A Maverick's Heart (12 page)

Seth, who had a hand on Rory’s shoulder, felt the boy slump. Anger that a kids’ coach could be so insensitive burned through Seth. “He’s improved since he changed his mitt. Up to now we’ve concentrated on throwing and catching. We’ll get to batting soon,” he said, smiling down on Rory. “I trust you’ll allow for that.”

The coach grunted then walked away.

Leading Rory to an empty spot on the bleachers, Seth said, “You’ll do fine. Remember to block out the noise, keep your eye on the ball and squeeze your mitt as soon as you feel the ball touch the leather.”

“Coach thinks I suck.” Rory dug the toe of his shoe into the dirt.

“You don’t.” Seth pulled a Yankees ball cap out of the side pocket of his cargo pants. “I found this when I bought your mitt. It’ll keep the sun out of your eyes until they issue Little League uniforms.”

“Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Thanks.” Rory dashed off and Seth settled back to watch. The coach hit each player grounders and pop-up fly balls. Seth was proud of Rory. He missed only one ground ball when it hit a rock and veered off. Batting was a whole other story. Seth groaned the last of the four times the boy struck out.

Then practice was over. Seth was glad to see Rory’s enthusiasm hadn’t dimmed. And Coach Landis caught them before they left the field. “Maxwell...you’ve done wonders with the kid’s ability to catch. I need an assistant this season. Are you available?”

Still mad at how the jerk had treated Rory, Seth shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m slated to help my brother roof his barn. And I don’t really know what the rest of my summer will bring.”

“Well, if you change your mind, it’s apparent you have teaching talent.”

They left. At the front of the school, the other kids called goodbye to Rory.

“Gosh, that’s the first time Joel Ross ever noticed me,” he said around a big grin.

Seth remembered a time in his youth when some athletes who’d thought they were hot stuff had looked down on newbie players. His dad had made sure he and Zeke never acted that way. Digging out his car keys, he turned toward his vehicle.

“I have my bike,” Rory said. “Mom said to ride to the café. If you’re going there, maybe we could put the bike in your trunk?”

“Sure thing.” Seth glanced at his watch and saw it was almost six o’clock. “I’ll grab a burger. Or a salad,” he added quickly, noting how Rory beamed.

The kid handed Seth his mitt and ran to unchain his bike.

They’d just got under way when Seth’s cell phone rang. He thought it might be Lila, checking on him and Rory. To his surprise the readout said Yoti Shigura, a Japanese friend he sometimes joined on gem hunts. He set the phone on the console and tapped speaker. “Yo,” he said, moving into traffic. “What’s up?”

“Are you on a dig?”

“Nope. I’m in the States. Came to my twin brother’s wedding. I’m about to help roof his barn.”

“Get out of it. A dude I know brought a fortune in rubies out of an abandoned iron mine in northern China. They’re the color and clarity of old Burmese gems.”

“Holy cow! You’ve seen them cut and polished?” Seth felt the beginning of the usual itch to be in on such a deal. But he happened to glance at Rory and saw the kid slump when Yoti said he had seen them and that Seth should hop a plane to Beijing ASAP.

“Uh, I’ve committed to another obligation here, Yoti. I’m doing a little baseball coaching.” Seth braked his desire to hunt rubies. All he really had to do was to remember how Lila had felt in his arms earlier and then to add how the coach had spoken negatively about Rory in front of him. He wanted Rory to show the guy. “Sorry, but when I give my word on something, I like to keep it.”

“Will coaching get you a million bucks?” Yoti persisted, pressuring him.

“Not in cash but in satisfaction,” Seth stated firmly. “Listen, thanks for thinking of me. If anything changes, I’ll get in touch. Otherwise, I wish you the best of luck.”

“Okay, but these are the richest gems I’ve seen since I started in the business.”

Seth suffered a moment’s regret but shook it off. “I can say I knew you when you were poor,” he joked then said goodbye. He began to look for a parking spot near Lila’s Jeep so he could transfer Rory’s bike.

“What are rubies?” Rory asked.

“Huh? Oh, they’re pricey red stones jewelers set in rings and necklaces.”

“That guy said you could make a million dollars. For real?”

Seth shrugged and backed into a spot that opened up beside Lila’s SUV. “Yoti’s a good judge of gems. But China’s a long way from Snowy Owl Crossing. Sometimes a pocket of gemstones is smaller than initial hunters think.”

“Do we have rubies in Montana?”

Chuckling, Seth braked and shut off the motor. “Quality rubies are rare to find anywhere, Rory. No rubies here that I know of, but Montana has sapphires. If they’re big enough and clear enough, they might net a million. Hey, run inside and get your mom’s car key and I’ll move your bike over to her SUV.”

“Okay. Seth, those gems you say Montana has, are they red?”

“No, they’re blue. But you won’t find any, Rory. Gemstones don’t lie about in the open. They’re found high atop mountains or deep in old mines. Hurry now, get that key. I’m starved.”

Rory scurried into the café and had returned by the time Seth had the bike out on the sidewalk. “Unlock the hatch,” he said. “I’ll toss this in.”

The boy did as requested. “Mom’s cooking. Memaw is going upstairs. She asked me to help Becky clear tables. If you finish eating and leave before I’m done, what time can we go to the batting cages tomorrow? I want to tell Mom.”

“I’m helping Zeke start his barn roof in the morning. See if your mom’s okay with me picking you up after school. We can hit the cages every day until school’s out. Coach said the next League practice is at two o’clock the Monday after school lets out for summer. That should definitely help improve your batting.”

Rory fist pumped the air before he opened Seth’s car and retrieved his mitt. “Hey, your phone’s still on the console,” he called over the slam of the hatch.

“Thanks. I should take it so I can touch base with Zeke. Did you happen to notice if there are any booths available?”

“There are. I’ll get you one and a menu.” He hesitated a minute then gazed at Seth and said, “Nobody but my mom ever gave up stuff to help me before. I love you, Seth.” Ducking his head, Rory disappeared into the café.

Time lagged for a moment. The kid had stunned him. In that split second Seth knew he’d been right to refuse Yoti. People in Snowy Owl Crossing had become important to him. Especially certain people.

Deciding to store Rory’s sentiment for now, Seth grabbed his phone, locked his vehicle and went inside, making supper the prime issue on his mind.

That lasted until he glanced around and saw Lila framed in the pass-through. Even with her face red from the kitchen heat, and in spite of the silly cap she wore to hide her pretty hair when she cooked, merely glimpsing her caused a tight flutter in Seth’s belly. All other sights and sounds in the café faded until Rory, standing by a booth wildly waving a menu, garnered Seth’s attention. But the fact Lila saw him, waved happily and smiled, welded him to the spot for another moment while he sorted through and set aside a strong desire to go into the kitchen and kiss her.

Willing his skipping pulse to settle, he finally went to the booth where Rory impatiently waited. “Mom said she has meat loaf. It’s good, but it comes with garlic potatoes and yucky green beans,” the boy added, making a face.

“Are you taking our orders?”

“Yeah. Becky’s washing dishes. Mom said I hafta eat before I help clear tables. I wanted to tell her about practice, but she’s busy cooking.”

“The café’s packed. She’d listen if she could, Rory.”

“I s’pose. I wish I could have a cheeseburger.” He said it with longing.

Seth studied the menu. “A cheeseburger sounds good. I’ll have that and a dinner salad. Tell your mom I’m not fussy about the dressing.”

Rory frowned. “Do you like lettuce, tomatoes and stuff more ’n French fries?”

“Salad is better for my health.”
Of course he’d rather have fries
.
But he wanted to be a good role model
. That, too, struck Seth as something new.

“Okay, I’ll have the same.” Rory took the menu and scampered off to the kitchen, leaving Seth pleased with himself.

After the order arrived, Rory ate fast. Seth lingered over his meal, hoping to grab a word with Lila. He made his call to Zeke, but when it ended he had no excuse to hang around the café any longer. Again he dropped money on the table and stood.

Lila beckoned him to the pass-through. “Rory’s full of talk about today’s practice, rubies and China, and you guys going to batting cages.” She gestured behind her at steam rising from the grill. “I really don’t have time to make sense of it. I hope to be home by eight. Could you join me for tea in the kitchen?”

“Be glad to.” Seth’s heart sped, knowing he’d still spend a part of the day with Lila. “Meanwhile, I’ll see if Ghost wants to run, then I’ll feed him.”

She smiled but turned back to the grill. On his way out Seth waved to Rory, who was stacking dishes in a gray plastic basin.

Chapter Eight

Seth finished his run, fed Ghost and went up to his room to shower. He and the dog had really bonded. As he changed, he heard the fishermen come in amid a lot of good-natured guy talk. After he dressed, he sat by his window, half reading a magazine on raising horses, half watching for Lila to drive in. He’d been thinking a lot more about other jobs he might be able to do after he’d turned down Yoti’s urging without much regret over missing out on rubies.

The minute he saw the Jeep’s lights turn off the highway, he dashed downstairs to the kitchen, where he put the teakettle on to heat.

He heard Lila and Rory come inside. They were always caring of guests, so Lila’s tone was hushed. Still, Seth understood she and Rory were having a little tiff before the boy caved and trundled off to bed.

Figuring their argument stemmed around batting practice, Seth prepared for Lila’s verbal combat as she entered the kitchen. However he reeled from her first words.

“Tell me why you filled my son’s head with poppycock about making a million dollars finding rubies or Montana sapphires.”

The teakettle whistled, giving Seth a minute to collect his thoughts. He poured boiling water into two mugs that held tea bags, moved them to the table and gestured for Lila to sit. “I didn’t fill his head. A friend I sometimes join on gem hunts phoned to update me on a cache of China rubies. Rory and I were on the road so I put the call on speaker phone. Rory heard our conversation.”

Lila scowled but finally sat. “Myra told everyone that you broker gemstones and Zeke said you hunted lapis in Afghanistan when he served there. Rory said you find gemstones in mines. He couldn’t stop talking about how much money the guy who called said you were giving up. I had no idea.”

“Yeah, precious gems start as minerals and they’re found in layers of rock or often in old mines. Some, like rubies, diamonds and sapphires, are worth a lot of money.”

“I don’t give a tinker’s damn how much you can earn. With me, mines are totally taboo.” She balled her hands on the table and added, “I think it’d be best for everyone if in the morning you find another place to stay.”

“Hold on!” Seth reached across the table and took her hand. “I hope Rory told you I’m not meeting my friend because I’m committed to teaching Rory baseball.”

Lila tugged loose and gripped her mug. “His second most discussed subject was having you take him to a batting cage. Mostly, though, he raved about blue stones in Montana mines. He said if they were big we could make a million dollars and I wouldn’t need to work two jobs.”

The breath left Seth’s lungs in a whoosh. “Lila, I swear I tried to make clear to Rory what I once told you—gemstones don’t lie around waiting to be picked up. I think I only mentioned mines in passing. He assumed a lot. Cross my heart, I refused a chance to earn big money by going to China after reportedly flawless rubies.”

“What did you tell Rory about Montana?”

“He asked if there were rubies here. I said no but that Montana has sapphires. I maybe said if they were big and plentiful they could be worth as much as rubies. I thought I stressed that it takes digging to find them. But, yeah, I may’ve said they show up in old mines, because they do.” He frowned over the rim of his mug.

“Do you intend to hunt for them? I couldn’t handle that. You may not know my dad died in a mine when I was little. I told you about Kevin. I still jolt awake some nights in a panic, picturing everyone I love trapped deep in a pitch-dark mine. It’s terrifying, Seth.”

He got up and took her in his arms. Feeling her erratic heartbeat and her jerky breath on his neck, Seth knew she was more important than gems. He lightly brushed his chin back and forth over her silky hair. “Babe, I can’t stand to see you so anxious.” His hold tightened. “I don’t have any clue how else I might earn a living, because I’ve been a gem hunter since I left university. I have some money saved. At my age it’s not enough to last. It’s probably enough to allow me to explore other options. Anyway, hunting sapphires here takes a permit, which I don’t have,” he said firmly.

Lila snuggled closer. “Would you really consider doing something else?”

“I would. For you. I did toy with the notion after Zeke left the military and learned to be a rancher. I don’t think cattle ranching is for me, but you make me want to settle here, Lila. I’ll see what kinds of jobs companies around here are hiring for.”

“I have an idea if you’re really open to one... After you left the café, Kemper and his parents came in. Mr. Barnes is impressed by how much you’ve taught Rory in a short time.” Leaning back she gazed up into his face. “I hesitate to mention this. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to reorder your life. But...our high school baseball coach plans to retire. Uh, he may also teach science. I know you’d be great in the coaching part.”

Seth released her. “Our tea is getting cold. Let’s sit again and discuss this further.”

She took their mugs and zapped them in the microwave. “It was only a thought.”

“I like giving Rory tips,” he said after she returned to her chair. “I’d enjoy coaching. As for teaching, I have a masters in geology. And I like science. I wonder what I’d need to qualify to teach in Montana.” He spoke almost to himself.

“Myra might know,” Lila said. “She used to teach college math. You can ask her tomorrow if you’re starting to roof their barn. But, Seth, you have to be sure. If in a couple of years you got restless being in one place and then you left, it’d be harder on all of us than it would be if we agreed to part company now.”

“I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t happen. People may envy world travelers, but it gets tiresome and old. Unearthing gems kept me going this long but, to be candid, when I talked to Zeke about visiting, part of me yearned to settle down. Once I got here I felt at home. Meeting you and helping Rory is like icing on the cake.”

Lila blushed. “No one’s ever compared me to frosting before.”

Seth studied her intently. “Your lips taste sweeter than frosting. And at the moment I’m imagining tasting you everywhere.”

“Please...” She ducked her head. “You...you should know I...don’t have a lot of experience. You probably expect more of a woman my age who is a widow. But...”

Seth interrupted by capturing the hand she waved through the air. “Lila, there’s no pressure. I see how difficult it is for us to grab a few minutes alone together. I know your home is full of strangers and that you live in close quarters with a son at an impressionable age. Plus, he’s observant. It’s important that he be willing to share you with me.” Seth brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss in the palm.

“You’re already his hero, Seth.”

“Maybe, but boys can be super protective of their moms. I’m okay with slow and steady. Does that suit you?” he asked, curling her fingers to his mouth to kiss.

“Honestly? Sometimes I look at you and feel in a rush for...more.”

Seth grinned because no sooner had she spoken than she seemed horrified by what she’d said. “That’s good. May I point out that you have a nice hayloft. Or I have a very private end room upstairs.”

Lila snatched her hand away and shoved back her chair. “Okay, it’s not just hot tea making me sweat. Oh, wait, Seth. We’ve covered a lot of topics we both need to think long and hard about. And it’s late. I need to check on Tawana and see how she’s doing.”

Quick to take the hint, Seth stood. He bent, dusted a kiss over her lips and felt relieved when she lightly touched his face and didn’t pull away. He straightened first, collected his mug and set it in the sink. “It’s settled in my mind,” he said, going to stand under the archway. “Tomorrow morning I’m helping Zeke. If you’re cool with me taking Rory to the batting cages for a couple of hours, I’ll pick him up from school. We’ll return to the café around five thirty.”

“As long as you swear he won’t come back filled with pie-in-the-sky schemes to find gems that’ll sell for a million dollars.”

Seth raised his right hand. “I do solemnly swear.”

Lila acquiesced with the barest incline of her chin. It was sufficient, and Seth went upstairs set to start making big changes in his life.

* * *

I
N
THE
MORNING
when he got dressed, his gaze fell on the equipment he’d bought to explore the mine. He might return them, but for now he’d store them in the barn. There was a tool chest in the tack room. The flashlights could be useful in case the power ever went out. He thought he still had the receipt for the lighted helmet and harness with oxygen mask. As soon as he had some spare time he’d see about going back to the sporting-goods store. But before he got too excited about a possible coaching job, he needed to learn what applying entailed.

Toting the gear to the barn, he put everything in the toolbox and closed the lid. Turning, he saw Rory watching him.

“What did you put in the wooden box, Seth? Is it more stuff for Little League?”

“No. What’s got you up so early, slugger? Did you come to help me feed the horses?”

The boy shook his head. “Memaw called. She needs Mom to work all day ’cause Mrs. Watson has an appointment she forgot.”

Outside a horn honked.

“That’s Mom. She put muffins and stuff out for you and the others. We gotta go, but she knows you’re picking me up from school.” Rory headed for the door.

Seth followed him and waved to Lila as Rory climbed into the Jeep. They drove off and he went back to feed and water the horses. It was too bad there was no market for horses. Raising and training them kind of appealed to Seth. Although, that was what Lila had wanted her husband to do. Seth immediately crossed that off his list. He wasn’t a stand-in for Lila’s first husband.

After chores he grabbed muffins and coffee to go. Twenty minutes later he drove down the lane to the Flying Owl Ranch. Zeke was already up on the barn roof.

Myra, leaning on a stack of brick-red metal roofing material, hailed him. “Zeke’s anxious to get this done before next week’s prediction of rain. Ah, good, you came prepared with gloves, sunglasses and ball cap.”

“Before I scoot up the ladder, I have a question. Lila tells me the high school coach is retiring. He also teaches science. I...may want to apply. She thought you might know what I’d need to qualify.”

His sister-in-law’s mouth dropped. “You’re not going back to gem hunting?”

Shaking his head, Seth tipped his ball cap over his eyes.

“You’d need a provisional exclusion to teach until you could obtain a certificate in education in addition to your degrees.”

“Can I take online classes for that?”

“Yup. Go look at the state education website. It’ll list approved online schools. If you set a plan and start classes, a school can issue provisional certification. Schools always need science teachers, especially rural schools. By chance, is this because you’re falling for Lila?” Myra slipped in the question and elbowed Seth’s arm.

“Would you and the other Artsy Ladies give me the green light?”

“Boy, oh, boy, I would.”

“Hey!” Zeke called down. “Did you come to help me or do you plan to jawbone with my wife all day?”

“He’s touchy,” Seth murmured. “And ‘jawbone’? Not a Bostonian term.”

“Your brother is wholly Montanan now,” Myra said with pride.

“It suits him. And I think it’ll suit me,” Seth said before mounting the tall ladder braced against the barn.

The brothers worked together stripping off old roofing and tossing it into an open trash bin on the ground. They covered a range of subjects, but Seth didn’t share with his twin his growing feelings for Lila Jenkins or his new career plans. They talked baseball. Seth invited Zeke to Rory’s games. “Give him a few games to see how well he learns to bat, though. Lila’s work schedule will keep her from going to his first few games. It’ll do him worlds of good to have someone besides me in the stands rooting for him.”

“Text me the dates he plays. I’ll try to make a game or two while Myra’s building her dollhouses for the Thanksgiving bazaar.”

They went on to discuss the bazaar and how the money the women earned went to band and keep track of snowy owls. “Myra wondered if Jewell’s still going without Tawana to meet with the House Natural Resource Committee.”

“Lila said she is. How angry do you think Leland Conrad will be if the government takes his timberland for owls?”

“Hard to say. I hear he’s not well, but I haven’t heard what’s wrong with him. He did talk to Jewell once about selling the ladies the forest. But his Realtor changed his mind.”

“Uh, maybe it’ll all work out.”

They quit talking and made good progress.

Myra delivered sandwiches and iced tea for lunch, but rode off to check on the cattle.

Climbing back to the roof, the men worked until two o’clock. Then Seth said, “I need to take off to go shower. I’m picking Rory up from school to go to the batting cages.”

“Sounds like fun. I wish I had a son,” Zeke lamented.

Seth laughed. “I trust you know the stork doesn’t bring babies, bro.”

“Would it shock you to hear we’re trying for a baby this soon after marriage?” Zeke asked after they were on the ground. He kept rubbing the arm Seth knew had been shot up in Afghanistan.

“Wouldn’t surprise me at all. Being grandparents could bring the folks back from the Caribbean.”

“Yeah. Call me sentimental in my old age, but I’d like nothing better than for my whole family, including you, to live around here.”

“I’m thinking seriously about it. Well, see you tomorrow. I’ve gotta dash.”

* * *

S
ETH
SQUEAKED
IN
to collect Rory with two minutes to spare. The boy parted from his friends at the flag pole and ran to where Seth sat parked in the line of parents picking up their students.

Rory tossed his backpack and mitt into the backseat, slammed the door and crawled into the front passenger side. “I brought my mitt, but Mom said I probably wouldn’t need it. Do you have my bat?”

“In the trunk. Did you have a good day at school?”

“Nah. School’s almost out. Our teacher is trying to stuff our heads full of information we didn’t get to in our textbooks.”