Chapter Forty-Three
The two-hour drive dampened her original excitement. Halfway there she’d called Linda, who still hadn’t heard a word from Sterling. Paige arrived at the barn soon after the morning milking, wondering why she’d come at all.
Misty tightened a bolt on the new milking station while Austin checked his plans from the computer and gave direction. It had an automatic feeder and an electronic stanchion complete with safety latch. Austin truly was brilliant. Paige assumed the rest of the Kellers were in the house somewhere. She sat down on a hay bale and put her chin in her hand.
“What brings you here?” Misty left Austin’s side and stood next to her friend.
“And in such a grumpy mood?” he added.
Paige hesitated saying anything but couldn’t hold it back. “I’ve got some things I’ve got to say to Sterling, and I was hoping someone had heard from him.”
Misty dropped the wrench she was holding. “I knew you two couldn’t stay apart. The first time I saw you together, I knew.” She punched Austin’s arm.
Paige felt worse. “A lot of good it does now. No one knows where he is.”
“I do.” Austin picked up Misty’s wrench and handed it back to her.
“What?” Misty and Paige said simultaneously.
“I used his computer as a prototype for my new electric boosted microdot. It feeds its signal into the nearest cell tower, so I can track him anywhere. Last I looked, he was in Texas.”
“Texas? He must have gone back to Earth Tech.” Paige bet he’d partnered with Julie after all. It really was over.
“Wait,” Austin had his computer out. “It looks like he’s somewhere over Idaho and moving at incredible speed. Could this be a malfunction?” He tapped the screen.
From across the yard, the kitchen door flew open, and Linda ran out the door in her bathrobe, screaming. “He’s coming home! He’s coming home!” She arrived at the barn breathless. “Sterling’s flight lands in about two hours.”
Austin seemed a bit miffed. “I would have come to the same conclusion, given a few more minutes.”
Paige was almost afraid to ask, “How did he sound?”
A towel covered Linda’s wet hair. “Tired or sad or both. He said he needed someone to pick him up at the airport.”
Misty knelt beside Paige and whispered, “You should do it.”
“I’ve got a better idea. Could Darryl pick him up?” Paige asked.
“I guess.” Linda seemed to like the idea the more she thought on it. “It’d probably be good for both of them. I don’t think they’ve talked since that day.”
“And what are you going to do while they’re gone?” Austin asked.
“I think I’ll drive back home and get ready for my big date. It is Friday night after all.”
“Wait,” Misty stared her down with a look she must have learned as a deputy sheriff. “I thought you were going to start dating Sterling.”
“I am, if he’ll have me.” Paige got to her feet. “Do you think you can get Sterling to the Pit tonight?”
Linda became as excited as she was when she first emerged from the house. “Heck, yeah! Darryl and I will get him there if we have to hogtie him to the top of the car.”
The night sky was clear and thick with stars as the pickup pulled out of the old ranch house and rumbled into town toward the Pit. Sterling’s dad and Linda had decided to stay home with the boys, so Darryl and Sterling could have more bonding time. How could he have been such an idiot for so long? He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed Darryl’s subtle sense of humor and the easy way he accepted whatever life dished out. Sterling knew he had a lot to learn from him.
They rounded the corner, and Sterling almost choked when he saw how full the parking lot was outside the restaurant. Darryl didn’t seem to notice. He slid the gearshift into park, leapt from his seat and was almost to the door before he turned to his brother-in-law. “You comin’?”
“I told you you’re the boss.” Sterling dragged his feet as he walked. He’d left his hometown twelve years ago with his pockets empty and his head down and was returning the same way. It wasn’t enough that Dotty had showed him the paperwork. He'd had to pay a hefty legal retainer to get Elaine to back off. She’d cosigned his mortgage on the loft, so he'd lose that too. The market was at a high when he'd bought it, and he'd spent far too much on renovating. By the time he closed everything out, the 401K was gone, and all he had left was his Lexus, which he owed to his secretary. After all, a promise was a promise.
The bar and grill was filled with familiar faces. A local band played country classics from the other room for a crowded dance floor. Most of the people wore jeans and work shirts. Walking behind Darryl, Sterling tipped his hat at childhood acquaintances as he weaved his way through the patrons sitting at round tables in front of the bar. He was waving to Jerry in the corner when he almost fell flat on his face. A booted foot was stuck out in front of him. It belonged to Newell, who sported a hefty shiner.
Darryl rushed to defend him, fists at ready. “You scumbag. If you ever touch my family again, I’ll—”
Sterling put a hand on his brother-in-law’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s get our drinks.” He took a step away from Newell’s table and addressed Darryl loud enough that all Newell’s friends could hear. “You know, the sheriff is up for re-election in a few months, and there’s a former deputy who might run. I hear she has an awesome right hook.”
Newell rose unsteadily like he’d had one too many. “It was a sucker punch, I tell ya.” He clenched his hands. “Face me in a fair fight and see who’s left standing.”
His brother-in-law would have accepted the challenge, but Sterling shook his head. “Let it go. He’s not worth it.”
Newell’s laugh sounded more like a bull snorting. “You’re not worth it. Neither one of you. When I think of the time I wasted trying make you into something, and look at you now.” He shouted to his table full of cronies. “Losers! Both losers.”
Patting his brother-in-law on the back, Sterling continued to the bar. He had to admit Newell was right. He was a loser. He’d lost everything.
After taking their seats, they sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Darryl peered at him out of the corner of his eye. “Thanks for that. Never liked the guy.”
“I feel the same way.” Sterling couldn’t believe he’d ever cared what his old coach thought of him.
“So what were you doing in Texas of all places?” Darryl asked.
“I thought I had an opportunity there, but someone beat me to it.” He tried not to think about Julie gloating over her new boyfriend. “Not sure what I’ll pursue next.”
Darryl took a sip of his drink. “Sometimes if you wait a little while, what you really want will come to you.” He got to his feet and walked away.
Sterling was confused and turned around. He never expected to see what was right in front of him. The sapphire blue formal she wore glistened in the warm light, but it was nothing compared to the way Paige looked at him, as though he were all she ever wanted. If only that was true.
“What do you say we dance?” She bit her lip as if nervous he might refuse.
He removed his hat before standing and bowed his head. “You’ve got to know what you’re getting yourself into. Paige, I’ve got no job and little hope for one. Elaine’s blackballed me from all my contacts, and I’ve lost my apartment, too. I’ve got nothing.”
“Well, I guess you’ve become the man I first thought you were.” The joy in her eyes seemed to grow. “And as I remember it, I liked him a lot.”
“You’re sure about this?” He took a tentative step toward her. “I don’t want you to get stuck in a deal you’ll later regret.”
“Sterling.” She shoved her balled fists on her hips. “If I wasn’t sure, do you think I’d come to the Pit wearing this?”
The dress she wore was beautiful but he liked her just as well in the baggy overalls she wore the first time they met at the farmer’s market. “You’re rig
ht. I’ve got a feeling this is a win-win.”
“Definitely.”
He threw his hat in the air and took her in his arms, determined to never let her go again.
***
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