Echoes From The Past (Women of Character) (2 page)

"Wait for me in your
room!" he barked. Hannah hunched her shoulders and continued toward the
house at a fast walk. Garrett closed his eyes and muttered, "Sometimes I
wonder what the hell I know about raising a child."

Shaking his head, he looked over
at the woman. "Sorry," he said ruefully. It wasn’t this woman’s fault
she’d witnessed his apparent lack of control over a sixty-pound, eight-year
old, but he hated like hell that she’d seen it anyway. "I’m Garrett
McIntyre." He held his hand out again.

"Christie Jenkins." She
took his hand in a firm shake, then released it and brushed at her jeans.

"My housekeeper is a retired
emergency room nurse. I'd feel better if she took a look at that bruise before
you leave."

Frowning, the woman -- Christie --
suddenly looked around. "My bag! Where’s my duffel bag?"

Garrett spotted it in the ditch,
partly under the front wheel of the truck. His guts churned thinking of his
daughter or this young woman in that ditch instead of the bag. "It’s right
here."

Her apparent distress surprised
him a bit. Warily, he said, "It looks okay. You’re not going to cry, are
you?" Hannah’s mother had been a woman who lived solely on emotion. Life
had been a constant in emotional highs and lows.

Christie sighed. "Of course
not. I was surprised to see it under the wheel. Hopefully, nothing is
crushed."

She pulled at the heavy canvas.
Garrett gently urged her aside. "Let me get it."

Garrett signaled to Emmet to get
on the opposite side of the front bumper. "If we rock this you can
probably pull the bag free."

It only took a few rocks of the
truck back and forth before the bag came free. Christie lifted the bag and
loosened the drawstring to look inside. She didn't say anything but he saw her
shoulders relax.

"That bag must be mighty
important."

"It is, but no harm’s been
done." She lifted her head, giving him a half smile. "Thank
you."

"Yeah." He turned his
attention to his hired hand and the hay wagon. "Emmet, see if you can find
Sam. Have him bring the tractor with the winch and pull this thing out. I’ll
call my mechanic."

"Sure, boss." Emmet
scuffed his boots in the dirt, his face working. Finally, he said, "The
brakes were a little spongy. I should have told you." Emmet swallowed.
"Do you want me outta here?"

Garrett looked at the young man’s
closed expression and realized Emmet expected to be fired. "I realize
you’ve only been here a month, but I need any problems brought to my attention
right away."

The woman stepped closer.

"This wasn’t anyone’s
fault," she said quickly.

Pushing his hat back, Garrett
studied her worried expression. Mildly, he said, "I don't plan to fire
Emmet."

He looked at Emmet. "Take care
of the truck. The hay will have to be unloaded if they need to work on it. I’ll
talk to the mechanic and let you know."

Emmet tipped his hat, appearing
relieved. "Okay, boss." He looked at the woman. "I’m glad you
weren’t hurt, Ma’am." He left, walking up the drive toward the house and
barns.

Garrett turned back to Christie,
took in her dark, dusty jeans and what looked like once-white sneakers. Her
blue T-shirt had pulled out of her jeans, exposing a small section of pale
skin. She couldn’t weigh more than one-thirty, soaking wet. He rubbed his
forehead with the back of his wrist. "It's been a heck of a day so
far." He looked away from her, toward the house and shook his head.
"My daughter . . .."

"I'd be worried too,"
she said. "No one needs that kind of trouble, a child getting hurt."

Garrett allowed himself a rueful
smile. "If Hannah’s involved, there's always something going on."

Just then his yellow Labrador dog
came streaking down the driveway, tail wagging furiously as she moved in
eagerly against their legs. In her enthusiasm, she knocked against the woman.
Quickly, Garrett said, "Bo Peep, that’s enough!" The dog backed up
and sat down, then watched him with her head cocked to one side.

Christie knelt down and began to
make a fuss of the dog. "Your dog’s name is Bo Peep?" she asked, a
hint of humor curving full lips as she looked up at him.

"My daughter’s idea. So
Christie, tell me, what are you doing out here in the middle of pretty much
nowhere?"

Her smile disappeared and she came
to her feet once more. "I, uh, was on the road when I saw your daughter in
trouble. Actually, I’m looking for Judith Kelly. The last address I have for
her is this place."

The hair on the back of Garrett’s
neck stood up and a band tightened around his chest. "Why?"

"Do you know her?"

Know her? Garrett stared at
Christie, searching for God knew what. He saw only honest inquiry on her face.
"Why do you ask?" he said instead, knowing there was an edge to his
voice.

"She’s my sister. I need to
find her."

"Christ." Garrett took a
deep breath, then another. He cleared his head. "Judith had no
family."

Now Christie’s eyes widened.
"She left home a long time ago, but she had family."

"Can you prove that?"

"I-I can’t. At least, not at
this moment. I had a letter from her."

"Let me see the letter."

"I don’t have it on me."

Beginning to feel annoyed, Garrett
half turned away. "I need my housekeeper to look at your head and then
I'll call you a taxi." Christie hurried behind him as he walked up the
drive to the house.

"Listen, just tell her
Christie’s here," she said urgently. "It's been a long time but I
know she’ll see me."

"You can’t see her."

She grabbed his arm. "I’ve
come a long way."

Garrett stopped, fighting the dull
numbness inside his chest. He faced her squarely. "My wife -- Judith, died
almost two years ago."

Garrett quickly reached for her
arm as she swayed.

"Judith was your wife?"
Her voice was barely a whisper.

"If you’re really Judith’s
sister, I’m a real jerk for telling you like that -- how come she never
mentioned you?"

Christie appeared dazed, but
steadier on her feet now. Garrett stepped back.

"We’re half-sisters. Judith
left home when she was barely fifteen. Our mother threw her out. I don’t know
why. I got a letter from Judith one day, right out of the blue -- said she was
thinking about coming for a visit."

"Your name isn't the
same."

"Her maiden name was Kelly.
My mother’s maiden name."

"When did you receive the
letter?" he asked tersely.

"A-about two years ago."

"And you’re just getting around
to looking her up now?" He didn't hide the skepticism in his voice.

Christie hesitated, then admitted,
"There were reasons I couldn't come until now."

"So you conveniently tracked
her here."

"There was nothing convenient
about it." She shook her head and the somber expression on her face made
him feel like a mean bastard. She was obviously hurting.

She seemed to shake herself.
"I’m sorry for your loss," she added in a low voice. "I had no
idea where my sister was, much less that she had married. And I’m sorry for
intruding like this. I thought I’d find Judith." She looked up the hill
toward the house and went still. "That little girl -- Hannah -- she’s
Judith’s, isn’t she?"

"What is it you really
want?" he said, balled fists on his hips.

She looked up at him, her dark
hair falling away from her face. "I don’t want anything from you. I told
you why I’m here. It seems now like it was a fool’s errand." Her voice
broke. "But if Hannah is my niece, I have a right to know."

"You’re on my property,
asking personal questions that I’m still not sure you have a right to ask. I
don’t give information about my family to anyone."

Christie came to her feet, her
hands out beseechingly. "I don’t blame you. Please let me get to know
Hannah, even for the short time I’m here. She’s my niece."

"If what you say is
true."

"I understand your
suspicions. Someone shows up out of the blue claiming to be related to your
child." She looked away from him. "Judith left when I was so young I
barely remember her."

"I’m asking again, why come
now?"

Her expression closed.
"That’s my business, Garrett." She drew a deep breath. "I'd like
your cooperation in letting me get to know Hannah. It's not every day you find
out you have a niece."

Garrett felt torn. She obviously
had information that wasn't easy to come by, Judith's maiden name for one.
"Until I check your story out, you’re not to tell Hannah who you
are."

Christie considered him, her mouth
firm, but she nodded. "I don’t like it, but if that’s the way it has to
be, I can live with it. For now," she added, lifting her chin. "I can
give you some numbers to call for references. Character references."

"Fine, where are you
staying?"

She hitched her duffel bag higher
on her shoulder and avoided his eyes. "I’m new to the area. That is, I was
hoping to get some work while I was here. I’ll do just about anything,"
she added quickly. "I’m not picky. I can cook and clean." She paused,
her glance shifting to the barn and house. "I’d be happy to work in the
barns, but I’m also handy at gardening or house cleaning."

"I have someone tending my
garden." He found himself grinning. "Ruth would skin my hide if
anybody touched her flowers."

She chewed her lip and looked
around. "I can push a lawn mower. How about the horses? I’m not afraid to
work."

"If you were from around
here, you’d know most of the farms hire on extra help well before the
spring."

"Does that mean no?"

Garrett stroked his chin
thoughtfully, hardly crediting that he was thinking about hiring her.
"Actually, I’m a hand short in the barns. One of the girls fell and broke
her ankle. She’ll be in a cast for at least the next five to six weeks. Maybe I
can use you on a short-term basis. Do you have any experience with
horses?"

Her face lit up. The sparkle in
her eyes caused a tingling across the back of his neck.

"I love horses. I worked one
summer at a horseback riding camp. I’m really good around animals."

Mentally, Garrett groaned.
"Not exactly the type of experience I had in mind."

"That might not seem like much
experience to you, but I’m a quick study." Quickly, as if sensing his
hesitation, "You won’t regret it. It would give me a chance to get to know
Hannah."

"It would be mostly grunt
work. I have regulars that handle the horses. I might need someone for a month
or so, but I’d rather see how you work out before I promise anything."

"A month?" She
hesitated, but then looked up at the house.

He saw a longing in her eyes,
which she quickly masked by looking down.

"Okay."

"I’ll give you a few days
trial, that’s all I’m promising," he said brusquely. "Come to the
house and we’ll get ice on that bump." Garrett sized her up. "You’ll
have to pull your own weight," he added.

"Don’t worry, I always
do." She cleared her throat. "Uh, since I’ve just arrived in town, does
this job include room and board?"

Garrett read between the lines.
She probably didn’t have two cents to rub together, much less money for a room
in town. She was old enough to take care of herself and he’d stopped taking in
strays a long time ago. For a brief instant, the thought crossed his mind that
her arrival here was just like something Judith would do. Reason enough to
watch her closely.

"Judith never worried about
things like rent or a roof over her head either." The words were almost
involuntary, but he couldn’t help but make the comparison.

"Maybe we’re more alike than
you’d think," she mused.

Garrett had mixed emotions about
that. Except for the first year of their marriage where they’d spent most of
their time in bed, he and Judith had been oil and water.

"The job includes room and
board." He quickened his steps. "The starting pay is a dollar over
minimum wage."

"Thanks. I have to admit I’m
surprised you’re hiring me."

"It’s a busy time of year and
I am short one hand. Beside that you saved my daughter from being hurt. I’ve
factored in all the variables."

"What if I’m lying?" she
asked curiously.

"What do you think?"

"I’m out of here." She
shrugged. "That’s fair enough."

He looked at his watch. "My
housekeeper will have dinner ready. Are you hungry? You can take your dinner
over to the worker’s cabin."

She rubbed her fingers over her
cheeks, causing smudges. "I’m sure I could eat something," she said.

Garrett had the strangest urge to
push her hand away and rub the smudge with his thumb. There was an enticing mix
of resourcefulness and vulnerability about her. Thinking of Judith and their
similarities, Garrett brusquely called the dog and turned away.

"Garrett?" His shoulders
stiffened at the hesitation in her voice. "How did she die?"

He continued walking toward the
house. "I won’t discuss anything personal until I find out you’re who you
claim to be." And maybe not even then, he told himself silently. Some gut
instinct told him Christie was probably telling the truth, but right now he didn't
want to delve into Judith's past.

As they neared the barns Garrett
saw two of his help, Sue and Buddy as they stood talking beside Sue’s new SUV.
He looked at his watch. "Hey, you two!" he called. "Go home.
It’s past quitting time."

"We were in the barn,
Boss," Sue called out. "Emmett told us what happened."

"Everything’s under
control."

They waved at him and Garrett
continued toward the house, sparing Christie a glance. "You’ll meet Sue
and Buddy tomorrow. Sue’s my best handler with the foals and Buddy’s working
during college break."