Her Hometown Hero (7 page)

Behind the barn she prepared Cinnamon for their ride, then stepped up on the mounting block. With more graceful ease this time, she seated herself in the saddle, letting her left leg dangle while her right foot was in the stirrup. She was getting used to the change and so was her horse, but if she stayed, she would investigate a better prosthetic leg for riding.

She headed out and set Cinnamon in a walk. Her thoughts drifted back to the past few days. She hadn’t gone to church. When her family left without her, she actually regretted the decision. At first that surprised her because she rarely attended in New York, but then Nate’s words from Saturday came back and stuck in her mind.

God has a plan for you. Trust Him. He’s in control.

She’d never been able to give that kind of control over to anyone, even the Lord, and now that she realized it, she must not trust Him like she’d always thought she did. That, too, startled her. Had she been merely going through the motions of believing, without really putting her whole heart into it?

When she reached the stony ridge, she stared up at the sixty-degree climb over rocks to the top. It was higher than she remembered and the terrain wasn’t as easy to scale. But she was determined to make it to the top. She wasn’t going to let the loss of her leg take away everything she loved.

After dismounting Cinnamon, she tied her to a scrub oak nearby, making sure there was shade and grass to eat. Then with her water bottle, she started up the slope—gently at first. As she planted her prosthetic leg in a pebbly patch of ground, she shifted her weight to that limb and brought her right one up, holding on to a boulder near her. Her left foot began sliding down the incline, but as she tried to adjust her balance and keep herself upright, she went down, her body slipping down the ridge.

* * *

“You’re early. I thought you weren’t coming to pick up Kit for another hour or so,” Howard said while exiting the barn.

Nate shrugged and hopped down from his truck. “I was out this way on a call and decided to come by a little earlier rather than go into Cimarron City, then turn around and come back. A waste of gas.”

Howard wiped his kerchief along his nape. “Sure, you keep telling yourself that.”

“You’re reading more into this than you should. I’m simply early to take Kit to pick up Lexie. Is she at the cabin?”

“Nope.” Kit’s brother removed his cowboy hat and tapped it against his leg, dust flying.

“Where is she?”

“You just missed her by fifteen minutes. She decided to go for a short ride.”

“Which way?”

Howard pointed down the gravel road that led to the hilly part of the ranch.

Nate knew where Kit was headed. Her favorite place. “That’s where the ridge is. Do you think she should climb it by herself?”

“She didn’t mention she was.”

“You know your sister. That’s her thinking place on the ranch.”

Howard sighed. “I know. But how was I supposed to stop her? I wanted to give her a little alone time. Do you really think she’ll try that climb?”

In his gut he knew it. “Yes.”

“I’ll give her a little time, then ride out if she’s not back.”

“Let me ride out and check on her.” Nate’s stomach churned. “Now.”

“You might face her wrath for disturbing her. As you said, it’s her special place.”

“That’s okay. It won’t be the first time—being there or facing her wrath.”

Howard turned back into the barn. “Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You can take Dynamite.”

Five minutes later, Nate set out in a canter toward the ridge, the whole way trying to figure out how he was going to explain his appearance. Off in the distance he zeroed in on Kit halfway up the steep hill, struggling with her footing. The sick feeling in his gut spread. He spurred Dynamite into a run.

When he arrived at the bottom where Cinnamon was tied, he quickly secured his mount to a small tree nearby, then hurried to catch up with Kit. Both feet suddenly went out from under her. Kit grabbed at a shrub as she slid on her stomach down the ridge.

It seemed as though his breathing and heartbeat stopped for a second.

As she halted her downward plunge, hanging on to a bush, he yelled, “Stay still. I’ll be there to help in a few minutes.” He hastened his steps, almost falling himself while he kept his eyes on Kit rather than on the ground he was covering.

She hoisted herself up toward the shrub, then sat and turned to watch him. Nate increased his speed before she could change her mind and decide to continue to the top.

“Until now I never thought how challenging this climb was,” she said to him.

When he looked at her again, he noticed the dust and dirt on her front, on her face. “How many times did you fall?”

Kit lifted her chin. “Three, but I’m over halfway to the top of the ridge.”

“How many times do you have to fall before giving up?”

“Never. I’m going to go up there if I have to drag myself.”

The elegant set to her head reminded him of when she danced—her body moving in a graceful, fluid motion that belied the strength, discipline and determination behind it. That same determination was driving her to make it up the ridge, and he found he couldn’t refuse her. If he had to carry her, she would go to the top.

When he arrived and offered her his hand, his breathing came out shallow and the beating of his heart raced. His stomach had settled, but barely.

“Out of practice, too?” She grasped it and hoisted herself to a standing position.

“Running up a hill isn’t usually what I do, so yes, I’m out of practice.”

She rotated carefully, using him to stabilize herself. “Why are you here?”

“I thought I would enjoy the view. It’s been a long time since I’ve been up here.”

“I can do this myself,” she said, removing her hand from his upper arm and continuing her trek.

“I know and you will, but since I’m here, I hope you will let me stay.”

She wobbled on her next step and quickly clutched him again. “If it hadn’t been you, I’m sure Howard would have ridden out here.”

With his arm around her, he assisted her upward. “Yep. See? I saved you from your brother.”

“Who’s going to save me from you?” Releasing her hold on him, she crested the top, a step ahead of him, and paused to take in the view.

“No one. You’re stuck with me.” He came over the rise and scanned the ranch stretching out below. Most of the trees had leaves on them so green they blanketed the area. “I’d forgotten how beautiful it is up here.” Then he shifted toward her. “But you’ll have to change before going to Caring Canines.” He plucked a small twig out of her hair.

She peered at her dust-smeared jeans and T-shirt and laughed. “I can’t let Howard see me.”

“You can stop at your cabin and change. I’ll lead Cinnamon and take care of both horses while you get dressed—again.”

“Am I going to hear about this?”

“No, ma’am.” He tipped the brim of his cowboy hat. “As soon as I know you can climb this without any problem. Please don’t climb until you can handle it with ease.”

“You’re blackmailing me?”

“That’s harsh. I consider myself watching out for you.”

She sat on a large stone. “For your information, I’m coming up here whenever I want, and soon I will be able to climb this ridge without falling or needing any assistance. I’m not letting the loss of my leg change that.”

He clapped. “Bravo. It’s about time I see that fighting spirit.”

She harrumphed. “Now be quiet while I mellow out.”

“Don’t mellow too long. We need to pick up Lexie.”

She took a look at him with a twinkle in her eyes and began laughing. He would never get tired of that sound.

* * *

When Kathleen entered Caring Canines, Madi sat on the floor tossing a ball for Lexie to chase and retrieve.

The young girl grinned at Kathleen. “She loves to do this. I get tired of it before she does.”

Nate came up behind Kathleen as she replied, “I appreciate the tip. Any others?”

Emma came from the back of the building in time to answer. “She hates to be brushed but loves to be scratched on her belly. Actually all over.”

Madi hopped to her feet. “Cottonballs loves me to brush her. If she didn’t, we’d have a problem. Her hair mats easily.” She hooked Lexie’s leash on, then brought her over to Kathleen.

“Thanks for the heads-up. My other poodle enjoyed being brushed.” Kathleen took the leash, realizing she was making a commitment to having Lexie when she still wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. What if she went back to New York? Howard had said he would take ownership if she decided to leave, but once she got attached to the dog, Kathleen knew she probably wouldn’t want to say goodbye, which would mean taking Lexie with her. Pets were common in the city, but it was more time-consuming to take care of them there because they would have to be walked. And still in the back of her mind she didn’t know if she should take on another commitment with her life so up in the air.

Lexie rubbed against Kathleen’s right leg. She bent over and scooped the poodle up into her arms. The dog felt right cuddled against her chest.

“Thanks, Emma,” Nate said next to Kathleen.

She peered at the trainer. “Yes, I appreciate you taking the time. I...” Tears filled her eyes, and she swiped at her cheeks while hugging Lexie to her. “I’ll do my best,” she said in a shaky whisper, then pivoted and hurried toward the door, wet tracks running unabated down her face.

Chapter Seven

O
ut in the warm spring evening with not a cloud in the sky, Kathleen halted at Nate’s truck and lifted Lexie to snuggle against her cheek. “I cry so easily these days. This isn’t me, girl.” The poodle licked a tear from her face, her tongue tickling Kathleen. She chuckled. “You do know how to cheer someone up.”

“Is something wrong?” Nate’s deep voice sounded behind Kathleen.

She swept around. “No. Yes. I guess it has to be if I’m crying. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. So not like me. My emotions have swung from one extreme to another ever since I returned to Cimarron City. They say you can’t go home.”

“True only in the sense it will never be like it was. Everything changes over time. But there is still plenty to return to.”

“Should I go back inside and say something to Emma and Madi?”

“No, I told them you were happy about Lexie.”

“If I tell you I am, you’re going to be so smug your plan worked that your head is going to swell, and you won’t be able to wear your cowboy hat.”

“I’ll get a bigger size.” He took Lexie from her arms so she could climb into the cab, and then he gave her the poodle. “Emma told me she eats in the morning so you don’t have to worry about it tonight.”

When Nate rounded the Silverado and sat behind the steering wheel, Kathleen said, “Beth and I went shopping this morning for supplies for Lexie. I also got some more groceries. I didn’t want to always have to go up to the house to eat. How about staying for a supper? Nothing fancy.”

“Sounds nice.” He slanted a look at her. “You clean up good after that dust bath you took on the ridge.”

She shrugged. “What’s a little dirt when I’m proving a point?”

“What point?”

“There may be changes in my life, but I refuse to allow everything to change. I’m more comfortable in the saddle now that I’ve been riding every day. I’m not giving up my favorite place on the ranch. You’ve got to admit it’s beautiful up there.” Kathleen stroked Lexie lying in her lap, the action calming, soothing a restlessness in her.

“I see the lure.”

“The past few days has shown me I need to see about getting another prosthetic leg. The one I have is for living in New York City and walking around there. I’ve been researching about riding and other more active exercises with a prosthetic leg. There’s a different model that’s a better option, although I’ve adapted for what I have. I want to be able to make it to the top of the ridge.” Today halfway up the hill she’d realized she had to prove something to herself. “By myself.”

“You’ll be able to. In the short time you’ve been back at home I’ve already seen changes. Your fighting spirit is coming back in full force.” Nate drove through the Soaring S gate. “Maybe coming to the ranch has broken the cycle you were in.”

“Maybe.” Had it started when she’d told Nate, then her niece and nephew about her amputated leg? Maybe that had helped her truly grasp what her life was now. But understanding the truth—even accepting it—didn’t make it any easier to live with it. Especially when she still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life.

“Keeping busy will help you. You’ve always been so active. It can’t be easy having to take it slow recovering from the accident and surgery.” Nate pulled up to the cabin and switched off the engine.

“That’s what I’ve been thinking lately. I’m going to see Madame Zoe at the auditions for the academy. If she still wants me to help, even if it isn’t teaching a class, I think I will, especially if Carrie gets in.” Was there really a chance that she could stay in the dance world, in a small way? She hoped so, but she couldn’t be sure. Not yet.

“And if she doesn’t?”

As Kathleen opened the passenger door, she smiled back at him. “She’s good for her age. I’m going to think positive and help her in the evenings this week.”

Inside the cabin Kathleen cradled Lexie next to her cheek. “This is your new home. Later I’ll show you some of the ranch.”

She put the poodle on the floor, and Lexie began sniffing around the living room, then made her way into the kitchen and finally the back of the house.

Nate stood behind Kathleen, his hands on her shoulders, kneading the tension that knotted her muscles. “She’s going to love it here.”

As Nate’s fingers worked the stress from her, the sight of Lexie trotting back into the living room and making a beeline for her gave her a sense of calm and peace she hadn’t had in a long while—even before the accident. She didn’t let herself wonder why.

* * *

“That turkey-and-Swiss sandwich sure hit the spot.” Nate finished off his iced tea, then stood and grabbed their plates to take to the sink.

“You must be easy to please. There wasn’t much to it. Slap a few ingredients between two pieces of bread.” Kit followed him into the kitchen off the living area.

Nate started to rinse the dishes, but Kit clasped his arm to still his movements. Her touch zipped through him, reminding him of what they used to have.

She tugged him away from the sink. “You’re my guest. What kind of hostess would I be if I let you clean up?”

“A smart one.”

Her eyes gleaming, she pulled him toward the living room. “I think I’m being insulted.”

“In that case, I’m not saying another word. I want you to invite me back for dinner.”

“Do you cook for yourself?” Kit gently shoved him down onto the couch and then took the other end of the sofa.

“Yes. Sometimes I experiment with gourmet recipes. Sometimes they work, sometimes not.”

She chuckled. “I don’t do fancy at all. I was hardly at my apartment in New York between performances, rehearsals and dance classes. That’s why as I’m getting my energy back, I’m going crazy doing nothing. Riding once a day and having an occasional cooking lesson from Beth aren’t enough.” Lexie hopped onto the couch and settled down next to Kit, who laid her hand on the poodle and absently scratched her behind the ears.

“Speaking of something to do. I’d like the entertainment committee to get together Saturday morning at the church at nine. I can change it to another time if that interferes with the auditions.”

“No, actually that will work. The auditions start at one. I’ve been thinking of a couple of things we could do. But I want to talk to Howard first to see if it’s possible.”

“Possible? What are you thinking about doing?”

“The perfect place to have this shindig is the old barn. We could make changes, even put up a stage for the Western show, and it won’t interfere with the running of the ranch. For the show, I was imagining something that could showcase the teens’ talents. For instance some of them could do a couple of scenes from
Oklahoma.
”

“Remember when you played the lead in high school?” Watching her perform had emphasized to Nate how important it was for Kit to pursue her career on stage. Until then he’d never realized how emotionally expressive she was with her body.

“That’s what gave me the idea. The last act can perform the song ‘Oklahoma’
and I can choreograph a dance. It’s our state song so it seems appropriate.”

Our
state song. As though she identified with this place. There was a time he didn’t think she did. All she wanted was to leave and seek her career, especially in New York. “We’ll talk about it on Saturday. I can pick you up and make sure you get to the auditions afterward.”

“That would be great. Beth and Howard are going to the auditions so I can catch a ride home with them. But that reminds me, if I’m staying at least through summer, I’m going to have to work out transportation. My brother doesn’t know it, but he’s going to loan me his automatic pickup while he uses the standard one.”

“Maybe I should warn him.”

Kit nudged him in the arm with her elbow. “If he knows about it beforehand, I’ll know who leaked the info. Besides, I’m not 100 percent sure I’ll be asking him. It depends on how long I end up staying. I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do so I’m not going to do anything right away. That seems to be the story of my life lately.”

He wasn’t going to let her go down the “poor me” path if he could prevent it. He pushed off the couch and held out his hand for her to take. “Let’s walk Lexie and introduce her to the Soaring S.”

The poodle perked up when her name was mentioned, and she stood up on the cushion.

“I’ll get her leash. I hope after she gets familiar with the area she won’t have to use one while we’re here at the ranch.” Kit allowed him to draw her to her feet, only inches separating them.

His heartbeat kicked up a notch. His gaze fixed on her lips, and all he could think about was kissing her. He moved away before he acted on that thought. That would take them in a direction they shouldn’t go. Kit needed to figure out what she wanted. He did, too.

After Kit secured the leash on Lexie, Nate held the door open and waited for them to go out onto the porch. When he came up beside Kit on the sidewalk that led to the gravel road, the darkness of evening shadowed her expression. The night surrounded them, the breeze light and warm. The scent of animals nearby drifted to Nate, mixing with the honeysuckle and roses along the front of the house that perfumed the spring air. Stars littered the black sky and a sliver of the moon reflected little light for them to use on their trek.

“I’ll get a flashlight out of the truck in case we need it.” Nate hurried and retrieved it from the glove compartment, then jogged back to her side.

“I’d like to walk away from the main house and barn. We can investigate where I think the shindig should be.” Kit waved her arm toward the ranch’s gravel road that dead-ended at an older barn used for storage.

While Kit held the leash with one hand, Nate took her other one. In the darkness, even with the flashlight illuminating their immediate path, he didn’t want her to stumble. That was the only reason he clasped her hand.

Yeah, right.
He’d missed this closeness with a woman. After he and Kit broke up, he’d thrown himself into the college scene, even dated and became engaged. But he and Rebecca had both realized he’d been on the rebound and it wouldn’t work for them. That was when he threw himself into his studies, quit football and finished college early.

At that point, everything had revolved around getting his degree and starting a practice. So he guessed that Kit and he weren’t so different after all. He loved his work and didn’t know how he would handle it if he lost a chance to be a vet. When he thought of it that way, he could partially put himself in Kit’s shoes and realize how difficult this adjustment was for her. He would support her, but if he fell for her, he was only setting himself up to be hurt again.

* * *

Nate arrived at the church with Kit early Saturday for the scheduled meeting with the other members of the entertainment committee. There were five teens, Kit and him. As he suspected, Steven had come early, too.

“I need to talk to Steven. It won’t take long,” Nate said in a low voice close to Kit’s ear.

“Fine. There’s Debra and Anna. I’ll keep them company. I want to see if Anna is ready today for the audition.”

As Nate strode toward Steven, the teen moved farther away from the kids coming into the rec room until he ended up in the corner with nowhere else to go.

Nate studied Steven’s face—the edgy mannerisms from biting his fingernails to the jitters. “I can tell something is wrong. What happened?”

“Dad and me...” Steven sucked in a deep breath “...we had the biggest fight. Ever. I left. My friend said I can stay with him. I can’t go back home.”

“What did you fight about?”

“What do you think? What we’ve fought about this whole last year. I finally did something about it. Yesterday, I told my coach I wouldn’t play football next year. Dad got a call from Coach this morning. I know you probably don’t understand, but I hate the game my father loves.”

Nate felt transported back seven years ago when he had said the same thing to his own father. But the argument had taken a different direction then. Nate’s father had seen football as a means to an end—paying the way for Nate’s future. They just didn’t have the same view of his future. In the end Nate was able to finish college without the football scholarship, which had gone a long way to mend fences between him and his father. “I’ve been in your shoes, Steven.”

“When you played football for Cimarron High School?”

“No, I was on board with playing football in high school, not because I loved the game—although I did—but because it was my way to college. But there came a time it began to stand in my way of what I wanted to do for my future. My dad didn’t understand how I could walk away from a free-ride scholarship.”

“You did that?”

Nate nodded. “I couldn’t devote enough time and energy to my studies, and they were suffering. I wanted to get into veterinary school and that meant my grades had to be really good, not just passing.” Like Kit he couldn’t give his classes the focus he needed to do well because so much time had been spent involved with football. At the time Kit broke up with him, he hadn’t understood that when she’d told him. Now he did. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right thing to do. Eventually my dad began to see my view.”

“I don’t think mine will ever understand.”

“Give him time and talk to him again.”

Steven’s frown carved deep lines in his forehead. “I told him we could enjoy the game together as spectators, but he was still mad at me.”

“He still needs time to adjust to the change. A lot of people react negatively to change.” Kit popped into his thoughts. She was in that place now. He prayed time would help her adjust to her new life.

“My dad and me have always been close. But lately...” Steven snapped his mouth shut, a nerve twitching in his jawline.

“My dad and I were close, too. Still are. My decision didn’t end that. Are you going to stay at your friend’s tonight?”

“Yeah. Mom thought it would be a good idea, and she will try and talk to Dad while I’m gone.”

“Sounds like a good plan.” Nate glanced over his shoulder at the other members of the committee seated and waiting on them to start. “If you need me, I’m there for you. Are you ready to meet with the others or do you need some time?”