A Maverick's Heart (7 page)

Lila ruffled the boy’s shaggy hair. “I’ll do that. Now, though, I want to go in and call Jewell—she thought all the owls left the area. Thank Seth for playing catch and buying new stuff.” Lila deftly untangled them.

“Thanks, Seth.” Rory moved toward the house with his mother. “Can we play again tomorrow?”

Lila shushed him. “Didn’t I tell you not to bug Seth? If he has time he’ll tell you.”

Missing the feel of holding them, Seth followed a pace behind. “It takes regular practice to get good at any sport. But, Lila, I know you don’t always get to leave work as early as you did tonight. Isn’t there a park down the street from the café? I’d be glad to meet Rory there to practice. Maybe that’ll save us from losing balls to owls,” he said, scanning the darkening sky over his shoulder. “Or from having Ghost out using them as chew toys,” he added.

Lila laughed. “How can we turn down an offer like that? But I mean it, Seth, if you have other fish to fry, tell Rory no.”

“Memaw’s gonna fry fish tomorrow at the café. Why is Seth frying some?”

Seth held back a snicker and let Lila explain the saying was another like “right as rain,” which she’d used the other day. After entering the foyer they went separate ways.

Seth climbed the stairs to his room, thinking he didn’t know when he’d enjoyed himself more. In spite of the owl incident, tonight had a hominess to it he hadn’t fully realized he’d missed until he’d experienced it. It had been a long, long time since anyplace he’d landed truly felt like home. And Lila—well, he couldn’t go there yet, but he owed Zeke and Myra for booking him into the Owl’s Nest.

Chapter Five

Lila’s arms still tingled from the friction of Seth’s big hands rubbing away her goose bumps. She’d never heard of a snowy owl attacking a human, but having one snatch something as she reached for it left her heart thundering all the same. Yet if she was honest she’d admit the second kick of the organ happened after the owl had flown away. Her heart sped markedly after Seth got all protective and cradled her and Rory with his solid body. And it had felt nice.

“Mom, can I take my glove and new bat to school tomorrow? I want to show them to Kemper. And I’ll have them if Seth comes by the café when school’s out.”

Her son’s request interrupted Lila’s musings. “How about if we put your name on the mitt and on one of the baseballs to show they’re yours? You’ll be riding your bike from school to the café. Carrying a bat might be too awkward.”

“Yeah. I wish I had two bats. I could leave one at Memaw’s. Kemper has three.”

“Young man, you’re lucky to have one. Nothing good comes from being greedy.”

“But I thought you said we can always make wishes.”

Surprise flowed happily through Lila, knowing her son had not only listened to her but had apparently grown up enough to digest some of what she’d said. “It doesn’t hurt to wish. How about you shower and hop into bed? I’m going to phone Jewell. I’ll come shut out your light when she and I finish talking.”

“Okay, but I wanted to call Kemper to tell him about my baseball stuff.”

“I left my phone in the kitchen. I’ll go get it and bring it to you. It’s a school night, though. So you can’t talk long.”

“Yay. I only wanna tell him about my new mitt and how I’m catching better with it. I am, aren’t I, Mom?”

“Definitely. I saw that in the short time we played catch.”

He ran off to his bedroom. Lila couldn’t tame her smile. She loved seeing him so happy. What she was less sure about—how much that joy depended on Seth, a guest they all knew was very likely just passing through.

In the kitchen, she set a mug of water in the microwave for tea before she picked up her cell phone. It surprised her to see she’d missed three calls. All were from Jewell. Rarely was anything important enough going on among the Artsy Ladies to warrant so many attempts to reach her.

The microwave dinged. She dipped a tea bag several times in the hot water, then shut out the light and carried the mug and her phone back to her bedroom. With guests who could arrive home any minute and stop by the kitchen, Lila wanted to make the personal phone call in private.

Kicking off her shoes as she sat on the bed, she heard the upstairs shower connected to Seth’s room go off. Savoring a sip of tea, she brought up Jewell’s number.

“Hi, it’s Lila. What’s up?”

“Tawana’s in the hospital. I ran into Eddie Four Bear at Ralston’s ranch. He said she had a severe gall bladder attack. Apparently it’s not her first. She went to the reservation clinic and the doctor sent her to the hospital for surgery tomorrow.”

“That’s awful.”

“Yes.”

“Weren’t you two going to Washington, DC, soon?”

“Heavens, I may have to go alone,” Jewell murmured. “I’m trying to get my scheduled appointments caught up first. I know how busy you are, Lila, but do you think you’d have time to visit Tawana and take her flowers from our group? Myra’s pickup is in the shop and Zeke is helping a neighbor brand calves all week. Shelley is firing ceramics and can’t leave her kiln. Mindy still hasn’t bought a car.”

“Sure, I’ll figure something out. Seth Maxwell suggested helping Rory practice ball after school tomorrow... I can ask if he’ll bring Rory home so I can visit Tawana. How long will she be in the hospital?”

“I’m not sure. Like I said, she’s had other attacks. You know she never complains. The MRI didn’t look good was all Eddie said—Seth Maxwell is playing ball with Rory?”

“Yeah, he picked up some baseball equipment for Rory today. We all played catch tonight, which is why I missed your calls.”

“Oh, really? How come Seth got Rory baseball equipment? Are you two getting cozy?”

Lila thought about how she’d felt having Seth’s strong arms around her. Cozy came to mind. But that reminded her why she’d intended to call Jewell, even before seeing the missed calls. “Zeke mentioned Seth played a lot of baseball growing up. According to Zeke, their family thought Seth might make a career of baseball. Lord knows Rory needs practice if he has any hope of joining Kemper’s team. That’s a short version.”

“Wow!”

“I actually planned to phone you tonight, anyway. While we were playing catch, a snowy owl swooped down and made off with one of Rory’s new baseballs. You should’ve seen it. The bird plucked it right out of the air. Did you know some of the owls stayed here?”

“Yes, two pair at least. Zeke said the guys saw a male carry off a rat near where you put your SUV in the ditch. I rode out to Leland’s timber this morning and took photos. One of the four is a bird I’d banded. The fact they didn’t all migrate validates our urgency to secure a preserve. I sure hope that’s what the committee concludes.”

“Good luck. Are you traveling there, presenting and coming straight back?”

Jewell stammered a bit. “N-not really. I have a couple of other errands planned. Pete Cooper is covering my practice in case you need a vet for any of your animals.”

“Okay. What a great place to sightsee. I’d love to take Rory to all the museums and memorials. Bring back pictures to share.”

Jewell remained silent another moment. “Uh, don’t count on that, Lila. I’m driving to a stud farm in Maryland in my free time. Mark Watson wants to raise a different type of saddle horse. There’s a part-Morgan sire on a farm there he’s asked me to see and, if he checks out, buy sperm.”

“No kidding? That’s like work. Jewell, you can’t go to DC and not take any time for yourself.”

“You’re wringing this out of me, Lila. And if you share this with another soul I’ll be upset with you forever.”

“Don’t you know me better by now? I’m no gossip.”

“I know, but I’m all muddled. Last week Leland asked me to stop by. When I did, he said Saxon has a concert not far from the horse farm where I’ll be. I checked. They’re close. It shocked me that Leland mentioned Saxon. He never has before. Then I wondered if, like your mom said, maybe he’s more ill than we know. Otherwise why would he give me a ticket to Saxon’s concert and ask me to deliver a letter? He wants Saxon to come for a visit. He must want reconciliation. Not sure how that’ll sit with Saxon. Those two never bonded.”

“Ouch! Jewell, are you sure you want to put yourself in the middle of their conflict? I mean everyone thought you and Saxon—uh, it’s none of my business. Just don’t let him break your heart again.”

“What makes you think he broke my heart?”

“Come on, Jewell.”

“I gave him up because he couldn’t really stay in Snowy Owl Crossing. I thought I’d hidden my true feelings. I meant for everyone to think he and I simply went our separate ways after college.”

“More like we all felt you were too hurt for us to ask what had happened.”

“I had no idea. Honestly, Lila, I loved him once. I’m not sure I’m strong enough yet to contact him. I did look online and this concert in Maryland is one of many. As big a deal as he’s become in country music, he probably has handlers who keep his crazy fans at bay. But maybe I can give one of them Leland’s letter.”

“Is that what happened? Did he get too friendly with fans?”

“Nothing like that. Our falling-out really was more my fault than his.”

“Well, what I do know—what all your friends would swear to—is that without your encouragement when Saxon was in junior high and high school, he’d never have begun to play guitar, let alone write or sing songs. Did he get too big for his britches?”

“No. Maybe. I don’t know. He needed to be in Nashville. From the time I saved my first injured animal I was bent on being a vet in Snowy Owl Crossing. If you ever fall in love again, don’t give the man you love an ultimatum, Lila. It’s devastating if he doesn’t choose you.”

“So true. I tried that with Kevin over mining. Had he listened to me I wouldn’t be a widow and Rory would have his dad. I should have insisted he not go into the mines regardless of how much money they paid. Thankfully I’ll never have to choose again. But don’t assume Saxon was right to be pigheaded. Maybe he was selfish.”

“No, but you’re good for my ego. Thanks for the pep talk. Hey, tell Tawana I’ll call her from DC. And, Lila, please don’t share our discussion with anyone. When Saxon and I split, I couldn’t bear being the talk of the town. The thought still makes me shudder. I may yet hand my concert ticket to a stranger on the street and ask them to deliver Leland’s letter.”

“Cross my heart I won’t breathe a word. Do what you can to get us an owl habitat.” Lila heard Jewell mumble goodbye.

For a moment she sat holding her phone, replaying the personal parts of their conversation. It didn’t surprise her to hear Jewell all but admit she’d loved Saxon Conrad—and maybe still did. Love was so unpredictable. The why, the how, the who anyone chose to love could be painful.

Sparing a deep sigh for her good friend, Lila slowly climbed off her bed. She took her phone to Rory’s bedroom. Apparently she’d talked too long. He had fallen asleep. She felt guilty, but he could call his friend in the morning.

Rory lay on his side with his cheek on his new ball mitt. She leaned down and tenderly touched his mussed, damp hair before easing the mitt away so its laces wouldn’t leave grooves on his face. He stirred but didn’t wake.

Lila set the prized mitt on his side table then exited the room, reaching back in to shut off his light. She returned to her bedroom, remembering what her mother had said a few months ago: that Rory would flit from wanting to play baseball to soccer, or if he shot up another foot, to basketball. Yet his allegiance to baseball hadn’t wavered.

Because she operated from sticky notes, Lila jotted herself a reminder to buy Tawana flowers, which cued her to picture the lovely rosebush Seth had bought her. No one had ever given her gifts for no reason. In her slice of the world even gifts for birthdays or Christmas tended to be practical. Flowers were reserved for funerals or hospital stays.

So why did one beautiful, blooming rosebush give her shivers of pleasure? Lila didn’t want to dwell on it. It made no sense that a single guest at her B and B could waltz in and in short order make her feel fuzzy headed. She’d rented out rooms since before Rory was born. This was the first time in memory that she daydreamed about a guest and in so doing felt young again and giddy.

Fortunately she heard her two other sets of renters enter the house. They laughed together and went into the kitchen and back out, then climbed the stairs. Their trip to the kitchen reminded Lila they’d left her a note on her chalkboard asking her to fix them a picnic lunch tomorrow. It was a service she enjoyed providing. She’d never gone on a picnic, but had a romantic view of them and so wrote that on her to-do list. Then she set her alarm for an hour earlier than normal so she could bake cookies.

* * *

I
N
THE
MORNING
Seth swung open the kitchen door and nearly hit Lila, who had omelets and sausage patties on a tray to take into the dining room for guest breakfasts.

“Sorry,” he said, steadying her. “I came to ask if it’d be okay to take Ghost out to the barn while I feed the horses.”

Her cell phone played a tune, stopping her from immediately answering. Rather, she shoved the tray of plates against his chest. “Can you put these under the warming lights so I can see who’s calling me so early?”

“Sure.” He took the tray and crossed the room to unload it, but paused as he heard Lila shriek.

“Mom, talk slower! How did you fall?”

Seth quickly set down the tray and returned to stand near Lila. Her brow furrowed, she put up a hand as if attempting to rub the wrinkles away.

“But you are mobile, right? Can you call Arnie Fitzwater? Either he or his son will drive you if they aren’t out on a tow job. Rory’s still in bed. I need to get him up and fed before school.”

Lila stopped talking, listened and then said, “Mom, if you have no feeling in your fingers and arm, and there is pain in your neck and shoulder, you need to see a doctor. I know... I’m a fine one to talk. I can come take you to the clinic, but who will open the café for breakfast?” Her troubled gaze met Seth’s. “I don’t know what we’ll do tomorrow. Let’s get through today.”

Seth dug car keys out of his pocket and dangled them in front of Lila’s eyes. “I’ll go take her to Emergency. You handle what needs doing here.”

“I’m in the kitchen making picnic lunches for a group going on a trail ride today. You hear Seth Maxwell. He stopped to say he’d feed the horses. Now he’s offering to drive you. Just let him, Mom. Maybe he’ll wait there and bring you back to the café. Then we’ll decided what to do next.”

Seth gave Lila an awkward one-armed hug and she hugged him back. He didn’t wait to hear more of the conversation. He already knew Lila’s mother had reservations about him, although he wasn’t sure why. Maybe if the two of them were confined in his car she’d tell him.

* * *

T
RAFFIC
WAS
NONEXISTENT
. In less than fifteen minutes Seth knocked at the café door. It surprised him to have Doreen open right up and step out. Her right arm was pressed tight to her chest. With her left, she fumbled a jacket, purse and a ring of keys.

“Here, let me help.” Seth draped the jacket around her shoulders and took the keys. “Okay, the door is locked. Let me help you into the car.” Doreen grimaced when Seth got in on his side and fastened her seat belt.

“I missed hearing how this happened. Do you think your arm is broken?”

“Coming out of the walk-in cooler, I slipped on a spot of water. I went down like a rock and hit my elbow on the tiled floor. Of course, I’m right-handed.” She fretted. “I can’t cook and serve up plates at the window without using both arms. I don’t know what we’ll do if my arm is broken. Feeling is coming back into my fingers. That’s good, isn’t it?”