Twins? Lauren didnt even know there were twins in the family. Her family. People she was connected to by blood, but nothing else. They were simply strangers.
Strangers.
She studied the smiling family. The clothes were dated, fashionable twenty years ago and of modest department-store quality. The kids had the same blond hair and violet-blue eyes that she had.
An eerie feeling of recognition crawled through her, but it was nothing she could grasp. No tangible memory came to the surface through the void.
Thats your father, of course. Hes remarried. Spence runs the family bookstore these days, along with Katherine. You wont be meeting her on this visit, since shes off on her honeymoon. The twins are Aubrey and Ava. Of course, theyre all grown up now. Dont think, because you didnt grow up here, that you were out of my thoughts or my heart, because that wouldnt be true. Youre my granddaughter, regardless of what your mother did.
How could that be said so simply, as if Linda hadnt done everything she could to upset and bribe and wheedle money out of Mary? Lauren swallowed hard against the memories that settled like a boulder in her throat. She may have been very young, but she remembered many of moms phone calls and how shed behaved. It all made sense now. Is that the kind of person she seemed like to Mary, someone like her mother?
She looked again at her mothers face, young and unlined, sun browned, even back then, to a shocking shade. The striking woman in the pretty blue dress that matched the light shade of her eyes and her hair in a sleek bob resembled her mom. But Lauren didnt know this woman. The mother she knew never would have been anything like the calm, cheerful-looking woman in the photograph.
Lauren felt even more alone, a stranger to herself.
Her grandmother broke the silence. Im terribly glad youre home now. Id best go put the potatoes on. You must be hungry.
Laurens heart stood still. She saw the older woman to the door and waited a moment to close it so she could memorize her grandmothers figureher natural poise, straight spine, her slenderness and elegance. Mary walked through the little picket gate, where an arbor thick with red roses arched overhead, and then disappeared from view.
This was not what shed been expecting. Boy, talk about being out of her comfort zone. Lauren closed the door and leaned against it. She was just tired, thats why she felt so fragile. She blinked back the rising tears in her eyes. Shed come to find the truth. She had a feeling the truth was something she wasnt going to like.
Still, it was hard not to adore her grandmother. She seemed like the nicest person. Shed come thinking, at best, she would meet this lady. And now she had to wonder if there was a chance finally to have a real family tie. Or was this welcome simply to satisfy curiosity? A meeting and then that was all. Her grandmother would see her granddaughter all grown up, and she would have answers.
Tucking away her hopes, Lauren went in search of her bags, which she found on a little cedar chest at the foot of the quilt-covered bed. The bedroom was sweet with tiny rosebud wallpaper softening the walls. White ruffled curtains framing a large bay window seat rippled in the wind.
The view was stunning. Jagging mountains dominated the horizon, and the sky was the bluest shed ever seen. Deep greens of trees and the neat rows of a garden gave way to white fencing beyond. And, she realized, as she eased onto the window seats plump cushion, to Caleb.
Tucked in the shade of the stable, he was brushing the white horse. He hadnt noticed her and she didnt seem able to look away. There was something about him that felt as calming to her as the gentle breeze through the open window. It wasnt every day a girl got to round up runaway horses with a handsomeand kindcowboy. It was a new experience for her. She couldnt help wondering about her brother and sisters in the family photograph. This was probably the way theyd grown up, with visits here and adventures on those horses and family meals made with vegetables grown in the garden.
Her grandmothers words replayed in her mind. Dont think because you didnt grow up here, that you were out of my thoughts or my heart, because that wouldnt be true.
Those words had meant a lot. For the first time in her life, the haze of unhappiness from her childhood felt far away and she could see clearly. The meeting with her grandmother had gone wellher initial worries were over. Now, there was the rest of the family to meettomorrow. For now, she was grateful to have the time to get to know Mary.
She checked the time on the way out the door. She wanted to make sure she helped her grandmother in the kitchen. Rose-scented air greeted her as she skipped down the steps. Calebs baritone carried on the hot wind. He was calling her name. Still brushing the white horses sleek coat, he flashed his dimpled grin. He raised a hand, gesturing her over.
He was a kind man and hard not to like. So she headed his way through the fragrant flower garden ripe with full blooms of colorful roses then along the edge of the vegetable garden.
He came up to the fence, his Stetson shading his granite features. Things look like theyre goin pretty well.
Better than Id let myself hope.
You must have awful low hopes as a general rule. You said you talked to Mary on the phone. You had to suspect shed be as nice in person.
Yes, but you just never know how things are going to turn out.
Youve got a smile on your face. That about says it all.
She shrugged, not wanting to talk about her feelings. She was a private person, Caleb got that. He was pretty private himself. Her gaze went behind him to the mare standing in the shade of the horse barn. There was a look of wistfulness there. I hope they dont get out again. What if you hadnt been around to catch them?
Ah, but you see, thats the fun part of the game for Malia. She wants me to know she can get out any old time she wants. But what she really wants is for me to chase her. She loves to run. And to win.
I see. You indulge her by letting her outrun the pickup.
Now, dont you let her hear that, or its gonna make her cranky. Caleb checked over his shoulder at the mare whod pricked her ears and narrowed her eyes. Dont let her fool you. She understands English about as well as I do. Maybe better, since shes got nothing more to do than to stand around all day pondering it.
That made Lauren smile. You seem to know her pretty well. I hear from my grandmother that shes known you all of your life.
That about sums it up. My family has known hers for generations. I spent summers out here, until my grandparents downsized to a small house in town and I bought the place from them. I keep an eye on Marys place, take care of her horses, that kind of thing. I keep my own horse here, he likes the company. Youve already met him. Here he comes.
The brown and white paint pushed up to the fence, sniffing the air in hopes for any kind of treat. He pressed right up against the fence and reached over it with his long neck.
Im used to horses on television. Lauren took one step back. I didnt know they were so big in real life.
They look even bigger when youre on one of em, looking down.
I believe you.
She wasnt scared, he realized as she hung back, just uncertain. His fiancée, Jayna, had been petrified of horses, and that had been a problem. One of many that had been impossible to overcome. He ran a hand down his boys neck. Hey, you big lug, listen up and use your manners for the lady. Stop nosing around for food, Leo.
She wasnt scared, he realized as she hung back, just uncertain. His fiancée, Jayna, had been petrified of horses, and that had been a problem. One of many that had been impossible to overcome. He ran a hand down his boys neck. Hey, you big lug, listen up and use your manners for the lady. Stop nosing around for food, Leo.
Leo took exception to that and gave a head toss, his silky brown mane rippling handsomely. A charmer from the day he was foaled, the gelding preened, arching his neck for the lady watching him. The horse was determined to impress her.
It seemed to work, although by the instant adoration in her eyes, clearly Lauren was softhearted. Hes gorgeous.
Sure, and he knows it, too. Look at him showing off. Hes winking at you.
Hes cheeky. You taught him that, didnt you?
Sure did. I suppose there werent horses where you grew up.
The kind on the merry-go-round. As a little girl, I always wanted a horse. I read every book with a horse in it. Watched everything I could find on TV. It was just a phase, I guess.
Its a phase I never grew out of.
It must be nice.
That made him wonder about her life and what she thought of him. There was a polish to her that made him guess she was right at home among skyscrapers and jam-packed streets and people everywhere. He was country through and through, but he understood. Hed liked living in Seattle, even if hed felt hemmed in now and then.
Her sleek golden hair fluttered around her sweethearts face, framing it perfectly. In the mellow evening sunshine, she looked kissed by innocence. Like everything sweet and good in the world.
Not that he ought to be noticing that. Or the graceful way she moved, like the sunlight itself, with an unconscious poise that made her seem completely out of place in the rugged rural countryside of central Montana. His chest ached a little, but he couldnt say why. Only that he couldnt seem to look away as she reached up to stroke Leos nose. The gelding leaned into Laurens touch, as if hed already made up his mind about the newcomer.
Yeah, thats what he thought, too. Caleb tried to clear the ache out of his chest with a good deep breath of warm summer air, but it didnt work.
Well, she said as she took a step back. If I want to help with dinner, Id best get going.
Maybe it was the longing look as she gazed at the horse or simply his curiosity about her, but the words tumbled across his tongue before he could stop them. Come meet me out here tomorrow morning and Ill take you riding with me.
Id love that, but theres one problem.
Let me guess. You dont know how to ride.
Yes, and its a rather huge problem.
Nope. I can teach you to ride in five minutes.
Thats a fib. Flaw number one. Why wasnt she surprised? Lauren kept backing away, because it was safer. Even a man as awesome as Caleb Stone had his flaws. I know it takes more than five minutes to learn to ride. All those horse books and movies, remember?
Well, I didnt say youd ride like an expert, but in five minutes I can have you on the back of a horse riding around the corral.
Overconfidence. Flaw number two.
Hey, are you keeping count or something?
Me? Of course not. Its habit, thats all. Maybe it was better to escape while she could, before she had to explain that. But maybedown deepshe wanted to get away before she thought too much. She couldnt let herself think that he was as great as he seemed, as she seemed to want him to be.
So she left the man with his horse awash in sunlight. And tried to turn her thoughts to other things as she hurried back to the path. She didnt look back, although she could feel him watching after her, even when shed disappeared around the garden patch and hurried out of his sight.
She climbed the porch steps, wondering if there was a man on earth a woman could truly depend on? She sure hoped so. But people let you down. Especially men. That was a proven fact in lifeboth in hers and in her mothers.
Although the kitchen door was open, the screen door was closed. The mesh screen offered a view into the big sunny room with kettles boiling on the stove and a table scooted up to the wide picture window. Touches of lace were everywheredelicate and handmade and frilly, they graced the windows, lay across the honeyed wood of the table and framed the snapshots on the walls. The room was like something out of an old television show as safe and as welcoming as home should be.
Lauren rapped her knuckles gently on the wooden frame of the screen door.
Mary peered around the inside archway. Lauren. Come in, dear. I couldnt help noticing you were talking to Caleb. Hes a very nice boy, dont you think?
Uh oh. Here it came. Lauren closed the screen door behind her, wincing at the look of hope shining on her grandmothers sweet face. Yes, Caleb seems very nice, but hes not my type.
Really? You mean youre not looking for a responsible, dependable, kind, smart man with old-fashioned values? A challenge sparkled in Marys gentle smile.
Sorry, Im not looking for that. Not at all. Lauren hoped she was able to cover up her real emotions, feelings that were too complicated to get into. Im more of a solo kind of girl.
Thats too bad you feel that way. My marriage was one of the greatest blessings of my life. Marys smile changed and the look in her eyes did, too. Being his wife, sharing his life, why, it was the greatest privilege.
That was something Lauren couldnt understand. She couldnt imagine trusting anyone so much or letting anyone get that close. She held back her reasons why: the up-and-down relationships of her mothers; the short and stormy marriages; the quest for the next husband, none of whom could possibly have been described as a blessing.
I dont really want to be a wife. It was the closest thing to the truth she could say, the only thing that was easy. Everything else was too personal. Too painful. She hadnt come all this way to share that with her grandmother.
Dont want to be a wife? Mary looked truly confused. Whatever do you mean? You dont want a husband? A family? Love in your life?
What did she say to a woman whose life was as removed from her reality as a fifties sitcom? Im happy with the way things are right now.
I see. Mary studied Lauren for a long silent moment and in the stillness between them, the evening light shone a deep-hued rose. The room was painted by it; Mary seemed transformed by it.
Lauren could see the windows awash with the tone, the entire sky beyond a translucent turquoise and the clouds a neon pink. It was unreal, like a filter over a cameras lens changing the hues of the world. Thats what it was like. The streaks of last light fractured as the sun lowered beneath the craggy rugged mountain peaks. The neon pink remained, lighting the underbellies of the long stretch of clouds. The sky turned a navy-purple tone, darkening as the moments passed.
Ill leave well enough alone, then, Mary said as twilight deepened in the room. You cant blame a grandmother for hoping. I want all my grandchildren married and settled and happy in life.
Lauren knew that Mary meant well. Maybe if shed grown up here in the gentle shadow of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains with the love of this sunny, kind woman, she would be different. More trusting. Looking for love and marriage and happily-ever-after like a heroine in a romantic movie. It was a nice thought.