Faith, Love, and Fried Chicken: Seasons Boxed Set Bundle 1-4 Read online

  Jaycee threw on the last of her clothes and quickly looked through the house for Kitty. Her car was still in the driveway. Finally she found her near the fence by the horses in the back corral. As she approached, Kitty let out a sigh and faced Jaycee.

  “I’m okay. Sorry. I don’t want to ruin this for you,” she said, wiping the remnant of tears from her face.

  “You’re not.” Jaycee drew closer and reached for her hand. “What is it? Your job, Todd, your mom?”

  “You remember, Todd and I broke up four months ago. It’s not him or any of that other stuff.” She avoided Jaycee’s eyes and kicked at a rock between the tufts of grass at her feet. Ginger, the 2-year-old mare approached them and whinnied softly which drew both of their gazes.

  “Why does life have to be so confusing? Sometimes I think it’d be better to be born an animal with limited choices.” Jaycee heard the catch in Kitty’s voice, who had reached between the fence to pat the horse’s soft muzzle.

  Jaycee was silent as she listened to the sounds of midday settle over the farm. The birds sang with joy as they flew from tree to tree, gathering twigs and new green leaves for their nests. Cows lowed in the distance and a tractor could be heard far afield breaking up ground in anticipation of planting.

  “When you’re ready to talk, I’m here.” Jaycee tilted her head, measuring her words, “You’re not ruining anything. Life is fraught with problems and we can’t always choose their timing, Kitty.”

  “It’s my own fault.”

  “What?”

  Kitty stood motionless, a grim expression on her face.

  “Okay.” Silence stretched as they both gazed at Ginger and the stud, Buster. “Our Ginger’s expecting.” No response except for the further drooping of Kitty’s shoulders. “Hey, do you want to go with me to Dash’s shop then get some lunch? Get yer mind off things?”

  Kitty nodded. “Bring your book. I’ll look at it on the way. Knowing you, there’s lotsa glitter.”

  Jaycee smiled as she tugged Kitty from the fence and towards the back of the house. “Well, I am marrying Hot Flash Dash!”

  He didn’t always think clear when Jaycee was around. The anticipation of her arrival left Dash wandering around his office then straightening the papers on his desk. Two weeks now he’d be marrying the woman who eternally flustered, confounded, and drove him to distraction. Love was a funny thing. He sat suddenly, his right hand reaching for the computer mouse to continue working.

  A knock fell on the closed door and he called out “Come on in”.

  It was Colt.

  “What’s going on, man?” Dash smiled. All was right in his world. An amazing woman, two hard working mechanics, a thriving business. And it just happened that he and Colt had become fast friends after hiring him the past winter.

  “The Tucker van is all set. Just finished up.”

  “Great. Katie know?”

  “She’s calling them now. Thought I’d eat. You want something?”

  Dash shook his head, lifting the cooler at his feet. “Jaycee and Kitty should be here soon. The maid of honor is back in town.” Dash smiled suddenly, “Hey, I bet you and Kitty would hit it off!”

  Colt looked down at his oil stained hands and service shirt. “Maybe we should hold off on introductions.”

  A whoosh of air sucked from the small office as the front door in the room beyond opened. Dash heard Jaycee’s greeting to his aunt Katie. He grinned at Colt. “I don’t think you have much of a choice now.”

  Colt swiped a hand through his hair and gave Dash a wry grin. “Why do I feel as if I’ve entered the lion’s den?”

  Jaycee bounded into the room, her smile contagious. Dash came around the desk and swept her into his arms. “The future Mrs. Matheson.” Kissing her full on the mouth.

  “As I live and breathe,” Jaycee exclaimed after she caught her breath. “And in front of the children too.” She said, winking. “How do, Colt? This is Kitty, my best friend and maid of honor.”

  Colt stepped forward and offered his hand to Kitty, who took it and bobbed her head at him. Dash noticed Jaycee’s sidelong glance. Her thoughts seemed to mirror his own.

  “I haveta ask you about something, wedding-related.” Jaycee said, handing the manila envelope to Dash. “Nothing scary. We need to decide on the final menu for Harvey.”

  Harvey was the town caterer. While he didn’t quit his day job, he made the best barbeque for hundreds of miles.

  Dash grinned. “This should be a pleasant job.” He withdrew the photocopied list from the envelope, scanning down the items and noting the prices and quantities. “Do you want to decide right now?” He raised his eyebrows as he looked from Jaycee to Kitty and Colt.

  Kitty was nonplussed, tracing the outline of a screw on the back of a chair at the side of his desk.

  Colt seemed to shake himself awake, having been following Kitty’s movements with his eyes. “I’m goin’ to grab a sandwich. You want one? How about you ladies?” Colt offered, as he made for the door.

  “Another time perhaps. Kitty and I are goin’ to Karl’s. Can you spare some time, either of you?”

  “We’re backed up, but another time,” Dash answered, the list still in his hands. “I’ll look at this and we can talk tonight. Okay?”

  She nodded, her eyes speaking volumes across the expanse where their two friends were concerned.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “I don’t think I can, Jaycee.” Kitty’s dark head dipped as she studied the well-worn, lime green menu.

  “You said yourself it’s been ages since you and Todd broke up. Besides, I bet Colt Tanner can take yer mind off any problem.” Jaycee thought back to the man’s dark hair and rugged good looks. And she’d noticed that Kitty had cast more than one sidelong glance in his direction.

  “Twain, Georgia was never in my long-term plans.” Kitty’s eyes teared up, then became round. “Course, I guess that remains to be seen.”

  “Whatdya’ mean?” Jaycee pushed the menu aside, having memorized it from years working there.

  “Just thinking it may be time to kiss New York goodbye.”

  “But you love it there and … and the magazine!” Jaycee reached for Kitty across the table.

  “I need to be practical.” She thrust her chin forward meeting Jaycee’s eyes.

  Jaycee read fear there despite her brave pose. She wouldn’t push her, but this was not the Kitty Jaycee knew. In all their years as friends, it was the first time she’d seen Kitty unsure of anything.

  “We are goin’ on a double date. It’ll get yer mind from the work mess.” Jaycee said, nodding then to Marlene, the waitress. “Do you know what you want? I’m famished!”

  Marlene approached the table, asking Jaycee about the wedding which was quickly approaching. Jaycee’d invited nearly everyone in town. Karl had offered to make the cake free of charge, for which Jaycee was thankful. His talents as a pastry chef were well-known, but he only made cakes for friends.

  Jaycee ordered an Ivan, thin sliced roast beef served with red onion, Swiss, and thousand island dressing grilled on pumpernickel.

  “I’ll have the same.” Kitty said absently, glancing at the phone on the table by her elbow then towards the door to Karl’s as it opened with the tinkling of the bell. “Hey, isn’t that your friend Nancy?”

  Jaycee looked up and into the face of a very harried Nancy Owens. “Can you excuse me for a sec?”

  “Sure.” She said, grabbing at her phone on the tabletop.

  Jaycee pushed herself from the vinyl booth and met Nancy at the cash register. “Hey.”

  “Oh, I was just thinking of you! What a Godsend!” She blew a fringe of bangs from her face and exhaled a deep breath, grasping Jaycee’s arm with one hand.

  “What’s goin’ on?”

  “We’ve been to Mercy Hospital with Rebecca. They wanted to fly her to Children’s but we decided to drive her ourselves. That flight would scare her to death.”

  “What’s the matter. Is she okay?”
>
  “We ordered her favorite grilled cheese for the ride.” Nancy’s eyes met Marlene’s over Jaycee’s shoulder. She dropped her voice, but included Marlene in the conversation. “She’s been dizzy and throwing up. They did an MRI in the ER and there’s something there, Jaycee. Something on her brain.”

  “Oh my gosh.” Jaycee’s eyes filled with tears. “What – what can I do to help?”

  Nancy took a set of keys from her purse and pushed them at Jaycee. “Can you close up the store tonight? Maybe help there for a few days, make sure the girls come in as scheduled and we’re covered?”

  “Yes, you know I can.” Jaycee had filled in for a few people over the past few months when Nancy’d needed the extra help. She’d also taught Jaycee how to make deposits, order stock, and call in hours to the payroll company. “Don’t you worry. I can take care of all of it ‘til you get back.”

  “I’ll call you tonight, after closing time. Maybe we’ll know more by then.” Nancy leaned over and handed Marlene a ten dollar bill and took a brown bag from the counter. She walked towards the door, not waiting for her change.

  “Be careful driving, Nancy.” Jaycee called, rushing after her and giving her a quick hug.

  Nancy’s eyes filled. “Tom’s driving. I can’t – I’m just a mess right now. But we need to be strong for Rebecca.”

  Jaycee nodded and watched as she left the restaurant, following her movements out into the parking lot and getting into back of the gray minivan. She could see Rebecca’s small head next to Nancy’s as she slammed the door. Tom sped off quickly. Jaycee took a deep breath for all of them and silently prayed to God for the little girl.

  Dash drove in the last nail in the new fence post and wiped a sleeve across his brow. He stood back to survey his work. Cattle lowed far afield and after giving a satisfied nod, Dash faced them, leaning forward onto the now sturdy section of fence. The cracked rotted piece discarded at his feet.

  Since his aunt Katie held down the shop from 11 to 5 most days, Dash had taken to helping out on the Hamilton farm in the afternoons. It satisfied some part of Dash he hadn’t known existed, to feel connected with the land and be a steward over it.

  Having grown up around farming families, it’d always been a yearning within him, even older than his love for fixing cars, a dream that had somehow died after his injuries in the fire. It’d been replaced with fantasies of a life with Jaycee and now that life was within reach. A wife, family, a home…these were all part of it.

  Dash looked at his hands, the calluses having become toughened over the weeks working outside, a different sort of dirty than working in the shop. Was this in God’s plan for his life, when just a year ago it’d just been him and Casper, his trusty cat?

  He saw his newest sidekick then run alongside the outside of the fence. Marcus. The boy had taken to coming home, doing his homework, and taking off outside to find Dash. He knew it’d renewed Jeb Hamilton’s faith that his son would someday want to take over the farm, especially now that he was limited in what he could do with his stability slowly decreasing. Jeb now used the cane that he’d once given Dash and his speech had taken on a slower quality.

  “Dash!”

  “Hey, boy. You ready to work?” Dash bent and gathered the discarded wood at his feet. He motioned to the tools on the ground. “Grab those, will ya?”

  Marcus nodded, quick to take up the container of nails, hand saw, and hammer. “Where we headed?”

  “Shed to put these away then we’ll check in with Clyde.” They walked side by side over a crest in the land and towards the corral. “How was school?”

  “Same boring math, science, and English.” Marcus made a face which Dash caught out of the corner of his eye.

  “I never was one for the books either, but you just keep at it so you can graduate.”

  “Yeah. I know. I’m not goin’ to college though.” Marcus bent his head, his eyes on his feet as they traversed the ruts in the land, keeping the tools steady.

  “No? I pegged you as a college man. Computers, maybe?” Dash fished.

  “Naw. That’s just for games. I’ll be here. Helpin’ momma on the farm, as daddy’s always wanted.”

  Dash stopped, which in turn caused Marcus to pause in his concentration on his feet and look up. “What?”

  “I’m real proud of you. For stepping up.” He clapped the boy on his back. “Have you told your parents your decision?”

  “I expect they’ll figure it out,” he said, shrugging.

  “I expect so,” Dash said, laughing.

  They continued walking. Before entering the large shed off to the right of the barn, Dash deposited the scrap wood on top of the wood pile. The shed was really a large barn itself, housing the farming tools along with bigger equipment for mowing and plowing, and feed for the animals.

  Clyde was there sharpening the blades of a large pair of pruning shears. He paused as he worked, acknowledging the two of them with a gruff “Hello”.

  Marcus put the tools back in their proper spots while Dash approached the older man.

  “Wood’s replaced. Anything you need doin’, Marcus and I are game.”

  Clyde peered out the open shed door, squinting at the angle of the sun. “Horses need feed and fresh water.”

  Dash knew this was Marcus’ favorite job. The old man winked at him as he looked at the boy, who was returning the saw to a nail on the wall.

  “Let’s go, Marcus! Yer sister will be here soon enough and I gotta get my afternoon kisses in.” Dash half-teased. This was his favorite part of the day, seeing Jaycee at the Hamilton home and spending time on the back porch holding her hand.

  “Yuck,” Marcus said loudly, then squirmed out of the way of Dash’s hand meant to ruffle the boy’s hair. He grabbed a bucket by the shed door and slid past the shed doors out into the afternoon sunshine.

  Dash was sitting on the back porch with Marcus when Jaycee arrived home. Kitty had bowed out, claiming the need for a nap. Worry over her and Rebecca had made Jaycee wipe tears off her cheeks several times on the way home from Karl’s.

  She left the bridal binder in her car, her heart hesitant to plan a celebration right now. With Daddy’s health slowly declining, she’d been forcing herself to think on the wedding and all the details to push off the worry. Now she was just exhausted herself. She flopped down into the chair next to Dash. He looked across at her as she let out a deep sigh. He grabbed her hand and leaned forward.

  In one swift movement, Marcus said ‘hi and bye’, bursting from the screened porch and out onto the back lawn running towards the horses in their corral, one hand stuffed in his pocket.

  “Sugar cubes?” Jaycee asked, slight amusement breaking her somber mood.

  “Yeah, he couldn’t take it anymore. Plus I told him I was waitin’ to kiss my soon-to-be bride.”

  “Dash, I – “ Her voiced still him. “Maybe we shouldn’t.”

  “Shouldn’t what? Kiss?” He stood before her then and swept her up into his arms, cradling her against him. “Woman, you best get used to this.” He bent his head and closed his eyes, his lips whispering promises as they met hers. She melted against him, responding to his comfort and thanking God for his strength, willing it into her own body.

  Once his lips released hers, he sat back down in the chair with Jaycee still in his arms. She laid her head on his chest. She was ready to give up, be in the here and now and not think about anything. But she couldn’t.

  She lifted her head. “I don’t know if we can…be happy with so much pain.”

  “Pain?” Dash’s brow furrowed.

  “Daddy getting worse. Kitty…something’s very wrong and she won’t tell me what.” She shook her head.

  “Thinkin’ Colt may be the solution there.”

  “Maybe. I’m not real sure. I think they’d be great together too, but there’s more…”

  “There’ll always be pain, Jaycee.” He sat up straighter and Jaycee tilted her chin looking him in the face. “We can’t let it st
op us from living.”

  “But now – Nancy’s Rebecca…she’s real sick, Dash.” She blinked her eyes rapidly. “They’ve taken her to Children’s. There’s something on her brain.”

  She saw his face drain of color and concern come into his dark green eyes. “What can we do?”

  “I’m closing the store tonight and helping with that for a while.” Jaycee bit her lip. “Prayer, I expect right now is all we can do.”

  “Then let’s get to it.” Dash went to bow his head, but then raised his eyes to Jaycee’s. “No more talk of postponing things. We’ll take on life’s sorrows and joy’s together. We can’t let it deter the future, Jaycee.”

  She nodded, still unsure but bowed her head to join her prayers to Dash’s softly spoken ones.

  Kitty didn’t know if she could do it. Tell Jaycee or anyone, but she was past the point of no return, wasn’t she? In the privacy of her bedroom, her hands flew to her stomach as she rested on her bed. Tiny movements stretched her taut stomach. She’d be going on four months if her calculations were right. The tiny life all her friends had told her to snuff out. She just couldn’t.

  She’d made the mistake of confiding in two of her friends at the magazine and the news had spread like wildfire. Kitty had left after that. She’d given away most of her things, paid up her lease ‘til the end, and let her roommate know she’d be moving back home.

  But was it what she wanted? Was this the best course? What were her options now? To have the baby and keep it. She couldn’t give it up for adoption. No one here in Twain knew but how long would it be until she started showing?

  Tears stung her eyes as she curled onto her side and cradled her stomach. The baby pushed and fluttered against her hand. She should be thinking about Jaycee’s shower tomorrow and her part in the wedding, not herself right now. Her cell phone buzzed near her hand on the bed. She looked at the text message.

  Closing for Nancy at 9. Want to hit a movie?