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

conversation.

       Now this.

       Caroline didn’t believe Richard. She strongly suspected that almost everything out of his mouth was a lie. If the story about Nell was true, she would’ve heard about it. To the best of her knowledge Nell hadn’t even attended the dance. Not that it was unusual for her to avoid social functions—it was widely known that Nell continued to grieve for Jake, the only man she’d ever loved. He’d been her high-school sweetheart, and their affection for each other had been evident throughout the years. Caroline had often wondered if Nell would remarry.

       “Ask her.” Caroline spoke the words aloud without realizing it.

       “Ask who, Mommy?” Maggie looked at her mother.

       “A friend.” She left it at that.

       “About what?”

       “Nothing.” She smiled at her daughter and changed the subject.

       As it turned out she had the opportunity to chat with Nell sooner than she’d expected. The following afternoon on her way home from work Caroline stopped at the local Winn-Dixie for a few groceries.

       She collected what she needed and pushed her cart up to the checkout stand—behind Nell.

       “Howdy, friend,” Nell said cheerfully. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”

       “Nell!” Caroline didn’t disguise her pleasure. “How are you?”

       “Great. I’ve been working hard on getting the word out that I’m turning Twin Canyons into a dude ranch. The brochures were mailed to travel agents last week.”

       Caroline admired her ingenuity. “That’s terrific.”

       The grocery clerk slid Nell’s purchases over the scanner, coming up with the total. She paid in cash, then glanced around. “Jeremy!” she called. “Emma.” She reached for the plastic bags, giving a good-natured shrug. “I warned those two not to wander off. I know exactly where to find them, too—the book section. They’re both crazy about books, especially The Baby-sitters Club books and that new series of kids’ Westerns by T. R. Grant. I can’t buy them fast enough.”

       Caroline recognized both series. T. R. Grant was the current rage; even Maggie had wanted Caroline to read her his books. Maggie was still a bit young for them, but it wouldn’t be long before she devoured Grant’s books and The Baby-sitters Club by herself.

       “Have you got a moment?” Caroline asked, opening her purse to pay for her own groceries.

       “Sure.” Nell waited while Caroline finished her transaction. “What can I do for you?”

       As they walked toward the book display at the far end of the Winn-Dixie, Caroline mulled over the best way to approach the subject of Nell and Grady. She wasn’t sure why she’d allowed Richard to upset her, especially when she believed it’d all been a lie. Not that she’d blame Grady for being attracted to Nell. In fact, at one time she’d believed they might eventually marry. They seemed right together somehow; both were ranchers and both had struggled against what seemed impossible odds.

       In the back of her mind Caroline had always suspected that when the time was right, they’d discover each other. Grady and Jake had been good friends, and Grady had been a pall bearer at Jake’s funeral. Grady and Nell were close in age and would make a handsome couple. Grady was an inch or two over six feet, with a broad muscular physique not unlike Jake’s. There weren’t many men who’d suit Nell physically, since she was nearly six feet herself.

       “I hope you don’t think I’m being nosy, but I heard a rumor…” Caroline blurted before she lost her nerve. This was even more embarrassing than she’d feared.

       “About what?” Nell frowned.

       Caroline drew a breath and held it until her lungs ached. “About you and Grady Weston.”

       Nell frowned again. “Me and Grady?”

       Caroline nodded.

       “Grady’s a friend,” Nell said. “I’ve always liked him and if I were ever to consider remarrying, I’d certainly think about Grady.”

       Caroline broke eye contact. This wasn’t what she’d wanted to hear.

       “He’s a good man and he’d make an excellent husband and father,” Nell continued, then asked a probing question of her own. “Is there any reason you’re asking?”

       “Not really.”

       “He asked me to the dance last month,” Nell added, as if she’d suddenly remembered.

       So it was true. Caroline’s spirits sank.

       “In fact, I received two invitations to the dance within a few hours.” This was said with a note of amusement.

       “Two? Grady and who else?”

       Nell’s mouth widened in a smile. “You aren’t going to believe this, but both Grady Weston and Glen Patterson asked me to the dance.”

       “Glen?” That was a kicker, considering he was now engaged to Ellie Frasier. Those two were so deeply in love it was difficult to imagine that little more than a month ago Glen had invited Nell and not Ellie to the biggest dance of the year. In the end he’d gone by himself and then he’d practically come to blows with Richard over Ellie. Richard—always the spoiler.

       “I don’t know what was in the air that day,” Nell murmured. “Grady and Glen calling me up like that.”

       “Did you go to the dance?”

       “Briefly,” Nell said, “but Emma had an upset stomach that day. I made an appearance, said hello to some friends I don’t see often and left shortly after the music started.”

       “Grady was there,” Caroline said, fondly recalling their one dance. Ladies’ choice, and she’d been the one to approach him. Those few short minutes in Grady’s arms had been wonderful. Afterward she’d hoped he’d ask her to dance himself, but he’d wandered back to where he’d been sitting with Cal Patterson and hadn’t spoken to her again. Caroline had felt bitterly disappointed.

       “…any reason?” Nell asked.

       Caroline caught only the last part of the question. “Reason?” she repeated.

       “That you’re asking about me and Grady?”

       “Not really,” she said, then figured she owed her friend the truth. “He asked me to lunch the other day.”

       “And you went?”

       Caroline nodded.

       “And you had a good time?”

       “A great time,” Caroline admitted.

       Nell shifted the weight of the groceries in her hands. “Listen, Caroline, if you’re worried about there being anything romantic between me and Grady, don’t give it another thought. Grady’s one of the most honorable men I know, but—” her voice dipped with emotion “—I’m still in love with Jake.”

       “Oh, Nell.” Caroline hugged her friend.

       “Oh, damn it all,” Nell said, blinking furiously. “I’ve got to scoot. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

       “Sure.” It would be good to sit down and talk with her friend. Both their lives were so busy it was difficult to find the time.

       “Jeremy. Emma.” Nell called her children again, and the two came running.

       Caroline waved them off and headed toward the parking lot, deep in thought. So, what Richard had told her was true. This was what made him dangerous. He tossed in a truth now and then just to keep everyone guessing. But for once, she wished he’d been lying.

      * * *

      GRADY HAD BEEN PENSIVE ever since the night Caroline stayed for