Soul Food (13 page)

Fact was, seeing Posy’s Grove without Kelley just hadn’t cut it. Fact was, being at Old Joe’s Hole without her, his hands had no fingers, his eyes had no lashes, his heart had no beats. In just these few days, his gut feeling upon seeing that mantelpiece portrait of her had come to life. And so had she. He’d moped all over the camp while the tourists swung on ropes into the lake, rowed boats, fished, sunbathed.

Sleep hadn’t come easy last night, no matter Bryce at his feet. And before dawn this morning, Hooper had ordered him home before the camp woke up. “Get back to the ranch. Wherever Kelley is, you go and find her. Fight for what you want.”

“I need to help Daisy,” Jason had protested, not wanting to appear a lovesick fool.

“Pooh. I can do this in my sleep,” Daisy told him with a yawn as she filled Dutch ovens with bacon. “Actually, I think I am. Now get yourself gone.”

“And leave Bryce here.” Hoop ordered. “That pup’ll never forgive you, ending his ride early.”

“And you sure don’t want to share Kelley’s kisses with a dog.” Daisy said boldly, but with a bright red blush.

So bent for leather and back again, Jason had hustled Zee to the ranch, dawn warming his back, brim slanted just so that he could fill his eyes with the panorama of God’s country around him.
God.
He shook his head. God had been with him all the while. Seeing the faraway ranch looming in the distance, getting closer and more real with every hoof beat had his heart rolling through his chest like those wagon wheels.

He was really coming home. God had planned it. All of it.

As he headed for the corral to unsaddle Zee, hustle-bustle assailed him. Of course. He’d heard about the hoedown tonight in the barn. Wanted to be there, be there with Kelley. But if chasing her down in Fairmont didn’t work, why, maybe he’d just head on west. His heart clunked like a dropped key.

Because Kelley was the reason he was meant to stay. The reason he’d been led to Colorado, to Hearts Crossing—finding faith, finding love. He knew it now as well as he knew his own name. Showering quick in the bunkhouse, he primped for a drive to Fairmont. To claim what he wanted most. As he headed to his truck outside the parking area near the barn, however, Elaine Martin hailed him. Nerves flared a little.

Her long denim skirt flapped in the wind. “Jason, you back already? Wherever you’re bound, get some breakfast in you first.”

A flush warmed him that had nothing to do with leftover hot shower. This was Kelley’s mother. Her brother already knew, Daisy, too, but Elaine Martin was a formidable being. Good grief, she’d gotten her husband to change his name. Her approval was the most important of all.

“Everything all right, young man?”

“Truth is, Mrs. Martin. I’m off to that hospital in Fairmont. No disrespect to the wounded.” He grinned, had seen the crooked smile in the mirror, been told by others it had charm, and he hoped it worked magic on Elaine right now. “But I’ve got to let Kelley know.”
Here you go, cowboy.
A warning droned in his brain, but he couldn’t stop
. You just might get shot down the more you flap your lips.
“I need to let her know what I’ve found in my heart.”

Elaine smiled back as if she knew something Jason didn’t. “Well, I reckoned you discovered a treasure.”

“I reckon I did.” A funny little heat touched him. Was it just a temporary treasure? Nick would be back soon and Jason’s temp job here at the ranch over and done.

“You liked that wagon train adventure, didn’t you?” Elaine’s eyes were shrewd.

He nodded. “Loved it.”
Wish Kelley had been able to stay. Wish she’d been there so I didn’t have to cut things short. Wish Ned hadn’t gotten hurt so she didn’t have to run to him.
The words in his head sounded so real he wondered if he’d spoken them out loud.

“There’ll be many others. It’s what we do around here.” Elaine nodded, feet firm in the dusty gravel. “We’re always needing good hands. And things are happening in town, too. Seems Oscar and Peg Coleman have decided to sell the Butterbean Café.”

“The Butterbean? For sale?”

“They’ve been talking around retiring for quite some time. And their boy Eric, well, he’s on the mend but will need a bunch of rehabilitation. Sophie will need some helping hands with the kids, so the folks will be moving to Rifle. And yes, the café is up for sale. Just saying….” Elaine’s red lips softened around the words with a smile. “Now you get on your way. I’ve got pies to make.”

About an hour later, Jason parked the truck in the hospital parking lot; the words still a chant inside his head.
The Butterbean is for sale. There’ll be other wagon trains. The Butterbean’s for sale…

Opportunities churned throughout his brain. But for once, he wasn’t alone in the opportunity-decision department. All he could do now was pray that Kelley felt the same. About not being alone, that is. Because there was somebody else in the picture besides him.

Ned.

Fight for what you want…You sure don’t want to share Kelley’s kisses…I reckoned you discovered a treasure.

Words from those who knew Kelley well spun through his mind with encouragement. Nonetheless, Jason sighed, deep, for this was one of the few times in his life he felt scared. And he shouldn’t be scared. He’d started too many new schools, said goodbye to his dad too many times, been a lonely boy loving sisters he’d never see—but he was scared to death. Too scared to call. If she’d ended back with Ned, he wanted to watch her eyes when she told him. Then he remembered something he was sure about today that hadn’t mattered one single whit a week ago. There was somebody else in the picture
beside
him. At his side.

God.

He wasn’t sure how to find Kelley, felt no desire nor had enough courage to disrupt Ned to find out. Fact was, he might discover her back with Ned and knew he’d never bear that pain. No choice now. The reception desk told him Ned’s room number, and he headed toward A6.

As he turned down the corridor, he hailed a large nurse surging down the hall like a clipper ship, and she sailed toward him. To personalize things, he took notice of her name tag. “Uh, Renarsha. I’m looking for a friend of Ned Lane’s.”

“Ah. You must mean Kelley Martin. She’s been here two days, but told me she’s on her way home in a bit.”

On her way home. He couldn’t help the shiver. Of course that didn’t mean she was leaving to see him, but at least she didn’t seem to have fallen back in love with her old boyfriend. A peace like something he’d never known swathed him from head to toe. Now Jason just needed to find her.

He went back outside. Kelley wouldn’t be stuck inside anywhere on a day like this.

He saw her then, eyes closed, head tilted toward the sun, at a picnic table with a coffee cup. Her smart phone glistened in the sun. So did her hair. Hopefully she’d left her hat with Pike and hadn’t lost it in the tumult. Much as he liked the hat, he longed to run his fingers through the gold-streaked masses. Part of him wanted to stay put drinking in the sight of her as though engraving an image of her in his memory he’d always have at his beck and call. But the bigger part of him had him start jogging over to her, no matter if she’d push him away.

Suddenly, she looked up then as if his shadow had preceded him. He couldn’t help it. He stopped so he could watch her run into his arms. With a whoosh, she landed against his chest, and his arms closed her.

“Oh, Jason. I wanted it to be you. But I reckoned you still on the wagon train.”

He grinned down at her, remembering the collusion of Hooper and Daisy. Even her mother. Someday he’d tell her about their matchmaking, but right now, he had more important things to say. “I wanted to stay. But I wanted to be with you more.”

“Jason, are you sure? It’s been a tough few days…”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. And it’s not just me. I know God led me here. To you.”

“To everything, there is a purpose,” she murmured against his chest. “I didn’t want to leave either. But Ned…”

“You had to. It’s OK. I’d kinda like you on my team if I needed something.”

Kelley looked up at him. “I’m glad I stayed. He needed a friend. And that’s all I was, Jason. All I felt. I missed you like the other half I didn’t know I needed.”

“I know what you mean. These past days have been surreal almost. Figuring out what I needed most when I thought I didn’t need anything at all.”

“And what would that be?” Kelley asked, coy and girly.

“You already know.” He held her face while he bent to kiss her. Sunshine warmed him but nothing like the desire on her lips or her body’s tremble against his. After their mouths’ dance, he put the words out there. “I think you’re
The One
. And I think I could love you.”

Her face warmed his hands. “As for that, cowboy. I think you are
The One
for me. And I think I could love you back.”

Epilogue

One month later

Mountain Cove High School All American Fourth of July Picnic

“I thought this was the high school alumni picnic.” Jason said in a half-complaint, Bryce tugging at his leash as throngs crowded around them. “I think half of Colorado is here.”

“Well, surely everybody for three counties. This is rural America, Mr. World Traveler. Nothing much goes on, so when something does, we get a good turnout.”

“It’s more like a county fair.”

“Oh, we have that too. And it’s ten times this size.” Kelley laughed, her happiness complete. Her brothers had liked Jason at first sight, but she’d have loved every inch of him even if they hadn’t. And, every second of their time together, too. However, the fact that he fit Hearts Crossing like a glove only added to her blessings. And today was the day to show him off. Not exactly as her fiancé, not yet. But something far more significant than “boyfriend.” She snorted. Such a high school term.

Yet here she was.

Scents from dozens of food booths filled the air as they headed for the Herding Competition held on the football field. Hooper’s Border collie Oreo was a top contender. “I think I could find the energy to power down a corndog,” Jason announced as the scent bounced around the breeze, then looked down at her. “If that thought doesn’t offend you.”

Kelley playfully stuck out her tongue. “How many times must I say it, cowboy? I am not judgmental against carnivores.”

“I know.” His left arm hugged her hard. “I think we’ve been making a great team.”

“That we do.” A sweet warmth covered her along with the summer sun.

“I meant, a great team cooking together.”

“That too.” She smiled as his arm tightened. “So let’s hit the faculty booth. Supposedly their ‘dogs are the best in three counties. Honey-dipped cornbread coating compliments of yours truly. Besides, Kenn’s working the booth and roped Christy into helping him. We gotta go talk some trash.”

Jason’s phone buzzed, and he took a peek. He shook his head and burst into laughter loud enough to compete with the din of the picnic.

“What is it?” Kelley was ready to laugh, too, even though the corner of her eye saw Bobbi Doering on the fast approach. Maybe Miss Friends-with-burger-benefits didn’t know Kelley and Jason were an item now and wanted to compete. Her heat flopped a little.

“It’s a text from my mom. She pitched your chuck wagon cookbook to her publishing house. They’re interested in you submitting a proposal.”

“Wow.”

“Get those stars out of your eyes.” He elbowed her. “Getting a proposal ready is hard work. I lived with Snowy long enough to know.”

Kelley could barely hold in such excitement, but she kept things light. “Like I haven’t had enough to do lately. Catering Caffey and Rhee’s wedding reception. Wagon train chuck-cook every other week. Moving back from Sunset Hills.”

The last was said with both promise and sadness. Her last summer’s dream had ended, but another had begun. After much prayer, she’d realized she belonged back home, and that God had led her in another direction. Vegeterra had not been a waste of time or money. She’d learned how to run a restaurant and keep accurate books. The equipment had all been sold, raising enough to pay off her bills, and she had brought back with her an excellent review from the food editor of the Sunset Hills
Herald
, to post as reference at the Butterbean Café.

Her and Jason’s new venture.

Ma and Hooper had indeed scraped up some cash, and Jason had eagerly gone into business with her with his savings. Even his mother had sent some funds from Moldova, promising she and September would be on a plane to Colorado for Thanksgiving dinner and Bragg’s wedding two days later. And this time around, Kelley had no doubts she’d have a faithful clientele.

Even with a fine collection of vegetarian dishes on the new menu…which would still offer Peg Coleman’s favorites. Kelley had already started cooking on weekends with Jason’s help during his free times from his new position as director of BeauVine’s regional office.

Sitting atop a cooler between this booth and the next, her brother Scott looked up, bright-eyed, at the woman laughing down at him.

As soon as she could, Kelley pulled at Jason and got him out of earshot. “My goodness. I’d bet the ranch that’s Miss Wesley. It’s been ten years or more, but I’d recognize her anywhere.”

“Who? Where?”

Kelley indicated with a backward head nod, rather than pointing. “Back there.”

“So? She’s hot, and he’s unattached.”

“She was our art teacher in high school.” Kelley whispered. “I was a senior and Scott was a sophomore. He had a huge schoolboy crush on her.”

“Well, I can see why.”

“You don’t get it. He looks star struck. But she’s got to be…what? Six, seven years older than him?”

Jason shrugged. “As I see it, they’re both consenting adults. And this is the reunion picnic, after all. Now…” He wiped at his mouth with his shirtsleeve, then turned pink. “Sorry, they were out of napkins. Thing is…”

He stopped and peered down at her.

“What?” She ordered. “Thing is, what?”

“Seeing that star struck brother of yours kind of put me in the mood. If you can stand the taste of corndog, that is.”