Chapter Fifteen
Years of waiting tables in college helped Eloise balance two mugs of coffee as she knocked on Danny’s door. He’d missed breakfast, and even Gray had abandoned his post at the kitchen door to follow Danny upstairs.
“Come in.” Danny sat cross-legged on his bed, one hand absently stroking Gray’s head while the other held a letter. She could only assume it was the letter Aunt Eileen had mentioned yesterday. The dog’s tail thumped against the quilt in greeting.
“Thought you might need this.” She set his coffee on the nightstand, noting the VA seal on the letterhead. “Mind if I join you?”
He waved at the chair by the window. “Just shove the clothes to one side. I need to do laundry anyhow.”
Though she would have preferred to gather up all the clothes and take then down and toss them into the washing machine, she was more worried about her brother than his clothes and opted to do as he said. When he didn’t say anything, she braved asking a question. “Anything important?”
“Just more bureaucracy.” He took a sip of coffee, but his usual morning appreciation of her brewing skills was absent.
“Your therapy?”
“Sort of.”
“Sort of?” Was that like a little pregnant? She didn’t dare tease, he didn’t look in the mood.
“Just some paperwork about my disability rating.” He folded the letter carefully. “They do reviews sometimes. Could explain the hang-up with my therapy here.”
“What kind of review?”
“The kind where they decide if you’re as broken as you used to be.” His attempt at a laugh fell flat. “Apparently, I’m doing better.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
“Sure.”
“No offense, but that doesn’t sound very convincing.”
“It could also mean that they’ll cut my benefits because clearly I don’t need as much support anymore.” He took another sip of coffee.
“By support, you mean financial benefits.”
He nodded.
Now she understood. Danny didn’t like depending on the government for a disability benefit any more than he liked depending on her. The expectation was that some day, hopefully sooner than later, he’d be able to handle the day-to-day stress of holding down a job, but they both knew he wasn’t there yet. Not even here.
“Maybe I can get Uncle Sean to teach me how to milk a cow.”
His tart remark wasn’t a question. “This isn’t a dairy farm.”
“Well then, I have even more to learn, don’t I?” His tone left her more worried than she’d been when she knocked on the door.
She perched on the edge of his bed. “Danny…”
“I guess I could become a ranch hand. Can’t be too hard to learn to rope cattle.” Though his words held less sarcasm than before, she knew he wasn’t being serious.
“Danny.”
“Or maybe sheep herding. Gray could teach me.”
The dog’s tail thumped faster at hearing his name, but Eloise noticed how tightly Danny gripped his coffee mug.
“The Farradays don’t have sheep either.” She tried matching his light tone.
“Horses then.” He fiddled with the edge of the envelope. “Hannah’s always talking about her therapy program.”
“You’ve talked to Hannah?”
“About me? No. Just a casual suggestion, more of an invitation.” His fingers tangled in Gray’s fur. “But I hear things. See things. Like how peaceful everyone looks around the horses.”
Something in his voice made her pause. “If the VA isn’t coming through for you, maybe you could give Hannah a try?”
“Maybe.” But his gaze had drifted to the window, to the endless Texas horizon.
She’d never had the nerve to ask him this, but now seemed as good a time as any. “What did you think you’d want to do? You know, when you’re done with therapy.”
His shoulders hefted in a casual shrug. “I guess I just thought when I was better, I’d know.”
No wonder he seemed so lost. She’d always had her dreams, he’d clearly lost all of his.
“Remember that summer job I had at the bike shop?” His gaze remained fixed on a distant point outside.
The sudden change of subject threw her. “In high school? Before you enlisted?”
“Yeah. Owner was a Vietnam vet. Used to tell me working with your hands was the best therapy.” He picked up his coffee again. “Tuckers Bluff doesn’t have a bicycle shop.”
“Oh, that could be fun.”
Danny glanced up at her, offering a weak smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Maybe.”
“Look how much fun it’s been starting the restaurant.”
Now his smile seemed more genuine. “You did good, El. It’s a hit. I knew you could do it.”
“You can too.”
“Cook? You’re mad.” The teasing tone was back and even though she was still worried, she felt herself relax just a bit.
“You can open a bike shop if you want. I can help, the Farradays will support you. It could be fun for you.”
His gaze drifted out the window. “Maybe.”
He wasn’t bouncing with enthusiasm, but looked less troubled than he had when she’d entered the room. She’d have to talk to Quinn, maybe he would have some ideas. Just the thought of Quinn made her insides warm, but this wasn’t about her falling for Quinn, this was about saving Danny. She reached for his empty coffee mug. “Want a refill?”
“Nah. Think I’ll take Gray for a walk. Maybe talk to Uncle Sean.”
“Yes. That’s a good idea.” She patted his leg and pushed to her feet, taking a moment to scratch the dog’s ears. Leaning over, she whispered into Gray’s ear, “Take care of him.”
As much as Quinn dreaded the day Eloise would move out of the ranch house, he wanted so badly to make this apartment perfect for her. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he screwed the last cabinet on the kitchen wall and then removed the support two-by-four that kept the cabinets level.
“Looks great.” Ryan stood in front of the cabinets. “I wouldn’t mind moving into this place myself.”
If it meant being with Eloise, Quinn wouldn’t mind either, but that was a thought for another day.
“Have you heard from Mom lately?” Ryan slipped his tool belt off and placed it in a nearby bucket with some of his other tools. Every worker on site had their own bucket with their own tools and anyone caught reaching into the wrong bucket would have their head handed to them on a silver platter.
“Nope. Though I did talk to Dad yesterday. He’s trying to talk Mom into coming down to see what we’ve done to the town in person.”
“Ha.” Ryan rolled his eyes. “I don’t think we could get Mom to come to Texas if Jesus Christ himself invited her.”
“At least she’s stopped whining for us all to hurry up and come home.” Quinn glanced around the place. His mom held out hope that when the rehabs were done, the remaining single sons—him and Ryan—would go home and settle down for good in Oklahoma. The way he felt any time Eloise came to mind, his mother was going to have to accept that if she didn’t get her behind to Texas, she would have to settle for seeing her sons on a few select holidays a year. Very few.
“Oh, my.” Eyes wide, mouth slightly open, and oblivious to the camera crew tracking her perusal of the new apartment, Eloise crossed the threshold into her soon-to-be new apartment.
Ryan’s gaze darted from Eloise to Quinn, a sly smile crossing his lips. “I’d better meet up with the crew. I hear Molly has something new on the menu for today.”
Quinn nodded, but kept his gaze on Eloise, waiting for the moment she noticed the new addition to the kitchen, besides the upper cabinets.
“Hi, Ryan.” Eloise shifted her attention to Quinn’s younger brother. “Looks like it’s coming along well. Thank you.”
Ryan waved his arms outward. “We’re all just doing our jobs.”
“And you’re doing it beautifully—excuse me,” she grinned at the two, “ y’all are doing it beautifully.”
Ryan lifted his hand, palm out, and did a high-five with Eloise. “Atta girl. You’ll be a full-fledged Texan before you know it.”
Unlike the merriment in his brother’s demeanor, Quinn found himself grinding his back teeth. Even though he knew Ryan had no interest in Eloise, the fun-loving playful moment didn’t sit well with him.
Ryan took a step back. “Sorry I missed the opening last night. I heard the restaurant is a smash.”
“We had to turn down reservations for tonight.” Her smile bloomed even brighter than it had a moment ago.
“Great.” Ryan turned to Quinn, his expression falling. There was no need for words, his brother could read Quinn’s dissatisfaction. “Well, I need to meet up with the others or lunch time will be finished before I get to eat.”
“Oh,” Eloise’s gaze shifted to Quinn. “I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to come see how things were going before the rest of the kitchen staff arrives to start prepping for tonight.”
“No worries. I was just finishing up. Molly stays open till the crews go home.”
“Ok. I’m heading out. Will see you later.” Ryan gave a brief wave and took a short step in retreat.
“Oh.” Lifting her arm to wave at Ryan, her head stopped mid turn as her gaze fell on the Hoosier. “Oh. My. Heavens.” Her head immediately spun around and stopped in Quinn’s direction. “You?”
He nodded.
“Yeah, well…” Ryan chuckled. “I’ll leave you two alone.” Without another word, he’d scurried out the door and trotted down the steps as though someone had set the place on fire.
Slowly, Eloise walked to the space Quinn had etched out for the antique piece of furniture. He held back a smile as her hand slowly brushed over the metal counter space. When she reached under it and easily drew the work shelf out and back in then squealed with joy, Quinn’s heart swelled in his chest.
“You like it?”
“Like it?” She spun around and before he knew what hit him, she’d leapt in his direction, threw her arms around his neck. “I love it!”
Unable to resist, before she could step back, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m glad. Very glad.”
Her arms still wrapped around his neck, her voice softened. “Thank you.”
Struggling to form words, he managed to eek out a gravely, “You’re welcome.”
He couldn’t help himself. Having her pressed up against him, her warm breath against his neck, he dared dip his head to bring his lips to hers. Tentative at first, careful, nervous, he pressed his mouth against hers. When she returned the effort, he pulled her in even closer, putting everything he’d come to feel for her into the kiss. If the world ended right now, he’d die a happy man.