Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
C hance went downstairs to the kitchen, finding Tammy already sitting at the table, a pensive look on her face.
She looked up at him, giving him a wistful smile. “Last coffee time together.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat. Going to the coffee pot, he poured himself a cup and then joined her at the table. She held out a hand, and he took it. They drank their coffee in silence, holding hands the entire time.
Finally, he said, “You have meant the world to me. I hope you know that. That I love you more than I could ever say.”
Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. “You and Kelby—and this ranch—have been my entire world for so many years. I love you with all my heart, Chance.” She smiled gently at him. “And I think I’m leaving you in good hands.”
He knew she spoke of Summer. Tammy had shared that she had gifted Summer with her handwritten recipe book. Knowing how precious it was to Tammy, it had surprised Chance, yet it had moved him at the same time.
“She’s the one,” he confirmed. “I don’t know how soon it’ll be before we’re hitched, but I’m already committed to her.
” He grinned. “I’d like to do with her what you’re doing with Tommy.
Simply go to a justice of the peace. No fuss.
But Summer may want more than that. A wedding with all the trimmings. ”
“You’ll work that out between you,” Tammy assured him.
The kitchen door swung open, and Kelby entered, carrying a white bakery box. Chance saw his sister’s eyes already misting with tears. She put the box on the kitchen table, and Tammy rose, enfolding Kelby into her arms. The two cried for a little bit, happy tears, but tears, all the same.
They took a seat at the table, and Kelby said, “There’s already such a hole in my heart, Tammy.
I’ve depended upon you for everything my entire life.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled that you and Tommy have found one another again.
I know you’re going to have this happy, amazing life with the man you love.
I guess it’s just the end of an era, so it’s a little bittersweet. ”
Tammy patted Kelby’s hand. “It is. But you have West—and that sweet baby girl who’ll make her appearance pretty soon. You know I’m coming back for that.”
“And bringing Tommy,” Kelby prompted. “We’re all dying to meet him.”
A tap sounded on the door, and it opened again. This time, West and Darby came into the kitchen. Tammy rose and hugged both of them.
“We had to come say goodbye,” West said. “Darby and I spent so much time here at the ranch over the years. I still can’t bite into an oatmeal cookie without thinking of you, Tammy. You always brought Chance and me plates of cookies and tall glasses of ice-cold milk.”
“I remember all the late-night talks with you,” Darby added. “When I would come to spend the night. You’ve always listened to all of us, Tammy. We love you and will miss you terribly.”
Chance poured a cup of coffee for West. Darby and Kelby asked for glasses of ice water, and Kelby opened the box on the table, saying, “I had to bring kolaches from Luscious Layers one last time.” She chuckled.
“I thought we’d eat a couple of the dozen I brought, and then Tammy could introduce Tommy to them since they’re the best kolaches in Texas.
Seeing who’s here now, I don’t know if any will be left. ”
They all laughed, and Chance heard the doorbell ring. Frowning, he rose. “I’ll get it.”
When he opened the door, Summer stood on the porch, a book in her hand.
“I had to come and tell Tammy goodbye,” she said. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
He pulled her to him and kissed her lightly. “Not at all,” he assured her. “Come join the party.”
Chance took her hand and led her back to the kitchen.
“I’m so glad you came,” Tammy told Summer.
She looked around at those gathered. “I’m sorry I’m late. I didn’t know all these people would be here.”
“We had to come to say our goodbyes to Tammy,” Darby said. “She has been such a part of our lives here in Hawthorne.”
For the next hour, they reminisced about their years growing up. They talked of birthday parties which had been held at the ranch. Learning how to ride a horse. Slumber parties. Each of them had memories of advice Tammy had given them, helping them through a tough time in their lives.
Finally, Tammy said, “It’s time for me to hit the road. I told Tommy I’d aim to be in Waco before noon.” She hugged each of them tightly.
As they began to leave the kitchen, Chance saw Summer hand the book to Tammy and whisper something to her. Tammy nodded and went to Kelby. He saw Tammy pass the book to his sister, and they embraced one another again. He wondered what it was and decided he would ask Summer about it later.
They all walked Tammy out to her car, which Chance had helped to pack last night. Tammy looked at those gathered.
“I’ll be back. For the baby and other times. I want you all to meet Tommy. He’s heard so much about everyone from me. He already thinks of all of you as family.”
“We’re looking forward to that,” he said.
Tammy placed her purse and the bakery box, which still held two kolaches, inside her car. She turned and took his hand and Kelby’s, squeezing tightly.
“Thank you for being such a wonderful part of my life. Kate would be so pleased to see how well her children turned out.”
“You had a huge hand in making us who we are, Tammy,” Chance said, his voice breaking.
They both embraced her again, and then Kelby said, “Get in that car, or we may never let you go. And text when you get there. We want to know that you made it safely.”
“I’ll do that,” Tammy said. “And thanks to the three of you for coming to see me off, too.”
Chance had asked if Tammy were going down to the bunkhouse to say goodbye, but she told him that she’d said her goodbyes to the ranch hands yesterday.
Still, it moved him when he saw the group of cowboys riding up on their horses, lining the drive.
As Tammy’s car drove past them, she waved.
They each took off their hats and placed them over their hearts.
Kelby wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I’m a blubbering mess. Being pregnant only makes it worse.”
Darby came and put an arm around her best friend. “Want to come back to our place, Kel?”
Kelby sniffed. “Right now, I just want to go home and curl up with an afghan Tammy made for me. Come home with me, Darb. We can sit on the couch and drink hot chocolate and binge-watch something.”
“I’d love to.”
The two women and West said their goodbyes. Summer said she also needed to leave.
He walked her back to her SUV and asked, “What book did you give Tammy?”
“It was a book of all her recipes. She gave it to me when I came over that day for the pork chop recipe.”
Chance knew it had been Tammy’s way of welcoming Summer into the Blackstone family, even though they had no official understanding between them yet.
“Why did you give it back to her?”
“My heart told me that Kelby was the one who should have it passed down to her, so I took pictures of every recipe inside it. It’s a treasure trove of all kinds of foods.
I plan to buy myself a blank recipe book, and then I’ll record all of Tammy’s recipes in it and learn to make every one of them. ”
“That was incredibly thoughtful of you to do that so Kelby could have it.”
“I knew it would mean a lot to her. I need to go now. I sent the last pages of what I’ve written to Celia Cameron yesterday afternoon.
She was going to read over them last night.
” Summer glanced at her watch. “We’ve got a call in an hour to talk about it.
” She smiled. “Then I’ll see you for our big date later today. ”
He placed his hands on her waist, his thumbs stroking her ribcage. “You haven’t changed your mind about anything, have you?”
“No,” she said softly. “Game. Dinner. And then home with you.”
“What did Autumn say?”
“She grinned like a fool and told me to enjoy myself. I didn’t ask her to keep quiet about it, Chance. At the very least, she’s going to tell Eli.”
“I don’t care if she tells the world, Summer. I can’t wait to be with you tonight. I’m half-tempted to skip the game and go straight to the good stuff.”
She swatted at him playfully. “Not a chance, Blackstone. I’ve never seen the Stars play in person, and I’m looking forward to seeing the team on the ice. Watching all those hot hockey players will get me worked up. For you.”
He kissed her. He could have kissed her all day, but he knew that he had to let her go.
For now …
“Okay. I’ll pick you up at eleven-thirty as planned.”
“I can’t wait,” Summer said. “And you know I’m eager to be with you . The game is just some sweet icing on what I think will be a very fulfilling cake.”
“Summer Sutherland, stop flirting with me, or you’re never going to get out of here.”
Chance opened her car door for her, and she climbed behind the wheel. He leaned in for one, swift kiss. “See you soon.”
He stepped back and closed her door, watching her drive away. He was eager for the day when she would be here with him and never have to leave. It was impossible to think of his life without Summer in it. The sooner he could make her his, the better.
Chance went back into the kitchen and cleaned up, putting everyone’s mugs and glasses in the dishwasher. The house seemed so empty without Tammy’s presence. It was going to take some getting used to, not having her around, but he was genuinely happy for her and the new life she was going to.
He went and saddled Rebel and rode aimlessly for an hour, memories of Tammy swirling through him.
When he returned to the house, he showered and shaved, taming his hair as best as he could.
He still had a little time and decided to get on an auction site to view some of the upcoming horses for sale.
He entered his office and saw two envelopes propped against the computer’s keyboard.
Tammy’s familiar handwriting was scrawled across both.
One was addressed to him and one to Kelby.
He would drop his sister’s letter off on his way to Summer’s.
Sitting in his desk chair, Chance opened the envelope, pulling out a single page.
Chance –
I learned when I was in high school that I could never have children.
I was in a bad car wreck my sophomore year, and I suffered some pretty severe injuries.
By the time I had gotten to college, I had reconciled myself to the fact that children would never be a part of my life.
Truth be known, it was the biggest reason why I let Tommy go.
I knew he wanted children, and I would never be able to give them to him.
Having your mom as my college roommate was simply fate. We had both gone with potluck and wound up with one another. Kate became my closest friend and confidant, the one person I could always depend upon.
I’m sorry you never really got to know her, Chance. Kate was the kindest person I ever knew, with the biggest heart in Texas. When she knew she wasn’t going to make it, she asked me to look after her two babies. She loved you both so much. She told me to be a mom to you for both of us.
I never forgot her generosity of spirit. Her thinking of the two of you—and me—as the life faded from her. I may not have given birth to you and Kelby, but you are the children of my heart. If all I had ever done was raise the two of you, I would be completely content.
You are a good man, Chance. You’ve taken on a heavy burden with the running of Blackstone Ranch, but you’re managing things beautifully.
You also have a wonderful opportunity now to have lasting happiness of your own with Summer.
Just watching the two of you together lets me know that you’ll take good care of one another.
This isn’t goodbye—only farewell for now. I expect regular phone calls from you, young man, and I hope to be in your life for many years to come. I want to see you married, Chance. See you loving Summer and having children with her.
Take care, my sweet boy. I love you with all my heart.
Tammy
Chance placed the page on his desk and used the backs of his hands to wipe away the tears which flowed freely. He was the lucky one for having Tammy in his life. He knew his mom had also been fortunate to have such a wonderful friend, trusting Tammy with her two young children.
More than anything, Chance wanted a family, and he wanted one with Summer.
He didn’t want to scare her off, but tonight he was going to tell her that he loved her.