Home to Crossroads Ranch

“Nate, I need money today. Bailey’s whimpering right now because she’s wet and I don’t have any diapers. She’ll be bawling for a bottle soon. And tomorrow I need to take my car in to have it looked at. That takes money. I’ll pay you back, I promise. Just bring it here to the apartment this afternoon. Okay? This is the last time, the very last time I’ll ask. Okay? For me. Please. I promise.”

If he had a nickel for every time she’d made those promises, he’d be a rich man. “Where’s Sal?”

“Sleeping.”

Nate’s mouth twisted. Sleeping it off, more likely.

“You don’t want me to walk to the store, do you?”

The question sliced through him like a machete.

Janine knew her brother’s every weakness, including his guilt, and Nate resented the thunder out of her manipulation. He also knew he was about to drive fifty miles to once more rescue his sister.

No wonder he never wanted to be a father. He felt as if he’d been one most of his life.

A new thought edged to the front of his mind. He didn’t really want Rainy Jernagen’s passel of kids hanging around Crossroads Ranch, getting into things, taking chances. Even though he’d agreed to let her bring them out after church, he now had a great excuse to renege without looking like a jerk.

For once, he was almost glad his sister had called.

Rainy exited the sanctuary of Bible Fellowship, gazing around in hopes of spotting Nate Del Rio. After Katie’s timely scream yesterday, the police officer had rushed into her room to find the little redhead sitting up on her knees on the bed, retching all over the bedspread. Both he and Nate had made hasty retreats shortly thereafter. She didn’t blame them one bit.

This morning, everything had looked much better. Katie’s illness had passed. The social worker had found a great place for the twin babies. Rainy had actually slept eight full hours last night and worship service had lifted her spirits to new heights.

She squinted up at the blue March sky, where wispy mare’s tails swirled, reminding her of today’s outing at Crossroads Ranch. The idea of seeing hunky Nate again was pretty uplifting, too.

She couldn’t forget that sweet moment when he had rescued Emma and Joshua from the back of the closet. He didn’t even know those kids or her, and yet he’d lured them out of their most secure hiding place, something that had, on occasion, taken her an hour to do. Before the policeman arrived, she’d had the notion that Nate didn’t like children. Guess she’d rushed to judgment on that one.

Joshua tugged her hand. Though dressed simply like his brother in a clean Henley shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes, he was a handsome little boy. “Are we going now, Rainy?”

“To see the cows?” Emma asked. All spiffed up in fluffy church dresses and black patent shoes with white lace socks, Emma and Katie were as pretty as spring flowers. They stood together, the redhead and the blond, holding hands. At six and seven, they were close enough in age to be both best friends and worst enemies.

“Home to change clothes and have lunch first.” She gazed around again but didn’t see Nate.

“Hey, Rainy, got a minute?” A slender man in a green shirt and gold tie bounded down the steps, his toothy smile sparkling in the sunlight.

“Always have time for a friend.”

Guy Bartlett was the youth and children’s pastor. Rainy worked with the young minister on any number of projects. He was a nice man in an antiseptic kind of way and had even expressed an interest in her at one time. But all she could feel for him was friendship, which was too bad, considering his love for children. And she’d told the Lord as much.

Guy tweaked Emma under the chin and winked at Katie as he spoke to Rainy. “I was wondering if you would do a puppet presentation next week in Children’s Church.”

“Love to,” Rainy said. One of her favorite ways of relating to kids was through puppets. “I’ve been working up a new skit about forgiveness.”

“It’ll be great. Your stuff always is.”

“Well, thanks. I try.” Since Katie’s arrival three months ago, she’d had less time to spend on her hobby, but puppeteering came naturally. She’d be ready.

She expected Guy to take his leave. Instead, he cleared his throat, glanced toward the parking lot where cars were already departing, and said, “I’d like to invite the five of you out for Sunday dinner today if you don’t have other plans. To discuss the children’s ministry, I mean.”

Rainy started to refuse, but then scoffed at the thought running through her head. Guy had clearly stated he wanted to discuss the children’s ministry, not start a relationship. Even if she didn’t find his company scintillating, they were friends and coworkers for Christ. When had she gotten so full of herself?

“Later this afternoon we’re headed out to the country to see Nate Del Rio’s ranch,” she said, “but we have to eat first anyway. Right, kids?”

While murmurs of excitement rippled from the kids, Guy said, “Del Rio? Do I know him?”

“He attends Bible Fellowship, too. Part of the Handyman Ministry. He came to my rescue yesterday when a washer hose broke. I wrangled a visit for the kids to see the cows and horses.”

Guy smiled. “Never miss a chance, do you?”

Rainy smiled in return. Her friends knew about her complete dedication to foster care. “Nope. Not if I can help it.”

Joshua tugged on Guy’s elbow.

“Can we go to Golden Corral?” the boy asked, hopefully.

Will scowled at his brother. “Shut up, Joshua. Don’t be asking for stuff.”

Guy squeezed Will’s shoulder. “Golden Corral, here we come. A buffet is the best place for growing boys like you and me to get our bellies full. Right, Will?”

The teasing brought a tentative smile from the slight-built Will. As one of the smallest boys in fifth grade, nothing could make him happier than to grow taller.

“My car’s parked in the south lot,” Guy said, motioning in that direction. “Want to ride with me to the restaurant and I’ll drop you back here afterward?”

Rainy was about to refuse, but the boys were already racing across the grass toward Guy’s vehicle.

By the time they’d battled the long line at the restaurant, finished their meal and returned to the church, mid afternoon had arrived. Rainy was glad she’d gone, though, because the dinner had settled her mind about Guy’s interest. They really had talked only about the ministry and, of course, her foster children.

With the kids anxious to get out to the ranch, they’d rushed back to the house, changed clothes and departed in record time. Rainy thought about giving Nate a quick call but then changed her mind. They’d agreed upon three o’clock. As reluctant as he’d been about letting the kids come, she was taking no chances. She would simply go as planned.

With the kids glowing with excitement, she aimed her minivan toward Crossroads Ranch.

With a sense of relief, an agitated Nate turned his truck beneath the crossbars of Crossroads Ranch. After an afternoon of trying to counsel Janine and Sal and listening to a dozen excuses about why they couldn’t get their lives together, home was a much needed refuge of peace. Now more than ever he was glad he’d had the foresight to leave a message on Rainy Jernagen’s answering machine, telling her not to come to the ranch.

The thought had no more than formulated when he rounded the curve in the long driveway and saw a green minivan parked next to the fat cedar tree in his front yard. He frowned, not recognizing the vehicle. Oh, well, he wasn’t a hermit. He liked company. One of his buddies must have traded vehicles. All of them, it seemed, now had families. Everyone but him.

Finishing off the last slurp of a fountain drink, he parked his Crew Cab next to the green van and hopped out, expecting Yo-Yo, his border collie, to come flying around the house in ecstatic excitement.

The sun had disappeared, and clouds added a nip to the ever-present March wind. Still, the weather was pleasant and he considered taking the four-wheeler down to the fishing pond before dark. Bible Fellowship no longer had Sunday night service, urging its members, rather, to have family time.

He’d had all the family time he wanted for one day, thank you.

“Yo-Yo?” he called. No answer. Ah well, the dog must be outside somewhere with Pop.

As his boots thudded against the long, ranch-style porch, the sound of voices caught his attention. They came from back toward the barns and outbuildings, so Nate hopped over the end railing and rounded the house.

What he saw stopped him in his tracks. A groan escaped his throat.

Standing on the corral fence feeding carrots to the horses were four kids, his grandpa and Rainy Jernagen. Yo-Yo gazed on with pink-tongued adoration.