Читать книгу The Last Crawford Bachelor - Judy Christenberry, Judy Christenberry - Страница 11

Michael planned to work all day Saturday on the manager’s house. The place hadn’t been used since Rob lived there when he’d first arrived at the Circle K before he married Abby’s sister Melissa. When he came down to breakfast Saturday morning, Michael was joined by Logan wearing old jeans and a shirt with paint splotches on them.

“Gee, bro, I don’t know how much use you’ll be if you put that much paint on yourself,” he teased.

Abby walked in at that moment, similarly dressed.

“Abby, you don’t need to help us. You must have a dozen things to do,” Michael protested, realizing at once that she intended to join in.

“Don’t be silly, Michael. Of course I’m going to help. So are Beth and Jed. And our family master carpenter, Rob. Even Melissa’s coming to take care of all the kids.”

“That’s wonderful of everyone, but it’s not necessary. I just thought I’d slap on a coat of paint and be done.”

“Absolutely not,” Logan said with a sigh. “These ladies go to extremes when they take on a project.”

Abby began laying out plans. It seemed Floyd had actually worked as a plumber in his youth and would be installing the new fixtures for the bathroom and the kitchen that Abby had ordered. And Jed had done some electrical work.

Michael stared at her, his mouth open.

“Don’t worry,” Abby said. “It’s to improve the house’s value.”

He knew better, but he thanked her as if he believed her. What a family! They reminded him a great deal of his own. That was why he enjoyed living here.

Within an hour, they were all working hard. He was taking out some old fixtures when a car pulled into the drive. He recognized it at once. Dani Langston’s.

“What’s she doing here?” he asked Logan.

“Abby invited her,” he said, giving his brother a sharp look. “Is that a problem?”

“No, of course not.” What could he say when they were doing all the work for his comfort?

He noticed Dani was dressed casually, also, though she didn’t have paint stains on her clothes. As she went past him, with Abby leading the way, she gave him a cool nod of recognition. Nothing more.

He didn’t see her for almost an hour until he stuck his head in the kitchen. She and Abby were laying a new linoleum floor.

“Whoa! That looks great!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t know you were going to all this trouble.”

“We’re having a good time.” Abby looked at Dani, who nodded in agreement.

“Well,” Michael said, not sure what to say. But then he remembered why he was there. “Logan said to tell you he’s getting hungry. Hard to believe after that big breakfast, but he insisted I tell you that.”

“Oh, wonderful! Come on, Dani. I’ll explain.” Abby jumped to her feet and caught Dani’s arm, pulling her after her.

Michael stood there, his hands on his hips, wondering what that was all about. Then he admired the floor. The old flooring had been nothing but thin sheets of linoleum dating back to the original structure from thirty years ago.

He heard a car honking and wandered back to the living room where he and Logan had been painting. He suddenly understood the message Logan had sent. The entire Crawford family had descended upon the Circle K.

Though it was only a two-hour drive from the Crawford ranch near Lawton, Oklahoma, Michael hadn’t considered that his family might come down for the day. Abby, however, had called and made arrangements. Now she was organizing picnic tables under several shade trees. He could see his mother and sister and his sisters-in-law carrying big bowls and plates into the house.

The door to the ranch house burst open again, and this time a herd of kids, led by Mirabelle, ran out screaming and cheering. The group swelled as his nieces and nephews joined them.

“Abby planned all this?” Michael asked Logan as they joined their brothers, father and Michael’s sister Lindsay’s husband, Gil, and his manager, who had married the mother-in-law of brother Pete. They never bothered with the exact relationship. They were all family.

Suddenly he saw his mother talking to Dani. He recognized immediately what the result of that talk would be. “Uh, Dad, can I talk to you for a minute?”

Caleb Crawford was a big man, robust and active though he was approaching sixty. “Sure. Anything wrong?”

“I want you to warn Mom,” he whispered as they walked away from the others.

“Warn Mom? Why? Is someone going to hurt her?” Caleb was instantly on the defensive. His family was his main business, and his job was to protect them.

“No, Dad, nothing like that, but…Abby is introducing Dani Langston to her. We’re both A.D.A.s at the office and Mom’s going to think she’s here because of me.” Michael rubbed the back of his neck. “But it’s really because Abby thinks she might be kin to them. I have nothing to do with her. Will you tell Mom that?”

Caleb raised one eyebrow. “You sure about that? After all, you work together.”

“Not really. She’s working with…another group in the office. Just explain it to Mom. Otherwise she’ll think—Well, you know what she’ll think.”

Caleb grinned. “Well, of five sons and one daughter you are the only one not married. She doesn’t have anyone else to concentrate on.”

“I need to build my reputation as an attorney before I take on that job. Wives take a lot of work in our family.”

“Shame on you, Michael, saying such a thing about your sisters-in-law.”

Joe, his oldest brother, must’ve caught his father’s words. “Is little brother complaining about our wives?”

“No, Joe, not at all. I just said wives take a lot of time, and I work long hours.” Michael grinned at him, but he kept his eye on Joe. He didn’t want his brother angry with him.

Joe grinned in return. “Go ahead and fight it as much as you want. Mom’s not going to rest until she’s found you a wife.”

“That one looks pretty good,” Pete said. “The one talking to Mom now.”

“No! She won’t do!” Michael turned to face his brothers.

The knowing smiles on their faces alarmed him even more. “You tell Mom it’s too soon. I’m not even thirty yet. Joe, you were past thirty-five before you married, remember?”

“I remember, little brother,” Joe said. “It’s Mom you need to convince, not me.”

“I think it’s so nice that Mike has a friend at work. Sometimes he works long hours. At least he can let off a little steam with someone he knows.”

Dani couldn’t hold back a grin. Michael would be furious if he could hear his mother. Too bad they really weren’t good friends. She could use one.

“Well, I think it’s so nice that all of your family came today just to help Michael get settled.”

“Your family didn’t help you?” Carol Crawford asked, sympathy in her voice.

Dani smiled. “No. I don’t have any family. I managed on my own.”

“Michael will have to bring you home for Thanksgiving. And Christmas. I’ll go talk to him about it right now.”

“No!” Dani exclaimed. She’d been thinking about Michael’s reaction and enjoying those devilish thoughts. But Mrs. Crawford was serious. “No, Carol, you can’t. You see, Michael and I really aren’t friends. It’s because I came to Abby’s house to find out about my grandmother and then we accidentally discovered we both worked at the D.A.’s office. That’s all. Nothing more.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t come for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You certainly wouldn’t be the first woman Michael has brought home. I know that doesn’t mean he’ll marry you. But I say—”

“What’s up, Carol?” Abby asked as she approached them.

“I want to have Mike invite Dani to Thanksgiving and Christmas. She doesn’t have any family at all. I know it doesn’t mean they’ll marry, but she shouldn’t be alone.”

Abby looked at Dani’s anxious expression. “I think Mike makes Dani uncomfortable, Carol. Besides, she won’t be alone. She’ll be celebrating here with us.”

Dani hadn’t expected that turn of events. She almost burst into tears. She hurriedly rushed to the kitchen, under the guise of helping Ellen.

“Oh, my,” Carol whispered. “Did I upset her?”

“No,” Abby said with a sigh. “I think I did. I hadn’t discussed holidays with her. But the more I think about it, I think she may be telling the truth about Beulah. I’m going to visit some of the older members of the community and see what they have to say.”

“And she and Michael?” Carol asked anxiously.

“They aren’t really at ease with each other.” Abby ducked her head and then smiled at her mother-in-law. “I’d like for them to get together, but it can’t be forced.”

“I know. And I’m so glad you’re keeping an eye on Michael. I worry about him, but at least he has you and Logan.”

“We’re delighted to have him, except for one thing.”

Carol grew alarmed. “Michael’s not behaving?”

Abby hugged her. “Of course he is. But he’s spoiling Mirabelle rotten!” She grinned to let Carol know she was teasing.

Carol sighed with relief. “Well, you can hardly blame him. Mirabelle is such a darling!”

Abby smiled. “And you are the best grandmother I’ve ever seen.”

They went into the house, arm in arm.

With the combined Crawfords and Kennedys, lunch was a great family affair. Michael enjoyed it, even while purposely avoiding Dani. By then, his survival instincts had kicked in big-time, and he didn’t want to give his mother any reason to believe he was interested in Dani.

He definitely was not. For all he knew not only was she trying to pull the proverbial wool over Abby’s eyes, she was leading Ned on, promising him things she shouldn’t. Not the kind of mother he’d want for his kids…when he had them years down the road.

After lunch everyone went back to the manager’s house and began projects. They worked steadily all afternoon, and by the time they sat down to leftovers for supper, once again gathering at the picnic tables, Michael had a nice place to live in. He thanked everyone, even Dani. He hadn’t intended to disturb every-one’s day to such an extent.

“Dani, it was kind of you to come help,” he said, trying to sound at ease. But he was sure he failed.

“It was my pleasure. You have a lovely family, Michael. You’re a very lucky man.”

“Yeah…well, thanks.”

She nodded and hurried back toward Abby’s house.

So much for trying to be nice. He’d wanted to be friendly, and apparently, he’d scared her. She ran away from him.

After telling his family goodbye, he went to the ranch house to gather his belongings to move into the manager’s house. His mother had brought kitchen supplies and linens; all he needed to move was his clothing and shaving things.

He came down from the room he’d been using, followed by Logan with a second load.

Ellen was holding open the door. “Michael,” she said, “don’t bother cooking breakfast every morning. You’ll always be welcome here.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Ellen, you are too good to me, but I’ll be here in the morning. Your biscuits are too good to pass up.”

Then he walked to his new place and began hanging his clothes in the closet of the master bedroom.

Dani was helping Ellen clean up the kitchen when Michael came through on the way to his new home. She couldn’t help but be envious. Not only did he have a nice place to live, but he had family all around him.

That was a luxury she’d never had.

When the kitchen was sparkling as usual, Dani began saying goodbye. Ellen assured her she was always welcome at the Circle K, with Floyd backing her up. Logan, too, invited her to come back anytime. Mirabelle begged her not to go.

With tears forming in her eyes, Dani cleared her throat. “Uh, where’s Abby? I want to say goodbye.”

“She’s in the office. Had a phone call. Go on in. She’ll want to see you.” Logan smiled at her and gave her directions to the office.

She knocked softly on the door, and Abby swung it open. “Oh, Dani, I was just coming to find you. That was Melissa on the phone. She said she forgot to tell you how good you were with their little ones.”

“How nice of her. I had so much fun today, Abby. Thank you for including me.”

Abby took her arm and pulled her into the office, closing the door behind her. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. You certainly worked like a Trojan.”

“Thanks. I really should go now. I don’t like to get to the hotel too late.”

“Why don’t you stay here tonight? We’ve got a spare bedroom.”

“Thanks, Abby, but I’d better go.”

Abby shook her head. “You’re way too stubborn.”

“I guess so,” Dani said with a chuckle.

“You know, Dani, I didn’t mean to upset you today when I was talking about the holidays. But I meant what I said about you spending them with us.”

“I know you did. That’s why I almost burst into tears. You’re such a kind person, Abby.” She reached out and squeezed Abby’s hand.

“But we would enjoy having you so much. Everyone loves you. It would be great.”

“I may not even be here, Abby. Let’s just play it by ear. If I’m still around in November, then we’ll talk,” Dani said, sure she’d found a way to postpone Abby’s kind invitation.

Abby’s expression sobered. “Wait a minute. What do you mean you might not be here in November?”

Dani shrugged. “Things aren’t going so well at work.”

“But…you’ve only been there a week.”

“I know,” Dani agreed with a sigh.

“Tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can help you.” Abby’s voice was soft with care.

“Oh, Abby. I don’t expect you to take care of me. I take care of myself. But that’s why I haven’t looked for a place to live. I realized the first day things weren’t going to work out.”

“Is it Michael’s fault?”

“No. Not at all.”

Abby stood there, frustrated. “I don’t want you to go away. What if Beulah is your grandmother?”

Dani shrugged. “What difference does that make?”

“It means you belong here, with us, as part of the family.”

Dani shook her head and walked back toward the door. “No, Abby, that’s not what it means and that’s not why I came here.”

“Why did you come here?” Abby asked, following her to the door and taking her arm. “Come sit and talk to me.” She led Dani to the sofa, and they sat side by side.

“The only family member I knew was my mother. She wasn’t a nice person. In fact, she was terrible. I was hoping to find a family member I could be proud of. Someone I could tell myself had passed on some positive things to balance out the negative ones.” She gave a wry smile to Abby. “And you gave me that, Abby. I’m very grateful.”

“Oh, honey, you ask so little,” Abby said, shaking her head.

“But then I’m never disappointed.”

“Look, let’s drive into Wichita Falls and get you a change of clothes so you can spend the night and tomorrow with us, too. Okay?”

Dani wanted to stay there, wrapped in Abby’s family, feeling a part of it, even though it might not be true. She certainly wouldn’t put it past her mother to make up papers for some scam. “By the time we did that, your babies would be in bed asleep. I don’t want to take you away from them.”

“That’s not a problem. I’ll fix that. Wait here.”

Dani shook her head as Abby left the office. If she could choose her family, Abby would be at the top of the list. She was a very generous person, along with her sisters. Just knowing Abby made Dani feel good.

The door opened and Abby came in again, beaming. “Okay, I’ve got it all fixed. Pack some clothes for church in the morning. And jeans for horseback riding.”

“Horseback riding? I don’t know how to ride!”

“Don’t worry. We’ll teach you. Oh, I’m going to love having you here even if it’s only for a day or two.”

“A day, Abby. Tomorrow night I go back to the hotel so I can go to work the next morning…while I still have a job.”

When they reached the kitchen, Dani thanked Logan for going with her to the hotel.

“Oh, it’s not me, Dani. I would but Michael insisted on going because I promised Scotty I’d give him his bath tonight.”

Surprised, Dani stared at Logan. Then she began protesting. “No, that’s not necessary. I can manage on my own. I can—”

The back door opened and Michael entered. “Are you ready, Dani?”

Now she regretted accepting Abby’s invitation. Even the short drive to Wichita Falls was too long for her to be alone in a car with Michael. He made her nervous, uncomfortable. “Look, Michael, I can go by myself. There’s no need to bother you on your first night in your new house.” That sounded like a reasonable excuse to her.

He ignored her remark. “It’s getting late. I’ll drive.” He held the door open and waited.

Abby stepped forward and kissed Dani’s cheek. “We’ll get the kids in bed and have some more of Carol’s cake when you get back.”

Feeling as if she had no choice, she followed Michael out into the growing darkness. When they reached his car, she made a last-ditch effort. “I can take my car and be back within the hour. Abby would never know.”

“I promised her. She spent all day trying to make things better for me. A drive into town isn’t that big a deal. Get in.”

With a sigh, she did so. She sat silently as he pulled out on the road, unable to think of anything to say. However, since he didn’t speak, either, Dani decided Michael preferred the silence.

“Where are you staying?” he finally asked as they reached the outskirts of Wichita Falls. She named the hotel and gave him brief directions.

“Why haven’t you looked for a place to live?” he asked.

She gave him a disgusted look. “Surely you know the answer to that.”

He frowned even more. “Why would I know that?”

“Everyone else knows. That’s why none of the other employees associate with me. I even get sympathetic looks from the secretaries, but they don’t want anything to do with me, either. They’ve all figured out that I won’t be around very long.”