Lone Star Hero

“I can just curl my toes.” She looked down, her hair covering her face. “See. It doesn’t hurt.”

“Oh, baby, you can’t wear shoes too small. You’re not riding tonight, so go get your tennis shoes.”

As Ashley stomped back to her room, she heard a knock. Opening the door, she greeted Adrian. Vickie glanced over his shoulder where his truck idled.

Mia waved from the backseat of the black truck. A large horse trailer with two horses inside filled her driveway.

“Oh, no, I thought tonight was just a meeting. I’m sorry, Adrian. I could’ve asked my dad to take her and one of his horses.” Ashley was going to be so upset.

Adrian smiled. “No worries. We single parents have to stick together.” He winked at her.

Vickie glanced to the side, not sure how to respond. Did Adrian just wink at her? He was younger than she was by a couple of years. Not knowing what to say she just stood there in silence.

He pointed to the silver trailer. “I have Cinnamon. She’s old but refuses to be left behind. Ashley can ride her. Jake offered to go over some basic horse safety guidelines with the kids, and we thought it would be fun if they all actually had a horse. Hands-on learning.”

Ashley came to the door. “Hi, Mr. De La Cruz. Is Mia with you? Oh, you have horses.” Bright eyes filled with worry looked up at Vickie. “Mommy, you said we weren’t riding. I need my boots.”

Vickie glanced at Adrian and gave him a weak smile. “It seems like overnight they got too small for her.” She pulled Ashley against her side. “Sweetheart, it’s okay.”

He pointed to the horse trailer. “I’m sure we have some of Mia’s old boots in the dressing room.” He gave them a lopsided grin. “I’m not the best at cleaning out the old stuff, and Mia seems to grow faster than a newborn colt, too. We probably have some you can borrow.”

Vickie hated charity of any kind. “Are you sure? It would just be for tonight.”

“Hey, you would be helping me out.” He looked at Ashley. “You ready?”

With a nod, she hugged Vickie. “Love you, Mommy.”

“Be careful.” Vickie’s words landed on departing backs. As they climbed into the huge truck, a Jeep Cherokee approached the trailer. Vickie didn’t recognize the SUV. Adrian honked as he drove past the Jeep.

Lorrie Ann got out of the vehicle and went to the backseat. A knot formed in Vickie’s stomach. She had thrown some hateful words at Lorrie Ann over the years, first in high school then even worse a few months back when Lorrie Ann had returned to town.

As a grown woman, she had no excuse for such behavior. Jealousy created some ugly side effects. If she really wanted to be a better person, God was giving her a great opportunity to make it right and start on her list of apologies.

She would start right here with Lorrie Ann. Tomorrow she could move on to Jake then maybe find a way to ask for forgiveness from the whole town of Clear Water.

She started down the steps. “Hi, Lorrie Ann. What happened to your BMW?”

Lorrie Ann opened the back door and leaned in. “Traded it in for something more practical.”

“Do you need any help?” Vickie asked.

Lorrie Ann came out from behind the door with a bag. “That would be great. Here’s some samples of materials. Aunt Maggie and Rachel made the dinner for y’all. It’s a casserole so you can put it in the fridge and use it anytime you need a quick meal. Celeste and I made the cookies.” She went back into the Jeep for the aluminum trays. Turning to Vickie, she had a big grin on her face. “Rachel also made a card and note. She wanted to make sure Seth got those. She missed him at the party.”

Oh, great, she’d hoped they had put an end to the budding romance between her son and Pastor John’s daughter. “Is her father okay with it?”

“Oh, he’ll be fine. The note is very sweet and innocent. I think they’re friends more than anything else.” Lorrie Ann shrugged.

Vickie had fallen in love with Jake Torres when she was just ten but had been too afraid of her mother to let anyone know. Looking back, she realized it had probably been that secret that made her so mean to any girl brave enough to talk with Jake. Lies and fear had a way of festering.

“Are you ready to talk wedding?”

Vickie nodded and led Lorrie Ann into her trailer. Placing the items on the kitchen counter, Vickie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A minute to relax the knot in her gut and let the bad out. “Lorrie Ann, I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me and Seth. You really didn’t have to do this.”

“Oh, I have alternative motives. Consider it a peace offering and bribe all rolled up into one.”

“A peace offering? For what? I’m the one that owes you an apology and a huge thank-you for saving my son’s life.”

“I’m so glad I was there and could help. How is Seth doing?”

“Dr. Adams released him for all activities.” Now, Vickie. Speak up now. “Can I get you some tea or lemonade?”

Lorrie Ann sat on the bar stool. “Lemonade would be great. Vickie, I need to ask a huge favor from you.”

Pulling two of the best glasses from the cabinet, surprise derailed Vickie’s thoughts for a moment. “Umm... You need something from me? Okay, just tell me what it is and I’ll do it.”

Lorrie Ann laughed. “I haven’t even asked you yet.”

As she filled the glasses with ice, Vickie struggled with the right words. “I owe you. Not only for finding Seth and knowing CPR, which I could never repay, but also for all the hateful rumors I started and the names I called you.” She still had her back to Lorrie Ann as she poured the lemonade.

On a deep breath, she turned and slid the full glass across the counter. She looked Lorrie Ann in the eyes. The stunning gray and green swirls were even more beautiful because of the sweet compassion Vickie found in them. “I know it’s old history and way too late, but I need to apologize for all the nasty rumors I started in high school. I was so jealous of the friendship you had with Jake. I wanted to hurt you. It was wrong of me.” There. She did it and the world still moved in the right direction. “You left town because of me. I’m so sorry.”

Lorrie Ann reached across the old, stained linoleum and laid her hands over Vickie’s, forcing them to be still. “Thank you. I had my own issues, too. John told me not long ago that the choices and mistakes of our past don’t have to shape our future, but they can be used to help others.” She sat back and took a drink of her lemonade. “The part I didn’t understand was why you were jealous. Back then, Jake only had eyes for you. Everyone knew that.”

Vickie looked at her glass before taking her own sip. For a moment, she allowed the sweet, sour taste to fill her senses. She glanced out the window to the barn. “I was so in love with him, but I feared my mother’s disapproval even more.” With a weak grin, she looked back at Lorrie Ann. “My mom had a plan for me and it did not include the maid’s son.” She started wiping the counter. “Complete coward would be a good description of me. I owe you even a larger apology for my behavior when you returned to town. I was a bitter shrew, and as a grown woman, there was no excuse for my actions. I don’t have any adequate words to tell you how sorry I am. So yes, I vow, whatever you need from me is yours.”

“Well, you might regret that promise.” Lorrie Ann leaned in closer and smiled. “I want to hire you to make my bridesmaids’ dresses and two mother-of-the-bride dresses. One for Aunt Maggie and one for my mother, along with dresses for Rachel and Celeste. I would also love to work with you to design my wedding dress. And if you survive that, John’s house is in major need of drapes, curtains and throw pillows.”

Vickie didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t get her mouth to move.

Lorrie Ann took another drink before patting Vickie’s hand. “Are you okay?”

“I lied about you and tried to run you out of town and you want me to make the dresses for your wedding?”

“You’ve apologized and I’m tired of holding grudges. Anyway, one of the things I learned in L.A. was business above personal feelings. You, Vickie, are the most amazing and talented seamstress I have ever seen. I also wanted to talk to you about helping out with the youth program. John, Jake and Rhody have a strong program for the boys, but I was thinking about other activities we could offer, sewing maybe, or some sort of arts or crafts. What do you think?”

Truly humbled by Lorrie Ann’s acceptance, Vickie bit back the urge to cry. “I would love to help at the church. And I’ll give you a discount for the dresses.”

“Don’t you dare. I’ll pay you half as a down payment on Monday. You’re going to earn every penny just dealing with my family.” Lorrie Ann stood. “Thank you so much for the lemonade. And the apology. I really appreciate it.” She leaned in and wiggled her eyebrows. “We might be related someday if Seth and Rachel turn into real sweethearts. Don’t you tell John I said that. He would have a heart attack. I’ll see you later, Vickie. Maybe Sunday we can talk to John about ideas for the youth program.”

Vickie led her to the door and waved as she watched her disappear through the gate. God does work in mysterious ways. In a million years, she would have never dreamed she’d be making the dresses for Lorrie Ann’s wedding. She also had money to buy Ashley the new boots she needed. Tomorrow she would take Jake’s jacket to him. Would she find another friend in Jake or was it too late?

Chapter Four (#ulink_0b3aa8a0-c7d4-52e4-87a8-c49a0dbb778d)

Putting her car in Park, Vickie looked at the surrounding area. Jake had bought a beautiful piece of land to build his home.

Reaching over to the passenger’s seat, Vickie gripped the sturdy jacket in her hands and stared at his two-story cabin. With the last rays of sun slipping over the hills, the richness of the wood called to her, begging her to come closer. Why did she sit out here hiding in her car, unsure?

Because she let her mother’s words re-create all the self-doubt she’d been fighting. No more. She had a new life, a new purpose and needed some old friends. She could be just friends with Jake. She could.