Montana Morning (18 page)

“Well, that’s what
she said . . . Man, you should have seen her the day that lawyer showed up and
told her she had a dad, and he was alive.  Wow, she went nuts,” Scotty
exclaimed.  “She laughed and cried and laughed some more.” 

Hours later they
came downstairs still talking nonstop.  Scotty was telling Jack all about
the daughter he never knew, and Scotty was learning all about his
grandma.  Addy looked up from her quilting frame in the corner of the
living room and smiled. 
‘Thank you, gracious Heavenly Father.’
 
She was sure they hadn’t even noticed her as they passed through, but she was
wrong.

 When they got into the kitchen, Jack leaned
down and whispered in Scotty’s ear.  “It’s still Mother’s Day.  What
do you say you and I fix
dinner?”         

“Could we barbecue
even if it’s raining?”

“We’d better
try!  It’s all I know how to cook.”  Jack laughed.  He and
Scotty were going to be okay; they were going to be just fine.

“Well, Scotty,
what do you think?” Dr. Rodgers watched as the youngster walked up and down the
hall in front of his office.

“It feels weird,
like my right leg is lighter than my left,” he said grinning.  At last he
was free of casts, crutches, and braces.

“In a week or two
you’ll feel just like new.  You must have really worked on your therapy.”
Doc smiled over at Jack and Adrianna.

“Addy was a real
taskmaster.  She had him working with those leg weights at least twice a
day, and most days three times.”  Jack’s relief was written all over his
face.  “Walks just like nothing ever happened, doesn’t he?”

“The hard work
paid off.  Most patients end up with one weak leg for a while, but I’d say
he’s just fine.” Doc agreed.

“She told me
someday I’d thank her for working me so hard,” Scotty smiled.

“He’s been an
excellent patient,” Addy   said, adding, “Although, I think maybe
he’s been pushing a bit harder since Will promised to teach him to ride.”

“What will you do
now that you’re no longer needed at Kilbourne’s?” Dr. Rodgers had several
patients who would benefit from the kind of care she’d given Scotty.  He
was hoping she would soon be free to take on other patients.

Scotty’s head snapped around to look at Jack in
alarm.  He hadn’t realized she might leave them if he didn’t need therapy
anymore. 

Jack grinned over at Scotty and squeezed his slim
shoulders. “Addy isn’t going anywhere.” He smiled over at the woman standing at
the window. 

Addy forced a grin
and turned to face the window. 
‘What will you be doing  . . . no
longer needed?’
She swallowed down the lump in her throat and willed the
tears away.  Dr. Rodgers was talking to Scotty about ranch life and horses
as Jack moved to Addy’s side.

“Is something
wrong?” he asked, turning her towards him.  “Good grief, you’re as white
as a sheet!”

“Just kind of
overwhelmed by all the good news, I guess,” she stammered.

“Addy,” he
whispered, putting his finger under her chin and looking tenderly into her
green eyes, “you are a terrible liar.” 

“Doc, can Scotty
stay with you a few minutes?”

“Sure thing. 
We’ll go down to the therapy room.  I want to show his therapist how well
Scotty is doing.”

“Where are we
going?” Addy asked, as Jack pushed the elevator button. 

“To the chapel,”
he growled under his breath.  “Doubt if you’d lie to me there.”

“Jack, I didn’t .
. .”

“Not one more
word!”  Something was eating her and now was as good a time as any to deal
with it. 

They stood quietly
by the back pew.  Addy didn’t want to talk to Jack now.  How could
she tell him how she felt, about the terrible sense of loss that had just come
over her?

First thing we
need to do is thank God for Scotty’s good report,” Jack said simply and then
added firmly, then we talk, okay?” He waited for her answer. Placing his hands
on her shoulders, he looked at her down-turned face. “Okay, Addy?”  She
nodded acceptance reluctantly. 

“Gracious Heavenly
Father, we praise you for your goodness and care . . .” they prayed together
prayers of true thanksgiving.

Jack sat quietly
waiting for Addy to tell him what was troubling her.  “Addy, talk to me,
please,” he pleaded, as he studied the cross at the front of the chapel. 
“I can’t fix what I can’t see or hear.”

Addy couldn’t
breathe.  She felt trapped, and jumped up to leave. 

Jack grabbed her
arm as she started from the pew. “You’re not getting out of here ‘til you level
with me, so you might as well start talking.” 

She sat down in
the pew in front of him.  She knew she couldn’t open her heart to him with
him watching her face.  “When Dr. Rodgers asked what I was going to do,”
she swallowed hard and fought for the control she was losing.  “What I was
going to do now that you didn’t need me,” She couldn’t speak past the lump in
her throat. 

Jack was silent
for a long time,  long enough to make her wonder if he was still there.

“Addy, are you
trying to tell me you want to leave us?”  His voice was shaking.

“Oh, No!”
 She wiped at the tears running down her face.

“Then why?” He got
up and sat down next to her.  “I can’t talk to you, Woman, looking at your
back.” He handed her his hanky and waited. 

Suddenly the light
dawned.  He gathered her into his arms.  “Addy, you and I need to get
something straight.” He forced her to look at him. “There will never be a time
you are not needed by us, have you got that?”  When she didn’t answer and
just sat watching him, he added.  “We have a contract, remember?”

“You said you
wouldn’t hold me to that.” 

“Stupid remark on
my part.”

“But . . .”

“Understand this,
Addy,  I’m never letting you go.”

Addy couldn’t
suppress the smile creeping across her face.  She looked Jack directly in
the
eye.                                           
                                                                        “Understand
this, Cowboy, I may not be easy to get rid of,” she whispered, tracing his
lopsided grin with her trembling finger.
       

“Do we understand each other now?” he asked. 
Jack knew he understood.  He loved her, plain and simply loved her. 
“And Addy . . .”

“Yes?”

“Don’t ever try
spoofing me again.  You’re really bad at it.” Jack snickered.

***

“Why on earth
would you want to go shopping with the women?” Jack looked amazed and Scotty
wasn’t about to tell him the truth.

“We’re looking for
more things for the garden.  Addy says we can start putting things outside
next week, if the weather holds.”

“I’ll take you to
lunch,  then drop you off at Maggie’s office.  I have some business
to attend to and things to pick up, before we head for home.”   Jack
took out his wallet and handed Addy some bills.  “Will this cover what you
need?”

Addy winked at
Scotty.  “Guess it will have to do,” she teased and noticed Jack digging
for more.  “It’s more than enough, really.  We’re only buying out
half the town, not all of it.”

“Thank God!” Jack
sighed under his breath.  The bank account was getting dangerously
low.  He needed to find a buyer for the yearlings and soon.  He had
really believed Simpson would give in.  Ma had always said ‘Do your best
and turn over the rest.”  He was trying to do just that, but turning
things over to God wasn’t easy. He was used to doing for himself and letting
the chips fall where they may, that was before Scotty and Addy.  He had to
make this work . . . ’
so much for turning it over’.
 He shook his
head in bewilderment at his own lack of faith. 

“Jack, is
something wrong?” Addy watched, as he got lost in thought.

“Still can’t
believe Scotty would rather shop than go to the stockyards,” he winked at his
grandson.

 Reaching his
ear on her tiptoes, “Somebody else is a terrible liar,” she admonished him and
grinned at his guilty look.

***

 Maggie
locked the door behind her and walked over to the curb.  “Are you ready to
buy out the town, Scotty?” She knew just what he wanted to buy for Father’s Day
gifts and where to find it.  “Come on you two, let’s get going. 
Stores are awaiting our arrival.” 

Addy turned back
to Jack.  “Where do you want to meet us?”

“How about the
Mercantile around five, then we can take Maggie and Scotty to the place with
the world’s best chili burgers.”

“You’re on, if
there’s enough money left after I buy groceries.” She watched his face. 
There was that lopsided grin.  He was worried about money; things must be
getting tight.

“Adrianna, are you
coming?”  Maggie tugged at her sleeve gently.  “Time’s a wastin’.”

They found
everything they needed, and Scotty was especially thrilled with his gift for
Jack.

“Do you really
think he’ll like it?” Scotty looked up at Addy hopefully.

“I’m sure he will,
and he’ll think of you every time he uses it.”

“Is there anything
else on your list?  We have lots of time,” Maggie assured them.

“Can we make a
quick run out to the house?” Addy hoped Maggie wouldn’t ask what she needed
with Scotty standing so nearby. Maggie recognized the gleam in Addy’s eyes.

“We have plenty of
time,” she told her and turned to Scotty.  “How would you like to spend a
bit of time with Red?”

“Neat.” Scotty
liked the man with the bright red hair; he was funny and made him laugh.

***

“Okay, Sis, what
are we looking for?” Maggie asked, as they pulled into the drive.

“I need shirt
material for Scotty’s birthday and Father’s Day for Jack, Will and Andy.” She
hurried into the house and headed for the spare bedroom closet.  “I also
need snaps and snap setter.  I hope I remember how to use the thing. 
I haven’t made a western shirt since Chad was in 4-H.” Addy was looking through
the boxes as Maggie put them on the bed. 

“Here is a
beautiful piece!” Maggie held up the green leaf print.  “Why don’t you
take it along and make yourself something in your spare time?”  

“Spare time,
what’s that?” Addy laughed.  “Speaking of spare time, how are you spending
yours?”

“Mostly with Red,
I guess.” Maggie blushed.

“I was hoping
you’d say that.”  Addy pushed the materials and patterns she’d found into
her sewing box and ran down into the basement. She came back up the stairs with
jams, jellies, and other canned goods, which she put into boxes.

“Mercy sakes,
Addy, can’t Jack afford to feed you?”  Maggie knew she’d hit a sore spot
from the look of dismay on Addy’s face.

“Of course, he
can.”

Maggie put her
hand on Addy’s.  “Tell me friend, have you admitted to yourself yet what
the rest of us have known for a long time?” Maggie’s eyebrows raised as Addy
gave her a questioning look. “Don’t play innocent, you know what I mean.”

“Maggie ”

“Okay, okay.
Forget it.  Sorry I asked.” Maggie sulked. 

Addy laughed at
her pout, and then was suddenly quiet.  She sat the bed with her hands
folded between her knees, and looked at the floor. “Maggie, I’m too old for
this.”

“Nonsense, a
person is never too old to love or be loved.” Maggie ran her hand down Addy’s
braid and then gave it a gentle tug. “You be careful; don’t let him hurt
you.  I’d hate to have to kill the man.”

“Maggie, you’re
impossible.” Addy laughed, straightened out her legs and stood to finish
packing.

***

Jack was waiting
when they arrived at the Mercantile.  He looked concerned when he saw all
the boxes, but didn’t say anything.  When they bought the groceries and
Addy paid the bill with the money he had given her earlier, he looked relieved.

 She gave him
a knowing smile, and handed him the change. “Let’s find those chili
burgers.  Shopping has given us a huge appetite.”  Scotty and Red met
them at the café.  After feeding their faces, they headed home.

***

“Where do all
these boxes go?” Jack had the last of the groceries out of the truck and was
down to the boxes Addy had taken from her house.

“Put those two on
the table, the rest go up in the classroom,” she said, as she took another
armload into the pantry.  When she came back into the kitchen, Jack was
standing at the table looking at the jar in his hand.

“I can still buy
the groceries for this outfit.” Jack’s hurt eyes met hers.

“No one said you
couldn’t.”

“Then why all the
sudden are you bringing food,” he growled and sat the jar on the table.

“Because I like
this stuff and I wanted to share it with you,” she growled right back.  He
walked to the window and stared out into the darkness.

“Look, Addy,” his
voice was almost a whisper. “I’m sorry, it’s just that . . .”

“That things are
getting tight, and you’re getting uptight?” she offered.

“Something like
that,” he said as he rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. 

“Jack, maybe you
should call Western Pacific and ,”Addy stammered.

“And what, Addy?”
He swung around in anger, interrupting her, “and tell them it’s just fine with
me if their lecherous buyer makes passes at you as long as they buy my cattle?”

“But . . .”

“But nothing!” He
realized he was yelling at her and she obviously didn’t take being yelled at
any better than his grandson.  He stepped over to the table, handing her
the jar of jelly.  “You’re always telling me God will handle the things we
can’t.  I hope,  I pray, you’re right.” He knew when she smiled up at
him and started putting the jars in the cupboard his unspoken apology had been
accepted, and he took the other boxes upstairs.  When he returned to the
kitchen, Will and Andy were in from the barn.  Pie and coffee were on the table
and Scotty was scarfing down the lemon pie.