Soul Food (9 page)

Now where on earth had that thought come from? Third grade? With a growl, Kelley tossed her own pillow across the room and jumped out of bed. Four twenty-eight a.m. She scrambled into jeans and tank top and plunged downstairs, ready to face who knew what.

Despite the despicable hour, Ma was pummeling around the kitchen like a prize fighter and fifty opponents. Already, trays of chocolate chip scones and blueberry muffins cooled on racks on the huge counter. Shame flooded Kelley at once. Baking for the guests had always been her thing.

“‘Morning, sweetheart.” Ma in her plus-size overalls and yellow plaid shirt looked every inch a ranch wife. And so like the down-home ma Kelley had run to with every scraped knee and slip off a saddle. But Kelley was a big girl now.

Make that a grown-up woman.

“Ma, I…” She took a deep breath. No need to have Ma hear her shaking voice and assume the worst. “I could have done those.”

“I reckoned you needed your sleep. You’ve got three busy days ahead. Now how about a good morning kiss for your old ma’s cheek?”

Kelley did just that on her way to pour a tall mug of Ma’s motor-oil coffee. Leaning against the sink, she debated on when to face her mother. That woman had a way about her that managed to delve into the deepest recesses of your soul.

“You and Jason seem to be hitting it off a little.”

That got Kelley’s dander up but she kept her distance, kept herself busy pouring in too much fresh cream. Time to act casual. “Yeah. He’s a nice guy. Smart, too. Knows horses and cows, dogs, too, like I know vegetarian.”

Ma’s voice was casual, too. “I was glad to see him in church yesterday. His first time. It’s always my preference for good Christian men to work the ranch, but I do my best not to badger. He even asked to borrow a Bible last night.”

Remembering Jason yesterday had Kelley swallow a snort. “Yeah, well, he meant it all more as spectator. One Bible verse and he gets all self-righteous on me.”

Ma’s lips tightened. “God’s Word never returns void.”

As her mother’s eyebrows peaked upward into freshly-tinted, shiny dark brown hair, Kelley lost it and ran into her mother’s arms. “Oh, Ma, why did you bring him here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, he’s just temporary, isn’t he? Until Nick gets back? And then he plans to move on.”

Ma stroked her hair. “Sweetheart, yes, he is temporary. We can’t afford to keep two geneticists on the payroll. In fact, Jason’s just part-time at any rate.”

She heaved herself down on a slat-backed chair and pulled Kelley close onto her lap just like those days of childhood. “Hoop thought we could get by on our own with Nick gone. Not hire anybody and keep costs down. But the tests are important. Orchestrating the cows’ heat cycles makes it easier for AI. And Hoop got wind of Jason. As a consultant for BeauVine Tech, he could work part-time, and we could afford him. So yeah, he isn’t long-term. So what’s the trouble?”

“I felt the sparkle, like you always said. But he’s just another man on the run.” Then she shook her head and got back up to force down a bite of muffin.

Especially when Ma emitted a long drowned out
hmmmmmmmmm
.

“I mean, he was raised by vagabonds and doesn’t want to settle down anywhere and is heading to Uzbekistan, and his parents aren’t even married. He just isn’t Hearts Crossing material.”

Ma rose to gather her close again. “Every child of God is Hearts Crossing material in some way. Now about those sparkles. Don’t discount ‘em. It’s something in the Martin makeup, I think.”

Kelley groaned. “
It happened quick, but it happened real
.”

“That’s right. Kenn proposed to Christy in barely two days. And Hoop, well, he said he knew for sure seeing Mallie the first time.”

Kelley considered. She hadn’t felt any instant sparks upon meeting Ned, and look where that had gotten her. Four-and-a-half wasted years. But Ma kept on.

“Why, I first laid eyes on Alex Kennedy and I knew. But there was so much going on. Your Grim-Gram was sick, and my pa had just died leaving a money mess ‘bout the same size as Texas. The bankruptcy wolves were howling at the barn door. But I knew if I didn’t get Alex to stay, he’d be gone. And I’d regret it every day.” She bestowed on Kelley a bright glare and drew them both back down on a chair. “I was pushing thirty, same as you. I took my chance, and it was the best thing I’ve ever done. Because deep down,” Ma’s voice lowered dramatically, “Alex didn’t really want to go. I just made him realize it for sure.”

Against her mother, Kelley nestled safe, secure, while she digested the oft-heard story one more time. This morning, however, its significance raged. Ma had put herself through college and worked her fingers to the bone at the ranch for years before letting her heart speak to her. Before she’d refused to let her man get away.

“All couples have baggage,” Ma drawled gently, “to unpack and put away proper.”

“We are not a couple.”

“All I know is, don’t discount those sparkles, girl. I speak from experience.”

Kelley sniffed deep through her nose to stop the tears. Sparkles and butterfly kisses. What was she even thinking? Jason wasn’t Alex Kennedy, willing to change his address and his name or M.O. for the woman he loved. But the tears didn’t halt this time, and it wasn’t just Jason. It was simply time to let loose.

“What else is it, sweetheart? I’ve been sensing something heavy on your shoulders.”

Kelley buried her face in Ma’s substantial shoulder. “Somehow God seems too far away right now, you know.”

“Matter of fact, I do know. That’s when He draws you closer.” As if to demonstrate, Ma gave her a squeeze, but her voice turned tender with uncanny understanding. “It isn’t all Jason, though, is it?

Kelley hung her head and let the tears flow. “No, Ma. It’s the restaurant. To put it plain, Vegeterra is a failure. When my lease is up in August, I don’t think I can afford to renew it.”

“Now, that restaurant is your baby.” Ma’s hand stopped rubbing Kelley’s head. “I know Hooper will agree we can scrounge things around to front you some help-money.”

“No, Ma. My ‘baby’ has been a losing proposition from the get-go.”

“Money-wise that’s how babies are,” Ma chuckled as if to lighten the moment. “It’s a beautiful atmosphere, and your food is delicious.”

Even in her misery, Kelley felt a nice warmth. Compliments from Ma were high praise indeed considering her own legendary cooking skills and her unspoken disinclination for vegetarian fare.

Kelley coughed a damp giggle. “I know you’re right. But people don’t come in to find out! I’m at the far end of town, so passersby hit other establishments first. And coming down from the mountains, well, they hurry on by to get somewhere else. I thought I had it figured out, but Ma, I didn’t, after all.”

For a long moment, Ma stroked Kelley’s head again like she was a child again. “That sounds a lot like real life,” she pronounced. “And it’s sure not like you to give up. Fight for what you want. That’s when you turn to God for strength.” Her mother fell quiet for a minute as she always did, waiting for the Lord to lead her, which He always did. “It’s Proverbs twenty-two, I think. ‘Apply your heart to my knowledge…so that your trust may be in the Lord.’ Understand? It’s a new day, sweetheart. Our lives seem to be a mix-up of negative and positive ‘surprises.’”

“That’s for sure,” Kelley grumbled even as she treasured her soft, warm perch

“So it helps,” Ma went on, “to have a fresh encounter with God’s Word each day as we prepare to walk into those fresh new hours of life He has given us. And throughout the day, turn our hearts and minds back to Him, no matter how busy, how fretful things get.”

Kelley had been raised on such advice and knew it deep down, needed to hear it, but when all was said and done, it was too hard right now to do. She had twenty-three tourists to feed…and Jason to face for the next three days. With another quick kiss on the cheek, she rose. “Thanks, Ma. I’m sorry to unload on you. I wanted you to be proud of me.”

“I am always and ever proud of you, Kelley.” Ma’s voice bore a tone of shock. “Don’t ever doubt me. Yourself. Or our Father. Lean on Him.”

“OK.” Kelley ran a finger down her ma’s soft, suntanned cheek. “I better get showered and ready.”

“Oh, and Kelley. Don’t forget to keep the Colemans in your thoughts and prayers. Daisy and Roberta Lewis will take over the café until Oz and Peg can get back here.”

“How are Eric and Sophie?” Kelley’s fingers tightened at the reminder other loved ones had problems far worse than hers.

Ma shook her head. “Sophie’s pulling through okay, but Eric’s in intensive care. I have faith that God will provide.”

“You always do, Ma.”

“And He always does.” Ma’s eyebrows rose once more as if daring Kelley to contradict.

****

Yep, Jason Easterday had been all around the world, but those covered wagons billowing in the morning breeze started chills racing up and down his spine. Nothing like the American West. Like it took no effort at all, Scott Martin led a team of gleaming black Percherons to the chuck wagon and hitched them up, and with his example, Jason followed suit with the second team, “Pip” and “Estella.”

“They work in pairs,” Scott explained, “and the first name mentioned is always the horse on the left.”

“They’re grand,” Jason said, realizing at once the weakness of his adjective. “Make that glorious. Magnificent.”

Scott nodded. “Pretty awesome. We’ll be pulling out about ten. You riding the wagons or going on horseback?”

“Riding Zee, I think.” In a perfect world, he’d be sitting next to Kelley on the chuck wagon, but that wasn’t gonna happen.

“Well, we’re sure glad you can join us this trip. And wait ‘til you taste Kelley’s lunch.”

Ah, Kelley. Rather than stew over her now as he’d done since midnight, Jason did the raised-chin salute at the group of wide-eyed tourists and tried to act like he really belonged here. Likely he still had time to back out. But he couldn’t. Not if Kelley was going along. Like a moth heading straight for the candle flame, he couldn’t resist the bright heat at her side.

Scott hurried on to another chore, leaving Jason still standing in awe. A kid about ten dashed up to him, waggling a Hearts Crossing Ranch brochure. “So you’re a Martin, right? Which one are you? Hooper? Kennedy? Pike, Scott…Bragg.” His huge smile exposed missing teeth shadowed by the brim of a pristine felt cowboy hat. Likely it had been bought minutes ago at the Hearts Crossing gift shop run by Daisy’s mom. “I know you’re not one of the girls.” He howled.

“Nope. I’m a wrangler. Not family.” For some reason, saying the last two words kind of hurt. It would have been nice growing up with folks like this, with your own roots, your own land. Folks who loved you and stuck with you no matter what. He pointed out some of the brothers as the kid laid his finger on faces on the glossy paper.

“That’s Hooper, our wagon master,” he told the kid. “Kennedy, nope. He’s not here this time around. He’s teaching summer school. Scott…he’s a cowboy and web-designer both. He’ll be coming along.”

“Cool.” The kid’s eyes actually sparkled. “Computer and cowboy. Awesome.”

Jason grinned at him and babbled on about Scott and Pike and Bragg, surprised how well he knew the Martin men after these few months, how they’d taken him into the fold, made him a friend. Something he’d rarely done elsewhere, stuck around, that is, to maintain the friendships he’d made.

“Guess you could say I’m a family friend.” Those words hurt too in a way, because that’s all Kelley wanted him to be.

Knife in the heart…

“Who’s that girl?” The kid asked, pointing at her mini-pic.

“Their sister, Kelley.” Jason pointed over at the chuck wagon, his heart jumping a hundred times before he could talk again. “I hear tell she’s a mighty good cook. Who are you?”

“Rhys.”

“Well, howdy, Rhys. I’m Jason.” He touched two fingers to his brim. “There’s a dog, too!” the boy shouted and ran after Bryce.

Well, Jason couldn’t stop himself from seeking out Kelley. Like invisible ropes pulled him, he headed to the chuck wagon all hitched and ready to go. Alternately feeling like a man off to his execution and a man in love.

He stopped in his tracks so quick his Stetson bobbled. In case anybody was watching, meaning Kelley of course, he got to his knees and pretended he’d dropped something in the dirt.
In love
?

Attraction was all. Settling down, he righted himself and plastered a fake grin on his face, but started a dumb tremble as her smile covered him like a warm sunrise.

“Hey, cowboy. Wanna ride with me? I could use some company,” she called down from the seat.

All she did was offer friendship. He read her eyes right as rain and saw no romantic ending. But he better not. His head had just told him he was in love. He didn’t dare let his heart in on the scoop.

Then he remembered the moth-flame cliché and knew he didn’t stand a chance at refusing.

“I guess so.” He ambled on over. At least he could discuss the draft horses faintly intelligently after his recent conversation with her brother. “But I think I already promised Zee.”

Let her beg for his company.

“Stepping out on me, huh?” Kelley smiled, and he promised himself he saw a flicker in those green-speckled eyes. So he gathered up his courage and stared her down. Even with the din surrounding them, he lowered his voice. Maybe so she wouldn’t hear after all.

“Kelley, I think there’s a place in your heart where nobody’s been. I’d like to be there.”

Although her eyes widened in surprise, maybe shock, she didn’t turn away. Those green flecks danced up and down him, but courage rather than discomfort flared. At least she wasn’t indifferent to him.

“But you won’t stay. Maybe that’s why I keep the door closed.” Finally she glanced down at her hands clasping the driving reins. “Now, you going to clamber on up or what?”

Why not?

“I’m clambering.” Hopping up took no effort at all. Atop the early breeze full of ranch scent and dewdrop, her perfume filled him, and he couldn’t get enough of it.

“Wow. You smell good.”