Wandering Heart Read online

  Cooper shook his head. He saw that Josh was really feeling bad about the dog. "He'll be okay in a day or two. And it's not entirely your fault, Josh. These things happen. It's to be expected. Accidents happen all the time."

  "Where did you learn to do that?" Josh asked watching him make the stitches.

  "I watched your uncle stitch up more cows than you could imagine. They'd tear their hides on barbed wire, or trees and not wanting infection to set it, he'd get the sewing kit out and sew them up right then. But I learned to sew my own clothes in the Air Force."

  "You were in the Air Force?"

  "Yep."

  "Gosh, you sure been around, haven't you?"

  "A little."

  Then, when Josh became silent too long, Cooper glanced at him again. Josh swallowed hard. "The sight of blood scares me. I could never be a doctor or a vet. Do you think that makes me a coward?"

  "Nope, that makes you pretty normal, I'd say." He cast Josh a quick glance. "You see, doctors are special people. It scares most people. I'm sure you could handle it though, if you had to. You wouldn't let Partner bleed to death, now would you? In fact, come here, you make the last stitch and I'll clean up this mess before your mother gets home."

  "But—"

  "Come on, you can do it. It's easy."

  He handed Josh the needle and instructed him exactly how to do it. He watched as Josh's hands shook, but he didn't laugh.

  "I'm sorry, boy," Josh was saying as he made the last stitch in line with the others, his face screwed up so tight he looked as though he might burst.

  "Now, you better get that barbed wire stowed in the barn and wash up before your mom gets home."

  Josh nodded. "You think he's alright?"

  "He'll be fine, you did a good job."

  "I'm glad you're here, Coop."

  Cooper glanced at Josh and something choked in his throat. Yes, sir, Raif had a good kid. "Thanks, Josh, so am I."

  "Are you married or anything?" Josh asked not daring to look at him.

  "No, no I'm not married or anything."

  "How come?"

  "I guess I haven't found anyone who would put up with me for that long."

  How did they get on this subject, he wondered. Surely Josh wasn't playing matchmaker. Josh knew his mother was going to marry the Congressman, didn't he? Sure he did.

  Partner ambled off to his favorite spot on the porch, gave himself a lick or two and gave Josh a pardoning glance.

  Cooper glanced up at the road, knowing Angela was due in any time. He had to admit working around a beautiful woman like Angela was a temptation to his libido. He was human, he wanted her, but knew she was off limits. At least that's what he kept telling himself every time he caught a whiff of her perfume, or barely grazed her arm or leg as he passed her by. She was one helluva woman, and not just in the looks department. He liked everything about her. But that wasn't anything new; he always had. She just never knew it. And it was going to stay that way, too.

  *****

  Two days later, as Angela was on the way to school with Josh, he pleaded with his mother. "But I gotta be at practice this afternoon, Mom! I just gotta."

  Angela shook her head, her hand extending to rub Josh's hair affectionately. "I'm sorry honey, but you've skipped two piano lessons this week. So, I'm afraid you'll have to miss practice today. You know the rules."

  "But geez, Mom, I hate the piano," Josh protested. He must have realized his arguments were getting him nowhere, and he changed tracts, slanting his deep-set brown eyes on his mother.

  "Coop agrees with me. He said piano was for girls. And none of the other guys take piano, so I shouldn't have to either. If you only knew how the other guys rib me about it. I'm not any good at it, anyway. It's not fair! Even Pete and Tim think it's kinda strange."

  Angela smiled, a brief moment of sympathy going to her ten-year-old son who would rather play baseball than eat. "I'm sorry, but Greg and I feel you need a little culture in your life, Josh. It can't do you any harm. It's good training whether you realize it or not, darling. You know, Josh, being a parent isn't easy. Sometimes you have to make your children do things they don't want to do. But what's best for them. It's all part of growing up and getting a broader education that you'll need later on. The more you can do the better. This is a sophisticated world we live in and you need to know something besides farming and baseball to get along."

  It sounded like one of Greg's speeches, and she knew it. She didn't feel this way, and it went against her nature to force her son to play the piano, but she had given her word to Greg that Josh would learn something besides baseball.

  "What's so bad about baseball? You don't even come to the games anymore."

  Angela glanced at Josh, frowning when she realized he was right. "Nothing is wrong with baseball. I'm sorry I've missed your last few games. I'll make it up to you. I just want to give you every chance I can in life, honey."

  "That's what Greg says, isn't it. But what about how I feel, Mom? It's my life. Don't I have any say in it? Honestly, do we have to go over there every Saturday afternoon? Coop's practically promised to teach me to run the baler. Can't you go without me?"

  "I could, yes. But that isn't the purpose, and you know it. We've been over this many times, Josh. I want you and Greg to get to know one another. You know he and I are going to be married in a few months. We'll be a real family then. We'll probably go to Washington to live. It'll be exciting for you."

  Josh frowned.

  "You promised you'd make an effort, Josh. And how can you if you don't go? Besides, you might discover that you and Greg have a few things in common, too. Have you seen his magnificent train set? It's huge. He built it on a big billiard table that was too scarred to play on. Besides, you can always play tennis if you get bored. Give him a chance, Josh, for my sake. He's trying," she pleaded, but, seeing his frustration growing, she stopped.

  Josh shrugged. "He won't let anyone touch that train, Mom. That's the way everything is in his house. You can look but don't touch. What kind of house is that?" He must have seen the look of disdain on his mother's face. He nodded. "Okay. Just don't expect me to play tennis. That game is for sissies."

  She couldn't stop the laugh. "All right, that's fair enough." She indulged her son momentarily, only managing to embarrass him further. "You really like Coop don't you?"

  Josh eyed her a moment, as though studying the question with mild curiosity. "Sure, he's a regular guy. Who wouldn't? I mean he knows so much about stuff. Did you know he could sew?"

  "Sew?" She shook her head. "No, I didn't."

  "He was in the Air Force. That's where he learned how."

  "And you think learning the piano is bad?"

  "Yeah, but he says people have to learn to do a lot of things too. Besides, I like him 'cause we spend a lot of time together. He teaches me stuff. Don't you like him?"

  She hesitated, and then nodded. "Well, yes, of course I like him."

  "And can he ever play ball."

  "Oh and when does he have time to play ball?"

  "Late in the afternoons, sometimes, when we're through with chores. We go out in the yard and have a fast game of pitch, like you and I used to do. He makes sure I get my lessons first and wash my hands before I eat, too. Boy, you ought to see his backhanded loop. He's teaching me how. Wait until Tim and Pete get a load of it. Did you see the way he patched Partner the other day?"

  "Patched Partner?" she cried. "Partner was hurt?"

  She hadn't noticed! Dear God, how could she not notice something like that? She had noticed he was lying down a lot lately, but had no idea why. Even though Partner was an outside dog and he didn't hang around the house much, she until should have noticed. Josh had been feeding him lately, too, which surprised her since she usually had to remind him. Until, she loved that dog. She was definitely neglecting a few important things.

  Perhaps she was putting in too much time at the office. After all, she wasn't Greg's executive secretary; that was Maxine Tayl
or's job. She didn't have to work overtime she reasoned. Perhaps a little quality time at home might do some good.

  Josh rolled his eyes. "Yeah. He got caught in the barbed wire out back. Cut up pretty bad. He was chasing something out of the hen-house but we never found out what. Coop doctored him like a real vet and he let me help. You should have been there, Mom."

  Angela was so busy reprimanding herself she barely heard Josh's next words.

  "He knows so much about everything. Not just the land, but how to take care of things. He knows how to make things work. He says maintenance is more important than anything on a farm. But you know it's kinda weird though. I mean the other day and all. He knew Partner was in trouble almost before it happened. Yeah, I saw him look up, while we were mending the fence and all of a sudden he was running. I didn't know what was wrong, so I took off after him."

  "Oh?"

  "Yeah, and he knows when you're on your way home, too. It's like he's psychic or something."

  "Really? He's probably just more conscious of the time than you are, honey."

  "Yeah, maybe, but he never checks his watch." He paused. "I think he sort of likes you."

  "We're friends, Josh, I told you that."

  "No, I mean I think he really likes you."

  "Why do you say that?"

  "I don't know. It's just a feeling. And the way he looks at you. But you know why I like him the most?"

  "Why?"

  "Because he's the one person who talks to me about Dad. I mean, besides you. I can ask him anything, and if he doesn't know the answer, he'll think about it and let me know later. And he don't mind answering questions. He don't treat me like a kid."

  "Doesn't."

  "Right, doesn't."

  Angela smiled sadly, realizing how much Josh needed a father figure in his life, and wishing it was Greg he was bragging about.

  "You know, Josh, sometimes parents have to be the bad guys. Like now. I'm sorry, but you're until going to have to march on over to Mrs. York's and take your lessons this afternoon, understand?"

  Josh frowned and nodded grudgingly. "Okay. Oh, wait, there's Pete and Tim. I gotta go, Mom. See you."

  He was out of the truck almost before she pulled to the curb. She watched him greet his friends and give her a backward wave before she pulled away from the curb. She knew he was upset about the piano lessons and that he hated it, but he did need to learn something besides farming.

  Heading for the office she felt down. If only Josh would try a little harder to get along with Greg. And if only Greg would make a special effort toward Josh and effort like Cooper made. The men in her life weren't co operating.

  *****

  That evening, before sundown, as she drove down the long drive to the circular driveway in front of the hundred-year-old farmhouse, she noticed Cooper and Josh playing ball by the side of the house. She stood by the truck watching them for a few minutes. Josh was right. Cooper did have a terrific backhand.

  Wanting to spend a little more time with Josh, she sauntered around the house toward them.

  "Hey, guys, what are you doing?"

  "Just messing around, want to join us?" Cooper invited.

  "Sure, why not? Let me change my clothes and I'll be right out." She dashed inside, threw on her grubby pair of jeans and a worn-out sweatshirt that had an Aggie phrase on the front of it, and ran out of the house, breathless.

  "You didn't have to rush, we aren't going anywhere," Cooper teased.

  "Let's bat a few," Josh suggested. He grabbed his bat from the side of the house and found a good position.

  "You want to umpire, or pitch?" Cooper asked her.

  "I'll be the bad guy."

  "Call 'em like you see 'em," Cooper laughed.

  They were two strikes, one ball and three out of bounds. Josh flexed his arms, and took position. Angela hunched down, giving the signal for one more pitch.

  Then without warning, everything went black. All she remembered was Cooper pitching a slightly curved ball, and Josh swinging. The ball went up, and when it came down, she was out cold on the ground.

  At least that was what Cooper and Josh said happened, as she struggled for consciousness.

  She reached for her eye, and flinched. "Oh, I must have forgotten to duck."

  "Hey, she's got a real shiner there. I think we better get her in the house and take care of that right away." Cooper picked Angela up off the ground and carried her into the house.

  "I can walk, really I can," she protested, then touched her head with a slight groan.

  "No problem. You're light as a feather," he said smiling down at her.

  CHAPTER SIX

  An hour later she basked in a warm tub of fragrant bath oils, squinting to see, and trying to ignore the headache that seemed to make her whole face and head throb.

  The day had worried her. She fussed with Greg more than she cared to admit. And worse until, she no longer responded to him the way she used to. There was no fire in their relationship. Lately, he had been too busy to give her much attention, and their relationship seemed on hold due to his campaign. Until, a woman without a man in her life for ten years needed fire. Perhaps working with him had taken something away from the intimacy. That made sense.

  Her eyes closed and before she realized it, fell fast asleep.

  It was a restless sleep where dreams become reality. The same dream that had haunted her for months came alive. And for once, she relaxed and let it take over. She wasn't up to fighting it after being hit with a baseball.

  He was with her; her dream lover. This man filled her with his love, not quite physically, yet spiritually. It felt so complete, so right. Just being near him seemed to fill her with a calm she rarely felt. A love so pure, so very right. If only she could see the man's face, put a name to him. Why did this lovely dream haunt her so? He was her knight in shining armour, always saving her from near disaster.

  She could have lost herself even deeper but the back door slamming had her head coming off the back of the claw foot tub and reaching for a towel. She dried quickly and slipped into the comfort of her soft, blue terry robe, so she could go to her room and dress. She silently scolded herself for taking a bath in the guest room, but she loved the old tub.

  As she pattered quickly, and quietly, toward her bedroom, a soft sultry voice startled her into awareness. She whirled about to see Cooper standing in the hallway staring after her, a crooked smile playing on his rugged face. She suddenly noticed he had cut his hair. Dear God, could it be that he was even more handsome now?

  "Hard day, huh?"

  "Y…yes, as a matter of fact it was."

  "Thought so. You don't usually take a bath in the guest room. How's the eye?"

  "Better. When did you cut your hair?" she blurted out without thinking.

  "Yesterday afternoon. I'm getting too old for that long hair stuff, anyway."

  "It looks nice," she barely uttered. "It's the first time you've had short hair since I've known you."

  "Well, it looks like my rowdy days are over. I guess I've quit bucking the system."

  "Ah, what a shame, I kinda liked the rebel in you," she said with a chuckle as she continued to her bedroom.

  He laughed too. "Want lemonade?" he called after her.

  "Sounds great. Did you make it?"

  "No, actually Josh made it."

  "Oh, where is Josh?"

  "Over at Tim's right now. Remember it's another one of those teacher days. We finally broke that baler down and put it back together again. The boys had a blast. They looked like two greased pigs before we were through. Tim went home an hour or so before you got home. Josh said Tim had a lot of chores to do this evening and Josh felt he should help him since he helped us. So anyway, I let him go. He promised to be home around seven thirty.

  "Did he ride his bike over?"

  "As a matter of fact they both did."

  "Good. I don't like him walking after dark."

  "I can go get him if it gets too dark."
<
br />   "That's okay. I'm sure he'll be home on time. He's very reliable."

  "He's a good kid."

  As Angela slid into a pair of soft worn jeans and a favorite T-shirt she smiled, enjoying the extreme change of clothes. "Hey, I've got a stew in the crock-pot. How 'bout I make a pan of corn bread to go with it?"

  "Sounds great to me. I've gotten a whiff of it several times today, and I've got to tell you it made my mouth water. You're a very good cook. Did your mother teach you?"

  Her bra had rubbed her raw all day, and she tossed it on the bed, deciding not to wear it. She was at home, and she was so small up top, no one bothered to notice if she wore a bra or not.

  No one but Cooper, she suddenly realized as she came out of her room. His eyes seem drawn like a target to her as she passed him in the hallway. She certainly didn't like the way her body was responding to that look either.

  "As a matter of fact, she taught me quite a lot. And what she didn't, I improvised. And I got a few unusual tips from my uncle."

  She headed straight for the kitchen to turn on the oven. Cooper followed and handed her a glass of lemonade when he caught up with her.

  "What happened between you and your folks, if you don't mind me asking?" He changed the subject.

  Angela stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him. "It's a long story but, when Raif died and left me pregnant, they were horrified. They couldn't believe it had happened so fast. They had such plans for my life. They just knew Raif and I wouldn't last. Especially Daddy. I was going to amount to something, he had preached. But being pregnant threw a loophole in his plans for me. How could I continue my education and succeed in life with a child? How could I find and marry a rich doctor with someone else's child on my hands? Everything seemed to revolve around the fact that I was pregnant. They," she paused, closing her eyes for a long moment, and then resumed, "they wanted me to have an abortion."

  Cooper's mouth fell open in surprise. "I don't believe it."