Be Mine Read online

  Her involvement in the tense little scene was so complete that she ignored the pressure at the back of her knees. A moment later she found herself sprawled on the ground, with Sock nosing her face and licking her cheeks.

  “Get away, Sock. I’m mud all the way up to my ears.” Laughter shook Sabina’s voice as she reached to scratch his chin.

  His face devoid of expression, Chad held out his hand.

  Sabina waved him away, displaying her muddy palm for his inspection. “I can manage.” Turning sideways, she levered herself erect, her boots sliding on the slick surface.

  “I guess it’s too late to apologize,” Chad said. “It’s bad enough you had to witness my temper tantrum. Now you know the dog doesn’t have any manners either.”

  “On the contrary. He said he was sorry when he licked my face,” she shot back. “At least he didn’t swear at me.”

  “I didn’t swear at you.”

  “No, but you would have if you’d dared. I never knew I exercised so much power until now.”

  As if Erica and Jonas had disappeared, he said softly, “I don’t think you’ve even begun to realize your power.”

  Sabina returned his blazing look, unable to speak around the tightness in her throat.

  * * * *

  Their audience and surroundings came back to Chad with a rush. Erica eyed him with avid curiosity, and Jonas grinned from ear to ear. Chad wondered how long it would take the old man to increase his bet on the lady inspector. “You’d better get back and clean up, Sabina. Take Erica with you in the Jeep. Jonas will bring me in.”

  Erica’s mouth opened as if she were about to speak. At Sabina’s warning look, she shrugged her shoulders and turned toward the parking area. Sabina followed her.

  The door of the Jeep hung open, the keys dangling from the ignition, mute evidence of Chad’s panic. Erica pulled a tattered blanket from the back and spread it over the driver’s seat. “I guess I’m not even allowed to drive this thing. You can sit on Sock’s blanket, although it would serve Chad right if you got the seat good and muddy.”

  Sabina wiped her hands on the edge of the blanket, then started the engine. She backed with a competent flip of her wrist. “You’re don’t really want to get even with Chad. He reacted that way because he loves you very much.”

  Erica’s face crumpled. Tears trembled on her lashes. “Oh, Erica, I don’t know how we’d have survived without Chad. He’s done so much for us. I never meant to sound as if I hated him. Honest. If he weren’t my cousin I’d have such a crush on him I couldn’t see straight. I’d do anything for him, Sabina.”

  She reached up to wipe the moisture from her eyes. “I can talk to Chad about absolutely anything but how much I want to work at the mine sites. I love being outdoors. The machinery turns me on . . . even the mud. Not very feminine, huh?”

  Her lips curving in a wry smile, Sabina risked taking her attention from the rugged track. “Does that have a gender?” She looked back at the road in time to avoid a deep rut. “Those big machines do a number on me, too. Show me a tire that’s taller than I am, and I’m in heaven.”

  She could have cut her tongue out. This wasn’t her family, which never had emotional scenes. As Sabina’s mother said, “Adjusted, self-sufficient people don’t put themselves in situations which would inspire someone else to such an outburst.”

  “Why can’t Chad understand? I’m eighteen, and next year I’m going to Ohio State. That’s great, but I’d rather go to the Colorado School of Mines with Daniel.”

  She continued, “Chad’s given up so much. He stayed with us at Gran’s for three years. Lots of times, I know he skipped parties and stuff so he could go to things at school.”

  “What are you going to major in?”

  “Education,” Erica responded glumly. “It’s not that I don’t want to teach. I’d just rather run the family business.”

  Sabina grinned as she swung onto the main highway. “Schools are begging for science teachers. Chad can’t argue with a natural sciences major. Geology courses would help you work alongside Daniel later, or you just might find you enjoy teaching science.” She paused mischievously. “If worse came to worse you could go back to school and be a deputy inspector for the state.”

  The suggestion drew a giggle from Erica, who hugged herself within her denim jacket. “Why didn’t I ever think of that?” Her wide, clear gaze was almost reverent as she turned toward Sabina. “That’s the most perfect idea I’ve ever heard!”

  “Just don’t tell anyone I suggested it,” Sabina interrupted. “I’m already in hot water with Chad.”

  A smirk crossed the younger girl’s face. “I wouldn’t worry about that. He likes you. He’s eating at our house again tonight, and he never comes two nights in a row.”

  “Maybe after today he’ll change his mind,” she answered, accelerating into the driveway.

  “He’ll be here,” Erica told her as the jeep plunged to a stop. “Come in through the kitchen.”

  “I hate to track up your aunt’s floor.” Sabina looked ruefully down at herself.

  “Gran’s used to people coming in muddy. We can leave our boots on the service porch.”

  Minutes later, Sabina stood helplessly as Clara and Erica stripped off her mud-caked clothing. “I’ll just hang these to dry. Most of that mess will brush off,” Clara said.

  Sabina peeled her damp sweater up over her torso. “That mud even crawled under my coat. My dry cleaner looks on me as his retirement fund.”

  As her sweater and slacks joined the pile of clothing, Clara handed her a blanket. “Just put this ‘round you till you get to your room.” The older woman drew back. “My, that must be what they call one of them teddy things. I read about ‘em, but this is the first one I’ve seen. Look, Erica, ain’t it pretty? It’s a shame to wear all that lace underneath.”

  “I’ll drink to that.”

  The three women’s turned toward the door where Chad stood, grinning. Clara wrapped the blanket around Sabina swiftly.

  “She seems warm enough already, Clara. Her cheeks’re pink,” Jonas said cheerfully, peering around Chad’s shoulder.

  Erica’s delighted giggle broke the ensuing silence, sending Clara into action. “You pay no need to them, Sabina. I don’t know what they’re thinkin’ to let Sock do his nasty tricks on you.” She emitted an expressive “Hmph”, giving Sabina a firm shove in the direction of the door. “I don’t want to hear any more fresh talk.”

  As she turned away, Sabina tried not to laugh at Clara’s indignance. Before she swung the door closed, she heard Clara say, “That Mr. Merton was here today lookin’ for you, Chad. He must be awful anxious.”

  Dismissing the serious note in Clara’s voice, Sabina threw off the blanket and looked down. The lace top of her teddy didn’t leave much to the imagination. Chad’s interest had been obvious.

  Sabina ordered herself to remember why she was here. It didn’t matter that the inspection had turned out to be merely a formality. Chad did everything right. His care of his cousin’s family, or for any other shirt-tail relation, was admirable.

  But the man had no business being quite so dictatorial, or so attractive. Unnerved, Sabina rushed through her shower and slipped into her pleated skirt and silk print blouse.

  The table was set when she emerged. Delicious aromas drew her to the kitchen. As she reached for the door, it swung toward her and Erica burst through. “Good. I need your help,” the girl whispered, drawing her into the cozy den. Opening the window seat, she pointed to a large envelope protruding from between two game boxes. “I have to go to play practice, but Daniel simply has to see that as soon as he gets home. I snatched it from the rest of the mail. Don’t let Chad know anything’s come for Daniel. Please help us, Sabina. This is the most important thing in Daniel’s life, and Chad can’t know about it yet.”

  The entreaty in her eyes completed the work the pleading speech had begun. Sabina agreed, wishing she’d never encountered this endearing family.
r />   Erica’s strong young arms enveloped her in a hearty squeeze. “I’ll owe you forever.”

  As quickly as she’d been dragged into the conspiracy, Sabina found herself alone. Her curiosity aroused, she raised the lid to read the return address, then stepped back from the window seat when she heard Chad’s voice in the hall. “It’s none of my business,” she lectured herself. “I don’t want to be in the middle of this. The less I know, the better off I’ll be.”

  That resolution made, she crossed the hall to the dining room, where Chad and Jonas were about to sit down. “Glad to see you found something to wear, Sabina,” Chad teased. “Although you could have kept the blanket on . . . it’s just family.”

  The door swung wide as Clara entered, carrying a large platter of barbecued ribs. “That’s enough of that, Chad. It’s downright embarrassin’ to think I might have to call your mother to tell her how ramshackle your manners are.”

  Chad didn’t seem intimidated. “Calling Arizona’s long distance, Aunt Clara. Remember how that runs up the phone bill? You should at least wait until the weekend to save money.”

  “Yer always complainin’ about your bill, Clara. A call just to tell her somethin’ she already knows don’t make sense,” Jonas contributed.

  Clara turned on the little man. “I’ll thank you t’ keep out of family business, Jonas Perry. The way you come in here and invite yourself t’ eat is a real sad thing.”

  “He didn’t invite himself, Aunt. I asked him so I could chew him out some more for this afternoon. This is punishment.” Chad’s eyes belied the serious tone of his voice.

  The little man looked hungrily at the baked potatoes and buttery green beans already on the table. “I’ll take my lickin’ like a man soon’s I get on the outside of this food. You got a right sharp tongue, Clara, but yer the best cook in town.”

  Flushing at the unexpected compliment, Clara allowed Chad to seat her. “What all happened this afternoon, besides Sock playing his terrible tricks on Sabina?”

  Deciding to keep Chad in the spotlight, Sabina said brightly, “Chad gave us a lesson in creative expression. I learned some wonderful new combinations of great cusswords.”

  “In front of Erica!”

  “Jonas let your granddaughter sweet talk him into letting her operate the front-end loader. Our lady inspector went along for the ride.”

  His voice was again deceptively soft, and Sabina realized Chad hadn’t forgiven anyone involved with the afternoon’s adventure. She plunged in. “Chad doesn’t think a woman should drive a loader. He wouldn’t even look at my operating licenses.”

  Her imagination caught, Clara’s mouth pursed thoughtfully before she turned to her nephew. “If Sabina knows how, what’s wrong with Erica learnin’? The business buys her bread and butter, don’t it?”

  * * * *

  Chad wouldn’t back down. “It would also pay for her funeral if she were killed. She had no business out there today.” How could he explain his concern without sounding like a complete fool? He said to Sabina, “Before you run any of our stuff I want to check you out. Sometimes those permits are issued too quickly.”

  “I’m sure the mining company I worked for in Colorado would appreciate your skepticism, Chad. The two years I worked there I operated everything they had.”

  Chad grinned, then answered, “I like to think of myself as properly cautious. My sister Eden is a structural engineer, in case you’re interested. We’ve had these little discussions several times.” His mouth tightened. “It frightens me to think of her dancing along bare girders with only a hard hat for protection. If I pretend she’s a librarian I sleep better.”

  Now it was Jonas’s turn to grin. “Yer just gettin’ fearful in your old age, Chad. Y’need a wife and family to give ya somethin’ to reelly worry about.”

  Chad made the expected rude response, then centered his attention on the rack of spare ribs on his plate.

  “That’s funny. My brother is a librarian,” Sabina interjected quickly. “I bought him a hard hat for protection from falling books while he superintends his library’s move into a new building. Some of the volunteers are overenthusiastic.”

  The front door slammed. Clara rose as if on strings. “There’s Daniel. His dinner’s warm in the kitchen.”

  As she bustled out, Daniel bounded in from the hall. His hair was damp from his shower; his fair skin glowed with health. Sabina was struck again by the twins’ blond good looks.

  “Terrible practice. Terrible!” he complained cheerfully as he fell into the chair at her side.

  Chad eyed him skeptically. “Should I change my bet on tomorrow night’s game?”

  Daniel reassured his cousin. “Every time we have a lousy practice before a big game we win going away. Coach really tore a strip off us before we left.”

  “When ya’ leavin’ tomorrow?” Jonas asked.

  “Right after first period. Coach wants us on campus for a short practice to get used to the floor, and then an early meal. Playing the 7:00 game is the pits.” Daniel eyed the heaped plate Clara set in front of him. “Thanks, Gran. This is my favorite.”

  “Just so’s you play good tomorrow night.” She watched each bite he took, as if assuring herself of his nourishment.

  Mystified, Sabina watched Daniel attack his food. Finally, she asked, “Is this a special game?”

  “The regional basketball finals in Athens. Sunday’s winner will be one of the final eight teams in the state. The town will be empty tomorrow night.” Chad explained.

  “Then I’ll leave early so I won’t delay you. I’m nearly finished, anyway.” The idea of leaving this warm family circle made Sabina feel bereft. She wished she could help Erica before she left. How could Chad be such a hardcore chauvinist?

  She needed distance. Sitting across the table from Chad put stress on her nervous system. He looked as if he could read her mind as he said, “You’re welcome to stay over and go with us if you like. I’m sure I could turn up another ticket.”

  The invitation stole her appetite. When everyone at the table seconded the offer she felt even worse. “I really have to get back. I have a . . . a Saturday dentist appointment.”

  Chad threw her a skeptical look, but commented, “That sounds like fun.”

  Daniel finished inhaling his meal and pushed his chair back. “I better hit the books for that test first period.” He threw perfunctory farewells behind him as he headed for the den.

  “See. I told you the boy ain’t been actin’ right.” Clara’s said worriedly.

  “Consarn it, woman! What’s funny about wantin’ to get his book work done?” Jonas glowered at Clara. “You women think a boy has to be make sense all the time. He’s het up about this game tomorra’, and that’s the end of it.”

  Clara glared back at her longtime adversary. “What do you know about boys, you old goat? Old bachelors like you should be put to pasture when they start thinkin’ they know anythin’. I say the boy’s holdin’ somethin’ back. He don’t seem as excited as he should be.” She looked at Chad, who stifled a sigh and stood.

  “I’m sure there’s nothing wrong, but I don’t want you worrying. He’s at a rough age.” The frown creasing his forehead eased as he asked Sabina. “Sure we can finish up tomorrow?”

  “No problem. If we start early, I’ll be gone by noon.” Sabina wanted to escape Chad’s clear golden gaze, which seemed to pin her against the polished wood of her chair.

  “Then I’ll pick you up here at seven. Has anybody heard a weather report?”

  “Mebbe some rain tomorrow, Chad. Nothin’ to be a problem.” Jonas reassured. “‘Tain’t that far to Athens anyhow.”

  Chad’s departure made the room seem empty, and Sabina helped Clara clear the table. Recalling her promise to Erica, she hoped Chad’s talk with Daniel didn’t last long.

  After refusing an invitation to help wash dishes, Jonas left. Clara, pink-cheeked, seemed revved by their skirmish. She saw Sabina’s quizzical survey, and turned even pink
er. “Jonas and I nearly got married nearly fifty years ago. He called it off. Said I was too `managin’.’ I never let him forget it.”

  Her high color and the militance in her eyes were nearly Sabina’s undoing. The slam of the front door reverberating through the house enabled her to stifle her laughter.

  “See? He won’t talk to Chad. I ‘spect Chad didn’t go about it right.” Concern chased the color from the older woman’s face.

  “Would it hurt if I just stopped in to wish Daniel good luck?” Sabina wished she could escape the webs of involvement these nice people were wrapping around her. The sticky filaments felt as if they would entangle her permanently.

  Clara brightened. “Your pretty face might just bring him ‘round. He won’t dare send you packin’.”

  As she made her way to the cozy den, Sabina thought, I just want to give him Erica’s message and get away. Before this, she had always managed to keep others at arm’s length. She wasn’t accustomed to people sharing their problems, their pasts, and their hopes for the future. The thing that disturbed her most was that she cared.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The silence in the den was other-worldly. Pearl Jam held court; Sabina could see the empty CD case on the floor next to the table. She was grateful headphones confined the sound to Daniel’s headphones. After this afternoon’s explosion, rock music would complete the destruction of her nervous system.

  Standing across the table from the teenager, she waved her hand between his face and the open book in front of him. No response. She touched his hand gently and felt her heart constrict with compassion for his all too visible vulnerability. Daniel had the body of an over-size adult, but the finishing process hadn’t yet taken place.

  Daniel reacted by removing the headphones with polite reluctance. “Did you need something, Sabina?”

  Aware no one but he could hear her, Sabina whispered, “There’s mail for you in the window seat. Erica made me swear I wouldn’t tell anyone but you.”