Love Song (17 page)

Grant whistled softly. “How did an ugly cuss like you meet up with a woman like her?”

Wade managed a halfhearted smile. “We were friends in high school. She’s been sick and is staying with her cousin while she recovers.” He unfastened the saddle, tugging it and the saddle blanket from the horse.

Grant led Sadie over to the water trough and slipped off the bridle. He followed Wade to the tack room, waiting outside as he put away the saddle and blanket, then handed him the bridle and reins to hang up. “Looks to me like what you’re feelin’ is a heap more than friendship.”

Wade sighed and shut the door to the tack room, watching the horse roll in the dirt for a minute before heading for the corral gate. He noticed that Grant was limping. “Your knee botherin’ you?”

“Yeah. Must be a cool front coming in.” They stopped at Grant’s pickup, where he unfastened his spurs and tossed them into a box in the back. “Now what’s the story?” he asked as they walked slowly toward the house.

“I’ve never told another soul this, Grant, so I’d appreciate it if you keep it under your hat.” When his friend gave him a curt nod, Wade continued. “I met Andi when I moved here my senior year. I fell for her the first time I saw her.”

“She’s a pretty lady, that’s a fact.”

“I never let on to anybody how I felt. Especially Andi. I knew she wouldn’t stay around Buckley. I thought I’d gotten over her, but as soon as I saw her again, I realized I hadn’t. We’ve spent a lot of time together since she’s been back, and now I know I’ll never love anybody else.” They stopped in the kitchen and grabbed a couple of soft drinks, then went into the living room.

When Wade motioned for Grant to take the recliner, he sat down, leaned back, and put his feet up with a heartfelt sigh. “You may never get me out of this thing. If I start snoring, let me be. So what about Andi? Are you more than just a passin’ fancy?”

Wade sprawled on the couch, resting his feet on the rugged coffee table. “I think maybe I am.”

About to take a drink of grape soda, Grant paused and pierced Wade with his gaze. “You mean the lady is in love with you?”

“I think so.” He leaned his head against the back of the couch with a groan. “I don’t know if she really is or just thinks she is.”

“Either way, it’s a problem.”

“She’ll be leaving before long. The doctor is probably going to give her the go-ahead today. Andi and I live in two different worlds. I can’t live in hers, and I can’t ask her to give it all up and live in mine. She’s worked too hard and loves it too much.”

Grant was silent for a few minutes, regret mirrored in his eyes. “I can’t see you wandering around the country in a bus, playin’ Mr. Andi Carson.”

“I couldn’t do it. Maybe now and then, but not all the time.”

“And being apart so much can ruin a marriage,” Grant said bitterly.

Wade knew his friend spoke from first hand experience. Grant had paid a high price to follow the rodeo. “I couldn’t stand being here and having her on the road, either. I’d go out of my mind worrying about her, worrying about what might happen—knowing all the things that could happen.”

“Loneliness and temptation. One way or the other, the trap usually gets sprung.” They sat quietly for a while, each lost in his own thoughts. Finally, Grant looked at Wade. “So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I’ve prayed and prayed and still don’t have an answer.”

“You really expected one? Haven’t you figured out that the Man Upstairs—if there really is one—doesn’t answer prayers?”

Wade’s heart went out to his friend. Grant had made his mistakes, but he had been deeply hurt, too. “He’s there, and he answers prayer. Sometimes, he just doesn’t answer the way we want him to.”

“Then why bother to pray at all?”

“Because in the end, his way is the right way.”

Grant flipped the lever to lower the footrest on the recliner. He slowly pushed himself up out of the chair, grimacing in pain. “I’d better go. Got chores to do before dark.”

Wade didn’t argue or try to talk any more about spiritual matters. Until his friend was ready to hear more, all Wade could do was pray and sow a few seeds. “Don’t wait so long to come back. We don’t always have to work.”

Grant snorted. “Ain’t got time to play. Don’t remember how, anyway.” He grabbed his hat and limped out the door, heading toward the corrals and his pickup.

Wade stretched out in the recliner, thinking seriously about a nap. He hadn’t slept worth a hoot for a couple of nights. About the time he got comfortable, the doorbell rang. The door was open, so he wasn’t surprised to hear the screen door creak.

“Anybody home? Wade? Andi? Anybody here?”

“Come on in, Dawn.” Wade got up, only taking two steps before Dawn bustled into the room. “Andi’s not here.”

“I thought she was coming out to spend the afternoon. That was the plan when I left this morning.”

“She left a message on my machine that she was going to see the doctor today instead of tomorrow.”

“Well, if you’d called her, she wouldn’t have gone off in a huff.”

“I had some things to work out.”

“Did you get them resolved?”

“No. How is she?”

“Wondering what’s going on in that pea-sized brain of yours, so get with the program and call her.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Wade let his gaze slowly drift over her. He’d seen Dawn in all kinds of outfits, from her Sunday best to her garden clothes, but he’d never seen her looking such a mess. She wore a bright orange T-shirt tucked into old, frayed jeans. Both were badly splattered with deep rose paint. He stepped closer. She had paint specks on her arms and face and a swipe of dark pink on the end of her nose. Rose splotches and streaks highlighted her blond curls, but she still looked cute. “Glad you got dressed up to come see me.”

She waved away his comment and hurried into the kitchen portion of the big open room, talking ninety-miles-an-hour. “I’m going to bum something to drink. I’m dying of thirst. Been painting the bathroom at the store and breathing the fumes all day.” Her jeans sported a perfect rose-colored hand print beside the left hip pocket.

Wade grinned, barely refraining from laughing out loud. “Did you get any paint on the walls?”

Grant stepped through the door, glanced at Wade, then focused on Dawn, who was digging around in the refrigerator.

“Yes, I did, smarty,” she said. “It’s impossible to use a roller without a little splattering.”

Grant nudged the front brim of his hat up for a better view, then looked at Wade again and silently asked if this was Andi.

Wade shook his head, aware that from his angle, Grant couldn’t see Dawn’s blond hair. His friend looked surprised, then instantly curious, and turned his attention back to the woman who was half-hidden by the refrigerator door.

“Wade, don’t you have any grape soda?” Her voice was muffled as she moved things around in the fridge. “Don’t you ever clean this thing?”

“No, to both questions.”

“All you’ve got left is root beer.” She shuddered delicately. “Can’t stand the stuff. Ick!” She popped out of the refrigerator and tossed a half-wrapped chunk of fuzzy green cheese into the sink. “Branching out into pharmaceuticals?” Her upper body disappeared again inside the refrigerator. Seconds later a plastic bag flew into the sink. “That cucumber is swimming in slim. When did you cut it, a month ago?”

“Probably six.”

She straightened, shut the refrigerator door, and started opening cabinets. “Guess I’ll have to settle for water. Where are all your glasses?”

“In the dishwasher.”

She shrugged gracefully. “Makes since. Why bother to unload it when you know where everything is.” As she zipped over to the dishwasher and plucked a glass from inside, Wade glanced at Grant. His friend stood transfixed, staring at Dawn with a mixture of amazement, bewilderment, and admiration.

“Did you have a special reason for trying to find Andi, or did you drop by to clean out my refrigerator?”

She took a long drink and refilled the glass from the tap. “Kyle needed to talk to her right away, and she left her cell phone at the house because it needed recharging. I tried to call here, but no one answered, and I didn’t know when you’d get around to checking your machine if I left a message. Besides, the last time I left a message on that thing, it cut me off before I said my name. I figured you were down at the corrals, and it would be better if I dashed out and told her in person. But that didn’t work, since she’s not here. Good thing I left her a note.”

Wade glanced at Grant again. He was frowning and absently scratching the stubble on his jaw. “Why would you leave her a note when you were coming out here to see her?”

“The way you two haven’t been talking lately, I thought she might have already left. I might not meet her on my way out from town if she went some place else, and if she got home before I did, she could go ahead and call Kyle.”

Wade met Grant’s gaze with a smile. It made sense, in a Dawn sort of way. His buddy appeared to be trying to sort it all out.

She took another drink and glanced at the clock on the stove. “Grandpa’s whiskers! Is your clock right?”

“Yep.”

“I’ve got to go.” She slammed the plastic glass down on the counter, knocking it over in her haste. “Drat!” Grabbing the dishrag from the back of the sink, she mopped up the water. “I have to be at the City Council meeting in two hours, and I still have to bake cookies for the missionary bake sale and take them over to Velma’s tonight.”

She rushed out of the kitchen, drilling Wade with her gaze. “You are planning to take Andi to the dance next Friday, aren’t you? Since word got out that she’s singing a couple of songs, our tickets have been selling faster than popcorn at the county fair. But she won’t feel like singing if you don’t start behaving yourself. And she’s going to throw a party for the townspeople and sign autographs at my store on Wednesday afternoon. We could use a few bodyguards to keep the screaming hordes in line. Call the woman and put her out of her misery. Better yet, go see her.”

Dawn came to a screeching halt about a step-and-a-half shy of plowing right into Grant. He grabbed her upper arms to steady her. “Oh, excuse me!” Her face instantly turned scarlet, which clashed with the orange T-shirt and rose paint. “I didn’t know Wade had company.”

Wade observed his two friends with amusement. For a gal who supposedly had sworn off men, and a man who put women in the same category as rattlesnakes, they were sure staring at each other. He was astonished to see a tiny smile crease Grant’s face as he slowly lowered his hands.

“What kind of car are you drivin’, ma’am?”

“A blue Ford van. Why?”

“Does it have auto-pilot?”

Dawn laughed and shook her head. “No, but the road’s straight. All I have to do is point it toward town.”

“Glad I’m goin’ the other direction.” Grant’s smile widened minutely. He touched the brim of his hat politely. “Grant Adams, ma’am.”

“Dawn Carson. Andi’s cousin, and occasionally Wade’s friend.” Her pointed look told Wade this might not be one of those occasions. “It’s nice to meet you, and I’m glad I didn’t run you down, but I really do have to go.”

Grant stepped aside, allowing her to pass.

“Bye, Wade. Call Andi, will ya? I’m sick of hearing the blues.” She dashed out the door at full speed, letting the screen slam behind her, mumbling “of all the times to look like something the cat dragged in and the dog won’t eat.”

“Whew! Is she always like that?” Grant asked softly, staring out the front door.

Wade chuckled. “Pretty much. Dawn’s a regular whirlwind.”

Grant turned away from the door and shook his head, but a glimmer of admiration lingered in his eyes. “More like a three ring circus.”

“But a sweet one, and she’s single. She’ll be at the dance next Friday.”

“But I won’t be. I’m not interested, even if she is pretty.”

“Why did you come back?”

“I thought I’d swipe another grape soda for the trip home.” Grant started for the door.

“You can have the root beer.”

“Can’t stand the stuff.” Grant made a face and walked out the door, letting the screen slam behind him.

“Yes, Kyle, I know she’s fantastic.” Andi held the phone with one hand and pulled the flour canister out of the cabinet with the other, setting it beside the sugar container on the counter. After spotting Dawn’s “to do” list, the cookie recipe, and four sticks of softened butter, she’d decided to help out with the baking. “Give her a chance to rest. I doubt if she slept at all last night, and she’d never flown before. She’s probably a nervous wreck.”

“I know.” Kyle laughed softly. “She still blew me away when she sang, even though her hands were shaking so bad I was sure she’d hit the wrong string on her guitar. Actually, she’s curled up asleep on the couch in my office right now. I’m using Lisa’s phone.”

“Why, Kyle, you do have a heart.”

“Maybe.” There was an odd note in his voice. “After she sleeps awhile, I’ll buy her dinner and take her to the hotel so she can crash. We should be able to get rolling on Monday. Jake’s lining up a backup band, already found a drummer and a bass player. He’s auditioning a couple of keyboard guys tomorrow and has some calls out for a lead guitarist. When do you go back to the doctor?”

Andi measured a cup of sugar into the mixer bowl. “I saw him today. Everything is back to normal. He’s released me.”

“You coming back tomorrow or Saturday?”

“Not so fast, buster. I need more time. I promised Dawn I’d sing at a benefit dance next weekend.”

“I can live with that.”

“Can you try to hold things off even longer?”

“I’ll try, but I may not be too successful. We don’t have much option on most of the tentative dates. Are you still seeing Wade?”

“I haven’t for a few days.”

“But? What are you not telling me, hon?”

“I’m in love.” She smiled at Kyle’s groan. “And to be honest, I don’t want to leave at all. I want to stay right here forever.”

“Andi, you can’t. You’ve got commitments. I have almost all the concerts rescheduled. And you’ve got another album to do before your contract is up.”