then drew in a deep breath and read, “Wanted: One Husband. Not too old. Must like kids. List good qualities. Call Kasey at the Double D Ranch—555-4832 or send picture to 684 Marva Lane, Granite Ridge, TX.”
Her heart stopped, then raced. No. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. The words blurred as she stared at the paper.
Cody looked down at the floor and kicked at the edge of the blue braided rug between the twin beds. “We know Daddy made you cry when he went to Mexico with Gloria, so we thought maybe...well, you know, that you might feel better if you weren’t alone anymore.”
Kasey felt her breath catch in the back of her throat. She’d been so careful to hide her emotions from her sons when Paul had walked out on them. How could she have explained to a then four- and six-year-old that the tears she’d shed had been anger and frustration at herself? Certainly not because she was alone, or because she missed their father.
She’d made it on her own for the past two years and she was proud of that. She wanted to be single now. She enjoyed the independence. All she needed was her sons and this ranch. Nothing else in the world mattered to her.
She looked at them now. They were watching her, waiting for her approval. How could she be upset with them? They wanted her to be happy and they thought a husband—any husband—would make her happy. She shook her head. They had so much to learn.
“Cody. Troy.” She knelt on the floor and leaned in close to her sons. “I’m not alone, sweethearts. I have you both. Don’t you know how much I love you, and how happy it makes me to be here with you, living in Grandma and Grandpa’s house? We won’t have to move anymore, and you won’t have to change schools or make new friends all the time.”
“Brian says Miss Foster, the first-grade teacher is nice.” Troy rolled the rock he held back and forth between his hands. “He said he was in her class two years ago and on Fridays she lets kids bring in stuff to share. I’m going to bring my rock collection.”
Kasey smiled. Troy’s rock collection was his pride and joy. He’d been gathering up pebbles and stones in a shoe box for the past two years. Since Paul had left.
“Won’t you and Brian be in the same class?” Kasey turned to her older son.
“We’re gonna sit next to each other.” Cody pulled at the frayed edges of the growing hole on the knee of his jeans. “He says his dad is taking him on a camping trip next weekend and me and Troy could come along.”
In that instant, Kasey understood so much more than what her sons were saying. Maybe even more than they understood. They weren’t just looking for a husband for her. They were looking for a father for themselves.
The realization was like a fist around her heart. There was nothing she could do, nothing she could say, to make that situation any different. She’d stayed in one marriage, thinking it best for her children, but they’d been hurt anyway. She had no intention of making a mistake like that ever again.
“Of course you can go on the camping trip,” she said, wrapping her arms around her sons and pulling them close to her. They squirmed against her, then broke into giggles when she started to tickle them.
“So it’s okay, then?” Breathless, still laughing, Cody rolled away. “About the ad?”
Oh, yes. The ad. Still kneeling beside the bed, she groaned and fell face forward on Cody’s bed.
What was she going to do now? Call the paper, of course, except it was too late now. She’d have to call first thing in the morning. But all those issues already out there, and all those calls on her machine...
“Tell you what,” she said with a sigh, “next time you boys want to surprise me, let me know first, okay?”
Cody screwed up his face. “That’s silly, Mom. It wouldn’t be a surprise then, would it?”
Exactly what she didn’t need any more of. She thought of Slater downstairs. Perhaps that was the one good thing that had come out of this. It felt good to know that he cared enough to come check up on her because he thought she was in trouble. She’d simply go downstairs and explain everything.
And then he would leave.
She felt a dull ache deep inside her, but dismissed it. So he’d leave. What did she expect? Of course he’d leave. He had a life, she had a life. Tonight they’d catch up on old news, then he’d be on his way. She’d go on with her life, and so would he.
By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, she still hadn’t a clue what to say. She drew in a long breath, then headed for the kitchen. She’d just tell him. They’d have a good laugh, he’d stay for dinner, he’d leave and that would be the end of it.
He was pacing from the back door to the kitchen sink when she walked into the kitchen, his frown dark and imgatient.
“Slater—”
He stalked over to her. “Kasey, sit down.”
“Slater, I know how this—”
“Sit.” He pointed to the kitchen chair.
Kasey frowned. Hadn’t she just gone through this with her kids, only in reverse? She most certainly wasn’t a child anymore, even if he thought she was.
But children had taught her patience, she reasoned. And Slater seemed so determined to have his say, and ignore hers, why not let him go on for a while? Folding her arms, she sat in the chair and looked up at him.
He dragged both hands through his thick hair. “Kase, you’re obviously in some kind of trouble. It’s understandable how hard life must be for you. Raising two kids by yourself, no husband and all.”
Exactly the way she wanted it.
“But placing an ad like that, Kase, it’s dangerous, and I just have to say, downright foolish. God only knows who might try to take advantage of your vulnerability.”
Foolish? Vulnerable? She pressed her lips tightly together, hoping that Mr. Hugh Slater was hungry, because she was about to serve him a big helping of crow.
“Slater, I know how this looks, but that ad was placed with the best of intentions and—”
“The best of intentions!” Hands on his hips, he stood over her. “It’s just plain stupid.”
She felt suddenly defensive of her sons. What they’d done, they’d done out of love. They wanted her to be happy. There was nothing stupid about that. She rose slowly and leveled her gaze with his. “Stupid?”
His voice gentled as he took hold of her shoulders. “Look, I’m sorry. In my entire life, I’ve never stuck my nose in anyone’s business. But this is different. This is you, Kasey. We go way back, no matter how many years in between. When I saw that ad, my gut told me I had to stop you. You have every right to be mad at me, for leaving like I did ten years ago. All I’m asking now is that you don’t do anything rash. That you’ll think about this.”
His words, his hands on her shoulders, made it difficult to think at all. Suddenly ten years, and all that had happened in between, melted away...
She
