A Mother for Cindy Read online

  “I think it might rain later. I have more trouble when the weather is about to change.”

  “Then we’d better hurry and get these posters up. We can probably put them in some storefront windows so if it rains it won’t matter.”

  When the group was finished, Cindy wanted to go with Nate and Gramps while Boswell was going to check out the lake area again. Jesse and Nick decided to go in the opposite direction from the children and Gramps. They were all to meet at Harry’s Café on Main Street when they were through.

  As they started to go their different ways, Cindy said, “Boswell, please don’t go near Fred and Ethel.”

  The older man smiled. “I wouldn’t think of it, Miss Cindy.”

  “Oh.” The little girl brought her hand up to cover her mouth, her eyes growing round. “What if Oreo went close to Fred and Ethel? Shouldn’t someone check?”

  Jesse bent down in front of Cindy. “Believe me. We would have heard a ruckus if Oreo had. But if it will make you feel better, I can check.”

  The tears returned to Cindy’s eyes. “Please.”

  “Then that’s my first stop.” She started to stand up.

  Cindy tugged on Jesse’s arm, stopping her, and whispered in her ear, “Please don’t let Daddy get too close. I don’t want him hurt again.”

  A lump jammed in Jesse’s throat. “I’ll take good care of your father.”

  “He might not be able to walk very far. His leg’s hurting him. It always does after he does his exercises. He’ll need to rest, but he’ll act like he doesn’t.”

  Surprised at the child’s keen observation and assessment of her father, Jesse gave her a reassuring look. “I’ll make it seem like it’s my idea.”

  Satisfied that her father would be taken care of, Cindy hurried to Gramps and Nate at the end of the driveway. Boswell took off toward the lake.

  Nick came up beside Jesse. “What was that all about?”

  “Nothing. Just girl talk.”

  “Girl talk?” He shook his head. “In the middle of all of this?”

  “Let’s go. I told Cindy I would check the area by Fred and Ethel’s nest first, but you have to stay back.”

  “Believe me, I didn’t have any intentions of going near those two.”

  Nick followed Jesse around back of her house and waited by the deck while she approached the two geese. They never took their eyes off her, but they remained quiet while she surveyed the area for she wasn’t sure what. Everyone would have heard if Oreo had come near Fred and Ethel. But a promise was a promise.

  As Jesse made her way back to Nick, his gaze fixed on her and her pulse rate responded as it had earlier. For a few seconds she felt as though they were the only two people in the world. He had a way of stripping away the rest of mankind with merely a look. The intensity in his eyes unnerved her. She wasn’t even sure he was aware of it. It cut through defensive layers that protected her heart and was very confounding. When she’d lost Mark she vowed she would never put herself in that position again. The pain of losing her husband had been too much. Sticking to that promise had kept her safe for the past four years.

  “All clear,” she said, eager to get their search started. There were lots of people in town and suddenly she needed to be around a lot of people. She might even be able to come up with a third candidate for Nick while they looked for Oreo.

  As Nick nailed up the posters, Jesse stopped various townspeople to let them know they were looking for a lost kitten, all black except for a patch of white above his eyes. She assessed the women they encountered as possible candidates, but none were suitable.

  “Do you know everyone in town?” Nick asked as he hammered another poster to a telephone pole.

  “Practically, but then I’ve lived all my thirty-two years here.”

  “I’ve lived all my thirty-five years in Chicago, and I don’t know everyone there.”

  Jesse chuckled. “Not the same thing. A few million more in population can make a difference.”

  He eyed her. “I’m beginning to wonder with you if it would. Have you ever met a stranger?”

  “Sure. You.”

  Nick favored his right leg more than usual as he walked beside her down the street. He tried not to act as if it were bothering him, but Jesse noticed, had for the past three blocks. That was why she had taken a shortcut to the café. She’d promised Cindy she would look after Nick—whether the man wanted her to or not. And she suspected he would be appalled if he knew what she was thinking.

  She stopped in front of Harry’s Café. “Let’s take a break. The rest of the group should be here soon.”

  Nick hesitated, surveying the street as if he were checking to make sure every pole had a poster on it.

  “It’s been a long day. I was up unusually early this morning. I need to refuel. I could use a cup of coffee.” She realized six wasn’t unusually early in some people’s book, but she normally slept until six-thirty so it wasn’t a lie. Actually she’d tossed and turned a good part of the night, trying to get her neighbor and his problem out of her brain. She hadn’t been very successful so she could use a shot of caffeine to keep going.

  Nick opened the door for her and trailed her into the café to a booth along the front window. He slid in across from Jesse, the pinched look about his mouth easing some as he sat. For a few seconds Jesse found herself wanting to soothe away the tired lines about his eyes. She quickly flipped open the menu she knew by heart and studied it.

  “I’m starved. I think I’ll get a piece of pecan pie, too. They have the best pecan pie in the state here. Goes great with coffee.” Jesse was beginning to wonder if Millie, one of the people they had met while passing out posters, had rubbed off on her. First, she was avoiding eye contact with Nick and now she was chattering away nonstop. Next, she would start giggling.

  She needed to find a woman for him. Then maybe she wouldn’t think about him all the time!

  The waitress came over and took their orders. Jesse studied the young woman who was the café owner Rose’s niece from Louisville and immediately dismissed her as a candidate. She was too young and, according to her aunt Rose, wild. She wouldn’t be a good influence on Cindy.

  As the waitress brought them their cups of coffee, the door opened and in walked Beth Coleman. Jesse caught her friend’s eye and motioned her to their booth. Beth was quiet, direct and sensible. She was also a very attractive woman with shoulder-length blond hair and sky-blue eyes. She might be just right for Nick. Why hadn’t Jesse thought of her before now?

  “Beth, it’s so good to see you,” Jesse said with more enthusiasm than usual.

  “We just saw each other yesterday at the grocery store.”

  Jesse cleared her throat. “I’d like you to meet Nick Blackburn. He’s staying in the Millers’ house for the summer. Why don’t you join us?” She scooted over to give Beth some room to sit.

  Her friend hesitated for a few seconds, then took a seat next to Jesse. “I’ll join you until Darcy arrives. I needed to talk to you anyway about making one of your dolls for the Fourth of July charity auction at the church. Will you contribute again this year?”

  “Of course. I’ve already started on the doll. I should have it done in a week or so.” Jesse looked across at Nick. “Beth’s a great organizer. Every year she almost single-handedly puts together a charity auction to benefit the needy families in our area. She also teaches high school English. On the side she teaches art to the young children in the summer. She’s quite talented. Beth’s so good with children any age.” Had she left anything out? Had she made her sound too good to be true? Was she losing her touch as a matchmaker?

  Beth blushed a deep scarlet.

  “It’s nice to meet you. I think I’ve met half the town today.” Nick took a sip of his coffee, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  “Jesse’s a great one to introduce you around town. I think she knows more about me than I do. Maybe I should take you along on my next job interview.”

  Panicked
her friend might be leaving town, Jesse said, “Nate has a few years to go before he gets to high school. He’s got to have you for English. You aren’t looking for another job, are you?”

  Beth laughed. “You never know.”

  Jesse studied her friend for a moment, wondering what she meant by that answer. “Nick has a six-year-old daughter. It might be nice if she joined one of your classes this summer. Nate’s taking the art class. It starts next week. What’s nice is that the parents can participate with the children.”

  “I’m a firm believer that parents and children should do a lot of activities together. I have a few openings still in the art class if you’re interested, Mr. Blackburn.”

  “That really will have to be Cindy’s choice. I’ll talk to her about it.”

  His gaze narrowed onto Jesse. She tried not to squirm under its intensity, but it was difficult to sit still.

  “Just let Jesse know. She can tell you how to sign up your daughter.” Beth rose, waving toward someone entering the café. “I see Darcy. I’d better go. We still have a lot of planning to do for the auction. It’s only a month away.” She hurried toward Darcy Markham.

  Jesse ignored Nick—or rather his glare—and watched her best friend from high school fix her gaze on her and Nick in the booth. She could see a surprised expression descend on Darcy’s face. Bypassing the table Beth had snagged for them, Darcy headed straight toward Jesse.

  “Okay, Jesse Bradshaw, what’s going on here?” Nick asked, his deep, raspy voice compelling her to look away from her friend and toward him.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Jesse wanted to say, “Quick. Hide me,” before Darcy reached the table, but instead she found her voice snatched away at the intensity in Nick’s dark eyes. She wished she didn’t blush so easily because she felt the effects burned into her cheeks as Nick stared at her and Darcy who would never let it go that she was having coffee with a man. Just because Darcy was deliriously happy now that she was married to Joshua didn’t mean everyone else had to be. Where her best friend got that idea was beyond Jesse—well, maybe she did know since she usually felt that way, except for herself.

  Darcy stopped at the table. “Jesse, I’m so glad to see you today. I had a brainstorm last night and was going to call you after I talked with Beth about it. I—”

  Darcy’s voice faded into the silence. Jesse tore her gaze from Nick’s and looked at her friend who swung her attention from Jesse to Nick then back. “Have I interrupted something?”

  Jesse saw the gleam sparkle in Darcy’s eyes and immediately said, “No, we were just waiting for Cindy, Nate, Boswell and Gramps to show up.”

  “I know who Nate and Gramps are. Who are Cindy and Boswell?”

  “Cindy is my daughter and Boswell works for me.” Nick held out his hand. “I’m Nick Blackburn, Jesse’s neighbor.”

  “Oh,” Darcy said, drawing that one simple word out and putting more meaning into it than she normally would. “I’m Darcy Markham. I’ve known Jesse for years. We went to school together.”

  While Nick wrapped his hand around Darcy’s and shook it, Jesse asked, “What did you want to tell me?” hoping that would take her friend’s mind off what was obviously dancing about inside Darcy’s head. Jesse had been a matchmaker too long not to see the signs in another, and she was not going to be a party to anyone trying to fix her up.

  Darcy dragged her attention from Nick and regarded Jesse. “We can talk later. I wouldn’t want to interrupt anything.” She started to leave.

  Jesse caught her arm and held her in place. “No way, Darcy Markham.”

  Her friend grinned. “Say that again.”

  “What? No way? Or Darcy Markham?”

  “Darcy Markham.” A dreamy look glazed Darcy’s eyes.

  “Darcy just got married a few months ago—actually Valentine’s Day, so you have to forgive her getting sidetracked when you say her new name. Now, back to my original question, what did you need to tell me?”

  “I thought we would form a group, maybe meet Saturday afternoons to talk.”

  “Who, you and me? We talk all the time.”

  “I thought maybe you, me, Beth, Zoey and Tanya. Zoey and I just moved back to Sweetwater and Tanya—well, she could use some—” Darcy glanced away then back “—some support. I’d better go. I’ll talk with Beth about it and get back to you later. Nice to meet you, Mr. Blackburn.” Darcy hurried toward Beth seated at a table near the door.

  Jesse watched her friend for a few seconds longer. There was more to this group than Darcy was willing to say in front of Nick.

  “I’m beginning to think you really do know everyone in Sweetwater.” Nick’s voice cut into her thoughts and pulled her attention away from Darcy and toward him. “Of course, I haven’t met Zoey or Tanya yet, but I do think I met everyone else today while hanging up posters.”

  Jesse shifted in her seat in the booth. “We had to get the word out about Oreo. I wonder where everyone else is.”

  Nick stared out the large plate glass window that ran the length of the front of the café. “I see Nate, Cindy and your grandfather coming now. Do you think your grandfather is okay?”

  Jesse spied the group on the sidewalk across the street. Gramps leaned against the post waiting for the stoplight to turn green while the two children danced about him, barely containing their energy. “Gramps keeps telling me he’s too mean to get sick. My son has him wrapped around his finger. He’d do anything for Nate.”

  “That must be nice.”

  The hard edge to Nick’s voice piqued her interest. “Do you have any grandparents alive?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t?” she said before she could stop the words.

  “I left home—such as it was—when I was sixteen.”

  “You were a runaway?”

  Nick picked up his glass, his hand clenched so tightly about it that Jesse wondered if he would break it. “You have to have a home in the first place to be able to run away from one.”

  “You were living on the streets?” Sweetwater was small enough that the people who lived there took care of anyone in need, so the concept was new to Jesse even though she had read about it happening in other places.

  Nick’s tensed expression eased as he looked beyond Jesse. He smiled. “How did it go, princess?”

  Cindy slid into the booth next to her father. “Everyone said they would look for Oreo. We stopped at the church and said a prayer for him. Nate said it would help.”

  Nate sat next to Jesse. “Yeah, Mom always says a prayer can work miracles.”

  “Daddy, I hope God listened to me.”

  Nick put his arm about his daughter. “I’m sure He did.”

  Jesse didn’t think Cindy heard the doubt in her father’s voice, but she had. Nick’s gaze caught hers and held it for a few seconds. There was more than doubt in Nick’s eyes—there was a bleakness that ripped through Jesse’s defenses. Cindy needed a mother, but Nick needed much more than that. He needed to believe in the power of the Lord. He needed to believe in life again. He might think their conversation was over because of the arrival of the children, but she had every intention of continuing it later.

  * * *

  “Are you sure about ordering pizza?” Nick asked as he came up behind Jesse on the deck of her house.

  She surveyed the darkening sky to the west, a large bank of ominous-looking clouds rolling in. A surge of panic zipped up her spine, and she determinedly shoved it into the background. “Yes. Boswell deserves a night off after finding Oreo today.” And I don’t want to be alone, she added silently, the wind picking up, the temperature dropping rapidly.

  “This is one father who is happy Boswell found Oreo by the lake. After going all over town today, I was sure the kitten was long gone or—”

  “Or what?”

  “Some animal’s dinner.” He looked toward the water.

  “If you mean Fred and Ethel, they wouldn’t do that.”

  He s
hook his head. “I was thinking about the owl I hear every morning when I drink my coffee on the deck. I’ve heard owls prey sometimes on animals like skunks. You have to admit Oreo could be mistaken for one.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” Jesse shivered, hugging her arms to her, more from the cooling breeze than from what he had said.

  “I may be a city guy, but I do know a few things about the country. One I just learned recently. Not to go near geese.”

  Jesse laughed, focusing on the man near her rather than the storm brewing. “I’m so glad you’re a quick learner. Now if you would only rub off on Gramps.”

  “I heard him leaving not long after Boswell arrived.”

  “Probably for the best. He said he was going to Susan Reed’s for dinner, but frankly I think he feels threatened by Boswell.”

  Nick’s chuckle spiced the air. “Boswell can have that effect on a person. When he first came to work for me, I wasn’t sure if we would last a week. But he was wonderful with Cindy and that counted a lot in my book. I must admit now that I don’t think I could make it without him.”

  The dark cloud completely obliterated what light there had been from the setting sun. The only illumination on the deck came from the kitchen and den. Jesse felt the need to go inside, but she didn’t want to break the mood by suggesting a change. She suspected that Nick didn’t open up much about himself.

  Instead, she leaned back against the railing, gripping its wood, and asked, “How long has Boswell worked for you?”

  “Over three years.”

  “What made you hire a manservant? Isn’t that a bit unusual?”

  “Actually I had advertised for a nanny-housekeeper.”

  “And Boswell applied?”

  “Sort of. A friend suggested him and after meeting him I decided he was the best person qualified for the job. I always hire the best.”

  “What did your wife have to say about it?” The second she had spoken the question Jesse wished she could have taken it back. A cloud as dark as the one in the sky dropped over his features and the temperature seemed to fall even more.