A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885) (3 page)

“Yes. It was a closed, private adoption. I signed a bunch of papers. I was given the picture of my son and his birth parents, but nothing more. I promised the lawyer, Paige, that I’d never attempt to contact the parents. It all happened right after he was born, and I was in a fog—worse than normal.” Her voice grew raspy. “Knowing what I do now, I think they gave me more money than they should have. Of course, I promptly squandered it on drugs. It’s been almost nine years, and the first three of those are like a nightmare sequence. . . . I can’t even remember everywhere I lived up until I returned home.” Her voice had weakened during their conversation. “D-man. . .I don’t think I have much time left.”

“I won’t let you down, sis.” Derrick released a jagged breath. “You take care, okay?”

“I will. And I’m praying God will guide you in the direction you need to go. I’m just so glad this all worked out the way it did with you having business in Walla Walla.”

Derrick swallowed hard and severed their connection. He couldn’t even be totally truthful with his sister. Would his newly found Savior bless his overall efforts, despite what he had to do to get there?

God, please forgive me.

❧

Allie sat in formation with the women’s club members. A hot, brisk breeze blew against her face and moved the skirts of her pioneer costume. She felt baked in the sun. A good thing she’d remembered to slather on sunscreen this morning. The leader of the group told her they’d be riding in a perfect diamond formation, with Allie at the back point of the diamond and the rest of the group in front of her.

The parade began, led by the local VFW. Behind that was a float ordered by Philip to be built by the historical society, complete with a papier-mâché replica of an onion and a huge banner bearing the town’s name. Several members of the historical society were on board, dressed in overalls and jeans, holding garden tools. The mayor trailed in a blue convertible, followed by two cars filled with town dignitaries.

Although Chester walked quietly, she sensed the Thoroughbred’s tension. Allie relaxed her position, heels down, back straight, hands resting lightly on the saddle horn.

From the side of her eye, she thought she caught a glimpse of Derrick, the pirate. Then the folks on the float in front of her brought out a banner. As it unfurled, Chester danced a few nervous steps. She leaned and spoke to him gently while stroking his neck.

The banner snapped in the wind, the white material undulating like a wave of water. Chester reared, eyes wide with fright. The women gave her wide berth. The leader of the group was hollering, which only added to Chester’s discomfort.

Heart beating wildly, Allie fought to control the horse. She finally got all four hooves back on the pavement and took a breath.

The banner snapped again, and the panicked animal squealed.

“Chester!” Allie screamed. His hooves slid on the pavement. He was about to fall. She loosened the reins. Chester reared, ears back, eyes rimmed white.

Allie weighed her options while Chester snorted and danced. She could ride the crazy Thoroughbred through the streets of Walla Walla until he threw her or slipped on the pavement and fell, possibly crushing her. Or she could try to jump from his back now, risking broken bones or—

Chester’s muscles tensed.

Allie released her feet from the stirrups and prepared to leap.

Three

With no time to think, Derrick snatched the tiny farrier from the horse by her waist. She was heavier than she appeared, and her long dress wrapped around his legs, making it difficult to walk. As he carried her away from the horse, Allie squeezed his neck in a viselike grip. He held her closer and longer than necessary, guilty for liking the feel of her next to him.

Allie’s grasp tightened, and the subsequent lack of air to his lungs quickly diminished his pleasure. He set her feet on the sidewalk, then peeled her arms from around his neck.

“You’re okay now,” he said, massaging his windpipe. “You can relax.”

Her eyes jerked open, and she stared at him. “You!”

He pointed to himself. “Me?”

With her breathing still rapid and her face white, she continued to stare at him. He checked to see if he had a piece of a jelly bean stuck in his front teeth. After a long pause, she appeared to collect her composure, though her face remained ashen and her hands shook. “Sorry. I owe you a huge thanks.”

Derrick nodded, then assured the bystanders she was okay.

Allie scanned the streets, wide-eyed. “Where is Chester. . .the horse?” she asked. “That Philip Maynard—what was he thinking, putting that animal in this parade? Poor thing.”

Derrick made a quick mental note about the name
Maynard
, then put his hand on the small of her back and moved her away from the road. “The ‘poor thing’ took off around the float, but some people up ahead caught him. And it appears the parade is moving on without you.”

“Good.” Her gaze raked the crowd. “I’ve got to find my nephew. I hope he isn’t worried.” She brushed past him and headed for Second Avenue.

Derrick followed her. They didn’t go far before he caught sight of the boy who spotted Allie and grinned widely.

“Aunt Allie!” He ran to her, slamming into her legs. Only Derrick’s quick grasp of her shoulders kept her from falling backward. When she regained her balance, he released her.

“Aunt Allie, you were like a rodeo rider! Wow!”

She smiled and pulled him close. “I’ll probably feel like a rodeo rider tomorrow. All bruised and battered.”

Derrick glanced from Allie to Danny, whose black eyes looked so much like his own. Aunt and nephew. Where were his parents?

“You guys. . .” A blond walked up to them, denim skirt swirling around her ankles. She carried a large black bag, which she set next to Allie. “Your tools, Ms. Farrier.” Then she looked over Allie’s shoulder. “I’d say you’re a hero, mister.”

Derrick shook his head, about to protest, but Allie turned and faced him. “Without you my landing would have been awfully hard. I might have even broken a few bones.”

“All in a hero’s day’s work.”

Allie laughed and motioned toward the blond. “This is my friend, Shannon O’Brien. Shannon, this is Derrick. . .” She frowned. “Owen?”

“Derrick
Owens
,” he said, acknowledging Shannon. He dropped his gaze to Danny, who had been staring at him with a wrinkled forehead.

The boy traced an invisible line down his own face, perfectly matching the placement of Derrick’s scar. “Did you get hurt bad?”

Allie offered an apologetic smile. “Danny honey, it’s not polite to make comments like that.”

“It’s okay.” Derrick pointed to his cheek. “I got hurt a long time ago. It’s a scar. Do you have any scars?”

The boy nodded. “On my leg. I fell out of a tree. I was pretending to be Spiderman.”

“So I’m not the only hero around here then.”

Danny shrugged. “I’m a hero when I wear my Spiderman costume, I guess.”

Derrick laughed. Could this be his sister’s boy?

Shannon reached over and hugged Allie. “I certainly hope old man Maynard paid you well for your services. He owes you after that ride.”

Old man Maynard? Derrick’s heart thumped. There was that name again.

“Yes, he’s going to pay me
very
well.” Allie tilted her chin. “We’re going to have a real shindig for Danny’s birthday.”

“Good. You probably deserve twice what he’s giving you.” Shannon’s gaze snapped to Derrick again. “You’re a real, live hero, Derrick Owens, and they’re in short supply around here. You new in town?”

A hero? If they knew why he was here, they might not think so. Derrick masked his discomfort with a smile. “I’m checking out a few opportunities in the area for the contracting company I work for.”

Shannon’s eyes lit up. “Are you looking to buy land? Allie might be selling her land.”

“Really?” He glanced at Allie.

“Not a for-sure thing.” Her smile had faded, and she was frowning at her friend.

Shannon patted Allie’s arm. “Just remember that God opens doors when you least expect it.” She stepped back. “Well, I’ll let Allie explain if she wants to. I need to scoot. I have to get back to my shop to relieve my temporary help.”

“Thanks for watching Danny,” Allie called after her.

“Anytime. I’ll see you after dinner tonight.” Shannon waved over her shoulder and swirled away in her flowing denim skirt.

Allie took a breath as if she was going to say something, but before she could speak, an overweight man, red in the face, trundled down the sidewalk at a clip that surprised Derrick given his size.

“Allie!” His chest heaved with his breaths. “Are you okay? I thought you were going to get killed.”

Allie scowled. “And I’d have
you
to thank for it, Mayor.”

He sputtered for a moment. “The horse was a little temperamental, but we thought he’d be fine. We just got him, you know.”

“Gee, now you tell me.” Irritation sparked in Allie’s green eyes.

Derrick observed the shade of the mayor’s face and hoped he wasn’t going to have to perform CPR.

“You okay? Danny okay? This isn’t going to affect him, is it? I mean, I wouldn’t want things to get worse for him, poor little man.”

Allie’s body went rigid, and the sparks in her eyes turned to fire. “Some things are best left unsaid, aren’t they?”

The mayor flushed, glancing from her to the boy and back again. “Yes, well. . .do you need a doctor?” He drew a noisy breath. “Do you have, er, insurance?”

Derrick watched the exchange with interest. What things were best left unsaid?

“No worries, Mayor. I’ll be fine. But we need to get going.” She held out her hand.

He fumbled in his shirt pocket and pulled out a check. “Ink isn’t even dry on this. Here you go.” He nodded at Derrick, then turned and dashed off.

Allie’s narrowed gaze followed him for a minute, then she opened the check and smiled. “Ha, five times my going rate is almost worth taking that wild pony ride.”

“Is that a lot of money?” Danny asked. “Does that mean you and Granny can buy me that handheld game system?”

“Possibly, but only if you don’t nag me.” Allie stared fondly at her nephew.

“Birthday boy?” Derrick asked, taking mental notes.

Danny grinned. “My birthday is next Saturday. Aunt Allie and Granny are giving me a party. Now I might get better presents.”

Allie thumped his head with her finger. “That’s enough about presents, Spiderman.”

Danny nodded, but his eyes still shone.

Derrick’s breaths came more quickly. Could it be this easy?

“Shannon is right.” Allie interrupted his thoughts. She refolded the check and held it tightly in her hands, then looked Derrick squarely in the eyes. “You are a hero.”

Hero? “Could be because you’ve known me less than fifteen minutes.”

Danny hopped from one foot to the other. “That was cool, the way you caught Aunt Allie. Where did you learn to do that?”

The force of the boy’s enthusiasm was irresistible. Pretending solemnity, Derrick glanced around as if to make sure the coast was clear, then leaned down and whispered, “I learned it in hero school.”

Danny’s eyes widened. “Is that where your face got hurt?”

“No, but it does make me look more heroic. I graduated at the top of my class.” He straightened and glanced at Allie. “And because I’m a hero, I insist I walk you to wherever you’re going while I carry your tools.”

“You don’t need to do that,” she said quickly.

“Oh, but I do.” He lifted his eyes to the summer sky and scratched his chin as though he were thinking hard. “See, it’s rule number. . .um. . .twenty-one, I think. ‘After saving a damsel in distress, always see her safely home or to her vehicle, whichever applies.’ ” He crossed his arms. “I scored a perfect hundred on that test. Of course, I stayed up all night cramming. And it’s been awhile.”

Allie’s lips twitched. “How does one study for a
hero test
?”

Derrick placed his hand on his chest as though making a pledge. “Sorry, I can’t reveal the secrets of a hero. It’s in the rules. Number one, and I quote, ‘No method, secret, rule, or procedure shall be revealed to anyone at any time.’ ” He paused and winked again at Danny. “And number two says, ‘No hero will ever be caught bragging on exploits, whether his own or those of a fellow hero.’ ”

The boy’s wide smile brought cheer to his heart, but it was Allie’s grin that made his insides warm. He’d have to be careful. Old flirting habits died hard, and he couldn’t afford the complication of an attraction. He had information to gather, then he’d be gone. Most of all, she could never know why he was here.

“All right, Derrick Owens, hero extraordinaire,” Allie said, unaware of his turmoil, “you may walk us to my truck.”

Derrick fought another surge of guilt. He leaned over to pick up Allie’s tools so she wouldn’t see his eyes. As he did someone called her name, and he glanced up. A tall, slender man in creased jeans and a brand-name polo shirt was jogging toward them.

“It’s Mr. Michael,” Danny said in a stage whisper, glancing up at Allie.

“So it is.” Her face was an interesting study in consternation. “Go ahead, Danny.”

“Hi!” he said to the blond man.

“Danny, good to see you.” He gave the boy a quick brush on his head, then stopped close to Allie and touched her arm possessively. “My father just told me what happened. Are you all right?”

The mayor’s son. Derrick recognized the resemblance now. Both had the same classic Roman nose. He also recognized disappointment in Danny’s eyes. Perhaps he hadn’t gotten the response he’d expected from
Mr. Michael
.

“I’m okay.” Allie shrugged. “Just stiff and tired.”

Pointing at Derrick, Danny said, “He rescued Aunt Allie.”

Michael frowned and shook his head. “I can’t believe my father would allow anyone to ride that horse. If it had been Paige, she might have been killed. She’s not nearly as good a horseman as you.”

Paige? Derrick’s shoulders went rigid.
Lord, You are answering Sandy’s prayers.

“Why your father would allow your sister to even be near that horse is beyond me,” Allie said. “Two nervous Nellies.”