Dianne's Destiny Read online

  “Well, that would take care of things wouldn’t it?” Jocelyn chuckled. “Or maybe you could just push Simon down the stairs and cut out the middle man.”

  Chapter 10

  “Rise and shine, Cowgirl,” Dianne called to Jocelyn. She placed a mug of hot black coffee on the bedside table.

  Jocelyn’s soft snoring stopped. She lifted her head, looked to the window, and groaned. “What time is it? The sun is barely up.” She pulled the sheet over her head and turned away.

  Dianne poked her in the back with her finger. “Come on, no sleeping in around here.”

  Jocelyn sat up, pushed the curtain of tangled curls out of her face, and took the brew. “What’s the hurry?”

  “Ranches start early, especially on round-up days. I haven’t been to one in years; I don’t want to miss it. Time to go, get up. Make sure you bring a change of clothes for the dance.”

  Grumbling, Jocelyn gulped more of the coffee, then set it down on the nightstand and climbed from the bed. “Maybe a shower will wake me up, something has to at this Godforsaken hour.”

  Dianne chuckled as she watched her friend stumble toward the bathroom. She sipped her coffee, and her thumb caressed Kip’s name embossed on the card in her lap. The day promised to be busy, tiring, and exhilarating. She hoped Kip would let her help herd calves into the corral. Closing her eyes she retrieved memories of horses whinnying, cows and calves bawling, cowboys shouting, and lassos snapping. She winced as she remembered the acrid smell of burning hair and flesh. Kip used to tease her about getting upset when the calves were separated from their mothers.

  She looked up when Jocelyn returned to the room. “You look great. The vest was a good choice, but you may regret the white shirt before the day is done. It will be a mess.”

  Jocelyn shrugged. “I’ll risk it. Let’s go before I chicken out.” She took another drink of her coffee and ran her hands down the soft leather of her vest.

  Dianne loaded the car while Jocelyn prepared two travel mugs of coffee. She took a few deep breaths before any threat of anxiety could break free. She felt good today and didn’t want anything to ruin it.

  She headed toward the bridge that crossed the Red River. Just across the state line, she pointed to a gravel-topped road leading to a large log home on the bluff. “That’s the ranch, but I want to show you my old stomping grounds.” She drove into town. “Waurika, small town U.S.A.”

  “It’s beautiful out here. Desolate even. Is the sky usually this vivid blue?” Jocelyn looked in every direction including overhead through the moon roof.

  “Nothing like New York or San Francisco to be sure. No pollution. All of this country seemed bigger when I was a kid. Most of us wanted nothing more than to get out of town. I was one of them. Kip wasn’t. Now, I’m back, and I appreciate the peace.”

  “I can see why.”

  Dianne showed Jocelyn the high school, then turned onto the almost deserted Main Street with no traffic lights or stop signs along its length. “This bricked main street has always been one of my favorite parts of town. It’s so quaint. I loved the rumble of tires on the uneven road. When I was a kid almost every business was open. It wasn’t as run down as it is now.”

  “Kind of sad.”

  “Yeah. It really is.” She let out a sigh. “You know, as much as I need the serenity this area brings, I’m considering going back to New York.”

  “Why would you even think about going back? You never really liked it. If you run before you find out where this all leads you’ll always have doubts and be sorry. Besides, Simon’s there.”

  Dianne shrugged. “New York is a big place. And, Simon’s actually here.”

  “What do you mean? Here? As in, in this town?”

  “Well, in Wichita Falls. He called me. Said you’d given him my number.”

  “Oh my God, that’s crazy. You know I’d never do that, right?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Just a veiled threat.” Dianne brushed it off, determined to put him out of her mind. “I’m sure he’s bluffing.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  ****

  When they arrived at the ranch, Dianne followed hand written signs and primary colored banners to designated parking for the 3G round-up. Wind gusts forced the banners to flip and flop on the rope.

  She pulled in and parked, that familiar squeezing in her chest and throat making her lean against the head rest, gripping the steering wheel tight enough to whiten her knuckles. Her breathing escalated.

  “Are you okay?” Jocelyn asked.

  “I’ll be fine. Just a little nervous.” She grabbed her tote bag and took out a brown bottle. Twisting the lid off, she retrieved a pill and swallowed it dry.

  Jocelyn sent a questioning look her way.

  “It’s just my anti-stress meds.” Dianne tossed the bottle back into her bag and turned to her friend. “Are you ready for this?”

  “Looks like I should be asking you that question. We can go home if you need to. I’m really becoming concerned about how many of those pills you take.”

  “I don’t take more than is prescribed and I can often go without any at all. I don’t have a problem.” Dianne tucked stray strands of hair behind her ears. “I can do this. I’m getting better each day. Besides, my favorite horse is here. Why should I panic?”

  Jocelyn lifted her eyebrow and released the seat belt. “I’m the one who should be panicked.”

  Dianne smiled. “It will be a blast. This day is going to be all about seeing old friends, working a round-up, and forgetting my problems. I can do this.” She pulled a western hat over her French braid, got out of the car, and looked around to get her bearings

  She and Jocelyn approached the registration table manned by Beth. Dianne shoved her hand into the waistband of her jeans and made sure her pink and white gingham shirt was tucked in. Confidence pushed doubt aside for an exhilarating moment.

  Beth jumped out of the chair, rounding the table to greet Dianne and Jocelyn. She sparkled from her sequined hat band to the silver tips on her boots. Even her denim blouse flashed with well-placed sequins. “Good morning! I’m glad you came. Jocelyn, you’ll enjoy it. If you need anything let me know.”

  “Will do. Thank you.”

  Dianne said, “Do you know what Kip has in store for me?”

  “He wants you in the corral to help sort the cows and calves.” She turned and pointed to the food tent before waving to others. “Go have breakfast. You’ll need your energy, so fill up.”

  They’d almost reached the tent when a voice stopped her. “Dianne! Dianne Raborn? Goodness, it is you.”

  A woman ran toward her waving her hand and carrying a baby. Dianne frowned. Questions flooded her mind, hints of recognition moved among her memories. Then she knew, and she smiled. “Teresa! It’s good to see you. You’re radiant.”

  Teresa loosened the baby’s fist from her hair and reached to pull a dark braid over her shoulder. “Welcome home.”

  The welcoming hug Dianne received felt free of guilt or anger. It held love and the sticky fingers of a baby holding a well gummed cookie. It felt nice. “Thanks. Did your mother tell you I saw her?”

  “Mom did tell me. I’ve wanted to get in touch, but the kids keep me running in circles.”

  “And, who is this pretty little girl?” Dianne tickled the baby under her chin.

  Teresa kissed her baby on the forehead. “This is little Hannah. We have two more, Stoney’s six and Elizabeth is three. I married Josh Howard when we finished college.”

  “I had no idea. I didn’t keep up as I should have. I’m sorry about that, and I want to make amends. Will you have coffee with us? I want you to meet my best friend.” Dianne guided Jocelyn forward with a hand on her elbow. “Jocelyn Hartford, this is Teresa Howard.”

  The two women shook hands, and Dianne moved between her two friends, encircling each with an arm. It felt right. She enjoyed this feeling over-riding her fretfulness.
Was it forgiveness? Acceptance? Happiness?

  She heard spurs jingling and chaps squeaking and knew without turning that Kip and someone else walked up behind them. The three women turned at the same time. Baby Hannah squealed and held out her arms. Her four teeth sparkled. “Da-Da.”

  Dianne smiled when Josh took his daughter in his arms. She never imagined he would be so besotted by a pair of blue eyes and chubby cheeks beneath a bald head. “It’s really good to see you, Josh. You look like a natural holding Hannah.”

  “This little girl has me wrapped around her tiny finger, that’s for sure.”

  “I can tell.” Dianne looked past Josh to Kip. His hazel eyes crinkled at the corners, and he sent a lopsided grin at her. Heat rose in her face when she remembered the shot of desire she’d felt in his arms. She swallowed against the dryness in her throat. “Are you here to make us work, Kip? Beth said you might want me in the corral.”

  “Yep, after you have yourselves a real cowboy breakfast.” The group headed to the chow tent. “Remember how this works, Dianne? You’ll be in the saddle for hours.”

  “I remember, but I’m not as young as I used to be.” She took a steaming cup of coffee from a caterer. Holding it in both hands for the warmth she raised the cup to her lips and inhaled, savoring the bold scent. She took a sip and smiled. Amazing how much better coffee tasted from a blue tin cup.

  She listened to the chatter, sounds of cattle milling and lowing, horses nickering, and the whip of lassoes cutting through the air. She smelled the wood fire in the center of the corral heating branding irons. Several horses tied to a picket line varied in their reaction to the day. The younger ones pulled on their reins and pawed the ground. The more experienced horses relaxed with their heads down and eyes closed. Despite her success in the business world and the accolades she earned, nothing felt as good as these moments free of anxiety taking her in a new direction. She sighed and took a deep breath.

  Two plates piled high with biscuits, cream gravy, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and pancakes slid down the trestle table to Dianne and Jocelyn. Dianne reached for the flatware and salt then dug in with a raging appetite. “This is the best! Nothing like fresh air and cool mornings to make me hungry. What do you think, J?”

  Jocelyn shook her head. “I’ve never seen so much food in my life. I usually have yogurt if anything at all.”

  Kip wedged himself between Dianne and Jocelyn, his plate and mouth full. He swallowed. “The bacon and sausage came from my own hog and the eggs from my chickens. Jocelyn, have you ever seen a hog butchered?” Amusement danced in Kip’s eyes as he purposely tormented Jocelyn.

  Dianne tried not to laugh when Jocelyn paled and choked. She leaned over to hit her on the back.

  Kip held a piece of bacon. “Here you go, Dianne.”

  She took the offering. Her eyes locked on Kip’s. It would be the simplest and most natural thing to lean over and kiss him. She had to turn her gaze away before she did that exact thing. What kind of fool was she? Ready to make a spectacle of herself in front of a crowd of people.

  Kip stuffed a piece of sausage in the middle of a biscuit and stood to leave the table. He leaned in and whispered in Dianne’s ear. “When you’re done, will you come by the house? I want to show you something.”

  Dianne couldn’t speak. Her stomach lurched. She had no idea what he wanted. Why would he want her at his house?

  Chapter 11

  She managed a brief nod. “Sure. I’m finished now.” There was no way she could eat another bite with the knot lodged in her throat.

  “I’ll catch up with you later,” Jocelyn said, a wicked gleam in her eye.

  Dianne followed Kip in silence. It wasn’t a long walk, only about a hundred yards, but it felt like it took forever. She caught her breath as they approached a two story ranch house. She stopped at the railing of the wrap-around porch. A leaded glass door glimmered as light bounced through the panes. Rocking chairs and a cushioned swing beckoned. Red geraniums in moss-lined baskets held court beneath each window and jasmine wrapped around a trellis at the far end of the porch. It smelled like romance.

  “It’s stunning, Kip. You’ve done well.”

  “Thanks.” He held the door open for her. “Come on in.”

  As she walked through the door, questions screamed in her head. What did he want? Why had he brought her here?

  Slate floors, stone walls, and a beamed ceiling made up the foyer which led to a living area dominated by a two-story fireplace adorned with a heavy mantel. A fire crackled behind a screen. Large pieces of over-stuffed brown leather furniture suited the home and looked comfortable. Western art pieces drew the eye up and around the room. Dianne turned in a slow circle to take it all in. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything.” He took her hand and tugged her to him. Leaning down, he took her mouth with a guttural groan. His lips and tongue sought hers with demand and hunger. His hands moved beneath her denim jacket searching and pulling her closer.

  She pressed against him, trying to mold him to her. Passion and need drove her. She returned the kiss without reserve. She moved her hands to the sides of his face and traced her fingertips over every surface remembering the feel of him. Breathless, she broke the kiss and looked into his eyes with wonder. “Kip, I...” She squeezed her eyes shut briefly. . “What are we doing?”

  “I don’t know.” He pulled away and shook his head. “I’ve been wanting to do that ever since I saw you again. Crazy, right? But I haven’t been able to think about anything else.”

  Not so crazy, her heart sang, but her head told her to take it slow. “So, what are you saying?”

  He let out a long sigh. “Nothing, really. I just…wanted to kiss you. Things can’t work out for us, though. It doesn’t change the problems between us.”

  A shaft of pain pierced her chest. “But, there doesn’t have to be a problem between us. We can have a fresh start.”

  He tightened his lips. “Yeah? And what happens when you’re finished here and you take off? I can’t go through that again.”

  She couldn’t argue. Hadn’t she been having thoughts about leaving? He was right. Things weren’t going to work out between them…at least not any time soon.

  “But, it doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Come on.” He tugged her hand and led her toward the kitchen. A long oak table surrounded by ten high back chairs centered the formal dining room. French doors opened into the red kitchen. Clean, slick granite counter-tops reflected small appliances.

  She looked around, ran her hands over the smooth granite, picked up a snow white tea towel, and tears rose to her throat. “It’s the dream kitchen we sketched in spiral notebooks and dreamed about time after time. You’ve even used red in the decorating.” Dianne spoke in reverent disbelief.

  “I kept those notebooks. Still have ’em. When I got the ranch and was able to build I pulled those drawings out. I think, in spite of my anger, working with our plans was like therapy. I was angrier than I’ve ever been when you left. I stayed bitter for a long time. I couldn’t understand or wrap my mind around why you would leave me, I still don’t understand. One day you were in my arms, the next you were gone. I drank, stayed drunk. Ricochet saved me from that hell. I haven’t trusted anyone since the day you left.” Kip sucked in a deep breath and scrubbed his face with both hands.

  An ache opened up at the pain she’d caused him, caused herself. Tears streamed down her face. “Kip—”

  He held up a hand. “No, don’t say anything. I have to finish getting this all said. I still love you, but I don’t trust you. I get angry when I think of that day, but it doesn’t consume me anymore. I’m afraid of being betrayed, but wanting to be with you overrides the fear. I’ve never been so mixed up in my life. My only question is why. Why did you leave?”

  Dianne moved to the breakfast table. She sat down and patted the seat of the bench, and Kip joined her. She spoke on a shaky breath. “Jocelyn is the only person who knows
what I’m telling you. I got that scholarship offer several weeks before I left. At the time I didn’t think much about it. I stuck the letter in a drawer because I still planned on going to school with you. One morning, when the class was planning our graduation ceremony, I saw you in the hall. Misty was with you.” She ducked her head and wiped her hands on the front of her jeans. “She wore her cute little cheerleading uniform. The two of you acted goofy and pretended to dance. Your arms were around her waist. I knew I would never be able to compete with her beauty and popularity. You deserved more. I was a poor girl with a father in prison and a dead mother. Basically, an orphan. So, I left.”

  The sad look of disbelief in Kip’s eyes was nearly her undoing. “God, Dianne. There was never anything between Misty and me. We had been friends since kindergarten. Our moms were best friends. You’ve been gone for fifteen years because of Misty? I always loved you. I admired your ability to rise above the junk in your life.” He stood and paced the length of the kitchen, then stopped and peered down at her. “It makes me angry, no, furious that you could even think such a thing.”

  “It wasn’t that I thought there was something going on, it was just that I knew she was more suited to you than I could ever be. Seeing you together brought it all home to me.”

  Kip’s jaw tightened. “And you just left, without a word.”

  “I’m sorry, Kip. I was young…stupid. That’s all in the past.”

  He shook his head. “We’d better get to the round up.”

  Just like that, he shut her out. Had they actually made any progress? He’d wanted to show her he’d used the plans they made together, but he still didn’t trust her. What was the point?

  Chapter 12

  All eyes turned their direction when they came out the back door. Kip pulled his hat low on his head, and they headed to the corral without saying another word.