Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) (8 page)

Molly put a cup of coffee and a plate overflowing with a cinnamon roll in front of each of them. “It looks wonderful, Molly. As usual.” As Molly turned to leave, Nellie asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Slowing down, Nellie. I’m thinking it’s about time to retire.”

Beau gave Molly a quick look. “If you do, where will we get our weekly fix?”

Molly laughed. “I’ll give Nellie my recipe.” Then she moved away.

“Molly’s Diner has been here as long as I have,” Nellie said. “If she closes, I don’t know what the town will do.”

“I doubt it will be any time soon.”

“I hope you’re right.” She looked down at her plate. “Molly’s rolls are huge. I don’t think I can eat all of this.” Actually, she didn’t see how she could swallow a bite. Her throat wasn’t working as it should. She took a sip of coffee. “Molly makes the best coffee,” she said, trying not to sound as disturbed as she was.

“Dig in.”

Nellie couldn’t stand it another minute. She hadn’t had a chance yet to explain her actions that day when she went into the pond. At least then she’d be able to put it behind her and act normal around her neighbor again.

“Beau,” she said, her voice low.

“Yes?”

“I want to apologize for what happened that day at the pond. I don’t know what made me go into the water and act so foolish.”

He put his fork down and leaned closer. Nellie thought she would melt from the heat.

“You didn’t act foolish. I did. Now, don’t think another thing about it. We’re just a couple of senior citizens who took a few minutes to act like kids again.” He grinned. “Felt good, didn’t it?”

Nellie couldn’t stop the chuckle. “It did.” Then why did she feel so guilty? As if she’d done something wrong? As if she weren’t living up to the image she’d built?

His large hand took hers and held it for a minute. “We deserve a few minutes of fun, Nell. We may be seniors, but we’re still young. Especially you. You look too young to have grandchildren.”

Nellie pulled her hand from his before she turned into a puddle right in front of the whole town. “Are you Irish? That was a bit of blarney if I ever heard it.” She couldn’t help but laugh. Eyes turned their way again. They were going to be the talk of the town. She couldn’t have that. Wouldn’t have it. What would the family think?

“You’re not eating, Nell.”

“This is too much. I really have to go, Beau. My list is a long one.”

“So is mine. But being here with you has been my treat of the day.”

“Thank you, Beau. Now, if you’ll let me out, I’ll get on with my chores.”

Standing, he let her slide out. She turned to thank him. Before she realized what his intentions were, he picked up her hand and kissed the back of it, reminding her of older times when chivalry was alive and well. Pulling away, she almost ran from the diner.

Everyone would hear about this. Everyone. Even Donovan. Her face felt warm, her body more so. And her hand was on fire.

Would she ever learn?

Sunlight hit her eyes the moment she stepped outside, blinding her for a moment. She almost ran into Dani, who had pushed Emma’s wheelchair to the side of the diner and was helping her out. “Dani! How nice to see you. And Emma! Look at you. Are you walking now?”

“Not much,” Emma complained. “But this girl won’t leave me alone until I do my exercises. Now, she has me on a cane part of the day.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“She’s a stubborn old woman,” Dani said. “I told her if she didn’t do what she was supposed to, I’d quit making her favorite cookies.”

“I didn’t know you could cook,” Nellie said. Talk about surprises. This was turning into a day of big ones.

“Humph!” Emma frowned. “Girl can cook, all right. Too bad she isn’t a little nicer.”

By now, Emma was on her feet. Dani handed her a cane. “Okay. You wanted a cinnamon roll, let’s go.”

“You could’ve gotten it for me. I didn’t have to leave the house,” Emma whined.

“Not an option,” Dani said firmly. “You want it, you have to get it yourself.”

Dani held the door open. Emma, leaning heavily on her cane, glared at her as she limped past and into the diner.

“Wonderful job, Dani,” Nellie whispered.

“Believe me, Nellie, the woman is as exasperating as my dad.”

“He’s in the back booth. He’ll be glad to see you.”

“No!”

“Yes. Now go in and say hello.”

Turning, Nellie left, wishing she’d stayed a little longer. Emma seemed to be taking orders from a girl more than three times younger than herself. Neither gave an inch. Now Nellie knew what Molly meant about them being quite a pair.

****

Beau wanted to follow Nell out. Ask for a date; anything to get her alone again. Instead he sat there like a lump, confused and uncertain. He’d never had this problem with women. He had a glib line they seemed to like. He enjoyed their company for a short time until another woman caught his eye. Now his thoughts were on one woman, different from the others—as different as his life was now from his previous one.

That was good. Wasn’t it?

He rubbed a hand over his face, inhaled the soft scent of lavender Nell left in her wake.

What were his intentions anyway? That would be the first question Donovan would ask if Beau ever gathered the courage to ask Nell for a date. Was he out to have a good time like he was with his previous lady friends? Nope. Was he serious? Big question. Or was he just being neighborly? The woman was attractive. Why not see each other and see where it went?

Taking the last bite of his roll, the last sip of coffee, he looked around the diner. Lots of customers. Nell was right. Where would everyone meet if Molly closed? He spotted his daughter as she led an older woman inside. The thought of Dani being a caretaker made his heart turn over. When he’d first learned what she planned to do, he’d been aghast. Dani didn’t have the will or the stamina. Nor did she have the know-how. But here she was, two weeks into the job and was still at it.

He had to give her credit for her stick-to-it-ness.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Dani.” He rose from his seat until the older woman was settled, then sat back down when Dani slid in beside her. “How are you?”

“Great.”

“This must be Emma Wells.”

“Sorry. Emma, this is my dad, Beau Chandler.”

Emma leaned closer to get a better look. “Don’t look a thing like him, except for the eyes.”

“She favors her mother.” Beau told her.

“Did her mother have a smart mouth?”

“Uh…”

“That’s okay, Dad. Emma enjoys being crabby.”

He sat back and eyed the two of them as they glared at each other.

Then laughed.

Dani turned on him, her mouth open and ready to pounce when Molly showed up. “It’s great to see you out and about, Emma,” she said as she removed Nell’s barely touched roll.

“That’s because this girl won’t do as she’s told.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing. You want to get back to your old self, don’t you?”

“Just bring me one of those rolls and a cup of coffee. I don’t need anybody else trying to get me to do things I hate doing,” Emma snapped.

Molly’s gaze swung to Dani. “How about you? What would you like?”

“A roll and a diet coke.”

Molly limped away to get their order. Beau thought she might be retiring a lot sooner than Nell thought.

He wanted to talk to Dani but couldn’t do it here. Emma glowered at everyone who came by to say hello. He could swear that was everyone in the place.

When Molly set their orders down, Emma spoke up. “Cancel my food deliveries until I call.”

“Are you sure?”

“Can’t anybody take orders without asking a dozen questions?”

“Excuse
me
, Emma.” Molly huffed. “I’ve been sending lunch to your house since you came home from the hospital. Don’t you think I just might want to know if you’re eating right?

She turned on her heel and limped back to the kitchen.

Emma and Dani had been here less than ten minutes, and Emma had snapped at everyone she’d spoken to. Beau almost felt sorry for Dani for putting up with the woman. Except it didn’t seem to bother her at all.

“I can cook better food than Molly’s blue-plate-special, and it will cost less,” Dani explained.

If that sentence wasn’t enough to knock his socks off, Beau didn’t know what was. “I had no idea you could cook.”

“What do you think I did all those years you were too busy to be around? I was with Lela.”

“I see,” Beau said lamely.

Emma hadn’t wasted a second. She was halfway through her roll and cup of coffee. Dani had barely touched hers. Maybe he should leave before Dani became more upset.

“
Do
you, Dad?” Dani sat back against the booth’s high back, gave him the evil eye.

No doubt about it, she hadn’t forgiven him. Neither had Rey.

“I wish I’d known. I’d love to eat a meal you put together.”

Emma pulled on Dani’s sleeve, making her bend close. “Ask him for dinner. Nellie, too. Been a long time since I entertained.”

“No,” Dani stage whispered.

“Yes. It’s my house. My food. Do it.”

Dani’s eyes flashed daggers at the older woman. “It’s my time and trouble.”

“I’m the boss.”

“You’re a dictator.”

“It’s okay, Dani. I can hear both of you.” He stood to leave. “You ladies have a nice day. He put his Stetson on, ran a hand down Dani’s cheek. “I love you, baby.”

Chapter Eight

Beau was walking out of Carter’s Grocers, his list complete, his cart piled high, when he ran into Dani again.

“Emma convinced me to cook,” she said, startling him. “If you and Nellie could come Sunday at six, it would be great.”

“Are you sure, honey? You don’t have to do this.”

Dani snorted. “It’s what Emma wants.”

“But if you don’t…”

“It’s fine, Dad. Just show up and make Emma happy, okay?”

On the way back to the ranch, Beau’s mind whirled. Much to his surprise, Dani was holding her own with a woman who, from what he saw and heard today, wasn’t that easy to get along with. And Dani could cook? Why didn’t he know? They’d lived under the same roof for twenty-three years, and he didn’t have a clue. It showed what kind of father he was. The thought didn’t set well.

A sense of pride in his daughter slipped in between the bashing he was giving himself. She was amazing. Spoiled, yes. His fault. But she had skills he hadn’t been aware of. He looked forward to dining with her and Ms. Emma tomorrow night and wondered if he could get Nell to go with him. She’d acted so skittish at Molly’s he didn’t hold out much hope.

He looked at his watch. It had taken most of the day to get everything they needed. He’d run into a couple of ranchers Donovan had introduced him to a few weeks ago and was talked into going to the auction for a while. He’d wanted to bid on some of the heifers, but after the fiasco with the bull, thought he’d wait until Donovan could come with him.

The Callahan spread was just ahead. He wheeled into the drive.
Might as well take the bull by the horns. If I don’t ask Nell now, I’ll never know.

Beau was as nervous as a teen when he pulled up the drive and stopped.

Mark and Donovan were pitching ball. They stopped when they saw him. Now he’d have to explain why he was here. He wasn’t enthused.

“Hi, Mr. Beau,” Mark called out.

“Hi, yourself,” he said, shaking the boy’s hand. Donovan had taught the boy well. Beau turned to Donovan, who had a welcome smile on his face. Beau wondered how long that smile would last once he asked Nell to dinner.

“Passing by, thought I’d drop in for a minute.” Liar.

“Always good to see you,” Donovan said. “Got time for a cup of coffee or a glass of tea?”

“Not really. It’s taken me all day to re-stock Lela’s kitchen, and get the things on Gordon’s list.” They started for the kitchen. How would he ever get Nell alone? “I ran into Hudson and Bellows while I was in town. We took a look at the auction and saw some heifers that looked interesting. Maybe you and I can take a look-see next week.”

“We’ll plan on it,” Donovan said.

“Me, too,” Mark added.

Donovan gave his son a noogie. “Mark loves the auction.”

“I can see that.”

They were at the kitchen door. This was a bad idea. A phone call would have been better.

Donovan handed Mark his baseball glove. “It’s time I checked on that heifer. When you put these up, come out to the barn.” He apologized to Beau. “I won’t be long. But I have another cow giving birth. I have to check on her every few minutes. It could be a bad one.”

“Take your time. I’ll come out and have a word after I say hello to your mother.”

“Do that.”

Mark opened the screen door. “Mr. Beau is here, Gran.”

Then he was gone, the door slamming in his wake.

“That boy,” Nellie said with a smile.

“He’s one to be proud of.”

“Yes, he is.”

“Guess you’re wondering why I’m here, since I just saw you a while ago.”

“Could it be about Dani’s Sunday dinner invitation?”

“She told you?”

****

Nellie chuckled. “I ran into her after I finished shopping. She told me all about it. I think she was fretting over what in the world to cook.”

“I know this sounds terrible, but I didn’t have a clue she even knew how to boil water. What does that say for me?”

“It sounds as if your life was terribly busy.”

“Not an excuse.”

Nellie’s heart went out to Beau. His eyes were filled with longing for what should have been. “It’s never too late, you know.”

He looked at her, and her wayward heart beat a little too fast. She wanted desperately to decline Dani’s invitation. But she couldn’t bear that look in Beau’s eyes, nor did she want to disappoint Dani.

“I can pick you up around five-thirty. That’ll give us plenty of time.”

“No need.” Thank goodness, she’d had time to plan her excuse. “I haven’t seen my grandson Devlon for several days. Grace, his other grandmother, and I are going to visit with him tomorrow afternoon. I’ll meet you at Emma’s.” Not the exact truth. She’d called Grace as soon as she got home, found out she was baby-sitting for a couple of hours tomorrow, and invited herself over.