Home to Her Cowboy, page 21
“Of course they do.” Patsy stepped forward. “Is there anything we can do? Anything they need?”
He’d been asking himself that very thing for the last couple of hours. “Clifford’s taking the edge off all this for Archie—that boy loves the dog. But Eloise?” He chose his words with care. “She can’t seem to catch a break and she needs one.”
“Don’t you go underestimating that woman.” Martha shook her head. “She’s weathered fiercer storms than any of us.”
“I know she’s capable. I’m saying she shouldn’t have to go through this.” He paused then, looking Martha Zeigler in the eye. “There is something you can do. You can stop the talk. All of it. Nothing about Eloise, her kids, or her ex. At least, nothing juicy—or gossipy.”
One of Martha’s eyebrows rose. “And just how do you propose I go about that?”
“I don’t know, Miss Martha. But if there’s anyone that can do it, it’s you.” He sighed. “Eloise came here for a fresh start. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
“No, it’s not.” Martha Zeigler glanced at Patsy. “We’ll see what we can do, won’t we?”
Patsy nodded.
“Before we go, I have one question for you.” Martha was frowning. “Have you come to your senses yet? About this job? About leaving your home and family?” She nodded pointedly at the Green house.
Mike chuckled. “I’ve always admired how up-front you are, Miss Martha.”
“There is no point in wasting time.” She wagged a finger at him. “Are you going to answer me?”
He took a deep breath. “I’m considering my options.”
Martha Zeigler smiled. “Fine. Just know the best options are here in Garrison.” She patted his arm and nodded at Quincy’s house. “Like I said, no point in wasting time. Neither of you are getting any younger.” She sniffed. “Now, I promised Dwight I’d make him an apple pie for dessert and it’s not going to bake itself.” With a wave, she headed back to Patsy Monahan’s car. “Come on, Patsy.”
Mike managed to slip inside without waking Archie, but the recliner was empty. No Eloise. He tiptoed into the kitchen to find her making coffee. She’d turned the radio on low, the mournful strains of an eighties rock ballad filling the room.
“I can do that, El.”
She jumped, dropping the canister of ground coffee and spilling its contents all over the floor. “Oh, no.” She stared down at the mess.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You’re scary quiet.” She glanced at him, slightly accusatory. “I didn’t hear a thing.”
“I didn’t want to wake Archie.” He scanned the room. “Broom?”
“In the pantry.” She pointed behind him. “I was making us some coffee but...”
He smiled at her. “I appreciate the thought.”
Her answering smile was fragile. She gripped the kitchen counter behind her. Tension rolled off her in waves. “I can’t relax. I need to do something.”
He forgot about the broom. “How about a dance?”
“Dance? Here? In the kitchen?”
She didn’t argue when he took her hand in his. “Yep.” He placed his other hand against her back. “I don’t see why not.” He started dancing, guiding her effortlessly across the coffee-sprinkled floor. He liked the way she fit in his arms, the way they moved together with such ease.
“There’s coffee all over the floor.” She glanced down. “And we’re in my grandfather’s kitchen.”
“First, a lot of dance halls put down sawdust so people don’t slip. Coffee could do the same? Second, you can dance anywhere if the mood strikes you.” He steered her across the room, then circled back around. “We’ll clean it up. But this is a good song for dancing.” It was a cheesy song—the sort of song that would instantly make him change the station. But, somehow, he knew every word to it.
“It is?” She stared up at him. “I wasn’t listening.”
He spun her. Her startled laugh was all the encouragement he needed to keep right on dancing. “How’s the song go?” He stumbled over the lyrics, but he did try.
“Faithfully.” Eloise grinned. “You like this song? You listen to Journey?”
“I didn’t say I liked it.” He shook his head. “I said it was a good dancing song. It’s one of those songs everyone knows. An earworm.”
“True.” She nodded. “My mother loved Journey. She had all their albums. Vinyl records.”
Mike chuckled and spun her again.
When she laughed, her whole face lit up.
“You’re beautiful, El-Bell.” The words slipped out as a whisper but, holding her close this way, there was no chance she hadn’t heard. He was okay with it, though. She should know she’s beautiful.
She sighed. “You need to get your eyes checked, Mike Woodard.”
“I have twenty-twenty vision, Miss Green.” He shook his head. “That means my vision is perfect. If I say you’re beautiful, you are beautiful.”
“Maybe the coffee fumes are getting to you?” But she was smiling and there was a pink hue on her cheeks.
He’d made her blush? And it looked good on her. “Is that a thing?” He cocked his head to one side. “Pretty sure it’s not.”
“Whatever.” She grinned as he spun her twice. “Are you trying to make me dizzy?”
“No. I’m trying to make you smile. It’s good for you. When you smile, your brain releases endorphins and serotonin that make you feel good.” Where that random tidbit of knowledge had come from, he didn’t know. But it was true.
“You’re saying this is a medical treatment?” Her brows rose.
“Kirby did say I’m a doctor cowboy.” He shrugged. “So, as an official doctor cowboy, I’m prescribing at least one real smile a day. All you have to do is find something that makes you happy. Today, it’s dancing in the kitchen. Easy.”
“You know the song is over, don’t you?” But she didn’t stop swaying along with him or let him go.
He didn’t care about the music. At the moment, Eloise was in his arms and smiling up at him. She was right where she belonged. And, from the way her gaze dipped to his lips and she swayed into him, he thought—maybe—she was feeling the same way.
She stepped closer, her hands sliding up his chest to go around his neck.
He drew in a ragged breath and bent his head. Her lips were so soft, so warm, and clinging to his.
“Momma?” Archie stood in the kitchen door with Clifford sitting at his side. “What are you doing?”
“Archie.” She slipped out of his hold. “I—I dropped the coffee and...it spilled.”
Clifford’s nose was working overtime.
“Stay, Clifford.” Mike held out his hand for the dog. “The last thing you need is a bunch of caffeine in your system.”
Clifford groaned but lay down on the floor, sniffing the air.
Archie pushed up his glasses and looked back and forth between the two of them. “What were you and Mr. Mike doing?” He wasn’t upset so much as curious.
She shook her head but she was smiling. “Mike was trying to cheer me up with a dance.”
“Oh.” Archie sat in one of the kitchen chairs, staring at Mike with a stern frown. “It didn’t look like dancing.”
“I’ll clean this up,” Mike said, pulling the broom from the pantry.
“That’s nice. Can we take Clifford for a walk, Mr. Mike? Dr. Rowe said I should walk more and you said Clifford likes to take walks.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Eloise answered. “I’ll find my shoes—”
“Just me and Mr. Mike and Clifford.” Archie rested his elbows on the table. “For man-to-man talk time.”
Mike stopped sweeping and looked at the boy. It made sense that Archie had some things to discuss; he just hoped he was the right one the boy should talk to. He wasn’t a father. He didn’t have experience at this sort of thing. But, if Archie wanted him, he’d try. He could only hope he’d figure out the right things to say.
Eloise turned to him. “Do you mind?”
“Nope.” Mike finished sweeping the coffee grounds into the dustbin. “I think some man-to-man time is just what the doctor cowboy ordered.” He emptied the dustbin into the trash.
Eloise rolled her eyes. “Okay, then. Take it slowly, please. You’re still recovering, Archie. When you get back, I’ll make us some lunch.”
“Okay.” Archie climbed out of the chair. “Let’s go, Clifford.”
Clifford trotted after Archie, his tail wagging.
“Thank you,” she whispered. The smile she gave him had his heart tripping over itself.
They were halfway down the block before Archie said anything. And what he said wasn’t what Mike had been expecting.
“Mr. Mike, are you my mom’s boyfriend? Levi says you are and that I’m the man of the family and I’m supposed to decide whether you are a good boyfriend or not.” Archie frowned up at him.
Mike had nothing. He was speechless.
“Kirby thinks you’d be a good new daddy.” The boy shrugged. “And Clifford would be ours, too, and I’d like that.” The dog heard his name and trotted back to Archie’s side. “I think Clifford would like that. Wouldn’t you?”
Clifford wagged his tail.
“I think that means yes.” Archie smiled.
Mike was still pondering the whole “new daddy” comment.
“Grandpa Quincy says you’re moving. Does that mean we have to move, too? I like it here. Mostly.” He glanced up at him. “Dad’s here, too. I know he was in jail but he’s not a bad guy...” Archie stopped walking and looked up at him. “Is he a bad guy, Mr. Mike? Bad guys go to jail, don’t they? Not good guys.”
Mike was scrambling to keep up. He wasn’t going to speak for Ted or address Ted’s incarceration, but he respected Archie’s questions. Hopefully, Ted would, too. “I bet your father will tell you what you need to know.” He paused, then added, “It’s important to trust your instincts, too, Archie. You’ll know what’s best.”
“Okay. I know I’m supposed to be mad at Dad, but do I have to be mad at my mom, too? She was just keeping a promise to my dad. She didn’t want to lie.” Archie started walking, a little slower this time. “I don’t want to be mad at either of them.”
“Archie.” Mike rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “That’s up to you. You don’t have to be mad. But if you are, that’s okay, too. Today has been a lot. It’s okay to feel a lot. It’s okay to feel numb, too. Sometimes it takes time for our feelings to catch up.”
Archie nodded. “You know a lot about feeling things, Mr. Mike.”
“I do?” Mike chuckled. “More like I don’t mind talking about feeling things. It’s not easy, is it? To share what’s going on inside. Sometimes, it’s hard to find the right words to say how you’re feeling.”
Archie nodded again.
“When you find the words or want to talk, you’ve got me and your mom and dad and Grandpa Quincy to share with.”
He smiled up at Mike. “That’s a lot of people.”
“Yep. A lot of people love you.” He loved Archie. He loved Kirby. And he loved Eloise. If he had it his way, they’d be a family. All he had to do was get up the nerve to say as much to El-Bell. Miss Martha was right. Everything he wanted or needed was here. Eloise was at the top of his list.
“Clifford, too?” Archie patted the dog. “He loves me?”
“Clifford, too.”
“Can we go back, now?” He rested a hand on his stomach. “My tummy’s growling.”
Mike chuckled. “Well then, let’s go.” More importantly, he wanted to talk to Eloise. If she didn’t care for him the way he cared for her, he’d take the job. But if she did... If she did, he’d be the happiest man in Garrison, Texas.
“Mr. Mike.” He paused before they reached the front steps. When he spoke, there was an edge to his words. Fragile and desperate and even a little scared. “Levi said I’m supposed to decide about you and Momma... And I have. Dad broke Momma’s heart and they got divorced. Grandpa said you broke Momma’s heart so you can’t be her boyfriend. She should be with someone who won’t break her heart.” He frowned as he shook his head. “I know she’s pretty and nice and cuddles good, but you can’t have her. My instinct says no and you said to listen to that. I am. No more kissing and stuff.” He walked up the porch steps. “That’s my man-to-man talk.” He shrugged. “But you can be her friend. Ours, too. Okay?”
Mike stood there for a second, his happiness fading. Archie didn’t want him with Eloise. After everything that little boy had been through, how could Mike put his wants above Archie’s? Maybe, in time, Archie would come to see things differently? Maybe he wouldn’t. The only thing he knew was his heart was hurting something fierce when they stepped inside.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“STICK HORSE PRACTICE.” Eloise read over the flier Kirby had given her. They needed to have a practice for this?
“Yep. Samantha said there would be stick horses for all the kids—one for me and Archie, too. And we get to ride them down the street and wear a cowboy hat and say ‘yeehaw.’ That’s what real cowboys say.” Kirby took a deep breath. “Samantha said she’s going to do a dance, too. Can we go see her dance, Momma? Did you know Miss Gretta is a dance teacher?”
Eloise nodded. “I did.” She stuck the flier to the front of the refrigerator and went back to stirring the pasta on the stovetop.
“I want to go to dance school like I used to.” Kirby spun in the kitchen. “I like dancing.”
“Then you should go to Miss Gretta’s,” Grandpa Quincy said, helping Archie set the table. “I think that’s a fine idea.”
“Do I have to ride a stick horse?” Archie was not in the least enthused. “I’m too old.”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” Eloise smiled. “Besides, it might not be a good idea to jostle your stomach around.”
Archie stepped back, looked at the table, and counted the plates. “Yep. That’s five.”
“Me and Grandpa and Momma and you and Dad.” Kirby nodded. “When is Daddy going to be here?”
“Any time now.” Eloise checked the clock. If anyone had told her Ted would be sitting down to dinner with them, she’d have laughed. Now, it was happening.
Considering how rough the morning had gone, there’d been surprisingly little drama since Archie and Mike had returned from their walk. Mike had seemed a little distracted, but Archie had been in a great mood. Mike had been unexpectedly called in to the hospital, but he’d left Clifford to “watch over Archie” for him. Clifford was taking his duty seriously, trailing after Archie or Kirby wherever they went.
“Can Clifford have pasta?” Kirby asked, sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor beside the dog.
“I’m not so sure about that, Freckles. But Mr. Woodard is dropping by some food for him so he won’t be hungry.” Grandpa Quincy pulled the pitcher of iced tea from the fridge.
“I can’t believe we get to have a sleepover with Clifford,” Kirby squealed, then lowered her voice. “I can put bows in your hair tonight.”
The knock on the door sent Kirby running. “I’ll get it.”
Grandpa Quincy stood in the kitchen doorway to watch.
“Daddy.” Kirby’s voice carried down the hallway. “You’re here. Guess what. Mom’s making chicken fettucine ’cuz it’s my favorite. Guess what else? Clifford is having a sleepover ’cuz Mr. Mike had to go to the hospital so we get to babysit.”
“All that, huh?” There was a smile in Ted’s voice. “He must trust you and Archie a lot to put you in charge of his dog.”
“He does.” Kirby came skipping back down the hall. “It’s Daddy.”
“Eloise. Mr. Green.” He gave them both a warm smile. “Hey, Archie.”
Eloise held her breath as Archie turned to greet Ted.
“Hey, Dad.” Archie hugged him. “You look dressed up.”
“I came from work.” Ted gave him a big hug. “It was a good day.”
“A job?” Kirby frowned. “Here or far away somewhere?”
“Here.” Ted smiled. “I’m staying right here.”
“Oh goody.” Kirby went back to Clifford. “Did you hear that, Clifford?”
Clifford wagged his tail.
“Dad wasn’t gone because of work, Kirby.” Archie sat on the other side of Clifford. “He was in jail.”
Kirby frowned at Archie. “Are you sure?”
“Yep.” Archie nodded.
“Is he right?” Kirby asked Ted.
“Well...” Ted cleared his throat. “Yes, he is.”
“Oh.” Kirby kept on frowning but didn’t say anything else.
“Are you a bad guy, Dad?” Archie’s question flooded the room with tension. “I was talking to Mr. Mike and he said you’d tell me what I needed to know. He said I should trust my...instincts. He also said it was okay if I wasn’t mad at you or to be mad and sad. He said I could feel all of it.”
Ted smiled. “He’s right.”
“He knows lots about feelings and emotions and stuff.” Archie shrugged. “Are you a bad guy, though?”
For a minute, Eloise thought he’d run. There was a look of total panic on his face. Then, he took a deep breath.
“I did some bad things,” he managed.
“Did you wear a mask and have a gun?” Kirby’s frown grew. “Did you hurt people?”
An odd strangled sound escaped Ted. “No, Freckles. I’ve never held a gun in my life. The only masks I’ve worn have been on Halloween.”
Eloise couldn’t blame him for avoiding the last question. It was the most complicated of them all. Had he physically hurt anyone? Hopefully, no. But by taking away people’s retirement or education funds, he’d taken people’s choices and plans away. Eloise knew firsthand how much that hurt.
