inside.
“He’s going to be fine,” she said. “Thank you for waiting on me. I was so worried about Dad, I forgot about transportation issues and getting my kids from your brothers.”
“Oh,” Calhoun said uneasily. “Uh, you don’t need to get the kids tonight. Surely you need some rest.”
“I’m fine.” Olivia looked at him. “Can you drive me to them?”
“Sure. Would you care to get some clothes? An overnight bag?”
She stared at him. “Why?”
“Well, my brothers weren’t certain how long you’d be, and they thought the kids would be more comfortable at the ranch. After they ate a whopping big dinner at Delilah’s, complete with cake and icecream, my brothers took them to get some duds from your trailer, and then they headed out. Archer said the kids were pretty tired, and they fell asleep in the truck on the way to Union Junction.”
Her lips stayed parted with surprise. Calhoun mentally sighed, caught by yearning. “You’re angry,” he said. “I understand, but my brothers meant well. They thought Kenny and Minnie would enjoy the ranch. The dog, the horses, the pond, the swing in the back garden. They’re going to fix pancakes in the morning. They didn’t want them worrying about their grandpa, and as you said yourself, they’re natural worriers.”
Olivia didn’t know what to say. She was touched, she was concerned and she was annoyed. “They’ve never been away from me before,” she said, voicing her first thought. “They’ll be scared.”
“They weren’t too scared to pass out in the truck. Archer said Miss Delilah fussed over them like mad, and her boyfriend, Jerry, gave them a tour of his eighteen-wheeler. They really liked that. He’s got it pretty tricked out. Then my brothers decided, since they hadn’t heard from us, maybe they’d better get the kids in bed. Delilah said they could stay there, but we’re so shorthanded at the ranch, Archer said they’d best get on.”
She decided to shut off her worry valve for tonight. “Thank you,” Olivia said simply. “Thank you for caring so much. It’s been a very crazy day, and the kids will love being at your ranch. Your brothers are very kind.” Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty? Upset?”
“No. No. A little,” she murmured. “Dad’s going to be fine. A bit more stress than a man his age needs, the doctor said.” She sighed, opening her eyes again to look at him. “Calhoun, I’m sorry I said what I said to you earlier. I’m feeling defensive right now. And upset about Dad.”
“It’s fine. I understand all about family stress. Guess I better pull out of this drop-off zone.” He switched on the engine. “I’ve used up my welcome with the valet.” He waved at the man and pulled out of the drive. “So, when are you planning on visiting your dad again?”
“In the morning. Do you mind dropping me off at the trailer?”
“Happy to do it.”
Calhoun didn’t say another word. He turned on some soft country music. Olivia felt her eyelids drift closed. It had been such an unnerving day! She was so fortunate Calhoun hadn’t minded helping out.
If the doctor let her dad out of the hospital tomorrow, she was going to get her kids from Calhoun’s ranch, and they were heading home so Barley could rest. Her father would never admit it, but he was tired. Spirit tired. She’d seen it in his eyes as she’d washed the clown makeup from his face.
It was time to bring the curtain down on the act.
O LIVIA WAS SLEEPING so hard by the time he drove the short distance to the trailer that Calhoun couldn’tbear to awaken her. She’d wake up soon enough. Leaving the truck windows down, he parked outside the trailer and went to find Gypsy.
The horse whickered when she saw him.
“Oh, I know,” he told her. “Everything’s fine. Your master’s fine. Ornery and still spitting fire. Just not going to get as many opportunities to do it in the future. Your mama’s
“He’s going to be fine,” she said. “Thank you for waiting on me. I was so worried about Dad, I forgot about transportation issues and getting my kids from your brothers.”
“Oh,” Calhoun said uneasily. “Uh, you don’t need to get the kids tonight. Surely you need some rest.”
“I’m fine.” Olivia looked at him. “Can you drive me to them?”
“Sure. Would you care to get some clothes? An overnight bag?”
She stared at him. “Why?”
“Well, my brothers weren’t certain how long you’d be, and they thought the kids would be more comfortable at the ranch. After they ate a whopping big dinner at Delilah’s, complete with cake and icecream, my brothers took them to get some duds from your trailer, and then they headed out. Archer said the kids were pretty tired, and they fell asleep in the truck on the way to Union Junction.”
Her lips stayed parted with surprise. Calhoun mentally sighed, caught by yearning. “You’re angry,” he said. “I understand, but my brothers meant well. They thought Kenny and Minnie would enjoy the ranch. The dog, the horses, the pond, the swing in the back garden. They’re going to fix pancakes in the morning. They didn’t want them worrying about their grandpa, and as you said yourself, they’re natural worriers.”
Olivia didn’t know what to say. She was touched, she was concerned and she was annoyed. “They’ve never been away from me before,” she said, voicing her first thought. “They’ll be scared.”
“They weren’t too scared to pass out in the truck. Archer said Miss Delilah fussed over them like mad, and her boyfriend, Jerry, gave them a tour of his eighteen-wheeler. They really liked that. He’s got it pretty tricked out. Then my brothers decided, since they hadn’t heard from us, maybe they’d better get the kids in bed. Delilah said they could stay there, but we’re so shorthanded at the ranch, Archer said they’d best get on.”
She decided to shut off her worry valve for tonight. “Thank you,” Olivia said simply. “Thank you for caring so much. It’s been a very crazy day, and the kids will love being at your ranch. Your brothers are very kind.” Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty? Upset?”
“No. No. A little,” she murmured. “Dad’s going to be fine. A bit more stress than a man his age needs, the doctor said.” She sighed, opening her eyes again to look at him. “Calhoun, I’m sorry I said what I said to you earlier. I’m feeling defensive right now. And upset about Dad.”
“It’s fine. I understand all about family stress. Guess I better pull out of this drop-off zone.” He switched on the engine. “I’ve used up my welcome with the valet.” He waved at the man and pulled out of the drive. “So, when are you planning on visiting your dad again?”
“In the morning. Do you mind dropping me off at the trailer?”
“Happy to do it.”
Calhoun didn’t say another word. He turned on some soft country music. Olivia felt her eyelids drift closed. It had been such an unnerving day! She was so fortunate Calhoun hadn’t minded helping out.
If the doctor let her dad out of the hospital tomorrow, she was going to get her kids from Calhoun’s ranch, and they were heading home so Barley could rest. Her father would never admit it, but he was tired. Spirit tired. She’d seen it in his eyes as she’d washed the clown makeup from his face.
It was time to bring the curtain down on the act.
O LIVIA WAS SLEEPING so hard by the time he drove the short distance to the trailer that Calhoun couldn’tbear to awaken her. She’d wake up soon enough. Leaving the truck windows down, he parked outside the trailer and went to find Gypsy.
The horse whickered when she saw him.
“Oh, I know,” he told her. “Everything’s fine. Your master’s fine. Ornery and still spitting fire. Just not going to get as many opportunities to do it in the future. Your mama’s
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