Love Inspired June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 Read online

  “I’m not here to hurt Avery.”

  Tucker arched a dark brow. “Quinn is a good kid, Grayson. She’s remarkable.”

  “You seem like you know Avery and Quinn pretty well. Is there something between you and Avery?” As the words tumbled out, Grayson felt like a jealous teenager.

  Tucker’s mouth hitched up at the corner. “Nah, I’m just a friend. But I’m a loyal friend.”

  The way Tucker said it, the insinuation was pretty obvious. Tucker didn’t think Grayson was loyal. Maybe he hadn’t been, but he’d had eleven years to change, to become a better person. Not that he could tell Tucker that. Words weren’t going to mean much to the people in Pleasant, to the people he’d hurt.

  The cattle Tucker had unloaded trotted not too far into the field and started grazing. Across the way Grayson could see the outline of a house frame. Avery’s house.

  “I want a relationship with my daughter,” he told Tucker. “And I guess I want to protect Avery from a contractor that is probably taking her to the cleaners.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Yeah, that’s it.” He drew in a breath and decided to confide in a man whom he used to call friend. “Tucker, I’m an addict. I’ve been clean for nine years. I’d like to say I’m proud of that, but I’m wise enough to know that pride can be tricky. Pride can make a man think he can’t fall. These past few days have taught me that I’m still pretty fallible.”

  “Are you okay?” Tucker asked with a sense of ease that Grayson envied.

  “I’m good, just realizing for the first time in a long time that an addict is only one moment away from slipping.”

  “If I can help...” Tucker offered.

  “Thanks, I appreciate that.” He swallowed a lot of regret, and his pride along with it. “You’re right, I wasn’t a very good friend. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

  “Don’t apologize to me. I didn’t like you that much anyway,” he said with dry mirth that took Grayson by surprise.

  “Is that why you agreed to the three amigos and the herd of cattle?” Grayson asked. “Trying to get back at me?”

  “I think maybe your dad is hoping they’ll keep you busy. Maybe he understands more than you realize.”

  “I didn’t come home to be a cattle farmer.”

  “Too busy in California being the big-time contractor?”

  “I slid into that position.”

  Grayson turned on a spigot over the water trough. As water poured in, he turned to search for Dolly and Jack. The llama was still pacing inside the fence. Dolly had moved closer but still grazed.

  “I’ll help you get her in,” Tucker offered.

  “Help me find Jack?” Grayson asked.

  “Nah, that one is your problem. I have the veterinarian on his way to my house to work cattle and I can’t leave Shay alone.”

  “Shay?”

  “My niece. She’s Jana’s daughter. My sister and her husband are having marital problems and both are a bit too busy to be parents. They sent Shay to live with me.”

  Grayson was surprised by the path Tucker’s life had taken. “Remember when the life we wanted consisted of being river rats, and maybe building some cabins to rent or taking people fishing?”

  “I did that, too,” Tucker said with a straight face. “I built the cabins and I have a canoe and kayak business on the old campground my uncle owned.”

  He shouldn’t have been surprised. Tucker had always been the one planning his life, and that life had always been in his hometown. Grayson thought back to their teen years and realized he hadn’t planned much, other than fun and mischief.

  In hindsight, the good times hadn’t really been so good. He had holes in his memory, holes in his relationships and a daughter he barely knew.

  All those good times had landed him in rehab and in numerous AA meetings, trying to stay clean and on track. He was blessed that his God was bigger than his mischief making and fortunately he’d survived.

  “Trips down memory lane can be hard,” Tucker said, his tone and expression conveying his understanding.

  “Yeah, they can be. Maybe my dad is right. Cattle might be exactly what I need. The three amigos that won’t stay in these fences, not so much.”

  “Paul had a thorn in his side. Tony, Jack and Dolly might be yours. Maybe those three are teaching you something,” Tucker said with a grin.

  “And what would that lesson be?”

  “You’ll figure it out,” Tucker said. From the glimmer of amusement in his eyes, he was enjoying this way too much. “Call me sometime and we’ll go fishing.”

  “I will.”

  With that, Tucker headed for his truck.

  “Hey,” Grayson called out. “Aren’t you going to help me get these animals in?”

  Tucker laughed. “That wouldn’t be any fun. I wouldn’t want to keep you from learning whatever lesson those three are teaching you. And here’s hoping you find Jack. He’s long gone. If it helps, he likes to stroll through Pleasant on occasion. That might be why the former owners sold him.”

  As he chased Dolly in the direction of the barn, Grayson got the feeling that this wasn’t about a lesson. This was more about Tucker paying him back for the pain he’d caused others.

  Most of all, the pain he’d caused Avery. He could have told the other man that he didn’t need any help feeling sorry or guilty. Three animals didn’t need to take him down a notch, the look in Avery’s eyes when she’d introduced him to his daughter had already done so.

  He had a lot to make up for and not a lot of time in which to do it.

  * * *

  Saturday mornings in Pleasant meant Tilly’s Diner for breakfast, then Bible study for the ladies of Pleasant Community Church and anyone else who wanted to join. Except men; they knew better than to join in.

  When her work schedule allowed, Avery joined the ladies for Bible study. Quinn enjoyed it because Tilly would invite her into the kitchen or let her help clear tables and do dishes in exchange for dessert or ice cream. If Tilly was baking, Quinn was at her side, being her sous-chef, cutting and measuring and chopping.

  Tilly had given Avery much the same treatment as a child that she gave Quinn now. If she’d seen Avery wandering by herself, ten years old and nowhere to go, she would invite her in and let her bus tables for tips. For that reason, Tilly said she got the role of honorary great aunt.

  Avery felt secure in the knowledge that her daughter had the love of people in their community. She might be a single parent, but she had a huge support system.

  This Saturday in May had Avery questioning if living in a small town really was the best thing for herself and her daughter. Patsy, Nan, Betsy, Flora, Amy and Franny were all gathered at the table, their Bibles opened to Ephesians Chapter Four.

  Betsy read verses about not allowing the sun to go down on one’s anger. She cleared her throat as she continued on to the end of the chapter, her voice rising a notch as she said to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. She looked up and then dropped her gaze to her Bible and finished the verse.

  Flora let out a hushed, “Oh my.”

  Franny Lawson said, “Hmmm.”

  Avery closed her Bible with a resounding thump. “Stop, y’all. I am not angry and I don’t need to forgive him.”

  Nan snickered, and Nan was not a woman given to such a thing.

  “I mean it,” Avery said. “If you all have something to say, just say it.”

  “Margie told me someone had stopped by PRC to visit with you,” Amy spoke softly and Avery couldn’t be angry. Amy was the sweetest, kindest soul. “I suppose it came as a shock, seeing him after all this time...” Amy looked to Betsy, who had recently turned eighty and felt it gave her the license to say pretty much anything that came to her mind.

  “If by him you mean Grayson Stone, yes, he is in town.” Sh
e sighed and kept her gaze on the cover of her Bible. “And it was a shock.”

  “He certainly is in town,” Franny said. “Does he know?”

  “Does he know what?” Avery asked, knowing full well the answer to the question.

  “You know...” Franny said.

  “There’s nothing to do but marry him,” Betsy chimed in.

  Avery choked on the water she’d been in the process of swallowing. “Marry him?”

  “Now, girls,” Patsy interceded. “I don’t think Avery has asked for our advice.”

  “People rarely do,” Amy said with a cheeky look on her face. “That doesn’t usually stop us from giving advice. The good Lord himself said to not let the sun go down on our anger and we’re to forgive.”

  “We’re also not going to use our Bible study to lecture Avery,” Nan said. “Avery has always done what is right for her and her daughter, and she’ll continue to do so.”

  Avery gave her foster mom a grateful look. “Thank you.”

  Patsy made a sound of agreement. “Exactly. We’re here to support Avery, Quinn and even Grayson. They’re going to need us.”

  “Marriage,” Betsy started.

  The door to the kitchen flew open and Quinn ran to their table, laughter sparkling in her dark eyes. Avery’s breath caught painfully in her chest at the obvious resemblance between Quinn and Grayson. She’d always seen it, but now, with him home, it became all the more obvious. The ladies at the table seemed to take simultaneous drinks of coffee.

  “Mom, there’s a donkey running down the street and guess who is chasing it?”

  “Grayson,” Franny said with a nod. “Hmmm, that is sure a fine-looking man running down the street.”

  Flora giggled like a schoolgirl and then turned a bright shade of pink. “Oh my, he is handsome. But I don’t think he’ll catch that donkey on his own.”

  “We have to help him!” Quinn headed for the front room of the diner.

  “He might as well load that thing up and haul it to the auction,” Curtis Fisher called out from his table as Avery stood up to follow her daughter.

  The other men at the table nodded in agreement, then started a conversation on how worthless that donkey was and why no self-respecting cattleman would own it.

  Avery couldn’t agree more but she wasn’t going to say it. Instead, she hurried after Quinn, who was already out on the sidewalk and looking for her father and the runaway miniature donkey. He had livestock to care for, he’d told her. If this was his livestock, he deserved to be chasing it around town as punishment for his exaggeration.

  “He went thataway,” A local farmer said as he came up the sidewalk. “That is, if you’re a-looking for Grayson and that donkey. That thing is headed for the river.”

  The James River, just three blocks from the center of town.

  “Thank you, Joe,” Avery called back to him. He tipped his hat, revealing his shaggy, thinning gray hair, the same gray as his pointy beard and his brushy mustache.

  “Welcome, Avery.”

  Avery and Quinn hurried down the sidewalk, heading left down River Landing Avenue. The narrow, pothole-filled street led to a small clearing at the edge of the river and a paved boat ramp used for putting boats in and taking them out of the water.

  “There he is,” Quinn called out as she sped up in the direction of her father and the white donkey with the dark gray spots.

  Avery slowed her pace and heaved a deep breath. She wasn’t used to running that far. She switched to a fast walk in the direction of Quinn, Grayson and the donkey. Grayson had the animal cornered and Quinn was moving in from the other side. Grayson lifted the lasso he’d been carrying and after a few twirls he let it go, flying through the air in the direction of the donkey.

  The donkey couldn’t have seen the lasso coming but he must have heard it whistle through the air. His white ears twitched like a TV antenna and then he bolted.

  He let out an angry bray and trotted away from his captors, right toward Avery. He stopped in front of her, dropping his head submissively. She didn’t want to startle him. As fun as it had been to watch Grayson chasing him, she doubted the run had been much good for the short-legged beast who now gasped for air and seemed completely worn out.

  “Do you need water?” she asked.

  The donkey raised his head and eyed her speculatively.

  “Don’t baby that beast.” Grayson came toward them, Quinn at his side, grinning as if this might be the most fun she’d ever had. The look on her daughter’s face took Avery by surprise.

  Grayson removed his cowboy hat and swiped at his forehead. His face was red, and perspiration soaked his dark hair. Sweat darkened his shirt.

  Their eyes met and Avery drew in a breath, very aware that her daughter was watching them, and yet, also aware of Grayson in a way that made her doubt her sanity. The moment reminded her too much of her teen self, the girl who had wanted desperately to be loved by him.

  She’d grown past that need for his love. She was whole and she’d created a life for herself and for Quinn. She was happy. Content. She had a faith that grounded her.

  She swallowed past the emotions that had bubbled up to the surface, swatting away the feelings that tangled her up in the past.

  Grayson shoved the hat back on his head, slipped the loop over the donkey’s head and settled it around the animal’s neck. Then he winked at her.

  She could have gone the rest of her life without that wink.

  “You got him,” Quinn said proudly, grinning up at Grayson. He was speechless.

  But only for a moment.

  “I couldn’t have done it without you. How did you know I needed help?”

  Quinn’s face shone with happiness. “I was doing dishes for Tilly and saw you run past.”

  “I bet that was quite a sight,” he said.

  She chuckled. “It was pretty funny.”

  “Well, I’m glad you came to help. Now I have to lead this animal home.”

  “Could I help?” Quinn asked. She glanced from Grayson to Avery.

  That meant allowing her to go back to the farm with Grayson. Avery knew that this had to happen. Eventually. She’d just thought it would be something they’d work up to. One of these days. Not today.

  “I...” she started, her gaze connecting with Grayson’s. He wore a similar look of hopefulness, matching his daughter’s.

  “Please,” Quinn pleaded. She stopped, managing to paste a contrite look on her face because they had a “no pleading” rule.

  “Yes, you may go.” Avery barely got the words out and Quinn’s arms were around her.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you. You’re the best mom.” Quinn jumped as she hugged.

  “I’ll pick you up in a bit.”

  “Come by for dinner,” Grayson suggested. “I can make burgers on the grill. Nan is welcome, too.”

  Dinner with Grayson. Avery tried to come up with an excuse, a reason why she couldn’t make it. But this wasn’t about her. This wasn’t Grayson asking her out. This was about Quinn building a relationship with her father.

  She managed a slight nod. “We can do that.”

  “Good. I’ll see you at five.” Grayson handed the rope to their daughter. “Do you want to lead this mangy beast home?”

  She nodded rapidly and started walking, the donkey at her side.

  “This isn’t easy,” Avery admitted to Grayson.

  He pushed his hat back, giving her a better view of his face. “I know it isn’t. I promise I’ll keep her safe, Avery, but I need to get to know my daughter. We need an opportunity, the three of us, to figure out how our new family is going to work.”

  “But we aren’t a family, Grayson.”

  “Maybe not in the conventional sense, but we have to figure out how to be the best parents we can be for our daughter’s sake.”
/>
  He was right, but a teeny tiny part of her wanted to refuse. She wanted to hold on to Quinn. She wanted to protect them both from being hurt. She could see the sincerity in his gaze, but she could also see the doubts. That was the part of Grayson that had changed. Nowadays he doubted himself.

  That insecurity eased something inside her and she nodded, agreeing to his plan. She could do this. She could give him a chance to know his daughter. She could spend the evening with him, for Quinn’s sake.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Dragging the donkey home from town hadn’t been the easiest job Grayson had ever tackled. It probably ranked at the top of things he would never want to do again. But one thing stood out about the hour it had taken to drag the stubborn beast home: Quinn. She’d made it worth dragging, pushing and bribing the pint-size donkey.

  At times she’d held the rope while he pushed from behind. The donkey had often stiffened all four legs and refused to move another inch until they grabbed a handful of grass to lure him another ten, sometimes twenty feet.

  They’d tried wrapping the lead rope around the back legs of the animal and pulled to move him forward. They would manage to get him a short distance down the road, then he would either refuse to budge or he would get sidetracked yet again.

  Eventually they’d made it home, turned Jack out to pasture with Dolly and Tony, then the two of them had poured tall glasses of sweet tea and sat together on the front porch.

  They sat together for a long time, just the two of them, enjoying the tea and the silence. As the silence went on and on, Grayson didn’t know what to say to the girl sitting next to him.

  “Who are your friends?” he finally asked her.

  She shrugged. “I dunno. Lots of people. I mean, we haven’t lived here for very long.”

  He wondered about that. Were the kids in Pleasant mean to her? Did she get bullied because she didn’t have a father or because people suspected he was her dad? He thought about asking but maybe that would be too much too soon.