Wandering Heart (23 page)

Instead, she
slowly tuned on him and shouted, "Where's Josh?"

Cooper looked
up at her from his task. Both of them knew he had been tending the
stock. Their heads turned to the small corral, then the yard. There
wasn't a sign of him.

Suddenly, Josh
shouted at them from the hayloft in the barn. "Mom, Coop. I'm up
here. I'll jump."

"No, wait,"
Cooper responded in a split second. "You'll break your neck. Stay
there, I'll come and get you."

"You can't. The
fires all over the place down there," Josh called back.

All the while,
the lightening raged, but not one drop of rain. An electrical storm
in an ominous black sky sent tremors upon the dry earth.

"I'll just have
to chance it," he called back. Glancing at Angela, who had turned
the water on and was gathering the hose, he ordered, "Quick, wet me
down."

She started to
protest, but realized he was right. She did as he asked without
another word. Panic seized her stomach, tying it in knots.

After soaking
Cooper from head to foot, she watched him go into the barn Cold
chills ran through her at the thought of both of them getting hurt,
or worse. Grim determination made her aim the hose and soak the
outside of the barn. She'd never fought a fire before. She wasn't
sure she was going about it right, but she didn't have time to
deliberate.

Silence sliced
the air, as the blazing fire raged. Josh coughed.

At least he was
all right for the time being.

"Stay down low,
Josh," she ordered.

"The smoke's
bad, Mom."

"I know, honey,
just hang on!" she pleaded with raw desperation.

The hose was
barely long enough to reach the door of the barn, and she pulled,
struggling to get closer. Cooper disappeared through the smoke and
flames. "Oh, dear God," she whispered as some of the old timber
from the barn collapsed. "Don't let the trees burn."

Cooper came
running out, coughing and staggering to the ground. Angela moved
toward him, unconsciously spraying him with water.

"I can't get up
there."

Angela's eyes
rounded, fear gripped her. "Oh, God no, Coop!"

"No,
sweetheart," he grumbled almost to himself. "I'll get a rope."

"No, you rest,
I'll get it," she hollered and scrambled to the tiny shed that
housed the small farm equipment. It was dark but she knew
instinctively where everything was. The ropes lined one wall. She
grabbed two. It seemed like an eternity before she reached Coop's
side again.

"Good, here,
take the hose. If I can get a rope tied to the pulley, he can swing
down out of there. Better soak it good though, honey, for safety
sake."

"Yes, of
course. It might work. It has to!"

He tried to
flash her a quick smile as he dashed closer to the barn door and
began throwing the rope toward the loft.

"Josh, you've
got to catch the rope, and tie it to the pulley. Then swing down,"
Cooper ordered grimly.

"Okay, but
hurry," Josh said through a hacking cough that echoed in Angela's
head like a siren going off.

The barn was
going up in flames like a cinder. They had to work fast or...Angela
couldn't allow herself to think about the 'or else'.

Cooper swung
the rope in a big loop, and threw it high. The first time Josh
missed it and almost fell out. Angela bit her hand to keep from
screaming.

"Okay, Josh,
take it easy, don't reach for it. Let me get it to you."

Josh nodded.
The next throw was closer and Josh managed to pull it to him. He
waved at Cooper and began tying it in a big knot like Cooper had
taught him. He could barely reach the pulley. Several times, he
reached out to it and nearly sent himself flying out the loft
backwards.

Cooper kept
talking to him, trying to keep him clear-headed and steady. "Just
concentrate on the pulley and the rope. Don't step out any
further."

Hay scattered
from the loft as he finally made the knot and secured it. All the
while Cooper was instructing him. Josh didn't falter.

"Okay, Josh,
grab the rope and let yourself down as easy as you can. I'll be
here on this end to catch you. Don't be afraid, son."

Josh smiled and
nodded. Slowly, he grabbed the rope and began to half swing, half
slide down the rope. Midway, he let go. Cooper broke his fall and
they both ended up in a big pile on the ground. Angela ran to them,
hugging them both to her, kissing them all over, unmindful of the
soot that covered their bodies.

"Thank God,"
she whispered.

Full of soot
and grime, the three of them walked to the house, and sat down on
the porch. They watched the fire burn out.

"Well, it's
into the tub with both of you. I'll get the iodine for those
knees," Angela insisted with a big smile.

Cooper nodded
to Josh and ruffled his hair.

When Josh
headed inside, Cooper glanced wickedly at her. "Wanna join me?"

Angela smiled
wearily. "Another time, maybe."

His eyes held
hers for a long moment, and then he smiled. "I'll hold you to that,
woman."

The next
morning Angela stood on her front porch and gazed at the black mess
staring back at her. They had been lucky, no one was hurt and the
hundred-year-old pecan and oak trees were until intact. The house
was untouched largely due to the fact that the wind hadn't been
blowing.

"You know, I
don't think I ever appreciated this place as much as I do right
now," Angela said as Cooper brought her a cup of coffee. She took
the steaming mug from his hands and sipped.

"We were lucky,
Angel. God smiled on us," Cooper said matter-of-factly.

Angela eyed him
closely, putting her arm around his waist. "I haven't thanked you
for saving Josh. If you hadn't been here I hate to think what might
have happened. I wouldn't have had the sense to do what you
did."

"Don't
underestimate yourself. That was your son we're talking about.
You'd have found a way." He pulled her close. She sighed heavily
and he looked down into her face. "Don't worry. We'll rebuild. It
was just a barn. It might have been the house."

"I couldn't
have taken that," she frowned.

He turned her
face up to him, tapping her nose with a finger. "Oh, yes, you
could. You're stronger than you think."

"My, what
confidence you have in me, Mr. Johnson."

"That's right,
Mrs. Johnson."

A warm feeling
assailed her as she hugged Cooper closer. They had only been
married a little over six months, and she until felt like a
newlywed.

She grinned at
the memory of the small wedding, right here in her home. Just a few
friends, and Cooper's mother and brother attended the ceremony.

Brag had
mellowed, Angela mused, and Mrs. Johnson welcomed her into the
family with open arms, glad that Cooper had finally found a
wife.

She felt a pang
of regret that she couldn't get the nerve up to invite her own
parents. Cooper had wanted them there. She had too, but...

They smiled
into each other's eyes now.

That same
weekend, Angela had just finished the breakfast dishes and was
about to feed Partner when she noticed a cloud of dust roaring up
the long road in front of her house. She called to Cooper and Josh
but they had disappeared right after breakfast without a word.

She covered her
eyes from the morning sun, and watched. It was a crowd of cars. She
recognized every one of them except one.

Greg and Maxine
led the bunch of them. Now, what were they doing out here? She
figured Greg was in Washington by now, since he had just won the
election.

"Good morning,
what a surprise. What's going on?" she asked looking from one to
the other as they all pulled into her drive and started piling out
of their cars. Greg and Maxine were wearing faded blue jeans.
Something was definitely up.

Maxine grinned
and hugged her. "Greg had this wonderful idea to have an old
fashioned barn-raising. Isn't it marvellous? And talk about getting
the community together. He's a genius, Angela. Oh, and look." She
produced her left hand and a big shiny ring that was at least a
carat diamond.

Greg shot her a
guilty look, as if to apologize. Angela smiled at him to let him
know there were no hard feelings. Perhaps he had learned a lesson
from their experience. Angela wasn't surprised, but she pretended
to be. Later, she would tell Greg how proud of him she was. Maxine
would make the perfect politician's wife, and she had known it all
along.

But Angela
wasn't prepared for half the town showing up with building supplies
and ready to work. She hadn't seen this many people since Greg won
the election.

"This is all so
unexpected," she began. "I don't know how we'll ever repay
you."

"Don't you
worry, we'll put it on your bill!" cried Bill Munson, the hardware
store manager. The crowd laughed.

The last car
pulled up slowly, almost hesitantly. Angela watched out of the
corner of her eye. She was sure she didn't recognize the car.

But the people
getting out of it were no strangers. She gasped. The lady wore a
red, gingham shirtwaist dress, and the man was in a pair of
well-worn overalls. It looked like he came prepared to work.

Angela's mouth
flew open, as Cooper and Josh came round the other side of the
house with big smiles on their faces, as though it had been their
idea. She looked from them to her estranged parents who stood at
the edge of the crowd. Tears welled in her eyes as a sad smile
broke across her face.

"Mama, Daddy,"
Angela cried weakly.

Tears fell down
her cheeks as the older couple came toward her with arms
outstretched.

They ran to her
at last, hugging and kissing her. The years dissolved. Face to face
with her parents, Angela could only rejoice.

"Oh, we've
wanted to come for so long. Ever since Cooper and Josh began
visiting us months ago. What a wonderful man you've married. He
made us see our silly pride meant nothing."

Angela choked
on her words. "Oh, this is so wonderful. I can't believe it. I've
wanted to—. I'm so sorry. I love you both so much. Please, come in,
come in." Then she paused at the doorway. "But how did you know we
were married? They visited you…?"

"Oh, yes,
honey. Coop's been by almost every week since long before you two
were married," her father said, as he went to shake hands with her
husband. "Good thing somebody in this family has some sense. I'll
be in directly now, Josie."

After a lot of
hugs and kisses, Angela and her mother talked as the men began
their tasks on the barn. Everyone in town seemed to realize the
importance of this reunion and left Angela alone.

Food was being
brought in from every neighbor. Angela felt pre-occupied. Her thank
you's would have to wait.

How strange to
have held such a grudge for so long, and to be able to let it go so
easily. Why had she waited so long? So terribly long. And she owed
one man a lot more than her thanks.

She was talking
and laughing, and watching her mother as they worked in the kitchen
together, side by side. Her mother! What a beautiful woman she was.
What a beautiful word.

"You know,
Henry kept us informed about you and Josh. He was so good about
that. Bless his heart." Her mother quickly flicked a tear from her
cheek.

"He did? He
never let on." Angela chuckled, trying not to let the emotions
cloud her vision.

"He
wouldn't."

"You really
like Coop, Mother?"

"Like him? Why,
dear, he's a saint. Your father swears he's the son we never had.
And he's so good with Josh. Josh just idolizes him."

"I know."
Angela reflected with a huge smile. "And not without good reason. I
love him so much."

"And to think
the two of you practically grew up together. All this time. 'Course
he always was a hard working boy. A little too hard working."

Angela nodded.
"Yes, he was. And, as I remember, back then he wouldn't give me the
time of day. I was scared silly of him."

"He was a wild
one back then, but at least he sowed his oats."

Angela's bright
smile travelled over her mother, noting the age that had made its
tracks over her delicate features. Until a fine figure of a woman,
though. Her waistline was until well defined, and her features
unmarred from years of work in the sun.

Josh ran in and
grabbed a glass of water, winking at his grandmother. "I'll be
back, Grandma."

"I'll be here,
hon," she said and winked back. "He's a fine boy, Angela. You did a
good job. And honey…we were wrong…so wrong. Can you forgive
us?"

"There's
nothing to forgive, you only wanted my happiness, like any good
parent would. But I'm very glad I listened to my own heart this
once…"

"Me too, oh
yes, me too."

Strange how the
bitterness had faded and how only gladness to be together again
mattered. And this was all thanks to one man. One very fine
man.

Angela peeked
outside to watch the construction going on and spotted her dad and
Cooper side by side, working and talking at the same time. Even
Greg joined in their conversation.

Maxine had
struck up a conversation with Pat. Angela would have given her
eyeteeth to hear what they were saying. But the way Maxine blended
in, it was easy to see she would make Greg a fine wife. It was a
day Angela wouldn't soon forget.

That night, Ed
and Josie offered to take Josh home with them and show him their
prize bull and new puppies. Josh was eager to go. He practically
packed his own bag.

CHAPTER
TWENTY

Much later that
same evening Cooper came in tired and hungry. Angela warmed his
food and they ate in almost total silence. When she gathered the
dishes in the sink, he grabbed her and pulled her out of the
kitchen, down the hallway, and into the bathroom. She started to
object, but he silenced her with a kiss so sweet and intense, she
couldn't object if she wanted.