Hometown Princess by Lenora Worth

Author:Lenora Worth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Rick took Cari back to the church to get her car. Hopping out of the Jeep, he came around to help her down. “Are you gonna be all right?”

She gave him a crooked smile. “I’ll be fine. I expected this so I just have to deal with it. She caught me off guard this morning, but this is nothing new, really. Every time I called to speak to my father, every time I tried to send him birthday or Christmas gifts, I was met with this kind of hostility, and my father heard only what Doreen wanted him to hear, I’m sure. Bridget obviously gave her mother a different version of our meeting, coloring me in a bad light, of course. But I can’t let it sidetrack me. I just need to keep my nose to the grindstone and stay focused.”

“Now you’re talking.” He wanted to hug her close, to shield her from any more pain but Cari wasn’t the kind of girl to fall into a man’s arms easily. She was like a wounded bird. She needed a bit of coaxing.

“I’d better go,” she said. “I’ve got lots to do today.”

“I could come and help.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I just need some time alone.”

“All right.” He pulled a card out of his wallet. “My cell number is on there. Call me if you need me. I’m usually out at my ranch on weekends.”

“You mentioned that. I’d like to see it sometime if the offer is still there.”

Glad to change the subject, he nodded. “You have an open invitation. It’s a few miles north of town near the river. I have horses, if you’d like to ride.”

“That might be nice.” She glanced away. “I’m glad it’s not near Doreen’s house.” Her father’s second wife lived south of town. Not far enough away but good, all the same.

“Maybe next weekend,” Rick said.

“Maybe.” She didn’t sound too excited. “I’d like that.”

He took her hand in his, staring down at their joined fingers. Rubbing his other hand across her knuckles, he said, “I’ll see you later, then. And I’ll follow you back into town.”

She put a hand on her car door then stopped. “You go ahead. I need to visit my parents’ grave site.”

Not wanting to intrude, Rick had no choice but to get in the Jeep and leave. But he stopped at the end of the lane and looked off to the right where the old cemetery lay underneath an outcropping of hills and rocks. His father was buried in that cemetery and he often went to visit the grave site. He understood Cari’s need for solitude and privacy but he didn’t want to leave her here alone.

The cemetery was well tended and beautiful. Old live oaks formed canopies on each corner of the big lot and crape myrtle and magnolia trees lined the many paths. Stone benches were set here and there, offering rest to the weary and heartbroken. The wind moaned like a sob across the hills and valleys, its song at once soothing and solemn.

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