Coming Home To Texas

“That does sound like a gift,” Ellie said, meaning it.

“Yeah, well, two weeks in a hospital can knock the gift right out of a guy, I suppose.”

For all her betrayed feelings, Ellie couldn’t say Derek had actually set out to hurt her. To have someone seek to harm you, hunt you down at gunpoint? To fire at you with a mind to end your life? If she’d wanted to run from Atlanta, who wouldn’t want to run all the way from California to get away from something like that?

Teens had hurt him. Of course he’d say no to working with them again. “I can see why you won’t help Pastor Theo with those boys.”

Nash shook his head. “‘Why I won’t help.’ Why do those words bug me so much, making me feel petty for refusing to step up and lend a hand when I have every good reason to say no?”

Maybe Theo was right and God really was putting a plan together. “Are you sure you need to say no? Maybe you’re just scared to say yes. Gran always says scared isn’t a good enough reason to say no to something that might be good.”

“Then your grandmother is a stronger person than I am.”

What Nash did, helping those kids in LA, must have taken so much courage and compassion. It couldn’t all be gone just because one kid betrayed him. Then again, wasn’t she hiding here in Martins Gap because of betrayal, too? “What if what you really need is to prove to yourself you still can see the good in kids like that? What’s the worst that could happen?”

He shook his head and gave a dark, low laugh. “I could get shot again. And this time the kid may not miss.”

“Cowboys and Indians,” she said, remembering his earlier comment that now had such a different edge to it.

“Cops and robbers,” he said, his features showing a hint of humor.

“Cars and knitting.” A plate of biscotti was on the porch table from her meeting with Pastor Theo. Ellie took one and held it in front of her like a mustache, doing a pathetic Groucho Marx impersonation. “It’s an idea so crazy it just might work.”

“It probably won’t work.” Nash took the cookie from her hands and took a big bite out of it. “But maybe I ought to try anyway.”

Chapter Five

“Why, Ellie Buckton!”

Ellie smiled at the young woman behind the church office desk Thursday morning. With the exception of a few additional pounds and the switch from a perky ponytail to a more “adult” hairstyle, Dottie hadn’t really changed. Frozen in time like half of Martins Gap, she presented a slightly older version of the high school friend she had been to Ellie. Of course, she was Dottie Howe now that she’d married Ted Howe, her high school sweetheart. Dottie was the mom of twins, but Ellie was embarrassed she couldn’t remember their names or how old they were. She should have kept closer ties.

“Hi, Dottie.”

“I heard you were back in town.” Dottie shook her head and waved a hand adorned with bright pink fingernails. “Sorry to hear things didn’t work out between you and the chef guy. So sad. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

So word was out. That was to be expected—this was prime, juicy gossip for the likes of Martins Gap. “Thanks.” She still hadn’t come up with a suitable reply for people’s condolences. Ellie tried to tell herself that letting word spread through the rumor mill was better than having to rehash the painful details over and over, but her heart wasn’t buying it. Dramatic as it sounded, these days she felt like emotional roadkill, forced to lie there in splatters while the rest of the world drove by and gawked. This won’t last forever, she told herself. Just for now. And everyone here is on your side. Remember that.

“You remember the great big wedding Ted and I had. I can’t imagine all that’d be involved in calling one off.”

Ted and Dottie had married two weeks after high school graduation in a big affair by Martins Gap standards. Ellie had been a starry-eyed bridesmaid in the ceremony. Of course, after working in the Atlanta food industry, her idea of a big wedding was now a lot more elaborate than Ted and Dottie’s VFW Hall reception. To Martins Gap, Derek’s and her plans would have felt slick and sophisticated. Ellie put on her “I’m making the best of it” face and sighed. “Well, at least the invitations hadn’t gone out yet.” Those were sitting in a box back in her Atlanta apartment awaiting a stuffing-and-stamping-and-pizza-and-movie night that would have been next month with Katie, Derek, and Derek’s brother and best man, Clark. Another casualty lying by the side of the road waiting to be cleaned up.

For a startled second she wondered if GoodEats had issued a press release. What an odd field public relations was in the restaurant world, where people were promoted as much as the food or the decor. “It’s kind of a big mess right now.”

“I am sorry. Must feel good to come back home for a spell.”

Ellie could only shrug. “I’ll let you know.” Being on the ranch was one thing. Being out and about in Martins Gap felt like quite another. Everyone was friendly, but she couldn’t help feeling on display knowing she was the object of whispers. Ellie changed the subject. “How are Ted and the kids?”

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