Heart of Texas Volume 2: Caroline's Child. Debbie Macomber

“Mommy! Mommy!”

       Grady released Maggie, who raced toward her mother, nearly stumbling in her eagerness to escape his clutches. Caroline held her arms open and the child sobbed hysterically as she fell into her mother’s embrace.

       “What happened?” Savannah asked.

       “Somehow Maggie got into Widowmaker’s stall,” Grady explained. His knees shook so badly he sank onto a bale of hay.

       “Dear God,” Savannah whispered and lowered herself onto the bale beside him. “Is she hurt?”

       Grady didn’t think so.

       Caroline’s eyes were filled with questions, but it was impossible to talk over the sound of Maggie’s crying.

       “What about you?” Savannah asked. “You didn’t get kicked, did you?”

       “I’m fine.” Which wasn’t entirely true. Grady figured just seeing Maggie in that stall cost him five years of his life. God only knew what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten there when he had. The thought wasn’t one he wished to entertain.

       Gathering the child in her arms, Caroline made her way out of the barn. Savannah and Grady followed. His sister returned to the house, but Grady lingered outside, not knowing how to help although he wanted to do something. He waited for a clue from Caroline, who sat on one of the porch steps as she cradled her daughter. Maggie continued to sob almost uncontrollably, hiding her face in her mother’s shoulder. Caroline stopped whispering to the child and started to sing in a low soothing voice gently swaying back and forth.

       Grady pulled out the rocking chair and Caroline’s eyes revealed her gratitude as she sat down in it. When the song was finished, she talked softly to Maggie, reassuring the little girl once more that everything was fine and there was nothing to be afraid of.

       Grady paced the area in front of the porch, waiting, wondering what he should do next. If anything. Gradually Maggie quieted. Then she straightened and glanced around.

       “Hello, princess,” he said, remembering that was what his father had called Savannah. It seemed to suit Maggie. “Are you okay?”

       Maggie took one look at him and burst into tears. Within seconds she’d buried her face in her mother’s shoulder again.

       “What’d I say?” he asked, unable to understand what he’d done now. He’d hoped the child would view him as her hero since he’d saved her from certain harm. Apparently that wasn’t the case.

       “She’s embarrassed,” Caroline explained.

       “Embarrassed?” he shouted, forgetting how his booming voice terrified the little girl. Maggie burrowed deeper into her mother’s embrace.

       Savannah opened the screen door and stepped onto the porch. “Dinner’s ready if anyone’s interested,” she announced.

       Grady wasn’t. His appetite was gone. Conflicting emotions churned in him—he felt angry and relieved, frustrated and pleased, confused and happy. He wanted to hug Maggie and thank God she was safe, and at the same time chastise her for giving him the fright of his life.

       “I think it might be best if I took Maggie home,” Caroline said.

       “No.” Grady’s protest was instantaneous. “I mean, you need to do what you think is best but…” He didn’t know what he wanted other than to spend time with her, but now it seemed that wasn’t going to happen.

       “I’ll see if I can settle her down,” Caroline offered. She held Maggie in her arms and continued to rock, humming softly.

       Grady sat on the top step and marveled at her gentle manner with the child. The way she calmed Maggie helped quiet his own heart. No one seemed to realize it, but he’d suffered quite a jolt himself. Rocket sat next to him, his head nestled on Grady’s lap. The old dog had belonged to his father, and in the years since his parents’ deaths, Grady had spent many a late night sitting quietly with Rocket. Talking a bit, mostly just thinking. The dog had often comforted him.

       When he was sure he wouldn’t disturb the child’s slumber, Grady dragged the vacant rocker next to Caroline.

       “Thank you,” she whispered. Reaching out, she squeezed his hand. “I hate to think what could have happened if you hadn’t arrived when you did. Maggie knows better. I’ll have a talk with her later, but I don’t think you need to worry about anything like this again. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her so frightened.”

       “I was terrified myself.” He wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

       Caroline closed her eyes as though to shake the image of her daughter in the stallion’s stall from her mind.

       It was difficult for Grady not to stare at her.

       “Go and have your dinner,” she said a moment later. “I’m only going to stay a few more minutes.”

       “I’m not hungry,” he said, wishing he could convince her to stay.

       “I’m sorry, Grady, for everything.”

       He gestured with one hand, dismissing her apology.

       “I was looking forward to riding with you this afternoon,” she said.

       He’d forgotten the ostensible reason for her visit. He shrugged as if it was no big thing. “We’ll do it some other time.”

       She brushed the hair away from Maggie’s sweet face. “I’d better go.”

       The screen door opened and Savannah poked her head out. “Do you want to put Maggie down on my bed?” she asked. “I’ll watch her so you two can…” She didn’t finish the statement, but Grady knew his sister. She’d been about to say, “so you two can have some time alone together.”

       Caroline shook her head. “Maggie’s had a terrible fright and she’s embarrassed because she knows she did wrong. I need to talk to her and it’d be best if I did that at home.”

       “I’ll walk you to your car,” Grady offered. He stuffed his hands in his back pockets as he stood up.

       “I’m so sorry, Savannah,” Caroline whispered.

       “I’ll see you again soon, won’t I?”

       “Of course.”

       Savannah and Grady walked down the porch steps with Caroline holding the sleeping Maggie. “Laredo and I are driving into Fredericksburg to talk to our builder next Wednesday. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll be in our own home by October.”

       The house would be empty without Savannah, but Grady refused to think about it. At least her new home wouldn’t be far from the ranch house, no more than a five-minute walk.

       “The house plans are ready?”

       Savannah looked inordinately proud. “Laredo and I finished going over everything Friday afternoon and gave our approval to the builder. You can’t imagine how much time and effort went into that.”

       They reached the car and Grady opened the passenger door so Caroline could set Maggie down. The child didn’t so much as stir when Caroline placed the seat belt around her.

       “Seeing as Laredo and I will be gone most of Wednesday, perhaps that would be a good day for you two to get together.” Savannah made the suggestion casually, as though she often arranged her brother’s schedule.

       “Ah…” Grady was a little embarrassed by her obviousness.

       “I can come over after work,” Caroline said, smiling at him. “But I don’t know if the sitter can keep Maggie.”

       “Bring her with you,” Savannah said. “That’ll give the three of you time together. It’s important for Maggie to feel comfortable around Grady.”

       He was warming to the idea. “Perhaps we could all go riding,” he said.