Doubting Thomas (Tarnished Saints Series) (17 page)

He stopped so suddenly that she almost crashed into him.

“If you must know, I also promised Brianne I’d save enough money to give Sam an operation. There’s a doctor in Benton Harbor who thinks he can restore Sam’s limb to almost normal.”

“That’s good,” she said. “So what’s the problem?”

“The problem is, I don’t have the money. I’ve skimped and saved and tried to put as much away as I could, but it’s not enough. The taxes of my property and the upkeep, not to mention raising six boys, has kept me from attaining my goal. And what little I did have saved up, I’ve already used to pay Ma’s nursing home bill. Plus, I had to pay for Fawn’s funeral.”

“Just one more reason to hate her, huh?”

Thomas stopped and perched one foot up on the wooden slats of the fence that made up a corral for the horses. He leaned one arm against the top rail and looked out over his land.

“I don’t hate Fawn,” he said. “Not that it matters, since she’s dead. But I do hate what she did and how it affected the kids.”

“Kids are very forgiving,” she told him. “Adults don’t snap back the same way.”

“What are you talking about? It’s a little hard for me to forgive her when she’s six feet under.”

“I’m not talking about forgiving Fawn. I’m talking about forgiving yourself.”

He looked at her then, and she could see a hint of hope deep in his mahogany eyes. He didn’t seem angry, just sad and tired. But in the midst of his defeat she saw a spark that hadn’t been there before.

“Brianne always used to say I beat myself up over every little thing.”

“You do.”

“I don’t know any other way, Angie. God help me, I’ve tried and tried, but things don’t get any easier. I know I haven’t raised the kids the best I could, but I’ve been so busy trying to make money and make ends meet.”

“Well, Child Services will be coming by soon to check up. You do realize we’ll have to get the kids off the floor at night.”

“It wasn’t always this way, Angie. The kids had beds at one time. Before we lived here. When we lived in town.”

“I didn’t realize you lived in town at one time.”

“I owned a business. A gas station. We lived in the apartment attached to the back. It wasn’t big, but it was functional. I didn’t make a lot of money, but still I was making ends meet. Then Brianne got sick. We didn’t know at first it was cancer. When we found out, I insisted she get treated. I spent all I had on hospital bills, and even ended up having to sell the station. Finally, she told me she wanted to die in nature, not in a cold room with strangers. My father wanted to help me with the bills, but I couldn’t accept his offer.”

“Why not?”

“Because my mother was in the nursing home with Alzheimer’s and I knew he would eventually have to sell everything he owned to care for her. Then he told me he’d left this piece of land to me in his will, as well as the cabin. Since we’d had to sell the station, he let us move here at once.”

“So your parents owned property on Thunder Lake?”

“My parents were Thunder Lake. They owned it all, and lot by lot, sold it over the years. But one thing my father always wanted was grandchildren. He loved kids. That’s why in his will he left each of my brothers property on Thunder Lake as well.”

“Then why don’t any of them live here?”

“Because they don’t know about it yet. My father swore me to secrecy.”

“You mean to say you really kept something like this from your own brothers?”

“It doesn’t go into effect until Ma dies anyway, so it doesn’t really matter if they know or not.”

“Well, don’t you think they should know? After all, it might change their minds about what they do in the future.”

“No it won’t. Not really. You see, my father also set it up so that my brothers had to be married in order to inherit their plot. And stay married for a year. I’m not in a hurry to tell any of them that part.”

“And none of the Taylor boys are married except you?”

“Not a one. Or at least, not that I know of.”

“Now that’s hard to believe.”

“Not if you know my brothers, it’s not. I was the oldest and felt it my duty to carry on the Taylor name. Luckily, I met the girl of my dreams and married. But my brothers felt no duty to anyone but themselves. They wouldn’t marry if their lives depended on it. You see, they’re nothing but trouble.”

“I don’t believe that,” she told him, hitting him playfully on the arm. “I would have thought you were the troublesome one.”

“I’m tame compared to the rest.”

She saw a mischievous look in his eye and knew he was far from tame. There was a wildness inside him that longed to get out, but she knew he always held everything in.

“That intrigues me to want to learn more about your brothers.”

“Sometime when you have a spare week, I’ll tell you about them all.”

“Fish are gutted and ready for cooking,” came Daniel’s announcement as he emerged from the barn with Sam.

“Good,” said Thomas. “I’m starved.”

“Hey Pa,” said Sam. “Do you think you’ll want to challenge me in a game of checkers tonight? I’m getting pretty good.”

“No, son. I have to finish the car. It’s giving me problems. I promised Gus I’d bring it by the station first thing in the morning. He says he may have a buyer for me, so I really have to finish.”

“I understand,” Sam answered, but Angel could see the disappointment in his eyes.

Her heart went out to Sam, but she knew Thomas had financial worries that came before having fun. Someday he’d have time to sit down and spend the proper time with his sons. And someday she’d break through that barrier of his and get to know the real Thomas Taylor and what goes through his mind.

“Come on, Sam,” she said, putting her arm around the boy’s shoulder. “We’ll have some dinner and after every one of you is showered and ready for bed I’ll take you on for a game of checkers. But don’t think I’m making any more silly bets. I’ve got enough chores to do as it is.”

Chapter 16

Angel woke the next morning with a stiff neck and a kink in her back. Her body was sore from shoveling out the stables, and her skin burned like the fires of hell every time something touched it. She never should have stayed in the sun so long.

She rolled over on the floor with Gabby next to her, and opened one sleepy eye. Thomas stood above her, looking down at her, his shoulder-length hair fanning out around him. In his hand he held a cup of coffee. Steam lifted upward and the aroma filled her senses.

“Mmmmm, that smells good,” she said, yawning and pushing up to a sitting position.

“It’s for you.” He handed over the mug and she cradled it in two hands.

“Thanks.” She tried to take a sip, but jerked back when she found it was too hot. “Oh, I feel like a broken body and my sunburn is killing me. So much for being thirty-two, today I feel like ninety.”

“Why didn’t you sleep in the bed?” he asked.

“I figured if the younger boys slept sideways on the bed, all four of them would be able to sleep up off the ground. Dan still had the couch and poor Sam the easy chair, but I’m going to do something about that today. By the way - why didn’t you sleep in the house?” she asked.

“It looks like it’s too late, as you’ve already given away my bed.”

She smiled. “If I had thought you were going to use it, I’d kick the kids out in a minute.”

“I was up all night finishing the car. It was a bitch finding the electrical problem, but I finally did it. And just in time since I’m going now to meet with a buyer. Hopefully, things will work out this time.”

“Why didn’t you use the multi-meter I got you?”

“I told you why, Angie. I can’t take such an expensive gift from you. I’m going in to town now and I’m taking it back to Gus and getting you a refund.”

“No. Don’t do that. It’s your present.”

“I don’t want to argue about it. I’ve already made up my mind.”

“Fine,” she said, trying to stand. He reached out and grabbed her arm to help her and she winced.

“That sunburn is really bothering you, isn’t it? I’ll stop by the drugstore and pick up something to ease the pain.”

“Don’t bother. I can pick up something when I go to the laundrymat today.”

“Too late for that. I dropped off Dan with the laundry this morning. He’ll be finished before you even get out of bed.”

She looked around and once again realized she’d slept through reveille and no one but herself and her sleepy daughter were in the house.

“That’s not fair, Thomas. I was supposed to do the laundry.”

“You lost the bet on purpose. Besides, I’ll not have a wife too tired to move in the morning to even get up and make me a cup of coffee.”

“Well, with your schedule, I don’t know when to get up. Maybe I should just make the coffee at midnight and sit atop the fence at two in the morning and start crowing.”

“I’ll give you something to crow about,” he said with a glint in his eye. “Just let me know when you’re ready.”

Gabby stirred and opened one eye. “Hi Daddy. Hi Mommy.”

Angel’s heart jumped. It felt so good to hear those words. Thomas was going to be a good father to Gabby, it was already evident. Angel didn’t regret marrying him.

“Hi pumpkin,” Thomas said, placing a kiss atop the girl’s head. Then he reached over and kissed Angel atop the head as well.

“That’s all I get? Just a kiss on the head?” Angel teased him.

His eyes drank her in and she felt an inner heat from her head to her toes. She was glad she hadn’t worn anything remotely revealing to bed. Her sweats were far from sexy, but still he made her feel like a sex goddess with his stare.

“Just say the word,” was all he said and headed out the door.

* * *

Two hours and three cups of coffee later, Angel finished the morning dishes and headed out to her car. She wanted to go visit with Tillie and also to thank the Ainsleys for all their hospitality to her and her daughter. She opened the van door and Gabby climbed inside. She scooted in after her and was about to close the door when she saw little Eli standing there, barefoot as usual, staring at her. Zeke ran out of the barn with all the kittens following him and Josh and Jake sat atop the corral fence eating apples and watching Sam paint a picture of the horses.

“Oh my,” she said, suddenly realizing she couldn’t just take off and leave the kids. Sam was old enough to watch them, but because of his handicap, she didn’t want to leave him in charge. She knew he could handle anything, but if CPS came by for an impromptu check, they might not think it a wise move both the parents were gone.

She got out of the car, and opened the door.

“Did you want to come with?” she asked Eli. He was curious but full of caution and did not enter. Next she waved her hand and shouted for the other boys. “Jake, Josh, Zeke, come on over here. Sam, put your paints away and come here too. We’re going for a little ride.”

A few minutes later she had all the kids loaded into the Windstar and was heading toward the Ainsley’s. Even though the ride was only two minutes away, she hadn’t even started the car until she knew each and every one of them was secured in their seat belts.

“Where are we going?” asked Josh.

“To the Ainsley’s for a little visit,” she explained.

“Is she the nice lady who baked me those cookies?” he asked.

“She is,” Angel said with a smile, pleased to hear the approval in his voice.

She pulled up onto the horseshoe driveway, waving to Tillie and Stacy who ran up to meet her.

“Angel,” said Tillie, hurrying over. But when she got to the car and saw all the kids, she stopped. “Oh. You have quite a carload.”

“They’re my family now,” she said exiting the car with the kids following suit.

“Want to meet my friend, Stacy?” Gabby asked the boys.

“Okay,” said Zeke.

Gabby introduced the boys to Stacy one by one, making sure to say after each name that they were one of her new brothers.

“Boy, you’re going to have a good story to tell when we go back to school,” said Stacy.

“Yeah. I’ll tell them my mommy gave me six brothers for a present.”

Agnes stepped out of the house just then, with Clarence dogging her heels. “Oh, Angel, we’re so glad you came back,” she said a smile. “We’ve really missed you.”

“We sure did,” said Clarence.

“I hope you don’t mind I brought the kids,” she told them. “I didn’t want to leave them alone.”

“Oh, how sweet,” Agnes crooned, looking at the large group of children standing together. “Clarence, we’ve got to give them something to eat.”

“I’m not feeding
his
kids,” complained Clarence. “Last time we tried to do him a favor he put a gun to my head.”

“Mr. Ainsley,” interrupted Angel, “they’re my kids too, now. And no one is going to hold a gun to your head.”

“That’s right,” said Agnes, rounding up the children. “You kids just follow me inside and I’ll make you something to eat.”

“They’ve already eaten, Mrs. Ainsley,” said Angel, “but thank you.”

“Oh, then we’ll just have to do something special. Do you kids want to help me make cookies?”

They remained silent and Agnes looked toward Angel in question.

“They’ve never made cookies, Agnes. They don’t really know what’s involved with it.”

“Never made cookies?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips. “Well, then this is the day they’ll learn.” She looked down at the kids. “What kind of cookies do you like?”

“I like chocolate chip,” said Josh.

“I like oatmeal,” said Stacy.

“I like peanut butter,” said Gabby.

“Well then we’ll just have to make them all. Clarence, help me get the cookie sheets off the top shelf.”

The entourage followed Agnes into the house, all the while Clarence grumbling. Gabby chattered away about her night at the cabin as they disappeared into the house.

“Looks like Gabby is accepting her new life pretty well,” said Tillie.

“So am I,” added Angel.

Tillie looked at her and leaned over and whispered. “So what’s he like in bed? I hear these backwoods guys can be really wild.”

“Tillie,” she said, turning away and closing the car door. “That’s not a proper question to ask.”

“Oh come on, tell me,” she begged.

When Angel remained quiet, Tillie’s smile faded.

“You two never consummated the marriage did you?” she asked in horror.

“He wanted to,” said Angel, strolling over to the channel of water with Tillie at her side. “But I told him I didn’t want to make lust, I wanted to make love.”

“Angel, how can you live with that hunk and not even touch him?”

“I thought you were horrified by the fact I’ve married him.”

“I was,” she said. “Until I realized you are a good judge of character. If you say the man is a good father and not a murderer, then I believe you.”

“He
is
a good father,” she said. “And he didn’t murder his wife. At least I don’t think so.”

“Angel, what does that mean?”

“It means he doesn’t know if he did it either. He was very drunk that night, and his wife’s body was found right next to him. But the murder weapon is missing, so there’s no proof.”

“Oh, Angel, I hope you don’t end up dead.” Tillie gave her a caring hug.

“Stop it, Tillie. Thomas is not a murderer, nor does he even drink anymore. He puts up a tough and gruff façade, but he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.”

“Sometimes murderers are those you least suspect.”

“I’d rather not talk about it any more. I came for a visit, so let’s visit.”

Clarence came out of the house with a metal sign in his hand and a hammer in the other. He walked to the front of his house and pounded the sign into the ground. That’s when Angel realized it was a For Sale sign.”

“Mr. Ainsley, don’t tell me you’re going to sell your house?”

“It’s true,” Tillie agreed. “Aunt Agnes wants to move somewhere warmer.”

“You’d leave all this?” Angel asked Clarence in surprise.

“Yes,” Clarence answered with a nod. He pulled a pipe out of his pocket and loaded the tobacco. “Agnes and I are in our late seventies. We can’t keep up this pace forever. We’ve always wanted to go traveling but just never did it. The Bed and Breakfast hasn’t been bringing in the kind of income we’d hoped for, so we’re going to buy a mobile home and take off for a few years and see the country.”

“But where will you live when you’re done traveling?” asked Angel.

“We’ve got lots of friends all over the States,” he said. “Whenever we decide, we’ll park our home and live there until we get tired of it and decide to move on.”

“That’s so exciting, Uncle Clarence,” said Tillie. “I wish you both the best.”

“Yes.” Angel gave him a hug, knowing how much she was going to miss them, tho she never thought she would. “I do, too.” Then she walked to the house to check up on the boys.

* * *

Thomas pocketed the four thousand dollars he’d gotten for the Grand Marquis and watched the buyers drive away. Gus stood next to him at the station, wiping his hands in a rag.

“That’s a nice piece of change,” Gus told Thomas.

Thomas looked over to the fire-engine-red Chevy he’d sold Gus for half it’s worth. The car was parked on the side of the station where they’d put it, and Thomas doubted Gus had even driven it.

Dan walked out of the laundrymat next door, loaded the clean clothes into the pickup and walked over to meet them.

“I saw you sold the car, Pa.”

“Yeah.”

“Need a lift home? I just finished up.”

“Sure. I’ll be right there. I have to talk to Gus for a moment.”

“Sure, Pa.” Dan made a beeline for the Chevy convertible, just like Thomas knew he would. He watched as the teenager leaned over and peered into the open window, totally lost in the glory of it all. He had always loved that car. Thomas had planned on keeping it for Dan, but finances had not allowed it.

“Dan sure likes that car, doesn’t he?” asked Gus.

“It just about broke his heart to have me sell it.”

“Seems to me his birthday is coming up in another day or two. Didn’t he choose to receive a present this year? I bet that car would be something he’d love to get.”

Thomas clenched his jaw, wondering why Gus was rubbing salt in the wound. It was bad enough he was so desperate he’d sold it to Gus for half its worth, but now it would taunt his son every time he came to town. Just like this station taunted Thomas. The station he had once owned.

“Gus, I wanted to ask if you still have the kids’ beds I sold you when we moved.”

“You know me, Thomas. I never get rid of anything. Why do you ask?”

“I need to get the kids in beds before Child Services comes and snoops again. Can I buy them back from you?”