Читать книгу Finding Her Home - Carol Steward - Страница 12

Steve hadn’t been sure what to expect when the family saw his guest at the Stonewall Ranch barbecue Sunday afternoon. They knew he’d taken Tori’s grandfather to the hospital, but even he wasn’t certain what to make of his and Tori’s friendship. One thing for sure was that her presence would get tongues wagging.

Tori pulled her SUV to a stop and waited for several minutes before climbing out. Despite his suspicions that no one would recognize her after all of these years, his cousin Brody did immediately. “Victoria Sandoval.” Brody’s lingering gaze fueled Steve’s suspicion that they had indeed been close friends.

She stared like a frightened kitten into the crowd. Uncertain whether she was looking for him or other familiar faces, Steve watched and waited.

“She’s still the finest-looking filly in sight,” Brody mumbled. “You didn’t tell us you’re dating someone, let alone that it’s Tori.”

Steve raised a brow. “We’re not dating.”

Brody’s smile said he didn’t believe it. “We all think it’s high time you move on with your life, Steve. Surely Anna would want the kids to have a mother. And from what you’ve told us about her, she and Tori would have been good friends.”

Steve didn’t much appreciate anyone reminding him of the similarities between his workaholic wife and Tori. “We’re not dating,” he said again, then added a test of his own theory that Brody and Tori had once dated. “And I’m not sure your date would appreciate you drooling over an old flame.”

“Once burned is enough for me, but it didn’t damage my eyesight.” Brody turned away, nodding to the redhead sitting next to the pool. “Just one word of warning, Steve. Tori’s dreams never included Coal Valley, and they never will.”

Tori had made that very clear, and he didn’t need any more reminders. Tori had pulled her silky long hair into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. The white blouse was plain and yet, on her, the simplicity looked elegant. He sauntered toward her, welcomed by a smile when she caught sight of him. “Afternoon,” Steve said softly. “You looked wary for a minute there.”

Tori gazed up at the vertical stone formation for which the ranch had been named. “Just overwhelmed by old memories.”

“You sure that’s all?”

Her smile faded to a guilt-ridden grin. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I was highly tempted to head back to my grandparents’house before anyone saw me.”

Tori’s sudden insecurity intrigued him. If she didn’t want to see everyone, why had she agreed to come? He wanted more than anything to believe her reason included him, but he wouldn’t take that for granted, either. “Before you change your mind, why not say hello.” Steve touched his hand to the small of her back, encouraging her to join the festivities, offering his support the best he knew how.

Tori pulled away from him as they walked through the opening in the split-rail fence of the parking area, and it became apparent that guests were recognizing her. He eased her toward the beverage tables on the bunkhouse veranda. “Why don’t we start out with something to drink,” he suggested. “What would you like?”

“I’ll stick with some of Elaine’s famous lemonade, if it’s still on the menu.”

“Tradition lives forever here. You sure that’s all you want?”

Tori nodded. “Thanks.”

Steve poured Tori a glass while his aunt and uncle greeted Tori warmly, expressing their concern and offering a helping hand if needed.

“Thank you. I can’t believe how much Steve and the kids and I accomplished this weekend. I couldn’t have done half of it by myself. At this rate, we might be ready, after all.”

“How’s Maria doing?” Elaine asked.

The mention of her grandmother seemed to ease her tension. “She’s doing much better than expected. Therapists are hopeful she’ll be released within the week.”

“That’s wonderful!” Elaine said, reminding Tori to keep in touch.

“But you don’t have help arranged for her yet, do you?” Steve asked.

She shook her head. “I’ll bring Abuela to my condo until we’re confident she can manage at home. That will give me a little more time to find help here.”

“Tori!” Kelsey yelled as she ran across the yard. “I was watching for you.”

“From Lookout Point, right?” Tori queried.

Kelsey turned white. “How’d you know?”

“Brody and I were friends a long, long time ago. My grandmother worked here, and when I was old enough, I was a housekeeper for the guest ranch.”

Kelsey looked to her father for verification while Tori continued to talk. “It was my very first summer job. And after I finished work, Elaine let me go swimming. That was the best part.”

Steve noticed that Tori omitted mention of who had shown her Lookout Point and wondered if that was intentional.

“I love the pool, too!” Kelsey said. “Daddy takes us swimming every day. Well, almost every day. They’re draining it next week.”

Tori patted Kelsey’s shoulder sympathetically. “It’s that time of year. Summer is over, school is starting and the travelers don’t need a pool to cool off. Not only that. Who wants to clean all of the leaves out of it?” Tori scrunched her nose. “Ooh, ick.”

Kelsey giggled. “I like using the skimmer. And I learned how to dive this year.”

“Good for you.”

Kelsey hadn’t left Tori alone all weekend, yet Tori never seemed to tire of his daughter’s incessant need to talk. Steve noted Kelsey’s mood had improved greatly since she’d snagged Tori’s attention. Why was it so different than having Aunt Elaine around for that female companionship? he wondered.

“What’s your favorite thing about starting school in the fall?” Tori’s enthusiasm showed how much she loved her job, but when Kelsey didn’t answer right away, Tori added, “Are you anxious to see all of your friends again? Do you like choir, or maybe it’s the shopping for new clothes?”

Kelsey shrugged, a smile hiding her ambivalence. “Sort of, I guess. Summer was too short, but school will be fun this year. I have Miss Wilson for a teacher. She’s neat.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but where’s Kyle?” Steve asked, realizing he hadn’t seen him since they left the house.

“He and cousin Matt went to the stables to see the pony.”

“I’d better go check on them. Care to join me?” He addressed both of them, but his gaze lingered on Tori’s subtle smile.

“Sure. Kelsey, are you coming with us?”

“No, thanks, I’ll see if Aunt Elaine needs help.” She skipped away toward the commotion.

Tori glanced at Steve. “She’s quite a young lady.”

“Girl,” Steve corrected. “Don’t make her grow up, or me get older any quicker than necessary.” He laughed. “It’s probably more like she doesn’t want Kyle to know that she tattled on him.”

“Give yourself credit, Steve. She’s a special young…ster.” Tori kept a yard or two between them as they strolled to the corrals.

“Nice save.” Steve chuckled. The silence stretched awkwardly as their shoes collected dust from the tall grass. “So I guess there isn’t much of Stonewall Ranch that I could show you, is there?”

Tori’s eyes sparkled. “Probably not, but I’m sure it would look just as wonderful after…” She paused. “Almost sixteen years. Ouch. Where did time go?”

“I hate to tell you, but time disappears twice as quickly from here on.” He didn’t add that it tripled when kids entered the house.

“Now who’s painting a picture of aging?” With a smile like Tori’s, the years disappeared. Steve hated that she would be going back to the city where her life must seem so rewarding and full. He knew life in Segundo must look dull in comparison.

After saving the pony from the clutches of two young boys, she and Steve escorted the kids back to the gathering where the country band was stirring interest with their skilled fiddling.

Steve motioned for Kelsey and they stepped to the end of the food line where the young cousins attacked the platters with cowboy enthusiasm. Tori gave up with filling her own plate after greeting old acquaintances and answering incessant queries about her grandparents caused more than one delay in the moving of the line.

She had just gotten back into the line when Superintendent Waterman appeared next to her. “Tori Sandoval. It’s good to see you again.”

She offered her hand. “You, too,” she said, caught very much off guard. Jerry Waterman had looked old all those years ago, when she’d been a student at Coal Valley Secondary School, and time hadn’t been kind to him. His tan appeared dull and faded, his eyes sunken and his breathing shallow and labored.

Steve looked concerned. “How are you feeling, Jerry?”

“I can’t say in mixed company. That West Nile is a tough nut to crack.” He shook his head and caught his breath. “I’m hoping the worst is over. I’ve tried to reach you at your grandparents’home, Tori, but I keep missing you.”

“Really? I just arrived Friday.”

“Yes, I noticed your car in the driveway. How is Maria?”

Tori gave him the condensed version of Abuela’s rehabilitation and hoped his only intention in calling was to check on her grandmother.

Steve finished filling the kids’ plates and settled at the table. Did he know something she didn’t?

“Steve tells me you’re an administrator now. Of course, your grandparents told me a while back, but I’ve lost track of time. How do you like it?”

“This is my fourth year, actually. It’s quite a change from the classroom, but I enjoy the challenges.”

After an awkward mention of the state-mandated student-assessment tests, Tori suspected he’d come out of his way specifically to talk to her about local results. “Why don’t we finish serving ourselves and sit down to visit?” she said. At least with the discussion focused on education, Tori felt comfortable and in control. After the direction of the conversation with Steve yesterday, she needed all the help she could get to keep herself focused on her grandparents’ care.

Jerry was well-known for his healthy appetite, yet the portions of roasted pork, barbecued ribs and salad he was taking indicated he wasn’t as much on the mend as he wanted people to think. “I’m sure you’ve heard about the problems at Coal Valley,” Jerry said as they served themselves from the buffet table.

She wasn’t sure if she should admit that she kept her eye on what was happening in her hometown school district or play ignorant. “Colorado Student Assessment scores are always in the news. There isn’t a school in the state that isn’t scrambling to raise scores in at least one area.”

“Oh?” Jerry lifted his bushy eyebrows. “What has your school been working on?”

Tori briefly explained her school’s implementation of a literacy program and Jerry’s eyes brightened. “How did it work? We’re starting the literacy coaching program this year.” They carried their plates to the table where Steve and his kids were seated. Steve excused himself to get drinks, and Tori felt guilty hiding behind the discussion of work.

Jerry quietly voiced his apprehension with the new program. They bounced ideas back and forth, sharing stories of successes and failures of the educational system over the years.

When Steve returned, the “chalk talk” ended abruptly. “I shouldn’t be making you talk shop when you’re on a date. What am I thinking?” Jerry exclaimed.

“We’re not—”

“No need to make excuses,” Jerry said breathlessly. “This isn’t the time to discuss business, anyway. We’ll talk later.” Soon afterward, Uncle Bill started hayrides and Jerry stood to leave. “Tori, it was good to visit, but I’m plumb tuckered out. I’ll be in touch.”

His sudden departure puzzled her, but she supposed he tired easily after his battle with the virus. “I’d be glad to offer any help I can, Dr. Waterman.” She was surprised by her desire to help and the determination to follow through with her promise. She worried about Jerry’s health.

She visited with more old friends and schoolmates while they waited for the first group to get back from the hayride. When their turn came, Steve helped her onto the wagon, but Kelsey squeezed herself between her dad and Tori, endearing herself to Tori. Tori knew Steve was a catch most women wouldn’t turn away, but there were too many marks against them. She had enough on her shoulders without adding the pressure of a romance. She simply needed to keep her distance.

Tori had enjoyed seeing old friends again, as well as the beautiful sights of the ranch. She stayed late into the evening, hoping for a chance to speak with Steve alone. After the kids had fallen asleep she realized Steve had misunderstood her reason for staying. He found a movie on cable and tempted her with a bowl of popcorn.

“Steve, we need to talk.”

“About?” Steve set two sodas on the coffee table and sat down next to her.

She backed away.

He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve had the feeling all day that something’s been bothering you. What is it?”

She nodded, deciding to keep the discussion as far from her personal feelings as possible. “I had the distinct feeling Jerry’s visit to the barbecue was carefully orchestrated.”

“And why do you think that?” he said with a hint of annoyance.

She folded her arms across her chest. “Possibly because he didn’t spend a minute with anyone else. He had one purpose, to quiz me about CSAP scores. And he seemed to know just a little too much to have led into the subject by accident.”

“And that’s my fault? It certainly wasn’t my idea to have him captivate your entire day. I’d like a chance at that myself.”

She paced the room, afraid to look him in the eye. She couldn’t explain why she was so afraid to let herself feel something for Steve, but no matter, he was off-limits. And it was time he understand exactly where she stood on the matter. “What are you trying to do?”

Steve’s bronze eyes met hers. “Why do you automatically presume I’m responsible for Jerry’s questions? When a school is doing things right, everyone hears about it. So you can’t blame me for that. Administrators do keep in touch, you know.”

She tilted her head and squared her shoulders. “Funny. He never called me up and asked any questions before you came into the valley. I think there’s a connection. What did you tell him?”

Steve closed the distance between them. “I did a little research of my own, then shared my findings with Jerry. What he’s chosen to do with the information, I have no idea.”

She was irked by his cool response. “What are you talking about?”

“Scores took a huge jump after your school worked with the literacy coaches.”

Steve hesitated and Tori quietly waited. A few minutes later, after Steve had eaten a few handfuls of popcorn, she said, “And?”

“Jerry’s going to be out of the building more than he’ll be in….”

She raised her hand to stop him. She forced her voice lower, choking the words out slowly and precisely. “Not going to happen. I don’t belong here anymore.”

He retained his affability, but there was a critical tone to his voice. “There’s a chance you’ll be spending more time here, with your grandparents’situation. You know the community, have experience we need and you offered to help.”

“From a distance,” she snapped impatiently, then shook her head. “I have a job at a school that I love and I’m finishing my doctorate so I can further my career in administration.”

“You couldn’t do that in a smaller community?”

She shook her head, trying to ignore the hurt in his whiskey-brown gaze. “Not here.”

“I didn’t say here.” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I think this issue has a lot deeper roots than you’re admitting.”

Tori suspected he was right. “That may be true…Abuela’s stroke has me a little uprooted, but I know better than to get myself in deeper than I can handle. The mess at the school isn’t going to go away by changing one person.”

“I didn’t mean to make matters worse, but I had to try.”

Tori glanced at temptation and turned away. “It’s getting late, and I need to leave early in the morning.”

The silence widened and the tick of the clock echoed its tormenting melody. Finally Steve caved in and spoke. “I understand about not wanting to see me again, but don’t let me chase you away from the fresh air and rest. I can wait until you’re gone to work on the renovations.”