Winds of Wyoming (A Kate Neilson Novel) (26 page)

Dymple sat back. “Does it help to know the details of the accident?”

He set his glass on the tray and clasped his hands together, elbows on his knees. “It helps some with the guilt, even though I was driving on a highway without a license. I just wish I’d known about the other driver years ago.”

Dymple offered a sad smile. “Please don’t be angry with your mom. My guess is that she and your donkey, like the rest of us, thought you knew all the facts, that you realized you didn’t cause the accident.”

A corner of Mike’s mouth turned up. He cleared his throat. “I’m sure you’re right. My parents probably had no idea what was going on in my head back then.”

Kate touched his leg with her toe. “Will you tell your mom about your findings?”

“You should.” Dymple leaned forward. “Laura can fill in lots of details, plus tell you what a mischievous duo you and Matt were.”

Kate grinned. “I can only imagine.”

“Hey, two against one. That’s not fair.” Mike grabbed another pastry and stood. “I’d better head back.”

Kate shifted on the couch. “I need to ask you a favor before you go.”

Dymple and Mike eyed her, waiting.

“I’d appreciate it if you and your mom—” She glanced at Dymple. “And you, too, Dymple, would keep my location a secret.”

His eyebrows tightened.

“I can’t explain, but it’s important that as few people as possible know where I am.”

He stared at her. “Everybody at the ranch will be asking about you.”

“Just tell them …” She faltered. She couldn’t ask him to lie for her, but she didn’t want Ramsey or Tara to find out where she was. “Tell them I’m in a convalescent home, which is true, thanks to Dymple. When I’m able, I’ll find an internship somewhere else. Maybe Colorado. I plan to send out resumes this week.”

The smile, which had already begun to fade from Mike’s handsome face, vanished. And happiness sifted from Kate’s heart, leaving behind hard, dry kernels of regret. He’d been so joyful moments earlier. She’d popped his balloon, again.

Mike crammed his hat onto his head and started for the door. Then he was gone, the door thumping closed behind him.

***

That evening Kate sat in bed with her back against the headboard munching a cracker, trying to read. But she couldn’t concentrate on the words or force down more than half a Ritz. Life was about to blow sky high for her, and possibly for her friends. They had no idea what kind of malevolence she’d brought into their lives. Now Mike was mad at her. But maybe that was a good thing. He’d soon know she was a felon.

She heard a knock and looked up. Dymple stood in the doorway. “May I come in?”

“Of course.”

Her host sat on a chair next to the window. “Anything I can get you to help you make it through the night? Aspirin? A glass of willows?”

Kate hoped Dymple didn’t see her lips twitch. “I took a pain pill earlier, so that should hold me through the night. But water would be nice later on.”

“You’ve looked so sad all day. Other than when Mr. Duncan was here.” Dymple winked.

Kate clasped her cheeks to hide the color she knew was rising from her neck to her face.

Dymple smiled. “I’m just teasing. Mike is a wonderful young man. You two seem so natural together.”

“You may think so, but nothing can ever happen between us.”

“Why not?”

She stared at the ceiling. “You really want to know?”

Dymple nodded.

Kate toyed with the new bracelet on her wrist. “I guess the short version is that he deserves a wholesome person like his mom, like you. Not trash, like me.”

Dymple’s brow lowered. “Don’t ever think or say that again. No one is garbage in the eyes of our Creator. Each of us has been created in his image.”

Kate looked down. “I thought I could leave my past behind and start a new life in Wyoming. Instead, I brought a big black thundercloud to hail on everyone around me.” She bit her lip. Why was she saying this?

“Kate?”

She avoided Dymple’s gaze. “I’ve said way too much.”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, sweetie, but I don’t need to. The Bible says in Psalms that God knows our foolishness, he knows our guilt, and he knows and cares about the anguish of our hearts. He even keeps track of our tears.” She clasped her hands around her knee. “I’ve prayed for you since the day we met, and I’ll continue to pray that you’ll be assured of God’s love and forgiveness.”

Kate smirked, remembering Dymple’s promise to keep her in her prunes.

“As the Apostle Paul prayed …” The older woman cleared the crackle from her throat. “I’ll ask that you begin to comprehend how great God’s power is to help those who believe in Him. You do believe, don’t you?”

Kate nodded. “Yes … but … my faith is weak. I asked God to come into my life when I was in pr … Pittsburgh. I know he loves me and will help me be a better person. I just have trouble shedding the shadows of my past.”

“That’s good.”

“What’s good?”

“The fact you understand your weakness. Paul claimed that when he was weak, that’s when he was strong. He said he delighted in his weaknesses and boasted about them, so God’s power would be displayed.”

Kate raised her eyebrows. “Sounds backward to me.”

Dymple laughed. “Pastor Chuck calls it
upside-down theology
. But that’s the kind of God we have. We can’t put him in a box. Or stop him from rescuing us. A verse in Deuteronomy says he rides across the heavens to help us. Remember, he delights in you, Kate. Let him ride to your rescue singing a song of deliverance.”

***

Mike stifled a yawn as he opened the front door. “Come in, Fletcher.” The predawn gust of cool air that slipped through the opening made him shiver.

Fletcher stepped into the lobby. “Morning, Mike. Sorry to wake you so early.”

“Something wrong?”

“You could say that.” Fletcher rubbed his hand across his hairless dome.

Mike waited. Maybe this was it. The moment when the other boot dropped and the barely controlled chaos escalated to pandemonium.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news.” Fletcher crossed his arms as if shielding himself from Mike’s reaction. “Cyrus left.”

Yep. Boot number two.

“When I got to the kitchen a few minutes ago, I found a copy of this week’s menu next to his cookbook with a note that said he’s leaving town. His only instructions were to repeat June menus in July and August.’”

“That’s all?”

Laura, wearing a robe and slippers and a sleepy expression, stepped into the lobby. “Fletcher. What in the world are you doing here so early?”

“Cyrus quit.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

She shook her head. “He really did it this time. We should have taken his threats seriously.” She turned to Mike. “So, what’s Plan B?”

He shrugged. “I can flip pancakes.”

“Perfect.” Fletcher nodded. “Pancakes are on the menu this morning, along with fruit slices, bacon and eggs.”

Laura touched Fletcher’s arm. “Do you mind stepping in for Cyrus?”

“I’d be glad to, ma’am, but I’ll need help.”

“We’ll see to it you have plenty of helpers. Mike and I can assist this morning. Who else is scheduled today?”

“Tanner is on for breakfast. I’ll have to check the list for the other meals.”

***

Kate bumped the wheelchair across the threshold and onto the patio. It took a couple tries, but she managed to maneuver the chair close to the table. Dymple followed. She placed a cup of herbal tea and her computer in front of Kate.

Kate thanked here. “Are you sure you don’t need your laptop?”

“I don’t know how to use it yet. When you’re finished with it, maybe you can teach me.”

“I’d love to. Thanks for sharing.”

“I’m happy to share with you, but I have to admit I’m not happy about aiding and abetting a runaway.”

“Are you calling me a runaway?”

Dymple folded her arms. “You told me you love it here.”

“So?”

“So, why leave?”

Kate lifted her palms. “I’m a single woman who needs to finish her internship requirements and find a job to support herself. This valley isn’t exactly a mecca of industrialization.”

“If God wants you here, he’ll provide employment.”

“If God wanted me here, he wouldn’t have …”

Dymple’s eyebrows rose.

“Oh, never mind.”

“In
all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who’ve been called according to his purpose. That’s Romans eight twenty-eight, sweetie. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.”

Kate laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”

Dymple lifted a sweater from a nail beside the back door and tied it by the sleeves around her tiny waist. “The cemetery must be a mess after that gale we had in the middle of the night. I need to go tidy it up. Anything else I can get you before I go?”

“I’ll be fine. Thank you for all you do to make me comfortable.”

“I’ll return in an hour or so. Don’t you be trying to crawl into a bathtub or reach into a cupboard.”

“Wouldn’t think of it.”

Kate watched Dymple limp around the corner of the house. What an amazing woman. She didn’t let painful joints slow her down.
I shouldn’t let a broken leg stop me
.

By the looks of the newly swept patio, the elderly woman had already tidied up her yard, which appeared untainted by the midnight wind that had lashed the little cottage and awakened Kate. At first, she’d been frightened by the shadows of branches thrashing in the moonlight and the sound of them noisily scraping against the house. But soon, she’d had the sensation the wind was cleansing her spirit and salving her soul the way it did her first day in Wyoming, and she’d fallen into a deep, satisfying slumber.

Chaplain Sam had once told the women in a prison chapel service that the Holy Spirit and his angels were holy winds—healing, helping currents of promise. Last night, she’d been surrounded by
holy winds.
What a privilege. “Thank you for sending your messengers to dance over me last night, Lord.” She bowed her head. “I trust they were singing songs of deliverance … according to your plan, not mine.”

Kate lifted the computer lid and typed
Romans 8:28
into the search field. Time to
stick it in her pipe
before the sheriff came to haul her away.

Chapter Twenty-One

MIKE SCRUBBED THE GRIDDLE
while Tanner loaded the dishwasher. Even though he’d never been fond of dishwashing, the warm water and mindless activity slowed his racing thoughts. He stared out the window above the sink, hating the way he’d begun to dread the future, as if he didn’t trust God to take care of the ranch and answer all his questions.

“Oh, there you are, sweetheart.” The woman’s voice pierced his solitary moment of peace.

Mike’s fingers froze on the griddle, and the rat-tat-tat of high heels across the dining room floor buffeted his brain like nails shot from a nail gun.

Tanner muttered under his breath. “Here comes trouble.”

Tara paused in the doorway. “I’ve been everywhere on this little ranchette looking for you, Mikey.”

He glanced at the purposely posed woman. One hand rested on her hip and the other was stationed above her head on the doorframe. “We’re busy, Tara. If you need something, talk to my mom up at the office.”

She made a face. “Like
she
would help me.”

His gut began to churn. He turned back to the sink.

“Besides, it appears she’s busy entertaining a deputy or two this morning. I thought she was too old for that sort of thing.”

Mike whirled and flung the dishrag at her. The dripping mass bull’s-eyed the bridge of her nose before it slid from her face to nestle in the crotch of her halter top.

She screamed, scrambling to retrieve the soapy rag. “How could you?” She shuddered and hurled the cloth at the floor.

Tanner gaped at her and then at Mike. “I’m outa here.” The screen door banging shut behind him seemed to shake the building.

“Mikey. Oh, Mikey.” Tara sniffed and wiped her hand under her nose. “I just came to show you my engagement ring.” Mascara-blackened tears rolled down her face. Her left false eyelash dangled from her eyebrow, the right one from her cheek.

He backed toward the kitchen door.

She held out her hands. “I’m sure you didn’t mean to do that, darling. I must have surprised you.”

Surprised him? That wasn’t the word he’d use. Teeth clenched, his breath came in uneven clumps.

She turned her left hand over.

Relief flooded his soul when he saw the huge diamond. Hallelujah. She’d finally snagged a man. “Congratulations. Who’s the …” He could not say
lucky.
“Who’s the guy?”

“Oh, you silly ninny.” She stepped closer.

He grabbed the screen-door handle.

“It’s you, of course.” Her eyes were bright and glassy.

Surely he hadn’t heard right. “Who?”

She smiled. “It’s you, darling.”

“I did
not
give you that ring.”

“You didn’t have to. Daddy and I knew you couldn’t afford the size of diamond I need, so we made all the arrangements.”

He nearly choked. Next thing he knew, they’d drag a judge to the ranch for a shotgun wedding. “Get help. You and your father
both
need professional help,
now
.” He shoved the screen door open and ran the path to the house, willing the wind to wash the taste of her perfume from his mouth. He didn’t look back, fearful of what he might do if he saw her following him. He had to get to his mom before the deputies twisted her words beyond repair.

***

Breathing hard, he strode into the office just as an officer whose nametag read
Deputy Ramirez
asked her a question. “Do you know anybody from Pennsylvania?”

Mike looked around. Coach wasn’t in the office. Good.

“Let’s see.” Laura placed two fingers on her jaw. “Dan’s aunt lived there for some time, but she passed away. Mike, do you remember when was—”

The other deputy, Bernard Caldwell, interrupted. “He means recently, from around here.”

She frowned. “There’s Kate, our newest employee. She’s from Pennsylvania.”