Her Texas Hero (11 page)

“Audra,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders as he stepped up behind her, “I never meant to hurt you. I only meant...” He let his words trail off. How was he supposed to explain his reasons for doing what he'd done?

“To send me a message,” she answered for him. “Well, message received loud and clear.”

He turned her to face him, heart wrenching at the sight of tears shimmering in her beautiful eyes. “I promised Isabel.”

She blinked. “What?”

“I promised to keep her family safe and happy.” Releasing her, Carter walked over to the porch railing, looking out into the darkness that now blanketed the town. “I was the one to find Isabel that day. The sky was still dark and rain was coming down in sheets, making it hard to see. I almost missed seeing her there, lying under the scattered debris that had once been my parents' home.” Reaching out, he curled his hands atop the weathered railing, gripping it tightly as he replayed that moment in his mind. “She was still alive...barely.”

“Carter,” Audra said behind him, his name a mere whisper in the night.

“She was so broken,” he continued, choking up as he spoke the words he'd kept to himself since that horrible day. “The festive Christmas sweater she had worn that day to help my parents decorate for the holidays was covered in mud and blood and splintered shards of wood.” He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the image that had burned itself into his mind.

Slender arms moved about his waist as Audra stepped forward to offer her comforting embrace. She laid her head against his back, saying softly, “I'm so sorry you had to be the one to find her that day.”

“Better me than my brother,” he rasped out, the words filled with emotion. Just having her there gave him the courage to lay his long-held-in pain out on the table. “It would have killed Nathan to see her like that. Killed him to watch her struggle to breathe, her face pinched tight with pain before slipping away. So I kept the truth to myself, letting him believe she had passed away before I had gotten to her.”

“Oh, Carter,” she said sadly. Her arms tightened around him in a compassionate hug. “In my heart, I believe the good Lord put you there for a reason. Not only to protect your brother from more emotional pain, but to offer comfort to Isabel. If only in your promise to look after Nathan and Katie. A promise I have faith gave her a much-needed sense of peace in her final moments.”

With a heavy sigh, he turned and cupped her upturned face. “You are a very special woman, Audra Marshall.”

“And you're a very special man, Carter Cooper,” she said, her words soft and soothing.

“My brother's a good man, too” he said.

Her arms fell away as Audra took a step back. “Your brother is a good man, but he's not the man for me. Love can't be forced, Carter,” she said sadly. “I know that better than anyone.”

“Audra...” he began, wishing he could take back the words. Take back his halfhearted attempts to direct her interest in his brother's direction.

“Please,” she said, “hear me out. When your brother is ready to love again,
if
he's ever ready to love again, he'll find the happiness Isabel wanted for him. You can't push him before he's ready and you can't choose for him. All you can do is support and love him.”

She was right. Deep down, he knew that. And despite all his good intentions, Carter couldn't help but feel relieved that Audra didn't see Nathan as the man for her.
Could she see him as that man?
he wondered. Did he want to be that man?

“And since I value honesty,” she went on, “I'm going to take this conversation one step further. I think you should consider telling Nathan the truth.” Before he could utter a word of argument against doing so, she continued, “I think he would find comfort in knowing Isabel didn't die alone and afraid. Because in your brother's mind, that's how her life ended. Let him know she had someone there to hold her hand as the Lord welcomed her home.”

“I'd never thought about it that way,” he admitted hoarsely. Then, with a nod, he said, “I'll consider it.”

“I'll pray for you to find the strength to do so,” she said softly. “Thank you again for including us at your family dinner tonight.” That said, Audra let herself inside and then turned to peer out at him through the screen door. “Good night, Carter.” Then she disappeared from view as the heavy wooden door closed between them.

Chapter Eight

C
arter felt like a teen again, preparing for his very first date. Only this date had far more importance. It was a step, a very determined step, toward his future happiness.

He glanced toward the gathering of women on the sidewalk outside of the church. Audra stood among them, happily chattering away. It was good to see her settling in and making friends. Good to see her happy. Even if she hadn't been near as happy with him since his attempt to match her up with his brother several days before. Not that she had said anything to make him feel that way. It was the way she busied herself with other tasks whenever he was there working on the house in the evenings, instead of offering to help the way she used to. Not that he needed help. What he needed was
her
. Her smile. Her company. Just her.

Today he would be telling her just that.

“Just can't take your eyes off her, can you?”

He turned to find Logan standing there, a wide grin splitting his tanned face. “Appears that way,” he replied with an equally wide grin.

His younger brother's eyes widened. “You're admitting it?”

“Yep.” He slid his gaze back toward the gaggle of females.

“Well, I'll be,” Logan muttered. “So you two an item now?”

“No,” he replied, not taking his eyes off Audra. “But by the end of today we will be.”

His brother sidled up closer. “You're serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

“What happened to steering clear of anything serious? Didn't you learn anything from what happened to Nathan?”

Dragging his gaze away from Audra, he sighed. He understood his brother's confusion. During those dark days following their parents' and Isabel's deaths, he and his brothers had made a pact to avoid letting any females close to their hearts. No risk. No loss. But something had changed. At least, for him it had.

“I learned that there are no guarantees in life and that if you're blessed enough to find the kind of happiness Nathan had with Isabel you should grab on to it with both hands.”

He didn't think it possible, but his brother's eyes widened even more. “You're in love with Audra?”

“I didn't say that,” he said, looking around to make certain no one was within hearing distance of their conversation. “Not yet anyways. I intend to take this thing one step at a time. At the moment, Audra and I are friends. Today, after the pie judging contest, if everything goes as I hope it will, we're gonna be more than friends.”

“I have to admit I'm not surprised,” Logan replied with a sigh, his gaze following Carter's across the churchyard. “She's a good woman. Reckon she'll lead you down the right road,” he added with a grin.

“The road to happiness,” Carter muttered in agreement.

As if sensing she was being watched, Audra glanced their way and smiled.

“She's right pretty, too,” Logan added.

“No argument here.”

“And fortunate,” his brother said, his grin widening. “Not many females find themselves a man who's willing to do pirouettes for them. Or should I say, for their little girl?”

That had Carter's head snapping around. “Audra told you about that?” Not that he regretted allowing Lily to choose the type of dancing they would be doing. She'd been in her glory and they'd all laughed so hard that day.

“Lily did,” his brother said. “That little girl thinks the sun rises and sets with you.”

That warmed his heart. “I happen to think she's pretty special, too.”

“Speaking of special,” his brother said with a chuckle, “Lily and her two squealing little sidekicks are heading this way.”

Carter turned, opening his arms as Lily and Katie launched themselves at him in a flurry of frilly Sunday dresses. Mason stopped beside Logan, folding his tiny arms across his chest the way his brother had his. The cowboy hat Audra had purchased for her son the day before, one that very closely resembled Logan's, was pulled low on the little boy's brow.

“Appears I'm not the only one the sun rises and sets with,” Carter said with a chuckle.

Logan, who had at one time dreamed of having a slew of his own children running around, grinned down at Mason. “Nice hat, cowboy.”

Mason beamed at the compliment.

“We're ready to go bake our pie,” Lily announced, looking up at him.

“Let's go see if your momma's ready to go.”

“Can I go, too?” Katie said longingly. “I wanna help bake a pie.”

“Can she, please?” Lily whined.

“Reckon that's something you'd best ask your momma,” Carter replied as he started for the slowly disbanding group of females in front of the church, the two precious bundles of lace and brightly colored fluff held securely in his arms.

“She'll say yes if you ask,” Mason told him as he and Logan walked alongside him.

That's what he was hoping for. But it had nothing to do with making pies and everything to do with making a new path in the life he'd thought he had all planned out.

* * *

“Sure smells good.”

Audra glanced toward the open doorway to see Carter poking his head into the kitchen. “Aren't you supposed to be working?” she asked as she placed the oversize cookie sheet that held the pies they'd just baked atop the stove.

“I was,” he replied, stepping farther into the room. “But a man can only take so much before the smell of hot-in-the-oven pecan pie lures him away from the task at hand. Even if he's not able to do any more than take in its mouthwatering scent.”

“Must be your day,” she told him. “It just so happens we made two of them.”

“One for the contest and one for dessert tonight,” Mason explained from where he and the girls sat taking turns rolling out the leftover pie dough just for fun.

“That so,” Carter muttered, his gaze meeting hers. “Appears I'm gonna have to finagle myself a dinner invitation.”

“No finagling needed,” Audra replied. “You're welcome to join us.” He wouldn't be sharing dinners with them much longer as work on her house, at least on the inside, was almost done. Maybe he could still come around, seeing as how they were friends, and join them for an occasional meal.

“Tell you what,” he said, snapping her out of her contemplative thoughts. “You've spent half the afternoon in this kitchen, toiling over a hot stove. How about I pick up some fried chicken and a few sides and bring them out with me this evening?”

“I can't ask you to bring dinner for all of us,” she replied. “Katie's going to be joining us, as well.”

“What's one more leg of chicken?” he countered with that slightly crooked grin that never failed to make her knees weak. “Katydid doesn't eat much. Do you, Katydid?” he asked, looking her way.

His niece shook her head in agreement. “But I'd like some pie.”

“There you go,” he told Audra. “I'll pick up dinner later this evening, after you've all had time to recover from the bake-off. You've already got dessert covered so I'd say we're all set.”

She was feeling spent from her rush to get the pies made in time for that afternoon's bake-off. Not having to cook dinner later that evening would be a welcome respite. “All right, Carter. Dinner's on you tonight. Thank you.”

“Anytime.” He stepped closer to the stove, closer to her, and then leaned past her, sniffing the air. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but do I detect a little something extra in this pecan pie? Jelly beans, perhaps?” he proposed with a playful grin as his gaze shifted back to the children.

“Uncle Carter,” Katie said with an eye roll. “You don't put jelly beans in a pie.”

“You've never tried one of my pies. My specialty is broccoli-and-blueberry pie,” he said with a wink in Audra's direction.

“Eeew!” the children exclaimed in near unison, their little faces scrunching up in disgust.

Audra laughed. “Our pie isn't nearly as creative. Maybe you should have considered entering the bake-off.”

He chuckled. “There's always next year.”

“And since you aren't judging, I think we'd be safe in telling you we're going to be entering my salted caramel toasted pecan pie.”

He placed a hand to his chest with a deep groan. “Ah, a sure way to any man's heart.”

“Unless that man isn't looking for more than friendship,” Audra muttered as she turned to the sink. Oh, why had she said that? Reaching out, she turned on the sink and reached for the dish soap.

Carter beat her to it, handing over the plastic squeeze bottle with a warm smile. “It just so happens that this man is.” Letting go, he strode from the kitchen.

Heart racing, Audra watched him go. He wanted more? The thought both frightened and excited her. In her visions of the future, she had never once conjured up another man in her life. Her dreams consisted mostly of a new life in Texas for her children. Her own happiness had never really been a consideration. Maybe because she had spent so many years accepting her lot in life instead dreaming of what could be.

Audra finished cleaning up the kitchen, then hurried upstairs with the children to get cleaned up. Carter had gone outside to do a walk-around inspection of the house's exterior to see what needed to be done before they headed back into town. She found herself glancing out the upstairs windows in search of him as she stood brushing her hair, his words still clinging to her thoughts—
it just so happens that this man is
.

Was she?
Did she really want to move what they had beyond the close friendship they'd formed and risk losing a man she had come to care a great deal for? Closing her eyes, she said a silent prayer for the Lord to help guide her down the right path.

“We're ready!”

Audra turned from the window to find Lily, Mason and Katie standing in the open doorway to her bedroom. “Then we'd best get going,” she said as she returned the hairbrush to the mirrored vanity tray atop her dresser.

With excited squeals, they spun around and raced down the steps. They were already out the front door before she was even halfway down the stairs. She headed into the kitchen to grab the basket she'd tucked the still-warm pie into.

Carter met her on the porch, taking the square wicker basket from her as he walked her out to the truck. “I'll put this in the back,” he said as he opened the front passenger door for her. “The kids are already belted in.”

With a smile, she climbed up onto the bench seat and buckled herself in, as well. She was looking forward to this afternoon, spending it with her new friends and hopefully making new acquaintances. Even if they didn't win the bake-off. She just hoped the children wouldn't be too disappointed if their pie wasn't chosen for the blue ribbon.

When they arrived at the park on the outskirts of town, where the festivities were being held, Audra's mouth dropped open. One large, open-sided tent and several smaller ones dotted the tree-shaded grass. The larger one was most likely for the pie judging. The smaller ones were a mix of food stands and items being offered for sale. And one other tent was filled with an assortment of picnic baskets with colorful bows tied around their handles. Raffle items perhaps?

“Looks like a good turnout,” Carter noted as he helped her down from the truck.

“I didn't expect all of this,” she mumbled in amazement as she took in the scene in front of them. The quiet little tree-filled park was filled with people milling about. It appeared the entire town had chosen to attend that afternoon's festivities.

Carter smiled as he moved to let the children out. “The folks of Braxton are pretty good about supporting a good cause.” Turning, he lifted Lily out and set her on the ground, doing the same with Mason and Katie.

“Wow!” Mason gasped, eyes wide.

“It's a fair!” Lily exclaimed.

“It's a bake-off,” Katie amended. “Fairs have Ferris wheels.”

“Not all fairs,” Carter told her.

“Just the fun fairs,” Mason muttered as he looked around.

“There's a petting zoo,” Carter said, pointing to a small area that had been set up with a temporary fence to contain a large woolly sheep and several adorable little pygmy goats.

That seemed to stir her son's interest. Lily's and Katie's, as well.

“What do you say we go check out the petting zoo and then take a walk down to the duck pond while your momma heads over to the judging tent to get signed in?” Carter asked, sending a warm smile Audra's way.

“Ducks!” Lily exclaimed.

“Don't go too close to the water,” Audra warned and then lifted her gaze back to his. “She can't swim.”

“Reckon we'll just have to teach her how once the weather warms up a little more. Water's still a might cold yet this time of year.”

“Teach me, too,” Mason insisted.

“I can teach you,” Katie said, puffing up her little chest. “I've been swimming since I was a baby.”

Carter chuckled. “Tell you what, Katydid, how about you and I teach them how to swim together when the time comes? That is, if it's all right with their momma.”

Audra hesitated, torn between knowing that her children should know how to swim and her fear of how quickly water could take away those you love.

“Can they, Mommy?” Lily asked.

“We'll see” was all she could commit to at that moment.

“Why don't you kids head on over to the petting zoo?” Carter suggested, not taking his gaze from her. “I'll join you in a moment.”

With enthusiastic nods, the children made a squealing beeline toward the animals' temporary pen.

“I'm a good swimmer,” Carter said when they were out of hearing range. “And you already know I've had first-aid training.”

“It's not you,” she said with a sigh. “It's me. My parents drowned in Lake Michigan the summer after I graduated from high school.”