Читать книгу Healing Hearts - Cheryl Wolverton - Страница 9

E xcept her mind. This was insane. “What is that?” Tessa demanded of the newest men coming in her door, hefting a huge box. Once she quickly dropped her letter in the mailbox, she stepped back out of the way.

“Freezer, ma’am.” The man promptly bumped into the side of the door, grunting and shuffling his feet to keep from dropping the front end of his load.

“But why?” she cried, grabbing at the barking puppy who came into the kitchen and ran around their feet, nearly tripping an older round man.

“For the food,” a younger man behind the two moving men informed her.

Sam squawked and flapped his wings. Heaven knew where her cat or any of her other animals were. Hiding most likely.

“Where’d you like it?”

“What?” she asked glancing back at the man with gray hair.

“The freezer, ma’am.”

“Um, I—I…” Taking stock of her kitchen, she stroked the wiggling puppy. When Hubert the puppy wouldn’t calm down, she went to the side room just off the kitchen and put him into the room before pulling the door closed. She heard the whining but did her best to block it from her mind.

Turning her attention back to the kitchen, she finally pointed to the parrot’s perch. “We can put it there in front of the window and move Sam over here.”

She started toward the parrot. “We’ll get that ma’am,” the older man broke in.

Sam protested their approach, hopping to the floor and waddling his way over to Tessa. She picked him up, and put him on her shoulder. She then quickly moved the stepping stool and smaller birdcage—for her toad—into the living room.

Why in the world was the man sending in a freezer? It had to be the Slaters. “I really don’t need this,” she told the men as they positioned the freezer.

“Orders, ma’am.”

Tessa wondered if that was all the older man could say. She wanted to tell him her name was Tessa. She didn’t. Instead, she opened her mouth to explain that her guest would only be here a short time when the phone rang.

“We’ll put the food in the freezer, if that’s okay with you, Miss Stanridge,” the young delivery boy said, motioning to boxes of…something he’d brought with him.

Tessa didn’t argue. She nodded and grabbed the ringing phone. “Hello?” After all, nothing could be worse than the disaster they were making of her kitchen.

“Tessa, guess who?”

Tessa paused at the deep voice on the other end of the phone line. Memories of her past, of what seemed to her like eons ago, flooded her mind. They were memories of a different time when she felt she had the world by the tail and anything she might want was hers for the asking, a time of false illusions of safety and control. “Stan?” she asked, forcing herself to come back to the present.

“That’s right. It’s been a while since we talked, hasn’t it?”

Tessa thought two weeks but she didn’t voice her thoughts aloud. “So what’s up?” she asked instead. How did you find my phone number? she thought actually. Her phone number was unlisted. He’d certainly never called her before.

“Surprised, Tessa? I was looking over your therapy chart from last year when that leg started acting up again and thought I’d give you a call.”

Of course, the chart. Her phone number was on that. “So what’s—be careful,” she called out to the freezer men who were now moving her table to make more room. Good heavens!

“Careful?” Stan’s voice came across the line confused before his rich chuckle sounded. “That’s Tessa.”

With a chuckle, he continued speaking. “I wanted to tell you, I just moved to Hill Creek.” She heard someone in the background say something to Stan. He paused and replied. Then he was back talking to her. “We’ll talk when I get over there.”

Tessa, who had been shifting from foot to foot with worry over the way the beefy men had handled her table, became suddenly alert at Stan’s words. “I’m sorry?” Here? she thought.

Moving around the corner of the doorway, blocking out the disaster going on in her kitchen, she tuned all of her energy to the man on the phone. “Run that by me again, Stan?”

“I moved to Hill Creek. And since I come so highly qualified, the attending physician has assigned me as nurse to the man moving into your house. I’ll be seeing you every morning.”

Stunned, Tessa sank to a footstool in front of a recliner chair in her living room. “You’re here, in Hill Creek?”

“That’s right. Isn’t it great?”

Tessa simply shook her head. Five years ago she’d been in love with a man named Michael—or she thought she’d been in love with him. He’d been so upbeat just like Stan, so outgoing, so forward in his pursuit. Then the earthquake had come, her injuries had come, and they’d broken up. She’d broken up. He’d broken up with her. It was all too much to think about right now. He’d sworn he still cared for her and just needed time to adjust to their new circumstances. But it hadn’t been the truth. It’d been her, the emptiness that had run him off.

He didn’t want her. She couldn’t live with all of the pain that had been running through her after the horrible earthquake and loss. The only good thing that had happened during that time was that she’d rededicated herself to God. That had changed her life. She had wanted to put all of the past behind her. She’d tried to put the past behind her. She had realized after rededicating her heart to God that she couldn’t stay there and watch her former fiancé marry and set up practice in her town of Brea.

So she’d packed up and left. She’d tried once or twice to date. She’d met Stan, who had seemed like such a nice man. Kind, gentle, funny…but she just hadn’t been able to risk it.

“Tessa, you still there?”

But if she read this one right, he was interested in more than therapy. Tessa nodded, then realizing he couldn’t see her answered, “Yes. That’s um, great, Stan, that you’re here.”

Stan chuckled. “I’ve been in town two weeks now. I live out west, on the other side of the hospital, but I saw you at the school, just before it let out. And you wouldn’t believe the way small towns are. I think I’ve heard everything about you and every other single person that lives in this Podunk town in those two weeks. I’d been waiting to contact you… Anyway, we’ll catch up later. I just thought I’d call and let you know I’m back.”

“Thanks, Stan. It’s good to hear your voice.” She meant that, in a way. In another way she didn’t. She wasn’t sure what to say to him. She remembered in the hospital when he’d worked on the therapy, the lasting result from the earthquake that flared up occasionally. She’d really enjoyed his company, maybe because he was so nice, did most of the talking, and showed such enthusiasm.

But when he’d wanted to walk her home and then sent her those cards…it was too reminiscent of her past with Michael.

He hung up.

Tessa replaced the receiver as well. Stan now lived in town.

What was she going to do? She toyed with the idea of dating him. He certainly was persistent. And he even attended the same church she did when he was in town on a Sunday—which wasn’t often. He had the time to spend with her.

She’d spent weeks in the hospital five years earlier when the earthquake had collapsed the building she was in. It was during that time she’d been told she would never have children—it was impossible from all the damage. That had devastated her, but Michael… Michael hadn’t been able to handle it at all.

After Michael broke off their engagement Tessa headed east, stopping in Hill Creek, Texas, where they had been seeking teachers. She had not kept in touch with many people—only one or two through occasional letters.

She hadn’t been able to date since. Twice men had found out about her infertility and had stopped calling. Stan was the first man who had shown an interest in her since then. Oh, she’d gone out with Mitch, entertaining the idea of maybe marrying the nice man. He was a sheriff and would provide safety. He was nice, quiet. But on that one date they hadn’t clicked. She’d actually wanted to leave from the time they’d entered the restaurant. It had been more than obvious to her that their waitress, Suzi, was in love with Mitch.

After that, she had resigned herself to being an old maid. But Stan was in town now. How interesting.

Worry made her bite her lip. She realized she was being silly since he probably only wanted to be a friend.

She stood and moved to go check on the puppy, wishing she could just forget the past and go on with the life she’d started here. She’d only taken two steps when she noticed her kitchen. Her mind went absolutely blank with shock. “Oh good heavens!”

Not only had a freezer been moved into her abode but they had totally reworked the stairs out back and they were just finishing the door. “What are you doing?”

“Wheelchair accessible, ma’am,” a new person said.

“This is my house!” she protested.

The ramp had obviously already been built and was simply being laid over her stairs and secured with railing. It was a long, slow incline, which meant it took up a large part of her walk. “Orders—”

“—ma’am,” she finished, then gasped when she realized they must have moved things around out back as well so they could put up the ramp. “I have turtles mating out there!”

“We moved them,” the carpenter said as if that answered everything.

“Where?” she asked, counting to ten. What had she let Freckles get her into? Her animals were in utter chaos. Her life was suddenly in utter chaos!

“Over in that round pond thing you have.”

Groaning she scooted past the men and hurried outside and down the ramp. She snatched up the turtles from the pond and set them out in another part of the yard. “This just isn’t going to do. What do they think they’re doing? Why are they destroying my house like this?” Tessa leaned down to retrieve another turtle.

“Do you always talk to yourself?”

The slightly slurred words caught Tessa’s attention. Peeking between her knees she saw a wheelchair and two sets of boots behind her. The feet in the chair had on dead snake boots, she noted distastefully, and a dark pair of jeans.

Realizing she was in shorts and giving the man a good view of her behind she dropped the turtles. Whirling, she met the gaze of the man in the wheelchair.

So this was Drake Slater. The man was thin, very thin—too thin for a person of his height. His face was white, indicating it’d been a while since he’d been out in the sun. His head had a huge scar on it, the hair just starting to grow out over the ugly pink-and-white spot. Down the entire right side of his face and neck, disappearing into his striped blue shirt, was a mass of thin, healing scars.

“Barbed wire.”

Realizing she was staring, she again met the gaze of the man in the chair. Deep green eyes filled with intelligence, though his right eye and a small bit of the right side of his mouth drooped, stared steadily back. She found she couldn’t break eye contact.

It wasn’t until one of the men dropped a hammer that she realized she was staring utterly dumbfounded. Those eyes had such a…strength…a…a… “Hello…Mr. Slater?”

The mouth stretched into a caricature of a grin. “You always have men coming to your door in chairs?”

She blushed furiously. Why she wasn’t sure. This man was in a wheelchair, for pity’s sake. She was in charge of this situation, not him. So why did his words have her blushing like he was the first man she’d met? But those eyes…a wealth of emotion shone in them. It was like he looked in her and knew what she was thinking.

No one had ever done that before.

“Ahem.”

Glancing past the ruffling black hair, Tessa realized the second set of boots belonged to a younger version of the man in the chair. Black hair, green eyes but instead of thin and emaciated, this man looked strong, ready to take on what life handed him—including her if his look of disapproval was any indication.

“Do you always walk around looking like a pirate, Miss Stanridge?”

She blinked at the younger Slater brother. “Excuse me?”

“Thaaat’s enough, Le-um,” Drake warned his brother mildly. Tessa remembered Freckles saying when he was upset or nervous he slurred his words. Her gaze snapped to his. His look traveled over her briefly, the corners of his mouth twitching just before he burst out laughing.

Liam gaped. So did Tessa for that matter.

“I like your bird,” Drake finally said.

Oh good heavens, Tessa thought, her cheeks heating up again.

Sam squawked.

She’d forgotten the bird was on her shoulder. Weakly she smiled. “They’re rearranging my kitchen. Sam was upset and wanted to be held.”

“Can I?”

Tessa hesitated, then thought she might as well let him try. Lifting her forearm, she signaled Sam with her index and middle fingers. The bird obediently stepped up onto the back of her hand. “He really doesn’t like other people, Mr. Slater….”

“Draeg…”

“Drake,” she nodded.

“Please.”

She met his eyes. In those eyes were not only intelligence but gentleness and need. She wasn’t sure what he needed but it was there in his eyes. Without another word, she held out the bird, which transferred itself onto his shoulder. She silently vowed at that moment to stop staring at this man. She was certain she wasn’t making a good impression with Liam. Look at the sky, she told herself, then argued that’d be rude.

His words interrupted her thoughts.

“Wow.”

Her gaze went to him. His eyes sparkled with pleasure and his teeth showed when he smiled. Grinning devilishly up at her, he winked. “Pirate.”

She found herself returning his grin. “Sam doesn’t take to others well.”

His gaze met hers. “He must like me.”

Tessa thought this man was reading her thoughts again.

“You really shouldn’t do that, Drake,” Liam cut in, spoiling the smile on Drake’s face. “What if he bites those scars or scratches you up more?”

Drake sighed impatiently.

The bird, picking up Drake’s sudden tension, squawked and started dancing.

Tessa scooped up the bird, wincing when he dug in his claws.

“Thank you—” Liam began.

“Why don’t we go inside,” Tessa offered. “Your brother is looking tired.”

Drake scowled at them both. What had happened to the smile the man had just worn? Where had it gone?

“Which way?” Liam asked.

Tessa took that as her cue and went back up the ramp, which the carpenter was just finishing. Even with her back to Drake, the spell over her emotions was still in full force. She wondered if there was such a thing as meeting someone who you just knew was going to play an important part of your life—like God saying, look here, don’t miss this. He’s important to you.

If so, then Tessa was certain that was what just happened to her. She didn’t know how or why but this man… She had met her destiny in some way or another.

In Your hands, Father, she silently prayed, giving Him control in this situation. She had learned what she didn’t understand and couldn’t control she had to allow God to control. She saw a young woman come out of her kitchen and head toward a gray van on the side of the house, in which Liam must have just arrived.

“That’s Kellie, the cook. She’s a great girl. She cooks for us out at the ranch. Her mother cooked there before she did,” Liam said.

Tessa nodded at his words. The young Hispanic woman was beautiful, Tessa thought, but didn’t say so. Instead, she continued up the ramp and into the house.

“We’re worried about infection so I hope you keep a clean house,” Liam said now.

Tessa glanced around, surprised. “I would think you’d have checked all of that out before you agreed to let me be a keeper.”

Drake growled. It startled Tessa. She thought at first he was choking, until she caught the anger in his eyes. “I don’t need a keeper.”

Liam scowled at her then tried to soothe his brother. “Yes. You do. You still aren’t well enough to come home. Tessa will be working with you as will your nurse, and Kellie will be here to cook for you. Soon, Drake, you’ll be well enough to boss me around again.” To Tessa’s ears Liam didn’t sound like he really believed that, though.

Drake shoved at his brother’s hand, his look downright dark.

Oh dear. She couldn’t help but feel she was back in the schoolroom with a group of rowdy third graders as she watched the two brothers interact. Taking a breath she decided it might be best to break up the tension before it got any worse.

Crossing the kitchen she reached for the door to the bedroom. In a bright voice, she said, much like a Realtor trying to sell a man seeking a simple abode the house of his dreams, “This room right here is where Drake will be staying. It has its own facilities. There’s an outside door.” She paused, listening. “As a matter of fact, I think I hear the carpenter working on the entrance right now.”

Glancing around she realized suddenly that Drake’s chair wouldn’t fit through the area between the sink and the table. “I see we’re going to have to make some adjustments,” she said, laughing nervously when she realized the way the table was positioned wouldn’t allow him to get into the living room. “We’ll work all of this out. Let’s look at your room first, shall we?” she continued, simply wanting the tension in the room to ease.

She pushed the door open, smiling at them. Instead of smiles, however, the two gaped past her. Slowly, in unison, two green-eyed stares turned to her, tension still very evident in the stunned looks.

“What?” she asked. Surely they didn’t hate the room. This was one of her favorite rooms. It was like a playroom for her. She had decorated it herself. Hardly anyone ever stayed in it so time and again she found herself going by an antique store and picking up some cute piece of furniture or knickknack to add. It was quite a nice room.

Or it had been. When she turned her head to point out the features she found herself gaping, too, just before she burst out with, “Oh my heavens!”

Disaster had struck the formally picturesque room. The beautiful blue, green and yellow quilt, which had covered the bed, straggled off the end of the four-poster at an odd angle, trailing onto the floor. The tiny lace pillows, which had lain on top, now decorated the braided carpet. The small throw rug she had positioned in front of the dresser was no longer there. Instead, it curled up crazily against the far, papered wall. But the worst thing she could see that had happened to the room was the toilet paper. It adorned everything. At least everything that was within leaping distance for a small puppy. The chair, the small nightstand, the bed all had their share of adornment.

And where was the perpetrator of the mess?

In the middle of a box of tissues was Hubert, his tongue lolling out. He yipped at the new arrivals and then went back to tearing up the carton.

The loud burst of laughter from Drake encouraged her, until she heard him say, “Great going, brother. I have a keeper, all right. A zoo keeper.”