A Ring for Cinderella (7 page)

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Authors: Judy Christenberry

Tags: #Romance, #Contemporary, #Historical, #Nonfiction, #Series

BOOK: A Ring for Cinderella
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“Oh, my, you should’ve had representation. Didn’t you know that, Zach?” Kate asked.
He shrugged his shoulders, but Susan noticed the frown on his forehead. “There wasn’t time.”
“Then the agreement probably is worthless,” Will assured him. “At least that’s what my lawyer said.”
Zach stared at Susan. Then he turned back to Will. “I don’t think Susan will break our agreement.”
“Ah. Well, it’s good that you trust each other,” Will said with a smile. Kate opened her mouth, as if to argue, but Will shook his head at her and introduced a new topic.
After dinner, Susan and Zach went upstairs and told Paul goodbye, then rushed off to the hospital. They had special visitation privileges, but Gramp would tire if they were too late.
“Zach,” Susan said after several minutes of silence, “I want you to know that I’ll honor the agreement. If you want me to sign another one, to make it legal, I will, of course.”
Zach shot a quick glance at her before turning back to the road in front of him. “I doubt that will be necessary. I know you won’t do anything to hurt Crump.”
“No, of course not. How was he doing today?”
“Much better.”
Susan noted another frown. “Is something wrong?”
“No. By the way, I like your family.”
“Yes, they’re nice, aren’t they?”
“Why won’t you let them help you?”
“Help me? They help me all the time.”
“I mean, move you out of that apartment.”
Susan bit her bottom lip. Finally, she said, “I’m responsible for Megan and Paul and myself. Not
them. My mother was—was irresponsible, but I’m not.” She clenched her jaw to keep from saying any more.
“I understand Megan and Paul had different fathers.”
“My, you certainly learned a lot tonight. I didn’t know Will and Josh were going to spill every family secret.” And she’d have a word with them before they got within a mile of Zach again.
“It just came out in casual conversation. After all. you haven’t been a fount of information.”
“I never realized my personal life was part of the agreement. I agreed to be your temporary fiancée. I did not agree to your becoming my father confessor.” Her words came out much sharper than she’d intended. But she wasn’t happy with the events of the evening.
“You’re not going to make it sound like we’re fighting when you talk to Gramp, are you? Otherwise, all our efforts will be worthless.”
“Of course not,” she said, letting out a deep sigh. The thought of upsetting the old man wasn’t acceptable.
Half an hour later, she kept her promise. Sitting on the side of Gramp’s bed, she showed him the tennis bracelet and threw loving looks over her shoulder at the handsome man standing behind her.
“Not only did Zach buy me this incredible present, but he took Paul and his friend Manuel shopping. You should see Paul in his cowboy hat. He’s so proud!”
“Good. It sounds to me like you and your brother
could use a little pampering,” Pete returned, smiling as he held her hand.
“No, Gramp, I think this is more spoiling than pampering. I’m going to have to insist that Zach not waste any more money on us.” She smiled broadly, hoping to establish some boundaries with a witness.
Neither man responded well to that statement. Zach protested at once. “I think I should spend money on my new family whenever I feel like it.”
“Well, of course you should, boy. That’s what a husband is for, little lady. To take care of you, provide for you.”
In spite of her good intentions, Susan couldn’t accept such generosity. “But Paul and Megan are my responsibility, Gramp, not Zach’s.”
Zach squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll discuss this later, honey. We don’t want to involve Gramp in our little disagreements.”
His warning was clear. “Of course not. Though our spats are few and far between, aren’t they, sweetie?” She allowed just the slightest tinge of sarcasm in that last word.
“When are you two going to move out to the ranch? That boy needs to be wearing his boots right now.”
Susan almost choked. Moving to the ranch wasn’t part of their agreement, was it?
Zach answered before she could. “We’re going to wait until you’re better. It’s easier to visit from here.”
“But how’s the ranch doing without either of us there?”
“Gramp, you know the guys. They’re doing their jobs. I check in by phone every day. Jesse keeps me informed.”
Zach’s hands still rested on her shoulders, and Susan sat quietly while the two men discussed the ranch. But the skin under Zach’s hands was tingling with sensation.
“Well, I think you should all go on back to the ranch. You’ll need to get Paul registered in school. I talked to Hester by phone, and she’s been getting a room ready for the boy. The one you used as a child, Zach.”
“That will be perfect for Paul. Though I’m not sure how he’ll manage without his friend Manuel. They’re great pals.”
“He can have him out for the weekends,” Pete suggested. “After all, we want Paul to be happy. You’ve done a good job raising him, Susan.”
“Thank you, Gramp. Um, has the doctor been to see you today?”
“Huh! Yeah, too many times. They ran a lot of new tests today. I told him I didn’t need ’em, but he ignored me.”
“Why did they do the tests? Did you have any more pain?” Zach asked, leaning toward his grandfather. Which caused his body to press against Susan’s back.
She swallowed, unable to concentrate at such close quarters with Zach. She was grateful Zach was questioning Pete about his treatment. Yet she found his
body heat strangely comforting...and at the same time, disturbing.
“Naw. No more pain. I’m feeling good.”
Zach relaxed, leaning back, removing his body from Susan’s, and she breathed a little more easily despite a simultaneous sense of disappointment.
“Good. I thought you were doing better.”
As if he’d heard them, the door opened and the doctor appeared. “Good evening, Pete, Mr. and Mrs. Lowery. How is everyone?”
“Fine, Doc. How’s Gramp?” Zach asked.
“I’m pleased to tell you he’s improved greatly. In fact, he’s so much better, we now think we can operate on him and ensure several more years of good health.” The doctor beamed at all of them. “He’s improved so much that, with your permission, we’ll do surgery in the morning, and he’ll be able to go home in two days, if all goes well.”
“Hot damn!” Pete exclaimed, a smile on his face. “Pack your bags, Susan. We’re
all
going home!”
Chapter Seven
A
fter they left Pete Loway’s room, Zach and Susan walked hand in hand down the hallway. He could feel her fingers trembling in his. He figured it was from shock.
Zach could understand why Susan was in shock. He’d led her to believe, hell, he’d believed, that Gramp only had a couple of days to live. Now he was doing so well the doctor could operate, clean out his arteries and talk of several more years of good health, at least.
He opened the car door for her when they reached it Once he slid behind the wheel, she didn’t waste any time asking the question he expected.
“What are we going to do?”
He considered his words. After all, he didn’t have any right asking Susan to completely change her life.
But for Gramp’s sake, he had to. “Would it be such a hardship, living on the ranch?”
Her hands were tightly clasped in her lap. She kept her face turned away from him. “You mean it? You expect me to uproot Paul and move to your home?”
“Hell, Susan, I know it’s a lot to ask. But what can I do? I’m not saying stay forever, but at least until he’s recovered from the operation.” He held his breath as she considered his words.
She sighed. “What a mess.”
“Yeah. But it could be good for you financially. If you and Paul stay until school’s out next May, that would give you at least nine months without any rent, food bills, utilities. You could save all that money.”
“Yes, but—but how do I explain to Paul? Enjoy yourself but we’ll be leaving at the end of the school year? Be careful about making friends, because you’ll be leaving them soon?”
“He’ll survive. Lots of kids get transferred every year.”
“Thanks for caring,” she flung back, sarcasm heavy in her voice.
“Paul having to leave his friends doesn’t quite rank up there with Gramp’s death.” He hated to sound brutal, but he was only speaking the truth. Besides, he would do everything he could to make it easier on Paul.
She bowed her head, but she stopped arguing with him. As he pulled into Kate and Will’s driveway, she said, “Please don’t say anything to Paul yet. I haven’t decided.”
He sat in the car, waiting for her to return with Paul, wondering what he would do if she didn’t agree. Gamp would be devastated. Strangely enough, he realized he, too, would be affected by parting from Susan and Paul. He hadn’t planned on that.
Susan returned, holding a sleepy Paul’s hand. She helped him into the back seat.
“Tired, buddy?” Zach asked as the little boy greeted him.
“Yeah. I fell asleep.”
“Sorry we were so late. Gramp said to give you his love.”
“Is he feeling better?”
Zach exchanged a rueful smile with Susan. “Uh, yeah, he’s feeling better. He may get to go home in a couple of days.”
“Will you go with him?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. I’ll miss you.”
The sadness in the little boy’s voice touched him. “Hey, buddy, we’ll still see each other.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Susan said. “You close your eyes, or you’ll be too tired to play with Manuel tomorrow.” Then she glared at Zach.
 
Susan felt boxed in. She wanted to do the right thing for both Paul and Pete Lowery. But she didn’t see how she could meet both their needs.
As they climbed the stairs to their apartment, Zach right behind her, she continued to struggle with her decision.
When they reached the top step, she heard Rosa wailing. Pushing Paul toward Zach, along with her keys, she said, “Take him into the apartment. I have to see what’s wrong with Rosa.”
“Maybe Manny is sick?” Paul suggested anxiously as she knocked on the door.
Rosa, her eyes red, her cheeks tear-streaked, opened the door.
“Rosa, what’s wrong?”
“Pedro lost his job,” she said with a sob. “They’re going out of business. They’re not even going to pay him for this week’s work. He looked all afternoon for more work, but there was nothing. Oh, Susan, I don’t think the landlord will let us stay here.”
“Oh, no!” Susan exclaimed, hugging her friend. “Look, I have a little extra money this month—”
“No! We can’t take your money. We will—will find something. If not, we’ll move in with my mother-in-law.” Tears began to roll down her cheeks even as she said the words.
Susan knew how difficult life would be for Rosa in those circumstances, but she couldn’t think of anything to say.
“What kind of work does your husband do?”
That quiet question from Zach surprised both of them. Susan let Rosa answer.
“He’s a carpenter. And with winter coming—” Rosa stopped and buried her face in her apron.
“A carpenter? Is he home?”
“Yes,” Rosa said, “but he’s upset. I don’t think—”
“I may have a job for him,” Zach said calmly, as if he wasn’t offering something monumental.
Rosa and Susan stared at Zach and then at each other. Then Susan urged. “Get Pedro.”
As soon as Rosa disappeared, she turned back to Zach. “Pedro is a good worker. It would be wonderful if you have something for him.”
“We’ll see. It depends on his experience.”
Before she could question him, Rosa reappeared with Pedro at her side. He looked discouraged.
“Pedro? I’m Zach Lowery,” Zach said extending his hand. “Why don’t we go downstairs and discuss a job I have available that you might be interested in.”
Pedro silently followed Zach down the stairs. Rosa grabbed Susan’s hand and squeezed. “Oh, Susan, if only... Do you think he might hire him?”
“I don’t know, Rosa. We’ll have to wait and see.” She turned to Paul, still standing by their front door. “I’ve got to get Paul to bed. Is Manuel already asleep?”
“Yes. We tried not to let him know how bad things were, but he could tell something was wrong and was upset” Rosa wrung her hands. “I’m so afraid to hope.”
“I’ll put Paul to bed, then come back out Hang on for a few minutes more.”
She took her little brother inside and helped him get ready for bed, telling him not to worry. Then she tucked him in with one of his new books and closed the door behind her. She went back outside and settled
on the top step with Rosa, putting her arm around her.
The two of them sat silently. There wasn’t anything to say. Both knew how important the conference going on down below was to Rosa’s future.
When the two men came into view, Rosa squeezed Susan’s hand so tightly, she thought it might fall off. Then Rosa sobbed as she stared at her husband. Susan, too, noted the change in his demeanor. His head was up, his shoulders squared. There was hope.
“Rosa, Mr. Lowery has offered me a job. But it would mean moving to his ranch. He said we could have a house—” Pedro said the word reverently “—I would be in charge of building corrals and sheds and general repairs. Mr. Lowery would provide all the tools and he’ll pay five hundred a week and all the beef we want to eat.”
Susan knew that amount was almost double Pedro’s last salary.
Rosa gasped. “H-how much for the house?” she whispered. She had shared her hope for a house with Susan many times.
Zach smiled. “The house comes with the job. It’s part of the salary. But I was afraid you might have an objection to living out in the country. The shopping there isn’t so great.”
“W-we don’t have a car. Is there a bus I can take to the store?” Rosa asked. Susan could hear the burgeoning hope in her voice.
“No, but Pedro can drive you into town every once in a while, or you can catch a ride with Hester. In
fact, if you can drive, you could take Hester. Her eyesight’s not what it used to be. If you want to work, too, Hester could use a little help in the house.”
“Oh!” Rosa dragged out her sigh, unable to believe their good fortune. “Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you—”
“You and Pedro will be doing me a favor. I’m going to need more help around the ranch now that Gramp needs to slow down. And Hester is over sixty. You’re going to find a lot to do.”
Pedro grabbed his hand to shake it again. “When shall we start?” he asked anxiously.
“How long will it take you to get ready to move?”
“Our rent is paid through Friday,” Rosa said, which was only two days away.
“I can have a couple of hands bring some trucks and help you move on Friday, if that’s okay?” As he spoke, Zach reached inside his coat pocket and drew out a checkbook. “I’ll pay for the move. Here’s a week’s salary to take care of whatever else you may need to get ready to move.”
Both Rosa and Pedro expressed their thanks over and over again.
“Maybe you’d better wait until you see the house, Rosa,” Zach said with a rueful smile. “It’s only three bedrooms.”
“Three? Three! That’s wonderful.”
Zach took Susan’s hand and backed toward her apartment. “I’m glad you’re happy. I’ll let you know what time the guys will be here Friday.”
“Good night, Pedro, Rosa,” Susan said, correctly
interpreting Zach’s body language. “I’ll send Paul over in the—” Suddenly Susan discovered the downside to Rosa and Pedro’s good news. Her childcare had disappeared. What was she going to do with Paul?
“Oh, Susan! I hadn’t realized!” Rosa wailed.
“What’s wrong now?” Zach asked.
“Who will take care of little Paul? I won’t be here,” Rosa explained.
“Don’t worry,” Susan said, faring a smile. “I’ll find someone. Everything will be fine.”
Zach reached behind her and opened the door to her apartment. “I may have a solution to that problem, too, Rosa. Don’t worry.”
Once they were inside the apartment. Susan pulled her hand free from Zach’s and crossed her arms over her chest. Rosa had been taking care of Paul, and keeping an eye on Megan after school, too, at one time, since they’d moved there four years ago.
“I do have a solution,” Zach said quietly. “One that would thrill Paul.”
“Moving to the ranch?”
He nodded. “He and Manuel would still live close to each other. Rosa can keep an eye on him, along with Hester. The only one to suffer would be you because you’d have to drive fifty miles to work each day...if you want to keep working.”
“Of course I’d keep working!” she exclaimed. “I wouldn’t be able to save any money if I wasn’t working.”
“As my wife, you’d receive a...an allowance.”
Her chin came up. “No, I wouldn’t.”
He didn’t argue, but he stared back at her. “So. are you coming to the ranch?”
She turned her back. “I don’t know. Can I at least have until tomorrow morning to decide?”
His hands settled on her shoulders and he turned her around. “Yeah. Will you come with me in the morning for Gramp’s surgery?”
“Yes. I told Kate I would be late in the morning. I need to tell Rosa I’ll have to bring Paul over early.” Her neighbor’s name reminded her of Zach’s gener osity, and a flood of gratitude coursed through her. “Oh, Zach, whatever I decide, thanks so much for what you did for Pedro and Rosa. That was wonderful!”
“Even if it robbed you of a sitter?”
She felt like she’d been slapped. “You think I would stand in the way of an opportunity for them so I could keep Rosa as a sitter?”
His hands left her shoulders and slid down her arms leaving a pleasant tingling sensation in their wake. “Hey, I was only teasing. I may not know you well, but I do know your character better than that.”
Mollified, she relaxed a little, only to tense again as he slid his arms around her.
“Shh,” he said, smiling down at her. “I just wanted to say thank you for tonight. I know it was hard not to say anything when Gramp talked about all of us moving back to the ranch. You’ve been terrific through everything.”
His rock-hard body was too tempting. Susan
couldn’t prevent herself from laying her head on his chest, resting against his strength. “I’m trying to do the right thing, Zach,” she whispered “Only it’s hard to know what the right thing
is
here.”
His embrace tightened and he nuzzled her forehead. “I think Paul would benefit from some male companionship. It’s hard on boys to be around women exclusively.”
She jerked up her head. “I do the best I can!”
“Hey, I’m not criticizing you,” he said. Then, as if realizing a temptation too sweet to resist, he covered her lips with his.
Susan had both dreaded and longed for this moment Too many times she’d thought of the feelings that filled her when Zach Lowery touched her. Those kisses they’d shared had stunned her with their intensity, their electricity.
And it was happening again.
She slid her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. In his arms, she felt more excitement than she’d ever experienced. Yet she also felt safe, secure...whole, something she’d never felt before.

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