Lets see. Tucker grabbed a napkin and considered the pie in front of him. This one, do you think?
Owen leaned forward, studying the slice his hero was lifting onto a napkin. Cheese strings stretched and broke, red sauce dripped and pepperoni grease oozed.
Yep, the boy said with satisfaction. That ones the best piece. Can it go to my mom?
Sure, buddy. What a sweet kid. Tucker held out the piece to Sierra, doing his level best not to be affected by her. It wasnt her beauty that was getting to him, but something deeper, something he admired more than he wanted to admit. Its only right that ladies are served first. Ive got pineapple and Canadian bacon in the other box if youd rather have it.
This is great. She didnt meet his gaze but took the napkin carefully and this time their fingers didnt touch.
He couldnt say why that was a letdown. It wasnt as if he was interested in the woman. He wasnt looking for a connection or for reasons to like her.
Which piece for you, cowboy? he asked the kid, who had already picked out the slice he wanted and pointed. Youre going to have to put down Jack and Slayer.
This is Slayer? Cool. Owen seemed pleased with that, although he had a hard time putting down either toy. He debated which one to let go of first, carefully released the plastic horse and set him on the bedside table. Then he propped the stuffed bull against the pillows and tucked him beneath the covers, like a good dad would.
After handing over the slice, Tucker took one for himself. Sierra, something tells me youre just itching to say grace.
Im more curious to see what you are going to say. She had the most amazing eyes, the color of rain clouds gleaming in the light of a winters dawn. She was softer toward him and there was no mistaking the curiosity playing at the corners of her pretty mouth.
Dont worry, Im not short on prayers. Truth was, he was a praying man, faithful to the core. Hed been brought up that way, and living on his own had reinforced his beliefs. He bowed his head, realizing his hands were full of food so they couldnt join hands. It might have been better to pray before doling out the pizza. Although he was a faithful man, he wasnt a farsighted one.
Dear Father, he began, peering through his lashes to make sure Owen was doing the same. Was it his fault that he noticed Sierra, too? She was a wholesome sight, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, true faith poignant on her heart-shaped face. He wondered what silent prayer she sent heavenward, considering tomorrows events. You are so good to us with all the blessings You bestow on us and on this world. I want to thank You for bringing me here today to get better acquainted with Owen. Im sure You know and love Owen well. Hes got a big day scheduled tomorrow. We ask that You watch over him, so he can get well and run and play again. And, if its possible, let him ride a bronco one day.
Amen! Owen called out with excitement. Id sure like that.
Amen, he muttered, biting his bottom lip to keep from laughing, noticing that solemn note in Sierras quieter amen.
This is good pizza. Owen chomped away, collapsing against his pillows beside Slayer. The best. So, when do I get a bronco ride?
Uh-oh. He immediately felt the pull of the boys wish and the mothers unspoken disapproval. Looked like he was in trouble again. Since all eyes were on him, he swallowed hard, took a sip of cola to wash down the bite of pizza and fashioned what he hoped was a diplomatic answer. That would be up to your mom.
Thanks. Sierra shook her head at him and her disapproval didnt seem as serious as before. Thank you so much for putting that on me.
Youre entirely welcome. It was my pleasure, he quipped. What, you dont want him to turn out like me?
Do you think I would? She was laughing now, mostly because Owen was bouncing on the bed again, frail of health but hearty of spirit.
I can ride, cant I, Mom? Owen begged. Tucker told me how. I can do it.
So I heard. She took a sip of soda, buying time, her forehead crinkling a bit as she thought strategically. Well talk about it once were home and you have the doctors consent.
That means no. Owen sighed. He slumped, too good a boy to pout at not getting his way, but his disappointment was sincere and palpable.
That means you have to heal up first. Tucker chimed in, figuring hed better lend Sierra a hand before he fell further into her disfavor. Thats what Im doing. I havent tried to ride since I got out of the hospital. I havent even thought of riding. Ive got to get this leg back to normal, then I get to deal with what comes next.
Oh. Okay. Owen took a bite of pizza, scrunching up his face as he considered the possibilities. Im gonna be a cowboy one day, just like you, Tucker.
Its my guess youll make a better one.
Hell be the best, whatever he does, Sierra chimed in, resolute, watching her son. Her mothers love was easy to read. It polished her; it made her radiant with an inner beauty that took his breath away.
He forgot what hed been about to say. Words vanished on the tip of his tongue, leaving him mute. Hed never seen this side of Sierra before, never really had the chance. One thing was for certain. No other woman had ever intrigued him the way she did with her steadfast love and concern for her child. It touched him down deep, where he never let anything in.
Do you got a trailer? Owens enthusiasm broke into Tuckers thoughts, bringing him back to the conversation. The kid was already working on the crust of his pizza as he awaited the answer.
I have an RV. Tucker realized he was holding a piece of pizza and took a bite. Swallowed. Its home to me when Im on the road, which is a lot.
Did you drive it here?
Nope. Its parked at home in my familys garage.
With your dad? The boys eagerness changed into something more, a look of longing and loss. His love for his father remained in spite of his abandonment and the years of separation.
Yep, with my dad. Sympathy filled him. Hed gone through something similar with his mom when shed been alive. He understood the pain of an inadequate parent. And with my sisters, too.
Does your dad tuck you into bed at night? Owen wiped tomato sauce off the corners of his mouth using a napkin and boyish swipes, but there was no missing the longing in his big eyes.
Not anymore. He could feel Sierras gaze like a touch against the side of his face. He could feel her worry that he would upset the boy with his answer. Not going to happen. Do you know why Dad always tucked me in when I was a little guy?
Owen shook his head.
Because my mom wasnt there. She decided she didnt like living on the ranch and doing all that hard work, so she skedaddled. She used to read my bedtime stories and tuck me in, but when Dad took over that was nice, too.
Your mama left?
Sometimes that happens. Its sad, but you are the luckiest guy I know. Tucker wadded up his napkin, praying that he said this just right. God must love you to have blessed you so much.
Really? That lit the boy up, the sorrow fading and sadness vanishing.
He gave you the best mom in the world. He resisted the need to look at the woman seated so near to him he could hear the slight gasp of her shock. A strange liquid warmth rolled through his chest somewhere in the vicinity of his heart, an emotion he did not want to acknowledge or to feel. I sure didnt get a mom like that.
He gave you the best mom in the world. He resisted the need to look at the woman seated so near to him he could hear the slight gasp of her shock. A strange liquid warmth rolled through his chest somewhere in the vicinity of his heart, an emotion he did not want to acknowledge or to feel. I sure didnt get a mom like that.
She is a pretty good mom, Owen agreed, carefully considering his answer.
Glad you agree. Tucker wanted the boy to know that what he had was more important than what hed lost. Tucker had spent a chunk of his life figuring that out. Might as well save the boy the trouble. Your mom stays with you no matter what. Shes here with you right now, right? And shes so cool that I even let her listen to some of my cowboy secrets.
Right. Owen slowly grinned. And she lets me pick whats on TV.
Thats what I figured. Tucker eased off the bed, his chest tight, his comfort level shattered. He liked to keep a safe distance. He liked things easy and breezy, not weighty and serious, and most of all he didnt want any entanglements. He cared for the boy. Didnt know how it had happened, but there it was. An unspeakable pain wedged between his ribs, a sign of more emotion he did not want to feel.
Time to go, he announced, his stay had already gone well beyond the time the charity had requested of him. So it wasnt a bad thing that he needed to get some fresh air, away from the strange tug this little boy and his mother had on him.
Do you have to go? Owen asked, disappointment setting in.
Tell you what. Ill give you a call when your mom gives the go-ahead to see how youre healing up after your surgery. Hows that?
Great. Mom, did you hear? Tuckers gonna call me. Were friends.
I heard. Sierras voice sounded thick with emotion, layered with feelings that did more than tug at him. He felt themher worry for her son, her gratefulness that he was happy and her wariness of a has-been rodeo rider making promises she feared he wouldnt keep.
Got a pen? He snagged a napkin off the stack and waited while she dug into her purse. Ill leave my cell number so you can get ahold of me. Let me know what a great job Owen does in surgery.
Ill be asleep, Owen laughed.
Sure, but youre going to be the best patient ever. The surgeon is going to be in awe at how well things go. Tucker didnt like thinking of the precious little boy undergoing something so serious. Strange and unwelcome pain bored deeper into his chest and it took hard work not to let it show. He grabbed the pen Sierra offered him, seeing the same dread reflected on her beautiful face.
This time tomorrow, he went on, turning his attention to scrawling out numbers on the napkin, your mom will call and tell me how fantastic youre doing and that I had better find me a good sheep because youre ready to start learning the trade.
All right! Owen clasped his hands together, as if overcome with joy.
Only then did Tucker realize what hed done. Hed promised to teach the boy without clearing it first with his mom. Ouch. That was one big mistake. He stared hard at the pen and napkin in hand, knowing recrimination was about to come in one form or another. It was his experience that most mothers did not want their sons to grow up to join the rodeo.
Ill give you a call. When Sierra spoke, there wasnt veiled anger layered beneath her quiet alto. Not even a hint of coolness or a tone of disapproval. What he heard instead made him turn toward her, surprising him like nothing could. She smiled, taking the pen and napkin from him. Its a good thing your neighbors raise sheep. Well know just where to look.
Right. His throat tightened. Words tumbled straight out of his head. He felt awkward and wooden as his boots hit the tile and he grappled for his cane and his hat. He didnt know why he could see her heart, but he could. She was grateful for his offer because it gave Owen hope; it gave her hope, that there would be a lifetime of tomorrows yet to come for her and her son.
You be sure and watch some of those movies, he told the boy. The one with the wooden toy cowboy is my favorite. When I talk to you, I want to hear what you think.
Sure. Bye, Tucker. Owen wrapped his arm around the stuffed bull and held on tight.
The picture he made, sitting frail and small in his hospital bed, tore at him.
Thanks for having me over, he said, taking a step into the hall before he realized it was true. He thought hed been doing a favor for the charity, but hed been wrong. The favor had been for him.
Sierra was on her feet, following him into the hall. Light played in the multihued layers of her hair, golds, honeys and platinums glinted beneath the fluorescent lamps. She looked lighter than when hed met her a few hours ago, so luminous it hurt to gaze at her.
I cant believe everything you did for Owen today. Her fingertips landed on his forearm. Thank you.
My pleasure. Her touch felt like the sweetest comfort hed ever known and he did not pull away. You promise to call? I want to know when hes out of surgery. Ive got a sheep to find.
But that wasnt what he meant and judging by the gleam of emotion pooling in her gray eyes, she knew it, too. The sheep wasnt the problem. It was his concern for the boy.
Promise. Her lower lip trembled and she fell silent, as if she could not risk saying more. She firmed her chin and straightened her slender shoulders. So much strength for such a wisp of a woman, and seeing it made him admire her all the more.
Goodbye, Sierra. The emotion wedged between his ribs arrowed impossibly deeper. He forced his feet to carry him down the hall and away from the woman responsible. It had to be sympathy he felt for her because, as every woman hed ever dated had told him, he wasnt capable of more.
Chapter Four
Sierra yawned wide, covered her mouth with her hand and hated that her brain felt full of cobwebs. She stared at her phone, wondering why her mothers cell kept going to voice mail. It was probably the storm that had blown out sometime in the night. Still, a lot of services were compromised this morning. She sat straighter in the chair, trying not to make any distracting sounds in the surgical waiting area. A handful of other people anxiously waited on the surgeries of their loved ones, too.
She dialed again, tucked her phone to her ear and sighed. She missed her mom, but it strengthened her to hear the sound of her voice on the recorded message. She waited for the beep. Hi, Mom. I dont know where you are. The home phone isnt in service either. Owen has been in surgery for about an hour. So far, so goodat least there hasnt been any word otherwise. Ill try calling you in a little bit. I love you.
She disconnected, hating the lonely, frightening feeling creeping in around the edges of her heart. That same worried terror had haunted her the night through, keeping away all chances of real sleep. Open-heart surgery came with risks, ones she had vowed not to dwell on but they surged around her now like a tidal wave. What would she do if something went wrong? She couldnt lose him. Owen was her world, every part of her life that was good and beautiful.
Lord, please keep me on the right path here. She swallowed hard, slid her phone into the outside pocket of her purse and gathered up her knitting from the empty chair beside her. Help me to see the positive and keep all doubt away. Help Owens surgery to go perfectly.