Chapter Eleven
B y the next Friday Laura was sleep-deprived, cranky, and ready to cry at the drop of a hat. On top of that, she was seriously worried about Luke. Something had obviously happened in the little boy’s life since she’d seen him at the dance on Saturday, but she hadn’t wanted to talk to him in front of the other kids, and of course she hadn’t wanted to get in touch with his dad.
Arlene had texted on Sunday morning, inviting her again for lunch on Sunday, the day after the Winter Ball. Even though her whole being was craving to see Hayden again, she’d made arrangements with Ellie to go skating on Miracle Lake instead. If she was going to get the cowboy out of her mind, it would be best not to see him. A week tops, she argued. That was all she would need to forget about the kiss, the dancing, the warm, urgent lips trailing along her shoulder.
Except, she hadn’t been able to forget about any of it, even for a second, over the past week. He’d haunted her dreams and every waking hour.
With a soft groan, she grabbed her bag. It was Friday. Cooper had promised to pick her up, and she had to persuade a dog to like her.
Luke was waiting outside her door. The little boy slipped a hand into hers. “I’m also going home with Cooper.”
“That’s nice.” She smiled down at him, and for a few minutes, they walked in silence. “You want to tell me what’s wrong?”
Luke was silent for another minute. “I miss my mom.”
“Oh, sweetie, I know.” Laura crouched down and hugged him. “I’m so sorry.”
He pressed his face against her shoulder. “Dad put her picture away.”
Laura hugged the little boy tighter, carefully considering what to say. “Have you asked him why he did that?”
Mumbling, Luke shook his head.
“Everyone handles grief differently, you know,” she said, stroking his small back. “I’m sure he has a reason. Talk to him.”
“He’s been shouting a lot this week.”
Swallowing her sigh, Laura got up. Cooper’s truck was pulling up. “There’s Cooper. Let’s go.” She’d thought Luke would run toward the truck, but his hand slipped into hers again. “Maybe your dad is worried about the ranch or something,” she tried.
Amber eyes, so much like his dad’s, looked up at her. “He likes you. But he doesn’t want to. That’s why he put Mom’s picture away.”
Before she could close her mouth, he was running toward Cooper.
Stunned, Laura followed slowly. Where in the world would Luke get an idea like that? There was no way Hayden would ever think something like that, let alone tell his son about it.
“Hi, Teach!” Cooper smiled as he walked around his truck to help her in. “Everything okay with Luke?” he asked below his breath.
She shook her head.
“He’s not been himself all week,” Cooper said under his breath as he helped her into the truck. “Any idea why?” He gave a lopsided smile. “Nobody is talking to Hayden this week. He’s in a filthy mood.”
“I…you’ll have to ask him,” she said softly.
Nodding, he closed her door before moving to his side of the truck. “Molly is excited to meet you,” he said as he started the truck. “A little bit apprehensive, but excited.”
“How do you know?”
“She’s told him,” Luke said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Smiling, Laura turned around to look at the little boy. “Don’t tell me you also talk to animals?”
He rolled his eyes. “They don’t talk-talk, Miss Anderson, but I know what they say.”
Intrigued, she looked at Cooper. “So, how does it work?”
He shrugged. “It’s different for everyone. We’re all born with the ability to understand animals, but most people lose that sense along the way.”
Hesitantly, she turned around to look at Luke again. Could she ask him if he read people’s minds, like his Aunt Willow?
The little boy smiled fleetingly at her before he looked out of the window. Blinking, Laura settled back into her seat. She was imagining things. Probably because of the lack of sleep.
*
“Where’s Cooper?” Hayden asked as he sat down for dinner on Friday evening. He sounded irritated, he knew, but damn it, surely it couldn’t be that difficult to be on time for meals?
“He’s not coming,” Willow said. “As you would know if you read your texts or listen to the conversation around the table. He fetched Laura and Luke earlier today from school. Laura and Molly are meeting to decide whether they like one another.”
That freaking hole in Haden’s chest grew bigger. Laura was with Coop again. “Who’s Molly?” was all he asked, though.
“The rescue dog,” Becket said. “Coop’s been talking about it all week. How did you miss it?” Becket leaned over to Luke. “You’re very quiet this week. Everything okay?”
Luke played with his food. “I miss Mom. Dad put her picture away.”
Stunned, Hayden stared at his son. The thought that Luke might be upset because he’d removed Madeline’s picture hadn’t even entered his mind. He should’ve been more sensitive.
“You want him to put your mom’s picture back?” Willow asked.
Sighing, Luke shook his head. “No, she’s gone.”
“I’ll put it back,” Hayden said.
Luke looked him straight in the eye. “I know why you put it away. It’s okay. I’m going to play with Jessie now.” He scooted off his chair and ran out of the kitchen, Jessie yapping at his heels.
Willow groaned out loud. “You know what that is?” she asked, pointing in the direction where Luke had disappeared.
“What do you mean?” Hayden asked.
“He has it as well.”
“Has what?” Becket asked.
“Whatever I’ve inherited from our grandma. The ability to feel, to know what other people are feeling, what’s going on in your minds.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Hayden snapped.
But Willow wasn’t listening anymore. As Hayden watched, her face turned stricken. He’d seen that particular expression often enough to know something was very wrong somewhere.
“Willow? What?” he asked as both he and Becket got up quickly.
“Someone is trying to start a fire…” Willow muttered.
“Where, Willow?” Hayden asked.
As if coming out of a trance, she stared at him. “The old barn. Someone is there…”
“Phone Coop!” Hayden shouted as he and Becket sprinted for the back door.
*
Friday night around eight, Laura was sitting, with Molly sleeping on her lap. They had just finished eating. She’d fallen in love with the little Jack Russell mix at first sight. Molly had been more hesitant. It took some cajoling to allow Laura to hold her. Initially, Molly had just shivered and wouldn’t relax. Following Cooper’s cue, Laura kept talking softly to the dog, kept stroking her until she’d eventually relaxed.
Frowning, Cooper suddenly got up slowly. Muttering, he picked up his phone.
“Cooper, is something wrong? I can try and get an Uber to come and fetch me.”
“No, it’s just…” he began, but his phone rang. Without looking who was calling him, he answered before the second ring. “Sis, what happened?”
By the time he put the phone in his pocket, he was clearly very worried. “I have to go. So sorry. Willow is coming to pick you up. We’ll get you back home as soon as we can.” And he was gone. Seconds later, his truck roared away.
Laura was still staring at the door, flabbergasted, when she heard the sound of another car stopping outside. Putting Molly down, she grabbed her coat and bag. “Sorry, sweetheart. I think you’d better stay here. I must still pay Cooper, but I’m coming back for you, okay?”
Molly licked her hand before she curled up on the couch. Laura hastened outside and closed the door behind her.
Willow was hanging halfway out of her truck and waved when she saw Laura. “Come on!”
“What’s going on?” Laura asked as she rushed closer and got into the truck. Luke was sitting in the back seat, his face ashen in the light of the car. “You okay, sweetie?” she asked as Willow pulled away.
“Someone tried to start a fire at the old barn. I’m dropping you and Luke off at the big house before I also head that way. I’ve phoned the firehouse and the sheriff. Although Hayden and Becket have probably stopped the person in time, you never know. You’ll look after Luke?”
“Of course,” Laura said. “How did you know?”
Willow didn’t answer her directly. “We were having dinner with Hayden when it happened.”
“She just knows stuff,” Luke said from the back.
“You also know stuff, don’t you?” Willow asked.
“Not like you do,” Luke said.
Willow didn’t answer him, just stepping on the gas. Within minutes, she stopped in front of another house. “Keep your phone close, Laura. I’ll let you know what’s going on.”
*
It was after midnight when Hayden returned to the homestead.
He was upset, frustrated, and tired. Leaving his boots on the porch, he entered the house. Laura should still be here somewhere. Willow had left her with Luke, his sister had said. Just the thought that she was here, somewhere in his house, was doing all sorts of strange things to his insides.
What a night. He’d never been so grateful for his sister’s intuition, or whatever she wanted to call it. They’d been in time to stop Dan Smith before he could do too much damage. He had the match in his hand when they found him.
He’d tried to flee, but he ended up in a ditch just as Dawson O’Dell, the sheriff, arrived. At first, Smith had been tight-lipped until he’d heard what kind of jail time he might face for attempted arson.
He claimed Tim Higgins had paid him a lot of money to “burn the Weston Ranch to the ground.” With Dan in the car with the sheriff and Hayden and his two brothers in his truck, they’d driven to Higgins Valley.
Of course, Tim had denied the whole thing. With only his word against Dan’s, there wasn’t really anything they could do, although Hayden had an appointment to see the sheriff tomorrow. They had to find a solution for Tim’s problems before there was real damage. If that meant he had to press charges, then that was what he would do.
Hayden felt sick to his core. There was no doubt in his mind that Tim was behind the whole thing. Where Tim’s fury and anger toward them stemmed from, he had no idea. They had tried to help him. He was the one who hadn’t wanted their help.
Stretching his tired muscles, he took the stairs two at a time to the bedrooms on the second floor to check on Luke. As he opened the door to his son’s room, he promptly lost his breath. Both Laura and Luke were fast asleep. Laura was lying next to his son, cradling him against her body, one of Luke’s books lying open next to them. Luke’s smaller hands were resting on top of Laura’s.
He tried to inhale, but his chest seemed way too small. Damn. He’d tried all week to not think of her, but no matter how many hours he’d worked, how busy he’d been, she’d been on his mind the whole time. And at night she’d been center stage in his dreams as well.
Turning away quickly, he stumbled toward his own room, needing a shower and then his bed.