Family for Keeps & Sadie's Hero (8 page)

“And then, of course, there’s the halfway house I volunteer at and the foundation I run. I suppose I could manage to run the foundation if I lived here, but I wouldn’t particularly like commuting to Denver and I can’t see giving up my work at the halfway house.”

“That’s important to you?”

“Very. A lot of the people I work with have lost hope. I try to give them their hope back.”

“How?” She wanted hers back, but didn’t know how to go about finding it.

“Through the Lord, Tess.”

“What if the Lord took your hope away?”

“Only you can do that for yourself.” He stood in front of her, blocking her view of the log cabin. Taking both her hands in his, he continued, “Let me help you, Tess. I know you’re hurting. I’m a good listener.”

His words tempted her to tell all, to open up the wounds and bleed again. Maybe then she would heal. Where would she begin? Fear held the words inside.

“The Lord’s a good listener. If not me, then talk to Him.”

Tess yanked her hands from his. “I tried, and it didn’t work.” Her throat closed. Her tears, which lately had been so close to the surface, threatened to flow again. She couldn’t cry in front of Mac. She swallowed several times and said in as cheerful voice as possible, “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.” She stepped around him and hurried toward the cabin and people who wouldn’t demand something of her she couldn’t give.

“Tess,” Mac called.

She didn’t stop. At the door into the cabin, she glanced back and saw Mac standing where she’d left him. She thrust open the door and rushed inside, desiring to hear sounds of other people. The scent of baking bread, meat and onions saturated the air, making her feel welcome.

She paused a few feet inside the cabin and surveyed her surroundings. She felt as though she had stepped back in time. There was one large room with a massive fireplace along the back wall. The kitchen and dining areas were off to the side of the main room, and two doors that probably led to bedrooms were on the opposite side. The oak furniture was simple, sturdy and fit well into the rustic environment.

Casey and the children were setting the long table with enough benches for eight people to sit on. Johnny laughed at something Casey said while Amy tugged on Colt’s pant leg. When he looked down at her, she indicated she wanted to be picked up so she could peek into the large black kettle on the stove.

The door behind Tess opened and closed. She felt Mac’s presence, the air charged with his vitality the second he entered the cabin. Her heart reacted by increasing its beat, and her mouth went dry. The hairs on her neck tingled, and she knew he was staring at her, probably trying to figure out what made her tick.

“Daddy, Colt let me stir the stew and taste it to make sure it was ready for us to eat.” Amy raced across the large room and tugged on Mac’s arm to lead him to the group. “I’m gonna ask Nina if I can help her, too.”

Tess heard Mac mutter as he passed her, “Nina is gonna be thrilled to hear that. I remember that last time you had more flour on you than in the bowl.”

“Ah, Daddy, I was two then. I’m bigger now.”

“That was only six months ago.”

“Yeah, but I’m all grown up now.” Amy straightened her small body, adding an inch to her height.

Tess hid her smile behind her hand while Mac answered his daughter with a grunt that could mean just about anything.

Johnny spied her and said, “Tess, Colt has two new puppies that he has to feed himself. Someone left them on the highway. Come look.” He waved her over to a cardboard box sitting in front of the fireplace. “They can’t be more than a week old.”

Tess looked inside at the two white balls curled together, sleeping on an old terry-cloth towel. “They’re lucky he found them. They wouldn’t have made it on their own.”

“Why do people discard animals like that?” Johnny said in a whisper as if he was afraid of waking up the puppies.

“I wish I had a good answer for you. Some people don’t value life very much.” She thought of the men who had invaded the mountain village, shooting at anything that moved.

“Come and get it. Lunch is being served,” Colt announced.

“No one’s gonna hurt Frisky. I’ll make sure of that.” Johnny straightened, a fierce expression on his face.

“Is Frisky the name of your puppy?”

He nodded, his hands clenched at his sides, while his gaze was riveted on the sleeping puppies. “She won’t be the runt for long. I’ll take real good care of her.”

“Then that’s all she can ask,” Tess said to Johnny while they found a bench to sit on.

After everyone was served, Colt bowed his head and said, “Heavenly Lord, bless this food and watch out for the animals who need help. Send them to my door and I will provide. Amen.”

“How many animals are you caring for right now?” Casey passed the basket of homemade bread to Colt, who sat next to her.

“Gosh, I’m not sure.” He silently counted on his fingers, then announced, “Thirty-one if you excluded the two puppies you’re taking back to Denver.”

“Make that three. Except that Mom requested a dog, not a puppy.” Casey lavished butter on her piece of bread. “Do you have any dogs that need homes?”

“I have seven you can choose from.”

“The ride back home should be interesting. Five people and three animals.” Mac shook his head as though he couldn’t believe he had agreed to do this.

“What made you take in stray animals?” Tess asked, sipping her tall glass of iced water.

“It sorta just happened. One day someone dumped some puppies out on the highway. Then I found a stray cat that was pretty beaten up. The rest is history. People around here know that if they don’t want an animal I’ll take it in and try to find it a home. I think my reputation is spreading. Every week I get more and more. I’m gonna have to take on help if this pace keeps up.”

“I want to help,” Amy said after stuffing a spoonful of stew into her mouth.

“Me, too,” Johnny chimed in.

“Hold it, kids. I think that would be great, but Colt lives too far away for that to be practical. Sorry.” Mac handed his daughter a napkin to wipe her mouth.

“We gots to do somethin’, Daddy.”

“You are. You’re taking in two puppies who need homes.”

“But I want to do more.”

“Sorry, pumpkin. It’s not possible.”

“Tell you what, guys. I’ll bring you out here one Saturday, and if Colt doesn’t mind, we can help him.” Casey threw a smile toward the man in question.

“Mind? The more the merrier.”

“When, Aunt Casey?”

“Soon. I need to check my schedule at the hospital.”

“We could do it some other day.”

“No, Amy. Johnny will be starting school next week.” Mac took the last bite of his stew.

“School! I ain’t going.”

“That’s not an option.”

Johnny pouted. “I won’t know nobody. Besides, I don’t feel too well.”

“The doctor told me you could start next week half days.” Mac’s features firmed into an expression that told the child this was a battle he wouldn’t win.

Tess remembered the comment Johnny had made about not being long in any one place. She would definitely have to say something to Mac this evening so he would be aware of what Johnny was feeling. She hoped the child wouldn’t do something drastic to avoid going to school.

“Well, I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m ready for dessert.” Colt rose and took his plate toward the sink.

“What is it?” Amy asked, her eyes growing round as Colt brought a plate with a top over it.

“Chocolate cake.”

Casey groaned while the rest cheered.

“I think they both are finally asleep.” Mac entered the den and sat across from Tess. “Johnny insisted his puppy stay in his room with him. Frisky is in the box, but I won’t be surprised to find the puppy in bed with Johnny later on.”

“Where’s Amy’s?”

“In the utility room.”

“How did you get her to agree to part with Buttons? I thought they were attached from the time she got in the car with her.”

“Not easily. Of course, when she finds out Johnny slept with Frisky, I’ll have a problem on my hands.”

“You couldn’t say no to Johnny?”

Mac shook his head. “I tried honestly, but the boy has had so little in his life. All I could think of was how I felt about my first puppy, and the word yes just came out.” He gave her a sheepish look. “I really do know how to draw the line. Honest.”

“I believe you,” Tess said with a laugh.

The grandfather clock in the corner chimed nine times. Tess glanced at it, surprised at how late it was. She had to get up early tomorrow and work, and yet she hadn’t talked to Mac about what Johnny said. “Speaking of Johnny, he said something to me today that I think you should be aware of, Mac. It’s probably nothing, but he said he wasn’t going to be at your house long. Do you think he’s planning anything?”

Frowning, Mac plowed his hand through his hair. “I hope Frisky will change that. If he feels responsible for her, he might think twice about running away.”

“So that was your motive. Good plan.”

“Actually my plan is to make him feel part of this family.”

“What happens when he has to leave because Mrs. Hocks has found a relative to take him in?”

Mac’s brow creased with a deep frown. “We don’t know how long that’ll be, if ever.”

“That’s true. Have you thought about all the possibilities?”

“Like what?”

“What if Mrs. Hocks never finds a relative, what then?”

“That’s easy. I’ll take care of Johnny.”

“What if she does find someone? Are you prepared to let him go?”

Mac drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. “I’ll have to. I’ve placed this in God’s hands. This will work out for the best for Johnny.”

“I sure hope so. The child has been through so much in his short ten years. He’s so afraid to care.”

“I know, Tess.”

The look Mac gave her spoke of his concerns, which went deeper than Johnny’s fear of getting close to another. Her own fears connected her to the child, and both she and Mac were aware of that. If only she could turn her life over to the Lord, then maybe…

“I’d better get home. It’s a long day tomorrow.” Tess stood abruptly, needing to leave before she broke down and told Mac her life story. It was a boring subject she wanted to avoid. Spilling her guts wouldn’t change what had happened.

“When will I get to see you again? How about coming to dinner one night this week?”

Tess bent and picked up her black purse, hoisting it on her shoulder. She was so tempted to accept his invitation, not just because she would be able to see Johnny. But she needed to toughen her resolve to put some emotional distance between her and—who was she kidding—Mac. “Not this week. Sorry. Extra busy.”

“Well, then, I’ll see you at the hospital.”

“You will?” Her grip tightened on her purse strap. Why was he making it so hard to avoid him?

“I’ve worked out a visiting schedule with the child life specialist, Cindy. I should have done something like this sooner. I’m organizing some of my football buddies to help.”

“Oh, that’s good. The children will love that,” Tess replied, aware the enthusiasm she should be feeling wasn’t present in her voice even though she pasted a bright smile on her face.

“Cindy was excited about it.” He escorted her toward the front door. “So I guess you’ll just have to get used to me being in your life.”

The twinkle in his eyes emphasized he knew exactly what she was trying to do and that he wasn’t going to let her. Her smile faltered. “I’ll wave to you while I’m working. Some days I’m so busy I don’t even get a break.”

Mac held the front door for her. “I’ll be sure to wave back. Good night, Tess, and thank you for sharing your day with us. It meant a lot to—” he paused for a few seconds “—Johnny.”

Tess felt Mac’s gaze on her as she walked to her car, parked in his circular drive. Reaching to open her door, she noticed the quiver in her hand as it clasped the handle and pulled. He was deliberately undermining her resolve, and she wasn’t going to let him get away with it. But as she slid behind the steering wheel, she wasn’t sure how she was going to stop him.

M
ac heard muffled voices then a giggle coming from Johnny’s room. Pausing in the hallway, he listened. Thirty minutes before Amy had dashed through the den with a box, saying hi and bye all in the same breath. Then not ten minutes after that Johnny had hurried into the kitchen, retrieved a bowl and disappeared to his bedroom with not one word of greeting as he passed through the den. All this after they had put their puppies in the utility room. What were those two doing?

Mac knocked on Johnny’s bedroom door, waited a few seconds, then pushed it open just in time to see the boy throw a blanket over the box, then sit with Amy in front of it. One look at the children’s expressions told Mac everything he needed to know.

He fisted his hands on his hips. “Okay, what are you two hiding in that box?”

“Nothin’, Daddy.” Amy stuck her thumb into her mouth, a clear sign to Mac that she wasn’t telling the truth.

He riveted his attention to the ten-year-old. “Johnny, do you care to explain?”

Johnny dropped his head and mumbled something Mac couldn’t understand.

“I’m sorry. What was that?”

The boy lifted his gaze to Mac’s, his lower lip protruding. “Amy and I found some baby rabbits out back.”

“You shouldn’t have taken them from their nest. They need their mother.” Mac walked to the children and knelt next to them to peek into the box at two tiny balls of grayish brown fluff.

“We’ve been watching them for the past few days. I think their mother abandoned them.” Johnny hovered over the box as though he was going to protect them.

“You don’t know that for sure.”

“Yes, Daddy. We saved them just like Colt. They’re hungry.”

“That’s why I got them a bowl of milk, but I can’t get them to drink.”

Mac sighed heavily, tunneling his hand through his hair then rubbing the back of his neck, his muscles taut beneath his fingers. He wasn’t sure what to say or do. He noticed that one rabbit’s eyes weren’t open yet as they squirmed together, nudging each other for comfort.

“Can we keep them, Daddy?”

“Oh, pumpkin, I don’t know if that’s what’s best for them. We can’t have animals like Colt does.”

“Why not, Daddy?”

Mac stared into her big, brown eyes and couldn’t come up with a reason she would accept.
Because I said so
wasn’t going to work with her or Johnny. “We’ll discuss this when I get home. I’m due at the hospital. I’ll call Colt and talk to him about this on the way.”

“What should we do about them being hungry?”

Johnny looked at Mac as though he would have the answer. What to do? He scratched his head and tried to think of a way to feed the babies something until he could find out what to do with them. When his daughter stared at him, too, her thumb still in her mouth, he retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and punched in Colt’s number. He had to leave a message for the man to call him back. When he slipped his phone into his pocket, he faced the two children who were waiting for a solution to the babies’ problem.

“I’ll get an eyedropper and you can try to use it to feed the rabbits some milk. But don’t do anything else until I return. Maybe Colt will call me back by then. After you feed them, put the babies in the box and leave them alone. Is that understood?” Mac looked from Amy, who nodded, to Johnny, whose pout deepened into a scowl. “Johnny?”

“Yes,” the ten-year-old muttered, clearly not happy with the order.

“Are you gonna see Aunt Casey?”

“I think she’s working today. But I’m going up to see the children on the floor.”

“How about Tess? Is she working?”

Mac was surprised by Johnny’s questions. “I don’t know. I’m not sure about her work schedule,” he said, hating to admit the woman was avoiding him. “Have you talked to her lately?”

“She called yesterday to see how I was doing. She said something about taking me out for some ice cream.”

“She did?”

“Yes, and me, too, Daddy. I like ice cream.”

“Does she call you often?”

“Usually every day.”

How is she? The question was on the tip of Mac’s tongue, but he bit it back. He hadn’t seen her in several weeks and was determined to change that fact. “You know I like ice cream, too.” Now why in the world had he said that?

“Then you can go with us.” Amy peered at Johnny. “Right? Just like a family.”

The hard edge in the boy’s gaze softened as he looked at Amy and nodded. “We’ll need to ask Tess first.”

“Oh, she won’t care. She’s a nice lady.”

Mac hoped Tess didn’t care, because he was going to use the opportunity the children offered to be with her. He’d never seen anyone run as fast as she was from relationships and people. She was hurting inside, and he was determined to help her. The Lord had given him many blessings, and it was his duty to be there for others in need. And if he kept telling himself that was the only reason he wanted to see Tess, he might just come to believe it.

The children were all gathered around the table in the playroom, their faces eager. The nursing techs had managed to squeeze in two hospital beds with a boy and a girl who were bedridden. Quiet reigned where only a moment before laughter had filled the air when Tess had botched a magic trick. The deck of cards lay scattered all over the floor.

Tess allowed her gaze to peruse the colorfully decorated room before it settled on a little girl near her. “Kelly, you can be my assistant for this next feat of magic.” From inside her oversize coat she pulled out a flattened top hat and popped it open, the sound punctuating the silence. “I want you to hold on to this hat as tight as you can.” Nodding, the child took it. “Now, I’m going to pour this glass of water into the hat where it will disappear into thin air,” Tess said with dramatic flair.

After emptying the glass, Tess took her wand, tapping the sides of the hat while the little girl held it above her. “Abracadabra and all that mumble jumble.” Tess swept her arm wide, her gaze pinning each child for a second. “Now, who would like to wear this beautiful hat?”

When no one volunteered, Tess scanned the faces of the children again, making the corners of her mouth turn down in a frown. “Okay. I admit my last trick didn’t work, but this one will.”

One child in a wheelchair giggled.

“You don’t believe me. Well, I’ll prove it.” Tess grasped the hat high in the air and then plopped it down onto her head. Water cascaded down her face, dripping into her eyes and splashing onto her clothes and the floor.

The children burst out laughing.

Through the strands of wet red hair obstructing her view, Tess saw Mac lounging against the door into the playroom. She flipped the hair back and gave an exaggerated sigh. “Oh, my, what could have possibly gone wrong?” She held out her hand toward a nursing tech. “A towel, please.”

The woman handed her a tiny swatch of cloth to dry her face and clothes. Tess mopped at the water then twisted and twisted the cloth to wring it out, managing to squeeze out a few drops of liquid. While she sidestepped toward the door, her shoes made a funny squeaky noise that draw more laughter from the children. As she escaped down the hall, trying to run in her oversize shoes, she felt Mac’s gaze on her as well as several of the children’s. She came to a screeching halt at the door into the employee locker room, turned toward the playroom and tipped her top hat before disappearing inside.

She leaned against the door and let out a rush of air, the pounding of her heart having nothing to do with her swift getaway. Quickly she began removing her wet clown clothes, then her white streaked makeup, trying her best not to think about the man in the playroom. But all she could picture was his smiling face. All she could hear was his deep, rich laughter complementing the children’s. And she could swear she had smelled sandalwood as she’d raced by him. Avoiding him certainly hadn’t managed to diminish his effect on her.

So what was she going to do about it?

She didn’t have an answer for that question. She wanted to be involved with Johnny, and the child was living with Mac. She was going to have to bite the bullet and put up with the man if she wanted to see Johnny. It wouldn’t be easy, but surely she could be around Mac and his family and not have visions of having a family herself.

With her determination firmly in place, Tess marched down the hall toward the playroom and the sounds of children’s voices excitedly talking. When she peeked into the room, intending to check out what was going on before heading to the cafeteria to grab something to eat, she saw Mac signing his name on anything and everything that was thrust at him. One little girl insisted he write “Mack Truck” on her bare arm, and her peals of laughter drowned out all the other children’s voices.

“That tickled. Do this one, too. Please.” The little girl smiled at Mac.

Mac took her other arm and made a big production out of it. All the other children quieted and watched. When Mac finished with a flourish, he scanned the faces of the boys and girls, his gaze finally coming to rest on Tess in the doorway. One corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin while the room erupted in giggles and talking. Tess responded to the mischief twinkling in his eyes, returning his grin.

A boy in a wheelchair tapped Mac’s arm, pulling his attention away. The child pointed to the cast on his leg, and Mac immediately signed it. Tess took the opportunity to move away from the playroom. If she walked fast, she could be at the elevator and on her way to the cafeteria before Mac realized she was gone. She punched the button and waited, glancing back several times as though any second he would appear and she would be dazzled with his presence, unable to escape. She made it safely onto the elevator, rode to the ground floor and hurried to the cafeteria, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

While she inspected the array of salads before her, she sensed someone come up behind her. The faint scent of sandalwood drifted to her seconds before Mac whispered close to her ear, “Did you think I’d let you get away that easily?”

Tess peered over her shoulder, smiled and said, “Whatever do you mean?”

“I saw you hurrying to the elevator. I thought I would let you think you’d escaped my clutches. But alas, Casey told me where you were going.”

“I knew I was going to regret your sister working on my floor.”

Tess grabbed the salad nearest her and slid her tray down the counter toward the hot entrees. When she glanced at what she had put on her tray, she frowned. Macaroni salad wasn’t one of her favorites. As she told her order to the server, she noticed Mac pick up a tray, select a salad and move down the counter toward her.

Tess took piping hot roast beef, mashed potatoes and broccoli from the lady. She wondered if she could attribute the perspiration on her upper lip to the steam floating from the serving line. The server eyed Mac and heaped an extra large portion of roast beef and mashed potatoes on his plate, then drenched them in brown gravy.

“I guess she thinks you’re a growing boy,” Tess said as she pushed her tray toward the checkout person.

“Do I detect a note of envy in your voice?”

Tess stared at the food piled on his plate, watching him add a large slice of pecan pie to his tray. “I think I’m gaining weight just looking at your meal.”

“Just so the nurse in you doesn’t get too worked up over this high-calorie meal, I exercise every day. I usually don’t eat this much.”

“I’m worried about you.” Tess handed the lady at the cash register the money for her lunch.

“Why?”

“You came to a hospital to overindulge in food? Hospital cafeterias aren’t known for their culinary treats.”

Mac followed her to a table in the corner near a large ficus tree. “True. But Casey told me this one has good food.” He slipped into the chair next to her. “My sister is a fountain of information when it comes to this hospital. And now Amy has decided she wants to be a nurse. She’s been practicing on her dolls. Her bedroom has been turned into a hospital.”

“You have a beautiful daughter.” Tess heard the wistful tone in her voice and hoped Mac didn’t. She didn’t want to get into a discussion of children and families.

“That she is. She’s my life.” Mac stared at his plate of food, the hand that held the fork poised in midair as though he were caught in a moment of reflection.

Tess clenched her teeth together to keep from asking questions about his deceased wife. It wasn’t her place to delve into his past, and yet she wanted to know everything about him. She cleared her throat and asked, “How’s Johnny doing?”

“I think he’s settling in.”

“Has Mrs. Hocks had any luck finding a relative?”

“No.”

Tess took a bite of roast beef. “What if she doesn’t?”

“I want to adopt Johnny.”

Her gaze was riveted to Mac’s. The noise level in the cafeteria was high, but suddenly everything seemed to fade away—all sounds, all the people. She saw and heard only Mac. “Have you said anything about this to him?”

Mac shook his head. “And I won’t until Mrs. Hocks has exhausted all her leads and Johnny feels at home with us. I’m hoping that won’t be too much longer. You should have seen Amy and him today. They found some baby rabbits and decided to take in strays like Colt.”

“What did you do?”

“On the way over here Colt returned my call. We discussed what we should do. The kids are sure the mother rabbit was killed. Colt told me they might survive if I can get them to eat. Before I left, Johnny fed them some milk with an eyedropper. The rabbits were sleeping when I left.”

“How small are they?”

“They can’t be more than a week or two old. One of them has his eyes open. The other doesn’t. I could hold one in my palm.”

For a few seconds Tess stared at his hand and remembered his gentle touch. Her stomach flip-flopped. “Then you’re going to keep the rabbits?”

“I have a hard time resisting those two kids. Besides, I’m a sucker for strays, too.”

“For animals in trouble?”

“People, too.”

The intensity of his regard robbed her of her next breath. She swallowed several times, the tightness in her throat threatening to snatch her voice. She knew in that moment she didn’t want to be one of his charity cases. She wanted more, and that frightened her. She looked away and concentrated on cutting her roast beef into bite size pieces, aware of his gaze on her. Her hands quivered.