"Wait. You can't go wandering around by yourself. You could get kidnapped."
Katie snorted. "Who would want me? I'm just in everybody's way."
Megan's heart wrenched at the casual way Katie dismissed her own worth. She knew exactly how the child felt. "Honey, that's not true. I'm sure your parents love you. There has to be some reason you haven't heard from your dad."
Platitudes, but what else could she offer? "Look, you go sit back down and I'll find that number. We'll call your father and he can come get you. We'll let him work things out with your mother."
Katie's young face lit up with a brilliant smile. She threw her arms around Megan's neck and hugged her. "Thank you!" Then she skipped off to sit back on the couch, leaving Megan staring after her.
Jean's door opened just as Nancy reappeared in the living room, Chanel No. 5 preceding her in a cloud of overpowering scent. Katie wrinkled her nose and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Who's that?"
Nancy held her freshly polished nails in front of her. "Who's the kid? And what did you do to her to make her squeal like that?"
Katie drew herself up to her full five-foot height. "I don't squeal."
"Really?" Nancy made a production out of blowing on her nails. "Could've fooled me."
Megan stepped in between them. "Stop it. This is Katie, and she's looking for her dad--our landlord. Katie, this is Nancy, and that's Jean." She waved toward the bedroom doorway.
Nancy and Katie sized each other up, then Nancy grinned and said, "You need a bath, kiddo. The shower is all yours."
Katie rolled her eyes and turned back to Megan. "Could you find Dad's phone number? Please?"
Megan went to the roll-top desk in the corner and rifled through the drawers, looking for Logan's number. "Hang on. I know it's in here somewhere."
Katie walked over to the window and looked outside, then turned to Megan. "Do you have his new address?"
Megan found the elusive piece of paper and turned around, waving it in the air. "Found it. And the address is a post office box in Morris Springs."
Katie's face lit up. "Morris Springs! That's where my Grandpa lives." A crease formed between her brows as they scrunched together. "But why would my dad be there? He hates it."
Megan reached out and took Katie's hand. She hated to be the one to break the bad news. "Your grandfather's had a stroke, and your father and Carol are taking care of the farm." At Katie's stricken look, she rushed to add, "He's doing better, I think. Your dad is planning to move back here at the end of the summer."
Katie looked up with an expectant expression. "Would you drive me out there?"
CHAPTER TWO
"I can't believe I let myself be talked into this." Megan held the steering wheel with both hands, fighting the wind that threatened to push her small car off the road. "If your Aunt Carol hadn't insisted, I'd be home watching NCIS tonight."
Katie sat forward in the seat, excitement turning her face a rosy pink as she pointed out familiar landmarks. "You can watch it at Grandpa's. We're almost there."
"Thank God. I don't think I could drive another mile in this wind. My hands hurt, my head hurts, my butt's numb, and I haven't seen anything besides red dirt and tumbleweeds for miles." Megan loved every bit of the countryside, in spite of her complaints. Not a skyscraper or traffic jam in sight. Nothing but wide-open spaces and intriguing small towns.
Katie studied the map Megan had drawn from Carol's detailed instructions, then watched the passing road signs as Megan drove slowly down the main street of Morris Springs.
An old brick courthouse dominated the center of town, with carefully tended shops lining the square around it. Two old men sat on a wrought-iron bench on the courthouse lawn, a checkerboard between them. Women chatted as they walked into a two-story teahouse that doubled as a bed and breakfast.
Several pickup trucks were parked in front of the Prairie Dog Café, their tires crusted with red dirt, sacks of feed filling the beds. A gleaming white gazebo dominated one corner of the square, and children played tag as parents watched from the shaded benches. Antique stores and a library lined the opposite street.
It was one of the warmest, most inviting towns she'd ever visited. It looked like a place you could be proud to call home.
"Turn here!" Katie yelled, sitting on the edge of her seat. Megan told her to put her seat belt back on and made a right turn, away from the picturesque town.
***
Katie opened the car door and hopped out before Megan could put the car in park, then ran headlong into the arms of the tall, dark-haired man who stepped out onto the wide front porch of the ranch-style brick house. Megan sat in the car and stared.
This was Logan Tanner? Carol's brother? Carol was short and pixie-faced, cute but not a classic beauty with her medium brown hair and freckles. Megan had expected Logan to be a slightly taller version of her friend. Instead he was over six feet tall and gorgeous, with skin bronzed from the sun. His jaw was square, strong, and maybe a tad stubborn, judging by the tilt of his chin as he held his daughter at arm's length.
Megan's heart did a funny flip-flop in her chest. She'd heard a lot about Logan from Carol during their four years as undergraduates at A&M, but her friend hadn't mentioned that her brother looked so darned good.
Carol stepped outside and wrapped her arms around Katie. Logan slid an arm around her waist and the other around his daughter, then they all turned to look at Megan.
She didn't want to step into their family reunion. She'd wait in the car for a bit, then…. She sighed when Katie ran back to the car with Carol right behind her and urged Megan to get out. "Come on. I want you to meet my dad."
When Megan finally managed to peel her sweaty legs off the vinyl seat and climb out, Carol laughed and embraced her in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you. Has it really been three whole years?"
Megan hugged her back, then hissed in her ear. "Why didn't you tell me your brother is gorgeous? My clothes are all wrinkled, I'm hot and sweaty, and my makeup disappeared somewhere around Abilene. I'm so embarrassed."
Carol held her at arm's length and looked her over. "You look fine. Besides, when we were roommates, he was married." After a moment's thought, she grinned and added, "He isn't now."
Logan strode toward Megan and stuck his hand out. She wiped her sore, damp palms on her wrinkled white shorts, then placed her hand in his. She swore she felt a sizzle of heat when his hand closed around hers.
"Thank you so much for bringing Katie to us. I know it was a lot to ask of you."
He smiled and the sun seemed to get a little brighter. She nodded, then shook her head, unable to get a word past her lips. He placed a hand on her back and guided her to the house, and Carol followed behind them, holding Katie's hand.
***
Logan perched on the arm of the couch, his arm around his daughter. As he listened to her story about how she'd traveled from Louisiana to Texas by bus, his heart lodged in his throat. His baby girl, alone on a bus, then in a taxi across Dallas. It was a miracle she was alive and unharmed.
He could tell she'd left something important out of her story by the way she refused to meet his gaze. But he didn't want to start their reunion with a lecture. He'd save that for later. It was enough that she was here.
He glanced at Megan, who sat in his mother's old rocking chair, shapely legs crossed at the ankles. She was petite, slim, and looked like she'd break if caught in a strong wind. She was pretty enough with her auburn hair caught up in a plastic clip, tiny gold balls in delicate earlobes, green eyes the deep, dark color of emeralds. But he'd been around prettier women. So why couldn't he take his eyes off this one?
"Daddy! You're not listening to me." Katie tugged on his shirt and demanded his attention.
"I'm sorry sweetheart. I was thinking about how glad I am to have you with me, and how thankful I am that you're safe. But I should paddle your butt for making a trip like that by yourself."
Katie blushed and ducked her head, then
looked back up at him. "Did you hear what I said?" When he shook his head, she put her hands on her hips and sighed dramatically. "I want to know if Megan can stay with us for a few days. She said she's always wanted to live in the country, so I thought she could stay with us and see what it's like."
"Well, honey, I don't think…."
"No, really, I couldn't. That would be an imposition," Megan said quickly.
"What a wonderful idea!" Carol said, raising her voice above the others. "I'd love to have you stay for a while. I've missed you. We have an extra bedroom, so you wouldn't impose at all."
Logan turned to his sister and gave her his sternest glare, but she smiled sweetly in return. Damn it! The last thing he needed was another female around to watch out for. This was dangerous, rugged country, with rattlesnakes and spiders and coyotes lying in wait for the unsuspecting and uninitiated. And Megan was definitely both.
"Thanks, Aunt Carol. You're the best!" Katie hugged Carol, then turned to Megan. "Will you stay with us for a few days?"
Megan wanted to say yes, but the scowl on Logan's face told her he wasn't at all happy with the idea. "Well, maybe I could stay for the night. I don't like the idea of driving back after dark. I might even stick around and explore the town for a couple of days, but I'll go to a motel tomorrow."
"Nonsense. We have plenty of room. You'll stay here." Carol crossed her arms as if to indicate the decision was final.
Should she take Carol up on her generous offer? She'd love to look around the town, maybe visit the local veterinary clinic. She wanted to set up a country practice, and her plan was to find an old country vet nearing retirement age, then work for him until she could buy him out. Maybe what she was looking for was right here.
She wanted to live in a small town where people knew each other. Where they gathered at church on Sunday, greeted each other on the street as they passed, and knew everyone's business. From what she'd seen of the town as she drove through, it was perfect. Exactly like the town she'd pictured in her daydreams.
Megan sighed in contentment as she looked around the living room of the fifties-style ranch house. An old-fashioned sofa, back covered with a crocheted afghan, sat against one wall. Antiques were arranged around the room, all polished to a high gloss. The rug on the floor looked hand made.
It looked like a home. Not that she'd ever had a real one to compare it to, but it reminded her of the kind she'd seen on old television shows. The ones where mothers stayed home and baked cookies. Where kids played outside until dark, had pets and friends, and never had to be afraid of coming home to an empty house.
***
As much as Logan loved his sister, he was ready to strangle her. First she'd maneuvered him into moving out here temporarily, now she'd invited Megan to stay with them--a woman who didn't belong in this godforsaken wasteland any more than he did.
He was grateful to Megan for driving three hundred and fifty miles to deliver his daughter to him. It made him sick to his stomach to think what might have happened to Katie if she hadn't found Megan when she turned up at his apartment But that didn't mean he wanted the woman underfoot.
He looked at his daughter, who sat on the floor at Megan's feet. She laughed at something Megan said, and for a moment Katie reminded him of Sue Ann, the way she'd looked as a teenager. "Katie, does your mother know where you are?"
If Sue Ann had let her make that trip by herself, he'd call his lawyer and have him add that bit of information to the custody suit. He wanted custody of Katie before Sue Ann turned his daughter into a miniature version of herself.
Katie hung her head. "Not exactly."
"Where does she think you are?"
"On a camping trip with a friend."
Logan could already hear the hysterics he'd generate when he called Sue Ann with the news. She'd most likely accuse him of kidnapping Katie. "Don't you think we should call her and let her know you're safe?"
Katie shrugged. "I guess. But I doubt she's even home. She never is."
Carol stood and gestured for Megan to follow her. Logan picked up the phone and dialed as he watched them leave the room.
***
Carol led Megan into the old-fashioned kitchen. "I hope you don't mind, but I thought we should give Logan some privacy. Talking to Sue Ann frustrates him so much, he loses his temper sometimes."
Megan leaned against the ceramic tile counter and shook her head. "No, I understand. But I don't want to intrude. Are you sure he won't mind me staying for a couple of days?"
Carol opened the refrigerator and took out a pitcher of tea. She filled two tall glasses with ice, got a box of cookies out of the pantry, and carried them to the table before she answered. "I don't think so. He may grumble a little, but he needs a distraction. He works too hard, and Dad is driving him crazy."
Megan joined her and sat down. She took a sip of tea and sighed. The cold, sweet liquid felt wonderful as it slid down her parched throat. "Where is your father? Will I get to meet him?"
"I'll introduce you when he wakes up from his nap. He's been pretty much confined to the bed. Makes him grouchy as all get out. Maybe having a pretty girl come to visit will cheer him up."
"I was so sorry to hear about his stroke. It must be hard for him, especially if he was active before that."
Carol nodded. "He was definitely that. He took care of this place by himself. We've tried to get him to hire some help, or sell the place and move in with one of us, but he's stubborn. This place has been in our family for three generations, and he hopes we'll take it over for him. It isn't likely to happen, but we let him dream."
"Neither of you wants to live out here? Why not? I'd give anything for a chance like that."
Carol chuckled and shook her head. "Out of the mouths of innocents. Logan hates it here. He's been itching to get back to Dallas since the day he arrived. I would stay, but this place is more than I can handle alone."
"I wish there was something I could do to help," Megan said.
"I appreciate the thought, but you have your own life and your own plans. It's only for a couple more months. If he isn't better by then, I'll have to sell the farm and take Dad home with me, whether he likes it or not." Carol stood and brushed cookie crumbs off her shirt. "I'll go see if he's awake and up to having company."
Megan thought Carol looked tired and discouraged. She understood how her friend felt. She'd cared for her great aunt for two years after she'd had a debilitating stroke, and it had been backbreaking, mostly thankless work. Many times she'd been tempted to give up and place Alma in a nursing home against her wishes. But the thought of the once-grand old lady left alone, drool running down her chin with no one to wipe it away, was enough to deter her.
In the end, she was glad she hadn't. In one last lucid moment, her aunt had looked up, tears in her eyes, and thanked her for letting her maintain her dignity.
The inheritance had come as a total shock. Megan had always thought her aunt survived on Social Security and a small pension. She'd certainly been an expert at pinching a penny until it bled. But, apparently, she'd also been a shrewd investor in penny stocks.
That inheritance had been enough to put her through veterinary school, with money left over to buy into a practice when the time came. She would be forever grateful to her aunt for making that possible.
***
Megan was so lost in thought she didn't hear Logan enter the kitchen. When he opened the refrigerator and pulled out a beer, her head snapped up.
"Want one?" He lifted one shaggy brow and cocked his head toward the bottle.
"No, thank you. I'm doing fine with iced tea."
He twisted the top off and wiped the rim with a clean dishtowel, then hooked a chair leg with one booted foot and pulled it away from the table. He turned the chair around and straddled the seat, one arm across the back.
Megan watched, fascinated, as he tilted his head back and drank half of the beer. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. She didn't think she'd ever seen anything
so sexy. Or so tempting. She took a small sip of her tea to wet her suddenly dry throat. "Ah, where's Katie?"
So much for brilliant conversation.
"She's talking to her mother. I had to get out of there before I exploded." His brows drew together in a scowl, marring his perfect features.
Megan wanted to smooth the wrinkles away, but she prudently kept her hands wrapped around her cold glass. "I take it you don't get along with her mother?"
Oh, geez, Megan. Can't you think of anything intelligent to say? Of course he doesn't get along with his ex-wife. That's why they're divorced. Her dubious attempt at conversation was rewarded with a laugh and a lifting of those brooding brows.
"You could say that. She's been keeping me away from my daughter for months. Hiding or returning my letters, intercepting my phone calls. I was on my way to see Katie when my father had his stroke, and I had to come out here instead."
"That's awful! No wonder Katie thought you'd forgotten about her." She regretted her impulsive words when pain flashed in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
He shook his head. "No, it's the truth. Katie and I need to have a long talk, then I have to call my lawyer. I want her to stay with me for the summer and Sue Ann is throwing a fit." His fist clenched around the edge of the chair as he leaned his head back and finished his drink.
"That doesn't sound like an unreasonable request to me, especially since it's been so long since you've seen her."
"No, it's not. But Sue Ann likes to make me suffer as much as possible." He looked so sad Megan wished she could think of something clever to say to lighten his mood. But her tongue seemed to be tied in knots, and had been since she first saw him step onto the porch.
Instinctively, she reached a hand out and covered his. His head came up slowly and his gaze locked with hers. She pulled her hand back, but not before a shiver worked its way up her spine.
"Daddy, come quick!"
Katie's shout was a welcome distraction from the intensity of his reaction to Megan's comforting gesture. It had been a long time since a woman had touched him like that. The warmth of her small hand had reached all the way to his soul.