Her Hometown Hero (5 page)

“Ouch! You hit me,” Jacob yelled.

“No, I didn’t. You got in the way of my hand.” Carrie pushed her chair back and jumped to her feet.

Kathleen grabbed Jacob before he flew out of his chair and went after his sister. His face red with anger, he plopped against the cushioned back.

“Aunt Kit, she did it on purpose.”

Carrie jammed her fisted hand against her waist. “I talk with my hands like Aunt Kit, and one day I’m gonna be a ballerina just like she is.” Her niece stuck her tongue out at Jacob.

How did this get so out of control?
flashed across Kathleen’s mind as she pushed to her feet and planted herself between her niece and nephew. Usually she was more attuned to Carrie and Jacob, but she’d been so absorbed with her situation that she’d neglected them. It was time to make things right.

She placed one arm around each child and said in a soft voice, “Let’s sit on the couch and talk. I have something I need to tell you and should have days ago.” She still didn’t know how she was going to, but keeping it a secret wasn’t working, either.

Carrie’s forehead crinkled with worry. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Mom said you’re still recovering and not to bother you.”

Kathleen pulled the eight-year-old against her. “You can bother me anytime. But I will admit I haven’t been myself lately.”
I’m not sure if I ever will be that person again.
“And the reason for that...” The rest of the sentence lodged in her throat, burning it.
One day I’m gonna be a ballerina just like she is.
Carrie’s words robbed her of her voice.

“It’s okay, Aunt Kit. We know you hurt your leg, and it’ll take time to get better.” Carrie threw her arms around Kathleen and gave her a hug. “I love you.”

“Me, too.” Jacob joined in, forgetting about his fight earlier and embracing his sister as well as Kathleen.

Carrie leaned away. “When you feel like it, we can go riding like we usually do. Go on a picnic. We’ll be out of school in two weeks. By then you’ll be much better.”

Kathleen had known this would be hard, but like with Nate, she hadn’t realized how hard. As a ballerina she’d always strived for perfection in her dances. That was how she approached life. But she wasn’t perfect. She swallowed over and over, then murmured, “I love you two. I couldn’t ask for a better niece or nephew.”

Carrie giggled. “Even when we fight?”

“Yes, even then.” She kissed the top of each one’s head. “This is hard for me, but I have to tell you that I’ll never be able to dance again.”

Carrie thrust herself back, her eyes round. “Why not? You were injured before and still danced again.”

“Because—” Kathleen rolled up her sweatpants to reveal her prosthesis “—I lost the lower part of my leg in the accident.”

Jacob’s eyes rounded, and he touched her artificial limb. “Cool. How does it work? What’s it made from? How long have you had it?”

Kathleen tried to explain the best she could as she showed them how she took it off. Then she put it back on and walked around for them. Carrie remained quiet through the whole demonstration.

“Jacob. Carrie. Time for bed,” Beth said as she came into the den.

“Mom, did you see Aunt Kit’s new leg?” Jacob pointed to it.

“Yes, I have. You’ve got the bathroom first, then Carrie. Scoot now.” Beth shooed her son out of the room, then followed him into the hallway.

Kathleen silently thanked her sister-in-law. She needed to have a word with Carrie without Jacob around asking questions. “Honey, do you have any questions for me?”

“You can’t dance again?” Carrie’s voice squeaked out.

A burning sensation infused Kathleen’s stomach, and her heart ached. “I can’t perform like I used to. But there’s more to dancing than that.” When she said the last sentence, something clicked inside her. Hope seeded itself in her. “I can still help you when you need it.”

“Really? Great, because I want you to come to my audition for the Summer Dance Academy. Just knowing you’ll be in the audience will encourage me. There aren’t many openings for my age group.”

She couldn’t run from seeing Madame Zoe, and it was time she faced that. Madame Zoe would be upset if she knew Kathleen was in town and didn’t come to see her like she always did. “When is it?”

“Next Saturday, the day before my birthday.”

“I’ll be there in the audience, cheering you on.”

Carrie clasped her and said, “Thank you. Thank you. That’s the best birthday gift you can give me.”

“So I don’t have to go shopping for a present?”

Carrie grinned. “If you want to, I won’t complain.”

Kathleen winked at her niece. “I figured you wouldn’t.”

“Carrie. Jacob’s out of the bathroom. It’s your turn.” Beth’s shout sounded as if it came from the second-floor landing.

Kathleen hugged Carrie, then walked with her to the entry hall. “See you tomorrow. Tell your mom I’m going to the cabin.”

Using a flashlight she’d brought with her, Kathleen made her way to her place. Carrie and Jacob’s acceptance and love, coupled with Howard and Beth’s, gave her hope she could deal with this and discover something she wanted to do with the rest of her life. But when she thought about things that interested her, they all revolved around dance.

Lord, I know I haven’t prayed to You in a while, but I need You. What can I do? Financially, I don’t have to work, but I want to. I need to.

As she passed the barn she wondered if Nate was with Howard inside. Nate’s red truck was still parked in front of the main house. He’d made it easier to talk with Carrie and Jacob since she’d already broken the news about the seriousness of her injury to him. This time wasn’t as bad. But she also appreciated his absence when she arrived to see her niece and nephew.

Tomorrow she would apologize for what had transpired in the barn. She knew he meant well.

Kathleen stepped up to the cabin porch. A movement out of the corner of her eye seized her full attention. She swung her flashlight toward the swing at the end and illuminated Nate rising.

Chapter Five

S
traightening from the porch swing, Nate frowned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I need to talk to you, and tomorrow will be crazy.”

Kit dropped the flashlight to her side, a glow from the front window of the cabin giving her enough illumination to follow Nate’s progress toward her. “I told the kids tonight. I’m tired.”

“It didn’t go well?”

“Actually it went better than I’d expected, but I exhausted myself worrying about how they would take it. It’s just now hitting me.”

He stopped several feet from her, wishing he could erase the tired lines on her face and make everything right for her. “I won’t be long then, but I hope you’ll come to the barn tomorrow morning around ten to meet some of the kids in the youth group.”

She attempted a smile, but it fell short. “You’re hoping they’ll persuade me to help you.”

Although not a question, he said, “Yes. We’re trying to come up with something special. Something that hasn’t been done in a while. You know how creative I am. On a scale from one to ten on creativity, I’m a zero, whereas you’re an eleven.”

“Thanks. If you’re trying to butter me up, you’re doing a good job. I’ll try to come, but I’m not making any promises. Okay?”

He smiled. “I’ll take a ‘maybe’ over ‘no’ any day.”

When he started to move away from her, she asked, “Did you and Howard come up with anything?”

“A rodeo was about all, but that has been done to death.”

“It’s Oklahoma. What do you expect?”

“Something different but not too complicated.”

“I’ll think about it. Good night.”

He walked a few feet toward the road, then glanced back to watch her go inside the cabin. He was glad Beth had talked him into moving his meeting with Howard tonight to the barn. In the past he would rush in and try to fix things, but with Kit he couldn’t push her too hard. Beth made him see that.

Kit would help him, and he would help her. He actually whistled “Oklahoma” as he headed for his truck.

* * *

The next morning Kathleen sat at her table, sipping a second cup of Earl Grey tea. She hadn’t slept well the night before, her dreams filled with Madame Zoe as she told the woman her star pupil would never dance again. Kathleen knew her mentor wouldn’t feel she had let her down, but Kathleen felt that way all the same. It was irrational, but hard to rid her mind of it.

She had purposefully kept her amputated leg from Madame Zoe because it wasn’t something she wanted to tell her over the phone when she was in New York or even here at the ranch. But the audition for the Summer Dance Academy in a week wasn’t the time or place, either. Early this morning she’d decided she would accompany Carrie to her ballet class and talk with her mentor privately afterward. She didn’t want anyone else in town to know until she’d told Madame Zoe on Tuesday.

She glanced at the clock in the kitchen area and realized she was already late for the meeting. Gulping down the lukewarm tea, she rose and crossed to the sink to rinse her cup.

A knock cut into the quietness. As she made her way to the door, she tried to guess who was sent to get her. When she saw Nate, her heartbeat kicked up a notch, and she felt a smile twitch at the corners of her mouth.

She stepped onto the porch. The spring air held a hint of a chill. Sunlight kissed the plants and animals all around her, beckoning her to enjoy the beautiful day. “I know I’m running a little late. I thought you’d send Carrie or Jacob.”

“Why?”

“Because you know I have a hard time saying no to them.”

“But you can to me?” A gleam glinted in his gaze.

“You don’t have big blue eyes and call me Aunt Kit.” She started toward the barn, seeing some teenagers going inside. “How many are going to be here?”

“The fund-raiser committee is four girls and four guys. If the whole group tried to plan this we’d never get anything done.”

“Probably a wise decision. What have you all decided so far?”

“To hold the event at the Soaring S and to have a Western theme.”

“And it’s six weeks away?” Kathleen slowed her gait, her glance sliding to his.

He removed his cowboy hat and raked his fingers through his dark hair. “Yep. Now you see why I’m so desperate. The guys want to do a rodeo and the girls want to do a carnival. No one is budging.”

“Both sound good.”

“They’ve both been done in the past few years. I want it to be different.” Nate plopped his hat back on his head, pulling it lower to shade his eyes.

“Why?”

“A carnival has been done a lot in the past. We want something a little different. The rodeo is a competition, not to mention possibly dangerous. Some of the kids in the group aren’t into rodeo. I’m trying to meld the group together. We’ll be together for a week in August in Honduras. I want us to be as close-knit as we can be.”

“That makes sense. I might have something.”

“What?”

“Let’s wait and see what everyone says. There may be a better idea.”

When Kathleen went into the barn, she scanned the teenagers, noting all eight were present. Her brother, Beth and Carrie were also in attendance along with Bud. The barn was large but she could understand not having the whole group trying to plan the event. Fourteen was enough, especially when everyone took a seat on a bale of hay and began to talk at the same time.

Nate put his two fingers in his mouth and blew a whistle so loud Kathleen’s ear rang for a few seconds.

“Warn me next time you do that,” Kathleen said with a chuckle.

“Loud but effective,” Nate murmured for her only, as the group quieted. “One person at a time will have the floor. If you want to talk, wait for me to call on you or no one will hear anything. First, I’d like you all to introduce yourselves since we have a newcomer—” he gestured toward her “—Kathleen Somers, Mr. Somers’s sister.”

“Really?” one red-haired girl squeaked, her eyes saucer round. “I’ve been taking ballet for ten years. Madame Zoe has one of your photos on the wall in the studio.”

Heat scorched Kathleen’s cheeks. Everyone stared at her. “Yes, she was my teacher when I lived here. And you are?”

“Oh, I forgot,” the teen said, and covered her lips with her fingertips for a few seconds before smiling. “I’m Anna, a huge fan of yours.”

Another girl, dressed in an outfit more suited for a runway of high-end clothes, chimed in. “My name is Debra. Where do you dance?”

“I was part of a New York ballet company.”

Anna frowned. “Was?”

“I’m recovering from an injury right now.”

“We have a lot to do this morning, so let’s keep this moving.” Nate pointed at the boy next to Anna. “Your turn.”

Although Kathleen heard their voices and saw their mouths moving as they talked, she couldn’t focus on the introductions and what followed after them. Maybe she’d better go see Madame Zoe this afternoon. The more she was around people, the harder it was to keep her situation a secret.

Fifteen minutes later, the discussion about the fund-raiser had evolved into everyone trying to talk over one another. Nate raised his fingers to his mouth again. Kathleen caught the movement and quickly tugged his arm down, and then she stood.

In almost a whisper she began to talk. “I think we should have a Western hoedown with square dancing, good food and live entertainment.”

Anna quieted the kids around her. “Miss Somers, I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear everything you said.”

When silence dominated the interior of the barn, Kathleen repeated what she’d said. “From what you all have been saying, some of you are musicians and could be the live entertainment, and what person doesn’t love good down-home cooking. For the people who don’t know how to square dance, we can have instructors to help them learn. You can charge an entrance fee for a night of fun. I think my brother probably can get a wagon or two for hayrides. For the ones who want to ride horses, this ranch has some good mounts.”

Bud, the only one who hadn’t said a word besides Carrie, raised his hand. “I can be the caller for the square dances.”

Everyone in the group nodded their heads and began calling out what they were good at and how they could help.

After another loud whistle, Nate stood. “Thanks, Bud, for volunteering to be the caller. Great idea, Kit. It looks like you all are in agreement. Finally. We’ll go with a Western shindig. Debra, would you be our recorder and take down the duties different people volunteer for? We’ll need an adult and a teen in charge of entertainment, another pair for food, then also dance and other activities. Once the adults are assigned, the rest of you need to pick what you want to do.” He looked around the group and added, “In an orderly fashion.”

After Bud and Howard volunteered for the dance and other activities, Beth immediately spoke up for the food.

“Nate and Kit, I guess that leaves you two with entertainment. A show for people who come beyond the dance,” Howard said with a twinkle in his eye.

Kathleen leaned close to Nate. “I never said I would be on the committee. I only agreed to come to this meeting.”

“That’s fine. Do whatever you feel comfortable with, although I have to say we would be a good team with your background in dance and my...” Pure innocence bathed his features.

She fought a grin demanding to be seen. Had he and Howard planned how they were going to persuade her to help with the fund-raiser? “And? What would your contribution be to this—partnership?”

“I’d be great at implementing plans you come up with.”

Laughter bubbled up in her. “In other words, you’ll be my assistant. I think I like that—that is, if I stay until the fund-raiser date. I might not, you know.”

He nodded his head, his gaze trapping her for a long moment. “Duly warned.”

She blinked and looked away. Their relationship hadn’t worked out in the past, and her life was much more complicated now. What in the world was she doing? Nate’s charm had always been enticing to her. The decision to break up with him had been the hardest one she’d ever made.

“I need teen volunteers. You’ll be responsible for calling your friends in the group and recruiting more for each of the committees. We’ll need a small army to pull this off in six weeks. When you’ve found six more vict—” Nate coughed “—I mean, volunteers, let me know and also Debra, who will keep track of who is doing what. Okay?”

After the big group broke up into the three smaller ones, Carrie came over to Kathleen. “I want to help you.”

“Sure. I’d love your input. People at the fund-raiser will be bringing their children. I need to know what would be good entertainment for them and most likely your dad and Bud will need your opinion concerning activities.”

“You know Jacob is gonna want to help, too.”

“I figured. Where is he?”

“He had baseball practice and couldn’t miss it. He can help Dad and Bud.”

Nate came up to Carrie and Kathleen. “Let’s go outside and find a shady spot to talk about what we should do.”

“The bench under the oak tree is a good place.” Kathleen wasn’t comfortable yet getting up and down from the ground. She still had some issues from a sitting position.

“I’ll round up Debra, Anna and Steven and meet you there.” Before she moved away, Nate clasped her shoulder and bent toward her. “Save me a seat on the bench. Us old folks have to stay together.”

“Old? Speak for yourself,” Kathleen said with a chuckle. The whole time every sense was acutely aware of Nate’s nearness—sweaty palms, a breathlessness attacking her lungs as if she and Nate were teens again.

Five minutes later when he eased down next to her on the bench while the kids sat on the ground in front of them, she’d wondered how she had found herself in this situation—helping Nate with a fund-raiser that would take a great deal of time. Time she needed to figure out what she was going to do the rest of her life—not be sidetracked by Nate.

* * *

“I could have driven myself to see Madame Zoe.” Kit sat in the passenger seat in Nate’s truck as he pulled onto the highway and headed for Cimarron City later Saturday afternoon.

“No doubt you could, but both Howard and Beth were using their cars and the truck left behind has a manual transmission. If I remember correctly, you had a hard time driving stick years ago. Has that changed?”

“It hasn’t,” she admitted. “But Beth was going to be back in a while and she could have taken me or leant me her car.”

“Maybe. You know Beth, and you told Madame Zoe you’d be there at two. When is Beth on time to be somewhere? Madame Zoe is a stickler for promptness, isn’t she?”

Kit threw up her hands. “Okay. You’ve made your point. I should accept your help graciously and quit saying I can drive myself. Besides, I haven’t driven with my prosthetic leg yet and that could be an adjustment. Actually I haven’t driven much at all in the past years while in New York. No reason to.”

Nate slanted a look at her, noting the tension he’d seen the days before in her had eased. She’d actually laughed today several times and had jumped into the planning of the fund-raiser better than he’d hoped. His goal was to give her something to do to take her mind off her problems. Sitting in the cabin dwelling on her lost leg and career would only make those problems worse. He wanted to see her driven determination back.

“You can drop me off, and I’ll see if Beth or Howard can pick me up later or I can take a cab to the ranch.”

“Cimarron City only has the one cab company, and you know as well as I do that they’re not exactly the fastest to reply to a call. If I take you, I’m certainly going to bring you back to the ranch. I have to go into the clinic to check on a couple of animals. I’ll return after that. If you’re not through talking to her, I can wait. I want to show you something after that.” Which was one of the reasons he suggested to Beth that he could drive Kit.

“Show me what?”

“Somehow I knew you would ask that. It’s a surprise. One I think you’ll like.” At least he hoped she would.

“You know how much I hate surprises. I could refuse to go with you.”

At the stoplight Nate shifted toward her to gauge her feelings. Kit’s emotions were rarely hidden on her face. “You could, but I hope you won’t. Trust me, Kit.”