My True Cowboy (16 page)

All the time he'd been trying to fuss over his brother and supervise his sister and care for his father—and figure out why it hadn't driven him crazy—one truth had come to surface. He liked being needed.

With some dismay, Cal realized he liked people depending on him. It made him feel useful. As far as he was concerned, he had broad shoulders and a good mind. He had more than enough room in his heart to bear the burdens of someone else.

He wished Susan could have seen that.

But instead of realizing that all he had wanted to do was help her out with her problems, she'd pushed him away.

And now he was likely going to be alone for the rest of his life.

Sipping his iced tea, he opened up the latest financial report that had been delivered from the bank and began reading it carefully.

Only the unmistakable sound of a Riddell man in boots walking down the hall jarred him from his focus.

“Trent?”

“You better believe it,” his brother answered with a sassy grin. “Whoa. Look at you! You look like death warmed over.”

“Thanks.”

“I never thought I'd live to see the day you'd be moping around the house. You're the guy who has always seemed like he could run the world by 8:00 a.m. Now, though, it looks like your world has plumb fallen apart.”

It pretty much had, but Trent didn't need to know that. Standing, he said, “What are you doing here?”

“I heard you might be needing me.”

“What?”

“I called him,” Jarred said, coming up behind Trent. “I told him to get on home and help me straighten you out.”

Trent walked over and faced Cal. “Don't say a word about me not coming over here. It wasn't easy flying with a cast on, let me tell you that. Everyone at the airport seemed to enjoy inspecting me a little too much to make sure my cast wasn't a terrorist threat.”

“I'm not going to say a word.” Then Cal broke his promise. “But you shouldn't have come.”

“I couldn't help it. You needed me.”

“I was getting along fine….”

Trent grinned. “No, you weren't! You need advice. And you need it bad.”

“What advice do you think you can give me?”

“Only that you need to do everything you can to keep hold of Susan.”

“You don't even know her.”

“I've heard enough about her from people who do,” Trent retorted. “And they say she's the best thing that's ever happened to you.”

Cal looked at Jarred. “You told Trent that?”

“I did.” Looking a bit shamefaced, Jarred added, “Well, I did after Serena reminded me.”

“Somehow I've completely messed things up.”

“No, you haven't,” Jarred said easily. “All you have to do is say you're sorry.”

Cal scratched his head. “Really? I don't think that will be enough.”

Trent shook his head in wonder. “For a guy so smart with numbers, you're as dumb as bricks with women. Of course saying you're sorry ain't enough.”

Cal glared at him. “Okay, Einstein. What's your advice?”

“The obvious,” Trent declared. “Call up reinforcements. Talk to her boss or her friends…and get their advice.”

Jarred winked. “But my advice is to do it quick. Before it's too late.”

 

S
USAN WAS LATER THAN USUAL
getting to work, which was exactly
not
how she had wanted to start her last week at the Lodge.

Of course, a lot of things had happened that morning that had been out of her control. Hank had been cranky, slower than usual getting up and eating his cereal. She spilled coffee on her white skirt not ten minutes after she'd slipped it on, which meant a whole outfit change.

Then just minutes after dropping off Hank, she realized she was almost out of gas. And getting gas wasn't an easy thing in Electra. Filling up a tank necessitated going down the highway for five miles in the opposite direction, waiting in line at one of the five pumps that worked and visiting with everyone there or being seen as rude.

It was going to be one of the many things she would not miss about small-town life, Susan sternly told herself. Yes, it was better to think that way instead of remembering that for the first time, she'd actually known half the people at the gas station.

And that every one of them had asked about Hank.

No, she definitely was not going to think about that.
Instead, she grabbed her purse, slammed her car door and walked briskly into the main entrance.

As the cool breeze of central air-conditioning hit her in the face, Paula waved her down.

“Where's the fire?”

Susan skidded to a stop. “What are you talking about?”

“Honey, you're running in here like flames are about to burn your butt. Are you okay?”

“No. I'm late.”

“For the first time since you started. What happened?”

“Everything that could have gone wrong today did.”

A secret smile lit the receptionist's face. “I wouldn't say that.”

“Why not?”

“I could tell you, but I think you'd rather see what I mean. Go on down to your office. There's something waiting for you there.”

Susan frowned. “What is it? Another crisis happen with one of the staff?”

“I'm not telling. Go on now,” Paula said.

As soon as she was about to turn down the hallway, it suddenly dawned on her that things were a lot different in the front office than usual. No residents were hovering nearby, wondering when the mail was going to be delivered. No one was waiting to speak to her.

Even the four women sitting on the pair of couches across the way in the main lobby seemed to be strangely silent. As were the trio of folks sipping coffee near the coatrack. Recognizing Rosa Ventura, Susan delayed going to her office a little longer. “What's going on?”

“Nothing, dear. I'm just having my coffee in here today.”

Rosa didn't have her coffee just anywhere. Everyone in the building knew Rosa sat in the garden room and sipped
her two cups while working on her morning crossword. But when she only crossed her legs and looked very haughtily at her, Susan pushed her confusion away and went on in.

And then stood in the doorway and gaped. There, taking up almost her whole desk, was the most beautiful arrangement of roses she'd ever seen. Two—no, three—dozen stems of different shades of pink stood proudly in a gorgeous cut-crystal vase.

Leaning up against the vase was a square envelope. Her name was printed neatly across the front.

Slowly, she approached the bouquet, almost afraid to blink. Instead, she closed her eyes and breathed deep. Oh, the aroma was heavenly.

“Aren't you going to open the card and see who they're from?” Kay called out from her door.

“Kay?” She turned to her boss. “What's going on?”

“Quite a lot.” A dimple appeared in Kay's cheek as she pointed toward Susan's front window—the one that looked out toward the main hallway.

Susan pivoted, and then stared, dumbstruck. It looked as if half the people who either worked or lived in the Lodge were gathered around that glass…and they were looking right back at her, grinning.

Huh. Her flowers seemed to be the biggest news of the day. Had Cal sent them to her? She started to feel all tingly at the thought.

“Open the card, Susan,” Kay prompted with a smile.

“All right. Here we go,” she said, picking up the envelope and neatly pulling up the flap.

We Want You To Stay.

She felt her mouth drop open as she read the card, and then read it again. There, covering the bottom and back of the card had to be at least fifty signatures. Disappointment that Cal hadn't sent the bouquet dissipated as she
realized just how many people right there at the Lodge had contributed to her present.

And with that, a different type of warmth floated through her. One filled from knowing that she was accepted. Looking at the window, she motioned everyone in.

That was all the prodding anyone needed! Soon her small office was packed with people, young and old. Each one smiling a thousand-watt grin.

Susan couldn't help but grin, too. “You all bought me flowers?”

“We sure did,” Paula said as she pushed her way forward. “We wanted to do something grand.”

“Roses are special, don't you think?” Rosa asked from her wheelchair by the door.

Tears pricked her eyes. “It's all grand. And special. Especially the note. But why did y'all do this?”

Paula answered that one. “It's kind of obvious, I think. We don't want you to move away. We like you. We think you fit right in.”

Kay grinned as she stepped closer. “Word spread like wildfire around here on Friday when you left. Everyone got together and tried to come up with the perfect gift.”

“You mean bribe,” Paula teased.

“Whatever you want to call it, we knew you like flowers,” Paula pointed out. “And, well, we wanted to give you a gift you couldn't refuse.”

As laughter followed Paula's remark, Susan playfully hugged her vase close. Well, as close as she could. “Oh, don't worry, I certainly won't refuse these. They're the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen in my life! But they sure weren't necessary.”

As the room quieted down, Kay said quietly, “I know
you've got some things you have to deal with. But, we'd rather you stay here and work them out than leave us.”

“We want to help you out with Hank, too,” Paula said. “I already checked with the school-bus system and guess what? Hank can be dropped off right here after school.”

Rosa nodded. “And all of us are going to take turns helping him with schoolwork and eating healthy snacks when you can't.”

Susan couldn't believe what she was hearing. “But Hank isn't your job. He's not your responsibility….”

Kay placed her hands on her hips. “Susan Young, don't you get it yet? You're more to us than just a worker. You're part of our family here. We want to help.”

Susan was embarrassed to realize that the tears she'd tried so hard to still were now falling down her cheeks. How different this place was, compared to her old job!

Why hadn't she realized that? Why hadn't she taken what Betsy had said to heart all those weeks ago? There really was a whole lot more to feeling secure than just a good paycheck!

“You all mean that?” she asked.

“Of course we do,” Paula replied. “Your smiles around here have made us smile. Your caring ways have been something to look forward to.”

“Besides, now that Calvin's gone, no one else wants to play gin with me,” Rosa said.

“Please tell us you won't make us play cards with her again,” one of the aides murmured.

As the room erupted again into laughter, Susan was aware of another feeling permeating the air. Expectation. Everyone was waiting for her answer.

Suddenly, she felt as though she had just come home—well, to a home that only good friends could give a person.
It was made up of people who cared about her and gave her a reason to get up each morning.

It was startling to realize that although she had felt that way about the Electra Lodge, these people had viewed her in much the same way. They wanted her in their lives.

They needed her there.

What more could she ask for? She had a wonderful son who meant the world to her, and these wonderful people. It was okay if she didn't have Cal Riddell, too.

One day, maybe, she'd be brave enough to risk another relationship. But until that day came, she was going to be satisfied with doing the best she could, and being thankful for good friends who cared about her.

Wiping a stray tear from her eye, she looked around the room. “Thank you all. No one…no one has ever done so much for me. Ever. These flowers, this card—and all of you being here—it means the world to me.”

“So, did it work?” Rosa asked.

“Like a charm,” Susan said with a laugh. “Kay, you better look out, because you're not getting rid of me now. I'm finally going to put down roots. I'm here to stay.”

As a spurt of clapping lit the air, Susan moved from staff member to resident as everyone rushed forward to offer their best wishes and she offered her thanks.

After almost an hour, everyone but Rosa left. Susan was a little surprised by that. She enjoyed her conversations with the older lady. And they'd definitely shared a few laughs.

But Rosa had never come to her office and settled in for so long.

But maybe there was another reason? But Susan didn't want to push, so she just stacked up some paperwork and bided her time.

And, finally, Rosa spoke. Crossing her arms over her
ample chest, she looked Susan in the eye. “I can't tell you how glad I am that you decided to stay here.”

“I can't tell you how glad I feel that I
can
stay. I've been really struggling with the right thing to do.”

“I think we'll all enjoy spending more time with Hank.”

“He'll like it, too.”

“'Course, I imagine there's someone else he'll enjoy being with, too.”

Susan knew who had put that gleam in the lady's eyes. “Cal?”

“The very one. How are things going with him?”

“I'm not sure. I don't know if we'll ever get back to how we were.”

“Ah, trust.”

“You read my mind,” she said sheepishly.

“No, I haven't been mind reading. Instead, I've been talking to his father.”

“Mr. Riddell?”

“The very one. We've gotten pretty close, you know. He's been worried about his boy.” Her gaze strayed away from Susan's for a moment, then a new glint appeared. “I think you should give that Cal Riddell another chance.”

“There's nothing to give him a chance about. We're just in different places in our lives.”

“But still, look what happened here today. Sometimes it's best to look at the big picture, you know. To think about how you
want
things to be instead of just getting stuck on what is.”