sitting beside him.
“No. They want Bethany to keep her baby to force her to ‘face up to her sins,’” he said with disgust. “Can you imagine the life she and her child will have in such an unforgiving house, where she’s reminded every moment that she’s sinned and made to pay for the rest of her life?”
“It sounds horrible,” Mia agreed thoughtfully.
From her look Caleb guessed she was thinking of Joel, but surely she knew his sin was far different from Bethany’s. “It isn’t the same as with my father,” he said.
“Isn’t it? Sin is sin. And God forgives.” She kept a bead on him for several moments. Then suddenly a dimple appeared in one cheek. “How much underage is Bethany?”
“Three months. Why?” Mia’s cunning smile shocked him. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m sure there’s some follow-up legal work you have to do with Bethany,” she said. When Caleb shook his head, she narrowed her gaze. “No sign-offs on a detail that necessitates a meeting where you, as her lawyer, would be duty bound to advise her that if, after three months, she still feels she can’t raise her child, she could return to Family Ties? Being of legal age and all,” she hinted with a wink.
“It would be hard for her to give up her baby after three months, but if that’s what she truly wanted—” He mulled it over, then grinned. For the first time that day, Caleb felt as if the sun had come out. But then that was always the effect Mia had on him.
“Well?” she asked, tongue in cheek.
“I do believe there is one detail I overlooked,” he murmured. “As an officer of the court, I’d be remiss to let that pass. I must speak to Bethany privately.”
“Good.” Mia sipped her tea, but from the way she peered into the amber liquid, it was clear she something else bothered her.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was at our quilting group this morning, which, by the way, I love. They asked me to design a Christmas quilt to be raffled off. We’re all working on it communally and it is going to be gorgeous.”
“Uh-huh.” Caleb was utterly out of his depth.
“Anyway, we talk as we stitch and this morning the talk was about Lily and some new tests she had.” Mia looked at him reproachfully. “You didn’t tell me.”
“I didn’t want to say anything until I got some more answers.” Caleb kept his eyes on his coffee mug. He didn’t want to tell her the rest.
“What is it, Caleb? Is there anything to be done for her?”
He loved the concern in Mia’s voice for the little girl he adored.
“Caleb?” Maybe it was the weight of her hand on his arm, or the gentleness of her question, or perhaps it was the glow of her emerald eyes. Whatever the reason, it suddenly became easy for Caleb to reveal his heart.
“There is something that can be done for Lily,” he said carefully. “There is a specialist who comes to Calgary who could see her, but he’s not scheduled for a visit there for another three months, and the cost of his work is not covered by our government health care plan.”
“Money is not the issue here, Caleb. Lily must have the best we can get, no matter what the cost.” Mia pulled forward a pad of paper and a pen. “What is this surgeon’s name?”
“Dr. Peter Frank. But, Mia, he won’t make a special trip just for—”
“Have some faith, Caleb.” She grinned at him and then, to his amazement, winked. “One of the members in my Calgary church was a doctor whose son was in my Sunday-school class. I’m going to talk to him and see if he can help us.”
Caleb watched Mia make her phone call, hardly daring to hope. Yesterday he’d been defeated by the information he received about Lily, certain there was little more he could do. But as Mia spoke to her friend, a flicker of hope flamed to life. Despite his intention to remain unmoved by the lovely textile artist, his appreciation of Mia and her refusal to take no when it came to Lily’s welfare soared. How could he ever have thought Mia fragile?
As she crossed each barrier in reaching her goal to speak to Dr. Frank, Caleb realized how much had changed in the shy, reticent woman he’d met a few months ago. Or maybe her determination had always been there. Whatever it was, Caleb was inordinately glad that he hadn’t walked away that first day he’d met Mia.
Several times Caleb noticed Mia’s eyes close when she was put on hold. He realized she was praying. Mia’s faith in God’s love for His children continually intrigued Caleb. Unlike him, she seemed to have no questions about God. Caleb envied her that. He’d seen her gentle, loving manner win over crotchety folks at church and bitter young women at Family Ties. Nobody was immune to Mia’s warmth.
Including him? Most of all him, Caleb’s heart insisted.
Within half an hour Mia was speaking personally to Dr. Frank, laying out Lily’s case before asking him to make a special concession to see her. Caleb couldn’t tell from her face after she hung up the phone what the decision was.
“Well?” he asked impatiently when she doodled on her notepad.
“He’ll see her, but only if we can get her to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto by Friday.” Mia’s calm pronouncement stunned Caleb.
“Friday?” He blinked. “But—that’s only three days from now.”
“So we’d better get to work.” Mia shot him a grin, then pulled forward her laptop and punched in an airline’s website. Fingers hovering above the keyboard, she turned to him and asked, “You are coming, aren’t you?”
“Oh, I’m coming,” he assured her, reaching for his wallet. “You can charge our two tickets on my card.”
“Two? You don’t think I’d let that little girl go without me, do you?” Mia glared at him. “I will be with Lily through whatever comes, Caleb. Don’t even try to stop me.”
“I wasn’t going to,” he said, delighted by her response. Mia ignored his outstretched card.
“Thank you, but not necessary.” She kept her eyes on her keyboard. “I guess this is a good time to tell you. I have set up a trust fund for Lily.”
Caleb felt bemused, befuddled, as if he’d missed something. “You did?”
“Well, actually Bella did, at my request. It will cover any expenses we incur.” She did look at him then. “Of course, you’ll have to sign off on the expenses because you’ll be the administrator.”
“But—” He struggled to find words. This woman. This marvelous, wonderful woman. Caleb’s heart expanded until he could hardly breathe. “Mia, that’s so kind of you. It’s amazing.” Her generosity toward Lily humbled him. “Are you sure you want to use your personal funds—”
“They’re not my funds. That glass you found in my basement turned out to be genuine Lalique and worth quite a bit.” She chuckled when his eyes opened wide. “I loved four of those pieces, so I kept them. They’re displayed in my bedroom.”
“And the rest?” he asked, hardly daring to believe he’d finally achieved his goal for Lily.
“Bella contacted an art dealer friend who was delighted to find homes in museums for the most special pieces. The rest were sold. That’s Lily’s fund. Bella will get the information to you as soon as everything is settled.” Mia told him the amount.
Caleb’s jaw dropped in shock. Mia returned to booking the airline tickets, then paused. “Do you think Hilda should come along?”
“No. She hates flying. The man she was once engaged to died piloting an airplane. She hasn’t flown since.” Caleb still couldn’t believe it. “Mia, are you sure?”
“Yes.” She looked across the breakfast bar at something he couldn’t see. “I’ve prayed for weeks about that glass. Harlan meant its use for something else, but God had other plans. Harlan’s rare old books were sold to set up a fund for needy women who come to Family Ties.” She shrugged. “You’ll have to administer that, too, I’m afraid. Along with Abby, of course.”
Caleb couldn’t find the words. Mia had taken a negative in her life, her husband’s miserly trick against her, and turned it into something wonderful.
“You know that verse ‘All things work together for good’?” she asked, face upturned. “Well, I believe that’s what God is doing in my life. He’s working things out. Like this ranch, like your dad helping me, like providing funds for Lily and helping Abby’s outreach at Family Ties. It’s all part of His plan.”
Caleb blinked. What could he say to that? Nothing but a heartfelt thank-you.
They spent the next hour planning details like which hotel would be easiest to reach from the hospital and whether they should stay an extra day to let Lily relax. No detail seemed too small to escape Mia’s attention. By the time darkness had fallen and the aroma of roasting chicken filled the kitchen, Caleb knew that if ever he could love someone, he’d want that person to be Mia.
But then his father returned and Caleb put away those wayward thoughts. Love wasn’t for him—he knew that. But when had he begun to long for the right to hug Mia close, to grasp her hand and share her joy in planning wonderful things for the future?
Even if he could let go of the past, Caleb was pretty sure Mia couldn’t be part of his future.