Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) (7 page)

In Nellie’s opinion, a younger person was just what Emma needed. With a silent sigh, Nellie knew she would have to convince them both. Perhaps she should back off and let Dani find her own way. But Nellie wanted to help. And Emma needed someone in the worst possible way.

“What are you thinking? That I can take care of her?” Dani pointed to the living room, her blue eyes dark and flashing with hurt. “She’s not a very nice person, and this place is a mess. Am I supposed to clean and put up with her griping, too?”

Nellie leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. “That’s up to you. You would have room and board, so there would be no living expenses. Plus, she would pay you a generous salary. I thought it might be a way to earn money and help someone who very badly needs the help.”

“She doesn’t want help from anyone. Didn’t you hear her? She’d rather be by herself.”

“Look around. Do you think her way is working? She’s probably depressed. Since her accident she’s been in a wheelchair. No one can get her to do the therapy she needs. I thought a young person like yourself could get her moving again. But maybe I’m wrong about both of you.” Nellie turned away. “I’ll tell Emma this was a mistake, and we can go home.”

Before she reached the living room, Dani called out, “Wait.”

Turning back, Nellie saw the uncertainty in the girl’s posture, her slumped shoulders, and eyes wide with apprehension. She walked over to Dani and took her hand. “It wouldn’t be as bad as you think. That is, if you want to give it a try. Once you get the place cleaned up it will be easier to handle.”

Dani looked as if she wanted to cry. Nellie’s heart went out to her. This was totally opposite of what her life had been.

“Okay. If she wants me, I’ll try.” She straightened her spine. “But if she’s impossible, I’m out of here.”

“I understand. Now, if you’ll wait out here, I’ll talk to Emma.”

“If I can’t get this awful smell out of this house, I quit already. It smells of old, sick people.”

There was a small bench in the hallway that Dani gratefully sank onto. Nellie hoped she didn’t change her mind and run out in a panic.

Now, if I can only talk Emma into hiring her.

“I don’t need anyone,” Emma complained. “The only reason I let you come here was to see what you were up to. I should have known. Everyone in town is trying to run my life. They think I’m an invalid and need a nursemaid.”

“Everyone cares for you, Emma. They’re concerned.”

“They need to mind their own business.”

“When has this town ever done that?” Nellie chuckled. “Why don’t you give Dani a chance? At least let her stay a week. If it doesn’t work out, what have you lost? A few dollars? It’s not as if you’re strapped for money. Who knows, you might be good for each other.”

“Humph!”

“Think of it as an experiment, Emma. Besides, the girl needs a job.”

Emma glared up at Nellie from her wheelchair, her face contorted with misapprehension. “I don’t know why you don’t just leave me alone. All of you.”

“You’ve been a member of this community for years, and you have a lot of friends. We just want to help. Dani can do that.”

“All right,” Emma snapped. “If you’re that determined, the girl has two weeks. If she gets in my way or doesn’t do as I say, she’s fired.”

“You’re going to have to be reasonable, Emma.”

“Humph!” She muttered again.

“You can start whenever you like,” Nellie said, coming toward Dani with a smile.

“Really? Like now?”

“That’s what Emma said. The sooner the better is what I think.”

“I don’t know a thing about taking care of old people,” she said, her voice low. “And I’ve never cleaned house.”

“I’ll bet you’ve watched Lela though, haven’t you?”

Before she could answer, Emma yelled from the other room, “Get in here, young lady. We need to talk.”

“Is she always like this?” Dani whispered. “She’s rude.”

Nellie sighed. “She wasn’t always. Emma was one of those people who liked to know what was going on with everyone in the community. She was active and curious. When this accident happened, it changed her.”

“Young lady,” Emma called out. “I hope you mind better once you’re on the payroll.”

Dani rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure about this.”

“You promised to give it a try.”

Squaring her shoulders, Dani went to the living area. Emma sat there staring at her with a frown on her face and an attitude.

Nellie held her breath.

“You wanted to talk to me.”

“We need to set some ground rules.”

“I agree.”

“You can’t have boys over. You can’t play loud music, and you have to do what I tell you.”

“Okay. And you have to be more pleasant and give me a chance. Otherwise, this will never work.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

They glared at each other.

Dani was standing her ground. Good, Nellie thought. It wouldn’t work if she buckled to Emma’s whims.

“When will you start?”

“I’ll take Nellie home, come right back, and start tonight.”

“Are you sure, Dani?” Nellie asked. “You have to tell your dad and get your things.”

“Most of my stuff is in the car, the rest I can get later. I’ll call Dad after I’m settled.” She looked at Emma. “How much does this gig pay?”

Emma stated a figure that made Dani’s eyebrows shoot up.

It was generous and much more than Nellie expected. But then, Dani might not last the two-week trial period.

“Get on with it then. I go to bed early.”

Emma turned her wheelchair around and headed for the other room. They had been dismissed.

****

Beau sat in his comfortable lounge chair wondering about his children. He envied his daughter. She was having dinner with the woman he couldn’t seem to get out of his head. He wondered for the umpteenth time what kind of job Nellie had in mind for Dani. She wasn’t trained to do anything that he knew of. But then he didn’t really know his kids, and wished it were otherwise. It saddened him to know Dani probably wouldn’t tell him a thing about tonight. He’d have to find out from Lela.

Though they’d been home a couple of days, he didn’t know how his son was doing, either. Yes, he was up and ready on time. Evidently, he did as he was told and didn’t complain.

Beau had watched him from a distance. He worked hard, which in itself was a novelty. He’d never worked a day in his life unless you counted the job he’d been fired from in San Antonio.

If he were a betting man, Beau would bet the boy was sore from head to toe from the unaccustomed work. “Do him good.”

There was a bunkhouse rule that the men took turns cooking the night meal. What would Rey do then? Beau doubted the kid could boil water.

The back door slammed open, then shut.

Beau got up and walked to the kitchen to see who it could be, but stopped when he heard Rey’s voice and Lela’s excited one when she saw him.

It wasn’t right to eavesdrop, but Beau justified his actions by telling himself he wanted to learn all he could about his son. Pitiful, but true.

“How are you doing?” Lela asked.

“I’m tired, Lela. Ranching is hard work.”

“I know, honey. You’re not used to it.”

“I hurt all over. How long does it take to get used to this? Hell, Lela, I don’t even know how I ended up working for Dad. I’ve been on a horse all day. A horse? Can you believe it? Even my butt hurts.”

Lela laughed. “You’ll get used to it. Your dad did.”

“There’s a difference. He wanted to do this. I don’t. As soon as I earn enough money I’m leaving.”

Beau stood there as if rooted. He’d heard nothing he didn’t already know, but the knowing didn’t sit easy.

“I have a real problem, Lela, and no one can help me but you. You know the guys take turns cooking the evening meal. You also know I can’t cook. I don’t have a clue what to do. Tomorrow’s my turn.”

Lela clapped her hands. “Now that I can fix.”

Beau went back to his lounger, wishing Lela luck. Rey cooking a meal would be something to see.

Beau waited thirty minutes before he got up and went to the kitchen. This time he walked in. “Hey Rey! How’s it going? Are the guys treating you okay?”

Beau really wanted to know. If they gave him trouble because Rey was the boss’s son, he’d set them straight.

“Joe’s okay.”

“What about Gordon?”

Rey shrugged.

Beau figured that was all he’d get out of the kid.

Rey leaped to his feet, stuffed papers into his pocket. “It’s late. I’d better get back.”

“You don’t have to run off,” Beau said, wanting his son to stay—wanting to have a conversation without all the recriminations.

But it wasn’t to be.

Rey looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s getting late. As you told me that first day, I can’t be late for work.”

Rey kissed Lela on the cheek, waved goodbye, and was out the door before Beau could think of anything to say.

Served him right.

Chapter Seven

Dani had a job!

Beau would be more excited if the job entailed something other than playing companion to Emma Wells. Dani didn’t like taking orders. From what he’d gleaned from the town gossips, Emma had changed from a gatherer of news who laughed and talked with everyone in town, to a recluse who snapped at everyone in sight.

Every day he expected to see Dani back at the house, suitcase in hand. But it had been two weeks.

It was Saturday. Payday. He left the envelopes for the men’s pay in the mailbox on the door of the bunkhouse. He couldn’t help but wonder what Rey did with his. Was he saving every penny until he had enough to leave? Or did he blow it as he had his allowance?

Though his children were adults in age if not in demeanor, he had to admit he was encouraged by their actions the last couple of weeks, and wondered how long they would last in their newfound jobs.

Beau slid behind the wheel of his pickup and headed for town. He had a list a mile long from Lela, another from Gordon. There was no end to chores. This one was a break from the usual.

He slowed as he entered the city limits. Boys and girls from six to sixteen were everywhere; tossing basketballs into hoops hanging on garages, riding skateboards or bikes. School was out for the summer, and it was a gorgeous day to play in the sun. For a quick moment, he wished he’d been there for his kids when they were the age of those he saw now.

But it had taken him too long to see what was going on right under his nose.

Thankfully, they were both working. Gordon hadn’t complained about Rey any more than he did the kid, Joe. Beau hadn’t heard from Dani at all. He didn’t know if that was good news or bad. He didn’t dare speculate.

Finding a parking space, he decided to stop at Molly’s for a cup of coffee and one of her famous cinnamon rolls before he got started.

Looking around, he saw there were more people than usual out and about, probably because of the near perfect weather. His heart almost stopped when he saw Nell’s red hair glinting in the sun. In jeans and shirt, she looked as young as her daughter. Absorbed in the list in her hand, she didn’t see him.

He went to greet her. She hadn’t been out of his thoughts all this time, and seeing her now he knew why. He thought he might be a little bit infatuated. How could he not be? She was a calm, compassionate, and competent woman, pretty as a picture, and he liked her.

She was right next to him, still absorbed in her list. “Hi!”

Stopping suddenly, she put a hand over her heart. “Beau! You startled me.”

“Sorry.” He couldn’t keep from staring. Green eyes pulled him in. “Shopping, I see.”

Nell chuckled. “I am. What brings you into town?”

“Same thing. Two long lists, but first a cup of coffee and a roll at Molly’s. Why don’t you join me?”

She looked around, as if searching for an excuse to decline.

“It won’t take long, and you know Molly’s rolls always make one feel better. Maybe they’ll give us a boost to get through our lists faster.”

****

“Not likely. But who could refuse such an offer?” Especially since he looked so good this morning. His Stetson looked new, his boots had a shine, and his jeans were creased just so. Beau Chandler, in the short time he’d been here, already had the look of a Texas rancher.

He took her arm, and they went into the café. Every eye in the place watched as he escorted her to a booth in the back.

“You know the town likes nothing better than to have something to gossip about,” Nellie said as she slid into her seat.

“So I’ve heard.” He slid in next to her instead of taking the seat across. “Will having a cup of coffee with a neighbor start tongues wagging?”

Nellie moved over as close to the wall as she could. Beau was too close. She didn’t like it. “It could. Especially since you should be sitting over there.” She pointed to the bench across from them.

“I like it here.”

“Beau…”

Molly interrupted. “Haven’t seen you in a while, Nellie.”

“Do you know our neighbor, Beau Chandler?” Nellie asked.

“Sure do. He’s a Saturday regular.” She looked at them and smiled. “Do you need a menu?”

“Two cups of coffee and two of your famous rolls.”

“Coming right up,” she said, but didn’t move. “See your daughter once in a while since she started working for Emma.”

“Really?”

“How is she doing?” Nellie asked. She’d called Emma for a report, but got little out of her.

“Seems okay. From what I see, she and Emma are quite a pair.”

“What do you mean?” Nellie asked.

Molly chuckled. “You’ll have to see them together to understand.”

She went to fill their order. With a limp in her step, she went slower than usual. Nellie realized for the first time that, like all of them, Molly was getting old.

“Wonder what she meant?” Beau said. “I’m concerned already. Does she mean they get along or not?”

Nellie shrugged. Beau needed to move. He took up his space and too much of hers. She felt her throat close. Since the kiss in the pond, she’d tried to put Beau out of her mind. Some days it worked, some not. Now, sitting beside her, he made her think of that kiss again.