Home To Copper Mountain

“Uncle David had a bad cold that day so he stayed home with us. When the services were over, there was going to be a big party.”

She sucked in her breath. “Everybody going to church left the ranch house. None of them ever came back.”

Rick’s expression darkened in horror and incredulity. She looked away, not wanting to see any more of his reaction.

“My parents and siblings were inside the church. So were Pam’s parents and siblings, the boys’ parents and siblings and Uncle David’s wife, his married children and grandchildren.”

“Good heavens—”

“Uncle David is really our great-uncle. He was the oldest member of the family and the last surviving adult of the Jarrett clan. He took us all in and raised us.

“I know it broke his heart to have to make that announcement today. He’s such a good man, and has bent over backward to be fair to each one of us. I don’t think your father could possibly understand how grateful Uncle David must be that this house is going to stay in the family.”

A lump had lodged in her throat. “T-there’s an old saying that we suffer three deaths in this life,” she stammered. “First when we die, the second when we are laid to rest and the third when our name is never spoken again.”

Her gaze lifted to his once more. “Your father has ensured that our ancestral home will stay in the Jarrett family for another generation anyway. I love Clint for loving Pam that much,” she whispered.

Audra continued in a voice that disguised little of her anger. “What I don’t understand is how ungrateful the boys are. They’re lucky he’s been able to leave them any birthright at all. On top of taking care of us all their lives, he took out loans to pay for our college education—”

She broke off talking.

None of this was Rick’s concern.

Embarrassed to have gone on and on, Audra finished dishing up the dessert. “As long as you’re here, would you mind taking these to the dining room?” She handed him two plates without looking up.

“I’ll be back to help.”

That’s what she was afraid of. She didn’t want to spend another second in the company of Rick Hawkins, of all people.

Hopefully, he’d be gone by tomorrow. Audra had no desire to get to know him any better. When you got to know someone, you learned to care about them.

Who was she kidding? She already cared about him. Until he’d rescued her from her nightmare, he’d only been an attractive face in a series of wedding photographs.

But a photograph only showed a face and body. It didn’t reveal the total person. Rick possessed layers of desirable qualities that broke down the defenses guarding her wary heart. When he’d followed her into the kitchen to help her, to listen with compassion to all she had to say, she realized he’d breached the outer walls and was standing at the door of its inner chamber.

CHAPTER THREE

THE IMPATIENT BLARE of a car horn coming from the front of the house couldn’t be ignored. Rick’s eyes sought his father’s in a private message.

“It sounds like you’ve got to go, Bobby.”

“Yeah. Dad wants to leave, but we’re not finished yet.”

“That’s all right. Call the ranch house anytime and ask for me. I can help you over the phone.”

“Thanks, Clint.” Bobby took the paper he’d been writing on and handed Clint back his pen.

“You’re welcome.”

“You, too, Rick. See ya.”

The young teen disappeared from the living room, leaving the two of them alone for the first time all day. Rick checked his watch. It was almost five o’clock.

He stared at his father. “You know the old saying, a picture is worth a thousand words?”

“You mean, after sitting through one meal with the Jarrett clan, you feel as if you’ve received a Ph.D. in family dysfunction?”

Rick folded his arms and sat back in the chair with his ankles crossed. “When I followed Audra into the kitchen to get the dessert, she told me about the tornado.” His mind still reeled from everything he’d learned. “It’s impossible to comprehend that kind of loss.”

“I didn’t know the details until Pam broke down on our honeymoon and told me. She keeps her pain well hidden. You have to bide your time with her.”

Rick couldn’t stay seated any longer. “The morning Nate and I drove you and Pam to the airport, I sensed a vulnerability about her. Only now am I beginning to understand why.” He paused. “I’m glad you found each other.”

His dad looked taken aback. “I’d hoped one day you might come to feel that way. I just didn’t expect it to happen this soon.”

“Being here has opened my eyes to a lot of things. It’s too bad you’ve got enemies.”

“Audra meant well, but I’m afraid her suggestion to Bobby fanned the flames.”

“Dad, the mere fact that you exist, let alone married Pam and bought this house, has caused a major conflagration. I’ve never met such fractious personalities.”

“It’s time her cousins dealt with reality.”

The edge in his tone prompted Rick to study his dad for a minute. “To think I used to wonder why Nate and I were attracted to careers with an element of danger…”

“Danger comes in many packages, son. Your kind kills instantly.”

“I’ll take my kind any day over three spiteful men who wished you on the other side of the universe today.”

“I can handle it. Right now I want to spend some private time with you.” He got to his feet. “Pam won’t be expecting us until dark.”

“Where are we going?”

“For a horseback ride.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. I haven’t been on a horse in years.”

“It’s like skiing. You never forget. Come on. We’ll slip out the front door and walk around back to the barn.”

Except for the absence of one car, it appeared everyone else was still inside the house, yet Rick couldn’t hear voices. Its unique design of multiple rooms and an asymmetrical floor plan swallowed sounds.

Though the house was built in a wide-open space, there were some pecan and oak trees growing close to the barn to provide shade. Nearby he noticed a spring-fed pond.

They entered the barn and walked over to the first two stalls. “You take Pam’s mare, Marshmallow. I’ll ride the bay. His name is Prince.”

“Is he David’s horse?”

“No. Prince is Audra’s pride and joy. He’s been missing her and will welcome the exercise.”