Her Texas Hero (16 page)

“Reckon you're right,” he agreed. “I best get back to work.”

“See you after a bit,” she said.

If they weren't surrounded by others, he'd lean in and give her a sweet kiss. As it was, he settled for a nod and then turned and strode around the side of the house, where the roofing supplies had been placed.

* * *

The men's voices drifted in through the open kitchen window. They worked so well together. Playful taunts and brotherly chatter made Audra long for what she would never have—siblings. She was so thankful to God for giving her another child. She had begun to think she might never conceive again after Mason. But the Lord had blessed her with her beautiful baby girl. Now her children would always have somebody in their life to lean on, to share their ups and downs with, and to love.

Pie in the oven, she walked over to the phone and dialed Mildred Timmons's number. Millie was part of the Cooper family and such a kind woman. She should be at their cookout as well if she didn't already have plans for supper.

“Hello?” the older woman said cheerily as she answered the call.

“Millie, it's Audra Marshall.”

“Well, hello, dear.”

“I was calling to invite you to a cookout. Carter and his brothers are here working on my roof and Katie is playing with the kids. We'll probably start grilling out around four thirty and we'd love to have you join us.”

“Aren't you a sweetheart,” Millie replied. “I would love to come. What can I bring?”

“There's no need to bring anything. We have plenty of food,” Audra assured her. “Unless you don't care for chicken. That's what we're grilling out.”

“Chicken is fine. But I insist on bringing something. How about I whip up some of my sweet corn bread and bring it?”

“That sounds delicious,” Audra said. “I'm so glad you can come.”

“I appreciate the invitation,” Millie replied. “It gets a mite lonely out here sometimes. That's why I love watching little Katie for Nathan. She's such a joy to be around.”

“I'm sure it does,” Audra said. “And I couldn't agree more about Katie. My children and I adore her.”

“And she adores you and your children,” Millie said. “It's practically all she talks about when she's here. Anyhow, I'll let you go and we'll see you in a couple hours.”

“See you then.”

Audra returned the phone to its cradle and then went to check on the potatoes she had left boiling on the stove when she'd made her call.

An hour later, the cooking was done. Carter's very favorite pecan pie was in the oven and the dishes were washed and set out to dry. Grabbing the stack of colorful plastic picnic plates from the table and the basket of plastic silverware, she went outside to check on the kids and start the grill.

The front yard was empty. Stepping off the porch, she looked around and was about to call out when a very deep male voice called down, “They're around back.”

Turning, she shielded her eyes from the sun with a hand as she looked up at the porch roof. Nathan was seated there, taking a drink from a water bottle. She smiled up at him. “How's it going?”

“Almost done with repairs. They should hold until you're able to put a new roof on.”

Logan came around the corner with a wheelbarrow and smiled in greeting. “Cleanup time,” he said as he began picking up the broken shingles they'd removed from her roof and tossed to the ground.

“I really appreciate everything you all have done for us.” They'd spent their day off working on her house when they could have been doing something so much more enjoyable.

“We're glad to help out,” Nathan said.

Logan agreed with a nod of his dark head.

Audra glanced around. “Where's your brother?”

Logan tossed several pieces of slate into the wheelbarrow. “He's replacing a couple of missing slates on the back porch roof. Headed back there after the kids wandered back that way with the dog. Said he wanted to keep an eye on them.”

“I wouldn't be surprised if you found him in the yard playing, too,” Nathan muttered as he tossed the empty water bottle into the wheelbarrow below. “My brother tends to be a big kid himself when he's around those of a like mind.”

Smiling, Audra nodded. “I've noticed. That's what I love most about him. His willingness to be playful and join in.”

Nathan's dark brow lifted. “Love?” he drawled.

“Excuse me?” she replied in confusion.

“You said that's what you love about him,” Logan said, grinning from ear to ear.

She had? Oh, dear...

Carter's younger brother chuckled. “No worries. Your secret's safe with us.”

Heat filled her cheeks. “It's not that way. I mean, I like your brother. A lot. But he's not looking... I mean I don't want...” She sighed. “I should go check on the children.”

Audra hurried away, shocked that she'd used the word
love
in reference to Carter. Even if it was only in regards to his playful side. She hesitated in her step, realizing that if she were honest with herself it wasn't only his playful side she loved. It was his smile. His deep faith in the Lord. His compassion for others. His thoughtfulness. It was suddenly hard to draw breath. How had she allowed this to happen? She'd fallen in love with Carter Cooper.

Before she could digest that last thought, Boone raced past her, three giggling children following behind.

Carter's husky laughter drifted down from the back porch roof.

Gathering her courage, Audra stepped around the corner of the house. “Have they been chasing after him since I went inside?”

Carter's handsome face peered over the edge of the roof. “Pretty much.”

She turned, watching the comical sight of her children and Katie, even with her limp, trailing after the pup, whose bright blue leash was skimming over the grass behind it. Laughter spilled from her lips. “I'll be amazed if they can stay awake through dinner with all the energy they've been exerting.”

A long leg swung down from the roof, its booted foot settling onto one of the ladder rungs, immediately followed by the other as he worked his way down to where she stood watching him.

“You didn't have to stop on account of me,” she said, unable to look him in the eye, knowing that her heart was determined to lead her to what would eventually be more heartache.

“I didn't. You just happen to have perfect timing. I'm all done up there.” He leaned in, studying her face. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” she said, wishing her racing heart would slow.
She loved him.
“I was just coming out to check on the kids and light the grill. I should go do that.”

Reaching out, he took the stack of plates and silverware from her. “I'll set the table and fire up the grill.”

“You don't have to do that,” she said, chasing after him as he started for the grill they'd placed on the small brick patio Carter had put in for her a few steps away from her back porch. The only other thing on the patio was a wooden picnic table with attached bench seats. Perfect for cookouts.

“I want to,” he said as he doled out the plates along each side of the long wooden table. Then he stepped up to the grill and raised its lid. “I happen to enjoy grilling out.”

Bradford had liked grilling out, too. Until he grew bored with it. Just as he had her. How long would it take Carter to tire of her?

“Audra, I can tell something's bothering you,” Carter said with a sigh of frustration. “Talk to me, darlin'.”

“Hello...”

They turned as Mildred Timmons rounded the corner of the house.

“Millie?” Carter said in surprise as he strode over to greet the older woman with a welcoming hug.

“I asked Millie to join us for our cookout,” Audra explained, grateful for the older woman's timing. She wasn't ready to talk to Carter about what was bothering her. How could she? The man wasn't looking for love. And she wasn't looking to give her heart away again only to have it rejected. Once had been hard enough. But something told her that with Carter it would be beyond heartbreaking. She managed a smile for the older woman as she moved to join them. “I'm so glad you were able to make it.”

“I set the corn bread on the stove. The boys told me I'd find you out back.” Her gaze drifted across the yard to where all three children and the pup were lying atop the grass, worn out from their running about. “Looks like there's been an addition to the family.”

“That's Boone,” Audra told her, her smile widening, despite her inner turmoil, as she watched Lily sit up and lean over to hug the dog beside her. Seeing her children so joyful, so completely taken by the overly affectionate pup, she felt such a deep sense of regret for not standing up to Bradford all those times he'd refused their pleas for a pet of their own. “Carter surprised us with him today. He's beyond adorable and the kids are thrilled to have a dog of their very own. Their father was never big on animals.” She couldn't keep the edge of sadness from her voice as she spoke.

“Well, he doesn't know what he's missing,” Millie said empathetically. “The good Lord gave sweet pups like that the ability to love those who love them back and to watch over those they care about.” She looked up at Carter. “Appears to me our Audra here has found herself a smart man this time around.”

“Millie,” Carter muttered, looking to Audra as if he feared she might be offended by the older woman's bluntness.

“No need to get your britches in a twist, young man. All I'm saying is that a woman knows a surefire way to a man's heart is through her cooking. But few men realize that one way to a woman's heart is with a puppy. Especially one that fills her children with such tremendous joy.”

He met Audra's gaze. “My intention was to give Mason and Lily something that I knew from my own childhood would give them unconditional love. If I succeeded in accomplishing more by doing so, I will count myself a very blessed man, as well.” Turning back to Millie, he said, “I'll leave you two ladies to visit while I go get washed up.”

Audra watched him go, longing in her heart.

“He cares for you a great deal,” Millie said beside her.

Tears stung Audra's eyes. “I can't do this again.”

“Do what, dear?”

“Love a man who might never love me back,” she said.

“What makes you think Carter couldn't love you back?”

Turning to Millie, she said sadly, “Because he's not looking for anything long-term. And because it would be just punishment for me breaking the vows I spoke before God when I married Bradford. I pledged in church to stay with my husband until death do us part, but I was the one to file for divorce and end my marriage.”

“Honey, let's have us a seat over at the picnic table,” Millie suggested, her kind, caring tone reminding Audra of the many talks she'd had with her own mother. “I'd like to talk to you.”

Nodding and doing her best not to give in to the tears, she followed Millie over to the brick patio. Once they were seated, the older woman reached across to take her hand.

“You seem to be a woman who loves deeply and feels her losses every bit as deeply. Carter told me a little about your ex-husband and about the loss of your parents when you were such a tender age. I'm sorry you've had to go through so much heartache. Now I'm gonna tell you what I would've told my daughter if I'd had one. God isn't looking to punish you for ending your marriage. From what I understand, you tried with everything you had in you to make it work. But, sweetie,” she said, giving Audra's hand a squeeze, “no one, not you, not I, not our wondrous Lord above, can help a sinner if he or she refuses to be helped. In the end, you did what you needed to do to protect your little ones. God understands that.”

Millie's words surprisingly helped to ease some of Audra's long-harbored guilt where her failed marriage was concerned. Sniffing softly, she lifted her gaze from the table to meet the kind woman's gaze. “Thank you for saying that. I guess I felt so guilty about ending my marriage, no matter how awful it had become, that I never considered God might not lay the blame for it at my feet.”

“Have you forgiven your ex-husband for his failings?”

Audra thought about it for a long moment and then shook her head. “I don't believe I have.”

“It might help you to move on. Forgiveness has the ability to heal the heart, you know.”

She was right. It was time to move on, and to do so she needed to forgive Bradford his trespasses and pray he found the help he needed to become the Christian he once was. “I can do that,” she said determinedly.

“Now that we've got that put to rights, I wanna talk to you about Carter. With no family of my own, they've become my boys and I love them with all my heart.”

“I've seen that,” Audra said with a soft smile.

“When Nathan lost Isabel, all three of them boys pulled back from serious relationships of any kind. They were still feeling the loss of those they loved and scared to ever intentionally put their hearts at risk of losing someone they love ever again. But fears fade and hearts tend to have a mind of their own. I know my Carter and he feels deeply for you. Give him a chance to prove it to you. He's not your ex.”

“I want to,” she said on a choked sob.

“Then do so,” Millie said simply. “Let your heart guide you to the happiness you deserve.”

She had trusted her heart once, but looking back now she knew that what she'd thought had been love hadn't even been close to the feelings she had for Carter. Audra nodded. “I prayed for the Lord to guide me down the right path, unsure if he would listen because of my walking away from my marriage. But He did listen. He brought a wonderful, caring man into my life.” She glanced toward her children and her smile returned. “Our lives. He's given me a second chance at finding what my heart's been searching for. And now I know what I need to do to finally move on and trust in what Carter and I have.”