No Place Like Home (10 page)

D
ottie found Cassie sitting on the backside of the RV in a chair she dragged there. It was a bit secluded and for that Dottie was thankful.

“Cassie, can we talk?”

The girl rubbed her eyes, looking down then nodded. Dottie tried to pretend she didn't see the brightness left by the tears.

“I guess you heard.”

“Actually, I saw.” Dottie had decided to level with the girl.

“Oh.”

“I've only known you for a few short days, but I get the impression that you could do just about anything you wanted to.”

“Yeah, so what does that mean?”

Dottie didn't miss the return of the girl hitchhiker. “So what was up with the bull riding? You and I both
know that you could have ridden that thing standing on your head, at the speed Bob had it going.”

Cassie rubbed the toe of her tennis shoe in the grass then looked up at Dottie. “Maybe.”

“Maybe.” Dottie couldn't help smiling. She really wanted to say the right thing. “What happened? Were you trying to make Jake jealous of Bob? Is that why you were pretending to be so helpless?” She prayed she didn't mess up.

“No, I wasn't trying to make him jealous. I had already realized when I saw Bob that he was the one I'd come to marry. I told you, reading about Bob in the articles made me know he was the man for me. I'm in love with him.”

Dottie faltered at the revelation. “Those are strong words. What happened with Jake? I thought you were crazy about him.”

“That's different. Like you said, he's a boy. Bob is a man. And a girl
needs
a man to marry, not a boy. That's what my mom needed! Besides, after the stunt Jake pulled, he can forget it. I'm done with him. Done. Did you see how he carried me off? I thought he was a really nice guy but that did it!” She jerked up out of her chair and started to walk away.

“Cassie—”

“I'll see you later, Dottie. I need to walk.”

Dottie watched the girl hurry away and felt helpless. It seemed that everything was going downhill and she didn't know what to do about any of it.

 

“I'm tellin ya, I saw what I saw. Ole Applegate might be on the deaf side, but I ain't blind. With these here trifocals my eyesight's so good I kin still drive at night.” Throwing his head back, he stared at Lacy through the large panes of his new glasses. Blinking, then adjusting them, he smirked at her like Barney Fife. “Yup, it ain't just everybody can say that thar. You jest ask that fool Stanley. He cain't see a lick come dark. Not a lick.”

“Applegate, we're not saying you didn't see what you said you saw. I'm just saying maybe you need to keep it to yourself.” Lacy could tell that App wasn't thrilled with that concept.

Why would he be? The man lived to tell all, but though she was cheering for a romance between the good sheriff and the lovely Miss Hart, she didn't want to be a part of idle gossip on their behalf. Staying clean of that stuff was hard, but she tried. “Look. Just because you saw them standing under the trees together doesn't mean anything. They could have just been resting in the shade.”

“True enough,” App grunted. “But I seen the way they eye each other when the other one isn't looking, and I'm telling you they were about to kiss.”

Lacy sighed, staring at Applegate. She prayed for patience. She'd come to Sam's for a slice of pumpkin pie and a coffee. The day had been a success, brutally hectic but great, and now she was trying to wind down.

When she'd first come to Mule Hollow she'd just known the women would come! And they were. Slowly
but surely trickling in, renting houses that had long been vacated by families forced to leave years before when the oil wells dried up and work had to be found elsewhere. She'd seen many women come to know the Lord…there was nothing in the world more fun than sharing God's love with a person who didn't have a clue what they were missing out on.

But something was up. Something was brewing. She'd felt the Lord's plans for the tiny town were building toward something; she really didn't know what, though. Sure, lives were being changed and people were getting married, soon there would be babies… But she felt in her soul that there was more in store for Mule Hollow.

That there was a missing link somewhere. That the town was still waiting. Maybe that's what it was waiting for, the laughter of its first new generation of children. Whatever it was, she was certain they'd all know in due time.

“Lacy, just the gal I was looking for.”

Lacy twisted around toward the door at the familiar voice.

“Hey, hey, Norma Sue, what's happening?”

Norma didn't smile or grin as she barreled her way past Applegate and slammed herself into the empty booth seat. That was Norma, always in a hurry. “Thank goodness you didn't put a nickel in the jukebox. I couldn't have taken hearing
Danke Schön
one more time, not that I hold anything against Wayne Newton.
I'm tellin' you, when people find out that crazy box gets stuck on songs, they just go wild playing the thing into the ground. I thought Sam was going to have a nervous breakdown before I got
Great Balls of Fire
off there.”

“Norma, Norma, Norma, what's got you in a tizzy?”

Norma took a deep breath and slowly expelled it. “It's Brady. What are we going to do? That boy has it bad. I can tell. You should see the way he looks when he's around, or even just talking about, Dottie. I feel it in my bones that she's the one for him, but he won't admit there's any connection. Did you know that Dottie is going to California to help open a women's shelter or something like that?”

“Yes. She's going to be the housemother and then teach the women business skills using the candy-making business as a model. I think it's wonderful. It's like when I came here. I was on my mission and now she's on hers. Isn't it cool?”

“Well, sure it is. But could you just fill me in on how that's going to help Brady? We can't have the boy moving away again. He just got back. And if the Lord has a place for Dottie in California then why'd He give her a layover in Mule Hollow? That's just cruel.”

“Calm down, Norma Sue, it might not make sense to us, but the weird thing is it doesn't have to. Relax. It's gonna work out. I feel it in my heart.”

Norma Sue heaved a heavy sigh. “I know you're right, Lacy. But for some reason this time it feels odd. It feels like we might be wrong. I don't know how,
'cause there's just too many things pointing to the two of them. You think we could be wrong?”

Lacy shook her head. “Let's just hang loose and see what happens.”

Norma sighed. “Okay. It might be hard, but let's do that. And not a word out of you, Applegate Thornton,” Norma snapped, shaking a finger at him. “I don't want to hear all over town tomorrow that our every breath is hanging on what the Lord has in store for Dottie and Brady.”

Lacy coughed back a chuckle when Applegate glared at Norma with a hard frown, not that his face wasn't in a perpetual state of
frownship,
but he emphasized it by clamping his lips tight.

“I don't know what gives you the idea I'd be talking 'bout Brady and Dottie. Just 'cause I saw them on a little rande-vu among the mesquite trees—”

“Applegate,” Lacy said. “We've already been over that. They were probably just cooling off—”

Norma swung toward Lacy, excitement lighting her face. “They were under the mesquite trees? I didn't know they were under the trees together!”

“Norma!” Lacy exclaimed.

Norma slapped the table, looking repentant. “Sorry. But that could mean good things.”

Applegate ambled past them, stopping at the door. “'At's why I ain't got any idea why you women think it's me spreading the gossip,” he grumbled all the way out the door.

Lacy shook her head and then she and Norma Sue burst into laughter.

“You have to love the ol' fella,” Lacy laughed.

Norma shook her head. “Says who?”

Lacy raised an eyebrow.

Norma scowled. “Okay. But just a little.”

 

Dottie's hip throbbed, her head hurt and she had never been so glad for a day to be over in her entire life. How long could days be? How much could happen in one day?

More than she could take.

As eventful as the day had been, Dottie thought she would have slept like a log, but she hadn't been able to sleep a wink. Now, Cassie, on the other hand, was snoring like a train. Obviously worn smooth out from chasing poor Bob around all afternoon. Here she'd thought Cassie had gone off to lick her wounds when she'd stormed away. Instead, she'd headed down to the petting zoo to follow Bob around while he helped out with the animals and the kids.

Taking a deep breath, she rested her head against the back of the wicker chair, staring up at the midnight sky. The soft sounds of laughter drifted across the night air, other vendors winding down from a long day.

She closed her eyes and thanked the Lord once more for the gift of life. For the opportunity she had to make a difference in California. And she prayed that for Cassie and Brady. And she prayed for sleep…restful sleep.

She needed it…

T
he next afternoon Dottie took a deep breath then knocked lightly on the thick wooden door. Like the rest of Mule Hollow, the sheriff's office had been painted a bright color, but it was an understated chocolate brown trimmed in deep ruby.

“Door's open,” Brady called from inside.

Her pulse fluttered at the sound of his voice and she had to force herself to twist the knob and peek around the door's edge. Despite her efforts, she'd found herself watching him all morning. From a distance. It wasn't as if he'd made any attempt to come anywhere near her.

No doubt thinking he would be forced to endure some of her free-flowing advice of yesterday. And did she blame him?

“Do you have a moment?”

“Sure,” he said, jerking to his full height, obviously
surprised to see her. He was around his desk in a flash, pulling open the door she was clutching with a death grip. “Come in.”

She swallowed hard, and concentrated on Cassie, not the fact that she was really glad to be standing so close to him. This was about Cassie. The kid she'd brought to town to stake her claim on poor unsuspecting cowboy Bob.

He couldn't get away from the girl. After having been followed by Cassie all weekend, the poor guy was looking so flustered that Dottie had decided it was time to consult with Brady.

Rubbing her palms on the fronts of her jeans, she took a soothing breath and stepped into the office. The click of the door made the butterflies burst into rapid flight in the pit of her stomach. “I've come about Cassie,” she said quickly.

“I'm still checking. Sit down.” He held the old leather chair for her then leaned against his desk and crossed his booted ankles. “Did you talk to her?”

“Well, I tried.”

“You tried.” His eyebrow lifted and his chin angled.

Dottie quickly told him about their conversation, feeling woefully inadequate.

“Did you press her about her past?” he asked when she'd finished.

“She didn't give me the chance.” A knock on the door sounded and then Bob himself stepped into the room.

“Brady, I need to talk.” His surprise at seeing her was written on his face. “Oh, hi, Dottie. Sorry, have I interrupted something?”

Shaking her head, she glanced at Brady.

“Come in,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, since you're here, too, Dottie, I think it'd be okay to say this to both of you. I don't know what to do about Cassie. What's going on with the kid? I'm assuming you know what I'm talking about?”

They nodded. He kept right on talking. Fast.

“Any ideas for me? Or Jake? Or Cassie? I know you picked her up on the side of the road, Dottie…do you think she's in some kind of trouble? She's, well, she's trying too hard and I'm confused as to why all of a sudden she's hanging on me. Honestly, I never thought I'd say it didn't feel right to have a pretty woman hanging on my arm…but this just doesn't feel right.”

Dottie looked at Brady, who'd moved back to his seat behind his desk. She nodded.

“I think it's safe to tell you, Bob, that we do have our questions about Cassie. We're not sure how old she is or anything else about her. But we're looking out for her and actually we were meeting to discuss the issue. We don't want to do anything to upset her, and right now she's a little agitated. We don't want her bolting again if it does turn out that she's a runaway.”

Bob's eyes clouded and he hung his head. “Man, that's tough, for the kid.”

“Bob,” Dottie said, “I'm sorry about what she did
yesterday. There was something about the desperation in her actions yesterday that has me really worried that there may be something more going on below the surface. Brady tells me you are a great guy with a lot of integrity. Do you think that maybe you could just, well, could you be patient with her for a little while? Watch out for her, in a way. I'm not saying lead her on or anything, just try not to say anything that would cause her to become embarrassed by her actions and want to leave Mule Hollow.”

To Bob's credit, Dottie saw compassion in his eyes. “I can do that. I'll do whatever it takes. She's a sweet kid. I like her. It would be a shame to see her hurt.”

It was easy to figure out why Cassie thought she was in love with Bob. No wonder Molly had written several stories featuring him. He was wonderful. And not simply because of his dark curls and deep dimples.

Tipping his hat to Dottie, Bob left them alone again.

Dottie turned back to see Brady studying her and felt a catch in her heart.

“You were all set to talk to her, and now you want to go slow again. What haven't you told me?”

“She started to make a statement about her mother. I'm thinking part of this infatuation with Bob has something to do with bad choices made by her mom. She's hurting. I know it. And so I revisited my rash case of big mouth and decided that caution might have merit.”

“So you're telling me that you aren't going to be there for me when I decide to open up?”

She deserved his sarcasm. Really, she had been so smug. Who was she to think she had any answers?

“Look, I know I stuck my foot in it yesterday and said some stupid things. Who am I to say you have something bugging you? Just forget I said anything and let's concentrate on Cassie.” Their gazes met and for the longest moment they just stood there and studied each other.

“Anyone invite the two of you to church tomorrow?” he asked finally, pretending that nothing was passing between them.

“Are you kidding!” Two could play this charade. “About twenty people.”

He laughed, but his beautiful coffee-colored eyes didn't sparkle. “That's my town.”

“Yes, it is. I'm coming and I'm going to try and talk Cassie into joining me. As she put it, she and the God stuff don't get along. Of course, she said that in front of Adela and Lacy and a few of the other ladies.”

“Oh, brother! Did she know she'd just made the challenge of a lifetime?”

“She didn't. I, however, saw every ear within earshot perk up. I knew she was among friends who cared enough about her to take it upon themselves to try and show her how much God loves her.”

Brady nodded, a solemn expression settling over him. “Mule Hollow is a great place for injured souls, Adela and the others will mother her to death. She'll be okay.”

Dottie thought about that, though she'd only been here a few days, he was right. Mule Hollow was special.

 

Lunch at Lilly's was a warm and lively experience. Church had been an experience; never had Dottie seen so many singing cowboys. Why, her grandma Sylvia, who was a huge Allen Jackson fan, would have thought she'd entered Heaven's Gates seeing so many long tall cowboys spiffed up and harmonizing. That included ultra good-looking bachelor Bob, which was Norma Sue's incentive to get Cassie to go to church with them.

Now Cassie sat at the end of the table with Lilly, playing with baby Joshua. It was nice to see her involved in something other than manhunting. She looked happy.

As lunch progressed the conversation turned quickly to her work in California.

“So you're going to open up a candy store?” Norma Sue asked, carrying a fresh apple pie to the table, and swatting her husband, Roy Don's, hand as he reached for the knife.

Everyone seemed extremely interested in Lynn, Rose, Niva and Stacy. Not to mention the four children. Dottie could talk endlessly about the women. Each had a hard history and she was thrilled with how God was working in each of their lives.

“Yes, it's what I know. And after I got down there to test the idea out I was thrilled to see the eagerness everyone showed to learn the trade.”

“You think there's a good market for something like that?” Esther Mae asked. She was sitting beside Dottie and had leaned near to whisper it in Dottie's ear. The big blue feather sticking off her hat batted Dottie across the eyes.

She shifted out of the way. “Sure I do,” she replied quietly, not certain why they were whispering.

“What you whispering about over there, Esther?” Norma Sue demanded, slapping a hunk of pie on Roy Don's plate. “Don't you know it's bad manners whispering at the table. Especially when you know I hate secrets.”

Esther Mae threw her head back and harrumphed. Her big blue feather did a little jig and a plume of blue fuzzies drifted over Dottie. She sneezed.

“God bless you, child,” Esther Mae chirped. “Hope you aren't catching a cold! I'm not telling a secret, Norma.”

“Then spit it out.”

“Norma Sue Jenkins. You are about the nosiest—”

“Spit it!”

“For cryin' out loud, Norma! I just asked if Dottie thought the candy business was a good business.”

“Well, of all the silly questions. Didn't you see how fast she sold out of that black gold of hers? Everyone wanted some of that fudge.”

Dottie waved away the fluttering fuzzies and fought off another sneeze. “I got an e-mail this morning from Stacy.” Esther Mae swung back toward her, feather and all.

“That's the quiet girl, isn't it?”

“Yes.” Dottie was pleased that she remembered. “She's had a terrible life and she doesn't talk much. The entire time I was there, I only saw her smile a few times. And that was at her baby.” Dottie thought about the personal history her brother had shared with her about
the young woman. Stacy lived in a compartmentalized world with just one door. A door that she kept firmly closed to most of the world. It was a learned trait, since she'd lived to survive the abuse of, first, her father and later, the husband she'd married to escape the father. For Stacy, life had been a continual ride of hurt until the day she'd met Rose while washing clothes at a washateria. Rose shared her newfound faith with Stacy and it had changed her life.

Dottie still fought tears thinking about the e-mail from Stacy. Though she didn't feel it her right to share Stacy's personal past with everyone, she felt compelled to share how Mule Hollow and the wonderful residents had touched her life.

“So what did she say?” Norma Sue asked, shoveling a piece of pie onto Brady's plate.

“Stacy wanted to know all about Mule Hollow. She's even gone online and found every article that Molly's written about this town. She's so captivated by you. She wants to know everything there is to know.”

“I just want to bring her here right now!” Lacy exclaimed. Like everyone else, Lacy had been listening intently. Now she leaned forward, placed her elbows on the table and demanded that Dottie tell her more about her plans.

Dottie smiled at the expectant crowd sitting around the table, including Brady. He hadn't said much to her all afternoon, but she'd caught him watching her often as he conversed with the guys.

There was just a tension around them that neither could deny. Though they may have said that kiss they'd shared didn't matter…it did. They'd been skirting attraction between them for days. And in silent agreement they would likely continue to avoid it.

She still didn't know what was bothering Brady, but something was. And it was making him distance himself from her on a personal level with every moment that passed. For Dottie, all it took was having a conversation about Stacy and the others at No Place Like Home to remind her of why she would keep pretending that that fluttering sensation hadn't taken up permanent residence in her solar plexus.

She knew her reasons, understood them, but meeting his gaze across the table, she couldn't help being curious as to what kept him from perusing any relationship. She shouldn't be thinking about it. She was leaving. But looking at him, she couldn't help it. There was something about Sheriff Brady Cannon that she found almost irresistible. Not any one something…it was the entire package. He was devastatingly handsome, unerringly faithful to his job and the people under his watch and yet he was alone. Thoughts of him wandering around inside that gigantic house of his all alone brought tears to her eyes and she couldn't explain it. Who was supposed to break through that wall—that wall that it seemed only she could see.