Worth the Wait (Last Hope Ranch Book 2) Page 8

  “It’s not about the money, Mom. It’s about making a difference, helping people.”

  “Your father has had a lifetime of helping people in his line of work, Henry,” she reminded him.

  “In a different way, true. This is about saving lives. Being a first responder,” he said. Certain that, with time, they would come to accept his choices, he continued, passing the National Wildfire Basic Training course and receiving his red card.

  But life changed in the blink of an eye.

  Just after Hank passed the course, his father suffered a severe heart attack, effectively changing the trajectory of Hank’s future. His mother had called, frantically begging him to come home. She needed him to take over the reins to the business while his father recuperated. Being the firstborn and heir to the men’s clothing empire his father had created loomed before him. And though it apparently wasn’t in his future to become a hotshot smokejumper, nor was it his desire—much to his parent’s dismay—to step in and run the corporate side of the family business.

  So, he’d relinquished the responsibility to his sister, Caroline. She was far better suited to the corporate lifestyle, and in need of purpose after a recent break-up with her wealthy European boyfriend.

  Back home, Hank had worked to gain his commercial pilot’s license. He then bought a plane and started a private charter service. It had not taken his father long to forgive him, once he realized the convenience a private plane afforded his company.

  A deep-throated cough brought Hank from his reverie.

  “Man alive. Hank Richardson, you old dog. What’s shakin’, trouble?” Pete asked in his bright, devil-may-care voice.

  Hank smiled. He’d not heard his old nickname in years. Of course, it had been given to him in the years he’d spent in the company of Pete, Clay, and the Kinnsion boys. “Hey, man. How’s it going? You still able to still keep up with those young guys?” Hank asked.

  Pete chuckled, his voice lower, grittier than Hank remembered. “They like to think they’re hot shit on a cracker. Some of them have balls of steel.” He laughed. “Reminds me of us back in the day…fearless, cocky, invincible.” He paused. “Say, you aren’t thinking of giving up running rich people hither and yon and getting your butt out here to help me out? We sure could use a guy with your mad flying skills. Seems like the recruits are dwindling each year. The military offers better benefits after college.”

  “Yeah, but you wouldn’t be anywhere else, am I right?” Hank said, zipping his duffel shut.

  “Call me looney. I still love it,” Pete said with a laugh that quickly descended into a coughing fit.

  Hank frowned. It was no surprise that years of being around fire and smoke would affect one’s health, but this was his crazy, reckless friend Pete. It was difficult not to see him as immune to occupational hazards. “You okay?”

  “Sure, sure,” Pete responded. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this call? Catching up? Need an application form?”

  “I was hoping you might have some information,” Hank said.

  “Shoot, I’ll do what I can.” Pete held the phone away from his mouth and coughed again.

  “I was wondering if you had any information on the fires out west? My fiancée’s kid is at a Scout adventure camp northwest of Denver,” Hank said. “It’s his first time.”

  “And hers, it sounds like.” Pete said. “We’ve been receiving updates all morning. Let me see what’s come in.”

  Hank heard the tapping of a keyboard.

  “Whereabouts is the camp?”

  “Near Gypsum.”

  “Uh-huh.” More typing followed.

  “Yeah, Julie had tried calling, but couldn’t get through,” Hank said.

  “That’s pretty normal in that area.” Pete paused. “Julie? No chance in hell that’s the same Julie you fell head over heels for after your junior year?”

  Hank chuckled. “One and the same.” He slung his bag over his shoulder, scanned the room once more, and headed to the elevator.

  “Damn, you know how to pick ‘em, son. Course, I never thought there’d be anyone after the dean’s daughter. What was her name again?”

  “Cynthia,” Hank said. “She married that monster of a left tackle, Jake Clausen.”

  “No shit? And you two are still in touch? I have to say, I’m a little jealous.” Pete laughed.

  “Not exactly. I hadn’t spoken to her since we broke up. As it turns out, she and Jake own the resort I flew my clients to here in southern California. Her dad had just flown in to meet those same guys.”

  “Whoa. You saw old man Simmons? How’d that go?” Pete asked, his enthusiasm animated.

  “Fortunately, he was out playing golf. I’m on my way to the airport now to fly back to make sure Julie and Chris are okay. Thought I’d grab my gear and head down to Denver to see if I can pick up Kyle a little early. Just to be safe. Think his mom would feel a lot better.”

  “Understand that,” Pete said. “Checking the radar map, it looks like the camp is well southeast of the fires. They’re working aggressively on the ridge a couple of hundred miles away. Thus far we’ve been placed on alert, but haven’t received any orders yet.”

  “So, you’d assume that officials would probably at least apprise campers and the Scout camp of the situation, right?” Hank asked.

  “DNR should be on top of notifying the public,” Pete said. “I have a buddy over at the western Utah base. Let me give him a call. See what he knows.”

  “That’d be great, Pete. If its not too much trouble. I imagine that Julie’s not the only concerned parent out there.”

  “Absolutely. Hey, I’ll call you back.”

  “Thanks, man. Who knows, she may have heard something by the time I get home,” Hank said.

  “You know, we’re going to have to get together and catch up,” Pete said. “You know I’ve been offered a position as head trainer at the Montana smokejumper base. I could use the help.”

  Hank felt an old spark ignite his passion, but he’d set it aside a long time ago. Besides, he had Julie and the boys to think about now. “Congratulations, Pete, and thank you, I’m honored you asked. While it’s tempting, I’m not sure that it’s a good time to entertain the idea, what with a new fiancée and two sons in the package deal,” Hank said. “But you’ll have to come down when you get settled. End of the Line is not far down the road. The Kinnisons run an equine rescue ranch. Rein and his wife run cabin rentals on the ranch, and you remember Clay, Julie’s brother? He moved there a couple of years ago and is married with twin girls now.”

  “Dayum,” Pete said. “I can’t even find a date on our website smokinghot.com. Sounds like I need to visit End of the Line.”

  “Hey, you never know,” Hank said. “Betty, she owns the diner—amazing food, by the way—says that folks come to End of the Line to begin again. She may be right about that.”

  “Then I’ll mark my calendar,” Pete said with a chuckle.

  “I’m headed to the airport,” Hank said. “Let me know what you find out.”

  ***

  Julie’s eyes met Nan’s, her admiration for the woman rising off the charts. She wasn’t at all certain she would be able to handle the situation Nan found herself in with such grace.

  “How is Gwen these days?” Betty asked. “I’m so glad her kids decided to bring her home.” She shook her head, her eyes filled with sympathy.

  Julie glanced at Nan. In her short time in End of the Line, Julie had discovered that most people in this town were very caring and ready to help anyone in need. She and her boys had been direct recipients, from the Kinnisons giving her a cabin to live in to Betty offering her a job when she wasn’t sure how to put her own life back together. Trusting others again hadn’t been easy for Julie, and in some ways, she was still learning. Yet another reason she wasn’t ready to set a date.

  Nan was contemplative before she spoke. “She has good and bad days, but I’m afraid she hasn’t recognized me since I’ve been visiting her
.”

  Julie did understand the ravages of the disease, having watched painfully as it had nibbled away at her mother. They’d placed her in an assisted living facility while Clay was overseas. By the time he returned, she didn’t recognize him at all. It had been difficult for Clay, having lost all of his team in a roadside bomb. He was the lone survivor and the loss of his leg sent him home only to find that his fiancée wasn’t able to handle his physical and emotional state. Clay had fallen into a state of deep despondency, and that’s when Julie had called Dalton for help.

  “Are you okay?” Julie asked. To those at the table, it implied that she asked because Gwen was an old friend. But her concern ran deeper, and Nan knew it.

  “I’m fine,” she bristled. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to give my report. Have a ton of things to do today.” Her gruff attitude was part of her personality. Everyone accepted it. She’d had to run the store and repair shop alone for several years, occasionally hiring high school kids for extra help. To look at her, most saw a weathered, frail-looking woman, but Nan could fix a tractor as good as any man in town and wasn’t afraid to say so.

  Julie listened as Nan outlined in detail the men and women she’d lined up to ride on the veterans’ float.

  “Of course, it depends on the health of some whether they’ll be well enough to ride. But Wyatt was going to help me take a look at the flatbed and see if we could rig up spots for a few wheelchairs.” She frowned. “And he was going to take a look at that axle, too. We need to get that fixed,” she said to herself.

  “Good morning.”

  Everyone looked up to find Hunter standing in the small entryway into the room used for private parties.

  “I hope it’s okay if I step in for Wyatt this morning. Aimee was feeling a little under the weather. He asked if I’d mind just sitting in and let Nan—” He looked around the table, his gaze landing on the woman in question. “You must be Nan.” He held his large hand out, swallowing hers. “I think you’re the only one here I haven’t met.” He offered a charming smile.

  Julie was as equally charmed as her female friends, watching the introduction play out—and that included Nan. Julie noticed a bit of pink tinged the woman’s weathered cheeks.

  “I understand you’re holding my truck hostage in your garage?”

  That brought a wider smile from Nan. “So, that’s your truck Dalton hauled in. Vintage model, that one. But hard as hell to find parts for.”

  “Yeah, it was my dad’s.” He lay his other hand atop hers, holding it a moment more. “I really appreciate whatever you can do, ma’am.”

  “You know anything about axles?” Nan asked.

  “Raised on a farm in Texas,” Hunter said with a smile. “I tinkered around a bit.”

  “Good.” Nan stood and gathered her things. “Let’s walk over to the garage and see if you can tinker with that axle on the flatbed we need for the parade. I can show you what I’ve ordered for your truck, but I have to be honest, these folks aren’t the fastest people on the face of the earth.”

  Hunter stepped aside and waited as Nan slung her canvas bag over her arm.

  “May I carry that for you?” he asked.

  Nan raised a brow and handed him the bag.

  Julie opened her mouth to tell Nan that she’d stop by later, but Nan had taken Hunter’s proffered arm and was chatting as the two walked away from the table.

  “That boy could charm the skin off a snake,” Betty said with a chuckle.

  “He’s adorable,” Sally said. “Did you hear that drawl when he said ma’am?”

  “He’s just being a true southern gentleman, ladies,” Justin chimed in, letting go his Georgia drawl.

  Julie rolled her eyes. Not that she wasn’t just as smitten by how the man had treated her friend. After all, Nan could use a little southern-gentleman-style care in her life right now. She had found it interesting however, how easily Nan had taken to Hunter. It wasn’t like her to be quite so trusting with strangers. She shook the thought from her head, having much more on her plate at the moment.

  “Sally? How’s the community choir tribute coming?”

  Sally was End of the Line’s one and only music teacher, in addition to being Julie’s beautiful sister-in-law and mother to the most adorable twin girls in the known world. Seeing how life here in End of the Line had changed her brother for the better had been key in Julie’s decision to move there and offer her two boys a new start. Sally’s passion for music was exceeded only in the love she showed for Clay and those two girls. “We’ve had a couple of rehearsals of the church choirs. Reverend Cook and Reverend Bishop have kindly each offered their churches for the performance. We’re currently in the throes of deciding which one to use.”

  Betty grinned. “You know, I can’t help but think that those two would be a force to be reckoned with if they ever got together.”

  Sally’s eyes opened wide. “You don’t think that’s why they aren’t making a decision, just so they can spend time together?”

  Betty shrugged. “Stranger things have happened around here.” She cast her gaze to the ceiling. “I swear I could write a book.”

  Julie checked off the last item on her to-do list and sighed. “Church choice notwithstanding”—she glanced at Betty—“or potential book deals, I have to say thank you for how on top of things you all are. I’ll be talking to Charlene at the courthouse today to see how the paperwork is coming on the permits we’ll need. And to see that the dedication of the railroad depot is ready to go on time. Rein and Liberty have been working hard to restore it to its original state.”

  Betty nodded. “They nearly gutted the inside from back in the sixties when they converted the depot to a bus station. When the bus stopped coming here, the old place sat empty. I can remember that was the mode of transportation for lots of folks back then.”

  “I’m just glad to see we’re trying to get it certified on the registry of historic places. Boy, if those walls could talk,” Sally said.

  “Indeed,” Justin said. “It was started as a railroad depot back when they’d just discovered gold in the mountains. Unfortunately, there wasn’t as much as they thought, but by then a lot of men had brought their wives and families here to settle down. Many, who’d already been traveling place to place looking for their gold stake, decided to stay and became ranchers and farmers, instead.” He smiled. “It’s rumored that’s why the founding fathers called it End of the Line.”

  “You’ve done your research, Coach,” Betty grinned.

  “Teaching history is my first passion,” Justin said. “I was talking to Rein the other day and he mentioned that, in his Uncle Jed’s diary, they discovered that the Kinnisons go way back to the formation of this town.”

  “That’s right,” Sally said. “I remember Aimee telling me that’s how they came up with Christian Ezekiel’s name.” She smiled. “The more I learn about this town, the prouder I am to live here. We have a lot to celebrate.”

  A squeal of toddler laughter erupted from the doorway. Aubrey and Ava Marie Sanders sat side-by-side in a double-stroller being pushed by their father, Clay.

  “Meeting adjourned,” Julie said. “I’ll email the date of the next meeting. You all are the best.” Julie followed the group out into the main dining area. A few patrons had come in for a quick cup of coffee or a fresh slice of one of Rebecca’s pies, well aware of the scheduled time when they came out of the bakery oven and appeared on the diner’s shelf.

  Julie reached down to unbuckle one of her nieces. She snuggled the little girl, oblivious to her sticky fingers from eating her little cereal snacks.

  “Hey, Jules. How’s it going?” Clay pulled out a chair and guided the stroller alongside so he could manage the girls. Sally had excused herself to go to the restroom—something, Julie had noticed, she’d done at least twice during the meeting. “You guys have any particular news you’re keeping under wraps?” She leaned close to her brother with a grin.

  Clay returned a blank look.
Either he was very good at bluffing or totally clueless. Julie was banking on the latter. “Going for number three?” she asked, more to the point.

  He looked perplexed for a moment, then glanced over his shoulder to where his wife had gone. “We’ve been trying to keep it quiet,” he said as he pushed closer to Julie.

  “I think you might have been successful,” Betty said, lowering her voice as she ducked her head into the private conversation.

  Apparently, she, too, had noticed Sally’s frequent disappearances.

  Betty patted Clay’s shoulder. “Seen enough of the signs in my day,” she said with a short laugh.

  Clay sat back in his chair and shook his head. “Is nothing sacred in this small town?”

  “No,” both women stated in unison.

  “Speaking of…” Clay offered his sister a pointed look. “I heard something about Hank taking more time on this trip. Trouble in paradise?”

  Julie frowned. “No trouble at all,” she said. “His clients offered him a bonus if he’d fly them to another resort. We decided it’d be that much more toward the wedding.”

  Clay looked elated. “Then you’ve set a date?”

  She averted her gaze. “Not yet. Soon.”

  “How soon, Sis?”

  Julie looked back at the concern on her brother’s face. “I don’t know…soon.”

  “Jules,” Clay stated quietly, nodding his thanks to Betty for the coffee she placed in front of him. “You know Hank’s a hot commodity.”

  “It’s good to know that my brother thinks so.” Julie smiled as she took a sip from Clay’s cup.

  “A taken commodity, to be certain,” Betty offered, her advice unsolicited but always appreciated.

  “Thank you, Betty,” Julie said, acknowledging the woman’s support. Everyone in town seemed to know that she’d been the one to delay the wedding plans. But when it came right down to it, the choice was theirs and theirs alone. Yours, actually, her conscious reminded her. “Could we discuss just about anything else?” she asked, offering her brother a congenial smile.